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Saturday, August 31, 2013

Week 35 Review: Dark Celebration

From Goodreads:
With her erotically charged Carpathian tales, Christine Feehan has enthralled a legion of fans, captivating them with a seductive world and the unforgettable characters-both human and not-who inhabit it. Now, she reunites all of them in a Dark Celebration...

My Review:
This is one of my most favourite of the Dark Saga series! It's just so fantastic, and each chapter deals with a different couple from the series, and the early ones as Mikhail goes around, which leads to some pretty hilarous situations!

Yeah, most of what I loved about this book were the hilarious moments! Like when Mikhail gets splattered with food, when he tells Gregori that he's going to be Santa Claus, which is Gregori's duty as the right hand man of the prince. And all those guys-a lot of them his brothers-are there, watching, and then are kinda forced out by Gregori. So funny!

There were also developments in this world, from babies, like Gregori and Savannah's twins, which was just so freaking cute, and the fact that they're both girls-and the other one hid from Gregory because he was too scary! That was just so cute! And future lifemate pairs, like Skylar and Dimitri, MaryAnn and Manolito! So good! Can't wait for that!

And Shea gives birth to her and  Jacques' son! Though not without a few complications, seeing as they are Carpathian, and Carpathians do have some trouble in the pregnancy/birth area. Though most other couples don't have to worry about a person trying to kill them!

Yeah, this was a really fantastic book, getting to see couples that we maybe haven't seen since their book, and brining them all together! So good! Loved it!

Author: Christine Feehan
Series: Dark Saga #17
Read: August 30th, 2013
Source: Own
Reason Why: Rereading! And it's a Sequel Challenge 2013 Book!
Publisher: Jove
Published: January 1st 2001
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
5/5 Stars



Week 35 Review: No Mercy

From Goodreads:
Live fast, fight hard and if you have to die then take as many of your enemies with you as you can. That is the Amazon credo and it was one Samia lived and died by. Now in contemporary New Orleans, the immortal Amazon warrior is about to learn that there’s a worse evil coming to slaughter mankind than she’s ever faced before.

Shapeshifter Dev Peltier has stood guard at the front of Sanctuary for almost two hundred years and in that time, he’s seen it all. Or so he thought. Now their enemies have discovered a new source of power- one that makes a mockery of anything faced to date.

The war is on and Dev and Sam are guarding ground zero. But in order to win, they will have to break the most cardinal of all rules and pray it doesn't unravel the universe as we know it.

My Review:
Ah, this book! So good! I mean, Sam was briefly mentioned as one of the elite Dark-Hunters that were to train Nick, but that wasn't in this book, this book was more about the relationship-and the things that they need to conquer-between Sam and Dev!

So I just loved these characters, Dev was through a lot, seeing as the events of Bad Moon Rising, and yeah, Sam is a Dark Hunter, which just about says it all! And even through their differences, they still manage to find a good ending for themselves!

I just loved how the clues added up to not France, but New Orleans, where they are, and yeah, Sam had to prove that she's an Amazon, her grandmother's granddaughter, and yeah, she did, and she was pretty bad ass!

Such a great ending, with Savitar giving both Dev and Sam, and Fang and Aimee, the ability to have kids with each other! Yeah! That'll be so cute! And Tory's pregnant with Bas, so updates in Ash and Tory's lives! Awesome!

I just enjoyed this book so much! It was just so good! Now to reread more!

Author: Sherrilyn Kenyon
Series: Were-Hunter #6, Dark-Hunter #18
Read: August 30th, 2013
Source: Own
Reason Why: Rereading! And it's a Sequel Challenge 2013 book!
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Published: September 7th 2010
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
5/5 Stars




Week 35 Review: City of Bones

From Goodreads:
When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder -- much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing―not even a smear of blood―to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?

This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know... 

My Review:
I enjoyed rereading this book so much! It's just so humorous, like Clary punching Jace for the other 10%, the chance that she could've died because he put the healing mark on her. Or Jace saying he turns himself down, just to keep it interesting. Just so awesome!

