Let's Talk - 3/1/13

Let’s Talk is a meme hosted by Smash Attack Reads and A Book Obsession.  

Let's Talk is a a great place to get personal and learn more about one another!  

Each week, a different question will be posted along with a place to link up your posts and visit other people’s responses. This meme is definitely meant to bring out conversation and meet new people. So, Let’s Talk!

Today's Question: Do you need romance in your books to read them? If not, what else “hooks” you?

Answer: Apologies for the meme redundancy posts.  I've been sick this past week and haven't had time (or the inclination) to write up any reviews.  Anyway, when I read this question I laughed. 

NO! 

I do not need romance in my books to read them at all.  I'm a mush when it comes to dogs, but romance...meh.  Valentine's Day makes me roll my eyes and a lot of Romantic stuff in books (as well as tv/movies) do as well.  In fact, when a review says the romance is very minimal, doesn't play a major role in the plot, then I'm more likely to be interested.  I'm not saying I hate any romance in a book, it's just that it has to be well done, believable and *not* the main focus of a story.  It takes a lot to make swoon.  I guess I'm just not easy! : ) 

What hooks me?  Well, are you going to try to scare me?  Creep me out?  Please do! That's what hooks me!  

Most aspects of the Paranormal/Supernatural hook me as well.  Ghosts, hauntings...stuff like that.  However...as opposed to a world where the paranormal is accepted, I prefer when the character questions themself or has to explore their surroundings and then discover and accept that all is not what it seems. 

What else hooks me is scary stories about demons.  I love theology and exploring mythology, religion and again, things that may be out there that you never dreamed of before. 

Also, if a book takes place in New Orleans I'm more apt to pick it up.  If I can't live there then I want to visit it via words and my imagination as much as possible. 

I haven't read any in a while, but I love King Arthur and Celtic mythology re-tellings too. 

What is your take on Romance in a book?  What gets you to read a book?

Let's Talk - 1/22/13

Let’s Talk is a meme hosted by Smash Attack Reads and A Book Obsession.  

Let's Talk is a a great place to get personal and learn more about one another!  

Each week, a different question will be posted along with a place to link up your posts and visit other people’s responses. This meme is definitely meant to bring out conversation and meet new people. So, Let’s Talk!

Today's Question: If you could be part of one fictional family (book or screen), what family would you choose, and why? Would you choose to be a current family member, or a new one?

Like Smash, the first book I thought of was the Harry Potter books.  I want to be married to George Weasley.  He is awesome and funny, brave and daring.  

Another family would be the Riddell's, recurring characters from many Charles de Lint stories.  Geordie and Christie Riddell have many adventures in Newford that allow them to experience the land of fairy.  I would love to be able to join them.  

Also, I'd like to give being a vampire a try.  I would then have the time to read all the books I want.  I think I'd prefer to join the vamps in the Sookie Stackhouse novels.  Some of them can be pretty cool.  

What about you?  What fictional family do you want to join?

About Last Night's Book Dream...

Last night's dream:

I'm in Barnes & Noble peering at books on the bottom of a shelf.  I see a book that is a guide to "Dreamfever" by Karen Marie Moning, that explains different characters, mythology and even the part of Dublin that is no longer on any maps.  It also had more background on Mac.  Even though I had some mixed feelings about the book, I thought I might like to get the guide to give me some insight and perhaps give me more impetus to finish the series.  However, I wasn't sure I wanted to get it right then and there, so I pull out my I-phone which is very dusty from being in my purse and scan the barcode on my Amazon App to put in on my shelf and to see how much they are selling it elsewhere. 

This dream was very real because I will often scan books, but mostly with the Goodreads App to put it on my TBR list. 

Do you think this dream has any deeper meaning?  Have you had any bookish dreams lately? 

Trapped.

Title/Author: Trapped by Michael Northrop.

Genre: YA/Thriller

Publisher: Scholastic.

Source: Purchased.

Favorite character: Scott

Synopsis:  The day the blizzard started, no one knew that it was going to keep snowing for a week. That for those in its path, it would become not just a matter of keeping warm, but of staying alive. . . .

