Theme Song Saturday (2)

Welcome to Theme Song Saturdays, a new weekly meme, hosted by yours truly, in which we share our love of music and books! Since I love books and music, this meme is for fun to try to incorporate those two loves! Whenever I read a book, a certain song -- kind of like a soundtrack or theme song -- plays through my head.

Today's song:

Bloodletting the Vampire Song by Concrete Blond seems to describe this book perfectly. Granted, I'm only about 150pgs into it, but this song has been running through my head since Heather entered Club Hell. Being down in New Orleans and surrounded by people who call themselves vampires made this song strike a chord, especially since Heather is finding herself drawn to Dante in a way she has never experienced.

What do you think?

Share your own theme song for the book/series you're currently reading and visit other people on the list! I am really curious to see what everyone comes up with!

Theme Thursday

Theme Thursdays is a fun weekly event hosted by Reading Between the Pages. It will be open from one Thursday to the next. Anyone can participate in it. The rules are simple:

• A theme will be posted each week (on Thursday’s)
• Select a conversation/snippet/sentence from the current book you are reading
• Mention the author and the title of the book along with your post
• It is important that the theme is conveyed in the sentence (you don’t necessarily need to have the word)
  Ex: If the theme is KISS; your sentence can have “They kissed so gently” or “Their lips touched each other” or “The smooch was so passionate”

This week’s theme is

ANY ACTION (go, walk, close, clap etc)

Here's mine:

"The dancing, trashing crowd filling the dance floor held Heather's attention. A band played inside a steel-barred cage while the audience stalked them, seeking ways inside. Some climbed the cage, reaching in as they did, trying to grab a sleeve, a lock of hair. Without missing a note, the band kept playing as they dodged and skipped out of reach."

A Rush of Wings by Adrian Phoenix, 21

My Book Boyfriend: Jericho Barrons & Christian MacKeltar

My Book Boyfriend is a weekly meme, hosted by Missie at The Unread Reader. What is My Book Boyfriend you might ask. Well it is a weekly meme where we talk about a literary crush including stats, a picture of what you imagine he looks like and some quotes from him that make you swoon.

My two picks today are Jericho Barrons and Christian MacKeltar from KMM's Fever series.

Jericho Barrons stats:
Status: Former owner of Barrons Books and Baubles, Mac's love interest
Eye Colour: Dark eyes; however, they turn crimson when he is enraged
Hair: Dark
Height: 6'3"
Description: Typical Byronic hero, golden skin, strong, tattooed, chiseled features that border on too harsh to be handsome, intensely sexual, animalistic, carnal, and always has an impeccable appearance.

"You're leaving me, Rainbow Girl." (Dreamfever56)

"I'm not good, Mac. Never have been."
"I want what I want and I take it." (Shadowfever 468)

Christian MacKeltar Stats:
Status: Druid, lie detector, languages department at Trinity College
Eye Colour: Gold
Hair: Black
Height: Ha-ha, tall ^_~
Description: Another typical Byronic Hero, bronzed skin, tattooed, well built, typical seeming college guy, 20s

"You bloody damned fool. Now we'll both be dying here." (Dreamfever 395)

"I know, lass. Been here awhile. Get out from under me. Move your ass!" (Shadowfever 363)

Book Review -- Shadowfever

Title: Shadowfever
Author: Karen Marie Moning
Genre: Paranormal romance, urban fantasy
Pages: Hardback 594
Published: 2011
Opening Lines: "You wish to know me?"

"Evil is a completely different creature, Mac. Evil is bad that believes it's good."

"MacKayla Lane was just a child when she and her sister, Alina, were given up for adoption and banished from Ireland forever.

"Twenty years later, Alina is dead and Mac has returned to the country that expelled them to hunt her sister's murder. But after discovering that she descends from a bloodline both gifted and cursed, Mac is plunged into a secret history: an ancient conflict between humans and immortals who have lived concealed among us for thousands of years.

"What follows is a shocking chain of events with devastating consequences, and now Mac struggles to cope with grief while continuing her mission to acquire and control the Sinsar Dubh -- a book of dark, forbidden magic scribed by the mythical Unseelie King, containing the power to create and destroy worlds.