I enjoyed coming into the Shadowhunter world for the first time for Clary, and just how dangerous but interesting it is, seeing as she's been connected to it since she was born, but she never knew, because her mom was keeping that from him. Just reading about it again, her seeing it for the first time, it's just so good!

And the being of Clary and Jace! And while Valentine tells the fib that they're siblings at the end, they have the chance through most of this book to fall in love, and yeah, this book builds them a pretty strong relationship for the books to come!

I just love these characters, Clary is strong through this, Jace is sarcastic, Simon is Simon, Alec is mean but protective of Jace, Isabelle is just kick ass, and Magnus is awesome! I loved rereading about all of them so much!

This was such a great book, I enjoyed rereading it so much, and yeah, now to read more of the series!

Author: Cassandra Clare
Series: The Mortal Instruments #1
First Read: 2008
Read: August 28th, 2013
Source: Own
Reason Why: Rereading!
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Published: March 27th 2007
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
5/5 Stars




Week 35 Reviews: Chaos in Death, Celebrity in Death, Delusion in Death



From Goodreads:
Eve Dallas is the tough lieutenant hot on his trail, but this is unlike any case she's ever been assigned—or any killer she's ever pursued. A police sketch based on eye-witness testimony reveals the killer has green skin, swollen red eyes, goblin ears, and a dislocated jaw-structure that defies the human form. Is it a mask? Is it make-up? Or is the explanation more sinister? Dallas faces off against multiple suspects—all of them students of medicine capable of precisely slicing the ears, noses, and eyes of the three victims. But who had the motive? More importantly, what kind of rogue science are these healers practicing?

From Goodreads:
Lieutenant Eve Dallas is no party girl, but she's managing to have a reasonably good time at the celebrity-packed bash celebrating The Icove Agenda, a film based on one of her famous cases. It's a little spooky seeing the actress playing her, who looks almost like her long-lost twin. Not as unsettling, though, as seeing the actress who plays Peabody drowned in the lap pool on the roof of the director's luxury building. Now she's at the center of a crime scene-and Eve is more than ready to get out of her high heels and strap on her holster and step into the role she was born to play: cop.

From Goodreads:
After years on the force, Eve Dallas didn't think she could be shocked anymore... until now.

It was just another after-work happy-hour bar downtown, where business professionals unwound with a few drinks, complained about the boss, maybe hooked up with someone for the night. Until something went terribly wrong. At first it was just a friction in the air. The noise intensified. The crowd seemed oppressive. some sharp words were exchanged, some pushing and shoving. 

Then the madness descended. And after twelve minutes of chaos and violence, eighty people lay dead.

Eve Dallas is trying to sort out the inexplicable events. Surviving witnesses talk about seeing things—monsters and swarms of bees. They describe sudden, overwhelming feelings of fear and rage and paranoia. When forensics makes its report, the mass delusions make more sense: it appears the bar patrons were exposed to a cocktail of chemicals and illegal drugs that could drive people to temporary insanity—if not kill them outright.

But that doesn't explain who would unleash such horror—or why. Eve's husband, Roarke, happens to own the bar, yet he's convinced the attack wasn't directed at him. It's bigger than that. And if Eve can't figure it out fast, it could happen again, anytime, anywhere. Because it's airborne...

My first review of Celebrity in DeathDelusion in Death
My Review:
Loved rereading these so much, and reading Chaos for the first time, and just really reading this series all together! It's just awesome! I just love it, and reading about Eve, Roarke, and the gang, and how things are kept fresh, it's just such a great series!

So I'm now thinking that the one moment where Eve goes low, Roarke high, and Roarke learning that going low is the more dangerous position, and she's doing it to protect him, was in Seduction in Death. I'm not sure, but I guess I read over it took quickly! Oh, well.

Oh, that one scene, where Eve catches the child that the bad guy threw to try and get away, and then the media replaying that again and again, and Eve's irritation at that, was just funny! But she put to good use her blaster-proof coat! Which was great!

