Teaser Tuesday: The Midnight Queen by Sylvia Izzo Hunter

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:

Sophie frowned. "You must have an opinion," she said. "Being so very much cleverer than he is."

She spoke with perfect gravity, and appeared surprised by Gray's hoot of derisive laughter.

This week my teaser comes from The Midnight Queen by Sylvia Izzo Hunter. I first saw this book on Penguin's First to Read program. I was chosen to read the book early but did order myself a copy for my Kindle so that I could still read it. Here is the description.

In the hallowed halls of Oxford’s Merlin College, the most talented—and highest born—sons of the Kingdom of Britain are taught the intricacies of magickal theory. But what dazzles can also destroy, as Gray Marshall is about to discover…

Gray’s deep talent for magick has won him a place at Merlin College. But when he accompanies four fellow students on a mysterious midnight errand that ends in disaster and death, he is sent away in disgrace—and without a trace of his power. He must spend the summer under the watchful eye of his domineering professor, Appius Callender, working in the gardens of Callender’s country estate and hoping to recover his abilities. And it is there, toiling away on a summer afternoon, that he meets the professor’s daughter.

Even though she has no talent of her own, Sophie Callender longs to be educated in the lore of magick. Her father has kept her isolated at the estate and forbidden her interest; everyone knows that teaching arcane magickal theory to women is the height of impropriety. But against her father’s wishes, Sophie has studied his ancient volumes on the subject. And in the tall, stammering, yet oddly charming Gray, she finally finds someone who encourages her interest and awakens new ideas and feelings.

Sophie and Gray’s meeting touches off a series of events that begins to unravel secrets about each of them. And after the king’s closest advisor pays the professor a closed-door visit, they begin to wonder if what Gray witnessed in Oxford might be even more sinister than it seemed. They are determined to find out, no matter the cost…

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (Oct. 6, 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.

This week has been much better than last week for me. My car tire and my washing machine have both been repaired. My cold has gotten to a much better stage. I'm still coughing and dealing with a runny nose but the aches and fever have gone.

I just learned that my cable television company is going all digital in mid-October. So Friday evening I had to go to their store and pick up the box that will translate their signals for my old TV. Since everyone else wanted a box too, I had to wait for over an hour for my turn and I had left my book in the car. Saturday morning I set it up according to their directions which meant I had to unload my entertainment center so that I could move it away from the wall to get to the back where all the cables go in. It gave me a chance to get rid of lots of stuff I had just been throwing in there to get it out of sight. After a few frustrating tries, I got it programmed and working. Except, I don't know how to connect my DVD player in the new system. Good thing I seldom watch DVDs.

I'm planning to attend another author event in the Twin Cities on Thursday evening when I friend and I go to Wild Rumpus for the Epic Reads Event. I haven't been to Wild Rumpus for quite a while and I have never had a chance to meet any of these five authors. I had ARCs for four of five of the books they will be talking about. It will be nice to get finished copies for my Media Center and get their autographs in my author book.

Next Saturday is also the Twin Cities Book Festival. I might go up but am waiting to hear what the weather will be like before I make my final decision. I would like to get a chance to hear Jessica Day George speak but not enough to battle cold or wet weather. 

Read Last Week

Waistcoats & Weaponry by Gail Carriger is the third book in her Finishing School steampunk/paranormal series. I am enjoying watching these characters grow up. My review will be posted on October 29.

The Red Book of Primrose House by Marty Wingate was an entertaining cozy mystery. My review will be posted on Oct. 29 for this one too.

I finished my week with two mysteries from my review stack.

Killer Instinct by Jennifer Lynn Barnes is a sequel that continues the story of five kids with unusual talents who are part of an FBI program. This time they are investigating crimes that are copies of the crimes committed by Dean's serial killer father. My review will be posted on October 30.

