CLICK HERE FOR BLOGGER TEMPLATES AND MYSPACE LAYOUTS »

Saturday, January 24, 2009

The Vampire Diaries: The Return: Nightfall Excerpt!

I regularly check out my favorite authors' sites, say, for instance: blue-succubus.livejournal.com for all that is Richelle Mead. Well, I also go on sites like ttales.net which is not only an awesome L.J. Smith fanfic site but also a very good--yet somewhat lazy--supplier of Smith's book news. And, today, I went on there and found this LINK for an excerpt of the new Vampire Diaries book. I, myself, was both exhilarated and excited. I read the excerpt and it was fantastic--just a small taste of what is to come next month!

Enjoy! Enjoy!

Tay-Toe

No, I'm still alive, guys.

Sorry for not posting all that much. I know that book reviewers like to review nearly every book they read... yeah, I'm not like that. And hey, I'm not strictly running a book blog. I just like to hear myself talk.
Anyway, I've been sick, reading, and writing. And doing various other things like trying to find out what site Amanda's Argyle Socks buddies are at. I've also been brushing up on my video gaming since reading all the time has gotten me out of the swing of things. Like I can, FINALLY, try once more on beginning a new file for Final Fantasy VII and see why every FF fan loves the game so much. I'll never really get the hang of FF 8, though. They might as well name the plot pretty good, but put the gaming part of it in the CRAP bin.
Yeah, so I'll just be talking about random things from now on. Possibly about books, but maybe not. Who knows? I do...


Tay-Toe

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

BRING IT!

Even though I have been dedicating a certain amount of my time to writing lately, I have the urge to kick my reading in to gear. And the best way to do that? To challenge someone, of course. And who better than That Teen? We have always been just a bit competitive with each other--which translates to hugely competitive. And since, hey, we like reading, we have challenged each other to see who can read the most books for 2009. For January, our goal is 15 books minimum, more if we want to win. Yeah, yeah, she's in the lead so far. Only by two or three though. I'll catch up. So, bring it on, Amanda. BRING IT!


I SHALL WIN!


Tay-Toe

Sunday, January 11, 2009

In My Mailbox

Ah, I was worried that I wouldn't have any books to show today, but my mailbox (ooh, nice joke) proved me wrong.

Just typical. No love life to speak of for months, then all at once, every horny creature in the Otherworld wants to get in your pants.
Eugenie Markham is a powerful shaman who does a brisk trade banishing spirits and fey who cross into the mortal world. Mercenary, yes, but a girl's got to eat. Her most recent case, however, is enough to ruin her appetite. Hired to find a teenager who has been taken to the Otherworld, Eugenie comes face to face with a startling prophecy-one that uncovers dark secrets about her past and claims that Eugenie's first-born will threaten the future of the world as she knows it.
Now Eugenie is a hot target for every ambitious demon and Otherworldy ne'er-do-well, and the ones who don't want to knock her up want her dead. Eugenie handles a Glock as smoothly as she wields a wand, but she needs some formidable allies for a job like this. She finds them in Dorian, a seductive fairy king with a taste for bondage, and Kiyo, a gorgeous shape-shifter who redefines animal attraction. But with enemies growing bolder and time running out, Eugenie realizes that the greatest danger is yet to come, and it lies in the dark powers that are stirring to life within her.


Yes, yes. It is an adult book. Well, it doesn't matter much to me. I am determined to try to read all books from the author that is Richelle Mead. Besides, I read the first chapter of the book on her site and found it...cute...? Yeah. So, I don't think my mind will shrivel away from bad words and suggestive situations.


LAURA DELACROIX BELL—this dazzling trust fund girl’s size 14 figure doesn’t stop her from attracting the sexiest scoundrel in town, or the admiring eye of the Glass Slipper Club. However, a salacious secret could take her out of the running.
Michelle “Mac” Mackenzie—brainy, cynical, and maybe a tad judgmental, Mac would rather bury her nose in a good book than embrace her deb destiny. But being a debutante was her late mother’s dream.
Ginger Fore—this adorable tree-hugger wants to wear her grandmother’s vintage ball gown instead of splurging on an expensive dress. Yet when she gets tangled up with an older guy, Ginger will have plenty more to think about.
Jo-Lynn Bidwill—a former child beauty queen, Jo-Lynn is a bitchy vamp who makes it her mission in life to take out the debu-trash. And Jo-Lynn’s sights are set on Laura Bell.

Well, this week has just been full of books Tay-Toe usually dosn't buy and long summaries, eh? This book isn't my usual cup of tea--whereas fantasy and supernatural books are--I think that I can manage reading a normal book of snotty chicks and actually enjoy myself. I've read good things about this book and I'm excited for when it is it's turn in my TBR pile.

Oh, and ha-ha-ha Debs. They made a funny. Right, call that Jo-Lynn chick a bitchy vamp because--what?--does she suck the life out of everything, maybe? Cute.

Hearts&Circles,
Tay-Toe

Saturday, January 10, 2009

Mmm. What was awesome in December.

