LiteraturelySpeaking: 2009

Thursday, December 17, 2009

End of the Year Extravaganza- Where Everyone's a Winner!

HC of Jennifer Weiner's Best Friends Forever- Taken by BookPixie

Gently Read copy of Christine Feehan's Burning Wild- taken by Alexia561,

and Safe Harbor
Gently Read copy of Grimspace by Ann Aguirre -taken by Throuthe Haze
The Blue Enchantress by M. L. Tyndall
Santa Olivia by Jacqueline Carey -taken by Donna
Servant: The Awakening by L.L. Foster
Donation by Ivy @ BookReaderTimes
3 Booklights
1-"Changeling" by: Delia Sherman and

1-"High Stakes" by Erin McCarthy -Taken by Jennifer

Donation By
@thebookjournal
$20 gift card to
http://www.indiependentbooks.com/

Lessons from a Dead Girl by Jo Knowles from LiLi @ Chica Reader - taken by Deborah

Donated by Amanda Makepeace- Wild Heat by Bella Andre(signed) -Taken By Lili @Chica Reader

1 copy of DVD Getting Personal - starring Hedy Burress and Michael Landes

For my internatonal people- send me your choice of a $10 book from Book Depository or your paypal address and I'll send $10 there. Your choice.

I feel bad that I can't give the exact book you may want for everyone, so on a 1st come 1st served basis, send me your address and top 2 choices to either my email(bbricke AT yahoo DOT com) or twitter.com/bbricke and I will get them out asap.

I want everyone to receive something so if the book you want is gone by the time I get your email, I'll send you an email and we will see what we can work out.

Edited to add: Everyone needs to get in touch with me ASAP, so I can get your prizes taken care of. You have 5 days from the date this is posted to get in touch with me. Any prizes not claimed will be put aside for future contests.

Monday, November 23, 2009

End of Year Celebration Extravaganza!!!!

With the many Blogger friends that I have made since I started I would like to share the love. You have made the little bit of time I have been at this one of my favorite times this year. The more donations I receive, the more people who will get a prize.

Rules are as follows:
1 comment= 1 entry
Extra entry for being a follower b/c it is easier to get in touch with you, I am going to reward you.
I am not wealthy so if I get international entries I will see about adding something, maybe from The Book Depository.

So start commenting.

Goodies:

Postcards

Several Small Notebooks

Pack of 10 blank cards and envelopes.

Gently Read copy of Christine Feehan's Burning Wild, and Safe Harbor

The Blue Enchantress by M. L. Tyndall

Santa Olivia by Jacqueline Carey

Servant: The Awakening by L.L. Foster

More to be added soon!!!

I am making up swag bags of all the wonderful bookmarks and such that I have received . I am going to try to have them together by genre( for example 1 bag will have romance, UF, mystery etc..)

Donation by Ivy @ BookReaderTimes

1-"Changeling" by: Delia Sherman and 1-"High Stakes" by Erin McCarthy

Donation By

@thebookjournal

$20 gift card to
http://www.indiependentbooks.com/

Donations Are Welcome and Appreciated- You can contact me @

bbricke(at)yahoo(dot)com

Contest Ends December 15 @ 5pm Est

Edited to add: 3 Booklights from @BookReaderTimes and a copy of Lessons from a Dead Girl by Jo Knowles from LiLi @ Chica Reader

Edited to add: Donated by Amanda Makepeace- Wild Heat by Bella Andre(signed)

I also just realized many of my bookmarks are risque so before I send any out, I need to know if you're over 18 or not).

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

End Of Year Celebration- Donations Welcome

I have enjoyed being a part of the blogging community and decided that I want to have an

END OF YEAR CELEBRATION. It will end around mid December, but it is not necessarily a Christmas party. You do not have to be religious to be part of this. It just my way of saying THANKS to this wonderful community that has embraced me with open arms. Although I am not able to mail to foreign countries, with wonderful sites like The Book Depository I can probably work out a little something for non USA winners. I am not making any promises but I want to make this as big a celebration as I can.

Any and all donations that you can make to help with this celebration would be greatly appreciated...
Would love swag as well( can never have enough swag) I am trying to have lots of winners here so lets see where we can take this.

I'll do a post later this week after I decide on the specifics of how winners will be picked. Suggestions are also welcome, so comment away.

