Gathering Blue

What I'm listening to right now: If You Could Only See, Tonic
What mood I'm in today: Reading

Today has been kind of weird. For lots of reasons, the least of which is I'm tired of looking at my computer. I'm kind of in a situation where I have to spend a lot of time with my youngest son, which means I get to watch Pokemon, Phineas and Ferb, and The Flash (good thing I actually like this show, though Phineas and Ferb can be pretty funny sometimes) repeatedly for several days. I'm also planning on running through the sprinklers tonight. And cutting back my dying lavender. And probably reading some more of Cogling, by Jordan Elizabeth.

Did I mention it's hot? I need a Popsicle. Be right back.

I almost forgot this little gem, Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry. It's the second book in The Giver series (which I just learned recently is actually a series). While I didn't love it as much as I loved The Giver, I really thought it had a good message and was an interesting story. In a harsh society, much more blatant one than Jonas', the crippled aren't worth much. Kira's mother insists she's strong and is able to contribute to society. Read my entire review here on Goodreads.

Hopefully next month I will be ten degrees cooler, at least.

Happy Reading!

Cybele's Secret

What mood I'm in today: Reading
What I'm listening to right now: Sonic Underground, in the background

So, what do you do when you have to wake up earlier than five and you can't go back to sleep right away? You remember that you haven't posted your latest book review yet. And no wonder. Summer has been brutal in every way. Lightning fast vacation, kids going every which way, hardly any time to read so that you resort to audio books, and temperatures above 100 F for five days.

Five days!

I mean, geez!

I can't claim that I actually read Cybele's Secret. I listened to it. And this cover...

Juliet Marillier has this talent for building worlds that I envy. I mean, the places I could escape to in my head! Fair warning; if you haven't read Wildwood Dancing, read that first. That one is still the best, but this was an entertaining close second. Read my full review here on Goodreads.

Until next time, Happy Reading!

Secrets, Lies, and Witches

What I'm listening to right now: my son making noises with his Flarp putty.

What mood I'm in today: Editing

Wow! I finally finished a semester. Again. Lots of semesters to go, but can't complain. 

Happy Mother's Day! Did you get your mother a book? Good for you! If not, I'm sure you at least gave her a card or a phone call or something else she will appreciate. The weather is pretty good here; a nice mix of rain and sun. At least my flowers are growing! 

I had a bunch of books on the back-burner, and at last! Here they all are in no particular order...

Escape from Witchwood Hollow, by Jordan Elizabeth. This was a really fun book to read. A little difficult to get through because of the writing style, but while I gave it three appreciative stars, most people give this four or five. You can read my review on Goodreads. I recommend reading this when you're in a spooky mood (think young X-Files meets Supernatural). 

And by Kimberly Loth, the last two books in the Thorn Chronicles series. 

And don't you just love these covers? Secrets and Lies are the finishing touch on Naomi and Sunday's stories. If you like modern-day supernatural mixed with love story, this is your kind of things. You can read my review of Secrets here, and of Lies here. 

That's it for today. Happy Reading! 

Obsidian by Kimberly Loth

What I'm listening to right now: One Hippopotami, Allan Sherman
What mood I'm in today: Editing

I hate haze. I also hate sunshine that looks deceptively warm, so much so that I half-expect if I go outside that it will be above 32 F. Come on snow! Move this stupid inversion out of here!
Oh, and Happy Valentine's Day! My day has been awesome. Probably because I feel super loved here between my husband and my boys and my friends and family.
Kimberly Loth was kind enough to ask me to give an early review of her newest book (comes out tomorrow, I think), Obsidian (Book 1 in the Dragon Kings series). Here's the awesome cover:

Aspen is a dragon-loving adrenaline junkie intent on getting close-ups of the majestic creatures. Obsidian is a dragon who has to live for 10 years in human form and who finds Aspen captivating. Great love story, intense read. The full review is on Goodreads or Amazon. The book is also available for purchase on Amazon.
As always, Happy Reading! Hope you're staying warmer than I am!

