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Saturday, May 4, 2013

Recently Finished















Succubi Are Forever by Jill Myles
 
After reading the third book, I wasn't sure if there was going to be a final one or not. It sounded as though there would be, but I couldn't gather any information. So I waited until finally I spotted this online. I ordered, and to my surprise I got a trade paperback rather than a mass market. Apparently the sales weren't enough for the Succubi series so the publishers let the author go. Whatever. She'll probably get more royalties out of self-publishing this one anyway. It may not match the rest of the books, but oh well.
 
This finishes out Jackie's story and whether or not she will finally be with Zane forever - who knows? Haha. I'm not going to tell you. It was an interesting and satisfying end to things, and there were some bits that I just really did not see coming. One in particular made me wonder just how the heck things were going to be resolved. While I do feel like Noah may have been left out in the rain a little, overall it was a good tying up of loose ends with a happily ever after - or at least the best you're going to get in this particular world. It's a good series and worth picking up if you're getting bored with a lot of the typical paranormal romance stuff like werewolves and other shifters which seem to be dominating the shelves these days.
 
 
 
 
Notes from the playlist: "Inara's Suite" by Greg Edmonson

Saturday, April 27, 2013

Currently Reading

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Shades of Earth by Beth Revis
 
This is the final book in the Across the Universe trilogy, and I'm quite excited to see how it all ends. I don't want to say too much in case you haven't read the first two books yet, but it will be interesting to see what our two protagonists discover. I've just started, so we'll just wait to see!
 
I will say, however, that I am exceedingly disappointed with the cover. I can't express enough just how much I hate it when publishers decide to change the cover designs mid-book series. The first two were gorgeous (at least the hardcovers), so why they suddenly decided to shift things up is beyond me. To get more sales? To try and appeal to a wider audience? Who knows. But now only the paperbacks will all match whereas the hardcovers will be pretty awkward together. But I'm just one of those people who loves to have her books match - the rest of you may not care one iota!
 
 

Notes from the playlist: "Nero" by Two Steps from Hell

Saturday, April 20, 2013

Recommended for Shameless Self Promotion

 Blood for Wolves by Me!

Yep. I have finally done it. I self published my book. I went the ebook route for now just to test the waters. I love it, naturally, so I guess the question will boil down to - will you?

As a wolf biologist, Caroline McKenna hates those old fairytales where the wolf is always the bad guy.

Except when she tries to keep a lost little girl from drowning in a pond, she ends up in the Kingdom of Red—where wolves are the bad guys.

And the girl she tried to save? Nowhere to be found.

Now, Caroline has no idea how to get home, and the Kingdom—once ruled by Little Red Riding Hood herself—is in trouble. Her only guide is a man named Wolf, whose golden eyes and oh-my-what-big-teeth-you-have are as startling as they are enticing. Caroline isn’t willing to leave without knowing the young girl is safe, but that means sticking with Wolf. Especially since her only other option is to wander around a fairytale forest alone.

But that means facing dangerous creatures and evil enchantments. There is more happening in the Kingdom than anyone realizes, and if Caroline wants to stay alive she has to figure out her role in this story—and she knows Wolf isn’t telling her everything.


 Notes from the playlits: "Half Acre" by Hem

Saturday, April 13, 2013

Recommended for Moose Owners
















This Moose Belongs to Me
by Oliver Jeffers

 
Sometimes when a moose comes along, it just means he wants to be your moose. Right? Well why not! He does what he's told (not all of the time), knows his name (sort of), and isn't anybody else's moose (maybe). Kids will have fun seeing a young boy attempt to claim a moose in the wild woods and what happens when he discovers that maybe he isn't the only one to try this. Funny story aside, I love how the moose is illustrated as well as some of the wonderful backgrounds that truly capture the beauty of where real moose live. Full of life and giggles, it's a fun little reminder to kids that wild animals are always wild no matter what.
 

