Bite That Beast!

Happy Tuesday Everyone,

Monday was a wet day in Texas. Very wet. But I'm happy to report that my end of town did all right (from what I could tell). Unfortunately, there were people who had to evacuate their homes in another town, and there was flooding in different areas. Hopefully those people's cars and homes don't sustain a lot of damage. For those of you who pray, please offer up a prayer for them.

I did remember to take a picture of my lion (Monroe, hero of my novel) ornament I've mentioned, but because I've lost the hook up wire for my camera, I'll have to go take it in and get it put on a disc so I can upload the photos (yes, I took more than one LOL).

So, I've finished reading all the books I got for Christmas. The one I haven't reported on is Tera Lynn Childs, Sweet Venom (YA Paranormal).

It's the story of 3 girls who look exactly alike. At first they don't know about each other.

Gretchen grew up with adoptive parents who weren't ideal. She ran away and eventually was taken in by Ursala, who taught her how to fight monsters and send them back to where they came from. Ursala also taught her that Gretchen was descent of the gorgon, Medusa, who, was falsely portrayed in mythology.

Unexpectedly, Gretchen comes across her sister--make that twin sister--while she's out fighting monsters.

Grace had no idea she had a sister. Let alone she was a descendant of Medusa. She'd always known she was adopted, but her parents were loving and kind. So she had no reason to look beyond her small bubble for anymore family.

When Grace meets Gretchen and finds out the truth, she's not sure what to think. But even though she tries to walk away, she finds she just can't.


Then enters Greer. Having been raised in wealth and privilege, Greer doesn't have time on her social calendar for insane people who, even though they look like her, can't possibly be her sisters. And, she can't be a descendant of Medusa, right?

But with monsters popping up all over the place and the rules changing, these triplets find out they need each other and they need to uncover the truth as to what's happened and where Ursala has gone.

Will the girls be able to uncover the truth about their destinies, or will the bounty on their heads prove the end of them and Medusa's legacy?

You can indulge in Greek Mythology, mystery, action, suspense, and a little bit of romance on the side in this incredible beginning to a brand new series by Tera Lynn Childs.

Find Sweet Venom at:  Amazon and Amazon Kindle, also find it on Barnes & Noble and on Barnes & Noble Nook.

Have A Thrilling Tuesday!

That Yummy Sweetness

Happy Monday All,

Warning: The following post will cause chocolate lovers all over to drool uncontrollably on their keyboards. Please take the necessary precautions to protect your computers. Thank you.

Yes! Today I'm talking about chocolate. Rich,dark,milk,white, truffled, in cake, cookies, dripping-off-your-spoon-in-a-sundae, chocolate!

If you couldn't tell I'm something of a chocoholic. There. I said it. Chocoholic. No, don't be ashamed. There's redeeming features in chocolate.

Like dark chocolate is supposed to be good for you--okay, you're not supposed to gorge yourself on it like a thirsty person trapped in the dessert, but in reasonable (that is not huge amounts) it can have health benefits.

Chocolate contains magnesium, which women's bodies crave (this is one of the reasons some women really go for the chocolate). On the converse side, I suppose a woman could take magnesium supplements to curb her craving for a chocolate, but I leave that up to the woman and her doctor to decide. 

Chocolate can be a mood booster and who doesn't like to be in a good mood?

I've tried all kinds of brands. I've had Hershey's, I've had Godiva, Dilettante, Lindt, Russell Stover, Dove...you name it, it's possible I've tried it.

I'm partial to milk chocolate myself, but every now and again I find a dark chocolate I like (Godiva and Dilettante have good dark chocolate).

I love a good chewy, rich brownie (the chewy ones are better than the cake-like ones in my opinion).  Chocolate chip cookies, Chocolate Drop Cookies (which my paternal grandmother used to make and I have a sister who carries on the tradition--every now again someone else makes them, too).

The ooey, gooey goodness of a chocolate cake frosted over with chocolate icing is still some of my favorite cake. Growing up, I used to have chocolate cake with chocolate icing decorated with M&M's on my birthday.

