This Week's Reads

Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo
The Grisha #2 Goodreads
**Trying to catch up/finish some series that I have already started.

Unhooked by Lisa Maxwell
Goodreads
**I've always enjoy retellings. Little worried about this one, only because Peter Pan is not one of my favorite stories. Hoping it reads as well as the summary.

Soundless by Richelle Mead
Goodreads
**Picked this up because I have liked both Mead's Adult and YA books. It seems to be one that people either really love or just cannot get into.

New Releases ~ week of 02/22/2016

A Gathering of Shadows by V E Schwab (#2 Darker Shade of Magic)

A Girl's Guide to Moving On by Debbie Macomber (#2 New Beginnings)
A Midsummer's Equation by Keigo Higashino (#3 Professor Galileo)
Alliance by S. K. Dunstall (#2 Linesman)
Bad Boy by J. C. Reed (#3 Indecent Proposal)
Behold the Bones by Natalie C. Parker (#2 Beware the Wild)
Betrayed by Lynn Carthage (#2 Arnaud Legacy)
Better Off Dead by William W Johnstone (#3 Shawn O'Brien)
Bitter Bite by Jennifer Estep (#14 Elemental Assassin)
The Gathering: Homecoming by Ellis Leigh (#4 The Gathering)
Born to Be Wilde by Jenn Stark (#3 Immortal Vegas)
Cat Shout for Joy by Shirley Rousseau Murphy (#19 Joe Grey)

Chance on Love by Nancy Corrigan (#1 KAGAN WOLVES)
Death of a Nurse by M. C. Beaton (#31 Hamish MacBeth)
Dove Exiled by Karen Bao (#2 Dove Chronicles)
Dreamfever by Kit Alloway (#2 Dream)
Drive by Sidney Bristol (#1 Hot Rides)
Fighting Dirty by Lori Foster (#5 Ultimate)
Firelight by Kazu Kibuishi (#7 Amulet)
Firstlife by Gena Showalter (#1 Everlife)
Fogged In by Barbara Ross (#4 Maine Clambake Mysteries)
From Sanctum With Love by Lexi Blake (#10 Masters and Mercenaries)
Fully Ignited by Shannon Stacey (#3 Boston Fire)

I Survived the Hindenburg Disaster 1937 by Lauren Tarshis (#13 I Survived)
I'm Traveling Alone by Samuel Bjørk (#1 Holger Munch & Mia Kruger)
Kingdom of Ashes by Rhiannon Thomas (#2 A Wicked Thing)
Lady Bridget's Diary by Maya Rodale (#1 Keeping Up With the Cavendishes)
Last Defense by Pittacus Lore (#15 I Am Number Four: The Lost Files)
Midnight Heat by Cat Johnson (#3 Midnight Cowboys)
Murder Most Wholesome by Staci McLaughlin (#5 Blossom Valley Mysteries)
Murder On a Silver Platter by Shawn Reilly Simmons (#1 Red Carpet Catering Mystery)
Murder On the Half Shell by Shawn Reilly Simmons (#2 Red Carpet Catering Mystery)
My Tempting Highlander by Maeve Greyson (#3 Highland Hearts)
Neil Flambe and the Duel in the Desert by Kevin Sylvester (#6 Neil Flambe Capers)
No Cats Allowed by Miranda James (#7 Cat in the Stacks Mystery)

