All Good Things Must End Someday....

Hello! I've been gone for way too long. I have some really good excuses, though. I haven't been reading much. How could this be, you say? Summer reading is a treat all on it's own that comes once a year.... 


Well first, my mom fell down the stairs and broke her back. No, literally. She was sleep walking and fell down the stairs. It's been a long summer road to recovery, but she is getting there. I've had my hands full with helping her. 


Second, I've been searching for jobs like nobody's business. Many hours...and I mean many hours per day have been spent this summer searching jobs, applying, and going on interviews.



Finally, I did get hired and started about a month and a half ago. Yay, me! But starting a new job, moving to a new apartment, in a new area, doesn't leave a ton of time for reading. In fact, I've been tearing through the Netflix Series of One Tree Hill for the last month, trying to finish all the seasons. 


(If you're wondering I'm stopping after season 6 because Lucas and Peyton are not involved and it's just not the same) 



Phew, that's a lot of stuff! The good news is that now I am finally on my feet, I can catch up on all the reading and TV shows I've been missing!


First up, 



Nalini Singh Guild Hunter's Series 

Because this time, it's not a wayward vamp she has to track. It's an archangel gone bad. 

The job will put Elena in the midst of a killing spree like no other—and pull her to the razor's edge of passion. Even if the hunt does not destroy her, succumbing to Raphael’s seductive touch just might. For when archangels play, mortals break
Because this time, it's not a wayward vamp she has to track. It's an archangel gone bad. 
The job will put Elena in the midst of a killing spree like no other—and pull her to the razor's edge of passion. Even if the hunt does not destroy her, succumbing to Raphael’s seductive touch just might. For when archangels play, mortals break
The job will put Elena in the midst of a killing spree like no other—and pull her to the razor's edge of passion. Even if the hunt does not destroy her, succumbing to Raphael’s seductive touch just might. For when archangels play, mortals break

Vampire hunter Elena Deveraux knows she is the best- but she does not know if even she is good enough for this job. Hired by the dangerously beautiful archangel Raphael, a being so lethal that no mortal wants his attention, Elena knows failure is not an option—even if the task is impossible. 





I've put off this series for a long, long time. Mostly because I thought I'd reached my fill when it came to paranormal romances.  BUT, I will say these  books are pretty good. Don't be put off by the cheesy sounding summary. If you want a good paranormal romance, this is it. Ms. Singh pulls off romance and practicality (if that's possible).  The romance part is as far from cheesy as can be, which is always a good thing. There are never any over the top things happening, where the hero kills his love interest's family by ripping their intestines out and she still loves him.  And you're thinking WHY? Why am I wasting my time on this. These books are not like that. Give them a shot! 

Anywho, as I make my way through this series, trying to stay off netflix (it's really my biggest competitor to books),  I am really excited for some future upcoming books. I'm going to post them soon. 

The Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead

From Goodreads: In the aftermath of a forbidden moment that rocked Sydney to her core, she finds herself struggling to draw the line between her Alchemist teachings and what her heart is urging her to do. Then she meets alluring, rebellious Marcus Finch--a former Alchemist who escaped against all odds, and is now on the run. Marcus wants to teach Sydney the secrets he claims the Alchemists are hiding from her. But as he pushes her to rebel against the people who raised her, Sydney finds that breaking free is harder than she thought. There is an old and mysterious magic rooted deeply within her. And as she searches for an evil magic user targeting powerful young witches, she realizes that her only hope is to embrace her magical blood--or else she might be next.



First off, I finally read this book.  This was one of the books I've been waiting a long time for, from one of my favorite authors. I had put in for it at the library, but was still in line, so I just decided to buy it. 

Me after having the book in my hands!!

Where to start? Well, first this book is the third in a series of books called Bloodlines.  It is a spin off from Mead's vampire academy! If you haven't read the first book, Bloodlines, then you probably shouldn't read this one because it WILL spoil it for you. 

I really liked this book. I have a certain list of YA authors that I like and Mead is on that list. So, I knew I definitely wanted to read the Indigo Spell. I thought this book was awesome, and props to Mead for writing a great book. 

Go Richelle!!

I thought there was a lot jam packed into this book, in a good way. Mead did an excellent job on building the romance between certain characters. However, I felt the plot suffered just a teensy, little because of it. As I said I really liked this book, but without getting too spoilery, I will say certain parts of the book felt anticlimactic. I felt like Mead needed to either pick the Alchemists or the witches to really focus on.... but I'm no writer, and I enjoyed the book anyway.


Sydney and Adrian were so cute! How sexy was Adrian in that paining scene. Seriously. Swoon. 

I felt like Sydney made a lot of character progress with him compared to how she was in the first book. 

