Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Teaser Tuesday: Hell or High Water by Julie Ann Walker

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of A Daily Rhythm. 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:
Chugging what was left of his uncle's coffee, he handed over both earthenware cups before squatting next to Meat. He'd promised Mason he'd look after the mutt. And even though scooping foul-smelling dog food from the sack they kept under the kitchen counter was something he looked forward to with about as much enthusiasm as a root canal, he was nothing if not a man of his word.
This week my teaser comes from Hell or High Water by Julie Ann Walker. I got this eARC from NetGalley for review. Here is the description from Amazon:
In a world on the brink

Six men. One sunken Spanish galleon. Millions in gold and silver coins lying on the ocean floor. And a past that refuses to let the guys of Deep Six Salvage forget the Navy SEAL motto: the only easy day was yesterday...

There's more than one kind of treasure

The nation's security has always been CIA agent Olivia Mortier's top priority. But a mission-gone-wrong has begun to make her wonder if there's more to life than risking hers.

And more than one secret at the bottom of the sea

Only two things could make Leo Anderson abandon his hunt for the legendary lost ship, La Santa Christina, and return to the world of weapons and warfare he swore to leave behind: a capsule of enriched uranium, lost on the ocean floor, and a plea for assistance from the one woman he can't seem to forget...

Monday, June 29, 2015

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (June 29, 2015)

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.

Other Than Reading...

I made a quick trip back to my winter home this week leaving Duluth on Monday and returning on Wednesday. I had a quick court date on Tuesday (less than 30 minutes) where I presented our case about our delinquent townhouse owner. We were told the judgment could take a week. I heard on Friday that we won our case. Now, he has about 6 weeks to pay or we take the next steps. This has certainly been a long process since we decided to take him to court in November, filed the paperwork in December, had our first hearing in March, our second hearing now in June, with who knows how many more steps we still have to take.

I'm back in Duluth now for a couple of months of vacation. I'm looking forward to reading, blogging, going out to eat, cooking a little, and spending time with my brother. Or course, I also need to spend time creating assessment rubrics for the Learning Goal Scales I created during our workdays at the end of the school year. I also need more Learning Goal Scales for my fall classes. There are always things to do to get ready for school in the fall.

Read Last Week
From TBR mountain, I read Pirate's Alley by Suzanne Johnson which is an urban fantasy and the 4th in the Sentinels of New Orleans series. I thought it was exciting and I liked the chance to catch up with favorite characters again. My review will be posted on August 12.

Next I read some of my August 4 releasing review books.

I was approved at NetGalley to read The Veil by Chloe Neill this week and immediately added it to my stack. This is a new urban fantasy series for the author. Like Johnson's book, this one is set in New Orleans. I really liked it. My review will be posted on July 29
Wolf Trouble by Paige Tyler was also a review book. This paranormal romance tells the story of the first female werewolf to join the Dallas SWAT. It was filled with macho werewolves, bank robbers, and a jealous ex. My review will be posted on July 30.

Another review book from NetGalley was Between a Rock and a Hard Place by Marty Wingate which is the third book in her Potting Shed cozy mystery series. In this one Pru is trying to plan her wedding while solving the murder of a rival at the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh. My review will be posted on August 1.

Currently
I grabbed The Undead Pool by Kim Harrison from my TBR mountain where it has been sitting since July 29, 2014. Now that this urban fantasy series is finished I want to finish it myself. This is the penultimate book and the final book in on my Kindle.

Next Week
I dug deep on TBR mountain to find Dragonseye by Anne McCaffrey. I added it to the stack on Feb. 19, 2008 when I began my LibraryThing account. I have no idea when I really bought it. I have read many books set on her science fiction world Pern but I still have a few on the stack that I just never got to.

No Mercy by Lori Armstrong hasn't been on the stack quite so long. I added it on June 30, 2014. It is the first in the Mercy Gunderson mystery series. I remember getting the second for review, enjoying it, and deciding to get the rest of the series. Somehow, it never made it to my reading stack.
Murder on Astor Place by Victoria Thompson has been on the stack since August 25, 2014. I remember reading a review of this historical mystery and thought it sounded good. When it arrived at the start of a new school year, it got put on TBR mountain and forgotten.

