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Tuesday, August 31, 2010

: Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl :


First Published in the USA by Little, Brown 2009
This edition published by Penguin Group, Australia 2010
Paperback - 563 pages
ISBN : 978 - 0 - 141 -32608 - 5

In Ethan Wate's hometown, there lies the darkest of secrets ...
There is a girl. Slowly she pulled the hood from her head ... green eyes, black hair - Lena Duchannes.

There is a curse. On the sixteenth moon of the sixteenth year, the book will take what it's been promised ... and no one can stop it.

In the end - there is a grave.

Lena and Ethan become bound together by a deep, powerful love. But Lena is cursed, and on her sixteenth birthday, her fate will be decided. Ethan never even saw it coming ...


I read this book quite quickly - and that was because I enjoyed it. It made a change to be reading from a male's perspective - and there were a few twists and turns that I didn't see coming. The whole growing up and being different, and having to confront a group of girls who continually point it out ... was dealt with quite well in the book. The connection between Ethan and Lena was nice - up's and down's - normal teenage stuff - NO ... but they dealt with everything together, a united front.

I liked this story - and really look forward to Beautiful Darkness when it hit's the shelves.
And I think that this book would make a good 2 part mini series or movie ...

RATING - 7/10

Saturday, August 28, 2010

Official Vampires Suck Trailer - August 28th 2010

Has anyone seen this movie yet?
My daughter in law saw it last night - and she said she didn't laugh once ... would love to know what other's that have seen it think ...

: Club Dead by Charlaine Harris :

First Published in Great Britain in 2004
by Little, Brown

This edition published in 2009 byGollancz
Pages - 274 Paperback

ISBN : 978-0-575-08940-2

Sookie Stackhouse always found it difficult to date - she's cute, but not many guys are comfortable with her mind-reading abilities. But vampires have no problems with Sookie's talent - she can't pick up much of anything from the undead.

But there's only one vampire Sookie Stackhouse is involved with - at least voluntarily - right now, and that's Bill. But recently he's been a little distant - in another state distant. His sinister and sexy boss Eric has no idead where to find him, and next thing Sookie knows, she's off to Jackson, Mississippi, to mingle with the underworld at Club Dead. It's a dangerous little haunt where the elusive vampire society can go to chill out and suck down some Type O - but when Sookie finally finds Bill, he's not only in trouble, but caught in an act of serious betrayal. Should she save him, or sharpen some stakes?


I enjoyed this book - the interraction between Sookie and Eric, and also Sookie and Alcide - she really has found herself in a little quartet hasn't she? The situations that Sookie finds herself in when she gets to Jackson, dealing with werewolves and Lorena, along with trying to find Bill and fighting the attraction with Eric - makes this chapter in the series of books really interesting.

Looking forward to the next book ...

RATING - 7/10

Friday, August 27, 2010

T.G.I.F. - August 27th 2010

WOW - how did another week go by so quickly? The days just seem to fly by so quickly lately ...

I've started my exercise program again ... at the moment I am doing at least 45 minutes on the exercise bike, and on alternate days I manage to do a yoga session ... I am going to get rid of this weight that I have put back on. Might only be a few kilos but I notice the difference.

While I am riding the bike .. I watch an episode of Big Love - only half way through Season 2 at the moment. This show caught me by surprise ... for the first few episodes, I wasn't thinking I'd get through a season and now I am addicted.

And as for Hot ... how amazing is this Rolling Stone cover for True Blood?

BOOKS I HAVE BOUGHT THIS WEEKHaven't read anything about this book ... so will be interesting that's for sure.