Edited to add: Listing of the goodies:

Postcards

Several Small Notebooks

Pack of 10 blank cards and envelopes.

Gently Read copy of Christine Feehan's Burning Wild

The Blue Enchantress by M. L. Tyndall

Santa Olivia by Jacqueline Carey

More to be added soon!!!

Edited to add again: I am making up swag bags of all the wonderful bookmarks and such that I have received . I am going to try to have them together by genre( for example 1 bag will have romance, UF, mystery etc..)

Edited to add (3): Donation by Ivy @ BookReaderTimes

1-"Changeling" by: Delia Sherman and 1-"High Stakes" by Erin McCarthy

Saturday, October 31, 2009

All Hallow's Eve Giveaway At Book Chick CIty

Join Book Chick City in celebrating Halloween and a great giveaway.
There are 3 prize packs to choose from and simple instructions on how to enter.

Guidelines taken directly from Book Chick City blog: Found Here

All you have to do for a chance to win is the following:

1. Follow this blog
2. Follow me on twitter (use link on sidebar)
3. Blog and Twitter about this contest, leave both url links with your comment
4. Tell me which bundle of books you would like to win: 1, 2 or 3.
5. Leave your email address so I can contact you easily

This is open WORLDWIDE and ends at 12pm GMT tomorrow - so you don't have long, enter now! The winner will be announced tomorrow too!

Secret Giveaway - Do you know the word?

In my opening post on the 1st October I mentioned an extra surprise giveaway. This was in the form of a scavenger hunt. All you had to do was keep a look out for letters in some of my posts that were enlarged and highlighted (bold). These letters would eventually make up a Halloween theme word. If you know this word then let me know by leaving a comment. I will then pick a winner.

This is again open WORLDWIDE (aren't I generous!) and will end tomorrow at 12pm GMT. The winner will be announced tomorrow and will get to know their secret prize!

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Awesome Contest Announcement!!!!

There is an awesomely spectacular contest going on over at Princess Bookies Blog . So run on over and enter. There are several ways to enter for a possible 18 entries and 4 ARCS to the winner.
My entry for the contest:

The Unwritten Rule by Elizabeth Scott
Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves
Dark Divine by Bree Despain
Voices Of Dragons by Carrie Vaughn

I must win these books because I have been tempted and teased for months . I have a sincere need to read these books that cannot be ignored.

Edited to add:
Open to United States ONLY

Go here to enter this awesome contest.

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Teens Read Too Official Blog Invitation

TRT Book Club
The official Book Club of TeensReadToo.com. Featuring author spotlights, interviews, Q&A, giveaways, and much, much more!

It’s finally happening! Coming January 1, 2010, the TRT Book Club will be unveiled in all its glory at http://trtbookclub.blogspot/. com/.

For the first time in our nearly four years of operation, TRT will be hosting guest bloggers on a regular basis! In case you’re not as excited as we seem to be, let me tell you exactly what that means for you.

1) Free press! Get your book(s) out there to the public, all at no cost to you!

2) The opportunity to answer in-depth questions from your fans!

3) A chance to connect with old and new readers!

4) Show off – have fun – take a break!

5) The best part – It’s Totally Free!

Although we’re posting now on the blog, we’re also in the process of advertising to our nearly 400,000 monthly site visitors about this new, exciting project. We want to have a ton of followers before the authors begin visiting!

We’re booking now for 2010. Spots will be reserved on a first-come/first- served basis, so please include two or three dates of your choice. Reminders will be sent out one week prior to your guest date.

Remember, this is all absolutely free! Although it will not be a requirement to give away a prize during your special day, we ask that you think about offering up something (book, bookmarks, book plate, key chain, etc.) to excite readers even more about your visit. We will also do promotions through our monthly newsletter, on the TRT website, and through the blog’s calendar of events.

This is really exciting news for us, and we’re looking forward to sharing it with you! Please contact us today to book your spot for 2010 – we can’t wait to get started!

Jen Wardrip, Owner

http://www.teensreadtoo.com/

admin@teensreadtoo.com

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Review of CSN chair and Bookshelf

Thanks to Jason Zimelman at CSN for giving me the opportunity to review one of their products. I reviewed the Adjustable Steno Task Chair with Durable Seat from their office chair store. I also wanted to review a bookshelf that I won in a blog contest at Marjolein's Book Blog in August. Let me just say that I have 2 reviews for the products but also a side note type of review from my husband who put them both together.

