New Releases ~ week of 10/29/2018

A Sea of Gold by Julian Stockwin (#21 Thomas Kydd)

A True Cowboy Christmas by Caitlin Crews (#1 Cold River Ranch)
Archangel's Prophecy by Nalini Singh (#11 Guild Hunter)
Barbarous by Minerva Spencer (#2 The Outcasts)
Beautiful Sinner by Sophie Jordan (#5 Devil's Rock)
Borderless by Eliot Peper (#2 Analog)
Crush by Svetlana Chmakova (#3 Awkward)
Dangerous Exes by Rachel Van Dyken (#2 Liars, Inc.)
Dark Sacred Night by Michael Connelly (#21 Harry Bosch #2 Renée Ballard)
Deep Silence by Jonathan Maberry (#10 Joe Ledger)
Deranged by T. R. Ragan (#3 Jessie Cole)
Drake by Kris Michaels (#11 Kings of Guardian)
Elevation by Stephen King
Embolden by Syrie James (#2 Forbidden)
Evenfall by Gaja J. Kos (#1 Shadowfire)

Fury by Rachel Vincent (#3 Menagerie)
Home Again by Shirlee McCoy (#2 Bradshaws)
Killed on Blueberry Hill by Sharon Farrow (#3 A Berry Basket Mystery)
Kiss Me at Christmas by Valerie Bowman (#11 Playful Brides)
Let Sleeping Dragons Lie by Garth Nix, Sean Williams (#2 Have Sword, Will Travel)
Murder by the Book by Lauren Elliott (#1 Bookstore Mystery)
Murder in Her Stocking by G A McKevett (#1 Granny Reid Mystery)
No Kitten Around by RJ Blain (#9 Magical Romantic Comedy)
On Blood Road by Steve Watkins (#1 Vietnam War)
Overkilt by Kaitlyn Dunnett (#12 Liss MacCrimmon Mystery)
Purls and Poison by Anne Canadeo (#10 Black Sheep Knitting Mystery)
Rescuing Mary by Susan Stoker (#9 Delta Force Heroes)
Royally Yours by Emma Chase (#4 Royally)
Seeing Red by Sarah Mlynowski (#12 Whatever After)
Shades of Wicked by Jeaniene Frost (#1 Night Rebel)
Snow in Love by Melissa de la Cruz
Snowfall on Lighthouse Lane by JoAnn Ross (#2 Honeymoon Harbor)
Sugar Spells by Lola Dodge (#2 Spellwork Syndicate)
The Corner of Holly and Ivy by Debbie Mason (#7 Harmony Harbor)
The Darkest Star by Jennifer L Armentrout (#1 Origin)
The Final Step by Ridley Pearson (#3 Lock and Key)

The Hidden Witch by Molly Ostertag (#2 The Witch Boy)
The Highlander Who Protected Me by Vanessa Kelly (#1 Clan Kendrick)
The Librarians and the Pot of Gold by Greg Cox (The Librarians #3)
The Memory of You by Jamie Beck (#1 Sanctuary Sound)
Thread Herrings by Lea Wait (#7 A Mainely Needlepoint Mystery)
To Catch A Rogue by Bec McMaster (#4 London Steampunk: The Blue Blood Conspiracy)
To Vex a Viscount by Tamara Gill (#3 Lords of London)
Too Far Gone by Allison Brennan (#14 Lucy Kincaid)
Uneasy Lies the Crown by Tasha Alexander (#13 Emily Ashton)
Wolf Rising by Paige Tyler (#8 SWAT)
Wyoming Legend by Diana Palmer (#8 Wyoming Men)

Book Review ~ Sugar Spells

Sugar Spells (The Spellwork Syndicate #2)

by Lola Dodge
published by Ink Monster
expected release date: October 30, 2018
genre: YA, Supernatural, Paranormal

**Received e-book from NetGalley and publisher in exchange for an honest review and has no monetary value.

Summary (Goodreads): After her run-in with a jealous warlock, apprentice baker Anise Wise can’t wait to get back the kitchen where she belongs. But thanks to her brush with death, the land of the living isn’t all cupcakes and marshmallows.
Anise’s magical mojo is way out of whack and her evolving powers are stirring up trouble. As the town buzzes with news that Anise can bake deathly spells, unsavory characters start lining up for a taste. They’ll stop at nothing for the chance to use Anise and her witchcraft to further their own plots.
She plans to hole up researching magic recipes until the attention dies down, but then she discovers the horrifying terms of her bodyguard’s contract. Wynn has saved her life so many times, she can’t leave him trapped. But doing the right thing will mean risking death or worse—being cast out of her dream job.
For this witch, justice might not be as sweet as advertised.

