T5W || Chapter Headings

This has been perhaps the hardest T5W topic for me so far.  After looking through two shelves, and through the huge pile that is my TBR, I found only a handful of books with Chapter Headings.  Plenty of quotes, and things along those lines, but chapter headings were very rare indeed.

So, after a few days of wracking my brain trying to find books - I even roped my in my mum on the search (perfect time for a visit) - I finally came up with something for this weeks topic.  I hope you enjoy it...

click to enlarge

As you can tell, most of my chapter headings came from the Steampunk genre - thank you Gail Carriger! 

(#5) Chapter 7, Soulless - Gail Carriger

I think this chapter heading gives you a real sense of what you'll find in Soulless, and the Parasol Protectorate in general.  Quirky and fun, an interesting chapter heading.

(#4) Chapter 10, God Save the Queen - Kate Locke

I chose "Curiouser and Curiouser" (#4) because I have a think about Alice in Wonderland, and the way it has been embraced by pop culture.  Also this heading does fit in with the story.  Another quirky and amazing Steampunk trilogy.

(#3) Lesson 5, Etiquette & Espionage - Gail Carriger

I think that this is pretty self explanatory as to why I chose it ;-P

(#2) Chapter 18, Timeless - Gail Carriger

I loved this chapter heading.  It just caught my eye.

(#1) Chapter 20, Grave Concerns - Gwen Hunter

How could you go past this one? 

Woo-hoo!  I finally got this post up ;-D

This took f o r e v e r and I am so glad that it is finally done, and I can put it behind me.  If you have any fun or quirky chapter headings, I'd love to know what they are.  Please let me know in the comment section.

And, as always, T5W was created by the lovely Lainey at GINGERREADSLAINEY and I'll include a link to the Goodreads group {HERE} if you would also like to participate. 

Until next time,

T5W - Series I want to start in 2015

Good morning, my lovelies!  Today is another T5W, and I've been looking forward to this 'topic' since I found out what the January topics were.  I'm not sure about you, but I have a lot of series.  Some only have 4 or 5 books (Parasol Protectorate, or Lily Bard), but most range from 10 - a whopping 40! (Obsession in Death is the 40th book - and there is no signs of it stopping yet!).  So in reality, the last thing I need is more series on my shelves.  But when you find a series that really grabs your attention, you know you're guaranteed at least a few more books that will be great - I hope?  

Without further delay, here are my Top 5 Series that I will be starting this year from there.  Wish me luck...

PS. I'm hoping that Atemis Awakening is the start of a series - and not a duology or trilogy.

So, we've come to the end of my 'Series that I want to start in 2015' post.  I hope you found a book or two that you'd like to try.  Oh, and if you've read some of these feel free to let me know what you thought of them in the comment section down below ;-D

If you'd like to participate in Top 5 Wednesday, it's open to anyone.  Check out the Good Reads Group {here} and as you know T5W was created by the lovely Lainey over at GINGERREADSLAINEY

Well, that's it for another week.  Until next time,

 

Top 5 Wednesday - Series Titles

 

Welcome to the first Top 5 Wednesday for December!  So the countdown to Christmas is on and with only 3 more T5W to go until the jolly fat man comes it's time to get down to the nitty gritty and get on with this weeks list... what are my Top 5 Series Titles?

I had to think long and hard about this, but eventually I just ended up grabbing books from my shelves.  Thankfully it didn't take too long before I had a couple of interesting titles - and as luck would have it, my postie dropped off another parcel yesterday that contained the first book in a series with a great name ;-D.  So, without further ado, I give you my Top 5 Series Titles...

 

 The Iron Druid Chronicles

Although this is a fabulous name, I had to put it in at numero 5 as I've only read Hounded from the library.  I've been meaning to add this series to my bookshelves, but I just keep getting sidetracked.  The series is about an immortal Druid who is hiding from certain Gods in America.  It's great.  Lots of action, a bit of mystery, and funny as can be.  My favourite character would have to be Oberon.

Recommended for those who love urban fantasy, magic, or mythology.