Chair Review:
4 of 5 Stars
I like this chair .
Comfortable
Supports my back
Doesn't take up a lot of space
I like that it swivels

BookShelf Review:
4 of 5 stars
It matches perfectly the other 2 shelves that I have.
The shelves are adjustable.
Fits in the room nicely.

My Husband's review of both products:

Chair review:
Needs more attachments that not only fit together but are attached by screws. The only thing that is screwed together in the chair is the base of the seat which attaches to the chair back.

Bookshelf Review:
Wishes that the pieces located under the shelf itself were wider and flat to give more support to the shelves. Also wishes the back of the shelf was sturdier.

Both the chair and the shelf are very easy to put together. They arrived fast and and didn't take very long when you took the time to set everything out. Directions were easy to read and follow.

If you take both of our stats Hubby- 3 of 5 stars to both and mine- 4 of 5 stars to both, you get 3.5 stars average for both the chair and shelf.

In conclusion :
If money is an option and to many of us it is, the shelf and chair are good picks for the money. I researched both at some local stores here and they are compareable to the other products out there in all ways except price. I must say however that the great customer service ( ie emails to me) makes up for the extra 10-20 dollars spent. I received emails before the order was put in, after it was ordered, when it was shipped and even after I received it. I would rather spend the extra money getting something from CSN and being sure that they care whether I like it or not instead of taking the cheap route and being left holding the bag if it doesn't live up to my expectations. I am very happy with the shelf and chair from CSN.

Thank You CSN and Jason Zimelman for the opportunity to review your products.

P.S. Pay no attention to the mess that is my bookshelf.

Playing Catch Up

I had 2 contests going on and everyone that won has been notified . They should be receiving their books soon. The first contest was for suggestions of blogs I should visit and some favorites of the people who commented. Everyone who participated in that is receiving a book. The winners were Alexia, Isobael, TJ, and Briana. Thanks for the input you guys, I really appreciated.

My second contest was given to me by Ivy at BookReaderTimes. I really appreciate Ivy giving my readers and I an opportunity like this. The winner of this contest was DrkCherry( Elaine).

I am sincerely greatful for everyone's help in making this a better blog. I look forward to more contests here and as soon as I get caught up there will be more reviews very soon.

Thursday, October 8, 2009

MY Disclosure Policy

This policy is valid from 08 October 2009

This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. For questions about this blog, please contact Literaturelyspeaking@yahoo.com.

This blog does not accept any form of cash advertising, sponsorship, or paid topic insertions. However, we will and do accept and keep free products, services, travel, event tickets, and other forms of compensation from companies and organizations.

The compensation received will never influence the content, topics or posts made in this blog. All advertising is in the form of advertisements generated by a third party ad network. Those advertisements will be identified as paid advertisements.

The owner(s) of this blog is not compensated to provide opinion on products, services, websites and various other topics. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely the blog owners. If we claim or appear to be experts on a certain topic or product or service area, we will only endorse products or services that we believe, based on our expertise, are worthy of such endorsement. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider.

This blog does contain content which might present a conflict of interest. This content will always be identified.

To get your own policy, go to http://www.disclosurepolicy.org

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Review of Shadowlight by Lynn Viehl

With just one touch, Jessa Bellamy can see anyone’s darkest secrets, thanks to whoever tampered with her genes. What she doesn’t know is that a biotech company has discovered her talent and intends to kill her and harvest her priceless DNA...

Gaven Matthias is forced to abduct Jessa himself so he can protect her, but Jessa has a hard time believing the one man whose secrets she can’t read. As a monstrous assassin closes in and forces them to run, Jessa will have to find another way to discover if Matthias is her greatest ally—or her deadliest enemy.

My Thoughts:

• Loads of thrilling action
• a little romance
• Fast paced
• suspenseful storyline
• strong paranormal elements

I hadn't read any of Lynn Viehl's Darkyn series before and after reading this I wish I had. This book had everything I look for in a great book( see above thoughts). Although I haven't read the Darkyn series I didn't feel lost while reading this. Lynn Viehl is a very gifted storyteller who kept me captivated the entire story. I am definitely putting Dreamveil: A novel of the Kyndred on my TBR pile, it should make its way to everyone June 2010.

