Babbling Vixens

I've had the pleasure of knowing Fiction Vixen (online) for over 5 years now. We ventured into the book blogging community at the same time and I must say that so far I've had a blast. She introduced me to some great reads, including: Sookie, the Black Dagger Brotherhood and most recently the Night Huntress series by Jeaniene Frost (thank you!!!). I always look to her for book recommendations; she never steers me wrong. So here's where I pick her brain.

FV: Hi BV, thanks so much for inviting me today.
BV: Thanks for stopping by!

Let's talk book reviews...
Let's start off by talking about book reviews. You write great reviews which not only tell your blog readers about the book but what you liked and disliked about it without spilling any blood. What's your formula?
FV: I don't have a specific formula that I follow every time I write a review. What I cover usually depends on the book and how I felt about it and what made an impression on me. Honesty is important to me though. If I loved it, you're going to know and if I was disappointed I'm going to tell you about that too. However, as you said, there will be no spilling of blood. It's important that what goes on my blog reflects my personality and personal style so you won't find any snarky reviews there, but you will find my honest opinion.

BV: Tell us about your review writing process? Do you make notes while you are reading about things you want to mention? Or do you wait until you have absorbed the book and let everything settle before cracking your knuckles and getting to the nitty gritty?
FV: Well, I admit, I've never cracked my knuckles before getting to the nitty gritty. I'm going to give that a try. *g* I used to read through a book then think on it for a day or two then write the review. However, now I prefer to use sticky notes to mark quotes or points I think I might want to cover in the review. (This is even easier when reading on my Kindle). Since I'm lazy, I rarely take notes though.

BV: What qualities and components must a book possess in order to get a 5-heart Fiction Vixen rating?
FV: It can be a combination of several things but not always the same qualities for every 5-star rating. I like a when a story flows and the characters come to life. If I'm thinking about about a book when I'm not reading it, then the author has done a good job in my opinion. I like my hero's and heroines to be flawed but redeemable. But most of all, I love the unexpected. Nothing makes me love a book more than when I sit back and say, "Whoa! I didn't see that coming!"

Let's talk books...
BV: Favorite read (book or series) this year?
FV: Hands down, The Fever Series by Karen Marie Moning. I think about this series constantly, discuss it with my book friends, pimp it out shamelessly, and I can not wait for the 5th and final book in the series.
[ I have this series on my TBR list. She recommended it to me :D ]

BV: All-time favorite book?
FV: This is the hardest question for me to answer. I like books for so many different reasons and it's really hard for me to say which one I loved the best. I tend to like series books the best and picking one from the series over the others is difficult so I'm going to wimp out and and decline to answer *g*

BV: What book is a must read (the book you push everyone to read)?
FV: You're kidding right? There are so many. Ok, if I have to narrow it down, I tell everyone who will listen to read the Fever series by Karen Marie Moning, The Night Huntress Series by Jeaniene Frost, Skin Game by Ava Gray, Black Dagger Brotherhood series by JR Ward, and The Outlander Series by Diana Gabaldon.
[ She's recommended all those books to me. She definitely knows the good stuff! ]

BV: What new (or new-to-you) author did you discover this year and fall in love with?
FV: All the authors named above since all were first time reads this year, and also, Lauren Dane, Lilli Feisty, and Megan Hart for Erotica.
[ These are some authors I need to try! ]

BV: What 2010 book release are you most anticipating and why?
FV: I'm most looking forward to Shadowfever by Karen Marie Moning. I can't wait to see what happens for Mac and Barrons and I don't think I've ever been this excited for a new release. Is it summer yet?

BV: What are your top 3 (because you can't have them all, I just won't allow it!) book boyfriends?
FV: Jericho Barrons (Fever Series), Bones (Night Huntress Series) and Vishous (BDB series).
[ Awww, Bones. I'm currently reading the series and I totally understand the Bones thing! ]

BV: Next 5 books on your TBR pile?

FV: Shattered by Joan Johnston, Friction by Samantha Hunter, Undercover by Lauren Dane, Succubus Blues by Richelle Mead, and Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs by Molly Harper.

BV: Which book left you high and dry, and lusting for more?

FV: Dreamfever by Karen Marie Moning. Worst/best cliffhanger EVER!

BV: If your life was a book, what would the title be?
FV: Twi-Lost

BV: Last book bought for yourself?

