Monday, August 18, 2014

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (August 18, 2014)

It's Monday, What Are You Reading? is a meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journey.

It’s Monday!  What Are You Reading, is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week.  It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

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

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

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

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

Courting Magic by Stephanie Burgis is a novella in the Kat, Incorrigible YA historical fantasy series. I loved the magic and the romance. If you haven't read this series, I highly recommend them. My review is posting today since the novella was released last week. 
Salt & Storm by Kendall Kulper is another historical fantasy. This one takes place in the 1860s on an island off the coast of Massachusetts and is about magic, whaling, and family curses. This is a much anticipated YA title and was good but it didn't live up to the hype for me. My review will be posted on September 25.

Firebug by Lish McBride is a YA contemporary urban fantasy title about a young woman who has the power to start fires with her mind and who is forced to work for the Coterie which is led by a vampire. When our heroine is told to kill a family friend, she and her partners go on the run looking for a way to bring down the Coterie. This was fresh and the writing was engaging. My review will be posted on September 24.
Two of a Kind by Susan Mallery was one of my Amazon Vine picks this month. It was a feel-good romance in the Fool's Gold series. It had great characters and realistic conflicts between them. I haven't been reading this series in order. The books stand alone well but do make me want to read some of the surrounding stories that tell about supporting characters' romances. My review will be posted on October 2. 

Tabula Rasa by Kristen Lippert-Martin was a young adult science fiction thriller. I enjoyed the story and think it will appeal to teens. It was action-packed and exciting. My review will be posted on September 27.
Pecan Pies and Deadly Lies by Nancy Naigle was a romantic suspense title I got from Amazon Vine. It is the 4th in the Adams Grove series which I haven't read. I enjoyed the characters and the romance in this story. My review will be posted on October 4.

Night Sky by Suzanne Brockmann and Melanie Brockmann is Suzanne's YA debut and Melanie's first book. It is a science fiction story that takes place in a near-future United States. There are people with hormones in their blood that let them use more of their brains and have gifts like telekinesis, telepathy, prescience and other psychic gifts. There is also a designer drug made from the hormone which has the drug dealers kidnapping and draining the blood from the gifted. Our heroines are trying to rescue one of the young girls who was kidnapped. My review will be posted on October 2.
Thursday with the Crown by Jessica Day George is the third book in the Tuesdays with the Castle Middle Grade fantasy series. It was engaging and filled with great characters. My review will be posted on October 6.

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

Next Week

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

Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin
Even in Paradise by Chelsey Philpot

Reviews Posted
Want to See What I Added to My Stack Last Week?
How was your week?

23 comments:

  1. Oh you are good, want to come and organise my blog?? lol. Your new YA books look great. Have a fab time with your friend visiting, sounds like you have lots of fun things planned.

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  2. Sounds like a good week. Hope the remodel project at school isn't too stressful... it always seems like they take longer and cause more upheaval than planned. Impressed that you've got the blog basics planned for the next month or so!

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  3. I think the computer just ate my comment. I'll try again! I am so impressed that you are so far ahead with your reviews--all the way to October. Salt and Storm sounds good to me. Witches and whaling? I'm hooked. Good luck with the construction and changes at your school. It sounds like things will be interesting!

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  4. You've got a great week of reading ahead of you. Wish you could bottle your organizational magic and send it to other bloggers on request...it would certainly be a bestseller :-)

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  5. Wow, you read heaps! I love your TBR mountain, that made me laugh out loud, because I have one too! I'm trying to be organised with my review posts, but your organisation is awesome! Glad I dropped by :)

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  6. Sounds like some very fascinating reads! Good luck kneading this week!

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  7. October! I'm always at least a day behind LOL

    Have a great week!

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  8. You are AMAZING at getting so far ahead on your reviews! Enjoy your week, and have a wonderful, wonderful start to the school year!

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  9. Your activities this week sound like fun, hope you guys have a blast. Tabula Rasa looks good, and it's nice to see Thursdays with the Crown- my daughter loves the first two books and is excited to see the third one on the way.

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  10. I desperately need to set aside some time to organize and catch up on some blog stuff. And I would love to get some posts set up for the rest of this month, never mind all the way up to the end of October...I'm jealous!!!

    I read the Susan Mallery book - I am loving the Fool's Gold series and can't wait for the Christmas book to come out this year!

    Have a great week and thanks for stopping by my blog!

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  11. Amazing discipline! And what fun that you can enjoy a marathon with a friend.

    Your new books are all new to me...I'm curious about Rain Reign. Enjoy! And thanks for visiting my blog.

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  12. Holy cow! I can't believe you are already working in October. That is awesome.

    Salt and Storm sounds interesting. I hope you enjoy all of your books this week!

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  13. You have a well-thought out and organized blog and apparently plan far in advance. I enjoy reading about your large TBR pile because I always see new to me titles. Stray and Pecan Pies and Deadly Lies look good to me. Enjoy your visit with your friend before school starts.

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  14. Oh wow you are already up to October? I was just planning to start September's posts.

    I love True Blood and I can't believe next week is the series finale and it's all over. I will miss that show.

    Looks like you have some great books on your list. Enjoy!

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  15. Oooh nice! I plan to read Firebug soon as I got that last week for review! Aiming towards next month!

    Happy Reading this week!

    Here's my Monday Wrapup

    Have a GREAT day!

    Old Follower :)

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  16. Thanks for visiting my blog! The Brockmann looks good, I enjoy her stuff.

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  17. I hope you enjoy Kiss Kill Vanish, I did :) And too bad Salt & Storm didn't live up to the hype for you, it looks good, but so does Tubula Rasa and Night Sky! Thanks for stopping by! Happy reading!

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  18. You do sound well organised. I haven't read any of these books but many known authors here. I will look forward to the review of Suzanne Brockmann's book that she wrote with her daughter.

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  19. I wish I could get through as many books as you! Have a good week.

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  20. Salt and Storm sounds good! So does Even in Paradise. I will have to put them on my list! Have a great week!

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  21. You are so organized! I would love to take a few days and lay out future blog posts :) Have a great week!

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  22. I am impressed you are set up into October! I hope your school duties go well when they start. I may have to check out the series based on your Courting Magic recommendation. Many of your reads sound good.
    I hope you enjoy your time with your visitor this week. Have fun!

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