My Thoughts: I love the covers for this series. They look magical and match the story inside.
Book 2 finds Anise unable to do any magical baking without ruining everything. It turns out she has some residual death magic in her system. Anise chooses to bake the death magic out by making macaroons, a lot of macaroons. She's able to put these to good use, selling to a mannikan, and getting the funds needed to get Wynn out of his contract.
I really enjoyed most of the story. In order not to ruin the bakery again Anise ends up in different places while trying to get back to just her normal fire magic. My favorite had to be Gabi's family home and the cryptozoo where her family does their vet work. I would love to have a story that focuses just on the animals. They also end up in a strange cave system that brings more bad things but also some new friends. Carrot could end up being a very fun character, especially compared to others in the same role.
Overall, I liked the story and where it ended up. I'm still not sure about the alternate dimensions so soon into the series but it worked out. Even though Wynn is not my favorite character I'm glad something good happened for him and that we got to know him a bit more. Can't say I want to see a romance between him and Anise but he's growing on me.
Looking forward to more baking, magic and vampires in Wicked Tasty.

Rating: 4

This Week's Reads

The Magic of a Tale
by Energiaelca1 (DeviantArt)

Ashes of Honor by Seanan McGuire
October Daye #6 (Goodreads)
**Continuing to work my way through this series. Sounds like all the recent changes to Toby's life are really having an effect. Like that we find out more about a semi-regular side character in this one.

The Disappearances by Emily Bain Murphy
(Goodreads)
**I found this one on the hoopla app. The cover grabbed my attention and the blurb sealed it. Interested in a town where things disappear every seven years and unraveling the reason why.

Lucifer Vol 1 by Holly Black
Cold Heaven (Goodreads)
**Trying to find a new graphic novel series to get into and I have enjoyed Holly Black's writing in the past. The reviews seemed to be mixed with most of the DC faithful not liking it. Since I don't really know DC canon as strongly, hoping that is what they are basing their opinions on.

A Brand New Ending by Jennifer Probst (#2 Stay)

A Christmas Secret by Katherine Spencer (#19 Cape Light)
An Empire for Ravens by Mary Reed (#12 John the Eunuch)
Back Stabbers by Julie Mulhern (#8 The Country Club Murders)
Big Stick by Kelly Jamieson (#7 Aces Hockey)
Blood Bond by Shannon K Butcher (#10 Sentinel Wars)
City of Nope by Brett Battles (#3 Excoms)
Fall by Kristen Callihan (#3 VIP)
Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J Maas (#7 Throne of Glass)
Lost With Me by J. Kenner (#5 Stark Trilogy)
Meant For You by Layla Hagen (#3 The Connor Family Series)
One Giant Leap by Heather Kaczynski (#2 Dare Mighty Things)
Promise Me You by Marina Adair (#1 Raising Kane)
Restless Lightning by Richard Baker (#2 Breaker of Empires)
Reveling in Sin by Meghan March (#3 Sin Trilogy)

Shadow and Ice by Gena Showalter (Gods of War #1)
Six Cats a Slayin' by Miranda James (#10 Cat in the Stacks Mystery)
Suit and Tied by Tymber Dalton (#83 The Suncoast Society)
The Case of the Hidden Daemon by Lucy Banks (#3 Dr Ribero's Agency of the Supernatural)
The Dream Gatherer by Kristen Britain (#Stories Green Rider)
The Midnight Witness by Sara Blaedel (#10 Louise Rick and Camilla Lind)
The Thanksgiving Trip by Kathi Daley (#5 Tess and Tilly)
Vendetta by Iris Johansen (#5 Catherine Ling)
West by Edith Pattou (#2 East)
When Gargoyles Breakthrough by Ashley C. Harris (#6 Shades and Shadows)
When We Were Young by Karen Kingsbury (#28 The Baxters)
Winter at the Beach by Sheila Roberts (#2 Moonlight Harbor)
York by Laurann Dohner (#3 The Vorge Crew)

