Friday, January 31, 2014

Friday Memes: Hastur Lord by Marion Zimmer Bradley & Deborah J. Ross

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 dug deep on TBR mountain and chose Hastur Lord: A Novel of Darkover by Marion Zimmer Bradley and Deborah J. Ross. This book has been on my stack since March of 2010. I used to read the books about Darkover obsessively. I haven't read any for years.
Here is the description:
Regis Hastur, lord of the most powerful of the seven domains of Darkover, learns that the Terran Federation's operatives are pressuring Darkover to give up its closed world status and become a full member of this intergalactic empire. But Regis knows that if Darkover joins the Federation his beloved home planet will become nothing more than a military hub, sapped of its resources and cultural heritage. Still there are those among Darkover's ruling families who are tempted by the promise of increased technology that membership in the Federation would bring.

Meanwhile, Regis learns that he has an older illegitimate brother, Rinaldo. But his joy in finding his sibling is short-lived, as Regis's enemies try to force him to abdicate leadership of Darkover in favor of his older brother. They hope to manipulate Rinaldo into agreeing to join the Federation. But unbeknownst to anyone, Rinaldo has a plan of his own...
Beginning:
Above the ancient city of Thendara, the great crimson sun of Darkover crept toward midday.
Friday 56:
In times gone by, they would have had to obtain permission to marry from the Comyn Council. Now, with the Council disbanded, that was not possible, but Danvan Hastur must be consulted. 

Thursday, January 30, 2014

ARC Review: Carousel Sun by Sharon Lee

Carousel Sun
Author: Sharon Lee
Publication: Baen (February 4, 2014)

Description: The long-awaited sequel to Carousel Tides, enchanting contemporary fantasy by Sharon Lee, award-winning co-creator of the popular Liaden Universe® saga. When magic meets mundane, sparks fly: these are exciting times in Archers Beach, Maine! A unprecedented Early Season has united townies and carnies in an effort to expand into a twelve-month resort, recapturing the town's former glory.

Kate Archer, owner-operator of the vintage wooden carousel, is caught up in the excitement—and is quite possibly the cause of it. Because Kate leads a double life, as carny, and as Guardian of the land. Her recent return to the home she had forsaken has changed the town's luck—for the better—and energized the trenvay—earth and water spirits who are as much citizens of the Beach as their mundane counterparts.

But the town's new energy isn't the only change afoot. Joe Nemeier, the local drug lord, whose previous magical consultant was vanquished by Kate, has acquired a new ally—and this one plays with fire.

My Thoughts: Kate Archer is back home in Archer's Beach, Maine, and running the family carousel. She is also the guardian of the land and the carousel acts as a prison for being sent their by the Wise. As a guardian of the land her presence can lead to prosperity for the area. In fact, those others who are involved in the local amusement park are eager to expand their season from twelve weeks to year round. Kate gets involved some committee work to encourage that to happen.

Of course, she is also still trying to defeat the local drug lord Joe Nemeier who hasn't hesitated to import wizards from elsewhere in the Six Worlds to help him succeed in his enterprises. Kate temporarily defeated him in the first book in this series but the problem of Joe and his henchmen still weighs on Kate. He wants to take over the forest that is the safe place for her grandmother and mother who need the land for survival and healing.

Kate is also dealing with her relationship with Borgan who is the guardian of the sea around Archer's Beach. He was hurt at the end of the first book but Kate manages to rescue him from those who hoped to take over for him while he was weak. They spend a lot of this story figuring out what their new relationship was going to be.

I loved the way Lee wove the world we know with a fantasy world filled with magic and magical characters. I also loved the language of this story and Kate's very Maine-ish powers of understatement. Kate is a very engaging main character.

I recommend this story for lovers of contemporary fantasy. You won't want to miss the first book in this series - Carousel Tides - either.

Favorite Quote:
Spellcraft lessons aren't easy for me. I'm not one of those crime-fighting, half-fey princesses found in urban fantasy novels, who revel in their powers, and need no lessons in their use, or in control.

