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Amanda Shofner
Grand Mistress of On a Book Bender. On the path of least revision. Wine supplier for grammar pain sufferers. #BecauseWine. Idea wrangler. Wielder of words. Black coffee drinker.
Currently reading
Amaryllis
Rampant
Bad Behavior
The False Prince
Light of the Moon (Legend of the Dreamer, Book 1)
Amaryllis (St. Helen's Series #1)
Lexie’s First Time is for people who……love Mimi Strong (and if you don’t, why not?)…remember the frustration of not getting some…think fondly of that time they saw their first real penis…have read either the Borrowed Billionaire or Billionare Novelist series (I haven’t, but want to now)…like a little humor in their eroticaLexie’s First Time was a free Kindle book I downloaded on April 5, 2013 for the Why Buy the Cow? reading challenge.
The Stranger is for people who......have read Of Poseidon and want more...don't mind a little third person present tense (it still sounds weird to me)...want to see Galen, Rayna, and Toraf as kids...would like to know how Galen met Rachel...don't mind not having Emma in the story...can't get enough of the Of Poseidon worldThe Stranger was a free story I read on Tor's website on July 16, 2013 for the Why Buy the Cow? reading challenge.
Audiobook specific: Of Poseidon is definitely one of the better audiobooks I've listened to, narrator-wise. Each character had its own distinct voice. Normally I'm not a fan of cross-gender voices (because they just sound odd), but Rebecca Gibel was fantastic. I honestly think that, had I not listened to this, I would have given up on the book long before I finished.I was a little hesitant about Of Poseidon at first: ALL THE TINGLES and third person present tense narration both set me a little on edge. Seriously, the tingles. They happened a lot in the first few chapters and thank goodness they stopped because the tingling was concerning. The third person present tense didn't necessary get better, but I did eventually settle into it.Beyond chapter 5, I think it was, when ALL THE TINGLING stopped and things started picking up, I began to fall into the story a bit better. Kind of. As intrigued and curious I was about the story, I found Emma to be rather annoying--full of "typical YA heroine" traits and frustratingly dense at times. Galen, I think, suffered from some of the same issues.Of Poseidon is peppered with humor, but it skipped back and forth between feeling like it was trying too hard and making me snicker in amusement. As much as I rolled my eyes at the characters, though, I couldn't stop listening. And toward the end, I was forcing myself to go for walks every day (this is my only audiobook-listening activity) just so that I could finish it.The world was addictive. And the ending pissed me off because how could you end there? So now I want the next book. But I'm perturbed by the wanting. *makes crazy eyes at everyone*This story is far from over. The answers we got in Of Poseidon were slow in coming, and the ending practically blew up with revelations. And yeah, I want to know what happens next.
Backscatter is for people who......like a little sci-fi in their lives...are thrilled by a little race against time...enjoy software that's unintentionally smartass...find new discoveries exciting...don't mind a quick conclusion to the story...need a quickie stand alone to fill their lonely nights Backscatter was a free book I read on Tor's website on July 10, 2013 for the Why Buy the Cow? reading challenge.
Terrain: A Tor.Com Original
Terrain is for people who......like a little steampunk in their stories...enjoy historical stories about the west...find diverse characters to be interesting...don't mind depressing stories...don't mind when depressing stories get *really* depressing...enjoy a well-written standalone story (that's on the depressing side)Terrain was a short story I read on Tor's website on July 1st, 2013 for the Why Buy the Cow? reading challenge.
Do Not Touch is for people who......enjoy stand alone short stories...have always been suspicious of paintings in museums...like subtle romances...have always wanted to travel back in time...like French, France, and Moulin Rouge...have neon blue panties...have wondered "What if?"Do Not Touch was a free book I read on Tor's website on June 26, 2013 for the Why Buy the Cow? reading challenge.
