vysed

"I knew who I was this morning, but I've changed a few times since then." ~ Alice in Wonderland

 

*Star rating system*

1- some sort of flouncing; 2 - ranty with moments of ok-ness; 3 = liked it; 4-some love somewhere; 5 - I have all the luffs for everyone.

Intent vs content

Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night - Kresley Cole

My first intention was to give this book eleven stars. But then I remembered the contents of the book and was like, REALLY? I could not stand the female witch in this book. At all. I think I have actual loathing in my blood for her continuous Spring Break Girls Gone Wild attitude. Sorry, but I'm not a fan or friends with the hoochies. Roll those hookers in the parking lot! HOWEVER, the annoying fucking whack Wicca put some voodoo curse on me and I still LOVE this series. There are so many levels of wrong, HASHTAGidontevencare HASHTAGiloveBowen HASHTAGwhyyyy???

Preach, Batman!

And so it continues...

No Rest for the Wicked - Kresley Cole

My freakish love for a series of characters that I'd normally slap down and ditch in a back alley continues.

 

The Valkyrie MC in this book did not live up to the expectations I had for a 2,000 year old. I mean, COME ON! And the only way a male could truly love her was if she was forced on him by fate as his mate. They would never have met and just liked each other. That chic was whack.

 

Just sayin'.

 

Still. I'm a fangirl of this series - and I don't even know why. I guess, it's just really entertaining. (See what decent writing & good editing can do in this world of crazy books now-a-days?)

I haz a broke inside my brains

A Hunger Like No Other - Kresley Cole

Not as good as the first book - but I think I might have to put this in the running for:

Series I am most ashamed to admit that I really like.

 

The ending was just silly. The female MC was a dumbass. The male MC made me giggle and yell, "Hulk Smash!" at random moments. But, even with all that, I am weirdly, oddly, inexplicably loving this series.

 

 

As if...

The Warlord Wants Forever (Immortals After Dark #1) - Kresley Cole, Simone Fomhar, Hagan Verret

I was all set to write a fun review but I got entirely too pissed off at the Booklikes search engine because it wouldn't just give me the damn paper or ebook version. It kept forcing me to this butt ugly stupid ass cover, CD version. As if I'd ever listen to a book on CD. I think we all know I'd sooner dig out my eardrums with rusty cable then ever listen to a romance book being read to me!!!

 

so, no fun review. I liked it more than I expected to, and am hopeful. Moving on to book 2 now.

Castles and Highlands and Hadrian's Wall and Giant's Causeway

Ahhh, sookie sookie - lookie here.

Summer vacation July 2014 flights booked.

Now, how do I plan a leisure carriage ride through The Lake District without the Mr. becoming suspicious of my need to find the fictitious Pemberley? I'm already pushing it with my sudden interest in the Battle of Culloden. How many other destinations from my historical literature romances can I squeeze in and not have him figure out my diabolical plan to visit the settings of my favorite lairds, rakes, and lords? He's already looking at me funny for over hearing me referring to myself as a blue stocking. He can only take these things out of context for so long.

 

FLIGHTS:

Sun., Jul. 20, 2014

|

Raleigh/Durham, NC (RDU) to Edinburgh, Scotland (EDI)

Connecting in Chicago, IL (ORD - O'Hare)

Tue., Jul. 29, 2014

|

Belfast, Northern Ireland (BFS) to Raleigh/Durham, NC (RDU)

Connecting in New York/Newark, NJ (EWR - Liberty)

endure

Reblogged from Derrolyn Anderson:

UPDATE

Diana Gabaldon and I are going to be on a break - for a bit. I'm at 54% of Voyager and I am not amused. ENOUGH ALREADY! Jesus Fucking Christ!

 

Soooooo.... I'm off to Vegas for a few days. Flight leaves in a couple of hours. Going to try and have dinner tonight at Gordon Ramsay's BURGR. See a show. Spend Fat Tuesday at the Rio Mardi Gras party. 

 

maybe when I get home I'll be able to try Voyager again, but right now I have no fucks to give! 

 

Be back Wednesday night.

Irony?

Book 3 of the Outlander Series, Voyager, chapter 11  

 

Does anyone else think it's ironic that I've just started reading a chapter where the characters are discussing whether or not an excessively long novel is justified? 