 Notes from the playlist: "Becoming a Legend" by John Dreamer

Saturday, April 6, 2013

Recently Finished

 














Redshirts by John Scalzi

I've been wanting to read this book for a while, and considering how much I enjoyed Old Man's War, I figured this would be pretty good since Scalzi knows how to bring on the humor while keeping plenty of seriousness in check. Here we have Dahl, who just got an assignment to the Intrepid. Sounds like a great job - except there's a very high death rate in the ship. In fact, it seems as though every time there is an away team, someone dies. Someone unimportant. The captain and other high ranking officers always come back. So what's going on? Why are all the low ranking guys dying? Start channeling your inner Guy from Galaxy Quest and ask the right questions - while this was a teensy bit predictable, I had a good time and look forward to getting my hands on Scalzi's other works. I still like Old Man's War better, though.
 


Notes from the playlist: "Rise" by John Dreamer

Saturday, March 30, 2013

Recommended for Pigeons














The Duckling Gets a Cookie by Mo Willems

First the Pigeon wants to drive the bus. Then he finds a hot dog. Then he wants to stay up late. But now there's a Duckling involved - and today the Duckling has somehow, inexplicably, managed to get a cookie. The Pigeon can't believe it. How on earth did the Duckling get a cookie when the Pigeon can't even have a hot dog?? This is inexcusable. The Pigeon won't stand for it. That cookie has chocolate chips and nuts and everything. But perhaps this time the Pigeon will be in for a surprise...  This was the first book I read from Mo Willems involving the Pigeon and it was definitely amusing. Such a simple concept involving a duck, a pigeon, and a cookie. Who would have thought? It's a giggle-worthy book that kids will like, so make sure they get their Pigeon plushie ready (and maybe some cookies at the end).




Notes from the playlist: "Metal Gear Solid Main Theme" by Harry Gregson-Williams

Saturday, March 23, 2013

Recommended for Pure Hilarity

 

















Zeus Grants Stupid Wishes by Cory O'Brien
 
This book was brought to my attention by one of my co-workers who deserves a medal for doing so, I might add. This book is absolutely, 100% hilarious. If you don't mind a few
crude words here and there then you're set (because let's face it, the myths themselves are already so jacked up, there really isn't a way to make them any worse).  O'Brien is essentially retelling a lot of old myths from Greek, Norse, Hindu, Native American, and other cultures.  The only difference is the way he tells them. Normally you read these in a sensible book where the myths are told like stories and you might think, "Awkward" but accept them. In this particular form they're told in a way that you might hear in a bar from a friend and you think, "That's really messed up, dude." And the myths are exactly the same! It's that their true weirdness never really hits you until you hear them like this. That and they're a hell of a lot funnier this way due to a bit of exaggeration and a bit of added dialogue that more than likely was never said in the first place by anyone. I had to stop skimming through it at work because I was simply laughing too much (similar to what happened with Got Fight?). I recommend at least taking a peek inside this book online. As my co-worker put it, "I'm going to buy this book. I figure it's already given my money's worth of laughs, so I might as well pay it back."
 
 
 
Notes from the playlist: "Skyfall" by Adele

Saturday, March 16, 2013

Recommended for Seekers of Caldecott Winners

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
This Is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen
 
Admittedly I was not a big fan of I Want My Hat Back - mostly because it took me forever to accept that the creature looking for his hat was, in fact, a bear. I kept thinking it was a groundhog, and every one of my co-workers either guessed the same or guessed anything but bear. that aside,this time the little fish is the one with the hat - although he fully acknowledges that it is indeed not his. So what's a little hat-stealing fish to do? Hide. Hide ilke there's no tomorrow. Of course, the owner of the hat isn't about to give up easily, and those of us who've read I Want My Hat Back have some idea of what might happen to that fishy in the end...

This book was also the winner of the 2013 Caldecott Award, so congrats to Mr. Klassen and his obsession with animals, hats, and animals that steal hats.



