It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (March 31, 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 was filled with meetings and an author signing. We also ended the 3rd Quarter of our school year. So there was grading to do and planning for the last quarter. It was hard to fit in any reading time until the past weekend.

It was a fun trip to the Red Balloon to see D. J. MacHale. I bought a copy of Storm - which is the sequel to SYLO - but won't be reading it until the final book in the trilogy is published in October. MacHale is a master of cliffhanger endings!

This coming week will be a lot quieter. I have no meetings or travel plans and can concentrate on reading. I am really looking forward to some quiet time.

Read Last Week

I finally got a chance to read Wild Things by Chloe Neill. As the ninth book in this series, I don't recommend it as a starting place but I really liked seeing how the various threads begun in earlier books were being continued. My review will be posted on April 5.

Notorious by Allison Brennan was an excellent thriller which had a unique, somewhat unlikable main character. I loved the fast pace and the engaging writing. My review will be posted on April 3.

I read Plus One by Elizabeth Fama from my YA review stack. I enjoyed this futuristic story which had a well-drawn main character and a nice romance too. My review will be posted on April 3.

Sekret by Lindsay Smith was also an engaging story. This one takes place in Russia in the 1960s and is the story of a a bunch of teenage psychics who are being manipulated by the KGB. It is steeped in distrust and secrecy. My review will be posted on April 4. 

Currently

I am currently reading Sea of Shadows by Kelley Armstrong which is a fantasy. I am enjoying the story so far though it is very different than her Women of the Otherworld series. 

Next Week

These are on the top of the stack for next week.

Adult Books

 I hope to finally get a chance to read Up from the Grave by Jeaniene Frost which is the final book in that urban fantasy series.

I have The Chance by Robyn Carr on my review stack from Amazon Vine. This romance was released in February.

Otherwise Engaged by Amanda Quick is also a review book. I got this one from Penguin's First to Read program. I love the author and can't wait to read this one.

YA Books

The Forever Song by Julie Kagawa is on my YA stack for the week. I have been following the Blood of Eden series and can't wait to read this concluding story which will be released on April 15.

House of Ivy & Sorrow by Natalie Whipple is also an April 15 release. I chose this one from HarperTeen on Edelweiss because I loved the title. I also like that this is a contemporary paranormal.

Reviews Posted

• Blood and Iron by Jon Sprunk
• RedDevil 4 by Eric C. Leuthardt
• Love Letters to the Dead by Ava Dellaira
• Don't Even Think About It by Sarah Mlynowski

I hope to have a good reading week so that I can rebuild the cushion I had. I would like to be a couple of weeks ahead on my blog posts to take off some of the pressure of reading and posting. I also need to build a cushion because May needs to be a massive reading month if I want to meet my review commitments.

What was your week like?

Stacking the Shelves (March 30, 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 two review books from Amazon Vine this week. 

I chose The Chance by Robyn Carr because I wanted to read a romance but have never read anything by this author. This book was released on Feb. 25.

I also chose The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen. This July 8 debut is supposed to have magic, mystery, adventure and romance. How could I pass it up?

Stack Books:

Two of my favorite authors came out with new books this week. I had to get Shadow Spell by Nora Roberts and Bite Me by Shelly Laurenston. Two very different stories but both equally entertaining!

Having recently had a chance to hear Shannon Hale speak, I became curious about her adult books Austenland and Midnight in Austenland. I had previously avoided these because I am not a big fan of Jane Austen and don't quite understand anyone's fascination with her.

And I couldn't resist a couple of Kindle Daily Deals this week. I got A Matter of Trust by Lis Wiehl one day and Forged in Ash and Forged in Fire by Trish McCallan another day. 

What did you add to your stack this week?

ARC Review: Blood and Iron by Jon Sprunk

Blood and Iron
Author: Jon Sprunk
Series: The Book of the Black Earth
Publication: Pyr (March 11, 2014)

Description: This action-heavy EPIC FANTASY SERIES OPENER is like a sword-and-sorcerySpartacus set in a richly-imagined world.