"In an epic battle between humans and Fae, the hunter becomes the hunted when the Sinsar Dubh turns on Mac and begins a deadly path through those she loves.

"Who can she turn to? Who can she trust? Who is the woman haunting her dreams? More important, who is Mac and what is the destiny she glimpses in the black and crimson designs of an ancient tarot card?"

~Jacket copy

Thoughts: After stopping myself from throwing the fourth book across the room and screaming in frustration, I informed my hubby that I was taking the car and shelling out $26 for the next book. Once I hit the end of the book, I was not disappointed. However, there were a few hitches for me in the process of getting there.

In the beginning of the book, I hated Mac. Considering what had happened, I completely understood, but I still felt that she was devolving into her old immature self. Granted, it was a changed and darker Mac, but, to me, she was essentially the same. She constantly convinced herself of the "rightness" of her actions by cocooning herself in Barrons' advice; however, it was obvious to me that she never truly listened or understood what he was trying to tell her. Yes, how we survive is important, but ultimately sacrificing who you are, denying part of yourself, killing part of yourself, isn't worth it. And, honestly, while he was honoured by her devotion, I don't think Barrons would have wanted to see her do that to herself.

However, after Darroc is no longer in the picture, I start to like Mac a lot better. When she finally starts facing who she truly is, she finally starts growing up again. I can see, in some ways, how Moning could make the argument that Mac needed to go through a hell to become refined and tempered.

A lot of the reviews I have read are mad that Moning didn't really tell the audience who/what Barrons is. To me, I don't feel as though I missed something. I don't feel that she chickened out and couldn't deliver. In fact, I feel that it was an important part of the story. In some ways, it would ruin the mystique of Barrons character to know everything. The problems I had were with Christian and not knowing what truly happened to him. Okay, you can make a damn good educated guess, but I want to know why.

The twist in the cave in the final moments with the Sinsar Dubh, V'Lane, the Dreamy-Eyed Boy, etc., was masterful! From the time he showed up calling Mac "Beautiful Girl," I knew DEB had a part to play. However, even though I guessed, I didn't fully see it coming until the audience was hit with the whammy.

In the end, she left some things open. The big one is that Dani and Mac never confront the issue between them. However, I didn't feel cheated by this. Something about the ending and Mac's understanding of what really happened left me knowing that things would be alright in the end. At the end, things were not perfect, but it definitely was a fairy tale (no pun intended ^_~).

Rating: ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Currently: A Rush of Wings by Adrian Phoenix
Current Pages: 16868
Current Progress:

46/50 books

Teaser Tuesday

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

• Grab your current read
• Opening to a random page
• Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
• Share Title & Author, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
  

• 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!)

Here's mine:

"Still sexy as hell, though," I added.
He looked back, flashed me a smile.

Shadowfever by Karen Marie Moning, 312

Theme Song Saturday! (1)

Welcome to Theme Song Saturdays, a new weekly meme, hosted by yours truly, in which we share our love of music and books! Since I love books and music, this meme is for fun to try to incorporate those two loves! Whenever I read a book, a certain song -- kind of like a soundtrack or theme song -- plays through my head.

Today's song:

Familiar Taste of Poison by Halestorm is the perfect song for this whole series -- at least a far as I have gotten into Shadowfever ^_^ From the first time Mac met Barrons, she has struggled with her feelings concerning him. Does she like him, love him, loath him, how should she view him, etc. At one point, she even wonders weather he is evil; however, his insistence on saving her life multiple times has her completely confused. While reading this series, this song has been running through my head constantly.

What do you think?

And, because it is on my mind, here is a song I felt fits Barrons, The Animal by Disturbed:

Share your own theme song for the book/series you're currently reading and visit other people on the list! I am really curious to see what everyone comes up with!

Follow Friday & Book Blogger Hop

Follow My Book Blog Friday is hosted by Rachel at Parajunkee's View and Alison at Alison Can Read. The point is to follow as many book blog as you can and make new friends! As part of the adventure, she gives a weekly question. Here is this week's question:

Q. Name 3 authors that you would love to sit down and spend an hour or a meal with just talking about either their books or get advice on writing from?

