Hi, there! Welcome to my now monthly Authors of my Heart ❤ section! As last week we had a manga author, today we will have a book author 🙂 Who? L. J. Smith!
I haven’t read as many books from her as I’d like, but this is the brilliant mind behind the creation of Damon Salvatore. It was necessary to bring her to this section asap!
I’ve met L. J. Smith on 2009, when The Vampire Diaries was brought to Brazil and the tv show was beginning. I’ve devoured all volumes like crazy, already madly in love with Damon, and then I started to watch the show and I was struck for life.
I’ve bought the first volume of the Night World series compilation on the same year, but as I have a problem with physically big books, I postponed reading it until last December. Oh boy, I didn’t know what I was missing. Then, I decided that Smith was an auto-buy author, as I’m in love with her writing style ❤
The Vampire Diaries series has captured the hearts and imaginations of hundreds of thousands of fans-and the new CW show that it inspired promises to introduce millions more to the chills, thrills and star-crossed love that has captivated so many readers. In The Awakening, the first volume of this bestselling series, Elena Gilbert is a golden girl used to getting anything that she wants, particularly when it comes to attracting guys. That is until she meets handsome, haunted Stefan, who struggles to resist her because of his dark secret: Stefan is a vampire. Stefan is torn by guilt from his past and living with the threat of his dark, dangerous vampire brother, Damon s return. Soon Elena finds herself in a love triangle between two vampire brothers and it could turn deadly.
Vampires, werewolves, witches, shapeshifters — they live among us without our knowledge. Night World is their secret society, a secret society with very strict rules. And falling in love breaks all the laws of the Night World.
In Secret Vampire, Poppy thought the summer would last forever. Then she was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Now Poppy’s only hope for survival is James, her friend and secret love. A vampire in the Night World, James can make Poppy immortal. But first they both must risk everything to go against the laws of Night World.
Fugitives from Night World, three vampire sisters leave their isolated home to live among humans in Daughters of Darkness. Their brother, Ash, is sent to bring the girls back, but he falls in love with their beautiful friend.
Two witch cousins fight over their high school crush. It’s a battle between black magic and white magic in Spellbinder.
All three books on this volume are already reviewed. Just click on the links bellow to go there 😀
I know this post is uncommonly short for this section, but I had to include Smith asap, haha! Thanks for reading 🙂 Are you a fan of L. J. Smith’s books??
Hi, there! Welcome to my weekly book tag! Only that today it is actually an award! Thanks so much to my lovely friend Kim, from The Spines Breaker, for nominating me for The Sunshine Blog Award ❤ If you don’t already, just give her a follow, she’s amazing!
Da Rulez:
~> Thank whoever nominated you. (thanks, Kim!!)
~>Answer the questions.
~>Pick five bloggers to answer your questions.
Kim’s questions for me
Do you judge books by their covers? What is your favorite?
I do, highly. I think that nowadays, with all technology disposed for pretty much everybody, a nice looking cover for anything is a basic requirement. Besides, I read too much about psychology to believe that people are not affected by cover contents when picking up a book, sorry lol
I don’t have a favorite cover, but I tend to prefer real people over illustrations on books. Unless we’re talking about sugared historical romances. Then I simply love those painted looking covers, with all that Belle Époque feelings to them ❤
something cheesy like this ❤ Oh, how I love these covers!
What is your spirit animal?
That’s a hard one. I used to think that it was the snake. Then I realized that I may be a bear, as I am chubby, huggable, love to eat (especially salmon) and have a current record of 18 hours of straight sleep. But then I remembered how I can’t hibernate on winters and how I hate summers, so I came to the conclusion that I’m a cat.
Which Hogwarts houses do you belong to?
Slytherin. I chose it when I was only six and watched Harry Potter for the first time. Later on my life, every single quiz that I made confirmed my green and silver spirit. Even Pottermore put me twice on Slytherin – both on the old version and the new version of the website, haha!
To go blind. I’ve worn glasses since I’m three years old (with a five-year pause after I turned 14) and I’m terrified of not being able to read anymore.
What is one thing you used to hate about yourself?
I’m detached. From everything. Sometimes, even from my books. I can’t bring myself to care about any subject for long, not truly. I haven’t changed, but I’ve learned how to cope with it. Maybethis is the way that my brain encountered to deal with the suffering and over excitement that every Leo goes through in life, haha!
