Saturday, November 30, 2013

Book Review: Trade Secret by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller

Trade Secret
Authors: Sharon Lee and Steve Miller
Publication: Baen (November 5, 2013)

Description: Star-spanning galactic trader Jethri Gobelyn’s story continues in the seventeenth entry in the Liaden Universe® series by master storytellers Sharon Lee and Steve Miller.

In a universe full of interstellar intrigue and burgeoning commerce novice Terran trader Jethri Gobelyn, adopted by a Liaden clan after an ill-directed bow of honor insulted the scion of a major Liaden house, is alive and whole to tell the tale. Convinced that the adoption has saved his life and made his future he settles into a comfortable and even elite routine, a Trader's Ring his goal.

Even as Jethri's initiation into the mysteries and joys of Liaden Festival bring him to manhood he's forced to face Necessity and the facts of life: his adoption has also invigorated a net of unfinished Balance far more complex and potentially deadly than a simple Terran blood feud. He must embrace his Terran birthright as well as his Liaden connections while leaving behind the safety of the great Liaden trade ship Elthoria to defend his honor and that of shipmates past and present. Forced to sit Second Board as a back-up pilot on a Liaden Scout ship, Jethri's convinced he's already at wit's end—when several familiar faces threaten all that he knows of himself, and all that he wishes to do.

My Thoughts: TRADE SECRET continues the story of Jethri Gobelyn begun in BALANCE OF TRADE. Jethri continues learning to be a trader on the Liaden ship Elthoria. He is particularly deep into the study of contracts and the differences between Liaden and Terran law.

However, in this story, he has to set aside his studies and learn to balance his various families - Ixin, Gobelyn, and his father's people headed by Uncle. In the first book, Jethri had recovered items left to him by his father Arin only to have them confiscated by the Scouts as forbidden Old Tech. They - in the person of Scout ter'Astin - also borrow a logbook that Jethri had kept as a child and which also contained doodles and comments by his father Arin Gobelyn. He promises to return it to Jethri after it has been copied.

When the action begins, Scout ter'Astin has come to Elthoria to report that the logbook has been stolen which sets he and Jethri on a quest to recover the logbook from the thieves. Along the way Jethri learns more about family secrets held by Arin that were never shared with him by his mother Iza.

The story also follows the activities of Gobelyn's Market and his Gobelyn family as they deal with issues caused by Bar Jan chel'Gaibin Clan Rinork who feels he was slighted by both Jethri and Khat Gobelyn. He is determined on revenge.

I enjoyed this story but strongly suggest reading BALANCE OF TRADE first. 

Favorite Quote:
"That's how Liadens live mostly, like they're all in a premium room all the time, always ready to come out and be the biggest jet or sitting back counting how far they gotta go to get there, or how careful they've got to be of who. Always on the pose for 'I'm more dangerous than you are' I guess. Where they come from, one mistake, one snub to the wrong clan, and you could be in for a decaying orbit."
I bought this one. You can buy your copy here.

Friday, November 29, 2013

Friday Memes: Trade Secret by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller

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 I am spotlighting the latest book in Sharon Lee and Steve Miller's Liaden Universe series. Trade Secret provides the long-awaited sequel to Balance of Trade which was published in 2004. Here is the description:
Star-spanning galactic trader Jethri Gobelyn’s story continues in the seventeenth entry in the Liaden Universe® series by master storytellers Sharon Lee and Steve Miller.

In a universe full of interstellar intrigue and burgeoning commerce novice Terran trader Jethri Gobelyn, adopted by a Liaden clan after an ill-directed bow of honor insulted the scion of a major Liaden house, is alive and whole to tell the tale. Convinced that the adoption has saved his life and made his future he settles into a comfortable and even elite routine, a Trader's Ring his goal.

Even as Jethri's initiation into the mysteries and joys of Liaden Festival bring him to manhood he's forced to face Necessity and the facts of life: his adoption has also invigorated a net of unfinished Balance far more complex and potentially deadly than a simple Terran blood feud. He must embrace his Terran birthright as well as his Liaden connections while leaving behind the safety of the great Liaden trade ship Elthoria to defend his honor and that of shipmates past and present. Forced to sit Second Board as a back-up pilot on a Liaden Scout ship, Jethri's convinced he's already at wit's end—when several familiar faces threaten all that he knows of himself, and all that he wishes to do.
Beginning:
The Debt Book was out and held before him, thirty-one prior pages covered in his cramped and careless hand.
Friday 56:
The directions, he realized, were part of the game of this, and they reflected Gaenor's quiet idea of fun. 

