A Winter's Read-a-thon Wrap-up Post/ Teaser Tuesday "Mask of Troy" by David Gibbins

 

 A Winter's Respite Read-a-Thon 2012 hosted by Michelle over at TheTrueBookAddict  ended last Sunday. Unfortunately, I 'm still reading Mask of Troy by David Gibbins. Presently at page 378  of 516. 

Still reading most of the books in my current read pile :D 

I would like to take this chance and use this post for Teaser Tuesday  from the book too. I hope it's all right. 

 Hosted by MizB should be Reading is a weekly bookish meme. 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 what you share doesn't give too much away. You don't want to ruin the books 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 teaser

Page 378.

"My assistant, Dorpfeld , continues to work in  the great trench , revealing walls of the first citadel , early Bronze Age Troy. But this season, the Troy of King Priam , The Troy of Homer, is ours alone." 

Monday Morning Flash Fiction Challenge Image (5)

Dottie over at Tink's Place posted the latest MMFC image for the week, and the image is giving me another tickle.


I was away from the desk for most of the day yesterday (Monday) and didn't manage to post this up before I left. :D Time to get cooking. :D 


Okay... I thought the guy was real but when I saw his hands.....

Book Nooks (5)

Book Nooks

*Every weekend*

Founder: Sasha Soren (Random Magic)

Show us something pretty!

Join in: Add your own Book Nooks post.

Commentary: This would be a another good book nook for me. I don't mind if the book shelf is another side of the house since I like getting up to get that circulation running but yes, I can imagine this a great corner. I think I can use those built-in cabinets for keeping books and magazines if a friend or a relative comes to stay for a few days. They can choose some thrillers and mysteries. I probably would find a different color for the couch so it won't be too boring for the eyes. Maybe a lavender colored one or a yellow couch and any contrasting or matching throw pillows to light up the spot. I would also place portulaca plants on that L-shelf to brighten further the spot and make it more inviting. Then after a long read, one can relax by gazing out to view the garden. 

Original Details: 

White conservatory

Create the perfect place to relax by choosing a large snuggly chair for your conservatory. Add glamour to a plain white one with cushions decorated with beading and embroidery. Choose an accent palette such as the greys and lilacs here and mix and match shapes and finishes.

Photographer and Location: None Given

Source: House to Home

Photo Theme: Fluffy and Dark

Theme  is Fluffy. Visit here for other participants.

Fluffy clouds in the morning

Friday Fiction Flash: "Warrior Princess"

Join Dottie at Tink's Place for her flash fiction. Every Monday a new picture for the Monday Morning Flash Fiction Challenge comes up and if you want to join, post your FF on Friday. Check out her site for how to a participate. Enjoy!

Part of the timeline... don't know yet where I'm heading with this. 
"Canyon of Tears"
"Nightstorm"
"The Fury of the Lost"

"Warrior Princess"

It was the third day of festivities at the City of Thess and Anthea decided to take a stroll of the expansive city. She had given orders to her two bodyguards that they were done for the day and should enjoy the celebration their gracious host had prepared for the visiting dignitaries. 

Five delegations from the neighboring cities arrived three days ago to re-affirm their allegiance with the ruling body of Thess. Anthea's entourage from the southeast province reached Thess before the other groups which came from mountainous regions. Anthea had met with the other delegates the other day in an exchange of news and other pleasantries.  

Follow Friday (15)

Follow Friday is hosted by Rachel of Parajunkie.com and Alison of Alison Can Read  If you want to join in the fun just head over the blogs mentioned above and start checking out the various answer for today's question:  


Q: Which book genre do you avoid at all costs and why?

Waiting on Wednesday (7)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted here, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

From Goodreads:

Emma Bannon, Prime sorceress in the service of the Empire, has a mission: to protect Archibald Clare, a failed, unregistered mentath. His skills of deduction are legendary, and her own sorcery is not inconsiderable. It doesn’t much help that they dislike each other, or that Bannon’s Shield, Mikal, might just be a traitor himself. Or that the conspiracy killing registered mentaths and sorcerers alike will just as likely kill them as seduce them into treachery toward their Queen. In an alternate London where illogical magic has turned the Industrial Revolution on its head, Bannon and Clare now face hostility, treason, cannon fire, black sorcery, and the problem of reliably finding hansom cabs. 

The game is afoot…

This looks promising. I wonder if the cover will stay like that. :D 

In My Mailbox (7)

In My Mailbox is hosted by Story Siren which is about book (s) received/bought this week.  

I'm still waiting for Supernatural Season 7 to air anytime this month. next month at least but imagine my surprise when I found this at my favorite book thrift shop.

The Apocalypsies: Cooking with Marissa: Shrimp Wontons

The Apocalypsies: Cooking with Marissa: Shrimp Wontons

Photo Theme: Animals

Today's theme is about animals at Keyhole Pictures Saturday Photo Hunting. 

Follow Friday (14)

I love the new FF meme image. :D 


Follow Friday is hosted by Rachel of Parajunkie.com and Alison of Alison Can Read  If you want to join in the fun just head over the blogs mentioned above and start checking out the various answer for today's question: 


Q: What's the craziest thing you've ever done to get your hands on any particular book?

