Wednesday, September 26, 2018

This Week's Reads

Sleeping Beauty
by Rachta Lin (DeviantArt)


The Storm Runner by J.C. Cervantes
The Storm Runner #1 (Goodreads)
**I've been impressed with the books under the Rick Riordan Presents umbrella. I always like mythology and these books tend to be about myths/mythology that I really don't read about often. The Storm runner is based off Mayan mythology.














Death by Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake by Sarah Graves
Death by Chocolate #1 (Goodreads)
**Found a new cozy mystery series, sorta. Reading some reviews I've found that the main characters come from another series from Graves. I'm hoping that this doesn't ruin the new series feel and I'm able to enjoy it.

Tuesday, September 25, 2018

New Releases ~ week of 09/24/2018



A Catered Cat Wedding by Isis Crawford (#14 Mystery with Recipes)
A Killing by the Sea by Kathleen Bridge (#2 By the Sea Mystery Series)
A Notorious Vow by Joanna Shupe (#3 The Four Hundred)
A Sorrowful Sanctuary by Iona Whishaw (#5 Lane Winslow)
A Tall, Dark Cowboy Christmas by Maisey Yates (#4 Gold Valley)
A Whisker in Time by Kathi Daley (#16 Whales and Tails Mystery)
A Winter's Promise by Christelle Dabos (#1 Mirror Visitor Quartet)
Angel's Halo: Avenged by Terri Anne Browning (#7 Angel's Halo MC)
Antiques Ho-Ho-Homicides by Barbara Allan (#13 Trash 'n' Treasures Mystery)
Assault and Beadery by Mollie Cox Bryan (#4 A Cora Crafts Mystery)
Bells, Spells, and Murders by Carol J. Perry (#7 Witch City Mystery)
Bury the Lead by Archer Mayor (#29 Joe Gunther)
Chardonnayed to Rest by J. C. Eaton (#2 Wine Trail Mystery)
Christmas Cake Murder by Joanne Fluke (#23 Hannah Swensen Mysteries)
Christmas in Whispering Pines by Scarlett Dunn (#3 Langtry Sisters)
Cowboy Honor by Carolyn Brown (#2 Longhorn Canyon)
Cross Breed by Lora Leigh (#32 Breeds)
Crumbled to Pieces by Catherine Bruns (#6 Cookies & Chance)
Death of a Neighborhood Scrooge by Laura Levine (#16 Jaine Austen)
Disorder in the House by Tymber Dalton (#82 The Suncoast Society)
Downright Dead by Pamela Kopfler (#2 B&B Spirits Mystery)
Feral Attraction by Eileen Watkins (#3 Cat Grooomer)
Final Roasting Place by Devon Delaney (#2 A Cook Off Mystery)
For a Muse of Fire by Heidi Heilig (#1 For a Muse of Fire)
Forever Fudge by Nancy Coco (#6 Candy-Coated Mysteries)
Give the Dark My Love by Beth Revis (#1 Give the Dark My Love)
Guarding His Melody by Victoria Sue (#4 Enhanced)
Haunted Hayride With Murder by Auralee Wallace (#6 Otter Lake Mystery)
Hidden by Rebecca Zanetti (#1 Requisition Force)
Hot Winter Nights by Jill Shalvis (#6 Heartbreaker Bay)
Hunting Danger by Katie Reus (#5 Redemption Harbor)
I Survived the Attack of the Grizzlies, 1967 by Lauren Tarshis (#17 I Survived)
Last Night with the Earl by Kelly Bowen (#2 The Devils of Dover)
Lone Star Christmas by Delores Fossen (#1 Coldwater Texas)
Mistletoe Miracles by Jodi Thomas (#9 Ransom Canyon)
Mistress for Hire by Niobia Bryant (#4 Mistress)
Montana Guardian by Kris Michaels (#10.5 Kings of Guardian)
Murder Flies the Coop by Jessica Ellicott (#2 Beryl and Edwina Mystery)
Once a Scoundrel by Mary Jo Putney (#3 Rogues Redeemed)
Orphaned by Eliot Schrefer (#4 Ape Quartet)
Phoenix Unbound by Grace Draven (#1 Fallen Empire)
Red War by Vince Flynn, Kyle Mills (#17 Mitch Rapp)
Season of Wonder by RaeAnne Thayne (#9 Haven Point)
Shine of the Silver Dragon by Tracey West (#11 Dragon Masters)
Silver Anniversary Murder by Leslie Meier (#29 Lucy Stone Mysteries)
Small Spaces by Katherine Arden
Supernova by Kazu Kibuishi (#8 Amulet)
Taking It Easy by Erin Nicholas (#2 Boys of the Big Easy)
Tangled Up In Tinsel by Tonya Kappes (#6 Kenni Lowry Mystery)
The Caged Queen by Kristen Ciccarelli (#2 Iskari)
The Christmas Wishing Tree by Emily March (#15 Eternity Springs)
The Lady is Daring by Megan Frampton (#3 A Duke's Daughters)
The Second Story by Neil Patrick Harris (#2 The Magic Misfits)
The Secrets We Carried by Mary McNear (#6 Butternut Lake)
The Vanderbeekers and the Hidden Garden by Karina Yan Glaser (#2 The Vanderbeekers)
The Walking Bread by Winnie Archer (#3 Bread Shop Mystery)
Treacherous Is the Night by Anna Lee Huber (#2 A Verity Kent Mystery)
Trials of Deception by Tate James (#10 Once Upon a Harem)
Trimmed to Death by Nancy J Cohen (#15 Bad Hair Day)
Vengeful by V E Schwab (#2 Villains)

