My World of Books

When Life Throws You Lemons... Make Cranberry Juice!

2010-12-07T17:14:00.001-07:00

Title: When Life Throws You Lemons... Make Cranberry Juice!

Author: Shari Bookstaff

Published: October 26, 2009

*Book Tour

Description:

When my kids were learning to walk, I remember walking behind them, ready to catch them if they stumbled backward. I never dreamed that thirteen years later my kids would be walking behind me, ready to catch me if I stumbled backward.

I was 42 years old when I was diagnosed with a benign, operable, brain tumor. Doctors predicted a short hospital stay followed by a speedy recovery. Complications arose, giving me unexpected life-long obstacles.

A divorced mother of two beautiful, talented, wonderful children, I had high hopes for a bright and happy future. I had a secure job that I loved, and I was beginning to date again when my brain tumor was diagnosed.

My life since that fateful day has been focused on regaining basic human functions: breathing, swallowing, walking, etc. I am working again, and trying to be a good mother to my two beautiful, talented, wonderful children.

Putting a positive spin on life’s disasters doesn’t always work, but looking for, and accepting, positive things in spite of life’s disasters works. Instead of making lemonade out of lemons, I add life’s sweet sugar and cranberries to my lemons. This makes life much more palatable.

Review:

I found this novel to be incredibly inspirational. Shari went through what I believe is everyone's worse nightmare. I have a fear of going in for surgery and having something go wrong. I can't imagine the struggle and hardship she went through when she found out what happened to her.

Shari describes her time right before the surgery, her divorce, and her attempt to begin dating again. Everything seemed to be going well when was diagnosed with a brain tumor. She was told over and over that the surgery would be easy. She would be back to her life in no time. They were wrong.

I would recommend this book. I enjoyed reading it. The book did not take long at all to read. You read about Shari working hard to build her life back as best as she can. You get glimpses of how the people around her helped, how her children coped with this abrupt change in their lives, and how Shari struggled to find strength. The only problem I had was how the book was structured. Some chapters felt like they were repeated or pieces of the chapter had already been explained in the previous ones.

Salem Falls by Jodi Picoult

2010-09-23T21:59:00.000-07:00

Title: Salem Falls

Author: Jodi Picoult

Published: August 6, 2002

Genre: Fiction

*found on my bookshelf when I moved

Book Description

Love can redeem a man...but secrets and lies can condemn him.

A handsome stranger comes to the sleepy New England town of Salem Falls in hopes of burying his past: once a teacher at a girls' prep school, Jack St. Bride was destroyed when a student's crush sparked a powder keg of accusation. Now, washing dishes for Addie Peabody at the Do-Or-Diner, he slips quietly into his new routine, and Addie finds this unassuming man fitting easily inside her heart. But amid the rustic calm of Salem Falls, a quartet of teenage girls harbor dark secrets -- and they maliciously target Jack with a shattering allegation. Now, at the center of a modern-day witch hunt, Jack is forced once again to proclaim his innocence: to a town searching for answers, to a justice system where truth becomes a slippery concept written in shades of gray, and to the woman who has come to love him.

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Ratings: 5 Stars Absolutely Perfect

I absolutely loved this book! The plot was amazing. The characters were unique and memorable. Everyone MUST read this book!

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Review:

This is the first novel I read by Jodi Picoult and I absolutely love it. The novel was filled with just the right amount of romance, suspense, mystery, angst, and parallels between The Crucible by Arthur Miller, which I absolutely loved when I read it in high school. I read all 433 pages on my two flights from Boston to San Antonio. I just speed through this novel. I really recommend it.

The novel is told through multiple perspectives. The two main characters though are Addie Peabody and Jack St. Bride. The novel really focuses on the imperfection of the American justice system, one of my favorite things to talk about (political science dork!). Jack had been a professor at an all girls high school. He was a soccer coach and had some close relationships with the girls on the team. When a crush is presented as something more, Jack is called upon to defend his innocence only to lose. I was really blown away by how the whole situation was handled. And this is all in the past with the chain of events slowly unraveling throughout the novel.

Addie Peabody is a very misunderstood young woman. She has gone through several damaging events that a woman and a mother should never have to go through. I admired her strength and even her weaknesses. She had enough courage and doubt to make her seem realistic. She takes in Jack when he comes looking for work and finds herself attracted to a man with secrets. She has to decide if she will stay by his side when he is once again accused of relations with a minor or if she will desert him.

The plot was beautifully written and unraveled. I love a good mystery suspense. I hoped the novel would end happily, but couldn't be sure because the novel was based off The Crucible, which does not have a happy ending. The parallels were well-embedded in the novel. I just had to know how the story was going to end. Good job Jodi Picoult for a well-written novel!

If you loved The Crucible, I think you will really enjoy this novel. If you are looking for a good mystery/suspense, give this novel a try.

Wind Warrior Blog Tour Giveaway!

2010-09-10T08:58:00.002-07:00

Wind Warrior Blog Tour GiveawaySept 1 ~ Sept. 30

I was suppose to post this on September 1st, but my cousin was killed on August 29th. I was in shock and pain so every thing other than being with my family left my thoughts. I just got back to work this week. I want to thank Kristy Milland for emailing me about the giveaway otherwise it would have slipped my mind and I would have not posted it. Good Luck everyone! And I have some reviews ready to go for next week with a possible giveaway *hint* The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott *hint* _____________________________

Cynthia Roberts, author of her debut historical romance, Wind Warrior hassomething pretty darn dynamic for all of My World of Books visitors, friendsand subscribers ... one of the largest blog tour promotional giveaways ever attempted.

Breaking into the world of romance fiction is a challenge unto itself but more so,when you’re a newly published author. I am incredibly excited to participatein this venture with Cynthia and help introduce Wind Warrior to the world ofromance readers. The bonus … every one has the chance to compete for notone, but five pretty extraordinary prizes which will include:

1. Romantic Two-lid willow picnic basket with deluxe service for two ~$125.00 value2. Succulent Godiva Chocolate Tier ~ $75.00 value3. Exquisite Pearl & Crystal Necklace ~ $50.00 value4. Amazon Gift Certificate ~ $25 value5. Amazon Gift Certificate ~ $25 value
To view the gifts & read further descriptions visit her website at http://www.romanceauthorcynthiaroberts.com.
Contest Rules Are As Follows
1. Leave a comment at the end of this post2. Tweet the following text: Wind Warrior by Cynthia Roberts. A story oflonging, of a wanton need to survive all odds & a love so strong it conquershuman evil. On sale now at Amazon, Borders & Barnes and Nobel.3. Post the same tag on your Facebook and/or Myspace Profile4. Become a fan/follower/subscriber of the blog you visit5. The list of participating blogs are registered on Cynthia’s website and youmay enter to win on every one, however, only one family member may doso in a household.6. Open to ALL not just the US & Canada7. Each participating blog will randomly choose five entrants to compete for thegrand prize pool where the final 5 winners will be randomly selected8. Winners will be chosen on Sept. 30th and notified via email by Cynthia9. All finalists must provide their email, name and official delivery address atthe time of finalist selection to (name of blog)10. All prizes will be shipped no later than Oct. 30th directly from the distributor11. The steps above will be checked to determine your eligibility.
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Wind Warrior ~ The Iroquois Series ~ Book One

Leslie Michaels is a visionary, and only those close to her know of her special gift and the visions that come when hermind and body surrender to sleep. Fate has a way of righting many wrongs, and for Leslie it is a destiny that changesher life dramatically. But not before she is forced to flee into the wilderness to escape a murderous trapper benton claiming her for his very own. Faith and a strong will to survive are her only companions, until she encountersWinnokin, the handsome Seneca war chief who first came to her in her dreams. Not only does he prove to be herrescuer and protector, he teaches her that tragedy can breed happiness and the passion to live and love deeply onceagain.

Wind Warrior plunges readers into the intimate depths of a relationship that unfolds like a live drama before theireyes while painting an insightful and intriguing portrait of Native Indian life in the 1800s. It is a story of longing, ofa wanton need to survive all odds, and a love so strong it conquers human evil. Wind Warrior expresses with cunningwords the simple, raw human emotions that hold readers spellbound and captivates their hearts.

On Sale Now at Amazon, Borders, Barnes and Nobel ISBN# 978-1-61663-162-8. Read more than a dozen reviewson her website at http://www.romanceauthorcynthiaroberts.com.
_______________________If you have any questions about the contest, feel free to email me and I will get back to you as soon as possible! Good Luck everyone!

It's Monday, What are you reading? 8/16

2010-08-15T21:58:00.000-07:00

It's Monday, What are you reading? is hosted by Sheila @ One Person's Journey Through a World of Books. This is a wickedly awesome weekly event where I get to update everyone on my reads from this past week and my reads for this week.

These are the books I have read since my last It's Monday post, which was about three weeks ago!

Past Reads:

Shiver and Linger by Maggie Stiefvater: I really liked these books! I thought they were really predictable and great fun reads. (review coming when I get internet in my apartment!)

And I reread the entire Night Huntress Series! Still awesome!

To Read:

.....many, many books when I find the time! And when I get to explore the amazingly awesome library in Pueblo! I was in the library to use the internet this morning and it was just beautiful. I haven't been able to explore my favorite sections though. I am sure I will eventually!

New Changes for Me!

2010-08-11T22:05:00.001-07:00

Wow! I have accomplished so much in the last few weeks. I found out I got a job as a Field Organizer for the Congressional and Senatorial Races in Colorado. I immediately set out to find a subletter, to pack all my things, get movers to pick up my furniture and move back home to Texas for a week and a half before heading over to CO. I found out I got the job on a Friday and was out of Boston by Wednesday afternoon.

I got home to Texas and kind of got out-of-sync. I spent all my time stressing about finding a car and learning how to drive it. I had only driven a few times in the past with my parents. Now I had a week to learn how to drive. I took the online Adult Education Class and passed. Then I took the test the day I left for Colorado. Thank Goodness I passed! I also got a car 5 days after I got to SA. I am now the owner of a 2003 Saturn Vue. I am still getting use to it, but after all the driving I have to do for the campaign; I think I will be a pro by November 2.

My job is going to be all consuming. I will be working 10-14 hours a day, 7 days a week. My reading is going to really slow down for the next few months, but I am determined to continue reading and maintaining my blog. I might even have a contest coming up in a few weeks.

I am very happy I have this opportunity to work for such an important race. I am a Democrat. We cannot afford to lose any seats. If we lose seats, getting bills passed in the House and the Senate will become even more difficult. I know I am going to learn so much and I hope it leads to even greater opportunities. I probably won't be participating in any memes until I find a rhythm in my routine. And please excuse any grammar mistakes. I wrote this very fast without my contacts on and I have no idea where my glasses are.

Teaser Tuesday 8/2

2010-08-02T21:00:00.000-07:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB @ Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read

Open to a random

Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

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Rushed to the Alter by Jane Feather

"I was trying to hide from someone," she explained impatiently. "And now, by detaining me, you've ruined everything." pg. 17

I haven't started this novel yet. I read one other Jane Feather novel and I really enjoyed it. I won this novel a few weeks ago. I haven't had time to read it yet, but I hope to get to it by the end of this week. I am hesitant though because a lot of reviews on Goodreads give this a low rating. Well, we shall see.

Teaser Tuesdays 7/27

2010-07-26T21:00:00.002-07:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB @ Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read

Open to a random

Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

__________________________________________

The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott by Kelley O'Conner McNees

I haven't started this book yet, but the teaser makes me want to start it! I have to finish packing though.

"Anna, I assure you that Joseph Singer is too much in love with himself to begin to dream of loving anyone else. And if he ever did, I should take pity on the object of his affection." -pg 71, The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott

What is your Teaser?

It's Monday, What are you reading? & Last Week

2010-07-25T21:00:00.005-07:00

It's Monday, What are you reading? is hosted by Sheila @ One Person's Journey Through a World of Books. This is a wickedly awesome weekly event where I get to update everyone on my reads from this past week and my reads for this week.

I GOT A JOB! *spins around in a circle* Okay so the job is temporary and requires me to move to Colorado for a few months and get a car, but it is worth it! I will be packing like crazy today and tomorrow. I leave Boston on Wednesday to go home and gets some things settled before I make my way over to CO. I plan to continue posting this week, but I apologize if the week turns out to be slow!

Unfortunately, I won't be able to read some books I planned to read because I have to return them to the library. I just hope which ever part of Colorado I am going has a well stocked library.

Last Week:

Darklight by Lesley Livingston: 4.5 stars-review coming soon

Presumed Dead by Shirley Wells (galley): 4 stars- review coming soon
Blinded by Our Eyes by Clare London (galley): 3 stars- review coming soon

Currently Reading:
F*ck It by John Parkin (69%):

This week:
Salem Falls by Jodi Picoult (bookshelf)
The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott (Won!)
The Nosy Neighbor by Fern Michaels (Won!)
Rushed to the Alter by Jane Feather (Won!)

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Last Week @ My World of Books

Weekly Events

It's Monday, What are you reading?

Teaser Tuesdays

Book Blogger Hop
Top 5 Sundays

Posts

Emma Michaels, author of The Thirteenth Chime
New Blog Design: helpful tutorials

Reviews:

Into the Storm by Suzanne Brockmann

Force of Nature by Suzanne Brockmann

All through the Night: A Troubleshooters Christmas by Suzanne Brockmann

Slightly Wicked by Mary Balogh

Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston

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Top 5 Sundays! (1)

2010-07-25T13:46:00.003-07:00

Top 5 Sundays is a new weekly feature hosted by Larissa's Bookish Life and runs every Sunday. If you are interested in participating in this new weekly feature check out her starting post.

Rules:

Write a post listing your TOP 5 choices within the theme chosen for the week.
Mention Larissa's Bookish Life on the post and link back to it.
Feel free to use the Feature's image.
After you've finished your post, add your link (of the post, not your blog's main page) to the Mr.Linky at the end of that week's post.

Childhood & Early Teenage Years Books

These are the books that have always stayed with me.

# 1- Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling

The Harry Potter books are what got me into reading. I read the first 3 during Christmas Break in seventh grade. I absolutely loved them. I own all the books and they have been loved greatly. To tide me over between the long waits, I would read Harry Potter fanfiction. I will always be grateful to this series for opening me up to the world of books. The books have their own shelf along with other HP merchandise.

#2- The Alibi by Sandra Brown

Sandra Brown introduced me into the world of contemporary romance. I discovered her my freshman year of high school. I had a reading class that year. We had to read for the first 15-30 minutes and do other stuff that I no longer remember. A few of her books were in the room and I picked out The Alibi. I ended up buying this book later and I brought it with me to college! I reread this book all the time.

#3- Phantoms by Dean Koontz

Dean Koontz was also on the walls in that reading classroom. I can't remember the first book from him I read, but I can safely say I have read at least half of the books he has published. One book that always stuck with me is Phantoms. I loved the characters, settings, and all that jazz. I remember being so engrossed in the book that when my father came to check on me I jumped up and gave a small scream.

#4- Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

By the time I got to this book in high school, I loved to read, but I never really enjoyed the books I had to read for school, except Pride and Prejudice and #5 (see below). Pride and Prejudice just sucked me in and I finished it within a few days. I ended up reading another book or so from her, but I haven't read them all yet.

#5- Summer of My German Soldier by Bette Greene

I absolutely fell in love with this book. This was also an assigned reading. I think this was my freshman year. The novel just hit me right in the heart as I read it! The ending just tore me up. I have been meaning to read the second book, but I haven't gotten a hold of it. This book really left an impression on me. I think I might have teared up at the end.

Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston

2010-07-24T16:19:00.001-07:00

Title: Wondrous Strange

Author: Lesley Livingston

Series: Wondrous Strange #1

Published: December 23, 2008

Genre: Young Adult

*from Library

Why I am reading: I have heard so many great things about this novel. I just had to pick it up and give it a try.

Book Description:

17 year-old Kelley Winslow doesn’t believe in Faeries. Not unless they’re the kind that you find in a theatre, spouting Shakespeare—the kind that Kelley so desperately wishes she could be: onstage, under lights, with a pair of sparkly wings strapped to her shoulders. But as the understudy in a two-bit, hopelessly off-off-Broadway production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, wishing is probably the closest she’s going to get to becoming a Faerie Queen. At least, that’s what she thinks... In this fun, urban fantasy, Kelley's off-stage life suddenly becomes as complicated as one of Shakespeare’s plot twists when a nighttime trip to Central Park holds more than meets the mortal eye.

______________________________

Rating: 4 Stars-Loved it!
Everything about the novel was great! A very enjoyable read

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Review:

I finally got my hands on Wondrous Strange after convincing myself to get it from the library. This is my first faery novel I read so everything about this novel was new to me. Overall, I really love the plot, the characters, and the world Livingston created.

Wondrous Strange follows the life of Kelley Winslow, a seventeen year-old aspiring actress. She is an understudy for the play A Midsummer Night's Dream. She dreams of making it big on stage, but for now, she does what she can to make rent. After the actress playing Queen Titania got injured, Kelley is thrust on stage for her big moment. After fumbling her way through rehearsal, Kelley goes to Central Park to practice her lines and this is where the story really begins.

The main characters Kelley and Sonny are both strong and vulnerable. Kelley is a teenager who is trying to make it on her own in New York. Sonny, a newly appointed Janus guard, is making the rounds in Central Park when he stumbles upon Kelley. I loved both characters, but I thought they “fell in love” too fast. Characters, especially young characters, falling in love within a few days is a pet peeve of mine. I know it is typical of teenagers, but it makes the romance unbelievable to me. I do think they are intensely attracted to each other, but I do not think they know each other well enough to swear undying love.

I really enjoyed Lesley's writing style. I would not say I was completely engrossed, but I really enjoyed the easy flow of words. Occasionally when I start a new series, I have a hard time understanding the world the author created, not with this novel though. Livingston handled it beautifully and I really appreciated it.

The novel was a great read and I immediately placed a hold on Darklight. I finished it a few days ago so I will post the review sometime next week.

Book Blogger Hop 7/23

2010-07-22T18:47:00.001-07:00

The Book Blogger Hop was started by Jen @ Crazy for Books.

In the spirit of the Twitter Friday Follow, the Book Blogger Hop is a place just for book bloggers and readers to connect and find new book-related blogs that we may be missing out on! This weekly BOOK PARTY is an awesome opportunity for book bloggers to connect with other book lovers, make new friends, support each other, and generally just share our love of books! It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs that they may not know existed!

Question:
Tell me about the book you are currently reading!

Answer:
I am currently reading a few of books!

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott: I am reading this book because I won The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott by Kelly O'Conner McNees. I started reading this book when I was younger, but I never finished it.

F*ck it by John Parkin: I am really enjoying this novel. I usually don't read self-help books, but the title caught my attention. Basically, John wants us to say F*ck It to all the varying things that stress us out. If we didn't care so much about them, we could save ourselves a lot of stress. I am about 63% into the novel.

Presumed Dead by Shirley Well: I just started reading this so I don't know much about it yet, but it is going good so far!

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Also-

Want to Participate in a Book Tour?

Cynthia Roberts, author of Wind Warrior, is having a Book Tour/Contest throughout the month of September. All contest information is on Cynthia's site. A total of 10 winners will be announced at the end of the month: 5 winners from entries and 5 blog hosts. If you are interested in participating, just let me know in your comment and leave your email so I can forward it to Cynthia! There are 71 blogs participating and Cynthia is looking to make that 200!