Super excited the Fiery Heart (#4) comes out this year   Usually we have to wait a year for a sequel, so I'm looking forward to it. The way The Indigo Spell ended certainly will put a wrench into Sydney's social life, though! 

Please go read this book.  Richelle Mead has over 4 star reviewer average on all of her books but one. If you like YA, try out some of her books! 

The Taker by Alma Katsu

From Goodreads:
True love can last an eternity . . . but immortality comes at a price. . . . On the midnight shift at a hospital in rural Maine, Dr. Luke Findley is expecting another quiet evening of frostbite and the occasional domestic dispute. But the minute Lanore McIlvrae—Lanny—walks into his ER, she changes his life forever. A mysterious woman with a past and plenty of dark secrets, Lanny is unlike anyone Luke has ever met. He is inexplicably drawn to her . . . despite the fact that she is a murder suspect with a police escort. And as she begins to tell her story, a story of enduring love and consummate betrayal that transcends time and mortality, Luke finds himself utterly captivated.

Her impassioned account begins at the turn of the nineteenth century in the same small town of St. Andrew, Maine, back when it was a Puritan settlement. Consumed as a child by her love for the son of the town’s founder, Lanny will do anything to be with him forever. But the price she pays is steep—an immortal bond that chains her to a terrible fate for all eternity. And now, two centuries later, the key to her healing and her salvation lies with Dr. Luke Findley.

Part historical novel, part supernatural page-turner, The Taker is an unforgettable tale about the power of unrequited love not only to elevate and sustain, but also to blind and ultimately destroy, and how each of us is responsible for finding our own path to redemption.


This book was recommended to me by my sister, and it has been on my to read shelf for about a year.  I kept promising that I would read it when I had more time.  I was able to pass my national exam, and now that I'm not studying 298347892834 hours a week, I have more reading time!! SO, I checked this out on GR. This storyline initially intrigued me.  What kind of immortal bond is this Lanny girl dealing with? What is this about a crazy ER doctor? I read a lot of paranormal, so I was interested to see what supernatural creature Lanny would turn out to be.


Turns out, this book really is a cross between genres. This is the type of "paranormal" book for a person who likes normal fiction (no chick  lit, urban fantasy, etc), because it's kind of diet paranormal...paranormal for beginners.  This book is a cross between historical romance (real life romance, not the fluffy, corny stuff) and mystical arts.  It was refreshing to have a different type of book that I wouldn't normally read. And not to mention, the author has written this book excellently.  It's not often you come across an author who has a writing style like this.  It just pulls you in..... 

  I stayed up late both nights to finish it.  The one thing that I did not like about this book was the sad, depressing tone it took about halfway through the book.   When I turned to the last page, the book left me feeling really unhappy, just because it turned out not to be a happy book, and IMO, did not have a happy ending.  

So, if you want a book that is flawlessly written with a very intriguing historical aspect to it, then please read this book, and let me know what you think. 

Time Travel Tuesday

So, for the last two weeks on Tuesday nights, I've been completely exhausted and need a light read to help me relax. In comes the light, fun romantic reads! For some reason I've been stuck on the idea of time traveling romances. 


Vanquishing A Viking by Nancy Dillman 

Modern attitudes clash with medieval mores when Esme Pederson, a small-town librarian from Minnesota, time travels to Viking Norway and is sold as a bed slave to a fierce warrior bitter over his dead wife's infidelity. The last thing Stein Magnuson needs is another woman to complicate his life, especially one who thinks females have rights! Irresistibly drawn to each other, however, their passion flares hotter than an Icelandic volcano. But can love bloom when neither is willing to compromise and all they ever do is argue?

I was skeptical that this book would be any good at all, because you never know what kind of romance book you'll get, especially when you add in the element of time travel. But, I was glad I purchased this book. I felt the author portrayed the realities of living in that era accurately. I enjoyed the read and the romance. I thought she portrayed interactions between characters well, so you felt they were almost real.  The only thing I wasn't too crazy about was the sex scenes. I'm not into the things the main character was (the arrogant male attitude). But I did enjoy the book.






The Geek Girl and the Scandalous Earl by Gina Lamm

The Goodreads summary is a little long, so I figured I'd make my own.  A modern day girl, Jamie Marten, gets teleported into the year 1816 into the home of Micah Axelby, Earl of Dunnington.  Micah is a stunningly handsome earl, and Jamie tries to fight her feelings for him. From the very start, Jamie tries to figure out a way to get back, but ends up entangled with the Earl in more ways than one.  Can Jamie make it back to her current year? Does she even want to anymore? 


I saw this book reviewed on another book site I follow,
called Book Chick City.  It seemed like a pretty decent book so I decided to give it a try.  At 5.99 for the kindle price, it was a little steep.  I try not to pay more than a few dollars (hey, I'm poor!) but I decided to give it a try. 

