Merry Christmas 2013

I've been MIA a lot here lately, (I completely forgot the last TWO Teaser Tuesdays - I'm so embarrassed!), but I wanted to make sure to let everyone know that I haven't forgotten all you readers, and to take a moment to wish you all a very Merry Christmas!

Stay safe, drive carefully, and enjoy the holiday!

Teaser Tuesday - World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War, by Max Brooks

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just:
* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title and author, too, so that other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their To Be Read (TBR) Lists if they like your teasers!

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I started reading World War Z last week, and so far it's OK.  I'm not 100% sure that I'm down with the format, or style of the writing, but so far it's pretty good. 

The Tease:

"I looked up, through the car's window, the hole in the dead man's skull, and the window on the other side, and that's when I saw the first one.  I spun around and saw five more coming at me from all directions.  And behind them were another ten, fifteen.
I took a shot at the first one, the round went wild."

 -World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War, by Max Brooks

What's your Tease?

Teaser Tuesday - World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War, by Max Brooks

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just:
* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title and author, too, so that other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their To Be Read (TBR) Lists if they like your teasers!

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I've just started World War Z this weekend.  I've been wanting to read it for awhile, then kind of forgot about it, then my interest was renewed when the movie came out earlier this year, then I forgot about it again until this weekend when I found it on sale!  So far it seems to be pretty good, though I've just barely started.

The Tease:

"The driver's eyes had a different look, the same one as me, the look that maybe money wasn't going to be much good for much longer.  I slipped the man an extra fifty and wished him luck.  That was all I could do."

 -World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War, by Max Brooks

What's your Tease?

Teaser Tuesday - Catching Fire, by Suzanne Collins

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just:
* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title and author, too, so that other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their To Be Read (TBR) Lists if they like your teasers!

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After finishing Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson, I decided that I had better try to get Catching Fire read before I see the movie.  I think almost everyone in the world has already read this years ago, so many of you will recognize this Tease, I'm sure!

The Tease:

"I've spent all these weeks getting to know who my competitors are, without even thinking about who my teammates are.  Now a new kind of confidence is lighting up inside of me, because I think I finally know who Haymitch is.  And I'm beginning to know who I am.  And surely, two people who have caused the Capitol so much trouble can think of a way to get Peeta home alive."

 -Catching Fire, by Suzanne Collins

What's your Tease?

Teaser Tuesday - Steelheart, by Brandon Sanderson

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just:
* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title and author, too, so that other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their To Be Read (TBR) Lists if they like your teasers!

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This week I'm continuing to read Steelheart, by Brandon Sanderson.  It's a very good story and I'm quite enjoying it! In this scene, David comes face to face with Steelheart for the second time in his life.

The Tease:

"He'd changed little in the decade since he destroyed the bank.  He had that same arrogant expression, that same perfectly styled hair.  That inhumanly toned and muscled body, shrouded in a black and silver cape.  His fists glowed a soft yellow, wisps of smoke rising from them, and there was a hint of silver in his hair.  Epics aged far more slowly than regular people, but they did age."

 -Steelheart, by Brandon Sanderson

What's your Tease?

Movie News - Poster Reveal: Maleficent

Several exciting things happened this week.  This was one of them:

I'm loving this new poster!  But even better, the first Trailer was also released this week!!  You can see that here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYemY3xFsB4

I can't wait to see Angelina Jolie as Maleficent!  What do you think? 

Teaser Tuesday - Steelheart, by Brandon Sanderson

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just:
* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title and author, too, so that other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their To Be Read (TBR) Lists if they like your teasers!

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This week I'm reading Steelheart, by Brandon Sanderson.  So far it's a fascinating read. 
From Goodreads:
There are no heroes.
Ten years ago, Calamity came. It was a burst in the sky that gave ordinary men and women extraordinary powers. The awed public started calling them Epics.
But Epics are no friend of man. With incredible gifts came the desire to rule. And to rule man you must crush his wills.
Nobody fights the Epics... nobody but the Reckoners. A shadowy group of ordinary humans, they spend their lives studying Epics, finding their weaknesses, and then assassinating them.
And David wants in. He wants Steelheart—the Epic who is said to be invincible. The Epic who killed David's father. For years, like the Reckoners, David's been studying, and planning—and he has something they need. Not an object, but an experience.
He's seen Steelheart bleed. And he wants revenge.

