Circus of the Damned (Anita Blake #3) Review

Circus of the Damned by Laurell K. Hamilton is the third in the Anita Blake series.  I read the first two books like two years ago!  I didn't love them but now that I've been reading paranormal and more horror'ish books for awhile I thought it was time to try again.  I have to say that I think Anita is growing on me!  I still had a hard time with the gore and the horrific creatures, but it was fast paced and entertaining the whole way through.  Unfortunately it didn't quite make it to the really liked and only made it to the liked.  I'll give it 3.5 stars, rounded down to 3 for Shelfari and Goodreads.  BUT I did like it enough I'm actually pretty anxious to read the next one.  I REALLY liked Richard and can't wait to see more of him!
                                                

Description

In Circus of the Damned a rogue master vampire hits town, and Anita gets caught in the middle of an undead turf war. Jean-Claude, the Master Vamp of the city, wants her for his own-but his enemies have other plans. And to make matters worse, Anita takes a hit to the heart when she meets a stunningly handsome junior high science teacher named Richard Zeeman. They're two humans caught in the crossfire. Or so Anita thinks...

This weeks line up...

What are you reading this week?  Well I've got me a nice ol' list of books to read and they are all highly anticipated!  Meaning I went and paid a fortune for them. Okay, so not really.  I mean I did buy them new, which I try not to do too often, but I had a 40% off coupon and one was paperback.  Oh, and one was won, so FREE (best of all!).  And then if I get through all those before the week is up I have a few others here I'm adding to the list.  Anyway... Just tell me to shut up already!  I can't seem to ever keep things short and sweet.
Reading (almost finished)-  Circus of the Damned (Anita Blake #3) by Laurell K. Hamilton

Next up is The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting.  SO excited for this one!!!!  

Then I have The Iron King by Julie Kagawa 

And Wake by Lisa McMann

I think that'll probably be enough to keep me busy, but if not I may have some library books coming in.  Fade Out by Rachel Caine,  And The Mark  by Jen Nadol are the two I'm #1 in line for.  

What's in your line up?

I've reached 50 followers! Guess what that means?! A Giveaway!

BUT the book I'm giving away isn't here yet as I'm going to get it from the author on Saturday.  Signed!  And hopefully some goodies (goodies sound promising!).  Since I'm the mother of two children who could get sick at any given moment I'm AND because I just finished my 25 follower giveaway, I'm pushing it up until next week.  Just to make sure I actually get the book. Sooooo...  I might post it Saturday, but since that's the day of the signing then maybe Sunday, or possibly, it could be Monday.  Yeah, sometime it'll happen.  And you won't want to miss out!

Reading Angel's 100 follower giveaway!

My affiliate, Reading Angel, has reached 100 followers!  To celebrate this accomplishment, and in thanks of all her faithful followers, she is doing a giveaway!   There will be multiple winners and some wonderful books up for grabs!  As well as a $10 gift card to the first place winner.  To enter you'll have to head over to her page Reading Angel.  You won't want to miss out on this one!  Good luck!

New Cover reveal!

Jeaniene Frost's book Eternal Kiss of Darkness is set to be released July 27th.  This is the second of the spin off series and is about Mencheres.  And just so you all know, I STRONGLY recommend reading The Night Huntress series first!
Anyway, here's the cover!  What are your thoughts?  Personally I don't know if I like it.  I don't think Mencheres looks like how I pictured him.  But I suppose it's not bad.
Jeaniene says her thoughts on the cover here and tells a few more details.

In My Mailbox...

is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.
This week I received some winnings!
I won Wake by Lisa McMann with a bunch of awesome swag, including the preview of Fang by James Patterson (thanks Kelsey of Just Blinded Book Reviews!)
I also won Fire and Ice by Laura Hamilton (thanks Courtney of Paranormal Fantasies!).
I got My Bonny Light Horseman off of Goodreads (perfect condition!)
And I bought Black Magic Sanction by Kim Harrison at her signing on Thursday.  Two signed books in one week!  Yay!

  What did you get in your mailbox this week?

I have a problem...

