Monthly Wrap-Up: January 2012

Wow, January has gone so fast! I have enjoyed my break and am slowly starting to catch up on my review pile. I am still taking it easy for now and tech is starting up again next week.

My Favourite book for the month was: Initiate by Tara Maya

 
In January I read 8 books:

• Initiate by Tara Maya
• Hell's Revenge by Eve Langlais
• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K Rowling
• Faefever by Karen Marie Moning
• Turned by Morgan Rice
• The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross 
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K Rowling
• What's A Ghoul To Do? by Victoria Laurie

I reviewed 0 books:


My Shelfari TBR Pile increased from 952 to 954. Aww :(

My physical TBR pile went down from 69 to 68. Woo!

2012 Stand Alone Reading Challenge List

Click here to go directly to the challenge page.

I am going for SAB-tastic level which is 25 books.

1.  

2012 Paranormal Reading Challenge List

Click here to go directly to the challenge page.

I am aiming for Angel Level which is 50 Books!

1. Hell's Revenge by Eve Langlais
2. Faefever by Karen Marie Moning
3. Turned by Morgan Rice

Monthly Wrap-Up: December 2011

In December I read 4 books:

• Eye of the Tempest by Nicole Peeler
• The Mark of the Vampire Queen by Joey W. Hill
• Curse of the Blue Tattoo by L. A. Meyer
• Warrior by Marie Brennan

I reviewed 5 books:

• Bloody Bones by Laurell K. Hamilton
• Emblaze by Jessica Shirvington
• One Grave at a Time by Jeaniene Frost
• The Mark of the Vampire Queen by Joey W. Hill
• Revving Her Wild Engines by Cassandre Dayne

My Shelfari TBR Pile dropped from 948 to 952.

My physical TBR pile went down from 73 to 69. Woo!

2012 Reading Challenges

Only going for two so far this year, will see how we go later on. Also check my Goodreads page for my Goodreads reading challenge.

Paranormal Reading Challenge - 3/50
Stand Alone Reading Challenge - 0/25

2012 Stand Alone Reading Challenge

The SAB Challenge is back for another year!

I read waaay too many book series. Not that that is a bad thing by any means, but even books that i don't realise are part of series. So I'm starting a challenge to read Stand Alone Books. SAB for short...i dont know why you would need to shorten it but yeah SAB Challenge.

So my goal is that by the end of the year i will have read 25 stand alone books.

Levels:
SAB-erful - 5 books
SAB-erific - 15 books
SAB-tastic - 25 books


To join in the fun just leave your name and a link to your blog in the comments and do up a challenge post like this one to help keep track of your books!



Rules:

• Well it's pretty simple, as long as it's stand alone it counts.
• Re-reads are accepted
• Books must be read in between 1/1/2012 and 31/12/2012

Have Fun!

2012 Paranormal Reading Challenge

1. The Paranormal Reading Challenge is for anyone who loves reading ANYTHING paranormal!!!
  - Vampires, Werewolves, Witches, Ghosts, Angels etc...so the scope is pretty big!!!
  - The books can be any sub genre under Paranormal - romance, YA, mystery, etc.

2. The book has to be a book. No free short stories, or writing sites.

3. If you are a blogger please post a link back to this challenge on your page to let others join in the fun.     -Non-bloggers - it's ok, you can join to and you can keep track of your progress by yourself, and post a comment on the wrap-up page, or you can send comments to this page to keep track of your progress.

4. Cross-overs from other challenges are accepted. As are re-reads. Books that were started in 2009 don't count.

5. Challenge starts from 1st January 2012 and ends on 31st December 2012

6. Levels:

1. Human - 5 books
2. Witch - 10 books
3. Oracle - 20 books
4. Were - 30 books
5. Vampire - 40 books
6. Angel - 50 books 

Good Luck everyone and Happy Reading :)

2012 Reviews

January

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February

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March

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April

May

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June

July

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August

September

October

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November

December

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Books Read in 2012

1. Initiate by Tara Maya
2. Hell's Revenge by Eve Langlais
3. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K Rowling
4. Faefever by Karen Marie Moning
5. Turned by Morgan Rice
6. The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross 
7. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K Rowling
8. What's A Ghoul To Do? by Victoria Laurie

