Fall Reviews: Part 2

I've resigned myself to the fact that I am probably not going to make it to my goal of sixty books.  This makes me feel kind of guilty since I am the co-host of #sixtybooks but I've decided to instead be proud that by the time the year ends, I will still have read over fifty books and that is still a lot of quality reading that I really enjoyed.

This last month or so has been a tough one but I still managed to get in a few good reads.  Here are the last books I read.  All good ones!

The Magician's Diary is the 4th book in the Glass and Steele series by C.J. Archer. This series follows India Steele and Matthew Glass and they solve mysteries while on the path to discover a way to fix the magical watch that keeps Matthew alive. Fun plot, quirky characters, and mysteries to solve.

In The Trouble with Twelfth Grave, Charley Davidson does not disappoint. This latest book in the series has a great plot, the snark and sass we have grown to love, and of course the complete inappropriateness that makes us laugh out loud. Another winner in my opinion.

The Stalking Jack the Ripper series was recommended to me after I finished the published Stoker and Holmes books. I adore 1800's London mystery/horror and the supernatural so I picked these up right away to try them out. I'm so glad I did because they were a lot of fun. Audrey Rose is a strong female character going against traditional English beliefs to become something more than just a pretty face as she helps to solve one of the most famous cases in history. There is some violence and gore in both books but it isn't too extreme and there is also the beginnings of a romance but it doesn't overtake the story. Thomas is as irritating as he is charming and becomes Audrey Rose's partner and confidant. The stories is engaging from beginning to end as these two embark upon adventure after adventure.

It's Monday, What Are You Reading? October 23rd

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Kathryn at the Book Date and is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are, and are about to be reading over the week. It's also a great opportunity to visit, comment on other blog posts, and add to that ever growing TBR pile!

What I read last week:

I actually just finished Tower of Dawn by Sarah J. Maas.  It was fantastic! I have not been disappointed with any book in this series and am only sorry that I have to wait until 2018 for the next installment to see what happens next.  Loved it!

What I am reading this week:
This week, I am starting two books and hope to finish them both.  The Magician's Diary is the next book in the Glass and Steele steampunk mystery series that I have been enjoying and Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance is one I got from Netgalley a while back and just didn't get to right away.

What's coming up next?  
Not really sure.  Long Isle Iced Tea is coming out and I love this series.  Novella November is also coming up so I want to grab a few short novels to participate with.  I also have the final Jackaby novel, The Dire King waiting in the wings.  I guess it will depend on my mood once I finish the books above.  :)

What are you reading?

Review: Tower of Dawn

I have to say that when I originally found out that Tower of Dawn was going to focus on Chaol, I was not thrilled. I came to not like him much over the last couple of books and although he redeemed himself a bit, I still didn't think I would enjoy this book as much.

Wow, was I wrong.

Not only has my opinion of Chaol changed completely, but the story of his healing and the attempt to rally the Khogan's army for the war against the Vog was so engaging that I often didn't even get out of the car when I arrived home from work, instead, just listening until the end of the chapter or section.

This installment does not have as much action in it but what it does have, Chaol's journey to heal his spine, the royal family and the Torre and its history, the developing relationships between Chaol and Irene and Nesryn and Sartaq, are all so well written that they kept the pages turning as well as any fast-paced action scene. The drama that did unfold with the mystery of the Vog hiding within the palace and the spiders kept me on the edge of my seat wondering who was going to make it out alive to continue the journey to war. I also loved the ending where we were given a brief glimpse into what was happening to our other beloved characters who were not the focus of this story. It gave me just enough of a peek to make multiple theories about the path of the next book. I certainly hope I am wrong in what I think might be about to occur.

I am only sorry that this amazing story is over and that I now have to wait for the next installment which is at least six months away. What an incredible ride. :)

Review: The Dark Days Club/The Dark Days Pact

I just love starting a new book knowing it will be good, finding out that it is actually fantastic and immediately grabbing the next book in the series, forgetting completely about the very large TBR list of books waiting to be read. This doesn't happen often but it feels so good when it does. The Dark Days Club is definitely going into my top ten for the year along with its sequel, The Dark Days Pact. My only regret is that I now have to wait for the third book since it is not yet published. So sad...

Synopsis from Goodreads:

London, April 1812. On the eve of eighteen-year-old Lady Helen Wrexhall’s presentation to the queen, one of her family’s housemaids disappears-and Helen is drawn into the shadows of Regency London. There, she meets Lord Carlston, one of the few who can stop the perpetrators: a cabal of demons infiltrating every level of society. Dare she ask for his help, when his reputation is almost as black as his lingering eyes? And will her intelligence and headstrong curiosity wind up leading them into a death trap?

I couldn't ask for more in this story. It has the 1800s British setting that I adore plus magic, mayhem, romance (just a bit), and of course, the battle of good against evil. The plot is original and creative and the characters are so well written and intriguing that I really care what happens to them in the story. The historical aspect of the story has me looking up little tidbits of information online to find out more. I never knew there was a such thing as horse drawn bathing carts for the ocean!

