It's Follow Friday!

It's Follow Friday!

Welcome!!

Today's Follow Friday question is:

Q. Let's step away from books for a second and get personal. What T-Shirt slogan best describes you? 

I know the question said, "Let's get away from books for a second", but this really  sums me up.  I have a shirt with the same slogan on it (I couldn't find a picture of it), so this really is me :)

Hope you all have a great weekend!!

PS--Today could be the day I pass 100 followers :)

 

 

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine, highlighting the upcoming releases being eagerly awaited by all of us bibliophiles.

This week's Waiting on Wednesday title is:

 

  

Scheduled for a November 1, 2011 release, this will be the twelfth novel in The Others series.  Unfortunately, I can not find any synopsis of it anywhere!  However, having enjoyed the other novels in the series, I look forward to reading her latest when it is released.  

Here is how McMillan Publishing describes The Others series:

The others are supernatural beings--werewolves, shapeshifters, vampires and witches. In this sensual series of paranormal romance and contemporary fantasy, things get hot when humans meet Others. 

 

If you're at all interested, Wolf at the Door (The Others, Book 1) is the first novel in the series :)

It's Follow Friday!!

It's Follow Friday!!

Today's Follow Friday question is:

Q. Name 3 authors that you would love to sit down and spend an hour or a meal with just talking about either their books or get advice on writing from?

First: J. D. Salinger.  I love his works--his insight into the human condition was remarkable.  I'd like to know why he stopped writing and became a recluse as well.  The man was brilliant, absolutely brilliant.

Second:  Jane Austen.  Another all time favorite.  I'd love to know what it was like for her to be an author during a time when women authors weren't prevalent.  I'd also love to know her inspiration for Mr. Darcy.

Third:  Neil Gaiman.  He wrote Stardust, my all time favorite book.  And he co-authored Good Omens:  The Nice and Accurate Prophesies of Agnes Nutter, Witch, another of my top 10 favorites.  Although the majority of his works don't resemble these two books, I could spend days discussing just these two with him.  Also, he's kind of like a Rock Star Author to me and meeting him would probably blow my mind :)

Lover Awakened by J.R. Ward

Lover Awakened (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 3) is the third in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series.  I have to admit that I just recently came upon this series and I haven't been able to put it down.  However, as much as I enjoyed the first two books:  Dark Lover (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 1) and Lover Eternal (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 2), I really loved this third book. 

For anyone who hasn't read the series, here's the Goodreads synopsis for the first book of the series, Dark Lover (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 1):

In the shadows of the night in Caldwell, New York, there's a deadly turf war going on between vampires and their slayers. There exists a secret band of brothers like no other-six vampire warriors, defenders of their race. Yet none of them relishes killing more than Wrath, the leader of The Black Dagger Brotherhood.

The only purebred vampire left on earth, Wrath has a score to settle with the slayers who murdered his parents centuries ago. But, when one of his most trusted fighters is killed-leaving his half-breed daughter unaware of his existence or her fate-Wrath must usher her into the world of the undead-a world of sensuality beyond her wildest dreams.

Now, go and read Dark Lover (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 1) :)

Lover Awakened (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 3) focuses on Zsadist, the hardest and most damaged member of the Black Dagger Brotherhood and credit to J.R. Ward for tackling him so early in the series.  I honestly expected to read about Zsadist much later in the series because of his dark nature and background.  However, I was extremely pleased that he came into the spotlight so early because his character intrigued me from the very first novel. 

Zsadist's journey actually begins in Lover Eternal (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 2) when he meets Bella and she is later kidnapped by Lessers.  As Lover Awakened (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 3) begins, Bella is still missing and Zsadist is losing his mind trying to find her.  As the story progresses, Zsadist must face each of his demons in order to move forward with his life.  His story is amazingly sad and there are times when you just want to scream for him, but it's all worth it in the end.  I have to say that there were some parts of the story that I didn't enjoy at all--I won't mention what happened for anyone who hasn't read the book yet--but I do hope that those parts will serve some purpose as my reading of the series progresses.  As of right now, there are nine books in the series and I plan to start Lover Revealed (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 4) right away. 

WOW: Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine, highlighting the upcoming releases being eagerly awaited by all of us bibliophiles.

This week's Waiting on Wednesday title is:

I am a huge fan of the Otherworld series and I can not wait for this, the next installment!  If you aren't familiar with the Otherworld series by Kelley Armstrong, stop now and go read Bitten (Women of the Otherworld, Book 1) and you'll have found the next series you're going to read.  Here's the Goodreads synopsis:

Savannah Levine is in terrible danger, and for once she’s powerless to help herself. At the conclusion of Waking the Witch, Savannah swore that she would give up her powers if it would help a young girl. Little did she know that someone would take her up on that promise.

And now, witch hunting assassins, necromancers, half-demons, and rogue witches all seem to be after her. The threat is not just for Savannah; every member of the Otherworld might be at risk. While most her fellow supernaturals are circling the wagons at a gathering of the council in Miami, Savannah is caught on the road, isolated from those who can protect her and unable to use her vast spell casting talent, the thing she counts on most. In a story that will change the shape of the Otherworld forever, Spell Bound gathers Elena, Clay, Paige, Lucas, Jamie, Hope, and others, who soon learn that the greatest threat to supernaturals just may come from within.

I wouldn't recommend just picking this book up and trying to read it without having read the previous books in the series, especially since this book is closely linked to the previous book, Waking the Witch (Women of the Otherworld, Book 11).  

I don't have too much longer to wait:  Spell Bound (Otherworld, Book 12) is scheduled for release on July 26th :)  I pre-ordered mine through www.canadapost.ca/shopper/book-store/pc/1.

The Front Porch Prophet by Raymond L. Atkins

 

I love good Southern literature.  It draws you in, makes you laugh and cry, and tells a great story.  The Front Porch Prophet is good Southern literature.  It weaves a heart-warming and heart-wrenching story about two men, A.J. and Eugene, best friends since Kindergarten.  They have led incredibly different lives and found themselves estranged when tragedy brings them back together.  The story of their friendship, their lives and the lives of those around them is told with humor and compassion.  Thank you Barnes & Noble for offering this as a Free Friday selection--I absolutely loved this book.

A.J. is a good guy-- he loves his wife and children, has a good relationship with his father and a good job at the mill.  He's got a few shadows in his past, but he's really as good as they come.  His best friend, Eugene, chose another path.  He's divorced and basically estranged from his wife and children.  He pays his support late as a matter of principle.  He runs an illegal boot legging operation and beer joint, but he's a good and loyal friend.  When Eugene asks A.J. to visit him after not speaking to each other for three years, A.J. comes but has no idea how his world is about to be changed.

The story is compelling and well-written with likable and entertaining characters.  I really enjoyed the dialogue and interaction between the various characters.  I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good story.

Follow Friday!!

It's Follow Friday!!

Today's Follow Friday question is:

Q. ACK! Your favorite book/movie character (example Hermione Granger played by the Emma chick) just walked into the room! Who is it and what would be your first reaction? You get extra points if you include visual stimulation.

 

For me, this is a two-fold answer with the same actor and, basically, the same character.  Colin Firth as both Mr. Darcy from the BBC production of Pride and Prejudice and as Mark Darcy from the Bridget Jones' movie.  Granted, Mark Darcy isn't one of my favorite literary characters, but the juxtaposition of my favorite Mr. Darcy actually playing Mr. Darcy twice is just too good to pass up :)  I don't know how I'd react except to probably stand there and stare....