TBR Drawer: January 2012

• Just After Sunset by Stephen King
• Night Rising by Chris Marie Green
• Lament by Maggie Stiefvater
• The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson
• Need by Carrie Jones
• Born of Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon
• Claimed by Shadow by Karen Chance
• Jessicas Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey
• Original Sin by Allison Brennan
• No Rest for the Wicca by Toni Lotempio
• Blood Magic by Eileen Wilks
• Tempting Danger by Eileen Wilks
• What's a ghoul to do? by Victoria Laurie
• Soulless by Gail Carriger
• The Boys Next Door by Jennifer Echols
• Shades of Midnight by Lara Adrian
• The Awakening by Kelly Armstrong
• Dark Beginnings by Gena Showalter
• The Birthing House by Christopher Ransom
• The Taken by Sarah Pinborough
• Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison
• Bloodlines by Lindsay Anne Kendal
• Dead Men's Dust by Matt Hilton
• Fatal Voyage by Kathy Reichs
• Bare Bones by Kathy Reichs
• Mortal Remains by Kathy Reichs
• Break No Bones by Kathy Reichs
• Bones to Ashes by Kathy Reichs
• Grave Secrets by Kathy Reichs
• Cross Bones by Kathy Reichs
• Devil Bones by Kathy Reichs
• Monday Mourning by Kathy Reichs
• Another One Bites The Dust by Jennifer Rardin
• Biting The Bullet by Jennifer Rardin
• Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick
• Dragon Haven by Robin Hobb
• Initiate by Tara Maya    RC
• Antara by Marilena Mexi    RC
• Cinco de Mayo by Michael J. Martineck   RC 
• Crash Into Me by Albert Borris
• Succubus on Top by Richelle Mead
• Shadowglass by Erica Hayes
• Turned by Morgan Rice   RC
• Betrayed by Morgan Rice   RC  
• Loved by Morgan Rice   RC 
• Destined by Morgan Rice   RC 
• Masqurade by Melissa De La Cruz
• I Am God by Giorgio Faletti
• Taboo by Casey Hill
• The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross
• Faefever by Karen Marie Moning
• Rain by Virginia Andrews
• Lightning Strike by Virginia Andrews 
• Eye of the Storm by Virginia Andrews 
• The End of the Rainbow by Virginia Andrews 
• Melody by Virginia Andrews 
• Heart Song by Virginia Andrews 
• Unfinished Symphony by Virginia Andrews 
• Music in the Night by Virginia Andrews 
• Olivia by Virginia Andrews 
• Celeste by Virginia Andrews 
• The Starkin Crown by Kate Forsyth 
• Lover Enshrined by JR Ward
• Love Story by Jennifer Echols
• Sympathy for the Devil by Justin Gustanis   RC
• Dark Moon of Avalon by Anna Elliot
• Burnt Offerings by Laurell K. Hamilton
• Blue Moon by Laurell K. Hamilton
• Obsidian Butterfly by Laurell K. Hamilton

January Arrivals:

• Hell's Revenge by Eve Langlais  RC
• Wildthorn by Jane Eagland
• The Ambassador's Mission by Trudi Canavan
• Bearers of the Black Staff by Terry Brooks
• The Magician's Apprentice by Trudi Canavan

Bookie Brunch: The Final Brunch - Happy New Years!

Welcome to Bookie Brunch

Founder: Sasha Soren (Random Magic)

Come join the discussion!

*Every Sunday*

With this being the final Bookie Brunch I would like to thank everyone for participating and being so fantastic over the last six months. I would also like to say a huge THANK YOU to Sasha Soren! With out all of your amazing organisational skills none of this would have even been possible. 


So to make this extra special I have a huge number of guests here today plus some of the lovely ladies from The Book Lovers Inc all sharing their plans and wishes for the New Year.

Your host this week:

Amanda at StoryWings (@storywings)

My guests this week:

Jennie at Jennie's Corner
Jo at Fluidity of Time
Lucy at Moonlight Gleam
Pepca at Beyond Strange New Words
Melissa at Spellbound by Books


The Book Lovers Inc Team:
 Caro at Secret HEA Society
Lea at Book Lovers Inc
Anna at Books to Brighten Your Mood
Alisha at My Need to Read
Susi at Secret HEA Society
Jackie at Ever Expanding Library

The question under discussion: What are you most looking forward to in the New Year?
Optional question: What is your New Year's resolution?

Amanda downs some more eggnog and then a little more and begins with: What I am most looking forward to in the new year is continuing change, socially, professionally and recreationally and of course all the new books coming!

My new years resolution this year is to finish some of my writing!

Jennie warms her hands on her hot chocolate after a bite of mince pie and adds: What I am most looking forward to and what my new years resolution is, are kinda of the same question. I am looking forward to and planning on developing my youtube channel more and finally getting my blog set up properly. I'll also (finally) be getting my drivers license, learning some new languages and hopefully *fingers crossed* doing some travelling. If all goes to plan I should have a busy year! However, best laid plans and all that jazz, it could go horribly wrong, but for now I am happily optimistic about the new year and all it might hold!