Deceptions by Kelley Armstrong is the only recent arrival on TBR mountain. I have this one for review before its August 18 publication date. I have read the other books in this series and look forward to reading this one too. It is by one of my favorite authors.

Reviews Posted
Want to See What I Added to My Stack Last Week?
I was approved for The Veil by Chloe Neill on the 22nd. I like her Chicagoland Vampires series and wanted to read her new series too. This book will be released on August 4.

I bought Bengal's Quest by Lora Leigh on the 23rd. I am a long-time fan of this series.
I was chosen to read Deceptions by Kelley Armstrong at Penguin's First to Read site. I have read the earlier books in this series and am excited to read this one too. This book will be released on August 18.

 I bought Made in America by Bill Bryson on Saturday when it was a Kindle Daily Deal. I don't read much nonfiction but, when I do, Bryson is one of my go-to authors. I find his books fascinating. 
 
To see what Young Adult books I have been reading and plan to read, check out Ms. Martin Teaches Media - my other blog.

Saturday, June 27, 2015

Book Review: Lick by Kylie Scott

Lick
Author: Kylie Scott
Series: Stage Dive, Book 1
Publication: St. Martin's Griffin; Reprint edition (November 11, 2013)

Description: Waking up in Vegas was never meant to be like this.

Evelyn Thomas's plans for celebrating her twenty-first birthday in Las Vegas were big. Huge. But she sure never meant to wake up on the bathroom floor with a hangover to rival the black plague, a very attractive half-naked tattooed man in her room, and a diamond on her finger large enough to scare King Kong. Now if she could just remember how it all happened.

One thing is certain, being married to one of the hottest rock stars on the planet is sure to be a wild ride.

My Thoughts: Evelyn went to Las Vegas with a friend to celebrate her twenty-first birthday - and maybe get laid. She didn't expect to wake up the next morning with the hangover from Hell and a new husband. Even worse, her new husband is David Ferris from the really hot band Stage Dive. Since she spent the whole first chapter throwing up, David was right to assume that she didn't want to stay married to him.

She goes home to Portland and he goes home to LA thinking that a quick annulment is the way to go. But when the paparazzi make her life in Portland impossible, he is quick to bring her to LA to protect her. However, his LA house is filled with bandmates, groupies, and lawyers which has Evelyn walking out again.

Both David and Evelyn are stubborn and have explosive tempers. They are also both really attracted to each other. After escaping to his house in Monterey, they begin to get to know each other and decided to give their marriage a try. But a secret that David has been keeping almost ruins it for both of them.

I liked this romance a lot. David and Evelyn were both strong, complex characters who fit each other very well. The sex scenes were spicy without being too kinky. I liked the friendships that David had with his bandmate Mal and that Evelyn had with her roommate Lauren. I can't wait to read about the rest of the band finding their true loves.

Favorite Quote:
He groaned. "Evelyn, look at me."

I did so.

"You are a constant f**king delight. I don't think anyone could ever doubt that."

"You're awful pretty when you lie."
I bought this one for my Kindle. You can buy your copy here.

Friday, June 26, 2015

Friday Memes: Lick by Kylie Scott

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 Lick by Kylie Scott. I've had this first book (and all the rest, too) on my Kindle for quite a while. Lick was added on June 2, 2014. Here is the description from Amazon:
Waking up in Vegas was never meant to be like this.

Evelyn Thomas's plans for celebrating her twenty-first birthday in Las Vegas were big. Huge. But she sure never meant to wake up on the bathroom floor with a hangover to rival the black plague, a very attractive half-naked tattooed man in her room, and a diamond on her finger large enough to scare King Kong. Now if she could just remember how it all happened.

One thing is certain, being married to one of the hottest rock stars on the planet is sure to be a wild ride.
Beginning:
I woke up on the bathroom floor. Everything hurt. My mouth felt like garbage and tasted worse.
Friday 56: 
Quietly, Mal shut the door, facing off against his friend. I hesitated, hanging back. All right, so I skulked in a cowardly fashion. Whatever.

