Warrior by Zoe Archer (Review)

I can't say enough about this book. If you are looking for a book that you just can't put down than this is it! Huntley (Lustley as I refer to him) is straight up sexy, there is no getting around this fact and he is so man-ish so you would think Zoe Archer would give him a heroine so damned stupid you wonder how she manages to breathe on her own but you'd be wrong. Thalia was smart, confident and not too kick ass that you think her hero should do a ball check on her.

The one thing I liked most is...they actually spoke to each other! A lot of Romances downplay the communication it’s just sex sex gimme the sex all the time and the couple barely have a decent conversation which is okay but don't try and pass that relationship as ‘til death do them part because it's not. Once the Hero hears heroine speak beyond the “oh baby give it to me harder” he will be out the door or once Heroine gets tired of his possessive bullshit she will have to call 911 on his stalker ass!

Thalia and Huntley fall genuinely in love and they also have that great communication and chemistry which translate to amaze-ball sexxoring! They are made for each other and it translates onto the pages. One part of the book I had to put my e-reader down, fan myself, wipe my sweaty brow only to yank my e-reader back up and keep reading...I was at work, I didn't care and I think I might have growled at a customer who dared interrupt me while giving them the death glare. If that was you, I am so sorry please allow me to buy you a copy of Warrior so you can understand where I was coming from.

This will be the best book you read all year until you read Scoundrel next month, October 5th to be exact!

BBAW: Interview Swap with Misha from: My Love Affair w/Books!

It’s my favorite time of year, Book Blogger Appreciation Week! I love everything about this week but my favorite thing is the interviews. I look forward to it all year. I think it’s because my journalism background coupled with my love of chatting with other book lovers.


This year I was partnered up with Misha from My Love Affair with Books. I had a great time getting to know her and hearing her answers. Heeeeeeeere’s MISHA!



Casse: I start off every interview the same way: first and foremost, why do you love books?




Misha: Being an introvert and very anti-social all my life, books have been my constant companion. Every book tells a different story. I love immersing myself into that story and escape from the "real world" now and then. The best part is that at times you can learn so much from books.



Casse: Why do you book blog?



Because I can talk about books nonstop. I love giving my opinion about books, sharing my thoughts and recommending books. My blog is my platform to give my views on the books I read.



Casse: When do you book blog? Do you set aside a certain time of day?

Mostly early morning before going to college and late at night after I am done with assignments and other work.



Casse: What was the first book you totally fell for?

The first book I fell in love with was a long time ago haha. It was one of the books in the Famous Five series by Enid Blyton. I fell in love with Enid Blyton after that and devoured every one of her books in 1 year! That must have been when I was around 9-10.



Casse: Are you a genre snob or do you adventure outside your box (literary fiction, YA and historical fiction) often?

I was a genre snob till a year ago. I would not read anything other than literary fiction! As I started visiting book blogs, I discovered some interesting books in other genres as well. Now I also read YA and historical fiction.





Casse: If you could meet one author, who would you meet and why?

Margaret Atwood . I believe this woman is a genius. Every one of her novels are truly brilliant and original. I would love to meet her and try to figure out how her brain works lol



Casse: How do you determine which book from your TBR pile you’ll read and in what order?

I just pick up the ones which I am most excited about reading first and then I go down the pile.Nowdays I try to read more of YA novels since I totally missed out on reading them as a teenager.

Casse: Okay what do you find the hardest, starting a new book or reading the last page of an amazing book? Why?

Reading the last page of an amazing book. If a novel is truly great, I hate it when it ends. I just wish that more pages would somehow magically appear.......



Casse: If you could pick one book and swap places with the heroine, which book would you pick and why?

I would love to swap places with Elizabeth Bennett. I mean who wouldn't?! I have been in love with Mr Darcy since I was 12 years old which was the first time I read Pride and Prejudice. Also, it would be fascinating to live in that time period.

Casse: What is your favorite song?

Very difficult question. There are so many! If I had to choose one it would be "Our Farewell " by Within Temptation.

Casse: Favorite food to snack on while reading?

Apples ! lol. I love fruits. And a cup of coffee maybe...

Casse: Bookmarks or turn the page down to keep you place in a book?

Bookmarks! I hate turning down the pages and it physically hurts me to see anyone fold the page.



Casse: What is the best part of Book Blogging?

Interacting with authors I only dreamt of talking to and with other book lovers .