This Week's Reads

A Home in the Green
by Jerry8448 (DeviantArt)

Brief Cases by Jim Butcher
The Dresden Files #15.1 (Goodreads)
**I am so ready for another full length Dresden novel. Another collection of shorts (some already read in other anthologies) will have to tide me over for now.

The Better Part of Darkness by Kelly Gay
Charlie Madigan #1 (Goodreads)
**I'm not sure what prompted my request for this book, I think it was a reader also liked suggestion on Goodreads. I like the dark gritty look of the cover and I'm hoping the story/world has the same feel.

New Releases ~ week of 10/15/2018

A Gift of Bones by Carolyn Haines (#19 Sarah Booth Delaney)

A Sorrow Fierce and Falling by Jessica Cluess (#3 Kingdom on Fire)
Ask Me No Questions by Shelley Noble (#1 Lady Dunbridge Mystery)
Christmas on the Island by Jenny Colgan (#3 The Cafe by the Sea)
Creatures: The Legacy of Frankenstein by David Thomas Moore
Crimes Past by Lauren Carr (#13 Mac Faraday Mystery)
Crown of Thunder by Tochi Onyebuchi (#2 Beasts Made of Night)
Deck the Hounds by David Rosenfelt (#18 Andy Carpenter)
Delayed Justice by Cara C Putman (#3 Hidden Justice)
Desperate Measures by Stuart Woods (#47 Stone Barrington)
Dig Your Grave by Steven Cooper (#2 Gus Parker and Alex Mills)
Dream by Carly Phillips (#4 Rosewood Bay)

Hook by Delilah Devlin (#5 Montana Bounty Hunters)
In Harm's Way by Viveca Sten (#6 Sandhamn Murders-Still Waters)
Lark! The Herald Angels Sing by Donna Andrews (#24 Meg Langslow)
Listen, Pitch by Lani Lynn Vale (#3 There's No Crying in Baseball)
Magic's Crown by Sela Carsen (#49 Nocturne Falls Universe)
Murder and Mistletoe by Barb Han (#5 Crisis: Cattle Barge)
Nantucket Counterfeit by Steven Axelrod (#5 Henry Kennis Mystery)
No White Knight by Angel Payne (#8 Secrets of Stone)
Only The Lonely by Amanda M. Lee (#1 Death Gate Grim Reaper)
Rough & Ready by Tracy Wolff (#3 Lightning)
Sentinel of Darkness by Katie Reus (#8 Darkness)

Shell Game by Sara Paretsky (#19 V.I. Warshawski)
The Bartered Brides by Mercedes Lackey (Elemental Masters #13)
The Butterfly by Victoria Vale (#3 The Villain Duology)
The Cambodian Curse and Other Stories by Gigi Pandian (Jaya Jones Treasure Hunt Mystery)
The Consuming Fire by John Scalzi (#2 The Interdependency)
The Falcon's Second Chance by Candace Colt (#46 Nocturne Falls Universe)
The Seeker by Elizabeth Hunter (#7 Irin Chronicles)
The Witch's Enchanted Alien by Fiona Roarke (#47 Nocturne Falls Universe)
Though the Heavens Fall by Anne Emery (#10 Collins-Burke Mystery)
Villain by Michael Grant (#8 Gone)
We All Float On by Jeff Lemire (#3 Royal City)
Wind Rider by P C Cast (#3 Tales of a New World)
Wyoming Cowboy Protection by Nicole Helm (#2 Carsons & Delaneys)

This Week's Reads

Dragon Flavors - Autumn Spice
by Sinnabelle (DeviantArt)

The Sacrifice Box by Martin Stewart
(Goodreads)
**Even though I don't normally do a lot of seasonal reads I couldn't pass this one up. The cover has such atmosphere to it. It gives the creepy vibe without being overly busy.
Never come to the box alone.
Never open it after dark.
Never take back your sacrifice.

