Monday, October 11, 2010

Monday's Beginnings (59)

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

Well, it's been a slow week on the reading and blogging front for me.  We have been trying to get things situated around the house here as we had an open house with the realitor on Sunday.  And that I was gone ALL day Saturday didn't leave me any cleaning time, so it had to be done through the week when I would normally read or blog. 

Oh, what did I do that I was gone all day Saturday you ask... Well, I was determined and took my son with me to New York Comic Con. :) Yeap, we made it there and back.  It was definitely a wonderful experience for me.  I had a great time.  But that will be another blog post.  I was hoping to have pictures and a post up today, maybe even a vlog post (if I can figure out how to do one) as I have loads to share.  But, I ended up coming down with a head cold yesterday/last night and have not moved from the couch today.  I am just now starting to move more.  And I didn't even get much reading done with my eyes and head hurting so much.  So, if my throat clears up and I can talk, maybe just maybe I'll do a vlog for you all. :)  We will see... What do you think?

Well, I am still working on the same books.  Double Cross by Carolyn Crane for the chats Robyn from The Bookoholic Zone and I are having, along with Red-Headed Stepchild by Jaye Wells for our chats on it as well..  I am loving both of these books!  And there is also my fantasy guilty pleasure, The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson.

I was hoping to have my review of The Better Part of Darkness by Kelly Gay up this past week, but the week got away from me.  Sorry.  I will work extremely hard to have it up by Friday this week.

My WANT list... I just was looking at the list and it's hard to believe I only added two books.  Hm, I must really be slacking here.  This list has grown unbelievably fast.  But, I will have to retire one day... ;)

Books Received Last Week:

For Review:
Synopsis from Goodreads:
“Close your eyes tightly—tightly—and keep them closed . . .”


From a Victorian Ireland of magic, poetry and rebellion, Ida Jameson, an amateur occultist, reaches out for power, but captures Laura Armstrong, a modern-day graphic artist instead. Now, for the man or demon she loves, each woman must span a bridge through Hell and across history . . . or destroy it.

“Every passionate man is linked with another age, historical or imaginary, where alone he finds images that rouse his energy.” W. B. Yeats

Anchored in fact on both sides of history, Laura and Ida, modern rationalist and fin de siècle occultist, are linked from the moment Ida channels Laura into the body of celebrated beauty and Irish freedom-fighter Maud Gonne. When Laura falls—from an ocean and a hundred years away—passionately, Victorianly in love with the young poet W. B. Yeats, their love affair entwines with Irish history and weaves through Yeats’s poetry until Ida discovers something she wants more than magic in the subterranean spaces in between.

With her Irish past threatening her orderly present and the man she loves in it, Laura and Yeats—the practical materialist and the poet magus—must find a way to make love last over time, in changing bodies, through modern damnation, and into the mythic past to link their pilgrim souls . . . or lose them forever.
 
I am really looking forward to reading this one.  I enjoyed Skyler's first book very much.

I am hoping to have a great reading week and get loads done.  Now, will it happen?  Only time will tell.

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.

Book Blog Chat (4): Double Cross - Stop 2

I'm enjoying my reading of this book, and can't wait to get to the next section.  So lets get the discussion going...

Second stop, through page 167.

Remember, there will be SPOILERS in the comments.  So, if you haven't read the book and don't want to know don't read any further.

Carolyn Crane's Questions:
~ Does a stupid name really work to make serial killers, in this case, the Dorks, seem less cool?


~ What do you think about how this section ended. Did you think Packard’s motivation was more about saving himself, or more about helping Justine, or both?

~ What did you make of Otto’s text message?

~ Do you agree with Simon when he suggested that Avery is in danger once he hands over his customer list?

~ Justine “Fakes it” in this scene with Otto. Did that change anything in the way you view her, or their relationship?

~ Do you think Otto had a right to be angry about Justine not telling him about the Ez problem?

Robyn's Questions:
1.  Do you think Otto will forgive Justine?  Will he approach her first?  What about that text?  Was it his way of making it the first move?