This book is a definite 5 stars( now pardon me while I go order a dead tree copy of this awesome book.)

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Onyx (October 6, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451412788
• ISBN-13: 978-0451412782

For anyne who'd like to know I was given this e-ARC by the author, Lynn Viehl, for the purpose of review.

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Fabo October Events Coming Up

Celebrate the most awesome time of the year by visiting these 2 sites for some awesome October fun.

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

New Contest

This new contest is brought to you by a site just bursting wth awesomeness and the always fabulous Ivy.

The contest is open to everyone, you must provide a way for me to contact you. For as many entries as you like I want you to think of some cool questions I can ask authors. I am going to start doing some author interviews so let me know what questions you would want your favorite author to answer for you. I need questions with substance people, not just yes or no answers. Each question is worth 1 point, if at all possible put all questions in one post and number them please. I will use random.org to pick the winner. Now for your choices, you may choose
Covet by JR Ward or On The Edge by Ilona Andrews.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Review of Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Falling in love was never so

easy . . .
or so deadly.

For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch came along. With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment.

But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure who to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.
For Nora is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost her life.

*******************
My Thoughts

To start I will say that this is one of the best books I have read this year. It took me 1 day to read this book because I just couldn't put it down once I started it. The story flowed very well. I don't remember reading a story about fallen angels with this spin on it before. Well written, loveable characters that had me wishing the next book was already out. I give this book A SUPER STAR and I will say that I think Becca Fitzpatrick is definitely someone that we'll be watching in the future.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Review of One Scream Away by Kate Brady

Seven years ago Beth Denison was attacked by a killer named Chevy Bankes. Since then, she's created a new life for herself and her daughter, one far removed from the night that ended in an awful tragedy. But now Bankes is out of prison, and his chilling phone calls tell Beth he's coming for her.

Ex-FBI agent Neil Sheridan is driven to investigate a chain of murders eerily similar to a disturbing case from his past. When the killer's trail deadends at Beth's doorstep, Neil finds a beautiful woman with a secret she'll do anything to keep. Yet even as Beth surrendrs to Neil's protection- and then hs embrace_ she still refuses to tell him why Bankes hungers to hear her scream, and why she'll soon consider doing the unthinkable: fae Bankes alone.

Mass Market Paperback: 464 pages
Publisher: Forever (July 1, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0446541524
ISBN-13: 978-0446541527

Visit Kate's website at http://www.katebrady.net/

Read 5 Fun Facts about this book

I rate this 5 Stars-

-Great flawed, unforgettable characters
- Lots of action
- A love story
- Happy ending
- Reading this story shows the work and effort put into it .
- Everything I look for in a romantic suspense story.
- Exciting from the 1st page to the last.

Review of A Hint Of Wicked

What happens when a lady desires not one man, but two?

CAUGHT BETWEEN DUTY AND DESIRE…

Sophie, the Duchess of Calton, has finally moved on. After seven years mourning the loss of her husband, Garrett, at Waterloo, she has married his best friend and heir, Tristan. Sophie gives herself to him body and soul…until the day Garrett returns from the Continent, demanding his title, his lands-and his wife.

TORN BETWEEN TWO HUSBANDS…

Now Sophie must choose between her first love and her new love, knowing that no matter what, her choice will destroy one of the men she adores. Will it be Garrett, her childhood sweetheart, whose loss nearly destroyed her once already? Or will it be Tristan, beloved friend turned lover, who supported her through the last, dark years and introduced her to a passion she had never known? As her two husbands battle for her heart, Sophie finds herself immersed in a dangerous game-where the stakes are not only love…but life and death.

Author's Website Here
Buy Links- Barnes and Noble , Amazon

My Thoughts:

- I loved this book. It has been so long since I read a historical romance and for the life of me I can't figure out why. If the rest of historical romance has been even half this good, I definitely have got some catching up to do.

- This was a great storyline and I am looking forward to reading the next installment of this story.

- Loveable characters who even though flawed make you feel for them.

- Wonderful descriptions that made me feel like I was there in the story with them, feeling what they feel.

- Overall this was a wonderful read, that I will be reading again.

- Jennifer Haymore is a wonderful addition to my To Be Read/Author To Watch List.

I rate this 5 Stars-

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

You and Your Reading Habits

Do you snack while you read? If so, favorite reading snack? I try not to snack while reading because I would hate to drop something on my book.

