Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ

Just wanted you to know that I should have been done with but it is sooo long & taking forever... good, but I have read them all out of order & I have to grab my other books to figure out who they are talking about! AHHHH! another couple of days it looks like!

Hey gals, I'm back from the North shore. Lots and lots to catch up on. I haven't had a lot of reading time, but I'm about 1/2 way thru my 'dark' book. I also realized I haven't written my review for Storm's Heart yet. I finished that a wk or so ago. I'll do that soon.

Hope everyone is doing well! :)

Finished 8/11
★★★★

This is Lucien and Anya's story and it did not disappoint! Lucien is Keeper of Death and Anya is the goddess of Anarchy. Lucien is charged with killing Anya and then the fireworks begin. There was plenty of action and romance with some humor thrown in as well. The funniest part was when Anya handcuffed Lucien to the bed and Strider came in and took pictures to send to some of the other Lords. The side stories of Paris' woman trouble and Reyes' constant attempts to save Danika from Aeron added even more intrigue to the story. I love this series and look forward to reading Reyes' story next in The Darkest Pleasure.

Hope you had a great trip, Steph! I'll go ahead and check you off for your free space book.

Free Space
Finished: 6/6

✔C±ð±ô¾±²Ô±ð - Broken 7/31 | 4â˜� (message 159)
✼·²¹´Ú´Ú´Ç»å¾±±ô - Dragon Bound 8/7 | 5â˜� (message 243)
✔A³¾²¹²Ô»å²¹ - Changeless 8/15 | 4â˜� (message 270)
âœÖÀ³Ù±ð±è³ó - Storm's Heart 8/8 | 4â˜� (message 256)
✸é±ð²µ¾±²Ô²¹ - Ghost Story 8/3 | 5â˜� (message 178)
✔Sassy (Amy) - Pride Mates 7/24 | 5� (message 102)



Shelf #3: dark (B4)
Finished: 2/6

Celine - Fool Moon
Daffodil -
✔A³¾²¹²Ô»å²¹ - The Darkest Kiss 8/11 | 4â˜� (message 253)
Steph - I Don't Want to Kill You
✸é±ð²µ¾±²Ô²¹ - Sharp Objects
Sassy (Amy) - Dreams of a Dark Warrior

Finished: 8 August
Rating: ★★★★�
Review: While I thoroughly enjoyed Tiago & Tricks' story, I didn't looooove it like Dragon Bound. Niniane (Tricks' Dark Fae name) is a great character and Tiago grew on me. Once he made a promise to protect her, he did anything and everything in his power to keep that promise. They ended up making a really cute couple. I can just see him toting her little self around.

It was easy to tell that Rune and Vamp Queen Carling will be the next HEA to happen in the series. I really like Rune, so I can't wait for Serpent's Kiss in Oct. LOVE the short wait between books! The Vamp Queen was an interesting character in SH, so I'm looking forward to learning more about her as well.

Our Next Shelf is: 'alpha male'
DIRECT LINK: 'alpha male'

Happy Reading!

I've been offline for a bit. I believe I've got everyone's cards stamped correctly, but would like to confirm. Please let me know if I'm missing a stamp anywhere. Thanks! :)

(x = no stamp; team # = stamp)

x x x x 5 6 x ~ Free Space
1 2 3 4 5 6 x ~ 4 stars
x 2 3 4 5 6 x ~ favorite series
x x x 4 x x x ~ dark

I'll be reading for the alpha male shelf.

Hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend!

I love the brothers! Zsadist is wonderful. :)

Choosing between:

I've decided to change my book for the alpha male shelf to . It fits into more challenges. :)

I just realized that the one I am reading is on a shelf with the same name but a hyphen, does this work? It is "alpha-male" instead of "alpha male"

i am reading: for this shelf. I will review my other book in a little bit.

Steph wrote: "I've been offline for a bit. I believe I've got everyone's cards stamped correctly, but would like to confirm. Please let me know if I'm missing a stamp anywhere. Thanks! :)

(x = no stamp; team..."

Wow! really? I hope we get 4 spots at once then...

Regina wrote: "I just realized that the one I am reading is on a shelf with the same name but a hyphen, does this work? It is "alpha-male" instead of "alpha male""

Regina, I think it is the same shelf. I have noticed that Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ puts hyphens where spaces usually are on the shelf names.