It starts with a shipwreck following a magical storm at sea. Horace, a soldier from the west, had joined the Great Crusade against the heathens of Akeshia after the deaths of his wife and son from plague. When he washes ashore, he finds himself at the mercy of the very people he was sent to kill, who speak a language and have a culture and customs he doesn't even begin to understand.

Not long after, Horace is pressed into service as a house slave. But this doesn't last. The Akeshians discover that Horace was a latent sorcerer, and he is catapulted from the chains of a slave to the halls of power in the queen's court. Together with Jirom, an ex-mercenary and gladiator, and Alyra, a spy in the court, he will seek a path to free himself and the empire's caste of slaves from a system where every man and woman must pay the price of blood or iron. Before the end, Horace will have paid dearly in both.

My Thoughts: BLOOD AND IRON was a richly, complex fantasy novel. The story was filled with politics and magic and centered around a ship-wrecked man named Horace. Horace had been on  a crusade to conquer the heathen Akeshians when his ship was destroyed in a storm. He found himself in the land he was supposed to conquer. He was unable to understand the language and was made a slave.

While he was being taken somewhere in the company of other slaves, he met Jirom who was also a slave who had be used as a gladiator. Jirom was a much-traveled mercenary soldier before he became a slave. The two men strike up a friendship. However, when a magical storm hits the convoy and Horace uses his own magic to stop it, things change for the friends.

As a user of magic, Horace is freed but taken under guard to the queen. Jirom makes his way to the queen's army where he gets involved in a slave revolt. Horace finds himself with a magic he doesn't understand in a court steeped in intrigue. The queen who is young, beautiful, and treacherous is trying desperately to keep control of her throne and country. She is eager to bind Horace and his magic to her cause.

The politics was complex and convoluted. The characters were also complex in that I had no idea what their true loyalties were. I could completely understand Horace's feelings as he found himself in such a confusing situation. Knowing who to trust was a matter of survival but nothing was clear.

Fans of epic fantasy who like it violent and graphic will enjoy this story which is the first of a series.

Favorite Quote:

"You have to understand the delicacy of the situation." Mulcibar lifted his gaze to the west. "We are an old civilization. We watched your nations grow from tribes of fur-wearing saves, and some of us still have a hard time believing that your people have advanced all that much. Then there is our politics. All power in Akeshia flows from the zoanii. Yet the Temple of the Sun has clawed its way into dominance over all the other cults, largely due to the emperor's favor, and now it chafes under our rule. Akeshia has suffered through more civil wars than I can easily recall, and now we teeter on the edge of another. Keeping you close is in Her Majesty's best interest. And yours."

I got this ARC through Amazon Vine. You can buy your copy here.

Friday Memes: Blood and Iron by Jon Sprunk

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 Blood and Iron by Jon Sprunk. I got this epic fantasy through the Amazon Vine program. This book was released on March 11. Here is the description:

This action-heavy EPIC FANTASY SERIES OPENER is like a sword-and-sorcerySpartacus set in a richly-imagined world.

It starts with a shipwreck following a magical storm at sea. Horace, a soldier from the west, had joined the Great Crusade against the heathens of Akeshia after the deaths of his wife and son from plague. When he washes ashore, he finds himself at the mercy of the very people he was sent to kill, who speak a language and have a culture and customs he doesn't even begin to understand.

Not long after, Horace is pressed into service as a house slave. But this doesn't last. The Akeshians discover that Horace was a latent sorcerer, and he is catapulted from the chains of a slave to the halls of power in the queen's court. Together with Jirom, an ex-mercenary and gladiator, and Alyra, a spy in the court, he will seek a path to free himself and the empire's caste of slaves from a system where every man and woman must pay the price of blood or iron. Before the end, Horace will have paid dearly in both.

