So, I broke down and watched the full trailer on the Halo site for Halo 4.  I don't want to say too much, but let's just say that some tears of joy might have been shed.  Dude, I have missed these two crazy kids.

And if that wasn't epic enough, patriot_jackie posted her Halo fic, To the End. It is amazing.  The characterization is spot on. The plot, while angsty, fits this universe so well.  I might be planning to print it out and write hearts with "117 + 0425-9 = Love" all over it, LOL.  Seriously, if you ever wonder why these two are my longest running OTP, read it and you'll get it.  This fic, guys, seriously.

So, k_writerly posted a new entry in her ongoing "From Book to Blurb" series.  And this month's post is set in the Without Wings universe. YAY!

It's a cute look at the sibling relationship between Lasca and Chez which adds some nice background to the book. 

It's a quick read so go and check it out! :D :D

On Blogger

No.  This time I didn't wait.

This time, despite the fact that I knew it was nothing like Confessions, I knew I wanted to buy Laura Josephsen's new book, Rising Book 1: Resistance.  

Dude, it's awesome.

Before I start fangirling about the whole book (which will contain many spoilers), I offer you the non-spoilery, LOL lacking review over here.  (Hey, I had to sound "professional", LOL).

( Thar be spoilers ahead... )

The links (thanks faith_king):

Kindle at Amazon
Paperback at Amazon
Nook at B&N
Smashwords
Goodreads

Warning: This post will contain much squeeing and fangirl flailing.  You have been warned.

I've been waiting to post this until my thoughts were cohesive and structured. Then I realized, that is never going to happen because my love for this book is profound. And so is my love for Chez.  Without further ado, I give you Without Wings by K. Writerly.




There's epic worldbuilding! And Chez! There's the awesomeness of Lasca! And Chez! There's the mysterious mystery behind--oh wait, I can't tell you who! And Chez! There are immortals and People Who Aren't As They Seem!  And Chez!

I have been fangirling this story since the excerpt was posted over at k_writerly's journal. And it does not disappoint. At all.  I would write some lofty review, but reread my first sentence after my warning.  I feel like my fangirl squee would reveal too much about the story.

Each of the characters are awesome (but realistically flawed--there be no Mary Sues in this fic). 

Lasca is absolutely a hoot with her quirks as a lusty reluctantly-successful photographer/professor.  Some of her asides are hysterical. Seriously.  I love watching her growth throughout the entire novel. By the end, you'll totally be recognizing that Chez isn't the only badass in the family.

Speaking of my biggest book crush ever, CHEZ!!!! Ahem...Sorry about that.  Chez is like a jaded John Sheppard sprinkled with a bit of John Crichton's first season WTF-ness.  Utter sarcastic yet he's got heart. And we all know how I feel about a man with a gun. Well, he's got two. And he's named them. ♥

And Owen! Er, well, no I can't exactly get into details about him without spoilers, but he's awesome.  And if you are a fan of awesome bromance, then you are going to love and adore the interaction between him and Chez.

I could go on and on about the adorable sweetness of Gianni (If you enjoy a good slow-boil UST-y relationship, then you'll squee and flail for Lasca and Gianni), the serenity of Andro, the tough-guyness (Is that a word?) of Lei and his crew, but really? You should read this book for yourself.

It's only $2.99 on Smashwords for the eBook.  A steal I tell you!  It's going to be released in paperback on Amazon and Lulu in January and I fully intend on buying a hard copy then.  Though, if you got little ones running around the house, then you should probably tuck this one away.  While there is nothing overly explicit (especially when compared to the majority of fanfic), it does have adult themes running through it.

Go! Read and enjoy!

So, as I was waiting for the slowest website ever to make the "Social Networking" thing, I had the opportunity to read a wonderful Thor fic written for the het_bigbang.  Go, read.  It's not just a Jane/Thor fic, there is a ton of interaction with the other members of the Avengers, a bit of family drama back on Asgard, and is a story of general awesomeness.  It has plot! And a great one at that!

Rowing in Eden by ancarett

And don't forget to give the artist kudos too!

Also, the artist claims for the aiw_big_bang are up.So, if you wanna make some art for some Alice in Wonderland goodness, head over there and see what fics might tickle your fancy.