The Tease:

"The video image showed the ground, with me waving my hand in front of the lens.  Then it turned on Nightwielder and my heart leaped.
I tapped the screen, freezing the image."

 -Steelheart, by Brandon Sanderson

What's your Tease?

Teaser Tuesday - Born, by Tara Brown

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just:
* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title and author, too, so that other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their To Be Read (TBR) Lists if they like your teasers!

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Last week I started reading Born, by Tara Brown, which had been highly recommended to me by a friend.  I'm almost to the end of it now, and I have quite enjoyed it, but it's very different from the type of novels I usually enjoy and I've had a few issues along the way, trying to get comfortable with the author's writing style.  In spite of that, I've had a difficult time putting it down at night!  Today's Tease is from the very opening of Chapter 1, and sets the mood nicely...

The Tease:

"They say that the world is built for two, but in the silence of the old cellar, two feels like a long lost dream.  It's an ice cream cone on a boardwalk with the sun above and the sea below.  It's the wind rolling around you gently, trying to persuade in all the directions at once and mixing sand over your feet as your toes dig in.
It's a perfect place none of us tries to remember."

 -Born, by Tara Brown

What's your Tease?

Teaser Tuesday - Beautiful Creatures, by Kami Garcia

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just:
* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title and author, too, so that other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their To Be Read (TBR) Lists if they like your teasers!

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I'm currently reading Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia.  I saw the movie earlier this year and quite enjoyed it, and didn't even realize it was based on a novel until after watching the film.  This will be the last Tease from Beautiful Creatures, as I finished it today. In this scene, Ethan finds himself in the middle of a violent confrontation that he has little chance of surviving...

The Tease:

"Fire is loud, full of rage and chaos and destruction.  And fire was all around me.  The smoke in the air was so thick, I was choking on it.  The heat was singeing the hair right off my arms.  It was like a vision from the locket, or worse, like the last of my nightmares - the one where Lena was consumed by fire."

 -Beautiful Creatures, by Kami Garcia

What's your Tease?

Looking Forward To - Dracula and Grimm

I'm mildly intrigued by the new TV series Dracula that premiere's tonight (10.25.2013).  My first thought when I heard about it was, "Do we really need another Dracula/vampire show?"

Then I realized Jonathan Rhys Meyers was in it, so I'll give it a shot and see how it is. 

Also premiering tonight, Season 3 of Grimm.

Friday night is (hopefully) about to get interesting again...

Teaser Tuesday - Beautiful Creatures, by Kami Garcia

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just:
* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title and author, too, so that other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their To Be Read (TBR) Lists if they like your teasers!

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I'm currently reading Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia.  I saw the movie earlier this year and quite enjoyed it, and didn't even realize it was based on a novel until after watching the film.  Since I found out, I've been wanting to read at least the first book in the series to see if it was any good, and so far I'm quite enjoying it.  In this scene, Ethan visits the grave of the owner of the mysterious locket...

The Tease:

"I walked back over to the hole and reached into my pocket.  I opened the handkerchief with the familiar initials, and lifted the locket up by its chain.
Nothing.
  No visions, and something told me there weren't going to be any more.
  The locket had led us here, showed us what we needed to see."

 -Beautiful Creatures, by Kami Garcia

What's your Tease?

TV News - Shows I'm looking forward to...

Another new show this season that I can't wait to see debuts tonight on the CW:

What are you looking forward to, or what new TV shows have you liked so far this fall?

Teaser Tuesday - Beautiful Creatures, by Kami Garcia

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just:
* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title and author, too, so that other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their To Be Read (TBR) Lists if they like your teasers!

