Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Teaser Tuesday (16)







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

* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!


My teaser today is from  On Message by Joyce T. Strand :




Currently Reading

Jillian was dumbstruck. Her heart rate increased dramatically. Someone had specifically mentioned her name and the floor where she lived? Why? What was going on?














So far, it's a very interesting read. Can't wait to finish it and share the review :) What's your teaser this week?

Book Review: Lust On The Rocks by Dianne Venetta

Currently Reading




Author: Dianne Venetta
Source: copy provided by the author for review
Blurb: (from Goodreads)


She has what he needs, and he won't stop until he gets it. Trouble is, what begins as a matter of death, becomes a matter of life.

One case away from partnership, Samantha Rawlings is forced to share her high-profile case with a sexy younger man, whose eyes are on a different prize. In the best interests of her client, Sam opens the door to his strategy. Turns out, a little too far...

Victor Marin has ulterior motives. The defendant in her case holds the key to his revenge and his last chance for justice. But as he chases old demons, he uncovers a powerful woman with no inhibitions, one he wants to possess for himself. But decidedly single, Sam wants no part.

Until Vic walks away.


The first thing I liked about this book was the fact that both the hero and the heroine were lawyers. It's been some time since I've read a book about a lawyer. And I enjoyed the coaching of the witnesses, seeing how they tried to figure out what the best way to question a witness was, who was better at captivating the jury, every little detail about the case.

Sam Rawlings is a very interesting character. She's a very good lawyer in my opinion. She's also sarcastic, stubborn, fun, sexy. I liked that about her. She's a very complex character. She's also the oldest sister and she had to help raise her brothers and sisters. So she's clearly used to being in control of the situation and to take some or all decisions. I think this last part affects her relationships, because she has that "I'm older, so I know better" attitude sometimes. I like the fact that in the end, she admits when she's wrong.

Vic is an easy guy to like. He's fun, sexy, smart, sweet, a very good listener and a good friend. His past is really painful and it made me really sad. It also made me like him more, because for someone who's been through so much at an early age, he wasn't bitter or angry at the world.

There's also a pretty interesting subplot involving Sam's younger sister, Jess. The subject of the unexpected pregnancy wasn't disturbing. It was the way it was treated that was a little more outside of my comfort zone. I understand part of Sam's reasoning, but it wasn't her choice. At times I felt that just because she didn't have a desire to become a mother all the women around her should be the same. It probably isn't something that crossed Sam's mind, but it was the way I understood her.

But the subplot aside, this book was very good, fun, light, sexy, romantic. It was a good read.


My Rating:
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Day 08 – Most overrated book

Oh I like this one! *rubs hands* Ok. Before I start, I want to let you know that I'm not criticizing the readers and the fans of the books I'm going to talk about. I know a lot of people talk trash about someone based on their tastes and that's not what I'm going to do. I'm simply saying what I think about the books, nothing more and nothing less. Just because you're fans of these books doesn't make you inferior or superior to me, it just means you like something other than me and that's fine, because we're all unique and we have different opinions.

So back to the topic. I love vampires. With all my heart and soul and I'm not ashamed to say that I'll read (or try to read, anyway) all books with vampires. Call me obsessed it you like. In my opinion vampires can be sexy, fun, strong, dangerous, terrifying, beautiful or ugly. But they cannot sparkle. I'm sorry, but in my head the sparkle takes away something from the myth of the terrifying creatures thirsty for blood. And I grew up in a country that has so many horror stories with vampires, so it's difficult to accept sparkly creatures as part of the scary myth. So no Twilight for this girl. I tried to read it, but I didn't enjoy it.

Then there's the second book that I consider overrated. Now, if you're writing a horror story about a vampire, shouldn't there BE a vampire in it? It's a book that I didn't manage to finish reading, because the horror in it was missing for the first 250 pages. I'm talking about Salem's Lot by Stephen King. I know a lot of people love his books, but after my first go at his work, I'm not sure I want to try again. Yes, I do have a high tolerance for how much gore and suspense and gross a book can have. But I didn't feel any suspense or any indication for that matter that there was something wrong or scary in Salem's Lot. Where was the big, bad, scary vampire? Probably in the last pages, but I felt like the book was so slow, I wasn't intrigued enough to turn another page. I realize it's one of his early stories, so maybe if I tried reading one of his newest novels I'd be surprised. Do I want to? I seriously don't know. If it's horror, it should at least make me think my heart's pounding faster than usual, but all I was thinking the whole time I tried reading it was "ok, where's the bad guy?". I was actually more a little bit more scared by Anne Rice's The Tale of the Body Thief than Salem's Lot.

So these are the two books that I consider overrated. Like I said, if you like these books, then good for you. I didn't and that's that.

What is a book that's overrated in your opinion?

Monday, January 30, 2012

Day 07 – Most underrated book

Oh boy. I'm at a loss here. I actually know no books that I view them as underrated. I know entire genres that are underrated by some, but that's beside the point.

The thing is, there's always going to be a book that doesn't get enough attention, no matter how popular is or isn't. That's why we have different tastes. Some people think Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings or Pride and Prejudice are crap, others think they are great books. So it's difficult to say what book is underrated. For me more so, because usually I don't care if the books I like are liked by other people or not :P So for this topic I have no answer, really. *oops*

Do you know any books that are underrated?

