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Thursday, December 25, 2014

Merry Christmas! (A poem)

'Twas the night of Christmas and all through the home
Not a creature was stirring except for the garden gnome

Hubby was sitting at his desk in his cave
Painting his models for the first time in days

After cleaning up the kitchen from the dinner we threw
I settled in for a long soak in the bath that I drew

When out of the dark there arose such a clatter
I ran down to find Egg had broke the ham platter

Still Santa had done his good work for the night
And there was no Krampus to give us a fright

Still reeling from the thoughts of the books in my head
It was time to don jammies and climb into bed

But before the light dims at the end of the day
I wish you all a very Merry I wanted to say





Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Christmas Deals for Otakus

I was just checking my email and got notification of some exciting sales on manga and anime I wanted to pass along to any Otakus out there.

Generally speaking, I get my manga from one source; Rightstuf.com.  They ordinarily price their manga at 25% off, but they run fantastic sales for the holidays starting before Thanksgiving.

Prior to Thanksgiving, there were three waves of savings on all sorts of titles for manga, anime and live a tion as well.  Starting 12/01/14, they have had daily sales.  Every day there are about 80 items up fort pretty deep discounts.

It looks like most of the items are not newer titles, but if you are looking to back fill on manga titles are DVD/Blu Rays, now is your chance!

There a new wave every day.  There will be new titles for three more days, but the items from prior days would still be discounted while supplies last.

So check it out at www.rightstuf.com!

Monday, December 8, 2014

Stacking the Shelves - December 7, 2014

Well, Christmas is fast approaching and I have spent the past week cyber shopping and decorating for Christmas.  It's been a rough week.  I couldn't resist a little CyberMonday Kindle book browsing, though.  I picked up a few eBooks, but didn't get carried away.  And I could have.  There were a whole slew of classic SciFi/Fantasy released for Kindle with a 2014 release date.  A lot of them I bought back in the day, but the books are un read and boxed up in my attic.  Buying the eBook version was awfully tempting.  



Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews.


Kindle Books Purchased:
Megan Meade's Guide to the McGowan Boys by Kate Brian – Kindle Monthly Deal
Silver Birch, Blood Moon by Ellen Datlow, Terri Windling - Cyber Monday Deal
Black Swan, White Raven by Ellen Datlow, Terri Windling - Cyber Monday Deal
The Grey Horse by R. A. MacAvoy – Cyber Monday Deal
Salt by Danielle Ellison
Storm (Entangled Teen) (Salt) by Danielle Ellison
Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor by Lisa Kleypas – Kindle Daily Deal
Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon
Christmas in Venice: A Short Story by Meadow Taylor – Free eBook
Raven (The Raven Saga Book 1)
by Suzy Turner – Free eBook

Manga Purchased:
Arata: The Legend 20
xxxHolic Rei 2

Blu Ray Purchased:
Ranma ½ Season 4 BluRay

Thursday, December 4, 2014

The Good Thing About GoodReads Giveaways

 I've been on GoodReads for a couple of years and enter giveaways almost every day.  I have won several, which is always exciting!!!  But I just wanted to talk about what a wonderful vehicle the giveaways are for bringing attention to lesser known or self-published authors.

I like to go on GoodReads and see what books are being given away.  I pull up the synopsis and if it sounds interesting to me, I'll enter the giveaway.  But...I'll also go to Amazon and look for the Kindle version.  If the book is on Amazon and is already published, I will download a sample.  If I like what I read, I will often go ahead and order the book anyway.

I think this is a fantastic opportunity for readers:

  1. to find new authors they may not be familiar with
  2. to find new books by authors they are already fans of
  3. to have a chance at winning free books

Below is a list I've compiled of all the books I've bought after entering a giveaway for them.  As you can see there are at least a couple titles I entered a contest for, but I ended up buying other books in the series.


