Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Home, Home on the Range...

So, is anyone else watching the AMC show Hell on Wheels? You should be. I'll admit it started out a might slow but damn, has it made up for it. First we have Anson Mount playing the role of Cullen Bohannan, a man trying to seek revenge on the men who raped and killed his wife, and son:


Dominique McElligot plays Lily Bell, a woman traveling with her husband who worked for the railroad. Lily may not be used to the rough life of the railroad camp, but she's determined to make a life for herself after her husband's death.

Lily and Cullen are brought together when he finds her wounded and in need of help. He brings her back to the railroad camp and is surprised when she decides to stay rather than go back home. Their chemistry is amazing, and I patiently waited to see what would happen between the two of them. The last of episode of the first season aired on Sunday and I have rarely seen such intense chemistry between two people on screen. I can't wait to see what happens in season two.

If you haven't seen Hell on Wheels, try to catch the repeats on AMC before season two begins. It's a gritty and realistic historical drama. I hope we see more of this type of television show.

~Brenda

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

My Five Star Books for 2011

Today is the release day for Hammer Down, one of my favorite reads from 2011. I know, it's January 3, 2012 today, but I was lucky enough to read an ARC, and it's a hands down FIVE STAR read. Pick it up from the publisher, Samhain HERE or it's available on Amazon for the Kindle as well.

MORE FIVE STAR 2011 READS
I wanted to do a cool first post for 2012, but as usual I'm so busy my brain has stalled. I was on Goodreads today and joined the reading challenge for 2012. I'm going for 200 books this year, folks. To be fair, that includes novellas and short stories too, so technically it's not full length books. I don't skim books-- couldn't make myself do that if I tried-- I read them from start to finish with no peeking. Last year I really didn't start seriously putting all my reads on Goodreads until later in the winter from what I remember, so I might have missed a few books. Below are my five star reads for 2011. It doesn't mean I didn't love the other books, but these were the ones I automatically clicked that fifth star with NO hesitation.

The list is in order of what I read first in 2011- it also includes books I read for a second time-- which I do sometimes-- mostly if it's a series that I want to visit again before the next book comes out. I tried to group the series together, but just because you don't see all the books from the series listed doesn't mean I didn't like them as much. I try to read in order, but I sometimes win a book or just grab the wrong one. I also may have read the other book or books in 2010. I buy a lot of my books, win a few, and a few more are given me for review, but my budget is fairly small so I buy when I can.

I'm starting off with the list with this story because it's the newest addition to one of my favorite series, and I've read the first 4 books three times each, and I'm sure I'll read the others at least that many times. The last book I finished in 2011 was the novella, Magic Gifts (Kate Daniels, #5.4) which the authors provided free to readers. IF it's still free you can download it here: http://www.ilona-andrews.com/. If you missed it, you'll be able to get it with Andrea's book, Gunmetal Magic, which will be coming out this summer.

The Kate Daniels Series
Read them again #1-5.4
All 5 Stars
Andrews, Ilona

Enchanted No More
Owens, Robin

Ecstasy Unveiled
Sin Undone
(Demonica 4 & 5)
Ione, Larissa

Angels' Blood
(Guild Hunter, #1)
Singh, Nalini

Alien Tango
Alien in the Family
(Katherine "Kitty" Katt, 2 & 3)
Koch, Gini

One Grave at a Time
This Side of the Grave
(Night Huntress, 4 & 5)
Frost, Jeaniene

Dragon Actually
About A Dragon
The Dragon Who Loved Me
Aiken, G.A.

The Third Kiss: Dorian's Dream
Killough-Walden, Heather

The Mane Attraction
(Pride, #3)
Laurenston, Shelly

The Red Heart of Jade
(Dirk & Steele, #3)
Liu, Marjorie M.

The Sexorcist
(Karmic Consultants, #3)
Vivi Andrews

Red-Headed Stepchild
(Sabina Kane, #1)
Wells, Jaye

Big Bad Beast
(Pride, #6)
Laurenston, Shelly

Legacy Found
(Legacy, #3)
Walters, N.J.

Red Rock Pass Series
Read from beginning again...
All 5 Stars
Rogers, Moira

Southern Arcana Series
(Books 1-4 plus shorts)
Read from beginning again
All 5 Stars
Moira Rogers

The Neon Graveyard
(Signs of the Zodiac, #6)
Pettersson, Vicki

Twice Bitten
(Chicagoland Vampires, #3)
Neill, Chloe

The Edge Series
(Books 1-3)
Andrews, Ilona

Dreamfever
Shadowfever
(Fever 4 & 5)
Moning, Karen Marie

Wild and Steamy Anthology
Meljean Brook, Jill Myles and Carolyn Crane
Free on Amazon for Kindle

Slave to Sensation
Visions of Heat
(Psy-Changeling 1 & 2)
Singh, Nalini

Druid's Glen Series 1-3
Grant, Donna

Awaken the Highland Warrior
(Connor Clan, #1)
Clenney, Anita

The Irish Warrior
Kennedy, Kris

Black Gold
(Takhini Wolves, #1)
Arend, Vivian

Entangled Anthology
Misc. Authors for Charity

River Marked
(Mercy Thompson, #6)
Briggs, Patricia

Forever Mine
Grant, Donna

The Legend of Michael
(Zodius, #1)
Jones, Lisa Renee

In the Forests of the Night
(Goblin Wars, #2)
Hamilton, Kersten

How to Marry a Millionaire Vampire
Be Still My Vampire Heart
(Love at Stake 1 & 3)
Sparks, Kerrelyn

Silent Blade
(Kinsmen #1)
Andrews, Ilona

Desire Untamed
(Feral Warriors, #1)
Palmer, Pamela

The Darkest Surrender
(Lords of the Underworld, #8)
Showalter, Gena

Chaos Tryst
Dubbin, Shirin

Ready to Run
Yours, Mine and Howls
(Werewolves in Love)
Holley, Kinsey W.

Demon Bait
Hammer Down
(Children of the Undying 1 & 2)
Rogers, Moira

Rocky Mountain Haven
(Six Pack Ranch, Book 2)
Arend, Vivian

Shadow Magic
Echoes of Magic
(Sisters of Magic, 1 & 2)
Grant, Donna

The Iron Duke
(Iron Seas, #1)
Brook, Meljean

Twas The Night
Hill, Sandra

Once Upon a Winter's Eve
(Spindle Cove, #1.5)
Dare, Tessa

The Hunter
(The Legend Chronicles, #1)
Meyers, Theresa

Reawakening Eden
Andrews, Vivi

The Darkest Hour
(KGI, #1)
Banks, Maya

Night Reigns
(Immortal Guardians, #2)
Duvall, Dianne

True Colors
(Elder Races #3.5)
Harrison, Thea *

Dirty Little Secrets
(A Marisela Morales Adventure #1)
Leto, Julie

A Dixie Christmas
Hill, Sandra

My Goodreads page with all my books is here:

Happy New Year!
Brenda