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)

New Releases ~ week of 06/25/2018

99 Lies by Rachel Vincent (#2 100 Hours)

A Big Ship At the Edge of the Universe by Alex White (#1 Salvagers)
A High Sierra Christmas by William W Johnstone, J A Johnstone (#8 Christmas)
A New World Order by S E Smith (#2 Dust)
A Steep Price by Robert Dugoni (#6 Tracy Crosswhite)
Better Haunts and Garden Gnomes by Michelle M Pillow (#1 (Un) Lucky Valley)
Bimini Twist by Linda Greenlaw (#4 Jane Bunker Mysteries)
Blood Match by K. A. Linde (#2 Blood Type)
Bluestone & Vine by Donna Kauffman (#2 Blue Hollow Falls)
Boldfinger by Bob Defendi (#3 Death By Cliché)
Broken Promise by Tara Thomas (#3 Sons of Broad)

Cael by Maryann Jordan (#3 Heroes At Heart)
Claws of Death by Linda S. Reilly (#2 Cat Lady Mystery)
Cochise by Delilah Devlin (#4 Montana Bounty Hunters)
Damnation Valley by William W Johnstone, J A Johnstone (#4 Frontiersman)
Dawn of Legends by Eleanor Herman (#4 Blood of Gods and Royals)
Death by Espresso by Alex Erickson (#6 Death By Coffee)
Driftwood Creek by Roxanne Snopek (#2 Sunset Bay)
Drop by Drop by Morgan Llywelyn (#1 Step by Step)
Fifth Column by Bobby Akart (#5 Lone Star)
Fugitive Six by Pittacus Lore (#2 Lorien Legacies Reborn)
Hurricane Katrina Rescue by Kate Messner (#8 Ranger in Time)

Inked Nights by Carrie Ann Ryan (#8.5 Montgomery Ink)
Iron and Magic by Ilona Andrews (#1 The Iron Covenant)
It Takes Two by Jenny Holiday (#2 Bridesmaids Behaving Badly)
Light My Fire by J. Kenner (#11 Man of the Month)
Love's Red Heart by Deryn Pittar (#3 Future Movers)
Me, Please by Bella Jewel (#5 Iron Fury MC)
Moonlight Seduction by Jennifer L Armentrout (#2 de Vincent)
Murder at the Mansion by Sheila Connolly (#1 Victorian Village Mystery)
Peril and Prayer by Olivia Matthews (#2 Sister Lou)
Pip Bartlett's Guide to Sea Monsters by Maggie Stiefvater, Jackson Pearce (#3 Pip Bartlett)
Red Waters Rising by Laura Anne Gilman (#3 Devil's West)
Ruff Justice by Laurien Berenson (#22 Melanie Travis)

Runaway Murder by Leigh Hearon (#4 A Carson Stables Mystery)
Sandpiper Shore by Debbie Mason (#6 Harmony Harbor)
Scorpion Strike by John Gilstrap (#10 Jonathan Grave)
Snowed Undercover by Lia Davis, Kerry Adrienne (#2 Dark Scales Division)
Speed Dating the Boss by Sue Brown (#1 Cowboys and Angels)
Staged 4 Murder by J. C. Eaton (#3 Sophie Kimball)
Tempting the Laird by Julia London (#5 Highland Grooms)
The Book of Unwinding by J. D. Horn (#2 Witches of New Orleans)
The Cyborg's Stowaway by Eve Langlais (#2 Gypsy Moth)
The Darkest Warrior by Gena Showalter (#14 Lords of the Underworld Series)
The Emerald Sea by Richelle Mead (#3 The Glittering Court)
The Fourth Closet by Scott Cawthon (#3 Five Nights at Freddy's)

