Armchair BEA 2015 ~ Character Chatter

Today's topics are Character Chatter and Blogging 101.
I fall more into the basic blogger category so nothing really to give in the way of advise. My thing lately is if it's becoming a chore then take a break or cut back. I've only been doing about 3 posts a week this year and with all the real life problems this month I've been lucky to get 1 posted. I do use NetGalley for e arcs when something catches my eye. Just be sure not to get click happy. They add up quick.

Characters: Favorites Love or Hate
I've always loved the quirky side characters. Sometimes even more than the main character/s. The first to come to mind is Nick from Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark Hunter series. He eventually got his own YA series The Chronicles of Nick. I'm still waiting to see how the two series are going to meet up and make sense, and hoping that it works.

She doesn't really fall under quirky or maybe a different type of quirk is Meg from Anne Bishop's The Others series. I love this series and all the characters but Meg is what keeps me reading them.

I can't really think of any one character that I hate enough to remember but I'm sure they will all come to me tomorrow when I see everyone's posts.

Armchair BEA 2015 ~ Visual Expressions

 

Today's topics are Visual Expressions and Social Media. I am horrible at the social media thing so I'm focusing on the visuals.
Graphic Novels
I'm still exploring and finding my way around the world of graphic novels but am enjoying the search.

Fables by Bill Willingham is still a favorite. It is ending/has ended this year but there are so many offshoots that I'll be reading for a while.

Not sure how new this is but my local library has started stocking a bunch of autobiographies in graphic form. I don't normally read this genre but I find them more enjoyable in this format. Currently reading Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic by Alison Bechdel. I've also read The Complete Persepolis by  Marjane Satrapi (review)







WebComics
I came across this list(website) that has at least 40 webcomics (that they feel everyone should read). I liked the breakdown they used; finished, rarely updated, etc. I will say I found more plus other opinions in the many many comments of this article. Girl Genius is one that I would recommend (Webcomic)

Fan Art/ Cover Art
I love art of most kinds. Even though we shouldn't, I know I always look at the cover first when deciding on what to read.
One of my favorite cover artists is Tony Mauro (website). He has done many covers for many UF series. These are some of my favorites.

Nalini Singh's
Guild Hunter series

Yasmine Galenorn's
Indigo Court series

Jennifer Estep's
Elemental Assassin series

I also love when I come across great fan art for a book/series I love. DeviantArt is a time suck for me.

A Darker Shade of Magic fan art
by ECALA (deviantArt)

Harry Dresden
by  thegryph (deviantArt)

Armchair BEA 2015 ~ Introductions

Tell us a bit about yourself: How long have you been blogging? Where are you from? How did you get into blogging?
**Hi, Kristina here. I've been here sorta blogging for about  5 yrs. This started and sometimes is still a place where I could vent about a book. Also, since I love series, it helps me keep track of my thoughts on the old books so I don't have to do a reread when the new one comes out.

Why do you loving reading and blogging?
**Reading has always been an escape for me. Which is why you won't see many if any contemporary books on here. I have enough real life in my life don't need to read more.

What is your theme song?
Don't know that it's a theme song but I'm really enjoying Carrie Underwood's newest song "Little Toy Guns". I also love the fantasy aspect of the video.


What is your favorite genre and why?
This depends on my mood. The main ones are Fantasy, UF (Urban Fantasy), and PNR (Paranormal Romance). It doesn't matter if it is adult, YA, or MG as long as it's a good book I'll read it.

What book are you reading right now?
Many. I was having trouble settling on one and started many. I seem to be going more with The Grendel Affair but trying to finish Fun Home by the end of the week. The last is Gris Grimly's Frankenstein. There may be a few more that I looked at when trying to decide :)

New Releases ~ week of 05/25/2015

A Leopard's Path by Lia Davis (#5 Ashwood Falls)

A Match for Marcus Cynster by Stephanie Laurens (#23 The Cynster Series)
Against the Tide by Kat Martin (#3 Brodies of Alaska)
All of Me by Jennifer Bernard (#1 Love Between the Bases)
Back to You by Lauren Dane (#3 Hurley Boys)
Brokedown Cowboy by Maisey Yates (#2 Copper Ridge)
Cherry Lane by Rochelle Alers (#5 Cavanaugh Island)
Cold Fear by Toni Anderson (#4 Cold Justice)
A Conspiracy of Princes by Justin Somper (#2 Enemies of the Prince)
Dearest Rogue by Elizabeth Hoyt (#8 Maiden Lane)
Death By Coffee by Alex Erickson (#1 Death By Coffee)
Death of a Cupcake Queen by Lee Hollis (#6 Hayley Powell Food & Cocktails Mysteries)
Disintegration by Richard Thomas (#1 Windy City Dark Mystery)