Notes from the playlist: "Bangarang" by Skrillex

Saturday, March 9, 2013

Currently Reading


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
I've been reading this series and relatively enjoying it. Reyes is always a bit of a treat and I love how Jones writes him in the pages and how Charlie always reacts to him. It's an interesting story so far, though I have to admit the fact that people openly acknowledge that they have information that could probably very useful to Charlie bugs me. That she doesn't ever get annoyed enough to even demand they hand over that knowledge drives me nuts. But oh well. Entertaining. Though I am starting to get to that point that I'd be okay with the series ending. However, with the way things are going, it feels like there's probably at least one more book in the works.  Hard to say right now whether or not I'd be interested though. Maybe if it were the last one. If not, dunno. But until then, I raise a glass and say, "More Reyes!"
 


Notes from the playlist: "One Way Trip" by Alan Silvestri

Saturday, February 23, 2013

Recently Finished
















Body & Soul by Stacey Kade

I've been eager to get my hands on this one because I really wanted to see how this little trilogy wrapped up. I read this in just a couple of days, and it works. Alona and Will are trying to figure out what to do about the whole Lily situation, and as if that weren't enough, now there's some strange ghost haunting one of Alona's old friends.  The problem there is that the ghost is claiming to be Alona.  So many questions. So many problems. Not nearly enough answers. Sometimes I did wish Alona and Will would have had a bit better communication, and it never was quite explained just how a specific spirit had so much power, but all's well that ends well. It's a good trilogy with some fun ideas and if you're looking for something a bit different then it's a solid bet. Remember not to let the "ghost and the goth" label fool you - this isn't your classic hot girl hooks up with goth guy story at all. Not by a long shot. So go for it, and make sure you start with the first book, The Ghost and the Goth.




Notes from the playlist: "Little Talks" by Monsters and Men.

Saturday, February 16, 2013

Recommended for Bleeding Hearts

















by Kelly DiPucchio and Scott Campbell

Well, another Valentine's Day has passed us by, but this post comes a little late...which makes it more apt I should think, as we are ressurrecting the holiday to showcase this book.  Since I've already recommended Warm Bodies to you, I'm instead opting for the giggle-worthy child counterpart of Zombie in Love (though the two aren't related at all, I do find it funny that the main character here is a zombie named Mortimer - and R's friend in Warm Bodies was named M.  Perhaps this is his story...heheh).  Mortimer is looking for love, but he's not exactly the warm, snuggly type. He is, after all, a zombie.  But will he find someone to go with him to the Cupid's ball? Perhaps...especially since we all know that there's never just one zombie shambling around out there.  The illustrations are as colorful as can be for zombies, and there are a few silly elements that are bound to delight readers, such as Mortimer's zombified dog and his hand chew toy (...or is it a chew toy?). Great for Valentine's Day, Halloween, or any time because let's face it, zombies aren't exactly sticking to one holiday anymore, are they?




Notes from the playlist: "I Knew You Were Trouble" by Taylor Swift

Saturday, February 9, 2013

Just Cracked Open
















Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi

I've been so busy working and working that I haven't had time to read - much less update this blog.  Which is pretty annoying, so I made February my month to get things done.  There are two books that came out recently that I've been dying to get my hands on.  One is Beth Revis's Shades of Earth, the final book in her trilogy, and another is this one, Veronica Rossi's second.  I read her first book when it was still an advance reader copy.  I wasn't sure it would be something I would be into, but I was wrong.  I had a great time reading it and looked forward to the next book - which is finally out.  I was thrilled when I saw it on my cart (being in charge of the teen section at my bookstore and all) and knew I needed to find the time to read it. So continues the story of Aria and Perry to find the Still Blue - a place safe from the Aether that twists and curls through the sky to kill wanderers at any minute.  Will they find it? (probably not in this book) What will happen if they don't? (now that, friends, is the real question and what I'm interested in).  Throw in the other unique characters that have their own set of issues and it's bound to be a good time.




Notes from the playlist: "Some Nights" by Fun.

