Input: [Command] Ant [Description]

Output: Used to execute another ant process from within the current one.

Automate your build process using Java and Ant | JavaWorld


Input: [Command] Copydir [Description]

Output: Used to copy an entire directory.

Automate your build process using Java and Ant | JavaWorld


Input: [Command] Copyfile [Description]

Output: Used to copy a single file.

Automate your build process using Java and Ant | JavaWorld


Input: [Command] Cvs [Description]

Output: Handles packages/modules retrieved from a CVS repository.

Automate your build process using Java and Ant | JavaWorld


Input: [Command] Delete [Description]

Output: Deletes either a single file or all files in a specified directory and its sub-directories.

Automate your build process using Java and Ant | JavaWorld


Input: [Command] Deltree [Description]

Output: Deletes a directory with all its files and subdirectories.

Automate your build process using Java and Ant | JavaWorld


Input: [Command] Exec [Description]

Output: Executes a system command. When the os attribute is specified, then the command is only executed when Ant is run on one of the specified operating systems.

Automate your build process using Java and Ant | JavaWorld


Input: [Command] Get [Description]

Output: Gets a file from an URL.

Automate your build process using Java and Ant | JavaWorld


Input: [Command] Jar [Description]

Output: Jars a set of files.

Automate your build process using Java and Ant | JavaWorld


Input: [Command] Java [Description]

Output: Executes a Java class within the running (Ant) VM or forks another VM if specified.

Automate your build process using Java and Ant | JavaWorld


Input: [Command] Javac [Description]

Output: Compiles a source tree within the running (Ant) VM.

Automate your build process using Java and Ant | JavaWorld


Input: [Command] Javadoc/Javadoc2 [Description]

Output: Generates code documentation using the javadoc tool.

Automate your build process using Java and Ant | JavaWorld


Input: [Command] Mkdir [Description]

Output: Makes a directory.

Automate your build process using Java and Ant | JavaWorld


Input: [Command] Property [Description]

Output: Sets a property (by name and value), or set of properties (from file or resource) in the project.

Automate your build process using Java and Ant | JavaWorld


Input: [Command] Rmic [Description]

Output: Runs the rmic compiler for a certain class.

Automate your build process using Java and Ant | JavaWorld


Input: [Command] Tstamp [Description]

Output: Sets the DSTAMP, TSTAMP, and TODAY properties in the current project.

Automate your build process using Java and Ant | JavaWorld


Input: [Command] Style [Description]

Output: Processes a set of documents via XSLT.

Automate your build process using Java and Ant | JavaWorld


Input: [Value] Yes, if testing is requested between midnight and 8:00 AM. [Item]

Output: Approval req'd?

UCSF Departments of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine | Lab Manual | Laboratory Test Database | Uric Acid, 24 hour (or timed) urine


Input: [Value] No [Item]

Output: Available Stat?

UCSF Departments of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine | Lab Manual | Laboratory Test Database | Uric Acid, 24 hour (or timed) urine


Input: [Value] UCAU [Item]

Output: Test code

UCSF Departments of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine | Lab Manual | Laboratory Test Database | Uric Acid, 24 hour (or timed) urine


Input: [Value] Uric acid [Item]

Output: Test group

UCSF Departments of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine | Lab Manual | Laboratory Test Database | Uric Acid, 24 hour (or timed) urine


Input: [Value] Parnassus & Mission Bay Chemistry [Item]

Output: Performed by

UCSF Departments of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine | Lab Manual | Laboratory Test Database | Uric Acid, 24 hour (or timed) urine


Input: [Value] Test available 7 days per week from 8:00 AM to midnight only. [Item]

Output: In House Availability

UCSF Departments of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine | Lab Manual | Laboratory Test Database | Uric Acid, 24 hour (or timed) urine


Input: [Value] Spectrophotometric (uricase) [Item]

Output: Method

UCSF Departments of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine | Lab Manual | Laboratory Test Database | Uric Acid, 24 hour (or timed) urine


Input: [Value] Keep collection container at room temperature during the period of collection. Note that the minimum acceptable time period for a 'timed' collection is 6 hours. Results of collections of less than 24 hour duration will be adjusted to reflect a '24 hour collection'. The limited time of collection as well as the need to adjust the values to be comparable to the '24 hour' normal ranges will inherently affect the accuracy of the results. [Item]

Output: Collection Instructions

UCSF Departments of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine | Lab Manual | Laboratory Test Database | Uric Acid, 24 hour (or timed) urine


Input: [Value] 24 hour urine collection container Click here for Urine Preservative Requirements [Item]

Output: Container type

UCSF Departments of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine | Lab Manual | Laboratory Test Database | Uric Acid, 24 hour (or timed) urine


Input: [Value] Entire urine output during collection period [Item]

Output: Amount to Collect

UCSF Departments of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine | Lab Manual | Laboratory Test Database | Uric Acid, 24 hour (or timed) urine


Input: [Value] Timed urine collection [Item]

Output: Sample type

UCSF Departments of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine | Lab Manual | Laboratory Test Database | Uric Acid, 24 hour (or timed) urine


Input: [Value] 1 mL urine [Item]

Output: Preferred volume

UCSF Departments of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine | Lab Manual | Laboratory Test Database | Uric Acid, 24 hour (or timed) urine


Input: [Value] 0.25 mL urine [Item]

Output: Min. Volume

UCSF Departments of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine | Lab Manual | Laboratory Test Database | Uric Acid, 24 hour (or timed) urine


Input: [Value] mg/D [Item]

Output: Units

UCSF Departments of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine | Lab Manual | Laboratory Test Database | Uric Acid, 24 hour (or timed) urine


Input: [Value] 250-750mg/D [Item]

Output: Normal range

UCSF Departments of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine | Lab Manual | Laboratory Test Database | Uric Acid, 24 hour (or timed) urine


Input: [Value] Refrigerated 2 days [Item]

Output: Stability

UCSF Departments of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine | Lab Manual | Laboratory Test Database | Uric Acid, 24 hour (or timed) urine


Input: [Value] Same or next day [Item]

Output: Turn around times

UCSF Departments of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine | Lab Manual | Laboratory Test Database | Uric Acid, 24 hour (or timed) urine


Input: [Value] To convert mg/dL to mmol/L (SI units) multiply by 0.059. Output varies with diet. Results of collections of less than 24 hour duration will be adjusted to reflect a '24 hour collection'. The limited time of collection as well as the need to adjust the values to be comparable to the '24 hour' normal ranges will inherently affect the accuracy of the results. [Item]

Output: Additional information

UCSF Departments of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine | Lab Manual | Laboratory Test Database | Uric Acid, 24 hour (or timed) urine


Input: [Value] 1/28/2015 3:35:40 PM [Item]

Output: Last Updated

UCSF Departments of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine | Lab Manual | Laboratory Test Database | Uric Acid, 24 hour (or timed) urine


Input: [Value] 969 [Item]

Output: Entry Number

UCSF Departments of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine | Lab Manual | Laboratory Test Database | Uric Acid, 24 hour (or timed) urine


Input: [Value] Click here for Procedure [Item]

Output: Lab Procedure Link

UCSF Departments of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine | Lab Manual | Laboratory Test Database | Uric Acid, 24 hour (or timed) urine


Input: [Committee Reference] EPL/100 [Title]

Output: Audio, video and multimedia systems and equipment

Category: Navigation & control equipment


Input: [Committee Reference] GEL/20/6 [Title]

Output: Electric Cables for Ships

Category: Navigation & control equipment


Input: [Committee Reference] GEL/999 [Title]

Output: Error Projects

Category: Navigation & control equipment


Input: [Committee Reference] EPL/80 [Title]

Output: Maritime navigation and radiocommunication equipment and systems

Category: Navigation & control equipment


Input: [Committee Reference] SME/32 [Title]

Output: Ships and marine technology - Steering committee

Category: Navigation & control equipment


Input: [Committee Reference] GME/33 [Title]

Output: Small craft

Category: Navigation & control equipment


Input: [Title] Citizen Science Saturdays at Prairie Ridge [Description] Learn how YOU can contribute to science during our weekly citizen science walks [Date] 11/21/2015 - 10:30am [Program Type]

Output: Citizen Science, Family Program

Advanced Search | North Carolina Museum of Natural SciencesPage


Input: [Title] Walk Through the Seasons [Description] Explore nature at Prairie Ridge with a Museum naturalist [Date] 11/24/2015 - 9:00am [Program Type]

Output: Family Program

Advanced Search | North Carolina Museum of Natural SciencesPage


Input: [Title] Citizen Science Saturdays at Prairie Ridge [Description] Learn how YOU can contribute to science during our weekly citizen science walks [Date] 11/28/2015 - 10:30am [Program Type]

Output: Citizen Science, Family Program

Advanced Search | North Carolina Museum of Natural SciencesPage


Input: [Title] Chemistry 1 [Description] In this four-part series we will build on the concepts learned during our Introduction to Chemistry as well as introduce new and important elements to further our understanding of chemistry. [Date] 12/02/2015 - 10:00am [Program Type]

Output: Family Program

Advanced Search | North Carolina Museum of Natural SciencesPage


Input: [Title] Nature Stories [Description] Hear a story and do a nature-themed activity at Prairie Ridge! [Date] 12/03/2015 - 10:30am [Program Type]

Output: Family Program

Advanced Search | North Carolina Museum of Natural SciencesPage


Input: [Title] Classical Drawing Series: Birds [Description] Living birds move quickly, which makes it difficult to see how they’re really built. Students will study bird anatomy using the Museum’s specimens. Program is open to all skill levels. [Date] 12/03/2015 - 6:00pm [Program Type]

Output: Workshop or Trip

Advanced Search | North Carolina Museum of Natural SciencesPage


Input: [Title] Science Trivia! [Description] Science Trivia nights at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences feature a mix of questions about science facts, current news, pop culture and scientific discoveries. [Date] 12/03/2015 - 7:00pm [Program Type]

Output: Event

Advanced Search | North Carolina Museum of Natural SciencesPage


Input: [Title] Winter Birds [Description] Learn how to identify waterfowl, raptors and other bird species. Short hikes and easy viewing from the Museum bus make this an ideal trip for both novice and seasoned birders. [Date] 12/04/2015 - 10:00am [Program Type]

Output: Workshop or Trip

Advanced Search | North Carolina Museum of Natural SciencesPage


Input: [Title] Citizen Science Saturdays at Prairie Ridge [Description] Learn how YOU can contribute to science during our weekly citizen science walks [Date] 12/05/2015 - 10:30am [Program Type]

Output: Citizen Science, Family Program

Advanced Search | North Carolina Museum of Natural SciencesPage


Input: [Title] Walk Through the Seasons [Description] Explore nature at Prairie Ridge with a Museum naturalist [Date] 12/08/2015 - 9:00am [Program Type]