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So I'm currently reading Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia.  I saw the movie earlier this year and quite enjoyed it, and didn't even realize it was based on a novel until after watching the film.  Since I found out, I've been wanting to read at least the first book in the series to see if it was any good, and so far I'm quite enjoying it.  In this scene, Ethan, the main POV character, finds himself in a very uncomfortable situation at a dinner party with unwanted guests...

The Tease:

"I tried to make eye contact with Lena, but her eyes were fixed on Ridley.  And they were fierce.  I just hoped Ridley was the only one her anger was directed at."

 -Beautiful Creatures, by Kami Garcia

What's your Tease?

Teaser Tuesday - Beautiful Creatures, by Kami Garcia

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just:
* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title and author, too, so that other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their To Be Read (TBR) Lists if they like your teasers!

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I finished Lady of Ashes last week, and spent part of the weekend trying to decide what to read next, and finally settled on Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia.  I saw the movie earlier this year and quite enjoyed it, and didn't even realize it was based on a novel until after watching the film.

The Tease:

"No matter how hard I scrubbed, I couldn't get my heart to stop pounding.  And over the smell of the Ivory soap and the Stop & Shop shampoo, I could still smell it.  Just barely, but I knew it was there.
Lemons and rosemary."

 -Beautiful Creatures, by Kami Garcia

What's your Tease?

TV News - Shows I'm looking forward to

I can't wait to see The Vampire Diaries! This season looks like it will be intense. 

I'm also quite looking forward to watching The Originals.  I don't know if it will last, but it could be good.

What are you looking forward to watching this fall?

Teaser Tuesday - Lady of Ashes, by Christine Trent

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just:
* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title and author, too, so that other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their To Be Read (TBR) Lists if they like your teasers!

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As you know, I'm reading Lady of Ashes, by Christine Trent, and quite enjoying it!  This Tease makes me glad I'm not a woman living in the 1800's.

The Tease:

"Thankfully, after nearly three hours of questioning, Violet was permitted to leave.  She needed to return home immediately and get out of her corset, as she hadn't been breathing in more than short gasps all day.  The boning was probably permanently imprinted on her skin."

 -Lady of Ashes, by Christine Trent

What's your Tease?

Teaser Tuesday - Lady of Ashes, by Christine Trent

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just:
* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title and author, too, so that other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their To Be Read (TBR) Lists if they like your teasers!

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I finished Insurgent by Veronica Roth over the weekend, and honestly I'm not quite sure what I think of it.  But more about that later - Onward to the Tease!  I'm gone back to Lady of Ashes, by Christine Trent, and in this Tease she finds herself in a rather horrifying situation...

The Tease:

"She attempted to work the fingers of her right arm, which sent brilliant lightning flashes of agony up her arm, so she stopped, letting her arm dangle uselessly next to her.  I need help was her last thought before going unconscious again, a sweet relief from the agony in her arm."

 -Lady of Ashes, by Christine Trent

What's your Tease?

TV News - Doctor Who 50th Anniversary

Most of you have probably already seen this, but yesterday the title of the Doctor Who 50th Anniversary special was announced with this poster.

The image is stunning, and it looks like Clara and Rose might meet. (Maybe?  Please?)  I can hardly wait to see what happens!

What do you think of this new teaser poster?

Teaser Tuesday - Insurgent, by Veronica Roth

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just:
* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title and author, too, so that other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their To Be Read (TBR) Lists if they like your teasers!

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I'm about a quarter of the way through Lady of Ashes, by Christine Trent, but had to set that aside when a library e-book became available. Here we have a Tease from about halfway through Insurgent: 

The Tease:

"Blood is a strange color.  It's darker than you expect it to be."

 -Insurgent, by Veronica Roth

What's your Tease?

TV News - The Walking Dead, Season 4

It's coming!  I can hardly wait!

However, as posters go, it's not the most dynamic.  Rick has that crazy, disheveled, about to collapse thing going on - definitely not the strong, bold character of previous posters.

What do you think?

