Graphic Novel Review of Sword of Sorcery Vol. 1 Amethyst by Christy Marx

 

Synopsis: "Amy Winston leads a strange life on the road with her mother. She's about to learn why it's all been necessary when she discovers she's the lost princess of Gemworld -- and has powerful enemies hunting her!"


My Review: I absolutely loved this graphic novel, really brought me back to my childhood filled with She-Ra. The art work was fantastic and detailed without being too busy. The storyline was also great and along the lines of the superhero style without being super hero. It would appeal to both guys and girls I think too, as well as from middle grade on up since it isn't gruesome or explicit. All in all an almost perfect graphic novel for me.

 

My Rating: I thoroughly enjoyed this one and it brought me back to my She-Ra days. I really hope they are releasing more in this series! I give it a rating of Four Paws and a Stump Wag!

Bedtime Story: Lady Rose by Stephen Cosgrove & Talk of Serendipity Books

 

 

 

Synopsis: from author's site "After a long journey to discover the
source of the water that flows into the sea,
a sea otter named Lady Rose finds a way
to send a message back to her friends."

My Review: I have always loved the Serendipity books, but I had never read this one before now. It is quite a sentimental book and can be used to teach children so many lessons, maybe an older sibling goes to college, or family member has to move away for a job, or maybe even a pet has gone over the rainbow bridge. While you can take so many messages from this book, it is still simply a beautiful tale with beautiful illustrations and you can enjoy the story of Lady Rose in what ever way suits you at the time.

 

 

My Rating: I love these books, and this one struck home after the recent loss of a friend and how it has brought me to see the beauty he saw in so many things around us.  This one earns Four Paws.

 

 

 

 

 

Let me take a minute to rave about this series of books! I have been working on my collection of these as long as I can remember because they have been with me for that long.  My brother and I always had at least one of the Serendipity books checked out from the library at all times when we were kids.  In fact I think the first book of my very own that I ever owned was Misty Morgan,

 I had won it as a prize from the library's summer reading program and I had to read a lot of books very quickly to make sure that particular book was mine.

 

I have been working diligently to get my hands on the entire series (which isn't easy mind you) but when I do I will have a Serendipity year of bedtime stories as I read each one to Munchkin and share them with you.

 

This is a series I highly recommend whether you have kids or not, the artwork is beautiful and the stories are all so touching and even have lessons us adults need to be reminded of occasionally in this day and age.  So check them out on the author, Stephen Cosgrove's Website!

After Dark Review of Twice the Growl by Milly Taiden

I have added After Dark Reviews to my blog as a way of notifying you of a review of a book with Adult themes and scenes. From now on I will keep my reviews of all books I read that have explicit scenes in them for late night posts for those of you who prefer to avoid them or easy to find for those of you who seek them out ;)

 

 

 

Synopsis: "Talia Barca needs a date. Badly. She uses the services of the Paranormal Dating Agency hoping for a decent guy to take to a family wedding. A wedding her ex-husband has wormed his way into as a guest.

Connor and Theron want Tally to complete their Alpha triad. She's sexy, curvy and funny. But she's human. And they're not sure she'll go for a relationship with two men at the same time.

As if deciding to give two men a shot wasn’t difficult enough, Tally will also need to deal with a threat from the pack. She'll either prove she's strong enough to be an Alpha mate or find herself at the mercy of a vicious opponent.

Reader Warning: This book contains lots of scorching sex (including a threesome so hot it will make your ereader sizzle), adult language (hanky panky with no dirty talk is no fun), and violence. If this is not the kind of stuff you like to read, skip this book. However, if you like dirty, raunchy sex with some sarcasm and two hot men on one curvy girl, then this is the book for you."

My Review: I really enjoyed the storyline to this one. I love how a little old lady runs the dating service, so perfect and the rest of the characters were great too. The steamy scenes definitely took over the story but it always came back around eventually. The so called 'threat from the pack' seemed to be really underplayed in the story while the synopsis seems to make out as a big part of the story when it is only the last 10 or so pages. That said it was a good quick, steamy read.