Jo passes around some parmesan dusted pecans and pours some more Prosecco: Bookwise, I guess I always look forward to shiny new books from my favorite authors. I've got my eye on one from China Mieville that due out in May called Railsea (I know nothing about it, but I love this author, so I plan on grabbing it). Non-bookwise, I'm looking forward to maybe doing a bit of traveling. Nothing exciting, especially since money is pretty tight right now (due to the need to replace our house's HVAC, a bunny who is on insulin, and some recent dental surgey on my part) --- but we're thinking maybe a long weekend in Portland, Oregon might be nice. Never been there, but it sounds nice --- and I've been watching episode of Grimm lately that make me curious about Portland.

I try to find very general-type resolutions for myself, so I guess my resolution is to get off my butt more and do more things --- I like walking outside, so I need to do that more (and I need to grab my camera to take with me). I have a tendency to get a bit lazy and decide to curl up with a book (or my PC) instead of moving around more, so I'm determined that I'll get better about that.


Sipping her Starbucks White Mocha Lucy continues with: I am definitely looking forward to all the wonderful books that are coming out, especially those from debut YA authors!!! I will be buying a new bookshelf to give all my upcoming purchases a wonderful home :).

At this time, I haven't fully committed to a new year's resolution, however, it will be something along the lines of doing better in school and trying to spend less money (which will be hard since I have a huge list of books to buy!) lol.

Pepca brews some more hot chocolate and adds:  What I'm most looking forward in the New Year: being surprised by good things, hopefully.
My New Year's resolution: Worry less.

Caro pops some champagne and continues with:  Getting a job and getting an apartment! It's about time I leave my parents' house ;)

Like every previous year, I plan on loosing weight! LOL I guess it's an ongoing good resolution I never keep ;)

Lea dips her apricot biscuit into her egg nog and adds: I'm looking forward to attending the RT Booklovers Convention in Chicago in April! :) Hmmm New Year's resolution to read 100 books in 2012 (I didn't quite make my 2011 goal - close but no cigar! lol)

With a glint in her eye, Anna puts a bottle of vodka on the table: Finding at last a job!

I plan on not staying inside home so much. I really need to get out and interact with people more:)

Alisha who is now our designated driver (because she is so good to us) sips her sparkling apple cider and adds: Rebuilding my book collection (which has been cut down over the last few years from intercontinental moves). I love being surrounded by a gazillion books!!!!!

Not really big on establishing New Year's resolutions, which seem almost meant to be broken. lol But I'd like to remind myself throughout the year to work hard AND play hard!


Susi calls for another Aperol Sprizz and continues with: Finally being finished with university and hopefully getting a real job with normal working hours.

Try not to stress so much and I have to take more time for myself.

Melissa sips her bundy rum and coke and says: I'm looking forward to the books of 2012 and finally being done with my studies so I can focus on the more awesome stuff!

Lol. Last year it was to give up smoking. This year its to take up dieting... mainly because when I gave up smoking I took up eating as a habit. Not recommended! And to get the guts up to actually finish and submit some of my writing to Publishers.

Downing her Yellow Tail Bubbles Jackie concludes with: Finding a permanent home for my library that is too big for my apartment :)

Lose weight, stay in top of my review books...the usual stuff.

Amanda: So my lovelies I hope you all enjoyed your New Years, or if it hasn't quite happened yet, I hope you are gearing up for a fantastic party. Pop some champagne and if you're anything like me, add some orange juice for flavour and I hope you have a fantastic New Years!

2012 is going to be awesome!

You’re invited! Visitors: Please share your thoughts on the topic in the comments section, so they can be included in the discussion. This is an active discussion though Wednesday, so feel free to stop by again later on.

* About Bookie Brunch

Bookie Brunch is a weekly meet-up, held every Sunday, where book bloggers can have a cup of tea and chat about a particular bookie question of interest. The discussion is open from Sunday through Wednesday, and you’re welcome to drop by any time to add your opinion or read what other people have to say. This discussion is open as well to general readers or bloggers in a different field, authors, publishers and publicists.

Courtesy guidelines: Thank you for coming! All thoughtful comments will be considered and probably get a response from fellow bloggers. In fact, you’re encouraged to talk about it and share viewpoints or include links to relevant materials. We’d like everyone to have a nice time. Differing viewpoints are just fine, even if strongly expressed, but inflammatory or off-topic comments will be removed.

