Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Authors I'm Dying To Meet

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Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish.

Top Ten Authors I'm Dying To Meet

1. J.K. Rowling



2. John Green



3. Cassandra Clare



4. Stephanie Perkins



5. Collen Hoover (some of us haven't met her, yet)



6. Jojo Moyes



7. George R.R. Martin



8. L.J. Smith



9. Erich von Däniken



10. Becca Fitzpatrick

Audiobook Review: The Craving: The Vampire Diaries: Stefan's Diaries by L.J. Smith

The Craving
The Vampire Diaries: Stefan's Diaries #3
Author: L.J. Smith
Reader: Kevin T. Collins
Reading Level: YA
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Run-Time: 6 Hours 19 Minutes
Published: May 3rd 2011
Review Source: Harper Audio
Available: Amazon

Summary: (from goodreads) Blood brothers . . .

After his brother, Damon Salvatore, betrays him in New Orleans, Stefan starts over in Manhattan. Vowing never to harm another human, he roams the streets, trying to disappear into the city’s chaos. But just when he thinks he’s left his past behind, Stefan discovers that he can never escape his brother. Damon has grand plans for the vampire Salvatore brothers—whether Stefan likes it or not. Together, they take New York by storm. When their exploits end up on the society pages, an old enemy resurfaces—one hell-bent on revenge.

Based on the popular CW TV show inspired by the bestselling novels, Stefan’s Diaries reveals the truth about what really happened between Stefan, Damon, and Katherine—and how the Vampire Diaries love triangle began.

My thoughts on the audio go as follow. This was one of those audio books that the narrator took away from the story for me. His voice just didn't come off as scary vampire. It's a bit hard to explain. Then again I might be partial to hearing the Stefan voice on the TV show and just couldn't separate one from the other. I think this series I will continue to read instead of listen too. It will make it easier for me to follow the story instead of saying that's not Stefan's voice. 

On to the book portion of my thoughts. So this is the 3rd installment in the series and my least favorite of the 3. It lacks a bit of what book 1 & 2 had. The Salvatore Brothers are in New York and the fighting is full-speed ahead. The tables have turned and Damon has begun to call the shots while Stefan fights his being. Now the brothers have attracted too much unwanted attention their way. If you watch the TV Show its pretty much those glimpse that we see when they go back to the beginning. Of course with this series you get much more details about Stefan's past and Damon as well. You understand the pull with Katherine. 

This is where the famous love triangle begins. 

So yes I say read these if you want to learn and understand their past but I wouldn't recommend the audio. It just wasn't one of my favorites. 

Book Review: Bloodlust (The Vampire Diaries: Stefan's Diaries)

Bloodlust
The Vampire Diaries: Stefan's Diaries Vol 2
Author: L.J. Smith
Pages: 225 pgs
Reading Level: YA
Published: January 4th 2011
Review Source: Purchased

Summary: (from goodreads) A new beginning . . .

When Stefan Salvatore's first love turned him into a vampire, his world—and his soul—were destroyed. Now he and his brother, Damon, must flee their hometown, where they risk being discovered . . . and killed.

The brothers head to New Orleans, looking for safe haven. But the city is more dangerous than they ever imagined, full of other vampires—and vampire hunters. Will Stefan's eternal life be forever damned?

Based on the popular CW TV show inspired by the bestselling novels, Stefan's Diaries reveals the truth about what really happened between Stefan, Damon, and Katherine—and how the Vampire Diaries love triangle began.

This second installment in the new series by L.J. Smith, is such a fun, easy read. It's fun to be able to read about 2 characters that I love watching on TV but their past. With the TV show we don't really have details on their past once they were changed, this series gives us that. It fills in all the blanks you can say. L.J. didn't write it to complicate or confuse us.

So in this second volume, we are following the Salvatore Brothers, Stefan and Damon after they have been turned by Katherine. Stefan is embracing being a vampire while Damon hates that he has been changed. Stefan's mission is to get Damon to see the positive about their new lives. Damon prefers not to feed and has become weak. Now Stefan being a week old only, is just killing up a storm. The brothers end up leaving Mystic Falls because they get detected. They jump on a train and head to New Orleans. Stefan of course doesn't stop his dark lust for blood, he ends of killing one on the train. So they arrive in their new city, and Stefan is excited since no one knows them but Damon is of course not. Finally Stefan upsets Damon and Damon takes off and leaves Stefan alone on the sidewalk. now what will happen to Stefan or Damon, pick up this fun, dark and mysterious new series from L.J. Smith. You meet Lexi in this volume. The 3rd volume comes out in May from HarperTeen, called The Craving. 