FV: Dangerous Highlander by Donna Grant (pre-order).

BV: Last book you received as a gift?

FV: Shades Of Midnight by Lara Adrian.

BV: Last book you gave as a gift?

FV: Shades Of Midnight by Lara Adrian (no, I didn't re-gift lol).

 Let's talk Fiction Vixen...

BV: Where do you see your blog in 2010? Any new editions coming to Fiction Vixen?

FV: I really don't know. I really struggled to keep up in 2009 so we'll see what happens in 2010.

BV: Any bookish New Year resolutions?

FV: Nope, I'm a slacker and setting goals makes me want to take a nap *g*

BV: What do I need to do to get you to do a vlog? Do I need to send Bones knocking on your door? Bones! Get over here pronto!!

FV: The vlog thing is never going to happen. Not only do I cringe at the sound of my recorded voice, my face twitches when I get nervous. Never.going.to.happen.  Not even for a Bones/Jericho/Me sandwich.
[ You can't say I didn't try :/ ]

BV: Any lasting impressions you would like to leave us with?

FV: Thank you very much for having me here at The Book Vixen.  You've got a cozy little blog here.  :)

BV: Aww, thanks. And thanks for stopping by :D

Places to stalk Fiction Vixen:

Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon

On My Wishlist (8)

On My Wishlist is a fun weekly event hosted by Book Chick City and runs every  Saturday. It's where I list all the books I desperately want but haven't  actually bought yet. They can be old, new or forthcoming. It's also an  event that you can join in with too - Mr Linky is always at the ready  for you to link your own 'On My Wishlist' post. If you want to know more  click here.

The Maze Runner by James Dashner

The Vampire's Seduction by Raven Hart

Angel Star by Jennifer Murgia

What's on your wishlist?

Teaser Tuesday: Halfway to the Grave

Compulsively I kissed him, piercing my lower lip on his fangs and hearing him groan when he sucked the blood off. "So sharp and sweet," he muttered thickly.

p. 164, Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost


Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others.
• Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Review: Tangled by Carolyn Mackler

Title: Tangled
Author: Carolyn Mackler
Format: ARC
Source: Won it from the author
Release Date: 12/29/2009










From the author's website:

Paradise wasn’t supposed to suck.

Not the state of being, but a resort in the Caribbean. Jena, Dakota, Skye, and Owen are all there for different reasons, but at Paradise their lives become tangled together in ways none of them can predict. Paradise will change them all.

It will change Jena, whose first brush with romance takes her that much closer to having a life, and not just reading about those infinitely cooler and more exciting. It will change Dakota, who needs the devastating truth about his past to make him realize that he doesn’t have to be a jerk just because people think he’s one. It will change Skye, a heartbreakingly beautiful actress, who must come to terms with the fact that for once she has to stop playing a role or face the consequences. And it will change Owen, who has never risked anything before and who will take the leap from his online life to a real one all because of a girl he met at Paradise….

From confused to confident and back again, one thing’s certain: Four months after it all begins, none of them will ever be the same.

Tangled is about four teenagers, who couldn't be any more different, whose lives come together while vacationing in Paradise.

First, we have Jena who is the average teenager. She likes reading. She's goes through some self esteem issues; she's not stick-thin and finally decides that she is "luscious". She's the one I can relate to, her and Owen. Jena has this "everything book" where she jots down quotes and favorite sayings, anywhere from a book to a movie to something one of her friends might say (or write in a note). She even has some Nicholas Sparks (my favorite author!) quotes in that book!

Next, there's Skye, the aspiring actress. She popular, pretty and everyone wants to either be her or be with her. Jena is very jealous of Skye and gets uncomfortable during any conversation they have. Jena and Skye are on vacation together at Paradise because their moms are BFFs. Skye may seem perfect from the outside but she's battling her own demons.

Dakota is an athlete and a typical horny teenager. He's hot and can get any girl he wants. He's on vacation with his brother, Owen, and their mom.

Owen is the computer nerd who has more friends online than in real life. He writes a blog, Loser with a Laptop, and is the complete opposite of Dakota.