Teaser Tuesday - Insurgent, by Veronica Roth

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just:
* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title and author, too, so that other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their To Be Read (TBR) Lists if they like your teasers!

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I'm about a quarter of the way through Lady of Ashes, by Christine Trent, but was informed via email today that an e-hold (my very first!) that I'd placed with my local library was ready for download!  Huzzah!!  How exciting - my first e-library book!  The thrill!  The joy!!

The complications... Holy hell but it was difficult!  I thought setting up the reader to place the hold was complicated, but that was nothing.  However, an hour later and multiple new logins, ID's, and passwords and I finally prevail!  It downloaded!  It works!!

So, tonight, in celebration, we shall have a Tease from the opening chapter of Insurgent: 

The Tease:

"I wake with his name in my mouth.
Will.
Before I open my eyes, I watch him crumple to the pavement again. Dead.
My doing."

 -Insurgent, by Veronica Roth

What's your Tease?

TV News - Arrow Season 2 Poster

 

Color me intrigued.  I loved Season 1, so I'm definitely looking forward to Season 2! Also, totally digging the Island in the background.

Teaser Tuesday - Lady of Ashes, by Christine Trent

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just:
* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title and author, too, so that other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their To Be Read (TBR) Lists if they like your teasers!

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So I've finished Rise of Empire by Michael J Sullivan, and I think I'm going to take a bit of a break before I move on to book 3 in the series.  This week I've begun a new novel, and I'm breaking all the rules today because not only is my Tease more than two sentences, there's going to be two Teasers! 

The Tease:

From the Prolgue:
"I killed a man today, and although it I didn't mean to do it, I must confess that it wasn't unpleasant at all.  I suppose some might call it murder, but is it really murder if the victim deserved it?  If he was especially irritating?"

From Chapter One:
"Violet Morgan often wondered why she was so skilled at dressing a corpse, yet was embarrassingly incompetent in the simplest household task, such as selecting draperies or hiring housemaids.  If only they hadn't moved to fancier lodgings in a more elegant section of London, she wouldn't be burdened with having to learn a myriad of rules for keeping a proper home."

 -Lady of Ashes, by Christine Trent

What's your Tease?

Teaser Tuesday - Rise of Empire, by Michael J Sullivan

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just:
* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title and author, too, so that other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their To Be Read (TBR) Lists if they like your teasers!

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Since I finished Theft of Swords I've been itching to continue on with the story of Royce and Hadrian, so I started Rise of Empire, the second book in the series. Royce and Hadrian find themselves far from home on a mysterious mission, and as usual, surrounded by danger...

The Tease:

"Royce turned to see Thranic and Staul.  Staul held a torch and Thranic carried a crossbow.  "It's not safe to venture too far away from you friends, or didn't you think about that Royce?" Thranic said, then fired the crossbow at Royce's heart."

 -Rise of Empire, by Michael J Sullivan

What's your Tease?

Teaser Tuesday - Rise of Empire, by Michael J Sullivan

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just:
* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title and author, too, so that other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their To Be Read (TBR) Lists if they like your teasers!

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Since I finished Theft of Swords I've been itching to continue on with the story of Royce and Hadrian, so I started Rise of Empire, the second book in the series. Now, yesterday I had a dentist appointment, and in my anxious state I completely forgot to put together a Tease for this week until this afternoon!  But it is still Tuesday somewhere, so - better late than never - here is your Tease!

The Tease:

"Like most afternoons, Modina wandered the sequestered halls and chambers like a ghost searching for something long forgotten.  She heard that people with missing limbs felt an itching in a phantom leg or arm.  Perhaps it was the same for her, as she struggled to scratch at her missing life."

 -Rise of Empire, by Michael J Sullivan

What's your Tease?

Teaser Tuesday - Rise of Empire, by Michael J Sullivan

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just:
* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title and author, too, so that other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their To Be Read (TBR) Lists if they like your teasers!