Sassy ~ Amy wrote: "Steph wrote: "I've been offline for a bit. I believe I've got everyone's cards stamped correctly, but would like to confirm. Please let me know if I'm missing a stamp anywhere. Thanks! :)

(x = ..."

I am reading my free space book now so we will get that stamp soon. We only need one more book on all of the other shelves except for last week's shelf (dark).

Okay good!!

Sorry to be out of touch last week guys. We've been super busy at work and I spent most of my time out in the hot warehouse rather than at my desk in the nice air conditioned office. Went in early, worked through lunch and stayed late. Next week is going to be busy, but not as busy. So, I'll be able to check in more.

On top of all that, lightning came through the phone line, taking out the DSL modem and ethernet adapter on my friend's computer. We spent last night replacing the modem and today getting the adapter fixed. On the plus side, I managed to squeeze in a quick trip to Border's when we went to the computer repair shop.

I'm reading my Dark book now and I'll look over the alpha-male shelf and pick a book for it.

Happy reading everyone!

Hi, Litwits! I'm almost done with my 'dark' read: I Don't Want to Kill You. I'm really struggling to finish it. Got the family visiting and the book just isn't holding my attention when I can grab a few mins to read. As soon as I'm done, I'll read either The Iron Duke or Bloodlands or The Mane Event.

Finished 8/15
★★★★

I love the world that Gail Carriger has created in this series! The mystery interwoven with all of the supernatural elements makes for a very intriguing read. There was plenty of action, romance, and lots of character development. We finally learn why Conall left his Scottish pack, tidbits about Alexia's late father, and we get to see Alexia in action as the Muhjah. All of the characters are unique and quite entertaining. I really enjoy the banter back and forth between Alexia and Conall. The one thing I didn't like is yet another cliffhanger ending so I'm very glad I already have Blameless and will be moving it up on the TBR.

BTW, I had never heard of a dirigible before and had to look it up so I learned something too! :)

Free Space
Finished: 6/6

✔C±ð±ô¾±²Ô±ð - Broken 7/31 | 4â˜� (message 159)
✼·²¹´Ú´Ú´Ç»å¾±±ô - Dragon Bound 8/7 | 5â˜� (message 243)
✔A³¾²¹²Ô»å²¹ - Changeless 8/15 | 4â˜� (message 270)
âœÖÀ³Ù±ð±è³ó - Storm's Heart 8/8 | 4â˜� (message 256)
✸é±ð²µ¾±²Ô²¹ - Ghost Story 8/3 | 5â˜� (message 178)
✔Sassy (Amy) - Pride Mates 7/24 | 5� (message 102)



Shelf #3: dark (B4)
Finished: 3/6

Celine - Fool Moon
Daffodil -
✔A³¾²¹²Ô»å²¹ - The Darkest Kiss 8/11 | 4â˜� (message 253)
Steph - I Don't Want to Kill You
✸é±ð²µ¾±²Ô²¹ - Sharp Objects (review pending)
✔Sassy (Amy) - Dreams of a Dark Warrior (review pending)



Shelf #4: alpha male (O23)
Finished: 0/6

Celine -
Daffodil -
Amanda - Dragon Bound
Steph - The Iron Duke
Regina - Hard Evidence
Sassy (Amy) - Primal Bonds

My read for this week is

Yay Us on our FS stamp! I'm in Tokyo this week. I'll be home this weekend. I'll post my Dark book review then. I'm reading the Iron Duke for my Alpha Male book.

Hope everyone has a great week!!

ok... please forgive me, but I've read both my books. I haven't left a review yet. I have another "kid's" funeral to go to today, and then I will leave reviews for both books Friday or so.

This is the second one this month. One was a close friend 15 y/o boy who was run over by another one of his friends in his driveway. This one hit us hard. The driver had snuck out at 2 am and was drinking...She was 16.The kids did not call 911. After they saw he was dying they ran to get his mom who called...

Then a friend of my 8 y/o son was cleaning up his room, put a baseball belt around his neck, buckled it passed out and was found too late by his sister. Just stupid things kids do that we yell at them for & they don't get why we yell "Get that off of your neck!"

