ARC Review: Archangel's Viper by Nalini Singh

Archangel's Viper
Author: Nalini Singh
Series: A Guild Hunter Novel (Book 10)
Publication: Berkley (September 26, 2017)

Description: Enter New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh’s breathtakingly passionate Guild Hunter world with the story of a woman who isn’t a vampire or an angel…or human…

Once a broken girl known as Sorrow, Holly Chang now prowls the shadowy gray underground of the city for the angels. But it’s not her winged allies who make her a wanted woman—it’s the unknown power coursing through her veins. Brutalized by an insane archangel, she was left with the bloodlust of a vampire, the ability to mesmerize her prey, and a poisonous bite.

Now, someone has put a bounty on her head…

Venom is one of the Seven, Archangel Raphael’s private guard, and he’s as infuriating as he is seductive. A centuries-old vampire, his fangs dispense a poison deadlier than Holly’s. But even if Venom can protect Holly from those hunting her, he might not be able to save himself—because the strange, violent power inside Holly is awakening…

No one is safe.

My Thoughts: This is Holly and Venom's story. Holly, who used to be called Sorrow, was attacked by Uram and forcibly made into a sort of vampire. She also has some angelic abilities and still has a human need for food. Since she wasn't made under contract, she has been taken into the tower where she is being watched and trained by the Seven and Raphael. No one, least of all Holly, are sure that she won't succumb to Uram's insanity.

When it is learned that someone has put a bounty of Holly, she is teamed up with Venom to find out who wants her. She and Venom have an interesting relationship. While everyone except his brothers in the Seven are afraid of Venom, Holly isn't intimidated. She finds him fascinating and enjoys teasing him. He returns the teasing. It is while they are investigating that their relationship changes into a romance which neither of them had anticipated.

While they are investigating, Holly also has to deal with the piece of Uram that he left in her and who is trying to take her over. Following where that piece is directing her takes them to Michaela's territory and Michaela's secret. They face all sorts of dangers as they infiltrate and even more dangers when the secret is discovered.

I liked seeing more about Venom and finding out more about his past and his reasons for being the way he is. I liked that Holly was a perfect match for him because she had her own power and stubbornness. I also liked that Holly saw the man behind the Venom persona.

Fans of the Guild Hunters series will enjoy this newest entry. In fact, anyone who loves paranormal romance will enjoy this story.

Favorite Quote:

She didn't let go despite the warning in his tone. "I'm stubborn," she whispered. "Especially when it comes to people who matter." And he mattered. "You don't get to do the lone viper thing anymore."

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.

ARC Review: Find Me by Tiffany Snow

Find Me
Author: Tiffany Snow
Series: Corrupted Hearts (Book 3)
Publication: Montlake Romance (September 19, 2017)

Description: As the head of the government’s secret Vigilance spy program, computer guru China Mack already has her hands full when her billionaire boyfriend, Jackson Cooper, asks for one of them in marriage.

Thrown for a loop by the sudden proposal, China’s usually well-ordered life takes another hit when someone tries to assassinate the president. Even that comes with a shocking twist: the primary suspect is none other than her ex-partner, Clark Slattery. With nowhere else to turn, the sexy loner needs China’s help and expertise. Clark has linked the assassination attempt to a failed secret operation undertaken six years ago—and a deadly cover-up that’s putting the leader of the free world in the crosshairs. But the president isn’t the only one in harm’s way.

Now, China is going to have to dig deep for information that’s beyond even her clearance. And what she discovers may have far-reaching consequences for her life and everyone else in it.

My Thoughts: This episode begins with a fancy Valentine's Day date with China's boyfriend Jackson that ends with him proposing marriage. China is not at all sure that she is ready for marriage or wants to marry Jackson and is saved from answering his proposal when she gets a call saying the President has been shot.

She heads in to her secret workplace where she learns that surveillance video shows that the shooter looks suspiciously like her former partner Clark Slattery. When Clark comes to her with a bullet wound and asking for help, China finds herself trying to investigate who tried to kill the president and who shot Clark.