Book Description:

Leslie Michaels is a visionary, and only those close to her know of her special gift and the visions that come when her mind and body surrender to sleep. Fate has a way of righting many wrongs, and for Leslie it is a destiny that changes her life dramatically. But not before she is forced to flee into the wilderness to escape a murderous trapper bent on claiming her for his very own. Faith and a strong will to survive are her only companions, until she encounters Winnokin, the handsome Seneca war chief who first came to her in her dreams. Not only does he prove to be her rescuer and protector, he teaches her that tragedy can breed happiness and the passion to live and love deeply once again.

Wind Warrior plunges readers into the intimate depths of a relationship that unfolds like a live drama before their eyes while painting an insightful and intriguing portrait of Native Indian life in the 1800s. It is a story of longing, of a wanton need to survive all odds, and a love so strong it conquers human evil. Wind Warrior expresses with cunning words the simple, raw human emotions that hold readers spellbound and captivate their hearts.

Author Guest Post & Blog Tour: Emma Michaels

2010-07-21T21:14:00.002-07:00

I would like to give a warm welcome to Emma Michaels, author of the upcoming novel The Thirteenth Chime. Emma is the first author to come on My World of Books! I am so happy to be included in this book tour. I am very excited for her upcoming novel. I haven't read it yet, but I plan to as soon as I can get my hands on it! I really love the cover.

The Thirteenth Chime by Emma Michaels

'A Sense of Truth' novel

Destiny has finally found the life that she has always wanted.

She is about to finish college, has a fiancé that loves her, and a great summer on the West Coast planned with her friend, Stephanie.

But her world is turned upside down when an antique clock mysteriously chimes thirteen times and someone attacks them, sending Stephanie and her mother to the hospital.

Alone, and without any help from the police, Destiny has no choice but to turn to the one man she had left behind a year ago - her ex-boyfriend, David.

Together, they must solve the riddle of the thirteenth chime before the clock strikes thirteen again.

Yet as they face their own past and hearts, a trap over half a century old is waiting for them to become its prey.

For revenge, fifty years is never too long…

The Book Blogging Community

I find myself always so grateful to the blogging community and so happy to be a part of it but rarely ever having a chance to actually say thank you. So since Sarah is letting me borrow her blog for this stop on the tour I figured I could use this as an opportunity to say thank you so much and to let you know just how much the blogging community and especially you mean to me. I realize if you are reading this you are probably either following the blog tour for The Thirteenth Chime, a follower of mine on one of my networks, just stopping by to see what Sarah is doing or one of Sarah’s followers! (Go you!!!! Yeay! No matter what your reasoning I hope you will become one of Sarah’s followers and even one of mine!) No matter which of the above options I would like to say that you officially rock!

I started blogging because I wanted to share my opinions and have a way to remember everything that I have read. Over the years you walk along bookshelves and feel like you have read so much, but you don’t actually remember each of them fully, some of them don’t get a chance to leave the imprint on your heart that they deserve so I wanted a way to look back and remember but also to reach out and start working on being a more outgoing person. I was so scared at first and had no idea what anyone would think of me, I knew I had only read older books and no new releases, I wasn’t sure if my reviews were any good and was expecting to be met with criticism. Instead, I was met with open welcoming arms and it felt wonderful.

I have been reading Young Adult for so many years and it wasn’t something that was readily accepted when I first started. I still wasn’t sure how everyone would feel and while I had started writing, I will admit I was mostly doing it for me, not thinking that anyone would ever read it. But the one thing that I have always wanted to be able to do with my life is help people and YA novels had helped me so much. They had helped me escape when I needed to, they have given me a younger female role model when I didn’t have one and they kept me thinking and feeling and overall, growing as a person. They helped me so much and through blogging I was able to see that it had helped others too!

I finally had a reason for all of my scribbling and a hope that maybe I could provide to others some of what had been given to me through these amazing novels. That maybe I could give them that escape or lesson that they may not have been able to learn in person or that I could be the one to put a smile on their face like Tamora Pierce had for me at a signing when she took the time to earnestly speak with me and add an extra little note in my copy of her book. I would not be here if it weren’t for all of you book bloggers and especially blog readers who supported me and book blogging as a whole. Blogging was able to keep me going and brought me where I am today and I just wouldn’t be the same person if it weren’t for you all so THANK YOU! From the bottom of my heart, thank you!

Sincerely,

Emma Michaels

http://EmmaMichaels.Blogspot.com

Twitter * Facebook * GoodReads * My Website * Shelfari * YouTube

The Thirteenth Chime:

Facebook * GoodReads * Website * More TTC info!

Thanks again for coming on my site! Wishing you the best of luck!

New Blog Design

2010-07-21T08:36:00.002-07:00

Hello Everyone,

My new blog design is live! I put it up on Sunday. I really love it. I spent so much time working on it these past two weeks.

I recently decided I want to learn html/css so I can learn how make my own blog template/background and make adjustments when needed. I bought Artisteer, a website design program, in January. I have been very happy with it, but I am confined to a limited number of options. My last design was made on Artisteer and I designed my header on Microsoft Powerpoint. While I love it, I think a basic knowledge of html/css can come in handy in my future.

I have been experimenting for a few weeks. I have been using GIMP to play around with scrapbook paper, elements, and all that jazz. I have to admit I have been very frustrated, but a lot of blog designers have tutorials on their site. I have been browsing trying to gain a better understanding on how everything works.

Some tutorials & elements I found:

How to make a scrapbook background by Amanda @ kevinandamanda.com: This is the first site I came across while searching the web. The instructions are easy, but I took a few tries to get it right. I ended up not using this, but this post is what got me started.

Tutorials @ April Showers Blog Design: I ended up using her tutorial on Make Your Own Background. She has a few other tutorials you can check out to make modifications to your blog.

Fall 2009 Scrapbook Kit by Amanda @ kevinandamanda.com: This is the kit I used for the site. Amanda is a very generous woman. She is giving this kit away for free! She also has Free fonts on her site. I am using Baby Boston.

GIMP: I discovered GIMP, a free photo editing site, which is a great alternative if you don't want to pay for photoshop. Amanda pimped GIMP out on her blog and I immediately downloaded it. I had a few problems at first, but after playing around I was able to make my header, blog button, and signature. I still have to make post dividers, a twitter background, and maybe add some images to my sidebar.

Add a Signature to Every Blog Post: I used Amanda's tutorial to make and add my signature to every post. I had to adjust her tutorial since I have linkwithin and labels at the end of my blog, but I got it to work! Here are some other tutorials on her site!

There are more, but I didn't save them when I was making my site. If you have questions, just drop a comment and I will try to help!

Slightly Wicked by Mary Balogh

2010-07-20T21:00:00.001-07:00

Title: Slightly Wicked

Author: Mary Balogh

Series: Slightly #2

Published: April 29, 2003

Genre: Historical Romance

*from Library

Why I am reading: I really enjoyed the first novel in the series! Therefore, of course, I am going to continue reading the series. My review of Slightly Married, book 1.

Book Description:

Like all the Bedwyn men, Aidan has a reputation for cool arrogance. But this proud nobleman also possesses a loyal, passionate heart--and it is this fierce loyalty that has brought Colonel Lord Aidan to Ringwood Manor to honor a dying soldier's request. Having promised to comfort and protect the man's sister, Aidan never expected to find a headstrong, fiercely independent woman who wants no part of his protection…nor did he expect the feelings this beguiling creature would ignite in his guarded heart. And when a relative threatens to turn Eve out of her home, Aidan gallantly makes her an offer she can't refuse: marry him…if only to save her home. And now, as all of London breathlessly awaits the transformation of the new Lady Aidan Bedwyn, the strangest thing happens: With one touch, one searing embrace, Aidan and Eve's “business arrangement” is about to be transformed…into something slightly surprising.

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Ratings: 4.5_Awesome
I loved this book. I highly recommend it.

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Review:

While Slightly Married focuses on Aidan, a man of honor and dignity, Slightly Wicked focuses on Rannulf, a man of passion and charm. I love the differences between Aidan and Rannulf. They are completely different in manner and duty. Aidan took up the drum despite his love for working the land while Rannulf declined to join the church, but pursued nothing else in the meantime. Slightly Wicked is well-written, well-paced, and not as wicked as I expected.

At the end of Slightly Married, Rannulf leaves his brother Aidan to his new family and makes his way to his grandmother's house. This novel picks up with Rannulf on his way down when he encounters an over-turned coach. When he catches sight of Jane (while editing my mind saw Jude instead of Jane) Law, he offers her a lift to the nearest town with the hopes of gaining her companionship for the night. Jane, a daughter of a pastor off to live a life of no prospects, decides to take him up on his offer and live if only for a day.

I was immediately captured in this novel and finished it within a few of hours. Jane's hopeless situation was depressing. She had no choice but to live an empty life with her aunt as a poor relative living on the charity of her wealthy relations. I was cheering her as she took her life into her own hands and made her way into Rannulf's bed. If I were in her situation, I would have done the same thing, which is probably why I liked her character so much. She is an amazing actress, but she never pursued the profession because of her family. She gains the chance to perform for Rannulf and she blows him away. This little plot detail ends up going nowhere though. She is an amazing actress, but women married to privileged men in this time period don't pursue acting careers. In addition, other than the beginning of the novel, Rannulf and Jane do not do very many wicked things. I guess I should have taken the slightly part of the title seriously, but I was slightly disappointed there were not more hot scenes between the characters.

One reason why I loved this novel so much might be the resemblance to Julia Quinn and her writing. I read Julia Quinn first so I noticed many similarities. This novel reminds me of An Offer from a Gentleman, which is about Benedict falling in love with a woman from a lower class and discovering his vocation. Rannulf practically does the same exact thing, but the male characters are slightly different. I still really enjoyed the novel. I recognized the similarities while I was reading, but that did not take away any satisfaction from this book. If you are a Julia Quinn fan, you will definitely love these books and vice versa.

Teaser Tuesdays 7/20

2010-07-19T21:00:00.004-07:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB @ Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read

Open to a random

Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

_____________________________________

My Teaser: Darklight by Lesley Livingston

"What's the difference? You knew what he was when you fell in love with him. It's not like he's changed, is it? He kills Faerie." - Kelley, Darklight by Lesley Livingston

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I enjoyed the first novel. I have the review for Wondrous Strange scheduled for Wednesday. I had a small problem with the first novel, but I think it is being confronted in this novel.

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On Thursday, Emma Michaels will be here at My World of Books to discuss her experience with the book blogging community. Emma will be the first author to make an appearance on my blog. I am incredibly excited. Congrats to Emma on her first novel! Come show your support and check out her guest post on Thursday!

Mini Reviews for Suzanne Brockmann

2010-07-19T14:42:00.000-07:00

Title: Into the Storm

Author: Suzanne Brockmann

Series: Troubleshooters #10

Published: January 1, 2006

Genre: Romantic Suspense

*from Library

Book Description:

In a remote, frozen corner of New Hampshire, a Navy SEAL team and the elite security experts of Troubleshooters, Incorporated are going head-to-head as fierce but friendly rivals in a raid-and-rescue training exercise. Despite the frigid winter temperatures, tension smolders between veteran SEAL Petty Officer Mark “Jenk” Jenkins and former cop turned Troubleshooter Lindsey Fontaine after an impulsive night goes awry. And then, suddenly, Tracy Shapiro, the Troubleshooters’ new receptionist, vanishes while playing the role of hostage during a mock rescue operation.

Teaming up with the FBI to launch a manhunt in the treacherous wilderness, Jenk and Lindsey must put aside their feelings as a record snowstorm approaches, dramatically reducing any hope of finding Tracy alive. The trail is colder than the biting New England climate until a lucky break leads to a horrifying discovery–a brutally murdered young woman wearing the jacket Tracy wore when she disappeared. Suddenly there is a chilling certainty that Tracy has fallen prey to a serial killer–one who knows the backwoods terrain and who doesn’t play by the rules of engagement.

In a race against time, a raging blizzard, and a cunning opponent, Jenk and Lindsey are put to the ultimate test. Rising everything, they must finally come together in a desperate attempt to save Tracy–and each other.

____________________________

Rating: 4 Stars- Loved it!

Everything about the novel was great! A very enjoyable read.

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Review:

The Troubleshooters series goes back and forth between dealing with terrorists, national security issues, and engaging in criminal investigations. I like going back and forth between all these complex cases. I think it keeps the books from becoming too similar.

Jenks and Lindsey have great chemistry. I enjoyed watching them work together. The story is a classic guy likes hot girl, hot girl doesn't notice him, pretty girl wants him but he doesn't notice. Then guy (a.k.a. Super Hot Navy SEAL) starts to notice pretty girl, but helps out hot girl when she asks making pretty girl think she was just a one-time thing. And that is only the beginning of the novel, before they even get to New Hampshire.

The plot was pretty awesome. I really enjoy a good serial killer plot, which is why I love Karen Rose (one of my favorite authors). The characters are more on a search for the killer and Tracy. I felt really removed from the story because I am use to reading from the officer in charge of the investigation, not the search teams. Overall, I was happy with the novel, not at one point while I have read this series have I considered stopping.

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Title: Force of Nature

Author: Suzanne Brockmann

Series: Troubleshooters #11

Published: August 14, 2007

Publisher: Ballantine Books

Genre: Romantic Suspense

*from Library

Book Description:

Florida private investigator and ex-cop Ric Alvarado’s life is spiraling out of control. His beautiful new girl Friday, Annie Dugan, is far more interested in fieldwork than filing, and despite Ric’s best efforts to ignore the attraction, sparks are flying between them. Then one of Ric’s clients turns femme fatale and tries to gun down an innocent man. Thanks to quick thinking and even quicker reflexes, Ric comes to the rescue, only to learn he’s done a very good deed for some very bad people.

Suddenly Ric finds himself deep undercover with Annie, working for notorious crime boss Gordon Burns. One mistake from Ric’s painfully inexperienced partner and they’re both dead.

FBI agent Jules Cassidy’s life isn’t in much better shape. For years the FBI has been trying to prove Gordon Burns’s ties to terrorist activity. Now, thanks to Ric and Annie, Jules has found a way into the lion’s den. But in the course of his investigation he comes face-to-face with Robin Chadwick, the charismatic but self-destructive and closeted movie star for whom Jules feels a powerful attraction. Robin’s in town promoting his latest film–and Gordon Burns is a star-struck movie buff.

With Robin and Jules’s help, Ric and Annie are soon entrenched in Burns’s organization, surrounded by killers who may already have executed an FBI infiltrator. Before long the couple realizes that many more lives besides their own will be at stake if they make a false move. As the heat between them reaches dangerous levels, so do the risks they’re willing to take–in the line of duty, for the sake of loyalty, and in the name of something that runs even deeper. (Goodreads)

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Rating: 3.5 Stars-A very, very good novel.
Still on the recommendation list. A few problems, but that could just be my reading taste.

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Review:

Suzanne Brockmann takes us away from the SEALS teams and the Troubleshooters. This novel revolves around Ric Alvarado, a private investigator. Ric made a brief appearance in a previous novel. I can't remember which book, but I know he became acquainted with Gina and Max briefly.

I thought reading a novel about Ric was very random. His story was not all that interesting. The plot was great, but not the romance between Ric and Annie. I really was not feeling them. They were definitely overshadowed by the tension between Jules and Robin.

Jules Cassidy has been a major figure in this series and I was hoping he would get his own novel. I was disappointed that he had to split this book with Ric. Jules has been trying to keep his distance from Robin, but with Robin gaining more attention from the media, Jules has not been able to get away from him. I love that Jules finally gets a chance to get his HEA with Robin. The romance between Robin and Jules is incredibly sweet. The attraction and love between the two characters is immense. Call me a perv, but I was sad we didn't see any "sexual behavior" between the two characters. This novel was very PG-13, but I still has some fun reading it!

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Title: All Through the Night: A Troubleshooters Christmas
Author: Suzanne Brockmann
Series: Troubleshooters #12
Published: August 14, 2007
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Genre: Romantic Suspense

Book Description:

It's Christmastime in Boston, and this year the silver bells will be wedding bells as FBI agent Jules Cassidy ties the knot with the man of his dreams, Hollywood heartthrob Robin Chadwick.

The pair plan a quiet, intimate ceremony, to be witnessed by family and close friends from the FBI, SEAL Team Sixteen, and Troubleshooters, Incorporated, including Sam Starrett and Alyssa Locke. But the holiday season brings more to the happy couple than they expect.

A waterfall coming through their kitchen ceiling, a bat colony in the attic, old family tensions . . . even an international incident can't dampen their spirits. But add to that a parade of unexpected guests, including a reporter looking for a scoop, an ex-lover hell-bent on causing trouble, and a dangerous stalker, and suddenly the wedding is poised to unravel in chaos.

But nothing will stop Jules and Robin from getting their happy ending, because along with a guest list featuring the most elite counterterrorism force in the world, they have their own secret weapon--true love. (Goodreads)

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Rating: 3. stars- 3 Stars: Just Okay
The novel was okay. I liked it. An easy fast-paced read with some minor problems.

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Review:

I was both happy and disappointed with this novel. I was happy because we finally get to see one of the couples from the series get married. I was happy that the couple is Jules and Robin. I wasn't happy that the book was once again not all about them. I can understand setting up the story for other characters, but having a complete romance between two minor characters wasn't what I was expecting.

Jules and Robin currently live in the Boston area. They are about to get married and all of their friends and family will be there to celebrate, except Robin's absentee father. I loved seeing more into Robin and Jules's relationship. We have seen them in intense situations, but not on their own time away from the chaos of Jules's job. Jules is one of my favorite characters in this series, but I don't think this book really did him justice.

The plot twists were very random and I really could have done without them. Brockmann tried to add some suspense in the plot, but it came off as choppy and unnecessary. Adam's reappearance made sense, but I would have rather him come on his own then fleeing from some random stalker. While I loved seeing all my favorite characters, I had a hard time not rolling my eyes at the events that take place in the novel. I am happy that Jones made a spectacular appearance. I love him! Overall, I wish this novel had been a fluffy romance instead of trying to be a suspense.... and failing.
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I should be reading the last two novels next week. I just have to pick them up from the library :)

It's Monday, What are you reading? 7/19

2010-07-18T21:28:00.004-07:00

I had a really slow reading and reviewing week. I read one book and reviewed two. I started Darklight and got further into F*ck It, which I love. The reason for the slow week is because I have been working on my new blog design. My design is currently up and running, but I still have some kinks I have to work out. If you notice that something doesn't work or you have some suggestions on improvements, I am all ears. I plan to keep this design until the next bloggiesta, which I think will be in January, not sure.

I did everything myself with the help of tutorials provided by blog designers. If you are interested in the sites or how I did certain things, feel free to ask and I will answer in my next post!

Read Last Week:

Tongues of Serpents by Naomi Novik-I went to Naomi's signing, my first, this past Saturday! I will post pics, my impressions and some info!

Currently Reading:

F*ck It by John Parkin (50%)

Darklight by Lesley Livingston (114 out of 312)

To Read:

Iron King by Julie Kagawa (library)

Presumed Dead by Shirley Wells (galley)

Blinded by Our Eyes by Clare London (galley)

The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott (Won!)

The Nosy Neighbor by Fern Michaels (Won!)

Rushed to the Alter by Jane Feather (Won!)

Upcoming Event:

Emma Michaels will be coming to My World of Books to guest post on Thursday! She will be discussing the book blogging community. If you haven't heard, Emma was a book blogger! Now, she is an author. The Thirteenth Chime is her first novel, which will be released August 13. She wants to discuss how supportive, positive, and helpful we bloggers were towards her journey of becoming an author! Come swing by to show your support!

We have some winners!!

2010-07-16T12:52:00.001-07:00

First I want to thank everyone for participating in my first contest! I had a lot of fun hosting this contest. I hope that I will be able to have another big contest in a month or so.

