Toy Soldiers Bookends!

Yet another fun thingie to add to my wishlist. ;)

Amazon: £ 18.95

Most Honest Book Titles Ever!

A train that's made to look like a library.

That'd be lovely for those who spend hours inside a train/bus. :)

Stacking The Shelves #27

Stacking The Shelves is all about the books we are adding to our shelves each week, sharing with you our excitement for our newest titles and maybe have you discover a new book in the process!

This new feature is hosted by Tynga from Tynga's Reviews.

This week I got:

From an online trade:

Burned 
(Lovely!!! And irritating, at the same time.)

The Giver
(Unbelivably AWESOME!!! Read my SUPER GUSHING review here.)

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What did you get this week?

Review: Succubus Blues (Georgina Kincaid #1) by Richelle Mead

Succubus Blues 
(Georgina Kincaid #1)

by Richelle Mead

Succubus (n.) An alluring, shape-shifting demon who seduces and pleasures mortal men. Pathetic (adj.) A succubus with great shoes and no social life. See: Georgina Kincaid. 

When it comes to jobs in hell, being a succubus seems pretty glamorous. A girl can be anything she wants, the wardrobe is killer, and mortal men will do anything just for a touch. Granted, they often pay with their souls, but why get technical? 

But Seattle succubus Georgina Kincaid's life is far less exotic. Her boss is a middle-management demon with a thing for John Cusack movies. Her immortal best friends haven't stopped teasing her about the time she shape-shifted into the Demon Goddess getup complete with whip and wings. And she can't have a decent date without sucking away part of the guy's life. At least there's her day job at a local bookstore--free books; all the white chocolate mochas she can drink; and easy access to bestselling, sexy writer, Seth Mortensen, aka He Whom She Would Give Anything to Touch but Can't. 

But dreaming about Seth will have to wait. Something wicked is at work in Seattle's demon underground. And for once, all of her hot charms and drop-dead one-liners won't help because Georgina's about to discover there are some creatures out there that both heaven and hell want to deny...

Genre: Adult, Paranormal

Publication Date: March 1st 2007

Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corporation

Format: Paperback, 347 pages 

Series: yes

Source: bought


____________________________________

My Review

For some reason I thought I would dislike this book immensely, and so it took me forever to finally start it. But, just as these things go, it was love from the first page. LOL.

Georgina Kincaid is a manager at a local bookstore, she has a thing for white chocolate mochas, she absolutely adores the ground the author Seth Mortensen walks on and, last, but not least, she is a Succubus. She has to take sexual energy from human males to survive. Oh, and she can shapeshift into whatever and/or whoever she wants, as long as she has enough energy to do it. Her immortal friends are all either vampires, imps, demons and angels.

Georgina, filled to the brim with energy from a virgin who sold his soul for sex, is very excited to meet her favorite author at the signing her bookstore will be holding...but discovers she already had met him, confusing him with another fan, and told him some very embarrassing things, such as complaining about how long he takes to write the books she loves so much and how she would be willing to become his sex slave in exchange for advance copies of the next volumes. She is mortified and can barely look at him, but somehow she's the one who's chosen to take him out on a tour of the city. Turns out that the author who can write such witty and bright dialogues can barely keep a coversation in real life. But, weirdly enough, his silence doesn't bother her much. His e-mails crack her up, his thoughtfulness enchants her and his books are her drug of choice... too bad she can't date.

But this other guy, Roman, sure is trying to get her to go out with him. Roman is the total opposite from Seth. He's charming, daring, almost insolent in his self-confidance. And Georgina is hopelessly attracted to him, which is a very bad thing for her decision never to date good guys again. But is Roman really that good?

When someone starts to murder people with whom she just had fights with, she's suddenly the prime suspect... until she, too, is attacked. But who is doing this? Who is attacking the lesser immortals, and why can't the victims not feel the attacker's presence? The only ones who can mask it are the most powerful immortals, like demons and angels... So, is the murderer an angel? Could it be Carter, the local angel? Georgina, against her boss's orders, starts an investigation that leads her to one of the immortals' greatest secrets...

I thought the story of how she became a succubus was so sad! And the ending was so ironic! Not to mention surprising! I only discovered who the bad guy was a few pages before he was, indeed, revealed, which is a first for me. Usually it's so obvious it's annoying, but not this time. :)

I'm not sure who I want her to end up with, if with her favorite lovely author, with a certain angel who kept saving and comforting her or this other 'angel', who, I think, can still make up for his mistakes.

I loved, loved , LOVED thsi book, and am about to start the second volume.

If you like good writing, creative settings, complex and lovable characters, nice, vulgarity-free sexy scenes and a very smart heroine, this is your book!

Faith in humanity: resto... oh wait!

Twilight vs. Hunger Games

That is priceless!!!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #38

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Book Journey. 

Welcome to It’s Monday!  What Are You Reading?  This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well… you never know where that next “must read” book will come from!

I'm Currently Reading:


Finished:


Paper Towns was actually a DNF. I LOVED Burned and really enjoyed The Gtahering Storm.