Hello, good Saturday morning to you 😀 Today I bring you guys my third Liebster Award! My deepest thanks to Vinnieh, my lovely friend that nominated me. On his blog, you can find awesome movie and lyrics reviews and some smoking hot bum posts. If you don’t already, go give him a follow, he is brilliant ❤
Vinnieh’s questions
What do you find most beneficial about being a blogger?
I got to meet so many incredible people and awesome books! Now, the sky is my limit, haha! I made friends, got better at English writing and doubled my share of read books on the year. It is very relaxing and rewarding, haha!
What are your views on nudism?
I never though about that, haha! As I live on a big city on a tropical country, I’m used to shirtless people on the streets, crazy people going for a walk naked to protest over some matter or other, etc. I wouldn’t do it, but I think everyone deserves the freedom to dress or to not dress as they see fit 🙂
Have you ever gone to see a movie that you were too young to watch at the time?
If we are talking about theaters, no, I didn’t. I’m 21 today with a 16 face, so I still struggle to see mere action movies, haha! But I watched tons of movies that weren’t for my age at home. My parents always trusted my judgments, for good and bad, haha!
If you could date a Hollywood star, who would it be?
Ian Somerhalder, as he is incredibly sexy, talented, nice, animal lover and singer ❤
My second option would be Matt Bomer, haha!
If you were the supreme ruler of a country, what would be the first law you would pass?
Thy shall not ruin, damage, bad mouth, steal or wrinkle books. The penalty for each of those infractions shall be… Deadly.
What do you consider to be the best thing about your blog?
I think that what’s different on my blog is the way I do my reviews, with all humbleness 🙂
Do you believe in the supernatural or paranormal?
I do, I think there are more between the sky and the ground that our eyes can see. Not all can be explained and I’m fine with that, haha!
Where is your dream destination for a holiday?
I really want to visit Canada, England, France, Germany and the USA 🙂 I never got the chance to travel abroad properly.
What is the first horror movie you recall viewing?
I know it is not really an horror movie, but mine would be The Mummy and all the movies that came after it. I remember watching them as a kid quite by accident with my parents and I lost my sleep for a week, haha! The monsters and insects crawling out of the sand still give me nightmares…
If you had a magic power, what would it be?
I would like to be able to move things around with my mind. That way, I would also me able to fly 😀
And finally, what do you believe the future holds for you?
Hopefully, a paying job, haha! And I know it holds a trip tomorrow to my hometown.
As this is my third award and I have seem this award on several blogs, I won’t tag anyone. But if you never received a Liebster Award and would like to, just comment and I’ll edit this post to nominate you and give you your eleven questions 😀
Thank you for reading and don’t worry, the blog shall continue to live even with my trips, haha!
Hello, nice last Monday of 2015 for you 😀 Despite the year coming to an end, my participation in my dear friend Audrey’s meme, Match Made in Mondays, keeps on day (cof almost cof) and strong! To see what we have been about on Mondays, check it out the meme’s page at Forwards and Bookwords 😀
Today’s theme is:
THIS BOOK/SERIES + A MOVIE ADAPTATION/TV SERIES (What book is in need of a movie or TV show adaptation? Assuming that these adaptations are well done, of course!)
This time, besides not saying I don’t know, I’ll go farther: I’m not an enthusiast of books into movies/TV shows. It’s nothing personal, but lately Hollywood hasn’t been giving a shit about proper casting and actor’s characterization into their roles. Don’t know what am I talking about and need some examples?
Maleficent. Aurora and Philip look like they are 12 and I am more beautiful and enchanting than that Aurora. No comments. Angelina Jolie is flawless, though.
50 shades of Gray. Grey has black hair and blue eyes. Really blue, ice blue. BLUE. I can tell you 5 actors with those characteristics right here, right now: Matt Bomer, Ian Somerhalder, Misha Collins, Chris Pine and Jared Letto (you know, when he is not being Jesus and all). And tell me, how difficult it is to paint someone’s hair and put on some contacts for the damn movie? No comments, again. I didn’t care enough about Anastacia in the book to analyze the actress chosen for the part, so I won’t be judging her.
Cinderella. Princess Cinderella has BLUE EYES. Her prince has not. Besides, the version of Cinderella that Disney first adapted and then become the live action was Perrault’s one. That said, the movie passes on France, somewhere between centuries 18th and 19th. There were barely black people in France at the time and never ever on royalty as it was the case of that awesome fellow that was the prince’s friend. Nothing personal, I loved that character and that guy, but this is simply history.
I know that I’m particularly boring and exigent, but they do have the necessary money to do it right. They are just more occupied with ego playing than with movie making.
