Thursday, April 30, 2015

Some Thursday Randomness


 I haven't read this book yet (it's sitting in our book room) but this looks like a really good show.

Fan Art
Some Disney characters in other worlds or other worlds Disney-ed
Firefly
by Stephen Byrne
Disney Princesses as Game of Thrones
by  DjeDjehuti (deviantArt)
Need to get this shirt for my son. Big Hero 6 (especially Baymax) is his favorite movie right now. Shirt available at Tee Public (website)
Big Hero 3PO
by DjKopet

These giraffes doing high dives are too cute...short film by Nicolas Deveaux.

5 mètres 80 from Nicolas Deveaux on Vimeo.

Tuesday, April 28, 2015

New Releases ~ week of 04/27/2015


A Catered Mother's Day by Isis Crawford (#11 Mystery with Recipes)
A Good Rogue is Hard to Find by Kelly Bowen (#2 Lords of Worth)
A Scoundrel by Moonlight by Anna Campbell (#4 Sons of Sin trilogy)
Amulet Keepers by Michael Northrop (#2 TombQuest)
Antiques Swap by Barbara Allan (#10 Trash 'n' Treasures Mystery)
Bound By Hatred by Cora Reilly (#3 Born in Blood Mafia Chronicles)
Broken Juliet by Leisa Rayven (#2 Romeo and Juliet)
Burn for You by Lexxie Couper (#2 Outback Skies)
Chains of Water and Stone by Katherine Hurley (#2 The Griever's Mark)
Cold Burn of Magic by Jennifer Estep (#1 Black Blade)
Darkened Blade by Kelly McCullough (#6 Fallen Blade)
Rising Darkness by Shannon Mayer (#9 Rylee Adamson)
Encore to an Empty Room by Kevin Emerson (#2 Exile)
Ever After at Sweetheart Ranch by Emma Cane (#6 Valentine Valley)
For Your Love by Beverly Jenkins (#6 Blessings)
Goldilocks Breaks In by Joan Holub (#6 Grimmtastic Girls)
Hold Me by Susan Mallery (#16 Fools Gold)
Hunted Warrior by Lindsey Piper (#3 Dragon Kings)
In a Bad Way by Karin Tabke (#2 Bad Boys of the Bay)
Kingdom of Darkness by Andy McDermott (#10 Nina Wilde & Eddie Chase)
Legends of Fire by Alexia Purdy (#2 Elemental Fire)
Lost World by Kate L. Mary (#4 Broken World)
Loving the Beast: Epilogue by Skye Warren (#5 Beauty)
Medusa the Rich by Joan Holub (#16 Goddess Girls)
Midnight Ride by Cat Johnson (#1 Midnight Cowboys)
Musseled Out by Barbara Ross (#3 Maine Clambake Mysteries)
Of Noble Family by Mary Robinette Kowal (#5 Shades of Milk and Honey)
Oh Say Can You Fudge by Nancy Coco (#3 Candy-Coated Mysteries)
Overruled by Emma Chase (#1 Legal Briefs)
Reckoning by Megg Jensen (#5 Dragonlands)
Rogue by Julie Kagaw (#2 Talon Saga)
Scrappily Ever After by Mollie Cox Bryan (#6 Cumberland Creek)
Sinful by Joan Johnston (#13 Bitter Creek)
Strange Skies by Kristi Helvig (#2 Burn Out)
Sugar on Top by Marina Adair (#2 Sugar, Georgia)
The Children Return by Martin Walker (#9 Bruno, Chief of Police)
The Daring Exploits of a Runaway Heiress by Victoria Alexander (#6 Millworth Manor)
The Deepest Poison by Beth Cato (#1.5 Clockwork Dagger)
The Duke and the Lady in Red by Lorraine Heath (#3 Scandalous Gentlemen of St. James)
The Girl at Midnight by Melissa Grey (#1 The Girl at Midnight)

