Friday, August 31, 2012

Friday Memes: Garment of Shadows by Laurie R. King

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.

The book I am reading this week is Garment of Shadows by Laurie R. King. This is the twelfth book in the Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes series. I chose this ARC from the Amazon Vine program. Here is the description of this historical mystery:
Laurie R. King’s New York Times bestselling novels of suspense featuring Mary Russell and her husband, Sherlock Holmes, comprise one of today’s most acclaimed mystery series. Now, in their newest and most thrilling adventure, the couple is separated by a shocking circumstance in a perilous part of the world, each racing against time to prevent an explosive catastrophe that could clothe them both in shrouds.

 In a strange room in Morocco, Mary Russell is trying to solve a pressing mystery: Who am I? She has awakened with shadows in her mind, blood on her hands, and soldiers pounding on the door. Out in the hivelike streets, she discovers herself strangely adept in the skills of the underworld, escaping through alleys and rooftops, picking pockets and locks. She is clothed like a man, and armed only with her wits and a scrap of paper containing a mysterious Arabic phrase. Overhead, warplanes pass ominously north.

 Meanwhile, Holmes is pulled by two old friends and a distant relation into the growing war between France, Spain, and the Rif Revolt led by Emir Abd el-Krim—who may be a Robin Hood or a power mad tribesman. The shadows of war are drawing over the ancient city of Fez, and Holmes badly wants the wisdom and courage of his wife, whom he’s learned, to his horror, has gone missing. As Holmes searches for her, and Russell searches for herself, each tries to crack deadly parallel puzzles before it’s too late for them, for Africa, and for the peace of Europe. 

With the dazzling mix of period detail and contemporary pace that is her hallmark, Laurie R. King continues the stunningly suspenseful series that Lee Child called “the most sustained feat of imagination in mystery fiction today.”
Beginning:
The big man had the brains of a tortoise, but even he was beginning to look alarmed.
Friday 56:
"I am sorry, Monsieur, but Massim here says that it was not so much a case of the two speaking, as it was her asking questions."

Thursday, August 30, 2012

ARC Review: Tears of the Jaguar by A. J. Hartley

Tears of the Jaguar
Author: A. J. Hartley
Publication: Thomas & Mercer (September 4, 2012)

Description: Six months ago, museum curator Deborah Miller had never heard of Ek Balam, an obscure Mayan archaeological site known for its carved figures. Now here she is, having traded Atlanta’s urban jungle for a remote village in Mexico’s Yucatan, tasked with overseeing Ek Balam’s excavation. But when a sudden rainstorm causes a partial collapse at the site, an unexpected treasure is unearthed: a collection of rough-cut rubies hidden from the world for hundreds of years—and very out-of-place in the Yucatan. It is a find of immeasurable value, one that Deborah vows to protect—and yet is powerless to prevent from being stolen soon after its discovery. Determined to retrieve the stones, she sets out to trace their complex history across four centuries and two continents, from Mexico to northern England where the jewels once played a harrowing role in the Lancashire witch trials of 1612. But Deborah is not the only one searching for the stones; close on her heels are archaeologists, occultists, and one very determined arms dealer, all of whom will stop at nothing, not even murder, to claim the prize for themselves.

My Thoughts: TEARS OF THE JAGUAR was a thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat and rapidly turning the pages to find out what was happening. And this was NOT a story where I saw the solution before the main character.

I didn't like Deborah Miller very much when the book began. This museum curator who was sent to the Yucatan to oversee explorations at Ek Balam by her benefactor at Cornerstone who was funding her museum felt out of her depth and resentful of the archaeologist sent to survey the site. Her resentment and jealousy made her sharp tongued and not very likable. She has a bad relationship with her sister and mother because she felt her mother favored her sister and she resented her sister's athletic ability and the times she had to tag along to practices instead of being left alone to study. She was her father's daughter but now he is dead and her mother has remarried and is getting ready to sell the family home. This is another cause for her tension and resentment. 

The archaeologist - Bowerdale - isn't likable either. He is a pompous, blow hard who likes hitting on his female graduate assistants and doesn't pass up any opportunity to belittle Deborah. The graduate assistants are also shifty characters with Alice being sort of goth and liking to use her sexuality to get things from men. She prefers the abusive kind. James, the other graduate student, is sort of a puppy. He wants Alice's attention and is a sneaky sort of person. 