By contrast, I'm only one-quarter-fey, my power will turn on and eat me if I'm not constantly vigilant, and I'm much better at hacking than spellcraft.

All that said, I'm not a mundane person, either; I was born with the ability, however small, to hold jikinap and bend it to my will, and I'm not, despite what you might think by looking at the evidence, a complete idiot.
I got this eARC from Baen Books via Edelweiss. You can buy your copy here.

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

ARC Review: Do or Die by Suzanne Brockmann

Do or Die
Author: Suzanne Brockmann
Series: Reluctant Heroes
Publication: Ballantine Books (February 4, 2014)

Description: Navy SEAL Ian Dunn went rogue in a big way when he turned his talents to a lawless life of jewel heists and con jobs. Or so the world has been led to believe. In reality, the former Special Ops warrior is still fighting for good, leading a small band of freelance covert operatives who take care of high-stakes business in highly unofficial ways. That makes Ian the hands-down choice when the U.S. government must breach a heavily guarded embassy and rescue a pair of children kidnapped by their own father, a sinister foreign national willing to turn his kids into casualties. Shockingly, Ian passes on the mission for reasons he will not—or cannot—reveal.

But saying no is not an option. Especially not for Phoebe Kruger, Ian’s beautiful and unexpectedly brash new attorney. Determined to see the abducted children set free, Phoebe not only gets Ian on board but insists on riding shotgun on his Mission: Impossible–style operation, whether he likes it or not.

Though Phoebe has a valuable knack for getting out of tight spots, there’s no denying the intensely intimate feelings growing between Ian and Phoebe as the team gears up for combat. But these are feelings they both must fight to control as they face an array of cold-blooded adversaries, including a vindictive mob boss who’s got Ian at the top of his hit list and a wealthy psychopath who loves murder as much as he loves money. As they dodge death squads and play lethal games of deception, Ian and Phoebe will do whatever it takes to save the innocent and vanquish the guilty—or die trying.


My Thoughts: DO OR DIE was a fast-paced, engaging, humorous thriller. It also had a huge cast of characters. The main characters are Ian Dunn and Phoebe Kruger. Ian is a former Navy SEAL turned jewel thief and con man who is currently serving an 18 month sentence in prison. Phoebe Kruger is his newly appointed lawyer. The FBI needs Ian out of jail so that he can rescue two kidnapped children who are being kept in the K-stan embassy. Ian refuses and Phoebe can't understand why.

His reasons bring in two more characters - Ian's younger brother Aaron and his husband Shelly. Ian and Shelly are gay. They have been inseparable since high school. But Shelly's father Davio is a gay-hating crime boss who has put a hit out on Aaron. Ian made a deal with Shelly's uncle Manny - also a crime boss - to take the fall for one of his colleagues in exchange for him leaving Aaron and Shelly alone and protecting them from Shelly's father. 

We also can't forget Shelly's half-sister Francine and half-brother Berto. Francine and Berto had a relationship when they were teens. But when Francine attempted to say that she was the one in the sex tape with Aaron instead of Shelly, her boyfriend Berto didn't stand up for her and left her to his father to be beaten and raped - though no one knows about the rape. Berto has grown up to work in concert with his uncle to keep his crazy father under some sort of control. 

Then there are the FBI agents - Deb and Yashi - who are trying to keep control of Ian and his band as they try to save everyone from Davio and his henchman and manage to rescue the children before they are sent back to their father. Holding the kids is an old acquaintance of Ian's - the Dutchman - who just happens to be a pedophile and serial killer and sociopath. 

I love the relationship between Ian and Phoebe. Phoebe is a tough lawyer but more than a little naive when it comes to dealing with hit men. Ian is a crafty con man who doesn't do relationships. He is a master at sabotaging them. Most of the humor in the story comes from their conversations.

The story was filled with action. It was filled with twists and turns, plots and plans, and cons. I loved every minute of this story. 