Okay the winners:

Winner # 1- Mar

Kiss of Death by Rachel Caine and To Sin with a Scoundrel by Cara Elliott

Winner #2: Jeremy West

All Unquiet Things by Anna Jarzab (signed)

Winner #3- Aori

A Fistful of Charms by Kim Harrison

Winner #4- Larissa França

And Falling, Fly by Skyler White

Thanks to all the new followers I received! I decided to add a 5th winner!

Winner #5- Robin K (Intense Whisperer)

Mr. Cavendish, I Presume by Julia Quinn

Congrats winners! I will be sending everything out next week!

Breaking Point by Suzanne Brockmann

2010-07-16T09:07:00.004-07:00

Title: Breaking Point

Author: Suzanne Brockmann

Series: Troubleshooters #9

Published: July, 12, 2005

Genre: Romantic Suspense

*from Library

Book Description:

As commander of the nation's most elite FBI counterterrorism unit, agent Max Bhagat leads by hard-driving example: pushing himself to the limit and beyond, taking no excuses, and putting absolutely nothing ahead of his work. That includes his deep feelings for Gina Vitagliano, the woman who won his admiration and his heart with her courage under fire. But when the shocking news reaches him that Gina has been killed in a terrorist bombing, nothing can keep Max from making a full investigation - and retribution - his top priority.

At the scene of the attack, however, Max gets an even bigger shock. Gina is still very much alive - but facing a fate even worse than death. Along with Molly Anderson, a fellow overseas relief worker, Gina has fallen into the hands of a killer who is bent on using both women to bait a deadly trap. His quarry? Grady Morant, a.k.a "Jones," a notorious ex-Special Forces operative turned smuggler who made some very deadly enemies in the jungles of Southeast Asia . . . and has been running ever since. But with Molly's life on the line, Jones is willing to forfeit his own to save the woman he loves.

Together with Max's top agent Jules Cassidy as their only backup, the unlikely allies plunge into a global hot zone of violence and corruption to make a deal with the devil. Not even Jones knows which ghosts from his past want him dead. But there's one thing he's sure of - there's very little his bloodthirsty enemies aren't willing to do. (Goodreads)

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Rating: 4 Stars- Loved it!
Everything about the novel was great! A very enjoyable read.

______________________________

Review:

I was really anxious to read this novel. For the past several books, Max Bhagat has fought his attraction for Gina Vitagliano. At the end of Out of Control (#4), Jones left Molly with the hope of some day reuniting with her. I really loved this novel, but one character was really annoying.

What really brought the novel down for me was Gina! She was really whiny and self-centered in this novel. I liked her in the past novels, but that might have been because she was only featured in small doses. She has her heart in the right place, but she always thinks she is right and the center of the universe; at least that is how she felt to me. Her relationship with Max was practically non-existent prior to this novel because he refused to date her. She is more than twenty years younger than he is. I can see why he was reluctant, but I was happy he finally accepted his feelings for her.

Jones is one of my favorite men in the series. He had an incredibly rough life. Abandoned by the United States, left to face torture for nearly three years, and freed by the enemy to work for them as a mercenary, Jones never had much hope for his future. When he fell in love with Molly in Out of Control, I was incredibly happy. I was sad when he was forced to leave her behind because of the illegal activities he was engaged in since was freed from prison.

The book description does a really good job of outlining the plot of the novel. Jones and Max, the most unlikely pair ever, are forced to work together to find the women they love. Of course, Jules Cassidy makes an appearance. He is determined to help both men find their love. I was just flipping through these pages as fast as I could. Gina really annoyed me so I kind of skipped her parts towards the end. I was much more interested in Jones and Molly. Their story was beautiful and heartbreaking. Suzanne Brockmann writes the most amazing stories. The switches between character perspectives are natural and flow incredibly well.

I am having such a great time reading this series. I highly recommend it!

Book Blogger Hop 7/16

2010-07-15T20:18:00.002-07:00

The Book Blogger Hop was started by Jen @ Crazy for Books.

In the spirit of the Twitter Friday Follow, the Book Blogger Hop is a place just for book bloggers and readers to connect and find new book-related blogs that we may be missing out on! This weekly BOOK PARTY is an awesome opportunity for book bloggers to connect with other book lovers, make new friends, support each other, and generally just share our love of books! It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs that they may not know existed!

Question:

RIGHT THIS INSTANT, WHAT BOOK ARE YOU DYING TO GET YOUR HANDS ON (PAST, PRESENT, OR FUTURE)?

Answer:

I am going to have to go with Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead. I really want to read this novel. I have so many theories on what might happen. I am sad it is ending, but glad at the same time. We still get to continue reading about the world Mead created with her new series. I want to know who the main characters for the spin-off series will be. I think it will be obvious after reading Last Sacrifice. One of my theories is the main characters will be Adrian and Sydney. I think they will be cute together! I can totally see it!

Thanks for Hopping by!

Hot Target by Suzanne Brockmann

2010-07-14T08:02:00.000-07:00

Title: Hot Target

Author: Suzanne Brockmann

Series: Troubleshooters #8

Published: December 28, 2004

Genre: Romantic Suspense

*from Library

Book Description:

Like most men of action, Navy SEAL Chief Cosmo Richter never learned how to take a vacation. So when he finds himself facing a month’s leave, he offers his services to Troubleshooters Incorporated. Founded by a former SEAL, the private-sector security firm is a major player in the ongoing war against terrorism, known for carrying out covert missions too volatile for official U.S. military action. But the first case Richter takes on is anything but under the radar.

High-profile maverick movie producer Jane Mercedes Chadwick hasn’t quite completed her newest film, but she’s already courting controversy. The World War II epic frankly portrays the homosexuality of a real-life hero–and the storm of advance media buzz surrounding it has drawn the fury of extremist groups. But despite a relentless campaign of angry E-mails, phone calls, and smear tactics, Chadwick won’t be pressured into abandoning the project. Then the harassment turns to death threats.

While the FBI appears on the scene, nervous Hollywood associates call in Troubleshooters, and now Chadwick has an army of round-the-clock bodyguards, whether she likes it or not. And she definitely doesn’t. But her stubbornness doesn’t make FBI agent Jules Cassidy’s job any easier. The fiercely independent filmmaker presents yet another emotional obstacle that Cassidy doesn’t need–he’s already in the midst of a personal tug-of-war with his ex-lover, while fighting a growing attraction to Chadwick’s brother.

Determined to succeed–and survive–on her own terms, Chadwick will face off with enemies and allies alike. But she doesn’t count on the bond she forms with the quiet, capable Cosmo Richter. Yet even as their feelings bring them closer, the noose of deadly terror all around them draws tighter. And when all hell erupts, desire and desperate choices will collide on a killing ground that may trap them both in the crossfire. (Goodreads)

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Rating: 5 Stars-Absolutely Perfect

I absolutely loved this book! The plot was amazing. The characters were unique and memorable. Everyone MUST read this book!

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Review:

I absolutely love this novel for several reasons. The plot is absolutely fantastic, the characters are so amazing, and the words just flew off the page. Suzanne Brockmann did an amazing job with this novel. If you haven't read the Troubleshooters series, I suggest you give it a try.

The title Hot Target refers to Jane Chadwick, a Hollywood movie producer hoping to make it big. Jane is a woman trying to make a name for herself in Hollywood, but no one would be interested in the real Jane. She is a down to earth, comfortable, intelligent woman who plays dress like a slut to gain attention from Hollywood and the media. The film that will bring her to the top is about an American hero from WWII who hid his homosexuality from his family. When her film gains the attention of a right-wing extremist group, Jane becomes a target from the anti-gay movement sweeping the US.

Cosmo Richter is a man of little words and great mystery. He is incredibly intense and very intimidating. In the past novels, I read about the rumors surrounding his upbringing, his military training, and his days as a Navy Seal. None of the rumors were ever confirmed or denied by Cosmo. I knew next to nothing about him, but if I wanted someone to watch my back I would ask Cosmo. I really enjoyed getting to know him in this novel. His unlikely close friendship with Kelly Paoletti was funny and his interest in Jane Chadwick was beyond cute.

Another man I would want watching my back is Jules Cassidy. Jules has popped up in almost every novel in this series. Jules is incredibly good looking, extremely intelligent, an FBI agent, and gay. Jules comes on the scene when the threatening emails received by Jane are matched with a previous killer. His job is to solve the crime while Cosmo and the Troubleshooters team are to protect Jane. While on location, Jules runs into his ex Adam, which causes his emotions to get all screwed up.

On his way to a meeting with Jane Chadwick, Jules Cassidy meets Robin Chadwick. Robin is an alcoholic and a womanizer. Robin, younger brother to Jane, is an amazing actor playing the American Hero’s love in the movie. Robin is hoping this role will push him into greater roles. He didn’t expect to feel something for the cute and sexy FBI agent.

All the characters in this novel are absolutely fabulous. As you can see by the numerous character descriptions, a lot goes on in this novel; characters fall in love, get hurt, confused, and get their lives absolutely torn apart. The plot was thrilling and chaotic. I was laughing and crying while I read this book. I really recommend you pick up this series if you haven’t.

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Some of my reviews from previous books in the series:

The Unsung Hero * The Defiant Hero * Over The Edge

Teaser Tuesday 7/13

2010-07-12T21:46:00.002-07:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB @ Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read

Open to a random

Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

__________________________________________

My Teaser:

"He had spread his knees and moved them to either side of her so that if she wished she could move her hands outward to rest on them. His chest came against her back, and his hands slipped beneath her arms and cupped the undersides of her breasts." Slightly Wicked by Mary Balogh.

I forgot to add this book to my It's Monday, What are you reading? post. I was in a mood for a good historical romance so I started reading it Monday afternoon and finished it within a few hours. I loved it. The book description is not a very accurate description of the book, but I will post it anyway.

Interested? Here is the book description:

With his laughing eyes and wild, rakish good looks, Lord Rannulf Bedwyn is a hard man to resist. To Judith Law, a woman in need of rescue when her stagecoach overturns, Rannulf is simply her savior, a heroic stranger she will reward with one night of reckless passion before she must become a companion to her wealthy aunt. Imagine Judith's shock when the same stranger turns out to be among England's most eligible bachelors…and when he arrives at Harewood Grange to woo her cousin. Certainly, they had made no vows, no promises, but Rannulf never did forget his uninhibited lover…nor did she forget that one delicious night. And as scandal sets the household abuzz, Rannulf proposes a solution…but when Judith refuses to have him--in love or wedlock--Rannulf has only one choice: to wage a campaign of pure pleasure to capture the heart of the woman who has already won his.

It's Monday, What are you reading? 7/12

2010-07-11T21:14:00.000-07:00

It's Monday, What are you reading? is hosted by Sheila @ One Person's Journey Through a World of Books. This is a wickedly awesome weekly event where I get to update everyone on my reads from this past week and my reads for this week.

I AM SO CLOSE TO FINISHING THE TROUBLESHOOTERS SERIES. Into the Fire by Suzanne Brockmann was absolutely crazy awesome and is my favorite book of this year so far. I have two more books in the series making my next read #14. I started reading this series in January. When I get me some extra money, I am buying the whole series! Suzanne Brockmann is definitely one of my favorite authors. When I finish this series I will be making my way through every book she has ever written. She is currently working on Izzy's story #16 and I am super excited about it!

Last Week:
Read:
All Through the Night: A Troubleshooter Christmas by Suzanne Brockmann
Into the Fire by Suzanne Brockmann

Reviewed:
Storm Front by Jim Butcher
Almost Perfect by Susan Mallery
Every Which Way But Dead by Kim Harrison
Kiss of Death by Rachel Caine
A Fistful of Charms by Kim Harrison

Currently Reading:

F*ck It by John Parkin (37%)

This Week:

To Read:
Dark Light by Lesley Livingston
The Iron King by Julie Kagawa
The Lost Summer of Louise May Alcott
Dark of Night by Suzanne Brockmann
and......

I cannot wait for this novel to come out on Tuesday! I have loved all the adventures of Temeraire and Laurence! I will be reading this book on Tuesday and I can't wait to meet Naomi Novik when she comes to Boston!

Reviews:
Hot Pursuit by Suzanne Brockmann
Breaking Point by Suzanne Brockmann
Into the Storm by Suzanne Brockmann
Force of Nature by Suzanne Brockmann
Love is a Four Legged Word by Kandy Shepard

A Fistful of Charms by Kim Harrison

2010-07-10T17:23:00.000-07:00

Title: A Fistful of Charms
Author: Kim Harrison
Series: The Hollows #4
Published: July 1, 2006
Genre: Urban Fantasy
*bought from Borders

Book Description:

The evil night things that prowl Cincinnati despise witch and bounty hunter Rachel Morgan. Her new reputation for the dark arts is turning human and undead heads alike with the intent to possess, bed, and kill her -- not necessarily in that order.

Now a mortal lover who abandoned Rachel has returned, haunted by his secret past. And there are those who covet what Nick possesses -- savage beasts willing to destroy the Hollows and everyone in it if necessary.

Forced to keep a low profile or eternally suffer the wrath of a vengeful demon, Rachel must nevertheless act quickly. For the pack is gathering for the first time in millennia to ravage and to rule. And suddenly more than Rachel's soul is at stake.

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Rating: 2.5 Stars-Disappointing
I couldn't get into the novel; there were too many flaws.
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Review:

I started to read this at Barnes and Noble. I could not put it down. I did not want to wait for it to come in at the library so I bought it. I was so eager to read about Kisten and Rachel, but it turned out I was going to be in for a big disappointment. Kisten only made small appearances in the beginning and the end of the novel.

In the last novel, Rachel discovers Nick is not going to come back and he was not the person she thought he was. At the beginning of this novel, Rachel and Jenks discover Jax, who went along with Nick, is stranded in the cold and Nick has been kidnapped over a stolen artifact. The artifact is incredibly valuable to werewolves and can destroy the balance and hierarchy in the paranormal world. Rachel and Jenks decide to go rescue them.

I like that this novel gave some closure for Rachel concerning Nick. The plot was slightly intriguing, but I was often left confused. The world Harrison created is not very well explained. I do not know how werewolf packs or vampire hierarchy works in this series. We get scattered bits and pieces, but nothing concrete or helpful.

One of the reasons I love to read book series is so I can watch the main character grow and change into a better person. Rachel is not that character. Rachel acts like her same old unappealing self. She often does not know what she is doing and makes the same mistakes. She never learns from her past. I also do not like how the relationship between Ivy and Rachel is moving. This reminds me of Anita Blake. Anita steered clear of casual sex because of her morals. Then she got a taste of it and became a slut. Rachel, at the beginning of the series, said she would never let a vampire drink from her because she did not want to be anyone’s shadow. After Rachel got a taste of it, she wants a blood balance with Ivy despite the fact that she could become addicted and lose a part of herself.

I was really disappointed with this novel. I often did not know what was going on. Rachel was very annoying, and Kisten was not in this novel as much as I thought he was going to be. I continued on though in the hope that Kisten will get more time in the next novel and that I will come to understand the world that Rachel lives in. I also hope Rachel grows up in the next novel.
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More Reviews of A Fistful of Charms

Fantasy Literature: Least Favorite in the Series so Far

60 Follower Contest Closed! + Extra Winner/Book

2010-07-10T16:47:00.001-07:00

This contest is now closed. I will be counting the entries over the next week. My deadline for posting the winners is next Friday! My follower count has doubled since I started the contest. To Thank all you lovely and amazing people...

I will add a 5th Winner!

and

Another book to choose from!

Good Luck!

Kiss of Death by Rachel Caine

2010-07-09T12:05:00.001-07:00

Title: Kiss of Death

Author: Rachel Caine

Series: Morganville Vampires #8

Published: April 27, 2010

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

*Bought from Borders

Book Description:

Vampire musician Michael Glass has attracted the attention of a big- time producer who wants to cut a demo and play some gigs-which means Michael will have to enter the human world. For this, he's been assigned escorts that include both a dangerous immortal as well as Michael's all-too-human friends. And with that mix of personalities, this is going to be a road trip from hell...(Goodreads)

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Rating: 3 stars-Just Okay
The novel was okay. I liked it. A fast paced read that you might or might not remember next month.
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Review:

I was excited for this novel. I bought it on the day it came out from Borders because it was not available on Amazon for my Kindle at the time. I really wanted to read more from the gang and especially from Myrnin, my favorite character. I would not say Morganville Vampires is my favorite series, but I really enjoy reading the adventures of Claire and the gang. I thought this book was a light read, but very disappointing for me.

The novel seemed to encompass several different plot twists that left me bewildered as to where this story was heading. The novel went from all the things that could possibly go wrong on a supernatural road trip, to encountering past enemies, to discovering a small town on the brink of extinction. I felt like this novel had no line connecting one twist to another. The shifts were very rapid and random. I had a hard time keeping up.

While I did enjoy some of the twists, the beginning of the road trip was just slightly irritating. Eve got on my nerves a lot in this novel. I really missed my favorite character Myrnin. He did not make a big appearance in this novel. I missed his humor and edginess. You just never know what you are going to get with Myrnin and I missed that.

Will I read the next book? Hells yeah I will! I am hoping for more from Myrnin. I do not know where the novels will be going from this point though. The blurb sounds really interesting and it looks like Myrnin will play a big role.

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Want to read this novel? Enter my 60 Followers Contest for a chance to win!

Morganville Vampires Series

Glass Houses * Dead Girls' Dance * Midnight Alley * Feast of Fools
Lord of Misrule * Carpe Corpus * Fade Out

Book Blogger Hop & Follow Friday 6/9

2010-07-09T09:02:00.000-07:00

The Book Blogger Hop was started by Jen @ Crazy for Books.

In the spirit of the Twitter Friday Follow, the Book Blogger Hop is a place just for book bloggers and readers to connect and find new book-related blogs that we may be missing out on! This weekly BOOK PARTY is an awesome opportunity for book bloggers to connect with other book lovers, make new friends, support each other, and generally just share our love of books! It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs that they may not know existed!

Question:

Tell us about some of your favorite authors and why they are your favorites!

Richelle Mead, Jeaniene Frost, Kelley Armstrong, and Suzanne Brockmann are some of my favorite authors. They write absolutely amazing stories with wonderful characters. I get so caught up reading their books I forget I have errands to run or things to do. These woman have created some of my favorite characters: Rose, Dimitri, Bones, Vlad, Clayton, Elena, Lucas, Jeremy, Cosmo, Jules, Robin, Jones, and Molly. They are all working on amazing series at the moment, My favorite from Richelle Mead is the Vampire Academy Series. Jeaniene Frost with her amazing Night Huntress Series. Kelley Armstrong with her Women of the Otherworld Series. Suzanne Brockmann with her noble and heroic men from the Troubleshooters Series.

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Follow My Book Blog Friday is hosted by Parajunkee

Hi welcome to Follow Friday! Let me tell you what is going on today. First PJV will be featuring one blogger from this great community each Friday along with having the Follow My Book Blog feature. Each week one blogger will be selected as a feature, so sign up for the Follow Feature.

Reminder:

Today is the last day to enter my 60 Followers Giveaway! I plan to post the winners next Friday! Ends tonight @ 12 Eastern Time.

Every Which Way But Dead by Kim Harrison

2010-07-07T07:43:00.000-07:00

Title: Every Which Way But Dead

Author: Kim Harrison

Series: The Hollows #3

Published: July 1, 2005

Genre: Urban Fantasy

*from Library

Book Description:

"There's no witch in Cincinnati tougher, sexier, or more screwed up than bounty hunter Rachel Morgan, who's already put her love life and soul in dire jeopardy through her determined efforts to bring criminal night creatures to justice." "Between "runs," she has her hands full fending off the attentions of her blood drinking partner, keeping a deadly secret from her backup, and resisting a hot new vamp suitor." "Rachel must also take a stand in the war that's raging in the city's underworld, since she helped put away its former vampire kingpin - and made a deal with a powerful demon to do so that could cost her an eternity of pain, torment, and degradation." And now her dark "master" is coming to collect his due. (Goodreads)

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Rating: 3 Stars-Just Okay!

