a GREAT read

Friday Hops

2012-01-27T06:00:00.001-06:00

This is a weekly blog meme hosted by Parajunkee's View and Alison Can Read.

Here are the general rules to Follow Friday:

1. Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Hosts and any one else you want to follow on the list

2. Follow our Featured Bloggers

3. Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing.

4. Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say hi in your comments

5. Follow Follow Follow as many as you can

6. If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love...and the followers

7. If you want to show the link list, just follow the link below the entries and copy and paste it within your post!

8. If your new to the follow Friday hop, comment and let me know, so I can stop by and check out your blog!

This week's question is: Which book genre do you avoid at all costs and why?

MY ANSWER: That would be regular old fiction. Ever since reading my first vampire/paranormal book in 7th grade, I can't handle reading anything that doesn't have a paranormal element. It just bores me. So as long as there's paranormal elements in it I am more willing to read it.

I also don't care for non-fiction, the world is depressing enough and I'd rather get lost in a world where anything can happen rather than ours which has limitations!

TGIF is a weekly feature created and hosted by GReads! that re-caps the week’s posts and has different question each week.

This week's question is: Buy or Borrow: Where do your books that you read come from? The bookstore? The library? Do you prefer to own a book, or have it on loan?

MY ANSWER: OOh this one's easy! I'm a book buyer! It is a costly obsession at times, but everyone knows what to get me for holidays--book gift certificates! I just like owning my own set of books. The library may be cheaper, but I also like to stare at all my pretty books in my room!

I'm also ~~an author stalker~~ a total fan girl, and when I hear word or find out for myself that my fave authors are coming to boring St. Louis I shout for joy! And I already have their books since I'm a book buyer so I readily have something to get signed! I love getting signed books because they are so precious! I'm not one of the people that goes and sells it to the highest bidder either. I get it signed to me so no one else can have it! And I do like getting an extra one signed to giveaway on my blog or give as a gift to a friend!

Young Adult Giveaway Hop!

2012-01-26T15:00:00.000-06:00

It's time for the Young Adult Giveaway Hop, hosted by I am a Reader, Not a Writer and Down the Rabbit Hole!

I have a special treat for you my pretties, remember that Andrea Cremer signing I went to last week? Well for the hop I am offering up the extra SIGNED copy of Nightshade! So if you are looking to start the series, why not start it with a SIGNED book, or if you've read the series why not enter to get a SIGNED copy? I know I do the same for SIGNED copies!

Going to keep this giveaway really simple. You just have to be a follower and if you want an extra point just leave a comment here on this post.

The giveaway is open to US only, sorry!

Runs from January 27-31. On February 1st I will announce (and contact, cause I know how hard it is to remember all the contests you might be entering this week) the winner and they will have 48 hours to respond to my email or a new winner will have to be chosen. Just fill out the form below and you are set to go!

<p>&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Loading...&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;</p>

Random Thursday

2012-01-26T06:00:00.002-06:00

So apparently it's that time of year again. You might be thinking...what time? Xmas is over, V-day (abysmal holiday) is still a ways off. Guess it yet?

It's the time when Girl Scouts start selling their cookies! As a former Girl Scout I hated selling them at this time because you know it's cold and icky out. **Raining right now as I write this** And sometimes people do say "no thanks". Talk about willpower.

This year, as well as last year...maybe the one before that too. I will still be saying no thanks. Why you ask? Because the Girl Scouts head honchos or whoever have taken away EVERY single cookie I've ever liked!

Way back in the beginning there was a vanilla sandwich cookie, as well as a lemon one. I liked the vanilla. It's gone.

Sometime late I remember having the Apple Cinnamon cookie. It was apple shaped and a cinnamon-applely kinda cookie with sugar crystals on it, or maybe they were cinnamon crystals. I can't remember, only that I loved it. It's gone.

Then maybe it was 2 years ago or a little more, but not much. They have a sugar free brownie cookie! OMG, I loved that cookie! I remember buying boxes and boxes of it when the Girl Scouts sold them outside grocery stores. It's gone.

I think it was last year they had the sugar free chocolate chip cookie and that one wasn't too bad either. It's gone.

It seems like every single time I fall for the new cookie, it's gone next year. I guess they were just the "star" cookie of the year or something else, but it gets so tiring to enjoy a cookie that comes only once a year, only to have it taken away from you the next time around. I don't really care for any of the other flavors. I'm picky I know. I really just prefer homemade cookies but do like the occasional "brand" cookie. But I digress. So really when it comes to this time a year, I get sad, because I no longer have a fave Girl Scout cookie that has last.

What about you? Does anyone else remember or love any of these cookies that are in the past? Or is your fave Girl Scout cookie still available. Or do you even like Girl Scout cookies?

Review--Vampire Academy: The Ultimate Guide by Michelle Rowen with Richelle Mead

2012-01-25T16:51:00.000-06:00

LOVE AND LOYALTY RUN DEEPER THAN BLOOD...

Lissa Dragomir is a Moroi princess: a mortal vampire with a rare gift for harnessing the earth's magic. Her best friend Rose Hathaway is a dhampir: a guardian whose blood is a powerful blend of vampire and human. Rose's life is dedicated to protecting Lissa from the dangerous Strigoi--the fiercest vampires, who will stop at nothing to make Lissa one of them. Over the course of six books, love will blossom, hearts will be broken, and lives will be lost. But through it all, Rose and Lissa's friendship will never surrender...

