Some Thursday Randomness

Thursday Randomness

It's the week before Back to School! Been really crazy trying to make sure all the lists are filled and son is mentally prepared to go back. I'm ready for it to be over and a nice normal routine to start again. 

Now for some art. I was in the mood for dragons this week.

Bewildered
by Agaave (deviantArt)

Ecelion Brilordan
by FlorindaZanetti (DeviantArt)

Nature's Sanctum
by CazziArt (DeviantArt)

And a just because I think they're cute movies...

New Releases ~ week of 8/25/2014

365 Days of Wonder by R J Palacio (#2 Wonder)

A Love to Call Her Own by Marilyn Pappano (#3 Tallgrass)
A Royal Tea by Debbie Dadey (#9 Mermaid Tales)
A Scandal to Remember by Elizabeth Essex (#5 Reckless Brides)
Astray by Amy Christine Parker (#2 Gated)
Bramblestar's Storm by Erin Hunter (#7 Warriors: Super Edition)
Charlie Joe Jackson's Guide to Making Money by Tommy Greenwald (#4  Charlie Joe Jackson)
Darkest Ecstasy by Tawny Taylor (#3 Black Gryffon)
Deadly Bonds by L J Sellers (#9 Detective Wade Jackson Mystery)
Death of a Dog Whisperer by Laurien Berenson (#17 Melanie Travis)
Deliverance by C J Redwine (#3 Defiance)
Don't Let Go by Michelle Gagnon (#3 PERSEFoNE)
Escape From Lucien by Kazu Kibuishi (#6 Amulet)

Escape to California by Jeff Brown (#12 Flat Stanley's Worldwide Adventures)
Evernight by Kristen Callihan (#5 Darkest London)
Harbor Island by Carla Neggers (#4 Sharpe & Donovan)
Her Last Whisper by Karen Robards (#3 Dr. Charlotte Stone)
I Want It That Way by Ann Aguirre (#1 2B Trilogy)
Irresistible Force by D D Ayres (#1 K-9 Rescue Series)
Is Sort of Freaked Out by Steve Cotler (#5 Cheesie Mack)
It's in His Kiss by Jill Shalvis (#10 Lucky Harbor)
Maid of Deception by Jennifer McGowan (#2 Maids of Honor)
Mercy by B J Daniels (#5 Beartooth, Montana)
No Limits by Lori Foster (#1 Ultimate)
Not Quite a Wife by Mary Jo Putney (#6 Lost Lords)

Oblivion by Kelly Creagh (#3 Nevermore)
On Impact! by Nate Ball (#4 Alien in My Pocket)
On the Record by K. A. Linde (#2 Record)
Once More, My Darling Rogue by Lorraine Heath (#2 Scandalous Gentlemen of St. James)
Own by Katie Porter (#1 Command Force Alpha)
Playing With Fire by Cynthia Eden (#3 Phoenix Fire)
Revenge on Superstition Mountain by Elise Broach (#3 Missing on  Superstition Mountain)
Sanctum by Madeleine Roux (#2 Asylum)
Second Chances by Victoria Schwab (#2 Everyday Angel)

Sins of the Father by Christa Faust (#3 Fringe)
Sisters by Raina Telgemeier (#2 Smile)
Stone Cold Lover by Christine Warren (#2 Gargoyles)
Summer of the Dead by Julia Keller (#4 Bell Elkins)
Summer's Moon by Lacey Baker (#3 Sweetland)
Sweet on You by Laura Drake (#3 Sweet on a Cowboy)
The Aftermath by Jen Alexander (#1 Aftermath)
The Arrow by Monica McCarty (#9 The Highland Guard Series)
The Beautiful Ashes by Jeaniene Frost (#1 Broken Destiny)
The Bellingham Bloodbath by Gregory Harris (#2 Colin Pendragon Mystery)
The Benedict Bastard by Cate Campbell (#3 Benedict Hall)
The Best Kind of Trouble by Lauren Dane (#1 Hurley Boys)

The Broken Eye by Brent Weeks (#3 Lightbringer)
The Destruction of Pompeii, 79 A.D. by Lauren Tarshis (#10 I Survived)
The Far Dawn by Kevin Emerson (#3 Atlanteans)
The Getaway God by Richard Kadrey (#6 Sandman Slim)
The Highlander Next Door by Janet Chapman (#6 Spellbound Falls)
The Homecoming by Robyn Carr (#6 Thunder Point)
The Hot Zone by Jayne Castle (#3 Rainshadow)
The Iron Sickle by Martin Limon (#9 George Sueno and Ernie Bascom)
The Island of Excess Love by Francesca Lia Block (#2 Love in the Time of Global Warming)
The Locker Ate Lucy! by Jack Chabert (#2 Eerie Elementary)
The Long Way Home by Louise Penny (#10 Chief Inspector Armand Gamache)

