Wednesday, August 31, 2011

WWW Wednesday #21, August 31st

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?

Thanks to MizB of Should Be Writing for starting and hosting this meme!

 I'm currently reading A Clash of Kings, and it's really good, and I love the Dany part (s)? There's only been one in the 300 or so pages that I've read thus far.
 I finished A Whisper to the Living, it was a good book, but a bit formal in places.
I'm going to read Promise next, so I have my review ready for the tour. Yep.

What about you guys? Happy reading!

Waiting on Wednesday #17, August 31st

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

The Chair by James L. Rubart
Expected Publication: September 1st, 2011
From Goodreads:
If someone gave you a chair and said it was made by Jesus Christ, would you believe them?

When an elderly lady shows up in Corin Roscoe's antiques store and gives him a chair she claims was crafted by Jesus, he scoffs. But when a young boy is miraculously healed two days after sitting in the chair, he stops laughing and starts wondering . . . could this chair heal the person whose life Corin destroyed twelve years ago?

As word spreads of the boy's healing, a mega-church pastor is determined to manipulate Corin into turning over the chair. And that mysterious woman who gave him the piece flits in and out of his life like a shadow, insinuating it's Corin’s destiny to guard the chair above everything else. But why?

Desperate, he turns to the one person he can trust, a college history professor who knows more about the legend of the chair than he'll reveal. Corin's life shatters as he searches for the truth about the artifact and the unexplained phenomena surrounding it. What’s more, he's not the only one willing do almost anything to possess the power seemingly connected to the chair.


Kinda funny that this book is coming out tomorrow. I'm currently reading Rooms, and I think I might check this one out if I can.

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Teaser Tuesday #21, August 30th

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

•Grab your current read
•Open to a random page
•Share two (2) “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 & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Today's teaser comes from A Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin, page 193.

"Have I crossed half the world and seen the birth of dragons only to die with them in this hard hot desert? She would not believe it."

No, you have not! Keep going! Go, Dany! My favourite character in the series!

And from my own book, A Nick in Time page 2,

"Shaking off that unwanted emotion, I took off again, this time more prepared. I hadn't thought that it’d go like this."

What about you guys? Happy reading!

Monday, August 29, 2011

It's Monday! What Are You Reading #12, August 29th

It's Monday! What Are You Reading is a weekly meme hosted by Book Journey where we share what we read this past week, what we hope to read this week…. and anything in between! This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well… you never know where that next “must read” book will come from!

What happened in the past week:

Weekly Memes:
It's Monday! What Are You Reading #11
Teaser Tuesday #20
WWW Wednesday #20
WOW #16
Will the Time Come #13
Third Sentence Thursday #3
First Line Friday #7
A-Z Reading Challenge Update #9
Follow that Blurb Reading Challenge Update #8
In My Mailbox #12
I Have an Update #10

Week 34 Reviews:
Flashpoint
Dial M for Mischief
Mischief Becomes Her
Mischief 24/7

Tours:
My Heart Stopped Beating; Review
Promise and Whatnots & Doodads; Guest Post

Random:
Computer Trouble
Learning to Drive

OK, got 17 posts in 7 days. A bit better, but not by much. But the random posts should cover why. I've been busy! Must read more!

For this week to read, I want to read A Whisper to the Living, A Clash of Kings, Rooms, Promise, and The Blessing Way. And nano books, and all my PDF's! Must read, I haven't really been reading all that much. Must change this!

Currently Listening To: Two Worlds Collide by Demi Lavato
Currently Reading: A Clash of Kings, Rooms
Currently Watching: CSI NY

