Lyza Berry

Review - Karen Marie Moning's Bloodfever

2010-05-22T16:31:00.003-04:00

Bloodfever
by Karen Marie Moning
Urban Fantasy
ISBN 9780440240990
Pages: 337
Publisher: Dell
www.KarenMoning.com

RECYCLE

Actual Book Blurb: MacKayla Lane’s ordinary life underwent a complete makeover when she landed on Ireland’s shores and was plunged into a world of deadly sorcery and ancient secrets. In her fight to stay alive, Mac must find the Sinsar Dubh—a million-year-old book of the blackest magic imaginable, which holds the key to power over both the worlds of the Fae and of Man. Pursued by Fae assassins, surrounded by mysterious figures she knows she can not trust, Mac finds herself torn between two deadly and irresistible men: V’lane, the insatiable Fae who can turn sensual arousal into an obsession for any woman and the ever-inscrutable Jericho Barrons, a man as alluring as he is mysterious. For centuries, the shadowy realm of the Fae has coexisted with that of humans. Now the walls between the two are coming down and Mac is the only thing that stands between them.

My Review and Thoughts: First, I want to say that Karen Marie Moning is a major tease. LOL In the book blurb above, the talk about Mac being torn between two irresistible men is true but she gives you NOTHING. A little kiss, that was actually pretty hot, and then they are torn apart by the big bad uglies. Grrrr…

I do like Mac’s development though. She is growing into her roll well and learns pretty fast. The girl we started with that was pretty in pink is no longer consumed with her nail polish and matching sandals. Strapping on her big girl panties, she starts to realize she has to do what needs to be done to save all and not just avenge her sister…though that is still playing a major roll.

Though it is not much, we do get a LITTLE insight into the enigmatic Jericho Barrons. We also see a softer, non-sexual side of the tasty V’lane. Mac comes face to face and has to reply on one of these guys coming to save her from a fate worse then death. Yes that was a little corny but appropriate. The little, old, judgmental lady Mac ran into more then once also reveals a little more about who she is.

There are a few dull and slow parts in the book, but the action and story/character building I think makes up for it. We learn a lot about Mac and who she is in addition to her potential. She grows with each turning page. You grow more and more attached to some and get questions answered to things left unresolved from the first book (this is the 2nd). She “learns” to “deal” better with some OOP’s though they do take their toll on her. She makes new friends who help her in her quest…we even get a peek from characters from her Highlander series (for those who have read it). You can tell this is still in the beginning stages of building the story, but it sucks you right in. If that is not enough, go read the 1st three chapters to the next one, Faefever, at KMM site. It got me to actually BUY the book and not swap it. LOL

Happy Reading…

Review - Kelly Armstrong's Men of the Otherworld

2010-05-22T16:04:00.003-04:00

Men of the Otherworld
by Kelly Armstrong
Urban Fantasy
ISBN 0553807099
Pages: 384
Publisher: Bantam
www.KellyArmstrong.com

RECYCLE

Book Blurb (from author site): As a curious child, Clayton didn’t resist the bite—he asked for it. But surviving as a lone child werewolf was more than he could manage—until Jeremy came along and taught him how to straddle the human-werewolf worlds, gave him a home…and introduced him to the Pack. So begins this volume, featuring three of the most intriguing members of the American Pack—a hierarchical founding family where bloodlines mean everything, and each day presents a new, thrilling, and often deadly challenge. For as Clayton grows from a wild child to a clever teen who tests his beloved mentor at every turn, he must learn not only to control his animal instincts, but to navigate Pack politics—including showing his brutal arch nemesis, Malcolm, who the real Alpha is...

My Review and Thoughts: All that said…I did not like the way they SKIM over how he met Elena. Since this was Clay and Jeremy’s book, so to speak, I did not expect detail, but since a mate for him had to be perfect, how did he feel when he saw her? Did she even notice him? What was the first thing he said to her? I would have been happy with all that up until maybe the first time they spoke. Armstrong spent a little time saying how he felt about women and how they were beneath him, of course not in so many words but my impression. How his mate had to be perfect and smart and strong…and then she says he meets that mate, almost in so many words. Not verbatim, but almost as many words. VERY short and brief. That was my ONLY disappointment in this book

I started this series in the very beginning. I fell in love with the crew in the first two books. I lost interest in the series with the third and even more with the 4th, which was the last book I have read so far, Industrial Magic. I have Haunted, Broken and No Humans Involved on my shelf to be read, but I missed the presence of Clay, Elena and even Jeremy. I picked this one up and read it cause it involved Clay and I missed him. Don’t get me wrong, it is a great series and I like that each book can stand on its own, but as with any series, you have those characters that speak to you and that you fall in love with…like part of a family. LOL

