Balderdash (31)

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:

sloodeg - the sloopy and hardwork of getting through the thick mud in woods.

bompygr - a five inch size balled fruit, a dark purple color to the skin, and grows in the depths of the jungle, they are very juicy from all the water the tree takes in, and sweet tasting.

misairp - the use of air and steamed air to fuel equipment to work.

fluviti - the vitamin used when feeling a flu starting which will lighten the symptoms and help you to sleep to work through the worst parts of the cold to let your body recuperate.

My son has picked a few word this week as well:

(I do have to say I am impressed. He had no idea what words I picked or the definitions I created.)

hydom - its the mixture of helium and carbon-dioxide that cause you to die if you just touch it but is also used to power special kinds of boats.

demenoon - a mix between a demon and a vampire.

Favorite Fictional Character (22)

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

My character this week is a woman who carries the burden of her family's heritage with her and on her at all times.  She also knows at some point she will be left by her demon tattoos to live on her daughter and she will be killed by an enemy without their protection.

The character I have picked for this week is Maxine Kiss of the Kiss Hunter series by Marjorie M. Liu.  In picking Maxine as my favorite character I am also getting extra characters with her.  As Maxine comes with the burden of the heavy tattoos, they look like tattoos but they are the demons who sleep during the day and hunt at night.  Even though they sound mean and vicious because they can eat anything from glass to steel to blood, but they love teddy bear heads.  And their bodies are so sharp just a touch could cut you, however they don't hurt Maxine or her boyfriend Grant (who is a great character himself - with a great power we are learning about in the books). 

The Boys as Maxine calls them are beasts themselves.  There are two how prowl through the shadows and two who wrap around her neck and sing in her ear to communicate to her.  These boys will do anything they can to protect Maxine.  During the day the tattoos are an armor to protect from any harm and at night they stay at her side waiting to help at any instant.

Maxine is one to hunt zombies, demons who take over a human body.  She expells the demons from the bodies to save the human.  Maxine is a strong character who tries to live on her own to not bring harm to others and should move around the world to help in as many places as she can.  But, Maxine is a little different and has started to get attached - maybe unknowingly - to Grant and the homeless he helps at his homeless shelter.

I have enjoyed reading of Maxine in the first two books - Iron Hunt and Darkness Calls - along with a short story in the anthology Inked.  I am looking forward to book three - A Wild Light - coming out August 27, 2010.

Teaser Tuesday (24)

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:

For the next few days, she kept practising her waterpainting skills, including the ability to influence the future.

The Last Stormlord

By Glenda Larke

(Sorry, I only did one sentence but this one sentence says a lot with what is going on in the book at this point.  Its a teaser of just a few pages ahead of where I am currently.)

Monday's Beginnings (35)

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

How are you faring in reading at the beginning of this week?  Are you starting a new book or finishing one up?

I am currently reading The Last Stormlord by Glenda Larke and enjoying reading the growth of the characters.  I am about half way through the book, its 605 pages so it takes me a little longer.  And I am working with my friend on Before They Are Hanged by Joe Abercrombie still.  I did get the reviews for Strange Brew and The Last Track up last week as well.

As for my Wish List... it is constantly growing thanks to all your wonderful reviews.  I have added 5 books this week.  I only add books I really seriously want to read and this list is something amazing anymore.  I am loving the list.

I did another ROD (Readers on Deadline) writing for over at Deadline Dames.  It is a 250 word blip based on what a picture brings to my mind.  If you would like to stop by and read my little story blip I am comment #14.  Click Here.  I hope you like it. 

Books received in the mail from Author:

So I have been drooling over this book (it has griffins!) and the author was kind enough to offer me a copy for review.  Thank you Rachel!  This is going to be the next book I pick up.

Synopsis from the back of the book:

Little ever happens in the quiest villages of peaceful Feierabiand.  For Kes, the course of her life seems set: she'll grow up to be an herb-woman and healer, never quite fitting in but always more or less accepted.  And she's content with that path - or she thinks she is.  Until the day the griffins come down from the mountains, bringing with them the fiery wind of their desert and a desperate need for a healer.  But what the griffins need is a healer who is not quite human... or a healer who can be made into something not quite human.

Books received in the mail from winnings:

These five books where winnings from a contest over at Wayfaring Writer when she was doing YA week.  You should stop by and check out the amazing reviews Moonsanity does. I am looking forward to reading these books.  The books pictured here are (from left to right starting at the top)

Blue Bloods By Melissa De La Cruz

Poison Ink By Christopher Golden

Tantalize By Cynthia Leitich Smith

Bite Me! By Melissa Francis

Evernight By Claudia Gray

I am hoping to get more reading done tonight after I get through some blog reading.

So, now to you... How are you faring this week so far?  Does it look like a good reading week for you?