A comet the color of blood and flame cuts across the sky. Two great leaders—Lord Eddard Stark and Robert Baratheon—who hold sway over an age of enforced peace are dead, victims of royal treachery. Now, from the ancient citadel of Dragonstone to the forbidding shores of Winterfell, chaos reigns. Six factions struggle for control of a divided land and the Iron Throne of the Seven Kingdoms, preparing to stake their claims through tempest, turmoil, and war. It is a tale in which brother plots against brother and the dead rise to walk in the night. Here a princess masquerades as an orphan boy; a knight of the mind prepares a poison for a treacherous sorceress; and wild men descend from the Mountains of the Moon to ravage the countryside. Against a backdrop of incest and fratricide, alchemy and murder, victory may go to the men and women possessed of the coldest steel...and the coldest hearts. For when kings clash, the whole land trembles.
Alexis Ames decides to learn who she really is, with or without the help of her mother, who guards their secrets closely. After meeting Tristan Knight and discovering that he s not normal either, the secrets begin to unravel. Their union brings promise to the future of mankind. But it also incites a dangerous pursuit by the enemy. Because they are a match made in Heaven and in Hell.
Homicide is always an abomination, but there is something exceptionally disturbing about the victim discovered in a high lonely place, a corpse with a mouth full of sand, abandoned at a crime scene seemingly devoid of tracks or useful clues. Though it goes against his better judgment, Navajo Tribal Police Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn cannot help but suspect the hand of a supernatural killer. There is palpable evil in the air, and Leaphorn's pursuit of a Wolf-Witch is leading him where even the bravest men fear, on a chilling trail that winds perilously between mysticism and murder.

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Learning to Drive

We've all been there, right? Learning to drive, or like me, already knowing how to drive, but learning a new type of whatever it's called, from auto, to standard. IT IS FREAKING SCARY! Today, I was pulling out of a parking lot, and the car stalled 5 times or something as I inched out of there. Not fun.
So I'm going to be busy with my driving hours, and such, and won't have so much time on the computer for the next week (there's 3 lessons this week that are 2 hours long each) so yeah. Hope I get to read a lot, but I'm not sure what time that I'll get.

What are some of learning to drive horror stories you have to share?

In My Mailbox #12, August 28-August Week 4

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren to talk about the books we got in the mailbox or inbox as the case may be!

So this week I got:

For Review:
The Eye of the Crystal Ball
The Academy

Won:
Cold as Ice (from Martha)

Bought:
The Darkest Powers Trilogy
A Clash of Kings

BookMooch:
A Walk to Remember
Gone Too Far

NetGalley:
The Mephisto Convenant
The Butterfly Clues
Every Other Day
Waking Hours
Dead Bad Things

I Have an Update! #10, August 28th


New Titles: Watch Me Die, and Broken to Be Fixed

New Plots:
Watch Me Die: In a world where it takes several days-up to a month-to die, the world is starting to crumble. Then the alvakes come, and more people are dying, till there is hardly anybody left. Is there a way to save them?

Broken to Be Fixed: Alexa has never been able to walk. But nobody really cares-she was just created in a lab, for the sole purpose to find a way to cure spinal cord injuries. But they tried too soon, too fast, and made mistakes, and left her with an almost worst condition-her spine was shattered, but is still held together, but just barely. And it can’t be fixed, unlike the other injuries, because she’d die if it was. But when a new technology comes out, she has a chance. Will she take it and be another experiment, or will she break free from being regarded so low?

Monthly Word Count: 184 323 words. I've been busy!

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Promise and Whatnots & Doodads: Giveaway and Guest Post

Today I'd like to welcome over Kristie Cook, author of Promise, and Stacey Kennedy, author of Whatnots & Doodads over for a guest post!

Kristie: The biggest challenge I faced while writing Promise and continue to face every day is finding time to balance everything in my life - writing and all my other roles: a partner in a small business, mom of three, wife, homeowner, daughter and friend. Because it’s my passion, writing can easily take over everything else. A peek around my house will tell you in a heartbeat when I’m deep into a writing project (because house cleaning is definitely not a passion!). Then again, I hope you’ll never get that opportunity – the dust bunnies are large enough to be guard dogs and just might attack. My real dogs even run from them.

When I actually have writing time, I have to find balance in how I spend it. I, like most writers, always have more than one project going at a time – at least one in draft mode, where I’m creating and writing furiously, and at least one other in revisions and preparations for publication. Of course, there’s also finding balance between the writing and the promoting, communicating with my fans, blogging, social networking…the list goes on.

Stacey: I feel your pain, Kristie! For me it’s been especially hard this summer. I’m a stay at home mom so I’ve had two little stinkers with me for the past two months. Normally, I like to take the summer months off, because I realize getting anything done is impossible. It just happened that I couldn’t this year and it’s been CRAZY!

I’ve been in intense revisions on two separate stories. What this means is, I haven’t had a single second to relax. If I’m not playing with the kids, I’m cleaning the mess they make, or we’re off to the park. Once they go the bed, I’ve got my laptop open and working my butt off. Luckily, I have a fantastic hubby, who on the weekend takes the kids to the beach so I can have the day to get stuff done. But it’s a bit of a bummer that I have to work when there is fun to be had!

