Friday - Let's HOP!

Friday is the day when you can follow and hop amongst a great many blogs - I am planning to visit as many of the blogs I already follow as I can!  I will try to get to other blogs from the hop as well!

Be sure that you go check out as many blogs as you can during this great event day!

These are Friday events:

Friday Book Blogger Hop from Crazy-for-books

Friday Follow from Parajunkee's View

Friday's Finest from A Bookful of Thoughts

Friday's Fab Five from Froggarita's Bookcase

Friday Finds from Should Be Reading

Friday 56 from Storytime with Tonya

This weeks question is: Do you use a rating system? Why or why not?

I don't use a rating system.  I read for pleasure and my reviews are simply what I thought of the book.  I don't want to make more work out of the review by giving it a rating system - either I liked it or I didn't.  

Reading Update!

Here is another update in my reading progress - goal: 100 books in 2010.

My last update post had me at 67 books - click http://wormyhole.blogspot.com/2010/06/reading-update.html">here to see that post.

68. Desire Unchained by Larissa Ione

69. Passion Unleashed by Larissa Ione

70. Ecstacy Unveiled by Larissa Ione

71. On the Prowl by Karen MacInerney

72. The Hidden Queen by Alma Alexander

73. The Mane Squeeze by Shelly Laurenston

74. The Mane Attraction by Shelly Laurenston

75. The Beast in Him by Shelly Laurenston

76. The Mane Event by Shelly Laurenston

77. Beast Behaving Badly by Shelly Laurenston

78. A Safe Harbor: Building Sanctuary #1 by Moira Rogers

79. Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr

80. The Hunting Season: The Gathering by Shelly Laurenston

81. Luck of the Wolf by Susan Krinard

82. Wild Card by Moira Rogers

83. Calling the Bluff by Moira Rogers

84. Ante Up by Moira Rogers

85. Shapeshifter by Holly Bennett

86. Dark Deceptions by Dee Davis

87. Hunger by Jackie Morse Kessler

88. Branded (Fall of Angels) by Keary Taylor

89. Honor Bound by Moira Rogers

90. Sin Undone by Larissa Ione

Mini Review: Moira Rogers - Honor Bound!

Honor Bound by Moira Rogers

Amazon product description:

     Amaia accepts the right of the Demon Clans to rule the cities of America as they've done for centuries, but she can't understand her own clan's desire to exterminate even the werewolves who have retreated to the forests and into hiding. When her patrol squad catches a young wolf, terrified and alone, Amaia helps the girl escape torture and eventual death at the hands of her clan, even knowing the penalty for such treason is her own death.

     Orion has two things left in the world: his honor and his sister. When a gorgeous demon crashes into the middle of his pack with his terrified sister in tow and an elite squad of assassins on her heels, honor dictates he protect her. But his pack, weary from war, is more than willing to turn Amaia over in exchange for their own lives, even though demons are known for their willingness to betray.

     Amaia and Orion's only hope is to combine forces, an unheard of partnership between demon and werewolf made dangerous by their undeniable attraction. Orion may have the warrior skills necessary to defeat assassins, but can he trust his safety--and his heart--to a demon with the power to kill with a kiss?

This story by Moira Rogers is a short one - it's a super fast read!  As I said in my mini review of the series Down and Dirty - I dropped everything when I got this story on the Kindle and read it immediately!  I love Moira Rogers stuff.

My thoughts:  This is a great little story - the timeframe is demon fast! I think the whole story takes place in a day or two.  The characters are well formed and demand that you either love or hate them.  Amaia is brave, strong, and independent.  Orion is the dream guy that we all wish for. 

The plot is fast paced but seemingly well planned.  I love the modern setting that is eluded to.  All-in-all - a story worth reading!

Booking Through Thursday - - Giving up?

Booking Through Thursday is a weeking meme about books and reading!

This week they are asking us:

If you’re not enjoying a book, will you stop mid-way? Or do you push through to the end? What makes you decide to stop?

