Vailia's Page Turner: March 2015

Sunday, March 29, 2015

Midnight Secretary Vol 4 by Tomu Ohmi (review)

Midnight Secretary Vol 4

by Tomu Ohmi

Genre(s): Graphic Novel, Manga

Pages: 192

Published: March 2014

Publisher: Viz Media

Official Summary: "Kaya Satozuka prides herself on being an excellent secretary and a consummate professional, so she doesn’t even bat an eye when she’s reassigned to the offi ce of her company’s diffi cult director, Kyohei Tohma. He’s as prickly–and hot–as rumors paint him, but Kaya is unfazed...until she discovers that he’s a vampire!!

Kyohei has left the family firm to start his own business, and Kaya is at his side as his indispensible secretary…but only at night. By day she’s still the executive secretary for Erde, a subsidiary of the company Kyohei just quit. The increased workload isn’t a problem, but when the president of Erde discovers that Kaya is seeing an ex-Tohma Corp. executive, he starts to question her professional ethics! Will being vampire’s secretary put an end to her career?!

Reads R to L (Japanese Style) for mature audiences."

Review: I am starting to feel a heavy repetition going on at this point in the series. While I love the artwork, I feel like little happened in this volume.

Stacking the Shelves 77

So I have a busy month in April for Review titles! Work keeps picking up which is financially good but free time is minimal so right now. Hopefully it won't be too bad once we get some new staff to take on some of the pressure off.

Top it off with my allergies are worse than just allergies and my energy level is practically nonexistent.

On a plus, last week's yard sale was a success and brought in a pretty penny. Sadly I learned that trying to read on slow times does not work. The minute to book came out my mother-in-law or neighor comes out and decides to get chatty. However if I sat there staring into space I got peace and quiet. Go figure!

♥ ♦ ♣ ♠

For Review

"Thirteen-year-old Daine has always had a knack with animals, but it's not until she's forced to leave home that she realizes it's more than a knack -- it's magic. With this wild magic, not only can Daine speak to animals, but also she can make them obey her. Daine takes a job handling horses for the Queen's Riders, where she meets the master mage Numair and becomes his student.Under Numair's guidance, Daine explores the scope of her magic. But she begins to sense other beings too: immortals. These bloodthirsty monsters have been imprisoned in the Divine Realms for the past four hundred years, but now someone has broken the barrier. It's up to Daine and her friends to defend their world from an immortal attack."

-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

"Urus Noellor--a boy born deaf who is about to be publicly branded as a burden, incapable of being the warrior his people demand--stands upon a rooftop, poised to throw himself over the edge. His failed attempt at suicide unlocks within him a long-dormant form of magic thought to have died out thousands of years before, a power that may be the key to saving the world from an equally ancient enemy.

Urus and his companions--Goodwyn, the greatest warrior in Kest, and Cailix, a mysterious orphan--must find a way to stop a powerful group of sorcerers from destroying the five long-hidden vertices that ward the world against threats from beyond, while fighting off threats from within. They soon learn that the scope of the coming danger may be more dire than any of them could have imagined. As the battle for the vertices spreads to the neighboring realms, Goodwyn must face the realities of war and death; Cailix discovers a devastating truth that could change everything; and Urus discovers his uncanny gifts and courage as he peels away clues to his true identity. But even as Urus gains the power he has always craved, he experiences it all in profound, lonely silence."

-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

"Fifteen-year-old Ashley has a complicated life. There’s no doubt her overachieving parents love her, but they are wrapped up in their own worlds for so much of the time it leaves her feeling like she’s alone.

Like a lot of teenagers, Ashley dreams of other worlds, but unlike a lot of teenagers her world is about to collapse as rifts to an ancient Fae Kingdom begin to open all around her. With the arrival of of a supernatural hit-squad intent on killing her, and an unexpected inheritance, Ashley’s London is about to become a magical and mysterious warzone where the prize is Ashley herself.

Ashley has to find out the secrets of her own life before she is killed. Balancing ancient prophecies, schoolwork and the love of her life is difficult to say the least! Take part of the wonderful world of Moonlands."

-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

"“She’s here. I feel her.”
“Who’s here?”
“The one who’s mine.”

To the dismay of her family, Kris Edwards postpones college, despite a full-ride scholarship, and moves to the beach. She has a crazy feeling there’s something she has to find to figure out her life, and it’s at the coast.