Yes.  A very serious problem!  There are TOO MANY books I WANT!  And TOO many I NEED to read!  There are so many amazing new young adult books that are coming out and I'm still playing catch up from last year!  So I'm thinking I'm going to have a month of all young adult books.  It sounds fun to me!  And will give me a chance to catch up.  Of course then I'll get behind on all the series I'm trying to get through, but at least I wouldn't be going crazy dreaming of reading all the amazing new young adult books.  So first of all I need to find a way to buy them all.  Yeah, huge issue.  I have a few to read still, but I want all these NEW ones I've been seeing everywhere!  
So on April 3rd I'm hoping (planning) on going to see Kimberly Derting, author of The Body Finder, at her signing at Powells (Cedar Hills Crossing).  Maybe (maybe!) I'll get an extra one for giving away!  MAYBE!  And maybe she'll have some swag (maybe!) to throw in.  I'm really excited to meet her though.  She looks like lots of fun!  I'll have to bring my kids (most likely) so that kinda sucks, but my daughter likes meeting authors too, so she'll probably be good.  And they're pretty good at entertaining the audience while we're all waiting.  But hopefully they can be good so I can not be stressed out.  That would make it so I'd leave.  I don't want to be the annoying one with the crazy kids.  So anyway, that crosses one of the books off my list.  
I REALLY REALLY want Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver too though.  I think one of these days I'm just going to put in a big ol' order to amazon.  Oh, and I might buy Need by Carrie Jones cause it's pretty cheap at Powells.  
Anyway, anyone else having this problem?  The blog hop yesterday added to my TBR TOO much!  You BAD BAD bloggers!

UPDATE:  Okay, I'm designating April as Young Adult month!  I maxed out my holds at the library and it looks like the waiting lists are spread out.  I have 2 or 3 I'm number 1 on, but most are a bit of a wait.  I have some here, and I'll still be buying a few (okay, so I bought one today : ()  But at least that will cut down on how many I'll need (want) to buy.  The ones that are going to be coming up fast are Fade Out by Rachel Caine (yeah, I still need to read this one), The Mark by Jen Nadol, and Need by Carrie Jones (which I might cancel if I decide to buy).  Then I'm third and fourth on the waiting list for Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins, Heist Society by Ally Carter, and Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves.  Then I'm fifth for Willow by Julia Hoban and fourteenth for The Maze Runner by James Dashner, and twenty eighth for Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick (might buy this one) and thirty one for Fallen by Lauren Kate.  I'm going to buy Before I Fall (maybe next week?) and The Body Finder (like I already said).  Then before long the new House of Night book will be released (I hope to go to the signing for that one too).  So I can't be going crazy buying more books.  I bought Mississippi Jack by LA Meyer today so I now have the complete collection until the next book comes out.  Okay, I've rambled enough.  Sorry!
Are you going to join me for Young Adult month?  What's on your list?

It's Friday and time for another blog hop!

Last week I signed up but then stuff came up and I didn't have time to finish what I started!  So this week it's super important to me to visit and comment on some new blogs!  Thanks to Crazy-for-Books for doing this!  I had so much fun the first time I did it and I found loads of new blogs!  I try to read and comment on a few blogs each day that I follow, but some days are just TOO busy!  But I really love getting to know you guys and reading your reviews and whatever else (and adding to my TBR!).  So please let me know you stopped by!  And hope you'll join me in the blog hop if you aren't already by signing up at Crazy-for-Books.

Kim Harrison reading, Q&A and signing!

Last night I got to go to Kim Harrison's signing for Black Magic Sanction.  I've been anticipating this for weeks!  I usually have a hard time getting a sitter, I just don't have many options, but my mother in law agreed to come with and watch the kids there.  (I don't think she realized how late it would go though.)
We arrived at Powells right at 7 which is when it was suppose to start so I ended up in the next to last row.  It was pretty packed!  Lots of Portland fans!  Kim started out with doing a reading that was spoiler free!  Just a bit with Trent and Rachel which was a conversation that seems to happen in many (most) of the books with just a little different twist in each one.  I kinda was hoping that she'd do a bit with Jenks, but Trent was okay!  Even though he really pisses me off in almost every book he's still one of my favorite characters.  
After the reading she did questions and they were the usual.  Someone asked for author recommendations and Kim mentioned Vicki Petterson, Charlaine Harris, Rachel Vincent and a few others that I'm not thinking of.  Someone asked how she comes up with characters and her answer was that they are usually brought in to do a certain 'job' and they develop from there.  She said more then that, but maybe you should just go to your own signing and hear more yourself!  She was great though and next time I'm going to be WAY early so I can be in the front!  The signing came next and they went by row.  Which meant I was at the end!  I had to wait a couple hours.  But it was worth it!  When I got up there I got Guy to take a picture on my phone (next time I'm remembering my camera with a flash. And I WAS smiling but I didn't know when the picture was taken and he clicked the wrong one the first time so it took longer, but oh well!).  She personalized my book and I said thanks and that was it!  I had been nervous in the beginning but after waiting that long I wasn't nervous by the time it was my turn.  I'm pretty shy though and so I'm a little mad for not saying more.  I could have said how much I love Jenks or something.  Oh well.  Next time!
My kids were with my mother in law and the first half of the time they were in the kids section reading books but after over an hour and after the reading and Q&A they came over and sat with me.  Lots of people had left from the back so there were seats.  Luckily they were really good and there wasn't really any issues.  Next time I hope to have a sitter who can sit with them at home and I can bring a friend along.  I would have liked to have someone to talk to and chat about the books with, etc.
All in all I had a great time and I look forward to many more readings, signings, and Q&A with Kim!

