Author: Ambrosia

Booking Through Thursday 1/2/14

- Ambrosia Leave a comment


This one is Hosted at the Booking through Thursday Blog.

Although–it’s always good to look back so you know where you’ve been, so the first question for the year is an oldie but a goodie:

“What were your favorite books last year?”

A good one and one that I avoided in all my wrap up posts because there were a lot that I liked. So here we go I can no longer avoid it, lol.

Lover Enshrined by J.R Ward

Circus of the Damned by Laurell K Hamilton

Pasha my Story by Pasha Kovalev

Lily of the Nile and Song of the Niles by Stephanie Dray

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Book Review: Dancer (Terran Times) by Viola Grace

- Ambrosia Leave a comment

Seduced into becoming host to an ancient goddess, will Del survive the attentions of the god of lust?

Del is taking erotic dance classes at the Companion Centre when she locks eyes with a huge, burly alien with a vivid green gaze. He has come to secure a Companion to act as a permanent host to a goddess, but when he hears Del’s bright laughter, he changes his target from Companion to dancer.

Kurat has been raised as host to two gods. Changes in his body have made it difficult for him to take a casual lover, only a mate will do. With Del’s bright soul welcoming his, he knows the moment he meets her that she will be the one the goddesses will accept.

With the god of lust and the god of war agreeing to his choice, Kurat’s entire being is in agreement. The dancer will be theirs.

First book of the year for me and this one was just alright, I almost put it down from boredom in the first pages but it managed to keep my attention for a fair amount of time. I admit I have not read the first book in the series, and that may have something to do with it. So the first thing I would say that Dancer is not a stand alone at all.

I am personally used to my Sci-fi not having casual references and wording that fit into a modern or earth society and this one did so that set me off it a little bit and just kind of made me lose the feel for it. Other than that the flow was pretty decent and the writing itself was enjoyable enough. As someone who dances I did like the different descriptions of dances and some of the way to explain why Del chose such a broad course load, but we did not stay with that to long once Kurat entered the picture.

Overall this was an okay one for me, not fantastic but not terrible, I think if you have read the first book in the series you will be a bit more attached then I was to the world and what is going on with it.

My Gemstone Rating:

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WWW Wednesday 1/1/14

- Ambrosia 4 Comments

This is another one hosted over at Should be Reading

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What are you reading next?

A Very Happy New Year to everyone I hope it is going to be a great one for everyone’s reading.

What did I just finish reading?

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Life has been good for Becky Bloomwood: She’s become the best personal shopper at Barneys, she and her successful entrepreneurial boyfriend, Luke, are living happily in Manhattan’s West Village, and her new next-door neighbor is a fashion designer! But with her best friend, Suze, engaged, how can Becky fail to notice that her own ring finger is bare? Not that she’s been thinking of marriage (or diamonds) or anything . . . Then Luke proposes! Bridal registries dance in Becky’s head. Problem is, two other people are planning her wedding: Becky’s overjoyed mother has been waiting forever to host a backyard wedding, with the bride resplendent in Mum’s frilly old gown. While Luke’s high-society mother is insisting on a glamorous, all-expenses-paid affair at the Plaza. Both weddings for the same day. And Becky can’t seem to turn down either one. Can everyone’s favorite shopaholic tie the knot before everything unravels?

What am I currently reading?

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Seduced into becoming host to an ancient goddess, will Del survive the attentions of the god of lust?

Del is taking erotic dance classes at the Companion Centre when she locks eyes with a huge, burly alien with a vivid green gaze. He has come to secure a Companion to act as a permanent host to a goddess, but when he hears Del’s bright laughter, he changes his target from Companion to dancer.

Kurat has been raised as host to two gods. Changes in his body have made it difficult for him to take a casual lover, only a mate will do. With Del’s bright soul welcoming his, he knows the moment he meets her that she will be the one the goddesses will accept.

With the god of lust and the god of war agreeing to his choice, Kurat’s entire being is in agreement. The dancer will be theirs.

 

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Book two of the Éire’s Viking Trilogy.

Beginning ten years after the end of Éire’s Captive Moon, this is the story of how Agnarr Halvardson returns to Éire with the intention of settling there, marrying, and siring sons.

It is also the story of Aislinn, who was a child in Ragor when the Northmen raided eleven summers prior but is now a working physician in her own right. She spent a year in Bangor Monastery and became a Christian before Cowan and Charis returned to take the children to Cowan’s village in the kingdom of Dál Fiatach and returns there a decade later to finish learning all she can from the monks about their healing practices.

