Book Review - Succubus Blues, Richelle Mead

I really liked reading this book! I have to thank BookSniffersAnonymous for this!

Despite my misgivings about the Succubus part, I found that this story was really fun to read. Miss Mead has a way of just hooking me in with her words. It's automatic - every book, series, she's written, within the first chapter I'm in.

- Georgina Kincaid is a succubus heroine. Yep. Sexy, smart and sharp. I could relate to her and yet wish to channel her in different ways. She worked retail (I worked retail), She loves books (I love books), she is fangirlish towards her favvy authors (I am very fangirlish). She's sharp with her tongue (I wish I was), she's sharp on her feet (I wish I was) and off her feet (my husband wishes I was!)

- The paranormal nuances of this world are told on a need to know basis. This leaves lots of room for mystery and for the story to naturally unfold. I like how Miss Mead -does not- take half a chapter to describe the entirety of a myth of vampires/demons/imps/ etc. As she introduces you to characters, you get to know them and see how their jobs and their 'kinds' interact with one another. She shows you, not tells you.

- The story itself took on a few twists and turns. I did predict some parts of the book correctly, and some incorrectly. The story wasn't too complicated; it was a real world, modern setting, comfortable places and landmarks. The best part of the story was the character(s) - Georgina Kincaid.

- Succubus = sexy times. It just has to happen. I appreciate how Miss Mead wrote that in and out, not too filthy, but sexy enough. It's not a harlequin romance. It's just sex. The interesting flaw about Georgina Kincaid is that she is a succubus that doesn't want to be a succubus. She retains a lot of her humanity by making mundane choices. This succubus cares about her friends, who she chooses to take life from, and deals with moral and amoral decisions.


I'm glad I read this, and I'm all too eager to read more. I can't get Georgie out of my head!

Thank you, Richelle Mead!


If you liked this book too, I think you would like these books;

- Morganville Vampires (Rachel Caine)
- Vampire Academy (Richelle Mead)

Daily Dose of Cute

A baby turtle eats a raspberry. This is your daily dose of cute.

Author Spotlight: Cassandra Clare

Why do we like, follow, add, tweet, read, and post about our favourite authors?

It's the online, new-gen version of 'groupies', I think.  We're safe from STD's maybe, but we're at higher risks to papercuts, typed-flat fingers, and bookshelves collapsing on us.

Passion grows with intimacy. To know our authors is to further love the books and stories.

One particular author, for example, encourages this growth.

Cassandra Clare, known best for her Mortal Instruments and Infernal Devices series, encourages this intimacy. She can be found on Twitter, Tumblr, Facebook and GoodReads. She avidly responds to her fans,  accepts the friendships and carries on the conversation. Cassie Clare embraces media avenues to showcase her talent; book reviews, book trailers, pictures and more. You can find her on YouTube at many different book banquets, answering questions and sharing deep thoughts about her stories and characters.

I find that this solidifies the bond between author and fan. If you ask a young teen if they like this series, you're GOING to see them react with almost as much fervor as with Beliebers. If you ask a young adult about this series, they WILL point you in the nearest direction of a bookstore, library, or (if they have 2 copies) to their own personal bookshelf that you -just must read now-.

Cassie Clare's talent as an author goes so much more than just in the stories. She reaches out to her audience, invites them in to her humble and beautiful homeland of Idris, and everyone comes out enthralled, in love, and guessing just how old Magnus Bane is (I love Magnus Bane!).

Cassandra makes it wonderful for fans. There is everything under the sun for the obsessive mind; fan sites, fan forums, fan fiction, jewellery, RP sites, and more. A quick google search, or start at her website. That's the best thing to bookmark, I think.

Not a fan yet? You will be. Glimpse her writing - The first chapter of the latest book.



BOOK TO MOVIE!

They're casting for a movie about the Mortal Instruments.  To find out more, visit Cassie's Website

Lily Collins - Clary

Jamie Cambell - Jace

What I do when unmotivated..

(get it..)

Contest: The Darkening Dream (Andy Gavin)

If I ever felt alone, getting myself into the YA circle reminds me I'm just a drip in the ocean!

Take a look at this fantastic giveaway; Enter, and Good luck! I recommend following this reviewer, she's opened my eyes to a lot of titles I wouldn't have looked at otherwise.

