'

Monday, 30 April 2012

FIGHTING TO SURVIVE by Rhiannon Frater

Picking up where The First Days ends, Fighting to Survive features the further zombie-killing, civilization-saving adventures of a pair of sexy, kick butt heroines and the men who love them. A hundred or so survivors of the zombie plague have found tenuous safety in the walled off center of a small Texas town. Now the hard work of survival begins—finding enough food; creating safe, weather-resistant shelter; establishing laws; and fighting off both the undead who want to eat them and the living bandits who want to rob and kill them.


After absolutely loving the first book in this trilogy, THE FIRST DAYS, I couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next to Katie and Jenni.

Jenni might be a happy zombie killer and have a hot Latino boyfriend to stand by her side--as well as having her stepson alive and safe--but she's constantly haunted by her abusive dead husband and the death of her two young sons.

Katie's trying to deny her attraction to Travis, but when she finally realises that they're living in a world where the next day could be your last, she can't hide her feelings anymore.

Now that the Ashley Oaks fort has a bigger population of survivors and keeps growing, this small community can't keep putting off making their way into the newly renovated hotel they have access to. Every single person will have to face their worst fears as small groups of survivors venture into the hotel to clear away all of the zombies. And now that they're being watched by the disgusting bandits, the walking dead are no longer their only threat...

OMG. This book was fantastic! I couldn't put it down and got totally swept up in the tension and horror that the survivors went through. The story's told through the POV of several survivors, giving the reader a deeper look into each person's state of mind--which was awesome. It's another fast-paced book filled with zombie killing and a strong pack of survivors trying to make their small slice of the world a better place.

There were some really cool surprises too, and the scenes where they deal with the bandits--brilliant. I also love Nerit, she's so kick-ass. Loved it!

I can't wait to see how it's all going to end in the last book

Saturday, 28 April 2012

Blogging on the weekend...

... because I didn't get much of a chance during the week. ;)
As I mentioned on Monday (see, it's been days since I last stopped by for a real post, lol) I spent the past week working on the paper revision of my SFR novella. Yeah, the one that's driving me crazy and I can't wait to finish. O_o

And that's what I did this morning! I spent Monday and Tuesday working on a few chapters, then spent the last two days away from the computer. I sat on the couch and worked on it until I finished it. I've also added all of the changes into the Word doc. So, cool!

It's progress but I now have one more draft to do before I can say it's totally finished. Which is really exciting, because I'm very happy with the changes and tweaks I made--it pretty much ended up being a total rewrite--but a little frustrating because I just want it to be done. Like, now!

Soon...

Oh, and in case you were wondering the word count ended up being just under 39k. It fell a little short of what I was hoping for, but that's okay. I've got a feeling the last chapter will need another overhauling session. lol. We'll see.

Now onto something really exciting. The other day, the lovely Cassi Carver told me about this:


Do you see my book right at the top there? Sure, this is only the UF Best Sellers list... but wow! A PATCH OF DARKNESS hasn't even been released yet. And won't be available until May 15, so seeing this made me smile. :D BTW, it's still there.

Speaking of Sierra, don't forget that there's still a chance for you to win a copy from RomFan Reviews. The contest is open until April 29. And there'll be other chances popping up all over the place next week, when the Sierra Fox Blog Book Tour continues.

Well, not much planned for the weekend. I just want to take a bit of a break and catch up on some zombie reading. I was originally going to put this revision-rewrite aside for a week before continuing, but I think it's best to just dive back into it on Monday after a few days away from it. That way, when it's done and submitted I can really get stuck into Sierra's next book! ;)

Have a great weekend!

Friday, 27 April 2012

TORN & ONE DAY: THREE WAYS by Amanda Hocking

Acknowledging that she was different from everyone else wasn’t difficult for Wendy Everly – she’d always felt like an outsider. But a new world and new family is a hard for any girl to accept easily.

Leaving behind the mysterious country of her birth, she is determined to fit back into normal life. But the world she’s left behind won’t let her go that easily. Kidnapped and imprisoned by her true family’s enemies, Wendy soon learns that the lines between good and evil aren’t as defined as she thought. And those things she’d taken for granted may have been lies all along. With the help of the dangerously attractive Loki, she escapes back to the safety of Förening – only to be confronted by a new threat.

It’s time to make a choice – can she put aside her personal feelings for the sake of her country? Torn between duty and love she must make a choice that could destroy her one chance at true happiness.


I'm really enjoying the world of the Trylle and the Vittra! Especially since quite a few secrets are revealed in this installment.