Really great mysteries, finding out who wanted to kill a pretty unlike-able person, and then who would kill just a bunch of random people-just to get a few that he wanted dead, yeah, they were great mysteries, and I loved reading them again!

I just love this series so much! And reading it all together, it's creating a more connecting one, for me, I think!

Author: J.D. Robb
Series: In Death #33.5, 34, 35
First Read: October 3rd, 13th, 2012
Read: August 27th, 27th, 28th, 2013
Source: Tuebl
Reason Why: Rereading! And they're Sequel Challenge 2013 Books, and 2013 Dystopia Books!
Publisher: Piatkus, Putnam Adult
Published: March 15th 2013, February 21st 2012, September 11th 2012

Chaos in Death:
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
5/5 Stars









Celebrity in Death:
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
5/5 Stars









Delusion in Death:
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
5/5 Stars

Week 35 Reviews: Pale Demon, A Perfect Blood


From Goodreads:
Condemned and shunned for black magic, Rachel Morgan has three days to get to the annual witches’ conference and clear her name, or be trapped in the demonic ever-after . . . forever after.

But a witch, an elf, a living vampire, and a pixy in one car going across the country? Talk about a recipe for certain disaster, even without being the targets for assassination.


For after centuries of torment, a fearsome demon walks in the sunlight—freed at last to slay the innocent and devour their souls. But his ultimate goal is Rachel Morgan, and in the fight for survival that follows, even embracing her own demonic nature may not be enough to save her.

From Goodreads:
Ritually murdered corpses are appearing across Cincinnati, terrifying amalgams of human and other. Pulled in to help investigate by the I.S. and FIB, former witch turned day-walking demon Rachel Morgan soon realizes a horrifying truth: a human hate group is trying to create its own demons to destroy all Inderlanders, and to do so, it needs her blood.

She's faced vampires, witches, werewolves, demons, and more, but humanity itself might be her toughest challenge yet.

My Review:
Oh, I enjoyed these books so much! I'm really enjoying reading this series so much, it's really addicting, and yeah, going on this journey with Rachel, so much happens in these books! So good! And it's not even the end of the series yet!

Of the two, I think I like Pale Demon more, for the simple fact that it really takes us out of Cincinnati, I mean, the same happens in A Fistful of Charms, but I know, roughly, where San Francisco is, while I don't know where the town in AFoC is. So yeah, there's that!

And when she was with the demons, I just pictured Rachel showing off the fact that she's one of only 2 female demons alive now, to various people, like those that just banished her, and yeah, that whole idea that Trent played out? Including letting out Ku'Sox? Not the best plan!

She and Trent kiss! True, it's to get her soul back in her body, but then it was also happening with their physical bodies, and Ivy and Jenks were watching, so yeah, there was that, and now I'm really rooting for a Rachel/Trent romantic relationship!

Loved Ceri and Al, and the interactions with Lucy and Ray, they were just so precious, and cute, how Lucy takes her first steps toward Al, and he catches her, yeah, so cute! Al is not as bad as he was in DWW when he tried to kill Rachel and Trent for Piscary!

Enjoyed both of these so much, and I can't wait to read more of the series!

Author: Kim Harrison
Series: The Hollows #9, 10
Read: August 25th, 26th, 2013
Source: Bought
Reason Why: Loving this series! And they're Sequel Challenge 2013 Books and 2013 Dystopia Books!
Publisher: Harper Voyage
Published: February 22nd 2011, February 21st 2012

Pale Demon:
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
5/5 Stars









A Perfect Blood:
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
5/5 Stars


Week 35 Review: Cast in Silence, Cast in Chaos, Cast in Ruin



From Goodreads:
Don't ask. Don't tell. Stay alive.
A member of the elite Hawk force that protects the City of Elantra, Kaylin Neya has sacrificed much to earn the respect of the winged Aerians and immortal Barrani she works alongside. But the mean streets she escaped as a child aren't the ones she's vowed to give her life guarding. Those were much darker…


Kaylin's moved on with her life-and is keeping silent about the shameful things she's done to stay alive. But when the city's oracles warn of brewing unrest in the outer fiefdoms, a mysterious visitor from Kaylin's past casts her under a cloud of suspicion. Thankfully, if she's anything, she's a survivor….

