2013 in Review

Although I had read 142 books in 2012, I had set my 2013 goal to 100. Unlike most, I wanted to decrease the amount of reading. I wanted to be more PRESENT in life. The year 2012 was a rough year. I lost my father, a childhood friend and I reached the highest weight of my life. My cholesterol was off the charts and my blood pressure was high, with medication. I had to make a change. I did not want to follow in the footsteps of my childhood friend who dies of a heart attack the was largely due to morbid obesity. I succeeded in changing my eating and exercising habits AND I only read 115 books in 2013. If you want to see all 115, your are welcome to check out my goodreads page. Otherwise, below are only the books I rated 5 stars.

And One Last Thing... by Molly Harper was a re-read. Loved it the first time and the I loved it more the second time. My sister recently went through a bitter divorce, and it closer to home this time around.

My favorite of the Year overall was Written in Red by Anne Bishop.

Check out the rest below:

cover	title	author	avg rating	rating	shelves	date read	date added
	White Trash Zombie Apocalypse(White Trash Zombie, #3)	Rowland, Diana *	3.97	1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars[ 5 of 5 stars ]	read [edit]	Jul 21, 2013[edit]	Jan 05, 2013
	Clean Sweep (Innkeeper Chronicles #1)	Andrews, Ilona*	4.36	1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars[ 5 of 5 stars ]	read [edit]	Dec 28, 2013[edit]	Dec 25, 2013	edit view »
	Quick Fix (In a Fix, #2)	Grimes, Linda*	3.97	1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars[ 5 of 5 stars ]	read [edit]	Sep 16, 2013[edit]	Sep 14, 2013	edit view »
	The Sweet Scent of Blood(Spellcrackers.com, #1)	McLeod, Suzanne *	3.66	1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars[ 5 of 5 stars ]	read [edit]	Apr 29, 2013[edit]	Apr 28, 2013	edit view »
	Shapeshifted (Edie Spence, #3)	Alexander, Cassie *	4.02	1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars[ 5 of 5 stars ]	read [edit]	Jun 08, 2013[edit]	Jan 13, 2013	edit view »
	Fifth Grave Past the Light(Charley Davidson #5)	Jones, Darynda *	4.57	1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars[ 5 of 5 stars ]	read [edit]	Jul 18, 2013[edit]	Sep 23, 2012	edit view »
	Skinwalker (Jane Yellowrock, #1)	Hunter, Faith*	3.87	1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars[ 5 of 5 stars ]	read [edit]	Jan 17, 2013[edit]	Sep 20, 2011	edit view »
	Deadly Forecast (Psychic Eye Mystery, #11)	Laurie, Victoria *	4.24	1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars[ 5 of 5 stars ]	read [edit]	Sep 29, 2013[edit]	Jan 13, 2013	edit view »
	Blood Cross (Jane Yellowrock, #2)	Hunter, Faith*	4.12	1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars[ 5 of 5 stars ]	read [edit]	Jan 20, 2013[edit]	Jan 17, 2013	edit view »
	Trail of Dead (Scarlett Bernard, #2)	Olson, Melissa F. *	3.96	1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars[ 5 of 5 stars ]	read [edit]	Jun 11, 2013[edit]	Mar 17, 2013	edit view »
	The Best Man (Blue Heron #1)	Higgins, Kristan *	3.98	1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars[ 5 of 5 stars ]	read [edit]	Sep 08, 2013[edit]	Jan 03, 2013	edit view »
	A Local Habitation (October Daye, #2)	McGuire, Seanan *	3.89	1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars[ 5 of 5 stars ]	read [edit]	Mar 27, 2013[edit]	Feb 09, 2013	edit view »
	Graveyard Child (The Black Sun's Daughter, #5)	Hanover, M.L.N.	4.05	1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars[ 5 of 5 stars ]	read [edit]	May 23, 2013[edit]	Sep 16, 2012	edit view »
	And One Last Thing ...	Harper, Molly*	4.08	1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars[ 5 of 5 stars ]	read [edit]	Nov 02, 2013[edit]	Aug 23, 2011	edit view » remove owned book
	Daylighters (The Morganville Vampires, #15)	Caine, Rachel *	4.34	1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars[ 5 of 5 stars ]	read [edit]	Dec 13, 2013[edit]	Sep 30, 2012	edit view »
	Fall of Night (The Morganville Vampires, #14)	Caine, Rachel *	4.26	1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars[ 5 of 5 stars ]	read [edit]	Sep 27, 2013[edit]	Sep 30, 2012	edit view »
	Mercy Blade (Jane Yellowrock, #3)	Hunter, Faith*	4.19	1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars[ 5 of 5 stars ]	read [edit]	Jan 23, 2013[edit]	Jan 20, 2013	edit view »
	Shadowed Threads (Rylee Adamson, #4)	Mayer, Shannon *	4.27	1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars[ 5 of 5 stars ]	read [edit]	Aug 11, 2013[edit]	Jul 21, 2013	edit view »
