Busting the Newbie Blues!

This event is hosted by Small Review, it is meant to help new and old bloggers interact and share their experiences about what it's like or was like to be a new blogger. It's running from December 3rd to December 31st, and you can find all the information and how to participate here.

1. When did you start your blog?  

October 3rd, 2010.

2. Why did you start your blog? 

I LOVE to read, and my BFF Straylights had recently started her own blog...I admit...I was JEALOUS.  I wanted EVERYONE to hear my opinion of recent books and to hear about some I should be reading!

3. What has been the biggest challenge you've faced so far? 

Trying to get my blog out there so I can connect with fellow book lovers.  I really didn't want to beg...but PLEASE, come see my blog!  :-)

4. What do you find most discouraging about being a new blogger? 

Not having ANY idea about what I'm doing.  I didn't know how to do templates or enter pictures or even connect to other bloggers.  I've learned so much!!  It's also discouraging to not have many followers.  I wish I could sign in one morning and have hundreds! 

5. What do you find most encouraging? 

Other bloggers stopping by and commenting on my blogs.  It makes me feel special!  Also, I read an advanced copy of Stone Kissed by Keri Stevens and she COMMENTED on my blog.  I must admit, I felt like I had MADE IT at that exact moment. 

6. What do you like best about the blogs you read? Have you tried to replicate this in your blog?  

I love to read, and I love to discover new books that I haven't heard of or maybe didn't pay much attention to.  I'm always looking for my next favorite author to add to my growing list.  I also loved all of the book covers I saw in other blogs and started my own "waiting for" list after visiting quite a few who had them!

7. What do you dislike about blogs you've read? Do you try to avoid this?

I like to hear about books!  It's awesome if you're doing a giveaway, or exchanging gifts in a secret Santa...and good for you, but I want to read about books!!

8. Do you have any advice for new bloggers? 

Do it for you.  Yeah, it gets frustrating when you only have a handful of followers, but those are the select few who get to enjoy what you have to say.  Hell, I like to hear myself talk...and I sure like to read my own reviews!  :-)

9. Anything else you'd like to share about your experience?

I love it so far.  I'm really starting to discover the YA genre and can't believe how many things I had been missing because I categorized YA with "kids" books.

10. Is there anything you'd like to tell us about your blog? 

Blogging for life.  I love to read, that will never stop.  So as long as I'm reading...I'll be blogging!!  Plus...my blog is kind of amazing...  :-D

Review - Pale Demon

OMG.  A huge 'THANK YOU' to HarperCollins and Kim Harrison for letting me read this baby before it even hits shelves.  Yes, I will admit, I did a little begging for it, but it was so worth it seeing as though I am a HUGE fan of the series.

It's hard to review a book without giving away any spoilers....so here goes.

The book, as I expected, was FANTASTIC.  I can't help but get swept away into the world Ms. Harrison creates every time I open up one of the books from her fabulous Hollows series. 

The book starts off where the last left off, with Rachel having to take a trip in front of the council to try and have her shunning revoked.  Yeah, she uses Demon magic, yeah...she hangs out with Al (who she should TOTALLY hook up with), but hey you sissy witches, she's a GOOD witch, dang it all!

I think the best part about these books is Rachel learning new Demon magic, and losing herself in the world of the Ever After.  It's such a well written and interesting place..and I sure love to see Rachel learn new and challenging spells.  I love that as a character, she pushes herself to see how far she can go and what she can accomplish.  You go, girl!

I love the thought and creativity that go into these books, and I can't help but imagine the characters and what they might be doing in "day to day" life...as in...what happens when I'm not reading the story.  Maybe I'm crazy!  

I would have liked to see more Al in this book, but that's just me being selfish because I want some sexy sex time between him and Rachel.  I want him to look at her loving with his goat eyes and call her HIS itchy witch...hahhha. 

Seriously, this made my holiday season.  What a PRESENT to have been able to read and enjoy yet another of Ms. Harrison's magical stories.

ATTENTION....

Harper Collins and Kim Harrison just granted me a pre-read of Pale Demon.  (I'M FREAKING OUT)

I'm a HUGE Kim Harrison fan and am locking myself in a room after work today and reading that sucker until the birds chirp. 

Expect to see me with a review sometime tomorrow!!!!!

I like to HOP on Sunday...

It's time for the weekly Book Blogger Hop hosted by Crazy For Books!!  :-)

This week's question comes from Angela who blogs at Library Girl Reads:

 

 "What is the thing you like most about reading book blogs?  Is it the reviews, author guest posts, articles, giveaways, or something else entirely?"

 

Ohhhh!!  I LOVE visiting other blogs to find even more books to add to my TBR list.  I never really participate in giveaways, I have bad luck.  :-(  I do love getting to know other book enthusiasts and connecting to people who understand MY love for books!!

Review - Stone Kissed

Keri Stevens

Stone Kissed

When Delia Forrest talks to statues, they talk back. She is, after all, the last of the Steward witches.

After an arsonist torches her ancestral home with her estranged father still inside, Delia is forced to sell the estate to pay his medical bills. Her childhood crush, Grant Wolverton, makes a handsome offer for Steward House, vowing to return it to its former glory. Delia agrees, as long as he'll allow her to oversee the restoration.

Working so closely with Grant, Delia finds it difficult to hide her unique talent—especially when their growing passion fuels her abilities.

But someone else lusts after both her man and the raw power contained in the Steward land. Soon Delia finds herself fighting not just for Grant's love, but for both their lives...

Okay, first things first...a HUGE thank you to Carina Press and Keri Stevens for awarding me the absolute privilege of reviewing this book.  I feel honored!!

I've gotta say, this book was AWESOME, and quite a deal if you're looking for it on your Kindle. 

