Book Review: Boneshaker

Boneshaker

By:  Cherie Priest

Publisher:  Tor

Publish Date:  2009

Format:  Paperback, 414 pages

Genre:  Fiction, Steampunk

Series:  Stand-alone novel

Recommendation:  YES!!!!  To anyone who loves reading some action in a historically amazing twist of a setting.

Book Synopsis:
In the early days of the Civil War, rumors of gold in the frozen Klondike brought hordes of newcomers to the Pacific Northwest.  Anxious to compete, Russian prospectors commissioned inventor Leviticus Blue to create a great machine that could mine through Alaska's ice.  Thus was Dr. Blue's Incredible Bone-Shaking Drill Engine born.

But on its first test run the Boneshaker went terribly awry, destroying several blocks of downtown Seattle and unearthing a subterranean vein of blight gas that turned anyone who breathed it into the living dead.

Now it is sixteen years later, and a wall has been built to enclose the devastated and toxic city.  Just beyond it lives Blue's widow, Briar Wilkes.  Life is hard with a ruined reputation and a teenage boy to support, but she and Ezekiel are managing.  Until Ezekiel undertakes a secret crusade to rewrite history.

His quest will take him under the wall and into a city teeming with ravenous undead, air pirates, criminal overlords, and heavily armed refugees.  And only Briar can bring him ou alive.

First Sentence:
She saw him, and she stopped a few feet from the stairs.

My Review and Synopsis:
The story starts right out with a bit of history, written by Hale Qaurter, of what happened to the city of Seattle in 1863.  Hale then tries to talk with Briar Wilkes, who will NOT share any part of her story with anyone - not even her own son.  Briar not only lost her husband, but her father as well when the city was evacuated from the blight gas spreading.  Both of these men play important parts in history and in the current.  The blight gas is gas released from in the earth, thanks to the Boneshakers test run, which caused the living to turn into the undead.  This story takes place sixteen years after ward, when the East coast is in a civil war and Washington wasn't even a state yet.

I loved the writting style in this book, because the story was constantly moving and you where always learning.  There are many things for now and the history of the city learned in the book, and they were very easily noticed as seperate times.  The current story along with the history was almost like two stories for me in one book.  I loved the creativeness in the story line and idea.

I have to admit I am not a person who really wants to read of zombies.  I don't know what it is about the decaying gray skinned dead humans trying to eat live human skin, but I just find them to turn my stomach.  But the undead in this book are not the main characters or problems.  And yes I said problem with an "s".  There are a few troubles to get through as the book goes on.

I loved the characters from the start of the story.  They are struggling to get by, and as many parents may experience no matter what year it is - the growing space between parent and child as they go through the teen years to become independant adults they are yet not quite ready for.  The relationship between Briar and her son is a great tie in the book and accented very nicely with the story.



This book and review qualify for two of my Challenges.
1.)  February Mini-Challenge New Authors: The League @ Literary Escapism
2.)  Speculative Fiction Challenge @ Book Chick City

Balderdash (24)

is a weekly meme hosted by Ryan at Wordsmithonia.

This is very easy to do!

If you comment on blogs you can do this too.

Write down all the word verifictions you get while posting comments on other peoples blogs.

You then play Balderdash with them.

In case you don't know how to play:

You take the made up word and come up with an authentic sounding definition for it.

Do this for a week and then post your best or favorite ones every Thursday.

Here are mine for this week:

flyspi - a spy camera on a flying remote controled object.

warcapp - in the medieval days there was a special person in times of war who are hidden away with messages to be relayed to the king if the captain should meet an untimely death.

mistorse - when extreme fog is around you and you start seeing things in the mist ripples and maybe hear things in the moisture moving and evaporating.

heastede - the man that thinks he is the stud of a large area in clubs, in which he flants his colors - hair styled with products, clothes pressed, and skin glistening around the edges of his clothing.

verimp - an infected imp who now is on the run and infected with a disease that make the joking creature potentually dangerous with pranks that are harmful in that they start using sharp pointy objects in these jokes - causing injuries.

Now I have a special treat for you all.  We are all aware of how creative children can be, so I asked my 10 year old son to pick any word from the list I had and make up any definition he wanted.  I had to stop him as he was starting to really roll with the words.  So here are two he picked:

ovessem - crazy over excitement.

hymmard - the name of a dragon with scales made of ice and breathes ice instead of fire, it can go anywhere hot or cold, but will start to loss its scales in a warm place it has to go back to a cold place to regrow scales.

Its Tuesday... Where are you! (12) & Teaser (18)

This is hosted by

An Adventure in Reading

I am with Briar around the year 1878 in Seattle Washington.  We are in the walled city of about 2 square miles searching for her son.  He snuck into the city to find proof.  He is only fifteen and this city is no place for him, or us at that.  With the Blight (a gas) still leaking thickly out of the broken ground it is hard to see and breathe with this gas mask on.  We just barely escaped getting caught and eaten by the Blight zombies thanks to Jeremiah.  Boy did he show up at the right time!

Boneshaker

By Cherie Priest

Teaser Tuesday

is a weekly event.

Sponsored by MizB of Should be Reading.

Here's how it works:

Grab the book you are currently reading (anything at all)

Open the book to any random page.

Share 2 "teaser" sentences from anywhere on the page.

Please Make Sure They Are Not Spoilers!

