It's All about the Wolves for Me

Hanging out and chatting on Goodreads you sure get a lot of great recommendations but what happens when you burn out? When you go through your TBR lists of hundreds of books and just shrug and say I just don't feel like any of them .  Now what happens? You know you can go for more than 2 days without reading or the world will end, but what to read?  This is something I've heard several times in my own little corner of Goodreads. When you have over 3000 members giving you suggestions and you keep saying nah...then throwing yourself in a chair in a snit, you have to wonder if you have some kind of book S.A.D.S. ...

There are plenty of wonderful books out there and more being released all the time.  So what do we do?  The most common cure is to read something outside your normal genre, basically take a break from romance.  I know, like..no happily ever after?? wow that is going out of the comfort zone.  So do you tiptoe in to part of the genre you don't normally read?  Historical Romance, young adult, new adult or even suspense, with this we know there is at least a good chance of a HEA.  Maybe, you decide to push your limits and go into heavy erotic romance, a few girls did that then asked for bleach to wash their eyes out from trying to picture what was going on in the books. (chickens)  So now what?   Rent a movie?  watch tv? or *gasp* take a walk.

I personally had this issue last summer and I mean for the entire summer.  I just couldn't get enthusiastic over any book. I have to admit I was accused of being cranky ..yes me! cranky..I know I couldn't believe it either LOL.  I did however find a cure for my book lethargy ..it was a well loved series and audio-books   That is right I spent the entire summer listening to every single Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter book.  I have reread this series several times and every time I do there is something I got that I missed the other times.  Listening to it was like it became a whole new series.  I was once again enjoying the series as if it was the first time and again fell in love with Anita and all her men..yes even Edward I suppose, not sure about Richard. *grin*

So my burn lead me to a brand new media for books and I find I enjoy my rereads on audio-books immensely, it has become my preferred method of rereading a series.  I have suggested this to several of my Kick'n friends and they too are enjoying the gift of audio-books 

As we come to the end of January I have to admit this month has been all about Shifters and a reread (listen) to Kerrelyn Spark's, Love at Stake series.  The first series I turned to was the Halle Pumas by Dana Marie Bell.  I didn't realize this novels where short but so incredibly enjoyable I just couldn't stop there.  My darling bestie Bookie then told me the follow up series Halle Shifters was about Bear shifters and I was sold...*if you know me at all you will know I am completely bear crazy*  The Halle Shifters were longer and had more depth to them which I really enjoyed, the other thing I loved...other than the Bear shifters is that DMB brought the characters from the Halle Puma series into the Halle Shifter books so it was almost like a continuous read.  Dana Marie Bell then had the nerve to introduce wolves!


Handsome, alpha wolves ..and had the courage to start her Poconos Wolves series with a M/M love story.  No not graphic, it was a true, sweet love story between 2 characters you met in the shifters books and I adored it but like all good things I read all the books, the vignettes that DMB had on her website..and was done until her next book.  *sigh* now what...more shifters is what.  Several years a go  I stumbled on some Harlequin Nocturne books by Bonnie Vanak that I loved and remembered I had always wanted to go and find the complete series and I did .   I am currently reading the Draicon Wolves by Bonnie Vanak and loving them.  Bonnie has a whole different look at werewolves and their origins and behaviors   The enemy she has created for them is incredibly powerful and brings the action and suspense level up to a boil.  I have read the .05 book and am almost done the 1st book and I can't wait to find out what happens in the rest of the story.

So, how has the year started out for you?  Are you experiencing readers block?  What are you doing to dig yourself out of the pit of book lethargy?  Have you stumbled into a sub-genre of your favorite genre that you have only superficially explored?   Whats going on in your January?   Let me know:)...oh btw have you listened to a good book yet?

Cynful (Halle Shifters #2)

Cynful (Halle Shifters, #2)
by Dana Marie Bell

Read from January 21 to 22, 2013

Action! Adventure! WereBears!!!! Werewolves!! and Pumas! OH MY!!! oh and don't forget the Foxes!

Description:

To save the woman he loves, he must push his gifts to the brink.

Julian DuCharme, a rare Spirit Bear with legendary healing powers, is finally free from the threat of death, finally free to claim his mate—but she’s not having it. While his Bear screams it’s time to mate, the love of his life wants to date.

Holding his Bear in check while convincing her he’s not out to control her won’t be easy. She’s stubborn and a closeted geek—in other words, perfect for him.

