Rabid Reader

A bit late, Teaser Tuesday

2012-01-25T00:23:00.000-08:00

It's one of my boys' birthday (on Wednesday), but since he has to work that night, we celebrated his b-day on Tuesday....which meant the sis, the mom and dad (that would be me and the hubby) and two of the girlfriends and niece had dinner together while b-day boy and big brother were out getting a tattoo that was supposed to take just a couple hours; yet it ended up taking four hours long. Whatever - my granddaughter and I didn't wait to get into the cake...It was red velvet cake and it was getting later and later. So we ate some! :) B-day-Boy should have been here. LOL - they finally got here, ate their dinner and we served up the remaining cake. heehee I have to admit, I'm a little jealous about the tattoo though...

Now the night is over, everyone is out partying except the elders (us again) and the grandchild who ended up spending the night with us. This is nice because I didn't get her this weekend and I missed her. Although one of the side effects of not having her over the weekend, was that I had a lot more attention from my grandson. Usually they play together, and he doesn't want much to do with me, because I'm always making him blow his nose, wash his mouth and face, put his socks on, etc...but this last weekend I got so many spontaneous hugs from him that I was wondering if it was a doppelganger. :)

It is now time for my late Teaser Tuesday. I almost wasn't going to do it, but then ....well - here we are! Teaser Tuesday is hosted by MizB of ShouldBeReading and full guidelines are at her site.

This week, I'm posting two teasers

I'm reading three books - haven't yet focused on one of them yet - it's a side effect from my reading marathon of last week - I was so very focused on the last four Jill Kismet books that it's kind of hard to focus on anything else right now.

Trance by Kelly Meding (1st in new series)

page 15:

'Having superpowers rudely restored after a fifteen year disruption is a lot like childbirth; painful, beautiful, messy, and with lots of screaming. Unlike childbirth, superpower restoration was an event I just didn't see coming. I thought it was heartburn.'

Deadworld by J.N. Duncan

page 36:

'Jackie stared at the picture. It was the spitting image of Nick Anderson. "Wait a sec, that can't be right. That the same guy?" '

That's all I have tonight.....more later (more of what, I'm not sure, but more of something!)

I leave you with.....VAMPIRE CAT!

Rainy Monday rolls around....

2012-01-22T22:38:00.000-08:00

It's entirely possible that I'm becoming a bit obsessed with LOLCatz, but just look .... how can anyone help it? My three captions...(I'm not as inspired as some are)
it may be rainy, and a Monday... that doesn't mean we can't enjoy it! except for the dreary clouds, the wet rain (is there any other kind, but wet?) and the achy bones and muscles. But I did get a lot of reading done!

Time again for our favorite weekly blog/book meme - It's Monday, What Are You Reading? Hosted by Sheila of Book Journey.....

current reads:

for some reason, I'm not very excited about either of these....yet. Probably because I just finished a marathong reading of four books from a very well written series.

Whatever the reason, for some reason I've started with the third in a SciFi series (Kris Longknife, Defiant) by Mike Shepherd. It's okay, just not a commanding a read as a few other SciFi books I've read - Yet - but then I did just finish Saintcrow novels. Maybe I should find the first and start with that one. I also just started Deadworld by J.N. Duncan and even though I've barely started in on the third chapter, it's not grabbing my attention. Which is a shame, because it sounds interesting and just look at the cool and sexy woman with the huge....gun. LOL - Should be good, right? Except it's hard to picture an FBI agent wearing stilletto boots and chichi tank top like that, nevermind that I rarely see any police type women stretching along a building like that......Still like the cover though. I'm hoping that I end up liking this novel, I see that sequels are out - or at least book two is out, and book three most likely is coming.
just finished:
This is most likely why I'm not getting into the current reads. I've read four of the Jill Kismet series,** back to back - taking time out only to review Redemption Alley. Other than that review, I seriously went from the ending of one to the next. The only problem I had with this type of marathon reading is finding a couple of phrases or descriptions repeated in a couple of the books, but really - compared to the enjoyment factor that's small, even micro potatoes, right? Yep!

Flesh Circus, Heaven's Spite and finally ending the series with Angel Town....oh man, what a blast...literally. I should know better than to try to read other paranormal, or urban fantasy reads after reading a fave author, especially after reading four in a row from a fave author. After that, unless there's another fave author already lined up for reading, other books just kind of fade in comparison. It's like drinking fresh strawberry or cherry juice, then trying a sip of water. It's like eating a wonderful cheesecake and then taking a bit of a soda cracker. It's like spending a weekend with your grandchildren and then having a quiet day to yourself..(wait, that's actually a good thing, sometimes - haha). Whatever, I'm sure you get my point. I should be looking for a palate cleansing non urban fantasy or non sci fi book. It's the only way.
I believe I've just talked myself out of my current reads....nah - I'm going to concentrate on the Kris Longknife novel, even if it is the third. There's not a lot of info-dumping going on, so that's all good.

I found this pic on this page, is themed as a psych case study - go read it, it's pretty good
**a little grandchild note here - look at the covers of the Jill Kismet novels, and you'll see that Jill is represented with lines and a very white face, body. I noticed on the back of one of my Kismet novels, that Jills face had suddenly became very.....tanned. Her face was carefully colored in with a light brown marker....Since my grandson was the only person under 18 around the house this weekend, I asked him. He's three years old, by the way.

Me - Elliott, did you happen to color on grandma's book?

Elliott - yes. I made her pretty for you.

Me-....umm, thanks. (it was a pretty good job for a three year old - he stayed in the lines.) Oh boy! At least he did it for me, right? :)

Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch

2012-01-21T01:19:00.000-08:00

Rivers of London (aka Midnight Riot)

Ben Aaronovitch

Fantasy

******

cover- ummmm, I like the UK cover - if you see it up close, it's a map of London, with waterways and streets, etc. You can't really judge this book by the cover, though. By the cover, it could be any type of book; featuring London and water, maybe? I like it because it's different. Now the U.S. cover.....I don't like it. At all. It's too...I don't really know why I don't like it, I just don't. In fact, I almost bought this book quite a few times, and ended up putting it down, probably because of the cover. But then I received this gift of the UK version and....

OMG, I enjoyed this book SOOOOO much. I enjoyed the characters, the character's voice (first person), the plot, the self-deprecating humor, the snarks about London and British people in general (by the author from Britain, no less - good humor) and I enjoyed the twists and turns this novel took. Rivers of London is an all 'round enjoyable read. I started it and finished it within two days (with the usual grandchildren and sleep breaks) Hell, even Aaronovitch's bio is funny and interesting even though according to him he "had the kind of dull childhood that drives a person to drink, radical politics or science fiction". How can you not enjoy writing from a person who writes this about himself?

Peter Grant is a constable in London's police force, and on one of his last nights as a probationary constable, he's guarding a murder site when a corporeally challenged person approaches him with information about the murder. Information that is validated later with video from the street cameras. He also meets an interesting man in passing that turns out to be a detective, one who asks for him specifically to work with. This begins a new and challenging chapter in Peter's life.

One of the other things I like about Peter's character - besides his humor and the narrative voice, is that he is a mixed race character. In the novel, he not only notes all the different races he's taken for, but there are lot's of interesting tidbits about growing up with an immigrant African mother - and all that entails. Some of that reminded me of growing up with my own immigrant mom and all that entailed. It's special - nothing quite like it. Unlike other books where the character is of mixed race, mentioned at the beginning of the book and practically no where else, with Peter Grant's character you get lots of little tidbits througout the book, whether it's small mentions of him mom, her temper, or when to walk away from an African woman who is angry or whether it's the differing ways that he himself is treated - the whole reading experience was interesting and gave me a few chuckles. Some of it I related to, and some of it probably only another part African, part other race person can relate to.

The story itself kept me engaged, with the twists and turns. Not only was Peter trying to help solve some at first unrelated murders, but he is also learning to use magic with his new detective supervisor. And there's this live-in housekeeper who never, ever talks...And then there's this dog...and then there's his friend...

The dialogue - the dialogue was great. Each character sounded like a real person. I love when all the characters do NOT sound like each other (like every single actor on Gray's Anatomy all talk in the same voice - in the same voice. Repeating the same last few words. The last few words. For emphasis. To emphasize that they're trying to HAMMER INTO YOUR HEAD...in the same tone, the same rhythym {I love the way rhythym is spelled, by the way}, the SAME rhythym. Have you ever really LISTENED to the characters speak in Gray's Anatomy? Have you HEARD them speak?) I might have went off a little there, just a little. A little bit. LOL.

Back to the review. The book was good. You should read it, whether you get the UK cover with the map on it, or the boring U.S. cover - it's the inside of the book that counts. Now I'm going to order the sequel with the UK cover, 'cause it's way better than the U.S. cover, again. Way better. It's BETTER. Ben Aaronovitch has also written screenplays (probably why he's good at dialogue) for shows like DOCTOR WHO. sigh.

Thanks, McLeod - for giving me this book - I loved it. I loved it.

A book I might buy in March...

2012-01-21T00:45:00.001-08:00

I was cruising my blog list, when I came across this blog (Katie's Book Blog) where she posted a variation of Waiting On Wednesday, or Books to Pine for memes...
Anyway, in her list of books she's been waiting for is this new book by Gina Damico. The blurb was pretty interesting and I kind of like the cover - girl looks downright sassy there. But even on Damico's website, I couldn't find an excerpt. Thankfully, I checked Barnes & Noble and LO......there was a pretty good length excerpt. I have to say, even though I'm not a huge Young Adult reader, I think I want to get this. It seems like it's going to be an interesting, humor filled book about town of grim reapers. yup. it's gonna be interesting.
Book comes out March 20, 2012

Redemption Alley by Lilith Saintcrow - review

2012-01-19T23:05:00.000-08:00

Redemption Alley
Lilith Saintcrow
Jill Kismet #3
dark urban fantasy
******
cover - I'm going to admit here, that I read Saintcrow's Dante Valentine series, started it when Working For the Devil first came out - so the first two of that series I have with the original (#1) and original cover #2 ; then the third and rest of them came out in a new style - reminiscent of this cover, only the main color was red (and white). I was a fan of the original cover style, but have to admit that the newer covers and this series' cover are both original. Having said that, I do like the covers of this series - the overall blue tone (blue being my favorite color ever) and the general feel of the cover. It also helps (for me) that the first book in Jill Kismet came out in the same cover theme that the last book has, so it's all a good look. but click on the above two links (the originals) and tell me - aren't those some cool covers?
blurb via GoodReads; 'When her police contact asks her to look into a "suicide", she suddenly finds herself in a labyrinth of deception, drugs, murder -- and all-too-human corruption. The cops are her allies, except for the ones who want her dead. The hellbreed are her targets, except for the ones who might know what's going on.'
Well, what can I say here that hasn't been said before? Maybe... combine Lilith Saintcrow's brain, some ink and paper, a kick-ass character, and some crazed hellish villains and you have a book that's an intense reading ride. All of the books that I've so far read by her have been enjoyable reads, and she does not shy away from doing horrible things to her characters. But with each book, I've found a strange combination of almost poetical writing and horror story aspects - it's like your nightmare by a lyricist. Like your worst nightmare written to a beautiful melody. (haha - that's as poetic or lyrical as I'll ever get. just pops out once in a blue moon) In other words, it's hell-a-fun in a kind of heart pounding way. Redemption Alley is right up there - even surpasses some of her other works for sheer action. Jill Kismet starts out the book in a fight and rescue and doesn't get one break until the the book has ended. I might have rolled my eyes at the sheer non-stop action with other writers or characters - really, how much can one person take? But somehow, it's just fun for me to read the complete mayhem that's Jill Kismet's life, trying incessantly to fight off the hellspawn and evil doings in her city while trying not to go over the edge herself. Saintcrow can take a plot and make you feel like you're right in the middle of everything, seeing, hearing and smelling what's going on. She's able to write a story that in other hands would be melodramatic, but in her words and style I enjoyed every minute of the chaos that Jill Kismet is fighting.

**If you haven't read any of the novels, there might be a couple of minor spoilers for the previous two books**

For this chapter in Kismet's life, Saul (her were-kitty, or cougar) is out of town, so even though she's just gotten used to having Saul as backup (and tried to fight the attraction in the previous story) she's feeling the lack of her man. And her hell-strength donor, Perry is being strangely quiet and cooperative, or cooperative quiet, so she's a little creeped out and suspicious of him.

**end of possible minor spoilers**

As the blurb says, there are police officers and others dropping like flies. Sudden deaths and suicides. Monty, her main police contact asks her to check out a former partner's death,an apparent suicide, on the down low. Something doesn't feel right to him. So against her better judgement she agrees, even though it's not a paranormal event - it's a mundane thing. Seems like the moment she agrees to this, things go from bad to worse. Suddenly more people are dying and someone is trying to murder her. Everywhere she goes, it seems she has to deal with an attack that's more than the usual - these are serious attempts on her life, and if it weren't for her extra hell-strength (via Perry) she would have died a few times. As it is, it slows her down a bit, and seriously pisses her off. Might piss me off too, I guess - must suck when people try to kill you over and over. (Glad we don't have to go through that, right?) Since someone seems to know where she's going, she suddenly can't even trust the police, the people who are usually there when she needs them.

An interesting new character is introduced when Jill makes a visit to the barrio, to try to question one of the local gangs. Not a very likeable guy, but someone who just might continue to make an appearance in the series? maybe. There are also some repeat appearances by the weres of the city - I like the way Saintcrow describes them - the way they act when Jill is hurt, and homey they are in general.

Reading a Lilith Saintcrow book is never a happy ever after experience - but even so, there's enough good things that happen (even if it's not obviously, ecstatically good at first) that I'm not depressed after reading a book by her. There've been books that seem to be such downers, that I can feel myself sinking into the depths of despair while reading. (tried to read some Ann Rice books and they were sooo damned bleak...) I think that the combination of the characters' fighting spirits and the overall attitude of people in her books make you feel that even though you know things can explode in a hot minute, there's also people fighting for the greater good - so overall, you feel like there's a thin thread of hope buried in all the chaos that's going on in the Kismet books. (that was a very long sentence - thank goodness this isn't for a grade, lol) So while Saintcrow doesn't necessarily give out HEA endings, she does write satisfying endings to her books. They work.

Next in the series is Flesh Circus.

Lilith Saintcrow also writes under the name Lili St.Crow (Strange Angels, YA series) and Anna Beguine (I haven't read these yet)

Stanley's Wild Ride

2012-01-18T02:32:00.000-08:00

I hardly ever post about children's picture books. I read so many in the course of a week, that I usually forget them. Sometimes, one really stands out though.

Stanley's Wild Ride by Linda Bailey is one of those books that just stand out.

Today, during library time with a group of first graders, (I'm a library tech at a k-8th school) I read it out loud to them. Now, when they were in Kindergarden some of them heard the same book from the same person (me) but I told them - it's one of my favorites, so we're going to read it again. They were game.

It's a very fun book to read aloud. Stanley is a bored little dog, who gets loose from his yard, helps his friends get loose and they all go on a wild run.

There is howling, riding "things" down a hill, careening around corners, and eventually crashing into a yard.

The narration is wonderful, making you picture Stanley and the dogs.

Very fun book with a wonderful moral at the end - not your typical moral lesson, either. This woman is funny.

Very fun to read out loud

Very fun to howl with the story...

I had those kids laughing and almost rolling in the library.

It was great.

If you like children's books with a sense of humor, you're going to have fun with this one.

I'm going to check it out (or maybe buy it) for my grandchildren, because I think this is a great one to read on a wild Saturday Night!

Linda Bailey has another book out featuring Stanley that I've read - titled Stanley's Party. It's about a dog party gone wrong (reminds of those news reports of when teens take over a house for a party when the parents are away). In fact, while browsing Bailey's website, I see that there are quite a few Stanley books - I need to get a hold of them. We only have two in our school library. If anyone wants to donate to a little charter school.....

we don't have (yet)

Stanley at Sea

Stanley's Beauty Contest

Stanley's Little Sister

Judging by the the first two books, these other three have got to be hilarious. I love when a childrens' book author is able to write a book that leaves children gasping for air because they laughed so hard. I love it when I'm enjoying reading a book so much that I have to control my own laughter.

It's great!
If you have children, grandchildren or even feel like donating a good book to a worthy (or even unworthy, the kids need it) school - keep in mind these Stanley books by Linda Bailey.

oh boy

2012-01-18T00:38:00.001-08:00

It's a good thing that not many people actually READ my posts, because what I'm going to say here probably isn't going to agree with a lot of bloggers, and some authors - well....

The other night I wasted quite a few hours reading some posts about a flame war between authors and bloggers regarding reviews and answers to reviews. I'm not going to post any links, because really - enough has been said. I just feel the need to put in my two cents, for whatever that's worth now (not much, lol) - this is just some things I've noticed over the last few years, and especially the last couple of weeks.

First of all, I know that some authors have gotten very, very nasty in response to some bad reviews. This is - to put it mildly - a bit rude.

Second, I've also read a couple of author responses that I didn't feel were quite so awful, and yet a few responders got a little snarky with them. This is a bit rude on the part of the responders; authors have a right to their opinions also, hopefully they're sane about the way they respond. Although I do agree with some of the sage advice by some wise ones that it's probably ....no, it IS NOT a good idea to respond to volatile posts about your books....some bloggers can handle a well thought out, considerate answer, but if you're responding to an all out crazed review of your book, you are definitely not going to get a sane and considerate response to your comments.

Thirdly - some of the examples of reviews I've read the last few weeks - Jesus! there I was feeling sorry for some of the bloggers about being ripped to shreds by a certain author ....until I read the reviews. The reviews were very sarcastic and...hell - really! what did that person expect? when you write a purposefully volatile, juicy, extremely rude review (warranted or not) you're going to get some flack about it.

Now I've gotten a little snarky a couple of times about a few things in a book, but I've never tried to be rude. I would be horrified to know that I might have actually offended someone's feelings. I'm not talking about feelings regarding their book - but I'm talking about unnecessary roughness while reviewing. I've made my share of fun about a certain Vampire Slayer's author, I admit...and that's the worse I've ever been. No good excuse, but I had my reasons and I think I was much gentler than many have been to this mostly infuriating piece of work - and I've stopped reading that particular series. In my weak defense, I was extremely disappointed after paying lots of cash for ...well, that's enough of that. I'm not proud of everything I've ever written about a certain writer, but I'm not going to personally attack her on Goodreads.

