It's Monday! What are You Reading?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey. It's a fun meme where we gather to share what we've read last week and our reading plans for this week.

Last Week I Read:

Faery Tales and Nightmares by Melissa Marr (4 stars)

Unbroken by Rachel Caine (5 stars)

Dark Swan: Storm Born Vol 1 by Mead, Alter and Hamann (5 stars)

First Grave on the Right by Darynda Jones (5 stars)

About to Start Reading:

Tempest Unleashed by Tracy Deebs

What I Plan to Read this Week:

The Girl in the Clockwork Collar by Kady Cross

Other Posts of Interest:

Teaser Tuesday--Faery Tales and Nightmares

Waiting on Wednesday

Fever Moon, Rift and Taken by Storm Covers
Random Thursday 
Friday Hops
Top 5 Sundays
In My Mailbox

Review--First Grave on the Right by Darynda Jones

Charley Davidson is a part-time private investigator and full-time grim reaper. Meaning, she sees dead people. Really. And it’s her job to convince them to “go into the light.” But when these very dead people have died under less than ideal circumstances (like murder), sometimes they want Charley to bring the bad guys to justice. Complicating matters are the intensely hot dreams she’s been having about an entity who has been following her all her life…and it turns out he might not be dead after all. In fact, he might be something else entirely. But what does he want with Charley? And why can’t she seem to resist him? And what does she have to lose by giving in?

I so loved this book! Can't believe I waited so long to read Darynda Jones's First Grave on the Right! Like so many bloggers I am now just discovering how awesome this series truly is!

Charley is without a doubt the coolest character ever! She is so sassy and has a wicked attitude that just flies off the pages! The things that come out of her mouth are so unexpected and hilarious! She really knows how to entertain a crowd!

Charley is a part-time reaper as well as a multitude of other career choices, 3.7 to be exact, and reaping tends to take up more time than she would think, since it sometimes involve solving murders. And that's where she finds herself yet again when three lawyers--partners--turn up dead. She not only has to solve their case of murder, but also solve the case they were working on, to help an innocent man get out of jail. Easier said than done!

Charley is also being plagued by dreams, very visual and pleasing dreams of a mysterious man. She can't help but feel as if she knows him from somewhere, which then turns into a mission of its own!

First Grave on the Right sets up what is sure to be a stunning series filled with tons of laughs! This is definitely one read you do not want to pass up! I am going to buy the next two books asap!

The ending becomes quite the shocker. Charley has ended up going through a lot, danger at every turn with too many dead people following her as well. But she also knows how to put them to work! What was also fun and surprising about the book is, you never knew when the new character popped up, whether he was alive or dead. Until Charley notes it at least, but still this was a tremendous read! I cannot say it enough! All the other bloggers have got it right, Charley Davidson ROCKS!

Overall rating 5/5 stars

In My Mailbox

In My Mailbox is a weekly blog post hosted by Kirsti over at The Story Siren and inspired by Alea at Pop Culture Junkie.

Had a decent week! Didn't make the TBR mountain grow too much so that was good!

Here's what I got, for review from the publisher via Netgalley:

 The Girl in the Clockwork Collar by Kady Cross

Then this one came in the mail, I read it early, but had to get a keeper copy:

A Sliver of Shadow by Allison Pang

Then I didn't technically get this one this week, I'm actually going to go buy it today and felt like including it in this IMM, but by the end of the day I will have bought:

Vampire's Kiss by Veronica Wolff

Top 5 Sundays

Top 5 Sundays is a weekly blog meme created by Larissa at Larissa's Bookish Life.

Every Sunday I will post a TOP 5 list on the blog. It can be about anything and every week I'll have a new theme {You can vote on next week’s theme on my left sidebar!} and I will ad the Mr.Linky bellow the post so you can do a list with the theme and add you link to it.

Rules:

1 - Write a post listing your TOP 5 choices within the theme I chose (or was chosen on a poll) for the week.

2 - Mention this Blog on the post and link back to it.

3 - Fell free to use the Feature's image (there is a smaller size version of it bellow)

4 - After you've finished your post, add you link (of the post, not your blog's main page) to the Mr.Linky at the end of that week's post.

5 – If you don’t have a blog to post, just leave your list in the comments =)

This week's topic is: Series You've Started But Haven't Kept Up With!

*in no particular order

Reasons why I haven't kept up with these series is that they fell flat for me somewhere along the line. Sometimes even at book 1.