So, back in July grav_ity wrote a post that laura_josephsen wrote a book called Confessions from the Realm of the Underworld (Also Known As High School). Seeing that it was available on the Kindle format, I zipped over to Amazon and downloaded the first chapter.

I have to admit. I had trouble connecting with it initially. Maybe it was because I had been writing for the Tangled fandom so much that the transition was a little impossible for my blonde brain to handle. Maybe it's because subconsciously I was waiting for the firearms to come out since I couldn't remember the last time I read a fiction book that didn't have some kind of weaponry. Honestly, I think it was the names. (Which I'm sure most people loved, but since I'm one of the 80% of people* who can't say her name right, I found them a little, er, scary?)

So, I put it on the list of "when all my big bang stories are written I'll probably come back and try it again". But then, about a month later, sache8 made a post promoting the same book. Someone was trying to tell me something, right? She had linked Laura's blog on her post, so I popped over there. (What do you mean I was stalling from writing Taming the Rider at that point? LOL) She had written a tag to the novel. Being the Spoiler Junkie avid reader I am, I went ahead and read the short story.

That got me hooked. I don't want to spoil anyone who may read it, but let's just say that my favorite trope of all time was referenced there. It went from "someday I'll read it" to "Gee, I'm glad my birthday is less than a month away".

So, on my birthday I bought it (thanks Mom for the Amazon GC! LOL). And I read the whole book in an afternoon. It's a fun book that deals with some heavy issues. (It's not an oxymoron, really.)

I love Joey beyond all reason. Maybe because I identify with him the most. Sephie is awesome because she's got the spunk that I want to have. (On a side note, I find it completely amusing that two books I have read this year both have a character named Andromeda--very, very different characters, but amusing nonetheless.)

I think Laura did a great job of showing us these big issues exactly the way a teen would. While there are a few epiphanies made throughout the book, none of them seem out of character or too mature for who Sephie is (a seventeen years old who isn't quite sure what to do after high school.)

But, you know the true sign that I really, really liked the book? I wanted more. One word: wedding. Because we know that it would be all kinds of crazy awesome.

If you're looking for a fun read, go and check it out. It's only $2.99 for the Kindle version.



*Sephie's stat, not mine. LOL

Thank you iTunes for your Discovery Download last week.  I very rarely download the free song of the week, but if I do, I usually download the Discovery Downloads because I'm really not a Top 40 kind of girl.  So, last week's download was for a group called Icon for Hire.  If you like Superchick, I think you're really going to like this band.  Heavy on the guitar and good female vocals.

They are on a Christian label, but it's not "Christian" in the terms of being worship music.  I would probably categorize their lyrics more like P.O.D. than anything.  Much more of a broad implication of the faith rather than a "Jesus is risen!" vibe.  (Actually, Mike (the hardcore medal dude) was actually impressed with one of their lines, "I break my bones just to feel them heal again." LOL)

The free song isn't available on iTunes anymore, but you can snag their album for $5.99 on Amazon. (On a side note, I love buying music through Amazon --despite my unnatural love for my iPod-- because, um, hello? Cloud drive awesomeness!)

And, the main chick has purple hair.  You gotta love that. 

After gorging myself with four episodes of Primeval, I have come up with two conclusions:

1. Becker and Jess. I so ship them.

2. Jess is made of awesome.

Ahem, anyway...I came online today and found the most awesome surprise: the incredible mrstater wrote me a Tangled fic. Glee! :D  Go and read! It is super awesome! :D :D

*feels loved*

Go. Read. Squee.

He's a Rebel by just_a_dram   (Yup, it's a Tangled fic in case you couldn't tell by the icon.)

The best part?  There's more coming.

Got my Yuletide story which I just love to pieces *huggles*

Go! Read! Review! It is awesome in it's Toy Story awesomeness!

Rescue Mission

I got a new profile and header thanks to the awesomeness of geeklikewoah   Her stuff is top notch so go check her comm out!  She makes a tons of profile layouts (the Star Wars ones are my favorite--outside of the one she made from me, of course, LOL). You have to join to get access to all of her stuff but, dude, it is so worth it.

*goes back to staring at teh pretty*