Casse: What advice would you offer new Book bloggers?

Being a relatively new blogger myself, all I can say is don't get intimidated. There are so many many blogs out there that you might feel lost , confused and even nervous at first. Just don't give up. It takes some time before you get followers or before people start visiting your blog. Have patience!



Casse: ARCs: receiving free, for them or against them?

I am not exactly against them . But it makes me very uncomfortable and guilty receiving them.





Casse: How do you feel about contest? Is it just to get more followers or a good way to show appreciation of your followers?

Both I think. I don't think there is anything wrong in trying to get more followers. After all , if there are no followers , who will read your blog. More importantly, for me, contests are a great way to show appreciation of your followers.

I really had a great time with this interview.  Now head over to Misha's blog and look around.  Thank you Misha for answering my questions.

Keep reading,
Casse!

Linger by Maggie Stiefvater (Review)

Poetic, haunting and heartbreaking. If you loved Shiver than Linger is going to rock your world. There are more characters to fall in love with and more characters to break your heart.




Maggie Stiefvater has truly out done herself. This ranks as one of the best books of the year.



This book has one thing that Shiver didn't have that just makes this book excellent. Cole St Clair, He is all things that make YA hotties hot. He is dark, moody, funny, wounded and damn (I repeat) HOLY DAMN SECK-SEA! He totally brings yummy to Linger.



This installation is more heartbreaking than Shiver but the love story is still there so pure and bitter sweet it makes you swoon.



I will also give you some advice: even if you are not into audio books...by THIS audio book for 3 reasons. 1.) Cole sounds as smooth and seductive as honey 2.) Sam sings and 3.) COLE! He sounds like sex for your headphones! He is just pure lusty sex. Oh yes.



Casse

Crazy for Love by Victoria Dahl (Review)

For excerpt click on the picture!

Victoria Dahl is a true Contemporary Romance genius. Her Hero’s are lust worthy and sweet while her Heroines are hilariously realistic and likeable and in this novel there are double the heroes and double the heroines so it’s double the Hottness!
Crazy for Love is the story of Max and Chloe. Max is a control freak who worries about everything and everyone her meets and Chloe is the latest tabloid fodder who is portrayed in the media as a raving bridezilla from hell when her would be husband fakes his death to not marry her. Max and Chloe are a match made in hilarious sexiness. These two are so dang hott you will wish they would get to it already…or was that just me? For me they could have dropped pants on the first page and it wouldn’t be soon enough; that is how hott they were!
Chloe’s best friend is the beautiful yet shy and socially awkward Jenn who’s idea it is to take Chloe on a much needed vacation as an escape from the paparazzi. Jenn just wants Chloe to have a good time, to unwind and have a little wild sex maybe too but Jenn also might find a little of those things in store for her with Max’s little brother, Elliot the workaholic hottie. They both don’t think they have much to offer anyone else but damn Elliot is super sexy scientist and damn if that ain’t hott!
You might think that the characters would be a repeat of Dahl’s previous contemporaries but you will be pleasantly surprised that these characters are fresh and new…almost shiny even. If you are a fan of Dahl’s you feel a new justification for it and if you aren’t one yet after this book you will be.


Ebook provided by Publisher

Butterface by Gwen Hayes (mini review)

Once you read this book, you will have discovered your new favorite author!

There isn't much I can say about this book, it re-enforces my belief that some authors shouldn't write short stories!  They write stories that are too good to end so soon and gives me a sad when they end.  To read it is to love it.  I was hooked as soon as I read the synopsis. You think you are going to despise Lucas O'Leary but he really is made of awesome. I also found Beth very easy to relate too. The love story unfolds nicely with a friendship so honest and endearing that again, you wish it wasn't a short story. But the ending is truly the best part; Gwen Hayes has this amazing habit of wrapping up her stories with realistic and touching endings that make you swoon with how perfect and romantic they are.

Keep reading,
Catholic Kittie

So Over You by Gwen Hayes (mini review)

I am so NOT over this book!

I love snarky heroines and heros, smart characters, memorable secondary ones and hot guys. A lot of short romances are superficial but So Over You has layer beneath layer of depth that you will keep reading late into the night just so you can reach the sweet end. And sweet it is. It is amazing and perfect and will leave you breathless and clutching at your bosom squealing "Ohmaaaagaaawd" that would do a southern bell proud. Like with all Gwen Hayes books, I bet you can't read just one!