 

My Rating: This was a good, no need to think kind of book, but not a great book.  It was middle of the road so earns Three Paws.

4 Years Ago . . .

I made my very first post as a blogger.  (Check it out)

 

Yup so that means it is my 4 Year Blogoversary today and I plan to celebrate all month long. 

 

Boy, times have changed, life has changed, blogging has changed and even my reading habits have changed as a result of this blog.  I have shared countless books with all of you for the past four years, but I wanted this month to be a time to revisit those times before the blog, or goodreads, or even keeping track of the books I read.  I had planned a month of reviews, author interviews and guest posts but well with everyone's schedule that just didn't workout.  So instead I will just be sharing some of the books that I remember from my childhood, teen and even adult years. (Please feel free to share any of your own memories and book thoughts too).

Wednesday Writing

So Wednesday is my official writing update day. I have so many story projects going on and I need a push to get some done. So I will be trying to post each Wednesday about how my writing adventures are going (and I may need a swift kick in the pants by you guys sometimes).

Current Active Project:

New Nano Novel -
the honest to goodness truth about creating the little tyrants that will run your lives. No sugar coating here!
 

Princess Bs - 34,317 words

A story about a woman, recently divorced and returned to her home town to figure out what is next. She encounters an old friend and spends a weekend with him and his daughters. Feelings that are long since buried are rising up again, but are her recent loss and his current life going to stand in the way of their happily ever after?

Other Works in Progress:

The New Old Home - 17,193 words

Everyone dreams of winning the lottery, but what would you do with that money? That is the question presented to Natalie, when she is at the lowest point in her life, she is presented with an opportunity to make any normal person's dreams come true, but all those winnings can't give her what she wants most.

Night Rider - 17,229

Alice is a recent high school graduate who is a very accomplished competitive rider in Hunter/Jumper, Dressage, and Western/Rodeo. Her parents had arranged for her to attend a private college on the east coast geared specifically to equine professions. However, Alice wants to focus on her studies in English Literature. When she arrives at the college she hides her riding abilities, but can she keep her talent and love of horses hidden?

The Last Mountains - 13,468 (handwritten) = 15,766 (typed)

A equine shapeshifting family is being hunted to near extinction and the young new leader must go against all her lessons and approach the elite council for aide. Will they help her? How will she keep her family's traditions and values alive, let alone her herd?

 

 

Olivia's Mountain Tale - 3,607 words

Olivia is left in the mountains by her uncle to guard the sheep grazing in the summer pastures.  This summer could change the course of her life.

 

 

Tamlyn Marie's Grace - 5,811

Think Cinderella only with a matchmaker ;)

Other Ideas Plotting:

Bloodsoar's Story

A pegasus struggles through life, ejected from the herd, near capture by humans.

The Assassin's Assassin

A student learns what the school is really teaching and sets out to destroy those who support the program.

Angel Story

Angels battle out an age old feud in a parallel world

All in the Company
A business that keeps to itself, employees marry employees and live on company property. Lissandra is ordered to marry Cody but both are always on business and don't know one another.

Little Wind Guides
Little Wind must lead her clan to new territory as the gods of the Fire Forest are cleansing their home with wrath.  Will they follow her while she holds so many secrets.




Draft Complete:

The Story of Things (previously titled Each Item a Story) - 50,052 words
A journal a woman keeps as she sorts through antique items and documents left in a home she purchased.

 

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I have been hard at work planning my Nanowrimo novel! I have a start to a rough outline, some sentences and short paragraphs about what I want to cover, and I have been researching like crazy this last month, reading lots of blogs, flagging books, and obtaining more books on the subject matter on which I plan to write.  I have 2 more books I want to read this month and I want to finish the outline/chapter subjects.


So are you planning your Nano? Let me know your account name so I can add you as a buddy and cheer you on!  Mine is Angelms, so add me too!

September 2014 Challenge Update

We are now 3/4s of the way through the year and suddenly the year seems to be flying past to the point I am beginning to wonder if I will in fact complete all my challenges!

