Friday, April 30, 2010

Review: The Reckoning by: Kelley Armstrong

Title: The Reckoning
Series: Darkest Powers
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Publisher: Doubleday Canada
Published: April 6, 2010
Format: Trade Paperback ($17.95 CDN)
Age Group: Young Adult
Other Titles In The Series: The Summoning & The Awakening



From the publisher: 

Only two weeks ago, life was all too predictable. But that was before I saw my first ghost. Now along with my supernatural friends Tori, Derek, and Simon, I'm on the run from the Edison Group, which genetically altered us as part of their sinister experiment. We're hiding in a safe house that might not be as safe as it seems. We'll be gone soon anyway, back to rescue those we'd left behind and take out the Edison Group . . . or so we hope.

My Review: 

Kelley Armstrong is one of my favorite authors and I am a devoted fan of her Otherworld novels.  I have enjoyed reading all three books in her young adult Darkest Powers series immensely as Kelley Armstrong can always be counted upon to combine interesting, believable characters, with entertaining and spooky plot lines.  As the protagonist, Chloe is extremely likable and through Kelley Armstrong's well written descriptions I have been able to imagine Chloe in vivid detail as she grows and develops as a character through each novel.  In The Reckoning, Chloe is beginning to show more confidence in her abilities as a Necromancer, despite the myriad of unanswered questions regarding the genetic tampering that was done to her and the mystery of her mothers involvement with the Edison Group. Numerous times throughout this novel I had goosebumps appearing on my arms and shivers running down my spine as Kelley Armstrong describes Chloe's encounters with the ghosts and zombies that she knowingly and purposefully brings back from the dead to protect herself and those she cares for.  A few questions raised in the previous novel were answered in this one while leaving many more unanswered.  The death toll in this novel is rather large and I felt the novel was over far to soon for my liking. Kelley Armstrong reveals a little more information about the background of the Edison group throughout the novel and the mystery of it all really sucked me in and left me wanting more.  A love interest that began to develop in the previous novel is a major focus throughout The Reckoning and I was pleased to see how it progressed in a sweet and age appropriate way.  As an adult reading a novel targeted for young adults I was very aware of the age group it was written for and despite it being slightly young for me I was able to connect with the characters and be entertained by the story.  In all my years reading novels by Kelley Armstrong I have never been disappointed by her.  Readers who have read the previous novels can expect the same level of excellence in the newest addition and those who have yet to read the book should give it a chance. 

My rating falls somewhere between:

and 

for a novel written for a young adult audience who enjoy books with a focus on the paranormal.

Monday, April 26, 2010

Idea!

I have been compiling some, "BIG" lists laity such as The BIG List of Boarding School Books, The BIG List of Werewolf Books, The BIG List of Faery Books, etc.  I added as many books of each subject I have read or know about and then with the help of my fellow bloggers and readers the list has grown with their/your recommendations.  Currently I have a pink asterisk beside the books I have read and recommend and it is my goal to eventually write a review on each of those books and add them as links next to the book title.  As a way of supporting my fellow book bloggers as well as providing more information on each book for my readers I am hoping to add links to reviews on books recommendations by my fellow bloggers.  So if you recommend a book for one of my lists (or have done in the past) please email me or comment on where to find your review and I will add it as a link. I intend to add more and more lists so keep checking back and passing on your recommendations and links to your reviews!

The Big List of Faery Books

As always my "Big" lists are a work in progress so please feel free to comment with suggestions that I will add at the first opportunity.  Books marked with this symbol * are books I have personally read and recommend. The "Big" list of Faery books is not so very big just yet but I believe faeries to be a theme that is quickly becoming popular in the YA genre so hopefully well be seeing more as the years go on. 

