Shade

I won a copy of this book from Candace's Book Blog (Thanks again!) and was really excited to read it. I've never read anything by Jeri Smith-Ready so I didn't really know what to expect but everyone was saying good things about it and I LOVED the cover art. I thought it was a great start to a new series. I loved all of the characters and the idea of this different reality they live in. It didn't take place in the future, just a different present where most people can see ghosts. Well the cover summary can explain better than I can so here it is:

Best. Birthday. Ever. At least, it was supposed to be. With Logan's band playing a crucial gig and Aura's plans for an intimate after-party, Aura knows it will be the most memorable night of her boyfriend's life. She never thought it would be his last.

Logan's sudden death leaves Aura devastated. He's gone.

Well, sort of.

Like everyone born after the Shift, Aura can see and talk to ghosts. This mysterious ability had always been annoying, and Aura had wanted nothing more than to figure out why the Shift happened so she could undo it. But not with Logan's violet-hued spirit still hanging around. Because Dead Logan is almost as real as ever. Almost.

It doesn't help that Aura's new friend Zachary is so understanding - and so very alive. His support means more to Aura than she cares to admit.

As Aura's relationships with the dead and the living grow ever complicated, so do her feelings for Logan and Zachary. Each holds a piece of Aura's heart...and clues to the secret of the Shift.

Just want to warn some of the younger readers that this book (even though YA) does have sex, drugs, alcohol, and a little bad language.

Falling

When I saw a review on the back cover of Falling by Christopher Pike comparing this book to Hannibal Lecter I was a little afraid. I don't handle scary stuff very well and I remember trying to watch Silence of the Lambs years ago and freaking out. Surprisingly, I really liked this book. It was very graphic (murder, torture, sex scenes, language), just warning some of you. Actually, chapters 20 and 24 made me feel a bit ill. The ending wasn't what I expected or hoped for but other than that I really liked this book. Here is the summary from the back cover:

In Falling, Christopher Pike explores the depths of human emotion through two brilliantly etched characters: Kelly Fienman, who pays a terrible price to understand the nature of true evil, and Matt Connor, a classic antihero who captures the reader's sympathy. The reader is drawn deeply into the hearts and minds of these two people, who face their deepest fears - and ours.

The Friday 56

Rules:

* Grab the book nearest you. Right now.

* Turn to page 56.

* Find the fifth sentence

* Post that sentence (plus one or two others if you like) along with these instructions on your blog or (if you do not have your own blog) in the comments section of http://storytimewithtonya.blogspot.com/

Title: Falling

Author: Christopher Pike

Page 56 sentence 5-7:

"Tony," she whispered, sitting back down. She realized she did not immediately think of her husband when it came to sharing - the very concept of doing things together. There was truth in what he was trying to tell her.

Token of Darkness

I've really been looking forward to reading Token of Darkness because I love the rest of Amelia Atwater-Rhodes' books. Sadly I was a bit disappointed by it. I'm not sure if I just built it up too much in my mind but it didn't feel like the rest of her books. Persistence of Memory kind of felt that way for me too but not as bad as this one. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't a bad book and I still love Amelia but I think this would be my least favorite of all of her books (Hawksong is still #1). I hope whatever she comes up with next is as good as her older ones. This one is still worth reading and I liked the idea and characters. Here is the summary from the inside cover:

Cooper Blake has everything going for him - until he wakes from a car accident with his football career in ruins and a mysterious, attractive girl by his side. Cooper doesn't know how Samantha got there or why he can see her; all he knows is that she's a ghost, and the shadows that surround her seem in tent on destroying her.

No one from Cooper's old life would understand what he can barely grasp himself...But Delilah, the captain of the cheerleading squad, has secrets of her own, like her ability to see beyond the physical world, and her tangled history with Brent, a loner from a neighboring school who can hear strangers' most intimate thoughts. Delilah and Brent know that Cooper is in more trouble that he realizes, and that Samantha may not be as innocent as she has led Cooper to believe. But the only way to figure out where Samantha came from will put them all in more danger than they ever dreamed possible.

The Friday 56

Rules:

* Grab the book nearest you. Right now.

* Turn to page 56.

* Find the fifth sentence.

* Post that sentence (plus one or two others if you like) along with these instructions on your blog or (if you do not have your own blog) in the comments section of http://storytimewithtonya.blogspot.com/

Title: Token of Darkness

Author: Amelia Atwater-Rhodes
Page 56 sentence 5-6ish:

She knew about the accident, of course, but though she had many interesting skills, she was no doctor; there would have been no point in her loitering by his side while he was comatose.

Dakota Born

I just finished Dakota Born (the first book in the Dakota trilogy) by Debbie Macomber. Actually I've read the whole trilogy before but was in the mood for a sweet, easy re-read. I really love these books. They are sweet (though slightly predictable) romance novels. Here is the summary from the back cover:

Buffalo Valley, North Dakota. Like so many small Midwest towns, it's dying. Stores are boarded up, sidewalks cracked, houses need a coat of paint. But despite all that, there's a spirit of hope here, of defiance. The people still living in Buffalo Valley are fighting for their town.