Thursday, June 25, 2015

Book Review: House of the Rising Sun by Kristen Painter

House of the Rising Sun
Author: Kristen Painter
Series: Crescent City, Book 1
Publication: Orbit (May 13, 2014)

Description: Augustine lives the perfect life in the Haven city of New Orleans. He rarely works a real job, spends most of his nights with a different human woman, and resides in a spectacular Garden District mansion paid for by retired movie star Olivia Goodwin, who has come to think of him as an adopted son, providing him room and board and whatever else he needs.

But when Augustine returns home to find Olivia's been attacked by vampires, he knows his idyllic life has comes to an end. It's time for revenge -- and to take up the mantle of the city's Guardian.

Then Olivia's estranged daughter, Harlow, arrives. She hates being fae, but her powers are exactly what Augustine needs to catch the vampires. Can he convince her to help him in time? Or will the sparks between them send her running again?

My Thoughts: This new urban fantasy series takes place in New Orleans. There are a variety of different supernatural creatures living there. Augustine is a fae who becomes the city Guardian after his friend and foster mother Olivia is killed by vampires. Augustine had been successfully dodging responsibility until that happened. Now, he is determined to rid the city of vampires.

Another main character in this story is Harlow who is Olivia's estranged daughter. Their estrangement stems from Olivia's refusal to tell Harlow who her father is. Harlow is trying to deny that she is fae but her affinity with computers and her inability to touch anything or anyone with her bare hands without being overwhelmed with sensations clearly make her fae. She comes home to New Orleans to ask her mother for a large amount of money to pay a fine or else she will have to spend two years in prison for hacking into a company computer.

Since Olivia left half of her mansion to Augustine and half to Harlow, a natural rivalry is set up. However, both of them want to bring the vampires who killed Olivia to justice which means they need to work together.

It might be Harlow's mysterious father who is causing many of the problems in New Orleans and Harlow begins to understand why her mother might have kept his identity secret from her.

This was an engaging urban fantasy with lots of interesting characters. It will be interesting to follow along with the series and find out what happens next.

Favorite Quote:
Augustine nodded, but he was done being safe. Since, Livie, he'd cleaned up his act and changed the way he lived, careful not to get involved, not to take on too much responsibility, not to upset his cleverly crafted life. Fat lot of good that had done him. The time to return to dangerous living had arrived. 
I bought this one for my Kindle. You can buy your copy here.

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Book Review: Boundary Crossed by Melissa F. Olson

Boundary Crossed
Author: Melissa F. Olson
Series: Boundary Magic (Book 1)
Publication: 47North (May 1, 2015)

Description: After her twin sister’s brutal murder, former US Army Sergeant Allison “Lex” Luther vowed to protect her niece, Charlie. So when two vampires try to kidnap the baby, it quickly turns into a fight to the death—Lex’s death, that is.

She wakes up to two shocking discoveries: she has miraculously survived the fight, and baby Charlie is a “null,” gifted with the ability to weaken supernatural forces...and a target for creatures who want to control that power. Determined to guarantee her niece’s safety, Lex makes a deal with the local vampires. She sets out with the mysterious—and undead—“fixer” Quinn to track down whoever’s responsible for the kidnapping, sharpening her newfound magic skills along the way. But the closer she gets to the truth, the more dangerous her powers become.

Boundary Crossed is a dark, thrilling journey into a world where the line between living and dead isn’t nearly as solid as it appears...

My Thoughts: Lex Luther is an Army vet working in a convenience store in Boulder, Colorado. She is content, living alone, with her variety of rescue animals and babysitting for her dead sister's eighteen-month-old daughter once a week. She is abruptly introduced to the paranormal world around her when she sees two people - vampires - shopping for diapers for a child in an infant carrier who happens to be her niece Charlie. While rescuing her niece, she is stabbed in the back and dies.

When she wakes up in the hospital, she meets Quinn who wants to know what happened and really wants to know why his attempt to change her memory isn't working. Quinn is a vampire working for the vampires who control Colorado. He takes her to meet them and Lex bargains her skills for her niece's safety.

Lex learns that she is a witch and that her niece Charlie is a Null. Anyone who gets within a few feet of Charlie become human. This makes Charlie a desirable tool for the vampires. Lex and Quinn team up to discover who is trying to kidnap Charlie. Meanwhile, Lex needs to learn to control these new witchly powers that she didn't know she had. She also learns that she is a different kind of witch, one that scares other witches. She has the power to pull the life out of living things and use that power. Lex even scares herself with her new powers.