Favorite Quote:
Phoebe had truly believed that her being a lawyer made her untouchable. But no doubt about it, she'd become the woman who idiotically went into the basement to check the circuit breakers when the lights went off, with a serial killer on the loose.

She was, officially, too stupid to live.

And yet Ian had come after her.
I got this ARC from Amazon Vine. You can buy your copy here.

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Teaser Tuesday: Carousel Sun by Sharon Lee

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:
When the offense reaches the outer wall and is release to its mission, the plug is already in place—and the wall has never shown a breach.

If that explanation makes your head hurt, you'll understand why the sand was littered with the charred and pitiful remains of broken spells.
This week my teaser comes from the eARC of Carousel Sun by Sharon Lee. This contemporary fantasy is the sequel to Carousel Tides. Here is the description of this Feb. 4 release:
The long-awaited sequel to Carousel Tides, enchanting contemporary fantasy by Sharon Lee, award-winning co-creator of the popular Liaden Universe® saga. When magic meets mundane, sparks fly: these are exciting times in Archers Beach, Maine! A unprecedented Early Season has united townies and carnies in an effort to expand into a twelve-month resort, recapturing the town's former glory.

Kate Archer, owner-operator of the vintage wooden carousel, is caught up in the excitement—and is quite possibly the cause of it. Because Kate leads a double life, as carny, and as Guardian of the land. Her recent return to the home she had forsaken has changed the town's luck—for the better—and energized the trenvay—earth and water spirits who are as much citizens of the Beach as their mundane counterparts.

But the town's new energy isn't the only change afoot. Joe Nemeier, the local drug lord, whose previous magical consultant was vanquished by Kate, has acquired a new ally—and this one plays with fire. 

Sunday, January 26, 2014

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (Jan. 27, 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.

We began our second semester last week. We started with two days of teacher workshops where I learned a lot about vocabulary and some about the new teacher evaluation process that will start in Minnesota next school year. I also had some time to plan for the new classes I'd be seeing.

We only had one ordinary day this week. Wednesday is our scheduled late start day to allow PLTs to meet. What that means for my schedule is that I don't see my first class at the Elementary. Our Reading Interventionist is covering for me so that I can have a lunch break. Then on Thursday, we had a two hour late start because of extreme wind chills. Friday was the first day that was ordinary. Needless to say, I don't feel at all comfortable with my new schedule yet. I kept a post it note front and center last week so that I knew when classes began and ended.

Hopefully, this coming week will let me get used to the new schedule.

Last Week:

Extra planning time and meetings cut into my reading time this past week. Here is what I finished:
From my TBR mountain:

Clean Sweep by Ilona Andrews was a fun, new urban fantasy which introduced a new character and a new world. I really like this author's style. My review will be posted on Feb. 8.

Grave Memory by Kalayna Price is the third book in her Alex Craft urban fantasy series. I love the way the main character is growing and changing in this series. My review will be posted and Feb. 13.
From the Review Stack:

Grandmaster by David Klass was an excellent story about the relationship between fathers and sons all centered around a chess tournament. I really liked the main character and his father. My review will be posted on Feb. 13 for this Feb. 25 release.

Runner by Patrick Lee was a wonderful thriller. It was fast-paced and I really liked the main character. My review will be posted on Feb. 15 for this Feb. 18 release.

Currently:
I am just getting ready to start Tin Star by Cecil Castellucci. I got this ARC at ALA in June and hope to have a chance to meet the author in March. This YA science fiction book will be released on Feb. 25.

Next Week:

All of these are from my review stack as I try to finish reading my February review books.
Shame on You by Tara Sivec is a romance I got from Montlake Romance and is a Kindle ARC. 

A Taste Fur Murder by Dixie Lyle is also on my Kindle. I got this cozy mystery from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley. 
Unforgotten by Jessica Brody is the sequel to Unremembered. I got this ARC from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group. 

Burn Bright by Bethany Frenette is the sequel to Dark Star. I got my eARC from Disney Hyperion via NetGalley.

Reviews Last Week:

What was last week like for you?