Here is to hoping you have a great week in words and pages.

Book Blogger Hop - April 23, 2010

It's Friday and time to party at the Hop!

I have joined in on the fun at the Book Blogger Hop at Crazy-For-Books.  I just had to get in on this with others.  It is a great way to meet new Book Bloggers who share in the genres I love.

Book Review: Strange Brew

Strange Brew

By:  Anthology; Patricia Briggs, Jim Butcher, Rachel Caine, Karen Chance, P. N. Elrod, Charlaine Harris, Faith Hunter, Caitlin Kittredge, Jenna Maclaine

Publisher:  St. Martin's Briffin

Publish Date:  July 2009

Genre:  Fiction (I am thinking Urban Fantasy)

Format:  Paperback, 371 pages (5 1/2" x 8 1/4")

Series:  I think Stand alone Anthology

Recommendation:  Do you need your fix of urban fantasy reads?  These short stories will give you your fill of magic, vampires, witches, mixed with love and action.

Book Synopsis:

Today's hottest urban fantasy authors come together in this delicious brew that crackles and boils over with tales of powerful witches and dark magic...

In Charlaine Harris's "Bacon," a beautiful vampire joins forces with a witch from an ancient line to find out who killed her beloved husband.  In "Seeing Eye" by Patricia Briggs, a blind witch helps sexy werewolf Tom Franklin find his missing brother - and ends up helping him in more ways than either of them ever expected.  And in Jim Butcher's "Last Call," wizard Harry Dresden takes on the darkest of dark powers - the ones who dare to mess with his favorite beer.

Anyone who's ever wondered what lies beyond the limits of reality, who's imagined the secret spaces where witches wield fearsome magic, come and drink deep.  Let yourself fall under the spell of this bewitching collection!

My Review and Summary: (With this being an anthology, I will do a short review on each story.)

Seeing Eye
By Patricia Briggs
38 pages

After reading just this short story, I can not believe I have not read any story by Patricia.  I have her first story for Mercy Thompson on my shelf and I am going to have to get to it soon.

Moira Keller, a good witch in Seattle, gets a late night visit the day before Halloween (also called Samhain) from a man - or werewolf - in need of help against Them.  Tom is looking for his kidnapped "gifted" brother, Jon.  Everything Tom told Moira rang true with her as it matched her dreams.  Moira believes Jon was kidnapped as a sacrifice on Halloween for Kouro Samhain and his coven.

I really enjoyed the unexpected turns and events of the story.  This story has made purchasing the anthology worth it.  And this was only the first story.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Last Call
By Jim Butcher
36 pages

Harry Dresden decides he needs a beer after a hard day of work... wizarding, and walks into his favorite friendly bar to an ugly mess of unconscious or dead bodies.  What caused these people to go violent at the same time?  Was there something in the beer Mac brews?  Harry Dresden and Sergent Karrin Murphy are on the case.

I believe this story is from Jim's Dresden Series.  This story reads to me as an extention of the series.  I didn't feel there was much world building or character growth in this short story, just a mystery under foot.  In the end I liked the action of the mystery and the little secrets Harry and Murph are afraid to admit to each other, or even their selves.  But not my favorite story in the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Death Warmed Over
By Rachel Caine
44 pages

Holly Anne Caldwell, a witch whos the best at what she does - resurrection, hates doing ressurections on a work night, as they take all night and no sleep doesn't help the day job.  But Sam asks her to do one on Thursday, it's Monday.  A long-term resurrection for the Police Department can't be a good thing, and on such short notice.  Will she take it?  The person she is to resurrect has a long strong history himself, and a short history with Holly too.

I really enjoyed this short story.  I Rachel has me wanting to read of the short time Holly and Andrew spent together taking down their bad guy from before.  I loved the way the characters where developed in this short story and connected with each other.  I really could feel a connection with them as well.  I am definitely going to have to get a few more of her books after reading this short story.  Great read!
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Vegas Odds
By Karen Chance
55 pages

Accalia de Croissets, Lia as she likes to be called, is waken by the constant banging at her front door.  When she opens it, still half asleep and dazed from lack of sleep of over working with the mage war going on, to find a delivery man hidden behind several long stem roses.  Thinking the roses were from her Were boyfriend, Cyrus, Lia was caught off gaurd by the attack.  As the atack goes on her boyfriend shows up and the attackers are her mage students.  Why are they attacking her?  Who is behind this?

This read is of Lia and her powers along with history more than of Cyrus.  You do learn more of them as a couple though.  This read, I believe is to be read before the short story in Inked though.  I have been enjoying Karen's reads on Lia and Cyrus.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hecate's Golden Eye
By P.N. Elrod
42 pages

Charles Escott, of Escott Agency doing Private Detective type work, and his partner Jack Fleming, who is a vampire, wait in a dark alley for a potential client - Chicago 1937.  Miss Mabel Weaver shows up asking them to help her steal back the necklace pendant called the Hecate's Golden Eye, which is a valuable yellow diamond, that was stolen from her by her cousin and replaced with a glass fake.  However, there is a curse on the Eye... any man who touches it dies.