Output: Family Program

Advanced Search | North Carolina Museum of Natural SciencesPage


Input: [Title] Chemistry 1 [Description] In this four-part series we will build on the concepts learned during our Introduction to Chemistry as well as introduce new and important elements to further our understanding of chemistry. [Date] 12/09/2015 - 10:00am [Program Type]

Output: Family Program

Advanced Search | North Carolina Museum of Natural SciencesPage


Input: [Title] Nature Stories [Description] Hear a story and do a nature-themed activity at Prairie Ridge! [Date] 12/10/2015 - 10:30am [Program Type]

Output: Family Program

Advanced Search | North Carolina Museum of Natural SciencesPage


Input: [Title] Citizen Science Saturdays at Prairie Ridge [Description] Learn how YOU can contribute to science during our weekly citizen science walks [Date] 12/12/2015 - 10:30am [Program Type]

Output: Citizen Science, Family Program

Advanced Search | North Carolina Museum of Natural SciencesPage


Input: [Title] Geminid Meteor Shower [Description] We will travel to a dark location and stay up all night through the next morning to catch the peak of the Geminid Meteor Shower, the grand finale of the 2015 meteor showers. [Date] 12/13/2015 - 2:00pm [Program Type]

Output: Workshop or Trip

Advanced Search | North Carolina Museum of Natural SciencesPage


Input: [Title] Chemistry 1 [Description] In this four-part series we will build on the concepts learned during our Introduction to Chemistry as well as introduce new and important elements to further our understanding of chemistry. [Date] 12/16/2015 - 10:00am [Program Type]

Output: Family Program

Advanced Search | North Carolina Museum of Natural SciencesPage


Input: [0] checkbox [#] position [cover] cover [title] title Tempestuous (Wondrous Strange, #3) [author] author Livingston, Lesley * [isbn] isbn 0061740063 [isbn13] isbn13 9780061740060 [asin] asin [num pages] num pages 361 pp [avg rating] avg rating 4.04 [num ratings] num ratings 6,228 [date pub] date pub Dec 21, 2010 [date pub (ed.)] date pub edition Dec 21, 2010 [rating] Diana (Offbeat Vagabond)'s rating 5 of 5 stars [my rating] my rating 1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars add to shelves [notes] notes Notes are private! [recommender] recommender none [comments] comments 0 [votes] votes 0 [read count] # times read 1 [date started] date started not set [date read] date read not set [date added] date added Nov 22, 2010 [date purchased] date purchased [owned] owned [purchase location] purchase location [condition] condition [format] format Hardcover [29] actions view (with text) [review]

Output: review Review posted here: http://offbeatvagabond.blogspot.com/2011/10/book-review-tempestuous-wondrous.html Tempestuous is the final book in the Wondrous St Review posted here: http://offbeatvagabond.blogspot.com/2011/10/book-review-tempestuous-wondrous.html Tempestuous is the final book in the Wondrous Strange trilogy. And boy did Livingston leave this series with a punch. After the devastation of losing the theatre because Sonny lost it when he thought she was dead, Kelley is distraught over what she had to do; break Sonny’s heart. Kelley is slowly growing into her power and trying to find out who wants Sonny’s. But things go downhill when someone is out killing the Lost Fae, Fae who fit in either the Otherworld or the mortal world. And worse, it could be Janus Guards who are getting the order and killing the innocent Fae. Not to mention the order could be coming from whoever poisoned and is trying to kill Kelley’s father, Auberon. I enjoyed this book a lot. I loved that Livingston actually separated Kelley and Sonny for a bit. That way, they learned more about themselves before they could save one another. Kelley gets into her power more and seems to have grown more. And despite her beliefs, Sonny doesn’t go off the deep end. I liked that Sonny grew to like the Lost Fae. He was taught to hate them as well, but found out they were only defending themselves against him and the other guards. But besides our great main characters, the side characters were incredible. We got some new ones that we find have a connection to some of the Janus Guards. We also get more of our favorites; Bob, Tyff, and my favorite character, Fennyrs. I am praying that Livingston makes another series for him. He played a big role in this book and we find he isn’t the heartless smartass we have come to love, that he actually has feelings for Kelley too. Livingston did such an amazing job incorporating Shakespeare in this book. All the questions we had from the first book were answered and still left me wanting more. The plot was great and this book was complete, but each character needs a story. Like I said, I hope Livingston doesn’t leave this world, there is still so much more to know. Sonny’s and Kelley’s story ended great, but what Livingston has created is complex enough to keep going for a while. Also need to mention the ending in general. In a word; EPIC! We got everything we wanted and more. The twists and turns were incredible and two specifically had my mouth dropping to the floor. Again, Livingston’s writing is soooo complex. Instead of creating our main characters and a few side characters that you might not remember, the whole world she has made is so rich and memorable. You fall in love with all these characters and I can assure you that if you love Fenn, you will love him even more in the end. Overall, this book tied up well. Everyone has grown in such a short period of time. We learn much about our great characters and we find new ones that are worth loving. This is such a great ending to a great trilogy. I can’t rave enough about the characters and the room for growth they all possess. If you are looking for a great YA series, I highly recommend this to you. Thank you Livingston and please come back to this world, it begs for more. ...more

Diana (Offbeat Vagabond)'s bookshelf: magic (showing 1-30 of 69) (sorted by: notes)


Input: [0] checkbox [#] position [cover] cover [title] title First Grave on the Right (Charley Davidson, #1) [author] author Jones, Darynda * [isbn] isbn 0312662750 [isbn13] isbn13 9780312662752 [asin] asin [num pages] num pages 310 pp [avg rating] avg rating 4.08 [num ratings] num ratings 42,471 [date pub] date pub Jan 01, 2011 [date pub (ed.)] date pub edition Feb 01, 2011 [rating] Diana (Offbeat Vagabond)'s rating 5 of 5 stars [my rating] my rating 1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars add to shelves [notes] notes Notes are private! [recommender] recommender none [comments] comments 2 [votes] votes 1 [read count] # times read 1 [date started] date started Jan 13, 2012 [date read] date read Jan 20, 2012 [date added] date added Feb 28, 2011 [date purchased] date purchased [owned] owned [purchase location] purchase location [condition] condition [format] format Hardcover [29] actions view (with text) [review]

Output: review Review posted here: http://offbeatvagabond.blogspot.com/2012/04/book-review-first-grave-on-right.html First Grave on the Right is about a woman who is Review posted here: http://offbeatvagabond.blogspot.com/2012/04/book-review-first-grave-on-right.html First Grave on the Right is about a woman who is a private investigator and consultant for the police. A very effective one because of her power. She is not a but THE grim reaper. She sees dead people and she helps them crossover. But when someone is killed, they don't want to leave until the murderer(s) have been caught. So she comes across three dead people whose cases are very well connected, but they don't know who shot them. It is to Charley to figure out the why. Charley also has to find out who the sexy being that has been following her all her life might be. She thinks he is a ghost, but it goes much much deeper than that. Sweet baby Jesus! Not only is this going on my Favorites list, it is going on my Best Reads EVER list. This is one of the funniest and most thoroughly entertaining books I have ever read. We get a little bit of everything wrapped up in a 300 paged book. Thank you Jones for coming up with such story. And thank you Heidi @ RainyDayRamblings for telling me to read it immediately. This story was to die for. The plot was this amazing crime mystery involving ghosts of three murdered people. I love the build up and how everything connected. There is also Charley getting visits from the *Big Bad*. She doesn't know who or what it is, but it truly saves her life a lot. I loved the mystery behind it. Man, it is hard not to spoil this, but it is so exciting. I think if Charley were a real person, we would be the best of friends. Her sassiness and sense of humor is worth raving about and makes her an exceptional character. I loved Charley's actual best friend Cookie. They clicked so well in this book and it added a lot to the book for me. I was so on board for Reyes. He was such an enigma, a very delicious enigma. I love the story Jones gave for him and how he ties to Charley. At first, you think he is just some bad boy, but there is so much more to uncover. It was exciting trying to decipher it all. Truly not what I expected. I am also quite curious about Garrett. He doesn't believe in Charley's powers, but you can tell he has a thing for her. I really enjoyed the dynamics between them. She really knows how to push his buttons. It is always hard to write about something you absolutely love and I love the hell out of this. Truly one of the greatest books I read. No wonder this book has awards under its belt. Even more incredible, this was Jones very first book. I am flabbergasted. If you have not started this, I urge you to immediately. First Grave on the Right is original, laugh-until-you-piss-yourself funny, and full of action. I love Romantic Suspense and the Paranormal and Jones managed to blend them together perfectly. Do not miss out on this. ...more

Diana (Offbeat Vagabond)'s bookshelf: magic (showing 1-30 of 69) (sorted by: notes)


Input: [0] checkbox [#] position [cover] cover [title] title Mind Games (The Disillusionists, #1) [author] author Crane, Carolyn * [isbn] isbn 0553592610 [isbn13] isbn13 9780553592610 [asin] asin [num pages] num pages 371 pp [avg rating] avg rating 3.54 [num ratings] num ratings 6,627 [date pub] date pub Mar 23, 2010 [date pub (ed.)] date pub edition Mar 23, 2010 [rating] Diana (Offbeat Vagabond)'s rating 5 of 5 stars [my rating] my rating 1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars add to shelves [notes] notes Notes are private! [recommender] recommender none [comments] comments 3 [votes] votes 1 [read count] # times read 1 [date started] date started Aug 20, 2011 [date read] date read not set [date added] date added Mar 28, 2011 [date purchased] date purchased [owned] owned [purchase location] purchase location [condition] condition [format] format Mass Market Paperback [29] actions view (with text) [review]