Stacking the Shelves (Jan. 26, 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.

Almost everything this week is a new Kindle book.
Tarnished by Rhiannon Held
Celebromancy by Michael R. Underwood
Geekomancy by Michael R. Underwood
The House of Silk by Anthony Horowitz (my only print book)
Foolish Games by Tracy Solheim
Who Needs Enemies by Keri Arthur

Review Book
Breaking Ties by Jo Grafford

What did you add to your stack this week?

Saturday, January 25, 2014

Book Review: Wild Invitation by Nalini Singh

Wild Invitation
Author: Nalini Singh
Publication: Berkley (March 5, 2013)

Description: Experience the explosive series hailed by #1 New York Times bestselling author Christine Feehan as "a must-read for all my fans."

In Beat of Temptation, innocent Tamsyn has always had a place in her heart for Nathan, a blooded DarkRiver sentinel. But is she ready for the fierce demands of the mating bond?

In Stroke of Enticement, a wary young teacher, skeptical about love, arouses the man--and the animal--in an aggressive leopard changeling who must prove his affections are true.

Plus NEVER BEFORE PUBLISHED

In Declaration of Courtship, Grace, a shy submissive wolf, finds herself pursued by the last man she ever would have imagined: a SnowDancer lieutenant said to be "mad, bad, and dangerous to know."

Plus NEVER BEFORE PUBLISHED

In Texture of Intimacy, SnowDancer healer Lara discovers the searing joys--and unexpected challenges--of being mated to quiet, powerful Walker, a man used to keeping his silence.

My Thoughts: BEAT OF TEMPTATION tells the story of the courtship of Nate and Tamsyn. It was filled with heartaches and misunderstandings. Nate was determined to give Tamsyn freedom because she was so young and he was so much older. It took quite a while for her to convince him that the only freedom she wanted was the freedom to love him. It was nice to get a look at the past of a couple of my favorite characters.

STROKE OF ENTICEMENT introduced me to characters that I didn't know. Zach is a soldier for the DarkRiver pack and Annie is a human school teacher. He sees her and recognizes her as his mate but she, having seen her parent's unhappy marriage, is determined to live independently and alone. Annie can't resist Zach's humor and caring and heart. Once she knows that he is all in, she opens her heart to him.

DECLARATION OF COURTSHIP is Grace and Cooper's story. Cooper is a pack lieutenant and very dominant. Grace is an engineer and very submissive. She has to convince her wolf that she has something to offer Cooper and not just submit to him instinctively. Cooper is so used to being dominant that he can't bring himself to share his recurring nightmares with Grace. This lack of sharing makes their mating go much more slowly than it should. Both have to have complete trust in the other before they can become mates.

TEXTURE OF INTIMACY tells the story of the mating of Lara and Walker. Lara is a healer and Walker is a Psy who fled to SnowDancer with his daughter, niece and nephew when they were threatened with rehabilitation. Walker is a telepath who learned to counterfeit the silent, emotionless state of the Psy while hiding his intense love and protectiveness toward his family. Open hearted Lara has to deal with a man who is just learning that showing his emotions won't put his family in danger.

I loved all of these story that talk about the courtship and matings of various couples in the changeling part of the Psy-Changeling universe. Each story was well-written and emotionally intense. Fans of the series won't want to miss these novellas.

Favorite Quote:
Once the cat decided on a woman, it didn't flinch. Devotion was almost obsession with those of his kind, and he was at peace with that. But words wouldn't convince Annie—she'd have to be stroked into trusting him, into relying on him. Because not only was she wary of loving, she'd become almost mutinously independent inher desire to avoid opening herself up to pain.
This anthology was from my TBR mountain. You can buy your copy here.

Friday, January 24, 2014

Friday Memes: Wild Invitation by Nalini Singh

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 pulled the anthology Wild Invitation by Nalini Singh from my TBR mountain. I am not a big fan of novellas which means that anthologies - even anthologies by favorite authors - tend to sit a while. Here is the description from Amazon:
Experience the explosive series hailed by #1 New York Times bestselling author Christine Feehan as "a must-read for all my fans."

