It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (July 15, 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 was a reading machine this past week. I finished eleven books and am well into a twelfth. Here is what I read.

Adult Books:

Dark Waters by Toni Anderson was an excellent romantic suspense title. I got this ARC from Amazon Vine. The book will be released on August 6 and my review will be posted on August 3.

I finished Eight Days to Live by Iris Johansen and really enjoyed it. I like Jane as a main character and love the paranormal aspects of this thriller. My review is here. 

Saving Paradise by Mike Bond was a book I got for a book tour. I found the pace frenetic and the number of characters and red herrings overwhelming. The ecological message almost overshadowed the plot too. My review will be posted on August 1.

The Resurrectionist by Matthew Guinn was a book my friend chose for me at ALA. I really enjoyed this story even though I can't really define its genre. My review will be posted on July 27.

Deal Breaker by Harlan Coben is the first Myron Bolitar mystery. I liked the characters and thought the story was entertaining. My review will be posted on August 8.

Young Adult Books:

I am a fan of Three Little Pigs variations and had to get The Three Little Pigs and the Somewhat Bad Wolf by Mark Teague to read to my students. There were some moments of laugh out loud humor is this fun story.  I won't be writing a review of this one though.

Raven Flight by Juliet Marillier was an excellent epic fantasy novel. It stood alone quite well even though it is the second in a series (and I have but haven't read the first.) My review will be posted on August 1.

I also read two middle grade ARCs that I got at ALA. Both of these will be released on August 1.

Hunter Moran Hangs Out by Patricia Reilly Giff was for younger middle graders. It has slapstick humor and typical middle grade reasoning. My review will be posted on July 22.

The Misadventures of the Magician's Dog by Frances Sackett is a debut novel and has more depth than I usually find in middle grade books. It is the story of a boy, a talking dog, and some difficult choices. My review will be posted on July 24. 

Runt by Nora Raleigh Basking was another ARC I got a ALA. I was disappointed in this story which does show bullying from the side of the bully and the victim because it seemed more like a series of vignettes than a novel. My review will be posted on July 25.

On the other hand, When the Stars Threw Down Their Spears by Kersten Hamilton might well be the best book I have read so far in 2013. This August 6 release is the third and final book in her Goblin Wars series and was amazing. I loved the characters! I read the ARC but have already ordered a keeper copy for my shelves. My review will be posted on August 3.

Currently:

I am re-reading Judgment in Death by J. D. Robb. This is book number 11 in the In Death series of futuristic mystery romances. I have the paperbacks (and hardcovers) but am just now buying them for my Kindle. I re-read the first ten last summer and bought the next five yesterday. 

Next Week:

Betrayal in Death by J. D. Robb is the twelfth book in the In Death series. 

Affliction by Laurell K. Hamilton is the most recent book in her Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series.

All my young adult choices next week are August release review books.

Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock by Matthew Quick is an ARC I got at ALA.

The Deepest Night by Shana Abe is an eARC I got at NetGalley and the sequel to The Sweetest Dark (reviewed here).

Charmed Vengeance by Suzanne Lazear is also an eARC that I got at NetGalley. It is the sequel to Innocent Darkness (reviewed here).

I haven't put very many books on my stack for next week because company is arriving this afternoon. A friend is visiting for our annual True Blood marathon. I have the DVDs of season 5 for us to watch. We will also be doing touristy stuff while she is here which will cut into reading and blogging time. It should be fun though. 

What is on your agenda for the week?