Friday Blog Hop!

 

So I know there's the Blogomania today (hosted by Between the Pages)... But I didn't want to not join in on Friday Blog Hop!

Last week, I found some real fun blogs!

Check them out :D

Book of Secrets (She's got a really great looking blog!)

Tori from Book Faery found me! I've been following her for a while, so she's obviously good :D

And, I found Christina from Randomness and Reading by Christina!

Okaaay.. actually they all found me, but I added them! I'm hoping to be a more active member this week!

"It's Friday! Time for another Book Blogger HOP!!  

This is for ALL BOOK BLOGGERS (NEW AND OLD) and READERS! Let's make some new friends and have fun! It's FRIDAY!!!"

Check out Crazy-for-Books who is the host of the Friday blog hop! Thanks for letting me join Crazy! :D

Thanks for stopping by! I look forward to seeing your blog :D

Check out the blogs below! Some great blogs out there [some I found and follow through this blog hop opportunity :D]

Thursday Throwdown!

To see the rules, check this page for the detailed rules.

Short explanation:

4 categories: Characters, Covers, Authors, Books

Choose your favorites based on your own criteria (read/like/enjoy/met/signed copy of them)

Winners from last week's Throwdown are first in each category.

Characters:

<---  Faithe from Rachel Vincent's Shifter Series

(Tough Werecat enforcer who's not afraid to throw a punch to get her way.)

vs.

Detective Lindsay Boxer from Jame's Patterson's Women's Murder Club Series. (She chases a Jewel thief, a murderous movie star, and a killer with a vendetta against women and children.)  --->

Covers:

 

 Promise Me Tonight by Sara Lindsay

vs.

A Tapestry of Spells by Lynn Kurland

Authors:

Nora Roberts

bio

vs.

Joshua Cooper Ramo

bio

Books:

On Mystic Lake by Kristin Hannah
[B&N Synopsis: Annie Colwater’s husband has just confessed that he’s in love with a younger woman. Devastated, Annie retreats to the small town where she grew up. There, she is reunited with her first love, Nick Delacroix, a recent widower who is unable to cope with his silent, emotionally scarred young daughter. Together, the three of them begin to heal. But just when Annie believes she’s been given a second chance at happiness, her world is turned upside down again, and she is forced to make a choice that no woman in love should ever have to make.]

vs.

The Runaway Princess by Christina Dodd   

[B&N Synopsis: The Runaway Princess, is a royal treat. When Miss Evangeline Scoffield comes into her inheritance after a lowly life as an orphan in England, she's able to live the big life. Expensive gowns, pricey trips abroad, and suddenly Evangeline is a fine lady of indeterminate background. But she finds that acquiring a new identity can lead to trouble when a handsome stranger comes into her life and tells her that not only is he a prince, but they are to be married. Don't miss this one!] 

Voting ends 11:59pm on Tuesday May 4th. Please  be sure to post your vote below or a link to your blog where your vote can be found. I can only count those on my blog for practical purposes.

Let the Battle Begin!!!

FrEAk OUt!!

Ah! so in case you didn't know... I work at a book distribution company (we stock grocery and department stores with books... I do the computer/desk work behind the scenes)... and I was walking by someone's desk and saw they were working with a book that I ... I would probably sell my first born for. They always are the hardest to deal with anyway, right? You get it better the second time around. ;). (I may be a little biased.. since I'm the second child.. hehe)


So I walk by and about have a heart attack. I've joked around that I needed to go into our warehouse and search every box until I find this book and take it home with me. I wouldn't be able to sleep, I'd just keep reading. Work would take a distant second in my "need-to-definitely-take-care-of" list. #1? Who's #1.. that kind of thing... Buuut... I never checked to see if we received it in, since the temptation would be too great.

Well, walking by that desk, I saw it. Wrapped in a rubberband with 2 other absolutely insignificant books in my tunnel vision... Vampire Academy's Spirit Bound. I almost... I don't know... grabbed it, stuffed it under my sweatshirt, and ran outside with it. Or bite the person holding it and take the other two books in the rubber band to knock them out. I even contemplated using ground coffee beans to rub in their eyes so they would be blinded until I stole it, claiming stress overcame me and I blacked out for the past couple minutes.... But I didn't. No, I definitely did caress it.