In Beat of Temptation, innocent Tamsyn has always had a place in her heart for Nathan, a blooded DarkRiver sentinel. But is she ready for the fierce demands of the mating bond?

In Stroke of Enticement, a wary young teacher, skeptical about love, arouses the man--and the animal--in an aggressive leopard changeling who must prove his affections are true.

Plus NEVER BEFORE PUBLISHED In Declaration of Courtship, Grace, a shy submissive wolf, finds herself pursued by the last man she ever would have imagined: a SnowDancer lieutenant said to be "mad, bad, and dangerous to know."

Plus NEVER BEFORE PUBLISHED In Texture of Intimacy, SnowDancer healer Lara discovers the searing joys--and unexpected challenges--of being mated to quiet, powerful Walker, a man used to keeping his silence.
Beginning:
The Psy Council tried to outlaw Christmas once.
Friday 56:
He wouldn't hurt her. He could never hurt her.
But that boy was going to die a slow, cruel death. 

Thursday, January 23, 2014

Book Review: Smoke Screen by Sandra Brown

Smoke Screen
Author: Sandra Brown
Publisher: Simon & Schuster (August 12, 2008)

Description: New York Times bestselling author Sandra Brown returns with a tale of corruption and betrayal, revenge and reversal - where friends become foes, and heroes become criminals in the ultimate abuse of power. 

When newswoman Britt Shelley wakes up to find herself in bed with Jay Burgess, a rising star detective in the Charleston PD, she remembers nothing of how she got there...or of how Jay wound up dead.

Handsome and hard-partying, Jay was a hero of the disastrous fire that five years earlier had destroyed Charleston's police headquarters. The blaze left seven people dead, but the death toll would have been much higher if not for the bravery of Jay and three other city officials who risked their lives to lead others to safety.

Firefighter Raley Gannon, Jay's lifelong friend, was off-duty that day. Though he might not have been a front-line hero, he was assigned to lead the investigation into the cause of the fire. It was an investigation he never got to complete. Because on one calamitous night, Raley's world was shattered.

Scandalized, wronged by the people he trusted most, Raley was forced to surrender the woman he loved and the work to which he'd dedicated his life. For five years his resentment against the men who exploited their hero status to further their careers -- and ruin his -- had festered, but he was helpless to set things right.

That changes when he learns of Jay Burgess's shocking death and Britt Shelley's claim that she has no memory of her night with him. As the investigation into Jay's death intensifies, and suspicion against Britt Shelley mounts, Raley realizes that the newswoman, Jay's last sexual conquest, might be his only chance to get personal vindication -- and justice for the seven victims of the police station fire.

But there are powerful men who don't want to address unanswered questions about the fire and who will go to any lengths to protect their reputations. As Raley and Britt discover more about what happened that fateful day, the more perilous their situation becomes, until they're not only chasing after the truth but running for their lives.

Friends are exposed as foes, heroes take on the taint of criminals, and no one can be trusted completely. A tale about audacious corruption -- and those with the courage to expose it --Smoke Screen is Sandra Brown's most searing and intense novel yet.

My Thoughts: Britt Shelley is not having a good week. When Jay Burgess, an old hook-up, calls and says he has something to share with her, TV reporter Britt is eager. What she doesn't expect is to wake up the next morning without her memory and with Jay Burgess' dead body next to her. Given that he is a homicide detective and one of the four heroes of the police station fire some years earlier, the police are very suspicious about Britt's story.

Before she can convince the police that she is also a victim, she is kidnapped by Raley Gannon. Raley was a fire department arson investigator and Jay's best friend. He was investigating the fire at the police department when he went to a party at Jay's and woke up next to a dead girl who overdosed on cocaine. He also suffered from a memory loss. The ensuing investigation ruined his reputation and cost him his job and fiance. He has been brooding in a cabin in the woods and plotting revenge. When he hears Britt's story, he decides that together they can find out what happened and get both their lives back.

