Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Teaser Tuesday [23] - Air Ignites Fire



Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers.

Catalyst (Tethered #1) by Jennifer Snyder


Teaser:

"Probably, but I don't drink enough to really find out. One and done, as they say." God, I sounded like an idiot.

Goodreads Summary:

Sometimes who we really are lies buried just beneath the surface…

After learning she’s inherited a house in the beachside town of Soul Harbor, Georgia, Addison Harmon and her best friend decided to take a much needed vacation before the pressures of life after high school suffocate them too heavily.

But what Addison finds isn’t a chance to recoup from a bad break up and hang out with her best friend while she decides what she wants to do with her future. What she finds is Kace Sullivan—a sexy guy she can’t seem to get enough of—someone who with one touch reveals a seductive world full of magick and secrets Addison isn’t sure she’s ready to be a part of.

Sunday, December 29, 2013

Sunday Cover Scramble [49]



Let's have some fun! I am going to post covers on here every Sunday that are scrambled up graphically, making it hard to tell what cover it is. I would like your guesses on what cover you think I've posted. I won't answer you until the next day to let you know if you are right, allowing other to guess as well. Some will be hard, and others may be easy. If you need hints, I will only post covers of series talked about on my blog previously. Also, let me know in the comments if you'd like some more hints and I'll offer some more throughout the day if no one guesses it correctly. Here we go:









Friday, December 27, 2013

Sidekick Showcase [56] - Giveth and Taketh Away


Sidekick Showcase, previously known as Sidekick Saturday, is a weekly bookish meme, hosted here by Jaclyn at JC's Book Haven. There are many secondary characters that are as great as the primaries. In some cases, the sidekicks actually steal the show and you like them better than the heroine or hero. Maybe they didn't have enough page time for how great they were. Anyone can play along! I will post my Sidekicks on Saturday, then whichever day during the week that you would like to post yours, you can put your link in on my page. Just do the following:

• Choose a sidekick *or someone other than the hero or heroine* that you would like to put in the spotlight that fits in the week's topic
• Share a picture (if you can) and information about the character
• Give the title and author of a book the character can be found in
• Please don't include too many spoilers when describing why the character is such a great sidekick
• The day of your post, put your link in below and grab the code for your post so you can see the others that post their's throughout the week as well

January 4th - Party-Animal

I hope everyone had a fantastic Christmas! I had such a great one. I am still trying to catch up on emails and everything though.


My choice is Professor Minerva McGonagall
Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling

Professor Minerva McGonagall picture created by Jaclyn Canada

I couldn't do a Christmas themed month without including Harry Potter. Every time Christmas rolls around, I get nostalgic for the HP movies. I'm guessing it's because of the score to the films, or the fact that each one has a Christmas scene in it filled with floating candles and magic. I chose Professor McGonagall because I think about gifts when I think about her. She gave Harry his first racing broom and a spot on the Quidditch team. I love this part of the story because it shows her love for the game and also takes away from the imposing, strict teacher persona she has. Later in the series though, Harry receives another racing broom and she immediately takes it away from him. There's someone after Harry so she's worried that since it was sent anonymously that the broom could be spelled to hurt him. Harry doesn't approve naturally of losing the best broom on the market to have it checked out for spells. McGonagall is loyal, smart, powerful, and she also turns into a cat. What's not to love?

Quotes:

“Well, usually when a person shakes their head,” said McGonagall coldly, “they mean ‘no.’ So unless Miss Edgecombe is using a form of sign language as yet unknown to humans...”



“Bad news, Harry. I've just been to see Professor McGonagall about the Firebolt. She – er, got a bit shirty with me. Told me I'd got my priorities wrong. Seemed to think I cared more about winning the Cup than I do about staying alive. Just because I told her I didn't care if it threw you off, as long as you caught the Snitch first.”



“Harry witnessed Professor McGonagall walking right past Peeves who was determinedly loosening a crystal chandelier and could have sworn he heard her tell the poltergeist out of the corner of her mouth 'It unscrews the other way.”



“He will not be single-handed!” said Professor McGonagall loudly, plunging her hand inside her robes.
“Oh yes he will, Minerva!” said Dumbledore sharply. “Hogwarts needs you!”



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Tuesday, December 24, 2013

I love Christmas!!

Merry Christmas everyone!! This is my favorite Christmas song:


Zane and I made enchiladas like we do every Christmas Eve. We are watching Christmas movies (my favorites are The Santa Clause(s) and Zane loves The Polar Express) and will have our cup of hot chocolate. Zane will open one present tonight and have the rest of them tomorrow.

I hope you are all enjoying your holiday and traditions. Merry Christmas!