This was another story for me that was slower and the clues given where strong giveaways to the plot.  I had the mystery of what was going on figured out before the end of the story.  The character of Jack Fleming is from the authors series of the Vampire Files.
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Bacon
By Charlaine Harris
32 pages

Dahlia, a vampire, waits at Seeley's Restaurant for Kathy Aelnides, The Circe witch, whom is late.  Dahlia with the help of a few friends have worked very, very hard to get this appointment.  Dahlia wanted to have Kathy help punish the people who killed her werewolf husband.  Not sure if Kathy, an elementary teacher during the day, is really The Circe real deal and able to do as Dahlia is needing - Dahlia and her friends look into her more.  And there is a little twist to go with the story here.

I smiled while reading this short story and enjoyed the lightness of the story.  It was a fun read and had a plot that help through from the beginning.  I liked the ability of the characters and the way they all connected.
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Signatures of the Dead
By Faith Hunter
33pages

A whole family is butchered and Brax wants to get the killers.  Brax needs to know for sure if its vampires, if they are okay, and where they sleep to get justice.  Molly is a unique Earth Witch and could help.  But could it hurt her?

Being a short of thirty-three pages, I felt the suspense and couldn't wait to get to the end to see where they story went.  As the story went the plot thickened for me.  I really felt pulled in to this world with these characters.  The characters abilities and limits amazed me.  I really liked the way witches were broke down and made a bigger type of character with new rules (for me) along with limits.

This short story introduced me to a character I really liked the idea of, Jane Yellowrock.  I am going to have to get into the series with this character: Skinwalker.  I enjoyed the Native American heritage behind this character.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ginger
By Caitlin Kittredge
41 pages

Sunny Swann, the reliable of the two cousins and a witch, sat at the back of the courtroom while Luna, detective in Nocturne City PD and a werewolf, was on the stand.  During the recess a male witch enters the courtroom and Sunny and Luna now protect the man they are trying to put behind bars along with everyone else in the courtroom.  After Sunnys display of magick she gets offered, from an unknown source, to use her powers elsewhere.  Why are they after this person whose to be going to jail and who wants Sunny for what reason?

I liked the all the characters, the main cousins mostly - Luna and Sunny.  I got a glimpse of the Nocturne City series and enjoyed it.  I will have to find a way to get this series in on the reading schedule.  I like the sound of magick in this city and the action that takes place in this short story.
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Dark Sins
By Jenna Maclaine
33 pages

Cin a witch turned vampire three years ago by Michael, unusually retained her witch powers - yet she doesn't have control of them and has premonitions.  Cin and Michael are on a holiday in Venice with their friends Devlin and Justine when they are attacked by a dark Wizard and his witches.  When Cin wakes up she is on a stone floor surrounded by a ward and her friends are laying on alters.  Why are they wanted in this town?

This story starts off with action of both sexual and physical battle.  I enjoyed how the action kept moving through this story.  This short story also had a start, climax, and an end to the story.  There was a creation of a god and plans for the future with these characters.  I look forward to other stories here in this world, whether in anthologies or full books.  I am going to have to find this series of Cin Craven now.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This book qualifies for the Speculated Fiction Challenge @ Book Chick City.

Am I Doing Something Wrong?

Please don't laugh at me.  I am having troubles with the new response programs some of you are using.  Can you help me figure out what I am doing wrong?

I am a blogger that when I leave a comment I like to click the little box to email me comments.  Call me crazy, go ahead. :) I know, many of you respond to every comment on your blog, and if you don't that is okay too because other people comment and I like reading their thoughts on the books and miscellaneous stuff too.  I read the other replies and sometimes I will come back for another comment.  But I like reading everyones thoughts.

Now to my confusion...

Many bloggers are trying out a new commenting system.  This is very nice and neat.  I like it.  BUT, I can't seem to get it to work for me with getting the replies emailed to me.  SO, I don't know if you are replying to my comment without revisiting every site again.  I got spoiled with getting it in my email.

When I leave a comment I fill in all the squares: my blog url, my name, and my email address.  On the drop down box I have tried selecting both the options: Replies and All New Comments.  Then click Submit.  I get the email to activate IntenseDebate and click to do so every time.

Then nothing.

I think I may be missing something and wanted to ask for your help.  What am I doing wrong?  Or not doing?

