Guest Blogger: Book Chick City

Today is the official start to The Book Bloggers Appreciation Week 2010 (BBAW) and I wanted to do something a little different this year.  Instead of simply having contests each day (they are still here, I promise), I also wanted to introduce a few of the blogs that I have stumbled upon over the last year. So I’ve invited a few to stop by LE this week and the first visitor is the fabulous Book Chick City.  I’m sure she isn’t new to anyone, but if you haven’t made it to this site yet, then you really need to.  I am always finding something interesting going on and there are some amazing features that I constantly keep on the lookout for.

My Top 5 Series I *Must* Read!

I have bookcases full of series that I haven’t got around to reading yet, but even though I know that I have shelves chock full I still seek out more. This means my TBR shelves are getting rather cramped…

This is a list of 5 series I actually have on my shelves that I’m desperate to start reading, but as we all know, it’s just finding the time….

Mercedes Thompson series by Patricia Briggs

This series has been on my shelves for over a year – I’ve heard such good things about it that I can’t believe I haven’t read it yet.

Books in series order:

  1. Moon Called
  2. Blood Bound
  3. Iron Kissed
  4. Bone Crossed
  5. Silver Borne
  6. River Marked (2011)

Mercy Thompson’s life is not exactly normal. Her next-door neighbor is a werewolf. Her former boss is a gremlin. And she’s fixing a VW bus for a vampire. But then, Mercy isn’t exactly normal herself.

The Night Huntress series by Jeanine Frost

I’ve had this one on my shelves for some time, but it was only recently while reading tweets about a particular page/chapter that I took this series seriously and have desperately wanted to read it but have just struggled to find the time.

Books in series order:

  1. Halfway to the Grave
  2. One Foot in the Grave
  3. At Grave’s End
  4. Destined for an Early Grave
  5. This Side of the Grave (2011)

Half-vampire Catherine Crawfield is going after the undead with a vengeance, hoping that one of these deadbeats is her father—the one responsible for ruining her mother’s life. Then she’s captured by Bones, a vampire bounty hunter, and is forced into an unholy partnership.

In exchange for finding her father, Cat agrees to train with the sexy night stalker until her battle reflexes are as sharp as his fangs. She’s amazed she doesn’t end up as his dinner—are there actually good vampires? Pretty soon Bones will have her convinced that being half-dead doesn’t have to be all bad. But before she can enjoy her newfound status as kick-ass demon hunter, Cat and Bones are pursued by a group of killers. Now Cat will have to choose a side . . . and Bones is turning out to be as tempting as any man with a heartbeat.

Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead

I’ve heard that this is one the best paranormal YA series out there, and as I have all the books in the series staring at me, I really should crack open book one!

Books in series order:

  1. Vampire Academy
  2. Frostbite
  3. Shadow Kiss
  4. Blood Promise
  5. Spirit Bound
  6. Last Sacrifice (12/2010)

St. Vladimir’s Academy isn’t just any boarding school—it’s a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They’ve been on the run, but now they’re being dragged back to St. Vladimir’s—the very place where they’re most in danger. . . .

Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy’s ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi—the world’s fiercest and most dangerous vampires—make Lissa one of them forever.

Black Dagger Brotherhood series by J. R. Ward

I’ve seen lots of bloggers go completely nuts over this series and I can tell you I’m intrigued. I have the first four books in the series so far.

Books in series order:

  1. Dark Lover
  2. Lover Eternal
  3. Lover Awakened
  4. Lover Revealed
  5. Lover Unbound
  6. Lover Enshrined
  7. Lover Avenged
  8. Lover Mine
  9. Lover Unleashed (2011)

In the shadows of the night in Caldwell, New York, there’s a deadly turf war going on between vampires and their slayers. There exists a secret band of brothers like no other-six vampire warriors, defenders of their race. Yet none of them relishes killing more than Wrath, the leader of The Black Dagger Brotherhood.

The only purebred vampire left on earth, Wrath has a score to settle with the slayers who murdered his parents centuries ago. But, when one of his most trusted fighters is killed-leaving his half-breed daughter unaware of his existence or her fate-Wrath must usher her into the world of the undead-a world of sensuality beyond her wildest dreams.

Raine Benares series by Lisa Shearin

I heard from one particular blogger that this series is one of their favourites – and as I respected their recommendations I went straight to Amazon and ordered the entire series. That was quite a few months ago now…

Books in series order:

  1. Magic Lost, Trouble Found
  2. Armed & Magical
  3. The Trouble with Demons
  4. Bewitched & Betrayed
  5. Con & Conjured (3/29/2011)

Raine Benares is a Sorceress Seeker of average ability until she comes into possession of an amulet that amplifies her powers-and her enemies.

So, that’s it – my top five series of the many, many I own but haven’t actually read yet.

Let me know if you’ve read any of the books I’ve listed and what you thought of them – are any worth me putting everything else on hold just to dive in and start reading immediately?

Are you like me? Do you have lots of series stacking up on your shelves?