Of the rest of my reviews, I try to be considerate, and while I might make a joke or two about how much blood a character bled in one book (enjoyed the book, but was amazed at the blood loss), or about how much certain body parts throb in some books, but this is not meant to humiliate an author - it's meant to just have a chuckle and move on.

But really - if you're a blogger who makes a point of writing extremely snarky reviews, then don't act all butt-hurt if you get an irritated reply. Don't dish it out if you can't take it.

And if you're an author who is going to write rude things to a blogger - no matter what they said about your book - then don't be surprised and butt-hurt that they slam you in their comments. The strange and contrary thing about human beings (and there are a lot of barely sane humans on the internet) is that we all like to feel like our dignity is intact - no matter how we may have shredded someone else's dignity. Sensible, no - Contrary, yes. Human.

When I read an extremely rude review I don't pay a lot of attention to it. There are some snarky reviews that I get a laugh out of, but that doesn't mean I agree with the reviewer. Those are the posts that remind me of those comedians that totally embarrass an audience - FOR LAUGHS. And when a review excels at snarky reviews without putting down the author - then it's enjoyable. After all - what if (gasp!) the author MEANT to write about a mary-sue type of character who makes silly decisions? You don't have to enjoy it, you don't have to like it. I've stopped reading books because the dialog doesnt match the characters - my perogative (wonder if I spelled that right, but not enought to LOOK it UP, lol), but I'm not going to annihilate the author's feelings and put them down for it. Just not my "cuppa".

But as a blogger - even a not very ambitious blogger - I'm a little ashamed of reading the extremely rude, put down reviews that some reviewers write (both professional and amateur - some of those pros are downright NASTY).

Add in the explosive answers and you really have a mess on your hands. It's entertaining in a trainwreck sort of way, but doesn't make me respect any of the participants - other than the few voices of reason that usually get drowned out in the flame wars.

Even a bad review gives a book some notice, and pleasant or not - as long as the reviewer is not actually personally insulting the writer - has as much validity as a good review. Because with all the different personalities there are out there, there is no way that we're all going to like all the same books for all the same reasons. It's impossible. One man's garbage is another's treasure. One reviewer might just completely hate a book that really speaks to another reader.

There have been times when I've been tempted to just rip into a book that I had to force myself to finish - but in the long run, I don't want to ruin an author's day. I don't want to be the person that made an author feel completely like shit just because i didn't like her/his book. If it's that bad (according to me) I just won't finish it. I might give a reason - but that's all it is...my reason. Which brings to my mind something else that has been getting to me a bit...

Maybe I'm an idiot, but there are some review catch phrases that I just don't get, either:

"I couldn't connect to the character" - Really? you couldn't connect to a demon slayer/vampire hunter/werewolf/woman turned into -insert being-? Wow. Of course not - because YOU AREN'T ONE OF THOSE BEINGS!

"the actions weren't logical" - yeah - maybe not to you, but to the character who is going through some paranormal shit, or who has grown up in a completely batshit family - yeah, we don't always behave in a logical manner or make logical choices....just look at the world around you. Millions of different brains processing things in a million different scenarios. See a lot of real logic? all the time? I don't. Don't like illogical choices in books? That's okay. It's fine with me, I can read it just for the story, whether I like the actions or not, as long as the narration is good and the dialog works.

"cardboard characters" - I've never understood that phrase. because I've met people who could be those 'cardboard" people.

"I didn't like the main character" - it's a story. Some stories are about unlikeable people. Some stories are about people who aren't goody-two-shoes. Some stories are about downright evil people. And some stories are about people that are probably like you and me, whether we can admit it or not - we're not completely evil or good, just kind of in between. We can be good, but do bad things.....(or is that just me?) Actually - if you didn't like the character that's okay, but how was the book? Was the story interesting? Did interesting things happen? Was the dialog believable?

That's just some of the review phrases that I don't "get". Especially when a book that I think is great gets points taken off because someone couldn't connect with the character, or didn't like the choices....and that brings us back around to - there's many a book out there for everyone, but not every single books is for every single person.

But then I've never tried to say that I'm anything but a reader. I read books. I read books for the story, not for how I think a story should be written, but to experience the story that was written by the person who wrote it. And if there's anything that I've taken away from my extreme disappointment in a certain someone's writing 180 turnaround, it's when to admit that it's okay to walk away from a series, it's okay not to like a series, and it's fine when some series change a bit - keeps it fresh. It's all in how much you might enjoy a particular storyline.

Back to the extremely crazed communications that have gone on back and forth - Shame on all of them - bloggers and writers who both participated and didn't step away from their computers when they were in a snit. Shame. If you wrote an inflammatory review where you totally made fun of the author, the story and then GOT UPSET BECAUSE IT BOTHERED THE AUTHOR - Get a grip, relax, and go read something you like. Let the other shit go. And if an author thought it was a good idea to get on a reviewer's blog and write insults and question their intelligence - shame on you too. Don't be surprised when everyone on the the site attacks you.

You get what you put in.

To all the authors who take good and bad reviews in stride - congratulations. For all of you who work so hard at putting out a book, who understand that not everyone is going to like that book - Good for you. For those of you who read both the bad and the good reviews and simply thank the reader for giving it a try - You are an amazing person. There are people who respect and enjoy your work as well as your graciousness (even if secretly you're butt-hurt)

For all of the bloggers who write insightful reviews, even if some of it might contain some snark without being hurtful - thanks for your reviews, it's good to get another opinion, even if it doesn't agree with my opinion.

And if you're one of the bloggers who write snarky yet fun reviews, and can take it when someone disagrees with you - WONDERFUL! It's good to read from mature people

haha - after all, you can't help it if you're wrong!

I just wish that people would remember that no matter what - there are so many things wrong with the world, why are we adding to the over all stress? I'm not perfect by any stretch of the imagination - but I'm trying to make an effort to be considerate in my daily life and that includes complete strangers on blogs.

laugh links

2012-01-17T01:55:00.001-08:00

There have apparently been some flaming going on in the review world. But putting a positive and extremely funny spin on things are these posts by Meljean Brook (there are five posts in this series, read them all and the comments - serious fun!) and a followup by SmartBitches (they use LOL cats - which of course, I love). I first saw the Meljean post from this LJ post.

I've lurked around on Meljean Brook's website before, but haven't lately. I'm glad I went there tonight, because I got a lot of laughs there - hella funny.

Teaser Tuesday

2012-01-16T23:04:00.000-08:00

I love the lolcatz website. I could spend a lot of time over there, and I've even been inspired enough to caption three cat pics. Not this one. I am always laughing and impressed with what other people come up with for the captions; I can't resist posting some when blogging also. I also found out (it's been there a while, but I just started checking it out last night) some of their other sites - like FailBlog, LolDogs, and other funny places.
But it is now Teaser Tuesday time - time to tease you with the one (yes, I'm only reading one book this week....well - there's the book that is in the bathroom, but let's not talk about that...wait - let's talk about it. I have a special little stepstool-turned-minitable just for things like books. Hey sometimes you just have to relax in there, y'know? Yeah - I just went there.) Anyway, ahem....Tuesday Teaser is hosted by MizB of ShouldBeReading. Guidelines are there, but basically tease us with your two lines from a book you're reading.

I'm mainly focusing on one novel this week, and that's the one the teaser is coming from.

Lilith Saintcrow's fourth Jill Kismet novel is Flesh Circus. I am enjoying this read, as I've enjoyed pretty much anything I've read by Lilith Saintcrow.
from page 158:

'I eased out of cover. Crossed the street trying not to feel like the house was watching me approach.
Trying not to feel lured.'

shiver worthy, isn't it? :) Saintcrow can write some dark urban fantasy, that's for sure.

Tease back, now!

Contest Winner!!

2012-01-16T22:38:00.001-08:00

I'm one day overdue on my contest winner announcement

but, here it is....

Chosen by the scientific and timetested method of names written on pieces of paper and drawn by a person who didn't even know what was going on - the winner is.....................Barbara E.

Barbara has been notified by e-mail and has a week to respond. She wins a copy of The Bitter Seed of Magic by Suzanne McLeod and an e-copy of Doc the Vampire Hunting Dog by J.A. Campbell.

Congratulations Barbara!

Thanks everyone, for entering. I might do this again within a few months.

review link

2012-01-16T01:53:00.000-08:00

I sometimes read a blog by this very funny woman who's a retired teacher. When I need a good laugh, I go lurk on her blog. However, today I came across a review by her. She doesn't usually do book reviews, but this book really impressed her, and it sounds like a good one -

The blog is Wrestling With Retirement

The book is Black Boy, White School and her review is here - go on and take a peek.

Here's Monday...

2012-01-15T21:55:00.000-08:00

Ever feel like this? kind of pissed, awful, confused and "what the HELL are you doin' to me" kind of way? It's the way I feel once in a while, LOL - especially for a few days last week, but all better now. The bath is over, and feelin' calmer now. haha (metaphorically speaking)

It's Monday, What Are You Reading - a favorite weekly meme hosted by Sheila of Book Journey is here again! (it bein' Monday, an' all) This, of course means that we've all survived another week, some of us barely, but still - we're here. (and glad to be here - never doubt that). I finally was able to actually finish a book. I think I went two weeks without being able to finish. I thought at first it was because of Winter Break (which used to be called Christmas Vacation) but now I realize, after having given up on two books week before last, that I was a bit bored with what I was reading. because once I picked up a Lilith Saintcrow book, I finished it in a couple days (with breaks for work and sleep). So the book drought is over. For now.

Finished this past week:

Redemption Alley by Lilith Saintcrow (writer of the Strange Angel's YA series) = and man, was it a kick ass book. Loved reading it.

Then I dove right into reading Ben Aaronovitch's Rivers of London, or titled here in the States, Midnight Riot. I'm happy to have the UK version from a friend, and I have to say if you haven't read this one yet - go get it if you can, it's soooo good. I had a lot of chuckles throughout and loved the character.

currently reading

As soon as I finished the other two, I picked up Flesh Circus by Lilith Saintcrow - picked it right up from my TBR pile, where it's been since it was released. Reading Lilith Saintcrow's novels is always an adventure, and being able to dive back into this series was so much fun for me. It's dark, dark urban fantasy - but love reading it.

by the way - Winner of my teeny tiny contest will be announced tomorrow, instead of tonight. Misjudged the weekend, Grandchildren time.

Tuesday Teaser

2012-01-10T02:06:00.000-08:00

LOLCatz - always good for a laugh when you need a laugh. :)

Well, we've all survived another Monday. I should stop complaining because this might be my last year working, so I should just suck it up and actually *GASP* ENJOY the Monday.......nah! Mondays are Mondays. Hard to handle after a weekend. No matter what.
Putting aside the whole Monday thing, at least they lead into TUESDAYS! Which leads to Teaser Tuesdays, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. picking a random page (except I usually just go with the page I'm reading) pick two sentences at random (yeah, I try to find something interesting at least) and tease is with the two sentences (oops - I usually post more). Full guidelines are available at ShouldBeReading, but most importantly - no spoilers, right?

I recently switched over to Redemption Alley by Lilith Saintcrow. Love her writing. This is the third in the Jill Kismet series about a Hunter. a hunter of bad things.

page 9

' She cowered, gibbering. I didn't blame her. If I was a civilian I'd probably do the same. So I just stayed where I was, in an easy crouch, listening to the burning as the sirens drew closer.

Goddamn, I think I can count this one a win.'

How about another LOL Cat? for laughs. :)

Me too, kitty - Me Too.

It's Monday, and I almost forgot to post this

2012-01-09T03:30:00.000-08:00

Really - I seriously almost forgot to post this. Between an increase in pain in my arms and back; Showtime's free on Demand that seemed to shut down early on Sunday night; and Grandchildren having storytime and bedtime rituals, I seriously didn't even think about posting anything.

Not looking forward to going back to work after a very relaxing Winter (used to be Christmas) break - but time marches on, and must pay the rent.

Hosted by Sheila of Book Journey - here is where we get to see what others are reading, and share what we're reading or in my case NOT finishing.

sigh...

full guidelines at Book Journey
no links tonight - if I'm feeling more up to it, I'll link author sites later on Monday

gave up on
both of these books
for similar and yet different reasons (does that make a lot of sense? nope)
Stardoc started out much more interesting and bogged down severely in the middle, and I don't feel like wasting anymore time on it - especially since this was my second attempt. Too bad, thought I would enjoy it.
Blood of Eden is a book I might return to - but in the first 100 pages I found quite a few inconsistancies - not in story ideas, but just in formatting or rather continuity. I don't even know if that's the right word. I usually don't judge a writer on the why's or what's of their story, after all it's their story, with their characters and to me things don't always have to make logical sense, but boredom was included in this - off and on. Parts were interesting and parts were seriously blahhed.

Which meant that I could - with a totally clear book-reading conciense go to Redemption Alley, which I am
reading - reading for Just For Fun Challenge
It's been on my TBR pile for over two years, since 2009 I think...wow. just wow.

So now that the series has officially ENDED, I have the whole rest of the series here, waiting for me to dive into. I read the first two, time for the third.

After finishing Redemption Alley, I might read Rivers of London
it's one of the books that I received from a friend in the last two weeks. I received another book from another friend, but I haven't downloaded the cover, and right now, my brain isn't working. I can't remember if I had the first and she sent me the second, or I had the second and she sent me the first. The pleasures of having a perimenopausal brain - wreaks havoc with the memory.

Also - my apologies, a lately remembered post also means post without an LOL cat. Really, the only reason I was able to do this, was because I happened to start the post while posting the other night and saved it to drafts.....

Okay ladies and possible men readers - have a good Monday!

this and that, beaches and books

2012-01-07T00:07:00.001-08:00

I know that I had mentioned that I wasn't going to pressure myself by joining any book reading challenges...but I forgot about this one, it's so low-key...

Dollycas of Escape with Dollycas Into a Good Book is hosting a reading challenge over on Goodreads. The challenge is the Just For Fun Reading Challenge, and you can click on the icon above to see more information about it. If you're tempted to sign up, it's open to new members until January 31st. It's pretty low-key; still, the only reason I'm doing it {remember, I promised myself not to join any more challenges because I end up failing pretty much all of them after the initial glow of signing up wears off} is because the goal of the challenge is to read one book a month just for fun. Now I pretty much do this anyway - but the catch is, to pick a book from your TBR stacks. Pick a book that's been sitting on your stacks or piled into a corner, or shoved in a bookshelf, or....well you get the point, I'm sure - anyway - to pick a book that's been in your TBR whatever for a very long time. Hell, I've had Redemption Alley by Lilith Saintcrow sitting here waiting for me to read ever since it came out. It's been so long that she's written three more books in the series since them. In fact, the sixth book is the final book. I love Lilith Saintcrow's writing, also. I've read her complete Strange Angels series (young adult - one of the few YA book writers I read)

So you can see that this is a very good challenge indeed for me. Just pick a book from my shelf full of novels that have been waiting for me to read.

I have this issue with buying books and I tend to mostly put them all in one area, but there are a few that I've LOST. I'm serious. I know I've bought them, and they are not anywhere that I can see them. :( Of course, I do have grandchildren who are allowed to get into my shelves with no restrictions. I don't believe in steering books away from kids - and even though they aren't even close to reading chapter books {much less urban fantasy or horror books, *g*} they've always been allowed to carry them around, and just look at the covers or pretend that they can read. We're so weird, I think. However, the downside of this decision is that if I'm not losing a book on my own, then it's been lost by one of my grandbabies. All my fault.

Anyway, I'm currently reading a debut novel by Tami Dane called Blood of Eden - such a melodramatic title, but then most book titles in the paranormal, urban fantasy genres do have melodramatic names. I'm closer to reading Redemption Alley by the hour, because I'm getting so frustrated reading Blood of Eden that I want to put it aside. Which would be a shame, because to have to stop reading the second book I've started for 2012 feels wrong. Then again, when I found out just how sick I am {here would be a good spot for some emo music, right? a song about a brave *g*, optimistic, slightly crazed, sometimes cranky lady who barrels through life! *g*}, I decided to no longer waste any time on books that aren't pulling me into the story, and this one is so far balancing me on the fence dividing the total waste and could be interesting areas of books. Sigh - that metaphor, or whatever those are called didn't work out that well, did it? My point is, I'm not feeling it - yet it seems like it might be a good read...but there's things that don't match, weird ....well, save it for the review. It's just that Blood of Eden seemed so promising, and it really could be an outstanding books, except...hopefully I'll feel like giving it another go later one, but I've decided to stop for now. Yup, going to go dig out my Redemption Alley book and see how that grabs me.

and now......

the beach
My poor husband has been off of work for months because he hurt his back. He's used to working 40 hour work weeks, and used to working hard. I've been trying to tell him that he doesn't need to do all the physical work, and he needs to let some of the younger men do more of the heavy lifting, but he's in his fifties, and fifty five year old working in retail sometimes has to hold on to the job by the skin of their teeth. Of course, he ended up with a back injury - which is such a horrible thing to have to deal with - the type of pain you get with a back injury is so strange and awful - the pain that radiates out from the spine to various places in your body, etc. And the minute you start to feel better, to actually do something - bam! there is goes again. So the man has been doing his daily walking, trying to do physical therapy and all the excercises at home like he's supposed to - and is just starting to feel a little more normal (ha! until he tries to do something like sit on a bar stool, walk up steps, get ...ahem... - things have changed) So anyway - long story shorter, he has been going slowly insane, being stuck at home with no money, bored out of his mind. He's not a book reader like we are. So today, he decides that we're going to take the grandchildren to the beach. So he goes to pick up the granddaughter hours earlier than she normally goes and this ends up to be the ONE weekend that the grandson's mom doesn't bring him over early in the morning. So we just took the granddaughter. And our daughter-in-law A(they've been living together for so long, they might as well be married- my youngest son and his g.f.) She wasn't doing anything this morning so we grabbed her up. The granddaughter was extremely excited.

This picture is titled "Little Demon makes a Sand Angel - how ironic"
Really, our little grand-demon, er daughter was so excited, she was having a very hard time listening to grandma. Until I told her all about how when little girls get sucked into the ocean (this is the pacific coast - treacherous waves) it's so cold, that first you have a lot of pain, then you can't breath, then you are frozen and in pain and you drown and DIE! Sometimes it's necessary to be very dramatic when speaking with your grandchild. VERY dramatic; she listened a little better after that, but it was still a little crazed. She behaved a lot better when it was just her uncle and me with her.

This picture is titled Lili-Baby. Doesn't she just look like a little angel? Don't be fooled, *g* She can be very sweet, though.