 

 An Aurora Teagarden Mystery

With a name like Aurora Teagarden, the main character could never go through life unnoticed ;-D  This is a great cosy mystery series that revolves around our main protagonist, Aurora, who is a librarian in a small country town in Southern America.  Full of mystery, and a few murders, this series will keep you guessing until the last page.

I absolutely adore this short series - 8 books - by Charlaine Harris.  Recommended for anyone who works in the library industry, loves cosy mysteries, or just enjoys a great fast paced who-dunnit ;-D

 

 The Black Dagger Brotherhood

A great adult vampire series.  Ward has a different take on the whole vampire genre and I very much enjoyed reading about the original members of the Brotherhood (books 1-6).  There are 9, or 10,  books in the series now, and it doesn't seem as if Ward will stop any time soon.  

Would recommend to those who love Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark-Hunter series.

 

 The Parasol Protectorate

Series actually listed under 'An Alexia Tarabotti Novel', but to anyone who's read these books it's a Parasol Protectorate book ;-D  Fabulous characters, intriguing mysteries and all the Victorian era Steampunk you could want.  Highly recommend to anyone who wants to get into Steampunk, or just likes vampires and werewolves.

 

 The Gentlemen Bastard Sequence

Just got this book in the mail yesterday, so it's on my TBR pile, but I just love the title of this series. From the reviews I've seen on YouTube this should be an amazing read.  Hopefully I'll be able to get to it before Christmas ;-D

So Christmas is now one T5W closer ;-D.   Thank you for dropping by, and I hope you found something new to read, and if you want to find out more about this series, it was created by the lovely Lainey at GINGERREADSLAINEY and I'll include a link to the Goodreads group {here} if you would also like to participate.

If you have any questions or comments, then please feel free to leave them down below.

Until next time,

 

Top 5 Wednesday - Fictional Schools

Welcome to another Top 5 Wednesday.  This week we have to list our Top 5 Fictional Schools, and let me tell you this was hard!  I'm not a huge collector of YA, so I had to hunt through piles of books to find any references to schools that I would consider list-worthy (or at least intersting).  It took me about an hour, but I finally managed to put together a list, so without further ado, I give you my Top 5 Fictional Schools...

 Hecate Hall

This is the setting for the interesting YA book (and series) Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins.  I remember reading it and thinking that this school was not the best place to be, yet I would love to wander around and take a peek ;-D

Unseen University

Nunc id vides, nunc ne vides.  Now you seem me, now you don't.  

With a school motto like that, how could you resist?  From the Discworld series created by Terry Pratchett, Unseen University is a weird crazy place to be.  I haven't read any of these books in years, but I have a recollection that this would be a cool place to visit.  Must find and re-read soon ;-D

Guild Academy

The Guild Academy features in the Guild Hunter series by Nalini Singh.  It is not just a school for children, it is also the place where Vampire Hunters learn their skills, and come back and teach.  I'd love to sit in on an advanced class with Elena - and perhaps getting a peak at the Archangel Raphael.

Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality

This is the school that features in this YA Steampunk series by Gail Carriger.  I came to this series because I loved her Parasol Protectorate books so much that I couldn't resist revisiting the world she created.  In this seemingly innocent bording  school, the girls are taught how to become master spies... steampunk spies ;-D  Awesome!  Miss Carriger is an amazingly talented author who creates some of the best toys... did I mention that there are dirigibles? ... and werewolves?  Sign me up now!

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Seriously, could the number 1 choice be anything but Hogwarts?!  Yes, I'm sure nearly everyone has this listed as their #1 so I'm not really breaking the mold here.  Hogwarts is awesome.  End of story ;-D

So those were my Top 5 Fictional Schools.  There are probably a few that I just can't think of as most of my YA books are still in the family home, but I hope you've enjoyed this post anyway.  If you want to leave a link to your Top 5 post in the comment section down below I'd love to see what your favourite fictional schools were.  

If you want further information on the Top 5 Wednesday - started by the wonderful gingerreadslainey - then head on over to Goodreads {here} and join the fun!

