Friday, June 27

The Emperor of Ice Cream by Wallace Stevens

The Emperor of Ice-Cream
By: Wallace Stevens



"Call the roller of big cigars,
The muscular one, and bid him whip
In kitchen cups concupiscent curds.
Let the wenches dawdle in such dress
As they are used to wear, and let the boys
Bring flowers in last month's newspapers.
Let be be finale of seem.
The only emperor is the emperor of ice-cream.

Take from the dresser of deal.
Lacking the three glass knobs, that sheet
On which she embroidered fantails once
And spread it so as to cover her face.
If her horny feet protrude, they come
To show how cold she is, and dumb.
Let the lamp affix its beam.
The only emperor is the emperor of ice-cream."

Tuesday, June 24

Top Ten Tuesday: 10 Things I Like/Dislike on Book Covers

To learn more about Top Ten Tuesday or see the list of future topics click here.

Today's topic is: 10 things you hate or like on book covers. For this one, I'm going to do half and half. 5 things I like, 5 things I don't. I'll show examples of books that I've read in the past, just so you get an idea of what I mean. 

(No order to my lists)
5 Things I Love
-I love when the cover has beautiful colors going on. I just love when they use beautiful colors to draw the eye in! It makes the book feel so special. ^.^



-I love when they put on lovely gowns. I just love the gowns! Except if the character never wears the gown. It has to make sense on WHY they are wearing it. (IE. The time period, a wedding, and etc)


-I love when the cover has objects that tie into the story. Before you read it you don't really appreciate the cover as much, but when you read it, it all makes sense! Clever cover makers. ;)


-I love when they actually use the model's full body. I love it when they actually include the head and face of the model. 


-I love when they use old pictures. Book covers that have lovely old paintings make me feel giddy! It just adds something to it.


5 Things I Loath
-I hate half/no faces on my covers. If one is going to use a model, SHOW ME THEIR FACE! It is creepy with just half a face. 


-I hate overly simple book covers. Don't get me wrong, I do like a nice simple cover, but sometimes its rather boring. 


-I hate when the model or drawing has a weird face going on. Don't they look before pick a picture? I mean seriously, I hate when the person's face is looking like they have to fart or they look just plain odd. 





-I hate cheesy book covers. You know the ones I'm talking about. They are just so cheesy you can't help but roll your eyes at them. 

-I hate awkwardly placed items. I hate when they put something in an odd spot and so it makes the cover look weird. You know what they were aiming for, but it just failed. 












Monday, June 23

Book Review: The Autobiography of Foudini M. Cat

Author: Susan Fromberg Schaffer
Title: The Autobiography of Foudini M. Cat
Genre: Fiction, Animal story
Pages: 176
First Published: September 1997
Where I Got It: Borrowed from library

"As the irrepressible Foudini M. Cat regales us with his adventures, an exciting story unfolds. After his valiant but frail mother leaves him in search for food and never returns, the starving kitten is taken, hissing and spitting, to a frightening room with cages and men in white coats. Facing the specter of eternal sleep, the homeless cat is adopted by a woman he later calls "Warm." ("All cats like to make up strange names for things.")

From here Foudini enchants us with splendid tales of his unlikely but ultimately poignant friendship with Sam the Dog; their trips between Cold House in the city and Mouse House in the country; his mystical experiences with famous felines of the past; his near-death in a raging river that leads to a profound act of sacrifice; and his introduction to a silly young thing named Grace, which evolves into something completely unexpected."

Stumbled upon this randomly at the library and I seen that Susan Fromberg Schaeffer (author of one of my favorites 'Snow Fox') was the author! ANNNNNNNNNNND it's in the POV of a cat. C'mon? Did you really think I could resist this? haha

Oooooh this was such a great read. It is short and simple and sweet, but there are so much you get out of this. So many life lessons and so much cuteness. I simply love Mr. Foudini! It really made me miss having a cat (since mine passed a year ago) and really made me rethink all that I know about cats. Its a new perspective and made me appreciate the cat breed (and dog breed) even more. 

