Day 23

Day 23 – A book you wanted to read for a long time but still haven’t

I have way too many books I think some days.. One that I have been meaning to read for quite some time already though is Touch of Power by Maria V. Snyder. I have a signed copy just sitting there on my shelf.. I'll get to it soon I promise!

Day 22

Day 22 – Favourite book you own

I own a lot of books. Of my favourites the only ones I don't own are the Dresden Files. So I guess my favourite would be Cast in Chaos by Michelle Sagara. 

Day 21

Day 21 – Favourite book from your childhood

Oh!! What a great question! I have a few of them but I will have to say the Little House on the Prairie books. I read all these with my mum many years ago. I love them and if I ever have children I will read these to them as well.

Day 20

Day 20 – Favourite romance book

Hmm... I only started reading romance books relatively recently and true romance books aren't generally my thing. My favourite might have to be Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles mostly for the reason it was one of the first books that I read and truly loved that was focused primarily on romance.

Day 19

Day 19 – Favourite book turned into a movie

I actually really enjoyed the Lord of the Rings trilogy as movies and thought for the most part they were quite well done!

Day 18

Day 18 – A book that disappointed you

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins. I expected so much more out of this final book in the trilogy and I just didn't get it

Day 17

Day 17 – Favourite quote(s) from your favourite book(s)

Oh no I actually have to go and find them! Here is a list of some of my favourite quotes from many books I have read over the years

“Barrons laughed again. "And there, my dear Fio, you make one of Womankind's greatest mistakes: Falling in love with a man's potential. We so rarely share the same view of it, and even more rarely care to achieve it. Stop pining for the man you think I could be -- and take a good, long, hard look at the one I am.”
― Karen Marie Moning, Darkfever

“One day you will kiss a man you can't breathe without, and find that breath is of little consequence.”
― Karen Marie Moning, Bloodfever

“Procrastinating is number three on my Stupid List. You still end up exactly where you didn't want to be, doing exactly what you didn't want to do, withe the only difference being that you lost all that time in between, during which you could have been doing something fun. Even worse, you probably stayed in a stressed-out, crappy mood the whole time you were avoiding it. If you know something is inevitable, do it and get it over with. Move on. Life is short.”
― Karen Marie Moning, Iced (Dani O'Malley #1)

“Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind,
And therefore is winged Cupid painted blind.”
― William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream


“To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,
To the last syllable of recorded time;
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player,
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.”
― William Shakespeare, Macbeth
This above is one of my all time favourite monologues.

“Yelena, you've driven me crazy. You've caused me considerable trouble and I've contemplated ending your life twice since I've known you." Valek's warm breath in my ear sent a shiver down my spine.

"But you’ve slipped under my skin, invaded my blood and seized my heart.”

“That sounds more like a poison than a person,” was all I could say. His confession had both shocked and thrilled me.

“Exactly,” Valek replied. “You have poisoned me.”
― Maria V. Snyder, Poison Study

“Is this some sort of test?"
"Everything that doesn't kill you is."
"Mind you," he added, "surviving doesn't always mean you passed.”
― Michelle Sagara West, Cast In Secret

“Paranoid? Probably. But just because you're paranoid doesn't mean there isn't an invisible demon about to eat your face.”
― Jim Butcher, Storm Front

“Laugh whenever you can. Keeps you from killing yourself when things are bad. That and vodka.”
― Jim Butcher, Changes


“We are not going to die."
Butters stared up at me, pale, his eyes terrified. "We're not?"
No. And do you know why?" He shook his head. "Because Thomas is too pretty to die. And because I'm too stubborn to die." I hauled on the shirt even harder. "And most of all because tomorrow is Oktoberfest, Butters, and polka will never die.”
― Jim Butcher, Dead Beat


“There are bad things in the world. There's no getting away from that. But that doesn't mean nothing can be done about them. You can't abandon life just because it's scary, and just because sometimes you get hurt. ”
― Jim Butcher, Turn Coat

“The worst type of crying wasn't the kind everyone could see--the wailing on street corners, the tearing at clothes. No, the worst kind happened when your soul wept and no matter what you did, there was no way to comfort it. A section withered and became a scar on the part of your soul that survived. For people like me and Echo, our souls contained more scar tissue than life.”
― Katie McGarry, Pushing the Limits

“If you stay, I'll do whatever you want. I'll quit the band, go with you to New York. But if you need me to go away, I'll do that, too. I was talking to Liz and she said maybe coming back to your old life would be too painful, that maybe it'd be easier for you to erase us. And that would suck, but I'd do it. I can lose you like that if I don't lose you today. I'll let you go. If you stay.”
― Gayle Forman, If I Stay
This is one of my absolute favourite quotes and a great one to end on.