This book, as I said, is about Jeremy and Clay. Jeremy’s story about whom and what he is and how he has become the man we meet in Bitten, is worth reading this book in itself. The mysterious, quiet, strong man, feared and respected by many. How he knows and does some of the things he knows and does. Without giving anything away too much, he is not just wolf, pact. It is not something I would have seen or guest, one of the things I respect about Armstrong. You don’t see the tib bits about her world. You can’t guess them and you don’t see them coming. Her witches are special and different just as her wolves are and her vampires. I knew Clay was not born a wolf, but how and who turned him I did not know. What he had to go through with this new ability as a child pretty much on his own was heart wrenching and warming. How he was found and the nurturing Jeremy had to go through to earn Clay’s trust. The bond they build and share. They mold each other into who they are. Their dependency to make each other soft, hard, protective, dominant and submissive in a balanced way. You really see why and how Clay’s loyalty is built with Jeremy. You also get a little aspect on some of the other players and pact members. All in all, it was a great read, good insight and an intriguing story.

Happy Reading…

Review - Susan Donovan's He Love's Lucy

2010-03-25T11:36:00.003-04:00

He Loves Lucy
by Susan Donovan
Chic Lit
ISBN 031992335
Pages: 338
Publisher: St. Martin’s Paperback/Romance
http://www.susandonovan.com/

RECYCLE

Book Blurb (from actual book): Marketing exec Lucy Cunningham is thrilled when her firm lands the Palm Club account. The campaign concept for Miami’s hottest fitness club was Lucy’s idea: Take one fitness-challenged woman, put her in front of TV cameras and into the hands of the club’s top personal trainer, Theo Redmond. And there’s a big cash reward for each pound shed. It seemed like a good idea—until Lucy gets to be the guinea pig. When a junk food addict with a heart of gold, meets a fitness buff with buns of steel, they find the perfect recipe to fall in love.

My Review and Thoughts:
I am not really a chic lit reader, but I seem to have a knack for picking some really cute ones for my mommy-and-me reading group.

The book description is very accurate as to what the book was about. This was my first book by Susan Donovan, though with her style, I think I may look into a few others.

I started this book not liking Theo AT ALL. I have always been of the mind though that if a book causes you to feel you like it, otherwise it would elicit NO response what so ever not to mention you wouldn’t want to even read it. Theo came off to me as a materialistic pig. He was all about looks and the outside package. I still don’t get the warm and fuzzies about him by the end of the book, but I liked him a little better. He seemed to be good for Lucy and she accepted him. To each their own I guess.

As a voluptuous woman myself—wink wink—I could relate to a lot of Lucy’s challenges and a lot of them were so not me. I like her determination and how she grows as the book progresses. You literally SEE her grow from really insecure and questioning everything she does to someone a lot more sure of herself and knowing what exactly it is she wants. I think she was a little bit of a dunce when it came to her pig of a boss, but that may just be my opinion as a reader looking too much into things.

Over all, I liked the book and though it was not a keeper, I would recommend it as a cute fast read. It was well paced. Every page moved you along with either Theo or Lucy. Not too much stalling at all. All that said…

Happy Reading…

Article - Posting

2010-02-07T19:02:00.000-05:00

Does changing the layout and look of the blog count as a post? LOL

Article - New Year's Resolutions

2010-01-01T13:55:00.002-05:00

It’s a new year. This year instead of setting a resolution you’re going to break by Valentines, try something a little different. Set a resolution to make things better. Yes, I know that’s broad and so many people say to narrow that down. How has that been working out for you? If it works, GREAT, don’t change a thing. If not, try something new, what will it hurt.

I know myself better then most and one of the things I have changed since 2009’s “Make it better”, is to be honest with myself. With this in mind, I set my goals accordingly. Last year was the first year I took this approach to resolutions and I succeeded. Had I set more specific goals, the minute I fell off track I would have forgotten all about that goal. In this economy, everything is hard for everyone, but don’t let it drag you down.

Today, I make 10 years married to my husband, 15 years together and I am only 30. I love and adore him more today then I did when I first fell in love with him. Since the day we fell in love our goal has been to get better at communication. Now, I can even get him to occasionally argue with me. I have been writing for about 7 years now and when I first started it was sporadic when the idea sparked. Since last year, I write EVERY day in one shape, form or another. I have 3 completed manuscripts and works in progress (wip) out the yin yang.