Lyndsay Snyder is a newcomer. She's an outsider, even though she spent childhood vacations here. Now she returns to see the family house again, to explore family secrets and to reevaluate her life.

To her own astonishment, she decides to stay, to accept the vacant position of teacher. Her decision marks a new beginning for Buffalo Valley and for Lyndsay, who discovers in this broken little town the love an purpose she's been seeking.

The Friday 56

I've had family over for the past week and haven't been doing much reading (shocking I know) but should have a new review next week.

Rules:
* Grab the book nearest you. Right now.

* Turn to page 56

* Find the fifth sentence.

* Post that sentence (plus one or two others if you like) along with these instructions on your blog or (if you do not have your own blog) in the comments section of http://storytimewithtonya.blogspot.com/

Title: Second Glance

Author: Jodi Picoult

Page 56 sentence 5-7:

"Ethan," Ross said, "you okay with this?"

Ethan was shaking in his shoes. "Yeah. Oh, yeah, sure, I'm totally cool."

I haven't read this one yet but I'm sure it will be good like her others. If you have read it let me know what you thought please.

The Friday 56

Rules:

*Grab the book nearest you. Right now.

*Turn to page 56

*Find the fifth sentence.

*Post that sentence (plus one or two others if you like) along with these instructions on your blog or (if you do not have your own blog) in the comments section of http://storytimewithtonya.blogspot.com/

Title: Salem Falls

Author: Jodi Picoult

Page 56 Sentence 5-8:

"So?" the student said. "Maybe today was the day I wanted a fucking burger." He shoved the plate across the booth, so that it toppled off the edge onto the banquette. "Fuck you and your mind games," he said, and he stormed out of the diner.

Wow wasn't expecting the language! It's been a couple of years since I've read this one but I remember really liking it...then again I like all of her books.

The Friday 56

Rules:

*Grab the book nearest you. Right now.

*Turn to page 56.

*Find the fifth sentence.

*Post that sentence (plus one or two others if you like) along with these instructions on your blog or (if you do not have your own blog) in the comments section of http://storytimewithtonya.blogspot.com/

Title: Summer Lovin'

Author: Carly Phillips

Page 56 sentence 5-8:

"So I read a few pages and now we're giving Ima a place of her own." Sam grinned and gestured to the patch of dirt Ryan had created.

Zoe glanced down. "In the yard."

I keep forgetting the Friday 56 but I think I managed to post this just in time for it to still be considered Friday. WooHoo!

Need a little book advice

I just checked out Promise of the Wolves by Dorothy Hearst to read while I'm waiting for a couple of books to come in. Has anyone read this and if so, was it worth reading? I'm only a couple of chapters in right now and I can take it or leave it. Any opinions out there? Should I finish it or read something else? Thanks for any help guys.

Shiver

I finally read Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater. I haven't read anything by her before and I kept hearing good things about this book and the sequel Linger so I finally tried it. It was pretty good but not great in my opinion. I really like reading books with different views on werewolf and vampire legend and this one definitely had that going for it. I don't have a rating system on my reviews (hmm...maybe I should start one) but if I did have a scale or something like that, 10 would be the type of books I can read over and over (like the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs or Hawksong by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes) and 0 would be the ones I can't even finish. Shiver would probably rank about a 7 because I didn't have any trouble finishing it but I don't think I'll read it again. I don't exactly know what it was that I didn't like about it but I would still like to try Linger anyway.

Here is the summary from my libraries website:

For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf - her wolf - is a haunting presence she can't seem to live without. Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human -- until the cold makes him shift back again. Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It's her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears and the temperature drops, Sam must fight to stay human or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever.

Silver Borne

I have been looking forward to reading Silver Borne (book 5 in the Mercy Thompson series) by Patricia Briggs ever since I finished Bone Crossed (book 4). But sadly I am very broke. I was just going to wait for someone I know to buy it so I could borrow it. I know that sounds bad. BUT... my pathetically understocked library surprised me by buying a copy first!!!! Woo Hoo!!!! So I just finished it and I loved it (just like the other 4).

Sorry if this spoils anything for anyone who hasn't read them yet. I have been very worried about Samuel through the other books but finally I don't have to worry anymore! That's all I'll say about that. I don't want to give too much away. Mercy had a few oddly mushy lines in this one. I get that she's in love and whatnot but the gooey mushy lines aren't really very Mercy-like. Other than that, the book was great!

I already returned this book to the library so I had to find a summary from a library website instead of the book cover like I usually do.

When mechanic and shapeshifter Mercy Thompson attempts to return a powerful Fae book she'd previously borrowed in an act of desperation, she finds the bookstore locked up and closed down. It seems the book contains secret knowledge-and the Fae will do just about anything to keep it out of the wrong hands. And if that doesn't take enough of Mercy's attention, her friend Samuel is struggling with his wolf side-leaving Mercy to cover for him, lest his own father declare Sam's life forfeit. All in all, Mercy has had better days. And if she isn't careful, she might not have many more to live...

