Words from a Wanton Woman - Thanksgiving Edition

*** Due to the holiday season (and shopping rush) impending this week, I will keep this one open for 2 weeks so that everyone has a chance to get their word in. And if you don't, I may hunt you down....

The Idea
Each week we will give you a topic to post about. Your post can be in any format, serious, silly, vlog, intereperative dance, whatever. You will have on week to link up your post in the linky below. :) On the following Sunday, we will post the linky with all of the submissions for the week and give you a new topic.

How to Play

• Following your hosts, Mei and LizzyDanger, is nice.
• Check out the post above and below you from the week before (or read them all, they rock! Leave a comment (everybody loves them) and if it's a note worthy post, leave a comment here so that everyone can be sure to check it out!
• Write a post about the current topic and leave the link of your post about the topic. Please note NSFW if it's a bit racy. We won't delete you, but we don't want to get anyone fired by surprise.
• Please spread the word. We're brand new, and this will be more fun if we have a bunch of entries. If you bring a friend, let me know and I will have a special surprise for you!

The Button

"<a _blank"="" href="http://fairweatherdiver.blogspot.com/search?q=wanton+woman&x=0&y=0" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="232" src="http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c137/dxheadshock/FW%20Diver%20pics/Wanton1.png" width="320" /></a>"

The following awesome bloggers posted about last week's topic,  Jealousy. Please stop by, check them out, and give them some comment love! Plus, they deserve a big hug for actually submitting...


This Week's Topic
Holiday horror stories (just to be festive)


The Challenge
Force Invite two blogger friends to play along.

The Linky
Add your post for this week's topic here! (Unrelated links will be deleted. That means you giveaway spammers!)

I'm a badass too!

Alright eveyone, I feel like it's time to introduce a new featured blogger! Our new featured blogger is 

Mr. Badass!

I just enjoy reading his blog and happen to think that I am one badass geekess...

Would you like to be a featured blogger?? Let me know! The entry fee is one awesome picture emailed to fwdiver@gmail.com!

Plus, I've stopped by the following sites...

Quick Update

I'm currently working on some really good stories for you guys, but as I am out of town I've had a difficult time sitting down to work on them!

I've been spending my time between taking care of the puppy and running over to the hospital to take care of my mom. They took a 2lb tumor out of her on Tuesday, and she's feeling a lot better already, YAY!

Hopefully I'll get some more posts up for your reading pleasure soon! (I'm off to go look at some wedding dresses as soon as my sister finishes up with her CT scan. Apparently your pancreas is an important body part...) Why do they put on CNN or news shows in waiting rooms? One of the few things worse than waiting in a waiting room is hearing people discuss politics while you are waiting in a waiting room...

Oh and George W Bush is supposed to be at Costco tomorrow, so I thought it might be fun to see how tall he is, Then again, the crowds might be too scary to wade through. Plus, I have to plan a birthday party for my Dad before I drive back home to Bozeman. Then it's Black Friday already, can you believe it???

Wow, that's a lot to think about!

Have a great day!!!

Long, Long Ago in the year 2002

In honor of my eight year date-a-versary, I wanted to tell the story of how I met my man.

Imagine a time long ago, in the year 2002. Enter a perky redhead with crazy long hair. (that would be me)
Over the summer I had signed up for a free month of Tae Kwon Do at a local place. I had enjoyed it, as I really liked kicking and hitting things, though I didn't like the fact that the gym wasn't air conditioned. When the semester started, I thought that it would be fun to take Tae Kwon Do for credit. After the first day of class, I asked the instructor if I should continue with the current belt level I had achieved (a white belt with some stripes was pretty serious to me then, now it's absolutely silly...). He said sure and looked at me like I was crazy. I was off and running with my high level of enthusiasm that often comes off as a crazy level of confidence.

There was a core group of about 5 guys that were the TA's in the class. I thought of them as the TKD boys. I would occasionally see them around campus, but never really had much to do with them. K (my BF) was one of them. One day, while doing kicking drills in class (an activity that involved me getting kicked by several people while only wearing minimal padding), K came up to me and simply kicked me really hard. Like hard to breathe hard. I was not happy. I did not like him. He later told me that some girl in line had told him that I was cocky and needed to be taken down a peg.

Needless to say, I wasn't a big fan of him... At all. Some other time I'll have to tell you about the chase, it even involves a cane!

*** I love you Mr.! Thanks for eight rockin' years and all your support and love! ***

Forsaken By Shadow - Kait Nolan

Forsaken By Shadow (A Paranormal Romance of the Mirus)
Synopsis

A man wakes up alone and with bandaged hands in a cheap motel room. His only memory is the need to protect a girl, but he can't remember what her name is. After a trip to the hospital, his finger prints reveal that his name is Cade and that he went missing 15 years ago. He makes a successful new life for himself as a UFC fighter, but everything spirals out of control when a mysterious redhead catches his eye in the front row of a fight. Can she help him fill in the missing years of his life?

Review

I enjoyed this debut novella. While many of the familiar paranormals are on the scene, there are some new ones that I haven't seen before, like the Shadow Walkers. The pace of the novella was good, and the sex scenes were not overdone, which is always nice for anything with a tag of "romance." I would be very interested in reading more about the characters in a future novel.