Cover Love (3)

Rabid Reads - Cover Love

This feature is hosted by Carmel @ Rabid Reads. The rules are very simple. Choose a cover (or two, or three), preferably new-ish, and share what you like about it. Grab my graphic or don't just so long as you link back.



My Picks this week:

Third Grave Dead Ahead (Charley Davidson, #3)


I realize I'm late to a really cool party. Or so it seems, as I've heard a lot of good things about this series. I tried to resist, but then I read the blurb on Goodreads and I saw some keywords that convinced me I need to read the series. Keywords like ghosts, demon and, a new one, grim reaper. Now I've never read a book with a grim reaper in it before, so I figure it's a must read. I figure that the awesomeness that is the cover for the third installment convinced me to read the books even before I read the blurb though :P


Blood Magic (Blood Journals, #1)


Like I told you last week, I love black and white photos/covers with just one little colored detail. There's just something about that, like a little corner of blue sky in the middle of a storm. And it gives me a sense of mystery. Do I need more books on my TBR pile? God knows I don't, but just look at that cover! And the title Blood Magic just convinces me I need to find out more. I like the birds coming out of the blood-red flower. And the woods in the background assure me it's a book full of suspense and dark moments. So I'm adding it on my TBR mountain :D

Those are my two pics for this week. What are yours?

Blog Tour Guest Post: Resa Nelson & giveaway

Please welcome Resa Nelson, author of The Dragonslayer series (The Dragonslayer's Sword and The Iron Maiden) and Out Lady of the Absolute. If you haven't read this series yet, you should! There's also an awesome giveaway, so stick around.

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How I Created and Designed a Sword for Dragonslayers

My research for my 4-book Dragonslayer series included taking a course in blacksmithing (because my main character is a female blacksmith) and taking courses to learn historically accurate ways to use medieval weapons (because she makes swords for dragonslayers). Earlier in this blog tour I wrote about how I modeled the fantasy dragons in my books on a real animal: the Komodo dragon. Today I’m going to tell you how I decided what kind of sword my characters would need to kill one.

Don’t get me wrong: I love dragons. When I was a teen I loved Anne McCaffrey’s Pern series. But in my Dragonslayer world there are two types of dragons. One type you don’t want to kill. But the other type is extremely dangerous and won’t hesitate to kill people – that’s the type of dragon that must be slain.
Because Book 1 in my series is called The Dragonslayer’s Sword, I decided I need to pay a lot of attention to the exact type of weapon my main character forges. After all, her sweetheart is a dragonslayer and her work is what keeps him safe.

I took courses where I got hands-on experience using medieval weapons, and I spent most of my time studying how to use the German long sword. I’m (almost) 5’2” and the German long sword stands nearly as high as my shoulders, about 4’ or so tall. It’s a two-handed weapon, so you grip it pretty much the way you grip a baseball bat except you keep space between your hands: you jam one hand against the pommel and the other hand against the crossguard. For me, that means there’s about a 5” gap between my hands. Even though the sword is huge, this grip gives you a lot of control.

A common misconception is that swords are heavy. As big as the German long sword is, it typically weights 2 or 3 pounds. If I lived in the Middle Ages and devoted years to developing my sword skills, I think this type of sword is the largest I’d be able to handle comfortably. And if I were to face a dangerous dragon, I’d want the longest sword I could find to keep as much distance between me and the dragon as possible!

My next decision came from library research. I modeled my fantasy world on the beginning of the Viking era, and I learned that there was a technique (which tended to be a well-kept secret among sword-makers) called pattern welding. In a nutshell, you can’t predict how strong or weak any given piece of iron is going to be until after you’ve already made a weapon out of it and you use it in battle. It will either hold up or it might bend or break – and you’ll be dead if that happens. If I were facing a dragon, there’s no way I’d want my sword to bend or break! Pattern welding is a technique (which I describe in detail in Book 1 in my series) where you take different pieces of iron and essentially twist them together when you make the sword. It’s likely some pieces of iron will be weak but others will be strong, and you’ll end up with a weapon that’s strong but also flexible, which is exactly what you want.

So the dragonslayer’s sword could be a real weapon. I combined the design of a German long sword with the sword-making technique of pattern welding. In my fantasy world, it’s what some characters call a “dragonish sword,” but the details about it come from our world.

During this blog tour I’m telling lots of stories about the research I’ve done for my Dragonslayer series. You can find out where I’ve been and where I’m going next by checking my website (http://www.resanelson.com), my Facebook page (Resa Nelson & The Dragonslayer’s Sword), or following me on Twitter (ResaNelson).

If you’d like to sample my work for free, you can download a free “mini” ebook called “Dragonslayer Stories” from my website at http://www.resanelson.com/files. No cost, no obligation, nothing to sign up for, no information gathering. I like giving away samples of my work so you can decide for yourself whether you like it or not. If you do, you can enter to win a copy of the first two books in my series, which I’ll give away at the end of this tour on Feb. 14. To enter, just send email to ResaBonusGifts@aol.com. (I won’t keep your email address – this just makes it easier for me to keep track of entries.) I’m also doing a book giveaway on GoodReads, so you can enter to win at http://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/19270-the-dragonslayer-s-sword.