Play to Win by Tiffany A. Snow (#3 Risky Business)
Pray for the Dead by Dusty Richards (#8 Byrnes Family Ranch)
Runaway Vampire by Lynsay Sands (#23 Argeneau Vampires)
See You at Sunset by V. K. Sykes (#3 Seashell Bay)
Shards of Murder by Cheryl Hollon (#2 A Webb's Glass Shop Mystery)
Taking Fire by Cindy Gerard (#4 One-Eyed Jacks)
Texas on My Mind by Delores Fossen (#1 McCord Brothers Trilogy)
The Capitalist by Peter Steiner (#5 Louis Morgon Mysteries)
The Dastardly Deed by Holly Grant (#2 League of Beastly Dreadfuls)
The Fourth Horseman by David Hagberg (#19 Kirk McGarvey Adventures)
The Friends We Keep by Susan Mallery (#2 Mischief Bay)
The Groom Wore Plaid by Gayle Callen (#2 Highland Weddings)
The Ground Rules Undone by Roya Carmen (#3 Rule Breakers)
The Lavender Lane Lothario by David Handler (#11 Berger and Mitry)
The Lincoln Project by Dan Gutman (#1 Flashback Four)
An American in Scotland by Karen Ranney (#3 MacIain)
The Power by Jennifer L Armentrout (#2 Titan)
The Rogue by Katharine Ashe (#1 Devil's Duke)
The Sweetest Chase by Sharla Lovelace (#2 Heart of the Storm)
Unruly by Ronnie Douglas (#2 Knights in Black Leather)
We Built This City by Matt London (#4 The 8th Continent)
Well of Witches by J. A. White (#3 Thickety)
Worth the Trouble by Jamie Beck (#2 St. James)

This Week's Reads

My week has been messed up since Monday. Finally getting this post out.

Mercy Thompson: Moon Called Vol.1 by Patricia Briggs

Mercedes Thompson Graphic Novels 1.1  Goodreads

**Another one of my favorite authors/series.

Thursdays with the Crown by Jessica Day George

Castle Glower #3 Goodreads

**Jessica Day George has written some of my favorite middle grade series. Writes a lot of fairy tale retellings.

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Six of Crows #1 Goodreads

**I've picked this one up from the library before but have never gotten around to reading it. Hoping that changes this time.

Some Thursday Randomness

Movies
I've posted about this movie before, and even though these clips are similar, I enjoy hearing Alan Rickman's voice.

Around the Web
Web Urbanist did a list of 15 Amazing Monasteries. Loved the look of most of them but this was my favorite.
Sanctuary of Truth, a Wooden Wonder in Pattaya, Thailand

ART

Alice
by Jerry8448 (deviantart)

Steam Punk Alice in Wonderland
by  rebelakemi (deviantart)

New Releases ~ week of 02/15/2016

Back Blast by Mark Greaney (#5 Court Gentry)

Back in the Saddle by Karen Templeton (#8 Wed in the West)
Bigfootloose and Finn Fancy Free by Randy Henderson (#2 The Arcana Familia)
Burning Rivalry by Aubrey Parker (#2 Trevor's Harem)
Calamity by Brandon Sanderson (#3 The Reckoners)
Dancer of Death by Jordan L. Hawk (#2 SPECTR 2)
Dark Alpha's Embrace by Donna Grant (#2 Reaper)
Dawn of the Flame Sea by Jean Johnson (#1 Flame Sea)
Driven by Fire by Anne Stuart (#2 Fire)
Ghost Talker by Robin D. Owens (#4 Ghost Seer)
Ghosts of the Tristan Basin by Brian McClellan (#0.7 Powder Mage Trilogy)
Heart by Joey W Hill (#2 Naughty Wishes)

Hunted by Darkness by Katie Reus (#4 Darkness)
Hunter Forsaken by Nancy Corrigan (#3 Wild Hunt)
If I Run by Terri Blackstock (#1 Casey Cox)
Love Me Tenor by Annabeth Albert (#2 Perfect Harmony)
Masters of Time by Sarah Woodbury (#10 After Cilmeri)
Navy SEAL Survival by Elle James (#1 SEAL of My Own)
No Shred of Evidence by Charles Todd (#18 Ian Rutledge)
Return to Paradise by Barbara Cameron (#1 Coming Home)
Riders by Veronica Rossi (#1 Riders)
Ruler of Beasts by Danielle Paige (#0.6 Dorothy Must Die)
Stone Hearts by Diana Marie DuBois (#1 Crescent City Sentries)
Switcheroo by Aaron Elkins (#18 Gideon Oliver)

The Circle of Lies by Crystal Velasquez (#2 Hunters of Chaos)
The Girl From Everywhere by Heidi Heilig (#1 The Girl From Everywhere)
When We Kiss by Darcy Burke (#5 Ribbon Ridge)

Some Thursday Randomness

Fun Stuff
My BookMark (website) has created some unique bookmarks that go can go along with your favorite books. These are a couple of my favorites...