The Harlot Countess by Joanna Shupe (#2 Wicked Deceptions)
The Lady and the Mountain Doctor by Misty M. Beller (#2 Mountain Dreams)
The Replaced by Kimberly Derting (#2 Taking)
The Reunion by Lorhainne Eckhart (#1 Friessens)
The Scoundrel and the Debutante by Julia London (#3 The Cabot Sisters)
The Silence That Speaks by Andrea Kane (#4 Forensic Instincts)
Thirty-Four and a Half Predicaments by Denise Grover Swank (#7 Rose Gardner)
True Son by Lana Krumwiede (#3 Psi Chronicles)
Twisted by Cynthia Eden (#2 Last Option Search Team)
Your Next Breath by Iris Johansen (#4 Catherine Ling)

Monday, April 27, 2015

Book Review (or a ramble) ~ The Shadows

The Shadows (Black Dagger Brotherhood #13)

by J.R. Ward
published by Penguin
Genre: Adult, PNR, Paranormal

Summary (Goodreads): Two brothers bound by more than blood fight to change a brutal destiny in the heart-wrenching new novel of the Black Dagger Brotherhood by #1 New York Times bestselling author J. R. Ward.

Trez “Latimer” doesn’t really exist. And not just because the identity was created so that a Shadow could function in the underbelly of the human world. Sold by his parents to the Queen of the S’Hsibe as a child, Trez escaped the Territory and has been a pimp and an enforcer in Caldwell, NY for years- all the while on the run from a destiny of sexual servitude. He’s never had anyone he could totally rely on... except for his brother, iAm.

iAm’s sole goal has always been to keep his brother from self-destructing- and he knows he’s failed. It’s not until the Chosen Serena enters Trez’s life that the male begins to turn things around... but by then it’s too late. The pledge to mate the Queen’s daughter comes due and there is nowhere to run, nowhere to hide, and no negotiating.

Trapped between his heart and a fate he never volunteered for, Trez must decide whether to endanger himself and others- or forever leave behind the female he’s in love with. But then an unimaginable tragedy strikes and changes everything. Staring out over an emotional abyss, Trez must find a reason to go on or risk losing himself and his soul forever. And iAm, in the name of brotherly love, is faced with making the ultimate sacrifice...

My Thoughts: I haven't been consistent in reading this series. After the first 5-6 I have started to just read the ones that focus on a character that I am interested in. Then even when I'm interested I still skip a lot of the secondary stories that are setting up future books. Going to start with those side stories.
I know I may be in the minority but I am not interested in Xcor and Layla. Many were wanting them as the next book and I'm glad they are not. I haven't liked Layla since she first showed up in this series and she hasn't done anything to make me change my mind. It kind of sucks because I like Xcor and the Bastards but since all their story has Layla in it I skimmed/skipped all the pages devoted to them.
Assail, is there a point to this character. I did not find anything redeeming about him. He spent most of what I read sniffing drugs up his nose. Even when he was trying to correct things with the brother I wasn't buying it. Just seems like a liability and one that may not last long if he doesn't change soon.
Paradise. I was hoping for better. She is the first main character in Ward's new Brotherhood Legacy series that focuses on the new training program. When I read the blurb for Blood Kiss (Goodreads) I was interested. Unfortunately, this character was boring. I get the trying to go for a strong female who is trying to break out of the old ways. The problem was the trying, that's what it felt like. I'm hoping Butch's story and maybe other new characters can carry this book better than she can.
Iam, Trez's brother. I know this is called The Shadows but the book was really about Trez and Selena with very little page time to Iam and Catra. I liked them as a couple even if it was expected. They worked well and could have been a great couple if they were fleshed out more.
Trez and Selena. I went into this book knowing that many, many people were unhappy with it so I wasn't surprised by the ending even without specific on why they were unhappy. This was a well written story for this couple. There were many great scenes, including Trez riding the roller coaster 4 times even though he hates them and when all the women get together to dress Selena. Xhex made that whole scene.
The one thing that did not work was the ending. I wasn't upset or emotional as everyone else but I understood completely. This series is marketed as Paranormal Romance (PNR). There are certain rules when it comes to romance books. Number one being your main character gets an HEA/HFN in that book. It didn't happen here with Trez/Selena and since they had the majority of page time, they are the ones you were expecting to get an HEA.
The next book is about Rhage and Mary called The Beast. I've always like Rhage so I'll probably be reading it. I also read many good things about the previous book The King that makes me think I'll try to fit it into my reading schedule at some point.