I liked Lex. I thought she handled all the changes in her life with courage. I also liked her devotion to her dead sister's child. I liked the relationship that is growing between Quinn and Lex too. I enjoyed this new urban fantasy.

Favorite Quote:
"What happened?" I asked.

"You fainted."

"I did not," I said crossly. "Fainting is for preteen girls and those really weird goats. I do not faint."

For the first time Quinn looked over at me, his eyes rolling. "Okay, then. You abruptly lost consciousness, without any outside force affecting you in any way."
I bought this one. You can buy your copy here.

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Teaser Tuesday: House of the Rising Sun by Kristen Painter

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of A Daily Rhythm. 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:
He headed inside and jogged up the stairs to get ready, the anticipation of the night already dancing over his skin. Nokturnos was the start of the fae New Year, the chance to begin fresh. To wish for better things. He grinned.

Something told him tonight was going to be all kinds of interesting.
This week my teaser comes from House of the Rising Sun by Kristen Painter. I bought this urban fantasy title when it was a Kindle Daily Deal. Here is the description from Amazon:
Augustine lives the perfect life in the Haven city of New Orleans. He rarely works a real job, spends most of his nights with a different human woman, and resides in a spectacular Garden District mansion paid for by retired movie star Olivia Goodwin, who has come to think of him as an adopted son, providing him room and board and whatever else he needs.

But when Augustine returns home to find Olivia's been attacked by vampires, he knows his idyllic life has comes to an end. It's time for revenge -- and to take up the mantle of the city's Guardian.

Then Olivia's estranged daughter, Harlow, arrives. She hates being fae, but her powers are exactly what Augustine needs to catch the vampires. Can he convince her to help him in time? Or will the sparks between them send her running again?

Monday, June 22, 2015

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (June 22, 2015)

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.

Other Than Reading... 

I had a lovely, relaxing week here at home in Duluth. The weather has been nicely cool. The furnace has even run a few times in the mornings. I much prefer this sort of temperature to the hot weather at my other house. It is perfect for reading!

I read a bunch this week and also spent some time scheduling blog posts for August. They are pretty empty because I haven't decided what books to read yet but the basics are in place and ready to go once I decide. I have finished all my July review books and am starting on August's. I have only seven review books for August but six of them are being released on August 4.

My brother and I went out to lunch on one of his days off this week. We traveled over to Superior, Wisconsin, to visit an A & W's for root beer, deep fried mushrooms, and onion rings. I have now had my fill of deep-fried anything for a while.

Next week I'll be making a quick trip back to my other house. I'm going down on Monday and hoping to return on Wednesday. My return will depend on what the results of our court appearance are on Tuesday. I will be glad when this whole matter of the Association's delinquent owner is finally settled. I'm very tired of dealing with irresponsible people.

Read Last Week
Demon Hunting in Dixie by Lexi George is the first in a series of Southern Paranormal Romances. It is from my 2015 TBR stack. It was a fun story that was steamy too. My review will be posted on July 15.

Bronze Gods by A. A. Aguirre is also from my 2015 TBR stack. It is a mystery that takes place in a fantasy world that is sort of steampunk and with magic too. I loved the characters. My review will be posted on July 16.
Silver Mirrors by A. A. Aguirre continues the adventures begun in Bronze Gods. I enjoyed this one but not quite as much as the first. My review will be posted on July 18.

Demon Hunting in a Dive Bar by Lexi George was the third in that series. I missed the humor that larded the first two but this was still an enjoyable paranormal romance. My review will be posted on July 22.
I read Magic Lost, Trouble Found by Lisa Shearin. It is the first in the Raine Benares fantasy series. I just bought this one but had books 2 - 4 on my Kindle already. After finishing it, I felt like I had to buy books 5 and 6 too. My review will be posted on July 23.

Thornyhold by Mary Stewart was an enjoyable gentle Gothic Romance (if that is a genre). It is narrated by the main character who is looking back at her life from her lonely childhood to her happy marriage. The writing is vivid and lyrical. My review will be posted on July 25.

Currently
I am currently reading a recent arrival on my TBR mountain. Pirate's Alley by Suzanne Johnson is the latest in her Sentinels of New Orleans urban fantasy series. I have enjoyed all the rest and this one starts out well too.