Friday Fiction Flash: "The Canyon of Tears"

Join Dottie at Tink's Place for her flash fiction. Every Monday a new picture for the Monday Morning Flash Fiction Challenge comes up and if you want to join, post your FF on Friday. Check out her site for how to a participate. Enjoy!

This story still takes place months before "The Fury of the Lost" and perhaps weeks before "Nightstorm." I try to keep a steady timeline if the stories let me. :D 

Review: Once Upon A Time episode 1.7 "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter"

Blurb:

Thanks

One of the town's residents begins to remember their fairytale past, and Storybrooke mourns the loss of one of their own. Meanwhile, in the fairytale world that was, the Evil Queen attempts to find a heartless assassin to murder Snow White.

My thoughts
After finding about the episode title, was a telling hint (and from the tweets I've read) that something bad was going to happen to Storybrooke's Sheriff, good and bad at the same time. It was a short of a roller coaster of emotions and sat mulling about the episode once it came to an end.

Waiting on Wednesday (6)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted here, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

From Goodreads:

A mysterious toymaker who lives as a recluse in an old mansion, surrounded by the mechanical beings he has created ...an enigma surrounding strange lights that shine through the mists that envelop the small island on which the old lighthouse stands...a shadowy creature that hides deep in the woods...these are the elements of a mystery that bind will bind 14-year-old Irene to Ismael during one magical summer spent in the Blue Bay. He mother has taken a job as a housekeeper for the toymaker, Lazarus, but his house contains more secrets than Irene and Ishmael have bargained for.

Expected publication: June 12,2012

Epps another one from Carlos Ruiz Zafron. I don't want to speed read "Angel's Game" or any of the books currently on my reading plate. :D

Carry on a Tuesday: Where now? Who now? When now?

Check out today's prompt here

Photo Credit

Monday Morning Flash Fiction Challenge Image (3)

Dottie over at Tink's Place posted the latest MMFC image for the week, and the image is giving me another tickle.

Why can't I be productive on my other projects? lolz. I think my stimulation comes from pictures (or my muse just prefers short burst of inspiration) but I will try to find some images that follow closely my ever pending drafts. :D

Takes her thinking cap.

In my Mailbox (6)

In My Mailbox is hosted by Story Siren which is about book (s) received/bought this week. 


About two weeks ago, I won an e-book  through Pawing Through Books "12 Days of Christmas" contest and received a copy sent by author P.J. Hoover  "Solstice" Yay! Thank you so much again.  I only got around to posting this since I got buried with work. oops. 

Book Nooks (4)

Book Nooks

*Every weekend*

Founder: Sasha Soren (Random Magic)

Show us something pretty!

Join in: Add your own Book Nooks post.

Photo Theme: Joy

Today's theme from Keyhole pictures  is Joy.

My friend and I will get to see our fave band A1 . We're hoping they'll be playing a couple of their new songs from their album even if this was a greatest hits concert. This is the first time for us to see two other main acts in the same night! This can be shallow for a lot of people but for now I like to be shallow. :D

From their Waiting for Daylight album
1) It Happens Every Day 
2) Don't Wanna Lose You Again - which they got 2nd place at Eurovision 2010. Yay!
3) In Love and I Hate It
4) Bad Enough 
5) Nothing in Common 
6) Take You Home
7) Six Feet Under
8) Good Things Bad People
9) Perfect Disaster
10) The Life Could Have Been
11) Out There
12) Waiting for Daylight

Friday Fiction Flash: "Nightstorm"

Join Dottie at Tink's Place for her flash fiction. Every Monday a new picture for the Monday Morning Flash Fiction Challenge comes up and if you want to join, post your FF on Friday. Check out her site for how to a participate. Enjoy!


Note: This flash fic takes place before the "The Fury of the Lost." 

"Nightstorm"


She didn't mean to get lost and get cornered in that order unfortunately; those two situations were staring at her face at that moment. 

Follow Friday (13)

Follow Friday is hosted by Rachel of Parajunkie.com and Alison of Alison Can Read  If you want to join in the fun just head over the blogs mentioned above and start checking out the various answer for today's question: 


Q: Many readers/ bloggers are also big music fans. Tell us about a few of your favorite bands/ singers that we should listen to in 2012.

A Winter's Respite Read -a-Thon 2012

 

 I decided to go for A Winter's Respite Read-a-Thon 2012 which will run from January 23 to 29, 2012 hosted by Michelle over at TheTrueBookAddict. 

 It will start  12:00 AM Monday and end at 11:59 PM Sunday. Times are central standard time so adjust your times accordingly.  I plan to host a mini-challenge (or two or more) and there will be a giveaway for every one who signs in at the starting line and completes a wrap up post at the end.  Of course, like most read-a-thons, the books read must be novels or novellas, adult or young adult are fine, but no children's books.  You DO NOT have to participate the entire week.  Join in when you can, start in the middle, end early...whatever works best for your schedule.  As long as you sign in at the sign-in post and do some kind of wrap up post, you're in for the giveaway.  As with my previous read-a-thons, it will be a week of relaxed reading during which we can personally challenge ourselves and whittle away those ever looming TBR piles/shelves/libraries.  I hope you will join me!

