New Releases ~ week of 06/26/2017

A Crime of Passion Fruit by Ellie Alexander (#6 Bakeshop Mystery)

A Most Unlikely Duke by Sophie Barnes (#1 Diamonds in the Rough)
A Stardance Summer by Emily March (#13 Eternity Springs)
Badlands by Melissa Lenhardt (#3 Laura Elliston)
Blue Hollow Falls by Donna Kauffman (#1 Blue Hollow Falls)
Branded as Trouble by Delores Fossen (#5 Wrangler's Creek)
Come Helen High Water by Susan McBride (#4 River Road)
Constructing the Soul by Annabella Michaels (#5 Souls of Chicago)
Dead Drop by Marc Cameron (#8 Jericho Quinn)
Death of a Bachelorette by Laura Levine (#15 Jaine Austen)
Death of a Lobster Lover by Lee Hollis (#9 Hayley Powell Food & Cocktails Mysteries)

Double or Nothing by Craig Schaefer (#7 Daniel Faust)
Down Home Cowboy by Maisey Yates (#12 Copper Ridge)
Dr. ER by Max Monroe (#2 St. Luke's Docuseries)
Dropout by Carrie Ann Ryan (#1 Bad Boy Homecoming)
Duke with Benefits by Manda Collins (#2 Studies in Scandal)
Easy Nights by Kristen Proby (#6 Boudreaux)
Fateful Mornings by Tom Bouman (#2 Henry Farrell)
Feral King by Sparrow Beckett (#1 The Dominant Bastard)
Final Target by John Gilstrap (#9 Jonathan Grave)
Garden of Graves by Keary Taylor (#8 House of Royals)
Generation One by Pittacus Lore (#1 Lorien Legacies Reborn)
Grace to the Finish by Julie Hyzy (#8 Manor House Mysteries)
Her UnBearable Protector by Reina Torres (#14 Howls Romance)

High Stakes by Fern Michaels (#5 Men of the Sisterhood)
Honor by Kennedy Layne (#4 Bad Boy Homecoming)
If the Haunting Fits, Wear It by Rose Pressey (#5 Haunted Vintage Mystery)
King of Clubs by Sandra Owens (#2 Aces & Eights)
Knife's Edge by Hope Larson (#2 Four Points)
Lowcountry Bonfire by Susan M. Boyer (#6 Liz Talbot Mysteries)
Luca by Sarah Castille (#2 Ruin and Redemption)
Make Me Stay by Sidney Halston (#2 Panic)
Midnight Jewel by Richelle Mead (The Glittering Court #2)
Mud Run Murder by Leslie Langtry (#5 Merry Wrath Mystery)
Murder at the Puppy Fest by Laurien Berenson (#20 Melanie Travis)
Murder on Black Swan Lane by Andrea Penrose (#1 Murder on Black Swan Lane)

Now I Rise by Kiersten White (#2 The Conquerors Saga)
On the Plus Side by Alison Bliss (#2 The Perfect Fit)
Oversight by Santino Hassell (#2 The Community)
Primrose Lane by Debbie Mason (#3 Harmony Harbor)
Race Against Time by Sharon Sala
Serenity Harbor by RaeAnne Thayne (#6 Haven Point)
Seven Stones to Stand or Fall by Diana Gabaldon (Outlander Collection)
Take Out by Margaret Maron (#9 Sigrid Harald)
The Alpha's Enemy Mate by Jessie Lane (#15 Howls Romance)
The Bones of the Earth by Rachel Dunne (#2 Bound Gods)
The Duke of Defiance by Darcy Burke (#5 The Untouchables)
The Fatal Gate by Ian Irvine (#2 Gate of Good and Evil)
The House of Memory by Carolyn Haines (#2 Pluto's Snitch)

The King by Skye Warren (#4 Endgame)
The Legend by Donna Grant (#3 Sons of Texas)
The Legion of Flame by Anthony Ryan (#2 The Draconis Memoria)
The Mech Who Loved Me by Bec McMaster (#2 London Steampunk: The Blue Blood Conspiracy)
The Queen of Swords by R.S. Belcher (#3 Golgotha)
The Separatists by Lis Wiehl, Sebastian Stuart (#3 Newsmakers)
The Sweetest Burn by Jeaniene Frost (#2 Broken Destiny)
The Tell-Tale Tarte by Maya Corrigan (#4 Five-Ingredient Mystery)
Thrax by Christina Bauer (#4 Angelbound)
Unlucky by Avery Aster (#3 Jagger & Poppy)
Unsub by Meg Gardiner (#1 Unsub)
Zero Sum by Barry Eisler (#9 John Rain)

New Releases ~ week of 06/09/2014

*All links go to Goodreads

A Deadly Business by Lis Wiehl (#2 Mia Quinn Mystery)

