Merry Christmas!

MERRY CHRISTMAS

I hope that your holiday is filled with peace and wonder and a healthy helping of

"Joy"  Moss Wreath by Restruct3

*Image used with permission.

Etsy Fridays: Red

Animal Lover Scarf in Cranberry by Xenotees

Cheese by Mingtaphotography

Handmade Doll by Timo Handmade

*All images are used with permission.

Heading Out

I'm leavin' on a jet plane.  Don't know when I'll be back again....

Actually, I do know that.  I'll be back the second week in January.  I'm off to visit my parents and siblings, whom I haven't seen in over 18 months, so I'll be spending all my time hanging out with them and completely ignoring both books and blog.  Merry Christmas to you all and I'll see you in 2011!

Magic Strikes by Ilona Andrews

Author: Ilona Andrews (this is actually a pen name for a husband and wife writing duo)

Series: Kate Daniels #3

Summary: Kate Daniels, magic mess cleaner-upper extraordinaire, misses the days when she had no friends.  Friends can be such a pain in the ass.  They're always getting themselves into trouble and requiring help.  When Kate finds her werewolf buddy, Derek, severely beaten and stricken with a strange magical malady, she has no choice but to try and help him.  Uncovering the plot that got him hurt gets her pulled into the Midnight Games, a dangerous and highly illegal gladiator tournament. 

Things to Love About this Book/Series:

#4 The dark and magic-burdened version of Atlanta where Kate makes her home.  Technology only works sometimes, and magical monsters are around every corner.  I was completely pulled in.

#3 The dry humor.  This book had me cracking up on every other page.  Kate is a wise-cracking smart mouth who usually annoys everyone she talks to, but it's definitely funny.

#2 Curran.  The lion shapeshifter Beast Lord of Atlanta, ruler of the shapeshifter Pack.  Curran is Kate's sometime ally, sometime (mostly verbal) sparring partner, and full-time eye-candy.  Their interactions were funny and tense enough to have me flipping back for several re-reads.

#1 Kate.  She may have gone legit by working for the Order, but Kate still skirts the wrong side of the law more often than not.  I love the way Andrews has spun out the telling of Kate's backstory.  In Magic Strikes, we finally get enough information to fill in most of the blanks, and I'm interested to see where the series will take Kate next.

Final word: LOVE!  This might be your next favorite urban fantasy.

Content: Language, violence and sexual situations.  The situations have gotten increasingly sexual through the series, and at this point I'd have to recommend for adults only.

Etsy Fridays: Blue

A handful of items I would not be displeased to find under the tree on Christmas morning: 

Infinity Scarf in Sapphire by KangarooKnits

Lotus Bowl in Cloud White by Adventures in Clay

Snow Surprise (photo) by DMpics

*All images are used with permission.

City of Fallen Angels cover

The gorgeous cover of Cassandra Clare's City of Fallen Angels (Mortal Instruments #4) is up.  Check this honey out:

Clary and Simon both look fan-freaking-tastic.  I can hardly wait for next April when we'll be able to find out what happens next.  If you're having a hard time waiting, too, you might want to read this little excerpt.  Guaranteed to make your wait more difficult still (insert evil cackle).

Bad Blogger

Bad, bad blogger.  Sit! Stay! Write!

After nearly a month away from my blog, and more than four months without even peeking at my Google Reader, I'm back to reevaluate.  My blogging had gotten to the point where it was just one more task to complete before I could finally crawl into bed and crash for the night.  In my life, my blog is supposed to be the fun part, so when it turns into work it's time to take a little break. 

Before I took a step back, I was ready to throw in the towel and completely shut this blog down.  I'm glad I didn't, because I've realized I would miss it.  I don't know when (if ever) I'll be back to posting every day, but with any luck I'll be around a little more often.  I've missed reading, writing, and most of all I've missed ineracting with my fellow book fiends. 

Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead

I'm not going to lie to you.   I was a little scared to start reading this book.  I think it was the title that made me nervous.  "Last Sacrifice" doesn't really inspire images of happily ever after, which is how I prefer all my books to end.  And it would be hard to review this book without giving too much away, but I'll give you a little summary.  Last Sacrifice is funny, fast-paced and fully realized.  Several of my favorite characters really get a change to grow into themselves here, and I loved every single page.  And then gave the book a hug because it was just that kind of moment.  Sigh.  If you haven't read the series yet, this is the absolute perfect time to get started.

SPOILERS BEGIN HERE PROCEED WITH CAUTION

Now I would like to take a little moment to SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!  This story had so many perfectly heart-melting moments that I was a little mushball at the end.  My absolute favorite moment was this one-

Dimitri (paraphrased): I do still love you, but it's too late.  You're with Adrian.

Rose: But I was meant for you.

And that's it.  The heavens open and it's that perfect shining moment where the world is right once again.  After everything Rose and Dimitri have been through, when she's finally convinced herself that her feelings are mistaken and it's time to move on, she gets another shot at her perfect future.   I feel bad for Adrian (but honestly, not that bad), but he never really had a shot.  I have a feeling he's going to get a happy ending in Mead's next series, Bloodlines.

If you've read this book already, what was your favorite moment?