My Reader’s Survival Kit

As someone who spends a lot of her time reading, there are a few things that are indispensable to me when I’m doing so. Yes, I could be a minimalist reader, and as long as I have my reading glasses and a book, I’d be good to go. But, I’ve always liked to have little things around me that make life easier. I wanted to share them.

• My favorite place to read is my recliner. It’s contemporary, chocolate brown, and has little velvety dots on it. It has a high comfy back, and is perfect for reading, working on the laptop, and napping. It’s my favorite piece of furniture in the house.
• A tasty beverage (usually a Coke Zero, tea, or diet Ginger ale) nearby is essential. I don’t snack much, but I almost always like to have something to sip on while curled up with a book.
• The tv remote control. I prefer not to watch tv when I read, though if my guy or the kid are around, it’s probably on. When I’m alone (or when my guy is passed out on the couch and the kid is asleep, like while I’m writing this post) I like to have the tv on a satellite radio station. (Usually, Sirius’ The Loft.) It’s mellow enough to not distract me from my book, but interesting enough not to put me to sleep.
• A Book Magic book clip. It holds my books open and allows me to give my hands and wrists a break. I have arthritis, and this little clip helps immensely when my hands or elbows are bothering me. The book can lay flat on my lap or propped against a pillow. It’s “hands-free” reading!
• Book marks. I’ve got a few lovely ones that I use. (Thanks Amy and Barbara!) They really dress my books up! However, I tend to save them for reading books that stay at home (like trades and hardcovers), since I don’t want to lose them. I also have origami ones that I make. I found the directions here. They are nice, because I can make a little stack. If they get lost, it’s not a big deal.
• Post-it notes for when I’m reading a book I know I’m going to review. I make notes on them and use them to mark passages I want to remember. I keep them everywhere: in my purse, next to my recliner, in my nightstand. Of course, a mechanical pencil is good for writing those notes!
• My laptop. A laptop for reading? Yes, and not just for my ebooks. I also like having my dictionary/thesarus widget accessible, so that when I come across any unfamiliar words, I can look them up quickly. I’m a sick puppy, and can’t leave those pesky unknown words alone. And, of course, the internet for looking things up as well!

Well, that’s about it. From the above picture, it’s obvious, I’m literally surrounded by books. I’ve got my tbr bookcase on one side, and my precariously stacked tv tray with audiobooks, books I’m reading/reviewing, and random crap on the other. At least once a day that stack falls over. My guy says I have a singular talent for acquiring piles around me. Unfortunately, it’s all too true.

Are there things you must have around you while you read? Or, are you a low-maintenance reader?

My Top 5 . . . paranormal romances

This week’s top 5 list is a mixture of both series and individual books. I never thought about how many fewer paranormal romances I read as compared to urban fantasy, but I guess that makes sense, since I’ve been reading uf the longest. Also, in all honesty, I had quite a few that after reading 1 or 2 paranormals in a series, I just didn’t feel strongly enough about them to continue reading the series.

I’ve been debating on whether I should try to define the difference between uf and pnr. I’d hoped to avoid it, but I think for clarity of the list, I’ll give it a shot.

I consider a book “paranormal romance” if the book is essentially character driven. That is, the action of the book springs mainly from the h/h coming together. (For uf, the book would be more plot driven, and the main thrust of the action would spring from that.) Also, generally speaking, each book will end with a happily ever after for the main couple. If it’s part of a series, the next book will focus on a new couple, since the previous protagonists’ story has reached its conclusion.

Of course, this is only MY definition, since I have a feeling everyone asked would give a slightly different one.

When I list a series, the book pictured is usually my favorite of the series. This list is in no particular order.

Previous week’s lists:

• My Top 6 historical romances
• My Top 5 urban fantasy series

ETA: Katie, over at Katidom has also posted her Top paranormal, uf, and alternate reality books. Be sure and check out her list!

Psy-Changeling series by Nalini Singh I had heard for so long that this series was so great that by the time I got around to starting it, I was afraid it wouldn’t live up to the hype. Luckily for me, it really did. I think it’s one of the best written, most consistent pnr series out there. I actually had a hard time picking out a cover of my favorite in the series. I wound up going with Branded by Fire, not only because it’s really really good, but also because it will be released this coming Tuesday, July 7, 2009. Not only are the shifters sexy and the chemistry between the heroes and heroine’s sizzling, but I thing what makes this series a stand out for me is the balance in the books between world building, plot action, character development (of both the primary couple and secondary charactes) and romance. I have been dying for Hawke’s story, as he is one of my favorite heroes around, and love how a little bit of his story has been given in each book so far. Hopefully, his book will come in the next year or so. (Dev’s story, Blaze of Memory, is next, to be released November 2009.) Nalini Singh’s site

Black Dagger Brotherhood series by JR Ward This was another series I had apprehensions about starting. Again, hyped all over the place. What made me more nervous about it was that, while I really liked the Dark Lover excerpt that’s on JRW’s site, the whole “bad-ass” brotherhood with funky spelled names sounded too cheesy for me. Well, I was wrong and I was right. I still have to control the automatic eyeroll when I see the random letters in their names, and the hood talk still makes me giggle, but boy, what fun books! I’ve posted before about their Pringle’s factor for me. I’ve only read the first 2, but when I did read them, I did not want to put them down until they were all done. Now, because I’m still in the early books from this series, they are still definitely in paranormal romance territory. I’ve heard mixed things about the series’ later books, and am very interested to see how her shift in style (less romance based, more plot driven, heading into uf territory) affects my enjoyment of this series. Zsadist’s (my favorite Brother) book is waiting for me at the library, as I write this. I feel a sudden craving for potato chips coming on . . . JR Ward’s site.

Angels’ Blood by Nalini Singh OK, because this is a “hybrid” book, packaged as an “urban fantasy romance” I wasn’t sure where to put it. I decided to include it in my paranormal list, since the uf list was already hard to keep down to 5. Also, the relationship between Elena and Raphael is entirely central to the story, thus (for me) putting it more in the paranormal side of the house. Aside from the absolutely stunning cover, this book is awash in beautiful images, especially those of the Angels, and Raphael in particular. Nalini Singh, again, has been able to create such a compelling and original world. The more I read her, the more the word “balance” comes to mind when I think about her writing. Plot depth is not sacrificed for more time spent on character development. I am so excited that this is a new series, and am so looking forward to more of Elena’s story. BTW, NS also released an excellent prequel e-novella, Angels’ Pawn, which is available for purchase. I was thrilled to read on her site that she will be revisiting main characters, Ashwini and Janvier, later in this series. Nalini Singh’s site Angels’ Blood excerpt. (Scroll down linked page.)

