Welcome to RW Design

This was at one point in time my book blog. As you can probably tell from some past posts, and the name -Read N Write This Way- That was in it's younger days. Now it is the New and Improved Read & Write & DESIGN this way.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

My Blood Approves Review

  • AUTHOR- Amanda Hocking
  • PAGES: 332 pages
  • PUBLISHER: CreateSpace (March 17, 2010)
OUTLINE: Seventeen-year-old Alice Bonham's life feels out of control after she meets Jack. With his fondness for pink Chuck Taylors and New Wave hits aside, Jack's unlike anyone she's ever met. Then she meets his brother, Peter. His eyes pierce through her, and she can barely breathe when he's around. Even though he can't stand the sight of her, she's drawn to him. But falling for two very different guys isn't even the worst of her problems. Jack and Peter are vampires, and Alice finds herself caught between love and her own blood...

MY THOUGHTS: I got thisbook through my Kindle I have on my computer and it was free so I figured what the hell. So when I started reading this I was thinking this sounds alot like another book that's hugely popular, Twilight, The hot guy with the a secret and a young girl that falls in love with him and wants to know. Then I started to think that's what most books are really. You have to kind of over look that fact I guess. I read it in like 7 or 8 hours (I had nothing else to do) The vampires in this book also find other ways to get blood rather then killing people. I think the major difference in this one is for one it's kind of like a soulmate thing. Alice is linked to Peter(vampire) but the Jack is the one that falls for her. Unlike Twilight though Jack isn't tryin to keep Alice from turning. He's actually for it. Although early on in the book you kind of figure out what Jack and his family really are Alice doesn't find out til father along in the book, which seems eh because it's pretty clear to the reader. It's pretty much Alice struggling between her pull towards peter and her I guess you could call it a crush on Jack. I love some of the characters to Alice's brother is younger then her, but seems so much older it's like he takes care of her. (Parent-mom isn't really around) later in the book you find out somethings about him that I find refreshing in books. I also like the Vampire family members of Jack, the mom and dad, are so laid back for vampires. They seem to genuinely care for everybody and take Alice in too. Enough said. Read it to find out more. You can get it through Amazon.com

If you have nothing better to do this actually is an easy read. There are 3 more books in the series which I have yet to read but will eventually. It's not high on my to read list but it's still there because the ending to this one does just that ends. It leaves you wanting to know what happens to Alice and her love triangle, what happens with her brother, and what her decision is.


3 of 5 Stars
(Plot seems to close to others)

Happy Reading and Blogging


Sunday, October 17, 2010

In My Mailbox

How In My Mailbox works:

1. Every week we'll post about what books we have received that week (via your mailbox/library/store bought)! Preferably posts will be made every Sunday, but feel free to choose a day that works best for you.

2. Everyone that agrees to participate will try to visit each other's list and leave comments!

3. Everyone is welcome to join! You can join at anytime and you DO NOT have to participate every week.

4. Be sure to sign the Mr. Linky Widget (that will be posted each Sunday with my In My Mailbox post) so that others can easily find your "In My Mailbox" post! You DO NOT have to title your post "In My Mailbox"

5. Link back here, to The story siren, on your In My Mailbox post, so that other people can find more information about IMM.

Try to have fun!

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Alright, So I figured I'd start this one too. So I didn't receive anyhting via mail, but I did buy Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen and Vanised by Meg Cabot at walmart Saturday. So hopefully those will be some good books. I didn't go to the library. I'm thinking I might need to start going there too and looking around. I din't get anything from friends because none of my friends that I know of read like I do. So that should wrap it up. enjoy!

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Book Blogger Hop Question answered..

                                       
                             This is Book Blog Hopper and it's hosted by Crazy for books
When you read a book that you can't get into, do you stick it out and keep reading or move to your next title.
 
I'm a little late on answering this question, but it's one that I like so here goes. I haven't actually just stopped reading a book because I didn't like it. I'll usually just put it down for awhile, and read something else then I'll go back to it and try and finish it up because I don't want to put my time into reading some of it and then not see where it went. If it sucked it sucked there's nothing you can do about it, but you might as well finish it even if it takes a few months. I actually have some like that right now. I started reading them a few months ago, and they didn't keep my attention so I moved on, but I will get back to them.
 
Ashley
 
 

Walmart shopping..never a good thing!

Let me explain the title if you haven't read in older post. I love walmart it's one of the few places I buy my books. (I'm not a fan of big book store chains, although I will go if necessary to find something I haven't found anywhere else) First off, I'm disappointed that they didn't have the main book I went there for which was Beautiful Darkness. They had the Beautiful Creatures last week or the week before (they didn't this time) I don't want to go to B & N to get it, but that might be my only choice. I spend to much in there when I go too. back to my title I say this because every time I go to walmart and I mean everytime I always end up getting at least one book. This time I got two. I wanted a few more, but I told myself no 2 was pushing my limit. So in the end I got Vanished by Meg Cabot and another one that is a little different from my normal creature of the night books and what not, at least, I think it is from reading the back cover. It's Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen.