Caught Dead by Andrew Lanh introduces a new detective. Rick Van Lam is Amerasian. He is called in to investigate the death of one of the beautiful Le sisters and finds himself mired in the lives of the older immigrant population and their American born children. My review will also be posted on October 30 for this book.

Currently

I am just going to begin True Fire by Gary Meehan which is the next YA book on my review stack. 

Next Week

Path of Needles by Alison Littlewood is a mystery that will be released on November 4.

Deeper than the Grave by Tina Whittle is also a mystery being released on November 4.

My Sister's Grave by Robert Dugoni is being released on November 1 but my review for the blog tour will be posted on November 13.

The Book of Storms by Ruth Hatfield is a middle grade fantasy book that will be released on November 11.

Reviews Posted

• Rock Courtship by Nalini Singh
• A Penny for the Hangman by Tom Savage
• Exquisite Captive by Heather Demetrios
• Night Sky by Suzanne Brockmann and Melanie Brockmann
• Two of a Kind by Susan Mallery
• Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin
• Pecan Pies and Deadly Lies by Nancy Naigle

Want to See What I Added to My Stack Last Week?

• Inside of a Dog
• Ms. Martin Teaches Media

What was your week like? Leave me a link and I'll come visit.

Stacking the Shelves (Oct. 6, 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 thought I'd have an empty mailbox this week but Friday's Kindle Deal for a thriller was too good for me to pass up.

Bodyguard of Lies by Bob Mayer sounded like a really interesting thriller.

What did you add to your stack?

Book Review: Pecan Pies and Deadly Lies by Nancy Naigle

Pecan Pies and Deadly Lies
Author: Nancy Naigle
Series: An Adams Grove Novel (Book 3)
Publication: Montlake Romance (September 24, 2013)

Description: Welcome to Adams Grove…where the pies are delicious but the lies are to die for.

America’s beloved country superstar Cody Tuggle never expected to be one of America’s most wanted. At least that’s how he feels since he’s been accused of murdering his scheming agent. Desperate to prove he’s innocent, he turns to his only alibi, award-winning photographer Kasey Phillips, who recently toured with him and his band.

After an exciting life on the road, Kasey has settled down in small-town Adams Grove with her five-year-old son. Unexpectedly reunited with Cody, she finds herself open to love again. But just when she’s ready to fall, everything she ever believed about him is called in to question.

Cody has waited a long time for genuine love, and he can’t let this chance with Kasey slip away. But as the evidence stacks up, the accusations against him put a damper on the sparks flying between them. Can he convince Kasey he’s innocent, and will she clear his name in time? Or will their dreams of the future be the victim of a deadly lie?

Pecan Pie and Deadly Lies is a sweet, down-home story of love overcoming all obstacles—from the crossroads of small town and suspense.

My Thoughts: This is the fourth book in the Adams Grove series and the first in the series that I have read.

Country Star Cody Tuggle is looking to make some changes in his life. He is looking for real love and plans to look up an old girlfriend that he parted ways with when his career was just taking off. But she isn't as much in his mind as Kasey Phillips. He met Kasey when she was hired to take photographs of one of his tours. When Kasey lost her husband to an accident and her young son was kidnapped, Cody was there for her. (Out of Focus, Book 2)

Now Kasey is building a new life for herself and her son in Adams Grove. Jake is just starting Kindergarten and Kasey is dealing with separation anxiety which is even worse because she is still afraid to let him out of her sight since his kidnapping. She isn't looking for a new relationship. In fact, she is convinced that her husband was her one and only true love.

Cody and his band mates stop by to visit which confirms for him that he is attracted to her. She sends him off to see the old girlfriend though which causes the problem in this book. When he arrives at Lou's house he is surprised to find that she has a 17-year-old daughter. He is convinced that the girl is his and goes to confront his agent who was instrumental in breaking up their former relationship.

Cody drops in on the agent while the agent is hosting a party and has a loud, angry argument with him. He feels even more betrayed when he learns that the agent is actually Lou's daughter's father. Cody storms off and goes back to Kasey's. Good thing, too, because someone murders the sleazy agent after the party.