Day 16

Day 16 – Favourite female character

This may actually be more difficult to pick than favourite male. Once again there are lots of them out there that I simply adore, Kaylin from Michelle Sagara's Cast series comes to mind so does Mercy Thompson from Patricia Briggs' Mercy Thompson series. . However my current favourite would probably have to go out to Mac from Karen Marie Moning's Fever series. This woman goes through such amazing changes in order to adapt to her changing world. She doesn't just sit back and whine, although she does sort of start there, she goes out and fights. An ordinary girl who won't give up on her world and will stand up for what she believes in. I love her, if you don't know her what are you waiting for start reading!

Top Ten Tuesday #5

Top Ten Tuesday is an original meme hosted at Broke and Bookish! The top ten of this week:

April 16: Top Ten Tuesday REWIND -- pick a past topic you missed or one you want to revisit!

Seeing this is only my fifth week there are so many of these that I would love to do! But I am going to do

Top Ten series I have yet to finish

I am so bad for this. I'll start a series, get hooked on it for a bit, often even buy the rest of it and then never read them. Here are ten series that I should really go back and finish!

1. Black Dagger Brotherhood series by J.R. Ward, I have read the first 5 of the series and I own the next few I just seem to have stopped reading them for no good reason!

2. Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead, I jumped on this train late, as in after the whole series was finished so I really have no excuse for only having read the first 4...

3. Women of the Otherworld Series by Kelley Armstrong, I got caught up in this series at one point and then the next few books came out and I've never read them. I even own Waking the Witch. Keep meaning to start it.

4. Anita Blake by Laurell K. Hamilton, I have only read the first two however I own up to book 7 so there's really no excuse

5. The Iron Druid Chronicles by Kevin Hearne, I LOVED Hounded it was a fantastic read and I'm dying to read the rest of the series... I just haven't.

6. The Chemical Garden Trilogy by Lauren DeStefano I really liked Wither, just have not gotten around to picking up the next book

7. Night Huntress by Jeannine Frost, I have read the first two! They were pretty good, need to get back to it.

8. The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Claire, once again I have read the first two and loved them. I even own book 3 but it is just sitting on my shelf unloved and collecting dust..

9. Sookie Stackhouse by Charlaine Harris I have read the first 6 and I own the next 3 I just never seem to have any urge to go back to them

10.  Cassandra Palmer/Dorina Basarab by Karen Chance, I have read the first three in the Cassie series and have the first in Dorina which is to be read next sitting waiting for me to read it.

So here are some of those series I have started that I never seem to finish.. Any of these that you think I should really get on reading? What about you what's a series you 

Day 15

Day 15 – Favourite male character

Oh this is a tough one!

There are lots out there that I absolutely love. However my favourite would have to be Harry Dresden from Jim Butcher's series The Dresden Files. He is loyal and chivalrous, fights for what he believes in and has the worst luck! He fills the pages with humour, some of it is rather black humour but still. He is one of those people I would love to have on my side and be terrified of if he was against me. 

Day 14

Day 14 – Favourite book of your favorite writer

Like I said on Day 4 I have two of them from this author 

The first, Dead Beat and the second is Turn Coat.

Ever Wonder Which Fantasy/SciFi Character you're most like?

Just felt like doing something completely random!

Princess Leia

A strong-willed herald of causes against injustice, you passionately strive to right the wrongs around you.

Somebody has to save our skins!

Day 13

Day 13 – Your favourite writer

I have a few of them. Jim Butcher is the one I would love to meet the most though! I love the Dresden Files series so much.

Day 12

Day 12 – A book you used to love but don’t anymore

I am sure there are a few of these but as I don't reread all that often it is hard to say for sure. I can say that the more I read the harder I am on books because I have more to compare them too and expect more out of  a great story than I used to. On that note there are definitely books that would not live up to today's expectations that I loved when I first read them. One such example is Twilight, loved them when I read them but if I reread them now I think I would notice their faults a lot more.

Day 11

Day 11 – A book you hated

Dragon Tears by Dean Koontz. This is one of the worst books I have ever read. It is filled with lots of useless description, too many POV changes and characters that didn't make me feel anything. No offense meant to anyone who enjoyed this book I just did not. I have not wanted to read another book of the horror genre since.