I'm glad I did buy it.  There were things I liked and others I didn't.  I liked how accurately the author depicted what it was like in 1816: bathing, using a chamber pot, servants, what clothes women wore, the few (if any) rights women had back then.  The things I didn't like were miniscule, but I felt there wasn't really much of a plot except the back and forth love war between Micah and Jamie.  He loves her, he doesn't.  She loves him, now she doesn't.  Also, I felt that for Jamie being a smart girl, she was kind of thick.  For example, she kept rubbing in the fact that she was from a different era by swearing often.  A smart girl would realize this may not be the best way to go about things.  But regardless I liked this book and I would recommend it. 



Happy St. Patrick's Day Weekend everyone!!! :)

Holding My Breath--The Indigo Spell

I just wanted to tell everyone I am super excited about this book even though it is already out.  It was release February 12, 2013 but I am too poor to buy the book or purchase it on my kindle.


Sadly, I am 4th in line at the library.  I'm estimating I'll probably have to wait at least another month.  Boo.

The Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead, Third book in The Bloodlines Series

From Goodreads: In the aftermath of a forbidden moment that rocked Sydney to her core, she finds herself struggling to draw the line between her Alchemist teachings and what her heart is urging her to do. Then she meets alluring, rebellious Marcus Finch--a former Alchemist who escaped against all odds, and is now on the run. Marcus wants to teach Sydney the secrets he claims the Alchemists are hiding from her. But as he pushes her to rebel against the people who raised her, Sydney finds that breaking free is harder than she thought. There is an old and mysterious magic rooted deeply within her. And as she searches for an evil magic user targeting powerful young witches, she realizes that her only hope is to embrace her magical blood--or else she might be next.


Richelle Mead is a YA author and has wrote The Vampire Academy, which is currently in the script writing process of becoming a movie.  That series has 6 books in it, and I actually loved that series too, but it's finished.  Richelle Mead is one of those authors that you just can't put down her book.  She has a writing prose that is very friendly, and you feel as though you can connect to the characters and the protagonist.  Plus, she uses subtle foreshadowing which I love because it shows that the author has created a well thought out plot and story. 


                                                  CANNOT WAIT FOR THIS BOOK!!!!

Book Haul---It's Been a While

Hello everyone!! Sorry I've been gone so long, I started my medical externship and have been spending long hours at the hospital.  When I'm not at the hospital, I'm spending my time researching therapeutic strategies for my clients, and finally when I have any spare moment, I'm studying to pass my national exam so that I can get certified in my profession.  Phew, that's a lot going on!!  And here I thought externship would be easier than classes! Anyway, after my bad experience with JK Rowling's newest book, I have kind of been sporadically reading for a while.

I've been filling my time with some of my favorite shows like Downton Abbey (Can you believe all the characters that have been killed off this season?) and Hart of Dixie, and Vampire Diaries.  I'm super excited for a new History Channel show called Vikings, which premier's March 3rd. Yes, I'm nerdy...no I don't care.


Anyway, onto the books!!

 The Caged Virgin by Ayaan Hirsi Ali

This muslim woman fled her home country for the Netherlands to escape an arranged marriage. The turning point in her life was after the violent murder of Theo van Gogh in 2004, with whom the author had written a film with about women and Islam called "Submission". She was threatened by the same group of people that killed him, but will not stop speaking out about the oppression that Islamic women face, and the attempts of Islamic governments to silence any questioning of their faith.  She also wants western civilization to know just what is happening to women in this faith, such as genital mutilation and forced marriages of female minors.

That was my own summary because the Goodreads one was just too long. In the past year I became some friends with Saudi Arabian women who were at my graduate school.  While they did mention cultural differences from there to the US, they never mentioned anything horrific like this author is saying.  So, I guess you could call this an eye opener for me. I was really shocked that some cultures deny what I consider to be basic human rights.  It's hard for me to imagine people actually mutilating female genitalia.  Living in the US all my life, never leaving to visit other countries, I guess you could call me sheltered. Nevertheless,  I liked this book.  Sometimes it felt a little disorganized, but to my understanding the author has an even better book that is the story of her life called Infidel.  I would highly recommend these books if you are interested in learning more about women's role in Islam.

 Stuff White People Like by Christian Lander

This is a stereotypical, sarcastic book of the things white people like.  The whole point of the book is that "white people" like to go to extreme lengths to feel important and unique but are all basically doing the same thing. From my understanding the author has a blog from 2008 that many people visited and this book is a result of that.  Basically, the author has many different chapters devoted to things white people like such as eating organic food, apple products, brunch on the weekends, wine, etc. In each chapter he describes what white people like about the item and how to use that item to become accepted in white culture. It's meant to be funny, but it didn't really make me laugh, and the book got boring halfway through because it followed the same format.  In my opinion, they should change white people to hipsters, because that's what most of the book describes.