A: J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and Mary Shelley (Frederick Douglass would be awesome, too!). Getting a degree in English and wanting to follow it through into advanced degrees in Medieval Studies, Tolkien really, really influenced me a lot. Also, after reading one of his academic papers in class on the nature of fantasy, I would love to sit down and pick his brain. Lewis is much the same, as well as other members of the Inklings. As far as Mary Shelley, Frankenstein has stuck with me since I read it as an under grad. I would love to know why that was her one and only piece. It would be interesting to know how her mother influenced her work, and if she ever felt that she was living in her shadow as well as Percy's.



The Book Blogger Hop is a place just for book bloggers and readers to connect and share our love of the written word! This weekly BOOK PARTY is an awesome opportunity for book bloggers to connect with other book lovers, make new friends, support each other, and generally just share our love of books! It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs to read!

Q.What’s the ONE GENRE that you wish you could get into, but just can’t?

A: I really wish I could get into straight sci-fi. Most of my family loves it, rave about it, and swap books back and forth (Christmas, lending/borrowing, etc.), but it never really held me. Going into a genre like cyber-punk wouldn't be a problem, but the hardcore sci-fi has been daunting! Here's the kicker, I love sci-fi movies ^_~

Introducting: Theme Song Saturday!

<a href="http://sinnfulbooks.blogspot.com/2011/07/introducting-theme-song-saturday.html" target=_blank><img src="http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i46/eternal_synn/theme_song_sautrday.jpg"></a>

Welcome to Theme Song Saturdays, a new weekly meme, hosted by yours truly, in which we share our love of music and books! Since I love books and music, this meme is for fun to try to incorporate those two loves! Whenever I read a book, a certain song -- kind of like a soundtrack or theme song -- plays through my head.

Here's how Theme Song Saturdays work:

• On Saturdays, find a song that reminds you of the current book/series you're reading. In your post, tell us about the song, why it reminds you of the book, and post a video (either official music video or anything with the song you can find on YouTube).
• Grab the Theme Song Saturday button to include in your post.
• When you get your post all up and running, come back here and put a DIRECT link the post in the comments.
• Check out the other people participating and leave comments! As bloggers, we love to get comments, so share the love ^_^
• Everyone is welcome to join! Don't feel the need to participate every week. While I'd love to see you coming back, don't get yourself bogged down.
• In yours posts, have a link back to this intro page, so new participants know the rules.

Go forth and get ready for this Saturday! I am really excited to see what people come up with!

---

Previous Theme Song Saturday entries

• Fever series -- Familiar Taste of Poison by Halestorm and The Animal by Disturbed
• A Rush of Wings -- Bloodletting by Concrete Blonde
• A Rush of Wings -- Closer by Nine Inch Nails
• Kitty and the Silver Bullet -- They Can't Take That Away From Me by Billie Holiday
• Kitty and the Dead Man's Hand -- Bonfires by Rosie and Me
• Married with Zombies -- All My Friends are Zombies by the Priscillas
• Horns -- Sympathy for the Devil by Guns 'n Roses
• Jane Was Here -- Nobody Knows Me at All by the Weepies
• Vampire of New York -- System by Chester Bennington
• Death Masks -- Carry On My Wayward Son by Kansas
• Pale Demon -- Highway to Hell by ACDC
• Pale Demon -- Come Pick Me Up by Ryan Adams and The Highway by Audioslave
• Pale Demon -- Voodoo by Godsmack
• The Dark and Hollow Places -- Pass Slowly by Seether
• Blood Rights -- Tied Up, Dried, and Dead to the World by Marilyn Mason

Theme Thursday

Theme Thursdays is a fun weekly event hosted by Reading Between the Pages. It will be open from one Thursday to the next. Anyone can participate in it. The rules are simple:

• A theme will be posted each week (on Thursday’s)
• Select a conversation/snippet/sentence from the current book you are reading
• Mention the author and the title of the book along with your post
• It is important that the theme is conveyed in the sentence (you don’t necessarily need to have the word)
  Ex: If the theme is KISS; your sentence can have “They kissed so gently” or “Their lips touched each other” or “The smooch was so passionate”

This week’s theme is

SMILE (Laugh, Grin, Giggle, Guffaw, etc)