I also loved Sam the Dog; he was such a loyal dog to not only the owners but to Foudini even though at the beginning the cat wanted nothing to do with him. It's sad what happened to him, but the author added a little something that made me smile up a storm and made me hopefully for my late dog. I shall not say for it would be giving away a lot of spoilers. Just trust me....it was fantastically done. 

This really made me fall in love with Ms Schaeffer's writing all over again. It's been SUCH a long time since I read 'Snow Fox', I really should re-read it. Maybe when it's my turn for the book club again to pick a book, I may make them read this one. ^.^ It's kind of a hard one to find, so I'm not quite sure. :/ But yes, I really want to re-read it and read more of her books. 

In the end, I adored this book. It was so cute, small, and simple, BUT it was written wonderfully. Foudini will make you re-think all you know about cats. I would recommend this book for someone who likes fiction novels and for those looking for something a little different in their to-read shelf. I shall stamp this book with 5 stars. ^.^

Favorite Character(s): Foudini, Warm, Sam the Dog, and Freud's Cat
Not-so Favorite Character(s): Grace (>_> she was annoying)


Thursday, June 19

Movie Review: Ali

Length: 2 hours & 47 mins
Released: 2001
Genre: Drama
Rating: R
Directed By: Michael Mann

Where I Got It: Watched on Hulu

SUMMARY:
A biography of boxing great Muhammad Ali, which focuses on the ten-year period of 1964-1974. In that time, the brash, motor-mouthed athlete quickly dominates his sport, meets and marries his first wife , converts to Islam (changing his name from Cassius Clay), and defies the United States government by refusing to submit to military conscription for duty in Vietnam. His world heavyweight champion title thus stripped from him entirely for political reasons, the champ sets about to win back his crown, culminating in a legendary unification bout against George Foreman  in Zaire, dubbed the "Rumble in the Jungle." In his travels, Ali becomes a symbol of power to disenfranchised African-Americans everywhere and meets such luminaries as Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr. and Maya Angelou.

TRAILER:

CAST:
  • Muhammad Ali - Will Smith
  • Drew Brown - Jamie Foxx
  • Howard Cosell - Jon Voight
  • Malcolm X - Mario Van Peebles
  • Angelo Dundee - Ron Silver
  • Don King - Mykelti Williamson
  • Sonji Roi - Jada Pinkett Smith
  • Belinda Ali - Nona Gaye

  • REVIEW:This is my second attempt at this movie. Many years ago I tried watching this with my dad, but I fell asleep. 0.0 I was only 12 at the time, so I contribute it to that. 

  • Well....the results are a little better then that.

  • The beginning and part of the middle and part of the end are good. It does really make you appreciate that Mr. Ali did SO much more then just be a great boxer...he stood up for the Blacks and their rights. Will Smith was a good selection for the movie. I don't think it was his best acting in this film, but he wasn't horrible. I think he was trying too hard. The rest of the cast was okay. I always think its funny when an actor's wife is cast as the actor's character's wife. I think it's really cheesy. What makes it even funnier is that there was a lack of chemistry between the two characters. How? Why? Maybe they were trying to tone it down and they went overboard? 

  • The flow of the story was okay...but I hated the huge jumps of time without any warning or any clues. I know, I know...they are covering ten years in the span of 2 hours, so they have to jump ahead to more important events. I get it...but they just skipped ahead and I would find myself confused. For example, they showed Sonji and Ali meeting and going on a date to them being in bed and getting all frisky and then a baby starts crying in the background! Wait? What? Are they know married with a child or is that her baby with someone else? They explain it, but I was still baffled. 

  • It was an okay movie. Not my favorite of Will Smith's, but it was alright. If you like biography-type movies or movies with drama then this is the film for you. I'm glad that they had finally made a movie about such a great man of the time period. Mr. Ali was not only the best boxer of his generation, but he was also a man for the people. In the end, I shall stamp this with 3 stars. 

