Brandi's Blog

Aspiring Author Sparking Thoughts

It’s Christmas morning and I am typing on my new ASUS 12″ netbook. It is amazing and I love it! The best gift from my beloved husband. I am a blessed women.

This morning I was thinking about Mary and what she must of been feeling 2009 years ago. Not only looking at the face of her child but at the face of God himself. What a wonderful moment for her. Today I not only celebrate the birth of our savior but the mother that brought him into this world.

God Bless Everyone!

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Like most of you, this time of year I reflect on what I have and haven’t accomplished in 2009. My life took a dramatic turn in March. I fell in love with books and desperately wanted to become an author. It’s amazing how your entire life can change in a moment. I didn’t push away the desire or talk myself out of it. I knew it would be hard, I knew there was a great possibility for failure. But none of that stopped me and I moved forward. I was able to write a beautiful novel that I love. I met a ton of new people with similar interests in my meetup.com group. I found something in common with my mother that has brought us closer than ever. I realized though events that my family is truly amazing (all of them). My in-laws are great and love us so much. My sisters are so amazing and talented. My friends are a wall of strength and support. Even my neighbors are family. 

I’m Especially grateful for my husband. He is the most amazing and wonderful man. I know I gush over him, but he is that great. I am so thankful for him and everything he does for me. I try everyday to show him how much I love him. Our kids are also amazing, so sweet and kind. I can’t say enough about them.

Me and Sylvia putting on the Christmas tree star

I think my faith is the greatest growth this year. I have joined an exceptional church (Faith Church St. Louis). I feel like my soul is changed, softened, happier, filled with hope and true joy. Don’t think I am some crazy bible thumper. I have really embraced my relationship with God and it’s changed my life. Please don’t take this a “preachy” this is just my life, take what you like and leave the rest. I feel blessed and thank God for all that he has given me, especially for you.

I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Love Lots, Laugh Hard and Sing Loud!

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Betrayed”

 2^nd book in The House of Night Series

 By P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

This book picks up a month after Zoey Redbird started at the House of Night vampyre school. Zoey takes over the Dark Daughters, the “school council” for the fledglings. Her and her friends are learning there new roles all the while humans are being killed in Broken Arrow, Zoey’s home town. It was thought that a vampyre is responsible for the deaths. Zoey uses her powers to save the day and battle evil. Bla Bla Bla…

 Ugh, I wanted so much more from this book. Of course I finished it, but the only exciting part was when her BFF Stevie Ray ??? (gotta read it to get it).  The book is transparent at best. There are no real surprises. I could figure out Nephret was bad in the first book, this book just solidified it. I can also see that the two boyfriends, human Heath and vampyre Eric will be a total drama fest. Heath bugs me, he is so annoying and I want to smack him down like a fly. Eric is better, seems hot and sexy, much better than the dopey football player. I still can’t stand the boy drama! Are teens really like this? Was I really like that? Ugh! No wonder I never had a steady boy friend.

 The other characters are ok, not great. I think the twins are terrible! There’re not really twins, one’s mocha colored and the other a pale blond. They ALWAYS call each other twin, it’s the most annoying thing in the whole book. I can’t stand it. I thought I would get use to it and I didn’t. The token “gay” is Damien, he is sweet and likable. Although, his character is a no-it-all and that is annoying. He is always lecturing about proper vocabulary. Who actually does that!  

 The only real person I like is Aphrodite, she is cheeky and a major smart-***. (Keeping it PG). I want more of her and less of the twins and boy drama. Then again, I bet I would have loved this series at 16. I did like it, not love it, but enough to say it is worth the read (IF you like YA books).

 I don’t know how I feel about the Goddess Nynx. It’s a little too far-fetched for me. I can accept it because it’s a fiction and I would totally love the cool powers she gives. I especially want the tattoos, which would be awesome.

  I was left with the question, do I feel betrayed or just bored?

 With all that said, I give it three Bran Stars.

Of course I read the next book in the series … review coming soon.

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“Marked”

 By P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

Marked is a young adult book set in today’s world, with a twist. The most beautiful, most powerful and utterly yummy people are all vampyres. When you are “marked” with a sapphire crescent moon right on your forehead, you are then a fledgling vampire. This is the story of Zoey Redbird’s new life. She leaves old friends, some that won’t go away, for the new and exciting life as a fledgling at the House of Night school for vamps.

 Is it believable? Sort of. I like the supernatural elements, but its context is confusing to my system. Maybe I am lacking imagination, but I can’t see my world with vampyres running around. I guess the idea of bringing that world to “light” is just a little hard to imagine. I think it’s much easier when it’s underground and maybe just maybe it could be true. What is the deal with the spelling of vampyre! My Microsoft Word keeps trying to change it to vampire. I read on Amazon that the P.C. just liked the spelling. I say, go for it. It’s different and cool. It helps brand the books. It’s a good marketing tool.

 The only thing I really don’t like is all the boy drama. I know it’s a teenage book, I know that as a teen there is a lot of boy drama, but it’s still a little irritating to my thirty something mind.

This is my Sylvia

 There were some good characters, Stevie Ray, and some bad, the twins. OMG, the twins were so ridicules. I can’t stand the way they call each other “twin”, all the time. It actually distracted me when reading. They brought in sex (just a little) and the cursing isn’t bad, it’s believable (sadly) for teens to talk like that. Of course the “hag from hell” Aphrodite is defeated in the end. Although I can see the proverbial “writing on the wall”, she will have a much bigger role in the books to come. She has too; her personality is one that you love to hate. I love Zoey’s grandmother, Sylvia, and it’s not because that’s my daughters name (but it helps). She is sweet old Cherokee woman with a kind soul, she is well written and I wish I could sit down and have tea with her. Zoey is “special” everyone knows it but her. She is strong, yet vulnerable. She is young and still learning about herself. I like her, I won’t say love, but she’s growing on me.

to four Bran Stars.

P.S. You can get “marked” on the official House of Night website, too cool! Also check out the pictures of your favorite charaters. Zoey looks WAY to old to be 16.

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