ARC Review: Luck of the Dragon by Susannah Scott

Luck of the Dragon

Author: Susannah Scott

Publication: Entangled: Covet (June 24, 2013)

Description: Luciana de Luca has a PhD in sass and gemology--and a problem. Her twin brother's gambling debts have gotten out of hand, and a mob enforcer is blackmailing her to rob the latest, greatest mega-casino on the Strip. Although Lucy has worked her whole life to get away from her family's grifter past, to save her brother, she dons three-inch heels and a sluts-r-us dress and struts into Alec's Gerald's casino, determined to put her long-forgotten thieving ways to the test again.

Alec Gerald, a shape-shifting dragon, has built the Crown Jewel casino to provide sanctuary for his people amongst the flash and awe of Las Vegas. Unfortunately, the sexy little thief trying to rob his gem exhibit turns out to be his mate, and he must woo her before he loses his dragon form forever.

With enemies in every corner, and the all-important mating ceremony looming, Alec and Lucy must learn to trust each other, before time runs out for Alec and the rest of the dragons.

My Thoughts: Meet Lucy: "She was a contradiction: A brainy Ph.D, whose curriculum vitae read like a woman who didn’t get out much, in a dress that proclaimed she never stayed home." And meet Alec: "Gerald’s playful words, five o’clock shadow, and slightly long hair all seemed to suggest a man of desultory casualness...But her instincts told her this was wrong. Gerald was a serious man who only pretended to be lighthearted and casual." I didn't mention it but Alec Gerald is a dragon—the king of the dragons. If he doesn't find a mate soon he will stop being able to change into his dragon form.

Lucy isn't looking for a mate; she's looking for a way to get her brother out of debt with some serious mobsters. The mobsters want Alec's jewels and need Lucy's credentials as a gemologist to pave the way for them. Lucy and her brother Joey have been alone in the world since they were kids. They learned cons and grifting from their father but Lucy has put that life aside. Joey has not. In fact, he is always looking for the next sure thing.

Alec knows that Lucy is his mate as soon as he meets her. Lucy thinks they are just going to have a weekend and then go their separate ways. When Alec confesses to being a dragon, Lucy is sure that he is just doing some sexual role-playing. After all, there is no such thing as dragons.

Alec is busy trying to convince her that she is his mate and busy arranging a gathering that will give the dragons under his control a chance to find their true mates. But he has an enemy who wants everything that Alec has.

This was a fun story with entertaining characters. I enjoyed it very much.

Favorite Quote:

The knowledge hit her with crushing sadness. Joey should not be first in her life anymore. Whatever was between her and Alec should be first. Alec was true. He understood her. He would never betray her for a handful of jewels. He would shield her, save her, love her.

But would he ever trust her again?

I received this PDF for review from Entangled Publishing. You can buy your copy here.

Friday Memes: Luck of the Dragon by Susannah Scott

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.

This week the closest book is Luck of the Dragon by Susannah Scott. I got this PDF from Entangled Publishing. The book was released on June 24. Here is the description of this paranormal romance:

Luciana de Luca has a PhD in sass and gemology--and a problem. Her twin brother's gambling debts have gotten out of hand, and a mob enforcer is blackmailing her to rob the latest, greatest mega-casino on the Strip. Although Lucy has worked her whole life to get away from her family's grifter past, to save her brother, she dons three-inch heels and a sluts-r-us dress and struts into Alec's Gerald's casino, determined to put her long-forgotten thieving ways to the test again.

Alec Gerald, a shape-shifting dragon, has built the Crown Jewel casino to provide sanctuary for his people amongst the flash and awe of Las Vegas. Unfortunately, the sexy little thief trying to rob his gem exhibit turns out to be his mate, and he must woo her before he loses his dragon form forever.

With enemies in every corner, and the all-important mating ceremony looming, Alec and Lucy must learn to trust each other, before time runs out for Alec and the rest of the dragons.

