BTS Read-a-thon: Day 4 and 5

Good morning my weblets! As you can see my "FULL SPEED AHEAD" attitude has waned a little bit. I'm definitely quite baffled as to why it seems the more I enjoy a book the slower I seem to read.



So anyhoodle, while it seems as if I'm slowing down and losing interest. I'm actually not I'm just really enjoying The King's Damsel. I do hope to finish it tonight though and move on to my next read!


Update 1:
Book: The King's Damsel pg. 122
Pages Read: 213
Finished:YES!


Update 2:
Book: Deception by Kris Kennedy
Pages Read:
Finished:

Totals:
Books Read/Finished:2
Pages Read: 459

BTS Read-a-thon: Post Two and Three (combined day!)

I'm ready to get this party started! Are you? Woot!

Let's go!


Update 1:
Book:  The King's Damsel pg. 16
Pages Read: 70
Finished: Nope and I had good reason! Check out what my son did! :)

Yup, my little ninja is a yellow belt now! He was so proud and I was so geeked out for him! So although I didn't do much in the way of reading, I am cool with it!

Now onto Day 3!

Update 2:
Book: The King's Damsel pg. 70
Pages Read:52
Finished: N

Totals:
Books Read/Finished: 1
Pages Read: 246

BTS Read-a-thon: Post One

Good morning boys and girls! It's time to start the fun! Here we go!

At first I was:

but then I was like:

Because it's the start of my read-a-thon! Yay! I didn't get to finish SFtD last night (evil True Blood!) so finishing up that book is my first priority!

Update 1:
Book:  Speaker for the Dead (finishing up) page 172
Pages Read:  108
Finished: Yes!

Update 2:
Book:  The King's Damsel
Pages Read: 16
Finished:Nope

Totals:
Books Read/Finished: 1
Pages Read: 124

My Weeklong Back To School Read-a-Thon

My youngin' is back into the swing of things with school and karate, so this week I am going to use my quiet time wisely. I will spend every single spare moment devoted to reading. I have a big stack of books that needs my attention. I need to get my books read and my reviews aflowing again too!

I will be doing this solo, unless you wanna join in? I will start tomorrow at around 7am and end the "thon" on Sunday at midnight (cst.)

My goal is to read at least 5 books this week! It's a big number for me, but I really  want to catch up! Wish me luck!

Read Up The Weekend!

So it's Friday. Yup, that magical day that leads us into two whole days of what might equate to FREEDOM for some or most..or whatever. My week started off in grand form, but then Wednesday my little person was infected with some bug that made him super not a happy camper! :( Poor kid. First week of school and already got the plague! *sigh* He slept, whined, and slept some more. Stayed home from Karate class on Weds. night, then slept, whined, and slept some more again on Thursday.

*sigh*

This morning he practically burst out of bed and demanded foodstuffs and school! I checked, double checked, then checked his temperature again this morning, no fever, so off to school with him! And so after being fed, watered, and clothed, he went off all smiles and back to his silly boy-creatured self.

So starts my lovely sorta work free weekend. My schedule has changed some so now I have a bit more non-work time during the weekend. I plan to fully take advantage by nerding out hard!

Here goes my goals:

• Speaker for the Dead-finish
• Saving Ruth
• The King's Damsel
• Deception 

Four books in 3 days? Can I do it? Probably not. Will I try? Hells yeah! I has weekend powahs!

Enjoy your weekend! It only happens once a week!

Review: Pretty When She Dies

Blurb:
Amaliya wakes under the forest floor, disoriented, famished and confused. She digs out of the shallow grave and realizes she is hungry... ... in a new, horrific, unimaginable way... Sating her great hunger, she discovers that she is now a vampire, the bloodthirsty creature of legend. She has no choice but to flee from her old life and travels across Texas. Her new hunger spurs her to leave a wake of death and blood behind her as she struggles with her new nature. All the while, her creator is watching. He is ancient, he is powerful, and what's worse is that he's a necromancer. He has the power to force the dead to do his bidding. Amaliya realizes she is but a pawn in a twisted game, and her only hope for survival is to seek out one of her own kind. But if Amaliya finds another vampire, will it mean her salvation... or her death?

My Thoughts: 
Okay, my first thoughts..straight out the gate...DANG Amaliya! Why you gotta be so awesome?! No lie, that was it. My initial thoughts were just how believable she was. Again, it's fairly obvious that I am a BIG OLE Rhiannon Frater fan, I ain't afeared to say it either! So once again I was stunned by the flawed but awesomeballs female character that I feel Madam Frater should be known for!