The novel was okay. I liked it. A light, fast-paced read you might enjoy.

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Review:

The first two books in the series are okay. I liked them enough to continue reading the series and I am glad I did. I do not think the plot in this novel was very strong, but one character in particular saved the book for me: Kisten.

Rachel encounters several problems in this novel. In exchange for Al's testimony against Piscary, Rachel goes through with her promise to become Al's familiar. Rachel manages to gain the upper hand and Al is not happy about it. Now that Ceri is free, Rachel has to find her a new home and a purpose in life. As fascinated I am by the magic, I tend to get a bit confused. Through the novel, Al tries to find ways to get Rachel into the ley lines so he can train her as his familiar.

Rachel is not my favorite female lead. I had a hard time getting into the first two novels, but something kept me reading. This novel was not different. She tends to do things without thinking and they tend to back fire on her. I do not like Ivy at all. She just seems creepy and controlling to me, not good qualities in friend. Now with Nick gone, Rachel is optimistic that he will return, but no one else seems to share the sentiment. Kisten comes in to take advantage of his absence to ask Rachel out. There is just something compelling and charming about Kisten. His character has just the right amount of mystery and directness I found refreshing. He really grew on me and I can see him being her HEA.

The plot of the novel did not interest me at all. I really didn't care how Rachel was going to deal with Al because it was her fault in the first place. All the side stories were slightly interesting, but not very compelling. I was incredibly interested in Kisten, which saved the book in my opinion. The end of the novel left me eager to read more about Kisten and Rachel's relationship. This actually propelled me to buy the next book instead of waiting for it to come in from the library. I am not a big fan of this series, but I will continue.

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More Reviews of Every Which Way But Dead

Fantasy Literature: Still on the Journey

Review: Almost Perfect by Susan Mallery

2010-07-06T08:00:00.008-07:00

Title: Almost Perfect

Author: Susan Mallery

Series: Fool's Gold #2

Published: June 29, 2010

Genre: Contemporary Romance

*received galley from publisher

Book Description:

Could a secret romance really lead to a perfect love?

Back in high school, Liz Sutton was the girl from the wrong side of the tracks. Then she’d stolen the heart of the most popular boy in town, and their secret romance helped her through the worst of times. Until Ethan Hendrix betrayed her and everything they’d ever meant to each other. Devastated and pregnant, Liz left Fool’s Gold, California – forever, she thought…

Now Liz must return to town and face the man who doesn’t know of their son’s existence. And this time she won’t have the option of making a quick getaway. Ethan and Liz can’t deny their passionate attraction, even after all these years. But will their desire be enough to spark a second chance at love?

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Rating: 3 Stars-Just Okay!

The novel was okay. I liked it. A light, fast-paced read you might enjoy.

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Review:

Prior to reading this novel, I had not read anything by Susan Mallery. I am a Twitter follower and I know a few bloggers who love her work so I thought I would give it a try. I read the description for this novel and was immediately intrigued. I requested to review Almost Perfect. I was surprised I was accepted to review this novel.

Liz Sutton had a bad childhood. Her mother neglected her and her brother took off as soon as he could. Liz had a horrible reputation built on rumors, gossip, and lies. I was really pulled into her story and felt sad for her. She overcame all the obstacles and became a talented writer. She raised a wonderful boy. She left the town behind that treated her horribly. Then, one of her nieces, previously unknown to Liz, asks for her help via email. Liz runs back to Fool's Gold to help out her nieces.

At times I really liked Liz and her personality and at times I couldn't stand her. She wanted Ethan to do certain things and when he does it she gets mad. I have to admit I like how strong and independent she is in the novel. Ethan, on the other hand, is a completely hopeless character. He does and says the wrong things that make him into the bad guy. I didn't really feel the romance between the two characters. I kept hoping throughout the novel that Liz would meet someone else and fall in love with him. Of course this did not happen. I had to watch as these two characters stumbled back together again.

Some points in the novel I was deeply into it, but at other points I would feel a disconnection. The plot was pretty good, but some things were a little too over the top for my tastes. I didn't read the first novel, but I had no problem reading this book. I think this book can work well as a stand-alone. Will I read more from Susan Mallery? Yes, I think I will. I want to try some of her other series. I have heard the Buchanan Series and the Bakery Sisters Series are really good.

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More Reviews of Almost Perfect

Dear Author: Romance Novel Reviews: B-
Books, Books, and more Books: B

CSN Winner!

2010-07-06T07:20:00.000-07:00

Thanks to everyone who entered the giveaway. The Winner for the $40 gift certificate to CSN is...

Kara

Her answer to my question: Definitely a bookcase...mine are overflowing. Thanks for the giveaway!!!

I emailed James from CSN your email. He should be getting in touch with you to work out the details. Enjoy!

Teaser Tuesdays 7/6

2010-07-05T21:06:00.001-07:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB @ Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read

Open to a random

Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

__________________________________________

My Teasers:

I will be posting two teasers. The second teaser will have the F word used several times. If you have delicate sensibilities, I suggest you don't read the second. I won't insert a symbol for one of the letters so you are warned.

"Another great way to read this book is to read a section, then go out and tell people how much you're enjoying it and how your life is changing by the minute. In this way you benefit yourself (good karma for spreading the word), others (who benefit from the message) and me (who's using all the proceeds from this book to build a house made of chocolate that I will slowly eat my way through, then claim the full amount on insurance, saying it was termites, and start the whole dame thing again.)- 7% of F*ck it by John Parkin

"The word 'Fuck' is truly beautiful. It's beautiful because it's slang for having sex. This in itself is cause for amusement, as its meaning has spread out. 'Fuck off' is really 'Go and have sex,' which is not really an insult, more a suggestion. 'Fuck you' is really 'Sex with you,' which is certainly not an insult, more an invitation. 'Oh, Fuck' is really 'Oh, great sex,' which, in your moment of frustration, is not a bad thing to be thinking about." 5% of F*ck it by John Parkin.

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Book Description:

Just starting to say Fuck It can transform your life. Saying Fuck It feels good - to stop struggling and finally do what you fancy; to ignore what everyone's telling you and go your own way. John C. Parkin argues that saying Fuck It is a spiritual act: That it is the perfect western expression of the eastern ideas of letting go, giving up and finding real freedom by realising that things don't matter so much (if at all). This is the Fuck It way. (Goodreads)

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I was browsing Netgalley when I came across this book. I normally do not read Nonfiction Self-help books, but with all the stress of life, looking for a job, and paying off rent/loans, I thought I could benefit from trying one. The premise of the book looked amusing. How could a book called F*ck it be bad? I say it all the time when I am fed up with life, or just saying it when I decide to stop thinking and just do what I want.

Carin @ A Little Bookish found this commercial that I think is hilarious. Basically, it’s about having a cuss jar and everyone cussing so they could raise money for beer. I found it very amusing since she was saying I need to put money in a cuss jar for tweeting my updates for F*ck it. Enjoy!

Storm Front by Jim Butcher

2010-07-05T10:19:00.000-07:00

Title: Storm Front

Author: Jim Butcher

Series: Dresden Files #1

Published: April 1, 2001

Genre: Urban Fantasy

*borrowed from library

Book Description:
HARRY DRESDEN — WIZARD
Lost Items Found. Paranormal Investigations. Consulting. Advice. Reasonable Rates. No Love Potions, Endless Purses, or Other Entertainment.

Harry Dresden is the best at what he does. Well, technically, he's the only at what he does. So when the Chicago P.D. has a case that transcends mortal creativity or capability, they come to him for answers. For the "everyday" world is actually full of strange and magical things—and most don't play well with humans. That's where Harry comes in. Takes a wizard to catch a—well, whatever.

There's just one problem. Business, to put it mildly, stinks. So when the police bring him in to consult on a grisly double murder committed with black magic, Harry's seeing dollar signs. But where there's black magic, there's a black mage behind it. And now that mage knows Harry's name. And that's when things start to get interesting.

Magic. It can get a guy killed

Rating: 4 stars-Loved it
Everything about the novel was great! A very enjoyable read.

Review:

I read about the hype surrounding Jim Butcher's latest release from the Dresden Files series Changes in April. All the posts got me very curious about this series. I decided to try it after I read Carin's review of Storm Front @ A Little Bookish. I was not sure if I was going to get into the book, but after a chapter or two, I found myself unable to put the book down.

Harry Dresden is a paranormal investigator. He occasionally helps the police with investigating unexplainable cases. He is the only wizard out in the open trying to make a living with magic. In the beginning of the novel, Harry assists in an investigation involving a double homicide. The whole scene is just plain unusual. Powerful magic is at play. Harry does not know who could have done this. He does know magic powerful enough to have done this, but he is determined to solve the case by any means. At the same time, Harry is trying to locate a missing husband for a wife who is behaving suspiciously… very suspiciously.

I found myself liking Harry. He is just a wizard trying to make a living. The plot was very intriguing and slightly predictable. Jim Butcher's writing style was very straight to the point and I loved it. I will definitely be reading more from Jim Butcher! The majority of the novels I read are from a woman's point of view and are written by women. I was happy to try something different.

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Don't forget to checkout my 60 Followers Contest

& my $40 CSN Giveaway! Ends Tonight!

It's Monday, What are you reading? 7/5

2010-07-04T21:00:00.005-07:00

It's Monday, What are you reading? is hosted by Sheila @ One Person's Journey Through a World of Books. This is a wickedly awesome weekly event where I get to update everyone on my reads from this past week and my reads for this week.

I finally finished reading the books I put down over a month ago. Unfortunately, I did not get to do as many reviews like I planned. I spent the week searching for a job, which was very depressing.

Past Week

Read:
Love is a Four-Legged Word by Kandy Sheperd
Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston
Almost Perfect by Susan Mallery

Kushiel's Justice by Jacqueline Carey

Reviewed:
Moon Sworn by Keri Arthur

Savor the Moment by Nora Roberts

This Week

To Read:

F*ck It by John Parkin

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

All Through the Night: A Troubleshooter Christmas by Suzanne Brockmann

Into the Fire by Suzanne Brockmann

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Reminder!

Today is the last day to enter my $40 CSN Giveaway!

Don't forget to checkout my 60 Followers Contest

June in Review!

2010-07-02T12:01:00.001-07:00

Books Read in June

100. The Wake of the Lorelei Lee by L.A. Meyer *

101. First Drop of Crimson by Jeaniene Frost

102. Hot Target by Suzanne Brockmann

103. My Sunshine by Catherine Anderson

104. Storm Front by Jim Butcher

105. Breaking Point by Suzanne Brockmann

106. Into the Storm by Suzanne Brockmann

107. Force of Nature by Suzanne Brockmann *

108. Love is a Four-Legged Word by Kandy Shepard

109. Almost Perfect by Susan Mallery

Books Reviewed in June

Silent in the Grave by Deanna Raybourn

Personal Demon by Kelley Armstrong

Living with the Dead by Kelley Armstrong

First Drop of Crimson by Jeaniene Frost

Frostbitten by Kelley Armstrong

My Sunshine by Catherine Anderson

Savor the Moment by Nora Roberts

~~(Only 7... Sarah that is sad)~~

Contests in June

60 Followers Contest: Ends July 9

$40 CSN Giveaway: Ends July 5

Contest Updates!

2010-07-02T10:44:00.000-07:00

$40 CSN Giveaway!

This contest ends at midnight (Eastern Time) on July 5!

You have 3 days left to enter.

You do not have to be a follower.

Open to US and Canada only.

I only have about 10 people entered in this contest so you have a good chance to win!

60 Followers Contest!

This contest ends at midnight on July 9!

You have 7 days left to enter.

You have to be a follower.

International!

Good Luck Everyone!

Book Blogger Hop

2010-07-01T18:56:00.000-07:00

The Book Blogger Hop was started by Jen @ Crazy for Books.

In the spirit of the Twitter Friday Follow, the Book Blogger Hop is a place just for book bloggers and readers to connect and find new book-related blogs that we may be missing out on! This weekly BOOK PARTY is an awesome opportunity for book bloggers to connect with other book lovers, make new friends, support each other, and generally just share our love of books! It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs that they may not know existed!

This is my first time participating in the hop. I am incredibly excited to meet some new bloggers. I was going to start last friday, but I forgot it was Friday... Anyway, Jen has decided to ask a question so we can get to know each other a little better!

Question:

Tell us your NAME and WHY YOU STARTED BLOGGING

Answer:

My name is Sarah and I started blogging the last week of December 2009. I was following Melissa de la Cruz on Twitter when she mentioned a book blogger and linked to the site. I went and looked around the site and thought it was a really cool way to talk about the books you love. I kind of fell in love with the concept of starting a book blog and I just did it. I started reviewing books I love. I wanted to improve my writing as well. While my first reviews aren't that great, I think I have really improved. I do not regret starting this blog. I absolutely love reviewing books, talking about them, and connecting with people who love books as much as I do.

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I hope you take a look around! Have a great Friday!

Moon Sworn by Keri Arthur

2010-07-01T13:06:00.003-07:00

Title: Moon Sworn

Author: Keri Arthur

Series: Riley Jenson Guardian Series 9

Published: May 25, 2010

Genre: Urban Fantasy

* Own

Book Description:

Some nights never end. . . .
Some desires never die. . . .

Shape-shifting werewolf and vampire Riley Jenson is through with death—causing it, solving it, surviving it. Her soul mate, Kye Murphy, is dead—and at Riley’s own hands. Not even the seductive embrace of her vampire lover, Quinn, can fully ease her mind, for she has begun questioning everything that makes her Riley—including her job at the Directorate.

Now, the ritualistically slain bodies of ex-cons have started turning up. Reluctantly, Riley takes the case, but something even worse is waiting in the wings. A vicious enemy from her past is determined to strip Riley of everything that gives her life any meaning: her lover, her brother—and even her own identity. Can Riley survive this ultimate assault? All she knows is, she must fight one last time to find answers, before everything goes dark forever.

Rating: 4.5 Stars-Unbelievably Awesome
I loved this book. I highly recommend it.

Review:

I had been anxiously waiting for the last book in the Riley Jenson Guardian Series. I am happy to say I enjoyed this novel very much. Riley is one of my favorite female characters for so many different reasons. She is compassionate, strong, and realistic. At the end of the last book, I was heartbroken and teary-eyed. In this novel, I was hoping that Riley could overcome her past and begin a beautiful future with Quinn.

Riley's dreams were shattered in the last novel. She spent her life looking for her soul mate. She had hoped to build a family and home with him. She had the white picket fence dream. Then she met Kye, her soul mate, and her dreams slowly started to crumble. He was not the man she thought he would be. Kye was everything Riley was afraid of becoming, a thoughtless murderer. Her soul might have belonged to him, but her heart was for Quinn. In this novel, Riley does not have an easy time. She is mourning the loss of her friend and her soul mate.

The plot of the novel was obvious, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. Riley is struggling with being a guardian. She does not want to do it anymore. She hates what she is becoming, a murderer. Quinn is a steady positive influence in her life and I like that he grew to understand her and her werewolf ways. Both characters have changed since their first appearances. I am glad they are learning to lean on each other.

This novel is a great ending to an amazing series. I really enjoyed reading all the books. I am also very grateful that Keri Arthur ended the series. When I found out the series was only nine books, I was relieved that the series was not going to be never ending and lose its focus *cough Anita cough*. Riley got her HEA. My only problem with Moon Sworn was the lack of time given to Quinn and Rhoan. I really missed their presence. I hope to see more of the cast in the spin-off series featuring Risa.

HP Deathly Hallows Part 1 & 2 Trailer!

2010-06-30T10:30:00.002-07:00

I <3 Harry Potter. I wasn't very happy with the Harry Potter 6 movie, but I am definitely going to be watching this movie. Hopefully the midnight showing. I am incredibly excited. The movies are almost over, which will be very bittersweet.

Are you incredibly excited for the movie?

Teaser Tuesdays 6/29

2010-06-28T21:03:00.001-07:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read
Open to a random
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

___________________________________________

My Teaser:

Madeline Cartwright didn't look at all the type of female who'd boink an old man to death for his money. Tom O'Brien saw that the second she opened the door of her apartment. His imagination had let him down big-time." Tom O'Brien, pg. 1, Love is a Four-Legged Word by Kandy Shepherd.

I actually finished this Monday, but I wanted to share a quote. I thought this novel was a very light fluffy read.

Book Description: Tom O’Brien is close to making partner at the hottest law firm in San Francisco, provided his newest client doesn’t foul things up. Brutus Stoddard is rich and spoiled, craves attention, and drools. The fact that he’s a dog doesn’t help matters.

Brutus has inherited a multimillion-dollar estate from his late owner, as well as a pretty guardian named Madeline Cartwright, professional chef and the eccentric old man’s surrogate granddaughter. Tom finds her—and her culinary creations— irresistible.

If Tom is to get that promotion, he has to maintain the terms of the will. That means keeping both Brutus and Maddy happy. He’s trying his hardest to keep the arrangement professional, but with two clients this adorable, Tom’s suddenly craving a different kind of partnership altogether. (goodreads)

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What is your Teaser?

Savor the Moment by Nora Roberts

2010-06-28T14:49:00.001-07:00

Title: Savor the Moment

Author: Nora Roberts
Series: Bride Quartet 3

Published: April 27 2010

Genre: Contemporary Romance
*borrowed from sister

Book Description:
#1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts cordially invites you to meet childhood friends Parker, Emma, Laurel, and Mac — the founders of Vows, one of Connecticut’s premier wedding planning companies. Laurel McBane has always relied on her friends for support, especially when her dream of attending culinary school was almost ruined by her parents’ financial problems. Now Laurel is repaying the kindness of her friends by creating extravagantly luscious tiers of cakes and other confectionary delights that add the perfect touch to their clients’ weddings. As for romance, Laurel believes in it — in theory. But she’s too low-key to appreciate all the luxuries that other women seem to long for. What she does appreciate is a strong, intelligent man, a man just like Parker’s older brother, Delaney Brown, on whom Laurel has had a mega crush since childhood. But some infatuations last longer than others, and Laurel is convinced that the Ivy League lawyer is still out of her reach. Plus, Del is too protective of Laurel to ever cross the line with her, or so she thinks. When Laurel’s quick- silver moods get the better of her — leading to an angry, hot, altogether mind-blowing kiss with Del — she’ll have to quiet the doubts in her mind to turn a moment of passion into forever… (Goodreads)

Rating: 3.5 stars-Kind of Great
A very, very good novel. Still on the recommendation list. A few problems, but that could just be my reading taste.

Review:

I like this novel, but I have read better by Nora Roberts and some worse. After reading the amazingly fantastic Vision in White and the not so fantastic Bed of Roses, I have to say Savor the Moment falls somewhere in the middle.

Laurel is one of the four owners of Vows, the wedding company her and her friends started. Their company is becoming incredibly successful. Laurel's desserts are delicious and beautiful, very much in demand. Laurel has been keeping a secret from her friends though, something she has kept to herself since childhood. She has feelings for Del, Parker's brother. Since she was young, she never really felt like she belonged with the Brown siblings. She loves them, but she is not in the same class as them. Her family is broken and middle class. The Brown siblings have had everything they ever wanted, which is why she feels her and Del will never happen.