My Friday " Book Share "
Feel free to share back with me ...
Just open your book up - and post a sentence or two (a little more if you want) ... from anywhere in the book. Oh, and share the book title and author please! Thanks xoxoxo

Behind the mansion, there was indeed a smallish swimming pool, covered for the winter by a huge black tarp. It had weighted edges that extended far beyond the actual perimeter of the pool. The tiny pool house was completely dark. I moved silently down a pathway created with uneven flagstones, and after I passed through a gap in a dense hedge, I found myself in a paved area. With my enhanced vision, I was able to see instantly that I had found the courtyard in front of the former stables.
(Club Dead by Charlaine Harris - Page 189)

Saturday, August 21, 2010

:Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris :


First Published in Great Britain in 2004
by Little, Brown

This edition published in 2009 byGollancz
Pages - 279 (Paperback)
ISBN - 978-0-575-08938-9

When a vampire asks Sookie Stackhouse to use her telepathic skills to find another missing vampire, she agrees under one condition: the bloodsuckers must promise to let the humans go unharmed.



I am surprised ... after the first book, which I was disappointed in, I found this book to be better than expected. The writing seemed more fluent, and it definately flowed alot easier. I didn't find it gripping ... I could put the book down, walk away and pick it up a day later - but every time I did spend some time reading it, I found myself enjoying the story a lot more. And yes, I still did compare the book to the 2nd HBO True Blood series ... and truly wish that they would keep the books and shows alike - makes it easier ... lol.
After finishing this book - I am looking forward to reading CLUB DEAD.

RATING - 7/10

: AUGUST COMPETITION :

AUGUST GIVEAWAY COMPETITION

This is open INTERNATIONALLY.

The Prize? Your choice of Book up to $20.00 value - to be chosen from the BOOK DEPOSITORY website, and delivered by them directly to you, so before you enter ... make sure you check their site and see if they deliver to your part of the world.

Now all you have to do to enter ... is tell me what book you would like to see make it on to the big screen.

Winner will be chosen by random.org ... Giveaway closes on September 1st.

Good Luck and looking forward to your responses.


Friday, August 20, 2010

: Fantastic Friday - August 20th 2010 :

WOW ... time sure has flown by - haven't barely had a chance to get in here and do any posting.
Thankfully the end of another week, and I have not long come back from having lunch with my girlfriends and doing the weekly shop - that never ever changes.
My son Beau has been down with tonsillitis this week ... so no school, except for today, when he miraculously seemed so much better and managed to drag himself there. Now - do you think the weekend coming around has anything to do with it???
One of my friends is waiting on test results - love you heaps and hope that it is all positive news.
And my dad ... he and mum head off for a month on the Gold Coast, and dad ends up in hospital. Thankfully, he is out now, and doing better but won't be happy until he is home again here on Monday.
As for the weather - you can keep it! It's cold and miserable - and even when the sun does come out, there is NO warmth in it. I am done with winter ... bring on spring.
GOOD NEWS - I am alive and healthy - doesn't get any better than that!!! LOL

I can just imagine me reaching out to grab a drink of cool water as I lay on the beach in Fiji - getting a tan, breathing in the clean air ... aaaaahhhhhhhhhhh.

************************************************************
My Friday " Book Share "
Feel free to share back with me ...
Just open your book up - and post a sentence or two (a little more if you want) ... from anywhere in the book. Oh, and share the book title and author please! Thanks xoxoxo

So Re-Bar had his dream job. Working with vampire, working for vampires, and being around them every night. For someone who had gotten fascinated by the undead, Re-Bar had hit a lucky streak. 'What could he do if a vampire got rowdy?' I asked, out of sheer curiosity.
(Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris - Page 93)

Oh, and by the way
****COMPETITION GIVEAWAY POSTED TOMORROW****

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

: Dead until Dark by Charlaine Harris :


Published : First published in 2004 by Little, Brown
This edition published in 2009 by Gollancz
Pages : 326 (paperback)
ISBN : 978-0-575-08936-5

Sookie Stackhouse is a small time cocktail waitress in small town Louisiana. She's quiet, keeps to herself, and doesn't get out much. Not because she's not pretty. She is. It's just that, well, Sookie has this sort of disability. She can read minds. And that doesn't make her too dateable. And then along comes Bill : he's tall, dark and handsome - and Sookie can't 'hear' a word he's thinking. He's exactly the type of guy she's been waiting for all her life.

But Bill has a disability of his own : he's a vampire. Worse than that, he hangs with a seriously creepy crowd, with a reputation for trouble - of the murderous kind.

