SOS: Serious Overload of Series discussion

I can't wait to read your reviews. :) Supernatural stamp coming up! Yay!!

Woohoo! Looking forward to reading your thoughts on both. :)

Shelf #6: demons (O21)
Finished: 6/6

✔Celine - Blood Beast 9/17 | 3★ (message 463)
✔Daffodil - Hounded (rating and review pending)
✔Amanda - The Darkest Pleasure 9/8 | 4★ (message 411)
✔Steph - Wolfsbane 8/28 | 4★ (message 352)
✔Regina - Hell Fire 9/6 | 3★ (message 404)
✔Sassy (Amy) - Marked 8/29 | 5★ (message 370)



Shelf #7: supernatural (G18)
Finished: 6/6

✔Celine - Watcher in the Woods 9/6 | 2★ (message 401)
✔Daffodil - The Accidental Werewolf (rating and review pending)
✔Amanda - Kitty Raises Hell 9/11 | 4★ (message 439)
✔Steph - One Grave At A Time 9/6 | 3★ (message 420)
✔Regina - Ill Wind 9/9 | 4★ (message 433)
✔Sassy (Amy) - Moonlight Warrior 9/4 | 4★ (message 392)



Shelf #8: fantasy paranormal (B1)
Finished: 4/6

✔Celine - Bloodfever 9/17 | 5★ (message 464)
Daffodil - Storm's Heart
✔Amanda - The Hidden 9/17 | 3½★ (message 475)
✔Steph - Shadowflame (rating and review pending)
Regina - Envy
✔Sassy (Amy) - Storm's Heart 9/18 | 4★ (message 477)

Thanks Amanda!

I finished Envy for my fantasy paranormal shelf. 3 stars. I am conflicted about the rating.

No good, Regina? Or some good, some not?

I finished Shadowflame. I'm going to work on my rating and review today. Once it's done I'll share it here. So many strong feelings about that book floating around, I wanted to take my time putting my thoughts together first.

Thanks for the purdy, purdy cover shelf list, Amanda! :D

I will post about my book later. We had yet another death of a friend who was choking and had complications from doing the heimlic (not sure how to spell that one). My daughters friend's mom. It gave her a blood clot or something. She was 43 y/o... weird. Freaky, 1 death a month for 3 months from this school.

How old Are the children? That is so tragically sad!

Oh my goodness, Amy, I'm so terribly sorry.

Regina wrote: How old are the children?

One is a senior in HS and the other is 12. She was remarried & and the boys dad lives in another state. They love their stepdad, but her parents took the boys out of the house because they are blood relatives. It's turning crazy!! They want to be with their stepdad who has been with them for 10 years. Just creepy... My mom is visiting me and I said if she ever acted like that I would haunt her! Although my husband is my original and my kids dad... My daughter is a sophomore, who is a friend of the senior boy.

Sorry to hear of this latest catastrophe Amy :(

Those poor kids. Trauma, upon trauma.

I am so sorry to hear such bad news again Amy... There has been enough hardship around you to last for a very long while.

I have finished my Demon book though, on a positive note, so we're close to another stamp.

3 stars to Blood Beast:
This is book five in Darren Shan's Demonata series, and this was the first one I didn't fly through. The books are usually one contained, fast-moving plot with a lot of gore and fighting. However, there is absolutely no action in Blood Beast until the very ending, making for a much slower read. It just felt like an intermezzo, something to prep you for the next book in the series. It has almost no plot in it at all, just the spreading of clues and bits of pieces to get ready for the big bang. It was not a bad book, not at all, but of the quite experienced Darren Shan I would have expected something more.

I'm participating in a readathon so I'm breezing through my books! Finished a book for the fantasy paranormal shelf in just one day

5 stars to Bloodfever
Second book in the Fever series, and I am loving these books to bits and pieces. The mystery, the lore, the Irish landscape and culture, it's all so exciting.
This one, like Darkfever, ended on a cliffhanger again, so I am very glad I bought the entire series before I started reading.
I still don't like Mac that much, but the rest of the story is too good to be really annoyed by her. She has her strong moments, and that is good enough for me. I can't wait to see more of Barrons, he is too hot for words. And from what I hear he only gets better and better as the series continues!