Thursday, November 28, 2013

Book Review: Balance of Trade by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller

Balance of Trade
Authors: Sharon Lee and Steve Miller
Publication: Meisha Merlin Publishing, Inc. (February 10, 2004)

Description: Assistant Trader Jethri Gobelyn was an honest, hardworking young man who knew a lot about living onboard his family's space-going trade ship; something about trade, finance, and risk-taking; and a little bit about Liadens. It was, oddly enough, the little bit he knew about Liadens that seemed like it might be enough to make his family's fortune, and his own, too. In short order, however, Jethri Gobelyn was about to find out a lot more about Liadens... like how far they might go to protect their name and reputation. Like the myriad of things one might say-intentionally or not-with a single bow. Like what it would take to make a Liaden trade-ship crew trash a bar. Like how hard it is to say "I'm sorry!" in Liaden. Pretty soon it was clear that as little as he knew about Liadens, he knew far less about himself. With his very existence a threat to the balance of trade, Jethri Gobelyn needed to learn fast, or else help destroy all he held dear.

My Thoughts: BALANCE OF TRADE is an excellent coming of age story set in a richly detailed alien world. Jethri Gobelyn is the son of a trading family and is being taught to become a trader himself. His mother is the ship's captain and his father, deceased for ten years, was the ship's master trader. Jethri's relationship with his mother is poor as she seems to blame him for the loss of her husband. She wants to sell him off her ship to another trading family.

Jethri has come into contact with a Liaden Master Trader Norn ven'Deelin when he brings a plot to her attention that has the intent of defrauding humans by using false claims on Liaden's honor. His courteous ways and honorable nature make her offer him a place as her apprentice on the Liaden ship Elthoria. Jethri wants to learn and certainly doesn't want to be sold where his mother wants to send him. He accepts Master Trade ven'Deelin's offer and begins his learning as a Terran among Liadens.

Jethri has a lot to learn about Liadens and about trading but nothing to learn about honor and diligence. He makes friends on the ship and even befriends another trader who is not valued by his family. The consequences of that put him at odds with that trader's family though and may even put his Gobelyn family in danger. 

The story was filled with rich detail as Jethri learns about the Liadens both on ship and on planets. He is sent to the Master Trader's foster mother to gain some polish and additional knowledge of Liaden culture. There he comes into contact with twin daughters of the House who are near him in age and who introduce him to the magical abilities some Liadens have. 

Also woven into this story is alien technology from times well past. His father was studying it and buying and selling it. He has left some to Jethri. The Liaden Scouts are determined to confiscate, study and destroy all the Old Tech that they can find. His father's people are also interested in the Old Tech but they want to learn to duplicate it. When Jethri and his partner Tan Sim pen'Alka come upon a pod containing Old Tech, his father's family and the Scouts converge.

I really liked this story and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to Young Adult science fiction readers. It is not an easy read because the reader is immersed in cultures not familiar to the reader. I don't necessarily recommend this title to those new to the Liaden Universe. But the persistent reader can't help but come to admire Jethri Gobelyn.

For more in the Liaden Universe, check out the booklist here or visit this website to learn more. 

Favorite Quote:
Down-body, Flinx began to purr, and shift his weight from one considerable front foot to the other—and repeat. He did that every morning too. The twins swore that the purring and the foot-shifting—kneading they called it—were signs of goodwill. Jethri just wondered why, if the cat liked him so much, he didn't let him sleep.
I own both the print version and the ebook version of this book. This one might be a little hard to get because it looks like it is only available from 3rd party sellers on Amazon. You can, however, buy the ebook in whatever version suits your device at Baen Books for $5.00.

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Teaser Tuesday: Balance of Trade by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller

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 Balance of Trade by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller. This entry into the Liaden Universe series was written in 2004. It's sequel Trade Secret was published earlier this month. I decided that I needed to read this one again so that I would be ready to read the sequel.