The girls {the little one and the daughter in law} played around with the water a bit, did a little sand castle building - though that activity didn't last very long, since the granddaugher was a little too hyper for it. Then came the running. Running back and forth between gramps and us.

AJ and I relaxing for a very short time. Best picture I've had taken of me for a long time (I don't do good pics, always look weird in them) It was actually a pretty nice day at the beach for a winter day. The temperature was on the cool side, it was windy, but there was no fog and the sun was shining - probably the only thing that made the weather nice. Usually it's bitterly cold at the beach in the winter. We didn't stay very long though, because after playing in the waves and getting wet and sandy, the granddaughter suddenly became extremely cold - to the point where she started to cry - she was so cold.

I had thought to bring extra clothes with her, and a thin blanket. We were sitting on a thick blanket and I had taken off my jacket because women my age have hot flashes even at the beach. So I wrapped a blanket around Lily while I was slowly and strategically removing wet clothing and replacing with warm, dry clothes - except her legs were covered with wet sand, and her hands were so cold she was crying even more. So I took a break on trying to change her pants - just took the wet ones off, covered her in the blanket, wrapped my coat around her, put my gloves on her hands, tucked her hands up inside my shirt, put my hat on her and then started making all kinds of whoops and OH SO Cold! about her freezing little hands. Then she started laughing and after just sitting all wrapped up in my lap AJ and I were able to get the warm dry clothes on her and a dry jacket. My plan was to get her in warm dry clothes and let her play a little bit longer, maybe just sit and watch the amazing frothy white waves breaking over the huge rocks in the ocean - but my husband started packing things up and next thing I knew we were halfway to the car, then IN the car. The husband was wondering why we wanted to leave so early and I said, I though YOU wanted to leave, we were just getting Lily dry and warmed up! nothing like communication! so we went to the salt water taffy store (there's probably one at every coast) and bought flavored taffy. Yummy.

We're leaving the beach - a little sad..

And now, we just left the Salt Water Taffy store - Bodega Bay - so happy!

Video Share for you - The Black Keys - Tighten Up [Official Music Video]

2012-01-05T00:31:00.000-08:00

I first heard of this group from my youngest son (I say that like he's a little boy - my youngest son is going to be 24 years old now) We share a love of music, often we like the same groups, although I think he is open to a wider variety than I am. Anyway, this particular song has almost been ruined by being on commercials - you'll recognize some of it. But I love the video, and the song itself is pretty damned good.

enjoy

Waiting On Wednesday

2012-01-04T17:21:00.001-08:00

I know I'm going to get tired of typing this (I'm not a very ambitious blogger, to be honest) - but...Don't forget to enter the Happy Book B-Day contest. Up for grabs is J.A. Campbell's newly released novella {Doc, The Vampire Hunting Dog - love it, a story from the dog's point of view} and Suzanne McLeod's newly U.S. released The Bitter Seed of Magic - #3 of Spellcrackers.com series {which I read already and loved very much} To enter - simply post a link to this contest and enter in the comments there.

I haven't done a Waiting On Wednesday post in like...forever, it seems. But there are a couple of books that are coming up soon that I really want to read. One is a sequel, and the other will be the fourth in a series. Waiting on Wednesday is a blogger opportunity to post a bit about books we're waiting to read and to possibly discover from other blogs other books that are soon to be released. This meme is a fun way (along with It's Monday What Are You Reading? and Teaser Tuesdays) to learn about other books you might not otherwise have noticed. Hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine, the Waiting On Wednesday meme is a weekly event {though some of us don't post quite so regularly *g* }

First up is The Shifting Price of Prey. I hear from a very good source that it's going to be a bit longer than the other three - which makes me happy. Written by Suzanne McLeod, #4 in the Spellcrackers.com series.
from the book blurb "Sometimes a bit of magical help might cost more than you bargained for . . .
London is hosting the Carnival Fantastique, and Genny's job has never been busier or more fulfilling. Only not everyone is so happy. The fae are in trouble again and Genny learns the mysterious Emperor may have the solution they need – if Genny can find him.

Genny needs help. She turns to the vampire, Malik al-Khan, only to find he’s wrestling with his own demons. Genny’s own problems are about to multiply too. An old flame arrives with a tragic situation, just as the police request her urgent assistance with a magical kidnap. Is it all unconnected, or can the Emperor help her solve more than the fae’s troubles? " oh yeah, this is going to be good. :) Coming to UK stores in June 2012 - only six more months to go. Of course the U.S. release will be later, but I rarely wait for the U.S. release (being more than happy to spoil myself *g* The Book Depository is great for those of us who don't want to wait for U.S. releases )
One of the other books I see coming out soon is The Wood Queen {Young Adult fantasy}by Karen Mahoney. I haven't visited her blog as much as I should have lately, because I've been very lazy - and game obsessed. But I see that her sequel to The Iron Witch is coming out in February 2, 2012. Blurb from her website - "To keep her best friend, Navin, from being killed at the hands of vicious wood elves, Donna Underwood stole the elixir of life. Now she’s facing an alchemist tribunal while her mother lies dying, succumbing to the elven curse that shattered her mind. In desperation, Donna seeks an audience with Aliette, the fierce and manipulative Wood Queen, who offers a deal: if Donna can use her strange and burgeoning powers to help the wood elves, Aliette will free her mother from the curse.
Along with Navin and Xan, the half-fey guy she’s falling for, Donna struggles to unlock the secrets of her iron tattoos in time to save her mother’s life. But some secrets are better left untold… " Karen Mahoney is a fairly new author in Britain. Her first published work was in an anthology titled Eternal Kiss {2009} and her story was one of the stories I liked the best. While the anthology was being published, she'd been working on The Iron Witch, which was published last year and she's been working hard ever since. She has two other books coming out in the future and I'm looking forward to reading The Wood Queen and the others.
Looking forward to seeing what everone else is waiting to read.

In the meantime, here's another New Year's LOLCatz

Happy New Years, Everyone

May we all find laughter, love and enjoyment in our daily lives. Most of all, may we all try to bring laughter, love and enjoyment to others

(within reason of course! *g*)

Teaser Tuesdays

2012-01-02T22:44:00.000-08:00

Contest reminder - celebrating two book b-days and the New Year

Enter by clicking here

It's Easy!

Monday was sooooo cold - brrrrr. Glad it's over in a way - but then I'm also feeling like the vacation is flying by. In a cold, cold way...BRRRRRR
It's time again for Teaser Tuesday. I have to admit that I've been a slacker about Teaser Tuesdays, and this is one of the memes that I absolutely love to do. But I've been exhausted and lazy on top of being exhausted. How can I tell? lol. Don't know, really. Just talking out my ....ahem. Tuesday Teaser is hosted by Miz B of ShouldBeReading. The goal is to interest or tease other book readers with your current read - no spoilers allowed.
I'm easing back into Teaser Tuesdays with just one book- and of course it's a book that I've been reading all last week - and getting n0 where on. It's a book I bought long ago - I'm trying to focus on some of my older TBR books.

Stardoc by S.L. Viehl - a novel which has had a wide range of views, some controversy within the reviews...

from page 138

'He dropped my wrists. I whirled around, prepared to stomp off in a high rage. A heartbeat later my body stopped cooperating. A choked cry burst from my throat as I halted, the sound dying away. I couldn't move.'
Don't you hate when that happens? I do - nothing like trying to stomp off and being paralyzed. :)
Here's another LOL Cat New Year Resolution pic for you.

It's Monday, Baby - the first Monday of 2012

2012-01-01T21:49:00.000-08:00

It's time for one of my rare giveaways - so far, there is only one entry, so odds are very good for any entrants. two books are up for grabs - enter here

Here we are, at the first Monday of 2012, and thus the first It's Monday meme of 2012. Hosted by Sheila of Book Journey, we discuss books - what we're reading, what we've read and hopeful reads.

And here is where I admit that despite having a whole week off after Christmas break to spend relaxing and reading....

I didn't read much at all. I did relax, relaxed so much that I pretty much slept away a week of my life. On one hand, I felt glad that I could spend the time reading and on the other hand, I feel like I wasted away a whole week by sleeping.

Sigh...LOL - Oh Well, that's Life!

Even though I didn't finish a book, I have been reading a couple of books. True to my usual form, of all the books I've started in the last few months, none of them are the ones I ended up reading this week. This week, I've been re-reading - or rather re-starting Star Doc by L.H.Viehl. Now this is a book that I bought about two years ago, started and never finished. It must have been my mood at the time, because so far I've gotten past where I last left off, and only just now came to a slow-down spot in the novel. Where the beginnings of a romance is stirring. In a boring way. Hopefully, I'll get past it soon. :) and on to more interesting happenings.

That's all I'm going to list for now - have no plans for when I'm finished with Star Doc. We'll see - I have a lot of books in my TBR pile.

My only New Year's Resolution this year, is going to be

1 - no real resolutions

2 - as many laughs as I can laugh

3 - no book challenges. just makes it feel like a job to me, and I can't stay on top of them. Rather, I'll be trying to top my number of books read this last year. I'm going to have to deduct the books left unfinished with the books actually read to see how many I really read. :) I'll be deleting some titles from my list.

That's it for me - enjoy the reading and enjoy the life as much as possible.

Happy New Year's everyone

CONTEST LINK and Fate's Edge (The Edge #3) by Ilona Andrews - review

2012-01-01T05:10:00.000-08:00

Don't forget - there is a contest going on with a chance to win not one - but TWO good books. Suzanne McLeod's latest US release, and a novella by J.A. Campbell featuring this really cool border collie - Doc, The Vampire Hunting Dog. Don't forget to enter, odds for winning are good

Fate's Edge

Ilona Andrews

urban fantasy

third in a series (The Edge)

******

cover - I like the style, the general look of the covers in this series. It's great that they always feature the female character, a bit of the setting in the background, and then the scruffy handsome guy kind of blended into the whole cover. It's a good blend of art, story hints and character looks...however something is off with the female this time. I know she's supposed to be curvy - extremely curvy so I was kind of picturing a J-lo type of ass, and some curvy girls...but - well - it looks like her chest is concave with half a cantolope (an extremely ripe one at that) kind of just stuck on there; there's also quite a bit of room between the shoulders and her girls. Maybe I'm remembering wrong, but Audrey is also supposed to be short. I know this is nitpicking - and characters rarely look exactly how they're supposed to look. But those of us with large chests and short statures know that when you have large breasts, stuck on a short body - there isn't going to be a whole lot of room there - nope, the breasts are going to be starting rather high and taking up quite a bit of area in our short little torsos....just sayin'. Wish the cover people would really match up these little details, because I'm the type of reader who loves to read, look at the cover....read some more....try to picture the characters and look again at the cover. It really helps when the guy is good looking (to my taste, of course! lol) and the female matches height, chi-chi size and damn it - when the character is supposed to be a bit plump - don't put in a model who has bones poking out. It looks awkward. ahhh - but the sword....wait a minute - it's Kaldar who is the amazing sword fighter in this novel...In Bayou Moon Cerise was the sword and flash user . I know it seems like I'm nitpicking - more like I'm trying to make a statement on covers - I love when the covers show what's going on and reflects the characters. And this one actually is a good cover - there's the trees and plants, the sword (though it really belongs to Kaldar) and the red hair - but the female model doesn't really match. Overall, the cover is pretty good though. It's just those chi-chis.....wow. Glad they're not mine. LOL

The book. Anyone who's read my reviews might get the idea that I love these books....well I do. The Ilona Andrews team has written many, many books by now. I haven't been able to read any of their e-books yet (I see that they're dipping into science fiction type of plots - distant planets, gadgets, etc) but I haven't been able to get a hold of one yet. Someday. (just found a link from their website to a free download for Questing Beast - a scifi e-book) However - with each on of their print novels, with each of their series, and every short story that I've been able to read has been a pure pleasure to read... and Fate's Edge was no exception. I enjoyed it a lot. I think the only thing that started to annoy me - (and it was mild annoyance-very mild) was something that a lot of authors really can't avoid. The frequent mentions or explanations of world building facts. I feel like there was one or two too many mentions of the difference between The Edge, The Weird and The Broken..I understand why - but I've read this series from the beginning so I ended up skimming past a few of these thankfully short explanations.

Other than that though - (and it's probably not fair of me to even mention it - many series authors end up doing this, after all) Loved the story.

**Minor Spoilers territory**:

There are bits with the characters of each of the previous books - Declan and Rose (from The Edge - #1) played small parts - but Rose's brothers both played a huge role in Fate's Edge. Cerise and William (my favorite of the couples - from Bayou Moon-#2) play a larger part than Declan and Rose. Fate's Edge features Kaldar who is Cerise's cousin and Audrey. Now Kaldar and family (Cerise included) were part of a large clan of Mars relatives who did whatever they could to survive life in the Edge. This included scams, and questionable behaviour. In Bayou Moon many family members were lost. Kaldar is carrying a dream of vengeance on his shoulders, waiting for the opportunity to annihilate certain members of The Hand - a particularly sadistic organization of the enemies of his country. Now Kaldar is a bit of a con man, and he enjoys himself. He can and does pick pockets without people even knowing they've had something taken from them, and then he usually puts it back. Just likes to stay in top form. Practices a lot.

Audrey, on the other hand comes from a family of scam artists and is trying to live a straight life, has even gotten a job in The Broken - that's the real world to you and me.

Then we come to Jack the shape shifting brother of Rose, and George - his necromance older brother. Something has happened to make Jack very nervous and they end up deciding to run away - because that's always a great solution to teens and tweens. Always SEEMS like a good idea, anyway.

Kaldar accepts a new assignment (he's been working for the Mirror - the counterpart to The Hand - kind of like the KGB vs. the CIA only with magic)....

Audrey is talked into one last scam/theft with her father and drug addicted brother - against her better judgement....

Jack and George have run/stowed away...

And they all meet up in a fiery explosion...not really. But they do end up all together working to get a certain something back from a certain someone for a certain other organization. However, it's not as simple as it could have been. The whole time they're working on finding the object they are being hunted by a particularly sadistic and murderous group of the hand. And during it all, Kaldar has thing about vengeance in the back of his mind...

Ahhh- the fireworks, the fights, the dialogue, the BOYS. It's all good. The teasing and ribbing that goes on between not only the brothers, but between the brothers and Kaldar, Kaldar and the brothers, Kaldar and Audrey, Gaston and the boys, the animals....it's good book with wonderfully twisted characters, and sadistic villains that you love to hate. There is a lot that goes on and by the end of the book I was already missing the novel. Made me want to re-read Bayou Moon, because THAT was a hell of a book also, with twisted and flawed yet fun characters and a kick ass group of fighters.

One day soon, I plan to re-read this series, it's that much fun to read. And just like in the Kate Daniels series, Ilona Andrews has a wonderful way with dialog and characters.

If you haven't yet bought Fate's Edge, get it as soon as you can, you're going to love it. I you haven't even tried the Edge series, wow - you've been missing out. If you haven't even read any of the Kate Daniels books - oh man. Hope you get a hold of one soon - and start reading it. Like I mentioned earlier - I love each of the books I've read by Ilona Andrews, and there's not that many authors where I enjoy every - single - book that they've written.

New book release! Happy New Year and Happy Book B-day - contest time

2011-12-27T20:07:00.001-08:00

Happy New Year - Happy Book B-day....stay tuned for a contest

Today - (Tuesday) is the United States Book Birthday of The Bitter Seed of Magic by Suzanne McLeod. I mention the U.S. Book B-day only because McLeod's books have separate book release days - The UK and the US publications. This has been out in the UK for a while now; we get it over in the US now. :) For a taste of The Bitter Seed of Magic click on the book cover above where you will be able to read chapter one. Then you can click on this link on my blog where there is a snippet from chapter two of Bitter Seed of Magic.

As for Doc; The Vampire Hunting Dog, written by J.A. Campbell, it's been released recently as an e-book, but for people like me {who obsessively cling to some of the old ways, *g*}, HAPPILY, there are print copies available from CreateSpace; also print available soon at Amazon. Doc started out as a series of shorts - a fun piece for readers. A border collie whose owner, or person, has been hunting vampires discovers that he can give "THE EYE" to vampires, helping his person fight them. Border Collies do tend to have a way with their expressions, especially their eyes. They seem to have special eye powers, just try to stare at one when you can. They have trippy eyes. Doc has his own page on FaceBook now. I can picture Doc plush toys, complete with stakes and other vampire hunting equipment; I think Campbell should think about some merchandizing for Doc. LOL might be a surprise hit! For a taste of Campbell's writing, visit her blog and click on this Doc page, where there are a few free online reads posted for readers {use the drop down menu}.

The Contest

To celebrate the "birth" of two of my favorite writers' novels, I'm going to have a contest. This is what I'm offering as a prize - a print copy of J.A. Campbell's Doc, the Vampire Hunting Dog and a copy of Suzann McLeod's The Bitter Seed of Magic {Spellcrackers.com #3}. Now my contests are usually notoriously and a bit embarrassingly lightly attended. This is a longwinded way of me saying that hardly anyone ever enters my contests :( - so for those of you who DO ENTER, you will have a better than average chance of winning. Just think of all those super blogs where there are at times close to a 100 entries, or some who actually have 400 entries. Small chances there. Here you get way better odds.

so enter!

To enter, please put a link up to my contest at your blog or your FB. I don't do twitter, so I don't care about twitter links - I won't be able to check them, so they don't really count for my contests.

make sure you provide the link to your blog/fb page announcing the contest. ALSO make sure you have a way for me to get a hold of you. Most likely the link will help and I always hate having to leave my e-mail on a public blog, so if there's at least a link, I can use the link to ask for your e-mail if you win.

Contest starts today, right now! and goes until January 15th, a Sunday.

So let's get to announcing and linking up!

Tell your friends,

your moms

your grandmas

your dogs and your cats....oh - um......ahem.......got a wee bit carried away.....

But ENTER a contest, you might win books from not just one, but two great writers.
Good Luck!

It's Monday

2011-12-26T00:20:00.000-08:00

First of all, I've been posting once in a while tidbits about a writer named J.A. Campbell and the books that she's written and had published, as well as some of her writing that's not yet published.