Del finds Laurel attractive. There have been several times he considered making a move on a beautiful woman only to discover later that the woman was Laurel. Laurel finally makes a move on Del and presses him to assess his feelings for her. He loves her. However, is he in love with her? I found their courting to be sweet yet disappointing at the same time. I guess I was expecting more. Laurel, as many female main characters I have been reading, created the circumstances that led to fights without talking about it first, leaving the man utterly confused as to what is going on. I get very annoyed when this happens. I end up feeling bad for the men and slightly ashamed of being a girl.

Overall, I enjoyed the novel, but I had grand expectations that were not meet, which I think is bad on me and not the author. Would I recommend this series? I would still say yes because the books are great. I have just read so many Nora Roberts books. I already know her writing style, her plot twists, and her characters. I will be reading the next novel because I really want to watch Parker fall in love. In addition, I absolutely love all the covers for this series. They are just so beautiful and well thought out.

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Bride Quartet Series
Vision in White * Bed of Roses * Savor the Moment

Coming Soon: Happy Ever After (Nov 2010)

It's Monday, What are you reading? 6/28

2010-06-27T21:02:00.002-07:00

Monday is once again here! It's Monday, What are you reading? is hosted by Sheila @ One Person's Journey Through a World of Books. This is a wickedly awesome weekly event where I get to update everyone on my reads from this past week and my reads for this week

Wow! I did not stick to my reading schedule at all! I was so anxious to read more about Jules Cassidy I ended up reading 3 Suzanne Brockmann books last week!

This past week:

Read:

My Sunshine by Catherine Anderson: Cute

Storm Front by Jim Butcher: Awesome

Breaking Point by Suzanne Brockmann: Awesome

Into the Storm by Suzanne Brockmann: Super Awesome

Force of Nature by Suzanne Brockmann: Swoon worthy! Love Jules!

Reviewed:

First Drop of Crimson by Jeaniene Frost

My Sunshine by Catherine Anderson

Frostbitten by Kelley Armstrong

This Week:

To Read

Love is a Four-Legged Word by Kandy Sheperd

Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston

Almost Perfect by Susan Mallery

F*ck It by John Parkin

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Don't forget to checkout my 60 Followers Contest
& my $40 CSN Giveaway! (you do not have to be a Follower to enter)

My Sunshine by Catherine Anderson

2010-06-25T16:11:00.000-07:00

Title: My Sunshine

Author: Catherine Anderson

Series: Coulter/Hendrick #6

Published: January 2005

Genre: Contemporary Romance

* Borrowed from library

Book Description:

Five years ago, Laura Townsend's life was nearly destroyed when a head injury impaired her ability to use language and forced her to abandon a brilliant career. Despite her difficulties, however, she never lost her vivacious spirit or sunny disposition. Now she has a great new job at an animal clinic - and a handsome new boss who fills her heart with longing. But veterinarian Isaiah Coulter deserves a woman who can meet his needs. Battling her feelings, Laura decides that sometimes a woman must love a man enough to walk away...

When Isaiah first hired Laura, he wasn't expecting her to be such a breath of fresh air. Impressed by her healing touch - and captivated by her dazzling beauty - Isaiah finds himself falling in love. And he'll move heaven and earth to convince Laura that she's the woman he needs...the only one who can bring joy to all his days.

Rating: 4 Stars-Loved it
Everything about the novel was great! A very enjoyable read.

Review:
My Sunshine was about finding love and overcoming all obstacles to be together, which is what I expected. The majority of the books I have read by Catherine Anderson have one of the main characters with a disability, usually the woman. The stories are very inspiring and educational. I have learned more about some disabilities I knew existed, but never gave a second thought to.

Laura Townsend had a great job, lots of friends, a boyfriend, and a future, but she lost them all after an accident left her disabled. She was an environmental scientist, incredibly smart with a great future. Now, she has trouble saying words with more than two syllables, she can't read because she has trouble with letters, and can barely write. I really admire Laura's determination that took her from not understanding anything or being able to speak to speaking in full sentences.

Isaiah is instantly attracted to Laura. Laura brings something to his life that he had been missing. Being surrounded by family, he has seen his brothers and sister fall in love. He wants that for himself and he thinks he can have that with Laura.

The romance part of the novel was cute. The suspense part of the plot was obvious. Someone is trying to get Laura fired and I thought the villain was kind of obvious. I often feel this way about Anderson's books, but I read her books for the feel-good romance, not the suspense. I really enjoyed this novel. If you are looking for an easy fluffy romance, I suggest you try out Catherine Anderson.
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Here are my reviews of the Coulter/Hendrick Series:

Baby Love * Phantom Waltz * Sweet Nothings * Blue Skies * Bright Eyes

Frostbitten by Kelley Armstrong

2010-06-24T21:24:00.003-07:00

Title: Frostbitten

Author: Kelley Armstrong

Series: Women of the Otherworld #9

Published: September 2009

Genre: Paranormal Romance

*Own

Book Description:

The Alaskan wilderness is a harsh landscape in the best of conditions, but with a pack of rogue werewolves on the loose, it’s downright deadly. Elena Michaels, the Pack’s chief enforcer, knows all too well the havoc “mutts” can wreak. When word comes of a series of humans apparently killed by wolves near Anchorage, Elena and Clay are sent to check things out. But they find more than they bargained for among the snow and trees of the savage Alaskan wilderness. (Goodreads)

Rating: 4 Stars- Loved it
Everything about the novel was great! A very enjoyable read.

Review:
I loved getting back to the Pack. The last time we saw the Pack was Broken when Elena accidentally unleashed zombies through a portal. Jeremy and Jaime fell in love in No Humans Involved (my fav), but since then the books have revolved around Hope. I am happy to be getting back to Elena and Clay, recent parents and kick ass werewolves. I was hoping to get to know the twins, but that was not to happen in this novel. They did not get much screen time.

The novel starts out with Elena chasing down a mutt. He hooked up with some unsavory werewolves and Elena is trying to save him from certain death by these unsavory werewolves. The chase leads her and Clay to Alaska. What they find there is more than they figured and could threaten the Pack. I was intrigued with the story line. Elena and Clay are isolated from the Pack. They encounter paranormal creatures I never noticed were left out of this world until I read this book. I was confused a bit, but I always enjoyed watching Clay and Elena work together or not work as most of the time they tend to play around with each other.

The novel deals with some problems that began in previous novels. At the end of Broken, Clayton almost lost his arm so you see how he adjusts and trains to continue to keep his Pack and family safe. Elena has to think about her future as possible Alpha. She needs to come to terms with the responsibility and how that will affect her relationship with Clayton. I loved the exploration both characters go through. Neither of them are perfect, which is one of the reason I love them. They have grown so much since Bitten. I cannot wait until another novel comes out featuring the Pack, maybe about Nick! *hint hint Kelley Armstrong*

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Women of the Otherworld Series:

Bitten, Stolen, Dime Store Magic, Industrial Magic, Haunted, Broken, No Humans Involved,
Personal Demon, Living with the Dead
+
Men of the Otherworld & Tales of the Otherworld

Coming Soon:
Waking the Witch (July 27)
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Don't forget to checkout my 60 Followers Contest
& my $40 CSN Giveaway!

First Drop of Crimson by Jeaniene Frost

2010-06-22T10:08:00.000-07:00

Title: First Drop of Crimson
Author: Jeaniene Frost
Series: Night Huntress World #1
Published: February 9, 2010
Genre: Paranormal Romance
*Borrowed from Library

Book Description:

The night is not safe for mortals. Denise MacGregor knows all too well what lurks in the shadows - her best friend is half-vampire Cat Crawfield - and she has already lost more than the average human could bear. But her family's dark past is wrapped in secrets and shrouded in darkness - and a demon shapeshifter has marked Denise as prey. Now her survival depends on an immortal who craves a taste of her.

He is Spade, a powerful, mysterious vampire who has walked the earth for centuries and is now duty-bound to protect this endangered, alluring human - even if it means destroying his own kind. Denise may arouse his deepest hungers, but Spade knows he must fight his urge to have her as they face the demon nightmare together...

Because once the first drop of crimson falls, they will both be lost. ((Goodreads)

Rating:
4.5 stars-Unbelievably Awesome
I loved this book. I highly recommend it.

Review:
I was not sure if I was going to like this book. I was very skeptical, but I am very glad I read it. To be honest, I could not see Denise and Slade together before I read this novel; hence, my reluctance to read this book, but I was so very wrong.

Denise wants nothing to do with the supernatural world. After the horrific events in the Night Huntress Series, Denise wants to forget that world exists. However, Denise does not have that choice. In the past few weeks, Denise has lost a few family members. Her cousin Paul fears he will be next. Skeptical at first, Denise quickly changes her mind when she witnesses something unnatural.

Slade is a loyal and trustworthy friend to Bones. He has proved this many times throughout the Night Huntress Series. When he gets a call from Denise asking for help, he goes to help wanting to give Cat and Bones a break from their already traumatic year. Denise and Slade find themselves working together to help free Denise and her family from a demon looking for revenge. Slade, who tends to avoid human relationships, finds himself attracted to Denise and hopes to cure her of her fear of vampires.

Slade is a character with many layers. All we know from the series is he was sent to Australia with Bones, Timothy, and Ian. A few tidbits here and there are given, but not much. In this novel, we learn more about his background, how he met the guys, his habits, and his personality. I found myself really liking Slade. I have seen the loyal side of him, but I really loved seeing his humorous and possessive side. I had a fun time reading from his point of view.

I cannot wait to read more from Jeaniene Frost. She quickly became one of my favorite authors this year. I really enjoyed the plot in this novel and the added dimensions to the Night Huntress World. We have dealt with vampires, ghosts, and ghouls, but now we encounter something new. I was very happy with the ending. This book is wrapped up very nicely and I can't wait to read more about Mencheres.

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Interested in Frost Drop of Crimson? Don't forget to check out the Night Huntress Series:

Halfway to the Grave * One Foot in the Grave * At Grave's End * Destined for an Early Grave

Coming soon by Jeaniene Frost:
Eternal Kiss of Darkness (July 27, 2007)

Teaser Tuesday 6/22

2010-06-21T20:58:00.002-07:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

___________________________________________

My Teaser:

"'Today was a total suckfest.' He caught himself. 'Although, I guess in a gay bar, that's not necessarily a bad thing.'

Jules was laughing again, which was nice. 'I shouldn't have another,' he said, taking only a tiny sip of his drink. 'These days I've been sticking to wine, so my resistence is down and-'

Robin caught a finger in the belt loop of those black pants, pulling Jules even closer, which-score-annoyed Adam."- Robin Chadwick and Jules Cassidy, pg 206, Hot Target by Suzanne Brockmann

The main characters in this novel are actually Jane and Cosmo, but I found myself loving the side story featuring Jules and Robin. Hot Target is #8 in the Troubleshooters series and I have loved every novel so far. If you haven't read this series, Jules Cassidy is a FBI agent and is gay. He has been in several of the previous novels, but I didn't think he would get his own story because he is gay and I am very glad to say that I am wrong. Robin is a straight actor who finds himself attracted to Jules. I really can't wait until I get the next few novels to read more about Jules and Robin. They are quickly becoming my favorite couple in the series!

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Interested in the Troubleshooters Series? Here are my reviews:
The Unsung Hero * The Defiant Hero * Over the Edge * Out of Control
Into the Night * Gone Too Far * Flashpoint

Don't forget to checkout my 60 Followers Contest & my $40 CSN Giveaway!

It's Monday, What are you Reading? 6/21

2010-06-20T21:07:00.002-07:00

It's Monday, What are you reading? is hosted by Sheila @ One Person's Journey Through a World of Books! It’s Monday, What Are You Reading? is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week. It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

I had a really great week last week. I read some amazing books! Hot Target kept me up all night. I actually forgot to eat dinner.

Past Week-

Read:

The Wake of the Lorelei Lee by L.A. Meyer: I want more!
First Drop of Crimson by Jeaniene Frost: Can't wait until the next book!
Hot Target by Suzanne Brockmann: I <3 Cosmo! I <3 Jules Cassidy!

Reviews:

Silent in the Grave by Deanna Raybourn: 5 stars
Personal Demon by Kelley Armstrong: 3 stars
Living with the Dead by Kelley Armstrong: 2.5 stars

Currently Reading:

Kushiel's Justice: pg 460 of 703.
Sweet Anger by Sandra Brown: 59%
Infinity by Sherrilyn Kenyon: 369 of 448- Reading at B&N!

To Read:

Montana Legacy by R.C. Ryan
Montana Destiny by R.C. Ryan
My Sunshine by Catherine Anderson
Storm Front by Jim Butcher
Kiss of Heat by Lora Leigh
Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston

Don't forget to checkout my 60 Followers Giveaway & my $40 CSN Giveaway!

What are you reading?

$40 CSN Giveaway!

2010-06-20T20:40:00.001-07:00

I just started my first giveaway about a week ago so I was really excited when CSN emailed me to host a giveaway! You have probably noticed CSN popping up all over the place and I am happy they are giving me a chance to giveaway a $4o gift certificate to one lucky person. I have been browsing their site and running into all types of neat stuff. I currently have my eye on some lighting (my lamp is clip-on and I have nothing for it to clip-on near my bed), an electric tea kettle and a new bedroom set (nothing in my room matches). They have 200+ online stores to fit your every need. As book lovers, we all need that perfect bookcase, or several bookcases as many of use have a crazy amount of books, a desk to write reviews on, or something to keep the kiddies occupied while you read to your hearts content!

To Enter:

1) Leave a comment answering this question:
What would you use the $40 for?
2) Anyone can enter- You don't have to be a Follower!
3) Leave your email address so I can contact you!
4) Canada and US only!
....Winner will be chosen by random.org

Ends July 5!

My Answer:
I would buy the tea kettle because my roommate is moving out and taking hers with her so I am without a tea kettle!

Letters with Character! Dear Dimitri Belikov, I just...

2010-06-17T21:03:00.001-07:00

I discovered this blog through the The Bibliophilic Book Blog by Monica. Letters with Character is a site where you can send a letter to a fictional character. This is a description from the site:

This site was created as a companion to What He's Poised To Do (Harper Perennial), the just-released collection of short fiction by Ben Greenman, an editor at the New Yorker. The collection (which Simon van Booy calls "a masterwork" and Jonathan Ames says has its "own fantastic universe of stories and ideas") uses letters and letter-writing to investigate human connection and disconnection. This blog has a related mission, which is to allow readers to interact directly with literary characters. Letters should be addressed to your favorite characters and sent to LettersWithCharacter@gmail.com.

I think this is such a fun idea. Monica sent a letter to Sookie from the Sookie Stackhouse Series. I thought it was a great letter, except I don't think Bill is a complete jerk. I actually want to make this a weekly thing. I write letters to characters, send them to the site, and share them with my followers. I think it's an interesting why to share your thoughts on books. When writing reviews, you want to avoid spoilers and sum up whether you think a book is worth a read. Here you can write how you felt about certain actions taken by the characters. I think I would even invite people to guest post a letter to their favorite characters. Just an idea! Anyone interested?

Anyway here is my letter to Dimitri Belikov from the Vampire Academy Series by Richelle Mead:

*Spoilers: read at your own peril!

Dear Dimitri,

I just want to tell you I think you are brave. You went back to rescue those people and you were taken instead. You went through such a horrible experience. You became something you despised, something you trained to kill. While you were Strigoi you did two things that you cannot forgive, you killed and you hurt Rose. You killed because it was in your nature, which is something that was beyond your control. The love you felt for Rose became an unhealthy obsession and a sick type of possession. You tried to turn her into something that would destroy her soul and when she would not submit you tried to kill her.

However, you are forgetting something. You love Rose and she loves you. You may have tried to kill her, but something inside you could not stand the thought of her leaving this life. You were not you. You were something else and Rose understands. She went after you to try to kill you, to save you. When she realized she could not stand the thought of you leaving this life, she tried a different route. She risked everything to bring you back to her and she succeeded. She gave you a second chance to live and love. You should grasp it with both hands and hold on tight.

I know you went through such a horrible experience, but I think avoiding Rose is not the answer. You came back and have a chance to be happy. Well happy after you help Rose get out of the mess she is currently in, kudos for trying to help her there with the guards. You taught her everything she knows and now it is time for you to lean on her. Let her help you! You can be happy if you will give her a chance.

Love Sarah

P.S. In Last Sacrifice, you better give Rose a great big sexy kiss, a hot up against the wall kind of kiss, to make up for ignoring her.... I would say more than a kiss but this is YA!

Reviews:

Vampire Academy * Frostbite * Shadow Kiss * Blood Promise * Spirit Bound

Last Sacrifice: December 7, 2010

Personal Demon and Living with the Dead by Kelley Armstrong

2010-06-17T12:20:00.004-07:00

Haven't read my reviews for the first seven books?

Bitten, Stolen, Dime Store Magic, Industrial Magic, Haunted, Broken, No Humans Involved
+
Men of the Otherworld & Tales of the Otherworld

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Title: Personal Demon
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Series: Women of the Other #8
Published: March 2008

Genre: Paranormal Romance
*own

Book Description:

Tabloid reporter Hope Adams appears to live the life of an ordinary working girl. But in addition to possessing the beauty of a Bollywood princess, Hope has other unique traits. For she is a half demon—a human fathered by a demon. And she’s inherited not only a gift for seeing the past but a hunger for chaos—along with a talent for finding it wherever she can. Naturally, when she’s chosen by a very dangerous group for a very dangerous mission, she jumps at the chance….
The head of the powerful Cortez Cabal—a family that makes the mob look like amateurs—has a little problem in Miami: a gang of wealthy, bored offspring of supernaturals is getting out of hand, and Hope is needed to infiltrate. As spells, astral projections, and pheromones soar across South Beach, Hope weaves her way through its elite hot spots, posing as upscale eye candy and reading the auras of the clientele—and potential marks.
As it turns out, Hope is a little too good at this job. And soon she’s in a little too deep, needing to be bailed out by her jewel-thief werewolf ex-boyfriend and by the Cortez heir himself. And when a killer goes to work, Hope is among many targets at the pinnacle of Cabal rule. For a woman who didn’t know what she was getting into, there’s only one way out: it’s time for Hope to unleash her most potent primal instincts—and open herself, mind and body, to everything she most fears . . . and desires. (Goodreads)

Review:

I really enjoyed all the books in the Woman of the Otherworld series up to this point. Personal Demon, while having a great plot, was narrated by Hope Adams. I found myself not liking Hope. I could have done without a story centered around her. I would have rather read more about the other characters in the series.

Hope is a half-demon. What she gained from her demon father is her attraction to chaos. She likes the risk of doing dangerous things. I didn't find this all that interesting. Hope was a really boring character compared to the other women from the past novels. I can't help but compare her to Elena, Eve, and Paige. They are all really wonderful characters. Hope, while trying to be a strong character like the others, ends up needing other people to rescue her and finish the job for her.

What redeemed this novel for me was the appearance of Lucas Cortez, the heir to the Cortez Cabel. He is my favorite character in this series and I loved reading from his point of view. Lucas would love nothing more than to love his father, but Benicio Cortez's insistence on making Lucas heir and integrating him in the cabel is not what Lucas wants with his life. The continuous game played by the Cortez family is incredibly intriguing. I love to watch Benicio and Lucas work at manipulating each other.

The plot that centered around Hope was kind of dull. The plot that emerged when Lucas came on the scene was incredibly interesting and absolutely crazy. This part of the novel brought up the antagonism felt between the Cortez siblings. Basically, I like half the book and dislike the other half.

Rating: 3 stars

The novel was okay. I liked it. A fast paced read that you might or might not remember next month.

