Monday, October 31, 2011

Spooktacular Giveaway Hop - Box of ARCs

I am pleased to be taking part in the Spooktacular Giveaway Hop - Oct 24th to 31st - Co-hosted by Rhianna @ TheDiaryofaBookworm and Inspired Kathy of I Am a Reader, Not a Writer.
My prize this time is a surprise box of 5 books that I have recently received for review. Most (maybe all) of the books are ARCs and have been read once. Because these boxes are rather heavy, I am limiting this one to US addresses only. You do not need to be a follower to enter this contest - but it would be nice if you were.


Fill out the form completely and this box of books could be yours. Good luck!


Click here to go to the list of blogs participating in this giveaway hop.


Sunday, October 30, 2011

It's Monday, What Are You Reading? (Oct. 31, 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.

Happy Halloween, everyone! After school today is our reading club Halloween party with a viewing of I Am Number Four. We wanted to show a book based movie. I am looking forward to seeing this. I haven't read the book or seen the movie yet.

Last week I read:
Cast in Ruin by Michelle Sagara -- This one is a great, complex fantasy but would not be a good starting place for someone new to the series. It is book 7. My review is here.

Fetching by Kiera Stewart was a fun read about middle school outsiders deciding to use dog training techniques to improve their popularity and defeat the mean kids at their school. It had a nice mix of characters. My review is here.

Cinder and Ella by Melissa Lemon was a story about grief and family dysfunction disguised as a fairy tale retelling. It was a bit heavy handed and had the weaknesses of fairy tales - lack of character development and unclear motivations for characters. However, it was also an adventurous read and the language was very descriptive. My review will be posted on Nov. 12.

I am not currently reading anything. But this is my stack and Tricks of the Trade by Laura Anne Gilman is calling my name.
Tricks of the Trade by Laura Anne Gilman is the third in her Paranormal Investigations urban fantasy series. I have enjoyed the first two. This one is an eARC from NetGalley. The book will be published Nov. 15.

Lord of the Abyss by Nalini Singh is also and eARC from NetGalley. This is one book in a multi-author series. I chose it because I am a fan of Singh's work. This one also comes out on Nov. 15
Ignite by Kaitlyn Davis is a self-published young adult paranormal. The author asked me to read it and, since it sounded good, I agreed. I hope it is as good as it sounds. It came out Oct. 9 and is available as an ebook. 

The Pledge by Kimberly Derting is sitting on my computer in my Adobe Digital Editions. I want to read it soon but really dislike reading a book on my computer. This is a young adult fantasy which will be published on Nov. 15.
In Her Sights by Robin Perini was one of my Amazon Vine selections this month. This one is romantic suspense and will be published on Nov. 29.

Unleashed by Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguie is my second Amazon Vine pick. This a a young adult paranormal with werewolves. It will be published on Nov. 22. 

If none of these manage to capture my attention I can always look in the stack of books pictured below. These are my most recent additions to my TBR mountain.
What are your plans for the week?

In My Mailbox (Oct. 30, 2011)

The weekly In My Mailbox post is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. It is fun to see what everyone else gets in their mailboxes, shopping bags, and library visits. Click on the link to The Story Siren's site to see the rules and join in the fun.
 
I guarantee that your TBR pile will grow when you see all the wonderful books everyone gets. You will discover lots of great blogs and lots of books that you won't be able to live without.

This was a slow week for me in terms of new books arriving at my door. I purchased one book and one book for review arrived from Amazon Vine.


I got:
The Shattered Vine by Laura Anne Gilman. This is the third in the Vineart Wars series. I have only read the first one. But book two - Weight of Stone - is somewhere on my TBR mountain. I like Gilman's work and buy it automatically. But I seem to read her urban fantasy novels sooner than her high fantasy books. 

From Amazon Vine, I chose In Her Sights by Robin Perini. This book will be published on Nov. 29 and is a romantic suspense novel. Here is the product description from Amazon:
Jasmine “Jazz” Parker, Jefferson County SWAT's only female sniper, can thread the eye of a needle with a bullet. But she carries a secret from her past that she thought she buried for good at the age of fifteen. Two years ago she even drove away the one man she believed she could love—ex-Army Ranger turned reporter Luke Montgomery—to keep her past hidden. Now, in a fleeting second, the time it takes for one clean shot, one perfect hit, to save the life of the governor's daughter, Jazz's world begins to crumble around her.