When Wendy returns home to her brother Matt, she's captured by the Vittra and meets the very mysterious Loki. But when she returns to Förening, her world is thrown upside down as she slowly starts to realise that what she really wants isn't as important as what's best for the Trylle. She has to make some pretty tough decisions in this one...

I'm looking forward to reading the last book in the trilogy. Can't wait to see how everything turns out.

ONE DAY: THREE WAYS is a very interesting story in the POV of Finn, Tove, and Loki. It was great to see the world through their eyes and read their personal feelings about Wendy and everything else. Great story!


Thursday, 26 April 2012

Here's another interview...

This time I'm at:

Me and Reading button by Parajunkee



It was another fun interview!



This continues the...


There'll be many other stops starting next week! :)

Wednesday, 25 April 2012

Today I'm at...




It was a fun interview!



This continues the...


And there'll be many other stops. :)

Monday, 23 April 2012

Another start to another week

Well, it might be a Monday today but my daughter doesn't go back to school until tomorrow. The first three terms at her primary school always start with a pupil free day, or whatever they call it nowadays. It's when the teachers go back without any kids there.
Anyway. I've set myself a new writing goal so I'm really looking forward to maximising my time during the day. Still, it hasn't stopped me from getting started. I've already revised the first chapter and added all of the changes into my Word doc. I'm hoping to at least revise the second chapter on paper by the end of today.

So, what am I working on? I decided that the best way for me to tackle the next stage of this (never-ending) novella revision is to print it out and read it on paper. Which is actually helping a lot more than I thought it would. Even if it's a total pain in the butt to add all my pink ink scribbles to the document, lol. 

I've actually added 1k words to the first chapter, which is great. This is the story I ended up deleting about 15k words from, maybe more. I can't remember the exact amount, but it was a lot. So I'm hoping to raise it from 36k to 40k. It's now sitting at just over 37k, so I don't think it's going to be as hard as it sounds. There are several places in this novella that are pretty bare bones and will need plenty of meat.

I have to admit that I'm finally once again excited about this story. It's taken me a while to get here. I was supposed to work on it during January, but with school holidays, edits for another book, and the fact I couldn't face it, I took a longer time to get to it. It's kinda thrown out my writing schedule for this year but I just can't bring myself to get stuck on anything else until this is done and submitted.

It's how I roll. ;)

Of course, if any edits were to hit my Inbox then I would be forced to put this aside but I really (really) want to have this done by sometime in May. Because I'm itching to get started on Sierra Fox #3. So much that I had a dream about snippets from it the other night. It kept waking me up. O_o

I've also spent a lot of time rearranging my bookshelves. Every time I pull books out to sort through them and see what I've got, I can't believe just how many I have. My TBR pile is huge. And that's not counting the Kindle books I have. Yikes!

Well. I better get back to it!

Thursday, 19 April 2012

The Sierra Fox Blog Book Tour!


To help me celebrate the upcoming release of A PATCH OF DARKNESS, I'll be stopping by several places during the next month.

Here's a list of where I'll be and when:

April 18: Book Chick City
April 24: RomFan Reviews
April 25: The Book Nympho
May 15: RELEASE DAY!
           The Romance Studio

I hope you stop by and say Hi!

DEEP DARK SECRET by Sierra Dean

The only good Secret is a buried Secret.

"Secret McQueen, Book 3"

Secret McQueen has hunted vampires, werewolves, and every conceivable supernatural menace-to-society. Seen it all? Not even close. When the queen of the were-ocelots comes to her for help finding a missing girl, the half-vampire/half-werewolf soon realizes how much she has to learn about the things that go bump in the night.

The case of the missing cat is one thing. Pile it up with her new duties as a Tribunal Leader, her tenuous position as mate to the king of the Eastern werewolves, and a slew of new (and unwelcome) supernatural abilities, and Secret is once again in familiar territory. "Way" over her head. But for this multitasking half-breed, it's business as "un"usual.

What knocks her for a loop, though, isn't her lover's intoxicating kiss. It's the missing memories rushing at her from out of nowhere, signaling a rapidly approaching fork in her destiny. Her choice will affect not only her life, but her love.

Warning: Contains a werewolf king with wandering hands, a creepy English professor with nefarious plans, and one hell of an unexpected gala evening at Columbia.


This series has officially been added to my fave UF series list. I really like Secret, her world, and the complications of her love life.

Secret is a Tribunal Leader now, so she no longer goes out hunting rogue vampires on her own. She's got a new set of responsibilities to deal with on her vampire side, as well as on her werewolf side. No wonder her destiny is split.

Also, if Lucas is going to prove that he's a worthy king, he has to show strength and that includes a union with Secret. Which doesn't sound so bad considering she really cares about him. The problem is she's in love with somebody else.