(Don't Give Too Much Away)

Just enough to pique our interests.

List the book and author so other participants can get their hand on it if they choose to read it as well.

This week:

The memory distracted her with its immediacy.  The machine.  The destruction downstairs when she'd run there, terrified and searching frantically for her husband.  The smell of wet earth and mold; the raging hiss of steam pouring from cracks in the Boneshaker's body; the stink of burning oil and the wire-sharp taste of metal gears grinding themselves into smoke.

Boneshaker

By Cherie Priest

Monday's Beginnings (26)

Well, here we are again... another Monday!

How are you faring in reading your books?  Are you starting a new book for the week or finishing one up?

I had myself a mini read-a-thon over the weekend.  Friday night and Saturday morning until about lunch time all I did was read.  With that reading time I finished Demon Bound by Caitlin Kittredge.  The last night I started into my next read for the week, Boneshaker by Cherie Priest.  I am not far in the book yet, on page 92 out of 414.  I am hoping, no - planning to get it done this week.

I have been working on trying to put myself on a time table with blogging, blog reading, reading books, and writing.  So, I have found I am really behind in my blog reading.  I keep adding awesome blogs so I am having a hard time keeping up with everyone.  But I am enjoying all the great information I am reading and great people I've been chatting with.

I have added 3 books to my wanting list.  There were a few same books that where floating around and many I already have on the list to get.

I received 2 books in the mail this week.

I received this book as a winning from over at Alexia's Books and Such...

I am thinking my son and I can enjoy this book together.

The next book I received, I purchased.  The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms.  It is a feature book over at Barnes and Nobles Forums for the month of March.  So, I am going to read this one in sections for discussing and speculating on where the book will go.  I love doing these discussions, I have loads of fun. :)  If you would like to join in on the forums click here to go to the main page and set yourself up and join us in Fantasy and Science Fiction.



So, how are you faring this Monday?  Does the week look like a great reading week?  I am hoping so for you and me!  Happy Reading!

Book Review: Demon Bound

Demon Bound

By:  Caitlin Kittredge

Publisher:  St. Martin's Paperbacks

Publish Date:  December 2009

Format:  Paperback (pocket size)

Genre:  Fiction, Urban Fantasy

Series:  2nd book in The Black London Series.  If you would like to read a brief review of Street Magic, the first book please click here.

Recommendation:  Yes, especially if you read the first book and loved the love/hate relationship with Jack and Pete and the great gritty magic - get it.

Book Synopsis:
Jack Winter's deadly past has come back to haunt him... and his only hope lies in the shadows of Black London, the supernatural underworld teeming with dark magic and fey glamour.

Thirteen years ago, Jack Winter lay dying in a graveyard.  Jack called upon a demon and traded his soul for his life... and now the demon is back to collect its due.  But Jack has finally found something to live for.  Her name is Pete Caldecott - and because of her, Jack's not going to Hell without a fight.

Pete doesn't know about Jack's bargain, but she does know that something bigger and far more dangerous than Jack's demon is growing in the Black.  Old gods are stirring and spirits are rising - and Jack doesn't stand a chance of stopping them without Pete's help...

First Sentence:
A crow sat on the dead branch of the dead tree that watched over two gravestones in the corner of Brompton Cemetery.

My Review and Summary:
There are a few things I enjoyed in the book.  The gritty magic which Kittredge takes to the next level in this book with necromancers, fey, and death knocking on the door, then we have the banter and love/hate relationship between Jack and Pete.  This couple is not for everyones taste (even the other characters in the books hate Jack), but I do love their sarcasm to cover some feelings and the brutal honesty toward each other on other feelings.  Pete seems to be the one more honest and Jack seems to avoid the truth or tell lies until he has no other option.

This book seems to focus a little more on Jack and his past come back to bite him.  When the book started Jack really came across to me as a royal ass.  And his royal treatment didn't seem to be aimed at one person but to everyone, even Pete whom he feels for and will protect her with his life.  I even started to think Jack was like that mean little boy is school that loves to torment and pick on that one girl he really liked.  As you see more into the depths of the characters through other emotions and situations you start to see there is more to them and see their growth.  Pete, herself, has a tough rough exterior to her as well.  She can dish out and take the punches, physically and verbally, with Jack and the best of them.

I was a little let down in I hoped this book would be geared more toward Pete learning to use her magic and growth, but it was set more for Jack.  Which is a great story!  I was just hoping for more Pete.  I did get the feel this book has some of the second story or middle books syndrome.  This book seemed to be the shifting book for the next story in plot and character setting.  I do think with the way this book ended I will get more of Pete in the third one along with more on the Black and their guardians they work for.



This book qualifies for 2 book challenges:
New Author Mini-Challenge: The League at Literary Escapism
&
Speculative Fiction Challenge at The Book Chick City

Balderdash (23)

is a weekly meme hosted by Ryan at Wordsmithonia.

This is very easy to do!

If you comment on blogs you can do this too.

Write down all the word verifictions you get while posting comments on other peoples blogs.

You then play Balderdash with them.

In case you don't know how to play:

You take the made up word and come up with an authentic sounding definition for it.

Do this for a week and then post your best or favorite ones every Thursday.