With or Without series by JL Langley (M/M) This was the first M/M novel I read, and this series is a really good one. I originally won this book when JL Langley was a guest over at the DIK blog. Since then, I’ve read just about all of her back list, and have become such a fan of her 3 series (this one, the Ranch series, and the Sci-Regency series.) The With or Without series focuses on a werewolf pack whose territory includes a Native American reservation. Pack politics, family drama, race issues, and of course, romance all get covered so well in this series. To me, the biggest strength of JLL’s writing is her ability to write characters that really connect with the reader. When reading one of her books, I often find myself wondering about them throughout my day. I love the dynamics between the heroes, and how they work out coming together, usually amid an abosrobing mystery. With Caution is my favorite of the 3 stories. Jake is one of the sexiest alpha heroes around, and I love how he helps Remi heal from his tragic past. Also, this book includes Remi’s little brother Sterling, whom I love to pieces! JL Langley’s site.

My series by Carolyn Jewel I loved Carolyn Jewel’s historical romance, Scandal, so much that I was eager to read her new paranormal romance series. The world of fiends, mages, and witches is really original and interesting. Though powerful, the fiends are vulnerable to a witches or mages power, and can become enslaved (mageheld) by them. This makes for an interesting dynamic between the h/h, where (at least in the first 2 books) the fiends are the heroes, and very alpha, and the heroine witches — while theoretically having the upper-hand, with the potential to “capture” the hero — are ignorant of the power they possess. If you like alpha heroes, the men in this series are as alpha as they come. I am currently reading My Forbidden Desire, book 2 in the series, and enjoying it a lot! I was really intrigued by Xia in My Wicked Enemy, and am so glad CJ is telling his story. Book 3, will tell Durian’s story, according to Carolyn Jewel’s blog. Carolyn Jewel’s site.

OK, so I’m trying to see what these books and series have in common. The most striking thing to me is that they have not only really good romances between the h/h, but also original worlds that have been very well developed.

I actually sort of struggled with this list. I have a few more that (like the Psy-Changeling series) I’ve heard great things about, and am meaning to try. Meljean Brooks’ Guardian series, for one. Do you have any recommendations for me? What are your top 5 paranormal romances?

Some hit and run reviews

This weekend is going to be a hectic one, so no time for in depth reviews, but I did want to share some thoughts about a few books I just finished. I realized I had more to say about these books than would comfortably fit in my mini-reviews on my Read in 2009 page, so here they are!

Instant Gratification (Wilder series, book 2) by Jill Shalvis I really enjoyed book 1 in this series, Instant Attraction. Book 2 was even better! I loved seeing how Emma, an uptight doctor from NYC who is in wishful to run her dad’s practice while he recovers from a heart attack, slowly opens herself to the mountain community of Wishful, and in the process also falls for Stone. She tried so hard to not connect, yet was unable to resist despite her efforts. Her story really resonated with me, and by the end, I had a lump in my throat reading the last few pages. (You must understand: I’m not a very sentimental reader, so this really said volumes to me about Jill Shalvis’ skills. ) Stone was wonderful. Very much a hero who was much more than the ski bum Emma first thinks he is. As the book progressed, Emma gained insight into what made him tick, and I was right there with her. I so appreciated how, once Stone recognizes what his feeling are for Emma, he doesn’t agonize over them. He accepts them and moves forward. I also enjoyed the secondary romance. Usually, these secondary love stories detract from time I would rather see spent with the main characters, but in this case it really didn’t. Rather, the other couple mirrored a lot of the same issues that Stone and Emma struggled with, and allowed for some great insights into their relationship. I’m used to seeing the male in the character to “the grovel” at the end of a book. In IG, (I hope it’s not giving to much away) Emma does the grovel, and it’s the best example of one I’ve read in a long time. Full of “awww’s” and sighs. Such a rewarding read! Honestly, I’m not crazy about this cover. The guy seems too smirky for me, but I LOVE the cover for book 3, Instant Temptation, (TJ’s story) which won’t be out till April 2010. ::sob!:: Jill Shalvis’ site. Excerpt on author’s site. (Scroll down.)

Treasure Keeper (Drákon series, book 4) by Shana Abé I SO wanted to like this book. I’ve really enjoyed the previous 3 books in the series, and had really been looking forward to this one. Unfortunately, a lot of the story just didn’t hang together for me. It actually started off really well, using Zoe’s journal to set the story. However, very quickly a lot of her decisions were perplexing for me. In the end, I think a lot of it came down to an overload of “telling” instead of “showing.” It resulted in my feeling disconnected from the heroine. Also, I just didn’t get her relationship with Hayden (not the hero, but her fiancé for a lot of the book.) She kept acting out of deep feelings for him, but I never really bought them. The same went for him. They never showed his feelings for her. Most of the time he acted distant. I was actually really surprised when another character mentioned he had noticed Hayden’s desire for her. Could have fooled me. Even her relationship with Rhys, the hero was conducted in a very detached way. I just never bought her feelings for him, which was unfortunate, since his felt so true and genuine. This was a big bummer for me, but I liked the series enough, that I stuck with this one to the end, and will try the next one in the series. That one will be a deal breaker for me as to whether or not I keep on reading the series. Shana Abé’s site. Excerpt for Treasure Keeper on author’s site.

