Musing Monday 2/13/17

- Ambrosia 10 Comments

Musing Mondays is a weekly meme that asks you to choose one of the following prompts to answer:

I’m currently reading…
Up next I think I’ll read…
I bought the following book(s) in the past week…
I’m super excited to tell you about (book/author/bookish-news)…
I’m really upset by (book/author/bookish-news)…
I can’t wait to get a copy of…
I wish I could read ___, but…
I blogged about ____ this past week…

THIS WEEKS RANDOM QUESTION: If you could travel to one place you’ve read about in a book, what place would you visit and what book was it from?

I thought I would walk a little more on the creative side with the muse this week. I have been needing a little bit of a creative kick in the pants lately and this might be just the thing for me, I hope it is fun for you guys too. Books take us to different worlds, with different people and we can often see things we would never otherwise dream of. This is not only fantasy lands of course but times of the past and even modern times just with different jobs. A lot of the places I read about are dangerous but I still find that I would like to go there.

This is a question that for me will probably change depending on my mood or what I am currently reading. With that said I think right this moment if I had to pick I would like to go to the world of Harry Dresden. Harry lives in our world but of course it is a bit different. Harry gets to go and play with the Sidhe (okay not always that fun) and just some of the adventures he has seem fun even if they are dangerous. Besides, who wouldn’t want to get to talk to Bob the Skull? Or leave out pizza for toot toot the fairy. So, what world would you like to go to?

Sunday Salon 2/12/17

- Ambrosia 1 Comment

The Holiday on steroids is almost upon us, yes I am talking about Valentines day. I know I am sure I sound a little bit like a bahhumbug (no idea what you would call a valentine scrooge so, going with this lol) but it really bothers me on a whole. The holiday is really nothing but one that is designed for people to spend money. Don’t get me wrong I love a good Valentine gift as much as the next girl (although my idea of a good gift might be different from others, ie: jewelry is pretty and all but a stash of yarn will really make me happy!) but no matter where you shop you can’t escape the bombard of pink and red and candy.

Upon further thought maybe it is the Pink that drives me so batty about this holiday, anyone who knows me knows how much I dislike pink. Unless it is the story of the Pink Carnation and then well all systems are go. At any rate I have been a bit on a meh with the oncoming Holiday for many reasons this year. Which means I also haven’t done the one tradition I enjoy doing on this pumped up Holiday. I pick out a historical romance and make my “valentine read” I didn’t do it last year either. There is my overshare for the day 😉

Not to much else going on right now book wise. This week has been full of tidying up some work things and working on a crochet pattern that until I get it done as I see it in my head I just won’t be happy. My creative brain is slowly chugging along and hopefully it will start to pick up some speed soon! I was told I should walk on the wild side a little bit more like I used to. SO here I go I am going to walk on the wild side with Sunday Salon and hit send without proof reading. *Gasp*

Book Review: Bloodstorm (Heart of a Vampire #1) by Amber Kallyn

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When duty forces a shaman to stop a vampire from her revenge, love doesn’t just burn… it bites. For two hundred years, Niki DeVeraux has been tracking the monster who murdered her family and made her a vampire. She finally catches up to him only to face more than she bargained for in a too-sexy sheriff who makes her remember she’s still a woman. With duties as Keeper of the peace and Sheriff, Shane Spencer must protect humanity and stop the friction between the local Arcaine races before it turns into an all out blood war. When wolves start turning up dead, the tension between the races grows and suspicion falls on Niki. Shane knows she’s not to blame, and it has nothing to do with the primal urges she stirs within him. Working together, they must stop the hostilities from going over the edge. Trouble is, the desires raging between them might prove more dangerous than the surrounding threats.

At long last here is my final review of books I read in 2016. I know it seems like I took forever and I did a bit, but here it is. Long live 2017 from now on.

This book was alright, I would not jump up and down and call this my next big vampire series to read but I also didn’t hate it. It is a fast and easy read at only about 190 pages. What kept me from truly being able to fully love this book instead of just feeling lukewarm about it was that everything just felt a little bit on the surface. If the book had been longer, we may have been able to dig into it more, get more connected to the characters and their stories.

Due to the fact that so much of it was just right on the surface there were quite a few plot holes big enough to drive a mack truck through. I hate saying that, but sometimes you have to call a spade a spade. The format is there, the interesting characters and other items that could have really drawn the reader in are all there but they are only lightly touched on. Case in point Nikki is hunting down the Vampire who turned her into a vampire. His name is Thomas, when he came, he killed Nikki’s entire family, but allowed her to not only live but turned her. Why? What was his motivation in doing that? Why not kill her as well, so that he was not leaving someone behind who could seek vengeance upon him? Let alone turning her into a creature like him with long life so that she could basically hold on to that grudge. What was his thinking behind that? It wasn’t like she stayed around as his companion or anything.

