This Week in E-books…

Since there isn’t actually any new series starting up this week for a New Series Alert post, it looks like it will be a preview of what is coming up this week in e-books instead. Entangled Covet released a new title today from Susannah Scott called Luck of the Dragon.

Synopsis…

Luciana de Luca has a PhD in sass and gemology–and a problem. Her twin brother’s gambling debts have gotten out of hand, and a mob enforcer is blackmailing her to rob the latest, greatest mega-casino on the Strip. Although Lucy has worked her whole life to get away from her family’s grifter past, to save her brother, she dons three-inch heels and a sluts-r-us dress and struts into Alec’s Gerald’s casino, determined to put her long-forgotten thieving ways to the test again.

Coming on the 20th is a new entry in Rebecca Zanetti‘s Dark Protectors series, this one called Twisted.

Synopsis…

Maggie is a wolf shifter who was captured and experimented on by the Kurjans. Now that a cure has finally been found for shifters (although not for vampire mates or witches), she can concentrate on creating a new life for herself and finally accepting that her memories are gone forever. Most memories, that is. Sometimes in the hazy world between dreams and dawn, she hears a Scottish voice, dark and deep, that sounds suspiciously like wolf-shifter Terrent Vilks. A man she happened to anger by kidnapping a few years back. Hey, it was for a good cause.

Terrent Vilks knows more than he’s let on for the past several years. After digging for answers, he knows exactly why the demons want Maggie dead. And he remembers his past with Maggie…very well. She is finally where he wants her. Now all he has to do is discover what exactly the Kurjans did to her, beat the demons into so much submission they leave her alone, and get her to fall in love with him. Again. Good thing he’s used to wrangling monsters.

And this final one is from the ongoing Bane Chronicles from Cassandra Clare and company. This month’s release is called Vampires, Scones and Edmund Herondale.

Synopsis…

When immortal warlock Magnus Bane attends preliminary peace talks between the Shadowhunters and the Downworlders in Victorian London, he is charmed by two very different people: the vampire Camille Belcourt and the young Shadowhunter, Edmund Herondale. Will winning hearts mean choosing sides?

This standalone e-only short story illuminates the life of the enigmatic Magnus Bane, whose alluring personality populates the pages of the #1 New York Times bestselling series, The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices series. This story in The Bane Chronicles, Vampires, Scones, and Edmund Herondale, is written by Sarah Rees Brennan and Cassandra Clare.

Has anyone tried out any of the Entangled: Covet titles yet? I keep meaning to grab Jennifer Armentrout’s Obsession, but I am a bit miffed that it was changed to an e-only release. I still am holding out hope for a print release somewhere down the line, though (says the person who is still waiting for the print version of Shadows).

The Breeds Character Guide

I never, ever thought I would get to say this, but it is finished. Almost 30 stories, nearly 200 pages of notes, and just under 30,000 words, but I finally got the Character Guide for Lora Leigh‘s The Breeds series done. I will update linkage and stuff after work tonight, but for anyone who is interested, it can be found in the Lora Leigh section in the drop down menu above, or by clicking the link below.

I have to add that this was a difficult one to do. Not just sheer volume, but there are numerous mistakes in the stories themselves. Physical descriptions, names, and back-stories can change from book to book, or sometimes even within the same book. When that happened, I went with either the character’s own story (like Mercury in Mercury’s War. His entire backstory changed in his own book, so I went with that), or when that character has not yet had their story told, I went with the latest info available. Hope you like.

Review – White Trash Zombie Apocalypse

Thanks one again to Doug Meeks, who sent over his take on Diana Rowland‘s White Trash Zombie Apocalypse, which will be released on July 2nd.

What Doug said…

White Trash Zombie Apocalypse
By
Diana Rowland

Summary:

Our favorite white trash zombie, Angel Crawford, has enough problems of her own, what with dealing with her alcoholic, deadbeat dad, issues with her not-quite boyfriend, the zombie mafia, industrial espionage and evil corporations. Oh, and it’s raining, and won’t let up.

But things get even crazier when a zombie movie starts filming in town, and Angel begins to suspect that it’s not just the plot of the movie that’s rotten. Soon she’s fighting her way through mud, blood, bullets and intrigue, even as zombies, both real and fake, prowl the streets.

Angel’s been through more than her share of crap, but this time she’s in way over her head. She’ll need plenty of brainpower to fit all the pieces—and body parts—together in order to save herself, her town, and quite possibly the human race.

NOTE:  This is the third book in the series, the reading order is:

My Life As A White Trash Zombie  Book 1
Even White Trash Zombies Get The Blues  Book 2
White Trash Zombie Apocalypse  Book 3 (Release Date 2 July 2013)

Review:

Where do I start for this third installment of the life of Angel?  Angel is still trying to have something that resembles a normal life even if she is a zombie (well adjusted as she is) but life just isn’t going to let that happen just yet.

The fact that there is a zombie movie being filmed in her town is just a complication in some of the things that are going to happen.  Add to it that fact that it rains almost the whole book which gives a whole new level of stress to everything and just adds to the “life sucks and then you die” type of atmosphere in much of this novel.

