Tag: fantasy

This Chicks Sunday Commentary: Book Lovers Tag

I saw this tag on Vicki’s blog at The Page Turner and thought it would be a fun get to know you post. I enjoyed reading Vicki’s answers and went on to check out her blog after I read this post. She is one busy woman! Mother, grandmother, writer, blogger….wow! Check out her blog if you haven’t already, she’s got some great writing samples, tags and reviews.

The Book Lovers Tag

Do you have a specific place for writing? 

I don’t really have a special place for writing my blog posts. I’m usually in my living room with my feet kicked up on the coffee table while typing away on my IPad. Right now the TV is on with a MLB Playoff game in the background. I like a little background noise and the TV on to stare blindly at when I’m thinking of something clever to say.


Bookmark or random pieces of paper?

Oh, I am definitely a book mark gal.  I have some nice bookmarks that I’ve picked up traveling but I also have bookmarks from publishers, authors, book of the month clubs. Oh gosh, I have them EVERYWHERE! The picture below isn’t even all of them, just a handful. Anyone want one? I’ll mail you one if you comment below!


Can you stop anywhere or must it be at the end of a chapter?
Most of the time I stop at a natural break but if I’ve pushed myself into reading through the night or until really late, I’ll just close the book. Most likely I’ll have to backtrack a few pages anyway just to remember the plot. Have you ever read when you’re really tired and then can’t remember anything? Yeah, me too!

Do you eat or drink while reading?

A great cup of coffee or tea in the winter, a sandwich on my lunch break. You bet! I can’t write while eating though…

Music or TV while reading? 

The TV is on all the time because if I’m reading my husband is watching one of his shows (Ice Road Truckers, Deadliest Catch, DIY shows..). We are in the same room so that counts as hanging out, right? Lol. Music is a whole other ballgame. That breaks my concentration and I have to leave the room.  

One book at a time or several?

Sometimes if I’m reading a book and its good but isn’t really grabbing me, I’ll put it down and pick up something I’m more in the mood to read.  I am also usually listening to an audiobook on my drive to and from work, so sometimes three at a time!

Do you prefer to read at home or elsewhere?

Anywhere! 

Read out loud or silently?

Do people really read out loud? Fascinating. No, I’m a silent reader, although if it’s funny I may laugh out loud!

Do you read ahead or skip pages?

I don’t read ahead unless it looks like the romance isn’t going anywhere or I need to make sure someone doesn’t die at the end. Mostly I read it as it should be read, in order.

Break the spine or keep it new?

Break the spine??!! Sacrilege! NO! I try to keep my books in great shape. In fact, my own mother destroys books and if something is really good I’ll buy her her own copy and won’t let her touch mine.  She is horrible!

Do you write in your books?

Not usually? But I do have a Little Free Library and will put my number inside a book occassionally if I’m putting it out for someone to take.

What books have you read recently?

I just finished Warcross by Marie Lu, it was fabulous. I am also listening to 2 series as re-reads. Patricia Briggs Mercy Thompson series and Ilona Andrews Kate Daniels series. And I just noticed that the names of the series are their main characters, and female. Maybe I need to branch out!


All time favorite book?

I don’t really have one? I do love it when a book creates a memory for me. My mom reading me The Hobbit, my love for any of the OZ books as a little girl. As an adult? I love a good fantasy novel and am enjoying reading a number of new authors…


My nominations for the Book Lover’s Tag are:

If you read to the end, consider yourself nominated! 

Until next Sunday,

Deb

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads6 Comments

This Chick Read: Transcend (Origins #2) by Scarlett Dawn

Mina Kramer witnessed the battle between the paranormals at the end of Trigger, the first novel in the Origins series. Her world turned upside down by the existence of beings that can shift into animals.  She’s trying to adjust, but is terrified of them. Unfortunately, in a world where there a a lot fewer women than men, Mina can’t hide at home. She has to go out and socialize with the hopes of meeting her future husband. You see, in this world a woman is only given until she is twenty- five before she has to either join the military or get married and procreate. Mina is a socialite, so her path is pretty clear. Marriage.

