Well, it's way to hot here. Almost 110 outside. YUCK! I hope it cools off soon. I'm sooo looking forward to winter.
Tomorrow morning I head out to pick up my best friend from the airport. Should be a great time with her here. I can't wait!
And last but not least. I'm STILL having trouble with my comments here. My friend knows so much more about HTML then I do, so while she's here I have plans on having her check to see if she's able to fix whatever is wrong. *fingers crossed* she see's exactly what the trouble is.
Heading out to finish laundry, cleaning and getting ready for our guest to arrive....
30 August 2009
27 August 2009
ETA: Well, that still doesn't work. I have no idea how to fix it, but I'll keep trying to see what I can find online to help out. Again sorry to anyone who's left comments, I have no way to reply to you.
26 August 2009
Reading has been super slow for me the last week or so. I just don't have much time since my best friend will be here in a couple days, and were getting things ready for a yard sale and then we have plans to re-do a couple rooms. One thing I'm really excited about is a HUGE bookcase. I've run out of room from the bookcase I got just about this time last year for my birthday, so this year I've made plans to have a nice and large bookcase built to one of my walls. It'll be floor to ceiling and should be about 8.5 feet tall by 6.5 feet wide. There should be over 20 shelves which will, in the end be the home for all my many books and maybe even my dvds. I'm so excited I can't wait!
I just wish all this could have been done before my friend gets here, but it'll have to wait until right after she leaves. There's just way to much painting to do and with the heat here we have to wait to get started on the refab projects. It'll be nice to have the new bookcase (squeee!), some new paint, a total closet overhaul, new blinds, ceiling fan and maybe even a wood floor for one of the rooms were changing.....and depending on money we might even do a few other things but that's a wait and see for the time being.
Needless to say with all this my reading time has been a few mins here and there. I keep getting books in the mail, this week I have already gotten 12 and want to read so badly and I'm sad to say that I can't read anything else until I finish the ones I have going.
So, that's why it's so slow around here. I know it's a busy time for most as school has just started or is about to start again and summer ending and all. With that I don't feel as bad for my lack of updates. I'm off to finish a few things around here before I get ready to tackle another project. Stay cool and happy reading!
20 August 2009
Title: One Foot in the Grave (The Night Huntress, Book 2)
Author: Jeaniene Frost
Publisher: Avon, 384 Pages (April 29, 2008)
From: Purchased from Amazon
Synopsis: You can run from the grave, but you can't hide . . .
Half-vampire Cat Crawfield is now Special Agent Cat Crawfield, working for the government to rid the world of the rogue undead. She's still using everything Bones, her sexy and dangerous ex, taught her, but when Cat is targeted for assassination, the only man who can help her is the vampire she left behind.
Being around him awakens all her emotions, from the adrenaline kick of slaying vamps side by side to the reckless passion that consumed them. But a price on her head—wanted: dead or half-alive—means her survival depends on teaming up with Bones. And no matter how hard she tries to keep things professional between them; she'll find that desire lasts forever . . . and that Bones won't let her get away again.
Review: 4.5 Stars – One Foot in the Grave starts off 4 years after the end of book 1 and pretty much just dives right in. The second in the Night Huntress series shows just how much Cat has grown.
The author has perfected Cat’s witty and sarcastic tone. Her inner banter was even more amusing then the first book. All characters have evolved amazingly well from the first book and you can almost see further growth ahead for the next books in the series. There is just the right amount of action, romance and humor that make this series a great one.
Cat and Bones have some great chemistry that I look forward to reading more in the books to come. If you haven’t started this series yet, you don’t even know what you’re missing. Be sure to pick up all 4 books while you’re out, with this series you’ll want to be able to dive right into the next book each and every time.
Title: Halfway to the Grave (The Night Huntress, Book 1)
Author: Jeaniene Frost
Publisher: Avon, 384 Pages (October 30, 2007)
From: Purchased from Amazon
Synopsis: Half-vampire Catherine Crawfield is going after the undead with a vengeance, hoping that one of these deadbeats is her father—the one responsible for ruining her mother's life. Then she's captured by Bones, a vampire bounty hunter, and is forced into an unholy partnership.
In exchange for finding her father, Cat agrees to train with the sexy night stalker until her battle reflexes are as sharp as his fangs. She's amazed she doesn't end up as his dinner—are there actually good vampires? Pretty soon Bones will have her convinced that being half-dead doesn't have to be all bad. But before she can enjoy her new found status as kick-ass demon hunter, Cat and Bones are pursued by a group of killers.
Now Cat will have to choose a side . . . and Bones is turning out to be as tempting as any man with a heartbeat.
Review: 4.5 Stars - Halfway to the grave is the first in the Night Huntress Series and hooked me right from the first page. Author Jeaniene Frost has created a great world and has given us a new version of Vampire Hunters.
Cat, our heroine has had her mother drilling into her head for awhile to do the right thing and avenge her from a horrible past and that all vampires are evil to the core. Cat’s feisty attitude gets her into some trouble and she runs into Bones. A vampire who is on to the fact that Cat is killing Vampires. They team up and he teaches her more then fighting skills to help her kill stronger vampires. Her quest to do the right thing is amazing and after she meets Bones she begins to question many of things her mother has taught her.