As if that's not enough to occupy her time and attention, her ex calls her out of the blue because he needs her help. And when she agrees to help Holden find a missing girl for the queen of the were-ocelots, Secret has no idea that both of these problems lead to the same creep...

Yeah, this series just gets better and better. It's complicated, violent, well written, and has totally hooked me in. There's plenty of action too. And Desmond. And Holden. ;) There's a bit of everything for everyone. I just love how this world gets bigger and bigger.

Oh, and I loved her sword! ;)

Can't wait to read the next one.        

Wednesday, 18 April 2012

Today, I'm at...




 
Chatting about where I write.
 
This marks the beginning of the...
 


:)


 

Tuesday, 17 April 2012

Hey...

It's me! You didn't forget about me, did you? ;)

Though I've been MIA for so long I wouldn't be surprised if you did. LOL. 

For the past 11 days, hubby's been home and we enjoyed a lovely break together. It's been a long while since he had any annual leave with us, so we enjoyed it as much as we could. My daughter's on school holidays too, so it's been really cool. I had a great time, but was sad when hubby went back to work this morning. :( My daughter's still got the rest of the week off, as well as Monday. So she still has a little more time at home.

Speaking of my daughter, she made another doll for me using the WeeMee Avatar Creator on her iPad. It's so cute. That's supposed to be Loki beside me. He's not as ginger as the pic, but it's still a good representation of him.

Like I said above, we had a nice break. Though we did get a bout of food poisoning on Sunday that affected all of us. We're all recovering well. And we took Loki to his annual checkup and vaccine appointment yesterday. Everything's great, though the vet said he could stand to lose about half a kilo. Not bad. I think we can manage that.

So. Now that hubby's back to work, I'm going to do the same. I started out today by getting another interview done and emailed back. It's always awesome to get things off my to-do list. I have another blog post to write, but I'm going to leave it for tomorrow.

Oh, you know what I found out today? That A PATCH OF DARKNESS is already available for pre-order at Samhain, Amazon, and B&N. How awesome is that, huh? I'm very excited about this book and can't wait to hear what readers think of it. This is very exciting, since release date is now less than a month away. *bites fingernails*

There are a few other things on my to-do list for this week. I'd like to read through the SciFi novella I've been rewriting/revising. I printed it out and am hoping to have most of it read by the time my daughter goes back to school. I also want to pull out all of my Sierra stuff because the third book is whispering inside my head, and I really want to get started on it soon...

Well, that's it for today! See ya.

Saturday, 14 April 2012

THE REAPERS ARE THE ANGELS by Alden Bell

Zombies have infested a fallen America. A young girl named Temple is on the run. Haunted by her past and pursued by a killer, Temple is surrounded by death and danger, hoping to be set free.

For twenty-five years, civilization has survived in meager enclaves, guarded against a plague of the dead. Temple wanders this blighted landscape, keeping to herself and keeping her demons inside her heart. She can't remember a time before the zombies, but she does remember an old man who took her in and the younger brother she cared for until the tragedy that set her on a personal journey toward redemption. Moving back and forth between the insulated remnants of society and the brutal frontier beyond, Temple must decide where ultimately to make a home and find the salvation she seeks.

**THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS**

I love zombie books, and this one grabbed me right away. I couldn't put it down, and really liked the main character Temple. Even though she was a cold-blooded killer when she had to be, she could also be a sweet fifteen-year-old girl, and a grown woman. Whatever the situation called for, she could handle it. And I loved that about her.

Temple is a young girl who starts out alone in a zombie-infested wasteland. The undead have been walking the streets for years, and she was actually born into this shitty world. So she's tough, knows how to survive and depends on her trusty gurkha knife. She also has no problem destroying zombies when she has to, and leaves them when they're not in her way.

She survives better on her own. But when she meets a pack of men who take her to some sheltered buildings, she captures the eye of one particular pervert. One she's forced to kill or be killed. Which begins the chase. Because now his brother is hunting her down and won't stop until he kills her.

Along the way she meets some really strange people. Ranging from a bunch of friendly hunters, a family that lives safely inside the comforts of their home, a pack of inbred, deformed psychos, a train that actually works, and a mute man called Maury. Which she actually goes out of her way to help.

As I mentioned above, I really enjoyed this book. It was a great story filled with a vivid and ugly future where the dead are still roaming the streets and the living are pretty much nuts and desperate. Still, Temple survives above all that and even though she's pretty rough around the edges, she also has a kind heart and I wanted to see her survive. Which is why I didn't like the way her life ends.

I think it's always risky to kill off the main character in a novel--it can work, especially in short stories--and this is one of those books where it didn't pay off. IMO, having Temple killed in such an easy manner didn't fit her struggle. And having someone else carry her story after her death didn't make up for it, either.