She’s pretty sure that something isn’t Jericho, the too-hot surfer with amazing blue eyes. He’s way out of her league. And is that an actual electric spark that happens every time she touches him? She doesn’t have time for him—not with two jobs, a boozer neighbor, and her best friend’s stalker on the scene. Not to mention the weird black mist over the water or outside her workplace that no one seems to notice but her.

But there’s more to Jericho than Kris realizes, and she can’t blow him off so easily. He’s in tune with the magic of the tides, and only he knows of the evil that’s washed ashore and is coming for her. The closer Kris gets to him the more danger she’s in. But he can’t let her be—he’s been waiting years for her.

With Jericho by her side, Kris might find what she’s looking for. Or she might lose everything."

-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

"Two hundred and fifty oil workers mysteriously vanish from the offshore Aeschylus drilling platform without a trace. Production stops. Communications cease. The Valley Oil Corporation finds itself on the brink of disaster and prepares to send an investigative team deep into the south Atlantic.

Kate McCreedy, daughter of the late U.S. Vice President, is whisked into a secret board meeting shortly after inheriting a windfall of Valley Oil stock. Her father not only left her his fortune, however, but an envelope containing covert satellite images of The Aeschylus. Believing the images are linked to the developing crisis, she volunteers to join the team.

Upon arrival, they discover the platform is overgrown with a massive, tentacle-like fungus, and the missing workers are nowhere to be found. Kate delves deeper into the mystery, discovering a nearby island, an abandoned military base, and a secret dating back some eighty years. It's not long before she must make a choice: assist in a corporate cover-up, or destroy her family legacy with the truth."

The ethics vs fun of Fanfiction

Recently I read the book Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell. In this book the main character is a heavy fanfiction writer for her favorite book series. This got me thinking to the days when I used to read (yes I will admit it) even write fanfiction. When I started I didn't think anything of it as being wrong. I gave credit to the original creator, made no money, etc.

Some authors love the idea and/or at least accepting of fanfiction, Authors include: Neil Gaiman, Meg Cabot, Tanya Huff, Mercedes Lackey, Melissa Marr, Stephanie Meyer, J.K Rowling and many others. They are accpeting of the idea. Some say it can be inspiring for future writers, others are flattered that their world lives on.

Then some authors are very against the very concept of Fanfiction. Authors include Anne Rice, Diana Gabaldon, Robin Hobb, George RR Martin, among others. Their reasons are the opposite. They feel it stunts creativity, are worried about copyright laws, or feel it is just plain theft.

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell (review)

Fangirl

by Rainbow Rowell

Genre(s): Chick-lit/Contempory, Young Adult/New Adult

Pages: 445

Published: Sept 2013

Publisher: St Martin's Press

Official Summary: "A coming-of-age tale of fan fiction, family and first love.

Cath is a Simon Snow fan.

Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan...

But for Cath, being a fan is her life—and she’s really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it’s what got them through their mother leaving.

Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fan fiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere.

Cath’s sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can’t let go. She doesn’t want to.

Now that they’re going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn’t want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She’s got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fan fiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words... And she can’t stop worrying about her dad, who’s loving and fragile and has never really been alone.

For Cath, the question is: Can she do this?

Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? Writing her own stories?

And does she even want to move on if it means leaving Simon Snow behind?

Review: Well this is much more a coming-of-age novel than about fangirling. While there are some elements to the main character with being a bit obsessive over Simon Snow (basically Harry Potter), it is more her learning how to adapt to life. While I was expecting more fandom aspects going into this story I got some other aspects that made up for it.

Stacking the Shelves 76

Keeping it short this week Lots going on this week, prepping for a yard sale this weekend, plus I keep getting called in extra for work. Good on the $$ but terrible when you already have a lot on your plate. So sadly, my blog and reading has had to take some cuts to compensate the balance. Hopefully this next week will be more fulfilling!

♥ ♦ ♣ ♠

For Review

"Identical twins. Identical DNA. Identical suspects. It's Pretty Little Liars meets Revenge in this edge-of-your-seat thriller with a shocking twist.

When they were little, Lexi and her identical twin, Ava, made up a third sister, Alicia. If something broke? Alicia did it. Cookies got eaten? Alicia's guilty. Alicia was always to blame for everything. The game is all grown up now that the girls are seniors. They use Alicia as their cover to go out with boys who are hot but not exactly dating material. Boys they'd never, ever be with in real life.