Kristie: I know, right?! The last few months here have been full of graduation for my oldest and getting him off to college. I so badly wanted to take the boys out for one more family vacation but it didn’t happen. At least they got to go to the beach a lot over the summer. But I remember those days when they were little and completely understand where you’re coming from. Balance is tough!

Stacey: All I can say is, I’m looking forward to when school starts in September. With my daughter in school full days and my son going half-days, I’m excited to get four hours a day to write. And next year, I’m going to schedule everything to make sure I have no releases coming out in the early fall, so a repeat of this year doesn’t happen again. It’s been insane!

Kristie: Don’t you wish for a pause button for the clock or calendar so you can just freeze time for a few days and get caught up with the world? Unfortunately, my magic wand is broken and the world continues moving forward.

Stacey & Kristie: Do any of you have a working wand or magic spell to fix this? We know we’re not the only ones wishing for more time. In fact, it’s one thing the entire world probably has in common.

Giveaway:
I'm hosting a giveaway of these books, Promise and Whatnots & Doodads. They'll be a ebook copies, and so it'll be International. I'll pick a winner via random.org on October 4th so you have a week for you guys to enter.

To Enter:
In the comments, tell me something that you think you'd like about each book and your email.

For Bonus Entries, 1 each, (and if you've already done them for a previous giveaway, say that)

-follow this blog by GFC
-follow this blog by email
-follow Kristie on twitter
-follow Stacey on twitter
-follow me on twitter
-add Promise on Goodreads
-add Whatnots & Doodads on Goodreads

From Goodreads:
For Bryanna, a witch from the Asheville Coven, magic is on the fritz. Shunned by her coven and her boyfriend Layton for her unruly magic, she seeks a new life for herself. It just so happens, fate steps in and brings her to Strange Hollow--a place where being different is not only acceptable, but encouraged.


When Bryanna arrives in Strange Hollow, Zeke, a demon gone good, is burning with Hell’s fire over her. Not only has she set his world ablaze, but he’s found one soul he can save. He’s determined to free her from the insecurities that have damaged her soul.

Together they experience lava-hot passion as they weave their way through a tornado of emotions. But when Layton returns for her, will Zeke’s attempts to break the unworthy cage woven around her be enough to keep her in Strange Hollow forever?


From Goodreads:
Alexis Ames decides to learn who she really is, with or without the help of her mother, who guards their secrets closely. After meeting Tristan Knight and discovering that he s not normal either, the secrets begin to unravel. Their union brings promise to the future of mankind. But it also incites a dangerous pursuit by the enemy. Because they are a match made in Heaven and in Hell.

Bio:
Kristie Cook is a lifelong, award-winning writer in various genres, from marketing communications to fantasy fiction. She continues to write the Soul Savers Series, with the first two books, Promise and Purpose, available now and the third book, Devotion, coming February 2012. She’s also written a companion novella, Genesis, coming October 2011.

Besides writing, she enjoys reading, cooking, traveling and riding on the back of a motorcycle. She has lived in ten states, but currently calls Southwest Florida home with her husband, three teenage sons, a beagle and a puggle. She can be found at:

Contact and Buy AKA Links:

Bio:
Stacey Kennedy’s novels are lighthearted fantasy with heart squeezing, thigh-clenching romance, and even give a good chuckle every now and again. But within the stories you’ll find fast paced action, life threatening moments and a big bad villain that needs to be destroyed. Her urban fantasy/paranormal and erotic romance series have hit Amazon Kindle and All Romance Ebooks Bestseller lists. If she isn’t plugging away at her next novel, tending to her two little ones, she’s got her nose deep in a good book. She lives in Ontario, Canada with her husband. Be sure to drop her a line at www.staceykennedy.com, she loves to hear from her readers.

