"Moonglow" by Kristen Callihan - Romance

Started January 27, 2013 - Ended January 31, 2013

I feel like it took me forever to finish this one. BUT that's because we took the kiddos on a mini vacation to celebrate their birthdays.


From Amazon:Once the seeds of desire are sown . . .


Finally free of her suffocating marriage, widow Daisy Ellis Craigmore is ready to embrace the pleasures of life that have long been denied her. Yet her new-found freedom is short lived. A string of unexplained murders has brought danger to Daisy's door, forcing her to turn to the most unlikely of saviors . . .
Their growing passion knows no bounds . . .


Ian Ranulf, the Marquis of Northrup, has spent lifetimes hiding his primal nature from London society. But now a vicious killer threatens to expose his secrets. Ian must step out of the shadows and protect the beautiful, fearless Daisy, who awakens in him desires he thought long dead. As their quest to unmask the villain draws them closer together, Daisy has no choice but to reveal her own startling secret, and Ian must face the undeniable truth: Losing his heart to Daisy may be the only way to save his soul.

I actually liked this book better than "Firelight". In my eyes Daisy and Ian were more relatable as a couple. I thought the story flowed better and I was more intrigued by their relationship. Plus it's pretty steamy at times. Like all good romance novels, it was a tad predictable, but the paranormal aspect kept it from being stale. Will I read part 3? If I think about it. "Winterblaze" comes out on February 26th and so far my library has zero copies ordered. So ... if I can get it for free, I more than likely will. You know me, finishing series is my addiction. I give "Moonglow" a strong B+.









#9

Words alone cannot express how much this quote fits. Reading is such a huge part of my life. I truly hope I can pass my love of the written word along to my girls.

Currently reading: "Moonglow" by Kristen Callihan

True Story ...

Currently reading: "Moonglow" by Kristen Callihan

Currently Reading ...

Currently reading: "Moonglow" by Kristen Callihan

"Firelight" by Kristen Callihan - Romance

Started January 24, 2013 - Ended January 26, 2013

I love trashy romance novels. I also love paranormal/fantasy novels as well. This one combined them both. Score!


From Amazon:London, 1881

Once the flames are ignited . . .

Miranda Ellis is a woman tormented. Plagued since birth by a strange and powerful gift, she has spent her entire life struggling to control her exceptional abilities. Yet one innocent but irreversible mistake has left her family's fortune decimated and forced her to wed London's most nefarious nobleman.



They will burn for eternity . . .
Lord Benjamin Archer is no ordinary man. Doomed to hide his disfigured face behind masks, Archer knows it's selfish to take Miranda as his bride. Yet he can't help being drawn to the flame-haired beauty whose touch sparks a passion he hasn't felt in a lifetime. When Archer is accused of a series of gruesome murders, he gives in to the beastly nature he has fought so hard to hide from the world. But the curse that haunts him cannot be denied. Now, to save his soul, Miranda will enter a world of dark magic and darker intrigue. For only she can see the man hiding behind the mask.

I felt like this book was a shell of a really, really awesome novel. Don't get me wrong, I really liked it. I plan on starting the second in the series ("Moonglow") in the next half hour, BUT just when I started to get really attached to the characters it was over. Maybe it's my Gabaldon complex ... you know, a really good novel has to hit the 1,000 page mark or it's not enough prose. Who knows. I did enjoy the read and in the end I give "Firelight" a B+.












#8

Like a kid in a candy store ...

You know that moment when you remember something you've forgotten? When it's something good the feeling can't be beat. I've been an avid reader for close to 28 years. My parents and my grandma instilled a love for books in me at a very early age. In fact when I was little my grandma blindly made the pact that she would NEVER refuse to buy me a book. And she didn't. Every Thursday my mom would take her on the 'old lady' circuit. Hairdresser - grocery store - home. And every Thursday that I was available I went along. Before she left the car, my grandma would hand me her credit card and tell me to get whatever I wanted. We would then hit the mall and I would pick up anywhere from 5-10 books for me to devour before the next trip out.

BTW I own every one of these books
Thanks to the recent influx of books-turned-movies, (City of Bones, Beautiful Creatures, Warm Bodies, The Hobbit, etc.)I've been scouring my library for copies of the books I want to read before I (conceivably) see the movies. It was during a recent search that I came across a familiar name that brought back so many memories ... Caroline B. Cooney.