What Happens in London by Julia Quinn Just what the doctor ordered! This book was such a fun, light read. I smiled through most of it. JQ is such a smart and insightful writer. There were moments when I wanted to punch the air and shout “Yes!” with joy. However, rather than do a real review, which was done so excellently over at The Book Smugglers, I just wanted to share a scene, which was written so perfectly and stopped me for the truth it revealed in Olivia’s and Sir Harry’s relationship. After a rocky start, Olivia and Harry develop a friendship of sorts, partly due to the fact that he’s been ordered by the War Office to watch her and a Russian prince who has been courting her. Something happens that makes her very uncomfortable with the prince, and she doesn’t know how to handle it, because she knows that she must continue to socialize with him. Her immediate reaction is, “I must tell Harry about this.” This moment so effectively demonstrates the shift their relationship has made. Without agonizing (or, yes, angsting) on her part: Should she say something, or shouldn’t she? What will he think? etc., she knows she can trust him, and he will help her. It is an instinctive gut reaction on her part. When she does tell him, he quickly thinks of an ingenious way to help her. He doesn’t give her a hard time about having to see the prince socially. He just acts in a supportive way and gives her what she needs. The reason this really spoke to me, was that it so reminded me of something I went through with my guy. At the time, we were dating. Most of the 2 years we dated, we were 3000 miles apart, I in California, and he in Vermont. (He left for grad school about 2 months after we started dating.) It was tough to fall in love, and almost immediately have to see him leave. It was an endurance test in trust and our feelings for each other. About 6 months into his program, he developed a close friendship with a woman who was a fellow student. I wasn’t really concerned about it, since he’s always had lots of women friends. We were friends for 5 months before we started dating. During that time, I met a number of his friends, many which were women. A lot of them became my friends. Because of our previous friendship (before he might have any desire to make me think he was other than a nice guy to hang out with,) I knew he wasn’t a player. Anyway, one weeknight he called me out of the blue from Vermont. (This was unusual, because we were both poor students, and were limited to once weekly calls on Sunday nights. The rest of our communication was through written letters, since this was in the dark ages before email was common.) He was obviously very upset, and told me about what happened with his “friend”: she invited him over to watch some dvds, and while they were sitting on the couch, she made a pass at him. So, I asked, “So, what did you do?” (Trying to use deep breathing to stay calm.) And, he said, “I got out of there as fast as I could and called you. I knew you’d know what to do.” This was one of those “moments” every relationship has. It revealed so many things about the kind of person he is, and about the relationship we had. It told me I could trust him, cause any guy that’s going to play around is not going to think to immediately call his girlfriend for advice. It told me he trusted me not to fly off the handle and bitch him out. (Though we did have a conversation about how people in relationships can’t operate with exactly the same set of rules single people have.) It told me that we had was more than just a “right now” relationship with potential for much much more. Ninteen years later, I guess we were both right. Well, back to WHiL. For me, this scene became so much more than just a moment of drama, whatever Julia Quinn’s intentions were. To me, it said volumes about both Olivia and Harry, and where their relationship could go — even before Olivia realizes where their relationship is heading. And, this all happens without operatic drama, because not all big moments in one’s life are dramatic. So, thank you, JQ, for such an enjoyable book, and for a reason to revisit what, in the end was an opportunity for me to revisit what became a sweet memory from my past. Julia Quinn’s site. Excerpt for What Happens in London

Happy Independence Day to all those in the States. Eat lots of hot dogs, stay cool, and enjoy the fireworks. To everyone else, have a great weekend!

June 2009 Read Books

This was a month of some really great reads. I’m sort of glad that I’m no longer doing a “best reads” because I’d be hard pressed to choose only a couple. I read or listened to 19 books this month. The biggest surprise for me was the YA speculative fiction novel, Uglies. I’d heard about it for a long time, and am so glad I finally got around to checking it out. Nalini Singh’s Branded by Fire was my most anticipated read, and I was so excited to get my hands on it a little early. (It will be released July 7, 2009.) I actually started 5(!) new series this month. (You can tell which ones by looking at the series/book number next to the title.) The amazing thing is, they were all good enough that I’ll definitely be reading the next books in all of them. So much for my promise to myself to finish a series before starting a new one!

(To see what else I’ve read this year, you can check out my Read in 2009 page.)

Branded by Fire (Psy-Changeling series, book 6) by Nalini Singh 6/29/9 I was so excited to see this at Border’s this past weekend! Mercy and Riley’s story was great. It was so wonderful, showing how the 2 dominant changelings were able to come together without needing to squash the other’s spirit. It also did a great job setting the stage for my favorite changeling, Hawke’s story, which will be told in the future. Nalini Singh’s site. Excerpt for Branded by Fire. (Scroll down linked page for excerpt on author’s site.)

My Wicked Enemy (My series, book 1) by Carolyn Jewel 6/26/9 I so loved Carolyn Jewel’s historical romance, Scandal, that I was curious about her paranormal series. Well, I was not disappointed! MWE was had exciting action, an interesting world (mages, witches, fiends battling it out,) and excellent chemistry between the witch, Carson and the fiend, Nikodemus. However, it was the fiend, Xia that really had my attention, and I’m so excited that the second in the series, My Forbidden Desire, features him as the hero. Carolyn Jewel’s site. Excerpt for My Wicked Enemy

Bone Crossed (Mercy Thompson series, book 4) by Patricia Briggs AUDIOBOOK 6/25/9 JUNE RE-READ CHALLENGE BOOK. Review is posted here. Audiobook read by Lorelei King. I loved revisiting this book in audio format. It took me a bit to get used to the narrator, who I so closely identify with her work reading the Stephanie Plum series. But, once I adjusted, I loved listening to Mercy’s story brought to life. Patricia Briggs’ site. Print excerpt for Bone Crossed Audio excerpt from Audible.com.

In the Blood (The Makers Song series, book 2) by Adrian Phoenix 6/24/9 To read more about this book, check out this post. Very gothic in tone, this series is an interesting mix of uf, romance, and government conspiracy story. I loved learning more about Heather and Dante. Lucien’s story of the Elohim (Fallen Angels) was also really interesting. Adrian Phoenix’s site. Excerpt for In the Blood (Downloadable Word doc.)

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman 6/22/9 (YA) AUDIOBOOK I loved this sweet, gruesome YA story, and Neil Gaiman’s narration added to the “storytime” feel. Nobody (”Bod”) Owens is orphaned as a toddler, when his family is murdered by The Man Jack. The ghostly inhabitant’s of a graveyard take Bod in and protect and raise him. The story was funny in the way that Nightmare Before Christmas is. By the end, I had a lump in my throat with it’s touching sweetness. Great stuff! Neil Gaiman’s site.

