Happy Thanksgiving!

Hope everyone that celebrates is having a Happy and Safe Thanksgiving!

by gating

New Releases ~ week of 11/25/2013

A Change of Heart by Barbara Longley (#3 Perfect, Indiana)

Alien Honor by Vaughn Heppner (#1 Fenris)
Angel Fever by L A Weatherly (#3 Angels Trilogy)
Battle of the Brightest by Hope McLean (#4 Jewel Thieves)
Black Widow Demon by Paula Altenburg (#2 Demon Outlaws)
Brooke by Veronica Rossi (#2.5 Under the Never Sky)
Chain of Illusions by Boone Brux (#3 Bringer and the Bane)
City of Lost Dreams by Magnus Flyte (#2 City of Dark Magic)
Crash Into You by Katie McGarry (#3 Pushing the Limits)
Crystal Fire by Jordan Dane (#2 The Hunted)
Dangerous Seduction by Zoe Archer (#2 Nemesis Unlimited)
Death Comes to the Village by Catherine Lloyd (#1 Kurland St. Mary Mysteries)

Devil In My Arm by Samantha Kane (#3 The Saint’s Devils)
Down Range by Lindsay McKenna (#2 Shadow Warriors)
Dream On by Sarah Mlynowski (#4 Whatever After)
Dream Wedding by Susan Mallery (#3 Brides Of Bradley House)
Finally Home by Lois Greiman (#3 Hope Springs)
Forever Us by Sandi Lynn (#3 Forever Black)
Hard As It Gets by Laura Kaye (#1 Hard Ink)
Highland Master by Hannah Howell (#20 Murray Family)
Hostage by Kay Hooper (#14 The Bishop/Special Crimes Unit)
Just Like Heaven by Lacey Baker (#2 Sweetland)
Last to Rise by Francis Knight (#3 Rojan Dizon)
Let it Snow by Heidi Cullinan (#1 Minnesota Christmas)
Lost in a Royal Kiss by Vanessa Kelly (#0.5 Renegade Royals)

Love A Little Sideways by Shannon Stacey (#7 The Kowalski Family)
Matt by Cat Johnson (#11 Red, Hot, & Blue)
Night of Cake and Puppets by Laini Taylor (#2.5 Daughter of Smoke & Bone)
No Good Duke Goes Unpunished by Sarah MacLean (#3 Rules of Scoundrels)
Pawn by Aimée Carter (#1 The Blackcoat Rebellion)
Pushed by Corrine Jackson (#2 Sense Thieves)
Scarred by Thomas Enger (#3 Henning Juul)
Secrets on Cedar Key by Terri Dulong (#5 Cedar Keys)
The Chocolate Heart by Laura Florand (#5 Chocolate)
The Devil Wears Kilts by Suzanne Enoch (#1 Scandalous Highlander)
The Lost Gold by Paula Harrison (#7 Rescue Princesses)
The Missing Dough by Chris Cavender (#6 Pizza Lovers Mysteries)
The Next Big Thing by Sadie Hayes (#2 Start-Up)
The Shimmering Stone by Paula Harrison (#8 Rescue Princesses)
Torn by Monica Murphy (#2 Billionaire Bachelors Club)
Twilight with the Infamous Earl by Alexandra Hawkins (#7 Lords of Vice)
Wake to Darkness by Maggie Shayne (#2 Brown and De Luca)
Warrior Untamed by Melissa Mayhue (#4 The Warrior)
Wild Justice by Kelley Armstrong (#3 Nadia Stafford)

Book Review (Graphic Novel) ~ Alpha and Omega

Alpha and Omega: Cry Wolf  Volume 2 (Alpha & Omega Graphic #2)

by Patricia Briggs
published by InkLit
genre: Graphic Novel, Fantasy, Paranormal

Summary (Goodreads): Charles and Anna are on the hunt for a rogue werewolf in the Montana mountains. The creature has morphed into something so dark that it kills everything in its path: deer, elk, grizzlies…humans.

But the wolf is the creature of something far more powerful. One of Charles and Anna’s own pack harbors a centuries-old secret that has come back to haunt him—and wreak vengeance on those around him.