When Cowan brings her a patient, injured and temporarily unable to speak, she can’t help but find the strong, tall man attractive, even if such feelings unsettle her.

Although sparks fly immediately, Agnarr’s idea of wedding Aislinn—the physician who heals him when he is injured—is hampered by many factors, including language and cultural differences. There is also the matter that he is the man who kidnapped and enslaved Charis years before.

 

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Posted in WWW

Book Review: Shopaholic Ties the Knot (Shopaholic #3) by Sophie Kinsella

- Ambrosia Leave a comment

Life has been good for Becky Bloomwood: She’s become the best personal shopper at Barneys, she and her successful entrepreneurial boyfriend, Luke, are living happily in Manhattan’s West Village, and her new next-door neighbor is a fashion designer! But with her best friend, Suze, engaged, how can Becky fail to notice that her own ring finger is bare? Not that she’s been thinking of marriage (or diamonds) or anything . . . Then Luke proposes! Bridal registries dance in Becky’s head. Problem is, two other people are planning her wedding: Becky’s overjoyed mother has been waiting forever to host a backyard wedding, with the bride resplendent in Mum’s frilly old gown. While Luke’s high-society mother is insisting on a glamorous, all-expenses-paid affair at the Plaza. Both weddings for the same day. And Becky can’t seem to turn down either one. Can everyone’s favorite shopaholic tie the knot before everything unravels

This is my last read for 2013 and it was not a bad one, not a fantastic one but not a bad one. Once again we jump into the world of Becky Bloomwood and personally sometimes I wonder how smart the people around her really are to not notice some of the stuff that is going on with her and everything else, or if maybe Becky really just is THAT good at keeping things hidden. At any rate it was a fun and light hearted read as you would expect it to be with Becky and Luke going to get married, but Becky having to choose between two weddings and typical Becky fashion she can’t until it’s to late.

This is not an earth shattering book but it is not meant to be so it is supposed to be fun and light and fast to read I found that it was all of those things for me. I am glad that Luke finally seemed to learn the truth about his Mom and that Becky did in the end (which took a long time) seem to grow up a little bit. I do think she will of course get herself into a similar situation again (like she does) but I was glad to see her get some maturity in this one. In the end she did make everyone happy and I liked that.

My Gemstone Rating:

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2013 Challenge wrap up

- Ambrosia Leave a comment

So here is my final wrap up for the 2013 challenges, and how they shook out. Overall I have no complaints because I completed all of my challenges. Including reading a total of 109 books this year. Not a bad year at all if you ask me. Bring on 2014!

2013 Historical Fiction Challenge Hosted by Historical Tapestry
I have chosen to do the Ancient History Level which is 25+ historical Fiction Novels for the year.
1. The Forgotten Queen by D.L Bogdan
2. A Rose for the Crown by Anne Easter Smith
3. Mistress for the Crown by Isolde Martyn
4. The Season by Sarah MacLean
5. The Notorious Lady Anne by Sharon Cullen
6. The Icecutter’s Daughter by Tracie Peterson
7. The Birth of Venus by Sarah Dunant
8. Blood Sisters by Sarah Gristwood
9. Daughter of York by Anne Easter Smith
10.The House of Special Purpose by John Boyne
11.The Borgias by G.J. Meyer
12.Bound to Be a Bride by Megan Mulry
13. Written on Silk by Linda Lee Chaikin
14. A Secret love by Stephanie Laurens
15.Widow of Gettysburg by: Jocelyn Green
16.One more kiss by Mary S. Blayney
17.Lily of the Nile by Stephanie Dray
18.Figures in Silk by Vanora Bennett
19.The Heiress of Winterwood by Sarah E. Ladd
20.The Seduction of Emily by Rachel Brimble
21.Queen of Kings by Maria Dahvana Headley
22.Widow of Gettysburg by: Jocelyn Green
23.Emperor The Gates of Rome by Conn Iggulden
24.The Girl from Junchow by Kate Furnivall
25.Lover be Mine by Nicole Jordan
26.Revenge of the Rose by Nicole Galland
27.Mistress Shakespeare by Karen Harper
28.Between Two Queens by Kate Emerson
29. The Secret Bride (In The Court of Henry VIII #1) by Diane Haeger
30.The Quarryman’s Bride (Land of Shining Water #2) by Tracie Peterson
31.Trouble in Store by Carol Cox
32.Stealing the Preacher by Karen Witemeyer
33.The Lost Letters Of Aquitaine (Alais Capet #1) by Judith Koll Healey
34.Scandalous Lord, Rebellious Miss by Deb Marlowe
35.Song of the Nile by Stephanie Dray
36.The White Queen by Phillipa Gregory
37.Confessions of an Ugly Step Sister by Gregory Maguire
38.The Miners Lady by Tracie Peterson
39.Winter Solstice Winter by E.J Squires
40.A Lady of Secret Devotion (Ladies of Liberty #3) by Tracie Peterson
41.  Lightborn (Darkborn #2) by Alison Sinclair