Luke splashes her face and name across the front page of the newspaper, reawakening her past with a vengeance. A vicious enemy is now bent on destroying her life, forcing Jazz to turn to the one man she can never have in order to stop a killer before she and everyone she cares about pays the ultimate price. Full of explosive action and almost unbearable suspense, In Her Sights is a relentless, steamy thriller surprisingly infused with soul and poignancy.
This is what I got last week. What came in your mailbox?

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Book Review: Cast in Ruin by Michelle Sagara

Cast in Ruin
Author: Michelle Sagara
Publication: Luna; Original edition (September 20, 2011)


Description: Seven corpses are discovered in the streets of a Dragon's fief. All identical, down to their clothing.


Kaylin Neya is assigned to discover who they were, who killed them—and why. Is the evil lurking at the borders of Elantra preparing to cross over?

At least the investigation delays her meeting with the Dragon Emperor. And as the shadows grow longer over the fiefs, Kaylin must use every skill she's ever learned to save the people she's sworn to protect. Sword in hand, dragons in the sky, this time there's no retreat and no surrender…



My Thoughts:  Cast in Ruin was a complex fantasy that is the seventh in the series. Each one builds on the previous books. This one continued the plot thread of Kaylin learning more about herself and preparing for a meeting with the dragon emperor. Along the way she is side-tracked by an investigation into the sudden appearance of seven dead bodies in the fief of Tiamaris. Tiamaris is a dragon who is her friend. So is his tower - Tara. Lord Tiamaris took over this fief and is trying to reconstruct it. However, shadows are still fighting for it.


This episode concentrates on the dragons. Kaylin interacts with them in many ways and learns much more about them. Dragons are incredibly touchy and secretive about themselves. She has to have protocol lessons from Lord Diarmat who has a very poor opinion of humans. She is being taught magic by Lord Sanabalis who is rather tolerant for a dragon. She interacts with the Arkon who is the oldest dragon in the Empire and who is the librarian for the Empire. Tiamaris, Sanabalis, and the Arkon are all involved in the investigation in the fief of Tiamaris.


Adding to the complexity of the fief are the Norannir who are 8-foot tall aliens who have come from shadows to fight Shadow. They were invited by Tiamaris to settle in his fief but the humans in the fief are still very wary of them. We also learn about the mythology of the Norannir as it intersects with Kaylin's investigation in the fief.


I like Kaylin a lot. She is a child of the fiefs who escaped them for the Empire. All she wants to be is a Hawk and uphold the Empire's laws. But she has a sort of magic that makes her more prominent than she would like. Some of the fief lord's want to control her. The dragons are wary of her and her magic because what she is and what she can do is not known to them. And dragons do not like mysteries!


It is hard to describe this book because it is so complex and has so many plot threads woven into it. But each episode has excitement and self-discovery and further illuminates a fascinating fantasy world. I can't wait for the next episode - Cast in Peril


The mysterious appearance of seven identical female corpses unsettles all the dragons. 


Favorite Quote:
The well was never completely abandoned at this time of day. The streets around the well were about as crowded as fief streets ever got, and children were playing in the streets. Well, technically, four of them were playing and two of them were having a tug-of-war over a stick while practicing street language that would only grow more useful with time.
I bought this one because I am a fan of the series. You can get your copy here.

Friday, October 28, 2011

Book Beginning & Friday 56: Cast in Ruin by Michelle Sagara

Happy Friday everybody!!
Book Beginnings

Book Beginnings on Friday is now hosted by Katy at A Few More Pages 
Anyone can participate; just share the opening sentence of your current read, making sure that you include the title and author so others know what you're reading. 
If you like, share with everyone why you do, or do not, like the sentence.

