I'm back to blogging....A re-introduction to my life and Loves

How life has progressed through the past year.. for better and worse! All for a reason however! Well through the months I have had moments of wishing I had maintained this lovely outlet a bit more, but no time for shoulda, coulda, woulda... cause I'm here now!

I have read many books in the past year and have slowly taken a turn on the style of books I have been enjoying, but I still read everything I can get my hands on! The last year has definitely devoted time to reading Game of Thrones. Those books have been a great joy to devour and I'm still progressing through the fourth installment- A Feast for Crows. Just amazing, and so addicting.

I haven't even come close to meeting the goal amount of reading I would like to complete in a days time, but I have become open to so many other things like introducing running into my life, very successful but time consuming and I spend a lot of time reading about healthy stuff. I have become a magazine junkie- subscribing to women's health, self, fitness, shape.. etc.... There is just so much information throughout those pages.

Back on track- I have also switched up my work and home life- currently working a very positive industry- the coffee business! I love the connections I get to make with people on a daily basis and have come across many great book recommendations! (I have a hefty list of sample books on my Nook that is growing daily!)

Last year I was very fortunate to meet a special person, Jake Desy. He has become my Best Friend, my Companion, my Significant other and an ideal role model for my boys. I have spent the last year enjoying this persons perspectives, values, interests, and swallowing up so many new things I never thought of pursuing.

First credit belongs to him introducing me to Game of Thrones on our first date at California Pizza Kitchen, I bought the book the next day and have been a fan since, and open to a genre of books I wasn't reading. Next credit goes to Comics. During many of our Barnes and Noble visits Jake would spend time reading comics such as Deadpool, Watchmen, Bone, and The Walking Dead. I never understood the enjoyment in comics because well I honestly just never read one through. I had become quite interested in The Walking Dead TV show that we had been watching on Netflix and I began reading the comics as well. The stories are so different, and both so great. I have found the comics extremely enjoyable and very addicting. I can see myself reading many more!!

I recently turned 27 and I am enjoying it so much, as well as my munchkins are 10 and 5 now, they are both growing into smart and caring little people!  They are so unique but so much like me and I have learned to appreciate this so much!
I recently purchased a long board (how lovely it is, and how long I had wanted it) and before this I had tried to encourage Blake, my oldest, to be active through different activities, the basics- biking, sports, skateboarding, and rollerblading. My encouragement didn't seem to be enough and he lost interest in these things over and over and I was losing the battle. The day I came home with my long board something sparked in this family! Everyone loves it and everyone rides it! Regardless of the weather we have made it a point to bundle up and get moving outside.
I see my boys enjoy the time we spend taking turns carving the streets of our neighborhood together, it makes my heart smile.

I have also purchased a Nook HD+ earlier this year, after much research and annoying questions. Maybe a future post will be dedicated to the process of comparing the tablets I contemplated. I have been slowly purchasing books and trying to wrap up my stack of TBR paperbacks... but switching back and forth is a nice comfort. I enjoy both equally, just as I knew I would!

Reviews to be coming- first 3 installments of Game of Thrones, & A visit from the Goon Squad. Books I'm hoping to feature are a few from Marlene Perez's Dead is series, Her by Christa Parravani, Life after Life by Kate Atkinson, The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer, and hopefully by the end of this month I will get to my favorite Boneshaker by Cherie Priest!!!

Borders' Closing Liquidation.. not quite the sale.. yet anyway.

Since Borders announced the closing of all their stores yesterday I have been anxious to get into their store and get my hands on some of my reading list wants. However the liquidation is a slow process and YA books were only discounted at 10% off ... I was amazed to find that most shelves had been picked clean of popular books, and while there were still some great finds, they were still pricey. Now the Border's online bookstore will remain open, where you can find most books 20-30% with free shipping with most orders.
With that said I didn't splurge much-

Gena Showalter's Unraveled: An Intertwined novel

Linda Gerber The Death by Bikin Mysteries

The essential iPad2 Handbook

&

Mini MUNNY

I am sad to see Borders go out of Bussiness as it is my favorite book store, I will miss the weekly coupons, rewards programs and the convenient locations. I will continue to purchase books on amazon or Borders' online store- anybody have a favorite book shop they can suggest? Open for Ideas-

How do you bargain shop for your books?