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Since I finished Theft of Swords I've been itching to continue on with the story of Royce and Hadrian, so I started Rise of Empire, the second book in the series. In this scene, Amilia - recently a kitchen girl in the palace of the Empress Modina who has been raised to noble status to help train Modina to be a proper empress - worries that she might have an impossible job...

The Tease:

"Despite all the preparations, Modina simply was not ready.  The empress had only recently showed signs of lucidity and managed to follow directions, but no more than that.  In many ways she reminded Amilia of a dog.  Trained to sit and stay, a pup would do as it was told when the master was around, but how many could maintain their composure when left on their own.  A squirrel passing by would break their discipline and off they would go.  Amilia was not permitted on the balcony, and if anything unexpected happened, there was no telling how the empress would react.."

 -Rise of Empire, by Michael J Sullivan

What's your Tease?

Covering the Cover - The Stormlight Archive: Book Two - Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson

If you haven't seen this yet, on Monday Tor Books revealed the cover for Sanderson's upcoming sequel to the New York Times bestselling The Way of Kings.  The artwork is by renowned artist Michael Whelan.

Words of Radiance is currently scheduled for release in March, 2014.

Michael Whelan has been one of my favorite artists for several decades and is responsible for dozens of amazing Sci-Fi and Fantasy books covers.  For insight on how he created the cover for Words of Radiance, see this post on Tor.com.

Teaser Tuesday - Rise of Empire, by Michael J Sullivan

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just:
* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title and author, too, so that other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their To Be Read (TBR) Lists if they like your teasers!

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Since I finished Theft of Swords I've been itching to continue on with the story of Royce and Hadrian, so this week I started Rise of Empire.  Princess Arista has managed to convince the rogues to accompany her across a dangerous stretch of the country so that she might meet the leader of the Nationalist Movement and gain their aid in fighting against the empire that threatens to overwhelm her kingdom.

The Tease:

"Arista woke feeling disoriented and confused.  She had been dreaming about riding in her carriage.  She sat across from both Sauly and Esrahaddon.  Only, in her dream, Esrahaddon had hands and Sauly was wearing his bishop's Robes.  They were trying to pour brandy from a flask into a cup and were discussing something - a heated argument, but she could not recall it."

 -Rise of Empire, by Michael J Sullivan

What's your Tease?

Teaser Tuesday - Divergent, by Veronica Roth

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just:
* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title and author, too, so that other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their To Be Read (TBR) Lists if they like your teasers!

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Last week I finished City of Bones, and the ebook of Divergent was on sale, so I thought I would give it a try.  I finished it quickly, within just a few days, and I seriously enjoyed it.  So I thought I would feature a Tease from Divergent, even though I've already finished reading it.  The main character is a 16 year old girl named Tris, who is undergoing a series of tests to determine if she can join society.  But there is something different about her that puts her in great danger, and someone is trying very hard to make sure that Tris doesn't succeed.

The Tease:

"I shift a few inches forward, hoping I am still hidden.  Whoever that voice belongs to, she is pulling the strings; she is responsible for Eric's leadership position; she is the one who wants me dead.  I tilt my head forward, straining to see them before they turn the corner.
Then someone grabs me from behind."

 -Divergent, by Veronica Roth

What's your Tease?

Teaser Tuesday - City of Bones, by Cassandra Clare

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just:
* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title and author, too, so that other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their To Be Read (TBR) Lists if they like your teasers!

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I'm currently about 3/4 of the way through City of Bones, by Cassandra Clare.  I had not planned to read this series so soon, figuring that I'd read it "someday."  But then I saw the movie trailer for City of Bones, and I desperately want to see it, so I decided to read the book first.  It's better than I thought it would be - it's your basic good vs. evil story, but with several twists.  The author has created a very interesting world and mythology for her story that makes it much more than the typical "good guys fight demons" story that we see so often. 

In this scene, Clary has just learned the truth about her mother and father - a truth that she maybe was not prepared to hear...

The Tease:

"Clary could hear her blood pounding in her ears.  She felt as if her life had been built on a sheet of ice as thin as paper, and now the ice was beginning to crack, threatening to plunge her into the icy darkness below.  Down into the dark water, she thought, where all her mother's secrets drifted in the currents, the forgotten remains of a shipwrecked life."

