Magic Bites Winner(s)

Since we had so few enter to win I've decided to give Magic Bites (Kate Daniels #1) to both people who want a copy! That would be...

ORANNIA

CHERRY

Congrats guys and I know you will enjoy it! One is brand new and one is like new (used but only has penciled in discount price first page, otherwise looks new, if you have a strong preference let me know otherwise I'll do a coin toss to see who gets what!)

Please e-mail me with where to send your books at:

totally2aymless at yahoo dot com

Book & Movie Review: Twilight

I thought I would do something new. A combined book and movie review. I'm going to try to do this on the first of each month, we'll see how it goes... So for the very first Book and Movie review...

Title: Twilight

Author: Stephanie Meyer

Published: October 2005

Genre: Young Adult

Stand Alone/Series: Twilight #1

From Amazon: Bella Swan's move to Forks, a small, perpetually rainy town in Washington, could have been the most boring move she ever made. But once she meets the mysterious and alluring Edward Cullen, Bella's life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn. Up until now, Edward has managed to keep his vampire identity a secret in the small community he lives in, but now nobody is safe, especially Bella, the person Edward holds most dear.

Hero: Edward Cullen is a gem. Complete hero material, an old fashion hero with gentlemanly manners from a time long ago. As a vampire, he thinks of himself as a monster and tries to repel Bella every way he can, from leaving town to being rude and telling her that they shouldn't be friends. But he can't help but be drawn to Bella, not only is she irresistible to him as prey but she is also a mystery since she has the only mind he can't read. Once he gives into temptation, he is quite funny and delightful.

Heroine: Bella Swan is typical teenager with many common teen angst but with unusually sensitivity. She moves from sunny Arizona, where she was mostly satisfied with her life to Washington, where her life suddenly becomes the opposite of what she is used to, from being one in the crowd to being in the spotlight. She is not used to being popular and doesn't quite know how to handle her sudden popularity and Edward's unusual responses. At first she can't believe that someone could dislike her so much to being determined to solve the mystery that is Edward.

Book Review: This is a great love story. Very Romeo and Juliet, where the hero and heroine are naturally incompatible but are helplessly attracted to each other. He's a predator and she's his natural prey. It's also a story of true love and has all the angst involved with being the first love as well. All told in the first person, Bella's, and it highlights all her teen insecurities. At times her continuing insecurities and continued descriptions of Edward's flawless exterior are annoying but I didn't find it too much of a distraction from the overall story.

While some have compared this series with Harry Potter, I find it to be a comparison of apples to oranges. I think Harry Potter probably has a greater base audience than this series, I really find it hard to believe this series would be of interest to adolescent boys while I would think it would be wildly attractive to the average adolescent girl. Perhaps that's stereotyping, but it's like imagining my brother reading Sweet Valley High books, quite mind boggling. This is truly a teen fantasy romance with all the drama of first love and those difficult years in between childhood and adulthood.

Movie Rating: PG-13

Movie Trailer: Here.

Movie Review: The movie followed the book for the most part and there weren't any great diversions from the overall plot. But as with most books turned movies, there are some leaps/short cuts that have to be taken.

For the most part it was quite enjoyable but I had issues with the casting. Jasper in particular, I thought he was particularly wimpy and sissy looking. I thought the actor who played James would have been a better fit for Jasper. James was delightful. Both wickedly evil but absolutely scrumptious. But I have to say Charlie was my favorite. His portrayal was dead on for me. The whole small town sheriff who's used to living alone who is suddenly the primary parent of a teenage girl and doesn't quite know how to deal with this strange species.

Keeper?: The book is definitely worth re-reading and a keeper. As for the movie, its worthwhile to rent for those who really enjoyed the book but not a must buy. Director Catherine Hardwicke did a good job of bringing the book to the big screen but there were some hick-ups in the storyline that I found distracting.

Recommendation: An excellent read. Anyone who enjoys a well crafted story will enjoy this book. The movie is good and worth seeing but, as always, I enjoyed the book infinitely more than the movie.

Book Rating: A-
Movie Rating: B-

'Cause Everyone's Doing it!

For new posts... scroll down. I'm leaving this on top until the contest is closed!