The Friday 56

Rules:
* Grab the book nearest you. Right now.
* Turn to page 56
* Find the fifth sentence.
* Post that sentence (plus one or two others if you like) along with these instructions on your blog or (if you do not have your own blog) in the comments section of http://storytimewithtonya.blogspot.com/

Title: Shiver

Author: Maggie Stiefvater

Page 56 sentence 5-7ish:

I was completely disoriented; I had to keep stopping to listen for shouts and faraway footsteps through the dry leaves. My breath was burning my throat by the time I saw the first orange cap, glowing distantly out of the twilight.

Midnight Predator

I recently finished Midnight Predator by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes. I love all of her books (Hawksong being #1 on my list though). She is an amazing author and I'm pretty sure she was only 13 (maybe 15) when she wrote her first book. The only criticism I have is that I wish it would have been longer or there were a sequel. I would really like to know what Turquoise did after this book but I doubt there will be another at this point ,so I'm stuck wondering. : ( Oh well! I usually put the summary from the back cover but I already brought this one back to the library (sorry) so this is from Amazon.com:

Midnight, the ancient evil sanctuary of vampires and their human slaves that was burned to the ground centuries ago, has risen from the ashes to open its dark doors once more. And it's up to Turquoise Draka, famed human vampire hunter of the Bruja guild, to stop Midnight's founder and vampire most malevolent, Jeshikah. But once inside Midnight's walls, Turquoise discovers that instead of Jeshikah, the surprisingly benign vampire Jaguar is at the helm. Acting as a human slave, Turquoise tries to discern Jaguar's mysteriously kind motives as she works at planning Jeshikah's assassination. Meanwhile, her acting servitude is playing havoc with her memories, as she begins to recall the bleak days when she used to be a human slave herself, the time before her training as an elite Bruja warrior. With bitter memories of beatings and humiliations battling with her present suicidal assignment, Turquoise must do everything in her power to keep from blowing her cover and losing her sanity.

Blue Smoke

Just finished Blue Smoke by Nora Roberts again. I really like this book. Its one of the few books that I can re-read when I have nothing else and it is just as good as the first time I read it. It is an adult book with adult content (sex, violence, language, murder) just to warn younger readers. Here is the summary from the inside flap:

The blaze that night at her family's pizzeria changed young Reena Hale's life in more ways than one. Neighbors and relatives would pull together to help the Hales get through the crisis and rebuild. The Baltimore authorities would arrest the arsonist responsible. But as Reena gazed into the fire, beheld its brutal beauty and destructive power, her destiny began to take shape. She would study, struggle, and walk the gauntlet to understand and master its terrible force--and one day become an investigator herself.

But she is not the only one fascinated by the flames. Someone else sees their power as well--and is obsessed not with conquering the fire but with controlling it, owning it, using it to exact vicious revenge....

When Reena achieves her goal and joins the arson unit, her strength and wits are constantly tested. Though sometimes the job seems like a snap compared with her love life. One relationship after another has ended for her--some in tragedy or drama, some not with a bang but with a whimper. And she can't always blame them--after all, a soot-caked woman barking orders and smelling of smoke isn't the biggest turn-on in the world. Then she meets Bo Goodnight, who seems different. He's been trying to find Reena for years, and now that she is close enough to touch, he has no intention of letting go.

Nor does the man who has begun to haunt Reena's life--with taunting phone calls and a string of horrifying crimes. And as Reena tries desperately to trace the origins--of the calls, the fires, the hatred aimed in her direction--she will step into the worst inferno she has ever faced....

The Friday 56

Rules:

* Grab the book nearest you. Right now.

* Turn to page 56

* Find the fifth sentence.

* Post that sentence (plus one or two others if you like) along with these instructions on your blog or (if you do not have your own blog) in the comments section of http://storytimewithtonya.blogspot.com/

Title: Blue Smoke (still the book nearest me even though I used this one 2 weeks ago)

Author: Nora Roberts

Page 56 Sentences 1-4: (I used sentence 5-7 last time)

"Nobody's come in but you." A girl with a short wedge of black hair sent him a sultry smile. "But I can be blond."

"Maybe some other time."

Beneath the Skin

Beneath the Skin is the third book in The Maker's Song series by Adrian Phoenix. This one was really good just like the other two. The ending leaves you hanging and really anxious for the next one...at least it did for me. Here is the summary from the back cover:

CHAOS CONTROLS HIS FUTURE. ONE MORTAL WOMAN COULD BE HIS SALVATION. THE COUNTDOWN TO ANNIHILATION WILL BEGIN WITH DANTE'S CHOICE...

THE FATE OF THREE WORLDS...