 I'm planning to read

Review: Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters

Summary: 
After a summer spent trying to prevent a catastrophic war among the Greek gods, Percy Jackson is finding his seventh-grade school year unnervingly quiet. His biggest problem is dealing with his new friend, Tyson, a six-foot-three, mentally challenged homeless kid who follows Percy everywhere, making it hard for Percy to have any normal friends. But things don't stay quiet for long. 

Percy soon discovers there is trouble at Camp Half-Blood: the magical borders that protect Half-Blood Hill have been poisoned by a mysterious enemy, and the only safe haven for demigods is on the verge of being overrun by mythological monsters. To save the camp, Percy needs the help of his best friend, Grover, who has been taken prisoner on an island somewhere in the Sea of Monsters, the dangerous waters Greek heroes have sailed for millennia. Only today, the Sea of Monsters goes by a new name: The Bermuda Triangle. 

Together with his friends, Percy must retrieve the Golden Fleece from the Island of the Cyclopes or Camp Half-Blood will be destroyed. But first, Percy will learn a stunning new secret about his family, one that makes him question whether being claimed as Poseidon's son is an honor or simply a cruel joke.


Status: Owned copy

Waiting on Wednesday: Sheildwall by Justin Hill

Release date: 26th April 2012

Published by: Abacus

ISBN No:978 0349123370 

The year is 1016 and England burns while the Viking armies blockade the great city of London. King Ethelred lies dying and the England he knew dies with him; the warring kingdoms of Mercia, Wessex and Northymbria tremble on the brink of great change. One man lives to bear witness to the upheaval: Godwin, barely out of boyhood and destined to become one of his country's great warriors. When Ethelred's son Edmund takes the throne, determined to succeed where his father failed, he plucks Godwin from domestic peace to be right-hand man in his loyal shield wall. Godwin must traverse the meadows, wintry forests and fogbound marshes of Saxon England, raising armies of monks, ploughmen and shepherds against the Viking invader. With epic courage and ferocity, Godwin and Edmund repel the butchering Danes in three great battles. But an old enemy, the treacherous Earl Eadric, dogs Godwin's footsteps, and as the final battle approaches, around the valiant English the trap begins to close.

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted here, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating

Misc: Button Collection

In case you are all wondering what happened to the blog buttons :D I've created a separate page for the every growing section. :D I decided instead of  placing them all in my sidebar, I gave them a permanent home.

I was thinking of making a slideshow out of the buttons but I can't find a tutorial that's easy enough to follow yet. :D

Teaser Tuesday: "The Angel's Game" by Carlos Ruiz Zafron

Hosted by MizB should be Reading is a weekly bookish meme. 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 what you share doesn't give too much away. You don't want to ruin the books 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 teaser

Monday Morning Flash Fiction Challenge Image (2)

Dottie over at Tink's Place posted the latest MMFC image for the week,

which came from Anna. The colors are vibrant don't you think? It's dramatic and seems to have an enchanting feel at the same time or was it because of the elf at the background. :D Well, to me, he looked like an elf.  It's enough to entice me to write something more about Yarel before The Fury of The Lost. :D

For more about this challenge and rules hop to Tink's Place. :D

2012 Horror/ Thriller Reading Challenge

Several days I ago, I received an invite to participate in this challenge from Mary at sweepingme. Wow! Creepy clown. Reminded me of an "Everybody Loves a Clown" episode from Supernatural. :D If you would like to participate click here  to go directly to her page. 

I'm going for Carousel level ( 1 to 10 books) :D My first start is this one: 

I'm at page 68 of 657 book. Whew. So far, the first creepy scene, I've encountered while reading was a brothel that David Martin visited. Yet the next day, the people across the street say the place burned down years ago. Eck.  

Update as of February 8,2012  I thought I  add:

2) Blood Oath by Christopher Farnsworth 

3) The President's Vampire by Christopher Farnsworth

4) Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith

5) The Night Strangers by Chris Bohjalan

6) The Thirteen Tail by Diane Sutterfield

7) Juliet Immortal by Stacey Jay

8) The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson

9) The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly

10)  Odd Thomas By Dean Koontz

The Christmas Challenge 2011 Wrap up post

My first reading challenge hosted by Michelle at Truebookaddict and I went for the Mistletoe level which was two to four books and they are:

Book Nooks (3)

Book Nooks

*Every weekend*

Founder: Sasha Soren (Random Magic)

Show us something pretty!

Join in: Add your own Book Nooks post.

Photo Theme: Branches

I was able to do one hunt today since I was out at the mall for most of the day and it slipped my mind. :D

                                   
Can you find Gwen and Ben 10? :D

Follow Friday (12)

Follow Friday is hosted by Rachel of Parajunkie.com and Alison of Alison Can Read  If you want to join in the fun just head over the blogs mentioned above and start checking out the various answer for today's question:


Q: Go count the number of unread books sitting on your shelf. How many? 


71 books (ebooks together with paperbacks) Yikes. hahaha. How about you? How big is your unread pile. :D