Teaser Tuesday (23)

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:

When Terelle stuck her head through the balustrade to see the rider better, she realised his mount was a particularly fine one: the segment scales were a burnished wine-red, edged with gold tassels.  Two feelers, inlaid with gold wire in intricate patterns and each as long as three men lying end to end, touched the walls on either side of the street as the pede passed by.

The Last Stormlord

By Glenda Larke

Book Review: The Last Track

The Last Track

By:  Sam Hilliard

Publisher:  Buddhapuss Ink LLC

Publish Date:  February 2010

Genre:  Mystery/Thriller

Format:  Paperback, 272 pages

Series:  Book 1 of A Mike Brody Novel

Recommendation:  If you are a mystery reader this is a mystery read with a few twists while searching for a lost child.


Book Synopsis:
Mike Brody - The man you want, when the one you love is missing.

More than just a master tracker, Mike is a former Special Forces operative, smoke jumper, and now extreme adventure tour guide who can tap into the memory and emotional state of those he pursues.

In The Last Track, Mike is recruited to find an asthmatic boy lost in the dense woods surrounding a dude ranch in Montana.  An unwitting murder witness, the boy burrows ever deeper into the rugged terrain, fearful of being found by the killer.

While Mike tracks the boy, his ex-wife, a journalist, uses her contacts to unravel the truth behind the murder.  Her discoveries threaten to snare them all in a treacherous conspiracy...

First Sentence:
Sean Jackson counted to four and exhaled.

My Review and Summary:
Mike is on a vacation at a modern-day dude ranch with his ex-wife and eight year old son, as promised some time ago (before divorce) - the family vacation.  When they arrive at the ranch something is going on, with all the red and blue flashing lights around.  Detective Lisbeth MaCarthy recognizes Mike and tells him she would like to talk to him after he has checked in.  Mike has a record of being able to find lost people.  His special ability is what makes him an amazing tracker for lost loved ones.  And there is a boy missing from the ranch, now lost in the woods.  Mike who can't pass on helping lost people agrees to track the boy, even at the disappointment and hurt of his own family.

I found myself liking this read.  I don't normally go out of my reading genre very often as I am afraid I will not like the books.  This book was a good mystery read for me.  It did take me about eighty pages to figure out what had happened and what was going on, but once on the right track liked the read.  I found myself liking the characters and even when questioning the characters as to why they acted the way they did, I thought at the same time - I could see people actually saying these things to their family members or each other.

The book did have a few twists in it I was not expecting, in the end of the book when the truth played out.  But, through the mystery and the hints dropped I found I figured out most of the mystery.  What helps give you all the clues is the story telling is from different view points.  You get a section of the read from the lost boy, from Mike, from Jessica (Mike's ex-wife), and even from the killer.

I did find at times the story started to drag for me.  In this meaning, I remember one part where we are being explained the way Homeland Security has surveillance on all the computers phones and knows everything everyone is doing at all times, yet there is one computer that does not have the surveillance on it.  I started to stray with all the details of the surveillance in Homeland Security.  I understand the author is sharing the details to let us know the setup and how that person had to do things to get around being seen, but I just started to lose interest with all the details.  There were just a few areas with the same issue for me.

But, over all I enjoyed the read and had to see what the author had in store for me in the end.  After I read the ending and who was who I thought back to all the clues that where dropped through the book, yes the clues where all there for me.


I received this book as a winning from Good Reads.

Monday's Beginnings (34)

Here we are again... another Monday.

How are you faring in reading at the beginning of this week?  Are you starting a new book or finishing one up?

I am still working on Before They Are Hanged by Joe Abercrombie, as a read with a frind of mine for a discussion.  I just finished Strange Brew the anthology and The Last Track by Sam Hilliard.  We had lost our power from a strong rain storm from Friday afternoon through Saturday afternoon, so I got some reading done. :)  I am hoping to get the reviews tied up here tonight and tomorrow.

As for what I'm going to read next... I am not sure.  I was thinking on reading Fire by Kristin Cashore or Shadow Prowler by Alexey Pehov or The Last Stormlord by Glenda Larke.  I am going to have to look over the stack and see which one I want to pick up.

As for my Wish List... it is still growing.  I have added eight books to my list, including the ones I have added to my want to read list at Good Reads.  Although, one of the books on the list is one I will probably not get as it is not published in the US, yet.  It is Havenstare by Glenda Noramly (Now Glenda Larke).  I looked this book on Amazon to see if they had it and there are used ones starting at $29.83 and going up to $86.82.  Must be an amazing book!  But, I will have to wait to get this one.

Books I purchased this week:

There is a story behind purchasing this book.  I have had it on my list for a while now.  Yes, the second book is out.  But, after reading a few fellow reviews I knew I needed to get this book.  But... The deciding factor to get the book now is a fellow blogger and great booking friend is going to lead a discussion over at Good Reads in May - Simcha from SFF Chat.  So, I am planning of reading this for May's discussions.