My Thoughts:
Since this was my first read by Carolyn Mackler, I have to admit I didn't know what to expect. I am happy to say that she didn't disappoint; her writing blew me away. I was pulled in right from the beginning. Her writing flows smoothly and there is no fumbling. I got completely absorbed into the story from page one. This is the type of book where before you know it, you're halfway through it. And boy, does Carolyn do a great job of getting into the head of a teenage boy!

Tangled is told from 4 points of view, following each character for one month. The reader is left with a cliffhanger at the end of each character's narration but things come together by the end of the book. I was left wanting more. I wasn't ready to give up Jena's story but I got closure later on.

The title and cover fit perfectly with this book. The title is simple yet captures the essence of the book with one word. These four teenagers' lives are tangled with each other. The cover, too, is simple but it's also cute and eye catching. I love how the pink ribbon and blue ribbon meet in the middle as purple.

All in all, Tangled was a great read. I will definitely check out Carolyn Mackler's other releases!

The Book Vixen's Rating:

 

Author website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Myspace

Secret Santa

I received my Secret Santa package about a week and a half ago but waited to share my goodies with you until today, Christmas Day. Here's what I got:

 

 

*Squee* I was so excited to find Vampire Academy and A Touch of Dead!! I've heard great things about VA and can't wait to get started on the series. I've read all the Sookie books (that have been released thus far) and I'm so excited to read through the short stories. And last, but certainly not least, I got chocolate! Did you see the name on the chocolate? New Moon!! Ha! Love it! Thank you Lynn!! You are the best Secret Santa!! I didn't see a link to your blog on the note. I hope you stop by and leave me a comment so I can visit your blog to personally thank you. 

I would also like to thank Kate at The Neverending Shelf for putting this all together. It was quite a feat, I can only imagine.

Merry Christmas!

From The Book Vixen to you!

Review: Candy Girl by Diablo Cody

Title: Candy Girl: A Year in the Life of an Unlikely Stripper
Author: Diablo Cody
Format: Paperback
Source: Received from Jamie at Confessions of a Book Junkie







Synopsis from Goodreads:

Decreed by David Letterman (tongue in cheek) on CBS TV’s The Late Show to be the pick of "Dave’s Book Club 2006," Candy Girl is the story of a young writer who dared to bare it all as a stripper. At the age of twenty-four, Diablo Cody decided there had to be more to life than typing copy at an ad agency. She soon managed to find inspiration from a most unlikely source— amateur night at the seedy Skyway Lounge. While she doesn’t take home the prize that night, Diablo discovers to her surprise the act of stripping is an absolute thrill.

This is Diablo’s captivating fish-out-of-water story of her yearlong walk on the wild side, from quiet gentlemen’s clubs to multilevel sex palaces and glassed-in peep shows. In witty prose she gives readers a behind-the-scenes look at this industry through a writer’s keen eye, chronicling her descent into the skin trade and the effect it had on her self-image and her relationship with her now husband.

My Thoughts:
I normally won't dabble in non-fiction, especially a memoir, but I have to admit this book caught my eye. The cover. The premise. I've heard of the name Diablo Cody but didn't know exactly where to place her. So I googled her and found out that she wrote the Academy Award winning screenplay for the movie Juno. Her writing is raw and descriptive and it pulls you in. Just in the few pages of this book I knew I wanted to know more about her year as a stripper. 

Candy Girl is a memoir of a 24-year old woman the year she worked as a stripper. She was working at an advertising agency as a copy typist, where she was bored and feeling unsatisfied. Whereas you and I might escape our boredom by reading a book, she stumbled across a seedy strip club and tried out for amateur night. She didn't win but she didn't stop there either. She worked at several clubs in the skin trade, not because she needed the money and couldn't get a "real" job, but because she need to satisfy her inner rebel. She did it for fun. You'd think it would be awkward to scale a pole, window dance and prance around in your birthday suit in front of (and on top of) sober men. That's right. Sober men. Apparently, Minneapolis has an ordinance that states clubs cannot serve alcohol in establishments where the ladies are fully nude. 

Candy Girl is an entertaining and funny read by a self-proclaimed sheltered geek, however, it is also very candid and explicit. Diablo is a fascinating woman. She possesses an ever-evolving look and reinvents herself at every chance she gets. When watching interviews of her on YouTube, I didn't recognize her until her name was mentioned. And in case you're wondering (because I was), her birth name is Brook Busey.

The Book Vixen's Rating:

 

Read Jamie's review of Candy Girl. 

