samedi 28 février 2015

Treasures and Finds+ February Recap

 Hello to all!

          already the last of February... time is really flowing and i did not get to enjoy it a lot since teh flu is really stron,g this year and beating me without problems^^. Fortunately i did manage to read anyway.
March is my birthday month so i do hope i will be able to enjoy it more and i know some friends are planning to make it great for me ( Thanks in advance!!) so for once i do look forwards it even if it's the middle of the Carnaval in my city ( at leats the music keeping em awake should offer me more reading time as well)


Hoewever since we are still in February for a few hours let see how the month went.

Reviews
First two new to me authors :
then  a series  i'm already fond of:


All thing considered the month was not bad i did not read as much as i hoped but with all i had to face i'm satisfied

Challenges:
goodreads : 8/50
The official 2015 TBR pile Challenge : 5/12
2015 TBR reading Pile Challenge: 7/10
New to you Reading Challenge 2015: 5/6

It's so good i will perhaps move up the level during the year but first i'll try to reach those goals.


TREASURES and FINDS

For REVIEW
none

WON

From Karina at Nocturnal book Reviews   and the author DB Reynolds( Thank you so, so much!!)
 a series i really wanted to start for a long time so finally i can!!





 GIFTED

Thanks Brenda!!! a lovely surprise that i was waiting for so long !! 
( now  i just need to get the rest of the trilogy ^^ because yes that series is already completely released! First step accomplished)

BOUGHT
none, i was stuck inside after all.

So on bookish side it has been a good month ( it is as long as i get a book^^) especially since it was title that i have been drooling over for years, and March will be fabulous so let's be happy.

On the crafting side, since i was not at top shape crafting was really low on my list but i did made a scarf and sent it ( now the postal service must deliver it safely and it's another matter)

 I did also receive some staionary as early birthday present ( thanks Roger!!!) and won some more with stickers from Lavender so i plan to send a lot of letter in 2015^^ better be ready ;)



mardi 24 février 2015

Les Ombres de la Nuit T1 : Morsure Secrète par Kresley Cole

Bonjour à tous,

                           L'année est déjà bien entamée et il était grand temps que je partage avec vous mon avis sur le livre d'un éditeur en français.
Kresley cole m'a souvent été recommandé mais jusqu'à présent je n'étais jamais parvenue à mettre la main sur un des tomes en anglais, peu importe la série d'ailleurs. Lorsque je suis tombée par hasard sur des tomes en français et vu que c'était le premier d'une série je n'ai pas hésité et je me suis jetée dessus sans même m'apercevoir qu'il s'agissait d'un des titres que je recherchais en anglais.

J'étais ravie de la découverte mais malheureusement si je ne pouvais pas mettre la main dessus auparavant c'était peut-être pour me concentrer sur d'autres titres me convenant mieux. Espérons que le prochain me redonnera envie de lire en français un peu plus.


Bonne Lecture
Editeur VF: J’ai Lu pour Elle  2010
Titre original:A Hunger Like No Other ( edited 2006)
Genre: romance paranormale
Violence: élevé

Langage: moyen
sexe: élevé +mention viol
Public: +18ans
Obtenu par achat

Quatrième de couverture de l'éditeur J’ai Lu :

Pendant cent cinquante ans, Lachlain le Lycae a été emprisonné dans les catacombes par des vampires. Jusqu'au jour où il hume le parfum de son âme soeur. Mais pourquoi le destin s'acharne-t-il sur lui ? Pourquoi sa promise est-elle une buveuse de sang ? Pourtant, cette frêle créature qui se débat quand il l'approche est celle qu'il cherche depuis plus de mille ans. Elle lui appartient. Dès lors, il est prêt à tout pour faire d'elle sa reine. Quitte à la nourrir de son propre sang. Quitte à affronter une horde de vampires déchaînés...


Avis:
          Un  livre à ne pas mettre entre toutes les mains. J’avais tellement attendu pour découvrir cette série que la déception est assez grande… ce n’est pas mal écrit, l’histoire globale est assez intéressante mais la façon dont l’auteur a entamé ce livre à fortement impacter mon expérience et dans un sens négatif.

 Ce livre n’est pas pour les moins de 18ans cela va sans dire mais même sachant cela débuter un livre avec des allusions et envie de viols…ce n’est pas anodin. Certes je conçois que Lachlain a été torturé pendant plus de 2 siècles et oui elle lui fait penser à ses pires ennemis mais tout ça n’excuse rien. Le viol n’est jamais excusable peu importe les circonstances.. et quand bien même il n’est pas allé jusqu’au bout pour moi c’était déjà trop et dès lors  je ne pouvais plus vraiment le plaindre ou même simplement apprécier ce personnage.

 Fort heureusement l’auteur dévie de cette ligne assez rapidement en se focalisant plus sur l’héroïne et son histoire avant de revenir à cette relation mais pour moi le mal était fait et j’ai même hésité à poursuivre cette lecture.

