Mariana

Katsu is still reluctant about expressing his feelings.  Ashe seems unbelievably easy to manipulate.

For a short story it's fairly complete.

This is a little something I did when I kept a blog.  It started with my blog buddy Christine.  I always like seeing what others write, so I hope you all do this as well.

Describe yourself:
PUCKED Up (Helen Hunting)

How do you feel:
Wrecked (Deanna Wadsworth)

Describe where you currently live:
Hidden Gem (Lissa Kasey)

If you could go anywhere, where would you go:
Jesse's Diner (Cardeno C.)

Your favorite form of transportation:
First Class Package (Jay Northcote)

Your best friend is:
Grown-up (Kim Fielding)

You and your friends are:
Strange Bedfellows (Cardeno C.)

What's the weather like:
Winter on Spring Street (Stacey Darlington)

What is life to you:
The Deal (Elle Kennedy)

Favorite time of day:
Coming Home (MJ O'Shea)

Your fear:
Falling from the Sky (Sarina Bowen)
Crash & Burn (Abigail Roux)

What is the best advice you have to give:
Barring Complications (Blythe Rippon)

Thought for the day:
The Right Time (Lane Hayes)

How I would like to die:
The Lightning-Struck Heart (T.J. Klune)

My soul's present condition:
A Time for Loving (Nico Jaye)

My family is:
Cherish & Blessed (Tere Michaels)

This is a love story, but not a romance. This is love of a deeper, more visceral kind... and it is beautiful.  Hen, Sam and Ishy; love them.

This was not what I was expecting, maybe I should read the blurbs more carefully, but I'm so happy I read it. The subject matter is pretty heavy.  It's handled carefully, but it does hurt to read and know that many go through it in real life.  The language and *phobia is real and certain to hit sore spots.

It is a touching story of family and the forming of and keeping of one, under the most f#cked up circumstances. 

Laura Harner's Deuce Coop series is Opal Carew's Riding Steele. Harner hasn't addressed her plagiarism anywhere that I've seen and looks to be acting like business as usual.  

What a great way to name sci-fi characters!

30% off Coming Soon ebooks..but only for 6 hours! http://bit.ly/1UOpQ5E 

I received this billed as a Trans Erotic Romance... not so much.

It's more of a forced trans (MtF) via a curse with a lot of masturbation.  Either I'm super sensitive, not in the right headspace or this was bad from word go.

Was not amused at all.

The friendship between the main characters was nice.

Find out here:

Birthday Best Sellers

Great book week for me.  Went to the Nalini Singh's signing in Barnes and Nobles in East Brunswick on Monday with a friend.  I had such a nice time. Although I had Shards of Hope already in ebook version, decided to buy the hardcover and get it signed.  I don't have my "library" set up yet, but I'm getting my fave series in print version in anticipation.  If they're signed by the author even better :)  I now have 3 of her books signed, so I'm happy.  

She had a short Q&A before the signing and was pretty vague about all things "The Architect".  She did say that she has planned a sort of "reunion" type book where we see all the characters and wrap up any loose ends.  Shards of Hope was the final in the Psy-Changeling arc and this new book is going to be the bridge with the new arc.  We'll see the pupcubs be born and we'll get to see into the lives of all the characters.  There may be updates on Xavier and Nina as well (or they may get their own book, can't remember which she said).  Alice is not getting a book yet, as she's still not in a place where a book makes sense.  I got to ask my question about Amara, as she's my favorite character (Will we see her in future books?).  We will, but she'll won't be getting her own book.  She's a true psycho and won't be finding the love of her life; although we will see growth as her interactions with Ashaya and working with others does affect her and how she processes "emotions".

I also went to the Literacy Signing for RWA 2015 and met up with some blog buddies.  It's in NY, which is mega convenient for me. Had a complete fangirl meltdown with Heidi Cullinan and Amy Lane.  Picked up their books: Nowhere Ranch and The Bells of Times Square, respectively.

Also, met Courtney Milan. I haven't read anything of hers but I find her online persona so intelligent, I wanted to support her.  I picked up the first in her contemporary series: Trade Me.  Great decision to stop there, as my phone battery had run completely out of charge and her give away was a portable charger... life saver!!!  I think I'll buy all her books, if only for that reason alone :)  She was also super nice so that was great.

Met KM Jackson (Kwana), as well.  She wasn't a featured author; she was there as a reader, but was sooo nice.  She was handing out the most beautiful postcards promoting her books. I will definitely be picking up one of her books. #WeNeedDiverseRomance #WeNeedDiverseRomance #WOCRomance

I wanted to go around and meet up with some of my other favorite authors, but had to control myself as I didn't budget a lot for books.  I completely forgot about it and paid off bills instead :(.  I need to be better prepared next year.  

