i'm not a slacker. honest.

While I’ve been slacking in posting, I have been far from slacking in reading.

Ivy by Julie Hearn – One night I read about half of the book. Was bored by it, but didn’t feel like looking for something else in my house to read. I decided to not finish reading the book because Bloodfever arrived the next day. This is a teen novel.

Bloodfever by Karen Marie Moning – I finished this in one night. It was excellent! Mac is still in Dublin trying to find revenge for her sister’s murder. Things heat up as she battles Unseelie Fae, tries to figure out just who – and what – Barrons is, and learns more about her past and her gifts. This is an adult novel, but older teens may also enjoy.

Since I had to wait for the third book in the Fever series, I decided to start reading another series, and picked up Beyond the Highland Mist also by Karen Marie Moning – I read this over a day or two, but only because the husband was home (he’s gone most of the week). This is the first book in Moning’s Highlander series, and the first romance book I’ve read in nearly 15 years. While over the years I have read books that have romance in them, I haven’t read books that were specifically marketed as adult romance novels. This series is definitely marketed to adults.

Hawk was a man of legend, not only between the mortals, but also in the faerie realm. When the Seelie Queen remarks positively on his sexual prowess, her Consort and the Fool decide to get revenge.

Five hundred years in the future, Adrienne lives a life of fear. At the core of it is a fear of beautiful men. When the Seelie Fool hears her swear off all beautiful men, he transports her to sixteenth century Scotland to be used as pawn in revenge against the beautiful Hawk. Can Adrienne accept the love of Hawk, or will the faeries’ vengeance destroy the legendary laird?

To Tame a Highland Warrior by Karen Marie Moning – Does that title scream ROMANCE NOVEL or what? Another book I finished in one evening, this is the second book in Moning’s Highlander series. I enjoyed this one as well. There were even parts where I laughed out loud.

The letter was short and to the point. “Come for Jillian.” Grimm had longed for Jillian for many years, but knew he could not have her. But now here was his chance…if only he will allow his heart to show his love, and accept who he really is.

Jillian had sworn off marriage, but her parents have other plans. While they are off visiting a son and new grandchild, they request three strong Scottish men to come and woo their beautiful daughter, vowing that when they return, Jillian will have either chosen one, or have been chosen. When Jillian finds out their plan – and realizes that one of the men is her childhood love Grimm – a man she vowed to hate – she must devise a plan to escape her fate. Or will she?

I also listened to both Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Stuart Little and Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Writing Thank You Notes by Peggy Gifford; read by Clea Lewis. This is a children’s series of books, geared for tweens. The two books are packaged in one audiobook set titled The Moxy Maxwell Collection. Both tales take place over one day. In the first story, it is the day before the school year begins, and Moxy, a born procrastinator who is great at telling people what to do, has yet to read the assigned book for the summer: Stuart Little. Moxy loves to read, but does not like being forced to read a book. Moxy’s mother send her to her room to read that book, while she runs errands before Moxy’s water ballet show. Moxy devises one reason after another to not start reading Stuart Little – even though she knows there will be consequences.

In the second tale, it is the day after Christmas. Moxy has promised her mother that she will finish all of her Christmas thank you notes before she and her twin brother leave to visit their dad in Hollywood. As usual, Moxy comes up with one crazy idea after another, including using her step-father’s Christmas copier, to keep from writing those notes just then.

Current reads:

• I’m currently listening to the children's book Kenny & the Dragon by Tony Diterlizzi; read by Alan Cumming. I’m not overly enthralled with Cumming’s narration, and am finding that I’m rather annoyed with the characters and how they sound. The story, however, is a fun one. I should finish listening to it tomorrow. It is only 2 discs.
• Faefever by Karen Marie Moning
• The Highlander’s Touch by Karen Marie Moning
• Ironside by Holly Black
  

I've got a fever...

A few weeks ago, some coworkers were discussing a series of books for adults. The 3rd (perhaps final…must check on that) book was recently published. I didn’t pay too much attention, as it was an adult book, and anymore it seems I read only books written for people 18 and younger.

Fast forward a week and another coworker recommend the series to me. So, I decide to go ahead a try it. We had the first book on the shelf, so I grabbed it and checked it out. A few days later, I started reading the book.

Two nights in a row, I read the book before going to bed. While laying in bed even.

And this morning, before leaving for work, I finished it. It took me all of 3 days to read. That’s while working every single day.

The book was that good. So good, in fact, that before I left for work this morning, I placed book number two on hold. I’m anxiously awaiting its arrival to my branch. Hopefully tomorrow.

And now would be the perfect time to tell you the title and author of the book. Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning.

Twenty-two year old Mac is a typical Georgia Peach. Rarely swears. Perfect accessories for her pastel pallet of clothing. Long blonde tresses.

When her older sister is brutally murdered while studying in Dublin, Mac’s world falls apart. Her whole family is devastated and her parents withdraw into themselves. When the Irish police send the case to the unsolved files, Mac decides to head to Ireland to put a face to the grieving family, and to demand the police keep looking.

Her plan doesn’t quite work out that way. Instead, Mac is drawn into a world she never knew existed. Fae are real. Vampires might be real. And Mac – who was pretty based in what she thought was reality – has inherited the talent to see these mythical creatures for who they are.


Unhappily – but perhaps luckily – thrown together with the mysterious Jericho Barrons, Mac’s quest to find her sister’s killer takes her deep into the underbelly of Dublin, and drastically changes her life forever.


I really like this book. I have heard good things about the next one - Bloodfever. I hope they are true!


While this is a book for adults, I think that older teens may enjoy the series as well.

Long overdue update

I've been slacking in the blog department.

Recently, I've finished a couple of books. One was great. One was just OK. My favorite recent read was the latest installment in the Bloody Jack series: My bonny light horseman : being an account of the further adventures of Jacky Faber, in love and war by L.A. Meyer.

Our dear Jacky is enjoying life on the seas, transporting goods between the Caribbean and Boston. But, when she is captured - again - by the British, she is unable to escape. As usual, she befriends the captain and crew of the ship transporting her to her final destination - Newgate prison in London. But when the ship is attacked by the French, Jacky is off on another adventure - this time as a British spy in France.

Full of adventure, and lots of fun, this series is one of my absolute favorites. My mom and sister can't wait to read it. My good friend Tammy said she thinks it's her favorite of the series. It is definitely a well written tale. I would love to see the series made into movies.

The other book I finished recently was Valiant : a modern tale of faerie by Holly Black. I liked it well enough, but not nearly as much as Tithe. The characters and setting weren't as well developed as in Tithe, and the story left me wanting more - more information about the characters, etc. Also, I felt the ending was a bit weak. However, this is not keeping me from reading another book by this author, as next on my list is Ironside : a modern faery's tale, which I think is a sequel to Tithe.