Bloggiesta Wrap-up

*phew* This weekend was full of blogging! I just wish I had more time. But, I did decide at the last possible moment to join, so it's completely my fault *sheepish* Anyway, I had a loooot of things planned. Here's how my To-Do list looked like when I joined in:

• Catch up on writing reviews
• Update the Reviews by Author page 
• Update my Review Challenges pages
• Publish reviews on Goodreads, Shelfari, Barn & Noble and the likes  
• Finish designing the book badges 
• Back up blog 
• Update my Facebook page 
• Design and upload the Social Media icons
• Update the Copyright notice
• Format all the upcoming posts for blog tours
• Work on some banners for my features

Pretty long list, right? Here's what I actually managed to do:

1. I published all my reviews on Shelfari. This took me a looot of time. I had no idea I published so many reviews *wide eyes* I also learned a pretty valuable lesson: publish a new review on all bookish websites I have an account on as soon as I publish said review on my blog. It takes less time and it's way easier than to do a bulk update at a later date.
2. I updated my Facebook page. Again, the same lesson as seen above.
3. I designed and uploaded the Social Media icons. I'm happy with how they turned out, actually.
4. I updated the Reviews by Author page. It actually looks good right? Speaking of which, I have a big favor to ask. Please check the page out and tell me if it's easy to navigate or if it gives you errors and such, using the comment form on this post. I checked with a friend's laptop, but I want to make sure it works for everyone. Check if the anchors at the beginning of the page leads you to the respective letter in the post and things like that. Oh, and for "return to  top", you should check on the letter above the reviews. I hope that makes sense? Pretty please, with a cherry on top .
5. I backed up my blog, not that it was that difficult :P
6. I wrote some reviews. I'm still behind with that, so I can't exactly say it's finished *oops*

On a side note, I also updated my Challenge Policy and my Review Policy pages. I hope they're clearer now. 

Now, with the minichallenges. I have to admit, I didn't complete a lot of them *blush* Here's what I managed to do:

• Made some templates and redid my blog schedule, thanks to Amanda from On a Book Bender. I had the templates saved into another old, now closed blog of mine, but turns out I was doing it wrong LOL. The idea to use the Notebook was great, so thanks for that!
• Updated my review and giveaway policies using Donna's @ Girl Who Reads tips.

I didn't manage to do any new graphics, but, to be honest, I had zero inspiration this week. Maybe in the next few days. Also, did I ever mention how bad my drawing skills are? Well, they are. You'll probably bust a rib or something laughing when I finally use them. Then again, I am proud of them. They're actually pretty in a creepy, ugly-ish way :D

So this is what I managed to do. For a first time, late-in-deciding Bloggiesta, I'm actually very proud of myself. I can't wait for the next one, which I hear is going to be in March 29-31 2013. 

Now tell me, did you participate in this round of Bloggiesta? If yes, what did you manage to do this weekend? If no, I do hope you will join in next time. I had fun and I did learn a few new things :D

Sunday Book Soundtrack #2

Sunday Book Soundtrack is a weekly feature at Ruby's Books, where I share some of my bookish soundtracks. Since I discovered my passion for reading years ago, I've discovered that more and more of the songs I loved remind me of certain books. So I thought I'd share my playlists with you. If you want to listen to the songs, I'll post a link to a Youtube videos for each and every title. No copyright infringement intended! I'll try to find the official videos for each song. There's no set number for each playlist, sometimes I might have 10, sometimes 5, sometimes if I'm one of my moods I'll have 15. If you want to read more about this feature, click the "show more" button below. 

I read with music. If there's no music, I can't read. And not just read, but almost anything, like studying of cooking or doing chores around the house. The only time I don't have music is when I sleep. And during exams, but that's a different story.

Sometimes it happens that a certain song and a book or a scene from the book I'm reading sort of... click. It's like they were made for each other. At least for me. And so I will almost always think of that particular book when hearing that song. I thought I'd share my book soundtracks with you.