Nora Roberts' line was unimaginably long, as was Nalini (so happy I saw her at B&N), Joanna Bourne and Jude Deveraux ran out of books early but stayed to talk to fans and take pictures (which was cool), Carolyn Crane was very nice and friendly.  I wanted to go by KA Mitchell's but was so overwhelmed by the number of people in the room and how damn hot it was, I just cut out.  I took about 1.5 hours to navigate just seeing those 3 authors; the signing was only 2 hours.  Although, a lot of authors hung around to speak to their fans.

After the signing we decided on some food and drinks and sat next to LB Gregg, who I really just loved as a person.  She's so funny and easy to hang with.  I did get to ask her when her next book will be out and she said she has one out in November "With this Bling" (which I knew) and more to come.... she's just a slow writer.  I agreed :P, but I said not as slow as JL Langley... she was diplomatic :)

Got home super late, but was worth it.  Meeting up with the blog buddies again on Sunday, before they all fly back home.  

Daniel José Older, author of the newly released urban fantasyShadowshaper and BookUp instructor. (Via National Book Foundation)

Haven't read the book yet, but it's got some great reviews. I really really hope it lives up to the hype (although to be honest, it's not getting all that much hype). And that cover! Gorgeous!

Anyway, I know a few other people like to look out for this kind of thing as much as I do, so putting it out there. https://www.kirkusreviews.com/features/daniel-jose-older/ has a nice interview too.

July's Reading Challenge ~ Life's a Beach.

So I'm minding my own business, when my brain starts asking random questions.  I figure, let me answer some of these with my google-fu; but it's NOT WORKING!  Now this shit is going to bother me for a while...

When is JL Langley going to ever publish Rhys and Sterling's book?

What's the date for Chris Owen's next Never Too Late book?

Are Dianne Fox and Anah Crow going to finish any of their series'?

What is ML Rhodes waiting for to finish her outstanding books?

Why do I still care?!!!  It's been YEARS of waiting for these books, shouldn't I give up?  I mean, they don't owe me anything.  They can write, or not write, whatever they want.  I just wish they would put out an update that I can find so I can tell my brain to STOP ASKING ME!

AND, it's not like I don't have a shitload of other books to read.  I do actually, but I'd really like to know.  

If any of you in this great booklikes community knows the answer, please feel free to comment.  This way my brain can occupy itself with worrying about my 16 year old driving and how to stretch these measly dollars into covering all the bills, so I can still buy books :| 

I saw this and thought it was fun...

1. Are you named after anyone?

Yes, I'm named after my father; Mariano :)

2. When was the last time you cried?

Today.

3. Do you have kids?

Yes, I have a 16 year old daughter... she's the love of my life.

4. If you were another person, would you be a friend of yourself?

Only if I like bitches, lol. I'm actually a nice person, but not approachable. I'm very sarcastic and spend most (if not all) my time reading. I like to be left alone, so no hovering/clinginess. But other than that I'm a barrel of laughs :)

5. Do you use sarcasm a lot?

Some would say too much.

6. Will you ever bungee-jump? 
No

7. What’s your favorite cereal?
Depends... I go through cycles. I'm currently on Honey Nut Cheerios. It could also be Frosted Flakes, Pops or Apple Jacks.

8. What’s the first thing you notice about people?
Depends on setting, but usually eye color or if they have dirty nails.
 
9. What is your eye colour?

Hazel, but mostly on the green spectrum.

10. Scary movie or happy endings?
Happy endings... cannot watch scary movies.

11. Favorite smells?
  Anything citrus, verbena, pomegranate

12. Summer or winter?

Winter

13. Computer or television?

Computer

14. What’s the furthest you’ve ever been from home?

Caribbean is the furthest south, California is the furthest west, Niagara Falls furthest north.

15. Do you have any special talents?

I can sleep over 24 hours.

16. Where were you born?

Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico

17. What are your hobbies?

Reading, sleeping, taking online quizzes (that's pretty recent though), Pinterest and Youtube

18. Do you have any pets?

No, although I would love a cat and dog

19. Favorite movie?

The Professional (Natalie Portman and Jean Reno)

20. Do you have any siblings?

Yes, 2 sisters and a brother

21. What do you want to be when you grow up?

Retired with disposable money

Book 8 - Blood & Circuses will be released July 1, 2015.  That's one month from today.

Preview chapter at http://www.casperianbooks.com/catalog/1-934081-49-3.html

So it's how many books in and they're still having the same issues? To the same extent?  Not new issues, but the exact same.  I guess it's almost realistic, but really?  In how many stories they're still having the SAME issue?  He's still taking Matt for granted?  Still?! Jim is still after this dude?

Anyway, I enjoyed reading it and there wasn't anything viciously wrong, hence a 3 star.