Fruits Basket: Volume 10

From Goodreads:    Tohru and the Sohmas are spending time at the Sohma family's summerhouse, but it's not all fun in the sun on this little trip. Akito pays a surprise visit, causing a commotion for the rest of the family at the house. Shigure takes a trip down memory lane with an old friend, remembering the days when Hatori wasn't so aloof. Meanwhile, Tohru starts thinking -- what must life be like for the parents and lovers of a cursed member of the Sohma family? Can life with this family truly be happy while bearing such a burden?








My Thoughts:

-    It is easier to tell who is a girl and who is a guy when they are in their swim suits.

-    Tohru is a bit of a spaz.

-    The whole part about Mayu was a weird tangent.

-    I'm still not sure what the story is exactly.

-    What is with Akito? I'm dying to know which zodiac he is!

Previous Fruits Basket Volumes
(click on the cover to see my thoughts)

  

  
  

Fruits Basket: Volume 9

Goodreads Synopsis:    Finally summer has arrived! While Tohru struggles through bipolar days of hope and anxiety, what will happen when Yuki comes face-to-face with the new member of the student council?! And... is Uo-chan crazy in love?! Who's that she's hanging out with?! Plus, Hana-chan's past is finally disclosed in a bonus feature! Come join the party in the 9th volume of the super-popular Fruits Basket!











My Thoughts:

-    Did Tohru get a haircut? She did! I like it!

-    Did Yuki, Kyo, and Momiji get taller? 

-    The art has improved some, and I like the dialogue bubbles better.

-    Uotani looks different. It's the hair!

-    We got to know more about Hanajima's past in this volume. It was interesting. I'd like to know more about her powers!

-    I really like that they put fan art in the back of each issue!

-    Momiji is growing on me.

-    The pages in this book are thicker than the others.

Previous Fruits Basket Volumes
(click on the cover to see my thoughts)

  

  
 

Pitch Dark Days Tour

On Wednesday, I had the pleasure of attending the Pitch Dark Days event at the Provo Library

My favorite part was meeting up with all my blogger buddies! I'm going to be lazy and not list everyone. Sorry!

Here are the authors that came! I don't know what Brodi and Debra are doing. Looks like they are playing rock, paper, scissors.

Brodi Ashton signing a book! I also met her mom and got her to sign my book.

Brodi said we could pet her, and I just couldn't pass that up! 

Kiersten White signing some books! 

Lauren Oliver signing my books!

I only met 3 of the 6 authors. I'll have to read the other's books and catch them some other time.

After we fought the crowds to get our books signed, Suey, Suey's daughter, Jenny, Jenni Elyse, and I went to JCWs to enjoy good food and fun chatter. I had a ton of fun!

I can't til the next author event!!!

Thirstday

Thirstday is the new Thursday!  A beverage and a book!

I found this Meme on Maestra Amanda's Bookshelf, and it is hosted by Eat the Book.

I've been on a reading frenzy all week!
You ready for this?

I read Fruits Basket Volumes 8-10 and drank lots of orange juice. It was on sale!

I devoured The Runaway King and made myself a little cookies and cream shake! It was delicious. 

I read Fruits Basket Volumes 11 and 12 and drank hot cocoa. I decided to add some mallows that day. 

I cried through Out of the Easy while enjoying some blueberry bliss tea. 

This morning, I am reading The Wings of Merlin and drinking hot chocolate (no mallows today).

Land Keep

Goodreads Description:    “Thrilling reads.” — Holly Newton, Meridian Magazine

Four mythical Elementals — Water, Land, Air, and Fire — have the power to save two worlds, Earth and Farworld, from a common enemy: the Dark Circle. In book one, Water Keep, a portal has been opened between the two worlds, allowing Marcus, from Earth, and Kyja, from Farworld, to combine their unique gifts and begin their epic quest to find the Elementals.

In book two, Land Keep, Marcus and Kyja travel with Cascade, a Water Elemental, toward Land Keep, the home of the powerful and wise Land Elementals. However, their journey may end before it even begins. Land Keep is empty, deserted for at least a thousand years, and the rumor is that the creatures who once controlled all land magic are extinct. Marcus and Kyja's only hope seems to lie in finding the Augur Well, a legendary Oracle protected by subtle traps and mind-bending trials. To succeed in their quest, Marcus and Kyja must also avoid the Keepers of the Balance, an order dedicated to redistributing magic to the rich and powerful. And they must travel far underground, where Cascade is unable to follow and where they will be unable to leap to the safety of Earth.

As the Dark Circle closes around them, Marcus and Kyja are faced with the temptation of what they desire most. Sacrifices must be made, and not everyone will survive unscathed.

My Thoughts:

-    This adventure was even more thrilling than the first book! I really enjoyed this!

-    I love the cover! I was a bit confused by it for a while, but after about half way through the book I was like "OH! That's who they are!"

-    Mr. Z reminds me of an Ed Wynn character. I kept hearing his lispy voice.

-    Some parts of the story were like reading a video game! My hands were itching for a controller! I was like "I could do that!" I think Farworld should be made into an RPG!

-    I felt a lot more emotion in this book than the first one! I was excited, sad, apprehensive, angry, and more! I loved it! 

-    The fight at the end is so epic! I also loved the banter that was going on, so hilarious! The fighting was awesome as well.

-    I love the land elementals! They are so cool! I also love how they thrive on knowledge and learning. 

-    I LOVED the strengths and weaknesses ideas. Strengths can become weaknesses, and weaknesses can be strengths! I love that! I also love the theme of pairs! It takes 2 to get through things. Combining strengths and weaknesses with others can achieve so much! It reminds me of a marriage. I hope to accomplish this kind of thing with my husband.

