Read-A-Thon Activity #2: Review-A-Thon

Welcome!
Today I will be your host for activity #2 in the Clear Away the Clutter Read-A-Thon - a week long extravaganza hosted by the wonderful Kate of The Neverending Shelf.

I present to you: Review-A-Thon!

I don't know about you but I have a bunch of books that I would love to post reviews for - or at least get reviews started! 

I was thinking, what could I do during this wonderful Clear Away the Clutter Read-A-Thon week to help with this growing problem? Review-A-Thon was born and I would love for you guys to participate.
 
Just like the Read-A-Thon was meant to help make a dent in our massive TBR piles, this activity is here to help encourage you to work on getting your reviews in order.

Sign up below with your Review-A-Thon post and you could win a copy of Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins! There are other great prizes you can win as well - head over to The Neverending Shelf for all the details!

This activity really could be what you make of it. I'm going to make a massive list of all the books I want to post reviews for. I'm hoping to get a chunk of these reviews done - scheduling as many as I can out over the next couple of weeks. The others, I'm hoping to at least get started.

So what do you think guys? Are you up for the challenge(s)

Happy Reading and Reviewing Guys!

(p.s. - my first time using Mr. Linky so please let me know if it's not working!)

Monthly Reads and Challenge Updates - March 2010

Ok, this really isn't funny because April is NOT suppose to be here already! I mean, seriously guys? April? Month 4? I want a redo...what's that called in golf? A mulligan? I'm calling for a mulligan!

Didn't get nearly enough accomplished in March as I hoped. I'm probably being too hard on myself but it's so easy when I look around the house and see massive bookcases full of books, projects (both book related and not) in various degrees of completion and oh, laundry - laundry everywhere!

So yeah, I would like to redo March. I will go back in time, make some type of ill-advised deal with a fairy or daemon or ghost or soul scavenger or whatnot to gain some supper human mass organization skills and then kick March's but! I'll read every book on my TBR list, review every book read, finish challenges, start new ones, comment on every great blog post I read - oh, and bring out world peace!

What? It could happen.

Seriously though - I'm not one for regrets and one of my favorite things about books and blogging is that well, anything goes. I can read any book I want, post reviews whenever (or not) and know that there are other people out there with the same passion as I have for the written word. It's like one big cozy dysfunctional family :)

Ok - enough babble! On with the show!!

Books Read in March:
1.Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev
2.Teacher's Pet by Richie Tankersley Cusick
3. Deadly Little Secret by Laurie Faria Stolarz
4. Captivate by Carrie Jones
5. Switch by Carol Snow
6. Thirteen Days To Midnight by Patrick Carman
7. An Interactive Sherlock Holmes Mystery: The Crimes of Dr. Watson by Duane Swierczynski
8. The Awakening by Kelley Armstrong
9. The Witchy Worries of Abbie Adams
10. The Devouring by Simon Holt
11. Island Sting by Bonnie J. Doerr
12. Forget-Her-Nots by Amy Brecount White
13. Blood Feud by Alyxandra Harvey
14. Serenity: Those Left Behind Graphic Novel Vol 1 by Joss Whedon et all

Challenge updates:
2010 Debut Authors Challenge

8 books read so far!

Graphic Novel's Challenge

5/10

Support Your Local Library

Um...at least 20 / 75 but it's probably more...need to check!

Clear Away the Clutter

3 / 10

Clear Away The Clutter Read-A-Thon

One of the Challenges I'm um...challenging myself to this year is The Neverending Shelf's, Clear Away the Clutter Challenge.

As part of this challenge, this week - running from Monday April 5th to Sunday April 11th Kate is hosting a Clear Away the Clutter Read-A-Thon. Awesome I say!

Even if you aren't participating in the Challenge - this read-a-thon could be your chance togain some much needed space on those overflowing bookcases by tackling that massive TBR pile and get some serious reading done!

This is an all week event - complete with activities hosted by other bloggers, some wonderful posts by Kate and a chance to win some awesome prizes! Be sure to check The Neverending Shelf tomorrow (Monday) for a launch post with all the details.

Your very own WilowRaven (that's me :) will be hosting an event that I will post about on Tuesday - so stay tuned! I'm supper excited about it!

Please click the pics above for information about the Clutter Challenge as well as the Read-A-Thon.

Personally, I'm looking forward to a spectacular week! I might have to invent that time machine I've been thinking about to find a way to squeeze in the full time job, full time family and massive amounts of reading but hey, there isn't much I wouldn't do for a good book (or dozen!)

Hope to see you participating!

Happy Reading folks!

In My Mailbox - April 3, 2010

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren :)

I bought more books this week then I should have but that's ok - right?

(links are to Goodreads)

Soulless by Gail Carriger

I've been hearing so many good things about this one and as an added plus, the second book in the series is already out so I can get that instant gratification thing going on if I love it and need more :)

Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane

I have a big pet peeve with good books being turned into bad movies. I've heard mixed things about both the book and the movie on this one so I wanted to see what was up myself.

The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting

Ekkk! Love the cover and I don't think I have read a bad review yet of this one. Can't wait to get started on it!

Hearts At Stake by Alyxandra Harvey

I've read this one already and I have the ARC but I couldn't resist the finished copy any longer. When I receive ARCs (from a publisher, or trading or a contest) and I really love the book, I fell the need to buy the finished copy to support the author.

So...anyone want my ARC? Might do a contest or I might just pick some lucky person who actually reads this and let's me know ;)

Beautiful Dead Jonas by Eden Maguire

This was a total impulse buy but it looks really good. I keep saying to myself that I should stop buying the first in a series books because I'll just need to read all the rest...but I don't think I really want to stop :)

Serenity Graphic Novel Vol 1: Those Left Behind by Joss Whedon

Serenity Graphic Novel Vol 2: Better Days by Joss Whedon

Um? Can we say awesome!? I love love love Firefly - wish it were still on the air. The movie Serenity was pretty great as well and these GNs are filling a Whedon void of mine :)


So, what's in your mailbox?

Book Review: Island Sting by Bonnie J. Doerr

Title: Island Sting
Author: Bonnie J. Doerr
Publication Date: March 2010
Tags: eco-mystery, green teens, friendship, environmental awareness
Age: 12+ maybe younger (my guesstimate)
Pages: approx 218
Series: 1st in a series?
Book Acquisition: ARC from Around the World Tours AND Other World Tours*

My Rating: 3.5 / 5 Stars

(from Goodreads)

Kenzie Ryan's New York know-how and private girls' academy education prove useless in the middle of an island wildlife refuge.
Upon arrival in the exotic Florida Keys, she is thrown into the midst of an ecological mystery involving the endangered Florida Key deer. How can she navigate this upside down world? A world deftly maneuvered by Angelo--island native and nerve-wracking hunk. The two team up to accomplish what perplexes law enforcement, but Angelo exposes Kenzie's insecurities, as well as her inexperience with nature and the opposite sex.
Danger and disagreement follow the pair wherever they go. Enamored with Angelo and his local savvy, Kenzie hopes to secure his loyal friendship. But how can she win Angelo's trust when what she must tell him will crush his ego?
Island Sting includes notes on the endangered Florida Key Deer and the National Key Deer Refuge.

My Review:
It took me a little while to warm up to this one but once I did I very much enjoyed the story. The plot was interesting - a mystery thrown together with a strong environmental message.

I really liked how passionate Kenzie was about saving and protecting the adorable Florida Key Deer. But
at times I felt disconnected to the characters and exactly what they were either talking about or doing. This could be due to the fact that I read the advanced review copy – we all know the importance of a well placed punctuation mark! I’m not sure though. The story itself was well told but it seemed to jump around a lot..

I really liked the environmental issues it brought up and I think Bonnie did a great job bringing them to the forefront. Also, there is a small amount of romance which I found to be very cute.

I haven't been able to find any real info on it but there was a excerpt in the back of Island Sting for what I assume is the next book in the series, called Stakeout. It looks pretty good and I hope I can find a copy to read!

I would recommend this book to fans of the environment who like cute, spunky mystery stories.

*totally my fault that I signed up for this book tour with two different tour blogs - they are both great, run by great people and you should get them both out!

Books in the Series:
Island Sting (January 2010)
Stakeout?

Linkage Love:
Leap Books
Author's Website
To learn more about the Florida Keys refuge
To help the Florida Key deer

Other Reviews:
Reviews by other bloggers from both tours can be found here and here.

*if you would like your review added please leave me a link in the comments*