Bones is a vampire everyone will fall in love with and Cat is a heroine all will root for. I loved this book and the characters so much that I picked up book 2 right away. If you’re looking for a new series and love Vampires then be sure to pick up this series!! My suggestion if you pick up this book, be sure to up the others, as once you start, you won’t want to stop.
14 August 2009
Title: Shiver
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Publisher: Scholastic Press, 400 pages (August 1, 2009)
From: Purchased from AmazonSynopsis: For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf--her wolf--is a chilling presence she can't seem to live without. Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human . . . until the cold makes him shift back again.
Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It's her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human--or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever.
Review: 5 Stars! This book IS AMAZING! I LOVED it! WOW! Talk about heartbreaking.... I've wanted to read this book since I pre-ordered it right after Christmas this last year and can say that it didn't let me down.
I had a huge smile on my face with tears filling my eyes throughout most of the book. It took me a couple days to read because I just didn't want it to end. I can say that this is one of the best books I've read in a long time. It's one of those books that you keep with you for a long time after you read it. It was just beautiful from dust jacket to turn of the last page.
I really felt for both of the main characters - Grace and Sam on so many different levels. Author Maggie Stiefvater did a great job bring the angst of what they were going through in just right amount. Neither character were to mushy or depressing and I thought it was pretty amazing how no matter how hard things were getting for Grace and Sam and all that they were up against that she (the author) never let the angst get to carried away and turn what was written so beautifully into a pity party.
This is one of those books that I'll be picking up over and over again to read. I'm looking forward to the next 2 installments with baited breath! Fall of 2010 is just way too long to wait for the next book Linger.
If you haven't read this yet, be sure to pick it up and fall in love with this story as easy as I did. You won't be disappointed in the slightest.
13 August 2009
Author: Lisa Mantchev
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
From: Purchased from Amazon
Synopsis: Enter Stage Right.
All her world's a stage.
Beatrice Shakespeare Smith is not an actress, yet she lives in a theater.
She is not an orphan, but she has no parents.
She knows every part, but has no lines of her own.
Until now.
Welcome to the Théâtre Illuminata, where the characters of every place ever written can be found behind the curtain. They were born to play their parts, and are bound to the Théâtre by The Book—an ancient and magical tome of scripts. Bertie is not one of them, but they are her family—and she is about to lose them all and the only home she has ever known.
Lisa Mantchev has written a debut novel that is dramatic, romantic, and witty, with an irresistible and irreverent cast of characters who are sure to enchant the audience.
Open Curtain.
Review: 5 Stars - I have to say that this book was enchanting from the first page until the last. As I continued to read Berties story I waited with each turn to see fairy dust fall from the books pages. I felt transported into the Theater from beginning to end.
Each Character was cleverly written and the four-pack of fairies had me laughing with each of their lines. The story and writing was a great change from the usual recipe of YA paranormal fiction, a recipe that worked on so many levels and left me wanting more. I look forward to the sequel(s) and to learn more about Bertie and her amazing cast of characters as they begin their next adventure.
I can say that the only thing I missed from about mid-book was pirate Nate. I hope he will be making further appearances in the next books to come as it was apparent that his story was far from over.
If you’re looking for something different, fun, funny, clever and lighthearted with some magic be sure to pick this book up and give it a read. You won't be disappointed in the slightest.
12 August 2009
Title: Werewolf Dreams
Author: M.M. Anderson
Publisher: Charles River Press, 314 pages (September 1, 2009)
From: Won from a Contest/Author
Synopsis: With the assistance of his boss and self-appointed police Sergeant guardian, Officer Seamus Sullivan is doing OK in his odd earthly afterlife, as long as he controls his Irish temper and adheres to lunar calendar work scheduling full moon days off, blue moon vacation time, and peaceful park duty. But OK becomes a KO when Seamus finally meets and falls paws over heels for the mysterious phantom woman who's been appearing at his werewolf kills.
Happily ever after? if only undead were that simple add to the macabre mayhem a cast of unforgettable characters: Claudia the feisty, bright and beautiful teenage Cuban clairvoyant, Claudia's baseball Bomber brother, a moldy reporter, a vengeful mama, a questionable priest, a zombie mayor, a gaggle of ghosts, a presidents son and a Confucius groupie. Put them all together and what do you get? You get Werewolf Dreams, a fiercely funny journey to the Darkside and back.
Review: I give Werewolf Dreams 3.5 stars (out of 5) and maybe even a little bit more . I found the story entertaining and a breath of fresh air from the normal werewolf stories out there. I was drawn right into the book as the characters were like able and the dialogue had an easy flow throughout.
I found the story take a refreshing course while reading, that you didn't know which fork in the road the characters were headed next. I give the author props for this being her first paranormal/paranormal romance book out there, and for what she's achieved with this first installment. She has laid a great foundation for future books in this new series and I for one, will be in the line to pick up the next book to see just where things will go next for our hero and heroine.