Grand total of 10 this month, not a true stinker in the bunch, and one truly stellar find:

1. Julie Powell, Julie & Julia (4)
2. Gennita Low, Virtually Hers (4)
3. Sarah Wendell & Candy Tan, Beyond Heaving Bosoms (3.5)
4. Jayne Ann Krentz, Perfect Partners (re-read)
5. Linda Wisdom, Hex Appeal (3.5)
6. Lara Adrian, Ashes of Midnight (3)
7. Gena Showalter, Awaken Me Darkly (3)
8. Jeaniene Frost, Halfway to the Grave (5)
9. Terri Garey, Dead Girls Are Easy (4)
10. Gareth Roberts, Doctor Who: Only Human (still reading)

Wow, I haven't done a book count since June...so here goes:

July 2009

Marsha Altman, The Plight of the Darcy Brothers (4.5)
Rhyannon Byrd, Edge of Hunger (3), Edge of Danger (2)
Sabrina Jeffries, Wed Him Before You Bed Him (5)
Kelley Armstrong, Personal Demon (4)
Emma Holly, Breaking Midnight (4.5), Saving Midnight (4)
Susan Andersen, Bending the Rules (5)

August 2009

Rachel Caine, Cape Storm (3.5)
Lauren Dane, Laid Bare (4.5)
JD Robb, Promises in Death (5)
Eileen Wilks, Mortal Sins (5)
Patti O'Shea, Edge of Dawn (4.5)
Megan Hart & Lauren Dane, Taking Care of Business (5)
Patricia Briggs, Hunting Ground (5)
Jennifer Crusie re-reads, Anyone But You, Strange Bedpersons, Bet Me, Fast Women, Faking It

September 2009 (why not? the month's almost over!)

Gena Showalter, The Darkest Whisper (4.5)
Bella Andre, Tempt Me, Taste Me, Touch Me (3)
Jayne Castle, Obsidian Prey (4)
Gennita Low, Virtually His (3.5)
Jayne Ann Krentz re-reads, Grand Passion, Hidden Talents, Family Man, Trust Me, Deep Waters, Absolutely Positively, Silver Linings

All the above books that don't yet have reviews, will. I swear.

Arriving on my doorstep today, according to UPS tracking

Lisa Kleypas, Tempt Me at Twilight
Liz Carlyle, Wicked All Day
Maya Banks, Sweet Persuasion
Alyssa Brooks, Come and Get Me
Saskia Walker, Double Dare

Still playing catch-up. Here's my May and June totals and ratings...

May: 4 books (low numbers and low ratings for May)

1. Douglas Adams and Mark Carwardine, Last Chance to See (re-read, one of many, 5)
2. Anthology, Red-Hot Valentine's Day (sugar-free review posted in an earlier entry)
3. Elizabeth Hoyt, To Beguile a Beast (gushing praise in posted review)
4. Kristan Higgins, Catch of the Day (2.5, max)

June: 8 books total, lowest score a 3

1. Jacqueline Carey, Kushiel's Justice (5)
2. Nora Roberts, Northern Lights (3)
3. Cherie Feather, The Art of Desire (4)
4. JD Robb, Salvation in Death (4.5)
5. Laura Fitzgerald, Veil of Roses (4)
6. Jaye Wells, Red-Headed Stepchild (3)
7. Sabrina Jeffries, Don't Bargain with the Devil (4)
8. Emma Holly, Kissing Midnight (4.5)

Ten books for me this month, which is about average.

1. Crusie & company, Dogs and Goddesses (5)
2. Gena Showalter, Jewel of Atlantis (5)
3. Gena Showalter, The Nymph King (3)
4. Gena Showalter, The Vampire's Bride (4.5)
5. Jennifer Crusie, Manhunting (re-read)
6. Anthology, Many Blood Returns (3-ish)
7. Lisa Kleypas, Sugar Daddy (4)
8. Lisa Kleypas, Blue-Eyed Devil (4.5)
9. James Swallow, Doctor Who: Peacemaker (3.5)
10. Lauren Dane, Undercover (still reading, at least a 4)

I'm actually about average, with 10-11, depending on how you count half-finished books:





1. Kresley Cole, Kiss of a Demon King (3, started in January)
2. Elizabeth Hoyt, To Taste Temptation (5)
3. Elizabeth Hoyt, To Seduce a Sinner (5)
4. Carrie Vaughn, Kitty and the Dead Man's Hand (4.5)
5. Lorelei James, Long Hard Ride (3)
6. Lorelei James, Cowgirl Up and Ride (4)
7. Lorelei James, Tied Up, Tied Down (3.5)
8. Rachel Caine, Undone (4.5)
9. Gwyn Cready, Seducing Mr. Darcy (4.5)
10. Jayne Ann Krentz, Sizzle and Burn (3)
11. Crusie/Stuart/Rich, Dogs and Goddesses (still reading)