Charles and Anna—unaware of the truth—are two innocents who stand in the way. But even as members of their pack rally around them, Anna’s rare power comes into its own—and is unleashed…

My Thoughts: I have to start by saying this is the first time I've really read a graphic novel. I've flipped through them before but never sat and read the full story before. That said I was very mixed about this.
I liked the graphics in the sense that I am a huge fan of fantasy art and if that is all these had been I would have been happy with them. Unfortunately, these were based on popular characters in a  well established series. I think my biggest problem was Bran. The one thing that comes across in both Briggs' series is how young and unassuming he is, in this he is older and kind of muscle bound thug looking. The rest of the characters are similar to this. They seem to be off a bit based on what we know of them.
I liked how quickly it read. It was a nice refresher on this series since it has been awhile since I read the last one. It was bare bones compared to the actual book but as I said an easy way to refresh yourself on a series.
Overall, while I had some problems with how some characters looked, it wouldn't stop me from reading another. I also liked how I can pick one of these up when I'm having trouble getting into a full book.

Rating: 3.5

New Releases ~ week of 11/18/2013

*All links go to Goodreads

A Cold Creek Christmas Surprise by RaeAnne Thayne (#12 Cowboys of Cold Creek)

An Early Christmas Gift by Susan Crosby (#3 Red Valley Ranchers)
Battle of Forces by Ali Vali (#2 Forces)
Beautiful Beginning by Christina Lauren (#3.5 Beautiful Bastard)
Best of Three by Erin Nicholas (#3 Counting on Love)
Burnt Black by Ed Kovacs (#3 Cliff St. James Mysteries)
Cold Case at Camden Crossing by Rita Herron (#1 Cold Case)
Cowboys & Angels by Vicki Lewis Thompson (#13 Sons of Chance)
Found by H Terrell Griffin (#8 Matt Royal Mystery)
Green Goblin by Joe Caramagna (#5 Amazing Spiderman:Young Readers Novel)
Highland Protector by Catherine Bybee (#5 MacCoinnich Time Travel)
Holiday Games by Jaci Burton (#6.5 Play By Play)

Horizon by Alyson Noel (#4 Soul Seekers)
Justice is Coming by Delores Fossen (#5 Marshals of Maverick)
King and Maxwell by David Baldacci (#6 Sean King and Michelle Maxwell)
Last Chance Knit & Stitch by Hope Ramsay (#7 Last Chance)
Legacy of the Crystal Shard by Ed Greenwood (#2 Sundering Adventure)
Not Just a Wallflower by Carole Mortimer (#2 Season of Secrets)
Not-So-Simple Simon by Stormy Glenn (#4 Aberdeen Pack)
Risky by Jo Davis (#2 Torn Between Two Lovers)
Rocky Mountain Freedom by Vivian Arend (#6 Six Pack Ranch)
Solid Gold Seduction by Zuri Day (#4 The Drakes of California)
Sophie Hartley and the Facts of Life by Stephanie Greene (#4 Sophie Hartley)
Soulless: The Manga Vol. 3 by Gail Carriger (#3 The Parasol Protectorate (Manga))

Sugarplum Homecoming by Linda Goodnight (#3 Whisper Falls)
Takedown Twenty by Janet Evanovich (#20 The Stephanie Plum Series)
The Captive Maiden by Melanie Dickerson (#4 Healer's Apprentice)
The Curse Keepers by Denise Grover Swank (#1 Curse Keepers)
The Fiery Heart by Richelle Mead (#4 Bloodlines)
The Lawman's Holiday Wish by Ruth Logan Herne (#3 Kirkwood Lake)
The Rogue's Proposal by Jennifer Haymore (#2 House of Trent)
The Severed Tower by J. Barton Mitchell (#2 Conquered Earth)
The Surprise of Haruhi Suzumiya by Nagaru Tanigawa (#10 Haruhi Suzumiya)
Watcher of the Dark by Joseph Nassise (#3 Jeremiah Hunt Chronicles)
World After by Susan Ee (#2 Penryn & the End of Days)
Yuletide Protector by Julie Miller (#6 Precinct: Task Force)

Book Review ~ The Kingdom

The Kingdom (Graveyard Queen #2)

by Amanda Stevens
published by Mira
genre: Adult, Paranormal, PNR,

Summary (Goodreads): Deep in the shadowy foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains lies a dying town

My name is Amelia Gray. They call me The Graveyard Queen. I've been commissioned to restore an old cemetery in Asher Falls, South Carolina, but I'm coming to think I have another purpose here.