Here's mine:

I laugh, a throaty purr. I know what I look like. I washed after leaving Barrons and prepared myself with care. My bra is in my backpack. My hair is softly curled and wild around my face. It took time to get the black stain off my palms. There is nothing about me that is not a weapon, an asset, something to use to get what I want, including my body. I've learned a thing or two from Barrons: Power is sexy. It shapes the spine, infuses my beckoning hand. (25)

Shadowfever by Karen Marie Moning

My Book Boyfriend: Vanyel Ashkevron

Vaneyl Ashkevron is a character in Mercedes Lackey's Last Herald-Mage series. He is the firstborn son of a minor lord. Having issues with Vanyel's delicate nature and love for music, his father sends him away to be trained by his Aunt, Herald-Mage Savil.

Even though he is gay, Vanyel was my first book boyfriend. Being 16 years-old when I read the series, the sweet Byronic Hero definitely piqued my fancy. The tall, dark, handsome teenager -- later, man -- looking for a gentle place to fall was enough to bring me to my knees. Now, even though I still adore him, I might be more inclined to slap him out of his moodiness ^_~ However, when he shows up in a later series, I could just kiss him!

Vanyel's Stats:
1. The Last Herald-Mage
2. Blue-black hair
3. Chosen by Yfandes
4. Life bonded to Tylendel Frelennye/Stefen

My Book Boyfriend is a weekly meme, hosted by The Unread Reader, in which we swoon over boys in books!

Book Review -- Dreamfever

Title: Dreamfever
Author: Karen Marie Moning
Genre: Paranormal romance, urban fantasy
Pages: paperback, 453
Published: 2009
Opening Lines: "Death. Pestilence. Famine."

They may have stolen my past, but I'll never let them take my future.

"When the walls between Man and Fae come crashing down, freeing the insatiable, immortal Unseelie from their icy prison, MacKayla Lane is caught in a deadly trap. Captured by the Fae Lord Master, she is left with no memory of who or what she is: the only sidhe-seer alive who can track the Sinsar Dubh, a book of arcane black magic that holds the key to controlling both worlds.

"Clawing her way back from oblivion is only the first step Mac must take down a perilous path, from the battle-filled streets of Dublin to the treacherous politics of an ancient, secret sect, through the tangled lies of men who claim to be her allies into the illusory world of the Fae themselves, where nothing is as it seems -- and Mac is forced to face a soul-shattering truth.

"Who do you trust when you can't even trust yourself?"

~ Jacket copy

Thoughts: *screams* WTF?! Waking up this morning, I was excited to have about 20 more pages left to the book. *sigh* I counted wrong . . . I had 5. When I finished, I wasn't sure whether I wanted to throw the book or the author across the room. Holy cow, talk about a horrible way to end the book! I'm glad I only have to wait until this afternoon to get the last installment from the bookstore. Granted, I don't want to drop $26 with our mortgage payment coming due, but sheesh!!! Who the hell ends a book like that?!

After ending with Mac in the custody of the Unseelie princes and the Lord Master and being Pri-ya, I wasn't sure what to expect from this book. I knew that Barrons would end up coming in and saving the day, but I didn't see the spunky Dani being the savior! The more the book progresses, the more I adore that girl! I was pleasantly surprised that the first few chapters follow her. However, she is a little hard to follow ^_~

Honestly, the time spent between Barrons and Mac, in the beginning, was my favorite. The image of Barrons dancing naked to Tubthumping by The Offpsring was enough to make me laugh and feel a deep welling of emotion for the man.

"You're leaving me, Rainbow Girl." (56)

If it's possible, through those few chapters, I think I fell in love with Jericho Barrons. His actions towards Mac were simply and utterly a pure demonstration of love. It was beautiful.

I don't like what Mac went through, but in some ways I really am glad she has grown up even more. Some of her strategy with Rowena are childish, as well as some of the examples she sets for Dani. However, after talking with Kat and working with Dani, she seems to start growing up on a different level. Also, the fact that her ordeal has started to awaken something even more powerful in her is interesting. I honestly wish she had chosen to plunge the depths of her sidhe-seer place and see what was waiting for her.