I love fun stuff for the home so when I came across a pic of these peacock tea cups I had to find out where they came from. Found them on Home Designs 99 (website) along with some other cool stuff.

Art
Artist Even Amundsen has come up with designs for a  Nordic school of myth and magic set in the Harry Potter universe. You can find his work on Art Station (website)

Mumrikk Stigandur
Professor of Herbology

Grimstav Draugsleiven
Professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts

TV
A lot of my favorite reality shows have started new seasons since the calendar turned. The main tow are Face Off on syfy and Top Chef on Bravo.
I usually have picked a favorite artist by this point in the season but so far no one's work has really grabbed me. There have been a few good creations but most just have been blah.


On Top Chef I never seem to agree with the judges. Granted I can't taste the food so it's just based on how much I dislike a contestant but still. This season I am so ready for Phillip to be gone, he is ruining the whole season for me.

This Week's Reads

Snow White Red-Handed by Maia Chance
A Fairy Tale Fatal Mystery #1 ~ Goodreads
**It's a cozy mystery, fairy-tale, historical fiction all rolled into one. I couldn't resist.

Ash & Bramble by Sarah Prineas
Ash & Bramble #1 ~ Goodreads
**Another fairy-tale type book. Was grabbed by both the cover and the description.

The Lazarus Machine by Paul Crilley
Tweed & Nightingale Adventures ~ Goodreads
**A steampunk alternate history adventure. I'm hit or miss with these but hoping for the best.

Terrier (A Tortall Legend) by Tamora Pierce
Beka Cooper #1 ~ Goodreads
** Gail Carriger does a book club pick every month (here). This is the book for February so giving it a go.

New Releases ~ week of 02/08/2016

A Spy's Devotion by Melanie Dickerson (#1 Regency Spies of London)

Bait & Switch by Kendall Ryan (#1 Alphas Undone)
Bride Protector SEAL by Elle James (#2 Brotherhood Protectors)
Dragon Hunters by Marc Turner (#2 The Chronicle of the Exile)
Find Her by Lisa Gardner (#8 D.D. Warren)
Fridays with the Wizards by Jessica Day George (#4 Castle Glower)
Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard (#2 Red Queen Trilogy)
Heart Conditions by Phoebe Fox (#3 Breakup Doctor)
Homefront by Jay Allan (#3 The Portal Wars)
Hostile Witness by Leigh Adams (#1 Kate Ford Mystery)
How to Sleep with The Boss by Janice Maynard (#6 Kavanaghs of Silver Glen)
Kissed by a Cowboy by Debra Clopton (#3 Four of Hearts Ranch)

Leaving Yesterday by Zoe Dawson (#1 Laurel Falls)
Legend by Katy Evans (#6 Real, Raw & Ripped)
Morning Star by Pierce Brown (#3 Red Rising)
Pacific Burn by Barry Lancet (#3 Jim Brodie)
Perfekt Control by S.T. Bende (#2 Aere Saga)
Ravenous by MarcyKate Connolly (#2 Monstrous)
Reign of Shadows by Sophie Jordan (#1 Reign of Shadows)
Rescuing Rayne by Susan Stoker (#1 Delta Force Heroes)
Scattered Ashes by Megg Jensen (#2 Forsaken Stars Saga)
Searching for Mine by Jennifer Probst (#4.5 Searching For)
Shoot by Loren D Estleman (#4 Valentino Mystery)
Some Sort of Love by Melanie Harlow (#3 Happy Crazy Love)