Giveaway Details:

The giveaway on Goodreads is for residents of the US only. Don't worry if you're not a US resident though, you can win a copy of the books if you send an email to the address above (ResaBonusGifts@aol.com).


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Thank you for stopping by, Resa!


About Resa Nelson



Resa Nelson has been selling fiction professionally since 1988. She is a longtime member of SFWA (Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America) and is a graduate of the Clarion SF Workshop.

Resa was also the TV/Movie Columnist for Realms of Fantasy magazine for 13 years and was a contributor to SCI FI magazine. She has sold over 200 articles to magazines in the United States and the United Kingdom.
Her first novel, The Dragonslayer’s Sword, was nominated for the Nebula Award, the highest honor in science fiction and fantasy. It was also a Finalist for the EPPIE Award. This medieval fantasy novel is based on a short story first published in the premiere issue of Science Fiction Age magazine and ranked 2nd in that magazine's first Readers Top Ten Poll. The Dragonslayer's Sword is Book 1 in a 4-book series. Book 2, The Iron Maiden, was recently published. Book 3 is scheduled for publication in Summer 2012.
Resa's standalone novel, Our Lady of the Absolute, is a fantasy/mystery/thriller about a modern-day society based on ancient Egypt. Midwest Book Review gave this book a 5-star review, calling it "a riveting fantasy, very highly recommended."
In real life, Resa is a fan of chocolate, travel, summer, museums, ballet, movies, and Broadway musicals (her favorites are Les Miserables and Wicked). She lives in Massachusetts.



About the books:

The Dragonslayer's Sword




The Dragonslayer's SwordFor Astrid, a blacksmith who makes swords for dragonslayers, the emergence of a strange gemstone from her body sets in motion a chain of events that threaten to destroy her life. Her happiness is shattered when her lover-the dragonslayer-disappears without a trace, and the life that she knows and loves implodes without warning. Astrid lives in a world of shapeshifters whose thoughts have the power to change not only themselves but others. Everything Astrid knows to be true is called into question when she learns the truth about her past and the mysterious family from which she was separated as a child. Reality turns inside out as Astrid gradually learns the truth about the people she loves as well as those she disdains. With the fate of dragons, ghosts, and slaves in foreign lands resting on her shoulders, Astrid faces the challenge of deciding who she is and how she will stand up inside her own skin. Will she withdraw and hide from the world that has disappointed her so much...or will she rise to lead others to freedom and peace?




The Iron Maiden

For Astrid, a blacksmith who makes swords for dragonslayers, the emergence of a strange gemstone from her body sets in motion a chain of events that threaten to destroy her life. Her happiness is shattered when her lover-the dragonslayer-disappears without a trace, and the life that she knows and loves implodes without warning. Astrid lives in a world of shapeshifters whose thoughts have the power to change not only themselves but others. Everything Astrid knows to be true is called into question when she learns the truth about her past and the mysterious family from which she was separated as a child. Reality turns inside out as Astrid gradually learns the truth about the people she loves as well as those she disdains. With the fate of dragons, ghosts, and slaves in foreign lands resting on her shoulders, Astrid faces the challenge of deciding who she is and how she will stand up inside her own skin. Will she withdraw and hide from the world that has disappointed her so much...or will she rise to lead others to freedom and peace?

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Day 06 – A book that makes you sad

Text books and books I don't finish reading. Text books mean exams. I hate exams. As I have to prepare for a big exam later this year, I hate text books even more. I have to say, out of...50 text books there are about 4 or 5  that I enjoy reading, but that almost doesn't matter when you're reading many, many text books. The books I don't finish is a no-brainer.

Oh, I have another one. Like I said in a previous post, I love a lot of series. Some of those series are insanely long. It doesn't bother me, but with some of those (I won't tell which) the latest books disappoint me. Some of the characters from those series, characters that I'm very fond of, tend to act very...odd in the latest installments and it bothers me, because while a fictional character is allowed to have a "bad day", he/she shouldn't change completely. There's a character, a male vampire, that I love and he's all manly, strong, sexy, smart, funny in all the books of a certain series and in the last one or two books he's like a pitiful shadow of himself. Like I said, he can be cranky, angry, moody, but I don't think he should act all beta when he was alpha, or suddenly loose some brain cells when previously he was smart and all. That's just me, I'm not trying to be snarky or anything. And yes, it makes me sad to see a character become less than what he is.

So that's me. What books make you sad?