Toutefois j’admets que hormis ce passage malvenu le reste du récité était assez entraînant avec un rythme assez, voir parfois trop, rapide. L’héroïne gagne en maturité au cours de l’histoire et c’est bien car au départ elle me tapait sur les nerfs avec sa passivité et son côté têtu …
Reste que à bien y regarder si je me suis prise à apprécier quelque peu l’histoire ce n’est pas pour le couple principal… mais bien pour 2 secondaires…. J’ai envie d’en voir plus sur Lucia et Garreth,  mais aussi sur Myst et Wroth (oki vu les circonstances de leur rencontre je suis aussi un peu hésitante sur ce couple mais je l’aime bien pour ce que j’en ai lu jusqu’à présent).
L’univers en lui-même est également bien conçu avec de multiples créatures paranormales même si la base reste le cliché vampires vs loupgarous.

 Je continuerai donc peut-être cette série un peu plus si je découvre le tome suivant en occasion par exemple mais je ne vais pas le rechercher non plus. A vous de voir si cette série pourrait mieux vous convenir ou si vous préférer tenter autre chose


Score:  2,5/5

Disclaimer: Toutes les opinions exprimées ici sont les miennes, il s’agit de d’un avis honnête et personnel. Aucune compensation n’a été fournie en échange de ce dernier.


Challenges:

mardi 17 février 2015

Greywalker ( Greywalker 1) by Kat Richardson

Hi!

           Now that i got the needed medecine i hope i will manage to get back on track  health side and bookish side as well but i will take the rest of the month  at a slower rythm because as much as i can want it healing is not something that can be rushed ( never underestimate the flu either).

 But doing things at the rythm i need does not mean being lazy or forgetting you so to continue with my idea from the beginning of the year it's time for a new to me author ( and series) as i finally discovered the Greywalker series thanks to Carien.

Happy reading!
Publisher: Roc
Publication: 2006
ISBN:  0373277210
Genre: urban fantasy
Violence: mild

Language: normal
sex: none
Public: 18+
Source: gifted

Short description from goodreads :


 When Harper comes to in the hospital, she begins to feel a bit ...strange. She sees things that can only be described as weird-shapes emerging from a foggy grey mist, snarling teeth, creatures roaring.But Harper's not crazy. Her "death" has made her a Greywalker-able to move between our world and the mysterious, cross-over zone where things that go bump in the night exist. And her new gift (or curse) is about to drag her into that world of vampires and ghosts, magic and witches, necromancers and sinister artifacts. Whether she likes it or not.

My opinion:
          Greywalker was quite a good surprise, this series was recommended to me but the opinions were sometimes quite varied...so I did hesitate before starting this book and I do regret it a little. While it’s not fully original it has vampire, ghosts, and werewolves perhaps, as most urban fantasy it still has some novelty touch that had me intrigued. I loved the idea of the “grey” this kind of parallel world and how it was explained.

I also liked the Heroine Harper Blaine quite a lot even if her scepticism did get on my nerves one or twice…after all I’m not sure I would have reacted better in her situation. She is a private investigator so we had quite a few plots in this book but they got intertwined with each other making the story even more attractive in my opinion as we were not loosing track of one or another.

I also was smiling and more at some point… I mean how is that in several urban fantasy tales I have read the character does not flinch or nearly at blood contract, blood exchange, sacrifice etc….but get all suspicious when a vampire keeps his word and pay his due with a check….money is so wicked ; )  really I could only laugh at that part.

 I do hope we will learn more about Albert and Quinton as I do enjoy them. Mara and Ben were also good secondary characters and I’m sure Harper will still need their knowledge for a bit… only Wyogan I’m not sure what to think of him yet… I hate him yes, he has me on edge but what he is and what are his goals, the author kept the mysteries well.

It was a new to me author and series but I’m really glad to already have book 2 in my pile because I’m sure I will continue this series for a moment at least. While it’s not exceptional it’s a good urban fantasy to try



Score:  3,5/5

Disclaimer: All opinions are my own and no compensation was received in exchange for this review

Challenges:

samedi 14 février 2015

Happy Saint Valentine Day+ recap of Christmas and birthday handmade gifts

Hello to all,

                           I wish you all a very happy St Valentine day! and i hope you are surrounded by love ( not only the romantic one).

I was asked for some pictures of what i sent for christmas and after... i don't have a picture for all as it depends on the receiver approval or not so  i will perhaps add more later when i receive them or add them under the handmade tabs later...... anyway since today is the day of love and since i made those with all mine i thought it was the perfect day to share ^^;; ( before the flu wins over)

So i have sent what i could and i don't want as a rule to limit the people because of their country so i sent everywhere but sometimes smaller gifts. ( need to respect the customs rules too) Also let's be honest ^^ side from the shipping fee it's also depend on the information i got ^^ the more i know the receiver's tastes  the more i can try to respect them or have more ideas of creations.... i send nearly 20 packages ( i lost count) with handmade bookmarks, handmade scarf or bracelet (  for those who loved the one i made for Suzanne johnson contest)...also some other little one ( keychain etc) but the list would be too long.