* Find Bookie Brunch

Today’s host: StoryWings (@storywings)

Next week’s host: Jo at The Fluidity of Time (Twitter N/A)

* Contact Bookie Brunch

Be a guest at an upcoming brunch: @StoryWings
Bring goodies for a giveaway: @StoryWings
Suggest a question: @LiederMadchen
Browse Bookie Brunch discussions Archive: The Fluidity of Time

What do you think? You’re invited to join the discussion below!

I am burnt out...what does this mean for you though?

They say that burning the candle at both ends is never good for you.

Well, I've been burning the candle at about four different ends (yes, I have a special candle) and in this last week, it has really caught up to me.

With work, writing (which is also suffering), blogging, reading, socialising and then Christmas, plus certain add on stresses that go with all of that, I am really, really burnt out.

These last couple of days around Christmas have been horrible sleep wise, which is making life horrible. It's time for me to make some huge decisions. I have college coming up in the new year which although is nothing new for this time of year (thank you to the teachers lack of class information that is causing this return), there are so many other things that I want to do.

So where does this blog stand? I really don't know.

I love blogging, I love reading, I love combining the two, but I haven't written a review in nearly a month, although I've been reading here and there it's not nearly as much as my goals. Look at those bull crap Christmas posts I tried passing off last week...that's not me.

I have always aimed for quality over quantity, and I never ever want that to change.

Mentally I am really tired though, everyone has a life behind their blog and sometimes that life demands attention from them every once in a while, but I really don't want to let this go.

I hate excuses, but being a master hypocrite, my current job is really starting to take it's toll on me, not stress wise (I refuse to stress, it's not good for me in major physical ways) but just mentally, I feel tired all of the time and it's starting to really get me down.

My Nanna got me a Zumba (look it up, it's fun!) DVD for Christmas, so I'm hoping some awesome crazy Latin dance moves will perk me back up again...in fact even though it's 10:30pm as I write this, I may go do some right now, hopefully that will tire me out enough that I actually sleep through the night.

So yes, this has been a major whinge fest, no, I'm not sure I got my point across, but I am really too tired to care. I know I am far too tired to be making big decisions at the moment, which is why I'm not going to.

But at least for now, StoryWings, will not be what it once was, it will serve the purpose of being my OCD outlet when it comes to cataloguing my books and what I think of them (if I ever get around to writing those reviews) but the daily posts will stop, the features will stop - I have a New Years Bookie Brunch Party coming up, but after that...well, we'll see what happens.

When I feel better, we'll talk, but for now I am once again taking some time for myself, to rest and recoup

Merry Christmas!!!

To all of my fantastic readers,

MERRY CHRISTMAS

I hope your day is full of food and books!

Love from,

Christmas Week!: Day 6

It's Christmas Eve!!! Hopefully everyone has had a relaxing day.

Today's caroll I find quite fitting considering the occasion...



And a treat to go with this is:
Milk and Cookies for Santa!

And a couple of Carrots for the reindeer.

Christmas Week!: Day 5

It was the last day of work today! 10 days off! WooHoo! On day 5 of my Christmas week I would like to share this caroll:



I absolutely love this song, and I love Christina's version, it gets me all emotional and in the spirit. Seriously, goose bumps and chills every single time.

To go with this beautiful song, I am providing pork and apple sauce sandwiches, because they will always remind me of sitting around the coffee table on Christmas night and having a quiet family dinner after such a big day.

Hopefully this is your last day of work

Christmas Week!: Day 4

Day four of my Christmas week countdown and man I am getting excited at the prospect of 10 days off work (wow, that is so sad).

Today's caroll is:



This is such a beautiful song, and actually relevant considering the war being officially over and so many soldiers coming home.

And to go with today's caroll is this treat:

Because everyone could use a stiff drink on Christmas, this egg nog has some brandy in it, especially if I'm drinking it. I have heard of puting whiskey or rum in it but I have only ever had brandy in mine, much smoother.

Christmas Week!: Day 3

It's the third day of the StoryWings Christmas week! And I can tell you now, after the works Christmas lunch I had today...I am going to gain some pounds this Christmas.

Todays caroll is:



Once again, it's a little irrelevant to me as I have never even seen snow in my life, but it's yet another of my favourite carolls

And what shall be accompanying this caroll you ask?
A baked turkey lunch to warm us up! Well, you guys, not me.

Take out the brussel sprouts and this would be perfect! You lot are going to have to go and find your own turkey though...I amy be good all year but when Christmas comes...all bets (and diets) are off :D

I will also post this pic, which I found whilst searching for the above. I'm sorry, but if you tried to serve this measly meal in my household...you'd get lynched.