Now that I know it's in... I don't know if I'm going to make it until May 18th.. Hell, I don't think I can make it until May! I may go insane. Stop eating. Stop exercising. (okaaay, so the last one I want to do anyway... but can't do that with the wedding coming up.. in 129 days..). I just, I dunno.. the book looked like the biggest so far. Blood Promise was pretty big, but this was larger than expected. I've always <3 Rose and Dimitri and Adrian so much!!! And I NEED to know what happens! aaagh!

Updates

So, I temporarily stopped reading One Bite With A Stranger by Christine Warren since I was lucky enough to win MORE by Sloan Parker from Janna's contest at Erotic Romance Reader. Sloan sent me the e-book and I'm sooo... torn. I want to finish it. Not only because I feel like I have an obligation since I won and I don't want people to think I don't appreciate the winning, but because it's so freaking good. BUT!! I also don't want to finish it. Because then... it'd be done... and I don't know if I can handle that. (hehe) I will post my review the moment I can make myself finish their lives. I think I know where it's going in the story, buuut, I don't know. AAAHHH!! Sloan!!!!!! You're torturing me! haha. I have become the worst worker in the history of time... everytime I have to open a file or look up books online (work for a book distribution company and I'm looking up books ALL the time), I pull up MORE and read for longer than it takes to do any of my work to catch up with me... In other words, I've hardly worked for the past 2 days.. oops!!


K! Next update... DemonLover posted chapter 2 in her book she's posting on her blog! I'm also reading that after I post this. I had dreams about her characters and then realized how lucky I am that I never had to do the online dating thing.


Chapter 1
Chapter 2


All I can think, is that DemonLover is extremely brave! She's been getting fantastic reviews from fellow bloggers and her followers! READ it :D Chapter 2 get's you simmering to a great place... beware! DemonLover is sadistic and makes you want more... then yanks it from you at a pivotal moment. ugh!


Thursday Throwdown! is today!! Come back and vote for your favorite!!

Thursday Throwdown! Results

RESULTS of last week's Thursday Throwdown!:


Characters:

Covers:

Authors:

Books:

Tomorrow they'll go out to battle again! Come back to see who they battle against tomorrow!!:D

Thursday Throwdown!

Make sure you vote for your Thursday Throwdown choices! It ends tonight at 11:59pm [PST].


Thanks guys!

Teaser Tuesdays!!

Hey followers & visitors :D


Today's Teaser Tuesday hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading [every time I read that blog name... I just think.. yess... shouldn't we all be reading? That's me! A dork :D]


You can play along too!! Here's what to do:


1. grab your current read [or one of them if you're like me... a 20 book multi-reader]
2. open to a random page
3. share 2 (two) teaser sentences from anywhere on that random page


**BE SURE NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!! (make sure what you do share doesn't give too much away--for example: last week I didn't include a name because the part I came up on took a while to get to--you don't want to ruin it for others!)


**share the title and author too, so that other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their To Be Read (TBR) pile... or bookshelf... or lists.. if they like your teaser!


Last week I put up "Three Days to Dead" by Kelly Meding. click here to see the teaser. I just finished it last night!!! AND I finished "A Bit of Rough" by Laura Baumbach. Which means I get a few more reviews to add to my list of "to-do" :D.

here's this weeks!! (I'm only on page 4 so far! haha)

One Bite With A Stranger

by Christine Warren

$6.99

0-312-94793-3

Page: 160

"Think of the prestige"

"Think of shoving it up your ass"

hehehehehe.. That's pretty silly :D. And I can't wait to figure out what they're talking about on page 160!


What's your Teaser?!?!

It's Monday, What are you Reading?!

It's Monday, what are you reading!?!? This weekly meme is put on by Sheila at Book Journey.


So, what did you read last week? And what are you reading now?