Victoria and the Rogue by Meg Cabot

Ah yes, one of my favorite YA authors.  Sometimes a girl just needs to read mindless, comical fiction to forget about all the stress in her life :)

The year is 1810. Victoria is a wealthy, 16 year old British girl from India who moved to Britain to find a husband.  She becomes betrothed to Lord Malfrey before she even gets off the ship from India.  But, Captain Jacob Carstairs has a few things to say about this engagement, and not all of them nice. Yes, this book follows a somewhat predictable romantic plot. But I enjoy Meg Cabot's works because she's funny and there are usually some unexpected twists in the plot that make you appreciate her creativity.  This book cheered up my mood and made me smile.

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

Sometimes you just need to go with a familiar re-read right? After a bad day, or even a long week, you can come home to a book that has an awesome plot and beloved characters.

City of Bones is one of my favorite YA books. Clary Fray enters into a nightclub one night with her friend to find that she is witness to a bizarre murder that only she can see. After this event, things get stranger still as one of the murderers keeps showing up at places she goes.  Her life gets turned upside down when her mom is taken and Clary is attacked by a demon. Clary only wants to get her mother back, but as she is entangled deeper into the world of Shadowhunters (men and women sworn to protect the earth from demons) she discovers that getting her mother back might be harder than she thought and there are a few secrets about herself she discovers along the way.

The first time I read this book, I fell in love with the characters.  It is hard to find an author who can write such a suspenseful, well thought out plot and still manage romantic tension and comedy.  This book is a page turner, the type you would not want to put down.  Also, as a side note, this book is currently becoming a movie and is set to premier August 2013.  So like so many young adult books that turn into movies, this book series is probably going to blow up soon.

The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling

From Goodreads: A BIG NOVEL ABOUT A SMALL TOWN ...

When Barry Fairbrother dies in his early forties, the town of Pagford is left in shock.

Pagford is, seemingly, an English idyll, with a cobbled market square and an ancient abbey, but what lies behind the pretty façade is a town at war.

Rich at war with poor, teenagers at war with their parents, wives at war with their husbands, teachers at war with their pupils ... Pagford is not what it first seems.

And the empty seat left by Barry on the parish council soon becomes the catalyst for the biggest war the town has yet seen. Who will triumph in an election fraught with passion, duplicity and unexpected revelations?

(Warning: my review is brutal)

My Thoughts: Before I read this book, I read through a couple reviews on Goodreads.  I was interested to read the summary of the book and see if this is something I could get into.  Almost all of the reviews on GR that I read mentioned that Rowling wrote this book for shock value, to remind readers that this isn't Harry Potter.  Also, a few reviews said they couldn't even finish the book! I thought: "What a bunch of crap; These people just don't know how to appreciate a good book like I do!! What fools they are to not realize that they simply aren't reading HP and respect the adult book for what it is" And I could go on... 

Those reviewers don't know anything. Wannabe JK Rowling fans.

So the summary of the book intrigued me, and thus I began to read.  I got as far as chapter 6 (VI).  Yes, so that should say it all.  Take my review with a grain of salt because I didn't finish the book, but I really couldn't bring myself to. It really made me sad and disappointed because I expected so much more from Rowling.  

 She has, arguably, one of the most popular book series in the world, and we get this as her adult novel?

And guess what? Those 6 chapters that I read made me realize that the reviewers were right! No plot, just a different family with multiple characters in each chapter that you had a hard time keeping up with (since so many were introduced), talking about Barry Fairbrother's death.  That's it.  The characters all have some secret hatred or ugly truth inside of them that's supposed to interest the readers.  I get that she is trying to write something new, and depict people for how they really are (petty, shallow, greedy, mean, fake, etc) but it really does come off as though she is trying to shock us, especially because 6 chapters in there is no plot.  Not to mention the vulgarity.... in some parts it is disgusting.  I don't even want to get into it, but it involves the crude thoughts of teenage boys (and apparently according to other reviewers also rape and pedophilia later in the book).  So please, try this book if you want but really....it might disappoint you. Don't say I didn't warn you.

Series

So, as you know I've been reading Rachel Caine's Morganville Vampires series.  I never intended to go on a YA vampire book reading binge, but for some reason when I read a few books in the series I can't stop.  I need to finish the series.  And, the books are alright--some in the series better than others, but nothing I would probably re-read again (I don't mean that in a bad way, it's just that I need to reeeally love a series to re-read it again). Early on in the series, and even later books, she leaves a ton of cliffhangers at the end of the books.  If I was a reader waiting for these books to be published I would be annoyed because I don't like when authors manipulate you into buying their books via plot tricks. Anyway, it would bother me if I quit a few books into the series.  Is anyone else like this?  Once you start a series you have to finish it?

