This Week's Reads

**I'm a little behind this week. With the holiday weekend and then getting really sick I've lost track of the days. Last month of 2016, hope it's a good one! 😸

Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson
Reckoners #1 (Goodreads)
**Picked this up based on the cover and author. The concept also sounded interesting. Plus, reviews from my Goodreads friend list all seem positive, so giving a try.

Blood Red Kiss by Kresley Cole, Larissa Ione, Gena Showalter
(Goodreads)
The Warlord Wants Forever by Kresley Cole
Forsaken by Night by Larissa Ione
Dark Swan by Gena Showalter
**I was in the mood for short stories. I've read and liked all three authors but have not read any of the series that these shorts come from so will also be a good introduction to them.

New Releases ~ week of 1/5/2015

*Beginning of month is always a long list and this month has a ton of mysteries being released. All links go to Goodreads.

A Case of Spirits by KJ Charles (#2.5 Charm of Magpies)

A Fine Summer's Day by Charles Todd (#17 Ian Rutledge)
A Seamless Murder by Melissa Bourbon Ramirez (#6 A Magical Dressmaking Mystery)
After the Fall by Patricia Gussin (#5 Laura Nelson Mystery)
Alistair Grim's Odditorium by Gregory Funaro (#1 Odditorium)
All the President's Menus by Julie Hyzy (#8 White House Chef Mystery)
As Chimney Sweepers Come to Dust by Alan Bradley (#7 Flavia de Luce Mystery)
Because of the Baby... by Cat Schield (#5 Texas Cattleman's Club: After The Storm)
Blood of the Faithful by Michael Wallace (#8 The Righteous)

Carrying the lost Heir's child by Jules Bennett (#3 Barrington Trilogy)
Contradictions by Tiffany King (#3 Woodfalls Girls)
Cowgirls Don't Cry by Silver James (#1 Red Dirt Royalty)
Dead of Winter by Kresley Cole (#3 Arcana Chronicles)
Dead Wrong by Richard Phillips (#2 Rho Agenda Inception)
Devil in the Deadline by LynDee Walker (#4 Headlines in High Heels Mysteries)
Diners, Drive-ins and Death by Christine Wenger (#3 Comfort Food Mysteries)
Doing the Devil's Work by Bill Loehfelm (#3 Maureen Coughlin)
Drifters by John L Campbell (#3 Omega Days)
Ensnared by A. G. Howard (#3 Splintered)

Falling Away by Jasinda Wilder (#4 Falling)
Feta Attraction by Susannah Hardy (#1 Greek to Me Mystery)
Firefight by Brandon Sanderson (#2 The Reckoners)
First and Last Sorcerer by Barb Hendee, J C Hendee (#13 Noble Dead)
For Whom the Bluebell Tolls by Beverly Allen (#2 Bridal Bouquet Shop Mysteries)
Frostfire by Amanda Hocking (#1 Kanin Chronicles)
Fry Me A Liver by Delia Rosen (#6 A Deadly Deli Mystery)
Ghost in the Guacamole by Sue Ann Jaffarian (#5 Ghost of Granny Apples Mystery)
Golden Son by Pierce Brown (#2 Red Rising)
Half-Resurrection Blues by Daniel Jos Older (#1 Bone Street Rumba)
How to Plan a Wedding for a Royal Spy by Vanessa Kelly (#3 Renegade Royals)

Hungry Like the Wolf by Paige Tyler (#1 SWAT)
Insatiable Appetites by Stuart Woods (#32 Stone Barrington)
Iron Axe by Steven Harper (#1 Books of Blood and Iron)
Kiss of the Rose Princess, Vol. 2 by Aya Shouoto (#2 Kiss of the Rose Princess)
Last Call by Alice Clayton (#2.5 Cocktail)
Lie of the Needle by Cate Price (#3 Deadly Notions Mystery)
Lycan Fallout : Fall Of Man by Mark Tufo (#2 Lycan Fallout)
Meet Me In Scotland by Patience Griffin (#2 Kilts and Quilts)
Mr. Monk and the New Lieutenant by Hy Conrad (#4 Mr. Monk)
Nantucket Fivespot by Steven Axelrod (#2 Henry Kennis Mystery)
No Ghouls Allowed  by Victoria Laurie (#9 Ghost Hunter Mystery)

