Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Tuesday Review Day!

Written by: Christopher Farnsworth
Publication date: April 28, 2011 (Putnam Adult)
Released in Hardcover, ebook, Kindle and audio
352 pages

5 stars

Synopsis: 

The ultimate secret. The ultimate agent. Nathaniel Cade returns.
 
For 140 years, Nathaniel Cade has been the President's Vampire, sworn to protect and serve his country. Cade's existence is the most closely guarded of White House secrets: a superhuman covert agent who is the last line of defense against nightmare scenarios that ordinary citizens only dream of.

When a new outbreak of an ancient evil-one that he has seen before- comes to light, Cade and his human handler, Zach Barrows, must track down its source. To "protect and serve" often means settling old scores and confronting new betrayals . . . as only a centuries-old predator can.

My Review: If you're not careful, Christopher Farnsworth could make a conspiracy theorist out of you! He seamlessly combines real historical people, places and events with his own story that it creates the illusions that both things are true. You can easily tell that Farnsworth is no stranger to CNN. Well, he takes our real world, our government, and all their ugly and dirty little secrets and adds the coolest background story to it: A vampire, Nathaniel Cade, sworn to a blood oath placed on him in 1867 by none other than Marie Laveau herself. The blood oath goes like this: "By this blood, you are bound to the President of the United States; and the orders of the officers appointed by him; to support and defend the nation and its citizens against all enemies, foreign and domestic; and to serve it faithfully for all the days you walk the earth." And he does so...well.

What I love about this series is that Nathaniel Cade is a real vampire. Not a brooding teenager or a vampire at war with his killer instincts and his desire to keep his humanity. Don't get me wrong, I love a good story about a mopey, young, good-looking vamp that blends right into society, fooling everyone, never letting on to what he really is - except to the human girl he falls in love with. But every once in a while I like to read about a real kick ass, scary, mean-as-hell predator.

In this sequel Zach and Cade seem to have a closer relationship. I especially loved one scene in particular when Cade almost snaps a mans wrist just for reaching out to (condescendingly) poke Zach in the chest. They look out for each other. This time around they are battling reptile-like creatures, that have been nicknamed Snakeheads. Apparently, I misunderstood the description of these things because I couldn't help but imagine giant iguanas. The whole thing was a little ridiculous  so I don't think it mattered. I get it though; you have to give the monster, a monster to fight. Cade is way too powerful to waste his skills killing humans unless they get in the way of his oath, of course. He kills just about everyone and everything in this book I can only hope he left somebody behind to create enough story for a third book.

My only complaint is that there were way too many characters. Every other chapter was a new place, a new person with their own background story. Sometimes their stories are short-lived and sometimes they don't come to fruition until later. Either way it can be a lot to remember. The book is a lot of politics, a lot of information and I started to forget people and what side they were on. Everyone is looking out for numero uno so you never knew who they were really working for and where their true loyalties lie.

Overall: Action-packed and not unlike last time, moments of great humor. Strong main characters and I look forward to more.

Saturday, May 28, 2011

Blog Hop #9

Happy Memorial Day Weekend Everyone! I hope you guys have great plans for this long weekend. I don't and that's just the way I want it. Besides, it will give me plenty of time to hop around!
In the spirit of the Twitter Friday Follow, the Book Blogger Hop is a place just for book bloggers and readers to connect and find new book-related blogs that we may be missing out on! 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 they  never knew existed!

Each week, participating blogs are asked questions to post and answer on their websites.

This week's question

   "What book-to-movie adaption have you most liked?  Which have you disliked?"
  
My Answer:  I haven't seen too many book-to-movie adaptations, however I Am Number Four was a great movie (film review, book review). It wasn't exactly like the book but I did not leave that theater disappointed. The adaptation I disliked? Twilight. The movie made the story appear cheesy and insignificant when in fact their relationship was much more profound (book review). The movie just didn't give you the depth of what was going on between them and then when New Moon was released and Bella was so distraught, those who hadn't read the books, couldn't understand. They couldn't know the pain, the hole in her chest getting worse and worse. So thumbs down to the movie.

 

Friday, May 27, 2011

Clockwork Cover and Secret Circle on TV!

So, have you heard? The CW has picked up 'The Secret Circle' for the fall season! It will air Thursdays after 'Vampire Diaries'. You can click this link to watch trailers. If you haven't read this series, like me, here's the synopsis:

The circle's power has lured her home.

Forced to move from sunny California to gloomy New England, Cassie longs for her old life. Even so, she feels a strange kinship to a terrifying group of teens who seem to rule her school. Initiated into the coven of witches that's controlled New Salem for hundreds of years, she's drawn into the Secret Circle, a thrill that's both intoxicating and deadly. But when she falls for the mysterious and intriguing Adam, Cassie must choose whether to resist temptation or risk dark forces to get what she wants—even if it means that one wrong move could ultimately destroy her. 