In Too Deep by Portia Da Costa 6/19/9 Totally escapist erotic romance. Lot’s of fun to read. Librarian Gwendolyne starts getting sexy anonymous letters at work. She doesn’t know who’s sending them, but she’s hoping it’s the sexy professor who’s been doing research at her library. I was afraid it would feel stalkerish, but it doesn’t, and really reads like a fun, female fantasy. Some of the bdsm was a little much for me, but it didn’t dominate the story, and the rest was a hoot. Portia Da Costa’s site. In Too Deep by Portia Da Costa (Scroll down linked page for excerpt on author’s site.)

A Hint of Wicked (Calton series, book 1) by Jennifer Haymore 6/17/9 A good dramatic historical. When Sophie’s husband Garrett, long presumed dead, returns after 8 years cured from amnesia, he finds his wife has not only remarried, but it’s to his cousin and best friend Tristan. This book is fraught with emotion as the 3 navigate through the messy situation. I enjoyed this book very much, though I found a secondary plot line a little troublesome at times. I also wish there had been more time spent showing Sophie happy with at least one of the men, before the drama of Garrett’s return ratcheted the angst up into high gear. However, on the whole I really liked AHoW, and I’ll be looking forward to Jennifer Haymore’s next book, A Touch of Scandal, due out early 2010. Jennifer Haymore’s site. Excerpt for A Hint of Wicked (Scroll down linked page.)

In the Garden of Iden (The Company series, book 1) by Kage Baker 6/16/9 June’s TBR Challenge book To read about In the Garden of Iden check out my review here. A little slow on the start up, but in the end a really good and original story. Mendoza is a time travelling immortal who is in Inquisition-era Spain and Tudor England, trying to fulfill the mission of her employer, The Company. I really liked her prickly personality, and the climax of the story had me turning pages as fast as I could. Kage Baker’s site. Excerpt for In the Garden of Iden

Plum Spooky (A Stephanie Plum Between the Numbers novel) by Janet Evanovich 6/15/9 AUDIOBOOK This was the usual Stephanie Plum antics. However, idk if it’s because these Between the Numbers novels have never been my favorites, but it sort of felt like the story was phoned in. I was hoping that this one, the first that is regular novel length would work better for me. Unfortunately, it didn’t. Also, there wasn’t enough Ranger in it for me! Janet Evanovich’s site. Print excerpt (pdf) forPlum Spooky

The Unsung Hero (Troubleshooters series, book 1) by Suzanne Brockmann 6/14/9 AUDIOBOOK I don’t read a lot of romantic suspense, but this was an enjoyable book. I liked the history Tom and Kelly had between them. I wasn’t expecting the story about Tom’s uncle and Kelly’s father that took place in WWII. It was really good. Often, I feel bugged by 2nd storylines, but this one was as interesting as the main one. I already have the audiobook of book 2, The Defiant Hero on request at the library. Suzanne Brockmann’s site. Print excerpt for The Unsung Hero

Private Arrangements by Sherry Thomas 6/12/9 This was a wonderful historical. I wasn’t always comfortable with what Gigi did, but I liked that she wasn’t a “perfect” heroine. Cam wasn’t perfect either, plotting and holding grudges instead of confronting Gigi about her behavior. Sherry Thomas wrote a fun, smart romance about 2 people with some really awful history together finding a way to come back together, and learning from their mistakes and failings. Sherry Thomas’ site. Excerpt for Private Arrangements

Uglies (Uglies series, book 1) by Scott Westerfeld 6/11/9 AUDIOBOOK (YA) Great spec fiction YA! A suspenseful story about a seemingly utopian society where everyone is beautiful and parties all the time. Of course, things aren’t that simple, and Tally Youngblood is caught up in events when she realizes that maybe she doesn’t want to be pretty. Scott Westerfeld’s site. Uglies trilogy on author’s site. Print excerpt for Uglies

Simply Unforgettable (The Simply Quartet, book 1) by Mary Balogh 6/10/9 Sweet historical romance. This is the first Balogh that I’ve read, and it was a good one. Honestly, writing this mini-review a couple of weeks later, I don’t remember many details without trying really hard, but I know I enjoyed it while I read it. I will definitely read more by her when I want an enjoyable, light historical. Mary Balogh’s site. Mary Balogh on Fantastic Fiction.

Rising Tides (Chesapeake Bay series, book 2) by Nora Roberts 6/8/9 AUDIOBOOK I really liked Ethan, whose quiet and deliberate ways mask a man who’s still scarred by his tragic childhood. Grace, too, was strong and sweet. They have loved each other from afar for years. However, I was impatient with Grace, who sort of moved from the “I’m so happy we’re finally together” stage, to the “let’s get married and live hea” stage too fast for me. Nora Roberts’ site. Nora Roberts on Fantastic Fiction.

Crash Into Me by Jill Sorenson 6/6/9 To read more about this book, check out this post. This romantic suspense novel by debut author Jill Sorenson was a gripping read. I loved the locale, since it was one with which I’m a little familiar. I will definitely be reading her next book, Set the Dark on Fire, to be released late this summer. Jill Sorenson’s site. Excerpt for Crash Into Me.

Her Ladyship’s Companion by Evangeline Collins 6/6/9 Review to come soon! Evangeline Collins’ site. Excerpt for Her Ladyship’s Companion.

Stree Magic (Black London series, book 1) by Caitlin Kittredge 6/5/9 To read more about this book, check out this post. This was a really good introduction to a new uf series. I liked the female protagonist, Pete, but it was Jack, a junkie punk-rocker wash out who is also a sorcerror who was really a stand out for me. Caitlin Kittredge’s site. Excerpt for Street Magic.

The Invisible Ring (A Black Jewels Novel) by Anne Bishop 6/3/9 AUDIOBOOK I had such a great time chatting with Amy about The Shadow Queen, that I decided to dive right in to The Invisible Ring. Jared and Lia’s story was suspenseful, dark, and romantic. I love Anne Bishop’s Black Jewels world, and this was an excellent addition to it. Anne Bishop’s site Print excerpt for The Invisible Ring Audio excerpt at Audible.com

The Private Patient (An Adam Dagliesh Mystery, book 14) by PD James 6/1/9 AUDIOBOOK Another solid procedural, featuring the poet/detective Adam Dagliesh. A patient at a private clinic is murdered, and it’s up to Dagliesh and his investigative team to figure out whodunit. This book also seems to be a turning point for Dagliesh, with the coming of his marriage and looking toward the future for what he will do once he is promoted out of his current position. The audio production was excellent. PD James at Fantastic Fiction.

