Have a Safe and Happy Halloween Everyone!!

New Releases ~ week of 10/26/2015

A Banquet of Consequences by Elizabeth George (#19 Inspector Lynley)

A Blossom of Bright Light by Suzanne Chazin (#2 Jimmy Vega Mystery)
A Death in the Family by Michael Stanley (#6 Detective Kubu)
A Question of Inheritance by Elizabeth Edmondson (#2 Very English Mystery)
A Texas Hill Country Christmas by William W Johnstone (#5 Christmas)
A Winter Wedding by Brenda Novak (#9 Whiskey Creek)
Afterburn by Scott Nicholson (#1 Next)
All Hallows Eve (1001 Dark Nights) by Heather Graham (#16.5 Krewe of Hunters)
At the Edge of Empire by Daniel Kraus (#1 Death & Life of Zebulon Finch)
Autumn Thorns by Yasmine Galenorn (#1 Whisper Hollow)
Castle of Sighs by Jennifer Murgia (#2 Hedge Witch)

Corrupted by Lisa Scottoline (#3 Rosato & DiNunzio)
Dark Heart of Magic by Jennifer Estep (#2 Black Blade)
Darkest Before Dawn by Maya Banks (#10 The Kelly Series)
Depraved Heart by Patricia Cornwell (#23 The Scarpetta Series)
Dragon on Top by G A Aiken (#7.5 Dragon Kin)
Falling Into Bed With a Duke by Lorraine Heath (#1 Hellions of Havisham)
Fathomless by Anne M Pillsworth (#2 Redemption's Heri)
Flipped For Murder by Maddie Day (#1 Country Store Mystery)
Frosted Kisses by Heather Hepler (#2 The Cupcake Queen)
Gabriel by Nikki Kelly (#2 The Styclar Saga)
Grimm's End by Shiloh Walker (#9 Grimm’s Circle)
Haunt Couture and Ghosts Galore by Rose Pressey (#3 Haunted Vintage Mystery)

Hope Springs on Main Street by Olivia Miles (#3 Briar Creek)
I'll Never Let You Go by Mary Burton (#3 Morgan's of Nashville)
Look Both Ways by Carol J. Perry (#3 Witch City Mystery)
Mercury Retrograde by Laura Bickle (#2 Dark Alchemy)
Mine by Stacey Kennedy (#7 Club Sin)
Missing Dixie by Caisey Quinn (#3 Neon Dreams)
Mrs. Roosevelt's Confidante by Susan Elia MacNeal (#5 Maggie Hope)
Nine Lives by Wendy Corsi Staub (#6 Lily Dale)
Portia by Christina Bauer (#5 Angelbound)
Raptor by Lindsay Buroker (#6 Dragon Blood)
Recombinant by Denise Grover Swank, Shannon Mayer (#1 The Blood Borne Series)
Red Tide by Jeff Lindsay (#2 Billy Knight Series)

Rogue by Karen Lynch (#3 Relentless)
Scandal Takes the Stage  by Eva Leigh (#2 The Wicked Quills of London)
Shattered by Cynthia Eden (#3 Last Option Search Team)
Shopaholic to the Rescue by Sophie Kinsella (#8 Shopaholic)
Son of the Black Sword by Larry Correia (#1 Saga of the Forgotten Warrior)
Soul by Audrey Carlan (#3 The Trinity Trilogy)
Tempted by a Vampire by Susan Griscom (#1 Immortal Hearts of San Francisco)
The Devious Dr. Jekyll by Viola Carr (#2 Electric Empire)
The Fairy Swarm by Suzanne Selfors (#6 Imaginary Veterinary)
The Familiar 2 : Into the Forest by Mark Z. Danielewski (#2 Familiar)
The Iron Warrior by Julie Kagawa (#7 Iron Fey)
The Paladin Caper by Patrick Weekes (#3 Rogues of the Republic)

