Follow Friday

Follow Friday is hosted by Parajunkee's View and Alison Can Read

Every Friday Parajunkee's View and Alison Can Read hosts Feature and Follow Friday. One lucky blog is featured and interviewed while the rest of us post our own responses to the question of the week and blog hop to say hello to each other!

This week's question:

Q: Summer Break is upon us! What would be the perfect vacation spot for you to catch up on your reading & relax?

HeatherJay's answer:
This one was easy. Living in Reno, it's just a quick 3 hour drive over to Napa Valley. I get over there as often as possible 'cuz it is HEAVEN! My first stop is always Mumm Winery. They have a beautiful patio over-looking the vineyard and it is so quiet and peaceful. Perfect for an afternoon of book reading. Not to mention the copious amounts of sparkling wine.

The Patio

The View

Thats pretty beautiful!!

Well since I live in Chicago going down out to Lake Michigan would be nice! I would sit in one of my chairs and just chillax with the sun and the breeze! I would love to go to Wisconsin and chill at Lake Geneva...that would be great! I'd just have to make sure the kiddies are occupied so I get no interuptions ;)

North Ave Beach(My Fav!)

Lake Geneva, WI

Dirty Little Secret



Dirty Little Secret is a weekly meme hosted by Under The Covers. Every Thursday we get to know other bloggers and our readers more intimately by asking them a question hoping to reveal their dirty little secrets. We hope that you will all join us!

This weeks question:

If you could read one book again for the first time,
which one would you pick and why?

HeatherJay's answer:

Okay, this may rub some people the wrong way but I gotta be honest.

I would pick Twilight!

I was in a phase in my life where I had not read a book in over a year. ( I know, it was awful). I could not get into any book I bought and I had begun to think that my reading life was over. I had never read Paranormal, UF, Dystopian or anything other than your standard romance, mystery or thriller. I saw a display at Barnes and Noble for Breaking Dawn  (which was releasing in 3 weeks), and I thought I would give this new genre a try, to try and spark something...anything that would bring back my life-long love of books. Fast forward one week and I had devoured the first three books and my passion for reading was re-awakened. I was beyond happy and started to read all these genres that I had never read before and I can say that it truly brought back a joy to my life that I thought was gone forever. I'm not sure if any other book would have done the same but Twilight was the right fit at the right time and my memory of that first read will always hold a special place in my heart.

VanesMate's Answer:

 Thats a great answer Heather....I would love to read Twilight for the first time! Get that feeling back. But I would have to choose Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost! I remember seeing that book at Borders(when it was still around) thinking...hmmm that looks pretty interesting! I hadn't read in a LONG time. I used to read regularly in the beginning of High School but after like sophomore year I was too busy partying. Actually...Harry Potter was the first series I picked up in years, then Twilight! Thats a big assed gap(since Im 30)! But reading Halfway to the Grave is what sealed the deal for me as far as Paranormal Romance! It was sexy and funny and I just adored me some Bones! So...yea! Reading that book for the first time would be awesome! And of course Dark Hunter series...I know after I first read Fantasy Lover I zoomed through that series like the plague!

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme sharing releases we cant wait to get our hands on! Hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine.

After I read Laini Taylors phenomenal debut novel Daughter of Smoke and Bone, I could not wait for the follow up. They've finally revealed the release date of Days of Blood and Starlight and I am FREAKING EXCITED AS HELL .

Days of Blood and Starlight (Daughter of Smoke and Bone #2) by Laini Taylor.


In this stunning sequel to the highly acclaimed "Daughter of Smoke and Bone," Karou must come to terms with who and what she is, and how far she'll go to avenge her people. Filled with heartbreak and beauty, mysteries and secrets, new characters and old favorites, Days of Blood and Starlight brings the richness, color and intensity of the first book to a brand new canvas.

Daughter of Smoke and Bone was declared a "must read" by Entertainment Weekly, was named a Best Book of the Year by Amazon.com, and The New York Times called it "a breath-catching romantic fantasy." - GoodReads

Release Date: November 6, 2012

Im dying to read that as well!! But this week Im impatiently waiting on the release of book 2 in the Habitat Series by Kenya Wright.

 After Dante Bottelli’s slaughter of Vamp-owned Mixbreeds, Lanore and Zulu execute a well-planned attack that hits Dante where it hurts the most—his pockets. But their attack triggers a chain of unfortunate events, and allows Detective Rivera to blackmail Lanore.

Rivera forces Lanore to investigate his case, the Burning Bush murders. Someone's been tying girls to bushes and setting them on fire. Lanore must find the killer, or Rivera goes public with his information.

Meanwhile, Dante won't take his defeat without a fight. He counterattacks and the Santeria habitat, as well as Lanore’s and Zulu’s lives, are changed forever.

