I've had the pleasure of knowing Fiction Vixen (online) for over 5 years now. We ventured into the book blogging community at the same time and I must say that so far I've had a blast. She introduced me to some great reads, including: Sookie, the Black Dagger Brotherhood and most recently the Night Huntress series by Jeaniene Frost (thank you!!!). I always look to her for book recommendations; she never steers me wrong. So here's where I pick her brain.
On My Wishlist (8)
The Maze Runner by James Dashner
The Vampire's Seduction by Raven Hart
Angel Star by Jennifer Murgia
What's on your wishlist?
Teaser Tuesday: Halfway to the Grave
Compulsively I kissed him, piercing my lower lip on his fangs and hearing him groan when he sucked the blood off. "So sharp and sweet," he muttered thickly.
p. 164, Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost
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 and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
Review: Tangled by Carolyn Mackler
Author: Carolyn Mackler
Format: ARC
Source: Won it from the author
Release Date: 12/29/2009
From the author's website:
Paradise wasn’t supposed to suck.
Not the state of being, but a resort in the Caribbean. Jena, Dakota, Skye, and Owen are all there for different reasons, but at Paradise their lives become tangled together in ways none of them can predict. Paradise will change them all.
It will change Jena, whose first brush with romance takes her that much closer to having a life, and not just reading about those infinitely cooler and more exciting. It will change Dakota, who needs the devastating truth about his past to make him realize that he doesn’t have to be a jerk just because people think he’s one. It will change Skye, a heartbreakingly beautiful actress, who must come to terms with the fact that for once she has to stop playing a role or face the consequences. And it will change Owen, who has never risked anything before and who will take the leap from his online life to a real one all because of a girl he met at Paradise….
From confused to confident and back again, one thing’s certain: Four months after it all begins, none of them will ever be the same.
Tangled is about four teenagers, who couldn't be any more different, whose lives come together while vacationing in Paradise.
First, we have Jena who is the average teenager. She likes reading. She's goes through some self esteem issues; she's not stick-thin and finally decides that she is "luscious". She's the one I can relate to, her and Owen. Jena has this "everything book" where she jots down quotes and favorite sayings, anywhere from a book to a movie to something one of her friends might say (or write in a note). She even has some Nicholas Sparks (my favorite author!) quotes in that book!
Next, there's Skye, the aspiring actress. She popular, pretty and everyone wants to either be her or be with her. Jena is very jealous of Skye and gets uncomfortable during any conversation they have. Jena and Skye are on vacation together at Paradise because their moms are BFFs. Skye may seem perfect from the outside but she's battling her own demons.
Dakota is an athlete and a typical horny teenager. He's hot and can get any girl he wants. He's on vacation with his brother, Owen, and their mom.
Owen is the computer nerd who has more friends online than in real life. He writes a blog, Loser with a Laptop, and is the complete opposite of Dakota.
My Thoughts:
Since this was my first read by Carolyn Mackler, I have to admit I didn't know what to expect. I am happy to say that she didn't disappoint; her writing blew me away. I was pulled in right from the beginning. Her writing flows smoothly and there is no fumbling. I got completely absorbed into the story from page one. This is the type of book where before you know it, you're halfway through it. And boy, does Carolyn do a great job of getting into the head of a teenage boy!
Tangled is told from 4 points of view, following each character for one month. The reader is left with a cliffhanger at the end of each character's narration but things come together by the end of the book. I was left wanting more. I wasn't ready to give up Jena's story but I got closure later on.
The title and cover fit perfectly with this book. The title is simple yet captures the essence of the book with one word. These four teenagers' lives are tangled with each other. The cover, too, is simple but it's also cute and eye catching. I love how the pink ribbon and blue ribbon meet in the middle as purple.
All in all, Tangled was a great read. I will definitely check out Carolyn Mackler's other releases!
The Book Vixen's Rating:
Author website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Myspace
Secret Santa
I received my Secret Santa package about a week and a half ago but waited to share my goodies with you until today, Christmas Day. Here's what I got:
Review: Candy Girl by Diablo Cody
Author: Diablo Cody
Format: Paperback
Source: Received from Jamie at Confessions of a Book Junkie
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Decreed by David Letterman (tongue in cheek) on CBS TV’s The Late Show to be the pick of "Dave’s Book Club 2006," Candy Girl is the story of a young writer who dared to bare it all as a stripper. At the age of twenty-four, Diablo Cody decided there had to be more to life than typing copy at an ad agency. She soon managed to find inspiration from a most unlikely source— amateur night at the seedy Skyway Lounge. While she doesn’t take home the prize that night, Diablo discovers to her surprise the act of stripping is an absolute thrill.