Now I finished book 11 (even though there's two more books which will have to wait) and I think I'm going to move onto something with more substance.

It's the Holiday Season

For the last couple of weeks, my life has been extremely hectic (as I'm sure was everyone's).  I came right from my finals to working in retail. Christmas, as you know, is the busiest season for retail.  Back to school might be the only other time it gets super busy, but they don't hire extra people to help out.  Anyway, the store was really busy this past week especially, and I have been trying to get as many hours in as I can, so that doesn't leave a lot of room for reading.  Or rather, I should say, working, family visiting, holiday obligations, shopping for gifts, taking back presents, planning new years doesn't leave a lot of time for reading.  But alas! I actually managed to sneak in some time.

I have read a couple of books that I would like to give a small summary and review on.  These books I read in hardback version from the library, but since I got a KINDLE FIRE (yes, I shouted that.  I'm really excited about it :-D) I will slowly be trying to convert everything over into digital format.

                                 
Jinx by Meg Cabot

Meg Cabot is one of my favorite YA authors to read when I need something light, girly, and funny.   And that's exactly what I needed, so I picked up this book.  Jinx is a girl who moved to her aunt and uncle's house in New York, NY because she was having some issues in her hometown. Her cousin Tory doesn't like Jinx, and decides to make Jinx's life as hard as she possibly can for her.  Of course, there is romance involved, and a few OMG moments that I didn't expect. But to me, this book got a little weird with all the witchcraft involved.  This book seemed like a cross between the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Charmed.  Usually I love Meg Cabot's books, but I only gave it two stars on Goodreads because I felt it was just okay. However, if you've never read Meg Cabot and you aren't sure now that you read this review, please read her books! I do enjoy almost all of them.



The next series I read, I've wanted to for a long while:

The Morganville Vampires by Rachel Caine 

The first book in the series

Glass Houses is the first book in the series. I've only read the first and second book so far, and there are 15 total as of 2013 (some are being published this year).  So, that's a lot of books.  I have to say I wasn't too taken with her other series, The Weather Warden (about people who control the weather), so I wasn't in a rush to read these.  It wasn't until I saw on one of my book forums that I follow that many people were recommending it.

Anyway, this series is about a very intelligent young girl, Claire, who is able to go to college early because she is so smart. Her parents wanted her to enroll at a college close to home, and that school is in Morganville, TX. Claire soon realizes that the whole town isn't really what it seems and that it is overrun by vampires.  Now, before you go "Not another vampire fluffy sparkle book," know that these vampires are written the way I think Bram Stoker originally intended.  They aren't nice, are barely human, and they don't mess around. The interesting twist to this story is that the vampires have placed a psychic, magical field around the town so that once people leave they forget that vampires even existed there. And if people do remember, the vampires come after them.

So far this series has been part horror, part drama, a little romance, and even a hint of dystopia, because the humans are so oppressed in this town.  This series shows many people's negative sides, a lot of violence, and how far humans will go to keep the vampire's protection.  In Morganville, you are either protected by vampires and look the other way, or you are their food. The vampires monitor the television, internet, and take a census of who enters and leaves the town. Rachel Caine has a writing style that is non-stop action, and what you think will happen does not.  This is a fast-paced, intriguing, and at times anxiety-causing series.  But, it is a nice refreshing change from all the vampire love stories out there.  Give this series a try!



I'm off to get my kindle fire working....have a good day everyone :)

                                                                         

The Vampire Diaries: The Awakening Book Review

The Awakening by L.J. Smith

From Goodreads: A Love Triangle of Unspeakable Horror...Elena
Searching for the ultimate thrill, she vowed to have Stefan.

Stefan
Haunted by his tragic past, he struggled to resist her passion.

Damon
Driven by revenge, he hunted the brother who betrayed him.

The terrifying story of two vampire brothers and the beautiful girl torn between them.

My thoughts:

I LOVE the TV series The Vampire Diaries.  I didn't think I would like it, but it has very good writers who are never predictable.  Plus, the characters are funny and relatable...and it has hot men.  But, I digress... 

 Because I liked the show so much, I thought I would give the book a try.  Well, the book was awful.  It was published originally in 1991, and so I imagine it was written in the late 80s.  It felt to me like what stereotypical Young Adult genre book would have been like back then. Elena is a spoiled-rich blonde and the queen of the school.  Literally, she calls herself the queen of the school to others, and only wants Stefan because he is the only boy to ever not look at her when he passes her in the hall.  This sparks her interest in Stefan.  It was very immature and petty.  Caroline has been reduced to a petty rival who wants to be queen, and thus tries to date Stefan first to embarrass Elena and assert her dominance. There was no sympathy for Elena, and no connection on my part.  To be truthful, I don't even know if you could take my review to heart because I skipped over large chunks of the book because I didn't like the characters, and I don't really like Stefan (in the TV series).  Sorry *blushing*, but I'm a Delena fan all the way. Maybe I'm just biased, but I did enjoy one scene between Damon and Elena because Elena actually stood her ground with Damon, and you can just tell they have chemistry.  But seriously, all shipping aside, the book felt like it could have had potential, but fell flat due to the unrelatable characters.  