The Synopsis from back of book:

As darkness falls after sunset, the corelings rise - demons who possess supernatural powers and burn with a consuming hatred of humanity. For hundreds of years the demons have terrorized the night, slowly culling the human herd that shelters behind magical wards - symbols of power whose origins are lost in myth and whose protection is terrifyingly fragile. It was not always this way. Once, men and women battled the corelings on equal terms, but those days are gone. Night by night the demons grow stronger, while human numbers dwindle under their relentless assault. Now, with hope for the future fading, three young survivors of vicious demon attacks will dare the impssible, stepping beyond the crumbling safety of the wards to risk everything in a desperate quest to regain the secrets of the past. Together, they will stand against the night.

I am hoping to get some reading done tonight after I work on a review.

So, now to you... How are you faring this week so far?  Does it look like a good reading week for you?

Here is to hoping you have a great week in words and pages.

Balderdash (30)

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:

ulayi - an instrument created for transporting while traveling on foot in the medieval times, with only three strings and wood of a young tree for the neck so it gives some and an older tree trunk hollowed out for the body of the guitar type intrument causing the music to echo out to the people around you.

forea - a type of flower used at funerals in the medieval times for its potent floral smell to help cover the strong smells, since the funerals are not done until a week later after the body has rested from the stress of the spirit going through shock and leaving the body.

squalai - half fish half squid aquatic animal which can grab with its tiny tenticles at sediment in the water to feed on.

staterp - one who tries to disrupt all laws and potential laws put into effect for a state.

Once again I am pleased to introduce my son's pick of words:

orsess - it is a hole, if you jump in it you will come out the completely other side of the earth even if it is in the ocean and only comes around every hundred years.

delymoto - a new kind of transportation thats inbetween a quad and a dirt bike, still only has 2 wheels but very wide.

Favorite Fictional Character (21)

Favorite Fictional Character

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

Well, I have been away from doing this meme for far to long.  I love sharing favorite characters from movies, tv shows, and books with everyone.  So I am back at it again.

This week my FFC is a Magician from a book series, well several series.  No he's not the normal magicians you can think of.

This character goes by the name Pug, or called Milamber by the Tsurani in their land of Kelewan.  He is from the books created by Raymond E. Feist.  When the books all started Pug was a lone kitchen boy in Midkemia, his parents unknown.  The magician Kulgan, kept at hand of the Duke of Crydee, takes a notice of Pug and takes him on as an apprentice.  Pug did not know he had any ability to do magic.  But, under Kulgan's instruction learns the theory of magic but has troubles casting the spells.  Pug does work a spell at the proper timing though, to save the Dukes daughter.  Yet, the way this spell was cast was a wonder in itself, as he was able to step outside of the limits set.  But the Duke is grateful to Pug and grants him a title and lands.

Although all seems to be going well for Pug, there was a rift and Midkemia was invaded by Tsurani.  Pug ends up getting taken prisoner by the Tsurani and taken back to there home world.  While in Tsurani Pug falls in love with a slave girl Katala and Pug's training with magic is recognized so he is placed on the path to be of the Greater Magicians.

Pug learns a great deal of magic here in this world. With the knowledge they share with him, he becomes one of the powerful ones in Tsurani.  Pug realizes one day he does not care for the tourtaments they have with the slaves of his kind and leaves Tsurani, and it's not of the gracious of leaves.

But through out a few different books Pug becomes one of the most powerful magicians to walk in both the worlds.  Yet, he has his beliefs of not being the one to step in at all times to do of the Kings bidding.  He could win all the battles if he choose to but, he choose to let the people do for themselves.

Pug appears in several of Raymond E. Feist's books.  You will have to read the books to find out how that is possible.  But, I have become a big fan of many characters created by Raymond and Pug is on that list.

More Changes at My World...

Okay, sorry for all the troubles. 

I was having troubles with the blog lately and some of you where not able to visit.  Now, I can't have all my great friends here not visiting me.  That just doesn't work for me. :)

So, once again I have made changes to the blog to try to fix that problem.  I hope you all are able to visit with ease now.  Thank you all for baring with me.  I am still moving the items on my side bars around, so things may move on you.  But, don't worry.

If you have any troubles PLEASE let me know. 

I appreciate those of you letting me know you where having troubles.  I hope I got it fixed. 

Thank you all again!

Tuesday Teaser (23)

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:

 

I am pulling a teaser from a book I will be starting here later tonight or tomorrow.

 

After dinner he ditched the evidence.  Goodwill was the first stop.  He stuffed the shopping bag in the donation container near the supermarket.

