Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Teaser Tuesday (40)

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.

I am going to do 2 this week!  One Urban Fantasy and one Fantasy as I have both books going at the moment.

This Week:
#1

For the second time in ten minutes, my jaw dropped.  I searched his face for signs of jest, any hint he was being sarcastic, and found none.

As Lie the Dead
By Kelly Meding
pg 164










This Week:
#2

She looked in the sitting area and was not surprised to see Tertius sitting there, his fingers moving over the strings and filling the room with music.  The last time she'd seen him in this place, the Book of Dreaming Kings was burning as it was consumed by the light.  This time, the dream was different.

Antiphon
By Ken Scholes
pg 153

Monday, August 16, 2010

Monday's Beginnings (51)

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

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

I only got a little bit of reading done over the weekend.  I spent most of Saturday visiting with an old friend I grew up with but haven't seen in quite some time.  Then, I had thought Sunday would be my catch up day with reading and blogging.  HA! We ended up taking the kids school clothes shopping.  That took all day! And I was so wore out by the time it was all said and done.  I did get some reading in here and there while I was waiting for  the kids in the dressing rooms to change and show off their picks, and while my husband drove to the outlets.  But, no where near as much reading as I had hoped.  I am hoping to get a little bit of reading done at football practice... We shall see what happens, my husband is on vacation this week and he likes to do this thing called talking.  Have you ever heard of it? :D It is slow goings at football practice anyway, but I shall see how it goes today.

So what am I reading now?  Well, I did finish Mind Games by Carolyn Crane AND Gift of the Unmage by Alma Alexander last week.  Now, I am working on the reviews.  I should have both up this week.  I am working on As Lie the Dead by Kelly Meding.  This one was on my list to get the day of release as I really enjoyed the first book with Evy, and it is also a featured book at Barnes & Nobles book forums, so I just have to read and chat about it.  And I am still working on Antiphon by Ken Scholes for the Early Readers discussions at Barnes & Nobles.  We are reading this book in sections and chatting on what we read before moving on, so it is taking longer to get through.

As for my Wishlist... I have only added 3 books this past week.  There are many books out there I have already added to my ever growing list on those large number weeks.  I do try to keep the list to books I truly want to, and plan, to read.  So, all these amazing authors should be proud and happy with all the amazing books I want so badly.  Thank you all!

I did get my short 250 word blip done and added to the list for the ROD at Deadline Dames site.  If you would like to read it, you don't have too but if you would like to, here is the link to the blog entry.  In the comments is my posting.  My entry is comment #12.  If you do read it, let me know what you think (good, bad, and ugly.)  CLICK HERE.  Thank you!

Robyn from The Bookoholic Zone and I have a poll posted to see what book to discuss next in our Blog Book Chats.  Please take a look at the post on that and help us pick a book, there are four up to choose from.  Which one would you like to chat about with us, or read what we have to say on them?  CLICK HERE for the post.

Books Received last week:

Received for Review:


I have received this book from the author for review:

From a far land, Jaben shall come...
One impulsive step plus one ancient prophecy equals one messed up summer vacation. Jason Bennett never intended to change the world, his own or anyone else's. Then a family vacation becomes a journey to Teleria, a place where magic works and the teenager becomes the pivotal piece in a game between forces intent on reshaping Teleria.

Thought to be Jaben, a powerful figure foretold to hold the fate of Teleria in his hands, Jason gets caught in a dangerous tug of war between Teleria's ruling Circle of Nine and one of his own ancestors who opposes the Circle.  Adding to his dilemma, he finds himself at the center of a conflict between two of the Altered, a small group of godlike beings, one of whom is aiding Jason's ancestor against the Circle.

Unable to return home, Jason must learn to use power he isn't convinced he has, keep from triggering an all out war between the Altered that could devastate Teleria, and survive the plans of some in the Circle who believe his death is the only thing that will save Teleria.  Before he can do anything, he must decide who's telling him the truth, and who only wants to use him.  Not exactly the vacation he had planned.