Last Reviews posted:
Review: Thorn by Intisar Khanani
Review: The Giver, by Lois Lowry

Mini-Review: Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella

Next Reads:

______________

What are you reading this week?

Stacking The Shelves #26

Stacking The Shelves is all about the books we are adding to our shelves each week, sharing with you our excitement for our newest titles and maybe have you discover a new book in the process!

This new feature is hosted by Tynga from Tynga's Reviews.

This week I got:

From an online trade:

The Bargain

Ash

Ravished

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What did you get this week?

What I saw at the book fair!

What he said! It. Anyway...

Warning, this title contains the following...

Ooooh... 'hot nekkid man-luv'. Nice. LOL.

Mini-Review: Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella

Twenties Girl 
by Sophie Kinsella

Published July 21st 2009 by The Dial Press

Lara Lington has always had an overactive imagination, but suddenly that imagination seems to be in overdrive. Normal professional twenty-something young women don’t get visited by ghosts. Or do they?

When the spirit of Lara’s great-aunt Sadie—a feisty, demanding girl with firm ideas about fashion, love, and the right way to dance—mysteriously appears, she has one request: Lara must find a missing necklace that had been in Sadie’s possession for more than seventy-five years, because Sadie cannot rest without it.

Lara and Sadie make a hilarious sparring duo, and at first it seems as though they have nothing in common. But as the mission to find Sadie’s necklace leads to intrigue and a new romance for Lara, these very different “twenties” girls learn some surprising truths from and about each other. Written with all the irrepressible charm and humor that have made Sophie Kinsella’s books beloved by millions, Twenties Girl is also a deeply moving testament to the transcendent bonds of friendship and family.

Genre: Adult, Paranormal

Publication Date: July 21st 2009

Publisher: Dial

Format: Pocket paperback, 480 pages 

Series: no

Source: My own shelf

____________________________

My Review

Favorite Quote: "Oh, my God, you smiled! Mr. American Frown actually smiled!"

"Must have been a mistake. I'll speak to someone about it. Won't happen again."

"Well, good. Because you could do your face an injury, just smiling like that."

Let me start by saying that I almost gave this book up. Really, it happened more times than I can remember... I forgot how annoying Kinsella can be, and how neurotic and exaggerated her main characters can get. But I have this thing for ghost stories, so I persevered. Even if that creepy obssession over that stupid Josh guy almost did it for me.

What I mean is: Good thing I got over those issues and kept reading. 

It was such a lovely trip to the twenties! And, as I happened to read it on the one day of every month in which I actually develop feelings (can you speel PMS?), I sorta cried a bit. Yep. Big deal. All the injustice over the ghost's life was just too much. It broke my heart. But moving on...

After the annoying start, the story takes on a very nice, very pleasant flow and it becomes increasingly enjoyable. Really, almost freaking magical. (that's what happens when you write a review with a soft heart. I should have edited it a bit. LOL). The romance in the book was very sweet and I totally fell for the romantic interest... but then again, maybe it was just the hormones talking. I'm not sure. :P

I wasn't completely satisfied with the ending, expecting a super special goodbye or something between Sadie and Lara, but it was nice nonetheless. (And now that I'm typing this with the return of my black heart, I realize that I wish the evil uncle was humiliated a bit further. It really wasn't enough. *evil laugh*).

Have you read Twenties Girl? What did you think about it?

Can't argue with this logic

Well, that makes sense.

Found this book in my local library: Creepy-ass dolls

Fuuu...  Chucky's family?

Encyclopedia is no longer needed

That's right, she does. LOL. 

And if she doesn't, then only Google can help.

Stacking The Shelves #25

Stacking The Shelves is all about the books we are adding to our shelves each week, sharing with you our excitement for our newest titles and maybe have you discover a new book in the process!

This new feature is hosted by Tynga from Tynga's Reviews.

This Last week I got:

From an online trade:

Divine by Mistake

(I had already read this book about eight years ago, when it was translated into Portuguese... needless to say I only noticed that when I started reading it 'again'.

But taking into consideration that I was barely 13 when that happened -and that a lot was lost in translation-, I can honestly say I enjoyed it like it was the first time. LOL).

The Carrier of the Mark

(So... I heard a lot of bad things about this one... and I unfortunately have to say that I agree with them. A true DNF for me.)

The Lover's Dictionary

(I loved Levithan's -and Cohn's- Dash & Lily's Book of Dares, so I decided to get this one. I hear it's awesome, and it's awfully short, so I'm saving it for later. :) You know, to savor it.)

____________________

What did you get this week?

Who Decided Brown Eyes/Hair Are Ugly?

After I saw this post by Renae: "Respiring Thoughts: Who Decided Brown Eyes Are Ugly?" I started getting very pissed off, right along with her.

She says:

"In portraying brown-eyed/brown-haired girls who are never okay with how they look, authors appear to tell readers that brown-eyed/brown-haired girls are not as beautiful as blond girls.

That’s not okay with me."

Well, it's not okay with me either!!!