-    The end has a bit of a twist, and I can't wait to get my hands on Air Keep!!

Previous Farworld Book

(click on the cover to see my thoughts)

State Fair

(Couldn't find a trailer, so here is just a clip from the movie)

My Thoughts:

-    This movie is a little corny, but I enjoy it.

-    Why do they sing "It's the best state fair in our state!"? Isn't it the only state fair?

-    Harry is such a NERD!! 

-    Wayne and Margy have nice singing voices. 

-    I don't like that Wayne totally forgets about his girlfriend, Eleanor, while he is at the fair. HELLO! You aren't available! Then at the end, he hooks up with Eleanor again! What the heck!? He is so fickle.

-    Pat is one suave guy! Any woman would ditch Harry for him!

-    I love the mince meat parts! That judge cracks me up!

-    I don't know the last time I went to our state fair. We should probably do that this year.

-    I can't believe they made a movie about a family attending the state fair. Such a weird concept, but it is entertaining.

Hubby's Thought:

-    That was some pig!

Tyson's Thoughts:

-    Harry looks like Superman.

-    You know the inside of that trailer has to smell like farts.

-    Whatever happens at the state fair stays at the state fair!

-    You could get a lot of roast beef outta that pig.

Fruits Basket: Volume 8

From Goodreads:    Summer is on its way, so of course Tohru and friends are excited about the upcoming vacation and field trip. But what's that sound? It's Hatsuharu going beserk in the classroom... again! Black Haru is full of more rage than usual, so what will happen when Yuki intervenes? And then there's Ritsu Sohma, whose mom Tohru met at the hot spring; what's wrong with this kimono-wearing beauty?











My Thoughts:

-    I've stopped reading the author's notes. They are just a distraction and slow down my reading.

-    Ritchan is SO dramatic, and I totally thought it was a girl! He was also super depressing! Jeez!

-    Ritchan + Shigure's editor = crazy annoying spazes!

-    I thought Haru was gay? Apparently not! Maybe he is bi?

-    I'm dying to know more about Yuki's past!! We only get snippets and hints! I want more!

-    This issue ended with a bit of a mystery! Ooooooooooooo!

Previous Volumes in the Fruits Basket series

(cilck on the covers to see my thoughts)

  

  

Fruits Basket: Volume 7

Goodreads Bit:    Tohru and company have been having a lot more fun ever since Kisa came to visit. Now it's time for Tohru to meet another member of the Zodiac-the skillfully sarcastic grade-school student, Hiro! One way or another, this tyke will have to deal with his resentment of Tohru and his affection for Kisa. Where will he find the answers? In the fabulous 7th volume of the super-popular Fruits Basket, of course!










My Thoughts:

-    Hiro is a jerk! He really bugs me! I just want to smack him!

-    Almost the whole book was about Uotani's past. While it was interesting, I really wish the main story would pick up! What is the conflict here!?!?

-    Yuki's fan club needs to die! I can't believe there are whole chapters just about them. What a waste.

The Previous 6 Volumes:

(click on the cover to see my thoughts)

  

  

J. Scott Savage Event

 On Thursday I had the pleasure of attending an author event at the Provo Library.

 J. Scott Savage was the main attraction.

The 3rd book in his Farworld series was just released, and he talked a bit about his books and how they came to be.

 He took some time to talk about the cover art (which I love). They were originally going to connect into this cool symbol, but they went with something else.

 This young lad single handedly saved the Farworld series! He convinced his father to continue to publish the series.

Are you ready for this!?!?!?

CHECK OUT WHAT I WON!!

A canvas print of Brandon Dorman's art for Air Keep!! AAAHH!! I'm so stoked! Scott signed it for me, and Brandon is going to sign it! I'm so happy!

My luck wins out again!! I'm so glad I was born in the year of the rabbit!
It was like getting a real life epic drop!!! SO HAPPY!!

p.s. for you Courtney Lowe fans! Gene said her book is sold to Feiwel and Friends!!!! 
She better have her launch party in Provo!

Unlocking the Spell

Goodreads Synopsis:    Now that Annie has helped her sister Gwendolyn (a.k.a. Sleeping Beauty) wake up from the 100-year curse by finding her beloved prince, you would think that things would get back to normal. Think again! That beloved prince, Beldegard, is stuck in the body of a bear and the only way that Annie can be free of the two irritating lovebirds is to help-by finding the evil dwarf who cast the spell. Luckily, Annie has assistance from handsome prince Liam, and she has many tricks up her non-magical sleeve . . .








My Thoughts:

-    This was a really fun and charming sequel!

-    I love the cover! The illustration is so cartoony, and I love it! 

-    I love the map at the front. Just looking at the places made me smile. I knew it was going to be a good book just from the map.

-    I really enjoy Annie's character. She is so spunky and knows what she wants.

-    I like Liam a lot too. He is so chivalrous. 

-    Like the first book, many different fairy tales make an appearance. There was Puss in Boots, Little Red Riding Hood, The Three Bears, Cinderella, The Three Little Pigs, Snow White, and more! These different characters and stories really make the book! I am so impressed that there weren't repeat fairy tales from the 1st book.

-    Annie is so paranoid about if Liam likes her! It got kind of annoying! Of course he loves you!

-    I thought Gwendolyn was going to be annoying, but she wasn't too bad.

-    I love how everything is resolved and everyone ends up happy!

Series Info:

This is the sequel to The Wide Awake Princess. Click on the cover below to see my thoughts on the previous book.