I had flashbacks. I swear I did. I fondly remember scouring the shelves of Little Professor Books for new novels by my favorite authors. Caroline B. Cooney, Christopher Pike, R.L. Stine, Francine Pascal, Ann M. Martin , L.J. Smith , Lois Duncan, Diane Hoh , Joan Lowery Nixon, and more. My top genre was horror which quickly branched into the realm of Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Richard Laymon, Clive Barker and Bentley Little. It's amazing how seeing one name can make me remember how much I loved spending my afternoons browsing through a store looking for books.

Now I can't wait to revisit some of my favorites. Even though I know they won't have the same impact and will probably seem corny (hello "Vampire Diaries" I'm talking to you) I'm eager to read them over and over again.

At my friend Carey's suggestion, I started an Amazon Associates account. This will allow me to link to all the books I read, straight from Amazon, enabling you to find them quickly and painlessly. So if you're so inclined and want to read anything I've previously posted about, you can find my 'store' HERE. Or you can click the link to the right that says 'get my books'.
Thanks!


Currently reading: "Firelight" by Kristen Callihan

Currently Reading ...

Currently reading: "Firelight" by Kristen Callihan

(I mean when it comes with a review like this from Diana Gabaldon, how can you go wrong!?)

"UnEnchanted" by Chanda Hahn - Fantasy

Started January 22, 2013 - Ended January 23, 2013

I read this book so fast I didn't even post that I was reading it. Oops.

I picked up "UnEnchanted" on Amazon for free a few weeks ago. After the roller coaster ride of "Sybil" I needed something fluffy. "UnEnchanted" fit the bill.


From Amazon: Mina Grime is unlucky, unpopular and uncoordinated, that is until she saves her crushes life on a field trip, changing her High School status from loser to hero overnight. But with her new found fame brings misfortune in the form of an old family curse come to light. For Mina is descended from the Brothers Grimm and has inherited all of their unfinished fairy tale business. Which includes trying to outwit a powerful Story from making her it's next fairytale victim.



To break the fairy tale curse on her family and make these deadly occurrences stop, Mina must finish the tales until the very Grimm end.



If you can avoid the grammar and editing errors in this book, it's rather entertaining. I absolutely LOVE the idea - fairy tales are awesome! However, it wasn't the finest piece of literature I've ever read. I enjoyed "UnEnchanted" It fulfilled it purpose by giving me something light and fun to read. There is a second book in the series called "Fairest", but I couldn't bring myself so spend $3.99 on it. Altogether, I give "UnEnchanted" a B.










#7

"Sybil" by Flora Rheta Schreiber - Nonfiction

Started January 17, 2013 - Ended January 22, 2013

I initially picked up "Sybil" as part of a friend's book club. I can remember my mom watching the movie starring Sally Fields when I was younger and seeing it on my own when I was older. The case is intriguing and I was really excited to see if the book was just as thought-provoking.




From Amazon: More amazing than any work of fiction, yet true in every word, it swept to the top of the bestseller lists and riveted the consciousness of the world. As an Emmy Award-winning film starring Sally Field, it captured the home screens of an entire nation and has endured as the most electrifying TV movie ever made. It's the story of a survivor of terrifying childhood abuse, victim of sudden and mystifying blackouts, and the first case of multiple personality ever to be psychoanalyzed.

You're about to meet Sybil-and the sixteen selves to whom she played host, both women and men, each with a different personality, speech pattern, and even personal appearance. You'll experience the strangeness and fascination of one woman's rare affliction-and travel with her on her long, ultimately triumphant journey back to wholeness.


I ultimately enjoyed reading this book. It is not light subject matter, but because of it's narrative style the book is a pretty easy read. You can't help feel sorry for Sybil. Whether or not her case of Dissociative Identity Disorder is truly the real deal or not, the abuse she suffered at the hands of her mother is horrifying. I give "Sybil" a strong B.



Other books about Sybil:


"Sybil Exposed" by Debbie Nathan


SYBIL in her own words: The Untold Story of Shirley Mason, Her Multiple Personalities and Paintings by Patrick Suraci Ph.D.








#6

True story ...

Currently reading: "Sybil" by Flora Rheta Schreiber

At the halfway point!

Currently reading: "Sybil" by Flora Rheta Schreiber

Currently Reading ...

