Tome's 500 Page Challenge (June)

This is a monthly challenge hosted here at the Tome.  Its quite self  explanatory, read a book 500 pages or more ; ) On the last day of the month I will post the wrap up of what I read and what my new book will be.  Grab my button on my sidebar  if you'd like to join.  If I get enough followers I'll put a Mr. Linky at the bottom for all.

Wow, June has flew by!!  I can't believe tomorrow is the 1st of July already.  I had an awesome reading month, mostly due to the 12 days I spent back east visiting  my family.  I chomped through quite a few books there.  

My challenge review can be found here -

Covet

My total for June was 7 books.  For the year I have now read 35 books, and a total of 12935 pages!!  I've been averaging 6 books a month, I'd like to see if I can bump that to 7, all in all I should have 70 books done in 12 months.  Pretty good.

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Now for my challenge book -

 Voyager (Outlander series #3)

 Diana Gabaldon

 Paperback 1072 pgs.

 Delta

This is double what my challenge is calling for so I'm hoping it doesn't take too long for me to get through.  I really like the characters in this book immensely.  Diana Gabaldon has done an exquisite job crafting a wonderful story here and I look forward to seeing more of Jamie and Claire.

Teaser Tuesday

 Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the 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 SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

 Pleasure Unbound
 Larissa Ione
 Paperback 416 pgs
 Forever






 My Teaser -

 Tayla resisted the urge to thunk herself on the forehead.  "You're a genius."

 Kindle version, location 4401-5


So far so good.  Larissa Ione has crafted a decent world involving demons moving amongst humans.  Trying to give the perspective of good and evil from a demon point of view is interesting.

Whacha Reading Reading Friday (June25th)

This is a weekly end of the school/work week wrap-up hosted here by moi at the Tome.  Stop by share what you're reading, what you read, and what you're gonna read : )


  Pleasure Unbound
  Larissa Ione
  Paperback 416
  Forever






 Amazon's Blurb -

In a place where ecstasy can cost you your life . . .

She's a demon-slayer who hungers for sensual pleasure-but fears it will always be denied her. Until Tayla Mancuso lands in a hospital run by demons in disguise, and the head doctor, Eidolon, makes her body burn with unslakable desire. But to prove her ultimate loyalty to her peers, she must betray the surgeon who saved her life.
Two lovers will dare to risk all.
Eidolon cannot resist this fiery, dangerous woman who fills him with both rage and passion. Not only is she his avowed enemy, but she could very well be the hunter who has been preying upon his people. Torn between his need for the truth and his quest to find his perfect mate before a horrific transformation claims him forever, Eidolon will dare the unthinkable-and let Tayla possess him, body and soul...


 I have started a series I've been wanting to get into for several months, Demonica by Larissa Ione.  I have read so many gals rave about this series and the characters, Eidolon, Wraith and Shade.  I am right in the very beginning of Pleasure Unbound learning about Eidolon, a demon doctor, how he has created a hospital way underground New York City just for the various demons.  His brothers, Wraith and Shade are right there with him.

There are different levels and types of demons and Ione has a glossary in the beginning defining them so you don't get confused.  Of course there are slayers as well to kill the bad demons.  Tayla is one of these slayers called guardians and she has just been brought into the hospital wounded and Eidolon's brothers are livid that he is helping a killer of demons.

When I finish I'll be sure to give a review, it's heating up already and I'm not even 1/4 way in!

Hippity Hop

This is a neat weekly meme hosted by Jennifer at Crazy-for-Books each Friday.  It's a great way to find other blogs with the same interests as you, as well as discover new books and maybe an untried genre.

ABOUT THE HOP:

In the spirit of the Twitter Friday Follow, the Book Blogger Hop is a place just for book bloggers and readers to connect and find new book-related blogs that we may be missing out on!  This weekly BOOK PARTY is an awesome opportunity for book bloggers to connect with other book lovers, make new friends, support each other, and generally just share our love of books!  It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs that they may not know existed!  So, grab the logo, post about the Hop on your blog, and start HOPPING through the list of blogs that are posted in the Linky list at the bottom of Jennifer's blog!!