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Title: Living with the Dead
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Published: Oct 2008
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Series: Women of the Otherworld #9
*own

Book Description:

When Robyn Peltier—a very human PR rep—is framed for murder, the two people most determined to clear her name are half-demon tabloid reporter Hope Adams, and necromancer homicide detective John Findlay. And suddenly Robyn finds herself in the heart of a world she never knew existed—and which she is safer knowing nothing about...(Armstrong Site)

Review:
I was very disappointed with this novel primarily because of Robyn and Hope. Robyn, the main character, is my least favorite character in this series. The novel was very well-written, in par with her previous novels, but I just couldn't get into the novel with two characters I do not like.

Robyn knows nothing about the Otherworld until she gets in the middle of Otherworld business. I found the book being narrated by a human to be annoying because she had no idea what was happening. As an avid reader of the series, I am knowledgeable about the cabals and how the world works. I was just annoyed half the time because she was a bewildered mess throughout the whole book.

The plot was okay. I couldn't relate to the main character so much of the book I was staying with the plot. I actually enjoyed it, but Hope having such a big role was really annoying as well. I actually like Karl, member of the Pack and Hope's boyfriend, but I don't like Hope. Hope would not be the character I would go to for help if I was in trouble.

Rating: 2 stars-Forgettable
I finished it, but I did not like this book. Nothing really stood out for me.

100+ Reading Challenge Completed!

2010-06-16T08:56:00.001-07:00

Success!

I have completed the 100+ Reading Challenge! *runs around in a circle* I will continue keeping track of books read this year on Books Read in 2010, which you can find on my sidebar in a few hours (currently working on it). If I read 200, I will post an update for this challenge with books 101-200. This is my first time keeping track of all the books I have read in a year. I am quite surprised I have reached 100. I don't think I normally read this much, but it might have to do with graduating in January (I walked in May) and not having a full-time career.

I have not reviewed all the books on this page. I am currently writing the posts and want to have all of them out by the end of this month. If there are any you really want reviewed ASAP, I can get them out for you in the next few days.

January 2010

1.Holding the Dream by Nora Roberts
2. Finding the Dream by Nora Roberts
3. Haunted By Kelley Armstrong
4. Broken by Kelley Armstrong
5. No Humans Involved by Kelley Armstrong
6. Personal Demon By Kelley Armstrong
7. Living with the Dead by Kelley Armstrong
8. Sun Kissed by Catherine Anderson
9. Dark Lover by JR Ward
10. Annie's Song by Catherine Andererson
11.Blue Moon by Laurell Hamilton
12. Baby Love by Catherine Anderson
13. Club Dead by Charlaine Harris
14. Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris
15. Dead as a Doornail by Charlaine Harris
16. Definitely Dead by Charlaine Harris
17. All Together Dead by Charlaine Harris
18. Truly, Madly by Heather Webber
19. From Dead to Worse by Charlaine Harris
20. The Unsung Hero by Suzanne Brockmann
21. Moon Called by Patricia Briggs
22. Blood Bound by Patricia Briggs
23. All Unquiet Things by Anna Jarzab
24. Men of the Otherworld by Kelley Armstrong *
25. Pleasure Unbound by Larissa Ione
26. Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris

February 2010

27. Glass Houses by Rachel Caine
28. Lover Eternal By JR Ward
29. Lover Awakened by JR Ward
30. Lover Revealed by JR Ward
31. Comanche Moon by Catherine Anderson
32. The Defiant Hero by Suzanne Brockmann *
33. Kushiel's Avatar by Jacqueline Carey *
34. Nothing to Fear by Karen Rose
35. Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs
36. Bone Crossed by Patricia Briggs
37. Obsidian Butterfly by Laurell Hamilton
38. Narcissus in Chains by Laurell Hamilton
39. Cerulean Sins by Laurell Hamilton
40. Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost *
41. Over the Edge by Suzanne Brockmann
42. Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead *
43. Lover Unbound by JR Ward

March 2010

44. Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison
45. And Falling, Fly by Skyler White
46. Frostbite by Richelle Mead
47. One Foot in the Grave by Jeaniene Frost *
48. At Grave's End by Jeaniene Frost *
49. Comanche Moon by Catherine Anderson
50. Deadtown by Nancy Holzner
51. Destined for an Early Grave by Jeaniene Frost
52. Blue Skies by Catherine Anderson
53. Succubus Blues by Richelle Mead
54. Out of Control by Suzanne Brockmann
55. Dancing with the Devil by Keri Arthur
56. Bright Eyes by Catherine Anderson
57. Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead *
58. Blood Promise by Richelle Mead
59. Witch Fire by Anya Bast
60. Into the Night by Suzanne Brockmann
61. Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs

April 2010

May 2010

86. Sweet Nothings by Catherine Anderson
87. For A Few Demons More by Kim Harrison
88. Flashpoint by Suzanne Brockmann
89. Succubus Dreams by Richelle Mead
90. The Outlaw Demon Wails by Kim Harrison
91. Succubus Heat by Richelle Mead
92. Succubus Shadows by Richelle Mead
93. Slightly Married by Mary Balogh
94. Hearts at Stake by Alyxandra Harvey
95. Phantom Waltz by Catherine Anderson
96. Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead *
97. Savor the Moment by Nora Roberts
98. Another Dawn by Sandra Brown
99. Moon Sworn by Keri Arthur *

June 2010

100. The Wake of the Lorelei Lee by L.A. Meyer * (Will review closer to release date)

Don't forget to enter my 60 Followers Contest!

Ends July 9!

Teaser Tuesday 6/15

2010-06-14T21:12:00.001-07:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

___________________________________________

My Teaser:

"I opened my mouth to exclaim, but before I could do so, a strong hand clamped about my wrist and dragged me into the room. The door was closed behind me and I was pushed up against it, the hand now firmly pressed over my mouth."- Lady Julia Grey, pg 228, Silent in the Sanctuary (Lady Julia #2) by Deanna Raybourn

I had a difficult time picking out this teaser. I had two others I really wanted to share as well: one description of Nicholas Brisbane and one rather intimate moment between the two. I feel this one leaves a bit of mystery.

Haven't read my review for Silent in the Grave? Click here! I didn't put this in the review, but this series is more mystery than romance. And just so you know, I am on a crusade to get everyone to read this series. I really love it. I wasn't sure if anyone noticed.

What is your Teaser Tuesday?

Silent in the Grave by Deanna Raybourn

2010-06-14T11:17:00.002-07:00

Title: Silent in the Grave
Author: Deanna Raybourn
Series: Lady Julia Grey #1
Published: Jan 2007

Genre: Historical Romantic Suspense
*Own

Book Description:

"LET THE WICKED BE ASHAMED, AMD LET THEM BE SILENT IN THE GRAVE."
These ominous words, slashed from the pages of a book of Psalms, are the last threat that the darling of London society, Sir Edward Grey, receives from his killer. Before he can show them to Nicholas Brisbane, the private inquiry agent he has retained for his protection, Sir Edward collapses and dies at his London home, in the presence of his wife, Julia, and a roomful of dinner guests.
Prepared to accept that Edward's death was due to a long-standing physical infirmity, Julia is outraged when Brisbane visits and suggests that Sir Edward has been murdered. It is a reaction she comes to regret when she discovers the damning paper for herself, and realizes the truth.
Determined to bring her husband's murderer to justice, Julia engages the enigmatic Brisbane to help her investigate Edward's demise. Dismissing his warnings that the investigation will be difficult, if not impossible, Julia presses forward, following a trail of clues that lead her to even more unpleasant truths, and ever closer to a killer who waits expectantly for her arrival. (Goodreads)

Review:

When I first read this book last summer, I immediately fell in love with it. This novel has all the ingredients that make an amazing romantic suspense: brilliant characters, mysterious plot, and well-written. If you read my latest Teaser Tuesday, you know I used a quote from this novel.

Julia Grey is the youngest daughter of the Earl March. The March family is a highly eccentric family with many and varying tastes. Julia decided early on to try to be the sensible one. She would do as expected and she did. She married a childhood friend and lives a respectable, simple life. Of course, being a March means she won't be living a simple life for long. After the death of her husband, Julia looks back to see how much she has changed since she married. And she doesn't like what she sees. Then comes Nicholas Brisbane. He turns her world upside down by throwing out the possibility that Edward was murdered. After not seeing Nicholas Brisbane for over a year, Julia decides to go forward with the investigation and enlists Brisbane's help.

Julia is a favorite character of mine. She really grows in this novel and embraces the person she is meant to be. She is not meant to be meek and humble, but questioning and outrageous. I love her and her family. Her determination to bring her husband's murderer to justice really moves the story forward, even when Brisbane warns her off.

Brisbane is such an intriguing character. He is a mystery. He is a private investigator of unknown origin. Where did he come from? Everyone gossips about him. He is much talked about amongst the ladies. I loved slowly unravling the mystery that is Nicholas Brisbane and I know you will too!

The novel moves forward at a really good pace. The last paragraph of the novel will make you want to immediately jump into the next book. I bought the ebook immediately after I finished reading. The plot was amazing. Slowly the characters are unraveling a secret that Julia was never meant to know.

Rating: 5 Stars-Absolutely Perfect
I absolutely loved this book! The plot was amazing. The characters were unique and memorable. Everyone MUST read this book!

It's Monday, What are you reading? 6/14

2010-06-14T05:49:00.002-07:00

It's Monday, What are you reading? is hosted by Sheila @ One Person's Journey Through a World of Books!

I have not been in a reading mood these last two weeks. By reading mood, I mean reading new books mood. I have been reading books that I read before. I have been thinking about my future and what I want to do with it. I have been in completely ecstatic moods where I know exactly what I want and completely depressed moods when I found out some of the things I want to do are not possible for several different reasons.

I am going to get back into reading this week! That means finish reading all the books I left hanging two weeks ago.

Read this past week:
Silent in the Grave by Deanna Raybourn: I love this series. I am making my way through Silent in the Sanctuary.

Currently Reading:
Infinity by Sherrilyn Kenyon: pg 369
Sweet Anger by Sandra Brown: reading on my Kindle
Kushiel's Justice by Jacqueline Carey: pg 445
Silent in the Sanctuary by Deanna Raybourn: I love the mysteries in these books and that they are not all about sex.
.....All these books are incredibly different from each other.

To Read:
Hot Target by Suzanne Brockmann
My Sunshine by Catherine Anderson
First Drop of Crimson by Jeaniene Frost

And I posted my first contest yesterday during Bloggiesta!

My 60 Followers Contest! Check it out!

Bloggiesta Finish Line

2010-06-13T20:09:00.000-07:00

I have accomplished a lot this weekend. I did not finish, but I definitely made improvements on my blog. I don't know how many hours I spent. I went back and forth throughout the day doing different things: working on Bloggiesta, finding an apartment for Sept, and watching Jon Stewart. I <3 Jon!

Reviews

I made a list of books I need reviewed from my 100+ Reading Challenge, which I hope to finish posting by the end of the month.
I also started a list of books I have read in the past that I would love to review! Such as series that I started to review but did not finish ex: Riley Jenson Guardian Series, Bloody Jack Series, and Jaz Parks Series.
I started reformatting my reviews to conform with my current review style: large pic, publish date, series, genre, etc. I edited the reviews as well and fixed the tags. I edited maybe 20-25 reviews. I was completely unprepared for the amount of time each one would take

Mini Challenges

I participated in 5 challenges and one flashback challenge:

It's All about the Numbers: I started using Google Analytics and Site Meter. I have been playing around with the settings and reports. I can't wait to get a few weeks into it so I can get a better picture of my blog stats.
Embracing Community: I commented on 10 blogs and I even followed some with similar book interests. I also have been on Twitter and I met a lot of amazing bloggers. I really hope I will be able to get on twitter more often and engage with other bloggers.
Blog To Do List: I wrote some short and long term goals for my blog. First goal is to catch up on my reviews. I made a list of books I read this year that have not been reviewed and I plan to finish posting them by the end of the month. Long Term I want to keep my blog user friendly, open and welcome to everyone. I want to make an effort to reach out and start conversations with people both in my comments and on Twitter.
Your Review Policy: I refined my review policy making it simple and less wordy. I added the formats I would accept. I haven't been offered many books to review and I don't expect to, but I think having a clear review policy is a nice touch for my blog.
Be Brave: I posted my contest this morning. I was going to wait until Wednesday, but I thought I would Be Brave and post it today. I think I will also try out some other things that will put me out of my comfort zone, but I think they would be better for my blog and good for me.
Favicons: I added a favicon to my blog. Favicons bewildered me when I first went through Bloggiesta last January. I know more about html now so I gave it a shot and I am very happy with the results.

Twitter

I changed my twitter background to correspond with my new blog background. Everything on my computer is now blue and purple. I changed my Tweet deck colors as well so everything is in sync.
Twitter stats: I now have 132 followers, I follow 147 people. I have 692 tweets and I am listed 10 times.

Emails

I joined my two email accounts together: my personal and my blog (started this just a few days ago). I went through and deleted a bunch of emails. Over 900! This took a very long time because I had to sort out some important stuff and some random stuff.

Sidebars

I updated my side bars: more books on anxiously awaiting, edited my blog roll, edited my profile, and fixed my labels.

New List!

Bloggiesta is almost over, but I have some new things I want to do. After reading what other bloggers are doing, I decided to give them a go.

Google Reader: I want to organize my google reader into folders. I don't know why I just feel like it would make me feel more organized. And I just checked my google reader (374 posts)!
Guest posts: I want to participate in guest posts on other blogs and I want to have some people over and post here: bloggers and authors.
and other things I can't remember at the moment.

So this is my Finish Line Post. I had a terrific time this weekend. I got a lot of things accomplished and started. I made a lot of new friends and follow a bunch of new blogs. I can't wait for the next Bloggiesta! Hope everyone had a great time!

60 Followers Contest!

2010-06-13T07:44:00.004-07:00

Closed!

~~Welcome Everyone!~~

This is my very first contest and I am very excited to be giving away a bunch of books from my bookshelf. I have been thinking about doing a contest for some time now, but decided to wait until I hit 60 Followers to break my contest cherry. And Thanks to Bloggiesta for pushing me to post this today instead of waiting until sometime this week!

As of now there are going to be 4 winners and 10 books to choose from. I am open to adding books and winners. This contest is open internationally. *All Unquiet Things by Anna Jarzab is a signed copy and is only available to winners in the US.*

Winner 1- two books & is exclusive to my first 60 Followers
Winners 2, 3, and 4- one book each & is open to all followers

Books (links to my reviews):
books not reviewed will be reviewed during the contest!
1. Slightly Married by Mary Balogh (paperback)
2. Montana Destiny by R.C. Ryan (paperback)
3. Mr. Cavendish, I Presume by Julia Quinn (paperback)
4. To Sin with a Scoundrel by Cara Elliott (paperback)
5. Truly, Madly by Heather Webber (paperback, Old ARC)
6. and Falling, Fly by Skyler White (paperback)
7. A Fistful of Charms by Kim Harrison (paperback)
8. Swallowing Darkness by Laurell Hamiltion (Hardcover)
9. All Unquiet Things by Anna Jarzab (Hardcover, Signed) *US ONLY
10. Kiss of Death by Rachel Caine (paperback)

To Enter:

You must be a Follower of this Blog! (Old Follower=First 60, New Follower=61+)
You must fill out this Form

Extra Entries:

Tweet about the contest (+2)
Sidebar (+2)
Post on Blog (+5)

Contest Ends July 9!

Winners will be chosen by random.org.

Good Luck!

Bloggiesta Update 3

2010-06-12T23:06:00.001-07:00

More Bloggiesta Fun!

Previous Updates!

So I am going to Be Brave and post my contest today instead of stalling! LOL! Fun Times will be had by all!
I have edited and reformatted about 13 reviews! They took longer than I thought but these are the first reviews I wrote so they were drastically different from the format I use now!

Mini Challenge Update!

It's All About the Numbers is hosted by Danielle @ There's A Book. This mini challenge is about understanding site stats and how important they can be. Danielle also posts some useful sites that track stats and some blogs that are dedicated to improving blog stats.This is my comment for the challenge:

This is such a great post! I have always wondered about my stats, but never really understood how to use them or which site to go to. This is really helpful. I signed up for Google Analytics and Site Meter as back up. I also follow Problogger and the Google Analytics blog for more tips. Thanks so much!

Embracing Community is hosted by Cassie @ Bonjour Cass. The goal of this challenge is to reach out to blogs you have never visited and make leave some insightful comments. I visited ten new blogs and left comments. Here is the feedback I left Cassie:

I have visited ten new blogs and left comments. I always forget just how many blogs there are out there and how many I haven't visited. I am going to come back later to check out some more. Right now, I have to get cracking on my to do list! Thanks for this challenge. I followed a few new blogs.

Flashback Mini Challenges

Trish from Hey Lady! Watcha Readin’? hosted Favicons and Gravatars at a previous Bloggiesta. Last bloggiesta I was only a few weeks old so I had no idea what things were and what was going on. I know have a favicon! A favicon is the little icon to the left of the address bar. Mine is no longer a orange blogger button, but a small icon of the two pictures from my header. I got a gravatar last time.

Bloggiesta Update 2

2010-06-12T14:25:00.001-07:00

More Bloggiesta Updates!

Last post I told you I commented on the Be Brave Mini Challenge about posting my first contest next week! My post is ready to go and I think I will start my contest next Wednesday!

I have added two books on my sidebar that I am anxiously awaiting for release: Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead and Dark Road to Darjeeling by Deanna Raybourn.

I am currently working my way through my old posts. I am reformatting and editing these reviews. I am having a lot of fun in the process. I am also fixing tags as I go. My Finish That Series Challenge Post has been updated and edited! Go check it out. I still have a lot of books to read!

I am at work at the moment so there is not much I can do, but I will continue with mini challenges when I get off of work later tonight.

Bloggiesta Update 1

2010-06-12T08:01:00.000-07:00

Bloggiesta Mini- Challenges

Write your blogging to Do List is hosted by Kim at Sophisticated Dorkiness and Jackie at Farm Lane Books Blog. These ladies have started a Blog Improvement Project Blog that has been operating since 2009. You can check out this blog and find great tips on how to improve your blog. Here is my comment for this challenge:

Short Term Goals: I really need to catch up on my reviews! I am so close to 100 books for the year and I only have maybe 2/3 of the reviews up. I want all of them up maybe by the end of the month.
Long Term Goals: Staying on top of my reviews and memes. I want to make my blog more user friendly. I also want to stay on top of commenting on other blogs. I have been slacking on that the last few weeks. Also I want to stick to a review style. I tend to change mine randomly.
I don’t have time to go through the questions right now, but I will come back in a few days to check them out!

Your Review Policy is hosted by Jennifer @ Girls Gone Reading. She has a great list of things to consider for a review Policy. The challenge is to fix your review policy and come back and comment with one thing you improved. And this is my comment:

For my review policy, I added the formats I would accept at the end of the policy. I use to have that, but I must have taken it off. Thanks for the post! I will come back and look over it again when I have more time!

Be Brave is hosted by Pam @ Motherreader. This mini challenge is challenging us to be brave and write that negative review we are afraid of writing, start an online challenge, contests, or project. This is my comment for the challenge:

I just hit 60 Followers so I have a contest planned that I will post this week. I am really nervous because this is my first contest. After reading some other comments, I am also going to email other bloggers to ask about guest posts and participate in some blog spotlights. I have been nervous about doing this as well, but I am going to give it a go!

....Will have another update soon!

Bloggiesta Weekend! June 11-13

2010-06-11T12:27:00.005-07:00

Bloggiesta is Here!