Output: review Review posted here: http://offbeatvagabond.blogspot.com/2011/11/book-review-mind-games-disillusionists.html OH MY GOD! This was…AMAZING!!! I love Urba Review posted here: http://offbeatvagabond.blogspot.com/2011/11/book-review-mind-games-disillusionists.html OH MY GOD! This was…AMAZING!!! I love Urban Fantasy (well, duh) and I have been looking for something different and fresh. And I found it right here. Mind Games was fun, refreshing, unique, and very exciting. This is so going on my favorites list. I loved all the characters in this book. I felt so bad for Justine being thrown in the middle of everything. I think being a hypochondriac kept her a bit sheltered and scared of a lot of things. But I liked her, if not for her, this book would have ended very differently. I liked all the other characters, they made me smile. But like Justine, you don’t know whether to trust them or not. I wasn’t a fan of Justine’s boyfriend, Cubby, I really don’t think he supported her as much as he could have. I could sort of understand, still I wanted to punch him. I loved Shelby and how quickly she and Justine become best friends. They really look out for each other in this book. I liked the character of Simon and I really wanted to know what his story was with Packard. Well him and all the other side characters that all were a blast in this book. I loved the plot to this book. I love the idea of instead killing and/or punishing a criminal, why not fix them? Infecting people with their own fear is just a brilliant idea. I loved the whole Disillusionist group and how everything worked together, well more or less. I love seeing the change in Justine, seeing that she isn’t so afraid anymore. Seeing her learn to give away her fear, it is just so interesting. But I also liked how this worked with the ending and I definitely know it will play a part in the books to come. When is nice too nice? Is rewriting someone the best way to fix them? Is it good or bad? There are little questions that get raised here and I can’t wait to read more to find out what is next. God I loved this! My only real complaint, well not much of a complaint because I like it, is the cover. I love it, but it gives off the wrong impression. When I saw the cover, I thought, “Hell yes, another badass chick in leather”, but that is not the case really. Justine is thrown into this world and doesn’t even use any weapons, except her brain. She isn’t a badass, she can’t be given her condition has her limited. And the cover makes you think the opposite of that. So those expecting a sort of Kate Daniels-esque book, this isn’t quite along those lines even though it is still action-packed. This book is very supernatural, but there aren’t any supernatural creatures, just supernatural powers. This book truly took me by surprise. The last 10 or 11 chapters had my mouth dragging on the floor because I wouldn’t have guessed that even if my life depended on it. I love where this book goes and don’t get me started on the love interest (I won’t say who because that is a huge spoiler), but it is unexpected to say the least. I honestly can’t put into words how satisfied I was with this book. I swear you will not find anything like this out there. Thank you so much Crane and Kristin (mybookishways) for this book. One of the best books I have read this year. ...more

Diana (Offbeat Vagabond)'s bookshelf: magic (showing 1-30 of 69) (sorted by: notes)


Input: [0] checkbox [#] position [cover] cover [title] title Three Days to Dead [author] author Meding, Kelly * [isbn] isbn 1452602778 [isbn13] isbn13 9781452602776 [asin] asin [num pages] num pages 0 pp [avg rating] avg rating 3.59 [num ratings] num ratings 4,902 [date pub] date pub 2009 [date pub (ed.)] date pub edition Jun 01, 2011 [rating] Diana (Offbeat Vagabond)'s rating 5 of 5 stars [my rating] my rating 1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars add to shelves [notes] notes Notes are private! [recommender] recommender none [comments] comments 0 [votes] votes 2 [read count] # times read 1 [date started] date started not set [date read] date read not set [date added] date added Apr 20, 2011 [date purchased] date purchased [owned] owned [purchase location] purchase location [condition] condition [format] format Audiobook [29] actions view (with text) [review]

Output: review Review posted here: http://offbeatvagabond.blogspot.com/2011/09/book-review-three-days-to-dead-dreg.html Evangeline (Evy) is dead; well she thought sh Review posted here: http://offbeatvagabond.blogspot.com/2011/09/book-review-three-days-to-dead-dreg.html Evangeline (Evy) is dead; well she thought she was dead. She wakes up in a morgue, but thing is, she isn’t herself. Evy now resides in the body of a woman named Chalice who also just died. Evy can’t remember anything prior to her death, but she knows that it was something awful and that she must be quick in finding the who and the why. It was magic that brought her back, but that magic can only last so long; exactly three days. Oh my goodness! This is one of the most exciting things I have read this year. Why didn’t I catch this sooner? From the first page we are given so much mystery and suspense. I loved that Meding wrote it this way because I felt like I was in Evy/Chalice’s shoes. We learn everything she learns piece by piece. I was really invested in this story. The plot was just incredible. I loved how it came to together. Evy has been set up, everyone thinks she is a traitor; she is racing against time to figure out why she was chosen and what has happened to her. Every chapter was just one big explosion after the other (some, literally). Evy was a great heroine, definitely one of my favorites really. She was strong, thought on her own two feet and took everything on full force. Instead of whining about her problems, she does whatever it takes to find what she needs to find, no matter how ugly the result may be. We know Evy is a Hunter, she kills the things that go bump in the night. It is her job to keep the human world ignorant and safe. But since she is in a new body, she struggles with little moments of thinking like Chalice and the fact that Chalice was not a fighter. I love how all this is happening, but Evy never loses herself. I am also a very big Wyatt fan. I did want to smack him at one specific scene in this book (when you read it, I think you will know), but his actions proved different. He sacrificed so much to get Evy back (I mean, a lot) and despite what he said his reason was, in my book that makes up for his dumb confession. One character that surprised me was Alex. He was Chalice’s best friend and the one that found her after she killed herself. Evy goes to the apartment to try and figure out her next step after she rises from the dead and Alex, of course, is shocked at first. But he helps Evy even after she tells him that she isn’t who she looks like, that the world he knows is a lot bigger than he thought. Alex knows the dangers, but he sticks by Evy’s side and the friendship that takes place between was so amazing and unexpected. This book was just incredible. Meding’s worldbuilding was impeccable and her characters were brilliant. I love the emotional aspect of this book. I found myself pausing the audiobook just to catch my breath. Xe Sands, the narrator, did such a great job bringing those emotions out. Seriously, this book got intense at times. I highly recommend this book to everyone. I think if you are a Mercy Thompson fan like me, you will LOVE this. Oh I would love to see Evy and Mercy in a fight. Who would win? That would be interesting. ...more

Diana (Offbeat Vagabond)'s bookshelf: magic (showing 1-30 of 69) (sorted by: notes)


Input: [0] checkbox [#] position [cover] cover [title] title Lord of Rage (Royal House of Shadows, #2) [author] author Monroe, Jill [isbn] isbn 0373618689 [isbn13] isbn13 9780373618682 [asin] asin [num pages] num pages 282 pp [avg rating] avg rating 3.86 [num ratings] num ratings 2,535 [date pub] date pub Sep 27, 2011 [date pub (ed.)] date pub edition Sep 20, 2011 [rating] Diana (Offbeat Vagabond)'s rating 4 of 5 stars [my rating] my rating 1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars add to shelves [notes] notes Notes are private! [recommender] recommender none [comments] comments 0 [votes] votes 0 [read count] # times read 1 [date started] date started Sep 10, 2011 [date read] date read not set [date added] date added Jul 16, 2011 [date purchased] date purchased [owned] owned [purchase location] purchase location [condition] condition [format] format Paperback [29] actions view (with text) [review]

Output: review Review posted here: http://offbeatvagabond.blogspot.com/2011/09/book-review-lord-of-rage-royal-house-of.html Lord of Rage is part 2 in the four-part a Review posted here: http://offbeatvagabond.blogspot.com/2011/09/book-review-lord-of-rage-royal-house-of.html Lord of Rage is part 2 in the four-part author collaboration of the Royal House of Shadows series. It was written by Jill Monroe and this is my first experience with Monroe. I have heard of her, but never read anything from her. But from this book, I truly believe I should read more from her. She doesn’t write a lot of PNR but after reading this, she really should. Lord of Rage is a great installment to this great, growing series. Lord of Rage is about a princess named Breena from Elden who is from a family with very special powers, except hers. All she can do is enter dreams. But one recurring dream involves a sexy warrior that she can’t stay away from. But the day comes when her castle is under attack by the Blood Sorcerer and she was lucky enough to escape before she too was either slaved or killed. She is running for her life for days until she ends up in an “empty” cabin with food and a bed. But things get a little crowded when that home happens to belong to three brothers, one of which is the warrior she has been dreaming of that she didn’t believe was real. The warrior, Osborn, is not just any warrior, but a berserker. In fact, he and his younger brothers are the last of their kind after his entire village was slaughtered years ago. He looks after his brothers and keeps them safe and wishes to take out his anger on the kingdom that has annihilated his home; Elden, or so he thinks. When he sees Breena and sees she is in fact real, he believes she is there to use him as a mercenary and he is sick of being used as a mercenary. I enjoyed the characters. I loved that Breena was this princess pampered and trapped and luxury and with Osborn, we see that she is stubborn and a fighter. I loved Osborn. He was tough as nails and scary. I loved that as much as his head told him not to trust her, she is nothing but trouble, he trusts his heart instead. A little cheesy coming from me, but no less true. I loved Osborn’s little brothers Bernt and Torben. I know Breena’s and Nicholas’s remaining two siblings, Dayn and Micah, will have their stories told in the rest of the series. But I would love to see something with Bernt and Torben. Seeing how they didn’t have much of a childhood since it was taken from them and how they are only now being taught to be warriors because of Breena’s persuading Osborn, I want to see how they will turn out. Now I know you guys know that book 1, Lord of the Vampires by Gena Showalter, was good, but not a favorite for me. I must say, I liked this one better. There was a focus and I didn’t feel like I was left out. I had a real connection with the story and the characters. This book was full of revelations and change. The characters were so stuck in their ways, but by meeting each other, they all learned that what they knew and what they were used is what held them back. I would recommend this to PNR fans or just any fans of romance. It did take this book a little while until it got some interaction with one of the more main villains, but it we did, I was so happy. This book was great from beginning to end. You will get hooked very quickly with this story and its characters. Lord of Rage is a great sequel and I can’t wait to get my hands on Lord of the Wolfyn (book 3) by Jessica Andersen. Thank you so much Netgalley for these so far. Nonetheless, check this out, you’ll be happy you did. ...more

Diana (Offbeat Vagabond)'s bookshelf: magic (showing 1-30 of 69) (sorted by: notes)


Input: [0] checkbox [#] position [cover] cover [title] title Lord of the Wolfyn (Royal House of Shadows, #3) [author] author Andersen, Jessica * [isbn] isbn 0373618700 [isbn13] isbn13 9780373618705 [asin] asin [num pages] num pages 282 pp [avg rating] avg rating 3.80 [num ratings] num ratings 2,125 [date pub] date pub Oct 18, 2011 [date pub (ed.)] date pub edition Oct 18, 2011 [rating] Diana (Offbeat Vagabond)'s rating 3 of 5 stars [my rating] my rating 1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars add to shelves [notes] notes Notes are private! [recommender] recommender none [comments] comments 0 [votes] votes 0 [read count] # times read 1 [date started] date started Jan 2012 [date read] date read Jan 03, 2012 [date added] date added Jul 16, 2011 [date purchased] date purchased [owned] owned [purchase location] purchase location [condition] condition [format] format Mass Market Paperback [29] actions view (with text) [review]

