New Releases ~ week of 12/30/2013

A Study in Ashes by Emma Jane Holloway (#3 Baskerville Affair)

Badlands by Jill Sorenson (#3 Aftershock)
Big Sky Secrets by Linda Lael Miller (#6 Parable, Montana)
Born in Blood by Alexandra Ivy (#1 Sentinels)
Buried by Kate Watterson (#3 Ellie MacIntosh)
Busting Loose by Kat Murray (#3 Roped & Wrangled)
Cormorant by Chuck Wendig (#3 Miriam Black)
Deadshifted by Cassie Alexander (#4 Edie Spence)
Desperately Seeking Fireman by Jennifer Bernard (#4.5 The Bachelor Firemen of San Gabriel)
Eli's Promise by Lissa Matthews (#2 The Bar Nextdoor)
Fighting Love by Abby Niles (#2 Love to the Extreme)

Have No Mercy by Shannon Dermott (#4 Cambion)
Hazardous Duty by W. E. B. Griffin, William E Butterworth IV (#8 Presidential Agent)
Heart of Stone by Christine Warren (#1 Gargoyles)
Hell's Belle by Marie Castle (#1 Dark Mirror)
High Desert by Katherine V Forrest (#9 Kate Delafield)
How to Run with a Naked Werewolf by Molly Harper (#3 Naked Werewolf)
Hunted by Elizabeth Heiter (#1 Profiler)
If Wishes Were Earls by Elizabeth Boyle (#3 Rhymes with Love)
Killing Cupid by Laura Levine (#12 Jaine Austen)
Love Your Entity by Cat Devon (#3 Entity)

Netherwood by Jane Sanderson (#1 Netherwood)
Obsessed by Him by Red Garnier (#6 Billionaire's Club)
Once Upon a Time in Hell by Guy Adams (#2 Heaven's Gate Chronicles)
Othersphere by Nina Berry (#3 Otherkin)
Prey & Prejudice by Marie Harte (#8 Cougar Falls)
Shatter by Joan Swan (#4 Phoenix Rising)
Somebody to Love by Lori Wilde (#3 Cupid, Texas)
Sunroper by Natalie J Damschroder (#3 Goddesses Rising)
Sweetest Mistake by Candis Terry (#2 Sweet, Texas)
Taste of Darkness by Maria V Snyder (#3 Healer)
The Book of Love by Lynn Weingarten (#2 Secret Sisterhood of Heartbreakers)

The Commander by Cat Johnson (#12 Red, Hot, & Blue)
The Courier by Andrew Britton (#6 Ryan Kealey)
The Death Trade by Jack Higgins (#20 Sean Dillon)
The Devil's Breath by Tessa Harris (#3 Dr. Thomas Silkstone Mystery)
The Greatest Lover Ever by Christina Brooke (#5 Ministry of Marriage)
The Grendel Affair by Lisa Shearin (#1 SPI Files)
The Headmistress of Rosemere by Sarah E. Ladd (#2 Whispers on the Moors)
The Iron Wolves by Andy Remic (#1 Rage of Kings)
The Kill Order by Robin Burcell (#5 Sydney Fitzpatrick)
The Naked Prince by Sally MacKenzie (#8 Naked Nobility)
The Offering by Kimberly Derting (#3 The Pledge)
The Purity of Vengeance by Jussi Adler-Olsen (#4 Department Q)

The Sharpest Blade by Sandy Williams (#3 McKenzie Lewis)
The Valentine's Arrangement by Kelsie Leverich (#1 Hard Feelings)
The Vastalimi Gambit by Steve Perry (#2 Cutter's Wars)
The Ziti That Never Sleeps by Shelley Costa (#2 Italian Restaurant Mysteries)
Three Broken Promises by Monica Murphy (#3 Drew + Fable)
Unbreakable Hearts by Harper Bentley (#2 CEP)
Unchosen by Michele Vail (#2 The Reaper Diaries)
Warrior by Ellen Oh (#2 Prophecy)

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
Janet Evanovich: books 4-18 Stephanie Plum series and Wicked Business

Erin Morgenstern: The Night Circus
J.D. Robb: books 28-36 In Death series

Gifted
James Patterson, Michael Ledwidge: Zoo
Markus Zusak: The Book Thief
Nora Roberts: Dark Witch

I also got this book related t-shirt

Book Review ~ Kindred in Death

Kindred in Death (In Death #29)

by J.D. Robb
published by Berkley
genre: Adult, Romance, Crime, Sci-Fi, Mystery

Summary (Goodreads): When the newly promoted captain of the NYPSD and his wife return a day early from their vacation, they were looking forward to spending time with their bright and vivacious sixteen-year-old daughter who had stayed behind.