Starborn by Toby Forward (#4 Flaxfield Quartet)
Surrender to the Sea by Michelle M Pillow (#4 Lords of the Abyss)
The Consequence of Seduction by Rachel Van Dyken (#3 Consequence)
The Crime on the Norwegian Sea by Steve Stevenson (#10 Agatha: Girl of Mystery)
The Hungry Bunny Horde by Shannon Hale, Dean Hale (#3 Princess in Black)
The Hunt by Chuck Wendig (#2 Atlanta Burns)
The Truth About Boys by Shana Norris (#3 Stolen Kiss)
The Wolves by Alex Berenson (#10 John Wells)
Violent Crimes by Phillip Margolin (#5 Amanda Jaffe)
Wrecked by Sherilee Gray (#3 Axle Alley Vipers)

This Week's Reads

War Cry by Jim Butcher, Illustrated by Mark Powers, Carlos Gomez
Dresden Files Graphic Novel #4 (Goodreads)
**This is one of my all time favorite series. Plus I needed a change of pace and hadn't read any graphic novels yet.

The Masked Truth by Kelley Armstrong
(Goodreads)
**I like mysteries and thrillers but really only picked this up because of the author.

Story Thieves by James Riley
Story Thieves #1 (Goodreads)
**This was another where I was just looking for something different, lighter to read.

New Releases ~ week of 02/01/2016

A Deadly Tail by Dixie Lyle (#4 Whiskey, Tango and Foxtrot Mystery)

A Disguise to Die For by Diane Vallere (#1 Costume Shop Mystery)
A Familiar Tail by Delia James (#1 A Witch's Cat Mystery)
A Turn for the Bad by Sheila Connolly (#4 County Cork Mysteries)
A Whisker of Trouble by Sofie Ryan (#3 Second Chance Cat Mystery)
Assassin's Heart by Sarah Ahiers (#1 Assassin's Heart)
Banished by Kimberley Griffiths Little (#2 Forbidden)
Beauty, Beast, and Belladonna by Maia Chance (#3 A Fairy Tale Fatal Mystery)
Bewitched by Amanda M. Lee (#8.5 Wicked Witches of the Midwest Mysteries)
Bind Me by Anna Zaires (#2 Capture Me)
Blackjack by Robert Knott (#8 Virgil Cole & Everett Hitch Westerns)

Blood in Her Veins by Faith Hunter (#Stories Jane Yellowrock)
Breakdown by Jonathan Kellerman (#31 Alex Delaware)
Brotherhood In Death by J. D. Robb (#42 In Death)
By Break of Day by M. L. Buchman (#21 Night Stalkers)
Cold Shot by Dani Pettrey (#1 Chesapeake Valor)
Darkness Fair by Rachel A Marks (#2 The Dark Cycle)
Darkness Raging by Yasmine Galenorn (#18 Sisters of the Moon/Otherworld)
Dreaming Death by J Kathleen Cheney (#1 Palace of Dreams)
Ember's Fire by Norah Wilson (#2 The Standish Clan)
For Cheddar or Worse by Avery Aames (#7 Cheese Shop Mystery)
Fused by Cari Quinn, Taryn Elliott (#4.5 Lost in Oblivion)

Games Wizards Play by Diane Duane (#10 Young Wizards)
Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen by Lois McMaster Bujold (#16 Miles Vorkosigan)
Grave Visions by Kalayna Price (#4 Alex Craft)
Hard Ever After by Laura Kaye (#5 Hard Ink)
In Place of Never by Julie Anne Lindsey (#3 Calypso)
It's a Wonderful Knife by Christine Wenger (#5 Comfort Food Mysteries)
Jane and the Waterloo Map by Stephanie Barron (#13 Jane Austen)
Midnight Revenge by Elle Kennedy (#7 Killer Instincts)
Murder on Wheels by Lynn Cahoon (#6 A Tourist Trap Mystery)
Notorious by Carey Baldwin (#3 Cassidy & Spenser)

Off the Books by Lucy Arlington (#5 Novel Idea Mystery)
Pain Killer by LS Sygnet (#2 Raver/Castillo)
Raging Sea by Michael Buckley (#2 Undertow)
Remembrance by Meg Cabot (#7 Mediator)
Revisionary by Jim C Hines (#4 Magic ex Libris)
Riders by Veronica Rossi (#1 Riders)
Savage Nights by Mia Gabriel (#2 The Savage Trilogy)
Scene of the Brine by Mary Ellen Hughes (#3 Pickled & Preserved Mystery)
SEAL Wolf In Too Deep by Terry Spear (#18 Heart of the Wolf)