  • Favorite Character(s): Ali and Don King
  • Not-so Favorite Character(s): Sonji (maybe a different actress?) and Drew (*shakes my head*)
  • RE-WATCH: Probably not. 



Monday, June 16

Book Review: Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami

Author: Haruki Murakami
Title: Norwegian Wood
Genre: Fiction, Romance, and Tragedy
Pages: 296
First Published: 1987
Where I Got It: My shelf (Bought at Barnes and Nobles)


"Toru, a quiet and preternaturally serious young college student in Tokyo, is devoted to Naoko, a beautiful and introspective young woman, but their mutual passion is marked by the tragic death of their best friend years before.  Toru begins to adapt to campus life and the loneliness and isolation he faces there, but Naoko finds the pressures and responsibilities of life unbearable.  As she retreats further into her own world, Toru finds himself reaching out to others and drawn to a fiercely independent and sexually liberated young woman.

A poignant story of one college student's romantic coming-of-age, Norwegian Wood takes us to that distant place of a young man's first, hopeless, and heroic love."


Yet again...the summary does nothing to really capture the book and what is going on in it. This is no simple story about a young man's "coming of age" or whatever. This goes through the concept of death, love, and finding ones way into the world. It also goes over that strange line that is between the 1960s and the beginning of the 1970s. I strange time in world history. One can always blame the hippies for that ;). haha

This is my third book by Haruki Murakami and he has not disappointed yet. I was afraid at first, because I read a few reviews that completely bashed the book by saying this was the "crappiest book out of all his books" and because the first 25 pages bored me to tears. However, I keep going and the Murakami magic happened by page 26. THANK GOODNESS! I was so worried. From that point on, I could hardly put the book down. 

I truly wished I could have liked Toru....but I didn't. He was one of those nice jerks that everyone can't help but like. He was self-centered and the feelings of others came in third place, but the whole time he was convinced that he was a "nice and ordinary guy", who "never lied". BULLCRAP!!!!! He was little better then Nagasawa. At least Nagasawa was completely honest about being an ass and jerk. After a while, he may tell the truth. He never did tell Midori the complete truth about his "girlfriend" who was locked up in a mental institution in the countryside (if I was to lose my marbles for good and had to go somewhere, this place was awesome. It's not a hospital, but a natural way to find your way again). No. He just told her it was complicated. WHICH brings up the subject of this "girlfriend", Naoko.

She was Toru's friend's girlfriend. However, this boy killed himself for no real reason. I do feel bad for Naoko and I can see why she lost her marbles, because her sister had killed herself years previous and then her boyfriend killed himself. Horrible and would make any sane person flip. However, I resented her for the fact that she dragged Toru around and pretty much used him and gave nothing in return. She couldn't even truly give her heart to him, but she expected him to be there for her always and to "remember" her and visit her and write to her and when she got out to help her. She gave so much, but she had nothing for him. She could never love him, because her heart belonged to her dead boyfriend. I get it. True love and all that jazz, but really? Let's drag around this poor guy, because it makes her "feel good" and "feel better". Meh.

I liked Midori a lot, even though she was a touch off her rocker. 

Well, the story was good even though I wanted to punch a couple of the characters once in a while. Those flaws though made the story the way it is. The flaws were a good thing to install in the characters, because it does show real life in a way. Not everything is as simple as they make it seem especially during this time period. There was a changing in the world, so many people were riding the fault line. Some won't make it and can't handle it. Some flourish. It is the way of the world. I loved every crazy moment! 

In the end, I would suggest starting with 'After Dark' before hitting this one. 'After Dark' is a great way to start reading Murakami books. That is how I started and it seems the best way to. I loved the story even though a few of the characters angered me and made me wonder at their own sanity. Sanity is such a relative term isn't it? Ha. Anyways....I shall stamp this one with 3 stars. It is not my favorite of his books. 