Here is the description:
Assistant Trader Jethri Gobelyn was an honest, hardworking young man who knew a lot about living onboard his family's space-going trade ship; something about trade, finance, and risk-taking; and a little bit about Liadens. It was, oddly enough, the little bit he knew about Liadens that seemed like it might be enough to make his family's fortune, and his own, too. In short order, however, Jethri Gobelyn was about to find out a lot more about Liadens... like how far they might go to protect their name and reputation. Like the myriad of things one might say-intentionally or not-with a single bow. Like what it would take to make a Liaden trade-ship crew trash a bar. Like how hard it is to say "I'm sorry!" in Liaden. Pretty soon it was clear that as little as he knew about Liadens, he knew far less about himself. With his very existence a threat to the balance of trade, Jethri Gobelyn needed to learn fast, or else help destroy all he held dear.
Teaser:
When it was all counted and compressed, his personal possessions fit inside two crew-bags.

Sunday, November 24, 2013

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (Nov. 25, 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'm looking forward to a short week at school. We have classes on Monday and Tuesday. Then, I am off for Thanksgiving Break. I'll be travelling up to Duluth to spend the break with my brother. I intend to get in lots of quality reading time. I have no intention of being anywhere near shopping venues at any time during the break. I don't like crowds or traffic jams and can't think of anything I want or need that would persuade me to go shopping. Good luck to those who venture out!

Last Week:
Kissed by a Dark Prince by Felicity Heaton was an okay erotic paranormal romance. My review will be posted on Dec. 5.

The Fiery Heart by Richelle Mead is the fourth in her Bloodlines series. I had to read it as soon as it arrived despite my towering TBR stack. It was great - but now I can't wait until the end of July when the next in the series will be published. My review will be posted on Nov. 30.
Balance of Trade by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller was a re-read for me before I tackled the newest Liaden Universe book. I really liked the story which I hadn't read since it was released in 2004. My review will be posted on Nov. 28.

Trade Secret by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller is the direct sequel to Balance of Trade. It was an entertaining story best suited for experienced readers of science fiction. Liaden fans won't want to miss it. My review will be posted on Nov. 30.

Currently: Nothing...just finished Trade Secret.

Next Week:
Archangel's Legion by Nalini Singh (Mine)
Dark Witch by Nora Roberts (Mine)
Mind Trace by Holly McCaghren (Review book)
All of these YA books are from my Review stack.


Fireblood by Trisha Wolfe
The Great Trouble by Deborah Hopkinson
These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman & Megan Spooner


Reviews Last Week:

Stacking the Shelves (Nov. 24, 2013)

Tynga of Team 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.

My mailbox was really bulging this week! Here is what I got:
11/22/63  by Stephen King was a Kindle daily deal on Friday. Even though I don't usually read King, I had to get this one. It sounds really intriguing. 

One Last Good-Bye by Joyce & Jim Lavene arrived too. Now I have the first three books in the Sharyn Howard mystery series and can start reading.
Death at Bishop's Keep by Robin Paige was recommended on the one mailing list I still subscribe to. It sounded like a fascinating historical mystery. It is also the beginning of a series. 

Kitty and the Midnight Hour by Carrie Vaughn was also a Kindle Daily Deal this week. I have the print book and enjoyed it but wanted a copy for my Kindle. 
I decided I needed to have Bella Andre's new books about the Sullivans in Seattle. I bought The Way You Look Tonight and It Must Be Your Love for my Kindle.
After recently reading a book in Susan Mallery's Fool's Gold series and loving it, I decided to collect the rest of the Fool's Gold series. Luckily, I have lots and lots of credits at Paperback Book Swap and they had most of the books I wanted. This week Two of a Kind and Just One Kiss arrived. 
Finally this week, I added a couple of werewolf romances to my Kindle. The Werewolf Prince and I and A Royal Heartbreak are both by Marian Tee. 

What did you add to your stack this week?