Oh, Leigh Bardugo. What have you done to me?Shadow and Bone leaves Mal and Alina fleeing to 'safety'. But let's be honest: as long as the Darkling is alive, Alina will never be safe--nor will anyone else. And if you thought the Darkling was dangerous in Shadow and Bone, the Darkling of Siege and Storm is even more so.And I am intrigued. Because who the Darkling is and what he does changes Alina and drives Siege and Storm forward. The Darkling is why Alina is who she is. And the relationship between the two is one that I'd like more of a chance to poke and prod at. It's not easily defined.Alina is beginning to grow into her powers, but growing into her powers has consequences and complications. For who she is. For her relationships. For how people react to her. And it had me turning the pages as fast as I could, trying to read more.There are a lot of factors at play here. A lot. The world that fractured in Shadow and Bone has only continued unraveling and unraveling and unraveling. We get introduced to new characters. The notorious privateer? Probably my favorite new addition. And I want more of him.And the ending? I need it to be 2014 now so I can get my hands on Ruin and Rising. Siege and Storm is a satisfying second book in the Grisha trilogy. Not quite as hypnotizing as Shadow and Bone, but still enough to break my brain and have me aching for the final installment.
The Too-Clever Fox
The Too Clever Fox is for people who......love the Grisha series...need a Grisha world fix before they start the next book (I haven't read book 2, but, like the other Grisha short story, this isn't dependent on what happens in the full-length books.)...enjoy a little folk lore...want a quick, entertaining read that has nothing to do with massive cocks (What? So many of the books I read do.)...want an introduction to the Grisha world and Leigh Bardugo's writing (Yes. Even this book is a good one to start on.)PS. I refuse to hyphenate "too-clever" as it is everywhere else. Too is an adverb and can only describe clever. The hyphen is unnecessary.The Too Clever Fox was a free book I read on the Tor website on June 6, 2013 for the Why Buy the Cow? reading challenge.
I cannot get enough of this series. Obviously.The Tailor is for people who......have read Shadow and Bone...need a reminder of how awesome Shadow and Bone is...NEED MORE SHADOW AND BONE...NEED MORE OF THE GRISHA...like answers and betrayal and THE DARKLINGThe Tailor was a free book I read on the Shadow and Bone Facebook page on June 6, 2013 for the Why Buy the Cow? reading challenge.
 - Leigh Bardugo)
Riding with the Cop is for people who......like when sexual tension hits the main character with the force of a very attractive, hard-muscled cop...don't mind questionable consent (Hey, Lilly. When Jake says, "I can report you or you can do this to make it go away," you let yourself get reported if you don't want it.)...enjoy when the characters get down and dirty--and that's all they do...feel orgasms, and lots of them, are necessary in erotica...like massive cocks. What? It's a requirement in these books....need the promise of a HEARiding with the Cop was a free Kindle book I downloaded on June 5, 2013 for the Why Buy the Cow? reading challenge.
 - J.S. Scott)
NightDrake (post-apocalyptic short story)
NightDrake is for people who......love broken, post-apocalyptic worlds...can never get enough DRAGONS...aren't bothered by characters exchanging I love yous without much back story...don't want all the graphic descriptions of sex (*ahem* Not me.)...like a heroine who's pretty kick ass (at least until the I love yous are exchanged)...need a short little paranormal in their livesNightDrake was a free Kindle book I downloaded on December 20, 2012 for the Why Buy the Cow? reading challenge.
Foundlings
4.5Foundlings is for people who......want to see how to write a GOOD story in only 26 pages...like creepy dystopian worlds...like when their creepy dystopian worlds could easily be our world...need a quick story that'll have them flipping through the pages like MAD...are looking for the perfect Bout of Books read (short AND good)...would like an introduction to Diana Peterfreund...can't get enough of STANDALONES (even though I want a full length book in this world)Foundlings was a free Kindle book I downloaded on April 14, 2013 for the Why Buy the Cow? reading challenge. And because Kelly told me to. I always listen to Kelly.