YA Info

One would think as the mother of 6 I would have a firm grasp on YA lit.  Truth, I don't.  My oldest is now 29 and she was and is still a voracious reader like I am.  The 22 yr old likes to read, but she doesn't hold the same passion.  My 19 yr old son is a sci-fi buff and he reads when something really catches his fancy.  I never really got into YA lit with them, they always read what was good for their age group.  It's my 12 yr old dd MaryAnn that I am trying to find some good books for.  She is a funny personality.  While she is 12 her mind and soul is old, always has been, but that doesn't mean I let her read stuff that is not age appropriate.   She has read the 1st Twilight, I will let her read the 2nd, and I think I'll end it there for now.  Vampire Diaries might be too much for her, I have never read them.  Maximum Ride by James Patterson was a series that she just loved and tore through all of them.  Mare is very smart and witty, she'll need a book that will hold her interest and make her think a bit too.

What I'm looking for is some suggestions that might fit the bill for her.  Nothing to racy something that has some intrigue that will have her not wanting to put the book down.   I am defering to those bloggers that are big fans of YA, any ideas, I would love it!

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I have not read a book in 24 hours!  Wow, heehee.  I have Pleasure Unbound loaded on the kindle and ready to go, I'll be starting it tonight.  I've been wanting to get the Demonica series going and now I will, I hear I should keep a spray bottle with ice water in it near by ; )

   Pleasure Unbound

   Larissa Ione

   Paperback 416 pgs

   Forever

For my Whacha Reading Friday post I'll let you know what I think.  By the way, for those who have been considering the Kindle, Amazon has just dropped it to $189.00, that is an awesome deal!!  It's usually $259.00, so if you or someone you know is contemplating it, now might be a good time.

Summer Romance Reading Challenge

Book Chick City is hosting a Summer Romance Reading Challenge.  You can find all the details here.  This is a great challenge, and an enjoyable one too!  There's plenty of time to get through 8 romances and there's a chance for a prize as well.  What's better than that? 

I love Book Chick City's blog, it's so fun to go and see what going on, and she does some awesome challenges so go give her a visit and see what she's about.

I will come back here and list and link the reviews to all the romances I have gotten through and then this will be the post that I link to Book Chick City as I go along. 

1. Night Embrace (Dark Hunters Book 4) - Sherrilyn Kenyon - Done
2. Covet - J.R. Ward - Done
3. Darkness Unleashed (Guardians Of Eternity Book 5) - Alexandra Ivy - Done
4. Magic Bleeds - Ilona Andrews -Done
5. Pleasure Unbound (Demonica Series Book 1) - Larissa Ione - Done
6. Voyager (Outlander Book 4) - Diana Gabaldon -Done
7. Eternal Kiss Of Darkness - Jeaniene Frost - Done
8. Dance With The Devil - Sherrilyn Kenyon

As I go along, I am sure I will be adding to this list.  So check back and see, oh, and join too!

Another challenge completed!!

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1.03.01

Teaser Tuesday (June 22nd)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the 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 SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!





Undead and Unemployed
Mary Janice Davidson
Paperback 304 pgs
Berkley








My teaser -

"Let's just say I could count them on one hand and leave it at that."  Actually, three fingers, but it was none of his business.

"Practically a virgin."  he mused.

Betsy and Sinclair.

Again, my kindle location #'s 2582-85

I am loving this book.  Miss Davidson has such a great wit about her.  The wisecracks that fly just kill me.  Betsy is hysterical, I love her character.  Even Janice, Marc and Tin are good characters.  And Sinclair, well he's a vamp, what else is there to say ; )  I can't wait to see how they all progress in the other books. 

Darkness Unleashed

Darkness Unleashed
Alexandra Ivy
Paperback 384 pgs
Zebra







I finished this book this morning.  I liked it.  The characters are enjoyable, the story is fast moving, not bogged down in baloney, not to tedious with the guy/girl fight when one word would clear the whole mess up.  That's a big thing for me as far as romance goes.  I hate those silly misunderstandings that a simple convo would fix up.  Jagr is a great vamp, and I liked Regan, no weakling, independent and witty. 

The whole cast of characters in the Guardian's of Eternity seem pretty good.  I think I'll touch on the rest at another time.  Alexandra Ivy has crafted a decent read for vampire and were romance lovers.