Next Week
I'll be beginning the week with my adult August review books.

Wolf Trouble by Paige Tyler is about wolf shifters who are in law enforcement in Texas. This is also a paranormal romance. It will be released on August 4.

Between a Rock and a Hard Place by Marty Wingate is a cozy mystery starring a gardener. It is the third in a series. It will also be released on August 4.
Then I'm going to pull a couple from TBR mountain that sound good.

Murder on Astor Place by Victoria Thompson is a historical mystery that begins a series. It has been on the mountain since August 25, 2014.

The Undead Pool by Kim Harrison is the penultimate book in her Hollows urban fantasy series. I wait for the paperback in this series. This one has been sitting on my stack since July 29, 2014.

Reviews Posted
Want to See What I Added to My Stack Last Week?
Dead Ice by Laurell K. Hamilton is the latest in her Anita Blake series. I have been reading these since the beginning and had to add the latest to my stack. I bought the Kindle version to save money and to save space on my crowded shelves.

Thornyhold by Mary Stewart is a print addition to my stack. I recently learned that some older titles were being released again in a series called Rediscovered Classics published by the Chicago Review Press. I thought I'd read everything by Stewart but this Gothic Romance had eluded me.  
I bought a Kindle copy of the final book in The Hollows series. The Witch with No Name by Kim Harrison will complete my collection.
After reading the first book in the series and realizing that I had books 2-4 on my Kindle, I bought All Spell Breaks Loose by Lisa Shearin (book 6) and Con & Conjure by Lisa Shearin (book 5). Now I have all six of the Raine Benares series.

A visit to NetGalley had me adding these books to my review stack.
Wolf  Trouble by Paige Tyler will be released on August 4
Broken Play by Samantha Kane will be released on Sept. 1
The Heat of the Moment by Katie Rose will be released on Sept. 22
Breaking a Legend by Sarah Robinson will be released on Sept. 29

To see what Young Adult books I have been reading and plan to read, check out Ms. Martin Teaches Media - my other blog.

Sunday, June 21, 2015

Organization - Can't Live (Blog) Without It

https://thespacemaster.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/hires.jpg
I was thinking today about organization and how it helps me be a better book blogger. Now, I am a generally organized person. My closet is usually color coordinated; my books are in alphabetical order by author; my pantry has like items together. But I think I might carry my love of organization to the extremes when it comes to blogging.

First of all, I maintain two blogs. On Ms Martin Teaches Media, I primarily blog about the middle grade and young adult books I'm reading. I get a large number of those books from publishers, Edelweiss or NetGalley for review. On this blog, I blog about books that aren't YA or middle grade. I tend to say it is my adult blog and I will occasionally read something spicy enough that I really don't want to share with any of my students who might find my other blog. Mostly, though, these are just books that are published for adults. I also often have review books from authors, publishers, Edelweiss, and NetGalley. Otherwise I'm reading from my own extensive TBR mountain (2148 books today).

I try to post a minimum of two book reviews each week on each of my blogs. I also routinely take part in these memes on each blog - It's Monday! What Are You Reading?, Teaser Tuesday, and I combine Book Beginnings and the Friday 56 into one post on Fridays.

So how do I keep things organized.

First, every book that I get is added to my LibraryThing account. I make extensive use of tags and collections to help me organize. For example, I have a collection of review books with their publication dates in the Comments section. I also have a collection called Currently Reading where I show what books are coming up next on my stack.

Second, I love Google. I have a Google Spreadsheet where I enter information about each review book. I also have a Google Spreadsheet that I call my reading log where I list everything I read each year.

I also use Google Calendar extensively when planning my reading. Each new review book is slotted into a space on the calendar when it arrives. Here's what July's calendar looks like.
Click to Enlarge
Pink is for Ms. Martin Teaches Media and blue is for Inside of a Dog. Asterisks mean that the book is still to be read and the posts written and scheduled. As you can see, I try to stay ahead. Summer vacation is a great time to read more books and schedule things for my blog.

I use GoodReads for the book I am currently reading. All books on my GoodReads account are books I have actually read. Wishlists, TBR piles, etc. are all kept track of on LibraryThing. When it comes time to decide what to read next, the first thing I check is my Google Calendar.