Spoils of Victory by John A Connell (#2 Mason Collins)
Starflight by Melissa Landers (#1 Starflight)
Stars Above by Marissa Meyer ( Lunar Chronicles Collection)
The Alchemy of Chaos by Marshall Ryan Maresca (#3 Maradaine)
The Art of War by Stephen Coonts (#6 Tommy Carmellini)
The Bride Wore Starlight by Lizbeth Selvig (#3 Seven Brides for Seven Cowboys)
The Custodian of Marvels by Rod Duncan (#3 Fall of the Gas-Lit Empire)
The Grim Steeper by Amanda Cooper (#3 Teapot Collector Mystery)
The Hunter by Kerrigan Byrne (#2 To Tempt a Highlander)

The Shadow by Sylvain Reynard (#2 The Florentine)
Thirty Nights With a Dirty Boy by Shiloh Walker (#1 Heroes and Heartbreaker)
Town in a Cinnamon Toast by B B Haywood (#7 Candy Holliday Mystery)
Unreasonable Doubt by Vicki Delany (#8 Constable Molly Smith)
Wicked Sexy Liar by Christina Lauren (#4 Wild Seasons)
Wickedly Powerful by Deborah Blake (#3 A Baba Yaga Novel)

Book Review ~ Night Study

Night Study (Soulfinders #2)

by Maria V Snyder
published by Mira Ink
release date: January  26, 2016
genre: Fantasy, Adult, 

**E-galley received via Netgalley and publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Summary (Goodreads): Ever since being kidnapped from the Illiais Jungle as a child, Yelena Zaltana's has been fraught with peril. But the recent loss of her Soulfinding abilities has endangered her more than ever before. As she desperately searches for a way to reclaim her magic, her enemies are closing in, and neither Ixia nor Sitia are safe for her anymore. Especially since the growing discord between the two countries and the possibility of a war threatens everything Yelena holds dear.

Valek is determined to protect Yelena, but he's quickly running out of options. The Commander suspects that his loyalties are divided, and he's been keeping secrets from Valek...secrets that put him, Yelena and all their friends in terrible danger. As they uncover the various layers of the Commander's mysterious plans, they realize it's far more sinister that they could have ever imagined.

My Thoughts: Another great addition to this series/world that Snyder has created. I had a few problems but not enough to take me out of the story. We'll start with the good.
This may sound weird but I was glad when Yelena and Valek went their separate ways. I love them as a couple and was happy with the family, commitment stuff but was ready the action/trouble that I'm used to from this series.
There was a definite focus on Valek in this book. A lot happens with the magicians but there didn't seem to be enough of a focus on it all. It seemed as if every step Yelena, Ari, and Janco took there was some bad thing waiting to take them more than two steps back. I was also glad to start and get some small explanation as to what has been going on with Yelena's magic. Which takes us back to Valek.
My favorite parts of this book revolved around Valek. Always moving forward trying to find his way back to Yelena  but still being able to get things done and scare a few people along the way. Figuring out who and where the storm thieves were. Finding the twins, taking them home before sneaking them into Sitia, and learning that they are family. I will say Valek's mother did not leave me with a good impression, I definitely liked his dad better.  I also liked how his immunity to magic and new abilities worked. Every part that took place made sense to both the character and this world.
The biggest problem with this book was that it felt like a middle book of a trilogy. There were a 100 pages left and it felt like nothing had happened and there wasn't much time left. At 40 pages, some things had happened (everyone was in one place) but it still felt like there was no way there was going to be any resolution in this book.  When the book ended and our heroes were not out of danger but at least together it worked, sorta.
This book definitely set up book three. Cannot wait for the battle/confrontation with the commander and Owen, Bruns and company. I'm really hoping for a resolution to everything we learned in this book without it turning into a sappy cop out. I want everyone to have an HEA (at least the good guys) but I want it to be believable. Now for the long wait...

Rating: 4