Saturday, August 31, 2013

ARC Review: Big Girl Panties by Stephanie Evanovich

Big Girl Panties
Author: Stephanie Evanovich
Publication: William Morrow; 1st edition (July 9, 2013)

Description: Big Girl Panties by Stephanie Evanovich is a rollicking and poignant romantic comedy about a young widow who decides to get in shape...and winds up getting her groove back—and a whole lot more!
 
Holly Brennan used food to comfort herself through her husband’s illness and death. Now she’s alone at age thirty-two. And she weighs more than she ever has. When fate throws her in the path of Logan Montgomery, personal trainer to pro athletes, and he offers to train her, Holly concludes it must be a sign. Much as she dreads the thought of working out, Holly knows she needs to put on her big girl panties and see if she can sweat out some of her grief.
 
Soon, the easy intimacy and playful banter of their training sessions lead Logan and Holly to most intense and steamy workouts. But can Holly and Logan go the distance as a couple now that she’s met her goals—and other men are noticing?


My Thoughts: BIG GIRL PANTIES was a nice romance that had everyone looking below the surface. Widowed Holly Brennan had turned to food after the death of her husband. On a airplane flight from Toronto to New Jersey, she meets Logan Montgomery who has a very successful career as a personal trainer. It was not at all love-at-first-sight. Logan has a type - tall, thin, blonde - and Holly is none of those things. Holly sees this beautiful, buff guy and knows that he is way out of her league. But he offers to train her and she accepts.

Through several workouts, Logan and Holly get to know each other and Holly develops a crush but Logan remains oblivious. However, they soon start hanging out as friends with his friends Chase Walker and his wife Amanda. They begin a relationship but Logan is still keeping the relationship secret. He has a number of issues of his own regarding body image to deal with. As is usually the case in romances, there are misunderstandings where each of them hurts the other before they manage to work their way to a happy ending. 

I liked Holly very much as a character but it took me quite a bit longer to warm up to Logan. I was put off by the way he treated his relationship with Holly and by his general slowness at recognizing that he was falling in love with her. I also thought that Chase and Amanda's relationship with its borderline kinkiness detracted from Logan and Holly's story.

Fans of slow building romances will enjoy this story about two very interesting people.

Favorite Quote:
Holly was ready for the change. Unfortunately, Logan was not.

When Holly came into the gym the next day, not only was she sporting a new bobbed haircut, but the sweatpants and too-big T-shirt were gone, replace by the latest workout clothes. the flared spandex pants hugged her waist and behind; the form-fitting white Nike tee commanded JUST DO IT in neon green and revealed an impressive bust. Where she was once shapeless and undefined, an hourglass figure had begun to  take its place. He was momentarily taken aback. the he had to keep himself from becoming engrossed in it. 
I got this ARC through the Amazon Vine program. You can buy your copy here. 

Friday, August 30, 2013

Friday Memes: Big Girl Panties by Stephanie Evanovich

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 Big Girl Panties by Stephanie Evanovich. I got this ARC through the Amazon Vine program. Here is the description of this July 9 release:
Big Girl Panties by Stephanie Evanovich is a rollicking and poignant romantic comedy about a young widow who decides to get in shape...and winds up getting her groove back—and a whole lot more!

Holly Brennan used food to comfort herself through her husband’s illness and death. Now she’s alone at age thirty-two. And she weighs more than she ever has. When fate throws her in the path of Logan Montgomery, personal trainer to pro athletes, and he offers to train her, Holly concludes it must be a sign. Much as she dreads the thought of working out, Holly knows she needs to put on her big girl panties and see if she can sweat out some of her grief.

Soon, the easy intimacy and playful banter of their training sessions lead Logan and Holly to most intense and steamy workouts. But can Holly and Logan go the distance as a couple now that she’s met her goals—and other men are noticing?
Beginning:
"I'm sorry, Mr. Montgomery," the pretty employee behind the counter said apologetically, "but for the next flight out, it's the best I can offer."
Friday 56:
"Absolutely," he told her enthusiastically. "The criteria break down into cardiovascular fitness, muscular strength, muscular endurance, flexibility, and body composition, which is the clinical term for your body-fat-to-mass ratio."