When a very heavy thunderstorm uncovers a previously hidden tomb, things change. All of a sudden Deborah needs to coordinate more archaeologists - all of whom are quirky, obsessed and more than a little weird. When the grave goods are stolen, it ignites a chase across Mexico and even to Lancashire England and brings in the CIA, MI5, a Serbian "entrepreneur" who wants to find the treasure to sell to the highest bidder, and someone who doesn't hesitate to leave a trail of bodies behind them.

Once Deborah was on the hunt and following clues I began to like her better. I came to appreciate her intelligence and her bulldog-like persistence as she followed the trail of clues. I liked her enough to hunt down and buy two earlier books by the author that included Deborah Miller.

This was a very compelling thriller that was a great story. I recommend it to thriller lovers.  

Favorite Quote:
Deborah spent the whole of the next day in the lab with Aguilar. Krista has found reasons to go up to the site at Ek Balam, but Deborah thought she was being cagey, and Aguilar got tense every time Krista showed up. Something was going on, but whether it was important, or just some relationship thing, Deborah couldn't say. Immediately, she heard her mother's voice in her head: "How like you to assume that relationships aren't important."

Not now, Ma, she thought.
I got this ARC through the Amazon Vine program in exchange for an honest review. You can buy a copy here.

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

ARC Review: Chilled by Kendra Elliot

Chilled (A Bone Secrets Novel)
Author: Kendra Elliot
Publication: Montlake Romance (August 14, 2012)

Description: As a forensic nurse on a search and rescue team, Brynn Nealey braves a dangerous blizzard to find the survivors of a plane crash in the Cascade Mountains. Joining her is Alex Kinton, a former US marshal with self-destructive tendencies. Alex lies his way onto Brynn’s team to find the man who killed his brother—and then return the favor. But once the team members reach the plane’s wreckage, they discover everyone aboard has perished…except for the man Alex is hunting. Alex will do whatever it takes to track his target through the vast, snowy wilderness.

As the temperatures drop, however, so do Alex’s defenses. His contact with the sharp, kindhearted Brynn makes his lust for vengeance difficult to reconcile with his growing feelings for a woman who risks her life to help others. What will happen to Alex’s savage instincts when he finally has the opportunity to confront his brother’s killer?

In Chilled, the next thrilling tale in the Bone Secrets saga, Golden Heart finalist Kendra Elliot weaves an icy tale of cold nights, cold hearts, and cold-blooded killers.

My Thoughts: A snowstorm in March. The rugged Cascade Mountains. A plane crash with two pilots, a US Marshal and a serial killer aboard. Brynn, a nurse on a search and rescue team, and her teammates have to try to see if there is anyone they can save. Former US Marshal Alex Kinton lies his way onto the team. He was fired as a US Marshal but he is convinced that the serial killer - Darrin Besand - killed his mentally handicapped brother. He is self-destructive and determined on revenge. 

As the team travels into the mountain they need to battle the weather and the rugged terrain to get to the plane crash. There they discover that the pilots and the Marshal are dead but Besand is missing. One of the team is hurt and the weather keeps them from leaving immediately. Alex wants to stay alone to search for Besand by Brynn isn't going to let that happen. She isn't going to leave him with a serial killer in the area. Add in an avalanche that almost kills Alex and causes the team to lose half their packs and the danger keeps increasing. 

Just to complicate things further Alex is convinced that someone in the Marshal's Office is trying to let Besand escape. The arguments Alex had with his superior about the lax guarding of Besand led to his being fired. And Alex is right. His corrupt superior officer has sent his own team of two Marshals into the mountains too with orders to kill Alex.

This was is filled with tension and danger. Brynn, who has ended a relationship with someone who wants to smother her, is surprised to feel attraction to Alex. And when Liam - her smothering boyfriend - joins the group after he and his brother crash their helicopter while searching for the rescue team, she has to deal with the tensions between Liam and Alex. 

Fans of thrillers will enjoy this story and the budding relationship between Alex and Brynn. Watching Alex come to terms with his brother's death and become reacquainted with his values because of contact with kind and dedicated Brynn made this a very satisfying story. And Darrin is a really creepy villain. Being empty of emotion himself, he causes pain and kills so that he can feel something. He has been getting high off Alex's pain for a while but is determined to kill him now. Even on a hot August day, this one sent chills up my spine.