The Friday 56
Rules:
  • Grab the book nearest you. Right now.
  • Turn to page 56.
  • Find the fifth sentence.
  • Post that sentence (plus one or two others if you like) along with these instructions on your blog or (if you do not have your own blog) in the comments section of Freda's Voice
  • Post a link along with your post back to Freda's Voice
Don’t dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST.

The book I am spotlighting this week is Cast in Ruin by Michelle Sagara. This is a fantasy novel and is the seventh in the series.

Here is the product description:
Seven corpses are discovered in the streets of a Dragon's fief. All identical, down to their clothing.

Kaylin Neya is assigned to discover who they were, who killed them—and why. Is the evil lurking at the borders of Elantra preparing to cross over?

At least the investigation delays her meeting with the Dragon Emperor. And as the shadows grow longer over the fiefs, Kaylin must use every skill she's ever learned to save the people she's sworn to protect. Sword in hand, dragons in the sky, this time there's no retreat and no surrender…
Beginning:
The worst thing about near-world-ending disasters according to Sergeant Marcus Kassan--at least the ones that had miraculously done little damage--was the paperwork they generated.
Friday 56:
The carriage took them to Ablayne, no farther. Given that it was an Imperial Carriage, Kaylin understood why. Dragons were touchy about their personal land. 

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Book Review: Changes by Mercedes Lackey

Changes: Book Three of the Collegium Chronicles
Author: Mercedes Lackey
Publication: DAW Hardcover; 1 edition (October 4, 2011)


Description: Enter the thrilling third volume in the epic Collegium Chronicles.


In Mercedes Lackey's classic coming-of-age story, the orphan Magpie pursues his quest for his parent's identity with burning urgency-while also discovering another hidden talent and being trained by the King's Own Herald as an undercover agent for Valdemar. Shy Bardic Trainee Lena has to face her famous but uncaring father, one of Valdemar's most renowned Bards. And Healing Trainee Bear must struggle against his disapproving parents, who are pressuring Bear to quit the Healers' Collegium because he lacks the magical Healing Gift.

Each of the three friends must face his or her demons and find their true strength as they seek to become the full Heralds, Bards, and Healers of Valdemar.

My Thoughts: This was a good addition to the Collegium Chronicles. It was good to see Bear, Lena and Mags developing into their adult roles. Both Bear and Lena have parent problems and seem to get a handle on them in this volume. Bear's healer family can't understand how he can be a healer without the healing gift even though he has proved his abilities to those in Collegium. Lena has to deal with a father who is so self-centered that his only goal in life is to do what is necessary for himself to remain center stage. Lena finally decides that there is no way that she can ever gain his attention and approval and learns to stand up for herself.

Mags is the main character in this series. His problem is not family-centered. Although he would like to know about his parents and heritage because some of the bad guys seem to know more about him than he does himself. The bad guys are determined to destabilize Valdemar by killing the king and discrediting the heralds. Mags isn't about to let that happen no matter the cost to himself.

Mags grows to realize that his place is as a spy for Valdemar. He won't be one of those heralds parading around in their whites and telling the laws. He knows that his mindspeaking gifts make him really suitable for a career as a spy as does his temperament. He is determined to protect Valdemar and his friends.

The one part of this story that I had some trouble with was the fact the Mags speaks in a dialect that must be as hard for Lackey to write as it is for me to read. For example: "I was hopin' ye could git me through them County Graces horsecrap wi'out hevin' t' strain m'skull." What made it most annoying for me is that he can speak with letter-perfect grammar and diction but is retaining the dialect to develop his persona as a "thick-as-a-brick games-player."


I recommend this volume to those who have read the first two. I recommend all three books to those, like me, who are fans of Valdemar and wonder about the early days of the kingdom.


Favorite Quote:

When your options were steal or starve...you couldn't exactly call those "options."
I bought this one at Amazon. You can get your copy there too.

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Teaser Tuesday: Changes by Mercedes Lackey

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. 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!


Today my nearest book is Changes by Mercedes Lackey. I have been reading her Valdemar books for years and am enjoying this series about when Valdemar was new and the collegia that trained the bards, healers and heralds were just being established. This is the third volume in this series about three young people. Mags is a herald-trainee, Bear is a healer-trainee, and Lena is a bard-trainee. Each has to grow up and find their place in the world. It is a classic coming-of-age story.