Scotty and his friends Pete and Jason are among the last seven kids at their high school waiting to get picked up that day, and they soon realize that no one is coming for them. Still, it doesn't seem so bad to spend the night at school, especially when distractingly hot Krista and Julie are sleeping just down the hall. But then the power goes out, then the heat. The pipes freeze, and the roof shudders. As the days add up, the snow piles higher, and the empty halls grow colder and darker, the mounting pressure forces a devastating decision. .~Goodreads.com.

My Thoughts:  With all the snowstorms and power outages we've been having lately, I thought this was an appropriate book to clear off my TBR shelf.  I enjoyed reading this.  It was kind of like The Breakfast Club gets stranded but without the moments of epic disclosure.  There was a little bit of music though.  Seven students are stuck in their high school during a mega blizzard.  Their power goes out - no heat, the pipes freeze - no water, they are cold, hungry and scared.  What would you do?  The answers may seem easy, but when you have obstacles, the solutions are not always workable.  It is interesting to see the teens try to work their way around them and come up with answers.

The story is told by main protagonist Scotty Weems in first person.  His voice is clear and consice as is the writing and it is easy to believe that a 15 year old boy is telling this story.  He is likeable and I liked him more when he was being honest with himself and his friends.  He doesn't want to get in trouble and lose his status on the basketball team, he wants to impress his crush who is stuck also.  His insight into himself doesn't always come fast, but it eventually comes making him more real for me.

There are definitely some dynamics of the different factions of students going on and it is interesting to see which kids come up with the best ideas, which ones take on a leadership role, which ones the other kids defer to.  And of course, in a stressful situation like being snowbound, tempers flare and emotions can run high.

I love seeing what people do in averse circumstances and the choices these kids make are not ones I would make, but I can't really remember what I'd do as a 15 year old.  However, I wondered why they didn't get gym mats like they mentioned in the beginning or go into the teacher's lounge where there might be couches.  Break into other lockers for extra clothes, etc.

The ending bothered me a bit because I found it sudden and also I didn't get to see what the aftermath was.  *Spoiler Alert* Even just a little bit would have been cool.  The kids congratulating Scott when they were picked up in the helicopter.  Visiting each other in the hospital. *End Spoiler Alert*  However, I also understand that the main gist of the story is the survival of the students in the hostile environment and the events that occured.

All in all: A very fast and entertaining read.

Other editions:

 

Challenges:

What's A Ghoul To Do?

Title/Author: What's a Ghoul to Do? by Victoria Laurie.

Genre: Paranormal Thriller.

Publisher: Signet.

Source: Purchased.

Favorite character: Gilley

Synopsis: M.J., her partner Gilley, and their client, the wealthy, de-lish Dr. Steven Sable, are at his family's lodge, where his grandfather allegedly jumped to his death from the roof-although Sable says it was foul play. But the patriarch's isn't the only ghost around. The place is lousy with souls, all with something to get off their ghoulish chests. Now M.J. will have to to quell the clamor-and listen for a voice with the answers...~Goodreads.com

My Thoughts: I've wanted to read this book for a while (I love the cover), so when The Book Nympho and Romancing the Darkside announced they were a having a Read-A-Long of the series, I figured it was my perfect chance.  I was expecting a kind of a light cozy-mystery and that's what I got. 

This is a murder mystery and thriller and main protagonist M.J., who is a Medium, has to solve the murder and some other puzzles that she and her team uncover in the course of the investigation. Although we know  who the bad guy is, there is still some deep and buried secrets to uncover.  There were some surprises that I did not see coming, which I love, but I also felt at times the plot stalled.  From the first chapter, I also thought the book was going to be darker than it was and I was looking forward to that, but the rest of the book did not have that darkness.  I love ghost stories and there are some chilling and creepy parts in this book, but they are not terribly frightening so if you are a scaredy-cat, don't avoid this book because there are ghosts.

I like the main character M.J. She is smart and funny and also vulnerable.  I do wish there had been further character development with her because I *do* like her.  I think I just wanted a bit more.  The character who steals the show, in my opinion however, is Gilley, her business partner who is ironically, afraid of ghosts.  He is hilarious and snarky and mischevious and a perfect foil for M.J.  Every girl should have a Gilley. 