Sunday, December 22, 2013

Sunday Cover Scramble [48]



Let's have some fun! I am going to post covers on here every Sunday that are scrambled up graphically, making it hard to tell what cover it is. I would like your guesses on what cover you think I've posted. I won't answer you until the next day to let you know if you are right, allowing other to guess as well. Some will be hard, and others may be easy. If you need hints, I will only post covers of series talked about on my blog previously. Also, let me know in the comments if you'd like some more hints and I'll offer some more throughout the day if no one guesses it correctly. Here we go:








Saturday, December 21, 2013

Sidekick Showcase [55] - Scrooge


Sidekick Showcase, previously known as Sidekick Saturday, is a weekly bookish meme, hosted here by Jaclyn at JC's Book Haven. There are many secondary characters that are as great as the primaries. In some cases, the sidekicks actually steal the show and you like them better than the heroine or hero. Maybe they didn't have enough page time for how great they were. Anyone can play along! I will post my Sidekicks on Saturday, then whichever day during the week that you would like to post yours, you can put your link in on my page. Just do the following:

• Choose a sidekick *or someone other than the hero or heroine* that you would like to put in the spotlight that fits in the week's topic
• Share a picture (if you can) and information about the character
• Give the title and author of a book the character can be found in
• Please don't include too many spoilers when describing why the character is such a great sidekick
• The day of your post, put your link in below and grab the code for your post so you can see the others that post their's throughout the week as well

December Themes are Christmas related. Your choice! Something like jolly, giving, Angels, Elves, Grinches, Santa-Like, etc. You can choose anyone you feel that is somehow related to a Christmas theme each week in December. There's a lot of freedom there, but if you have any questions, just let me know.


My choice is Mimi Force
The Blue Bloods Series by Melissa de la Cruz

Mimi Force picture created by Jaclyn Canada

This week I'm going with a Scrooge-like character. Mimi is a young socialite that has a lot of wealth and as much selfishness to go with it. Through the whole first book with her character it was all 'me, me, me' and if there wasn't status or power attached to it, she didn't want it. Over time though, she is the character that had the most growth in the series. She became strong, resilient, brave, sacrificing, and was even able to give up what meant the world to her for the 'greater good' and those she loves. I haven't read the last book in this series yet, but I'm assuming she just becomes more fierce and likable. To be honest, she went from the character that I liked the least in the first book to the character I liked the most.

Quotes:

“Maybe she'd been drinking too much of the super-sweet Mexican Coca-Cola they had down here. Or maybe she was just tired, alone, and far from home. Because somewhere in the brittle, concrete center of [her] dark heart, something was melting.”



“Mimi walked out of church, knowing that if she ever saw Jack again, she would have to kill him.”



"Trinity turned to give Mimi her last words of motherly advice: 'Walk straight. Don't slouch. And for heavens's sake, smile!'"



Here goes nothing. As if in a daze, Mimi took his arm, Jack's words still echoing in her head. She walked, zombie-like, down the aisle, not even noticing the flashing cameras or the murmurs of approval from the hard-to-impress crowd.



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Wednesday, December 18, 2013

More Christmas Love

This is one of those Christmas songs that is not overplayed so every time I hear it, it holds the fun. I hope you enjoy listening to it as much as I do.




Last year, we went to go see Rise of the Guardians. It was added to my list of Christmas movies that are must-see each year. It follows the main character of Jack Frost who is needed by the rest of the holiday guardians. It features colorful versions of Santa, Tooth Fairy, Easter Bunny, and Sand Man (even re-naming some of them). I love everything about this film so if you haven't seen it, I really hope you do. It highlights all of the Guardians in unique and exciting ways and the plot line is different, funny, and emotional.

Sunday, December 15, 2013

Sunday Cover Scramble [47]



Let's have some fun! I am going to post covers on here every Sunday that are scrambled up graphically, making it hard to tell what cover it is. I would like your guesses on what cover you think I've posted. I won't answer you until the next day to let you know if you are right, allowing other to guess as well. Some will be hard, and others may be easy. If you need hints, I will only post covers of series talked about on my blog previously. Also, let me know in the comments if you'd like some more hints and I'll offer some more throughout the day if no one guesses it correctly. Here we go:



A clearer version:








Friday, December 13, 2013

Sidekick Showcase [54] - President No


Sidekick Showcase, previously known as Sidekick Saturday, is a weekly bookish meme, hosted here by Jaclyn at JC's Book Haven. There are many secondary characters that are as great as the primaries. In some cases, the sidekicks actually steal the show and you like them better than the heroine or hero. Maybe they didn't have enough page time for how great they were. Anyone can play along! I will post my Sidekicks on Saturday, then whichever day during the week that you would like to post yours, you can put your link in on my page. Just do the following:

• Choose a sidekick *or someone other than the hero or heroine* that you would like to put in the spotlight that fits in the week's topic
• Share a picture (if you can) and information about the character
• Give the title and author of a book the character can be found in
• Please don't include too many spoilers when describing why the character is such a great sidekick
• The day of your post, put your link in below and grab the code for your post so you can see the others that post their's throughout the week as well

December Themes are Christmas related. Your choice! Something like jolly, giving, Angels, Elves, Grinches, Santa-Like, etc. You can choose anyone you feel that is somehow related to a Christmas theme each week in December. There's a lot of freedom there, but if you have any questions, just let me know.


My choice is President Coriolanus Snow
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
President Snow picture created by Jaclyn Canada

President Snow may look like Santa and have a nice wintry name, but that's where the comparison ends. He is a Grinch if I've ever seen one. He hands out poison, death threats, and mandatory entry for kids to battle for their lives once a year. That rose he wears on his lapel? It covers up the smell of blood on his breath. This is one bad Mamba Jamba.