Anyway, sorry for the big rant. If people really need to adapt from books, I prefer when they do TV shows. There are more details, more time and room for accuracy 🙂 And that’s why I would love to see a Percy Jackson remake, but for a TV show. Sorry if you liked them, but the movies flopped hard, haha!
That’s it! Thanks for reading and I’m sorry for the big rant and sorry if I offended anyone, that was not my goal at all! Which books would you like to see turned into movies or tv shows??
Hi, there! The lovely Jess, from Mud and Stars, inspired me in the other day with this post about music and books, so now here I am with my top 10 songs that make me think of Damon Salvatore, from The Vampire Diaries 😀
Not optional, buddy. Sorry.
Those are not in order, just random songs put together on a list, haha!
Demons – Imagine Dragons
I totally can see Damon humming this song, home alone, wandering that big house of his ❤
sit and enjoy, love 🙂
Give You What You Like – Avril Lavigne
At heart, Damon is a hopeless romantic, but he has no illusions left in life, so the lyrics and the mood of this song just matches him.
“if the delusional girl thinks so, what can I do?”
Bruises and Bitemarks – Good With Grenades
Come on. THIS WHOLE SONG SCREAMS DAMON SALVATORE!
Well, he had to reach some sort of agreement eventually, haha!
Lost in Paradise – Evanescence
Honestly, if you hear this song, this lyrics, this suffering, and are not able to connect it with Damon, I’ll have to kindly and discreet ask you which planet are you from 🙂
that’s why you have Rick in your life!
This is War – 30 Seconds to Mars
Damon, in both the book and the TV show, has lived in several wars, literally and metaphoric, so I can’t disconnect this song from his story, haha!
“fair enough”
Do Somethin’ – Britney Spears
Damon is always the center of the show, of all attentions in any room, but he hates when people try to label him, so miss Britney defines him good 😀
“can’t argue with that either”
Waiting for a Friend – The Pretty Reckless
I love Damon and Alaric’s friendship, so I think that this song describes how Damon sees Alaric after they have no more hard feelings for each other (you are free to understand this last phrase in any way you want ;D)
I promise I won’t tell Alaric, don’t look at me like that 😦
One More Night – Maroon 5
Just like Ian Somerhalder singing Sugar, Damon singing One More Night is a sign to be hold. You know, in my head, where this song completely describes all romantic affairs of his life and death. You know.
it is! You know, in a disfunctional way…
Never Enough – Epica
I can totally picture Damon in a High School Musical moment singing this to Katherine anytime. I’m that lame.
all that I have to say about my last comment
Run – Katharine McPhee
This song is not really hers, but that’s the version that I like, from Smash series 🙂 Somewhere between seasons 1 and 2, the original (?) version of this song even features some Damon scenes, so I think I’m up to something when I say that this reminds me of him, haha!
“this could have gone way worse”
Yup, be happy that I didn’t choose (many) absurd songs, hunf.
That’s it, haha! 😀 Thanks for reading! Do you know/like any of this songs? Do you have songs that remind you of a fictional character as well?
*I do not own any of those videos, they are here linked with illustrative purposes only 🙂
Hi, there! I was tagged FOREVER ago by my friend Ellen, from the Eveningreads, to do the Summertime Madness Book Tag and I finally did it! Yay! And it is actually summertime on my country, so I guess I’m not that late, LOL! Thank you so much for the tag and for being my friend, Ellen! ❤
Let’s go:
Show a book with a summery cover:
Surprising Lord Jack (Duchess of Love #2), by Sally MacKenzie. I’m totally feeling the summer in this cover ❤
Pick one fictional place that would be the perfect destination for a summer holiday.
I thought about going with the Middle Earth on this one, but I bet it is more pleasant on Spring time, haha! So, I’ll go with Regelence, a dystopian planet created by J. L. Langley. To see all the Townsends to fall in love personally would be awesome – besides, their palace is amazing, haha!
You’re about to go on a flight for your summer holidays, but you want to read a book that lasts the whole flight. What Novella do you choose?
That would highly depend on the flying time, haha! If it was a 40 – 60 minute flight, as the ones I actually do during vacation, I would go with one of my tbr books like Alice’s Adventures in Underland, from DeAnna Knippling.
If it would be a very long flight with more than 4 hours, it would be Game of Thrones.
You have a case of summertime sadness. What happy book do you pick up to shine a smile on your face?