Kasey is Cody's alibi but there is some evidence on the scene that implicates Cody. Together, they investigate to prove Cody's innocence and manage to do some courting along the way. This was a nice romance about finding love and being willing to take a chance on loving a second time. I liked both characters and thought they were well-rounded interesting people.

Favorite Quote:

"I thought that was you, but you swore you weren't going to be here. So glad you had a change of heart," Arty mused.

It was all Cody could do not to coldcock him right here in the middle of the room. His blood boiled. "I need a word with you."

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

Friday Memes: Pecan Pies and Deadly Lies by Nancy Naigle

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 Pecan Pies and Deadly Lies by Nancy Naigle. I got this book through the Amazon Vine program. Here is the description:

Welcome to Adams Grove…where the pies are delicious but the lies are to die for.

America’s beloved country superstar Cody Tuggle never expected to be one of America’s most wanted. At least that’s how he feels since he’s been accused of murdering his scheming agent. Desperate to prove he’s innocent, he turns to his only alibi, award-winning photographer Kasey Phillips, who recently toured with him and his band.

After an exciting life on the road, Kasey has settled down in small-town Adams Grove with her five-year-old son. Unexpectedly reunited with Cody, she finds herself open to love again. But just when she’s ready to fall, everything she ever believed about him is called in to question.

Cody has waited a long time for genuine love, and he can’t let this chance with Kasey slip away. But as the evidence stacks up, the accusations against him put a damper on the sparks flying between them. Can he convince Kasey he’s innocent, and will she clear his name in time? Or will their dreams of the future be the victim of a deadly lie?

Pecan Pie and Deadly Lies is a sweet, down-home story of love overcoming all obstacles—from the crossroads of small town and suspense.

Beginning:

A convoy of antique tractors sputtered down Main Street in Adams Grove, a tradition for the last day of the kids' summer vacation.

Friday 56:

Cody couldn't stop smiling at the serious look on this little boy's face. You'd think he was cracking the code to cancer or something.

Book Review: Two of a Kind by Susan Mallery

Two of a Kind
Author: Susan Mallery
Series: Fool's Gold, Book 11
Publication: Harlequin HQN (June 25, 2013)

Description: New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery welcomes readers back to Fool's Gold, where a onetime fling could become the real thing.…

Felicia Swift never dreamed she'd hear a deep, sexy voice from her past in tiny Fool's Gold, California. The last time Gideon Boylan whispered in her ear was half a world away…on the morning after the hottest night of her life. Her freaky smarts have limited her close friendships, and romance, but she came to Fool's Gold looking for ordinary. Gorgeous, brooding Gideon is anything but that.

Black Ops taught Gideon that love could be deadly. Now he pretends to fit in while keeping everyone at arm's length. Felicia wants more than he can give—a home, family, love—but she has a lot to learn about men…and Gideon needs to be the man to teach her.

As these two misfits discover that passion isn't the only thing they have in common, they just might figure out that two of a kind should never be split apart.

My Thoughts: Mallery is back with another excellent entry into her Fool's Gold series. I laughed and I cried and loved this "feel-good" romance.

Felicia has always been a misfit. She is a genius who was given up by her parents when she was four and raised in a university laboratory setting. She became an emancipated minor when in her early teens and faked her age to join the Army when she was sixteen. She is a genius at logistics and worked with Special Ops teams whose members became her substitute family. Now she has moved to Fool's Gold with some of her Special Ops friends who are setting up a business to train bodyguards. Felicia wants more than anything else to be normal, to fall in love, and to have a family.

Gideon has also come to Fool's Gold after serving in Covert Ops, being captured by the Taliban, and surviving more than two years of captivity. He watched his fellow captives and brothers-in-arms suffer and die and feels that the only reason he survived is that he had no emotional connections with anyone. He is convinced that he is irretrievably broken and is just a shell.