Amazon also helps me to keep organized. I have created a wishlist for Review books because I link to Amazon and seem to need to link those review books frequently for a variety of posts that I do.

Here's what happens when I get a new review book like I did today from NetGalley.

  1. I send it to my Kindle and move it to my Reading List
  2. I find it on Amazon and add it to my Review Wishlist
  3. I add it to my LibraryThing in the New This Week collection and other relevant collections
  4. I add it to my State of the Stack post on Ms. Martin Teaches Media and link to Amazon
  5. I add it to my Google Calendar
  6. I add it to my Google Spreadsheet for Review books
Here's what happens when I buy or get a book that isn't for review. I add it to my LibraryThing in the New This Week, 2015, and other relevant collections. I have a goal this year to read in 2015 what I get in 2015 so that I can keep my TBR mountain from growing.

Thus far, my system has kept me from letting anything slip through the cracks. But, what do you think? Am I too organized?

Saturday, June 20, 2015

Book Review: First Grave on the Right by Darynda Jones

First Grave on the Right
Author: Darynda Jones
Series: Charley Davidson, Book 1
Publication: St. Martin's Griffin; Reprint edition (July 5, 2011)

Description: A smashing, award-winning debut novel that introduces Charley Davidson: part-time private investigator and full-time Grim Reaper

Charley sees dead people. That’s right, she sees dead people. And it’s her job to convince them to “go into the light.” But when these very dead people have died under less than ideal circumstances (i.e. murder), sometimes they want Charley to bring the bad guys to justice. Complicating matters are the intensely hot dreams she’s been having about an Entity who has been following her all her life...and it turns out he might not be dead after all. In fact, he might be something else entirely.

This is a thrilling debut novel from an exciting newcomer to the world of paranormal romantic suspense.

First Grave on the Right is the winner of the 2012 Rita Award for Best First Book.

My Thoughts: Charley Davidson is a reaper. She sees dead people. She works as a private investigator and helps her uncle, a police detective, solve his cases. It helps when the dead person can tell you who did it.

Charley has had a mysterious companion who has come to her rescue\many times when she needed him. She has also had a crush on a guy she met when she was a young teen but hasn't seen since. Now it appears that the two are one and the same and the guy is brain-dead in a coma with the plug scheduled to be pulled in three days. Charley needs to find some want to delay his termination and/or convince him to wake up.

She is also involved in a trafficking case. Three lawyers were killed in one night and all of them want Charley to solve the case before they move on.

This book was fun. Charley is a great character who is quick with the one-liner and who has a unique view on life. I can't wait to dive into more books in this series.

Favorite Quote:
If I couldn't be a good example, I'd just have to be a horrible warning.
This book has been on my TBR mountain since Feb. 15, 2012. You can buy your copy here.

Friday, June 19, 2015

Friday Memes: First Grave on the Right by Darynda Jones

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 First Grave on the Right by Darynda Jones. This one has been languishing on TBR mountain since February of 2012. I decided to dust if off when I saw that the next five books in the series were Kindle Daily Deals and that the series had stretched to nine books already. Here is the description from Amazon:
A smashing, award-winning debut novel that introduces Charley Davidson: part-time private investigator and full-time Grim Reaper

Charley sees dead people. That’s right, she sees dead people. And it’s her job to convince them to “go into the light.” But when these very dead people have died under less than ideal circumstances (i.e. murder), sometimes they want Charley to bring the bad guys to justice. Complicating matters are the intensely hot dreams she’s been having about an Entity who has been following her all her life...and it turns out he might not be dead after all. In fact, he might be something else entirely.

This is a thrilling debut novel from an exciting newcomer to the world of paranormal romantic suspense.

First Grave on the Right is the winner of the 2012 Rita Award for Best First Book.
Beginning:
I'd been having the same dream for a month—the one where a dark stranger materialized out of smoke and shadows to play doctor with me.
Friday 56: 
As I trudged the fifty or so feet across the alley and into the rear entrance of my dad's bar, I contemplated possibilities for why all three lawyers might have stayed behind instead of crossing over. My calculations—allowing for a 12 percent margin of error, based on the radius of the corresponding confidence interval and the surgeon general's warning—concluded that they probably didn't stay behind for the tacos.