Back From The Dead

What mood I'm in today: Editing
What I'm listening to right now: The Twilight Zone (the old TV show)

Wow, I'm so missing. It's been six months, thanks to school. We'll have to see if I can keep up with this. I was hoping once a month at the least. Oh well...
I've survived another semester of school, and I've been reading ever since. And Christmas-ing, of course. I finally finished the Iron Fey series with this gem by Julie Kagawa:

You can read my review on Goodreads. The short of it is, I loved it and gave it five stars. Not sure why. I'm probably biased. :)
Happy Reading!

Pretties

What mood I'm in today: Reading
What I'm listening to right now: Avengers soundtrack

Hello Spring!
Well, up until it snowed today, anyway. It's not bad. We need it. And snow makes lovely reading weather. That, and a couple of warm chocolate chip cookies. Is it so bad that I've been making them every few days for, like, a month now? I'm totally addicted.
Not to mention lazy.
Scratch that. I'm a mom, I'm not lazy. I'm busy. And sometimes at the end of the day I'm totally exhausted. But you know what's nice? Reading while sitting in the waiting room. It's the one thing that probably saves me from the stress of doctor, dentist, and orthodontist visits. I get to read! Yay!

Pretties is the second in the "Uglies" series by Scott Westerfeld. Have I mentioned that I like his books? I do. A lot. Read my review of Pretties here on Goodreads. It's short but sweet, that's how I do it. Four stars overall - a really great read and lead up to Specials, which I'm just now trying to finish.
As always, Happy Reading!

The Uglies

What mood I'm in today: Reading
What I'm listening to right now: Lindsey Stirling, Transcendence

It snowed last night. Smiley! Also, a good reason to want to stay in bed all morning. I didn't, which kind of stinks. I didn't even make hot chocolate for breakfast, because it's been around sixty degrees for a couple weeks. Boo. It's a good day to curl up with a good book. Like this one. And maybe some afternoon cocoa.

 

Uglies, by Scott Westerfield (love this author), is a fantastic, well-written and exciting Dystopian YA novel about Tally Youngblood and the world of Pretties (what I'm reading right now). Read my review on Goodreads. If you like Dystopian or Sci-Fi or anything with a remotely good plot line, this is for you.

Happy Reading!

Hexed

It's actually Christmas Day, and I'm blogging. What????
So I feel weird when I have nothing to do, like I'm being lazy. Really, it's a problem. I'm trying to relax but I can't. Ugh.
Instead of doing absolutely nothing, I will link you to my review of Hexed, by Michelle Krys, here at Goodreads.
Here's the cover, which I think is kind of cool:

Until next time, Happy Reading! And Happy New Year!

Bones of Faerie

What I'm listening to right now: Greensleeves
What mood I'm in today: Reading

It rained last night. And this morning when I went outside it smelled AWESOME (okay, so I could probably find some better words to describe it than that). Fall is finally showing its face. We've already raked up 8 bags of leaves. Only 37 more to go...
Fall is the perfect time to cuddle up with a mug of hot tea and a good book. This one made me the tiniest bit sad that the leaves didn't change color in the fall anymore...you'll have to read to figure out what I'm talking about.

 

Bones of Faerie by Janni Lee Simner is a dystopian faerie novel...so how could I resist? You can read my review on Goodreads.
As always, happy reading!

I'd Tell You I Love You...

What mood I'm in today: Writing
What I'm listening to right now: Absolute silence

Fall is here! I'm so stinking excited I can barely contain myself. It rained - no, poured yesterday, and I LOVED it. I wanted to curl up with a good book and some hot cocoa.
Speaking of books...

This little gem, I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You by Ally Carter, is a very fun read. There's not a lot of serious about this fun fic, but it was classic-YA-cute-love-story. Read my review on Goodreads. I plan on reading the rest of the series in the near future.

As always, Happy Reading!

