Bookography (7)

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 Goddess of the Rose by P.C. Cast

Rose Goddess

I took this photo in the manual mode and using black and white. I did slightly darken the photo just a little more. The rose is a feather rose and I think it is very fitting for the adult book, beauty and sensuality. 

I did finally get my Lightroom 3 today, but I have to wait till my husband gets home so he can install it. I can't wait to play around with it.

Also have you seen these book sculptures yet? They are amazing and the photography is amazing as well.

Mysterious Paper Sculptures

You have got to check them out if you haven't already seen them.

I need some help

I am thinking about changing the name of this feature, I'm not sure I am completely still loving it

I was thinking Book-tography, Booktography or something like that. Or maybe as the header Book + Photography = Bookography/(new name)

What do you think? Or do you have any other suggests on the world play and spelling. I want people to get a clear easy grasp on what I am doing for this feature.

Thanks for your thoughts or suggests.

If you would like to participate please do. I will try to 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.

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Fragile Eternity Review

Fragile Eternity

By Melissa Marr

Summary

Seth never expected he would want to settle down with anyone - but that was before Aislinn. She is everything he'd ever dreamed of, and he wants to be with her forever. Forever takes on new meaning, though, when your girlfriend is an immortal faery queen.

Aislinn never expected to rule the very creatures who'd always terrified her - but that was before Keenan. He stole her mortality to make her a monarch, and now she faces challenges and enticements beyond any she'd ever imagined.

In Melissa Marr's third mesmerizing tale of Faerie, Seth and Aislinn struggle to stay true to themselves and each other in a milieu of shadowy rules and shifting allegiances, where old friends become new enemies and one wrong move could plunge the Earth into chaos.

*Contains Spoilers*

I am not censoring this review because I want to just say my opinions without dancing around any potential spoilerish information. I also figure that many people have already read this series and if you haven't... well go and read them and start with book 1. In summary they are fantastic faery court books with lots of drama. I also didn't post reviews for the 1st 2 books because I had started rereading them earlier and wasn't posting much yet. I have not yet read Radiant Shadows nor Darkest Mercy and I can't wait to read them.

My Biggest Issue

I have not been the biggest fan of Ash and Seth being a couple, I have always been rooting for Ash and Keenan to finally find their love for each other and stop fighting destiny. I think my issues with Seth comes from personal bias, I don't find facial piercings attractive, not a huge fan of the emo look on guys and I really don't like guys who sleep around without being in a relationship (male sluts). All of these things have made Seth the guy I don't want to cheer for. 

On the other hand Keenan isn't my favorite type of male character either, he is self absorbed and thinks he is entitled to everything, but he is the faery king so he is warranted these qualities and even expected to have as a born faery king. Therefor I have given Keenan a pass on his less desirable qualities and crowned him with my approval.

Getting Over My Prejudices

As I was reading through Fragile Eternity I was coming to the realization I was rooting for the loosing teams and I had to go sneak a peak through the last pages of Darkest Mercy to see who would eventually end up with each other. With less than 100 pages to go I realized that I am going to have to see Seth's other attributes and blot out his not so desirable qualities. Seth is a very nice kind loving person and he is willing to sacrifice his human mortality for forever with Ash. Ash tried to love Keenan, but her heart beats for Seth. Donia loves Keenan no matter how many times he betrays her love. Keenan does actually love Donia and does everything completely wrong which is very pitiful and enduring.

Still Love the Series

Even though I am rooting for all the wrong love matches I still completely love the series. I love the faery courts, how dark and mischievous they truly are. The trials of love, loss, betrayal, friendship and many many more things.

Recommendation

Great series to reread or to read for the first time.

Information 

Wicked Lovely Series

Wicked Lovely

Ink Exchange

Fragile Eternity

Radiant Shadows

Darkest Mercy

Graveminder (1st adult book)

Touring

She also will be on tour soon for the Smart Chicks Kick It 2.0 Tour. I will be in attendance and I am so looking forward to this event.

To see her events and find out if she is coming to a city near you go to her Schedule page

-or-

The Smart Chicks Tour Schedule (I will be at the Seattle date)

Were you rooting for the wrong couples like me? Or have you always loved Ash and Seth; Keenan and Donia?

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In My Mailbox #26

eBooks Galore

IMM #26

IMM is a meme hosted by The Story Siren, anyone can participate telling about what they bought, received or borrowed.

Well I was really good this week and I didn't buy a single book, however I still ended up with a load of books.

Won

After Midnight by Lynn Viehl

I won this from a giveaway Karen Mahoney was having on her website. She also included some Iron Witch swag stickers, so cool. Thanks Karen

Received

Riptide by Cherry Adair <signed>

Cherry dropped these off at work for us girls. This is book 2 in the series, I haven't had the chance to read Undertow yet, but I really want to. Look at that sexy bookmark!!

Free eBooks

Fiksthun was posting her Extras: September post of free ebooks, so of course I had to check one of them out, well 1 lead to 2, 2 lead to 10 and 10 lead to 25. Yes I think I got a little carried away, but to be fair most of them are the classics. I have not a clue when I will get to these books, but I have them when ever I may want to try them out.

