Saturday, December 31, 2016

Stacking The Shelves, Bought Borrowed and Bagged, Christmas Haul, Coloring Book Haul

Stacking The Shelves is a meme hosted by Team Tynga's Reviews and Bought, Borrowed and Bagged is hosted by Braine over at Talk Supe Blog.

Note: I hope everybody had a wonderful christmas. I know I did. So here's my haul

NetGalley/Edelweiss


E-Book Haul








Coloring Book Haul







Christmas Gifts




A Whimsy Girls Christmas Coloring Book Update



Come Home to Color Coloring Book Update







Love Between the Lines Coloring Book Update:





Mermaids, Fairies and Other Girls of Whimsy Coloring Book Update


The Art of Keepsakes Coloring Book Update



The Calm Coloring Book Update








Thursday, December 29, 2016

Book Review: Prince Lestat by Anne Rice


Title: Prince Lestat
Author: Anne Rice
Series: The Vampire Chronicles #11
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Vampires
Publisher: Alfred A Knopf-
Pub Date: October 28, 2014
Pages: 458
My Copy: Hardcover

Book Summary:

The vampire world is in crisis – their kind have been proliferating out of control and, thanks to technologies undreamed of in previous centuries, they can communicate as never before. Roused from their earth-bound slumber, ancient ones are in thrall to the Voice: which commands that they burn fledgling vampires in cities from Paris to Mumbai, Hong Kong to Kyoto and San Francisco. Immolation, huge massacres, have commenced all over the world.

Who – or what – is the Voice? What does it desire, and why?

There is only one vampire, only one blood drinker, truly known to the entire world of the Undead. Will the dazzling hero-wanderer, the dangerous rebel-outlaw Lestat heed the call to unite the Children of Darkness as they face this new twilight?

Anne Rice’s epic, luxuriant, fiercely ambitious new novel brings together all the worlds and beings of the legendary Vampire Chronicles, from present-day New York and Ancient Egypt to fourth-century Carthage and Renaissance Venice; from Louis de Pointe du Lac; Armand the eternally young; Mekare and Maharet; to Pandora and Flavius; David Talbot, vampire and ultimate fixer from the Secret Talamasca; and Marius, the true child of the Millennia. It also introduces many other seductive supernatural creatures, and heralds significant new blood. 

Book Review:

This was an interesting book to read. Now I will preface this by saying I have loved the previous books in the Vampire Chronicles. This book was not as good as I had hoped it would be. It was a book that I felt was like visiting old friends and seeing where everybody is in the Vampire Chronicles at times.

Now I normally enjoy different point of views and a good story. I felt like having several or more than seven viewpoints in this book kind of made me feel like this was just at times to prepare us for something big and get to understand the other characters who are not Lestat. Lestat, is going through his own things. The point of views kind of made sense at least first, but it was like every chapter was a different character which kind of made me feel like this was a bunch of short snippets or stories strung together, It made me feel detached and not invested. Plus the introduction of some new characters were interesting, but I felt like they were introduced to give us some new insight into the world from their perspective.

The Voice character or presence was an interesting way. I liked the idea and concept of this being wanting Lestat and was willing to do anything to get his attention. The idea of this Voice being able to control young vampires make this threat very dangerous. We get some dangerous things happening when the voice takes over certain vampires bodies and they almost become like slaves to what the voice wants. Everything happens with some interesting developments. I really thought that Viktor being Lester’s son really was something that seemed a little far-fetched but it worked.

Rose’s story seemed to be very interesting, heartbreaking and very much one that makes you think that there is a real human story of pain and suffering and finding that there is always some hope and light that you don’t see until it comes to you in the form of someone you don’t expect. I though that the addition of having a doctor as a vampire was a really interesting way to examine the science of vampirism. 

Plus when Lestat and the voice finally do have their long-awaited confrontation, we learn who the voice is and what the voice wants/needs. He is someone who had a lot of pain, suffering and was there for some of the most important things in human history. I thought that this was interesting. Lester comes up with a solution or comprise for the voice and that they bond together. This was kind of an easy solution in my opinion. Usually Lestat fights harder and does things that are selfish. I thought that this was an interesting development for him.

Overall an okay book for me. I felt it lacked something, maybe it was the passionate, rebellious Lestat that I missed. There was too many point of views for me that made this book feel like it was a little bit of a book that dragged. Too many characters made me feel like there weren’t higher stakes. I’m hoping that the next book with Lestat in it will be better and that it will have higher stakes.

Rating:

3.5 Hearts

Tuesday, December 27, 2016

Coloring Book Review: Debbie Macomber's Come Home to Color

Note: When using inktense pencils, be careful how much water you use on the paper or it buckles. Additional: I love this coloring book. I'm getting near the end of this coloring book. I have enjoyed coloring in it.

Saturday, December 24, 2016

Stacking The Shelves, Bought, Borrowed and Bagged, Coloring Book Updates-Good Week, Merry Christmas

Stacking The Shelves is a meme hosted by Team Tynga's Reviews and Bought, Borrowed and Bagged is hosted by Braine over at Talk Supe Blog.