Beginning:

When had thigh-highs become required jewel-heist garb.

Friday 56:

“Lucy,” Gino yelled from the door. “I’ve got your brother in here. You’ll want to come on now.” Gino’s words were courtliness held up by threat.

Book Review: River Road by Suzanne Johnson

River Road

Author: Suzanne Johnson

Publication: Tor Books; Reprint edition (June 25, 2013)

Description: Hurricane Katrina is long gone, but the preternatural storm rages on in New Orleans. New species from the Beyond moved into Louisiana after the hurricane destroyed the borders between worlds, and it falls to wizard sentinel Drusilla Jaco and her partner, Alex Warin, to keep the preternaturals peaceful and the humans unaware. But a war is brewing between two clans of Cajun merpeople in Plaquemines Parish, and down in the swamp, DJ learns, there’s more stirring than angry mermen and the threat of a were-gator. 

Wizards are dying, and someone—or something—from the Beyond is poisoning the waters of the mighty Mississippi, threatening the humans who live and work along the river. DJ and Alex must figure out what unearthly source is contaminating the water and who—or what—is killing the wizards. Is it a malcontented merman, the naughty nymph, or some other critter altogether? After all, DJ’s undead suitor, the pirate Jean Lafitte, knows his way around a body or two. 

It’s anything but smooth sailing on the bayou as the Sentinels of New Orleans urban fantasy series continues.

My Thoughts: Suzanne Johnson adds to the ambiance of New Orleans—already having a touch of the paranormal—by adding wizards, the historical dead, and other preternatural creatures. Drusilla Jaco—better known as DJ—is the sentinel in charge of keeping control of all the new pretes. Her partner is shapeshifter Alex Warin who provides the muscles (and violence) that aren't part of the repertoire of Green Congress wizards like DJ.

Their cases this time have to do with feuding mer people, dead wizards, and polluted river water. More and more preternaturals are finding a home in New Orleans and the surrounding area since the magical barriers fell with the flooding that Katrina brought. Now two clans of mer need DJ to settle where each can live (and keep them from killing each other.) She and Alex are also called in to determine if the dead body found nearby is human or supernatural. If it's human, the case will be turned over to the human police. If is is supernatural, the crime lands on Alex and DJ. They discover that the mutilated corpse belonged to a wizard who had put magic aside and was teaching biology at Tulane. His widow raises questions for DJ because, as an empath, she ought to be able to read her emotions but she can't. The final thread has to do with polluted river water that is making the mer sick and needs to be corrected before it starts involving humans.

Beyond the mystery, a lot of the story deals with DJ's relationships to a number of men in her life. She has conflicted feelings about her partner Alex. They have decided to be friends without benefits but she is getting different messages from Alex now. Then there is Jake, Alex's cousin, who has turned into a loup-garou. There was a possibility of a romance before that happened but now they need to decide if they can make the relationship go given that loup-garou have a tendency to lose control and go on killing sprees. Last on DJ's dance card is Jean Lafitte who is one of the historic dead. I like the way DJ is torn between relationships with each of them for different reasons and how each one fits into her life. 

The world building in this story is well-done and the setting is perfect for a paranormal. DJ is not a typical urban fantasy kick-ass heroine but she has her own strengths and talents and is a great character. All of her men are also hot in their own varied ways. I look forward to reading more adventures in DJ's future.

This book is the sequel to Royal Street but stands alone well. A third book in this series—Elysian Fields—will be released on August 13.

Favorite Quote:

People jog at dawn for a reason. If they wait, their brains will wake up ad convince them there are things they'd rather do. Like have oral surgery.

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

Teaser Tuesday: River Road by Suzanne Johnson

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!