Felicia and Gideon had met four years earlier in Thailand where she approached him. They had a brief sexual encounter, her first, and haven't seen each other since. Now back together in Fool's Gold, Felicia wants to resume the relationship and have Gideon teach her how to be normal so that she can find someone to love and fulfill her dreams.

Things get even more complicated when a twelve-year-old son Gideon didn't know he had shows up. Carter's mother had told him about his father when she was dying of cancer. Carter had been living with friends of his mother but, now that they were getting a divorce, Carter feared that going into the foster care system was in his future if he couldn't find a way to make Felicia and Gideon his new family.

Part of the joy of this series is the strong relationships among many of the characters. Felicia has developed a close group of women friends. Gideon has a good group of men friends too. The community is also close and caring. I feel a strong urge to find more of this series to see how the friends find their own true loves.

Romance lovers won't want to miss this one.

Favorite Quote:

"I'm not that guy," he told her. "The forever guy."

"I assume you're referring to marriage not immortality."

"I am."

One corner of her mouth twitched in amusement. "It's a party, Gideon, not an eternal commitment."

"Yeah, I know. Sure. I'll go."

I got this book from Amazon Vine. You can buy your copy here.

ARC Review: A Penny for the Hangman by Tom Savage

A Penny for the Hangman
Author: Tom Savage
Publication: Alibi (October 7, 2014)

Description: In Tom Savage’s chilling novel of suspense, an ambitious reporter is beckoned to an island paradise for the story of a lifetime. But this scoop might just be the death of her.

Fifty years ago, on the Caribbean island of St. Thomas, two teenagers born to privilege were convicted of slaughtering their parents in cold blood. Today the men are free and a Hollywood movie has been made about the murders. For Karen Tyler, an eager New York journalist, the case is irresistible. She has been invited to the Virgin Islands for an interview that’s too good to pass up . . . and sounds too good to be true.

Karen packs her bikini and her digital recorder and follows an ingeniously designed trail that leads her to a wealthy, mysterious figure. The man claims to be one of the notorious boys, but Karen soon learns that all is not as it seems. On this isolated utopia of sun and surf, a young reporter far from home fights for the truth—and for her life. Because the shocking secret behind the infamous atrocities has remained hidden all these years. And the killing isn't over yet.

My Thoughts: What an excellent thriller! Young reporter Karen Tyler is given the chance at the story of a lifetime when she is invited to the US Virgin Islands to interview one of the two men who committed a spectacular murder there fifty years before. Rodney Harper and Wulf Anderman were convicted of the brutal murder of their parents and Rodney's parents' housekeeper. They were fourteen and fifteen at the time. Many books were written about the case; there was a movie; there was even a Broadway show. Now with the anniversary coming up, a new movie is being made. All indications are that it will be a blockbuster.

This story is told as excerpts from Rodney's childhood diary, excerpts from Karen's childhood diary, excerpts from a book written by the police sergeant who worked the case. It is told from the viewpoint of Karen's boyfriend Jim who finishes writing the story. It is told through articles that Karen wrote when she was researching the case. There are also Rodney's current diary entries on CD. All of these are woven together to tell a chilling tale of murder, obsession, and revenge.

The characters were all well-written and realistic. The plot was fast-paced and very engaging. The story was filled with mystery and danger.

Fans of thrillers will enjoy this one.

Favorite Quote:

"Rodney Harper had been drenched," he whispered, "absolutely covered in blood. If you'd seen the victims, what was done to them, you'd expect that. Wulf Anderman was dressed the same as Rodney—a dark turtleneck and blue jeans—and he had all that shiny blond hair, but there was hardly any blood on him,. Just a little, on the right sleeve and the right knee of his pants." He looked away from Karen again, out at the nighttime view. "That place was a slaughterhouse. How do you suppose Wulf stayed so clean?"

I got this eARC through NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.