Stacking the Shelves (Sept. 7, 2014)

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 took advantage of some Kindle Deals, bought further books in series I read, and got some books for review this week too.

Purchases

Carniepunk by an assortment of authors I already read and Extreme Measures by Elisabeth Naughton were both deals for my Kindle. Carniepunk was $1.99 when I bought it and is back to $10.38 now. I only saved $3.00 on the Naughton book.

Blood of the Lamb by Sam Cabot is the first book in this series. I just read the second and wanted to know what had come before.

Tera Lynn Childs' newsletter arrived in my inbox letting me know that Trying Texas was available. I added it to my Kindle despite the fact that I haven't read the previous books in this series. They are on my Kindle too.

Two pre-orders came this week too. I got The Midnight Queen by Sylvia Izzo Hunter and Shifting Shadows by Patricia Briggs. Briggs is a long-time favorite author. Hunter's book intrigued me when I saw it offered at Penguin's First to Read. I wasn't chosen but pre-ordered a copy to read when it was released.

Review Books

I was offered My Sister's Grave by Robert Dugoni and I will be on the blog tour in November. 

Can Anybody Help Me? by Sinead Crowley was a book I found at Edelweiss. I expect this one to set a record for time on my Review Stack. It won't be released until July 7, 2015.

What did you add to your stack this week?

Book Review: Magic Breaks by Ilona Andrews

Magic Breaks
Author: Ilona Andrews
Series: Kate Daniels (Book 7)
Publication: Ace Hardcover (July 29, 2014)

Description: No matter how much the paranormal politics of Atlanta change, one thing always remains the same: if there’s trouble, Kate Daniels will be in the middle of it…

As the mate of the Beast Lord, Curran, former mercenary Kate Daniels has more responsibilities than it seems possible to juggle. Not only is she still struggling to keep her investigative business afloat, she must now deal with the affairs of the pack, including preparing her people for attack from Roland, a cruel ancient being with god-like powers. Since Kate’s connection to Roland has come out into the open, no one is safe—especially those closest to Kate.

As Roland’s long shadow looms ever nearer, Kate is called to attend the Conclave, a gathering of the leaders from the various supernatural factions in Atlanta. When one of the Masters of the Dead is found murdered there, apparently at the hands of a shapeshifter, Kate is given only twenty-four hours to hunt down the killer. And this time, if she fails, she’ll find herself embroiled in a war which could destroy everything she holds dear…

My Thoughts: This book brings the story ARC of the confrontation with Roland to a conclusion. For all her life, Kate Daniels has been hiding in plain sight and growing her magical abilities so that she would one day be able to meet and kill her father Roland. The man who raised her - Voron - did all he could to turn her into a killing machine and point her at Roland. Killing Roland will be Voron's revenge for the death of Kate's mother at Roland's hands.

Hugh D'Ambray is Roland's warlord. He was also a pupil of Voron. When he learned of Kate's identity in the previous book, he decided to capture her and present her to Roland. Now he has come to Atlanta and is fomenting a war between the Pack and the People. Kate and Curran are both trying to defuse that situation and Kate would really like to kill Hugh.

Things don't go particularly well and Kate and Ghastek end up kidnapped. While they are held captive in a well, we learn Ghastek's back story which made him a more human character than he has been in all the previous books. We also see Kate's confidence that Curran will find her no matter where Hugh has hidden her. Faith and love were not virtues taught her by Voron but they are Kate's alone.

Kate is her usual snarky self with a sarcastic wit. But what clearly comes through is her desire to protect. One of the characters says that she doesn't make a good leader because she is unable to sacrifice people she knows and loves for the greater good of the whole. Kate acknowledges that but doesn't think it is a character flaw though is does spotlight a weakness her enemies can exploit.

The story was filled with fighting, politics, love, and danger. I am eager to see what comes next for Kate and Curran.

Favorite Quote:

"Fortune favors the brave," I told her. It also kills the stupid, but I decided to keep that fact to myself. "Come on. We need to hurry."

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

Friday Memes: Magic Breaks by Ilona Andrews

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 Magic Breaks by Ilona Andrews. This is the most recent book in their Kate Daniels urban fantasy series. I got it, and autographed too, when I attended their book signing recently. Here is the description:

No matter how much the paranormal politics of Atlanta change, one thing always remains the same: if there’s trouble, Kate Daniels will be in the middle of it…

As the mate of the Beast Lord, Curran, former mercenary Kate Daniels has more responsibilities than it seems possible to juggle. Not only is she still struggling to keep her investigative business afloat, she must now deal with the affairs of the pack, including preparing her people for attack from Roland, a cruel ancient being with god-like powers. Since Kate’s connection to Roland has come out into the open, no one is safe—especially those closest to Kate.