Anyway, I am still reading, but have not reviewed. I just can't think right now.

Damn, Amy! You are having the worst time right now, not to mention their parents, family and friends.

My condolences to you all.

Oh my goodness. What horrible horrible events. I am so sorry.

My thoughts are with you, too.

I finished my Dark read.

Dead Reckoning, Charlaine Harris, 8-16-11, 3.5 - 4 stars, closer to 3.5 stars.

This is more in the line of a transition book. There are lots of events, occurances, etc, but the book doesn't really go anywhere. I kind of think it was more about maneuvering people into the right place and setting down information to prepare us for the next book. There's nothing wrong with that in theory. Other authors have managed it and told a great story. Somehow, Harris didn't quite reach that level and I was left feeling slightly disatisfied at the end. I'll continue the series, because I'm interested in seeing where it's going. I just hope the next book ups the ante.

I'm either reading or for the Alpha Male book. It really depends on the mood I'm in once I finish the book I'm reading now.

I finished my Alpha Male book

Hard Evidence by Pamela Clare 3 stars

This book is hard for me to rate. The romance and the characters gets 4.5 stars from me. I appreciate how Pamela Clare addressed two important problems � neglect of and poverty among teenage kids and then human trafficking. She addresses these topics in a decently in depth manner and it is clear she brings these issues to the forefront not merely to sell a book, but because they are important to her and she cares about the topic. I respect and admire that. Thank you Pamela Clare for treating these topics so well.

I loved the characters in this topic, they were fun to read about and get close to. The heroine is likeable and the hero is definitely one of my favorites that I have read in this genre thus far. Julian Darcangelo. :) I will remember him for awhile.
My issues with this book like with several things.

First, I find it completely unbelievable how sexually inexperienced the heroine was. I also find it unbelievably that she is so scared and scarred from one lone experience with a man years ago. And I understand coffee addictions, but I just found Tessa’s addiction a bit much. This seems to be a constant theme in contemporary novels, perhaps it just speaks to how addicted Americans are to coffee. I generally do not like to read the point of view of the bad guy, I feel it distracts from the story and that happened here for me.

The suspense and the threat were well done and I enjoyed this aspect. Although I anticipated the double cross. A decent story and I recommend it for people who enjoy romance and romantic suspense.

I finished my Dark book awhile ago (see above), but here is my review.
Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn 4 stars

I love a good psychological thriller with disturbingly flawed characters and this book did not disappoint. The main character is a woman struggling to make a life for herself, fleeing her childhood and really, fleeing her mother when she is sent back to her home town as an investigative reporter. She is tasked to report on the gruesome murders of two pre-teen girls, but in the process she gets put right back in the middle of her messed up family dynamics, her small town’s social structure, and a potential romance.

Ms. Flynn nails perfectly small Midwest town life. A quote in her description of small town life,

“Like all rural towns, Wind Gap has an obsession with machinery. Most homes own a car and a half for every occupant, plus boats, Jet Skis, scooters, tractors, and among the elite of Wind Gap, golf cars, which younger kids without licenses use to whip around town.�

Ms. Flynn makes some disturbing observations about parenting and family life � and ties them in to premature death:

As to the death of a young girl, “it’s the only way to truly keep your child. Kids grow up, they forge more potent allegiances. They find a spouse or a lover. They will not be buried with you. The Keenes, however will remain the purest form of family. Underground.�

The situations described in this book are exceptional, but she breaks the image of small rural life as being ideal. Terrifying violence and dysfunction lurks beneath the surface and I have to say, she nailed it in terms of describing my small rural home town. As Flynn writes, the idealic quality of small towns is false. A question is � should people go home once they have fled extreme unhappiness? Can they go home and survive it emotionally? Going home almost undoes Camille and as the story is told the readers see from a disturbing first person angle, Camille’s personal psychological problems and the extent of her damage. It was terrifying to read about, but I could not put the book down.