Favorite Character(s): Midori and Reiko
Not-so Favorite Character(s): Nagasawa, Toru, and Naoko 


Sunday, June 15

Happy Father's Day!!!

Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there. :) Enjoy your day!

I want to extend a special father's day out to my step-dad. He has been the greatest father anyone could ask for. he came into my life at 6 years old and I forget that he's my step-dad some days.


Saturday, June 14

Movie Review: The Fault in Our Stars

Length: 2 hours & 5 mins
Released: 2014
Genre: Drama, Romance, and Comedy
Rating: PG-13
Directed By: Josh Boone

Where I Got It: seen in theaters

SUMMARY:
Hazel and Gus are two extraordinary teenagers who share an acerbic wit, a disdain for the conventional, and a love that sweeps them - and us - on an unforgettable journey. Their relationship is all the more miraculous, given that they met and fell in love at a cancer support group. THE FAULT IN OUR STARS, based upon the number-one bestselling novel by John Green, explores the funny, thrilling and tragic business of being alive and in love.



TRAILER:

CAST:
Hazel - Shailene Woodley
Gus - Ansel Elgort
Isaac - Nat Wolff
Frannie - Laura Dern 
Michael - Sam Trammell
Van Houten - Willem Dafoe

REVIEW:
Okay.....I have not read the book yet. I have read a John Green book a long time ago (I didn't finish it), so it counts? Right? Honestly, sometimes seeing the movie motivates me to read the book. Like the first Harry Potter movie made me actually interested in reading the series. This movie did motivate me to check out this book and give John Green a second chance. 

I went with a group of my gal pals to see this and HOLY TEARVILLE! The place was in tears. There was something that would get you. I don't care who you are. Even my one friend who doesn't cry found something in the film that made her tear up. I even cried a couple times. 0.0 The thing that really got me was when Hazel was talking about when she first got the cancer and they thought she was going to die. The mom leaned over and told her, "It's okay to let go honey...we love you." Then the mom started crying. OH MY GOODNESS!!!! It struck close to home. I had been about the same age as Hazel when I was in the hospital and nearly died myself...it just reminded me of the struggle my parents went through. 

Anyways....

I liked this movie. If you look past that these two lovebirds are young adults (thus it is a young adult book/movie), it is a good tale about love and facing ones mortality. I read a few reviews saying that this was "cheesy", "phony", "unrealistic", and etc. First of all....THIS IS A STORY WRITTEN FOR YOUNG ADULTS! DUH!? What did you really expect? Books/movies like these are written to give people hope of finding that true love even when it doesn't seem possible. People with cancer also can find love. >_> At times it was a touch cheesy, but a good cheesy. Gus was a cheeseball, but that was just his personality. A lovable cheeseball. I personally like Isaac more (when he wasn't in a relationship with that skank). 

WARNING!
DO NOT WATCH THIS MOVIE IN THEATERS!!!!! OR wait til the crowds calm down before going. The pre-teen fandom girls killed my soul. I wanted to punch them. They don't understand the rule to turn off their phone and put their phone in their purse/pocket. >_> It ruined part of the movie for me, because I would get distracted by the ringtones going off and all the blue lights. Sighs.

The cast was pretty good. I especially loved the fact that Willem Dafoe played the cranky author. He was a brunette though...so I didn't catch it was him right away. 0.o He was a genius (like always). The writing was good. I loved how they presented texting and emailing to each other. You were able to follow along and I liked it. The comedy was subtle, but it was there.

In the end, this was a good movie. It did have some cheesy moments in it, but I feel it added flavor to the film. It was a tearfest, so make sure to bring someone that won't judge you. Keep in mind this is a young adult book inspired movie, so yeah.....I will one day read the book. It has inspired me to do so. In the end, I shall stamp this with..........5 stars. More like 4.5, but I rounded. 

