Friday, August 27, 2010

Urban Shaman by C.E. Murphy

So, I started reading this series and I'm having a hard time sticking to it. It's alright but I'm not hooked on it. I don't think the characters have enough depth. I think the author has a good storyline but she takes a really long time to get to the punch. Also, there is a very small touch of romance more like a tease but I think it needs more oomph. I don't necessarily recommend it or not recommend it.

Kim Harrison-Early to Death, Early to Rise

I love Kim Harrison! She has strong female characters, action, wit and twists and turns in the storyline. This book/series is no different. It's a YA novel so they are a VERY quick and easy read. Even being a mom of a 3yr old and a newborn I finished this book in 48 hours.

Monday, August 9, 2010

BumGenius 4.0 Giveaway

Since all my followers are parents I think mommies I'm posting a link to this Blog and giveaway. Penniless Parenting shows you ways to run your household a little thriftier. Check it out and enter the giveaway if you want to try cloth diapering. It's really easy and very thrifty :)

http://www.pennilessparenting.com/2010/08/meet-our-sponsor-and-giveaway.html#links

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Latest and Greatest from Vicki Pettersson and Richelle Mead

So I've finished "Cheat the Grave: The Fifth Sign of the Zodiac" by Vicki Pettersson and it was entertaining. It wasn't as dramatic and "thrilling" as the rest of the series. I really felt like this was just a book to connect the previous storyline to the conclusion of the series. I really think the last quarter of the book is what drew me in and had me on the edge of my seat. Basically, as soon as I finally got hooked it was just about over and I have to wait until the next book. It's still entertaining though.


I also finished "Spirit Bound" by Richelle Mead. This is the latest book in the Vampire Academy series. I was really hooked on Blood Promise and Spirit Bound wasn't as well laid out as Blood Promise. This was also a connector book. The next book due out in Dec is the final book in the series and Spirit Bound is connecting the storylines and not really laying out too much new storyline. I also really hate when an author does a major cliffhanger. Most of the new storyline takes place at the end of the book and then it ends in the middle of a major conflict. If I had to wait more than a few months before the next installment came out I would be more irritated than I am with it.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Catch up time! Several books/series to review

So, I have a few additions to series and new series that I've read over the last month (almost 2).

Moon Sworn by Keri Arthur

I really love this series. It's a urban fantasy with a touch of romance. I really like all the characters and Arthur's writing style. This book is picking up where Bound By Shadows left off after Riley's coma. She is working through her issues, returning to work, deciding what her next move might be when she's kidnapped and her memories of who and what she is is wiped from her. She remains the strong character even in a state of limbo. I highly recommend this series. It's very well written.

Allie Beckstrom novels by Devon Monk


As far as I can tell Monk is a part time author and this is her only series but I really liked it. I would classify this as an Urban Fantasy and not the type I tend to read. I picked it up based on the cover art (I do this from time to time and usually I'm spot on). The world is fueled by magic. Everyone uses it for personal and business uses. It's also used in parts of crimes where Hounds (a person with stronger magic instincts) tracks what type of magic was used and who cast it. Allie Beckstrom is a Hound and the estranged daughter to Portland's most powerful, financially and magically, business man. There are lots of twists and turns in the storyline and characters that you wonder the whole way through whether they are friend or foe. I recommend this series.

Magic in the Bone
Magic in the Blood
Magic in the Shadows
Magic on the Storm
a new installment due in November.

Tales of an Urban Werewolf series by Karen MacInerney

Howling at the Moon
On the Prowl
Leader of the Pack

This is a light reading series. It's got some touches of mystery to it but it's got a lot of humor. I liked it and was kinda disappointed when I finished Leader in The Pack. I'm on the lookout for another installment to this series.