Output: review Review posted here: http://offbeatvagabond.blogspot.com/2012/03/book-review-lord-of-wolfyn-royal-house.html Lord of the Wolfyn is the third installmen Review posted here: http://offbeatvagabond.blogspot.com/2012/03/book-review-lord-of-wolfyn-royal-house.html Lord of the Wolfyn is the third installment in the Royal House of Shadows miniseries. We now follow the missing brother Dayn. Like his missing siblings, he has been cursed by the Blood Sorcerer. He is now a vampire who lives with the wolfyn. He lives in an alternate world of the Wolfyn. But his land is dying due to the Blood Sorcerer and Dayn needs to find someone who will guide him to his homeland, Elden. This is where Reda comes in. She reunites with a unique book of Little Red Riding Hood from her mother. With the help if this book and a phrase, the book sends her to Dayn to help save him and guide him. I have never read anything from Jessica Andersen, but I after reading this, I am very curious about her work. She has a nice style and writes a lot of PNR, so I am adding her to my wishlist for sure. For those that don't know, this is a miniseries of 4 books. Each book is written by a different author and they are adult versions to the fairy tales we all grew up with. This was the adult version of Little Red Riding Hood and it was a pretty nice read. Our story is told through some interesting characters. We get to follow Dayn, another lost sibling thanks to the evil and power hungry Blood Sorcerer. Dayn knows of the other world, our world, and needs to find the woman that will guide him to his homeland. He believes it is the woman in his dreams. But he is a vampire hiding with the wolfyn. We have Reda who is the key for Dayn. She can't help but feel connected to Dayn because he reminds her of the woodsman in her book. Reda must guide him to Elden before time runs out. I liked this story a lot. But so far, Lord Of Rage is the best one. Andersen did a great job writing a unique version of Little Red Riding Hood, but I wanted more. We have Reda and Dayn who are good characters, but needed a pick me up. Reda was a bit of a flip-flopper. She was indecisive about things throughout the book and it did get a little annoying. But she grew on me after a while. Dayn was a good hero, strong and sexy, but isn't a favorite. Also, I don't understand why it is called Lord of the Wolfyn when he was actually a vampire that can shapeshift. Why not just make him a werewolf? I love werewolves and found that a bit odd, cool, but I wish that was cleared up a bit. The plot starts of pretty strong. Both Dayn and Reda are destined to meet and guide each other to Elden. But it does slow down in the middle. I wish the pacing was a little faster. Also, the villain in the book sort of through me for a loop. It seemed a bit rushed and out of the blue for me. I also wanted a little more story about Reda's mother. Her mom knew what she would become and I wish we had a flashback or something between her and her mom. Overall, I liked the story. Like I said, I think Lord of Rage has conquered this series so far. But I would read all of these again. Lord of the Wolfyn was a good read. I wasn't bored with it. It just needed to flow better, keep the adrenaline up a bit. Also need to work a bit on the characters. Not bad, but needed a little kick. ...more

Diana (Offbeat Vagabond)'s bookshelf: magic (showing 1-30 of 69) (sorted by: notes)


Input: [0] checkbox [#] position [cover] cover [title] title Lord of the Abyss (Royal House of Shadows, #4) [author] author Singh, Nalini * [isbn] isbn [isbn13] isbn13 [asin] asin [num pages] num pages 288 pp [avg rating] avg rating 4.12 [num ratings] num ratings 5,271 [date pub] date pub Jan 01, 2011 [date pub (ed.)] date pub edition Nov 22, 2011 [rating] Diana (Offbeat Vagabond)'s rating 5 of 5 stars [my rating] my rating 1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars add to shelves [notes] notes Notes are private! [recommender] recommender none [comments] comments 0 [votes] votes 1 [read count] # times read 1 [date started] date started Jan 03, 2012 [date read] date read Jan 06, 2012 [date added] date added Jul 16, 2011 [date purchased] date purchased [owned] owned [purchase location] purchase location [condition] condition [format] format Mass Market Paperback [29] actions view (with text) [review]

Output: review Review posted here: http://offbeatvagabond.blogspot.com/2012/04/book-review-lord-of-abyss-royal-house.html Lord of the Abyss follows the youngest lost Review posted here: http://offbeatvagabond.blogspot.com/2012/04/book-review-lord-of-abyss-royal-house.html Lord of the Abyss follows the youngest lost sibling, Micah. He unfortunately was punished the worst. He was just a toddler when he was separated from his family and land in Elden. Now 20 years later, he is cursed as the dark Lord. He is the dark Lord who sends souls into the Abyss. He is so dark and cold, he is consumed by armor that is impenetrable. He is feared by everyone, no one dares to cross him, except for Liliana. She is a strong woman who knows how to take torture. Her father is the Blood Sorcerer himself, who has abused her since the day she was born. He is also the man who cursed Micah and his entire family. Liliana knows Micah is the key to stop her father's terrible reign because he is powerful enough. But she has to help Micah remember who he is; that he is a Prince of Elden. She doesn't have long to convince him though because Elden is about to truly fall. YEEEEESSSSS!!! I have read all the previous books in this series and while they were good, they were missing something. And that something was Nalini Singh. I was counting on Singh to give me that oomph I needed and she didn't disappoint. I had to wait a while until I got this book from Netgalley and I just ended up buying it instead. And since my life is a sitcom, the day I bought it was the day I got approval from Netgalley. Oh Life, you never cease to amaze me. Nonetheless, this was money well spent. Singh always creates characters that leave you in awe. Micah was just WOW! Great vocabulary there. But I can't think of anything else. He was scary, I mean scary to the point I couldn't find him attractive sometimes. But you slowly see there is something in him and it was quite the journey seeing him get pulled out of the darkness. Liliana isn't your typical PNR heroine. She isn't the standard gorgeous. It is described that her nose is pointy enough to look like a beak and she is a little thin. Even though both characters have their flaws, I love how they saw something in each other. I love how Liliana stands up for herself in this book. After suffering so many years of abuse from her evil father, she doesn't take crap from anyone. I love that even though she is the daughter of the Blood Sorcerer and tortured by him day-in and day-out, she is incredibly gentle to everyone and everything. Micah likes that she doesn't treat him like a monster even though it is what his job entails. I love this amazing take on Beauty and the Beast. Singh, you have done it again. The story flowed well. We have plenty of life from our lead characters and side characters I loved Jissa, Micah's former cook who he saved. I love all the back story we get; well mainly through Liliana. Micah can't remember his past and every time he does, he goes nuts. But still, Liliana and Micah are characters worth rooting for. The plot is well paced. I love how this was both about the fight and the romance. The book was well balanced. My only complaint was the final battle. I wish it lasted a little longer, but I am so satisfied with everything else. This series overall was good, but didn't knock my out of my seat. This did however. They definitely saved the best for last in my opinion. I love Nalini Singh and her work, if you haven't caught that by now. I was depending on this book to wrap this series up on a high note and it did. It was sexy, made me smile, and I couldn't put it down. Highly recommended. If anything, just jump to this book, they go over the story in this anyway. ...more

Diana (Offbeat Vagabond)'s bookshelf: magic (showing 1-30 of 69) (sorted by: notes)


Input: [0] checkbox [#] position [cover] cover [title] title The Demon Lover (Fairwick Chronicles, #1) [author] author Dark, Juliet [isbn] isbn 0345510089 [isbn13] isbn13 9780345510082 [asin] asin [num pages] num pages 416 pp [avg rating] avg rating 3.61 [num ratings] num ratings 3,527 [date pub] date pub 2011 [date pub (ed.)] date pub edition Dec 27, 2011 [rating] Diana (Offbeat Vagabond)'s rating 3 of 5 stars [my rating] my rating 1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars add to shelves [notes] notes Notes are private! [recommender] recommender none [comments] comments 0 [votes] votes 0 [read count] # times read 1 [date started] date started Dec 23, 2011 [date read] date read Jan 03, 2012 [date added] date added Aug 15, 2011 [date purchased] date purchased [owned] owned [purchase location] purchase location [condition] condition [format] format Paperback [29] actions view (with text) [review]

Output: review Review posted here: http://offbeatvagabond.blogspot.com/2012/03/book-review-demon-lover-fairwick.html The Demon Lover is about a woman names Callie wh Review posted here: http://offbeatvagabond.blogspot.com/2012/03/book-review-demon-lover-fairwick.html The Demon Lover is about a woman names Callie who just earned her dream job. She has just been hired as a professor at Fairwick College. The town is great and almost magical. It will be a great chance for her to work on her book. She soon stumbles on a house owned by an author who people thought were crazy. There was talk of a mysterious man who found its way into her room and she wrote of her experience of it. Callie thinks its crazy until she thinks that same man wants her. Callie soon finds out that not only does the house hold many secrets, but the entire town does as well. I finished this book a few months back actually. I wasn't kidding about how behind I am on reviews. And even now, there is something bugging me about this book. I haven't figured it out yet. Not completely anyway. It is a mixture of things. This wasn't a bad read mind you, I really enjoyed this story. But little things were bugging me and the ending result was a tad bit depressing. We have very interesting characters to follow. We have Callie. I think she was an okay lead. She isn't bad, but there were times she came off as a bitch. Even before things actually took place with the mystery man, she does and say things that made me want to punch her. I am sorry, but it is true. She is a rich city girl and judges people like the snob she is. She wasn't cold or heartless, but she has her shallow moments. And we had Liam, the sexy professor/poet who comes to work at the school after a teacher named Phoenix suddenly goes nuts. Callie had plenty to say about him even before she met him. But he was a good character who definitely has some secrets. I won't lie, he was a tad mushy for me, but very interesting. Even some of Callie's students like Mara and Nicky. They play interesting roles in this book and I would have liked to learn more about them. I loved.Ralph the mouse. He doesn't talk, but knows more than you would think and watches over Callie. I like how the plot develops in the book. We know Callie will be in for a surprise, but you have no idea to what extent. She finds out that a lot of people in town are supernatural. I love the variety. We have faeries, witches, demons, supernatural mice (adorable!) and more. It really thickens the plot because you aren't sure who are there to help or destroy. The story gets really interesting when Callie is with the side characters, not so much when she is with Liam. The side characters all have very interesting secrets, that they help move the story a lot. Now for my issues. This book was a little predictable. I had suspicions about the demon and I was correct. But the true villain did take me surprise and was pretty disturbing. My problem, as I said, is the ending. I know books don't always have the HEA, but after what he did, I was fuming. This isn't as big on the Paranormal Romance as you would think. This was more Urban Fantasy than anything. But even with this issue, I am curious about what will become of Callie. She makes a decision to join her snobby, racist grandmother at her exclusive club to learn more about herself. Callie has her moments, but I am happy she is not like her grandmother. The next book will be very interesting. But even with its issues, I enjoyed this. I wasn't bored and it did keep me on the edge of my seat. After going over it all, I was satisfied except for that ending. Words can't express how happy I am this is a series. This means we will have a chance to get the HEA we have been screaming for. I would recommend this book, but be cautious, there might be some bumps and bruises along the way. ...more

Diana (Offbeat Vagabond)'s bookshelf: magic (showing 1-30 of 69) (sorted by: notes)