Our Next Shelf is: 'read in 2010'
DIRECT LINK: 'read in 2010'

Happy Reading!

Over 41,000 bks on this one, ladies. It's a doozy. I'll pick my book soon. I'm currently reading Touched by an Alien, which is probably on there. But, I started it a day or so ago. Oh well. That's how it goes sometimes. ;)

This shelf gives us 4-in-a-row vertically under 'B' once we've gotten our 'fantasy paranormal' and 'read in 2010' stamps. :D Go, Team, Go!

I hope everyone's having a great weekend!

Good reviews, Celine. :) Enjoy your readathon!

Almost all my books listed for me to read this month are on that shelf. :) I am going to read for the read in 2010 shelf.

Celine, funny that your two books both had Blood in the title!

Hahaha! I was trying to remember how my book ended, and realized I still have 30 pages left! What a DA!! well, I will finish quick and leave a review!

For read in 2010 I will read My brain is not here right now, so I have to go check to see if I read it already! I am in such a fog!!!

ok... That was one I set in a pile to read as certain squares came up... did not read it after all, so I will now!

@ Steph, thanks! I love readathons, they're a great way to clear up your TBR pile a bit.

@ Regina, LOL, I hadn't even noticed that yet! Strange coincidence...

For read in 2010 I think I'll read . I'm loving this series (:

Shelf - fantasy paranormal
Finished 9/17
3½★

The Hidden is the final book of the Hollow trilogy. My favorite thing about the series as a whole is how The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is incorporated from the town named Sleepy Hollow and all of the craziness there to how that story is entwined with Abbey and Caspian's story. Another interesting aspect of this series was Abbey's perfume-making hobby and the descriptions of how she made all of the different perfumes. I don't want to give away spoilers so I'll just say the basic premise is that Abbey is in love with Caspian who is a ghost and she spends most of this book trying to decide whether their love is worth dying for. It started off slow but the story picked up a little over halfway through and even though the ending was predictable, this was probably my favorite book of the series.

Sounds like a pretty interesting book Amanda, I'll check it out!

I finished 9/18/11 and give it ★★★★.

I have an incredible craving for bubblegum vodka. I even tried it with berry juice at a friends, and it was good! Now I am on the hunt! Thanks to this book & one scene. It just sounded good!

This was not as good as the other one. It was still good though. Niniane becomes the next queen of the dark fae & Tiago is her escort/protector. I do like him, but I just didn't like the Thunderbird thing. I don't know. OR maybe it was the whole fae thing. I did really like the vampire roll. It adds for a new story later on...

So back to the story. It takes most of the book for niniane to finally be in the realm of the fae, and up until that point, there was a lot of action/romance/humor. The last bit was her travel to her "kingdom" I guess you'd say, by horse. Tiago is her man, protective scout bodyguard.

I can't really say much without giving away all the bits and pieces that made this story good. I think it would have been better if Tiago was a Dragon & they did not have a picture on the cover of a long haired guy when in fact Tiago has a Buzz cut?? Just quirps.

Don't get me wrong, I will jump all over the next book!

Celine wrote: "Sounds like a pretty interesting book Amanda, I'll check it out!"


Hope you enjoy them, Celine! I was initially drawn to them because of the covers. Here are all of the books in the trilogy:

Shelf #6: demons (O21)
Finished: 6/6

✔Celine - Blood Beast 9/17 | 3★ (message 463)
✔Daffodil - Hounded 9/15 | 4★ (message 487)
✔Amanda - The Darkest Pleasure 9/8 | 4★ (message 411)
✔Steph - Wolfsbane 8/28 | 4★ (message 352)
✔Regina - Hell Fire 9/6 | 3★ (message 404)
✔Sassy (Amy) - Marked 8/29 | 5★ (message 370)



Shelf #7: supernatural (G18)
Finished: 6/6

✔Celine - Watcher in the Woods 9/6 | 2★ (message 401)
✔Daffodil - The Accidental Werewolf 9/15 | 3½★ (message 487)
✔Amanda - Kitty Raises Hell 9/11 | 4★ (message 439)
✔Steph - One Grave At A Time 9/6 | 3★ (message 420)
✔Regina - Ill Wind 9/9 | 4★ (message 433)
✔Sassy (Amy) - Moonlight Warrior 9/4 | 4★ (message 392)