Currently reading: "Sybil" by Flora Rheta Schreiber

"Horns" by Joe Hill - Horror

Started January 13, 2013 - Ended January 16, 2013

I am a HUGE horror fan. The scarier, the better. When Joe Hill released "Heart-Shaped Box" in 2007 I was excited. I am always on the lookout for new authors and the synopsis was terribly intriguing. At that time I didn't realize that Mr. Hill had a very famous father. One of my all time favorite authors EVER ... Stephen King.


From Amazon: Ignatius Perrish spent the night drunk and doing terrible things. He woke up the next morning with a thunderous hangover, a raging headache . . . and a pair of horns growing from his temples.

At first Ig thought the horns were a hallucination, the product of a mind damaged by rage and grief. He had spent the last year in a lonely, private purgatory, following the death of his beloved, Merrin Williams, who was raped and murdered under inexplicable circumstances. A mental breakdown would have been the most natural thing in the world. But there was nothing natural about the horns, which were all too real.

Once the righteous Ig had enjoyed the life of the blessed: born into privilege, the second son of a renowned musician and younger brother of a rising late-night TV star, he had security, wealth, and a place in his community. Ig had it all, and more—he had Merrin and a love founded on shared daydreams, mutual daring, and unlikely midsummer magic.

But Merrin's death damned all that. The only suspect in the crime, Ig was never charged or tried. And he was never cleared. In the court of public opinion in Gideon, New Hampshire, Ig is and always will be guilty because his rich and connected parents pulled strings to make the investigation go away. Nothing Ig can do, nothing he can say, matters. Everyone, it seems, including God, has abandoned him. Everyone, that is, but the devil inside. . . .

Now Ig is possessed of a terrible new power to go with his terrible new look—a macabre talent he intends to use to find the monster who killed Merrin and destroyed his life. Being good and praying for the best got him nowhere. It's time for a little revenge. . . . It's time the devil had his due. . .


I first read "Horns" upon it's release in 2010. I couldn't remember all of the details, but it instantly went on my 'to read' list when I heard it was being made into a movie starring Daniel Radcliffe. "Horns" is a thriller. I found the middle to drag a little, but I think it was mostly because once I started reading I remembered where the story was going and was anxious to get there. I enjoyed the read however and am moving "Heart-Shaped Box" to my list as well. I give "Horns" a B+.








#5

Doesn't get much truer ....

Currently reading: "Horns" by Joe Hill

Currently Reading ...

Currently reading: "Horns" by Joe Hill

"Alice in Zombieland" by Gena Showalter - Fiction

Started January 10, 2013 - Ended January 12, 2013

What can I say about a book entitled "Alice in Zombieland"? Well for starters, it was pretty darn decent. It was enjoyable fluff that in a time of cookie cutter vampire novels was a refreshing change.

From Amazon: She won't rest until she's sent every walking corpse back to its grave. Forever.



Had anyone told Alice Bell that her entire life would change course between one heartbeat and the next, she would have laughed. From blissful to tragic, innocent to ruined? Please. But that's all it took. One heartbeat. A blink, a breath, a second, and everything she knew and loved was gone.



Her father was right. The monsters are real.



To avenge her family, Ali must learn to fight the undead. To survive, she must learn to trust the baddest of the bad boys, Cole Holland. But Cole has secrets of his own, and if Ali isn't careful, those secrets might just prove to be more dangerous than the zombies.



The characters were well fleshed and full of life. Bad boy, Cole Holland, and his band of misfit rogue friends help keep the story flowing, but Alice is the lifeblood of the tale. While there are certain similarities between the classic "Alice in Wonderland" and "Alice in Zombieland", it is not merely a retelling of the timeless tale. I liked it, and will probably read the second book when it comes out later this year. All together "Alice in Zombieland" was an enjoyable escape. I give it a B.




#4

Currently Reading ...

Currently reading: "Alice in Zombieland" by Gena Showalter

"The Boneman's Daughter" by Ted Dekker - Fiction

Started January 7, 2013 - Ended January 9, 2013

I've read a few of Ted Dekker's novels before, but it wasn't until I picked up this one that I found out his work is classified as Christian fiction. At first I was flummoxed. It's a book about a serial killer who breaks his victim's bones and leaves them to die. But if you look deeper it's obvious the real story is a battle between good and evil.