Julie has been posting snippets of her work on her website; and available as freebie reads, is a series of short stories featuring Doc, a vampire hunting border collie. The stories are written from the dog's point of view, which I find very fun to read. Recently she re-worked some of these stories, adding to them, and is now offering them for sale in e-book form...only the best news is that it is possible to buy the Doc book in print form - which is my very favorite book form. I know that e-books and most other information is going to be eventually all available only through the internet, but I still love to be able to hold a book in my hands. So I love when book is available both ways - e-book and print. So if you're interested in buying a print copy of Doc the vampire hunting dog - you can visit Create a Space and order your very own copy. You won't be disappointed. I ordered two - late Christmas presents, or birthday presents. I happen to have a few nieces who love to read. I'm also thinking of ordering a couple of copies for the older (almost teen) section in our library - I think J. A. Campbell's writing is Library Worthy. If you have a kindle, Nook, or other e-book reading appliance (like a laptop or P.C.) then you can order e-copies from Amazon.com, Amazon.comUK, or Barnes & Noble. Print copies will soon be available at Amazon, also. Bonus - if you visit the amazon or Amazon UK site, you can read an excerpt to help you decide you want to buy this work.

J.A. Campbell (Julie) is also the author of the Into The West series, (available through Echelon Press- sold by Amazon or Barnes and Noble) and Senior Year Bites from Decadant Publishing (about the high school senior who fights crime, and by the way, she's been turned into a vampire - good book). Echelon Press has finally got it's thumb out of it's...ahem...finally! after a long delay has finally released the fifth installment of a six book series (someone over in that business seems to be having a bit of a hard time staying on top of things...unfortunately for their authors This does not take away from the talent of the writers, though. Even though Echelon is taking forever to get things published, the works by J.A. Campbell and a few other writers are worth getting - it's too bad for them that Echelon is representing them in this manner.). Hopefully we won't have as long a wait for the sixth and final installment of this young teen series. Also keep your e-book eyes out for a fantasy titled Arabian Dreams by J.A.Campbell - about a young woman and a horse with some mysterious powers, alternate realities, villians...It's going to be good.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly Bloggery meme that is hosted by Sheila of Bood Journey. Now, Sheila usually has her post up on Sunday night, all ready for us bloggers to add our links to Mister Linky, but it's Christmas on Sunday so I'm not sure if anyone else is crazy enough to be posting in the middle of the night on Christmas into day after Christmas...but here I am - feeling a bit insomniac as usual....and no post yet. If it doesn't happen, oh well - it was Christmas. If it does happen, yet a little later than usual, then no problem. Either Way. And either way, here is my post for whatever it's worth:

With Christmas shopping and wrapping to do, the school schedule running right up through Friday, with limited ability and stamina of hands and body...I think I ended up getting a lot accomplished - but only with the shopping and gift wrapping - LOL. I did NOT clean house (but then I don't usually, so no change there). I did NOT do much laundry. I did NOT prepare any holiday baking 0r dinners....(wow - now I'm beginning to feel like a Christmas slug...)...and I did NOT get much of a chance to read. I bought presents for my grandchildren and worked. I wrapped presents into the wee morning hours. I had help - picked up my four year old granddaughter (she's actually going to be five in February) and put her to work. LOL - the plan was to have her wrap all the little presents for her cousin and I would do the big presents. LOL. That was the plan. Then there is this thing called Realism. Realism means that what really happened was that she wrapped two of the presents on her own, then decided she wanted to color. Well, she's four. So I decided NOT to be a child slaver, and I pulled out her color books, ended up with even less room on the kitchen table to wrap presents and had to wrap the rest on my own. However, she is very good company while wrapping presents. We talk about all kinds of things while she's coloring and I'm wrapping. Even though she didn't do a lot of wrapping, I had a good time visiting with her, while I worked my fingers to the bone wrapping presents for my grandson. I am getting off track - Christmas Blog closing for now.

Back to the topic of reading and books - I was able to finish one book by Sunday. Fate's Edge by Ilona Andrews. I love this writing team - they consistantly put out very interesting novels with characters who aren't quite law abiding citizens. The dialog is always entertaining and there's all kinds of creepy villians. And they have two series going on - both great reads. But there's something seriously off with this cover - can you spot it? it kind of POPs right out. Very...VERY round and yet...oddly shaped. haha - leave a comment if you think you know what I'm referring to.
current read - my current read is a Free for review read. Rosemary Harris was giving out free copies of her second to last novel, Dead Head to celebrate her newest release - Slugfest. Ever since Pushing Up Daisies came out, I've been interested, but since I rarely go anywhere but the SciFi/Fantasy section of any bookstore, I always forget to even look for other novels. Once this offer for a free book came out, I took a chance and was fortunate enough to be included in the many responders to get a copy of Dead Head to read and review. A promise to review is a small price to pay for a novel. I love the cover also - beautiful artwork, which matches the general feel of the book - the main character works with plants, and of course, it's a murder mystery - hence the skull. (hence - who uses that word in real-life conversation? NO ONE - this is one of those words usually only found inside of books)

After I finish reading Dead Head, I hope to finish a few of the other books I've started in the last few months -

These are some of the books I've started, yet for one reason or another (not all good reasons) I didn't stay with the reading...remember though - that I suffer from B.A.D.D. it's serious, folks....very serious. :)
If I'm up to it (meaning if I'm not completely exhausted) I plan to blog just a bit about my Christmas shopping experiences.

If a Monday post Linky goes up, I'll put up a link - other wise, I'll be looking for other monday posts by bloggers I follow.

Hope everyone had a nice Christmas and at least a few hours to rest before work. I am fortunate that I work for a school and am on a school schedule - so even though we had to work up until Friday night - we do get a couple of weeks to recuperate.

Have a good week everyone, and Happy Reading!

2011-12-25T10:27:00.000-08:00

see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

Merry Christmas

Happy Hannukah

Happy Holidays!

Happy Shopping Season!

It's Monday - another Monday in a long line of Mondays....TGIM?

2011-12-18T17:09:00.001-08:00

Here it is - another Monday. Hosted by Sheila of Book Journey, we are listing books we've read (in my case one), books we're reading (in my case many) and possible future books.

I've managed to finish one book this week, and made a serious dent in another. The book I finished was Threshold by Devin O'Branagan. It's been reviewed and posted. Enjoyed it very much. In fact, if you have anyone who is interested in fiction and differing spiritual views, this would be a good book for a present. Check out the cover also, it's a kick-ass cover that really matches the book.

One of the books I'm currently reading is Fate's Edge by Ilona Andrews. It's proving to be just as interesting and fun as all the other Andrews books. I do think there's something off with the model - you tell me if you notice anything....

Up next is a mystery by Rosemary Harris named Dead Head. This is the first Rosemary Harris novel that I'm going to read and yet I've been noticing her books ever since Pushing Up Daisies came out. It's just that I rarely read mysteries...but check out THIS cover. It's great. Love the artwork. And the book sounds like it has great characters. Looking forward to reading it.

Threshold by Devin O'Branagan - review

2011-12-17T14:35:00.000-08:00

Threshold

Devin O'Branagan

paranormal thriller

*****

cover - isn't this a cool cover? Very dramatic, lightening, a lake, the suggestion of an opening in the sky...

I've read a few books by Devin O'Branagan and each book is a bit different from the other. Each book carries strong messages and each one deals with spirituality in one form or another. Threshold focuses on spirituality, religion and near death experience, and well as family relationships and prejudices. It's all in there forming an interesting story of a young boy who drowns, the shaman/family friend who saves him and the family and town that is ultimately affected by events that were set in motion from the day of the drowning. In fact, one could say that things had been brewing even before that day...

Cole is the young teen or preteen who drowns; his drowning and near death experience changes his attitude and pulls him into a journey of thought and self discovery. His older sister, Leah is full of anger and angst. She's almost 18 and has been a surrogate parent to Cole and Rachel, the youngest of the family since their mother abruptly left them years ago. Rachel, elementary aged, has portentious dreams and a serious love of all things chocolate. All of O'Branagan's books feature at least one main character dog, and Wigglebutt is the dog star. And then there's the dad, Ty - who is trying his cowboy best to be a good dad, but the kids don't feel the love.

Other strong characters include Elijah, the Native America shaman, who has strong mystical powers yet he's dealing with his own demons of abstaining from alcohol, with a wife and son who have issues.

The seemingly ideal little town, where the inhabitants are close, have their own problems seething under the surface and Cole's drowning and near death experience seems to uncover these problems. Problems such as complacency, bigotry, depression and alcoholism. A hate group seems drawn to the small town, adding to the mix. Elijah's tribe is divided and committing violent acts on some of their own. The Pastor's wife seems full of hate. The Babtist minister seems just as full of non-acceptance...and on top of everything else, Cole - a young almost teen seems determined to sacrifice himself for the good of many others.

Threshold is the story of how things come to a suspenseful and tragic head, and how Cole's family, Elijah's family and the town seem to become damaged and yet still manage to pull together and bounce back.

Some bad things happen to people - some ugly truths are exposed and yet everyone manages to come to an acceptance and forgive each other. So even though parts of this story may seem heartbreaking, there is that thread of optimism that most of us are so good at keeping.

I enjoyed reading this book. I think in one way or another we've all had to deal with one or more of the issues brought up in Threshold. I'd definitely recommend Threshold for a good fiction read with not one, but a few good messages.

Devin O'Branagan is the author of numerous books, including Red Hot Liberty.

Magic On The Line by Devon Monk - review

2011-12-14T00:33:00.001-08:00

Magic On The Line

Devon Monk

UF - released 11/29/11

ppb

******

cover-I have a mixed feelings about the covers in this series. Mostly I love the covers. I love the markings on the model, and her kick-ass yet at times vulnerable look. What I don't like, is that most of the time she is depicted as so skinny, with no muscle tone that it's hard to believe that this is the character who is such a walker - Allie Beckstrom is a rich girl who has rebelled against her background to such a degree that she lives off what she earns on her own - to the point where she's had to walk almost everywhere in Portland, Oregon; from the walking and the recent fighting/training her muscles - especially on her thighs - should be a bit more developed. I'm picturing the legs/body of a dancer. Have you watched dancers legs and bodies? Not ballet dancers, but the dancers such as the ones that you can see on Dancing With the Stars? Those women cannot afford to be stick thin, they have muscles and real bodies. They are sexy with their muscles and toned bodies without being stick skinny and having their bones poke out on their chests....Now this cover isn't quite as skinny as a few others, but her thighs are way to small for a real walker. I would also love to see a more accurate depiction of her magic marks, which are supposed to travel all the way from the side of her face down to her shoulders/chest to her side and her arms. And on the other side, she's supposed to be sporting some thick bands of color - like stripes - on her fingers, her wrists, elbow area and a bit higher up. Don't get me wrong, I think the artist does do a great job (except for the excessive skinnyness) but I would love to see a complete picture of ALL of Allie's magic "tattoos" or markings. I think it would be cool to see, and when I'm reading the series, I'm always trying to picture them in my mind (expecially since Ms Monk describes them or mentions them at least twice in each book.) I admit though, that these covers do a better job than many other urban fantasy books of representing the character and the setting.

Now - the book. Devon Monk is one of those writers that I can say (every time) that I love her work. Love them. There are a lot of writers that are on my autobuy list (it's a list that resides in my head - Hope I don't forget anyone) that is full of what I consider to be quality writers, but even though they're all on my autobuy list, not all are writers that I can say I absolutely LOVE their work. Monk is one of them. There are others, but if I start mentioning them, I'm going to get all OCD and want to make a list, and then I'll want to make a separate list of young adult writers (it would be a short list, haha) and THEN I'd want to alphabetize them, sort them, etc...and it would end up to be a completely different post.

O.K., Now, for reals - now Magic On The Line. Anyway, after the events of the past few books, there is a new head of Authority in Portland and he's making some hard decisions. Zay is having to do things he hates to friends he loves, and Allie isn't too happy. Weird things are happening to the houds and magic users...then on top of everything else, Allie finds herself once again in hiding - from the Authority AND the law this time. Not only that, but suddenly she's having a hard time accessing magic - something that has always been so easy for her, so natural. Things are going to hell in a handbasket, for sure.

I think that this is the next to final book in the series - if not then it's very close to the final book. Things are definitely coming to a head - story arc-wise. A few more hints about Allie's magical history are given...has she really been closed? if so how many times? Is her dad really an evil guy (as evil as Allie believes?), or is he a guy who's simply ready to do what ever he has to, to make a dollar and make magic accessible. There's more to Allie and her father's past than she's been told...can't wait to find out what's going on - or what went on. And as usual Devon Monk has managed to write a novel full of hard decisions, horrific happenings, heartache/break and STILL managed to fit in some snarky dialog, and excellent words between the characters. You would think that this should be easy - but it's not everyone (speaking of authors) who can have their characters speak naturally, the way the real people in everyday lives speak. Many times, the speech patterns don't really match the characters or the times that the book is set in. I've enjoyed the dialog as well as the plots and narration of Devon Monk's novels - and Magic On The Line is no exception to this.

It's hard to write much about a book, especially one this far along in a series without spoilers, so I'm trying to keep this to generalities. In general, we see a lot of return characters - with a focus on Allie (of course, main character and pov) Zayvion Jones, Shamus and Terric. Stone, the Gargoyle appears. Victor, Maeve, Davy and a few others play important roles, but aren't seen much. New characters are introduced - Bartholomew and a Doctor Collins (a very strange man) and a few others are returning characters who have played small parts before.

All in all, a very interesting installment with the usual wonderful, magical touch of Devon Monk's way with words put together in a book that I enjoyed very much. If you've been thinking about getting into this series, DO IT, YOU WON'T REGRET IT. If you're waiting to get this book, and are a follower - get it as soon as you can, you'll want to read this one.

It's Monday - Zombie Contest

2011-12-12T00:15:00.001-08:00

There is a chance to win an epic Zombie Prize Pack over E.Van Lowe's website. Lots of great prizes to one lucky winner. Go over there and enter, five easy chances. And make sure you mention where you read about the contest. (i.e. Rabid Reader, *g* )

And now, once again we are at a Monday. Specifically it's time for It's Monday, What Are You Reading? Hosted by Sheila from Book Journey, it's time once more to post info about what we've been reading, what we're planning to read - etc.

This week was another week where no single book was finished. I did begin reading a few books though. There are some good ones, too. One of them I had to wait far too long for. I hate when I go to buy a book on release say, and have to wait for a whole week before I get it. Unfortunately, in my city there is only one bookstore left that is open after 6 p.m. Can you believe that? This city is growing by leaps and bounds. There must be hundreds of restaurants, bars, etc. I know there are many big box stores here - but only one bookstore that stays open after six p.m. The other bookstore is an indie that closes by six, and a few used bookstores that close by five. Well - that's life.

The book I had to wait for way too long for is Fate's Edge by Ilona Andrews. Of course it's worth the wait - it's very interesting with some characters from previous novels in the Edge series. Wild magic and Evil Villains. Great mix.

One of the other books I've been reading is Saints Astray by Jacqueline Carey. I'm not sure if I like this one as much as Santa Olivia (the first), but it is interesting - I'm at the beginning, and switching back and forth between a few books. I need to just focus on this one by itself, I think. It's written just as well as the other, just different situations the characters are in.

There is also Shady Lady by Anne Aguirre. The third of the Corinne Solomon series, it's interesting in it's own way - although one of the characters has suddenly changed into something completely different from before. Not necessarily a bad thing - just different.

I meant to start Threshold by Devin O'Branagan this weekend. Have my copy all ready to go....and can't find it. I looked in my work bag, in my bedroom, in my living room. It's no where. Not even in the trunk of my car. The only thing I can think of is that I did bring it to work, I remember setting it on my desk....I think someone might have borrowed it. I'll find out tomorrow. I hope it turns up soon, because i wanted to read it.

Epic Zombie Prize Pack contest at E. Van Lowe's blog...read on for info

2011-12-09T00:51:00.000-08:00

pretty Covers ....read on for contest information

There aren't many young adult books that I read. Though there are a few that I'm interested in...one of them is a book called Never Slow Dance With a Zombie by E.Van Lowe. I've been reading his blog off and on for over a year, interested in the novel. It's been one of those novels that I've been telling myself I should buy and read, yet I forget to pick it up because I rarely go into the teen section at the bookstore. Especially NOW that the only bookstore I can go to has their teen section UP on a mezzanine style OPEN LOFT where I have to hold on to the bookshelves so I don't go flying off and over the railing to a inglorious death below....I'm a little nervous up there. I solved that problem tonight by looking the book up on line though Amazon. Ordered it, and took care of my lack of Lowe's book...and I found that he has another book out - Boyfriend From Hell (August 2011) and is releasing Earth Angel this month
E.Van Lowe - young adult author of books such as Never Slow Dancy With a Zombie is having a contest with an epic prize package.

The goodies include:

from E's blog: My Uncle Enoch's 1964 Zombie High, High School Year Book: This is an authentic yearbook with blood spattered pages filled with photos of the graduating class, the faculty, and of course all the teams--including the track team who had the distinction of not completing one meet the entire season. If you have any friends or family members who attended Zombie High, this is for you.
That's Not Your Mommy Anymore: Matt Mogk's illustrated children's book is a favorite at bedtime in my house because it explains to the little ones--in colored illustrations and verse--what to do when mommy starts acting strange.
Zombie Water or Juice Bottle: You can work up a tremendous thirst battling zombies. This zombie green water bottle is perfect for the zombie fighter who wants to quench his thirst and look the part while doing it.

Autographed copy of Never Slow Dance With A Zombie--this special edition autographed copy comes with a hand written Christmas greeting from the author. Any true zombie lover will want to add this to their collection of zombie paraphernalia.
Three Never Slow Dance With A Zombie Bookmarks-- Why three? Because when you're reading while fighting zombies it's easy to lose your place. Duh!
Zombie Love Button-- If you can't beat em join em. Sport this zombie pin while roaming among the zombie hordes to let them know you're not looking for a fight and would love to hang onto your braiins.
Zombie Love men's large TeeShirt--A zombie attack can come at any time--even while you're sleeping. Wear this tee shirt to bed so if you are ever dragged from your sleep by a band of marauding zombies, they will know you are a lover not a fighter.

Never Slow Dance With A Zombie Tote—Tired of carrying around all your zombie fighting gear in your hands? This stylish tote is perfect for carrying around all your gear and at the same time letting everyone know that you would Never Slow Dance With A Zombie.