Keep in mind that I have a very... weird taste in music. You'll find mostly rock music, country or the 80s-early 90s music in these lists. I might use some "contemporary" songs from now and then, but don't bet on it being something other than those particular genres. Also, not always the songs will be in English. If I have a link to a translation for the lyrics, I'll post it. If you like a song I'm using, that's fine. If not, that's fine too, just don't say I didn't warn you.

The songs aren't always on a book's playlist for their lyrics. Sometimes they're there for an instrument or for a feeling I get when hearing them. Also, I won't always mention what scene I used them for. If it's not a spoiler, I'll share the scene, if it is a spoiler, I'll let you guess.

Anyway, I hope you like my playlists :)

This week's book soundtrack is for Sweet Evil. Before you ask, no, I didn't plan to do two soundtracks for YA books in a row, but, to be fair, with all the Bloggiesta weekend I completely forgot to dig out my other lists *blushes**is sorry* I promise I'll have an adult book for next week's soundtrack :D

Back to my soundtrack though. If you want to read my review for Sweet Evil, click here.

1. Roxette - Dressed for Success - Does it have a direct connection to Anna and Kai? No. But, to be honest, Roxette is my favorite band since my childhood. And for some reason, this song reminds me of Anna in a way.
2. Matchbox 20 - If You're Gone - This just seemed the perfect song for the very last scene. I'm sure this song would be the same if that scene was told from Kai's perspective. 
3. Kenny Chesney ft. Grace Potter - You & Tequila - If I say why I think this song is perfect for Kai and Anna, it would be a spoiler. Just know that I do believe it's perfect :D
4. Nickelback - Fight for all the wrong reasons - Oh well. I can't say this one either, sorry :D
5. Coldplay - Spies - This has nothing to do with the lyrics, but the sound of the song if that makes sense. Anyway, it did to me LOL 
6. Lynyrd Skynyrd - Sweet Home Alabama - This one is spoiler-ish too. Oops

So, this is this week's soundtrack. I hope you liked it ;) Have fun for what's left of this weekend :D

Bloggiesta: What it is & My To Do list

You know, I've heard a lot about Bloggiesta since I started book blogging. I think it's a great idea and a good opportunity to learn a few new things about blogging. If you aren't sure about it, here's what you can do:

• spiff up your blog
• try something new on your blog, fix something, add something or delete something
• catch up on reviews, Google Reader, email, or anything else that's out of control
• work and party together with other bloggers
• learn new things from blogging experts
• join several mini challenges and win prizes
• have fun for three days blogging and connecting with your blogging friends!

Also, throughout this weekend there will be many discussions and mini-challenges on various topics:

• Scheduling Posts and Organization
• Increasing Blog Traffic
• Using a Variety of Applications in Conjunction with your Blogging. (ie. Evernote, Microsoft Access, etc.)
• WordPress vs. Blogger
• Discussion Posts…How-to
• And many many more!

Cool right? So I decided this year I'll join my very first Bloggiesta round.

This round of Bloggiesta runs from September 28th – 30th and is hosted by It’s All About Books & There’s a Book.

Here's my to do list for these 3 days:

• Catch up on writing reviews
• Update the Reviews by Author page completed. *pats self* I should add some linky features to make navigating that page easier. Will do it tomorrow though. Promise!
• Update my Review Challenges pages
• Publish reviews on Goodreads, Shelfari, Barn & Noble and the likes - Done with Shelfari and Goodreads. Barnes & Noble and other book-related websites have to wait though *blush*
• Finish the summer and spring banners for my blog 
• Finish designing the book badges 
• Back up blog - Completed Well, this was the easiest one, to be honest
• Update my Facebook page - Completed  This I did on Friday :D
• Design and upload the Social Media icons
• Update the Copyright notice
• Format all the upcoming posts for blog tours
• Work on some banners for my features

On a side note, I also have to catch up on reading. Reading aside though, looks like this is going to be a full weekend. 

Book Review: Spider's Bite by Jennifer Estep

Author: Jennifer Estep
Series: Elemental Assassin #1
Publisher: Pocket Books
Release Date: January 26th 2010
My Rating: 4 cups
Blurb (from Goodreads):

My name is Gin, and I kill people.