Shelf #8: fantasy paranormal (B1)
Finished: 5/6

✔Celine - Bloodfever 9/17 | 5★ (message 464)
Daffodil - Storm's Heart
✔Amanda - The Hidden 9/17 | 3½★ (message 475)
✔Steph - Shadowflame (rating and review pending)
✔Regina - Envy 9/16 | 3★ (message 489)
✔Sassy (Amy) - Storm's Heart 9/18 | 4★ (message 477)



Shelf #9: read in 2010 (B2)
Finished: 1/6

Celine - Faefever
Daffodil - Magic at the Gate or Venom
Amanda - Venom
Steph - My Way to Hell
✔Regina - Cerulean Sins 9/19 | 2★ (message 498)
Sassy (Amy) - Entwined

Sassy ~ Amy wrote: "I have an incredible craving for bubblegum vodka. I even tried it with berry juice at a friends, and it was good!"

That does sound good! I haven't read this book yet but I have it planned for this month. Can't wait to see what scene you're referring to! :)

I am done with envy for the fantasy paranormal shelf. Just no review yet. I am very torn! Not sure what to write yet

Regina wrote: "I am done with envy for the fantasy paranormal shelf. Just no review yet. I am very torn! Not sure what to write yet"

Oops! Sorry I missed your post above, Regina. I fixed the update.

No sorries necessary, I am just feeling bad I haven't gotten to my review. I also feel bad about the review I know I am going to write as I so love JR Ward.

Nah, don't feel bad. It happens. Not everyone will love every book.

I'm hoping to get to my review for Shadowflame very soon. Lots to say - just need to trim it down.

Steph, I can't wait for your review! I just don't want to read that book anymore :(

Thanks. I thought I'd have time to do that today, but don't. Tomorrow, hopefully. Ah, you should still read it. Remember: It's fiction. ;)

Sorry it took a while to post my reviews. I've been in such a slump lately, I had trouble even coming up with something to say. LOL. Seriously, I've had no energy and my allergies are in overdrive. Maybe I had a touch of a cold in addition, who knows. Anyway, the reviews are just kind of there, but I wanted to get them posted for our stamps. I'll probably go back and tweek them when I get over whatever this is.

demons shelf
Hounded, Kevin Hearne, 4 stars.
I really enjoyed this book. Hearne's humorous style made it easy and funny to read. I adored Oberon and his obsession with historical figures (and French Poodles). The multi-pantheism (if humans worshipped it, it existed) made for an interesting mix of gods/goddesses. It also creates a lot of possibilities to explore in the future. Possibilities I can't wait to read about. I'll definitely be picking up the next book.


supernatural shelf
The Accidental Werewolf, Dakota Cassidy, 3.5 stars
I enjoyed this book. Cassidy's style is funny with many humorous moments sprinkled throughout the story. I had trouble connecting with Marty at first, but as the story went on, I could relate easier. The villains identity was clear to me as well as the reason for his/her actions, but it was still a fun read getting to the end. I'm definitely going to read more in this series, especially since Nina was one of my favorite secondary characters.

I'm still reading for the fantasy-paranormal shelf. I'm really enjoying it so far, even if it's not another Dragon Bound. LOL.

After looking over the read in 2010 shelf, I decided to go with one of the these two. They're both from series I love but have managed to fall behind in.

Review for my Fantasy Paranoraml Shelf book
Finished 9/16
3 stars
Envy by J.R. Ward