Thursday, August 29, 2013

ARC Review: A Study in Silks by Emma Jane Holloway

A Study in Silks
Author: Emma Jane Holloway
Publication: Del Rey (September 24, 2013)

Description: Evelina Cooper, the niece of the great Sherlock Holmes, is poised to enjoy her first Season in London Society. But there’s a murderer to deal with—not to mention missing automatons, a sorcerer, and a talking mouse.
 
In a Victorian era ruled by a council of ruthless steam barons, mechanical power is the real monarch and sorcery the demon enemy of the Empire. Nevertheless, the most coveted weapon is magic that can run machines—something Evelina has secretly mastered. But rather than making her fortune, her special talents could mean death or an eternity as a guest of Her Majesty’s secret laboratories. What’s a polite young lady to do but mind her manners and pray she’s never found out?
 
But then there’s that murder. As Sherlock Holmes’s niece, Evelina should be able to find the answers, but she has a lot to learn. And the first decision she has to make is whether to trust the handsome, clever rake who makes her breath come faster, or the dashing trick rider who would dare anything for her if she would only just ask.


My Thoughts: This alternate history/steampunk story takes place in Victorian England. Evelina Cooper is the niece of Sherlock Holmes but she is also a young woman with ties to two worlds. Her father's world was that of the circus while her mother was of the gentry. Both parents passed away when Evelina was young leaving her to grow up in the circus with her Gran Cooper until she was removed to the home of her other grandmother who was determined to turn her into a lady.

Evelina is spending her debut season with the family of her best friend Imogen Bancroft who is the daughter of former diplomat Lord Bancroft. She is eager to take part in the events that young society ladies attend. But things quickly become complicated when she finds the corpse of one of the housemaids and gets involved in the investigation of her murder. 

The plot is filled with all sorts of twists and turns and it is filled with wonderful steampunk details. Evelina has magic. The steam barons who control London have made the possession of magic both unpopular and dangerous. Evelina is also very interested in making mechanical devices which is something else the steam barons do not want people to do. She has made an interesting bird and mouse who are spying for her as she works on the case of the murdered housemaid. 

The plot also has romance as Evelina is torn between Nick who was a childhood friend and love and Tobias who is the brother of her best friend Imogen. One of the reasons she left Nick was because they both had magic that played off each other and neither could hide it. It was a case of Evelina leaving the circus or Nick leaving. She never told Nick that she left partially to keep him in the only home he had ever known. When they meet again as adults, Nick wants to love her and protect her but the same reasons that separated them years ago along with their very different social positions make it impossible for Evelina. On the other hand, Tobias is also outside her social class. It doesn't help that Lord Bancroft is encouraging his son to seduce Evelina to distract her from her investigations. She has had a crush on Tobias ever since she met him but she knows that he isn't good for her. 

The mystery was well-done. I liked that each character seemed to have a separate part of the puzzle. We could see all the pieces but it took quite a while for all the pieces to come together for Evelina and her uncle Sherlock.

This is the first of three books featuring Evelina Cooper. I know that I will be eager to read A STUDY IN DARKNESS in October and A STUDY IN ASHES in November. 

Favorite Quote:
"Pessimism is the basis of all sound expectations. If you foresee nothing good, no outrage can shock you."

Evelina choked back a laugh. "I pity your future husband."

"Only if he can't keep up—which is a depressing likelihood. I suspect there's a factory in Yorkshire turning out insipid young men by the box load, and they're all clamoring to be on my dance card."
I got this ARC through the Amazon Vine program. You can buy your copy here. 

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Book Review: Biting Bad by Chloe Neill

Biting Bad
Author: Chloe Neill
Publication: NAL Trade (August 6, 2013)

Description: Merit has been a vampire for only a short while, but she’s already seen a lifetime’s worth of trouble. She and her Master, centuries-old Ethan Sullivan, have risked their lives time and again to save the city they love. But not all of Chicago is loving them back.