CASSANDRA PALMER SERIES

 by Karen Chance

Don't know why I didn't get into this one. Think I stopped after book 3. I really liked this cover and this one wasn't too bad, it just got too confusing for me at times, so I just gave it up.

KATE DANIEL SERIES

by Ilona Andrews

 I know, I know! Please don't hate me. This was a series I couldn't get too into. Everyone else really likes it, but the first book just didn't work for me and the first book usually makes or breaks a series for me. So I didn't get too far into this one.

THE VAMPIRE DIARIES

by L.J. Smith

 So this series is still going. It gets separated into trilogies after the first four. I read the newest three, but since there's a new author writing the series, I decided to just end it with the last trilogy set,.

ANNABELLE LEE SERIES

by Stacey Jay

 I didn't totally love this one. I wanted to, the cover makes for an awesome looking series. But after the first book it just kind of went blah for me. So I won't be keeping up with this one either.

SUPERNATURAL SERIES (Book series)

by many authors

 So for awhile I did read some media tie in books. Before Urban Fantasy and all became popular and there weren't too many UF books that I wanted to read. This series is still going apparently when I saw Amazon recommending them to me. They were pretty cool too, it would be like reading a case the brothers were doing during which ever season. So it's like an unseen episode!

 

Comic Review--Dark Swan: Storm Born Vol 1 by Mead, Alder, & Hamann

Eugenie Markham never asked for any of this. Until now, she''s been content with her job as a freelance shaman, battling and banishing Otherworldly creatures. When a prophecy suddenly makes her the Otherworld''s most popular bachelorette, Eugenie finds herself fighting off unwanted supernatural suitors, as well as the evils that begin emerging from her past...

I finally got around to reading the Dark Swan: Storm Born comic/graphic novel! I think it's considered a comic book, not too sure! Richelle Mead and Grant Alder teamed up to do the writing and Dave Hamann and Adam Markiewicz did the illustrations!

It was amazing! I loved seeing Eugenie brought to life! Can't really recall how far into Storm Born it got into, it ends with a slight cliffhanger too. But if you've read the book you already know the outcome.

The illustrations were very nice! Eugenie looks perfect! I truly love how she looks on the cover! She just looks so kick butt! It was great fun returning to the beginning of this world. I look forward to reading more of these comics! It was convenient having the first 4 issues in this volume. Each ended with a cliffhanger naturally and the next gave a brief recap. 

I am truly getting into reading graphic novels/comic books that are based on my favorite series! They are all in good fun!

Overall rating 5/5 stars

Review--Unbroken by Rachel Caine

For millennia, Cassiel was a powerful Djinn—until she was exiled to live among mortals. Now the threat of an apocalypse looms, and Cassiel is in danger of losing everything she has come to hold dear...

As the world begins to fall apart around her, Cassiel finds herself fighting those she once called her own—the Djinn. With Weather Warden Luis Rocha and the rescued child Ibby by her side, Cassiel struggles to find a way to protect those that are in her charge and come to terms with the leadership role she never asked for.

Cassiel is opposed by a powerful Djinn bent on raising an army of kidnapped Warden children to bring about nothing less than the end of the world. It will take everything Cassiel has to stop the Djinn from starting a war that will wipe all of humanity from the face of the earth. She knows that this might not be a battle she can survive, but protecting those she loves is worth any cost...

OMG! I was not aware til I finished the book, that Rachel Caine is ending The Outcast series with Unbroken! But what an ending!! It went right alongside her Weather Warden series, so we get to see Joanne and David again! Yay!

While that was fun and knowing what the fate of the world would be, there was still a lot left unknown! Cass still has to deal with Pearl. And do her best for Isabel, who was traumatized by Pearl. Yet Isabel, is the smallest of the problems. It seems the Wardens need her and Luis to help them out. But things are totally chaotic! 

Oh FYI, St. Louis, was a city to fall in the book! A little upsetting that I died...unless I escaped, but where to?

Hee hee! Okay back to the review! There was just pure and utter chaos throughout the book! Cass and Luis are doing a lot of road-tripping across the states getting to where they are needed. And danger follows them at every turn or waits lurking around the bend!

I truly loved it! Cass also learns a lot about herself, humanity, and the Mother. Things that had been said come to front once and for all and we get to learn their meaning. We've come totally full circle now and the ending was a total shocker!

I am going to miss Rachel's Weather Warden world, for now is truly the end of the series. I look forward to reading Rachel's next series, whatever that may be, in the future!

Overall rating 5/5 stars

Friday Hops

This is a weekly blog meme hosted by Parajunkee's View and Alison Can Read.

