Aah. I love doing personal posts, because I feel free to use images that have nothing to do with the post, but just make me giggle. <see above> <then see below>
So. The long journey of selling our house, not finding a house in this insane Austin market fast enough, temporary housing (Extended Stay, represent), finding our dream house but it having a lease on it through May (helloooo Mom and Dad! thanks for letting us crash with you), to some reno work (goodbye popcorn ceilings and wood paneling on the walls) - TO FINALLY MOVING IN. We both feel like we won the lottery with our house, despite all the really super annoying (yet inevitable) road bumps, WE ARE MOVED.
We are kinda unpacked. Kinda. But yeah. On to the next journey of our lives, I am slamming this chapter shut. But I sure do have a lot of stories from that chapter :P
This summer is already proving to be full and epic. I've got Authors After Dark - New Orleans in August, where I get to room with my girls Mandi & Tori of Smexybooks! And then we're going to freaking Hawaii, Turtle Bay Resort on the north shore of Oahu, to be exact. I am a bridesmaid in my best friend from college's wedding and when she asked me if I would be in it last year, I said FUCK YES, I WILL BE. We have a full summer and I couldn't be more excited!
Keep it real, Austin!
Hope everyone is having an awesome summer so far, and staying cool in this nasty ass heat. And with that, I am going to leave you with "Let's Get Fahreinhammered!", The Bitching-About-Texas-Weather drinking game. I don't drink, but maybe you do, so go get Fahreinhammered!
My new review of Blood Before Sunrise by Amanda Bonilla is up at WLP!
This review is spoiler free, but assumes a basic familiarity with the first book.
Most of you know that the first Shaede Assassin book, Shaedes of Gray, was one of my favorite premier UF books of 2011, so I was chomping at the bit to get my eyeballs on the second book in the series, Blood Before Sunrise. I am pleased to say it totally lived up to my expectations.
Darian is working with her friend and Shaede guardian, Raif, to find the Oracle who she THOUGHT had been her friend, but who totally bamboozled them all in trying to take out the Shaede Nation. Once they finally find Delilah she starts spouting some pretty crazy things, but one of those things is about Raif's presumed-dead daughter... and that's when things get bananas. Continue reading...
My new review of Shadow Bound by Rachel Vincent is up at WLP!
Shadow Bound is the eagerly anticipated second novel in Rachel Vincent's Unbound series. It picks up roughly 2 months from where Blood Bound left off, and we find our heroine, Korinne Daniels, in dire straits. Kori is a Traveler, or shadow-walker, able to step in to a shadow in one room, then out of a shadow anywhere else she wants to go, within her range. She can see in the dark better than most people, too. She has been tortured and dehumanized for the past six weeks as punishment from the events in the previous book, at the hands of Jake Tower (the heart of the Tower syndicate) and his sadistic brother, Jonah. Jake finally pulls her out of her torture room, from a cell in his basement, no less, and gives her the ultimate challenge... recruit Ian Holt, world class Blinder, ... or die. But we all know it's never that simple, right? Continue reading...
My new early review of Chasing Magic by Stacia Kane is up at WLP! Chasing Magicis the fifth book in Stacia Kane's Downside Ghosts series, and is easily one of my favorites so far. The war in Downside between Bump and Lex is very real now, after Slowbag's demise in the previous book, Sacrificial Magic. Chess is caught in the middle, still having ties with Lex for her seemingly never-ending drug use, and her newfound friendship with his sister Blue, yet on the down low developing a relationship with Terrrible. This leaves her constantly walking that line between Bump and Terrible and what it means for her to befriend both sides. Something incredibly nasty and morbid has come to Downside involving possessions and black magic in the form of the street drugs, and it's hitting both Bump and Lex's people. Add to the equation Chess's work as a Churchwitch and her relationship with Elder Griffin, and things get super duper tense. Continue reading...
My new early review of Devil's Gate by Thea Harrison is up at WLP!
I am so not a novella kind of gal. For me, I just like a longer and meatier story. That being said, ohhhh how I loved this novella. Devil's Gate is absolutely charming, and action-packed. It totally worked for me. Already an Elder Races series fan, I am so happy I decided to read this one.
Seremela is a completely unassuming heroine. She is a medusa and has snakes for hair! They have minds of their own, and sometimes she has to tie them back because they can be everywhere from rude to flirtatious. With her green tinted skin and her abnormally slitted eyes, most would look at her and shudder, but not Vampire Duncan Tuner! He initially met her at one of Run and Carling's parties, and he has had it for her since. He finds her completely captivating, and wants to bust a move. He finds the perfect intro in to her life when she must leave for the tent city of Devil's Gate to find her niece, who has run away. Duncan is a decent hero, wanting to help her but also wanting to get to know her better. It's the perfect "in"! What follows contains murder, illegal drugs, a pariah, and inter-demesne Elder Races politics. Continue reading...
