Top 10 Tuesday (19)

Top 10 Tuesdays

Topic: Top Ten Vivid Worlds/Settings in Books

This meme is created by The Broke and the Bookish, anyone can participle telling about their top 10 topic items are.

1. Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey

This world is amazing, not just the cultures Jacqueline has created, but the gods as well and Elua's precept "Love as Thou Wilt"

2. Middle Earth

I don't really have to say more

3. Oz

Another no brainer

 4. Dark Dynasties by Kendra Leigh Castle

Come on, I want a man that purrs! 

5 Harry Potter

I want to be a wizard, hands down. Forget being a lame muggle, I want to weird plants or creatures living in my garden.

6. On the Edge by Ilona Andrews

3 separated parallel worlds, our world without magic, the in-between with little magic and the magical realm with lots of magic. 

7. Theatre Illumanita Trilogy by Lisa Mantchev

This world is crazy cool, anything and everything could be possible when written by Bertie

8. Eon by Alison Goodman

This world has dragons, it just sounds amazing.

9. Inheritance Series by Christopher Paolini

Another epic world with dragons

10. Atlantis Series by Gena Showalter

All the mythological creatures are here, yes I want to be there and get myself a sexy dragon shifter.

What are your favorite worlds/settings?

<3Books

Bookography #45

Bookography

Bookography is a fun new way to share the beauty of books with photography. Take a picture with the book being the focus or inspiration and share the picture(s) you have created for the week.

Book

The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen

Sugar Queen

I loved reading these books and I have had fun taking pictures of these books as well. This is the third one I have taken a picture of. I have also done Garden Spells and Peach Keeper.

Post processing was simple, I added a bit of fill light to give it a bright kinda candied look. Played a little with the contrast, blacks, highlights, shadows and a few other sliders in Lightroom as well.

If you would like to participate please do. I will post my Bookography post each week on Wednesdays. I would love if you would link back to my blog and share your own link in the comments.

To see my previous weeks pictures check out my Bookography tab 

Check out another participator for this week

Alba @---BookPics---

<3Bookography

Shadow Rising Review

Shadow Rising

By Kendra Leigh Castle

Summary

Ancient Secrets, Dark Passions...

As one of the Grigori, a noble vampire dynasty shrouded in mystery, Ariane has spent her life hidden away in the desert. Like all of her kind, she is a watcher, fated to observe, forbidden to act. Yet when her best friend, Sammael, vanishes, she defies all rules and flees her safe haven to bring him home.

A shape-shifting assassin for the House of Shadows, Damien Tremaine is hired to locate Sammael. His hunt for the wayward Grigori leads him to Ariane, the rogue vamp who stands between him and his bounty. Damien never lets emotion interfere with his work, but a single touch from the sexy, beguiling vampire shatters his self-control. Drawn together by their common goal, what begins as an alliance of necessity soon becomes one of desire. But when the secret at the dark heart of the Grigori comes to light, Damien and Ariane must make a choice that could bind them eternally...or tear them—and everything they care about—apart.

What I Loved

Series
Shadow Rising is book 3 in this amazing Dark Dynasties series filled with sexy cat shifting vampire men that purr with a strong female character to complement those bad boys purrfectly. Each book contains a different set of lovers with an overall story arc throughout the series and individually plots within each book. We still get to see the previous couples throughout the series, thankfully, I would miss the other characters too much if their story was done completely.
Characters
Ariane: An innocent vampire, that one doesn't happen often, and I really like her character even more for it. But she can also kick some ass when the need arises, so no weak and whiny dames in this book.
Damien: Oh I absolutely love him. Love his sarcastic attitude that can get him into some major trouble. He is that bad boy that every girl just falls for and wants to be the one to fix and love him. Here is a perfect quote that shows his sex purring mixed with his attitude. "To his shock, he had to swallow back an inadvertent purr. He didn't purr for anyone. Anyone. And certainly not for something as cheap as a little attention."

Romance
Hot and sexy as hell. What can I say I'm a sucker for each purr that these Cait Sith produce.
Story
We get to finally learn about the Grigori and all their secrets and their secrets are awesome. I loved how Kendra has yet again woven another piece of fantasy so masterfully into this fantastic world.

Didn't Like

What the hell is there not to like in these books or this series. The only thing I don't like is the book having to end and wanting the next book, the next story and the next set of lovers.

Recommendation 

Everyone that reads paranormal romance has got to read this series, how can you pass up hot men that purr!

Releases 

July 31st 2012
Amazon / B&N / Book Depository

Information

Dark Dynasties

Dark Awakening my review

Midnight Reckoning my review

Shadow Rising

Immortal Cravings February 2013

Other Books

McInnes Werewolves Trilogy

Call of the Highland Moon trilogy review

Dark Highland Fire

Wild Highland Magic

Renegade Angel my review

Would you love to have a man that purrs?

I would!!

<3Books

What an eBook Steal

 An eBook Steal

Dark Awakening by Kendra Leigh Castle

is $2.99 at Amazon on Kindle & B&N on Nook till the end of July 2012

Kendra is my favorite paranormal romance author and I love EVERYTHING written by her. If you are looking for an awesome new series to start with sexy men that purr you have got to check this out now!

Enter the world of the Dark Dynasties...

For centuries, shapeshifting vampire Tynan MacGillivray has prowled the night as an outcast, valued only for his ferocious hunting skills. When a feud among the immortals escalates into all-out war, he is ordered by his ruthless queen to locate a Seer - a human woman with a special gift - who can secure victory for their clan. Ty's search leads him to a quiet New England town, but once he has the Seer in his grasp, her touch awakens within him a hunger like he's never known...