So I crawled out from under my rock from in my dark cave for a peek at the world (still not quite sure about coming out of my cave yet!). When I was wandering around to my favorite sites, I got this wonderful idea from Orannia. And since Kate Daniels book 3 just came out and I am so in love with the series and Ilona Andrews, I doing an....

MAGIC BITES GIVEAWAY!!!

From the Author site: Atlanta would be a nice place to live, if it weren't for magic...

One moment magic dominates, and cars stall and guns fail. The next, technology takes over and the defensive spells no longer protect your house from monsters. Here skyscrapers topple under onslaught of magic; werebears and werehyenas prowl through the ruined streets; and the Masters of the Dead, necromancers driven by their thirst of knowledge and wealth, pilot blood-crazed vampires with their minds.

In this world lives Kate Daniels. Kate likes her sword a little too much and has a hard time controlling her mouth. The magic in her blood makes her a target, and she spent most of her life hiding in plain sight. But when Kate's guardian is murdered, she must choose to do nothing and remain safe or to pursue his preternatural killer. Hiding is easy, but the right choice is rarely easy...

In this first book we get introduced to Kate and her mysterious past and bloodline as well as meet Derek, Kate's teenage werewolf sidekick-to-be, and the ever so yummy Curran, the Beast Lord of Atlanta. So I'll happily get someone else just as addicted as I am. And as a teaser so that you'll have run out and get the rest of the series.... In Magic Strikes, book 3, there is much sizzle between our beloved Kate and his Furry Majesty (as Kate likes to call him, among many other things)!

I'll send it wherever those wonderful people in brown (UPS) will deliver, so contest is open to everyone! Leave a comment and tell me about a book/series I should take a look at.

Contest will close at the end of the month (30 April) and I'll announce a winner on MAY DAY!

Villains' Day

In honor of the IRS (those evil villains in the American Government - at least to those of us who live in the USA) and TAX DAY, I declare today, 15 of April, NATIONAL VILLAIN'S DAY (or international if others think its a good idea)! Let here it for the villains! Booooooooooo! It's really not a great story without a really great villain!

The Disney Villains: They are such fun to hate. They make the backbone of the great Disney Classics. The stories just won't be the same without evil uncle Scar, Shere Khan, Ursula and the rest. Some have a redeemable quality such as the love of one's pets but most are just plain evil fun! My personal favorite has to be Maleficent, the Mistress of All Evil! Gotta love that title. I mean really how much more can you ask of the title! Of All Evil! That covers so much!

Voldemort: Harry Potter would have been another nobody had it not been for the great evil Wizard Voldemort. He made Harry Potter what it was so if there was no Voldemort than there couldn't have been a Harry Potter. And on the evil scale... He's gotta be right near the top on the great evil chart!

Vadim Maur: Talk about a completely nasty evil guy! Anything goes when it comes to his pursuit of everlasting life and ultimate magical power. He breeds people like animal to get the most gifted offspring so that he can breed them until he has the ultimate magical spawn so that he can take over their bodies and conquer the world! But really don't you have to admire his perseverance and dedication towards his goal.

Who are your favorites? Who do you think is the most wonderful/evil villain?

Where Did Aymless Go?

It's been awhile since I posted so here's the update:

1. I really haven't gone anywhere. Mostly just hiding from the world in general.

2. Am depressed because can't find work and the money is running out so that puts me at

3. Am very anxious because the money is running out an there is no work to be had as of yet!

4. Got lots of books read (will post reviews eventually) but a lot of them where re-reads (had to refresh my memory on all of Sherrilyn Kenyon books so that I could read Acheron). Works well for the getting away but not really away bit.

5. Now entering my most disliked season! Bird-Poop. Yup at my place we have Wet and Bird-Poop seasons (with a mix of the two between the seasons). I really, really hate Bird-Poop season. My nice car gets covered in that icky stuff every day so there doesn't seem to be a point in washing it off. But then you end up driving Poop-car (which I find icky) until you get around to washing it off. Why can't they find someone else's car to poop all over!