From Amazon: They call him BoneMan, a serial killer who's abducted six young women. He's the perfect father looking for the perfect daughter, and when his victims fail to meet his lofty expectations, he kills them by breaking their bones and leaving them to die.



Intelligence officer Ryan Evans, on the other hand, has lost all hope of ever being the perfect father. His daughter and wife have written him out of their lives.



Everything changes when BoneMan takes Ryan's estranged daughter, Bethany, as his seventh victim. Ryan goes after BoneMan on his own.



But the FBI sees it differently. New evidence points to the suspicion that Ryan is BoneMan. Now the hunter is the hunted, and in the end, only one father will stand.




"The Boneman's Daughter" was a psychological thriller. Unfortunately it left me feeling like I was missing something. That something was part of the story. A quarter of the way through, I stopped and started to Google Ted Dekker and "The Boneman's Daughter". I was absolutely sure that this was part of a series and that I had entered in a few books late. No such luck. It's a stand-alone piece that weighs heavy on back story. A few times I was just lost. The characters felt half written and forced. I was sorely disappointed. I'm giving "The Boneman's Daughter" a C.

#3

I really don't like it when ...

real life gets in the way of reading.

“I am simply a ‘book drunkard.’ Books have the same irresistible temptation for me that liquor has for its devotee. I cannot withstand them.” — L.M. Montgomery

Currently reading: "The Boneman's Daughter" by Ted Dekker

Currently Reading ...

Currently reading: "The Boneman's Daughter" by Ted Dekker

"Every Day" by David Levithan - YA Fiction

Started January 3, 2012 - Ended January 6, 2012

"Every Day" has been on my "to read" list since before it was even released. I came across it randomly on Facebook of all places. I promptly put my name on the wait list at the library, and a few weeks after its release I was notified my copy was in. I didn't read it. It sat, on my credenza for 2 weeks until I had to return it. A few months later, I requested it again. I still didn't read it. Just a few weeks ago I came across it once again in the 'recently returned' section of the Cuyahoga County Library's eBook collection. I finally sat myself down and immersed myself into the life of A.

From Amazon: A has no friends. No parents. No family. No possessions. No home, even. Because every day, A wakes up in the body of a different person. Every morning, a different bed. A different room. A different house. A different life. A is able to access each person's memory, enough to be able to get through the day without parents, friends, and teachers realizing this is not their child, not their friend, not their student. Because it isn't. It's A. Inhabiting each person's body. Seeing the world through their eyes. Thinking with their brain. Speaking with their voice.

It's a lonely existence--until, one day, it isn't. A meets a girl named Rhiannon. And, in an instant, A falls for her, after a perfect day together. But when night falls, it's over. Because A can never be the same person twice. But yet, A can't stop thinking about her. She becomes A's reason for existing. So each day, in different bodies--of all shapes, sizes, backgrounds, walks of life--A tries to get back to her. And convince her of their love. But can their love transcend such an obstacle?

I wanted to love this book. I did. But I didn't. I enjoyed it. But I didn't really feel a connection with the characters until the last few chapters (days?) of the book. The concept of the story is amazing! Each chapter is a different day in the life of A and the people he possesses. What would it be like to wake up in someone else's body every day? How would you form relationships? COULD you form relationships? I wanted more! More answers, more details. Apparently so did a lot of people. You can find a short sequel titled "Six Days Earlier" here. As well as a short story based on day #5909 here. So, have you read "Every Day"? I'd love to hear your thoughts if you have.

#2

Do you have an E-reader?

I am absolutely in LOVE with my Kindle Fire. To the point of almost obsession. Really? Me? Obsessed?

It's an amazing piece of technology really. A few years ago, my dear husband bought me a Sony Reader for Christmas. He knew I wanted a Kindle, but was only able to shop a few days before Christmas and couldn't get me one. At that point Kindles were relatively new. He gave me the option of keeping the Sony, or exchanging it for the Amazon version. I chose to stick with the Reader because I could use it by downloading library materials to it instead of purchasing books whenever I wanted to read. Kindles didn't have that option ... yet.
I never used it.
I missed the smell of a real book, the feel. While I liked the portability, it was a pain to load the books. It sat, collecting dust, for quite a long time.
When Amazon release their Kindle Fire, I fell in love. A tablet and E-reader all rolled into one? Where do I sign up?! I begged, and cajoled my loving family for one endlessly. I repeated over and over to my 4 year old daughters "mommy wants a Kindle Fire for Christmas". Only to be thwarted when I asked Payton what it was mommy was hoping for and her response was "a candle holder".

