FEBRUARY!!

I CANNOT WAIT.

COME ON FEBRUARY!

I LOVE KIM HARRISON!!!!!!

Series Week - #5

Let's talk about:  Carrie Vaughn and the Kitty Norville series...

Okay, don't hate me...

The Kitty series for me was a way to pass the time.  When Borders was going out of business :'-( I found the first six of this series for about $2.00 a piece.  Why the hell not, right?

Okay, in all fairness, I don't regret spending the money on these books, but if they had been at full price, I would have.

Kitty is trying to establish herself in her own skin.   She's trying to accept who she is and trying to change the was she lives and who she depends upon...but...

That's about as far as was memorable to me.  I read these in rapid succession and just kind of gave up.  Moved on to the next thing.  I can't even find myself taking the time to review this.  :-(

Series Week - #4



Let's talk about Richelle Mead and the Georgina Kincaid series...

Let me start by sharing my outrage that this was the LAST book in the Georgina series.  I've got to say, this has got to be my favorite series, even though it's not my favorite author. 

Okay, so we've got Succubus Blues, Succubus on Top, Succubus Dreams, Succubus Heat and Succubus Shadows all laying out the groundwork for the 6th and final installment of this witty, inventive and imaginative series.  Succubus Revealed (Georgina Kincaid, Book 6) did a very good job of finishing up the story of Georgina and her pals.  Even though it was not the ending I had hoped for, I've got to applaud the author for striving to give her readers an actual conclusion to this series. 

My heart breaks that this series is over, and I've got to say I wish the Dark Swan series would have been the one to bite the dust.  YUCK. 

All in all, I REALLY recommend this series.  You'd be surprised, for a book surrounding the life of an ancient Succubus, there wasn't excessive amounts of adult only scenes.  This book is written for the reader who enjoys a laugh and can relate to heavy sarcasm. 

Loved it.  Will totally miss it.  - Oh, and that WASN'T sarcasm.  ;-)

Series Week - #3

Let's talk about: Nicole Peeler and the Jane True Series.

I'm a fan.  Yep, totally a fan of Anyan, the sexy beast who's lick can cure anything.

 Lord Have Mercy.

Seriously though, I really enjoyed this series.  I keep saying, show me a NEW take on the paranormal, where not all vamps are tall, dark and sexual dynamos.  Show me a short dude, who I don't even like...ahem...Ryu...ahem, and an old lady who can kick some ass.  

The MINUTE I finished Tempest Rising, I RAN out to buy Tracking the Tempest and Tempest's Legacy. 

The story just keeps getting better and better.  Introducing new characters, fighting new battles and learning all about the heroine makes this a series that you become involved in.

Please believe, you will be seeing a WOW dedicated to Eye of the Tempest, the fourth installment that I can't WAAAAIIIIITTTT to get my hands on. 

Rock on, Nicole Peeler.  I may just love you a little bit. 

Hopping is HOPTASTIC

This Meme is hosted by Jennifer from Crazy for Books on Fridays. 

RULES:


Your blog should have content related to books, including, but not limited to book reviews.


1. Post about the Hop on your blog (feel free to grab the logo at the top of the post!)


Spread the word about the book party! The more the merrier!


In your blog post, answer the following question (new question each week!).

This week’s question comes from Elena who blogs at Books and Reviews! Thanks for submitting a question for our Hoppers, Elena! Be sure to visit her blog and tell her thank you!

“When did you realize reading was your passion and a truly important part of your life?”

Funny you should ask, Elena!  I was just talking about this with my sister-in-law at dinner tonight.

When I was a little girl, every year, my Mother and I would decorate the Christmas Tree together.  On the first night, after we finished, we'd turn off all the lights in the house except for the tree.  We'd lay on the floor, under the branches with our feet poking out and read The Night Before Christmas outloud, every night, until Christmas Eve. 

I think right there, that first memory of those cold winter nights, spent reading under the Christmas Tree, is when I realized I had a passion for reading and that it was also a truly important part of my life.

Series Week - #2

Let's talk about: Charlene Harris and the Sookie Stackhouse Series

Okay, this book is already pretty over-exposed with the hit TV show True Blood on HBO, but what the hell.

Now I'm not going to lie.  I was a HUGE fan of this series and waited PATIENTLY for it to make it's debut on Sunday nights.  I loved this series sooo much, that I actually re-read Dead Until Dark, Living Dead in Dallas, Club Dead, Dead to the World, Dead as a Doornail, Definitely Dead and All Together Dead about five times.

I was hooked.  This series was paranormal crack.  But did anyone else notice, around the time True Blood finally appeared, Ms. Harris' books started to lack?