Shane also came across as a character that was a little creepy. He was more than happy to have a sexual relationship with someone who looked much younger? I had some of the same issues with Twilight, but at least Edward was dating in his own, age pool per-say. He didn’t look like an adult going out with a teenager. With all of that said, it was not the worst book I have read and even if it was superficial I did enjoy it. I would not be picking on these exact points if I didn’t. I just wanted to enjoy it much more.

My Gemstone Rating:

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Teaser Tuesday 2/7/17

- Ambrosia 31 Comments

 

Welcome to Teaser Tuesday, the weekly Meme that wants you to add books to your TBR, or just share what you are currently reading. It is very easy to play along:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers! Everyone loves Teaser Tuesday.

“People don’t like to see things that aren’t perfect. It reminds them of what could go wrong in their own lives, I guess.” ~ Swim by Jennifer Weiner

Musing Monday 2/6/17

- Ambrosia 14 Comments

 

Musing Mondays is a weekly meme that asks you to choose one of the following prompts to answer:

I’m currently reading…
Up next I think I’ll read…
I bought the following book(s) in the past week…
I’m super excited to tell you about (book/author/bookish-news)…
I’m really upset by (book/author/bookish-news)…
I can’t wait to get a copy of…
I wish I could read ___, but…
I blogged about ____ this past week…

THIS WEEKS RANDOM QUESTION: Do you try out genres you have not liked in the past once in a while just to see if your taste changed?

This is actually something I have thought a lot about over the years as I Have seen where my reading likes go and how they change. When I was in high school I could not get enough of true crime style books I simply could not get enough of the Dr. Kay Scarpetta novels by Patricia Cornwell I think Blow fly was the last book of hers that I actually picked up and read though. I couldn’t read books by Nancy Taylor Rosenberg fast enough but I think Buried evidence was the last of her books that I picked up. I wouldn’t be caught dead reading romance. Now of course I enjoy romance, I still tend to be more in the historical area with it as that is where I started to enjoy it but I have found some urban romances that I like as well or books that I consider cross genre. So as we grow and experience different things in life our tastes change in things right?

I have always enjoyed Vampire Novels and that is one genre that I can say I still really love, but I feel as if it needs a new shot of adrenaline to it a really good story teller to draw me in again. Anne Rice was my icon for a while but Prince Lestat fell so flat for me I have not bothered to read the one released after it. Charlaine Harris was fun with the Southern Vampire Mysteries which turned into the popular show True Blood, but I feel she just slapped all her fans in the face with how she ended the series so that took some of the joy out of it. I am still working on the Anita Blake series, I was excited for a while but now the books are not holding my interest as much, it has become a bit serial. Anita gets beat up, men worry, Anita gets mad, Anita has more sexual partners then she thinks she should, Anita beats herself up over the morality of it. Anita kills some bad guys. Wash rinse repeat.

Urban Fantasy was not a genre I ever thought I could get into but I am complete obsessed with the Dresden series. So much so that I read the entire series back to back twice. So these days I am more open to poking at genres I used to like but no longer feel I do to see if maybe I find a way back to them. I am also more open to picking up books from genres I didn’t think were “me”, because you never know what you are gonna end up really enjoying. How about you?

*This rambling Musing Monday brought to you by me avoiding some work I Have to do*

Sunday Salon 2/5/17

- Ambrosia 2 Comments

Here we are, another Sunday and I am afraid I do not have much to say this week either. I am sure this is going to change soon and I am sorry to my readers to keep making such silly little posts like this. As you can see it has been a slow week here, I am just working on dealing with grief and also doing a lot of work related stuff. It didn’t help that my laptop decided to blow itself up this last week as well. I mean really it just went kaboom. The good side of that is I got a new one, was able to upgrade and so far I am rather happy with the one I chose to get.

The downside is my kindle has gone walkabout. I almost want to laugh because this is the new kindle that was sent over after the other one had a mysterious crack appear. Now the new one is not where I set it. I am hoping wherever it is that it is okay. I have been moving a lot and such so perhaps it just slid into a little crevices where I have not seen it yet, but boy makes its hard to do my crochet work and listen to a good book.

So that this post does not seem like nothing but a bit of melancholy, I will end on a positive note. Though it has not been long, another family member found her way to us. Sometimes it seems the kitty spirits are in a bit of a hurry. A teeny tiny unique colored little girl who has been dubbed Diana is with us now. She is semi feral and clearly had a very hard start to her little life. She can’t be more then 6 maybe 7 weeks old. I want to just scoop her up and cuddle her and giggle and snuggle, but she is not ready for that. All 1.7lbs of her is fierce and she lets you know when she is not happy. I have to take it easy and slowly with her because she has not been socialized well at all. I Have no doubt that she will come around though, she has already made great bounds sooner than I thought she would.