 Favorite Character(s): Hazel, Isaac, Gus, Frannie, and Michael
Not-so Favorite Character(s): Van Houten (asshole, but I love the actor) and Isaac's ex
RE-WATCH: YESSSSS!

Friday, June 13

LOVE AT PEMBERLEY SERIES BOOK BLAST & GIVEAWAY



Most Truly

01_Most TrulyPublication Date: December 15, 2013
Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
eBook; 88 pages
Heat level: Sweet
Colonel James Fitzwilliam is home. The war has left him weary, battle-scarred—and a free man of fortune ready to find a wife. He travels to Pemberley, his second home. There he meets Kitty Bennet. Her unexpected charms soon have him questioning his familial duty and his expectations. A fight looms on the horizon when his aunt—Lady Catherine de Bourgh—and his parents arrive with their own plans for his future.
Kitty Bennet has found happiness. At Pemberley, she has improved herself and formed true friendships with her sister Lizzy and Georgiana Darcy. Kitty is captivated by the gentlemanly Colonel Fitzwilliam. But she will not be silly over a redcoat again, and she will not risk her happiness—or his family’s displeasure—for his attentions. Colonel Fitzwilliam, Darcy, Lizzy, and Georgiana have their say, and Kitty learns a new lesson—love will find you at Pemberley.

Miss Darcy Decides

Miss Darcy DecidesPublication Date: January 21, 2014
Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
eBook; 77 pages
Heat level: Sweet
Miss Darcy Decides is a light, sweet Pride and Prejudice novella, book two in the Love at Pemberley series.
While visiting a young woman—who was not so fortunate as Miss Georgiana Darcy in escaping the persuasions of a rogue—Georgiana meets Sir Camden Sutton, whose reputation causes Georgiana to wonder as to his motives. Her wondering soon turns to a different feeling when Sir Camden comes to stay at Pemberley, showing himself to be a very different man than was rumored.
While Sir Camden struggles with his past and his commitment to his future, as well as the ill intentions of haughty Caroline Bingley, Miss Darcy must decide whether to listen to others, or the words written on her heart.

Miss Bennet Blooms

03_Miss Bennet BloomsPublication Date: 4/25/14
Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
eBook; 70 pages
Heat level: Sweet
Miss Mary Bennet is the last unmarried Bennet sister. She believes she will live out her days as a maiden aunt, seeking quiet in the libraries and parlors of her father’s and brother-in-laws’ homes. On a visit to Pemberley, the estate of Fitzwilliam Darcy, her sister Lizzy’s husband, Mary begins to feel more is possible than her planned life of solitude. Among new friends and with new confidence, Mary opens to new feelings when she meets Mr. Nathaniel Bingley.
Nathaniel Bingley, at the insistence of his cousin Charles Bingley, finds himself at Pemberley. After Nathaniel’s years in the West Indies studying its intense flora, he is ready to seclude himself to compile his work into a book. But Nathaniel could not say no to Charles, who was one of Nathaniel’s few kind relatives after the deaths of his beloved parents. Soon, Nathaniel also finds it difficult to say no to his own feelings about the lovely Miss Mary Bennet.
Can Mary and Nathaniel look beyond their plans and accept the grace of love at Pemberley

Buy the Novellas

About the Author

Reina M. Williams loves period dramas, sweet reads, fairy tales, cooking and baking. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her two boys, who hope to someday take a research trip to England with their mom. For more information please visit Reina M. Williams’s website. You can also connect with her on Twitter, Goodreads, and Pinterest.



CLICK BELOW TO GO TO THE GIVEAWAY!
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Tuesday, June 10

Book Review: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain

Author: Mark Twain
Title: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (Adventures #1)
Genre: Historical Fiction, Mystery, and Classic
Pages: 189
First Published: 1876
Where I Got It: My shelf  (Given to me by my parents)

"From the famous episodes of the whitewashed fence and the ordeal in the cave to the trial of Injun Joe, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is redolent of life in the Mississippi River towns in which Twain spent his own youth. A somber undercurrent flows through the high humor and unabashed nostalgia of the novel, however, for beneath the innocence of childhood lie the inequities of adult reality—base emotions and superstitions, murder and revenge, starvation and slavery."