Contact AKA Links:

Some Upcoming Stops on the Tour for Kristie and Stacey:
Kristie:
August 28 - Guest Blogging & Giveaway at Words I Write Crazy
August 30 - Guest Blogging & Giveaway at Immortyl Revolution
September 1 - Guest Blogging & Giveaway at Ashley's Bookshelf
September 6 - Guest Blogging & Giveaway at http://dawn-hagen.blogspot.com/  
September 7 – Promise Review & Giveaway at Taking Time For Mommy
September 10 - Guest Blogging & Giveaway at Live to Read
September 11 - Interview at Lisa Haselton's Reviews and Interviews
September 13 – Promise Review & Giveaway at The Phantom Paragrapher
September 14 - Interview & Giveaway at Bibrary Bookslut
September 15 – Promise Review & Giveaway at Whispered Thoughts
September 16 - Interview/Review/Giveaway at Carrie Ann Ryan's Blog
September 19 – Promise Review & Giveaway at My Kingdom For A Book
September 21 - Interview at Cate Masters
September 23 - Interview/Review/Giveaway at Moonlight Beauty Books
September 25 - Guest Blogging & Giveaway at All Things Books
September 26 – Promise Review & Giveaway at From The TBR Pile
September 28 – Promise Review & Giveaway at The Wolfs Library
September 30 – Promise Review & Giveaway at Words I Write Crazy

Stacey:
August 28 - Guest Blogging & Giveaway at Words I Write Crazy
August 31 - Whatnots and Doodads Review & Giveaway at Bibrary Bookslut
September 6 - Guest Blogging & Giveaway at AZ Publishing Services
September 9 - Whatnots and Doodads Review & Giveaway at Ashley's Bookshelf
September 13 - Interview/Review/Giveaway at Chaos and Insanity
September 14 - Guest Blogging & Giveaway at Immortyl Revolution
September 16 - Interview at Lisa Haselton's Reviews and Interviews
September 20 - Interview/Review/Giveaway at Carrie Ann Ryan's Blog
September 23 - Interview at Cate Masters
September 27 - Whatnots and Doodads Review & Giveaway at Giveaway Blogdom
September 28 - Whatnots and Doodads Review & Giveaway at Page Flipperz
September 30 - Whatnots and Doodads Review & Giveaway at Reviewers Helping Authors
October 3 - Guest Blogging & Giveaway at All Things Books
October 4 - Whatnots and Doodads Review & Giveaway at The Phantom Paragrapher
October 7 - Interview/Review/Giveaway at Moonlight Beauty Books
October 11 - Whatnots and Doodads Review & Giveaway at The Wolfs Library
October 12 - Whatnots and Doodads Review & Giveaway at From The TBR Pile
October 14 - Whatnots and Doodads Review & Giveaway at Whispered Thoughts
October 17 - Whatnots and Doodads Review & Giveaway at Louisa Bacio
October 18 - Whatnots and Doodads Review & Giveaway at Taking It One Book At A Time
October 20 - Whatnots and Doodads Review & Giveaway at Taking Time For Mommy
October 24 - Whatnots and Doodads Review & Giveaway at My Kingdom For A Book
October 26 - Whatnots and Doodads Review & Giveaway at Words I Write Crazy
October 30 - Whatnots and Doodads Review & Giveaway at Alaskan Book Cafe
October 31 - Whatnots and Doodads Review at All Things Books

Week 34 Reviews: Dial M for Mischief, Mischief Becomes Her, Mischief 24/7



From Goodreads:
Meet the Sunshine girls--three mischievous sisters out to clear their father's name...and maybe get a little romance on the side.

Hollywood darling Jolie Sunshine is accustomed to trashy headlines. But the shocking gossip surrounding her father's sudden demise has sent her over the edge... right into the arms of millionaire Sam Becket.


Jolie and Sam once shared much more than a bed, till fame ended their escalating relationship. Now that very limelight is bringing them back together. With a murder to solve and a white-hot passion to quench, they're really about to give the paparazzi a field day.


From Goodreads:
Jessica Sunshine—bright, warm and downright deadly if one got too close. That's the lesson homicide detective Matt Denby learned the hard way when he teamed up with the youngest Sunshine sister. Sure, he wanted to help solve her father's murder. But being on the case—day and night—with the sultry TV reporter was driving him up the wall…in more ways than one. Jessica steamed through life and into danger without regard. And Matt was hell-bent on protecting the vixen. But who was going to back him up once the blond bombshell turned her charms on him?

From Goodreads:
Jade Sunshine isn't one to back down from a challenge. That feisty spirit is what made billionaire business-whiz Courtland Becket fall in love with the sexy detective. It's also what led to their divorce. Now, with the murder of Jade's father, the exes are working together to catch a killer, though the chemistry still crackling between them makes it almost impossible to focus.


