It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (August 18, 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 my last quiet week of the summer this past week. I did a lot of reading. I also did a lot of work on my blog. I have set up the basic posts for all of my October review books. Yes, October! I'm that far ahead which should stand me in good stead since the beginning of any school year is hectic. 

This new school year will be especially hectic as I am also training a brand new high school media center paraprofessional who has no previous experience in libraries. Adding to that we have seven new staff members between my two buildings and are in the planning stage for an addition and remodel of my elementary building. My media center will not be in the construction zone but I wouldn't be surprised if I need to host "refugees" whose rooms are being disrupted.

This week a friend will be visiting for four days. We'll be doing our annual True Blood marathon and watching all of season six. We'll also be blogging, playing computer games, visiting actual casinos, doing tourist stuff and other assorted stuff. I expect it to be fun but I don't expect much time for reading.

Read Last Week

The Man from Stone Creek by Linda Lael Miller was a nice Western romantic suspense title with a sexy, honorable lawman, a feisty woman who runs the General Store, and robbers all set in the Arizona Territory in 1902. My review will be posted on Sept. 27.

Courting Magic by Stephanie Burgis is a novella in the Kat, Incorrigible YA historical fantasy series. I loved the magic and the romance. If you haven't read this series, I highly recommend them. My review is posting today since the novella was released last week. 

Salt & Storm by Kendall Kulper is another historical fantasy. This one takes place in the 1860s on an island off the coast of Massachusetts and is about magic, whaling, and family curses. This is a much anticipated YA title and was good but it didn't live up to the hype for me. My review will be posted on September 25.

Firebug by Lish McBride is a YA contemporary urban fantasy title about a young woman who has the power to start fires with her mind and who is forced to work for the Coterie which is led by a vampire. When our heroine is told to kill a family friend, she and her partners go on the run looking for a way to bring down the Coterie. This was fresh and the writing was engaging. My review will be posted on September 24.

Two of a Kind by Susan Mallery was one of my Amazon Vine picks this month. It was a feel-good romance in the Fool's Gold series. It had great characters and realistic conflicts between them. I haven't been reading this series in order. The books stand alone well but do make me want to read some of the surrounding stories that tell about supporting characters' romances. My review will be posted on October 2. 

Tabula Rasa by Kristen Lippert-Martin was a young adult science fiction thriller. I enjoyed the story and think it will appeal to teens. It was action-packed and exciting. My review will be posted on September 27.

Pecan Pies and Deadly Lies by Nancy Naigle was a romantic suspense title I got from Amazon Vine. It is the 4th in the Adams Grove series which I haven't read. I enjoyed the characters and the romance in this story. My review will be posted on October 4.

Night Sky by Suzanne Brockmann and Melanie Brockmann is Suzanne's YA debut and Melanie's first book. It is a science fiction story that takes place in a near-future United States. There are people with hormones in their blood that let them use more of their brains and have gifts like telekinesis, telepathy, prescience and other psychic gifts. There is also a designer drug made from the hormone which has the drug dealers kidnapping and draining the blood from the gifted. Our heroines are trying to rescue one of the young girls who was kidnapped. My review will be posted on October 2.

Thursday with the Crown by Jessica Day George is the third book in the Tuesdays with the Castle Middle Grade fantasy series. It was engaging and filled with great characters. My review will be posted on October 6.

Currently

I am reading Exquisite Captive by Heather Demetrios. I got two copies of the ARC - one from NetGalley and one from Amazon Vine. I am reading my Kindle copy. This one seems like it is going to be on the upper end of young adult because of mature themes. Our heroine - a jinni sold into slavery on Earth - is juggling her master whom she hates and is attracted to and a jinni who hates her but wants her to do something for a revolution back home. 

Next Week

I have company arriving to spent most of the week and I need to get organized to return to my school year home. I don't know how much time I will have for reading. Here are the next four young adult review books on my stack.

Stray by Elissa Sussman

Kiss Kill Vanish by Jessica Martinez

Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin

Even in Paradise by Chelsey Philpot

Reviews Posted

• Silver Shadows by Richelle Mead
• Darkness Unbound by Keri Arthur
• The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau
• Visions by Kelley Armstrong
• The Lost Son by Tessa Gratton
• Steel's Edge by Ilona Andrews

Want to See What I Added to My Stack Last Week?

• Inside of a Dog
• Ms. Martin Teaches Media

How was your week?