Every now and again, when the weather is cold, I'll fix myself a cup of hot chocolate. I love it with whipped cream (although I rarely have it with whipped cream anymore because we usually don't have any whipped cream in the house). I used to like it with marshmallows, but I always forget to get them at the store LOL.

Now, that I've got you dreaming of that sweet taste of awesomeness, what's your favorite chocolate?

Craving more chocolate? Check out this Chocoholic Mystery series...where chocolate is the name of the game, and cracking the case the frosting on top. It's a series by JoAnna Carl--I've read a few of them and they're pretty good. You can find them at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Have A Mouth-Watering Monday!

So, How's Your First Week Of New Year?

Happy Friday Everyone,

Well the first work week of 2012 is coming to a close. I hope everyone has had a good week so far! Mine has been fun. I'm feeling a lot better, too.

I'm working on figuring out the WIPs (Works In Progress) and catching up on my reading. I've got 2 books I'm reading at once and they're both good. I'll probably talk about them next week.

Generally I don't make New Year's Resolutions, however, a new year feels like a chance to improve oneself and reach out to those goals we keep setting. There's a sense of hope hanging in the air and I figure why not grab that hope, and hold on? I think I'll make it a part of what I resolve for the new year. To believe in achieving my goals.

What about you? What are your hopes for 2012?

Have A Fabulous Friday!

Flying With Dragons

Happy Thursday All,

We're almost near the end of the books I got for Christmas...however I still have today's and then one more (although the last one will probably be in one of next week's posts).

I haven't seen a lot in YA, or Romance (I could be wrong, but it's not been my experience). But what I have read of dragons in YA and Romance, I've really liked.

After reading Sophie Jordan's Firelight and finding out there was a sequel, I knew I'd want to read it. I put Vanish on my wish list for Christmas and figured if I didn't get it I'd pick a copy up, myself. I was delighted to receive it from my sister (the one who gave me the really awesome lion ornament, which holds a particular significance for me, and I still need to take a picture of it!)

Believe me, Vanish did not disappoint! If you haven't read Firelight, I strongly recommend you do that before reading Vanish.


Jacinda finds herself back among her own kind (the draki--people who can turn themselves into dragons). Unfortunately, after she had "manifested" in front of humans (showed them her dragon side)--and not just any humans...but hunters, the pride isn't exactly the most friendly bunch to her.

Despite the pride's general feelings, Cassain, Jacinda's sister, and Jacinda's mother, stand by her.

Originally I was unsure about Cassain, but in the sequel I got the feeling he really did care for Jacinda. That it wasn't just because she was a fire breather (a rare quality) but because of who she is.

Yet, despite all his attention, Jacinda can't forget the human/hunter, Will. A young man she fell in love with, a young man definitely in love with her and who promised he'd find her again.

Can Jacinda prove herself to the pride and forget Will...or will her heart betray her?

You can pick up a copy of Firelight and/or Vanish from Amazon and/or Amazon Kindle as well as on Barnes & Noble and/or Barnes & Noble Nook.

I should've shared this information a long time ago (and most of all whenever I talked about an e-book) and I'm sorry I haven't.  Let me remedy that immediately:

Don't have an E-Reader?

No problem!

You can download for free on to computer: 

Click here for Barnes & Noble Nook on computer (includes information on Nook for other devices as well)

Click here for Amazon Kindle on computer (includes information on Kindle for other devices as well).

Have A Tantalizing Thursday!

Weave Through Time A Bit Of Celtic Magic

Happy Wednesday Everybody,

I forgot to let you all know that Andrea Creamer's Bloodrose, book 3 in her Nightshade series came out yesterday. I've got it and am looking forward to reading it...if you haven't read this series, it's a YA Paranormal...wolves done differently...not your typical werewolf fare at all. Really good. If you haven't checked out Nightshade I recommend it.