The Twelve Clues of Christmas Review

The Twelve Clues of Christmas by Rhys Bowen

From Goodreads: On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me—well, actually, my true love, Darcy O’Mara, is spending a feliz navidad tramping around South America. Meanwhile, Mummy is holed up in a tiny village called Tiddleton-under-Lovey with that droll Noel Coward! And I’m snowed in at Castle Rannoch with my bumbling brother, Binky, and sourpuss sister-in-law, Fig. 

So it’s a miracle when I contrive to land a position as hostess to a posh holiday party in Tiddleton. The village is like something out of A Christmas Carol! But no sooner have I arrived than a neighborhood nuisance, a fellow named Freddie falls out of a tree, dead…. Dickensian, indeed.

Freddie’s merely a stocking stuffer. On my second day in town, another so-called accident turns up another mincemeat pie—and yet another on my third. The village is buzzing that a recent prison break could have something to do with it… that, or a long-standing witch’s curse. I’m not so sure. But after Darcy shows up beneath the mistletoe, anything could be possible in this wicked wonderland.

My Thoughts:

First, I have to say that I started reading Rhys Bowen about a year ago, and I really enjoy her writing. I will recommend this series to people who like light-hearted, comical mysteries.  I have not read any other works from this author but I do know she has other series. This is the sixth book of Her Royal Spyness Mysteries.  The main character, Georgiana, is a woman who is in line for the English throne but far removed (35th in line as of this book). I think it's the fact that she does have royal English blood makes her fascinating, but also being that she is so far removed from the throne makes Georgiana relatable to everyday people.  This series takes place in the 1930s, so it has a nice historical flare to it.  I, personally, enjoy a good historical novel now and then and it's interesting to learn about different times than our own. The reason I love this series so much is because there is a little bit of everything: mystery, romance, and humor.  Georgie, as she is sometimes called, is a quirky girl with some flare.  She doesn't seem to take herself too seriously, always living on the edge of poverty, despite being royal. Her family expects her to marry a royal prince by now, and so they have cut off her funds.  This leads Georgie to make all sorts of interesting decisions that sometimes get her into trouble, and always involves a murder mystery. 

In this installment, Georgiana takes a position as a hostess in order to get away from her awful sister-in-law and her family in Scotland over the Christmas season.  At the very best, she hopes that her Christmas will be bearable, but gets a whole lot more than she bargains for! Overall, I enjoyed this book and as always the author's prose makes me laugh out loud at some points.  The mystery was actually hard to figure out, and I enjoyed that.  At some parts the book dragged, but I do know that every year I look forward to a new release in this series.  Read this book if you want to laugh :) 

Finally I'm Back

After a brief six month hiatus of running this book blog, I can finally say that my finals and classes are done for good!! All I have left to do is my externship and graduation in May.  Sigh* Such a relief. I barely had time to breathe, let alone any hobbies I might have once enjoyed. Now that my classes are done, and it's Christmas break, I can finally start reading all the "to be read" books on my Goodreads list. First trip to the Library today since forever and these are what I'm intending on picking up:

A is for Alibi by Sue Grafton

Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella

Glass Houses (Morganville Vampires #1) by Rachel Caine


Wooo I'm off !!

Review: Delirium

Delirium by Lauren Oliver.

Oh, what to say about this. Well, this story takes place in future dystopian America where scientists have found a cure for love, which is called deliria in the book.  Everyone gets the procedure done and is then paired with their match for marriage.  If you disobey these rules and show signs of the deliria, or worse, sympathize with others, then there are very severe and harsh punishments. The main character, Lena, falls in love shortly before her procedure is done, and this book is her story.

There were lots that I liked about this book, but also, lots I didn't like.





First the good:

I liked the world Oliver built.
I liked Gracie.
I liked Hana, sometimes.
I liked the love story between her and Alex.
I liked the climax at the end....certainly did not expect that.


Now, onto the bad:

WARNING...SEMI-SPOILERS AHEAD
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The world that Oliver built was great, but it was lacking and I felt that the book fell flat. I can't even put my finger on the exact flatness.  Maybe it was the lack of action; Perhaps there was too much monologue in the character's head; Could have been the fact that Lena barely interacts with others which doesn't show us the world very much. It juts didn't have that believable quality to it...that realness that makes you feel as if you are the character going through this. There were a lot of unanswered questions to me.  For example, Lena's mother. I felt that that plot line could have been expanded, as could have little Gracie, and the parties. Whatever happened to all those people?  Does Hana still go to them? Does Alex? You would think Lena would want to take care of Gracie, or something since she understands her so well.  But no. I get it that Lena is in love, but she felt more emotions for a dying dog rather than little Gracie. That isn't even a joke! I wish it was.