THIS OFFICIAL ULTIMATE GUIDE IS THE MUST-HAVE ADDITION TO ANY VAMPIRE ACADEMY COLLECTION.

Learn everything you ever wanted to know about the totally addictive world Richelle Mead has created
Find out the real history of St. Vladimir's Academy
Explore the dark psychology behind Rose and Lissa's unusual friendship
Discover even more illicit secrets about Rose and Dimitri
Quiz yourself to find out how much you really know about VAMPIRE ACADEMY

Features exclusive behind-the-scenes from author Richelle Mead along with everything readers need to go even deeper into the characters and lore of Vampire Academy, Frostbite, Shadow Kiss, Blood Promise, Spirit Bound, and Last Sacrifice...

Okay, I've had it on my TBR pile for over a month but finally read it, Vampire Academy: The Ultimate Guide by Michelle Rowen with Richelle Mead, and it was great! I've only read one other "world info" type book and found it to be fun and so was this one!

To my knowledge, Michelle Rowen is doing most of the writing this time, but of course she has input from Richelle and there are a few QAs in the book with Richelle. It was all very fun and fascinating. I've read all the books in the series, yet it's been sooo many books ago and in between since I've read them all, so the detailed summaries of each book in the beginning was terrific! It really helped refresh my brain of what happened in each book.

Although at times, the third person narration got a little confusing. I couldn't tell at times if this was the omniscient narrator or perhaps a bit of Rose herself. Maybe it was both or maybe not. There were just comments occasionally and it just kinda threw me off. It wasn't bad, just a little mind boggling!

There's also details about everything else to know in the Vampire Academy world, including character bios, looking at the relationships of the main characters, the ways of the world here, including clear definitions on Moroi, Dhampirs, Strigoi and so much more!

This is definitely a must read for fans of the Vampire Academy series! It's terrific! Think of it as an insider's guide to the series, which that is what it is!

Overall rating 5/5 stars

Waiting on Wednesday

2012-01-25T06:00:00.004-06:00

I hate waiting...

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly blog post by Jill over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights releases we're eagerly awaiting.

Alexia Tarabotti, Lady Maccon, has settled into domestic bliss. Of course, being Alexia, such bliss involves integrating werewolves into London High society, living in a vampire's second best closet, and coping with a precocious toddler who is prone to turning supernatural willy-nilly. Even Ivy Tunstell's acting troupe's latest play, disastrous to say the least, can not put a dampener on Alexia's enjoyment of her new London lifestyle.

Until, that is, she receives a summons from Alexandria that cannot be ignored. With husband, child, and Tunstells in tow, Alexia boards a steamer to cross the Mediterranean. But Egypt may hold more mysteries than even the indomitable Lady Maccon can handle. What does the vampire Queen of the Alexandria Hive really want from her? Why is the God-Breaker Plague suddenly expanding? And how has Ivy Tunstell suddenly become the most popular actress in all the British Empire?

Sooo look forward to this one! Love this series! It was probably the first steampunk novel I read and totally LOVED! So addicted now!

TITLE: Timeless
AUTHOR: Gail Carriger
PUBLISHER: Orbit
GENRE: Steampunk
RELEASE DATE: March 1, 2012

If you live in the dark long enough, you begin to forget the light…

KORI DANIELS is a shadow-walker, able to travel instantly from one shadow to another. After weeks of confinement for betraying her boss, she’s ready to break free of the Tower syndicate for good. But Jake Tower has one final job for Kori, one chance to secure freedom for herself and her sister, Kenley, even if that means taking it from someone else…

The job? Recruit Ian Holt—or kill him.

Ian’s ability to manipulate the dark has drawn interest from every syndicate in the world, most notably an invitation from Jake Tower. Though he has no interest in organized crime, Ian accepts the invite, because he’s on a mission of his own. Ian has come to kill Tower’s top Binder: Kori’s little sister.

Amid the tangle of lies, an unexpected thread of truth connecting Ian and Kori comes to light. But with opposing goals, they’ll have to choose between love and liberty….

Rachel Vincent is one of those authors who I always pine for her books! The wait is agonizing and it's killer every year! Even with two series, I just feel like my wait is doubled! Can't wait to read this one and see Uan and Kori's story!

TITLE: Shadow Bound
AUTHOR: Rachel Vincent
PUBLISHER: Mira
GENRE: Urban Fantasy
RELEASE DATE: May 22, 2012

Review--Vampires Dead Ahead by Cheyenne McCray

2012-01-24T08:00:00.003-06:00

In the acclaimed Night Tracker series by New York Times bestselling author Cheyenne McCray, the vampires are back to make a brand new start of it—in old New York…

With zero tolerance for bloodsuckers, Nyx and the Trackers have made the streets safer for warm-blooded New Yorkers. Unfortunately, they didn’t drive a stake through the problem nationwide. Vampire attacks are on the rise. Proctors are dropping like flies. And Volod—New York’s ousted Master Vampire—is trying to make a comeback…

Nyx is worried—about her city, her job, and her neck. But mostly she’s concerned about her former lover, Rodán, a Proctor who’s gone missing. Scarier still, Volod is capturing and “turning” paranorms to help him paint the town red. Which sucks. Because some of these new vampires are Nyx’s old friends. But hey—if she can stake them here, she’ll stake them anywhere…

Cheyenne McCray's Vampires Dead Ahead was extraordinary! I don't know if this is supposed to be the final Night Trackers Novel or not, I suppose it could go both ways since I haven't found anything out yet on the author's website. Moving on...

