So it's been a while

Hey Everyone, 

So it's been a while....
      I can't believe I haven't posted anything in way over a year....
             To be honest....I kinda forgot I had a blog for a while....
                      But now I've sorted everything out and we're back!



I have read so many books since my last update. I won't be discussing all of them because I feel like we would be here until next Christmas : P  I will, however, talk about some of my favourites and some of my not-so-favourites. 

After Christmas this year I was in a stormy/miserable/hate-the-world mood. I read a lot of WWII based novels and mysteries.

One book that I read which I thought was brilliant is called "The Book Thief" by Markus  Zusak.

The predominant narrator of the story is Death and it follows the lives of several people in Germany, especially a young girl named Liesel (the book thief).  The story begins by following her travels to a small German village after the death of her own family. She is adopted by a local Painter, Hans,  who is loving and his brash, no nonsense wife, Rosa. The plot continues to develop as Liesel grows and learns to read. The makeshift family, takes in and hides a Jewish man, Max, in their basement beneath the stairs.

The war has only barely begun in the beginning of the novel but by the middle of the book you are struck by the viciousness and brutality of war. There are scenes that take place in a basement during air raids and as the reader you really feel like you are in dank, cramped basement waiting for the bombs to stop. Other scenes make you really uncomfortable (I actually had to stop reading for a bit because I was so uncomfortable). 

The weight of the book (not physically speaking) is amazing. Even now writing this blog about a book I read over six months ago, I find it difficult to talk about why this book is so good. The content is difficult to read about, for instance, the author describes how Jews were marched down the main street of the town (Molching) toward Dachau and their treatment at the hands of the Nazis. Also, it describes how Liesel was enrolled and educated as one of the Hitler Youth, taught how to march, salute and speak.  It discusses Nazi Germany in plain words, it does not glorify anyone, I feel that it also doesn't embellish for "shock value"....the author simply lays it all out there to be interpreted in any way.

I highly, highly recommend this book. Adults and youth would enjoy it. Scratch that, enjoy is the wrong word...perhaps, "would be moved" by this book.

I won't lie...I was crying by the end of the book and I mean all out crying.

I give this book five stars * * * * *

Much love <3,
Ginger Spudman

"Hungry For You" and "Lover Awakened"

So it's been a while since I posted a new update on the books I've read. I will double up on this post and talk about the last two books I've read: "Hungry For You" by Lynsay Sands and "Lover Awakened" by J.R Ward. Both of which are similar in the fact that they are both vampire books but different in the sense of what a vampire is and can do.

Lynsay Sands' vampires can go out in daylight, only consume bagged (donated) blood, can mind read, have super human strength and strive to find their lifemate. Very romantic paranormal fiction.

J.R Ward's vampires cannot go out in daylight, can only consume the opposite sexes blood, they do age but VERY slowly, super human strength, focused on protecting their race from slayers known as lessers. Romantic but more about the plot (furthering the series, twists and turns) than just sex, blood and rock'n'roll

As mentioned before I am very picky when it comes to vampire books and am skeptical when I pick up a new one. That's why I stick with what I know unless someone who shares the same or similar taste with me (@ Ammy Belle). Depending on my mood either type of fiction can suit my taste. I read both of these back to back and I found that now I need a bit of a vampire break (at least until I get the next installment from either author).

Lynsay Sands has a vampire series that follows one family (a huge family) throughout their journey to find life mates. Most of the characters that you meet throughout the series are vampires that have been around since before Atlantis fell.  If you are a person who likes a light paranormal novel with a lot of romance/sex, hilarious dialogue rather than in depth plot this would be worth looking into.

This series has fourteen books and each book builds onto it's predecessor but not so much that you have to read them in order, more so just for the fact that you can follow the same path that Sands did when meeting new characters and building relationships and story lines.

I really enjoy Sands' novels. They are vampire/paranormal fiction but because they are not really a heavy read I can read them quickly and laugh along the way.