The Phantom Music Box by Suzanne Weyn (#2 Haunted Museum)
The Revenge of Seven by Pittacus Lore (#5 Lorien Legacies)
The Rule of Thoughts by James Dashner (#2 Mortality Doctrine)
The Search for Treasure by Geronimo Stilton (#6 Kingdom of Fantasy)
A Wonderlandiful World by Shannon Hale (#3 Ever After High)
To Die Fur by Dixie Lyle (#2 Whiskey, Tango & Foxtrot Mystery)
Torch by KD Jones (#7 Galactic Cage Fighters)
Flashpoint by Gordon Korman (#4 39 Clues: Unstoppable)
Villainous by Matthew Cody (#3 Supers of Noble's Green)
Voices from Beyond by Simon R Green (#5 Ghostfinders)
Wanted: Wild Thing by Jessica Sims (#4 Midnight Liaisons)
Whiskey You’re the Devil by Liliana Hart (#4 Addison Holmes Mysteries)
Winning Love by Abby Niles (#3 Love to the Extreme)

Book Review ~ New York to Dallas

New York to Dallas (In Death #33)

by J.D. Robb
published by Berkley
genre: Adult, Sci-Fi, Cop Drama, Mystery

Summary (Goodreads): The number-one New York Times-bestselling author J. D. Robb presents an intense and terrifying new case for New York homicide cop Eve Dallas, one that will take her all the way to the city that gave her her name-and plunge her into the nightmares of her childhood.

When a monster named Isaac McQueen-taken down by Eve back in her uniform days-escapes from Rikers, he has two things in mind. One is to pick up where he left off, abducting young victims and leaving them scarred in both mind and body. The other is to get revenge on the woman who stopped him all those years ago.

My Thoughts: There was a lot going on in this one. At one point it was too much.
The story starting out with Peabody and Eve getting medals for the work they had done in bringing down the dirty cops was a nice way of closing off that story. Before we can get there Eve gets a message, n the form of a hostage situation, that a serial pedophile/kidnapper that she put away when she was a rookie has escaped. It's very clear from the beginning that his focus is more on Eve than on getting back into things.
This has not stopped him from going back to his old ways, he's just not as good at it. Not only is Dallas where Eve is from it is also where two of McQueen's victims are from. The emotional trauma that surrounds Eve and the city of Dallas has been a running story line throughout this series. Add in what McQueen is and where he has decided to set up shop and it all comes back up again.
The only thing that didn't work for me was the twist with McQueen's partner. It was just too much. The reveal felt like a throw away. With everything else that was happening this story didn't need it. It seemed as if the author was closing off some loose ends so she wouldn't be asked about them anymore. It was just off for me.
Overall, I liked the book even though a lot of it was old stories putting themselves in the forefront again. The relationship between Eve and Roarke took some hits but managed to right itself with the help of some old friends. I did miss the usual team. While the Dallas people were fine it didn't have the same feel as the group you're used to. Almost caught up with this series and still enjoying it.

Rating: 4

Some Thursday Randomness

Thursday Randomness

As I'm sure you've noticed I am a fan of Disney Princess fan art. Found another artist this week that mixes Disney and Star Wars.

artist: White-Magician DeviantArt

New season of Doctor Who starts this week. I've been enjoying the replays this week of past episodes. I was also glad Clara was not going to be the companion after the Christmas special. While I don't hate her as much as others but she is not my favorite.

Lastly, I'm sure you've seen the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, here's a short video of why and who started the challenge. We have a young family member with ALS and this is all very important to us.

New Releases ~ week of 8/18/2014

A Bouquet of Love by Janice Thompson (#4 Weddings by Design)

A View to a Thrill by Lexi Blake (#7 Masters and Mercenaries)
Etta Mae's Worst Bad-Luck Day by Ann B Ross (#16 Miss Julia)
Finn by Minx Malone (#2 Blue Collar Billionaires)
Risky Business by Melissa Cutler (#1 Bomb Squad)
Gun Metal Heart by Dana Haynes (#2 Daria Gibron)
Hard to Hold On To by Laura Kaye (#2.5 Hard Ink)
Haunted by Randy Wayne White (#3 Hannah Smith)
How the Scoundrel Seduces by Sabrina Jeffries (#3 The Duke's Men)
Maverick for Hire by Leanne Banks (#3 Montana Mavericks: 20 Years in the Saddle)
Never Been Kissed by Mari Carr (#5 Second Chances)
No In Between by Lisa Renee Jones (#4 Inside Out)

Once Dead by Richard Phillips (#1 Ripper / Rho Agenda)
One Kick by Chelsea Cain (#1 Kick Lannigan)
Payoff by Douglas Corleone (#3 Simon Fisk)
Proving His Worth by Cari Quinn (#3 Deuces Wild)
Seducing Lauren by Kristen Proby (#2 Love Under the Big Sky)
The Godless by Ben Peek (#1 Children)
The Ripper Affair by Lilith Saintcrow (#3 Bannon and Clare)
The Scorched Earth by Drew Karpyshyn (#2 Chaos Born trilogy)
The Spirit Box by George Mann (#2 Sherlock Holmes)
Tycoon's Temptation by Trish Morey (#6 Chatsfield)
Visions by Kelley Armstrong (#2 Cainsville)
Way of the Shadows by Cynthia Eden (#4 Shadow Agents: Guts and Glory)
Windigo Island by William Kent Krueger (#14 Cork O'Connor)