This was beyond great! Probably the best Night Trackers Novel ever, truly epic! Nyx is trying to get back to normal after the Zombie attack, it was probably the worst case she ever worked with her dislike of Zombies, but soon that case will look like a piece of cake compared to what is being thrown at her next. Paranorms are being turned into vampires. And not just any paranorms, powerful ones.

Nyx definitely has had a lot of turmoil and hard times in this series, loss of friends, boyfriend and so much more. And it doesn't seem to stop. With every case comes challenges and difficulties, but how Nyx is able to keep moving on, keep moving forward while these things happens, speaks a lot about her character. She is strong. And I admire that about her.

When someone close to Nyx is taken, things go into high danger mode. She will do anything to get Rodan back. Not only is he her former lover, but he is still a great friend. But Volod is out to get Nyx, truly. He despises her along with all other Paranorms and naturally he wants to TAKE OVER THE WORLD! And even though Nyx is walking around with a target on her back, she is still in the thick of things, trying to save the world she loves.

With terrific pacing and a nice dose of romantic scenes, and a touch of scenes to cry over, this book has it all! It has a great balance of all things one expects from a UF novel. Just when you think Nyx and her friends might be getting one step ahead of Volod, they are proven incorrect. That's how exciting this book gets!! I was hooked from the beginning and the ending was fast paced, yet at every turn there is another surprise waiting, be it good or bad!

Overall rating 5/5 stars

Teaser Tuesday

2012-01-24T06:00:00.003-06:00

Here are the rules:

1. Grab your current read

2. Open to a page

3. Pick out 2 lines that are SPOILER FREE

4. Name the title, author, etc.

"Surprise had me shaking my head. 'You're housing paranorms in a Vampire sanctuary?'

"'Former Vampire sanctuary,' Armand said." p 281

TITLE: Vampires Dead Ahead
AUTHOR: Cheyenne McCray
PUBLISHER: St. Martin's Paperbacks
GENRE: Urban Fantasy
RELEASE DATE: November 29, 2011

ARC Review--Firelight by Kristen Callihan

2012-01-23T09:00:00.004-06:00

London, 1881

Once the flames are ignited . . .

Miranda Ellis is a woman tormented. Plagued since birth by a strange and powerful gift, she has spent her entire life struggling to control her exceptional abilities. Yet one innocent but irreversible mistake has left her family's fortune decimated and forced her to wed London's most nefarious nobleman.

They will burn for eternity . . .

Lord Benjamin Archer is no ordinary man. Doomed to hide his disfigured face behind masks, Archer knows it's selfish to take Miranda as his bride. Yet he can't help being drawn to the flame-haired beauty whose touch sparks a passion he hasn't felt in a lifetime. When Archer is accused of a series of gruesome murders, he gives in to the beastly nature he has fought so hard to hide from the world. But the curse that haunts him cannot be denied. Now, to save his soul, Miranda will enter a world of dark magic and darker intrigue. For only she can see the man hiding behind the mask.

I received this e-ARC for review from Grand Central Publishing via Netgalley

Kristen Callihan's debut--at least I believe it's her debut--Firelight, was really good! I'll admit at first I thought that this was going to be a steampunk kind of novel and overall I get the feeling that it wasn't. It was just sort of set in the 1800s, there was no gizmos or other machine creations, but we don't really get that here.

But there is a good deal of secrets and other slightly paranormal things going on. Of course most of it remains a mystery until the end. But it was still a fab story! For most of the beginning I got the Beauty and the Beast fairy tale vibe from it. But sort of twisted, we have Miranda forced into a marriage by this man who always wears a mask. Odd yes, but there is something else strange about the man that Miranda can't pinpoint yet.

The two are obviously a good match though since Miranda has her own secret she's harboring. And when people her husband knows suddenly start showing up dead, he's the likely suspect. Yet she herself can't decide if he's guilty or not.

The book had its ups and downs. There were moments when I felt a little bored, because not much was happening. There was definite mystery vibes going on that were entertaining, yet there was a lack of excitement in them at times. But then the excitement would suddenly pick up again. It was definitely a rollar coaster kind of read for me. And the ending, was heartfelt and satisfying, but it's the very last line that will nag at you! It nagged at me and now I am curious about a future installment, yet feeling like there are no guarantees just yet. At least none that I know of.

So overall it's definitely an interesting book, just a few moments here and there that I felt just weren't exciting enough for me, but it did help build the story up.

Overall rating 3.75/5 stars--yes another awkward rating, I say it's really close to a 4, yet the sporadic slow moments were a little too much of a drag for me, yet still an amazing read!

Firelight releases January 31, 2012

It's Monday! What are You Reading?