Thursday, September 20, 2018

This Week's Reads

Magic Circle
by MastroB (DeviantArt)


Sandry's Book by Tamora Pierce
Circle of Magic #1 (Goodreads)
**I have seen this series around for what seems like forever. I'm over halfway through and really liking it. I'm not sure why it's called Sandry's Book when it's split pretty evenly between all four of the circle but maybe by the end it'll make sense.













Magic Triumphs by Ilona Andrews
Kate Daniels #10 (Goodreads)
**I hate reading the last book in a series. There always seems to be something about the ending that just doesn't work or make sense for the characters/series. Luckily, every review on this one so far seems to be very positive.













Part of Your World by Liz Braswell
Twisted Tales #5 (Goodreads)
**The Aladdin book was not my favorite retelling but I had to give this one a try. I love Ursula and am curious how the author handles her and Ariel and what I assume will be the inevitable conclusion.

Tuesday, September 18, 2018

New Releases ~ week of 09/17/2018



A Fire Within by A J Hartley, Tom DeLonge (#2 Sekret Machines)
A Forgotten Place by Charles Todd (#10 Bess Crawford Mystery)
A Willing Murder by Jude Deveraux (#1 A Willing Murder: A Medlar Mystery)
Army by Chiah Wilder (#7 Night Rebels)
Booted by Pam Godwin (#3 Trails of Sin)
Brush of Despair by Selena Laurence (#2 Dublin Devils)
Dark Tide Rising by Anne Perry (#24 William Monk)
Echoes of Evil by Heather Graham (#26 Krewe of Hunters)
Escaping From Houdini by Kerri Maniscalco (#3 Stalking Jack the Ripper)
Fated for the Phoenix by Isadora Montrose (#5 Mystic Bay)
For the Duke's Eyes Only by Lenora Bell (#2 School for Dukes)
Golden Mean by SL Huang (#5 Russell's Attic)
Guilty as Sin by Meghan March (#2 Sin Trilogy)
Her Deceptive Duke by Scarlett Scott (#4 Wicked Husbands)
Inimical by Genevieve Iseult Eldredge (#3 Circuit Fae)
Justice For Hope by Susan Stoker (#12 Badge of Honor: Texas Heroes)
Knight Shift by Em Petrova (#5 Knight Ops)
Lethal White by Robert Galbraith (#4 Cormoran Strike)
Magic Harvest by Mary Karlik (Fairy Trafficking #1)
Mecha Samurai Empire by Peter Tieryas (#2 United States of Japan)
More Than Crave You by Shayla Black (#4 More Than Words)
Pecan Pies and Dead Guys by Angie Fox (#7 Southern Ghost Hunter Mystery)
Rebel Hard by Nalini Singh (#2 Hard Play)
Restless Ink by Carrie Ann Ryan (#2 Montgomery Ink: Colorado Springs)
Rogue Gunslinger by B J Daniels (#2 Whitehorse, Montana: The Clementine Sisters)
Savior by Rhys Ford (#2 415 Ink)
Seductive Memory by AlTonya Washington (#1 Moonlight and Passion)
Swagger by Liz Lincoln (#2 Milwaukee Dragons)
Take a Chance by Shelley Shepard Gray (#1 Bridgeport Social Club)
The Captain's Secret Daughter by Eve Langlais (#3 Gypsy Moth)
The Labyrinth of Spirits by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (#4 Cemetery of Forgotten Books)
The Storm Runner by J.C. Cervantes (#1 The Storm Runner)
The Texas Cowboy's Quadruplets by Cathy Gillen Thacker (#3 Texas Legends: The McCabes)
Their Family Legacy by Lorraine Beatty (#2 Mississippi Hearts)