Infinite Days by Rebecca Maizel Review

Infinite Days

Rebecca Maizel

Pages: 336

YA St.Martin's Griffin

Published August 3, 2010

This theme of this book is vampires, and it is great. The story develops pretty much right away and then slows down to give the details of each event. I enjoy books where the narrator alternates between characters but I really enjoyed the perspective of this book coming straight from Lenah, the main character. There is so much detail and emotion in her thoughts and actions, makes it hard to put the book down.

The setting is somewhat traditional, taking place in two different environments- the first is in a Private school modern day known as 'Wickham' where Lenah finds herself after nearly 500 years of being a Vampire in Hathersage, England.
(I am leaving out much detail, because I do not want to spoil any part of this story)

The plot pulls you in right away in the first chapter and keeps you hooked with different climax points, interesting characters, & love triangles.

The plot really leaves a great opening for the second book 'Stolen Nights' and even gives you a preview of the first chapter at the end. I really enjoyed how the story line was not so predictable it was truely a refreshing read and I am anxioulsy waiting to read the next book.

Would that be Tablet, e-reader, or paperback ...

I have been experiencing complete and total reading malfunction. These days I spend more time reading reviews pertaining to these electronic devices that should in reality provide me with complete reading freedom regardless which e-reader I have.

I first purchased a Sony e-reader pocket edition last summer and planned on getting some heavy duty use out of it in the freedom of the summer months. However I found myself purchasing more Hardcovers for the series I had already started collecting, and for poolside reading which I didn't want to risk my electronic device in the reach of my splashing children or the torment of the Sun.

So here I am a year later just starting to put my e-reader to use, I have overcome my phobia of dropping it in water or damagng it outside, so it allows me a little more leniency with excercising the main purpose of portability and convenience of an e-reader.

Next I found I wasn't too fond of the feel of this e-reader... the screen was dull, the device was small - yes very portable and convenient- but some other e-readers have the slimness as well as height like a normal book.

So I have been switching back and forth from e-reader to traditional books... Honeslty I read more with traditional print books, it just feel more natural and more comfortable, and I truely enjoy showing off the heftyness of my current read, as well as enjoying the cover art. I found I don't mind lugging my books around.

Now my dilema arises- the town I moved to has a fairly small library and the waiting lists for books are weeks out... now most e-books are a fair and cheap price as well as avaialble right away. This is my weakness.. because when I want to get a book and Borders is closed and waiting 2 days for shipping from Amazon does not sound appealing or whatever the circumstance may be.... I buy the e-book.

I have since quit reading on my sony e-reader and downloaded the Kindle & Kobo apps on my ipad 2 which I love the black text and white pages, gives a more realistic sense of a book, the brightness is lively, and the access to both Kindle and Kobo librairies is very nice. I did not purchase the iPad with the intention of using it as a e-reader but have found it very beneficial. However since my recent purchase of the iPad, I have been obsessed with reading reviews of these devices.

Several reviews I have read share that the iPad is too distracting for use as an e-ereader with the internet, games, and email also at your fingertips it is hard to focus on reading. Sometimes I get distracted but usually I get my other browsing done before I read so I don't even think about it. Another feauture is you can disable these distractions or remove them so they dont take all of your focus. These fellow reviewers tend to enjoy their Kobo touch readers available through Borders. I havent read too many reviews about the Nook color, although I used to want one, however I'm not a fan of Barnes & Noble ( No offense faithful B&N customers) so I just strayed from their e-reader products as well.

Quick note: I do not bring my iPad along to read at the lake or pool either- I save my magazines and paperbacks for those occasions. My favorite places to enjoy reading on my iPad are Noodles & Company, any coffee house near me at the present time, or my bed. I like the hands free feeling of being able to prop the tablet up on its stand/case and read while I eat noodles or drink coffee and I can lay on one side comfortably without having to reposition with the turn of a page.

My own quick personal review of the iPad 2 which is non-reading related so feel free to skip if your not interested in a review of the iPad, either way I hope it is beneficial in some way or another:

My iPad has an average of 10 hour battery life- lots of reading and web browsing, as well as lots and lots of Yahtzee playing is done in 10 hours. The iPad2 is slickly slimmer than the 1st generation and you can personalize it with the Vibrant colors of a Smart cover- however I prefer a genuine black leather case myself, the sound is amazing and the Apple App store is the best (I owned a Samsung Galaxy Tablet for one day, Android Market is the only downfall). Apple produces a genuine product with protection plans, lots of support and easy navigation of their devices. I am open minded to other products- I'm not a hardcore Apple brand groupie- I just find I like what I get most of the time- and as I said I LOVE the Apps available.