Here are mine for this week:

irchpo - an evil little insect, with ichor of a black burning hot oil for blood, in which has lived in the depths of Hell and have returned to the surface of the world when the new moon comes to pass.

twilects - a secreted group of people who worship the twilight hours of a day, studying and believing in the stars and planets.

fingly - the fidgetiness of fingers - either drumming, taping, or giggling change in your pocket.

droft - a term used in a joking way for being down, negative, or pessimistic.

Favorite Fictional Character (19)

Favorite Fictional Character

A weekly meme thanks to the creative mind of Ryan of Wordsmithonia.

I was trying to remember shows I use to watch when I was younger.  Well, I was also looking at newly released books and while looking at the book Unknown, by Rachel Caine, and was looking at the bike on the cover and this guy popped into my head.  There was just something with long hair, motorcycle, leather, and muscles I just loved about this guy.  gggrrrr.  Sorry about that.  Reno Raines of The Renegades.

The show ran from 1992 through 1997.  Reno was a cop who was framed for murder.  Reno goes on the run.  A professional Bounty Hunter, Bobby Sixkiller, is sent to find Reno.  But, instead of this bounty hunter finding Reno and bringing him in - Reno saves his life. 

Bobby and Reno become fast friends and gain each others trust.  It ends up Reno on the road working for Bobby as a bounty hunter.  Reno is tracking people down on his beautiful motorcycle, while all the long looking for the one person who could clear his own name with the law.

Reno was such a great good, bad guy turned bad, good.  LOL.  I don't know if that made any sense.  He always had the bad guy look and feel, but deep down he was the good guy looking to help anyone he could.  Reno came across some women that wanted to love him, but with all that went down when he was framed for murder his love was killed.  Reno tried to seperate himself from bringing someone innocent into the mess he was still in, not knowing if someone else would get hurt or worse... killed.

Here is the video of the opening to the show.

Renegade tv show

Movies & TV

SPIKE.com

It's Tuesday... Where are you? (11)

This is hosted by

An Adventure in Reading

 

I am leaving the grave yard with Pete and Jack.  Jack just used his powers to raise a dead couple who's children want to know why they were left out of the will.  Jack seems to have a hard time with this even though he shouldn't with the powers he posesses.  Pete seems to have noticed this but helped her crabby boyfriend as she could.  He seems to have been rather grumpy since he quite the drugs, as they helped minimize the visions or at least hide them.

 

Demon Bound

By Caitlin Kittredge

Book Review: and Falling, fly

and Falling, fly

By:  Skyler White

Publisher:  Berkley - Penguin Group

Publish Date:  Release Date:  March 2, 2010

Format:  Paperback

Genre:  Urban Fantasy

Series:  1st book in The Harrowing Series.

Recommendation:  If you like to feel love growing through a story, and with an urban fantasy setting, then you will enjoy this book.

Book Synopsis:
In a dark and seedy underground of burned-out rock stars and anels-turned-vampire, a revolutionary neuroscientist and a fallen angel must pit medicine against mythology in an attempt to erase their tortured pasts... but at what price?

Olivia, vampire and fallen angel of desire, is hopeless... and damned.  Since the fall from Eden, she has hungered for love, but fed only on desire.  Dominic O'Shaughnessy is a neuroscientist plagued by impossible visions.  When his research and her dispair collide at L'Otel Matillide - a subterranean hell of beauty, demons, and dreams - rationalist and angel unite in a clash of desire and damnation that threatens to destroy them both.

In this fractured Hotel of the Damned, Olivia and Dominic discover the only force consistent in their opposing realities is the deep, erotic gravity between them.  Bound to each other finally in a knot of interwoven freedoms, Dominic and Olivia - the vision-touched scientist and the earthbound angel, reborn and  undead - encounter the mystery of love and find it is both fall... and flight.

First Sentence:
The angel of desire is damned.

My Review and Summary:
The story of and Falling, Fly seemed to me to be a love story set in an urban fantasy world.  I loved the created connection of fallen angels to vampires.  There is a lot of mythology used in creating the story, along with scientific study of the current day.  These are two different beliefs that seem to contradict each other, and with two different people put to the test to be seen through each others eyes.

I found myself in the end enjoying all the characters.  I found myself pulling toward Dominic more in the story from the beginning.  I think, for me, I found the science easier to believe than the mythology.  I felt I could understand Dominic easier in the world based on todays.  Shortly after meeting Dominic I started to learn there is something special about him as well.  I loved this little secret Dominic has and is trying to run from.

There where passages in the beginning from Olivia's view point in which I felt confused.  There was a lot of legendary information given to help understand Olivia and where she comes from in her ways and thinking.  There where times I did not understanding why she was doing what she was doing or the reasons behind things.  For instance, Olivia made a point of mentioning she didn't work as she didn't need to, she had all the money she needed.  I was curious as to where she got this money (which by the end of the book you will find out).  But, this part of being confused was cleared up as the book went on.  I just had to learn the way of the laws and legends of the fallen/vampires.   After we got to Ireland the story really started to grip me.

I also liked the secretive magic Gaehod, the innkeeper, held in the story.  Just enough to enjoy but not over do it.

The story telling was nicely done.  You do get to see things from two point of views, Dominic and Olivia.  This helped to better understand their opposing beliefs.  I found myself wondering: Which way of thinking is correct in this world?  What do I believe.  As what I believed in the beginning started to change the more I read.  I could feel the love growing between the characters as well.  The paths that are needed to be taken in order to find what you need, or even desire.  What happens if you get what you want?  Is the grass always greener on the other side?  What do you want and what do you think you want?  Great questions to think on.