Saturday, December 29, 2012

Recommended Before Hybernating












Bear Has a Story to Tell by Philip Stead and Erin Stead

This book is soft, simple, and perfect for putting little ones to bed.  If you have ever read A Sick Day for Amos McGee (a Caldecott winner, by the way), then this book is right up your alley.  That is because it's written and illustrated by the same team.  Here bear has a story to tell, but everyone is so busy getting ready for winter, they don't have time to listen to him.  I love how such simple children's illustrations can convey different things so well.  How gentle bear is when helping mouse.  The wide expanse of earth and sky where bear lives when he looks up to see the snow start to fall.  That quiet sense that you can only get when you're out in the woods the way bear is.  The ending is an interesting little surprise, but some (like myself) will always wonder just what story it was that bear intended to tell...

Read the Epinions review here!


 

Notes from the playlist: "Coventry Carol" by Lifescapes

Saturday, December 22, 2012

Currently Re-Reading














The Hobbit
by J.R.R. Tolkien
Naturally.  Although my copy doesn't look anything like the new movie cover version.  My copy is leatherbound, as referenced in the original recommendation post.  Of course, how could I not read The Hobbit again with the movie coming out?  The first time I ever encountered this story was when my father read it to me when I was six.  I was transfixed by that story.  Action!  Adventure!  Singing!  Elves!  Dwaves!  Dragons!  And of course, Hobbitses precious! Everything listed in the Princess Bride, actually, except for the true love part, but that's okay.  And of all the elements of the story that have managed to slip my mind over the years, the Riddle Game between Bilbo and Gollum has forever remained there.  I know all the answers to the riddles, although I must say that my very favorite riddle somehow managed to get left out of the movie.  But that's all right.  Honestly, even if you've never read fantasy before, this is a great place to start.  Just ask my mother.  She'd never bothered with fantasy in her life until my father introduced her to The Hobbit.  Now she enjoys it along with the rest of us. And you don't have to be at any age to start - the book was originally written for kids by Tolkien.  It's simply grown from there, and that seems to have worked out for the best.




Notes from the playlist: "Concerning Hobbits" by Howard Shore (but only because I don't have The Hobbit soundtrack yet!)

Saturday, December 8, 2012

Recently Finished













Notorious Nineteen by Janet Evanovich

While admittedly things are getting pretty repetitive in this series, it's still fun to read and because books in this series come out so far apart, it makes them easier to handle. (Unlike that one point in time when I read about 30 Fear Street books in a row and wanted to tear my hair out.)  Here it's time for Grandma Mazur to go undercover to help Stephanie find Geoffery Cubbin, a guy who embezzled a truckload of money from an assisted living facility.  But while she's working with Morelli to solve the case, she'll need some rent money - which means doing a job for Ranger.  And we all know what happens when two guys butt heads over one woman.  Oh, and have I mentioned that Stephanie's car blows up before you even get to page 10?  Yep.  Here we go.




Notes from the playlist: "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" by Bing Crosby

Saturday, December 1, 2012

Purchased for My Shelf













After Beauty Dates the Beast, I was very interested in reading the next book because I liked Sara and I was really interested in seeing whether or not she hooked up with Ramsey.  As a werewolf, the local pack wants Sara to join - except they happen to be nice and creepy and Sara isn't jazzed about hanging out with them.  The plan?  Pretend to be Ramsey's mate in order to stay clear of the pack.  Except the pack doesn't exactly buy that.  Time to make things convincing...which may not be so hard after all.  I had a good time with this book and wanted to read it so much that I didn't want to wait for the library to carry it, so when I spotted it at work, I snapped it up.  It's a lot of fun so if you're looking for some supernatural romance goodness, this is a good place to be.  There will be another book in this series, but I don't know if I'm going to read it because the focus shifts back to were-cougars and I've never been all that interested in them.  Maybe because I'm not a cat person?

Read the Epinions review here!