This giveaway is available internationally
What to you have to do to enter? There are five possible entries: E's contest rules:
"The rules to enter are simple:
Everyone can have up to five entries. here's how.
you must sign up for my newsletter at E.Van Lowe. The sign up link is in the left hand column on the home page.
bonus entry if you also sign up for my blog (1 entry)
bonus II follow me on twitter (1 entry)
bonus III Like my Facebook Fan Page (1 entry)
bonus IV leave a comment on my blog telling me on whose blog you discovered the contest. (1 entry)
For those of my fans who have already done these, leave a comment on my blog and you will automatically have 5 entries.
(according to E, you can leave a comment on any post on his blog - just make sure you note which blog you came from and post your info)

NO ENTRIES ACCEPTED BEFORE DECEMBER 9TH "

Contest runs until December 16th

Drawing on December 17th.

Good luck everyone, and don't forget to mention Rabid Reader when you go enter the contest. :)

68 books so far? Really? ahem, ummmm not quite...

2011-12-08T03:17:00.000-08:00

What do the following books have in common?

Read on and you shall see....

The Spirit Thief by Rachel Aaron

Magic Lost, Trouble Found by Lisa Shearin

Hexed by Kevin Kearn

Day By Day Armageddon by J.L. Bourne

Afterlife by Naomi Clark

A Soldier's Duty - Jean Johnson

According to my "books I've read in 2011" list, I've read 68 books. Now I always have the feeling that I'm forgetting a book here and there, but if I don't list it right away, there's no guarantee that I'm going to rememver if I've read a book, especially if it's not from one of my auto read writers. So I've been trying to list the books as I start them, and put the dates that I finish them after the author name and genre. Doesn't always work out though. For instance, I know I've started a few other books, but since I only read a page or two, I'm not going to list them. So the books I've posted on this list are books that I've read at least two chapters of....

And the books in the above list are books that I started but haven't finished.

Now this doesn't mean that the books are bad or boring (yes it does - for a couple of them, at least). Sometimes I just get distracted by a shiney new cover by a favorite author, and then forget to go back...

The Spirit Thief - good book, good writing, good dialog - got distract. Want to finish

Magic Lost, Trouble Found - Ditto. good story, dialog, characters, etc. in fact, almost finished it and then a favorite authored book came out, misplaced it for a bit, and remained distracted.

Hexed - Okay. I know, lots of people are loving this novel. However, I found it to be ....blah. Bland. Even the "funny" sidekick guy seemed a little forced to me. Not so funny. Maybe I just wasn't in the mood. This was started right IN THE MIDDLE OF MY SCI-FI FRENZY summer. So that might be it, but I have no desire to go back to it.....unfortunately I happened to buy the first and second of the series. Won't be buying the third. Does anyone want these two books? Anyone?

Day By Day Armageddon - ummm. started out promising. diary style, slow build up....slow middle.....sigh....after getting through half of the novel, I was glad to get away from the dreary outlook of a book where the guy almost gets away and then goes back to his house....it was just too dreary and depressing. No hope....No want to finish.

Afterlife - now this is an interesting novel. Good characters and interesting plot. I like the bits at the beginning of each chapter. This was another one of those books though, that I was reading when a favorite author came out....then I was in that SciFi frenzy, and I misplaced the book...just recently found it again. I do want to finish reading it, want to see what's going on with those ghosts! Plan to finish. Hopefully soon.

A Soldier's Duty - Thought this was going to be along the lines of Tanya Huff's Valor series. Tough marine future soldier in a future world with lots of great scifi gadgets. But there is a lot of ....fantasy type elements and the reading is heavy and a bit slow going. Not sure if I'm into it or not. Sounds like it should be good - but it's a bit slow going. It's along the lines of an epic series - that seems like it's going to span quite a few years....and I know there's already a second book coming. It's like Robert Jordan meets Science Fiction.....

The vague plan. I would like to finish at least three of these novels. Not the blah or boring ones, but the ones I was simply distracted from. I want to see what happens to the characters. The others, I'll give away. My new reading rule (not so new, but newly stated) is to read purely for pleasure. My health is not so great (not horrible, but I have a limited amount of years ahead of me) and I have grandchildren that are vying for my extra time - so the reading time has to count. So no forcing myself to read books I'm not completely enjoying. There's no reason to. None.

So I am going to TRY to finish Afterlife by Naomi Clark, The Spirit Thief by Rachel Aaron, and Magic Lost Trouble Found by Lisa Shearin.

The others?

bleh

You can have them.

just say the word

first post, first served

Tiger Eye by Marjorie M. Liu - review

2011-12-08T01:28:00.001-08:00

Tiger Eye

*****

Marjorie M. Liu
paranormal romance
cover - The cover is okay, you can see by the material drifting off of the woman, that there's going to be a strong romance element to the book. But look at the background. The background is kind of cool, you can see the skyline of a major Chinese city, the setting of the beginning of the novel. I'm not really crazy about the cover, but I like the background effects.
I really enjoyed Tiger Eye. There was a very good story with great bits of danger and mayhem. Although parts of it were a bit mushy for my taste (gushy, mushy) the characters were fun and the side characters were just as interesting - some even more - as the primary characters. Even with all the love story bits that came across as a bit much for me (and a bit sudden or quick with the intensity), the surrounding mystery and storylines more than made up for it.
It's a good contemporary fantasy with a romance line along for the ride. I'm not usually a lover of romance, and I usually stay away from paranormal romance, especially the ones where the romance and sexing up take over the book, but this is worth a read. The basic plot in intriguing - Dela accidently summons a man who's been trapped in a riddle box, seemingly coincidentally, she's also suddenly dodging attempts on her life and finds herself having to go to great lengths to stay alive....are the two situations related? or completely two different situations?

Hari is a shapeshifter who has been cursed to live seemingly forever, in a riddle box, being summoned to be a complete slave - under the compulsion to do what ever the summoner commands. Whether it's fighting, killing, being a bodyguard or a sexslave, Hari is compelled to do as told. Understandably, after thousands of years, he's grown to hate, he's been abused and he's used to everything but being treated like a person. And Dela is a woman with unique powers - she sometimes has portentious (or is it portential?) dreams and has a way with metals. It's suddenly brought brutally to her attention that some of the weapons that she has created in a very artistic way has been used to kill.

Someone is out for revenge on her, and at the same time someone is after Hari, trying to get him under their control. The novel is engaging. I still think that the romance aspect came on a bit strong and a bit fast, but I realize that this is pretty standard for romance novels. Other than that though, the rest of the storyline was pretty good. The action scenes were good, lots of mayhem and good fighting scenes. The suspenseful parts were suspenseful. And the supporting characters were very interesting - so interesting that I'm interested in reading novels in the series if they contain these side characters. One of the things I enjoyed the most was the dialog between characters. Some of them were serious, and some of the characters were funny - I think Liu does a good job with dialog and narration....and if you like the gush love stuff, then you'll like her love scenes, also. *g* Some of the best or most interesting characters in Tiger Eye are the main characters in sequels - look for Artur in Shadow Touch (I have that here thanks to my British book fairy), and Dean in The Red Heart of Jade.

This is the first of the Dirk & Steele series, a series about special persons with very unique abilities. I should say that this is the first full length novel - because I believe that there was a short story first. Tiger Eye was written quite a few years before The Iron Hunt and while I did enjoye Tiger Eye, I think my favorite of the Marjorie M. Liu novels (or series) remains the Hunter Kiss novels. Happily for me, a new novel in the Hunter Kiss series is coming out - The Mortal Bone releases sometime in December of this year (2011)

If you like your paranormal romances with more story than sexxin' up, then this will be a good book for you. I think Liu's writing style has improved from a pretty good writer with this first novel to a very good writer with her newest novels - I'm referring to the Hunter Kiss series here, since Tiger Eye is the only other series I've read by Liu. Either way - Ms Liu has a wonderful writing style and can definitely come up with some interesting plots and twist, as well as characters and dialog.

Where's My Cow? by Terry Pratchett - review

2011-12-07T23:51:00.000-08:00

Where's My Cow?
Terry Pratchett
illustrated by Melvin Grant
children's books
******
cover- I love this cover. The almost lifelike rendition of the cow and the painting like quality of the background...then that little cartoon image in the two corners...brilliant. And the stamp - approved by the librarian of Unseen University. If you've read the discworld books, you'll get it, but you haven't...see there's this series of books. In some of the books there's this University, the Unseen University. It's quite magical, because it houses not only all the wizards and sorcerers in Ankh-Morpork (or almost all of them) keeping them from harming the innocent - and giving them a place to practice their arts, but it also holds all the magical books. Some of the books have to be chained down, or they'll escape. In charge of the library at Unseen University is an orangutang. He's very capable - he actually used to be a human, but he's pretty happy as an orangutang, in charge of the library. Those prehensile feet and hands, with the thumbs and all, turned out to be very handy - after all....So - he approves this book. ook!

Art work - If I rated artwork (which I don't think should be done, art is subjective, after all) I would rate it a 6 out of 6, or 10 of 10, or whatever. The artwork is beautiful. Whatever the subject was on the page, an animal, a transient, The Duchess, Vimes or young Sam, the art was amazing. Go to Melvin Grant's website and take a look at his gallery. Beautiful work, in a variety of subjects
I approve this book also. LOL, doesn't that sound vain? I do though. I've wanted this book for a long time, since it ties in so nicely with the other discworld novels...it's great because it's really three books in one. You'll have to read it to understand what I'm saying...

Commander Vimes, a frequent character of the discworld novels is one of the characters in this book. He's reading a book to his son....and the book he's reading...you get to read that while reading about Vimes reading to his son...see? There's another aspect to this, but at the moment I can't really explain it.

So Commander Vimes is reading this book and he is making all these animal sounds, because it's a book called Where's My Cow? So the book within this book has all these animals and animal sounds and someone is obviously looking for his cow....Vimes is reading this, and making the noises for his son - which his son loves - when he suddenly decides the book is a bit lame, in fact that it has nothing to do with real life. After all they live in a huge city, where all the animals are...cooked.

So he begins changing the book while reading, to something HE can relate to. Criminals. He starts naming the usual suspects that he has to deal with on a daily basis...and they all have some quirk, great names, and the pics - oh man, the pics are great. These aren't your normal tame children's book pics - so beware of this if you plan to read it to your kids or grandkids. They will have to have a good sense of the absurd and humor.

I Loved This Book.

I read it to both of my grandkids, and they know it's Granma's SPECIAL BOOK that they have to have ME bring down for them, so we can read it together. And like Vimes, I love making the animal sounds, and I even try to make the rather gross usual Suspects's sounds. like Hrrumph, etc. The kids laugh and laugh. I laugh and laugh. A good time is had by all. Grandma loves these type of childrens books.

Twisted, snarky, edgy, slightly off children's books.

Oh Yeah!

Contest coming up!

2011-12-07T23:11:00.000-08:00

Keep your eyes open

I'm going to post a link for a very very Zombie-Cool contest....

Look for it on Friday

It's Monday

2011-12-05T01:53:00.001-08:00

It's been a weird week. Work has been weird, the kids have been great - sometimes I could do without the grown ups though. lol. The weather has been strange. After days of cooler weather, we had extremely windy days with temps of 70 F, in the afternoons, with very cold nights. The nights have been close to freezing - I know that's warmer that a lot of places at this time of year, but the temperature range has been a little extreme, especially with the wind. Anyway, glad one week's over, and hope this next week is better. However, after 15 years of working with children in the school system, I've learned that even though you might get a "good job" once in a while, most of the time you're expected to work miracles with the homework and behaviour - and this expectation is not only from the parents, but from the teachers and administrators - even though they should know better, since the same thing is done to them. It's a mostly thankless job. Most of the people that I know that are in this line of work are in doing it for a general love of children. It's certainly not for the money or working conditions! Once in a while though, I get a visit form a student from years past - one who says they miss me and the afterschool program. The thing that gets to me is when I get that type of comment from a kid that I was particularly tough on. However they remember me, I know I genuinely have a good time with the children. It's the rest of the job that gets to me sometimes. :) when you get right down to it, what other job gives you an opportunity to laugh at silly things, play an occasional game, read to kids and have the kids read to you and in general enjoy a lot of laughs and hugs from the students. Not many!

It is now time for It's Monday, What Are You Reading?

Hosted by Sheila of Book Journey, this is a weekly meme that we use to let each other know what we've read the past week, what we're planning to read and what we're currently reading...and other bits and pieces of life. It's a fun meme - on that I try to take part of every Monday.

True to form, I did not finish many books. I, in fact, finished only one novel, and that one was Devon Monk's latest, Magic On The Line. It was great - as usual. I've come to expect great reads out of Devon Monk, and I haven't been disappointed yet. I think I took a while to read it because I know the series is coming to an end.

There's been quite a few of those lately, series that are being ended by the author - ending on high notes, with readers like me wanting more. These ladies know what they're doing, and thankfully they are all working on new series. Keeping us interested and wanting more. Nice. Better than having a series go on and on and on, changing so much that they don't resemble the beginning novels, or worse yet not going anywhere, the characters saying and doing the same old thing over and over...or a combination of the tw0 - which is really the worst....We don't have to worry about that with Devon Monk, Lili St.Crow/Lilith Saintcrow or Rachel Vincent - all authors who have ended their series after 6 to 10 novels of supreme goodness. :) I have a lot of respect for their decisions and I also think it's pretty brave of them, as well as smart. It must be kind of tough to say goodbye to characters and a series that is still popular; it's gotta be tempting to keep grinding out novels in the same series, that's probably become comfortable to play in - if one can ever consider writing a novel to be "comfortable" - I know it's a lot of work. (lol - some authors actually BLEED on their keyboard and suffer horribly with emo-ness while writing and .....yeah. if you go to the link, please...for God's sake- for the love of all that's SANE, read with a grain of salt. The belief's can be hazardous to your blood pressure or mental health - for a cure, read this reply from a more grounded author.) These authors had a clear vision of how their series was going to go, and stuck with their plan - and are currently publishing new series or are close to finishing new novels. More to look forward to. off to other things, now!

currently reading
Shady Lady by Ann Aguirre - writer of the close to ending Sirantha Jax series. This third novel in the Corinne Solomon series is very interesting - I'm enjoying it more than the second, almost as much as the first novel in the series. Good series, over all. I'm almost halfway through it, and looking forward to finishing it (in a good way, lol)

next up will be a book sent to me for review by Devin O'Branagan. This is her newest novel, Threshold. It looks interesting; two main characters, one an adult, the other a young boy who has either came close, or actually died, brought back and finding himself on a mission, without a clear memory, and many in danger. Sounds spooky! Looking forward to it.

waiting for....(from B&N - again. I go shopping for a book on the book's release day, and it's NOT on the shelves. Have to special order, which means I don't get it the minute it comes out - wouldn't have been able to read it right away, anyway - but it's nice to have that option, right? And what's up? How can the authors get their release week sales, if the stores DON'T EVEN STOCK IT?) <<--- ugh - gettin' all riled up! This happened with Magic On The Line, and also with Reckoning. C'Mon! B&N! I don't have a lot of shopping choices left, please get your act together! make sure your employees are shelving those books! I say this because the clerk LOOKED up the info, and according to the computer, Fate's Edge was IN the store since 11/23, but no one could find one copy of it. And they hadn't sold any. S0- Waiting on Fate's Edge by Ilona Andrews. This is part of the Edge series - LOVE that series. The characters are all twisted, and they live in a twisted world, with twisted animals and problems. So interesting. It's written in a different style than Ilona Andrew's Kate Daniels' series, but I find it just as interesting, the dialog just as snarky as the other series.

I also bought for the school two copies of Diary of a Wimpy Kid's Cabin Fever. I plan on reading it to a few classes. I remember seeing the first novel in the series come out, novel/comic book fusion and thought, wow, this looks interesting - but I really thought Jim Benson's Dear Dumb Diary series was way more funny. Ironically, even though the kids at school have checked out the DDD books over and over, they go ballistic over the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. We have only one copy of each of the series, and they are ALWAYS checked out. This is one book that gets stolen from other kids. Sad - but that shows how popular they are - kids will STEAL the books from each other. I think both series are pretty funny, and they both get boys as well as girls engaged with reading - it's hard to get your average boy to WANT to read fiction.

That's it for now. I've spent way too much time working on links and looking up author pages... I do this every Monday. Plan on a quick post, and go a bit overboard, soapboxing, linking up links, posting pics, ranting and raving...

:) It's fun.

Reckoning by Lili St. Crow - review

2011-12-02T01:38:00.001-08:00

**possible spoiler alert**

Reckoning

Lili St. Crow

******

YA/fantasy

cover- of all the other covers in this series, this is the ONLY one that even looks like a horror or urban fantasy. There is Dru, looking seriously pissed off and focused. There is that face in the background - and it's NOT a hollywood pretty boy face, nope - this is a horror face. And then there's the colors and misty stuff, or shadows....or swirly things representing the horror aspects of the story. FINALLY - the cover matches the genre of the books. FINALLY. so, ummm - good cover.

Young Adult is not my normal reading material. Having said that, there ARE some young adult books or authors that I follow. (J.A. Campbell....and ....um.....yeah - that's pretty much it). The other YA books that I've read, I've read because they happen to be written by authors that I already follow from fantasy or UF genre. Like Terry Pratchett's four book series featuring Tiffany Aching, or Lilith Saintcrow's Strange Angel series - writing under the Lili St. Crow name. There's a few more books here and there that I've read - Devin O'Branagan and Kelley Armstrong - although Armstrong falls under the "they're a writer I like to read, so I'll read YA books by them too". So in this rather rambling way, I'm saying that the only reason I even picked up the first book in the series was because I enjoy Lilith Saintcrow's other UF series - it certainly wasn't the COVER that made me want to read the series. If I hadn't already been exposed to the author, I wouldn't have even looked twice at the series because the covers looked like the average teen YA romance novels. Not my cuppa tea.

Reckoning is the final novel in the Strange Angels series. I have enjoyed each of the novels. I loved they way Dru found a new hardened resolve to take care of her self and her friends. Her character had been through so much, that she'd been dealing with things as they came along, kind of with blinders on - even so her character showed an amazing strength of character throughout the series, and through this final book. I liked that even though she didn't have a normal childhood, she didn't seem to whine about it - she acknowledged her differences from other teens and just went on with things. I also liked the way the author had Dru drawing strength from her gran's and father's voices when she needed their support the most. Dru seems to have a bit more than the "tetch" - she's more than a dhampir. She seems to have the ability to see or hear ghosts - which has helped her through out all her challenges.

In the last book - Dru has rescued one of her friends, and together with Graves and Ash (the broken werewolf) she escapes not only the vampires but leaves the order, not being sure just how safe she really is there. Even since she was brought under their protection (at the end of book one) it seems that she's been in even more danger than before. So now Dru has left everyone else behind and escapes to the place she feels the safest - only that little bit of a break doesn't last long.