Challenge complete

2013 Immortal Challenge hosted by Under the Covers
I am going to take part in two categories and I may update it as the year goes on. I have some werewolf books on the Kindle just can not break my Vampire love to read them yet. May change in 2013 though! ** Feb Update I have added a new category thanks to reading Witches of East end.
Category 1: Vampires I have selected to read at least 5 Vampire books in 2013

1.Burned by P.C & Kristin Cast
2.The Vampire Academy by Rachelle Mead
3.Queen of Kings by Maria Dahvana Headley
4.Guilty Pleasures by Laurell K. Hamilton
5. Real Vampires Don’t Sparkle by Amy Fecteau
6. Frostbite (Vampire Academy #2) by Richelle Mead
7.The Laughing Corpse (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter #2).
8.The Lunatic Cafe (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, #4) by Laurell K. Hamilton
9.Bloody Bones (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter #5) by Laurell K. Hamilton
10.Lover Enshrined (Black Dagger Brotherhood #6) by J.R. Ward
11.Awakened (House of Night #8) by P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast
12.Misguided Angel (Blue Bloods #5) by Melissa de la Cruz
13.The Killing Dance (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter #6) by Laurell K. Hamilton
14.Bloody Valentine (Blue Bloods #5.5) by Melissa de la Cruz
15.Destined (House of Night #9) by P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast
16.Lost in Time (Blue Bloods #6) by Melissa de la Cruz
17.Burnt Offerings (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter #7) by Laurell K. Hamilton
18. Lightborn (Darkborn #2) by Alison Sinclair
19.Obsidian Butterfly (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter #9) by Laurell K. Hamilton
20.  Gates of Paradise (Blue Bloods #7) by Melissa de la Cruz
21. Shadowborn (Darkborn #3) by Alison Sinclair
22. Revealed (House of Night #11) by P.C. Cast, Kristin Cast
23. Hidden (House of Night #10) by P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast
24. Blue Moon (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter #8) by Laurell K. Hamilton
25.Vampire Kisses (Vampire Kisses #1) by Ellen Schreiber

Category 2: Angels and Demons I have selected to read at least 3 Angel & Demon books in 2013
1.Covet by J.R. Ward
2.Blood Flows Deep in the Empire by N. Isabelle Blanco
3.Aura by Rebecca Lynn Talley
4.Girls and Monsters by Anne Michaud
5.Halo by Alexandra Adornetto

Category 3: Fae and Magic At Least 3 of these as well
1.Witches of East End by Melissa De la Cruz
2.Spellbinding by Maya Gold
3.Lily of the Nile by Stephanie Dray
4.The Rose Throne by Mette Ivie Harrison
5.Faerie Wars (The Faerie Wars Chronicles #1) by Herbie Brennan
6.The Goddess Chronicle (Canongate Myths #13)
7.Winter Solstice Winter by E.J Squires
8.Serpent’s Kiss (The Beauchamp Family, #2) by Melissa de la Cruz
9.Winds of Salem (The Beauchamp Family #3) by Melissa de la Cruz

Challenge Complete

2013 What an Animal Challenge Hosted by Socrates Book Reviews
The rules are to read at least 6 books that include an animal. The animal can be of any kind including (from the challenge page): dog, cat, monkey, wolf, horse…dragon, mermaid, centaur, vampire, werewolf…you get the idea…


1.Noor by Milton C. Toby
2.The Icecutter’s Daughter by Tracie Peterson
3. Riding Lessons by Sara Gruen
4.Queen of Kings by Maria Dahvana Headley
5.Girls and Monsters by Anne Michaud
6. Blood and Roses by A.K. Alexander
7. Yip/Tuck (Pampered Pets Mystery #4) by Sparkle Abbey
8.Dragonwich
9. The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