Author's Twitter  |  Myspace

On My Wishlist (7)

On My Wishlist is a fun weekly event hosted by Book Chick City and runs every  Saturday. It's where I list all the books I desperately want but haven't  actually bought yet. They can be old, new or forthcoming. It's also an  event that you can join in with too - Mr Linky is always at the ready  for you to link your own 'On My Wishlist' post. If you want to know more  click here.

 

What's on your wishlist?

Teaser Tuesday: Tangled

I thought he was joking, so I lay there quietly, unsure what to do. But then Dakota walked his fingers across my belly and eased my shirt back up again.

p. 55, Tangled by Carolyn Mackler





Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others.
• Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Review: Fallen by Lauren Kate

Title: Fallen
Author: Lauren Kate
Format: ARC, 1st book in a 4-book series
Source: Provided by Around the World Tours, hosted by Princess Bookie








Synopsis from Goodreads:

There's something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori.

Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price's attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah, Georgia. He's the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move. 

Even though Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce--and goes out of his way to make that very clear--she can't let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, she has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret...even if it kills her.

Dangerously exciting and darkly romantic, Fallen is a page turning thriller and the ultimate love story. 

My Thoughts:
There have been mixed reviews on this one but I had to see, and read it, for myself. And I'm glad I did. Fallen is dark, edgy, mysterious and exciting. I found myself turning page after page in wonder. After reading the story, I went back and re-read the prologue, then read the epilogue. In doing so, I found I gained a better sense of the story and its history. The prologue ties the history with the story very well.

It takes a while before the story starts to come together but it's worth the wait. Try to be patient and enjoy the story-building. The characters, both the protagonists and thw secondary characters, are well developed as result of this. Readers will be rewarded with a fast-paced, action packed ending. 

This story focuses on three main elements, which I enjoy and think make for a good read: A forbidden love, a love triangle and sexual frustration. I'm going to leave it at that (no spoilery here).


The cover is dark and beautiful. It's eye-catching and compliments the mood and tone of the story.

The reader is left with quite a cliffhanger. There are some loose ends that I hope come together in the next installment, Torment, which is set to be released in September 2010. Fallen left me hungry and craving for more of Luce's story. I cannot wait for Torment! 

Move over vampires; Fallen angels are coming into town!

The Book Vixen Rating:

 


 

Author Website  |  Twitter  |  Facebook

On My Wishlist (6)

On My Wishlist is a fun weekly event hosted by Book Chick City and runs every  Saturday. It's where I list all the books I desperately want but haven't  actually bought yet. They can be old, new or forthcoming. It's also an  event that you can join in with too - Mr Linky is always at the ready  for you to link your own 'On My Wishlist' post. If you want to know more  click here.

 

 

 

What's on your wishlist?

Teaser Tuesday: Fallen

Her second kiss in as many days. Where Daniel's kiss had been hungry and almost desperate, Cam's kiss was gentle and too perfect, as if he had been practicing on a hundred girls before her.

p. 342, Fallen by Lauren Kate


Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others.
• Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Review: Skin Game by Ava Gray

Title: Skin Game
Author: Ava Gray
Format: Paperback, 1st book in a series
Source: Borrowed from the generous KC at Smokin' Hot Books


 





Synopsis from Goodreads:

A beautiful fugitive—wanted dead or alive. Kyra is a con woman and a particular kind of thief. She steals with a touch, but she only takes one thing: her target’s strongest skill. Which means she can be a fighter, an athlete, a musician, an artist—anything she wants… for a limited time. Heartbroken, she turns her gift toward avenging her father’s murder; with deadly patience, Kyra works her way into casino owner Gerard Serrano’s inner circle. After pulling off the ultimate con, she flees with his money and his pride.

A hit man who never misses the mark. Reyes has nothing but his work. Pity for Kyra, he’s the best and mercy never sways him once he takes a job. He’s been hired to find out where Kyra hid the cash—and bring her back to face Serrano’s “justice.” Dead will do, if he can’t locate the loot. He’s never failed to complete a contract, but Kyra tempts him with her fierce heat and her outlaw heart. So Reyes has a hell of a choice: forsake his word or kill the woman he might love.