The Highlander's Promise by Lynsay Sands (#6 Highlander)
The King's Favorite by Tanya Anne Crosby (#1 Daughter's of Avalon)
The Last Rodeo by Delores Fossen (#9 Wrangler's Creek)
The Lost Continent by Tui T Sutherland (#11Wings of Fire)
The Orphan's Wish by Melanie Dickerson (#8 Hagenheim/Fairy Tale Romance)
The Scroll of Kings by Sarah Prineas (#1 Lost Books)
The Summer Nanny by Holly Chamberlin (#8 Yorktide, Maine)
Till Death Do Us Tart by Ellie Alexander (#8 Bakeshop Mystery)
Total Control by Jackie Ashenden (#2 11th Hour)
Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse (#1 Sixth World)
Truth or Dare by Fern Michaels (#6 Men of the Sisterhood)
Waking the Rainbow Dragon by Tracey West (#10 Dragon Masters)
Winning Her Hand by Bree Wolf (#7 Forbidden Love Novella)

New Releases ~ week of 05/07/2018

A SEAL's Resolve by Cora Seton (#6 Seals of Chance Creek)

Al Capone Throws Me a Curve by Gennifer Choldenko (#4 Tales from Alcatraz)
An Honorable Seduction by Brenda Jackson (#3 Westmoreland Legacy)
Artificial Condition by Martha Wells (#2 The Murderbot Diaries)
Badger by Dale Mayer (#1SEALs of Steel)
Better Off Read by Nora Page (#1 Bookmobile Mystery)
Blueberry Muffins and Misfortune by Agatha Frost (#12 A Peridale Cafe Mystery)
Burning Up by Jennifer Blackwood (#1 Flirting With Fire)
Cake and Punishment by Maymee Bell (#1 Southern Cake Baker)
Cast Long Shadows by Cassandra Clare, Sarah Rees Brennan (#2 Ghosts of the Shadow Market)
Claiming the Cowboy by Liz Isaacson (#5 Grape Seed Falls)

Dead To Me by Pandora Pine (#5 Cold Case Psychic)
Death Doesn't Bargain by Sherrilyn Kenyon (#2 Dark Hunter: Deadman's Cross)
Death Rides the Ferry by Patricia Skalka (#4 Dave Cubiak Mystery)
Edgar Allan Poe and the Jewel of Peru by Karen Lee Street (#2 Poe and Dupin Mystery)
Fallout by Lila Rose (#6 Hawks MC Caroline Springs Charter)
Flowers and Foul Play by Amanda Flower (#1 Magic Garden Mystery)
Frenemies by Nicole Blanchard (#2 Friend Zone)
Ghost Target by A. J. Tata (#1 Reaper)
Grim & The City by Amanda M. Lee (A Grimlock Family Short)
Heat of the Knight by Em Petrova (#2 Knight Ops)
How to Land an Earl in Ten Days or Less by Ava Stone (#1 Heart of an Heiress)

King of Ashes by Raymond E Feist (#1 The Firemane Saga)
No Cure for the Dead by Christine Trent (#1 Florence Nightingale Mystery)
Odysseus Ascendant by Evan Currie (#8 Odyssey One)
On the Hook by Betty Hechtman (#12 Crochet Mystery)
Passion Rising by J. A. Huss (#4 Original Sin)
Pick & Chews by Linda O. Johnston (#4 Barkery & Biscuits Mystery)
Pick Six by Max Monroe (#2 Mavericks)
Power Forward by Hena Khan (#1 Zayd Saleem, Chasing the Dream)
Primary Suspect by Laura Scott (#5 Callahan Confidential)
Puddin' by Julie Murphy (#2 Dumplin')
Rescuing Wendy by Susan Stoker (#8 Delta Force Heroes)
Rodeo Standoff by Susan Sleeman (#2 McKade Law)

Simmering Heat by Leora Gonzales (#1 Braving the Heat)
Sixth Cabin by Kathi Daley (#6 Writers Retreat Southern Seashore Mystery)
Strange New World by Rachel Vincent (#2 Brave New Girl)
The Agency by James Phelan (#5 Jed Walker)
The Alpha's Enemy Mate by Jessie Lane (#14 Howls Romance)
The Bull Rider's Baby Bombshell by Amanda Renee (#3 Saddle Ridge, Montana)
The Crooked Staircase by Dean Koontz (#3 Jane Hawk)
The Other Lady Vanishes by Amanda Quick (#2 Burning Cove, California)
The World of All Souls by  Deborah Harkness