6. Procrastinating on buying all those seeds for the garden. Will get around to it sometime.

7. Procrastinating on doing TurboTax (all you Americans know what that is). Have to do it this week sometime... but really it's only Tuesday so that at least another two days I can put it off. *g*

So that's what I've been doing. How about all of you?

TRB Challenge 2009: Games of Command

Title: Games of Command

Author: Linnea Sinclair

Published: February 2007

Genre: Science Fiction Romance

Stand Alone/Series: Stand Alone

From the Author Site: Can she trust a man who is half-machine?

The universe isn’t what it used to be. With the new alliance between the Triad and the United Coalition, Captain Tasha “Sass” Sebastian finds herself serving under her former nemesis, bio-cybe Admiral Branden Kel-Paten—and doing her best to hide a deadly past. But when an injured mercenary falls into their ship’s hands, her efforts may be wasted …

Wanted rebel Jace Serafino has information that could expose all of Sass’ secrets, tear the fragile Alliance apart—and end Sass’s career if Kel-Paten discovers them. But the bio-cybe has something to hide as well, something once thought impossible for his kind to possess: feelings...for Sass. Soon it’s clear that their prisoner could bring down everything they once believed was worth dying for—and everything they now have to live for…

Hero: Biocybernetic Admiral Branden Kel-Paten, aka Tin Soldier, of the Triad. As a biocybernetic being, he is programmed not to feel and to be completely ruled by logic. But he goes against his programing and falls in love with Tasha Sebastian. But having these feelings can have him completely reprogrammed or destroyed if anyone finds out. So he has to hide them from everyone else while trying to get Tasha to see him as a real person who loves her. It doesn't help that Tasha's best friend is an empath and is currently serving as his Chief Medical Officer.

Heroine: Captain Tasha Sebastian, aka Lady Sass, of the United Coalition. An United Coalition captain with a shady past that she must keep hidden, especially from Kel-Paten. She has been transferred to Kel-Paten's flagship, the Vaxxar, as a part of the peace agreement to unite the Triad and the United Coalition against a mutual threat. What she doesn't know is that Kel-Paten has other reasons for her being on his ship. With the appearance of Jace Serafino on board the Vaxxar, Tasha's shady past is catching up to her.

Review: Another brilliant read from Linnea Sinclair. Tasha and Kel-Paten are an unlikely pair that create a perfect romance. Tasha with her intuitive style and Kel-Paten with his logic. Together they are unbeatable. You can feel Kel-Paten's longing for Tasha as he follows her around his ship just so that he can be in her company as well as his frustration at trying to be emotional while with Tasha and unemotional the rest of the time to avoid getting caught and reprogrammed or destroyed. Meanwhile, you can see Tasha's confusion as to why Kel-Paten is "spying". Kel-Paten's straight military bearing is a perfect foil for Tasha's more relaxed and rougish style. You have to love her "My name's No, No, Bad Captain! What's yours?" T-shirt and Kel-Paten's reaction to it as well as their "Sabastian", pause, "Kel-Paten" routine.

Linnea Sinclair has given us a second love story to enjoy in book. The love story of the rascally outlaw Jace Serafino and Vaxxar's CMO, Eden Fynn. Their story is a bit more intertwined with the storyline and is hard to discuss without giving away the plot. So I'll just say that it is fun to see Jace the outlaw try to steal Dr. Fynn's heart but ends up reforming to earn her love.

And let's not forget the lovable furzels, Reilly and Tank (although he is just a fidget)! All would have been destroyed had it not have been for these two furry, lovable and loyal champions. I want a furzel of my very own (I know my furry baby definitely has the furzel quality of loving her food and always wanting her food). The book just wouldn't have been the same without them and their furry commentary.

Keeper?: Most definitely.

Recommendation: I loved it. A great story with wonderful, memorable characters. I can't think of anything that would make this better. It's perfect as it is written.

Rating: A+

Review: Finders Keepers

Title: Finders Keepers

Author: Linnea Sinclair

Published: April 2005

Genre: Science Fiction Romance

Stand Alone/Series: Stand Alone

From the Author Site: Now that they found each other, the universe won't know what hit it...

Blending hard SF with sizzling romantic suspense, Linnea Sinclair brings readers this red-hot adventure of two space outcasts on a collision course with destiny. Now that this star-crossed couple have found each other, the universe won't know what hit it...