Favorite Quote:
Alex tried not to stare at Brynn as she hiked away to check on Ryan. Even under the thick coat she pulled his attention. It was the way she carried herself, the way she moved smoothly like she'd been walking through the outdoors all her life. She always showed confidence and a clear head, and he liked to watch her whether she was throwing a stick for her dog or standing her ground with Jim and Thomas. And himself.
I received this ARC through the Amazon Vine program in exchange for an honest review. You can buy your copy here.

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Teaser Tuesday: Tears of the Jaguar by A. J. Hartley

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!
I chose Tears of the Jaguar by A. J. Hartley as one of my recent Amazon Vine picks. Here is the description:
Six months ago, museum curator Deborah Miller had never heard of Ek Balam, an obscure Mayan archaeological site known for its carved figures. Now here she is, having traded Atlanta’s urban jungle for a remote village in Mexico’s Yucatan, tasked with overseeing Ek Balam’s excavation. But when a sudden rainstorm causes a partial collapse at the site, an unexpected treasure is unearthed: a collection of rough-cut rubies hidden from the world for hundreds of years—and very out-of-place in the Yucatan. It is a find of immeasurable value, one that Deborah vows to protect—and yet is powerless to prevent from being stolen soon after its discovery. Determined to retrieve the stones, she sets out to trace their complex history across four centuries and two continents, from Mexico to northern England where the jewels once played a harrowing role in the Lancashire witch trials of 1612. But Deborah is not the only one searching for the stones; close on her heels are archaeologists, occultists, and one very determined arms dealer, all of whom will stop at nothing, not even murder, to claim the prize for themselves.
Teaser:
Slowly she stepped back into the dark air, lowering herself with both hands gripping the stiff root, feeling with her feet for the outcrop she had seen in the momentary flash of the lamp. For a moment she was hanging there, just suspended over nothing, then she let her hands slip another foot or so down, and the root tore a little. 

Sunday, August 26, 2012

It's Monday, What Are You Reading? August 27, 2012

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.


Well, vacation is over and it is back to school for me today. I am back settled (more or less) in my school year home and eager to get back to see my colleagues and students. Besides traveling and lots of packing and unpacking, I managed to get quite a lot of reading done.

I read:
Boy and Bot by Ame Dyckman is a picture book that I look forward to sharing with my Kindergarten students next week. I like the illustrations and the idea that friends don't have to all be the same. I won't be reviewing this one since it is really out of the scope of either of my blogs. 

Otherkin by Nina Berry fits in well at Ms. Martin Teaches Media. I got this review book (which was a finished copy) from the Amazon Vine program. I love books about shifters and was really entertained by this story of a girl who shifts into a tiger. My review will be posted on Sept. 19. I think my high school students will really like this one.

I also continued re-reading (binging on) the In Death series by J. D. Robb. This week I read books 3 through 10. It has been fascinating watching Eve's world expand by the addition of new characters that are becoming friends. It is also wonderful watching her relationship with Roarke develop. I don't intend to review any of these on my blog but did write a little bit about each one on GoodReads and LibraryThing but mainly just as an aide-memoire to know when new characters made their first appearances.

I am currently reading the eleventh book in the In Death series - Judgment in Death by J. D. Robb. Since I am back home and have access to my bookshelves, I am reading the print version of this novel. 

Next week it is back to review books. These are the ones I hope to read:
I just got Midnight Exposure by Melinda Leigh through the Amazon Vine Program. It is a thriller and was published on August 21. 

Line of Fire by Stephen White is also a thriller. I got this one from Dutton Books. It was published on Aug. 7 and I said I would have my review posted by Sept. 13.
My two YA books for the week are on my Kindle from NetGalley. Redemption by Veronique Launier is a paranormal with gargoyles which will be released on Sept. 8. Hanging By a Thread by Sophie Littlefield is a paranormal mystery and will be released on Sept. 11. 

This might be an ambitious goal for this week with all the necessary back to school activities including workshops, open houses, lesson planning, etc. but I have hopes that I will get these read. What are your plans for the week?

Stacking the Shelves (August 26, 2012)


Tynga of 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 got a bunch of books this week. Here they are:

Review:
I got The Trial of Fallen Angels by James P. Kimmel Jr. from a publicist for the Penguin Group. It is a thriller that will be out in November. I also got Midnight Exposure by Melinda Leigh from the Amazon Vine Program. This one is also a thriller and was published August 21.

