Happy Birthday... To The Mad Scientist

Library Unveiled 

has been intruptted for this special announcement...

Recently the noise box has been claiming something rather huge:

The Mad Scientist has turned 30!!!

Yes, May 19th 2011 she has hit the majorly huge 3-0

Mad Scientist is now officially 30!

I decided that I should share a few fun Cakes with you all...

Steampunkery Cake!!

Zombie Head Cake

Giant Octopus Cake!  WOW!

A Brain Cake... Would you become a Cannibal for My B-Day?

And my favorite!  The Anatomical Heart!!

For all of these cakes and more just stop by Neatorama.

Which Cake Would You Want For Your Birthday??

Have a wonderful day!

Library Unveiled will be up and running for your enjoyment next week and every week after that!  :)

*shh*  Next weeks theme is going to be ebooks...

WoW ---> Zombies Sold Separately

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine spotlighting upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating.

Today's WoW is for this months theme for Morbid Romantica Challenge!

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Zombies Sold Separately (Night Tracker #4) --->

    Author:  Cheyenne McCray

         Publisher:  St. Martin's Press  --->   May 24st 2011

                Subject:   Zombies,Urban Fantasy, Horror, Paranormal Romance

                        Binding:  Paperback

                                  Pages:   352

GoodReads Blurb:

Meet Nyx. This half-human, half–Drow private eye investigates paranormal crimes by day and is an elite Tracker of demons by night. She prefers working solo—and playing rough. So when a terrifying force starts murdering innocent humans and paranorms, and leaving strange demonic symbols burned into their buildings, it’s a case Nyx takes very personally…
Meanwhile, Nyx’s fellow Trackers are being killed one by one—and a sexy new Tracker named Torin is shadowing her every move. Torin has powers Nyx can’t read, and sometimes she wonders whose side he’s on. Nyx’s instincts tell her something’s brewing in the city’s meanest supernatural streets, and that it’s ready to unleash hell on Earth. Who can she trust? Now it’s five minutes to permanent midnight…and Nyx’s last chance means risking everything—even her own life.

This Zombie delight will be coming out at the end of this month.  Just shy of our May's fleshy theme!  I've yet to read the first book but I have it on my desk.  I think Zombie eyes are staring at me, just waiting for my hands to lay upon the cover.  I'll have to peel back the flesh, excuse me, cover and see what fore is to be had!


To Link Your Zombie Reviews or to find some other Zombie related books head over to the

 Zombie is For May post.

Teaser Tuesday --> That of May 17th 2011

Source

Zombie Teaser Tuesday

I do believe it is time for some good old fashion Teasing!

Book Style!  The way we like it!

Hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. 

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Mad Scientist is Currently Reading Save My Soul (Preternaturals #2) by Zoe Winters.

Thanks to The Bookish Snob Promotions!

Hardcover Quote:

"Come on in, Father."  She stepped to the side and made a broad, sweeping motion that was meant to be welcoming, but from the expression on the priest's face, must have instead conveyed impending doom.  --- Page 58

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Steampunkery Teaser!

Are You Ready for a Zombie Apocalypse?

Source

Wonderful Zombie Month to all!!

Add Your Zombie Review or Other Morbid Romantica Challenges 

to the Link Up!

Book Review ---> Stay by Deb Caletti

Stay

By:  Deb Caletti

Published By:  Simon Pulse

Published Date:  April 15th 2011

Read via Nook Color

Tags:  Young Adult, Contempary Fiction, Abusive Relationship

First Lines:  First off, I never told this story to anyone.  Not the entire thing anyway, and not entirely truthfully either.

Why the Mad Scientist Read this Book:  I requested this ebook from Simon and Schuster's eGalley grab for something contempoary and intense.  Also, for the Morbid Romantica Challenge - Stalker Romantica theme.

Concoction of a Review:

First of all, I'd like to say Deb was really brave to write about such a taboo subject, terror to healing.  In this novel she takes the obsessive boyfriend that has been glorified in many YA books and shows the truth of the matter.  Obsessive relationships are not loving, actually they are the opposite.  However intense this book is, the writing is detailed and easy to read.  Your heart might pump a bit from the suspense of this scary situation but that is a good thing.  For the Mad Scientist at least!


This book has a rotating chapter setup; past and present.