Challenge complete

2013 Ebook Challenge hosted by Workaday Reads
I am honestly trying hard to get more in touch with my Kindle that I got as a gift. I am..so I am doing an EBook Challenge. There are several levels and I have chosen the CD level to read 10 Ebooks.
6/18/13 Update: Alright I am putting the level of this swap up for the year. I am taking on the Memory Stick level having already gone past the DVD level. The Memory stick level is 50 e-books.
1. The Forgotten Queen by D.L Bogdan
2. Front page Fatality by Lyndee Walker
3.Mistress for the Crown by Isolde Martyn
4.The Notorious Lady Anne by Sharon Cullen
5.Blood Flows Deep in the Empire by N. Isabelle Blanco
6.Buyer Beware by Diane Vallere
7.The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back by Sariah Wilson
8.The Icecutter’s Daughter by Tracie Peterson
9.Spin the Plate by Donna Anastasi
10.Blood Sisters by Sarah Gristwood
11.Blood Flows Deep in the Empire by N. Isabelle Blanco
12.The Pleasure Project by Cassie Ryan, Jenna McCormick
13.Working with Bitches by Meredith Fuller
14.Spellbinding by Maya Gold
15.Aura by Rebecca Lynn Talley
16.Bound to Be a Bride by Megan Mulry
17.The Borgias by G.J. Meyer
18.The House of Special Purpose by John Boyne
19.Widow of Gettysburg by: Jocelyn Green
20.One more kiss by Mary S. Blayney
21.Girls and Monsters by Anne Michaud
22.Table for Seven by Whitney Gaskell
23.Replacing Gentry by Julie N. Ford
24.Silver Sphere by Michael Dadich
25.The Heiress of Winterwood by Sarah E. Ladd
26.The Seduction of Emily by Rachel Brimble
27. One more kiss by Mary S. Blayney
28.Widow of Gettysburg by: Jocelyn Green
29. Letters to Katie by Kathleen Fuller
30. The Lost Husband: A Novel by Katherine Center
31. The Rose Throne by Mette Ivie Harrison
32.Lover be Mine by Nicole Jordan
33.The Quarryman’s Bride (Land of Shining Water #2) by Tracie Peterson
34.Trouble in Store by Carol Cox
35.Stealing the Preacher by Karen Witemeyer
36.The Book of Secrets by Elizabeth Joy Arnold
37.Confessions of a Chalet Girl by Lorraine Wilson
38.Lacey’s House by Joanne Graham
39.Real Vampires Don’t Sparkle by Amy Fecteau
40.The Goddess Chronicle (Canongate Myths #13)
41. Dragonwich
42. Yip/Tuck (Pampered Pets Mystery #4) by Sparkle Abbey
43. Blood and Roses by A.K. Alexander
44. My Own Mr. Darcy by Karey White
45. The Miners Lady by Tracie Peterson
46. Winter Solstice Winter by E.J Squires
47. Good Ghost Gone Bad by Janiera Eldridge
48. Starry Night by Debbie Macomber

Challenge Completed

2013 TBR Pile Challenge hosted by Evie Bookish
Anything from your TBR pile that has been there for a while. Must be published 2012 or earlier. I have picked 11-20 – A Friendly Hug level for my challenge.

1. Covet by J.R. Ward
2. The Season by Sarah MacLean
3. Burned by P.C & Kristin Cast
4. Riding Lessons by Sara Gruen
5. Witches of East End by Melissa De la Cruz
6. A Secret love by Stephanie Laurens
7. The Family that couldn’t sleep by DT Max
8. Queen of Kings by Maria Dahvana Headley
9. Figures in Silk by Vanora Bennett
10. Alice Hartley’s Happiness by Philippa Gregory
11.Emperor The Gates of Rome by Conn Iggulden
12.The Girl from Junchow by Kate Furnivall
13.Revenge of the Rose by Nicole Galland
14.Perfect Match by Jodi Picoult
15.Mistress Shakespeare by Karen Harper
16.Between Two Queens by Kate Emerson
17.The Secret Bride (In The Court of Henry VIII #1) by Diane Haeger
18.The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
19.The View from Garden City by Carolyn Baugh
20.The Lost Letters Of Aquitaine (Alais Capet #1) by Judith Koll Healey
21. Shopaholic Ties the Knot (Shopaholic #3) by Sophie Kinsella
22. Starry Night by Debbie Macomber
23. Bloody Valentine (Blue Bloods #5.5) by Melissa de la Cruz
24. Misguided Angel (Blue Bloods #5) by Melissa de la Cruz
25. Awakened (House of Night #8) by P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast
26. Lover Enshrined (Black Dagger Brotherhood #6) by J.R. Ward
27. A Lady of Secret Devotion (Ladies of Liberty #3) by Tracie Peterson
28. Confessions of an Ugly Step Sister by Gregory Maguire
29. The White Queen by Phillipa Gregory
30. Scandalous Lord, Rebellious Miss by Deb Marlowe