July 2009 New Releases

I got a little head start on reading this month’s releases, since I already read Branded by Fire over the weekend. There are a couple of new series debuts, as well as a couple of anthologies. While I find that I’ve come to prefer anthologies that feature novellas instead of short stories, the caliber of authors in Strange Brew, makes it worth tracking down.

Here are the July releases I’m looking forward to:

July 1, 2009: Prey (Werecat series, book 4) by Rachel Vincent Here is a book description from the publisher’s site:

SOMETIMES PLAYING CAT AND MOUSE IS NO GAME… Play? Right. My Pride is under fire from all sides, my father’s authority is in question, and my lover is in exile. Which means I haven’t laid eyes on Marc’s gorgeous face in months. And with a new mother and an I-know-everything teenager under my protection, I don’t exactly have time to fantasize about ever seeing him again. Then our long-awaited reunion is ruined by a vicious ambush by strays.  Now our group is under attack, Marc is missing, and I will need every bit of skill and smarts to keep my family from being torn apart. Forever.

Rachel Vincent’s site. Excerpt (PDF download) from author’s site.

July 7, 2009: Skinwalker (Jane Yellowrock series, book 1) by Faith Hunter Here is a book description from the publisher’s site:

A year ago Jane nearly lost her life taking down an entire blood family of deadly rogue vampires that preyed on the helpless local populace of an Appalachian town. Now, after months of recuperation, she’s back and ready to fight again. Except this time, she’s hired by those she’s trained to kill — vampires . . . Jane Yellowrock is the last of her kind — a skinwalker of Cherokee descent who can turn into any creature she desires and hunts vampires for a living. Back from hiatus, she’s hired by Katherine Fontaneau, one of the oldest vampires in New Orleans and the madam of Katies’s Ladies, to hunt a powerful rogue vampire who’s killing other vamps. Amidst a bordello full of real “ladies of the night,” and a hot Cajun biker with a panther tattoo who stirs her carnal desire, Jane must stay focused and complete her mission — or else the next skin she’ll need to save just may be her own . . .

Faith Hunter’s site. Excerpt on author’s site.

July 7, 2009: Branded by Fire (Psy-Changeling series, book 6) by Nalini Singh Here is the description from the author’s site:

When a brilliant changeling researcher is kidnapped, DarkRiver sentinel Mercy, a cat, and SnowDancer lieutenant Riley, a wolf, must work together to track the young man — before his shadowy captors decide he’s no longer useful. Along the way, the two dominants may find that submitting to one another uncovers not just a deadly conspiracy, but a passion so raw that it’ll leave them both branded by fire.

Nalini Singh’s site. Excerpt on author’s site. (Scroll down linked page.)

July 7, 2009: Eyes Like the Stars (Théâtre Iluminata series, book 1) by Lisa Mantchev Here is the description from the publisher’s site:

Beatrice Shakespeare Smith is not an actress, yet she lives in a theater. She’s not an orphan, but she has no parents.She knows every part, but she has no lines of her own. Until now. Welcome to the Théâtre Illuminata, where the characters of every play ever written can be found behind the curtain. They were born to play their parts, and are bound to the Théâtre by The Book — an ancient and magical tome of scripts. Bertie is not one of them, but they are her family — and she is about to lose them all and the only home she has ever known.

Lisa Mantchev’s site. Excerpt on author’s site.

July 9, 2009: Strange Brew edited by PN Elrod Here is a book description from the author’s site:

Today’s hottest urban fantasy authors come together in this delicious brew that crackles and boils over with tales of powerful witches and dark magic! In Charlaine Harris’ “Bacon,” a beautiful vampire joins forces with a witch from an ancient line to find out who killed her beloved husband. In “Seeing Eye” by Patricia Briggs, a blind witch helps sexy werewolf Tom Franklin find his missing brother — and helps him in more ways than either of them ever suspected. And in Jim Butcher’s “Last Call,” wizard Harry Dresden takes on the darkest of dark powers — the ones who dare to mess with this favorite beer. For anyone who’s ever wondered what lies beyond the limits of reality, who’s imagined the secret spaces where witches wield fearsome magic, come and drink deep. Let yourself fall under the spell of this bewitching collection!

July 21, 2009: Homecoming (Mercy Thompson graphic novel/trade edition) by Patricia Briggs Here is a book description from the author’s site:

Mercy Thompson is a walker, a magical being with the power to transform into a coyote. She lives on the fine line dividing the everyday world from a darker dimension, observing the supernatural community while standing apart. When Mercy travels to the Tri-Cities of Washington for a job interview, she quickly finds herself smack-dab in the middle of a gang war between rival packs of werewolves. And as if fangs and fur weren’t bad enough, Mercy must deal with the scariest creature of all: her mother, who is convinced that Mercy is making a mess of her life and determined to set her daughter on the right course.

Patricia Briggs’ site. Publisher’s site. Preview on author’s site. (PDF download. This is a preview version which only has the art. No words.)

July 28, 2009: Hunting Ground (Alpha & Omega series, book 2) by Patricia Briggs Here is a book description from the author’s site:

Anna Latham didn’t know how complicated life could be until she became a werewolf. And until she was mated to Charles Cornick, the son — and enforcer — of Bran, the leader of the North American werewolves, she didn’t know how dangerous it could be, either . . . Anna and Charles have just been enlisted to attend a summit to present Bran’s controversial proposition: that the wolves should finally reveal themselves to humans. But the most feared Alpha in Europe is dead set against the plan — and it seems like someone else might be, too. When Anna is attacked by vampires using pack magic, the kind of power only werewolves should be able to draw on, Charles and Anna must combine their talents to hunt down whoever is behind it all — or risk losing everything . . .

Patricia Briggs’ site. Hunting Ground on publisher’s site. Excerpt on author’s site.

July 28, 2009: Destined For An Early Grave (Night Huntress series, book 4) by Jeaniene Frost Here is a book description from the author’s site:

Since half-vampire Cat Crawfield and her undead lover Bones met six years ago, they’ve fought against the rogue undead, battled a vengeful Master vampire, and pledged their devotion with a blood bond. Now it’s time for a vacation. But their hopes for a perfect Paris holiday are dashed when Cat awakes one night in terror. She’s having visions of a vampire named Gregor who’s more powerful than Bones and has ties to her past that even Cat herself didn’t know about. Gregor believes Cat is his and he won’t stop until he has her. As the battle begins between the vamp who haunts her nightmares and the one who has her heart, only Cat can break Gregor’s hold over her. She’ll need all the power she can summon in order to bring down the baddest bloodsucker she’s ever faced . . . even if getting that power will result in an early grave.