Thursday, June 18, 2015

ARC Review: Ever After by Jude Deveraux

Ever After
Author: Jude Deveraux
Series: Nantucket Brides, Book 3
Publication: Ballantine Books (June 23, 2015)

Description: New York Times bestselling author Jude Deveraux’s eagerly awaited third novel in her blockbuster Nantucket Brides trilogy continues the spellbinding saga of the Montgomery-Taggerts, set on an island steeped in beauty and unforgettable romance.

Life is anything but perfect for Hallie Hartley, a young physical therapist who has given up nearly everything—even her love life—for her beautiful blonde stepsister, Shelly. Though Shelly’s acting career has never taken off, she has certainly perfected the crocodile tears to get what she wants—which all too often means Hallie’s boyfriends. When Hallie arrives home early from work one fateful day, she makes two startling discoveries that will turn her life upside down: Not only has a mysterious relative left Hallie a house on Nantucket, but Shelly has been trying to steal it. Desperate to put her troubles behind her, Hallie impulsively flies to Nantucket.

New trouble, however, has already settled into Hallie’s guest room in the form of her newest client. Hallie is told that wealthy, young James Taggert has injured his leg in a skiing accident. Assuming that the devastatingly handsome man has led a charmed life, Hallie is surprised by Jamie at every turn throughout his recovery. His attentions draw her out of her shell—but he has a dark secret, and is tormented by nightmares that only her presence can keep at bay. She suspects there’s more to his injury than he’s letting on.

On this gorgeous island rich in history, magic is everywhere, even in Hallie’s own backyard. As Jamie’s relatives arrive for a wedding gala, something wonderfully unusual is in the air. There’s an aura of romance—enhanced by a pair of matchmaking ghosts and a colorful island legend. In their own little corner of the world, Jamie and Hallie unravel the timeless secrets of their own hearts, and a very special story of True Love destined to last forever after.

My Thoughts: The third book in Deveraux's Nantucket trilogy was just as wonderful as the first two books. Our heroine is Hallie Hartley; our hero is James Taggert. Hallie is a physical therapist and Jamie is in need of one. Hallie has inherited a house on Nantucket which she almost never finds out about as her younger stepsister has decided to impersonate Hallie and steal her house. Hallie walks in just as Shelly is signing the papers accepting the inheritance. To get away from her scheming stepsister, Hallie decides to go to Nantucket and use her skills as a physical therapist to assist a man who has torn all four ligaments in his knee.

This story is filled with Montgomerys and Taggerts including a group that Hallie refers to as the "naked cousins". Jamie has come to Nantucket to get away from the constant cossetting of his huge family. Hallie doesn't know it (she thinks he is an idle playboy) but Jamie was a soldier injured in a Humvee attack in Afghanistan. He is suffering from a number of physical injuries and is also suffering from nightmares and PTSD.

The story also has ghosts. The house Hallie inherits was once the home of two beautiful young women who died tragically of fever just after one of the girls' wedding. They have been determined to help the residents of the house find true love ever since.

In addition to Jamie's secrets, other obstacles to a romance between the two are Jamie's twin brother Todd who is suspicious of Hallie's motives and Hallie's life-long crush on her hero and next door neighbor Braden who is now a lawyer.

This was a very nice story about two people who are both dealing with scars that seem to prevent them from falling in love. I liked the romance and I really liked seeing the cameos from characters in other books in the trilogy.

Favorite Quote:
She looked about the pretty room. "I don't know if there are ghosts here, but I'd certainly like some help right now. Everything in my life is changing and I don't know if it's for good or bad. I like this man Jamie a lot. I tell myself he's not for me, but then I see him and...I don't know, I'm drawn to him."
I got this eARC from Penguin's First to Read program. You can buy your copy here.

Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Book Review: Dragon Actually by G. A. Aiken

Dragon Actually
Author: G. A. Aiken
Series: Dragon Kin, Book 1
Publication: Samhain Publishing, Ltd. (November 7, 2008)

Description: It’s not always easy being a female warrior with a nickname like Annwyl the Bloody. Men tend to either cower in fear-a lot-or else salute. It’s true that Annwyl has a knack for decapitating legions of her ruthless brother’s soldiers without pausing for breath. But just once it would be nice to be able to really talk to a man, the way she can talk to Fearghus the Destroyer.