*accurate portrayal of how I looked while reading this book!*

I am not a fan of sappy insta-love, some vampire books use that gimick often and it makes me wanna throw the thing across the room. I am SO glad that even thought there is some romance and LURVE happens, it's not instant and it's not like a "OMG her eyez be so glinty and dayum I am in luv!" It came across as genuine. It's grown and not just shown. They develop their bond and their feelings as the get to know each other.

I like Cian.  He isn't some pompous asshat that nails anything that walks by him, simply because he can. He's sexy, but not a try hard. He's not trying to seduce the ladies with his flashy fangy charm. What he is trying to do, is live his life like a normal human. He's got a fiance (poor thing), he keeps all the other vampires out of his city, and he tries to blend in as best as he can. It doesn't work. :( Poor Cian! When Amaliya shows up, she is all up in his situation, messing up his flow. At first his reaction is to send her away, but then he realizes that she needs her. They share something in common and that leads them on, for lack of a better phrase, a BEAUTIFUL adventure!

This book pleased me to no ends. There's all kinds of goodies up in this book! Sex, humor, fangs, and GREAT STORY TELLING! Did I mention the kick ass heroine? Yeah, cuz there's that too!

Also, I will be participating in the blog tour for the release of Pretty When She Kills! The book will be released on Sept. 7th, and I will be posting my review on the 12th! I cannot wait to read it!

Review: Dare Me

Blurb:
Addy Hanlon has always been Beth Cassidy's best friend and trusted lieutenant. Beth calls the shots and Addy carries them out, a long-established order of things that has brought them to the pinnacle of their high-school careers. Now they're seniors who rule the intensely competitive cheer squad, feared and followed by the other girls -- until the young new coach arrives.

Cool and commanding, an emissary from the adult world just beyond their reach, Coach Colette French draws Addy and the other cheerleaders into her life. Only Beth, unsettled by the new regime, remains outside Coach's golden circle, waging a subtle but vicious campaign to regain her position as "top girl" -- both with the team and with Addy herself.

Then a suicide focuses a police investigation on Coach and her squad. After the first wave of shock and grief, Addy tries to uncover the truth behind the death -- and learns that the boundary between loyalty and love can be dangerous terrain.

My Thoughts:

 This book is full of characters that are not exactly upstanding citizens. None of these people are completely innocent or likeable. Addy and Beth at first seem like opposite sides of the same coin, but in actuality they seem to be almost the same kind of person. Beth is ruthless and direct and Addy is the same, but on another level. They both gravitate around each other and bump into each other. They each get what they want but in vastly different ways. Like I said, not a single character is really all that likeable.

Does this mean I hated this book? Hells, naw! I gobbled it up. It's got this soapish train wreck quality that I like in a book on occasion. So many bitches and bastards put into one book..it's bound to be explosive! That's what this book is! It starts off on a slow burn..kind of like when you put a match to the fuse of a stick of dynamite. Just watch out! Towards the end things really go kablooey!

There is a pretty good plot twist too. I will give that to Megan Abbott. I did not see that one coming! Good show, Madam! Good show indeed!

What are you Reading?

It's back to school today for my son! My little man is in 3rd grade now! *sniffles* So old....him..but also me! So this week I plan to FULLY take advantage of my new found quiet time! Embrace the quiet house and read my silly heart out! YES! I am pleased!

...of course I will miss my boy..yes..very much so but I am sooooo excited to have him back in school!

Don't judge me! ....please...? *whimper*

What I have on Deck:

• Speaker for the Dead (Finish)
• Saving Ruth
• The King's Damsel
• Deception
• Wolf Hall (read-a-long)
• The Cider House Rules (read-a-long)

Reviews Coming up:

• Dare Me
• Pretty When She Dies

So what's your plans for this week? When do you kids go back to school? Do you increase your reading time when they do?

Talk to me peoples! :)

Random I know. I could not help it.

Review: Dark Lover

Blurb: 
In the shadows of the night in Caldwell, New York, there's a deadly turf war going on between vampires and their slayers. There exists a secret band of brothers like no other-six vampire warriors, defenders of their race. Yet none of them relishes killing their enemies-the lessers-more than Wrath, the leader of the Black Dagger Brotherhood.

The only purebred vampire left on earth, Wrath has a score to settle with the slayers who murdered his parents centuries ago. But, when one of his most trusted fighters is killed, leaving his half-breed daughter unaware of his existence or her fate, Wrath must usher her into the world of the undead-a world of sensuality beyond her wildest dreams.

My Thoughts:
First thoughts, wtf with the names? Rhage, Wrath, Tohrment! These are actual names of the actual characters! Okay so they are all pretty cheesesauce, but I can move past that. I don't need great names to make a great book. I need great writing.

The beginning of this book was very slow. I almost put this book down. I honestly did. I didn't though because I had heard such wonderful things about it. I pushed through and even though this wasn't the bestest book I've ever read, it was rather entertaining.