Graves is behaving strangely - he doesn't quite seem himself. Dru is also dealing with her changing relationship with Graves, her insecurities and feelings about Christophe (the only part of the series I didn't quite like - the inevitable love trianglep-seems to be a requirement in all YA urban fantasies, and most adult UF - please, publishers, we really don't require this as readers. At least I don't) and her changing abilities as a blooming dhampir - or svetocha. The respite she finds doesn't last long, she finds herself almost succumbing to a darker nature of herself, they're attacked once again and she's found before she's quite ready to be found by the order. Things go downhill for Dru and her friends from then on - until it seems that everyone is captured and Dru ends up fighting one last fight with her archenemy - Sergei.

The dialogue between Dru and Graves was great - awkward at times, bitchy and angry at other times, and sweet in those rare instances (kind of like real life - y'know?). Ash - finally coming around, being able to shift back to boy form is slowly regaining his language skills, but it's almost like dealing with a four year old in a teens' ultra strong body. I think that St. Crow does a great job with switching back and forth between speech styles with all the different characters - the older dhampir have a definite way of formally speaking, the weres sound just like young men tend to sound and I think that Dru sounds just like a tough tom-boyish girl who's spent her formative years riding around with a monster-fighting father and acquaintances would sound. And whe Dru gets closer to her Gran's old place, her speech takes on the dialects and sounds of the Appalachian dwellers. Great job with dialog - this is very important when writing a book - your characters should sound their age, and should reflect where they grew up or came from.

There was plenty of action - lots of fighting, running, adventure and frights for Dru. She even ends up by herself - something she's been afraid of for a long time - without quite saying so. Even so, she perseveres and her old training takes over.

Reckoning is a kickass ending to a kickass series. There is a satisfying ending - not quite a Happy Ever After - this author doesn't do Happily Ever After endings. She does possibilities in the future type of endings. Enjoyed the whole ride and I read in Lilith Saintcrow's blog that she's already planning or working on a new YA series - I think she's working on both a YA series and another adult UF series, having just released the final Jill Kismet novel also. I'm looking forward to what she comes up with next - what ever she writes, I'm pretty sure it's going to feature a strong smart heroine with horrific problems to over come.

If you have not read any of Saintcrow's/St.Crow's work, you are missing out on some almost lyrical writing - very descriptive. The words bring you into the scene, you can almost smell what the characters smell, hear what they hear while running or fighting, feel what they feel. St. Crow has a way that pulls me right into what's happening in the novel, and I love the way she's constantly describing the action along with the atmospheric details - all the senses are included in her writing in an interesting way. This isn't always successful with other writers, I've been bored with words from other writers who attempt this, but I've never been bored while reading a book by Lilith Saintcrow/Lili St. Crow. If you're waiting just for this one, go get it, you'll love it. If you haven't tried any of the series and like your heroines strong and a bit dark, your characters strong yet a bit flawed, you'll love this series.

movies, Victoria's Secret, skinny bitches, etc.

2011-11-30T00:46:00.000-08:00

I want to see this....

However, I do have this habit of wanting to see movies {at the theater}, yet I rarely actually leave the house for anything much, especially trips to a crowded theater, where there are other people, lots of other peoples; I might have to sit by someone I don't know, I always worry that there won't be enough seats for whoever I'm going with, etc. This is why taking my granddaughter to see The Princess and the Frog - just me and her - was such a huge deal. And then anything that could go wrong - did. We went upstairs instead of downstairs - carrying popcorn and drinks AND a booster seat for her (she was two years old then); so we had to go back downstairs, with a toddler carrying her own booster seat, me balancing the soda and two popcorn things, holding her hand AND getting her on an escalator! - we spilled some popcorn as I was getting her settled, I started having a hot flash and yet - the minute we picked out seats, THAT'S when the theater began filling up. So at least we were there in time to get good seats! And once we got settled and watching the movie - she turned to me, said, "Thank you Grandma" and "I love you" and everything was all right. Afterwards, when we were talking about all the things that went almost wrong, she laughed and said "you're so silly, Grandma". That was the only time that I've ever taken one child by myself to a movie. So stressful, for someone who gets a bit of social anxiety. I've gone with other adults and quite a few children.

Last winter my father, my granddaughter, my grandson, a work friend and her daughter and niece all went to see Tangled. Talk about crowded - we were lucky to get five seats together for eight people - and even then my grandson had to sit on my dad's lap and Lili had to sit on mine. We had those plastic booster seats though, and we were on one of those rows in front of an aisle - so we were able to put the seats on the floor in front of us, so the kids and our laps could get a break. Great movie though - totally worth the crowded car, the crowds, the money and I'm so glad my dad went - because that way he was in charge of the grandson and I was in charge of the granddaughter. I think that was also the first time he's been to an animated children's movie since Snow White first came out.

This year, my grandson came up to my husband - he's three now {my grandson, not my husband} - grabbed his face and said with a very serious expression - "Papa - I'm going to get some money, and then I'm going to take you to see Puss N Boots". Awwwww. What a kid. I told my husband he needs to take the boy to the movies. I'll have my grandson do something for some cash - pick up toys, help me with whatever a three year old can do, so he can "take his papa" to the movies.

This is one of those movies I wanted to see, yet waited so long...

that it's no longer at the theater in my city...I'll have to wait for the DVD now. There are many other movies in this category...problem is, I forget them - the names, the actors...I only remember the general plot. "I wanted to see that movie, about the thing, y'know, where they...." etc. Luckily for me, sometimes I catch them on Stars or Encore {we can't afford Showtime or HBO - :( } I do have the book - Cowboys Vs Aliens. It's one of those "based on the movie screenplay" novelizations. I've tried a few of those - Ultraviolet was pretty kickass as a book, but the one about the vamps and werewolves {from the movie with Kate Beckinsale} was pretty horrible. It straight up sucked. So bad that I didn't get past the first two chapters and don't even have that "might give it another try" feeling. Dialog sounded like an emo teen wrote it.

From movies to network t.v. For some reason I ended up watching the Victoria's Secret t.v. "Angel" special. The annual show where skinny ass models wear fantastical underwear sets that have been bejeweled and bedazzled, complete with wings and showgirl worth props. I'm not going to comment on the whole viewing women's bodies lasciviously on t.v., or the thinly veiled hour long advertisment of
Victoria's Secret products...There was good music, rappers {Nicki Minaj, JayZ, Kanye West} and Maroon 5 as well as some good music background by Reckless and other groups. The costumes were fun - the work was amazing - expecially the wings that were inspired by a huge spanish fan.

And refreshingly- I didn't see a lot of ribs poking out, or super skinny barbie-doll style arms. I saw some women that were slender, and obviously they work out - but thank god these women had breasts, thighs and asses. They didn't look like they'd been starving themselves for a long time - except for possibly this women here - I can see ribs on her upper chest. There was another model that had skeletal legs, ribs showing on her sides and chest - but I couldn't find a pic of her. I find it painful to see women that are so skinny that their faces look like the skin is holding on for dear life. We see this more and more on t.v. in general, so it's nice to see almost normal looking women on runways - and I know that's a rare thing. To have a woman with meat on her bones on a runway. But seriously - men used to be more attracted to the curves on a woman. It seems though, that the younger men are so used to seeing the starving models and actresses that they are getting the mindset that women should be very thin. That's very sad.

All this thinking about skinny starving rich women is a little depressing. It's ironic, though. They're all so rich and yet they can't just relax and enjoy themselves - nope. They seem to have to starve themselves, almost like they're punishing themselves.

Well--that's it for my soapbox moment - at least I know I'll never have that problem- either being rich or being too skinny. LOL

Tuesday Teaser - Teaser Tuesday

2011-11-29T01:16:00.001-08:00

Welllll, first Monday after a week off work. Went okay - but glad it's over. BTW- lolcatz pics are courtesy of Icanhazcheezeburgers.com where I sometimes make my own captions and use other captions frequently. :) it's a fun site.

I was so worried about missing another Tuesday Teaser, but I see that as of 1 a.m. (my time) Miz B doesn't have her post up yet. So I feel marginally better about missing last week.....So this link is going to Miz B's website, where you will find her Tuesday Teaser Post soon. Take a look at her previous week's teaser post though - two sentences, teasing readers. We leave names and book titles, but try to stay away from spoilers (bad spoilers, spanking worthy bad to do)

from Magic On The Line by Devon Monk - a book I am (of course) thoroughly enjoying...
page 153

'It was like a punch to the gut. Terric, next to me, hissed.

"That can't be right," I whispered beneath notice with everyone else muttering in surprise.'

I know I've said this before, but I like - very much - everything that I've read by Devon Monk so far. This includes her wide variety of short stories in her anthology - A Cup Of Normal.

Now from Shady Lady - no. 3 in the Corinne Solomon Series by Ann Aguirre

page 81:

' "It'll be all right," I told him.

He yapped twice, disagreeing with me. I let that go. You just couldn't win an arguement with a Chihuahua.'

{Amen to that, sister} Now even though I absolutely LOVE every single book in the Sirantha Jax (romantic SciFi) series, I loved the first Corinne book, liked the second and so far I'm enjoying the hell out of this third Corinne book - proving that there are many, varied tastes out there and many novels for all of them - sometimes a nice variety just from one author. heehee.
Well, folks - post your teasers!
Happy Reading

It's Monday

2011-11-28T05:22:00.000-08:00

It's that time again - Monday. I can't believe it (Really, I really can-they just keep showing up, everyweek like clockwork. These Mondays.) ugh, another Monday, and this time it's after a long dreamy week off (three days without pay - oh well) complete with lazing about in Jammies, having grandchildren over, COOKING ALL DAY ON THURSDAY with the help of the girls who date the boys I gave birth to, ahhhh - great day. Then, after all that cooking when I couldn't take it anymore, my daughter and her family came and she and the other girls helped the final preps for dinner. THEN, they cleaned UP after dinner and served up dessert. It was great, I think I would have been way more worn out than I was if they hadn't helped as much as they did. It's times like those that I'm very aware of how thankful I am for my daughter and the boys' girlfriends. Wonderful people. I also cooked Bacon Wrapped Turkey - mmmmmmm, good.

Hosted by Sheila of Book Journey, here is another It's Monday, What Are You Reading meme. I love this weekly meme, where we go back an forth between blogs, seeing what others are reading, what we plan to read, and what's been read. Go to Sheila's site for full guidelines and to post your link.

Finished Reading two books this past week;

Santa Olivia by Jacqueline Carey
Reckoning by Lili St.Crow aka Lilith Saintcrow, (writer of the Jill Kismet series, Dante Valentine series, and many more novels) - oh my sweet jesus. final novel in the series...great series, good ending, but not sure I like the ending, though it leaves an opening for good things to happen.

Currently Reading:

Magic on the Line by Devon Monk

Shady Lady by Ann Aguirre

Received and Bought

Received for review, and peeked at = Threshold by Devin O'Branagan. Seems interesting - with a contrasting older character and a young character.

I picked up some books at the bookstore because I was in a MOOD and it was in between releases from "the greats" (in urban fantasy, there are what I consider the "greats"...you know, Suzanne McLeod, Ilona Andrews, Devon Monk, Ann Aguirre, and so forth. There's an up 'n'coming - soon to be great - I have great hopes for J.A. Campbell who has some fiction online that you can take a look at - use the drop-down menu for choices.)

Some of the other books I've come across lately are...

Pay Me In Flesh by K. Bennet (aka James Scott Bell)

Dark Descendant by JennaBlack ( I don't know why...I liked the first book of one of her series, then got turned off by the dialogue - I'm a lazy reader - but this sounds different)

Camera Obscura by Lavie Tidhar. Know nothing about the book or the author, haven't heard anything about either - but I kind of like the cover, and the blurb seems interesting. Here's hoping it's a good read. I have about 20 books that were impulse buys that didn't catch my interest...but then there are those gems that were impulse buys that are now auto buys...Anne Aguirre, Ilona Andrews, Devon Monk, Suzanne McLeod (well, that one I had a good excerpt reading experience, lol) and Terry Pratchett! and those are just a few.

I hope these other books are interesting. Sometimes I get disappointed, especially when I've been seeing books on blogger sites, everyone talking them up, they look and sound very interesting, sound so twisted -different - and edgy and then when you get right down to reading it....nothing stands out. The characters are kind of tame, or all the same....etc. I felt that way about a few novels lately and I'm not sure if it's just that I might be in a weird mood, or I've just finished one of the aformentioned greats, or ...maybe they just are boring. :) Still, it just goes to show how we all have differing tastes, or even though many bloggers might love a book I might not like it. Like Butcher's books. I know everyone loves them. I find them a bit boring. There's more, but....I don't want to shock anyone. HaHaHa.

Santa Olivia by Jacqueline Carey - review

2011-11-26T03:26:00.001-08:00

Santa Olivia

Jacqueline Carey

fantasy/dystopian/SciFi/futuristic? actually this book fits in all of these categories...while looking around (a little, not a lot) I didn't see what it was considered...guess I could look on the spine of the book...(I looked, it doesn't have a genre listed) Whatever it is, it's a damned fine book. :)

******

cover- this cover is straight up sexy. I'm not sure why I think so, but I wish I were this young again, with that type of figure (I never appreciated by body's figure 'til it changed), standing there with a sexy long coat blowing in the wind....I don't want the rest of this character's life though. Nope, it's too hard. But the cover....Bellissimo - Anyway, nostalgia and wishful thinking aside, the cover matches a particular scene of the novel...

When I first heard about this Santa Olivia, it first came out in 2009, I was kind of interested in it. Interested in a casual sort of way. For some reason I had the impression that it was a teen book, written with teens in mind; it may have been, it's definitely about young people and their young yet mature lives. I thought about buying it, but I have read one of her other series, and while I enjoyed the other book, I didn't enjoy it enough to continue reading the series. So I kind of forgot about Santa Olivia, knowing that yes, Jacqueline Carey is a pretty good writer, but I wasn't ready to actively search out this new (at the time) novel.

The other day, while cruising the shelves at my newest bookstore that I hate to shop at, (yet it's the only one available to me when I'm able to go bookshopping) I saw this book titled Saints Astray. The blurb sounded very interesting....and a bit familiar...I realized that this was a sequel to Santa Olivia. I almost bought it anyway, but then I though I should read the first one first. So I looked around and there it was - not in the teen section, but in the regular SciFi/Fantasy section. I picked it up and bought it. I took it home, finished a couple books I was reading then picked it up....

About 18 hours later, I was finished with it. Pretty much read it all night long. Very hard to put aside, kept wanting to read it until I was finished.

The characters...they are amazing. The plot was a bit different than your average plot, but interesting. There's this huge epidemic, and in order to stop the spread of disease, the government has erected a wall between countries, and in one particular area the wall has two sides - both enclosing a town - the town of Santa Olivia. The residents at the time were given the option of evacuating....some of them. Some of them, the ones who didn't have anywhere to go, or the money to leave with stayed...and were forgotten by the rest of humanity. Forgotten by everyone except the soldiers on duty guarding the border against this ghostlike revolutionary...

That's the back story and continuing thread of plot. The main plot involves a young girl born to a waitress with an older son (at the time he's five or six) The girl's father has special abilities, and the young girl inherits some of his strengths and lack of fear. As she grows up, she and her brother lose their mother, and she ends up living in the formerly catholic type of orphanage, which is run by a nun who's not really a nun, and a priest who is not really a priest, along with a former student. These characters are a trip. If you're easily offended by characters who are not your perfect religious figures, then these characters are going to bother you. I enjoyed them - they were keeping up the good work that they could, feeding the poor, looking out for orphans and the people, doing the best that they could with what they had, and with the betrayed faith that many of the town were dealing with. If you aren't easily offended, then you'll get an amazing kick out of these religious figures. Their language and behaviour - great.

Loup - the girl (pronounced Lou) has grown up having to hid what she is, even though she really doesn't know what she is. Half of her childhood is with her older brother and her mom, the second half of her childhood is spent with her fellow orphans at the orphanage with the not quite nun, and the priest who isn't really a priest. The residents of Santa Olivia live under the eyes and thumb of the soldiers, as an occupied town that's been forgotten by the rest of the country. Something is off with this, and some people quietly question this existence. Her brother becomes interest in boxing and life goes one until tragedy strikes. Mean while, Loup and her friends come up with harebrained idea to wreak some vengeance on a few of the soldiers that have hurt one of them...and a hero is born. Of course things don't always go as planned.

Santa Olivia has some comic book hero flavor mixed in with revolutionary tales. It's a mix of coming of age, dystopian background, military and SciFi/Fantasy. I enjoyed the blend of writing styles, it ended up to be quite a novel. In a twist, the main character grows up, trying to find a true love with one of the boys that she's grown up with, and her one and only turns out to be a female; so she has that added twist to her coming of age. Loup's love life isn't a smooth road either - neither her nor her girl were planning for a same sex relationship, and they have their issues to work through. I thought it was handled nicely - the build up, the giving in, the surprises, heartache and then the ending....Was is a happy ever after? you'll have to read it to find out, if you haven't already read it. Does Loup and her girl end up together? Do they finally get out of town? does only one make it out or do they both manage? Do they stay together?

This novel had a lot going for it. Believable variety of dialog and speech patterns, love and betrayal, broken hearts, new love, SciFi, occupation by military forces, the growth of not only children, but young adults, iinprisonment, etc. After reading Santa Olivia, I am looking forward to getting a copy of the sequel - Saints Astray.

Jacqueline Carey is known for her Kushiel's Dart series, the high fantasy series that spans not only one character's life, but also her offspring. I know this - even though I've only read the first book of that series. She has also written another series, beginning with Banewreaker titled The Sundering. I haven't read those at this time.

Sales - Black Friday weekend sale for e-books

2011-11-25T18:39:00.000-08:00

Want to save money on books? e-books?

if I had paid attention to my e-mails, I would have known this earlier, but I JUST checked my e-mails and saw this.

Decadent Publishing is having their own version of Black Friday sales, and you don't have to brave parking lots for this one.

Not only that, but the sale goes on through Sunday -

For more info and a sales code, visit J.A. Campbell's site (the author of Senior Year Bites)

Some good gifts for X-mas, or some good prices for your personal e-library.