Time's Convert by Deborah Harkness
Unlocking Shadows by Kennedy Layne (#4 Keys to Love)
Unmasking the Maverick by Teresa Southwick (#4 Montana Mavericks : The Lonelyhearts Ranch)
Vampires Like It Hot by Lynsay Sands (#28 Argeneau Vampires)
Voss by Lia Davis (#2 Coven's End)
What I've Done by Melinda Leigh (#4 Morgan Dane)
Wildcard by Marie Lu (#2 Warcross)
Wyoming Christmas Quadruplets by Jill Kemerer (#3 Wyoming Cowboys)
Wyoming Cowboy Justice by Nicole Helm (#1 Carsons & Delaneys)

Monday, September 17, 2018

Book Review ~ Magic Harvest

Magic Harvest (Fairy Trafficking #1)

by Mary Karlik
published by Ink Monster
expected release date: September 18, 2018
genre: Fantasy, 

**Received egalley from netGalley and publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Summary (Goodreads): Layla was three when the dragon Fauth attacked the fairy festival, murdering her mum and stepfather. Some fairies think she should’ve been eaten too. They call her fuman because of her mixed blood, but being half human isn’t all bad. Even though she lacks magic, Layla is immune to iron sickness, and she can wield a sword with the skill of an elf.

Sixteen years later, when Layla’s half-sister is kidnapped and taken through a portal to the forbidden human realm, Layla rushes to the rescue. She’s older and stronger, and she’s not about to let her last living family member be taken from her without a fight. But the portal spits her out in Old Town Edinburgh where neither her sister or the kidnapper are anywhere to be found.

Stuck in a world she only knows from school books, Layla joins forces with unlikely allies to find her sister. But as she challenges magical creatures and becomes tangled in the dark world of fairy trafficking, magic harvesting, and murder, Layla will have to find the strength within if she is to survive and save her sister.

My Thoughts: There was a lot I liked and disliked about this book. The main problem I had was with Layla herself. Yes, she's a kickass female who is willing to do anything to protect/save her little sister. Unfortunately, she also doesn't always stop to think before she does something. Everything has to be her way even if her way is wrong. I did like that when Ian's team called her out on rushing into things and causing problems she seemed to take the criticism and grow. I could see liking her character in future books.
The setting mostly takes place in Edinburgh with a bit at the beginning in Fairy. While it would have been nice to see more of Fairy, the author did a good job with the real world as well. My favorite had to be the underground tunnels. I just wish most of the story hadn't taken place in the same three-ish places. It made parts of the story static and repetitive.
The only problem I had with the writing was with some of the bigger fight/action teams. Even after reading it a few times I'm not really sure what happened in the last bit other than the good guys won.
Overall, there was enough of a story and interesting characters that I can see myself reading book 2.