I love President Snow because he IS what brings the political nuances and the strong resolve for change. For people that have read this series, it is one that I can have deep conversations about every aspect. I haven't seen Catching Fire yet, but in Hunger Games, Donald Sutherland's portrayal was amazing. I especially enjoyed the letter he wrote in the special features on the DVD. If you'd like to read it, you can check it out here.

Quotes:

“Oh, my dear Miss Everdeen. I thought we had an agreement not to lie to each other.”



“I can hear President Snow's voice in my head. 'On the seventy-fifth anniversary, as a reminder to the rebels that even the strongest among them cannot overcome the power of the capital, the male and female tributes will be reaped from their existing pool of victors.”



“In my mind, President Snow should be viewed in front of marble pillars hung with oversized flags. It's jarring to see him surrounded by the ordinary objects in the room. Like taking the lid off a pot and finding a fanged viper instead of stew.”



“But the only thing that distracts me from my current situation is fantasizing about killing President Snow.”



"President Snow rubs a spot over his left eyebrow, the very spot where I myself get headaches. Do you have any idea what that would mean? How many people would die? What conditions those left would have to face? Whatever problems anyone may have with the Capitol, believe me when I say that if it released its grip on the districts for even a short time, the entire system would collapse.

I’m taken aback by the directness and even the sincerity of this speech. As if his primary concern is the welfare of the citizens of Panem, when nothing could be further from the truth. I don't know how I dare to say the next words, but I do. 'It must be very fragile, if a handful of berries can bring it down.'”


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Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Christmas Songs and Books


So now every time I listen to this song, it really has to be the Zooey Deschanel version just because I adore her and it makes me think of Elf. Her singing in the shower and him joining in the song had to be one of my absolute favorite parts of the movie.

Has anyone read The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson?

I'm curious what your thoughts are on it if you have. I haven't read it, but Zane's reading it at school.

He is also working on a very neat project where he was given a country and was asked to research how that specific country celebrates Christmas. He was given Spain. I just love getting to know more about different cultures, religions, and the holidays that everyone celebrates. I'd love to hear about what traditions you have for this time of year.


Sunday, December 8, 2013

Sunday Cover Scramble [46]



Let's have some fun! I am going to post covers on here every Sunday that are scrambled up graphically, making it hard to tell what cover it is. I would like your guesses on what cover you think I've posted. I won't answer you until the next day to let you know if you are right, allowing other to guess as well. Some will be hard, and others may be easy. If you need hints, I will only post covers of series talked about on my blog previously. Also, let me know in the comments if you'd like some more hints and I'll offer some more throughout the day if no one guesses it correctly. Here we go:









Friday, December 6, 2013

Sidekick Showcase [53] - Sleigh Driver


Sidekick Showcase, previously known as Sidekick Saturday, is a weekly bookish meme, hosted here by Jaclyn at JC's Book Haven. There are many secondary characters that are as great as the primaries. In some cases, the sidekicks actually steal the show and you like them better than the heroine or hero. Maybe they didn't have enough page time for how great they were. Anyone can play along! I will post my Sidekicks on Saturday, then whichever day during the week that you would like to post yours, you can put your link in on my page. Just do the following:

• Choose a sidekick *or someone other than the hero or heroine* that you would like to put in the spotlight that fits in the week's topic
• Share a picture (if you can) and information about the character
• Give the title and author of a book the character can be found in
• Please don't include too many spoilers when describing why the character is such a great sidekick
• The day of your post, put your link in below and grab the code for your post so you can see the others that post their's throughout the week as well

December Themes are Christmas related. Your choice! Something like jolly, giving, Angels, Elves, Grinches, Santa-Like, etc. You can choose anyone you feel that is somehow related to a Christmas theme each week in December. There's a lot of freedom there, but if you have any questions, just let me know.


My choice is Artemis
Percy Jackson Series by Rick Riordan

Artemis picture created by Jaclyn Canada

So Artemis popped in my head because this goddess drives a chariot across the night sky and it is even compared to Santa's sleigh in the book. She can look however she would like, but she chooses to often appear the same age as her "Hunters" which are a group of young maidens that have sworn off men and live a life of hunting. She is the twin to Apollo who is "so hot" which is in sharp contrast to what appears to be her cold nature even though by the end of the series the reader finds out that this goddess may just be the one who has the highest regard for mortals and will go to extreme lengths to keep her people safe. She is the goddess of the hunt, the moon, chastity, animals, and the wilderness.

Quotes:

“Brother,” Artemis chided. “You do not help my Hunters. You do not look at, talk to, or flirt with my Hunters. And you do not call them sweetheart.”



“Stars," she whispered. "I can see the stars again, my lady."
A tear trickled down Artemis's cheek. "Yes, my brave one. They are beautiful tonight."



“Boys are usually forbidden to have any contact with the Hunters. The last one to see this camp…” She looked at Zoe. “Which one was it?”
That boy in Colorado,” Zoe said. “You turned him into a jackalope.”
Ah, yes.” Artemis nodded, satisfied. “I enjoy making jackalopes…”



“Number eight, the silver one, belongs to Artemis. She vowed to be a maiden forever. So of course, no kids. The cabin is, you know, honorary. If she didn't have one, she'd be mad.”



“Artemis must be present at the solstice," Zoe said. "She has been the most vocal on the council, arguing for taking action against Kronos's minions. If she is not there, the gods will decide nothing. We will lose another year of war preparations."