While at a party she recognizes the people she saw shift in battle. Unfortunately, she comes to their attention and one becomes very interested in her. Before she can do more than exchange breaths with the very handsome Finn Baker, she is kidnapped and this story turns into another action adventure thriller. Mina is in jeopardy and Finn does a great job in her rescue. Their chemistry is off the charts and Mina’s resolve to have nothing to do with shifters vanishes. Maybe a little too quickly, but I’ve come to expect quick changes from a Scarlett Dawn novel. She moves things along pretty fast and her books are never boring.

Transcend was a good second novel in this series. I really enjoy this new world that is part militaristic, fantasy and paranormal. The dialog is fast and the action well paced making Transcend an easy book to get into and a very fast read. If you like serial novels, than this series is one to read. ❤️❤️❤️❣️

I have to give a shout out to the cover artist. It’s pretty, descriptive and really gives you a feeling for what you will be reading.

If you’d like to read my review of Trigger click HERE!

Click link to purchase! Transcend (Origin Book 2)

Copyright 2017 Deborah Kehoe The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

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This Chick’s Sunday Commentary: The one where she saves Julie’s life

I would LOVE to have three days to just read and read and read. Unfortunately some thing just keeps getting in the way. This week I read one book. It took me forever to read it and that just, well, never happens. I can always find the time! I write on other bloggers posts, giving them tips and hints about how to carve out more reading time. Listen to audio books while you excercise, read during your commute to work, take a book and read on your lunch break. All of these things I normally do, but this week I just did not.

What’s wrong with me? Nothing really. I am still getting up in the mornings and taking a nice long walk for excercise. I am listening to a series I absolutely loved, Ilona Andrews Kate Daniels series. Well, I guess that is actually the problem. I have become obsessed with these books again! They have gotten in the way of me picking up a new book. I have ARC commitments! Who cares? Says my inner demon. Listen to Kate kick ass and fall in love with Curran. I have projects to focus on at work! Who cares? My inner demon speaks yet again. I am enthralled with the narrator who gives voice to all of these fantastic characters in these books! I laugh out loud at Kate’s inner monologue. She’s got such a sarcastic inner voice and it reminds me of my own! I forgot how much I love these characters that made a lonely Kate no longer alone. I have fallen in love again with Derrick, Julie, Andrea, Aunt Bea, and yes most especially that gravelly voiced Curren. Yum.

So, I have been in a bit of a reading slump. At least of new books. It’s a good thing I pre-schedule my blog and have written a bunch of reviews… ok, I have to get back. I am at the end of book 5 , Magic Slays, you know, the one where she saves Julie’s life? Yeah, intense!

If you haven’t read this series, here’s the first one. If you have a long commute? I suggest listening to it. You will NOT be disappointed.


Click this link to purchase!   Magic Bites

Copyright 2017 Deborah Kehoe The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads

This Chick Read: The Sight (Devil’s Isle #2) by Chloe Neill

After the Paranormal War, Claire Connolly became infected with magic and has become a “Sensitive”. Illegal in New Orleans, she has to hide what she has become.  In The Veil, Liam, a bounty hunter, had discovered Claire and instead of turning her in he has helped her find training so that she can contain her magic, lessening her chances of becoming a wraithe. Now colleagues, Claire and Liam have stumbled upon a cult that is trying to start up another war that will finish off all sensitives and the humans that support them.

The Sight, the second novel in the Devil’s Isle series, shows a natural evolution between those with magic and those without. Fighting a common enemy has opened their eyes so that hopefully the rules in place will change. However, in the fight against this common enemy, casualties happen that may affect their relationships longterm.

The first novel in this series spent a lot of time setting up the world building and main characters. Because of that it took a little while for the characters to grow on me. In The Sight, I know where everyone stands, their feelings about magic and Sensitives, and so the story seemed to move a lot quicker. Also the fight against a common enemy was a nice way to force characters into holding their bias at bay and growing a bit. If I found fault with anything in this novel it was that the characters feelings seemed a little juvenile for the seriousness of their situations. At times I wanted to give them a kick in the shins to hurry them along the path I wanted them to take. Unfortunately the shins I wanted to kick the hardest were Claire and Liam’s and because of that my feelings weren’t enmeshed as much as they should’ve been in the storyline. However, this book does have a great twist at the end, so I may have to pick up the next book and see how their story continues. ❤️❤️❤️