Now one of the guys Alicia went out with has turned up dead, and Lexi wants to stop the game for good. As coincidences start piling up, Ava insists that if they follow the rules for being Alicia, everything will be fine. But when another boy is killed, the DNA evidence and surveillance photos point to only one suspect: Alicia. The girl who doesn't exist. As she runs from the cops, Lexi has to find the truth before another boy is murdered. Because either Ava is a killer…or Alicia is real."

-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

"R.A. Salvatore’s New York Times best-selling tale of the dark elf Drizzt Do'Urden continues immediately on the heels of Rise of the King, with an expanding war and greater danger to the finally-reunited Companions of the Hall.

Bloody war rages across the Forgotten Realms world in the third book of the Companions Codex, the latest series in R.A. Salvatore’s New York Times best-selling saga of dark elf Drizzt Do'Urden.

In the evolving world of the Forgotten Realms setting, the Sundering has given way to months of cloud-cloaked darkness, and war rages under that oppressive sky. The orcs have broken a hard-fought treaty that's held, however tentatively, for a hundred years, and the time to settle old scores has devolved into an all-out brawl for control of the ancient realms of the North."

-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

"Possession. Power. Passion. New York Times bestselling novelist M. J. Rose creates her most provocative and magical spellbinder yet in this gothic novel set against the lavish spectacle of 1890s Belle Époque Paris.

Sandrine Salome flees New York for her grandmother’s Paris mansion to escape her dangerous husband, but what she finds there is even more menacing. The house, famous for its lavish art collection and elegant salons, is mysteriously closed up. Although her grandmother insists it’s dangerous for Sandrine to visit, she defies her and meets Julien Duplessi, a mesmerizing young architect. Together they explore the hidden night world of Paris, the forbidden occult underground and Sandrine’s deepest desires.

City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare (review)

The Mortal Instruments:

City of Ashes (2)

by Cassandra Clare

Genre(s): Paranormal, Fantasy, Young Adult

Pages: 453

Published: January 2008

Publisher: Margaret K McElderry

Official Summary: "Clary Fray just wishes that her life would go back to normal. But what's normal when you're a demon-slaying Shadowhunter, your mother is in a magically induced coma, and you can suddenly see Downworlders like werewolves, vampires, and faeries? If Clary left the world of the Shadowhunters behind, it would mean more time with her best friend, Simon, who's becoming more than a friend. But the Shadowhunting world isn't ready to let her go — especially her handsome, infuriating, newfound brother, Jace. And Clary's only chance to help her mother is to track down rogue Shadowhunter Valentine, who is probably insane, certainly evil — and also her father.

To complicate matters, someone in New York City is murdering Downworlder children. Is Valentine behind the killings — and if he is, what is he trying to do? When the second of the Mortal Instruments, the Soul-Sword, is stolen, the terrifying Inquisitor arrives to investigate and zooms right in on Jace. How can Clary stop Valentine if Jace is willing to betray everything he believes in to help their father?

In this breathtaking sequel to City of Bones, Cassandra Clare lures her readers back into the dark grip of New York City's Downworld, where love is never safe and power becomes the deadliest temptation."

Review: This sequel to City of Bones picks up shortly after the first book left off. Nothing new has happened except lots of thinking of the characters behalf. Cassandra Clare does a good job backtracking just enough information so that if the reader missed the first book they will not be completely lost (but likely still confused and missing key story elements) and works as a great refresher for those of us who had a gap of time in between the books. Yet it is short and does not detract from the new plot arc we are given. More adventure, magic and lots of angst await us within these pages!

***Note: This review contains spoilers regarding City of Bones. If you have not read the first book, consider yourself warned!***

Top Ten Tuesday- Spring 2015 TBR list

Here are Ten of my top books on my Spring 2015 TBR list.

I love this particular TTT but I always fall short when I choose a lot of books I want to read the most. So this is a very practical list, based on books I have already committed to read, have for review or a part of a series I am working on.

The goal is to read these between March 20-June 20.

City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments, #1)

The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones (1)

By Cassandra Clare

Genre(s) Paranormal, Young Adult, fantasy

Pages: 485

Published: Feb 2008

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Official Summary: When Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder. Much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with odd markings. This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons--and keeping the odd werewolves and vampires in line. It's also her first meeting with gorgeous, golden-haired Jace. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in an ordinary mundane like Clary? And how did she suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know....

***I actually wrote this review nearly 2 years ago but somehow missed adding it to my blog apparently. Here it is!***

Review: Very nicely written book. Lots of adventure, action, romance and more. Cassandra Clare did a great job with all the fantastic races in the urban fantasy world she has created.