The story was well-written and very suspenseful. It was filled with false friends, betrayals, and danger from assorted hired killers. Britt and Raley have a large number of suspects and no one they can trust. They are on the run from both the police and the hired killers. Fans of romantic suspense will enjoy this story.

Favorite Quote:
She looked at each man in turn, expecting them to be sharing her excitement over this credible explanation for her blackout. Instead they continued to stare at her without reaction. With asperity she said, "Blink if you can hear me."
I bought this one. It has been sitting on my TBR mountain since Dec. 7, 2010. You can buy your copy here.

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

ARC Review: Love on Mimosa Lane by Anne DeStefano

Love on Mimosa Lane
Author: Anne DeStefano
Series: A Seasons of the Heart Novel (Book 3)
Publication: Montlake Romance (January 21, 2014)

Description: Law Beaumont and Kristen Hemmings have watched each other from a distance for years. But Law, a bartender with a bad-boy past, and Kristen, an assistant principal devoted to helping her community, couldn't seem more different. When they unite to mentor a young foster child and to help Law’s troubled daughter through the aftermath of her parents’ ugly divorce, their attraction deepens. They face the undeniable connection between them, and a whirlwind of challenges they can only conquer together.

A stirring love story and a candid look at the complexities of divorce, substance abuse, and our country’s foster care system, Love on Mimosa Lane is a love song to an entire community, and a novel about the power of family—the family you've been given, the one you've chosen, and the one that can lift you up, even when the world is tearing you down.

My Thoughts: This was a very unconventional romance. Every character was messed up and from a family that was abusive or not supportive. The main characters are Law Beaumont and Kristen Hemmings. Law is an alcoholic, an ex-con, in the midst of an acrimonious divorce and the devoted father to eight-year-old Chloe. His ex-wife Libby is doing all she can to turn Chloe and the community against Law while hiding her own alcoholism. She doesn't hesitate to create all sorts of public, messy confrontations.

Kristen is the Associate Principal at Chloe's elementary school. She has had an interest in Law since she first saw him. But she kept her distance both because he was married and because she didn't have in faith in love since her own family was distant.

However, for me, the main focus of this story was Fin who was an eight-year-old foster child who had been in the system since his drug addicted mother died when he was five. He has shifted from foster home to foster home and has not trusted anyone enough to try to fit in. Kristen has learned that he loves soccer and so she has approached Law, who is a soccer coach, to try to get him involved. Law is also trying to get his daughter to play soccer again to despite her mother's advocating for cheerleading and hanging out with the third grade mean girls.

Chloe's plight - being torn between her mother and her father - was also a large part of this story. Her desire for her family to be normal and for her parents to stop fighting was very realistic. She was trying to do what her mother wanted to try to keep her mother from being so angry. She is also covering up her mother's drinking.

Between the acrimonious divorce and Libby's outbursts, alcoholism, and various things the kids are going through, the romance definitely took the back seat in this story. Additionally, the writing style which was heavy with everyone's thoughts and feelings and light on dialog made this one different than most of the romances I read.

Readers who like angst will like this one.

Favorite Quote:
Her confidence in them was still shaky. She almost wished Libby would come back and give her another excuse to give up. She didn't say that to Law. How did she tell him that maybe she was the one who was too weak and afraid to see this through.
I got this eARC from Montlake Romance. You can buy your copy here.

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Teaser Tuesday: Smoke Screen by Sandra Brown

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:
Suddenly, the shock of waking up in Jay's bed was replaced by the alarming realization that she didn't remember how she'd got there.
I pulled Smoke Screen by Sandra Brown off my TBR mountain as I was browsing looking for something interesting. It has been on the stack since December of 2010. I was in the mood for a romantic suspense title. Here is the description:
When newswoman Britt Shelley wakes up to find herself in bed with Jay Burgess, a rising star detective in the Charleston PD, she remembers nothing of how she got there...or of how Jay wound up dead.