All in all, this series has gotten progressively better. With each book, my opinion has been raised! I started out the series hating Jericho -- yes, he is still an ass, but with a heart -- and Mac, now I think they are starting to turn into well-rounded, deep characters. With the opening of the walls, Moning has expanded her writing style to encompass a rich landscape for the books, and I feel she has definitely risen to the challenge. From Darkfever to this book, it is obvious to me that her writing style has definitely matured. Good job, Karen!

Rating: ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Currently: Shadowfever by Karen Marie Moning
Current Pages: 16274
Current Progress:

45/50 books

Teaser Tuesday

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, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Here's mine:

I hoped the prophecy might clear things up, and I figured the best place to look for any prophecy about sidhe-seer matters was in Rowena's Forbidden Libraries, which was why I was so determined to secure a foothold at the abbey. I didn't care how much I pissed off Rowena.

Dreamfever by Karen Marie Moning, 174

Book Review -- Fahrenheit 451

Title: Fahrenheit 451
Author: Ray Bradbury
Genre: Speculative fiction
Pages: Paperback, 165
Published: 1953
Opening lines: "It was a pleasure to burn.
"It was a special pleasure to see things eaten, to see thing blackened and changed."

Monday burn Millay, Wednesday Whitman, Friday Faulkner, burn 'em to ashes, then burn the ashes.

"Guy Montag was a fireman whose job it was to start fires. And he enjoyed his job. He had been a fireman for ten years, and he had never questioned the pleasure of the midnight runs nor the joy of watching pages consumed by flames . . . never questioned anything until he met a seventeen-year-old girl who told him of a past when people were not afraid. Then Guy met a professor who told him of a future in which people could thing. And Guy Montag suddenly realized what he had to do . . ."

~ Jacket copy

Thoughts: I'm not sure how I managed to gain a degree in English and never read this book. While watching Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, I was overcome with a desire to read the book when the Nazis were burning books. For years, whenever my college Christian group discussed book burning, I would accuse them of being Nazi Germany or mention this book under my breath. And, of course, I had never read it. However, after reading it, I was more right than I ever could have known . . .

When I started this book, I fully expected some elaborate government coup to permanently do away with books as a way of citizen control. But I did not expect it to have originated with the people! In a society where people are focused on instant gratification and personal equality (similar to Harrison Bergeron), books are thrown by the wayside. Condensed down to small encyclopedia references, people can no longer need a college education to be up on the latest work of literature, like Shakespeare. However, seeing the pointlessness in that, books, which are about people who aren't even real, were replaced by "real" people in wall TVs.

"You can't build a house without nails and wood. If you don't want a house built, hide the nails and wood. If you don't want a man unhappy politically, don't give him two sides to a question to worry him; give him one. Better yet, give him none. Let him forget there is such a thing as war. If the government is inefficient, topheavy, and tax-mad, better to be all those than that people worry over it. Peace, Montag. Give the people contests they win by remembering the words to more popular songs or the names of state capitals or how much corn Iowa grew last year. Cram them so full of 'facts' they feel stuffed, but absolutely 'brilliant' with information. Then they'll feel they're thinking, they'll be happy, because facts of that sort don't change. Don't give them any slippery stuff life philosophy or sociology to tie things up with. That way lies melancholy. Any man who can take a TV wall apart and put it back together again, and most men can, nowadays, is happier than any man who tries to slide-rule, measure, and equate the universe, which just won't be measured or equated without making man feel bestial and lonely. I know, I've tried it; to hell with it. So bring on your clubs and parties, your acrobats and magicians, your daredevils, jet cars, motorcycle helicopters, your sex and heroin, more of everything to do with automatic reflex . . ." (60, 61)

However, after the people decided to do away with books, the government saw a toehold and used it for their advantage. Reading this quote -- and the whole book for that matter -- really made me think more about what we put importance on. Look at all of the game shows on TV, the bigger and better entertainment systems we want, etc. We stopped asking why.

Even though she did not have much time in the book, I loved Clarisse! She was a simple, beautiful, and delightful character! Just her presence and her refusal to accept life the way she was told made a huge difference in Montag's life. Her love to just talk and ask questions was pivotal in his development as a character.