Past:  Instant attraction!  Christian is pretty much literally crazy for Clara.  Sure he was a wonderful charming guy in the beginning... until he became co-dependent on her.  He does not have an assured self esteem which leads him to text, call, and follow Clara to no ends.  She moved and reacted in a way to prevent hurting his feelings or to cause a problem she knew would arise.  When you are put onto a pedestal you are slowly blinded because of the power "love".  This so called love started to smother Clara into noticing how much she actually walked on egg shells for Christian, instead of being herself.  Christian is inclined to different acts of desperation to get Clara to... Stay.

eARC & Tree Love!

Present:  The obsession became an escalated scary possible life threatening situation.  Her father said enough was enough, he moved them away to a small coastal city where no one knew who they were.  You could see their witty adorable banter and friendship.  We follow Clara through her healing process as she works through what has happened to her.


In the cute coastal town Clara edged around mending her heart and creating a friendship with a local sailer, Finn.  He was a wonderful cheerful lad who made me swoon for him just a bit.  Yes, I admit it.  However, I was surprised that the friendship started to blossom that had me shocked.  Such little time did Clara have from coming out of a destructive relationship where she still feared Christian to entering unrealistically fast into a new one with Finn.  I did enjoy Finn so.  Nonetheless, I felt the message being relayed said a new guy helps take care of the old one.  Hmm... I wholeheartedly disagree, I woman can be strong and amazing all on her own.  Trust me!  *wink wink*


Although, this story is tense and pulls on the heartstrings the footnotes that you find at the bottom are clearly quirky fun that are more then often going to make you laugh!  The Mad Scientist oh so enjoyed them!


Overall, Deb Caletti has a very well written story that has the past and present interwoven perfectly so that they are soon one in the same at the end.    

4.67 Blasts

Truthful, intense & amazing!  Engrossing & well written!  Why wouldn't you want to pick up this novel?

Challenges:

• Morbid Romantica - Stalker Romantica
• 2011 eBook Challenge
• Most Awaited YA Releases
• 111 in '11
• Reading Bucket List Challenge - Various Times

WoW ---> Zombie Newsflesh #2

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine spotlighting upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating.

Today's WoW is for this months theme for Morbid Romantica Challenge!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Deadline (Newsflesh #2) --->

    Author:  Mira Grant

         Publisher:  Orbit  --->   May 31st 2011

                Subject:   Zombies, Horror, Dystopia, Young Adult

                        Binding:  Paperback

                                  Pages:   560

GoodReads Blurb:

Shaun Mason is a man without a mission. Not even running the news organization he built with his sister has the same urgency as it used to. Playing with dead things just doesn't seem as fun when you've lost as much as he has.But when a CDC researcher fakes her own death and appears on his doorstep with a ravenous pack of zombies in tow, Shaun has a newfound interest in life. Because she brings news-he may have put down the monster who attacked them, but the conspiracy is far from dead.
Now, Shaun hits the road to find what truth can be found at the end of a shotgun.

This Zombie delight will be coming out at the end of this month.  Just shy of our May's fleshy theme!  I've yet to read the first book but I have it on my desk.  I think Zombie eyes are staring at me, just waiting for my hands to lay upon the cover.  I'll have to peel back the flesh, excuse me, cover and see what fore is to be had!


To Link Your Zombie Reviews or to find some other Zombie related books head over to the

 Zombie is For May post.

Teaser Tuesday ---> That of May 10th 2011

Zombie Teaser Tuesday

I do believe it is time for some good old fashion Teasing!

Book Style!  The way we like it!

Hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. 

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Mad Scientist is Currently Reading Zombie vs Unicorns by various authors like Cassandra Clare, Scott Westerfeld, & Carrie Ryan.

Hardcover Quote:

He swallows, his throat pushing against the blade.  Iza can hear the desperation in his voice, but that's nothing new.  The entire world is desperate.  --- Page 79

This quote is for Team Zombie!




~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Steampunkery Teaser!

Source

Are You Ready for a Zombie Apocalypse?

Wonderful Zombie Month to all!!

Add Your Zombie Review or Other Morbid Romantica Challenges 

to the Link Up!

Book Art Reveal ---> The Rift Walker by Clay & Susan Griffith

This morning is a very wonderful morning!!

Why you ask?

Of course, my lovelies you did not have to inquire.  

I was about to tell you!

I have the privilege to show you the cover art for the second book in the Vampire Empire Series!

If you have not noticed... I LOVED the first book so much that I had to make a Mad Love Rating!

Without Farther Ado...

The Book Art for The Rift Walker!

By Clay & Susan Griffith

  Synopsis:

Princess Adele struggles with a life of marriage and obligation as her Equatorian Empire and their American Republic allies stand on the brink of war against the vampire clans of the north. However, the alliance’s horrific

strategy for total victory drives Adele to abandon her duty and embark on a desperate quest to keep her nation from staining its hands with genocide. Reunited with her great love, the mysterious adventurer known to the

world as the Greyfriar, Adele is pursued by her own people as well as her vengeful husband, Senator Clark.  With the human alliance in disarray, Prince Cesare, lord of the British vampire clan, seizes the initiative and

strikes at the very heart of Equatoria.

As Adele labors to bring order to her world, she learns more about the strange powers she exhibited in the north. Her teacher, Mamoru, leads a secret cabal of geomancers who believe Adele is the one who can touch the vast power of the Earth that surges through ley lines and wells up at the rifts where the lines meet. These energies are the key to defeating the enemy of mankind, and if Princess Adele could ever bring this power under her command, she could be death to vampires. But such a victory will also cost the life of Adele’s beloved Greyfriar.

The Rift Walker is the second book in a trilogy of high adventure and alternate history. Combining rousing pulp action with steampunk style, the Vampire Empire series brings epic political themes to life within a story of heartbreaking romance, sacrifice, and heroism.

Please do stop by and visit my review of Book One: The Greyfriar!

You might see why I loved the book so and why I can hardly wait for this book to come out in September!  It is almost too long to wait!!

Book Review ---> I Kissed A Zombie And I Liked It by Adam Selzer

I Kissed A Zombie and I Liked It

By:  Adam Selzer
Published By: Delacorte Books
Published Date:  January 2010

Read Via Nook

Tags:  Zombies, Vampires, Young Adult, Paranormal Romance

First Line:  Watching a vampire make out with an idiot is kind of like going to the farmer's market and noticing just how many farmers have lost fingers in on-the job accidents.  Even though it's kind of disturbing, it's impossible to look away. 

Why the Mad Scientist Read this Book:  I admit that the Mad Scientist read this book because it looked like a fun fluffy read and I needed that type of book to fit my mood.

Concoction of a Review:

I Kissed a Zombie and I Liked It is not a literary masterpiece or a Halloween masterpiece for that fact.  It is a fun, facetious take on the young adult genre.  Selzer takes teen trends, pop culture and the vampire craze that swept the nation as of late and twisted it together with irony and funny prose.  As a person who is intertwined with a different age, I do not see the cleverness behind the pop culture reference standing up to the test of time.

Algonquin, otherwise known as Alley or Ice Queen of the Vicious Circle, spends her days coming up with witty one liners and working on the high school newspaper (blog).  She is a very negative goose when it comes to courting and love.  The Ice Queen does not want to get emotionally tangled with anyone.  To temper the loneliness she uses and tosses poor boys aside.  *tsk tsk*  She also has the pessimistic side to life, everything will be better once I move out of this forsaken city.  *sigh*  These young wiper snappers do not realize that the grass is hardly greener elsewhere.

Her eyes open up and take a new brightness when she meets Doug, a goth who makes an appearance singing for the towns crappiest band, the Sorry Marios.  Ice Alley starts to melt along with her reputation, from the first note she hears come out of Doug's mouth.  Everything who she is becomes insignificant.  She soon becomes one of those doe eyed girls who changes their skeptical outlook a the sight of good man Zombie.  Now she needs to figure out about interspecies dating.  *Gasps*

There were a few parts where Alley was torn over the things she wanted in life and Doug.  I found it rather interesting to watch her make tough decision about her love life.  This book brought me back a few centuries to when I was young lady in waiting.  We did not have these types of problems to face but those are the days that shape us into the people we will become.

Ah, the ending.    *Holds hand to chest*  Ladies and Gentleman... the ending was a bit surprising.  Even though I was shocked,  Selzer did some great tinkering and wrapped up the story beautifully.  This book was a sweetly spun first love romance threaded with a number of paranormal allusions. 

3.1 Blasts

While being mildly fun, this was a quick book to read on a different Zombie spin.  Can Zombies fall in love?  Now that is the Question!

Quotes:

 "If you really like someone, it doesn't matter what their mouth feels or tastes like.  The kiss is still awesome." 

"I didn't think it was possible, but the guy is both a wiener and a dick."

"You're just jealous, Alley," says Marie.  "Can you honestly tell me that if some guy rose from the grave and spent a hundred lonely years looking for just the right person, then fell for you, you wouldn't think that was totally romantic?"  "I'd think he was a stalker," I say.

*Morbid Romantica Challenge!*

Add Your Zombie Review or Other Morbid Romantica Challenges 

to the Link Up!

Fashion Friday = Zombie Heels!

Now you may wonder...

What in this era is the Mad Scientist talking about this time?

Well, heels that are just too dead flesh amazing for me not to share with all of my lovelies!

*Just in case you need to stomp on a Zombie or two!*

Sinister Soles

The Zombie Zone

Adventures!

Zombie Stomper Platforms!

With cupcakes!

The Bleeder Platforms

Well, my dears... there are so many zombie heels out there that I could of been searching for hours.  However, I just wanted to give you a taste to take your mind off of brains!

Or the Book Review you desperately need to finish!

Like me!

*Waggles Eyebrow*

Now I bid you Farewell,

Until Next Apocalypse!

Library Unveiled (5)

*I'm sorry this MeMe is a tad late this week.*

Don't know what is in your library?

Want to share your books with others?

Curious to know what is in other libraries?

I am quite sure that I am not the only mad person who has spent time strolling through another virtual library or digging through my own looking for the next beloved book to dive into or add to my wondrously long wishlist.

The Mad Scientist is also quite sure that with being surrounded by many many bound books that I am in no need of desiring more on a continuous scale that borders obsession.  Of course, I really do not mean that...

Library Unveiled will allow you to share your personal library, bound or virtual, with the Mad Scientist and other bloggers.

Every Thursday stop by and share 5 books & perhaps a snippet of your thoughts or link to a review.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This week's theme:

Zombies for May's Morbid Romantica Challenge (2011) 

You can link up your Zombie Reviews Here! 

1.)  Zombies vs Unicorns Edited by Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier is a bound book of short stories by various authors who have written a tribute to their team.  Have you decided?  Are you Team Zombie or perhaps you are more of a Purist siding with Team Unicorn?

I'm currently undecided as to which team the Mad Scientist will support.  Perhaps, once I complete this hardcover beauty I will know!

If you are curious about what Team Unicorn has to offer I have a wonderful teaser devoted to them.  Next week I'll have a Team Zombie teaser up!

2.)  Zombies:  Encounters with the Hungry Dead Edited by John Skipp is also a bound anthology of Zombie short stories.  Does this cover not look completely creepy.  I happened across this huge book, 700+ pages, for sale for 10 dollars at Borders one day.  I couldn't resist!  

I fear this one will take me awhile to get through.  I'll have to go for a short story every couple of nights and report on those instead of the book as a whole. 

3.)  World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks.  Thanks to Oneillej who so kindly put this book onto GoodReads swap and accepted my request. 

I'm really unsure of what this book will entail but the title gives me a hint and I'm on the edge of my seat waiting to read this gore ridden tale of shambling Zombies and the rush to save humanity!

4.)  Zombie Blondes by Brian James... I know!  Not a typical Mad Scientist sort of book.  It also barely fits in with these tales but alas it sits on my shelf.  Why?  Hmm... honestly I'm not sure.  The title must of peaked my interest enough to include it with several other books I requested from swap.  Thanks to Ashley who can be found at Ashley's Bookshelf.

This tale could possibly be found reviewed nearer the end of the month.

5.)  Patient Zero by Jonathan Maberry.  I saved this one for last!  I'm most excited to read this one!  Look at that cover!  I hope to find some outstanding Zombie carnage in this one!

I also had his YA book Rot and Ruin, sadly, a Zombie loving friend swiped it from my shelf to "borrow".  *tear*  With much bitterness, I decided that it would never see its home once again, so I gracefully told her to accept it as a gift (since the Mad Scientist does have a graciousness meter tucked away in the bowels of the rib cage).

I do believe this will be my next Zombie read unless any of my beloved followers suggest I read a different Zombie book before hand.

Well, my lovelies!

There are 5 books that can be found in my library!

What is on your shelf?

*Book Titles are Linked to GoodReads for Your Convince*