Fortunately my husband's good sense prevailed and one week before Christmas I was presented with a brand new Kindle Fire. It's something I use, without fail, every single day. The fact that I can now download and read library books is a huge plus. After 2-3 weeks the file disappears and you are left with not a fine or fee in sight. It's amazing.
So,do you have an E-reader? If so, what kind and do you like it?


Currently reading: "Every Day" by David Levithan

Not going to lie ... I have a problem.

My friend Jules thinks I'm nuts.

Well a lot of people think I'm nuts, but Jules is really on to something. You see, I have this addiction. Once I start reading a series, I have this deep, dark need to finish it. No matter what. I will endure 13 books of crud, just in case. What if book 3 is amazing? What if the two leads, ripe with sexual tension, finally give in and 'do it'? What if a meteor falls from the sky and squishes the annoying supporting character? What if, what if, what if?!
I'm not sure how to stop. Is there a 12 step process or do you quit cold turkey?
Don't get me wrong. Sometimes it's a good thing! It took me several books to really get into Kim Harrison's 'Hollows Series'. But I persevered, and now Rachel Morgan is one of my favorite characters. And if I need another example, two words will suffice ... Jericho Barrons. Mmmmmmm .....





Oh and in other news. I'm about to be famous ... just sayin'.

Status Update from Facebook:

Kelly Martin, Author - I had a very nice friend sacrifice her good name for a bad cause (I wanted a bad girl name to replace 'Amber' in BIG). She shall forever more be called KENDRA-- thanks Kendra Selby!!

You can find Kelly's first novel, 'Crossing the Deep' here. It's amazing!


Currently reading: "Every Day" by David Levithan

Currently Reading ...

Currently reading: "Every Day" by David Levithan

"When She Woke" by Hillary Jordan - Fiction

Started January 1, 2012 - Ended January 2, 2012

I was really excited to read "When She Woke" by Hillary Jordan. I'm not going to lie, I had never heard of it until Amazon ran it as one of their daily deals. I did not buy it, BUT the synopsis did prompt me to download it from the library for my Kindle. BTW, this is NOT YA.

From Amazon: Bellwether Prize winner Hillary Jordan’s provocative new novel, When She Woke, tells the story of a stigmatized woman struggling to navigate an America of a not-too-distant future, where the line between church and state has been eradicated and convicted felons are no longer imprisoned and rehabilitated but chromed—their skin color is genetically altered to match the class of their crimes—and then released back into the population to survive as best they can.

Hannah is a Red; her crime is murder.

In seeking a path to safety in an alien and hostile world, Hannah unknowingly embarks on a path of self-discovery that forces her to question the values she once held true and the righteousness of a country that politicizes faith.

I *LOVED* the beginning. It was fast-paced and grabbed you right away. Around the 3/4 mark it started to feel rushed and I felt like the ending basically came out of nowhere. Yes, it followed with the story, but to me it could have gone on a few more chapters. I still rate this book a strong B+. It does deal with some sensitive topics, religion and abortion being key, but both are intrinsic to the story line and not at all out of place. I liked most of the characters and the issue of melachroming was very thought-provoking. What if criminals really were tinted based on their crimes? What if the moment you met someone you knew their past indiscretions? I'm curious to know your thoughts on the issue. I know I have mine.

#1

A little bit about everything ...

Biblioholism: n. [BIBLIO + HOLISM] book, of books: the habitual longing to purchase, read, store, admire and consume books in excess.

Yes, in excess. My dear husband once asked me how many books I thought I read in a years time. I was quite flummoxed. How could he possibly expect me to know. Reading, for me, is like breathing. It's just something I do.

I read when I cook. Did you know macaroni can swell up to at least 4 times it's original size?

I read when I bathe. I really need a water-proof case for my Kindle.

I read at work. No lie. Only when I'm giving breaks at nap time, come on people!

I read at night to fall asleep. I read in the morning to wake up.

This blog is my 2013 resolution. To keep track of what I read and how I feel about it. It's my hope this will help me focus more on enjoying the material instead of eating it for dinner.



We'll just see about that ....

Currently reading: "When She Woke" by Hillary Jordan