This book is really hard to explain. Bradbury dares his audience to think about things, talk, and not take everything at face value. This was an amazing book, and I challenge people to read it and not come away changed.

Rating: ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Currently: Dreamfever by Karen Marie Moning
Current Pages: 152821
Current Progress:

44/50 books

Book Review -- Faefever

Title: Faefever
Author: Karen Marie Moning
Genre: Paranormal romance, urban fantasy
Pages: Paperback, 370
Published: 2008
Opening lines: "I'd die for him.
"No, wait a minute . . . that's not where this is supposed to begin."

He calls me his queen of the night. I'd die for him. I'd kill or him, too

"When MacKayla Lane receives a page torn from her dead sister's journal, she is stunned by Alina's desperate words. And now MacKayla knows that her sister's killer is close. But evil is closer. And suddenly the sidhe-seer is on the hunter: For answers. For revenge. And for an ancient book of dark magic so evil that it corrupts anyone who touches it.

"Mac's quest for the Sinsar Dubh takes her into the mean, shapeshifting streets of Dublin, with a suspicious cop on her tail. Forced into a dangerous triangle of alliance with V'Lane, a lethal Fae prince, and Jericho Barrons, a man of deadly secrets, Mac is soon locked in a battle for her body, mind, and soul."

~ Jacket copy

Thoughts: After the way the previous book ended, I'm glad we didn't make it to the library in time to pick up my current hold! Now I only wish I didn't have it sitting on my coffee table waiting for me to read! Dreamfever is currently sitting next to it, begging me to pick it up instead of the classic. Dammit! Arg!

It's hard to say too much about these books without giving everything away. The transitions between books feels pretty seamless. I don't feel as if I've lost any time; however, I have read the last two books in succession During the course of the series, Mac has progressively grownup. It is nice to see character growth and not have some static annoyance. I also like the evolution of her relationship with V'Lane and his attempts to woo her. At this point, however, my favorite character is Dani, and I cannot wait to see how she will grow and progress in the last two books.

The deeper Moning goes into the books' history of the Fae makes it more and more interesting. I'm not very well versed in some of the background, so I am by far not an authority as far as the accuracy to myth, but the creation of the Unseelie was quite unique and interesting. To me, it added more depth to the courts and made it far more imperative to find the Book.

"Liminal" is a fascinating word. Times can be liminal: Twilight is the transition from day to night; midnight is the crack between one day and the next; equinoxes and solstices and New Year's Day are all thresholds.

Liminal can also be a state of consciousness: for example, those moments between waking and sleeping, also known as threshold consciousness, or hypnagogia, a state during which a person might think herself fully alert, but is actually actively engaged in dreaming. This is the time that a lot of people report a convulsive jerk, or a feeling of physically falling.

Places can be liminal: airports with people constantly coming and going, but never staying. People, too, can be liminal: Teens, like Dani, are temporarily stuck between child and adult. Fictional characters are often Liminal Beings, archetypes that straddle two worlds, marking or guarding thresholds or are physically divided by two states of existence.

Between-ness is a defining characteristic of liminal. Limbo is another. Liminal is neither here nor there but exists between one moment and the next, poised in that pause where what's passing hasn't yet become what's becoming. Liminal is a magical time, a dangerous time, fraught with possibility . . . and peril. (326, 327)

That is the perfect summation of the entire book, without giving anything away. I cannot wait to dive into the next book. With the ending of Faefever, I cannot even begin to imagine what will happen! But, alas, my library hold came in . . .

Rating: ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Currently: Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
Current Pages: 15656
Current Progress:

43/50 books

Book Review -- Bloodfever

Title: Bloodfever
Author: Karen Marie Moning
Genre: Paranormal romance
Pages: Paperback, 337
Published: 2007
Opening lines: "All of us have our little problems ans insecurities. I'm no different."

"MacKayla Lane's ordinary life underwent a complete makeover when she landed on Ireland's shores and was plunged into a world of deadly sorcery and ancient secrets.

"In her flight to stay alive, Mac must find the Sinsar Dubh -- a million-year-old book of the blackest magic imaginable, which holds the key to power over both the worlds of the Fae and of Man. Pursued by Fae assassins, surrounded by mysterious figures she knows she cannot trust, Mac finds herself torn between two deadly and irresistible men: V'Lane, the insatiable Fae who can turn sensual arousal into an obsession for any woman, and the ever-inscrutable Jericho Barrons, a man as alluring as he is mysterious.