This week my teaser comes from River Road by Suzanne Johnson. This urban fantasy story has been sitting on my TBR mountain since January 7 but the reprint edition is being released today. Here is the description:

Hurricane Katrina is long gone, but the preternatural storm rages on in New Orleans. New species from the Beyond moved into Louisiana after the hurricane destroyed the borders between worlds, and it falls to wizard sentinel Drusilla Jaco and her partner, Alex Warin, to keep the preternaturals peaceful and the humans unaware. But a war is brewing between two clans of Cajun merpeople in Plaquemines Parish, and down in the swamp, DJ learns, there’s more stirring than angry mermen and the threat of a were-gator.

Wizards are dying, and someone—or something—from the Beyond is poisoning the waters of the mighty Mississippi, threatening the humans who live and work along the river. DJ and Alex must figure out what unearthly source is contaminating the water and who—or what—is killing the wizards. Is it a malcontented merman, the naughty nymph, or some other critter altogether? After all, DJ’s undead suitor, the pirate Jean Lafitte, knows his way around a body or two.

It’s anything but smooth sailing on the bayou as the Sentinels of New Orleans urban fantasy series continues.

This book is the sequel to Royal Street which I read and enjoyed.

Teaser:

One pair of pants, a single shirt, one pair of shoes, one dead guy—and two wallets belonging to Green Congress wizards who both taught biology at Tulane. Add them all up, and my headache got a whole lot worse.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (June 24, 2013)

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 have been reading lots of books since my vacation began. Since our weather isn't at all summer-like, I haven't been tempted to do anything outside.

Here is what I read:

Review Books

A couple of review books recently arrived with rather short timelines. I read Luck of the Dragon by Susannah Scott which I got from Entangled Publishing. This was an interesting paranormal romance that featured dragons. My review will be posted on June 29 for this July 24 release.

The King's Deception by Steve Berry was a very entertaining thriller set in England and had a plot that included historical impostors, buried treasure, and political intrigue. My review will be posted on July 3 for this June 11 release.

From my TBR Mountain:

Shadow of Freedom by David Weber is the 18th in the Honor Harrington series. This one has a massive cast of characters, space battles, and complex interstellar politics and intrigue. My review will be posted on July 4.

Dangerous Refuge by Elizabeth Lowell is classic Lowell romantic suspense. Well-developed characters and a romance that makes sense were the highlights of this one. My review will be posted on July 6.

From my YA TBR Mountain:

Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy by Ally Carter is the second book in the Gallagher Girls series and was just as entertaining as the first book. My review will be posted on July 4.

I also enjoyed Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover by Ally Carter which is the third book in the Gallagher series. My review will be posted on July 8.

Wednesdays in the Tower by Jessica Day George is a middle grade fantasy and the sequel to Tuesdays at the Castle. It was entertaining but marred by a cliffhanger ending. My review will be posted on July 11.

Loki's Wolves by K. L. Armstrong and M. A. Marr is a middle grade fantasy collaboration between these two established YA authors. It mines Norse mythology for its inspiration. This was largely a set up for the rest of the series but still an entertaining read. My review will be posted on July 6.

Still more from TBR Mountain

I finally had a chance to read Crossfire by Dick Francis and Felix Francis. Dick died in 2010 and his last book was completed by his son Felix. I have been a fan of Francis' mysteries for years and really enjoyed this one too. My review will be posted on July 13.

Playing to Win by Jaci Burton is a spicy sports romance. This one has to do with a football player who has an attitude problem and the image consultant the team hires to remake him. I liked the characters in this one. My review will be posted on July 11.

Poison Princess by Kresley Cole is from my YA TBR Mountain. This one is Cole's first YA and begins a new post-apocalyptic paranormal series. I liked the world building and the characters. My review will be posted on July 13.

Currently Reading:

Shelter by Harlan Coben has been on my TBR mountain since Feb. 2, 2012. I chose it because I like mysteries, had never read a book by Coben, and it was selected as a YA Edgar nominee. I have just cracked the cover and don't have an opinion yet. 