Now, for anyone who didn't read the comments in the comments section of yesterday's post, I warned a commenter that I'd be posting about more books I've read. After all, I mentioned I got THREE books for Christmas and I'm now reading last one. Today I'm going to talk about one of the ones I received and tomorrow I'll talk about the other (I don't know when I'll talk about the last one, I still have to finish reading it).

The first book I chose to read out of my Christmas presents was Lesley Livingston's Once Every Never. I chose it because it was a gift from my offspring and being a mom I thought "Hey, even if they don't ask, I should go ahead and read that one first." Plus I loved Lesley Livingston's Wondrous Strange Trilogy (great YA fantasy books, very well written, absolutely recommend).

A wonderful thing about Lesley is she takes mythology, or in this case, history and mythology, and fills in the blanks with such talent you start to believe it's possible:

Clare, short for Clarinet (her parents are musicians), finds herself spending the summer with her aunt, an archaeologist, and her best friend.

Clare's prepared for being watched like a hawk (after all, when you end up having a wild party and your folks find out, you're bound to be watched more carefully than before). She's also coming to terms with the fact that despite being in London, the likelihood of her doing any shopping at the famous Harrod's or going anywhere else like that is nonexistent. So...being abroad may not be as exciting as Clare hoped.

However, a touch to a priceless artifact triggers blood curse magic, and Clare realizes her humdrum existence is about to become anything but ordinary!

Once Every Never deals with Britain's Celtic Queen, Boudicca. I didn't find much details on the site I looked at, but it was really something to contemplate just how much research Lesley must have had to do for this novel. Not only that, but to fill in where history books leave gaps.



When picking up this book, don't expect it to be like her Wondrous Strange Trilogy. That is doing Once Every Never a disservice. This novel stands on its own. It's not a branch off of Wondrous Strange and has nothing to do with that trilogy. Once Every Never is its own story.

It wouldn't surprise me if Once Every Never has a sequel, however, I can also see it as a stand-alone. I enjoyed it. It's action, history, magic, and romance all packed up into one YA Fantasy novel.

Find it on:  Amazon (paperback) and Barnes & Noble (paperback).  (Note:  I didn't see it available on Kindle or Nook).

Have A Whimsical Wednesday!

So You Wanna Date A Vampire...

Happy Tuesday All,

Recently I found out that Beth Fantaskey's Jessica's Guide To Dating On The Dark Side (YA Paranormal) was out on Amazon Kindle and Barnes & Noble Nook for free for a limited time. Having seen this book in stores and curious about it, I figured I'd go ahead and check it out.

Some people described the story as "tongue in cheek". I personally, just plain enjoyed it.

There was a scene that I excitedly told a friend was, "romantic without being romantic." That is, you could sense the romance there, even if the scene itself wasn't strictly romantic. That kind of writing is way cool.

When Lucius, a member of Romanian vampire royalty, first arrives in the rural American town he's not quite sure what to expect. At first he's appalled by the "peasant" way folks live. Gradually, though, he becomes intrigued.

Jessica, the heroine, finds herself caught between the world she knows, and a world she's being pulled into. How does she reconcile what she always thought she was, with what she's to become? How can she agree to marry Lucius and honor a pact that was made at the time of her birth, when her analytical mind can't even begin to process the idea that vampires are real?

Things get sticky when vengeful humans get involved. And even stickier the moment elders in the vampire community get tired of waiting for the pact to be honored.

For me, I was sad when it ended. I really got into it and wanted more. Fortunately, the sequel, Jessica Rules The Dark Side, is due out January 10, 2012, so there isn't long to wait.

Have A Tantalizing Tuesday!

Happy New Year: 2012!

Happy New Year & Happy Monday Everyone!

Hope everyone has a safe, wonderful, and blessed new year!

2012 has started off pretty well for me so far. I'm feeling much better (thank you to everyone for the well wishes and support). I finished reading a couple of books that I plan on talking about on here this week.

As I'm entering the 3rd year of working on this blog, I'd like your feedback. Not counting giveaways (because I think we all look forward to those), what posts on here do you like the best? Please let me know in the comment section of this post.

Have A Marvelous Monday!