Falling Hard by HelenKay Dimon (#3 Bad Boys Undercover)
Farmed and Dangerous by Edith Maxwell (#3 Local Foods Mysteries)
Finding Glory by Sara Arden (#3 Home to Glory)
Give Up The Ghost by Kelly Moran (#2 Phantoms Trilogy)
Gray Vengeance by Alan McDermott (#5 Tom Gray)
Hades by Larissa Ione (#11.5 Demonica #6.5 Lords of Deliverance)
Hidden Devotion by Lila Dubois, Mari Carr (#6 Trinity Masters)
Independence Day by Ben Coes (#5 Dewey Andreas)
Just One Taste by Kimberly Kincaid (#4.5 Pine Mountain)
Love in the Time of Scandal by Caroline Linden (#3 Scandals)
Murder at Beechwood by Alyssa Maxwell (#3 Gilded Newport Mystery)
Only The Brave by Mel Sherratt (#2 DS Allie Shenton)
People of the Songtrail by W Michael Gear, Kathleen O'Neal Gear (#22 First North American)
Piranha by Clive Cussler (#10 The Oregon Files)

Radiant Angel by Nelson DeMille (#7 John Corey)
Rebel Ink by Laura Wright (#3 Wicked Ink Chronicles)
Rescuing the Bad Boy by Jessica Lemmon (#2 Second Chance)
Rules of the Game by Lori Wilde (#2 Stardust, Texas)
Sea Glass Sunrise by Donna Kauffman (#4 Bachelors of Blueberry Cove)
Searching for Beautiful by Jennifer Probst (#3 Searching For)
Secret Brother by V. C. Andrews (#3 Christopher's Diary)
Somewhere Along the Way by Ruth Cardello (#4 Andrades)
Survivor by Mike Shepherd (#2 Vicky Peterwald)
Tail Gait by Rita Mae Brown (#24 Mrs Murphy (with Sneaky Pie Brown))
Texas Tough by Janet Dailey (#2 Tylers of Texas)
The Cage by Megan Shepherd (#1 Cage)
The Lady Hellion by Joanna Shupe (#3 Wicked Deceptions)
The Marriage Season by Linda Lael Miller (#3 Brides of Bliss County)
The Resurrection by Julie Plec (#3 Originals)
The Talon of the Hawk by Jeffe Kennedy (#3 Twelve Kingdoms)
UnDefeated by J.C. Valentine (#3 Wayward Fighters)
Under the Lights by Shannon Stacey (#1 Boys of Fall)
Wedding Bells in Christmas by Debbie Mason (#4 Christmas, Colorado)
What Lies Behind by J. T. Ellison (#4 Samantha Owens)
When Darkness Ends by Alexandra Ivy (#12 The Guardians of Eternity)

New Releases ~ week of 05/18/2015

A School for Unusual Girls by Kathleen Baldwin (#1 Stranje House)

Alien Sky by Daniel Arenson (#2 Alien Hunters)
Bone to Be Wild by Carolyn Haines (#15 Sarah Booth Delaney)
Chantress Fury by Amy Butler Greenfield (#3 Chantress)
Cornered by HelenKay Dimon (#6 Corcoran Team)
Dangerous Deception by Kami Garcia, Margaret Stohl (#3 Dangerous Creatures)
Death Ex Machina by Gary Corby (#5 Athenian Mysteries)
Eighth Grave After Dark by Darynda Jones (#8 Charley Davidson)
Eternity's Wheel by Neil Gaiman (#3 InterWorld)
Ever Night by Gena Showalter (#12 Lords of the Underworld Series)
Flame Out by M P Cooley (#2 June Lyons)
Game Changer by Melissa Cutler (#3 Destiny Falls / Bomb Squad)