Beginning:

Lightning split the night sky above the masts of the Bantu Bay. Thunder boomed amid the driving wind, shaking the carrack's timbers, and then darkness returned to smother everything.

Friday 56:

He hated these people, especially this haughty aristocrat with his unholy powers. All of a sudden, Horace's arms and legs were free of the eerie paralysis. He leapt without thinking, diving toward the lord with both hands extended. 

Blog Tour Book Review: Red Devil 4 by Eric C. Leuthardt

RedDevil 4
Author: Eric C. Leuthardt
Publication: Forge Books (February 4, 2014)

Description: RedDevil 4 is spine-tingling techno-thriller based on cutting edge research from surgeon and inventor Eric C. Leuthardt.

Renowned neurosurgeon Dr. Hagan Maerici is on the verge of a breakthrough in artificial intelligence that could change the way we think about human consciousness. Obsessed with his job and struggling to save his marriage, Dr. Maerici is forced to put his life’s work on the line when a rash of brutal murders strikes St. Louis.

Edwin Krantz, an aging, technophobic detective, and his partner, Tara Dezner, are tasked with investigating the horrifying killings. Shockingly, the murders have all been committed by prominent citizens who have no obvious motives or history of violence. Seeking an explanation for the suspects’ strange behavior, Krantz and Denzer turn to Dr. Maerici, who believes that the answer lies within the killers’ brains themselves. Someone is introducing a glitch into the in-brain computer systems of the suspects—a virus that turns ordinary citizens into murderers. With time running out, this trio of unlikely allies must face a gauntlet of obstacles, both human and A.I., as they attempt to avert disaster.

My Thoughts: REDDEVIL 4 was an engaging science fiction thriller. It is 2053 and cell phones are obsolete. Everyone has a neuroprosthetic implant that connects people and allows them to access all manner of data. But that doesn't stop crime. Edwin Krantz and his partner Tara Dezner are called in on a case where multi-billionaire Dr. Marcus Devron has apparently killed his maid of 40 years in a particularly gruesome manner. Since Dr. Devron is also in medical distress, he is taken to the hospital.

Dr. Hagan Maerici is a neurosurgeon who is doing research for Dr. Devron. He is trying to make a self-aware artificial intelligence. His research is so compelling that he is withdrawing from everyone including his wife. When Dr. Devron arrives, Dr. Maerici and his team examine him and finds some anomalies. Before he can figure out what has happened, two more cases are found. A florist has killed his partner of many years and a drug lord has killed his lawyer. All of them have in common that they were very wealthy and were all patients of Dr. Maerici. They also have in common that one part of their brain has disassociated with the rest of their brain.

Maerici, Krantz and Dezner need to work quickly to find out what has gone wrong with these three and to stop the problem from becoming an epidemic.

Despite the dense science in this one, the characters were well-rounded and sympathetic. Dr. Maerici is especially well-drawn as we see him torn between his failing marriage and his near success with creating an independent artificial intelligence. We see him getting pressure from his boss to produce results and we see him guiding his group of residents and medical students.

Krantz and Dezner were also well-developed. Krantz is a widower and a sort of technophobe who hasn't updated his neuroprosthetic but who has well-developed people sense that helps him in his investigations. Dezner is a former Navy SEAL who is totally up-to-date on both the technology of the time and the theory behind it. She is also alone because her dedication to her duty has cost her her marriage. She finds in Maerici a person a lot like her.

I mentioned the dense science. There was an awful lot about the workings of the human brain that made perfect sense as I was reading it but I couldn't repeat now to save my life. The science was integrated quite seamlessly that it didn't slow down the pace of the story.

I recommend this thriller to fans of mysteries and science fiction.

Favorite Quote:

Holding his sensor, Smyth tapped his assistant on the shoulder. "Metabolic suppression complete. Patient is now in suspended animation. Let's get her wrapped up." The other medics, with meticulous plastic-covered hands, repositioned the victim's viscera on top her her and began to wrap the same sheer material around her as they did with Devron. Obese and eviscerated, the procedure wasn't graceful or efficient. To Krantz, it looked like they were making a burrito out of a pasta dish. He felt nauseous.