FreeSol - Fascinated - David Letterman 11-23-11

2011-11-24T00:41:00.000-08:00

This rocked - loved it. Looked for some of their songs on youtube, some are a bit....boring, but this one....ROCKS

Maybe This Time by Jennifer Crusie

2011-11-23T16:56:00.000-08:00

Maybe This Time

Jennifer Crusie

******

cover-fits the story. I like it. Especially the teacup, the steam, the heart....it all fits.

I didn't realize that this book has been out since August of 2010, I guess it came out in hardback first. First time I saw it though, or even heard of it, was when I saw the ppb at the bookstore the otherday. See what I miss when I stay away from the romance section? LOL - I usually go straight for the SciFi/fantasy section of bookstores, and rarely look anywhere else in the stores. Thing is, though - even though I normally don't go for the chicklit, or romance, or relationship novels I've always enjoyed a few books in these genres, such as Catherine Coulter, Julie Garwood, Lynn Kurland and Jennifer Crusie. I don't buy or read every single book they put out, but I enjoy one here and there.

The first time I read a book by Jennifer Crusie was way back in 2000, when Welcome To Temptation came out. Now that's a sexy book. (A certain author could take lessons from her, but then there wouldn't be enough fur and....nevermind.) Now and then I've picked up a book written by her and I've never ever been bored while reading any of her books, which is more than I can say for many books in the same genre.

Maybe This Time begins with Andie (short for Andromeda-mom is a bit strange) waiting in her ex-husband's office to give back every single alimony check he's given her since she left him. She's angry - very angy. She's been angry for years, and apparently everytime she got a check from him (every month) her anger was fanned anew, she resented being reminded of him, etc. She has recently been proposed to by her boyfriend, but before saying yes she wanted to tie up this last loose end only fate has other plans.

Her ex, North, needs someone to go take care of his niece and nephew and he thinks might be strong enough to get things on the right track, since the kids have been through a few nannies in the last few months...

There is a whole cast of interesting characters; the kids - love the kids. There is Alice, who does not have any skills handling frustration or being told no. Then there's Carter - an oddly silent boy - who with one word can stop Alice's tantrums. And then there's this housekeeper, who seems to go back and forth between hostility and over-friendly. There's North, of course - who years ago had fallen in love with Andie over night and married her so quickly - so quickly that they really didn't know each other. There's is Southie (North's brother, a very relaxed guy) and Lydia - who seems to be a dragon lady - she loves her sons very much. Of course, there's Andie's mother Flo - who is into paranormal - zodiac signs, tarot cards, spirits- the works. All these characters interact in some amazing ways.

There is a few things going on in this novel. Andie left North because she felt neglected, and like he was paying more attention to his job than her. He feels like she'll leave anything at the drop of a hat - which is why he only asked and expects her to stay for one month with his niece and nephew. They obviously have a few things to work out (don't all married/divorced couples? there's always at least two sides to every story, sometimes three or four sides) As the novel progresses, glimpses are given of their past, shedding light on their misunderstandings.

And why are the kids always left alone with an elderly housekeeper and nannies that leave frequently? Seems at first, when their father died they were left with an aunt...who fell off the roof and died herself. After that there was a series of nannies that all left because they were creeped out by the house and kids. He's under the impression that things are going okay - except for the fact that the nannies keep quitting, and Alice refuses to leave the house.

Andie goes in with her no-nonsense attitude and slowly begins to connect with the kids, but it's not easy. It's fun to read how she deals with Alice though, and how she finally figures out that she's been making a big mistake with Carter - though he seems so strong.

And then there's the ghosts..only she doesn't believe in ghosts. On top of that, there's this reporter from hell, who is supposedly interested in a story about ghosts, but is really trying to get to the kids....

This novel has so many things going for it. Humor, odd children (I love odd children), relationship problems and growth, quirky and crazy characters and GHOSTS! Not only that, but the people - they talk like real people!

I enjoyed the way that Crusie wrote such a multilayered story with an twist that I thought I saw coming, but then was convinced I was wrong and then again BAM! Wow, what an ending. The characters each learned things about each other - and not just the two exes - all the characters. Great book, glad I read it, glad I came across it and enjoyed every minute of reading it. And now I'm reminded that I happen to have another book around here by Jennifer Crusie - one she wrote with Bob Mayer. I need to find it and read it.

It's Monday - and I'm not stressed about it. HaHa

2011-11-21T01:17:00.000-08:00

At least it's a holiday-ish Monday. It's an unpaid "work furlough" day for school employees, but hey - better than being laid off. It's sad state for education when school employees are forced to have this attitude...hey, we work with future adults, but don't worry about budgeting enough money for schools, materials or salaries.....just sayin'
Just watched a quirky, dark comedy called Skills Like This. Funny as hell, even though the subject matter is a little....off. A playwright finally realized that he sucks as a writer, and kind of goes off the deep end, doing things he normally wouldn't do. Funny as hell.
Which brings me to our Monday Meme - hosted by Sheila of Book Journey. It's Monday, What Are You Reading? This is the time and place for us to "get together" in an online sort of way, to "talk" about what we're reading, what we've read and if we have plans to read. Full guidelines are available at Sheila's site, just click on the pic - or the link. I tend to hide links under pics....most of the time

I don't normally list the children's books that I read, usually just forget. I read quite a few in my job as a library tech, usually to the kinder, 1st and 2nd grades, but I also have weekend reading with the grandchildren. With the grandchildren, we tend to re-read some of the books for weeks at a time. The current line up consists of between one or five Skippyjon Jones books and Miss Nelson Is Missing! Yup...over and over and over again. At least the Skippyjon Jones books are fun to read - you can practice your spanish accent, catch some funny wordplay and the scrapes this little kitty gets into is pretty funny. As for Miss Nelson...A soft spoken teacher has no control over her class, she disappears, and this witchy ugly, scary Miss Viola Swamp takes over for a while. A lot of the younger kids I've read this to don't get that both women are the same character. However, my granddaughter caught on after I'd read it a few times....there's one little line that clues you in without coming right out with it.

The one book I finished this week was Jennifer Crusie's newest book, Maybe This Time. I was looking for a non-paranormal in between books read, y'know, a book that's just regular to "cleanse" the ol' brain palate between reading excellent novels of the fantasy genre. This actually turned out to have ghosts and a horror twist to it. I was surprised, because normally Crusie's books are more about relationships and slightly flawed, even mildly criminal characters in love. I'm not complaining though, because I enjoyed this novel so much. Looney Toons Kids, crazed ghosts, flawed characters, this book has it all. There's sex in it, but even though the sex was charged, (not money, charged like electric) it wasn't an overwhelming part of the story - it didn't totally overshadow the rest of the book. Perfect combination of horror, humor, bit-of-sex, relationship, jealousy and intrigue. I should save all this for a review, but I just finished it Sunday night, so it's all fresh in my head. :) Jennifer Crusie is the author of quite a few books, I've read some a few years ago, and now I'm wondering why I haven't kept up with her writing. I need to rectify that.

Currently Reading - I happened to see a book titled Saints Astray by Jacqueline Carey in the bookstore the other day. The cover and blurb made me want to read it and I almost bought it, then realized that it's a sequel to Santa Olivia. So I looked for Santa Olivia and found the only copy on the shelf. Bought it, meant to read it after Monk and St.Crow's latest novels, but ended up opening the book Sunday night, and could not put it down. So interesting that I almost didn't do this post. It's taking time out from reading Santa Olivia. I am halfway through it already! And look at that cover - sexy. If I leaned that way, I would totally hit that. LOL (that was weird, wasn't it? especially coming from a grandma. Shame on me, mwhahahaha). Now I regret not buying Saints Astray. I'm probably going to have to wait, since we're going into that whole no more book buying for myself season - have to concentrate on X-mas gifts from now on.....or do I? Hoping for some book gift cards from the offspring. Ironically, I read her first Kushiel book and liked it, though I haven't felt the need to buy the others. Didn't enjoy that particular style of storytelling as much as I'm enjoying Santa Olivia.

up next?

Next up will be one of these three - Black Blood by John Meaney (no 2 of the Tristopolis novels); Magic On The Line by Devon Monk (bittersweet almost to the end of the series); and last but certainly not least, Reckoning by Lili St. Crow - aka Lilith Saint Crow (another bittersweet since this is the final novel of the Strange Angels series). After that? who knows. I know I've been meaning to read Kelly Meding's novels, and now there are three more to read; and Kelly Gay's novels, now numbering three. The novel world is passing me by since I can't read fast enough to keep up. And to think that way back in 2007 I was seriously suffering from a lack of interesting books to read. I know that Urban Fantasy has been evolving since 1992 or so, but even up until the early 2000's, it was easy to keep right on top of all the seriously GOOD urban fantasy novels that were being published. I was reading a mix of SciFi and Urban fantasy, and regular fantasy and running out of novels to read. In the late 1990's and early 2000's I had times when I could not find anything interesting to read in my preferred genre, and had to resort to re-reading favorites or trying out -shudder - paranormal romance....(shudders again). 2007 is when I happened upon Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews (and now there are 2 series by them), and then in 2008 when I grabbed -by impulse again- Grimspace by Ann Aguirre. Both of those books were grabbed by me on a shopping trip when I couldn't find anything to interest me, and each of those books were impulse buys and now look at what's available. Sure, there are and were a lot of what I consider Eh - Meh books, but there are so many good novels coming out, and have come out that I'm having trouble keeping up with my reading along with family life, work, sleep and Cityville! LOL At least I know there's always something laying around here for me to read. :)

Snuff by Terry Pratchett - review

2011-11-20T01:44:00.000-08:00

Snuff

Terry Pratchett

fantasy

******

cover- I always love the covers of Terry Pratchett books - and this one is full of imagery from the novel itself. The covers usually are, and I say this because we all know there are times when a cover has nothing whatsoever to do with the book it's covering. From the imagery to the colors, I like everything about this cover.

I've been a fan of Terry Pratchett for a bit over 20 years, or so - give or take. From the first time I happened across one of his novels, I was hooked. I think the first one I read was Equal Rites - about the young girl who ended up a sorcerer, unheard of on discworld. I think this is one of the few writers who can keep things interesting with over 30 novels in a series about an imaginary planet - a flat one at that, that rests on top of four elephants, who in turn stand on a giant turtle's back as the turtle "swims" through space. Pratchett used to put a bit in about the Discworld and how it looked/came into being in each book, but the last few haven't contained this info. If you haven't read any of his novels yet, take a look at one of the early ones, and pay attention to the description of the discworld, the rim, the way the waters fall off the edge of the planet and how the elephants stand on top of the turtle....it's great. I believe that one of the reasons that I haven't gotten tired of his series is because there are so many characters within. The books are not all about the very same characters. There's a series within the Discworld series about three witches - Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg and Magret for instance- Wyrd Sisters; there's the YA four book series about Tiffany Aching and the Wee Free Men, or Mac Nac Feegles (aka pictsies); There are quite a few books featuring the City Watch, including characters such as Commander Vimes and Captain Carrot and Lord Vetinari such as Night Watch and Guards!Guards!; among my favorites are the novels that feature Death and his granddaughter Susan- Reaper Man and Hogfather are two of them; Yet more novels featuring the Unseen University and a slew of sorcerers, including Rincewind. The Discworld series is an amazing collection of novels with an amazing amount of stories and characters - even better, any of the books reads very well as a standalone novel. Even the four volumes about the child to teen witch can be read in any order, though it's wonderful in order. You can pick any book in the series and have a great reading experience at any time.

Snuff is one of the latest featuring Commander Vimes and his wife, the Duchess. Commander Vimes is a hardboiled type of guy, one who grew up on the streets of a tough neighborhood and worked his way up the ranks of the City Watch. He's rather uncomfortably become a rich noble, because he accidentally fell in love with a duchess, and she with him. Though he has his own set of prejudices against the nobility and rich, he's now uncomfortably one of them, as well as still the commander of a police district. Always the workaholic type of personality, he's been forced to go on vacation - between his wife and the sinister ruler of the city they've convinced him to go on vacation to one of the estates he now owns....only there seems to be more than a simple vacation going on. There's also been some trouble with goblins...

The Discworld, as well as being full of interesting witches, warlocks and policemen is also the home to trolls, goblins, vampires, little blue men, dwarves, werewolves and any other supernatural being you can imagine. And they're all learning to live together in the great city of Ankh-Morpork. Only out in the country it's a bit different. The goblins are the lowest on the totem pole. They are the last species that people are comfortable about treating as second class, or even lower. They're considered dirty, thieves and worse. Only Commander/Duke Vimes is about to learn just how complex their world really is...

Seems a long time ago some goblins were rounded up and driven off. And now when Vimes is on vacation a young goblin woman has been murdered....there's some smuggling going on, a missing person, and someone is trying to frame Vimes as a murderer.

Most of Pratchett's novels have two or three storylines taking place at the same time, and they all come together to blend into a grand scheme of a plot. Pratchett is very good at switching back and forth between pov's, providing a fun suspenseful read complete with humor and social satire. However, for the first section of Snuff, all the action centered on Vimes and the country. During the second half though, part of the plot started to pick up back in the city of Ankh-Morpork with Nobby and Sargeant Colon (two of the oldest characters) bringing things together at the end. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Snuff. I think once I started reading it, it only took me two days to finish, and that was interlaced with work hours, sleep and dinner. I love to read while I eat, but when I have a hardback I won't eat while reading. Don't want to ruin the pages.

If you're a Terry Pratchett/Discworld fan, you're going to enjoy Snuff. If you're in the mood to read something new, and have never read Terry Pratchett you should give this a try. After reading Snuff, you'll want to give the other 30 or so books a try. They're that good. In fact, going through the website, looking for book excerpt links is making me nostalgic to re-read some of these novels; and these are books that I've already read quite a few times, just for fun. :)

By the way-for those Neil Gaiman fans, Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman long ago wrote a book together titled Good Omens. I'm sure this is old news for many, but just in case....I loved it, and my copy is so worn, that I've been thinking about buying a new copy, and I rarely buy books I already own (on purpose, anyway)

LMFAO - Sexy and I Know It

2011-11-18T23:21:00.000-08:00

yes, it's rude, it's crude, a little juvenile, but oh so much fun.....Not worksafe, BTW

Chocolate Cravings

2011-11-18T00:23:00.000-08:00

(my second LOLcat caption, photo from LOL cat)

I love chocolate; I love it a lot. Chocolate should be it's own food group. However, though I love chocolate quite a bit, I rarely indulge. In fact, for my birthday, I was given a two pound box of See's chocolate covered caramels, and the lasted until October (my b-day was in July). The only thing that's on a par with chocolate is a good caramel, and when you mix the two....heavenly. I wasn't even the only one eating them, my grandson "shared" them with me. :)

Two weeks ago, I was shopping and suddenly felt like having a Butterfinger. So I bought a bar....put it up and promptly forgot about it. Never ate it. Forgot about it ....until three days ago.

I began having intense cravings for something chocolatey....now I have a Milky Way that's been sitting in a purse for quite a few months...haven't felt like eating it though. Nope. I wanted that Butterfinger.

Could not find it. I looked all over, high and low. In my sock drawer, in my shirt drawer. In my bookshelves and in all the little nooks and crannies I could think of. No Butterfinger.

These cravings would (of course) go away during the day, when I had a chance to go to the store, and come back full blast at about 11 p.m., when it's inconvenient to just go get a chocolate bar (and let's face it, a little bit weird). So I just continued searching, occasionally asking if any one had seen my Butterfinger.

This morning as I'm blearily trying to wake up, my youngest son (22...or is he 23? one forgets these things) comes into my room on his work break with a KING SIZED BUTTERFINGER.

That's love, folks. True love from a considerate, sweet son (who knows what it means when a woman gets a CHOCOLATE CRAVING).

Tonight, right about midnight.....I ate half of that king sized Butterfinger.

Soooooo Gooooood

Thanks youngest son!

Teaser Tuesday

2011-11-15T01:53:00.000-08:00

I wasn't going to post a teaser today, because I feel kind of blahhhh. kind of limp. kind of grey.....ugh. But then I read Moira's teaser and though - hell, I can manage at least ONE tease. So I won't go overboard and put three teasers up - I'll just post one from one book...just one :( So, here we are again at Tuesday. Teaser Tuesday. Hosted by MizB of ShouldBeReading, this is where we tease the hell out of each other with snippets of books that we're reading. There are (of course) better, more genteely worded guidelines on Miz B's website. No spoilers allowed.

As I noted before, I wasn't going to do a tease this week. When I do Teasers I usually try to include any book that I've started reading, but this time I'm going to focus on only one, and it's not my usual type of reading material. However, once in a great while, I do read a romance-ish style of book. Maybe I should just say it's chick lit, although I don't think her books really fall in the normal chick lit style either. There's definitely always romance involved, but it's never the heavy duty "oh my gawd, so hawt", heavy breathing, throbbing body parts type of romance. You know the type I mean. The type that could just as well be soft porn. Nope, though there are some hot-ish scenes in a lot of her books, there's a lot more story...

Jennifer Crusie has written many books, and I've probably read about half of them. This newest one has a bit of the paranormal in it - are there ghosts? or not? There's definitely some weird goings on, two little children (not so little) and failed marriage where the two are definitely still attracted to each other...

Jennifer Crusie's new release Maybe This Time

page 75

'Lydia looked at him, exasperation plain. "I gave birth to idiots. My oldest son can't keep his wife, and my youngest son is chasing a woman who's mostly hair and teeth."

"We blame you." North said.'

Ms Crusie writes very good dialog.

What's your tease?

and just because we all need some lol catz:

It's Monday (sigh) What Are You Reading?

2011-11-14T01:21:00.000-08:00

Mentally, it's been an odd week for me. I'm slowly getting over this cold, but still losing my voice when I use it too much - not helpful when I'm supposed to be reading books to library classes. However, those children are so quiet and attentive during the reading that I don't have to speak very loudly, so that's something to be proud of them for. Sometimes I really really like kids. :)

We had Friday off for Veteran's day (just like the rest of the nation) and I really needed the rest. Had the grandchildren over as usual all weekend, but I feel like I slept their visit away, just to be wide awake at night while they're sleeping...but then I've always been awake most of the night - nothing new there. And I've been in a weird reading mode... It's Monday...is a weekly reading meme hosted by Sheila of Book Journey. There are full guidelines on her blog, but the gist of it is, we share what we're reading, what we've read, or what we're planning to read. It's a fun way to get new book ideas from other bloggers.