This is Diablo’s captivating fish-out-of-water story of her yearlong walk on the wild side, from quiet gentlemen’s clubs to multilevel sex palaces and glassed-in peep shows. In witty prose she gives readers a behind-the-scenes look at this industry through a writer’s keen eye, chronicling her descent into the skin trade and the effect it had on her self-image and her relationship with her now husband.
My Thoughts:
I normally won't dabble in non-fiction, especially a memoir, but I have to admit this book caught my eye. The cover. The premise. I've heard of the name Diablo Cody but didn't know exactly where to place her. So I googled her and found out that she wrote the Academy Award winning screenplay for the movie Juno. Her writing is raw and descriptive and it pulls you in. Just in the few pages of this book I knew I wanted to know more about her year as a stripper.
Candy Girl is a memoir of a 24-year old woman the year she worked as a stripper. She was working at an advertising agency as a copy typist, where she was bored and feeling unsatisfied. Whereas you and I might escape our boredom by reading a book, she stumbled across a seedy strip club and tried out for amateur night. She didn't win but she didn't stop there either. She worked at several clubs in the skin trade, not because she needed the money and couldn't get a "real" job, but because she need to satisfy her inner rebel. She did it for fun. You'd think it would be awkward to scale a pole, window dance and prance around in your birthday suit in front of (and on top of) sober men. That's right. Sober men. Apparently, Minneapolis has an ordinance that states clubs cannot serve alcohol in establishments where the ladies are fully nude.
Candy Girl is an entertaining and funny read by a self-proclaimed sheltered geek, however, it is also very candid and explicit. Diablo is a fascinating woman. She possesses an ever-evolving look and reinvents herself at every chance she gets. When watching interviews of her on YouTube, I didn't recognize her until her name was mentioned. And in case you're wondering (because I was), her birth name is Brook Busey.
The Book Vixen's Rating:
Read Jamie's review of Candy Girl.
Author's Twitter | Myspace
On My Wishlist (7)
On My Wishlist is a fun weekly event hosted by Book Chick City and runs every Saturday. It's where I list all the books I desperately want but haven't actually bought yet. They can be old, new or forthcoming. It's also an event that you can join in with too - Mr Linky is always at the ready for you to link your own 'On My Wishlist' post. If you want to know more click here.
What's on your wishlist?
Teaser Tuesday: Tangled
I thought he was joking, so I lay there quietly, unsure what to do. But then Dakota walked his fingers across my belly and eased my shirt back up again.
p. 55, Tangled by Carolyn Mackler
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 and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
Review: Fallen by Lauren Kate
Author: Lauren Kate
Format: ARC, 1st book in a 4-book series
Source: Provided by Around the World Tours, hosted by Princess Bookie
Synopsis from Goodreads:
There's something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori.
Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price's attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah, Georgia. He's the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move.
Even though Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce--and goes out of his way to make that very clear--she can't let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, she has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret...even if it kills her.
Dangerously exciting and darkly romantic, Fallen is a page turning thriller and the ultimate love story.
My Thoughts:
There have been mixed reviews on this one but I had to see, and read it, for myself. And I'm glad I did. Fallen is dark, edgy, mysterious and exciting. I found myself turning page after page in wonder. After reading the story, I went back and re-read the prologue, then read the epilogue. In doing so, I found I gained a better sense of the story and its history. The prologue ties the history with the story very well.
It takes a while before the story starts to come together but it's worth the wait. Try to be patient and enjoy the story-building. The characters, both the protagonists and thw secondary characters, are well developed as result of this. Readers will be rewarded with a fast-paced, action packed ending.
This story focuses on three main elements, which I enjoy and think make for a good read: A forbidden love, a love triangle and sexual frustration. I'm going to leave it at that (no spoilery here).
The cover is dark and beautiful. It's eye-catching and compliments the mood and tone of the story.
The reader is left with quite a cliffhanger. There are some loose ends that I hope come together in the next installment, Torment, which is set to be released in September 2010. Fallen left me hungry and craving for more of Luce's story. I cannot wait for Torment!
Move over vampires; Fallen angels are coming into town!
The Book Vixen Rating:
Author Website | Twitter | Facebook
On My Wishlist (6)
On My Wishlist is a fun weekly event hosted by Book Chick City and runs every Saturday. It's where I list all the books I desperately want but haven't actually bought yet. They can be old, new or forthcoming. It's also an event that you can join in with too - Mr Linky is always at the ready for you to link your own 'On My Wishlist' post. If you want to know more click here.
What's on your wishlist?