New Releases ~ week of 05/29/2017

A Deeper Grave by Debra Webb (#2 Shades of Death)

A Fine Retribution by Dewey Lambdin (#24 Alan Lewrie)
A Hiss Before Dying by Rita Mae Brown (#26 Mrs Murphy)
A Kingdom Rises by J D Rinehart (#3 Crown of Three)
About a Dog by Jenn McKinlay (#1 Bluff Point)
Aunt Dimity and the Widow's Curse by Nancy Atherton (#22 Aunt Dimity)
Bearly Departed by Meg Macy (#1 A Teddy Bear Mystery)
Beyond Doubt by Kit Rocha (#1 O'Kane for Life)
Beyond Reason by Kat Martin (#1 Texas Trilogy)
Blaze by Donna Grant (#11 Dark Kings)
Bow Wow by Spencer Quinn (#3 Bowser and Birdie)
Chasing Love by Melissa West (#2 Littleton Brothers)

Cherished by Christina Bauer (#3 Beholder)
Chief by Kris Michaels (#7 Kings of Guardian)
Close the Tab: Nomad Bikers by Chelsea Camaron (#3 Devil's Due MC)
Come Sundown by Nora Roberts
Dark Zone by Tom Clancy (#16 Tom Clancy's Op-Center)
Death by Vanilla Latte by Alex Erickson (#4 Death By Coffee)
Desperate Fire by Christopher Nuttall (#4 Angel in the Whirlwind)
Destroyer by Shannon Mayer (#7 Elemental)
Dying Breath by Heather Graham (#21 Krewe of Hunters)
Forbidden Promises by Katee Robert (#4 The O'Malleys)
House of Furies by Madeleine Roux (#1 House of Furies)
Jake by Kym Grosso (#9 Immortals of New Orleans)
Lightning in the Blood by Marie Brennan (#2 Ree Varekai)
Marriage Is Pure Murder by Staci McLaughlin (#6 Blossom Valley Mysteries)
Maybe This Love by Jennifer Snow (#2 Colorado Ice)
Monstrous by Thomas E Sniegoski (#2 Savage)
Mulch Ado about Murder by Edith Maxwell (#5 Local Foods Mysteries)
New York, Actually by Sarah Morgan (#4 Made in New York)
Night Magic by Jenna Black (#2 Nightstruck)
Night Resurrected by Colleen Gleason (#6 The Heroes of New Vegas)
Nighthawk by Clive Cussler, Graham Brown (#14 The NUMA® Files)
No One but You by Brenda Novak (#2 Silver Springs)
One Fete in the Grave by Vickie Fee (#3 A Liv & Di In Dixie Mystery)
Outlaw's Honor by B J Daniels (#2 Cahill Ranch)
Persuasion by Jaymin Eve (#2 Curse of the Gods)
Return to Huckleberry Hill by Jennifer Beckstrand (#7 Matchmakers of Huckleberry Hill)
Shadow Found by D.K. Holmberg (#6 The Shadow Accords)
Shadow Reaper by Christine Feehan (#2 Shadow)
Spectacle by Rachel Vincent (#2 Menagerie)
The Antique House Murders by Leslie Nagel (#2 OakWood Mysteries)
The Cajun Doctor by Sandra Hill (#9 Cajun)
The Case of the Forked Road by John Allison (#7 Bad Machinery)
The Clover Chapel by Devney Perry (#2 Jamison Valley)
The Girl with the Make-Believe Husband by Julia Quinn (#2 Rokesbys)
The Most Dangerous Duke in London by Madeline Hunter (#1 Decadent Dukes Society)
The Sixth Victim by Tessa Harris (#1 Constance Piper Mystery)
Toughest Cowboy in Texas by Carolyn Brown (#1 Happy, Texas)
Truly Dead by Anne Frasier (#4 Elise Sandburg)
Until You by Denise Grover Swank (#2 Bachelor Brotherhood)
When to Engage an Earl by Sally MacKenzie (#3 The Spinster House series)
White Hot by Ilona Andrews (#2 Hidden Legacy)
Wrecked by Cynthia Eden (#6 Last Option Search Team)
Yews With Caution by Kate Collins (#19 Flower Shop Mystery)