I received a finished copy of this book for review and as part of the blog tour. You can buy your copy here.

Teaser Tuesday: RedDevil 4 by Eric C. Leuthardt

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:

Canter's voice was transitioning from his condescending "please be reasonable" tone to the higher-pitched quasi-colonel voice. "I know you think it has the chance to 'make a difference,' as you like to say, but you are part of this department, and I need my troops to keep the line. Creating an artificial intelligence is just going to add fuel to the fire. It could look bad for the department. You with me?"

This week my teaser comes from RedDevil 4 by Eric C. Leuthardt which has been describe as a techno-thriller. I will be part of the blog tour on Thursday. Here is the description of this Feb. 4 release:

RedDevil 4 is spine-tingling techno-thriller based on cutting edge research from surgeon and inventor Eric C. Leuthardt.

Renowned neurosurgeon Dr. Hagan Maerici is on the verge of a breakthrough in artificial intelligence that could change the way we think about human consciousness. Obsessed with his job and struggling to save his marriage, Dr. Maerici is forced to put his life’s work on the line when a rash of brutal murders strikes St. Louis.

Edwin Krantz, an aging, technophobic detective, and his partner, Tara Dezner, are tasked with investigating the horrifying killings. Shockingly, the murders have all been committed by prominent citizens who have no obvious motives or history of violence. Seeking an explanation for the suspects’ strange behavior, Krantz and Denzer turn to Dr. Maerici, who believes that the answer lies within the killers’ brains themselves. Someone is introducing a glitch into the in-brain computer systems of the suspects—a virus that turns ordinary citizens into murderers. With time running out, this trio of unlikely allies must face a gauntlet of obstacles, both human and A.I., as they attempt to avert disaster.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (March 24, 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 was a fun week. A friend and I made a quick trip up to the Red Balloon bookstore Thursday after work to attend Shannon Hale's book signing. She is an engaging and entertaining speaker. I was glad to get my author book autographed and to get autographed books for both of my media centers.

This coming week will be a little busier. I have to Townhouse Association meeting Monday evening, Tuesday evening my friend and I are taking another road trip to the Red Balloon to See DJ MacHale, Wednesday we have a rescheduled Technology committee meeting, and Friday is the end of our third quarter which means I have lots and lots of grades to do.

Read Last Week

I had the good fortune to read two amazing young adult contemporary stories this past week. Love Letters to the Dead by Ava Dellaira is a lyrically written series of letters to dead people written by a young woman named Laurell who is trying to come to terms with the sudden death of her sister. It seemed that every page had something quotable, thought-provoking, and heart-breaking. My review will be posted on March 29 for this April 1 release.

RedDevil 4 by Eric C. Leuthardt was a science fiction thriller that packed a huge amount of science into a very fast-paced story. It was exciting and entertaining. The book was released on Feb. 4 but my review will be posted on March 27 as part of the blog tour.

Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson was the second amazing YA book I read this week. This one tells the story of Emily who was left a "to do" list when her best friend Sloane disappeared. It was a story about taking risks, getting to know yourself, and even falling in love. I couldn't put it down. This was an Amazon Vine book which won't be released until May 6 but my review is scheduled for April 30.

The least successful book of the week was Blood and Iron by Jon Sprunk. This is an epic fantasy that had wonderful world building and a nicely twisty plot. However, I never really engaged with any of the characters in the story. Since I prefer my science fiction and fantasy character driven, I was disappointed. My review of this March 11 release will be posted on March 29.

Currently

I am currently reading Notorious by Allison Brennan. Thus far I am enjoying the main character despite the fact that she can hold a grudge and has a major trust issues.