The dark pieces of vampire rock star Dante Baptiste's past are violently emerging, and it is only a matter of time before the Fallen discover he is the creawdwr they have sought for thousands of years. The destruction he left behind in Oregon threatens to reveal his identity as Fallen Maker and True Blood, exposing the young nightkind to shadowy predators - mortal and supernatural - who will do whatever it takes to win his favor...or destroy him.

RESTS IN DANTE'S HANDS.

When beautiful FBI special agent Heather Wallace went AWOL on assignment, she chose irresistible Dante over the shady government forces that now stalk them both. Heather has her own secrets of the past to uncover, but she is also the only one who can hold her nightkind lover together when his dangerous quest for the truth threatens to send him over the edge. And as she and Dante fight for their survival, she realizes they must work together to protect their future - before his mysterious destiny tears them apart...

The Friday 56

Rules:

* Grab the book nearest you. Right now.

*Turn to page 56

*Find the fifth sentence.

*Post that sentence (plus one or two others if you like) along with these instructions on your blog or (if you do not have your own blog) in the comments section of http://storytimewithtonya.blogspot.com/

Title: Dear John

Author: Nicholas Sparks

Sentence 5-7:

...That's why I like riding, too."

I'd shown up a few minutes earlier. The best waves were usually early in the morning, and it was one of those clear, blue-sly days portending heat that meant the beach would be packed again.

The Friday 56

Rules:

* Grab the book nearest you. Right now.

* Turn to page 56.

* Find the fifth sentence.

* Post that sentence (plus one or two others if you like) along with these instructions on your blog or (if you do not have your own blog) in the comments section of http://storytimewithtonya.blogspot.com/

Title: Blue Smoke

Author: Nora Roberts

Page 56 sentence 5-7:

He searched the house, all the way to the third floor, and all the way down again where he circled both the front and back yards. He found blondes, he found curls. But he never found the one who'd made the music stop.

I've read this book once or twice already but it's been a while. I forgot how good it was and since I don't currently have any new books, I think I'll read this one next...again. Hee Hee

In the Blood

Finished In the Blood (book 2 of The Maker's Song series) by Adrian Phoenix. Really liked it just like the first one (A Rush of Wings). Also like the first one, this is definitely an adult only book (sex, blood, torture, murder, etc.). The first book took place mostly in New Orleans, LA but this one only starts off there then moves mostly between Washington and Oregon. It still has a good bit of Cajun french words and phrases (and thankfully the glossary in the back) which I really liked learning. Here is the summary from the back cover:

A QUEST AS SEDUCTIVE AS HIS KISS, AS UNCONTROLLABLE AS HIS THIRST, AS UNFORGIVING AS HIS DETERMINATION TO PROTECT ONE MORTAL WOMAN AT ANY COST...

DANTE LIVES.

Vampire. Rock star. Begotten son of a fallen angel. Dante Baptiste continues to search for the truth about his past. When his band Inferno comes to Seattle on tour, FBI Special Agent Heather Wallace is drawn back to the beautiful, dangerous nightkind. But new enemies lurk in the shadows, closer than Heather and Dante think...and even deadlier than they fear.

DESTINY UNFOLDS.

Shady government forces have pledged to eliminate all loose ends from Project Bad Seed -- and Heather and Dante are at the top of the list. Elsewhere, the Fallen gather in Gehenna, intent on finding their long-awaited savior. And a damaged and desperate adversary, with powers as strange and perilous as Dante's own, plots to use Dante as a pawn in a violent scheme for revenge. Only one of these lethal forces holds the key that could finally unlock the secret of Dante's birth and the truth of his existence...or destroy him completely.

The Friday 56

Rules:

* Grab the book nearest you. Right now.

* Turn to page 56.

* Find the fifth sentence.

* Post that sentence (plus one or two others if you like) along with these instructions on your blog or (if you do not have your own blog) in the comments section of http://storytimewithtonya.blogspot.com/

Title: Beneath the Skin

Author: Adrian Phoenix

Page 56 Sentence 5-7ish:

Gillespie sat up straight, his heart kicking his ribs, pulse thundering in his ears. Even though her voice sounded sleep-fogged, he couldn't imagine her calling at this hour unless... "Is something wrong? The kids?"

"No, no, I had a dream, and...Are you okay?"

A Rush of Wings

I won a copy of A Rush of Wings by Adrian Phoenix on Paranormal Haven 's blog (WooHoo!). This book takes place mostly in New Orleans so I was really looking forward to reading it because I am originally from Louisiana and love reading books about that area or Oklahoma (where I live now). It was very action packed (and bloody) and definitely a book for adults only (sex, blood, perverted serial killer, torture...lots of adult content). If you can handle those elements in your urban fantasy novels then this was a very good book. I really liked it, especially the glossary in the back to translate all the Cajun french phrases and words (lived there for 14 years and a lot of my family speaks it but I never learned more than a few words). Here is the summary from the back cover:

HIS NAME IS DANTE.

Dark. Talented. Beautiful. Star of the rock band Inferno. Rumored owner of the hot New Orleans nightspot Club Hell. Born of the Blood, then broken by an evil beyond imagination.