From Goodreads:
Kaylin Neya is a Hawk, part of the elite force tasked with keeping the City of Elantra safe. Her past is dark, her magic uncontrolled and her allies unpredictable. And nothing has prepared her for what is coming, when the charlatans on Elani Street suddenly grow powerful, the Oracles are thrown into an uproar and the skies rain blood.

The powerful of Elantra believe that the mysterious markings on Kaylin's skin hold the answer, and they are not averse to using her-how ever they have to-in order to discover what it is.


Something is coming, breaking through the barriers between the worlds. But is it a threat that Kaylin needs to defend her city against-or has she been chosen for another reason entirely?

From Goodreads: 
Seven corpses are discovered in the streets of a Dragon's fief. All identical, down to their clothing.
Kaylin Neya is assigned to discover who they were, who killed them-and why. Is the evil lurking at the borders of Elantra preparing to cross over?

At least the investigation delays her meeting with the Dragon Emperor. And as the shadows grow longer over the fiefs, Kaylin must use every skill she's ever learned to save the people she's sworn to protect. Sword in hand, dragons in the sky, this time there's no retreat and no surrender.

My Review:
Oh, I think Chaos might be my most favourite of the series so far, because it seems to have had the biggest bad that Kaylin could face. Even if just talking to it, the Devourer, who was the Maker, and because of Kaylin, is again, and yeah, that might just be why. Plus the whole dealing with them, and the issues around that in the book, yeah.

Silence, it was the book for Kaylin's missing 6 months, from when she left the fief of Nightshade, to the point where she tried to assassinate the Hawklord, 6 months that Kaylin wishes had never happened, because she did bad things then, things that she regrets, wishes that she could take back. And yeah, we learned a lot more about her, and the fiefs, and that was just awesome, even if Kaylin would've prefered to keep that part of her past locked up.

Then Chaos, it had the Devourer, coming for her, and she had a very busy day, going from the oracles, the shop, the space between spaces, then the fief of Nightshade, and then the palace, I believe is the correct order,and then having to tell people over and over? Yeah, that was pretty fun, if exhausting for Kaylin. Fun to read though!

Then there was the whole reaching out with the Dragons and the Barrani, on what to do about the coming potential end of the world, what with the group of people coming, and being followed by the Devourer. And how Kaylin disagrees with their want to keep their world closed so that the Devourer wouldn't get to them, but that the people would most likely die. And she has a bit of a fight with the Consort over that, which isn't too nice.

Yeah, that was a great book, and followed up with some consequences, and bodies coming, dying, and being identical, and how they come back to be dragon, and that the Arkon knew them, and yeah, the big bad from the 1st book is back, and is a threat. Oh, and Kaylin and Severn's investigation in the fief of Tiamaris was just so good, and I enjoyed reading that! And the Lady, yeah, I love her, too!

Yeah, I loved these books, and their stories, and I can't wait to read more!!!

Author: Michelle Sagara
Series: Chronicles of Elantra #4, 5, 6
Read: August 24th, 24th, 25th, 2013
Source: Own
Reason Why: Really enjoying this series! And they're a Sequel Challenge 2013 Book! And Cast in Silence which is a Reward Challenge Book!
Publisher: Luna
Published: January 1st 2009, August 1st 2010, September 20th 2011

Cast in Silence:
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
5/5 Stars









Cast in Chaos:
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
5/5 Stars









Cast in Ruin:
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
5/5 Stars

Friday, August 30, 2013

The Reward Challenge Update 81 Part 2

The Reward Challenge is almost the complete opposite to a book buying ban as you'll end up buying lots of new books throughout the challenge but only after you've completed a certain amount of reading. It was hosted by Good Golly Miss Holly, so thanks to her for starting it!