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Musing Monday 12/30/13

- Ambrosia 2 Comments

Musing Monday is hosted over at Should Be Reading.

Musing Mondays asks you to muse about one of the following each week…

• Describe one of your reading habits.
• Tell us what book(s) you recently bought for yourself or someone else, and why you chose that/those book(s).
• Tell us what you’re reading right now — what you think of it, so far; why you chose it; what you are (or, aren’t) enjoying it.
• Do you have a bookish rant? Something about books or reading (or the industry) that gets your ire up? Share it with us!
• Instead of the above questions, maybe you just want to ramble on about something else pertaining to books — let’s hear it, then!

 

Do you feel the urge to gear up and have a clean slate for the new year reading? I finished my last book on the 28th and have not picked one up to start yet and I won’t until New Years because I feel like I should start the new year fresh and not “in the middle of” a book. An odd habit maybe but it is one that I have kept with for several years now. I may have even done it before I started blogging but I didn’t notice it until I was actively keeping tabs on my reading.

 

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Book Blast: Winter reads

- Ambrosia Leave a comment

 

Winter Reads Cover

 

Sit back, relax in your favorite reading chair and enjoy 15 Winter Reads from 15 bestselling YA authors. There is something to delight every reader in this box set – paranormal romance, futuristic sci-fi, historical, time travel, and contemporary. Many of the Indelibles have given you access to both the first and second books in their series – you’ll be reading well into the New Year!

LIMITED TIME BOX SET – from 15 bestselling YA authors
ON SALE 12/29 – 1/11 for just $1.99

Amazon * Barnes & Noble

15 Winter Reads includes:

 

Iron ButterflyThe Iron Butterfly by Chanda Hahn

Escaping an experimental prison, Thalia tries to hide her past and her gifts, from her friends. But her past isn’t always easy to escape, especially when it hunts you down.

Twitter * Facebook * Goodreads * Website

 

TrembleTremble (Celestra Series) by Addison Moore

Sixteen year-old, Skyla Messenger is a dead girl walking. When her newly remarried mother moves the family to Paragon Island, to a house that is rumored to be haunted, Skyla finds refuge in Logan Oliver, a boy who shares her unique ability to read minds.

Blog * Twitter * Facebook * Goodreads

 

ExiledExiled by RaShelle Workman

Venus wakes to find herself no longer on her home planet of Kelari, but on Earth with a week to get back or she’ll die.

Twitter * Facebook * Blog * Goodreads * Wattpad


Dragonfly CoverDragonfly by Leigh Talbert Moore

Gossip Girl meets VC Andrews in this contemporary family saga. Love, lies, and betrayal become the new normal when Anna enters the world of Jack and Lucy Kyser.

Amazon * Facebook * Twitter * Goodreads * Pinterest

 

open mindsOpen Minds and Closed Hearts by Susan Kaye Quinn

When everyone reads minds, a secret is a dangerous thing to keep.

Blog * Twitter * Facebook * Wattpad * Goodreads

 

untraceableUntraceable by S.R. Johannes

When Grace’s forest ranger dad disappears on patrol, she fights town authorities, tribal officials, & nature to prove he’s alive. Torn between a new hot boy and cute ex, she heads into the wilderness to find her dad. Soon, she is caught in a web of conspiracy, deception, and murder.

Twitter * Facebook * Blog * Goodreads

 

date an alienHow to Date an Alien and How to Break Up With an Alien by Magan Vernon

Alex Bianchi takes an internship at an alien operations center to pad her college applications but doesn’t plan on falling in love with one of its residents. But as Alex’s senior year progresses, everything changes and she can’t figure out if it is interstellar or if it is just time to break up with an alien.