Are you sugesting the gods have trouble acting together, young lady?" Dionysis asked.

Yes, Lord Dionysis."

Mr.D nodded. "Just checking. Your right, of course. Carry on.”


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Monday, December 2, 2013

A Touched Girl Series Has New Covers!!

A Touched Girl Series Cover Reveal Blog Hop

Soul Walker and Soul Bender have brand new covers, and we are celebrating!

Published: December 9, 2012
Genre: Paranormal Romance

Goodreads Summary: 
"I need to get you to the hospital." He was taking responsibility for me. Only my parents had that job. I stretched my hand out in protest, but the lack of depth perception had my trembling fingers grazing his overheated neck. I swore his whole body shook.

When five-year-old Anna Pierce is offered a chance to have nightmare-free nights for the small price of her voice, she jumps at it. Silence has to be better than all-consuming dreams about blood and death and fangy monsters. The bargain she strikes comes with a secondary benefit, visions of a person's future potential. The combination of visions and silence changes her very nature and soon she's diagnosed with autism. Twelve years of living in her head comes to a screeching halt the moment Peter Davis pulls her out of an icy river. 

Her new life has her twirling, tiptoeing, and crashing through unfamiliar territory, one filled with a cranky grandma, a knocked up cousin, an unpleasant cousin, a bunch of mostly good vampires, and the boy who rescued her.

To top it all off, the deal she made at five is no more. Anna is expected to talk, to figure out her resurfacing nightmares, and to control her ever-growing powers. And she'd better get it done soon because if the good vamps want a piece of a living, breathing Touched girl, the evil ones simply want. They'll take Anna for their very own.
Soul Walker is the first book in the Touched Girl Series. It's approximately 91,000 words.



Published: March 11, 2013
Genre: Paranormal Romance

Goodreads Summary:
How much can a soul take before it breaks? 

Anna Pierce has a vampire boyfriend, a driver's license, real friends for the first time since she was five, and now she faces one of her biggest challenges, senior year at a mostly all girls Catholic high school. Sure, she's a member of the talking crowd now, but she'll never be like everyone else. How can she when the first of her kind has camped out in her dreams? 

Little dead girl Emily decides Anna's destiny can wait no longer. It's time for this generation's Touched girl to hunt. Trained in a virtual dream landscape to destroy all in her path, Anna must choose between her destiny, the one beat into her on a nightly basis, and her legacy, the one instilled in her by her parents. 

Along the way, old enemies remain dutifully obsessed, new foes lurk in the shadows, and odd Little Duckie Anna Pierce sets out to be social. 


*Covers created by Jaclyn @ JC's Book Haven

About Robyn Jones:

I laugh when people fall down. It's a glitch in my programming, but even my mom has suffered this quirk. I have a BA in Studio Art from the University of Puget Sound. My boys make me laugh every day. I steal pens; I try real hard not to. I collect those free bookmarks at the checkout counter at libraries. I've had more stitches than anyone I know. I love stories; writing them, reading them, watching them. You can email me at robgirlbooks@gmail.com.

Blog / Twitter / Goodreads
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Sunday, December 1, 2013

Sunday Cover Scramble [45]



Let's have some fun! I am going to post covers on here every Sunday that are scrambled up graphically, making it hard to tell what cover it is. I would like your guesses on what cover you think I've posted. I won't answer you until the next day to let you know if you are right, allowing other to guess as well. Some will be hard, and others may be easy. If you need hints, I will only post covers of series talked about on my blog previously. Also, let me know in the comments if you'd like some more hints and I'll offer some more throughout the day if no one guesses it correctly. Here we go:








Friday, November 29, 2013

Sidekick Showcase [52] - Keeping it in the Family


Sidekick Showcase, previously known as Sidekick Saturday, is a weekly bookish meme, hosted here by Jaclyn at JC's Book Haven. There are many secondary characters that are as great as the primaries. In some cases, the sidekicks actually steal the show and you like them better than the heroine or hero. Maybe they didn't have enough page time for how great they were. Anyone can play along! I will post my Sidekicks on Saturday, then whichever day during the week that you would like to post yours, you can put your link in on my page. Just do the following:

• Choose a sidekick *or someone other than the hero or heroine* that you would like to put in the spotlight that fits in the week's topic
• Share a picture (if you can) and information about the character
• Give the title and author of a book the character can be found in
• Please don't include too many spoilers when describing why the character is such a great sidekick
• The day of your post, put your link in below and grab the code for your post so you can see the others that post their's throughout the week as well

December Themes are Christmas related. Your choice! Something like jolly, giving, Angels, Elves, Grinches, Santa-Like, etc. You can choose anyone you feel that is somehow related to a Christmas theme each week in December. There's a lot of freedom there, but if you have any questions, just let me know.

This week is Keeping it in the Family

My choice is Janine Hathaway
The Vampire Academy Series by Richelle Mead

Janine Hathaway picture created by Jaclyn Canada

Janine Hathaway is Rose Hathaway's Mom in the Vampire Academy series. I absolutely LOVE her. The funny part is, Rose doesn't...at least at first when she's introduced. Janine took her dhampir promise "They Come First" to heart, and puts her Guardian duties over her mothering duties (at least in her daughter's eyes). She's absolutely fierce, feared, and other Guardians look to her for direction. After Rose goes through a tough experience, Janine is there for her more and their relationship is built brick by brick.