Early Review ~ Spectacle

Spectacle (Menagerie #2)

by Rachel Vincent
published by Harlequin MIRA
expected release date: May 30, 2017
genre: Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal

**E-Galley received from publisher and netGalley in exchange for an honest review

Summary (Goodreads): When their coup of Metzger's Menagerie is discovered, Delilah and her fellow cryptids find their newly won freedom brutally stripped away as they are sold into The Savage Spectacle, a private collection of "exotic wildlife." Specializing in ruthless cryptid cage matches, safari-style creature hunts and living party favors, the Spectacle's owner, Willem Vandekamp, caters to the forbidden fetishes of the wealthy and powerful. At the Spectacle, any wish can be granted—for the right price.

But Vandekamp's closely guarded client list isn't the only secret being kept at the Spectacle. Beneath the beauty and brutality of life in the collection lie much darker truths, and no one is more determined than Delilah to strip the masks from the human monsters and drag all dark things into the light.

My Thoughts: I had a hard time reviewing this one. I liked the first one so much and could not wait to read this one. I wanted to know what the menagerie group would do with their freedom and what would cause them to end up at the Spectacle. Unfortunately, that was not to be found. We know from the summary that they get captured but it happened so fast and the reason that "they were found out" was just an excuse to get to the Spectacle.
Delilah is as she was in Menagerie, worried about everyone else and doing everything she can to try and free them all. There is a lot more mental torture in this one based on Vandekamp's technology that leads to many of horrible things that are done to the cryptids.
Speaking of horrible, the things that the clients pay for are as bad as you think they would be. Most you are told or hinted at and are (thankfully) not actually detailed, but some are. We usually just get the aftermath of preparing the cryptids for the next client, party, or sporting event.
Overall, this was a well written book but had too much of the same theme/storyline as book one. I'm not sure how I feel about where Delilah ends up at the end or how she got there. It kind of ruined a relationship that I liked the aspects of in Menagerie. Also, am I the only one that wanted to know what happened to the two little girls in the "secret hallway"? Delilah was the only one that could have remembered them and saved them but she doesn't do this. Are they still there locked in their cages? Will probably read the next book just to see what happens but not as enthusiastically waiting for it.

Rating: 4 

This Week's Reads

Miranda and Caliban by Jacqueline Carey
(Goodreads)
**I really like Carey's work and usually like retellings. Not sure about this particular story but blurb along with the others made me give it a try.

Spectacle by Rachel Vincent
Menagerie #2 (Goodreads)
**I really enjoyed book 1 and wanted to know what happened to the group next. We're basically told all of that in the book summary. It did takes us forward enough that I'm still interested in what happens to everyone  just further into the story.

Winter Halo by Keri Arthur
Outcast #2 (Goodreads)
**This is another that I just read and enjoyed book 1. I'm going in with lowered expectations based on what others have said (good but not as good as book 1) but still hoping.

New Releases ~ week of 08/15/2016

A Court Gesture by Jenny Gardiner (#8 It's Reining Men)

A Moment of Bliss by Heather McGovern (#1 Honeywilde)
A Taste of Seduction by Bronwen Evans (#5 Disgraced Lords)
Almost Hitched by Kylie Gilmore (#6 Clover Park STUDS)
Amaryllis and Other Stories by Carrie Vaughn
Arcana Rising by Kresley Cole (The Arcana Chronicles #4)
Curious Minds by Janet Evanovich, Phoef Sutton (#1 Knight and Moon)
Damaged by Lisa Scottoline (#4 Rosato & DiNunzio)
Die, Die Birdie by J. R. Ripley (#1 Bird Lovers Mystery)
Gustav Gloom and the Castle of Fear by Adam-Troy Castro (#6 Gustav Gloom)
Invasive by Chuck Wendig (#2 Zer0es)
Knights of the Borrowed Dark by Dave Rudden (#1 Knights of the Borrowed

