Monday, April 29, 2013

Book Review: Refugee, by Erica Stevens



Refugee
(The Captive Series #3)
Erica Stevens
Trade Paperback, 234 pages
CreateSpace, November 23, 2013
Dystopian Fiction, Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy, Young Adult Fiction


Stevens has given us yet another highly compelling installment, in this, her Captive Series!  The fourth and final volume, Salvation, will be out this June, and I can hardly wait....

Braith and Aria set off to find allies to fight the war that will topple Braith's cruel father, the current king, from his throne. As the next in line, Braith is the one expected to take over for the king, and bring an end to the brutal practices his father has had in place for years.  Chief among these is the practice of vampires owning humans as bloodslaves.  Max, Aria's best friend, has not gotten over the experience of being owned by the female vampire who claimed him as her bloodslave in the first book, Captured.  Aria herself has seen first-hand just how cruel this practice can be, although, in her own experience, she was treated with kindness by Braith, her captor, who ended up falling in love with her, and then joining the resistance to fight against the king. 

The problem is that Braith, who refuses to acknowledge that he's a natural leader, does not want to be the next king.  He is only willing to lead the allied forces -- aristocratic vampires who are outcast from the Empire, together with the human resistance -- in the assault on the Imperial palace.  After that, he wants to relinquish the reigns to a worthy successor, and go away to live in peace with his beloved, the human Aria.

Braith's brother, Jericho, now known as "Jack", is frustrated by this.  He wants Braith to not only lead the rebellion, but to rule as king afterward, as well.  Braith's friends and allies agree.  But Braith knows that his fellow vampires will never accept a human as his Queen.  He could turn Aria into a vampire, but, since many humans do not survive the change, he's afraid to take the risk.  This is very sweet of him, and strongly reminds me of Edward's dilemma in this regard, in The Twilight Saga.

Saturday, April 27, 2013

Stacking The Shelves #12





This is a weekly event hosted by Jennifer, Lili,
Stephanie, and Tynga @ Tynga's Reviews!
As the title implies, this is all about sharing
the books you're adding to your shelves,
be they physical or virtual.
For the complete rules, and to sign up,
just click on the link above.


This week's haul!!











Books Purchased

This week, it's been strictly all
mass market paperbacks!
Why, I don't know...
it just turned out that way.
And my first hard-earned purchase
was a great fantasy series
I had never heard of before, but
coveted when I first saw it on good ol' Amazon!
The first book introduces a woman
named "Rhapsody", who is a singer,
and becomes involved in an
epic journey through a world full of magic.
There are a total of 6 books
in the series so far.
You can buy the boxed set
of the first 3 books

Below you will find links for
each individual volume.





Rhapsody: Child of Blood
(Symphony of Ages #1)
Elizabeth Haydon




Prophecy: Child of Earth
(Symphony of Ages #2)
Elizabeth Haydon




Destiny: Child of the Sky
(Symphony of Ages #3)
Elizabeth Haydon



The Story of "Shelf Candy Saturday"




We all know that the blogosphere is not static; blogs appear, are active for some time, and then, either disappear or become inactive.  There used to be a wonderful blog, Five Alarm Book Reviews, run by a great blogger named Stephanie.  I loved visiting and commenting on this blog, and especially, participating in a meme titled "Shelf Candy Saturday", which was dedicated to showcasing beautiful book covers.  

One of the things I enjoyed the most about this meme was reading information about the very talented artists who had created the gorgeous covers Steph presented every week.  I also enjoyed visiting the participating blogs to admire the covers those bloggers had posted, and reading the information they had discovered about the cover artists.  Including such information in an SCS post was optional, however.  Some participants didn't include it, but simply wrote about why they loved the cover they had selected.