Unfortunately, I really did not like Dr. Steven Sable, the love interest.  I felt he was arrogant and at times condescending to M.J.  Also, I didn't always buy his misuse of the English slang.  At first it was cute, but it went on too long.  It just seems to me a world reknown surgeon who is fluent in several languages would have a better grasp of English.  Maybe that's just me. The romance did not make me swoon and I really didn't feel a chemistry between them.  I do think the next book will be interesting however, given the turn the ending took relating to him. 

Also, the bird Doc Holliday, didn't work for me at first either as a sidekick pet.  However, when it was explained why she received the bird and from who, I understood.  I wondered why the author chose a parrot and then I read in the back that she herself has a parrot named Doc. 

I'm not sure if I'll continue with the series, but I really love the Read-A-Long and hearing everyone's opinions so maybe I'll at least give the second installment a try.

All in all: The book seemed a bit slow to me at times, but it was still a light and fun read. 

Other Editions:

Book Blogger Confessions - Reading Habits. (Monday, February 18, 20130

Book Blogger Confessions is a meme that allows book bloggers to discuss issues unique to what we encounter in the blogging world. Every 1st and 3rd Monday of the month we will post a question and invite you to answer, comment and discuss opinions and different views.

Please keep the dialogue courteous. No bashing!

If you would like to participate in this meme sign up below and please feel free to to grab the button to include in your post with a link to For What It's Worth Reviews or here at Midnyte Reader.

ANNOUNCEMENT:  Book Blogger Confessions has been nominated for best meme for Book Blogger Twitter Con (#BBTC) hosted by Parajunkee and The Bookish Brunette.  This event will take place April 1-April 7 and all of it will be held on Twitter.  We are thrilled to be nominated and want to thank everyone who participates, comments and reads.  Voting starts March 1, 2013.  Even if you don't vote for us, at least go vote!  For more information on #BBTC click HERE.


Question: How has blogging and reviewing changed your reading habits? Do you read a genre now that you wouldn't have tried prior? Or have you been turned off by a genre you used to love?

Answer:   Since I started blogging and reviewing my habits have a changed a lot.  

On the positive side, I'm reading a lot more, I'm reading books that I may never have tried. I don't think I would have gotten into YA as much as I have.  Also, I'm being exposed to books and authors that I may never have heard of.  Blogging is like a HUGE resource for books.  You know when Dorothy opened the door to OZ and was like Holy Crap...that's kind of how I feel.  Picture when she opens the door it's all books piled on top of each other, spilling off the beautiful scenery and growing off the plants. 

On the negative side, I'm a bit ashamed to "confess" that sometimes I feel like I've restricted myself.  I used to read a lot of Fantasy - like King Arthur and Fairy mythology...that has fallen by the wayside a bit.  I kind of want to focus my blog on the spooky (even though other stuff sneaks in sometimes) and I've not been reading books that may not serve the blog 100%.  I know I can read these books and not review them, but I read so slow as it is, I feel like every book I finish needs to go up on my blog or I won't have content.  I also feel like if I read them and don't write about them...what's the point?  I love discussing books and sharing my thoughts.   I know it sounds like I'm reading to blog and not reading to read and that's not good.  I need to read what I think I'll enjoy.

Also, I've been going to a lot more different conventions, signings and readings and I want to read books by the authors attending.  So I've been focusing on that as well.  This counts as positive because I'm finding awesome new authors and books and I love being able to understand what the authors are talking about.  However, this counts as negative too because again...the other books that I do want to read are falling farther and farther down my TBR list.  

I think the problem is this:  There are just too many books out there that I want to read. Therein lies all the problems of readers.   

Stacking the Shelves (2/17/13)

Stacking The Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews to celebrate books you've received. Please check out how to join this fun meme HERE.

I bought these three book for my Authors After Dark Savannah Reading Challenge.

1. Undead and Unwed by Mary Jancie Davidson.
2. Darker Still by Leanna Renee Hieber.
3. After Light by Elle Jasper.

These three seem really different from each other and I'm looking forward to reading them.


Last weekend I was able to use my B&N gift card I got for Christmas and I bought the following:

1. Black Wing by Christina Henry.

2. Mutated by Joe McKinney. 

What did you get recently?