 Recent

Bright Young Things w/ Bonus Material by Anna Godbersen (free for kindle)

this was the original free eBook I went looking at

Rumple, A Cursed Tale Novel by Eileen Cruz Coleman (free for kindle)

No Rest For the Wicked (A Fairytale Assassins Short Stories) by Rebecca Knight (free for kindle)

Victoria Gardella: Vampire Slayer (The Gardella Vampire Chronicles) by Colleen Gleason (free for kindle)

Classics
(Sorry I don't feel like linking all of these)

A Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne

Every Fairytale a Child Should Know

The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams Bianco

Black Beauty by Anna Sewell

The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain

The Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi

The Arabian Knight by Andrew Lang

Alaeddin and the Enchanted Lamp by N/A

Cinderella by Henery W. Hewet

Sleeping Beauty by Charles Seddon Evans

The Legends of King Arthur and His Knights by Sir James Knowles

Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson 

The Time Machine by H.G. Wells

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas Pere

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson

The Merry Adventured of Robin Hood by Robert Plye

The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling

The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas

The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux

Beauty and the Beast by Marie Le Prince de Beaumount

Posts

Hunger Review

Bookography (6): Garden Spell

My Reading List

1) Radiant Shadows
2) Darkest Mercy
3) Hellbent
4) Graveminder

What did you get in your mailbox this week?

Please feel free to leave a link

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Hunger Review

Hunger 

(Omnibus Edition)

By Karen E. Taylor

Summary

 Deirdre Griffin didn't choose to be a vampire. But she is. And she's determined to make the most of her fate. For Deirdre that means surrendering to the raging hunger ignited by even the slightest whiff of blood - a hunger that pulses through her body like a fever, demanding release. It means making friends in dark places - and savouring every hot, salty, bitter, revitalizing drop of life force the night has to offer...

Blood Secrets

The first instalment of this vampire series introduces Deirdre Griffin, a sophisticated New York City vampiress determined to find the ruthless vampire who is framing her for his crimes.

What I Liked

Unfolding

The start of the book has you jumping right into the our character Deirdre's world, with no explanation of who and what she is. Of course by reading the summary you know she is a vampire. As you read the book you get piece by piece of how she came to be created through her remembering her tragic past and her nightmares.

Vampires

Deirdre is the fairly typical vampire, sunlight bad, ageless, rejuvenation, blood drinking with out killing and a few other different things as well. I never did completely figure out the garlic one, but many things she isn't even sure about. She has never met another one like her, besides her creator who she doesn't remember. Either vampires are almost non existent or they are very good at hiding themselves from the public eye.

Deirdre

She is a very interesting character, to say the least. She has good morals for being a blood sucking vampire. She assimilates fairly well into the human world with her nocturne habits and her high fashion designing company. Her personal boundaries and the distance she keeps between herself and potentials friends is saddening. I definitely feel sorry for the rich and very lonely female vampire Deirdre.

Romance

I wouldn't describe this book as high romance, more like mild to moderate romance with high sex appeal. I still am not sure what genre this book is being labeled as urban fantasy, sci-fi fantasy or paranormal romance? (Just found it, urban fantasy). There are some great romantic tension between Deirdre and Mitch, her old lover Max and her one night stand blood donors.

Didn't Like

I was left feeling like I still don't fully understand the vampire world and I can't wait for more, I guess it is a good thing these books are being re-released as omnibus volumes. I'm hoping that in the next book Deirdre will discover more about her vampire capabilities and world.

Bitter Blood

Deirdre Griffin fights against a group of vampires who are out for revenge using Deirdre's ex-lover as bait.

(This will be a little vague because I don't want to spoil anything from Blood Secrets)

What I Liked

More vampires are introduced into the novel and Max's mysterious history finally come to light. Deirdre learns more about her own capabilities as a vampire and she does some self discovery.

Didn't Like

Bitter Blood had a little more self pity than what I normally like, but it did make for some great tug of war arguments. In book 1 there was more events occurring than this book and it fell a little flat in the who is out for revenge drama. Although the ending did more than make up for it, lots of excitement and the puzzle in finally being pieced together.

Recommendation

I really did enjoy this ominous novel and I really do need to get my hands on Crave. Great for any vampire lovers.  Also 2 books in 1 are awesome.

Information

Vampire Legacy

Hunger (Volume 1)

-Blood Secrets

-Bitter Blood

Crave (Volume 2) Out September 27th

-Blood Ties

-Blood of My Blood

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Bookography (6)

Bookography

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

Book

Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen

Garden Spell

I actually didn't edit any of this photo on the computer, nor did I use the manual setting on my camera. I used a pre-programed setting called Color Accent. You highlight the color you want to show up and than you can increase or decrease the intensity of the chosen color. I haven't actually used this setting in awhile, but I'm glad I remembered it.