This book had so much of what I love about JR Ward’s books. I like how she writes male protagonists and their interactions with each other. Ward has an interesting idea on the urban fantasy world, she makes it fun to read. I did feel it was too long, I ended up skimming some parts and felt I did not miss anything. Normally I really enjoy different points of view, Wards seems to do this well in her BDB series but the switches from Nigel, to Colin, to Sophia, to Veck and back and forth seemed to be done in a choppy way that it was really frustrating. So a definite weak point. Everything Ward fans love is in this book. I see this book as very different than the first two in this series (each which were different from each other in my opinion), this book appeared to be an attempt to capture Ward’s successful Black Dagger Brotherhood feel and bring it to this series. At first for me, this read was just good fun. The romance was good, the passion was good, the characters are interesting. But too much was like the BDB series and it was such a departure from the first two books in this series that it just seemed well like a copy of BDB. The fights with the lesser …. er … I mean demons, well they read almost play by play like the fights with the lesser – and how the demons are ultimate destroyed? Just seems way to close to killing lesser. The angels Eddie and Ad could fit right in with the BDB – similar clothing, similar language, similar age (i.e. ancient), similar method of traveling (flashing/dematerializing to places), partying hard, drinking hard, sharing women in bathrooms – wait these are angels right? I have no problem with angels – fallen angels – having fun. But there was one scene in this book (view spoiler)[ that was really over the top and felt simply gratuitous. I actually do not have a problem with gratuitous sex in certain books, but this scene was inconsistent with the characters. The woman is portrayed as desperate, sad, lonely and only engaging in sex to fill this deep well of loneliness in her yet Eddie still has sex with her. I do not believe that an angel focused on saving the world from demons would use a vulnerable and hurting women just to meet his needs. Yes yes, Adrian helps take care of her at the end, but only after he allows her to be used by Eddie and he participates in it. (hide spoiler)] Again, I have no problem with sex scenes, I have no problem if they are not forwarding the plot but this, this was just bizarre in the sense that the scene contradicted the nature of who these men are? It felt like I was reading a scene between Blay and Quinn or any other brothers. Another area in which I felt that Ward was incorporating her BDB world, Colin and Nigel used similar language as to the older vamps in BDB. Just too much cross over. I love the guilty fun of BDB and I will continue reading all the BDB books she puts out, but this seemed to me to be an attempt to capture her fan base and the popularity of BDB capitalizing on a few features she knows fans seem to really appreciate in the other series.

Yes, yes yes it was fun to *see* the sightings of the brothers and to have the partial cross over in story.

Regina wrote: "Review for my Fantasy Paranoraml Shelf book
Finished 9/16
3 stars
Envy by J.R. Ward


This book had so much of what I love about JR War..."

Awwwe! I haven't even started the series, and I am getting already that NOTHING will ever be as good as the first BDBH book (minus Phury's book!)I'm kinda sad. I would say make it a triology & come up with more BDBH stuff..

I agree. I would love her to just foucs on BDB. The first one in the series I didn't like that much -- that is where there is a huge split. Many people loved it, many people hated it. I really liked #2. #3 felt different.

ok... I finished early this morning on 9/19/11... I read all day into the wee morning hours... LOL! Not quite... I give it 4 1/2 ★.

This one was about 2 soulmates who had a baby & the baby daddy thought the baby mamma killed it, and the mamma thought she lost it... Low and behold it's a conspiracy & he is still alive.

This book again is all about relationships and detures from Zander & Callia to Isadora and Orpheus... Who now I cannot wait for a book about him. I docked a star in my rating because I didn't like the Isadora 'bitch' that came out & her resenting Callia. It fit at first, then didn't. It made no sense after a while.

This one had me on edge with some side issues, but if I become specific, it spoils things. I was frustrated a lot of times, but I am thinking it was part of the story.

Daffodil, sorry you're feeling blah. Hope it's just nasty allergies and not a cold. Although, if it's a cold it'll pass, whereas allergies can reek havoc. Either way, hope you're feeling much better real soon! YAY! Two stamps on their way! Yay, Team!

Regina, great review. Sorry it wasn't all you'd hoped. More focus on BDB would be good, but I really liked #2 and thought this series was on the upswing. But, we'll see, I have #3 TBR.

WTG, Litwits! I'll post some sort of review for mine later today. Off to stamp our card. :D

CONGRATULATIONS, Litwits!
We now have an updated BINGO card with a stamp on 'demons' and 'supernatural'.

[Our new BINGO card can be viewed on page 1]

Go, Team, Go! :D

I loved #2 as well Steph. :) Just like I love the brothers.

Woohoo!! Once we get our "read in 2010" stamp we will have several rows of 3 stamps!!