Next Week:

I'll be traveling next week to ALA. I don't know how much reading time I will have. I also want to leave room for the ARCs I expect to get. So I looked at my Kindle for some possibilities. Here is what I might read (unless I get a better idea.)

Influential Magic by Deanna Chase is urban fantasy.

Glitter Baby by Susan Elizabeth Phillips is a romance.

Heart of Iron by Bec McMaster is steampunk.

Golden by Jessi Kirby has been talked about a lot on blogs I read.

Werewolf Dreams by Katie Lee O'Guinn features my favorite paranormal creature.

Crossing the Line by Katie McGarry is a novella by my current favorite author of YA contempories.

Those are my plans for the week. As you can see, I did manage to get a number of posts scheduled. I am good with reviews and most memes through July 13. 

What have you got planned?

Stacking the Shelves (June 23, 2013)

Tynga of Tynga's Reviews has a meme to spotlight the books we receive each week. Visit her site to check out the linky and see what everyone gets. I guarantee that your TBR pile will grow.

This was a quiet week for me. I got three review books and took advantage of one Kindle Daily Deal. Here is what I got:

The Edge of Normal by Carla Norton was June's eGalley from Minotaur books. It is a thriller which will be released on September 10. 

Heart of Iron by Bec McMasters was my Kindle Daily Deal. I am a fan of steampunk and curious about this author.

Luck of the Dragon by Susannah Scott was a blog tour book offered by Entangled Publishing. I didn't get a spot on the tour but they still sent me a PDF to read. This book will be released on June 24.

The King's Deception by Steve Berry is also a blog tour book. My review will be posted on July 3 for this thriller. 

That was it for me this week. What did you get?

Book Review: Cold Days by Jim Butcher

Cold Days

Author: Jim Butcher

Publication: Roc; First Edition edition (November 27, 2012)

Description: HARRY DRESDEN LIVES!!!

After being murdered by a mystery assailant, navigating his way through the realm between life and death, and being brought back to the mortal world, Harry realizes that maybe death wasn’t all that bad. Because he is no longer Harry Dresden, Chicago’s only professional wizard.

He is now Harry Dresden, Winter Knight to Mab, the Queen of Air and Darkness. After Harry had no choice but to swear his fealty, Mab wasn’t about to let something as petty as death steal away the prize she had sought for so long. And now, her word is his command, no matter what she wants him to do, no matter where she wants him to go, and no matter who she wants him to kill.

Guess which Mab wants first?

Of course, it won’t be an ordinary, everyday assassination. Mab wants her newest minion to pull off the impossible: kill an immortal. No problem there, right? And to make matters worse, there exists a growing threat to an unfathomable source of magic that could land Harry in the sort of trouble that will make death look like a holiday.

Beset by enemies new and old, Harry must gather his friends and allies, prevent the annihilation of countless innocents, and find a way out of his eternal subservience before his newfound powers claim the only thing he has left to call his own…His soul.

My Thoughts: This latest in the Harry Dresden series is packed with action and emotion and the stakes are higher than ever for Harry. This book is not one for a newcomer to the series, though. It seems to me to be very necessary to read at least CHANGES and GHOST STORY before tackling this epic volume because threads woven into those come together in this book.

Almost anything I say about the plot of this book could constitute a spoiler and, even though the book has been out since November, I don't want to ruin the plot for anyone. I think that I can safely say that despite becoming the Winter Knight and being tasked with killing Maeve, Harry is still unmistakably Harry. He is always ready with a smartass remark no matter how inappropriate the situation might be for one. And Harry is always willing to put himself in the line of fire if it means protecting those he loves. He is also constantly battling to be Harry and not be taken over by the mantle of the Winter Knight.

The writing is powerful and emotionally intense. I found myself needing to take breaks from this story to decompress even though I was very eager to find out what happened next. The book is very descriptive and filled with characters out of myth and nightmare. We also see characters we have become familiar with from earlier books in the series—Harry's vampire brother Thomas, Harry's apprentice Molly, Butters, Mac,  Toot Toot, and even a little bit of Mouse.