CLICK HERE to read my review for Origins (The Vampire Diaries: Stefan's Diaries Vol 1)

Book Review: The Vampire Diaries: The Return:Shadow Souls

The Vampire Diaries: Shadow Souls
The Vampire Diaries: The Return #2
Author: L.J. Smith
Pages: 608 pgs
Reading Level: YA
Released: March 1st 2010
Review Source: Purchased

This book took me almost a full year to read. I ran out it bought it the day it was released and just kept having to put it down. I was truly disappointed with this book in the series. The storyline felt all over the place. I felt loss so many times and truly never caught up. I am not sure if I will continue to read this series beyond this book. I have started reading the new series that dates back to when Stefan and Damon met Katherine called Origins: Stefan's Dairies.

Elena's character in this volume annoyed me, she loved Stefan but was with Damon whole Stefan in lock away somewhere. The descriptions were a bit much sometimes or not at all of certain moments taking place. Usually I say book stake me on roller coater rides, but that is used as a great reference. This was was me getting on the roller coaster and the rails fell apart as the ride began and no one could save it. Sorry L.J. I wish the review could have gone a different way but I am honest in all my reviews.

I will say this all the books before especially the originals in the series, I am a big fan of. The new series Stefan's Diaries so far Ive read the 1st book and liked it. So you can use that also as reference in deciding if this series is for you.

Summary: (from goodreads) On the run . . .

Elena Gilbert's love, the vampire Stefan Salvatore, has been captured and imprisoned by demonic spirits who are wreaking havoc in Fell's Church. While her friends Bonnie and Meredith explore the evil that has taken over their town, Elena goes in search of Stefan.

In order to find him, she entrusts her life to Stefan's brother, Damon Salvatore, the handsome but deadly vampire who wants Elena, body and soul. Along with her childhood friend Matt, they set out for the slums of the Dark Dimension, where Stefan is being held captive. It is rumored to be a world where vampires and demons roam free, but humans must live enslaved to their supernatural masters. . . .

Elena will stop at nothing to free Stefan. Yet with each passing day the tension between Elena and Damon grows, and she is faced with a terrible decision: Which brother does she really want?

Back in Fell's Church, Bonnie and Meredith have made some dire discoveries. They hastily try to follow Elena and warn her—only to be caught up in Elena's most dangerous adventure yet.

Review for Origins: Stefan's Diaries

The Vampire Diaries: Stefan's Diaries #1 Book Review

Origins
The Vampire Diaries: Stefan's Diaries #1
Author: L.J. Smith & Kevin Williamson & Julie Plec
Pages: 256 pgs
Reading Level: YA
Published: November 2nd 2010

I'm a bit happy that we have a new fresh take in The Vampire Diaries book chain. I am a reader of The original series, but was left a bit disappointed with the last book that was released. Honestly I haven't even finished it. So when I read that Stefan Diaries was coming out and would be a trilogy, I thought to myself Should I buy this book? Well I'm glad I did. Its great because its not based on the current events that we all have grown to love on the TV series and books as well. Origins takes place in 1864 during the Civil War. We are taken back to before Stefan and Damon are Vampires. I enjoyed reading about the brothers while they were still human and so Young at heart. Stefan is so innocent while Damon is the wild one. Smith tells the tale of when Katherine arrives in Mystic Falls and beginning to live in the carriage house and well all the sudden strange things start to happen in Mystic Falls while 2 brothers begin to fall in love for the same girl or I should say Vampire.

Synopsis: Set during the Civil War, against a backdrop of grand estates, unimaginable riches, and deadly secrets, three teenagers in Mystic Falls, Virginia enter a torrid love triangle that will span eternity. 

Brothers Stefan and Damon Salvatore are inseparable until they meet Katherine, a stunning, mysterious woman who turns their world upside down. Siblings turned rivals, the Salvatores compete for Katherine's affection, only to discover that her sumptuous silk dresses and glittering gems hide a terrible secret: Katherine is a vampire. And she is intent on turning them into vampires so they can live together-forever.