I'm super excited to enter this contest. Here is another title that I wouldn't have looked twice at, and probably missed a thrilling story. This looks promising to me for two reasons;

1 - I'm missing vampires.

2- These vampires don't glitter. (I'M SORRY MISS MEYER!) By this, I mean, these vampires seem mean-er than the mopey-emo-vampbeibers I've encountered in other YA fiction.

Secret Reason #3 - Salem, MA.   Yes.


Synopsis:
"Salem, Massachusetts 1913.
When a gruesome murder opens Sarah's eyes to the existence of vampires, she's determined to put an end to their reign of terror. Little does she know that the monster she hunts serves another far worse and she's just antagonizing the beast.
A historical, dark fantasy full of action, paranormal, and a good deal of creepy, The Darkening Dream is an engaging read that leaves you
looking for the sequel. Readers should be aware that this book contains lies/deception, many disturbing and gruesome images of pain, injury, death, and killing; witchcraft,...The level of sexuality in this story is more fitting an adult than a young adult book."
Intrigued? I am. Read up a quick interview with the author here: Sarah's Reviews & Interviews

Wish me luck!

Book Review: The Complex (Cathy E. Zaragoza)

YA Fiction - Dystopian

I re-read this story so I can provide a clear review. I really enjoyed the first run  through and I enjoyed the second just as much!

I would highly recommend this book for anyone interested in this sub-genre of YA Fiction - Dystopian novels. In the vein of Hunger Games trilogy (Suzanne Collins) and Insurgent trilogy (Veronica Roth), The Complex features a lot of the same elements; a divided society, small pockets of controlled people, and of course -- rebellion.

The difference between The Complex and other major names is it's Pace.

-I really liked The Complex because it was very fast paced. The action kept me reading and it was very difficult to put it down, in the fear that Cathy E. Zargoza kept tricking me in the lull's of the story. I would think that finally it's slowed down, I think I can go do the dishes, but WAIT! SHE JUST SAID....! And I kept reading.

-Even though it's a quick read, I have every reason to believe that it's just begun. The adventure the heroine has departed on is a very big task. This opens up a wide berth for this world, and Cathy E. Zargoza can take us all over the continent taking and saving lives all in the same page.

-I liked the main character Helena because I felt her age was very well adapted. Helena is only 16, and unlike other YA novels she isn't 16 going on 40. She is 16, and experiencing emotions as a 16 year old does. It's been a while, but I can certainly relate to the choatic, feeling-too-much-at-once emotion. Helena cries, she's stubborn, but she cares, and she goes with her gut, even if it's the wrong move. She takes experiences as she sees them, and dosen't over-analyze, and isn't overtly suspicious, which I find suits her well (given she's a 'Complex Baby').


All in all, I think this is a fun book, and if you enjoy Dystopian books, put this on your To-Read list!

WON! Succubus Blues, Richelle Mead

I've recently followed this blog; Book Sniffers Anonymous. I entered a couple of contests and WON! A free e-copy of - Succubus Blues (Georgina Kincaid #1) by Richelle Mead.

Thank you, BookSniffers! I'm very happy + grateful + excited! That's going to be my next read!

Synopsis (Goodreads.com);
When it comes to jobs in hell, being a succubus seems pretty glamorous. A girl can be anything she wants, the wardrobe is killer, and mortal men will do anything just for a touch. Granted, they often pay with their souls, but why get technical?

But Seattle succubus Georgina Kincaid's life is far less exotic. Her boss is a middle-management demon with a thing for John Cusack movies. Her immortal best friends haven't stopped teasing her about the time she shape-shifted into the Demon Goddess getup complete with whip and wings. And she can't have a decent date without sucking away part of the guy's life. At least there's her day job at a local bookstore--free books; all the white chocolate mochas she can drink; and easy access to bestselling, sexy writer, Seth Mortensen, aka He Whom She Would Give Anything to Touch but Can't.

But dreaming about Seth will have to wait. Something wicked is at work in Seattle's demon underground. And for once, all of her hot charms and drop-dead one-liners won't help because Georgina's about to discover there are some creatures out there that both heaven and hell want to deny...
Find out more on GoodReads.com!  

Book Review: Heat, Bill Buford

Are you a foodie? Do you remember this guy?