Fans of urban fantasy have to get to know Harry Dresden. I highly recommend this series and this book. 

Favorite Quote:

"You can have your harem change out the bandages later," I said. "How busy are you today?"

"Oh," he mused. "I don't know. I mean, I've got to get a new shirt now."

"After that," I asked, "would you like to help me save the city? If you don't already have plans."

He snorted. "You mean, would I like to follow you around, wondering what the hell is going on because you won't tell me everything, then get in a fight with something that is going to leave me in intensive care."

"Uh-huh," I said, nodding, "pretty much."

"Yeah," he said. "Okay."

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

Friday Memes: Cold Days by Jim Butcher

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.

This week the book I am spotlighting is Cold Days by Jim Butcher. This one arrived back in November but I didn't have time to read it then and lent it to my brother. I have just gotten it back and, coincidentally, have time to read it. This is the fourteenth book in the Harry Dresden urban fantasy series which I have been reading since the beginning.

Beginning:

Mab, the Queen of Air and Darkness, monarch of the Winter Court of the Sidhe, has unique ideas regarding physical therapy.

Friday 56:

I'd misjudged. He was moving so fast that all I got was motion blur, and he hadn't swept the silk tie at my neck—he'd aimed for my upraised left hand. The silk snaked around my wrist, and I caught it in my hand just in time for him to slip to one side, dragging my arm in close to his body.

Book Review: Heart of Obsidian by Nalini Singh

Heart of Obsidian

Author: Nalini Singh

Publication: Berkley Hardcover (June 4, 2013)

Description: Step into New York Times bestseller Nalini Singh's explosive and shockingly passionate Psy-Changeling world...

A dangerous, volatile rebel, hands stained bloodred.

A woman whose very existence has been erased.

A love story so dark, it may shatter the world itself.

A deadly price that must be paid.

The day of reckoning is here.

From "the alpha author of paranormal romance" (Booklist) comes the most highly anticipated novel of her career--one that blurs the line between madness and genius, between subjugation and liberation, between the living and the dead.

My Thoughts: What an amazing story! It takes an author as talented as Nalini Singh to turn a character we have seen as frightening and immensely dangerous into a romantic hero, but she manages it ably. Kaleb Krychek has been searching for Sahara for seven years. She was kidnapped at the instigation of his "mentor" Santano Enrique and used as a lever to keep Kaleb subservient to Enrique. When the story begins, he has found her and found her badly damaged.

Sahara Kyriakus had been tortured over and over again in an attempt to get her to use her very unique and powerful telepathic gift. She managed to escape by creating a labyrinth in her own mind to protect herself. She is a person of great strength and great integrity. She is also in love with Kaleb. They have known each other since she was seven and he was 13. She makes herself into his only friend and his lifeline to his humanity. The flashbacks to their childhoods helps convert the Kaleb we've seen into a sympathetic character.

As the two get to know each other again, the outside world isn't taking a backseat. Pure Psy is stepping up its efforts to "purify" the Psy no matter how many acts of terrorism it will take. The Council has disintegrated and fallen apart and Kaleb is getting ready to take control of the PsyNet before Pure Psy or the flaws within the net manage to destroy it.

The climactic battle with Pure Psy sees a coalition of humans, changelings and Psy and reunite many of our favorite characters from earlier books in the series as all factions need to work together to keep Pure Psy's chaos from coming to pass.

The story is filled with intense emotion and great action scenes. The emotional intensity between Kaleb and Sahara was breath-taking and heart-breaking. I strongly recommend this episode in the Psy-Changeling series.

Favorite Quote:

The only way to reverse the ruinous effects of her own creation was for her to be put into an environment her subconscious recognized as "safe."