As Roland’s long shadow looms ever nearer, Kate is called to attend the Conclave, a gathering of the leaders from the various supernatural factions in Atlanta. When one of the Masters of the Dead is found murdered there, apparently at the hands of a shapeshifter, Kate is given only twenty-four hours to hunt down the killer. And this time, if she fails, she’ll find herself embroiled in a war which could destroy everything she holds dear…

Beginning:

Kate, this is really dangerous," Ascanio said.

Teenage shapeshifters have an interesting definition of "dangerous." Lyc-V, the virus responsible for their existence, regenerates their bodies at an accelerated rate, so getting stabbed means a nap followed by a really big dinner, and a broken leg would equal two weeks of taking it easy and then running a marathon with no problems. 

Friday 56:

Alphas of Clan Heavy, Clan Bouda, and Clan Jackal. Nice.

"I'll be back before you know it."

With that backup, he could wipe out a small army. 

Book Review: Connecting Rooms by Jayne Ann Krentz

Connecting Rooms
Author: Jayne Ann Krentz
Publication: Pocket Star (January 27, 2014)

Description: Available for the first time as a standalone eBook novella, #1 New York Times bestselling author Jayne Ann Krentz's Connecting Rooms

Amy Comfort is a real estate agent on Misplaced Island, a quaint, remote town located off the coast of Washington. When she sells an old Victorian manse to the sultry, sexy Owen Sweet, a private investigator relocating from Seattle, sparks fly from the get-go, though both Amy and Owen decidedly ignore their natural chemistry.

Until, that is, Amy enlists Owen's help in looking into her aunt Bernice's fiance Arthur Crabshaw, who Amy suspects is not what he seems. To keep their cover intact, Amy and Owen pretend to be a lovestruck, newly engaged couple, as they travel to Villantry, Washington, to investigate Arthur. When the mystery surrounding Arthur begins to spin out of control, Amy and Owen must trust in each other to stay alive. But, when the lines between their make-believe courtship and reality begin to blur, will the faux-couple end up with something aside from what they had set out to find?

My Thoughts: Though I am a huge fan of Jayne Ann Krentz, I had somehow missed this novella when it was published many years ago. It was fun to meet Owen Sweet and Amy Comfort. They had both admired each other from afar but, when Amy's aunt gets engaged to a suspicious man, Amy hires Owen to investigate. He is reluctant until Amy suggests that they pose as an engaged couple.

I really liked both characters and loved the interaction between the two of them. There were a couple of misunderstandings between them on their way to confessing their love for each other - and one attempted murder. But everything works out for this couple.

Favorite Quote:

The roses had been abandoned along with the crumbling ruin of a house years ago. Instead of dying off in a bittersweet, genteel manner, they had gone wild, with a vengeance. They climbed the garden walls as though bent on escaping prison. they formed impenetrable thickets across the cracked paths, choked the empty fishpond, and had apparently been intent on marching up the steps and into the sun porch. Owen Sweet had arrived in the nick of time.

I bought this one for my Kindle. You can buy your copy here.

Book Review: Blood Games by Chloe Neill

Blood Games
Author: Chloe Neill
Series: Chicagoland Vampires (Book 10)
Publication: NAL Trade (August 5, 2014)

Description: While Merit didn't choose to become a vampire or Sentinel of Cadogan House, she vowed to fight for her House and its Master, and she’s managed to forge strong alliances with powerful supernaturals across Chicago. But even though Merit has had wild adventures, this may be her deadliest yet....

A killer is stalking Chicago, preying on humans and leaving his victims with magical souvenirs. The CPD hasn’t been able to track the assailant, and as the body count rises, the city is running out of options. Vampires and humans aren’t on great terms, but murder makes for strange bedfellows. Can Merit find the killer before she becomes a target?

My Thoughts: BLOOD GAMES was an excellent addition to the Chicagoland Vampires series. This time Ethan is waiting to hear the results of his challenge for the leadership of the Greenwich Presidium. The leader - Darius - has been suspiciously silent.

Meanwhile, Merit is called by her Grandfather to take a look at a crime scene. The son of one of the police officers who works with Chuck has been murdered. Chuck wants Merit to see if she thinks vampires were involved. She and Ethan and Jonah take a look at the site but don't think vampires were involved despite the fact the katanas, but not genuine katanas, were part of the scene.

Merit's investigation with Jonah into to source of those fake katanas leads to the funniest section of the book. Their investigation takes them to a science fiction sort of convention where Merit is assumed to be dressing up as herself - and not doing it very well - and she is baffled by all the souvenir gear with Ethan's face on it. His face on ladies' underwear is the most baffling to her.

