HOLY COW!!

HOLY COW I have not posted on this blog since December of last year?? First of all I want to sincerely apologize for my lack of posts/reviews. I have not read ANYTHING since reading the last book in the Hunger Games series. NO WAIT I take that back I read "Hollowland" by Amanda Hocking but for some reason I never posted a review of that...man my mind is slipping!

I have to be honest with you guys I have not even remotely felt like reading anything which worries me deeply! I hope this will be corrected soon because I want to read but my passion for it just isn't there for some reason. I hope this does not go on too much longer because I am liable to go crazy looking at the Mt. Everest of books in my TBR (to be read) pile!!

I think I know some of the reason and well my work schedule has become completely nuts working longer hours and never having any spare time to read at work (lunch, etc). Then recently my dad became severely ill. He has liver cancer in which they removed a tumor about a year and a half ago and since then it has spread to his brain and other places so I am trying to deal with all that emotion right now and it's hard to even think about reading.

Well I will let you guys go for now I do like to check in and let you know what's up with me if I haven't checked in for awhile. I hope you guys are all doing well and I will try my best to put up a review of "Hollowland" and I hope I can find my passion and love for reading again!!

Sincerely,
Mindy

GIVE AWAY!! GIVE AWAY!!! CLOSED

Well everyone my contest is closed because no one entered! Boo this makes me sad....see :o(

Anyway I've decided to just give away one to the first person to post over on my Facebook Page . So if you want it just be the first person to comment and I'll send it your way and you will have until January 31, 2012 if after that no one does I'll just be keeping them for myself which makes me even sadder :o(

Hey everyone I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! I hope you spend some wonderful time with family and friends!!

And in celebration of Christmas and with being a part of Lisa Kleypa's Lisa's Divas I have a surprise for you!! I'm going to give away not one but TWO...yes TWO copies of Lisa's book Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor. I have not read this book yet but I can tell you I cannot wait to read it!! It is such a beautiful book I mean look at it...

SO I am sure you are wondering what you have to do to win your very own copy of this! Well all you have to do is tell me what your favorite holiday tradition is....whether it be baking cookies with the kids or decorating the tree whatever it might be let me know either here on the blog or over at my Facebook Page.

This contest runs from December 23, 2011 until January 2, 2012 11:59pm (Central Standard Time). I will then take all the commenters names and use random.org and pick two winners. This is open only to people within the United States. 

I cannot wait to hear what your favorite Christmas traditions are. And in case you are wondering mine is listening to Christmas music and just admiring the tree!

Merry Christmas,
Mindy

Hellooooo...can anyone hear me??

Well hello my beautiful and wonderful readers!! Alas, it is your romantic book nerd back from the bed...well not really, LOL!

I hope you all have been doing wonderful. If not I hope things begin to look up for you soon! Because as my mom always told me if you get to the point in your life where you honestly and truly think you have hit the lowest of low that you could not possibly go any lower...well your in luck then...why? Well there is only one other way to go and that is UP!!

You are probably wondering about the crazy inspirational speech but I just wanted to let you guys know that I have not abandoned this blog. I've just found my reading time constantly dwindling what with work being crazy and our daily calendar packed full of things...to doing things with family and friends (I used to be more of a homebody but I've recently started trying to go out more...YAY ME!) to all these darn awesome TV shows coming on TV now! I mean seriously I'm surprised my poor DVR doesn't beg for mercy, LOL!!

But I think I'm headed in the right direction with my reading because last night was the first time in a LOOOOOONG time that I have read before going to bed. So I'm hoping that means I will be reading more, SUPER YAY!

This is mostly exciting because of the following:

1. I bought the new Kindle Fire and as we speak it is making its way to me right now!!

2. I still have at least 80 (or more) paperback books that I must read!

3. All of my favorite authors have refused my advice about giving me a break with all the wonderful books coming out!

4. Also, all the new authors I've found through Facebook keeping putting out books!

With all of that it is not surprising that I feel like I'm drowning in a see of books...but at least they have pretty covers, LOL!!

