Trek’s collecting Box Tops for Education again and is holding a contest through the end of February as part of it.
Wendy’s giving away a Signe mitten kit – leave a comment by 4 pm, EST, January 29, to be entered in the contest.
Knittymama’s hosting the Knitter’s Coffee Swap again and there might even be a few spots left!
Reading Update
Angel’s Blood (A Guild Hunter Novel) by Nalini Singh. Please note that I received this as a bound galley in a contest held by the author and as part of that have promised to write something a bit longer more than my usual “short, pithy reviews.” The book will be available in early March.
Wow. I haven’t read any of Singh’s previous books as her Psy-Changeling series never intrigued me, but after discovering how involving and well-written Angels’ Blood was, I have to admit that I’ll be checking out more of Singh’s other work.
Some basics – this is the story of Elena, who’s a natural born vampire hunter living and working in New York City. Vampires are created by angels (who are not the usual heavenly host) and in payment for the angels’ doing so, vampires are basically indentured for the first 100 years of their lives. When vampires renege on their service, it’s up to Elena and the others in her guild to track them down. I didn’t get totally sucked in until the second half of the book (after all the story set up was complete), at which point I could not put it down.
I don’t want to tell you too much about the plot because I personally hate hearing a lot about a book before I read it, beyond someone I trust telling me it’s worth my time. So, if you enjoy paranormal romance, this book is definitely worth your time.
Demon’s Kiss (Compact of Sorcerers, Book 1) by Eve Silver. Hmm. I’ll give this series a book or two to see if the writing smooths out a bit.
Passionate Thirst, Luscious Craving, and Eternal Hunger (Candace Steele, Vampire Killer, Books 1-3) by Cameron Dean. This is a trilogy. This is only a trilogy. I’m ambivalent about it. It was a decent read, but the ending of the final book frustrated me.
My Sister Is a Werewolf (The Young Brothers, Book 4) by Kathy Love. I actually read this a year or so ago, but hadn’t read the first three books. Definitely got more out of it this time. A quick, fun, chick litty paranormal romance.
Over the Moon by Angela Knight, MaryJanice Davidson, Virginia Kantra, and Sunny. Ok collection of werewolf stories, although I confess to not reading the story by Sunny, because I would really need to read the prior books in her Mona Lisa series for it to make sense.
Season of Strangers by Kat Martin. Not your usual paranormal romance – no vampires or werewolves at all! This was about alien abductions.
The Twilight Before Christmas and Dangerous Tides (Drake Sisters, Books 2 and 4) by Christine Feehan. The Drake Sisters are seven daughters of a seventh daughter and they all have mysterious powers. This reminds me a lot of something Nora Roberts might have written, although the writing isn’t quite as smooth as The Nora.
I was at Ridgedale Library last week and found an interesting display in the young adults section – Love Bites (Vampire Love), complete with vampire reading list and a tub of plastic fangs to take home. How could I resist?!
*sniff sniff sniff* -Mayhem
“I’m waiting to see if those things snap onto your nose before I get any closer, Mayhem.” -Chaos
“Well, May’s ok, so they must not be dangerous.” -Chaos
“What the heck are they, anyway?” -Chaos
“I have no idea either, big kitty!” -Mayhem
“Well, let’s see how they taste. Maybe they’re kitty treats.” -Chaos
“Mmmm… kitty treats…” -Mayhem
“Nope, they sure aren’t kitty treats. I’m stumped.” -Chaos
“Me, too, big kitty! These things are silly.” -Mayhem
There is a ton of paranormal romance out there! I have read most of the Anita Blake novels and some other random books, but I’ve gotten tired of how perfect most of the supernaturals are. I keep thinking I should write one of my own, and there would be a huge host of flaws everywhere!
Those cats are too funny. So intent on plastic fangs!
You know, I’m glad to know that my guys aren’t the only ones who find the smallest things fascinating!
And the bloody paper came from where????
That’s the book list from the library teen section!
What a hoot! I like the Ridgedale Library even more now.
What a cool library–that’s the way to rope teens in to reading, by playing off of what’s “in” at the moment.
Thanks for the contest links, as always!
That first book looks particularly interesting. I just read a Feehan novel, and I think you summed it up perfectly–like Norah Roberts, but not as smooth. I wondered if her others were like that…the characters were interesting though.
Ha, thank you! I was thinking of the Drake Sisters the other day, but couldn’t remember what the series was called.
Yep, the difference between cats and dogs. If Ozzie saw those on the ground, snik-snak, they’d be gone and I wouldn’t see them until I was cleaning up the yard a few days later!
I can’t stand it when I read a book review that tells too much…kinda kills the purpose of reading the book if you ask me. I need to do my reading update too – sooo many books, soo little time.
My library isn’t that cool! Mayhem is looking a bit worried.
Chris- At the risk of dating myself, I think one of the all-time best Vampire books is Salem’s Lot.
It scared the crap out of me. Wouldn’t you love to put the fangs in at work and see how many people notice?
I like the polydactyl kitty picture.
Chaos and Mayhem are so curious!
I saw that LOLcats last night – I love the kitty mittens!
Did that paper come bloodspattered? I hope so! LOL
Have I ever said how it tickles me when May calls Chaos “Big kitty”?
Yes Mayhem, htey ARE silly. Surely by now you realize that hoomans do silly things sometimes?
May and Chaos are intimating, I believe, “Hey, we already have REAL fangs!” (as seen previously on these very pages!)
P.S. Re: the post title: Books With Bite is much better than Books That Bite, eh? Or Books That Suck, for that matter!
I’m dying for the two Nalini Singh books this year!
I got Hostage to Pleasure from her contest last summer but didn’t make the cut for Angels’ Blood. 🙁
see i was hoping for a shot of you biting your cats with the fangs
Can’t fool a cat. Do yours have that opposable thumb yet? Scary stuff!
Those Signe mittens are really pretty!
Vampires. [sniff]. Werewolves!!
I’m picturing the cats wearing the fangs now….You know they must get up to some crazy stuff when your back is turned.
you need to drink a little catnip tea while wearing those teeth, and then your kids would have at them! Hmmm… black kitties, black sweater, black kitty bed….???
Wow, fangs and bloody paper. At least Chaos didn’t try them on.
They were so interested in those fangs!
Hehe 🙂 Those two are so funny. Chaos has fangs enough already.
Darn it. Now I have yet another book to add to the TBR list.
If I had more coffee in me and a couple of hours I’d be photoshopping some plastic vampire teeth into a cat. But alas, I must get ready for work…
Those cats are too funny. Vampire books are the latest teen craze, my library has a whole display section on them, but no teeth!!!!!
Well, that’s one New Year’s Resolution down. Nine to go.
hilarious cat picks