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Immortals After Dark by Kresley Cole

So, this series is fun. It's a paranormal romance. I really like how the author writes. She's good at making sure there's just enough detail to let the reader picture what's going on. No overkill with the details ( a big peeve of mine). She also is good with her character development. It's easy to relate and fall in love with some of the characters and then there are some you can just hate (bad guys, of course). It's almost sad that each book has a new set of characters that the story focuses on. I liked Emma and Lachlain so much I wanted to read more about them. They are mentioned in the other books but nothing like the book that "stars" them. Though this is a romantic series it's not a smutty book. There is more of a real storyline than just the characters falling in love and having sex all the time. I also liked the fact that there is very little vulgar language. I always find it more respectable when the author finds other ways for her characters to express themselves than simply cursing. Cole in particular just says the character is swearing oaths instead of being specific on what the character is saying.

So, I recommend this series. They are easy, quick reads that keep you entertained.

Monday, May 10, 2010

"Dead in the Family" by Charlaine Harris

I love this series but this one had some serious slow spots. It's definitely what I call a fluff book. It's basically just establishing the relationship between Sookie and Eric. If I weren't absolutely in LOVE with Eric Northman this book would have been very disappointing. Can't wait to see what she has in store for the next installment.

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Burned- House of Night Novel by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

So, I finished this last night. I'm really not a fan of each chapter being told from a different character's POV. It's confusing and by the time you get back to the storyline that one character is telling you're like "Wait, what?" But, I do have to say it's MUCH better than Tempted. It's still a lot of fluff but it has more conflict and a real storyline than Tempted did. Oh and be prepared you'll be left hanging at the end of Burned just like you were at the end of Tempted


Stay tuned I've started the newly released Charlaine Harris-Sookie novel Dead In the Family

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Latest reads in the Paranormal Romance genre

I recently started the "Brotherhood of Blood" series by Kathryn Smith. It's not bad. I like the overall story, it's not too smutty and the characters have some depth. Once again it's a series that each book is told from a different character's POV but what can you do? If you like Paranormal Romance in a classical vampire set you'll enjoy these. The first book really reminded me of a "Gone with the Wind" type time period. I certainly prefer modern settings more but this is a fun read.

Also, recently started the "Immortals After Dark" series by Kresley Cole. So far I've only read the first book but I liked it so much I couldn't put it down. It's the first time I've zoomed through a 350-400 page book in 24 hours in a long time. It kept me entertained through my glucose test at the OBs office :) I really liked the depth of the characters I think she could have gone a little deeper but the story was so different from others I've read that it kept me hanging on every word. I think the only other series I might be able to compare it to is Gena Showalter's Lords of the Underworld series (also another I recommend).

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Latest Patricia Briggs

So, I recently finished the latest Mercy Thompson novel by Patricia Briggs "Silver Borne" I have to say though I liked it I thought it was a little slow. I also thought I missed something between books. It definitely wasn't my favorite. There weren't any intense moments like the others in the series. I really just thought it was a "go between book"

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Latest reads

I recently finished the Gardella Vampire Chronicles series by Colleen Gleason. I have to say I liked it. I hope there are more installments in the series because Gleason had a way of painting a picture. I tend to steer closer to the more urban current time vampire stuff and this was a regency vampire series but I thought it was a pretty cool story base. Victoria is a recently debuted debutant and at the same time has recently been endowed with her family legacy to be a vampire huntress (Venator). She has very few people that know anything about her station as a Venator but many expect her to be the classic debutante and be married off to the richest bachelor and attend parties. Basically,live the lifestyle of the women of the regency period. It was a fun read. I recommend.
1st in the series titled The Rest Falls Away


Another fun read was the Jane Jameson series by Molly Harper. This is very similar to the Queen Betsy series by Mary Janice Davidson. Jane starts off human having a bad day and at the end of the bad day is turned into a vampire. She then has to learn to adjust to being a vampire and how to deal with her everyday life with a few complications that also rise up and get in her way. It's very witty and entertaining. I recommend as a fun light read.
1st in the series titled Nice Girls dont have Fangs

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

So I have some Catching up to do...

I read The Others series by Christine Warren. I liked them ok. I think I would have liked them better if the books were being told by the same character throughout the series but for a series that changed POV I liked it quite a bit. I recommend it.