Originator by Joel Shepherd (#6 Cassandra Kresnov)
Reborn by Jennifer Rush (#3 Altered)
Rescue on the Oregon Trail by Kate Messner (#1 Ranger in Time)
Retribution by David Hagberg (#18 Kirk McGarvey Adventures)
River of No Return by David Riley Bertsch (#2 Jake Trent)
Rogue Wave by Jennifer Donnelly (#2 Waterfire Saga)
Secrets of a Scandalous Heiress by Theresa Romain (#3 Matchmaker Trilogy)
Slavers of the Savage Catacombs by Jon F Merz (#2 Shadow Warrior saga)
Snoop to Nuts by Elizabeth Lee (#2 Nut House Mysteries)
Snow Way Out by Christine Husom (#1 Snow Globe Shop Mystery)
Snowed In with Her Ex by Andrea Laurence (#1 Brides and Belles)

Some Like It Haute by Diane Vallere (#4 Style and Error)
Someone Like Her by Sandra Owens (#2 K2 Special Services)
Strands of Sorrow by John Ringo (#4 Black Tide Rising)
Sweetie by Kate Klimo (#6 Dog Diaries)
The Body Snatchers Affair by Bill Pronzini (#3 Carpenter and Quincannon Mysteries)
The Burning Horizon by Erin Hunter (#5 Seekers: Return to the Wild)
The Case of the Missing Moonstone by Jordan Stratford (#1 Wollstonecraft Detective Agency)
The Trouble with Texas Cowboys by Carolyn Brown (#2 Burnt Boot)
The Millionaire Rogue by Jessica Peterson (#2 Hope Diamond Trilogy)
The Witch Hunter's Tale by Sam Thomas (#3 Midwife Mystery)
The Witches of Echo Park by Amber Benson (#1 Witches of Echo Park)

Twisted Threads by Lea Wait (#1 A Mainely Needlepoint Mystery)
Unbound by Jim C Hines (#3 Magic ex Libris)
Unleashed by Gordon Korman (#7 Swindle)
Where the Bones Are Buried by Jeanne Matthews (#5 Dinah Pelerin Mystery)
White Plague by James Abel (#1 Joe Rush)
Willowgrove by Kathleen Peacock (#3 Hemlock Trilogy)
Winter at the Door by Sarah Graves (#1 Lizzie Snow)
With Baited Breath by Lorraine Bartlett (#1 Lotus Bay Mystery)
Wolves' Bane by Angela Addams (#3 Order of the Wolf)

New Releases ~ week of 9/30/2013

**First of the month and it's a big one

The Wicked Deeds of Daniel Mackenzie by Jennifer Ashley (#6 in Highland Pleasures)

Glittering Promises by Lisa T Bergren (#3 in Grand Tour )
Shadowlark by Meagan Spooner (#2 in Skylark)
Enigma by Moira Rogers (#6 in Southern Arcana)
Vigilante by Christin Lovell (#7 in Vamp Chronicles )
Secrets of a Scandalous Marriage by Valerie Bowman (#3 in Secret Brides )
Hero by Alethea Kontis (#2 in Woodcutter)
The Retribution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin (#3 in Mara Dyer )
Endless Knight by Kresley Cole (#2 in Arcana Chronicles)
The Lady in Red by Maire Claremont (#2 in Mad Passions)
Katies Forever Promise by Jerry Eicher (#3 in Emma Raber's Daughter)
Tempt the Stars by Karen Chance (#6 in Cassandra Palmer)

The Girl Who Soared Over Fairyland and Cut the Moon in Two by Catherynne M Valente (#3 in Fairyland)
In the Heart of the Highlander by Maggie Robinson (#2 in Ladies Unlaced)
Possession by J. R. Ward (#5 in Fallen Angels)
Skating Under the Wire by Joelle Charbonneau (#4 in Rebecca Robbins)
Kick Start by Josh Lanyon (#5 in Dangerous Ground)
The Training by Tara Sue Me (#3 in Submissive)
Spy's Honor by Amy Raby (#2 in Hearts and Thrones)
Torn by Kim Karr (#2 in Connections )
Hunter's Moon by Lisa Kessler (#2 in Moon)
Drawn Together by Lauren Dane (#6 in Brown Siblings)
My Lady Quicksilver by Bec McMaster (#3 in London Steampunk)

Perilous Shield by Jack Campbell (#2 in Lost Stars)
Golden Malicious by Sheila Connolly (#7 in Orchard Mystery)
Ghost Gone Wild by Carolyn Hart (#4 in Bailey Ruth)
Silencing Eve by Iris Johansen (#20 in Eve Duncan Forensics)
Born in Chains by Caris Roane (#1 in Men in Chains)
Hereafter by Kate Brian (#2 in Shadowlands)
Targeted by Katie Reus (#1 in Deadly Ops)
Poisoned Prose by Ellery Adams (#5 in Books by the Bay Mystery)
Darkness Rises by Dianne Duvall (#4 in Immortal Guardians)
Treecat Wars by Jane Lindskold, David Weber (#3 in Star Kingdom )
Splinter Cell: Blacklist by Peter Telep (#2 in Tom Clancys Ghost Recon)
Dragons Run by Robert Asprin, Jody Lynn Nye (#4 in  (Dragons))

