Tag Archives: Cynthia Stacey

Teaser Tuesday (Jan 7)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My Teaser:

It’s cliche to say it’s always darkest before the dawn, but in my case it’s true,  There is a brief window of time, just before I wake, when I am not Me, and she is not Her.  We are together as one, unified in our blissful state of unconsciousness.

Opening paragraph.

Fire with Fire (Demonblood, #2) Fire with Fire (Demonblood #2) by Penelope King

The first book in the series was phenomenal.  I am hoping this is just as good. 🙂

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Teaser Tuesdays post, or share your ‘teasers’ in a comment here (if you don’t have a blog). Thanks! :D

Teaser Tuesday is a meme hosted by Should Be Reading. Check out their blog!

Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi

Unravel Me (Shatter Me, #2) Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi.  Published Feb 5, 2013 by Harper Collins.  CDN $11.99 Kindle Edition.

tick
tick
tick
tick
tick
it’s almost
time for war.

Juliette has escaped to Omega Point. It is a place for people like her—people with gifts—and it is also the headquarters of the rebel resistance.

She’s finally free from The Reestablishment, free from their plan to use her as a weapon, and free to love Adam. But Juliette will never be free from her lethal touch.

Or from Warner, who wants Juliette more than she ever thought possible.

In this exhilarating sequel to Shatter Me, Juliette has to make life-changing decisions between what she wants and what she thinks is right. Decisions that might involve choosing between her heart—and Adam’s life. (goodreads excerpt)

Where to start?  I absolutely love Mafi’s writing style.  It is so unique and engaging that it gives a different insight into Juliette’s thinking.  It makes her feel real.

I really enjoyed this second installment into the Shatter me series, despite the fact that it took me a long time to read.  That has more to do with my busy schedule than the book itself.  Granted it didn’t make me so enthralled that I couldn’t put it down, but every time I picked it up I had no problems reading it. The story itself was engaging and well thought out.  I have to admit as well that I didn’t read the novella Destroy Me, but it wasn’t necessary to enjoy the story.  I might go back and read it now given that it is Warner’s point of view and I have found a  but of a soft spot for him.  More like sympathy than I want him to win Juliette’s heart.  I still think he is a psychopath…lol.   I’m not a big fan of love triangles, but this one makes the story more real and engaging given that these are the only two people Juliette has encountered in her lifetime that she can touch-one good and one evil.

Shatter Me was very intense and I loved that.  I kept trying to imagine living Juliette’s life and having to deal with her powers and not being able to touch anyone.  In Unravel Me, she finds out more about her powers and others of her kind.  She learns how to deal with things much better and comes out of her shell that she has created.  We are introduced to a resistance group and some friends that Juliette learns to bond with.  I am really impressed with the Author’s unique insight into Juliette and her feelings and emotions.  She feels like a real person and you can’t help but empathize with her.

I am really looking forward to the next book.  I hope Juliette’s powers are explored further and her character becomes more developed.  You already see her growing more confident and sure of herself, but a lot is still held back.  I am interested to see how the love triangle plays out as well.

Overall I enjoyed the book very much.  It wasn’t quite as good as the first one, but still a great read.  I give it 4 ½ stars.

 

Happy New Year 2014!

 photo by manboobz.com

Happy New Year Everyone!  

All the best in 2014!

 

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

                      photo by http://www.wallpapersku.blogspot.com

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO EVERYONE!

Catching Fire – The Movie

I have to say right up front that this movie was amazing!  I loved the story, the costumes, the special effects, the cinematography…everything!

The movie starts with Catniss and Peeta going home after winning the Hunger Games.   They don’t get much time to enjoy their win however as they are quickly on the road to do a ‘victory tour’ of the other districts and we see the beginnings of a rebellion coming on, much to the dismay of President Snow.  The whole point of ‘The Hunger Games’ is to quell any type of rebellion among the masses that serve the Capitol and since Catniss has found a way to supercede that purpose, President Snow wants her gone.  They come up with a brand new game in this movie in which all the previous victors (including Catniss) have to go back into the arena and fight each other to the death, thus quelling any chance of rebellion.  Catniss would no longer be the Mockingjay and the source of the peoples hope.

The new Hunger Games is totally different from the first right down to the design of the arena.  The participants have to fight poisonous  rain, crazed man eating monkey type creatures,  raining blood, electrified fences, and even mocking jays that cry out like their loved ones in a psychologically terrifying never ending call for help that they can never answer.   The game this time is truly twisted and sadistic.

I don’t want to ruin the movie for anyone so suffice it to say this movie was fantastic.  There were some issues I had with the movie, but they mostly have to do with the pieces missing from the book.  The book was an amazing story and unfortunately you cannot pack all of that into a two hour movie.  Pretending that I haven’t read the book, the movie on its own was a great sequel to The Hunger Games.   I am truly looking forward to the next movie.