Next Week

I hope to finally get a chance to read Wild Things by Chloe Neill. It is the latest in her Chicagoland Vampires series and has been pushed aside for review book commitments. 

I also want to read Otherwise Engaged by Amanda Quick. This is the only adult review book in April that is currently on my stack. I love this author and was very excited to win this eARC from Penguin's First to Read program.

Lack of review books is not a problem on the YA side of my life. I have a very full calendar until mid-June. This week's books are Plus One by Elizabeth Fama about a futuristic society that divides people into Day and Night people with our heroine being a Night person. I also have Sekret by Lindsay Smith on my stack for this week. This one is a paranormal but is also historical. Both ARCs came from Macmillan.

Reviews Posted

• The Mark of the Dragonfly by Jaleigh Johnson
• Sky Raiders by Brandon Mull
• Faking Normal by Courtney C. Stevens
• She Can Hide by Melinda Leigh
• Dash of Peril by Lori Foster
• The Revenant of Thraxton Hall by Vaughn Entwistle

I hope everyone has a great week. Leave a link and I'll come visit.

Stacking the Shelves (March 23, 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 had a small week. Here is what I got.

For Review:

The Lost by Sarah Beth Durst - I like the author and this ones sounds interesting. It will be released on May 27.

The Cursed by Heather Graham also caught my attention. It combines two of my favorite genres - paranormal and romantic suspense. It will be released on May 27 too.

Kindle Deals:

I am a fan of Susan Mallery and had to get Prodigal Son when I saw it was a deal. It sounded like an entertaining contemporary romance. 

The Nursery Rhymes Murder Collection includes 2 full length novels - Humpty Dumpty and All Fall Down - and three bridging short stories - "Mary, Mary Quite Contrary," "Old Woman in a Shoe," and "Eenie Meanie Moe." It also includes another full length novel - Jack and Jill - and a concluding story - "Peter, Peter, Pumpkin Eater" - which will be published in early 2015. When I bought it, the whole set was $.99.

What did you add to your stack this week?

ARC Review: The Revenant of Thraxton Hall by Vaughn Entwistle

The Revenant of Thraxton Hall
Author: Vaughn Entwistle
Publication: Minotaur Books (March 25, 2014)

Description: Arthur Conan Doyle has just killed off Sherlock Holmes in “The Final Problem,” and he immediately becomes one of the most hated men in London. So when he is contacted by a medium “of some renown” and asked to investigate a murder, he jumps at the chance to get out of the city. The only thing is that the murder hasn’t happened yet—the medium, one Hope Thraxton, has foreseen that her death will occur at the third séance of a meeting of the Society for Psychical Research at her manor house in the English countryside.

Along for the ride is Conan Doyle’s good friend Oscar Wilde, and together they work to narrow down the list of suspects, which includes a mysterious foreign Count, a levitating magician, and an irritable old woman with a “familiar.” Meanwhile, Conan Doyle is enchanted by the plight of the capricious Hope Thraxton, who may or may not have a more complicated back-story than it first appears. As Conan Doyle and Wilde participate in séances and consider the possible motives of the assembled group, the clock ticks ever closer to Hope’s murder, in The Revenant of Thraxton Hall by Vaughn Entwistle.

My Thoughts: THE REVENANT OF THRAXTON HALL was an excellent and engaging story that sent chills up my spine on numerous occasions. Arthur Conan Doyle has just killed off his beloved Sherlock Holmes when he is invited to a home and asked to help prevent the future murder of a noted medium. Despite the fact that his beloved wife Louisa is dying of consumption, Conan Doyle and his friend Oscar Wilde make their way to the isolated Thraxton Hall. When they arrive at the dilapidated Gothic pile they find and unique assortment of psychic investigators there to take part in a series of psychic investigations.