In all I enjoyed the journey I took in this book with love, mythological beliefs, and scientific beliefs.  A wonderful love story to add to the urban fantasy world.  If you are looking for a lot of action this is not the book for you, but if you want to read of an endless love blooming I would read this book.

If you would like to visit Skyler Whites website click here.



I requested this book from the Author and received my copy from the publisher as an ARC for review.
This review qualifies for my Speculative Fiction Challenge with Book Chick City.

Monday's Beginnings (25)

Well, here we are again.... another Monday!

How are you faring in reading your books?  Are you starting a new book for the week or finishing one up?

We are still getting snow here.  Although, I do have to thank our lucky stars, it is not as much as a week ago.  We are getting an inch here and a few inches there.  We are to get around 2-6 inches tonight ~ depending on where you are at.

But, on to book stuff...

~ I have added 3 books to my list to get.  Thank you!  You are all helping to keep me out of trouble and these amazing authors in work.
~ I received some books in the mail this week!  I was so excited!  I enter for contests of books I want so I have added to my wonderful stack here these books:  Veracity by Laura Bynum I won over at The Wayfaring Writer, and Spiral Hunt and Wild Hunt by Margaret Ronald from Harper Collins Publishers.
~ I just finished and Falling, fly by Skyler White.  I plan on getting my review up tomorrow night.
~ Now I hope to start into Demon Bound by Caitlin Kittredge.

So, how are you faring this Monday?  Does the week look like a great reading week?  I am hoping so for myself, and for you too.

Some shared info. of and Falling, fly and author Skyler White

As many of you have seen I am currently reading and Falling, Fly by Skyler White.  I am hoping to be done with the book and prepare my review tomorrow night, but in the mean time I wanted to share with you some information on Skyler and her book.

Skyler was a child of two college professors, she then left high school to find a career in ballet.  Skyler has a master's degree in theater and work experience in advertising.  She has also received awards as a stage director and has really appeared on reality TV.  Skyler has an MA in dramatic theory and literary critcism.  Skyler is now a Texan resident, married to an inventor, and mother to two children, along with being an author.

Two items I found very interesting, and seem to have had a large impact in helping in this story; 1.) she teaches workshops on myth 2.) she actively follows the developments in the neuroscience community.

and Falling, fly is the first book in The Harrowing series.  These stories are set in a parallel world of mythological damnation and combining romance with urban fantasy.  The second book is In Dreams Begin which is about an Irish poet ~W.B. Yeats, Victorian freedom-fighter ~Maud Gonne, and the Golden Dawn occult movement.  In Dreams Begin will be out in December 2010.

I was interested to learn from Skylers website as to why she wrote the story and Falling, fly:

"I wrote Falling because I wanted to tangle with Desire – with what it means to want and not get, with what turns desire into craving or addiction, and what takes it away. My research ranged from feminist accounts of female sexuality to scientific abstracts on the neurochemistry of attraction. Writing it changed the way I think about myself, my body, and my brain.


I wrote it because I needed to meet Olivia. Because I was interested in the difference between wanting and being wanted, Olivia can only feed on people who desire or fear her. Because I struggle with body image, she’s a shape-shifter. Because she let me wrestle with these things through her, she is an angel. And she’s still kicking my ass."

If you would like to visit Skyler's official site click here.

Cover Release: Tempest's Legacy - By Nicole Peeler

Okay, so this image will probably be all over the blogs here soon.  But I just had to post on this one.  Tempest's Legacy By Nicole Peeler - book 3 of Jane True.



I have been loving these covers.


Tempest's Legacy is due out January 2011!


I have read the first book, Tempest Rising, of our little Jane.  The cover of book one really highlights some great things from in the book.  I'm not telling of them.  You are going to have to read the book to get them. ~ Although I would really love to discuss them if you really want to.

If you would like to read my review for Tempest Rising click here.

I have a few theories on the second book, Tracking the Tempest, based on the clues on the cover and what had happened in Tempest Rising.

Tracking the Tempest is due out July 2010!

Balderdash (22)

is a weekly meme hosted by Ryan at Wordsmithonia.

This is very easy to do!

If you comment on blogs you can do this too.

Write down all the word verifictions you get while posting comments on other peoples blogs.

You then play Balderdash with them.

In case you don't know how to play:

You take the made up word and come up with an authentic sounding definition for it.

Do this for a week and then post your best or favorite ones every Thursday.

Here are mine for this week:

 

ovensart - the burning, sizzling feeling the sun has on ones skin when outside during the time of when the sun is at its closest to the earth.  This does result in the worst case of sun burn one can have.

 

scryppr - the scrying a witch can do with an item the scryee has touched and left their "print" on.  Only the most powerful mage can conduct this type of scrying since there is no physical item from the person in search of.

 

bupprock - the new type of rock music making its way around in the night club scenes.  The music has a new beat that drives everyone out for their chairs and bopping on the dance floor.

 

gogablen - this would be the love child of Lady Gaga and a half human/goblin.  The human/goblin seduced Lady Gaga one crazy evening.

What are your thoughts on Anthologies?

I have been thinking on anthology books.  I just finished reading Inked with 4 wonderful authors; Karen Chance, Marjorie M. Liu, Yasmine Galenorn, and Eileen Wilks.  If you would like to read my review click here.