Jade is still as fearless as ever, and Court will move heaven and earth to protect her. And he just may have to. A lot can happen in twenty-four hours. They could be swept away on a wave of rekindled passion. Or end up the next check mark on a desperate killer's "to do" list.


My Review:
Wow. When I think of mysteries and romance, these Are the kind of books that I'm thinking of. They were jam packed with intrigue, and clues that led to other clues. The only thing I didn't like, well, technically a person, their dad, Teddy. And only his bad qualities like how he treated Jade.

In each book, a case was solved, and clues were given for the next book. I must say, I had already read the first and the third books, and just needed to read the middle one, but I read all of them to refresh my memory. Just as good as they were before! Oh, and the author mentioned in the notes a 4th book which hasn't come out yet, so we should petition for it so that the publishers will know that there is a demand.

These were great books, and you guys really need to read them!

Author: Kasey Michaels
Series: Sunshine Girls #1, 2, 3
Read:  August 22nd, 22nd-23rd, 23rd-24th, 2011
Source: Bentleys Used and New Book store, BookMooch, Bentleys Used and New Book store
Publisher: HQN Books
Published: May 1st 2008, November 1st 2008, April 1st 2009

Dial M for Mischief:
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
5/5 Stars









Mischief Becomes Her:
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
5/5 Stars









Mischief 24/7:
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
5/5 Stars

Week 34 Review: Flashpoint

               
Police Specialist Sonora Blair of the Cincinnati Homicide Division is awakened in the middle of the night with an urgent summons to take a deathbed statement. When she arrives at the hospital, the victim is unable to talk, but her questions elicit one key detail: the psycho who perpetrated this gruesome crime is a woman. Driven and determined, Sonora is committed to finding this killer before she strikes again - no matter the cost to her private life or the politics of her career. When the murderer begins to call Sonora - taunting, mocking her, trying to lure her into a twisted woman-to-woman complicity - the stakes go up, and the case becomes all too personal.

My Review:
I enjoyed this book. The beginning and a bit of the middle, were a bit slow, and the language was a bit hard to understand, and the logic was sometimes hard to follow, but it was good. One thing that caught my attention, they were interviewing some owners of a bar where the killer had met the victim, and I noticed that they didn't ask for the recordings of the night-that the bar didn't have a chance of having a video camera security system, that they wouldn't ask at all, which I think is common practice nowadays, or at least, with what I read and watch. Turns out the book was written over a decade ago! So very weird for me!

I really liked the police work, and how all the bits were connected, and all the little story parts, and all the threats, and such. A  few things were a bit hard to understand-this was the second book, and I haven't read the first one so there were some references that I didn't get- but it was a great book.

I really liked that the killer was a woman, it's just not something that usually happens, and to have a woman serial killer...just great! I really loved that!

This was a pretty good book, and you guys should check it out if you like murder mysteries!

Author: Lynn S. Highlander
Series: Sonora Blair #1
Read: August 12th-22nd, 2011
Source: Library
Reason Why: It's a FtBRC Book!
Publisher: HarperTorch
Published: November 1st 1996
3/5 Hearts
3/5 Books
3/5 Stars

Friday, August 26, 2011

Book Blogger Hop #3, August 26th

Book Blogger Hop
Book Blogger Hop is hosted by Crazy For Books Want to participate? Go sign up! The Question of the week is: Non-book-related this week!! Do you have pets?

My Answer: Yes, I do. I have 2 doggies, named Dobby and Winky (guess I can't get out of the book-related questions) who are 3 year old bosten terrier beagle crossbreed brother and sister. I've also had a variety of fish, but only goldfish were still there when we left them behind when we moved, and then we got a call from the new owners, and the goldfish were now green. I'm not sure if they were alive or not. Also had birds, Kokatiales? That come from Australia, but they died when I was in grade 5 (I'm going into grade 12 in 11 days) Yep. How about you?

First Lines Friday #7, August 26th

First Lines Friday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie of Precision Reviews. We encourage all of our fellow book bloggers and bookhearts to play along.

-Grab your current read(s)
-Share the first line(s)
-Include the title and author so that other FLF participants can add the book to their TBR Lists.