2012-01-23T06:00:00.002-06:00

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey. It's a fun meme where we gather to share what we've read last week and our reading plans for this week.

Last Week I Read:

Shadow Heir by Richelle Mead (4.5 stars)

Never to Sleep by Rachel Vincent (5 stars)

Goddess Interrupted by Aimee Carter (5 stars)--Review to come in March

Review that was Posted:

Everneath by Brodi Ashton (e-ARC) (4 stars)

Currently Reading:

Vampires Dead Ahead by Cheyenne McCray

What I Plan to Read this Week:

Vampire Academy: The Ultimate Guide by Michelle Rowen with Richelle Mead

Other Posts of Interest:

Cover Copy Reveal--Erin Kellison

Teaser Tuesday

Cover Art--C.C. Hunter

Waiting on Wednesday

Random Thursday

Andrea Cremer Signing

Cover Art--Cat Adams

Friday Hops

Have a Laugh!

Top 5 Sundays

Movie Review--Underworld Awakening

In My Mailbox

In My Mailbox

2012-01-22T06:00:00.003-06:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly blog post hosted by Kirsti over at The Story Siren and inspired by Alea at Pop Culture Junkie.

So I didn't have a very entertaining mailbox this week. And while I didn't get any books :( I still got some awesome book related goodies!

I got from Allison Pang, an awesome set of trading cards that relates to her next release Sliver of Shadows:

And then, I saw this shirt at Jess@The Cozy Reader got last week, and I thought, I HAVE to HAVE it! So I ordered it Sunday and it came this week after a long agonizing wait! It is super stellar and I just want to thank Jess again for showing it off last week so I was able to get one for myself!

Isn't it just the coolest! I bought it off of Shirt.Woot and it is now of my fave t-shirts! My other fave includes the one I got from Hot Topic a year or so ago that says: And then Buffy staked Edward. The End.

So that was my IMM this week, kind of nice not to have added to my TBR mountain although there's no telling what might happen next week!

MOVIE REVIEW--Underworld: Awakening

2012-01-21T22:48:00.001-06:00

So today I saw Underworld: Awakening and it was wicked awesome!! So to shortly explain the story, Selene and Michael now have a new enemy a short time after the war between lycans and vampires ended when the last of the elder vampires died, and that of course is humans. So we see them trying to get out of the city--guessing the US somewhere--while lycans and other vampires are being killed by humans. But naturally things go awry.

There's an explosion and when Selene wakes up it is to find Michael gone and she was encased in frozen ice. She's having weird visions every now and then and not sure what is going on. Well it turns out it's been 12 years or so later. The battle with humans and lycans and vamps is over with humans winning. But vamps and lycans are still about in hiding.

So as we learn very very quickly, Selene had a child with Michael--it's not explained, but I believe the medical group that was holding her and her daughter hostage enabled the birth or something like that--and her daughter sets her free and they are on the run and all.

Not wanting to do a play by play review I'll cut myself off on that front. It basically comes down to Selene needing to protect her daughter. It is believed that Michael is dead or being held hostage at the medical group place which has its own secret which I won't tell. But they basically want to use and destroy Eve--Selene's daughter.

And along the way they meet with another clan or group of vampires that has been in hiding and among them is the oh-so-sexy David! He wants to help Selene in her mission to protect her daughter, for his father--the leader of their coven or whatever--doesn't ever want to help out anyone, because they live in fear.

It was a tremendous movie! Of course at the end I was like are you kidding me?! It has a semi-cliffhanger and it kinda left me outraged, because I am a little scared that this was the last movie. I will have to start doing some digging since I originally heard about this movie when the third one came out, but I have to know if there will be a 5th one. Yes, it might be pushing it, but with the way this left off, there's no way I can tolerate that being The End! It's just not acceptable.

I also originally thought that Michael wasn't going to be in this due to some online research and not being able to find Scott Speedman listed. Although Michael was there occasionally, like in the very very beginning but had no lines and I never did get a good look at him, he wasn't listed in the credits that I could see. And since it had been 6 years since the last movie he was in, time might have aged him a bit.

But this was a helluva great movie! If you've liked the previous ones, you'll love this! Same kind of killer action and fight scenes--totally glad I did not see it in 3D, don't think I want 3D blood flying at me! But it was stellar!

And also I still have to say how much I now love Theo James! Looked up him up online at IMDB by his character David, and OMG, I am in love! And we're so meant to be together! He's just 3 years older than me and his birthday is DECEMBER 16th!! How freaking awesome is that! We have the same bday! So yeah, I really want to marry this guy now!! ;)

And he's born in England, so he has that sexy accent as well! I mean seriously, how perfect is it that he's not too old or too young and we have the SAME birthday! So in love....

Overall movie rating 5/5 stars

Top 5 Sundays

2012-01-21T21:15:00.000-06:00

Top 5 Sundays is a weekly blog meme created by Larissa at Larissa's Bookish Life.

Every Sunday I will post a TOP 5 list on the blog. It can be about anything and every week I'll have a new theme {You can vote on next week’s theme on my left sidebar!} and I will ad the Mr.Linky bellow the post so you can do a list with the theme and add you link to it.

Rules:

1 - Write a post listing your TOP 5 choices within the theme I chose (or was chosen on a poll) for the week.