Handsome and hard-partying, Jay was a hero of the disastrous fire that five years earlier had destroyed Charleston's police headquarters. The blaze left seven people dead, but the death toll would have been much higher if not for the bravery of Jay and three other city officials who risked their lives to lead others to safety.

Firefighter Raley Gannon, Jay's lifelong friend, was off-duty that day. Though he might not have been a front-line hero, he was assigned to lead the investigation into the cause of the fire. It was an investigation he never got to complete. Because on one calamitous night, Raley's world was shattered.

Scandalized, wronged by the people he trusted most, Raley was forced to surrender the woman he loved and the work to which he'd dedicated his life. For five years his resentment against the men who exploited their hero status to further their careers -- and ruin his -- had festered, but he was helpless to set things right.

That changes when he learns of Jay Burgess's shocking death and Britt Shelley's claim that she has no memory of her night with him. As the investigation into Jay's death intensifies, and suspicion against Britt Shelley mounts, Raley realizes that the newswoman, Jay's last sexual conquest, might be his only chance to get personal vindication -- and justice for the seven victims of the police station fire.

But there are powerful men who don't want to address unanswered questions about the fire and who will go to any lengths to protect their reputations. As Raley and Britt discover more about what happened that fateful day, the more perilous their situation becomes, until they're not only chasing after the truth but running for their lives.

Friends are exposed as foes, heroes take on the taint of criminals, and no one can be trusted completely. A tale about audacious corruption -- and those with the courage to expose it.

Sunday, January 19, 2014

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (Jan. 20, 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.

Last week ended our first semester at school. It also included two "early out" days - one planned and one unplanned. Potential blizzard conditions had us sending our students home right after lunch on Thursday. Friday was a planned early out for the end of the quarter. Adding to that I wasn't feeling well early in the week and spent Wednesday afternoon moaning on my couch. Even with all the disruptions, I have finished all of my semester grades and have planned at least one week for my each new classes.

Before the new semester starts, we do have two in-service/work days. Monday and half of Tuesday we will be learning about vocabulary in relation to the new English Language Arts Common Core Standards. I'm not sure how relevant it will be to me as Media Specialist but it should be interesting. Tuesday afternoon I'll have some work time to get ready for my new classes.

Last Week:

I did get a lot of reading done this past week.
Do or Die by Suzanne Brockmann is her latest romantic suspense title. It begins a new series and was an engaging and entertaining story. My review will be posted on Jan. 29 for this Feb. 4 release.

Be Mine Forever by Marina Adair was a surprise addition to my review stack. It was sent to my Kindle by Montlake Romance (a division of Amazon). I liked this contemporary romance. You can read my review here.
Love on Mimosa Lane by Anna DeStefano also came from Montlake Romance. This one was less successful for me because the romance was overpowered by issues of divorce and the foster care system. My review will be posted on Jan. 22.

Perfect Lies by Kiersten White is the sequel to YA Paranormal Mind Games. I was as action-packed and emotionally fraught as the first book. It does require a sophisticated reader because of the nonlinear story line and the alternating of the two viewpoint characters. I found it worth the work because I really sympathized with both characters. My review will be posted on Feb. 8 for this Feb. 18 release.
I padded my total this week by reading Howling for You by Chloe Neill. This novella highlights the romance of one of the side characters in Neill's Chicagoland Vampires series. My review will be posted on Feb. 5.

Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge was a young adult fantasy that has elements from the classic Beauty and the Beast story mixed with Greco-Roman mythology. It had an incredibly slow start but did pick up the pace to a very satisfying conclusion. Readers who can stick with the book should be satisfied. My review will be posted on  Jan. 29 for this Jan. 28 release.

Currently:
Since I have a couple of spaces on my calendar for books from the TBR stack before I return to review books, I chose Clean Sweep by Ilona Andrews. This urban fantasy began on their blog but has now been released as an ebook. I did read a couple of chapters on the blog as it was being written and look forward to reading the whole story now.