Book Review: The Iron Maiden by Resa Nelson





Author: Resa Nelson
Series: The Dragonslayer #2
My Rating: 5 cups
Source: review copy provided by the author
Blurb: (from Amazon):


Astrid is reluctant to travel the winter route beyond the Northlands, even though it’s her duty. She’d rather stay home in her village, surrounded by friends and neighbors. Ignoring the bonds of tradition, she decides to spend the cold winter months in the warmth of her blacksmithing shop. Why should she leave the comfort of her cottage to serve and protect foreigners who might raid and harm her native Northlands?Everything changes when a traveling merchant steals Starlight, the first dragonslayer’s sword Astrid forged and her last link to her sweetheart DiStephan. Having no time to alert her friends, Astrid races in pursuit of the merchant, determined to reclaim Starlight as her own and return home in time for dinner. Instead, her quest leads her to new lands, unexpected friendships with foreigners, and a harrowing encounter with the damage done by the followers of a new god that considers women as nothing more than servants to men. All the while, she must be ready to face any dragon traveling the winter route.In Book 2 of the Dragonslayer series, Astrid must learn that deciding who she is isn’t a decision she can make just once. Instead, it’s a decision she must make every day.

This is the second book in the Dragonslayer series and I loved it even more than the first installment. The first  thing I loved about it was that, while there are certain moments when you are remembered about the things that happened in the first book, they aren't too big or too many. I was very happy with that.

I loved the fact that in this book Astrid was more mature and I felt like she was more aware of her actions and their consequences. I also liked that she made friends on her journey and that she took her role at protecting the people around them seriously, even if it  wasn't just against dragons and lizards.

One thing that is different in this book, we have more than just one point of view and I loved that. I liked the subplots. I loved Margreet and her story and I was very sad of how it ended. I liked the friendship that Astrid and Margreet had.

One thing that I think was amazing, was the way the author created the background of this book. The reader learns more about women's role in the society, about the old religions and about the new one, about the way in which priests would abuse their power, these little details made the world built in this series seem real and I loved that.

And can I just say how much I love the cover? The design is amazing and I'm trying to imagine how it would look made of silver *sigh*

I'm very curious what will happen next in the story.


My Rating:
Rocked my world photo Image9.png

Saturday, January 28, 2012

Day 05 – A book that makes you happy

This is a tricky theme. I can't choose a book that makes be happy, because about 90% of the books I read make me happy. I say 90% of them, because those are the books I finish reading. The other 10% are books that either bore me or books I don't finish reading. Reading makes me happy, regardless of the book or the genre. There's always a book that gives me something that all other books don't give me. So if I read Harry Potter, I feel like I'm 12 again, reading it for the first time and discovering the adventure and magic inside the story, when I read The Vampire Armand is because it's the first horror book I ever read and it reminds me of that and how I discovered a new world the first time I read it.

I might sound cheesy, but when I'm reading a book is like Christmas. I'm happy just with reading it and being transported into a new, magical world, different than the real world. So I like my books different than real life and just that difference makes me happy.

So what books make you happy?

Book Review: The Dragonslayer's Sword by Resa Nelson




Author: Resa Nelson
Series: The Dragonslayer #1
My Rating: 5 cups
Source: review copy provided by the author
Blurb (from Goodreads):
For Astrid, a blacksmith who makes swords for dragonslayers, the emergence of a strange gemstone from her body sets in motion a chain of events that threaten to destroy her life. Her happiness is shattered when her lover-the dragonslayer-disappears without a trace, and the life that she knows and loves implodes without warning. Astrid lives in a world of shapeshifters whose thoughts have the power to change not only themselves but others. Everything Astrid knows to be true is called into question when she learns the truth about her past and the mysterious family from which she was separated as a child. Reality turns inside out as Astrid gradually learns the truth about the people she loves as well as those she disdains. With the fate of dragons, ghosts, and slaves in foreign lands resting on her shoulders, Astrid faces the challenge of deciding who she is and how she will stand up inside her own skin. Will she withdraw and hide from the world that has disappointed her so much...or will she rise to lead others to freedom and peace?

I just finished reading The Dragonslayer's Sword and I have to say I'm very tempted to go back and read it again.

I'm going to be honest here. I was completely out of my comfort zone with this book. First of all, I don't think I've read a lot of books with medieval themes. So I didn't really knew what to expect. Also, I know nothing about blacksmiths. I was pleasantly surprised by the way Ms. Nelson managed to combine the fantasy details with the historical details. Another thing I loved was how the author described the process of sword making and how she made it sound somewhat easy. Of course, I know it's not easy, but it didn't sound like something  impossible to learn.

I also loved the new take on shapeshifters and dragons. It was refreshing, because it's so unlike any other fantasy novel I've read, it's different and new. I liked that a lot, because I didn't feel like I knew what the dragons or shapeshifters would be like.

In this book we watch the heroine, Astrid, grow up and become an amazing woman. Despite her childhood, she manages to move on with the help of DiStephan, the dragonslayer, and her best friend, Mauri. Most of the book is told from her perspective, but at the end, we get to see some of the scenes told from the perspectives of other characters and I liked that.

I have to say, one of the things I loved most about this book was the balance in it. The descriptions weren't too big or too short for me, the action scenes were great and the dialogues were well written and they had the perfect length. The book also fast-paced and I loved that. There wasn't a moment when I felt that the story was in one scene or place more than it should.

The only thing I was hoping was to be inside other character's perspective a little more. There is one scene with Astrid and some other blacksmiths when Astrid realized how she was truly seen by those men and it makes her more confident in herself and in who she is, so I think it would've helped her more to see things from another angle.