Told you I was WAY in the back!

Me telling my daughter to push the camera to take a picture.

And my daughter waiting patiently.
And my baby being a happy little guy.  He was having a blast giving 5's!

Review of Fledgling by Octavia Butler

Description

This is the story of an apparently young, amnesiac girl whose alarmingly unhuman needs and abilities lead her to a startling conclusion: She is in fact a genetically modified, 53-year-old vampire. Forced to discover what she can about her stolen former life, she must at the same time learn who wanted-and still wants-to destroy her and those she cares for and how she can save herself. It is a novel that tests the limits of "otherness" and questions what it means to be truly human. 

My Thoughts:  I'm an Octavia Butler fan.  Kindred is on my favorites list and I've reread it several times.  I like how Octavia Butler brings to life a compelling story while dealing with social and racial issues.   But this book just fell flat for me.  The main character, Shori, was too perfect as were her symbionts (the people she drank from).  I had a hard time  getting through this book as I just didn't feel the urge to read it.  But it wasn't a bad story, it just wasn't good for me either.  It was just okay.  So I give it 3 stars.  However, there are many fantastic reviews on amazon so don't take my word for it.  Check them out on amazon and make your own decision whether to read it.     

Giveaway has ended

Thanks everyone who entered and everyone who stopped by to say hi.  I had a lot of fun with my first giveaway and I feel like I met loads of great people!  I will do another giveaway soon I hope!  So keep checking in.  I have some great reviews coming up as well and I hope to see all of you more!
I picked the winners by random.org and the first winner was Jessica and she chose Covet which I mailed out the other day.  The second winner is Donna and she has 48 hours to respond with her choice and her address.  Congratulations both of you and I hope you love the books!

Author Spotlight turns to L.A. Meyer, author of the Bloody Jack Adventures

I believe last week was author week or something like that.  I read loads of blogs where they spotlighted an author or several.  I plan to do several spotlights this week and not all in one day on one post.  We’ll see how that works.  Today I want to put the spotlight on LA Meyer, the author of The Bloody Jack Adventures.   The Bloody Jack Adventures consist of  7 released books and 1 to be released this year making 8.
1. Bloody Jack: Being an Account of the Curious Adventures of Mary ‘Jacky’ Faber Ship’s Boy (2002) 
2. Curse of the Blue Tattoo: Being an Account of the Misadventures of  Jacky Faber, Midshipman and Fine Lady (2004)
3. Under the Jolly Roger: Being an Account of the Further Nautical Adventures of Jacky Faber (2005)
4. In the Belly of the Bloodhound: Being an Account of the Particularly Peculiar Adventure in the Life of Jacky Faber (2006)
5. Mississippi Jack: Being an Account of the Further Waterborne Adventures of Jacky Faber, Midshipman, Fine Lady and Lily of the West (2007)
6. My Bonny Light Horseman (2008)
7. Rapture of the Deep (2009)
8. The Wake of the Lorelei Lee (2010)