Books Purchased:
Yes, I won a copy of this book from Voyager, it was the UK cover.  And it is gorgeous!  I love the UK covers!  But I had to go purchase the US cover as well, to complete my series of matching covers.  So I picked this one up again last week.

IT’S A THIN LINE BETWEEN ALIVE AND UNDEAD.
 
Chess Putnam has a lot on her plate. Mangled human corpses have started to show up on the streets of Downside, and Chess’s bosses at the Church of Real Truth have ordered her to team up with the ultra-powerful Black Squad agency to crack the grisly case.

Chess is under a binding spell that threatens death if she talks about the investigation, but the city’s most notorious crime boss—and Chess’s drug dealer—gets wind of her new assignment and insists on being kept informed. If that isn’t bad enough, a sinister street vendor appears to have information Chess needs. Only he’s not telling what he knows, or what it all has to do with the vast underground City of Eternity.

Now Chess will have to navigate killer wraiths, First Elders, and a lot of seriously nasty magic—all while coping with some not-so-small issues of her own. And the only man Chess can trust to help her through it all has every reason to want her dead.

So, how are you faring this week?  Does it look like a good reading week?

Here's to you having a great week in words and pages.

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Help Us Pick...

Book Blog Chat

We can use your help picking...
What book would you like to join in discussions on?  Or read Robyn's and my thoughts on?

We're leaving it in your hands.  We're giving you this week to vote.  You have until Friday to pick from the four books listed.  This way Robyn and I can get the book and decide how to split the discussion.  We'll post the winning book on Monday of next week.  And hopefully the following Thursday we'll be ready to discuss!

Here are your choices.
Click each Title for a summary (at Goodreads).

1.  Red-Headed Step Child   By Jaye Wells
2.  Hunted By the Others   By Jess Haines
3.  Blue Diablo   By Ann Aguirre
4.  Black and White   By Jackie Kessler & Caitlin Kittridge

Comment below you choice (or on the poll on my left sidebar).  We'll be running this post between our two blogs until Sunday Aug. 22, 2010 and we'll combine all comments to choose the winner.

Friday, August 13, 2010

Looking Forward To... (15)

There are so many amazing books already on the shelves and new ones coming out.

For a list of books yet to be released I'm looking to get, you can also look on my right Sidebar at the list titled Desired Reads - just scroll down. Of course there are tones of other new books to come out that are amazing as well, but these ones are part of series I have already started or for one reason or another caught my eye (and haven't seen much on other blogs yet). But I will highlight one here each week.

(mentioned in order of Release Date then Alphabetical if there are more than one book coming out on the same date.)

The Next Book Is...

The Black Prism
By Brent Weeks
Due out August 25, 2010

I am ashamed to admit I have Brent Weeks first book of the Night Angel trilogy on my shelf to read.  I have heard great things of this trilogy along with it sounds like something I would enjoy.  Why have I not picked it up yet?  Truth be told... I don't know.  It is a shame.  I need to get to it.  But this new series he has sounds colorful. I LOVE the sound of this whole premises here.  I am looking forward to this amazing sounding book.
The Black Prism
Lightbringer #1

Gavin Guile is the Prism, the most powerful man in the world. He is high priest and emperor, a man whose power, wit, and charm are all that preserves a tenuous peace. But Prisms never last, and Guile knows exactly how long he has left to live: Five years to achieve five impossible goals. 

But when Guile discovers he has a son, born in a far kingdom after the war that put him in power, he must decide how much he's willing to pay to protect a secret that could tear his world apart.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Book Blog Chat...Mind Games, Stop 3

We are at our third and final stop of the book, Mind Games by Caroyln Crane.

It is time for the all out, no holds bar on the book.  So all of you who have been waiting to join in on the discussion for us to be done... Here we are.  I want to hear what all of you think: the good, the bad, the ugly.  If you just want to say you liked the book or loved the book, or anything else, please do.  You don't have to touch on our questions.  Join in any time you would like.

Remember, this post is here for good so if you have not read the book completely yet and want to come back later - please do.