Still being a fan, I signed up to get the next copies at the library and continued on with the story hoping and praying it would turn around.  Gotta say, I wasn't very impressed with From Dead to Worse, Dead and Gone and Dead in the Family.

Last night, I finished Dead Reckoning and had to smile.  Although I don't think that this book really compares to her earlier works, I've got to say, Ms. Harris churned out a believable, yet not epic, story.  There was some suspense, some sexual tension and even some vampire sex.  :-)  What more can a girl ask for?  Well, maybe some serious plot evolution?

All in all, I feel that Dead Reckoning played out like an hour long episode of True Blood.  It left you wanting more and kind of pissed that you are going to have to wait AGAIN for it!!

Series Week - #1

Let's talk about:  Larissa Ione and the Demonica Series

Starting with Pleasure Unbound and following with great stories such as Desire Unchained, Passion Unleashed, Ecstasy Unveiled, and concluding (but not ending) with Sin Undone, Ms. Ione kept me up late for MANY nights in a row, desperate to finish a story just to move onto the next!  They kept getting better and better! 

While I don't think you NEED to read each one in order, I really recommend it just for the fact that you can follow each characters progression as they overlap in each story.  You also don't want any spoilers!!

Hot men, hot stories and a fantastically imagined alter-universe where demons not only exist but are treated at Underworld General Hospital for things like childbirth to near death experiences.  Just fantastic weaving of each character's personality along with just the right amount of action to let me feel a little less dirty for reading these in bed next to my husband while he's sleeping.  :-)

Huge fangirl, that's me.

The SERIES experiment!

I really want to dig in my nails and commit myself to this blog...it seems like it's easy to forget about and that things always seem to get in the way of my next post, so I'm trying this little experiment.

I have probably read THOUSANDS of books in my lifetime, and with a touch of OCD, I usually have to keep going with a series until it gets so horrendous, I have to stop for my sanity (ahem, Laurell K Hamilton).

So here goes my latest genius idea.  I'm going to take time, once a week, to review a series I'm still stuck on.  I'd love to hear some feedback, and maybe find something new to tickle my fancy.

WoW - Dragon's Oath

The first in an enthralling new mini-series of novellas from the #1 bestselling authors of the House of Night, Dragon’s Oath tells the story behind the House of Night’s formidable fencing instructor – the love that will transform him, and the promise that will haunt him

In early 19th century England, long before he’s a professor at the Tulsa House of Night, Bryan Lankford is a troublesome yet talented human teen who thinks he can get away with anything… until his father, a wealthy nobleman, has finally had enough, and banishes him to America. When Bryan is Marked on the docks and given the choice between the London House of Night and the dragon-prowed ship to America, he chooses the Dragon – and a brand new fate.

Becoming a Fledgling may be exciting, but it opens a door to a dangerous world.... In 1830’s St. Louis, the Gateway to the West, Dragon Lankford becomes a Sword Master, and soon realizes there are both frightening challenges and beautiful perks. Like Anastasia, the captivating young Professor of Spells and Rituals at the Tower Grove House of Night, who really should have nothing to do with a fledgling…

But when a dark power threatens, Dragon is caught in its focus. Though his uncanny fighting skills make him a powerful fledgling, is he strong enough to ward off evil, while protecting Anastasia as well? Will his choices save her—or destroy them all? 

Ohhhhh, sounds good to me!!  I always love books that take the time to go in depth on characters you'd like to know more about.  I've got to say, Dragon is one of those characters for me!!

Patiently waiting...



Book Blogger Hop - Just in time for EASTER

Blog Hop is hosted by Crazy for Books.

 

The question this week is:

 "If you find a book you love, do you hunt down other books by the same author?"

 

 

Answer: Heck yes!  Many of the authors I read have more than one series going on at once.  Because of this, I get recommendation for even more books that are similar to those I'm enjoying. 

 

I will say, sometimes I feel an author can continue publishing books that no longer have that same something that reeled me in and then I give up, and start with someone new.

Review - Dead Beautiful

Dead Beautiful by Yvonne Woon.

I have been depressed for a few months.  I received an email that my neighborhood Borders was closing and found myself in a slump.  I felt like it was the end of books altogether.  Even with the new Kindle, Nook and E-Readers, I find there is nothing better than buying another book to fill in my bookshelf, not to mention, laying in the tub with the latest steamy romance without the worry of electrocution. 

I am devastated that they closed, but out of the ashes...came discount books.  Now, I have two serious problems.  Those problems, are books and sales.  Now, imagine my pleasure finding out that all of my beautiful books would be on sale.  Somebody hand me a Valium.  YAYAAYYA!   Let's just say, by the time they closed, the staff knew me by name as I had visited twice a week for the last five they were in business.

