To Read or not to Read - that is the question

To Be Read?

I have been known to go over-board when it comes to book buying. I read a glowing book review and go straight to Amazon to buy myself a copy. But then the book arrives and I'm already in the middle of a really great read so I just put it aside and then a whole year passes and that book that I just had to have right this minute! is collecting dust on my bookshelf. *Woopsy*.

I do the same thing with clothes. It's a girl thing....

Any-who. My school holidays are coming up and it looks like I'm going to have a straight 3-weeks of reading. My assignments are done. Deadlines have been met. I am a nerd with no other plans. And my TBR pile needs its own post code! HELP!

I have listed the various books that have been lounging on my bookshelf. Please kick in your 2 cents and suggest which books I absolutely have to get stuck into ASAP.

'Sign of the Zodiac' series by Vicki Pettersson

I bought the first 3 books in this series after I read Kim Harrisons's 'Rachel Morgan' series. Pettersson's series was an Amazon recommendation that I bought cheap second-hand copies of. I was recently reminded that I owned the books when I read Larissa's review of the latest Zodiac book, which piqued my interest.

'A Certain Slant of Light' by Laura Whitcomb

Another Amazon recommendation, after I read (and loved) 'Blood and Chocolate' by Annette Curtis-Klause. I assume that both YA books are in the same literary/paranormal vain? I also liked the title being an Emily Dickinson quote. My interest was piqued again when I read 'Tempting Persephone's' shining review of the book.

'Mercy Hollings' by Toni Andrews

I had no real reason for buying these books, except I already had one favorite UF heroine by the name of 'Mercy' and thought that showed promise for Toni Andrews series. lol. I haven't actually ever read a blog review of these books... but the covers are quite pretty.

'Lightworld/Darkworld' by Jennifer Armintrout

I wasn't really impressed with Armintrout's 'Blood Ties' series, but thought her writing had enough promise for me to give her second series a go. From the reviews I've read, the general consensus seems to be that her 'Lightworld/Darkworld' series is better than 'Blood Ties'?

'Jennifer Scales' by Mary Janice-Davidson & Anthony Alongi

I *LOVE* her 'Queen Betsy' and 'Fred the Mermaid' series. Not sure how Janice-Davidson's humour will communicate to a YA audience, since so much of her funny side is lewd and crude. Also not too sure about her having a writing partner (her husband?), although if it works for Ilona Andrews....

'Dark Days' by Jocelynn Drake

Recently read a 'Pearls cast before a McPig' review of the first book, which was mostly positive. But I'm a bit hesitant because the series doesn't seem to have a HEA romance at its centre? Although, book #5 'Wait for Dusk' does have a rather steamy cover - five books seems a long time to wait for a romance plot to form.
Mostly I bought these books because they reminded me a bit of Jeaniene Frost's 'Night Huntress' series.

'Lonely Werewolf Girl' by Martin Millar

Charlaine Harris wrote a glowing blog review of this book when it first came out in 2007. And when Charlaine Harris says 'jump!' I say 'how high?'. The premise really intrigued me as well - a bit of a high-brow werewolf story, more literary than I'm used to reading of the furry subject matter.

'Cal and Niko Leandros' by Rob Thurman

I actually read the first book, 'Nightlife' last year, and loved it.... So much so that I rushed out and bought the next 3 books in the series. For some reason I kept holding-off on reading them though? I totally forgot I owned the books until Larissa blogged an interview with Rob Thurman that piqued my interest again.

'The Hunger Games' by Suzanne Collins

I've been hearing about this one since it came out in 2008. I haven't read a bad review of it yet. But it has still been stuck on my TBR shelf because I'm a little scared that all the hype will ruin the book for me.

'Salt and Silver' by Anna Katherine

I bought this one based on the cover alone. I was intrigued, but I have yet to read a blog review of this book.

'Clockwork Heart' by Dru Pagliassotti

I bought this one after Michelle posted about it in her 'Mailbox Monday'. I'd recently read 'Soulless' by Gail Carriger and was ravenous for more Steampunk. Have yet to read a blog review of this book though.

'Three Days to Dead' by Kelly Meding

Another book I read nothing but positive reviews of when it came out last year. I actually started reading this one a few months ago, but wasn't in the right 'Urban Fantasy' mood.