And when one of Sookie's colleagues is killed, she begins to fear she'll be next ....


Right, where do I start? I have had this series of books sitting on my shelf for ages ... and I have only read this book so far, and that was months ago. You might be wondering why ... maybe it's that I watched TRUE BLOOD the series first, and when I picked up this book, I will admit I was just a bit disappointed.

As I was reading this book, I was thinking to myself that the writing seemed very simplistic ... I'm not sure what I was expecting. I found myself getting a little bored and hoped that there was going to be more in the book that hadn't been incorporated in the TV series. But there wasn't ... so I don't know what to tell you apart from I have now picked up LIVING DEAD IN DALLAS ... and plan on reading it now. I feel like I am the only one that doesn't love this series of books so far.

RATING 6/10

: Parenthood - TV Series :

Anything involving Ron Howard ... has just got to be good.
This series is great ... for those that haven't watched it - make the effort .. you will love it

: The Pillars of the Earth - Mini Series :

Anyone watching this fantastic 8 part mini series?
I have seen 4 episodes now and love it - it's brilliant.

: Heaven by Virginia Andrews :

Published by Pocket books (1985)
Pages : 410 (Paperback)

Of all the folks in the mountain shacks, The Casteels were the lowest -- the scum of the hills.

Heaven Leigh Casteel was the prettiest, smartest girl in the backwoods, despite her ragged clothes and dirty face... despite a father meaner than ten vipers... despite her weary stepmother, who worked her like a mule. For her brother Tom and the little ones, Heaven clung to her pride and her hopes. Someday they'd get away Align Centerand show the world that they were decent, fine and talented -- worthy of love and respect.

Then Heaven's stepmother ran off, and her wicked, greedy father had a scheme -- a vicious scheme that threatened to destroy the precious dream of Heaven and the children forever!

Deep in Her Heart, Heaven Dreamed....

Pa didn't come home for an entire week. I sat on the porch steps late one night and stared at the stormy sky. There had to be a better place than here for me. Somewhere, a better place. An owl hooted, followed by the howl of a roaming wolf. The autumn wind from the north shrieked and whistled around the forest trees, whipped around the trembling cabin and tried to blow it away....

I stared at the moon -- the same moon that rode high over Hollywood and New York City, London and Paris. Someday I'd like to have a real bed of my own to sleep in, with goosedown pillows and satin comforters. I'd have closets full of new dresses, and shoes by the dozen, in all colors, and I'd eat in fancy restaurants where tall slim candles glowed... but right now I had only a hard cold step to sit on. And tears were freezing on my cheeks and lashes....

This is my favorite Virginia Andrews book from the vast library that she has released.
From the beginning, if you are like me, you will have the mental images running around in your head from the very start of the book. You will feel the poverty and desperation, and also the sense of love that Heaven has for the children she spends so much time looking after.

And just when Heaven doesn't think things can get any worse, she finds herself sold off to a couple that promise her the world, but only deliver her a new kind of hell.

For me, this story kept getting better and better every time I turned the page. All sorts of emotions from downright sorrow to total elation are felt while reading this book, and when you get to the end, you will be reaching for the next book in the series DARK ANGEL.

RATING : 9/10

: Moonlight by Rachel Hawthorne :

Publisher : Harper Teen 2009
Pages : 263 (Paperback)
ISBN : 978-0-06-170955-5

Kayla has always felt a kinship with nature. Adopted as a child, Kayla has no idea that she’s inherited the gene that will turn her into a wolf. She can’t understand why she’s so drawn to distant, aloof Lucas...

As the leader of the Dark Guardians, a pack of werewolves that gather in the national forest, Lucas must watch Kayla until she discovers her destiny as his perfect other half. Just when Kayla finally begins to understand her fate, a new danger emerges...one that threatens their very existence.


This book was very easy to read, and it is a book that teens would definately enjoy. The strange attraction that Kayla feels towards Lucas, unsure exactly what is going on in his head, well, I guess we have all been there at one time or another.

