Thursday, May 30, 2013

There is no Light in Darkness by Claire Contreras

I just read There is no light in darkness by Claire Contreras. I really enjoyed this book. Even though it ends with a wicked cliffhanger I can deal with it for 2 reasons: 1. the next book Darkness Before Dawn  is coming out very soon. 2. The author wrote a letter to her readers at the end and puts your mind at rest by saying she understands your pain with cliffhangers and how "it makes you want to strangle the author" LOL her words not mine. OK, so Cole and Blake (love those names) are meant for each other. There is no denying that. It seems as long as either of them can remember they belonged together. However, there is some shady business going on. Their lives as youngsters is turned upside down and their lives change forever. We still do not know why but I'm sure we will learn the details in the next book. I'm not going to give this story away too much. It is a good read. Cole is definitely on the book boyfriend list. Yes, he has had some what of a bad boy streak but we never forget who or what he really wants. One of my favorite quotes from this book is: "Find a man that will watch over you. Don't settle for men who only have one thing in mind. If he doesn't like to eat, something is wrong with him. He needs to put you before himself-always. He needs to love you more than you love him. If it weren't for love, the suffering we experience wouldn't be worth it." Overall, it is an enjoyable read. Just a warning, there are a fewspaceissues throughout the book... (yes, I did that on purpose). You still get the gist of what is written. Just an FYI.

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

My All Time Favorites!

I think it is about time for me to make a list of my all time favorite books. These characters ALL made my book boyfriend list. I have either reread them already or am willing to reread them again. I mean I love them so much I have some sort of memorabilia, either a bracelet or pendant or something-I KNOW, how dorky. :)   I would recommend these hands down without any reservations.Well, some may come with a bit of a warning... I thought I'd organize this list in order of me reading them but I'm not sure if I can remember the order exactly. 

1. The Twilight Saga: This is the series that started it all for me. Yes, it is YA. Yes, the movies are debatable as well as the actors chosen to play the characters. However, I fell in love with these books way before the movies came out. I just had to "compartmentalize" one from the other. I reread these books numerous times, maybe 5-6? New Moon was my least favorite (because Edward was gone!!).

2. The Dark Hunter Series: This series was recommended to me by a good friend for a LONG time before I actually read it. When I did, WOW, I fell in instant love with all of the Dark Hunters. This series mixes Dark Hunters, Were Hunters, and Dream Hunters. There are about 23 books in this series! I have read 19. I really hate waiting a long time for the next books to come out. Unfortunately, sometimes an author that writes a lot of books kind of becomes predictable. I don't want to feel like I'm guessing everything that is going to happen and like I have discovered their formula. I guess I kind of lost interest towards the end. However, a very good series and I have a very special place in my heart for Acheron and Talon. I reread only Acheron, (not the sad parts) 3 times.

3. The Black Dagger Brotherhood Series: This goes without saying. Even though there is romance this is a bad-ass series. There are 12 books in this series. I love all of the brothers. If I had to pick a favorite, ugh, I think it would be Wrath, John Matthew, Blay and Qhuinn... oh and poor Phury, no one likes him.  I cant choose just one! I reread this series twice and listened to the first 4 books on audio for a few times too!


4. Fifty Shades of Grey Trilogy: What else can I say about this that hasn't already been said? I loved Christian before the world became obsessed with this "mommy porn."  Before the craze I already loved Christian. We have our moments, it's a love/dislike relationship now. However, we did see E.L. James in the flesh and she signed all 3 books for me! I reread this series 5 times... Dont judge me hehehe. I normally don't pick celebrity actors for my favorite characters, I've only done it once... But my Christian is definitely Channing Tatum. I mean once I read his name could possible be associated with this series, it just got stuck in me head! :)


5. The Experiment In Terror Series: This is totally out of order. This is my current favorite. Again, there is not much I can say about this series that I haven't already said. I mean, I wrote 7 blog posts about this! And I did not even review each book individually! I reread this series twice, reread the last book 3 times and I probably will reread it again. I'm kind of on a Dex & Perry binge right now. The first time you read a book (or at least when I read a book) I might go super fast because I need to see what happens. The second and third time I can savor all the details. There are 9 books so far... a few more coming out soon. Definitely an all time favorite! A warning for this series is that the first book, Dark House, can take you a little while to get into. STICK WITH IT! (yes, I used shouty capitals like Mr. Grey) You will be glad you did! I tried reading this book once and did not give it a chance. It sat...in the cloud...forever. Then I gave it a second chance and pushed through the first few chapters and BAM! Now it has become my fav!



6. The Hunger Games Trilogy:  Like the series above, it was hard for me to get through the first book. It too, sat in the cloud for a lonnnnngggg time. I saw the movie first and then was intrigued to read the books. That rarely happens for me. I like it the other way around. But, holy crow! These books are amazing! I laughed and cried. The hangover I felt after finishing this series was serious! I didn't read another book for months! Yes, it is YA. I havent reread it yet but will be in September to prepare myself for the next movie. Stick with this one too and you'll be glad you did!

7. The Existence Trilogy: Oh, Dank. I love you! This was an unexpected read for me and it was wonderful! It is YA. I pretty much love anything by Abbi Glines. She is a great author who writes really memorable stories and characters without making you feel like she is using a formula. I read this series 2 or 3 times. I too suffered a Dank hangover. I feel like this series may not get as much publicity as some of her other works, probably because it is YA, but I think it is just a great read.