For me... we did a lot of focusing on wedding things, so I got a little behind. I wanted to have at least 2 more books read, and 4 or 5 reviewed. BUUUT.. we picked out tuxes and went to the Scottish Games.. Okaaay, so the Scottish Games wasn't a wedding thing, but it was all day!

Last Week:

     -Three Days to Dead by Kelly Meding
     -Still attempting: Nightlight by The Harvard Lampoon.

This week, I plan to read/finish:

     -Three Days to Dead by Kelly Meding
     -One Bite with a Stranger by Christine Warren
     -The Demon You Know by Christine Warren
     -Savor the Moment by Nora Roberts [released 4/27]
     -Into the Dark by Gena Showalter [released 4/27]

Reviews for last week:

     -Somebody Killed His Editor by Josh Lanyon
     -Moon Craving by Lucy Monroe

I think I'll try to make this "blog week" for me since I made last week "wedding week". [fyi... I read by mood, the list above --aside from Three Days to Dead--may change slightly].

Okay, so this week I'll have reviews up for:

     -Wolf at the Door by Christine Warren
     -Three Days to Dead by Kelly Meding
     -Frostbite by Richelle Mead [if I'm lucky]
     -Shadow Kissed [if I'm lucky]
     -Blood Promise [if I'm lucky]

DON'T FORGET TO VOTE FOR LAST WEEK'S THURSDAY THROWDOWN! Contest is closed on 4/27/10 at 11:59pm. Votes are totaled from my blog only [though you can support it on yours and link back to your blog for your votes for them to count! just leave a comment :D]

Lemme know what you're doin' this week and what I can look for on last weeks!

Friday Blog Hop

Hey everyone! This is my first ever Blog Hop! Thanks for visiting!

 

"It's Friday! Time for another Book Blogger HOP!!

This is for ALL BOOK BLOGGERS (NEW AND OLD) and READERS! Let's make some new friends and have fun! It's FRIDAY!!!"

Check out Crazy-for-Books who is the host of the Friday blog hop! Thanks for letting me join Crazy! :D

Thanks for stopping by! I look forward to seeing your blog :D

Check out the blogs below! Some great blogs out there [some I found and follow through this blog hop opportunity :D]

Thursday Throwdown Extended

Since I was overwhelmed [it's a joke] by the results of yesterday's Thursday Throwdown, I think it's best if it's extended to 11:59pm on the following Tuesday. The winners will be posted on Wednesday, and on Thursday they'll be heading up against their new competition.

My vote doesn't count unless I need a tie breaker.

Thanks for your support guys! :D

click here to get to the contest!

Thursday Throwdown

Thursday Throwdown is hosted by me [Amber] of BOOks In ChAIns. It's a new weekly meme where we have 2 contestants in 4 different categories BAttlE It OUt to be the champion of their category


The goal is to give more exposure and promote discussion and love for each contestant [and blog awareness] :D. The winner really doesn't matter. I'll post a monthly Throwdown results and a final one at the end of 2010 to see how far we've gone.


 The categories!!:

• Characters: Which is your favorite, can kick more a$$, has the man/woman you want most, etc. Whichever one you LOVE based on YOUR criteria! [post your reasons why on your blog--or comments :D]
• Covers: Pick the one that speaks most to you. They won't always be in the same genre or sub-genre though.
• Authors: We're not basing decisions on looks! Sorry, we review, not comment appearance [unless it's of their book cover!!]. To avoid, think of who have you read most of, enjoy reading, always buy their book when you see it at the bookstore, have met, etc.
• Books: This one [along with characters] will be a little more difficult because not everyone reads all the books. If you have read it, which one did you enjoy more, or left you with stronger emotions? If you haven't, what one are you more likely to read?

You can post the above on your own blog and your choice in who should win in each category [if you don't have a blog, leave your answers in the comments section]! PLEASE LEAVE A LINK TO YOUR POST IN THE COMMENTS BELOW! I can only count the votes that are attached to my post. [Or I'd go cRaZY! trying to get everyone].