I haven't read this book in YEARS! I could barely even remember what happened. All I remembered was Tom and his girlfriend getting lost in the cave. haha. That's pretty bad memory. However, I didn't like Tom Sawyer when I was younger. I didn't come to even like Mark Twain's writing until High School when we read 'Huckleberry Finn'.

Honestly, 'Huckleberry Finn' was better then this. Odd, because that was a sequel to this one. Normally it's the first book that is better then the second. 

OOOooooooooooooh Tom and Sawyer. What a bunch of trouble making and danger seeking boys. If I tried ANYTHING they tried my mother wouldn't hug me and forgive me. No. I would be grounded forever! It was so annoying how everyone just forgave them for disappearing for a week, because they wanted to be pirates. >_> They showed up during their funerals and everyone just forgave them. I read somewhere that Mark Twain was pretty much mocking society's hypocrisy. I can see it. Mark Twain is a very cynical dude if you read between the lines. He is allows bashing society in some shape or form. However, he uses children as the main characters to throw off the reader. It's fantastic. 

Sometimes I honestly believe that Mark Twain wanted to runaway himself and hide away from the world. Do you blame him? He lived in a world of prejudice and hate and war. He lived through the Civil War and seen what people do to each other. Plus he lived through the industrial revolution. This boom took so much beauty away from the world. Yes, we are reeking the benefits in society, but at what cost? I think he really tries to show us this through Huck and Tom always running off and being "uncivilized". The biggest difference between the two boys is that Tom accepts that he HAS to come back at one point, because being "civilized" is the way of the world, but Huck hates it and doesn't completely accept it. Hence, he runs away in the second book. 

Off my rant....

It was a fun adventure. Sometimes it seemed a little cheesy and very childish, but it was fun. It makes me wish I ventured more when I was kid. Perhaps I would've found some treasure that would get me through college. ;D Sighs. Oh well. Tom was a little poop. He was a complete manipulator! Granted without him there would be no adventures and story, but he was still bad. The people in town call Huck a "bad influence" and a "bad egg", but Tom really was. Huck just wanted a simple life without the constraints of society. He wanted to run around with no shoes and never go to church or school. Tom was a trickster and could convince anyone to do anything. I didn't care for Tom much. 

I liked the way that Mark Twain ended this one. It left a nice open door for what will happen next if anything happens next. It could be labeled as "an open-ended" and I would agree with that. However, Mark Twain did it in a way that it made sense and that it isn't annoying. We all know he continues the series, but one could be content with just reading the first one and never move on. The ending was fantastic. I loved this not by the author at the end, "CONCLUSION: So endeth this chronicle. It being strictly a history of a boy it must stop here; the story could not go much further without  becoming the history of a man. When one writes a novel about grown people, he knows exactly where to stop - that is, with a marriage; but when he writes of juveniles, he must stop where he best can."

Well, in the end I loved the adventure. It was fun! It's a great introduction to the next book. Tom was a poop, but without him there would be no story. Huck would've never gone off on his own adventure without Tom's influence. There were some parts of the adventure that were cheesy, but overall it was fun. I would recommend this to those that like the classics or for those just looking for something different. It's a quick read, so worry not. Out of five stars I grant this one....mmmmm....4 stars. It's more like 3.5, but I rounded since I don't give out decimals. 