It was impossible that this situation fit those parameters—the male with hair of jet-black who smelled of ice and pine in a way that made her want to rub her face against his skin, and who eyes never moved off her, was clearly not safe in any way, shape, or form.

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

Teaser Tuesday: Heart of Obsidian by Nalini Singh

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!

This week my teaser comes from Heart of Obsidian by Nalini Singh. This is the twelfth book in her Psy-Changeling series. Here is the description:

Step into New York Times bestseller Nalini Singh’s explosive and shockingly passionate Psy-Changeling world…

A dangerous, volatile rebel, hands stained bloodred.

A woman whose very existence has been erased.

A love story so dark, it may shatter the world itself.

A deadly price that must be paid.

The day of reckoning is here.

From “the alpha author of paranormal romance” (Booklist) comes the most highly anticipated novel of her career—one that blurs the line between madness and genius, between subjugation and liberation, between the living and the dead.

Teaser:

He had never tasted the sweet liquid himself, but he'd done his research on sensations and tastes that were considered to offer "comfort" in the emotional races. Given the current state of mind and physical health of the woman who sat in the sunshine, such items might be effective in breaching the wall of her distrust.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (June 17, 2013)

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.

My first week of vacation was a good reading week. I think I'm getting into my summer groove. My shingles are improving. I seem to be alternating between itching and aching but neither one is too bad. I've finished the anti-viral the doctor prescribed and have a few days of the nerve pain meds to go.

Here is what I read (in order of their arrival on my TBR mountain):

I received a NetGalley invitation to read and review Scaredy Squirrel Goes Camping by Melanie Watts. My students and I love Scaredy Squirrel so I had to accept. I enjoyed this one and know my students will too. It doesn't really fit in for review on either of my blogs but I did review it on Amazon, LibraryThing and GoodReads. 

Heart of Obsidian by Nalini Singh is a book that I had really wanted to read. It was definitely worth the wait. While not for newcomers to the series, devoted fans will love it . My review will be posted on June 20.

Ink by Amanda Sun was another much anticipated title. I got this eARC from NetGalley and have to say that I was a little disappointed. It was good but not amazing. My review will be posted on June 20.

Famous Last Words by Jennifer Salvato Doktorski was an ARC I received from Macmillan. I thought it was an excellent YA contemporary. I couldn't put it down and read it in one sitting. I can't wait to add this one to my high school media center collection. My review will be posted on July 29. (This was my only July release review book!)

I have been wanting to read Ally Carter's Gallagher Girls series for a while. This week I started with I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You. I thought it was very good and can't wait to read the rest of the series. My review will be posted on June 27.

Neptune's Tears by Susan Waggoner was another ARC I received from Macmillan. I enjoyed this science fiction story and thought the world building was great. I was a little disappointed by the abrupt ending. Their is lots of room for a sequel. My review will be posted on June 22.

River Road by Suzanne Johnson is the second in the Sentinals of New Orleans urban fantasy series. I enjoyed the story very much and can't wait for the third book to be out in August. My review will be posted on June 27.

Cold Days by Jim Butcher is the fourteenth book in the Harry Dresden series. I thought this one was amazing. I really like the world that Butcher has created and his characters are so interesting. My review will be posted on June 21.

I am currently reading:

Luck of the Dragon by Susannah Scott. I applied to be on the blog tour for the book but the slots were all filled. However, I was sent a PDF in case I wanted to review it. How could I refuse a paranormal romance with dragons?

Next Week:

It is summer. I am sort of going with the flow. I know I have to read The King's Deception by Steve Berry which I got from Meryl Moss Media Relations. I said I would post my review on July 3. 

After that I will be choosing from books in the two bags I brought home from my TBR mountain.

Here are the adult books I brought home with me. Most of them are books by some of my favorite authors including Dick Francis, Jaci Burton, and Iris Johansen.

Here are the YAs that appealed to me when I was packing to come home. Most of them are fantasies since that was the mood I was in when I packed. 