I was very disappointed with the ending of this book. After all the time I invested in Temple, I should've been saddened by her death not angry. I felt like her death wasn't justified.

It's such a shame because I was loving this book... :(        

Thursday, 12 April 2012

BUNHEADS by Sophie Flack

In a crowd of beautiful and talented dancers, how can one girl stand out? An irresistible debut novel about life at one of the world's best ballet companies.

On-stage beauty. Backstage drama.
As a dancer with the ultra-prestigious Manhattan Ballet Company, nineteen-year-old Hannah Ward juggles intense rehearsals, dazzling performances and complicated backstage relationships.

Up until now, Hannah has happily devoted her entire life to ballet. But when she meets a handsome musician named Jacob, Hannah's universe begins to change and she must decide if she wants to compete against the other 'bunheads' in the company for a star soloist spot or strike out on her own in the real world.

Does she dare give up the gilded confines of the ballet for the freedoms of everyday life?


I'm not a huge ballet fan, so when I received this book for review I wasn't sure if it was for me. I mean, it's not that I don't like ballet, it's just that I don't follow it. But as soon as I started reading, I realised that it's not just for ballet fans, it's for anyone who likes a good, honest story.

Hannah Ward is a dancer with the Manhattan Ballet. She's not one of the main ballerinas, she's a corps dancer. In other words, she's one of many girls who dances on stage almost every night, twirling and swirling around each other. It's a lot of hard work and pretty much takes up all of her life, but she decided pretty early on that this was what she wanted. Actually, at the age of fourteen she left her parents and moved to New York City on her own to attend the academy.

She's been doing what she loves ever since, and has never thought about what's outside the building she spends most of her days in rehearsing, dancing, performing... always working on her dancing. But one night, she meets a young, cute musician named Jacob. She's never felt an instant attraction before, so she's fascinated and starts to see him. He makes her realise that there's so much more to life than just dancing. Then there's Matt. He's what they call a balletomanes. He's also rich and has a lot of time on his hands. Some of that time he spends wooing dancers, and Hannah's his latest target.

As she works harder and harder and starts to get small glimpses of achieving the coveted solo parts every ballet dancer dreams about, she realises that it comes with huge sacrifices. It's not just that she no longer has time for Jacob, even though she really wants to see him. It's not just that she pretty much spends all day every day dancing until her body feels like it's beyond tired. It's not even the fact she spends any free time doing exercise. But it's also a deeper physical burden, and not just with weight, but things that she can't control. How is she supposed to stop her body from developing?

For the first time, she starts to lose some of the passion she's always had and can't help wondering what's outside in the city. She wants to do so much more with her life than just dancing, but with ballet it's not possible. It's one or the other...

Bunheads was a terrific book that I enjoyed heaps! I honestly didn't think I would be hooked into Hannah's story as much as I was, but her world of constant dancing, bitchy competition, strong friendships, and never-ending performances really swept me away. I enjoyed every minute of it. I also really liked her friend Bea, and Jacob was really sweet. These two were total contrasts to Zoe and Matt, which weren't so nice.

This is an awesome story, and it was so well written. I loved it. :) 

Bunheads, March 2012, ISBN 9781907411274, Atom

Wednesday, 11 April 2012

THE WALKING DEAD, Vol. 15: We Find Ourselves by Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard

The events of No Way Out have affected everyone in the Community, and not everyone has survived to pick up the pieces.

The fifteenth volume of The Walking Dead includes issues 85-90, and slows the pace a little.

After the large herd of zombies ravaged through the closed-off community and Carl was shot, Rick has an epiphany. He realises that what they have here is worth saving. No more running, no more risking everyone, no more looking for a better place. This is their place now and he comes up with a plan to make everything safer. It starts with killing and burning the pesky zombies. But not everyone is happy with this plan...

I find it amazing how easy it is for these survivors to be consumed by paranoia and start turning on each other. Then again, it sounds like human nature to me. Being scared and paranoid in a post-apocalyptic world filled with the undead sounds about right.

I'm still hooked on this series. And can't wait to see what's going to happen next.

Tuesday, 10 April 2012

TRUE BLOOD, Vol. 1: All Together Now by Alan Ball, David Tischman, Mariah Huehner, David Messina

Blood and sex mix on a hot rainy night at Merlotte's, when Sookie and her friends are trapped by a vengeful spirit who feeds on shame. People die and dirty secrets are revealed as Sookie, Bill, Eric, Sam, Tara, Jason, and Lafayette and are all coerced to dig deep and tell painful memories from their past....those things we all have locked within us that we never tell another living soul Bon Temps, Louisiana has never been stranger, or more twisted, in a story co-plotted by True Blood series creator Alan Ball, with a script by David Tischman (Bite Club) and Mariah Huehner, and lush art by David Messina (Star Trek: Countdown).