Things escalate when more murders are committed and the competition for leadership of the Greenwich Presidium involves Ethan in mental and physical challenges. Ethan and Merit are also dealing with some relationship issues too as Ethan is being blackmailed and is afraid to tell Merit what secret the blackmailer is threatening to expose. While they love each other deeply, they really haven't been together very long and they are both still getting used to trusting each other.

I loved the writing and I certainly love Merit and Ethan. I can't wait for more adventures.

Favorite Quote:

"You're my world," he said, putting down the glass. "You're mine to protect."

"And I'd say the same thing about you."

His eyes went hot again, and he stared back at me from across the room, magic rolling off him in hot waves. "Will you stop being so goddamned stubborn?"

I kept my eyes on his, my tone even. "No. Will you?"

"I want to keep you safe."

"And I want to keep you safe. I did keep you safe," I pointed out, "And still no thank-you for that."

I bought a print copy of this and a Kindle copy too. You can buy your copy here.

Teaser Tuesday: Blood Games by Chloe Neill

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!

Teaser:

It was the man who's watched me in the crowd, the one Lindsey and I had thought was a fan. But his interest, apparently, wasn't for me.

"If he knows what's good for him," the man said, his voice deep and lush, "he'll stay in Chicago, and out of London."

This week my teaser comes from Blood Games by Chloe Neill. I got this latest book in the Chicagoland Vampire series when I roadtripped to Racine, Wisconsin, for Chloe's signing. Here is the description:

While Merit didn't choose to become a vampire or Sentinel of Cadogan House, she vowed to fight for her House and its Master, and she’s managed to forge strong alliances with powerful supernaturals across Chicago. But even though Merit has had wild adventures, this may be her deadliest yet....

A killer is stalking Chicago, preying on humans and leaving his victims with magical souvenirs. The CPD hasn’t been able to track the assailant, and as the body count rises, the city is running out of options. Vampires and humans aren’t on great terms, but murder makes for strange bedfellows. Can Merit find the killer before she becomes a target?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (Sept. 1, 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.

My week of teacher workshops is over and I'm semi, sorta ready to start with students on Tuesday. Things are still a little unfinished. Three computer labs were scheduled for replacement this summer and the computers finally arrived on Thursday. It looks like the tech folks will have them all ready to go but at the expense of some other things. For example, my fifth graders don't have their Google accounts set up which means I have to put off beginning our semester's work for one round of lessons. Luckily, there are other beginning of the year things I can do with them.

Then there are the things I need to do at home. My first floor windows were replaced this summer and now the shades don't fit. I have to see if my new front window shade can be made narrower, send it in to have that done and then install it. My garage door opener died during the summer too. I am in the process of getting a new one of those too. I have been back a week and the bags of books I took home for the summer still need to be reshelved either back on the TBR mountain, on my permanent shelves, or on the shelf for books I'm getting rid of.

With 32 hours of work during the first three workshop days and many hours more after I got home, I haven't had a chance to read very much at all. Even though, theoretically, Thursday and Friday were not work days, I spent four hours at school each day trying to get ready. When I got home all I wanted to do was play computer games and/or veg out in front of the TV.

Read Last Week

Even in Paradise by Chelsey Philpot was a contemporary YA novel about friendship and the secrets hidden by wealth and privilege. I enjoyed it. My review will be posted on October 11.

Harbor Island by Carla Neggers is the fourth book in the Sharpe & Donovan series. It is both a mystery and a romance. I liked the characters and the relationships in this story which, for me, overpowered the mystery. My review will be posted on Sept. 25 as part of the blog tour. 

The Hot Zone by Jayne Castle was a futuristic romance from an author I really enjoy. It was a quick read and a fun story. My review will be posted on September 24.

Currently

I am currently reading Skin of the Wolf by Sam Cabot. This one is a paranormal thriller. This book is one that I just bought because I saw a glowing review on someone's blog. Thus far, I agree with the review.

Next Week

I am optimistically putting four books on my stack for the coming week. These are all October review books.

Liesmith by Alis Franklin

Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch

Stitching Snow by R. C. Lewis 

Chasing Power by Sarah Beth Durst

Reviews Posted

• The Jewel by Amy Ewing
• Hammered by Kevin Hearne
• Starry Night by Isabel Gillies
• Books Can Be Deceiving by Jenn McKinlay
• Don't Touch by Rachel M. Wilson
• Eight Million Gods by Wen Spencer

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

• Inside of a Dog
• Ms. Martin Teaches Media

I have Monday off and plan to spend some time reading. I am as ready for the first day of school as I can be without actually being there. Monday will be one final chance to relax before things get really, really busy.