Aren't most people on Earth now dark-haired and/or even dark-eyed? What's with the majority of characters in books being blond or red-haired? 

I mean, in real life the statistics don't lie: Blondes: As blond hair tends to turn brunette with age, natural blonde hair is rare and makes up approximately 2% of the world's population and Redheads: are only 1–2% of the human population.

Every time I open a book, the chances of reading about a light haired heroine are, well, too damn high.

I mean, all I see is:

And that bothers me. It does make me me feel ugly/self-conscious for having brown hair. Not just ugly, but unwanted. I mean, all those tall, dark heroes want is a pretty blonde/redhead? What about the rest of us? Funny about that is: most heroes are dark-haired. And even dark-eyed. Now if that's not a double standard, then I don't know what is.

And there is something that is even more confusing. Everytime I read about one of those pretty light-haired heroines, I immediately turn to the author's page. And do you know what I almost always see? A picture of a dark-haired writer there. Sure, I get it that authors should write about women different from themselves, but if they all write about the same kind of heroine... then where's the fun in that?

I admit it. I have trouble enjoying certain titles because I just can't symphatize with the poor pretty blond/reddish beauty queen sometimes. Sure, I try to focus on other things (like plot or the hero, for instance), but it still ruins quite a few stories for me. Every once in a while I just want to read about a simple brunette, ok? Is that too much to ask? 

I do have issues concerning blondness, that's for sure. LOL. I was not born one and never forgave my father for not giving me his hair and blue eyes, so I'm specially rebelious on this subject. :P I am more accepting now that I'm older, and started to learn to love the contrast of my dark hair and eyes on my paler skin, but it wasn't easy. In my country everybody seems to be coloring their hair blonde... even the African descendents (same goes for famous singers nowadays. Nicki Minaj and Beyonce get whiter and blonder everyday...). But I digress. (I do that a lot.).

What do you think? Does it bother you, too? 

Dreamy

John Waters' relationship advice

Oh, my. That is some deep sh*t you've said there, John Waters.

Mini-Review/Recommendation: The Giver by Lois Lowry

The Giver (The Giver Quartet #1)
by Lois Lowry

Published January 24th 2006 by Ember (first published 1993)

Jonas's world is perfect. Everything is under control. There is no war or fear or pain. There are no choices. Every person is assigned a role in the Community. When Jonas turns twelve, he is singled out to receive special training from The Giver. The Giver alone holds the memories of the true pain and pleasure of life. Now, it is time for Jonas to receive the truth. There is no turning back.

_____________________________________

Genre: Classics, Dystopia

Publication Date: January 24th, 2006

Publisher: Ember

Format: Paperback, 179 pages 

Series: Technically yes, but can be read as a stand-alone

Source: My own copy

My Review:

As most of you know, I have contracted the Dystopian fever last year, and, as of yet, it still remains uncured. So when I heard so many good things about this 'new classic', I thought, 'why not?'. I was a bit apprehensive to choose a 'classic', because they always sound like very boring difficult readings, but not this one. Not at ALL. Well, this IS a children's book... but the issues dealt within are very adult. That's for sure.

The Giver is a short, sweet, creepy and enticing book. There are no more than 179 pages, but the story is so well-written, the characters are so well developed, and the plot is so easy to get lost into, that you can barely believe that so much has fit into such a small number of pages! And, of course, it leaves you wanting more. Much more. I loved it, but I would have been even more content if the book was just a tad bit longer, showing what happened to the village and what really came to happen at the end. I don't like 'open endings' like this one had, but I hear the other books will explain a couple of things, so I'll just have to look for them. :)

So, the big deal here was: I have read a LOT of dystopians, and I have always thought of how creative they were... well, as it turns out, (in my opinion, at least), most of them must have been somehow inspired by Lois Lowry's world, because the similarities with some titles are uncanny. I won't list them here, because, really, who am I to accuse others? What I mean to say is: once you've read this one... you'll know what I mean.

Another Fun Book Holder

I think the books might slide... but it'd still be fun to look at.

Teaser Tuesday #38

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along, just do as 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 any spoilers so as not to ruin the book for others.

Make sure to share the title and the author so other TT participants can add the book to their TBR piles.

"I explained that I wanted to do a feminist interpretation of Jane Eyre, showing how Jane was a role model for Victorian women. She was determined and self-sufficient, she never used beauty or sexuality to gain favor, she made her decisions based on moral principles even when they went against her own desires."

A Breath of Eyre 
by Eve Marie Mont, page 51

____________________________________________

I have barely started this book, but I can't say I'm very impressed with either the writing or the main character so far. Hopefully I'll warm up to both. ;P

What is your teaser this week?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #37

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Book Journey. 

Welcome to It’s Monday!  What Are You Reading?  This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well… you never know where that next “must read” book will come from!

I'm Currently Reading:


Finished:

Last Reviews posted:
Review: Thorn by Intisar Khanani
Review: Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

Early Review: Velveteen by Daniel Marks

Next Reads:

______________

What are you reading this week?