Until next time,

 

Book Club Summer reading list

Hi All!  With the Christmas season well under way, I was lucky to finally meet with my book club friend and decide what we will be reading over the Chrissie period.

First on the list was Curtsies and Conspiracies, Book 2 in Gail Carriger's Finishing School series.  Then after knocking back a few more titles, we finally  chose the first book in Lilith St. Crows series, Iron Wyrm Affair, and Phillipa Bornikova's 2nd book, Box Office Poison.

I'm hoping that I can get my hands on them soon for some good Summer reading.  My copy of Curtsies and Conspiracies is already winging it's way to me from Book Depository (great deal for only $5.05!), but I might have trouble getting my hands on Box Office Poison as I'm sure it's not available in paperback yet.  Perhaps I'll leave that one till last!

June in Review

I hope your June was better than mine.  My right wrist has been aching for about 4 weeks now, so after one particularly painful episode, I made an appointment with the doctor.  It turns out that I have tendinitis in said wrist/forearm and to keep it strapped up and immobile for God knows how long.   As you could guess, this has severely limited my daily life, and has made typing on the laptop painful.  Therefore, I'll keep this short.

The last meeting of the book club went well.  Turns out we loved Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger - yeah! - however, The Goddess Test didn't get quite the same reaction (reviews to be posted later).  Then came the hard task of trying to select next month's reading material.  Turns out that there was one item on everyone's list...

So in the end, the reading list for July is:

Fated - Benedict Jacka

Tempest Rising - Nicole Peeler, and

The Reluctant Reaper - Gina X. Grant

In the mean time, I have to figure out how to keep myself sane now that the laptop is out of bounds, and holding onto a book for hours is painful.  This dilemma has given me the kick in the butt to delve into my stash of material kept hidden in the linen cupboard.  Now, surrounded by piles of beautiful fabric, I find myself mentally sorting through it all, designing quilts to make for family and friends.  I don't think I'm up for the sewing yet - I'm right handed! - but that hasn't stopped me from buying more material lately, so I think this winter I might ditch the knitting and crochet (too hard on the wrist), and think about some sewing instead...?

Happy reading!

New Titles for Book Club

It's taken me two days to get enough oomph in my WI-FI coverage just to blog without constant issues.  However, I'm excited to say that the second meeting of the Fangtastic Fiction Book Club met at my local library last Friday, and we spent a fabulous morning just chatting about books - it was great!

We then had the enormous task of trying to decide what to read in June.  It took us a while, but in the end it was decided that we shall be reading... {drum roll if you please}

The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger

I am looking forward to E&E - I loved the Parasol Protectorate series! - but I am not too sure about The Goddess Test.  For some reason we ended up with two books that are firmly in the YA section, but apart from the odd fabulous book, I've pretty much outgrown YA.  Who knows?  Perhaps The Goddess Test will be one of those stunning reads?   The other odd coincidence is that both books are the first in a series - a hint for later reading materials, perhaps?

Wish me luck, and happy reading!

New books on order

Hi there!  With all this wet weather hanging around, I thought I just might need some new reading material.  So off I went to my trusty online bookshop and spent way too much time pondering over all the titles I'd love to get.  Finally, after much debate, I narrowed it down to six.  I would have ordered more, but there is only so much I can spend on books!  My budget just wouldn't take it if I indulged every month - heck, I'd purchase weekly if I could afford it :P

So what were my choices, you ask?  Well, thank you for your interest.  Currently winging it's way to me are some more titles from a few of the must have series I get.

Ooh, just got an email to tell me that Timeless by Gail Carriger has just been released from the publishers.  It's the first cab off the rank, so to speak, and should be hitting my local Post Office in a week or so.  This is the first steam punk series I've ever read (thanks to Aaron at Bookworld for recommending it!), and I've enjoyed the series so far.  It has all my favourite things... werewolves, vampires, paranormal romance with some murder/mystery thrown if for good measure.

The other books that I purchased consisted of

•  the new Patricia Briggs book, Fair Game.  I've been eagerly awaiting this next Alpha and Omega story.