Among the psychic investigators are a noted American psychic named Daniel Dunglas Hume, a psychic investigator named Frank Podmore who used to be a fan of Hume's but is now out to debunk him, a mysterious masked foreign Count, and a haughty English aristocrat. Rounding out the cast of eccentric characters is Madame Zhozhovsky who is a famous psychic herself and Hope, Lady Thraxton who has seen that she will die by being shot in the chest at the third seance.

The house itself, with its rotting rooms and creaky staircases, is a character in this story. Conan Doyle also sees a variety of ghosts there including a young girl in a blue dress. The villain of the story is the ghost that Lady Thraxton most often channels. Mariah Thraxton, who was the scorned wife of the third Lord Thraxton, was killed by her husband for conducting a seance but cursed the family before dying. The family has since suffered about 100 years of bad luck and unfortunate circumstances.

The story is moody and atmospheric. It was very Gothic in tone. I enjoyed watching the relationship between Conan Doyle and Oscar Wilde. Wilde provided a touch of lightness in what was otherwise a very dark tale. I was pleased to learn that a second case for Doyle and Wilde is in the works. I will certainly be reading it.

Favorite Quote:

"I think you underestimate public sentiment, Arthur. You would have been more popular had you beaten the prime minister to death with a puppy whilst he was speaking before a crowd of widows and orphans." 

I got this eARC from St. Martin's via NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.

Friday Memes: The Revenant of Thraxton Hall by Vaughn Entwistle

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 The Revenant of Thraxton Hall by Vaughn Entwistle. I got this eARC from St. Martin's via NetGalley. Here is the description of this March 25 release:

Arthur Conan Doyle has just killed off Sherlock Holmes in “The Final Problem,” and he immediately becomes one of the most hated men in London. So when he is contacted by a medium “of some renown” and asked to investigate a murder, he jumps at the chance to get out of the city. The only thing is that the murder hasn’t happened yet—the medium, one Hope Thraxton, has foreseen that her death will occur at the third séance of a meeting of the Society for Psychical Research at her manor house in the English countryside.

Along for the ride is Conan Doyle’s good friend Oscar Wilde, and together they work to narrow down the list of suspects, which includes a mysterious foreign Count, a levitating magician, and an irritable old woman with a “familiar.” Meanwhile, Conan Doyle is enchanted by the plight of the capricious Hope Thraxton, who may or may not have a more complicated back-story than it first appears. As Conan Doyle and Wilde participate in séances and consider the possible motives of the assembled group, the clock ticks ever closer to Hope’s murder, in The Revenant of Thraxton Hall  by Vaughn Entwistle.

Beginning: 

Sherlock Holmes is dead...and I have killed him. 

Friday 56:

More invective followed, in an even more profane fashion. Worse yet, so did the rotted refuse of an entire barrow, flunk by angry fists, all following a trajectory toward Conan Doyle's large head. 

ARC Review: Dash of Peril by Lori Foster

Dash of Peril
Author: Lori Foster
Series: Love Undercover (Book 4)
Publication: Harlequin HQN (March 25, 2014)

Description: A no-nonsense female cop reluctantly teams up with the one man who makes her lose control in a deliciously sensual new novel from New York Times bestselling author Lori Foster

To bring down a sleazy abduction ring, Lieutenant Margaret "Margo" Peterson has set herself up as bait. But recruiting Dashiel Riske as her unofficial partner is a whole other kind of danger. Dash is six feet four inches of laid-back masculine charm, a man who loves life—and women—to the limit. Until Margo is threatened, and he reveals a dark side that may just match her own….

Beneath Margo's tough facade is a slow-burning sexiness that drives Dash crazy. The only way to finish this case is to work together side by side…skin to skin. And as their mission takes a lethal turn, he'll have to prove he's all the man she needs—in all the ways that matter….

My Thoughts: Lieutenant Margaret Peterson is a tough, take-no-prisoners, and intimidating cop to everyone except Dashiel Riske. Dash sees the the part of Margo that no one else - maybe even Margo - can see. This being the fourth book in the Love Undercover series, we have seen Margo and Dash before. She and Dash both appeared in Run the Risk, Bare It All and Getting Rowdy. But now, their romance moves to the front and center.