The conclusion I have come to is that with all the options available there is something out there that suits every individual. I have have found my balance between my iPad as well as continuing to build my own personal collection of books in my home.

I would love to hear how others enjoy their reading, what they prefer or even what e-readers they use and why they like them. PLEASE SHARE your thoughts and opinions- negative or positive they are more than welcome!

Far From You - Lisa Schroeder

Far From You
Lisa Schroeder
195 pages

Lost and alone...Down the rabbit hole.

Alice thought she knew
what solitude was:
Her mother—gone.
Her father—remarried with a newborn
daughter.
Now...
Trapped
in the icy embrace
of a deadly snowstorm,
Alice faces the true meaning of loneliness.

But hope
may not be as far away
as she thinks....


I enjoy the unique way Lisa Schroeder writes her stories in verse with tons of emotion and detail to what the character is feeling. I loved the character in this book, Alice. She was smart, different and was dealing with so many changes- her mother passing, her father remarrying, and a newborn baby sister. Meanwhile Alice was dealing with not having  her best friend, Claire, around.

Alice wants to keep her distance from the family she no longer feels apart of. When forced to go on a Holiday vacation to her new Step Mom's parents' she can't wait to get home and get back to Blaze, her boyfriend, and when her Dad has to leave the trip early for business, she begs to go with.

Tragically Victoria, Alice and Baby Ivy get stranded on back roads in a snow storm on their way home. Alice is forced to face Victoria and they bond over the tragedy... until days pass and no one rescues them from their icey prison. Running out of food, formula and heat.. Victoria ventures out to find help leaving Alice alone to care for Ivy..

Then ending is touching and Alice's realization to how she has been acting, regrets flood her thoughts, as she prays and hopes for the safety of her Step Mother, & Baby sister. The morals portrayed through this story are deep and well written. I love the tragedy and happiness of Lisa Schroeder's work.

Nice weekend read.

Crazy Love

Crazy Love A Memoir
Leslie Morgan Steiner
St. Martin's Press 2009
322 pages


I came across this book in an article I read In the April 2009 issue of glamour. The article was an Open Letter Rhianna written by the author Leslie Morgan Steiner in regards to Domestic Abuse. I ordered the book the next day and have finished it in awe to the events the memoir unfolds.

I struggled reading this book, it is just tragic to read the details of someone else's misfortune and you feel as though you are there with her through the brutal events as you turn the pages. She describes in great detail her ventures of New York, just graduated from Harvard and taking on a new career at Seventeen Magazine. Through the pages she weaves her childhood and upbringing into the story as she falls in love with a man named Conor. Their relationship feels so right and perfect, even when he shares with her that he was abused as a child, she vows to help him and never abandon him.

She doesn't rush to the horrific details of the crazy moments of abuse, but walks you through her journey of dating and then marrying a man who abused her and used her- breaking her down emotionally, physically, and financially. I found serenity in the moments she describes the Indian summers in the half renovated home they shared in Vermont, or the summer she spent away at an internship, the time she spent on campus at Business School and every moment she was able to escape Connor.

Every wave of emotion I felt with every changing event in this women's life. Through everything I couldn't help but cheer her on as she pulled herself out of this disaster, and stood strong despite the crazy Love she had for Connor.

This book is a good read for anyone, as Domestic Abuse can happen to anyone.
Here is the link also to her web page & Glamour article:

http://www.glamour.com/sex-love-life/2009/04/an-open-letter-to-rihanna
http://lesliemorgansteiner.com/

Marlene Perez Interview

Marlene Perez is the YA author of the DEAD IS series as well as Love in the corner pocket & The comeback. She has just released the fourth book in her series Dead is just a Rumor & has planned on releasing Dead is not an Option Summer 2011. Exciting!

CT: Can you give us a brief description of the ‘Dead Is’ series in your own words?

MP: The DEAD IS series is a teen paranormal mystery series set in the town of Nightshade, California and features the adventures of Daisy Giordano and her sisters, as well as a cast of normal and paranormal characters. The things that go bump in the night are your neighbors in Nightshade.