When we popped into the library today, hubby found this book. So I decided to give it a go. After all, I'm a huge fan of the Sookie Stackhouse series and True Blood. :)

The night an old trickster spirit called an Imp Shaloop visits Merlotte's, he closes off the people inside and refuses to let them go until they each share a personal and shameful story...

I actually really enjoyed this story. I thought the book might be a retelling of an episode or one of the books, but it's actually an original story. And it's a good one! The art is also very lovely, and I like how everyone looks the way they do on the show.

I have to admit, I was very impressed with this tale.

A MONSTER CALLS by Patrick Ness (from an original idea by Siobhan Dowd)

At seven minutes past midnight, thirteen-year-old Conor wakes to find a monster outside his bedroom window. But it isn’t the monster Conor’s been expecting — he’s been expecting the one from his nightmare, the nightmare he’s had nearly every night since his mother started her treatments.

The monster in his backyard is different. It’s ancient. And wild. And it wants something from Conor. Something terrible and dangerous. It wants the truth.

From the final idea of award-winning author Siobhan Dowd — whose premature death from cancer prevented her from writing it herself — Patrick Ness has spun a haunting and darkly funny novel of mischief, loss, and monsters both real and imagined.


This is a book I've had my eye on for a while, so when I found out my local library was able to get it in for me, I couldn't wait to get stuck into it.

Firstly, I want to start by saying that this book looks beautiful. This was the hardback edition and the black and white illustrations throughout the whole thing are absolutely stunning.

Also, the Author's Note at the beginning was very moving. I think Patrick Ness did an amazing job with this book and he should be very proud of himself.

Now, the story. Wow. Beautiful. Sad. Thrilling. Moving. Just, wow. I was so captivated by Conor's story that I found it hard to put the book down and ended up reading it in two sittings.

Conor is a young boy with a very sick mother. She has cancer and as sick as she becomes, he's determined not to face his nightmares and keep believing that she'll be okay. But when a monster--who also happens to be an ancient yew tree near his house--comes calling, his whole life changes. This monster wants to tell him three tales in exchange for one of Conor's. He also wants the truth. But more than anything, he wants Conor to face up to his nightmare and accept the truth for himself.

I have to admit that this story made me shed tears. It's beautifully written and I felt everything poor Conor went through. I'll never forget this tale, and I'm pretty sure I'll be buying myself a copy of this book to put on my keeper shelf.

Beautiful. I loved it!

Sunday, 8 April 2012

HOLLOW PIKE by James Dawson

Something wicked this way comes...
She thought she'd be safe in the country, but you can't escape your own nightmares and Lis London dreams repeatedly that someone is trying to kill her.
Lis thinks she's being paranoid - after all who would want to murder her? She doesn't believe in the local legends of witchcraft. She doesn't believe that anything bad will really happen to her. You never do, do you? Not until you're alone in the woods, after dark - and a twig snaps...
Hollow Pike - where witchcraft never sleeps.

When I first heard about this book, I was intrigued. It sounded interesting and mysterious. Besides, how can the mention of witchcraft not be enough to hook me in?

Lis London is escaping her life in Wales because of the constant bullying she suffered back home. When she moves in with her sister and her family in the small town of Hollow Pike, she's looking forward to a fresh start. And it seems to be going well.

At school she's quickly adopted by the popular girls, even though she's drawn to the 'freaks'. But she soon discovers that these popular girls are awful, and becomes their enemy when she starts crushing on the same boy as the queen bee, Laura. This mean girl makes up an awful rumour about Lis in hopes of squashing her and pretty much makes her school life a living hell.

However, Lis is slowly becoming good friends with Kitty, Delilah, and Jack, and they hatch a plan to ridicule Laura. Unfortunately, it all backfires when Laura is found murdered in the copse they lured her to.

Before she realises it, her life starts to fall apart as her nights are haunted by strange nightmares and her days are filled with trying to solve what's going on. The only bright spot in her life is the boy she likes, Danny.

As everything falls apart and paranoia consumes her, she finds herself drawn into an ancient battle she had no idea she was a part of...

Hollow Pike is an amazing book. I was hooked from the very beginning and really enjoyed following Lis into a new chapter of her life in this creepy, yet interesting town. I found myself trying to put all the pieces together and couldn't wait to find out how everything fit. And I wasn't disappointed. The conclusion was so thrilling and tense, I was on the edge of my seat as Lis finds herself so deep in trouble that it echoes her nightmares.