Notes from the playlist: "Peponi (Paradise)" by The Piano Guys

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Recommended for the Perfect Gag Gift

  50 Shades of Chicken by F.L. Fowler

Yup.  You read this right.  It's a cookbook focused on chicken and a parody of 50 Shades of Grey.  How could I not throw this out there for your enjoyment?  This holiday season if you need a great gag gift to give to someone then this could easily be the thing to get.  Whether they've read 50 Shades of Grey or avoided it lik the plague, this will definitely draw some laughs.  Inside are a lot of finger-licking recipes complete with some storytime moments that include quivering thighs, oiled skin, and even a slathering of honey.  You could be aiming for embarrassment or laughter and maybe get both when the recipent unwraps this tasty - and slightly kinky - book.  Just remember to visit them again later so you can try out some of the recipes for yourself!


 Notes from the playlist: "Lights" by Ellie Goulding

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Recommended for Peg Kehret Fans










Nightmare Mountain by Peg Kehret

Peg Kehret is an excellent author.  I don't know how she fares in other states, but I know that as a kid I read several of her books and here in Missouri she's been nominated for the Mark Twain award multiple times. In this book a young girl visits some relatives in the mountains, but then an unexpected turn of events leaves just her and her cousin - who hates her for some unknown reason - on their own.  Maybe that wouldn't be so bad if there wasn't someone also on the property who is armed and very, very dangerous.  This is a book filled with action and characters that you quickly care about.  And I can honestly say that I learned a few things on how to handle avalanches because of this book that I have never forgotten.  If you have kids that like Peg Kehret's book, this is another excellent title for them to read.  If they've never read any of her books, this is a great one to get them hooked on - though any of her other books will do just as well.




Notes from the playlist: "E.T. - Katy Perry" by Klaypex

Saturday, November 3, 2012

Recommended for Learning ABCs









Apple Pie ABC by Alison Murray

The cute little dog was what caught my eye.  His interest in that pie was something I couldn't ignore.  But how does one create an ABC book featuring a dog looking to indulge in some pie?  I had to look.  What I found was a cute little story about a dog who wants nothing more than to sneak a taste of some fresh apple pie.  Each sentence begins with a word that features a letter of the alphabet - or in some cases as with X, as close to the letter as possible.  The illustrations are simple and super cute.  The dog reminds me a bit of Snoopy with his shape and coloring, but his interests lie in tasty pie rather than doing a lot of pretending and other things.  Kids will have fun with this book and since it's a board book it's great for little hands to grasp and open again and again.
Read the Epinions review here!



Notes from the playlist: "Coming Home" by Diddy Dirty Money featuring Skylar Grey

Saturday, October 27, 2012

Recommended for Romantics












The Marriage Bargain by Jennifer Probst

I was looking for some entertaining romance, so when I spotted this on a cart at work, I thought, "This could be fun."  Sure, most of us are familiar with the typical "guy and girl get married for reasons other than love and then fall in love anyway" scenario in both books and movies, but I've never read one myself, so I decided to put it on my list.  When its turn finally came around I had a good time reading it.  The plot?  Alexa needs money. Nick has money.  Nick needs to get married in order to inherit 100% of the company he works for. Alexa agrees to this business contract and they get married in order to get what they want.  But of course the chemistry between them isn't something that can be ignored.  It's a good tale and for those that enjoy contemporary romance or just want something that reminds them that love conquers all, this is a book for you.

Read the Epinions review here!



Notes from the playlist: "Like Sugar" by Matchbox Twenty

Saturday, October 20, 2012

Currently Reading














Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay

I'd recently been wondering what to read (this was before receiving Cloud Atlas for my birthday), and when I saw an ad for the television show Dexter, I remembered that I'd wanted to check out one of Lindsay's books since the few shows I'd seen during free Showtime previews were pretty entertaining.  And hey, what's not to like - or at least be fascinated by - a killer who only kills killers?  The funny thing is that Dexter doesn't like blood.  Funnier is that he's a blood spatter expert for Miami PD.  Who knew?  In this opener, he's going about his bloody business (both of them) when someone appears on the radar - someone who seems to be doing just what Dexter is up to.  But he keeps his little secret tightly under wraps.  Is this newcomer friend or foe?
Read the Epinions review here!