I am incredibly excited to participate in Bloggiesta. I participated last January, but never posted my finish line post so I never really fully participated. There are a bunch of mini challenges I can not wait to participate in. I hope everyone joins in on all the fun. Want to participate! Click here to join in on all the fun!

To Do List!

Fix my sidebar!

~~Add more books to Anxiously Awaiting!~~
~~organize my memes, authors, and series!~~
~~Update my blog roll~~
~~edit my Profile~~

Reviews!

edit past reviews

add where I got the book (working right now)
grammar mistakes (working right now)
etc.

~~fix tags~~
write new reviews
possible discussion posts!
Post reviews on Goodreads, and other sites!

Links:

fix external links so they open in a new window

This is all I have for now. I will come back and edit this post as I go!

Georgina Kincaid Series- Succubus Heat & Shadows

2010-06-10T11:12:00.001-07:00

Published: May 2009

Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: Georgina Kincaid #4

Georgina Kincaid has been a bad, bad succubus...which should be a good thing. But lately, thanks to her foul mood over breaking up with bestselling writer Seth Mortensen, she's been so wicked that Seattle's über-demon Jerome, decides to "outsource" Georgina to a rival—and have her spy for him in the process.

Being exiled to the frozen north—okay, Vancouver—and leaving Seth in the cozy clutches of his new girlfriend is unpleasant enough. Then Jerome is kidnapped, and all immortals under his control mysteriously lose their powers. One bright spot: with her life-sucking ability gone, there's nothing to keep Georgina from getting down and dirty with Seth—nothing apart from his girlfriend that is. Now, as the supernatural population starts turning on itself, a newly mortal Georgina must rescue her boss and figure out who's been playing them—or all hell will break loose...(Goodreads)

Review:

Georgina's relationship with Seth Mortensen is over, which I was actually insanely happy about. I am not a big fan of Seth and I think it might be because I don't like the idea of them being together. Obviously that is where the series is heading so I have to suck up my dislike of Seth and try to root for them instead.

Georgina is a pawn in a game to gain Jerome's territory and she is not having any of that. She is actually concerned for Jerome and sets out to find him with an unlikely ally. I was just as confused as Georgina throughout this entire novel. I did not know what was happening and there were so many clues I just couldn't figure out what was going to happen. I was reading this book so fast so I could find out if Jerome would return and what was going to happen between Seth and Georgina.

A lot of heartache Georgina went through was partially her fault. The decision to keep her relationship with Seth a secret hurt her when it came to her friend dating Seth. I actually think Maddie and Seth would be cute together, but that is obviously just a plot device and is not going to happen for the long term.

Rating: 4 stars-Loved it
Everything about the novel was great! A very enjoyable read.

_________________________________

Published: March 2010
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: Georgina Kincaid #5

Georgina Kincaid has formidable powers. Immortality, seduction, shape-shifting into any human form she desires, walking in heels that would cripple mere mortals—all child’s play to a succubus like her. Helping to plan her ex-boyfriend’s wedding is a different story. Georgina isn’t sure which is worse—that Seth is marrying another woman, or that Georgina has to run all over Seattle trying on bridesmaid dresses. Still, there are distractions. Georgina’s roommate, Roman, is cluttering her apartment with sexual tension. Then there’s Simone, the new succubus in town, who’s intent on corrupting Seth.

And if that wasn't bad enough, she's started having dreams shadowy, dangerous but alluring dreams, dreams that don't want to let go. These dreams are created by the Oneroi, demons in the service of Nyx, a creature from Hell who's bent on revenge. These are dreams that can trap their chosen victim and drain their powers through nightmares. This mysterious force that’s visiting her thoughts, is trying to draw her into a dark, otherworldly realm. Sooner or later, Georgina knows she’ll be too weak to resist. And Georgina is powerless as she watches those in the real world try to find her, she comes to understand that her freedom her fate lies in the hands of the only one who can find her soul, who just happens to be the man who s about to marry someone else. She’ll discover who she can trust, who she can’t—and that Hell is far from the worst place to spend eternity… (Goodreads)

Review:

I am actually happy Roman is back in the series. I liked him in the first book and didn't really see him as an evil villain. A lot of crap happened in his life and he is being hunted down for something beyond his control. His actions in Succubus Blues did not seem so evil to me. If the books were based from his point of view, he would be seen as a hero or something, going after demons and beings from hell.

The majority of this novel is Georgina watching through dreams what is happening in the real world. Her roommate Roman is searching for clues and rallying support to find her. After a while she becomes confused on what is real and what is not. What her kidnappers discover are the true dreams hurt Georgina more than the false dreams. Seth and Georgina's relationship status is "solved," but I am not a fan of how that went about. I feel really bad for Roman. I want good things to happen to him, kind of like Adrian from Mead's VA series. I thought Roman would be better for Georgina because he is immortal like her, her powers don' t affect him, and they genuinely like each other, but I don't think this is where the story is heading.

The next novel's title has yet to be announced and is expected to be released in 2011. I will be anxiously awaiting this novel because I am curious to see what happens. I have some theories that began in book one so I am interested to see if I am right.

Ratings: 3.5 stars-Kind of Great
A very, very good novel. Still on the recommendation list. A few problems, but that could just be my reading taste.

Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead

2010-06-09T13:24:00.001-07:00

published: May 18, 2010

Genre: Young Adult

Dimitri gave Rose the ultimate choice. But she chose wrong…
After a long and heartbreaking journey to Dimitri’s birthplace in Siberia, Rose Hathaway has finally returned to St. Vladimir’s—and to her best friend, Lissa. It is nearly graduation, and the girls can’t wait for their real lives beyond the Academy’s iron gates to begin. But Rose’s heart still aches for Dimitri, and he's out there, somewhere.
She failed to kill him when she had the chance. And now her worst fears are about to come true. Dimitri has tasted her blood, and she knows in her heart that he is hunting her. And if Rose won't join him, he won't rest until he's silenced her...forever. (Goodreads)

Review:

Blood Promise was a very emotional time for Rose. She had just lost Dimitri and she sent herself on a mission to kill him, but every time she came close she hesitated or, in my opinion, missed on purpose. Back at St. Vladimir's, Rose has an new mission. She is going to research the information she discovered in Russia: the possibility of a spirit user bringing back a Strigoi. She is still hoping to be assigned guardian duty for Lissa, but at the moment the intriguing possibility that Dimitri can be hers again puts her future plans on hold.... and there is also Adrian to consider.

I absolutely loved this book. Rose has grown up, but she is still reckless. She crosses the limits to save Dimitri. She is planning some highly traitorous activities that could put everything in jeopardy. Rose's determination to save Dimitri is incredibly admirable. I was rooting her on and hoping she would succeed. Not everything went as smoothly as she hoped, but she came out on top until the end of the novel.

I have to say that Adrian was amazing in this novel. Rose's treatment of him was horrible and I don't know why he wants her. I really hope for a happy ending for him. Maybe with Sydney in the next series???? We don't know who will be the main characters in the spin-off, but I would like to see that. He had some great moments. He was really helpful to Rose and I hope he has a lot of screen time in the next novel.

Dimitri is such a great evil villain in this book. I won't give away too many details, but he can get really creepy. Throughout the book, Dimitri goes through so many conflicting emotions. I feel for him and what he went through, but he really broke my heart in this novel when he went to such great lengths to avoid Rose after she did so much for him. I hope he redeems himself in the next novel. Although his willingness to protect Rose at the end and even from other Strigoi lets us know that he still has intense feelings for Rose.

I have conflicting feelings for Lissa. At some point in the previous books, she told Rose she wouldn't help Dimitri even if it was possible. I wasn't sure how far she would go to help Rose in this book. I was very proud when she put herself in danger to help Dimitri. What I didn't like is her role in helping Dimitri avoid Rose. Lissa felt Dimitri needs a soft touch to help comfort him, but I feel she is very wrong. That might work for Christian, but not Dimitri. Dimitri needs Rose to force not comfort him into accepting what he did was not his fault.

Overall, I was very insanely happy with this novel. I even went out and bought the hardcover so I could read it because at the time it wasn't available for my Kindle. The next and last book, Last Sacrifice, comes out December 7, 2010! I can't wait!

Rating: 5 stars-Absolutely Perfect!
I absolutely loved this book! The plot was amazing. The characters were unique and memorable. Everyone MUST read this book!

Mini Romance Reviews

2010-06-08T10:43:00.005-07:00

Published: March 2010

Genre: Historical Romance

*Won

A reclusive widow known for her scientific scholarship, Lady Ciara Sheffield is shadowed by rumors that she poisoned her husband . . . A rakehell rogue notorious for his devil-may-care antics, Lucas Bingham--the Earl of Hadley--is not accused of murdering anything--save for the rules of Polite Society. The only thing they have in common is seeing their names featured in the lurid gossip columns of London's newspapers. Until an ancient manuscript draws them together.

Ciara needs a titled fiancé to quell the slanderous speculations which may send her to the gallows. Lucas needs brilliant scholar to help his elderly uncle decipher the secrets of the mysterious manuscript. So when her friends urge her to accept the earl's proposal of a temporary alliance, Ciara decides that she has no choice but to make a deal with the Devil. And so begins a seductive dance of sinful pleasures and hidden desires as the two of them waltz through the mansions of Mayfair. Lies, intrigue, treachery, sex. They find themselves facing slanderous whispers, unscrupulous relatives-not to speak of their own simmering passions, which quickly ignite into dangerous flames. It's a potent mix and the result may be explosive-and perhaps deadly-if they don't watch their step. (Goodreads)

Review:
To Sin with a Scoundrel is the first novel from a new series called Circles of Sin by Cara Elliot. The series revolves around a group of women varying in ages interested in scientific exploration. Lady Ciara Sheffield's life revolves around her experiments and her son. She stays away from the ton mainly because damaging gossip is going around. I liked Ciara. I would describe her as a traditional heroine found in romance novels. Lucas Bingham is a scoundrel another traditional love interest for a romance of this period.

I enjoyed this novel, but I felt like there were gaps in the story, not enough to make the novel disengaging, but just enough to be noticed. Ciara is an academic and I think she goes a little further in her persuit of science that was acceptable in that period. Lucas also engages in bad behavior that even an Earl would not have be able to get away with. Both made it a bit weird to read, but I got over it after a bit.

Rating: 3 stars
Just Okay
The novel was okay. I liked it. A fast paced read that you might or might not remember next month.
_____________________________________________

published: July 2001 (latest edition: 2007)
Genre: Contemporary Romance
*bought

One glance. that's all it takes. Wealthy rancher Ryan Kendrick falls hard -- and fast -- for lovely Bethany Coulter. A beguiling mix of sass and shyness, naiveté and maturity, she shares his passion for horses, has a great sense of humor, and can light up a room with her beautiful smile. She's absolutely perfect -- in every way but one....

A long-ago barrel-racing accident has left Bethany confined to a wheelchair. In the years since, she has known both betrayal and heartbreak -- and vowed never to open her heart to a man again. She has even accepted the possibility that she'll never be able to enjoy a healthy intimate relationship -- or have children of her own. But there's something about handsome Ryan Kendrick. Something that makes her believe she can overcome every obstacle. Something that makes her believe in lifelong, lasting love.... (Goodreads)

Review:
I didn't like this book as much as the others in the series. I actually like the characters. I really like them together. Ryan Kendrick is more than anyone really knows. He is seen as a lady's man, but underneath he is a really great guy. Since I already met him because I read the series out of order, I know how nice and amazing he can be. Bethany is a very independent woman. She is great and I loved watching her do things she never thought she could.

The plot was okay. The end wasn't that great for me. I know this is more of a my taste thing than a this book was written badly thing. I enjoyed watching Ryan seduce Bethany and trying to convince her to live and not let life pass her by. If you like anything to do with horses or ranches, I would say give this series a try. I love to read the interactions between the characters and their horses.

Rating: 3.5 stars
Kind of Great
A very, very good novel. Still on the recommendation list. A few problems, but that could just be my reading taste.
_____________________________________________

published: July 2001
Genre: Contemporary Romance
*Borrowed from Sister

Jake Langston wasn't a man to go looking for trouble, though if it found him he'd settle it -- with a gun or a soft threat. But the night beautiful Banner Coleman forced his hand, he was lost...Torn by secrets he'd never shared, Jake Langston had grown to bitter manhood on the wagon train west to Texas. Baptized by the senseless murder of his brother, introduced to passion in the arms of a woman incapable of love, Jake wanted no part of the seductive purity of the spirited daughter of his best friends Ross and Lydia. But on a night when her dearest illusions about love had been shattered, Banner Coleman went in search of the one man who could never refuse her anything. Shame warred with desire--and lost...

In the cold light of morning their guilt stilled their raging passions, and they turned from one another in sorrow and remorse. But when their enemies joined in a plot of jealousy and revenge that threatened all they held dear, they were forced to confront the demons of a shadowy past. Only then would they be free to face the new day, a future limited only by their dreams...and their love for each other.. (Goodreads)

Review:
I started reading this book then realized it was the second book in a series. I really think I would have understood more and felt more for the older characters if I had read the first novel. I still really enjoyed the novel. Instead of focusing on what I didn't know, I stayed with the main characters and their blossoming romance. Jake, a character from Sunset Embrace (book 1), was running away from his past until he went to visit his best friends and decided to stay. He is a badass, but is still loyal and incredibly noble. Unless there is a naked beautiful woman standing in front of him. Banner is really naive in the baginning and slowly matured as the book progresses, which I like to see happen to characters.

Sandra Brown does a really great job at bringing characters together. I am from Texas and so is she so a lot of her books are based in Texas, which I love. This read is a great romance to snuggle up with. I love when two stubborn people try not to love each and fail.

Rating: 4 stars
Unbelievably Awesome
I loved this book. I highly recommend it.

Teaser Tuesdays (14)

2010-06-08T05:48:00.000-07:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My Teaser:

To say that I met Nicholas Brisbane over my husband's dead body is not entirely accurate. Edward, it should be noted, was still twitching upon the floor.- Lady Julia Grey, pg. 1, Silent in the Grave by Deanna Raybourn.

This novel is a reread for me. I read it last summer and fell in love with the characters. I immediately bought the next two (Adobe Digital Editions ebook and I can't figure out how to convert it for my Kindle). Silent in the Sanctuary and Silent in the Moor were just amazing. I can't wait until the 4th novel comes out, Dark Road to Darjeeling, which comes out October 1, 2010!

What is your Teaser?

May in Review

2010-06-07T11:20:00.000-07:00

I never posted April in Review! Here it is! 24 books read which brings Books read in 2010 up to 85! Three books made my favorites list: Tales of the Otherworld by Kelley Armstrong, Don't Tell by Karen Rose and Kushiel's Scion by Jacqueline Carey. Books that disappointed me were Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey, A Touch of Dead by Charlaine Harris, and Kiss of Death by Rachel Caine. I reviewed 16 out of the 24 books.

April 2010

62. Kill for Me by Karen Rose

63. The Good, The Bad, and The Undead by Kim Harrison

64. Nightlight by Harvard Lampoon

65. The Dead Girls' Dance by Rachel Caine

66. Midnight Alley by Rachel Caine

67. Feast of Fools by Rachel Caine

68. Lord of Misrule by Rachel Caine

69. Carpe Corpus by Rachel Caine

70. Fade Out by Rachel Caine

71. My Soul to Take by Rachel Vincent

72. Tales of the Otherworld by Kelley Armstrong *

73. Lover Enshrined by JR Ward

74. To Sin with a Scoundrel by Cara Elliott

75. Don't Tell by Karen Rose *

76. Every Which Way But Dead by Kim Harrison

77. Succubus on Top by Richelle Mead

78. Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey

79. A Fistful of Charms by Kim Harrison

80. A Touch of Dead by Charlaine Harris

81. Gone Too Far by Suzanne Brockmann

82. Soulless by Gail Carriger

83. Frostbitten by Kelley Armstrong

84. Kiss of Death by Rachel Caine

85. Kushiel's Scion by Jacqueline Carey *

Now for May in Review! I read 14 books this past month bringing my Books read in 2010 up to 99! Two of them made my favorites list: Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead and Moon Sworn by Keri Arthur. Books that disappointed me were For a Few Demons More and The Outlaw Demon Wails by Kim Harrison, and Phantom Waltz by Catherine Anderson. I reviewed 5 out of the 14, which I think is a really low number. May was a slow month for me with my graduation, trip home, and working on finding a job. I hope to put out the majority of these reviews this month.

May 2010

86. Sweet Nothings by Catherine Anderson

87. For A Few Demons More by Kim Harrison

88. Flashpoint by Suzanne Brockmann

89. Succubus Dreams by Richelle Mead

90. The Outlaw Demon Wails by Kim Harrison

91. Succubus Heat by Richelle Mead

92. Succubus Shadows by Richelle Mead

93. Slightly Married by Mary Balogh

94. Hearts at Stake by Alyxandra Harvey

95. Phantom Waltz by Catherine Anderson

96. Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead *

97. Savor the Moment by Nora Roberts

98. Another Dawn by Sandra Brown

99. Moon Sworn by Keri Arthur *

*There are a bunch of books I haven't gotten around to reviewing yet. Some are on my review schedule for this week. If there are any books you really want reviewed, just leave a comment and I will put it out sometime this week!

Hope everyone has a great month!

It's Monday, What are you reading?

2010-06-07T07:01:00.000-07:00

It's Monday, What are you reading? is hosted by Sheila @ One Person's Journey Through a World of Books!

I haven't been in the mood to read in the past two weeks. I have been working on my blog though. I organized my reviews in alphabetically order according to title. I also edited my review policy. I still have a lot more to do, but I enjoy playing around with my blog.

Read this past week:

Tribute by Nora Roberts: this was a reread and I still enjoyed it the second time around.

Currently Reading:

Infinity by Sherrilyn Kenyon: I am reading this when I stop by B&N so when I have time I will go back to the store and finish reading it!
Silent in the Grave by Deanna Raybourn: reread! my friend gave me a pile of books and this one was in it.
Sweet Anger by Sandra Brown: liking it
Kushiel's Justice: towards the end somewhere

To read:

Hot Target by Suzanne Brockmann
Montana Legacy by R.C. Ryan
Montana Destiny by R.C. Ryan

What are you reading?

Bed of Roses by Nora Roberts

2010-06-06T08:22:00.002-07:00

Title: Bed of Roses
Author: Nora Roberts
Series: Bride Quartet #2

Published: September 2009
Genre: Contemporary Romance

*borrowed from friend

Book Description:

#1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts cordially invites you to meet childhood friends Parker, Emma, Laurel, and Mac - the founders of Vows, one of Connecticut's premier wedding planning companies.
Since she was a little girl, Emma Grant has always loved romance. So it's really no surprise that she has found her calling as a wedding florist. She gets to play with flowers every day and work with her three best friends in the process. She couldn't ask for a better job.
And on the surface, Emma's love life seems to be thriving. Slim and sultry, she brings color into every room she enters, just like the arrangements she creates. Men swarm around her, yet she still hasn't found Mr. Right. And the last place she's looking is right under her nose.
But that's just where Jack Cooke is. He's been best friends with Parker's brother for years, which makes him practically family. The architect has begun to admit to himself that his feelings for Emma have developed into much more than friendship. And whn Emma returns his passion - kiss for blistering kiss - things start to get complicated at Vows.
Jack has never been big on commitment. Emma yearns for a lifelong love affair. If the two are to find common ground, they must trust in their history-and in their hearts... (Goodreads)

Review:

I would really love to give this book a great review, but I just can't do it. I really loved Vision in White so I thought Bed of Roses would be amazing. Emma's character is okay and certainly likable, but the way she handles her relationship with Jack was just bad and brought down my opinion of her and her friends. There are several reasons why I didn't like this book. I can't say that I hated it, but I would say it was average, not at all on par with Vision in White.