I have to add that the costumes and scenes from the movie were so out of this world and they really captured the spirit of the book.  My favorite has to be the wedding dress that Catniss wears on stage and is transformed by Cinna.  It is truly amazing.  The special effects are phenomenal.

I shouldn’t leave without saying something about the cast.  I am a big fan of Woody Harrelson and he does an amazing job as Haymitch.  I love Jennifer Lawrence as Catniss.  She is everything I imagine Catniss to be.  All of the cast is great right down to Donald Sutherland as President Snow.  I enjoyed all of the actors, they did an amazing job.

Well I don’t want to give anything else away so let me know what your thoughts were on the movie.  Did you like it?  Hate it?  Have you read the book? Please leave a comment.

WWW Wednesdays (Dec 18)

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?

My Answers:

Unravel Me (Shatter Me, #2)Recently Finished: Unravel Me (shatter me #2) by Tahereh Mafi.  I loved this book!  I will post a review shortly.

A Demon Made Me Do It (Demonblood, #1)Currently Reading:  A Demon Made Me Do it. (Demonblood #1).  I just started this so no comments yet.  It has lots of promise though. 

Next for me? I just downloaded both of these on my Kindle.  Not sure which I will read first.  And of course you never know what else might show up before I get to either of them!  

Stir Me Up Divergent (Divergent, #1)

Stir Me Up by Sabrina Elkins

Divergent ( Divergent #1) by Veronica Roth) 

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own WWW Wednesdays post, or share your answers in a comment here (if you don’t have a blog). Thanks! :D

WWW Wednesday is a meme hosted by Should Be Reading. Check out their blog!

Teaser Tuesday (Dec 17)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My Teaser:

Whoever says Hell is the worst place imaginable obviously never spent a day at Dove Creek High School.  There needs to be an inscription on its front gates reading, “Abandon all hope, ye who enter here.”

opening lines

A Demon Made Me Do It (Demonblood, #1) A Demon Made Me Do It (Demonblood #1) by Penelope King.

I haven’t actually started this yet, but it looks so cool. 

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Teaser Tuesdays post, or share your ‘teasers’ in a comment here (if you don’t have a blog). Thanks! :D

Teaser Tuesday is a meme hosted by Should Be Reading. Check out their blog!

Happy Friday 13th

 photo by http://www.freefever.com

Happy Friday 13th everyone.  I couldn’t resist when I saw this picture.  I have no idea why Friday 13th is considered such a bad day.  I’m not superstitious and I LOVE Black cats.  Have a terrific day!

Wordless Wednesday (Dec 11)

Baby Turtle Eats Strawberry Teh Cute Cute Puppies Cute Kittensphoto by http://www.okiraa.com

I love Wordless Wednesday.  I get a kick out of finding the best picture that makes me laugh or go ‘OMG that is so adorable’.  So please  LEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Wordless Wednesday post, or just a comment (if you don’t have a blog). Thanks! :D

WWW Wednesdays (Dec 11)

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?

My Answers:

A Voice at Midnight Water (Akasha, #1)Recently Finished: A Voice at Midnight by Elizabeth Cole and Water (Akasha #1) aby Terra Harmony.  Both were good.  Reviews are posted.

Unravel Me (Shatter Me, #2)Currently Reading: Unravel Me (Shatter Me #2) by Tahereh mafi  I had to put this down to finish a couple others first so am only now really getting into it.  So far it is good.  I will post a review as soon as I am finished.

Next for me?

I am not really sure, but I have this on my kindle which looks very promising.

A Demon Made Me Do It (Demonblood, #1) A Demon Made me do it. (Demonblood #1) by Penelope King.

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own WWW Wednesdays post, or share your answers in a comment here (if you don’t have a blog). Thanks! :D

WWW Wednesday is a meme hosted by Should Be Reading. Check out their blog!

Teaser Tuesday (Dec 10)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My Teaser:

Her mouth was a little small for the rest of her features, but her lower lip was full enough to make him wonder…

Tristan decided he should stop wondering about her, at least while she was in the same room.

15% on kindle

A Voice at Midnight A Voice at Midnight by Elizabeth Cole

This was a delightful little read that I couldn’t put down so I thought I would share as my Teaser Tuesday.  Review posted here:

A Voice at Midnight

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Teaser Tuesdays post, or share your ‘teasers’ in a comment here (if you don’t have a blog). Thanks! :D

Teaser Tuesday is a meme hosted by Should Be Reading. Check out their blog!

A Voice at Midnight

A Voice at Midnight A Voice at Midnight by Elizabeth Cole.  Published November 17, 2013 by SkySpark Books.  CDN $0.99 Kindle edition.

Can two troubled souls break a ghostly curse and find true love?

Veronica Swift dreams of traveling the world, but at the insistence of her stepfather, she must leave her dreams behind in order to find a husband. She retreats to historic Wyemont Castle for the Christmas holiday. There she encounters two very different men…and her childhood memories of a ghostly woman in white.