Dark)
Long Shot by Jack Coughlin (#9 Sniper)
Magic Steals by Ilona Andrews (#6.5 Kate Daniels)
Nothing Short of Dying by Erik Storey (#1 Clyde Barr)
Poisoned Blade by Kate Elliott (#2 Court of Fives)
Putting Out Old Flames by Allyson Charles (#1 Pineville)
Ravage by Tillie Cole (#3 Scarred Souls)
Rise the Dark by Michael Koryta (#2 Markus Novak)
Rob Thy Neighbor by David Thurlo (#3 Charlie Henry or Pawnbroker)
Run to You by Georgia Beers (#2 Puppy Love)
Spirits, Rock Stars, and a Midnight Chocolate Bar by Deanna Chase (#02 Pyper Rayne)

Sting by Sandra Brown
Sugar Rush by Sawyer Bennett (#2 Sugar Bowl)
Sunker's Deep by Lian Tanner (#2 Hidden Trilogy)
The Architect of Song by A.G. Howard (#1 Haunted Hearts Legacy)
The Edge of the Light by Elizabeth George (#4 Whidbey Island)
The Flame Never Dies by Rachel Vincent (#2 The Stars Never Rise)
The Gold Mystery by Martin Widmark (#8 Whodunit Detective Agency)
The Hide-and-Seek Ghost by Dori Hillestad Butler (#8 The Haunted Library)
The Obelisk Gate by N. K. Jemisin (#2 Broken Earth)
The Prisoner of Silverwood Castle by Marie Treanor (#2 Darke of Night)

The Sapphire Heist by Lauren Blakely (#2 A Jewel Novel)
The Sight by Chloe Neill (#2 Devil's Isle)
Torch by Karen Erickson (#3 Wildwood)
Triple Threat by James Patterson (#16 BookShots)
Under the Harvest Moon by Beth Wiseman (#5 Amish Harvest)
Vicarious by Paula Stokes (#1 Vicarious)
Wolf's Mate by Chantal Fernando (#5 Wind Dragons MC)

New Releases ~ week of 09/28/2015

A Bad Boy for Christmas by Jessica Lemmon (#3 Second Chance)

A Cherry Cola Christmas by Ashton Lee (#4 Cherry Cola Book Club)
A Ghostly Murder by Tonya Kappes (#4 Ghostly Southern Mystery)
A Knights Bridge Christmas by Carla Neggers (#5 Swift River Valley)
A Mad Zombie Party by Gena Showalter (#4 White Rabbit Chronicles)
About a Vampire by Lynsay Sands (#22 Argeneau Vampires)
After You by Jojo Moyes (#2 Me Before You)
All I Want for Christmas is Fudge by Nancy Coco (#4 Candy-Coated Mysteries)
All Wrapped Up by Kimberly Kincaid (#5 Pine Mountain)
Antiques St. Nicked by Barbara Allan (#11 Trash 'n' Treasures Mystery)
Autumn Moon by Jan DeLima (#3 Celtic Wolves)

Awakened In Shadows by Tigris Eden (#4 Shadow Unit)
Blessed are those Who Mourn by Kristi Belcamino (#4 Gabriella Giovanni Mysteries)
Bound by Sin by Jacquelyn Frank (#3 The Immortal Brothers)
Bread of the Dead by Ann Myers (#1 Santa Fe Cafe Mystery series)
Christmas in Mustang Creek by Linda Lael Miller (#4 Brides of Bliss County)
Crossbones by John L Campbell (#4 Omega Days)
Dangerously Dark by Colette London (#2 Chocolate Whisperer Mystery)
Dead with the Wind by Miranda James (#2 Southern Sisters Mystery)
Deceive Me by Stacey Mosteller (#1 Two Sisters)
Down the Rabbit Hole by Various Authors, anthology
Emerald Buddha by Russell Blake (#2 Drake Ramsey)