We'll start of easy :D [hopefully]


Characters:

Cat from Jeaniene Frost's Night huntress Series

(Half-vampire, vampire slayer. In relationship with Bones--full vamp. Known for her ruthless staking and red hair)

vs

Faithe from Rachel Vincent's Shifter Series

(Tough Werecat enforcer who's not afraid to throw a punch to get her way.)

Covers:

Promise Me Tonight by Sara Lindsey

vs

The Smart One and the Pretty One by Claire LaZebnik

Authors:

 

Nora Roberts
bio

vs

Debbie Macomber
bio

Books:

Definitely Dead by Charlaine Harris
[B&N Synopsis: Spiked with a "frothy fusion of romance, mystery, and fantasy" (Publishers Weekly), this "deliciously fiendish...increasingly riotous series" (Dallas Morning News) sends the supernaturally gifted cocktail waitress to New Orleans, where she has to deal with the legacy of one of her own family and a host of potentially dangerous characters.]

vs

On Mystic Lake by Kristin Hannah
[B&N Synopsis: Annie Colwater’s husband has just confessed that he’s in love with a younger woman. Devastated, Annie retreats to the small town where she grew up. There, she is reunited with her first love, Nick Delacroix, a recent widower who is unable to cope with his silent, emotionally scarred young daughter. Together, the three of them begin to heal. But just when Annie believes she’s been given a second chance at happiness, her world is turned upside down again, and she is forced to make a choice that no woman in love should ever have to make.]

LET THE BATTLE BEGIN!!


Contest closes 12:00am [PST] Friday 4/25/10. Feel free to keep posting with links to your discussions after the closing time, but the votes won't count [sorry] :D. At this moment, there isn't a giveaway, but if you have an idea email me at booksinchainsblog@gmail.com.  Thank yo!


[I got the idea for the "Thursday Throwdown" from a local Seattle radio station--99.9 KISW The Rock. Jolene does a 9 o'clock Cockfight with bands--local/professional. I "googled" the idea and waited 1 week to see if any of my blogs I follow did the same sort of thing and came up with nothing. Please, please, PLEASE tell me if you see anything similar. Thank you!]

Somebody Killed His Editor by Josh Lanyon

Somebody Killed His Editor

by Josh Lanyon

Samhain Publishing [e-book]

Why I read: I've been getting into the M/M books and was looking for another one to abate my desire for it :D

Barnes and Noble synopsis:

Christopher Holmes has enjoyed a celebrated career as a bestselling mystery writer. Until now. He heads for a Northern California writers conference to try and resurrect his career. A career nearly as dead as the body he stumbles over in the woods. Christopher finds himself stranded in an isolated lodge full of frightened women-and not a lawman in sight. Except for J.X. Moriarity, former cop and bestselling novelist. The man with whom he shared a one-night stand-okay, maybe three-long ago. A ruthless, stalking killer, or a hot, handsome ex-lover. Which poses the greater danger?

****************************************************************************************

My Review: 

It wasn't what I was expecting. But with the synopsis that tells me there's a murder/mystery investigation going on, I don't know what I was expecting instead. So, I don't think it's okay for me to review it intelligently since this isn't my type of book to begin with. So anything said is from an outside-the-norm-of-mystery-reading thoughts. If you like murder-mystery [which I used to, just not anymore] and you enjoy M/M books, I recommend you read this one! In other words!!!: Forgive me if I sound like an idiot.

Alright! Now that we have that squared away, I do think that Josh Lanyon writes very well. He's easy to follow, I don't remember getting lost in any of his sentences or paragraphs. Very smooth. I was kept guessing the entire time of "who done it". I really felt bad for the main character. He was being forced to go out of his comfort zone with his writing to please his editor. I did have to hold back and bite my tongue so I didn't yell, "At least you have an editor [and agent]! arrrgh!" [hehehe] but if you're not comfortable with what you're writing, it's going to suffer and show through. Then you're pretty much toast!

Josh Lanyon did a fabulous job of feeding the seed of doubt about just about everyone. There's the fidgety agent, the bitch of a resort manager, the ex-con, silent cop, old lady with the young hunk... And it didn't seem forced. It just felt like they all had their past.

