Kinx's Book Nook

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Throwback Thursday (8): The Pillars of the Earth


Throwback Thursday is a weekly meme hosted by The Housework Can Wait and Never Too Fond of Books.
It’s the nature of book blogging to focus mainly on new releases, but there are thousands of great books out there that haven’t seen the “New Releases” shelf in years. We hope to be able to bring attention to some older titles that may not be at the top of the current bestseller list, but still deserve a spot in your To-Be-Read pile.
You don’t have to be a book blogger to participate! You can put up a Throwback Thursday post on your non-bookish blog; or if you don’t have a blog at all, just use the comments to tell us about a book you remember fondly.
Here’s how it works:1. Pick any book released more than 5 years ago. Adult, YA, Children’s; doesn’t matter. Any great book will do.2. Write up a short summary of the book (include the title, author, and cover art) and an explanation of why you love it. Make sure to link back to The Housework Can Wait and Never Too Fond of Books in your post.3. Link up your post at The Housework Can Wait or Never Too Fond of Books.
4. Visit as many blogs as you can, reminisce about books you loved, and discover some “new” books for your TBR list!
My Throwback Thursday:
The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
Published in 1989
From Goodreads:
This book tells the tale of a twelfth-century monk driven to do the seemingly impossible: build the greatest Gothic cathedral the world has ever known.
Everything readers expect from Follett is here: intrigue, fast-paced action, and passionate romance. But what makes The Pillars of the Earthextraordinary is the time—the twelfth century; the place—feudal England; and the subject—the building of a glorious cathedral. Follett has re-created the crude, flamboyant England of the Middle Ages in every detail. The vast forests, the walled towns, the castles, and the monasteries become a familiar landscape. Against this richly imagined and intricately interwoven backdrop, filled with the ravages of war and the rhythms of daily life, the master storyteller draws the reader irresistibly into the intertwined lives of his characters—into their dreams, their labors, and their loves: Tom, the master builder; Aliena, the ravishingly beautiful noblewoman; Philip, the prior of Kingsbridge; Jack, the artist in stone; and Ellen, the woman of the forest who casts a terrifying curse. From humble stonemason to imperious monarch, each character is brought vividly to life.
The building of the cathedral, with the almost eerie artistry of the unschooled stonemasons, is the center of the drama. Around the site of the construction, Follett weaves a story of betrayal, revenge, and love, which begins with the public hanging of an innocent man and ends with the humiliation of a king.
At once a sensuous and endearing love story and an epic that shines with the fierce spirit of a passionate age, The Pillars of the Earth is without a doubt Ken Follett's masterpiece.
Why do I like this book?
When I graduated from college, my mom and I went to Europe. We traveled through England, France, Austria, Switzerland and Italy. While we were traveling, I read Pillars of the Earth. I was able to see so many amazing cathedrals. This book will always have a special place in my heart.



Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Cover Art: Frost Burned

Frost Burned by Patricia Briggs (Mercy Thompson #7)
Expected to be released in Spring 2013




Cover Art by Daniel Dos Santos


From Goodreads:

Shapeshifter Mercy Thompson's life is calming down, at least enough that she can focus on mundane matters like Black Friday sales. But on her return, Mercy is unable to contact her mate, Alpha Adam Hauptman, or the other members of their pack. All she knows is that Adam is angry and in pain. With the werewolves fighting a political battle to gain acceptance from the public, Mercy fears Adam's disappearance may be related - and that he and the pack are in serious danger. Outclassed and on her own, Mercy may be forced to seek assistance from the most unlikely of allies: the vampire seethe.

Monday, August 6, 2012

It's Monday! What are you reading?! (8)



Welcome to It’s Monday! What Are You Reading! This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well… you never know where that next “must read” book will come from! Hosted by Book Journey

This week I'm reading:

Gunmetal Magic by Ilona Andrews

Some people have everything figured out — Andrea Nash is not one of those people. After being kicked out of the Order of Knights of Merciful Aid, Andrea's whole existence is in shambles. All she can do is try to put herself back together, something made easier by working for Cutting Edge, a small investigative firm owned by her best friend, Kate Daniels.

When several shapeshifters working for Raphael Medrano — the male alpha of Clan Bouda and Andrea's former lover — die unexpectedly at a dig site, Andrea is assigned to investigate ... and must work with Raphael. As her search for the killer leads her into the secret underbelly of supernatural Atlanta, Andrea knows that dealing with her feelings for Raphael might have to take a backseat to saving the world.




I love the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews. This is the first spin-off novel. So far it is really good.

Friday, August 3, 2012

Review: Magic Gifts

Magic Gifts by Ilona Andrews (Kate Daniels #5.4)
Published by Ace Books
Released June 26, 2012
Ebook, 100 pages
Urban Fantasy

From Goodreads:

A dinner date after a hard day at work sounds heavenly. Of course, when that date is between the Beast Lord and Kate Daniels, things don’t go as planned. Before you know it, undead are running amok, heads are being chopped off, lawyers are deployed and used with extreme prejudice, and drunk Vikings are calling people out.

Read at your own risk.