I think this was a great start for a series and I'm very curious what happens next, in The Iron Maiden



My Rating:
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Friday, January 27, 2012

Day 04 – Favorite book of your favorite series

Yesterday I mentioned a few of my favorite series. Here are my favorite books of those series. For some series, the choice is tricky, because I like all books equally, but I'll try to choose just one :)



  • It's a tie between Acheron and Dance With The Devil - Dark Hunters/Dream Hunters/Were Hunters by Sherrilyn Kenyon  
  • Dead To The World. While I love bad-ass Eric, he was so sweet when he lost his memory - The Southern Vampires by Charlaine Harris 
  • Queen of the Damned - Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice
  • Lothaire - Immortals After Dark by Kresley Cole
  • Passion Unleashed. Wraith, 'nuff said Demonica by Larissa Ione 
  • Club Shadowlands. Although I love all the books in this series, there's something about Master Z that makes me love him more. Might be his profession *blush* - Masters of the Shadowlands by Cherise Sinclair 
  • All Jacked Up. I love it when the wild girl of the family finds her match - Rough Riders by Lorelei James 
  • It's a tie between Lover Awakened and Lover Unbound. While Zsadist has a story that makes me cry every time I read it, Vishous is the bad boy of the group, so it really is very hard for me to choose. Black Dagger Brotherhood by J.R. Ward 
  • Riding Temptation Wild Riders by Jaci Burton 
  • Elizabeth's Wolf - Breeds by Lora Leigh 
  • Hot Finish - Fast Track by Erin McCarthy

What are your favorite books of your favorite series?

Follow Friday (9)


Welcome to Follow Friday hosted this week by Parajunkee and Alison!
The main idea behind FF is just to go see a bunch of new blogs you may never have seen before, and follow the ones you like (and they’ll follow you back!) It’s a total win/win, so take a peek around and follow me!

This week’s question is: 





Which book genre do you avoid at all costs and why?



I avoid all books with aliens. Here's the thing. When I was a kid I loved Star Trek: The Next Generation. You know, the one with Captain Jean-Luc Picard. I was obsessed with that show. After that, I compare all science fiction shows and books with Star Trek. It's not something I want to do, I mean, I'd wish I didn't. But I feel that there really isn't an alien show/book out there better than that one. So I avoid books with aliens.


What genres do you avoid and why?

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Day 03 – Your favorite series

Oh my. I love so many series, I don't know where to start. I'm going to list them below, but keep in mind there's no correct order for me.


  • Dark Hunters/Dream Hunters/Were Hunters by Sherrilyn Kenyon - vampires, ancient gods, were-creatures, demons...this series is full of so many interesting creatures and I love that about it;
  • The Southern Vampires by Charlaine Harris - this series holds a special place in my heart, because it was the first series I read about vampires that could have sex. 
  • Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice - my first vampires, my first horror stories;
  • Immortals After Dark by Kresley Cole
  • Demonica by Larissa Ione 
  • Masters of the Shadowlands by Cherise Sinclair - hot, sexy, alpha males who are also Doms *sigh* What can be better?
  • Rough Riders by Lorelei James - Cowboys, sexy cowboys!
  • Black Dagger Brotherhood by J.R. Ward 
  • Wild Riders by Jaci Burton - hot guys on Harleys
  • Breeds by Lora Leigh - my first paranormal series without vampires
  • Fast Track by Erin McCarthy - My first race car drivers books 

These are just a few (a small, small part) of the series I love. Like I said, there are other series I love and cherish.

What are your favorite series?

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Day 02 – A book that you’ve read more than 3 times

Acheron (Dark-Hunter, #15)


You all know how much I love the Dark Hunter series by Sherrilyn Kenyon. I've read the second part of Acheron more times than I can count *blush* The first part though... those are some tough pages to read. And I'm usually a tough cookie. 

Acheron's history, the years before he became the warrior and the god we know him to be in "present" time, is hard for me to read, so I've read it only once. But it was enough to stick in my memory like I just read it a few seconds ago. 

What I loved about Acheron as a character is his strength, his kindness and wisdom, all of this combined perfectly with a big dose of bad ass. Because he is a bad-ass, but a sexy one. I also loved Tori, his heroine. She makes him believe that he deserves love, respect and everything that he never had when he was growing up. 

Also, this book is funny, once you get past the sad, "I'm-going-to-cry-for-ages" part. There are so many funny moments and the best part about them is that no matter how many times I read the book, they still surprise me (in a good way) and I always laugh at them, because for me, they never get old. I love that about this book, as well as many, many other parts that I won't specify, for fear of giving too many spoilers. 

I think this is one of the "Must Reads" for everyone enjoying urban fantasy, paranormal, romance and a lot more other genres. 


Book Review: Casual by Oksana Robski

Casual


  



Author: Oksana Robski
Original Title: Casual
Country: Russia
Rating: 3 cups
Blurb (from Goodreads):

Based on the author's own experiences, Casual tells the story of a wealthy young woman whose husband is mysteriously gunned down outside their Moscow apartment. Determined to avenge his murder while maintaining her lavish lifestyle, she must navigate through a treacherous labyrinth of high society and low company.
From running her own business to negotiating with hit men, the resilient widow becomes intimately involved in the corrupt and dangerous underbelly of the Russian business world. At once an entrepreneur and socialite, she and her equally rich and beautiful friends attend Moscow's wildest parties, spend thousands on plastic surgery, and stop at nothing to snag rich husbands.
A sensational bestseller in its native Russia, Casual exposes the secret lives of the country's new elite. In a world of double-crossinggangsters, torrid affairs, and truly desperate housewives, startling excess is often accompanied by violence, heartbreak, and betrayal.