'fantasy paranormal' shelf
Read: 16 Sept
Rating: ★★★★☆
Review:
Everyone who read Queen of Shadows knows that this series is dark. Miranda's ability and what she experienced (in QoS) could have completely wrecked her. Instead, she overcame her fears, learned to control the powers that had her believing she was insane, and found a man who to care for her while giving her the space she needed to heal. As it happened, that man was her Signet-chosen Mate. The darkness of the Shadow World, Miranda’s new world, doesn’t end there.

”Blood, chocolate, and a hot shower.” That’s how I felt after this rollercoaster ride. Well, okay, minus the blood. ;)

Shadowflame picks up three months after Queen of Shadows. Miranda is David’s mate and the ninth Queen of the Southern United States. She’s venturing out at night to make her presence known. She’s also learning how to deal Signet politics and the “Magnificent Bastard Parade” of Primes as they come to Austin to offer their congratulations and pay their respects to the new couple.

During the MB Parade, she has to deal two Primes who stand out among the rest. One seriously twisted Prime and one who has a history with David.

Someone has targeted the pair; they are under attack, but why and from whom? This storyline was very interesting and suspenseful; you never knew if they were safe or where/when the next attack would happen.

Miranda’s singing career continues to prosper. Her best friend, Kat, is her much-needed sounding board, allowing her a safe haven where she can vent about the dramas of Signet life. But, Kat’s life is about to change.

I'll just have to leave it up to Dianne and see where she takes the characters in Shadow's Fall. With that, I come back to my original thought ... Everyone who read Queen of Shadows knows that this series is dark. So, who knows what to expect. Either way, I am looking forward to reading it.

I removed A LOT of stuff for this post. If you'd like to read my full ramble, see my full review here.

For 'read in 2010' I'll be reading .

Cerulean Sins by Laurell K. Hamilton

Read in 2010 shelf

2 stars, maybe 2.5

This is the first bad book for me in the series. I am hugely happy that I enjoyed 10 books. 10 very good urban fantasy books, not many other series give readers that many strong books. So I am not disappointed that I started. Additionally, there have been no cliff hangers, so it is fine to just walk away. And that is what I am going to do. I am going to walk away. What was the plot of this book? Well, no true plot per se, perhaps I am just being a stickler for literary guidelines, but there were definitely themes!

1. Visiting super strong vamp – I know a super strong vamp with amazing abilities from another territory visited in an earlier book (or wait, was it books?), but this is a DIFFERENT super strong vamp with DIFFERENT amazing powers.

2. The visiting vamp wants to control Anita. Familiar?

3. The visiting vamp tries to get to Anita or see how she will react by threatening “her people”. Hmm, I know I have read this one before.

4. Anita protects her people and pisses off visiting vamp. Yes yes you know this already BUT she does this in a really new different way – she has sex with the person she is trying to protect.

5. The cops Anita works with give her a hard time and yell at her. They harass her at the crime scenes. Why call her then? Why does she continue to go? How many years has this been going on? I swear, I feel like I have read Anita’s posturing with cops in other books but I could be wrong ….

6. Some bodies are being raised, some general people in the background hate Anita.

7. Anita needs to feed the ardeur. Okay, this is new. Because of the ardeur, Anita needs to constantly have sex and sexual contact and then feed off her sexual partners desire. Constantly. All the time. A lot.

8. Anita talks about feeding the ardeur. A lot. With everyone. All the men in her life talk about Anita needing to feed the ardeur. A lot.

9. The ardeur.

10. The ardeur.

11. Oh there is a murder or two.

12. Richard. Ah yes Richard. Anita talks about Richard. A lot. Why their relationship failed. How it failed. The moment it failed. I will let you read the details, I don’t want to spoil it for you.

13. Some silk underwear is involved – I lost track of all the men wearing tight silk stuff.

14. Lots of men need to take care of Anita, help her walk because she is overwhelmed by stuff, but she is still a toughie and wants to have access to her gun.

15. All the men want to have sex with Anita.

Great review, Regina. Every time I read a review for one of those books, I'm glad I never started the series. Knowing me, I wouldn't be able to stop, no matter how far down hill they went.

Regina wrote: "Cerulean Sins by Laurell K. Hamilton

Read in 2010 shelf

2 stars, maybe 2.5

This is the first bad book for me in the series. I am ..."

HAHAHAHAHA!! Love it! Thanks!! Now I am not going to rush with this series!