Christmas Week!: Day 2

*sings* On the second day of Christmas....innaccurate I know...but it is the second day of StoryWings Christmas Week!


Todays Christmas caroll is:



So this song is a little inaccurate for me as well...seeing as it doesn't actually snow here...nor is it cold in any way...but hey...I still love it :D

Todays Christmas treat is:

Anyone for chocolate coated nuts?
Seriously...who thought that would be a good idea...regardless they do taste lovely.

Man 1: I have decided that I would like to cover my nuts in chocolate and see what it tastes like.
His friend (who is feeling a little uncomfortable at the moment): Excuse me?!
Man 1: It will be all the rage! Every one will want to eat my chocolate coated nuts!
His friend: Right...

Christmas Week!: Day 1

Christmas is seven days away....seven. Far out where has the time gone.

Being a lover of Christmas, I have decided to share my favourite Christmas carolls with you to help get you in the mood. I will also share with you my favourite Christmas foods...because what is Christmas without food!

So my first Christmas song that I would like to share with you is:


I have been singing this song since the beginning of December, it isn't one of my absolute favourites, but it always reminds me that Christmas is on its way and that's definitely worth a lot if it can get me into the spirit at the start of December.


And my first Christmas treat will be:

CHERRIES!

I love cherries so much, they are one of my favourite fruits. And they are only in season at Christmas! So they are one of the most perfect Christmas foods out...

Book Review: Revving Her Wild Engines by Cassandre Dayne

Review: Revving Her Wild Engines
Author: Cassandre Dayne
No of Pages: 66
Release Date: 20 February 2011

Stephanie Simon was more than ready to have her most secret and sinful fantasies fulfilled. And the thought of having a torrid affair with David Tyler took her breath away. Unfortunately however, Stephanie and David have never met. Introduced by a friend, they've only conversed via the Internet, where they tell each other their every hidden fantasy. Stephanie's is a wicked tryst on the back of David's motorcycle and a ménage. And as luck would have it, David has the perfect third in mind.

Fuelled by Stephanie's hunger to explore, David sweeps Stephanie off her feet with a wild ride across a pool table in front of his friends and a ménage that leaves her engine revved for more. But both David and Stephanie hold a terrible secret. As they learn about their tragic pasts, neither knows if they can cling to the other for support and find the love and forgiveness they need.

My Thoughts:

There’s good erotic fiction, and then there’s not. Unfortunately Revving Her Wild Engines fell into the pretty horrible section.

Stephanie is traumatised, after battling something terrible that happened in her past for years now, she has decided to take that final step in letting go, no longer being held back by her fears she meets up with a man she has been chatting to for months on the internet. When her and David meet though it is more than just a weekend of wild passion, they connect with each other. The connection running deeper than anything Stephanie has ever felt.

Revving Her Wild Engines sounded like a nice quick, hot read. Something good for curling up with late one night to pass the time before bed. Unfortunately what I got was basically, really horrible book porn. The plot was terrible, the emotion was overly dramatized and the wording was flowery.

Erotic couplings such as this should result in some hot sex and maybe a call back, what I got was declarations of love within the first two days of them meeting. Their first hug was a “tender, loving embrace”. I’m sorry; I don’t care how good the sex was, but no.

The main thing that kept throwing me out of the mood that Dayne was struggling to create was the wording, “moistened her scarlet panties and she resisted the urge to wipe at herself.” I’m sorry, but yuck, she wanted to wipe at herself?! When I think “wipe” I think toilet paper.

Then there were the ridiculous situations they were put in, like oh I don’t know, giving head jobs on a balcony while people were watching. Or giving head jobs in the middle of a pub rec room in front of your four closest friends who have just met this woman.

His friends didn’t believe David when he told them he had a woman, if I saw that I’d think he’d hired a prostitute for the weekend. That isn’t hot, it’s dirty. Dayne could have made it hotter, with a different setting or better dialogue, but it read like a really bad porn movie.

The dialogue matched the rest of this train wreck as well. “Mm baby, are you hot for me?” “Oh yes, honey, I am so hot for you, I have been hot for you all day.” Really?

That was as good as it got. Well of course, apart from the over emotional speeches about how Stephanie couldn’t really be loved by David because she was so ugly, and such bad person.

This entire novella read like a bad soapie mixed with even worse porn. Overemotional, bad dialogue, horrible writing and stupid settings. Culminating in an ending that was not only clichéd and boring, but completely far-fetched.

If Dayne had left the emotional crap out of this story and used her material for a hot, wild coupling of two strangers, it might have worked, what we’re given though isn’t worth reading.