Thursday, August 01, 2013

I am moving to Wordpress

I am finally taking the plunge and moving away from Blogger. I have had a great time at blogger, but I felt that it was time for a change.

My new address is www.book-recs.com.  I have re-directed my feeds, but if you are following me through Bloglovin, you will have to re-follow me since Bloglovin thinks it is two different blogs.
ETA:
I missed a step in Parajunkee's tutorial. Oops. But now this url is re-directed to my new URL, so if you use Bloglovin, you probably  don't have to re-follow me. 


For all of my GFC followers: You have to refollow me, since GFC doesn't support Wordpress. ( They removed that support a couple of years ago.)

I look forward to see you at my new home! 

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Anticipated August releases:

This month is packed with new Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy novels that I would love to read.






Jace Bayrum has always been a loner. Concerned more with getting an adrenaline fix and making money to live on his own, Jace cares little for family ties or matters of the heart. On the other hand Glyssa Licorice, Jace’s former fling and true mate, is both loving and loyal. She is determined to track down her HeartMate and have him claim her.

After hearing that Jace has been involved in an accident, Glyssa sets out to find him, departing for the excavation site of the lost starship Lugh’s Spear. Though her goal is to help Jace and finesse him into recognizing her as his mate, the excavation itself draws her in…

Thrust by fate into working side-by-side, Jace and Glyssa’s electric connection from years before sparks once more. She intrigues him, and Jace begins to realize that a HeartMate can make a difference. And one as magnetic as Glyssa could be exactly what he has been searching for…

I was lucky enough to read this early, and it is really good.  All her Celta novels are stand alones, so if you haven’t read them before you can jump in directly.





Isaac Vainio’s life was almost perfect. He should have known it couldn’t last.

Living and working as a part-time librarian in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Isaac had finally earned the magical research position he dreamed of with Die Zwelf Portenære, better known as the Porters. He was seeing a smart, fun, gorgeous dryad named Lena Greenwood. He had been cleared by Johannes Gutenberg to do libriomancy once again, to reach into books and create whatever he chose from their pages. Best of all, it had been more than two months since anything tried to kill him.

And then Isaac, Lena, and Porter psychiatrist Nidhi Shah are called to the small mining town of Tamarack, Michigan, where a pair of septuagenarian werewolves have discovered the brutally murdered body of a wendigo.

What begins as a simple monster-slaying leads to deeper mysteries and the discovery of an organization thought to have been wiped out more than five centuries ago by Gutenberg himself. Their magic rips through Isaac’s with ease, and their next target is Lena Greenwood.

They know Lena’s history, her strengths and her weaknesses. Born decades ago from the pages of a pulp fantasy novel, she was created to be the ultimate fantasy woman, shaped by the needs and desires of her companions. Her powers are unique, and Gutenberg’s enemies mean to use her to destroy everything he and the Porters have built. But their plan could unleash a far darker power, an army of entropy and chaos, bent on devouring all it touches.

The Upper Peninsula is about to become ground zero in a magical war like nothing the world has seen in more than five hundred years. But the more Isaac learns about Gutenberg and the Porters, the more he questions whether he’s fighting for the right cause.

One way or another, Isaac must find a way to stop a power he doesn’t fully understand. And even if he succeeds, the outcome will forever change him, the Porters, and the whole world

I loved Libromancer, so I am definitely getting this one.  It is funny, witty and fast paced UF without a trace of romance.




She can’t shift, but she can shake their world.

Takhini Wolves, Book 3

Caroline Bradley is having one hell of a week. Her wolf lover has sniffed out his mate, making her an instant free agent. Not only that, Takhini territory has been overrun with aggressive bear-shifters electing a clan leader, and the wolf pack is feeling the effects—pushing her diplomatic skills to the limit.

Tyler Harrison is a grizzly on a mission. If he’s going to win the majority of the bears’ votes, he needs one final thing: a female companion. The only woman in town with influence over wolves, humans, and more bears than he’d like to admit, is Caroline.

Despite the sexual pull between them, though, Tyler’s not seeking a permanent relationship. And Caroline isn’t looking to be anyone else’s political pawn. But she should have remembered that when shifters are involved, changes happen in the blink of an eye.

I read an ARC, and,  even if it wasn't perfect, I really enjoyed Tyler and and Caroline's romance. Now, when is the next one?


In this thrilling conclusion to the Guardian series, New York Times bestselling author Meljean Brook delivers another stunning page-turner, in which the fate of humanity depends upon a tortured warrior winning the trust—and heart—of the woman he wounded…

After a terrifying encounter in Hell destroys her trust in Michael, the Guardian’s powerful leader, former detective Andromeda Taylor is ready to call it quits as one of the angelic warriors and resume her human life again. But when demonic forces threaten her closest friends and she uncovers a terrifying plot devised by Lucifer, Taylor is thrown straight into Michael’s path again…

To defeat Lucifer, Michael needs every Guardian by his side—and he needs Taylor more than any other. The detective is the key to keeping his own demonic side at bay, and Michael will do anything to protect her and keep her close. And when Taylor manifests a deadly power, her Gift might tip the scales in the endless war between Heaven and Hell…or it might destroy them both with a single touch


Sob. The last Guardian book, and it will be epic since all the books have built up to this confrontation.