Do you tend to mark your books as you read, or does the idea of writing in books horrify you? I don’t like the idea of writing in books. I have been really peeved to check out a few books from the library only to find that someone was offended by the language used so they used a marker to obliterate the words.

How do you keep your place while reading a book? Bookmark? Dog-ears? I have been known to dog-ear my books, but I am trying to be really mature about it now and use book marks. I have even gone so far as to make some book thongs so I would be more inclined to use them.

Laying the book flat open? No, absolutely not! That is a pet peeve of mine( one I distinctly remember yelling at my husband about a few times in the last week or so)

Fiction, Non-fiction, or both? I prefer Fiction, but will read a Non-fiction if it grabs my attention.

Hard copy or audiobooks? Hard copy all the way.

Are you a person who tends to read to the end of chapters, or are you able to put a book down at any point? I can stop at any point but prefer to read til the end of the chapter.

If you come across an unfamiliar word, do you stop to look it up right away? I do but only if I can’t glean the meaning from the sentence its in.

What are you currently reading? Playing House by Fredrica Wagman and Wait until Twilight by Sang Pak.

What is the last book you bought? The Hunger Games and Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Are you the type of person that only reads one book at a time or can you read more than one at a time? With my weird attention span I can’t read just one book at a time. It all depends on the mood I am in.

Do you have a favorite time of day and/or place to read? Favorite place to read is curled up on the couch with a blanket, a pillow and a few books.

Do you prefer series books or stand alone books? I like both. I like series because it gives me a chance to get to know more of the characters I read about in the first book. I like stand alones because sometimes you just wanna get in and get out.

Is there a specific book or author that you find yourself recommending over and over? I highly recommend Sherrilyn Kenyon, Rachel Vincent, Lilith Saintcrow and too many others to name.

How do you organize your books? (By genre, title, author’s last name, etc.?) This is probably really bad but most of my books are just on the shelf in no particular order. I do try to keep series books together and in order but for the most part hardbacks with hardbacks and paperbacks with paperbacks.

Monday, September 14, 2009

Being Comfortable In your Office

How did you pick what you wanted in your office? Right now my office consists of 2- 5 shelf - bookshelves and 1- 4 shelf- bookshelf, a small laptop desk ( and by small I mean micro) stuffed into my bedroom because its the only room big enough to hold all of my stuff.

So I was asked by Jason Zimelman at CSN Stores if I'd like to review one of their office chairs.

Some criteria that I think is important when looking for a new office chair are:

1. Comfortable
2. Affordable
3. Small enough to fit in my limited space
4. Is chair adjustable?
5. Is it big enough to hold me?

After looking through the CSN website at all of the different chairs I have decided to go with the
Adjustable Steno Task Chair with Durable Seat .

Features
One touch adjustment instantaneously raises or lowers the seat
5 star nylon base allows smooth movement
Tough, durable plastic protects seat back and bottom from tears
Available colored fabrics include black and grey
Weight capacity: 200 lbs

Specifications
Back size: 15.5" W x 8.5" H
Seat size: 16.5" W x 15.5" D
Seat height: 16" - 21" H
Overall dimensions: 29" - 33.5" H x 22" W x 22" D

Its adjustable, lightweight and will go well with my black bookshelves. It also is in my price range as well as being small enough to fit in my limited space. I definitely think this is the chair for me. I'll let you know after I have received it and used it for a few days if it stands up to my expectations.

Sunday, September 6, 2009

Family Movie Reviews

In 1960s Texas, timid teenager Walter (Haley Joel Osment) is forced to spend the summer with his rich and eccentric great-uncles (Michael Caine and Robert Duvall) on their farm. Over time, he learns about their mysterious and dangerous pasts. Emmanuelle Vaugier plays an Arabian sultan's daughter with whom Duvall's character fell in love years ago. Kyra Sedgwick and Nicky Katt co-star.

WOW! Even after years of watching this movie I still love it. I can't say that about many movies(more on that later) I wanted to get my kids into some really good family movies because they said that we never get any Netflix movies for them.

5 stars

Why?

