Sweet Evil Read Along Week 4: Halloween

Halloween 

My brother and I never really celebrated Halloween. My dad doesn't believe in it and we were never really allowed to go Trick or Treating. When we were little, we would go to our grandmother's house, though, and help hand out candy to those who were going out.

But when I started middle school, there were a few times when we were allowed to go Trick or Treating, and I'd also go to Halloween parties my friends hosted. There was also a HUGE bonfire at Harmon Park that we would go to and hang out. And trust me when I say that going to a bonfire wearing a 1950's-style skirt is VERY COLD! I had to wear a coat, which totally covered up my costume.

There are 4 costumes I can remember wearing: the scarecrow from the Wizard of Oz, a saloon-style scarlet dress, a witch, and the 1950's-style outfit.

Though my brother and I rarely participated in Halloween, when we did it was a blast! One thing people are surprised about is that I've never gone to a haunted house. I hope to go to one sometime eventually.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

Sweet Evil Week 4 Reading

I'm not going to write a full review until I've finished the book at the end of the Read Along, but each week I'll share a snippet from one of my favorite scenes and a favorite quote.

**WATCH OUT FOR MY REVIEW IN THE NEXT COUPLE DAYS**

Anna and Kaidan's Connection Broken (Pages 441-442):

My father continued to shove me from behind, up the narrow stairs and down the darkened hall, shoulder-to-shoulder with other Neph. I kept turning, trying to peer around my dad's solid body, frantic for a glimpse of Kai.

And there he was, also attempting to push through the people. I reached my arm back, feeling my dad's hands firm around my waist. Kaidan's warm fingers locked around mine, and our gazes held. In those blue eyes was a shattered look that made my soul ache.

"Enough!" my father scolded gruffly, pulling me and breaking my connection to Kai. I screamed out. We burst into the frozen night, where my father hailed a waiting cab, opening the door and flinging me inside. He gave directions to the cabdriver.

"Straight to the hotel," my dad said to me, throwing cash on my lap. "I'll deal with you later."

He slammed the door shut.

"What's going  on at that club?" the cabbie asked as he laid on the gas pedal. "There a fire in there or something?"

I couldn't answer. I spun around in the seat, staring at Kaidan on the edge of the sidewalk, hands on his head, air condensing like smoke from his lips, watching me leave.

A Couple Favorite Quotes (Pages 404 & 439):

"I watched you tonight, Anna. You enjoyed yourself, didn't you? You loved the attention of that bartender and the eyes of the men on you while you danced for them. Admit it. You loved it."

***

"It is not her time. She will serve as a test to many souls."

Sweet Evil Read Along Week 3: Truth or Dare

TRUTH...or DARE?

To be honest, me and my friends never really played this game much. And when we did we'd always end up pretty bored, pretty fast. Maybe that's because none us really picked DARE that often. Although there wasn't really much for us to do for dares. The coward that I am, I never picked DARE. I'd rather embarrass myself saying something truthful than looking like a fool doing something stupid.

Keeping with my tradition of always picking TRUTH, I'll tell you one embarrassing truth about myself.

**I always get embarrassed while reading romance novels--any kind, but mostly those with explicit sex scenes--because, well, I've never so much as been kissed, and some of those scenes can be really HOT, if you know what I mean.**

Sweet Evil Week 3 Reading

I'm not going to write a full review until I've finished the book at the end of the Read Along, but each week I'll share a snippet from one of my favorite scenes and a favorite quote.

Kopano and Kaidan Talk, While Anna Eavesdrops (Pages 314-315):

"Do not be upset, Kai. I feel only concern for her."

"I'll bet you do."

Kaidan's clipped, harsh response was in direct contrast to Kopano's tranquil words.

"Even you are willing to risk yourself for her, brother."

"That's because I actually know her. What's your reason? I suppose you'd like to get to know her, too?"

"You have made it very clear that she is not available in that way. Be reasonable. There is plainly more at stake here. I only wished to help."

"There's nothing you can do, Kope!"

They got quiet and I could hear Kaidan's ragged breaths through his nose.

"Please trust me, brother," Kopano said. "There is no stronger weapon for Pharzuph to use than your concern for each other. If he learns that you were here to console her, you will lose all leverage with him. Do not fool yourself into thinking he will not discard you."

"Yes, some of us have to worry about such things. Thank you for the reminder."

A Couple Favorite Quotes (Pages 296 & 306):

"Oh, that's right, I nearly forgot," Kaidan said with smooth indifference. "The prince and princess would never stoop so low. Well, bottoms up to us peasants."

***

"Something's brewing. Something big. I don't know what, but the angels are gonna use you. My little soldier girl."

Sweet Evil Read Along Week 2: Citrus/Pear Recipe

Citrus/Pear Recipe

Renaissance Orange Apple Pie

INGREDIENTS

9 inch unbaked pie pastry shell and lid
5 medium oranges
3 cups water
1 cup honey
Juice of ½ small lemon
4 medium apples, peeled, cored, and sliced
½ cup brown sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon powdered ginger
1 tablespoon confectioner’s sugar, dissolved in 1 tablespoon rose water

PREPARATION

Bake pie shell at 425 degree oven for 10 minutes.  Let cool.  Slice unpeeled oranges as thinly as possible, discarding seeds.  Combine water, honey, and lemon juice in a large saucepan, and bring to a boil.  Add orange slices, cover, reduce heat, and simmer about 2 hours or until peel is limp and easily chewed.  Drain and set aside slices.  In a bowl, combine brown sugar, salt and spices.  Add apple slices and toss until evenly coated.  Place a layer of apple slices in pie shell, then layer of orange slices.  Repeat with remaining fruit.  Place pastry lid over filling, crimp edges and slash lid in a few places.  Paint lid with rose-water icing.  Bake at 350 degree oven for 1 hours.