Of course they're both YA books though. I also noticed Hilary Duff's newbook Elixir was out at walmart I thought about getting that. That would be intresting to read seeing as how she's done the whole acting, singing, and now apparently authoring thing or writing thing if you want to call it that. So anyone have any ideas if that's any good? Well that's all I have to say for now. I think my next book to be read is The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Even though I should read the next in line to the Strange Angels Series.  I want a different read for a bit. That is all for real this time.

Happy Reading and Blogging

Strange Angel Review

  • AUTHOR: Lili St. Crow
  • READING LEVEL: Young adult
  • PAGES: 293
  • PUBLISHER: Penguin Group (USA) Incorporated (Razorbill)
  •  WEBSITE: http://www.strange-angels.com/
OUTLINE:  Dad? Zombie.
                   Mom? Long gone
                   Me? Well, that's the scary part.

The real world is a frightening place. Just ask 16 year old orphan Dru Anderson, a tough girl who has taken down her fair share of bad guys. She's armed, dangerous, and ready to kill first and ask questions later. So it's gonna take her awhile to figure out who she can trust...

Dru Anderson has been 'strange" for as long as she can remember, traveling from town to town with her father to hunt things that go bump in the night.  It's a weird life, but a good one--until it all explodes in an icy, broken-down Dakota town, when a hungry zombie bursts through her kitchen door. Alone, terrified, and trapped, Dru's going to need every inch of her wit and training to stay alive. The monsters have decided to hunt back--andthis time, Dru's on their menu. Chances of survival? Slim to none.

If she can't last until sun-up, it's game over.... (Outline courteousy of back cover on book) 

STARTED: 10-09-2010
FINISHED: 10-16-2010

MY THOUGHTS:
I finally finished the book yea me. After I really sat down to read it from page 100 and on I was through it just like that. When I first started reading this I thought it went a little slow. I'm kind of a fast paced person when it comes to reading I want things to happen quic, but sometimes the begining of the books half to go slow to build up the story I suppose. Once I actually got through the first few chapters I started to enjoy it more. If you've ever seen Supernatural on the WB it's about two brothers Dean and Sam chasing the things that go bump in the night well that's what this books reminds me of. Sorry off topic a little bit.
Anyways, it follows Dru a 16 year old who just lost her dad to zombies, and who's mother died when she was younger. Alot of her story and past shows up later in the book and we learn alot more about who she is and her family. Sound interesting? After everything falls apart for her (her dad turns Zombie. Not a spoiler the book cover says it. LOL. She meets a boy Graves(what good book doesn't have a love interest) at the school she goes too. She tries her hardest to get rid of him but he refuses to leave her. He thinks she's interesting. Graves is kind of a loner to so they go well together. She finally gives in and begins to trust him and things go from there. Now I'm not going to say alot more because that would give things away. Just read to find out.
I loved how this book didn't just contain Vampires or Werewolves, or any one particular creature of the night. Even though, I do love a good Vampire or Were story. This book contained all kinds of creature from Suckers (vampires), Werwulfs, Zombies, Dreamwalkers, Skinchangers, and Djamphirs (I was shocked to see this one cause it's one that's kind of in the Vampire Academy series) among others. I am curious though, how come most vampires in stories are all really really young? I mean can't some be turned into vampires while they're older. Just something to ponder.
All in all I liked this book very much, yes it took me awhile to get started like I said at the begining, but it was worth it. Now I have the need to read Betrayals the 2nd one (which by the way I bought before I had strange angels. Don't ask.) and then Jealousy which I have to go out and buy.

Also I must say this when reading I tend to jot down quotes I like from the books, and I did so with this one also maybe sometime I'll put them up. Hummmm.
4 of 5 stars

Happy reading
Ash

Friday, October 15, 2010

The Godsend Review

  • AUTHOR: Bernard Taylor.
  • It is his debut novel and was first published in 1976 by Souvenir Press.
PLOT:
The story concerns the Marlowe family and an abandoned child named Bonnie, who they take into their home after being left with them by a mysterious woman they meet on a day out to a nearby lake. The story is told in first person by Alan Marlowe, the father of the family, who gradually starts to suspect that the subsequent tragic deaths of his children were caused by Bonnie. (taken from Wikipedia)


MY THOUGHTS:
I had mixed feelings about this book. In a way it was good, but then I wasn't thrilled with the way things just seemed to happen to the kids. It's weird because when the movie "The Orphan" came out in 2009 I was like that movies seems like a book I read, and in ways it was I mean not the whole plot or anything but the parent's adopting a Psychotic Orphan. where as the movie the girl was actually an adult this book the kid was actually a kid but she wasn't normal, and bad things appened around her. I bought it at a goodwill store and when I read the back cover (that's how I pick out most my books) it sounded interesting. It's a very thin book so anyone who can read a 500 page book in a few days can read this one in a few hours. So all in allit was ok.