But in thinking after the fact of reading this book and hearing of many other anthologies out or coming out, I have come up with a question for you...  Do you think you get a good feel for the authors writing style, for the characters, and of the world being built?

I got my anthology, Inked, because I had read the Hunter Kiss books by Marjorie M. Liu and loved them, so I wanted to keep going with the story.  I was also excited to meet new authors in this book as well, as I am always looking for more books to read and enjoy.

I did how ever have a few fears going into this book:

1.)  I was afraid all the stories where going to be of series the authors have already done and I would be totally lost.

2.)  I would not get a feel for the world or characters in hand here.

3.)  That the authors stories would feel rushed and incomplete.

In thinking they really only have an average of 120 pages (give or take) to get you up to speed on the characters, fall in love with them, and understand the wondrous worlds they are creating; then with this all in tail to tell a story as well.  And not just an average story but one to keep you going then come back for more and buy their books.  To me this sounds like a tall order to fill.

With reading Inked I was very impressed with each authors abilities in such a short story to fill these areas.  Of the four authors three of them where completely new to me.  One, I was not big on the main character but she finally came through for me in the end of the story, but the world created was amazing.  I fell in love with the world built and would really like to read more in it.  Then, one author I really loved the characters and got just a touch of the world they were in, but the mystery and description to the details was wonderful.  And the third author really got me hooked to the characters along with the world like ours with magic.

Of these three authors I would love to buy books by two of them for sure.  The third I will have to think on.  I think I will try the first book in her series as a curiosity to see if the character clicks with me better or not.  As I have heard great things of that author.

I was impressed with these authors abilities and after reading this anthology I would definitely read others.  I had a great experience with this one and look forward to reading more anthologies.  I currently have a few on my list now to get.

Please leave me a comment on your thoughts on Anthologies.  I am curious as to what you think too.

Tuesday Teaser (17)

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly event.

Sponsored by MizB of Should be Reading.

(I am rotating from Teaser Tuesday and Where are you? on Tuesdays. This week is the teaser.)

Here's how it works:

Grab the book you are currently reading (anything at all)

Open the book to any random page.

Share 2 "teaser" sentences from anywhere on the page.

Please Make Sure They Are Not Spoilers!

(Don't Give Too Much Away)

Just enough to pique our interests.

List the book and author so other participants can get their hand on it if they choose to read it as well.

This week:

 

I have been a fool. Ed could never have been my salvation.  Just another fig.  Adam, however, might be.  If only tonight goes differently than my birthdays always do, if only I don't have to leave adam like I left Ed in the blue bathroom - blindly wanting me.  They can't help it.  They all want me.  I am the angel of desire.

 

and Falling, fly

By Skyler White

(this is an arc I just received and will be reviewing)

Book Review: Hell's Belles

Hell's Belles

By:  Jackie Kessler

Publisher:  Kensington/Zebra Books

Publish Date:  January 2007

Format:  Paperback (pocket sized)

Genre:  Paranormal Romance

Series: 1st book in Hell on Earth series.

Recommendation:  Yes, this is definitely a romance paranormal book.  So if you like some steam and fire with your paranormal you would enjoy this one.

Book Synopsis:
Once upon a time, Jezebel was a powerful succubus, capable of seducing men and sucking out their souls.  But that was before Hell put a bounty on her head.  Now her only chance to escape a fate far worse than death is to live as a mortal, losing herself in a sea of unfamiliar humanity, in a place where sinners walk hand-in-hand with saints - a place like New York City.

Working as an exotic dancer is a piece of cake for a former demon who once specialized in sex.  But she hadn't counted on meeting sexy Paul Hamilton, a man haunted by his past. Good-bye, succubus; hellp, lovestruck.

But Hell hasn't stopped looking for her.  The secrets Jezebel holds are the most dangerous of all, the kind every demon in the Underworld would do their worst to protect.  Demons are closing in, which is enough to make Jezebel shiver in her G-string.  But it's her love for Paul that's going to have deadly consequences...

First Sentence:
On the night the Underworld put a contract out on me, a crescent moon dangled overhead like a celestial fishhook and stars bobbed in the sky.

My Review and Summary:
The story starts right off with Jezebel on the run looking for the witch who can help her become mortal to keep her off the radar of the underworld creatures who will be out to take her back in, one way or another.  Jezebel, a succubus who feels is good no great at her job and loves it, now is mortal.  What was the horrible thing happened in the underworld to make her feel she has to leave the life she loves so much?  Through the book you get hints but in the end you get all the pieces connected together.

The story started off with the action right away.  Even though there was movement forward in the book, I had felt it was a little slow moving.  But, by the time I hit half way through the book we were of full speed forward.  This is a great start to a series.  The world is set, both in mortal earth and in hell.

I enjoyed the connection with Jezebel and Paul.  The teasing and tension between them was great from the moment they met.  There is definitely romance in this story, as Jezebel takes a job as a stripper and with the feel from her and Paul.  There are a few great secondary characters added in the book whom could be expanded on greatly in future books and I look forward to seeing more of.  There is a complete story here and there are setting planted for the future books.  Very nicely done.

However, in the end of the book I felt there was a moral to be seen.  I felt there are things we have done in which maybe as a whole we could change and there is hope for us all.

I am looking forward to reading more of this series to see where Jezebel will be and what she will do.



