Hello all,

I must have stumbled onto some good band of elves Saturday-Sunday because I somehow have managed to double my pageviews in the space of two weeks. (HOW???? Seriously, I wake up Sunday with over 500 pageviews on the daily counter, all from the US, and all from the middle of the night.)

When I figure out where they went, I'll send them over to you guys.

Anyways, Melissa Gravitis has tagged me for the Bookish Book Lovers Tag (wow, that is a mouthful)! Thanks, girl! Please check out her blog here, she does some really cool stuff over there!

Ok, here are the rules:

1. Have to use the tag banner (which is above).
2. Answer the questions.
3. Use lots of book covers (cause texts are boring).
4. Tag your bookish friends!

Right then, simple enough. On to the questions!

1. What book(s) are you currently reading? 

The Black Arrow by Robert Louis Stevenson

This is one of Stevenson's lesser known books, but it has the same swashbuckling adventure style that Stevenson is famous for. This book takes place during the War of the Roses in England, and it follows the story of a squire (son of a knight) as he comes of age, rescues his damsel in distress and joins a rogue band that is targeting various corrupt knights.

I started The Black Arrow on Sunday. I found a kid's version lying around and was really intrigued, so I'm going to try the full version to see if I like it. So far, it's fairly good. Though it is true that you have to be somewhat familiar with Middle English and the context of the War of the Roses in England in order to fully understand what is going on.

From Goodreads Check Out the Book Here

2. What was the last book that you finished?

After a Fashion by Jen Turano.

This book starts off with a shop girl going to deliver some products to a spoiled rotten young woman, but then winds up in a scheme to impress a duke. An actress, a down-on-her-luck nanny, a high bred lady and a mischievous dog provide multiple opportunities to laugh as Harriet Peabody tries to escape the clutches of her horrible aunt and into the arms of Mr. Oliver Addleshaw.

I really really loved the characters in this book and the plot was fairly good too. This book really plays around with the idea of birth and rank, which is interesting since it takes place in New York.  The only thing that really annoys me about Jen Turano's works is that she has a few major historical inaccuracies in her plots, making it seem like the story takes place in multiple time periods at the same time (cue confused stares). But, she does have a very good sense of humor, so I guess that redeems her for now.

From Amazon Store Check Out the Book Here

3. Favorite book you've read this year?

At Bluebonnet Lake by Amanda Cabot.

A vacation from her fast-paced big city marketing job is just what Kate Sherwood needs, at least according to her grandmother. So, off to rural Texas they go - to the old Christian resort in which her grandmother and grandfather vacationed over 50 years before. But the slow pace of the small town and the collapsing resort bother Kate a lot - that is until a certain "handyman" named Greg shows up to fix the window screen.

I had read some of Cabot's historical fiction works and loved them. So I was surprised to find that she had done some contemporary romance too. I must say, I was not disappointed. While the main plot line was a little cliche-ish, Cabot really put her own spin on the city-meets-country romance.

From Amazon Store Check Out the Book Here

4. What genre have you read most this year?

Historical fiction/romance. No surprises there, since that is my favorite genre to read.

One book that I really would recommend is one called Love's Rescue by Christine Johnson. It is one of the greatest historical romances that I've read in a while and a close second to At Bluebonnet Lake in terms of favorites this year.

Elizabeth Benjamin has been living with guilt in not living up to her parent's expectations. When her mother dies when she is away at Charleston, she returns to Key West, Florida to take her mother's place in her family home. But before she reaches the harbor, the ship is wrecked on the reef. Suddenly, Elizabeth is forced to confront her past, some secrets of her family's slaves, and the man she once wanted to marry.

Besides a great romantic plot line, this book also was not shy about touching on some of the harsh realities of slavery and the emotional turmoil that goes along with it. Without giving too much away, I must say that Elizabeth's mother must have been a saint for patience and mercy to deal with some of the stuff that she dealt with.