Quotes:

“Don't blame us," said my mother. "We didn't blow up half of Court, steal a dozen cars, call out a murderer in the middle of a crowd, or get our teenage friend crowned queen."

"Actually," said Abe, "I did blow up half of Court.”



“Janine Hathaway offered to be my guardian, " said Lissa suddenly.
"Janine Hathaway?" Tatiana's eyebrows rose nearly to her hairline. "I'm sure she has other commitments. No, we've got much better choices."
A better choice than Janine Hathaway? Not likely. Before Dimitri, my mother had been the gold standard by which I measured all badassedness.”



“My mom beat me up," I informed my reflection. It looked back sympathetically.”



“Well, well, well," I said. "If it isn't the people responsible for unleashing Rose Hathaway on the world. You've got a lot to answer for.”



“Did you follow me from the party?"

"Yes"

"I didn't even know you were there." His dark clothes indicated he must have been on guardian duty at the party. "So you saw the illustrious Janine cause a commotion by dragging me out."

"It wasn't a commotion. Hardly anyone noticed. I saw because I was watching you.”


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Harry Potter Moment of the Week [16]


This is a meme hosted by Uncorked Thoughts.The aim of this meme is to share with fellow bloggers a character, spell, chapter, object or quote from the books/ films/ J. K. Rowling herself or anything Potter related! She is picking a topic within HP for us to focus on each week and then if anyone wants to take part feel free! All she asks is to link back to her blog :). There is now a full list of the topics to come here.

Favorite Magical Item



I love the Maurader's Map! It brings together so many characters in some interesting ways. When I was introduced to it, Fred and George own it and so graciously hand it over to Harry in his time of need. We later find out that Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs created the map. This makes the map even more special to Harry since his Dad and Father-like figures Sirius and Lupin had a hand in its creation.

The Maurader's Map enables the person using it who says "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good" to view every corner, every room, every passage (even hidden ones) and the grounds of Hogwarts. The people there show up as footprints with a name hovering over. It doesn't differentiate between Jr. and Sr. however which does cause problems, and unplottable places like The Room of Requirement and The Chamber of Secrets never show up. To turn the map into a spare bit of parchment again, the user says, "Mischief Managed."

The map plays a fairly large role in the story as far as magical items go. It helped Harry sneak into Hogsmeade. It also very laughingly insults Snape when Harry is caught with it. Harry spotted a few people on the map that shouldn't be there which definitely changed the mode of the story. During Harry's sixth year, he hardly put the map down, constantly tracking Malfoy's movements to see what he was up to. Though it was only figured it out by determining that he kept 'disappearing'. The last book in the series found Harry desperately looking for Ginny's name so he could be close to her in some form.

My second favorite magical item has to be the time-turner. I want one of those for my collection soon. What's your favorite magical item??

I hope everyone that was celebrating Thanksgiving yesterday had a wonderful day!!

Sunday, November 24, 2013

Sunday Cover Scramble [44]



Let's have some fun! I am going to post covers on here every Sunday that are scrambled up graphically, making it hard to tell what cover it is. I would like your guesses on what cover you think I've posted. I won't answer you until the next day to let you know if you are right, allowing other to guess as well. Some will be hard, and others may be easy. If you need hints, I will only post covers of series talked about on my blog previously. Also, let me know in the comments if you'd like some more hints and I'll offer some more throughout the day if no one guesses it correctly. Here we go:







Saturday, November 23, 2013

Sidekick Showcase [51] - Creepy


Sidekick Showcase, previously known as Sidekick Saturday, is a weekly bookish meme, hosted here by Jaclyn at JC's Book Haven. There are many secondary characters that are as great as the primaries. In some cases, the sidekicks actually steal the show and you like them better than the heroine or hero. Maybe they didn't have enough page time for how great they were. Anyone can play along! I will post my Sidekicks on Saturday, then whichever day during the week that you would like to post yours, you can put your link in on my page. Just do the following:

• Choose a sidekick *or someone other than the hero or heroine* that you would like to put in the spotlight that fits in the week's topic
• Share a picture (if you can) and information about the character
• Give the title and author of a book the character can be found in
• Please don't include too many spoilers when describing why the character is such a great sidekick
• The day of your post, put your link in below and grab the code for your post so you can see the others that post their's throughout the week as well

Next week is Keeping it in the Family - Relative of the Hero(ine)

This week is Creepy

My choice is Gollum
The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

Gollum picture created by Jaclyn Canada
Is anyone else super excited about Desolation of Smaug, or is it just me? With The Hobbit on the brain, Gollum was the perfect fit for me for this week. Gollum was originally known as Smeagol and was actually a type of hobbit before being damaged by the ring and turning unrecognizable in appearance and personality. With all the other hobbits running around, one with pointed teeth that lives in caves and talks to his other half is exceptionally creepy when compared with oh say Bilbo or Frodo.

Gollum got the name from the cough he is often associated with and he wars with his other half Smeagol. Gollum apparently will kill anyone in the way of him obtaining The One Ring and Smeagol tries to do the right thing and help others from time to time so these warring personalities inside of himself cause him to come across as disturbing. Bilbo pitied Gollum and didn't kill him when he had the chance, and later Frodo pities him as well. Further, Frodo is the only one to show him kindness since he fears that he could in fact become like him. The thing is, all Gollum cares about is the ring...so...he's super creepy.