Kissed, by Kimberly Loth

What mood I'm in today: Editing
What I'm listening to right now: Hot Chocolate, Polar Express

Oh yes, you read that right. I'm listening to a Christmas song. It is August, after all. And Halloween candy is already adorning the aisles of my local grocery stores. I love holidays. Surely I've told you this before.

Aside from holidays, I love reading. I recently had the awesome opportunity to read Kissed by Kimberly Loth, someone I actually know (wow! I know famous people!). Okay, so I knew her a long time ago, but I really, really loved this book. She didn't ask me to read it or anything. I just ended up reading it, and liking it. A lot.

You can read my official review on Goodreads. And here's a pic of the lovely cover:

Enjoy your reading! Hopefully, I can actually get to mine this week, but it's doubtful. Once school starts, maybe...

The Forever Song

What I'm listening to right now: Autumn Forest, Adrian von Ziegler
What mood I'm in today: Writing

After a very fun week of camping, movies, and the Payson Highland Games, here's a link to my latest Goodreads review.

The Forever Song, by Julie Kagawa
(As you now know, one of my fave-or-ite authors)

Happy Reading!

Of Triton, by Anna Banks

What I'm listening to: Team, Lorde
What mood I'm in today: Reading

Love this song.
Summer is awesome. I'm about to put a copy of Forever Song in my hands again. I love Kagawa's writing style and am excited she's writing a new series. Woo!
Anyway, this post is not about Kagawa.

Of Triton, by Anna Banks, is a fun and divergent summer read (like how I put in another plug there?). You can read my review on Goodreads.
Happy Summer Reading!
Mandy

Just Keep Swimming...

What I'm listening to right now: Star Wars soundtrack
What mood I'm in today: Reading

I'm loving this new year. I've finished, like, four books. Does it really matter that I started three of them last year? Or that two of them were audio books? Maybe. But I did finally finish Mockingjay and LOVED it. Not only that, but I picked up on a new series about the Syrena, a book called Of Poseidon by Anna Banks. Here are the links to my Goodreads reviews.

 

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

 

Of Poseidon by Anna Banks

I decided I must still be a teenager at heart. Not that I want to go through that again (please no!). But I love YA books. It's totally on my level!

Until next time, Happy Reading!

Finally! The Eternity Cure is Finished

What I'm listening to: My kids playing with G.I. Joe toys.
What mood I'm in: Writing

Everybody knows I love Julie Kagawa. The second book in The Blood of Eden series called The Eternity Cure was my most recent finish. It was hard to finish, too, because I've been reading Shakespeare for school. I've got so much time on my hands, right? (Please inject sarcasm here).
The Eternity Cure begins with Allie and Jackal making their way to Keenan to free him from the psycho vamp named Sarren. On their way there, they run into Zeke of all people, and Allie remembers everything, especially how much she's in love with him. But of course, romances for vamps and humans is a no-no (if we haven't learned that from Twilight when will we?). He goes with them anyway, promising to help Allie free Keenan.
They have to deal with a power-hungry Vamp Prince who infects Keenan with the new Red Lung virus just to make sure they can track down Sarren and get a cure. We learn that Jackal has a real name - James - and it's fun for Allie to call him that because he hates it. Through all kinds of twists and turns, the end leaves you hanging and waiting for more.
AUGHHH! Spoiler Alert!
Seriously? I think Zeke is a vamp now.

Anyway...What I loved about this book was the story and the romance between Allie and Zeke. They're two totally tough kids from weird backgrounds who want to prove to the world that they can make it. I like Keenan, he's one of my favorite characters, and I'm still dying to find out why he Turned Allie. I like Jackal too, and I love the reappearance of Stick, who, let's face it, is infatuated with Allie and probably didn't feel a bit sorry for turning Zeke over to Sarren in the end.
What I didn't like about this book....not much. It was long, but sometimes it's worth it. And there were two f-bombs, which you all know I have a thing about, but I really didn't think she should've changed the language. It was there for a reason.