_______________________________________________

Thank you Book Chick City for stopping by Literary Escapism!

Contest Time! I did say there were going to be daily contests and here’s the first one.  Today’s giveaway is for a copy of Marked by Elisabeth Naughton and Hex in High Heels by Linda Wisdom to a lucky reader.  All you have to do is answer Carolyn’s question: Do you have lots of series stacking up on your shelves? Is there a certain series that’s worth putting everyone else on hold just to dive in and start reading immediately?

As always, there’s more ways of getting your name in the hat (remember, these aren’t mandatory to enter, just extra entries):

  1. Leave a comment answering the days questions. Yes, I’ll be asking everyone a question and it may be something inquiring minds want to know or it could be something random.  I have no clue yet, but you have to answer the question in order to enter. This is mainly so I don’t see “please enter me”.  That’s too easy.
  2. Post about the contest on your blog, social network, or anywhere you can. Digg it, stumble it, share it with the world. You just have to let me know you did it in the same post as your answer to the question.
  3. Introduce someone new to Literary Escapism and/or Book Chick City. Get them to leave a comment any where on either site, including this contest, and they’ll get entered as well as giving you one more chance to win (they must include in the comment that you sent them).

The contest will stay open until 2pm on September 14th, at which time I’ll determine the winner with help from the Research Randomizer and the List Randomizer. (Although honestly, winners won’t be announced until this weekend)

I have not been contacting winners, so you will need to check back to see if you’ve won.

About Jackie 3282 Articles
I am a 30-something SAHM with two adorable boys and a supportive husband who is very tolerant of my reading addiction. I love to read and easily go through about a dozen books a month – well I did before I had kids. Now, not so much. After my first son was born, I began to take my hobby of reviewing a little more serious and started Literary Escapism to help with my sanity. I love to discuss the fabulous novels I’ve read and meeting all the wonderful people in the book blogging community has been amazing.

5 Comments

  1. BCC: Huge fan! From your series that you have to read, I’ve read the first couple from Night Huntress and you definitely need to get into the series. It’s hellah awesome.
    I read the first Raine Benares and enjoyed it immensely. It’s a very cool take on pirates in a fantasy premise.

    The gods know how many series are on Mt Git’r’Read. I will get to them one day. The ones I drop everything for are Jeanne Stein’s Anna Strong, Richelle Mead’s Georgina Kincaid, Kat Richardson’s Greywalker. All are always superb.

  2. I love reading series, they are my favorites! I would drop everything to read the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews, or the Psy-Changeling Series by Nalini Singh, or the Immortals After Dark Series by Kresley Cole… I could go on and on. But those are my top three!!

  3. Lori – Thanks! Hehe, it’s always “one of these days” isn’t it! LOL That’s exactly how I feel about most of my books sitting on my shelf *sigh* ;)

    Pam – You’ve listed four great series that I definitely want to try!

    Pink Panther – I have the Blue Blood series on my shelf – it does sound good and the covers are gorgeous!

    Mervi – The more I hear good things about the Night Huntress series, the most I want read it – so book 1 may well be next on my series reading list! Although Raine Benares is coming in as a very close second :)

    Serena – Hehe, I have a VA week planned in December, so I’m going to have to find the time to read them – If there’re really as good as I’m hearing I will let you know! :)

    Deirdre – I hear ya! Too many books! But I wouldn’t have it any other way – wouldn’t it be horrible if we had too little?! LOL

  4. Kai – Thanks!I have the Devon Monk series on my shelves! See, I’m swamped with fantastic series and it’s complete torture trying to decide which to read first!! LOL

    Rebecca – I’m so pleased I was able to recommend a series to you! I’m always heading over to DSB to find new authors and books – you’ve always got something I’ve never heard of :)

    Mariska – I see you are like me – won’t read a series out of order! I have done it, but I find it difficult and it kinda ruins the book for me as there’s always hidden meanings of references to previous books etc. I must say, Night Huntress is popping up a lot in these comments! ;)

    Vickie – Yes, that’s why I bought the Raine Benares series as it does look very cool, and a bit different to the other UF series I’ve been reading. I have Anna Strong, Georgina Kincaid and Harper Connolly on my shelves – OMG, can’t believe how many series I have and not read – it’s torture! ;D

    MinnChica – I’m a series person too – I do love stand alones but a series allows me to really sink myself into the character and their life, I love it! I have just bought my first Kate Daniels book and the first book in the Psy-Changeling series, so looking forward to reading those :)

  5. Haha, I’m just like you Caroline, I have most of these series on my TBR shelves :-D when I keep hearing so many concurring praises about great series, I sometimes take the plunge and order the series (did that with the Parasol Protectorate, Mercy Thompson, Alpha and Omega, Night Huntress series). So now they are waiting patiently for me to start them :-)

    +1 tweeted here: http://twitter.com/Stella_ExLibris/status/24601288889

    +1 posted on FAcebook too: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000899165880&v=wall&story_fbid=161406760540566&ref=mf

    stella.exlibris (at) gmail (dot) com

Comments are closed.