2.  Was Packard right in threatening Justine?  Would he go that far to hurt her?

3.  Should we trust Shelby with Avery?  Do you think she could go to the other side?

Melissa's Questions:
1.  What darkness is Otto talking about?  What is he hiding?

2.  Who or what are the Goyces?  What was the Rabbit night? What are you making out of the dreams so far?

3.  Simon seems to know what to say to Justine to get her mind rolling.  Do you think he is just getting to her for her help in finding a way out of disillusioning, or does he have a point with how Avery will be treated?

Next week, Monday October 18th, the Third section through page 256 will be hosted by Robyn at The Bookoholic Zone.

Friday, October 8, 2010

Looking Forward To... (23)

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 ever growing 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...

Bone Gods
By: Caitlin Kitteridge
Due Out:  November 3, 2010

This is a series I have been enjoying.  It is an Urban Fantasy series, and this is the third book of the Black London Series.  I have enjoyed the banter and relationship between Pete and Jack.  With the ending of Demon Bound, I am really excited to get into this book.  I am curious to see what Pete learns and where our 'lovely,' Jack, ends up.

If you would like to check out reviews of the first two books here they are:
     Street Magic
     Demon Bound

Synopsis from Goodreads:
Pete Caldecott is trying to survive in Black London without Jack Winter, her teacher and closest friend.  After Jack was turned into a demon, he went to live far out of reach...in hell.  But for Pete, surviving is no easy matter.  The Black is rife with turf wars between mages and necromancers, the witch-hunting Order of the Malleus has resurfaced, and the gods themselves seem to be at each other's throats.  Then Jack reappears, as the head of hell's army, and Pete has to choose between Jack, and her duties as a Weir--which demand she kill him to save the world from certain destruction...



Thursday, October 7, 2010

Book Blog Chat (3) Red-Headed Stepchild...Stop 2

Are you ready to chat? 
On the next section of:

Red-Headed Stepchild
By: Jaye Wells

Well, the post is up with questions from Jaye's blog and some of our own.  So, come join us!  We would love to hear what you think.  Did you laugh?  Did you enjoy the read?  What do you think...

The post is at Robyn's blog, The Bookoholic Zone, this week.  CLICK HERE to jump over.

Monday, October 4, 2010

Monday's Beginnings (58)

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

Again, I feel as if I have not got much reading done.  I did finish The Better Part of Darkness by Kelly Gay last week and had a wonderful chat Friday night with Jessica at her blog The Spinecracker.  We had a great time speculating and chatting on the book.  I will have the review up here at the end of the week.

I'm working on Double Cross by Carolyn Crane for discussions at Robyn's blog The Bookoholic Zone and here.  I do have to say this one is really a test of my will.  I have only finished the first 88 pages for the chat and want to keep going.  Would you like to join in on the first chat?  CLICK HERE.

I'm also working on Red-Headed Stepchild by Jaye Wells for discussions at Robyn's blog The Bookoholic Zone and here.  I have finished the second section today.  And this is another great book that is really making me work hard at not going on.  If you would like to chat in the first discussion from Thursday, CLICK HERE.  We will be posting of the second stop this Thursday coming.

Then the third book I have going right now is my door stopper The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson.  This is my guilty pleasure book.  I love my fantasy and epic to boot.  He has an amazing way with the worlds and magic systems.  I am hoping to pick up more on this book tonight.

I worked up another ROD for over at Deadline Dames blog and have posted it.  This is a short writing of 250 words based from a picture the post.  Do you want to join in?  I think there is still a short few days to enter if you would like - October 6th.  Would you like to check out my short writing?  My short is comment #5.  If you read it please let me know how bad I am. :)  CLICK HERE to visit the site.

I also have to mention I have bought tickets for my son and I to go to New York Comic Con.  I know it's pretty bad when the only person you can get to go with you to a convention is your son.  I was hoping to have a day away from home, but I am hoping we will have fun and not argue... We shall see.  We will be driving the 6 hour ride out and back in one day, Saturday October 9th.  Yep, it will be a long day but I think it will be fun for the afternoon and I get to finally get to a book/comic convention.  You curious about it?  Check out the site for NYCC, HERE.