 

Page 17

 

The Last Track

By Sam Hilliard

Monday's Beginnings (33)

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

I want to mention one piece of news, well... big news to me, I have hit and surpassed 100 Followers!  THANK YOU ALL!  You are all amazing followers.  So, my 100th follower is Stacy Stew from A Romantic Heart.  Thank you Stacy!  I am thinking on doing a contest here shortly to celebrate.  I will post it when I have the idea figured out.  Thank you all again!

Now...

How are you faring in reading at the beginning of this week?  Are you starting a new book for the week or finishing one up?

I am still working on the same books.  Please don't think there is anything wrong with these books.  I am actually enjoying them.  Before They Are Hanged by Joe Abercrombie is a read I am doing with a friend for discussions, so we have broke it up into four sections and read slower.  Strange Brew is an anthology so I am reading the short stories in between other reads for quick fillers and when out running around.

I did get through The Poison Throne by Celine Kiernan over the weekend, and the review is up as well.  Click here if you would like to read it.

As for my Wishing List... it grew this week by five books.  Two of these five is the remainder of the trilogy by Celine Kiernan.  I am looking forward to these books now.

Books I have received in the mail:

I won this book over at Fantasy Literature Fantasy Book Reviews.  Thank you!  The book synopsis is:

Jack Fletcher's heart is about to get punked.

Computer technician Jack Fletcher is no hero, despite his unwelcome reputation as one.  In fact, he's just been the victim of bizarre circumstances.  Like now.  His sister happens to disturb one of his nanoelectrical system experiments, and suddenly they aren't where they're supposed to be.  In fact, they're not sure where they are when...

...they wake up to find a woman with the reddest hair jack has ever seen - and a gun.  Octavia Pye is an Aerocorps captain with a whole lot of secrets, and she's not about to have her maiden voyage ruined by stowaways.  But the sparks flying between her and Jack just may cause her airship to combust, and ignite a passion that will forever change the world as she knows it.

I feel as if I have not got much reading done today.  I hope to get more reading done this evening for a short while before I head to bed.

So, now to you... How are you faring this week so far?  Does it look like a good reading week for you?

Here is to hoping you have a great week in words and pages.

Book Review: The Poison Throne

The Poison Throne

By:  Celine Kiernan

Publisher:  Orbit Books

Publish Date:  April 2010

Genre:  Fantasy

Format:  Paperback, 475 pages

Series:  1st Book of The Moorehawke Trilogy

Recommendation:  Do you enjoy fantasy reads of kingdoms with great wonders as to who has done wrong and why, and great character development?  Then yes, you may enjoy this book.

Book Synopsis:
At the heart of the kingdom lies a secret.

A secret so deadly it could tear the realm in two.

Only Wynter Moorehawke can uncover the truth.

When young Wynter Moorehawke returns to court with her dying father, she finds her old home shadowed with fear.  The king has become a violent despot, terrorizing those he once loved.  His son and heir Alberon has fled into exile and now there are whispers everywhere of rebellion.  Meanwhile, Alberon's half-brother Razi has been elevated to his throne.  He struggles to meet his King's demands while remaining loyal to his beloved brother and to his friend Wynter.

Now she must choose - her father or her dreams, her friend or her king, her duty or her love.

First Sentence:
The sentry would not let them pass.

My Review and Summary:
Wynter, fifteen, and Lorcan, her father of age thirty-three but shaking like a man much older, have just returned from the five year station in the North helping King Jonathon with relations.  Wynter is a female apprenticing her father and doing extremely well in a mans trade, carpentery.  Once they are home and Wynter is wondering around, she learns things are rather stressed around the castle.  Things are aloft here.  There are creatures they are forbidden to talk to, the heir Alberon has left with no traces as to where he is, Razi the kings bastard-son and close friend to Wynter and Alberon has been named to take the beloved Alberon's place and the people are not happy.  Then to add to the mix Wynter's father Lorcan is rather ill and is not to leave his bed to help, and is getting worse.

Thinking back to what caught my attention... There are the questions I had to the mysteries, and I am still thinking on.  I am not sure what has truly happened to change things so much.  Along with why beloved Heir, Prince Alberon, left as what seems unexpectedly and no sign of where he went.  But it appears as something between him and his father King Jonathon to be the reason for his leaving, and an even bigger issue.  'The Bloody Machine.'  I don't know what it is or what it does or why are they so worried about it.  But along with the mysteries, I think the characters kept me coming back.


I love the character development and the relationships in this story.  There are a few secondary creatures, which I did not expect to find, but loved them and found myself wanting to read more of them.  I love all the characters; Wynter, Lorcan, Razi, Christopher, and all the secondary characters, and now I need to know what befalls them.  I even get the feel the world we get to know is created from these characters.  It seems the characters all know of different parts of the world being of different age ranges too, and as they tell of their experiences and knowledge you see the world through their eyes and what the world is that Celine has created.  The situations the characters get into and out of, and the reactions they have to the different situations and each other when trying to protect each other made me love them even more.