"It was cold. Not so cold that Yuri Platkov would not do that which he had promised himself to do if the man was still sitting on the bench in front of the path into Btsevsky Park. It was cold, but the boy could detect a faint drifting fall of moisture from the dark sky. The man was still sitting there." -A Whisper to the Living by Stuart M. Kaminsky

Well, that does not sound very nice! What about you guys? Happy reading!

A-Z Reading Challenge Update 9

Thanks to Book Junky for hosting this!

So... here's how its gonna work... Read 26 books this year ( easy right ) One for each letter of the alphabet.

Here's how to enter:

Make a post with your list of 26 books and fill out the entry form.

If you don't have a blog don't worry.. you can post your list on Facebook, Goodreads or where ever you can find... just add your link to where ever you posted your list!

And I now have 15 of 41 books read, since I've finished Rooms. Well, basically. It's going to be done today, and I think that counts.

Link to Start Up Post.

Follow that Blurb Reading Challenge Update 8

I actually have a few upates. I've finished reading Flashpoint, yeah, and I've started A Whisper to the Living which I expect to be done by the end of today. But I've hit a snag. A Whisper to the Living, at least, the copy that I've gotten, only has blurbs from reviewers, and there aren't any from authors. So I'm going to backtrack to Flashpoint, and move to The Blessing Way by Tony Hillerman.

Here's the start up post. This is a meme hosted by Reading With Tequila.

My Reading Journey:
1. The Devil Colony by James Rollins. Review here

Blurb: "Nobody-and I mean nobody-does this stuff better than Rollins" -Lee Child

2. Killing Floor by Lee Child. Review here

Blurb: "This is a kick-ass first novel by the very talented lee Child. Hero Jack Reacher has presence and dimension-a man you definitely want on your side. Child has a sure touch and a strong voice. Definitely a talent to watch" -Lynn S. Hightower

3. Flashpoint by Lynn Hightower. Review here

Blurb: "A truly original plot...Lena Padget is a very welcome addition to the ranks of fictional private eyes. She is witty, tough, and always a woman" -Stuart Kaminsky

Blurb: "Never a dull moment...a plot that moves" -Tony Hillerman

4. A Whisper to the Living by Stuart M. Kaminsky.

5. The Blessing Way by Tony Hillerman.

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Third Sentence Thursday #3, August 25th

Third Sentence Thursday
Third Sentence Thursday is a weekly meme which likes to watch fireworks especially while eating a cookie!

1) Take the book you are reading now and post the third sentence
2) Review this sentence anyway you want (funny and silly reviews encouraged)
3) Post a link to your sentence at Sniffy Kitty's Mostly Books!

"It was cold, but the boy could detect a faint drifting fall of moisture from the dark sky."-A Whisper to the Living by Stuart M. Kaminsky

Who is the boy, and why does it matter that it's cold or that it'll snow soon?

Will the Time Come #13, August 25th

The Time Will Come -
Every Thursday l am going to list a book which l really want to read/keep meaning to get to. These are mostly books which have been on my shelf for awhile now but don't have to be, maybe you got it two weeks ago and really want to read it! Thanks to Jodie from Books for Company for this meme!

Want to join in?

- Pick a book you have been meaning to read
- Do a post telling us about the book
- Link the post up in the linky
- Visit the other blogs!

From Goodreads:
Be aware: this is not your typical Cornwell novel. Not only is there no Kay Scarpetta, but Isle of Dogs is a comic romp, a real departure for this author. It centres around a couple of characters from past books--police chief Judy Hammer and reporter-turned-cop Andy Brazil of Hornet's Nest and Southern Cross--but the plot, style and tone will remind you more of Carl Hiaasen's dark comedies.

The madcap doings get underway when the addled, nearly blind governor of Virginia confusedly launches a speed-trap program on isolated Tangier Island, whose prickly, eccentric residents promptly attempt secession. Cornwell adeptly interweaves other crisscrossing plot lines involving a gang of street-stupid thugs gunning for Hammer and Brazil, an angel-faced serial killer, a kidnapped dog and more. She does miss a few beats: the pacing sags during certain episodes, and at times the writing strains so hard for laughs that instead it draws winces. Nonetheless, Isle of Dogs is for the most part a funny, diverting read and a refreshing departure for Cornwell.

Why the time hasn't come yet...
I dunno, I don't actually remember when I got this book, but oh, well. It'll get read.