I first found out about the Bloody Jack Adventures through my friend Evie.  She went on and on about how great they were and I had to try them out.  I was WOWED immediately and so I went out and bought the first 3 or 4 books.  I sent them along to my sister where they were read not only by her but also by my mother, my brother(s?), and many others.
The journey began about 2 years ago, give or take a few months, and I just got the books back (along with the next few, which my mother purchased) and I loaned  them to my friend Autumn right away.  These books seem to spread like wildfire.  One person reads them and it spreads and continues spreading, well, forever!  I know from Evie reading them it’s spread to at least 10 people from me and then outward from them.  Yes, it’s like an epidemic.  They are just so freaking unbelievable.  So why are they so great?  Well, first of all here is a brief description of the books.
Jacky is a child living on the streets of London in 1797 when she decides to don boys clothing and go on to work as a ships boy sailing the high seas.  It goes on with her further adventures (evident in the titles, ha ha) where her deception is discovered and she is sent to a school in Boston for fine ladies which is where the second book picks up.  Jacky sure has a hard time being a fine lady though and manages to continue to get in some interesting, tough and near impossible situations.  In the third book she's back at the high seas and this time she manages to get her own ship and even becomes a pirate!  At the end of that book she's heading back to Boston where she ends up deciding to go back to the school for fine ladies but somehow manages to end up in the belly of a slaver with the other fine ladies of the school!  This one was a bit slower for me, but Jacky is so entertaining that it still racked up those stars from me!  This is the last one I've read as I've been spreading them out.  This is a series I DO NOT WANT TO END!  I highly encourage you to check out the reviews on amazon, shelfari or goodreads as this description really doesn't accurately describe the amazingness!

So this is suppose to be about LA Meyer, the brilliant author of these books (he's also an artist!).  Doing research for this I found out that he was in the US Navy and that he lived in bombed out Germany right after the war.  He came up with the idea of Jacky from listening to a radio station playing celtic music.  He lives in Maine with his wife Annetje (I hope that's spelled right!) who does the research for his books.
You can find the home page for The Bloody Jack books by going here.
The books have recently been made into audio books and the narrator, Katy Kellgren, did an interview with Mr. Meyer.  You can find that on the site as well or click here to go directly to it.  That interview is where I felt I really got the most information about him and really got to feel like I know him.  It was great!
Most, if not all of these books are 5 stars and they are a series that people of all ages, ethnicity, religion, etc enjoy.  Though they are technically young adult they are so entertaining that everyone loves them!  The audio books have also won three Odyssey Honor Awards.  I can't wait to hear them on audio!



                                  

In My Mailbox this week!

I decided to start doing In My Mailbox because I LOVE everyone else's so much!  In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren.
So this week I didn't get many books and one I've already reviewed (today!)!  It was The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson.  I bought it at amazon.  
I also bought Wake by Lisa McMann which is a book I found out I won today!  I guess I really should have waited!  So I'm going to either stick the copy I bought on a pile for a giveaway in the future or I'll give it away as a gift.    
 I also got Specials (The Uglies) by Scott Westerfeld.  I got that from paperbackswap.  I haven't read The Uglies yet but hopefully I'll get to it soon.  Maybe this week!  I think that's all I got this week.  But next week I should have a longer list as I've won a few books and I'm getting some on my iPhone.                                                 Have a great week everyone!

The Adoration of Jenna Fox Review

Description

Who is Jenna Fox? Seventeen-year-old Jenna has been told that is her name. She has just awoken from a coma, they tell her, and she is still recovering from a terrible accident in which she was involved a year ago. But what happened before that? Jenna doesn't remember her life. Or does she? And are the memories really hers? This fascinating novel represents a stunning new direction for acclaimed author Mary Pearson. Set in a near future America, it takes readers on an unforgettable journey through questions of bio-medical ethics and the nature of humanity. Mary Pearson's vividly drawn characters and masterful writing soar to a new level of sophistication.

This book was one I had on my wishlist for AGES so I didn't remember what it was really about.  When I finally bought it last week I was so eager to read it I picked it up almost immediately.  It started out different.  It had a different feel and as it went on I just started to feel like it was lacking something.  It had an interesting story and characters but I felt like it just didn't quite go deep enough.  Like I wasn't quite 'feeling' it.  It just dropped short of reaching that.  But then in the last half I started thinking that maybe I was wrong, maybe I was going to 'feel' it, that it would all click together and I would be in love with the characters and the story but once again it just dropped short.  The ending was anti climactic to me.  I felt like the build up was there but it didn't quite deliver.  I did like the very last chapter where it told what happened to her, and I'm a sucker for HEA (Happily Ever After) and I felt like at least that part delivered.  So this was a book I liked but just liked.  Didn't love and won't go rushing around getting everyone to read it.  I know many love it though so I hope my review won't keep anyone from reading it themselves and finding out their own opinion.

3 stars

The Great Reveal! Beautiful Darkness and Clockwork Angel.

Well it's Friday evening, late evening, and so most of you won't see this until tomorrow or later and probably this will all be old news by then!  Well, it kinda is to me too because this morning when I woke up the cover of Beautiful Darkness was revealed!  Beautiful Darkness is the sequel to Beautiful Creatures and the second book in the Caster Chronicles by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl.  It is due to be released Oct. 26, 2010.