Day 10

Day 10 – Favourite classic book

This is the place I have to admit I have not read many of the classics. I really need to fix that one of these days! However as I love Greek Myth, my favourite is the Illiad by Homer. It has been a long time since I read any of this, I am not 100% sure if I read the original version or a slightly abridged version but I will be doing a reread of it soon.

Day 9

Day 09 – A book you thought you wouldn’t like but ended up loving

These are always the best! I try to go into books with a pretty open mind so I haven't had this experience all that often. However, going into it I did not expect to like Dark Lover by J.R. Ward all that much due to the fact I was just getting into that particular part of the genre. Turns out the series from what I have read is pretty amazing.

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is an original meme hosted at Broke and Bookish! The top ten of this week:

April 9: Top Ten Favorite Books I Read Before I Was A Blogger 

As I have not been blogging all that long this is more of a list of my favourite books in general but I will try and keep it to books I read awhile ago. Like always, in no particular order:

1.Lover awakened by J.R. Ward.
2. The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien 
3.Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder
4.Lightning by Dean Koontz 
5. Colours of Chaos by L.E. Modesitt Jr.
6.A Storm of Swords by George R. R. Martin 
7. The Handmaid's Tale by Margret Atwood
8.Cross Bones by Kathy Reichs 
9. The Assassin's Edge by Juliet E. McKenna 
10. Dragon Prince by Melanie Rawn 

Okay I have to cheat a little...
11. Broken by Kelley Armstrong
12. Dead Beat by Jim Butcher

So here are mine what are some of yours?

Day 8

   Day 08 – Most overrated book

There are a few of those out there. One of which I have never read and never plan to and that would be 50 Shades of Grey. From everything I have heard it is a poorly written book that started as nothing more than a fan fiction. To all of you that loved it, I'm sorry. This of course is only my opinion! 

Day 7

Day 07 – Most underrated book
Most underrated book eh? That is a bit of a hard one. I think the Iron Druid Series that I have recently started is underrated just because it is not all that well known. I have only read the first one, Hounded, but it was amazing.

Day 6

Day 06 – A book that makes you sad

There are a few books that do a good job of making me cry. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher is one of them. It's just sad what bullying can do to a person and   this book does a good job of showing that.

Day 5

Day 05 – A book that makes you happy

Hmm.... Strangely enough I can't think of a book that makes me overly happy right now. I've thought on it for a few days and I am just drawing a blank. However I always get happy when the new Dresden Files book comes out.

That Wedding (That Boy #2)
by Jillian Dodd
Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary
Rating: 2 stars

(From Goodreads) The gorgeous engagement ring on my finger mimics my happiness.I feel so sparkly, glittery, and full of promise, because I absolutely know he's that boy.
The boy I want to marry. My prince. My happily ever after.

But then our pastor starts asking lots of questions.
His parents say I haven’t dealt with my past.
I have horrible wedding disaster dreams.
I can’t find the perfect dress.
I have to manipulate him to get my way.
An old boyfriend asks me to run away with him.
My best friend says I'm going to ruin everything.
And forever starts to sound like a really long time.

Which totally freaks me out and makes me question everything I know.

Should best friends get married?
Will my past affect our relationship?
Are my horrible dreams a warning?
Will I ever find a dress?
Could his sexiness be clouding my judgment?
Am I going to ruin everything?
Or is it just a case of cold feet?

And then I have to decide. Am I willing to give up on true love forever, or am I going to listen to my heart and marry him

It was just okay. There were very few things I really enjoyed about this book.

"All I ever dreamed about was marrying a prince, but that was really as far as I got. To me, it was all about finding the right boy. I guess I sorta thought once you found the guy, the wedding just sort of fell into place" I love this quote, I think it's beautiful and should be the attitude given more often in today's world. The person you are marrying should be the most important part of the day.

As of about the 30% mark I stopped enjoying it so much. If it wasn't on my kobo throwing it would have been very tempting! I can no longer empathize with JJ at all. She has become a self-centered bitch who has no idea how to deal with conflict, or anything for that matter, when she is not getting her way. Her opinion is the only one that matters and anyone whose opinion differs is stupid and has no idea what they are talking about. Phillip has stopped being as sweet and is beginning to make fun of things she says and share them with others as well as he is beginning to start arguments. This last part would be okay if JJ wasn't so incapable of talking about things. The only good thing at this point is the conversations with Danny and Lori. This remains a problem for so much of the book.

The good things? It ended. Okay, it wasn't quite that bad and there are a few redeeming things near the end. I did love Jadyn's views on fairy tales, I found that humourous and true. I think reading her rewrite of a fairy tale would be quite entertaining.