 -The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, by Cassandra Clare

What's your Tease?

Teaser Tuesday - City of Bones, by Cassandra Clare

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just:
* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title and author, too, so that other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their To Be Read (TBR) Lists if they like your teasers!

----------

So last week I finished Theft of Swords, Volume One of the Riyria Revelations, by Michael J Sullivan, and began reading City of Bones, by Cassandra Clare.  I had not planned to read this series so soon, figuring that I'd read it "someday."  But last weekend I saw the movie trailer for City of Bones, and it looks so good that I desperately want to see it, so I think I should read the book first.  I'm almost halfway through, and I must admit the book is better than I expected.  In this scene, Jace gives Clary a bit of a warning.

The Tease:

""Don't order any of the faerie food," said Jace, looking at her over the top of his menu.  "It tends to make humans a little crazy.  One minute you're munching a faerie plum, the next minute you're running naked down Madison Avenue with antlers on your head.  Not," he added hastily, "that this has ever happened to me.""

 -The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, by Cassandra Clare

What's your Tease?

Movie News - Poster Reveal - Riddick

"Pitch Black" and "The Chronicles of Riddick" are two of my favorite sci-fi movies.  "Pitch Black" was brilliant, "Chronicles" a little less so, but still highly enjoyable.  So when I heard they were finally making long awaited third film in the series I was very excited!

"Riddick" hits theaters in September 2013, and here is a shiny new poster for the film.

 

What do you think of this poster?  I like it - it's kind of raw and gritty...  And the tagline, "Survival is his revenge" is perfect!  

But do you know what is even better?  Karl Urban will be in the film too!

And y'all know I likes me some Karl Urban!  I can't wait!

Teaser Tuesday - Theft of Swords, by Michael J Sullivan

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just:
* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title and author, too, so that other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their To Be Read (TBR) Lists if they like your teasers!

----------

I'm currently reading Theft of Swords, Volume One of the Riyria Revelations, by Michael J Sullivan.  In this scene, Thrace -- the young woman who hired Royce and Hadrian to help her protect her village from a fearsome beast -- has accidentally killed the beast herself, putting the church of Nyphron in the unique position of being forced to recognize her as the heir to the throne of a new empire that the church is secretly trying to form.  Bishop Saldur and Luis Guy, an officer of the church, discuss how they can use this situation to their advantage.

The Tease:

""She will make the perfect figurehead," Guy said.
Saldur looked up, picturing the future.  "An innocent girl linked with a mythic legend.  Her beautiful name will be everywhere and she will be loved."
The bishop paused and thought.
"What is her name, anyway?""

 -Theft of Swords, by Michael J Sullivan

What's your Tease?

Movie News - Poster Reveal - The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

I meant to post this several weeks ago, but forgot.  Or lost track of time.  Or was distracted by something shiny.  I'm not sure what happened.  Probably everyone has already seen this by now, but I'm posting it anyway because I think it is glorious!

So pretty...But enough about me and what I think.  What do YOU think?  Are you excited to see Part 2 of The Hobbit?  Do you like the artwork so far?

Teaser Tuesday - Theft of Swords, by Michael J Sullivan

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just:
* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title and author, too, so that other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their To Be Read (TBR) Lists if they like your teasers!

----------

I'm currently reading Theft of Swords, Volume One of the Riyria Revelations, by Michael J Sullivan.  Royce and Hadrian are exceptional thieves who find themselves in rather interesting situations.  Here, Royce and an ancient wizard discuss the trouble facing the village that they are trying to protect, and whether the elves across the river may be responsible.

The Tease:

"Esrahaddon smiled. "There is no way to be certain if they are responsible for the beast's presence, but one thing is certain: they are watching.  When they see we are helpless against one Gilarabrywn, if they feel the treaty is broken, or when it runs out, fear will no longer be a deterrent."

 -Theft of Swords, by Michael J Sullivan

What's your Tease?