I bought this book about three years ago, during a wonderful, big book fair. I loved the cover (not the one above, though, that one seems cold and impersonal for a chick lit). This is the cover my edition has:



Pretty, right? Anyway, I wanted to try something new, since every chick lit book I've read until then was either set in the UK or written by a British/English author. So the idea of a Russian chick lit appealed to me, big time.  

This book reminded me of Desperate Housewives, only in Russia. You have funny moments, tragic moments, some tears, plots and schemes and money. Lots and lots of money. The heroine of this book is very witty, sarcastic, sometimes almost snarky. Her and her friends are rich and they aren't afraid of showing that. The author takes you from spas to exclusive restaurants and clubs, where the rich people in Moscow have fun, drink, gossip and flirt. 

I liked the feel of reality this book had. It truly made me believe that about half of the things that happened in the book might happen in real life, which is really rare in a book. And the little intrigues, the every day life experiences, like running into an ex, or your lover and his wife and realizing he's not going to leave her for you,  or finding out your late husband's mistress is pregnant, being threatened by the mob, all those subplots made this a very interesting read. 

At times though, some of the characters blended together, probably because some of them had very similar names.

All in all, this was an interesting book. If you're a fan of chick lit, then you should give this book a try.


My Rating:
It was ok photo Image11.png

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Day 01 – Best book you read last year

Last year I read a bunch of amazing books, books that made me laugh or cry or shudder or frown. So it really is incredibly hard for me to choose just one. I have to say that the book that stands out more is Le Premier Jour by Marc Levy.


Besides the fact that Marc Levy is one of my favorite authors of all times, I have to say I've never read a more unique book than this one. You have a mix of romance, drama, mystery, comedy, thriller and a bit of supernatural that make this book so amazing. What's more amazing is the unique view of how life and humans appeared on Earth. The two main characters, Adrian and Kira, come from totally different backgrounds and opposite theories and beliefs about how life started. The thing I love most about this book is the way the author manages to make those theories work together and to make them complement each other and somehow make some aspects of one theory plausible answers for the questions of the other theory.

This story continues in La première nuit. I believe both books are great, but Le Premier Jour is better in my opinion.

I had a lot of fun reading this book (like with every other Marc Levy book).

What's your favorite book from last year?

Teaser Tuesday (15)





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

* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers! 


My teaser this week is from Lust On The Rocks by  Dianne Venetta

Lust on the Rocks

“Oh my God...” She felt a brush of light-headedness.
“They’re for you,” he said proudly, decked out in a formal black suit and tie, his
smile rivaling the brilliance of the sun.

Don't you just love that cover? *sighs* Makes me wish I had a Martini right now :P

What's your TT this week?

Monday, January 23, 2012

30 Day Book Challenge

Last week while I was doing my daily blog stalking...err...hoping I found this very interesting challenge on Tumblr, so I thought I'd do it too. Here are the rules:


Day 01 – Best book you read last year
Day 02 – A book that you’ve read more than 3 times
Day 03 – Your favorite series
Day 04 – Favorite book of your favorite series
Day 05 – A book that makes you happy
Day 06 – A book that makes you sad
Day 07 – Most underrated book
Day 08 – Most overrated book
Day 09 – A book you thought you wouldn’t like but ended up loving
Day 10 – Favorite classic book
Day 11 – A book you hated
Day 12 – A book you used to love but don’t anymore
Day 13 – Your favorite writer
Day 14 – Favorite book of your favorite writer
Day 15 – Favorite male character
Day 16 – Favorite female character
Day 17 – Favorite quote from your favorite book
Day 18 – A book that disappointed you
Day 19 – Favorite book turned into a movie
Day 20 – Favorite romance book
Day 21 – Favorite book from your childhood
Day 22 – Favorite book you own
Day 23 – A book you wanted to read for a long time but still haven’t
Day 24 – A book that you wish more people would’ve read
Day 25 – A character who you can relate to the most
Day 26 – A book that changed your opinion about something
Day 27 – The most surprising plot twist or ending
Day 28 – Favorite title
Day 29 – A book everyone hated but you liked
Day 30 – Your favorite book of all time

Interesting, right? I'll start this challenge tomorrow. I do believe I'll enjoy doing it :D

Top 5 TV Couples: My favorite



Bo & Dyson (Lost Girl)




I just discovered this series, but I think it's one of the best supernatural series out there. I'm so happy I've discovered it. I was also very amazed to see it wasn't inspired by any book. Also, I love the fresh take on supernatural beings. That being said, I love Bo and Dyson together. They are very sexy, funny and cute. And they make a great team, even if they're mad at each other.


Tony & Ziva (NCIS)




I'm so in love with Tony and Ziva. Though I didn't like her at first, to be honest. I didn't like the way Kate left the show, so maybe that colored my view of Ziva. But I do believe Tony and Ziva are perfect for each other. 