Anti-vampire riots are erupting all over town, striking vampires where it hurts the most. A splinter group armed with Molotov cocktails and deep-seated hate is intent on clearing the fanged from the Windy City come hell or high water.

Merit and her allies rush to figure out who’s behind the attacks, who will be targeted next, and whether there’s any way to stop the wanton destruction. The battle for Chicago is just beginning, and Merit is running out of time.


My Thoughts: BITING BAD is the eighth book in Neill's Chicagoland Vampires series. Merit has still been a vampire for less than a year. Valentine's Day is nearing and Merit would like to plan something special for Ethan now that they are in a relationship. But vampire politics and human politics are getting in the way of their peaceful holiday celebration.

Codogan House, under the direction of Master Ethan Sullivan, has left the Greenwich Presidium but that vampire organization isn't ready to let them live peacefully. The GP has blacklisted Cadogan House which makes it a crime for any other vampires to associate with them. 

A new organization called Clean Chicago is also raising its ugly head and starting riots. The first was at a factory that makes Blood4You which is essential for vampires who don't want to drink from humans or each other. The next riot is against Grey House which is another of Chicago's vampire houses. Both riots seem ill-planned and amateurish in execution. Merit is busy investigating. She is suspicious that her old enemy - McKetrick - is somehow behind the problems.

Merit also has to deal with re-establishing her relationship with her best friend Mallory who is trying to come to terms with being a sorcerer who just about destroyed Chicago with her black magic. She also has to deal with her relationship with her father. They have never gotten along because of their different goals. 

I liked this story and look forward to reading whatever comes next for Merit and Ethan. 

Favorite Quote:
"Maybe now she'll finally trust that I'm right about everything," Charlotte said. "She had a very difficult time with that growing up."

"She still has a difficult time with it. I'm nearly always right, and she seems to forget that fact rather often. It's unfortunate, really."
I bought this one because I love the series. You can buy your copy here.

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Teaser Tuesday: A Study in Silks by Emma Jane Holloway

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!

This week my teaser comes from A Study in Silks by Emma Jane Holloway. I got this ARC through the Amazon Vine program. Here is the description of this Sept. 24 release:
Evelina Cooper, the niece of the great Sherlock Holmes, is poised to enjoy her first Season in London Society. But there’s a murderer to deal with—not to mention missing automatons, a sorcerer, and a talking mouse. 

In a Victorian era ruled by a council of ruthless steam barons, mechanical power is the real monarch and sorcery the demon enemy of the Empire. Nevertheless, the most coveted weapon is magic that can run machines—something Evelina has secretly mastered. But rather than making her fortune, her special talents could mean death or an eternity as a guest of Her Majesty’s secret laboratories. What’s a polite young lady to do but mind her manners and pray she’s never found out? But then there’s that murder. As Sherlock Holmes’s niece, Evelina should be able to find the answers, but she has a lot to learn. And the first decision she has to make is whether to trust the handsome, clever rake who makes her breath come faster, or the dashing trick rider who would dare anything for her if she would only just ask.
Teaser:
The candle blew out, leaving her in utter blackness. Evelina stopped midstride, nerves straining. Someone passed by to her left, leaving a scent of sweat and brandy. She didn't hear footsteps on the soft carpet, but felt the displacement of air—a light exhalation like the sound of a gloating smile. 

Sunday, August 25, 2013

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (August 26, 2013)

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.

On the Personal Side: I am still regaining my strength and recovering from my surgery. School starts Monday for teachers and we have three heavily scheduled and long days to begin the year. To add to that the temperatures are supposed to be in the 90s with high humidity. I can't say that I am looking forward to leaving my air-conditioned house even to go to my air-conditioned schools. 

I expect this will be a slow reading week because I will be working both Tuesday and Wednesday evenings as well as all day Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Luckily, we have Thursday, Friday, and the Labor Day weekend to recover before we start with students on September 3.

Last week I read:
A Study in Silks by Emma Jane Holloway - This one was an entertaining historical mystery/steampunk story that begins a trilogy. It was very long and printed in a small font which got my reading week off to a slow start. My review will be posted on August 29.