From Amazon Store Check Out the Book Here

5. What genre have you read the least this year?

Fantasy. I've only read 1 fantasy book so far that I liked this year, which was Eragon by Christopher Paolini (Book 1 of the Inheritance Cycle series). The others that I acquired on Kindle were terrible, therefore they were banished.

A simple extended hunting trip turns life-changing for Eragon. After mysteriously finding a dragon's egg in the middle of an enchanted wood, a simple farm boy is dragged into a web of intrigue that is decades old. With the help of an old story-teller and his dragon Saphira, Eragon must transform from a bratty teenager to a hero in order to free his country from the dark forces of a Shade.

Yes. This book has a lot of bad reviews and the movie is bashed even more. Honestly, I don't think that this book deserves the amount of crap that it gets. Paolini created his own world with his own unique rules of magic, which is not easy. I liked the concept of the Dragon Riders and the Shade the best. In no way did I think this book was a knock-off of Tolkien, though it was certainly inspired by it.

From Goodreads Check Out the Book Here

6. What genre do you want to read more of?

High/Christian inspired fantasy. I honestly would love to see more books like Lord of the Rings, Chronicles of Narnia and other such works.

One that I really really like is Heart Song by Desiree Williams. Talk about elemental magic with a Christian twist!

Alanna, gifted with the power to manipulate natural forces, acts as a Good Samaritan to a grievously wounded young man by healing him. But this simple random act of kindness has huge consequences. Not only is she bound to the prince of the ruling kingdom, she is discovered by the Varkadon, who wish to destroy her before she can fulfill her destiny as Guardian of the Light.

If there was any possible way to combine elemental magic with a Christian worldview, this author nailed it. The only thing that I couldn't really reconcile was the soul-binding. I never really could understand that concept.

From Amazon Store Check Out the Book Here

7. How many books have you read this year and what is your goal?

Goodness knows, and I have no goal. I read when I want to.

8. What's the last book you bought?

With money???

Eragon, by Christopher Paolini.

Yes, I know I put it in here before, but that seriously was the last book I bought and that was several months ago. And it had been years since I bought a book before that. Free Kindle books have really spoiled me.

Of course, I had to add the other cover! From Amazon Store Check out the Book Here

9. What book are you saving up to buy next?

Ohhhh gosh.
I have a LOT of books on my To Buy list, including the rest of the Inheritance Cycle series, several trilogies/series on the Kindle, LOTR, and the Chronicles of Narnia.

I also wanna get When Calls The Heart by Janette Oke. Yes, I wanna compare it to the TV show....though I'm kinda mad about hero's name is NOT Jack Thornton. #ElizabethandJackForever

Elizabeth Thatcher is a city girl that is moving out on her own into the foothills of the Rockies in order to become a schoolteacher. Not interested in marrying anyone, she guards her heart very carefully. But she is not prepared for a Mountie by the name of Wynn Delaney to steal her heart from under her.

From Amazon Store Check out the Book Here

10. How many books did you check out on your last library visit?

This is embarrassing, but I haven't checked out any books from the library since I was in high school.

I do remember that it was around 6 books the last time though.

11. What's a book you can't wait to read?

Sylvester or The Wicked Uncle by Georgette Heyer. A couple of my fellow bookish friends were fangirling over this one like crazy -- apparently the hero is a Darcy on steroids. If that isn't totally interesting, I don't know what is.

If you would like a review of this book, check out Mary Kate's post about it HERE.

From Amazon Store Check Out the Book Here

12. What is a series that I would recommend to everyone?

 The Chronicles of Avonlea by Lucy Maud Montgomery.

Now, a lot of people have read the first book, Anne of Green Gables. But the rest of the books are also really good too. My personal favorite is Anne of the Island.

Anne is finally at Redmond College, earning her BA in English. She still has her fair share of scrapes to get herself out of, including rescuing a cat named Rusty and sharing loads of fun with her roommates Priscilla Grant, Stella Maynard and Phillipa Gordon. But Anne's heart is in danger of being spirited away - but will it be by the dashing Roy Gardiner or the steadfast Gilbert Blythe?