My weird book week includes trying to get a hold of a copy of Magic On The Line, by Devon Monk. Not available at Barnes and Nobles, my not so favorite bookstore (I will forever mourn the demise of Borders, no matter how melodramatic that sounds - they don't harass their customers to buy $25 membership cards to save 10% on your purchases, going on and on and on about it if you refuse...) I ended up having to order it from them on my third trip AFTER the release date looking for it. After all of that hassle, when I finally did get a copy Friday night, I wasn't in the mood to read it! I happened to be right in the middle of another book.

On Sunday, I started reading Black Blood by John Meaney (loved the first book, Bone Song - wonderful book). Black Blood is dark, and yet there is some wonderfully smartassed comments between characters. Enjoying it.

Some of the weirdness of my reading mood had to do with buying THREE books from a SciFi series by R.M. Meluch on impulse, because the book blurbs and covers all seemed so very interesting....impulses rarely work well for me. By the time I had read through the first three chapters of the first in the series, The Myriad, I was seriously bored with the narration, the inflections, the dialogue....and the way one character is pretty much called a whore by all the other crew members in their friendly "and we love her" manner. Gag. I can't make up my mind to be incensed for her or irritated by the character. However, I am bored so I put the book aside, and unfortunately have two others by the same writer...and I'm wondering if they'd be any better or more of the same drivel (oops - did I post that out loud?) I'm looking for SciFi adventures along the line of Tanya Huff, Ann Aguirre and Elizabeth Bear's writing. Elizabeth Moon - although not as sophistacated a narrator as the others, was way more interesting than what I've read of this series. Maybe it's my mood.

So then I picked up the third in the Sandra McDonald series, The Stars Blue Yonder....and couldn't get into it, even through I loved the first two novels. Something about this one, with the SAME characters taking place when the main female character is 70 plus years old. Not in the mood to read about sore, achy bones and old age, when I feel like I'm aging prematurely with all this arthritis and yaddablah etc. health problem shit (see what I mean about being in a weird mood?) I'll come back to the third novel in a while. I do intend to finish the series.

I also spent hours looking for a book that I had bought and accidently shelved with my already read books - Deadworld. It was promising, but for some reason I couldn't focus on it and ended up only reading the FIRST page. Another one I'll go back to later when I'm not in this weird mood...
Oh yeah - another book I wanted to get but Barnes and Noble DOES NOT HAVE (last time I looked) - and by the way, it's a teen book, and they've moved their teen section UP on the Mezzanine - or OPEN LOFT upper floor, where I feel like I need to HOLD ON TO THE SHELVES to keep from falling down to the floor below...seriously - I was having issues, trying to walk around up there. Didn't stay long. Won't try it again. Thanks B&N! And on that wasted fearful dizzy trip, I couldn't find a copy of Reckoning by Lili St.Crow, the LAST in her Strange Angels series. Now I'll probably have to order it online (I HATE that Borders has closed, HATE IT)
I feel like I'm coming across as bitter and cranky - sorry, sort of.

On a happier note, I did manage to finish reading TWO NOVELS!

Yes, I finished The Stars Down Under, by Sandra McDonald (surprise ending, very good read)
and Snuff by Terry Pratchett. Started out not quite like his other books, in that the first half seemed to focus on one character (Vimes), and then the second half read more like his other novels, with the action going back and forth between a few areas - one of the things I enjoy about his narration style. Wonderful novel. After finishing it, I looked for Unseen University (which I haven't yet read, don't know why) and CAN'T FIND IT! I feel like my book life is a complete mess right now. Arrggggh! (That's pirate talk for DAMNIT!) After finishing Snuff, I really wanted to read Unseen University. But I'm now going to concentrate on Black Blood... or Magic On The Line...or maybe a Jennifer Cruisie book for a complete change. Yep - no problems making up my mind here.....lol

Daring You To Read....book meme

2011-11-10T00:16:00.001-08:00

it's time for my newest favorite book meme (I now have three that I participate in, one on a regular basis, and the other two on a semi-regular :), oh and the Waiting on Wednesday which I occasionally participate in. ) I think this is a Thursday meme, weirdly, I'm not completely sure. :)

Whichever the day, this is a fun new meme hosted by Tynga of Tynga's Reviews. It's a dare - a straight up Dare from Us to well, the rest of Us to read certain books that have been released in the past (at least six months in the past). Happily, Tynga's dare is to read Stray by Rachel Vincent, which I have read and I loved. If you read it, keep in mind that Vincent PURPOSELY wrote the lead character as a somewhat self involved young girl (only daughter) to show change and character growth throughout the series arc. This is just a little soapbox moment from me, because I've seen a couple reviews where the reviewers ranted about the character - couldn't "connect" because of her self-involvement (or behaving like many other young priviledged modern post teenager). End mini-soapbox moment.

My pick for this week is actually a trilogy, but if you read the first and love it, you're definitely going to want to read the other two (well, duh - me, master of stating the obvious). And my pick has been around for ages, at least for 10 years, so it qualifies for the whole being released over six months ago. (here's that whole "stating the obvious" thing again)
Marianne de Pierres is an Australian (genious!) author who also writes under the name of Marianne Delacourt. She's recently written a YA series (Burn Bright) as de Pierres, as well as some hardcore SciFi/Space Opera (Sentients of Orion) beginning with Dark Chaos and the book I'm using for the dare. Under the Delacourt name, she has written a Tara Sharpe detective series starting with Sharp Shooter. On top of all of that writing, she's working on a new sci/fi series (or possibly steampunk) called Peacemaker; not yet published, but there is work in that world in comic form available to sample and purchase. This woman is amazing - all the different styles of writing and her volume of work.

Now that I've ranted and raved and gushed on and on about her work, on with the actual dare...

I'm daring you to read Nylon Angel by Marianne de Pierres. It's available both in the UK, the US, and of course I'm pretty sure it's available in Australia. If you like Sci Fi, anything different, strong female characters and kick-ass action, you will love this. Not only does it contain all of the above, but there are some seriously weird shit going down in the novel. And once you finish Nylon Angel there are two more to go - both very good books that will keep you in a book reading frenzy.

blurb from Goodreads- "While trying to send her sadistic boss to death row, she finds herself sheltering a suspect in the murder of newsgirl Razz Retribution. In a world run by the media, the truth isn't relevant-it's bad for ratings. Which is why Parrish finds herself tagged for the murder-and up to her tricked-out leather tank top in trouble"

SciFi, cyberpunk, post apocolyptic, kick-ass novel. This is one of my all-time favorite reads.

What's your dare?

The Stars Down Under by Sandra McDonald - review

2011-11-08T20:00:00.000-08:00

The Stars Down Under
Sandra McDonald
SciFi
******
Cover - I like this cover - although the space suit is a bit misleading....but the whole atmosphere - the feel of the cover is there. It's mystical, Australian legends, songlines, it's represented here.
The Stars Down Under is a wonderful blend of Australian Legend, fantasy and SciFi. There are aliens, Australian legends in the form of songlines and Aboriginal beliefs. There are many worlds being visited with strange creatures and differing dangers, and of course the intricate plots of a government or military trying to get it's people to run missions without telling them enough. I enjoyed this second in a trilogy just as much as I enjoyed the first. In fact, I think that there is a bit more of the fantasy and SciFi elements than there were in the first novel.
Jodenny and her man, Myell have married - they have a bit of an scandulous marriage - officer with enlisted. Frowned upon in the military - or at least in this military. Never the less, they are trying to make a go of their marriage, and pretty quickly things get very complicated. For one thing, they barely really know each other. For another Myell has this thing about not sharing his troubles. He is tricked into taking part in using the transports that have been discovered (explained in book one), to help find some missing explorers and scientists. But of course things aren't that simple. The military isn't the only people who want something from Myell.
There is a being - not quite human, of legendary status that wants Myell to take over the helm....there is a wondrous space ship, with plants, streams, moving rooms (or cabins) that is an important part of the transport system the military is trying to explore.
There is also a threat to Earth and in future, to the other worlds that have been inhabited by humans over time. Aliens, with lizard like features are looking for something, and are waiting near Earth while many troops of these dangerous aliens are looking for something important to them...
There is a lot going on here. There are new characters introduced, returning characters and a few different subplots all weaved into a magnificent story that was very entertaining to read. There is not a happy ending, although thereis the promise of more to come, some possibility of a happy future for some of the characters.
If you enjoy Sci Fi and fantasy you'll enjoy this novel. Sandra McDonald has woven a hell of a story using legends and scientific knowledge. I'm impressed with this and looking forward to reading the third and final installment of this trilogy - The Stars Blue Yonder. First novel is The Outback Stars. This woman can certainly put together a complex story. Wow.

Teaser Tuesday Tuesday Teaser (a word palindrome)

2011-11-08T00:12:00.000-08:00

Know what a palindrome is? Usually you see it in a word form, like BoB or dad, Hannah, Anna. Same backwards as forwards. Here it's in phrase form (not a usual palindrome form). My favorite math activity is one that a 5th grade teacher gives each year's class. A list of numbers from one to 99, where you add (for example) for the number 21 add 12 to it - the answer is 33 which makes a number palindrome. Because it only took one addition, it's considered a one step. It's fun to watch the kids go through all the number, seeing the students who catch on quickly that the answer for the number 32 is going to be the same as for 23, the answer for 29 will be the same for 92, etc. The most challenging number was 89 (if I'm remembering right) It took over 23 steps to get to the palindrome and ended up being one of those huge numbers that have over 11 digits to it. Took four pages of additions (rather large writing, but still). I did the math myself once just to do it. Anyway - that was one of my randomosities. A bit of randomness that has nothing whatsoever to do with book blogging to round out your day. :)

Teaser Tuesday is hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. I love this meme, even though I occasionally miss it, like last week. It's fun reading little bits of novels that are out there. It's fun finding little bits to tease others with. :) The Teaser Tuesday meme calls for a two sentence tease, with no spoilers. However, I have a hard time keeping to only two sentences, so at times I post a bit more. Either way, it's a fun meme to participate in, and I doubt the meme police are going to show up and fine me, (hopefully not, anyway!)

Snuff by Terry Pratchett - his newest book release
Snuff is set in the Disc World, with Commander Vimes of the City Watch being the focus. Vimes is forced into a vacation - something that is anathema to ol' coppers like him. One of my other favorite writers has interviewed Terry Pratchett - interesting interview.
{by the way - click here for a peak at a song that Neil Gaiman helped out with on the Craig Fergusen show - Moby and others were singers....scroll down the post, you'll see it. Loved it, and he also had a pretty good interview with Craig}

from page 109 of Snuff;
'Vimes stood up. "I'm going for a walk, chief constable. You can follow me if you like"
"Sorry sir, but I've arrested you!"
"No, son, you haven't," said Vimes, heading toward the front door.
"But I definitely told you that you were arrested, sir!" It was almost a wail.
Vimes opened the front door and started down the steps with Feeney trotting along behind him....'

Black Blood (aka Dark Blood) by John Meaney
The second in the Tristopolis trilogy
from page 17;
'He had a strange sense of architecture in his mind, a form of internal perception he had never known.
Then again, I've never been dead before.'

The first book was Bone Song - one of the best books I've read in 2011...or, well - ever.

I was planning on more random bits, but still a bit under the weather, so it's sleepy time again. Too tired even to post an LOL cat, and I love them kitties and their crazy captions.

It's Monday

2011-11-07T00:28:00.000-08:00

Well, it's been a long and warm fall so far. Temperatures in the 80's and 90's...even up until this last week....until yesterday, in fact. We finally had to turn on our heater, it was so cold...and Saturday it rained almost all day. All Day....LOL - actually from about 3 til whatever a.m. Sunday morning. For me, that's all day. During this hot and strange weather, I came down with a cold....it quickly affected my breathing and during a routine doctor visit my oxygen sat was low enough that the nurse wanted to redo it, til I mentioned that I have emphesyma - then she said, "oh" - and an awkward silence followed. Awkward silences - always fun. I happened to already have an appointment set to meet a new doctor (Kaiser is always changing doctors - this will be my fourth new doctor in four years and they all treat things slightly different). So I had to do through the whole question and answer game on the emphysema/smoking/did you quite smoking thing/smoking vs colds, etc. The good thing about this new doc is she ordered antibiotics right away and sent me for a chest x-ray, instead of waiting a month. This is a long way of me explaining why I didn't read or rather finish a book - not one book this past week. I was pretty fatigued and actually missed two days of work, sleeping the days away. Hopefully, I'll start to feel better soon. Had a fun, if sleepy weekend with the grandchildren. I love having them around, even though I'm very tired during the weekend. I could barely talk and both kids had me laughing at the strangest things. I think I'm starting to feel better - or it could be the residual zaniness of having laughter and grandchildren around, so hopefully I'll get better and better this week.

This brings us round to It's Monday, What Are You Reading? The weekly book blog meme hosted by Sheila of Book Journey. The meme is mainly used to showcase what we've been reading, what we're planning to read, etc. Although I end up using it to TMI everyone about what ever health issue or fun thing is affecting me at the moment. Kind of a total round up. LOL. For example, not only were you regaled with my health info (thus the TMI), you get to see what books I didn't finish yet am trying to read AND hear about what movies I watched this week - or at least the movies that stuck in my head. Only thing is, it's kind of hard for me to remember movie names...

Books that I've read at least a chapter of this past week include Snuff by Terry Pratchett (one of the few hardback copies that I will shell out money for); Deadworld by J.N. Duncan (I see that a sequel is already out - haven't bought it yet, don't know if I'm going to like #one yet); and The Stars Down Under by Sandra McDonald (read her first novel during my Sci-Fi obsession summer, and can't quite stay away from the SciFi novels yet... ). I've still been enjoying the occasional SciFi novel, but nothing quite compares to the likes of Ann Aguirre's SciFi series, or Tanya Huff, Elizabeth Bear...This series comes very close though, and has a lot of Australian mythology weaved within the story.

Disappointed! I knew that there were going to be some books released in November that I wanted to buy...Normally I would have been down at Borders, picking up my favorite Authors' works the day they were released...But we all know that now Borders is closed. So I had to go to Barnes and Nobles...Where they DID NOT HAVE the books in. And four days after release day STILL didn't have the books in. So I had to request an order for Magic On The Line, and kept thinking that I had the date wrong while looking for Reckoning by Lili St.Crow. But no, I didn't have the day wrong - it really was supposed to be out, yet no sign of it. Sigh....HUGE FRUSTRATED SIGH... Probably going to have to order it. In fact, I'll probably end up doing more online book buying because I'm not that crazy about Barnes and Nobles (do you want to save 10 percent on your purchases by BUYING OUR MEMBERSHIP card? Hmmmm? No. don't want to have to pay out just to save ten percent, a year. Now if it were a lifetime card, maybe.... ) There's nothing quite as disappointing (in the book buying sense) than looking forward to a book being released up to a year before hand, just to not be able to find it the week it's released.
Movies - watched a SciFi movie tonight. Can't remember the name. Started out interesting - a ship is on it's way to the sun to send a "payload" (bomb) into a sun to kickstart it back to burning life. It's been dying out, and the earth has been getting colder and darker. Now I don't even pretend to understand why a nuclear bomb would help a sun to continue to burn, or why the bomb into doesn't just get absorbed and used up - making it a temporary solution. This is the plot of the movie. So this years long mission starts out well enough and you slowly learn that it's not the first time they've tried this. The first time failed and no one knows why. Finally they're getting close, their ship has a garden that supplies oxygen and food and they get by on recycled water. They hear a signal and find out it's coming from the first mission...and then the movie gets weird. They take a vote to go on with the mission, bypassing the 7 years past failed ship...but wait. one person decides to re-route the ship, and then they sustain some damage, thus making it suddenly necessary to visit this other ship for the extra bomb. Now for one reason and other, (failed repair jobs, etc) people start dying off - usually due to weird mishaps...only after some get stranded on the other ship and one has to sacrifice himself to get the others off the ship in a risky not enough space suits for everyone way - (let's cover ourselves with insulation from the ship walls!) They find a strange last message on the "dead" ship. So now after transferring back to the other ship - in a move that ended up with two people dying, (we've now lost four crew members) there isn't enough oxygen to complete the mission and get back to earth (oh yeah, in another mishap the oxygen garden exploded) they vote on offing the guy that caused the problem in the first place- the one that made the wrong calculations. Only he's already dead. So now there should be enough oxygen only there's not. Seems they have a stowaway - The movie get's stranger in a horror/scifi blend. Oh man. This guy is part computer image part monster who's kind of falling apart. Of course. He's the one that's been causing some of the problem because he's insane and trying to stop the mission. He's been waiting for years, and years. Somehow, after this guy killing off crew members one by one, the last two surviving crew members get the bomb aimed toward the sun, and somehow the last crew member in IN the bomb and he detonates it him self. There is lots of flames and hotness and brightness in this movie...You get the impression that the sun is not only very hot, but blindingly bright (really?)

So now everyone is DEAD. I don't think I would deal well in a situation like this - having to carry through and continue knowing that I'm putting myself at death's door. Consigning myself to dying - no second chances. But the final shot is of the earth's sun suddenly brightening up and day being just like a nice bright sunny day - a snowcovered bright sunny day. So the bomb into the sun apparently works.

weird movie.

I was going to go on about other movies, but my eyes are trying to close up on their own, so it's time for bed and for some sleep!

Good Night everyone and Happy Reading this coming week

It's Monday - and Halloween

2011-10-31T03:07:00.000-07:00

short and possibly sweet, because I have a cold, and it's late, and don't feel like doing anything but reading...

hosted by Book Journey's Sheila - here is my Monday "What are you reading" post...The only link I'm putting up is Book Journey's (lazy, tired and worn out, people - sick and worn out!)

I finished Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. An amazing book with great plot, sinister government, crazed teens and the works. Enjoyed it - I know there are two more - not sure if I have the heart to read them, but I know the writing is excellent (it's teens, forced to KILL each other).

Now that I've finished Hunger Games, I've started reading a not yet published e-book. More on that later, when I can say anything about it...(how mysterious, right? I just don't want to do anything wrong)

received in the mail (because I ordered them)

The Starts Down Under - which I'm reading when I can't focus on the laptop screen, The Stars Blue Yonder (the third in the down under star trilogy) and the sequel to Blood Song - Black Blood

Now I seem to be coming down with my first cold of the school year - had the grandkids this weekend and by Sunday only the granddaughter was left. She was an angel - playing quietly while grandma dozed off and on, staying right by me and being pretty quiet. Good thing I have a huge collection of toys for little girls to play with. polly pockets, barbies and my little ponies - enough to keep any little girl busy for a while. We also read - but that's mainly our night time routine - reading between three and six books before bed. :)

Happy Halloween every one!