Young Adult

A Modern Faerie Tale Series by: Holly Black *
Hallowmere Series by: Tiffany Trent *
The Iron King by: Julie Kagawa   *
Wicked Lovely Novels by: Melissa Marr *
Wings (Book 1) & Spells (Book 2) by: Aprilynne Pike
Wondrous Strange by: Lesley Livingston

Adult

The Fever Series by: Karen Marie Moning *
The Meredith Gentry Series by: Laurell K Hamilton *


Review: Black Magic Sanction

Title: Black Magic Sanction
Author: Kim Harrison
Publisher: Harpercollins Publishers
Published: February 23, 2010
Format: Hardcover ($33.99 CDN)

From The Publisher:

Rachel Morgan has fought and hunted vampires, werewolves, banshees, demons, and other supernatural dangers as both witch and bounty hunter-and lived to tell the tale. But she's never faced off against her own kind . . . until now. Denounced and shunned for dealing with demons and black magic, her best hope is life imprisonment-at worst, a forced lobotomy and genetic slavery. Only her enemies are strong enough to help her win her freedom, but trust comes hard when it hinges on the unscrupulous tycoon Trent Kalamack, the demon Algaliarept, and an ex-boyfriend turned thief.  It takes a witch to catch a witch, but survival bears a heavy price.


My Review:

Kim Harrison is one of my favorite authors so my anticipation and expectations for a Hallows novel always have me eagerly awaiting the release date with the certainty that I will be in for an entertaining reading experience.  I love Urban Fantasy novels and Kim Harrison does an excellent job of weaving a vast array of supernatural elements into the known world but what she does even better is create dynamic, fierce, lovable and sometimes detestable characters.  In the Hollows series Kim Harrison has created characters that I have become attached to and depending on the direction the plot is going you can find me laughing so hard the tears stream down my face, gripping the book with white knuckled anxiety, holding my breath in anticipation, or biting my bottom lip while softly crying.  Over the course of reading Black Magic Sanction I experienced the full array of the aforementioned emotions and at one point I was so fearful for the direction she was taking a beloved character I was ready to chuck the book across the room. With each addition to the series I feel as though the protagonist, Rachel Morgan is continuing to discover more of herself and in the process she is truly finding her voice.  The plot of this novel really helped to re-solidify the bond Rachel has created between herself and her chosen family as well as question her personal morals and values.  I think lovers of this series will immensely enjoy the plot of the novel, the further development into why Rachel is able to twist demon curses, the new romantic interest, the lovable connection to Bis, Rachel's Gargoyle, and the always entertaining, lovable, laughable Jenks.  As you can tell I have attempted to write this review spoiler free and I hope I have succeeded in gaining your interest in this series without giving anything away.  I hope that if you have not read a Kim Harrison novel you will take the chance on picking one up because I would be very surprised if you didn't like it if you are a lover of the Urban Fantasy genre.  I eagerly await the next novel in the Hollows series which I have heard rumor will be released in Spring 2011.  With possibly a year to wait until the next novel is out I hope to find a new series or two with characters and plots that grip me as much as this one does.




My Rating: The best I have!






Friday, April 23, 2010

SheWolf Challenge With VVB32!



Awesome idea! VVB32 is hosting a SheWolf Challenge/Werewolf  weekend April 23-25.  Below is information directly from VVB32's blog.  Following the information about the challenge you will find my contribution. 



Show your werewolf love...
Join in vvb32's Werewolf Weekend
and be eligible to win a...
Werewolf Box-o-goodies
(includes two books from the books featured list)


Open to all.
Offer ends: April 25, 2010

TO DO:
1. Create a Werewolf post on your blog or site.
It should include the Werewolf Weekend picture above and link to: http://vvb32reads.blogspot.com/
2. Comment below with your email and link to your werewolf post.

Ok where to start.....mmmmmmm I am gonna start off by doing a few recommendations of my favorite books about werewolves.

The Lunatic Cafe & Blue Moon
By: Laurell K Hamilton
Adult 

Laurell K Hamilton is my favorite author in the Urban Fantasy genre.  In her novels you will read a veritable cornucopia of yummy shape-shifter goodness featured in her Anita Blake Vampire Hunter series.  I have been reading this series for a good ten years so my memory of each novel is a little foggy.  Maybe I should take part in Book Chick City's Anita Blake Challenge 2010!  With that said two books within this series stand out in my foggy memory as being werewolf focused.  One of my favorite things about Laurell K Hamilton's writing is how well she explains the mythology behind each species or magical being within her novels.  When it comes to describing the mythology and flawlessly weaving it into a well written, well thought out, entertaining, and sexually charged story no one does it better then Laurell.

