★For Matrimonial Purposes Review★

Although there are a lot of negative comments about this book on Amazon.com, I for one loved it. I found it in the library while I was browsing, and I was really excited when I found this one. Indian novels being one of my favorite subjects of literature, I couldn't wait to sink my claws into this.
As soon as I started reading this book I knew I wouldn't be able to put it down. The story follows a young lady named Anju, an independent Indian girl living in New York city away from her family in Bombay. While she lives away from her home country she still wants to stick to the tradition of finding a husband and settling down like all of her past friends who still live in Bombay. I related to this character because I am half Japanese and I feel the same struggle of not wanting to stray from the Japanese way while being influenced by western culture.
The down side to this story in my opinion, was that it was a hurried ending. The story took a long time to unfold, and then it suddenly ended. Again, I enjoyed the novel very much and would recommend it to anyone who is interested in this subject matter, but there were some downsides to it. It was a very easy read, and if you are looking for an in depth description of Indian culture this book probably won't fit the bill. But I say go for it! :D

★Belly Dancing Performance!★

Yay, another performance! This was a couple weeks ago at a salsa club (i know, kind of weird), and I had a LOT of fun! I cut out someone next to me because of internet exposure. Anyway, here are some videos on youtube courtesy of my teacher :3

★LisaFreemontstreet Contest!★

So one of my favorite youtube gurus is doing a fabulous giveaway! There are all kinds of prizes galore to win from many great companies that aren't in the mainstream, which I think is an awesome way to promote these small companies! I'm posting her link (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVqqEQCWRqw&playnext_from=TL&videos=x2Ymlzr9G0Q&feature=sub) and all the info about the companies that are participating in the giveaway! So, enjoy <3

Hand Crafted Jewelry by Andewyn Designs:
http://www.andewyndesigns.com/
Layrite Products from The Shop at Lisa Freemont Street:
http://lisafreemontstreet.bigcartel.com/
Sigma makeup:
http://www.sigmamakeup.com/
Pin Up Girl Clothing:
http://www.pinupgirlclothing.com
Besame' Cosmetics:
http://www.besamecosmetics.com
Belle Blossoms:
http://www.belleblossoms.com
Heartbreaker Cosmetics:
http://www.heartbreakercosmetics.com
Tuck N Roll Kustoms:
http://www.tucknrollkustoms.com/
Dolly Bags:
http://www.dungareedolly.com
Va Va Va Voom:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/misscasseycakes
Mama Gnome:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/mamagnome
Cataphract Cold Creams and Scrubs:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/Cataphract
Sulilo Fused Glass Jewelry on Etsy:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/sulilo

★The Dead-Tossed Waves Review★

Hello, today I will be talking about Carrie Ryan's second book, The Dead Tossed Waves :). I'm happy to report that this was another great success in Ms. Ryan's young series of the zombie world dubbed "the return" in her books. It was full of wonderful detail and a gut wrenching story line that left me hungry for more!

Young Gabry, the daughter of Mary (from the Forest of Hands and Teeth) must face everything she fears as her whole world goes upside down in one fateful night. What was suppose to be a fun filled adventure with a group of friends turns into a nightmare for some of them, and death for the others. Gabry is the only one that didn't get caught and escaped, but at what cost?

I feel like the end of the book opened up a thousand more possibility for the characters that Ms. Ryan built up, and I can't wait for more. On her blog she's mentioned that she had written a couple of short stories that also take place in the world that she's made up. The short stories are part of zombie books with a collection of short stories from other authors! Check out her blog for more info :3 http://www.carrieryan.com/

★Burned Book Review★

I've been a long time fan of The House of Night series, and I was super excited when this book came out last week! I love how the books pick off from where they left off like some books DON't, and the details are just enough that it doesn't bug the crap out of me. And dialog! There is so much fun dialog to read in these books!!

But anyway, in Burned the eighth book of the series, Zoey is still trapped in the Other world, and her warrior/guardian Stark has to help her come back! Meanwhile, Stevie Rae is figuring out how to be a super red vamp high priestess while juggling her feelings and guilt about Raphaim, the top raven mocker, and Aphrodite, the prophetess is getting some crazy ass visions that are going to come home if Zoey doesn't come home!!

jeez.. that's a lot of stuff that happens in about 280 pages! I cannot wait for the next one to come out! I read on fantasticfiction.co.uk that the next book is called Awakened, and I'm confused over whether it is coming out this October, or next January (I hope its October XD) But We'll see!!

Currently reading: The dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan

Next Review: Soulstice by Simon Holt

Book Review, People of the Raven

Hello, today I am reviewing the book People of the Raven by Kathleen O'Neal Gear and W. Michael Gear. They are the authors of an exceptional series ("The People Series") which are fictional tales that focus on North America's "forgotten past". The settings are usually hundreds of years before Europeans discovered the north american continent, and really dissects the way people lived back then.

I've been reading this series for almost two years now (I've read about 5 of them and 3 by just Kathleen O'Neal Gear), and I absolutely LOVE the books they've written. It is DEFINITELY a series I would recommend to anyone. All the books (in my opinion) have plenty of mystery, romance, action, enlightenment, etc! They hit all the points I would want in a novel.

NOW on to People of the Raven. This book's setting was somewhere around the coast of Washington I believe, and it described a lot of beach scenes and forest, and COLD. There were good guys and bad guys, and a whole lot of drama and action. There were battles and loving relationships that developed throughout the book, and it was a definite page turner. I think it was one of my favorite people books (although I adored people of the Weeping Eye and Thunder the best).

The story starts out with the discovery of the Kennewick man (Caucasian male). It's a mystery, and the Gears developed an idea, a story out of this anomaly. The time this novel is set in has a huge impact of the people living their daily lives and influences much of the events in the story. At a time when people are struggling to keep up with the changes of the Earth's climate, a power struggle between two peoples occurs, and folds out into a tale of twists and turns!

**From the Gear-Gear site: One day a strange and beautiful red-haired woman, Evening Star, stumbles into his council lodge and begs him for sanctuary. Rain Bear soon learns that she is an escaped slave from the North Wind People, the Raven People's mortal enemies. If he offers to protect her, the North Wind People will attack, but if he sends her back, Rain Bear knows Evening Star will be tortured and perhaps killed.

But when Evening Star warns Rain Bear that the North Wind warriors are already on their way to Sandy Point Village, Rain Bear must decide at once if he should take his people and run or gather them into a battle that could result in the Raven People's complete demise.

Belly dance performance 4/11/10

Hey everyone, another (my second) belly dancing performance with the troupe! I don't have great pictures, so I'm posting the only ones I have that I look normal in haha. :D Okuma 2010 performance

I didn't do too well with my makeup this time because of the time limit that I thought I had, and the lack of makeup (forgot tot bring some colors). Next time (my final performance) I hope I will do better haha, and have a better camera XD