Teaser Tuesday: Fallen
Her second kiss in as many days. Where Daniel's kiss had been hungry and almost desperate, Cam's kiss was gentle and too perfect, as if he had been practicing on a hundred girls before her.
p. 342, Fallen by Lauren Kate
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 and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
Review: Skin Game by Ava Gray
Author: Ava Gray
Format: Paperback, 1st book in a series
Source: Borrowed from the generous KC at Smokin' Hot Books
Synopsis from Goodreads:
A beautiful fugitive—wanted dead or alive. Kyra is a con woman and a particular kind of thief. She steals with a touch, but she only takes one thing: her target’s strongest skill. Which means she can be a fighter, an athlete, a musician, an artist—anything she wants… for a limited time. Heartbroken, she turns her gift toward avenging her father’s murder; with deadly patience, Kyra works her way into casino owner Gerard Serrano’s inner circle. After pulling off the ultimate con, she flees with his money and his pride.
A hit man who never misses the mark. Reyes has nothing but his work. Pity for Kyra, he’s the best and mercy never sways him once he takes a job. He’s been hired to find out where Kyra hid the cash—and bring her back to face Serrano’s “justice.” Dead will do, if he can’t locate the loot. He’s never failed to complete a contract, but Kyra tempts him with her fierce heat and her outlaw heart. So Reyes has a hell of a choice: forsake his word or kill the woman he might love.
My Thoughts:
Insanely delicious. That is what comes to mind when I think of Skin Game. I couldn't put the book down and when I had to (because life gets in the way sometimes), all I could think about was what was going to happen next with Kyra and Reyes. When I was about 100 pages away from the end, all I thought about the whole entire day was this book! I had left off at a bit of a cliffhanger and when I was finally able to pick up where I left off and finish, I felt complete.
Kyra is a sexy, self sufficient woman. She is a con artist by trade, taught by her father. She's been on her own since her dad was killed. She sought revenge on the man that was responsible and did a kick-ass job of hitting him where it hurts (his pockets and his ego). Now she's on the run knowing he'll send his men after her. She has the ability to "borrow" a person's talent, for an unknown amount of time, by a simple touch. She usually uses the talent against the owner, which comes in handy when she's doing a con. It even works when she gets herself in a pickle and needs to fight her way out. She first meets Reyes after hustling her way through a game of billiards.
Reyes is a rough, hands-on (in more ways than one) type of guy. He was contracted by Kyra's ex-fiance, Gerald Serrano, to capture Kyra, find the money and bring her back to Serrano. He's one of the best and has the track record to prove it. It takes him a while to find Kyra but when he does, it's instant attraction.
It's been a few days since I've finished reading Skin Game and it's still fresh on my mind. I can't stop thinking about the sexual chemistry between Kyra and Reyes. They know how to heat things up under the sheets. A book that I thoroughly enjoyed is one that stays with me. And Skin Game definitely falls into that category.
Skin Game is full of action, adventure and sexual energy right from the start. Ava Gray wastes no time capturing your attention. This book is action-packed from the get-go. Be warned, this book is so hot, it'll leave a burn mark on your shelf!
Next books in the series are: Skin Tight (June 2010), Skin Privilege and Skin Dive.
The Book Vixen's Rating:
See what these vixen's had to say about Skin Game:
Fiction Vixen's Review
Smokin' Hot Books' Review
Smexy Books' Review
Author Website | Blog | Twitter
Lauren Kate Book Signing
The lovely Pat from Peace Love and Pat, and I went to Lauren Kate's reading and signing on December 8th at the 3-story(!!) Barnes & Noble in Glendale, California. This is only the second book signing/author event I've been to. I was very excited to be there.
Lauren reading from chapter 4, the detention scene:
On My Wishlist (5)
What's on your wishlist?
Teaser Tuesday: Candy Girl
What is it about that damned pole, anyway? Some girls assault it, some girls ignore it, some girls hitch a ride on it and spin.
p. 212, Candy Girl: A Year in the Life of an Unlikely Stripper by Diablo Cody
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 and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
Book Spotlight: You Better Not Cry: Stories for Christmas
Author: Augusten Burroughs
Available: Now
Synopsis:
You’ve eaten too much candy at Christmas…but have you ever eaten the face off a six-footstuffed Santa? You’ve seen gingerbread houses…but have you ever made your own gingerbread tenement? You’ve woken up with a hangover…but have you ever woken up next to Kris Kringle himself? Augusten Burroughs has, and in this caustically funny, nostalgic, poignant, and moving collection he recounts Christmases past and present—as only he could. With gimleteyed wit and illuminated prose, Augusten shows how the holidays bring out the worst in us and sometimes, just sometimes, the very, very best.
Author Website | Book Info | Sweepstakes
READING CHALLENGE: 100+ Reading Challenge
For 2010, I am joining the 100+ Reading Challenge hosted by J. Kaye's Book Blog.
Here are the rules:
- The goal is to read 100 or more books. Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate. Non-Bloggers: Post your list of books in the comment section of the wrap-up post.