Twitter * Facebook * Website * Goodreads

 

flutterFlutter of Luv by L.M. Preston

Dawn, the neighborhood tomboy, is happy to be her best friend’s shadow. Acceptance comes from playing football after school with the guys on the block while hiding safely behind her glasses, braces, and boyish ways. But Tony moves in, becomes the star Running Back on her school’s football team, and changes her world and her view of herself forever.

Twitter * Facebook * Blog * Goodreads

 

watchedWatched by Cindy M. Hogan

It takes more than a school trip to change Christy’s life. It takes murder.

Blog * Twitter * Facebook * Goodreads

 

 

clockwiseClockwise and ClockwiseR by Elle Strauss

A follow up to Clockwise, Casey and Nate travel back in time and race against the clock to rescue Casey’s rebellious brother Tim from frontline battle in America’s civil war.

Website * Blog * Twitter * Facebook * Wattpad * Goodreads

 

 

5.5"X8.5" Post Card TemplateGlimpse (Zellie Wells #1) and Glimmer (Zellie Wells #2) by Stacey Wallace Benefiel

While working together to figure out what their shared vision means, Zellie discovers that Benjamin is a worthy friend and mentor. If only he could keep his hands off of her – if only she wanted him to…

Blog * Twitter * Facebook * Goodreads

 

spy like meA Spy Like Me by Laura Pauling

After dodging bullets on a first date, Savvy must decide how far she’ll go to protect the ones she loves.

Blog * Twitter * Goodreads

 

Grasping At Eternity by Karen Amanda Hooper

An eternal soul mate, a supernatural family who has known her for centuries, and lifetimes of erased memories: this is Maryah Woodsen’s life. She just doesn’t know it yet.

Twitter * Facebook * Blog * Goodreads

 

lacrimosaLacrimosa by Christine Fonseca

In the world of angels and demons, one thing is clear – some sacrifices should never be made. Even for love.

Twitter * Facebook * Blog * Google + * Goodreads * Pinterest

 

spruce knollThe Secret of Spruce Knoll by Heather McCorkle

The town of Spruce Knoll hides many secrets—and many dangers, among them are that the untimely death of Eren’s parents was no accident and that she is far more than she realizes.

Blog * Twitter * Facebook * Wattpad * Goodreads

 

Giveaway Details

$100 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 1/11/14

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the authors. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sunday Salon 12/29/13

- Ambrosia Leave a comment

The last Sunday of 2013 and what a year it has been. Sadly I am still very sick and just ready for the whole of it to be over with. I am probably one of the worst sick people there is because I hate being sick and I keep pushing myself to try to get more stuff done around the house instead of resting. That said yesterday and today thus far I have behaved myself. I even got another book finished for the year, which I did not think I would do. Bringing my total to where I think it will stay for 2013 at 109. That is a pretty big amount for me especially since I started my goal for the year at 50 or 60 and had to up it twice and even surpassed that.

This is the first time I have taken on challenges and completed every single one and I am really rather proud of that. I will be doing a wrap up post before Jan 1st with all the titles and challenges that I finished and of course I am also now looking for what challenges I am going to do for 2014. I am likely going to do a TBR and Historical one again but from there I am not sure what else I will do. We will see! Happy end of 2013 everyone.

 

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Quoteable Sunday 12/29/13

- Ambrosia Leave a comment

 

It is the familiar that usually eludes us in life. What is before our noses is what we see last.
William Barrett

The grand essentials of life are something to do, something to love, something to hope for.
Thomas Chalmers

The great blessings of mankind are within us and within our reach; but we shut our eyes, and like people in the dark, we fall foul upon the very thing we search for, without finding it.
Seneca
(7 B.C. – 65 A.D.)