To me, these are major accomplishments. I have a 3 year old anxious to start school. My husband and I have a business that has become stagnant. And, again, I have 3 completed manuscripts that need a home and someone to read, not to mention the myriad of wip. I can’t wait to reflect on what I’ve/we’ve accomplished on December 31, 2010.

Writing - Golden Perfection

2009-11-14T23:41:00.002-05:00

Whoo Hoo! I completed the re-write for Goldie’s Trios, which is now called Golden Perfections. Re-writes are hard and yet easy. The manuscript is finish, but it is almost as if you are writing it from scratch. You have to meld the old with the new, add content and delete and then make sure the flow is still write. I have to admit, I am really happy with the newer version and I hope my readers will be as well it is almost 19k words and 63 pages. Not my longest, but it is my longest short…oh no, wait it isn’t. That would be Fate’s Execution, when is the project I am working on now. I have three completed manuscript I am trying to get done and ready for submission by the end of the year. What better way to start off a new year then to be a published author…again. I’ll keep you posted on where things stand.

Article - TV Shows

2009-10-16T14:31:00.015-04:00

What Do You Watch?

I get inspiration from many, many places. The people I see walking down the street. The books I read. The movies I get the rare occasion to watch (having a 2 year old means my TV time has to be in short spurts). My own personal experiences. And lastly, from the TV shows I watch. That said, I wanted to share what I watch in addition to the new ones I look forward to.

• The Vampire Diaries – Based on the young adult book series by L.J. Smith. A boy & his sister loose their parents. Their aunt takes them in, not really knowing what she has bitten off—no pun intended. Boy rebels and starts doing drugs, falling for girls out of his league, etc…at least this is how it’s starting. The girl of course falls for the bad boy no one knows anything about. I’ve never read the books, but I have them on my TBR list. The execution on the show is good, not teenybopper show, like Buffy was with a Scooby gang and the slightly ditsy blonde—and don’t get your panties in a twist, I am a Buffy fan too. This comes on Thursdays at 8PM on the CW.
• Supernatural –This awesome show also comes on Thursdays at 9PM on the CW. Two, very cute I might add, brothers fight all those nasty little things that go bump in the night. Ghost, vampire, shape shifters, demons, God, the Devil, and other things I can’t pronounce, never mind spell. LOL Now it’s graduated to a fight between heaven and hell which has made for a very interesting story line.
• Smallville – Friday’s at 8PM on the CW. I am SO not a comic book person, hell the last comic I read was Tarot: Witch of the Black Rose (which I am now selling for those interested). Far from anything Marvel—or wherever Superman is from. But this Superman is quite addictive—and actors Tom Welling and Justin Hartley don’t hurt.
• Eastwick – Wednesday’s at 10PM on ABC. Fans of the 1987 movie may be intrigued by this new servies, hell, that and the fact that I miss Charmed is why checked it out. Nothing like a modern day witch.
• V – Premiers Tuesday, November 3rd, at 8PM on ABC. Primarily, Morris Chestnut. Need I really say more. LOL This is a “re-imaging of the original series.” I personally never watched the original and I am not really into aliens, but this one looks good.
• Flashforward – Thursdays at 8PM on ABC. “The world’s population is given a glimpse of their future due to a mysterious global event. It forces everyone to come to grips with whether their destinies can be fulfilled or avoided.” That really does sum it up. It is definitely interesting & makes you think, which is good.
• Law & Order SVU and CI – These have been on TV so long that if you don’t know anything about them you gotta hell of a lot of catching up to do.
• Hero’s – Monday’s at 8PM on NBC. An eclipse has changed the lives of many, giving them superhuman abilities that they use either for good or bad, their choice. The predictable part is that the government doesn’t like what they can’t control or don’t understand. People will be people…or human’s will be human. Does that imply that I’m not human? Hum? Moving on…
• Medium – “I see dead people.” I couldn’t resist, but that is kinda what the shows about. Alice, unintentionally, sees dead people and helps the Phoenix District Attorney and their detectives fight crime and put the bad people away with their help. Very good and not corny in the least. Some episodes can even be a bit on the graphic side.
• NCIS – This takes place in my neck of the woods and I know exactly where everything is they talk about, damn near, which is really what hooked me. This comes on Tuesday at 8PM.
• Fringe – Thursday’s at 9 on FOX. A different kind of bump in the night. This one revolves around science, which makes it a little more realistic. Time travel, teleportation, mutation, invisibility, clones, etc. Graphic and action packed. Anna Torv is pretty, kick ass and gets the job done. Joshua Jackson is cute, unscrupulous and knows his shit. John Noble is crazy as hell and the start of most of the scientific experiments.
• House – Hugh Laurie plays a cutthroat Dr. that knows more then a little about illnesses, mentally and physically and has a heeluva team to back him. If anything was ever wrong with me or anyone in my family, I would want a Dr. like this. He may not live to see another day after we were cured, but I’d want him nonetheless. (That was a joke by the way.)
• Lie to Me – Comes on Mondays on FOX at 9. This one sucked me in from day one, more so as a writer then a mere fan. Seeing the tell tale signs people give away for various emotions and don’t even know it is COOL!!!
• Past Life – Will premier on FOX in 2010. It’s about a team of people that help others whose past life is interfering with their present day life.
• Warehouse 13 –Tuesday’s at 9 on Syfy. Two Secret Service agents help obtain supernatural artifacts before they wreck havoc on human kind. Mirrors that trap souls, coins that allow you to see the future, and more. Some graphics are typical of Syfy shows, but it is still pretty good.
• Nip Tuck – Seasons are rare. It seems like years between them. But when then air…whoa damn! Talk about drama. 2 plastic surgeons & their less then dull life.
• In Plain Sight – Doesn’t start until 2010. Kick ass Marshal Mary Shannon & know it all Marshall Marshall protect & serve in the witness protections program
• Royal Pains – My ER replacement. It comes back in 2010 also. Hank is a concierge Dr for the rich and famous in the Hampton’s. His brother runs his finance & he has a cute sidekick, Divia, with a helluva Mercedes, fully stocked.
• So You Think You Can Dance – This is the ONLY reality show I watch. It airs on FOX on Wednesday and Thursday at 8. I always underestimated dance. Some of the routines have brought tears to my eyes and some have made me want to get up and shake my rear. LOL