They call me the Spider. I'm the most feared assassin in the South — when I'm not busy at the Pork Pit cooking up the best barbecue in Ashland. As a Stone elemental, I can hear everything from the whispers of the gravel beneath my feet to the vibrations of the soaring Appalachian Mountains above me. My Ice magic also comes in handy for making the occasional knife. But I don't use my powers on the job unless I absolutely have to. Call it professional pride.

Now that a ruthless Air elemental has double-crossed me and killed my handler, I'm out for revenge. And I'll exterminate anyone who gets in my way — good or bad. I may look hot, but I'm still one of the bad guys. Which is why I'm in trouble, since irresistibly rugged Detective Donovan Caine has agreed to help me. The last thing this coldhearted killer needs when I'm battling a magic more powerful than my own is a sexy distraction...especially when Donovan wants me dead just as much as the enemy.

I have to admit I was a little torn with the rating. If I had to be honest, the "real" rating is somewhere between 3.5 cups and 4 cups. Not that I didn't enjoy the book, I did. A lot. But then there were the tweaks. But I'm getting ahead of myself, so let's start at the beginning, with Gin.

I liked Gin. There's this trend with Urban Fantasy: every female assassin is afraid, deathly afraid and scared spitless before and during a fight scene. I was SO glad Gin isn't like that. Yes, she has the healthy, normal dose of fear or apprehension. But it's not overwhelming, it's not constant and it's not paralyzing. She also kicks major ass, which I liked. And she's a smart girl. She's not what I'd call funny, but she is entertaining.

Speaking of funny, Finn is hilarious in my opinion. Or maybe my sense of humor is just that twisted. He's a great character and I have a feeling there are many, many great things he'll do in the future books. I sure hope he doesn't die by the end of the series *pouts**crosses fingers*.

Here's what makes my rating go down. First, Donovan Caine, detective and potential major hottie. While he's an ok character, he's not what I'd call hot. He has too many prejudices. He seems way too judgmental for my tastes. I like to think there's more than meets the eye. Some dark secret. Some childhood trauma that makes him the way he is. I'm not talking about his sense of justice, that's fine. But about his "criminals are bad, cops are good" thinking. I felt like up until the end, he tired so hard to keep thinking that all cops are good and that no cop can be corrupt, even when everything showed differently. And I think Gin proved that even though she's an assassin, she has morals, codes and lines she won't cross. But even so, Donovan kept thinking she's bad and ruthless and every target she ever had was innocent.

The second thing that bothered me (a lot I might add) was the repetition. I've noticed it in numerous scenes throughout the book. How certain expressions were identical and were being used in similar scenes. (I'll have a button at the end of this post if you want to read more and are not afraid of spoilers, so if you want to know what I'm talking about, push the button.) They just bugged me, enough to make me want to skip a few paragraphs. And I have a high tolerance for this things.

I also kept hoping we'd get a scene with the towns "bogey woman", Mab Monroe. I want to see what she can do, how bad can she get.


Bottom Line: I enjoyed reading this book and the good parts far outweighed the not so good parts. I'll keep reading the series, as I'm very curious if Gin will find out what happened when she was a kid and who killed her family.

When Gin and Donovan looked at each other, the same expression was used: "Gold on gray". Once, twice is enough. But every time? And what about when Donovan looked at Gin and she saw how the detective had this string of emotions flickering across his eyes. It was always something like "Desire, need, want, guilt". Oh, and Gin had this moments when she was referring to Donovan and she kept saying "detective Donovan Caine". We already established that the guy is a detective and we know his full name. I might have a short memory, but I don't need to be told the same thing over and over again.