Saturday, November 23, 2013

Book Review: Christmas on 4th Street by Susan Mallery

Christmas on 4th Street
Author: Susan Mallery
Publication: Harlequin HQN (September 24, 2013)

Description: There's nowhere better to spend the holidays than with New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery in the town of Fool's Gold, where love is always waiting to be unwrapped… 

Noelle Perkins just got a second chance at life, and she intends to make the most of every minute. That's why she ditched a frustrating legal career to open her own store in Fool's Gold, California. The Christmas Attic celebrates everything that's magical about her favorite season. Business is booming, and as a bonus, gorgeous army doctor Gabriel Boylan has offered to help out during the holiday rush.

Gabriel's memories of Christmas past contain more sour grapes than sugar plums, thanks to a drill sergeant father who ran his home like a boot camp. Spending the holidays with his family while he recuperates from injury sounds as appetizing as last year's eggnog. Still, there are some enjoyable distractions in town, including sunny, sexy Noelle…and the red-hot mistletoe kisses they can't stop sharing.

Gabriel didn't think he was made for happily-ever-afters. But when fate hands you a love as sweet and surprising as this, only a fool could refuse….


My Thoughts: This was a sweet romance. It's Christmas time and Gabriel Boylan has come to Fool's Gold to spend Christmas with his twin. As an Army trauma doctor, Gabriel has faced all sorts of stress and has determined that taking a chance on love is a foolish risk because anyone could die at any time. Noelle Perkins has also faced a lot of trauma in her life but her reaction was different. She believes that love is worth any risk.

Noelle has come to Fool's Gold after a life threatening illness determined to remake her life. She has opened a Christmas store and found lots of new friends. She'd like a man in her life but isn't desperate. Gabriel asks for a job in her gift shop because the stress of family - especially the father he could never please - makes him want to have an excuse to get away.

I liked the strong relationships in this story especially among Noelle and her friends. I would love to move to Fool's Gold myself. Festivals, an elephant and a caring community are pretty irresistible. This is book fourteen in the Fool's Gold series. I am very eager to find some of the earlier books to learn more about the side characters and the town.

Readers wanting a sweet romance with fascinating characters can't do better.

Favorite Quote:
"No. I didn't." He glanced around. "I'll admit it's less likely to happen here than where I was, but we still don't know what tomorrow is going to bring. Why risk it?"

"All the more reason to risk it," she told him. "We should grab happiness while we can, because you're right. There's no promise of more time."
I chose this one from Amazon Vine. You can buy your copy here.

Friday, November 22, 2013

Friday Memes: Christmas on 4th Street by Susan Mallery

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 I am spotlighting Christmas on 4th Street by Susan Mallery. I chose this book as one of my Amazon Vine picks because I was in the mood for a nice romance. Here is the description of this Sept. 24 release:
There's nowhere better to spend the holidays than with New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery in the town of Fool's Gold, where love is always waiting to be unwrapped…

Noelle Perkins just got a second chance at life, and she intends to make the most of every minute. That's why she ditched a frustrating legal career to open her own store in Fool's Gold, California. The Christmas Attic celebrates everything that's magical about her favorite season. Business is booming, and as a bonus, gorgeous army doctor Gabriel Boylan has offered to help out during the holiday rush.

Gabriel's memories of Christmas past contain more sour grapes than sugar plums, thanks to a drill sergeant father who ran his home like a boot camp. Spending the holidays with his family while he recuperates from injury sounds as appetizing as last year's eggnog. Still, there are some enjoyable distractions in town, including sunny, sexy Noelle…and the red-hot mistletoe kisses they can't stop sharing.

Gabriel didn't think he was made for happily-ever-afters. But when fate hands you a love as sweet and surprising as this, only a fool could refuse….
Beginning:
In real life, snow was not nearly so delightful as it appeared in movies and on TV, Noelle Perkins thought as her spinning car finally came to a stop in a snowbank.
Friday 56:
He'd always planned to stick around long enough to get his twenty years. He would still be young enough to move into a regular job at a hospital. But lately, he wasn't sure he wanted to. Or could.