Evergreen Springs by RaeAnne Thayne (#3 Haven Point)
Facing Fire by HelenKay Dimon (#4 Bad Boys Undercover)
Fated by Sarah Fine (#3 Servants of Fate)
Firestorm by Shannon Mayer (#3 Elemental)
Fortune's Folly by Sara King (#2 Outer Bounds)
Last Hope by Jessica Clare (#5 Hitman)
Madly by Amy Alward (#1 Potion Trilogy)
Marry Me At Christmas by Susan Mallery (#19 Fools Gold)
Menagerie by Rachel Vincent (#1 Menagerie)
Pane and Suffering by Cheryl Hollon (#1 A Webb's Glass Shop Mystery)
Patriot Attack by Robert Ludlum, Kyle Mills (#12 Covert-One)
Playing Dirty by Tiffany A. Snow (#2 Risky Business)
Playing with Fire by Kate Meader (#2 Hot in Chicago)

Reign of Iron by Angus Watson (#3 Iron Age)
Say Yes to the Death by Susan McBride (#6 Debutante Dropout)
Shadow Play by Iris Johansen (#19 Eve Duncan Forensics)
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo (#1 Six of Crows)
Spiral Of Need by Suzanne Wright (#1 Mercury Pack)
The Aeronaut's Windlass by Jim Butcher (#1 The Cinder Spires)
The Bark Before Christmas by Laurien Berenson (#18 Melanie Travis)
The Hidden by Heather Graham (#17 Krewe of Hunters)
The Legend of Lyon Redmond by Julie Anne Long (#11 Pennyroyal Green)
The Stolen MacKenzie Bride by Jennifer Ashley (#8 Highland Pleasures)
The Taming of Malcolm Grant by Paula Quinn (#4 The McGregors: Highland Heirs)
Willow Brook Road by Sherryl Woods (#13 Chesapeake Shores)
Zeroes by Scott Westerfeld, Margo Lanagan, Deborah Biancotti (#1 Zeroes)

Book Review (Arc) ~Menagerie

Menagerie (Menagerie #1)

by Rachel Vincent
Published by MIRA
expected release date: September 29, 2015
genre: Adult, Mythology, Supernatural, Fantasy (dark),

**received e-arc from publisher and netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Summary (Goodreads): When Delilah Marlow visits a famous traveling carnival, Metzger's Menagerie, she is an ordinary woman in a not-quite-ordinary world. But under the macabre circus black-top, she discovers a fierce, sharp-clawed creature lurking just beneath her human veneer. Captured and put on exhibition, Delilah in her black swan burlesque costume is stripped of her worldly possessions, including her own name, as she's forced to "perform" in town after town.

But there is breathtaking beauty behind the seamy and grotesque reality of the carnival. Gallagher, her handler, is as kind as he is cryptic and strong. The other "attractions"—mermaids, minotaurs, gryphons and kelpies—are strange, yes, but they share a bond forged by the brutal realities of captivity. And as Delilah struggles for her freedom, and for her fellow menagerie, she'll discover a strength and a purpose she never knew existed.

Renowned author Rachel Vincent weaves an intoxicating blend of carnival magic and startling humanity in this intricately woven and powerful tale.

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this book right from the start. This is a dark look at what happens when humans get scared and decide the only solution is to round up anything that is not 100% human and imprison them one way or another.

*I wasn't as bothered by things that made this dark the way others were. They were highly disturbing but that is what made this book so great. If the author hadn't shown how bad the cryptids had it, the rest of the story wouldn't of had the same meaning.
*The reveal of how Delilah was still 100% human but had cryptid abilities was interesting. I'm not as familiar with what she is (really trying not to spoil here) so I was glad that it was well explained.
*I had an idea of what Gallagher was and it was another good reveal for the reader and the others that were around when it took place.
*I liked his  and Delilah's relationship. I was glad Delilah did just auto trust everyone around her that showed her a bit of kindness once she was caged.
* I liked the oracles and how they brought everything full circle from Delilah's past to the present.

