A new beginning...

Boy-oh-boy am I ready for 2012 to begin!  2011 had a LOT of sucky moments between family illnesses, deaths and financial strains. I am firmly planting into my head...and anyone else I can convince, that 2012 will be a STELLAR year, one full of opportunities and improvements. 

Here are my 2012 plans:

• FAMILY - I'm praying that this year my family will be blessed with better health and more financial security--my in-laws and older relatives were struck hard last year.
• HOME- We currently searching for a home to purchase...if only we weren't so dang picky...or had a bigger budget :~P
•  READING- I always have high expectations for a good reading year, why should this year be any different.
•  EDITING - I'm dipping my feet into a new venture as an assistant editor...hopefully to eventually move up after proving myself--yes I know this will take time, but I learned long ago to always strive to be better. :~) I'm also looking forward to the new friends and contacts I will make on this adventure.
• DAY JOB - I'm still keeping my day job at the office...fingers crossed that we (my co-workers and I) don't go through the same crap as last year--I was stressing about whether or not I would be laid-off from July until the end of Oct. 
• REVIEWING - I'm want to be more punctual and active with writing and posting my reviews.
• BLOGGING - I love the new friends I've made since I've started, and especially with the author pimping I really began to get into. I can't wait to spread the word more about the books/authors I love and to communicate with other like mined people

I'd be remiss if I didn't at least mention the end of the Mayan calender in this post, especially since when my dad was alive we used to discuss the meaning of the Mayan calendar all the time. I'm sad he's not around to talk to anymore, but I'll be thinking of him lots, especially at every mention of this Mayan myth. I choose to believe that it will signify some changes, not the end of the world. I'm very interested to see what will be reported on and what other people believe.  How about you, do you think that December 21, 2012 really signifies the end of the world apocalypse, or some great Earth changes? Or do you think that it will be just another day?

Okay, simpler question, what do you think 2012 has in store for you?

Review: STORM KISSED by Jessica Andersen

Storm Kissed: A Novel of the Nightkeepers (FINAL PROPHECY)Storm Kissed: A Novel of the Nightkeepers

Nightkeepers: The Final Prophecy, Book 6

Paranormal (Mayan Mythology)

Signet Eclipse

480 Pages

As teenagers, Snake “Dez” Mendez and Reese Montana looked out for each other in the sinister gang world. Until Dez got a taste of dark power, causing him to push Reese away and eventually end up in prison. The Nightkeepers have run into Dez in the past, giving them little reason to trust him. But now things have changed, and Dez has a second chance, not only with Reese, but also with the Nightkeepers, as a Triad mage. 

 

Can he live up to their expectations? Will his role in the prophecy lead them closer to the coming apocalypse or can he and the Nightkeepers come closer in halting the end of the world?

*****

Jessica Andersen has added another riveting installment to her Nightkeepers trilogy. In STORM KISSED we finally get to meet bounty hunter Reese Montana and see a new side to Snake “Dez” Mendez. I am a huge sucker for the villain turned hero theme, and trust me, Dez was most definitely a bad guy. I loved watching as he, Reese and the Nightkeepers came to grips with his personality turn around. Dez had his work cut out for him to get everyone, especially Reese, to learn to trust him, and even for him to learn to trust himself.

Wow you want to talk about issues, Dez and Reese had some major issues they needed to work through. While Dez royally screwed up in the past, Reese also had some growing up of her own to do by the end of the book, she seemed to want to put all the flaws on Dez, not looking at herself and that she needed to change also. I felt that Ms. Andersen did a fantastic job showcasing their issues and working them to resolution. They perfectly complimented each other physically, mentally and their chemistry was sizzling hot.

I love the whole Nightkeepers world, as I've grown attached to quite a few characters as this series expands. I enjoyed seeing everyone again, and watching them work and fight together, as they tried to keep Iago and the Xibalba at bay. Knowing that because there will be a few more books in this series, that they still have their work cut out for them. In a way I can't wait for the end of this series just to see how the final battle will go down, but I don't want to rush it because I want to savor Sven, Anna and Rabbit's upcoming stories. It sucks that we have to wait until March for Sven's book, the next of the series to come out...but at least I know what to put on the top of my birthday wish list. :)

Rating: 4.5 

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