It's Monday, What Are You Reading? (Feb. 7, 2011)

It's Monday, What are you reading is a meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journey. 

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 just checked back on last Monday's post and, wonder of wonder, I actually read what I said I was going to read. This may be because I put myself on a book buying ban for February so that I could finally actually lower my number of TBR books.

Last week I read:

Darkness Becomes Her by Kelly Keaton is a Young Adult Debut novel this year that I had for review from the Simon & Schuster Galley Grab program. It was a good introduction to urban fantasy for young adults and a finished copy will be ordered on my next HS Media Center book order. The book will be published on Feb. 22 and my review is here.

Twice Dead by Kalayna Price follows Once Bitten and is a paranormal shifter/vampire sort of urban fantasy. It was very good and I'm looking forward to book 3 in the series which is coming this summer. My review will be posted on Feb. 10. (This is the book that precipitated my book buying ban. I knew I had it but couldn't find it anywhere. When I can no longer find books I own, it becomes time to reorganize and get rid of some!)

Deadly Vows by Brenda Joyce is the latest in the Francesca Cahill series. This book is a review copy that I received through NetGalley. I enjoyed both the mystery and the romance in this one. My review will be posted on Feb. 9. The book will be published on Feb. 22.

Timeless by Alexandra Monir is another YA 2011 Debut. This time travel romance was very entertaining. I know my high school romance readers will love it. My review will be posted on Feb. 9.

A Creed in Stone Creek by Linda Lael Miller is another ARC that I received from NetGalley. It is a traditional romance. I like Miller's style and her strong emphasis on family bonds. This book will be published on Feb. 22 and my review will be posted on Feb. 12.

Since I had caught up with review books that needed to be read NOW, I decided to look through my stack of TBR YAs to pick my next read. How to Grow Up and Rule the World by Vordak the Incomprehensible looked like just the thing. This was a funny, profusely illustrated book that will appeal to middle graders (and anyone else who aspires to ruling the world). My review will be posted on Feb. 10.

I am currently reading:

Primal which is an anthology that includes a new Breed story by Lora Leigh and three other stories by authors that I don't normally read. I am sincerely hoping that I don't like the other stories because I truly do not need any more authors to love. This is definitely a change of pace from Vordak.

Next week I plan to read:

Demon Song by Cat Adams is an ARC for a book that will be published March 1. It is third in this urban fantasy series. I liked one and two and am eager to read this one.

I also dug into the adult TBR stack and pulled out Wicked Appetite by Janet Evanovich which has been on the stack since last September. I like her books and want to see how she handles a foray into the paranormal.

The False Princess by Ellis O'Neal is a 2011 YA Debut novel that has a striking cover and an intriguing fantasy plot.

XVI by Julia Karr is also a 2011 YA Debut novel. This one is a dystopia.

I also dug into the older YAs that were waiting on the pile and chose these.

Enchanted Ivy by Sarah Beth Durst takes place at a magical Princeton University. It sounded interesting when I bought but it has been languishing on the pile.

The Ivy by Lauren Kunze and Rina Onur has been languishing longer yet. I bought this one last September. This is contemporary fiction about a young girl adjusting to life at Harvard.

I have been avoiding B.B.D. (Blurry Book Disorder) by alternating adult and young adult books. I will continue with this pattern. It also helps to alternate genres which is a little harder since so many of the books waiting to be read are paranormals but I am trying. 

What are your plans for the coming week?