Trilby Elliot is a barely legal independent trader. Rhis Vanur is the arrogant Zafharin military officer she rescued from a crash landing. It would have been a miracle if they survived each other's company on Trilby's slapdash starfreighter even under the best of circumstances. And these are far from the best of circumstances. For Trilby's best friend is missing and the warlike 'Sko are hunting both Trilby and Rhis. Suddenly they're in it together, for better, for worse--or until death blasts them to oblivion...

There are very minor spoilers ahead. To read with the spoilers, highlight the text.

Hero: Lieutenant Rhis Vanur aka Senior Captain Khyrhis Tivahr of the Zarfharin hunter ship Razalka aka Tivahr the Terrible. Rhis is having a really bad week. First he was captured by the 'Sko, then he escaped only to crash land on a middle of nowhere inhospitable planet. But to his luck begins to change when he is rescued by Tribly Elliot and her envoy droid Dezi. In his hurry to return to the Razalka, he gets on the bad side of Tribly by trying hijack her ship only to find the ship inoperable and in the middle of repairs. He quickly sees that the only way he can get back to Zarfharin space is to fix Tribly's outdated ship. The only things he hadn't counted on was to fall "ass over teakettle" for Tribly. He's Zarfharin military arrogance slowly melts away to show a lonely man in dire need of love and understanding.

Heroine: Tribly Elliot, Captain of the Careless Venture, and an independent Conclave trader who is down on her luck. With her only crew, and best friend, Desi - an old DZ-9 envoy droid - she is attempting to fix/upgrade her ship on the sly because she can't pay port fees. So she has set up a temporary shop on a uninhabited and mostly unwanted plant. Part way through her repairs, a 'Sko fighter crash lands practically on her door step. Unable to pass up a good salvage opportunity, Tribly and her faithful Desi head to the crash site and get more than they wanted. Tribly is a gutsy trader who just wants to make an honest and decent living, but time and money are not on her side. Tribly is attracted to Rhis but is afraid to risk her heart since it was recently dealt a harsh blow. Her character reminded me of Beka Valentine from the TV series Andromeda.

Review: Another wonderful story from Linnea Sinclair. She has managed to create a very believable world and situation. Just enough detail is given to give this universe life and delightful food for our imaginations.

In this universe, the war between the Conclave and Zarharin Empire has just ended and peace between the two is still fragile. Tribly is a citizen of the Conclave, but they are more of an annoyance to her rather than anything else. While Rhis is a member of the Zarharin Imperial Fleet and is used to rules and regulations. So difference between the two makes for delightful times as Tribly pokes fun at Rhis's imperial arrogance and Rhis being constantly caught off guard with the unexpected, such as having to hit or wack a tool to make it function or start.

Although the Zarharin Empire and Conclave are peace, there is something shady going on with the Ycsko, an aggressive non-human group that share this part of the galaxy with the Zarharin Empire and the Conclave. This increasing tension between all the factions makes a very exciting story.

Once again Linnea Sinclair has delivered an action packed story with two very delightful lead characters. Strong, independent, loyal Tribly and arrogant, lonely, sexy Rhis. As well as a slew of others.
My favorite secondary character is Desi. He just like C3PO from Star Wars. Always willing to help but overly verbose on whatever topic is being discussed. Poor guy is doing a job outside his original programming but does it without complaint. And at times very literal, I suppose that is the way of droids and in particular, envoy/protocol droids.

One two this seem bother me about this book. First is the first love scene. It just seemed to jump out of no where. Sure they liked and were attracted to each other, Rhis had already tried kissed Tribly, but Tribly had rebuffed him. Then out of the blue she jumps him and they go on to have steamy sex. Sure she found him attractive and quite yummy to look at, but there didn't seem to be any build up to that scene. The second is that the book ended without answering some questions that were presented in the book. Although the book was written as a stand alone, I felt like it was set up for a sequel. One that would explain or wrap up all those annoying little sub-plot lines that were still hanging around as loose threads.

Keeper?: Yes

Recommendation: An excellent read. This a stand alone novel that is screaming for a sequel!

Rating: B+