CT: What has been your inspiration to write the ‘Dead Is’ series and the title?
MP: I love urban fantasy, paranormal, and especially anything with vampires in it. When I was little, my older sister used to babysit me after school and she watched a supernatural soap opera called DARK SHADOWS. I also loved Anne Rice’s VAMPIRE LESTAT books and read every ghost story I could find as a kid. I also had a crush on a character from a book when I was growing up, Strider/Aragorn from LORD OF THE RINGS. When I saw Viggo Mortenson’s film portrayal, I sincerely thought he brought the character to life. He was exactly how I’d pictured him.

CT: Who is your favorite character from Nightshade?
MP: Daisy. I adore her. But I’m kind of fond of Ryan, too.
CT:What are some of your favorite books to read?
MP: I read pretty much every genre and if people are really interested, check out my goodreads list. It’s embarrassingly long, but will tell you what I’m reading. I’ve been reading a lot of research books lately.
CT:When you’re not busy writing, what do you like to do in your free time?
MP: I like to spend time with my family, go to the beach, read, and have coffee with my writing buddies.
CT: What advice would you give to Young Adults who desire to become authors themselves?
MP: Read widely and hone your craft.

CT: Anything else you would like to add….
MP: I love to hear from my readers! There’s a Welcome to Nightshade Facebook Community page and I’d love to see readers there!

CT: Thank you very much Marlene!

Links to Marlene:

http://members.cox.net/mardperez/
 And also look for NightShade on Facebook!!

Follow Friday (2)

 This is my second week participating in the Follow Friday meme hosted by Parajunkee's View To join the fun and make now book blogger friends, just follow these simple rules:

1.) Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Host { Parajunkee.com } and any one else you want to follow on the list

2.) Follow our Featured Bloggers - seducedbybooks.blogspot.com

3.) Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing.

4.) Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say hi in your comments

5.) Follow Follow Follow as many as you can

6.) If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love...and the followers

7.) If you want to show the link list, just follow the link below the entries and copy and paste it within your post!

8.) If your new to the follow friday hop, comment and let me know, so I can stop by and check out your blog!

Review: Intertwined

Pages 377

Harlequin

Gena Showalter

Sequel: Unraveled

There's something about the new guy at Crossroads High...

Most sixteen-year-olds have friends.

Aden Stone has four human souls living inside him:

One can time travel

One can raise the dead

One can possess another human

One can tell the future

Everyone thinks he's crazy, which is why he's spent his entire life shuffled between mental institutions and juvie. All of that is about to change, however. For months Aden has been having visions of a beautiful girl- a girl who carries centuries-old secrets. A girl who will either save him or destroy him.

Together they'll enter a dark world of intrigue and danger... but not everyone will come out alive.

Review: ( SOME SPOILERS! BEWARE)

I am not sure where to begin with this review, since the ending is fresh in my mind I have to reference back to the middle and begining to write a more efficient review.

The plot of this book has a nice lead. The first chapter is action, action and some more action- Aden Stone is different from any character I have ever read about, along with the four souls living in his head, you are introduced to all right away.

The chapters switch off from different view points of Aden and Mary Ann, I enjoy when authors do that offering a different variety in the story telling. As the story unfolds you really start to think you can predict that since Aden and Mary Ann have this draw to eachother that they will end up together and so goes the typical plot... not even close to what the plot leads up to.

Aden knows Mary Ann is not the girl in his visions but he is determined that she can help him- with the souls in his head and even lead him to the girl. He is right- soon Victoria- the girl in Aden's visions via Elijiah (the soul in his head that has the visions) enters the scene and Surprise she is a vampire.

At the same time Mary Ann has an admirer as well- a werewolf- a shape shifter- I really enjoyed this part of the story because you have no idea who the wolf is and the author leaves uncertain possibilities..

(I will not spoil that part!)

To continue- the part that annoyed me was everytime Aden needed to sneak away from home or school- Victoria 'would handle it' convincing teachers and students et cetera that Aden had been there all along when he was not... which is a cool ability but it just happend too much.

There wasnt much of a description of the connection between Victoria and Aden- they both just knew they wanted one another, I just didn't feel the romance between the two it was more like an unexplained crush- same goes for Mary Ann and her mysterious Wolf...there was romance just a mild amount.