A truly horrifying image of the protagonist’s mother: (view spoiler)[ “I remember my mother, alone in the living room, staring at the child almost lasciviously. She pressed her lips hard against the baby’s apple slice of a cheek. Then she opened her mouth just slightly, took a tiny bit of flesh between her teeth, and gave it a little bite.� (hide spoiler)]

A question I had was, what was Ms. Flynn’s message in this? Small rural towns are messed up? Family dynamics can really screw people up? Old school social hierarchies breed disturbing people? I did find it interesting that the men in this story, save one, are thoroughly disappointing and that the evil, cruel and shallow women are images of beauty and physically were ultra feminine in terms of how our society defines such things. The violence that happens to women and girls happens on the brink of girls becoming women, and the things done to them (view spoiler)[ shaving the girls legs, fixing their hair, painting their nails (hide spoiler)] are superficial ways femininity have has been defined in our modern culture. And finally, the evil doers (view spoiler)[ are the ultra beautiful, the ultra coiffed, and the ultra physical female ideals (hide spoiler)]. What comment is Flynn making on images of women, female sexuality and femininity in modern US culture? I am asking because I have not yet decided what the answer is.

I recommend this book for people who enjoy dark psychological thrillers, where the mystery and murder are just set ups for authors to portray dark disturbing characters and fully fleshed but damaging relationships. I would say fans of Tana French, Donna Tartt, and Laura Kasischke would enjoy this book, but beware, it is not for the faint hearted � the decryptions of physical violence can be upsetting.

Ok... I finished my DARK book on 08/13/11 I give it ★★★★ . This is Regin and Aidan/Declan's story.

Regin's Berserker love/mate Aidan who because he took her virginity, before he became immortal, was punished by horrible deaths everytime he remembered her.

This time around, she wanted him dead because he was the one in charge of torturing/killing/experimenting & imprisoning hundreds of immortals in the prison she was now stuck in. He was trying to make weapons/poisons to kill them. In this life early on, his family was wiped out by immortals, hence him wanting them all gone. So Regin being Regin, tries to get him to remember her so he dies and it goes from there. It goes on and on from there 500 pages worth.

I had to keep puting the book down. It just seemed so long & full of fillers, but so much was happening at the same time that there was no way to cut this down or skim parts. So I opted to set it down and come back for over 5 days. That's super long for me.It was a great book though, so I gave it 4 stars.

I finished my ALPHA Book on 08/15/11
and I give it ★★★★. It was a great addition to her last book, but I did like the other one slightly better. I don't really like fae. I don't know why... I just don't.

So this is the younger brother's book. He is THE "Guardian". He carries a Fae made sword and uses it to help dying shifters pass on to where ever they go after they die. His mate is half shifter half fae & draws some powers from the sword. Lots of things happen in this story and shifters go to war etc.

It is really a cute story & I definitely can't wait for the next to come out. I think it's a cross between Patricia Briggs (her good stuff) and Christine Warren's good books (not her recent crappy books) LOL!!

Sandra wrote: "Damn, Amy! You are having the worst time right now, not to mention their parents, family and friends.

My condolences to you all."

I am telling you that the worst thing I have ever seen in my life was 2 mothers after they lost their children. Shock & the worst hysterical grief is mind blowing. AWEFUL! All of this still seems too unreal.

Back from Italy!

I'm so sorry to hear that... It's an awful thing to lose a child...


As for the good news, I have finished two books with a third on the way (:

Alpha-male shelf Lover Awakened
I give it 5 stars, because this book is AWESOME. I love Zsadist's story, and I'm so glad he finally has a HEA. Definitely my favourite book of the series up until now.

Dark shelf The Asylum for Wayward Victorian Girls
Another 5 stars read. This book is half auto-biography of the wonderfully talented Emilie Autumn, half shocking thriller set in a Victorian Asylum. To call this book "dark" is a total understatement. Topics as self-mutilation, mental illness, psychosis-inducing drugs, rape, abuse and suicide are all talked about freely and painfully honest. Not a book for everyone, as some pictures might be considered shocking. EA's brutal honesty and infinite imagination makes this a read you never forget.

Hope this brings us closer to stamp-time (:

Amy, very sorry to hear of those tragic losses. I can't imagine the grief those families are experiencing. I'll keep them in my thoughts and prayers.

Regina, glad you liked Sharp Objects. I read it a few years ago and enjoyed it even though it was pretty disturbing.

Celine, hope you had a great trip!

Update coming...I'll finish Dragon Bound for the alpha male shelf tonight.