Sugar Spells by Lola Dodge
The Spellwork Syndicate #2 (Goodreads)
**I really liked book one. Anise is a magical baker who incorporates her spells into her baked goods. After Deadly Sweets her magic isn't working quite the way it should, everything is turning out really wrong. Should be interesting to see where it goes.

One Salt Sea by Seanan McGuire
October Daye #5 (Goodreads)
**Toby's newest disaster (case) takes her under the sea. Trying to solve a kidnapping while also proving the Queen of Mists isn't behind the whole thing.

New Releases ~ week of 10/8/2018

99 Ways to Die by Ed Lin (#3 Taipei Night Market)

A Thousand Devils by Steve Anderson, Frank Goldammer (#2 Max Heller)
Be Our Ghost by Kate Kingsbury (#3 Merry Ghost Inn Mystery)
Carols and Chaos by Cindy Anstey
Dagger and Coin by Kathy MacMillan (#2 Sword and Verse)
Death of a Russian Doll by Barbara Early (#3 Vintage Toyshop Mystery)
Den of Forever Frost by Kathryn Lasky (#2 Bears of the Ice)
Down the Broken Road by J R Backlund (#2 Rachel Carver Mystery)
Dragon Night by Donna Grant (#13.5 Dark Kings)
Face Off by David Hagberg (#23 Kirk McGarvey Adventures)
Heart Untouched by Andrew Grey (#3 Hearts Entwined)
Lady of a Thousand Treasures by Sandra Byrd (#1 Victorian Ladies)
Light Years by Kass Morgan (#1 Light Years)
Mardi Gras Murder by Ellen Byron (#4 A Cajun Country Mystery Series)

Midnight Blues by Robert D. Kidera (#4 A Gabe McKenna Mystery)
Mission: Her Rescue by Anna Hackett (#2 Team 52)
Mycroft and Sherlock by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Anna Waterhouse (#2 Mycroft Holmes)
Once Upon a Duke by Erica Ridley (#1 12 Dukes of Christmas)
Oracle of Doom by D. J. MacHale (#3 Library)
Penned by Eileen Brady (#4 Kate Turner, DVM Mysteries)
Reluctant Psychic by Dima Zales (#3 Sasha Urban Series)
Shadow of the Exile by Mitchell Hogan (#1 Infernal Guardian)
Tanner by Dale Mayer (#18 Seals of Honor)
The Blue Kingfisher by Erica Wright (#3 Kat Stone)
The Delphi Revolution by Rysa Walker (#3 Delphi Trilogy)
The Devil's Thief by Lisa Maxwell (#2 The Last Magician)
The Girl from Berlin by Ronald H. Balson (#5 Liam Taggart and Catherine Lockhart)
The Hour of Death by Jane Willan (#2 A Sister Agatha and Father Selwyn Mystery)
The Land I Lost by Cassandra Clare, Sarah Rees Brennan (#7 Ghosts of the Shadow Market)
Twice Magic by Cressida Cowell (#2 The Wizards of Once)
Up in Flames by Jennifer Blackwood (#2 Flirting With Fire)
Winter in Paradise by Elin Hilderbrand (#1 Paradise)
Wrecked by Joe Ide (#3 IQ)

This Week's Reads

The Keeper
by CLB-Raveneye (DeviantArt)

Late Eclipses by Seanan McGuire
October Daye #4 (Goodreads)
**I've really been enjoying this series. I love October's loyalty even when you just want her to stop, take a breath, and think things all the way through before acting. Of course that wouldn't be nearly as much fun or stressful.

Cast in Deception by Michelle Sagara
Chronicles of  Elantra #13 (Goodreads)
**This is one of my favorite fantasy series. It's more about the overall series/world than having a definite villain to fight and bring each book to a close.