Title: The Lunatic Cafe
Author: Laurell K Hamilton
Publisher: Berkly Trade
First Published: January 1996
Format: Hardcover ($34.00 CDN)
Read the first two chapters here.

 From the Publisher: 
Anita Blake has fallen for the leader of a local pack of werewolves. She''s survived a lot, but this love affair may kill her yet.


Title: Blue Moon
Author: Laurell K Hamilton
Publisher: Berkly Trade
First Published: November 1998
Format: Hardcover ($28.99CDN)
Read the first two chapters here
From the Publisher: 
"Richard was an alpha werewolf. It was his only serious flaw. We'd broken up after I''d seen him eat somebody."


Bitten, Stolen, Broken & Frostbitten
By: Kelley Armstrong
Adult


Title: Bitten, Stolen, Broken & Frostbitten
Series: Otherworld
Author: Kelley Armstrong

 The four books mentioned are part of the Otherworld series of books of which there are ten novels.  The four have been chosen because they are my favorite and because they are about female werewolf Elena Michaels and werewolf Clayton "tasty" Danvers.  Next to Laurell K Hamilton, Kelley Armstrong is my favorite Urban Fantasy author.  The story line of Elena and Clay is by far my favorite of the Otherworld series.  Kelley Armstrong is a very talented writer and storyteller and you can expect each novel in this series to be well thought out, suspenseful, mysterious, filled with genuine characters and uber sexy manly men.  If by chance you haven't read this novel then I recommend this be your next purchase!

Synopsis of Bitten to get your reader buds salivating:

Living in Toronto for a year, Elena is leading the normal life she has always dreamed of, including a stable job as a journalist and a nice apartment shared with her boyfriend. As the lone female werewolf in existence, only her secret midnight prowls and her occasional inhuman cravings set her apart. Just one year ago, life was very different. Adopted by the Pack when bitten, Elena had spent years struggling with her resentment at having her life stolen away. Torn between two worlds, and overwhelmed by the new passions coursing through her body, her only option for control was to deny her awakening needs and escape.

But now the Pack has called Elena home to help them fight an alliance of renegade werewolves who are bent on exposing and annihilating the Pack. And although Elena is obliged to rejoin her "family," she vows not to be swept up in Pack life again, no matter how natural it might feel. She has made her choice. Trouble is, she's increasingly uncertain if it's the right one.

An erotically charged thriller, Bitten will awaken the voracious appetite of every reader, as the age-old battle between man and beast, between human and inhuman forces, comes to a head in one small town and within one woman's body.


Shiver 
By : Maggie Stiefvater
Young Adult
Title: Shiver
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Publisher: Scholastic INC
Published: August 1, 2009
Format: Hardcover ($22.99 CDN)

From the Publisher:

For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf - her wolf - is a haunting presence she can't seem to live without. Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human -- until the cold makes him shift back again. Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It's her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears and the temperature drops, Sam must fight to stay human or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever. 

The story if Grace and Sam is such a refreshing young love story and is one of the most well written, unique, and entertaining young adult novels that has been released in the Fantasy genre.  Maggie Stiefvater's take on the mythology behind werewolves was able to capture my attention and felt "believable."  This story had so many themes that drew me in including young love, loneliness, warmth, passion, and loss.  Throughout the story Maggie Stiefvater descriptive writing style had me "falling" into the book rather then just reading words on a page. Many of you have already read this novel but if you haven't it would be an excellent choice to add to your TBR pile. 

Blood & Chocolate
 By: Annette Curtis Klause

Title: Blood & Chocolate

September 1, 1999
Rebound by Sagebrush
Hardcover ($18.95 CDN)

Synopsis:

Vivian Gandillon relishes the change, the sweet, fierce ache that carries her from girl to wolf. At sixteen, she is beautiful and strong, and all the young wolves are on her tail. But Vivian still grieves for her dead father; her pack remains leaderless and in disarray, and she feels lost in the suburbs of Maryland.

