How TWILIGHT Should Have Been Written: Review

dear readers, 

Ever feel like the teen angst and whining in the Twilight was going make you crawl the walls?  Not that it is a bad series it just felt simplistic, unedited and a lacked passion.  The kind of love that when you shut the book it makes you swoon a bit.  I have the solution of you...

THE DISCOVERY OF WITCHES 
(All Souls Trilogy: Book 1) 
written by Deborah Harkness
genre: fantasy, paranormal, romance, historical, literature

4 STARS

An epic forbidden relationship between a powerful Witch and ancient Vampire. It had Daemons, Witches and Vampires picking sides - for or against mixing of supernaturals. Enemies from all sides...threatening notes, kidnapping, stalking and murders. That is just the first part of the long yet quick novel.
It is a well written story that takes you away to another world and holds you a voluntary prisoner till the end! There is no flat love triangle or disturbing relationships. The characters are lively and jump from the pages.  And, the love...there is longing where he tries to keep her away from his dark side, but the push and pull has passion behind it.
 Matthew should be added to the list of tasty vampire men - handsome, worldly and of course brooding.   Diana, the hesitant witch, is his love and a strong heroine.  Did I mention this is only book one in the series?

*The Discovery of Witches was published February 2011.

http://deborahharkness.com/discovery-of-witches/

I am currently reading FALLEN (Book 1) by Lauren Kate another teen paranormal novel.  I am only halfway in the book and still in suspense.  This might be another good teen novel - will keep you posted.

love, 
kris

Lady Emily vs Lady Julia...Part II (A Review of Two Series)

dear readers,

AND IN THIS CORNER WE HAVE LADY JULIA...

SILENT IN THE GRAVE 

written by Deanna Raybourn

(Book 1)
genre: historical mystery, gothic

3.5 STARS

Lady Julia Grey's husband and childhood sweetheart, Edward, has died and she has set in for the year of mourning and taking care of the heir Sir Simon Grey.  On the day of her husband's death she meet the mysterious Nicholas Brisbane who claims he was hired by Edward and he may been been murdered.  She pushes those thoughts aside until discovers the threatening letters and forges ahead to solve a mystery that may not exist.

I loved Tasha Alexander's Lady Emily mysteries and found Lady Julia a good read while I wait for more Emily.  Set in Victorian times - Julia is apart of the eccentric March family whom I fell in love with and the servants were not lumped together as cardborad characters.  It is a fun historical mystery/romance.

link to summary: http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/r/deanna-raybourn/silent-in-grave.htm

I have rest of the books on hold to read soon.  I will post links to my reviews when I have read them for those interested.

http://www.shelfari.com/books/3552591/Silent-in-the-Sanctuary/readers-reviews

Book 3: Silent on the Moor

Book 4: Dark Road to Darjeeling

Book 5: The Dark Enquiry

COMING SOON:

SILENT NIGHT 

(A Novella)

'Tis the season for an investigation! Lady Julia and Nicholas Brisbane return for a Christmas caper at Bellmont Abbey - .

After a year of marriage - and numerous adventures - Lady Julia and Brisbane hope for a quiet, intimate Christmas together - until they find themselves at her father's ancestral estate, Bellmont Abbey, with her eccentric family and a menagerie of animals.

Nevertheless, Julia looks forward to a lively family gathering - but amongst the celebrations, a mystery stirs. There are missing jewels, new faces at the Abbey, and a prowling ghost that brings back unwelcome memories from a previous holiday - one that turned deadly. Is a new culprit recreating 

When it comes to the first books in the series Lady Julia kicks Lady Emily's butt by .5 stars.  Alexander's series is mostly focused on Emily and then her relationship with the Queen's agent, Colin.  Raybourn, on the other hand, focuses on Julia and her family.  There is an attraction between Julia and private investigator, Nicholas and I find it to be more interesting.  Nicholas is mysterious and we only get his story in strands. In real life you may want to be married to Colin, but when it comes to novels you definitely want to fantasize about Nicholas. 

Julia's family plays a bigger part in the book which adds to the book's flavour; Emily's parents seem a bit more bland.  Raybourn's novel is a bit more dark and mystical - think Sherlock Holmes (novels not movies) mixed with Bronte, and Alexander's novel is more women's rights and adventure - think Arthur Conan Doyle's Lost World mixed with Jane Austen.  I liked both books for what they were and if I had to pick, "Silent in the Grave" was the better of the two.  As for series...stay tuned.crimes of the past? And will Brisbane let Julia investigate - ? 

love, 
kris

Lady Emily versus Lady Julia.... (A Review of Two Series)

dear readers,

IN THIS CORNER WE HAVE LADY EMILY ASHTON...

