Discord's Apple, My Fair Succubi, Haunted by your Touch...

I've been busy.  Just finished Discord's Apple by Carrie Vaughn.  A very different story.  It's mythology mixed with postapocalyptic world, with comic books, magical items, magical beings and a job passed down from generation to generation, in not a very big book.  I found it a little bit hard to get into and the ending was strange but sort of bought the story full circle.  It is a standalone novel and very different from her Kitty Norville series.  But if you are a fan of Carrie Vaughan you will be able to appreciate her writing genius in this story.

My Fair Succubi by Jill Myles is third in the series The Succubus Diaries.  Fantastic book.  It follows Jackie and Noah as they get arrested by the Serim Council and Jackie is still torn between her Angel Noah and The fallen angel/vampire Zane.  Without giving away spoilers, I too would be hard pushed to choose between 2 gorgeous males especially if I needed conjugal rights every 2 days to stay alive.  I used to want to say to Jackie suck it up, but she is trying so hard to do the best for everyone and always at the expense of herself that she deserves all that life can offer her.  Great book, great storyline, great sex... what more could you ask for.  A definite read for anyone who likes the genre and the writer.

I love anything by Rachel Caine and this series is an off shoot of the Weather Warden series.  This is 2nd in the series and follows the story of Cassiel, a Djinn that has been 'cast out' because she would not follow an order from Ashan.  Her greatest adversary is targeting kids with powers and Cassiel and her partner Luis are on her trail.  It has all the attributes of the Warden series, but from a different point of view, from a once was Djinn.

Sometimes there are some books I just can't get into...

I use many devious ways to choose books to read.  Goodreads, Shelfari, Blogger, I use these sites to check what other people are reading and pick and choose from there. I use fantasticfiction.co.uk just to check on order of series and blurbs.  It's a smorgasbord, a plethora of choice.  I am also a visual person.  I choose books by the cover and since book covers are getting better and better, I am flooded for choice.  I usually place holds on books through the local library, and I've discovered even with all the background information I can get and knowing what I like to read, there are just some books that I can't get into.  And I will try serveral times to read a book, and still it just doesn't take.  And it's me, not them. I'm retrying one at the moment 'Blood Memories' by Barb Hende.  It ticks all the boxes. Paranormal Urban Fantasy, Vampires, a strong heroine with a dark past.  I love these books, I eat them up like fruit and nut chocolate, but I just can't get into this one, and I so want too.  That's why I keep trying.  I give myself a break and then come back to it.  So wish me luck or maybe the fates are just that I'm not supposed to read it.  Let it go... I'll let you know how I go, it's not like there aren't lots of books out there!  Currently I am also reading Carrie Vaughan's Discord's Apple.

Even more books read!

With so much time on my hands I have been busy reading all my library books.  I go a bit crazy and place holds on lots of books and then have a race against time to get through them all.  And also I have discovered Book Depository and I can buy books from there that are not available from my very large library network.  Hence the fact that I have now organised my 2 bookcases to hold 'Read books' and TBR books.  Both bookcases are almost full and I still have more books coming from overseas.  If you don't already know, Book Depository is fantastic, and delivery worldwide is free.  It makes it very hard to say no.

Back to the books that I've read  have just finished  If I Stay and Where She Went by Gayle Forman.

If I Stay is a magical book.  I am not one to cry a over book.  I think the last book that I cried over was My Sister's Keeper by Jodie Picoult and that was really only at the end and I wasn't happy about that.  This book had me verging on tears most of the way through. The story line follows Mia who is involved in a car accident that kills her family but leaves her fighting for her life in hospital.  There are flashbacks to her memories which are interwoven into the story beautifully. Now, it doesn't sound like an uplifting story but please read it. It has been a long time since I have come across a book that I have loved as much as this one. Luckily enough I had Where She Went on hand as well.  It's written from Adam, Mia's boyfriend's POV.  It is also based 3 years  after If I Stay. I have to be careful because I don't like giving away too much.  I like the reader (haha) of this review to make up their own mind as to whether they read the book.  It certainly provides closure and is a must read.  And if you can read them together in the same day then do it.  There is a sigh of relief at the end of this book, not because the ending is what you expect, which it isn't, but because they are two halves of a whole.  Hopefully you will enjoy these books as much as I did.