Shelf #3: dark (B4)
Finished: 6/6

✔C±ð±ô¾±²Ô±ð - The Asylum for Wayward Victorian Girls 8/20 | 5â˜� (message 285)
✼·²¹´Ú´Ú´Ç»å¾±±ô - Dead Reckoning 8/16 | 3½â˜� (message 278)
✔A³¾²¹²Ô»å²¹ - The Darkest Kiss 8/11 | 4â˜� (message 253)
âœÖÀ³Ù±ð±è³ó - I Don't Want to Kill You 8/16 | 3â˜� (message 288)
✸é±ð²µ¾±²Ô²¹ - Sharp Objects 8/9 | 4â˜� (message 281)
✔Sassy (Amy) - Dreams of a Dark Warrior 8/13 | 4� (message 282)



Shelf #4: alpha male (O23)
Finished: 6/6

✔C±ð±ô¾±²Ô±ð - Lover Awakened 8/20 | 5â˜� (message 285)
✼·²¹´Ú´Ú´Ç»å¾±±ô - Elijah 8/22 | 3â˜� (message 308)
✔A³¾²¹²Ô»å²¹ - Dragon Bound 8/21 | 5â˜� (message 305)
âœÖÀ³Ù±ð±è³ó - The Iron Duke 8/18 | 3½â˜� (message 313)
✸é±ð²µ¾±²Ô²¹ - Hard Evidence 8/18 | 3â˜� (message 280)
✔Sassy (Amy) - Primal Bonds 8/15 | 4� (message 283)



Shelf #5: shifters (O22)
Finished: 0/6

Celine - The Awakening
Daffodil -
Amanda - Blood Law
Steph -
Regina - The Mane Event
Sassy (Amy) - Dragon Bound

Amy, hun, my thoughts are with those families. Such heartbreak is hard to imagine.

Welcome home, Celine! How was your holiday in Italy?

My SIL & fam have returned home to the US, so I will have more time to read. I'm ~25% into The Iron Duke for Alpha-Male shelf and enjoying it.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Read: 16 Aug
Shelf: Dark
Rating: 2.5-3.0-3.5� (undecided)
Review: John Cleaver's story has been a good read overall. Still can't imagine (or hate to imagine) the thought of a teenage serial killer. In the final book, John has accepted his Monster and taken on the role of town savior. He's determined to kill Nobody, another demon killing people. In the first two books, John's mantra consisted of his rules, and rituals, not so in book three. The boy who has to force himself to "act normal" has a girlfriend. While it was fun to see this side of John and his personality, it felt like something was missing. The ending was sad, predictable and a bit hard to swallow. However, I still enjoyed the story overall, hence the crazy spread on my undecided rating. I'll probably stick w/3�.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

YAY! Our first two stamps!! :D WTG, Team! Close to getting the other three as well. Woohoo! Hope everyone has a great weekend!

CONGRATULATIONS, Litwits!
We now have an updated BINGO card with a stamp on 'free space' and 'dark'.

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

Good Job!! :D

Yay!!

:D New shelf coming ono momento!

Our Next Shelf is: 'shifters'
DIRECT LINK: 'shifters'

Happy Reading!

Not 100% sure, but I'll most likely read for shifters.

For shifters, I'm going to read .

For shifters I am reading

Congrats on your 2 stamps LWs!

YES!!! LOVE IT!! I am going to read

I'm looking forward to your review of Blood Law, Amanda. I have had that one for a bit and keep meaning to start it.

I may go with The Mane Event too, Regina. Have to finish this one, then I'll pick.

Enjoy Dragon Bound, Amy! Great read!

Sandra wrote: "Congrats on your 2 stamps LWs!"
Thanks! :D

Thanks Amanda & Steph! The trip was awesome, had lots of sun and relaxing pool-time. Italians are the worst drivers I have ever seen though. Riding through a village nearby was a pretty scary experience. The amount of Italian people that speak English is shockingly low. On our whole camping there was one person who understood us enough to give us a pizza. Even though the mosquitoes have feasted on our legs, we had a great time (:


For the shifters shelf I might go with .. I'll consult my bookcase tomorrow.

LOL! They are bad drivers. Glad you had a good time! Welcome back!