The storyline is a little predictable, but it's enjoyable. You get the sense from early on in the book that Kayla and Lucas will end up together, which does happen ... with a commitment made for life.

I guess that I found it a little hard to believe that after capturing the 'werewolf', that they would leave only one person guarding it, that Kayla would be able to sneak up and knock out the guard, and that the lock would be so easy to open, allowing Kayla to save the wolf, and ultimately discover that it was Lucas, after he had shapeshifted.

Teens will enjoy it - this is light reading, and quick to get through. YA & seasoned readers might get a little bored with it.

RATING : 5/10

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

: Versatile Blogger Award :


This is my 2nd award, and I would really like to thank BOOKINGLY YOURS for passing this award on to me. Thank you so much for this!
There are some things you have to do when you receive this award:

1.Thank and link back to the person who gave you this award
2.Share 7 things about yourself
3.Pass the award along to 15 bloggers who you have recently discovered and who you think are fantastic.
4.Contact the bloggers you’ve picked and let them know about the award.

7 things about myself

1. I am a book, movie and music addict.
2. I run meditation classes.
3. I love to write and have been writing a novel for the last 8 years!
4. I love the beach ... long walks on the sand, sunsets, ocean breeze - everything
5. I love get-togethers with family and friends - good food and drink/company :)
6. I think everyone needs a great belly laugh every day
7. My favorite colors are pink, red, purple and black


Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Bon Jovi - Real Life (Video)

Counting down now to the Bon Jovi concerts in Melbourne ... I am totally stoked and can't wait for them. So here is a video for you - REAL LIFE by Bon Jovi (boxset)

(Did you know this song is in the movie ED TV?)

Killers - August 3rd 2010

This movie was a bit slow to get going for my liking - but Aston Kutcher and Kathryn Heigl work so well together ... they both know how to play romantic comedy roles very well. Some other actors it just doesn't seem to come off with the same comfort level.

I don't think there are too many surprises in this movie - you can pretty much guarantee anyone that you come across in this movie, has an ulterior motive - like trying to claim the $20 million dollar bounty put on Spencer's head.

The jokes are pretty much run of the mill ... and so is the story line ... girl meets boy, girl marries boy, girl helps save boy, girl and boy live happily ever after. I'm not spoiling anything for anyone - in a romantic comedy, you don't think one of them will die do you? If you want a movie, that is going to give you some laughs ... then you should enjoy this - no heavy scenes at all.

: Inspiration - August 3rd 2010 :


A life without friends is like a world without color

: Hourglass by Claudia Gray :

Published : 2009 (Harper Teen)
Paperback : 339
ISBN : 978-0-7322-8969-0

Hourglass (March 2009) After escaping from Evernight Academy, the vampire boarding school where they met, Bianca and Lucas seek refuge with Black Cross, an elite group of vampire hunters. Bianca must hide her supernatural heritage or risk certain death at their hands. But when Black Cross captures her friend--the vampire Balthazar--all her secrets threaten to come out.

Soon, Bianca and Lucas have orchestrated Balthazar's escape and are on the run, pursued not only by Black Cross, but by the powerful leaders of Evernight. Yet no matter how far they run, Bianca can't escape her destiny.

Bianca has always believed their love could survive anything--but can it survive what's to come?

In the beginning, I felt this book was slightly different to the others in the series ... so much of the book to start with was about the Black Cross, and their continued unforgiving fight against the vampires.

The romance between Bianca and Lucas is still strong, and the 2 young lovers find they rarely have a moment to themselves - until Raquel and Dana discover Bianca's secret and they are brought before all Black Cross members and taken away to be destroyed. Then their life on the run begins, with the help of Dana.

What they are left to deal with - no money, no home, no safe haven is touching, as well as the very nasty Charity who continues to pop up and have the tribe after them at all costs.

Not going to say anymore - except the way the book ended - the last page had me screaming "NO ... you just can't leave it like that" .... I must admit there were a couple of things I just didn't see coming at all ... so good one Claudia. I hope that AFTERLIFE hits our shelves quickly so that I can continue the journey.

RATING 8/10