1. Oustanding cast (everybody fit perfectly)

2. Wonderfully colorful stories that the uncles told.

3. My kids watched it and didn't talk during the movie ( those of you with kids realize how rare this really is)

4. Its a movie that we all would watch again and again.

William Bloom (Billy Crudup) tries to learn more about his dying father, Edward (Albert Finney), by piecing together the facts out of the various fantastic tales and legends of epic proportions he's been told over the years. Edward was a traveling salesman, and his journeys throughout the South are the seed of the tales. Directed by Tim Burton, the movie co-stars Ewan McGregor (as the young Edward), Helena Bonham-Carter and Steve Buscemi.

5 Stars

Why?

1. I loved the weird stories his dad told.

2. Awesome characters

3. Funny

4. Tim Burton ( need I say more)

Fourteen-year-old Ben Crandall (Ethan Hawke, in his film debut) and Wolfgang (River Phoenix) are misfit best friends -- and science whizzes -- who dream of space travel and manage to create an interplanetary spacecraft in their homemade laboratory. It isn't long before the two pals are zooming off to another galaxy, where they find that the more things change, the more they stay the same. Joe Dante directs.

4 stars

Why?

1. I gave it 4 stars because for some reason it didn't hold my attention as much as it did when I was younger.

2. The kids liked it a lot.

3. I enjoyed showing my kids a movie where the kids are portrayed as intelligent.

4. Overall, it was an enjoyable movie to watch.

Monday, August 31, 2009

Random Musings from the Mind of a Maniac (2)

As we get closer to BBAW- September 14- 18. I have been thinking about the different blogs that are out there and thanks to some of my blogger friends on Twitter who got me thinking. I need to acknowledge them more often. I read lots of blogs but I don’t think I actively post on them as much as I should. I, like many other people see cool contests so I do enter those but when I read a post that I feel I may not have anything new to say that adds or enhances to the conversation I don’t say anything. Well, I make my pledge this week to stop that, I think that we all need a little encouragement once in a while so let's encourage each other. For this week's contest, I will be giving out 4 books and a blank journal that I have sitting on my shelves at this minute. I have been catching up on my review reading so I haven’t posted as much as I would like, but I will try to find at least 2 non contest posts a day to comment on.

What do you have to do to be a winner you ask? I want you to introduce me to some of your favorite blogs. New or old, show me what you like and tell me why you like them. You need to post your email address, what site you like and why and tell me what you’d like to see from me in the future.

Won’t you join me and do the same?

Books to be given away-

The Devil’s Queen by Jeanne Kalogridis – (never read, needs loving home)

Naamah’s Kiss by Jacqueline Carey- (I haven’t read this series and I feel bad with this beautiful hardcover sitting on my shelf looking unloved.)

Strange Angel’s by Lili St. Crow- (Loved this book, am looking forward to the next one)

Night World (#3) by L.J. Smith –( bought 2 copies of this without even realizing it , so my overbuying is your good fortune)

And a Hardcover Blank Journal ( its green sorry I don't have a pic of it)

Random Musings From The Mind of a Maniac (1)

Awakenings

Eyes open,

Sunrise to See.

Breath Deep,

My love lies beside me.

I am alive

And with you I Thrive.

Sunday, August 30, 2009

In My Mailbox (4)

This is my book haul for the last 2 weeks.

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren . This meme focuses on books we've bought, checked out from the library, received for review or won in contests.

Bought:

Hunting Ground by Patricia Briggs

Mated to werewolf Charles Cornick, the son -and enforcer -of the leader of the North American werewolves, Anna Latham now knows how dangerous being a werewolf is, especially when a werewolf opposes Charles and his father is struck down. Charles's reputation makes him the prime suspect, and the penalty for the crime is execution. Now Anna and Charles must combine their talents to hunt down the real killer -or Charles will take the fall.
Wolf Tales VIII by Kate Douglas

In the shadows they transform into beasts possessed of boundless sexual energy, with the strength and stamina to indulge every primal urge. Now, six new Chanku have appeared - bold, brash, and very much in need of their elders' wisdom. It is decided to split the young pack: three will travel to Montana to learn from Anton Cheval, and three to Colorado to be mentored by Ulrich Mason and his mate, Millie...Having weathered a series of vicious attacks, the Montana pack welcomes the distraction of breaking in the novices. But everything changes with the arrival of a mysterious stranger whose connection to Millie will bring the she-wolf, her partner, and their proteges - including Matt, the sensitive alpha Millie has brought to his sexual peak - to Montana. The time has come for Millie to confront her past, even as the young Chanku prepare for a future of power, pride, and pure pleasure.