"For centuries the shadow realm of the Fae has coexisted with that of humans. Now the walls between the two are coming down, and Mac is the only thing that stands between them . . ."

~ Jacket copy

Thoughts: After really detesting the first book, I was surprised that this one was a lot better. However, according to a lot of negative reviews I read, the series does get better. With that in mind, I was willing to give it a chance.

This book picks up after the adventures of the last book. Mac is still working with Barron trying to find the Sinsar Dubh. However, after a few run-ins with a seemingly crazy old woman, Mac learns that she is no alone in the world. There is actually an organization of sidhe-seers, and they want her to join. Holding an abbey worth of ancient information and a network of sisterhood over her head, Mac is forced to decide whose loyalties to follow.

After the first book, Mac has grown up a lot. I suppose a near-death experience was enough to rattle her cage. Unwilling to stay in the dark, she spends her time trying to learn as much as she can about the world she has been trust into. However, she still has a lot to learn. She is learning that she is stronger than her had originally thought. She is also coming to terms with the fact that she was adopted.

I admit, I still don't like Jericho Barrons. However, by the end of the book, he has started to grow on me. I understand that he wants to keep Mac safe, but the way he treats her upsets me. It was good to see that she is finally starting to grow a little backbone when it comes to him. Even though he is an asshole, I found myself hoping they would tumble into the sake by the end of the book *sheepish grin*

And Christian! Doesn't it make Mac stop and wonder why a HUMAN has GOLD/AMBER eyes? Doesn't that seem rather strange?

The deeper the book delves into the Fae realm and lore really kept the book going for me. I liked the concept that before Faeries become mad, they drink from The Cauldron to restart their life anew. Also the eating of the Unseelie.

Needless to say, after reading this book, I am actually pretty curious about the next book.

Rating: ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Currently: Don't know
Current Pages: 15286
Current Progress:

42/50 books

Teaser Tuesday

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, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Here's mine:

His hand was on my throat, and he was crushing me back with his body into the cold steel beam behind me. "Yes, I have loved, Ms. Lane, and although it's none of your business, I have lost . . ."

Bloodfever by Karen Marie Moning, page 193

100 Followers Giveaway

It's about that time again! This blog is one person shy of 100 followers, and I want to celebrate by giving something away! After a lot of thought, I decided to give away a copy of my favorite horror novel, The Heart-Shaped Box. Reading and watching a lot of horrors has kind of left me a little desensitized and jaded; however, this book scared the hell out of me! It is an amazing book that pulls in elements of classic rock, ghosts, antiques, groupies, etc. Awesome!

Title: Heart-Shaped Box
Author: Joe Hill
Genre: Horror
Pages: Paperback, 400
Published: 2009

"Aging, self-absorbed rock star Judas Coyne has a thing for the macabre -- his collection includes sketches from infamous serial killer John Wayne Gacy, a trepanned skull from the 16th century, a used hangman's noose, Aleister Crowley's childhood chessboard, etc. -- so when his assistant tells him about a ghost for sale on an online auction site, he immediately puts in a bid and purchases it. The black, heart-shaped box that Coyne receives in the mail not only contains the suit of a dead man but also his vengeance-obsessed spirit. Now, determined to kill Coyne and anyone who aids him, the merciless ghost of Craddock McDermott begins his assault on the rocker's sanity."

So, that's the loot! Here's the catch, I want a ghost story. After downloading a wicked cool EVP app on my iPod, adventuring in the graveyard, and getting an EVP, I want more!

The rules:

• Tell me a ghost story of an encounter you had, you know about, a friend had, etc. in the comments. It has to be scary!
• Leave your e-mail so I can contact you.
  
• Tell everyone you know about the giveaway!

I will read and judge each story. When I find one that is interesting, creeps me out, or just plain awesome, I will announce the winner here and through e-mail. To give people time to collect a story, the contest will run until Monday august 1, 2011 @ 5pm MST.

Please read my giveaway policy!

Good luck!