Teaser:
Fine, call her eyes "pretty." or "soulful," or "entrancing"--those all made sense. But "melting?" Mags didn't see how you could call eyes "melting"; if her eyes were doing that, it would be hideously painful for her, and rather nasty to watch. 

Sunday, October 23, 2011

It's Monday, What Are You Reading? (Oct. 24, 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'm back home after a nice, relaxing MEA break. It was good to get back to Duluth for a couple of days. I got some reading and some socializing done.

I read:
I finished Echo Falls by Jaime McDougall and really enjoyed the story after I got over the too independent main female character. She was so determined to solve her problems herself that she caused more problems for those around her. My review and an author guest post will be published on Nov. 9.

I also read Tuesdays at the Castle by Jessica Day George. I liked this one very much. It was a great middle grade adventure but the coolest thing was the semi-sentient castle that grows extra rooms at need or at its whim. Celie is the youngest daughter of the king and is the main character. The plot concerns an attempted takeover of the country. My review will be posted on Nov. 10.
I also read Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel. This is my first zombie book. It is also steampunk and futuristic as it takes place in a future world that has adopted Victorian manners and values and is facing a plague that turns most everyone into zombies. My review will be posted on Nov. 3.

I also read Changes by Mercedes Lackey. This is the third book in the Collegium series about the early days of Valdemar and is a coming of age story for the three main characters. Along the way they have to save the kingdom and track down assassins who want to discredit the heralds and destabilize the kingdom. My review will be posted on Oct. 27
I am currently reading Fetching by Kiera Stewart. This is a middle grade novel. The premise is that middle grade students can be trained like dogs. Some of the outcasts are tired of their role and are using dog-training techniques to make a more civil middle school. This one is in turns funny and poignant and bring back my memories of my much despised middle school years.

Next week, I have one carryover book that I have been meaning to read for weeks and some more review books.
Cinder and Ella by Melissa Lemon and Circus Galacticus by Deva Fagan are both waiting for me on my Kindle. These are middle grade novels that I got from NetGalley a while ago.
I am determined to actually get to Cast in Ruin by Michelle Sagara this week. I also have The Pledge by Kimberly Derting sitting on my computer in my Adobe Digital Edtions file.

Those are my plans. Wish me luck!

In My Mailbox (Oct. 23, 2011)

The weekly In My Mailbox post is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. It is fun to see what everyone else gets in their mailboxes, shopping bags, and library visits. Click on the link to The Story Siren's site to see the rules and join in the fun.
 
I guarantee that your TBR pile will grow when you see all the wonderful books everyone gets. You will discover lots of great blogs and lots of books that you won't be able to live without.
My book haul this week was modest. I only added two books to my TBR mountain. Both were print books. I have been eagerly anticipating one for months. The other was a spur of the moment choice.
I have been wanting The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater for months. I love her intense writing style. I think that this exploration of a myth that is little known to me (water horses) ought to be very interesting. This one is getting so much blog exposure that I don't think I need to say more about it to anyone. 

Wolf at the Door by Mary Janice Davidson is much more a guilty pleasure. I like her light-hearted paranormals and really like werewolves. I really like Davidson's humor. Here is the product description:
Rachel, a werewolf/accountant, is asked to keep one eye on Vampire Queen Betsy Taylor and the other peeled for a rogue werewolf who's itching to start a war. But her attention is mostly on a sexy, mysterious stranger she wishes she could trust.
That was my mailbox this week. What did you get?

Friday, October 21, 2011

Book Beginning & Friday 56: Changes by Mercedes Lackey

Happy Friday everybody!!
Book Beginnings

Book Beginnings on Friday is now hosted by Katy at A Few More Pages 
Anyone can participate; just share the opening sentence of your current read, making sure that you include the title and author so others know what you're reading. 
If you like, share with everyone why you do, or do not, like the sentence.