16 Things I Thought Were True by Janet Gurtler
All That Glows by Ryan Graudin
Ashes on the Waves by Mary Lindsey
Best Kind of Broken by Chelsea Fine
Born of Oak and Silver ( Chronicles Book 1) by Marie McKean
Champagne and Lemon Drops by Jean Oram
Come as You Are by Theresa Weir
Crashing Into You by B.D. Rowe
Creepy Christmas by Jaimie Adams
Dark Huntsman by Jessica Aspen
Dear Mr Knightly by Katherine Reay ( I won this on GoodReads,
     but I bought the Kindle as well since it came up as a daily deal)
Defy by Sara Larson
Desperately Ever After by Lauren Kenyon
Double Star by Cindy Saunders
Eternal Echoes by Angela Corbett
Evie's Knight by Kimberly Krey
Fae by C.J. Abedi
Fan Art by Sarah Tregay
Fanmail by Mia Castle
Forever Fredless by Suzy Turner
Forget Me by K.A. Harrington
Gates of Thresd and Stone by Lori M. Lee
God Save the Queen by Kate Locke
Grounded by You (A Willoughby Inn Love Story) by Ivy Sinclair
House of Ivy and Sorrow by Natalie Whipple
How to Meet Boys by Catherine  Clark
I Put a Spell on You, a Halloween Anthology by April Oglesbee
Incidental Happenstance by Kim DeSalvo - From Giveaway for
     Book 2, In Hap*pily Ever After
Just Like in the Movies by Kelly Fiore
Just One Damned Thing After Another: Vol 1 The Chronicles of
     St Mary's by Jodi Taylor - From giveaway for Vol 2: A
          Symphony of Echoes
Kissing My Old Life Au Revoir by Eliza Watson
Last Best Kiss by Claire LaZebnik
Losing Logan by Sherry Ficklin
Love Show by Audrey Bell
Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepherd (from her
     Dark Curiosity giveaway)
Mistwalker by Saundra Mitchell
My Own Mr. Darcy by Karey White
Nightmare Affair by Mindee Arnett - I won a giveaway for Book 2,
     Nightmare Dilemma
One Hundred Names by Cecilia Ahern
Paris Cravings by Kimberley Montpetit
Piper Day's Ultimate Guide to Avoiding George Clooney by
     Vanessa Fewings and Christina Cannarella
Poe by J. Lincoln Fenn
Rock 'n Tapestries by Shari Copell
Scintillate by Tracy Clark
Sense & Sensibility by Joanna Trollope
Shadow Hunters & Downworlders by Cassandra Clare and Holly Black
Sign of the Throne (Solas Beir Trilogy Book 1) by Melissa Eskue
     Ousley
Silence: Queen of the Dead Book 1 by Michelle Sagara
Soar by Alyssa Rose Ivy - Ended  up buying all the Empire
     Chronicles and Crescent Chronicles 
The Curse: Touch of Eternity by Emily Bold - Also bought Breath
     of Yesterday, Book 2
The Harvest Festival ( Fallen Oaks Book 1) by Jack Gallow
The Morrow Secrets by Susan McNally
The Naughty List by L.A. Kelley
The Road to You by Marilyn Brant
Undertow by K.R. Conway
Undressing Mr. Darcy by Karen Doornebos
Unleashing Mr. Darcy by Teri Wilson
Untimed by Andy Gavin
Windows (Coming Home Book 1) by Emily Minton

I just wanted to say thanks, Goodreads for introducing me to so
many books and authors!! 

Monday, December 1, 2014

To Buy or Not to Buy: Dream Chaser by Angie Stanton

I read a lot of samples. Based on the sample, I will decide whether or not to buy the book. Generally, if I do buy the book it is in eBook format. I do find that when I purchase the eBook after reading the sample it goes into a eBook vault that never gets opened. Ever. Again. If I can't see it, it's not there. Be that as it may, I still read samples and still purchase books based on that sample. Perhaps I should just read the ones in the vault. Points to ponder. Never the less, it is time again for To Buy or Not to Buy......

Dream Chaser by Angie Stanton
Book Description (From Amazon):
Publication Date: November 8, 2011
Willow Thomas has a bad habit of running away from things that scare her. And most recently, she quit her high school cheerleading squad after a terrifying fall.

With time on her hands, she auditions for a musical production directed by a Broadway choreographer. Just as things are looking up, Willow discovers she will be performing opposite Eli McAvoy, the best friend she abandoned three years before. To make matters worse, the kids in the musical hate her, her singing sucks, and her dog is sick.

Eli has grown up during their years apart and now possesses confidence and good looks, as well as a giant chip on his shoulder. He is in no hurry to play nice with Willow, but their entwined roles in the musical lead to entwined bodies in the backseat of his car.b

Just when Willow finally has her life under control, another surprise is delivered in the form of her greatest challenge yet. Will she run or finally stand and face her fears? And will Eli be there to help or turn his back on her for good?

My First Impression:
The tale unfolds with Willow injuring herself during cheerleading practice because she was not taking the proper precautions. She winds up in the hospital, but she is going to be okay physically. Emotionally, the physical trauma has left her scarred and scared. She is the best flyer on the squad and cheerleading has meant the world to her, but after her fall in an ill-fated stunt, she quits the squad and gives up cheering forever. Her best friend nags at her to reconsider, but she is just too afraid to risk another fall.
In order to have an excuse to not rejoin cheering, she decides to audition for a role in the school play.

I picked up Royally Lost when it came out in this year and I had purchased Love ’Em or Leave ‘Em as well. Haven’t actually read either of them, but I enjoyed the samples I read. This one seems to be on par.
Magical things can happen in a school play. I was in school plays, not that anything magical ever happened to me, but there is nothing like the bright lights of the stage.

Decision?
To buy