She longs for a normal life. But what is normal for a werewolf?
Then Vivian falls in love with a human, a meat-boy. Aiden is kind and gentle, a welcome relief from the squabbling pack. He's fascinated by magic, and Vivian longs to reveal herself to him. Surely he would understand her and delight in the wonder of her dual nature, not fear her as an ordinary human would. 

Vivian's divided loyalties are strained further when a brutal murder threatens to expose the pack. Moving between two worlds, she does not seem to belong in either. What is she really--human or beast? Which tastes sweeter--blood or chocolate?

The Book was significantly better then the movie however it was still fairly entertaining.  See below for the trailer!




For a list of werewolf books please check out The Big List of Werewolf Books!

Moving onto my favorite movie choices for the werewolf challenge!

Wolf 
Starring Jack Nicholson and Michelle Pheiffer
1994



An American Werewolf In Paris 
Starring Julie Delpy and Tom Everett Scott
1997







Underworld
Starring Kate Beckinsale



And last but not least the BRAND NEW ECLIPSE TRAILER!  This is much better then the first trailer.



My new favorite TV show is a British show called, Being Human.  Although it is not an exclusively werewolf show it does include a main character who is one.



Fun Stuff:

  • Are you a werewolf quiz?
  • For werewolf lore, books, and more click here.
  • For The Book Guru's Big List of Werewolf Books click here.
  • Don't forget to check out other entries which you can find at VVB32's blog!
Have a happy and howwling good weekend!

Blog Hop Friday

"It's Friday!  Time for another Book Blogger HOP!!
This is for ALL BOOK BLOGGERS (NEW AND OLD) and READERS!  Let's make some new friends and have fun!  It's FRIDAY!!!"
Head on over to Crazy-for-Books who is the host of the Friday blogger hop! Apparently I did successfully enter the code so you can add your link right from my blog lol. Make sure you stop by her blog on your way through the hop!

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

My New Rating System!

I am always looking for new ways to improve my blog and one of the things I felt would make my reviews more interesting was a unique rating system.  With the help of Parajunkee Design who also designed my blog I now have a unique and fun rating system.  Tell me what you think!  Thank you to all my fellow bloggy friends who gave me your opinion on what you thought I should use (the dragon and the tea/coffee cup was very popular) but I ended up going with a less noticeable element from the header but made it a little more unique.  It is both Harry Potter and slightly Alice In Wonderland inspired and I need to offer a huge thank you to my good friend Esphixiet at five by five for her help in coming up with the "rating" on the labels.  For an example of how my rating system will be used click here.  The worst possible rating is, Drought of Disaster and the best is, Elixir of Excellence.  Make sense?

First Chapter of Laurell K Hamilton!

Bullet by: Laurell K Hamilton
Publisher: Penguin Group Canada
Release Date: June 1, 2010

The first chapter is available online here!

From the Publisher:
 
The triumvirate created by master vampire Jean-Claude, necromancer Anita Blake, and werewolf Richard Zeeman has made Jean-Claude one of the most powerful vampires in the U.S. He's consolidating power in himself and those loyal to him, doing in America what Belle Morte did in Europe when she was at her height of power. She almost owned Europe, and there was those who are determined that Jean-Claude won't do the same in America. Jean-Claude's motives may be kinder, but as any lawyer will tell you: motives matter, but you're just as dead. 

Assassins are coming to St. Louis to kill them all. Anita knows they're coming, but even being forewarned doesn't mean you can win.

Monday, April 19, 2010

Review: The Dead Tossed Waves by: Carrie Ryan

Title: The Dead-Tossed Waves
Author: Carrie Ryan
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Published: March 9, 2010
Format: Hardcover ($22.99 CDN)
0385736843
9780385736848

From the Publisher:

Gabry lives a quiet life. As safe a life as is possible in a town trapped between a forest and the ocean, in a world teeming with the dead, who constantly hunger for those still living. She’s content on her side of the Barrier, happy to let her friends dream of the Dark City up the coast while she watches from the top of her lighthouse. But there are threats the Barrier cannot hold back. Threats like the secrets Gabry’s mother thought she left behind when she escaped from the Sisterhood and the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Like the cult of religious zealots who worship the dead. Like the stranger from the forest who seems to know Gabry. And suddenly, everything is changing. One reckless moment, and half of Gabry’s generation is dead, the other half imprisoned. Now Gabry only knows one thing: she must face the forest of her mother’s past in order to save herself and the one she loves.