Not even their worst nightmares could have prepared them for the crime scene that awaited them instead. Brutally murdered in her bedroom, Deena's body showed signs of trauma that horrified even the toughest of cops; including our own Lieutenant Eve Dallas, who was specifically requested by the captain to investigate.

When the evidence starts to pile up, Dallas and her team think they are about to arrest their perpetrator; little do they know yet that someone has gone to great lengths to tease and taunt them by using a variety of identities. Overconfidence can lead to careless mistakes. But for Dallas, one mistake might be all she needs to bring justice

My Thoughts: Even 30 books in I still enjoy this series. There have been some misses along the way but not this one. It had everything I love when I'm reading a good mystery/crime drama book.
All the main characters were back doing what they do best. Dallas is kick-ass Lieutenant brought in to lead a case that hits a little to close to home for all involved. Not only does Dallas relate to it personally, Peabody and several others knew the victim.
The bad guy's reasoning behind the crime was convoluted and it was easy to believe that he was brainwashed along the way to think the way he does. Even with the bumps along the way (wouldn't be a story without them), I was satisfied with how this case came to an end.
I also liked the happy note that this story ended with, another wedding of a couple we have seen grow from the beginning. It's always nice to see these characters have some happy moments.

Rating: 5

**~Merry Christmas~**

Wishing Everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Christmas Hijackers by  briannacherrygarcia

Book Review ~ Frozen

Frozen (Heart of Dread #1)

by Melissa de la Cruz, Michael Johnston
published by Putnam
genre: YA, Dystopia, Fantasy

Summary (Goodreads): Welcome to New Vegas, a city once covered in bling, now blanketed in ice. Like much of the destroyed planet, the place knows only one temperature—freezing. But some things never change. The diamond in the ice desert is still a 24-hour hedonistic playground and nothing keeps the crowds away from the casino floors, never mind the rumors about sinister sorcery in its shadows.

At the heart of this city is Natasha Kestal, a young blackjack dealer looking for a way out. Like many, she's heard of a mythical land simply called “the Blue.” They say it’s a paradise, where the sun still shines and the waters are turquoise. More importantly, it’s a place where Nat won’t be persecuted, even if her darkest secret comes to light.

But passage to the Blue is treacherous, if not impossible, and her only shot is to bet on a ragtag crew of mercenaries led by a cocky runner named Ryan Wesson to take her there. Danger and deceit await on every corner, even as Nat and Wes find themselves inexorably drawn to each other. But can true love survive the lies? Fiery hearts collide in this fantastic tale of the evil men do and the awesome power within us all.

My Thoughts: This was a hard one for me. There were many times that I thought I would not be able to finish it. It had a good beginning and end but the middle dragged out way to long. Also, this is YA only because you are told the characters are teenagers but nothing about the story felt like it. The majority of the characters are already retired or discharged from the military but you are supposed to believe they are  only 16. Most of the story I forgot that they were teens until the authors pointed out their ages.
The world that the authors built was interesting in some ways but too current in others. Something happened (if it was explained, it wasn't something that stuck with me) that left the world covered in ice. There seems to be no hope anywhere. The government is in charge and every little thing is monitored. The problem was that this is supposed to be some time in the future but all technology was stagnant to current day. They have all these trained military people and none of them have any initiative to try and better what they have, they just fix it back to old ways.
I liked the characters. Nat was the most interesting and the only reason this was above a 3* read for me. Going with her on her journey to The Blue and finding out about her powers along the way was the reason I kept reading. I had to know about the voice in her head. I could have done without the insta-love/ attraction between her and Wes. Even if you hadn't read the blurb it was a very telegraphed story line.
Overall, whether I read the next book is going to depend on what it focuses on. If it's more about all the different fae and what about the ice is killing them, I will probably give it a try. There is also where they are going with Nat's story. The final "battle" saved this book and also set up some stories to be played on.

Rating: 3.5 (I wavered between a 3 and 4 so just went to the middle)