	Late Eclipses (October Daye, #4)	McGuire, Seanan *	4.30	1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars[ 5 of 5 stars ]	read [edit]	Mar 31, 2013[edit]	Feb 09, 2013	edit view »
	The Indigo Spell (Bloodlines, #3)	Mead, Richelle*	4.49	1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars[ 5 of 5 stars ]	read [edit]	Feb 18, 2013[edit]	Nov 20, 2011	edit view »
	City of Lost Souls (The Mortal Instruments, #5)	Clare, Cassandra *	4.31	1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars[ 5 of 5 stars ]	read [edit]	Aug 22, 2013[edit]	May 14, 2012	edit view »
	The Fiery Heart (Bloodlines, #4)	Mead, Richelle*	4.47	1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars[ 5 of 5 stars ]	read [edit]	Dec 2013[edit]	Nov 20, 2011	edit view »
	Adelaide Upset (Emotional Graves, #2)	Greenhorn, Penny *	4.47	1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars[ 5 of 5 stars ]	read [edit]	Aug 14, 2013[edit]	Aug 12, 2013	edit view »
	Ashes of Honor (October Daye, #6)	McGuire, Seanan *	4.44	1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars[ 5 of 5 stars ]	read [edit]	Apr 06, 2013[edit]	Apr 02, 2013	edit view »
	Chimes at Midnight (October Daye, #7)	McGuire, Seanan *	4.40	1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars[ 5 of 5 stars ]	read [edit]	Sep 24, 2013[edit]	Jan 27, 2013	edit view »
	Touch of the Demon (Kara Gillian, #5)	Rowland, Diana *	4.17	1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars[ 5 of 5 stars ]	read [edit]	Jan 10, 2013[edit]	Sep 20, 2011	edit view »
	One Salt Sea (October Daye, #5)	McGuire, Seanan *	4.35	1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars[ 5 of 5 stars ]	read [edit]	Apr 02, 2013[edit]	Feb 09, 2013	edit view »
	The Bride Wore Size 12 (Heather Wells #5)	Cabot, Meg *	3.84	1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars[ 5 of 5 stars ]	read [edit]	Oct 07, 2013[edit]	Oct 02, 2013	edit view »
	Written in Red (The Others, #1)	Bishop, Anne	4.41	1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars[ 5 of 5 stars ]	read [edit]	Mar 17, 2013[edit]	Mar 08, 2013	edit view »
	Deadly Sting (Elemental Assassin, #8)	Estep, Jennifer*	4.10	1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars[ 5 of 5 stars ]	read [edit]	Apr 14, 2013[edit]	Jul 01, 2012	edit view »
	Widow’s Web (Elemental Assassin, #7)	Estep, Jennifer*	4.19	1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars[ 5 of 5 stars ]	read [edit]	Jan 16, 2013[edit]	Nov 20, 2011	edit view »
	Trapped (The Iron Druid Chronicles, #5)	Hearne, Kevin*	4.25	1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars[ 5 of 5 stars ]	read [edit]	Jan 14, 2013[edit]	Dec 07, 2012	edit view »
	Magic Rises (Kate Daniels, #6)	Andrews, Ilona*	4.56	1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars[ 5 of 5 stars ]	read [edit]	Aug 05, 2013[edit]	Mar 15, 2012	edit view »
	In a Fix (In a Fix, #1)	Grimes, Linda*	3.70	1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars[ 5 of 5 stars ]	read [edit]	Sep 14, 2013[edit]	Sep 11, 2013	edit view »
	Bitter Blood (The Morganville Vampires, #13)	Caine, Rachel *	4.27	1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars[ 5 of 5 stars ]	read [edit]	Feb 04, 2013[edit]	Mar 03, 2012	edit view »
	Frost Burned (Mercy Thompson, #7)	Briggs, Patricia	4.30	1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars[ 5 of 5 stars ]	read [edit]	Mar 13, 2013[edit]	Mar 05, 2013	edit view »
	Uncorked (A Chrissy McMullen Mystery, #7)	Greiman, Lois	4.29	1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars[ 5 of 5 stars ]	read [edit]	Dec 15, 2013[edit]	Jan 17, 2012	edit view »
	Ever After (The Hollows, #11)	Harrison, Kim*	4.46	1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars[ 5 of 5 stars ]	read [edit]	Jan 26, 2013[edit]	Dec 16, 2011	edit view »
	Raising Innocence (Rylee Adamson, #3)	Mayer, Shannon *	4.13	1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars[ 5 of 5 stars ]	read [edit]	May 21, 2013[edit]	Apr 27, 2013	edit view »
	Biting Bad (Chicagoland Vampires, #8)	Neill, Chloe *	4.18	1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars[ 5 of 5 stars ]	read [edit]	Dec 20, 2013[edit]	Feb 14, 2012	edit view »
	House Rules (Chicagoland Vampires, #7)	Neill, Chloe *	4.20	1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars[ 5 of 5 stars ]	read [edit]	Feb 14, 2013[edit]	Feb 14, 2012	edit view »
	Tricked (The Iron Druid Chronicles, #4)	Hearne, Kevin*	4.23	1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars[ 5 of 5 stars ]	read [edit]	Jan 05, 2013[edit]	Dec 07, 2012	edit view »
	Death's Rival (Jane Yellowrock, #5)	Hunter, Faith*	4.27	1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars[ 5 of 5 stars ]	read [edit]	Feb 09, 2013[edit]	Jan 20, 2013	edit view »