I am not sure who is up to what or why. Of course I have my suspecions and ideas but I'm not really sure. But I felt the people where doing what they perceived to be the right thing, wheither good or bad, for themself or the people.

I am looking forward to the future installments of this trilogy. I am curious where Wynter will lead to. With the choose of staying with her dieing father to the end, following her friend who may need help, or finding the peoples beloved heir to the throne.


Celine has mentioned over at Obrit Books Blog site when the next two books will be out for purchas:;

The Crowded Shadows - July

The Rebel Prince - October

This book qualifies for my Speculated Fiction Challenge, at Book Chick City.

Looking Forward To...

I just read an eye catching post over at Orbit Books, on a new Fantasy series starting with the first book in May.  It appears from this post the three books will be out this year; May, June, and December.

What is it about you ask?  Griffins!

Would you like to read the post that caught my eye?  Here is the link.  I hope you enjoy it.

This is Book 1, out May 2010.

Book 2, out June 2010.

 Book 3, out December 2010

I THINK I NEED THESE BOOKS!!!

Balderdash (29)

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:

hyrethon - this is fundraising for rehydrating the under ground rivers and lakes, in which people are asked to not waste water for the length of the thon and any rinsing water is to be returned to the earth.

miquest - this is a mini quest children go on when they are playing soldiers, warriors, on jungle trips, sailing pirate ships, or any adventure they create in their minds and play for a few hours.

mistosie - this is the plant easily confused with mistletoe, the leaves are close to the same shape except they have three points on the sides instead of two and when the berries come they are of a orange color instead of red.

squallop - this is the whining sound children make when they are forced to follow their parents through the grocery store or even clothing store and the kid(s) don't want to be there but rather at home playing video games or with their friends.

Once again my son has added a few words to the board...

frashes - a kind of name for the style for the non-fashionable.

hydrine - a type of gas that if breathed will cause you to die a long painful death where you can't breathe and feels like being stabbed.

Author Interview with J.A. Saare!

As some of you may have read, I have just completed Dead, Undead, or Somewhere in Between and enjoyed reading of Rhiannon. If you missed it, here is the link to my review. I am pleased to introduce J.A. Saare the author, as she is gracious enough to do an interview with me.

M:  Hello J.A. Saare! Welcome to My World…in words and pages!  Thank you for joining us today.

J:  Thanks for having me! ;-)

M:  I like the name Rhiannon.  The name Rhiannon is different to me.  How did you come up with this name?

J:  Growing up, my Dad was a huge Fleetwood Mac fan.  So when I was trying to think of a unique name that was memorable but not too “out there”, Rhiannon (after the song of the same name) was everything I was looking for. 


M:  Do you have a planned number of books for The Renfield Syndrome series?

J:  Currently, I have the next two installments mapped out in my mind (The Renfield Syndrome and The Ripple Effect).  I also have roughly 33k words written into The Renfield Syndrome, so it’s getting there.

M:  When writing Dead, Undead, or Somewhere in Between did you plan for multiple books or did you have to go back to add hints, extra ties, or change anything to make it a series?

J:  When I sat down to start writing Dead, I knew it would be a series.  Originally, I intended to explore Rhiannon’s relationship with Goose and her growing powers. There wasn’t supposed to be any romance (I kept swearing I wouldn’t write romance following Crimson Moon) but Disco came along, ruined that, and ultimately changed the entire story (as well as the arc of the series).

I didn’t have to go back and add or change anything to create new ties, thank God!  My subconscious seemed to be aware of things long before I was and made sure to leave little crumbs along the way to use in The Renfield Syndrome.

M:  Who is your favorite character out of your books and why?  Who is a favorite character from a favorite series you have read?

J:  That’s tough. If you’re asking for a female protagonist, it would be Rhiannon.  If you’re asking about a hero, it would be Caleb (from Crimson Moon). ;-)

As for my favorite character from a series – that’s easy.  Lord Mason from Joey W. Hill’s Beloved Vampire snared my heart a long time ago.  He’s so wonderful, in so many ways. 

M:  You have an amazing play list for Dead:

Dead, Undead, or Somewhere in Between (<~ Click to Listen!)
1. Let's Dance - David Bowie
2. Boadicea - Enya
3. My name is Mud - Primus
4. Closer - Nine Inch Nails
5. Unrecorded - M83
6. Smooth Criminal - Alien Ant Farm
7. Deep - Nine Inch Nails
8. If I was your Vampire - Marilyn Manson
9. A Change in the House of Flies - The Deftones
10. Beauty has her Way - Mummy Calls
11. Love you to Death - Type O Negative

12. Faustrecht - Fiendflug

13. Arbor Vitate - PIG
14. Lights in the Sky - Nine Inch Nails
15. Meet your Master - Nine Inch Nails

I have to say I love the songs.  These are what I went through high school with.  A friend and I use to sit in study hall with a walkman and Nine Inch Nails.  They were my favorite then, and I still love them now.  Do you find music helps set your mood in writing?  Anything new on the play list for the second book?