2 - Mention this Blog on the post and link back to it.

3 - Fell free to use the Feature's image (there is a smaller size version of it bellow)

4 - After you've finished your post, add you link (of the post, not your blog's main page) to the Mr.Linky at the end of that week's post.

5 – If you don’t have a blog to post, just leave your list in the comments =)

This week's topic is: Series You Plan to [hope to] Start in 2012!

*in no particular order

Had to add in the "hope to"! Should be able to since I have most of these in my TBR pile with the exception of this first one!

CHARLEY DAVIDSON SERIES

Darynda Jones

I've been reading awesome reviews on this one and it's making me highly consider reading it sometime soon! Hopefully this year!

THE OTHERS SERIES

Christine Warren

I actually have this one on my TBR mountain! I planned on reading them in the order Christine recommends on her website vs reading them in the order they published.

NICKI STYX

Terri Garrey

This one sounds really interesting as well! It's another series that I bought a few books of...all 4, so I don't know if that's it as a series or just what there is so far. But it did sound fabulous and I bought the 4 books during the tragedy last year of Borders closing.

NIGHT WORLD SERIES

L.J. Smith

Another series I keep meaning to start since I've read a lot of L.J.'s books. I have all three volumes of the Night World series on my TBR pile and looking forward to the day the finale comes out, Strange Fate, which has had its release date changed several times in the past 2-3 years.

PERSONAL DEMONS

Lisa Desrochers

Okay, granted this series is only 2 books in but still it is another series I plan to start soon hopefully! I have the first two books on my TBR mountain as well and it sounds pretty interesting! Although I still say that chick is definitely pushing the high school age, yet it still sounds like a good read!!

A FEW OTHERS THAT I MIGHT START, BUT THESE ARE ONLY 1 BOOK IN:

Have a Laugh!

2012-01-20T15:11:00.000-06:00

Got this video sent to me and OMG it is funny! I'm not a Star Wars fan, yet this is hilarious! These dogs are barking the theme music to Darth Vadar's little tune!

Sorry I tried to paste the video in my actual post, but it wasn't cooperating with me since I'm not tech savvy. Yet it is on Yahoo somewhere. But here's the link anyway! I highly recommend watching it! It's quite funny! I believe this is going to be in the Superbowl lineup!

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/dogs-bark-darth-vader-theme-volkswagon-super-bowl-203157640.html

Friday Hops

2012-01-20T06:00:00.003-06:00

This is a weekly blog meme hosted by Parajunkee's View and Alison Can Read.

Here are the general rules to Follow Friday:

1. Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Hosts and any one else you want to follow on the list

2. Follow our Featured Bloggers

3. Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing.

4. Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say hi in your comments

5. Follow Follow Follow as many as you can

6. If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love...and the followers

7. If you want to show the link list, just follow the link below the entries and copy and paste it within your post!

8. If your new to the follow Friday hop, comment and let me know, so I can stop by and check out your blog!

This week's question is: What's the craziest thing you've ever done to get your hands on any particular book?

MY ANSWER: Oohhh. Craziest thing? Well, there were times I would hunt down a book without using the "check store inventory" thingy. I would go to like EVERY single Borders that was in my area hunting down the book! And most times it was because I was looking for the book a little earlier than the release date. Hence why I didn't use the "check store inventory" thingy. Other people would say their stores in whereverville put them out early, so I would go to every bookstore imaginable in my area trying to track the book down a week early or so. And I wasn't always successful, but there were a few times I was!

TGIF is a weekly feature created and hosted by GReads! that re-caps the week’s posts and has different question each week.

This week's question is: Recommend It: Which book from the last 10 you've read would you recommend to a friend?

MY ANSWER: Ohhhh, tough one! Well since my mind kind of boggles with books I had to look at my review list and see which from the last 10, which, wow--I'm not reading as much as I used to since I got a job. Anyways I would say Touch of Power by Maria V. Snyder! Of course I am a total fan girl of Maria, and know that everyone may not like fantasy and magic books. There isn't any supernatural creatures running about, but it's still a totally awesome story!

So as for a paranormal book--since that's all I read with the exception of Maria's books--I would recommend Drink Deep! Sure, it's in the middle of the Chicagoland Vampire series, but it was EPIC! I loved it! If you've read it, you pretty much know why!

*Click the titles to see my reviews on them.

Cover Art--Cat Adams

2012-01-19T16:37:00.000-06:00

Here's the cover art for the next book in the Blood Singer series. Yes, The Isis Collar is not even out yet, and here's the cover for the next book in the series! It won't officially release til next January, but oh well. Have to read the next one first before I agonize over the wait!

Also, I kinda miss the old cover look. I thought Celia looked cooler there. But this one at least is growing on me!

And in case you haven't seen it yet, here's the cover art for The Isis Collar which releases March 13, 2012.

Celia Graves was once an ordinary human, but those days are long gone. Now she strives to maintain her sanity and her soul while juggling both vampire abilities and the powers of a Siren.

Warned of a magical “bomb” at a local elementary school, Celia forces an evacuation. Oddly, the explosion seems to have no effect, puzzling both Celia and the FBI. Two weeks later, a strangely persistent bruise on Celia’s leg turns out to be the first sign of a magical zombie plague.