This was a wonderful read and I can't wait for the next book to come out to find out what happens next!

Can't-Wait Wednesday, September 27th

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted here, at Wishful Endings, to spotlight and discuss the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released.  

This is my first time participating in this book meme.  I used to post to WOW almost every week until it stopped updating so I'm excited to start again!

I love cozy mysteries.  Especially those with just a touch of the supernatural and a little bit of romance.  I picked up the first book of the Magic and Mixology series last year and flew through the first three books.  They are just light and funny with quirky, likable characters.  The fourth book comes out November 2nd and I'm really looking forward to it.  :)

This is the synopsis of the first book in the series, Hex on the Beach:

Lily Locke has never believed in witches and wizards, ghosts and magic, shifters and vampires— A rising star at a hotshot marketing agency in Minneapolis, Minnesota, all Lily knows is that she’s a PowerPoint guru, an Excel ninja, and a coffee-maker extraordinaire. Not to mention she’s next in line for a huge promotion.

All that changes when Lily’s assistant delivers a strange quiz to her, one titled A Magical Assessment for Normal Folks. With it comes the promise of a land she's never known existed. A land where Lily not only discovers her biological family for the first time, but a place where she can make a difference, change lives, and step into the role she’s destined to fulfill.

But first, Lily must admit she’s a witch. Then, she has to acknowledge that the tall, dark, and mysterious man who offers his help is strictly focused on business...at least, for now. When a body turns up dead and the next target is Lily, she must trust her powers and accept the help of her newfound friends. Otherwise, she'll never survive the trials of the magical island tucked far, far away in the frigid waters of Lake Superior. 

Welcome to The Isle. 

What are you waiting for?

It's Monday, What Are You Reading?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Kathryn at the Book Date and is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are, and are about to be reading over the week. It's also a great opportunity to visit, comment on other blog posts, and add to that ever growing TBR pile! 

I hate to admit it, but since school started I have been so busy working with teachers to plan and integrate technology, that I am now officially behind in my reading. Today, I plan to get back on track.  This is the perfect way to start!

What I recently finished:

The Dark Days Club was an audiobook, which was my only reading format for the past month.  Loved it! It has my favorite setting in 1800's London, engaging characters, mystery, and a bit of the supernatural without going overboard.  A lot of fun and I'm only sorry that I waited so long to grab it!






What I'm reading now:

The Dark Days Pact was also an audiobook.  I find that when I love an audio narrator, I want to keep the story in that voice.  I'm enjoying this second book in the series just as much as the first and can't wait to see how it ends.  Of course, then I have to wait months for the third book... :(

Neverwhere is where I left off in print in August.  I may have to go back a chapter or two to refresh my memory but do look forward to getting back into this story.  Gaiman is such a great writer.  I hear this is now a BBC radio show so I have something to look forward to when I finish the book.  







What I'm reading next:
I have a ton of books on my TBR list but only 3 that are in my "top priority to read next" list...

What are you reading?

Blog Tour: Beard in Mind by Penny Reid

I'm proud to be a part of the Beard in Mind blog tour. I am a huge fan of Penny Reid and if you like romantic comedy, she is one of the best writer's around. :)

Be sure to scroll all the way to the bottom to enter the giveaway!

Beard in Mind, an all new standalone in the bestselling, romantic comedy Winston Brothers Series by Penny Reid, is available NOW! 

Enter the giveaway at the end of this post!

All is fair in love and auto maintenance.

Beau Winston is the nicest, most accommodating guy in the world. Usually.

Handsome as the devil and twice as charismatic, Beau lives a charmed life as everyone’s favorite Winston Brother. But since his twin decided to leave town, and his other brother hired a stunning human-porcupine hybrid as a replacement mechanic for their auto shop, Beau Winston’s charmed life has gone to hell in a handbasket.

Shelly Sullivan is not nice and is never accommodating. Ever.

She mumbles to herself, but won’t respond when asked a question. She glares at everyone, especially babies. She won’t shake hands with or touch another person, but has no problems cuddling with a dog. And her damn parrot speaks only in curse words.

Beau wants her gone. He wants her out of his auto shop, out of Tennessee, and out of his life.

The only problem is, learning why this porcupine wears her coat of spikes opens a Pandora’s box of complexity—exquisite, tempting, heartbreaking complexity—and Beau Winston soon discovers being nice and accommodating might mean losing what matters most.

Read Today!

(Free in Kindle Unlimited)

Amazon US:http://amzn.to/2f53VN9

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2uRxDdZ

Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/2u0lZPk

Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/2whOBQB

Add to GoodReads: https://goo.gl/hsTLLC

Meet Penny Reid:

Penny Reid is the USA Today Bestselling Author of the Winston Brothers and Knitting in the City series. When she’s not immersed in penning smart romances, Penny works in the biotech industry as a researcher. She’s also a full time mom to three diminutive adults, wife, daughter, knitter, crocheter, sewer, general crafter, and thought ninja.