The book basically follows an 'amateur' Bill Buford following the culinary discoveries of Mario. Mario had/has two restaurants in New York City that gained 3 stars. So it's serious business.

I got a glimpse into a world I would never, ever, otherwise peek into. Lack of interest, mainly, but lack of desire, lack of being a carnivore, lack of being a foodie.   If you tell me this dish you're about to serve me has chocolate in it, I'm good to go. That's about it.

It is disgusting. Very, very, disgusting. Want to know how your food is made, behind the scenes, when you pay $50.00 per entree? Want to really, realllllly know?  I'm warning you; you really don't. But, if you do... read Heat.  Then go to the restaurant.

What I liked about this book;

- I felt it was honest, unlike the Hells Kitchen TV show I never watched, but figured it's emphasized reality TV.  In Heat, Bill does tell you that there are some people who are screamers, and there are chefs who will tell you to 'Replate' if you did it wrong, even if you have a hundred orders behind you. But mostly, people are crazy, and passionate.  I believed that. I believe you have to be a little nutso to truly belong to your craft. Especially when your craft has you standing over fire for 14 hours a day.

- Bill spoke about vegetarians, and choosing to be vegetarian, with respect. He is CLEARLY a meat eater; but he KNOWS his meat. He went beyond the menu, learned about the calf, the cow, the bones, the muscles, the tissues, raw, cooked, brined, cured... he knows his meat. But, he talks about choosing to be vegetarian like it is a real choice. If you see/read what Bill has done, even he understands why a person would become vegetarian.

Here is a short excerpt I really liked;

"To my mind, vegetarians are amoung the few people who actually think about meat - at least THEY know what it is. I just believed people should know what they're eating. After all, at the green market, you overheard discussions about fertilizers and organic soils and how much freedom a chicken needs before it's free-range. Wouldn't it follow that you'd want to know what your meat is? And that's what I thought I was doing."
Bill Buford, Heat, Page 256.

He goes on to describe how people were being grossed out that he was carrying a freshly killed pig to his apartment. For the next week, he chopped and sliced and used -every- part of the pig, save the lungs. Only because, he needed a day off.

This book was thrust into my hands by someone I dearly love and trust, and even though she knows about my choices in life, if she wanted me to read this book -- I was going to read it. And I did. And I'm glad I did.

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/139220.Heat

Amazon Arrived!

Lonely books on a Lonely shelf

Hurray, hurray, hurray! They came, they came, they came!

My 3 books from Amazon arrived in perfect condition. Aren't they pretty? So so pretty. But lonely.

I've already begun packing my books for the big move on July 13th.  I cannot WAIT to unpack and have my new bookshelves all lined up in a row.  I'll have a lot of pictures to share then!

I'm still working on;

Heat,  Bill Buford

I am nearly done. I want to finish it. It makes me so grossed out.  Ever wonder what it would be like to work in a serious kitchen? Not Hells Kitchen, nothing Gordon Ramsey would show you. But to truly work among chefs?

Disgusting. And, scary. And, I can't put it down.

A new book contest!

http://www.iloveyafiction.com/win-covenant-gift-pack/

"The Hematoi descend from the unions of gods and mortals, and the children of two Hematoi-pure-bloods-have godlike powers. Children of Hematoi and mortals-well, not so much. Half-bloods only have two options: become trained Sentinels who hunt and kill daimons or become servants in the homes of the pures. Seventeen-year-old Alexandria would rather risk her life fighting than waste it scrubbing toilets, but she may end up slumming it anyway. There are several rules that students at the Covenant must follow. Alex has problems with them all, but especially rule #1:Relationships between pures and halfs are forbidden. Unfortunately, she's crushing hard on the totally hot pure-blood Aiden. But falling for Aiden isn't her biggest problem--staying alive long enough to graduate the Covenant and become a Sentinel is. If she fails in her duty, she faces a future worse than death or slavery: being turned into a daimon, and being hunted by Aiden. And that would kind of suck."

 (Taken from Goodreads.com, http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9680718-half-blood )

Definitely on my To-Read list. The covers are beautiful and would look great on my shelves. Eeee!

Wish me luck, guys!

xox

R

Book Review: Fire (Kristin Cashore)

Last night, I finally finished Fire! # 2 in the Graceling Series.