 

 

And I thought book one was long...

Dragonfly in Amber - Diana Gabaldon

Let me just say that I do love this story. I love the characters.

 

Now, let me also say that I didn't love this book. All of the Paris stuff? Meh, whatever, I didn't care for it. it was way too long!! And, JFC, can Jamie not catch one effing break? Can we go a bit without him getting beat or even more bad shit pounded on him. In a time where people die from any little thing, this man (and JR, too) seemed to be able to live through anything. It got to the point where I was just like, come on already. Everyone just die. Hey, Claire, maybe you should have picked Frank in book one because you have really fucked up Jamie's life!! Ha.Sorry, I don't mean that, but it felt good to say it.

 

Even through that, I did still enjoy the beginning and the end, and of course, I'll be starting book 3.

 

I honestly don't know how there's another 5+ books. I mean, the hell?

SPOILER ALERT!

Jesus H. Roosevelt Christ

Outlander  - Diana Gabaldon

but this book is long.

 

Before starting the book, I went to YouTube and I watched the trailer 5027 5 times. I also watched the hour and a half fan gathering where we get to meet Sam and Cat (the two actors who will play Jamie and Claire). Also, they had set pictures and stuff, so I went in prepared. I had visuals to assist in my adventure.

 

I think it helped. I definitely liked the book, and I'm probably giving it a bit of a higher rating than I should because some of my TV show future fangirling is colliding with my novel fangirling. Either way... it's going on my favorites shelf.

 

At first, I liked how descriptive everything was and I appreciated the way the story was told. I was worried about a first person narrative, but it really works here.

 

I do know that I could have done without a lot of the scenes. I was like. Jayzus, is this ever going to be over? Will she ever let someone in on her secret?(About 1/2 way through I needed to beg for a spoiler to keep me going. Psst. Thanks SilverThistle.)

 

I definitely did not like the end of the book. I get it. He was messed up in the head after what happened to him and so it would not have been right if Sam and Claire fell back immediately in to a cuddly closeness. I see that. I know it's right. I know it makes sense. But this is fiction and I wanted to grab that Highlander by the hair and point out a few things!

 

And what is up with ending it right there? UGH. So you really do have to read book two. Luckily, I have all of the books - but gah!!! Didn't I read enough pages yet? I HAZ A NEED FOR ANSWERS!!!!

Ok, I just want to see Jamie bent over a wee one having a disgustingly cute baby talk conversation daddy to daughter. I need to know how they survive Culloden. Is Frank still alive if Black Jack died early? Will Gielis show up again? Will we ever make it back to Lallybroch... ah crap, I forgot how to spell it. Am I the only one who thought that Dougal was hot? Why is Murtagh (also can't remember how to spell it) so quiet around Claire? Is it just because she's a Sassenach or does he know more? Feel free to give me spoilers.

(show spoiler)

I'm going to start book 2 today if work is not too busy!

Quick poll - please vote

If you're on BL between now 3p EST and 530p EST please vote by leaving a comment.

 

I was feeling in the mood for a big ol' epic series. So, I put in the general search terms: Scotland, Lairds, Clans, Historical, Romance

The below two series came back with the most books (and also that I have saved already to my 500GB portable hard drive that I affectionately call The Mobile Library aka Good Things/Small Packages aka It's Bigger on the Inside aka The TARDIS).

 

Choice 1 - the majority of my friends have read this series and loved it. I'm scared to start it. What if I hate it? Gah. I know I'll probably hate it. I HOPE NOT!

The Outlander Series by Diana Gabaldon. I currently have on my Kindle books 1 - 8.5 plus A Trail of Fire. Series is about to be a Starz TV show. Will there be too much diversity between the book and the show? Will I freak out? Should I wait to read it? My brain hurts. I can't make decisions. /fail.

 

 *****

 

Choice 2 - Um, I'm not sure what is up here by the general summary. Only a couple of my friends have read it and given it mixed reviews.