Only 9 books, and not even complete, b/c some I'm not done with yet:

1. Stephen Clarke, Merde Happens (still reading, firmly in 3 territory)
2. Gaelen Foley, Her Secret Fantasy (4.5)
3. Kim Harrison, The Outlaw Demon Wails (5)
4. Lara Adrian, Veil of Midnight (3)
5. Madeline Hunter, Lessons of Desire (2.5)
6. Jennifer Crusie, Charlie All Night (5, re-read)
7. Gena Showalter, Heart of the Dragon (4.5)
8. Kresley Cole, Kiss of a Demon King (finished Feb. 2nd, 3.5)
9. Gennita Low, Big Bad Wolf (still reading, definitely at least a 4)
    

9.5 for me this month -- I could hit 10 if I finish my current book tonight...

My month was about average in terms of number, but pretty high on ratings:

1. Susan Carroll, The Huntress (cont'd from July, 3.5)
2. Yasmine Galenorn, Dragon Wytch (3.5)
3. Anthology, Wild Thing (read 2 of the stories, saving the others, 3.5)
4. Rachel Caine, Gale Force (5)
5. Patricia Briggs, Cry Wolf (5)
6. Marjorie M. Liu, The Iron Hunt (4)
7. Marjorie M. Liu, The Wild Road (4)
8. JD Robb, Strangers in Death (5)
9. Jacquelyn Frank, The Nightwalkers: Elijah (still reading, bur firmly in 3 territory)

 Hmm, my count's a little low this month -- only 9.

1. Sylvia Day, The Stranger I Married (4.5)
2. Sasha White, Bound (3.5)
3. Loretta Chase, Your Scandalous Ways (4)
4. Kresley Cole, Dark Desires After Dusk (5)
5. Lara Adrian, Midnight Rising (4.5)
6. Meggin Cabot, The Boy Next Door (re-read)
7. Nora Roberts, High Noon (5)
8. Tony Hawks, A Piano in the Pyrenees (5)
9. Jacquelyn Frank, The Nightwalkers: Jacob (4)

 I read eight books in their entirety this month, and four that were continued from last month:

Continued:

1. Nicole Jordan, To Bed a Beauty (4)
2. Anthony Bourdain, A Cook's Tour (3.5)
3. Stephen Colbert, I Am America (And So Can You!) (4)
4. Berke Breathed, Classics of Western Literature: Bloom County 1986-1989 (re-read, 5)

Full reads:

1. Nicole Jordan, To Seduce a Bride (2, this book was a clunker)
2. Karen Chance, Embrace the Night (4)
3. Kelley Armstrong, No Humans Involved (4.5)
4. Nora Roberts, The Hollow (3)
5. Patti O'Shea, In the Midnight Hour (5)
6. Kresley Cole, Dark Needs at Night's Edge (5)
7. Anya Bast, Witch Blood (2-3, bit of a misstep)
8. Jennifer Crusie, Bet Me (re-read, 5)

 I'm up a few this month, with 14:

1. JD Robb, Creation in Death (4.5, continued from last month)
2. Mark Morris, Doctor Who: Forever Autumn (4)
3. Elizabeth Hoyt, The Leopard Prince (4.5)
4. Elizabeth Hoyt, The Serpent Prince (4)
5. Amanda Quick, The River Knows (5)
6. Emma Holly, Demon's Fire (5)
7. Trevor Baxendale, Doctor Who: Wishing Well (4)
8. Stephen Colbert, I Am America (And So Can You!) (4)
9. Berke Breathed, Classics of Western Literature: Bloom County 1986-89 (re-read, 5)
10. Anthony Bourdain, A Cook's Tour (3.5-4)
11. Nicole Jordan, To Pleasure a Lady (3-3.5)
12. Nicole Jordan, To Bed a Beauty (still reading)
13. Jayne Ann Krentz, White Lies (4.5)
14. Charlaine Harris, All Together Dead (still reading, but 5 territory)

I'm holding steady at my 10-ish average:

1. Nora Roberts, Sea Swept (started last month, re-read, 5)
2. Nora Roberts, Rising Tides (re-read, 5)
3. Nora Roberts, Inner Harbor (re-read, 5)
4. Nora Roberts, Chesapeake Blue (re-read, 4.5)
5. Rachel Caine, Midnight Alley (4.5)
6. Joanna Bourne, The Spymaster's Lady (5)
7. Sabrina Jeffries, Beware a Scot's Revenge (5)
8. Sabrina Jeffries, Let Sleeping Rogues Lie (4.5)
9. Justin Richards, Doctor Who: The Clockwise Man (4)
10. Stephen Cole, Doctor Who: The Monsters Inside (4.5)
11. Jacqueline Rayner, Doctor Who: Winner Takes All (4.5)
12. JD Robb, Creation in Death (wasn't done before the end of the month, but definitely a 4.5)

I was blessed with exceptional books this past month -- I just hope the rest of the year follows this pattern!

1. Stephen Clarke, Talk to the Snail (4.5)
2. Anthology, Holidays Are Hell (3-4-ish)
3. Marjorie M. Liu, The Last Twilight (ARC, 5 - excellent!)
4. Patricia Briggs, Iron Kissed (5)
5. Carrie Vaughn, Kitty and the Silver Bullet (5)
6. Lilith Saintcrow, Saint City Sinners (4.5)
7. Lilith Saintcrow, To Hell and Back (5)
8. Eileen Wilks, Night Season (still reading)
9. Jennifer Crusie, Getting Rid of Bradley (5 - reread)
10. Jennifer Crusie, Fast Women (5 - reread)

 My count was way low this month:

1. Jacqueline Rayner, Doctor Who: The Last Dodo (4.5)
2. Martin Day, Doctor Who: The Wooden Heart (4)
3. Alison Tyler, Learning to Love It (3.5-4)
4. Kim Harrison, For a Few Demons More (5)
5. Nora Roberts, Blood Brothers (2.5ish)
6. Anthology, A Very Merry Christmas (2.5ish)
7. Anthology, Holidays Are Hell (still reading)
8. Stephen Clarke, Talk to the Snail: Ten Commandments for Understanding the French (still reading)

 

I was a really slow reader this month. Of the 12 books I'm going to list, I'm still reading 3, and I'm so far behind on writing reviews, I'll probably never dig myself out!

1. Suzanne Enoch, A Touch of Minx (5)
2. Susan Andersen, Coming Undone (3.5)
3. Paul Magrs, Doctor Who: Sick Building (4)
4. Charlaine Harris, Grave Surprise (4.5)
5. Mark Michalowski, Doctor Who: Wetworld (3.5)
6. Elizabeth Hoyt, The Raven Prince (4-4.5)
7. Alexandra Potter, Me & Mr. Darcy (2.5-3, still reading)
8. JR Ward, Lover Unbound (3)
9. Karen Marie Moning, Darkfever (2.5-3)
10. Lisa Kleypas, Secrets of a Summer Night (3, still reading)
11. Tanya Huff, Summon the Keeper (5, re-read)
12. Natasha Rhodes, Dante's Girl (just started)

I read 11 books in September:

1. Nalini Singh, Slave to Sensation (finally finished this one, rates a 2.5)
2. Jennifer Crusie, Strange Bedpersons (re-read)
3. JD Robb, Innocent in Death (5)
4. Trish Jensen, Phi Beta Bimbo (3)
5. Anthology, On the Prowl (first 3 stories rated a 5 [Briggs, Wilks, & Chance], last one [Sunny] was a clunker I couldn't finish)
6. Emma Holly, Fairyville (5)
7. Hugh Laurie, The Gun Seller (4)
8. Janelle Denison, Born to be Wilde (4.5)
9. Lilith Saintcrow, The Devil's Right Hand (5)
10. Yasmine Galenorn, Changeling (5)
11. Jayne Castle, Silver Master (3-3.5)

My total this month is 10:

1. Keri Arthur, Dangerous Games (5)
2. Gregory MacGuire, Wicked (still reading, maybe a 3.5)
3. Lori Foster, Simon Says (2)
4. Nora Roberts, Angel's Fall (5)
5. Rachel Caine, The Dead Girls' Dance (5)
6. Liz Carlyle, Never Lie to a Lady (5)
7. JK Rowling, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (5)
8. Madeline Hunter, The Rules of Seduction (2.5)
9. Stephen Clarke, In the Merde for Love (5)
10. Gaelen Foley, Her Only Desire (3.5)

All in all, a staggering proportion of 5's this month, and two dullards from authors I used to love unconditionally.

How about all of you in Bloglandia? Read anything exceptionally good lately?