I've been seeing the same question going around the internet these days:  

Are Witches Cooler Than Vampires? 

In my personal opinion, no. However, after watching the trailer for Secret Circle, I think they might be just as cool! Most vampires are indestructible, they're all super-human fast, some can fly and they're usually smoking hot - if you're reading the right book, that is! Downside - the whole blood thing. Ick. Witches, on the other hand, if strong enough, can cast some pretty powerful spells, or control the elements. Downside - there is usually a physical price the witch must pay, i.e. bloody noses, blackouts, near-death. Thoughts?


As promised, the cover for The Clockwork Prince has been revealed this month!

 

THAT, is an amazing cover! I still have not read Clockwork Angel so this cover has no deep meaning to me yet, but I still love it. It makes me want to try CA again. And I've got plenty of time too, because this sequel is not due to release until December 6th!


Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading in which one grabs her current read, opens to a random page, and gives two "teaser" sentences from that page.

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!! You don't want to ruin the book for others!

Share the title and author, too, so that other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!


The President's Vampire (The President's Vampire #2)
Written by Christopher Farnsworth
Hardcover 335 pgs 

The Setup: On page 52, Zack Barrows is describing to us how Cade (the vampire) views the world, threat and prey. He goes on to say that walking in the sunlight isn't his only handicap Cade faces in moving through the human world. 

The Teaser: "On a fundamental level, people knew he didn't belong. Simple human interaction was often beyond him. He was a predator. He didn't know how to talk to prey." 

That last line is priceless!


Saturday, May 21, 2011

Book Blogger Hop #8


In the spirit of the Twitter Friday Follow, the Book Blogger Hop is a place just for book bloggers and readers to connect and find new book-related blogs that we may be missing out on! 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 they  never knew existed!

Each week, participating blogs are asked questions to post and answer on their websites.

This week's question

  "If you were given the chance to spend one day in a fictional world (from a book), which book would it be from and what would that place be?"
 
My Answer: I hope the title of my blog is an indication of how much I love the fictional worlds books allow us to escape in. My favorite, which was very hard to pick, I think I'd have to go with the Sookie Stackhouse series. It's the only world where supes are walking around you in everyday life. It would be cool to be one of them but if I couldn't be, at least my best friend might be one!


Friday, May 20, 2011

Watch Me Judge These Books By Their Covers

Tonight I was doing my usual thing, scrolling through the blogs I follow and searching books on Goodreads.com and I started thinking covers. 

What does it take for a cover to grab you?

For me, personally, a cover must inspire mystery; pique my curiosity. When I look at it I want it to make to say, "What is that???" *as I run to get my greedy hands on it!* Also, I like when a cover has some kind of connection to either the title or the story, but it isn't  necessary. Some covers are abstract, photos of random things yet shown in a  dramatic light maybe, or dripping blood or on fire. Other covers have a, what I think of it as, a "time-period" theme, you are reminded of a time where they wore corsets and petticoats. Below are some covers I thought it would be fun to share my thoughts on:


I really enjoy the Firelight covers. I love the touch of scales around the eyes. The series is about dragons and the first one has the colors of fire and I like that. The second girl even looks like a dragon! Their pupils are perfect, just a touch of that reptile look.



This is a new cover that I came across. It's simple yet it definitely sparks my curiosity. Notice the girl outlined in the in the center, all aglow. I look at it and I think, "Hm. I wonder what the deal is with her and what in the world is Glowing?"
Right off the bat, this book rouses memories of the Secret Garden, a movie I loved as a child. I love the castle in the background and the tease that maybe it's a Cinderella-type story or about a princess living under an evil reigning king or queen yet the title, Entwined, makes me think love triangle.






What I like about this cover is it's connection to the book. It's one of those covers that you may not be able to appreciate until after you've read the story. The model fits the description of the character and the way she's covering her mouth makes me envision her trying to keep hold her secrets in. She's a Liar.

Doesn't she just look dangerous? Naughty? Full of secrets? Teeth is a book of short stories and the look in her eyes just give me a good feeling about the book. 


Another book with a connected cover. In Definitely Dead, Sookie meets a were-tiger, the last of his kind, named Quinn. They have a little fling but it gets a little messy towards the end. All the while Eric Northman is trailing in the background. One of the best in the series.






I saved this one for last because I just stumbled upon it tonight and it is now my new favorite cover, the story sounds really good and it's the next book I can't wait to be released! Calla Lilies are my favorite flower and black ones are pretty cool. The one smoking in the middle is what gets you thinking. Wildefire is about gods and goddesses and  with that it makes you wonder how they all fit together.









What are some of your favorite covers and why?




Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Tuesday Review Day!

I know this review is a day late, but yesterday was just that kind of day.

Dead Reckoning (Sookie Stackhouse, #11)
Written by: Charlaine Harris
Publication date: May 3, 2011
Released in Hardcover, Kindle, ebook
325 pages

5 stars

Synopsis: With her knack for being in trouble's way, Sookie witnesses the firebombing of Merlotte's, the bar where she works. Since Sam Merlotte is now known to be two-natured, suspicion falls immediately on the anti-shifters in the area. Sookie suspects otherwise, but her attention is divided when she realizes that her lover Eric Northman and his "child" Pam are plotting to kill the vampire who is now their master. Gradually, Sookie is drawn into the plot-which is much more complicated than she knows...

My Review: First let me say how excited I was reading this book, anxious to read the story but also anticipating season 4 of the HBO series, True Blood next month! The release of this book was just perfect timing! As much as I love the show, the book is where it's at!

Sookie is an amazing character. She is the strongest of any I've ever read (male or female) and equally determined. She sets her mind to something and it gets done. It might get a little sloppy at times and always a lot bloody, but that's just the Sookie Stackhouse way! This time around isn't much different than previous books, because she's always got a lot on her plate. Her fairy cousins, Claude and Dermot, are staying with her and she suspects their motives for doing so. Even though Charlaine Harris is great with recaps in each book, I still had a hard time remembering Dermot's background story. I remember that he was enchanted by Niall, but what he did while he was, I can't recall. Having these two around, she begins to learn more about her fairy-side and starts to finally get some answers to her questions; like where her telepathy came from!

Just as strong as Sookie is, she makes Eric soft, not a teddy bear by any means, but you can tell he melts just being around his beloved. There was not enough of these two in this book, they spent a lot of the time at odds with each other, especially after Sookie finds a way to break their blood bond! Victor, the Regent of Louisiana under the ruling of King Felipe, is determined to make Eric and Pam's life a living hell.

And what would a Sookie Stackhouse novel be if somebody wasn't trying to kill her? First, a firebomb through a Merlotte's window, then a kidnap attempt, then a full on attack!! She can hardly catch her breath before there's another fire to put out. I find it difficult to review these books because there is so much going on and I try not to spoil it for anyone.

Overall: I always enjoy these books. They're always action-packed; never a dull moment or a lull in the story and if it does slow down, it's only to build up momentum for the next event!

Friday, May 13, 2011

Book Blogger Hop #7

I haven't done the Blog Hop in a while so I'm glad to finally join in this week!

In the spirit of the Twitter Friday Follow, the Book Blogger Hop is a place just for book bloggers and readers to connect and find new book-related blogs that we may be missing out on! 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 they  never knew existed!

Each week, participating blogs are asked questions to post and answer on their websites.

This week's question

  "Are you going to Book Expo America (BEA) and/or the Book Blogger Convention (BBC) this year?"
My Answer: I really wanted to attend the BEA this year but I couldn't seem to figure out what exactly it is, what and who will be there. Is it free for bloggers to go? There were just too many questions so I figured I'd skip it this year, do my research and hope to attend next year. It's also hard to get a sitter during the week. But I hope everyone attending has a great time!

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

If Books Were Dollar Bills...

If books were dollar bills, I'd spread them out around me so I could roll around in them, throw them in the air and let them fall all over me, just like Scrooge McDuck here with his money! That's how much I love my books, all books, but the bruises and paper cuts I'd get just don't seem worth it.

BOOK NEWS:
Thanks to a sneak peak I received at the signing this week, I have found out that the cover for Clockwork Prince (The Infernal Devices #2) by Cassandra Clare will be revealed this month! Do you love cover reveals as much as I do? The book is expected to be released December 6, 2011.

And because I know how much you love cover reveals here are a couple you may not have seen yet. The first is a new one by our favorite, Maggie Stiefvater (author of Shiver and Linger) entitled The Scorpio Races with an expected release date of October 6th, 2011. The second cover is the fourth book in the Drake Chronicles by Alyxandra Harvey, Bleeding Hearts, due to be released October 3, 2011. Take a look:





















Granted, neither of them are anything to get excited about, although I do think Scorpio Races is pretty, they're very blah. However, the Drake Chronicles is a great story with wonderful and colorful characters and Maggie Stiefvater is an amazing author, so I don't doubt that these books will disappoint us with their stories!

Happy Reading!

Friday, May 6, 2011

Cover Reveals

Have you guys seen these already? If not, the following are the covers for Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick, the third book in her Hush, Hush series and If I Die by Rachel Vincent, the fifth book in her Soul Screamers series!