I am getting excited about going to ALA. A week from today I'll be heading back to my school year home to pick up a friend and drive to Chicago. It should give us lots of road time to listen to some of the SYNC audiobooks we have been downloading. We are both so excited about connecting with publishers and meeting authors. 

I want to get my blogs all set up with scheduled posts through July 6 when I plan to be back here at my summer home. I'm doing pretty well. I'm scheduled through June 29 on Ms. Martin Teaches Media and through June 28 on Inside of a Dog. 

What do you have planned?

Stacking the Shelves (June 16, 2013)

Tynga of Tynga's Reviews has a meme to spotlight the books we receive each week. Visit her site to check out the linky and see what everyone gets. I guarantee that your TBR pile will grow. LibraryThing tells me that I have 1668 books in my "To Read" collection.

Here is my haul for the week.

The Obsidian Blade by Pete Hautman was a Kindle Daily Deal this week. I hadn't heard of it but thought it sounded interesting.

Hot Blooded by Amanda Carlson is the sequel to Full Blooded which I read recently. I bought it for my Kindle too.

These are the print books I got this week.

Gameboard of the Gods by Richelle Mead because I have heard good things about it and like the way the author writes.

One Sweet Ride by Jaci Burton because I am enjoying this series (and those covers!) even though I still have a couple of books to read before I get to this one.

Eight Million Gods by Wen Spencer was chosen because I like her writing and was interested in reading a new book by her.

What did you get?

Book Review: Full Blooded by Amanda Carlson

Full Blooded

Author: Amanda Carlson

Publication: Orbit; 1 edition (September 11, 2012)

Description: It's not easy being a girl. It's even harder when you're the only girl in a family of werewolves. But it's next to impossible when your very existence spells out the doom of your race... Meet Jessica McClain -- she just became part of the pack.

In the vein of Kelley Armstrong and Patricia Briggs, a new urban fantasy that rewrites the werewolf myth...

My Thoughts: FULL BLOODED was an entertaining debut urban fantasy novel. It was action-packed and fast-paced. I did think that some of the dialog seemed stilted and the author was guilty of being and the tell side of show or tell. 

Jessica McClain begins the story by shifting into a werewolf for the first time at age 27—long after the usual age. Jessica has left the Pack where her father is Alpha and made a life for herself in the human world. She was a police officer for a while but is currently a detective with her partner who is a werefox. She has a human enemy from her time as a police officer. Detective Ray Hart is certain that she is guilty of something and has been harassing her since she left the police.

Once she shifts, she finds that she has even more enemies. She is the only female werewolf in the world. Many wolves are certain that her birth is a sign of disaster for the Pack. She has also drawn the attention of much of the rest of the supernatural world because of her rarity.

The shear number of changes Jessica experiences in this story would rock any character's world but she seems to take each change in stride. She has to deal with becoming a full blooded werewolf, being able to half shift into a Lycan form which had been thought to be only a legend, finding her true mate when very few wolves ever manage that, and finding that her mate isn't another werewolf. Throw in coming to terms and learning to control her wolf and being thrown into the middle of a werewolf war then being kidnapped by a sorceress for a vampire and you have lots of action in this story.

This is a story that ends on a cliffhanger. I know I'll be adding HOT BLOODED to my reading stack to find out what happens next for Jessica.

Favorite Quote:

I slumped back in my seat, thinking about everything that had happened tonight. My brain still whirled and I wanted to put everything to rest. Blocking your Alpha was impossible. It was clear evidence that something was wrong—I was officially a problem my father couldn't control. If that information got out, the Pack would never accept me. The Alpha was in place for a reason; he was at  the top to control all others. If I didn't fit into the hierarchy, they would take me down. Wolves needed structure and hated change. They feared the unknown and hated anything they couldn't explain.

I was the epitome of those things wrapped into one.

I was so screwed.

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