Merry Wanderer of the Night [Search results for 1st in a Series] 

These are the last challenges I'm signing up for. The 1st in a Series and 2nd in a Series Challenges are hosted by Royal Reviews. I haven't read a lot of series but this year I have found a few and there others that I would like to try out. For right now I'm planning on doing the Curious level of each, which means I'm reading 3 books that are the 1st in a series and 3 books that are the second. I know I'm going to end up reading more books that are second in a series though, because I have a couple of series that I read the first books of recently and I want to read the second. Series are dangerous because if you like one then you want to read all of them immediately. For this challenge I have chosen three series and I am planning on reading the first and second books of each.

1. The Secret History of the Pink Carnation by Lauren Willig and The Masque of the Black Tulip by Lauren Willig
2. A Catch of Consequence by Diana Norman and Taking Liberties by Diana Norman
3. The Many Lives and Secret Sorrows of Josephine B. by Sandra Gulland and Tales of Passion, Tales of Woe by Sandra Gulland

I'm also thinking about picking up a YA series but haven't quite decided yet.

Dermot Nolan is a New York Times bestselling author who is suffering from a bit of writers block. He's already spent the million dollar advance he received from his publisher His bestselling book is being made into a movie. All of this success should be inspiring, but his creative juices are tapped out.

Then one day, Nolan notices an old man depositing something into his mailbox. It's a manuscript detailing a series of horrific murders. Each murder is described in such vivid detail Nolan begins to wonder if they are real. The killer refers to himself as the The Dream Healer, and his Web site promises individuals relief from their nightmares. Unknowing victims log on to this site and reveal their nightmares, in real time, to The Dream Healer. Those suffering from nightmares due receive a release from their nightmares, but not the way they intended. The Dream Healer hunts them down and kill them by reinacting their nightmares.

Nolan's wife, Neela, and his long-time friend Nick encourage Nolan to use the manuscript as a basis for his new novel. Nolan begins to research this crimes and discovers evidence the crimes were real. He allows the book to be published and it's an instant bestseller. However, The Dream Healer hasn't stopped killing. When a number of crimes detailed in Nolan's novel take place, he becomes a person of interest. His life and the lives of those he loves are put in danger. What will it take to stop The Dream Healer?

I was lucky enough to meet Shane Briant at BEA. He took the time to come up and introduce himself to me at the blogger signing booth. He wanted to thank me for agreeing to review his book. I have to admit, I was a bit stunned at first. Never had I been thanked before writing a review. What if I didn't like the book!? In the end, I did...I loved it. It was an honor to have met him!

I read Worst Nightmares

while on vacation. It's not a short book, 352 pages, but I literally read it in one sitting. Briant's writing is chilling, his descriptions are so vivid and detailed that I literally had to stop and catch my breath. Not for the weak at heart, but a must for someone who craves excitement and a thrill. Be sure to lock your doors first though!

Shane Briant is definitely an author to watch. I hear a sequel is in the making and I can't wait to get my hands on a copy! And like Nolan's bestseller, I hope this one hits the movie screen!

I happen to have an extra copy of Worst Nightmares

to give away to one lucky reader.

To enter, you must answer the following question: What is your worst nightmare (I promise I won't send THE DREAM HEALER after you!)?

The rules:

• entries must contain an email address. Entries that do not will be deleted
  
• for an extra point, blog and/or tweet about it. Be sure to include a link to your post/tweet in your comment.
  
• US and Canadian residents only.
  
• Contest will end Friday, July 31st.

  A winner will be announced on this blog on Saturday, August 1st.
  

1. Anyone can join.

2. Read 12 middle grade novels (Challenge 1) or read 25 MG books (Challenge 2). You can read comics too, or listen to audio books. These can be in any language. You don't have to make a reading list now; you may select them as you go and you're free to make changes to your list.

3. The challenge begins September 1st, 2009 through August 31st, 2010.

4. You can join anytime between now and August 31st, 2010.

Sounds like a great challenge, doesn't it!? I read a good deal of Middle-Grade books with my ten- year-old son, so this is the perfect challenge for us to do together!

I'm aiming for Challenge 2 (25 MG books). Here are the books we'll start off with:

• 39 Clues series (currently 5 books in this series)
  
• Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
  
• The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
  
• Savvy by Ingrid Law
  
• When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
  
• Bran Hambric: The Farfield Curse by Kaleb Nation
  
• Skeleton Creek by Patrick Carman
• Ghost in the Machine (Skeleton Creek, Book Two) by Patrick Carman