My Review:

I had very high expectations for this novel and they were met, for the most part.  Carrie Ryan's descriptive writing style once again got it's hooks into subconscious turning every meow of my cat, creek of my house, and and hum of my furnace into the moan of the undead.  Having left Mary still a teenager at the end of the first book, The Forest Of Hands And Teeth, I found it hard to re-connect with the grown up Mary in the beginning of the novel.  I found the new protagonist, Mary's daughter Gabry, likable despite her insecurities and indecisiveness and I really enjoyed reading as Gabry made choices and worked through difficult life-altering decisions.  I felt that this was a bit of a coming of age story set in a horrific world of oppression, desperation, and isolation where humans cling to hope, love, and companionship in unimaginable circumstances.  I found the first half of the novel to be satisfying but I wasn't as engrossed as I was with the first novel.  In the latter half of the book when Gabry enters the same forest her mother fought to get out of in the first novel things really began to heat up.  I found myself reading well into the night despite how tired I was and I was constantly rewarded with suspense and action as the plot began to truly unfold.  Entwined in this dystopic tale is a story of young love in all its passion, intensity, and angst.  At times I was slightly impatient with Gabry's indecisiveness and yet I can remember experiencing similar emotions when I was at the same stage as Gabry.  I think young readers will find her relatable, likable, genuine, and flawed, which in my opinion is a good recipe for well rounded protagonist.  The supporting cast was well written and I really enjoyed how Carrie Ryan connected characters from the first novel into the plot of The Dead Tossed Waves.  The ending felt like a mad dash to the finish line (in a good way) that had my heart racing alongside Gabry as she fought for survival.  The choices she makes in the end show how much Gabry has matured from the beginning of the novel.  Overall I was very impressed with The Dead Tossed Waves and with the open ended conclusion I hope to read about a forthcoming novel soon.

My Rating

Book Release: April 20, 2010

Radiant Shadows by: Melissa Marr
Release Date: Tuesday April 20, 2010
Publisher: Harpercollins Publishers
Format: Hardcover 

From the Publisher:

Hunger for nourishment.
Hunger for touch.
Hunger to belong.
Half-human and half-faery, Ani is driven by her hungers.
Those same appetites also attract powerful enemies and uncertain allies, including Devlin. He was created as an assassin and is brother to the faeries' coolly logical High Queen and to her chaotic twin, the embodiment of War. Devlin wants to keep Ani safe from his sisters, knowing that if he fails, he will be the instrument of Ani's death.
Ani isn't one to be guarded while others fight battles for her, though. She has the courage to protect herself and the ability to alter Devlin's plans-and his life. The two are drawn together, each with reason to fear the other and to fear for one another. But as they grow closer, a larger threat imperils the whole of Faerie. Will saving the faery realm mean losing each other?
Alluring romance, heart-stopping danger, and sinister intrigue combine in the penultimate volume of Melissa Marr's New York Times bestselling Wicked Lovely series.

Extras:

Download a free version of Wicked Lovely by, Melissa Marr from Harper Teen (shortcut).

May 2010 YA Book Releases

Young Adult May 2010 Releases



Spells by: Aprilynne Pike
Release Date: May 4, 2010

"I can't just storm in and proclaim my intentions. I can't 'steal' you away. I just have to wait and hope that, someday, you'll ask," Tamani said

"And if I don't?" Laurel said, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Then I guess I'll be waiting forever."

Although Laurel has come to accept her true identity as a faerie, she refuses to turn her back on her human life-and especially her boyfriend, David-to return to the faerie world.  But when she is summoned to Avalon, Laurel's feelings for the charismatic faerie sentry Tamani are undeniable. She is forced to make a choice-a choice that could break her heart.



Spirit Bound by: Richelle Mead
Release Date: May 18
Dimitri gave Rose the ultimate choice. But she chose wrong… 

After a long and heartbreaking journey to Dimitri’s birthplace in Siberia, Rose Hathaway has finally returned to St. Vladimir’s—and to her best friend, Lissa. 