                       AND ONLY TO DECEIVE 

(Book 1)

written by TASHA ALEXANDER

genre: victorian era, historical mystery, romance

3.5 STARS      

Lady Emily Ashton's (nee Bromley) character grows as the novel progresses but women's lib kind of knocks you too often in the head. As this takes place in the Victorian era I can see why this would be a big issue, but I think it would been better as a show then tell.  A great Victorian mystery and is believable.  Philip Ashton while on a hunting trip dies of a fever, but while Emily is in mourning she discovers who her husband really was and whether he was actually murdered.

link to summary: http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/a/tasha-alexander/and-only-to-deceive.htm

I have read the rest of the series and am up to date...

http://www.shelfari.com/books/1234493/A-Poisoned-Season/readers-reviews

http://www.shelfari.com/books/3610114/A-Fatal-Waltz/readers-reviews

http://www.shelfari.com/books/5408102/Tears-of-Pearl/readers-reviews

http://www.shelfari.com/books/14865115/Dangerous-to-Know/readers-reviews

http://www.shelfari.com/books/22536429/A-Crimson-Warning/readers-reviews

COMING SOON:

Book 7 in the Lady Emily Series

SYNOPSIS: Years ago, Emily's childum, scandalized polite society when she eloped to Venice with an Italian count. But now her father-in-law lies murdered, and her husband has vanished. There's no one Emma can turn to for help but Emily, who leaves at once with her husband, the dashing Colin Hargreaves, for Venice. There, her investigations take her from opulent palazzi to slums, libraries, and bordellos. Emily soon realizes that to solve the present day crime, she must first unravel a centuries old puzzle. But the past does not give up its secrets easily, especially when these revelations might threaten the interests go, Emily's childhood nemesis, Emma Callum, scandalized polite society when she eloped to Venice with an Italian count. But now her father-in-law lies murdered, and her husband has vanished. There's no one Emma can turn to for help but Emily, who leaves at once with her husband, the dashing Colin Hargreaves, for Venice. There, her investigations take her from opulent palazzi to slums, libraries, and bordellos. Emily soon realizes that to solve the present day crime, she must first unravel a centuries old puzzle. But the past does not give up its secrets easily, especially when these revelations might threaten the interests of some very powerful people.

love, 
kris

Meet Me in Shelfari

dear readers,

I use Shelfari for keeping track of books that I have read, am reading and plan to read and books I own and wish to own.  Each book that I have read has a rating and at least a sentence on why I liked or didn't like the book.  I have written longer reviews for the books I have read recently.  I will be adding many links from my Shelfari page in this blog.

I use Shelfari daily for book group discussions.  I have to say they are quite amazing.  That is all I am going to say as I think you should explore it yourself.

http://www.shelfari.com/kkaila22

love, 
kris

P.S. Reviews are out of 5 STARS (5 being the highest quality)

Behind the Curtain

dear readers,

You must be wondering...

"Who is the rambler behind this blog?"

That would be me, Kris from beautiful British Columbia, Canada.  I am female and in my early 30s and have been a reader all my life.  My first book from the library was an art book on Leonardo Da Vinci that weighed more than I did.  From that moment I was hooked on books, and learned to read from memorizing words from books my dad read me before bed.  And, the moment I got the hang of the reading thing I was off and reading.

My parents have always been great...taking me to library and listening to me go on and on about a book I just finished.  Usually on Friday evening I would be sitting by the door with my library bag and card in hand waiting for my dad.  He would open the door see me sitting there smile and sigh at the same time.  I would run ahead eager to go through the shelves.  My dad would sit and read his newspaper while I explored.  30 minutes later I would be standing in front of him with a pile of books I could barely carry.  On the way home I would read the jacket synopsis to him.  When my dad worked night shifts my mom would take me on the bus to the library so that I was never with out books.  When we could afford it they would always buy me something to add to my library.  It is due to them I am able to travel to different worlds without leaving my armchair.

My first job was working as a Page (shelving and organizing books) at a library and it was a great place to be exposed to books and readers.  It would be my second job at a local bookstore that would let me absorb a lot of knowledge surrounding books, authors, series, genres, etc.  The owners were...not much of readers but my co-workers were amazing.  They were true book lovers and finally I had people I could talk books with who understood my passion and what I was saying.  As talking books while working was actually frowned upon some of us formed a book club and this February it will be our ninth year.

Just when I thought I was fulfilled I came across Shelfari and it has changed my reading life.  I have found some book soul mates who understand and share my passion with books and reading.  They even accept my anal need to read series in exact order.  I am most grateful for their recommendations and have become less snobby but more critical (this will make more sense later).

love, 
kris

Hi, I'm Kris and I am a book addict...

dear readers,

Do you find yourself buying more books then you read?

Do you have more one TBR (To Be Read) list going at a time?

 

Are you avoiding or canceling plans  to finish your book?

Are you currently reading more than one book...oh, and another on audio and another on your eReader?

Other than your wallet - is the first thing you grab on your way out a book(s)?

Are you now storing books under your bed because your shelf has no more nooks to cram more books in?

If you answered yes to any of these questions...you are a book addict!  

Do not fret I am here to help.  Well, sort of.  I am starting this blog as a forum to meet other book addicts and discuss the wonderful world of the written word.  I will be posting my reviews of books I read - take them as you will.  The only people that can understand this affliction are other book addicts.

So come join in the mayhem...

love, 
kris