Here are the general rules to Follow Friday:

1. Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Hosts and any one else you want to follow on the list

2. Follow our Featured Bloggers

3. Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing.

4. Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say hi in your comments

5. Follow Follow Follow as many as you can

6. If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love...and the followers

7. If you want to show the link list, just follow the link below the entries and copy and paste it within your post!

8. If your new to the follow Friday hop, comment and let me know, so I can stop by and check out your blog!

This week's question is: Have you ever looked at book’s cover and thought, This is going to horrible? But, was instead pleasantly surprised? Show us the cover and tell us about the book.

MY ANSWER: OOoh tough one. Okay please do not get too riled up about this. When I saw this cover I wasn't thinking it was going to be "horrible", I was more worried that there would be so much sex in it that I was going to not like it and regret buying it. I don't like too much romance and sex in my novels. I much prefer action, particularly not in the bedroom. Sex scenes are fine and all and I do enjoy reading them when they popup but sometimes there is just too much in the few that I've read. So here it is:

I had already became addicted to Jeaniene's Night Huntress series, and was excited for the spinoff, yet when I saw this cover, I hesitated a little. Wondering if she was going to throw more sex into the pages. But my worries were undaunted! Jeaniene did not disappoint! First Drop of Crimson kicked ass!

It's not the best example, but the only one I could really think of! That goes with a few of the paranormal romance cover types I see. If the characters look like they are about to get hot heavy or something, I hesitate, but I am usually totally surprised by the lack of sex scenes there are!

TGIF is a weekly feature created and hosted by GReads! that re-caps the week’s posts and has different question each week.

This week's question is: Promote An Author: Is there a particular author you wish got more recognition? Pick one author & tell us why we should read their work.

MY ANSWER: OOoh I like this one! One author that I totally totally LOVE is Maria V. Snyder! She rocks!!! Even met her two times, of course I had to travel to get to her, but it was worth it! She's literally one of my most favorite authors! And her books don't even have vampires or supernatural peeps!

Yes, that's right! I am in love with her books and there's no paranormal dudes! Instead she created this magical world--quite literally, in a literary sense!--where magic exists. But here being known as a magician isn't always a good thing!

Her first heroine, Yelena learns she has powers and she does her best to keep them secret...but you know how that works out! In the meantime she works as a food taster, taking bites of the Captain's food to test for poisons. And life becomes quite engaging and dangerous for Yelena! And there's a stunning cast of secondary characters! The oh-so-yummy Valek! And my favorite, Janco!! He is seriously funny! He's the humor of the novel! When in doubt, Janco will help you out!

And yes the rhyme was intentional!! Janco is all about rhymes when he's fighting bad guys, which is more often than not! And the rhymes can really help him out and keep his focus and throw the bad guy off course! Who expects an opponent to start sprouting off rhymes when in combat?!

Her second trilogy focuses on another character from the same world. So a lot of the same characters are there, and we meet new ones!! The Glass trilogy was awesome as well since Opal knew of her gift. She's different from Yelena, more timid, but she grows to be fierce!

And her YA series, only two books at the moment is a total different spin. It's more futuristic without knowing its futuristic. Then again, maybe it's not! Time is hard to conceive here, but the story is awesome! Trella is Queen of the Pipes in her home. There's segregation between Scrubs and Uppers and yet there is so much mystery of the unknown going on! It's fantastic!! Surprises at every turn! I sure hope the publishers will buy more books from Maria, because I truly love this series!

And finally her most recent series starts off with Touch of Power! Another incredible read filled with magic. Although not with the characters we knew and loved! But we meet new ones and they are still lovable! I see Janco in a few of them myself! Here Avry has the ability to heal. But since magic is still seen as bad, she is always running. Yet she is soon abducted--abducted from a prison, I might add--and her kidnappers--or rescuers--want her to heal someone. Someone she does not like at all!

That's the most I can rave about Maria's books without getting into spoiler territory and I think I've rambled enough as it is!!

Random Thursday

Okay today's a rant day! As you may know, I loooove Disney movies--the classics I grew up with. But you know what I absolutely HATE about Disney?

The cursed Disney Vault! It's sooo evil and annoying! They lock up all the Disney classics and you have to wait, possibly years, to get a movie you really want. My poor niece will be waiting years to get some of the classics for her collection. I mean really. She hasn't even seen Cinderella yet because of the vault. Luckily that one comes out later this year.

But she doesn't have The Little Mermaid, Peter Pan, and some of the others. 

