Adieu....For Now

 

Just wanted to take a minute to say that I will be pulling back from book blogging for a while.  Maybe just popping in to post a monthly wrap-up.  I have a full boat all the way through November and I no longer have this desire to review every book I read, nor keep such close track of what I've read or will read.  I miss the spontaneity of just picking up a book because I love it.  My tbr pile will never get that small because I love books just way too much and going to the library or bookstore, perusing paperbackswap.com as well as the Kindle freebies is a fun thing for me.

I will be ending the book-club as well so if one of you gals want to take it up please feel free to copy the image and go for it :)  It was great fun, but I belong to a book-club with some friends and family and that fills my time plenty.

I do have my other blog which is devoted to my life's doings and I will primarily pop in there when I have the time to do so.  I have made some great blogging friends, and will always stop by to see what they have going on.

Thrill Week Bloggers Event!!

Marce, my blogging buddy is hosting this awesome event!  You can catch all the details over at her blog - Tea Time With Marce.  I think this is going to be a lot of fun.  If you're a thriller/mystery/suspense/horror nut head on down to find out more.

I have always loved the thriller genre.  I started young, 12 or 13  yrs old when this, his first novel came out - Suffer The Children by John Saul and continued through to the master himself, Stephan King.  Now I have branched out to so many great authors.  I always gravitate to them, even though I do love my PNR and have become an official junkie, nothing gets me going like a good psycho thriller.

Pop in to see what all the thrill is about ;)

Monthly Wrap-Up

My summer is 5 days away from being over.  My kids go back on Wednesday, to a modified traditional school year.  Modified since they get the whole week of Thanksgiving off, three weeks at Christmas and two weeks of spring break.  Works well for me, they've been home since June 2nd, though getting up at 6:30 does NOT make me happy.  I like to sleep in and tend to stay up later.

July was a bit of a quiet month for me and so will August.  I have been planning my daughters bridal shower and don't have that much time to read.  What I did read was pretty good though.  This month my book club is going to the movies for August instead of reading a book.  We read The Help this past winter and we all decided to see the movie since we LOVED the book so very much and I can't wait.  I will blog about it and tell if it was as good as the book.  My review of The Help is *HERE*.  This was just a fantastic book, it moved me so very much and I can't wait to see how all the ladies are portrayed.

I read book three in the Harper Connelly series by Charlaine Harris, Ice Cold Grave and liked it.  Book four will be the last *pout*.  I really love this series and will be sad to see it end, my *REVIEW* Read Chelsea Cain's fourth in her Archie/Gretchen series Night Season , not any Gretchen but a brief glimpse, pretty good, not quite the thriller that the others were, that Gretchen knows how to get ya.  I'll review at another time, but the buzz is January Jones will play the beauty killer herself!  Great choice!  Read a couple of kindle freebies for my TBR challenge, Flowers For Elvis and A Little Death In Dixie.  Both were pleasant surprises, I only reviewed Flowers *HERE*.  Would recommend them both.  Could not finish The Sacrifice (forbidden) another Kindle freebie, just didn't do it for me at all.  I am now reading Ceremony In Death, and I think that'll be it for a while with Eve Dallas and Roarke, they're kinda boring me.  It's not that the story isn't good, it's just how much more can you do with this, obviously a gagillion according to Robb since there's like 40 of em!  But I may pick and choose which ones sound really good from now on instead of reading in order.

Here's my list for this month, maybe all maybe one or two all depends on how my month goes busy wise -














Not too ambitious, the last is our August book club choice, and to be honest, I don't know if I'll get to it.  I'm not a YA reader at all, can't get into it feel there are just too many books on my shelf that I'd rather read than to dabble in YA.  I know the bloggisphere is filled with YA junkies, but I'm not one of em, nor do I wish to be.  I'll see how my month goes and decide if I want to do it or not.  In the meantime, enjoy August it's lazy days, September will be here in a blink, time flies way too fast!!!