Input: [0] checkbox [#] position [cover] cover [title] title A Ripple in Time - Angel of the Titanic [author] author Hughes, Julia * [isbn] isbn [isbn13] isbn13 [asin] asin B005CF7PJW [num pages] num pages 216 pp [avg rating] avg rating 3.70 [num ratings] num ratings 83 [date pub] date pub Jul 12, 2011 [date pub (ed.)] date pub edition unknown [rating] Diana (Offbeat Vagabond)'s rating 5 of 5 stars [my rating] my rating 1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars add to shelves [notes] notes Notes are private! [recommender] recommender none [comments] comments 1 [votes] votes 0 [read count] # times read 1 [date started] date started Feb 10, 2012 [date read] date read Feb 14, 2012 [date added] date added Sep 10, 2011 [date purchased] date purchased [owned] owned [purchase location] purchase location [condition] condition [format] format Kindle Edition [29] actions view (with text) [review]

Output: review Review posted here: http://offbeatvagabond.blogspot.com/2012/04/indie-book-review-ripple-in-time-angel.html A Ripple in Time is about a young man name Review posted here: http://offbeatvagabond.blogspot.com/2012/04/indie-book-review-ripple-in-time-angel.html A Ripple in Time is about a young man named Wren who is quite the dreamer. You see, his dreams have changed history entirely. All of which start with tragedy of the Titanic sinking. Problem is, it didn't sink and that has caused a ripple in time. So it is up to Wren to find a way to travel back in time and make sure the Titanic runs its course properly. With the help of a powerful sword (Excalibur), his cousin and a girl named Carrie, they will fight to make sure history is corrected and stop whoever gets in their way. I got this book months ago from Hughes and only got into a couple of months back. Man, my life can't be simple can it? I finished this a while ago though, but I thought with the anniversary coming up, why not post this review then? I was given this a while back by Julia Hughes and it took forever for me to get to it. I really need to change my reading habits. Still when I finally started this, I couldn't put it down. It is fun, unique, and adventurous. I loved our characters. We have Wren who truly is a "time lord". I know Wren is a blond, but I couldn't help picturing a younger David Tenant when reading this (best Doctor ever, I dare you to disagree). Wren is super smart and has an odd sense of humor. There were times in the book when you weren't sure you should trust him because he was quite impulsive. But it made him more interesting. I really enjoyed Carrie. I love that she finally came around. Carrie's granny could see Wren's "ghost" and Carrie just thought she was nuts. But I was so happy she put her doubts aside and she was very courageous. Rhyllann (love that name by the way) was so pigheaded. It took him forever to get onboard, but you do root for him. He is the one who must help because Caliburn (Excalibir) responds to him. I love this story. It is a great mixture nonfiction and fiction. Hughes did a great job balancing those out. I love how the story progresses. It does start of a little slow because you are trying to grasp the full extent of the situation. It is quite in depth. Once I got into it, I couldn't put it down. It goes through a lot of adventures and mystery. I love the idea of time getting screwed up because of what happened, well didn't happen, with the Titanic. Going back and time and trying to make sure the tragedy takes place or else our future (well our present) is doomed. This is why I love sci-fi. This truly would make an awesome movie or tv show. If you are a Doctor Who fan like me, you will be drooling all over this. Just a blast. I highly recommend this read to everyone. It was such a fun read. It definitely took me by surprise. And I know how iffy some can get about time travel, so I am glad to say this won't confuse you. You will love all the characters instantly and you will dive right into to this story. If you are looking for a romantic, adventurous, and original read, this is your book. ...more

Diana (Offbeat Vagabond)'s bookshelf: magic (showing 1-30 of 69) (sorted by: notes)


Input: [0] checkbox [#] position [cover] cover [title] title Dark Magic (Chronicles of Arandal, #1) [author] author York, Rebecca [isbn] isbn 1426891946 [isbn13] isbn13 9781426891946 [asin] asin [num pages] num pages unknown [avg rating] avg rating 3.12 [num ratings] num ratings 51 [date pub] date pub Aug 01, 2011 [date pub (ed.)] date pub edition Aug 01, 2011 [rating] Diana (Offbeat Vagabond)'s rating 3 of 5 stars [my rating] my rating 1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars add to shelves [notes] notes Notes are private! [recommender] recommender none [comments] comments 0 [votes] votes 0 [read count] # times read 1 [date started] date started not set [date read] date read not set [date added] date added Oct 02, 2011 [date purchased] date purchased [owned] owned [purchase location] purchase location [condition] condition [format] format ebook [29] actions view (with text) [review]

Output: review Review posted here: http://offbeatvagabond.blogspot.com/2011/10/book-review-dark-magic-by-rebecca-york.html Dark Magic is about a princess named Devon Review posted here: http://offbeatvagabond.blogspot.com/2011/10/book-review-dark-magic-by-rebecca-york.html Dark Magic is about a princess named Devon. She has been conditioned to be the perfect wife. But that is not what she wants. She loves to read, she loves magic, and she loves to learn about things outside of sewing and how to keep a man happy. But the day comes when her castle is under attack by barbarians and her heartless father’s only defense; give the enemy’s leader Devon so he will stop the attack. Amongst those barbarians is a man named Galladar who is smitten by Devon and has the power to bring the war to a halt. So Princess Devon wants to find the dragon that can help her people and she has no problem sacrificing herself to him. Princess Devon will go from being a pampered princess into the woman she wants to be. I really enjoyed this short story. It was sweet and hot all at once, I mean very hot. There was a beginning and end. I didn’t feel left out and sometimes I feel left out with short stories. The plot is pretty simple and predictable. But it was a nice. The characters were nice. Galladar was tough but I wish there was more of him. I really enjoyed Devon. She was raised to be a princess and do what she is told. But she yearned to be a scholar, to know about philosophy, politics, astronomy and more. I like that she never gave up. Even when she was in a very sticky situation, she fought tooth and nail and wound out on top, with a little help. Overall, this is a 77 page story that was straightforward. It may be predictable, but it wasn’t boring and gives you a little bit of everything you need. So if you are looking for a pick me up for your paranormal romance needs, I recommend this short, sweet and sexy read to you. ...more

Diana (Offbeat Vagabond)'s bookshelf: magic (showing 1-30 of 69) (sorted by: notes)


Input: [0] checkbox [#] position [cover] cover [title] title First Chosen (Tears of Rage, #1) [author] author Gallowglas, M. Todd * [isbn] isbn [isbn13] isbn13 [asin] asin B0055I14BG [num pages] num pages 188 pp [avg rating] avg rating 3.85 [num ratings] num ratings 181 [date pub] date pub Mar 15, 2013 [date pub (ed.)] date pub edition Jun 10, 2011 [rating] Diana (Offbeat Vagabond)'s rating 4 of 5 stars [my rating] my rating 1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars add to shelves [notes] notes Notes are private! [recommender] recommender none [comments] comments 0 [votes] votes 1 [read count] # times read 1 [date started] date started not set [date read] date read not set [date added] date added Oct 22, 2011 [date purchased] date purchased [owned] owned [purchase location] purchase location [condition] condition [format] format Kindle Edition [29] actions view (with text) [review]

Output: review Review posted here: http://offbeatvagabond.blogspot.com/2011/10/indie-book-review-first-chosen-volume-i.html I have been lucky enough to be asked to r Review posted here: http://offbeatvagabond.blogspot.com/2011/10/indie-book-review-first-chosen-volume-i.html I have been lucky enough to be asked to review First Chosen by the author himself. M. Todd Gallowglas. This is a part of the Blog Tour de Force. First Chosen is set in a beautiful dark and epic fantasy world. It is about a girl (a duchess) named Julianna, who has been chosen as the Lord Morigahn (high priest) to protect and lead the Morigahnti (followers of Grandfather Shadow), physically and spiritually. But she can only do this when she speaks the words that will release Grandfather Shadow, a god who has been held prisoner for 1000 years. When she is put in a frightening and traumatizing situation that causes her to use the words, everyone wants a piece of her. So Julianna is in quite a predicament. Not only does she have lots to learn about those after her and who to trust, she also has to figure out her new found powers and who she is. I really enjoyed this book. The storytelling was truly out of this world. Gallowglas has created something gorgeous and complex. I love a plot that has so many layers that you can pick a part. Not only is the story deep and compelling, but the characters are as well. Gallowglas wrote it in a way where no one is left out. I love that I get a sense of everyone in the story. There is so much mythology in this book and no matter the species, everyone was playing a game. This book is full of betrayals, secrets and lies. If you want a great story on the battle of good vs. evil, First Chosen is a great choice. I loved the characters. I loved Julianna. After her initial shock of knowing everything rests on her shoulders, you see her growing into it. It was a nice journey with her and Faelin. Faelin was chosen by Grandfather Shadow to help guide and direct Julianna since he is a true believer in Grandfather Shadow. We also have characters that we meet that have their own agendas about Julianna. For instance, the Goddess of Lies, Yrgaeshkil, she has power over Daemyns. But she wants more power, more dominions to control. Her husband is Old Uncle Night. Old Uncle Night is a rival to Grandfather Shadow and he has followers of his own trying to kill off the Morigahnti. But she isn’t the only villain in this story. Some are villains that might be closer to Julianna than she thinks. Now for a few complaints I have for this book. As I said, we have a lot of characters which was both good and bad. The good: we have many characters to love and/or hate. We get lots of diversity and different sides of the same story. The bad: we have a lot of characters and at times, it is hard to keep up with them. Some get more “screen” time than others, so when another gets mentioned, it is hard to remember who they are in the story. I have seen that was an issue with some people, which leads me to another issue. When starting the book, it is a bit of information overload. Gallowglas wastes no time getting you into the heat of it all. As I said, this book is complex, but it does start off a bit overwhelming. We meet a lot of people in a short amount of time. Last issue, editing. This book had quite a few grammar issues. Not enough to be distracting, mind you. But you do notice them. Overall, I highly recommend this book for fans of dark and epic fantasy books. This book has a very clever and rich story that made it difficult for me to put it down. There is definitely has a Game of Thrones feel to this book that made me love it even more. Political intrigue, lies, secrets, wars, and supernatural creatures; this book has a little something for everyone. The plot is very deep and makes me very happy that there will be a sequel because there is still more to know. Even with a few kinks, First Chosen isn’t hard to read; well besides some of the characters names. I definitely want to know how to pronounce some of those. Nonetheless, read this book. You won’t regret it. ...more

Diana (Offbeat Vagabond)'s bookshelf: magic (showing 1-30 of 69) (sorted by: notes)


