Buried in a Bog by: Sheila Connolly

Sheila Connolly has another series that we have read about a young woman who inherits an apple orchard and we have enjoyed that one. So, when I saw this new series that she has written I just had to give it a go. Especially since Ireland is on my Bucket List to visit.
Our leading lady was raised by her Grandmother who was from Ireland and has recently passed away with a request for her granddaughter to go back to Ireland for a visit.
Maura arrives and begins to find new friends, a mystery right away, family, and eventually discovers even more surprises. I don't want to give away any spoilers.
It's a fresh, good read, and it does nothing to lower a visit to Ireland lower on my Bucket List. If anything just makes me wish I could actually go there sometime soon.
Left me looking forward to a second book in this series.

Happy Reading--
Beverly G ♥

The Beggar King by: Oliver Potzsch

The Beggar King is the next book in the series The Hangman's Daughter.
I found this to be an interesting series not only for the mystery aspects and I do love a good mystery, but the author shows how the people of these early times lived. There have always been the haves and the have nots. It's also interesting to read how doctors have evolved over time.
I also find it fascinating how people have always traveled since the beginning of time. No matter what the weather conditions or modes of transportation.
Since the latest cruise ship breakdown that's been on the news if those people had had to live like the people in the so called olden days before law suits became so prevelant they would really have something to complain about. Ship travel back then didn't offer compensation for trips that went awry.
So much for my little rant on modern day complainers. 
Check out this series of books for a good mystery, a plucky herione, and some insight into how people used to live.

Happy Reading--
Beverly G ♥

My 100+ Books for 2013 List

I've fooled around with my blog template a little bit, but haven't figured out the page thing under the header yet, but I will as the year progresses.
However, I am starting my 100+ Book List here:

1. Simon Said---Sarah R. Shaber---Kindle
2. Gasparilla"s Treasure---Scott Clements--Kindle
3. A Death in the Small Hours---Charles Finch--Kindle
4. Enter Second Murderer---Alanna Knight--Kindle
5. Uneasy Spirits---M. Louisa Locke--Kindle
6. Theft of Swords---Michael J. Sullivan--Kindle
7. The Case of the Young Patrician Lady--Alydia Rackham--Kindle
8. Rise of Empire---Michael J. Sullivan--Kindle
9. A Leaf of the Wind of All Hallows-An Outlander Novella---Diana Gabaldon--Kindle
10. The Custom of the Army--An Outlander Novella--Diana Gabaldon--Kindle
11.The Beggar King--Oliver Potzsch---Kindle
12. Buried in a Bog--Sheila Connolly--Kindle

100+ Book Challenge 2013

I haven't found an official 100+ Book Challenge yet, but I am a avid reader and I will challenge myself to read 100+ books in 2013.
I am confident that I will be able to do that since I hit 103 in 2012. That list is on a page at the top of my blog, but until I figure out how to show all my pages under my header you will have to wait to access that page to see which books I actually read in 2012. I know, I know who cares what you read in 2012, but if you take a look you might find something that you might be interested in that you hadn't previously known about.
So, in the next couple of days I will be fooling around in blogger trying to figure out how to get all my pages to show up at the top of my blog under the header.

Happy New Year!!!
and
Happy Reading--
Beverly G ♥

Chunkster Book Challenge 2013

I'm signing up for The Plump Primer part of the challenge again this year. I have already got my books picked out. I intend to complete the rest of the Fantasy series I started at the end of 2012.
You'll find the logo and link on my side bar and below you will find all the rules and regs you will need to get started also.

Definition of a chunkster:

A chunkster is 450 pages or more of ADULT literature, whether non-fiction or fiction. A chunkster should be a challenge.

If you read books in large print, your books will need to be 525 pages or more. The average large type book is 10-15% larger or more so it’s a fair estimate.