Cynthia “Cyn” Reyes, owner of Living Art Tattoos, thinks Julian is the hottest thing on two legs. That doesn’t mean she’s going to roll over for his masculine charm. She watched her mother flounder when her father passed away, and she’s determined to never lose herself to someone else. Not even a man who would jump the moon for her, if she asked that of him.

When the women of Living Art are targeted by a killer, Julian doesn't think twice about pouring out his last drop of power
to keep Cyn safe. But it’s Cyn who’ll give up everything—her independence, even her humanity—to keep a terrifying vision
from coming true.

One of his death.

Warning: This novel contains explicit sex, graphic language, a tattooed heroine and the Bear who loves her. Maybe he’ll finally convince her to tattoo him with “Property of Cyn”

My Thoughts:

Each book I read in the Halle Puma then Halle Shifters sagas I fall a little more in love with all the characters. The fact that DMB works them all back into the stories even if it is just a short visit. It is fabulous to see them in this full length novel we are able to get more in depth with both the characters and the story. I love all the small nuances that have been weaved into the characters we have met in past books. How this characters interact with our new characters also help us learn more about the new characters as we come across them in story lines. This plot gives me everything I look for in a book suspense, mystery, laughs, danger all written with characters I have become emotionally attached to and in a "world" where it all makes sense. I think this is my favorite DMB book and I really hope to see more of her Halle books soon!

If you are looking for a quirky, witty, funny, fast paced romp this book will surely give it to you. I give it a sold 4.5 stars and much love. I hope you join me in the discovery of a wonderful series.

Angry, upset and disappointed..should I keep reviewing?

Most of you know that I am a dedicated reviewer of every book I read, most of my reviews appear on Goodreads and/or on Amazon.  I always try to be upfront and honest in my reviews, I am never personal or disrespectful to the author and I try to explain in detail why I gave the rating I gave.  

Recently, I experienced something that I have heard is happening more and more on Goodreads and I confess I didn't like it one bit.  I recently gave a review of  a book that an author was doing as a read a long in a group I moderate. I gave it 3.5 stars which I don't think is really a bad review.  I was later in a discussion in the same group as the read a long and used this book as an example for a point I was trying to make in the discussion.  The author of the book in question jumped onto the thread to disagree with my opinion.  That is ok I believe everyone has the right to express their thoughts, however this author then proceeded to take this comment out of context and put it on her blog using my user name and also using the name of another member of the group.  On this blog she then started ripping apart my opinion and asking others to agree with her.  I was ok with this..not happy but not too bent out of shape. However, if she as going to use a comment in her blog she should have respected the person who's post she was repeating and also respect the group who allowed her to do an author read a long. She should never have printed my name or the name of the other person in the conversation.  This author also posted links to the blog in both the discussion thread and the read a long thread trying to recruit people over to her side. To make matters worse, a few days later this same author took another of my quotes from a different discussion thread in the same group, out of context again and I did not mention her book at all  and started her own group on Goodreads and used this comment to start a discussion.

I don't have a problem with her starting her own group many authors do this to solicit opinions and give the readers an opportunity to discuss books with the authors.  I do however resent her once again using one of my quotes to do battle against.  This time she did not mention my name however once again she took the quote out of context of the conversation it was made in. How is this respecting a group and members of the group who gave her the opportunity to do a read along?  This group has 3000 members so this is a wonderful marketing tool for an author.   

There has been a lot of author push back lately on Goodreads and in blogs from authors who did not like a review or comments made about thier book.  I feel when you write a book, just like if you write a movie or a play or a tv show once it has been published it is open to the interpretation of the reader and as a writer you need to respect that person's opinion and not push back, especially publicly.

I did not take part in further discussions in any forum about this book and I will be taking the review I have posted off  this blog as to not invite any further attacks by the author. Should I *have* to do this??? Should I not be able to write a honest, respectful review and have an expectation not to be attacked by the author. Am I not allowed to use a book I have read as an example of the point I am trying to make in a discussion?  Should I have the right when on a site like Goodreads to not have an author repost my opinions with my name without my consent?  These questions have been going through my mind for days now.  

What really surprised me through all of this is the lack of authors who commented on what was happening..  The same authors who are always begging for reviews on their books.  What make these authors think that anyone will be willing to keep reviewing books if they are going to be attacked by an author if they don't like it.  I would think these authors would step up and let the lady know that her behavior is unacceptable and that she is hurting the people they need to get the word about their books out in the reading community.  