It is nearly graduation, and the girls can’t wait for their real lives beyond the Academy’s iron gates to begin. But Rose’s heart still aches for Dimitri, and he's out there, somewhere.  She failed to kill him when she had the chance. And now her worst fears are about to come true. Dimitri has tasted her blood, and she knows in her heart that he is hunting her. And if Rose won't join him, he won't rest until he's silenced her...forever


  
Infinity: Chronicles of Nick by: Sherrilyn Kenyon
Release Date: May 25, 2010

At fourteen, Nick Gautier thinks he knows everything about the world around him. Streetwise, tough and savvy, his quick sarcasm is the stuff of legends. Until the night when his best friends try to kill him. Saved by a mysterious warrior who has more fighting skills than Chuck Norris, Nick is sucked into the realm of the Dark-Hunters: immortal vampire slayers who risk everything to save humanity.

Nick quickly learns that the human world is only a veil for a much larger and more dangerous one. A world where the captain of the football team is a werewolf and the girl he has a crush on goes out at night to stake the undead.  But before he can even learn the rules of this new world, his fellow students are turning into flesh eating zombies. And he's next on the menu.  Like starting high school isn't hard enough. Now Nick has to hide his new friends from his mom, his chainsaw from the principal, and keep the zombies and the demon Simi from eating his brains, all without getting grounded or suspended. How in the world is he supposed to do that?


Saturday, April 17, 2010

Opinion?

Hi Everyone!  I have contracted Parajunkee Design once again to do a rating system for me.  I have been thinking about it a lot laity and in an effort to continuously improve my blog I felt that this was a good decision.  I hate making decisions though so I was hoping to get your opinion.  I don't want to use a "STAR" rating system on my blog so instead the options are pulling an element from my header such as, the little dragon, the potion bottles, the vodoo doll, etc or something new. I had thought of something like the owls on the below picture.  What do you think?  Please let me know I would love your input!  Happy Sat everyone (not for me I am heading to work :().

Friday, April 16, 2010

Its Time To Hop!

Head on over to Crazy-for-Books for the weekly Blog Hop!
It's Friday!  Time for another Book Blogger Love Fest HOP!! 

ABOUT THE HOP:
In the spirit of the Friday Follow, I thought it would be cool to do a Book Blogger Hop to give us all bookies a chance to connect and find new blogs that we may be missing out on!  So, I created this weekly BOOK PARTY where book bloggers and readers can connect to find new blogs to read, make new friends, support each other, and generally just share our love of books!  It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs that they may not know existed!  So, grab the logo, post about the Hop on your blog, and start PARTYING!!

Your blog should have content related to books, including, but not limited to book reviews.

If you start following someone through the Hop, leave a comment on their blog to let them know!  Stop back during the week to see other blogs that are added!  And, most importantly, the idea is to HAVE FUN!!

OPTIONAL TWIST:  
On your blog hop post, tell us about some of the other great blogs you've found while Hopping around!  

DISCLAIMER:
The Hop isn't just for you to throw your link in there and not visit any other blogs.  It's all about networking and finding new blogs that are of interest.  So, in the spirit of the Hop, try to make some time to visit other blogs and don't post your link if you are not planning on visiting other blogs in the Hop that week.  This is a weekly event, so if you don't have time this week, that's fine!  We'll see you next week!

If you sign MckLinky, please share the love and POST ABOUT THE HOP ON YOUR BLOG!  How else will anyone else find out about it and come join the party?

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Twitter: Not to sure how I feel about it but I added it!

You can now follow me on http://twitter.com/TheBookGuruGirl :)  Not to sure how I feel about this but well see how it goes !

The BIG List Project

I have been having A LOT of fun doing my BIG lists, some of which aren't really BIG yet but hopefully will be soon.  Thus far I have started, The BIG List of Boarding School Books, The BIG List of Books Into Movies, The BIG List of Vampire Books, and The BIG List of Werewolf Books.  I have BIG plans for more BIG lists including lists of, Faeries, Ghosts, Shapeshifter (excluding Werewolves), Witches, Zombies, Dystopia, and Time Travel.  If you have any suggestions, book recommendations, etc please feel free to comment or email me I am doing my best to respond to everyone who has already helped out.  If you have any BIG lists of your own please email me and I would be happy to include a link to your blog/that blog post.