Tracking a sadistic serial murderer has led FBI Special Agent Heather Wallace to New Orleans, Club Hell, and the man known as Dante. But the dangerously attractive musician not only resists her investigation, he claims to be "nightkind": in other words, a vampire. Digging into his past reveals an extensive juvenile record, but no known birth date or social security number. In and out of foster homes for most of his life, he was eventually taken in by an equally mysterious man named Lucien DeNoir, who tries to shield his ward from Heather's investigation. Heather is sure, however, that Dante is linked to the murderer -- and could be the next target. Now, she must unravel the truth about this sensual, complicated, vulnerable young man-who, she begins to believe, truly is a vampire -- in order to bring the killer to justice. But what Heather doesn't know is that Dante's past holds a shocking, dangerous secret, and once it is revealed not even she will be able to protect him from his destiny....

City of Glass

Just finished City of Glass, the last book in The Mortal Instruments trilogy by Cassandra Clare. I loved it just like I loved the other 2 (City of Bones and City of Ashes) in the trilogy. This one ended with a couple of loose ends. Still a great book though. Here is the summary from the inside cover:

To save her mother's life, Clary must travel to the City of Glass, the ancestral home of the Shadowhunters-never mind that entering the city without permission is against the Law, and breaking the Law could mean death. To make things worse, she learns that Jace does not want her there, and Simon has been thrown in prison by the Shadowhunters, who are deeply suspicious of a vampire who can withstand sunlight.

As Clary uncovers more about her family's past, she finds an ally in mysterious Shadowhunter Sebastian. With Valentine mustering the full force of his power to destroy all Shadowhunters forever, their only chance to defeat him is to fight alongside their eternal enemies. But can Downwolders and Shadowhunters put aside their hatred to work together? While Jace realizes exactly how much he's willing to risk for Clary, can she harness her newfound powers to help save the Glass City-whatever the cost?

Love is a mortal sin and the secrets of the past prove deadly as Clary and Jace face down Valentine in the final installment of the New York Times bestselling trilogy The Mortal Instruments.

The Friday 56

Rules:

* Grab the book nearest you. Right now.

* Turn to page 56.

* Find the fifth sentence.

* Post that sentence (plus one or two others if you like) along with these instructions on your blog or (if you do not have your own blog) in the comments section of http://storytimewithtonya.blogspot.com/

The Book: City of Glass (about half through and LOVING it).

The Author: Cassandra Clare

Page 56 sentences 5-7: A wave of cold went over Clary. Seeing her mother's name there was like revisiting the nightmares she had sometimes where she was at her mother's funeral and no one would tell her what had happened or how her mother had died.

"But she's not dead," she said, looking up at Luke. "She's not-"

Spider's Bite

I just finished reading Spider's Bite: An Elemental Assassin Book by Jennifer Estep. I won a copy of this book from Patricia's Vampire Note last month (woo hoo!). It looked really good from the cover art but having never read any of Jennifer Estep's novels I wasn't too sure but now I can say that I LOVED IT!!!! It was violent, bloody, and a bit dirty but all of that plus the characters and plot combined to make an awesome book. The main character (Gin Blanco aka The Spider) is kind of the bad guy and you usually wouldn't find yourself rooting for a murderer but you do in this book. I cant wait to read the next one! Here is the summary from the back cover:

My name is Gin, and I kill people.

They call me the Spider. I'm the most feared assassin in the South-when I'm not busy at the Pork Pit cooking up the best barbecue in Ashland. As a Stone elemental, I can hear everything from the whispers of the gravel beneath my feet to the vibrations of the soaring Appalachian Mountains above me. My Ice magic also comes in handy for making the occasional knife. But I don't use my powers on the job unless I absolutely have to. Call it professional pride.

Now that a ruthless Air elemental has double-crossed me and killed my handler, I'm out for revenge. And I'll exterminate anyone who gets in my way-good or bad. I may look hot, but I'm still one of the bad guys. Which is why I'm in trouble, since irresistibly rugged Detective Donovan Caine has agreed to help me. The last thing this coldhearted killer needs when I'm battling a magic more powerful than my own is a sexy distraction...especially when Donovan wants me dead just as much as the enemy.

The Friday 56

Rules:

* Grab the book nearest you. Right now.

* Turn to page 56.

* Find the fifth sentence.

* Post that sentence (plus one or two others if you like) along with these instructions on your blog or (if you do not have your own blog) in the comments section of http://storytimewithtonya.blogspot.com/

Ok the book nearest to me is one of my mom's.

Title: Madea's Uninhibited Commentaries on Love and Life

Author: Tyler Perry

Page 56 Lines 4-7:

If you feel something telling you, kicking you, "hmm, hmm, something ain't right," then listen up! You're the person I'm talking to. You're the person who's sensitive to your intuition, and I can teach you to be even more sensitive. I can train you to really pay attention.

