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!