Rating: 4

Wednesday, September 12, 2018

This Week's Reads

Dragon Lake Valley
by HammySan (DeviantArt)


Catwoman: Soulstealer by Sarah J Maas
DC Icons #3 (Goodreads)
**I've wanted to read this one since I first saw the cover. I really liked Wonder Woman by Leigh Bardugo, wasn't as crazy about the Batman book by Marie Lu but it was still well written and kept me reading until the end. Since I don't follow the DC comics outside of shows and movies I'm more looking for entertainment than anything that follows a set path.











Red Rising by Pierce Brown
Red Rising #1 (Goodreads)
**This one caught my eye when I was browsing for something different to read. I've been wanting to read it since it first came out just never got around to it.















The Black Jewels Trilogy by Anne Bishop
(Goodreads)
**This is another reread for me. As stated before, one of my favorite authors, and this is definitely one of my favorite trilogies.

Tuesday, September 11, 2018

New Releases ~ week of 09/10/2018



A Certain Girl by Tymber Dalton (#81 The Suncoast Society)
As She Ascends by Jodi Meadows (#2 Fallen Isles Trilogy)
Burning Ridge by Margaret Mizushima (#4 Timber Creek K-9 Mystery)
Dactyl Hill Squad by Daniel José Older (#1 Rescue Run)
Finding Courage by Kathi Daley (#3 Rescue Alaska)
Gangster Nation by Tod Goldberg (#2 Gangsterland)
Hallowdene by George Mann (#2 Wychwood)
Hitting the Books by Jenn McKinlay (Library Lover's Mystery #9)
If the Coffin Fits by Lillian Bell (#2 Funeral Parlor Mystery)
Impostors by Scott Westerfeld (#5 Uglies)
In Cold Chocolate by Dorothy St James (#3 Southern Chocolate Shop Mystery)
In the Darkest Hour by Anna Carlisle (#3 Gin Sullivan Mystery)
In Want of a Knife by Elizabeth Kane Buzzelli (#3 Little Library Mystery)
Jokers Fool by Manda Mellett (#8 Satan's Devils MC)
New World Order by Robert Kirkman (#30 Walking Dead)
North's Nikki by Dale Mayer (#16 Heroes for Hire)
Otherwood by Pete Hautman
Passionate Rivals by Radclyffe (#4 A PMC Hospital Romance)
Read and Gone by Allison Brook (#2 A Haunted Library Mystery)
Robert B. Parker's Colorblind by Reed Farrel Coleman (#17 Jesse Stone)
Royally Dead by Greta McKennan (#3 A Stitch in Time Mystery)
Rule by Ellen Goodlett (#1 Rule)
Shadow Tyrants by Clive Cussler, Boyd Morrison (#13 The Oregon Files)
State Tectonics by Malka Older (#3 Centenal Cycle)
Tempt the Flames by Marnee Blake (#1 Smokejumpers)
The Devil's Wind by Steve Goble (#2 Spider John Mysteries)
The Forbidden Door by Dean Koontz (#4 Jane Hawk)
The Golden Tower by Cassandra Clare, Holly Black (#5 Magisterium)
The Monster Detector by Ellen Potter (#2 Big Foot and Little Foot)
The Wicked Ones by Cassandra Clare, Robin Wasserman (#6 Ghosts of the Shadow Market)
Until Twilight by Erin Bedford (#4 The Crimson Fold)
Weather or Not by Lauren Myracle, Sarah Mlynowski, Emily Jenkins (#5 Upside-Down Magic)

Thursday, September 6, 2018

This Week's Reads

Grimm Fairy Tales
by CarmenSinek (DeviantArt)

Doctor Who: Time Lord Fairy Tales by Justin Richards
Illustrated by David Wardle (Goodreads)
**So far this is one of my favorite reads this year. There's a Sci-Fi Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella with a sonic screwdriver (and vampires), and currently reading The Three Little Sontarans. Along with many more, these are nice short takes on fairy tales with a Doctor Who world twist.











Even with all the great new books,that I want to read, I find myself rereading a lot at the moment. These are the two series I'm giving another go.


Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter #3 (Goodreads)
**I've been wanting to read this one again for a few years. We had to suggest a loved book for our sons summer reading and gave him book one. It was all the motivation I needing to finally read them again.