Release Date : August 2012

I can't wait.....

Review: Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Review: Insurgent by Veronica Roth
Release Date: May 1, 2012

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars


You know that book you read that you are so excited about that when you finish you run into your co-worker's office, book in hand, (Yes, I read on company time) and jump up and down until she gets off the phone and proceed to squeal with joy as she looks at you like she can't believe it's only 10:00 a.m. and you've already started drinking?....THIS IS THAT BOOK!!!!!



The story starts shortly after the ending of Divergent and Tris and "the gang" have fled from Abnegation and are on the run. After meeting up with the Factionless (who are surprisingly well organized), they decide to pay visit to the various other factions to see if they can drum up some kind of support to help in the war instigated by Erudite. While Tris is dealing with her feelings of guilt, loyalty, new love and a muriad of other conflicting feelings, their first stop is Amity (  AKA a Republican's worst nightmare). There they run into Marcus who lets them know that Erudite attacked Abnegation for a reason. A long time ago, Abnegation was entrusted with some extremely important information and Erudite wanted it. We do not find out this tidbit of info until the end of the book, but it's a doozy!!!!

Next stop, Candor... ( Side note: there is no way I could live here...If I had to be completely honest with my feelings about people I'd have zero friends and no job). There they run into Lynn, who has become one of my favorite characters in this book. While Tris is dealing with hostility from Christina and others over the death of Will, Lynn says the following line to Tris which cemented my respect for her:

" 'You are brave', she says.'You don't need me to say it, because you already know it.But I want you to know that I know.'
She is complimenting me, but I still feel like she has slapped me with something.
Then she adds, 'Don't mess it up!' "

I don't want to go into much more as there are many surprises along the way. However, I would be remiss in not mentioning Four/Tobias! God, I love this guy! Some of the sweetest moments occur between him and Tris. With the overwhelming gloom surrounding them, it makes it all the more precious. One of my favorite scenes between the two was this one:

" 'I love you', I say...........I am his and he is mine, and it has been that way all along.
He stares at me. I wait with my hands clutching his arms for stability as he considers his response.
He frowns at me. 'Say it again.'
'Tobias, I love you.' I say.
His skin is slippery with water and he smells like sweat and my shirt sticks to his arms when he slides them around me. He presses his face to my neck and kisses me right above the collarbone, kisses my cheek, kisses my lips.
'I love you, too,' he says.

I'm completely smitten with these two.

Insurgent ends in typical Veronica Roth fashion, with a cliffhanger. But a really, really good one, so it's impossible to be mad at her. I can't believe I have to wait another year for the final book, but if it's as good as this one then who cares.

Teaser Tuesday

 This weeks teaser comes from Bloodright by Karin Tabke. Book two in a hot and steamy paranormal romance trilogy that Iv completely fallen in love with!

 

Placing her bare foot on his chest, she plucked his gun from his hands and tossed it over her shoulder, then kicked him backward into the brush. His screams as Angor tore him apart set the hair on her neck on end. But she didn't let a little thing like that stop her. She was queen bitch, and she was going to wreck shop on these sons of bitches.

She smiled coyly. "Anyone else care to try me?"

Review: Bloodright by Karin Tabke

Bloodright by Karin Tabke
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

"You are much more than the woman i love; you are the mirror of my soul. We are one. The same."

Bloodright continues where Blood Law left off. With the Blood Law avenged, but not in the way Lucien has always wished. He takes Falon as his mate instead of killing her. Now Falon is whisked away to the Mondragon Pack with the rakish Lucien...but he's a temptation she is powerless to fight! Since the future of the Lycan race is in their hands she must become his mate and think of the Pack instead of herself. With the Blood Moon aproaching and the battle getting closer, Mondragon and Vulkasin must unite for them ever having a chance at defeating the Slayers.

This series really just set the bar for me! Lucien was so damned sexy and I found myself loving him more than Rafe. He really is misunderstood! And Falon...she really was just dumped into an impossible situation. She meets Rafe.... hellbent on sacrificing her to his brother for slaughter to rectify a blood feud she had nothing to do with....falling in love with Rafe. Then being offered up as a trophy to Lucien to be his mate.... then having to be his mate and put her feelings and broken heart aside for the good of the Lycan race. I really felt sorry for her especially knowing her feelings for Rafe and knowing that since the Blood Law was avenged he was to take another mate so Pack Vulkasin can flourish. Then her connection to Lucien grows deeper than she ever expected it to. And poor Lucien just wants someone to love him!

All in all, this was a great addition to the series and I cannot wait to find out what happens in the conclusion! I highly recommend this to fans of PNR...namely ones with shifters. This is a must read! I swear I gobbled it up in a day!