Emma wants what her parents have, a fairy tale love. She has her ideas set on what love is supposed to be, which is not a bad thing. Unfortunately, Emma is an example of one of those girlfriends who scare away men. Her handling of the relationship would have been, I think it was actually on, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. A lot of the conflict in the relationship was put there by Emma and inflicted on a clueless Jack. Jack is not Carter. Carter has been in a long relationship and is a steady guy. Jack has never really had a serious relationship and is new to being with a woman for more than a couple of months. Needless to say, he is not ready to take the next step in the relationship. He is still new to the relationship game and his feelings for Emma. Emma is already thinking about marriage and babies and wants to more forward as quickly as possible.

The romance was very fairy tale, but also unrealistic. I wasn't pulled into the story. I didn't feel the romance because I felt like Emma just wanted to fall in love and Jack was there. They end up getting engaged incredibly fast, which goes against who Jack is so that was also spoiled for me. I felt like the relationship was about sex. I don't know. I just felt like something was missing that made the romance fall flat with me.

I had to think about the rating and go reference my ratings guide before I decided on what to give this novel. As much as I would like to give it 3.5 stars as planned, I just can't. I have to be honest and say the rating of the book fell as I was writing this review. While writing I remembered more bad than good and that is not a good thing.

Rating: 2.5 Stars- Pretty Bad

I just couldn't get into the novel. I read it. I liked some moments, but the characters annoyed me or the plot wasn't good.

If you want to read a positive review on this novel:

Alaine-Queen of Happy Endings: 10 out of 10

Teddyree- The Eclectic Reader: 4 out of 5

Dear Readers: upcoming contest and maintenance

2010-06-06T08:01:00.002-07:00

I am going to put more effort into keeping everyone up-to-date on what is happening on this site. First, I want to thank all of my 56 followers for following my blog. I am very happy that I have regular readers. I know it is not much compared to other blogs that have gained more followers in the same amount of time I have been blogging or even less, but I am a pretty simple person and I am happy where I am at.

Now for some updates:

1. My First Contest:

I commented or posted a few months ago that I was going to do my first contest when I hit 60 followers. Since I have some books to giveaway, I want to stick with what I said. 4 more followers to go! YAY! When I hit 60 followers, whether tomorrow or in a few weeks, I am going to take a look at my bank account and see if I can have a contest. I am pretty sure I can, but that depends on how I go about this contest. This is where I am going to ask for your input.

If I do a contest using books on my shelf, these would be some of the books up for grabs:

Slightly Married by Mary Balogh,
Montana Destiny by R.C. Ryan,
All Unquiet Things by Anna Jarzab (signed),
To Sin with a Scoundrel by Cara Elliot,
Mr. Cavendish, I presume by Julia Quinn,
Kiss of Death by Rachel Caine,
and Falling, Fly by Skylar White,
A Fistful of Charms by Kim Harrison,
Swallowing Darkness by Laurell K. Hamiltion,
Truly, Madly by Heather Webber (old ARC)
and some more that I want to give away when I finish them.

Leave a comment if you would be interested in winning any of those books if I put them in a contest or if you would want newer releases. I would love your opinion. Mixture of both?

I am currently thinking 3 winners, maybe adding more as the contest goes on. The first winner wins 2 books and the second and third win one each. The first two winners can only be from my first sixty followers (they get first pick at the prizes) and the third winner is for a new follower. My reasoning for this is because I think contests should be for the people already following you, kind of as a thank you, and a way to welcome new followers; therefore, two slots are guaranteed for old followers and one for a new follower with more possible slots for every 60 followers I gain. Does anything think this is stupid? Or a good idea? Opinions would be appreciated!

2. Blog maintenance

I am going through my blog in the next couple of days to do some updates such as going over my sidebar, making sure all my reviews are on my bookshelf, fixing my tags, and editing my menu bar. I am thinking of just putting all of my reviews under reviews instead of separating them like I am now: my bookshelf and my reviews on my menu bar. I originally wanted to make it easier to find books I reviewed because I read them on my own and books I reviewed because I received them from publishers, authors, or won in contests. I want to make my blog simple and I feel like I have a lot going on.

Thanks for taking the time to read this and I hope I get some feedback!

~Sarah

Vision in White by Nora Roberts

2010-06-05T16:46:00.002-07:00

Title: Vision in White (Bride Quartet 1)

Author: Nora Roberts

Published: April 2009

Genre: Contemporary Romance
*Own the book, but is being borrowed by family

Book Description:

#1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts cordially invites you to meet childhood friends Parker, Emma, Laurel, and Mac - the founders of Vows, one of Connecticut's premier wedding planning companies.

After years of throwing make-believe weddings in the backyard, flowers, photography, desserts, and details are what these women do best: a guaranteed perfect, beautiful day full of memories to last the rest of your life.

With bridal magazine covers to her credit, Mackensie "Mac" Elliot is most at home behind the camera - ready to capture the happy moments she never experienced while growing up. Her father replaced his first family with a second, and now her mother, moving on to yet another man, beg Mac for attention and money. Mac's foundation is jostled again moments before an important wedding planning meeting when she bumps into the bride-to-be's brother...an encounter that has them both seeing stars.

Carter Maquire is definitely not her type: he's stable, and he's safe. He's even an English teacher at their high school alma mater. There's something about him that makes Mac think a casual fling is just what she needs to take her mind off dealing with bridezillas and screening her mother's phone calls. But a casual fling can turn into something more when you least expect it. And with the help of her three best friends - and business partners - Mac must learn how to make her own happy memories... (Goodreads)

Review:

Vision in White is by far one of my favorite books written by Nora Roberts. The characters are absolutely amazing. The concept the book revolved around is so fascinating. This novel is a great way to spend an afternoon. I love rereading this novel for the pleasure of reliving the cute moments that are Carter Maguire.

Mac, like so many other characters by Nora Roberts, has an absentee father with his own life and a negligent mother who makes her daughter’s life a living hell. Mac has overcome her family problems in the past thanks to her three faithful friends Parker, Emma, and Laurel. These women have made a home and business for themselves on the Brown Estate. Mac is one of my favorite types of characters and at the moment I really can’t find any words to describe her. She is vulnerable, but not to the point where it makes her weak.

Carter is just the most adorable guy you will ever meet. He has had a crush on Mac since high school, but never got up the guts to tell her. Now after running into her at Vows, Carter has an opportunity to sweep her off her feet. Carter is incredibly clumsy, which I find endearing. He does the most adorable things in this book. His run-through dinner with his best friend to prepare for his date with Mac was so cute! I couldn't get enough of him.

The plot was great. Watching Mac and Carter stumble their way into love was fun. Mac's horrible mother *hate her* comes around trying to bring Mac down and Carter, our knight, comes to Mac's rescue. The relationship between the friends is fun to watch. They have each other's backs and have a great time putting weddings together with their personal strengths: photography, organizing, baking, and flowers.

I normally don't comment on the covers, but I really love the covers for this series. The dress is just beautiful and I really love the bouquet.

Rating: 5 stars- Absolutely Perfect

I absolutely loved this book! The plot was amazing. The characters were unique and memorable. Everyone MUST read this book! I do not give out 5 stars lightly.

Tales of the Otherworld by Kelley Armstrong

2010-06-03T17:41:00.001-07:00

Title: Tales of the Otherworld

Published: April 13 2010

Genre: Anthology, Urban Fantasy

Author: Kelley Armstrong

*Purchased through Amazon for my Kindle

Book Description:

Kelley Armstrong's readers have proven themselves a dedicated fan-base: her previous hardcover collection of short stories, Men of the Otherworld, appeared on the New York Times bestseller list, and Canadian lists too — despite three of the stories having been available, unedited and for free, for years on Armstrong's website. With a similar format — a handful of reedited stories and one wholly original novella — Tales of the Otherworld explores the lives of some of Armstrong's most popular characters, giving readers glimpses into how Clay and Elena met, how Eve and Kristof first hooked up (a brand new novella), and how Lucas and Paige got married. Kelley is a superstar of the genre, and Tales of the Otherworld is a great way to begin 2010.

Review:

I am a big fan of the Woman of the Otherworld Series. I absolutely enjoyed Men of the Otherworld and I devoured Tales of the Otherworld in one sitting. This novel includes short stories for some of my favorite characters: Elena, Clayton, Lucas, Paige, Eve, Kristof, and Aaron.

The novel starts with "Rebirth." "Rebirth" is about how Aaron became a vampire and how he met Cassandra. This is mentioned in the series in passing and I was glad to be able to read this in a short story. Aaron is a pretty responsible and honorable vampire who cares about Cassandra. Cassandra is a very old vampire. At the present time in the series, she is close to death. I liked getting a glimpse of her past and I hope to see both characters featured more in upcoming books in the series.

The second story is called "Bewitched" featuring Eve and Kristof. I really loved this story. The story is outlined in the series and the short story just fleshes it out. I would have loved to get glimpses into Kristof’s mind. I really hope that comes later. He really just stole my heart in this short story. I also liked getting a glimpse of Eve while she was alive.

The next short is "Birthright," a short story about Logan. We never got to really met Logan in the series. We heard about him, Elena and Clay name their son after him, but we never really got a chance to discover who he was. I was insanely happy we got a chance in this story. Logan is different than I expected, but I really grew fond of him.

The story I most anticipated was "Beginnings." “Beginnings” is told by Elena and Clay on how they fell in love. I really wanted to read this story, which is what prompted me to buy this novel. We get a good outline of this story from the series, but this story has so much more to it. I couldn’t see Clay and Elena falling in love with mistakes and they did not disappoint. I was amused with Clay and how he went about winning over Elena. This was my favorite story from this novel.

The next short story "Expectations" was about how Lucas met Eve. He mentions this in the series. I thought it was great we got to meet young Lucas and a young Eve.

"Ghosts" is a really short story about Jeremy. He just has some reflections on his life and worries about Elena and Clay. I really love any glimpse into Jeremy’s mind so I was glued to the screen (reading on my Kindle).

The last two short stories, "Wedding Bell Hell" and "The Case of the Chupacabra," are about Paige and Lucas. I really enjoyed reading "Wedding Bell Hell." In the series, they got married, but we didn't get any information on the wedding. Just at one point Lucas refers to Paige as his wife. "The Case of the Chupacabra" gave Paige and Lucas to work together again. This story also explains how they got their detective agency going.

None of the stories disappointed. I hope we get another anthology about the characters, but until then the next novel in the series is Waking the Witch told by Savannah. I recommend reading the series first before trying out this book and read Men of the Otherworld before this one.

Rating: 5 Stars
Absolutely Perfect
I absolutely loved this book! The plot was amazing. The characters were unique and memorable. Everyone MUST read this book!

Tribute by Nora Roberts

2010-06-03T13:25:00.000-07:00

Title: Tribute

Author: Nora Roberts

Published: July 2008

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Book Description:

Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, in the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains, is a long way from Hollywood. And that’s exactly how Cilla McGowan likes it.

Cilla, a former child star, has found a more satisfying life working with her hands to restore homes from floor to ceiling - and has come here to her grandmother's farmhouse, tools at her side, to rescue it from ruin. Sadly, no one had been able to save her grandmother, legendary Janet Hardy. An actress with a golden voice and a tumultuous life, Janet entertained glamorous guests and engaged in decadent affairs - but died of an overdose in this very house more than thirty years ago. To this day, Janet haunts Cilla's dreams. And during her waking hours, Cilla is haunted by her melodramatic, five-times-married mother, who carried on in the public spotlight and never gave her a chance at a normal childhood. By coming to the East Coast, rolling up her sleeves, and rehabbing this wreck of a house, Cilla intends to take a shot at finding some kind of normalcy for herself.

Cilla has her work cut out for her - the house, once a place of comfort and simple rural beauty, is long neglected, crumbling, the grounds chocked by weeds. Plunging into the project with gusto, she's almost too busy and exhausted to notice her neighbor, graphic novelist Ford Sawyer - but his lanky form, green eyes, and easy, unflappable humor (not to mention his delightfully ugly dog, Spock) are hard to ignore. Determined not to carry on the family tradition of ill-fated romances, Cilla steels herself against Ford's quirky charm, but she can't help indulging in a little fantasy.

But love and a peaceful life may not be in the cards for Cilla. In the house's cluttered attic, she has found a cache of unsigned letters, tied with a faded red ribbon, suggestion that Janet Hardy was pregnant when she died - and that the father of her child was a local married man. Cilla can't help but wonder what really happened all those years ago. The mystery only deepens with a series of cruel and intimidating acts and a frightening, violent assault. And if Cilla and Ford are unable to sort out who is targeting her and why, she may, like her world-famous grandmother, be cut down in the prime of her life. (Goodreads)

Review:

I really enjoyed reading this novel. Cilla comes from Hollywood Legacy. I enjoyed how the story revolved around the tragedy of her grandmother, a Hollywood icon. The characters were incredible. Every now and then the novel felt like it was part of a series, but when I checked Roberts' website Tribute is categorized as a stand-alone.

I liked Cilla. Cilla is an uncomplicated character with a lot of complications in her life. She very much reminds me of Phoebe MacNamara from High Noon, also by Nora Roberts. I have read a lot of Nora Roberts so I always find a lot of similarities between her characters, which I can understand because she has published so many novels. I found Cilla to be a contradiction. She had a very bad childhood: absentee father, negligent and demanding mother, many step-fathers, depression, and a lot more. Because of where she came from and how she was still trying to get through many of her childhood problems, I couldn't really see Cilla's character realistically. Cilla is very headstrong, stubborn, doesn't take crap from no one, very independent, but she wasn't any of those things when she was young so I couldn't really connect her younger self and her older self. It was almost like I was reading about two very different characters.

Ford Sawyer, Cilla's love interest, is absolutely amazing. He is a Nerd. He has a dog named Spock who chases cats only he can see. His dog doesn't trust anyone unless he shakes hands, which I thought was so adorable. Ford is a steady, down-to-earth guy who is very optimistic. I really liked Ford and Cilla together. Ford is one of my favorite male characters created by Nora Roberts.

The novel revolved around Janet Hardy and her death. She was an amazing person with incredible talent. Cilla wanted to know what happened to Janet. She wanted to know why she committed suicide. The dreams she has with Janet gives her a glimpse of what life was like for Janet. Because she feel more of a connection with her dead grandmother than her own mother, Cilla wants to rebuild the home Janet called Little Farm. I was flipping through the pages wanting to discover if Janet killed herself or if someone else did.

Ratings: 4 Stars

Loved it!
Everything about the novel was great; a very enjoyable read.

Teaser Tuesday!!!

2010-06-01T05:29:00.000-07:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

____________________________

I am rereading Tribute by Nora Roberts. I got this off my sister's bookshelf, meaning she took it from me and I took it back. I got back from my trip last week with books I had left at home when I went to college as well as books I bought and left there from my trips back and forth. I will probably be rereading a lot because I brought back at least ten books.

My Teasers:

"Hey! Who names their kid after a car?"

He turned, walked backwards. "My mama has a considerable and somewhat unusual sense of humor. She claims my daddy planted me in her while they were steaming up the windows of his Ford Mustang one chilly spring night. It may be true."

-Cilla and Ford at their first meeting, pg. 19, Tribute by Nora Roberts
_____________________________________

I don't really have a story about my name. Sarah is a pretty common name. I had classes with at least two or three other Sarahs so I was always really frustrated about that *childhood woes*. My parents did think it would be fun to name all their children with names beginning with S and some family and friends did the same.

*Sally (started before the S trend but I still count her), Sarah (me), Stephanie and Sadie (my younger sisters), Summer and Steven (friends of family), Samantha (cousin).... there might be more but I can't remember at the moment.

What is your Teaser Tuesday?

It's Monday, What are you reading?

2010-05-31T07:55:00.000-07:00

It's Monday, What are you reading? is hosted by Sheila @ One Person's Journey Through a World of Books!

I have been back from my visit home for about a week now and I still haven't caught up with some reading I started before I left. One book I was reading, Kushiel's Justice, is a massive hardcover book that I did not want to drag around the airport.

Also, I went home to discover my sister raided my bookshelf and took some of my books. She put them on her own shelf and I was having none of that. I let her keep some that I no longer need or want to read such as The House of Night series. I did take some books I find pleasure in rereading such as some Sandra Brown and Nora Roberts books.

Now for my updates:

Read This past week:

Moon Sworn by Keri Arthur: Amazing end to the series! I just wish some of the supporting characters had more book time.

Currently Reading:

Infinity by Sherrilyn Kenyon: I love the books I have read so far in the Dark Hunter Series. Nick was always one of my favorite characters.
Sweet Anger by Sandra Brown: Good so far.
Kushiel's Justice: I love this series! Having a great time reading it! Anyone else not like Sidonie?

To Read:

Hot Target by Suzanne Brockmann
..have to check which books I have waiting for me at the library :)

What are you reading?

Slightly Married by Mary Balogh

2010-05-29T09:12:00.001-07:00

Title: Slightly Married (Slightly 1)

Author: Mary Balogh

Published: April 2003

Genre: Historical Romance
*Own

Book Description:

Meet the Bedwyns…six brothers and sisters--men and women of passion and privilege, daring and sensuality…Enter their dazzling world of high society and breathtaking seduction…where each will seek love, fight temptation, and court scandal…and where Aidan Bedwyn, the marriage-shy second son, discovers that matrimony may be the most seductive act of all.

Like all the Bedwyn men, Aidan has a reputation for cool arrogance. But this proud nobleman also possesses a loyal, passionate heart--and it is this fierce loyalty that has brought Colonel Lord Aidan to Ringwood Manor to honor a dying soldier's request. Having promised to comfort and protect the man's sister, Aidan never expected to find a headstrong, fiercely independent woman who wants no part of his protection…nor did he expect the feelings this beguiling creature would ignite in his guarded heart. And when a relative threatens to turn Eve out of her home, Aidan gallantly makes her an offer she can't refuse: marry him…if only to save her home. And now, as all of London breathlessly awaits the transformation of the new Lady Aidan Bedwyn, the strangest thing happens: With one touch, one searing embrace, Aidan and Eve's “business arrangement” is about to be transformed…into something slightly surprising. (Goodreads)

Review:

This is the first book I read by Mary Balogh and I have to say I really enjoyed it. I was browsing blogs for book recommendations when I saw Smexy Books has a book recommendation page. At the time I was looking for some historical romances. She recommends the entire Slightly Series so I thought I would give it a try.

I always tend to enjoy the male characters more than the females. In this case, Aidan (I love that name) is a perfect gentleman who takes pleasure working the lands, but was forced to take the drum. He has honor and knows his duty to his country and his family. Sometimes I wish men were more like Aidan. I found myself hoping for a happy ending for him.

I liked Eve, but she tended to get a bit annoying. (Warning: I can get overly critical of female characters. I don't know why, but I just do.) One thing that annoyed me about Eve is her insistence throughout the novel that they were not really married. She kept repeating this over and over, but they really were married. They stood in front of a priest in a church, spoke their vows, and became man and wife. I did like her spirit though. She stood up for herself and those she loves, which I found very admirable.

The plot of the novel was slow and steady. The villain of the novel was trying to turn Eve out of her home, but Aidan came to the rescue. Sometimes Eve herself was the villain. She was very wistful in her thinking that didn't really clash with reality. I really enjoyed Aidan's family and the tone was set for the future novels featuring Aidan's sibling.

Rating: 3.5 stars-Kind of Great

A very, very good novel. Still on the recommendation list. A few problems, but that could just be my reading taste.