Teaser Tuesday - Theft of Swords, by Michael J Sullivan

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just:
* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title and author, too, so that other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their To Be Read (TBR) Lists if they like your teasers!

----------

So I'm currently reading Theft of Swords, Volume One of the Riyria Revelations, by Michael J Sullivan.  Royce and Hadrian are exceptional thieves who find themselves in rather interesting situations.  In this scene, they are about to rescue a young girl in distress, but they really have no idea what they are getting themselves into.

The Tease:

"Disoriented and confused, the girl wiped her eyes.  She was in the gutter beneath the Tradesmen's Arch.  Her hair was a filthy tangle of leaves and twigs, her dress a tattered rag.  She clutched a tiny purse to her chest, the drawstring tied around her neck.  To most passing by, she might appear as a bundle of trash discarded on the side of the road, or a pile of cloth and twigs absently left behind by the street sweepers.
Still, there were those who were interested even in piles of trash."

 -Theft of Swords, by Michael J Sullivan

What's your Tease?

Teaser Tuesday - Theft of Swords, by Michael J Sullivan

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just:
* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title and author, too, so that other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their To Be Read (TBR) Lists if they like your teasers!

----------

So I'm currently reading Theft of Swords, Volume One of the Riyria Revelations, by Michael J Sullivan.  I'm about a quarter of the way through, and so far I'm quite enjoying it!  In this scene, the princess prepares a spell - one that requires a lock of her recently murdered father's hair...

The Tease:

"The moon was rising as Arista placed the dagger on her windowsill.  While it would still be some time before the moonbeams would reach it, all the other preparations were ready.  She had spent all day working on the spell...All that was required now was the moonlight.
She jumped when a knock on her door startled her."

 -Theft of Swords, by Michael J Sullivan

What's your Tease?

TV News - True Blood Returns!

I'm sure those of you who care are probably also already aware of this - but just in case, it's almost that time of year!!

 

The posters this year have been somewhat boring, in my opinion.  But I'm ever so excited about the return of all my favorite vampires!!

Teaser Tuesday - Theft of Swords, by Michael J Sullivan

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just:
* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title and author, too, so that other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their To Be Read (TBR) Lists if they like your teasers!

----------

The last few weeks I've been reading a lot of short stories and novellas, but this week I've started something a little more substantial that I've been wanting to read for quite awhile - Theft of Swords, Volume One of the Riyria Revelations, by Michael J Sullivan.  The first paragraph captured my attention immediately...

The Tease:

"Hadrian could see little in the darkness, but he could hear them - the snapping of twigs, the crush of leaves, and the brush of grass.  There were more than one, more than three, and they were closing in."

 -Theft of Swords, by Michael J Sullivan

What's your Tease?

Teaser Tuesday - Firstborn, by Brandon Sanderson

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just:
* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title and author, too, so that other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their To Be Read (TBR) Lists if they like your teasers!

----------

The last few weeks I've been reading a lot of short stories and novellas.  This week I've just begun to read Firstborn, by Brandon Sanderson.  In this early scene, Dennison and his father are having a discussion about Dennison's unsuitability for military command.

The Tease:

"Dennison was taken aback by his father's lack of formality, and some of the passers by stopped to regard the strange sight of a High Duke acting with such passion.  Dennison stood within his father's stiff grasp, reading the man's eyes...One genius son isn't enough.  For you, one success and one failure simply cancel each other out."

 -Firstborn, by Brandon Sanderson

What's your Tease?

Teaser Tuesday - And Then There Were None, by Agatha Christie

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just:
* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title and author, too, so that other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their To Be Read (TBR) Lists if they like your teasers!

----------

...Six little soldier boys playing with a hive;
A bumble bee stung one and then there were Five...
Frank Green, 1869

The Tease:

"There was little pretense now - no formal veneer of conversation.  They were five enemies linked together by a mutual instinct of self-preservation."

 -And Then There Were None, by Agatha Christie

What's your Tease?