Don't Look Now by Michelle Gagnon is the sequel to Don't Turn Around and is a young adult technothriller. This one is the second book in a trilogy and is filled with action and danger. My review will be posted on September 4.
The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black was an very interesting addition to the vampire genre. I really liked the main character and the world that Black created. My review will be posted on August 31.

This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales was an excellent story for all those people who didn't fit in while in high school and who dance to the music of a different band. Elise Dembowski finds her passion as a DJ at an underground dance club and changes her life. My review will be posted on September 5.

The Edge of Normal by Carla Norton was a thriller starring a young woman who had been abducted at age 12 and kept captive for almost four years while suffering torture, sexual abuse and starvation. Now 22, she gets involved in the case of another girl who was abducted and attracts the attention of the criminal mastermind who planned the abductions. It was a great story of recovery and strength and had some very chilling parts. My review will be posted on September 5.

Coming up this week on Inside of a Dog are reviews for Biting Bad by Chloe Neill, A Study in Silks by Emma Jane Holloway, and Big Girl Panties by Stephanie Evanovich. Coming up this week on Ms. Martin Teaches Media are reviews for Conjured by Sarah Beth Durst and The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black. I will also be interviewing Sarah Beth Durst on Wednesday.

Next week I have these review books on my Read Now stack:
Death Never Sleeps by E. J. Simon
Covet by Tracey Garvis Graves
The Impersonator by Mary Miley
Tumble & Fall by Alexandra Coutts
The Clockwork Scarab by Colleen Gleason

What do you have planned for this week?

Stacking the Shelves (Aug. 25, 2013)

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.

This week I received only two books. Both were books for review sent by Meryl Moss Media Relations.
Death Never Sleeps  by E. J. Simon was a surprise. I hadn't been asked if I wanted to read it. Here is the description:
DO THE DEAD HAVE SMARTPHONES?

The problem with Alex Nicholas is that he won't stay dead.

Alex Nicholas was the consummate Queens bookie: fast cars and even faster women, and friends in all the wrong places. As an illegal sports betting and loan shark king in New York City, Alex was fearless-until the night his luck ran out and someone leveled the silver barrel of an automatic on him and pulled the trigger.

Michael Nicholas was everything his brother Alex was not: a powerful, married straight-arrow corporate CEO living the American Dream. Their two worlds collide when Michael discovers his brother's secret laptop.

As Michael crosses the globe to find his brother's murder, can he avoid his brother's fate? And can the information contained in the laptop help Alex reach out to help Michael-from beyond the grave.
What do you think? Would you add it to your reading stack?
I also got Declan's Cross by Carla Neggers. I was asked it I wanted that one and chose it because it sounded like an interesting suspense title. I was a little concerned because it isn't the first book in the series but am willing to give it a try. Here is the description:
An escape to an idyllic Irish seaside village is about to turn deadly in this riveting new novel by master of romantic suspense Carla Neggers  

For marine biologist Julianne Maroney, two weeks in tiny Declan's Cross on the south Irish coast is a chance to heal her broken heart. She doesn't expect to attract the attention of FBI agents Emma Sharpe and Colin Donovan—especially since a Donovan is the reason for her broken heart.

Emma and Colin are in Ireland for their own personal retreat. Colin knows he's a reminder of everything Julianne wants to escape, but something about her trip raises his suspicion. Emma, an art crimes expert, is also on edge. Of all the Irish villages Julianne could choose…why Declan's Cross?

Ten years ago, a thief slipped into a mansion in Declan's Cross. Emma's grandfather, a renowned art detective, investigated, but the art stolen that night has never been recovered and the elusive thief never caught.

From the moment Julianne sets foot on Irish soil, everything goes wrong. The well-connected American diver who invited her to Ireland has disappeared. And now Emma and Colin are in Declan's Cross asking questions.

As a dark conspiracy unfolds amid the breathtaking scenery of Declan's Cross, the race is on to stop a ruthless killer…and the stakes have never been more personal for Emma and Colin.
Would that one go on your reading stack?

What did you get this week?