I kind of read this series out of order, a little bit. First, I read Graceling. Then Bitterblue. And now, Fire.
I would recommend reading this series; Graceling, Fire, then Bitterblue, as it was meant to be read.

Without giving any spoilersss, I'd like to try and review it a little bit.

I enjoyed this book. The elements that made me enjoy this book were;

- Kristin Cashore incorporated an element of realism that not many authors do. Fire, was a lady. And, as a unique kind of monster-lady, when she experienced her 'lady business', it had an effect on the outside world. That was part of the story and had to be considered for Fire's whereabouts. It was interesting, and necessary.

- I was able to connect with Fire on a few emotional levels; her love/HATE relationship with her father, her fear of accepting love, and some of her instability.   Most YA heros/ins at 17-18 seem to accept life and death situations with a level-head that some 40 years old cannot do. I thought Fire's fear was refreshing and realistic, and inspiring in the end.

- I admired Fire for her choices of the greater good, her sacrifices, putting her wants and needs below others. It's admiring because of her disposition, she clearly doesn't have to. In fact, she could have it all with a flick of a wink, literally. But despite her nuture, her nature wins out.

- I enjoyed the palace intrigue, and there was definitely some twists and turns I wasn't expecting. It was quite thrilling.

- I enjoyed the romance in this novel, subtle but strong, built on layers that come to light in the end,  complicated but true. Flexible. Real.

- I think I like this side of the world than the Graceling side, simply because the monters are far more colourful!



- The story had a happy ending. That is a must for me. And it was a beautiful ending.

I really hope Kristin Cashore continues to write about these worlds. The Dells and the Seven Kingdoms. Thank you for bringing fantasy into my YA world, Miss Cashore!!

 

Recommendations:

If you liked Fire (Kristin Cashore), you will probably like;

-Gracling (Kristin Cashore)

-Bitterblue (Kristin Cashore)

-Sisters Red (Jackson Pearce)

Sucker for Samples

Yeah, I'm pretty sure people chose to stop following my posts on Facebook.

Not just because of the tweeter spam, but of the samples/free spam. Oops. I have no friends. :(

My Husband (a philosophy major) was so irked when he learned http://www.philosophy.com/ was a skin-care/beauty website. Oh well!

So I scored a good handful of free samples yesterday;

This is subtle, feminine, and light. Swoon~

The saleslady told me not to use this though, until I have real wrinkles. :(

GREAT face wash. GREAT.

And then, I went to their website today, and they said a free gift if you sign up for the newsletter! Score! I signed up, and then learned it's a free gift IF YOU spend $25 online. boo.


Another sample: Elizabeth Arden Green Tea.. very sweet lil spray!

The Golden Lily; Released!

Ah! I figured how to add an image. Bravo, me!

This book is out for me TODAY. My problem: do I buy the hard cover, or do I download to my kindle?

I had downloaded Bloodlines (#1) to my kindle when that was available. The reason behind this was because I was worried I would be disappointed. Was I losing faith in Rachelle Mead? No. It just happens.

Vampire Academy was about Rose, Lissa, Dimitri. It was a really good, strong, vampire series that was was thrilling to me.  I was really sad when it was over.  When I heard that she was contiuning a story in the same world, using Sydney, my face did this;

:/

Instinct. I didn't quite like Sydney, even though she put her LIFE on the line for Rose (that wasn't surprizing).

When authors continue a series in the same world but different characters, I don't   ......... like it. No further logic than that. I don't like it.

---------------------------------However--------------------------------

I read and finished Bloodlines #1. I enjoyed it, I really did. As much as Vampire Academy? No, but, that's not fair to compare an entire series of character development and experience to a brand new narrative (Sydney).

I want to read The Golden Lily. Miss Mead has left a lot of mystery to explain, and some budding romance, and some worry about how the 'kingdom' is going to proceed.

I'm excited! This many!!!!

GR Update, Amazon Haul

So, I did 1 book. I have 137 books to 'do', but I did one. Not even the latest one.

From here on out, I will try very hard to review a book once I finish. That way it's fresh in my head and I will want to rant and rave about it.

Too often I trip over my own words. My boss tells me it's better be clear, and to the point.