Here it is!  Isn't it beautiful?!  I like it!  And I think it'll look beautiful on my shelf next to Beautiful Creatures.  Now hopefully I can manage to get a signed copy to match up with my signed copy of Beautiful Creatures!  You can get more info from Kami and Margarets site here.
Beautiful Darkness is not the only cover reveal being done in the past couple days.  Cassandra Clares new book Clockwork Angel has just been revealed as well!  Another highly anticipated novel!  After the Mortal Instruments I have high expectations and I'm sure I won't be let down by this book!  So here's the new cover for Clockwork Angel.  This is the first book in the new series Infernal Devices and takes place in the same world as Mortal Instruments. You can find out more about it and where to enter to win an ARC here.  Clockwork Angel is due to be released September 7, 2010.  Be sure to check out Cassandra Clares website here.  

I won some awards!

First of all Thank You!  I've been working on getting my blog done and organized so it's nice that I have a few people looking at it!  It's an on going project though.  With two kids I only manage a little at a time, so it may look a little different each time.
First of all Thank You Bell from Obsessed! for the One Lovely Blog award.

 Lydia, from The Lost Entwife sent me the award as well as Wendy from Wendy's Minding Spot.

And Kelsey from The Door to Wonderland sent me The Beautiful Blogger Award! 
Edited to add another award from Chrissie's Corner.

Thanks so much ladies!
RULES:

1. Post on your blog that you received the award.
2. Choose 15 other newly discovered bloggers that you love, and award them with this.
3. Send them a message/comment to let them know.

I just don't have time today to pass these out, and to be truthful, not sure I will anytime soon!  I had a hard time just posting my review!  AND I think everyone has received them already!  I have discovered many new blogs in the past week though and I need to get busy getting the awesome blogs buttons up and get them on my blog roll!
I'm also suppose to post 7 things about me you may not know.
1. I'm the oldest child of 5 and am 5 years older then the next one.
2. I grew up in a super religious family and was never allowed to do anything (or read anything good which lead to me sneaking books in my closet).
3. I read to my children everyday.
4. We have a cat named Curious who is CRAZY and Curious (he'll jump in the bath water he's so curious).
5. I have bookshelves that run along the ceiling of my bedroom that are full.  That's not even mentioning the regular bookshelves in my bedroom, living room, and family room and the shelves along the ceiling in the hall and living room that also have books on them.
6. I love to garden.
7. I watch Lost every Tuesday and try to watch comedy Wednesday on ABC (though it's on now and I'm not watching it) and that's pretty much all the tv I watch.  I'd rather be reading.

Seduced by Moonlight by Laurell K. Hamilton

This is the third book in the Meredith Gentry series.  
                    

Description                                             

I am Meredith Gentry, P.I. and Princess Merry, heir to the throne of Fairie. Now there are those among me who whisper I am more. They fear me even as they protect me. And who can blame them? I’ve awakened the dazzling magic that’s slumbered in them for thousands of years. But the thing is, I can’t figure out why. My aunt, the Queen of Air and Darkness, is no longer distracted by her usual sadistic hobbies. Her obsession has turned unwaveringly to me. The mission to get me pregnant and beat my cousin Prince Cel to the crown is taking longer than expected. Even though I spend each night with the Queen’s Ravens, my immortal guards, no child has come of our decadent pleasures. But something else is happening. My magic courses through me uncontrollably. And as I lock my half-mortal body with their full-Sidhe blooded ones, the power surges like never before. It all began with the chalice. I dreamed of it, and it appeared, cool and hard, beside me when I awoke. My guards know the ancient relic well—its disappearance ages ago stripped them of their vital powers. But it is here with us now. My touch resonates with its force, and they’re consumed with it, their Sidhe essences lit up by it. But even as they cherish me for this unexpected gift, there are those who loathe me for it. Me, a mongrel, only half fey and part mortal. The Unseelie court has suffered for so long, and there are some who would not have it weakened further by an impure queen. My enemies grow in number every day. But they do not know what I am capable of. Nor, for that matter, do I. . . . In Seduced by Moonlight , Laurell K. Hamilton brings the dark, erotic reign of the immortal fey to a startling new depth. Full of sensuality and the consuming anticipation of latent powers unleashed, this world of gods, shapeshifters, and immortal souls is unveiled in all of its supreme magnificence and its treacherous deceits. From the Hardcover edition.