"You are my best friend, my love, my life, my princess" I loved their vows, they were beautiful and so true to the characters.

So while there was not all that much I enjoyed in this book it was not the worst I have read. The first one was definitely better.

Day 4

Day 04 – Favourite book of your favourite series

As I have those three favourites, the best of each is:

Colours of Chaos holds a special place in my heart as it is the first book I read of this series and it really helped me get back into reading more. Is it the best of the series, I'm not sure, but I love it!

  Cast in Chaos is my favourite of this series because of the character growth and just the overall background story. Every books is pretty amazing but this is my personal favourite!

I have two favourite Dresden books and I just couldn't make up my mind. The first, Dead Beat is so amazing because of Sue, the dinosaur and the fact that "Polka will Never Die" I wont say anymore, you will just have to read it. The second is Turn Coat because of the unlikely circumstances that start the book. I cannot really say more without spoilers.

Day 3

Day 03 – Your favourite series

I do not have a singular favourite. So instead I will give you my three favourites!

 The Recluce Saga by L.E. Modesitt Jr. Starting with The Magic of Recluce. This is just a wonderful high-fantasy series. If you are a fantasy lover, try it out!

 Chronicles of Elantra by Michelle Sagara starting with Cast in Shadow. This series has the best other creatures I think I have ever dealt with. Each race is so different and the world building is fantastic. 

 Dresden Files by Jim Butcher beginning with Storm Front. I read this series with my best friend. This is my absolute favourite urban fantasy series ever. There is a meta plot that drives the story as a whole along but there are other things going on in each book that get wrapped up before the end of it.

WWW hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?

• What did you recently finish reading?

• What do you think you’ll read next?

What are you currently reading? Son of the Sword by Adrian Lee. I hadn't read anything of this nature for awhile. It's alright, nothing overly special as of yet though.

I am also Beta reading a book called Tamrin so we will see how that goes!

What did you recently finish? That Wedding which got seriously on my nerves for over half the book. I also just finished Wait for Me by J. Lynn, the first half of this book is incredible, then the editing stops and there are so many mistakes it hurts. However still a good story and if those get fixed up it has the potential to be great.

What do you think you will be reading next? I will probably start Spider-Man the Darkest Hours by Jim Butcher. My best friend just lent this to me and it looks amazing. Cannot wait!

Day 2

Day 02 – A book that you’ve read more than 3 times

The first four books in the Harry Potter series!! I was the perfect age when these books started coming out. On more than one occasion I picked them back up just so I could relive them! I'm overdue for this again! It's been a few years now.

Top Ten Tuesday #3

Top Ten Tuesday is an original meme hosted at Broke and Bookish! The top ten of this week:

April 2: Top Ten Characters I Would Crush On If I Were Also A Fictional Character (I know how y'all love your book boyfriends :P )

Oh this is a good one!! In no particular order..

1. Severn from the Chronicles of Elantra by Michelle Sagara. He is sweet and loyal to a fault and intelligent and just rather sexy!

2. Zsadist from the Black Dagger Brotherhood. While all those brothers are delicious he is by far my favourite. There's something about the damaged bad boy.

3.  Noah from Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry. He is that bad boy with baggage that has a hidden soft side under all that attitude.

4. Barrons from the Fever series by Karen Marie Moning. If you havent read this what are you waiting for? If you have you know exactly why I love him.

5. Ryan from the Temperance Brennan series by Kathy Reichs. Yes he can be a real ass. But he is such a  sexy and intelligent detective. I always enjoy the books with him in them more. Yum.

6. Valek from the Study series by Maria V. Snyder. There aren't words to describe the why here. Just read them, I'm sure you will love him too.

7. Ryshad from the Tales of Einarinn by Juliet E. McKenna. He is a swordsman who has sworn allegiance to his lord but who still stands for himself. He fights for what is right, looks out for his land and protects those he loves first and foremost.

8. Adam from the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs. First of all he's a werewolf, what's sexier than that?! Oh and he is the pack leader so he is dominant as can be. With all that said though, he is sweet and willing to take things slowly. He would make a pretty amazing date I would think!

9. Four from Divergent by Veronica Roth. I haven't read Insurgent still, but I loved him in Divergent and he definitely makes that book boyfriend worthy list!

10. Clay Danvers from The Women of the Otherworld series by Kelley Armstrong. Okay, I have a thing for wolves! This seductively handsome blonde man stole my heart early. He does so many dumb things but finds ways to make up for it. He can be scarily possessive but he grows from it and becomes this all around attractive guy.


So there are some of my book boyfriends. Who are yours?