The rules:

• No audio books. (There are exceptions to this rule.)
• No e-books allowed. This was discussed in much detail in the 2011 challenge. The short version: a chunkster isn’t a challenge if you’re reading it on an e-reader. (There are exceptions to this rule.)
• Essay, poetry, and short story collections will be allowed. Collections have to be read in their entirety to count. If you’ve needed a reason to finally pick up your copy of The Collected Works Of ____ now is the time.
• Books may crossover with other challenges.
• Anyone may join. (If you don’t have a blog, just leave a comment on this post with your challenge level and your progress throughout the challenge.) 
• You don’t need to list your books ahead of time.
• Once you’ve picked a level, that’s it. You’re committed to it!

You must pick a level of participation:

1. The Chubby Chunkster – this option is for the readers who want to dabble in large tomes, but really doesn't want to commit to much more than that. FOUR Chunksters is all you need to finish this challenge.
2. The Plump Primer - this option is for the slightly heavier reader who wants to commit to SIX Chunksters over the next twelve months. 
3. Do These Books Make my Butt Look Big? - this option is for the reader who can't resist bigger and bigger books and wants to commit to SIX Chunksters from the following categories: 2 books which are between 450 - 550 pages in length; 2 books which are 551 - 750 pages in length; 2 books which are GREATER than 750 pages in length (for ideas, please refer to the book suggestions page for some books which fit into these categories).
4. Mor-book-ly Obese - This is for the truly out of control chunkster. For this level of challenge you must commit to EIGHT or more Chunksters of which three tomes MUST be 750 pages or more. You know you want to.....go on and give in to your cravings.

Want Suggestions of what to read? 

Check out the Chunky Book Suggestions page. Throughout the year, we will be adding new books to this page.

To review or not to review, that is the quesion...Reviews are not mandatory, but they are strongly encouraged. We will be putting up a Mr. Linky at the beginning of the challenge for links to your reviews. We will also be posting a Mr. Linky for wrap up posts at the end of the challenge.

To sign up, please use Mr. Linky below by linking DIRECTLY to your post about the challenge (please, please - do NOT link to your main blog page!!). If you do not have a blog, please just leave a comment telling me you are joining the challenge. Thanks! There is NO deadline for sign ups - sign up whenever you want through the end of the challenge period.

Completed The Chunkster Challenge

I have successfully completed the Chunkster Challenge for 2012 with the last book on the list below:

1. The Scottich Prisoner---Diana Gabaldon--534 pgs.
2. Rebels & Traitors---Lindsey Davis--742 pgs.
3. 1632---Eric Flint--552 pgs.
4. Time Spike---Eric Flint & Marilyn Kosmatka--467 pgs.
5. Wizards First Rule---Terry Goodkind--820 pgs.
6. Stone of Tears---Terry Goodkind--979 pgs.


The last book Stone of Tears is the longest so far and it is the second in a series of 8. The rest of the series are all Chunksters and I plan on using them for my entries in next years contest.
If you are a fan of Fantasy Fiction this is a good series to invest in. The characters are good and evil. So far good has prevailed. There is lots of adventure and dire fixes that the characters get themselves into and have to figure out solutions for. My only complaint with this second book was toward the middle it got a little too much description of every little thing and then when I got past that the author picked up the pace again and came in with a smashing finish to lead you to the next book in the series.
I still liked it well enough that I will continue with the series so far.
Sometimes I just need a little bit of magic and fantasy to relieve the stresses of everyday life.

Happy Reading--
Beverly G ♥ 

Wizard's First Rule by: Terry Goodkind

I just got through reading my 5th Chunkster, I have one more to go before Dec. 31st. I think I will read the second in this series to finish off my Chunkster list for this year.
I've become a big fan of Diana Galbadon and I have been a fan of Christopher Paolini for a long time. Not only did I like Wizard's First Rule, but I found that Terry Goodkind has a very similar writing style.
Good characters with personalities that make you empathize with them sometimes even the mean characters, which is good because there is a little bit of bad in all of us.
I liked the way the story evolved over the 820 pages and for me it had a very satisfying ending. Even though I know this is quite a long series if for some reason I did not know that or was unable to get the next books the author brought all events and characters to an ending that would be happy enough to be a stand alone book. However, since by the time you're finished you're so invested in the characters that it's nice to know there's more to the story.
There is magic, monsters, and even a special dragon. If you're a fan of Fantasy you'll like this one.

Happy Reading--
Beverly G ♥