To be honest, any book, haha! I’m that kind of person that uses reading for everything: for a break, for happiness, for concentration, for escape of reality, for information, as a weapon… So I just keep reading the one that it’s my current read, haha!
You’re sitting at the beach all alone… Which fictional character would be your beach babe?
Damon Salvatore because I would have this by my side:
Someone call 911 because I am on fire LOL
To match your ice cream you want an icy cool sidekick! Which fictional side kick do you pick?
Hmm, that’s a tough one! I guess I would choose Kara from Finding Forever (review here!) because she is fun and flirty, two things that go very well with summer, haha!
Share the Summertime Happiness! Who do you TAG?
Anyone that wishes to play along! ❤
That’s it, people! Thanks for reading and this was very fun, thanks again for tagging me, Ellen! ❤
Hi, there! I’m sorry, I seem to be talking a lot about Ava March those last weeks, but what can I do? I love this woman, haha! Anyway, the book of the day is The Bound Series, an edition from Ava that contains three books and two short stories from the homonymous series. I thought about reviewing them separately, but it felt weird, I don’t know.
I honestly don’t know how many times I’ve read this series, but the first time was back in 2012. Bound By Deception, the first in The Bound Series, was my first book by Ava and I became a hardcore fan on the spot. I remember to this day our first conversation: you see, I was 17 when I met her work and all of it is rated 18+ because of the hot sex scenes, so I asked her permission to enter her giveaway (I don’t need to tell you that she kindly denied it, right? Haha!). She was a doll and consoled me by saying that I was almost 18 and other giveaways were going to come. Boy, she was so right! But tell that to a freaked out teen, haha!
Anyway, this time I’m reviewing this book not as a fan, but as book blogger, so let’s go! (Or trying to…)
The Story
The Bound Series tells us the story of Lord Oliver Marsden and Lord Vincent Prescott, both very respectable gentlemen until the bedroom doors are closed.
In the first episode of the series, Bound By Deception, Oliver discovers that his childhood friend, Vincent, goes to a brothel once per month to request the services of a gentleman and their games are everything but usual. In love with Vincent since their school times, Oliver takes a chance and arranges to take the whore’s place in Vincent’s bed. Oliver just didn’t expect Vincent to fall for him – or, as Vincent sees, for Jake, the new guy in the brothel.
On the following episode, Bound To Him, Oliver and Vincent have established a very comfortable routine: Vincent visiting Oliver’s bachelor apartments, dinning and bed playing and Vincent leaving right after it is over. Or so thought Vincent, as Oliver is not happy at all with such arrangements. When Vincent’s father informs him that marriage is coming on his way, Oliver loses his temper and breaks up with him. Will Vincent be able to get his lover back?
The next episode is a short story, Deliberately Unbound. On the first episode, Vincent suggested a very wicked game to Oliver, but only now Vincent has everything ready for it. Is Oliver going to be able to play it until the end?
Fourth episode is another full book, Bound Forever (the title is such a spoiler that makes me laugh, haha! Sorry, going back to the serious blog mode now). Oliver and Vincent are in heaven. Now enjoying more often than not the advantages of a country home, both lovers are in complete peace with each other… Except that Oliver haven’t broke the last wall that separates him and Vincent: Vincent’s virginity. While Oliver works on accomplishing that, Vincent gets carried away after hearing the sad case of a young widow that lost her husband to an accident. What if the same thing happened to him? How Oliver would fare? Vincent couldn’t rest until he ensured Oliver would be protected and making sure Oliver wouldn’t cause trouble over that would be his worse headache until now.
The last but not least episode is a kind of epilogue to the series. In Deliberately Bound, the second short story, after a huge purchase for his bookshop, Oliver finds himself in the mood to make a game of his own with Vincent.
The Analysis
Oh dear, that was a long way to tell everything, haha! I’m sorry to spoil you a bit, but this is a general happy ending series and Ava told you so in the third book title anyway 🙂 I really liked Oliver and Vincent’s adventures, they always are a good pastime for me. However, my overall review for the series is four stars and I can say that of all the books and short stories. The Bound Series, as the name suggests, has a BDSM catch and I’m not really mad about it – sometimes is hot, other times, I just can’t understand how the people involved are feeling any pleasure at all. Also, I have some issues with Oliver to this day, but all in due time. For what I love, besides the fact that is a work from Ava (haha): Vincent, the feelings, the passion, the intensity. Have I mentioned Vincent? Because he is hot as hell. I always picture him as a mix of Ian Somerhalder and Matt Bomer (my favorite actors). If those two could merge, Vincent would be born #justsaying.