Rating: 4

Thursday, April 23, 2015

Some Thursday Randomness

Youtube user jojodrummer96 did a Doctor Who tribute in dominoes. This is one of the better ones I've seen.


Came across this site Artfire (website). It reminds me of Esty and has some interesting things on it.
Thai elephant mug
by madamepomm
Art by Michael Dooney (DeviantArt) Loved his 1887 gallery folder.
by Michael Dooney
(deviantArt)
Lady Mechanika
by Michael Dooney (DeviantArt)


Buzzfeed had an article "15 Useful Diagrams for Book Lovers" (website). There were a few I liked and others not so much.

Tuesday, April 21, 2015

New Releases ~ week of 4/20/2015


A Dance with Danger by Jeannie Lin (#5 Tang Dynasty)
Aflame by Penelope Douglas (#4 Fall Away)
All's Fair in Love and Scandal by Caroline Linden (#2.5 Scandals)
Angles of Attack by Marko Kloos (#3 Frontlines)
Avenging by Holly Kelly (#3 Rising)
Beauty and the Rake by Erica Monroe (#3 The Rookery Rogues)
Chasing Danger by Katie Reus (#2.5 Deadly Ops)
City Love by Susane Colasanti (#1 City Love Trilogy)
Conspiracy of Blood and Smoke by Anne Blankman (#2 Prisoner of Night & Fog)
Dead Girl Walking by Christopher Brookmyre (#6 Jack Parlabane)
From Best Friend to Bride by Jules Bennett (#3 St. Johns of Stonerock)
Ghost Image by Ellen Crosby (#2 Sophie Medina)
Just Three Words by Melissa Brayden (#2 SoHo Loft Romance)
Memory Man by David Baldacci (#1 Amos Decker)
Murder Is Bad Manners by Robin Stevens (#3 Wells and Wong Mystery)
My Stallion Heart by Deborah Fletcher Mello (#7 Stallion Brothers)
Need Me by Tessa Bailey (#2 Broke and Beautiful)
Office Elvis by Gary Gusick (#2 Darla Cavannah)
Pirate's Alley by Suzanne Johnson (#4 Sentinels of New Orleans)
Poisonwell by Jeff Wheeler (#3 Whispers from Mirrowen)
The Trials by Stacey Kade (#3 Project Paper Doll)
Sealed in Sin by Juliette Cross (#2 Vessel Trilogy)
Stolen Magic by Gail Carson Levine (#2 Tale of Two Castles)
Stormbound by Jennifer Lynn Alvarez (#2 Starfire)
The Architect of Aeons by John C. Wright (#4 Count to a Trillion)
The Bone Tree by Greg Iles (#5 Penn Cage)
The Decaying Empire by Laura Thalassa (#2 The Vanishing Girl)
The Devilish Mr. Danvers by Vivienne Lorret (#2 Rakes of Fallow Hall)
The Mad Apprentice by Django Wexler (#2 Forbidden Library)
The Remedy by Suzanne Young (#0.5 Program)
The Unmapped Sea by Maryrose Wood (#5 Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place)
The Whitechapel Fiend by Cassandra Clare, Maureen Johnson (#3 Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy)
There You Stand by Christina Lee (#5 Between Breaths)
Valorous by Marie Force (#2 Quantum Trilogy)

Monday, April 20, 2015

Book Review ~ Timeless

Timeless (Parasol Protectorate #5)

by Gail Carriger
published by Orbit
genre: Adult, Stempunk, Supernatural, Shifters

Summary (Goodreads): Alexia Tarabotti, Lady Maccon, has settled into domestic bliss. Of course, being Alexia, such bliss involves integrating werewolves into London High society, living in a vampire's second best closet, and coping with a precocious toddler who is prone to turning supernatural willy-nilly.