I know, that is a lot to take in and it is really sad that I watch this much TV, but let’s just say thank goodness for my DVR. LMAO. A lot of these shows are inspirational and always make my wheels turn…the ever working brain of a writer.

Review - Misa Ramirez's Living the Vida Lola

2009-09-25T02:01:00.004-04:00

Living the Vida Lola
by Misa Ramirez
Chic Lit
ISBN 0312384025
Pages: 294
Publisher: St. Martin Publisher/Minotaur Books

www.MisaRamirez.com

RECYCLE

In honor of Latin History month and my mommy-and-me book club, which I am the head of, I read this debut book about a fiery Latina P.I. name Lola Cruz. Lola is a new detective in a colorful firm with a team of three other detectives and Rainbow Bright as a receptionist…you’ll have to read the book to get that one.

Lola found her calling at about the ripe age of about fourteen when spying on her brother and his friends making out with various girls. Allowing her to get her feet wet, her mysterious boss, Manny, gives her a case. She is supposed to find a missing woman who up and left her young son for no reason at all…or rather an unknown reason…or maybe kidnapped. This is what Lola is supposed to find out.

In the process of doing so, she finds a business card for a reporter whose name she recognizes. A reporter she has history with and wants to have a future with in one shape or form. The problem is the case is proving detrimental to her health in more ways then one.

For the most part, I think Ramirez did a pretty good job on this first installment. At times, she seemed to try to make Lola harder but it wasn’t always conveyed as such so she came off a little weak, fake, short…whatever the proper term is. I cannot seem to find the right word right now. The only other problem I had is that it was obvious, through the whole book, that this is going to be a part of a series. That said, certain parts that are obviously part of THIS installment seemed unfinished or rushed or even predictable. Oh, as a Latina myself, by blood, I LOVED the Spanglish used. It was something I could relate to and always made me smile, thinking of my own family. Nonetheless, I thoroughly enjoyed it and the array of characters, all of which I can’t wait to learn more about….some more then others…in the next installment, Hasta la Vista, Lola. This will be released either January or February 2010.

Happy Reading…

Article - The History of Tattoo's (Part 1)

2009-08-28T23:08:00.005-04:00

The word tattoo comes from the Tahitian “tatu”, which means “to mark something.” It also derived from the Polynesian word “tatao” meaning “to tap.”

