It's Monday, What Are You Reading? (July 4, 2011)

t'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 was a reading machine this week. The cool, dreary weather made reading a perfect activity. Also the push to read a book a day in June also encouraged me to read. I think I had my own personal readathon going on.

Last Week I Read:

I started by reading a couple of books that I had for review.

Split Second by Catherine Coulter is the latest in the FBI Thriller series. It was a good romantic suspense novel. My review will be posted on July 7 and the book will be published on July 19.

Lost Voices by Sarah Porter is a young adult debut novel that was both lyrically written and heartbreaking. It is the story of abused girls who turn into mermaids. My review is here. The book will be published on July 4.

Next I decided to complete my re-read of the Liaden Universe books by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller.

These three books - Fledgling, Saltation and Ghost Ship - tell Theo Waitley's story but also bring her story into the larger story arc that began with Agent of Change. I will be doing a group review of these on July 9. I've been reading these on my Kindle. Ghost Ship isn't out until Aug. 2 but I have the eARC from Baen Books. I am looking forward to seeing Sharon and Steve at an author signing at Uncle Hugo's Science Fiction Book Store at the end of August. You can bet I'll be bringing all of my not yet autographed books to them.

Then it was back to review books because my latest from Amazon Vine arrived.

Summer's Crossing by Julie Kagawa is an ebook novella exclusive from her Iron Fey series which I am really enjoying. This one is free for the Kindle. My review will be posted on July 9.

Squish: Super Amoeba by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm is the first in a new middle grade graphic novel series by the creators of Babymouse. It was cute and I think it will go over well at my elementary media center with the young boys. My review will be posted on July 4.

Jane Jones: Worst. Vampire. Ever. by Caissie St. Onge is her young adult debut take on vampires. This one goes more for the humor as the main character is perpetually a gawky sixteen who also happens to be blood intolerant (allergic reaction, hives, and diarrhea). This was a great light read. My review will be posted on July 7.

Then, before tackling more review books, I read a couple that I had on my physical TBR stack so that I could write some reviews for Ms. Martin Teaches Media.

Trial by Fire by Jennifer Lynn Barnes is the sequel to Raised by Wolves and continues the story of Bryn who is the sixteen-year-old human alpha of a pack of young werewolves. The pack is facing threats from a rival pack and from a coven of human psychics. There is a lot of adventure in this very good story. My review is scheduled for July 16.

Haunting Violet is by Alyxandra Harvey and is a departure from her Drake Chronicles. I really enjoyed this historical fiction story about a young girl in Victorian England who assisted her mother who was a fake medium only to find out that she herself really could see and communicate with ghosts. She has to solve the murder of Rowena who has chosen to haunt her at an English country party. My review will be posted on July 14.

Then it was back to review books. I received Called Home: Two Hearts Answer from the author Gloria Schumann. This story didn't really match the style of books that I enjoy the most. While it was romantic suspense, it spent way too much time on the inner thoughts of both of the main characters and sacrificed both romance and suspense to do so. My review will be posted on July 14.

Currently Reading:

I was sent the ARC of Spell Bound by Kelly Armstrong by Liza at Dutton and was very glad to get it. I am a big fan of Armstrong's Otherworld books. This is the penultimate book in the series and reunited most of the characters from the earlier books in this current adventure. 

Next Week: My Kindle will get a workout as I read a bunch of books that I have for review.

Luck of the Devil by Patricia Eimer is from Entangled Publishing via NetGalley. It is a young adult book about the daughter of the devil who is rebelling by trying to be good.

Ward Against Death by Melanie Card is also from Entangled Publishing via NetGalley. This is a young adult/adult crossover title about a young necromancer in a fantasy world. 

Dragon's Pupils: The Sword Guest by Martin Chu Shui was a young adult book pitched to me by the author. I am a fan of dragons and said yes. It is by an Australian author and based on Chinese mythology.

Merciless by Diana Palmer is an eARC from Harlequin via NetGalley. I have read hundreds of Diana Palmer books but haven't read one for quite a while. I am eager to see if she still has her magic for me.

Then, while the Kindle is charging, I plan to read a couple of sequels that recently landed in my mailbox.

Heartless is the latest in Gail Carriger's The Parasol Protectorate series and is a great blend of steampunk, romance, and paranormal fiction.

Kitty's Big Trouble by Carrie Vaughn is the latest in the Kitty Norville series of urban fantasy and it has werewolves!

What did you read? What are you planning for this week? I am always eager to find out about new books and to add them to my TBR mountain.