There are some paranormal fiction (like the other book featured in this post) that once I finish the predecessor I HAVE  to have the next installment...this series is not like that. I want them but when I get them, I get them. It's nice easy story line to follow and it's a great way to spend a day : )


J.R Ward, you have have totally redeemed yourself! This book was fantastic and brilliant! After I read the second one I was very nervous about continuing the series in fear that I wouldn't be satisfied. Oh man, I was soooo wrong! Book #3 Lover Awakened was everything that I love about books...it kept me guessing and interested! There was romance, but not an over abundance and there was mystery and intrigue that I absolutely loved. The twists and turns, the character development is so incredible that when something happens to any of the characters I feel like I know them personally and I mourn with them when something happens.

I'm not going to go into much detail about the background of this book since I have previously done posts about the first two. In this text you meet Zsadist (each of the male vampires have names that make you think of violence and anger...but the spelling is just a little off that it suits them...ie. Rhage, Phury, Rehvenge, Vishous) an ex-blood slave who brutally suffered at the hands of someone only known as Mistress. Throughout the text Zsadist remembers his experiences at the hands of the Mistress;  while he attempts to learn through new experiences with a female vampire Bella (not the character from Twilight....much cooler and about 200 years older).  The story is not all about the romance, on the contrary. While the romance is growing and developing, there is a constant war between the Brotherhood and the lessers. The reader also can see firsthand into the demented and twisted mind of the fore-lesser, Mr. O (he is pretty much the head honcho after some brutal political moving).



In the previous books, the reader learns of the relationship between Zsadist and Phury: identical twin brothers. After suffering with Mistress, Zsadist is completely scarred and has slave bands (black rings) tattooed around his neck. In the first two books you learn that Phury is the one who rescues Zsadist from his confines and therefore lives to protect his brother more than anything. In this text you learn why he is willing to go out of his way for him all the time and never asks for anything in return. This is a brother bond that goes deeper than flesh and blood. It's beautiful.


J.R Ward really knows how to play on a person's emotions...you laugh, you cry (I did) and you get angry all at the same time. It really is a fantastic read.

I'm willing to say that this series (even though book #2 is an exception) can rank up there as one of my favourites.

Much Love <3
Ginger Spudman


Next Book: Christina Dodd " Chains of fire:

"Waking the Witch" by Kelly Armstrong

OMG!
I just finished this book and it was amazing!

I am the biggest fan of Kelley Armstrong (I've met her once aswell). She is absolutely amazing and her books have kept me interested over the last five/six years. Her novels are paranormal (she does have a mystery series as well) and they are all inter-connected. Each novel leads into the next and as the reader you really come to know the characters and their different personalities (and paranormal powers). Sidenote: my favourites are the Pack.

"Waking the Witch" follows Savannah (a young witch, living under her deceased mother's shadow) who works as a Receptionist/ P.I. Savannah takes on a case in Columbus, Orgeon. Three women are found murdered and Savannah begins asking questions and researching, she realizes that there is witchcraft/ paranormal activity. She meets a small child who has lost her own mother. Savannah is torn between sympathizing with the child and investigating all the people of this small town. As the the reader who meet all the towns people, you feel like you are in this small town (you can feel the grit from the floor of the Diner under your shoe). You meet some really unsavoury towns people....like the creeper who drives a rusted pickup and waggles his tongue at Savannah, or Cody Radu, the local man-slut and drug dealing asshole.

In this book, you learn more about Savannah, her flaws and her strengths...you learn more about her feelings, rather than just thinking she is this smart-mouthed witch who just gets by with insulting everyone. You also learn more about Adam (who also plays Savannah's romantic interest) a half-demon whose speciality is fire. When I say "romantic interest" I don't mean with sex, making out or anything like it.....it's more like she loves Adam and he feels something toward her but they never mention it. Armstrong hints to something but it is never confirmed with physicality between the characters.

I can't go into much more detail because this novel has so many twists and turns that I just might give away the ending.