2 out of 5 Stars

Ash

Things around the book blogging world

    Follow My Book Blog Friday -

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

What's on my plate?

Well let's see as of right now I'm just sitting here letting my friend somewhat edit what I wrote. I'm really not all that great at the whole editing stuff. That's totally her job. I love her for it too. :P I was just thinking what am I gonna get to buy this week when I get my paycheck. I like to treat myself a little. I know for one thing I'll be getting Beautiful Darkness that just came out Tuesday, also I'm debating on whether or not to get the Gilmore Girls 6th season I just finished season 5 and I am like why the hell did they end the season like that (I know the shows over and I can easily watch all seasons but still) I mean to cut it off at Loreli asking Luke to marry her what the? It's a good thing I can easily watch it because....yeah.....So I'm thinking those will be the two things I splurge on then come my bills. I hate bills. They suck. You never know though like I said if I go to a book store or anywhere that has books I'm way in over my head. It's addiction that can't be stopped.
I will more than likely buy other books. I'm trying to keep my self from buying anymore right now just because I already have a long freakin' list of TBR books. I'm trying  very hard to keep from getting the mortal instrument series because I can't read them now, but they're like always in my walmart book section when I go over and look. I know I'm kind of just babbling right now. Bad habit. So right now my current read is Strange Angels by Lili St.Crow tryin to finish it up soon but I'm only on like page 100 or something.

Happy Reading and Blogging
Ash

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Beautiful Creatures Review

DETAILS


  • Reading level: Young Adult


  • Hardcover: 563 pages


  • Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers; 1 edition (December 1, 2009)


  • Author(s): Margaret Stohl & Kami Garcia



  • Outline: Ethan Wate is what you consider a popular guy at his high school in the small town of Gatlin, South Carolina, until he meets the "Strange" Lena Duchannes, the girl he's been dreaming about. After their actual meeting, Ethan can't seem to stay away from his dream girl. Even though something is different about her. He finally learns about her and her family's history of being Casters (witch like) and that on her 16th birthday she'll be claimed as either Light or Dark. Through the journey Ethan stays with Lena for what is sure to be something incredible to come. Maybe.

    Started: 9-27-10
    Finished: 10-09-10

    Thoughts: When I started this it was before I actually had the book I went online and read the first 200 and something pages from the website. After reading those I was like I have to buy this book and see what happens. So it took me a good month to find the book. Which I finally found at B & N. When I did get it I admit it took me awhile to actually get into it.  Don't get me wrong once I did I loved it. It just seemed a little slow at first. It seemed like it took awhile for things to start happening, but that's ok. The book described alot of stuff at the beginning. It built up the characters which I loved. I'm one for knowing the characters quick it lets you kinda build a relationship with them throughout the book I guess you could say. You feel like you know them better and you can connect with them. I definitely felt that way with Ethan and Lena. It was also nice to see a "Romance like novel" in the point of view of a guy. I loved learning about Lena's world of Casters. I must admit I was sad near the end of the book. I hate when things happen, but it makes the story more interesting when things do happen so it's all good.

    All in all I would say 4 out of 5 stars

    My rating system will be improved as I get more books read and reviewed.

    Happy Reading and Blogging :)
    Ash

    Thursday, October 7, 2010

    A Side Note..

    Ok this isn't really going to be a blog or nothing. Usually if I don't write something over here on this one then you can probably find something from my daily life written here http://angelicnytmare.blogspot.com/ my personal ramblings and such. Oh I'm like 200 pages away from finishing Beautiful Creatures so that when Beautiful Darkness comes out I can get it. See there's one book on my list for next week is it? I'm so far happy with the book, but more on that when I do finish. Ok so I said I would give a little preview of my work. So here it is....



    • Reed Castle- In the short time I have been working at S.M.R.(Sacred Mortal Recovery) I have seen my share of deaths maybe more than one person should, but I knew it would happen going into this field. Also by doing so I knew that I could help those who others deemed as "unworthy."  The little blonde girl in room 102 was one of my latest patient. Like all the other younger patients I had high hopes that she would pull through the treatment.



    :) Interested? This is just one Characters outlook...For another...this isn't the actual beginning. It's a middle part I liked.
    • Emberlyn- Probably the most important thing I’d never get to experience is the whole soul mate thing. Lets face it, once you’re dead… you’re soul-less. That’s the controversy right now, at least. With that being said, how can you have a "soul mate" if you have no soul? It's weird how once you lose the chance at having the things you never really cared about in life, you automatically want. These are some of the things that my brain has held onto since being in my "dead state", as I like to call it.
    So that is what I have in the works as of now.