Input: [0] checkbox [#] position [cover] cover [title] title Craved (Gwen Sparks, #1) [author] author Nelson, Stephanie * [isbn] isbn [isbn13] isbn13 [asin] asin B005EIQ0M0 [num pages] num pages 283 pp [avg rating] avg rating 3.75 [num ratings] num ratings 2,375 [date pub] date pub Jul 01, 2011 [date pub (ed.)] date pub edition Jul 25, 2011 [rating] Diana (Offbeat Vagabond)'s rating 5 of 5 stars [my rating] my rating 1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars add to shelves [notes] notes Notes are private! [recommender] recommender none [comments] comments 0 [votes] votes 0 [read count] # times read 1 [date started] date started Feb 07, 2012 [date read] date read Feb 15, 2012 [date added] date added Oct 31, 2011 [date purchased] date purchased [owned] owned [purchase location] purchase location [condition] condition [format] format Kindle Edition [29] actions view (with text) [review]

Output: review Review posted here: http://offbeatvagabond.blogspot.com/2012/03/indie-book-review-craved-gwen-sparks-1.html Craved is about the everyday normal life o Review posted here: http://offbeatvagabond.blogspot.com/2012/03/indie-book-review-craved-gwen-sparks-1.html Craved is about the everyday normal life of a witch named Gwen. Well, not so normal. She works with the cops because she has the ability to read the minds' of the dead. So when reading the mind of a dead witch, she finds out that there is an underworld drug ring. The drug is witches' blood and a vampire has been sucking it out of witches to distribute and use. The blood can also give vampires magic, so they must find out who it is before there is a war on everyone's hands. Gigantic thanks to my awesome friends at Talk Supe who loaned me this book. It hurts knowing this book was under my nose and I didn't even know it. Stephanie Nelson is officially on my authors-to-stalk list. I loved this book sooooo much. Adding this to my favorites list. We have a wonderful array of characters. Gwen is amazing and real. She may be a witch, but she runs her own business in a small town of Flora, lives in her own small apartment with her great roommate/best friend Fiona. I like that you can relate to her. Her best friend Fiona was a little spoiled, she used magic for the tiniest of things. But I loved her. She was a great best friend, she chose to live with Gwen instead of her awful, rich father who treats Gwen like a roach. Then we have Gwen's love interest, a vampire named Aidan. He had me foaming at the mouth. I thought he was incredible. He stood by for two years while Gwen was with another man, a werewolf named Micah who is the cop working on this case. He was fun, flirtatious, and hot as hell. I loved how much he loved Gwen. I was rooting for him from the beginning. I love this plot. Definitely an interesting take on the drug world. This book started off great, but got really interesting with the arrival of Ian. He was hot, but there was something very off about him. He is definitely intriguing. You don't know if he is the villain or not because he is very convincing about not being the bad guy. I love how Nelson put this together. Usually there is a clear answer for me, but I was flabbergasted. And even after I had an "Oh shit" moment, Nelson wasn't done giving us a parting gift. There were things done in the book that were sad and had my mouth hanging to the floor. Nelson really knows how to put you on a rollercoaster. No dull moments here people! I can't think of anything I didn't like. This book ended on a very interesting and disturbing note. I know Deceived (book 2) will pack a punch and I can't wait. I love where this book went and I am anxious to see where it will go. This book was sexy, fast-paced, and suspenseful. Couldn't put this bad boy down. You will be surprised, you will smile and you will have a blast with Craved. Highly recommended for Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance. Thank you so much again Talk Supe!!! ...more

Diana (Offbeat Vagabond)'s bookshelf: magic (showing 1-30 of 69) (sorted by: notes)


Input: [0] checkbox [#] position [cover] cover [title] title Paranormalcy (Paranormalcy, #1) [author] author White, Kiersten * [isbn] isbn 0061985848 [isbn13] isbn13 9780061985843 [asin] asin [num pages] num pages 335 pp [avg rating] avg rating 3.93 [num ratings] num ratings 71,323 [date pub] date pub Jan 01, 2010 [date pub (ed.)] date pub edition Aug 31, 2010 [rating] Diana (Offbeat Vagabond)'s rating 5 of 5 stars [my rating] my rating 1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars add to shelves [notes] notes Notes are private! [recommender] recommender none [comments] comments 0 [votes] votes 0 [read count] # times read 1 [date started] date started not set [date read] date read not set [date added] date added Nov 11, 2011 [date purchased] date purchased [owned] owned [purchase location] purchase location [condition] condition [format] format Hardcover [29] actions view (with text) [review]

Output: review Review posted here: http://offbeatvagabond.blogspot.com/2011/11/book-review-paranormalcy-paranormalcy-1.html Paranormalcy is about a 16 year old girl Review posted here: http://offbeatvagabond.blogspot.com/2011/11/book-review-paranormalcy-paranormalcy-1.html Paranormalcy is about a 16 year old girl named Evie. She is…different. She works for a secret agency known as the International Paranormal Containment Agency (IPCA); actually she is one of the top agents at IPCA. Why? Because Evie is the only person in the world who can see past the glamour of every supernatural creature known. All supes have them and none of them fool Evie. So after a scary run-in with a room full of vampires who mysteriously end up dead the next day, things take a turn when more supernaturals wind up dead for no apparent reason. It is up to Evie to find out, but the more she digs, the more she seems to be the center of it all. Now this is how I always wanted my YA books to be like; a new version of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Yes, that is how awesome I thought this book was. It was fast paced, witty, action-packed, and mysterious. I couldn’t put this book down. Don’t be fooled by the cover, although it is gorgeous, this book isn’t nearly as dark as it makes you believe. Paranormalcy definitely has its share of dark and sad moments, but this book is quite lighthearted and fun. It actually feels young. I know that sounds weird, but a lot of YA books I have read have been very dark which I like mind you. But it is nice reading one where it is about a girl in a dark world who is adorable and just wants to live life The characters were to die for. I am putting Evie on my badass heroines list. She was a perky, little smartass and I loved it. She was tough and was able to take on just about anyone. Even when things start to unravel and take effect, she never gave in. I loved Lend, he was hot and talented. He really got Evie to fight for her freedom. He made her realize there was something more going on around her that the IPCA was hiding from her. And for all intents and purposes, made her feel normal. They had so much chemistry and were so amazing together, definitely one of my favorite YA couples. There is also Reth, our crazy, stalker faerie who has his own agenda where Evie is concerned. He is trying to do something to her heart, but we don’t know yet. But he swears he is trying to save her. He definitely has a funny way of showing it. Even when we meet the real villain of the story, he scared me the most. We don’t know what his game is, but I am dying to find out. The plot of this book was amazing. I love the way things were revealed in this book and they were very unpredictable. This book will get very sad at times, so I am preparing you for some tears. Like I said, I don’t trust Reth at all and he played a bigger role in some of the scarier scenes in the book, but we don’t know if he is good or bad. Actually he sort of reminds me of V’lane from the Fever series. Neither good or bad which is why you can’t trust him, but at least he is hot. But once you find out what Evie is and what she is capable of, then the obsession will make sense. Still, he is creepy. This is another one of those books that are so good; my review just isn’t enough for its awesomeness. I love Kiersten White’s style. It is a great mixture of laughs and tears. This was a quirky and fun read and like I said, definitely reminds me of Buffy. The characters are some of the greatest characters I have come across In a while, just insanely likable even the questionable ones (in a weird way). This book is full of so many paranormal creatures we all have come to love and seeing Evie go from being their enemy to their friend was just another great journey to add to this spectacular book. And I can’t wait to see how she grows more into her own. Highly recommended, you will bleeping love it! ...more

Diana (Offbeat Vagabond)'s bookshelf: magic (showing 1-30 of 69) (sorted by: notes)


Input: [0] checkbox [#] position [cover] cover [title] title Avenger's Angel (The Lost Angel, #1) [author] author Killough-Walden, Heather * [isbn] isbn 0755380371 [isbn13] isbn13 9780755380374 [asin] asin [num pages] num pages 328 pp [avg rating] avg rating 3.94 [num ratings] num ratings 2,626 [date pub] date pub 2011 [date pub (ed.)] date pub edition Nov 01, 2011 [rating] Diana (Offbeat Vagabond)'s rating 4 of 5 stars [my rating] my rating 1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars add to shelves [notes] notes Notes are private! [recommender] recommender none [comments] comments 0 [votes] votes 1 [read count] # times read 1 [date started] date started not set [date read] date read not set [date added] date added Dec 05, 2011 [date purchased] date purchased [owned] owned [purchase location] purchase location [condition] condition [format] format Paperback [29] actions view (with text) [review]

Output: review Review posted here: http://offbeatvagabond.blogspot.com/2011/12/book-review-avengers-angel-lost-angel-1.html I have two questions: 1) When is the next Review posted here: http://offbeatvagabond.blogspot.com/2011/12/book-review-avengers-angel-lost-angel-1.html I have two questions: 1) When is the next book coming out and 2) can I get it right this very second? Everyone knows my love for angels and honestly, I think this is one of my favorites. The world, the characters, the story; everything just fit so well. I absolutely fell in love with this book and It seems I have found another great series full of hot brothers that kick lots of ass. So that is definitely a bonus. I loved our main characters. Uriel, the Angel of Vengeance, is a famous actor. His movie is based on a book that just happens to have a book signing at a bookstore where his soulmate (archess), Eleanore (Ellie), works. She has no idea what she is, but she knows of her powers (healing and manipulating the weather) and is trying very hard to stay low-key. But that is hard when the very famous and gorgeous Christopher Daniels (Uriel’s Hollywood name) takes a liking to her. She thinks he is making her into one of his many adoring groupies, but she doesn’t know that she was made for him and he has been searching for her for over 2000 years. I really liked Ellie. She went out of her to always help those in need even though it drained her and could expose her to her enemies. She never gave it a second thought and that is always a nice thing to find in a good heroine. She was strong and vulnerable all at once. Also loved all the other characters, specifically Uriels’ brothers; Gabriel, Michael and Azrael. They were all hot, but I think my favorite of the four was Azrael. He is the only one that was “deformed” when coming to Earth. He is not only an angel, but a vampire. He helped Uriel the most when it came to Eleanore, well he sort of had to, given that Uriel was cursed and ended a vampire like him. There was a sweet chemistry between him and Ellie. Like him looking out for a sister even though he barely knew her. But I pray his book is next, I am very curious about him. Seriously, I know you guys will love him. But like many great love stories, they need a villain and boy did we get one. Samael, the fallen archangel, wants an archess for himself because one wasn’t made for him. So when he learns of Eleanore, he puts together a very clever and manipulative plot of getting her. I don’t know what to make of him honestly. He is the devil for all intents and purposes, but there was one scene in this book that made me unsure of him. And I actually believe he was being sincere in his weird way. Yet right up to the end, we know he is plotting something huge, but we don’t know what. We know he has lied about something about himself and what he actually is and his intentions are very unclear. I am a sucker for a great villain and I think Samael might be a favorite. I can’t wait to see what Killough-Walden will do with him next. I love where this story takes us. I like the idea of archangels coming to Earth to find the women that were made for them. And the things all these archangels do just to save Eleanore, made me love them that much more. We know Ellie is hiding from people that want her powers, but we don’t know who. The answer really isn’t what I was expecting and my mouth hanging open. I am definitely curious about the development here and what this means for the other archesses to comes. I won’t spoil it, but goodness, it was an interesting surprise. I liked that little bit and following Sameal, we get a taste of the man he is, but he is a very complex character. He adds a lot of mystery to this book. Now my compliant. It was explained in the book and I understand it. I like that Uriel and Ellie are in love and all. But it still makes me feel a little off and not in a fun way. The sex scene was a tad bit too much for me. Since Uriel was a vampire, he has extra powers specifically mind control. When Ellie and Uriel finally break the tension, I didn’t like it because she was partially compelled. I know this sounds weird coming from me, but if you have read this, please tell me what you thought. Is it just me or what? I mean I understand it is what Ellie truly wanted, from what Uriel read in her head. But since it is her first time, why not make it steamy, slow, and sweet? I guess Killough-Walden was probably going for a BDSM sort of thing, but some of that I didn’t find sexy, I found it a little scary to be honest. Maybe it is just me because BDSM is a genre I am yet to start (really need to ease me into this sort of stuff). I am not a prude, but I am still a good-old Southern girl. But I was a little disappointed with this scene and I was dying for it. Then again, after it was done, we find out Ellie may have been a virgin, but she was kinky. But seriously, why was the mind control needed? We know they want each other, why not let it happen naturally? Well, as natural as a vampire-angel hybrid and an angel can be together. Overall, I still enjoyed myself with this book. I love how all the plots merged together and I love knowing there will be more to come. These archangels really are to die for. Ellie was a heroine worth rooting for and Sameal is a bad boy I wouldn’t mind having around. There is so much to this story and I can’t wait for more (Azrael!!!) I just pray the sex scene in the next one is better. ...more