  Favorite Character(s): Huck, Tom (sometimes), and Aunt Polly
Not-so Favorite Character(s): Tom (sometimes), Injun Joe, Sid, and Becky (annoying little girl. >_>)


Sunday, June 8

Book Review: Murder by Misrule

Author: Anna Castle
Title: Murder by Misrule (Francis Bacon #1)
Genre: Historical Fiction, Murder Mystery, and Romance
Pages: ebook
First Published: June 8th, 2014
Where I Got It: My shelf  (Given to me by the author/publisher for my honest and unbiased opinion)

"Francis Bacon is charged with investigating the murder of a fellow barrister at Gray's Inn. He recruits his unwanted protégé Thomas Clarady to do the tiresome legwork. The son of a privateer, Clarady will do anything to climb the Elizabethan social ladder. Bacon's powerful uncle Lord Burghley suspects Catholic conspirators of the crime, but other motives quickly emerge. Rival barristers contend for the murdered man's legal honors and wealthy clients. Highly-placed courtiers are implicated as the investigation reaches from Whitehall to the London streets. Bacon does the thinking; Clarady does the fencing. Everyone has something up his pinked and padded sleeve. Even the brilliant Francis Bacon is at a loss — and in danger — until he sees through the disguises of the season of Misrule."

Like earlier stated, I read this for the author/publisher for my honest and unbiased opinion.

Awwwww Francis Bacon. I don't know why, but I liked him a lot. Maybe it's the fact that he reminded me of me at a lot of times. He also reminded me of Sherlock Holmes from time to time. THAT may have to do with the fact that he had a murder mystery on his hands. I wish that he didn't add the gang of kids with him, but it did add more to the story, but still. I didn't like Tom and his friends. Okay, Ben was okay and so was Trumpet (until near the end). Tom was annoying and I think Clara deserved someone better. Oh well. Clara didn't make it easy for Tom, so that made me feel better. She got screwed once by her first husband and wasn't about to make THAT mistake twice. Glad she was a smart girl.

The two twists near the end surely did catch me by surprise. Especially who was the murderer and the conspirator. Kuddos to the author for getting me! haha. I'm normally really good at mysteries, but this got me and I liked it. 

There were a couple dry spots that did have me skimming a little bit. 0.0 However, the adventure was fun and I'm excited to see what adventures poor Mr. Bacon has to endure. haha. The author did a fantastic job blending historical fiction with real history and with a nice mystery on top like a cherry. Wonderful. :)

In the end, I liked the mystery...it was a good one and I didn't expect it! I had my own list of suspects that surely did look suspicious. I hated Tom and his "friends". I'm glad that the author made Clara a strong girl who didn't completely give in to Tom and his "love". She made him prove it and made him work for it. I loved her and I wish she had more screen-time. Also, I wish that Francis Bacon had more screen-time as well. Oh well. This book would be fun for those that like historical fiction and/or mysteries. Out of five stars I shall stamp this with 4 stars. 

Favorite Character(s): Francis Bacon, Clara, Ben, and Queen Elizabeth
Not-so Favorite Character(s): Tom and Casper 



Tuesday, June 3

Top Ten Tuesday: Summer Beach Reading

To learn more about Top Ten Tuesday or see the list of future topics click here.

Since I have nothing else to post today, I shall do the TTT. This week's topic is:  Ten Books That Will Be In My Beach Bag This Summer. 



(There is no order to my list)

-The Host by Stephanie Meyer

- Bitten by Kelley Armstrong

-The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck

-Norwegian Wood  by Haruki Murakami 

- Dracula in Love by Karen Essex

- To Die For by Sandra Byrd

- A Match for Mary Bennet by Eucharista Ward

- Murder by Misrule by Anna Castle

The Bride Prize: Allan's Miscellany 1839 by Sandra Schwab

- The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain 

Sunday, June 1

Book Review: The Taken by Vicki Pettersson

Author: Vicki Pettersson
Title: The Taken (Celestial Blues #1)
Genre: Fantasy, Mystery, Paranormal Romance
Pages: 432
First Published:June 4th, 2012
Where I Got It: Borrowed from Library

"Griffin Shaw used to be a PI, but that was back when gumshoes hoofed the streets . . . and he was still alive. Fifty years later, he's an angel, but that doesn't make him a saint. One small mistake has altered fate, and now he's been dumped back onto the mortal mudflat to collect another soul—Katherine "Kit" Craig, a journalist whose latest investigation is about to get her clipped.