Connect with Penny:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PennyReidWriter/

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2lakzsD

Twitter: @ReidRomance

Newsletter: http://pennyreid.ninja/newsletter/

www.pennyreid.ninja

Enter the Giveaway!

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/ee2f7e8636/?

First Chapter, First Paragraph Tuesday, August 8th

First Chapter, First Paragraph Tuesday Intros. is hosted by Bibliophile By the Sea and is all about sharing the first paragraph or two from a book you are about to read. I'll be starting The Carnelian Crow by Colleen Gleason.  This is the fourth book in the Stoker and Holmes series, which focuses on the mystery solving daughters of Bram Stoker and Sherlock Holmes. I'm really looking forward to it! It will also be #36 in my #Sixtybooks challenge for 2017.

"There was a soft tapping at my window. Normally it wouldn't have disturbed me, as I am blessed with the ability to slumber deeply, but tonight I was wide awake.  Unfortunately, that had been the case for many weeks now. The dark circles beneath my eyes had become large and puffy enough that even Mrs. Raskill had seen fit to make comment."

Would you keep reading?

Have a great week!

Bout of Books 20, I'm in!

Bout of Books 20 is Almost Here!

It's back! Bout of Books 20 starts in two weeks on August 21st. This will be my fifth time participating and is a great opportunity to re-focus yourself on your reading goals and have some fun! Never joined before? Don't know what it is? Well, here's the basic info:

Bout of Books is a week long read-a-thon, hosted by Amanda Shofner and Kelly @Reading the Paranormal. It begins at 12:01am on Monday, August 21st and runs through Sunday, August 27th. Bout of Books is low-pressure. You can make a goal to read just one book or ten! It is completely up to you. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 20 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog.

Don't miss it! I'll be sharing my progress at both #boutofbooks and #sixtybooks. It's going to be a lot of fun!

WWW Wednesday, August 2nd

Welcome to WWW Wednesday! This meme is now hosted by Taking on a World of Words. Just answer these three questions to share what is going on in your reading life and to give others some great book recommendations.

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

I always have one print book/kindle book and one audio book going at the same time.

I'm currently listening to Dark Rites by Heather Graham.  This is part of the Krewe of Hunters series and is paranormal romance. I'm reading Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman on my Kindle.  I've heard great things about it and I love the cover.

I actually finished a few books over the last week.  I've read three of the Old School Series books by Jenny Schwartz.  These are also paranormal romance.  They aren't deep in any way and a bit predictable but also just fun quick mystery romances with a supernatural twist.  They are each stand alone but characters from other books in the series are mentioned.

Next up are two books I've been waiting for.  The first is the fourth book in the Stoker and Holmes series, The Carnelian Crow.  The second is The final book in the Jackaby series, The Dire King. This one comes out on the 22nd and I'm looking forward to seeing how the series ends.  :)

What are you reading?

Freebie Alert!

✮ ✮ ✮ FREEBIE ALERT! ✮ ✮ ✮

I have read all of the Knitting in the City series and can tell you, they are wonderful.  Funny, quirky, and romantic.  I am not usually a romance reader but for any book by Penny Reid, I make an exception!

Beauty and the Mustache by Penny Reid is FREE for just THREE DAYS ONLY!

Grab your copy today!

Amazon US➜ http://amzn.to/2vL8f8q
Amazon UK ➜ http://amzn.to/2uE7cHa
Kobo ➜ http://bit.ly/2w1OIjl
iBooks ➜ http://apple.co/2v9SPNH
Nook ➜ http://bit.ly/2v0OknP
Google Play ➜ http://bit.ly/2tExeJ3

This is a full-length novel, can be read as a standalone, and is the fourth book in the 'Knitting in the City' series.

There are three things you need to know about Ashley Winston: 1) She has six brothers and they all have beards, 2) She is a reader, and 3) She knows how to knit.

Former beauty queen, Ashley Winston’s preferred coping strategy is escapism. She escaped her Tennessee small town, loathsome father, and six brothers eight years ago. Now she escapes life daily via her Amazon kindle one-click addiction. However, when a family tragedy forces her to return home, Ashley can’t escape the notice of Drew Runous— local Game Warden, bear wrestler, philosopher, and everyone’s favorite guy. Drew’s irksome philosophizing in particular makes Ashley want to run for the skyscrapers, especially since he can’t seem to keep his exasperating opinions— or his soulful poetry, steadfast support, and delightful hands— to himself. Pretty soon the girl who wanted nothing more than the escape of the big city finds she’s lost her heart in small town Tennessee.

Stacking the Shelves, July 8th

Stacking The Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews and is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves. This includes books you buy in the store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks! In my case, it includes audiobooks too because I love them and listen almost every day.

Here's what I have on my TBR for the next few weeks.  Needful Things is a re-read from years ago and two books were on a previous Stacking post but I never got to them:

Happy reading!!