Review: Heart of Venom

Heart of Venom by Jennifer Estep

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Release Date: August 27, 2013
Publisher: Pocket Books
Author’s Website: http://www.jenniferestep.com
My Source for This Book: Pocket Books
Part of a Series: Yes, Book 9, Elemental Assassin Series
Series Best Read In Order: Yes
Genre: Dark Urban Fantasy

HEART OF VENOM is the ninth book in the Elemental Assassin series by Jennifer Estep. I recommend reading the series in order from book one. I was given this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

As usual, Gin is minding her own business, trying to live a normal life. Trying to move on from the disappointment of Owen's rejection, when she and her friends are attacked by Sofia's tormentor. Gin gives it her all and nearly dies trying, but she must rescue Sophia and serve up a cold plate of revenge. Gin finds that she will need the help of her friends to accomplish this ultimate goal.

HEART OF VENOM has brought back the feel of the early Elemental Assassin Novels. After the demise of Mab, the next book or two felt forced. I was relieved to find the repetition of back-story is less than in previous books. In addition, the repeating of what it means to be an elemental was more present in prior books and I found it to be tedious.

Gin is strong, driven, and as always, puts family first. While dealing with past hurts, learning to forgive, and struggling to forget those past hurts, she rushes in without a plan and requires assistance to slow down and think. Although it is not her usual m.o., it speaks to how much she cares for Sofia, that without help, she is not able to step back and make a viable plan.

Estep describes the number two villain with her usual descriptive prose (also where the title comes from), "If Harley Grimes has any sort of heart at all, then it is a heart of venom---cold, cruel, and delighting in the suffering of others."

HEART OF VENOM will make you laugh, make you cry, and make you think. My favorite laughable line, "Okay, I thought the woo-hoo at the end was a little much, but I let the giant enjoy his moment of victory."

Summing up the end result of Gin and Sofia's ordeal Estep writes, ""Not Soft," Sophia rasped. "Neither one of us. Not anymore. Never again."" The wait of this statement is an adequate reflection of the trials both Gin and Sofia experienced.



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