What prompted this was a few weeks ago I really wanted to watch Mulan, but I only have a VHS and I wanted to watch it on DVD. Well, damn my luck because it's been locked inside the vault. Only to be released whenever Disney feels like it. It's just sooo annoying to have to wait.

I've looked on Amazon and other places, but no one has it. At least none at a good price. I don't feel like paying double, triple, quadruple the price of a standard DVD. Plus I don't always like buying used movies. 

So that was my rant on the cursed Disney vault. If there are Disney movies out that you remember and liking, I say buy them now--if they're out--because otherwise you might be waiting 10 years for another release.

Fever Moon, Rift, and Taken by Storm Covers

An all-new Mac & Barrons story by #1 New York Times bestselling author Karen Marie Moning, marvelously adapted into a full-color graphic novel by writer David Lawrence and illustrator Al Rio

In Fever Moon, we meet the most ancient and deadly Unseelie ever created, the Fear Dorcha. For eons, he’s traveled worlds with the Unseelie king, leaving behind him a path of mutilation and destruction. Now he’s hunting Dublin, and no one Mac loves is safe.

Dublin is a war zone. The walls between humans and Fae are down. A third of the world’s population is dead and chaos reigns. Imprisoned over half a million years ago, the Unseelie are free and each one Mac meets is worse than the last. Human weapons don’t stand a chance against them.

With a blood moon hanging low over the city, something dark and sinister begins to hunt the streets of Temple Bar, choosing its victims by targeting those closest to Mac. Armed only with the Spear of Destiny and Jericho Barrons, she must face her most terrifying enemy yet.

Fever Moon releases July 10, 2012

Before Calla Tor, there was Ember Morrow

Sixteen-year-old Lady Ember Morrow fulfills a family obligation by joining her friend Alistair in the Conatus Guard and begins training to help with the order’s true mission, to seek out and stop evildoers and their unnatural creations.

Rift releases August 7, 2012

 Taken by Storm releases May 22, 2012

I soooo can't wait to read all these! Taken By Storm has a really cool cover too!

Waiting on Wednesday

I hate waiting...

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly blog post by Jill over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights releases we're eagerly awaiting.

Step into Shadow Falls, a camp for teens with supernatural powers.  Here friendship thrives, love takes you by surprise, and our hearts possess the greatest magic of all.

Kylie Galen wants the truth so badly she can taste it. The truth about who her real family is, the truth about which boy she’s meant to be with—and the truth about what her emerging powers mean.  But she’s about to discover that some secrets can change your life forever…and not always for the better.

Just when she and Lucas are finally getting close, she learns that his pack has forbidden them from being together.  Was it a mistake to pick him over Derek? And it’s not just romance troubling Kylie. An amnesia-stricken ghost is haunting her, delivering the frightful warning, someone lives and someone dies. As Kylie races to unravel the mystery and protect those she loves, she finally unlocks the truth about her supernatural identity, which is far different—and more astonishing—than she ever imagined.

Very excited to read this one! It was just getting good last time around!!

TITLE: Taken at Dusk
AUTHOR: C.C. Hunter
PUBLISHER: St. Martin's Press
GENRE: YA Paranormal
RELEASE DATE: April 10, 2012

He’s a fallen angel. She’s a rockabilly reporter. Together they must solve a deadly string of murders plaguing the mortal and the immortal worlds.

Griffin Shaw used to be a PI, but that was over fifty years ago when gumshoes hoofed the streets . . . and he was still alive. Now he’s a Centurion, an angel who assists other murdered souls through their journey to the afterlife. But while Shaw might be an angel … he’s no saint. Haunted by the mysterious events surrounding his own death, he seizes a chance to wreak some vengeance when he witnesses a deadly attack on journalist Katherine “Kit” Craig.

Joining forces, the unlikely avengers take to the streets, hunting a killer whose trail of bodies stretches across Las Vegas and into an immortal netherworld. It is a dangerous trek that lead them into the darkest corners of Sin City and into the heart of an evil conspiracy extending beyond the lights of the Strip that could destory them both.

But destruction isn’t the only threat Griffin faces. The closer he gets to Kit, the more he finds himself bewitched by her mortal charms. Can he resist falling under her spell? And does he want to?

Soooo looking forward to Vicki's new series! I'm always sad when one series ends, but then I get super excited for the newest one too!! This one sounds very interesting and I can't wait to read it!

Didn't really plan for my two WoWs to both have "taken" in the title! Just kind of happened really!