Immortals After Dark Series by Kresley Cole. I only own the first 12 books of the series. So, if I like it, I'll have to buy the remaining 2 that I don't have yet. This is the summary from GR:

Every creature or being that was thought to be mythical . . . isn’t.
They all secretly exist alongside humans and enjoy the gift of immortality. There are hundreds of different kinds: from Vampires to Lykae, from Furies to Shifters, from the Fey to Valkyries.
These immortals call their world The Lore.
You may have had a brush with one of Lorekind already. The eccentric billionaire with hypnotic charisma—and an aversion to sunlight. The ethereal waif of impossible beauty—whose fingernails look more like claws. The Highlander with a seventeenth-century Scottish accent and animal magnetism—who can never be penciled in on the night of the full moon.
They walk among us, but they war among themselves. Each faction has its strengths, weaknesses, and age old prejudices against the others. Every five hundred years, the Accession, a battle for supremacy, rages. That time is now. . .

 

****

 

Choice 3 - Recommend something else. THIS IS my shelf at GR with all of the "clan/laird" related books that I've already read.

 

Thanks for your time! Biting my nails because I seriously can't decide what to read next!!!

Not exactly what I was expecting

His at Night - Sherry Thomas

This book was a little different than the normal ol' historical romance. I say that because of the bedroom scenes. I actually like that nothing worked for her -exactly. That she didn't turn in to a simpering love sick sex addict after being penetrated. ya know? It had a realistic side to it in that aspect. They weren't even truly happy together until the end of the book. Meh, I don't know. I guess it was just refreshing not to have the, "Best sex ever totally for sure I'm a sex goddess now and will rule the bed forever" thing happen.

If your friends jumped off a building...

Nia, Three Rs, Moonlight Reader, Silver Thistle... All Hail Grimlock. We do. We really do.

 

"Here's the deal.  I'm going to post ten things about me.   10 things that start with 'I am'.  If you'd like to join in the icebreaker, post 10 things about you, wherever you'd like."

 

1. I am able to sit and stare at my bookshelves for long periods of time. Sometimes I don't even need to read a book. I'm content just staring at them sitting happily on their shelves in order and pretty.

 

2. I am a corporate travel agent. I basically sit at my desk all day booking people on business trips. I have had the opportunity to travel a bit and the best part of my job was being able to help with airfare, eurorail, hotels etc when my daughter wanted to go backpacking through Europe for 6 weeks last year. I do get to work from home, though. My job is actually kind of awesome. HA HA.

 

3. I am a bit of a gypsy. Not literally. I've just lived in a lot of places. I have the urge to move often. I don't even understand it. I just like to move. I'm not a pack rat. I have very little in my house that is from 5 or more years ago. Basically, when I move I throw out almost everything I haven't touched in a long time - except my books. Other than that, it's clothes and furniture and we're off. (Places I have lived include: Michigan, California, Nevada, Montana, Arizona, Missouri, Wisconsin, No. Carolina) I mostly grew up in Las Vegas. I miss the west. Might be time to move again. I've been in North Carolina almost seven years.

 

4. I am an addict. I went from brown-nosing, salutatorian, National Honor Society, straight A student to junkie in one summer. After I graduated high school I took up a crystal meth habit. I was a crazy sketcher skeez and there are 2 years of my life I'd like to forget ever happened.

 

5. I am lucky. I have a very weird lucky streak. I can't explain it, but I have this lucky streak that comes and goes. I usually win when I call in to radio stations. I almost always win when we have drawings at work. I don't enter a ton of stuff, but when I do, I often am lucky.

 

6. I am also addicted to fonts. Not on my computer. Well, ok on my computer, too - but mostly doodle fonts. I could sit and just draw words -- any words -- all day long. I have markers and pens and pencils and varied colored paper just for the sole purpose of doodling. Once when I was strung out I took a fat Sharpie marker and covered an entire bedroom (all 4 walls) in nothing but different words and fonts. I also have a hard time just passing the school supply aisles. I can't not stop and look. Luckily, I don't buy so much as I just look at every item for sale.

 

7. I am a cat lover. I used to hate them. I don't know why. But after getting my daughter a kitten, I found that I love them. They are cute and cuddly when babies and then when they grow up, they totally leave me alone and are low maintenance pets.