I really wanted to LOVE this book, like other people, but I couldn't.  I loved it, but wasn't in love with it, if that makes sense. It was alright. Will I read the next book in the series? Probably. Hey, I want to know what happens!  But I won't be expecting any groundbreaking writing in the future.

What's in My Book Pile?

So I went to the library, and crossed off some of the books that I had in my "to be read" pile.  I definitely don't think I'll get all of these done before I leave for school this weekend, but at least I have them checked out for a couple of weeks.





My sister read Delirium by Lauren Oliver and could not stop talking about it for a week.  She was so excited she even recommended it for me in my Goodreads.  Now, I finally have time to read it. It seems like another one of those YA dystopian novels, but hopefully this one is enthralling and exciting.  From what I've been hearing, it is. Basically, in a nutshell, scientists are able to eradicate love, and the procedure is quite common.  But before undergoing the procedure, Lena Holoway, the main character, falls in love.

The next book up on my list is Heist Society by Ally Carter.  From what I gather, Katarina Bishop, the main character, is an accomplished spy. It seems to be a family past time.  Her friend comes to tell her that her father has stolen a famous mobster's art collection and is in trouble.  Now, Katarina is the only one that can help her father and steal the paintings back. It seems like an exciting read.  To confess something, I always wanted to be a spy when I was a little girl, so this is kinda like me living out my dreams, right? When Harriet the Spy came out, I put on my little raincoat and took my journal and walked around the neighborhood, just like Harriet, and--well, you get the picture.

One I am particularly excited to read is The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan.  It is the second book in the Percy Jackson & The Olympian series.  Yes, it is a children's book.  Yes, the movie kinda sucked. But rest assured, the book did not.  It took me a while to get into the first one, but after so many pages I was hooked.  I expect no less from this second installment of the series.
Percy Jackson is a demigod, a son of one of the Greek gods. They have a special camp for these children and it is in jeopardy. It is up to Percy to save the camp, but to first do that, Percy needs the help of his friend Grover who is stuck in the Bermuda Triangle.  Can Percy rescue Grover and stop the destruction of Camp Half-Blood?
                                            

    This isn't one I was particularly longing for or anything, but I saw it on the library shelf, and it looks like another fun, easy read.  It does look like another chick lit for me, but so what? They're funny and I'm hoping this one is, too. I felt like I could really relate to this one because the opening line of the summary is "Recent Yale graduate Megan Smith comes to Manhattan with big plans for a career in journalism and even bigger student loan debt: $75,000." 
I can relate perfectly! Hello student loans--I'll be seeing you next year when I graduate. Anyway, so Megan has a bunch of student loans and when her first job fails, she takes a back-up job: tutoring two rich heiresses so that they can pick up their SAT scores enough to get into Duke. And this is a promising line "Megan quickly discovers that if she's going to get her money, she'll have to learn her Pucci from her Prada." This sounds like my kinda read! Bring on the Prada.

Does anyone else think the bikini on the cover is kinda cute? Metallic is in right now...





I'm off to start putting a dent into these books.  Have a good Thursday!                          

Book Funk

So, I've been in a book funk this past week.  As soon as I finished the Shopaholic series, I was looking for the next best read.  I decided to start reading Wicked by Gregory Maguire, but I was having a really hard time getting into it.  I'm about 20 pages in, and I've completely lost interest.  I know that the play is very popular, that's one of the reasons I wanted to read the book, but I don't know whether to push on and keep reading, or just throw in the towel.  I wish I had blog followers to respond to me! lol

Anyway, I had planned to read The Summer I turned Pretty by Jenny Han, then  I was breezing through my Goodreads, and realized I already read this book and I didn't think it was good.  I mean, obviously it was unimpressive if I forgot I had even read it.  I know it has 4 stars on Goodreads, so other people liked it, but it just wasn't my cup of tea.  So that was a bummer, too.

I'm going to do some research on Goodreads and see what I come up with. I can't spend this week not reading, it's my last week before my semester starts!! Library, here I come :)

Chick Lit Summer

So, normally I don't read that much chick lit.  Usually I stick to my one or two favorite authors of chick lit (Meg Cabot).  However, I define chick lit as short, easy reads that are funny; you don't have to think too hard to read them, and they make you happy.  Usually these reads involve a hot guy or two, a woman's point of view, and funny instances occurring with the main characters. I don't know if it was because I had such a heavy summer course load, but these books helped to keep me sane this summer, when I would have most likely spontaneously combust from all the school work.