Thursday, November 21, 2013

ARC Review: Wild Justice by Kelley Armstrong

Wild Justice
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Publication: Plume (November 26, 2013)

Description: The long-awaited final installment of the #1 New York Times bestselling author’s Nadia Stafford series

Since Kelley Armstrong wrapped up book two of the Nadia Stafford series, fans have been eager to know what happens to the tough-as-nails contract killer. At last, Wild Justice brings Nadia back for the series’ thrilling conclusion—an action-packed tale that will dazzle fans of the series as well as those who are only familiar with Armstrong’s bestselling paranormal books.

In Wild Justice, Nadia is confronted with her most difficult task to date: going after the man who killed her cousin Amy twenty years prior. But when it turns out that someone else has already taken justice into their own hands, she is drawn into a complex situation where everything she knows and loves is thrown into the path of danger. Nadia is forced to take matters into her own hands, ultimately requiring her to confront her darkest secrets—and her deepest desires—in a way that she never thought possible.


My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this concluding book to the Nadia Stafford series. I found the writing engaging. I especially liked the dialog between Nadia and Jack. I also enjoyed watching them finally take a chance on having a relationship. I found it amusing that two contract killers who faced physical danger all the time would be so fearful of taking emotional risks.

When the story begins, Nadia is in a tough place mentally. She has just broken up with fellow contract killer Quinn because they had different expectations for their relationship. She is feeling guilty that she might have led him on. She is also facing professional difficulties because she didn't kill the man she was hired to kill and shortly later he kills his wife, wounds his infant daughter and kills himself. Nadia passed on the hit because the wife and daughter were there and she wasn't willing to kill him in front of them. Now she is feeling guilty because they died or were injured because she didn't take the shot. 

Her mentor Jack comes to see her with a gift. He has located Drew Aldritch - the man she believes killed her cousin twenty years earlier but who was acquitted at the trial. Nadia was there at the isolated cabin at the time but managed to escape and run for help. She feels guilty that she didn't do anything to save her cousin. She has had nightmare about the whole thing for years. They are especially bad when she gets in another situation where her actions cause harm to an innocent. Drew Aldritch has changed his name a few times but hasn't changed his ways with young girls. Jack thinks that Nadia will feel better if she kills him herself but Nadia is more in favor of turning him in to law enforcement.

Unfortunately, while they are watching Drew, someone gets there first and kills him. Worse than that, someone has hired hit men to kill Nadia - perhaps because Drew Aldritch recognized her. Jack and Nadia have to figure out who is trying to kill her. Quinn gets involved in the case too which is incredibly awkward for Nadia who has finally started a relationship with Jack after years of missed signals.

Complicating things even further is that Nadia recalls things about the time of her cousin's death that she had completely blocked out of her memory. Things that her family had known and Jack had guessed but which Nadia had repressed. Dealing with those new memories rocks her world.

This story was excellent. I can't wait to get a keeper copy for my bookshelf. 

Favorite Quote:
"He changed his mind. You two got together. Started thinking it might work."

"But it did work—as exactly what I signed up for—a relationship." I lowered my voice as my temper flared. "I thought it was going great, and I thought he was happy. Then this happens. One invitation to one wedding, and the next thing I know, he's telling me he wants this to end in our own wedding."

"Asshole."

I sputtered a laugh, "No kidding, huh? And that's why I feel like shit—because Quinn's not an asshole, and he was telling me something wonderful. He gave me a gift, and I threw it back in his face."

"Gave you something you didn't want. He didn't care. He wanted it. Makes him an asshole in my books." He paused. "Nothing new."
I got this ARC through the Amazon Vine Program. You can buy your copy here.

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Teaser Tuesday: Wild Justice by Kelley Armstrong

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 Wild Justice by Kelley Armstrong. This is the conclusion of the Nadia Stafford series. Here is the description of this Nov. 26 release:
The long-awaited final installment of the #1 New York Times bestselling author’s Nadia Stafford series

Since Kelley Armstrong wrapped up book two of the Nadia Stafford series, fans have been eager to know what happens to the tough-as-nails contract killer. At last, Wild Justice brings Nadia back for the series’ thrilling conclusion—an action-packed tale that will dazzle fans of the series as well as those who are only familiar with Armstrong’s bestselling paranormal books.