If you're into Dystopian thriller/romance/tough-chic novels, I seriously suggest this for you. And as always, Happy Reading!

Just So You Know

What I'm listening to right now: Celtic Violin Music
What mood I'm in today: Reading

I always try to review a book once a month, but I'm often a slacker. I haven't even really finished a book in the last two months, except for Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief, which I cheated with and listened to. And the truth is, I'm going back to school starting tomorrow and will be reading nothing but Shakespeare. Although I'm excited for it, it's hard to read and I doubt I will be able to fit in much else.

The first book in the series - Thanks to Google Books for image

As for my review of Percy Jackson, it'll be short. It was fun to listen to while I was doing dishes and cooking, I'll admit that. The book seemed to lose me in a few places, but the plot and overall feel of the book was just kind of fun and wholesome. It was the kind of book I needed, really. I thought Annabeth was a little more interesting in the movie than the book, and I admit that I liked the movie better, but maybe that's because I saw it first. The characters were more developed in the movie, and honestly I can't wait to see Sea Of Monsters, which just came to the movie theater.

IMDB

Honestly, I can't believe the Lightning Thief didn't get very good reviews. This is one of those movies we own and watch at least every three months. I guess when you read the book first, sometimes you don't like the movie much (enter Harry Potter), but I like this movie and the actors in it.

The one thing I did like about the book was *SPOILER ALERT* the fact that Luke went through a lot of people (Aries, for one) and made him look like the bad guy, when it was really Luke all along. I suspect, however, that as the series progresses that Luke won't be Bad Guy Number One (I could be wrong about that, who knows?) and that someone else is behind all of this messing with the gods.

Now that my schedule will be hectic, I'll probably be writing some things about Shakespeare. I'm hoping to finish The Eternity Cure before I have to take it back, but we'll see how it goes. Until then, I'm praying for more rain and that the deathly heat wave we've been experiencing is finally over. I can't wait to spend a day in the park with my back turned to the warm (not hot) sun, my nose buried in a book.

Living In The Faerie Realm

Okay, admittedly I am a slacker because I have just been reading books and not reviewing them. And also this will be a short review, because I'm busy. Hello - it's almost December.

The Wings series by Aprilynne Pike is wonderful! I read all four books in a matter of days. It includes Wings, Spells, Illusions, and Destined, in that order. Our heroine Laurel comes to life as she discovers that she's not a normal human - in fact, she's not a human at all. She just looks like one. And she has a flower growing out of her back.

I love Pike's take on the idea that Faeries are evolved plants. Laurel finds out what she is, she becomes involved with David, a local prince charming that helps her figure out what's growing out of her back, and meet Tamani, another faerie who finds her in the forest and tells her what she is.

The first book revolves around land that Laurel's family owns and why they can't sell it. The land guards the gate to Avalon (the Faerie realm) and the trolls are trying to find the gate so they can attack the realm. This is just the beginning, because as each book unfolds you start to find out more and more about the gate and who really wants to get into that gate.

Why I Like This Book:
I'll admit it - I love faerie books! I love the whole idea of them, but I particularly liked this series because of how pure it is. Hardly any swearing, people doing things because they love each other and not for sex, and gut instinct that doesn't always turn out the way it's planned. This is life. The bittersweet ending left me ultimately happy - and I'm not talking about the first book, but the series in it's entirety. LOVE!

What I didn't like about this book:
Some parts are a little slow, but that's not really a problem. Also, when David first swears in the first book, I thought it was a weird place to put it. Sort of a wasted curse - might have worked better elsewhere. This is such a tiny complaint. I also noticed that Pike uses the phrase "rolled her/his eyes" a lot. I just noticed this because I'm also weird.

Aside from those little things, I definitely recommend this book. I gave the last book 5 stars on Goodreads, and that in itself is a rarity! Visit Aprilynne Pike here.

As always, Happy Reading!