Bought (Print):
Shadow Bound by Rachel Vincent is a paranormal. I haven't read the first in this series yet but it is on my TBR mountain.

A Little Night Magic by Lucy March was featured on an Amazon list of romances that were overlooked but shouldn't have been. I thought it sounded good.

Kindle:
Libriomancer by Jim C. Hines is a science fiction/fantasy novel that has been getting good reviews.

Silenced by Allison Brennan is a thriller in the Lucy Kincaid series that was on sale for the Kindle this week. 

I added the next six In Death novels by J. D. Robb to my Kindle this week. These are books 5 through 9 in the series. I have been enjoying my re-reads of these futuristic romantic mysteries.

Saturday, August 25, 2012

Book Review: Immortally Yours by Angie Fox

Immortally Yours
Author: Angie Fox
Publication: St. Martin's Paperbacks; 1 edition (August 28, 2012)

Description: The latest from New York Times bestselling author, Angie Fox: 

IN THE WAR BETWEEN THE GODS...  
No one patches up the incoming wounded like Dr. Petra Robichaud. Recruited by the gods for her uncanny medical skills, she's the best M*A*S*H surgeon in the army. Along with a nosy guard sphinx, a vegetarian werewolf, and other paranormal paramedics, she bandages soldiers who are built like Greek gods (literally). But when one sexy immortal ends up on her operating table--half dead and totally to-die-for--Petra's afraid she'll lose her patient and her heart...

NOTHING IS MORE DANGEROUS THAN LOVE
Commander Galen of Delphi is one gorgeous but stubborn demi-god. When his spirit tries to slip out of his fatally wounded body, Dr. Petra has to slip it back in--unwittingly revealing her ability to see ghosts. Now that Galen knows her secret, he's convinced she's part of an ancient prophecy. If the oracles are right, Petra could lead Galen's army to peace. And if he seduces her on the way to hell and back? Heaven knows--all's fair in love and war...



My Thoughts: When Dr. Petra Robichaud is drafted into the army of the gods, she knows it is a life sentence.  The gods have been fighting this war for centuries. She is working in a MASH unit near the front and trying to keep it a secret that she can see souls. There is a prophecy that one who can see souls will be able to end the war. Neither side wants that to happen and is willing to kill anyone who has that gift.

One day Commander Galen of Delphi ends up on her table. He dies but Petra is able to grab his soul and return it to his body. Galen sees her as the hope to finally ending the war but Petra is afraid. Galen works his way into her life and they fall in love. Along the way, he convinces her to try to end the war no matter what it might cost either of them personally.

This story reminded me a lot of the old television show MASH as it was filled with quirky characters - including a vegetarian werewolf and a sphinx who had a real mind for trivia - and the constant pranking that the doctors on the TV show used to fight the boredom and the stress of war. These pranks included things like putting Kraken in the showers and other supernatural stuff. I enjoyed the sort of running joke about Petra not taking the time to read the manual.

I liked the story. I thought the world building was well-done. I liked Petra's voice. She is determined to do the best for her patients and has plenty of attitude. I also liked that she was realistically afraid of being the center of a prophecy and afraid of doing the wrong thing. Galen was a great hero too. He was handsome, smart, kind, loyal and loved Petra.

Fans of paranormal romance and fans of mythology will enjoy this story. 

Favorite Quote:
Both armies liked to poison their weapons. They usually used the blood of Medusa, or spittle from Cerberus, the three-headed dog of the underworld. I'd even seen them use Britney Spears perfume. We actually preferred that last one. It smelled nice and wouldn't kill any mortals on staff.
I got this eARC from St. Martins via NetGalley for review. You can buy your copy here