And now that the last one has been received as soon as i'm healed for goods i will start working on the next ones so if you ever receive an email from me asking for your tastes ^^ be as complete as you can  so your surprise  gift can please you ( i hope so).

Each piece being handmade they are never exactly identique even if the pattern is the same ( some love the same things after all^^)

And if you wonder  it was not sent only to long time friends but if i feel like you could need some cheering up of if you have been kind to me ( or someone i know) i tend to want to return the favor and yes sometimes after that the person become a friends but it's not a pre requise. It depends of the time i have of course but i do my best thus is why i already started a list.
 i do think i prefer to do this because no reprocity is awaited it's simply sharing the love and the christmas magic, of course i'm delighted when i receive something as well but it's not mandatory...which is the opposite of a christmas card exchange....because there i was disappointed with only two answer only on the bunch i send so i will probably focus my money for the surprise /magical gift than on a card excahnge in 2015


example of bookmarks:

 to Sullivan mcPig from Pearls cast in front of a McPig

to Nat from reading romances in Brazil:


To Laura ( scarves and bookmark) from Colorimetry

to Amber:
i must admit that the for the hat my mother helped a lot since i'm a beginner at knitting

no picture of the others so far but if i receive some i will share :)


Did you receive a gift that you found more special or magical than the others in 2014? If you could receive one for Christmas 2015 what you would prefer?


mardi 10 février 2015

Blood Trade ( Jane Yellowrock 6) by Faith Hunter

HELLO!

                I'm so happy to be back  really i missed you!  Sorry to have disappeared last week, i had this review ready for you but my computer suddenly crashed so  i was put on hold until i got it back yesterday evening....worse...that cut my reading frenzy as well because since i was not sure if what i wrote was safe i did not dare to read something new in case i had to re read the book to write the review again ( i need to finish what i start before starting a new one^^;;)

So let get back on track and i will continue with my idea to alternate between new and following up series, today we continue with Jane Yellowrock and the sixth instalment.

Happy reading!
Publisher: ROC
Publication: 2013
ISBN:  0451465067
Genre: urban fantasy, shapeshifter
Violence: strong

Language: normal
sex: mild
Public: 18+
Source: bought

Short description from goodreads :

Jane Yellowrock is a shape-shifting skinwalker who’s always up for a fight—even if it means putting her life on the line...

The Master of Natchez, Mississippi has a nasty problem on his hands. Rogue vampires—those who follow the Naturaleza and believe that humans should be nothing more than prey to be hunted—are terrorizing his city. Luckily, he knows the perfect skinwalker to call in to take back the streets.


But what he doesn’t tell Jane is that there’s something different about these vamps. Something that makes them harder to kill—even for a pro like Jane. Now, her simple job has turned into a fight to stay alive…and to protect the desperately ill child left in her care.


My opinion:
          I’m a little uncertain about this book…. Oh I did love it , it’s well written and fit the other instalment really well… even if I did want to go back rereading some of the precedents books as I seemed not to be able to recall what the character remembered. However that’s not what has me hesitant… you see…. I guess I fear what will happen next ^^;;

And it’s partially strange as this books come to a conclusion and there is no major deaths ( oki in jane yellowrock universe it means a lot of dead or/and true dead but not one of the main characters^^;;) ;)I mean it could even classify as an happy ending …or at least a teary moving one and I really liked but some elements make me fear
the worse like Bobby ‘s dreams ( those being prophetic),Soul unknown powers, Beast’s revelation and lastly Leo…

We don’t see a lot of the Master Vampire this time but we hear from him and… I don’t trust him at all…^^;; it’s strange all the reservations I have this character but really he ticks me off, he is so arrogant and so often plotting in Jane’s Back that I just want to strangle him…. The forced binding is adding to that feeling of course but I do understand how Jane must feel… the author really managed to makes us feel the same as her on that case think;)

Now don’t get me wrong… I’m not liking Rick Lafleur either…. Bruiser… has me feeling betrayed too….and while I Love Eli^^ he is family to Jane not a mate prospect…. So really her love life is problematic. ;)

 I did smile while reading this book because Eli and Jane work wonderfully together and Eli and Sylvia^^ those are really a match for each other…. I do wonder where Eli get all his weapon and could imagine him comparing them with Sylvia^^;;
The banter between those is simply too much to resist!

Eli’s brother found a geek friend as well and I do hope he will get to stay as it’s a great team to have backing you up. Those two are gods with a computer.

The main investigation was also quite interesting and the author managed to surprise us. All while the author gave us a better insight into Jane as she is coping with the lost of her friends and the guilt (which she is always carrying by the way) it was interesting to learn more about her childhood and more precisely her relations with other children. Beast was also moving in her way to protect the kits^^;; and wanting to keep them for her.

All together it was a really captivating reads and only the dread I got building it at the end prevent me to give an higher note ( I don’t like being left with angst  after reading).
So if you love this series this is really a book not to miss but better have the next one ready to jump into ( and please don’t start with this one or you would be completely lost)



Score:  3,5/5

Disclaimer: All opinions are my own and no compensation was received in exchange for this review


Challenges:











Do you type your review on the computer directly or on paper first?