Jeaniene Frost’s site. Excerpt on author’s site.

July 28, 2009: Skin Deep (Laura Blackstone series, book 1) by Mark Del Franco Here is a book description from the author’s site:

As the public relations director for the Fey Guild, Laura Blackstone can spin a story with ease. Across town, Janice Crawford works her magic as the druidess backup for the D.C. SWAT. Meanwhile as an operative for an international intelligence agency, Mariel Tate uses her beauty and brains to hunt down terrorists. Laura, Janice and Mariel have nothing in common — except they’re the same woman . . . Being an undercover agent has its occupational hazards, but Laura makes it look easy. She uses her magical abilities to create disguises that are skin deep — glamours, or personas, that must never be compromised. Now, while Laura publicizes a special fey exhibition at the National Archives, Janice is almost killed in a drug bust gone wrong, and Mariel investigates a connection between the drug raid and threats made against the exhibition’s debut. Laura’s different worlds are about to collide, and if she can’t keep it together, she’ll have more to worry about than having to retire an identity. She may lose her life.

Mark Del Franco’s site. Excerpt on author’s site. (Word doc download.)

. July 28, 2009: Thorn Queen (Dark Swan series, book 2) by Richelle Mead Here is a book description from the publisher’s site:

Eugenie Markham is a shaman for hire, paid to bind and banish creatures from the Otherworld. But after her last battle, she’s also become queen of the Thorn Land. It’s hardly an envious life, not with her kingdom in tatters, her love life in chaos, and Eugenie eager to avoid the prophecy about her firstborn destroying mankind. And now young girls are disappearing from the Otherworld, and no one — except Eugenie — seems willing to find out why. Eugenie has spilled plenty of fey blood in her time, but this enemy is shrewd, subtle, and nursing a very personal grudge. And the men in her life aren’t making things any easier. Her boyfriend, Kiyo, is preoccupied with his pregnant ex, and sexy fey king Dorian always poses a dangerous distraction. With or without their help, Eugenie must venture deep into the Otherworld and trust in an unpredictable power she can barely control. Reluctant queen or not, Eugenie has sworn to do her duty — even if it means facing the darkest — and deadliest — side of her nature . . .

Richelle Mead’s site.

You know, I didn’t realize until I was almost finished putting this post together, that every book I have down for this month is either urban fantasy or paranormal romance. A lot of historicals that I’ve been looking forward to just came out this past week, but not much else is on my radar for the month of July.

Did I miss any books coming out this month that you’re looking forward to?

For information on other future releases, check out my Upcoming Releases page. For information about other books that were released in January thru June 2009, check out my Released in 2009 page.

2009 Re-read Challenge (June): Bone Crossed

Bone Crossed (Mercy Thompson series, book 4) by Patricia Briggs I had originally intended to read Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas for my re-read challenge book this month. But then, my Audible point became available (I have a monthly Audible plan that allows me 1 audiobook download per month) and I couldn’t resist ordering the Bone Crossed audiobook. I read the Bone Crossed when it originally came out in February. But, as sometimes happens with books I’ve been really anticipating, I blew through it in a little over a day, devouring it all too quickly. When I do this — I really can’t help myself and slow down — the book doesn’t really “stick” the way it would have if I had read it at a more leisurely pace. This also explains why I neglected to review it, considering how much I’d hyped its release. So, I decided to “re-read” Bone Crossed in audiobook format, and see how the different “reading” experience compared to the first one. Here’s the description:

Car mechanic and sometime shapeshifter Mercy Thompson has learned, the hard way, why her race was almost exterminated. When European vampires immigrated to North America, they found Mercy’s people had a hidden talent — for vampire slaying. Unfortunately for Mercy, the queen of the local vampire seethe has discovered her true identity. She’s also furious when she learns Mercy has crossed her and killed one of her vampires. Mercy may be protected from direct reprisals by the werewolf pack (and her interesting relationship with its Alpha), but that just means Marsilia will come after Mercy some other way. So Mercy had better prepare to watch her back.

Here are some things that really stood out to me upon “reading” Bone Crossed for a second time: An audiobook reader’s voice really impacts the way I enjoy a book. Lorelei King is an extremely talented narrator. I know her best from her work on Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series. Over the course of the 14 books in that series, her voice “is” Stephanie Plum for me. So, it was with a little apprehension that I started listening to Bone Crossed. I have to admit that for the first few chapters, it was disconcerting to hear “Stephanie” say “Mercy’s” words. However, about halfway through the book I realized I had completely forgotten about this issue, and hadn’t thought about it for hours. (The audiobook is just over 9 hours long.) A funny thing about the audiobook, was that one of the characters that I saw so much more vividly, as a result of hearing him, was Bran. He only has 1 scene, but I got such a great mental picture of this youthful looking guy (who probably appears to be younger than his son, Sam) who is the toughest werewolf in North America. I think hearing his voice helped me fill in the image I had of him. Another character the audiobook helped me “see” was the vampire, Stefan. He’s such a lover of pop culture (especially all things Scooby Doo) that I forget he’s Italian. Hearing him speak in an accent threw me at first, but when I thought about it, it made perfect sense. So, on to the story! I was actually really worried when Bone Crossed was released. Mercy Thompson is one of my favorite uf series, and the preceding book, Iron Kissed, is my favorite in the series. I was afraid my expectations would be unrealistically high, and BC would be a disappointment. Luckily, that wasn’t the case, for either the first or the second read of Bone Crossed. Patricia Briggs is able to start the book on what would be considered a low note, picking up immediately after the tragic events of Iron Kissed, and launch the reader back into the action. BC isn’t just a wrap up of IK, however, because even as Mercy (and everyone around her) continues to process what has happened, she is thrust into a couple of new adventures. One storyline, is actually a large part of the book, though it isn’t mentioned in the blurb. I really liked the mystery that involved an old college friend, and her son who is being terrorized by ghosts. It explored much more in depth another of Mercy’s abilities that have previously been touched on, her ability to communicate with ghosts. At times, the story was quite creepy, and even gruesome. However, the connection Mercy makes with both the boy and the ghosts were really compelling. Final thoughts: Patricia Briggs has been able to take Mercy’s story past the Team Adam or Team Sam debate, and go deeper with Bone Crossed. I love how pack dynamics really come into play in this book, now that she’s chosen her mate. The road to acceptance within the pack isn’t easy for Mercy, but I love how PB takes us through not only her actions with in the pack but also her thought process of how rank and her being a walker come affect her position as the Alpha’s mate. While Iron Kissed is still my favorite of the series, Bone Crossed did live up to the high bar I have set for books in this series. Patricia Briggs’ site. Print excerpt for Bone Crossed Audio excerpt from Audible.com.

