It's Monday, What Are You Reading? (August 20, 2012)

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 had a very good reading week this past week. Here is what I finished:

I read three young adult books from my review stack.

Darkbeast by Morgan Keyes is a middle grade fantasy novel that was excellently written, had a clever and well-designed fantasy world, had characters I loved, and made me think too. This one will be released on Aug. 28 and should be shared with all the young fantasy lovers you know. My review will be posted on Sept. 12.

Outpost by Ann Auguirre is the second in a young adult dystopian series. It follows Enclave. I really liked this one too. Fans of the many young adult dystopias available now won't want to miss this sequel. My review will be posted on Sept. 1 for this Sept. 4 release.

The City's Son by Tom Pollock is a dark and gritty contemporary urban fantasy. The author has a wonderful imagination and has populated his version of London with unique and mind-boggling fantasy creatures. I found the main human character Beth to be a wonderfully well-rounded character. My review will be posted on Sept. 5 for this Sept. 8 release.

On the adult side of my life, I read these:

Precinct 13 by Tate Hallaway was the start of a new urban fantasy series. I liked the characters and thought the South Dakota setting made the story unique. I thought the main character was likeable and interesting. And I adored her love interest/familiar. My review will be posted on Sept. 5. 

Taking Charge by Mandy Baggot was a romance I received for review. It was a nice romance. I liked the relationship between the main characters. My review will be posted on Sept. 6.

Murder in Silence by Gary Kassay was a mystery by a debut author that I received for review. The plot was well-done but the writing was a little bit unpolished. It reminded me in some small ways of the In Death series by J. D. Robb though it was vastly different in large ways, i.e. not futuristic and not as focused on the romance. My review will be posted on Sept. 8.

After reading Murder in Silence, I had the strongest urge to re-read the In Death series. I got the first four books for my Kindle and re-read the first two books this week - Naked in Death and Glory in Death. These stood up well and were just as entertaining and engaging to me as they were when I first read them in 1995. The mysteries were interesting and the romance was just as wonderful as I remembered. I don't plan to review these on my blog but have shared some brief thoughts on GoodReads and on LibraryThing.

I am currently reading Otherkin by Nina Berry. This is a young adult book that I received from LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program this week. It was published on July 31 and I got a finished copy for review. This one is a paranormal; the main character shifts into a tiger! I am enjoying it so far.

Here is what is on the stack for next week:

Young Adult

Hanging by a Thread by Sophie Littlefield. I got this one from NetGalley. It is a paranormal mystery and will be published on Sept. 11. 

I also got Redemption by Veronique Launier from NetGalley. This one is also a paranormal with gargoyles. It will be released on Sept. 8.

Adult

I got Line of Fire by Stephen White is a thriller I got from my publicity contact at Dutton Books. It was released on Aug. 7. It is the penultimate book in a long-running series I haven't read. I'm eager to see if it works as an entry point into the series. 

And, in my In Death re-read, I have Immortal in Death which is the third in the series on my Kindle.

Here are the reviews I posted last week:

On Ms. Martin Teaches Media

Game Changers by Mike Lupica

Mothership by Martin Leicht and Isla Neal

Dark Destiny by M. J. Putney

Monstrous Beauty by Elizabeth Fama

On this blog

Thirteen by Kelley Armstrong (also a giveaway to US reader)

First Do No Evil by Carey Baldwin

Timeless Desire by Gwyn Cready

That was my week. What was yours like?