Book Blogger Hop #20 (5/31 - 6/6): Favorite Series Completely Read

Welcome to the new

Book Blogger Hop,

hosted by Billy @

Ramblings of a Coffec-Addicted Writer!

He took over this hop from

Jennifer @ Crazy For Books.

I'm so glad he decided to

continue with this weekly feature!

For more information, click HERE.

What to Do

1.) Post on your blog answering this question:

What is your favorite series

that you've finished

all the books to?

(Must be more than 3 books.)

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

Oh, I will have to say it's The Twilight Saga!  I have not only read all four books, but am now on my third reading of them!  Actually, I've read the first book four times already -- the first three times in English, and the fourth time in Spanish.

I just can't get enough of these books!  Sigh....

There's actually a fifth book, titled The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner, but I'm not at all interested in that one.  This book focuses on a minor character introduced in Eclipse, the third book of the Saga.  The story is told from her perspective, and it's not a very happy one...

The Twilight Saga

Stephenie Meyer

Hardcover

Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

September 16, 2009

Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy,

Young Adult Fiction

Here's another series I love!  I haven't quite finished it, though...  I ran into a traumatic event in the sixth book, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.  I had read half the book, but was unable to continue.  However, I am mentioning this series here because, had it not been for J.K. Rowling's very unexpected (and, I think, totally unnecessary) plot twist, I would definitely have finished the series, because I love, love, love it!  Thanks for throwing a monkey wrench in the works, J.K.!  Why did you have to do that?! 

The Harry Potter Series

J.K. Rowling

Trade Paperback, 4,167 pages

Arthur A. Levine Books

July 1, 2009

Fantasy, Young Adult Fiction

I have the hardcovers of these books, but, since I love them so much, I might very well buy the paperbacks, too.  I've also been thinking of buying the British hardcover edition.  After all, that's what I've done with The Twilight Saga; I have several editions of the series!

Waithng On Wednesday #76: The Twice Lost, by Sarah Porter

This is a weekly event hosted by

Jill @ Breaking the Spine!!

It showcases future releases which

we book bloggers are

eagerly anticipating!!

Here's my choice for this week!

The Twice Lost

(Lost Voices #3)

Sarah Porter

Hardcover, 480 pages

Harcourt Children's Books

July 2, 2013

Fantasy, Young Adult Fiction

The Goodreads Synopsis

Mermaids have been sinking ships and drowning humans for centuries, and now the government is determined to put an end to the mermaid problem—by slaughtering all of them. Luce, a mermaid with exceptionally threatening abilities, becomes their number-one target, hunted as she flees down the coast toward San Francisco.     

There she finds hundreds of mermaids living in exile under the docks of the bay. These are the Twice Lost: once-human girls lost first when a trauma turned them into mermaids, and lost a second time when they broke mermaid law and were rejected by their tribes. Luce is stunned when they elect her as their leader. But she won’t be their queen. She’ll be their general. And they will become the Twice Lost Army—because this is war.

Why I'm Waiting On This Book

I love books about mermaids!
These creatures have always and totally
fascinated me....
This is yet another series I
have long wanted to start reading,
and just haven't had the time.
The plot premise is that
mermaids can be very dangerous,
but of course this book's
mermaid protagonist is several cuts
above the norm. 
She seems to be on the side of the humans,
too, which totally endears her to me.
And what about that cover?
Although looking at pictures of the
ocean depths can be scary,
I love this cover!!
It's not scary at all!!! 
Ahhh....all that blue water
has certainly helped me covet this book!





 

What exciting book(s) are you

eagerly anticipating

this week?

 

Book Review: New Moon, by Stephenie Meyer

New Moon
Stephenie Meyer
Hardcover, 608 pages
First Edition
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
August 21, 2006
Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy, YA

This was my third re-reading of the novel, which is the second one in Meyer's beloved series.   I read it as avidly as I did the first two times!  I know there will be future re-readings, as well.

I had not posted a review of the book before because so much has been said about it, in other reviews -- on Goodreads, Amazon, and countless blogs, although not everyone likes this book, (nor do they like the entire series).  Still, I felt it was time for me to post my thoughts about this installment in the Saga, since I have embarked on a third reading of all four books.