The Friday 56
Rules:
  • Grab the book nearest you. Right now.
  • Turn to page 56.
  • Find the fifth sentence.
  • Post that sentence (plus one or two others if you like) along with these instructions on your blog or (if you do not have your own blog) in the comments section of Freda's Voice
  • Post a link along with your post back to Freda's Voice
Don’t dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST.


The book I am spotlighting today is Changes by Mercedes Lackey. This is the third book in her Collegium Chronicles which is set in the early days of Valdemar. 


Here is the product description:

In Mercedes Lackey's classic coming-of-age story, the orphan Magpie pursues his quest for his parent's identity with burning urgency-while also discovering another hidden talent and being trained by the King's Own Herald as an undercover agent for Valdemar. Shy Bardic Trainee Lena has to face her famous but uncaring father, one of Valdemar's most renowned Bards. And Healing Trainee Bear must struggle against his disapproving parents, who are pressuring Bear to quit the Healers' Collegium because he lacks the magical Healing Gift.

Each of the three friends must face his or her demons and find their true strength as they seek to become the full Heralds, Bards, and Healers of Valdemar.
I have enjoyed the first two books of this series and expect to like this one too.

Beginning:
Mags shaded his eyes and peered across the uneven ground of the Kirball field at the opposing team huddled up in front of their goal and forced himself to relax.
Friday 56:
He hurried to the stairs and clattered down them, a lot more noisily than he usually did. He had yet to figure out how to be fast and quiet.

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

WoW: The Next Always by Nora Roberts

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. She has a linky widget at her site each week for your post and to make it easy to find posts by other people.

The purpose of the meme is to spotlight books that we are eagerly anticipating. It is fun to take a look at what others are waiting for.

I have noticed that it has expanded my wishlist though. Be warned!

I am a big fan of Nora Roberts' romances. I can't wait until Nov. 1 when she begins a new contemporary trilogy. The Next Always takes place in an inn she owns. Here is the product description:
"America's favorite writer" (The New Yorker) begins an all-new trilogy-inspired by the inn she owns and the town she loves.

The historic hotel in BoonsBoro, Maryland, has endured war and peace, changing hands, even rumored hauntings. Now it's getting a major facelift from the Montgomery brothers and their eccentric mother. As the architect of the family, Beckett's social life consists mostly of talking shop over pizza and beer. But there's another project he's got his eye on: the girl he's been waiting to kiss since he was fifteen...
This one sounds so good!

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

I Have Not Run Away to Join the Circus

My apologies for the lack of non-meme posts lately. I have been buried neck deep in young adult books and have been pretty active on my other blog - Ms. Martin Teaches Media.

Hopefully, I'll be able to see over the top of that stack soon and be able to read some of the adult books that are calling my name.

Sunday, October 16, 2011

It's Monday, What Are You Reading? (Oct. 17, 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.

This was another slow reading week for me. I managed to finish my third book of the week on Sunday afternoon. The beginning of next week looks even worse. We have Parent-Teacher Conferences on Monday and Tuesday evenings and on Wednesday. Those 7:30 AM to 7:30 PM days are really tiring and long for me. Especially since no one wants to confer with the media specialist. I'll be spending those extra hours planning book orders and processing new books.

Then on Wednesday after conferences I will be heading up to Duluth for the long weekend. I hope the road construction isn't too bad. I haven't been back home since late August and I am looking forward to seeing my brother and just relaxing. I am hoping to get some extra reading done while I am away.

Last week I read:
The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa is in her Iron Fey universe. It was a wonderful story that follows Ash, prince of the Winter Court, as he goes on a quest to become human so that he can live with the woman he loves. Meghan is the new Iron Queen. Those of Winter die in the Iron Lands. Ash is accompanied by Puck, Grimalkin and a few others on his journey. This book comes out on Oct. 25. I will have the review and a post by Julie Kagawa on my blog Oct. 27.

Mercury Rises by Robert Kroese was a satiric fantasy with angels and evil plots. It was told from multiple points of view (each one more eccentric than the last). I think it would be beneficial to read Mercury Falls first as this is a sequel. I didn't and am sure I missed lots. Here is my review.