Tristan Ryder lost everything after a terrible turn of luck during the war. Penniless and disgraced, Tristan’s last hope is to help his old friend, Elliot Bantham, find a suitable match during their holiday at the castle.

But the legendary ghosts of Wyemont Castle interrupt the festivities. It seems the spirits have their own plans for the guests. Will Veronica and Tristan unlock the secret surrounding Wyemont? Or will it draw all of them deeper into the tragedy? (Goodreads excerpt)

I was given a copy of this book as a read for review.  I have to say I am really glad I came across this little gem of a story.  I was so engrossed that I read it in one sitting.  It was cute and romantic and exciting and suspenseful and everything that you would want out of a historical romance.  I loved it.

I always love historical romance books.  I love how we get swept up in the emotions of the characters.  This was no exception.  Veronica and Tristan are the cutest couple and you know they have to end up in each other’s arms no matter what gets in the way.  What makes this book different is the ghost story aspect that makes there union both interesting and more difficult. The story itself is very engaging and you absolutely have to know what happens to the ghosts.  I love how the author entangles the story of the ghosts and the story of the main characters and interweaves it into a wonderfully romantic story.

The story is very short (95 pages) but an exceptionally wonderful light read.

I give it 5 stars!

Water (Akasha #1)

Water (Akasha, #1) Water (Akasha #1) by Terra Harmony.  Published Sept 26, 2011 by Patchwork Press.  CDN $0.00 on Kindle.

Elemental powers in the palm of her hand…and it won’t be enough to save her. When Kaitlyn Alder is involuntarily introduced to a life of magic, she becomes part of an organization hell-bent on saving the Earth. Just as her new-found life holds promises of purpose, romance, and friendship, the organization divides and a rogue member holds Kaitlyn hostage. Now one of the most terrifying men the human race has to offer stands between her and Earth’s survival. (Goodreads excerpt)

Where to start? I was a little apprehensive going into this book when I was made aware that it had scenes of rape and brutality…not my thing at all.  However, I am really glad I did.  I really enjoyed he story.  I love stories with magic, especially when you mix it with science and make it more believable.  The story line was original and engaging and kept me reading intently.  The suspense was great and I kept trying to figure out what was going to happen.  Even the end left on a cliff hanger that was both satisfying as an end to this book, yet still made me want to know what happens next.

I enjoyed the interaction between Kaitlyn and Micah.  There was always a bit of mystery to him that I found intriguing.  Is he good…bad…somewhere in the middle?  I liked the love story blossoming between them while you still keep it in the back of your mind if Micah has an ulterior motive.

As for the rape that I mentioned…I don’t usually include spoilers, but it is there in the story.  I found that it was not necessarily needed, although I understand that the writer wanted you to get the full effect of what was happening to Kaitlyn.  Personally, I would have preferred he beat the crap out of her than rape her and it would have the same effect.  Having said that, it didn’t detract too much from me liking the story.  What it did was make me angry as the SOB.  Which is probably the point.

Overall, I enjoyed the story and give it 4 stars!

Friday Finds (Nov 29)

FF2_MdFRIDAY FINDS showcases the books you ‘found’ and added to your To Be Read (TBR) list… whether you found them online, or in a bookstore, or in the library — wherever! (they aren’t necessarily books you purchased).

So, come on — share with us your FRIDAY FINDS!

OMG I just came across this by accident today and when I checked on Amazon, it was FREE…I was so excited that I downloaded it immediately.  I can’t wait to get started.  This is the first installment of 4 that I know of.

A Demon Made Me Do It (Demonblood, #1) A Demon Made Me Do It (Demonblood #1) by Penelope King.

Some girls share clothes, a bathroom, or a bedroom. Seventeen-year-old Liora Greyson has to share, too. Only she shares her body–with a demon.

Liora just wants to survive her final year of high school unscathed, her dark secret intact. But the walls she’s carefully constructed to keep people away crack wide open once she meets the sexy and mysterious Kieron, and he lights her world on fire. She can’t let him know she transforms into a demon named “Lucky” at nightfall—a demon with an entirely separate personality who passes out Torment, Justice, and Revenge like Halloween candy.

Turns out Kieron is the one who should be afraid once Lucky discovers his true identity and motivations. Liora wants to love him, but Lucky thinks he’s public enemy number one. And having a demon with a vendetta show up during a romantic date puts a serious crimp in any relationship.

Fighting your demons is one thing. Having one that fights back, messes with your guy, and leaves you with nasty hangovers is quite another.

Being bad has never been so good…(Goodreads Excerpt)

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Friday Finds post, or share your ‘finds’ in a comment here (if you don’t have a blog). Thanks! :D

Friday Finds is a meme hosted by Should Be Reading. Check out their blog!

Is it Friday Yet? (Nov 28)

                      photo by kittyblogger.com

Ok seriously, is he not adorable?  I think we should skip the whole going to work on Friday and just call it a weekend. 🙂

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Is it Friday Yet? post, or just a comment (if you don’t have a blog). Thanks! :D