'It's all about the reviews'

That is the theme of this week.

To win, simply share which of my reviews you liked, found helpful, interesting, etc using the rafflecopter form below. In return you can win a copy of that book (or any other book I have written a review for), up to $18 value from the book Depository. OR an ebook copy via Amazon or B&N. The book you win can be be from here OR a book I have read and rated on goodreads.

March 2015- New Release Giveaway Hop

Welcome to yet another monthly New Release giveaway. Returning friends, you know the drill so just jump below.

To new arrivals, you can win any book that has been or will be released this month.

Any book published in March 2015 could be yours. Well, any book up to $14 that is. You can get a print book from The Book Depository OR 1 ebook via Amazon or B&N

Fiction, nonfiction, Y.A, Adult, childrens, graphic novels...you name it, you can pick it! It is not limited to the image about although there are some great titles there!

Giveaway in International as long as The Book Depository can ship to you or you pick an ebook.

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews, every Weekend. This is to share books I have acquired from various sources. Physical books & ebooks both are welcome. If its something being sent to me by mail, I will not mention it until I actually receive it.

So I am caught up through January finally. Although library books are current. I was fairly good through Febraury and so far in March on books so I should be up to date soon. Sorry this is taking so long but between not wanting to overwhelm anyone with the number of books (I love to find out you actually looked into what I got versus just see a huge long list that is too much to take in any of it) plus it takes time to list and catalog my books so this is giving me a good pace.

Outside the book and blog community- nothing really new. I need to make a dentist appointment for next week or the week after but that is not a fun thing. And my dog has fleas so we got our work cut out getting them out of the house and yard. Work has been keeping me quite busy but I besides time to read I have also been on an old-school video game kick and have been putting a little time on my NES lately.

♥ ♦ ♣ ♠

For Review

"A witch's curse from beyond the grave! Witch Island used to be feared. Even the bravest would not dare go there. Legend said a witch had been burned alive at the stake, and upon her death she cursed the town. Terrified residents performed rituals to keep her spirit trapped on the island where she was buried. Now, over a hundred years later, a group of high school seniors have decided to forgo the local graduation parties and have a small gathering of their own-on Witch Island. They don't fear the legends. They scoff at them. But the group will soon learn these particular legends are nothing to scoff at. And Witch Island will prove far worse than they could have ever imagined."

-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

"What would you do if your heart was torn between saving yourself or your first love? For Nessa that question is a reality. If she is not surrendered to Central in a week, then Garrett will be executed and war will ensue.

Countless lives rest on the shoulders of eighteen year old Nessa. Is she strong enough to surrender herself to the government that’s holding Garrett hostage? Can she sacrifice the life she’s built to save him? Life comes down to a series of decisions, the question is; could this be her last."

In honor and in memory of author Terry Pratchett- Giveaway

Sadly, grand author Sir Terry Pratchett has passed away this week. He was a favorite of mine, with his DiscWorld series. A wonderful mix of comedic parody and fantasy that no reader should miss and unfortunate that there will be no more of.

If you have never read his works, I highly encourage you to do so. In honor of his writing I am hosting a small, impromptu giveaway.

$10 toward any Terry Pratchett book(s) you want. Open Internationally. You can get ebooks from Amazon or B&N or print books from The Book Depository. Or a mix thereof, so long as you keep it to the $10 max.

Much like this post, it is a short, simple giveaway.

Ranma 1/2

(2-in-1 #1,

contains Volumes 1 & 2)

by Rumiko Takahashi

Genre(s): Graphic Novels, Manga

Pages: 360

Published: March 2014

Publisher: Viz Media

Summary: "A remastered 2-in-1 edition of the all-time classic hit from one of Japan’s most beloved creators, available for the first time in a format faithful to the original work.

One day, teenaged martial artist Ranma Saotome went on a training mission with his father and ended up taking a dive into some cursed springs at a legendary training ground in China. Now, every time he’s splashed with cold water, he changes into a girl. His father, Genma, changes into a panda! What’s a half-guy, half-girl to do? "

Review: I originally started reading this series several years ago (13 years ago I believe). However I missed many volumes so it was very scattered. The thing with this series is that, for the most part, that is okay as it is filled with several individual stories. However, reading this I got to see a bit more of the flow and character use and introductions that I missed previously. Especially early on. A lot more ties together here.