Authors By The Alphabet Q-n-A

I've been slacking a bit on this.  Went to Vegas for some much needed r & r, and have also been waaaaay busy planning dd's bridal shower.  That said lets get to next month's book choice for the letter I, being hosted by Book Belle -




Dragonfly Pool
Eva Ibbotson
Puffin
384 pgs.














Now on to our q-n-a for July's book, Grave Sight by Charlaine Harris being hosted by Christine over at her blog, The Happily Ever After just click on the title to go right to the discussion :)

My review for this book can be found *HERE*

Q-n-A

1.   Let's start with the obvious. Did you like the book? What's your overall impression?
I did like this book.  It was an easy read, great characters that I enjoyed, and the story moved and kept me interested.  Charlaine has the ability to keep you in suspense without going over the top, or dragging it out.

2. Did you like Harper?
Harper is a great character.  She has many layers and a lot of heartache inside that battered body of hers, which is why I think she comes across as cold.  After what she went through growing up it has become part of her defense.

3. What did you think of the murder mystery and the people of Sarne, Arkansas?
It was great.  Of course the typical southern smallmindedness was front and center here.  Though, it doesn’t always matter where  you come from people can be oblivious to what happens around them sometimes for their own self preservation other times just out of selfishness.

4. Do you think Harper will ever find out what happened to her sister Cameron?
At some point I do think she will find out what took place.  I know that whole situation and that with her little sisters is what makes Harper Harper.

5. What do you make of the relationship between Harper and Tolliver?
I find it entertaining to see the hoops these two are jumping through to try and deny what they feel for each other.  The fact that they aren't blood relatives just cements the fact that at some point one is going to come clean to the other.  What then?  Will their relationship end?  Will they both be happy?  Read on friends....

6. Do you think you'll continue reading this series?
Most certainly, I already have and will finish it up with book 4 which sadly will be the end according to Harris.

Hippity Hop Friday

Interested in an online book-club?  We  have *Authors By The Alphabet*, each month an author is chosen by the letter of the alphabet we read, and then discuss, each month a different member chooses and then hosts the q-n-a.  We've read some eclectic books and are up to the letter H with Charlaine Harris' Grave Sight for this month.  Click on the club title to join. 
**********


This Hop is hosted by Jennifer from Crazy-For-Books, and it runs through the weekend, so if you can't today, hop on tomorrow!  Just remember, go to her site, follow the rules, visit some of the blogs and get to know em, if you start to follow tell em you met them through the hop!

This weeks ? -

What’s the ONE GENRE that you wish you could get into, but just can’t?

There isn't one.  If I don't read it it's because I can't stand it :p  One that comes to mind that I really would never even attempt is Sci Fi, have no desire can't stand it and don't ever wish I could try it.


Happy Hopping

True Blood and Game Of Thrones

Warning - I will be divulging spoilers here, so if you don't want to know don't read on!


These are two programs on HBO that are based on books.  They are both absolutely fantastic shows.  There is one very great difference.  One has followed the book almost verbatim the other has been playing fast and loose.


When I started watching True Blood in 2008 I had no idea they were based on books.  For Christmas our older daughter requested them and that is what she got.  Well, we both read through them in about one month flat and fell in love hook line and sinker.  Since then we have read the entire series and it is one of the best I've ever read.  We were both VERY disappointed in season two with Alan Ball's horrific MaryAnn storyline. Season three redeemed itself quite a bit, but this season has me a bit in knots.  This season is based on book four.  This is a very pivotal book, Eric has amnesia due to a spell cast by evil witches, Jason is held prisoner, and the three supe groups come together to fight the witches regardless of the fact they they hate each other.  That is pretty important to note in my book.  What has me concerned?  Well, Jason's story is an amazing one and A.B. doesn't seem to be going in that direction.  What takes place with him and Crystal is very shocking and a great plot twist.  Jason being a baby maker for Hot Shot was not in the equation at all, nor was he held by the town, just the one crazy dude.