If you have not read the book and planning on it.  Enter with fair warning, as there WILL BE SPOILERS found here.

So, now lets get started with our questions....

Discussion thoughts and questions from Carolyn Crane:
Which hero is the right one for Justine? (note: Actually, at the end of the book, I felt this was clear, but many smart readers out there differ with me on this!)

I actually thought a lot about the downsides of having a power like Packard's, to fully understand people's motivations and patterns. Sometimes when I was writing this I wondered what would be worse - telepathy, the way Sookie Stackhouse struggles with it, or Packard's total insight into people, even though he can't see their immediate thoughts or emotions. What do you think?

Do you like the gowns I made up in my head? LOL Just kidding. I spent WAY too much time on the gowns.

Robyn's Questions:
I kept waiting for Otto to be like, haha...I know who you are to Justine. Did you think that Otto was going to reveal who he really was to Justine? Or was he really that clueless?


Who do you think Justine deserves?

After reading the first book. What do you think will happen in the next one? What would you like to see?
 
Melissa's Questions:
Justine remembers Jordan the Therapist saying.  What do you think of the comment? When is good not good?  Is there a catch to this comment?
 
Will Justine accept what she does easier now or will she still second guess herself in the future?
 
Do you think there will be conflict between Packard and Otto in the future?  What about?

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Teaser Tuesday (39)

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:

It had been cold dark February when Thea and her father had boarded the airplane to New Mexico, bound for Cheveyo's country, but the air was scented with late summer as the Alphiri Portal deposited Thea near her home and winked out of existence behind her. Dark green leaves of the big-leaf maple trees and the fernlike fronds of cedars nodded in the slight breeze as she made her way from the woods.

Gift of the Unmage
By Alma Alexander
pg 209

Monday, August 9, 2010

Monday's Beginnings (50)

So, 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 only got a little bit of reading done tonight.  With football underway now, my son likes to know I am watching.  And truth be told, I like to watch him play.  It's something he enjoys and is good at.  But, I do cheat and try to sneak some reading in when he is in line and not up doing what ever practice it is.  I am hoping this week will work out to be a great reading week, in the end.

So, What am I working on reading?  Lately I have a few books going, which is a little unusual for me.  But I am enjoying them all.  I just started Gift of the Unmage By Alma Alexander.  I plan on finishing this one up this week.  It is a YA read, which I have not read in a while so thought it was time to pick one up again.  Also working on Mind Games By Carolyn Crane.  This one is for our Book Blog Chat, and I will finish this one this week.  We have broken it into 3 sections and stop at each point to discuss ideas and questions we have and a few the author was kind enough to supply us with. I am going to be finishing the last section up this week.  You are always welcome to join in on the first two discussions at ANY time.  Then the third book I am working on is Antiphon By Ken Scholes.  This is another series I TOTALLY love!  Ken has really created a world here that you can get lost in.

I did get a review up this past week for Land of the Burning Sands, The Griffin Mage, book 2 By Rachel Neumeier.  If you would like to check out that review, CLICK HERE.  And I got my CSN Review up, of what I really love and think all book lovers should get.  If you would like to check it out, CLICK HERE.

As for my Wishlist... Of course I have added to it, even though I am trying to keep it to a minimum.  And with being a little on the absentee side last week, I still managed to find some books to add.  I have added 6 books to the list.  The authors really should be proud of you all for introducing me to all their amazing books.

I am also working on writing a little ROD for over at Deadline Dames.  The deadline to get the short writing of 250 words in is August 11th.  So, I am working on a short little ditty for there.  I will have to post a link next week after I get it all done.

Books Received Last Week:

Believe it or not... I didn't get ANY books last week.  I just can't believe it... I double checked the shelf and table.  Nope, no new books.  Hmm, that just doesn't feel right!  I will have to remedy that this week. :)  Although, I was buying like 4 books or more there for a few weeks. 

So, how are you faring this week?  Does it look like a good reading week?

Here's to you having a great week in words and pages.