It also looks like whoever shot Clark isn't finished trying to kill him. She and Jackson wind up in a car accident which totals the brand new car Jackson just gave her. Clark and Jackson are both rivals for China's love and really don't like each other. But the three of them have to team up to find out who wants them dead.

Around the danger and investigation, a lot of this one is about China deciding which of these two hot - but very different - men is the right man for her. I liked China who is a genius who is also quite quirky and really into fandom. I could see why she has such a hard time believing that anyone could love her after meeting her family and learning a secret from her past.

This was an excellent, fast-paced romantic suspense title with a wonderful group of characters.

Favorite Quote:

Clark had almost been blown up. One part of my brain tried to process that while another part went through the ramifications. "Who's after you? And why? Was this the first time something like that has happened? Wait...someone's trying to kill you and you came here?" My voice rose as each question only panicked me more.

He winced. "Okay, only dogs can hear you. Take it down a notch."

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.

Adult and Young Adult Teasers (Sept. 19)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by The Purple Booker. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Teaser on Inside of a Dog:

"Don't be ridiculous. And I don't twitch." Not unless he started using seen instead of saw or demanded I change the scent of my laundry detergent.

-- Find Me by Tiffany Snow







Teaser on Ms. Martin Teaches Media:

He gave an exasperated sigh, but I knew he's already caved. "Great. Then I'm the one Aiana comes after and yells at tomorrow. There are a lot of words for 'idiot' and 'bastard' in our language, and she knows them all. I even think she invented some."

-- Midnight Jewel by Richelle Mead

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (Sept. 18, 2017)

It's Monday, What Are You Reading? is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date.

It’s Monday!  What Are You Reading is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week.  It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

I will be combining my YA and adult reading and purchases on this one weekly roundup. YA and middle grade reviews will still be posted on  Ms. Martin Teaches Media - my other blog.

Other Than Reading... 

Our new garage is built. This week the electrician should be coming to get power to the building and change out our exterior lights. Next up is getting a garage door opener installed and maybe rain gutters. Since winter is coming, it will be nice to be able to get all three cars in garages.

Work seems to be progressing at the house in Duluth we are selling. I haven't heard yet but the basement repair people were supposed to be finished by Friday. Next up there is cleaning up the ugly but not dangerous mold and doing some sort of preventative treatment. Then things move to the buyer's hands to get the closing rescheduled.

My townhouse is still on the market with maybe a showing a week. I would really like that one sold soon. The excitement there this week was a large, very large, spider spotted by the potential buyers during a showing. My realtor put on her Great White Hunter hat and took care of it (but not before sending me a photo of the monster.)

Meanwhile, Duluth has been cool, rainy and foggy again for most of the past week. Great reading weather but not so great for any outdoor activities.

Read Last Week

El Deafo by Cece Bell - ARC from deep on TBR mountain

Satellite by Nick Lake - engaging YA science fiction

The Wicked Billionaire by Jackie Ashenden - Okay romance. I thought the main characters were more in need of therapy than a romance

Osiris by Eric C. Anderson - complex military and political thriller that reminded me of Tom Clancy but without as much character development

The Great Shelby Holmes - from TBR mountain, engaging middle grade mystery

The Breathless by Tara Goedjen - DNF; I read until 58% before deciding that I didn't know what was going on and didn't care enough about any of the characters to continue.

Currently

A Cajun Christmas Killing by Ellen Byron (Oct. 10) - Review stack; Louisiana, plantation bed and breakfasts, murder and interesting characters

Next Week

The Painted Queen by Elizabeth Peters and Joan Hess - the last Amelia Peabody mystery from TBR mountain

Berserker by Emmy Laybourne (Oct. 10) - review book

Death Overdue by Allison Brook (Oct. 10) - review book

Reviews Posted

On Inside of a Dog:

Wildfire by Ilona Andrews

The Last Move by Mary Burton

Sleep Like a Baby by Charlaine Harris

On Ms. Martin Teaches Media:

The Exact Location of Home by Kate Messner

Murder, Magic and What We Wore by Kelly Jones

A Poison Dark and Drowning by Jessica Cluess

Want to See What I Added to My Stack Last Week?