This book qualifies for two of my challenges - Speculated Fiction at Book Chick City, and Mini-Challenge of New Authors: The League at Literary Escapism.

Book Review: Inked

Inked

By:  As many of you have heard or seen the book around it is an anthology of 4 stories by 4 authors.  I will try to do a quick review of each story below.

Publisher:  Berkley

Publish Date:  January 2010

Format:  Paperback (pocket size)

Genre:  Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy

Series:  There are short stories of their own and ones that are part of a series already out there.

Recommendation:  Yes! This is a great way to get a feel for the authors and if you already have read the authors then this is a great addition to their books.  Just the right size of a story to give you a fix for your favorite authors while waiting for the next book to be released.

Book Synopsis:
Four Tales of paranormal romance and urban fantasy explore body art that is more than it seems-in a world of magic and mayhem that always leaves its mark...

__________________________________________
Story 1:
Skin Deep    By Karen Chance

Synopsis:
New York Times bestselling author Karen Chance's "Skin Deep" tells the tale of a war mage in Las Vegas who stumbles across an ominous magical ward that appears as a dragon on her skin-and has a mind of its own...

My Review and Summary:
I really enjoyed the adventure of the mystery in following Lia in finding her boyfriend Cyrus.  There is a connection between Lia and Cyrus she is not aware of until it appears for her.  Lia, being a mage on light duty, has to find Cyrus - hiding in Tartarus the shifting underground Vegas - to see if he has a clue or... is he in trouble... since there are weres being killed at the very moment of changing - for their skins.  Who ever is doing this has to be good, fore the change is instantaneous. 

There is some romance in this story as well.
__________________________________________
Story 2:
Armor of Roses      By Marjorie M. Liu

Synopsis:
When New York Times bestselling author Marjorie M. Liu's demon hunter Maxine Kiss investigates a grisly murder, she finds herself involved in a conspiracy dating back to World Was II - and a secret mission that her grandmother may have carried out for the U.S. government, one that involves the mysterious "Armor of Roses."

My Review and Summary:
This is the story in which I purchased the book for, as I have been following the series and figured this would be a great addition to it.  I do feel, if you have not read the series you will be caught up with the major highlights of Maxine and other major characters along with getting into a new story in ten pages.

I felt I got a new respect for Maxine as she is a hardass, but with a soft heart.  Maxine gets to spend time with a younger version of her Grandmother, whom she never met except on special jumps through time, trying to get information from her Grandmother during the World War in Japan.  I felt so drawn into this story that I could smell the many scents of the city - food, drink, and filth from garbage and feces.
__________________________________________
Story 3:
Etched in Silver     By Yasmine Galenorn

Synopsis:
In New York Times bestselling author Yasmine Galenorn's "Etched in Silver," a supernatural agent is on the trail of a sadistic serial killer when an unexpected-and dangerously seductive-ally comes to her aid, setting in motion a magical ritual that may end up binding them together, body and soul.

My Review and Summary:
This story for some reason was the only one I had a little bit of work to get into.  At first I thought it may be Camille the main character, but then I grew to like her by the end of the story.  Camille seemed to be a little annoying to me.  I am not sure how to really explain it.

Camille and her two sisters live in the Underworld with their father.  They are half witches with powers that seem to be a little on the uncontrolable side.  They work for an agency that sends them on missions no one else wants or missions expecting the sisters to fail to hold it over them.  Camille is on a mission to find an ex-agent who is on a raping, killing spree.  Camille comes across a dark stranger who helps her out with more than just her mission.

I really enjoyed the world Karen created in this story.  If only for that reason I have added Karens books to my list to read.  I love the atmosphere here and the magic present.  The sisters being not perfect are an added touch to the story.

There is some steamy tension and sex included in this story.
__________________________________________
Story 4:
Human Nature     By Eileen Wilks

Synopsis:
When the magically tattooed body of a man is found in a Northern California town, FBI Agent Lily Yu is drawn into the case.  Trouble is, the victim wasn't human - and the killer isn't finished in USA Today bestselling author Eileen Wilks's "Human Nature."

My Review and Summary:
I have to admit this was my second favorite story in this book.  I really enjoyed reading Eileens story of Lily and Rule.  Rule, being a were, receives a call that an old friend of his had died.  Well, was murdered, with a tattoo around his neck then his throat cut.  Rule being the were he is, is learning how to share with Lily his feelings - yet he wants his FBI Agent girlfriend to head up the investigation.  Lily has to find that magic was used in the murder in order to be able to take over the investigation.

I like how the details are given for the explanation of what and why things are happening.  There is also different possibilities that could be followed.  I really enjoy the mystery with the urban fantasy mix.


This book qualifies for my challenge - Speculative Fiction at Book Chick City.

Contest Winner!!

I want to thank everyone for entering the contest! 

You are all wonderful followers and I enjoy reading your comments.  I have also found some great new friends by way of this contest.  Thank you all again for joining in the fun.

I really did enjoy all the comments on tattoos.  I would like to let you know my thoughts on tattoos, as I didn't leave my thoughts in the contest post. 

-- I do not have any tattoos.  Although, I have thought on getting one - many times.  But I am a weakling when it comes down to it.  I would have been more apt to get one when I was younger and a little more on my crazy side.  But, now that I am a little older (and yes only a little) I will not do it.  Although, I do like to look at tattoos.  I have seen many people with them all over, I'm not a big fan of the continues ones but at the same time mezmerised by them and have to look at them all.  I don't have any problems with having tattoos.