Click link to purchase! The Sight (A Devil’s Isle Novel)

Copyright 2017 Deborah Kehoe The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads

This Chick Read: The Veil (Devil’s Isle #1) by Chloe Neill

Claire Connolly is the last survivng member of her human family, but recently she has started exhibiting signs of having magic, which is illegal after the supernatural war. She has gotten good at hiding  her magic, but when she see’s a woman being attacked by wraiths she comes to her defense and the only way to come out of it alive is to use her gifts. Unfortunately she is spotted by Liam, a bounty hunter whose job is to catch the wraiths and take them to confinement in Devil’s Isle. Liam does not turn Claire in, instead he works with her and finds her a tutor to teach her how to control her magic to keep her from turning into a wraith. He also agrees to teach her how to become a bounty hunter, like him, and as they hunt they discover that there are forces at work that are trying to open the veil between worlds, and they can’t allow that to happen.

Claire is torn between the human world and the magical. Her friends are completely human but she can’t ignore the help Liam is giving her, and she can’t ignore the connection she feels to him. Liam, who is human is also drawn to Clair, and is torn between wanting to get closer and wanting to hold her at a distance because if she loses control, he will have to turn her in.

The setting for this novel is New Orleans and added to the characters torn feelings about magic. After all, New Orleans pre-war capitalized upon its magical elements to draw tourists and make money. Now post war, all of those elements are illegal, making the city feel dead and decayed giving it a post apocalyptic mood.

I enjoyed this book as it was different and interesting. It’s the first in the series and made me curious to see how Claire’s character was going to evolve and also see if she and Liam could resolve their differences. ❤️❤️❤️❣️


Click link to purchase! The Veil: A Devil’s Isle Novel

Copyright 2017 Deborah Kehoe The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved.

I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

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This Chick Read: Blood Cross (Jane Yellowrock #2) by Faith Hunter

Jane is still in New Orleans hired to hunt down rogue vampires, kill them and collect their bounty. As she is doing this rather grisly job, she discovers that someone is trying to raise vamps using ritual sacrifice so that these vampires are immediately cognizant and not ravenous beasts. Unfortunately during this investigation, two of her young houseguests are kidnapped and the clock is ticking for her to rescue them before they are the next sacrifice.

Jane and her inner Beast have quite a few internal dialogs that reveal some personality traits of Jane’s that we may not have seen from her surface persona as a straight up bad ass bitch. Or whatever the cat version of a bad ass bitch may be. I loved seeing this more emotional version of Jane, she is a little easier to like. As the story unfolds she is torn between two men, Bruiser and Rick, and to me it was a little surprising which one she ended up with, as the sexual tension with the loser was A-Maz-Ing. Oh well, I’m sure that story is not over as this is only book two in like a twelve book series or something.

If you are a fan of Urban Fantasy, as I am, you will really dig this series. There is a ton of paranormal dark fantasy, and a lot of the characters are really likeable. I’m still warming up to Jane, but she reveals more with each book, and I know there is a ton of Jane still to discover.

❤️❤️❤️❤️


Click link to purchase! Blood Cross (Jane Yellowrock, Book 2)

Copyright 2017 Deborah Kehoe The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads

This Chick Read: Glass Sword (Red Queen #2) by Victoria Aveyard

This second installment of the Red Queen series starts quick and never fades. Mare and Cal find themselves in the company of the Red Guard. Cal exchanging one prison for another and Mare discovering her interests may not align exactly with the Red Guards. Going rogue, they set out to find the New Bloods so that they can build their own army to fight Maven, knowing Maven will also be looking for them to kill before they can unite against him.

The pace of this novel was so much faster than in Red Queen, probably because the scene is set for Mare and Cal to put their plan in motion. The book isn’t as political, although some politics certainly come into play. The thing that struck me the most about Glass Sword was how it was an emotionally charged novel. You see some depths to Mare’s feelings for Maven, Cal and Killorn and are given insight into why she makes some of the choices she makes in this novel. The reader discovers more to her relationships with her siblings that also give power to a couple of plot points in the book tyat I don’t want to spoil if you haven’t read the book.