Touch (A Denazen Novel, Book One) by Jus Accardo is a young adult paranormal romance and thriller. I really liked the characters and the non-stop action in this one. I'll be looking forward to the sequels. My review will be posted on Oct. 20 and I have an author guest post on Oct. 30.

I am currently reading another review book - Echo Falls by Jaime McDougall. This is an adult paranormal with werewolves. Werewolves! I couldn't pass it up. I will be a stop on Jaime's blog tour on Nov. 9 and will be posting the review and have a guest post then.

Next week I have bunches more review books to read. Somehow, I signed myself up to read and review six more before Nov. 15. These are the ones that are first on the queue.

Cinder and Ella by Melissa Lemon will be published Nov. 8. This is a middle grade novel based on Cinderella but with a "supernatural twist." I like stories based on fairy tales and think this one sounds good.

Circus Galaticus by Deva Fagan is another middle grade novel. This one comes out Nov. 15. This one sounds like an exciting science fiction adventure. I love science fiction and am always looking for good stories to share with my students.

Fetching by Kiera Stewart is a young adult contemporary. The premise is that boys respond to the same sort of training as dogs. I think I like the humor aspect. I don't read much straight contemporary but many of my students do. This will be released on Nov. 8.

Cast in Ruin by Michelle Sagara is for me. I have been following this series and plan to fit this book in this week despite all the review books on my list. This is an epic fantasy story. I love the characters and the world that Sagara has created. 

I just found a couple that I forgot to put on my review database when I was comparing my review stack with the list. These arrived from Amazon Vine a while ago and need to be read ASAP.
Tuesdays at the Castle by Jessica Day George is a middle grade fantasy that sounded really cute. I am a big fan of her middle grade Dragon Slippers series. This one will be published on Oct. 25.

Here is the product description.
Tuesdays at Castle Glower are Princess Celie's favorite days. That's because on Tuesdays the castle adds a new room, a turret, or sometimes even an entire wing. No one ever knows what the castle will do next, and no one-other than Celie, that is-takes the time to map out the new additions. But when King and Queen Glower are ambushed and their fate is unknown, it's up to Celie, with her secret knowledge of the castle's never-ending twists and turns, to protect their home and save their kingdom. This delightful book from a fan- and bookseller-favorite kicks off a brand-new series sure to become a modern classic.
Dearly Departed by Lia Habel is a young adult book. This one will be published on Oct. 18. 

Here is the product description that made me choose it:
Love can never die.

Love conquers all, so they say. But can Cupid’s arrow pierce the hearts of the living and the dead—or rather, the undead? Can a proper young Victorian lady find true love in the arms of a dashing zombie?

The year is 2195. The place is New Victoria—a high-tech nation modeled on the manners, mores, and fashions of an antique era. A teenager in high society, Nora Dearly is far more interested in military history and her country’s political unrest than in tea parties and debutante balls. But after her beloved parents die, Nora is left at the mercy of her domineering aunt, a social-climbing spendthrift who has squandered the family fortune and now plans to marry her niece off for money. For Nora, no fate could be more horrible—until she’s nearly kidnapped by an army of walking corpses.

But fate is just getting started with Nora. Catapulted from her world of drawing-room civility, she’s suddenly gunning down ravenous zombies alongside mysterious black-clad commandos and confronting “The Laz,” a fatal virus that raises the dead—and hell along with them. Hardly ideal circumstances. Then Nora meets Bram Griswold, a young soldier who is brave, handsome, noble . . . and dead. But as is the case with the rest of his special undead unit, luck and modern science have enabled Bram to hold on to his mind, his manners, and his body parts. And when his bond of trust with Nora turns to tenderness, there’s no turning back. Eventually, they know, the disease will win, separating the star-crossed lovers forever. But until then, beating or not, their hearts will have what they desire.

In Dearly, Departed, romance meets walking-dead thriller, spawning a madly imaginative novel of rip-roaring adventure, spine-tingling suspense, and macabre comedy that forever redefines the concept of undying love.
What do you think? Do I have any hope of getting all of these read? Stay tuned for next Sunday's report.