My thoughts:
I love these books for this reason: I love the world created with faeries living among the humans in modern day and humans knowing they exist. I love the fae. They are all different and unique and the imagination used to create all of them had to be great! I like Merry and the way she deals with her situations. I think she's very strong and brave when I may have just run and hid from it all. The sex so far has been good. I mean, it's not tiring reading it, but this book only had like 1 1/2 sex scenes, approx. But the sex in these books just fits (so far).
What I don't like: There is so much TALKING and describing! It seems like the same scene goes on for a quarter of the book. No, it doesn't seem like it, IT DOES! It's frustrating to feel like I'm never getting anywhere. I'm pretty torn on what to rate this one. I really liked it but I was so annoyed and frustrated at parts that I'm just not sure. I know that it was necessary. With 16 men with her (at the end anyway) and each one unique it's just a lot of describing! And it actually takes from the story. BUT it needs to be there because otherwise we wouldn't 'know' them. This time I'll have to read the next book sooner then the last one. It's probably been close to a year since I read the last one! I'm going to say 3 1/2 stars but I'll round it up to 4 for shelfari. 

Now I'm reading The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson.  Haven't got far but its very different so far.  In a good way.

Our Local Library and it's effort to make us all happy!

Our library system here is pretty cool. I come from a small town with a teeny tiny library (though they built a new one after I moved) that never had anything I wanted. The library system here is comprised of many different branches.
A main library downtown, a library in the mall, and two others in different parts of our city. We also have branches in the smaller towns around here which makes two or three more. I'm not even sure!
Lately the library has been doing serious revamp and building brand new libraries! One of those in a small town to the north was finished last summer and it was very exciting! I'm not sure why it's such a big deal to us but my daughter loves the library and it's a place I can go with the kids and they can play and I can relax.
They have nice play areas in all the branches with toys and cool kid couches and chairs and they have computers with kid games and stories to listen/watch on them. My daughter could play there all day! Well, the brand new branches have an even better play area! So for awhile I visited that new one and then I started going to the mall branch again because it's much closer.
Now the one closest to our house (it might be equal distance to the mall one) got a new building and we went last week to check it out. This one is the best BY FAR! It was awesome! The play area is kind of in the middle and has curved 1/2 shelves to sort of block it in. So the kids aren't running amock in the library and the adults can get on the library catalog or even self check out while the kids play and still be able to see them. I thought that was awesome. There's also another little kid area that's just a small area for playing games like checkers. There's even a rocking chair!
There's a cool teen area that really looks like a teen area and it's kind of in it's own little cove. In the back of the library is the cozy area filled with comfy chairs and tables with plug-ins that you can pop up to plug in your laptop. It has lamps at each one and it even has a fireplace! Then there's an area to the side that has floor to ceiling windows looking out at a courtyard area and a whole slew of comfy rocking chairs to just sit and look outside! I have definitely found our library (click to get better description)! Now all my books I put on hold online I'll be directing to that branch. I loved the feel of it and it was all relaxed and had nice normal parents that didn't just leave their kids to run amock and scream their heads off. That was actually the reason I hadn't been to the library in weeks. The mall library is always full of kids that aren't supervised and sometimes even when they are the parents just don't understand proper library behavior. My baby was sleeping last time when mother came in with two kids and they immediately started being crazy. They were screaming and yelling and banging blocks on each other and were completely inappropriate! My baby woke up terrified! I couldn't get him to calm down because the kids were freaking him out! I had to rush out of the library, which was hard with my 5 year old who didn't want to leave and didn't understand. I was so angry that as I rushed out I was saying stuff about kids that can't behave appropriately in the library and stuff. The mother was RIGHT THERE! She just let them act that way! The sounds were so loud that I blinked each time they pounded the blocks and shrieked. The librarians didn't even know what to do, though they should have said something. They normally do. Maybe this mother had given them trouble in the past. I don't know, but that was my last straw with that library. I'll only go if I really need to go to the mall and I'll hesitate even then. So I'm VERY happy to have found this branch and can't wait for this weeks visit!
Sorry I kind of rambled today!  But I'm very excited about this awesome new library and I'm pretty proud to live in  a city that finds libraries so important that they design them perfectly for the community and they work so hard to make us all happy!