Why is this one my favorite? The question of Anne's heart gets settled after being dragged out for 3 books. Besides, as a recent college student I relate to the stories in this book a lot more.

From Amazon Store Check out the Book Here

13. Who's an author you're hoping will write more?

Amanda Cabot.

I mentioned before that I loved her historical romance novels. I think that she does a splendid job of maintaining historical accuracy but her characters are so relatable. My favorite of Cabot's writing is Summer of Promise.

Abigail Harding's sister Charlotte is currently expecting a baby while living with her husband at Fort Laramie, Wyoming. It becomes clear from her letters that something isn't right in Charlotte's world, so in true sister fashion, Abigail goes out to see her - not intending that her affianced heart be taken by a certain Lieutenant Ethan Bowles while she's out there.....

I really liked that the story started off rather platonic-ly before the romance started heating up. It's not often that you get a story in which the lovers become good friends beforehand. Of course with all the trouble that Abigail gets herself into, it's a good thing that she does have Ethan as a friend beforehand.

From Amazon Store Check out the Book Here

14. A few books your heart adores?

Seriously? A few books?

Fine, I'll put three.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Obviously, I don't need to say what this book is about (if you don't know what this book is about, then shame on you), or why I like it so much. I've been a big fan of this book since I was in my early teens, and this one is my favorite Austen story.

From Amazon Store Check out the Book Here

North and South by Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell

Margaret Hale is forced from her childhood home in the South of England when her father leaves his job as a minister in the Church of England. The Hale family makes their home in the North of England in a factory town, and Margaret has a tough time adjusting. Not helping matters is her father's new classics pupil, a factory owner by the name of John Thornton.

I got hooked onto this book by the BBC mini-series, and I must say, that I like the book better (only because BBC made Thornton look like a villain in the beginning and I didn't like that at all!).

From Amazon Store Check Out the Book Here

Stars Collide by Janice Thompson

Kat Jennings and Scott Murphy are just your ordinary TV family sitcom couple. Comforting kids, reading lines, falling for each other in real life....
Wait, what?
Uh huh. The flame is sparking on the other side of the curtain. The trouble is, how to keep Kat's Grandma from hurrying the romance and keep the ever nosy press from helping her?

I love this book so much....this couple is so cute. The humor and the 'oh no' situations are enough to drive any blues away that you might have had. And it does give you an insight of what goes on during filming of a TV show (a lot more drama than what goes on the screen!).

From Amazon Store Check out the Book Here

15. What series' conclusion makes you sad?

I was really upset when I finished the Gallagher Girls series. I wanted Cammie's and Zach's story to continue....Though I wouldn't mind a rewrite of the 5th book. I really disliked that book. It was just...not right, didn't fit at all into the story line I thought. Plus the hypnotism and mind control really freaked me out. At least the sixth book fixed some of it, but still.

Ah yes...this one. Seriously needs a rewrite. From Amazon Store Check it out Here

16. What books are on your wish list?

I want to read The Ranger's Apprentice series. My other bookish friends have been clamoring me to read it. Apparently, it's similar to Lord of the Rings, so it must be somewhat good, right?

Book 1 From Amazon Store Check out the Book Here

Am I done? Phewy!

I tag:

Kat n Lia @ Catholic Girl Stuff

Mary Kate @ Sarcastic Scribblings (Because somebody loves tags.....)

Gray @ Writing is Life (that is, if she isn't sick of tags yet! Don't worry, I won't be offended if you pass, Gray)

Pip @ Pip and Lolly

Faith @ A Writer's Song

Micaiah @ Notebooks and Novels


Man, I'm thinking that this is going to be my last tag for this May Tag Madness Month. My muse is getting bored. Hopefully that means that some stories (like maybe Rose of Culmore) will actually get written soon!!!

Scribblingly yours,

Catherine