As a cop, Michelle Slattery is familiar with the dark side of human behavior, but this case is way above her skill level. Mages have been scouring the country kidnapping witches, draining their energy, and leaving their broken bodies behind.

With Michelle’s best friend among the missing, she appeals to the Owen witches, who send her to the last place she’d thought she’d see a familiar face. The werewolves.

When a witch seeking help shows up at the Pacific Pack headquarters, Josh Neelan gets the shock of his life. She’s none other than his high school sweetheart, the one he left behind when he was bitten and turned. Their intense sexual chemistry still sizzles for a reason—she’s his mate.

As they begin to work through their issues, their rekindled romance quickly flames red hot. But the closer they get, the more dangerous the outside world becomes. And they realize magick-thieving mages are just the tip of the iceberg.

While I really like  Lauren Dane's Chaos Burning series, I love her Cascadia Wolves series and I am definitely getting this one.  



When Trish Muffet is attacked at a grisly crime scene, the last person she expects to come to her rescue is Nicky “Little Boy” Blue. But since walking away from everything two years before, Nicky’s been doling out vigilante justice as “The Spider,” taking on the vicious predators of the night in hopes it’ll lead him to his ultimate target – Vlad Dracula. And he needs Trish’s help.

Although Nicky’s renegade style goes against everything Trish stands for, she’ll do what she must to bring Dracula down. With danger stalking her, Trish knows the only person she can count on is the one man who has the power to leave her breathless. There’s no way she’s letting this spider frighten her away…

I downloaded this one when it was available as a Read Now download at NetGalley and I was glad I did, since I liked it even if I had some issues with it.


He has been taken. And you are his only chance.

That wasn't something Jan expected to hear, especially from strangers who'd just rescued her from some mysterious and ferocious creatures. And she really hadn't expected her rescuers to be shape-shifters.

Now it turns out her boyfriend, Tyler, hasn't gone missing, he's been stolen and Jan's the only one who might be able to get him back

From Elfland.

Yeah, Jan's pretty sure the entire world's gone crazy. Even if the shifters claim that the naturals (like her) and the supernaturals (like them) belong in this world, but the preternaturals, what humans call elves, don't. And they've found a portal into our world. A doorway they can use to infiltrate, to take, to conquer.

And now Jan's not just Ty's only hope he's got to rescue humanity, as well.

I have already read and reviewed this one ,  and while it wasn't my favorite Laura Anne Gilman it was still good enough that I'll get a paper copy ( Infact, I am suspecting that the issues I had was more because of my low B-12 levels than the book.)

Monday, July 29, 2013

4 Book related Announcements I am impatiently waiting for:



 The lineup for the Anthology that Nalini Singh mentioned here.
I could have sworn that she wrote the lineup earlier, but I think she edited her post. Let's just say that I am crossing my fingers the lineup that she originally wrote was the correct one.


 Lisa Shearin's Sekrit project
Ms Shearin have been teasing about an sekrit project with a short deadline on her blog. And I am going insane with curiosity. But since I am a nice reader ( and a bit shy) I am not pestering her for details.


 More info about Patricia Burroughs new fantasy triology
This is another teasing author. I love Patrica Burroughs romance novels, and I love fantasy. So the news that Patricia Burroughs has sold an Fantasy triology is making me drool. She is dropping hints, like the series titles. She is revealing the cover in September. *whimpers* But I cannot do anything except wait.

That C. E. Murphy sells Right Angle to Fairyland
I had the fortune to read Angles 3 years ago, and I have been waiting for it to be published ever since. Since is it is so freaking good. In my humble opinion, of course.

So this is the book news that I am waiting for right now. Are you waiting for a new series or book to be announced? If so, please tell me in comments! I would love to know.

Saturday, July 27, 2013

Cover Spotlight: Infinity Key by Chrysoula Tzavelas



Look what Candlemark&Gleam revealed  last week. It made me even more eager to buy the book.  Is it November yet?  ( Although if you join the Kickstarter that Candlemark&Gleam will run ( probably), you will get it earlier.)



Friday, July 26, 2013

Friday Bargains: Free Backlist and indie books



Marta Acosta offers the whole Casa Dracula series for free right now ( ends today), so hurry up and download them. ( I am happy, since this series have been on my wishlist for ages.)

The Accidential Demon Slayer by Angie Fox is also free right now ( I think this is always free, in fact). 

Beyond Shame by Kit Rocha is free right now at Smashwords ( with a coupon  at Bookbinge).  This is one of my favorite erotic romances. But then Kit Rocha is a pseudonym for Moira Rogers.


