Read Your Name Challenge: 2009 Wrap-Up

I have completed the Read Your Name Challenge. This was fun. Here's my final list for the challenge:

N- Never Let Me Go - Kazuo Ishiguro (completed 2/01/09)
E- Evermore - Alyson Noel (completed 8/05/09)
L- Life of Pi - Yann Martel (completed 1/23/09)
A- A Hint of Wicked - Jennifer Haymore (completed 5/21/09)
I- Inkspell by Cornelia Funke (completed 1/15/09)
N- No Rest for the Wicked - Kresley Cole (completed 2/05/09)
E- Eye of the Whale - Douglas Carlton Abrams (completed 8/18/09)

Eye of the Whale by Douglas Carlton Abrams

Elizabeth McKay is a Marine Biologist who is working on completing her PHD with a thesis of deciphering humpback whale communication. These whales’ song, the most complex in nature, may in fact reveal secrets about the animal world that no one could have imagined. When a humpback whale makes its way up the Sacramento River with an unprecedented song, it is up to Elizabeth to save the whale - but little did she know the price of her endeavor. For as the story of the whale starts capturing the media’s attention - it also lands her in danger from forces that do not want the whale’s secrets revealed - that not only threaten her career and marriage - but her life.

Mr. Abrams has really done his homework on this one. I was captivated by this eco-thriller right from the start. Not only are the environmental issues mentioned in the story real - but there is just so much useful information within its pages - that I actually found it to be an educational tool. It really makes you think about our environment and makes you ponder what more can be done to protect our planet and everything in it.

I liked Elizabeth a lot - she was such a great heroine. And I just couldn't help falling in love with the whale as well. There was action that had me on the edge of my seat. This is great for anyone who likes reading about the environment and the issues that our ecosystem faces. This is one that will definitely stay with you long after you are done with it.

My thanks to Jaime at Pump Up Your Book Promotions and author Douglas Carlton Abrams for sending me this autographed copy for review. If you have the time check out his website - there is plenty of information there regarding the research done for the book as well as neat pictures and plenty of other goodies.

Evermore by Alyson Noel

After the accident that left her orphaned, 16 year old Ever has not only survived this traumatic ordeal but can now see people’s auras, hear people’s thoughts and keeps getting visited by the ghost of her younger sister Riley.

Ever is now residing with her aunt in California - she lives in this spectacular house overlooking the ocean, goes to a new school, has made some new friends (although they are recluses like her) and is trying to make the best out of her situation. Her only problem - the world around her is just too much for her to handle. She has to live with her iPod on at all times (playing loud rock music) and uses a hoody to try to have some type of quiet. But even that doesn’t help - she is seen as a weirdo by her classmates (the opposite of the life she was living before the accident). That is until the day that new student Damen Auguste sits next to her in class. She is intrigued yet at the same time terrified of him. Damon’s touch not only calms the psychic chaos going on in her head but his touch gives her the shivers.

I really liked this. Although it was an easy read - I found it well worth the time. Ever was a very unique character and I really enjoyed reading about her and her special talents. And Damen [sighs] needless, to say I was intrigued. It is a very cute romance with a supernatural twist. There were some funny parts as well as some very sweet moments. I thought that Riley was one of the funniest characters in the book. She was to die for (no pun intended). The mystery factor - of who or what Damen is had me going the whole time. I sat and read this in a couple of hours - then went out and bought Blue Moon. Yep, I enjoyed it that much.

A Hint of Wicked by Jennifer Haymore

Talk about getting stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Sophie, the Duchess of Calton, is devastated when she is informed that her husband Garrett has perished at the Battle of Waterloo. Tristan, both Sophie and Garrett's childhood friend, is the one who helps her through her grief, pregnancy and eventually the one to help her overcome the loss of her first love and learn to find love once again in his arms. Eight years after the dreadful news of Garrett's death, Sophie and Tristan are happilly married raising their two children (Sophie & Garrett's daughter Miranda, and Gary - Tristan's son from his first marriage). She has moved on and although she still remebers Garrett - she has found love and passion with her new husband. That is, until the night that Garrett returns demanding his title, his land, and, more importantly, his wife back.