My only fault with this book was that it was so dark! Mare was inside her head, pushing away everyone she loved and that was really frustrating for me. However, that being said, I do realize this is the second book and you need to go through angst and pain to hopefully bring this story to a conclusion. I just hope that the next book has a few happy moments and isn’t quite as dreary. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

Click link to purchase! Glass Sword (Red Queen)

Copyright 2017 Deborah Kehoe The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

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This Chick Read: Storm Gathering (The Scorpius Syndrome #4) by Rebecca Zanetti

Storm Gathering starts off with our crew of Mercs in post apocalyptic Southern California where we catch up with Greyson and Maureen’s storyline. Their beginning took place in the third novel about Raze and Vinnie. Raze is Maureen’s brother and had been hunting for his sister throughout that novel and he ends up finding her in Grey’s hands Because I’ve read all of the novels in this series, the recap of Greyson and Maureen’s origin story was superfluous, but I know the author included it so that the novel could stand alone. However, there is a lot of back story that would be missing for the other characters who do actually play a large role in the storyline that has been continued from book to book.

Greyson, as the leader of the mercenaries, or Mercs, is a hard ex soldier. He had captured Maureen because her background in biology was needed by his group. Their attraction for each other was immediate, though they both fought hard against it. Maureen, although a scientist, and uber smart, was one of the less physical heroines in this series. I only point out that fact because Greyson seems to be the most unemotional and physical of them all. Maybe they were attracted to each other because their traits balanced the other half? I don’t know but because he was so stoic, I had a hard time liking him as much as I did some of the other male characters in the series. At times I wanted Moe to just write him off and let her brother Raze take her back to the Vanguard compound. Of course in a post apocalyptic world where the Scorpius virus seems to have created super soldiers, I guess a sensitive man wouldn’t survive for very long.

This was a good novel, but my least favorite in the series so far. However, I am invested in the overall plot. Will they find the cure to the Scorpius virus? Will the human race die out because pregnancies don’t survive the virus? Will this evil president ever die? There are so many questions unanswered! I’ll just have to read the next book to find out! ❤️❤️❤️

I was given an ARC of this book for my honest review, and it was honest.


Click on the link to purchase! Storm Gathering (The Scorpius Syndrome Book 4)

Copyright 2017 Deborah Kehoe The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads

This Chicks Sunday Commentary: My Five Most Memorable Reads

I think we can all admit that we read to escape reality. Whether we want an hour’s break from our kids, a small break from poor health, or a story to help forget about our every day problems at work or home.  When we pick up that perfect book, you know, the one that immediately grips you, immersing you in another world and other peoples lives, you savor that world and don’t want that story to end. Now, I am no spring chicken and have read thousands of books in my lifetime. I’ll admit that most I don’t remember, but the books below are books that stuck with me no matter the age I read them. I’d like to share these books with you.

1) The Hobbit – J. R. R. Tolkien

I have read this book several times in my teen and young adult years and it is superb. However, this book makes my most memorable list because it was the book my mom chose to read to me when I was a toddler before going to bed. I’ll admit, as an adult I wonder what my mom was thinking because this book is kind of scary for a young kid! But, I can still hear her reading it to me and I hope I always will. This is also where my love of fantasy novels stems from.


Click this link to purchase this book! The Hobbit

2) Watchers -Dean Koontz

I read this novel when I was a teenager and a little more brave in my reading choices. Dean Koontz writes semi-scary fantasy/horror/mystery novels. Truly, each of his novels is in a different genre. Watchers is about a man who finds a golden retriever while taking a hike. This golden retriever is super intelligent and with his help a mystery is solved. I remember LOVING this dog! I don’t remember a lot of the plot but do remember how awesome this book was and how much I like it. In fact, now that I’m thinking about it, I think I need to re-read this one! Have you read this book? What did you think?

Click this link to purchase! Watchers

3) Harry Potter and the Sorceror’s Stone- J.K. Rowling

When I read the first Harry Potter book I was completely blown away by the fact that this was a young adult book. It was my first young adult book read while being an actual adult who wasn’t young. The world building was amazing, the relationships real, and the problems, even if filled with magical adventures, rang true to life. I totally wanted to write after reading this book and kept reading the series as it came out.