Human trafficking particularly kidnapping young women and drugging them before they are forced to participate in porn videos has been the focus of the series. Corruption in the police department has also been a large part of the series. In this book, Margaret has managed to clean out the criminals from her department which hasn't endeared her to the shady cops.

Margaret also has family issues. She has never been good enough for her father - a former Chief of Police. She has tried to live up to his expectations by being tougher than all the boys and burying any hint of her femininity. However, she prefers a submissive role in sexual situations which means she has to hide her sexual needs from her work world.

Dash Riske is more than willing to meet Margo's sexual needs. He isn't the kind to be intimidated by a take charge woman either. Dash is a rich, confident man who has no trouble with his self-image. He is also smart and kind. And, of course, he has the hot bod and confidence which makes him a babe magnet. Luckily, the babe he wants is Margo.

I loved the relationship between Dash and Margo and the way he used extensive foreplay to work his way into her life and heart. The love scenes were hot! I also liked watching her shifting relationship with her officers Logan Riske, Dash's brother, and his partner Reese Bareden. I liked that she became more comfortable with all the aspects of her personality as she fell in love with Dash.

I recommend the whole series and can't wait for the next book. I need Cannon's story!

Favorite Quote:

Well, hell. Spending hours in a classless bar amid nasty drunks had less impact on her tension than Dashiel Riske's half smile.

I got this eARC from Harlequin via NetGalley for review. You can buy your copy here.

Book Review: She Can Hide by Melinda Leigh

She Can Hide
Author: Melinda Leigh
Series: She Can Series (Book 4)
Publication: Montlake Romance (March 18, 2014)

Description: From the moment Officer Ethan Hale pulls Abby Foster from icy waters, he senses there’s more to her than meets the eye. Abby has no memory of the accident that submerged her car in the frozen river. Three years ago, Abby was kidnapped and abandoned in a well for a week. The botched police investigation nearly killed her. Abby had moved to the mountains of Pennsylvania for a fresh start, but when it becomes clear that this car crash wasn’t an accident, she knows the violence from her past has caught up with her.

But Abby’s former assailant was convicted and imprisoned, so who else wants her dead?

Ethan uncovers a fresh string of murders tied to Abby’s past. Someone is trying to kill her, and this time the stalker seems determined to finish the task. As the killer grows bolder, Abby begins to trust Ethan enough to share the truth, her heart, and her life. But to stop the murders, Ethan must make a decision that could jeopardize it all.

My Thoughts: SHE CAN HIDE was a chilling suspense novel that made me keep checking that the doors were locked and my cell phone was charged. Abby Foster had been hoping to start a new life after being kidnapped and abandoned in an old well. But it looks like whoever wanted her dead isn't ready to give up.

The story begins with Abby waking up in her car which has been driven into an icy river. She gets out but needs police officer Ethan Hale to complete the rescue. Abby has no idea how she got to the river or what happened to her in the two hours since she left work to do some running. Ethan wants to help her but her previous experience with the police keeps her from trusting him.

Soon Ethan and Abby are on the trail but they keep finding dead bodies along their path. Someone really doesn't want Abby to find out who is trying to kill her. Paralleling this story is the story of Abby's young neighbor Derek who lives with his alcoholic mother and her sleazy, scary boyfriend. He also has good reason not to be very trusting and to be especially wary of the police and anyone from the foster care system.

We also get part of the story from the viewpoint of mobster Ryland Valentine who is trying to come clean and go legitimate in his old age and who has sent out his henchman to clean up loose ends.

This was an excellent thriller and a great romance too. I liked the way Abby began to learn that she could trust Ethan. And I really loved Ethan who besides being gorgeous is also a world-class nice guy. Fans of romantic suspense won't want to miss this story.

Favorite Quote:

Ethan lifted her chin with a finger. "Abby, you know you can trust me. I would never hurt you."