This will go to Book Chick City's Summer Romance Reading Challenge and I think that makes 3?  I have to check ; )
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Undead and Unemployed
MaryJanice Davidson
Paperback 304 pgs
Berkley

I have started Undead And Unemployed by MaryJanice Davidson.  I gotta say, this gal has got some very witty books here.  Her lines just crack me up.  One part with Nick the cop in the car with Betsy and she says "Doy"  and Nick responds "Doy?  I haven't heard that in years."  I love the banter in these books.   Oh and Betsy is just my kind of girlfriend, I would rather have shoes than clothes ANY day!  Can never have enough shoes in my life ; )

Not sure where I'll go from this, I have a bunch of challenges going, my 500 page or more challenge keeps me busy, Voyager, #3 in Outlander is over 1000 pgs!!  My oh my!!  I do so love Jamie and Claire, so I don't care.  Hey that rhymes, lol!

New Background

This isn't a bookish post, but I wanted to take a moment to tip my hat to Itkupilli over at Cute*n*Cool Blog Stuff.  Her designs are just beautiful and I will be using it on my other blog as well.  Take a look and see what she offers it's just delightful!

Ok, well I can't resist talking just a bit about books.  I'm almost done with Darkness Unleashed by Alexandra Ivy.  This is an nice and quick read.  It hits the spot for an easy hit of romance coupled with the little bit of the thrill of the chase and a tad of suspense thrown in.  Not quite the caliber of Black Dagger Brotherhood, or the Midnight Breed, but worth snuggling up with.

Today is Fathers Day, and I want to wish my Husband the light of my life Happy Fathers Day.  I'm not with him, I'm in New York with my mother since last week was the anniversary of my Fathers death and there was a Memorial Mass for him.  Not having a Dad anymore has been one of the most bitter pills I have ever had to swallow and it isn't easy at all.  The nice thing is my Mom will be flying home with me for the 1st time since he passed, and that makes me very happy.

Blogger Hop

This weekley meme is hosted by Jennifer over at Crazy-for-Books.  Drop on by and meet some new blogging friends!

In the spirit of the Twitter Friday Follow, the Book Blogger Hop is a place just for book bloggers and readers to connect and find new book-related blogs that we may be missing out on! This weekly BOOK PARTY is an awesome opportunity for book bloggers to connect with other book lovers, make new friends, support each other, and generally just share our love of books! It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs that they may not know existed! So, grab the logo, post about the Hop on your blog, and start HOPPING through the list of blogs that are posted in the Linky list at the bottom of Jennifer's blog!!

Lets Hop ; )

Whacha Reading Fridays (June 18th)

This is a weekly end of the school/work week wrap-up hosted here by moi at the Tome.  Stop by share what you're reading, what you read, and what you're gonna read : )

I had a great reading week!  Being on vacation in New York at Mama's house has provided me with tons of reading time.  I have chewed through 3 books and am now on #4.  I love it!

Covet by J.R. Ward, which took care of my monthly 500 pg challenge hosted here, Naked in Death (In Death, Book 1) by J.D Robb, Magic Bleeds (Kate Daniels, Book 4) by Ilona Andrews, then I was stumped on what to move onto next and I skimmed through my Kindle archive and found Darkness Unleashed by Alexandra Ivy.  Oh my gosh this is just fitting the bill perfectly.  With True Blood back and Eclipse coming soon, vamps are just everywhere, and the one in here is scrumptious.  Jagr, what a name!  It's not #1 in the series, but that's just fine, I am eating him, uh it, up ; )

     Darkness Unleashed

ADDENDUM*

I am adding just a quick review here of Magic Bleeds for my Summer Romance Reading Challenge hosted by Book Chick City

Magic Bleeds

In this next chapter of the Kate Daniels saga, she has to go up against what is probably the most formidable character she has ever encountered as of yet.  What makes it worse, it's her family.  She and Curran's relationship goes to the next level, and you get to see Kate's devotion to him, which she normally hides with extreme control.  The usual players are all here in this book as well, meeting the shifters again as some come to rally against her, and her true friends, to her defense.

What Kate does with Curran touched my heart.  Curran is willing to try his hardest to not be so stubborn, knowing how fierce Kate feels about her independence.  This girl is no slouch, and he can't possibly think she's going to put on an apron and start baking cookies.  I look forward to seeing how their relationship develops, if they can get through all the obstacles of being such strong willed beings.

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Now it's your turn whacha reading?