On my Kindle:

In Other Lands by Sarah Rees Brennan

The Curious Affair of the Somnambulist & the Psychic Thief by Lisa Tuttle

Print books:

The Collapsing Empire by John Scalzi

Nemesis by Anna Banks

Review book:

House of Shadows by Nicola Cornick (Oct. 17)

What was your week like?

ARC Review: Sleep Like a Baby by Charlaine Harris

Sleep Like a Baby
Author: Charlaine Harris
Series: Aurora Teagarden Mysteries (Book 10)
Publication: Minotaur Books (September 26, 2017)

Description: In Sleep Like a Baby, the latest installment of the #1 New York Times Bestselling Charlaine Harris’s Aurora Teagarden series, Robin and Aurora have finally begun their adventure in parenting. With newborn Sophie proving to be quite a handful, Roe’s mother pays for a partially trained nurse, Virginia Mitchell, to come help the new parents for a few weeks. Virginia proves to be especially helpful when Robin has to leave town for work and Roe is struck with a bad case of the flu.

One particularly stormy night, Roe wakes to hear her daughter crying and Virginia nowhere to be found. Roe's brother Philip helps her search the house and they happen upon a body outside… but it isn’t Virginia’s. Now, not only does she have a newborn to care for and a vulnerable new marriage to nurture, Roe also has to contend with a new puzzle -- who is this mystery woman dead in their backyard, and what happened to Virginia? This heart-pounding and exciting next installment of the Aurora Teagarden series will leave fans happy and hungry for more.

My Thoughts: Roe and Robin are getting used to being parents to their baby Sophie. Roe is breast feeding and her life revolves around feeding and caring for her new baby. When Robin, who is up for an Anthony award, goes to Bouchercon, Roe doesn't want to tell him that she is coming down with the flu. She calls in Virginia Mitchell who helped when she and Sophie were just home from the hospital. Virginia will be there at night while Robin is gone.

Roe gets sicker and sicker but between Virginia and Roe's younger brother Philip they are surviving and Roe can be positive when Robin calls to check in. But one night, Roe wakes up to hear Sophie crying through the baby monitor. When she makes her way to Sophie there is no Virginia. She wakes Philip and their search of the house doesn't find Virginia anywhere. When they check the backyard, they see a body but it is not Virginia.

When the woman in the yard is identified as Tracy Beal. She had stalked Robin and attempted to kill Roe. Both Robin and Roe thought that she was still in police custody. When a neighbor says he thought he saw Robin in the yard at the time of Tracy's death, he comes under police suspicion until he can prove he was at the convention.

Besides wondering what happened to Virginia and wondering who killed Tracy, Roe's stepfather has a heart attack and is in the ICU. Her mother won't leave him and Roe has to fit in hospital visits to support her mother. Between a gift flower arrangement with no card, a missing sweater, missing keys, a stolen diaper bag, and a break-in, there are all sorts of clues for Roe to decipher.

This was an entertaining cozy mystery and just perfect for fans of the Aurora Teagarden series.

Favorite Quote:

Emily Scott, our priest's wife, was in my bedroom doorway before I could finish the paroxysm. I was as amazed as if Mother Teresa had popped in . . . or I would have been, if I hadn't felt like death warmed over. 

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.

Friday Memes: Sleep Like a Baby by Charlaine Harris

Happy Friday everybody!

Book Beginnings on Friday is now hosted by Rose City Reader. The Friday 56 is hosted at Freda's Voice. Check out the links above for the rules and for the posts of the participants each week. Don’t dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST.