Govern thy life and thoughts as if the whole world were to see the one, and read the other.
Thomas Fuller

Most of the shadows of this life are caused by our standing in our own sunshine.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

We must be willing to relinquish the life we’ve planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us.
Joseph Campbell

Life, in all ranks and situations, is an outward occupation, an actual and active work.
W. Humboldt

Everything that happens to us leaves some trace behind; everything contributes imperceptibly to make us what we are.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Unrest of spirit is a mark of life; one problem after another presents itself and in the solving of them we can find our greatest pleasure.
Kal Menninger

The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit.
Nelson Henderson

Change is not merely necessary to life, it is life.
Alvin Toffler

Life is short, art long, opportunity fleeting, experience treacherous, judgment difficult.
Hypocrites

After the game, the king and the pawn go into the same box.
Italian Proverb

Life is a tragedy for those who feel, and a comedy for those who think.
La Bruyere

There is only one thing that remains to us, that cannot be taken away: to act with courage and dignity and to stick to the ideals that have given meaning to life.
Jawaharlal Nehru

We become happier, much happier, when we realize life is an opportunity rather than an obligation.
Mary Augustine

Life is like a library owned by the author.
In it are a few books which he wrote himself, but most of them were written for him.
Harry Emerson Fosdick

We make our fortunes, and we call them fate.
Earl of Beaconsfield

Life is a child playing around your feet, a tool you hold firmly in your grip, a bench you sit down upon in the evening, in your garden.
Jean Anouilh

The best way to prepare for life is to begin to live.
Elbert Hubbard

Life’s a voyage that’s homeward bound.
Herman Melville

That state of life is most happy where superfluities are not required and necessities are not wanting.
Plutarch

Clever people master life; the wise illuminate it and create fresh difficulties.
Emil Nolde

The whole of life is but a moment of time. It is our duty, therefore to use it, not to misuse it.
Plutarch

Life is a rich strain of music, suggesting a realm too fair to be.
George William Curtis

I made my life my monument.
Ben Johnson

The boundaries which divide life from death are at best shadowy and vague.
Who shall say where one ends,
and the other begins?
Edgar Alan Poe

Life isn’t a matter of milestones, but of moments.
Rose Kennedy

One way to get the most out of life is
to look upon it as an adventure.
William Feather

Life without endeavor is like entering a jewel mine and coming out with empty hands.
Japanese Proverb

Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

There are no classes in life for beginners: right away you are always asked to deal with what is most difficult.
Rainer Maria Rilke

To live is like to love–all reason is against it, and all healthy instinct for it.
Samuel Butler

One life – a little gleam of time between two eternities.
Thomas Carlyle

Life is a pure flame,
and we live by an invisible sun within us.
Sir Thomas Brown

As I grow to understand life less and less,
I learn to love it more and more.
Jules Renard

Book Review: Obsidian Butterfly (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter #9) by Laurell K. Hamilton

- Ambrosia Leave a comment

Anita Blake, the tough, sexy vampire executioner, zombie animator, and police consultant for preternatural crimes in St. Louis, hunts monsters in New Mexico in the ninth book of Laurell K. Hamilton’s excellent series. Edward, Anita’s mentor in slaying, asks Anita to return the favor that she has owed him since she killed a backup he brought in to protect her. He needs Anita’s preternatural expertise as well as her firepower. Something is skinning and mutilating a few of its chosen victims, and dismembering others. Edward has no idea what creature could be responsible for such heinous crimes.

Summoning Anita has its downside for Edward, since it means letting her onto his turf. Anita is surprised to find that this normally aggressive man has a personal life, and shocked by his ability to be entirely different from the stone cold killer she’s known. She also has problems with the cop in charge in Albuquerque, who believes her powers must be evil, and with the other backups Edward has brought in. Most of all, she has to deal with her own vulnerability–she’s tried to shut down her ties to her vampire and werewolf lovers and go it alone, but it turns out to be harder than she thought.

Anita’s usual supporting cast is missing, and she’s taking time out from her complex love life, but there’s plenty of bloody action, vampires, werewolves, and Aztec ritual. Plus a lot more about Edward. Fans will find this installment similar to the earlier books in the series, particularly The Laughing Corpse. –Nona Vero

Anita never can just take a casual trip anywhere can she? Well no of course not because she is Anita Blake and while I admit I missed Jean Claude in this one, I did not miss some of the boyfriend drama that crops up when him and Richard are involved. Without that secondary boy drama around Anita was able to get down to the business of being ass deep in alligators. Yes she still has moments when she thinks of them and complains about what a Monster she is becoming but that is Anita you just accept it after a while, it does not keep her from kicking some butt and taking names.

Personally I also love the fact that we get to know Edward more. The mysterious assassin for hire has always been a curious note for me and one that I enjoyed. So Anita getting to spend some quality time with a man who didn’t want to get into her pants and letting us the reader get to know him better gets a thumbs up from me. Overall this was a solid installment in the series and I would recommend it to fans in a heart beat.

My Gemstone Rating:

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