Delia, the books main character, comes from a long line of witches, but not the witches your thinking of...no spell books or cauldrons to be found here.  Delia is unique.  She has the ability to talk to stone...statues to be precise.  The book opens with a hilarious scene in which Delia, who restores statues for a living, it having an inappropriate conversation with a statue.  That's where this book sucked me in.  It was funny, I was laughing out loud.  Ms. Stevens gives each and every character that is introduced in the book their own personality, regardless of if they are flesh or stone. 

This book had everything I needed.  It made me laugh, it made me cry, it held me in suspense, there were some pretty HOT scenes with sexy man-hunk, Grant.  I've gotta say, this book was a HIT in my mind.  Seriously, I don't have a paper copy and I wish I did, so I could let all my friends borrow it!!  It was fantastic. 

It's well worth it and SO different.  It was so refreshing to read something COMPLETELY different from what I usually review.  Yes, it was still paranormal romance, but it introduced a whole new aspect on the genre.  Bravo!! 

WoW - Demonglass

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine where we share what books we are most looking forward to.

Title: Demonglass

Author: Rachel Hawkins

Release Date: February 15th, 2011

Sophie Mercer thought she was a witch.
That was the whole reason she was sent to Hex Hall, a reform school for delinquent Prodigium (aka witches, shapeshifters, and fairies). But that was before she discovered the family secret, and that her hot crush, Archer Cross, is an agent for The Eye, a group bent on wiping Prodigium off the face of the earth.

Turns out, Sophie’s a demon, one of only two in the world—the other being her father. What’s worse, she has powers that threaten the lives of everyone she loves. Which is precisely why Sophie decides she must go to London for the Removal, a dangerous procedure that will destroy her powers.

But once Sophie arrives she makes a shocking discovery. Her new friends? They’re demons too. Meaning someone is raising them in secret with creepy plans to use their powers, and probably not for good. Meanwhile, The Eye is set on hunting Sophie down, and they’re using Acher to do it. But it’s not like she has feelings for him anymore. Does she?

NOOOOOO.  Don't give up your powers!  If you do, how in the world will there be another book in this series!?!

I really liked Hex Hall, so I am eagerally awaiting this one!  Woo-hoo!

Review - Glimmerglass

Glimmerglass

Jenna Black



From Booklist

This new series begins smartly with 16-year-old Dana, tired of coping with her alcoholic single mother, running away to find her father in Avalon, which, in this arch and insightful version, is situated between twenty-first-century London and the world of faerie. Black handles the mash-up of genres and cultures deftly, giving Dana a credibility that keeps readers cheering her on through such dismal adventures as being dogged by a bodyguard while trying to spend her newfound father’s euros and getting attacked by would-be assassins, as well as those of a more delicious variety, like discovering that bad-boy hunk Ethan may not be all that bad after all. The world building here is brisk but accessible, the issues range from teen angst to faerie politics, and the skills needed to negotiate both include some magic-spell work and some sharp-tongue work. This is a promising start to a series that should have broad appeal among teens tiring of vampires but not dangerous romance. Grades 8-11. --Francisca Goldsmith

 

Different.  This book was different.  Okay, I like different...but I'm not sure if I liked this 'different' book...

 

Dana's mom sucks.  She's an alcoholic, and for anybody who's ever had someone they loved suffer from alcoholism, this book really is a punch in the gut in the first couple chapters.  Dana's mom shows up SHWASTED at her recital and embarrasses the hell out of her.  Dana kinda shrugs it off, because it's a regular occurrence.   Ouch.

 

Well, Dana thinks that's about enough...and packs up and heads all the way across the Atlantic to go see her dear old dad, whom she has never met.  All the sudden, she's this important "Faeriewalker" who everybody wants to have on their team, through friendship or force...oh, and she is the only one in like 75 years.  Do you see what I mean?  A little far fetched? 

 

Maybe I'm just PMSing...

 

The romance in this book REALLY threw me off.  It seemed almost EVERY character not related to Dana seemed to have some kind of sexual undertones when interacting with her, including a father/son couple.  I didn't know which character to route for in a relationship.  Ethan?  No, not that twit.  He's just using her!! 

 

Well, maybe because I'm so worked up about this book I will have to get the next...damn you Jenna Black.  You win. 

 

Honestly, not a BAD book.  Just something I felt was too far fetched and had SOOOO much more promise.  Yes, I'll be reading the 2nd because I am somewhat invested into these characters now...

 

Review - Hex Hall

Hex Hall

Rachel Hawkins

Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father--an elusive European warlock--only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters.

 

By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tagalong

As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all Prodigium, especially her.

I APPROVE.  Hahah, like that REALLY matters to anyone...but honestly...I loved it!  I came home from the bookstore at nine and stayed up until three in the morning just to finish!

Sophie...you and I would get along if you were a real person.  She's smart, sassy and doesn't throw herself at the cutest boy in school.  She befriends him, and he can't seem to fight her charm!  THAT'S the way it's supposed to be.  You don't need to be the sexiest little thang, you're personality should get you the guy.  Thanks you, Ms. Hawkins for shedding light on this!

This series did remind me a little of other paranormal books based in schools (Marked, Vampire Academy) and also The Craft, but still stuck to it's own flavor. 

I loved the introduction of demons to keep things fresh, and I also really appreciated that vampires weren't the most important paranormal group.  It's nice to read a series that differs from the trend that I seem to come across while reading many popular YA books.

PS - That groundskeeper...I hope to see something develop there.  He seemed...HOT.  Sorry, Archer.  You were described as "skinny".  I like my man meaty and strong enough to break a lead pipe with his bare hands.  What can I say?   I mostly read paranormal romance.

You can certainly expect Demonglass (A Hex Hall Novel) on my WoW this week!!!