 

8. I am completely and borderline insanely frustrated/mad/hateful toward the series Fifty Shades of Grey. I don't understand why even just typing about it right now makes me actually angry. My problem is not with the subject matter. I've read lots of BD/sM books and stories. It's just not well-written and I get so mad that such a large portion of women all over the world are "GUSHING" about this book. Maybe it's not just FSoG. I'm starting to think it's the majority of new adult books. A lot of them are not done well and I'm not happy that so many women are flailing over things that are substandard. Ugh. Ok, I'll shut up. I'm just working myself up over it now. *shakes it off*

 

9. I am not a fan of physical comedy. I am much more a fan of the joke being in the telling. I like my comedy dry and not so apparent to everyone. I like how Disney movies hide adult humor in cartoons. I like how you can be watching a drama and a character has an unexpected sense of humor. I am not a fan of cheesy, goofball humor. Or bumbling, klutzy comedy.

 

10. I am positive that Facebook is evil. I have one. How can I not? But I hate FB. I feel guilty if I don't like everything my friends post. I hate when I have friend requests from people I don't want to be friends with. I don't have any urge to play any games there. Yet, I have to go on and make sure that I'm actively participating in online society - otherwise I'd feel left out. I hate that feeling.

 

+1 - I am a pessimist. Obviously. I don't apologize for it, and I believe that deep down inside I am secretly an optimist in pessimist's clothing, but for all general surface appearances - I am pessimistic with bouts of optimism.

Just wasn't worth my time.

One Reckless Summer - Toni Blake

Maybe women in general annoy me? The book isn't written poorly, but mc is so annoying! My god! Are women really like this? No wonder I don't have a ton of female friends. I could never be friends with any of these female leads in the majority of books I read lately.

 

so, flouncing and not counting toward my reading goal for 2014. 

 

Dear Baby Jebus, save me from these one dimensional, ditzy women characters that are not realistic or believable.

 

PS. if you're going to end every chapter with some sort of quote from a brilliant author or scientist - don't. It's chic lit. And that is ALSO annoying. K, thx.

So disappointing. EPIC FAIL

Behind Closed Doors - Shannon McKenna

When this book came up in my blind kindle challenge, I was a little excited because I remember it was a pretty big series of like ten books and I was in the mood for it, ya know? Ready to take it on. Kick some ass and take some names. What?

 

SADLY - I ended up getting one of the most unlikeable female characters I've read in a long time. This woman has traveled extensively. She is presented as a beautiful woman with a solid education... and well, she's talked up. A lot. Then we meet her and she is a bumbling idiot. A 28 year old virgin (well, except for that one time and ew!) who is a klutzy, push-over, cry baby, air-brained, walking disaster.

 

 

The male lead is an unemotional, socially dysfunctional, computer genius with a history in breaking the law etc etc. That would be fine, but then he turns quasi rapist, stalker because in my head Raine was telling him stop and no - but in his head (and hers, too when he pointed it out to her) she really meant, yes. I'm just playing hard to get and naive. No... idiot. She is that stupid.

 

 

Yes. Yes, I could.

 

Then she cries some more and giggles and is pretty much a hot mess of fucked-up-ness. Because crying should always be preceded as well as followed up by episodes of creepy giggling. Not to mention she goes to "the island" and thinks she has to work (she's a secretary an administrative assistant) but oh, look... they're pushing me in to the shower to give me a make-over and there's all of this lingerie to change into. I wonder what that has to do with my job? Oh, it's probably just my psycho uncle trying to pimp me out... AGAIN!

 

 

And, yes, I promised my big bad boyfriend - who I just met yesterday, but have already given a key to my apartment and fell madly in love with - that I would tell him if I left the office, but that probably didn't mean going all over the city in a cab five minutes after he dropped me off at work. Wait, whaaaaaat?

 

 

It just went on from there. That was just the first 1/2 of the book. NOT EVEN KIDDING.

I'm pissed off because I want to know about some of the other characters' stories in their books of the series, but these two just killed it. I won't be reading any of the others.

 

 

So, one little star is all I have to give this for this book.

 

 

Denise's favorites book montage

Matched
The Hunger Games
Kushiel's Dart
Memoirs of a Geisha
Fight Club
Vampire Academy
Pride and Prejudice
Sense and Sensibility
Shadowfever
Girlfriend in a Coma
Generation X: Tales for an Accelerated Culture
The Queen's Lady
Nine Stories
The Color Purple
The Handmaid's Tale
Les Liaisons Dangereuses
The Six Wives of Henry VIII
The Bar Sinister: Pride and Prejudice Continues...
The Red Tent
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil


Denise's favorite books »