The Weight of Silence by Heather Gudenkauf

It happens quietly one August morning. As dawn's shimmering light drenches the humid Iowa air, two families awaken to find their little girls have gone missing in the night.

Seven-year-old Calli Clark is sweet, gentle, a dreamer who suffers from selective mutism brought on by tragedy that pulled her deep into silence as a toddler.

Calli's mother, Antonia, tried to be the best mother she could within the confines of marriage to a mostly absent, often angry husband. Now, though she denies that her husband could be involved in the possible abductions, she fears her decision to stay in her marriage has cost her more than her daughter's voice.

Petra Gregory is Calli's best friend, her soul mate and her voice. But neither Petra nor Calli has been heard from since their disappearance was discovered. Desperate to find his child, Martin Gregory is forced to confront a side of himself he did not know existed beneath his intellectual, professorial demeanor.

Now these families are tied by the question of what happened to their children. And the answer is trapped in the silence of unspoken family secrets.

From @janicu Alphas by Lisi Harrison along with a cool Alphas t-shirt which my demon spawn promptly swiped and took into her cave of horrors.

Won in Contests:

From @BookReaderTimes

Sunlight, Moonlight by Amanda Ashley along with a cool booklight.

From Wonders and Marvels

Grimoires: A History of Magic Books by Owen Davies

The Private Papers of Eastern Jewel by Maureen Lindley from Bloomsbury c/o Shelf Awareness

From RomanceJunkies

My Sister's Ex by Cydney Rax

The Blue Enchantress by M.L. Tyndall

From Elise @ Scorched Sheets
In Deep by Simon Sheppard
Santa Olivia by Jacqueline Carey
Be With Me by Maya Banks

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Booklover or Not???

What made you a booklover? Also, how do you classify someone as a booklover?

Defined:
Booklover- noun- Someone who loves ( and usually collects) books.

I keep having this conversation with my husband, for some unknown reason it really “chaps his hide” so to speak for me to call myself a booklover. His reasoning is if I don’t like all books then I am not technically a booklover. I think if I am open to reading new books in or outside of the genres that I prefer then I am in fact a lover of books, whether I finish the entire book or not.
There are many books that he would like for me to read and though I try I can not make myself finish them. One of the books that I wasn’t able to finish , The Mote in God’s Eye by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle, I can not for the life of me get past the first few chapters. Others that he gives me like The Cleric Quintet by R. A. Salvatore and The Road by Cormac McCarthy, I just sail right through.

So tell me how you feel about this, do I really have to love all books to be a booklover or can I just like what I like while being open to new, exciting reads?

What do you think?

For this post I want you to tell me what book(s) got you hooked on reading? As a child or after you became an adult.

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Review: My Forbidden Desire by Carolyn Jewel

TORN BETWEEN...

Alexandrine Marit is a witch in mortal danger. An evil mage craves the powerful, mysterious talisman that supplies her magic, and the only person who can keep her safe is a dark and dangerous fiend called Xia. With his fierce animosity toward witches, he's hardly the ideal bodyguard. Yet as days turn into nights, she can't deny the white-hot passion between them.

DESIRE AND TEMPTATION

Xia hates witches. They enslave and mercilessly kill his kind. But he's been ordered to protect Alexandrine, who, to his surprise, has a spirit he admires and a body he longs to possess. With the mage and his henchmen closing in, Alexandrine and her protector must trust the passion that can unite them...or risk losing everything to the enemies who can destroy them both.

Author's Website

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Read Chapter 1 here

I really enjoyed this book. I liked the main characters and I think they fit well together. The characters were very well written, the action was intense and the conflict between the main characters could start a forest fire. I certainly hope there are more novels set in this world and since I haven't read My Wicked Enemy I am going to pick it up soon. . It is the second in this series, but I was able to jump right in and there were no hard to understand parts that sometimes happen when you read a book out of sequence. This story was very exciting and on par with some of the best that paranormal has to offer

What I liked about My Forbidden Desire:

1. Lots of intense action

2. Sexual tension and some sex but not so much that it obscures the story

3. Well written characters and plot

4. Intriguing world of blood twins, magehelds, witches, mages and fiends

5. Left me wanting more

I rate My Forbidden Desire 5 stars