This is a very bittersweet novel, due to the introduction of the love triangle of Bella, Edward, and Jacob.  In the first novel, Twilight, the intense relationship of Bella and Edward was the main focus throughout.  In this one, Jacob makes it clear to Bella that he has fallen in love with her, even as he realizes she only considers him her best friend. 

The story opens with a deceptively happy event -- Bella's eighteenth birthday.  Bella is hypersensitive about celebrating this event, because Edward is eternally seventeen, of course, and she has been pleading with him, since the first book, to make her a vampire so that she can be as young-looking as he is, forever.  She's terrified of growing old and being mistaken for his grandmother in the future.

Not to be deterred by Bella's reluctance to acknowledge the big day, the irrepressible Alice plans a party for her.  And this is where the novel's emotionally-wrenching, unexpected plot twist takes place....At the party, Bella cuts herself when opening her birthday card, and Jasper, suddenly crazy with bloodlust, attempts to attack her.  Although the other Cullens do restrain him, Edward makes a fateful decision -- to leave Bella, for her own good.  He doesn't want to place her in any more danger because of his vampire nature, and also wants her to have a chance at a normal human life. 

Second Love In Bloom Giveaway Winner!!

Due to a little glitch (on my part) I contacted

two giveaway participants

to tell them they had won....

so now there's a second winner!!!

And that person is....

Melinda Dartmann!!!

Here's the book prize

you have selected!

'

Rapture

Lauren Kate

Hardcover, 464 pages

Delacorte Press, First Edition

June 12, 2012

Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy, YA

CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU!!!

Since you live in the United States,

I have ordered Rapture for you

from

You will be receiving the book

much faster this way!!

Thank you so much for participating

in this giveaway,

and especially for your wonderful

comment on my review of

Angelfire, by Courtney Allison Moulton!

Thanks once again to all

participants!!

There are more fantastic giveaways

to come, so stay tuned!!

Love In Bloom Giveaway Winner!!!

I am so happy to announce the winner

of this giveaway,

which was part of a giveaway hop sponsored by

Kathy @ I Am A Reader, Not A Writer,

and Christin @ Portrait of a Book!!

And the winner is...

Ashfa Anwer!!!

This is the book prize

you have selected!!

Easy

Tammara Webber

Trade Paperback, 310 pages

Penguin, USA (Berkley USA)

November 6, 2012

New Adult Fiction, Contemporary Romance

CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU!!!!

  

 I have already ordered the book

for you from

You should be receiving it soon!!

I'd like to thank everyone

who participated in this giveaway,

especially those who left such wonderful

comments on my book reviews!!

I have a very special 'thank you'

for Ashfa, who left such

a great comment on my review of

Angelfire, by Courtney Allison Moulton!

Please stay tuned, because

there will be more giveaways coming up

very soon, so you will all get

more chances to win a great book!!

Shelf Candy Saturday #69: Charlotte and Emily: A Novel of the Brontes, by Jude Morgan

Welcome to Shelf Candy Saturday!!

This weekly feature

showcases beautiful book covers,

and provides information,

if available, on their very talented creators!

For more information

about Shelf Candy Saturday,

just click HERE.

This is my choice for this week!

Charlotte and Emily: A Novel of the Brontes

Jude Morgan

Trade Paperback, 373 pages

St. Martin's Griffin

April 27, 2010

Biographical Fiction, Historical Fiction,

Literary Fiction

Why do I love this cover?

I was immediately captivated by the English moors when I read Jane Eyre for the first time, back in high school.  Their allure was mysterious, romantic, and definitely supernatural.   Of course, all these qualities were, and are, part of their beauty, which is so wonderfully depicted on this gorgeous cover!

Those rolling, peat-covered hills are the perfect backdrop for the passionate romance of Jane Eyre and Edward Rochester, as well as for the obsessive, hideous vengeance of Heathcliff, in his thwarted love for Catherine Earnshaw.

The sky is brooding and stormy, yet part of it seems to be opening up over the distant hills, as if there were some hope, after all, in the midst of all the emotional turbulence.  The play of light over the scene is incredibly well done.  It reinforces the feeling that a storm is about to break, and yet, perhaps not, as the sun and the storm clouds fight for supremacy over the sky. 

Stacking The Shelves #16

This is a weekly event hosted by Jennifer, Lili,

Stephanie, Helen, 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

I have heard so many great things

about this series!