Well you guys I am going to quit rambling and I hope to have a new review up for you soon! I will also report to you on how much I love (I hope) my new Kindle. I used to say "I'm never getting a Kindle". Well when pretty much any available space you have is already filled with books you need to read you start reconsidering the previous statement. Also, I've already added about 20 books to my Kindle wishlist and some are free :) !!!!

Alright my fellow book nerds I'll catch ya later (hopefully sooner rather than later!!)

Mindy

Mockingjay - Suzanne Collins

Young Katniss Everdeen has survived the dreaded Hunger Games not once, but twice, but even now she can find no relief. In fact, the dangers seem to be escalating: President Snow has declared an all-out war on Kattnis, her family, her friends, and all the oppressed people of District 12. The thrill-packed final installment of Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games trilogy will keep young hearts pounding.

Finally after what feels like forever I was able to finish Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins. I knew that if I just had some time to sit down and read I would read it quickly! Well I had a quiet office on Friday at work and I read the whole thing!!

I loved this book soo much!! I thought it was a wonderful conclusion to an already wonderful series.

Katniss is having to deal with being the rebels Mockingjay and all the while dealing with not knowing what is happening to Peeta who was captured by the Capitol.

The rebels continue to take over the district slowly cutting off the Capitol. Katniss wants to go into battle she wants to kill President Snow.

The rebels are able to rescue Peeta and other captives of the Capitol but he's changed. He's not the same Peeta Kat remembers. The Capitol has brainwashed him to hate her and question all of his memories of her.

So even though she has Peeta back she has to work to regain his trust and help him remember what they shared.


SPOILERS!! DO NOT READ ANY FURTHER IF YOU DO NOT WANT THIS BOOK SPOILED FOR YOU!!





So while I did love this book but I have to say throughout the whole series I personally loved Gale more than Peeta. I don't know I guess Gale is more my type than Peeta. So in the end when she chooses Peeta over Gale I was not really surprised but I kind of wish she would have chosen Gale but what can you do?

Also I was super sad Finnick died. I had really liked his character and think maybe he should have had the chance to be happy.

Also OMG I about fainted when Prim (Kat's sister) was killed. I was just completely shocked!!

OVERALL RATING:

Currently Reading: A Night to Surrender by Tessa Dare
Up Next: A Beginner's Guide to Rakes by Suzanne Enoch

Operation Auction - Maya Banks Video by Tessa Dare

A few months ago a bunch of other romance book lovers such as myself got together for a great cause in Operation Auction...which you can read more about HERE.

So one of my favorite authors Tessa Dare donated a home made video trailer for the winning author's book and the lucky winner was Maya Banks!! Although I've never read her books I have to say after watching the delightful video below I have decided I need to do so immediately.

So without further ado here is the book trailer for Maya's highlander series made by the funny and wonderful Tessa Dare...

I hope you enjoy and I hope you can support Maya...I honestly plan on getting these books!!

Happy Reading,
Mindy

Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase

 
 
They call him many names, but Angelic isn't one of them . . .
Sebastian Ballister, the notorious Marquess of Dain, is big, bad, and dangerous to know. No respectable woman would have anything to do with the "Bane and Blight of the Ballisters"—and he wants nothing to do with respectable women. He's determined to continue doing what he does best—sin and sin again—and all that's going swimmingly, thank you . . . until the day a shop door opens and she walks in.
She's too intelligent to fall for the worst man in the world . . .
Jessica Trent is a determined young woman, and she's going to drag her imbecile brother off the road to ruin, no matter what it takes. If saving him—and with him, her family and future—means taking on the devil himself, she won't back down. The trouble is, the devil in question is so shockingly irresistible, and the person who needs the most saving is—herself!

Okay after hearing a lot about this book around the web (my favorite romance book haunts) and hearing nothing but positive things about it I decided to get it. This is my first book by Loretta Chase.