Friday, August 24, 2012

Friday Memes: Immortally Yours by Angie Fox


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.
It's time for a little paranormal romance. I have Immortally Yours by Angie Fox at the top of my review stack this week. It will be released on August 28. Here is the description:
IN THE WAR BETWEEN THE GODS… No one patches up the incoming wounded like Dr. Petra Robichaud. Recruited by the gods for her uncanny medical skills, she’s the best M*A*S*H surgeon in the army. Along with a nosy guard sphinx,vegetarian werewolf, and otherparanormal paramedics, she bandages soldiers who are built like Greek gods (literally). But when one sexy immortal ends up on her operating table—half dead and totally to-die-for—Petra’s afraid she’ll lose her patient and her heart… NOTHING IS MORE DANGEROUS THAN LOVECommander Galen of Delphi is one gorgeous but stubborn demi-god. When his spirit tries to slip out of his fatally wounded body, Dr. Petra has to slip it back in—unwittingly revealing her ability to see ghosts. Now that Galen knows her secret, he’s convinced she’s part of an ancient prophecy. If the oracles are right, Petra could lead Galen’s army to peace. And if he seduces her on the way to hell and back? Heaven knows—all’s fair in love and war…
Beginning:
Attention all surgical personnel. Attention. Incoming wounded arriving on chopper pad two. Come and get yours while they're fresh.
Friday 56:
"There's really nowhere to be alone in a MASH camp, so when people want to get a bit amorous, they head back to this huge outcropping of rocks past the cemetery and beyond the minefield."

"Minefield?" He sounded surprised.

"That's what we call the junkyard. I mean, you can't let frisky couples sneak in and out of there without wiring the place with a few pranks."

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Book Review: Royal Street by Suzanne Johnson

Royal Street
Author: Suzanne Johnson
Publication: Tor Books; Original edition (April 10, 2012)


Description: As the junior wizard sentinel for New Orleans, Drusilla Jaco’s job involves a lot more potion-mixing and pixie-retrieval than sniffing out supernatural bad guys like rogue vampires and lethal were-creatures. DJ's boss and mentor, Gerald St. Simon, is the wizard tasked with protecting the city from anyone or anything that might slip over from the preternatural beyond.

Then Hurricane Katrina hammers New Orleans’ fragile levees, unleashing more than just dangerous flood waters.

While winds howled and Lake Pontchartrain surged, the borders between the modern city and the Otherworld crumbled. Now, the undead and the restless are roaming the Big Easy, and a serial killer with ties to voodoo is murdering the soldiers sent to help the city recover.

To make it worse, Gerry has gone missing, the wizards’ Elders have assigned a grenade-toting assassin as DJ’s new partner, and undead pirate Jean Lafitte wants to make her walk his plank. The search for Gerry and for the serial killer turns personal when DJ learns the hard way that loyalty requires sacrifice, allies come from the unlikeliest places, and duty mixed with love creates one bitter gumbo.




My Thoughts: I enjoyed this new urban fantasy set in post-Katrina New Orleans. DJ Jaco has been the junior Sentinel in New Orleans working for her mentor and foster-father Gerry St. Simon. They are both wizards but are from two different schools of wizardry. Gerry has physical magic; DJ has to use potions and spells for her magic. Her kind of magic is seen as less useful for a Sentinel. Their task has been to keep magical creatures in the Beyond or send them back there if they have come to our New Orleans. Nlow Hurricane Katrina destroyed the barriers that keep the paranormal out of New Orleans.


Gerry had sent DJ back to her grandmother's house to wait out the storm. But the Elders, the council that controls the wizards, have called and sent her back to New Orleans because Gerry is missing. They also send along an enforcer to help DJ. Alex Warin in his name. DJ thought on first seeing him was that "he looked like the poster child for an upscale GQ mercenary." She can't deny that she is hot but he more than makes up for it by being irritating. The two have a very contentious relationship.


I liked the world that Johnson created. Her paranormal creatures include werewolves, vampires, the Fae, and a new one for me - the historical undead. Among them are Jean Lafitte, Marie Leveau, Louis Armstrong and other historical figures. She has a special relationship with Jean Lafitte in that she has sent him back to the beyond a number of times and he is determined to get revenge on her.


DJ is a great urban fantasy heroine. She is smart, loyal, and determined. What she is not is some sort of well-armed ninja. She doesn't want to learn to use a gun. She prefers to rely on her spells and potions to save the day. She is also the sort of smart-mouthed heroine with a sarcastic sense of humor that I enjoy reading about. This story sets up a moral dilemma for her that forces her two choose between two equally dreaded outcomes. 


Watching she and Alex try to track down Gerry, find out who or what is killing National Guardsmen in voodoo rituals, and trying to keep the human and paranormal worlds from going to war while developing a friendship that could blossom into a romance was very entertaining. Add in Alex's human cousin Jake for another side of the romantic triangle and you have me reading as fast as I can to find out what happens next. 