Saturday, August 24, 2013

ARC Review: Cast in Sorrow by Michelle Sagara

Cast in Sorrow
Author: Michelle Sagara
Publication: Harlequin Luna; Original edition (August 27, 2013)

Description: THE END OF HER JOURNEY IS ONLY  THE BEGINNING… 

The Barrani would be happy to see her die. So Kaylin Neya is a bit surprised by her safe arrival in the West March. Especially when enemies new and old surround her and those she would call friends are equally dangerous… 

And then the real trouble starts. Kaylin's assignment is to be a "harmoniste"—one who helps tell the truth behind a Barrani Recitation. But in a land where words are more effective than weapons, Kaylin's duties are deadly. With the wrong phrase she could tear a people further asunder. And with the right ones…well, then she might be able to heal a blight on a race. 

If only she understood the story….


My Thoughts: Kaylin Neya is out of her element as she travels to the West March to take part in a Barrani ceremony. The ceremony involves healing the Green which was damaged when some ambitious Barrani decided to use their children to gain power at the an earlier ceremony. 

Kaylin's friend Teela was one of those children and the only one to come back alive. The other eleven are caught some where between life and death. Teela wants to save them. Kaylin is afraid that she will lose Teela in the attempt.

Kaylin is also traveling with Nightshade who is the Barrani outcaste who controls the fief where Kaylin was born, the Consort who is one of the most important Barrani, her friend Severn, and her small dragon familiar. As is usual, the plot is complex and rife with Barrani politics. The magic well-developed and the characters well-rounded. I like Kaylin's relationship with Teela and the way she interacts with the Barrani. I also like her relationship with the small dragon that she treats as if it were a pet cat but which is a powerful magic familiar.

Fans of the series won't want to miss this episode but I don't think anyone would be successful jumping into the series here at book 9. 

Favorite Quote:
Words were sometimes more of a barrier than a bridge, especially because it was so easy to choose the wrong ones. It was just as easy to hear the wrong ones—to think she understood waht the other person was trying to say to her. To hear what the words meant to her, not what they meant coming from someone else's mouth.
I get this eARC from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.

Friday, August 23, 2013

Friday Memes: Cast in Sorrow by Michelle Sagara

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 Cast in Sorrow by Michelle Sagaara. I got this eARC from NetGalley. It is the 9th book in her Cast in... fantasy series. Here is the description:
THE END OF HER JOURNEY IS ONLY  THE BEGINNING…

The Barrani would be happy to see her die. So Kaylin Neya is a bit surprised by her safe arrival in the West March. Especially when enemies new and old surround her and those she would call friends are equally dangerous…

And then the real trouble starts. Kaylin's assignment is to be a "harmoniste"—one who helps tell the truth behind a Barrani Recitation. But in a land where words are more effective than weapons, Kaylin's duties are deadly. With the wrong phrase she could tear a people further asunder. And with the right ones…well, then she might be able to heal a blight on a race.

If only she understood the story…. 
Beginning:
To say that Private Kaylin Neya was out of her element was to master the art of understatement.
Friday 56:
No one spoke. They looked at Kaylin, looked at her dress—and the hole that wasn't actually all that big—and said nothing. They said it really loudly.

Thursday, August 22, 2013

Book Review: Magic Rises by Ilona Andrews

Magic Rises
Author: Ilona Andrews
Publication: Ace (July 30, 2013)

Description: Atlanta is a city plagued by magical problems. Kate Daniels will fight to solve them—no matter the cost.
 
Mercenary Kate Daniels and her mate, Curran, the Beast Lord, are struggling to solve a heartbreaking crisis. Unable to control their beasts, many of the Pack’s shapeshifting children fail to survive to adulthood. While there is a medicine that can help, the secret to its making is closely guarded by the European packs, and there’s little available in Atlanta.
 
Kate can’t bear to watch innocents suffer, but the solution she and Curran have found threatens to be even more painful. The European shapeshifters who once outmaneuvered the Beast Lord have asked him to arbitrate a dispute—and they’ll pay him in medicine. With the young people’s survival and the Pack’s future at stake, Kate and Curran know they must accept the offer—but they have little doubt that they’re heading straight into a trap…


My Thoughts: MAGIC RISES was an excellent entry into the Kate Daniels series. It was filled with danger and adventure and really tested Kate and Curran's relationship. There are a variety of plot threads woven into this story. First of all, Julie's best friend Maddie is an danger of going loup. A fairly large percentage of were children go loup at adolescence and have to be killed. There is a cure but it is tightly controlled by the European weres who aren't into sharing.

When Kate and Curran are asked to act as a neutral party concerning three rival clans and the birth of a child, they know that this is some kind of trap. However, their fee includes the panacea that will keep more of the were children alive. 

Since Saiman owes Kate a favor, she calls it in by having him use one of his fleet of ships to take them, and about a dozen of their pack members, to the shore of the Black Sea and the political minefield that is brewing there. Kate's one piece of optimism is that it will get her out of the sight of Hugh who is her father's warlord. She has been on the run from her father since her birth.

Arriving at the fortress, she finds her hopes are dashed when the human in charge turns out to be Hugh and the plot gets even thicker and twistier. Throw in an old girlfriend of Curran's who is absolutely sure she would make a better Consort than Kate and is willing to do anything to prove it and things really come to a boil.

As always, one of the most magical parts of the Kate Daniels series are the creatures who inhabit the stories. This story is no exception. It introduces new creatures based on Babylonian myth that even Kate hasn't heard of. 

I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. Fans of this series will not want to miss the excellent episode.  

Favorite Quote:
"A young djigit stopped by my room," I said. "His name is Volodja and for three thousand dollars he will walk me deep into the mountains and show me where the bad shapeshifters live."

"How fortunate." Aunt B's eyes lit up. "Would you like some company for this wonderful trap, I mean, adventure?"
I bought this one as soon as it was available. You can buy your copy here.

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Book Review: Seduction in Death by J. D. Robb

Seduction in Death
Author: J. D. Robb
Publication: Berkley (September 1, 2001)

Description: Dante had been courting his victim in cyberspace for weeks before meeting her in person. A few sips of wine and a few hours later, she was dead. The murder weapon: a rare, usually undetectable date-rape drug with a street value of a quarter million dollars. Detective Eve Dallas is playing and replaying the clues in her mind. The candlelight, the music, the rose petals strewn across the beda seduction meant for his benefit, not hers. He hadn’t intended to kill her. But now that he had, he is left with only two choices: to either hole up in fear and guilt. Or start hunting again… 

My Thoughts: This episode in the In Death series is not a "whodunnit" but rather a police procedural where we watch Eve and her team gather the evidence needed to stop the murderers. The story begins when Eve is called to the case of the death of a young woman who might have jumped, or might have been pushed, from the balcony of her apartment. The death is witnessed by Dr. Louise Dimatto who Eve had met on an earlier case. Eve quickly learns that the young woman had been dosed with two unusual sex enhancement drugs. It was the amount and the combination that killed her.

We also get a look into the killer's minds. They are two rich boys who are playing a game. Their births were the result of the original experiments with the two drugs before it was learned how dangerous they were. One is a computer hacker and the other is the one who is making the drugs. Kevin is the one who accidentally killed the first girl but Lucias is the one who deliberately sets out to kill the second girl. The game escalates for them with Lucias being the leader and Kevin the tool who follows his lead. 

This case brings back some of the memories Eve has about her childhood where she was sexuallly and physcally abused by her own father which makes it a hard one for her to investigate. Roarke works with her as her civilian consultant as they try to track down the killers.

The big relationship issue in this story doesn't center on Eve and Roarke. Instead, McNab and Peabody's relationship is the focus. McNab is very jealous because he believes that Peabody's relationship with licenced companion Charles is sexual. Of course, Peabody hasn't told him that they are just good friends. When Charles and Louise meet and start a relationship, McNab is angry with Charles for hurting Peabody. They do manage to resolve their relationship issues and begin dating exclusively.

This was an enjoyable entry into this long-running series. 

Favorite Quote:
It didn't matter that they'd been together more than a year. It occurred to her that she would, very likely, have this leap of heart, this dazzling rush, every time she saw him for the rest of her life.