 

So here we go:

 

 

Mental Illness Advocacy Challenge

This challenge is complete however I do have one more book I would like to read for this challenge, maybe in the fall.

 

1. Still Alice

2. Not Just Spirited

3. Dependent

4. Down Came the Rain

 

 

Series Challenge

Wow I have completed 9 whole series so far this year! I am still determined to finish the Harry Potter series, and possibly the Icemark series too.

 

Series #1: Harry Potter - Book 1, Book 2,

Series #2: Secret of the Unicorn Queen - Book 1, Book 2, Book 3, Book 4, Book 5, Book 6 - Series Complete!

Series #3: Rose Harbor - Book 1, Book 1.5, Book 2, Book 3 - Complete

Series #4: Firebrand - Book #1, Book #2, Book #3 - Series Complete!

Series #5: Gifted Series - Book #1, Book #2, Book #3 - Series Complete!

Series #6: Master of the Mountain - Book 1, Book 1.5, Book 2, Book 2.5, Book 3, Book 4 - Series Complete (for now, I am sure there will be more books but none are set to release this year).

Series #7: Dakota Series -  Book 1, Book 2, Book 3, Book 4 - Series Complete!

Series #8: Vampire Warrior Kings Series - Book 1, Book 2, Book 3 - Series Complete!

Series #9: Firelight Series - Book 1, Book 2, Book 3, Book 3.5 - Series Complete

Series #10: Woods Family Series - Book 1 (read previously), Book 2, Book 3, Book 4, Book .5 - Series Complete

Series #11: Icemark Series -

 

 

 

Audio Book Challenge

Whoop! Another challenge complete! I still have a couple more audio books I plan to read yet this year too.

 

1. This Little Piggy Went to the Liquor Store

2. Still Alice

3. Making the Rounds with Oscar

4. Seduced by the Vampire King

5. We Bought a Zoo

6. From Baghdad, with Love

7. Tiger Lily

8. Stay

9. Rider

10. The Eighty-Dollar Champion

11. The Cry of the Icemark - in progress

 

 

 

 

Graphic Novel Challenge

Yup that is yet another challenge complete! I have a couple more GNs that I plan on reading before the end of the year, but am happy to mark yet another challenge off the list.

 

1. Joe the Barbarian

2. Janes in Love

3. Fables Vol. 3: Storybook Love

4. My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Vol. 1

5. Zeus: King of the Gods

6. My Little Pony Friendship is Magic Vol 2

7. Page by Paige

8. Athena: The Grey-Eyed Goddess

9. Hera: the Goddess and her Glory

10. Relish

11. Flight Vol. 1

12. Hades: Lord of the Dead

13. Birds of Prey Vol. 1

14. Between Light and Dark

15. Poseidon: Earth Shaker

16. To Dance

17. Aphrodite: Goddess of Love 

18. The Trojan Horse

19.  The Unwritten: Vol. 1

20. Animal Man Vol. 1

21. Sword of Sorcery Vol 1 Amethyst

22. Mouse Guard: Fall 1152

23. Korgi Vol. 1: Sprouting Wings

24. Fables: 1001 Nights of Snowfall

 

 

  

 

 

 

Mount TBR

Still slowly plugging away at this one, I am beginning to really worry about this challenge.  I am going to say it was because I did a lot of re-reading this last month for my blogiversary but now it is time to crack down.

 

1. Swept Away

2. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

3. Beauty

4. This Little Piggy Went to the Liquor Store

5. Stringz

6. Tangled Past

7. Falke's Renegade

8. If Only

9. Gifted Apprentice

10. Breaking Reins

11. Sun Blind

12. Bound to Seduction

13. Hard as it Gets

14. Listening is an Act of Love

15. 100 Cupboards

16. Slave to Passion

17. Gifted Hunter

18. Possessed By Desire

19. The Final Test

20. Into the Dream

21. Dark Gods

22. Moonspell

23. Hot as Hades
24.  Witch Song
25. War Horse
26. Show-Off
27. Track Record
28. Tithe
29. Life Lessons from a Ranch Horse
30. Ophelia
31. Dakota Born
32. My Liege of Dark Haven
33. Firelight
34. Perfect Match
35. Vanish
36. Gabriel's Inferno
37. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
38. Wednesday Letters
39. Dakota Home
40. The Secret's in the Sauce
41. Always Dakota
42. Tiger Lily
43. Stay
44. Rider
45. The Eighty- Dollar Champion
46. Blaze of Glory






 

Erotica Challenge

 

Another Challenge Completed!! Woohoo! I even signed up for this one a little late and completed and surpassed my goal (and will probably continue to do so).