Armstrong, is number one on my "Favourite Authors". Her style is everything that I look for in a book. Her novels consist of fast-paced dialogue, interesting characters and the perfect amount of description. Considering how many books of hers that I have read (18 to be exact) I get so excited about having a new book of hers. I actually got this book for my birthday (in November) but I had to wait until I had  several free days to dedicate to this novel.

I loved this book! I would highly recomend it. The only thing that I would suggest is start at the beginning with "Bitten" (introduction to the Pack) and learn about the characters and the story line by reading the books in order...otherwise you will spoil the ending of one book by reading it in the wrong order (I did that). I'm on track now and I cannot wait until July 2011 when "Spellbound" is published.

Lots of Love <3!
Ginger Spudman.

Next Book: Lynsay Sands "Hungry for You".

Sophie Kinsella's "Mini-Shopaholic"

Don't read it.

If you like Kinsella's writing (which I do) I suggest that you stop reading the shopaholic series at "Ties the Knot".

This addition to the series was the second worst book of the series (First being the Shopaholic and Sister"). I don't really want to blog about since I feel like I wasted a week reading it. See! It took me a week to read the book....when usually when I love a book it can take a matter of days.

Thankfully I borrowed it from the library.

Much Love <3,
Ginger Spudman


Next book...Lynsay Sands "Born to Bite".

J.R Ward "Lover Eternal"

J.R Ward....J.R Ward....J.R Ward....why did you do this to me?

I've finished "Lover Eternal" and now I'm in limbo. I really loved the first book with everything I have and I was so excited to read this one. It seemed as though she forgot that she was writing a Vampire novel instead of a romance. The book carried on a similar theme as the first, but Ward seemed to focus more on the romantic turmoil of the two characters (Mary and Rhage)than furthering the plot. More than half way through Ward began an interesting twist in the story which I thought was going to lead somewhere exciting and nerve wracking but it dwindled into an ending that had nothing to do with the interesting part but rather someone just going to sleep. I was so bothered by this because I had expected so so much more.

You know how at the end of a novel (that is part of a series) there is a little excerpt of the upcoming novel. Well, normally I never read them since I want to be surprised when I get the novel. This time I made an exception. Thankfully I did. I feel that the next novel will be much better and will re-affirm my love for this author. It has to. Whenever I read a book that is part of a series I have this sick need to read everything and anything that the author may have written previously (i.e Laurell K. Hamilton).

Please, please, please J.R Ward....redeem yourself...I'm hoping to get you for Christmas and I really want to love you let again!!

Much Love <3
Ginger Spudman


Next Book: Sophie Kinsella "Mini-Shopaholic"

J.D Ward "Dark Lover"

A friend of mine got me the first two books in the "Black Dagger Brotherhood". It is a vampire novel and usually I am pretty anal went it comes to Vampire novels. I have loved Vampire novels waaaaayyyy before Twilight became popular, so I'm a bit skeptical when I pick up a Vampire novel at this time because I don't want to read more about sparkly vampires. J.D Ward's book was AMAZING! I totally and completely loved it! I couldn't put this book down! And when I had to all I could think about was getting back to it as soon as possible.

You are introduced to the Black Dagger Brotherhood, who are a group of male vampires who are the strongest of their kind and they fight against the lessers (humans who have sold their soul to Omega (the devil) destined to kill off vampires). It is a fight that has been going on for centuries and it's getting worse since the lessers are becoming insane and  hunting for power. The novel has the gore of vampire novels and has some romance as well. The lead character can sometimes be a bit "emo" but that's forgiven when you see how his character fits into the atmosphere of the brotherhood.

The author includes a very helpful glossary of terms at the beginning of the book. Usually I pay no attention to those and I just fumble through the book. Something about the way that this book is written made me want to know exactly what every word meant. It was nice to be introduced to this whole new world and know exactly what words like shellan, hellren and lessers meaned.