Lily Quinn has always been different. Since childhood, she's had vivid nightmares and an eerie sixth sense. When a sexy, silver-eyed stranger demands her help, Lily plunges into a new world of danger and sensuality. With Ty, she discovers sizzling passions she cannot deny and powers she cannot control. Soon, it is clear that Lily is much more than a Seer - she holds the key to ancient secrets and unthinkable destruction. But will a vampire's vow of eternal protection stop these evil forces...or unleash her dark destiny?

Everyone has got to check out this series!!

Here is MY REVIEW you can see how much I love this book

<3Books

Night Seeker Review

Night Seeker

By Yasmine Galenorn

Summary

Eons ago, vampires tried to turn the dark Fae to harness their magic, only to create a demonic enemy more powerful than they could have imagined. Now, the Vampiric Fae are on the move, hunting anyone in their path. As the war with the vampires ratchets up, Myst, Queen of the Indigo Court, enshrouds New Forest in her chilling grasp.

Cicely Waters, owl shifter and Wind Witch, has rescued the Fae Prince Grieve at a great cost. Their reunion has lost them the allegiance of the Summer Queen — and the tolerance of the vampires. In desperation they turn to the Consortium for help. Now, to regain the good will of Lainule, they must dare to enter the heart of Myst's realm. But as Cicely and Grieve embark on their search for the heartstone of Summer, Winter is already wreaking her terrifying revenge.

What I Loved

Ending
This book had one of those endings were things have finally started to go the good guys way. Winning the war and not just battles are finally looking like it is possible. It's like a false ending, good things happened, finally, but things aren't finished yet, not by a long shot.
More Discovery 
Cecily learned some very life altering news that effects both her and her cousin Rhiannon. A part of their forever entwined destiny is finally revealed. We also get to learn who Rhiannon's father is.
Romance
As usual for Yasmine's books the sexual tension is heavy and right to the point release. No long out tender love scenes for these characters, it is carnal passion.

Didn't Like

Honestly nothing, this is my favorite book in the series so far. Lots of good things finally happen to our characters.

Recommendation 

Fantastic series, but not for the faint of heart

Information 

Indigo Court Series

Night Myst my review

Night Veil my review

Night Seeker

Night Vision TBA
Night's End TBA

Otherworld Series

Witchling

Changeling

Darkling

Dragon Wytch

Night Huntress

Demon Mistress

Bone Magic 

Harvest Hunting 

Blood Wyne my review

Courting Darkness

Shaded Vision

Shadow Rising October 30th 2012

Haunted Moon January 29th 2013
Autumn Whispers November 2013
Crimson Veil TBA

Have you read this series?

<3Books

Bookography #44

Bookography

Bookography is a fun new way to share the beauty of books with photography. Take a picture with the book being the focus or inspiration and share the picture(s) you have created for the week.

Theatre Illuminata Trilogy by Lisa Mantchev

Faerie Cookies

I decided to make some cookies today for my 4 favorite ever starving mischievous fairies Peaseblossom, Cobweb, Moth and Mustardseed. My plan was to first take pictures of the cookies before they started eating them, but one of the little devils snuck behind my back and took a bit. 

The cookies were amazing, I managed to snag one before they consumed them all. The cookies are Double Chocolate Ghirardelli Brownie Cookies.

If you would like to participate please do. I will post my Bookography post each week on Wednesdays. I would love if you would link back to my blog and share your own link in the comments.

To see my previous weeks pictures check out my Bookography tab 

Check out another participator for this week

Alba @---BookPics---

<3Bookography

Fierce Reads Tour Recap

Fierce Reads Tour

Event Recap

The Picture Edition

June 9th 2012
Third Place Book in Lake Forest Park

Pre-Event Dinner

Before the event two other bloggers Benji, Sarah and I had dinner and chatted about books. This was really fun and I'm so glad Benji suggested it. I hope I can do this more often for other events in the future.

Me, Benji & Sarah

Benji being a good sport so I could set up my camera and flash for the event

The Event

I love multi author events, they are always so much fun, especially when the authors have already had a few tour stops together and you can really see their fun dynamic playing off of each other. There was lots of laughs throughout the entire event and I had an absolute blast. I won't be posting about any of the Q&A topics, too much to try and remember from this awesome event. Some of the other blogger recaps did post  the info, you can find the links to their posts at the bottom of the post. I on the other hand captured lots of fun pictures.

Lish McBride, Marissa Meyer, Leigh Bardugo, Jennifer Bosworth, Anna Banks & Emmy Laybourne

 I can't remember exactly what the context of this picture was, but it was a fun and entertaining moment

The Book Trailers

 Each author's book trailer was presented before they talked a little bit about their book

Signing Their Books

 Anna from Peace, Love, Teen Fiction

Look I got a picture of Daniel Marks again author of Velveteen coming out in October

A few of the girls posed for me while they were signing my books

Group Photos

They are so fierce with two other bloggers Benji and Sarah

 All the girls holding up the awesome book necklaces Anna made for them all

In summary the event was AWESOME and I really hope they all will come back to Seattle for future book tours. I hope you enjoyed the photos that I took.

The Books

All the books I took with me to get signed at the event. The four most current ARCs, plus a finished copy of every authors book. The second copy of Struck and Cinder are for a friend that couldn't make the event. 

The Sweet Swag

The Fierce Poster

Other Bloggers in Attendance 

The official event blogger for the Seattle stop was Sarah's Random Musings... she will be hosting a giveaway for all 6 of the authors signed books

A few other local bloggers have also posted awesome recaps of the events

The Non Reluctant Reader

The Readventurer

Chicks with Crossbows

My Reviews

(read all but one before the event)

Struck

Of Poseidon

Monument 14

Shadow and Bone

Cinder
 

<3Book Events