The first night she spent in the closet, but from that night on she has moved closer and closer. We leave the TV on for her so even when people are sleeping, she can hear their voice. This and being patient and careful and plenty of treats seems to be working. She is playing and romping and having a good old kitten time. She does not want to be held and she gets a little dubious when I watch her play but that is okay. She has stopped hissing at the mere sight of people and she actually purred a little when I was petting her yesterday. I will have some pictures to share soon enough, hopefully the next write up that mentions my sweet Diana will include a cuddly picture.

Teaser Tuesday 1/31/17

- Ambrosia 35 Comments
Teaser Tuesday

 

Welcome to Teaser Tuesday, the weekly Meme that wants you to add books to your TBR, or just share what you are currently reading. It is very easy to play along:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers! Everyone loves Teaser Tuesday.

“Is this how you repay my goodness–with badness?” cried the boy. “Of course,” said the crocodile out of the corner of his mouth. “That is the way of the world.” – Roots: The Saga of an American Family by Alex Haley

Musing Monday 1/30/17

- Ambrosia 9 Comments

 

Musing Mondays is a weekly meme that asks you to choose one of the following prompts to answer:

I’m currently reading…
Up next I think I’ll read…
I bought the following book(s) in the past week…
I’m super excited to tell you about (book/author/bookish-news)…
I’m really upset by (book/author/bookish-news)…
I can’t wait to get a copy of…
I wish I could read ___, but…
I blogged about ____ this past week…

THIS WEEKS RANDOM QUESTION: Are there any books you are really eagerly waiting for in 2017?

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I used to keep on top of a lot of series books and releases and had lots of big marks on my calendar these days I really don’t. I have so many other things to keep on top of I don’t keep up with releases as often as I used to, that doesn’t mean I am not excited about books anymore I just can’t follow releases as much as I used to. That said there are a few that I do still get excited about and this year I am really hoping we see the new Dresden novel Peace Talks. I even admit that I compulsively check the website for updates.. lol

Sunday Salon 1/29/17

- Ambrosia 2 Comments

 

Sadly I am not going to be making a very long post this Sunday. For the second time in a month I have suffered a blow and a loss to my family. My beloved special little guy Cubby passed on the 27th and right now the best I can do is take life one breath at a time. I haven’t read a thing since he passed, I am sure I will again soon. Right now though all I can think about is my sweet boy. I think losing Pasha broke his heart and he just stopped fighting his thyroid cancer. I miss them both, it just has a feeling at the moment of life is not very fair.

Book Review: The City of Ice (The Gates of the World, #2) by K.M. McKinley

- Ambrosia 2 Comments

An ancient city. A wondrous invention. A perilous journey.

The epic sequel to the incredible debut novel The Iron Ship.

Deep in the polar south stands a city like no other, a city built aeons ago by a civilisation mighty and wise.

The City of Ice promises the secrets of the ancients to whomever can reach it first. It may prove too little knowledge too late, for the closest approach of the Twin in 4000 years draws near, an event that has heralded terrible destruction in past ages.

As the Kressind siblings pursue their fortunes, the world stands upon the dawn of a new era, but it may yet be consumed by a darkness from the past.

Industry and magic, gods and steampower collide in the captivating sequel to The Iron Ship.

I have to start this review by saying I have not read the first book in the series. When I saw this book on Netgalley I got so excited by the description I overlooked that it was book #2. So some of my thoughts on this book spring from that which is my own fault. Now with that said, on to the review.

This is an absorbing book that takes place in a world that is complex, rich and absorbing. It did take me a little longer to get into this book than I would have liked, but I suspect that comes from not reading the first book. I was a little confused as to everything going on in this world, but eventually I did get settled in and I enjoyed the book a great deal. I plan on going back and reading the Iron Ship and then revisiting this story so see more things in context.

This book is simply one of those kind of books that seems to sprawl out before you in one grand adventure. It is the kind of book that allows you to feel as if you are in the pages, in that world with the characters and not just an outside reader. I feel that this fantasy world ranks right up there with the likes of Middle Earth and Narnia. I couldn’t personally develop any “feelings” towards the characters in this book, but I feel that might change as I delve deeper into the series. This book is simply a very enjoyable read and the land in which it takes place is so well described it feels like a place I could go to.

There is a huge cast of characters within the book and they all seem to be getting ready to have some kind of convergence when the series comes to an end. While the large cast of characters makes it interesting, I feel it is also the reason I couldn’t connect with anyone. At the end of the day, this is a book worth reading and a series worth getting excited about. If you like fantasy I think you will enjoy this book, it made me want to make like Bilbo Baggins and yell that I was going on an adventure!

My Gemstone Rating:

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