I also just finished the newest installment in The Hollows series by Kim Harrison, "Black Magic Sanction". I really don't know how she does it! She has a way with mixing action, emotion and wit to make a GREAT storyline. Still, my fav character is Al. He keeps me laughing throughout the series and so far I still think I'm right about him. I can't tell you exactly what I think because for those that haven't read the series it would ruin his character and Harrison's delivery of him for you. I also have to add that I really hate Nick! New favorite "Al line" 'Sweet mother of chaos!' Hope you'll check out these books because they are AWESOME. Each book has a substantial amount of storyline to keep you so entertained you won't want to put them down.

Friday, January 15, 2010

Once Dead, Twice Shy by Kim Harrison

This is a series debut for Harrison she is usually an Adult writer and this is the first in a YA series. I have to say it's definitely put together like a Harrison book. The heroine is a strong, take care of herself and everyone else around her type and the plot has lots of twist and turns to it. Just when you think you know where the story is going she swings it in another direction. Madison Avery was murdered but she's still there by choice? fate? She has stolen an amulet that make her appear alive and well. She is being assisted by light angels and hunted down by dark angels. Definitely a fun and interesting read. I kind of wish it was one of her adult series because her adult books average 400 pages and take a day or two to make it through. This took me an afternoon and I was done. I have to say she has a great way of ending books though. Where you want more of the story but don't feel like you walked away in the middle of a conversation and left hanging. Can't wait until the next installment to this series!

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Women of the Otherworld by Kelley Armstrong

This series was a lot of fun! The only thing I was disappointed was that some books are told by one character and some of the others are told by others.I'm not a big fan of books that change POV it usually turns me off a series. The books told by Elena Michaels are AWESOME. I really like her as a character. I'm not really sure what it is about her that I like so much because all the characters are strong women. Armstrong is very good at highlighting the strengths of some of the "weaker" characters. For instance Elena is a werewolf, the only female, and she is strong both in mind and body. She is very well educated and knows how to command attention. On another hand, Jaime is a necromancer and other than being able to talk to and see the dead she has no other power. She's not physically strong but she is of strong mind (rare for a necromancer according to Armstrong). None of these books need to be read in order. There are few references to the other books but Armstrong does a pretty good job of summarizing whatever she references. This also gets my recommendation. The only ones I don't HIGHLY recommend are Haunted (it was Eh), Personal Demon and Living with the Dead (I didn't care for Hope Adams)

Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs

Moon Called
Blood Bound
Iron Kissed
Bone Crossed

This is another keeper on my bookshelf. Mercedes "Mercy" Thompson is a shape-shifter who lives in a world that could be the real world if it had werewolves, fae and vampires in it.She is an auto mechanic that was raised by werewolves. It's definitely an Urban Fantasy. There are some suspenseful type parts through the series that really draw you in. Patricia Briggs is another author that doesn't give too much detail. If possible I think that she could give a little more details in some areas. They are all quick reads. There aren't a lot of dramatic parts. I think the biggest dramatic aspect is the love triangle that starts in Moon Called and isn't really settled until Bone Crossed but then picks up another triangle towards the end. I recommend this series. The next book in the series "Silver Borne" is to be released February 2010.

I'm waiting to read the Alpha and Omega series by Briggs until there are a few more books in the series.

The Hollows by Kim Harrison

Dead Witch Walking
The Good, the Bad and the Undead
Every Which Way but Dead
A Fistful of Charms
For a Few Demons More
The Outlaw Demon Wails
White Witch, Black Curse

This series was recommended to me by a friend. I really like it. It's a little slow in the beginning but I have decided most series (Night Huntress excluded) take me a couple of books to really get hooked. I say the first few chapters of Dead Witch Walking were slow and kinda like "ok where are we going" but it clears up and the story starts to play out. I have to say my fav book in the series was Every Witch Way but Dead (3rd in the series). Though most of the books in the series dont leave you hanging in a climax (only one, White Witch, Black Curse does) it's best you read them in order so you know the history. My fav character in the series is, by far, Al. Rachel is also a pretty well put together character. She has a ironic and sarcastic sens of humor which I find hilarious. I think the only character that I don't really care too much for is Ivy. Jenks is a riot! You'll laugh and cry (and cry laughing) through this series. The next in the series Black Magic Sanction is due to be released in March 2010 for HC and April 2010 for PB. This is another book I can't wait to read!