The Queen by Tiffany Reisz (#8 The Original Sinners)
The Scottie Barked at Midnight by Kaitlyn Dunnett (#9 Liss MacCrimmon Mystery)
The Silence of the Chihuahuas by Waverly Curtis (#5 Barking Detective Mysteries)
The Single Undead Moms Club by Molly Harper (#4 Half Moon Hollow)
The Thames River Murders by Ashley Gardner (#10 Captain Lacey)
The Theory of Death by Faye Kellerman (#23 Peter Decker & Rina Lazarus)
The Void of Muirwood by Jeff Wheeler (#3 Covenant of Muirwood)
Unrelenting by Mike Shepherd (#13 Kris Longknife)
Unspoken by C C Hunter (#3 Shadow Falls: After Dark)
Wake of Vultures by Lila Bowen (#1 Shadow)
Walk Through Fire by Kristen Ashley (#4 Chaos)
When Secrets Strike by Marta Perry (#2 House of Secrets)
Woman Who Walked in Sunshine by Alexander McCall Smith (#16 The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency)

What We're Reading

What We're Reading (It's not a lot right now)

I couldn't remember the last time I finished a book so I had to look on Goodreads. According to my 2015 challenge my last finished book was Mechanica on 10/16. Not sure why I haven't been able to finish anything but hoping to squeeze in some reading time this week.

The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters (Goodreads)

I picked this up on a whim at the library. It seemed like a good spooky October read. So far it's heading in that direction. The problem I'm having is the Dr's voice that is telling the story. He is not a very likable character and it makes it harder to read.

The Jewel by Amy Ewing

Finally decided to start this series. I'm not far into it but so far it is an interesting story. Hopefully it's able to keep my attention and keep me reading.

Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt (Goodreads)

Lastly, me and hubby decided to see what it was our son was reading in school. It's not a very long book but they have been reading it for weeks. So far the hubby likes it and my son only thinks it's so so.

Some Thursday Randomness

Art
Isaiah Stephens did some Disney/Harry Potter mash up art for Cosmopolitan.com. The mix of Ursula and Umbridge is definitely my favorite. Here's his FB post showing the collection he did (post)

Dolores Ursula Umbridge
DeviantArt

Video
Just because we are getting close to Halloween. It's not new but it's Christopher Walken reading The Raven


Book Cover Love
Love both of these covers. I've really been into historical fiction lately but both covers made me take notice of them.

Goodreads

Goodreads

One more Randomness...
If you're ever in Romania there is a steampunk cafe. Will probably never see it in person but it looks really cool.
 

New Releases ~ week of 10/19/2015

A Very Crimson Christmas by Michelle Major (#5 Crimson Colorado)

Another Way Home by Deborah Raney (#3 Chicory Inn)
Best Worst Mistake by Lia Riley (#3 Brightwater)
Born to Endless Night by Cassandra Clare, Sarah Rees Brennan (#9 Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy)
Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith (#3 Cormoran Strike)
Diner Knock Out by Terri L Austin (#4 Rose Strickland Mystery)
Fear the Dark by Kay Hooper (#16 The Bishop/Special Crimes Unit)
For the Memory of Dragons by Julie Wetzel (#2 The Dragons of Eternity)
Golden Age by Jane Smiley (#3 Last Hundred Years: A Family Saga)
His Housekeeper's Christmas Wish by Louise Allen (#1 Lords of Disgrace)
Illuminae by Jay Kristoff, Amie Kaufman (#1 Illuminae Files)
Nuts by Alice Clayton (#1 Hudson Valley)
One Killer Force by Dalton Fury (#4 Delta Force)