Wow. This is a seriously awesome--and very well written--book! I loved it. It's going straight to my keeper shelf.        



Hollow Pike, April 2012, ISBN 9781780620039, Indigo

Friday, 6 April 2012

THE WALKING DEAD, Vol 14: No Way Out by Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard

As the Eisner Award-winning series continues, no one in The Community is safefrom what happens within its walls.



The fourteenth volume of The Walking Dead includes issues 79-84, and everything they've fought so hard to escape finally catches up with them...

The secure community this group of survivors is now living in--or is that pretending to be happy living in?--slowly falls apart when the walking dead break through the fences and invade their streets. They try to secure the breach, but there are just too many zombies pressing against it.

This turned out to be another shocking installment, one that once again changes Rick because what he's dreaded the most actually happens. Poor Carl. :(

Can't wait to see what happens next. This series is so addictive. I gotta keep reading!
 

Thursday, 5 April 2012

THE WALKING DEAD, Vol. 13: Too Far Gone by Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard

For survivors of the zombie apocalypse, hopes are not lifting. As others try to keep their mind on practicalities, former policeman Rick Grimes seems increasingly on edge. As his behavior grows more and more conspicuously eccentric, other group members worry that he is putting them all in mortal danger.


The thirteenth volume of The Walking Dead includes issues 73-78 and shows that even after finding a secure refuge, the survivors of this zombie apocalypse still have much to fear.

Rick is pretty much a police officer again. When he notices domestic violence going on in one of the houses, he can't stop himself from doing something about it. Which includes reverting back to the out of control animal he became while trying to survive in the zombie wasteland. Not to mention that another pack of desperate--and idiotic, imo--men have targeted the safe haven and are prepared to take it by force.

The problems never stop coming. I'm really liking the fact that although all of them want to desperately fit in and get back into some semblance of a law-abiding society, there's just no way to hide who they've become. Or a real chance to forget what is still roaming outside the gates.

Something really bad is going to go down. I can feel it...

Some mornings...

So, this is another one of those MakeME dolls that my daughter likes to make on her iPad. This is Katniss. So darn cute, right?
The day didn't get off to a great start. Well, it was great because I received my final copies of A PATCH OF DARKNESS, but then I found out some asshole had hacked my email account and sent out some bogus crappy message to all my contacts! I feel so violated, and pissed off. I mean, how dare anyone do this to someone else? What makes them think it's okay?

I think I caught it pretty early, think they were actually sending the emails when I signed in. Which is freaky and disgusting. I quickly changed my password and it looks like everything stopped. I just feel bad about anyone getting anything from these pricks. And I can't help worrying about whether they touched my other stuff. :/

This icky feeling really sucks. It's such an invasion of privacy. I've said it before and I'll say it again: spammers are the devil. They're other more crude things too, but I won't post those names here.

Sigh.

So, yesterday ended up being really relaxing. I spent most of the day on the couch reading a YA paranormal book and a zombie comic book. I also updated my Sierra Fox Series Bible, which I'd like to take another look at today. My head's already buzzing with the third book, so I'm going to start taking some notes... Not much more planned.

Today is the last day of school for my daughter and the last day of work for my hubby. Daughter's home for two weeks, hubby's home for 12 days. It's gonna be awesome. And my Internet time will probably not be as frequent as usual, but that's okay. I'll still be signing into Twitter at least once a day, and I'll continue to check my emails.

Still, I'm going to say Happy Easter now! Have a great time off. :)

THE WALKING DEAD, Vol. 12: Life Among Them by Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard

At long last, the survivors of Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard's acclaimed post-apocalyptic survival adventure find the hope they've longed look for. Can a town not yet ravaged by the horrors unleashed on Earth possibly be all it's hoped for? Is there a far more sinister secret behind their newfound safe haven? Even worse, can people forever changed by the worst in humanity ever hope to get back to their old selves? The next chapter of The Walking Dead is primed to change everything.




The twelfth volume of The Walking Dead includes issues 67-72. When the group find out that their trek to DC might be a waste of time, a man pops out of nowhere.

He introduces himself as Aaron and claims to have been watching them interact for days. He's part of a peaceful community that's barricaded against the zombies. People there are apparently leading normal lives while the rest of the world falls apart. So the group decides to go with him, but are pretty skeptical. After everything they've been through and all the crazy bastards they've crossed paths with, who can blame them.

Once they're accepted by their leader, Douglas, they start to blend in. They are all assigned different positions, the children can actually play in the streets, and there's even running water for showers. Still, they keep waiting for something to go wrong...

