WoW #2 - Fifth Grave Past the Light

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week, I'm eagerly awaiting book five in the Charley Davidson series, Fifth Grave Past the Light  by Darynda Jones.

Current release date:  July 5, 2013

From Goodreads:   Charley Davidson may not look like your everyday, run-of-the-mill grim reaper, but she has vowed to reap grimness wherever she goes despite this unfortunate fact. Sadly, she gets sidetracked when the sexy, sultry son of Satan, Reyes Farrow, moves in next door. As he is the main suspect in her arson case, she has vowed to stay away from him until she can find out the truth.  However, when dead women start appearing in her apartment - lost, confused and terrified beyond reason - Charley has no choice but to ask for Reyes's help, especially when it becomes apparent that her own sister Gemma is the serial killer's next target. With his ability to observe incorporeally, surely he can find out who's responsible. And even if he can't, he is the one man alive who could protect Gemma no matter who or what came at her. But he wants something in return: Charley. All of her - body and soul. And to keep her sister safe, it is a price she might be willing to pay...

When I finished Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet,  I sent this tweet, and received a reply from Darynda Jones:

@mentalexcess LOL, thanks!!! Yes, always with the questions. :)
— Darynda Jones (@Darynda) January 21, 2013

Charley is loads of fun, and having Charley and Reyes living so close to each other should be quite interesting as well.  :)

TTT #1 - Top Ten Most Frustrating Characters Ever

Top Ten Tuesdays is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Each week they present a topic for a list.  This week's topic - Top Ten Most Frustrating Characters Ever!

1. Bella Swan - Twilight:   This girl frustrated me so much in Twilight  that I only read half of New Moon.   I just couldn't finish them.
2. Albus Dumbledore - Harry Potter  series:  Please don't get me wrong here.  This is one of my all time favorite series.  I cried like a baby during Half-Blood Prince.  But there were many times, even before finishing all seven books, that I wanted to smack Dumbledore.  
3. Sookie Stackhouse - Sookie Stackhouse  series:  For someone who can read minds, she can be so damn clueless.
4. Diana Bishop - A Discovery of Witches:  There were just so many things about this woman that annoyed me.  
5. Eugenie Markham - Dark Swan  series:  I read this entire series, even though Eugenie continually got under my skin.  
6. Kiyo - Dark Swan  series:  He was such a little jerk.
7. Anita Blake - Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter  series:  I still read every new book in this series, mainly hoping that Anita will get it together and start remembering that she didn't want nine bazillion men in her life.  The first several books were wonderful.  Every time they add another man to her harem, I die a little inside.
8. Asher - Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter  series:  Asher has been alive (or undead) for a very long time.  He needs to grow the hell up.
9. Richard Zeeman - Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter  series:  I don't even know what to say about Richard.  He's another jerk.
10. Betsy Taylor - Undead  series:  It was a fun series when it started.  But it's become a chore to read these with Betsy's narcissistic self.  I made it halfway through the most recent one, and set it aside for other reads.

What about you?  Do we have any in common?  Did I miss any?

2013 e-book Challenge

Since I purchased my Kindle Fire a little more than a year ago, I've read very few physical books.  I figured this challenge was perfect for me to try!

The challenge is being hosted by Workaday Reads, and there will be a giveaway at the end of the year for those who meet (or exceed) their goals!  My goal right now is Memory stick – 50 ebooks.  I'm pretty sure I'll be moving up a level, but again - starting small!

Anybody want to join me on this challenge?  

2013 TBR Pile Reading Challenge

Here's the first challenge I'm participating in.  It was seeing this challenge when it was first announced that made me decide to start blogging!

Right now, my goal is 11-20 - A Friendly Hug.  I have tons on my TBR list, but I figure I'll start small!  

The 2013 TBR PILE Reading Challenge is being hosted by six different bloggers, with a giveaway each month!  Check out the link for all the details!!  

Waiting on Wednesday #1 - Frost Burned

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week, my can't wait for book is Frost Burned by Patricia Briggs.

Current release date:  March 5, 2013

From Goodreads:   Shapeshifter Mercy Thompson's life is calming down, at least enough that she can focus on mundane matters like Black Friday sales. But on her return, Mercy is unable to contact her mate, Alpha Adam Hauptman, or the other members of their pack. All she knows is that Adam is angry and in pain. With the werewolves fighting a political battle to gain acceptance from the public, Mercy fears Adam's disappearance may be related - and that he and the pack are in serious danger. Outclassed and on her own, Mercy may be forced to seek assistance from the most unlikely of allies: the vampire seethe.

Mercy has been a favorite character of mine ever since this series debuted in 2006. I can't wait to see what kind of trouble she gets into this time around!

Phantasmic Reads is Live!

Hi everybody! Thanks so much for popping in to visit. I'm very excited to finally be blogging!  Please be patient with me while I'm tweaking things, but feel free to poke around a bit.  Make sure you check out the potion vials in the header!

I'd like to take a quick minute to thank Evie from Bookish for the absolutely amazing design she created for me.  Evie is in the process of setting up her design business, and I'm thrilled to be one of her first customers.  She took my tiny idea and created this beautiful blog. :)

If you're in the market for a blog design - or a redesign - check Evie out!