The Black Swan series by Victoria Danann have gotten a lot of buzz lately, and the first book is free at Smashwords.



Thursday, July 25, 2013

ARC Review: Heart of Briar by Laura Anne Gilman

The Particulars: Urban Fantasy, Harlequin Luna, available as e-book and in print
The Source: e-ARC from Netgalley
The Grade: C+
The Blurb:

“He has been taken. And you are his only chance.” 
That wasn’t something Jan expected to hear-especially from strangers who’d just rescued her from some mysterious and ferocious creatures. And she really hadn’t expected her rescuers to be shape-shifters….
Now it turns out her boyfriend, Tyler, hasn’t gone missing, he’s been stolen-and Jan’s the only one who might be able to get him back.
From Elfland.
Yeah, Jan’s pretty sure the entire world’s gone crazy. Even if the shifters claim that the naturals (like her) and the supernaturals (like them) belong in this world…but the preternaturals, what humans call elves, don’t.  And the preters have found a portal into our world. A doorway they can use to infiltrate, to take, to conquer.
Jan’s not just Ty’s only hope – she’s got to rescue humanity, as well….

The Review:
I love Laura Anne Gilman's novels, so when I saw this one at Netgalley, I requested it on the spot. After reading it, I am glad I did. Mostly. I had one big issue with it.

This is the first book in the Portals duology, which isn't set in the Cosa Nostradamus world. No, this is a world filled with tension between the non-native Preternaturals and the native Supernaturals. I really liked that the Preters and the Supers behaved very differently. The Preters were cold, and only acted for the benefit of Preters. The Supernaturals on the other hand, were motivated with a drive to save the world.

The characters were intresting. I liked how Jan struggled with the fact that Supers and Preters existed. I also liked the fact the Supers didn't try to hide that the situation was dangerous, and that she shouldn't really trust them.

Jan's, Martin's and to some degree AJ's, search for Tyler was well plotted. I liked how it took Jan from an ordinary life, to a life filled with danger. What I especially liked was Jan's stubbornness. She was scared, but she searched for Tyler anyway. And I really admired her when she faced the Preters.

Despite all the things I liked with this book, I didn't feel the urge to pick it up to continue reading when I put it down. But I still plan to get the second book.

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

ARC review: Her Ladyship's Curse by Lynn Viehl



The Particulars: Steampunk, Pocket Star, available as e-book
The Source: review copy from NetGalley
The Grade: C-
The blurb:
In a steampunk version of America that lost the Revolutionary War, Charmian (Kit) Kittredge makes her living investigating magic crimes and exposing the frauds behind them. While Kit tries to avoid the nobs of high society, as the proprietor of Disenchanted & Co. she follows mysteries wherever they lead.

Lady Diana Walsh calls on Kit to investigate and dispel the curse she believes responsible for carving hateful words into her own flesh as she sleeps. While Kit doesn’t believe in magic herself, she can’t refuse to help a woman subjected nightly to such vicious assaults. As Kit investigates the Walsh family, she becomes convinced that the attacks on Diana are part of a larger, more ominous plot—one that may involve the lady’s obnoxious husband.

Sleuthing in the city of Rumsen is difficult enough, but soon Kit must also skirt the unwanted attentions of nefarious deathmage Lucien Dredmore and the unwelcome scrutiny of police Chief Inspector Thomas Doyle. Unwilling to surrender to either man’s passion for her, Kit struggles to remain independent as she draws closer to the heart of the mystery. Yet as she learns the truth behind her ladyship’s curse, Kit also uncovers a massive conspiracy that promises to ruin her life—and turn Rumsen into a supernatural battleground from which no one will escape aliv

The Review:

I have wanted to read this book since I first heard about it, so when I saw the ARC on NetGalley, I requested it on the spot. And after reading it, I have mixed feelings.

I liked the world of Toriana. It is Alternative Earth, with magic and steampunk. The Torian culture felt researched. What I appreciated was how all the historical details, and the technological details was woven into the story without  slowing it down.

The plot was wellcrafted. I liked how the main mystery developed, and how the twists revealed secrets from Kit's past. It was interesting to see how Kit navigated the streets of Rumsen, and how she used tricks to get into places she shouldn't have. Never illegal, just... a bit inconvenient if she was found out. I also liked her sceptic attitude towards magic, and how she didn't believe in it. Which was a contrast towards most other Torians.

That said, I had one big trouble with this book: I couldn't connect to Kit. Which is a problem, since the book is told from her POV. A lot of things happened in the book to Kit, but I didn't care. Most telling is perhaps that the love-hate relationship between her and Dredmore just felt bland to me. Another thing that bugged me was the ending. It was a bit... abrupt. Which made me a bit pissed off, although it say Part 1 on the cover. But I read that as part one of the series, not part 1 of the book.



Winners!


The winners of Beguiled Again is....

Jahnvi

Carly

Congratulations!

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