There is lots of paranormal and some neat connections between everyone- hence the great title 'Intertwined'

That was definatley my favorite part of the plot that there really wasn't one climax but several as the connection bewteen everyone started to unravel (lol! the name of the sequel is suiting!)

There are alot of surpirses and a good ending that is not definite and leaves plenty of action for the next book-

I would rate this book a 4- I really liked it and definatley want to read the next book, so it is worth the read!

Teaser Tuesdays

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading and it asks us to...


1. Grab your current read
2. Open to a random page
3. Share a couple of “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 Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teaser (click on the title)

Bad boy. Yes, that fit, too. Mary Ann didn't have to turn to remind herself of what he looked like. His image was burned into her mind. As Penny had said, he had black hair with inch long blond roots. What she hadn't mentioned was that his face was as perfect as the Grecian statues she'd seen in her world history book, even with the grime. For the briefest of moments, when a beam of sunlight had hit him, Mary Ann would have sworn his eyes were striped with green, brown, blue and gold. But then the ray had disappeared beyind a fluff of clouds and the colors had melted into eachother, leaving only an intense black.

- Intertwined by Gena Showalter pg. 30

 

Cherry on Top AWARD!

YAY! I recieved this award from Ginger over at GReads!

Thank you Ginger!

All you have to do for the Cherry on Top award is:

1) Answer the question "If I had the chance to go back and change one thing in my life, would I, and what would it be?"
2) Pick up to 6 people and give them this award.
3) Thank the person who gave you the award.

My answer is....

If I had the chance to go back and change one thing in my life, honeslty, I would change the college I chose to attend three years ago- I didn't know much about tuition prices, financial aid, accredited shcools, and their programs- I called the first school that came to my attention and have been paying waaaay too much for the past three years. I can't say that I wasted my time, I learned alot through their Health Information program, but it was more expensive than necessary and I'm not sure Health Information is what I want for a career.
So back the drawing board- going to fins another program where I can expand my horizons :)

And here are 6 bloggers worthy of this award-

1.WORD for Teens
2.The Book Pixie
3.Reading Addict
4.Must Love Books
5.Musings of a Reader Happy
6.Michelle & Leslie's Book picks

Read-a-thon challenge... & TBR pile

I am looking forward to the Halloween Read-a-thon hosted by YA books reviewed on October 15th-17th and have set my goal to read minimum of 3 but shooting for 4 books for that weekend- the titles are from Laurell K. Hamilton's: Anita Blake series.

And if I am lucky enough to finish those I will continue on to the fourth in the series- ' Lunatic cafe'

As for this week I am off to a slow start to Intertwined by Gena Showalter, and finally going to tackle Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick, and Raised by wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. If I can keep up my motivation to read one after another I will be plenty ready for the awaited release of Beautiful Darkness on October 12 next week.

I would love to hear what everyone else has planned for this week and books TBR! Please Share!

Hope everyone's week is starting out GREAT!

WOW! My first Award.



I was super excited to find this morning that I have recieved  my very first blogger award from

The Bookish Snob

THANK YOU!

Here are the insructions for passing along this award

1. Thank and link back to the person that gave this award
2. Write 7 things about yourself
3. Pass the award along to 15 bloggers who you have recently discovered and who you think are fantastic
4. Contact the bloggers you've picked to let them know about the award

Ok here are 7 things about Moi!

1. I enjoy cleaning! As crazy as that sounds I enjoy the smelly goodness of Mr.Clean and lemon fresh dishwasher soap.

2. I am obsessed with Jalapeno peppers- ghost peppers- hec any peppers that have the HEAT! I will eat them with anything.

3. I have a little brother that is the same age as my oldest son, they are 7 years old and only one month apart, it's neat how good of friends they are.

4. I have always dreamed of having my own library in my house, (who hasn't huh!?) I'm thinking maybe an entire level of my house should be dedicated.. hahaha

5. If a Football game is on- I am watching! I enjoy very much!

6. My favorite author from middle school/Jr. High was Mary Higgins Clark- I Love her books

7. I love to travel- and have driven from Florida to Minnesota, from Minnesota to Wahington, and even south to Kansas and Oklahoma!

Now 15 blogs I want to pass this awesome award onto-

1.GReads!