Quotes:

"We even forgot the sound of trees and the taste of bread."



“Bilbo almost stopped breathing, and went stiff himself. He was desperate. He must get away, out of this horrible darkness, while he had any strength left. He must fight. He must stab the foul thing, put its eyes out, kill it. It meant to kill him. No, not a fair fight. He was invisible now. Gollum had no sword. Gollum had not actually threatened to kill him, or tried yet. And he was miserable, alone, lost. A sudden understanding, a pity mixed with horror, welled up in Bilbo’s heart: a glimpse of endless unmarked days without light or hope of betterment, hard stone, cold fish, sneaking and whispering.”



“Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends. I have not much hope that Gollum can be cured before he dies, but there is a chance of it. And he is bound up with the fate of the Ring. My heart tells me that he has some part to play yet, for good or ill, before the end; and when that comes, the pity of Bilbo may rule the fate of many - yours not least.”



“What have I got in my pocket?" he said aloud. He was talking to himself, but Gollum thought it was a riddle, and he was frightfully upset.
"Not fair! not fair!" he hissed. "It isn't fair, my precious, is it, to ask us what it's got in it's nassty little pocketsess?”



“So was I,” said Frodo, “and so I am. We’re going on a bit too fast. You and
I, Sam, are still stuck in the worst places of the story, and it is all too likely that some will say at this point ‘Shut the book now, dad; we don’t want to read any more’.”

“Maybe,” said Sam, “but I wouldn’t be one to say that. Things done and
over and made into part of the great tales are different. Why, even Gollum might be good in a tale, better than he is to have by you, anyway. And he used to like tales himself once, by his own account. I wonder if he thinks he’s the hero or the villain?”
“Gollum!” he called. “Would you like to be the hero, now where’s he got to
again?”


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Thursday, November 21, 2013

Review: Generation V (American Vampire #1) by M.L. Brennan

Published: May 7, 2013 by Roc
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Format: Paperback
Source: Sent for Review
Goodreads Summary 


Reality Bites

Fortitude Scott’s life is a mess. A degree in film theory has left him with zero marketable skills, his job revolves around pouring coffee, his roommate hasn’t paid rent in four months, and he’s also a vampire. Well, sort of. He’s still mostly human.

But when a new vampire comes into his family’s territory and young girls start going missing, Fort can’t ignore his heritage anymore. His mother and his older, stronger siblings think he’s crazy for wanting to get involved. So it’s up to Fort to take action, with the assistance of Suzume Hollis, a dangerous and sexy shape-shifter. Fort is determined to find a way to outsmart the deadly vamp, even if he isn’t quite sure how.

But without having matured into full vampirehood and with Suzume ready to split if things get too risky, Fort’s rescue mission might just kill him.…


Strength and Firmness of Mind


I love a good vampire book as much as the next person, but authors face the daunting task of giving me what I want and making sure I'm not reading the same story over and over again.

The Good


Generation V is definitely unlike any vampire book I've read before. I had to throw away all of my preconceptions about what it means to be a vampire. Well, let me re-phrase that. I had to throw away all of my preconceptions about what it means to be MOSTLY a vampire. Fortitude is not all vampire yet, and he doesn't hold any of the traits that I know I stereo-typically associate with a vampire. He's not sauve, he's not calculating, he's not callous, and he most certainly does not have money. More than that, he's the underdog. I root for him the whole story to completely cut ties with that cheating girlfriend, to grow a pair and kick out that free-loading roommate, to kiss the girl despite nerves (plus who cares if she's out of your league!), and to get the bad guy despite no real super powers.

The names are a lot of fun in Generation V. Fortitude is such an apt name for our hero. He's strong of mind and firm in resolve, but doesn't have that physical strength or superman body. His brother Chivalry is someone I'd like to know more of. His name is fitting with regards to what I've seen so far in that he's a vampire and doesn't have qualms about human life being lower on the scale to theirs, but he stands up for his brother every chance he can as well as being a gentleman in some odd ways. You'll have to read more to know what I mean on that score. Fort's sister Prudence is all about her own interests and acts in a very practical fashion, so that one is right on as well. I also met Fort's mother, the matriarch of the clan Madeline.

"AH! You better make him pay!!" Fort takes on the task of saving some local girls from a visiting vampire, Luca, that flat-out sickens me. I want Fortitude to succeed so badly while reading that I yell at the book. Thankfully, he has help in the form of a sultry shape-shifter that has to be my favorite in the book, Suzume. I don't want to tell you too much about her because I want her to be a surprise, but just know I don't come across someone like her everyday, I love her fierce attitude and nonchalant hear-me-roar nature, and I ADORE the fact that Brennan gave us this creature to appreciate in Generation V.

The Bad

There were some definite times when I wanted to shake Fort and ask him why on earth he puts up with half the crap in his life that he does. Man, you are a doormat for part of the story!

I want to put this here for some to be fair-warned. There is a pedophile vampire as the bad guy. He's seriously nasty. Messing with kids is not ok! There is mention of what is 'probably' happening to the young girls but nothing graphic is shown or told in the story.

