It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (August 11, 2014)

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 great reading week and traveling week. I'm sitting in my hotel room in Racine on Saturday night working on this post. I attended the signing for Chloe Neill this afternoon. I got a seat in the front row and it was great to meet her and hear about her and her books.

Leaving the house at 6:30 AM and driving across the state of Wisconsin was, perhaps, not my best idea. The drive wasn't too bad until I passed Madison. Then there was lots of traffic and lots of road construction. Most frustrating was seeing the sign that said I was only three miles from my exit to Racine when I was traveling at about 5 miles per hour (when I wasn't completely stopped.) I'm glad I left when I did thinking that I would have a couple of hours to look around Racine before the signing. I did get there about an hour before the event began.

Worst of all from where I'm sitting now is that I have to do it again tomorrow in reverse. Hopefully, I'll get through the high traffic and road construction early Sunday morning when traffic shouldn't be as bad. On the plus side, my whole trip is on freeways or divided highways and Wisconsin is nice and green. This is the trip for you if you like lots and lots of trees and rolling hills.

My new computer arrived this week too. I'm working on it now. It is so much faster than my old one and much lighter too. I got a laptop with a touch screen and really really like it. When I switch computers I find myself touching the screen to do things and being disappointed when nothing happens.

Read Last Week

Get Even by Gretchen McNeil was an interesting contemporary YA book from my review stack. A group of girls form a club called DGM to deal with high school bullies. When one of their targets is murdered and DGM is blamed they have to find out who really did it to protect themselves. This one really has a cliffhanger ending. My review will be posted on September 13.

The Magic Thief: Home by Sarah Prineas was another review book. This middle grade fantasy is the fourth book in the series and is filled with great characters. I really enjoyed it. My review will be posted on Sept. 10. 

I took time from reading my stack of review books to read a novella and a short story by favorite adult authors. 

The New Kid by Eileen Wilks is a 13 page story in the World of the Lupi. It tells about a young Rule who is attending high school to learn to interact with the human world and who deals with high school bullies. I won't be reviewing this free short story but I really enjoyed it.

Connecting Rooms by Jayne Ann Krentz is a recent Kindle release of a novella that was part of a collection. Somehow, despite being a huge fan of Jayne Ann Krentz, I had missed it. I loved the descriptions, characters and dialog in this romantic suspense story. My review will be posted on September 17.

Back to review books...

Blackbird by Anna Carey was an intense thriller. Its most notable characteristic was that it was told in the second person. I enjoyed it even though it had a cliffhanger ending. My review will be posted on September 18.

Adrenaline Crush by Laurie Boyle Crompton was a YA contemporary about a girl who lives for the rush until she has an accident that destroys her ankle. She is torn between the boy who saved her life and wants to keep her safe and the boy she meets in therapy who wants her to conquer her fear and take risks again. My review will be posted on Sept. 17.

Blood Games by Chloe Neill is the 10th book in her Chicagoland Vampires series. I really enjoyed this one. I love the relationship between Merit and Ethan. My review will be posted on September 4.

The Scandalous Sisterhood of Prickwillow Place by Julie Berry was the next book on my YA review stack. This one is most suitable for fans who have outgrown Lemony Snicket but are still interested in over-the-top Victorian melodrama. There was a mystery too. My review will be posted on Sept. 20.

Unmade by Sarah Rees Brennan is the final book in the Lynburn Legacy trilogy. I loved the way this trilogy ended. It was exciting and appropriate. I laughed and I cried when I read this one. My review will be posted on September 15.

Silent Murders by Mary Miley was also a review book. This one was an excellent historical mystery. It will be released on September 23 and should be on your list if you like mysteries and Old Hollywood. Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford and Myrna Loy make appearances. My review will be posted on Sept. 20.

Currently

I am reading The Man from Stone Creek by Linda Lael Miller. I am enjoying this Western romance that I got through the Amazon Vine Program.

Next Week

I have all review books on my stack for this coming week.

I have two more from Amazon Vine for my adult books this week. Two of a Kind by Susan Mallery and Pecan Pies and Deadly Lies by Nancy Naigle will finish up this month's Vine books.

I have had Salt & Storm by Kendall Kulper on my stack since last February. It has finally reached the top and I should be reading this September release soon. The link goes to Barnes & Noble because Amazon says this book is unavailable.

Night Sky by Melanie Brockmann and Suzanne Brockman just got added to my stack this week. I am a big fan of Suzanne Brockmann's romantic suspense titles for adults and had to fit this one in despite a very full calendar.

Tabula Rasa by Kristen Lippert-Martin and Firebug by Lish McBride have both been on my stack since May. They will both be released on September 23.

Reviews Posted

• The Essence by Kimberly Derting
• Bound to Danger by Katie Reus
• Iron Hearted Violet by Kelly Barnhill
• Pray for Silence by Linda Castillo
• Untold by Sarah Rees Brennan
• Melting the Ice by Jaci Burton

Want to See What I Added to My Stack Last Week

• Inside of a Dog
• Ms. Martin Teaches Media

What do you have planned for this week?