Unfortunately, this wonderful state of affairs was not to last...Steph decided to stop blogging.  Sadly, she not only did that, but deleted her entire blog, and it's no longer to be found on the Internet, as far as I know.  She emailed me to let me know of her decision, which was motivated by personal reasons I can't divulge.  She added that she had to delete the entire blog because it was self-hosted, and therefore, had she simply stopped blogging but left it up, she would have had to continue paying for an inactive blog.  In her email, she also asked me if I would be interested in taking over her meme.  Of course, I  immediately agreed, since I loved it so much. 




This was the original meme logo.


When I took over the meme, I decided to continue with the idea of providing information about the artists who created the amazing covers I selected.  I invited hop participants to do the same, although I emphasized that it was purely optional.

At first, participation was not too bad.  Steph usually got seven, and sometimes nine or ten, blogs participating.  However, as time went on, the bloggers who had originally joined her blog hop and continued to participate when I took over, just disappeared.  I did get a couple of new ones, but in time, they, too, disappeared.  I bravely continued, however, because I love this meme! 

Many of my readers may not know that I have two jobs -- a full-time, and a part-time.  Obviously, this basically limits me to blogging on the weekends, although I sometimes stay up as late as 1:00 AM during the week, in order to post "Waiting On Wednesday", plus anything else I might have going.  This means that, on Friday evenings, I am often very tired, so I go to bed early, instead of working on my "Shelf Candy Saturday" post in order to be able to put it up by midnight.  This is fatal to a blog hop, unfortunately, if you happen to be the host.  Participants need to link up to the hosting post through a Linky widget.  If that post is not up early, they obviously won't be motivated to put up their own posts. 

Perhaps it's due to this irregularity that I have seen participants to this meme gradually dwindle, and then disappear altogether.   However, even when I've had my own post up by midnight, I haven't seen anyone linking up.  I have gone to a couple of blogs that were participating recently, and commented on their posts, only to find that they neither linked up to my post, nor did they comment back.

So I have come to a decision about this meme.  I will continue to post it, because I simply can't give it up!  However, it will no longer be a blog hop, since no one seems to be interested in participating.  This, of course, saddens me.  Paradoxically, however, it will at the same time take the pressure off.  I will no longer feel obligated to put my post up by midnight on Saturdays.

Of course, I will always welcome comments!  I will also continue to provide information on cover artists, if I'm able to find it.  Steph told me once that she usually contacted publishers way ahead of her posts, in order to get inside information on the cover artists.  I don't have the time to do that, given my work situation.  So I can only get this information if I own the book whose cover I'm featuring, or if the book's author provides information on the artist on their blog or website. The Amazon reader will sometimes provide this information, if a book is available for preview on Amazon. If none of these options are available, I will then use trusty ol' Google. If that fails to yield any results, then I can only state that I was unable to get any information on the artist whose cover I'm featuring in the SCS post.

Those who have enjoyed this meme so far can continue to do so every Saturday.  For me, it's a work of love.  Although I'm disappointed that I can't seem to get any participants, I will go on with the meme, as a personal one only.  So, starting next Saturday, there will no longer be a Linky widget at the bottom of the post. 

See you next Saturday!   




Here are three of my favorite 
"Shelf Candy Saturday" posts,
done when Steph hosted the meme:

National Velvet, by Enid Bagnold

Nightspell, by Leah Cypess

The Robe, by Lloyd C. Douglas








Friday, April 26, 2013

Book Blogger Hop #15 (4/26 - 5/2): The Last Book That Made You Laugh Out Loud





Welcome to the new
Book Blogger Hop,
hosted by Bill @


What to Do

1.) Post on your blog answering this question:

What was the last book you read
that made you laugh out loud?

2.)  Enter the link to your post in the
Linky list on Bill's blog.

3.)  Visit other blogs on the list and
comment on their posts. 

4.)  Be sure to find out next week's
question when you visit Bill's blog!