I may or may not read the rest but at least this one wasn't a total waste of time.

Review: Going Bovine

Blurb:
Can Cameron find what he’s looking for?
All 16-year-old Cameron wants is to get through high school—and life in general—with a minimum of effort. It’s not a lot to ask. But that’s before he’s given some bad news: he’s sick and he’s going to die. Which totally sucks. Hope arrives in the winged form of Dulcie, a loopy punk angel/possible hallucination with a bad sugar habit. She tells Cam there is a cure—if he’s willing to go in search of it. With the help of a death-obsessed, video-gaming dwarf and a yard gnome, Cam sets off on the mother of all road trips through a twisted America into the heart of what matters most.

My Thoughts:
Oh man! This book! So random, so mind boggling, but oh so awesome! I loved it! I loved smart assed Cameron! I loved all the characters. All of them. I have never found a book where I could honestly say that each character was equally as interesting.

This is a hard book to describe. When I was reading it I got many flashbacks to the book John Dies at the End, even though they are NOTHING alike. I think it might be the trippy style that the book is written in. I loved every moment of it.

Now let me tell you something, this book is not only a trip, but there is a big beating heart behind it. Cameron is sick. He's dying. His brain is becoming Swiss cheese. You do honestly don't know what is going on, but it's okay. The journey is amazing.

Basically, read this book. Enjoy!

Review: Legacy of Tril: Soulbound

Blurb:
A brand-new fantasy with a kick-butt heroine from the author of The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod

Tril is a world where Barrons and Healers are Bound to each other: Barrons fight and Healers cure their Barrons' wounds in the ongoing war with the evil Graplar King. Seventeen-year-old Kaya was born a Healer, but she wants to fight. In Tril, and at Shadow Academy, where she is sent to learn to heal, it is against Protocol for Healers to fight. So Kaya must learn in secret. Enter two young men: One charming, rule-following Barron who becomes Bound to Kaya and whose life she must protect at all costs. And one with a mysterious past who seems bent on making Kaya's life as difficult as possible. Kaya asks both to train her, but only one will, and the consequences will change their lives forever.

My Thoughts:
Sadly, this will be my 2nd less than glowing review in a row. Soulbound had a great start. The characters are rather typical. Girl has been hidden away most of her life. She gets found and brought to a special school where she becomes friends with a misfit, falls in "instalove" with a hunk, but also finds herself oddly attracted to someone she shouldn't.

I think that I've read this story before. I really wanted to enjoy this book. The cover art is badass, but sadly what I found in between the cover pages was not.

Review: The Hunt

Blurb:
Don’t Sweat.  Don’t Laugh.  Don’t draw attention to yourself.  And most of all, whatever you do, do not fall in love with one of them.
Gene is different from everyone else around him.  He can’t run with lightning speed, sunlight doesn’t hurt him and he doesn’t have an unquenchable lust for blood.  Gene is a human, and he knows the rules.  Keep the truth a secret.  It’s the only way to stay alive in a world of night—a world where humans are considered a delicacy and hunted for their blood.
When he’s chosen for a once in a lifetime opportunity to hunt the last remaining humans, Gene’s carefully constructed life begins to crumble around him.  He’s thrust into the path of a girl who makes him feel things he never thought possible—and into a ruthless pack of hunters whose suspicions about his true nature are growing. Now that Gene has finally found something worth fighting for, his need to survive is stronger than ever—but is it worth the cost of his humanity?


My Thoughts: 
After reading the blurb, I was intrigued. I've read all sorts of vampire novels but this one sounded unique.  The concept of a human trying to live among vampires as one of them, well that is just creepy/spooky. I was amped to just love this book.

Sadly, it didn't work out that way. The story fell flat for me. I saw the twists coming a mile away. I was a little irked by the fact that the vampires didn't see/hear/smell the differences. Either they were all dumb or lazy, it's hard for me to imagine they would not be able to tell a human from one of their own.

The ending was kind of out of nowhere. I didn't think it made much sense. I won't ruin it for anyone, but I was left scratching my head and a bit confused. The feeling I was left with was that Fukuda was just rushing to finish.

I have read a good deal of positive reviews for The Hunt, so it's quite possible I am alone on my little bench of disappointment.

Bout of Books: Challenge (Literary Best Friend)

  Auggie from Auggie Talk is hosting this challenge today!

Bout of Books Mini-Challenge
My Literary Best Friend!

Everyone has that one character. The character that they know they could relate to, get along with, have fun with, and laugh with. A literary BFF!

Tell us who your literary BFF is and why they're your always friend. What do you guys do together? What do you talk about? Get creative and let us know who your Literary Best Friend is!