Day 1

Day 01 - The best book you read last year

The best book I read last year, that's a hard one! However it might have to be If I Stay by Gayle Forman. This is one of my all time favourite books now as well as the sequel Where She Went.

I also loved Cast in Ruin by Michelle Sagara, Fair Game by Patricia Briggs and Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

30-Day Book Meme

This has been around for sometime but I have never gotten the chance to do it. I think it looks like fun so here I go! 

30-day book meme

Day 01 - The best book you read last year

Day 02 – A book that you’ve read more than 3 times

Day 03 – Your favourite series

Day 04 – Favourite book of your favourite series

Day 05 – A book that makes you happy

Day 06 – A book that makes you sad

Day 07 – Most underrated book

Day 08 – Most overrated book

Day 09 – A book you thought you wouldn’t like but ended up loving

Day 10 – Favourite classic book

Day 11 – A book you hated

Day 12 – A book you used to love but don’t anymore

Day 13 – Your favourite writer

Day 14 – Favourite book of your favorite writer

Day 15 – Favourite male character

Day 16 – Favourite female character

Day 17 – Favourite quote(s) from your favourite book(s)

Day 18 – A book that disappointed you

Day 19 – Favourite book turned into a movie

Day 20 – Favourite romance book

Day 21 – Favourite book from your childhood

Day 22 – Favourite book you own

Day 23 – A book you wanted to read for a long time but still haven’t

Day 24 – A book that you wish more people would’ve read

Day 25 – A character who you can relate to the most

Day 26 – A book that changed your opinion about something

Day 27 – The most surprising plot twist or ending

Day 28 – Favourite title(s)

Day 29 – A book everyone hated but you liked

Day 30 – Your favourite book of all time

Booking through thursday

Booking Through Thursday is a weekly bookish meme about (mostly) books and reading.
Movies have a rating system to help guide the consumer weed out adult/violent/inappropriate kinds of films. Video games do, too. Do you think BOOKS should have a ratings system?

I do not think there should be because of the subjective nature of ratings. Even now some of the classifications books get put into make no sense to me. I wouldn't want to be deterred from reading a book based on someone else's rating.

Easter!

Easter Plans? I leave the city for the long weekend and go out to my grandparents farm. It's about 400km from Winnipeg so it's a bit of a trip out there. Always good to see my family and enjoy some fresh air!! Usually its a great place to get some reading done as well so I am hoping I can get myself back on track! What about you guys, anything planned for the Easter weekend?

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is an original meme hosted at Broke and Bookish! The top ten of this week:


March 26: Top Ten Books I Recommend The Most

1.  Cast in Shadow by Michelle Sagara- I can't pimp out this book enough! I adore this series it is one of my absolute favourites and while the first is the weakest it is totally worth reading!

2. Storm Front by Jim Butcher- Again the first book is not the best of the series but this becomes so incredible. There's a meta plot that knits the books together but still smaller plot points being dealt with in ever book.
3.Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning- I traveled to New Orleans for the book launch of Iced, enough said! But really this series is set in Dublin and written in a way its hard to put down!
4.If I Stay by Gayle Forman- Possibly my favourite realistic/contemporary fiction I have ever read. This book made me cry my eyes out! I keep lending my copy out. Cannot praise this book enough.
5.Bitten by Kelley Armstrong- While you don't have to start at the beginning, I didn't I started with book 2 without realizing it was book 2, I recommend it. Another series filled with well developed characters. Each book is written from another one of the women's point of view.
6. Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry- I am looking so forward to this sequel. It is just such a great book. I had nothing negative to say after finishing it.
7. Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin- Yes these books are huge but the first 3 are worth the read. They are epic fantasy in which no character is safe. You really don't know what could happen next. The quality of the books really falls off after the third one in my opinion though.
8. Moon Called by Patricia Briggs- Definitely one of my favourite Urban Fantasy series. An easy to feel for heroine who is strong in her own right. She is damaged but loyal. Love her.
9. Cross Bones by Kathy Reichs- This is my favourite of the series and as they can be read out of order ( I don't necessarily recommend it if you are going to read them all anyway) I recommend this one the most. It really gets you thinking on things to do with religion and what is and isn't stated in religious texts. Very well researched and worth a read.
10. The Handmaid's Tale by Margret Atwood- This is a book all dystopian fans should read. The details have stuck with me for years. Women become handmaids and are used in attempts to have children in a world where fertility is declining rapidly. This book has stuck with me because it is written in a way that makes this all too possible in our future.


So, these are some of my favourite books to recommend to others. What are yours?