Too bad that Fearghus is a dragon, of the large, scaly, and deadly type. With him, Annwyl feels safe-a far cry from the feelings aroused by the hard-bodied, arrogant knight Fearghus has arranged to help train her for battle. With her days spent fighting a man who fills her with fierce, heady desire, and her nights spent in the company of a magical creature who could smite a village just by exhaling, Annwyl is sure life couldn’t get any stranger.

She’s wrong…

And just wait until you meet the rest of the family…

My Thoughts: Annwyl the Bloody has been fighting to overthrow her tyrant brother for some time. One day she is battling his men in the Dark Glen when a mortal blow is struck and Annwyl believes that she is dying. She is saved by the dragon who lives in the glen and who has a terrible reputation. Fearghus the Destroyer nurses her back to health and gradually becomes her friend. He agrees to teach her what she needs to know to defeat her brother.

Annwyl doesn't know that dragons can shift to human form and is confused about her feelings when Fearghus imports a knight to teach her. She is physically attracted to the knight but she longs to spend time with the dragon because she can feel safe with him. Fearghus doesn't know how to tell her that he is both man and dragon.

This book was funny and romantic. I mean, characters named Annwyl the Bloody and Fearghus the Destroyer are not your typical romantic hero and heroine. I loved Annwyl who was afraid of nothing except her brother and who treated really fearsome dragons as though they were kittens. I also really enjoyed Fearghus's relationship with his various brothers and sisters.

This was a fun story and a nice romance. It is also the first book in a series of six.

Favorite Quote:
But it was when he covered her up with the fur and she sighed his name in her sleep, that he lost his heart.
I bought this one for my Kindle on Nov. 18, 2010. You can buy your copy here.

Tuesday, June 16, 2015

Teaser Tuesday: Ever After by Jude Deveraux

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of A Daily Rhythm. 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:
He stopped just under the edge of the arbor and leaned heavily on his crutches. "I apologize for my behavior," he said. "I'm very sorry."

"And I for mine," she answered. "It's been a tough day and I took my anger out on you. Why don't you take your clothes off and let's start over?"

Jamie lifted his eyebrows high.
This week my teaser comes from Ever After by Jude Deveraux. This is the third book in her Nantucket Brides trilogy and I have been haunting Edelweiss, NetGalley and Penguin's First to Read since I finished book 2. An eARC finally became available at Penguin's First to Read and I used my points to guarantee a copy.

Here is the description from Amazon:
New York Times bestselling author Jude Deveraux’s eagerly awaited third novel in her blockbuster Nantucket Brides trilogy continues the spellbinding saga of the Montgomery-Taggerts, set on an island steeped in beauty and unforgettable romance.

Life is anything but perfect for Hallie Hartley, a young physical therapist who has given up nearly everything—even her love life—for her beautiful blonde stepsister, Shelly. Though Shelly’s acting career has never taken off, she has certainly perfected the crocodile tears to get what she wants—which all too often means Hallie’s boyfriends. When Hallie arrives home early from work one fateful day, she makes two startling discoveries that will turn her life upside down: Not only has a mysterious relative left Hallie a house on Nantucket, but Shelly has been trying to steal it. Desperate to put her troubles behind her, Hallie impulsively flies to Nantucket.

New trouble, however, has already settled into Hallie’s guest room in the form of her newest client. Hallie is told that wealthy, young James Taggert has injured his leg in a skiing accident. Assuming that the devastatingly handsome man has led a charmed life, Hallie is surprised by Jamie at every turn throughout his recovery. His attentions draw her out of her shell—but he has a dark secret, and is tormented by nightmares that only her presence can keep at bay. She suspects there’s more to his injury than he’s letting on.

On this gorgeous island rich in history, magic is everywhere, even in Hallie’s own backyard. As Jamie’s relatives arrive for a wedding gala, something wonderfully unusual is in the air. There’s an aura of romance—enhanced by a pair of matchmaking ghosts and a colorful island legend. In their own little corner of the world, Jamie and Hallie unravel the timeless secrets of their own hearts, and a very special story of True Love destined to last forever after.