My Best Friend (s)

Cat and Bones from the Night Huntress series by Jeaniene Frost. Dude, what's not to love about these guys? They are cray cray over each other, they are always finding themselves in interesting situations, but most importantly they are so adorable. I love their chemistry and wouldn't mind hanging out with them any day!

Bout of Books: Updates

This is where I will update my status per day! I decided to do it all in one sticky post instead of everyday!

Monday
Titles: Wolf Hall (part 2)
Number of books I've read today: 0
Total number of books I've read:0
Books: 0
Challenges Done: Passing Books

Tuesday
Titles: Wolf Hall and Pretty When She Dies
Number of books I've read today: 0
Total number of books I've read: 0
Books:0

Wednesday
Titles: Pretty When She Dies
Number of books I've read today:0
Total number of books I've read:0
Books:0

HOW HARD AM I SUCKING AT THIS READ-A-THON!? I haven't finished a book YET! BLah!

Saturday
Titles:
Number of books I've read today:
Total number of books I've read:
Books:

Sunday
Titles:
Number of books I've read today:
Total number of books I've read:
Books:

Bout of Books: Intentions

About:
The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal.  It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, August 13th and runs through Sunday, August 19th in whatever time zone you are in.  Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week.  There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional.  For all Bout of Books 5.0 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. -From the Bout of Books 5.0 team

Standard info:

• Bout of Books is a week long read-a-thon, run from 12:01am on Monday, August 13th through 11:59pm Sunday, August 19th in whatever time zone you are in.
• Bout of Books is low pressure, meaning participants are only asked to push themselves to read more than they normally would during any given week. There is no competition between readers.
• How much time a reader wants, and can commit, to read, tweet, or network with fellow bloggers is left to individual preference. All challenges and giveaways are optional.
• Networking with fellow bloggers is actively encouraged, though never required. Co-hosts are there to facilitate blog hopping and interaction between participants.
• Use Twitter to post updates throughout the read-a-thon. Everyone will be tweeting with the #boutofbooks hashtag.

My Goals:

• (Finish) Pretty When She Dies-Rhiannon Frater
• Speaker for the Dead-Orson Scott Card
• Saving Ruth -Zoe Fishman
• Read-a-Long Selections (Wolf Hall and Cider House Rules) 

So starting tomorrow probably around 7am CST is when I will start! See you then!

In Which I Admit Defeat

Oh, week. You started off with such promise. Such energy! I was greatly looking forward to the bounty you might have offered. Alas, you have conquered me! I must admit defeat. You won.

I am bowing out of the read-a-thon and posting for this week.

We will return you to your regularly scheduled programming again next Monday!

I leave you with funny. Also this store needs to marry me. I think we belong together.

Summer Wrap Up Read-a-thon: Day 4

8/7
1st Update:
Book: Pretty When She Dies by Rhiannon Frater (ebook)
Starting Page: 1
Ending Page:
Finished: Y/N
Challenges:

Summer Wrap Up Read-a-thon: Day 2 and 3 Updates

8/5
1st Update:
Book: Mister B. Gone
Starting Page: 18
Ending Page:39
Finished: N- work was far too busy to get any good reading in! :(
Challenges: None

8/6

1st Update:
Book: Mister B. Gone
Starting Page: 39
Ending Page:43
Finished:N

Challenges:None

Summer Wrap Up Read-a-thon: Day 1 Updates

1st Update:
Book: Going Bovine
Starting Page:324
Ending Page: 480
Finished: Y-Loved it! Such a great book!
Challenges:None

2nd Update:
Book: Mister B. Gone
Starting Page: 1
Ending Page:18
Finished: N
Books Finished: 1

Challenges: none

Totals for the Day:
Books: 1
Pages Read: 174
Challenges: 0

Summer Wrap Up Read-a-thon!

So interweblets! I love RATs (sounds gross but they are awesome)! I love them so so so much that I seem to find them all and join up! I like to call myself a RAT slut. (sounds even worse)  I am going to list a bunch of books that MIGHT wind up on my book plate this week. Check them out!

Top to Bottom:

1. Mister B. Gone -Clive Barker
2. Maisie Dobbs-Jacqueline Winspear
3. Dare Me-Megan Abbott
4. Creep (Not shown) and Freak by Jennifer Hillier
5. This Dark Endeavor-Kenneth Oppel
6. Saving Ruth-Zoe Fishman
7. Speaker for the Dead-Orson Scott Card
8. Going Bovine -Libba Bray (Finishing)
9. Wolf Hall (readalong parts)
10. The Pleasures of Men-Kate Williams

So thems my choices. Not even considering the possibility of finishing them all! My goal is at least 3 though.