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Waiting on Wednesday #16, August 24th


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

The Guardian by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Expected Publication: November 1st 2011
From Goodreads:
Dream-Hunter Lydia has been charged with the most sacred and dangerous of missions: To descend into the Nether Realm and find the missing god of dreams before he betrays the secrets that could kill her and her kind. What she never expects is to be taken prisoner by the Realm’s most vicious guardian…

Seth’s time is running out. If he can’t hand over the entrance to Olympus, his own life and those of his people will be forfeit. No matter the torture, Seth hasn’t been able to break the god in his custody. Then there’s the beautiful Dream-Hunter Lydia: She isn’t just guarding the gates of Olympus—she’s holding back one of the world’s darkest powers. If she fails, an ancient curse will haunt the earth once more and no one will be safe. But evil is always seductive...


I really love Sherrilyn Kenyon's novels, can't wait for this book to come out!

WWW Wednesday #20, August 24th

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?

Thanks to MizB of Should Be Writing for starting and hosting this meme!

I'm currently reading Mischief 24/7 which I'm rereading, and of course, Rooms.




 

I just finished reading Mischief Becomes Her, and I really enjoyed it!

















I'm going to read A Whisper to the Living, to hopefully have 2 books up for review for the follow the blurb challenge. Yep.

What about you guys? Happy reading!

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Computer Trouble

well, you guys know that my computer I'd pretty messed up, right? Well, it was pretty much fixed this Saturday. And then the wifi finder died on me. And then internet at home became very, very, very, very slow. And then I had a disagreement with my parents (I am so not going to pick up the doggie poop, thank you very much) and they took away the laptop and thee mini, so I have to type this on the iPod, which is pretty hard. So I just wanted to tell you guys because I can't be sure that I'll be able to do my posts the way I want to, but I'm kinda learning how to copy and paste a bit on this thing!

Teaser Tuesday #20, August 23rd

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

•Grab your current read
•Open to a random page
•Share two (2) “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 & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Today's teaser comes from Mischief Becomes Her by Kasey Michaels, page 30.
"'We trade Donovan McNabb for Brett Farve, and they trade insults and favours. I think I like the male version better.'"

Yeah, that's pretty great!

And from my own book, A Nick in Time, page 2,
"I grabbed his coat and spun him around. Only to see in shock a girl even younger than me who used my distraction of her sex and age to get out of my grip and to take off running."

What about you guys? Happy reading!

Monday, August 22, 2011

It's Monday! What Are You Reading #11, August 22nd

It's Monday! What Are You Reading is a weekly meme hosted by Book Journey where we share what we read this past week, what we hope to read this week…. and anything in between! This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well… you never know where that next “must read” book will come from!

What happened in the past week:

Weekly Memes:
It's Monday! What Are You Reading #10
Teaser Tuesday #19
WWW Wednesday #19
WOW #14
Will the Time Come #12
Third Sentence Thursday #2
First Line Friday #6
A-Z Reading Challenge Update #8
Follow that Blurb Reading Challenge Update #7
In My Mailbox #11
I Have an Update #9

Week 33 Reviews:
So Shelly
Syren
 
Well I didn't get as many posts as I wanted, and some were late, and for that, I'm sorry. I only got 2 reviews done (and only finished reading 2 books, but oh, well. I got 13 posts in 7 days. Good enough.
 
So this week, I just want to get these 4 or 5 books done (Rooms, Exchange, Dragon Aster, Flames of Surrender), and the Sunshine Sisters series, Dial M for Mischief, Mischief Becomes Her, Mischief 24/7. Yep. And nano books, and other PDF's.
 
Currently Listening To: Haven't Had Enought by Marians Trench
Currently Reading: Flashpoint
Currently Watching: Merlin
Meet the Sunshine girls--three mischievous sisters out to clear their father's name...and maybe get a little romance on the side.

Hollywood darling Jolie Sunshine is accustomed to trashy headlines. But the shocking gossip surrounding her father's sudden demise has sent her over the edge... right into the arms of millionaire Sam Becket.