Christopher [main character] was such a comical character to read through. He had no sense of self-preservation until it came to the brink of death. He got stuck in weird situations, and somehow, escaped unscathed.

Though I love M/M romances because the love scenes are, knee shaking, I had a hard time seeing it in my mind from this book. I think it's because I kept imagining a scrawny dude with another guy that had a mustache and looked suspiciously like my ex-neighbor while I was growing up. Though I don't believe he's gay, it was just hard for me to "see" him and another man together. BUT! I did believe in it. There was a connection, a past, a passion, a yearning.

Luckily for Mr. Lanyon [and my review purposes], his ending was more of what I like [I wonder if it's because the two main characters were both male and didn't have the female craziness that is hormones], but he didn't make it too cheesy. In fact, I thought the last 3-4 sentences were *perfect* :D

Ratings:

1. Cover +1

2. Hooked: +1

3. Finished the book: +1

4. Overall Feeling: meh: +1

5. Re-readability: +.5 - skim through the mmhhhm parts :D

6. Suggest to others: +1 [m/m-mystery lovers]

7. Lost time: +1

8. Readability: +1

Though this isn't my type of book I usually like to enjoy, I'm happy that I can give it a 7.5 out of 10 :D


Author Website
Author Blog 

Waiting on Wednesday

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is repeats, since last week's had a books that weren't coming out this week [bummer]:

Savor the Moment by Nora Roberts

Released: April 27, 2010

$16.00

New Love takes the cake in the third novel in Nora Roberts's new Bride Quartet-in a stunning French flap edition Wedding baker Laurel McBane is surrounded by romance working at Vows wedding planning company with her best friends Parker, Emma, and Mac. But she's too low-key to appreciate all the luxuries that their clients seem to long for. What she does appreciate is a strong, intelligent man, a man just like Parker's older brother Delaney, on whom she's had a mega-crush since childhood. But some infatuations last longer than others, and Laurel is convinced that the Ivy League lawyer is still out of her reach. Plus, Del is too protective of Laurel to ever cross the line with her-or so she thinks. When Laurel's quicksilver moods get the better of her-leading to an angry, hot, all-together mind-blowing kiss with Del-she'll have to quiet the doubts in her mind to turn a moment of passion into forever...

Happily Ever After is coming out in November of this year! I find myself sitting on my hands so I don't try to grab the book out of the computer screen ;) 

Into the Dark by Gena Showalter

Released: April 27th, 2010

[it looks like Barnes and Noble might have it out now]

$7.99

Three otherworldly tales from the master of paranormal romance…and a brand-new Lords of the Underworld bonus guide!

The Darkest Fire—a Lords of the Underworld prequel

Geryon is the guardian of hell, more monster than man. Kadence is the goddess of Oppression, more angel than woman. Together they will enter the flames to battle a dangerous horde of demon lords—and discover a passion unlike any other.

The Amazon's Curse—a tale of Atlantis

Zane, a fierce vampire warrior, has been enslaved by the Amazons. Nola, a lovely Amazon soldier, has been cursed with invisibility. Now, these two stubborn enemies must overcome the pasts that haunt them and embrace a love that can set them free….

The Darkest Prison—a Lords of the Underworld tale

Once, Atlas, the Titan god of Strength, was the Greek goddess Nike's slave. Now, he is her master. And soon these sworn rivals destined to destroy each other will be forced to risk everything for a chance at love….

Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead

Released:  May 18, 2010

$17.99

After a long and heartbreaking journey to Dimitri's birthplace in Siberia, Rose Hathaway has finally returned to St. Vladimir's—and to her best friend, Lissa. It is nearly graduation, and the girls can't wait for their real lives beyond the Academy's iron gates to begin. But Rose's heart still aches for Dimitri, and she knows he's out there, somewhere.

She failed to kill him when she had the chance. And now her worst fears are about to come true. Dimitri has tasted her blood, and now he is hunting her. And this time he won't rest until Rose joins him . . . forever. 

Richelle Mead posted on Facebook that the publishers allowed the "Last Sacrifice" to be released December 7th instead of December 14th of this year!! eeeek!