Sophie is quite the heroine. I liked her a lot - she's definitely not the average heronie you find in most historical romances. She's strong and will do absolutely anything for her family. Tristan and Garrett were both endearing in their own ways. Where Tristan was romantic and kind - Garrett was strong and hard. It was definitely a tough choice for me and I found myself just as torn as Sophie was as to whom she loved.

The story itself was great, with plenty of action and steamy romance that at no point fizzled out. I was intrigued as to who Sophie would eventually stay with (making the pages fly by) and was pleased with the outcome of the story. I also am happy to hear that the man whom Sophie eventually does turn away will have his own story come April 2010 so I'll definitely have my eye out for that. This is Ms. Haymore's first novel and I must say it was a grand success! This is a refreshing take on historical romance that was quite a treat and one that is a definite must-read.

GIVEAWAY: I have 5 copies of A HINT OF WICKED by Jennifer Haymore to giveaway.

As always, leave a comment for one entry. Second entry if you follow, third if you follow on Twitter, and so forth.

Rules: Books will be delivered directly from Publisher so giveaway is only available to residents of the US and Canada. No P.O. Boxes please. Winners will be drawn this Saturday, May 30.

Here is a list of all the participants of this blog tour:

http://www.foreigncircuslibrary.blogspot.com/ - May 19 review

http://bookinwithbingo.blogspot.com - May 19 intro; May 21 review; May 23 Q&A; June 6 announce winners of giveaway

http://ajourneyofbooks.blogspot.com - May 21 Q&A

http://chicbookreviews.blogspot.com/ - May 22 review and giveaway

http://www.findthetimetoread.blogspot.com - May 26 review and giveaway

http://www.ReadingWithMonie.com - May 26 giveaway

http://zensanity.blogspot.com/ - May 26 Q&A

http://booksoulmates.blogspot.com/ - May 27 giveaway

http://yankeeromancereviewers.blogspot.com/ - May 28 giveaway

http://www.myspace.com/darbyscloset - May 28 review

http://confessionsofaromancebookaddict.wordpress.com/ - June 1 to 4 Q&A, review, and giveaway

http://dreyslibrary.blogspot.com - June 1 giveaway

www.morbid-romantic.net - June 2 review, giveaway, Q&A

http://mindingspot.blogspot.com/ - June 3 review and giveaway

http://kayespenguinposts.blogspot.com/ - June 3 giveaway

http://thereviewfromhere.wordpress.com/ - June 4 review

www.thebookgirl.net - June 5 review and giveaway

http://yougottareadreviews.blogspot.com/ - June 6 review and giveaway

http://martasmeanderings.blogspot.com/ - June 8

http://www.bookwormygirl.blogspot.com/ - May 25 review and giveaway

www.alphaheroes.blogspot.com - review

No Rest for the Wicked by Kresley Cole

This is the second book in the Immortals After Dark series. This is the story of Kaderin the Cold and she has met her mate in a vampire (which she starts off not being too happy about)- Sebastian. The story takes us from one adventure after another throughout the globe as Kaderin and Sebastian are competing for the grand prize in the Hie. In this story we once again hear from Emma and Myst and learn more about the Lore. You are also introduced to the characters for her next book. I love that about these books - that, and that you always seem to get a glimpse of the lives of those characters you previously enjoyed.

The story is full of action, adventure and steamy romance. These books are part of my guilty pleasures (along with all Christine Feehan and Sherrilyn Kenyon books).

Another enjoyable, can't-put-it-down, interrupt-me-and-you'll-be-sorry page turner.

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

Title: Never Let Me Go
Author: Kazuo Ishiguro
Pages: 304
Genre: Science Fiction
Source: Purchased

I almost don't want to say anything about this book because I don't want to give anything away. Not to mention, I commenced reading this not knowing a thing about it, so the way the author unfolds the story... by slow increments making you more and more knowledgeable about what is going on, was extraordinary and part of the reason why I enjoyed this book so much.