 

1. Tender Mercies

2. Falke's Renegade

3. If Only

4. Tangled Past

5. Hard as it Gets

6. Bound to Seduction

7. Slave to Passion

8. Possessed by Desire

9. Hot as Hades

10. Master of the Mountain

11. Doms of Dark Haven 1.5

12. Master of the Abyss

12. Doms of Dark Haven 2: Western Nights

13. My Liege of Dark Haven

14. Edge of the Enforcer

15. In the Service of the King

16. Beyond Me

17. Surrounded by Pleasure

18. Surrounded by Temptation

19. Surrounded by Death

20. Surrounded by Secrets

21. Blue Balls and Push Up Bras

22. The Businessman's Tie

 23. Beg

24. Dragon Slayer

25. A Storm of Passion

26. The Peacemaker

27. The Destroyer

28. Twice the Growl

 

 

 

 

 

Only three months to go and I guess now that I look back over all these challenges I am doing pretty good. 5 of my 8 challenges are complete, still working away at my Mount TBR, Equine Challenge and Goodreads Challenge.  Only 11 more books on the Mount TBR Challenge and 9 more books the Equine Challenge so if I work hard I can get both of them complete.

 

My Goodreads book count stands at 249 of my final goal of 260 I am hoping to have this challenge complete by the end of the month so I don't have to worry about it while working on Nanowrimo!

 

 

How are your challenges going? Have you started completing challenges? Are you starting to plan next year's challenges yet (because I am)?

 

 

What's For Dinner? (23)

What's for Dinner is a little insight into my life for you every Monday night. I carefully plan out meals for the week ahead of time and do my shopping over the weekend.  So I wanted to start sharing with you one of the recipes or dinners I am most looking forward to each week.

 

 

I have a new recipe for you all, it actually came from a friend on Facebook and I thought I would give it a try. It is so insanely simple but really, really delicious.

 

 

Crockpot Salsa Chicken

 

I know it isn't pretty to look at but it was oh so delicious! I am honestly a little sad I only made a little of it instead of a full batch.

 

I also did a steamer bag of rice, carrots and peas as a side and drizzled the extra salsa over it.  I really couldn't believe how simple this dish was to make, only 3 ingredients (not including my side)!  I think I am going to make it a point to use my crockpot more often.

 

 

 



Monday Reading List

Its Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Shelia at Book Journey. Share what books you have finished in the last week, are currently reading and what might be coming up next!

Reviews Posted Last Week:

Links will take you to my review

Blaze of Glory by M. Garzon
The Destroyer by Jianne Carlo (After Dark)
Three Little Pigs (Bedtime Story)
 

Books Finished Last Week:
Reviews will be posted at a later date

Woman Who Rides Like a Man
Blaze of Glory
Horse Crazy

 

Currently Reading:

My Heart to Yours by Michelle Zarrin - PB - on page 15 of
Enchanted No More by Robin D. Owens - PB - on page 32 of 425
Cry of the Icemark by Stuart Hill - Audio - 18%
Bathing and the Single Girl by Christine Elise McCarthy - Kindle - on page 62 of 310




 Books to be Read Soon:

 

Bella Tuscany by Frances Mayes
Behind You by Carly M. Duncan (Requested Review)


Interesting Tidbits from the Web:

Scientific study on Ereaders v. Print Books


 



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Kind of getting back into the swing of things though I feel so far behind on everything. Sometimes I wonder if vacations are worth it!  Of course instead of cleaning the house and getting caught up I have been frantically reading because I have so many books I want to share with you in October.