Well, I did come back :)

So a few books finished since I last blogged.  As mentioned in my previous post, I was reading Matched by Allie Condie.  I really liked this book.  I like any books about worlds like ours, but a little off key.  It always makes me wonder whether things like this are part of our future.  Being a massive X Files fan I always used to wonder where they got their ideas from, whether it had already happened and the government was hiding things and then years later, it all comes out and a light goes off in my head reminding me of a certain episode.  This book does this.  For me... this book is about control and how a society's government does the thinking for the populace because 'they know best'.  Some backdrop.  At the age of 17, each teenager is Matched with their perfect mate.  Supposedly someone that meets all genetic, emotional and mental needs in the partnership.  As always the outward perception is of a Utopian society, 'for the good of all'.  Cassia has been matched with her best friend, but another face momentarily appeared towards the end.  Cassia now has doubt about whether Xander is her perfect match.  Could it be the other boy that appeared?  Cassia starts questioning everything and trying to find her own way, make her own decisions knowing that it could affect her whole way of living.  Great book, it took me a little to get into, but I am glad I persevered.  Am definitely looking forward to the next book out 'Crossed'.

I'm Back

It's been a while, I can't even lie to myself, the date I last blogged is staring at me.  And I have read SO many books since then .  But all apologies are accepted and since I have so much time off I am going to make a concerted effort to get back on track.  I do get sidetracked by Shelfari, Goodreads, Book Depository, Fantastic fiction and my local library.  They do feed my obsession... but anyway no excuses.  I am currently reading 3 books, one of which is Matched by Ally Condie.  My favourite genres are Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance/Science Fiction and Fantasy but I am continuously being sucked in to Young Adult as well.  Sucked in willingly too!!  Hopefully I will be back here asap

Lots and Lots of books read!

I thought it had been longer since I posted.  I am sitting here with 3 books beside me, desperately trying to remember what else it is I have read!

Probably out of all of them "On the Edge" by Ilona Andrews is my drop dead favourite.  It is sit in a parallel, in between world called the Edge.  It's main heroine is a girl called Rose Drayton who has the care of her 2 younger brothers, one of whom is a shapeshifter and Georgie who raises the dead.  Rose has had a hard life and been let down by many people in her life.  She is also and expert at 'flashing'.  Obviously this is not running around naked, but is usually only reserved for people in the "Weird".  It is the ability to send a concentrated flash of power to protect oneself.  It seems only 'bluebloods' can produce the white flash that Rose can.  In being able to do this, it has made her a very valuable commodity and men have been trying to trick her into slavery so that they can get children (who will have her ability) from her.  Along comes Declan Camarine a blueblood noble who wants to marry her.  Rose has to set him 3 challenges.  He needs to complete every challenge and then she will leave the Edge for the Weird to serve as his wife or mistress.  It hard doing a review on a book when there are so many twists and turns.  How do you convince someone that this is a book that they just have to read?  Rose is small and seemingly a touch insignificant but it is all a ruse.  She is a strong, vibrant, caring, supportive loving character.  There are not enough descriptive words for her.  She protects her two brothers with love and confidence even though they both have issues that she and they are struggling to cope with.  One of my favourite parts of the book is when Jack (brother) was trying to comfort William (friend of Declan's and also a shape changer).  "You're in a good place.  Nobody can hurt you here. You don't have to be afraid".  He hesitated.  "There is some mushy love stuff that goes here, but it probably won't work for you.  The important thing is, this is a good place.  It's safe and warm, and there is water and food.  And you don't have to be scared, because there are ward stones and they keep bad people away.  And Rose won't let anybody hurt you."  Jack doesn't understand that when William was young, because he was a shape shifter he was treated as an abberation, as someone not worthy and was shown no love or compassion.  Jack has always had all that William wants.