I can't say I blamed them. As I was reading this volume, I couldn't help but hold my breath. I kept waiting for some big, dark secret to come out of this. There's no way these people can live in peace and harmony behind these concrete walls with so many undead outside. There's got to be something Douglas is hiding.

Maybe I'm as jaded as the rest of them, but I don't trust the leader of this seemingly 'normal' place. :/ Besides, he's a politician!

THE WALKING DEAD, Vol. 11: Fear The Hunters by Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard

No one is safe in the aftermath of the most shocking Walking Dead storyline yet! The remaining survivors continue the road to Washington DC, but not everyone will make it out alive!



The eleventh volume of The Walking Dead includes issues 61-66 and leads the gang to more danger.

They're still moving, camping out where they can, but when Father Gabriel approaches them, they take shelter in his church. However, there's someone stalking them in the shadows. And I'm not talking about the zombies. Sure, the dead creatures are still a threat--always a threat--but it's once again humans who want a piece of them. I'm only going to say one word: cannibals. Yuck!

It's a good thing Rick, Abraham, Michonne and Andrea are strong enough to do whatever it takes to eliminate a threat. We still lose another one, though.

Something really disturbing happens in this volume. Something that Carl takes care of. Wow. Just wow.

This series is totally insane, and I love it!

Wednesday, 4 April 2012

THE WALKING DEAD, Vol. 10: What We Become by Rober Kirkman and Charlie Adlard

Out on their own, danger lurking around every corner, our ragged band of survivors tries to live long enough to reach Washington D.C.


The tenth volume of The Walking Dead includes issues 55-60. It continues the story of the survivors of the original group, as well as the new trio, as they head for Washington DC.

They're on the road and camping whenever they need to. When Rick suggests they stop by his old town so he can pick up some more ammo from the police station, Abraham goes with him. They also take Carl, and while he's there Rick visits Morgan. Which was really cool but also very sad. I was so horrified to see what had happened to Duane. Still, Morgan goes with them and becomes part of their group.

However, on their way back to the others a huge herd of zombies is waiting for them and then give chase...

This series is unbelievable. Seriously demented stuff that I'm totally hooked on. I can't stop reading. I have to know what's waiting around the corner for Rick. And I really like Carl. Tough and brave kid. Not to mention that I enjoyed the exchange between Rick and Abraham--two men who will do whatever it takes to stay alive and keep those around them safe.

Bring on the next volume...

The first REAL post in a while!

I've been MIA for a while, haven't I? But I've got a reason...

I've been working really hard on proofreading the ARC for A PATCH OF DARKNESS. This was my last chance to read the whole book and make sure I didn't miss any typos, things that didn't make sense, changes that were skipped, whatever. And I pretty much spent all my writing time (and even a little more) on reading it.
I finally reached the end yesterday and emailed back the changes to my lovely editor. I'm so excited about this book. The next step is getting my final copies! Can't wait. :)

So, what have you been up to?

Asides from the proofreading/editing I've been reading The Walking Dead comic book series. And I'm totally hooked. OMG. It's violent, brutal, and insane! Some of the stuff these characters go through is amazing. This story isn't for the weak hearted, I'll tell you that much. But I love it. I'm so glad the local library has been getting them in for me. Such a good series! It's very different to the TV show, too. But I expected that, because they usually are. Not a bad thing, though.

Well, this is the last week of school for my daughter. She then has 2 weeks off. Hubby will also be home for 12 of those days, so that's awesome! I'm looking forward to having a break with them. It'll be cool. :)

Not much more to report. I just wanted to drop in and post a little update since all I've been posting lately is book reviews, lol.

So, have a great one!

THE WALKING DEAD, Vol. 9: Here We Remain by Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard

In the last volume we learned that no one is safe. Now, after the staggering losses they've sustained, Rick and Carl are left to pick up the pieces and carry on, knowing that they could join their fallen friends and family at any moment.

The ninth volume of The Walking Dead includes issues 49-54, and follows Rick and Carl as they escape the jail and try to find shelter.

Things aren't going well for Rick and Carl, but when they find a house to hide in it seems like they might catch a break. Except, Rick gets sick and Carl is left to fend for himself for a while. Although he proves to himself that if push comes to shove he can survive on his own, Carl doesn't want to be alone. And neither does Rick really, because he goes a little nuts. I suppose it makes sense that he'd imagine Lori on the other end of a phone chatting to him. The trauma of losing her and Judy is still so new.

Anyway, they eventually move on and run into a familiar face. Michonne is back and as awesome as ever with that sword of hers. They set out hoping to find Hershel's farm in a car they found, but instead someone finds them. Glenn and Maggie are actually staying at the farm with the others who got away--Andrea, Dale, the twins and Sophia. So the group is reunited. Until a trio of strangers appear at the farm with talk of herds. One of them claims he knows exactly how this mess with the zombies started. If only they can get to Washington DC.