•  Nalini Singh's Guild Hunter's anthology, Angel's Flight.

•  Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris.

•  Canyons of Night, the latest of the Jayne Castle (AKA Jayne Ann Krentz) Ghost Hunter series, and finally

Andrea Kane's sequel to Twisted, Drawn in Blood.

 Now, having said that I couldn't resist jumping onto Book Depository and having another look for more books {if I keep going like this I'll have to open a library just for all my books :)} and found some good one.  There is a trilogy by Leslie Tentler (Chasing Evil) that has really whetted my appetite.  The 3 stories don't share the same lead characters, but boy it sounds like a great thriller/murder mystery.  It's in my wishlist, but I'm tempted to sneak it into the cart...

Following my success at finding some new authors, I soldier on.  I'd love to get my hands on Sharon Sala's Snowfall, but unfortunately there is nothing in stock... bummer.  Back to the more familiar, and I've found another Andrea Kane that's due for release soon - mine now - and passed on a few P.C. Cast titles (I think I've moved on from them, although I still adore Divine by Mistake), and am into the final stretch for the moment.  Feehan has released a new Sea Haven book... do I or don't I?... hmmmm.... wishlist.

Speaking of old favourites, I've also spotted the first book in the Annie Darling series, Death on Demand, by Carolyn Hart. Having borrowed some of the later titles from the local library over the years, I don't mind reading this series. It's a not too complicated read, and although more in the vein of a more dedicated crime book, it's not as captivating as say the In Death series. Into the wishlist for this title.

So now that I've perused my old wishlist, and added some things to it, I've been bad and ordered another couple of books. 

Coming to a mailbox (namely mine) soon are, drumroll please.....

•  No Safe Place - Jo Ann Ross

•  Courting Darkness - Yasmine Galenorn

•  Hiding in the Shadows - Kay Hooper

•  In Too Deep - Jayne Ann Krentz, and lastly

•  Midnight Caller - Leslie Tentler

Oh well.  Like I always tell people - I don't drink, or smoke.  This, books and reading, is my addiction :D

Steampunk... whuh?

Okay, I've never given much thought about Steampunk.  It always sounded too sci-fi for me, that is until I took the advice of one of the guys at my old bookshop.  Although I was still hesitant about trying it, the cover was so intriguing I thought "what the hell?"

I don't regret my decision.  The Parasol Protectorate series by Gail Carriger (love the logo) is truly wonderful.  It is full of the customary corsets and carriages, teapots and tiaras, that one expects from a period series, but don't let the Victorian setting put you off from reading this awesome series.  Our heroine kicks butt with her jumped up hi-tech parasol.

For those of us who adore a little supernatural spice, you will get your fill of werewolves, vampires and other things that go bump in the night - rest assured that they play a major part in the storyline.  The central story revolves around a bluestocking, Alexia Tarabotti.  A lady of Italian extraction, who just happens to be soulless.  Her curse, if that is how one wishes to view it, is that if she touches another supernatural being, they become human - and can be killed.

And if that didn't set her apart enough, then Alexia has the most superficial and gossip-mongering family.  If I was in Alexia's shoes I would have tried to do away with them long before now. . . hint hint




And yes, I know it's actually 'An Alexia Tarabotti Novel', but it doesn't have the same ring as the Parasol Protectorate does it :D



About the Books

So far there are four books available in the Parasol Protectorate series, with Timeless being released on 28 Feb 2012;

Soulless

Alexia Tarabotti is laboring under a great many social tribulations. First, she has no soul. Second, she's a spinster whose father is both Italian and dead. Third, she was rudely attacked by a vampire, breaking all standards of social etiquette.

Where to go from there? From bad to worse apparently, for Alexia accidentally kills the vampire -- and then the appalling Lord Maccon (loud, messy, gorgeous, and werewolf) is sent by Queen Victoria to investigate.