My WANT list... well, its been a slow week for me in the blogging world. (sorry for the shortness of comments on your blogs)  And I am still behind in reading blog posts.  But I did add a few amazing sounding books to the list.  It looks like only 2 this week.  But that is okay as the list has grown to an increasing number I don't think I will ever be able to accomplish.  You authors are just to amazing!

Books Received Last Week:

Purchased:
We are chatting on this book in four section over four weeks.  I really enjoyed the first book, Mind Games, and Look forward to this one.

Goodreads Synopsis:
SOME SECRETS COME BACK TO HAUNT. OTHERS COME TO KILL...

Justine Jones has lived her life as a fearful hypochondriac until she's lured into the web of a mysterious mastermind named Packard. He gifts her with extraordinary mental powers-dooming her to fight Midcity's shadowy war on paranormal crime in order to find the peace she so desperately craves.

But now, serial killers with unheard-of skills are terrorizing the most powerful beings in Midcity, including mastermind Packard - and his oldest friend and worst enemy, Midcity's new mayor, who has the ability to bend matter itself to his will.

As the body count grows, Justine faces a crisis of conscience as she tests the limits of her new powers and faces an impossible choice between two flawed but brilliant men . . . one on a journey of redemption, and the other descending into a pit of moral depravity.

Won:
I won this Teen Anthology from Cari at Cari's Book Blog.  The stories in here sound amazing! And the book is signed by a few of the authors.  Thank you Cari for the chance to win this book. 

Goodreads Synopsis:
Truly, Madly, Undead-ly

This irresistible collection features stories of love amid vampires by five of today's hottest authors—Kristin Cast (Tempted), Richelle Mead (Vampire Academy), Alyson Noël (Evermore), Kelley Armstrong (The Summoning), and Francesca Lia Block (Pretty Dead).

From a fugitive vampire forced to trust a boy who might work for the group bent on destroying her to the legendary romance of two immortals whose love compels them to risk everything, this heart-pounding collection brings new meaning to the words "love you forever." Whether you're into romances that are dark and moody or light and fun, these stories will quench that insatiable thirst for enchanting tales of the beautiful undead.

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.

Book Blog Chat (4): Double Cross - stop 1

Have you been reading Double Cross by Carolyn Crane?

We are chatting on it.  We are now posting the first stop at page 88.

The first chat is happening over at Robyn's Blog - The Bookoholic Zone.  Come Join us!  We would love to hear your thoughts so far.

Carolyn Crane was kind enough to suggest a few questions to help spar some great discussions.  Along with a few Robyn and I came up with.  Come on, what are you waiting for.  CLICK HERE!

The schedule we are following is here:
October 4 , 2010   Stop 1  Pg   88  (Ch   1- 7)
October 11, 2010  Stop 2  Pg 167  (Ch   8-13)
October 18, 2010  Stop 3  Pg 256  (Ch 14-21)
October 25, 2010  Stop 4  End of book

Friday, October 1, 2010

Looking Forward To (22)...

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 ever growing 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...

Rebel Prince
By:  Celine Kiernan
Due out:  October 18, 2010

Well, as many of my long time followers know I am addicted, hooked on (what ever you would like to call it) this trilogy.  This is a wonderful world to get lost in with the main characters on their mission to find the Rebel Prince to... well read the books. :)  These books have come out relatively close and tell the story of three characters; Razi, Wynter, and Christopher.

I have reviews of the first two books up (click the title to jump over to read them):
     The Poison Throne
     The Crowded Shadows

I did a Favorite Fictional Character post based on one of these characters.
     Christopher Garron (after reading The Poison Throne)

I am looking forward to the conclusion of the trilogy.  Although I will miss the characters and the world, so I will keep them on the shelf for a long time.

Synopsis from Goodreads:
Wynter Moorehawke has braved bandits and Loup-Garous to find her way to Alberon-the exiled, rebel prince. But now that she's there, she will learn firsthand that politics is a deadly mistress. With the king and his heir on the edge of war and alliances made with deadly enemies, the Kingdom is torn not just by civil war - but strife between the various factions as well. Wynter knows that no one has the answer to the problems that plague the Kingdom - and she knows that their differences will not just tear apart her friends - but the Kingdom as well.