Click the link to purchase! Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

4) Guilty Pleasures – Laurell K. Hamilton

This is the first novel in the Anita Blake series. My aunt lent them to my sister and I and I read books 1-5 while on a vacation touring plantations in Virginia and Maryland with my sister and mom. Talk about immersing yourself in a book! I can remember staying up until 2am to finish those novels. Vampires by night, plantations by day. It was hard to keep straight at time! LOL. However, I was addicted. Anita was one kick ass heroine and I still like that character, although the more recent books have become too much about how much sex she has and less about the bad guys she’s fighting. Those first books in the series are great though, and I’d really recommend them to anyone.


Click the link to purchase! Guilty Pleasures (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter: Book 1)

5) A Promise of Fire -Amanda Bouchet (The Kingmaker series)

This is the most recent book I’ve read on the list. It is a totally original historical fantasy/romance novel. I took a greek mythology class in college and have remained fascinated with those gods and their progeny. This series is set in a world where those gods are real and our heroine is fighting against her fate, and finds true love while doing it. This book captured my attention and became my whole world while reading it. I reviewed it and the second book in the series Breath of Fire and gave them both five stars. They are original, have swashbuckling action, and swoonworthy characters. Read them, I promise they will not disappoint! I loved them so much I had the author sign the books and I have them in my library. No, you can’t borrow them!


Click this link to purchase! A Promise of Fire (The Kingmaker Chronicles)

There are so many books that have helped me escape the realities of life or that have created amazing memories for me. I haven’t even touched on Outlander by Diana Gabaldon or the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs! Oh, and my most recent discovery, Written in Red by Anne Bishop! See, I could go on and on, but for the sake of time, both yours and mine, I’ll hold it to five.

What are the books you’ve read that have helped you create a great memory or helped you escape from your life? I’d love to hear about them!

Until next Sunday!

Deb

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads10 Comments

This Chick Read: Lord of Shadows (Dark Artifices #2) by Cassandra Clare

Every time I read a Cassandra Clare novel I get caught up in the family trees of all the characters that pop in and out of the storyline and find myself sidetracked. At the beginning of this novel it was no different however, the story soon became so gripping and the nuances of the relationships between each character so emotional that I didn’t give a hoot who was related to whom and just enjoyed this story in what I believe to be Cassandra Clare’s best novel yet. I’m sure some of you will disagree that Clary and Jace’s storyline in the Mortal Instruments surpasses Emma and Julian’s but I really don’t see how. Lord of Shadows is a deeply moving romance between Emma and Julian, but also between Mark and Kieran, Mark and Christina, Diana and Gwyn, and Kit and Ty. Not to mention the other characters who pop in and out of this novel who add depth to the feelings between the above characters. This was the most adult novel yet, dealing with the themes of love of family and love between friends and lovers.

It’s not unexpected in Ms. Clare’s books to deal with LGBT romances. Magnus and Alec being the most prolificly written, and the two of them become part of the shocking climax in this novel, so their story is not over. These relationship scenes are written with such normalcy and the reader caught up in the romance and emotion being written is completely immersed in the story. Which is how it should be. There was only one moment in this book where I gasped for breathe, taken out of the moment to re-read that unveiling, but that was done on purpose and with finesse. I applauded the skill of the writer and the wonder of the words written. They still resonate, a week later.

Even though Emma and Julian are the main protagonists and the storyline revolves around their illicit love, there were so many other plotlines that fascinated me just as much. One I hope to delve more into is the budding friendship/love that Kit and Ty are exploring. The shocking ending to the book will shake up their storyline and theirs is the relationship I am looking the most forward to reading about in the next book.

There are so many books in this world and I would recommend starting with the Mortal Instruments series, if you haven’t read any of them. You can read The Dark Artifices books on their own, but I think you’ll miss the nuances of some of the language and world building. You can read the Infernal Devices later, it’s a flashback series and while relevant in some scenes you won’t miss as much as you would if you haven’t read the Mortal Instruments. Invest the time, these books are fun, fabulous, and just keep getting better.  ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️


Click link to purchase! Lord of Shadows (The Dark Artifices)

Copyright 2017 Deborah Kehoe The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads1 Comment