Until, that is, she receives a summons that cannot be ignored. With husband, child, and Tunstells in tow, Alexia boards a steamer to cross the Mediterranean. But Egypt may hold more mysteries than even the indomitable Lady Maccon can handle. What does the vampire Queen of the Alexandria Hive really want from her? Why is the God-Breaker Plague suddenly expanding? And how has Ivy Tunstell suddenly become the most popular actress in all the British Empire?
TIMELESS is the final book of the Parasol Protectorate series: a comedy of manners set in Victorian London, full of werewolves, vampires, dirigibles, and tea-drinking.

My Thoughts: I've been putting this off. I haven't really been happy with the final book in series that I've enjoyed overall. I wanted to read Carriger's new book Prudence but realized a few pages in that I really didn't know enough about the daughter since I never finished this series.
This book start a couple years after book 4. The Maccon's are comfortably living in Lord Akeldama's closet, the pack is living next door, and the vampire hive has moved to the country. The quiet doesn't last. With a summons from the oldest supernatural, a murder of the Scotland beta, and secrets coming to light things go downhill fast.
I didn't hate this book but I also didn't love it as much as the previous books. The trip to Egypt was all over the place. A lot happens but I felt lost and still had questions when it ended. There were lots of mummies, deaths, near deaths, kidnappings and attacks that were eye rolling, strangers in balloons and of course the Tunstell's acting troupe.
I did like having Madame Lefoux around even if I never understood what she was around for. Also I liked how the author addressed the issue of Lord Maccon being immortal and his wife decidedly not. My favorite scenes were between Biffy and Professor Lyall. They had a nice relationship even if it only took place in this book. I would definitely read more about those two or just about Biffy growing more into his current/future role in the London pack.
Now I will be moving on to the new series featuring the Maccon's daughter Prudence. Who we found out in this book does not like her name.

Rating: 4

Friday, April 17, 2015

Mini Thoughts ~ Waistcoats & Weaponry

Waistcoats & Weaponry (Finishing School #3)

by Gail Carriger
published by Little, Brown Books
Genre: YA, Steampunk, Supernatural, Shifters

Summary (Goodreads): Sophronia continues second year finishing school in style -- with a steel-bladed fan secreted in the folds of her ball gown. She, best friend Dimity, sweet sootie Soap, and charming Lord Felix Mersey stow away on train to return classmate Sidheag to her werewolf pack in Scotland. No one suspects what or who would be aboard the suspiciously empty train.

Mini Thoughts: This was not my favorite of this series. Sophronia annoyed me in this book. Lots of flopping back and forth between Lord Mersey and Soap. Also, seemed very selfish for a lot of it.
I also didn't like the main plot of this book. The whole train ride and the picklemen I found boring.
There were two things that saved this for me. The writing was great as usual and the secondary story of Sidheag and the Scotland pack. This gave more background and got characters into place for when  Parasol Protectorate starts up.

Rating: 4

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

New Releases ~ week of 04/13/2015


Accidentally Evil by Lara Chapman (#2 Xyzs of Being Wicked)
Aunt Dimity and the Summer King by Nancy Atherton (#20 Aunt Dimity)
Bad Babysitter by Matthew Holm, Jennifer L Holm (#19 Babymouse)
Bloodkin by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes (#2 Maeveara Trilogy)
Breaking Ties by Vaughn R. Demont (#4 Broken Mirrors)
Crushed by Lauren Layne (#2 Redemption)
Dante of the Maury River by Gigi Amateau (#3 Horses of the Maury River)
Dare to Hold by Carly Phillips (#6 Dare to Love)
Dream a Little Dream by Kerstin Gier (#1 Silver Trilogy)
Flame of the Phoenix by N J Walters (#6 Hades' Carnival)
Forged by Erin Bowman (#3 Taken)
His Perfect Wolf by Elle Boon (#2 Mystic Wolves)
Ropes and Revenge by Jessie Evans (#6 Lonesome Point Texas)
Second Guard by J D Vaughn (#1 Second Guard)
Sing a Worried Song by William Deverell (#6 Arthur Beauchamp)
Slated for Death by Elizabeth J Duncan (#6 Penny Brannigan Mystery)
The Inn at Ocean's Edge by Colleen Coble (#1 Sunset Cove)
The Masque of a Murderer by Susanna Calkins (#3 Lucy Campion Mysteries)
The Pet and the Pendulum by Gordon McAlpine (#3 The Misadventures of Edgar & Allan Poe)
The Pretty App by Katie Sise (#2 App)
The Wondrous and the Wicked by Page Morgan (#3 Dispossessed)
The World Forgot by Martin Leicht, Isla Neal (#3 Ever-Expanding Universe)
Their Virgin Mistress by Shayla Black, Lexi Blake (#7 Masters of Menage)
Wild With You by Sara Jane Stone (#4 Independence Falls)
Wilderness Rising by A L Shields (#2 Church Builder)
Window Wall by Melanie Rawn (#4 Glass Thorns)
With Vics You Get Eggroll by Diane Vallere (#3 Mad for Mod Mysteries)