- Audio, Re-reads, eBooks, YA, Young Reader, Nonfiction – as long as the book has an ISBN or equivalent or can be purchased as such, the book counts.
- No need to list your books in advance. You may select books as you go. Even if you list them now, you can change the list if needed.
- Crossovers from other reading challenges count.
- Challenge begins January 1st thru December, 2010. Books started before the 1st do not count.
My list of books read in 2010:
- Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost
- One Foot in the Grave by Jeaniene Frost
- At Grave's End by Jeaniene Frost
- Destined for an Early Grave by Jeaniene Frost
- Broken by Shiloh Walker
- Kissing Frogs in Cyberspace by Dianne Sweeney
- Dear John by Nicholas Sparks
- The Life of Glass by Jillian Cantor
- Two Way Street by Lauren Barnholdt
- Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
- Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
- Jonas (Beautiful Dead, #1) by Eden Maguire
- Arson by Estevan Vega
- Leaving Paradise by Simone Elkeles
- Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
- Stray by Rachel Vincent
- The Dark Divine by Bree Despain
- The Secret Year by Jennifer R. Hubbard
- The Mark by Jen Nadol
- Kiss of Midnight by Lara Adrian
- Operating Room Confidential by Paul Whang, MD
- I Heart You, You Haunt Me by Lisa Schroeder
- This One is Mine by Maria Semple
- Chasing Brooklyn by Lisa Schroeder
- Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green & David Levithan
- Hannah's List by Debbie Macomber
- The Unwritten Rule by Elizabeth Scott (no review)
- The Season by Sarah MacLean
- Ash by Malinda Lo
- Line of Fire by Jo Davis
- Crush on You by Christie Ridgway
- Her Sanctuary by P.Q. Glisson
- How to Steal A Car by Pete Hautman
- Always a Bridesmaid by Elaine Hopper
- Aces Up by Lauren Barnholdt
- The Missing by Shiloh Walker
- Dead, Undead, or Somewhere in Between by J.A. Saare
- Restoring Harmony by Joëlle Anthony
- The Ivy by Lauren Kunze & Rina Onur
- Linger by Maggie Stiefvater
- The Hypnotist by M.J. Rose
- Minder by Kate Kaynak
- The Julian Game by Adele Griffin
- The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks
- Meet Me in Manhattan by Judith Arnold
- Ties That Bind by Anne Patrick
- Matched by Ally Condie
- The Unidentified Redhead by Alice Clayton
- Best iPhone Apps by Josh Clark
- Siren by Tricia Rayburn
- Summer in Paris by Michele Ashman Bell
- Eve of Samhain by Lisa Sanchez
- Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles
- Murphy's Law by Sandy James
- Glimpse by Stacey Wallace Benefiel
- Adversary by Kate Kaynak
- The Redhead Revealed by Alice Clayton
- Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick
- Thrill of the Chase by Christina Crooks
- Crimson Moon by J.A. Saare
- Her Best Friend by Sarah Mayberry
- Heavenly by Jennifer Laurens
- Lancelot’s Lady by Cherish D’Angelo
- White Heat by Brenda Novak
- Glimmer by Stacey Wallace Benefiel
- Case File: Canyon Creek Wyoming by Paula Graves
- If I Stay by Gayle Forman
- Beg Me by Shiloh Walker
- Change of Heart by Shari Maurer
- Trail by Fire by Jo Davis
- Under Fire by Jo Davis
- Hidden Fire by Jo Davis
- Ride the Fire by Jo Davis
- Return to Paradise by Simone Elkeles
- Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning
- Bloodfever by Karen Marie Moning
- Faefever by Karen Marie Moning
- Dreamfever by Karen Marie Moning
- Unraveled by Gena Showalter
- Boycotts & Barflies by Victoria Michaels
- Yours for the Taking by Robin Kaye
- Friction by Samantha Hunter
- Wild and Wicked by Joanne Rock
- The Ex-Boyfriend’s Handbook by Matt Dunn
- Delirium by Lauren Oliver
- Everyone Loves a Hero by Marie Force
On My Wishlist (4)
The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell
Chasing Brooklyn by Lisa Schroeder
Every Little Thing in the World by Nina de Gramont
First Drop of Crimson by Jeaniene Frost
Boys, Girls & Other Hazardous Materials by Rosalind Wiseman
Party by Tom Leveen
The Next Best Thing by Kristan Higgins
The Year I Turned Sixteen by Diane Schwemm
Wolves, Boys & Other Things That Might Kill Me by Kristen Chandler
Watch Me by Lauren Barnholdt
Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green & David Levithan
What's on your wishlist?
Teaser Tuesday: Skin Game
All in all, Kyra Marie Beckwith was a lot more intriguing than her dossier let on. Too bad he had to kill her.
p. 9, Skin Game by Ava Gray
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 and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
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