Reclaim Me by Ann Marie Walker (#3 Chasing Fire)
Return of the Forgotten by Lisa Fiedler (#3 Mouseheart)
Ronin by KD Jones (#9 Galactic Cage Fighters)
Seduction by Pamela Clare (#7 I Team)
Seek Me In Shadows by Danielle Ellison (#2 Boundless Trilogy)
The Billionaire Takes a Bride by Jessica Clare (#3 Billionaires and Bridesmaids)
The Corpse with the Diamond Hand by Cathy Ace (#5 Cait Morgan Mystery)
The Dread Wyrm by Miles Cameron (#3 The Traitor Son Cycle)
The Housewife Assassin's Garden of Deadly Delights by Josie Brown (#11 Housewife Assassin)
The Rocker Who Betrays Me by Terri Anne Browning (#11 The Rocker...)
Time's Divide by Rysa Walker (#3 The Chronos Files)
Warrior of Fate by Debra Mullins (#3 Truthseers)
Wicked Reckless by Ginger Scott (#2 Harper Boys)

Some Thursday Randomness

Cover Love
Some newer covers that I've seen lately that I cannot wait for...

Goodreads

Goodreads

Goodreads

BookBub did a blog about what they think are the 17 best vampire books/series (website). I was surprised by how many I've actually read.
2. Spookiest novel: ‘Salem’s Lot by Stephen King

Ben Mears has returned to Jerusalem’s Lot in the hopes that living in an old mansion, long the subject of town lore, will help him cast out his own devils and provide inspiration for his new book. But when two young boys venture into the woods and only one comes out alive, Mears begins to realize that there may be something sinister at work and that his hometown is under siege by forces of darkness far beyond his control.












Art Love
We love Charlie Brown and anything Peanuts around here (cannot wait for the movie next month). Raid 71 has prints of Charlie Brown dressed as Indiana Jones. Prints can be bought on bottleneck gallery here

New Releases ~ week of 10/12/2015

Pack Divided by Erin Hunter (#1 Survivors: The Gathering Darkness)

Blue Blooded by Shelly Bell (#2 Benediction)
Boundary Lines by Melissa F Olson (#2 Old World)
Dark Tide by Jennifer Donnelly (#3 Waterfire Saga)
Darkthaw by Kate A. Boorman (#2 Winterkill)
Death Wears a Mask by Ashley Weaver (#2 Amory Ames Mystery)
Drone Command by Mike Maden (#3 Troy Pearce)
Duke of Scandal by Gaelen Foley (#1 Moonlight Square)
Falling For The Enemy by Pamela Ann (#3 British Billionaires)
Farewell to Dreams by CJ Lyons (#1 Fatal Insomnia)
Foreign Affairs by Stuart Woods (#35 Stone Barrington)
Hard to Break by Bella Jewel (#2 Hard to)
Hell's Foundations Quiver by David Weber (#8 Safehold)
Hey Big Spender by Gemma Halliday (#2 Tahoe Tessie Mystery)

How Forever Feels by Laura Drewry (#4 Friends First)
Informed Consent by Melissa F. Miller (#10 Sasha McCandless)
Leading Lines by Chantel Guertin (#3 Pippa Greene)
Luke by Minx Malone (#5 Blue Collar Billionaires)
On the Ropes by Holley Trent (#4 Hearts and Minds)
Quanta by Lola Dodge (#2 The Shadow Ravens)
SandRider by Angie Sage (#2 Todhunter Moon)
Shy Talent by Bianca D'Arc (#3 StarLords)
Silent City by Carrie Smith (#1 Claire Codella Mystery)
Stroke of Midnight by Lara Adrian (#13.5 Midnight Breed)
Strong Light of Day by Jon Land (#6 Caitlin Strong)
Submerged by Katie Hayoz (#2 Immersed)
The Adventuress by Tasha Alexander (#10 Emily Ashton)

The Favorite by Kiera Cass (#4.5 The Selection)
The Fragrant Aether by Patrick Gooch (#2 Hope Trilogy)
The Hollywood Intrigue by Steve Stevenson (#9 Agatha: Girl of Mystery)
The Immortal Heights by Sherry Thomas (#3 Elemental Trilogy)
The Rose Society by Marie Lu (#2 The Young Elites)
The Society of Blood by Mark Morris (#2 Obsidian Heart)
Truly Madly Famously by Rebecca Serle (#2 Famous in Love)
Trust Me, I'm Trouble by Elizabeth Summer (#2 Trust Me)
Winter Stroll by Elin Hilderbrand (#2 Winter)
Wrath of the Furies by Steven Saylor (#3 Ancient World)
Written in Ink by Carrie Ann Ryan (#4 Montgomery Ink)