Tattooing has been a form of expression since the dawn of time, arguable since about 12,000 BC. The purpose varies from culture to culture, as do the designs and techniques of execution. Some of those techniques and reason include, but are by no means limited to, the Borneo women imprinting symbols of their skill on their forearm. Filipinos used it as tribal markings of rank and accomplishments since pre-Hispanic colonization. The Japanese tattooed for spiritual purposes. Middle Eastern’s would cut themselves and rub ash in it during periods of mourning as a sign of respect to the dead. Greeks used tattooing for communication among spies. Roman’s marked criminals and slaves, and I think everyone know that carried on to later times as well. Asian’s and Polynesians use the permanent markings to show social status, rank and families. Mayan’s, Incas, and Aztecs used tattooing in their rituals. This list can go on and on and the reasons get more and more interesting.

For a short time, tattooing died in the West though it thrived in the East. In 1691, William Damphere brought a Polynesian named Prince Giolo, known as the Painted Prince, to London and put him on display for profit. It peaked a new interest in people. In the 1700’s Captain Cook did the same thing and a tattooing fad was reborn in London. Outside of being a social faux pas in most regions, tattooing did not spread faster due to its slow and painful procedure. Until 1891, each puncture of the skin was done my hand. Samuel O’Riely revolutionized the art form by patenting the first electric machine. He based the whole invention on Edison’s electric pen.

Like most things related to fashion, the American style artistry was born in the Big Apple. Chatham Square, then Coney Island, New York. Then, like most things new and not government regulated, it was shut down in 1961 due to health code violations. Shops in Time Square and Coney Island were shut down. They became illegal and developed a bad reputation. It was still legal in some states and the serious artist who lived and breathed for their art moved to those states and continued to try to thrive. In the late 1960’ a man by the name of Lyle Tuttle knew just whose ego to stroke and how to use the media to his advantage and brought back the form of expression. Magazines and TV started to go to him for information about this ancient art form.

All that said, I have decided to partake in this art form. For about the last seven years I have discovered a passion for writing. Seven years ago is also when I found and fell in love with my first tattoo design. Ironically, an open book was a part of that design. Seven years and I have FINALLY decided to bite the bullet. Ironically, this design is not my first tattoo. Two months ago, my husband and I had another miscarriage, our second one. I had to be hospitalized for this one and it was scary. We have a two-year-old son that the mere thought of loosing either of them brings me to tears. I value my family and know what I have everyday I wake up, but there is nothing like the threat of loosing them being thrown in your face. THAT is what my first tattoo represents. My husband is a Taurus and those that know me know I have always had a love affair with the fae. So I got a picture of a minotaur and a fairy embracing. My husband and I.

This is a historic picture of my back.

Review - Stephenie Meyer's New Moon

2009-08-06T13:45:00.002-04:00

New Moon
by Stephanie Meyer
Young Adult (my opinion is age 16 & up)
ISBN 0316024961
Pages: 608
Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers
www.StephenieMeyer.com

RECYCLE

Book Blurb: modified from Children’s Literature Review, August 2006 Bella remains incredibly enamored with her vampire boyfriend, Edward Cullen, and continually hints at her desire to become a fellow nosferatu. A disastrous birthday celebration leads to the Cullen’s' exodus from Forks, leaving behind a devastated Bella. Morose and depressed, she discovers that reckless activities elicit auditory hallucinations of Edward chastising her to stay safe. Bella's new friend, Jacob Black, helps bring her out of her melancholia. As their friendship begins to shift into something deeper, Jacob himself undergoes an unexpected metamorphosis. Misunderstanding and miscommunication lead to Bella's flight from Forks and into the clutches of the Volturi, an influential vampire family in Italy, [and Edwards rescue].

My Review and Thoughts:
This, to me, was in essence, Jacob’s book and by far my favorite. I think I devoured this book in like three or four days and as a stay at home mom of a 2 year old who runs her husbands business by day and writes her own books by night, that says a lot for a book of this size. LOVED IT!!! I even felt myself reluctantly feeling sorry for Bella in this book, briefly, that is until the end…but I digress.

Edward is in the first three chapters, I think, and then, THANK GOODNESS, he’s gone…can you tell I am NOT an Edward fan. Sorry to all you Edward people out there, but vampires just don’t glitter. **rolling eyes**

To help pick up the pieces of a broken heart, **again, rolling eyes**, Bella turns to cute and lovable, six foot five (by the end), hunky Jacob. Did I say I was a Jacob fan? Is that YA appropriate? Oh well, no one said these reviews were going to be tween friendly.

Back to the story. Bella goes off on a suicide mission, figuratively speaking, and Jacob is the one to pull her back from the edge of demise. Every time she does something dangerous, read that stupid since the girl is accident prone, she hears Edwards voice in her head. She covets the dulcet tone of Edwards ethereal …yadda, yadda, yadda.