Marches reading list

So I know it's like mid March already (how did that happen?!) but I'm going to put up my list for this month. This month my goal is to read one book in each of the series I'm reading that I haven't read in awhile. I have a serious problem of starting one series after another and going months in between the books and completely forgetting half the story line. So this month I made a goal and I hauled the books down off of my shelves upstairs and placed them on my bookshelf in the family room (which required hauling a ton of books upstairs to put on the bookshelves up there). If they are right smack in front of me then I'm more tempted to pick them up. So I made a great list that I'm mostly sticking to. I say mostly because my client keeps giving me books to read and I feel like I should read them in a timely fashion, not like some of the books from my mom that have been on my shelf for 2 years and not yet been read. So I keep adding a few books here and there. Another was The Shaft which happened to be sitting on a shelf in the library (I've GOT to tell you about our new library!) and I knew it was on my TBR from YEARS ago, so I grabbed it. Other then that I have not got any books from the library, have no reserved any and have not picked up any new series. So here's my list:
Sarah's Key (DONE) This was one from my client
Lover Enshrined (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 6)
Seduced by Moonlight (Meredith Gentry, Book 3) (READING)
Dead and Gone: A Sookie Stackhouse Novel (Sookie Stackhouse/True Blood) (DONE)
The Star Witch (Fyne Witches, Book 3)
The Invisible Ring The Invisible Ring (Black Jewels, Book 4)
Shopaholic & Sister This is one of the few chic lit books I like.
Circus of the Damned (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter)
Dime Store Magic (Women of the Otherworld)
Uglies, The Collector's Set: Uglies, Pretties, Specials, Extras (I'm sure I'll need a Young Adult book in there somewhere, so I may start this series)
Fledgling This is one I waited forever for on paperbackswap so I'm glad I can finally (hopefully) get it read.
World Without End (I waited YEARS to get it from pbs. It's a long one too)
The Outlaw Demon Wails (The Hollows, Book 6) (DONE)
White Witch, Black Curse (The Hollows, Book 7) I want to get caught up before Kims booksigning the 25th, but I may not get to this by then.
If I feel the urge I also have the first of the Mediator series by Meg Cabot, the first of The Dark Ones by Katie MacAllister, and the first Carpe Demon by Julie Kenner on the shelf (the downstairs shelf, I'm not counting the many more series I haven't started yet that is upstairs.). ALL of these books I own and want to get them read BADLY!
AND then, I went and ordered The Adoration of Jenna Fox and Wake on Amazon because I ordered some other stuff and it's just too tempting! They'd been on my TBR and WL for AGES! So I might be reading them when they get here. But I'm going to TRY to put them off for at least a couple more books.

Well, that's it folks! Well, for now. By tomorrow who knows what may have been added!

Eclipse Trailer

I've reached 25 followers! Adding to the Giveaway, Winners choice!

I've reached 25, well, 26 at the moment, followers so I'm adding 3 books to choose from to the giveaway.  TWO winners, winners choice!  So- how it works is scroll down the page to the giveaway and enter to win following directions.  On Wednesday the 17th I will pick one winner randomly by random.org and they will get to choose ONE book, nope doesn't have to be Covet!  Then one week later on Wednesday the 24rth a SECOND winner will be selected by random.org and get to pick which book THEY want!  Good luck everyone!

Friday Follow blog hop!

Crazy- for-Books is doing a blog hop!  Head over to Crazy- for- Books to sign up and to find more great blogs!

Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris

First of all- Don't forget to enter the giveaway on the post below!!!  It ends in just a few days!  

Okay on to Sookie!  This is the latest in the Sookie Stackhouse books, AKA The Southern Vampires.  I'm happy to be caught up on the series but sad I have a wait yet until Dead in the Family comes out.  I spread these books out because I enjoy them so much and they are a nice break from some of my heavier reading.  Okay, so maybe I don't do much heavy reading (it's so much easier to read lighter books with kids!).  But these books are super light.  They aren't really funny, they aren't suppose to be, but I kind of categorize them in the funny category.  Not really sure why though.  In this one Sookie is once again in danger as her grandfather is trying to keep her alive from some bad folks, and she has a mystery to solve as someone close to her (but whom she doesn't like, make sense?)  is murdered after the werewolves and shifters come out to the world.  Like most of the other books Sookie is just trying to survive each day.  Although I find inconsistency's in these books and sometimes wonder if I just missed something somewhere, I still love them and overlook all of that.  I can't wait for Dead in the Family to come out!!!!  

4 stars!

Giveaway!!!! (Giveaway has ended)

Second winner is Donna.  Thank you everyone for entering and please be sure to keep watch for more giveaways in the future!