My Recommendation

A fun read for a mature audience. The story feels like a quick introduction into a new series, and will leave you wanting more. I give it a  4/5 - Wait for a sale/coupon (I know that this book is very affordable. Please click here for more information about my rating system. Remember, this is the rating system in my head. If it helps, knock off the descriptions and just think of stars)

***FTC Disclosure:  This book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was given, all opinions are my own***

It's like they don't want to give you presents or something...

So, I was perusing the Tosh.0 blog today, and something really jumped out at me.

"McCandless whipped out the chart during a TED talk this past summer. Apparently, he and his team scraped 10,000 status updates for the phrases “break up” and “broken up,” and made the following discoveries: 1). A ton of people break up before social occasions like Spring Break and the summer, 2). Mondays aren’t just the start of the work week — there’re the end of many a relationship, 3). People have the decency not to dump their significant others on Christmas Day" - via Mashable

Now, most of my break-ups have occurred in the month of September, right around my birthday, but I seem to be in the minority...

And on the happier side...

Reasons you should not hire cats in the IT department.

Don't you feel better now?

Plus, one of the reasons I first started dating my BF was that he could solve a Rubix cube in roughly a minute. He totally kicks this cat's ass.

Review Roundup

Apparently I haven't done a roundup in several months now, so here is a roundup of the reviews I've posted lately.

• 13 to Life - Shannon Delany
• The Margarets - Sheri S Tepper
• Clockwork Angel (Infernal Devices Book 1) - Cassandra Clare
• The Dark Divine, Bree Despain
• Raised by Wolves - Jennifer Lynn Barnes
• Tattoo 1 and 2 - Jennifer Lynn Barnes
• In Dreams Begin - Skyler White
• Winter Shadows - Margaret Buffie
• Soulless - Parasol Protectorate - Gail Carriger
• The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives: A Novel - Lola Shoneyin
• Mockingjay - Suzanne Collins
• Catching Fire - Suzanne Collins

Hopefully I'm all caught up now and can start writing some actual posts. ^^ Plus, I may have some big news coming up soon...

13 to Life - Shannon Delany

13 to Life
Synopsis
Jessica is assigned to escort the new guy, Pietr around school. While he has that bad boy attractive factor, Jessica knows that she needs to focus on her crush Derek. Not to mention that her best friend Sarah has a crush on Pietr. Can Pietr and Jessica fight their growing attraction and continue to hide the dark secrets that they both harbor?

Review
This novel forgot the details that help to support the plot. So many elements were introduced in the book that were only lightly touched on, like the loss of Jessica's mother, Sara, and Derek (seriously, is he a vampire?) that the book felt a little flighty. Jessica has a very advanced case of martyr syndrome, and at times, you really want to knock her in the head. The Russian mafia aspect of the story, while an interesting twist on the typical werewolf story, felt tacked on at the end in an attempt to set up for a series.

My Recommendation
While people who love Twilight will probably love this book, there is a lack of depth that may bother some readers. I give it 3/5 - Rent it/Borrow it.

The Margarets - Sheri S Tepper

The Margarets
Synopsis
As the only child in the settlement on Phobos, Margaret develops several imaginary friends to entertain her. However, she notices that after several important events in her life, many of them are missing. Six Margarets in total break away from the original, following paths of her life that might have been.

Review
I am a huge Sheri S. Tepper fan, but I still didn't really enjoy this book. The beginning of the book is pretty confusing, and as the book continues, it is still difficult to follow which character each chapter is about. I did enjoy the story lines of a few of the Margarets, but overall, I had a hard time finishing the book. Plus, I was really not a fan of the ending.

My Recommendation
One of my least favorite Sheri S. Tepper books. Die hard fans may enjoy it, but of the 10 people in my book group, I was the only one to actually finish the book. I give it a 1/5 - Not worth the effort.

Clockwork Angel (Infernal Devices Book 1) - Cassandra Clare

Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices, Book 1)
Synopsis
Tessa was on her way to England to live with her only surviving relative, her brother, when she is kidnapped by the Dark Sisters. The sisters force Tessa to learn to shapeshift, a skill she had never known about, in hopes of keeping her brother safe from harm. However, she reaches her breaking point the day that she is told she will be marrying the mysterious and evil Magister. While trying to escape, she runs into Will, a local Shadowhunter and is taken into the Institute for her protection. Tessa must choose between taking up her new skills in order to rescue her brother or attempting to live a "normal" life again.

Review
I enjoyed the Clockwork Angel. I really appreciate the mystery surrounding Tessa's abilities and the possibilities of her journey to discover herself. A few of the elements feel a bit too similar the the Mortal Instruments series, but I believe that Tessa's adventures may be able to make this series stand out. If she doesn't loose herself in one of the boys. The boys (Will and Jem) simply felt a bit flat to me. The only interesting facet of Will (the typical bad boy with a tortured past and a heart of gold) is the mystery surrounding his decision to become a Shadowhunter. Jem is the victim of a debilitating condition, and doesn't manage to make much of an impression in this installment. However, Magnus Bane is a welcome returning character from the Mortal Instruments books, and I hope that we will see more of him as the series continues.
Some reviews have called the pacing in this book a bit slow. I don't agree, action starts in the first few pages, and there are several twists to keep you interesting in the plot. I had no problems continuing to read the story, and finished it the same evening that I started it. The book does leave the reader waiting for the next book, as very few of the questions posed are answered by the conclusion, which may be frustrating for some people.