Monday, April 13, 2015

Book Review ~ Dead Heat

Dead Heat (Alpha & Omega #4)

by Patricia Briggs
published by Ace
Genre: Adult, PNR, Fantasy, Shifters, Supernatural,

Summary (Goodreads): For once, mated werewolves Charles and Anna are not traveling because of Charles’s role as his father’s enforcer. This time, their trip to Arizona is purely personal, as Charles plans to buy Anna a horse for her birthday. Or at least it starts out that way...

Charles and Anna soon discover that a dangerous Fae being is on the loose, replacing human children with simulacrums. The Fae’s cold war with humanity is about to heat up—and Charles and Anna are in the cross fire.

My Thoughts: It's saying something that the author got me to tear up over a side character that we just met in this book. This has been one of my favorite series since they started and this story was a great addition to the set.
Anna grew on me more in this story. She was still the same Omega, doing what she needed to do to help. It seemed more fluid, to me, rather than just a defiance thing. My favorite thing about this story was learning more about Charles' past. It humanized him in a way that we haven't gotten in previous books. Learning that he had actual friends and almost another family outside of his father and brother.
I also got the one thing I wanted more of from the previous book, the FBI and Cantrip agents. I'm not sure how they can be kept in future books but I would definitely like them to be. This goes along with the fae making it clear that they are following their own rules and choices are going to have to be made.
The only thing that kept pulling me slightly out of the book was all the horse trivia. I very much felt like Anna and could not understand half of what was being said. That said, there were some great horses with great personalities that added to the overall plot.
*On a side note. I finished Vision in Silver by Anne Bishop just before this and really noticed (and loved) the difference in the authors' worlds. We have a story in this book (Dead Heat) about a werewolf who stays in his wolf form for months and the author makes a point of stating this is not good in her world. Where as in ViS the wolfs cannot stand to be in human form for even a full day at times. I always like when the authors lay down the rules for the supernatural/magic in their world and then stick to it.

Rating: 4


Thursday, April 9, 2015

Some Thursday Randomness


Final trailer for Avengers: Age of Ultron. We get a run down of all the characters present.

I like quirky things, especially when it comes to home stuff. Think Geek has some really cool things.
Old Book Pillow Classics
ThinkGeek
Doctor Who- Adipose Stress Toy
Think Geek
Fan Art
Found artist Janna Prosvirina on DeviantArt (JanaFairyArt). Was looking for things that felt like Spring. I am so ready the weather to warm up and stay warm.
Wisteria
(deviantArt)
Foxglove Garden
(DeviantArt)
Sunflower
(DeviantArt)