Looks like the group is on the move again...

Tuesday, 3 April 2012

THE WALKING DEAD, Vol. 8: Made to Suffer by Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard

The series that created the zombie movement reaches its most pivotal, series-altering arc yet They thought they were safe in the prison. They were wrong. A force far more deadly than the walking dead is at their door and when the dust settles, their rank will be reduced by more than half. No one is safe.

***THIS REVIEW CONTAINS HUGE SPOILERS***


This is the eighth volume of The Walking Dead and includes issues 43-48. And holy shit, everything really goes to hell in this one! OMG. I can't believe some of the stuff that happens.

So, the beginning takes us back to the asshole that we've gotten to know as the Governor. Did I mention that I despise this character? Well, I do. With a passion. Anyway, he somehow makes it out alive after Michonne's torture and becomes determined to find out where the jail is. He lies to his people, convinces them this other group of survivors are a threat, and attacks them.

It's a butral confrontation, but Rick and his group aren't going to take it lying down. Nope, they fight back. Still, we manage to lose a chunk of the group in this one--Tyreese, Axel, Patricia, Billy, Hershel... and the most shocking of all, Lori and the baby. OMG. It's all very graphic. Very shocking, and sad.

Wow, I needed to take a deep breath after this volume. But I am very glad that the asshole Governor ends up dying at the hands of his own people. That was justice.

THE WALKING DEAD, Vol.7: The Calm Before by Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard

In this latest installment of the series that shows what happens "after" a zombie movie ends, a major turning point has been reached as Loris pregnancy comes to term and the birth is near. After everything they've been through, nothing can prepare Rick and the other survivors for what they are about to experience.


The seventh volume of The Walking Dead includes issues 37-42, and OMG... things just keep getting worse.

Well, there are some positive things going on--Maggie and Glenn's relationship, the relatively easy birth of Judith, the fact they're pretty safe living in the prison--but shit, there are a lot of bad things still happening. Sometimes, I can't believe the stuff that is going on. My gosh. It's so shocking and unexpected. No one's safe.

And I have to admit that as soon as I got to the end, I was disgusted to see who is returning to the series. Damn that asshole!

I'm totally hooked on this series.

Sunday, 1 April 2012

THE WALKING DEAD, Book 3 by Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard


This hardcover features another 12 issues of the hit series along with the cover art - all in one oversized hardcover volume. Perfect for long time fans, new readers and anyone interested in reading a zombie movie on paper that never ends.


This time I read the third hardback book of The Walking Dead, which includes issues 25-36. It also introduces the very insane Governor. Yikes, what a psycho. A crazy psycho who gets what he deserves in the end, imo.

When Rick, Glenn and Michonne head out to find out what happened to a crashing helicopter, they end up in the fortified town of Woodbury. A place that is run by a man who calls himself the Governor and pretty much shows his true--and very awful--colours right away. He hurts Rick, tortures Michonne, and haunts Glenn. The horrible things he puts them through are really shocking, and it leads to his demise. At least, I hope it does. I don't think I want to see this asshole again.

This was another seriously screwed up bunch of stories. But I'm really enjoying this series. It's amazing how much the group deteriorates a little more with each issue. My gosh. I feel sorry for them, and wish that Rick would just stop trying to help people and find things. Seriously. He has to stop!

Anyway, I'm loving these books and have already gotten stuck into Volume 7...         

The Walking Dead, Vol. 4: The Heart's Desire by Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard

Life in the prison starts to get interesting for Rick Grimes and the rest of our survivors. Relationships heat up, fizzle out, and change entirely almost overnight. By the end of this volume, relationships between key characters are radically changed, setting the stage for future events in The Walking Dead.

The fourth volume of The Walking Dead includes issues 19-24, and introduces the popular character Michonne. Although her sword-wielding intro is pretty awesome, I wasn't so impressed with her after she starts living inside the jail with the others. I'm hoping that her character develops a lot during the course of the series.

Anyway. About this installment--awesome, violent, unexpected, and still shocking. Just when you think things can't get any worse, they do. Friendships are tested, relationships fall apart, new ones begin... it's all here. I also liked how the group is now starting a conversation about the walking dead outside the fence, and also realise that they're not much different. The world has been reduced to a pack of animals doing the best they can to exist.

This is a study into what happens--and what people are capable of doing, as well as how easy it is to slip into total insanity--when there aren't any real laws and rules of society to follow.

Still really enjoying this series!
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