I love these covers because they are consistent with the previous books in their series. Hush, Hush, Crescendo and now Silence are all black and gray with the guy with the wings - I haven't actually read the series yet (though I do own the first two) so I don't actually know who the angel-guy is! Still, the cover is beautiful. All of the Soul Screamers covers show beautiful girls (each a different girl, oddly enough) with flowy dresses trailing around them in different colors. Simple yet...significant.

Expected release dates respectively: October 4, 2011 and September 20, 2011

Your thoughts?


Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Tuesday Review Day and Author Signing!

Yes. I am aware that it is Wednesday, however, yesterday I was too busy standing on line to see Cassandra Clare, Holly Black and Lauren DeStefano!!


Check the pics:




It was hard to snap a pic of DeStefano - she was way in the corner and there were lots of people. If you don't know who Lauren DeStefano is, she is the debuting author of Wither! After hearing her discuss her book, I wished I had a copy because it sounded so original and amazing, I put it near the top of my Wish List!

 

Meet Leona. She was sweet enough to let me take her picture, with a copy of CoFA, of course! She was there for the signing as well, but she stood out from the rest of the crowd with runes drawn all over her! I LOVE it! Why didn't I think of that? During the signing, each author read a little from their books and answered questions. Leona asked a great question to Cassandra Clare but for the life of me I cannot remember what it was, argh! So Leona, if you are reading this - please comment below with your question and its answer :)





Now for my review of City of Fallen Angels!



Written by: Cassandra Clare
Publication date: April 5, 2011
Released in Hardcover
424 pages

5 stars

Synopsis: City of Fallen Angels takes place two months after the events of City of Glass. In it, a mysterious someone’s killing the Shadowhunters who used to be in Valentine’s Circle and displaying their bodies around New York City in a manner designed to provoke hostility between Downworlders and Shadowhunters, leaving tensions running high in the city and disrupting Clary’s plan to lead as normal a life as she can — training to be a Shadowhunter, and pursuing her relationship with Jace. As Jace and Clary delve into the issue of the murdered Shadowhunters, they discover a mystery that has deeply personal consequences for them — consequences that may strengthen their relationship, or rip it apart forever.

Meanwhile, internecine warfare among vampires is tearing the Downworld community apart, and only Simon — the Daylighter who everyone wants on their side — can decide the outcome; too bad he wants nothing to do with Downworld politics. Love, blood, betrayal and revenge: the stakes are higher than ever in City of Fallen Angels.

My Review: Having read City of Glass so long ago, my memory of things past were a little rusty but thankfully it was a smooth transition into City of Fallen Angels! We start with Simon, living his new life as a vampire...who lives like he's still human. He has no idea how to be a vampire; he is completely naive about his own kind, which would usually irk me because I love a vampire who embraces his dark side and gives in to his instincts but in this case, Simon is learning more and more about himself and we get to witness him slow acceptance of Downworlders in his life and vice versa. He doesn't know who to trust outside of his Shadowhunter circle where he is slowly starting to feel like he doesn't fit in anymore. An upside? Well, he now has "sexy vampire mojo"!

I was happy to see Clary wasn't still helpless and clueless. She seemed to have taken a crash course in Shadowhunter 101 and learning to understand her powers. Was there enough Clary and Jace in the story? No, not for me, anyway. I wanted every chapter, every paragraph, every sentence to revolve around them! In fact, a whole book on the mystery that is Jace Wayland/Lightwood/Morgenstern or whatever...would be nice! *hint-hint* Something like a "Midnight Sun" - if we could ever get the rest of that! I did not care for "brooding" Jace. He was absolutely no fun. No fun at all. All that "woe is me" drama was a little repetitive and a lot unnecessary. As if Clary and/or Jace could deny how much they love each other.

What I appreciated most in this sequel was finally getting to see Isabelle vulnerable. She didn't reveal everything, it was just like peeling back a layer. I hope there is more to come. That reminds me, I learned on Twitter (as a follower of @cassieclare, of course) that in the sequels to follow, we will finally be introduced to...wait for it...the Iron Sisters! The female equivalent to the Silent Brothers, which  creep me out and are still quite the mystery, but I can't wait to find out what the Iron Sisters can do!
City of Fallen Angels was so much like the first three in The Mortal Instruments series, full of suspense and mystery, you have no idea who is behind everything until Cassandra Clare wants you to know!  Throughout the book there are small moments of impact (action scenes) which are kind of like battles but they are just warning signs that the big one is coming! A war is about to begin.

Overall:  I thoroughly enjoyed this sequel. Cliffhanger of the year - I can't believe it!


Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Umm...yeah...

So, this picture is enormous.  I don't intend to leave it like that but until I can figure out how to add my title and shrink the picture to fit, the look is temporary. Please bear with me in the interim.

If anyone has any suggestions, I'm all ears! Eyes? 

Thank you!

 

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