Beginning:

I was standing at the backyard fence, watching the Herman twins (a) play with their dog, and (b) water their flowers. It was early in the morning, the only time of day it was tolerable for me to go outside in July in Georgia, since I was approximately as big as a rhinoceros.

Friday 56:

"I'm going to help her," I said, gathering myself to rise.

"You are not," Cathy told me. "You are not moving at all. You're no doctor. You're no nurse. You're fodder."

This week I am reading Sleep Like a Baby by Charlaine Harris. This is the most recent in the Aurora Teagarden mystery series. Here is the description from Amazon:

In Sleep Like a Baby, the latest installment of the #1 New York Times Bestselling Charlaine Harris’s Aurora Teagarden series, Robin and Aurora have finally begun their adventure in parenting. With newborn Sophie proving to be quite a handful, Roe’s mother pays for a partially trained nurse, Virginia Mitchell, to come help the new parents for a few weeks. Virginia proves to be especially helpful when Robin has to leave town for work and Roe is struck with a bad case of the flu.

One particularly stormy night, Roe wakes to hear her daughter crying and Virginia nowhere to be found. Roe's brother Philip helps her search the house and they happen upon a body outside… but it isn’t Virginia’s. Now, not only does she have a newborn to care for and a vulnerable new marriage to nurture, Roe also has to contend with a new puzzle -- who is this mystery woman dead in their backyard, and what happened to Virginia? This heart-pounding and exciting next installment of the Aurora Teagarden series will leave fans happy and hungry for more.

Book Review: Wildfire by Ilona Andrews

Wildfire
Author: Ilona Andrews
Series: Hidden Legacy (Book 3)
Publication: Avon (July 25, 2017)

Description: From Ilona Andrews, #1 New York Times bestselling author, the thrilling conclusion to her Hidden Legacy series, as Nevada and Rogan grapple with a power beyond even their imagination…

Nevada Baylor can’t decide which is more frustrating—harnessing her truthseeker abilities or dealing with Connor “Mad” Rogan and their evolving relationship. Yes, the billionaire Prime is helping her navigate the complex magical world in which she’s become a crucial player—and sometimes a pawn—but she also has to deal with his ex-fiancée, whose husband has disappeared, and whose damsel-in-distress act is wearing very, very thin.

Rogan faces his own challenges, too, as Nevada’s magical rank has made her a desirable match for other Primes. Controlling his immense powers is child’s play next to controlling his conflicting emotions. And now he and Nevada are confronted by a new threat within her own family. Can they face this together? Or is their world about to go up in smoke?

My Thoughts: This third Hidden Legacy novel has Nevada looking for the missing husband of the ex-fiance of her love Connor Rogan. It also has her trying to find a way to keep her family safe from her father's mother who is the only Prime in her house and who wants to annex Nevada and her sisters. Another plot thread concerns the conspiracy to destabilize Houston in order to set up a new way of governing the Houses. Still another plot thread involves Nevada's relationship with Connor "Mad" Rogan.

All of these various plot threads twisted and intertwined in an action-packed story that I couldn't put down. Nevada is a strong, smart woman who knows what she wants out of life. She is fiercely protective of her family and those she loves. Rogan is a wonderfully tortured hero who frightens and overwhelms most people by Nevada can stand up to him. I liked the way they tried to take care of each other and especially that they were sensitive to each others' feelings and needs.

I liked learning more about what powers Nevada's younger sisters and cousins have and how they came to get them. I also liked the strong relationships in Nevada's family.

I liked the world building in this book. Both the magical powers and political maneuvering were well-developed. The ending leaves room for another book and I would love it if the author's were able to continue writing stories in this world.

Favorite Quote:

If Sherwood decided to stonewall me and Cornelius, Rogan would come in handy. It was one thing to shut out Baylor Investigative Agency and a Significant of a minor House. It was another thing to say no to Mad Rogan.

I pretended to mull it over. "Promise not to break any buildings."

He gave me his most polite dragon smile. "I promise."

I bought this one. You can buy your copy here.