"I know." She smiled. "I'm an excellent poker player, and my favorite color is blue."

"What?"

"This afternoon you said you wanted to know more about me."

"I do." Longing unfurled in Ethan's chest. He wanted to know everything about her. "Tell me more."

I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. You can buy your copy here.

Teaser Tuesday: Dash of Peril by Lori Foster

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:

A new urgency entered Logan's tone. "If she's out, don't move her unless you have to. But if you get any vibes at all, grab her up and take cover. You got me?"

My teaser this week comes from Dash of Peril by Lori Foster. I got an eARC of this fourth book in the Love Undercover series from Harlequin via NetGalley. I have read and enjoyed the earlier books in this series. Here is the description:

A no-nonsense female cop reluctantly teams up with the one man who makes her lose control in a deliciously sensual new novel from New York Times bestselling author Lori Foster

To bring down a sleazy abduction ring, Lieutenant Margaret "Margo" Peterson has set herself up as bait. But recruiting Dashiel Riske as her unofficial partner is a whole other kind of danger. Dash is six feet four inches of laid-back masculine charm, a man who loves life—and women—to the limit. Until Margo is threatened, and he reveals a dark side that may just match her own….

Beneath Margo's tough facade is a slow-burning sexiness that drives Dash crazy. The only way to finish this case is to work together side by side…skin to skin. And as their mission takes a lethal turn, he'll have to prove he's all the man she needs—in all the ways that matter….

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (March 17, 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 was a pretty quiet one. Except for having my taxes done, I didn't have any meetings or appointments. 

This next week isn't the same. On Monday, I have to go to my tax office because they discovered that they did last year's taxes incorrectly. To my benefit, I'll be getting another refund but I have to go in to sign some paperwork and mail in the amended return. Monday night I'll be baking cookies because my group is supplying the dessert for a retirement luncheon on Tuesday. Wednesday, I have a meeting after school. Thursday, my friend and I are driving up to the Cities to attend Shannon Hale's signing at The Red Balloon. We'll be leaving right from work and returning to my house by 10 PM (I hope).

To add to the fun this week, I have developed my first cold of this year. So I'm feeling like someone who has been trampled by elephants, I'm coughing and sneezing and scratching my itchy, watery eyes, and I'm going through Kleenex like I own stock in the company.

There won't be much reading time until next weekend but I will try to squeeze in some reading time somewhere.

Read Last Week

Don't Even Think About It by Sarah Mlynowski was a cute contemporary about a group of kids who develop telepathy after getting a flu shot. The review for this book will be posted on March 27.

The Revenant of Thraxton Hall by Vaughn Entwistle was a Gothic mystery starring Arthur Conan Doyle and Oscar Wilde. I enjoyed this one very much. My review will be posted on March 22.

The Mark of the Dragonfly by Jaleigh Johnson was an engaging middle grade fantasy. My review will be posted on March 22.

Currently

RedDevil 4 by Eric C. Leuthardt is an engaging science fiction thriller. Despite the heavy emphasis on science and my lack of knowledge about the human brain, I am enjoying this one. 

Next Week

My overly ambitious plans for this week include these books from my review stack.

Blood and Iron by Jon Sprunk is the start of an epic fantasy series. I got this one from Amazon Vine.

Notorious by Allison Brennan is a thriller that introduces a new character. I got this one from Amazon Vine too.

Sekret by Lindsay Smith and Love Letters to the Dead by Ava Dellaira both came to me from Macmillan. 

Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson came from Amazon Vine. It won't be released until May but I have only a couple of weeks to get it read and stay in good standing in the Vine program.

Reviews Posted

• Concealed in Death by J. D. Robb
• Retribution by Anderson Harp
• Beneath the Patchwork Moon by Alison Kent
• Elusion by Claudia Gabel and Cheryl Klam
• Dangerous by Shannon Hale

What does your week look like?