Meanwhile, Jacob starts to come into his own. Growing in muscle, height, and a yummy physique that anyone but Bella would be all over. No, she covets cold flesh and rainy days. Okay, I confess for anyone to feel this strongly about a book they must be a die-hard fan or at a minimum a mere fan. Maybe this is why Eclipse is yelling at me to pick it up. Back to the nitty gritty…Jacob finally experiences his first shift, yes, he is a werewolf. “Who let the dawgs out? Woof, woof, woof, woof!” I know, that was kinda corny, but I couldn’t resist.

The danger in this book is not Jacob eating Bella, as fun as that would be to watch, no, no, no, she unfortunately lives to swoon over Edward even more. The danger is Veronica, I think that’s her name, something like that. James’s girlfriend. She is hell bent on avenging her boyfriend and what better way to do that then to kill Bella. After all, it was Edward that killed James, right?

Anyway, back to Jacob. *smiles* Now a wolf, he is all grown and hunky and vibrates with strong emotions. Again, is that all over? Ha. Ha. Ha. Did everything grow? Oh, yeah, YA. Sorry. I meant did his ears grow…yeah, that’s it. Jacob and his pack are charged with protecting Bella and her father while tracking Victoria.

One bored day, Bella decides to go cliff diving, no really. For “fun.” Alice sees this in one of her visions, tells Edward, who thinks Bella is dead and goes off on a suicide mission. Pity it didn’t work. Why? Bella comes to save the day and the Cullen’s are back, yippie. Did I mention that I am not an Edward fan? I called a very good friend, pleading for her to tell Bella leaves Edward and goes to Jacob. She told me, but I’m not telling you, you have to either read the books or wait for my other reviews.

All joking and Edward bashing aside, this was a good book. It was none stop from beginning to end, especially once Edward was out of the picture for a while. Sorry, couldn’t resist. Awesome story development and Myers first person POV was much better executed here to me then in Twilight. Can’t wait to see what Eclipse has to offer.

Happy Reading…

Article - Your Passion

2009-07-27T22:57:00.004-04:00

I’ve recently had a great revelation that I already knew but did not practice. It’s kinda like getting a gut feeling about something but not following it then regretting it later. You should always trust your instincts. Should they lead you down the “wrong” path, well then, it was meant to be and that path may lead you down a path to benefit you at a later date and time.

All that stuffiness to say I should have never published my first publication. LOL I wrote and completed my first manuscript to be a part of an anthology that fell through. The publisher still wanted my short so I let them have it. I built a great relationship with the owner and moved on to the next project at hand. They regretfully closed their doors and my manuscript was homeless. So what did I do, I read over it of course. Wow?!?!

Though it wasn't too bad, after all it held #1 for quite some time and I still have people tell me they thoroughly enjoyed it, but it was obviously rushed and not my genre of choice. Yet, I cleaned it up as much as possible and started sending it out again. One publisher said it had events in it too close to incest, another said they did not like the f/f interaction. Two said that it seemed incomplete and had excessive erotic activities that lead no where…nicely put that is. Obviously, the genre was erotic and obviously, that is not my genre of choice. I have pulled the manuscript and am looking at it with new eyes, my eyes. It is going a totally different way then it’s original path and I am loving it.

I say this to say, ALWAYS be true to who you are and what your passion is, especially if you're a writer. My genre is Urban Fantasy and/or paranormal romance. You know, things that go bump in the night in my time, my world...and usually your world too. **wink wink**

As a reader, I read what excites me and what makes me laugh, cry, get mad, and even yell at the pages of a book even it I am on the subway or the privacy of my livingroom. How can I expect to elicit such emotions from others if I am not getting it as I put pen to paper…or fingers to keys? It is amazing the kind of stories you can tell if you but want to tell them from your heart AND mind.

Review - Stephenie Meyer's Twilight

2009-07-19T22:27:00.005-04:00

Okay, so I know I am late, way late, though you should have known it was going to happen eventually. LOL I do however have my next post in the works, so you should get that one on Wednesday as promised. Here is my first review.

Twilight
by Stephanie Meyer
Young Adult (my opinion is age 16 & up)
ISBN 0316015849
Pages: 544
Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers
www.StephenieMeyer.com

RECYCLE

Book Blurb: From Hard Cover Edition
Bella Swan’s move to Forks, a small, perpetually rainy town in Washington, could have been the most boring move she ever made. But once she meets the mysterious and alluring Edward Cullen, Bella’s life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn. Up until now, Edward has managed to keep his vampire identity a secret in the small community he lives in, but now nobody is safe, especially Bella, the person Edward holds most dear.