FIRST winner is Jessica! I've contacted you through twitter. Please get back to me within 48 hours with which book you would like and your address. Next winner will be picked in one week! So please bring in more entries!  You still have a chance!

I'm adding to the giveaway!  So it's winners choice!  Covet has been picked by the first winner Jessica!

 Covet by JR Ward.  (Sorry this one has been selected by the first winner, Jessica) This is the first in her Fallen Angels series.

Description:

Redemption isn't a word Jim Heron knows much about-his specialty is revenge, and to him, sin is all relative. But everything changes when he becomes a fallen angel and is charge with saving the souls of seven people from the seven deadly sins. And failure is not an option. Vin DiPietro long ago sold his soul to his business, and he's good with that-until fate intervenes in the form of a tough- talking, Harley-riding, self-professed savior. But then he meets a woman who will make him question his destiny, his sanity, and his heart-and he has to work with a fallen angel to win her over and redeem his own soul.
OR

First Drop of Crimson by Jeaniene Frost.  Her first spin off from the Night Huntress series.
Description: 

The night is not safe for mortals. Denise MacGregor knows all too well what lurks in the shadows—her best friend is half-vampire Cat Crawfield—and she has already lost more than the average human could bear. But her family's past is wrapped in secrets and shrouded in darkness—and a demon shapeshifter has marked Denise as prey. Now her survival depends on an immortal who lusts for a taste of her.


He is Spade, a powerful, mysterious vampire who has walked the earth for centuries and is now duty-bound to protect this endangered, alluring human—even if it means destroying his own kind. Denise may arouse his deepest hungers, but Spade knows he must fight his urge to have her as they face the nightmare together . . .

Because once the first crimson drop falls, they will both be lost.


OR

This is the third book in the Night Huntress series by Jeaniene Frost
Description:

Some things won't stay buried . . . at grave's end

It should be the best time of half-vampire Cat Crawfield's life. With her undead lover Bones at her side, she's successfully protected mortals from the rogue undead. But though Cat's worn disguise after disguise to keep her true identity a secret from the brazen bloodsuckers, her cover's finally been blown, placing her in terrible danger.
As if that wasn't enough, a woman from Bones's past is determined to bury him once and for all. Caught in the crosshairs of a vengeful vamp, yet determined to help Bones stop a lethal magic from being unleashed, Cat's about to learn the true meaning of bad blood. And the tricks she's learned as a special agent won't help her. She will need to fully embrace her vampire instincts in order to save herself—and Bones—from a fate worse than the grave.
OR
and this one is an ARC though is in regular cover and everything.

Any Given Doomsday by Lori Handeland.  This is the first book in the Phoenix Chronicles.
Description:
Handeland (Thunder Moon) launches the intriguing Phoenix Chronicles urban fantasy series with a strong story that's only missing one thing: a glossary of the multitude of paranormal creatures tied to biblical lore. Psychic ex-cop Elizabeth Phoenix reluctantly takes the case after her foster mother, Ruthie, is murdered by monsters. Soon she's pointing out demons to her ex-boyfriend Jimmy, a half-vampire battling an army of Nephilim who plan to enslave and destroy humanity. They fight their way from Wisconsin to the southwest, where Jimmy leaves Elizabeth with Sawyer, a powerful Navajo shape-changer who awakens her libido as well as her psychic powers. Elizabeth's wry demeanor and complex relationships with Sawyer and Jimmy share center stage with the dramatic story line. The biblical component, while often confusing, adds dramatic dimension, and the demons' evil plans and vividly described handiwork create immense suspense for the final battle. 




To enter:

1. Have you read JR Ward?  Leave a comment telling me and if you like her and whatever thoughts you may have.  Or comment on any of the other books listed. 

2. Follow my blog publicly.  Leave another comment. 

3. Tweet this giveaway linking to my blog and put @candacemom2two.  Leave a comment.  Can do this once a day and leave a comment with the direct URL each time.  Example (and you can use this one, tiny URL works) Winners choice book #giveaway! http://tinyurl.com/yj8rf6n @candacemom2two

4. Follow my other blog publicly http://cdobsessed.blogspot.com/.  Leave a comment telling me.

5. Share on a public forum with a link to my blog. Leave a comment with the URL for me to find it.

1st Winner selected 3/17 at 9 pm pacific (Winner Chosen by random.org) and second winner chosen March 24 9 pm pacific. 

Giveaway open to US only.