Finding the source of the plague isn’t Celia’s only concern. Her alcoholic mother has broken out of prison on the Sirens’ island; her little sister’s ghost has possessed a young girl; and one of Celia’s boyfriends, a powerful mage, has disappeared.

Andrea Cremer Signing

2012-01-19T09:00:00.002-06:00

Last night I went to my library to see Andrea Cremer! I was so freaking happy to see that she was coming to dull St. Louis for her tour for Bloodrose! It was a very fun signing! A pretty typical one. Andrea talked a little bit then did Q&A! It was very enlightening. Got a little more pep talk for myself regarding finding an agent and all that. And how tough the publishing world is. I like hearing about authors' journeys to publication. It gives me some hope!

And since she just has the 3 books out so far, I was able to get all of them signed! Even got an extra one that I plan to giveaway very soon. So if you're looking to start the Nightshade trilogy or just want a piece of the holy grail of all booklovers (a SIGNED copy) then stick around, cause I'll be doing that shortly!

Random Thursday

2012-01-19T06:00:00.002-06:00

Remember Barbie, the girl who could do it all. And all that whatnot? Of course you do. At least I hope so. Anyways my niece is now getting into Barbies, still a little brutal to some of her dolls, but she's 3. It's likely to happen.

But I was looking at some of her Barbies and was noticing how totally trampy Barbie is looking these days! I mean I know Barbie has to look gorgeous and all but seriously!

I mean take a look at this one. I initially bought it for her, but I was really buying her a 4 piece room set for her Barbie house. But this Barbie is wearing short-shorts and a halter top. I mean sure she's cute, but looking at her as a 24 year old adult, she looks like a s**t. And little girls play with these things. Heck I did as a kid too. But like I said, they were so much different back then.

Take a look at this one:

Nothing too bad right? She's wearing a cute little sundress and strappy pink heels. The only bad part about this Barbie is that she's Teacher Barbie! She looks like she's about to go on a date, but nooooo, she's going to teach little kids! I mean the teacher Barbie I had, wore a dress, but it was long sleeved and a billowy skirt with 1,2,3 and A,B,C's all over it. So it's cutesy. Appropriate for teaching little kids! But this one just blew my mind! If she was just Barbie, or Date Night Barbie, she would be okay. But thinking that she's a teacher, looking like that?!

Yeah, I know this is Barbie. She's meant to look stylish and all that. But still. I think Barbie can be a little inappropriate these days. Changing times I guess. Heck, they just brought back her sisters and Ken not that long ago. Except of course, Kelly is no more. Instead there's Chelsea.

So if you played with Barbie dolls as kid, what did they look like? Do you think maybe they were a little too "much" for someone your age? I don't have anything against Barbie, except for you know, her setting impossible body standards for young girls everywhere. So why can't Barbie be just a little practical? I know Barbie has to be glamorous, but can't she at least wear job appropriate attire?

Rant over! :)

Waiting on Wednesday

2012-01-18T06:00:00.002-06:00

I hate waiting...

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly blog post by Jill over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights releases we're eagerly awaiting.

Agent of Death Madeline Black is finding out that some of the spirits of Chicago aren't ready to cross over.

Something is wrong with the souls of Chicago's dead. Ghosts are walking the streets, and Agent of Death Madeline Black's exasperating boss wants her to figure out why. And while work is bad enough, Maddy has a plethora of personal problems too. Now that Gabriel has been assigned as her thrall, their relationship has hit an impasse. At least her sleazy ex-fiancé Nathaniel is out of the picture — or so she thinks...

Love this series!! It's so entertaining and exciting! Can't wait to read this installment!! And is anyone else agonizing over that last line?!

TITLE: Black Howl
AUTHOR: Christina Henry
GENRE: Urban Fantasy
RELEASE DATE: February 28, 2012

This electrifying new trilogy blends the best of paranormal and dystopian storytelling in a world where the war is over. And the vampires won.

Humans huddle in their walled cities, supplying blood in exchange for safety. But not even that is guaranteed. Dawn has lost her entire family and now reluctantly serves as the delegate to Lord Valentine, the most powerful vampire for miles. It isn’t until she meets Victor, Valentine’s son, that she realizes not all vampires are monsters....

Darkness Before Dawn is a fresh new story with captivating characters, unexpected plot twists, a fascinating setting, and a compelling voice. Written under the name J. A. London by a talented mother-son team, the trilogy is perfect for fans of True Blood and the House of Night and Morganville Vampires series.

This one sounds equally exciting! So can't wait to try out this new series!!

TITLE: Darkness Before Dawn
AUTHOR: J.A. London
GENRE: YA Paranormal
RELEASE DATE: May 29, 2012

Cover Art--C.C. Hunter

2012-01-17T14:09:00.000-06:00

Sorry it's so small, but this was the only size I could find. And since I increased it just a little, it's still kinda blurry! But anyway, this is the cover for C.C. Hunter's next book in her series. Whispers at Moonrise! I definitely like it a lot! Will be sure to post it again once a cover description comes up. But since we're still waiting on Taken at Dusk, it might be awhile. Yet goodreads does say this releases in 2012!

Mini Review--Never to Sleep by Rachel Vincent

2012-01-17T09:00:00.009-06:00

Don't Close Your Eyes.