My Review and Thoughts:
I read this back in February after much reluctance. I’m not really a young adult reader, but so many people were reading it I figured it couldn’t be all that bad…right? I will admit that I have read and LOVED some YA books in the past, Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause and Eccentric Circles by Rebecca Lickliss (which is out of print), but this one I just liked. So, heads up, with all you Twilight Saga fans out there, young and old, this review may or may not go over well, but as promised, I will always be honest.

This book was simply cute. Yes, just cute. This is in essence, Edward’s book. An introduction of all, but mostly about Edward and who he is and the “development” of him and Bella’s “relationship.” Trust, I will hit on my little quotes there.

At 17, Bella’s age and the age portrayed by the Cullen teens, I wasn’t, thankfully, quite as blind and gun hoe as Bella, but I was there once in my life. It’s a love at first sight kinda book which always walks a thin line with being cheesy to me. This was honestly the only thing I didn’t like about this book. Bella was ready to give up her life to a 100 plus year old boy she barely knew and to hell with everyone else. If you could see me, you would see me rolling my eyes and gagging. THIS is the reason I would not let my teen under 16 read it and even then it would depend on how mature said teen is.

Moving on. Outside of that, I think Stephanie Meyer did an AWESOME job on the development of the Cullen’s. Carlisle’s background and how he started his coven, which is different then other covens, which you learn about later. How he didn’t want to be alone and found Esme, though I don’t recall her story too much. Huh? Though you don’t get much back-story on Rosalie and Emmett, other then Rosalie not really wanting to be a vampire, I like the two of them still and how they are a matched pair to be married. I think they balance each other well. You don’t get much of anything on Jasper and when I originally sat down to write this review, I couldn’t even remember his name. I do think it an interesting twist that he seems so timid and withdrawn yet he is the “calmer” of the family. The one who takes away anxiety and stress, no matter how big or small…or so it seemed. Now, Alice, I liked a lot and I think they nailed her perfectly in the movie. Her story was very cool, though they left all the good stuff on it out in the movie. In the book, James told Alice’s story as the one that got away…and I will leave it at that. *wink wink* The Cullen’s really did form a real tight knit family and for the “common” vampire, that was kinda cool—though I could DEFINITELY live WITHOUT the glitter. Again, rolling my eyes.

The relationship between Bella and Edward develop nicely—outside her being in love from the time he said hello. They got to know each other and spent time with one another, the ways teens and any relationship really should be developed. That was cute. Thankfully, it wasn’t all perfect. This is when we meet James and the red-eyed coven. This was the monkey wrench this mushy love story needed.

They enter innocently and then James, a tracker, gets wind of the human pet (pet is my term, I think she was called lunch or food in the book), Bella, and all hell breaks loose. James is on a mission to have the Cullen’s newest family “member” (no she is not turned into a vamp) and will not stop until he does, which does not end well for him. Lets just say 7 against 2 ain’t a fair fight, though 1 of the 2 does live to see another day, read that another book.

Over all I enjoyed it and would recommend it to others though caution parents with younger impressionable children…especially girls…to read it themselves first and make that call. If it is a toss between the book and the movie, though the movie was good, I would vote for the book, there is more detail and a better story.

Happy Reading…

Review - How It Works

2009-07-09T01:14:00.002-04:00

Okay, so it’s Wednesday (this was written Wednesday anyway) and according to my calendar, I’m supposed to be posting today. It’s been a hell of a day, hence me posting so late, but I’m posting nonetheless and that’s what counts. It’s cause I love you and this is a new challenge that I can’t fail at. I am on a fall off the horse; get right back on kick at the moment, maybe I’ll tell you about it one day.

But not today…

So, I think I am going to start my book reviews with this post. Today, I’ll start by telling you a little about the process and then in a separate post, maybe tomorrow, I’ll post my first review.

First and foremost, ALL of my reviews will contain spoilers in one shape or form. I will not be able to do a review justice without doing so, at least not yet. I’m not specially trained nor did I read some book to tell me how to review and what to say. I am quite simply an avid reader who has no qualms about sharing my thoughts about a book with others. Just like anything else about me, you take it or leave it. Simple as that. XOXO

No author, unless specifically stated, has asked me to review his or her particular book. That said, if you’re an author and your DO want me to review your book, feel free to email me and ask. I do NOT charge to do this, of course, however if I do not already have your book in my collection of 300+ books, you will have to provide it. I’m an avid reader, as stated, so a chance at a free book I’m all over. I’ll review shorts, novella’s, full length, epubs or print. Makes no difference to me. It DOES need to be published though. If I’m reviewing something you are going to try and get published and you want me to review it as an outside set of eyes, I am going to charge you for that. Time is money and I cannot just give ALL my time away all willy nilly.