Gemini Rising by Ranae Rose (#2 Tempting Signs)
Hold Me Like a Breath by Tiffany Schmidt (#1 Once upon a Crime Family)
In Firefly Valley by Amanda Cabot (#2 Texas Crossroads)
Lion Heart by A. C. Gaughen (#3 Scarlet)
Nothing but Shadows by Cassandra Clare, Sarah Rees Brennan (#4 Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy)
Once Pure by Cecy Robson (#3 Shattered Past)
Protective Instinct by Katie Reus (#6 Moon Shifter)
Radiant State by Peter Higgins (#3 Wolfhound Century)
Robert B. Parker's Kickback by Ace Atkins (#44 Spenser)
Six and a Half Deadly Sins by Colin Cotterill (#10 Dr. Siri Paiboun)
Skies of Ash by Rachel Howzell Hall (#2 Detective Elouise Norton)

Stallion Magic by Deborah Fletcher Mello (#8 Stallion Brothers)
Sugarbaby by Crystal Green (#2 Aidan Falls)
Summer's End by Mary Alice Monroe (#3 Low Country Summer Trilogy)
Talking Dirty by Elliott James (#5 Pax Arcana)
The Bride Fonseca Needs by Abby Green (#2 Billionaire Brothers)
The Case of the Sin City Sister by Lynne Hinton (#2 Divine Private Detective Agency Mystery)
The Choosing by Rachelle Dekker (#1 Seer)
The Hanged Man by P N Elrod (#1 On Her Majesty's Psychic Service)
The Harvest Man by Alex Grecian (#4 Scotland Yard's Murder Squad)
The Neptune Challenge by Polly Holyoke (#2 The Neptune Project)
Tracking Magic by Shannon Mayer (#0.4 Rylee Adamson)

Review ~ Inherit the Wind

Inherit the Wind (Fables volume 17)

by Bill Willingham
Illustrated by Mark Buckingham, Joao Ruas, Steve Leialoha, Andrew Pepoy, P. Craig Russell, Adam Hughes
Genre: Adult, Graphic Novel, Fantasy, Fairy Tale Re-Telling,

Summary (Goodreads): The tights and capes have been stored away forever, but it remains to be seen if Haven and its refugee inhabitants have survived the onslaught of. Where do the Fables go from here? Bigby and Snow White's cubs try to move forward after learning a hard lesson about life and death. And the loveable, fan-favorite hero Bufkin the Flying Monkey gets into more trouble when he finally reaches his homeland of Oz. This volume collects Fables issues #108-#113.

My Thoughts: There were three main parts to this collection. Finding the next North Wind, Bufkin in Oz, and Spratt getting ready for the return of the fables. There was a bit about returning to The Farm but not a big part.
I enjoyed the tests etc to figure out which of the cubs would become the North Wind. Spratt's storyline seemed more like setting up for future stories/conflicts. So far, what I've read in the last two volumes, the Oz story is good but not really grabbing me.
My biggest problem with this volume is the transitions. Usually there is more flow between the stories. In this volume it seemed to be jumping around every few pages. It made it more difficult to follow some of the things happening.
The artwork was still as great as usual. I also liked the mini stories (fables) at the end. Both the writing and the artwork keeps me interested and I will be finishing up the main Fables volumes and then tracking down all the side stories.

Rating: 4

Book Review ~ Side Jobs

Side Jobs (Dresden Files #12.5)

by Jim Butcher
Published by Roc
genre: Adult, anthology, supernatural, fantasy

Summary (Goodreads): Here, together for the first time, are the shorter works of #1 New York Times bestselling author Jim Butcher-a compendium of cases that Harry and his cadre of allies managed to close in record time. The tales range from the deadly serious to the absurdly hilarious. Also included is a new, never-before-published novella that takes place after the cliff-hanger ending of the new April 2010 hardcover, Changes. This is a must-have collection for every devoted Harry Dresden fan as well as a perfect introduction for readers ready to meet Chicago's only professional wizard.

Contains:
+ "Restoration of Faith"
+ "Vignette"
+ "Something Borrowed" -- from My Big Fat Supernatural Wedding
+ "It's My Birthday Too" -- from Many Bloody Returns
+ "Heorot" -- from My Big Fat Supernatural Honeymoon
+ "Day Off" -- from Blood Lite
+ "Backup" -- novelette from Thomas' point of view, originally published by Subterranean Press
+ "The Warrior" -- novelette from Mean Streets
+ "Last Call" -- from Strange Brew
+ "Love Hurts" -- from Songs of Love and Death
+ Aftermath -- all-new novella from Murphy's point of view, set forty-five minutes after the end of Changes