I haven't read this yet but probably will eventually. She just got it today at a garage sale and it is supposed to be funny.

Magic Study

Just finished Magic Study by Maria V. Snyder. It was really good just like the first one (this is book 2) and now I am ready to read the next one (Fire Study). I'm quite curious to see what new trouble Yelena can get into. Here is the summary from the back cover of Magic Study:

A lesson in loyalty - a master class in intrigue

So far, I've managed to survive. You would think after being kidnapped as a child, imprisoned in my teens and released to become a poison taster, I would have endured enough. But no. The discovery of my magical abilities - powers forbidden in Ixia - has resulted in an execution order. My only chance is to flee to Sitia, my long-lost birthplace.

But Sitia is unfamiliar. I'm treated like an enemy - even by my own brother. Plus I can't control my powers. I want to learn about my magic, but there isn't time. A rogue magician has emerged and I'm targeted as his next victim.

Will my magical abilities save me...or be my downfall?

Poison Study

Just finished Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder and loved it! I don't really know what I was expecting from this book because I have never read anything by this author but it definitely exceeded my expectations. I'm starting on Magic Study (book 2) as soon as I'm done here. Here is the summary from the back cover of Poison Study:

Murder, mayhem and magic...

Locked in a coffin-like darkness, there is nothing to distract me from my memories of killing Reyad. He deserved to die - but according to the law, so do I. Here in Ixia, the punishment for murder is death. And now I wait for the hangman's noose.

But the same law that condemns me may also save me. Ixia's food taster - chosen to ensure that the Commander's food is not poisoned - has died. And by law, the next prisoner who is scheduled to be executed -me- must be offered the position.

City of Ashes

I just finished City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare. This is book two in the Mortal Instruments series. I could not put it down! I love this series! I borrowed the first two books from a friend and REALLY need to find the next one but my library is not very up to date in its books. I would absolutely recommend this series to anyone who likes paranormal romance. Even if you don't usually do YA this is a great series. Here is the summary from the back cover:

Clary Fray just wishes that her life would go back to normal. But what's normal when you're a demon-slaying Shadowhunter, your mother is in a magically induced coma, and you can suddenly see Downworlders like werewolves, vampires, and faeries? Clary would love to spend more time with her best friend, Simon. But the Shadowhunters won't let her go - especially her handsome, infuriating newfound brother, Jace. And Clary's only chance to help her mother is to track down rouge Shadowhunter Valentine, who is probably insane, certainly evil - and also her father. When the second of the Mortal Instruments is stolen, the terrifying Inquisitor suspects Jace. Could Jace really be willing to betray everything he believes in to help their father?

City of Bones

I just finished City of Bones by Cassandra Clare, book one in the Mortal Instruments series. I LOVED IT!!!! It was on my list and looked good but I didn't really know what to expect so I wasn't in any hurry to read it but I went to Louisiana for spring break and borrowed some books from a friend (City of Bones, City of Ashes, Poison Study, and Magic Study) and started with this one. Here is the summary from the back cover:

Their hidden world is about to be revealed...

When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder - much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Clary knows her should call the police, but it's hard to explain a murder when the body disappears into thin air and the murderers ore invisible to everyone but Clary.

Equally startled by her ability to see then, the murderers explain themselves as Shadowhunters: a secret tribe of warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. Within twenty-four hours, Clary's mother disappears and Clary herself is almost killed by a grotesque demon.

But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know...

Sugar Daddy

I recently re-read Sugar Daddy by Lisa Kleypas. I think this is a really good book and not very predictable like a lot of other romance novels. Here is the summary from the inside cover:

She's from the wrong side of the tracks

Liberty Jones has dreams and determination that will take her far away from Welcome, Texas - if she can keep her wild heart from ruling her mind. Hardy Cates sees Liberty as completely off-limits. His own ambitions are bigger than Welcome, and Liberty Jones is a complication he doesn't need. But something magical and potent draws them to each other, in a dangerous attraction that is stronger than both of them.

He's the one man she can't have

When Hardy leaves town to pursue his plans, Liberty finds herself alone with a young sister to raise. Soon Liberty finds herself under the spell of a billionaire tycoon - a Sugar Daddy, one might say. But the relationship goes deeper than people think, and Liberty begins to discover secrets about her own family's past.

Will they find their hearts' desires of will heartbreak tear them apart?

Two men. One woman. A choice that can make her or break her. A woman you'll root for every step of the way. A love story you'll never forget.

I Won Yet Again

I won another contest! Sorry, not bragging but this is just really awesome! I never win anything and I have already won 4 times since I started entering these contests on this site. I LOVE BLOGGER.COM!!! HaHa! I won a copy of Spider's Bite by Jessica Estep on Patricia's Vampire Note. Thank you so much Patricia!!!

The Friday 56: Rebel Angels

Rules:

* Grab the book nearest you. Right now.

* Turn to page 56.

* Find the fifth sentence.