My Answer

Two of my favorite authors write very  funny romance novels -- about vampires, unbelievably enough!  The authors are Lynsay Sands and Kerrelyn Sparks. Back in the day, vampires were really scary.  They were definitely part of the horror genre.  Not necessarily so for modern-day vampires! After all, my favorite vamp, a certain Mr. Edward Cullen, even sparkles in bright sunlight....  

If vampires can be romantic, they can also be funny.  Why not?  I've never liked the traditional horror-style vamps.  In fact, I don't like the horror genre at all, whether in books or films. 

To continue...I'm going to mention one book in particular, by Kerrelyn Sparks, that I read in January of 2011.  Here it is!




(Love At Stake #5)
Kerrelyn Sparks
Mass Market Paperback, 350 pages
Avon Books
October 28, 2008
Christmas Romance,
Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy

To read my review, click HERE.


Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Waiting On Wednesday #71: The Hunter, by Monica McCarty





This is a weekly event hosted by
It showcases future releases which
we book bloggers are eagerly anticipating!!


Here's my pick for this week!



(Highland Guard #7)
Mass Market Paperback, 400 pages
Ballantine Books
June 25, 2013
Historical Romance


From the Goodreads Synopsis

Prized for his unbeatable tracking skills, Ewen “Hunter” Lamont accepts a dangerous assignment: locate a missing undercover courier. But this is no ordinary target. Ewen has met his prey before as “Sister Genna,” a fiery, forbidden woman forever etched in his memory after one stolen, sinful kiss. Now that he knows her real identity, he’s more determined than ever to keep her safe. But without the protection of the veil between them, fighting the allure of the beautiful lass may be the toughest battle this extraordinary warrior has ever faced.

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Stacking The Shelves #11





This is a weekly event hosted by Jennifer,
Lili, Stephanie, and Tynga @ Tynga's Reviews!
As the title implies, this is all about
sharing the books you're adding
to your shelves, be they
physical or virtual.  For the complete
rules and to sign up, just click on the link above. 



This week's haul!!




Since my tastes are very eclectic,
so are my book acquisitions!
This week, I have a combination of
young adult and adult novels,
as well as a fascinating nonfiction book!



Giveaway Prize

Thanks to Kara @ Nocturnal Book Reviews
for the giveaway in which I won
this book about
powerful women of the Renaissance!
I can't wait to read it!!




The Deadly Sisterhood: A Story of Women, Power, and Intrigue 
in the Italian Renaissance
Hardcover, 448 pages
Harper Collins
April 2, 2013
Biography, Feminism, History, Nonfiction





Purchases

I saw both of these at a bookstore
near my day job, and
snatched them up before anyone else
could get their hands on them!
Now I need to get the first book in
this series, which I have long
wanted to read!



Pandemonium
(Delirium #2)
Hardcover, 384 pages
Harper Collins
February 28, 2012
Dystopian Fiction, Romance,
Young Adult Fiction





Requiem
(Delirium #3)
Lauren Oliver
Hardcover, 432 pages
Harper Collins
March 5, 2013
Dystopian Fiction, Romance,
Young Adult Fiction




Saturday, April 20, 2013

Shelf Candy Saturday #65: Sunshine and Shadow, by Sharon and Tom Curtis




Welcome to Shelf Candy Saturday!!


This weekly event,
hosted at
A Night's Dream of Books,
features beautiful book covers!


If you'd like to participate, just grab my button (or create your own), write your own post, and link up in the Linky widget at the bottom of this post.  (Just click on "Read more" so that the entire post will open up.

If you can find information on the artist, designer, and/or photographer, you can definitely include it!  This is optional, though.  You can simply display a beautiful book cover, and tell us why you love it!



Here's my choice for this week!




Mass Market Paperback, 368 pages
Bantam Books
September 1, 1986
Contemporary Romance



Why do I love this cover?

This is not only a beautiful novel, and one of my all-time favorite romances, but it also has a beautiful cover!  It's a rather unusual one, too, because of the strong tactile sensation I get even from the two-dimensional image. 