My Thoughts: I will admit up front that I am an anthology junky. I own all but one of the books listed in the description.That said, just because I own them doesn't mean I've read them yet.
Even the ones I had read previously I enjoyed. I liked looking back at earlier times in the story-line.
Aftermath was my favorite for the reasons listed. It was interesting seeing things from Murphy's POV. Especially after how Changes ended. This story was also heavy with the werewolves working alongside Murphy. It also featured a bad guy/group that I found interesting even in the short amount of time we got with them. They were amphibian with acid spitting growths on walls.
Overall, If you are a fan of this series, you'll enjoy most of these stories. There are some that are better than others. One the author even tells you up front was his first attempt at writing a short story and it shows. I still liked the story (Restoration of Faith) even if the writing wasn't up to par. It was also nice to have the continuation between Changes going into Ghost Story.

Rating: Overall: 4

New Releases ~ week of 05/11/2015

A Dance of Chaos by David Dalglish (#6 Shadowdance)

A Game of Thrones, Volume 4 by George R. R. Martin (#4 GoT Graphic Novels)
Adored by Lexi Blake (#8.5 Masters and Mercenaries)
All Played Out by Cora Carmack (#3 Rusk University)
Anatomy of Evil by Will Thomas (#7 Barker and Llewelyn)
And Sometimes I Wonder About You by Walter Mosley (#5 Leonid McGill)
Apex by Ramez Naam (#3 Nexus)
Born of Defiance by Sherrilyn Kenyon (#9 The League)
Bruja by Aileen Erin (#4 Alpha Girl)
Burn by Sarah Fine, Walter Jury (#2 Scan)
Can't Resist a Cowboy by Elizabeth Otto (#3 Paint River Ranch)

Crown of Ptolemy by Rick Riordan (#3 Percy Jackson & Kane Chronicles Crossover)
Defiant by Karina Sumner-Smith (#2 Towers Trilogy)
Dry Bones by Craig Johnson (#11 Walt Longmire Mysteries)
End of Days by Susan Ee (#3 Penryn & the End of Days)
Maxon by Christina Bauer (#4 Angelbound)
Moonlight on Butternut Lake by Mary McNear (#3 Butternut Lake Trilogy)
Nil Unlocked by Lynne Matson (#2 Nil)
Once Burned by Gerry Boyle (#10 Jack McMorrow)
Ruined Abbey by Anne Emery (#8 Monty Collins)
Shadow of a Doubt by Tiffany A. Snow (#2 Tangled Ivy)
Solitude Creek by Jeffery Deaver (#4 Kathryn Dance)

The Big Fix by Linda Grimes (#3 In a Fix)
The Body in the Birches by Katherine Hall Page (#22 Faith Fairchild)
The Clue at Black Creek Farm by Carolyn Keene (#9 Nancy Drew Diaries)
The Enemy Inside by Steve Martini (#13 Paul Madriani)
The Fatal Flame by Lyndsay Faye (#3 Timothy Wilde Mysteries)
The Forgotten Room by Lincoln Child (#4 Dr. Jeremy Logan)
The Fugitive by John Grisham (#5 Theodore Boone)
The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest by Melanie Dickerson (#1 Medieval Fairy Tale Romance)
The Proposal at Siesta Key by Shelley Shepard Gray (#2 Amish Brides of Pinecraft)
The Secret World of Mermaids by Jordan Quinn (#8 Kingdom of Wrenly)
The Sniper and the Wolf by Scott McEwen (#3 Sniper Elite)
The Telling Stone by Maureen Doyle McQuerry (#2 Time Out of Time)
The Wrath and the Dawn by Renée Ahdieh (#1 Wrath and the Dawn)
To Win Her Favor by Tamera Alexander (#2 Belle Meade Plantation)
Whenever You Come Around by Robin Lee Hatcher (#2 King's Meadow)

Quick mini-blog vacay

Life has gotten crazy around here. Everything from people running red lights and totaling our one of our cars to a constant cough that refuses to leave. Add the ten year old finishing up his last month of elementary school and I've barely been able to read let alone blog.  Hopefully I'll be back on track next week.
Until then, Everyone Stay Safe and Happy Reading!