New Releases ~ week of 10/5/2015

A Call to Arms by Timothy Zahn, David Weber, Thomas Pope (#2 Manticore Ascendant)

A Deafening Silence in Heaven by Thomas E Sniegoski (#7 Remy Chandler)
A Gala Event by Sheila Connolly (#9 Orchard Mystery)
Against a Brightening Sky by Jaime Lee Moyer (#3 Delia Martin)
Against the Ropes by Jeanette Murray (#2 First to Fight)
All I Want by Jill Shalvis (#7 Animal Magnetism)
An Ancient Peace by Tanya Huff (#1 Peacekeeper)
Andi Unstoppable by Amanda Flower (#3 Andi Boggs)
Best American Mystery Stories 2015 by James Patterson (#23 Best American Mystery Stories)
Brighter Than the Sun by Darynda Jones (#8.5 Charley Davidson)
Claimed by Elle Kennedy (#1 Outlaws)

Closer to the Heart by Mercedes Lackey (#2 Herald Spy)
Dark Days by James Ponti (#3 Dead City)
Dark Within by Candice Gilmer (#1 Mythical Knights)
Death on the High Lonesome by Frank Hayes (#2 Sheriff Virgil Dalton)
Death, Taxes, and a Chocolate Cannoli by Diane Kelly (#9 Tara Holloway)
Devil of Delphi by Jeffrey Siger (#7 Andreas Kaldis)
Faux Paw by Sofie Kelly (#7 Magical Cats Mystery)
First Time with a Highlander by Gwyn Cready (#2 Sirens of the Scottish Borderlands)
Floral Depravity by Beverly Allen (#3 Bridal Bouquet Shop Mysteries)
Ghost of a Potion by Heather Blake (#3 Magic Potion Mysteries)
Ghost to the Rescue by Carolyn Hart (#6 Bailey Ruth)

Good Earl Gone Bad by Manda Collins (#2 Lords of Anarchy)
Her Holiday Protector by Lenora Worth (#2 Men of Millbrook Lake)
Icarus by Deon Meyer (#5 Benny Griessel)
Inheritance by Charlaine Harris, Christopher Golden (#2 Cemetery Girl Trilogy)
Irresistibly Yours by Lauren Layne (#1 Oxford)
Just Killing Time by Julianne Holmes (#1 A Clock Shop Mystery)
Killing Titan by Greg Bear (#2 Ares Rising)
Lightning by Bonnie S. Calhoun (#2 Stone Braide Chronicles)
Looking for Mr. Good Witch by Jim Lavene (#2 Retired Witches Mysteries)
Love Everlasting by Tracie Peterson (#3 Brides of Seattle)
Mad About the Man by Tracy Anne Warren (#3 The Graysons)

Magnus Chase and the Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan (#1 Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard)
Marked by Sue Tingey (#1 Soulseer Chronicles)
Murder in Megara by Mary Reed, Eric Mayer (#11 John the Eunuch)
Murder, Plainly Read by Isabella Alan (#4 Amish Quilt Shop Mystery)
On This Foundation by Lynn Austin (#3 Restoration Chronicles)
Parchment and Old Lace by Laura Childs (#13 Scrapbooking Mysteries)
Pursued by Tracy Wolff (#2 Diamond Tycoons)
Raging Sea by Terri Brisbin (#2 Stone Circles)
Redemption Road by Katie Ashley (#2 Vicious Cycle)
Return to Dust by Andrew Lanh (#2 Rick Van Lam)
Rock Redemption by Nalini Singh (#4 Rock Kiss)