Book Review -- My Life as a White Trash Zombie

Title: My Life as a White Trash Zombie
Author: Diana Rowland
Genre: Urban fantasy
Pages: Paperback, 310
Published: 2011
Opening Lines: "'You should be dead,' the ER nurse stated as she adjusted something on my IV. She was more husky than fat, with too much eye makeup, and hair that had been dyed a nasty shade of reddish orange."

Angel Crawford is a loser.

"Living with her alcoholic deadbeat dad in the swamps of southern Louisiana, she's a high school dropout with a pill habit and a criminal record who's been fired from more crap jobs than she can count. Now on probation for a felony, it seems that Angel will never pull herself out of the downward spiral her life has taken.

"That is, until the day she wakes up in the ER after overdosing on painkillers. Angel remembers being in a horrible car crash, but she doesn't have a mark on her. To add to the weirdness, she receives an anonymous letter telling her there's a job waiting for her at the county morgue -- and that it's an offer she doesn't dare refuse.

"Before she knows it she's dealing with a huge crush on a certain hunky deputy and a brand new addiction: an overpowering craving for brains. Plus, her morgue is filling up with the victims of a serial killer who decapitates his prey -- just when she's hungriest!

Angel's going to have to grow up fast if she wants to keep this job and stay in one piece. Because if she doesn't, she's dead meat.

"Literally."

~ Jacket copy

Thoughts: The cover drew me to this book! I loved the artwork and the title. Who could refuse an awesome, hot zombie girl claiming to be a white trash zombie? Definitely not me *^_^*

This book did not disappoint! The book follows the beginning of Angel Crawford's undead life. After waking up in the ER, she receives a very weird letter, bottles on some chunky coffee drink, and instructions to show up for a job with the coroner. Considering that she is a pill popper, daughter of a drunk, and an all around type-a loser, Angel has a hard time deciding who would give her a job. After arriving at the job, she assumes it is something set up by her parole officer to scare her straight. However, that still doesn't explain the chunky drink, the unusual non-issue with gore, and this overwhelming desire to eat brains.

Angel is one of the best main characters I've run across in awhile. She doesn't apologize for who she is, and she sure as hell doesn't pull any punches. I found it extremely endearing and hilarious that she is denying her zombie nature will munching down brains in the body cooler. And, even after confirmation of her new undead status, she seems to take everything in stride.

I felt that Rowland took a lot of time developing this story. The characters and environment were very rich and full bodied. Even though she didn't spend tons of time there, I could imagine the sound of the cans crunching in Angel's driveway whenever she came home. I could also feel dirty when she walked into the house. The characters around Angel created a nice depth without taking anything away from the story or pulling attention away from her.

I loved Rowland's take on zombies! It was also awesome to see zombies not always being the bad, shambling, id controlled monster we are used to in movies. I've always loved zombies, so seeing redeeming characteristics was a nice change!

I am eagerly awaiting the second book, Even White Trash Zombies Get the Blues.

Rating: ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Currently: Bloodfever by Karen Marie Moning
Current Pages: 14949
Current Progress:

41/50 books

Follow Friday & Book Blogger Hop

Follow My Book Blog Friday is hosted by Rachel at Parajunkee's View. The point is to follow as many book blog as you can and make new friends! As part of the adventure, she gives a weekly question. Here is this week's question:

Let's step away from the besties . . . what is the worst book you've ever read and actually finished?


After I stopped forcing myself to read books I disliked, there haven't been that many. I would have to say that the Twilight Saga is near the top of my list.



The Book Blogger Hop is a place just for book bloggers and readers to connect and share our love of the written word! This weekly BOOK PARTY is an awesome opportunity for book bloggers to connect with other book lovers, make new friends, support each other, and generally just share our love of books! It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs to read!

Support Book Blogger Giveaway!


The Bookish Brunette has an awesome ZOMBIE CRAZE going on! She is giving away a lot of swanky ZOMBIE awesomeness, so get over there and click her link in the sidebar!! Go check out Seductive Musings for a chance to win What a Goddess Wants. The Garden of Books is having a giveaway for Fang, which looks awesome! I Want to Read That has a chance to win Otoli, a YA book that looks pretty good!