Why is there a cemetery at the bottom of Bell Lake? Why am I drawn time and again to a hidden grave I've discovered in the woods? Something is eating away at the soul of this town - this withering kingdom - and it will only be restored if I can uncover the truth.

My Thoughts: I've really enjoyed the  first two books of this series. It's got that spooky, creepy feeling that gives you the chills but you can't put it down.
Amelia is a great character most of the time. She does have her moments when you just want to shake her and say listen to yourself. She talks often in the books about the rules her father gave her to live with her ability to see ghosts, yet every time a situation arises she completely disregards the rules and does whatever. Some times this works for her but even when it does it's still just too close.
Asher Falls was a character itself. The whole town is just insane. I think Sidra was the only sane one in the bunch. I wish there had been more of her because her story sounds just as interesting as Amelia's.
I found myself just as torn with Thane as Amelia was. Even knowing what happened in the first book, there was a part of me that still wants Devlin to be her one.
Overall, there were a lot of questions answered in this book while still moving Amelia's story forward. I find I want to not only follow her story, I find myself wanting to stay in Asher Falls for a bit more. I want to know what Thane does to fix the Asher name and what happens with Tilly and Sidra. At the same time, the last line made me anxious to read book three to find out what is going to happen.

Rating:4

New Releases ~ week of 11/11/2013

*All links go to Goodreads  

A Little Too Much by Lisa Desrochers (#2 A Little Too Far)

Afterglow by Karsten Knight (#3 Wildefire)
Aftershock by Sylvia Day (#2 Afterburn)
An Old Betrayal  by Charles Finch (#7 Charles Lenox Mysteries)
Apparition by Trish J MacGregor (#3 Hungry Ghosts)
Cartier Cartel 3 by Nisa Santiago (#3 Cartier Cartel)
Copper Heart by Leena Lehtolainen (#3 Maria Kallio)
Diner Impossible by Terri L Austin (#3 Rose Strickland Mystery)
Drift by Liz Reinhardt, Steph Campbell (#5 Lengths)
Dust by Patricia Cornwell (#21 The Scarpetta Series)
Ghost Medicine by Aimée Thurlo, David Thurlo (#18 Ella Clah)
Ink My Heart by Jean Haus (#2 Luminescent Juliet)

Into the Fire by Jodi McIsaac (#2 The Thin Veil)
Long Live the Queen by Kate Locke (#3 Immortal Empire)
Mr. Red Riding Hoode by Dana Marie Bell (#2 Poconos Pack)
Plain Peace by Beth Wiseman (#6 Daughters of Promise)
Raven's Eye by Barry Maitland (#12 Brock And Kolla)
Send in the Clowns by J. Gregory Smith (#3 Paul Chang Mysteries)
Sins of the Flesh by Colleen McCullough (#5 Carmine Delmonico)
Splendor by Elana K Arnold (#3 Sacred)
Tatiana by Martin Cruz Smith (#8 Arkady Renko)
The Dagger X by Brian Eames (#2 Dagger Chronicles)
The First Dragon by James A Owen (#7 Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica)

The Guardians of the Finisher's Fury by Frank L Cole (#3 Guardians)
The Mystery of the Pirate's Treasure by Penny Warner (#3 Code Busters Club)
White Fire by Douglas Preston, Lincoln Child (#13 Pendergast)

Book Review ~ The Fairy-Tale Detectives

The Fairy-Tale Detectives (The Sisters Grimm #1)

by Michael Buckley
Illustrated by Peter Ferguson
genre: MG, Fairy-tale, fantasy,

Summary (Goodreads): For Sabrina and Daphne Grimm, life has not been a fairy tale. After the mysterious disappearance of their parents, the sisters are sent to live with their grandmother--a woman they believed was dead! Granny Relda reveals that the girls have two famous ancestors, the Brothers Grimm, whose classic book of fairy tales is actually a collection of case files of magical mischief. Now the girls must take on the family responsibility of being fairy tale detectives.

My Thoughts: This was an entertaining start to a series. Having many of your favorite fairy-tale characters stuck in one place as long as their is a Grimm living there has led to some interesting twists and turns that you might not expect.
My favorite characters were Grandma Grimm and Daphne. I loved all the quirks, like saying goodbye and hello to the house, that the grandma had and how willing Daphne was to accept it all in stride. On the other side of that is Sabrina. While I understand why she acts the way she does and it completely in character, I still found myself disliking her most of the time.
Overall, if you enjoy fairy-tale retellings this is a promising start to a series. With the girls learning to become Grimm detectives while trying to find out who has their parents alongside familiar characters in unexpected roles (three little pigs as local law enforcement) I'm looking forward to reading book 2.