Shadows of Self by Brandon Sanderson (#5 Mistborn)
Silver on the Road by Laura Anne Gilman (#1 Devil's West)
Sinner's Steel by Sarah Castille (#3 Sinner's Tribe Motorcycle Club)
Sky Key by James Frey (#2 Endgame)
Some Like It Scot by Suzanne Enoch (#4 Scandalous Highlander)
Streams of Mercy by Lauraine Snelling (#3 Song of Blessing)
Tall, Dark and Wicked by Madeline Hunter (#2 Wicked)
The Big Chili by Julia Buckley (#1 An Undercover Dish Mystery)
The Candy Cane Cupcake Killer by Livia J. Washburn (#10 Fresh Baked Mysteries)
The Chess Queen Enigma by Colleen Gleason (#3 Stoker & Holmes)
The Diamond Caper by Peter Mayle (#4 Sam Levitt)

The Edge by Roland Smith (#2 Peak)
The Flux by Ferrett Steinmetz (#2 'Mancer)
The Ghost and Mrs. Fletcher by Donald Bain (#44 Murder, She Wrote)
The Grave Soul by Ellen Hart (#23 Jane Lawless)
The Haunted Season by G M Malliet (#5 Max Tudor)
The Hot Countries by Timothy Hallinan (#7 Poke Rafferty)
The Imposter by Suzanne Woods Fisher (#1 Bishop's Family)
The Rose Society by Marie Lu (#2 The Young Elites)
The Skeleton Haunts a House by Leigh Perry (#3 Family Skeleton Mystery)
The Survivor by Vince Flynn, Kyle Mills (#14 Mitch Rapp)
The Tattooed Duchess by Victor Gischler (#2 Fire Beneath the Skin)

The Tournament at Gorlan by John Flanagan (#1 Ranger's Apprentice Early Year)
The White Rose by Amy Ewing (#2 The Lone City)
This Love of Mine by Miranda Liasson (#2 Mirror Lake)
Towers Fall by Karina Sumner-Smith (#3 Towers Trilogy)
Undead and Unforgiven by MaryJanice Davidson (#14 Undead)
Virtuous Scoundrel by Maggie Fenton (#2 Regency Romp Trilogy
White Trash Zombie Gone Wild by Diana Rowland (#5 White Trash Zombie)
World Zombination by John Kloepfer (#7 Zombie Chasers)
You Are Dead by Peter James (#11 Detective Superintendent Roy Grace)

Book Review ~ The Alchemist of Souls

The Alchemist of Souls 

by Anne Lyle
published by Angry Robot
genre: Adult, Fantasy, Historical Fiction.

Summary (Goodreads): When Tudor explorers returned from the New World, they brought back a name out of half-forgotten Viking legend: skraylings. Red-sailed ships followed in the explorers’ wake, bringing Native American goods--and a skrayling ambassador--to London. But what do these seemingly magical beings really want in Elizabeth I’s capital?

Mal Catlyn, a down-at-heel swordsman, is seconded to the ambassador's bodyguard, but assassination attempts are the least of his problems. What he learns about the skraylings and their unholy powers could cost England her new ally--and Mal his soul.

My Thoughts: I didn't enjoy reading this as much I enjoyed the overall story.
There was too much of Coby and the actors for me. Whenever the story veered away from Mal and his story I lost interest. I didn't care about the plays or who won the competition or even the fact that there was a competition. All the side characters stories felt the same and didn't add anything to the overall picture. I can see where the author was trying to take it all and get all the characters in the same place.
The other thing that was weird/off was the relationship between Mal and Coby. She is a young girl pretending to be a boy so she can work in the theater. Based on how her character is presented and how Mal's character is presented they don't make sense to me. She seems too young and based on other things that happened during the book not someone that he would normally take a notice of.
All of that said, I did like Mal and his story with the skraylings. Finding out about Mal and his brother's past and how it related to his getting the job of the Ambassador's bodyguard.
Overall, I'm still interested in the world that the author created and Mal's place in it. I'm hoping that the second book, that will not have so much focus on the theater, will keep my interest more.

Rating: 3.5