With unexpected vampires appearing and expected vampires disappearing, everyone seems to believe Alexia responsible. Can she figure out what is actually happening to London's high society? Will her soulless ability to negate supernatural powers prove useful or just plain embarrassing? Finally, who is the real enemy, and do they have treacle tart?

SOULLESS is a comedy of manners set in Victorian London: full of werewolves, vampires, dirigibles, and tea-drinking.

Changeless

Alexia Tarabotti, the Lady Woolsey, awakens in the wee hours of the mid-afternoon to find her husband, who should be decently asleep like any normal werewolf, yelling at the top of his lungs. Then he disappears - leaving her to deal with a regiment of supernatural soldiers encamped on her doorstep, a plethora of exorcised ghosts, and an angry Queen Victoria.

But Alexia is armed with her trusty parasol, the latest fashions, and an arsenal of biting civility. Even when her investigations take her to Scotland, the backwater of ugly waistcoats, she is prepared: upending werewolf pack dynamics as only the soulless can.

She might even find time to track down her wayward husband, if she feels like it.


Blameless

Quitting her husband's house and moving back in with her horrible family, Lady Maccon becomes the scandal of the London season.

Queen Victoria dismisses her from the Shadow Council, and the only person who can explain anything, Lord Akeldama, unexpectedly leaves town. To top it all off, Alexia is attacked by homicidal mechanical ladybugs, indicating, as only ladybugs can, the fact that all of London's vampires are now very much interested in seeing Alexia quite thoroughly dead.

While Lord Maccon elects to get progressively more inebriated and Professor Lyall desperately tries to hold the Woolsey werewolf pack together, Alexia flees England for Italy in search of the mysterious Templars. Only they know enough about the preternatural to explain her increasingly inconvenient condition, but they may be worse than the vampires -- and they're armed with pesto.


Heartless

Lady Alexia Maccon, soulless, is at it again, only this time the trouble is not her fault. When a mad ghost threatens the queen, Alexia is on the case, following a trail that leads her deep into her husband's past. Top that off with a sister who has joined the suffragette movement (shocking!), Madame Lefoux's latest mechanical invention, and a plague of zombie porcupines and Alexia barely has time to remember she happens to be eight months pregnant.

Will Alexia manage to determine who is trying to kill Queen Victoria before it is too late? Is it the vampires again or is there a traitor lurking about in wolf's clothing? And what, exactly, has taken up residence in Lord Akeldama's second best closet?


Timeless

Alexia Tarabotti, Lady Maccon, has settled into domestic bliss. Of course, being Alexia, such bliss involves integrating werewolves into London High society, living in a vampire's second best closet, and coping with a precocious toddler who is prone to turning supernatural willy-nilly. Even Ivy Tunstell's acting troupe's latest play, disastrous to say the least, cannot put a damper on Alexia's enjoyment of her new London lifestyle.

Until, that is, she receives a summons from Alexandria that cannot be ignored. With husband, child, and Tunstells in tow, Alexia boards a steamer to cross the Mediterranean. But Egypt may hold more mysteries than even the indomitable Lady Maccon can handle. What does the vampire Queen of the Alexandria Hive really want from her? Why is the God-Breaker Plague suddenly expanding? And how has Ivy Tunstell suddenly become the most popular actress in all the British Empire?

UPDATE - this does seem to be the last book in the series {searching for tissues to sniffle into} however Ms Carriger is planning another series set in the same funky Victorian period, only 25 years earlier, and at a Finishing School.

About the Author

Ms. Carriger began writing in order to cope with being raised in obscurity by an expatriate Brit and an incurable curmudgeon. She escaped small town life and inadvertently acquired several degrees in Higher Learning. Ms. Carriger then traveled the historic cities of Europe, subsisting entirely on biscuits secreted in her handbag. She now resides in the Colonies, surrounded by a harem of Armenian lovers, where she insists on tea imported directly from London and cats that pee into toilets. She is fond of teeny tiny hats and tropical fruit. Find out more about the author at gailcarriger.com


PS all book descriptions and author bio were taken from Amazon.  The bio is the same in the back of the books, but it just saved time to cut and paste.