Ishiguro crafts a picturesque boarding school world populated by seemingly normal students, with all the pettiness, mean-spiritedness and misunderstandings of everyday teens. However, it is clear from the start that something is subtly different about these children and the way they are being brought up.

The narrator of Never Let Me Go is Kathy H, a young "carer" in England. Throughout the novel she reminisces about her childhood, coming of age and friendships with Ruth and Tommy in an open, conversational style. She's a wonderfully developed character who holds your interest and sympathy throughout the book. 

I won’t say much else, so that when and, if you do decide to read this, everything can be as new and shocking to you as it was to me -a real page-turner.

This story was deeply sad, moving, and absorbing. It is one that will stay with you.

My Rating:

Life of Pi by Yann Martel

When Pi is sixteen, his family decides to emigrate from India to Canada aboard a Japanese cargo ship, along with their zoo animals bound for new homes. The ship sinks. Pi finds himself alone in a lifeboat, his only companions a hyena, an orangutan, a wounded zebra, and Richard Parker, a 450-pound Bengal tiger. And there begins our adventure..

Although the story mostly revolves around Pi’s will to survive his 7 month long journey at sea, there are a lot of other thought-provoking elements. It contains elements of religion, philosophy, zoology, and biology.

With faith, this novel becomes all the more meaningful. It enables you to absorb the thoughts and emotion that Pi experiences. At the end of the book, when he presents two stories about what has happened to him, it is difficult to decide which of the two outcomes is true, and/or which of the two you prefer. I absolutely loved the ending of this book, it made me look at the story from a totally different perspective.

My favorite part were the instructions on how to dominate a Bengal tiger on a boat - this had me in stitches.

I will forewarn you though, it was a bit slow at first - but persevere and you will be awarded with a beautifully crafted and very vivid story of human nature and survival.

Inkspell by Cornelia Funke

Inkspell holds all the love of books, magic, and adventure that Inkheart did. What a fantastical sequel. In this one, Meggie, Mo, Resa and Farid are actually in the Inkworld. With them, we travel the Wayless Woods, see the Castle of Night, meet the Adderhead, the Laughing Prince (Prince of Sighs) and even Cosimo the Fair.

For some reason it took me a while to get into it and I struggled with the first 100 pages or so, but once it got going I couldn’t put it down. I liked the budding romance between Meggie and Farid. All the new characters introduced made the story all the more enjoyable. With a new nemesis and some of the old one’s being back, Inkspell takes us to a higher and more dangerous level. The ending was a bit sad (why did it have to be my favorite character?) - but I have high hopes that Inkdeath will turn it all around and wrap it up to my satisfaction. :D

Read Your Name Challenge: 2009

Anyhoo, the challenge is to read your name in book title first letters, ultimately spelling out your name. That means:

1. Using your first name, or blogger name, or your pets name, or even your favorite literary character's name; whichever you like, choose books with first title letters that spell out your name. Such as my name: Victoria. the first book's title would start with the letter V, then the next book title begins with I, etc. Make sense? (I hope so!) :p

2. Bloggers and non-bloggers alike are free to join. If you do not have a blog and would like to post your reviews/titles that spelled your name somewhere, you may do so here at the group blog. Just send me an e-mail (phantombibliophile [at] gmail [dot] com), or leave a comment letting me know you'd like to use this blog.

3. If you have your own blog, come back here every month and leave a comment containing the link to your challenge page containing the books you've read or each review you've written for books that count for this challenge. (Crossovers with other challenges are okay.) I will make a new post for this on the first of every month.

4. The challenge runs from Jan. 1st 2009, to Dec. 31st 2009. You may join at any time.

5. Last but not least, be sure to sign up using Mister Linky Below! & Leave a comment with what name you're going to use, and the name itself of course! Oh, and don't forget to link back to the challenge from your blog (if you have one of course) to show you're participating!