Stygian by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Dark Hunter #27 (Goodreads)
**This series has been really hit or miss for me the last couple of books. While Urian isn't one of my favorites I'm hoping there will be more in the story that involves the overall cast of characters.

New Releases ~ week of 10/01/2018

9 From the Nine Worlds by Rick Riordan (#4 Magnus Chase & the Gods of Asgard)

A Map Of Days by Ransom Riggs (#4 Miss Peregrine)
America's Sweetheart by Jessica Lemmon (#5 Real Love)
An Easy Death by Charlaine Harris (#1 Gunnie Rose)
Art Boss by Kayla Cagan (#2 Piper Perish)
Battle Tested by Laura Scott (#7 Military K-9 Unit)
Black Triumph by Brendan DuBois (#3 Dark Victory)
Blood Communion: A Tale of Prince Lestat by Anne Rice (#13 Vampire Chronicles)
Bounce Back by Hena Khan (#3 Zayd Saleem, Chasing the Dream)
Clash of Beasts by Lisa McMann (#3 Going Wild)
Consumed by J. R. Ward (#1 Firefighters)
Dead of Night by Pandora Pine (#8 Cold Case Psychic)
Dragon's Code: Anne Mccaffrey's Dragonriders of Pern by Gigi McCaffrey (#1 Dragonriders of Pern)
Dry by Neal Shusterman, Jarrod Shusterman
Glitter Bomb by Laura Childs, Terrie Farley Moran (#15 Scrapbooking Mysteries)
Goes South by Stuart Gibbs (#6 Spy School)
Grim Lovelies by Megan Shepherd (#1 Grim Lovelies)
Hard Frost by Jennifer Estep (#2 Mythos Academy: Colorado)
Her Lawman Protector by Patricia Johns (#1 Home to Eagle's Rest)
Hidden Peril by Irene Hannon (#2 Code of Honor)

Hot Christmas Kisses by Joss Wood (#2 Love In Boston)
If the Shoe Fits by Rachel Lacey (#1 Almost Royal)
Kill the Queen by Jennifer Estep (#1 Crown of Shards)
Mean Girl Murder by Leslie Langtry (#8 Merry Wrath Mystery)
Monsters Modules by Gene Luen Yang (#6 Secret Coders)
Poppy Bloom by Rebekah Dodson (#1 Life After Us)
Prince of Dreams by Nancy Gideon (#4 House of Terriot)
Rancher Untamed by Katherine Garbera (#1 Cole's Hill Bachelors)
Rise of the Mystics by Ted Dekker (#2 Beyond the Circle)
Shadow Of The Fox by Julie Kagawa (#1 Shadow Of The Fox)
Shaken Spirits by Alice Duncan (#13 Daisy Gumm Majesty)
Shelter of the Most High by Connilyn Cossette (#2 Cities of Refuge)
Someday by David Levithan (#3 Every Day)
The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan, Robert Venditti (#4 Percy Jackson: The Graphic Novel)
The DarkDeep by Ally Condie, Brendan Reichs (#1 DarkDeep)
The Dead Ringer by M. C. Beaton (#29 Agatha Raisin)
The Disappearance of Winter's Daughter by Michael J Sullivan (#4 Riyria Chronicles)
The Hollow of Fear by Sherry Thomas (#3 The Lady Sherlock Series)
The Light Before Day by Suzanne Woods Fisher (#3 Nantucket Legacy)
The Lost Sisters by Holly Black (#1.5 Folk of the Air)
The Muse of Nightmares by Laini Taylor (#2 Strange the Dreamer)
The Pint of No Return by Ellie Alexander (#3 A Sloan Krause Mystery)
The Reluctant Warrior by Mary Connealy (#2 High Sierra Sweethearts)
The Rogue Who Rescued Her by Christi Caldwell (#3 Brethren)
The Spirit in Question by Cynthia Kuhn (#3 Lila Maclean Mystery)
The Wither Invasion by Mark Cheverton (#3 Wither War)
Trained to Protect by Linda O. Johnston (#2 K-9 Ranch Rescue)
Trial by Treason by Dave Duncan (#2 Enchanter General)
Uncompromising Honor by David Weber (#15 Honor Harrington)