Thursday, May 23, 2013

The Marriage Bargain by Jennifer Probst

This book was about Alexa and Nick. She wants to find Mr. Right, get married and have her happily ever after. Nick is not the marrying kind. In order to get his inheritance his grandfather included the stipulation that he must be married. They are childhood friends who have not been in touch for a while. His sister, Maggie and Alexa are best friends though. When Maggie finds Alexa in the middle of a spell to marry a man to be her ever after and pay off her parents house she has a brilliant idea. She tells Nick that she has found a woman for her to marry. They get married. They have these rules. It is just a business transaction. Of course they end up falling in love. This is a light, easy read. I read this in 2.5 hours. It is a nice book to read if you don't know what to read next or if you are still having a book hangover and don't want that feeling to go away. I'm currently in my Dex and Perry hangover and might reread my favorite 3 books again for a 3rd time. Nick does not make my book boyfriend list. He is good but just doesn't do it for me. FYI: I actually read this book in a regular paperback book format! I have been reading ebooks since I received my kindle 2 years ago! I think this is the first real book I have read in almost 2 years.

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

I recently read Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini. This was a good book. It is the first book of 3. Although I mostly enjoyed this book I will not be reading the next 2 books. I know the last time I said that after a few days I went back and read the others but I don't think that will happen this time. This book is a mixture of a present day Illiad. Like some of the other books I've read, namely the Fallen Series and Fall of Angels Series, our two main characters cannot be together. Helen and Lucas are the modern day Helen of Troy and Paris. If they get together the world will be at war once again. I loved Lucas and I loved how he was so caring and protective over Helen. What I do not love is that I found myself skimming through the pages to find out more about them. Of course the book ends and they cannot be together. From what I read on amazon the next book is about her journey to (I don't really remember...to the underworld??) break the curse... hopefully so she can be with Lucas... During this time she meets another man to help her on her journey (Hades???)... Third book she must choose who she really loves. I just cant go there with these characters. I just would like to read a nice, sweet book without too much drama. Maybe I need a break from the love issues. I just want them to live happily ever after without having to go through two other books of drama. Now, some characters I do not care and will read 100 books because I love them SO much, like the Experiment in Terror Series and the Existence trilogy.  I'm not going to say don't read this book. Go ahead and see what you think. it might do it for you. Right now, for me, it didn't. I'm still on my Dex & Perry kick.

Thursday, May 9, 2013

More Experiment in Terror

Yes, I'm still writing about this. I just finished rereading all of the books. I just cant get enough of Perry and Dex. If you haven't checked out my other Experiment in Terror posts, click here. You may not want to read this if you haven't read them yet. Instead of reviewing the series (I've already done that) I'm going to share who I would chose as the characters. I normally do not find celebrities who can live up to the images of the characters in my head or heart. Even as much as I love Channing Tatum, I would have never seen him as my Christian Grey, but hey, when the thought got put out there it started to make perfect sense... BUT! I think I have found celebrities for these guys. On EIT website, there are photos of a supposed Dex and Perry, but they don't do it for me, sorry. Before I post the photos and my thoughts I just have to say I love this series. I love how real Dex and Perry are. They have normal people problems. They love each other and they have issues. I feel like how many great love stories we experience, either in real life or through books, where there is always heartbreak and reunion?!? I wish there wasn't heartbreak but sometimes I think you don't fully realize what you are feeling or how strong it is until you experience some heart break. I'm sure there are many times when people don't need to feel that, I just wonder if it is as intense as those who know what it feels like to be without that other person. AND, even when Dex is trying to win Perry back, it is realistic. It is not over the top Christian Grey, where he is so overprotective and buying the whole world for her. Dex is more REAL. OK, enough of the heavy stuff. I just really love reading this series. 

SOOOOOO....... Here is my Dex. I was torn between these 2 handsome guys: either Chris Pine (on the left) ( I know he has blue eyes and Dex has brown) and James Marsden. (on the right)

My Perry would be Emma Stone, just because she is qwerky (is that even the correct way to spell that!!) 

Now, even though I do not like Maximus, AT ALL!! I could not help but think of David Morrisey, especially his role in The Reaping with Hilary Swank. The southern accent in that movie and the "good, southern gentleman" role he plays in that movie reminds me of Maximus to a T (wow, how old is that saying anyway lol) Yes, Maximus should be younger, hotter and have red hair, but what can I say, his speech just reminds me of this guy too much. 

OK, after considering that Maximus is supposed to be hot lets try Ewan McGregor. Although he has reddish hair he is not built like a rugged cowboy (my own mental image not necessarily Karina's exact words) nor does he have a southern accent (I think he is from Scotland, like Gerard Butler)... To me Ewan is "handsomer" more handsome than David. 

OK, that is all for now. Again, I will say, if you have not read this series, please do us all a favor and read it. You will be pleasantly surprised! And I will be a very happy woman to have someone else to share my Dex crush with.  :) 

Sunday, May 5, 2013

Just checking in...

Hi Peeps... I know I haven't written in a little while. I'm still alive and reading. Actually I'm rereading one of my favorite series of all time (so far) Experiment in Terror. I am on book 2 now. So I am back in my Dex funk and that's why I haven't written, I don't want to rewrite about these books that I already blogged about. Also, I have been watching YouTube like it's my job...I won't get into that just yet. That will get a post all of it's own. Lastly, none of my reading partners have read this series yet! What a bummer!!  If any of you did then maybe I wouldn't have to reread them and go through all of Dex on my own. I still will say the first book takes a little while to get into BUT IT'S SOOOOOOO worth it. If no one reads it on their own I am going to select it for our next book club...insert evil laugh here! OK, gotta get back to my reading. :)