Okay, I had 34 entries in the contest.  I numbered your entry in order based on your first entry.  I used Random.org to select the number of the winner.

So with out any further delay the winner is....

Pixie13!!!

Pixie13 has opted for the book, Iron Hunt by Marjorie M. Liu.  I do hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

I will be emailing you for your information here shortly.

Monday's Beginnings (24)

So, here we are again.... Monday!

How are you faring in reading your books?  Are you starting a new book for the week or finishing one up?

It seems as this week is going to have a strange pass to it.  I have just recovered, mostly from a snow storm here where we got a little over 2 feet of snow, lost our power, and our hot water tank decided to call it quits.  Now, I have found our house computer has gone on strike as well.  I am not able to get it to turn on.  I will have to play around with the wires just to make sure they are all plugged in before I make any final decisions.  But that is for another night.

I just got back from the grocery store, as we were rather low on food here after being home bound for the last few days.  WOW! Let me tell you it was a zoo there!  We are now awaiting another snow storm to come through.  Yep, Tuesday it is to start and end Wednesday.  Yep, another 8-12 inches of snow on its way.  Now, were we are going to put these snow to come is the question?  I will wait and see what we are going to get.

Okay, now to my book things.  I have added 6 books to my list to get.  The amazing authors are going to be thanking you!  I have one book review to write up for you all, Inked.  And I am currently working on Hell's Belles by Jackie Kessler.  I am almost done with this book as well so a review should be up by the end of the week for it.

I received 2 books in the mail this past week, which I ordered.  They are Boneshaker By Cherie Priest and Greywalker by Kat Richardson.  I am looking forward to these books!

I will also be pulling the winner of my 50+ Followers contest shortly after I post this.  Good luck to you all!

So, how is your Monday going?  How are you faring with your books?

Reminder and Update

Just wanted to stop in for a moment to remind you all today is the last day to enter in my contest!

The prize is your choice:
   Iron Hunt by Marjorie M. Liu
     OR
   $15 gift card from Amazon

I am going to try my hardest to pick the winner tomorrow evening.  Click here to enter.

We have a lot of things going on at the current moment...  We where hiding under 2+ feet of snow and lost our power.  Yep, now power here for two days!  And no internet service.  I tried to read my book, but it was very slow goings when you are freezing and by candle light.  Along with the no power thing, and snow, our hot water tank blew.  Of course the water tank was in the laundry room with all my dirty cloths on the floor.  Yeh, fun! Not only do I love doing laundry but soaking wet laundry is the best. ;)  So currently that is what we are working on since we have power.  Power is such a lovely thing!!!! :)

I do have  a review to type up and post here with in the next couple of days and I will try my hardest to pick the winner tomorrow evening.  Hoping things will be calmer by then.

Okay, got to go and try to get that laundry room cleaned back up.  Hope you all had a better weekend then us!  All in all with that being said it really wasn't a bad weekend.... lots of family time.

Balderdash (21)

is a weekly meme hosted by Ryan at Wordsmithonia.

This is very easy to do!

If you comment on blogs you can do this too.

Write down all the word verifictions you get while posting comments on other peoples blogs.

You then play Balderdash with them.

In case you don't know how to play:

You take the made up word and come up with an authentic sounding definition for it.

Do this for a week and then post your best or favorite ones every Thursday.

Here are mine for this week:

dorsom - the feeling some freshman college students go through in which they stay in their dorm room with a solemn feel due to being away from home and friends from youth and now having a hard time adjusting to a new atmosphere of college classes and new people.

ballyza - a ballroom atmosphere of wearing the formal dresses of the era of civil wars and formal suits along with uniforms of status in which there is a mask to hide the identity of everyone and then having to meet as many people as possible.

Neriess - a minor goddess who is known to give the flowers of nature their color and viberance.  She makes the world bright and beautiful.

dernun - a candy bar with cashue nuts, a drizzle of caramel then covered in milk chocolate - with no calories.

Favorite Fictional Character (18)

Favorite Fictional Character

A weekly meme thanks to the creative mind of Ryan at Wordsmithonia.

There is one character I remember reading about when I was younger.  My Grandmother had a shelf of books and pulled this book off the shelf and told me she thought I would enjoy this book.  And... I did.  Who was it of?  Well, it's not our traditional character in the way of people.  It was an animal.  The book was named for this animals name, Kazan.  Kazan was written by James Oliver Curwood, I think in 1914.
 
Kazan is a dog, okay - part wolf and husky, that lived in the Arctic.  Kazan is a larger dog and known to be fearless.  This dog lived through the hardships of the cold, starving, and fighting for his food.  The part that pulled me into the story was the book was from the dogs view point, and about the dog.  There was no self pity from the dog as he only knew life to be one way.  Kazan had been a sled dog with masters who may not have been the nicest.  Kazan had lived life on his own in the wild and had to survive, one way or another.  At one point Kazan meets a wonderful woman whom he takes to and cares for him.  Kazan also finds himself a mate in the wild.
 
When I googled for the book I didn't find to much.  But I did find the book in google books.  You are able to read the book, or parts of the book online.  If you would like to check it out you can click here.