Pharaoh by David Gibbins (#7 in Jack Howard)
Wild Cards by Simone Elkeles (#1 in Wild Cards)
Claimed by the Demon by Doranna Durgin (#2 in Demon Blade)
Tainted by A. E. Rought (#2 in Broken)
Treacherous Kiss by Ella Dominguez (#3 in Crimson Kisses)
Three Can Keep a Secret by Archer Mayor (#25 in Joe Gunther)
Perfect Ruin by Lauren DeStefano (#1 in Internment Chronicles)
Midnight's Temptation by Donna Grant (#7 in Dark Warriors)
Zom-B Baby by Darren Shan (#5 in Zom-B)
1636: The Devil's Opera by Eric Flint (#16 in Assiti Shards)
A Good Dose of Pleasure by Zuri Day (#2 in Morgan Man)
The Colton Bride by Carla Cassidy (#37 in Coltons)
Bastion by Mercedes Lackey (#5 in Valdemar: Collegium Chronicles)

Murder and Marinara by Rosie Genova (#1 in Italian Kitchen Mystery)
A Finder's Fee by Jim Lavene (#5 in Missing Pieces Mystery)
Death, Taxes, and Green Tea Ice Cream by Diane Kelly (#6 in Tara Holloway)
Drizzled with Death by Jessie Crockett (#1 in Sugar Grove Mysteries )
Chili Con Carnage by Kylie Logan (#1 in Chili Cook-Off)
Buried in Bargains by Josie Belle (#3 in Good Buy Girls)
Milkshakes, Mermaids, and Murder by Sara Rosett (#8 in Mom Zone Mysteries)
Plaid Tidings by Mia Marlowe (#1 in Spirit of the Highlands)
Mortal Bonds by Michael Sears (#2 in Jason Stafford)
Expatriates by James Wesley Rawles (#4 in Patriots)
An Untamed Heart by Lauraine Snelling (#1 in Songs of Blessing)
A Family for Christmas by Winnie Griggs (#3 in Texas Grooms)
A Bride for Noah by Lori Copeland, Virginia Smith (#1 in Seattle Brides)

A Royal Wedding by Helen Perelman (#2 in Candy Fairies Special)
The House Next Door by P J Night (#16 in You're Invited to a Creepover)
Silver Bells by Deborah Raney (#2 in Songs of the Season )
Have Yourself a Curvy Little Christmas by Sugar Jamison (#1.5 in Perfect Fit)
The Wager by Rachel Van Dyken (#2 in Bet)
A Wolff at Heart by Janice Maynard (#7 in Men of Wolff Mountain)
Blackstone and the Endgame by Sally Spencer (#4 in Inspector Sam Blackstone Mystery)
Allure by Lea Nolan (#2 in The Hoodoo Apprentice )
Spider Woman's Daughter by Anne Hillerman (#19 in Leaphorn & Chee)
Year of the Demon by Steve Bein (#2 in Fated Blades)
Villains Rising by Jeramey Kraatz (#2 in Cloak Society)

Bloodlust by Helen Harper (#5 in Blood Destiny)
Cursed by S.J. Harper (#1 in Fallen Siren)
Love and Lists by Tara Sivec (#1 in Chocoholics)
Unbreakable by Kami Garcia (#1 in Legion)
Fire Storm by Andrew Lane (#4 in Sherlock Holmes: The Legend Begins)
Pretenders by Lisi Harrison (#1 in Pretenders)
Return to Me by Lynn Austin (#1 in Restoration Chronicles)
Autumn Bones by Jacqueline Carey (#2 in Agent of Hel)
Perfect Season by Tim Green (#6 in Football Genius )
Gilt Trip by Laura Childs (#11 in Scrapbooking Mysteries)
Mousemobile by Prudence Breitrose (#2 in Mousenet)

Exile by Shannon Messenger (#2 in Keeper of the Lost Cities )
Secrets by Jane Adams (#8 in Naomi Blake)
Blue Moon by James Ponti (#2 in Dead City)
The Christmas Surprise by Wanda Coven (#9 in Heidi Heckelbeck)
The Enchanter Heir by Cinda Williams Chima (#4 in The Heir)
The Ghosts of Mayfield Court by Norman Russell (#9 in Inspector Jackson)

Book Review ~ Poison Princess

Poison Princess (The Arcana Chronicles #1)

by Kresley Cole
published by Simon & Schuster
genre: YA, Dystopian, Fantasy

Summary (Goodreads): She could save the world—or destroy it.