2.Every Little Thing

3.Chazz Hart

4.Books Are A Girl's Best Friend

5.Young Adult Books Reviewed

6.The Crazy Bookworm

7.Abyss

8.Emilie's Book World

9.A book Obsession

10.Alison Can Read

11./-LA FEMME READERS-/

12. A Bookful of thoughts

13. In the Hammock

14.Good Choice Reading

15. Icey Books

I apologize to anyone who has already recieved or doesn't wish to recieve awards- I did my best to overlook your blogs and ensure that you hadn't posted 'No awards Please!' so before hand I apologize!

You all are fantastic!

BOOK BLOGGER HOP

The Book blogger Hop is hosted every week at Crazy for Books

This weeks question comes from Tina at Book Couture

"How do you spread the word about your blog?

(e.g. Social Networking sites, Book Blog Directories, comments on other blogs...)"

I am totally new to blogging and netwroking my blog. So far I have really just been working on building up my content and posting the links on Facebook. This week I have discovered so many Blogs and so many sites to network with to expand the followers and content of my Blog! I have been leaving lots of comments and enjoying looking at some of the amazing blogs ya'all have out there! I am just amazed at the time and creativeness that people invest in their Blogs! It is very Inspiring! I look forward to many mor Blog hop Fridays!

To participate just head over to Crazy for books and leave your link, grab the logo and post it on your blog and have fun Hoppin until Monday the 4th!

Follow many and comment alot!

FOLLOW FRIDAY

Follow Friday is a weekly event hosted by Rachel at Parajunkee's view .

This is my first Follow Friday and I am thankful to be apart of it as I am new to the Blog scene!

Thanks to everyone who stops by!

Happy Friday

Now I am off to Follow....

'Torment' review... WHOA!

Torment

452 pages

Delacorte Press

Lauren Kate

Sequel to 'Fallen'

Lucinda is sure that she and Daniel are meant to be together forever. Now they are forced apart in a desperate bid to save Luce from the Outcasts–immortals who want her dead. As she discovers more about her past lives, Luce starts to suspect that Daniel is hiding something. What if he has lied to her about their shared past? What if Luce is really meant to be with someone else?

Review:

I am just in awe at what this book has added to first novel 'Fallen' Typically I am skeptical about sequels and they often don't live up to the first novel. 'Torment' was just breathtakingly amazing. The love between Lucinda Price and Daniel was even more intense and raw faced with Luce's unsureness about everything as it seems Daniel is withholding so much from her. I have to admit I started to get annoyed- it seemed too often, like a broken record, Luce was pleading for someone to fill her in on some 4-1-1; and yet was shone away from any real answers, everytime- however this left great opportune for the next novel to reveal this very suspense riden secret that will drive me insane to wait until next summer for the third installment 'Passion'.

I appreciate the new scenery, honestly, the relocation of Luce to the California school was a nice transition into a new plot and setting, and of course introducing the intriguing new characters.

Miles, Shelby, Francesca & Steven, Dawn & Jasmine- they were all so different form the students Luce met at Sword & Cross. I especially liked the development of the 'Shadows' or 'Announcers' that haunted Luce since the beginning of this story in 'Fallen' I am glad to see that the autor elaborated on what they are and the abilites of the shadows- this book gave alot of insight to Luce's past which the announcers played a major role in.

The closer Luce and Miles were getting through her stay at Shoreline ( new school in Claifornia) the more I found myself holding my breath- just the thought of Luce second guessing this passionate never ending, undying, tragic love of hers and Daniels, was just heart wrenching.

I was very pleased to see the old gang Arriane, Cam, Molly, Gabbe and Daniel be joined with Luce's new friends at the Thanksgiving dinner that Luce was relieved to be allowed to spend at her parents- might I add where all Hell broke lose- still it was a nice touch that they all showed up unnannouced and were all welcomed.

The fight that ends this story was just crazy- because it takes place at Luce's real home following their Thanksgiving dinner and so much is happening- all are involved new and old friends, angels & nephilim, and mortals. I am sad for the end of this book, because again there is so much unanswered and so much sadness at the end. It leaves me wanting more and hopeful for the next book.

On a final note- I read this book in under 24 hours- I just couldn't put it down (hence the reason for my 2:30 am post!) It truley lives up to it's title

'TORMENT'

Books to Movies....

I was at the library this morning with my little one and I overheard a conversation that struck my interest. Books being adapted into Movies.. it happens quite often these days.. some good and others.. well- should've just been left alone. Everybody has their opinions. That is what I am most interested in- what everyone's thoughts are about Books being Adapted into movies...