Keep reading,
Catholic Kittie

Blogiversary interview with my favorite author, Shannon Delany!

For my celebration of my blogiversary I am doing my very first author interview. I am so excited because its with Shannon Delany. Yes, THE Shannon Delany. I also consider her a friend and idol in writing which makes her the perfect person I want to interview. By that I mean I stalk- erm follow her on twitter, her blogs amd pretty much anywhere (online even I draw a line somewhere) she appears...Tah-dah I am right there too. Okay sounds creepy but 1.) Maybe it is lol and 2.) She totally loves me so she likes it. I totally crack myself up.  But enough with MY silliness on to the interview.

When did you write your very first story and why?

Shannon:  The first story I remember writing was in 4th grade as part of an assignment. My teacher believed all f us should try writing a book at some point so she had us write a story then she would type it up, we would illustrate it and then we "bound" it using cardboard and scraps of wallpaper the local hardware store donated. I remember even then being amazed at how it felt to hold my words instead of just say them.

What was the story about?

Shannon:  I don't remember what the first one was about. The only one I do remember was the one I wrote about how I found one of our kittens run over on the street in front of my house. I guess I've always used writing to cope with things. [Awwe so sad, :'( that has to suck!]

Did you ever have that writer's aha moment and think "hey I want to do this writing for real" or was it just naturally the next step?

Shannon:  I always sort of messed around with it. It wasn't until I got serious interest from publishers that I thought, Hey, this is crazy enough it might just work! see, if you're too serious and get rejected, it hurts. But if you tell yourself often enough that you're just messing around, rejections not tough to deal with--I think I had a safety default setting on my attitude before last year.

Do you ever get terrified when thinking about your book being out there for the world to read?

Shannon:  Holy. Heck. Yes.

So I know 13 to Life is a 3 book series (duh I mean trilogy) is it possible *fingers crossed* that there can be more books a la Rachel Caine's YA series going from 6 bk series plus stand alone segments of a series for as long as it works?

Shannon:  Eh, anything's possible. I have plots for at least a few other books in the series, but I also have totally different stories I'd like to pursue. Unfortunately there's only so much time in each day, so, perhaps at some point I'll need to make an interesting choice on what gets pursued and what sits obediently by.

Totally not book related...I know that you have done Hand Cut Paper Art and very well, do you still do this and do you even have the time with all your book stuff?

Shannon:  I haven't had time to pick up a blade since late 2008, I think (which was when my pirate designs were used in a film created by UWSP students). I've developed a mild Lotte Reiniger obsession. I would love to get back into creating scherenschnitte and messenschnitte--it totally transforms the way you perceive things and simplifies things into an iconic existence in some ways--I actually have several children's books in mind I'd love to illustrate with my cuttings. And to animate them... Muahaha! A friend wants me to design wolfy bookmarks to mass-cut for fans...I just need time, you know?

I have noticed that your Art and writing have a lot of Mythos- legends and history so when you research does it start out as a for fun thing and later find its way into your work or do you set out for certain things and just find it fun as a coincidence?

Shannon:  The more intense art pieces I've done did require a lot of thought and planning because of the techniques I'm using. With papercraft and scratchboard you can't really fix mistakes so you have to plan. Same with the writing, it's in there, but whereas the art must be ploted in advance mainly, the story tends to grow much more organically and the mythos works its way in there (sometimes surprising me).

Have you considered doing an entire scene from your book out of hand cut art? That would be so awesome.

Shannon:  I'd love to have time to do that, Casse--but I'd also love to do an animated booktrailer for the next novels using silhouettes like Reiniger did--it would give a truly unique feel.

One last question what do teen werewolves eat when they are vegging out?

Shannon:  LOL! Well, Max eats anything and everything so he wouldn't be picky. Pietr woud probably veg out with eggplant and summer squash since it can be grilled (and eggplant can be made into a parmesan) and sort of "fake" meatiness. ;-) 

Thanks for your time Shannon!
Does anyone else remember that movie Teen Wolf with Michael J Fox or am I showing my age? lol
Huge thanks to Shannon Delany for the interview. I know she is very busy working on more awesome books for us to read. If you haven’t bought 13 to Life yet, well what is wrong with you?! lol Kidding but seriously you are missing out. Also book 2, Secrets and Shadows comes out February 2011. It seems so far away…