It’s inevitable. Anyone who’s been a reader for any amount of time accumulates books, and this is doubly true if you’re a blogger. My shelves aren’t as overcrowded as they once were since e-galleys have become the norm, but physical advanced review copies (ARCs) are still common, not to mention the titles that I purchase […]
The standard book includes the cover art, the story itself, and things like the author’s backlist, their bio, maybe a glossary of terms, etc. But, occasionally a novel goes above and beyond by throwing in things like maps, illustrations, family trees, a note to readers, a preview of the next installment, or if we’re talking […]
Confession time! But first, I feel like this post should come with a disclaimer, so if there’s even the remotest possibility that your boss might see your answer if you leave a comment, and you could jeopardize your job as a result, ZIP IT. Ok, now that that’s done with I’d like to clarify that […]
I discovered the marvels of audiobooks back in 2011 with Richelle Mead’s GEORGINA KINCAID series, and from there started listening to roughly one title a month. I didn’t take an immediate liking to them, struggled with my fair share of crappy narrators, and learned the hard way that anything over 20 hours caused me to […]
One of the things I love most about reading speculative fiction is that almost anything is possible; a man can turn into a wolf, power isn’t measured by one’s size, time travel exists, and eternity takes on a whole new meaning when immortality is on the table. However, there are a few steadfast rules that […]
Valentine’s Day is knocking on our door, FIFTY SHADES OF GREY is about to hit theaters, along with a handful of other similar chick flicks, and the book industry is doing its annual Romance genre push which got me thinking. Do holidays have a different meaning for readers? Do you see Halloween as an excuse […]
I’m a firm believer that reading is about the journey, not the destination; however I’ll also be the first to admit that a story’s ending can often make or break the whole book. The happily-ever-after is extra sweet when you’ve experienced all of the trials and tribulations that a couple had to overcome in order […]
What originally started out as a straightforward add five new precious’ to my shelves this past weekend turned into a lengthy bookcase overhaul because of course, any open spot simply wouldn’t do. #1 came in search of me hours later wondering where the heck I’d disappeared to, and after my failed attempt at explaining to […]
I prefer to start at the beginning, and work my way through the installments in order, except for novellas & anthologies. I’ll usually leave these for a rainy day. The only time I’ll bend this rule is when an advanced copy lands in my P.O. box, and either the author has assured me that it […]
Unless you’re strictly a Young Adult reader, and even then there are still ‘mature’ books in this genre, you’ve probably encountered a decent amount of sex scenes in your fictional wanderings, but how many of ’em actually mentioned contraception in some way, shape or form? It doesn’t cross my mind a lot; however there are […]
My first read of the year was FORSAKEN BY THE OTHERS by Jess Haines which unfortunately turned out to be only a 3-star book; not exactly the best start to 2015. Ah well, all of the previous installments have been really good, so it was bound to happen, and now I’m only one novel away […]