In Wild Justice, Nadia is confronted with her most difficult task to date: going after the man who killed her cousin Amy twenty years prior. But when it turns out that someone else has already taken justice into their own hands, she is drawn into a complex situation where everything she knows and loves is thrown into the path of danger. Nadia is forced to take matters into her own hands, ultimately requiring her to confront her darkest secrets—and her deepest desires—in a way that she never thought possible.
Teaser:
Alan Wilde was supposed to die at 8 p.m. on October 17, 2007. It was right there, on my agenda, and I am nothing if not precise about my schedule, even if it only exists in my head. 

Sunday, November 17, 2013

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (Nov. 18, 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.

On the Personal Front:

This was another quiet week. School is going just fine. My fifth graders are learning to make citations which we are all finding frustrating but we will get it eventually, I hope. The weather has been gloomy and rainy. However, rain is better than snow any day.

A new restaurant opened in town a couple of weeks ago and I decided to try it out on Friday. Apparently, the newness hasn't worn off. I waited an hour before I was seated. Luckily, I never travel without my Kindle and had a book to keep me occupied.

Last Week:

I had a great reading week. Most of the books I read were hard to put down and really engaging.
Wild Justice by Kelley Armstrong completes the Nadia Stafford series. I really liked this concluding book and loved the way it ended. My review will be posted on Nov. 21 but you will still have to wait until Nov. 26 to get your copy.

Christmas on 4th Street by Susan Mallery was a nice romance. I loved the characters. Since it is book 14 in the Fool's Gold series, I headed to Paperback Book Swap and used my credits to get the first twelve books in the series. My review will be posted on Nov. 23. The book is available now.
Pawn by Aimee Carter was an interesting dystopia and begins a new series for the author. I enjoyed it but found it very similar to other dystopias I have read. My review will be posted on Nov. 21.

Nick and Tesla's High Voltage Danger Lab by Bob Pflugfelder and Steve Hockensmith is a middle grade mystery that will appeal to young scientists. It included step by step instructions to make lots of the gadgets Nick and Tesla made. My review will be posted on Dec. 5.
Crash Into You by Katie McGarry was an intense and emotional contemporary romance in her Pushing the Limits series. I really liked the characters. My review will be posted on Nov. 23.

Darkbeast Rebellion is the sequel to Darkbeast and is a middle grade fantasy. I enjoyed the story very much and loved the relationship between Keara and her darkbeast Caw. My review will be posted on Nov. 28.

Currently:
I am currently reading Kissed by a Dark Prince by Felicity Heaton. It has been a while since I read something so blatantly erotic. Chapter two was intense!

Next Week:
Being out of adult review books until later in December means that I can finally get to these two books by favorite authors.

Dark Witch by Nora Roberts
Trade Secret by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller
I'm still working on review books on the YA side. 

These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman will be released on Dec. 10.

Blood Bound by Keshia Swaim was released in October.

The Great Trouble by Deborah Hopkinson was released in September. 

Reviews Last Week:

What was last week like for you?

Stacking the Shelves (Nov. 17, 2013)

Tynga of Team 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.

I added a variety of books to my TBR mountain this week.
I am collecting a series of mysteries before I start to read them. This week Last Dance by Joyce and Jim Lavene arrived in my mailbox.

I was approached to review Mind Trace by Holly McCaghren but decided not to participate in the blog tour. However, the book sounded good and was priced at $.99 for my Kindle. I couldn't pass up that deal.
My newest professional reading book is Reading in the Wild by Donalyn Miller. 

I bought The Palace Job by Patrick Weekes when I saw it was a Kindle Daily Deal this week. It sounds like a fun fantasy.

I also checked out Tantor Media's Bargain Bin this week and added these books to my audiobook stack. I have read them all but am eager to listen to them.
Magic Bleeds (Tantor : Amazon) and Magic Strikes (Tantor : Amazon) by Ilona Andrews are books three and four in the Kate Daniels series. I already have and have listened to books 1 and 2.
I bought the first four books in Nalini Singh's Guild Hunter series since they were all $6.99 too.

Angels' Blood by Nalini Singh (Tantor : Amazon)
Archangel's Kiss by Nalini Singh (Tantor : Amazon)
Archangel's Consort by Nalini Singh (Tantor : Amazon)
Archangel's Blade by Nalini Singh (Tantor : Amazon)

What did you add to your stack this week?