My Recommendation
This is a great installment if you are a fan of the Mortal Instrument series, steampunk, or historical paranormal novels. Impatient readers may want to wait to read this novel until the next installment is published as it is a cliff hanger. I give it 4/5 - Wait for a sale/coupon.

Updated Book Club List

December
January
February
March

The Dark Divine, Bree Despain

The Dark Divine
Synopsis
The mystery and pain of Daniel's disappearance reawaken in Grace the day that she finds him sitting in her chair in art class. Though her brother tries to make her swear to stay away from him, Grace can't fight her need to help Daniel. However, when Grace's baby brother is stolen on Thanksgiving, Daniel's dark secret comes out and Grace must deal with the events that sent Daniel from town years ago as well as the decision of how far she is really willing to go to save him.

Review
I actually did not know that this was a paranormal novel until I figured out the "twist" about 50 pages in. While it was a bit predictable, I really enjoyed the book and look forward to reading the next book in the series. The cover is tempting, the story engaging, and the characters faceted. This is yet another novel that I simply couldn't put down. Grace turns out to be a far more interesting character that would initially be expected, as do Jude and her father. Daniel could be a bit more interesting, but there is definite room for growth in the next book.

My Recommendation
While lacking in any sex scenes, there is certainly violence in this novel. It may be written with a younger (school aged) audience in mind, adults will enjoy it as well. 5/5 - Worth full price.

Raised by Wolves - Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Raised by Wolves
Synopsis
Bryn's life has always revolved around werewolves. Her parents were murdered by one before her eyes, and the alpha of her pack marked her at four years old. Being one of the few humans in a pack full of rules and dominance is difficult. For years, she has managed to keep her bond with the pack muted in an attempt to maintain her individuality, however, the pack is keeping a secret from her, and she will have to open her bond if she is going to figure it out.

Review
I really enjoyed this book. Actually, I stayed up until 3am finishing this book. I was already a fan of similar series by Patricia Briggs and Rachel Vincent, but I did find this novel to have a slightly new perspective. I found Bryn to be a pretty intriguing character who actually showed a fair amount of growth through the novel, and I was certainly wondering the entire novel is she would be turned into a werewolf or remain a human. (I may be hoping she goes wolf) I thought that the pacing was nice, and often fairly intense. The side characters are pretty interesting, though I hope Chase becomes a more complex character in future novels.

My Recommendation
This book is a great read for fans of the werewolf genre. There are no sex scenes, though there is some violence. I give it a 5/5 - Worth full price.

Tattoo 1 and 2 - Jennifer Lynn Barnes

 Tattoo
Synopsis
Four friends are shopping at the mall when the meet a mysterious mall vendor that sells them accessories and some temporary tattoos. After each of the girls apply their tattoos, they discover magical powers and must work together to save the world from a great evil.

Review
I found this book to be a quick, easy, predictable read. I wasn't overly invested in the characters, but enjoyed the book enough to read the sequel as well. The girls were all plain stereotypes, and were only developed enough to keep the plot going. Though, I enjoyed the Greek myth references.

My Recommendation
This book is great for tweens, there are no questionable elements like sex, drugs, or rock'n'roll.  3/5 - Rent it/Borrow it.






Fate

Synopsis

Set two years after the events in Tattoo, Bailey and her friends are getting ready to graduate from high school and move on with their lives. Unfortunately, Bailey is not ready to move on, or away from her friends. Plus, everything is complicated by her work as a Fate and the quickly approaching Reckoning. Can she find a balance in her life?

Review

This novel was at least as enjoyable as the first novel. I really enjoyed the fact that Bailey's friends would get mad at her for "moping" as many teen novels really focus on the angsty side of life. The new characters were interesting, though I found some of the references to Greek and Roman mythology to be a bit confusing and muddled in this installment. 

My Recommendation

This book is great for tweens, there are no questionable elements like sex, drugs, or rock'n'roll.  3/5 - Rent it/Borrow it.

I haven't just been slacking...

We've been a bit busy here. Here are some reasons of why I haven't posted lately.

• The Boyfriend's computer broke and he has pretty much stolen mine now.

  

  He's giving Maki hacking lessons...

• Lots of work + puppy - fenced yard = very little free time
• I read like 10 books.
• I'm trying to write reviews on said books.
• We've been house shopping.

Last Sunday, we managed to see 11 houses in 6 hours. That's a lot of houses! Here is the most memorable moment from that day.

Not really sure why you would clear out an entire house and leave this behind.

Today, I'm going to try to work on some of the reviews before I head out to a puppy play date and then to book group. Of course, typing is much easier when there isn't a sleepy puppy on your arm...