So I did an internet search on several of my favorite authors to see what projects they are working on and the one that caught my attention the most was P.C. Cast - now this may not be news to some but I was reading her blog about the House of Night series being adapted into a TV series or Movie- perhaps both(?). There were a list of questions from fans about how the Movie will ruin the series et cetera.

I personaly once had a negative feeling about the adaption of books- but after reading the responses P.C. Cast has provided to her blog readers, giving them a positive outlook on the adaption and understanding that- Yeah it WILL be different! I can say that I have a new respect for the process and outcome.

After reading her blog post about Movie Info I am actually quite excited to see what producers will do with the wonderful House of Night Series!

I would love to hear your thoughts about this topic regarding any book adaption into a movie!

Thanks

Link to P.C. Cast's blog site and official site

http://pccast.blogspot.com/2010/07/movie-stuff.html

http://www.pccast.net/

Cover art of 'Dead is not an option'

Will be Released in Spring in 2011

Fifth book in the 'Dead Is' series by Marlene Perez

LOVE IT!

'Waiting on" Wednesday: Misguided Angel

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at the Breaking Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This weeks anticipation is......

Misguided Angel: A Blue Blood Novel #5

Melissa De La Cruz

Publication date October 26, 2010

From Shelfari: After inheriting the dark Van Alen Legacy, Schuyler flees to Florence with her forbidden love, Jack. Now the two of them must embark on the mission Schuyler was destined to complete: to find and protect the seven gates that guard earth from Lucifer, lord of the Silverbloods...

While Mimi has been elected Regent of a crumbling coven. Struggling with her heartache over the loss of Kingsley...as a new threat intagles the Vampires as they get abducted and their captors plan to burn them alive online…for all the world to see. As the Blue Blood enclave weakens yet further, fate leads Schuyler closer to a terrifying crossroads-After inheriting the dark Van Alen Legacy, Schuyler - and a choice that will determine the destiny of all vampires.

Beautiful Creatures

563 pages

Little Brown and Company

Authors Kamis Garcia & Margaret Stohl

There were no surprises in Gaitlin County.

At east, that's what I thought.

Turns out, I couldn't have been more wrong.

There was a curse.

There was a girl.

And in the end there was grave.

Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gaitlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even withing the overgrown gardens, murky swamps, and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.

Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gaitlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town's oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.

In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything

This book is like no other. The detail, the characters; their roots and history, the presence of the South through every page, the connection between Ethan and Lena, and even the emotion through every event.

Ethan and Lena were both beautiful. Amma was another favortie of mine with her voodoo and superstitions, even Macon Ravenwood grew on me in the end and I couldn't help but feel bad for his ending.

The contribution of the the two writers have really complimented each other well. Everything about this book- every detail, every character, every secret- it's all so real and so great.

For starters the characters were so well developed, I felt as if I knew them personally, their history was so alive through story- each one of them, tying them to the south, to Gaitlin county in such a deeper past than the DAR (Daughters of the American Revoultion) and the families of the town had even been aware of. For such a small ordinary town, that nothing ever happened, and nothing ever changed.. there was soo much to be uncovered. Even with the ending of this book I know the sequel 'Beautiful Darkness' has some greatness to offer as well.

Every turn the story took I thought I knew for sure what was going to happen next but was totally thrown off guard with why Lena's Uncle Macon was hiding so much from her, I truly started to believe he was trying to harm Lena vs. protecting her as he claims but is caught lying to her left and right, and the true reason behind Mrs.Lincoln's strange desire to seperate Ethan and Lena.. this was not divulged until the very ending..( I do not want to give it away! )

The tie between Ethan and Lena was so romantic- the history of their bloodlines and the curse of Lena's family. Their journey to discover how to help Lena form turning Dark on her sixteenth birthday was like a roller-coaster ride that left every turn unpredictable and every fall intense.

Before I started reading I was skeptical on the title- I was sure it was bound to be another story that was all too familiar. I was wrong, very wrong.

There was nothing familiar about this story- it was dark, romantic, and tragic- while uplifting and encouraging. I hate to try to explain the details of the events that happened in a book, especially when they were so well put together in one like this, it leaves you with a yearning for more and heavy with emotion.

In this review I just want to say I highly highly reccomend this book.