In my reviews, I will NEVER bash a book or an author. As an aspiring author myself, I’d never want anyone to do this to me, so I would never do it to someone else. However, I WILL always be honest. The only reason I will not post a review is if I couldn’t make it through a book for whatever reason. Then, I’ll email the author with my thoughts. I won’t tell people what I am reading, if it is a request, so that if I did not enjoy it and people don’t see the review they know it was bad…or assume it was bad.

In addition to the review, I will post a picture of the book (if I can get one), the books blurb, all publication information, my rating system (which I’ll explain in a sec) and a link to the authors site (and no this isn’t an attempt at a link exchange, though it’d be nice), if they have one. If you (the author) like, I will also post my review at places like Amazon, Borders, Barnes & Noble, etc. You’ll (the reader) know when I REALLY like an author, if I host an interview of them, personally. Notice, I said when I like an author, not just their book(s). We as writers can be amazing people. Yes, writing and publishing a book is quite amazing enough, but we do so much more then most would think. Writing is not instant gratification, in the financial sense, as some would think.

There is no rhyme or reason to the way I review, as I said, I did not take some class on this, I am just an honest avid reader. Who thinks I should find an alternate word for avid? How about enthusiastic, passionate, eager, ardent, fervent, or keen. LOL I digress.

If there is something about the book I don’t like, I will say so. If there is something I don’t understand, I will say so. Maybe someone will even explain it to me. If there is something I really like, I will say so and in all instances I will try and say why I felt the way I felt. If I finished a book and did not like it, I will send the review to the author and let them choose if they want me to post the review. If they choose not to have it posted, then I will still post the book and simply whether or not I liked it.

That said, I do not have a rating system of one, two or three stars or kisses or anything creative as that. My ratings are very simple and consist of a re-read or recycle. I may add the occasional good, bad or ugly behind it, but not always.
***Re-read is exactly what it says. It means it will remain on my personal shelves to be read, re-read and re-read as many times as I like until the spines are frayed and the book is quite literally falling apart to where I should really just get a new copy.
***Recycle is also just that. I will NEVER throw a book away though I’ve been known to tear some apart and make art out of it with decoupage or tea staining or to decorate a journal, but never trash. I’ll trade it on Swaptree.com or resale it on Amazon or even take it to the library, but never trash.

I think all this covers my reviews, if not, I think it is sufficient nonetheless. LOL Hope my reviews will be helpful to someone.

Until next time…

Third Times A Charm...Right

2009-07-01T01:04:00.001-04:00

We all start somewhere…

You never know where a person’s from or where they get their start. One should never judge for those reasons alone. You never know one until they allow you to know them.

I was born in New York, raised in North Carolina and reside in Virginia. I am an only child of a young beautiful mother who worked damn hard to get where she is today. We won’t even talk about my father. I think I’ve lived a decent life, not really wanting much of anything but experiencing a lot. Whether those experiences were a friend, a loved one, or mine I’ve lived through them all the same. Rape, graduations, abusive relationships, births, miscarriages, racism, being ostracized by family due to ignorance, marriage, drug addiction and many, many more of life’s curve balls. Either I’ve helped someone get through these trials or someone helped me. The point is, you never know where or what someone has come through to get where they are today.

I have gone to nursing school and cosmetology. I no longer hold any of those certifications, but I bet most would not have guessed I did them at all. Now I am a happy homemaker and a mother, a business owner and a writer. This blog is your peek into my world. What kinds of things run through my head. What I’m working on. What I’ve read and what I think about it. Some of the crafts I dabble in and some of my favorite recipes. Occasionally, I will allow the nerd in me to peek out and offer a helpful article of some sort that will help educate you. You’ll learn more about me and my world.

You may ask how this is going to be different from my other two attempts. The difference is that I’m not just jumping in it this time because it is the thing to do or because everyone else has one. I’ve taken about two months to come up with content. I’ve actually put it on my calendar like it is an appointment. Like it is something important that needs to be fulfilled and not put on the back burner. Besides being a good mother and a loving wife, I am going to be a damn good writer and that involves me building a fan base and staying connected with my community. What better way then to talk you head off with my semi boring life…or would that be burn your eyes since you read this and not actually hear my dulcet voice…

See, I’m good at rambling and I like this “1st” posting better then the other two. Follow me and see if I can at least entertain you a little…