Castle &Beckett (Castle)



What can I say about these two? I think Castle helps Beckett be a better person and he reminds her that life can be fun. He's a good influence and I really can't imagine of someone better for her. And I think she's the first "normal" woman he's ever been with. 



Morgan & Garcia (Criminal Minds)




These two are the main reason why I watch the show. While in itself, it's an amazing show and I love it, the scenes with Morgan and Garcia are the ones that keep me coming back episode after episode. Even though I know this is one of those really special, unique friendships that happen to a few people, I do believe they'd make an awesome couple.


Damon & Elena (The Vampire Diaries)




I love these two together. I hope they end up together soon and that they stay together. I think Damon's way better than his brother, he's genuine. He's not the bad guy in this story, even when he feeds Elena his blood for the wrong reasons (though I was so glad he did it :P ) And he really loves her, enough to let her be with his brother if that's what makes her happy. 


Other couples I love: Booth & Bones (Bones); Dean & Jo (Supernatural); Gibbs & Jenny (NCIS); Emily & Jack (Revenge); Alex & Sean (Nikita).




What are your favorite TV couples?

Cover Love (2)

Rabid Reads - Cover Love

This feature is hosted by Carmel @ Rabid Reads. The rules are very simple. Choose a cover (or two, or three), preferably new-ish, and share what you like about it. Grab my graphic or don't just so long as you link back.

My Pick this week:


Archon: The Books of Raziel by Sabrina Benulis


I love black-and-white photos/covers. Add a little spot of color and I'm in love. So it's no surprise at all that I love this cover. I haven't yet read the book, though it's going to my TBR pile.


What's your favorite cover this week? 

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Waiting on Wednesday (8)

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine ,that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.


My pick this week:


The Selection By Kiera Cass
Expected publication: April 24th 2012
By HarperTeen

Blurb: (from Goodreads)

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in the palace and compete for the heart of the gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself- and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.


Blurb aside, that cover is, as I've told you before, simply amazing. It's one of those covers that convince me to read the book even before reading the blurb. I did read the blurb though, and I think it's very, very intriguing.

So, what's your pick this week?

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Book Review: The Truth About Us by Dalene Flannigan

The Truth About Us



Author: Dalene Flannigan
My Rating: 4 cups
Blurb (from Goodreads):


What happens when the past catches up to the present and the truth surfaces? Three women, roommates back in college, find their lives forever altered when one of them feels compelled to confess the secret sin of their past.

And whose truth is it?

'The Truth About Us' weaves the past and the present in a page-turner that explores the shifting quality of truth, and the cost of secrets.

I don't know what I was expecting when I started reading this book. I know I love a book when I want to reread it. And right now, I know this will be one of those re-readable books.

The book isn't just about growing up and about friendship. It's about choices and how those choices influence one's life forever, about the different sides of the truth and about how truth is depends on the personal view.

Three friends, three roommates, Grace, Jude and Erica, struggle with a secret and a set of choices that changed them forever. Grace is the kind of woman that tries to transform her past, her secrets, into a mission. First, it's personal, she's trying to find out if she's the only one with a past like hers (or similar). Then, when she sees that she's not alone, that there are others like her, she tries to tell their story to the world, change people's view about women and abuse and choices born out of resentment, fear or hate. She doesn't seem like a strong woman, not really. She might be perceived that way, but I think there's a part of her that is scared, terrified even, wary. I liked her though, I liked her view and take on certain sensitive subjects.

Erica is, I think, the strongest of the three. The accomplished woman, with a house, a husband, two kids. Even if her marriage is far from perfect, she tries to change that, to fix what can be fixed. A part of Erica would want to change the past and almost everything that happened after college. I believe that her past made her stronger in some ways and in other she is overwhelmed by it.

Then there's Jude. Jude is the scarred woman, the one with a history of drug and alcohol addiction, the one who's been sexually abused during her childhood by the very people who should have cherished, loved and protected her. She's lost and a big part of me wasn't surprised by her choice at the end of the book. Everyone she trusted wronged her in some way. Grace lied to her, her parents weren't the good parents they should have been, the man who supposedly tries to show her the right path is using her. She tries to find salvation through religion, but it's not a healthy decision, or so I felt it.

This is one of those books that satisfied me as a reader a lot. I love it when there's a book that manage to show different versions and views of the same event, the same situation. I think Ms. Flannigan managed to do that and keep the novel flowing. It's not a comfortable read, but it's an amazing one and it's one of those things that make you want to forget all about the "real world" and read more. I would definitely recommend it.


My Rating:
I loved it photo Image10.png

Teaser Tuesday (14)







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

* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers! 


My teaser this week is from The Truth About Us by Dalene Flannigan

The Truth About Us

A passerby might assume she was sleeping, praying, or crying. But Erica was too angry to cry or sleep and she didn't believe in God. She was frozen, her forehead on the steering wheel.






What's your teaser this week?

Monday, January 16, 2012

Cover Love (1)






Rabid Reads - Cover Love

This feature is hosted by Carmel @ Rabid Reads. The rules are very simple. Choose a cover (or two, or three), preferably new-ish, and share what you like about it. Grab my graphic or don't just so long as you link back.