Book Review - Notorious Nineteen, by Janet Evanovich

Stephanie Plum Novels, by Janet Evanovich
1. One for the Money    10/18/2007
2. Two for the Dough    11/19/2007
3. Three to get Ready    11/24/2007
4. Four to Score           11/25/2007
5. High Five                 11/26/2007
6. Hot Six                    12/6/2007
7. Seven Up                3/10/2008
8. Hard Eight                3/11/2008
9. To the Nines            3/16/2008
10. Visions of Sugar Plums    3/14/2008
11. Ten Big Ones          3/17/2008
12. Eleven on Top         5/2/2008
13. Twelve Sharp          5/12/2008
14. Lean Mean Thirteen        5/13/2008
15. Plum Lovin’                5/14/2008
16. Plum Lucky                5/15/2008
17. Fearles Fourteen        8/18/2008
18. Plum Spooky                TBR
19. Finger Lickin’ Fifteen    9/25/2009
20. Sizzling Sixteen             11/4/2011                   (My Review)
21. Smokin' Seventeen        11/11/2011  * * *      (My Review) 
22. Explosive Eighteen         2/1/2012     * * * *   (My Review)
23. Notorious Nineteen        4/5/2013    * * * *

From Goodreads:
"#1 bestselling author Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum novels are: “irresistible” (Houston Chronicle), “stunning” (Booklist), “outrageous” (Publishers Weekly), “brilliantly evocative” (The Denver Post), and “making trouble and winning hearts” (USA Today).

New Jersey bounty hunter Stephanie Plum is certain of three truths: People don’t just vanish into thin air. Never anger old people. And don’t do what Tiki tells you to do.

After a slow summer of chasing low-level skips for her cousin Vinnie’s bail bonds agency, Stephanie Plum finally lands an assignment that could put her checkbook back in the black. Geoffrey Cubbin, facing trial for embezzling millions from Trenton’s premier assisted-living facility, has mysteriously vanished from the hospital after an emergency appendectomy. Now it’s on Stephanie to track down the con man. Unfortunately, Cubbin has disappeared without a trace, a witness, or his money-hungry wife. Rumors are stirring that he must have had help with the daring escape . . . or that maybe he never made it out of his room alive. Since the hospital staff’s lips seem to be tighter than the security, and it’s hard for Stephanie to blend in to assisted living, Stephanie’s Grandma Mazur goes in undercover. But when a second felon goes missing from the same hospital, Stephanie is forced into working side by side with Trenton’s hottest cop, Joe Morelli, in order to crack the case.

The real problem is, no Cubbin also means no way to pay the rent. Desperate for money—or maybe just desperate—Stephanie accepts a secondary job guarding her secretive and mouthwatering mentor Ranger from a deadly Special Forces adversary. While Stephanie is notorious for finding trouble, she may have found a little more than she bargained for this time around. Then again—a little food poisoning, some threatening notes, and a bridesmaid’s dress with an excess of taffeta never killed anyone . . . or did they? If Stephanie Plum wants to bring in a paycheck, she’ll have to remember: No guts, no glory. . . ."


My Thoughts:
Wow - Number Nineteen!  Who would have thought that this series could go on for so long?

No really, who thought that?  Well, while certain things about the series may be getting a bit long in the tooth, I have to admit that Notorious Nineteen was quite a bit better and definitely more enjoyable than the last two books in the series.  All the expected elements are there where they should be, like comfortable slippers beside the bed - Grandma Mazur is crazy yet oddly helpful, chicken gets eaten, Joe is hot, Ranger is hotter, etc.

But somehow - and I totally can't put my finger on why, exactly - Notorious Nineteen ends up being funnier and much more entertaining than the previous few novels.  Evanovich may have found a new enjoyment and life in her characters, perhaps, but whatever it is, I liked it. 

Overall I continue to enjoy this series, and recommend it to anyone who enjoys light-hearted mystery romps with a touch of romantic comedy.  I still hope the series tops out at 20, but if not, I at least hope that Evanovich continues having a little more fun with the series.