I have to say I'm very glad that I took the advice of  all those lovely ladies and got this book.

Although there was a lot of positive things of course there were people who found the hero a bit brash and hard. But I decided to make my own decision on this. So I have to say that those descriptions of him are what made me love him so much. I have to admit (and some of you may already know this from previous posts) but I love a dark, tortured hero. I don't know what it is about them and finding redemption with love. It sounds so darkly poetic and Gothic. So yes Sebastian was gruff, hard and somewhat unpleasant but when you read of his background it is not hard to see why. Also, from what I could tell from his description he was HOT but he found himself to be completely ugly thanks to his father. He was a child when he thought his mother just abandoned him because how could she love someone so hideous. So yes I do understand where he was coming from there and understand why he was the way he was.

I also love a smart, sarcastic and sharp tongued heroine just as much as I love my tortured heroes. I love that they speak their mind and aren't afraid to do so. And you must remember this is a historical so women who speak their mind were pretty rare I'm sure during this time. Jessica Trent came from a large family and helped raised many of her nephews. She was a great beauty like her grandmother and felt she did not have to settle for one of the many proposals but could wait for love. OH that makes me think I loved her grandmother Genvieve she was awesome!

This book was absolutely wonderful and I had a hard time putting it down. The character interaction was great but was seriously worried that Jess' brother would end up trampled to death by horses because lets get real he was stupid as they come!

I am also excited because this is book three in a series and I read it first and totally did not freak out which is awesome. I have always thought I had to read every book in a series in order (well some you kinda have to like Harry Potter) but mostly with historicals you see reoccurring characters but nothing so that would hinder you from reading a few out of order.

So I loved this book and have bought Loretta Chase's newest book Silk Is For Seduction and I cannot wait to plunge into that one!

So if you want to read a wonderful and beautifully told book then you need to do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of Lord of Scoundrels TODAY or tomorrow's fine to but at least by the end of the week, LOL!!

Overall Rating:

Sexiness Rating:

Currently Reading: Mockingjay (The Hunger Games, Book 3) by Suzanne Collins
Up Next: Silk Is For Seduction by Loretta Chase
Watching:
 

HAPPY READING!!
Mindy
xoxo

Catching Fire - Suzanne Collins

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge.

Well I finally finished reading Catching Fire. I've been having a rough time reading lately. I just have not been able to find the time to read. I used to be able read at work but unfortunately our client base has picked up and I've been working a lot longer so it took me twice as long to read because I've had to read maybe 2 or 3 minutes here and there.

This is the second book in the Hunger Games series. In this we find Katniss Everdeen having won the Hunger Games and is on the victory tour with her fellow District 12 tribute Peeta Mellark. Also with her open defiance of the Capitol by simply trying to save Peeta's life she has become an even bigger pawn in not only the plans of the Capitol but also in the plans of the rebels starting to up rise.

So after going through the victory tour she gets ready for the next Hunger Games and the Quarter Quell (happens every 25 years) and the special circumstances that will come.

Well in a show of force by the Capitol the 75 Year Quarter Quell takes former victors of all districts and uses them as the pool to draw from for that year's tributes. So for District 12 there are only 3 victors. Katniss, Peeta and Haymitch. So Katniss will be going in the ring again to fight for her life and soon Peeta is her partner again.

So in the ring the tributes fight for their lives and in the end Katniss learns in the end that the revolution has begun and she is the most integral part because she's the girl on fire. The symbol of the revolution!!

I loved this book. I've become deeply addicted to the Hunger Games!  I cannot wait to see the first movie and read the last book, Mockingjay. I was going to read it next but decided to through a historical romance in the mix just to shake things up a bit...yeah I'm crazy like that!!

So if you want to read this for yourself just go here -->Catching Fire (The Second Book of the Hunger Games)

Overall Rating:

(No sexiness rating)

Currently Reading - Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase
Up Next - Mockinjay by Suzanne Collins


Thanks and happy reading,
Mindy