He has eliminated an entire storyline by killing Queen Sophie.  Same with Claudine, who I'm still ticked at for not being Megan Fox gorgeous, let alone looking like some troll when not glamoured.  When an author goes to great trouble to describe the breathtaking beauty of her characters, you had better find actors to fit that bill.  Not that it matters since Eric ate her up ;)  I know we're only 4 shows in, but the vibe I'm getting is that Marnie the witch is not evil, just possessed by one.  How can you have the ultimate showdown with all the supes working together to fight if she really isn't all that bad.  And what Sam turns into to do that was just majestic and fantastic.  I'm itching to see how A.B. handles Debbie Pelt, I hope Eric comes through here like the book.  I love Eric's personality with his amnesia, he is quite funny, so far so good on that.

Now for Game Of Thrones.  This series is amazing!!  The detail and the scenes are phenomenal.  The look of the whole show puts you right there.  When John Snow is on the wall, you feel the freezing cold.  When Calisi is in the tent with all the candles the ambiance just flows.  The cast is fantastic and we all are enjoying this and can't wait for season two.  My nephew has read all the books and my hubby had to get them too.  Our son is up to three and he said that so far book one is right on the mark.  Having not read the books I am loving the show, and will read them, the fact that it is staying close to the story itself doesn't bother me at all.

I have heard some say "Who wants to see a show just like the books?"  ME!!!  It doesn't have to be exact, but when you read something you expect to see similar otherwise just come up with your own screenplay so there's no disappointment.  There are characters who I love and am glad they weren't killed (Lafayette), some who were invented like Jessica who is awesome, Tommy who isn't.  Some who were changed like Tara, who I can't stand, and others who were dumped before their time.  The whole Arlene story might work out to be a good one, but in the book it was very good.  We'll have to see how that plays out. I know I know the element of surprise yada yada yada, well when you see it on the screen even if you know what's coming it still moves you in a different way.

Well there's my rant, I know everyone has a different opinion on this, but I had to express mine here.  I can't wait to see how this season turns out.

An Ice Cold Grave

An Ice Cold Grave
Charlaine Harris
280 pgs
Berkely Prime Crime













Amazon Blurb -

Bestseller Harris's exciting third Harper Connelly mystery (after 2006's Grave Surprise) finds the psychic sleuth faced with her most challenging and heartbreaking job to date: locating the bodies of runaway boys who the people of Doraville, N.C., suspect have become victims of a serial killer. After Harper locates eight long-dead bodies, much to the surprise of skeptical Sheriff Sandra Rockwell, a mysterious figure attacks Harper. Though all Harper wants is to go home and recover from her injuries, the local authorities and State Bureau of Investigation agents demand that she stay in town to help with their investigation. The cold case heats up fast, attracting media attention as well as Harper's friends, ailing psychic Xylda Bernardo and her doting grandson, Manfred, who make another gruesome discovery. Harper's changing relationship with her stepbrother, manager and confidant, Tolliver Lang, lends personal interest. Harris dependably delivers fear with charming down-home finesse. 
*****

Harper and Tolliver are in North Carolina searching for several boys who have gone missing in the past few years.  The most recent one just 3 months ago.  This is a first for Harper, she has never dealt with a serial killer before.  Sheriff Rockwell isn't as skeptical nor nasty to Harper as she has dealt with in the past.  One of the missing boys grandmother has taken up a collection to pay her with, and Harper sets out to see what she can do.

Locating 8 bodies for them, Harper is horrified at how they died and just wants to get the heck out of there.  Unfortunately that won't be the case.  She's attacked, ends up in the hospital, and the State Bureau of Investigations wants her to stay and help them some more.  It becomes a media circus, friend and psychic Xylda Bernardo and her grandson Manfred come to town to lend a hand.

Manfred is sweet on Harper and this just drives Tolliver crazy.  Harper loves Tolliver, who is NOT her brother, but keeps it to herself for fear that he'll up and leave her.  As the story progresses, how she feels comes out and what Tolliver thinks does as well.

Filled with suspense, great storyline, and great characters, Harris has scored again with Harper Connelly.  You can breeze through this book and not feel bogged down, yet be fully engrossed by the action.  I look forward to the next book.

4 cannolis