First of All I want to wish everyone a merry Christmas. I got tons of stuff this week, this is not including any of my Christmas Gifts which I will probably get tom morning.


NetGalley/Edelweiss



E-Books Gotten



Gifted From Co-Workers



Print Books


I went Crazy this week and got a lot of coloring books...






A Whimsy Girls Christmas Coloring Book Update


Color Your Own Fairytale Coloring Book Update


Debbie Macomber's Come Home to Color Coloring Book Update
Note: This One took me a long time to color. This was very detailed indeed



Pusheen Coloring Book Update




The Art of Keepsake Coloring Book Update



The Calm Coloring Book Update



Thursday, December 22, 2016

Book Review: Perfect Scoundrels by Ally Carter


Title: Perfect Scoundrels
Author: Ally Carter
Series: Heist Society #3
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion 
Pub Date: February 5, 2013
Pages: 328
My Copy: Hardcover in my Too Be Read Pile

Book Summary:

Katarina Bishop and W.W. Hale the fifth were born to lead completely different lives: Kat comes from a long, proud line of loveable criminal masterminds, while Hale is the son of one of the most seemingly perfect dynasties in the world. If their families have one thing in common, it's that they both know how to stay under the radar while getting-or stealing-whatever they want. No matter the risk, the Bishops can always be counted on, but in Hale's family, all bets are off when money is on the line. When Hale unexpectedly inherits his grandmother's billion dollar corporation, he quickly learns that there's no place for Kat and their old heists in his new role. But Kat won't let him go that easily, especially after she gets tipped off that his grandmother's will might have been altered in an elaborate con to steal the company's fortune. Forced to keep a level head as she and her crew fight for one of their own, Kat comes up with an ambitious and far-reaching plan that only the Bishop family would dare attempt. To pull it off, Kat is prepared to do the impossible, but first, she has to decide if she's willing to save her boyfriend's company if it means losing the boy.

Book Review: 

An absolutely fun book to read. I totally love reading the adventures of Katrina and Hale in this series. I feel like they both are growing up and facing their challenges together, but then something happens that neither of them expect, the death of Hale’s grandmother. This sets the course of this book in a way you don’t expect.

I think one of the things that I always like is how much Kat and Hale are a team and it definitely shows at times through out the series. When we begin we find out that Hale has gotten some terrible news in the middle of a job and leaves Kat high and dry quite literally. I also feel like that Kat and we the readers learn a lot more about Hale and his family in a lot of ways. 

What we learn about Hale is a lot of things. He is very rich or at least his family and the company that he has inherited. People in Hale’s other world seem to be upset about losing Hazel, Hale’s grandmother. Things get complicated as we get to meet two new people, Natalie and her father, Garrett. Garrett, we learn is a real piece of work as we learn from Marianne, the maid that Hazel was planning on firing him and never got around to him. Plus Natalie seems a little too friendly to Kat at times. Kat doesn’t trust Natalie and rightfully so.
I like that this book took a lot of turns and different directions. Also like how at times Kat and Hale butt heads & have arguments. He also learns things about himself and sometimes finds himself questioning his own judgement as he thinks about being betrayed to and lied to by his supposed friend and girlfriend. Yet when he almost loses everything, it’s Kat and company who come to his rescue. We learn a lot about things that were happening that his grandmother was working on and how Garrett was planning on doing some nefarious things.

The twists and turns that came with this book were really good as everyone shows up and helps out with what may be the biggest con that Kat and crew has ever come up with.  I totally enjoyed the crazy ride that was the con and how many angles that they did really were well played. I also like how she uses her uncles in the con. Also the fact that Hale and Kat make up and learn that people have their own ideas for what they want to do with his company and become his trustee. We learn that Marianne was the one who Hazel, Hale’s grandmother to become the trustee.  This works for Hale and some others are not happy about it.

I like that this book at the heart of it is about friendship trust, loyalty despite being thieves, con artists, there is something about the way that they talk to one another and have a great deal of executing the plan and trusting that everybody will do their part and they do exactly that. Plus Garrett gets arrested and it was so satisfying to read that. I totally enjoyed this installment of Heist Society.

Rating:

Four Hearts

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Waiting on Wednesday: Lady be Bad by Megan Frampton

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine where we show what we are waiting for on Wednesday.

                                                           This Week I'm Waiting on



Lady Be Bad
by Megan Frampton
Series: Duke's Daughters #1
Pub Date: July 2017

Book Summary:

Once upon a time, a duke had five daughters who never made a stir. They practiced their French, their pianoforte, and their dancing…until one ran off with the dancing instructor, and the rest were left to face the scandal.

Lady Eleanor, the duke of Marymount’s eldest daughter, knows the burden is hers: she must marry well to restore the family name. So a loveless match is made and her fate is set. But then Eleanor meets her intended’s rakish younger brother. With his tawny hair, green eyes, and scandalous behavior, Lord Alexander Carson makes her want to be very bad indeed.