Next Week:

Some adult book possibilities living on my Kindle include:
His Purrfect Mate by Georgette St. Clair
Grave Memory by Kalayna Price
Girl with the Cat Tattoo by Theresa Weir

My next adult review book is Runner by Patrick Lee. This is a thriller that I got via NetGalley. It will be released on Feb. 18.
On the young adult side, I am starting to read the review books that will be released on Feb. 25 since I have four of them. This week's choices are print books that I received from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group.

Tin Star by Cecil Castellucci is a science fiction story.
Grandmaster by David Klass is a contemporary story about a boy, his father, and chess.

Reviews Last Week:


What does your week have in store for you? Leave me a link and have a great week.

Stacking the Shelves (Jan. 19, 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.

Review Books

I got an email from Montlake Romance offering some interesting sound eARCs that would show up directly on my Kindle. Here is what I picked.
Shame on You by Tara Sivec (Feb. 25)
Beneath the Patchwork Moon by Alison Kent (March 18)
Love on Mimosa Lane by Anna DeStefano (Jan. 21)
Be Mine Forever by Marina Adair (Jan. 21)

Bought
Carousel Sun by Sharon Lee is now living on my Kindle in its finished state. I read the eARC a while ago and loved it. I had to have a keeper copy on my Kindle and in print (though the print won't come for a while).

What did you add to your stack this week? Leave me a link and I'd be glad to visit.

Saturday, January 18, 2014

Book Review: One Sweet Ride by Jaci Burton

One Sweet Ride
Author: Jaci Burton
Publication: Berkley (June 4, 2013)
Series: Play-By-Play, Book 6

Description: Gray Preston was born into money, but he’s built his racing empire on hard work and muscle. And now that Gray has millions of fans, his senator father sends one of his aides, Evelyn Hill, to elicit Gray’s help in garnering votes for the upcoming national election. Gray wants nothing to do with his estranged father’s campaign, but Evelyn can be pretty persuasive. She’s willing to learn about racing, and maybe even get a little dirty.

Evelyn’s number-one goal is politics, which makes working with Gray difficult, because his only passion is fast cars. As she and Gray spend time together, he teaches her about the sport he loves, and she learns a lot about the man behind the wheel. The more she learns, the more she wants him. But any desire that threatens to derail the carefully laid plans for her future is a dangerous one.

With the passion Gray and Evelyn share running hotter than either imagined, one of them is going to have to compromise, or else run the risk of losing more than their hearts.

My Thoughts: Jaci Burton writes some seriously spicy romances. This one is no exception. Gray Preston races cars. He is also independently wealthy and the son of a Senator who is in the running for Vice President. Gray and his father haven't spoken or met for years. Gray couldn't handle that his father always put politics first and him second. He has been rebuffing his father's overtures toward him for years.

Evelyn Hill works for his father and wants Gray to get on-board to help his father become Vice President. She is smart, lovely, confident, and sure that she can convince Gray. After he refuses her first offer, she brings in the big guns - his mother - who convinces him to play along. Evelyn will be hanging around with Gray on the race circuit and helping him beef up his social network presence to convince his fans to support his father.

Despite a rocky start, each one of them is attracted to the other. They begin a sex-with-no-strings relationship which conceals the fact they they are both falling in love. The more they get to know each other the more in love they become. But each is guarded and neither knows what the other is feeling.

The sex scenes were spicy and the romance grew realistically. I liked seeing some of the characters from the earlier Play-By-Play novels make appearances in this one too. Fans of romance - especially the spicy sort - will find all kinds of things to enjoy in this story.

Favorite Quote:
"It's okay to have sex and stay overnight. I promise not to ask you to marry me in the morning."

She laughed, and some of her tension dissolved. "Okay, but only if you promise."

He made a cross sign over his heart. "You have my word."

"Then I'll stay."

She snuggled back against him.

This whole sex-with-no-strings thing? Not too bad a deal.

As long as she kept her heart out of the equation.
This is from my TBR mountain. I bought this one. You can buy your copy here.