Winterblaze: Number 3 in series (Darkest London)
How I love this series. Though I can't say that book 3 is my favorite, I adored Winston and Poppy. Through Firelight and Moonglow, we've only had the privilege of seeing this couple from the perspective of others.And such a distorted perspective it is.Both Winston and Poppy carry their own secrets. Moonglow left Winston nearly dead and his marriage to Poppy shattered. It was the kind of ending that had me dying to pick up Winterblaze as soon as possible. DYING. (Figuratively, not literally. In case you were worried.)So when the boyfriend's mom asked me if I wanted to borrow her library copy while she had it, I said, "YES!" (I also said thank you. I'm polite like that.)The Darkest London series has a way of cutting through any type of reading "slump" I seem to have. This series just has that quality that pulls me in and doesn't let go. The world we were exposed to in Firelight has grown and expanded and gotten smaller at the same time. Winterblaze builds on what Moonglow opened up and I am excited and anxious to get my hands on Shadowdance.Though I loved Winston and Poppy as characters, their romance wasn't my favorite. They loved each other--clearly. They made mistakes--obviously. But what kept them apart was their stubborn pride and it made me want to sit them down and tell them, "Listen. Let it go. Move on. You two are meant to be together. Also? A little more sexin' and a lot less wantin' would be nice. Y'all are hurting me a little too here."I sincerely hope that the Darkest London series does not end with Shadowdance. This world that Kristen Callihan has created--and the love stories within it--has made this series one of my favorites. Winterblaze has only strengthened that.
Game: The Sequel to "I Hunt Killers"
Barry Lyga, what have you done to my brain??
Game, like I Hunt Killers before it, kept me constantly on edge. Jazz's character is unlike anyone else. You feel the line that Jazz walks between being what his father brought him up to be and being a normal human being--or as normal as Jazz can be.It's an eerie line to walk and part of why this series is so addictive.
With book 2, we get to see the world from both Connie's and Howie's perspectives. It adds an extra layer to the story, expanding the story line and allowing us MOAR. (More drama. More intrigue. More mystery. All good.) The answers that Connie is chasing are perhaps the ones I want answered most, as they're ones that are part of the overriding arc of Billy Dent and just what HE has been up to.
Also? Howie is, quite simply, extremely hilarious and vibrant. I need more Howie in my life.Game is aptly named, with everything seemingly a game of some kind. And while some of our questions are answered--and the games explained--Game seems to open more questions and throw us into deep suspicion: who can we trust? I'm no longer sure which way is up and if there's anyone who is truly worth trusting.(And this is part of why my brain is broken.)
The ending is one that left me needing the next book NOW (and yes, there is one because how could there NOT be one?) and wondering where Barry Lyga will lead us next. Jazz! Connie! Howie!
Among the Nameless Stars (For Darkness Shows the Stars, #0.5)
Among the Nameless Stars is for people who……read and loved For Darkness Shows the Stars (It’s probably best to have read the first book; it might be too confusing otherwise.)…want part of Kai’s story…craved more information about this world…had forgotten how much they loved For Darkness Shows the Stars (No, really. I want to reread the book again.)…understand that sometimes what we have isn’t as bad as we think it is.Among the Nameless Stars was a free Kindle book I downloaded on April 14, 2013 for the Why Buy the Cow? reading challenge.
 - Diana Peterfreund)
Moonglow: Number 2 in series (Darkest London)
I did a revisit review on the first book in this series, Firelight, and couldn't resist doing another for Moonglow. This series is that good. Intriguing world, fun characters, and seriously steamy scenes. What's not to love?Moonglow starts off with a bang--not literally--with a quick introduction to little Ian and his...issues. In many ways, this sets the tone for the book: amusing and sexy. The banter between Daisy and Ian is one of my favorite parts of Moonglow. The verbal warfare increased the tension and catapulted the book forward, making it hard to put down. MOAR SEXY BANTER!And props to Kristen Callihan for the almost-sex scene in the carriage. *fans self*Moonglow expands the Darkest London world, diving into werewolf lore--or rather, lycan lore. It's intriguing in its differences, yet grounded enough in what we're familiar with to avoid confusion. We're also introduced to a new kind of paranormal creature that I hope we get to learn more about in future books.We get to revisit--briefly--Miranda and Archer, though the side character focus seems to be centered on future couples. However. HOWEVER. I hope we get to see more Daisy and Ian in future books; their story seems to be just beginning. And for the record, I was able to guess the identity of the werewolf before it was revealed, though there was enough OTHER STUFF happening that took me by surprise.Moonglow was able to kick my reading apathy out the door, and whenever books can do that, I know I've found a winner. Now I'm dying to get my hands on Winterblaze. I need to know what happens next.