I have basically been devouring any and all books by Sophie Kinsella.  I don't know how I haven't heard about her before, but she is SO funny and I love her writing style.  I noticed in most of her books she writes in present tense, which seems like it would be difficult to do.

1. Sophie Kinsella's Shopaholic Series
I LOVED this series, and it was hilarious.  It made me laugh so much.  Yes, the first book has a main character who is extremely shallow and creates her own problems, but the other books are not quite so materialistic and from one girl who loves shopping to another, who hasn't wanted the newest boots from gucci!? (I mean...at least Becky Bloomwood can afford them unlike some who are poor grad school students. *ahem) This series takes you on all the wacky adventures Becky gets herself into, and I promise, you will be laughing.


Her other books she's written are just as hilarious (The Undomestic Goddess, Can You Keep a Secret) There are more but those are the ones I've read.

2. Mary Janice Davidson's Mermaid Series.  At first, I was hesitant to read these, because I thought I would never get into a book about a mermaid.  BUT, Fred reminds me a lot of early Betsy books (from her Undead series) and I love Betsy!  She manages to make the undersea world seem not so far-fetched and even though the plot was lacking in some areas, it was entertaining, and that's what I wanted to read most this summer.

Currently, I'm trying to find the 3rd book in this series; my library system doesn't have it and I'm debating if spending the money would be worth it on half.com.


Other books I've read this summer include: Advanced Review of Speech-Language Pathology, Complete Guide to Audiology, Language Disorders in Children....but for some reason, I didn't think anyone would want to hear a review about those ;)

City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare: Review

The official synopsis from the book can be found here at Goodreads, but I'm going to give you my own synopsis because the official one is rather long.

Basically what happens, if you've been reading the series you already know that Jace has gone missing (and if this is your first time reading a book in this series I strongly suggest you start from the beginning; not that you can't read this as a standalone, but trust me you will not want to miss the story of these characters from the beginning).  Anyway, Jace has gone missing and so has Sebastian, Clary's half demon brother. The Clave chooses not to focus on finding Jace, so it is up to the original crew to solve this: Clary, Izzy, Alec, Magnus, and Simon.  Clary branches out on her own to help Jace, going into a rather dangerous place to find out information for the others.  That leaves the rest of the crew to figure out how to put a stop to Sebastian's evil plan, and how to separate Jace from the bond Sebastian created with him. There are also little side stories going on in this such as the relationships of Alec, Magnus, Simon, Izzy, and others.

My thoughts on this book were that it was G-R-E-A-T. I gave it 5 stars on Goodreads and I'm giving it 5 stars here, too.  Although it did take me a while to get into it because I didn't do a reread of the last book, I could not put it down.  I mean, first, Cassandra Clare's writing is phenomenal.  It's not easy to write such a great story, with characters so alive that you can feel their emotions, and include twists and turns in there as well. It's not. So, thank you Ms. Clare for writing this masterpiece.  I didn't mind staying up until 3 am to finish it, honest :)

I thought that this book was very balanced between all the characters and their stories.  There was not really a point when I was thinking: "Hurry up already, I want to get back to whatever".  Not to mention the character growth of Clary.  She is really coming into her own as a Shadowhunter, and I am glad to see her on equal ground with Jace rather then needing him to protect her so much. Actually, come to think of it a lot of the characters were showing growth in this book: Alec with his relationship needs, Simon's acceptance of himself, Izzy's desire to open up with her feelings, Maia with her true desires, etc.

There were also a couple of "OMG" moments.  These are a few spoilers, so please, stop now if you do not want to be spoiled.  I mean it.


Do not read on!!!......




Okay, read on if you want to be spoiled, but you were warned.
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Spoilers

Holy cow, Sebastian's confession.  I had to set my book down and mutter to myself "omg, omg, what the heck" because it was such a twist I certainly did not see coming.  I have noticed throughout the whole series that there is some sort of bizarre incest vibe going on here.

Um, Simon's mark!? Yeah, how many times did we hear foreshadowing about what they would do to him if the Mark of Cain was removed.  Yep, he's dead meat...well, more dead then before. (just kidding about him dying; I really hope it is not the end for him).

The ending itself...talk about creepy.  A dead angel laying on the floor as a message?  Pretty creepy.

Finally, I just wanna throw in a quote that I liked, from the end of the book.

Pg 522
Jace: "You came here to apologize to me?"
She was taken aback. "Of course I did."
"Clary," he said.  "You saved my life."
"I stabbed you.  With a massive sword.  You caught on fire."
His lips twitched, almost imperceptibly.  "Okay," he said.  "So maybe our problems aren't like other couples'."

On that note, good day everyone :)

First Post

This is, in fact, my first blog post ever.  I'm testing out the waters here. I cannot figure out how to move my layout around in a way that is pleasing to myself. Bahhh help!