 
My Thoughts: 
Insanely delicious. That is what comes to mind when I think of Skin Game. I couldn't put the book down and when I had to (because life gets in the way sometimes), all I could think about was what was going to happen next with Kyra and Reyes. When I was about 100 pages away from the end, all I thought about the whole entire day was this book! I had left off at a bit of a cliffhanger and when I was finally able to pick up where I left off and finish, I felt complete.

Kyra is a sexy, self sufficient woman. She is a con artist by trade, taught by her father. She's been on her own since her dad was killed. She sought revenge on the man that was responsible and did a kick-ass job of hitting him where it hurts (his pockets and his ego). Now she's on the run knowing he'll send his men after her. She has the ability to "borrow" a person's talent, for an unknown amount of time, by a simple touch. She usually uses the talent against the owner, which comes in handy when she's doing a con. It even works when she gets herself in a pickle and needs to fight her way out. She first meets Reyes after hustling her way through a game of billiards.

Reyes is a rough, hands-on (in more ways than one) type of guy. He was contracted by Kyra's ex-fiance, Gerald Serrano, to capture Kyra, find the money and bring her back to Serrano. He's one of the best and has the track record to prove it. It takes him a while to find Kyra but when he does, it's instant attraction.

It's been a few days since I've finished reading Skin Game and it's still fresh on my mind. I can't stop thinking about the sexual chemistry between Kyra and Reyes. They know how to heat things up under the sheets. A book that I thoroughly enjoyed is one that stays with me. And Skin Game definitely falls into that category.

Skin Game is full of action, adventure and sexual energy right from the start. Ava Gray wastes no time capturing your attention. This book is action-packed from the get-go. Be warned, this book is so hot, it'll leave a burn mark on your shelf! 

Next books in the series are: Skin Tight (June 2010), Skin Privilege and Skin Dive. 

The Book Vixen's Rating:

See what these vixen's had to say about Skin Game:

Fiction Vixen's Review

Smokin' Hot Books' Review

Smexy Books' Review 

Author Website  |   Blog  |  Twitter

Lauren Kate Book Signing

The lovely Pat from Peace Love and Pat, and I went to Lauren Kate's reading and signing on December 8th at the 3-story(!!) Barnes & Noble in Glendale, California. This is only the second book signing/author event I've been to. I was very excited to be there. 

Lauren reading from chapter 4, the detention scene:

Lauren signing our books:

Lauren was very nice and even took a picture with us:

(LtoR: The Book Vixen, Lauren Kate & Peace Love and Pat)

During the Q&A session, Lauren mentioned that a movie for Fallen is in the works. I have since read online that Disney has purchased the rights. 

It only took Lauren a few months to write Fallen. I also learned that Fallen is the first book in a 4-book series.


And now I pass it on to Pat :D

 

Lauren Kate's book signing event was actually the first one that I've attended. I guess it has something to do with meeting someone there, the lovely Book Vixen. 

I was late for the book reading but I was there for the question and answer. I was debating whether to ask my questions or not but I decided to let the kids do it. hehe. 

She answered all their questions and man, I cannot believe that she had written this book like she joined NaNoWriMo instead of actually getting published. That was truly amazing, I wish I could do that. The theme about angels fascinates me and I cannot wait to read what she had for us. In person. Lauren Kate is as lovely as her pictures and she actually looked nervous it makes me want ot hug her and tell her that we won't bite. I wish The Book Vixen and I could have talked to her a little bit more. There's always a next time.... 

Thanks for stopping by Pat! Pat will be interviewing Lauren Kate on her blog in the near future so stay tuned for that! Be sure to head over to Peace Love and Pat. She writes great reviews and she's one heck of a fast reader! I'm always adding books to my TBR pile from her reviews. I even bought the first book in the Vampire Academy series because she loved it so much. 

You can find Pat on Goodreads, Twitter and she's also apart of the Smut Slut Sisterhood. She currently has a giveaway going on for an iPod Shuffle and for 4 copies of Under the Dome by Stephen King.

On My Wishlist (5)

On My Wishlist is a fun weekly event hosted by Book Chick City and runs every  Saturday. It's where I list all the books I desperately want but haven't  actually bought yet. They can be old, new or forthcoming. It's also an  event that you can join in with too - Mr Linky is always at the ready  for you to link your own 'On My Wishlist' post. If you want to know more  click here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What's on your wishlist?