Book Release Love

Despite the groaning tbr — especially after this past weekend’s outing — I will be at my local Barnes and Noble first thing tomorrow to pick up these 3 beauties:

Instant Gratification (Wilder series, book 2) by Jill Shalvis

Jill Shalvis’ site. Excerpt on author’s site. (Scroll down.)

Don’t Tempt Me by Loretta Chase

Loretta Chase’s site. Book info on publisher’s site. Excerpt on author’s site.

What Happens in London by Julia Quinn

Julia Quinn’s site. Excerpt on author’s site. (Scroll down.)

And using my Amazon credit (thanks Barbara!) for this pretty: The Women of Nell Gwynne’s (Novella) by Kage Baker.

Kage Baker’s site. Scroll down linked page for excerpt.

Anything coming out on Tuesday’s release day that you’re looking forward to?

10 . . .

. . . minutes is how long it took me to crack open this book when I got home from our So Cal Bloggers get-together, Saturday afternoon.

But I’m getting ahead of myself.

As Wendy said, only a few of us could make it, but despite missing the other gals, we had a great time. Lori, Rosie, Wendy, and I met at Border’s. While cruising the aisles, I spotted Branded by Fire, which is supposed to be released July 7th, but somehow was already sitting on the “new releases” table. Rosie and I pounced (heh) and Bob’s your uncle, it now resides with me. I’m about 1/3 of the way thru, and so far, it’s awesome! Mercy and Riley are so great together.

Another cool thing that happened at Borders was that Wendy found a quote of a Megan Hart review she had written, not only on an ad for MH’s new release, Deeper, in Romantic Times magazine, but also the blurb on the cover of the book itself! Very, very cool!

After Borders, we walked to The Cheesecake Factory, and we were all good and ordered salads for lunch. Of course, this just meant we could splurge for dessert, and shared both an incredibly decadent chocolate truffle cake and a slice of vanilla bean cheesecake. Heaven!

We had our usual book swap in the parking lot. (Thank you, ladies!)

Lori and I then hit a ubs, Book Bin, on the way home. It was so fun to show her one of my favoite places to troll for books. (They also have internet seach available on their inventory, mail service, and a book finding service.) I was able to justify buying a couple more books (I picked up Ride the Fire by Pamela Clare, Kristie!) by turning in my books that I hadn’t given away in the swap.

It was such a fun way to spend a Saturday afternoon! We gabbed and gabbed. (Who knew we all had mom’s who are Registered Nurses?) What was so cool to me was that there was a point during lunch that I realized that while our love of books and blogs is what got us together, we actually spent a lot of time talking about all sorts of things, and found so many things in common. Very cool.

I can’t wait for the next get together, and really hope that those who couldn’t make yesterday’s meet will be there, buying books, eating decadent desserts, and talking about everything under the sun!

ETA: Someone ::coughcjcough:: asked what was in my bookbag when I brought it home. I was a good girl at Borders, since I knew we were swapping and hitting the ubs after. Here’s the final haul (mostly lifted from my tbr page) in no particular order:

• Jessica Andersen: Nightkeepers (A Novel of the Final Prophecy, book 3)
• Jennifer Ashley: The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie (Highland Pleasures series, book 1). Excerpt on author’s site.
• Rhyannon Byrd: Edge of Desire, Edge of Danger, Edge of Hunger (Primal Instincts series, books 1-3)
• Rachel Gibson: True Love and Other Disasters. . Excerpt on author’s site.
• Julie James: Practice Makes Perfect, Just the Sexiest Man Alive
• Diana Rowland: Mark of the Demon. Excerpt on author’s site.
• Elizabeth Hoyt: To Seduce a Sinner. (This was for my keeper shelf.)
• Pamela Clare: Ride the Fire
• Nalini Singh: Branded by Fire (Psy-Changeling series, book 6)

I think that’s everything, though something might have slipped past me!

My Top 5 . . . urban fantasy series

So, last week I did my Top 6 favorite historical romances. This week, I’m focusing on urban fantasy. I decided to choose my favorite series, since, for me, a lot of uf’s appeal  is the development of a world, characters and plot lines over multiple books. The books are not listed in any particular rank order, however the book pictured for each series is my favorite from that series.

Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs What makes this series one of my favorites is Mercy. Her voice really carries the series, and she is such a sympathetic character. Even though she is a supernatural character (she’s a Walker that shifts into a coyote,) there is always the feeling that she is the outsider among all the super powerful weres, vampires and fae. She often has to rely on her brains, speed, and small size when going up against stronger and larger foes. I also really like the world Patricia Briggs has created. There is always an element of politics between the different supernatural races which I find interesting. And, of course, there’s also Adam and Sam. Patrica Briggs’ site

Southern Vampire series by Charlaine Harris I love Charlaine Harris’ mixture of humor, mystery and romance in this series. Some may call Sookie a Mary Sue, but I think her self-deprecating sense of humor make her incredibly likeable, and her “stranger in a strange land” perspective amid all the supernaturals make her easy to identify with. It also doesn’t hurt that there are great secondary characters like Pam, Bubba, and Sam. The Southern Vampire series reminds me of a great ensemble tv series, where each supporting character really brings something unique to the story. Another thing I  enjoy about the series is the brilliant audiobook productions, read by Johanna Parker. She really brings Sookie’s world to life, and gives each character a distinct voice. After listening to the last few releases in audiobook, I actually have gone back and started listening to the series from the beginning. I’ve even listened to the first in the series, Dead Until Dark, more than once, and it’s now become one of my 3 top “comfort listens”. Charlaine Harris’ site.