The BIG List of Werewolf Books

Note: An * will appear next to books I recommend.  Once again this is an ongoing project so please feel free to comment or email me with further suggestions.

Adult

Alpha and Omega Series by: Patricia Briggs *
Bitten, Stolen, Broken, Frostbitten (A part of the, "Otherworld" series) by: Kelley Armstrong *
Bride of the Wolf by: Susan Krinard
Call of The Wolf by: Susan Krinard
Chasing Midnight by: Susan Krinard
Children of The Night Series by: Ann Hodgman *
Come the Night by: Susan Krinard
Fool Moon by: Jim Butcher
Howling Mad by: Peter David
Kitty Norville Series by: Carrie Vaughn
Legends of the Wolves Series by: Alice Borchardt
Moon Dance by: S.P. Somtow
Moon Series by: Rebecca York
Moon Shadows by: Nora Roberts
Morbid Cravings by: Gladys Furphy
Nighcreatures Novels by: Lori Handeland
Once a Wolf by: Susan Krinard
Prince of Wolves by: Susan Krinard
Ravenous by: Ray Garton
Riley Jenson Guardian Series by: Kari Arthur (My review of Book # 9) *
Secret of the Wolf by: Susan Krinard
Tales of an Urban Werewolf series by: Karen MacInerney
The Wyndham Werewolf Series by: Mary Janice Davidson
To Catch a Wolf by: Susan Krinard 
To Tame a Wolf by: Susan Krinard
Touch of the Wolf by: Susan Krinard
Wolf Moon by: Charles de Lint
Wolf's Trap & Wolf's Gambit by: William D. Gagliani

Young Adult
Blood and Chocolate by: Annette Curtis Klause *
Dark Guardian Series by: Rachel Hawthorne (My review of Book #1 Moonlight) *
Little Women and Werewolves by: Lousia May Alcott & Porter Grand
Never Cry Werewolf by: Heather Davis
Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Barnes
Red Rider's Hood by: Neal Shusterman
Sisters Red by: Jackson Pearce
Tantalize by: Cynthia Leitich Smith *
The Dark Divine by: Bree Despain
The Kiesha’ra Series by: Amelia Atwater-Rhodes
The Wolves of Mercy Falls by: Maggie Stiefvater
Twilight Series by: Stephenie Meyer *
Werling Series by: Stephen Cole

Books That Have Werewolves In Them
Anita Blake Vampire Hunter Series by: Laurell K Hamilton Adult W/Sexual Content *
Harry Potter Series by: J.K. Rowling YA *
Sookie Stackhouse Series by: Charlaine Harris Adult W/Sexual Content *
The Mortal Instruments Series by: Cassandra Claire YA *

The BIG list of Boarding School Books

OK I know it isn't a BIG list yet but books that take place in a boarding school is a theme that is becoming/already is very popular.  Feel free to comment with further suggestions should you know of more great books that take place in a boarding school.


Title or Series
Author
Recommended
Review
Fallen
Yes

Gallageher Girl Series
N/A

Gemma Doyle Series
Yes

Evernight Series
Yes
Harry Potter Series
Yes

Hex Hall Series
N/A

Hollowmere Series
Yes

House of Night Series
Yes

Novel Of The Dark Elite
N/A

Private Series
N/A

Privlege Series
N/A

The Daring Game
N/A

Vampire Academy Series
Yes








































I got just a little carried away......

I am in between books right now but had the desire to write a blog post so this is what you get!  Every once in awhile I get really nostalgic about my childhood and when I feel this way I start to go through all my favorite childhood keepsakes (I am a bit of a hoarder of childhood "stuff").  Its no surprise that some of my most prized possessions are books from my childhood.  In no particular order I have included a list of my favorite childhood books. (Note: I just finished writing this post and I got a little carried away...very sorry about that...don't know what I mean?  No worries if you read on you'll soon find out).