And I'm very intrigued by the

combination of an American Southern town

with supernatural events...

plus, there's romance involved!

If I like the series, I'll

definitely watch the movies!

(Only one has been made so far,

but of course, more are coming.)

Goodreads

Amazon US

The Book Depository UK

Fishpond

Goodreads

Amazon US

The Book Depository UK

Fishpond

\

Goodreads

Amazon US

The Book Depository UK

Fishpond

Book Blogger Hop #19 (5/24 -5/30): Attending BEA....or a GREAT Alternative!!

Welcome to the new

Book Blogger Hop,

hosted by Bill @

Ramblings of a Coffec-Addicted Writer!

What to Do

1.) Post on your blog answering this question:

Have you ever been to BEA,

and if so, do you recommend

attending?

Any good advice for first-time

attendees?

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

Oh, I would so love to be able to attend BEA!!   I envy everyone who does go.... I'm sure I'd be ecstatic if I could attend!!  Ah, such bibliophilic bliss....

Although time and money restrictions keep me from attending this book lover's paradise, I am very much able to attend a local book event, which attracts hungry-for-books people from all over the country, and even all over the world. 

I'm referring to Miami Book Fair International, of course!!   Since I live in Miami, Florida (USA), I am definitely able to attend this book event!!  And oh, what a terrific one it is!!   I've gone three years (not in a row) so far, although this event is quite dangerous to my bank account.  One year I spent over $200.00!!  But I was sooooo happy!! 

This event features book presentations, with book signings included, as well as booths in which many independent and small booksellers offer their wonderful wares!  There's more, too!  There are pavilions representing different countries, with food and music, actors that walk around, stopping here and there among the crowd to perform an excerpt from a Shakespeare play, for example, or perhaps Van Helsing's confrontation with a vampire.  (I saw both on two subsequent years!).  There's also a Children's Pavilion, with characters from children's books that also walk around among the crowd. 

This year, Miami Book Fair International celebrates its 30th anniversary, so there are sure to be some surprises!   Oh, I'll definitely be there!!  Because of my two jobs, I am unable to attend during the work week, which is when many of the book presentations are usually held.  However, there's the street fair on Saturday and Sunday, during which more presentations are held!   And of course, one can walk around from booth to booth, and get some really sweet bargains!!

Waiting On Wednesday #75: Magic Rises, by Ilona Andrews

This is a weekly event hosted by

Jill @ Breaking the Spine!!

It showcases future releases which

we book bloggers are

eagerly anticipating!!

Here's my choice for this week!

Magic Rises

(Kate Daniels #6)

Ilona Andrews

Mass Market Paperback, 368 pages

Ace Books

July 30, 2013

Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy

From the Goodreads Synopsis

Mercenary Kate Daniels and her mate, Curran, the Beast Lord, are struggling to solve a heartbreaking crisis. Unable to control their beasts, many of the Pack’s shapeshifting children fail to survive to adulthood. While there is a medicine that can help, the secret to its making is closely guarded by the European packs, and there’s little available in Atlanta.

Why I'm Waiting On This Book

I love books with strong heroines,

especially if their boyfriends

love and admire them for being strong!

This woman certainly looks

like she can take care of herself,

but is not unfeminine.

Also, I began to enjoy reading about

shapeshifters ever since I

met a certain sexy werewolf named

Jacob Black....

This plot has an original twist, too,

and I will definitely have to get the first

book in the series to start on!!

What exciting book(s) are you

eagerly anticipating

this week?
 

Stacking The Shelves #15

 Follow my blog with Bloglovin

  

This is a weekly event hosted by Jennifer, Lili,

Stephanie, Helen, 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 Received For Review

The author sent me this, her debut novel,

for review. 

The premise is certainly fascinating,

as well as very original!

Mother Earth has, in her fury,

turned against humanity,

recruiting human souls to carry out

her revenge....

I can't wait to start it!!

Goodreads

Amazon US/Amazon UK

Books Purchased

I've been wanting to get this

great YA vampire series

for a while now, since

I've heard so much about it!!

I was so happy to get the box set of the

first three volumes!

(And I love these beautiful covers!!)

Goodreads

Amazon US

The Book Depository UK

Fishpond

Goodreads

Amazon US

The Book Depository UK

Fishpond (UK cover)

Goodreads

Amazon US

The Book Depository UK

Fishpond