When I first started this series I was a little bit wary considering how much I love vampire novels and I'm pretty snobby -I guess- when it comes to the Vampires attributes and how the author determines what the Vampires' bodies can and cannot do (i.e. some get sparkly in the sunlight....whereas these ones burst into ash). This novel satisfied my snobbiness and has made me want more of the books and the characters. I am so excited to start the next novel of the series.  My only concern is that, this series may have started out strong but it may dwindle into boring drab or the other alternative and become so cruel and revolting.(such as, Anita Blake Series.....a series that I had had so much hope for and now I have stopped reading it since I can't take the grotesque manner of description and the amount of cruelty. I know it's fiction but I shouldn't be wanting to shower after reading something so obscene.)

Unfortunately, I cannot go into more detail about the story line since my two followers of this blog will be reading the book come Christmas break. All I can suggest is....YOU HAVE TO READ IT!

Much Love <3,
Ginger Spudman

Next Book: J.D Ward "Lover Eternal"

"Blue Eyed Devil" "Sugar Daddy" and "Wicked Appetite"

So I am three books behind in posting! My bad!! I will go from oldest to newest.

"Blue Eyed Devil" and "Sugar Daddy" are two novels from the same family. The Travises. I read them in the wrong order but I still managed through. In "Sugar Daddy" you are introduced to Liberty Jones and Hardy Cates, two young people in a texas trailer park. As the story unfolds you really do feel for these two characters who love eachother but Hardy will not allow himself to love her in return. Kinda like star-crossed lovers.... We all know that story! Anyways, Hardy eventually gets out of the trailer park and he's gone for a while, leaving Liberty in the trailer park to take care of her little baby sister, Carrington. After a number of twists and emotional upsets, we meet Gabe Travis. At first he is the biggest asshole and you hate him with everything you have....then of course, he does something romantic and you love him to bits. That's all I'm saying about plot.

Second, "Blue Eyed Devil" is the story of Mr. Hardy Cates and another Travis....the little sister, Haven Travis. At first the reader is thrown off because you are introduced to Haven's boyfriend Nick who seems all romantic and wonderful until she elopes with him. Their relationship becomes severly abusive (it was enough to make me put the book down for a while) until she finally manages to escape to the safety of her brother Gage Travis. Then Hardy Cates strolled back into her life........

I really do enjoy Lisa Kleypas' way of writing. She introduces her reader to a number of interesting characters and makes them have a pivotal role in the story. Not just one of those characters who come in and go and have no impact. Her books are usually around 250-300 word mark and boy does she ever use that space wisely. Everything plays a role in the story, she never just writes something for the sake of writing it....it has an impact. It normally takes me two days to read a Kleypas novel....partly because I want to read it so quickly because I am in love with her characters but also because I don't want to read too quickly and then it all be over. There is no pleasing me when it comes to books :P

Next: Janet Evanovich "Wicked Appetite"

I love Janet Evanovich. I think she is absolutely hilarious and her books are created to pull you into a happy mood. She wrote the Stephanie Plum series....the story of a bounty hunter who is the worst bounty hunter ever. Her travels and experiences are what makes her a badass bounty hunter.
In the Plum series, Evanovich wrote the "In-between-series" which fall between the Plum series but don't exactly have an impact on the orginal series. In the "in-betweens" you meet a character named Diesel. He is an Unmentionable...he has some magic ability but he never talks about it because he is a handsome Unmentionable. 
This novel stars Diesel but instead of Stephanie Plum you are introduced to Lizzy...a fellow Unmentionable who doesn't know she is an Unmentionable, the only thing she knows is that she makes really amazing cupcakes. The story line is a bit hard to follow if you aren't used to Evanovich's style....by that I mean she can be walking in a straight line for about 2 minutes then all of a sudden she has turned to the right and now the whole story line has changed and the reader kinda has to think "wtf?" then go back and re-read a couple of pages.
Personally, I thought this book was really well written and it was really funny but I wouldn't really recommend this to anyone who is not already familiar with her style and characters. I still prefer the Plum Series but I feel that this was a rush job and didn't really tie up properly. The ending kind of just showed up and ta-da it was finished.
I guess I'm not that satisfied with this novel. I still love Evanovich, I'm just glad that I didn't buy this novel.

Next novel : "Dark Lover" by J.D Ward

Much Love <3,
Ginger Spudman