Overall, I'm looking forward to this series. While I'm not sure where the author is going to go with the next book I'm interested enough to find out. With the way things ended and with the cryptids looking for lost family it seems like it can only go bad but here's hoping there's enough good to counterbalance them.

Rating: 4.5 

Book Review ~ The Stars Never Rise

The Stars Never Rise 

by Rachel Vincent
published by Delacorte Press
genre: YA, Fantasy, Supernatural, Dystopia

Summary (Goodreads): Sixteen-year-old Nina Kane should be worrying about her immortal soul, but she's too busy trying to actually survive. Her town's population has been decimated by soul-consuming demons, and souls are in short supply. Watching over her younger sister, Mellie, and scraping together food and money are all that matters. The two of them are a family. They gave up on their deadbeat mom a long time ago.

When Nina discovers that Mellie is keeping a secret that threatens their very existence, she'll do anything to protect her. Because in New Temperance, sins are prosecuted as crimes by the brutal Church and its army of black-robed exorcists. And Mellie's sin has put her in serious trouble.

To keep them both alive, Nina will need to trust Finn, a fugitive with deep green eyes who has already saved her life once and who might just be an exorcist. But what kind of exorcist wears a hoodie?

Wanted by the Church and hunted by dark forces, Nina knows she can't survive on her own. She needs Finn and his group of rogue friends just as much as they need her.

My Thoughts: I always worry when everyone else loves a book. Hyped books don't always work for me. This one did. It is right up there as one of my favorite reads so far this year.
Even though the Church is in charge and everyone follows whatever they say, it wasn't a preaching/ religious story. It was clear from the beginning that everyone was under the thumb of the Church even if most didn't agree with what they were saying. Because of the demon invasion the Church rules by fear.
Nina was an interesting character for me. We kept being told that she was slow on the uptake and her sister was the smart one. For me, I'll take the slightly slower character that can survive in the world she lives in than the smart sister who is either incredibly selfish or not as smart as we are being told. Nina's new group of real exorcists are an interesting mix and have something for everyone.
The only thing that stopped this from being a five star for me was the romance. I liked the idea of Finn, at first he was one of the better characters. Unfortunately, the big reveal didn't work for me. It was just weird. I get the idea and could see how his situation greatly helped the group in their work but as not as far as being Nina's romantic interest. The situation just seemed to put her in a situation where she is just making out with random guys. Even if Finn is there, it's not really him. Like I said, I liked him as a character but not as a romantic interest.
Overall, for being a first in the series, the author grabbed me from the start and kept me until the end. I'm looking forward to seeing how the group does out in the wild dealing with everything that was figured out during this book.

Rating: 4.5

What We're Reading

So I finally started The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan. Finished The Eye of the World this past weekend. While I enjoyed it overall, it is a long book and there were certain spots/chapters that I felt could have just been skipped. I do have a lot of questions still and will be going on to book two to find out more.                                                                  

I also squeezed in Saga Vol. 1 this past weekend. I've heard nothing but great things about this graphic novel series. I'm not sure how I feel about it. Right now I don't love it as much as everyone else seems too. I did think the artwork was better than a lot I've seen but the story didn't really grab me. I'll read the next volume at least to see if it interests me more.







Library Haul
I do have several books from the library this week that I'm trying to decide between, I've started Rook

by Sharon Cameron. It's another that hasn't fully grabbed my interest. I find the main character annoying and don't know if I want to invest my time to continue.

I'm also trying to catch back up on some series I started. I have a list going of book 2s that have been out for awhile but I still haven't gotten to. The first I picked up is The Unbound by Victoria Schwab. I grabbed Vicious by this author while I was there.

Some others that I picked up that are more likely to be read are: Eighth Grave After Dark by Darynda Jones (will be caught up on this series), The Stars Never Rise by Rachel Vincent, and The Clockwork Scarab by Colleen Gleason.



Plenty to choose from, now just to settle in and start reading.