Rating: 4

Waiting on Wednesday ~ Independent Study

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill over at Breaking The Spine. It's a weekly event that spotlights upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating.

Independent Study (The Testing #2)

by Joelle Charbonneau

expected release date: January 7, 2014

genre: YA, Dystopian, 

Summary: In the series debut The Testing, sixteen-year-old Cia Vale was chosen by the United Commonwealth government as one of the best and brightest graduates of all the colonies . . . a promising leader in the effort to revitalize postwar civilization. In Independent Study, Cia is a freshman at the University in Tosu City with her hometown sweetheart, Tomas—and though the government has tried to erase her memory of the brutal horrors of The Testing, Cia remembers. Her attempts to expose the ugly truth behind the government’s murderous programs put her—and her loved ones—in a world of danger. But the future of the Commonwealth depends on her.

**I know some didn't but I really enjoyed book 1 and am looking forward to seeing what happens next.

New Releases ~ week of 11/4/2013

*All links go to Goodreads

Huge list for the first week of the month

A Cadence Creek Christmas by Donna Alward (#4 Cadence Creek Cowboys)

A Cosmic Christmas 2 You by Hank Davis
A Desire So Deadly by Suzanne Young (#2.5 A Need So Beautiful)
A Potion to Die For by Heather Blake (#1 Magic Potion Mysteries)
After Eden by Helen Douglas (#1 After Eden)
All Fudged Up by Nancy Coco (#1 Candy-Coated Mysteries)
Alternate Connection by Chris Almeida, Cecilia Aubrey (#3 Countermeasure)
Amanda Weds a Good Man by Naomi King (#1 One Big Happy Family)
Autumn Grace by Marianne Ellis (#2 Amish Seasons)
Because We Belong by Beth Kery (#3 Because You Are Mine)
Better Than Gold by Mary Brady (#1 Legend of Bailey's Cove)
Born Wild by Julie Ann Walker (#5 Black Knights Inc.)
Bringing Maddie Home by Janice Kay Johnson (#1 Angel Butte Mystery)

Brothers in Blood by Dusty Richards (#4 Byrnes Family Ranch)
Champion by Marie Lu (#3 Legend)
Charms and Chocolate Chips by Bailey Cates (#3 A Magical Bakery Mystery)
Cold Spell by Jackson Pearce (#4 Fairy Tale)
Colters' Gift by Maya Banks (#5 Colters' Legacy)
Come and Take Them by Tom Kratman (#5 Desert Called Peace)
Contagion by Tim Lebbon (#3 Toxic City)
Cosmic Rift by James Axler (#67 Outlanders)
Curtsies and Conspiracies by Gail Carriger (#2 The Finishing School)
Darkness Splintered by Keri Arthur (#6 Dark Angels)
Daylighters by Rachel Caine (#15 Morganville Vampires)

Death of a Nightingale by Lene Kaaberbol, Agnete Friis (#3 Nina Borg Mysteries)
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels by Liliana Hart (#3 J.J. Graves Mysteries)
Double Dribble by W C Mack (#2 Athlete vs. Mathlete)
Entwined by Kristen Callihan (#3.5 Darkest London)
Eternal Sin by Laura Wright (#6 Mark of the Vampire)
Everyone in Their Place by Maurizio de Giovanni (#3 Commissario Ricciardi)
Expecting a Bolton Baby by Sarah M Anderson (#3 Bolton Brothers)
Finally a Bride by Renee Ryan (#7 Charity House)
Fixing to Die by Elaine Viets (#9 Josie Marcus, Mystery Shopper)
For Better or Worsted by Betty Hechtman (#8 Crochet Mystery)

For Love or Loyalty by Jennifer Hudson Taylor (#1 Macgregor Quest)
Foreplay by Sophie Jordan (#1 Ivy Chronicles)
Freezer I'll Shoot by Victoria Hamilton (#3 Vintage Kitchen Mysteries)
Gareth by Grace Burrowes (#6 Lonely Lords)
Gossamer Wing by Delphine Dryden (#1 Steam and Seduction)
Hell Bent by Devon Monk (#1 Broken Magic)
High-Stakes Holiday Reunion by Christy Barritt (#3 Security Experts)
Hijack in Abstract by Larissa Reinhart (#3 Cherry Tucker Mysteries)
How to Handle a Highlander by Mary Wine (#3 The Sutherlands)
If Only by Cherise Sinclair (#8 Masters of the Shadowlands)
Infinity by Andria Buchanan (#3 Chronicles of Nerissette)