With his very honorable sibling too busy saving the world to woo Eleanor, Alexander is tasked with finding out her likes and dislikes for his elder brother. But the more time he spends with the secretly naughty Eleanor, and helps her tick off all the things on her good list for being bad, the more he knows what they want, and need, is each other.
 



Tuesday, December 20, 2016

Book Review: Grave Expectations by C.J. Archer


Title: Grave Expectations
Author: C.J. Archer
Series:  The Ministry of Curiosities #4
Genre: New Adult, Steampunk, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Self
Pub Date: February 16, 2016 
Pages: 252
My Copy: From my E-Book Collection, Purchased via Amazon

Book Summary:

Charlie’s life is perfect. She has everything her heart desires. Until it all goes horribly wrong. 

Charlie and Lincoln return to London to find two supernaturals have been murdered, and Charlie might be next. As if that wasn’t bad enough, the man who adopted her has escaped from prison, and the committee members have just learned some news that infuriates them. Now there’s talk of sending Charlie away again. Far away. 

But the worst is yet to come. Charlie is kidnapped and forced to summon one of the murder victims – but she’s unable to send him back. With an angry dead supernatural on the loose and the committee determined to get rid of her, Charlie’s time with the Ministry of Curiosities, and Lincoln, is in grave danger of coming to an end.

Book Review:


A totally interesting and twisty fourth book in this series. I totally found that the relationships in this book grew and seemed to be going so well, until things happen that are unexpected and shocking. We get some information on Charlie’s past and their relationship seems to be growing.

I like how we start learning about Charlie’s past and who her mother was. We get a lot of information about Charlie’s mother and what she left Charlie. Charlie gets a necklace, but inside the amber stone is a creature who will protect her. We call it an imp. The Imp only comes out when Charlie is in danger. She has to say certain words, in a language, but we learn later that the imp is bilingual. Charlie calls on her mother’s spirit. Her mother tells Charlie some wonderful words. Her mother warns her not to marry Lincoln. Lincoln is too strong for Charlie. To marry someone who she can easily control. Charlie loves Lincoln.
Lincoln and Charlie are engaged. Some of the members of the Ministry are not too happy when this gets announced to them. They find that this relationship is bad for Lincoln, because he will not be focusing on Ministry business, but rather Charlie and her safety. Of course, supernaturals are being murdered and no one knows the reason why these murders are happening. Then Charlie’s adoptive father is causing problems as well. He refuses to sign the papers to allow the marriage to happen. Then he escapes the jail where he is being held in. Things happen that are just crazy.

These things that happen are definitely interesting as Lincoln is working his way. He even tells Charlie not to do anything that will put her in danger. Yet she starts to investigate things and learns that certain Ministry members are doing everything in their power to separate Charlie from Lincoln, but not for the reasons she originally thinks. We learn certain ministry members want Charlie to separate from Lincoln Fitzroy for her own protection and Lincoln’s own good. He needs to lead and she could have an education to finish being a lady. Of course we learn Julia Harcourt is the one who arrange for Charlie’s abduction a few books back. Charlie is pissed.

This book takes a crazy twist that the imp literally kills Charlie’s adoptive father after Charlie and her adoptive father have a final conversation that leaves her very worried about her own safety. This leads Lincoln to take a shocking action that leaves everyone at Lichfield pissed at him. Charlie is being sent to a finishing school. He does love Charlie very much. I’m so pissed at Lincoln in this moment. So they break up and it makes things so much more interesting at what’s going to happen next book.

I really do like this series. I didn’t like the ending of this book. I definitely will be reading the next book in this series to see how C.J. Archer resolves this. 

Rating:

Four Hearts

Books in This Series-7 Books

The Last Necromancer-Book 1-Free on Amazon
Her Majesty's Necromancer-Book 2
Beyond The Grave-Book 3
Grave Expectations-Book 4
Ashes to Ashes-Book 5
From The Ashes-Book 6
Of Fate and Phantoms-Book 7

Saturday, December 17, 2016

Stacking The Shelves, Bought Borrowed and Bagge-Getting Sick is No Fun , Coloring Book Updates,

Stacking The Shelves is a meme hosted by Team Tynga's Reviews and Bought, Borrowed and Bagged is hosted by Braine over at Talk Supe Blog.

Note: I've been suffering with a really nasty head cold this week, and it's not getting better. Taking medicine. If it doesn't clear up by the end of the year, I'll have to see a doctor and I hate doctors...with a passion. I don't have great experiences with them... So that's the reason I haven't been posting


NetGalley/Edelweiss


E-Books Gotten

Note: Most of These Were Free or Under $5.00, So Check Prices







Print Books 


Random House Open House Tote Bag and Books



Treatsie Subscription Box

I can't have the Peanut Brittle unfortunately or The Gingerbread Caramel Corn


A Whimsy Girls Coloring Book Updates



Alice in Wonderland Coloring Book Updates



Coloring Book For Coffee Lovers


Mermaids, Fairies, and Other Girls of Whimsy Coloring Book


Pusheen Adult Coloring Book Update


The Art of Keepsakes Coloring Book