Sweet Evil Week 2 Reading

I'm not going to write a full review until I've finished the book at the end of the Read Along, but each week I'll share a snippet from one of my favorite scenes and a favorite quote.

Kaidan's Bare Behind (Page 143):

While his eyes were closed I stared unabashedly. His shoulders were rounded and his forearms tight. His entire torso was a sight to see--a toned chest angling downward to his abs with a slight ripple, but he wasn't cut in a way that might make a girl feel self-conscious of her own imperfections. His waist went down in a vee at his hips, where it met the hotel blanket.

I tore my eyes away when he stirred. From the corner of my eye I saw him throw the blankets easily aside and scoot to the edge of the bed by the window. He stood up, facing away from me, and raised his arms for a glorious stretch. When I looked again my eyes landed on his bare behind.

Dear God!

I screamed and buried my face in my pillow.

"What?!" I heard him ask. "Did you see a roach?"

"Why are you naked?!" I did not dare lift my red face.

"Huh. Is that all?" he asked. "I always sleep in the buff. I don't know how you can stand all that clothing."

"Unbelievable," I said. I pulled myself up and stomped to the bathroom.

A Couple Favorite Quotes (Pages 140 & 230):

"Anna?" His voice was low. Of course he knew I was awake. I didn't answer, but he was undeterred. "Did you at least enjoy your first kiss?"

***

"And tell the Rowe boy to keep his paws off my little girl, 'cause I'll be out soon to take care of him if he doesn't."

Sweet Evil Read Along Week 1: Road Trips

Road Trips

First of all, I have never--and I really mean NEVER--been out of the state of Minnesota. Sad, I know. But I have been on a couple trips that had really LONG drives. I don't think you can call them traditional road trips since the drive was just a means to an end, but I would call them "mini road trips." But because I rarely leave the surrounding area of my hometown of Saint Paul, I always really enjoyed them.

The first one I can remember was when my 6th grade class went down to Lanesboro for a retreat of sorts to the Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center. And boy, am I glad that I was allowed to go. Those who didn't had to write a paper or something to get credit. It was the first time that I rode in one of those fancy buses, like the ones that take people to casinos. The problem with having so many people on the bus, though, was that I was too distracted to see anything outside. Although I'm sure that it was just a bunch of barns, horses and cows.

The second trip I remember was during my senior year when my high school's Key Club went to our Spring Convention in Willmar. I almost wasn't allowed to go on this one. The only reason I was able to was because of all the fundraising I did during the year and the trip was completely paid for. So I guess you could say I weaseled my in by the skin of my teeth. I was even able to go with the set up group a day early. The barn yard animals made another appearance on this trip, but it was getting to see what a real small town looked like. I'd only ever really seen them on TV. But I was glad that I wasn't distracted this time from seeing the outside world.

I really want to make a list of all the REAL locations in all the books I've read since I really got into reading in 2006, and make a road trip out of it. Yes, I know that is A LOT of places, but it could be split up into parts or something, and then I'd have a number of different road trips. Maybe split it up by region. I'd want to visit all the locations in the U.S. first, then travel to the different countries mentioned. Right now it's just a dream, but it would be great to make it a reality.

Sweet Evil Week 1 Reading

I'm not going to write a full review until I've finished the book at the end of the Read Along, but each week I'll share a snippet from one of my favorite scenes and a favorite quote.

Lascivious Concert (Page 14):

Now, with the drummer's absence of an aura, I was able to watch the muscles in his biceps and forearms flex as he slammed the drumsticks down in a whirlwind of precise movement. The beat was intoxicating, bumping each nerve ending inside of me. His whole body moved fluidly, jumping with the force of the beat, his face focused and sure.

I looked again at the red starburst on his chest. It was unlike anything I'd ever seen. I doubted he felt lustful at that moment, with his utter concentration on the music. It was weird. The song came to an end with the last crash of the cymbals; then he twirled the drumsticks in his fingers before tucking them under his arm. Jay was cheering, along with the rest of the crowd. I stood there in absolute awe.

A Favorite Quote (Page 71):

Instead, I pushed my hearing out to the dock and listened. It was silent. I focused my hearing around the house, scrunching up my face with the loud onslaught, and I said into the air: "I'm not finished with you, Kaidan Rowe."

From somewhere in the kitchen a solitary accented voice replied, "Likewise."

Despite the night's warmth, I got a chill.

Sweet Evil Read Along

The Sweet Evil Read Along is hosted by Magical Urban Fantasy Reads and co-hosted by Two Chicks On Books, Fiktshun, Tater’s Tall Tails, The Ravenous Reader!!

**This read along will run from October 1st through the 28th.**

How do you participate? Do a weekly post on your blog or a status update on Goodreads and discuss your thoughts about the designated chapters, share your favorite quotes, and show your creativity in the weekly theme!

1st Week: October 1–7 Chapter One - Nine:
Pages 1 - 121
Theme: Road Trip - You choose. Examples, what would you pack and why, your playlist, your dream road trip or road trip games.


2nd Week: October 8 – 14 Chapters Ten - Sixteen:
Pages 122 – 231
Theme: Citrus or Pear recipe. Share a citrus or pear food/drink recipe.


3rd Week: October 15 – 21 Chapters Seventeen - Twenty-Five:
Pages 232 - 340
Theme: Truth or Dare


4th Week: October 22 – 28 Chapters Twenty-Six - Thirty-One:
Pages 341 - 447
Theme: Halloween

Sign Up Here!

http://www.magicalurbanfantasyreads.com/p/se-read-along.html