From left to right: Ian Somerhalder and Matt Bomer. Merge them and you have Vincent on my head 😉
Getting over my fangirl obsessions (maybe not much, sorry), let’s go to the narrative. I love March’s style, as she mixes conscious thoughts with the events perfectly and switches third narrator’s points of view between the lovers, so we can get the picture as whole as possible – I’m putting this in such a way because there are no mysteries beyond Oliver and Vincent’s relationship problems. In other books from March such as Sharp Love (I own you this review, sorry! Maybe on January?), the lovers face a mystery beyond their relationship, so what we readers know is what both lovers know separately, you know? Honestly, I think her narrative skills are flawless. Don’t get me wrong, if you are looking for a deep historical fiction, you will be reading the wrong book. March writes in a perfectly believable England all time, on all her books (yeah, I am that kind of fangirl), but historical happenings are not important: the relationship development and its handling are. Particularly, I see nothing wrong with this, as my loved sugared historical romances do the exact same thing. Relationships are timeless and seeing their handling in other times and cultures is highly interesting for me. And, on this particular series, we can also see how BDSM plays could be made 😉
The Bound Series has a very simple plot, overall. Both characters lived their lifes, a problem appears, something changes, they have to handle it and their lives get their harmony back. There is no mystery to the endings, the magic relies on details, on how it was done. I like that about this series, as it is a light option with hot sex scenes (I’ll get there), real characters and a happy ending, which I value a lot. The fact that The Bound Series was constructed on “episodes” reminds me again of Frank Herbert’s quote: “There is no real ending. It’s just the place where you stop the story”. The books and short stories can’t be read as standalones, as they are very connected, but March could release a new volume tomorrow with a new plot and it wouldn’t be weird to the existent books. Those stories share the routine of two male lovers in the 19th century and this construction, besides showing that there is no such thing as a perfect relationship, also deliveries a very open closed ending (did I even make sense there?). The end has no holes, but can be continued, that’s what I meant, haha!
My relationship with Ava March’s work
So, the characters. Oh, the characters. Oliver is a spoiled brat on the most peculiar things, it is amusing. I mean, Vincent is ridiculously wealthier than Oliver, but the spoiled one is Oliver. He is always complaining and suffering over stupid things, it gets on my nerves. Sometimes he is right, but I don’t like how he handles his problems with Vincent. He is too radical, too all or nothing: Oliver takes too long to realize that Vincent has his own time in accepting themselves as a couple, but not in a bad way. Vincent always suppressed his desires for other men and had a scheduled day to exercise them on the brothel, but after Oliver happened on his amorous and sex life, Vincent gets lost. He doesn’t understand how some of his actions can be rude or hurtful and Oliver never explains either, so things just blow up. But I miss my point again… Darn, it’s so hard to review a book series that you love and have been analyzing in silence for three years. Anyway, Oliver is a very strong man on his way and I admire his courage and humbleness. He knows his limits and this is so important in life; amusingly, this is a trait that Vincent doesn’t posses. He accepts nothing lower than perfection from himself and those who are under his watch (cof except Oliver cof), so of course he is a control freak. He also is very romantic and possessive, cute traits on a man on my opinion, and he would marry Oliver in the spot if Oliver only would accept to be called his wife (#truestory). Moreover, both men are real people. I have a friend that is just like Vincent with her relationships and I have another friend just like Oliver is. The capacity that March has to make her readers to connect with her heroes is astonishing and one of her strongest points.
Oliver reminds me of an Italian type, one that would rub well with my Bomerhalder image of Vincent. Hot.
Oh, and do you want to know another VERY strong point in March’s books? Sex. So much sex and hot at that. Usually, sex scenes don’t make my blood boil while I’m reading. The problem is me again, I can’t take vulgarity and people usually think that sex is vulgar. Spoiler alert for your life: sex is SO NOT vulgar! People make it so and, on the same way, they can change sex into a beautiful and magical moment. That’s what March does. Even if her characters aren’t in love, you feel in your skin that they are enjoying each other’s company, that there is not any place on Earth that they rather be at the moment and that their desire is real. With or without BDSM involved, it is steaming hot. With Oliver and Vincent, that’s not different ❤
Overall, this series is awesome, Ava is amazing and life is beautiful.
That’s it, I’m so sorry for the really long and fangirling review, but sometimes is IMPOSSIBLE to behave, haha!
The Book Adventures of Annelise Lestrange 