Tuesday, April 7, 2015

New Releases ~ week of 04/06/2015



A Deadly Affair at Bobtail Ridge by Terry Shames (#4 Samuel Craddock Mysteries)
A Deadly Web by Kay Hooper (#2 Bishop Files)
A Forest Divided by Erin Hunter (#5 Warriors: Dawn of the Clans)
A Fright to the Death by Dawn Eastman (#3 A Family Fortune Mystery)
A Highlander's Passion by Vonnie Davis (#2 Highlander's Beloved)
Bittersweet by Susan Wittig Albert (#23 The China Bayles Herbal Mysteries)
Bridges Burned by Annette Dashofy (#3 Zoe Chambers Mysteries)
Buried Secrets by Irene Hannon (#1 Men of Valor)
Buy a Whisker by Sofie Ryan (#2 Second Chance Cat Mystery)
Carry the Ocean by Heidi Cullinan (#1 Roosevelt)
Chasing Sunsets by Karen Kingsbury (#2 Angels Walking)
Come to Me Recklessly by A L Jackson (#3 Closer to You)
Compulsion by Allison Brennan (#2 Maxine Revere)
Dark Chocolate Demise by Jenn McKinlay (#7 Cupcake Mystery)
Dark Heir by Faith Hunter (#9 Jane Yellowrock)
Dark Instincts by Suzanne Wright (#4 The Phoenix Pack)
Deceiving by Rhiannon Jean (#2 The Watcher Series)
Deception on Sable Hill by Shelley Shepard Gray (#2 Chicago World's Fair Mysteries)
Demise in Denim by Duffy Brown (#5 Consignment Shop Mysteries)
Disciple of the Wind by Steve Bein (#3 Fated Blades)
Empire of The Night by Kelley Armstrong (#2 Age of Legends)
Every Breath You Take by Chris Marie Green (#3 Jensen Murphy, Ghost For Hire)
Falling in Love by Donna Leon (#24 Guido Brunetti)
Five Alarm Fudge by Christine DeSmet (#3 Fudge Shop Mysteries)
From the Start by Melissa Tagg (#1 Walker Family)
Invincible by J. L. Beck (#3 A Kingpin Love Affair)
Killer in the Kitchen by Donald Bain (#43 Murder, She Wrote)
Lemon Pies and Little White Lies by Ellery Adams (#4 Charmed Pie Shoppe Mystery)
Manhattan in Miniature by Margaret Grace (#8 Miniature)
Mate Bond by Jennifer Ashley (#7 Shifters Unbound)
The Melody Lingers On by Mary Higgins Clark (#3 Under Suspicion)
Miles from Nowhere by Amy Clipston (#3 Roadside Assistance Trilogy)
Miss Julia Lays Down the Law by Ann B Ross (#17 Miss Julia)
Miss Mayhem by Rachel Hawkins (#2 Rebel Belle)
On the Run by Jo Davis (#4 Sugarland Blue)
One Mile Under by Andrew Gross (#4 Ty Hauck)
One True Heart by Jodi Thomas (#8 Harmony)
Pride v. Prejudice by Joan Hess (#20 Claire Malloy Mysteries)
Shadow of a Spout by Amanda Cooper (#2 Teapot Collector Mystery)
Silver Bastard by Joanna Wylde (#1 Silver Valley)
Sticky Situation by Jessie Crockett (#3 Sugar Grove Mysteries)
Still the One by Jill Shalvis (#6 Animal Magnetism)
Swansong by Damien Boyd (#4 DI Nick Dixon)
The Black Reckoning by John Stephens (#3 The Books of Beginning)
The Cowgirl's Little Secret by Silver James (#2 Red Dirt Royalty)
The Enticement by Tara Sue Me (#4 Submissive)
The Lady Meets Her Match by Gina Conkle (#2 Midnight Meetings)
The Readaholics and the Falcon Fiasco by Laura DiSilverio (#1 Book Club Mystery)
The Rebirths of Tao by Wesley Chu (#3 Lives of Tao)
The Shadows by J. R. Ward (#13 Black Dagger Brotherhood)
Tracker by C J Cherryh (#7 Foreigner 4)
Vengeance of the Demon by Diana Rowland (#7 Kara Gillian)
When I'm Gone by Abbi Glines (#11 Rosemary Beach)
Wicked Stitch by Amanda Lee (#8 Embroidery Mystery)

Thursday, April 2, 2015

Some Thursday Randomness

I only really know James Corden from Doctor Who but have found some skits from his first week of hosting humorous. Here is one with him and David Beckham doing a fake underwear line.


Artwork by Isabel Westling (Tumblr)
Walking Blind
How to Train Your Dragon
Bookmarks
from Fancy.com
Esty