Sophie Cavanaugh is not going to let her freak of a cousin's strange psychiatric condition ruin high school for them both. Not after all the work she's put into cultivating the right look, and friends, and reputation. But then, Sophie sees something so frightening she lets out a blood-curdling scream—and finds herself stuck in a bizarre parallel world where nothing is safe and deadly creatures lurk just out of sight, waiting for her to close her eyes and sleep...forever.

Could this world be real? Or does insanity run in the family...?

Okay, so I was going to start Goddess Interrupted but it took too long to download to my Kindle. So in the meantime I read Rachel Vincent's latest novella, Never to Sleep and it was awesome!

We finally get to be in Sophie's head. She's never been a fave character of mine. She's just plain cruel, selfish and nasty. And while we get to be inside her head this time around I can't say she's a whole other person, but we do get to see a different side to her. Like my mom always says "there are two sides to every story". And this time, we get Sophie's story.

This takes place during If I Die, as you may know by now and it opens up with a decent spoiler from the series. Nothing that ruins the ending, but still something MONUMENTALLY HUGE! And of course there is a new character to get to know.

Sophie turns out to have some of the family heritage in her blood, for after she meet Luca she saw something scary and screamed. And when she screamed, she was taken to the Netherworld and Luca happened to be next to her and went along too.

Sophie can't tell if she's dreaming or going insane as well when she enters the scary world. Even with Luca at her side the place is still dangerous. Yet Luca seems to know just how dangerous it is. Then she learns who he really is and what the world is really like.

Since this is a novella, I will cut myself off on the storyline. This was another fun read from Rachel's Soul Screamers series! Her novellas are always fun and these tend to tie into the series as well. At the end of this one, we learn that we will learn more about Luca in the next Soul Screamers novel! Which is exciting and with Sophie learning more about the world Kaylee already knows, I have a feeling things will be getting very interesting indeed!

Overall rating 5/5 stars

ARC Review--Everneath by Brodi Ashton

2012-01-17T09:00:00.006-06:00

Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she's returned- to her old life, her family, her friends- before being banished back to the underworld... this time forever.

She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.

Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there's a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back- this time as his queen.

As Nikki's time grows short and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she's forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole's...

I received this e-ARC from Netgalley for review

If I had to describe Brodi Ashton's Everneath in one word, it would be riveting! Brodi puts a new spin on the Persephone myth and its results are extraordinary!

I'll admit that in the beginning I was a little discombobulated. I didn't quite understand what was happening, and I think it might have been deliberate. At least it seemed that way. For Nikki herself is a little discombobulated.

A decent portion of the novel was back-story, for we had to see how Nikki got to be in her current situation, but for the most part the back-story was told nicely. Nikki tries to get used to being back on Earth, with her old friends and family, but it is tough going. She has a hard time adjusting and trying to get her emotions and feelings back. For awhile I didn't understand why she came back, besides for Jack that is. She even kind of ignores him for awhile in the beginning too.

But Nikki's flashbacks/memories really help pull the pieces together. And soon there's more to the story. Nikki learns somethings about the girls before her, who were in her same situation. There might be a way out of her having to either return to the Tunnels--a version of hell in some ways, or choosing to be with Cole and rule the underworld. But Nikki's feelings for Jack are returning in fool force, making the decision anything but easy.

So yes, there's another love triangle. And I for one just couldn't pick my "team". I started with Cole changed to Jack and back and forth again and again! Which to me is the best kind of love triangle. I like it if the heroine has to have a struggle to choose who she wants to be with. Cole definitely makes for a twisted guy. You can never quite tell if he's playing hero or villain! Jack was great too, because it takes time for his true colors to show as well.

The characters were pretty awesome in some ways. Very complex. Every one of them seemed to have depth to them and it made for an incredible story! The ending was astounding too! Although bits of it I could see coming as info was revealed, but it was still kinda shocking! And I can't quite tell if there's to be another one or not. It could go both ways.

Overall rating 4/5 stars

Everneath releases January 24, 2012

Teaser Tuesday

2012-01-17T06:00:00.003-06:00

Here are the rules:

1. Grab your current read

2. Open to a page

3. Pick out 2 lines that are SPOILER FREE

4. Name the title, author, etc.

So I was going to start my e-ARC of Goddess Interrupted after finishing Shadow Heir, but when I clicked send to Kindle, it didn't send right away. And as you know I hate waiting. And I didn't want to waste the few remaining reading hours I had so I started this one, since it's a novella and hoping that by tomorrow GI will have sent to my Kindle, twice...

"''I think Kaylee hit her head in the wreck that killed her mom when she was a kid.' I'd come up with no better theory, other than that she was faking crazy just to sabotage my entire existence." Kindle loc. 44-50/1144

TITLE: Never to Sleep

AUTHOR: Rachel Vincent

GENRE: YA Paranormal

RELEASE DATE: January 1, 2012

Review--Shadow Heir by Richelle Mead

2012-01-16T15:01:00.000-06:00

#1 New York Times bestselling author Richelle Mead returns to the Otherworld, a mystic land inextricably linked to our own--and balanced precariously on one woman's desperate courage...