* Post that sentence (plus one or two others if you like) along with these instructions on your blog or (if you do not have your own blog) in the comment section of http://storytimewithtonya.blogspot.com

* Don't dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST.

Ok this is the first time I have ever done this so I hope I get it right.

Rebel Angels by Libba Bray, page 56, sentences 5, 6, and 7.

The lights are lowered. A hush falls over the crowd. There is no sound but the incessant tapping of cold rain against the martyred windows.

Hmm...well i'm not this far in the book yet so I have no idea what is going on in those few sentences. Not a very good teaser to get people wondering about the book if you ask me but those are the rules... Fun little game though. I like turning to a random page in the middle of a book I am about to start and reading a couple of lines. It is usually pretty interesting trying to figure out in my head how the characters are going to end up there.

Rebel Angels

I am just starting Rebel Angels by Libba Bray. This is the sequel to A Great And Terrible Beauty. I really liked the first one (so much so that I bought it and re-read it several times). I have heard great things about this one and the next one so I am expecting to love it. Here is the summary from Amazon.com:

In this sequel to the Victorian fantasy A Great and Terrible Beauty, Gemma continues to pursue her role as the one destined to bind the magic of the Realms and restore it to the Order--a mysterious group who have been overthrown by a rebellion. Gemma, Felicity and Ann, (her girlfriends at Spence Academy for Young Ladies), use magical power to transport themselves on visits from their corseted world to the visionary country of the Realms, with its strange beauty and menace. There they search for the lost Temple, the key to Gemma's mission, and comfort Pippa, their friend who has been left behind in the Realms. After these visits they bring back magical power for a short time to use in their own world. Meanwhile, Gemma is torn between her attraction to the exotic Kartik, the messenger from the opposing forces of the Rakshana, and the handsome but clueless Simon, a young man of good family who is courting her. The complicated plot thickens when Gemma discovers a woman in Bedlam madhouse who knows where to find the Temple; Ann shows signs of being enamored of Gemma's loutish brother Tom, and their father's addiction to laudanum lands him in an opium den. A large part of the enjoyment of this unusual fantasy comes from the Victorian milieu and its restrictive rules about the behavior of proper young ladies, as contrasted with the unimaginable possibilities of the Realms, where Gemma has power to confront gorgons and ghosts and the responsibility to save a world.

Dark Challenge

I just started reading Dark Challenge by Christine Feehan. I think this is the 5th book in the Dark series and it is Julian Savage and Desari's story. Here is the summary from the back cover:

They were masters of the darkness, searching through eternity for a mistress of the light...

Was she more than his mate?

Julian Savage was golden. Powerful. But tormented. For the brooding hunter walked alone, always alone, far from his Carpathian kind, alien to even his twin. Like his name, his existence was savage. Until he met the woman he was sworn to protect...

When Julian heard Desari sing, rainbows swamped his starving senses. Emotions bombarded his hardened heart. And a dark hunger to possess her flooded his loins, blinding him to the danger stalking her, stalking him. And even as Desari enflamed him, she dared to defy him - with mysterious, unparalleled feminine powers. Was Desari more than his perfect mate? Julian had met his match in this woman, but would she drive him to madness...or save his soul?

Dark Desire

I just started reading Dark Desire by Christine Feehan. This is the 2nd book in her Dark series and so far (100 pages into it) it is really good, just like all of the other books in this series. I have no doubt it will live up to my expectations. Here is the summary from the back cover:

The stranger silently summoned her from across the seas, whispering of eternal torment, of endless hunger...of dark, dangerous desires. And somehow, American surgeon Shea O'Halloran could feel his anguish, sense his haunting aloneness. Drawn to the far Carpathian Mountains, she found a ravaged, raging man, a being like no other. And she trembled. For in his burning eyes she recognized the beloved stranger who'd already become part of her. But was she to be his healer...or his prey?

I Won...again!

Oh Wow! I just won another contest. This is just my lucky day...or days I guess. Haha. Me and 4 other people won a book from Freda's Voice. Thank you so much Freda's Voice!

I Won!

I just won a contest at Reading with Tequila and I am so excited I can't stop grinning like an idiot. I've been entering a bunch of contests since I started this blog and didn't really think I would win but I did! She had a great blog with book reviews, interviews, book giveaways, and everything else a book lover could ask for (and i'm not just saying that because I won Haha). Well one more WooHoo for me and a BIG thank you to Reading With Tequila.

Dark Celebration

I'm about to re-read Dark Celebration by Christine Feehan. This was the first book I read in her Carpathian series (not the first book in the series, only the first one I read) and I really liked it. Her other Carpathian books focus on one couple but this one is like a Carpathian reunion so it focuses on several different couples and their families. Here is the summary from the inside cover:

They seek liberation through their unspeakable desires. They find deliverance in forbidden fantasies. They are drawn to their lifemates after centuries of wanting. Vampires, shapeshifters, hunters, demons, lovers, healers, seducers and betrayers.

You are cordially invited to attend...