Written in Red by Anne Bishop
The Others #1 (Goodreads)
**I love Anne Bishop (The Black Jewels Trilogy is one of my all time favorite series). This series has really pulled me in and I always end up finishing them within a day (or two). Then I instantly want more. It's been awhile since I read the early books so fun to read them again.



Tuesday, September 4, 2018

New Releases ~ week of 09/03/2018



A Deadly Brew by Lynn Cahoon (#Novella A Tourist Trap Mystery)
Deadly Dram by Melinda Mullet (#3 Whisky Business Mystery)
A Worthy Rebel by Jody Hedlund (#5 An Uncertain Choice)
An Act of Villainy by Ashley Weaver (#5 Amory Ames Mystery)
Blood, Sweat, and Tears by Angela Roquet (#6 Blood Vice)
Castle in the Stars: The Moon-King by Alex Alice (#2 Castle in the Stars)
Chasing Ghosts by Pittacus Lore (#4 The Legacy Chronicles)
City of the Lost by Debbie Cassidy (#2 Chronicles of Arcana)
Cowboy Seal Christmas by Nicole Helm (#3 Navy Seal Cowboys)
Dare You to Lie by Amber Lynn Natusch (#1 Hometown Antihero)
Dark Sentinel by Christine Feehan (#32 The Carpathians (Dark))

Darkdawn by Jay Kristoff (#3 The Nevernight Chronicle)
Dead in the Water by Pandora Pine (#7 Cold Case Psychic)
Death at Sea by Andrea Camilleri (#23 Inspector Montalbano)
Depth of Winter by Craig Johnson (#14 Walt Longmire Mysteries)
Every Wicked Man by Steven James (#11 Patrick Bowers Files)
Exile of the Seas by Jeffe Kennedy (#2 Chronicles of Dasnaria)
Explosive Force by Lynette Eason (#6 Military K-9 Unit)
Field of Bones by J A Jance (#18 Joanna Brady)
Hard Sell by Lauren Layne (#2 21 Wall Street)
I Am Grace by Diana Munoz Stewart (#2 Band of Sisters)
In the Heat of the Moment by Viveca Sten (#5 Sandhamn Murders-Still Waters)
In Times Gone By by Tracie Peterson (#3 Golden Gate Secrets)
Kiss the Girl by Tara Sivec (#3 The Naughty Princess Club)
Leverage in Death by J. D. Robb (#47 In Death)
Love and Other Wild Things by Molly Harper (#2 Mystic Bayou)
Night and Silence by Seanan McGuire (#12 October Daye)
One More Moment by Samantha Chase (#3 Band on the Run)
One Perfect Kiss by Jaci Burton (#8 Hope)
Part of Your World by Liz Braswell (#5 Twisted Tales)
Rooted in Deceit by Wendy Tyson (#4 A Greenhouse Mystery)
Secret Undertaking by Mark de Castrique (#7 Burryin' Barry Mystery)
Solemn Graves by James R Benn (#13 Billy Boyle World War II Mystery)
The Bourne Nemesis by Robert Ludlum, Eric Van Lustbader (#15 Jason Bourne)
The Cats Came Back by Sofie Kelly (#10 Magical Cats Mystery)
The Dreaming Stars by Tim Pratt (#2 Axiom)
The Gift of Dark Hollow by Kieran Larwood (#2 Longburrow)
Their Ruthless Sadist by Nicole Edwards (#5 Office Intrigue)
The Skeleton Makes a Friend by Leigh Perry (#5 Family Skeleton Mystery)
The Third Mushroom by Jennifer L Holm (#2 Fourteenth Goldfish)
The Wrong Man by Natasha Anders (#3 Alpha Men)
This is War by Margaret Stohl  (Cats vs. Robots #1)
Timeless by R. A. Salvatore (#1 Drizzt)
Timid by Devney Perry (#2 Lark Cove)
Two Dark Reigns by Kendare Blake (#3 Three Dark Crowns)
Undetected by Anna Hackett (#8 Treasure Hunter Security)
Wild Fire by Ann Cleeves (#8 Shetland Island)
Wrong Lead by Candace Carrabus (#3 Dream Horse Mysteries)