When Borders was going out of business, I tackled old ladies and children for first grab at authors I knew well, attempting to complete collections and get my hands on a few I had been waiting for at the library.  After the novelty of that wore off, I returned as the store selection became more and more picked over, still choosing books in genres I like, hoping to come across something good. 

Dead Beautiful by Yvonne Woon.

I admit, I liked the cover so I added it to the stack.

I was pleasantly surprised.  Although I rolled my eyes after seeing yet ANOTHER YA book surrounding parents dying, moving in with a rich, unknown relative and attending a private school (yeah like I haven't heard that before), I certainly liked the take on supernatural events.

I found myself guessing the entire book and really enjoyed the twist at the end.  I don't think Ms. Woon is planning a sequel and I applaud her for that.  I'm so sick of authors wringing a book dry for it's royalties. 

Thanks for a solid book that had a conclusion.  I enjoyed!

WHERE HAVE I BEEN?

I know, I know.  I am a FAILURE when it comes to blogging.  In my defense, I've been without a computer since last year, relying solely on my phone for access to FB and my email!

So, I shall update you on my latest adventures...

I recently came back from a road trip with my BFF Straylights, where we drove almost six hours in the snow to FANGIRL Kim Harrison, whom I love very dearly.  :-)

We arrived early on release day to purchase our copies of Pale Demon (The Hollows, Book 9) and interrogate the bookstore staff for details; When should we arrive, how many people would be there, what's Kim really like?  SWOON.

Finally, we decided to leave Schuler Books & Music at a about eleven, go to our hotel, get a nap in (I was sooooo sick) and be fresh faced to meet our hero, Kim Harrison. 

There were tons of people who showed up, but we got a seat in the fourth row...close enough for me to take some pretty awesome pictures that I will upload shortly. 

Kim read from Pale Demon (awesome) and then proceeded to take pictures and sign for us.  I got to thank her personally for being my favorite author as well as tell her I got to read Pale Demon in November!  She was just as nice as I had hoped!

Seriously, this trip rocked, and I got to share it with my LOVER, who convinced me to go home with 10, count em', 10 new books.  Lord have mercy.  I'm really going to have to get going with this blogging thing!

Sorry for the long pause followers, I hope to be the proud owner of a functioning computer in NO time!

Review - Awakened

Exonerated by the Vampyre High Council and returned to her position of High Priestess at Tulsa’s House of Night, Neferet has sworn vengeance on Zoey.  Dominion over Kalona is only one of the weapons she plans to use against Z.  But Zoey has found sanctuary on the Isle of Skye and is being groomed by Queen Sgiach to take over for her there.  Being Queen would be cool, wouldn’t it?  Why should she return to Tulsa? After losing her human consort, Heath, she will never be the same – and her relationship with her super-hot-warrior, Stark, may never be the same either…

And what about Stevie Rae and Rephaim?  The Raven Mocker refuses to be used against Stevie Rae, but what choice does he have when no one in the entire world, including Zoey, would be okay with their relationship?  Does he betray his father or his heart?

In the pulse-pounding 8th book in the bestselling House of Night series, how far will the bonds of friendship stretch and how strong are the ties that bind one girl’s heart?
P. C. Cast, thank you.

You are the only thing that got me through a four hour plane ride to Vegas.  My BFF Straylights, certainly wasn't very supportive of my fear.  She's lucky I love her and let her borrow this on the way back.  I'm a quick reader, and it was done halfway home. 

I've got to say...I'm starting to not like Zoey very much, and she's kind of free with the love!  Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying I didn't like the book, but I feel the characters are changing and I'm becoming a bigger Stevie-Rae fan then I ever thought possible!

Some MAJOR changes occurred in this book and I've got to say, good job to the author for not being afraid to cut out some characters dramatically.  It makes me think you're a little crazy, and I like crazy .  :-)

All in all, I approve.  Bring on the next one!!!

Review - Last Sacrifice

Okay, so I feel like it's been FOREVER since I'm blogged and upon doing this review...I realized it HAS been forever!  Sorry I've been MIA, the holidays just stole me away from you!

So, Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead is the last lucky puppy I've gotten my hands on.  I loveeeeeee Ms. Mead's Succubus series so I started reading these also. 

I felt the book did a fantastic job of tying up loose ends and thoroughly explaining the way the story progressed.  I loved that Lissa became a bit more independent and was separate from Rose this book.  It showed what kind of person she can be. 

The ending was somewhat what I expected, but I would have liked to see it end just a LITTLE differently, I definitely don't want to give anything away...but for those of you who read it...I think you follow my meaning.

I heard there is going to be a spin-off.  I hope they don't ruin anything by trying to reintroduce a certain character as a love interest to someone else if you get me.