    Happy Reading and Blogging :)

    Ash

    Wednesday, October 6, 2010

    It's not easy..but interesting

    So a friend and I are writing a story together, and since I'm not to good with the whole editing stuff I've just been writing and letting her revise it the way she thinks it would sound. I must admit it turns out alot better the way she does it. She leaves somethings alone and others she changes which is fine that's what editing and revising is right? I'm actually enjoying this. The way we have it going is she'll write a chapter and her character and then I write the next under my character but we combined them. It sounds kinda confusing, but it's not really. I don't want to give away the story or anything, but I'm pretty sure I haven't seen a book out about it. The characters and what...they are yes those have been used but there's a twist to it. I'm sure you can guess as to what they are. So we'll see how it goes.  Hopefully well. I love writing characters and their history. Sorry a little off topic. Anyways, maybe I'll add a little of what I wrote so far up here too just for kicks.

    She just had her first book published. It's called Heinous Crimes, Immoral Minds By Aubrey Becker you can find it at Amazon. I actually have yet to read it, since it's been revised and all that jazz.  I did get to see it in the beginning stages though. So I think once I do get it. I'll put it up here and review it.

    Well it's about that time, and I actually have to get to writing some more 5 pages isn't a whole lot really, and 4 of those are to be used later in the story so yeah...

    So Happy Reading And Blogging :)

    Ash (AngelicNytmare)

    Saturday, October 2, 2010

    Icons From Books

    Can you tell I'm dying with boredom here. I'm just putting these things up until I get around to actually writing my reviews. I've read Wake, All the vampire academys, and all the HON books. I however have not read the Hunger Games Series, but I do plan on  it as soon as I finish the 5 books I have going right now. Which are Strange Angels (few chpts in), Beautiful Ceatures (1/2 way through), The Darkest Evening of the Year (few chpts in), Wicked (almost through), and Vanished (well its been awhile actually since I last read from this one)










    Contests I like contest

    Ok so for now until I actually get around to writing my reviews for the books I've read and am going to read I'll just add links to contests that I've joined. It would nice to e able to add to my somehat small book collection. :)

    http://www.betweenthecoversblog.net/2010/10/haunted-halloween-angels-and-demons.html Haunted halloween: Angels and demons


    http://totalbookaholic.blogspot.com/2010/10/haunted-halloween-book-feature-with.html Confessions of a bookaholic
    http://networkedblogs.com/99uIk Contest of epic Proportions by Book Affair
    http://www.parajunkee.com/2010/10/win-hush-hush-crescendo.html Hush Hush Giveaway
    http://www.literarycravings.com/2010/10/nightshade-giveaway.html Nightshde Giveaway
    http://naughtybookkitties.blogspot.com/2010/10/spooky-scary-sexy-halloween-book.html-Halloween contest
    http://theundercoverbooklover.blogspot.com/2010/09/hungry-for-harperteen-contest.html Hungry for harper teens
    http://sparkling-reviews.blogspot.com/p/giveaways.html Sparkling Review-Kindle Giveaway

    http://theundercoverbooklover.blogspot.com/2010/09/hungry-for-harperteen-contest.html Undercover book Lover

    http://thebookpixie.blogspot.com/2010/09/delcroix-academy-candidates-giveaway.html another giveway from the book pixie




    Happy reading oh and blogging
    Ash

    Friday, October 1, 2010

    Addicted much?

    So now that I have my own little spot here. This is all about the books baby!  As soon as I find time I'll be posting my reviews of books I have read in the past, present and future. Ok well not the future because I don't know what the future holds, but I do know that if I keep buying books like i have been I will definitely not be in short supply of them. I buy at least 2 to 3 books a week with my paycheck. To hell with electricity and rent right? No but really I do buy alot of books. I mainly get them at Walmart, Target, Half Price Books, or get them on my pc kindle from Amazon (Sooner or later I hope to actual buy a kindle) I venture to Barnes and Nobles on occasions when I can't find a book at the other places. I also use to get them through Literary Guild and some other ones online. I'm telling you it's so bad for me because I literally have like 3 or 4 books I'm reading right now. I keep one at home by my bed, one next to my bathtub (yes I read in the tub), and 1 in my car, and sometimes one is in my laptop case. Addicted much? Nah not me. I'm also currently trying to write a book with a friend. Hopefully we can get it done. She currently just had a book published called Heinous Crimes, Immoral Minds by Aubrey Becker. You can go to Amazon.com and type it in. I know you can get it on the Kindle for 6.99 if I'm not mistaken, or here http://www.entrywaypublishing.com/comingsoon.html and it's $11.95. Ha, you like how I did a little plug in there. Seeing as how it's almost 1:30 am and I have to be at work at 8am I'm going to get to sleep.

    Happy Blogging!

    Ash