Shaman-for-hire Eugenie Markham strives to keep the mortal realm safe from trespassing entities. But as the Thorn Land's prophecy-haunted queen, there's no refuge for her and her soon-to-be-born-children when a mysterious blight begins to devastate the Otherworld...

The spell-driven source of the blight isn't the only challenge to Eugenie's instincts. Fairy king Dorian is sacrificing everything to help, but Eugenie can't trust the synergy drawing them back together. The uneasy truce between her and her shape shifter ex-lover Kiyo is endangered by secrets he can't--or won't--reveal. And as a formidable force rises to also threaten the human world, Eugenie must use her own cursed fate as a weapon--and risk the ultimate sacrifice...

Finally finished Richelle Mead's finale to the Dark Swan series, Shadow Heir. Which has a nice title to it when you think of it! Anyway the book doesn't hesitate to dive right into the thick of things. Eugenie is already 5 months along with her pregnancy with the twins. And it is a dangerous time for her since nearly every other kingdom in the Otherworld wants to kill her children.

But her pregnancy is only the beginning of the issues. When she escapes back to the mortal world to protect her unborn children, she leaves her kingdoms and everything else behind. Soon terror strikes nearly all the kingdoms. Winter has attacked and it is vengeful. Eugenie will have to return to the Otherworld once again to try to save her kingdom along with several others.

The action and intrigue never really seem to stop. Just when things look like they're heading for a quiet moment while there's still several pages left, more action popups totally changing everything once again! There are definitely some jaw dropping surprises along the way! I mean wow!

Once more is the ending that everyone has been talking about. I truly was fearing the worse, especially at moments before the actual ending. I didn't know what to expect! I had conjured up terrible terrible thoughts. And then it was within the last 100 pages or so, that I suddenly thought of something and sure enough that was what the ending had been all about! I now know why people were outraged at the tail end. While it was still shocking, I don't feel as outraged as some of the reviewers. Sure I'm a little peeved, and I tell myself this is THE END. That's it. Finito. Unless Richelle decides to dive back into the series, which I doubt at the moment. Years later, maybe. I just don't know. The ending was definitely something I wasn't truly expecting and I am still a little miffed, but that's how it goes with series finales.

That being said, I did truly enjoy this series! Richelle Mead is really a landmark for me in a lot of ways! I was hesitant to read YA books, but some online friends convinced me to read Vampire Academy, then I picked up the Dark Swan series on my own, and was hesitant still with the Georgina series thinking it would be too romantic since that was where it was shelved in my bookstores and I'm not a fan of reading endless sex scenes, not to offend anyone who does! But yet again more blogging friends told me to read it! That there was hardly any sex scenes to begin with. And once again I was blown away! So pretty much all Mead's series have blown me away because they weren't what I was expecting and I love that!

While I will miss this series and it was the one I read on my own decision, I will happily read anything else Mead concocts! Eugenie definitely meets up to my standards as kick-ass heroine! She had a lot of tough decisions to make and I think she did a fair job of making them! We can't always agree with the heroine as many other reviewers are pointing out, but Eugenie's journey has been a tough one and despite all she's been through I'm glad she stuck by her own decisions in the end.

So I will cut myself off before I get too wordy-lengthy-or other sentimental whatnot, or just writing too much once again! The finale was epic and there were several heart-pounding moments! A thrill ride from beginning to end! I highly recommend this series to any and every paranormal fan! It's one you do not want to miss!

Overall rating 4.5/5 stars

Cover Copy Reveal--Erin Kellison

2012-01-16T14:43:00.000-06:00

Fae Fire

It is Kaye Brand’s power to wield. But outcast from her kind, she’s been selling herself to the highest bidder – money for her survival in exchange for a magic glimpse into the flames of the future.

Angel Ice

One of the angelic Order, Jack Bastian has no use for a female like Kaye, as provocative and unexpected as her blazing beauty. Yet he has no choice but to hire her to uncover the secrets of his sworn enemy and her former fiance, Ferrol Grey.

Magekind

War is inevitable between the defenders of the Order and the mage Houses who threaten to engulf the world in Shadow. For Jack, mage-born Kaye is off limits, no matter how hot the impossible attraction between them. But in the coming darkness, beset by danger and desire, everything is about to change…

The cover for this one is interesting, I will say that! It has a nice mysterious vibe to it and with the description it helps pay off! This sounds so good! Seems like we're getting a new batch of characters! No doubt there will be connections to the old--a fair guess--yet I cannot wait to read it!

Fire Kissed releases July 1, 2012

It's Monday! What are you Reading?

2012-01-16T06:00:00.002-06:00

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey. It's a fun meme where we gather to share what we've read last week and our reading plans for this week.

Last Week I Read:

Bad Blood by Kristen Painter (4 stars)

Treachery by Andrea Cremer (3.5 stars)

Bloodrose by Andrea Cremer (5 stars)

Review That was Posted:

Hallowed by Cynthia Hand (3.5 stars)

Currently Reading:

Shadow Heir by Richelle Mead

What I Plan to Read this Week:

Goddess Interrupted by Aimee Carter (e-ARC)

Other Posts of Interest:

Teaser Tuesday

Waiting on Wednesday

Random Thursday

Friday Hops

Top 5 Sundays

In My Mailbox