The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher Looking back over my read book lists — I kept them well before I kept a blog — it looks like this is the very first urban fantasy series I read. And, boy, it was a great introduction to the genre! I love Harry Dresden’s smart-ass sense of humor, which never feels arrogant or obnoxious. He’s a great combination of powerful wizard and that sad sack private detective who always falls for the “dame” — and gets him into deep trouble. This is another series with a great supporting cast, including favorites like Thomas, Bob the Skull, and Butters. One cool thing about the Dresden Files is how these secondary characters have developed along with Harry. Another strength of this series is Jim Butchers writing. He is a master at plotting and tension. I love how he leads the reader along, and builds the story to the big climax. Great stuff! Jim Butcher’s site.

The Hollows by Kim Harrison My favorite thing about this series is the world Kim Harrison has created. It is so original and there’s always a sense of humor about it. In the Hollows, Inderlanders (supernatural beings) have been living openly among mundane humans for about a generation. There are still moments of tension, but for the most part society has dealt with the “revelation” and made adjustments. Rachel, Ivy and Jenks are such a great team, and have stuck together through the ups and downs over the course of the series. I love how they have not just been business partners, but also best friends and family to each other. Kim Harrison hasn’t spared her characters, really putting them through the ringer sometimes. (If you read the series, you know what I’m talking about. I am still traumatized by when I think about it.) But, it’s always been things that have been necessary for the characters to grow. Kim Harrison’s site.

The Otherworld series by Kelley Armstrong Kelley Armstrong is one of the most confident writers I can think of. She really guides the reader through her often complex plots with clarity and ease. The characters are extremely well drawn, and I love how they grow from book to book. The series will focus for 2 or 3 books on a character or characters, then shift to other protagonists who were previously secondary characters. In this way, the reader acquires a 360° perspective of the world KA has created. Elena is still my favorite protagonist, however, and I enjoy her sarcastic edgy humor, as well as her no-nonsense attitude. It was a toss up between the Bitten cover and the Men of the Otherworld cover, since they are just about tied for my favorite in the series. The tie-breaker for me was that the Bitten audiobook is another “comfort listen” for me. Kelley Armstrong’s site.

OK, so a couple of things I notice that most of these books have in common: great secondary characters, a sense of humor (though without being “ha-ha funny” paranormals) and 3 of them — The Southern Vampire series, The Dresden Files, and The Otherworld series usually sport the best opening lines of any books I can think of, uf or otherwise.

Be sure to check out Kati’s posts, listing her favorite historical romances and contemporary romances over at her place, Katidom.

What are your top 5 urban fantasy series?

Just finished reading . . . In the Blood

In the Blood (The Maker’s Song series, book 2) by Adrian Phoenix A few months ago I won In the Blood over at Tia Nevitt’s Fantasy Debut. It’s taken me a little while to get around to reading it. This is partly because of my overwhelming tbr pile, but I’d also put it off because I wasn’t sure I’d be able to pick the thread of the story back up, since it is quite complicated. While I was a bit confused with who was who at times, it wasn’t long before I was engrossed in the story. Here is a book description:

DANTE LIVES. Vampire. Rock star. Begotten son of the fallen angel Lucien. Dante Baptiste still struggles with nightmares and seizures, searching for the truth about his past. It is a quest as seductive as his kiss, as uncontrollable as his thirst, and as unforgiving as his determination to protect one mortal woman at any cost. KNOWLEDGE KILLS. FBI Special Agent Heather Wallace now knows the extent of the Bureau corruption that surrounds her, but worries she is losing the battle. And when Dante and his band Inferno come to Seattle on tour, Heather can’t help but be drawn back to the beautiful, dangerous nightkind. But what Heather and Dante don’t know is that new enemies lurk in the shadows, closer than they think . . . and even deadlier than they fear. DESTINY UNFOLDS. Shadowy government forces have pledged to eliminate all loose ends from Project Bad Seed — and Heather and Dante are at the top of the list. Elsewhere, the Fallen gather in Gehenna, intent on finding their long-awaited savior, the True Blood nightkind whom Lucien DeNoir would die to protect. And a damaged and desperate adversary, with powers as strange and perilous as Dante’s own, plots to use Dante as a pawn in a violent scheme for revenge. But only one of these lethal forces holds the key to Dante’s past — a key that could finally unlock the secret of his birth and the truth of his existence . . . or destroy him completely.

The first book, A Rush of Wings, takes place in Dante’s hometown of New Orleans. In the Blood takes place mostly in Seattle. Away from the exotic (to me) location, I found the gothic tone of the book much more notable. In some ways, while considered a dark/urban fantasy, In the Blood has more in common with gothic horror writer Anne Rice (her earlier stuff, at least) or even Steven King, than, say, with other Pacific Northwest urban fantasy writers, Kat Richardson who writes the Harper Blaine series, or Richelle Mead, author of the Georgina Kincaid series. The lush, hyperbolic style isn’t for everyone, but I quite enjoy it. It fits the action, some of which takes place in the Elohim (Fallen angel) city of Gehenna, as well as a goth club in Seattle. There are a lot of different plot lines going on in In the Blood, and for the most part the action flows well despite the necessary jumping around. I find my favorite plot line followed the Elohim, Lucien. He was a stand out in the first book, and as I learned more about him in ItB, he was even more interesting. I loved reading about the intrigues and events that took place in Gehenna, and its significance to what Dante is. Dante continues to be beautiful and fascinating. I find it so interesting that where usually the heroine is the “pretty” one, in this series it is Dante, who spends most of his time (at least when he’s not on stage with his band) hiding his beauty, enveloped in a hoodie trying to avoid attention from those he doesn’t trust. Both his and Heather’s characters have developed nicely, and I really like where their relationship is going. While their physical chemistry is undeniable, they try to proceed cautiously, even given the dramatic events around them. That being said, my only problem with the book is that I would have liked to see more of Heather and Dante being together and developing their relationship, without guns firing or vampires feeding. Of course, this is not paranormal romance, so despite the sensual feel to the books, the plot seems to drive the action more than the relationship. On the whole, this was a very good read, and I’ll be looking forward to the next book in The Maker’s Song series, Beneath the Skin, which will be released January 2010. Adrian Phoenix’s site. Excerpt for In the Blood. (Downloadable Word doc.)