Diana (Offbeat Vagabond)'s bookshelf: magic (showing 1-30 of 69) (sorted by: notes)


Input: [0] checkbox [#] position [cover] cover [title] title Invincible (Chronicles of Nick, Book 2) [author] author Kenyon, Sherrilyn * [isbn] isbn 1427211256 [isbn13] isbn13 9781427211255 [asin] asin [num pages] num pages 0 pp [avg rating] avg rating 4.27 [num ratings] num ratings 16,986 [date pub] date pub Mar 22, 2011 [date pub (ed.)] date pub edition Mar 22, 2011 [rating] Diana (Offbeat Vagabond)'s rating 5 of 5 stars [my rating] my rating 1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars add to shelves [notes] notes Notes are private! [recommender] recommender none [comments] comments 0 [votes] votes 1 [read count] # times read 1 [date started] date started not set [date read] date read not set [date added] date added Feb 03, 2012 [date purchased] date purchased [owned] owned [purchase location] purchase location [condition] condition [format] format MP3 Book [29] actions view (with text) [review]

Output: review Review posted here: http://offbeatvagabond.blogspot.com/2012/02/book-review-invincible-chronicles-of.html Oh my goodness, Invincible was just as good Review posted here: http://offbeatvagabond.blogspot.com/2012/02/book-review-invincible-chronicles-of.html Oh my goodness, Invincible was just as good as the first one. I finished this audiobook immediately after Infinity a month ago. This story is still stuck in my head and book 3, Infamous, comes out in March! Another book I know will be added to my favorites list. Invincible picks up immediately where Infinity left off. Nicks has recently found out everyone he knows is some supernatural creature of some kind. He now also knows that his mom now works for and with a whole group of them. This, of course, has Nick a little on edge. If that wasn’t enough, he is becoming friends with Death. Things seem to be looking up though; Nick is finally back on the football team. But it seems his new coach has drafted him for far more than playing football. Just another day in New Orleans. It is impossible not to love this series. It is just so frakking amazing. The characters are even more incredible this time around. Nick is still to die for. A great hero, who is strong, unsure, and has a tongue too sharp for his own good. We get deeper into Kody’s story and see what her role really is in all of this. It is pretty amazing and I like that it is more complicated than I thought. I love how she questions herself when it comes to Nick. It lets us know she will fight for him to become a better man and not what he is destined to be. Definitely can’t wait to see how this will pan out. And we get more of Nick and his mom. Like I said about Infinity, one of the most beautiful things about the book is Nick’s love for his mother. He would do anything for her, it is just so nice. He gets her get a job (with Kyrian’s help) after she loses it (because of him), but she doesn’t know she is working with supernatural creatures yet. I am looking forward to seeing how long Nick can keep this a secret from her and what her reaction would be. I love how the plot develops in this book. Nick’s school has a new coach that wants Nick to steal from his fellow classmates. If he doesn’t, Nick may or may not die “by accident”. The coach needs very specific items from these students, not copies that could be easily bought. When we find out what it is really all about and what this coach has done to get it, it is beyond anything I could have imagined. I love where this went and what we learn. Why the hell isn’t this a tv show already or something? I love Invincible just as much as I loved Infinity. This book was a tad more serious than the first because we get more story not only from the main characters, but some of the very memorable side characters. My favorite was the story of why Bubba watches Oprah. I was listening to this part in my car driving home and I was in tears driving down the street. You literally go from crying one second to laughing the next. If you haven’t read anything from Kenyon, I urge you to. This is truly all I could ask for in a book and the fact that it is YA makes it even better. And as I said in my Infinity review, get the audiobook for the amazing narrator Holter Graham. If you are reading this, can you marry me? ...more

Diana (Offbeat Vagabond)'s bookshelf: magic (showing 1-30 of 69) (sorted by: notes)


Input: [0] checkbox [#] position [cover] cover [title] title The Immortal Highlander (Highlander, #6) [author] author Moning, Karen Marie * [isbn] isbn 1423341635 [isbn13] isbn13 9781423341635 [asin] asin [num pages] num pages 0 pp [avg rating] avg rating 4.34 [num ratings] num ratings 24,667 [date pub] date pub Jan 01, 2004 [date pub (ed.)] date pub edition May 20, 2008 [rating] Diana (Offbeat Vagabond)'s rating 5 of 5 stars [my rating] my rating 1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars add to shelves [notes] notes Notes are private! [recommender] recommender none [comments] comments 0 [votes] votes 0 [read count] # times read 1 [date started] date started Jan 02, 2012 [date read] date read Jan 08, 2012 [date added] date added Apr 21, 2012 [date purchased] date purchased [owned] owned [purchase location] purchase location [condition] condition [format] format Audio CD [29] actions view (with text) [review]

Output: review Review posted here: http://offbeatvagabond.blogspot.com/2012/04/book-review-immortal-highlander.html Immortal Highlander follows the story of Adam Bla Review posted here: http://offbeatvagabond.blogspot.com/2012/04/book-review-immortal-highlander.html Immortal Highlander follows the story of Adam Black. Adam is Fae, a very powerful Fae prince who was the queen's favorite. Being a favorite has its advantages since Adam pretty much got away with everything. Well not today. The Queen is tired of Adam's crap, so as a punishment, not only is he forced to stay in the mortal world, but he is also invisible to everyone...except to Gabrielle. Gabrielle is a smart attorney living on her own. She was raised on the terrible stories of what the Fae have done. She hates that she can see them because she knows of the tricks they play. But she hasn't come across any such as Adam. He is more than interested in Gabrielle and she is scared because she might be returning those same feelings. I had to get this on audiobook which is both a good and bad thing. Good thing: I love Moning and knew she would make Adam's story unforgettable. Bad thing: I drove in my car while listening to this and I got so distracted, I almost caused a wreck or two. Any regrets? Hell no! If Phil Gigante doesn't have the same effect on you, you are a corpse. His voice isn't just sexy, it is sex. It is hard to believe this is the same Adam Black from Beyond the Highland Mist. He was quite cruel. But here, I was melting like ice cream. He definitely had a lot of passion (by the boatloads) and a lot of personality. You can't help but love him. Gabrielle was amazing. She definitely had a mind of her own and wasn't putty in Adam's hands from the get-go. Their chemistry was out of this world. I love when she realizes she wants him and how jealous she got when other women looked at him. The lies she spread had me laughing so hard there were tears in my eyes. To be honest, I would have done the same thing. I loved this. I love the journey Adam and Gabrielle had to endure to get Adam to his normal self and the trials he had to face. One being Darroc. Given I started the Fever series before the Highlander series, I knew I didn't like him then. This just confirms that more. He is out to rule the Fae world and thereby controlling the Mortal world (we Fever fans know how that went). But I love that this story shows us a different side of Adam though. That he isn't like his cruel and heartless brethren. He may be as old as time itself, but this was about him growing up and it made me love him more. Same for Gabrielle. Through Adam, she learns that she can't just accept everything she has been told. She learns so much about Adam and Fae in general. I could talk about this book all day. I was expecting great and it surpassed that and more. Adam is my second favorite of all the men in this series so far. Drustan from Kiss of the Highlander is my favorite who makes an appearance in this along with his twin Dageus. This book is full of passion, love, laughs, and sacrifice. I still can't believe I nearly overlooked this series. High recommendation if you haven't read it yet and an even higher recommendation for the audiobook version. ...more

Diana (Offbeat Vagabond)'s bookshelf: magic (showing 1-30 of 69) (sorted by: notes)


Input: [0] checkbox [#] position [cover] cover [title] title Grave Mercy (His Fair Assassin, #1) [author] author LaFevers, Robin [isbn] isbn 0547822413 [isbn13] isbn13 9780547822419 [asin] asin [num pages] num pages 528 pp [avg rating] avg rating 3.94 [num ratings] num ratings 54,421 [date pub] date pub Apr 03, 2012 [date pub (ed.)] date pub edition Apr 03, 2012 [rating] Diana (Offbeat Vagabond)'s rating 5 of 5 stars [my rating] my rating 1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars add to shelves [notes] notes Notes are private! [recommender] recommender none [comments] comments 0 [votes] votes 0 [read count] # times read 1 [date started] date started Mar 31, 2012 [date read] date read Apr 03, 2012 [date added] date added Apr 21, 2012 [date purchased] date purchased [owned] owned [purchase location] purchase location [condition] condition [format] format ebook [29] actions view (with text) [review]