This is a great question - one I tend to deal with quite a bit.  I work in a middle school/high school media center and I spend all day trying to match up kids and books.  This can sometimes be difficult and so, I try to remind them that there are thousands of books and we WILL find one that they love!  My take on reading a book, any book, is that it should be a pleasure.  I realize that there are times when what you are reading is all about the class or the job or some such and those times it isn't all fun.  When you are talking about free reading, I believe you are talking about pleasure reading - hence my theory!  I encourage the students to give every book they decide to try a fair chance - at least 100 pages.  If after reading 100 pages or so, they don't enjoy the story, then bring it back and we will look for something else!  I believe that there is a book out there for EVERYONE - no matter how well or how much they read.  It's our job (as life long readers) to help them find it.

Personally, I rarely give up on any book.  There have been a few though that I just had to put down.  Usually if I give up on a book, I wait and try it again another day.  Sometimes I just have to be in the mood for a book - perhaps that day isn't a fantasy day or whatever.  I will give any book that I put aside at least three trys before I give up on it forever.

Review: Dark Deceptions by Dee Davis

Dark Deceptions by Dee Daivs
Amazon product description:
A-Tac is an elite CIA unit masquerading as faculty at an Ivy League college. Brilliant, badass, and seemingly bulletproof, the members of A-Tac are assigned to the riskiest missions and the most elusive targets. 

TORN BETWEEN DUTY AND DESIRE
Covert operations expert Nash Brennon has spent the last eight years trying to forget Annie Gallagher, his former field partner and the only woman he ever loved. Annie betrayed him when he needed her most, then vanished without a trace. Now suddenly she's back in the game - this time as a suspected traitor and threat to national security.
Annie's son has been kidnapped by political terrorists. The price for his life? Assassinate a UN ambassador. When Nash and his group find her, the smoldering passion between Annie and the man she swore she'd never contact again blazes out of control. But can Nash trust her? The stakes couldn?t be higher: Their enemy's endgame is personal, and one false move could cost them their lives.

My thoughts:  I started this book 3 times - I kept it as my purse book forever (which explains why I had to keep starting it).  I got to page 12 each time and then...back in my bag to wait for another chance.  So finally I took it out of my bag and brought it boating with me one day!  

Amazing!  When I took the time to sit down with this book - it was a fast, gripping read! I was so impressed.  Now that I sat down with it - I read it in one day!!!     So... 

The characters are great, I want to meet each one of them! The story rolls right along, holding you in your chair the whole time.  I found myself on an emotional roller coaster with Annie as we tried to save her son's life and keep her life from falling apart on so many levels!  The relationship with Nash is heartbreaking and hopeful.  As always, I am looking for "the ending" I have pictured in my mind for the whole story and in this book I was thrilled to see it come through!  Lots of twists and turns, intrigue and betrayal from fronts you would never expect.  If you like mystery/espionage you should check this one out!  I plan to get Dangerous Desires and Desperate Deeds too!

Review: Branded (Fall of Angels) by Keary Taylor

Branded: Fall of Angels by Keary Taylor

Amazon product description:

Night after night, Jessica stands trial before a council of vindictive angels for deeds she didn't commit. Condemnation brings a branding as they dementedly laugh and point but exaltation starts a war over her soul.

These are Jessica's nightmares.

Alex is everything Jessica could ever want and she'll do anything to be with him. Even tell him the truth about angels, why she never sleeps, and the scar on the back of her neck.

This is what she will fight for.

But the nightmares rule Jessica's life and she must find a way to stop the events that are pulling her toward her own judgment or become the object of her greatest fear. And lose Alex forever.

My thoughts:  

Why did I choose it:  I hate to admit it, but I tend to be a cover shopper. I know, I know... don't judge a book and all, but alas a good cover draws me to read the jacket and the jacket makes the sale!

What did I like about it:  

I loved the characters!  Alex is the man we all dream exists, but find only in stories.  Jessica is a fantastic character.  Sal is wonderful and Cole is something else all together.  Emily was a surprise, but I liked her too.

The story line is fantastic.  The idea of someone standing trial for others in a council of angels is one I have never read before.  I enjoyed the interactions between the characters and how the story developed and unfolded for us.  It moved enough to keep me up late turning pages!

My least favorite part?  Because I am forever looking for the ending that I decided HAD to happen when I start a book, I wasn't thrilled with the ending.  It was a good way to end the story, but I had hoped.... anyway - no spoiler.

It's worth a read - check it out!