Also, I will admit I have seen most of the anime. So my opinion coming into this is a bit bias as I am already a fan. Still I found this a great refresher and will tell you from the start-this is a favorite of mine! A comedy you should not miss!

Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch (review)

Snow Like Ashes (1)

by Sara Raasch

Genre(s) Fantasy, young adult

Pages: 416

Published: Oct 2014

Publisher: Balzer & Bray

"A heartbroken girl. A fierce warrior. A hero in the making. Sixteen years ago the Kingdom of Winter was conquered and its citizens enslaved, leaving them without magic or a monarch. Now, the Winterians’ only hope for freedom is the eight survivors who managed to escape, and who have been waiting for the opportunity to steal back Winter’s magic and rebuild the kingdom ever since.
Orphaned as an infant during Winter’s defeat, Meira has lived her whole life as a refugee, raised by the Winterians’ general, Sir. Training to be a warrior—and desperately in love with her best friend, and future king, Mather — she would do anything to help her kingdom rise to power again.
So when scouts discover the location of the ancient locket that can restore Winter’s magic, Meira decides to go after it herself. Finally, she’s scaling towers, fighting enemy soldiers, and serving her kingdom just as she’s always dreamed she would. But the mission doesn’t go as planned, and Meira soon finds herself thrust into a world of evil magic and dangerous politics – and ultimately comes to realize that her destiny is not, never has been, her own."
-Summary taken from Goodreads

Review: What a fantastic read! I want to read the next book. NOW! And not because of an evil cliffy, but because the story is that enticing! I did not want to be torn out of this world so soon.

This book starts off with young Meira and her camp of Winterian refugees trying to save their kingdom but with so few of them left, what chance do they stand? The odds are severely against them; a pipe dream really. Collect their kingdoms 2 part magical conduit, free all their people and overthrow the entire Spring kingdom.

Free books! (3/11/15)

Hey guys, I just ran across some free ebooks on Amazon you may want to check out! Just click on the image for the link!

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by April Genevieve Tucholke (review)

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea

by April Genevieve Tucholke

Genre(s): Young Adult, Paranormal, Romance

Pages: 360

Published: August 2013

Publisher: Dial

Summary

"You stop fearing the devil when you’re holding his hand…

Nothing much exciting rolls through Violet White’s sleepy, seaside town… until River West comes along. River rents the guest house behind Violet’s crumbling estate, and as eerie, grim things start to happen, Violet begins to wonder about the boy living in her backyard.

Is River just a crooked-smiling liar with pretty eyes and a mysterious past? Or could he be something more?

Violet’s grandmother always warned her about the Devil, but she never said he could be a dark-haired boy who takes naps in the sun, who likes coffee, who kisses you in a cemetery... who makes you want to kiss back.

Violet’s already so knee-deep in love, she can’t see straight. And that’s just how River likes it.

Blending faded decadence and the thrilling dread of gothic horror, April Genevieve Tucholke weaves a dreamy, twisting contemporary romance, as gorgeously told as it is terrifying—a debut to watch.

-Taken from goodreads

Review: Not what I was expecting. And sadly, not as good as I was hoping. Three stars is even stretching it but the writing helped save this book from some of the most frustrating characters.

Let's start with Violet. Our "heroine" and narrator for the story.

Picking Upcoming Reviews (Vote Now) and review procrastination

So I have read a lot of books but keep procrastinating on getting them done. Literally have over 100 titles I have read in the past year without reviews up!! Yikes! So I am going to be pushing myself to review a lot more from now on. I even scheduled myself some time to review at least a couple times a week to start catching up.

In the meanwhile I want to get the reviews up of the books you are most interested in. So starting with the books that have been on my “to-review” list the longest, you get to vote for which ones you want to see up right away. The ones most voted on will start showing up within the next 2 weeks. Once about ½ these books are up, I will get a new poll, with more titles to choose from.

*Ahem*....Top Twenty....

So I am taking a slightly different approach here but as so many of my TTTs are focused on novels but I also am a graphic novel fan so I figure it is time to share some Favorite manga series. If you like manga or are curious to check any out these are some recommendations.

And I cheated some. As I started to do this, I realized that most of these are shoujo so that limited some interest and that other series are either not complete or I haven't finished so opinions could change. So to give a better selection I went with twenty series' to choice from. Many are still geared to the female audience but there are some great action ones here as well.

So in no particular order-20 great manga series I have really enjoyed: