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Mad Travels, Book Reviews, Photography, Wold Domination & Other Most Desirable Posts by A Mad Scientist
Friday, September 30, 2011
TBR - October 2011
A wonderful afternoon to you my dear.
Here is my very eager reading list for this month.
In no particular order at all.
Tis true I wont get to all of these...
The Mad Scientist is Mad not Psychotic.
I hope that some of my selections will get me into the creepy feeling of All Hallows Eve!
Click on any title and it will take you to the GoodReads page if you would like to see what they are all about.
If you have a book you think the Mad Scientist should put in front of other please do let me know. Provide a link to your review if you would like :)
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Adult:
Grave Witch (Alex Craft #1) by Kalayna Price
Moon Called (Mercedes Thompson #1) by Patricia Briggs
(Gifts from a dear friend!)
Vampire Empire - Book Two: The Rift Walker by Clay & Susan Griffith
(For Review from Prometheus Books)
The Iron Duke (Iron Seas #1) by Meljean Brook
(Purchased)
ARC:
Bloodspell (Bloodspell #1) by Amalie Howard
(Swapped)
The Apothecary by Maile Meloy
(BEA 2011)
Crave (The Clann #1) by Melissa Darnell
Bite Me (Demon Underground #1) by Parker Blue
(NetGalley ---> Not Pictured... On the Kindle or Nook)
Young Adult:
Cirque Du Freak: A Living Nightmare by Darren Shan
Desires of the Dead (The Body Finder #2) by Kimberly Derting
Dusty City by Robert Paul Weston
(Purchased)
She Smells The Dead (Spirit Guide #1) by E.J. Stevens
Dracula In Love by Karen Essex
(Swapped)
Anthologies:
Zombies Vs Unicorns Edited by ---> Holly Black & Justine Larbalestier
Zombies: Encounters with the Hungry Dead Edited ---> John Skipp
(Purchased)
Extras that I completed that were not on the list:
Extras that I completed that were not on the list:
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Books Completed in September!!
Linked to my Reviews...
1.) Tracking the Tempest (Jane True #2) by Nicole Peeler
2.) Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices #1) by Cassandra Clare
3.) {ARC} Shut Out by Kody Keplinger ---> Review to Come
4.) Once in A Full Moon (Full Moon #1) by Ellen Schreiber
5.) Firelight (Firelight #1) by Sophie Jordan ---> Review to Come
6.) Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion ---> Review to Come
7.) Ten Things We Did ( & Probably Shouldn't Have) by Sarah Mlynowski ---> Review to Come
8.) {ARC} Every Other Day by Jennifer Lynn Barnes ---> Review to Come
9.) Legend (Legend #1) by Marie Lu ---> Review to Come
10.) {ARC} The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
{ARC} Book Review ---> The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer
(Mara Dyer #1)
By: Michelle Hodkin
Published By: Simon & Schuster Children's PublishingPublished Date: November 2011Pages: Hardcover 450Read: August 2011
Tags: Young Adult, Fantasy Fiction, Paranormal Romance, Suspense, Contemporary, Supernatural, MysteryBook Cover Rating: 5
Why the Mad Scientist read this book: Picked up an ARC from BEA 2011. I set this one aside because I had no real interest in it. I was wrong.
First Lines: My mother thinks I'm dead.
Concoction of a Review:
The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer was just a utterly beautiful read. I do believe it rivals my blood red silver tipped parasol and that is something!
I admit that it is going to be rather hard to review this twisted tale without revealing too much of the goodness. I LOVED the book so I have to gush about it. Just a tad.
The best thing about this book... It is full of Crazy!!
Mara is a dark haired beauty who has hallucinations, hears voices of her dead friends, and unexpected things are happening to her. *sips tea*l Mara? What can the Mad Scientist say? She is just a little on the psychotic side. Why? Her best friend, boyfriend, and a friend all went to the great beyond when the abandoned asylum collapsed on them while they were searching for paranormal activity.
What!?!
How did the building just collapse? What if she is the only one who knows what happened? What if she cannot remember what really happened?
Would you want to remember?
Mara's family move to Florida to get away from what happened. Attempting at normal life did not work out so well for her. She becomes the new target for the snotty prep queen of the school, Anna. *Grr...* Leave Mara alone! Psychotic episodes start to happen. She does not know what is real or not. Neither did I!! I LOVED it!!
"Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, and all that jazz. Anna used to be the abstinence poster girl, but post-Shaw, you could write a comic book about the many adventures of her vagina. It could wear a cape."
-- Page 41
Time to swoon!! *Fans Self* Yes, even deeply troubled girls deserve some European tousled hair hunk to look at. Noah Shaw is just the lad for this!! He is an arrogant ASS who happens to just be about the most sexy thing described lately. He is a rumpled sight who just rolls out of bed. Gorgeous tousled messy hair. His contemptuous presumptuous ASS did not turn me away.
Here is how I picture Noah Shaw: As William Moseley...
Lucky for the reader there is No love at first sight! The romance builds up very slowly. The sexual tension even had me on edge! I loved how Mara brushed him off like he was NOT a swoonworthy mess!! I must say... it is strong of her to be cautious instead of flouncing to his side like a ninny.
"How is it that you have friends, Noah?"
"I ask myself that daily." He chomped down on the plastic straw.
"Seriously. Inquiring minds want to know."
-- Page 192
**Side Note: The Mad Scientist has a secret crush on High King Peter! I watched the Chronicles of Narnia just to stare at him! I'd love to mess up that hair!**
*Swoon*
"Your're distracting," I said truthfully.
"I won't be. I promise," Noah said. "I'll get some crayons and draw quietly. Alone. In a corner."
Michelle Hodkin's story had the Mad Scientist at every page. What an amazing debut and I am trying not to be torn because I want book two now!! The story had me sending mental hugs to Mara and dreaming of dear Noah. Plus all of the other characters were so well developed that I truly enjoyed them all. Even her overprotective brother. The story was sprinkled with Mara's snark which broke up the seriousness of the suspense novel.
Overall, it is safe to say that The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer is easily going to be my favorite read of the year.
Best Suspense Novel of 2011!!
*Just an after thought... but when I seen this picture I though this is Mara and Noah!
Anna Popplewell would make a beautiful Mara.
What do you think? Would these two work for this epic story? *
Anna Popplewell would make a beautiful Mara.
What do you think? Would these two work for this epic story? *
This book is out now. Go buy it because the Mad Scientist could sum them book up with three letters. WOW!!
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Book Review ---> Once In A Full Moon by Ellen Schreiber
Once In A Full Moon:
Full Moon #1
By: Ellen SchreiberPublished By: Katherine Tegen BooksPublished Date: 2010Hardcover: 292 pagesTags: Young Adult, Fantasy Fiction, Paranormal Romance, WerewolvesWhy the Mad Scientist Read this Book: I picked this book up at a signing in the Chicago area earlier this year. It was a short book that I thought I could finish quickly.
Concoction of a Review:
Once In A Full Moon has not received the most extraordinary reviews. The Mad Scientist pushed that aside to give this book a chance. After all, it has been sitting on my shelf for long enough. It was a short endeavor and it had promises of a werewolf. How could I ignore it any longer?
I ransacked the kitchen when the cook was not fluttering around. I have the perfect cookie cutter for our oh so prim and proper Celeste. She is a girl who lives on the right side of the city, who hangs out with the right people, and dates the quarterback, Nash. *shakes head* Jocks! Why is it a must to date the airhead male to be accepted in the Young Adult world? *Gross* Her bland life bored even me. However, I got more of a thrill when she is launched into a world wind of confusion when the mysterious bad boy, Brandon, shows up at their school. Thank goodness for transfers!
*Gasps* A bad boy? Yes! Brandon has a minor bad reputation that is fueled mostly by snarky classmates who live off of rumors. *evil grin amasses my face* Lucky for us they are based on a old town legend. Celeste might just find out how true the werewolf legend really is.
This Mad Scientist had just a few problems that would of really rumpled my skirts if I jumped into this book with high hopes.
First, I found Celeste to dote on Brandon more then a proper girl should. Honestly, it is just not becoming! All of the obsessive inner monologue was not even interesting. Obnoxious even.
Second, she had some crappy friends. They didn't care one bit for her happiness. Just status. *Grr...* No wonder we are a self people. We allow it.
Third, original as the werewolf lore was... it just did not make me a believer. The mythology was different, cute even, but a speaking non destructive werewolf that is basically a hairy person does not work for me.
Once In A Full Moon is just predictable.
What the Mad Scientist did like... *Pops parasol* Let us walk and chat.
Mr. Worthington. He was just an adorable loveable old man who made his home at the local nursing home. I would of baked him some fritters and brought over a basket of sweets. His manner made me wish I had a grandfather of his likeness.
Brandon!! The boy was adorable and he just made my cheeks flare with a redness. He made this book worth the time. I do wish they would of revealed more of him. Perhaps in the book two. Nonetheless, I was on edge when he let cook cutter treat him badly. Excuse me, I can be nicer! *crushworthy small swoon*
Here is how I picture Brandon: As Marlon Teixeira...
**Side Note: Mad Scientist had to resist putting up more photos. This Brazilian is just the perfect amount of scruffy... for sexy and werewolf reasons.**
Overall, Once In A Full Moon is not a book I would readily recommend to my fellow book lovers. But if you pick it up and picture Marlon like I did then I would have to say it was worth the small amount of time I put into it.
*I purchased this book with my own money at a book signing. No... the author did not impede on my Mad Review. It is completely honest and full of my thoughts on the book and the very yummy men inside. *
3 Blasts ---> Desirable A thought crossed my mechanical brain... This might be a good book for Tweens and a cute read for fans of Werewolf lore.
Challenges:
- Morbid Romantica 2011 - Shifters
- 111 in '11
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Adult Book Review ---> Tracking the Tempest by Nicole Peeler
Adult Review!!
Tracking the Tempest:
Jane True #2
By: Nicole PeelerPublished By: OrbitPublished Date: 2010Softcover: 348 pagesTags: Adult, Fantasy Fiction, Paranormal Romance, Mystery
Why the Mad Scientist Read this Book: Recommended by Jen the Bibliophile! Actually, she sent me this book in an attempt to get me to finish a series. Any series. Yeah, I have problems with just reading the first in the series and that is it. O_o
Concoction of a Review:
There is snark and laughter from page one. I read the first, Tempest Rising, a while back... Mad Scientist thinks in Jan/Feb and just loved it. Thus far the second in the series is following in suit quit nicely. *rubs hand together* Yes! Quit nicely. I can also let you know that this book full of Jane antics did not let the Mad Scientist down. Nicole Peeler has a way with writing. Fun yet complex. I wonder if that is how she likes her men? *Waggles eyebrow* *Gasps* Nicole you have my little old mind on Vampires & Barghest oh my!!
Our naughty little half-selkie Jane True was meeting up with her over protect hot "vampire" boyfriend Ryu for little Valentine's Day body intertwinement. I am most certainly not the only naughty one here! However, her sexy weekend with her buff controlling, overprotective Ry fizzled when she got caught up in the middle of one of his paranormal detective cases. My dear Jane your weekend was scorched but I promise I can take care of him! *evil grin amasses my face*
Jane attempts to stay out of harms way and sadly away from the arms of her lover by heading back to her cozy town, Rockabill. Silly name but it grows on you. She went back to her boring routine of a life. Working at the bookstore, taking care of her father, & training to create mage balls. Ladies! I said MAGE balls... let us stay on track here. At any rate, with her pitiful attempts at hiding Conleth the psycho serial killer found her!
This dangerous fact ends up to be wonderful for the reader. Jane is thrust into Boston out of her comfort zone. Slapped right in the middle where all the supernatural nonsense is hitting the paranormal fan I just imagined in my mind. Thus we get to meet new wonderful characters!! It was especially fun to meet Ryu's deputies... lackeys you call them now a days? *smirks & blushes* Do not find yourself surprised when you read about the "man" who does not wear any pants!
Ryu can be delicious in a certain way. I did twitch a few times at those certain moments where he is tainted with selfishness. Makes me cringe when the overprotective self righteous men spring out at you from under the ultra hotness. Ladies there is a reason he is sooo old and single!!
Oddly enough the Barghest had me drooling. *wink wink* Oh, that was a horrid pun to use on behalf of my dear Anyan. This paranormal species is a shape shifting dog that knows how to cook and has more power then he knows what to do with. Now I would like to help him use some of that pent up power in the bedroom!! *blushes profusely* Ah, that would be wondrous. *gaps* Mad Scientist would just like to quote a certain fellow bookie as she would call this character, "Sex on a Stick!!"
Here is how I picture Anyan: As Eric Bana...
The Mad Scientist admits she fell in love with this boy when she first watched Troy but with his long hair and scruffy face makes him the perfect Anyan!!
**Side Note: Mad Scientist is a tad jealous of Jane for getting to take a bite out of that backside in book one!!**Overall, Tracking the Tempest was a great read. I got to picture this man for well over 300 pages! Crazy one liners had me laughing out to myself, insane plot twists kept my brain busy & there were sexy romps to be had! I never wanted to put this book down!
*I received this book free of charge from my sassy friend Jen! My Mad review is completely honest and full of my thoughts on the book and the very yummy men inside. *
5 BlastsA whole new fantasy world that you are sure to enjoy! New races, huge killer frogs, & a hero on a quest for a magic word!
Challenges:
- Morbid Romantica 2011 - Mermaids & Selkies
- 111 in '11
- Reading Bucket List Challenge - Paranormal Themes: Mermaids - Selkies
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