I finally ordered a Photoshop, I decided on Lightroom 3 since my class does require obtaining a 30 day free trail of it. I figured I might as well just get it now so I can play around with it before the class. I hope I will get it sometime next week.

If you would like to participate please do. I will try to 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.

<3Bookography

In My Mailbox #25

Oh S*** I Got A Lot ... Oops

IMM #25

IMM is a meme hosted by The Story Siren, anyone can participate telling about what they bought, borrowed or received this week.

Half Price Books had their 20% off everything sale and of course I had to make my 4 location book run with my sister. I held my self back a lot and almost all the books I got, except a few I will be meeting the authors to get signed. I also of course had to stop into Borders, but to see what they had and I got 3 books from there.

My Adult Books

 Rouge #2, Pride #3, Shift #5, Alpha #6 by Rachel Vincent

I could have sworn I got book 1 in the series, but I guess I was mistaken. No I haven't read any of her books, but I plan on it. These all will get signed

 The Vampire Narcise by Colleen Gleason

I got eARCs of this series for review and now I am just picking them up to have. My Review

Witchling by Yasmine Galenorn

I already have this book, but I'm going to get it signed for my aunt

Dark Enchament by Anya Bast

I was only 80 cents with discount, I don't have the book yet

Demon Angel by Meljean Brook

She will be signing at a conference in WA I figured I would pick up book 1 to the series

My YA Books

 Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready

Going to a book signing

The Candidates by Inara Scott

Going to a book signing

The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E Pearson

Going to book signing

 Falling Under by Gwen Hayes

Going to a signing

My Soul to Save by Rachel Vincent

Going to a signing

Vacations from Hell

It was only $2

Corsets & Clockwork

Received

Witch Eyes by Scott Tracey

I got 3 book marks from Scott, I think he was taking requests for bookmarks and I got mine. They are all signed on the back (middle), I will keep 1 and probably add them into books when I go a giveaway. Thanks Scott.

My Reading List

1) Hunger (finish 2nd part)

2) Firelight 

3) Vanish

4) Any of the books I will be going to signing (a lot)

Bookography (5): Enchanting Ivy

My Review

So Silver Bright

What did you get in your mailbox this week?

Please feel free to leave your link

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So Silver Bright Review

So Silver Bright

By Lisa Mantchev

Summary

Things are never easy for Beatrice Shakespeare Smith. Something's happened to the Théâtre Illuminata, putting the only home she's ever known in limbo. Her mother's sanity is fraying under the strain, her father has vanished and an angry goddess is out for revenge. Bertie is caught between her duties and her dreams, just as her heart is torn between Ariel and Nate. But hope glimmers in a Distant Castle, and if Bertie can put on the performance of her life, maybe she can win the magical boon that may save them all.

What I Loved

Covers

First off I wanted to say, all 3 of these books have had amazing covers. I love how Bertie's hair is depicted correctly for each cover and the wonderful sidekick fairies always make an appearance. I can't wait to add the hardback book to my shelves.

The World

I was hoping in book 3 the whole of Bertie's world would be unmasked and you would understand everything that could or couldn't happen, but that was not the case. It's like trying to see something at the bottom of a muddle puddle, you try to take a step closer to see it and than the whole thing clouds up with mud. You think you might finally understand this world, but than Lisa throws you for another loop and you are completely jolted with another creative crazy thing. Cars, jeans, mechanical horses, carriages, flying pesky fairies, transporting binoculars, magical mirrors... the creative list goes on and on with these amazing inventive possibilities. I love how confusing and possible anything in the world is, life would never be dull being Bertie or being a part of her company.

Characters

Beatrice Shakespeare Smith aka Bertie: I love this witty smart mouth young woman just trying to figure out who she wants to be with, how to get her family back together and trying to puzzle out her story to make it all possible. She can create so many different things with the power of her words, it it just astounding at her abilities to create.

Nate vs Ariel: I never did choose who I wanted Bertie to end up with. I liked them both for each of their own qualities. I'm glad I didn't have to choose and I loved how Lisa wrote the end of the story, all are finally happy.

The Fairies; Peaseblossom, Cobweb, Moth and Mustardseed: I love these 4 nutty, wise mouth, sugar high sidekick fairies. I would love to have these little ones eat me out of house and home with all the crazy entertainment they provide. The fairies provide great comical relief throughout the entire series and there is never a dull moment when they make their appearance. 

What I Didn't Like

The trilogy has now come to an end and I find it very bittersweet. I'm glad that I have gotten to the end of Bertie's long journey, but I wouldn't be opposed to more stories later on.

Recommendation

Read the whole series, one book after another. Just remember when reading this series (if you are new to them) in this magical fantasy realm anything and I mean everything is possible. 

Releases September 13th, 2011

Amazon / B&N / Book Depository 

Information

Theatre Illuminata Trilogy

Eyes Like Stars (hardback and paperback) My Review

Perchance to Dream (hardback and paperback was just released) My Review

So Silver Bright (releases in hardback)

I haven't found anything information on her next works. 

Lisa will be doing at least 3 Washington Events University Bookstore, Poulsbo and Third Place Books.

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