Sure, but I'm accustomed to a larger vocabulary, and not a 140 character limit.

I like word-flourishes. I like description (but not too much okay Tolkien?). I am not a writer, I am a reader.

Amazon Haul -
Re-Read list

Just ordered from amazon.com. They make me pout. Told me I was eligable for super saving shipping if I ordered just this much more, just this much more. So, ofc I did. But then, in the end, I'm not eligable. Am I going to dump my cart? hell no.  So this is what I ordered;

The Complex - Cathy Zaragoza

The Scorpio Races - Maggie Stiefvater

Sisters Red - Jackson Pearce

Can't wait. :)

GoodReads, feedback?

Bad News: I didn't win Maggie's signed cool book.

Good News: I spammed the internet with a favourite author.

Better News: I did win a Lysol Soap Dispenser

Great News: I can still buy Maggie's book from Fountain Books! And she'll still sign!



I was also catching up on Good Reads.com, of course to enter another book-giveaway-contest. I have low hopes because I'm not active on GoodReads.  I used to .. want to be. 

A) It's slow.

B) I'm slow.

C) Waiting wastes precious moments I can be reading

D) I'm a technophobe. Or snob?

Classify me;


I didn't like the idea of goodreads.com because it was on the internet. The internet is inherently evil and pushes things to the next level of technology. I dislike technology because I don't believe computers are more efficient than humans. I think Human Err is easier to fix, or eliminate.

I didn't say I was logical. :)


But what some fantastic author DID point out to me about goodreads.com is that, if authors use the site, then they can hear our feedback. I always thought of it as a personal log of all the books and things I've read (as if my sagging bookshelf doesn't already) and recommendations for people who read similiar books as me.


So now, I'm going to TRY -- TRY SO HARD -- to give legit, honest and critical feedback.  I'm inclined to say OMG I LOVE IT READ IT READ IT HARD AND FAST OMG!  but... really.

That dosen't help. Does it?

Omg.

Day 4 - Raven Boys, The

If you STILL have not watched this trailer for THE RAVEN BOYS by Maggie Steifvater (I am pronoucing it wrong so it rhymes with ((and in the accent of Arnold)) Terminator); please click play. Just let the story enthrall you...

I've finished my current book and I'm eager to get my hands on another. More specifically -- this.

It's an event when a new book comes out for me, so much so that I have it written down in my agenda and I get a couple of friends and head to the nearest bookstore, grab a copy, and rub it against my face.

How fast do you inhale your books?

Sometimes it's less than a day, sometimes more. I find the ones I"m most eager to read, I tend to go through much more slowly -- trying to savour. I'll read a couple of chapters, and lay down and wonder about it all.

Other times, life gets in the way and when I finished Bitterblue last night, I realized it took me 2 weeks to get through it. ----2 WEEKS ------.

That's how I know I'm busy.

xoxo
R

Day 3: Arc Contest + Mood Swings

Day 3: Arc Contest~!

If you haven't watched the video, I highly recommend you to. It really gives the atmosphere of mystery that I hope the book will have.  I'm not just posting the video to win, but to give Maggie some more press! Just wish my blog was more notable.

Meet her; http://maggiestiefvater.com/

We all have our favourite books and authors. There are some books I really love, but would only read once and recommend to few people. (The Rebel Angels Series/Libba Bray).  There are books that I get so caught up in the moment with, but then after a year I'm embarrassed (Twilight, sorry Miss Meyer) . There are books that when I have a bad day, or want to feel a certain way, or be reminded of something, I'll go back to them. Over, and over again. (Anne of Green Gables, LM)

I read a lot of books.  So much so, that I think my re-read list is quite small compared to my have-read list. And this is where my favourite authors show up. I think if you did the same type of list, wouldn't yours show up too? What is yours?

Needless to say, with Shiver-Linger-Forever being my favourite supernatural romance books and The Scorpio Races in the town I always miss, but have never visited (I've been to the east coast a couple of times, and the books reminds me of Nova Scotia), Maggie's a favourite author of mine.  If she wrote a book that had NOTHING to do with supernatural or YA or of an interest of mine, I'd still read it.

UNLIKE, Anne Rice -- the QUEEN of Vampires -- found her jesus and started to write about jesus, i couldn't give it a second thought.  If Maggie started writing about jesus, my instinct is that she'd make him cute and cozy.