Jolie and Sam once shared much more than a bed, till fame ended their escalating relationship. Now that very limelight is bringing them back together. With a murder to solve and a white-hot passion to quench, they're really about to give the paparazzi a field day.
 Jessica Sunshine—bright, warm and downright deadly if one got too close. That's the lesson homicide detective Matt Denby learned the hard way when he teamed up with the youngest Sunshine sister. Sure, he wanted to help solve her father's murder. But being on the case—day and night—with the sultry TV reporter was driving him up the wall…in more ways than one. Jessica steamed through life and into danger without regard. And Matt was hell-bent on protecting the vixen. But who was going to back him up once the blond bombshell turned her charms on him?
Jade Sunshine isn't one to back down from a challenge. That feisty spirit is what made billionaire business-whiz Courtland Becket fall in love with the sexy detective. It's also what led to their divorce. Now, with the murder of Jade's father, the exes are working together to catch a killer, though the chemistry still crackling between them makes it almost impossible to focus.

Jade is still as fearless as ever, and Court will move heaven and earth to protect her. And he just may have to. A lot can happen in twenty-four hours. They could be swept away on a wave of rekindled passion. Or end up the next check mark on a desperate killer's "to do" list.

My Heart Stopped Beating: Review

From Goodreads:
An extreme experience. 

A heartbreaking autobiographical novel. 

The author testifies to bewildering crimes, occurring in Italy, just three decades ago, inside a family and in a mental hospital. Unimaginable crimes almost too absurd to believe possible, that no one has ever before dared to expose to public scrutiny. 

Actual events chronicled from a reality so bizarre, so nightmarish, where demented and criminal madmen continued to segregate, abuse, and torture a sane and innocent young woman almost to the point of no return.

A story of illness and despair, loving kindness and hatred, healing and romance, friendship and superstition, loneliness and loss, envy and revenge, electroshock and the worst psychical and physical abuses in an asylum turned house of horrors.

Yet, on a distant horizon, the only hope: A deliverance through the miraculous devotion of love.

My Review:
My Heart Stopped Beating was a pretty good book. I was a bit confused with some of the suggestions, and what was happening because I was reading too quickly, and the way that they translated it to be closer to the author's voice made it sometimes difficult to tell what was going on.

So it's not a book to read quickly, but it's one that, at a reasonable pace, will be finished in no time at all and have not been confused because it's less then 200 pages.

This book was emotional, and it portrayed a strong girl, then a strong young woman, who endured hardships beyond imagining. It's frightening that somebody would do that to others, even if it was 30 years ago.

It was scary, and hard to think about, and I really, really, really didn't like the aunt, she was mean, bitter, and manipulative, and just not a nice person, and what she put Chamed through, it was inhumane. I hope that she at least went to jail at some point because of her actions. What she put Chamed through...no one should go through that.

Through the pain and suffering, Chamed was a great character, and this was a great book! I hope you guys check it out if you can!

Author: Chamed
Read: July 18th, 2011
Source: Pump Up Your Book Review Copy
Reason Why: Sounded like a really great book!
Publisher: MindLeaves
Published: July 31st 2011
4/5 Hearts
3/5 Books
3.5/5 Stars









Bio:
Chamed is not the registry office name of the author, yet it is not a pseudonym. She lives in Tuscany, she works mostly abroad, as a painter on canvas and porcelain. Some of her porcelain works are displayed in exhibitions in Italy, Sweden and Poland, France, Portugal and Brazil. My Heart Stopped Beating is her first novel. A second novel by her is forthcoming.

Contact and Buy AKA Links:


Stops on the Tour:
Monday, August 1
Interview at Pump Up Your Book

Tuesday, August 2
Spotlight at Review From Here

Wednesday, August 3
Guest Post at Review From Here
Interview at Literal Exposure

Thursday, August 4
Interview at AllVoices

Friday, August 5
Guest Post at Pitching Pencils

Monday, August 8
Interview at Beyond the Books

Tuesday, August 9
Guest Post at One Day at a Time

Wednesday, August 10

Thursday, August 11
Interview at American Chronicle

Friday, August 12
Guest Post at The Book Connection

Monday, August 15
Guest Post at Finding Our Way Home

Tuesday, August 16
Interview at As the Pages Turn

Thursday, August 18
Guest Post at Inkyblots

Friday, August 19

Monday, August 22

Tuesday, August 23
Interview at BlogCritics

Wednesday, August 24
Interview at Book Marketing Buzz

Thursday, August 25
Guest Post at Life with Karen

Friday, August 26
Review at Life with Karen