It's Tuesday... Where are you? (10)

This is hosted by

An Adventure in Reading
 
I am walking into unexceptional building with Camille and Trillian, Svartan Camille finds gorgeous and irresistible.  The building has a feel of magic radiating off of it.  Trillian has kindly asked us to not talk until he says it is okay.  The dwarf at the front desk didn't even bat an eye at us walking in.  Trillian has lead us down a long hall and we are now standing infront of a door in which he is doing a secret knock and put his hand on a scensor of some sort to open the door.  I am curious as to what we are walking into.  I know we are looking for disguises to go back and capture the murder, rapest, and torturer - Roche.

Inked

Third story: Etched in Silver

By Yasmine Galenorn

Book Review: Nyphron Rising

Nyphron Rising

By:  Michael J. Sullivan

Publisher:  Ridan Publishing

Publish Date:  November 2009

Format:  Paperback, 5 1/2" x 8 1/2"

Genre:  Fiction/Fantasy/Epic

Series:  Book 3 in The Riyria Revelations; Book 1- The Crown Conspiracy, Book 2- Avempartha

Recommendation:  Yes! Do you love a great fantasy story with familiar characters you love through an epic journey? You should read this one.

Book Synopsis:
A PUPPET IS CROWNED.

THE TRUE HEIR REMAINS HIDDEN.

A ROGUE'S SECRET COULD CHANGE EVERYTHING.

AWar has come to Melengar.  To save her kingdom, Princess Arista runs a desperate gamble when she defies her brother and hires Royce and Hadrian for a dangerous mission.  As the power of the Nyphron Empire grows, so does Royce's suspicion that the wizard Esrahaddon is using the thieves as pawns in his own game.  To find the truth, he must unravel the secret of Hadrian's past - what he discovers could change the future for all of Elan.

First Sentence:
Amilia made the mistake of looking back into Edith Mon's eyes.

My Review and Summary:
Once again Michael Sullivan has delivered an amazing story.  I love how these stories are complete in themselves yet there is the underlying thread through them all.  Michael gives you all the pieces from the previous books to refresh your memory or if you haven't read them so you know what is happening.  You could very well read this book without reading the first two books.  BUT I would suggest reading them so you get to know the characters through their growth of trials through each other and to understand the intertwining plot involving religion and politics.  As it appears to me the underlining thread is starting to come closer to the surface in the stories now, which is a bonus for me to go along with the individual stories.

Along with old friends I have meet a few new ones I look forward to reading more about in the future books.  These characters have come to life for me through these books.  There is humor in the characters, which is not over done or forced.  There is a respect between characters and caring in that respect which is all earned.

This book has our wonderful thieves; Royce and Hadrian, but also the amazing character Princess Arista.  In the story Princess Arista stays true to here character, yet she seems real in that she has her moments of doubts and anxieties in herself and what she is doing - wondering if what she is doing is right for all.  Arista is a strong women in these stories and is not a normal princess: in always having beautiful dresses, sitting in the castle doing needlepoint, and not thinking of politics.  She is willing to do what it takes to save her country and help others, along with using the magical arts she learned from the powerful wizard Esrahaddan and her professor, in magic, Arcadius.

I have had thoughts and questions on the characters and the plots.  In each book Michael has answered these questions and has added to or solved the thoughts on the plots.  In doing this I have come to realize the answers are true because I can think back and remember a word here and a sentence there that were used to take me through this remarkable path to the solutions.

I am looking forward to the next book scheduled to come out April 2010.  As all my questions are answered, but I have thoughts on where the conspiracy in the politics and church are going.

This review qualifies for my Speculative Fiction Challenge for at Book Chick City.

Monday's Beginnings (23)

Well, here we are again - Monday...

How are you faring in reading your books?  Are you starting a new book for the new week or are you still caught up with one?  It seems for me the beginning of the week is when I get to start anew.  I have noticed at times Mondays set the pace for the week for me too.  So, have you got much reading done and think the week will go easy for the reading or are you going to be chasing the clock all week for reading time?

Last week went well for me.  I picked up five new books for my list from other blogs I have visited.  I have been a little slow at picking up books from blogs because there are a few great books coming out soon I really want to get and read.  With being a slower reader I have to make sure I keep time open for these books coming up and with the books I want to read on my list.

I just got done reading Nyphron Rising by Michael Sullivan, so this review will be up here this evening.  I would have been done sooner except the reading weekend I thought I was going to have kind of didn't happen.  Which is okay.  My husband had a spur of the moment thought to go away Saturday afternoon, without our son.  It was a nice little afternoon to go out as adults for once.   So, my big reading time was to be Saturday afternoon but something else came up.  This evening I have been on the wild run to find fish food, and stuff to go with the fish my son brought home from school.  Along with this he wanted another fish to keep the first one company.  Then when we got home with all this stuff, the fish from school is on his death bed.  Poor thing.  So we are waiting to have the funeral when the fish is finally taken off of life support.

I am hoping to get to Inked book 3 then move on to Hell's Belles by Jackie Kessler.  Hell's Belles is for my Mini-Challenge for at Literary Escapism.

So... Let me know how your Monday is going... How are you faring with your reading in the beginning of this new week?

New author added to The League of Reluctant Adults!

We have a new addition to the authors of The League of Reluctant Adults!

Who is that you ask?  Well....

Rob Thurman

I am excited about this addition as I have been wanting to get to her books for a few months here.  I am really going to have to get reading and take up some speed reading coursed to help.  lol.