Jagged by Kristen Ashley (#5 Colorado Mountain)
Katya's War by Jonathan L Howard (#2 Russalka Chronicles)
Kinked by Thea Harrison (#6 Elder Races)
Magic and Loss by Nancy A Collins (#3 Golgotham)
Midnight's Surrender by Donna Grant (#8.5 Dark Warriors)
Miracle Road by Emily March (#7 Eternity Springs)
Mirage by Clive Cussler, Jack du Brul (#9 The Oregon Files)
Moonlight Kiss by LuAnn McLane (#5 Cricket Creek)
Motherlode by James Axler (#113 Deathlands)
My Sort of Fairy Tale Ending by Anna Staniszewski (#3 My Very UnFairy Tale Life)
Once a SEAL by Anne Elizabeth (#2 Seal)
Promise Me Texas by Jodi Thomas (#7 Whispering Mountain)

Read It and Weep by Jenn McKinlay (#4 Library Lover's Mystery)
Revelations by J. A. Souders (#2 Elysium-Chronicles)
Rituals by Mary Anna Evans (#8 Faye Longchamp Mysteries)
Royal Airs by Sharon Shinn (#2 Elemental Blessing)
Rumor Has It by Jill Shalvis (#4 Animal Magnetism)
Sands of Nezza by M L Forman (#4 Adventurers Wanted)
Scion of the Sun by Nicola Marsh (#1 Solar Snatchers)
Somewhere to Dream by Genevieve Graham (#3 The MacDonnells)
Spark by Evan Angler (#4 Swipe)
Starhawk by Jack McDevitt (#7 Engines of God)
Striking Distance by Pamela Clare (#6 I Team)
Sunken Pyramid by Alex Archer (#45 Rogue Angel)
Taming a Wild Scot  by Rowan Keats (#1 Claimed by the Highlander)

The Boleyn Deceit by Laura Andersen (#2 Anne Boleyn Trilogy)
The Child by Keith F Goodnight (#1 Red Light and Shadow)
The Duke's Marriage Mission by Deborah Hale (#5 Glass Slipper Brides)
The Edge of Always by J. A. Redmerski (#2 The Edge of Never)
The Fatal Funnel Cake by Livia J. Washburn (#8 Fresh Baked Mysteries)
The Lair by Emily McKay (#2 The Farm)
The Long Road by Christopher Holt (#3 Last Dogs)
The Luckiest Lady in London by Sherry Thomas (#1 London)
The Misfortune Cookie by Laura Resnick (#6 Esther Diamond)
The Moment of Truth by Tara Taylor Quinn (#13 Shelter Valley Stories)
The Quotient of Murder by Ada Madison (#4 Sophie Knowles Mystery)
The Royal Ranger by John Flanagan (#12 Ranger's Apprentice)

The Sandman and the War of Dreams by William Joyce (#4 The Guardians of Childhood)
The Thrill of the Haunt by E J Copperman (#5 Haunted Guest House Mystery)
The Trap by Andrew Fukuda (#3 The Hunt)
The Trouble with Princesses by Tracy Anne Warren (#3 The Princess Bride Trilogy)
The Wedding Planners of Butternut Creek by Jane Myers Perrine (#3 Tales from Butternut Creek)
The Whispering of Bones by Judith Rock (#4 Charles Du Luc)
The Will of the Dead by George Mann (#1 Sherlock Holmes)
Through the Evil Days by Julia Spencer-Fleming (#8 Reverend Clare Fergusson)
To Dance With the Devil by Cat Adams (#6 Blood Singer)
To Have and to Hold by Leigh Greenwood (#1 Cactus Creek Cowboys)
To Tame a Cowboy by Jules Bennett (#5 Texas Cattleman's Club)
Trade Secret by Sharon Lee, Steve Miller (#17 Liaden Universe)
Twinmaker by Sean Williams (#1 Twinmaker)
Unbreakable by Stephanie Tyler (#2 Section Eight)
Wild Darkness by Lauren Dane (#4 Bound By Magic)
Words With Fiends by Ali Brandon (#4 Black Cat Bookshop Mystery)