I recommend this one to urban fantasy lovers. 


Favorite Quote:
First, I got rid of Alex, telling him I had cramps and wanted to rest. Mention cramps and guys get a panicked, deer-in-the-headlights look and develop a sudden urge to go hunting or drink beer. Like hormones might be contagious. Too bad they're not. The world would be a more equitable place. Or more violent. It could go either way.
I bought this one because I heard good things about it. You can buy your copy here.

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Book Review: Gunmetal Magic by Ilona Andrews

Gunmetal Magic
Author: Ilona Andrews
Publication: Ace (July 31, 2012)


Description: The New York Times bestselling Kate Daniels novels have been hailed as “top-notch urban fantasy” (Monsters and Critics). Now, Ilona Andrews delves deeper into Kate’s world, and reveals its untold stories…


After being kicked out of the Order of the Knights of Merciful Aid, Andrea’s whole existence is in shambles. She tries to put herself back together by working for Cutting Edge, a small investigative firm owned by her best friend. When several shapeshifters working for Raphael Medrano—the male alpha of the Clan Bouda, and Andrea’s former lover—die unexpectedly at a dig site, Andrea is assigned to investigate. Now she must work with Raphael as her search for the killer leads into the secret underbelly of supernatural Atlanta. And dealing with her feelings for him might have to take a back seat to saving the world…



My Thoughts: This is another powerful entry into Andrews' Kate Daniels' World. Andrea has been a side character for a while. She is Kate's best friend. After being kicked out of the Order of the Knights of Merciful Aid after being outed as a shapeshifter, Andrea is at loose ends. She isworking with Kate at Cutting Edge and trying to figure out what she wants from life. 


Andrea was raised in a bouda group - werehyenas - but she is beastkin - her father was a hyena turned human. Beastkin are despised by most shifters who were human first and then animal. Her bouda group systematically abused her and her mother until her mother finally found the courage to run away. Andrea has spent years denying her werehyena side. Now she has to come to terms with it. 


She is also on the outs with her werehyena boyfriend Raphael who can't understand why Andrea would be reluctant to swear allegiance to his mother and join another bouda pack. He hurts her very badly when he seems to have taken up with a beautiful but brainless human and flaunts her in front of Andrea.


Besides this personal turmoil, Andrea has a case to investigate which involves huge venomous snake shifters and ancient Egytian gods. There is a lot of adventure and excitement as she and Raphael need to work together to prevent the world from falling into chaos.

Andrea is as strong and as kickass as Kate Daniels. She makes a great lead character. Her bad childhood and determination to make her own decisions and choose her own path make her a character we can really care about. Cameos from favorite characters from the Kate Daniel's series add to the richness of this story.

Fans of urban fantasy with really kickass heroines will not want to miss this story.


Favorite Quote:
I mean, what the hell was I supposed to do with this MINE thing? One moment he was shoving another woman under my nose, the next he's decided that we were back on and couldn't understand why I wasn't getting with the program. An old song surfaced in my memories. Love is all you need. Maybe, but in real life love was rarely all you got. Raphael and I also had pride, and guilt, and anger, jealousy and hurt feelings, and  all of it was mixed into this giant Gordian knot. Untangling it seemed impossible.
I bought this one as I do every book by Ilona Andrews. You can buy your copy here

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Teaser Tuesday: Royal Street by Suzanne Johnson


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!


I recently went digging in my TBR mountain for something "urban fantasy." I pulled out Royal Street by Suzanne Johnson because a) it was near the top, and b) because I heard so many good things about it. Basically is the the story of a junior wizard in New Orleans who gets stuck dealing with more than just physical devastation when Hurricane Katrina hits and supernatural monsters are released.


Teaser (from page 1):
I wasn't sure what unnerved me more--the fact that the historical undead had discovered modern prophylactics, or that Lafitte felt the need to practice safe sex.
Three paragraphs in and I was already hooked.

Sunday, August 19, 2012

It's Monday, What Are You Reading? (August 20, 2012)

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 very good reading week this past week. Here is what I finished:

I read three young adult books from my review stack.
Darkbeast by Morgan Keyes is a middle grade fantasy novel that was excellently written, had a clever and well-designed fantasy world, had characters I loved, and made me think too. This one will be released on Aug. 28 and should be shared with all the young fantasy lovers you know. My review will be posted on Sept. 12.