TITLE: The Taken
AUTHOR: Vicki Pettersson
PUBLISHER: Harper Voyage
GENRE: Urban Fantasy
RELEASE DATE: June 12, 2012

Review--Faery Tales and Nightmares by Melissa Marr

Dangerous promises and beguiling threats swirl together in a dozen stories of enchantments, dark and light, by New York Times bestselling author Melissa Marr. Uncanny and unexpected creatures appear from behind bushes, rise from under the seas, or manifest from seasonal storms to pursue the objects of their attention—with amorous or sinister intent—relentlessly.

From the gentle tones of a story-teller’s cadences to the terror of a blood sacrifice, tales of favorite characters from Marr’s Wicked Lovely novels mix with accounts of new characters for readers to fall in love with . . . or to fear.

Lush, seductive, and chilling, Melissa Marr’s stories revel in the unseen magic that infuses the world as we know it.

Melissa Marr's Faery Tales and Nightmares was quite the read! Filled with short stories I decided to break the review into short segments about each tale.

WHERE NIGHTMARES WALK 

This one was a little odd, it was only 2 pages long. Yet the little bit of story we had was interesting. A character is running for their life. And there's a sense of danger, but not much else in known.

Rating 3/5 stars

TRANSITION

A nice little vampire story! These vampires have a different set of rules and one vampire will go to any lengths to be able to break them. It was a little confusing at times, it felt like there was some unknown, unsaid event that is only briefly mentioned that pertains to the story. But still it was pretty darn good! The ending was killer!

Rating 4/5 stars

LOVE STRUCK

I really liked this one! It was about selkies--selchies--and it had a nice look into the mythology. Or at least Melissa's twist on it! It was great! A nice little story about love blossoming and all that!

Rating 5/5 stars

OLD HABITS

This was in the Wicked Lovely world, taking place after Ink Exchange. I have to admit that this is one that confused me quite a bit. I just couldn't really follow what was happening. What was the story part and all. It mostly dealt with Irial and his needing to let go of his kingly ways since Niall is now in charge.

Rating 2.5/5 stars

STOPPING TIME

This also takes place after Ink Exchange, and I've read it in another anthology--can't remember which one. But it deals with Leslie and Niall and Irial. They have the strangest relationship, yet it seems to work. It's really beautifully written I think. Leslie seems to have developed an enemy who threatens to expose her Fae friends if she doesn't pay up.

Rating 4/5 stars

THE ART OF WAITING

Another odd, short little tale. I can't be entirely sure what was meant to be told in this story. A man and his daughter live in this village. And they and the people of the village, are very close knit. They never seem to leave the village, then one day a stranger comes to town...

Rating 3/5 stars

FLESH FOR COMFORT

Another very short tale. This was also bizarre. Basically we see how far a girl will go to be pretty.

Rating 3/5 stars

COTTON CANDY SKIES

Set in the Wicked Lovely world as well, possibly after Radiant Shadows. This one is about Rabbit and it was quite intriguing. Rabbit is trying to adjust to his new life, but it's hard. He can't seem to find happiness. Then he meets Olivia who asks him an odd question, "what's your name?" And he can't seem to get the answer right. It has a nice little ending too!

Rating 4/5 stars

UNEXPECTED FAMILY

This takes place after Darkest Mercy. Seth comes to Niall and asks him for a favor. Seth has been summoned by his human parents. They need his help. Not knowing what he's about to get into, Seth asks for Niall to accompany him. They are not totally prepared for what they are about to encounter...and gain.

Rating 3.5/5 stars

MERELY MORTAL

This also takes place after Darkest Mercy, and I, again, read this before in another anthology. Donia and Keenan go on vacation. To get away from it all. Keenan longs to take the test so he can be Fae again and be with Donia forever, yet she's hesitant, because she knows what the test can do to a person having taken it herself. The trip is meant for them to just be together and relax. Although they encounter a problem, humans and exposure.

Rating 4/5 stars

Overall rating 4/5 stars

Teaser Tuesday

Here are the rules:

1. Grab your current read

2. Open to a page

3. Pick out 2 lines that are SPOILER FREE

4. Name the title, author, etc.

 

 

"It wasn't eyeliner that she smeared over her temple. No. The memory of Gregory's blood all over her face came back in a rush." p 35, Transition

TITLE: Faery Tales and Nightmares

AUTHOR: Melissa Marr
PUBLISHER: Harper Collins Children's Books
GENRE: YA Paranormal
RELEASE DATE: February 21, 2012