The Romance

There's not a lot of romance in Generation V. Fortitude's girlfriend is not someone that I liked. Suzume was a nice bit of chemistry and mixed things up well but while there was a lot of potential there and some flirting, there's not a romance.

Conclusion

By the end of this book, Fortitude was a nice strong character that I could really stand behind. I cheered for him and wanted him to succeed the whole time. He grew and made better decisions as time progressed and I was happy to see him in a much better place at the end. A true underdog that is on a mission with a wonderful sidekick. There is humor, action, and the extreme desire for the hero to win. Again, messing with kids is not ok so the bad guy had to go down!! Very recommended.



Excerpts

"Oh yeah, this looks like a completely natural death," I said. "As long as you ignore the gunshot, the smashed head and nose, the empty spot where one eye used to be, and oh yeah, the gaping chest wound."

"Yes, Fort's wit is our constant companion," Chivalry said, straight-faced. His second kick was even harder and I shut my mouth on what I would've said next.

"Because you're broke," she said.
"How do you know that?" Given the way that Suzume had treated me as her source of free food since she'd met me, I was pretty surprised that she'd known.
"A few subtle clues were evident." Suzume mimed inhaling on a pipe, then began ticking them off on her fingers. "First, there was your car. It's rusty, old, doesn't like to start in the morning, and the bumper drags enough that I'm sure that one more speed bump is going to rip it right off. Second, there were your clothes. They suck. Third was your unspeakable cheapness in not buying me a beer last night to go with the pizza. I mean, pizza and beer. They just go together. You don't mess with nature. But probably the most striking clue was when I accessed your online bank statement and looked at your balance."

This giveaway is for U.S. only. We're sorry to all of our international friends!!


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Sunday, November 17, 2013

Sunday Cover Scramble [43]



Let's have some fun! I am going to post covers on here every Sunday that are scrambled up graphically, making it hard to tell what cover it is. I would like your guesses on what cover you think I've posted. I won't answer you until the next day to let you know if you are right, allowing other to guess as well. Some will be hard, and others may be easy. If you need hints, I will only post covers of series talked about on my blog previously. Also, let me know in the comments if you'd like some more hints and I'll offer some more throughout the day if no one guesses it correctly. Here we go:







Friday, November 15, 2013

Sidekick Showcase [50] - One of a Kind


Sidekick Showcase, previously known as Sidekick Saturday, is a weekly bookish meme, hosted here by Jaclyn at JC's Book Haven. There are many secondary characters that are as great as the primaries. In some cases, the sidekicks actually steal the show and you like them better than the heroine or hero. Maybe they didn't have enough page time for how great they were. Anyone can play along! I will post my Sidekicks on Saturday, then whichever day during the week that you would like to post yours, you can put your link in on my page. Just do the following:

• Choose a sidekick *or someone other than the hero or heroine* that you would like to put in the spotlight that fits in the week's topic
• Share a picture (if you can) and information about the character
• Give the title and author of a book the character can be found in
• Please don't include too many spoilers when describing why the character is such a great sidekick
• The day of your post, put your link in below and grab the code for your post so you can see the others that post their's throughout the week as well

Next week is Creepy

This week is One of a Kind

My choice is Jesse Hauptman
Mercy Thompson Series by Patricia Briggs
Jesse Hauptman Picture Created by Jaclyn Canada

While Jesse doesn't play a large role in the series, I sure enjoy when she's around. She is much loved by her father Adam Hauptman who is the Alpha of the Columbia Basin Pack. In the beginning of the series, she spends time back and forth with her mother and her father. When she's with her mom, she's not featured in the book. Mercy met Jesse when she was 9 years old. They often bake together and discuss the 'Wild Things'. Speaking of, that's definitely something that makes Jesse one of a kind in this series. She's one of the few regular humans that we meet. On top of that, thanks to her not so great mother, she's very mature for her age since she has to be more of the parent in that relationship. She's eccentric, often changing her hair color (sometimes more than once in a book), and she lives in a house that werewolves frequently run in and out of in both forms. I love this bright spot of sunshine added to the series. Even when times are tough, there's not much that can keep Jesse down. Having the teenager added in the mix with all of the adults, sure adds a lot and also brings out Mercy's maternal side.

Quotes:

“Drink it,” I told her. “It’s good for what ails you. Caffeine and sugar. I don’t drink it, so I ran over to your house and stole the expensive stuff in your freezer. It shouldn’t be that bad. Samuel told me to make it strong and pour sugar into it. It should taste sort of like bitter syrup.”

She gave me a smile smile, then a bigger one, and plugged her nose before she drank it down in one gulp. “Next time," she said in a hoarse voice, “I make the coffee.”



Jesse was Adam's daughter, fifteen going on forty. She spent most of the year with her mother in Eugene - she must be in town to spend Thanksgiving with Adam. It seemed a little early to me for that, since Thanksgiving wasn't until Thursday, but she went to some private school for brilliant and eccentric kids, so maybe her vacations were longer than the public school's.