There's such a flowing, peaceful feeling to this image, as well.  The young woman appears about to awaken her sleeping husband, but she is also hesitant to do so.  It seems that she will either wake him up very gradually, or settle for a very soft caress across his back.  As she moves, the comforter moves, too, undulating in gentle folds of metallic gold.   The comforter also serves to focus attention on the couple.

Friday, April 19, 2013

Book Blogger Hop #14 (4/19 - 4/25): The Last Book That Made You Cry





Welcome to the new
Book Blogger Hop,
hosted by


What to Do

1.) Post on your blog answering this question:

What was the last book you read
that made you cry?

2.)  Enter the link to your post in the
Linky list on Billy's blog.

3.)  Visit other blogs on the list and
comment on their posts. 

4.)  Be sure to find out next week's
question when you visit Bill's blog!


My Answer

There have been several books that have had this effect on me.  However, there's one that stands out in my mind -- Book 6 of the Harry Potter series which is titled Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.  One of my favorite characters in the series met an untimely end, and it was a huge shock to me!  I really hadn't been expecting this at all. 

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Waiting On Wednesday #70: The Shadowhunter's Codex, by Cassandra Clare and Joshua Lewis





This is a weekly event hosted by
It showcases future releases which
we book bloggers are eagerly anticipating!


Here's my pick for this week!



The Shadowhunter's Codex
(The Mortal Instruments)
Hardcover, 304 pages
Margaret K. McElderry Books
October 29, 2013
Paranormal & Urban Fantasy Nonfiction,
Young Adult


From the Goodreads Synopsis



Since the thirteenth century, the Shadowhunter’s Codex has been the one and only manual for Shadowhunters looking to brush up on their demon languages, learn proper stele use, and discover just what exactly a pyxis is. Featured in both The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices, this guide is a necessity for any young Nephilim on their journey to becoming a Shadowhunter. Beautifully illustrated, the Codex contains images of the famous Shadowhunter homeland of Idris, as well as depictions of demons and other Downworlders.



Saturday, April 13, 2013

Shelf Candy Saturday #64: Sophie's World, by Jostein Gaarder





Welcome to
Shelf Candy Saturday!!

This weekly event,
hosted at
A Night's Dream of Books,
features beautiful book covers!


If you'd like to participate, just grab my button (or create your own), write your own post, and link up in the Linky widget at the bottom of this post.  (Just click on "Read more" so that the entire post will open up.)

If you can find information on the designer, artist, and/or photographer, you can definitely include it.  It's not required, though.  You can simply display a beautiful cover, and tell us why you love it!



 Here's my choice for this week!



(Paulette Moller, Translator)
Hardcover, 518 pages
Perfection Learning
January 1. 2010
(first published in 1991)
Literary Fiction, Philosophy


Why do I love this cover?


This is a mystical, magical cover, with an interesting juxtaposition of elements.  They're perfectly balanced, too.  The background color -- mostly a very greenish aqua in various shades -- is just gorgeous!  It also sets off the rest of the objects in the cover quite well.

Western philosophy is symbolized by the statue of Socrates, the great Greek philosopher, in the bottom left-hand corner, while Eastern philosophy is represented by the statue of Buddha, in the upper right-hand corner.  Thus, equal importance is given to each. 


Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Waiting On Wednesday #69: Goddess, by Josephine Angelini


                                                                    


This is a weekly book meme/blog hop,
hosted by
It showcases future releases which
we bloggers
are eagerly anticipating!



Here's my pick for this week!




(Starcrossed #3)
Hardcover, 432 pages
Harper Teen
May 28, 2013
Fantasy, Mythology, Paranormal Romance,
Young Adult Fiction


Synopsis
(Goodreads)



After accidentally unleashing the gods from their captivity on Olympus, Helen must find a way to re-imprison them without starting a devastating war. But the gods are angry, and their thirst for blood already has a body count.