All Day and a Night by Alafair Burke (#5 Ellie Hatcher)
Allegiance by Susannah Sandlin (#4 Penton Legacy)
Azagoth by Larissa Ione (#10.5 Demonica #6 1001 Dark Nights)
Blackwood: A Hexed Story by Michelle Krys (#0.5 The Witch Hunter)
Born of Deception by Teri Brown (#2 Born of Illusion)
Burned by Tara Sivec
California Bones by Greg Van Eekhout (#1 California Bones)
Earth Awakens by Aaron Johnston (#3 First Formic War)
Frozen Treats by Helen Perelman (#13 Candy Fairies)
Glory by Maureen McGowan (#3 Dust Chronicles)
Hexed by Michelle Krys (#1 The Witch Hunter)
Hunger for You by A C Arthur (#3 Shadow Shifters: Damaged Hearts)

Let's Rock! by Sheryl Berk (#3 Dance Divas)
Makeover Magic by Jill Santopolo (#3 Sparkle Spa)
Never Look Back by Clare Donoghue (#1 Mike Lockyer)
No Stone Unturned by James W. Ziskin (#2 Ellie Stone Mystery)
Push by Eve Silver (#2 Game)
Robogenesis by Daniel H Wilson (#2 Robo)
Scarred by Caris Roane (#2 Savage Chains)
Sea Monster! by Jordan Quinn (#3 Kingdom of Wrenly)
Stormy Persuasion by Johanna Lindsey (#11 Malory Family)
The Baklava Club by Jason Goodwin (#5 Yashim the Eunuch)
The Bourne Ascendancy by Eric Van Lustbader (#12 Jason Bourne)
The Murder Complex by Lindsay Cummings (#1 Murder Complex)
The Strange Maid by Tessa Gratton (#2 United States of Asgard)
Wicked Games by Sean Olin (#1 Wicked Games)
Written in My Own Heart's Blood by Diana Gabaldon (#8 Outlander)

Review ~ The Exile

The Exile: An Outlander Graphic Novel (Outlander 1.5)

by Dianna Gabaldon 
illustrated by Hoang Nguyen
published by Del Ray 
genre: Adult, Graphic Novel, Fantasy, Historical

Summary (Goodreads): After too long an absence, Jamie Fraser is coming home to Scotland—but not without great trepidation. Though his beloved godfather, Murtagh, promised Jamie’s late parents he’d watch over their brash son, making good on that vow will be no easy task. There’s already a fat bounty on the young exile’s head, courtesy of Captain Black Jack Randall, the sadistic British officer who’s crossed paths—and swords—with Jamie in the past. And in the court of the mighty MacKenzie clan, Jamie is a pawn in the power struggle between his uncles: aging chieftain Colum, who demands his nephew’s loyalty—or his life—and Dougal, war chieftain of Clan MacKenzie, who’d sooner see Jamie put to the sword than anointed Colum’s heir.

And then there is Claire Randall—mysterious, beautiful, and strong-willed, who appears in Jamie’s life to stir his  compassion . . . and arouse his desire.

But even as Jamie’s heart draws him to Claire, Murtagh is certain she’s been sent by the Old Ones, and Captain Randall accuses her of being a spy. Claire clearly has something to hide, though Jamie can’t believe she could pose him any danger. Still, he knows she is torn between two choices—a life with him, and whatever it is that draws her thoughts so often elsewhere.

My Thoughts: This was a difficult one for me. I love this series/book and have really been enjoying graphic novels of late. This is story takes part during the first part of Outlander but is told from Jamie and Murtagn's POV.
I was expecting something different from this story. Even though it was told from different POVs it was really just a rehash of the story we've already read. I didn't feel like I learned anything new, if there were some new points it didn't jump out at me.
The other side is the illustrations. I loved the fact that this was full color throughout but that was mainly it. The biggest problem for me was Jamie. I don't know how to describe it other than his character drawing just seemed very vague to me. For being the main character in this story he never seemed very defined. Claire was distinct where Jamie just looked like the rest of the men, a little taller and with red hair. It may be a case of having a definite picture in your head and knowing the artist is never going to get it just right.
Overall, this just fell a little short for me. It didn't feel there was anything new and while the drawings overall were well done the actual characters did not work for me.

Rating: 3.5
 

Stacking the Shelves

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga at Tynga's Reviews to share your weekly book haul. It can be what you bought, received, borrowed, or were gifted. For more info you can go here.

Bought
Silent Truth by Sherrilyn Kenyon and Diana Love
Beneath a Blood Red Moon by Heather Graham

Won
from Harper Collins
Otherworld Chronicles by Nils Johnson-Shelton
~The Invisible Tower, The Seven Swords, The Dragon King

Review  (netGalley/ Strange Chemistry)
Stolen Songbird by Danielle L. Jensen



Library
Dragon Bound by Thea Harrison
Once Upon a Crime by Michael Buckley
The Exile: An Outlander Graphic Novel by Diana Gabaldon and Hoang Nguyen
Not a Drop to Drink by Mindy McGinnis
Ghoul Goblin: The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher

Follow Friday

Follow Friday is now hosted by TWO hosts, Parajunkee of course and Alison of Alison Can Read. Each host will have their own Feature Blog and this way it'll allow us to show off more new blogs!

Q. Happy Father’s Day! Who is your favorite dad character in a book and why?

A. This one was hard to come up with one. Picking two of my favorite characters. Bran from the Patricia Brigg's series and Jamie from Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series. I'm still in the early stages of Outlander series but still think he's great.

Have a Great Weekend and Happy Reading!