Eventually, it might stop embarrassing her.
I bought this one for my Kindle to read it again. You can buy your copy here.

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Teaser Tuesday: Magic Rises by Ilona Andrews

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!

This week my teaser comes from Magic Rises by Ilona Andrews. I am a big fan of this urban fantasy series and had to move it to the top of my reading list as soon as it arrived. Here is the description of this July 30 release:
Atlanta is a city plagued by magical problems. Kate Daniels will fight to solve them—no matter the cost.

Mercenary Kate Daniels and her mate, Curran, the Beast Lord, are struggling to solve a heartbreaking crisis. Unable to control their beasts, many of the Pack’s shapeshifting children fail to survive to adulthood. While there is a medicine that can help, the secret to its making is closely guarded by the European packs, and there’s little available in Atlanta.

Kate can’t bear to watch innocents suffer, but the solution she and Curran have found threatens to be even more painful. The European shapeshifters who once outmaneuvered the Beast Lord have asked him to arbitrate a dispute—and they’ll pay him in medicine. With the young people’s survival and the Pack’s future at stake, Kate and Curran know they must accept the offer—but they have little doubt that they’re heading straight into a trap…
Teaser:
"And who's going to watch your ass while you're over there? It's not just about what they are doing, it's thinking about what they could do and how they could do it. Who'll do that for you?"

"Not you," Curran said. "I need you here."

Jim turned to me. "Kate?"

If he thought I was getting in the middle of that, he was crazy. "Oh, look at all this paperwork I have. Can't talk now, very busy."

Sunday, August 18, 2013

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (August 19, 2013)

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.

On the Personal Side: I got out of the hospital Monday morning and have been gradually resuming my life. I have become a big fan of afternoon naps and have been learning how to do things when I have a 10-pound limit on what I can lift, push or pull. I will be very glad when that ends in just 4 more weeks!

I am feeling really good and gradually getting ready to begin my next school year. I have been spending a couple of hours a day at school trying to get organized. We are starting something new this year where we have late starts every Wednesday morning so that our professional learning teams can meet. However, the proposed schedules right now mean that I won't get a lunch break on Wednesdays during the second semester. I think that is a problem that both my elementary and secondary principals need to solve before school begins.

Last Week I read these books in this order:
I finished the 15th in the In Death series - Purity in Death - while waiting to be dismissed from the hospital. I love this series and, since they are re-reads, they make a great choice when looking for some reading to distract from real life. 

I read Sure Signs of Crazy by Karen Harrington which was a middle grade ARC my friend chose for me at ALA. I thought it was one of the best written books I have read this year. I also think it would be a great companion read to To Kill a Mockingbird. My review will be posted on August 22.
I read Biting Bad by Chloe Neill which is the latest in her Chicagoland Vampires series. It was entertaining. My review will be posted on August 28.

Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas was the one ARC I really wanted from ALA. I very thoroughly enjoyed this sequel to last year's amazing Throne of Glass. My review will be posted on August 24.
Since I finally caught up with old Amazon Vine books, I got a chance to choose some more. I picked Big Girl Panties by Stephanie Evanovich and thought it was an entertaining story that straddled the line between romance and chick lit. My review will be posted on August 31. 

I just finished Conjured by Sarah Beth Durst and hereby declare it the best book I have read so far in 2013. It was amazing, compelling and I literally couldn't put it down until I reached the final page. This one will be released on Sept. 3 and should be on every fantasy lovers wishlist. My review will be posted on August 29.

I have chosen these four review books for next week's reading:
The Edge of Normal by Carla Norton has been waiting on my Kindle since I got it through Minotaur's Early Review program a while ago. This thriller will be released on September 10.

A Study in Silks by Emma Jane Holloway was my second Amazon Vine pick this month. This steampunk mystery will be released on September 24.
My YA choices this week are Don't Look Now by Michelle Gagnon which will be released on August 27 and The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black which will be released on September 3. I got both ARCs at ALA and was lucky enough to have Holly Black autograph hers. 