Sixteen year old Evangeline “Evie” Greene leads a charmed life, until she begins experiencing horrifying hallucinations. When an apocalyptic event decimates her Louisiana hometown, Evie realizes her hallucinations were actually visions of the future—and they’re still happening. Fighting for her life and desperate for answers, she must turn to her wrong-side-of-the-bayou classmate: Jack Deveaux.

But she can’t do either alone.

With his mile-long rap sheet, wicked grin, and bad attitude, Jack is like no boy Evie has ever known. Even though he once scorned her and everything she represented, he agrees to protect Evie on her quest. She knows she can’t totally depend on Jack. If he ever cast that wicked grin her way, could she possibly resist him?

Who can Evie trust?

As Jack and Evie race to find the source of her visions, they meet others who have gotten the same call. An ancient prophesy is being played out, and Evie is not the only one with special powers. A group of twenty-two teens has been chosen to reenact the ultimate battle between good and evil. But it’s not always clear who is on which side…

My Thoughts: This was my first time reading this author. I've been meaning to read her adult series and after this I may have to move it up. This was different from most of the paranormal YA books that I've read. I'm not as familiar with The Arcana from a tarot deck. I know and have seen the basics but that is it. This did not hamper my enjoyment or understanding of the story.
Evie was an interesting character. She became more interesting and tolerable as the book went on. We started with the rich girl cheerleader who has been made to think she was crazy. I found myself rolling my eyes at the high school scenes, trying to put off her more experienced boyfriend and then the bad boy from the wrong side of the track shows up. These were slightly (or very) cliched moments but were easy to overlook once the real story started happening.
Once the flash happened and Evie and Jack were brought back together the story picked up and I had to stay with it until the end. While the romance never really worked for me, I understood the need for these two to be together on this journey.
Overall, while there were some problems (the romance/relationship of Jack/evie) the story of these kids either becoming or already aware of their tarot cards and how that will help or completely end a world that's already been mostly destroyed is what will keep me reading this series.

Rating:4

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill over at Breaking The Spine. It's a weekly event that spotlights upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating

Shadow's Claim (The Dacians #1)
by Kresley Cole 
published by Pocket Books
expected release date: November 27, 2012

Summary (Goodreads): #1 New York Times bestseller Kresley Cole introduces The Dacians: Realm of Blood and Mist, a new paranormal series following the royal bloodline of Dacia, a vampire kingdom hidden within the Lore of the Immortals After Dark. Shadow’s Claim features Prince Trehan, a ruthless master assassin who will do anything to possess Bettina, his beautiful sorceress mate, even compete for her hand in a blood-sport tournament— to the death.

HE WON’T BE DENIED

Trehan Daciano, known as the Prince of Shadows, has spent his life serving his people—striking in the night, quietly executing any threat to their realm. The coldly disciplined swordsman has never desired anything for himself—until he beholds Bettina, the sheltered ward of two of the Lore’s most fearsome villains.

SHE’S BOUND TO ANOTHER

Desperate to earn her guardians’ approval after a life-shattering mistake, young Bettina has no choice but to marry whichever suitor prevails—even though she’s lost her heart to another. Yet one lethal competitor, a mysterious cloaked swordsman, invades her dreams, tempting her with forbidden pleasure.

A BATTLE FOR HER BODY AND SOUL

Even if Trehan can survive the punishing contests to claim her as his wife, the true battle for Bettina’s heart is yet to come. And unleashing a millennium’s worth of savage need will either frighten his Bride away—or stoke Bettina’s own desires to a fever pitch. .

**I'm actually still way behind on the Immortals After Dark series but still love the look of this one.

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill over at Breaking The Spine. It's a weekly event that spotlights upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating.

Poison Princess (The Arcana Chronicles #1)
by Kresley Cole
published by Simon & Schuster
expected release date: October 2, 2012

Summary (Goodreads):Sixteen-year-old Evie Greene thought her horrific apocalyptic hallucinations were a sign that she was slowly losing her mind. But when her visions come true, decimating the world around her and killing everyone she loves, Evie is forced to accept that she was seeing the future.

Fighting for her life and desperate for answers, she turns to wrong-side-of-the-bayou classmate, the gorgeous and dangerous Jackson Deveaux for help. As Jackson and Evie race to find the source of her visions, they meet others who have got the same call and discover that Evie is not the only one with special powers. An ancient prophesy is being played out, and as the battle between good and evil intensifies, it is not always clear who is on which side…

**I've not read much from this author even though I have many of her books. This one just has so many elements that I love in books that I have to give it a try.