Okay! So, we--hopefully--all know that last month was my super vampire month, right? Yeah, every (well, almost) day I (tried) to do something about vampires. Well, you can't expect that I didn't do some major reading during that month. And I did. I just...can't remember every book I read. I really need to write things down sometime. Anywho, I do have a small few books that I read during December that proves that I didn't slack. And they are awesome books. I'd buy them if I had the money. =)



A few nights after Jessica Day arrives in Bixby, Oklahoma, she wakes up at midnight to find the entire world frozen, except for her and a few others who call themselves 'midnighters'. Dark things haunt this midnight hour – dark things with a mysterious interest in Jessica. The question is why.



I had no idea what I was getting myself in to when I got this book from the library. I was desperate for some good reads. I continuously scour the library YA section for some good stuff. I always ignored Westerfield, though. I think that I seriously disliked him because I read the first chapter of Uglies and thought that it was some superficial crap. That explains my reluctance to read Midnighters. But I did and it is so original and cool and I love it. I cannot wait until my actual reading list had diminished so I can once again make the trip to my library to get the second book.




In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she is forced to represent her district in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before-and survival.



Just like Midnighters and the other book I'm going to list, I seriously have never read anything like this. This book came to my attention when I visited Stephenie Meyer's site and saw a post where it said that she liked the book. I looked it up and after a while decided that it wasn't for me. Regardless, I checked it out from the library and read it. It was great. Katniss was great, a true heroine to me and even though it was a life or death situation she still held compassion for one of her rivals in the Games and I respected her for that. And, I loved Peeta. He was, honestly, one of the greatest things in the Games for me. He was clever and protective for Katniss. I believed him instantly when he said that he loved her. I didn't believe that it was a ploy or strategy thing, like Katniss did. The ending broke my heart and I cannot wait until the sequal. I do say, though, that someone with a weak stomach shouldn't read this book. It gets pretty violent and bloody at times.

A modern girl's comedic odyssey in a school filled with the descendants of Greek gods.
When Phoebe's mom returns from Greece with a new husband and moves them to an island in the Aegean, Phoebe's plans for her senior year and track season are ancient history. Now she must attend the uberexclusive academy, where admission depends on pedigree, namely, ancestry from Zeus, Hera, and other Greek gods. That's right, they're real, not myth, and their teen descendants are like the classical heroes-supersmart and superbeautiful with a few superpowers. And now they're on her track team! Armed only with her Nikes and the will to win, Phoebe races to find her place among the gods.


I love mythology and this book was just a little treat for me--books? mythology? put them together for me and you've got one huge catagory that I love best. Almost more than my love for reading fantasy books. I loved each and every character. I couldn't relate to Phobe's love for running, but I could understand the determination she felt and the hostility towards people who didn't believe in her. I'm glad how she handles things and the ending was fantastic. I'd read it again, buy it, and read it once more. It's that good.


Hearts&Circles,
Tay-Toe

Monday, January 5, 2009

That's Awesome

I was searching iconator.com to find a new avatar for a new account I just made on fanfiction.net (yes, i'm that weird) and lookie what I found. (search: vampire)


Ohhhhh!!! Oh, that is rich. I feel better about the world, now. Thank you whoever made this. I'd steal from a leprechaun for you. Yeah, it's that big a deal. Leprechauns are vicious little buggers. Mmm. Irony. I love it.

Hearts&Circles,
Tay-Toe

Sunday, January 4, 2009

In My Mailbox

As if the name doesn't imply it, "In My Mailbox" is where book bloggers talk about all the fandangled books they got in the mail. Though...if one day I am so inclined to, I might just list bills, magazines, adds...but maybe not. And, though it's name is "In My Mailbox" that doesn't mean what we got came in our mailbox. Does anyone do a "In My Shopping Bag"? Because they should.


Da da da dahhhh. Books that came in to Borders that I ordered! Yay! Just got them today!


  • The Secret Circle: The Captive Part II and The Power by L.J. Smith
  • City Of Ashes by Cassandra Clare

I was so excited when my mom told me that Borders called! I ordered these on Monday since I was getting tired of waiting for Borders to re-stock since they were in post-Christmas frenzy. So, I called (first time I had done that (Actually I made my mom talk to them for the most of the ordeal.) and, honestly, talking to strangers on the phone to order books (an odd thing to do) is in the uncomfortable and awkward zone for me) and ordered the books, insisting that, yes, The Secret Circle were getting re-issued in an omnibus. Seriously, she wouldn't believe me but once she checked the computer it was all cool. Odd thing was was that the employee lady said that the Secret Circle actually came out on the 8th but they never had them in stock. Really? I know that Barnes and Noble and Borders aren't the same thing but shouldn't all books come out at the same time? B&N's site said it came out on the 26th... Oh, well. Point is, is that I got it! And City Of Ashes. God I love this series even though I just started (well, duh. City of Ashes is the second out of a three-book series.) but I am feeling some major hostility towards Cassandra Clare due to that last plot twist at the end of City Of Bones. *sigh* Jace is awesome. Funniest and coolest and hottest character I have encountered in a book so far. And I usually don't feel attatched to the fair and cocky ones. Dark haired and cocky sort of work sometimes, but...well, blond hair with guys is usually associated with the horrid jock and jerk-ness. I'm glad to say that doesn't apply with Jace. Yay. Simon is cool, too.

Anywho.

Gah! School is back on tomorrow! Nooooo...but break was going so good for me... *shrugs* had to happen eventually. But, still...frick.

Well, I have to go work on an art project. I hate perspective drawing. Bleh. Night, all!

Hearts&Circles,

Tay-Toe