Notes from the playlist: "Little Talks" by Of Monsters and Men

Saturday, October 13, 2012

Recently Finished















Beauty Dates the Beast by Jessica Sims

Yes, it is shameless romance, but I needed a little of that in my diet (besides, the next book on deck is Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay).  And while vampires have never been all that jazzy to me, I do enjoy a good shifter novel.  It took me some time to find this novel because I discovered a teaser piece in the back of My Fair Succubi - except nowhere could I find the Jill Myles book.  But that's because she doesn't write this series under that name.  I do know why some authors have various pseudonyms, but when a romance author has 3 or more and their material is essentially the same, then I can get confused (unless they have different publishers, but that's not the case here).

Midnight Liasons is a dating service for those with...special talents.  Bathsheba just does the bookkeeping and date organizing. But when someone cancels on Beau Russell, leader of the Russell clan, Bathsheba is stuck being the replacement date - even though it's against company policy.  But maybe dating a were-cougar can come in handy since something big and freaky has decided to stalk her...  It's an enjoyable read, but there are a lot of inconsistencies.  As usual, wolves tend to get the raw end of the deal, but whatever.  At the very least, I wanted a bit of entertainment, and that is exactly what I received.  So if you don't mind a bit of sexy-time with a were-cougar, this might be something to take a peek at.

Read the Epinions review here!




Notes fromt he playlist: "Sleep Alone" by Two Door Cinema Club

Saturday, October 6, 2012

Purchased for My Shelf















Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell

I didn't actually buy this book - instead I got it for my birthday!  I've been wanting to read this for months and I'm #19 on the library list and they only have two books.  I had a customer come in requesting this book and initially I thought (from the title) that it was a nature book.  When I saw it was fiction, I found the book for him and then proceeded to read the blurb myself.  I was immediately intrigued.  Only later did I hear it was being made into a movie.  But that doesn't matter to me since books are 99% of the time better than their movie counterparts.  This book is one of those begin in the past and work its way toward the far-future kind with all sorts of little connecting threads that just sounded oh-so-interesting.  I very much look forward to reading this and falling into whatever world(s) Mitchell crafts and discovering all the little details that bring his characters together across time.






Notes from the playlist: "Rolling in the Deep" by Adele

Saturday, September 29, 2012

Recommended for Thrills and Excitement

 Angels and Demons by Dan Brown

I'm surprised to see I haven't recommended this yet.  Especially since I actually enjoyed this book more than what Dan Brown is most known for, The Da Vinci Code.  It's more action packed page by page and has a lot more at stake.  Robert Langdon is needed to help track down prominent Cardinals that have been kidnapped and are due to be exterminated by the Illuminati, an organization that was long since thought to be gone.  Making matters worse is a bomb unlike anyone has ever seen - and it's hidden somewhere in Vatican City.  No pressure, right?  It's one of those books that's hard to put down, and there are plenty of clues and unique things to follow along as you read and attempt to guess what's going on and what's going to happen next (good luck).  In fact, I've been meaning to pick this up again and give it another read.


 Notes from the playlist: "Imagine the Fire" by Hans Zimmer

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Recommended for Serious SF Fans

















Hyperion by Dan Simmons

Required reading in my graduate school meant a genre book every semester.  Science fiction was up to bat my first year, and this was the book that ended up being chosen.  Hyperion was the sort of book that people either absolutely enjoyed or totally hated.  Obviously I ended up in the former group.  It is indeed like a futuristic Canterbury Tales that include everything from world-connecting portals to high functioning AI.  Then of course there's the Shrike, but I'm not telling you about that particular nightmare creature.  Each story is in some way connected as seven travelers hope to find answers to the questions in their lives on the planet Hyperion, where structures move backward in time and the Shrike waits for them all.  Some readers may find it slow, but I found it fascinating.  The scope of the universe that Simmons creates, as well as the powerful language and images he creates, is inspiring.  There are plenty of questions you will have yourself as things progress, but they may only be answered in the next book, The Fall of Hyperion.  And yes, I read that too.

P.S. I don't know what it is, but I totally love this cover.




Notes from the playlist: "Numb" by Alanis Morissette

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