Output: review Review posted here: http://offbeatvagabond.blogspot.com/2012/04/book-review-grave-mercy-his-fair.html Grave Mercy is about a young woman named Ismae w Review posted here: http://offbeatvagabond.blogspot.com/2012/04/book-review-grave-mercy-his-fair.html Grave Mercy is about a young woman named Ismae who has been dealt a terrible hand in life. She is the spawn of a demon. Her mother was so scared of what she would become, she hired a witch to create a poison that would kill her before she was born, but it didn't take. Instead it left her horribly scarred. But her horrendous father has married her off to a brutal man that finds out what she is. Ismae escapes him and ends up with the convent of St. Mortain. It is here she is taught to serve the god of Death and learns of many ways to kill to fulfill his wishes. She is to become an assassin. That is right, a nun assassin. She has passed a couple of tests, but to stay at the convent, she must pass her biggest challenge. She must find who is trying to betray the duchess of Brittany. It is harder than she expected given it to be. Not to mention serving Mortain is a bit more complicated than she or the convent thinks. Ismae is definitely going on my great heroines list. She is a no-nonsense kind of woman. She knows how to be deadly and know how to do do it quietly. She did scare me a time or two. But I love that there is still a certain innocence about her. She was quite the character. I am a huge fan of Gavriel Duval. As a matter of fact, he is my new book boyfriend. He is honorable and would bend over backwards for his sister Anne, who is set to be the next duchess. He let Ismae see that things are not as black and white as the convent led her to believe. They were an exceptional team and I love the chemistry. Romance isn't the forefront of the book, but it was no less amazing. It wasn't instant, it grew page by page. I loved it. I loved Anne, Duval's sister. She was so young, but truly wise beyond her years. I love the relationship she forms with Duval's family. Even when it comes to the ones who have tried to stab him in the back. I also loved Duval's right-hand men, Beast and de Lornay, especially Beast. They really would do anything for Duval. Definitely men you would want to have your back. I am definitely curious about Sybella. She was a sister at the convent who has seemingly escaped. Her mind seems to have been broken, but she was way ahead of Ismae and helped her throughout. Her story will be told in book 2, so I am more than excited to read it. The plot was absolutely mind-boggling. I love the idea of a nun assassin fighting for her country. Trying to figure out the traitor is was a riot. Usually I am good at figuring it out way ahead of time, but not here. This is a story that will keep you on your toes until the end. I honestly didn't know what to expect with this book. But it definitely surpassed my expectations and will be going on my Favorites list. A story full of mystery, political intrigue, and murder. You will blast through this book. This is more for mature YA I think. But still can be enjoyed by YA fans and adults alike. I don't read a lot of political thrillers and even if political thrillers aren't your thing, I think this book will change your mind. It certainly did for me. Grave Mercy was an unexpected page-turner. I truly couldn't put this book down. Make sure to grab your copy today. ...more

Diana (Offbeat Vagabond)'s bookshelf: magic (showing 1-30 of 69) (sorted by: notes)


Input: [0] checkbox [#] position [cover] cover [title] title The Foul Mouth and the Cat Killing Coyotes (The King Henry Tapes #2) [author] author Raley, Richard * [isbn] isbn [isbn13] isbn13 [asin] asin B007JCKFR0 [num pages] num pages 261 pp [avg rating] avg rating 4.43 [num ratings] num ratings 201 [date pub] date pub Mar 13, 2012 [date pub (ed.)] date pub edition Mar 13, 2012 [rating] Diana (Offbeat Vagabond)'s rating 5 of 5 stars [my rating] my rating 1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars add to shelves [notes] notes Notes are private! [recommender] recommender none [comments] comments 0 [votes] votes 0 [read count] # times read 1 [date started] date started Apr 20, 2012 [date read] date read Apr 24, 2012 [date added] date added Apr 21, 2012 [date purchased] date purchased [owned] owned [purchase location] purchase location [condition] condition [format] format Kindle Edition [29] actions view (with text) [review]

Output: review Review posted here: http://offbeatvagabond.blogspot.com/2012/04/indie-book-review-foul-mouth-and-cat.html In the sequel of The King Henry Tapes series Review posted here: http://offbeatvagabond.blogspot.com/2012/04/indie-book-review-foul-mouth-and-cat.html In the sequel of The King Henry Tapes series, King Henry is back and has managed to really step in it. After playing hero to save a woman being harassed in a parking lot by a group of men, he quickly finds out that the men aren't human. They are Were coyotes. And King Henry thinks nothing of it until he finds out their leader is so fearsome, even his mentor Ceinwyn is afraid of them. And what is worse? His sister Jojo, who he hasn't seen in years, is married to the big bad coyote. But before he can save her from him, the Coyotes have something planned for King Henry as payback. I really enjoyed this book just a much as the first one. King Henry is still his same old self; a smart ass, rude, and still jumping the gun. As I said with book 1, I love the idea of him recollecting his life at the Asylum. The story of the camping trip was great and funny. Scary, but still funny. There was something about that camping trip that reminded me of an episode of Naruto. It made me love it more. I love how King Henry is suspicious of anything and anyone and he has plenty of reason to be. I love that we get more of King Henry's friend Tyson or T-Bone as King Henry calls him. Tyson hates it which is all the more reason he does it. I wondered through this book and Tyson asked it as well; why are they friends? King Henry always has some geek or racist joke in store for Tyson and he doesn't tell him everything specifically the vital information. But throughout the book and especially near the end there is such a great dynamic and understanding between them, it is actually nice. Not a word I would use to describe King Henry, but it is true. I also like when going through the past, he has the same kind of relationship with Pocket. I hope to see him with grown up King Henry. Well as grown as King Henry can get. This was such a great story. The whole possibility of war. Mancers and coyotes have a certain kind of peace between them. And it takes King Henry just a couple days to threaten that and start a war, all for his sister. King Henry and his assumptions makes you think of how he has survived this long. But I loved where this went. I love that Raley makes his fight scenes so action packed and funny. Goodness, this would make such an awesome movie. I can't wait for book 3. When we finally meet the coyote leader, Horatio Vega, you aren't sure about what makes him scary. But there is something about him that rubs you wrong way. And when you learn why he is so scary, you will be shouting "Shit!". It is not pretty. I am also very curious about the fairy that contacts King Henry when he is younger. It keeps warning him about the wind and wants to protect him. I wish we got more as to why it chose him and why it wants to protect him. But that is a mystery that I am dying to have uncovered. So it is very suspenseful for me. I am a huge fan of this series. It is so entertaining. Raley definitely has a way with words. I already have some quotes highlighted in this book I plan to live by. And again, the mancy idea is so fresh and cool. It is nice to have some fresh blood in the supernatural world. As I said with book 1, Raley's idea of vampires is so unique. And his take on Weres is just as original and fresh. I love it! So if you are looking for something truly unique and out of the box, start this series today. You won't regret it. ...more

Diana (Offbeat Vagabond)'s bookshelf: magic (showing 1-30 of 69) (sorted by: notes)


Input: [0] checkbox [#] position [cover] cover [title] title The Girl in the Clockwork Collar (Steampunk Chronicles, #2) [author] author Cross, Kady * [isbn] isbn 0373210531 [isbn13] isbn13 9780373210534 [asin] asin [num pages] num pages 416 pp [avg rating] avg rating 4.01 [num ratings] num ratings 7,232 [date pub] date pub May 22, 2012 [date pub (ed.)] date pub edition May 22, 2012 [rating] Diana (Offbeat Vagabond)'s rating 5 of 5 stars [my rating] my rating 1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars add to shelves [notes] notes Notes are private! [recommender] recommender none [comments] comments 0 [votes] votes 0 [read count] # times read 1 [date started] date started May 11, 2012 [date read] date read May 14, 2012 [date added] date added Apr 23, 2012 [date purchased] date purchased [owned] owned [purchase location] purchase location [condition] condition [format] format Hardcover [29] actions view (with text) [review]

Output: review Original post here: http://offbeatvagabond.blogspot.com/2012/08/book-review-girl-in-clockwork-collar.html I reviewed The Girl in the Steel Corset a few Original post here: http://offbeatvagabond.blogspot.com/2012/08/book-review-girl-in-clockwork-collar.html I reviewed The Girl in the Steel Corset a few months back (click HERE to check it out), so I immediately jumped at the chance to read the sequel. I must say, I was not disappointed. The Girl in the Clockwork Collar is just as exciting as its predecessor. The gang is all back together minus one. In The Girl in the Steel Corset, we left off with Jasper being arrested and sent back to America for a crime he committed. Finley, Griffin. Sam, and Emily all decide to travel to New York to get their friend back and find out the truth. But they soon find out that cops aren't what they are up against. Instead, they are up against a very dangerous and quite evil crime lord named Reno Dalton. Dalton kidnapped him because Jasper hid parts of a special machine all around New York from Dalton. Dalton has something huge planned and wants that machine and will do anything to get it. I love that all our characters are back and better than ever. Finley is still strong and is definitely her own woman. I love the push-and-pull relationship between her and Griffin. They are both so stubborn and are always fighting each other. She doesn't think she is good enough for him because she came from nothing. He doesn't think he is good enough for her because he isn't as exciting or "bad" as Dandy (who isn't in this book, which is a shame). We also have my favorite character Emily who is so cute and brilliant, it is hard not to love her. And Sam is still great. He is still a bit of an ass, but not as much as he was in book 1. I like that him and Finley are finding some common ground. I love how much we learn about Jasper and his past. He is an amazing character. He does whatever it takes to save those he loves. I loved this book, but I wouldn't have had an issue if most of the book was told from his point of view. Then we have Mei, Jasper's old girlfriend that Dalton has held ransom in his home. He has a clockwork collar around neck. If she gets out of line or tries to leave, it tightens. I found her a tad bit annoying. She is definitely the clingy, jealous type. I just kept asking myself, "Don't you have other things to worry about? Like your lives!" Dalton is a great villain. I had a hard time believing he was barely in his 20s. Just too knowledgable for his own good. Nothing seems to get past him. This book was full of action and twists. The book flowed well and Cross once again gives us a wonderful steampunk world. Again I ask; Hollywood, why aren't you taking advantage of this?! I love all the various people we meet while the gang is trying so hard to save Jasper and stop Dalton. A favorite and one I am most curious about was Wildcat. She is an old friend (possibly more) of Jasper's. Like the gang, she has special powers of her own. But hers make her less human. She has sharp teeth and nails, can climb up buildings and can take and give punches as good as Finley. I was a bit disappointed we didn't see more of her. I hope we do somehow in book 3. She was a very compelling character. I am trying hard not to spoil the book. But the only compliant I have is the way Dalton was taken down. I expected a bit more, but that doesn't take away anything from the book. It was amazing. Like I said, it is very action packed. We learn more about Griffin and his gift. It seems something that is invisible to everyone but him is after him. I am dying to find out who or what it is. Whatever it was, it was scary as hell. The characters are just as lovable as they were in the first book. The story was badass and had me at the egde of my seat. If you enjoy steampunk or never have given it a try, you have to check this series out. It is a blast. ...more

Diana (Offbeat Vagabond)'s bookshelf: magic (showing 1-30 of 69) (sorted by: notes)