Outpost by Ann Auguirre is the second in a young adult dystopian series. It follows Enclave. I really liked this one too. Fans of the many young adult dystopias available now won't want to miss this sequel. My review will be posted on Sept. 1 for this Sept. 4 release.

The City's Son by Tom Pollock is a dark and gritty contemporary urban fantasy. The author has a wonderful imagination and has populated his version of London with unique and mind-boggling fantasy creatures. I found the main human character Beth to be a wonderfully well-rounded character. My review will be posted on Sept. 5 for this Sept. 8 release.

On the adult side of my life, I read these:
Precinct 13 by Tate Hallaway was the start of a new urban fantasy series. I liked the characters and thought the South Dakota setting made the story unique. I thought the main character was likeable and interesting. And I adored her love interest/familiar. My review will be posted on Sept. 5. 

Taking Charge by Mandy Baggot was a romance I received for review. It was a nice romance. I liked the relationship between the main characters. My review will be posted on Sept. 6.

Murder in Silence by Gary Kassay was a mystery by a debut author that I received for review. The plot was well-done but the writing was a little bit unpolished. It reminded me in some small ways of the In Death series by J. D. Robb though it was vastly different in large ways, i.e. not futuristic and not as focused on the romance. My review will be posted on Sept. 8.
After reading Murder in Silence, I had the strongest urge to re-read the In Death series. I got the first four books for my Kindle and re-read the first two books this week - Naked in Death and Glory in Death. These stood up well and were just as entertaining and engaging to me as they were when I first read them in 1995. The mysteries were interesting and the romance was just as wonderful as I remembered. I don't plan to review these on my blog but have shared some brief thoughts on GoodReads and on LibraryThing.
I am currently reading Otherkin by Nina Berry. This is a young adult book that I received from LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program this week. It was published on July 31 and I got a finished copy for review. This one is a paranormal; the main character shifts into a tiger! I am enjoying it so far.

Here is what is on the stack for next week:
Young Adult
Hanging by a Thread by Sophie Littlefield. I got this one from NetGalley. It is a paranormal mystery and will be published on Sept. 11. 

I also got Redemption by Veronique Launier from NetGalley. This one is also a paranormal with gargoyles. It will be released on Sept. 8.
Adult
I got Line of Fire by Stephen White is a thriller I got from my publicity contact at Dutton Books. It was released on Aug. 7. It is the penultimate book in a long-running series I haven't read. I'm eager to see if it works as an entry point into the series. 

And, in my In Death re-read, I have Immortal in Death which is the third in the series on my Kindle.

Here are the reviews I posted last week:

On Ms. Martin Teaches Media

Game Changers by Mike Lupica
Mothership by Martin Leicht and Isla Neal
Dark Destiny by M. J. Putney
Monstrous Beauty by Elizabeth Fama

On this blog

Thirteen by Kelley Armstrong (also a giveaway to US reader)
First Do No Evil by Carey Baldwin
Timeless Desire by Gwyn Cready

That was my week. What was yours like?

Stacking the Shelves (August 19, 2012)



Tynga of 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.

This was a quiet week until I decided to start buying J.D. Robb's In Death series for my Kindle. I read a new mystery that had many similarities to that series but wasn't as well done. I wanted to go back to the originals and see if they were as well-done as I remembered. This week I bought:
Naked in Death by J. D. Robb was the first book in the now long-running In Death series by Nora Roberts. This is a a futuristic romantic mystery series and great reading for fans of any of those genres - futuristic, romance, or mystery. It was published in 1995.

Glory in Death by J. D. Robb is the second book in the series.
Immortal in Death by J. D. Robb is the third book in the series and Rapture in Death is the fourth. 

I also bought two other books this week:
The Sleeping Beauty by Mercedes Lackey is the fifth book in her Five Hundred Kingdoms series of fantasy stories that are based on fairy tales but not quite in the traditional way. I added this one to my Kindle.

The Iron Wyrm Affair by Lilith Saintcrow is steampunk. I have heard good things about it and like other books this author has written under other variations of her name including her young adult Strange Angels series. 

Those are my new additions to my TBR mountain. What did you add to yours?