J:  Music always sets the mood, regardless of what I’m writing.  I know some people need silence to write, but I can’t function with at least a moderate amount of background noise.

Some of the music listed on the Dead playlist came to play as I was writing.  For example: In the first chapter of Dead, David Bowie blasts through the speakers as a stripper takes the stage. Just before I started writing that scene, David Bowie’s Let’s Dance came on my itunes.  I couldn’t have planned it better and incorporated the song into the story.

There are a few songs that will be on The Renfield Syndrome playlist *grin* Expect some Nickelback, NIN, M83, and maybe some old school stuff.

M:  Any books, authors, or movies which inspired you to write?

J:  All books inspire me, even those I might not enjoy. I don’t think people realize just what an accomplishment it is to see a story through from start to finish.

As for personal favorites, I am a fan of the masters of urban fantasy -- Kim Harrison, Patricia Briggs, Laurell K. Hamilton, Jim Butcher -- as well as romance -- Joey W. Hill, J.R. Ward, Kresley Cole, Gena Showalter -- and horror -- Stephen King, Dean Koontz.

M:  I am always curious to know about authors, how long they have been writing.  Some have been doing it since wee little and others just starting not long before they publish a book.  So, how long have you been writing?  Was it something you always wanted to do?

J:  Although I wrote small things here and there when I was younger, I didn’t “start” writing in June of 2008.  I had the idea for a story and decided to take the journey.  It turned out to be the most cathartic experience, and when I finished, the most addictive.  Shortly after I wrapped up Crimson Moon, I wrote Dead, Undead, or Somewhere in Between. After that, it was on to Eternity and a Day. 

Now, I can’t stop writing.  Although I can say it’s not as relaxing as it once was.  Edits, revisions, and deadlines take it from play to work.

M:  I know you are working on book two, but can you leave us with any hints to it?

J:  Sure can. ;-)  You know, I read a comment in which a reviewer was a bit miffed at the ending of Dead (to be fair, I get that reaction rather often) and complained it took the series into a different genre.  For the sake of remaining spoiler free, I can assure you that while things occur in the not too distant future, The Renfield Syndrome does not have a sci-fi/futuristic spin.

You can expect more of Paine in this installment, as well as several twists and turns you probably won’t see coming.  Everyone seems to have an idea as to what they think will happen, but so far, they’ll all been wrong.

Thanks for having me on the blog!  I really appreciate sharing more about Dead and discussing the characters.  Rhiannon is a hoot and I enjoy every moment I spend writing her.  Feel free to pass along the playlist for Dead if you’d like.  ;-)

M:  Thank you J.A. Saare!  I really appreciate you stopping by to do this interview with me.  I am looking forward to reading more installments of Rhiannon in the future. 

Also, to note if anyone is interested in learning more of Crimson Moon here is the link to J.A. Saares' site, directly to Crimson Moon which will be released June 25, 2010.  And take a look around for a few other books.


I would love to mention you short story as well, called Penance. Please click here to read the short story. Any thoughts you would like to share on it? Very intense feeling for me.

Teaser Tuesday (22) & It's Tuesday... Where are you? (15)

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:

(I am going to cheat a little.  I read this paragraph and just loved the descriptions, so thought I would share it with all of you.  I will be back to the random selections next week.)

All those years in the grey dampness of the North she had silently longed for home, and every night, in response to that unexpressed longing, her heart had conjured this walk for her.  Night after night in honey-soaked dreams, she had taken this exact trip from stable to kitchen.  And now here she was, real and certain, treading on older feet the happy path of her childhood.  She would have liked Razi and Alberon to be here, or the cats maybe, flowing against her ankles as they used to, like warm smoke keeping her company.

The Poison Throne

By Celine Kiernan

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This is hosted by

An Adventure in Reading

I am with Wynter in her rooms.  It has been a long trip, after being away for so long.  Her father and her traveled for months to get here and she has made it a point to see her old friends.  But now we are looking through her mothers old dresses for court and festivals, which were brought to her rooms in her mothers chest along with all their furniture, as she doesn't have any formal clothing to wear to the banquet tonight.  We had been sitting for a while in the receiving room, while her father sleeps, not really thinking of anything.  But I am worried for her father.  He is not well, sick actually but he is to proud to rest as he should.  And the long trip home had to be hard on him.  But most of my thoughts are on how things have changed here and something is not right n Wynters' home kingdom.  I am curious as to what has happened with or to the King to make him so scared and paranoid.

The Poison Throne

By Celine Kiernan