I guess he reading world is the same as everywhere else, keep your head down, say nothing and you will keep out of trouble...nobody really cares what you think anyway.

Bitter??? you betcha!. 

Read from January 14 to 15, 2013

Fantastic read..how could you resist not one but 2 handsome twins!! I can under her confusion...read the book you'll see what I mean!

Description:

The scorching tale of one girl, two brothers and a love triangle…that’s not. Olivia Townsend is nothing special. She’s just a girl working her way through college so she can return home to help her father run his business. She’s determined not to be the second woman in his life to abandon him, even if it means putting her own life on hold. To Olivia, it’s clear what she must do. Plain and simple. Black and white. But clear becomes complicated when she meets Cash and Nash Davenport. They’re brothers. Twins.

Cash is everything she’s always wanted in a guy. He’s a dangerous, sexy bad boy who wants her in his bed at any cost. He turns her insides to mush and, with just one kiss, makes her forget why he’s no good for her. Nash is everything she’s ever needed in a guy. He’s successful, responsible and intensely passionate. But he’s taken. Very taken, by none other than Marissa, Liv’s rich, beautiful cousin. That doesn't stop Olivia from melting every time he looks at her, though. With just one touch, he makes her forget why they can never be together.

Black and white turns to shades of gray when Olivia discovers the boys are hiding something, something that should make her run as far and as fast as she can. But it’s too late to run. Olivia’s already involved. And in love. With both of them. Both brothers make her heart tremble. Both brothers set her body on fire. She wants them both. And they want her. How will she ever choose between them?

My Thoughts:

I have discovered a new book boyfriend Cash/Nash the twin male protagonists are the absolute dreamiest heroes I have read in a while. Ms Leighton has a way of crafting her characters and telling the story from different points of view that just grabs you and reels you in. I admit I went to bed only planning on reading a couple of chapters, at 3am this morning I put it down with about 30 pages to go...I just couldn't keep my eyes open any longer but trust me putting it down was difficult. So when hubby woke me this morning, first thing I did was finish the book. A plot that is written with enough twists and turns that when you find out where it leads you are not sure if you are surprised or if you think you knew it all along. I loved Olivia I hope she gains more confidence in herself in the second book, and Cash/Nash as our angsty hero who isn't sure what to do now...is heartrendingly attractive. I think my only complaint and trust me it is small is that I would love to have seen the scene where Nash broke up with Marissa aka the bitch but I loved that he did, I was fearful that he would be trying to play them both for longer. He gained much creditably with me when he announced he broke up with her.

I have given this book at full 5 star rating because it appealed to so many parts of what I look for in a fantastic novel and I have placed on my Favorite's shelf. Now I'm off to find book 2...I *have* to know what happens next!!

Jumping on the Bandwagon

All of us who are avid readers and live for the next book know that since Fifty Shades of Grey and Bared to You burst into mainstream reading that we have had a number of other books come out that are trying to ride this "BDSM" wave.  The problem is ..do we care?  I mean we have read FSoG and BtY..why do we need to read some knock off duplicate of what we have already read?  There are have been a few of these books such as Up in the Air by R.K. Lilley that have caused some buzz.  To be honest I have not read this one but some of my Goodreads friends have said it was a Fifty knock off but a well written one and it would be worth picking up.  

This got me wondering, yes yes I know, always dangerous, how influenced "real" bookofiles are by mainstream publishing?  Have you found yourself looking for books with a more erotic theme and perhaps some kink?  Were you always reading this genre before and Fifty left no impression on you? 

 Or are you of the "Fifty isn't true literature and why would I want to dirty my hands with it?"  Personally I admit with my reading I do get influenced by my GR friends and their ratings.


 I often visit Gotta Have Paranormal Romance with a Kick and browse their "Read Rave Review" thread to see what people are reading and what they are buzzing about. 
What they liked and what they didn't like, the funny thing is I generally find myself checking out books they rip apart cause I can't believe anything could be that bad...and well times they really are that bad.  *wincing as she remembers Ride a Cock-horse and shudders* 

What about you?  Trendsetter? Mainstream follower? Peer pressure chooser?  or Review Reader?  Where do you fit into the bookoholic pigeon hole?  

Or is there one I have forgotten?  Let me know that too!