"Did you dye your hair specially for your father?" I asked, finding a spoon and handing it to her with a healthy glob of dough.
"Of course," she said, taking a bite then continuing to talk as if her mouth wasn't half-full. "It makes him feel all fatherly if he can complain about something. Besides," she said with an air of righteousness, "everyone in Eugene is doing it. It'll wash out in a week or two. When I was tired of the lecture, I just told him he was lucky I didn't use superglue to put spikes in like my friend Jared. Maybe I'll do that next vacation. This is good stuff."



"He said, 'Got a hit. Don't fret. He was a hired gun.'" She waved her empty spoon at me. "Now explain it to me."

I suppose I should have respected Adam's need to protect his daughter, but he was the one who sent her to me. "I killed a man tonight. Your father found out who he was."

"Really? And he was a hit man? Cool." She dropped the spoon in the sink next to the first one, then boosted herself up to sit on my counter and conducted a rapid question and answer session all by herself. "Was that what you called him about earlier? He was fit to be tied. How come you called Dad? No wait. The man you killed was a werewolf, too, wasn't he? That's why Dad took off so fast. Who is the wolf he came back with?" She paused. "You killed a werewolf? Did you have a gun?"

Several. But I hadn't brought one with me to the garage.

She had paused, so I answered her last two questions. "Yep and nope."

"It wasn't on purpose," I told her repressively. I might as well have tried holding back a tidal wave with my bare hands, it would have had as  much effect.




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Monday, November 11, 2013

Book Blitz: Reign of Ice by L.P. Dover with Excerpt


Reign of Ice by L.P. Dover Book Blitz

I have a special post for you today as well as a giveaway. One lucky commenter will receive an ebook of Reign of Ice by L.P. Dover.
Published: November 15, 2013
Genres: Fantasy, New Adult, Romance
Summary
Two courts to four is what needs to be … to save the land so shall we see.

The scroll has been found and now the fae know how to defeat the dark sorcerer, to end his evil existence in the Land of the Fae. However, the only thing standing in the way is the one bond that must be formed; the one that will empower all four courts together and make them invincible. Ariella and Brayden’s bond will not come easily, for Ariella is mischievous and head-strong with a heart full of love, while Brayden is strong and loyal with a heart made of ice.

What do you do when the fate of your land rests upon your shoulders because of the bond you must form to save it? How are you supposed to do that when the one man to help you fulfill the prophecy is the one who doesn’t believe in love?

With all four princesses bound together as one, will they be strong enough to save the life of Ariella, who is destined to be the one who ends it, the one who will sacrifice everything to save the people she loves? In this final installment of the Forever Fae series you will see how the bonds of love and all the sacrifices it takes to truly conquer the evil once and for all.


Excerpt


Taking a deep breath, I left the cover of the wall and slowly sauntered out through the crowd with my head held high. The warriors halted in mid-motion, bowing as I walked past them heading toward Brayden. He hadn’t turn to acknowledge me, but with the rigid stance and the tenseness in his muscles I knew he could feel I was there.

“What are you doing here?” Brayden asked, his voice bland and disinterested as he kept his back to me.

“I’m not going to answer that question until you turn to face me,” I snapped. The warriors around us gasped and halted with their mouths wide open, staring back and forth at us.

Brayden crossed his arms over his chest and finally turned to face me. Yep, he was back to being the emotionless bastard that he was before. However, I was going to fix that problem … fast. Now that I had his attention I said, “Whether you like it or not I’m here to train. Either you can fight with me or I’ll find one of these other handsome warriors to teach me a thing or two.”

     When all he did was clench his teeth, I backed away from him and pulled out my sword, turning around so I could address the warriors. “All right, since Prince Brayden won’t answer me, who here wants to fight me and help me train?”

     Several of the warriors smiled while others looked to Brayden for guidance. I heard one of them whispering to another, “I don’t feel right about fighting his queen.”

     Brayden heard the fighter say it too because his gaze instantly found mine. “I’m not his queen,” I announced, narrowing my eyes at him.

     “She’s right,” he agreed. “She’s not my queen. If she wants to fight then let’s show her how we do it in the Winter Court.”

     The guys all hollered and resumed back to their fighting, except I caught several of them sneak glances my way to watch me battle. Brayden picked a couple of his warriors to stand back and join me, all circling me like I was their prey. With my sword gripped firmly in my right hand, I was ready. However, I couldn’t stop myself from taunting Brayden just a little bit more. He was standing outside of the circle, watching on with a smirk on his face.

     “What’s wrong, Prince Brayden, afraid you might get your ass kicked?” I teased.

     Brayden’s smirk grew wider and he retorted back, “Not at all, Princess. I just have to see if you are worthy enough to fight me.”

Reign of Ice (Forever Fae #4) at Amazon
Reign of Ice (Forever Fae #4) at Barnes and Noble
Reign of Ice (Forever Fae #4) at Smashwords


Author L.P. Dover


I am an avid reader that loves my collection of books. Writing has always been a passion of mine and now I am glad that I get to share my passion with the world. I live in North Carolina and I absolutely love being a southern girl. I spent several years in college starting out with a major in Psychology and then switching to dental. I worked in the dental field for eight years and then decided to stay home with my two beautiful girls. I spent the beginning of my reading years reading suspense thrillers, but now I can't get away from the paranormal/fantasy books. I knew ever since then that if I wrote anything it would be in a paranormal aspect. Now that I have started on my passion and began writing, you will not see me go anywhere without a notebook and pen.

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