Midnight Crystal

Midnight Crystal
by Jayne Castle
Dreamlight Trilogy, book three

For many earthly centuries, a legendary curse has plagued the Winters family, stemming from the tumultuous founding of the Arcane Society. But now, on the futuristic world of Harmony, the curse's final mystery will be unraveled...

Head of the ghost hunters guild Adam Winters and dreamlight reader extraordinaire Marlowe Jones must break the curse, save Harmony's entire underworld-and fight a passion that could destroy them both. (description taken from Amazon.com)

Okay, I seriously love that these books crossover between Jayne Ann Krentz' three writing personas. Book one - contemporary - Jayne Ann Krentz, book two - historical - Amanda Quick, book three - future paranormal -Jayne Castle...so cool! I don't know of any other author that's done something like this.

Anyway, enough fangirl for now. Beyond the coolness of the trilogy itself, I think that the trilogy was ended in a very clever way. All loose ends were tied up...and by one sexy, bad-ass couple, no less. Marlowe Jones is a tough cookie, motorcycle chick, super intelligent private investigator. Adam Winters is the tough guy with morals that's going to clean up the corrupt Guild. Together, their passion ignites the pages.

My favorite character, though...the dust bunny! In Harmony, dust bunnies do not live under your bed...they are fierce little predators that hunt in the night, and sometimes deign to adopt a human. Loyal, lovable, and gluttonous. So much fun!

Beyond the romance, the mystery of the Lamp and who is willing to kill for it will keep readers turning pages. Castle a.k.a. Krentz, does a wonderful job dropping clues and keeping readers guessing until the revelations in the final pages. Well done.

Spy Glass

Spy Glass
by Maria V. Snyder
Glass Magic trilogy, book three

After siphoning her own blood magic in the showdown at Hubal, Opal Cowan has lost her powers. She can no longer create glass magic. More, she's immune to the effects of magic. Opal is now an outsider looking in, spying through the glass on those with the powers she once had, powers that make a difference in the world.

Until spying through the glass becomes her new power. Suddenly, the beautiful pieces she makes flash in the presence of magic. And then she discovers that someone has stolen some of her blood—and that finding it might let her regain her powers. Or learn if they're lost forever…

This book is an emotional thrill ride that will suck you in and spit you back out. Opal goes through A LOT in this conclusion to her story, but very similarly to Alanna from Tamora Pierce's The Lionness Quartet, everything that Opal goes through, everything the reader experiences along with her, brings the story to a very satisfying conclusion emotionally.

When Opal finds her true love, it really feels like it's the real deal. Not just happy, superficially perfect, but really, truly, fully-fleshed "I see all your faults and love you anyway" real. *le sigh.

Though none of Snyder's books quite match the ultimate perfection of Poison Study, I love Opal, her brand of magic, and the men in her life. Again, I wish a few of the side characters...hello, Janco!...could get their own stories, but Opal was a strong, realistic heroine that I'll be sorry to leave behind.

The Life is Good Award

I found out this morning that I was given an award by OCD About Books. Thank you so very much!! It's always an honor to know that people like my blog.


Here is what needs to be done:

Questions:
1.If you blog anonymously are you happy doing it that way; if you are not anonymous do you wish you had started out anonymously so you could be anonymous now?
I don't blog anonymously and I'm okay with that. I feel like sometimes if you are anonymous, it gives you too much freedom. You can publish a post without thinking it through because no one knows who you are...
2.Describe one incident that shows your inner stubborn side:
Hmmm...I'm not sure that my stubborn side is really inner. I tend to just be stubborn about certain things quite openly. For instance, I do not eat blue foods...I tell everyone that. I can't really think of an inner stubborn side story.
3.What do you see when you really look at yourself in the mirror?
A book lover, a dork, a married woman, a crafty chick, a girl who loves to eat, a goofy dancer, ummm...do I have to go on?
4.What is your favourite summer cold drink?
A McDonalds Mocha Frappe with whipped cream.
5.When you take time for yourself, what do you do? I read...a lot, or if it's just me, I sometimes watch really bad television and laugh out loud.
6.Is there something you still want to accomplish in your life? What is it?
I want to become a published author.
7.When you attended school, were you the class clown, the class overachiever , the shy person, or always ditching?
Funny enough, I was the shy, overacheiving, sometimes ditching girl...
8.If you close your eyes and want to visualize a very poignant moment of your life what would you see?
When my husband and I got married.
9.Is it easy for you to share your true self in your blog or are you more comfortable writing posts about other people or events?
I tend to try to keep some distance in my blog about my personal life in respect of my husband's privacy, but will occasionally blog about my work life on top of reviewing, interviewing, etc.
10.If you had the choice to sit down and read or talk on the phone, which would you do and why? I would definetly READ!! I hate talking on the phone, though I text like a champ. Reading would win hands down.

I know awards are supposed to be passed on, but honestly I don't have fifteen newly discovered blogs to give this award to so I decided just to answer the questions and hope you all don't hate me for breaking the chain!