Saturday, November 16, 2013

ARC Review: Hard As It Gets by Laura Kaye

Hard As It Gets
Author: Laura Kaye
Publication: Avon (November 26, 2013)

Description: Tall, dark, and lethal...

Trouble just walked into Nicholas Rixey's tattoo parlor. Becca Merritt is warm, sexy, wholesome--pure temptation to a very jaded Nick. He's left his military life behind to become co-owner of Hard Ink Tattoo, but Becca is his ex-commander's daughter. Loyalty won't let him turn her away. Lust has plenty to do with it too.

With her brother presumed kidnapped, Becca needs Nick. She just wasn't expecting to want him so much. As their investigation turns into all-out war with an organized crime ring, only Nick can protect her. And only Becca can heal the scars no one else sees.

Desire is the easy part. Love is as hard as it gets. Good thing Nick is always up for a challenge...


My Thoughts: HARD AS IT GETS  was an entertaining, spicy and thrilling story. Nurse Becca Merritt's younger brother is missing. She did find a message from him telling her to go to Hard Ink - a tattoo parlor - and find Nick Rixey to help her out. Nick was one of the men who was in the Army Special Forces with her father who died a hero in Afghanistan. 

Nick has been living at Hard Ink and marking time since he was drummed out of the military. He and the rest of their team were led into an ambush by Colonel Merritt who was doing some clandestine drug deal with the Afghanis. In the following cover-up, the surviving team members had their records changed to make it look like they were screw-ups who were trying to blacken the reputation of Colonel Merritt. They had their reputations blackened and lost their faith in the Army they had served faithfully. 

When Becca comes for help, Nick shows her the door. But something about her - and his own sense of honor - doesn't let it end like that. He decides that he can spare a couple of days to watch her and see if she really is in trouble. When he catches someone breaking into her house, he takes her home with him and calls in his fellow survivors of the Afghan debacle to help him. They quickly learn that the issues are complex and there are quite a number of very powerful villains in this conspiracy. Corrupt police, gangs, and drug traffickers are somehow involved in the scheme that is threatening Becca and her brother Charlie and that led to Nick and his colleagues problems too.

This story was filled with hot romance as Becca and Nick fall in love with each other. It was also filled with strong friendships between Nick and his brother Jeremy and Nick and his Army teammates. The only negative that I can think of about the story was that the suspense plot was not resolved in this book. Luckily, book two is coming in March 2014 when one of Nick's army buddy gets his chance at romance and his chance to unravel the conspiracy. 

Favorite Quote:
If there was one thing all the losses in her life had taught her it was that life was short, fleeting, and way too precious to waste waiting around for happiness to hit you over the head and make itself known. Happiness wasn't something you found, happiness was something you made—by living in the moment, by cherishing the people in your life right now, by finding the courage to change those things you didn't like. She hadn't always gotten it right the last year or two, and that had to change. Starting now. 
I got this ARC through Amazon Vine. You can buy your copy here

Friday, November 15, 2013

Friday Memes: Hard As It Gets by Laura Kaye

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 I am spotlighting Hard As It Gets by Laura Kaye. This is a recent Amazon Vine pick. Here is the description of this Nov. 26 release:
Tall, dark, and lethal...

Trouble just walked into Nicholas Rixey's tattoo parlor. Becca Merritt is warm, sexy, wholesome--pure temptation to a very jaded Nick. He's left his military life behind to become co-owner of Hard Ink Tattoo, but Becca is his ex-commander's daughter. Loyalty won't let him turn her away. Lust has plenty to do with it too.

With her brother presumed kidnapped, Becca needs Nick. She just wasn't expecting to want him so much. As their investigation turns into all-out war with an organized crime ring, only Nick can protect her. And only Becca can heal the scars no one else sees.

Desire is the easy part. Love is as hard as it gets. Good thing Nick is always up for a challenge...
Beginning:
Becca Merritt stepped through the heavy industrial doors and into another world.
Friday 56:
"Okay, well, welcome to the Hard Ink Hotel," Jeremy said with a smile and a bowed flourish. "Stay as long as you like. I'll try not to walk around naked while you're here."

"Thanks, I think."