OK, so I already had 45 counts, and I read Cast in Silence which counts 3 times as a Reward Challenge Book and a Sequel Challenge Book, Cast in Chaos which counts twice as a Sequel Challenge 2013 Book, Cast in Ruin which counts twice as a Sequel Challenge 2013 Book, Pale Demon which counts twice as a Sequel Challenge 2013 Book, A Perfect Blood which counts twice as a Sequel Challenge 2013 Book, Chaos in Death which counts 3 times as a 2013 Dystopia Book and a Sequel Challenge Book, Celebrity in Death which counts 3 times as a 2013 Dystopia Book and a Sequel Challenge 2013 Book, Delusion in Death which counts 3 times as a 2013 Dystopia Book and a Sequel Challenge 2013 Book, City of Bones, No Mercy which counts twice as a Sequel Challenge 2013 Book, Dark Celebration which counts twice as a Sequel Challenge 2013 Book. So I have 70 counts total for next week.

Follow Friday #95, August 30th

Follow Friday is a blog hop that expands your blog following by a joint effort between bloggers. Follow Friday is hosted by 2 hosts, Parajunkee's View and Alison Can Read. Each host will have their own Feature Blog and this way it'll allow us to show off more new blogs! For more rules and how to participate, visit one of the hosts. Now for this week’s question:

Q: If you could only have ONE – one book – for the rest of your life. Don’t cheat…what would it be?

A: I have to go with Acheron by Sherrilyn Kenyon, it's so long, so more entertainment! What about you guys? Happy reading!

First Lines Friday #112, August 30th

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!
"You can take my life, but you'll never break me. So bring me your worst...And I will definitely give you mine."-No Mercy by Sherrilyn Kenyon

It's definitely a definitive opening! Absolutely need more! What about you guys? Happy reading!

Thursday, August 29, 2013

Random Reads #92, August 29th

Random Reads is a monthly meme (that I'm going to do weekly) hosted by I'm Loving Books to read some books that have been on our TBR piles for a long time. Using Random.org, I got 1845 which turned out to be Stardust by Neil Gaiman! It's been on my TBR pile since October 6th 2011, and I added it because it looks really great! Happy reading! 

Third Sentence Thursday #107, August 29th

Create your own banner at mybannermaker.com!


Third Sentence Thursday is a weekly meme which likes to watch fireworks especially while eating a cookie!
1) Take the book you are currently reading and open it to a random page. Share the third full sentence on that page. (If there isn't a third one – like at the end of a chapter or a blank page – you can share the third sentence of the book or just choose another random page.) Feel free to share more than one sentence, if you feel the need to do so.
2) Review this sentence anyway you want (funny and silly reviews encouraged)
3) Post a link to your sentence at Words I Write Crazy (This Blog)
4) Visit one or two of the other blogs to check out their third sentences!

Nothing this week! Hope to see you guys next week!

What are your guy's 3rd lines? Link up below! 

Will the Time Come #117, August 29th

Every Thursday I am going to list a book which I 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?
-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

ohn Wayne Cleaver is dangerous, and he knows it.

He's spent his life doing his best not to live up to his potential.

He's obsessed with serial killers, but really doesn't want to become one. So for his own sake, and the safety of those around him, he lives by rigid rules he's written for himself, practicing normal life as if it were a private religion that could save him from damnation.

Dead bodies are normal to John. He likes them, actually. They don't demand or expect the empathy he's unable to offer. Perhaps that's what gives him the objectivity to recognize that there's something different about the body the police have just found behind the Wash-n-Dry Laundromat---and to appreciate what that difference means.

Now, for the first time, John has to confront a danger outside himself, a threat he can't control, a menace to everything and everyone he would love, if only he could.

Why the time hasn't come yet...
I don't know! I want to read it! I've enjoyed his other books, and I want to read it! What about you guys? Happy reading!