New Releases ~ week of 05/03/2015

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas (#1 Court of Thorns and Roses)

A Finely Knit Murder by Sally Goldenbaum (#9 Seaside Knitters Mystery)
A God in Ruins by Kate Atkinson (#2 Life After Life)
A Long Time Until Now by Michael Z Williamson (#1 Long Time Until Now)
A Midsummer Night's Romp by Katie MacAlister (#2 Matchmaker in Wonderland)
After The War by Jessica Scott (#2 Homefront)
Alien Separation by Gini Koch (#11 Katherine "Kitty" Katt)
At the Stars by Elisabeth Staab (#1 Evergreen Grove)
Atlantis in Peril by T A Barron (#2 Atlantis Saga)
Busted by Shiloh Walker (#3 Barnes Brothers)

Cat's Lair by Christine Feehan (#7 Leopard)
Checked Out by Elaine Viets (#14 Dead-End Job)
Crimson Bound by Rosamund Hodge (#2 Cruel Beauty)
Day Shift by Charlaine Harris (#2 Midnight, Texas)
Deadly Desires at Honeychurch Hall by Hannah Dennison (#2 Honeychurch Hall Mysteries)
Death Under Glass by Jennifer McAndrews (#2 Stained Glass Mystery)
Don't Go Home by Carolyn Hart (#25 Death On Demand)
Dust to Dust by Melissa Walker (#2 Ashes)
Fillet of Murder by Linda S. Reilly (#1 Deep Fried Mystery)
Flourless to Stop Him by Nancy J Parra (#3 Baker's Treat Mystery)
Grant by Jennifer Ashley (#2 Riding Hard)

Grave Phantoms by Jenn Bennett (#3 Roaring Twenties)
Hail Storme by W. L. Ripley (#5 Wyatt Storme Thriller)
Her Wild Hero by Paige Tyler (#3 X-OPS)
Hiss and Tell by Claire Donally (#4 Sunny & Shadow)
Ice Kissed by Amanda Hocking (#2 Kanin Chronicles)
Into the Dorkness by John Kloepfer (#2 Galaxy's Most Wanted)
Kilts and Daggers by Victoria Roberts (#2 Highland Spies)
Last Kiss by Jessica Clare (#3 Hitman)
Lawless in Leather by Melanie Scott (#3 New York Saints)
Leviathan by Jack Campbell (#5 The Lost Fleet : Beyond the Frontier)
Lots of Bots by C J Richards (#2 Robots Rule)

Midnight's Kiss by Thea Harrison (#8 Elder Races)
Ming Tea Murder by Laura Childs (#16 Tea Shop Mysteries)
Murder on Amsterdam Avenue by Victoria Thompson (#17 Gaslight Mysteries)
Neighing with Fire by Kathryn O'Sullivan (#3 Colleen McCabe)
Oracle by Michelle West (#6 House Wars)
Overtaken by Mark H Kruger (#2 Overpowered)
Phoenix in Shadow by Ryk E Spoor (#2 Balanced Sword)
Prodigal by Sherry Ficklin (#2 Lost Imperials)
Riven by Sherry Ficklin (#3 Lost Imperials)
Rock With Wings by Anne Hillerman (#20 Leaphorn & Chee)
Ruins of War by John A Connell (#1 Mason Collins)
Seven Threadly Sins by Janet Bolin (#5 Threadville Mystery)

Some Like It Witchy by Heather Blake (#5 Wishcraft Mystery)
Straits of Hell by Taylor Anderson (#10 Destroyermen)
Sword of the North by Luke Scull (#2 The Grim Company)
Tessa Ever After by Brighton Walsh (#2 Caged in Winter)
The Clouded Sky by Megan Crewe (#2 Earth & Sky Trilogy)
The Confession by Sierra Kincade (#3 Body Work Trilogy)
The Heir by Kiera Cass (#4 The Selection)
The Isle of the Lost by Melissa de la Cruz (#1 Descendants)
The Novice by Taran Matharu (#1 Summoner)
The Secrets of the Storm Vortex by Anne Cameron (#3 Lightning Catcher)
The Seven Sisters by Lucinda Riley (#1 Seven Sisters)
The Stars of Summer by Tara Dairman (#2 Stars)

The Venusian Gambit by Michael J. Martinez (#3 Daedalus)
Triple the Fun by Maureen Child (#57 Billionaires and Babies)
Twice a Texas Bride by Linda Broday (#2 Bachelors of Battle Creek)
Uncharted Inheritance by Keely Brooke Keith (#3 Uncharted)
Undertow by Michael Buckley (#1 Undertow)
Until The Beginning by Amy Plum (#2 After the End)