If I finish those, I have lots more books on both the review stack and the TBR mountain to choose from. Right now, I am not sure what I'll be picking. 

What do you have planned for this week?

Stacking the Shelves (August 18, 2013)

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.

This week I added ten books to my stack.

I bought:
Dragonwriter: A Tribute to Anne McCaffrey and Pern edited by Todd McCaffrey because I have been a fan of McCaffrey's work for years and am interested to see what some other noted authors think about her work and influence.

Her Ladyship's Curse by Lynn Viehl appealed to me because I am becoming a big fan of steampunk.

Biting Bad by Chloe Neill is the latest in her Chicagoland Vampires series. 

I also bought the next five in J. D. Robb's In Death series for my Kindle. These are books 16 through 20 in the series. 

Finally, I received two books for review from the Amazon Vine Program.
I chose Big Girl Panties by Stephanie Evanovich and A Study in Silks by Emma Jane Holloway.

What did you get this week?

Saturday, August 17, 2013

ARC Review: Blood and Roses by A. K. Alexander

Blood and Roses
Publication: Thomas & Mercer (August 20, 2013)

Description: Someone is torturing and killing high-stakes players in the horse-racing world, deliberately mimicking equine injuries. Legs shattered, knees hobbled, shot point-blank between the eyes, all signs point to an animal activist gone rogue. But San Diego CSI Holly Jennings knows better. She’s seen enough violence in her time to know the difference between a killer bent on revenge and a killer seeking sheer destruction.

To stop him, Holly must venture beyond the gleaming facade of jockey silks and Derby hats into the seedy underbelly of the racing world, where ambition and greed trump ethics and fair play, and people will do anything—even kill—to win. But just when she thinks the killer is within her reach, a ghost from the past returns to threaten it all: her case, her job…and her life.

My Thoughts: BLOOD AND ROSES was a plot driven thriller that was fast-paced. Characterization suffered a little because of the focus on plot. And what a plot it was, including murders, terrorism, a couple romances, a husband returned from the grave, and the dark side of the the horse racing world. 

The story is told from multiple viewpoints. Each chapter is told from on character's point of view. The chapters vary in length buy most are short. Because there are so many points of view, little time is spent on character development. 

Police Detective Holly Jennings is the main character. We know she is a widow of a fellow police officer who died in the line of duty while doing a drug bust. The warehouse burned and his body was never recovered. She was pregnant at the time of his death and now has a daughter who is about 10. She has met another man who also has two daughters and she is planning their wedding, or, she would be if she wasn't so busy trying to solve her cases. She is a dogged investigator who feels that she can know if any of the people she interviews are telling the truth. She is described as being intimidating to suspects.

The writing was competent but not polished. I found the story readable but not emotionally engaging. Fans of thrillers and horses may enjoy this plot driven novel. 

Favorite Quote:
"I always liked that about you, El. You got that spunky little hard-ass thing going on."

She put a piece of egg on her fork and flicked it at him. "And you have that total ass thing going on."
I got this ARC through the Amazon Vine program. You can buy your copy here.

Friday, August 16, 2013

Friday Memes: Blood and Roses by A. K. Alexander

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 Roses by A. K. Alexander. I got this ARC through the Amazon Vine program. Here is the description of this August 20 release:
Someone is torturing and killing high-stakes players in the horse-racing world, deliberately mimicking equine injuries. Legs shattered, knees hobbled, shot point-blank between the eyes, all signs point to an animal activist gone rogue. But San Diego CSI Holly Jennings knows better. She’s seen enough violence in her time to know the difference between a killer bent on revenge and a killer seeking sheer destruction.

To stop him, Holly must venture beyond the gleaming facade of jockey silks and Derby hats into the seedy underbelly of the racing world, where ambition and greed trump ethics and fair play, and people will do anything—even kill—to win. But just when she thinks the killer is within her reach, a ghost from the past returns to threaten it all: her case, her job…and her life.
Beginning:
Tommy Lyons was on a high.

And a roll.
Friday 56:
"Scott Christiansen's equine sports medicine company is located within yards of the building—a dive shop to be exact—where the jockeys were found murdered."