With her erotically charged Carpathian tales, Christine Feehan has enthralled a legion of fans, captivated by a strangely seductive world and the unforgettable characters - both human and not - who inhabit ti. Now she reunites them all in a Dark Celebration...

After centuries as the prince of the Carpathians, Mikhail Dubrinsky fears he can't protect them for long from their greatest threat: the extinction of their species - a fate that has become the wicked prayer of his enemies. To ensure it, they are devising a scheme to slaughter Carpathian females. But even with his own lifemate, Raven, and their daughter, Savannah, vulnerable to the encroaching evil, Mikhail's hope is not lost...

In this desperate season, Carpathians from around the world are gathering to join their strengths, their souls and their powers to bring light to the darkness. But so too are their adversaries uniting - hunters, vampires, demons and betrayers - bringing untold dangers into the fold of the Carpathian people.

Now for the first time, borne from the uninhibited imagination of

Carpathian legend are reunited for a celebration of sensual adventure, undying passion and astonishing fantasy - one to remember for a thousand lifetimes.

Summer of the Midnight Sun

I just started reading Summer of the Midnight Sun the first book in the Alaskan Quest series by Tracie Peterson. I've never read any of her books before but it looked good so I decided to try it. I find books about Alaska very interesting and I really like historical fiction. Here is the summary from the back cover:

Leah Barringer and her brother, Jacob, have come to love the rugged Alaskan Territory they call home.

But when Jacob determines to join an arctic expedition, Leah realizes her heart yearns for more than this solitary existence.

The unexpected arrival of Jayce Kincaid, the man who spurned her ten years before, awakens feelings that Leah would much prefer to leave buried. As Jayce sets out to prove he's a changed man, Leah cannot deny the effect he once again has upon her. But the appearance of a young investigator casts a cloud over Jayce's past...and over Leah's dreams for the future.

Silver Borne

I just finished the 4 books in the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs and am anxiously awaiting the release of the 5th book Silver Borne in April. I'm so excited!!! Now I'm trying to decide what to read next...need to go look through my book shelf. I'll let you know what i decide.

Bone Crossed

I just got Bone Crossed by Patricia Briggs. I've only read it once before and it was when it first came out. I LOVE THIS SERIES!!! This is the summary from the back cover:

As a shapeshifter with some unique talents, ace car mechanic Mercy has had to maintain a tenuous harmony between the human and the not so human within the Tri-Cities of Eastern Washington on more than one occasion. But this time she may be in over her head.

Marsilia, the local Vampire Queen , has learned that Mercy crossed her by slaying a member of her clan. Now she's out for blood. But since Mercy is protected from the vampire's direct reprisal by the werewolf pack - and her close relationship with its sexy Alpha - it's not Mercy's blood Marsilia is after...

It's her friends'.

Iron Kissed

I am currently reading Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs. This is the third book in the Mercy Thompson series.

Here is the summary from the back cover:

I could smell her fear, and it satisfied something deep inside me that had been writhing under her cool, superior gaze. I curled my upper lip so she could get a good look at my sharp teeth. I might only weigh thirty or so pounds in my coyote shape, but I was a predator...

Mechanic Mercy Thompson can shift her shape - but not her loyalty. When her former boss and mentor is arrested for murder and left to rot behind bars by his own kind, it's up to Mercy to clear his name, whether he wants her to or not.

Mercy's loyalty is under pressure from other directions, too. Werewolves are not known for their patience, and if Mercy can't decide between the two she cares for, Sam and Adam may make the choice for her...

Blood Bound

I just finished Moon Called and am now reading Blood Bound by Patricia Briggs. This is one of my favorite series. Here is the summary from the back cover.

Under the rule of science, there are no Witch burnings allowed, no water trials or public lynchings. In return, the average law-abiding solid citizen has little to worry about from the things that go bump in the night. Sometimes I wish I was an average citizen...

Mechanic Mercy Thompson has friends in low places - and in dark ones. And now she owes one of them a favor. Since she can shapeshift at will, she agrees to act as some extra muscle when her vampire friend Stefan goes to deliver a message to another of his kind.

But this new vampire is hardly ordinary - and neither is the demon inside of him...

Moon Called

I'm reading Moon Called by Patricia Briggs again. I really love this series.

Here is the summary from the back cover:

Werewolves can be dangerous if you get in their way, but they'll leave you alone if you are careful. They are very good at hiding their natures from the human population, but I'm not human. I know them when I meet them, and they know me, too.

Mercy Thompson's sexy next-door neighbor is a werewolf.

She's tinkering with a VW bus at her mechanic shop that happens to belong to a vampire.

But then, Mercy Thompson is not exactly normal herself...and her connection to the world of things that go bump in the night is about to get her into a whole lot of trouble.

Hello Everybody!

Hi! This is the first time I've ever had a blog and I plan to use this to post book reviews and let people know what i'm reading. I'm a big bookworm. Reading is pretty much all I do for fun. It's a bit pathetic... i know. HaHa