On another note. Kim Harrison's suggestions have made me read a lot of the books I have and all of which she recommended I have liked as well.

Author's website:
http://www.kimharrison.net

Some of my favs

Night Huntress Novels by Jeaniene Frost
Halfway to the Grave
One Foot in the Grave
At Grave's End
Destined for an Early Grave

I gotta say that this is a series I ABSOLUTELY adore. It includes all the makings of a well put together series. It has a good plot in EVERY book, there is no wait and make you see what happens a year from now. It has GREAT characters. Cat is a strong, independent woman who ,though occasionally she needs saving, she doesn't sit back whining about how no one is saving her. I tend to like strong heroines in my stories, someone I can admire. "Bones" or Crispin is swoon worthy and again a very well put together character. I HIGHLY recommend this series. I picked Halfway to the Grave up at Border's one day and bought it based on the cover art. So who ever said dont judge a book by it's cover? I also have to make a comment about Frost's writing style. She has a way of not over-doing it. She adds enough detail to where you could easily picture the scene playing out in your head without drowning you in detail. She also doesn't add anything that isn't pertinent to the storyline. If it's in there it's need to know. I have read this series over and over again and I never tire of it. I still laugh at the innuendos and the little jokes and I REALLY cant wait until her next book is released just because I love it that much. Also, in Feb 2010 she has a spin off series being released I recommend you reading this one first just so you can get to know all the characters.

Author's website:
http://www.jeanienefrost.com

My Book List

So I get asked a lot for book recommendations, I think I'll turn this blog into my personal book criticism blog. If you like Science Fiction, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy or what some consider Horror you will probably find this list more appealing. I tend to like books about a world that doesn't exist(though if it's Urban Fantasy, I like the fact they write it like it could). I've decided that I deal enough with reality if I'm reading I want to escape to a place that isn't!

Some of my favorite authors include:

Jeaniene Frost- LOVE LOVE LOVE her writing style.
Kim Harrison- another HUGE fav of her writing style
Karen Chance
Keri Arthur
Kelley Armstrong
Vicki Petterson

Series that I recommend by these authors are Night Huntress(Frost), The Hollows(Harrison), Cassandra Palmer(Chance), Riley Jenson, Guardian (Arthur), Women of Otherworld (Armstrong) Signs of the Zodiac (Petterson)

Demons Not Included by Cheyenne McCray
is another book I enjoyed but it's the 1st in a series that just began in 2009. I recommend this book though it was a lot more entertaining than some of McCray's other books. McCray is usually a romance author that really likes to write the raunchy romances. The only reason I trudged through her Magic series is that I like the underlying storyline. I just skipped through all the smut.

I recently finished the Vampire Diaries and have to say it was horrible. I really dont like to read YA series but I have been watching the TV series and since typically the books are better than the movies/TV shows I thought it would be a great read. I hate it when I'm wrong! The screenwriter for the TV series had a better idea of who these characters should be. He gave them more depth than Smith and overall gave more importance to the right details compared to Smith. I understand it seems to be a rule that if you are a YA author you MUST describe everything in such detail but, hey, if it has nothing to do with the plot leave it out. Really, I don't need to know the color of everything the character sees unless somehow it's important to the plot or an event down the line. The best written part of this series was the ending not because it was the end but that is where Smith really pulled out the big guns. She didn't over describe anything, she kept focus as to what was important, I was feeling for the characters and could easily picture everything that went on. I was even crying. I dont recommend this series at all and I'm not sure I will be reading anything else by this author.


That's it for now I'll post more later! :)