Title: There was an old lady who swallowed a fly
Author: Pam Adams
Publisher: Child's Play-International
Published: January 6, 1972
0859530213
9780859530217
Format: Hardcover $10.50 CDN
Pages: 16



Why I love it:  When I was little I had a very special friend (my then step father) who used to entertain me to no end with purchases of Alf dolls (if you don't know what an Alf doll is I may just cry a little but message me and I'll be happy to show you...as a matter of fact I'll show you what one is at the end of this post), doing magic tricks, and singing to me this book/song at bedtime.  My favorite part was, "There was an old lady who swallowed a spider, that wriggled and wiggled and tiggled inside her." For the full lyrics to this song click here.

Series: Little Critter
Author: Mercer Mayer
Approx price of each book: $4.99 - $10.00 CDN (Softcover)
Website: Little Critter

Why I loved this series:  My favorite book in this series is the one shown in the picture; "I Just Forgot."  Released in 1988 (7 years after I was born) this book always made me laugh because I was forever telling my family that, "I forgot" when asked to do chores or other parent directed suggestions or demands.  With beautifully illustrated pictures, humorous and innocent themes this series and the book, "I Forgot" captured my heart and the hearts of many other children over the years.  What I really like is the variety of books that Mercer Mayer wrote, each with a different theme such as, Just Grandpa and Me, All By Myself, Just Me In The Tub, I Was Just So Mad, and many more there is a book for every occasion.  When I have children of my own (hopefully soon) I can't wait to fill their library with all my favorite Little Critters.

I won't include any information on this book only because I am not to sure if its the right one.  I would have to go digging in my bacement to figure out the title of this book but I remember the inside so well.  I would spend hours turning the wheel that would make two little gnomes chop wood and pull the string to make the little girl gnome go back and forth on her swing.  If this books sounds familiar to you please comment it will save me a trip to the basement!




Title: The Borrowers
Author: Mary Norton
Published: September 10, 1953
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
0152099875
9780152099879
Format: Hardcover $21.50 CDN
Pages: 192

From the Publisher:

This is the classic story--read and loved by children all over the world--of Pod, Homily, and their daughter, Arrietty, who live under the kitchen floor in a quiet, half-empty house and get their livelihood by borrowing from the human beans. Delectable fantasy.--Booklist


I really don't feel as though the publishers synopsis really tells you anything about the book so I have included the trailer to the movie based on the novel.



Why I loved it:  I believed and do believe to this day that either my stuffed animals come to life and steel my socks or its house hippos or "borrowers."  I have always had a fascination with bringing every day inanimate things to life and believing in things you can't see but as a child know exist.  Somehow this book reminds me of those beliefs!

I have more "favorites" but instead of including more books I felt compelled to also include some of my other childhood "favorite things."  Keep in mind I was born in 1982 so you may or may not remember any of these things.

As a child I could literally spend hours and hours arranging my "little people" as I call them.  Most of them were Cabbage Patch plastic figurines but I also had small plastic bears and Disney characters.  Take note of the little red head sitting on a stack of books on the bottom left (she was my favorite *shrugs* go figure).






I had *cough* still have, a HUGE obsession with stuffed animals (Build a Bear is the best invention ever).  Below you will find a picture or two of some of the stuffed animals I loved as a child.  Additionally below you will find a variety of my favorites toys, games, shoes, etc because I got carried away and slightly excited at remembering all my old childhood favorite things.  Forgive me that this post is less then 50% about books and more like 90% me reliving my childhood through google image searches.

Oh Shera....I loved playing with your pink castle
When I found this on youtube I did a little happy dance on my couch!



I slept on Rainbow Brite sheets like all littler girls should :)  Who is Rainbow Brite you may ask?  Well I am so glad you asked, let me show you (after I post a picture of my sheets)!!!



Best game ever!

Coolest stuffed animal ever!
If you don't know or understand what a Popple is see the below commercial for a demonstration!


Jelley shoes were so stylish!
This little "bedtime buddy" as it was marketed kept the monsters away with its happy glowing face.
"Alf meet my readers, readers meet Alf the coolest alien life form to ever exist!"

Ok I'll stop now lol....Really I will, but first I leave you with my favorite commercial from when I was younger!





Hope you weren't to bored lol.  Happy reading!

Guru Out!!!