Bucking heavenly orders, Grif refuses to let the sable-haired siren come to harm. Besides, protecting her offers a chance to solve the mystery of his own unsolved murder—and dole out some overdue payback for the death of his beloved wife, Evie.

Joining forces, Kit and Grif's search for answers leads beyond the blinding lights of the Strip into the dark heart of an evil conspiracy. But a ruthless killer determined to destroy them isn't Grif's biggest threat. His growing attraction to Kit could cost them both their lives, along with the answer to the haunting question of his long afterlife . . ."

First off...I LOVE, LOVE the cover. The girl is pretty and her dress is gorgeous. I want it!!!!!!! Also...I want the man in the background. 0_0 *drools* Perfect model to depict Grif and all his smexyness.   

Grif was simply an amazing character. Sure, he was grumpy, but he had a heart of gold. Yes, he said some rude stuff to Kit, but he was stuck on wanting to find not only his own murder, but the murder of his wife, Evie. He loved Kit, you could see that from the moment he seen her, but he felt like letting Kit in would be betraying Evie and he feared that Kit would be taken from him. 

Grif is an angel and he escorts murdered souls to the Everlast (aka Heaven); he helps them move on from their murder. Well...he escorts Nic (Kit's best friend and co-worker) after her murder, but he does a big no-no. He allows her back into her human body for a few minutes JUST so she can change clothes. Silly man. She leaves a hint to Kit about who murdered her and who the baddie is. This pisses off the Pures (his bosses and higher up angels), so they banish Grif to Earth, so he can watch Kit die and then he'd escort her. However....Grif can't watch innocent Kit die, so he intervenes AGAIN when he saves her. Through this the two of them team up to find the murder of not only Nic, but he makes her help him find the murder of Evie Shaw. 

I honestly wish that this whole book was in Grif's POV. I truly loved him and his story. Kit? Ugh. She got better near the end, but I wanted to punch her. She was overly positive even though her best friend is murdered and she was nearly killed. Also, she was over-the-top on being a Rockabilly. Meh. I get it! This was all she thought about throughout the whole story alongside with how sexy, but crazy Grif is. C'mon woman. I honestly can see why her ex left her. Yes, her ex was a total asshat, but she was annoying. Even Grif, the man from the era, told her she was over-the-top and that the '50s weren't all that it was cracked up to be. She settled down a little bit towards the end, but still....

Besides for the annoyance called Kit, I really was enthralled in the story. I could hardly put this down! I had to know who was the murder and head of the prostitution ring. I had it fingered out sort of, but I didn't grasp the fact on how BIG this was. There were multiple baddies that were working for and helping the main guy. If this was real life, that would be how it really was. Corruption is a poison. I loved the ending. Yes, it does leave a couple unanswered questions, but it was done in a way that you could leave this book and never read the rest in the series and be able to sleep at night. However, I really do want to read on. :) I MUST KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO EVIE! Even though I want Grif to be with Kit, I still must know. 

In the end, I did enjoy the journey. The mystery was good and the characters were written alright. Kit was annoying, but I'm glad that she simmered down a little bit. Perhaps I'll actually like her in the next book. We shall see. I would recommend this to those that like paranormal romances mixed with murder and mysteries. I especially suggest those that like Angels to give this a shot. Out of five stars, I shall stamp this with 4 stars. 

Favorite Character(s): Grif, Bridget, Charlotte, Nic (wish she had more spotlight), and the big baddie (he was truly corrupt and evil, but had a good mask to hide all the evil).
Not-so Favorite Character(s): Kit (she did get better), the big baddie (he was a nasty one) and his minions (no names).