Anyway please read this book.  I think that you will love it as much as I have and wait in anticipation for the next one Bayou Moon. 

I have also just finished Sins of the Flesh by Eve Silver and Touch of Madness by C T Adams and Cathy Clamp.

Sins of the Flesh is 3rd in the Otherkin series and is the story of Malthus Krayl and Calliope Kane.  Another magnificent story, that I am not going into now, but worth a good read. 

Touch of Madness is sequel to Touch of Evil.  It follows Kate Reilly and her boyfriend Tom.  This book was action packed from beginning to end.  For a girl, she seems to spend a bit of time in hospital, getting over near death experiences and fights.  She is in love with Tom her werewolf, but after only being responsible for herself she is finding it hard to let Tom in and rely and share with him.  She has been ordered to find the lost eggs of the Thrall.  They seem to have an ulterior motive (as they do for everything) but she is on a time limit.  She is been chased by deranged wife of her ex boyfriend, she brings her brother Bryan out of his zombie status, which is unheard of, and she is desperately trying to keep out of the way of a vampire that is 'just keeping' an eye on her and making sure that she finds the eggs.  Whew, action packed from beginning to end.

Anyway, that's it for the time being.  Still got a few books to get through.  What with work, kids and family, it's hard to fit it all in.  But i do live by the adage, "always make time for reading!!!!"

A quick post, just to keep up with all the books

I am reading like an animal at the moment.  I have purpose and drive to get through a whole list of books.  So here they are.

Wander Lust andDouble Blind by Ann Aguirre.  Love this series.  Sirantha Jax is a fantastic and complex character.  I have been lucky enough to watch her grow up over the last two books and she is someone to be proud of.  It may sound like I am waxing lyrical but she has gone from tragedy to crisis to crisis and has the ability to put her friends and lover first even if they don't quite realise it.  In Doubleblind she saved March's mind.  You just have to read it.  She shows respect for her friend Vel who is not of the human kind, she shows compassion for her computer PA and she accepts people for who they are.  READ IT.

Also finished is Riding Temptation by Jaci Burton.  This was a surprising book, I'm not going to give any of it away but it was hot, hot, hot.  Great story line with lots of potential for other character stories.  Two thumbs up here as well.

Embrace the night by Joss Ware.  This is the story of Sage Corrigan and Simon Japp.  It is set in a earth after a tragedy.  There are not many left and there are a group called 'The Strangers' who have mysterious blue gems in their bodies that keep them immortal.  I really liked this book.  I love story lines that depict earth and humanity trying to re establish themselves in a life that is different to eaht we live now.  Sage is from a cult that believes it is there job to re populate the world.  She left the clan and has made her way to Envy where because of her distinctive colouring she is looked down on.  Simon is part of a group of men who have special powers and have not aged in the 40 odd years since the catastrophe.  Anyway, I could go on and tell you more, but you need to find out for yourself.  Read it and enjoy.  Sage seems fragile but is surprisingly strong and a worthy heroine. 

And last but not least.  Blood Born by Linda Howard.  Luca Ambrus is a blood born vampire, the product of 2 vampire parents.  Very rare and very powerful.  Chole  Fallon is human and a conduit.  A descendant of Chloe's "a Warrior" is trying to get Chloe to acknowledge her so that she can come 'through' to battle the rebel vampires who want to take over the world.  That is a really condensed version and obviously the story is much better than my poor attempt at reviewing, but I really don't like giving away a lot.  Except I really did enjoy this book, as I enjoyed the rest.  What can I say.

I will admit, it sounds like I haven't had a book that I haven't liked, but there is one which I haven't quite finished yet, but want to, hoping that it will get better.  When I have finished it, I will give you all (just me) my verdict.  I am reading a few books at the moment soooooooo...back to it I go.