Mood Swings

At lunch, I wanted to march right up to my boss and say, Hey, Eff this. I can do this job blind better than the other fella, such a small difference if I'm remote... I had so many quick and confident balls of energy to throw at him.

After lunch, I got back to my desk and started to type it.. and then that voice that reminded me that it's not JUST about value and etc... and.. maybe he has a right to have all his sales people IN the ottawa office.. I don't have a right to this job...

From confident to meek in 25 minutes. See me .. squeak.

Is it cheating if noone reads my blog?

What good is it to Miss Maggie if noone reads these plugs. Huh. I guess I'll have to go on a blog hunt and post for some followers ;)

But what to make my blog interesting?

..Confound it! I'm not a writer, I'm a reader.  

I'll post pictures.

....of cupcakes.

or something ._.

Day 2 - ARC Contest

Day 2 of the ARC Contest to win a signed copy of The Raven Boys. 

If you're watching this (as you should) you should be aware that Maggie HERSELF animated and wrote the music. So, not only is she a fantastic author, she's got creative juices come out of the wazzooo. Honestly, Miss Maggie -- How do you have the time?!  

Also, check this out; http://www.fountainbookstore.com/autograph-maggie

At Fountain Book Store, if you order from there, she'll sign (what seems to be) any one of her books. Which is just freaking amazing.  This store is only about a 10 hour drive for me.. and once I move it'll be about a 5 hour drive (+1 hr for customs). It would totally be in my range to drop by if I know she's going to be there and meet her. *sigh* I dare to dream...


Another glimpse into the book; (taken from http://maggiestiefvater.com/the-raven-boys/ )

Blue Sargent, the daughter of the town psychic in Henrietta, Virginia, has been told for as long as she can remember that if she ever kisses her true love, he will die. But she is too practical to believe in things like true love. Her policy is to stay away from the rich boys at the prestigious Aglionby Academy. The boys there — known as Raven Boys — can only mean trouble. -Author: Maggie Stiefvater

Would you kiss your true love, if you knew it would kill them? How could you know it was your 'true love' until after you kissed them? What utter torture.

I am (happily) married. I know he is my 'true love'. I can't say that I knew the moment I met him.. so if we were dared to kiss under the mistletoe at 15 years old, or spin the bottle, and then I learned I doomed him? And that I only doomed him because he is, indeed, my true love?  I'd probably go all Juliet on him.

Anyway, thats my plug of the day.

xox +emoticon of a book
R

I'd really like to win. Day 1 of ARC Contest

I'm only doing this because I really want to win. But I'll try to make it worth while.

Contest: Win Maggie Stiefvater's latest book; The Raven Boys

Synopsis from Maggie's official website;

Coming September 18, 2012. Book one of a new four-book series. Richard "Dick" Gansey has it all: family money, good looks, devoted friends. But he's on a quest for much more: Glendower, a legendary Welsh king.
Blue Sargent, the daughter of the town psychic, has been told for as long as she can remember that if she ever kisses her true love, he will die. Surrounded by the Raven Boys — the rich boys at prestigious Aglionby Academy — she never thought this prediction would be a problem. When Gansey and his Raven Boys enter her life, however, she's not so sure.

Book 1 in a 4!!! book series.

I first began to be a fan of Maggie when she released Shiver. I was a sucker for the front cover; it was different. There are certain things about Maggie that makes her stand out from the other authors.  One of them was her choices in book cover art and ink. When I first opened Shiver, I immediately noticed the ink was a blue. A dark enough blue to read comfortably, but definitely -blue- to match the cover. I thought this was was. Clearly, creativity was a mark of this author I hadn't experienced, so without even looking at what the story was about, I bought it.

I inhaled Shiver.

Going in the vein of twilight and the YA boom of books, Shiver was different. Maggie was different.  I told everyone and anyone who had the same interests as me to read this book. I lent it out to about 4 different girls. I always got the same positive feedback. Sam was Hot, Grace was awesome, and WTH HAPPENS NEXT?


Which is a small part of why I want to read The Raven Boys. Apart from the story being intriguing,  I have concrete proof Maggie will write an ending that will pleasantly torture me until the next book is out.

xox
R