View all my reviews

Review: Blood Law by Karin Tabke

Blood Law by Karin Tabke
My rating: 5 of 5 stars


"By all that is holy, Falon, how can I not want to make love to you when your body calls to mine? How can I not think of making love to you when I see your love for me shine in your eyes? Tell me, how am I not to think of the most sacred act between a man and a woman when I am with you?" 
Hot tears burned her eyes. He kissed them away.
"My love, the day I stop thinking of having sex with you is the day you bury me."


Rafael and Lucien...twin brothers. One of light the other dark. Both...because of the slaughter of their parents when they were youths are both leaders of their pack. Upon returning from his spiritual request , Rafael discovers his brother under the thrall of a Slayer( the bane of their existence). Slayer's are magic wielding hunters of the Lycan kind and to lay with one is to die. Lucien has his heart set on marking the female Slayer as his mate but Rafe sees her for who she really is and murders rips our her heart while his brother is banging her.

Of course a huge battle between the brothers ensues and they almost kill each other. Lucien demands Blood Law...which means that once Rafe takes a mate she is Luciens to kill! An eye for an eye. So the division of the Packs has begun and the brothers are forever enemies. For years Rafe has refrained from taking a mate not wanting to give his brother the satisfaction. But a chance meeting with Falon has him torn. Time is running out...the final battle between the Slayers and the Lycans is fast approaching and the future of the entire Lycan  race is on Rafe's shoulders if he can sacrifice Falon to his brother.

I absolutely loved this book. Ima HUGE sucker for a good shifter book every since I read Shifter series by Rachel Vincent! But his one is way more steamier. The Lycan Lore in this world is pretty interesting. from the induction of the Slayers to the Packs as a unit. Since this blood feud between Rafe and Lucien Lycans are in danger of extinction. Since neither of them has taken a mate no others in the Pack can....the same goes for having children.

Rafe literally is backed against the wall. For 7years he's been adamant that his brothers would be mate was a Slayer. Lucien in his heart of hearts believes Rafe killed his mate, his love, so he can be the only Alpha. Then he meets Falon and initially is prepared to sacrifice her  so he can take a real Lycan mate and their Pack can flourish. But the more time he spends with Falon the more he starts to question giving her up!

Falon is no damsel by no stretch of the imagination. She's tough and has some nifty powers of her own. And once she learns of her proposed fate....she's not going down without a fight! I love that about her.

Lucien is not the only one who has his sights on Falon. Recognizing a fighter and a worthy mate in her own right but also wanting to get his revenge. An eye for an eye.

All in all, great start to a series that can also be in my top ten! It has everything a good PNR should have; hot, steamy sex scenes, intrigue, drama, blood, guts, Two Delicious Alpha Males, a Kick-Ass Alpha Female and a cliffhanger that will kill you!


View all my reviews

Review: Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris

Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Sookie's still living with her two fairy-kin. Someones trying to kill Sookie....big fucking surprise! She finds a secret letter from her Gran. Eric's hiding something, Pam is awesome, Bill still gets on my nerves....fucking pest! Victor is still around....Oh and Bubba makes an appearance!

THE END......

No seriously:

The first half of the book was uneventful...was like watching paint dry actually. But the last 100 pages or so were good...especially up til the end! I loved the battle at the end, nice and bloody! Eric was great...when he was around. I think my issues with this book is the dragging out with the fairy bullshit. I just wish the whole agenda gets resolved and whoever is really out to get Sookie will just get it done already!

What I found annoying was Sookie and her vacillating! She plans Victor's demise for how long? Then when the smoke clears she's "uneasy" about the results....actually pissed is more accurate. I just wish she would make up her mind and woman up! She's still her funny, sometimes bubbly self and at times judgmental. Especially when it came to Alcide....what he did was fucking dumb but saying that she didn't like who he has become....wah?? He's the head of his Pack....he has to have some kind of superiority...some swag! He can't be a push over still pinning for you, waiting for you to leave the fucking vamps alone can he??? I'm starting to question you Sookie......Hello!! Don't get me wrong...I do love Eric! And I want them to work. And Pam is just great but I just don't think they are conducive to her needs. Well what she believes she needs...a.k.a. family...kids, what not!

Although this was not one of my favorites of the series, Im still excited to find out where CH will take us with Sookie's story! Im PRAYING that Sookie doesn't end up with Sam! PLEASE PLEASE! Don't let it be that! I'm still holding out for Quin since at least he can give her kids and a normal lifel....for the most part.

View all my reviews

Manday Hotties

 Im back to posting Manday Hotties....hosted by Felicity Heaton. Hope yal enjoy my monday treat ;)

In My Mailbox

 A weekly meme where we share what we've bought, won, swapped or checked out this week.

Well I got a few reads this week. The most exciting being the newest Mortal Instrument book!

Oh and the newest by Tim O'Rourke....The 2nd series of Kiera Hudson....