Magic Gifts is novella written by the husband and wife team known as Ilona Andrews. It was originally released in 2011; however, it has been rereleased in the new novel, Gunmetal Magic. In a recent comment on Twitter, Ilona recommended that readers read Magic Gifts first, so I did. It’s a fun and quirky little tale of Kate and Curran attempting to go on a date. If you have been reading the Kate Daniels series, you must know that going on a normal date for those two is really not possible. Blood, guts and gore abound! Aside from the fights, this story shows what I call, the softer side of Kate and Curran.

At the center of this story is a little boy who must be saved from a gruesome death. Kate finds that she will do anything, including risking her own life, to prevent his death. She must fight Vikings, Vampires, and one nasty draugr. Don’t know what a draugr is? Well, I’m not telling. You got to read to find out. Anyway, if you have read this series, you would know that Kate has come a long way from her loner, shut-off self. Frantically trying to save a little boy, she wears her heart on her sleeve with him. Don’t get me wrong, she is still the hard-as-nails Kate Daniels we all know and love. But, she is now more willing to expose herself to love and pain to help others. Ilona and Andrew continue to shape Kate into a strong, confident and complex character.

There are also some great bickering scenes between Kate and Curran. They are such a great couple who continue to struggle with each other. Ilona and Andrew have written a dynamic couple with Kate and Curran. Their romance is not all bright eyed and bush tailed. It’s rough, combative, and solid. There are not a lot of “smexy” scenes going on either, only a lot of great dialogue and action.

If you want a great, quick Kate Daniels read, then is your book. It’s fun and action-packed. Now it’s time to move on to Gunmetal Magic.

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Thursday, August 2, 2012

Feature & Follow Friday (6)



Gain new followers and make new friends with the Book Blogger Feature & Follow! If this is your first time here, welcome! You are about to make some new friends and gain new followers — but you have to know — the point of this hop is to follow other bloggers also. I follow you, you follow me.
trans Feature & Follow #108
The Feature & Follow is hosted by TWO hosts, Parajunkee of Parajunkee’s View and Alison of Alison Can Read. Each host will have their own Feature Blog and this way it’ll allow us to show off more new blogs!
How does this work? First you leave your name here on this post, (using the linky tools — keep scrolling!) then you create a post on your own blog that links back to this post (easiest way is to just grab the code under the #FF picture and put it in your post) and then you visit as many blogs as you can and tell them “hi” in their comments (on the post that has the #FF image). You follow them, they follow you. Win. Win. Just make sure to follow back if someone follows you!
What sets this Hop apart from others, is our Feature. Each week we will showcase a Featured Blogger, from all different genres and areas. Who is our Feature today? Find out below. Just remember it is required, if you participate, to follow our Features and you must follow the hosts (Parajunkee & Alison Can Read) as a courtesy. How do you follow someone? Well, if you have a preference, state it in your #FF post. A lot of blogs are transitioning to WordPress in which they do not have the luxury of GFC, so an RSS subscription is appreciated or if you choose an email subscription. If you don’t have GFC please state in your post how you would like to be followed.



Q: Do your reading habits change based on your mood? Do you read a certain genre if you are feeling depressed or happy?


When I am truly unhappy or depressed I turn to fantasy novels. For example when I was really down, I read all the Black Dagger Brotherhood books. It really helped me through a rough time. It was total escapism. When I'm really happy I read some Jane Austen. 

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Throwback Thursday (7): Rebecca

 


Welcome to Throwback Thursday, a weekly meme hosted by The Housework Can Wait and Never Too Fond of Books!

It’s the nature of book blogging to focus mainly on new releases, but there are thousands of great books out there that haven’t seen the “New Releases” shelf in years. We hope to be able to bring attention to some older titles that may not be at the top of the current bestseller list, but still deserve a spot in your To-Be-Read pile.

My Throwback Thursday:



Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier


From Goodreads: 


"Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again."


With these words, the reader is ushered into an isolated gray stone mansion on the windswept Cornish coast, as the second Mrs. Maxim de Winter recalls the chilling events that transpired as she began her new life as the young bride of a husband she barely knew. For in every corner of every room were phantoms of a time dead but not forgotten a past devotedly preserved by the sinister housekeeper, Mrs. Danvers: a suite immaculate and untouched, clothing laid out and ready to be worn, but not by any of the great house's current occupants. With an eerie presentiment of evil tightening her heart, the second Mrs. de Winter walked in the shadow of her mysterious predecessor, determined to uncover the darkest secrets and shattering truth about Maxim's first wife and hauntingly beautiful Rebecca.


Why I love it:


Rebecca is so beautifully written and a thrilling story. Plus Alfred Hitchcock made an amazing movie, his only Best Picture Oscar.

WWW Wednesdays (1)


To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?
What I am currently reading:


Savage by Willow Rose (Daughters of the Jaguar #1)

The year is 1983. Christian is 22 years old when he leaves his home in Denmark to spend a year in Florida with a very wealthy family and go to med-school. A joyful night out with friends is shattered by an encounter with a savage predator that changes his life forever. Soon he faces challenges he had never expected. A supernatural gift he has no idea how to embrace. A haunting family in the house next door. A spirit-filled girl who seems to carry all the answers. An ancient secret hidden in the swamps of Florida. One life never the same. One love that becomes an obsession. Two destinies that will be forever entangled.

I received this book from an independent author for review. I love the cover art! Don't you?


What did I recently finish reading:

13 by Kelley Armstrong

Here's my review















What I think I'll read next:

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

This is the August selection for my book club, Books, Babes and Booze. I have been wanting to read it for a long time.