I received an email today urging to spread the word on this very important documentary called One Nation Under Dog airing next Monday, 6/18, on HBO I simply could not pass on the chance of featuring this very important documentary. Animal rescue, particularly Adoption and Spay & Neuter programs are very near and dear to my heart, and I am so dang happy for this very important coverage. Thank you HBO for making this documentary happen!! Please take a moment to read and check out the documentary, see how you can easily help. You can make a difference!!!
"We're a nation of dog lovers, but unfortunately there are not enough of us to go around. Each year, millions of dogs are abandoned, and more than 4 million are euthanized. This heartfelt documentary explores the conflicted and passionate relationships we have with dogs, inspiring us to rethink how we treat them. Following three separate storylines by different filmmakers,One Nation Under Dogexplores the lengths people will go for their furry friends.
Three unique perspectives from a trio of award-winning directors power this anthology of stories. Jenny Carchman evokes an unlikely empathy for both dog owners and bite victims, while Amanda Micheli shares the heart-wrenching loss of mourners in a pet bereavement group. Ellen Goosenberg Kent's loving portrait of an accidental rescuer is a quiet, moving study of a selfless life, and her footage inside a puppy mill leaves an indelible mark on one's idea of breeders. Alternating between shocking and inspirational, the film presents a view inside a quiet crisis unfolding under our noses."
"One Nation Under Dog" is set to premiere at 9pm on Monday, June 18th on HBO. Nearly two years in the making, the film tells a complicated and unwavering story that explores our relationship with dogs. The film chronicles those who would protect their animals with regard for little else, the many manifestations of grief from losing a pet, and the brutal truth behind the euthanasia of 4-6 million homeless animals in the US each year and the people who fight to save their lives.
PAWS New England was honored to participate in the film and did everything in our power to painstakingly highlight the struggles faced by all of us in the rescue community. We hope this will change the way homeless animals are treated in the United States and abroad by educating a largely unaware audience of both the staggering horrors and inspiring tales of survival present in the world of dog rescue.
PAWS New England will be encouraging our volunteers to host screening parties for their friends and families. We will encourage party-goers to "Take Action" by adopting, fostering, donating, committing to spay/neuter, and promoting legislative and lobbying efforts to end puppy mills and gas chambers.
Take this moment and harness the passion that the movie will undoubtedly provoke. Educate. Recruit volunteers and adopters. Raise funds. Join the fun on facebook and let this movie inspire.
In order for this movie to spurn a movement that will save the lives of hundreds of thousands of abandoned animals, people need to see it! We ask rescue groups from all over the country to encourage your volunteers to host viewing parties for friends and families on the night of the premiere.
Hosts need only invite over a few friends and tune in. We are asking hosts from all over the country to sign up here and put their city on the map! Let's show America hundreds of screening parties on our google map! All rescues will likely create unique ideas for screening parties, but we invite hosts to use the PAWS New England "party package" with dog-themed drinks, vegan appetizers and desserts.
Don't have HBO, but want to see the movie? Contact your local cable company and inquire about a HBO trial.
There were many moments over the last year where it looked as though this film might not make it to production. The executives at HBO were concerned that too few people would be interested in a documentary about rescue dogs to justify the expense of making the film. We passionately pledged that animal lovers from all walks of life would tune in and we need you to help us make good on our promise.
In addition to watching the film, we strongly encourage each and every supporter of rescue to:
Leave feedback for the HBO executives on "Join the Conversation" and let them know you want to see more rescue-themed programming
Request that HBO commission a follow-up documentary exclusively about rescue that further explores the stories of the featured dogs
A tremendous thank-you for the amazing and selfless work you do. We hope this film will make it just a little easier to save the lives of innocent animals.
Many thanks,
Dr. Kelly Parker
Cofounder PAWS New England
My new review of Shadow Kin by M.J. Scott is up at WLP!
Shadow Kin is an impressive first book in a debut series! After a botched assassination attempt on sunmage Simon, our Shade heroine Lily is very worried, and also very trapped. Lily is a rare wraith, no other Blood lord had a wraith at his command. Bought by the Blood lord Lucius when the Fae abandoned her, she is called "my shadow" by Lord Lucius, and "soulless" by the Fae. But known to everyone, she is Lucius's chief assassin.
Simon has her spend the rest of the night with him, held immobile in a chair, so she can't fade in to the shadows, until sunrise. He immediately knows she is in a bad situation, and comes from a place of violence and brutality. He also happens to mention that he was not expecting her to be so .... beautiful. At her reaction, he realizes that her world has been cruel to her. And he feels compelled to help her, whether she wants it or not. He meets up with his brother, a Templar, and the two decide that having her come to the Light side and testify for them against Lucius, that he ordered her to have a human killed, could end his rule forever. The problems? She is kept on a very short leash, and if Simon can't convince her, his brother will kidnap her. And then they have to convince her to help them, without knowing where her loyalties lie. Continue reading...
.jpg)