Book Review: No Humans Involved by Kelley Armstrong

Author: Kelley Armstrong
Series: Women of the Otherworld #7
Publisher: Bantam Spectra
Release Date: Februaty 26th 2008
My Rating: 5 cups
Blurb (from Goodreads):

Jaime, who knows a thing or two about showbiz, is on a television shoot in Los Angeles when weird things start to happen. As a woman whose special talent is raising the dead, her threshold for weirdness is pretty high: she’s used to not only seeing dead people but hearing them speak to her in very emphatic terms. But for the first time in her life – as invisible hands brush her skin, unintelligible fragments of words are whispered into her ears, and beings move just at the corner of her eye–she knows what humans mean when they talk about being haunted.

She is determined to get to the bottom of these manifestations, but as she sets out to solve the mystery she has no idea how scary her investigation will get, or to what depths ordinary humans will sink in their attempts to gain supernatural powers. As she digs into the dark underside of Los Angeles, she’ll need as much Otherworld help as she can get in order to survive, calling on her personal angel, Eve, and Hope, the well-meaning chaos demon. Jeremy, the alpha werewolf, is also by her side offering protection. And, Jaime hopes, maybe a little more than that.

I was so happy to finally read this book. You know, it's Jeremy!! If I had to pick a Best Werewolf of all times, it would be Jeremy. He's the perfect werewolf and yet he's so not the perfect hero. He's strong, smart, sexy, powerful, funny, caring, patient. And then there are the few moments of weakness, not in a "oh my god, I'm helpless, I don't know what to do" way. But in such a sweet way. Like when he talks to Jaime about his alpha status and what it actually means and there's a moment when you can actually feel his patience sort of dimming a little. You could see how frustrated he was. Did I say he's sexy? Yes, yes he is. He's very sexy. Swoon-worthy!

Then there's Jaime. She's a redhead first and that's always a good thing. I love redheaded heroines *grin*. But she's also extremely funny. And I loved her brain. She really is smart. She's also sexy and she isn't ashamed of acting like a sexy woman. I liked seeing her getting flustered while talking on the phone with Jeremy. There's this adorable scene with them, I think it was in Haunted? Anyway, it was very cute and sweet and funny. And I also liked the fact that she tried to not ask for help. I think anyone in her shoes would have done it, would have called for help and play the weak female card. But she didn't. Also, she was lucky that Jeremy let her do that. I have a feeling that Jeremy wanted nothing more than to make her sit quietly in a corner while he took all the risks and do all the crazy, dangerous stuff that needed to be done.

You'll get some suspense with this book. I liked that I didn't figure out who was doing the bad things. You'll also get to see some very, very hot, sexy scenes *fans self* And it's Jeremy, for God's sake. You can never go wrong if you're reading a book or scenes with or about him. 

 

News, Feedburner and other stuff

Hey everyone!

You might have heard that Google decided to shut down FeedBurner. So that means no more email subscription from them. No worries though. Karina from Nocturnal Book Reviews found Blogtrottr as an alternative. And it's so cool! You can even sign up and manage all your subscriptions and everything. And it's easy to use. So, if you want to re-subscribe by email, you can do so using the Email Subscription form on my  sidebar on the left. It should lead you to the Blogtrottr website and you put your email and how you want to subscribe (Daily Email, real-time email and other options). If it doesn't work, please let me know (my email address is rubys_books@yahoo.com - no spam, please!) Also, if you want to know more about what may happen with FeedBurner, read this post made Parajunkee.

That's one thing. Another news is that I finally finished the autumn header *points up*. I know it's a little naked, by I have a back-ache from hell and I really don't have any patience left to tweak it a little bit more. The doll was made using one of Ola's (Doll Divine) exclusive doll makers. One of the book graphics were made using a free tutorial from The Paint Shop Pro Users Group and the leaf brush and the pumpkins I made using a tutorial made by Louise G. And the shinny stars and the other book graphics were made with tutorials too, but I can't find any link right now. Will search in my history and put up a link as soon as I find it. Before you ask, yes, I use Paint Shop Pro. And no, I won't change to Photoshop. Tried that and it confused me for some reason.

I'm also half-done with my book badges graphics. I do hope I finish soon, though I can't promise when I'll start using them.

Yeah, so that's it for news and stuff. Now back to reading :D