*sighs* A feature after my own heart. I'm one of those readers that sometimes read a book just because they like the cover. It doesn't mean that if I don't like the cover, I won't read the book. It just means that I love pretty covers and I sometimes buy the book even before I read the blurb very carefully *blushes*

My picks:



The Selection By Kiera Cass
Expected publication: April 24th 2012
By HarperTeen


I love blue. I love looong dresses. And there's just something about the cover. The blurb is also interesting, but the cover caught my eye.









Death on Heels: A Crime of Fashion Mystery

Death on Heels by Ellen Byerrum
Expected publication: February 7th 2012
by Signet

I love the covers for most chick lit books. They are so cool and shinny and funny. I love the way they look and so I usually pick chick lit books with this type of cover. I do read chick lit books with covers with real people on them, though.











This is my pick for today. What's yours?

Friday, January 13, 2012

Book Review: Lothaire by Kresley Cole

Lothaire (Immortals After Dark, #12)



Author: Kresley Cole
Series: Immortals After Dark #12
My Rating: 5 cups
Blurb: (from Goodreads)


ALL FEAR THE ENEMY OF OLD

Driven by his insatiable need for revenge, Lothaire, the Lore’s most ruthless vampire, plots to seize the Horde’s crown. But bloodlust and torture have left him on the brink of madness—until he finds Elizabeth Peirce, the key to his victory. He captures the unique young mortal, intending to offer up her very soul in exchange for power, yet Elizabeth soothes his tormented mind and awakens within him emotions Lothaire believed he could no longer experience.

A DEADLY FORCE DWELLS WITHIN HER

Growing up in desperate poverty, Ellie Peirce yearned for a better life, never imagining she’d be convicted of murder—or that an evil immortal would abduct her from death row. But Lothaire is no savior, as he himself plans to sacrifice Ellie in one month’s time. And yet the vampire seems to ache for her touch, showering her with wealth and sexual pleasure. In a bid to save her soul, Ellie surrenders her body to the wicked vampire, while vowing to protect her heart.

CENTURIES OF COLD INDIFFERENCE SHATTERED

Elizabeth tempts Lothaire beyond reason, as only his fated mate could. As the month draws to a close, he must choose between a millennia-old blood vendetta and his irresistible prisoner. Will Lothaire succumb to the miseries of his past . . . or risk everything for a future with her?


Finally! Like I said in a review of an earlier book of this series (A Hunger Like No Other), Lothaire, Enemy of the Old, was the one that convinced me I needed to read this series. I was intrigued by the series even before I met him, what with the Lore and Valkyries, vampires, feys, shifters and all those delightful creatures. But it was Lothaire that made me really want to read it. So when I found out the next book that was coming out was going to be his I read as fast as I could, to be able to read his story right away. I'm impatient like that,   yes.

What can I say about this book? It was amazing! I do believe it is the best book in the series (or maybe it's just the obsessive fan doing the reviewing for me). I loved everything about this book. I cried (which is rare for me), I laughed, I cursed and had to stop myself from screaming at the book a few times. So it was a wonderful read.

What can I say about Lothaire? He's sexy, ruthless, menacing, scary, funny, caring, completely imperfect. You can't not love him. It's impossible. I still remember that scene from AHLNO, when he's shushing Annika. He's also very cunning, devious, always plotting. I loved that about him.

The surprise for me was his Bride, Elizabeth. I knew his Bride would be his match, but I always hoped for Nix to be his Bride. It would've been even more funny and scary. But I guess two ancient creatures who enjoy antagonizing one another can't be mates. But I totally loved Ellie. I loved that she was human. That made her more challenging for Lothaire and I do believe he needed a challenge. I also enjoyed seeing her match her plotting skills against Lothaire's and I actually was hoping she'd win.

I definitely think this is one of those books that everyone HAS to read. I recommend this book a thousand times and more. I just know I'll be rereading Lothaire very soon. I loved it  that much

Now I think the biggest question is: who is Nix going to end up with and when will her story be told?


My Rating:
Rocked my world photo Image9.png

Follow Friday (8)


Welcome to Follow Friday hosted this week by Parajunkee and Alison!
The main idea behind FF is just to go see a bunch of new blogs you may never have seen before, and follow the ones you like (and they’ll follow you back!) It’s a total win/win, so take a peek around and follow me!

This week’s question is: 






Many readers/bloggers are also big music fans. Tell us about a few of your favorite bands/singers that we should listen to in 2012.


I love music. I've never stopped to make a list of my favorite bands/singers, because it would probably take me too long. I can tell you I listen to almost everything: from country to hard rock, from classical music to hip hop. So I don't exactly have a specific genre that I listen to on an on, it all depends on my mood. Here are a few of the bands/singers that are on my playlist currently (but please, bear in mind that the playlist is way bigger than even I could listen in 24 hours *blushes*)











Like I said, I love music. And music helps me stay focused (I could never function during mid-terms otherwise, not to mention I need music to concentrate on my studying)

So this is like a grain of sand from my list of favorites. What are your favorite bands?
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