The story starts off interweaving a bit of the previous story of how Angel got to be a zombie which is good if this is the first book of the series you have read although you have missed some very good novels if you don’t read them all (preferably in order) .

It doesn’t take long before Angel starts to attract trouble (did I mention people trying to kill/capture her) and so we have the “zombie mafia”, corporate intrigue, a bit of a science fiction flavor and less we forget there seems to be the beginning of more than one love interest.  Curious to see where that one is going to go since Marcus the seemingly permanent love interest previously seems to have some competition.

As with previous books in this series the mystery/thriller to solve is the prime mover in this novel and it is done well, a bit multi-layered but not done to the point of confusion.

If I have any complaints about this book it would be that my violent revenge junkie was not fed that well, since I am usually rooting for the hero/heroine to put all the bad guys 6 feet under.  Trust me there are some violent encounters in this story but I felt cheated out of some of the more satisfying examples of revenge but the above mentioned “multi-layered” plot does not really allow that … at least not yet.

I do like to be surprised and I got that, along with some additional interrelationship with her Dad which I predict you will enjoy.  I can’t say much more on that one without selling the farm.

Reviewer’s Note:  many people (including me) really do not like the covers since they do not reflect the story or the character of Angel but only serve to give an untrue picture in line with the title.  The author with a large publisher has little control over these things.

Bottom Line:  I loved it, kept me interested and someplace around the 50% mark it became a “I can’t put it down” story that kept me up late and losing sleep so I could finish it.  Her confusing relationship with her Dad presents a bit more “humanity” to this zombie story it would not otherwise have and gives it some added emotional depth.  5 Stars for a great story and a well written one.

This is a series that has been on my radar for a while – probably because of the covers, I must admit. What is your take on the White Trash series?

On My Radar – Fury of Desire

Just over a year ago, author Coreene Callahan started her Dragonfury series with a trilogy that included Fury of Fire, Fury of Ice, and Fury of Seduction. Word was that there was at least three more stories planned, and now both the cover and the blurb for the fourth book, Fury of Desire, have been made public. This one will be released on October 15th.

     Of all of the warriors in the Nightfury pack, none is more complicated or more damaged than Wick. Emotionally scarred from a childhood of slavery and torture, Wick can barely stand the touch of another person. But all bets are off when he meets newcomer J.J. Solares. When J.J. is unjustly imprisoned, Wick agrees to help rescue and return her to the family fold. But Wick lives a life of self-imposed isolation, even among his beloved brothers in arms. Venturing into the world to seek justice for J.J. may be more than he can bear.

Meanwhile J.J. fights for her life at the hands of brutal prison guard Griggs. When she winds up in the hospital she sees no hope for things getting better. But events take a dramatic turn when she and Wick encounter each other. The connection they share is unlike anything either has felt before. J.J. believes she is hallucinating when she sees the majestic dark-haired god sweep in to save her, and Wick is shaken to his core by the attraction he feels for J.J. For the first time in his life, he finds himself wanting to get close to a woman.

After J.J.’s rescue, the two retire to Wick’s mountain home, where J.J. recovers from physical injury while attempting to help Wick recover from his emotional ones. But neither is out of harm’s way yet. And when they find themselves in the center of a Dragonkind war, they are forced to make the ultimate choice between surrendering to their fears or each other’s love.

This series was a pleasant surprise. It has a very, very strong Black Dagger Brotherhood vibe going on, in both tone and language, but it turns out that I liked it. I have hopes that Wyck’s story will be as enjoyable as the first three. What did you think of the Dragonfury books?

Cover Lover – 4 New Titles

New day, a few new covers. It looks like there are quite a few making the rounds, but I only found four that caught my eye. This first one is for the upcoming St. Croix Chronicles novella by Karina Cooper called The Mysterious Case of Mr. Strangeway. It is due out on August 5th.

Dark Heat is a print compilation of the three Dark Kings e-novellas from Donna Grant, which is due out on December 31st.

This next one looks like fun. Bitter Spirits is the first book in the new Roaring Twenties series from Jenn Bennett, which will be released on January 7th.

And last but not least is the cover for the next Chicagoland Vampires book from Chloe Neill, Wild Things. Love the consistency in these covers…and wolfie in the background, too. Look for it next February.

New Series Alerts…

So, I survived my marathon work weekend, ready to return and start a’ postin’. First up, the Monday New Series Alert post. Yep, all ready to dive in. And…there is one. New series, that is. Looks like I won’t be overdoing things.

Like I said, there is one new series starting up this week, and it comes from the land of Young Adult. Eve Silver‘s Rush is the first book of her new series called The Game.

Synopsis…

So what’s the game now? This, or the life I used to know?

When Miki Jones is pulled from her life, pulled through time and space into some kind of game—her carefully controlled life spirals into chaos. In the game, she and a team of other teens are sent on missions to eliminate the Drau, terrifying and beautiful alien creatures. There are no practice runs, no training, and no way out. Miki has only the guidance of secretive but maddeningly attractive team leader Jackson Tate, who says the game isn’t really a game, that what Miki and her new teammates do now determines their survival, and the survival of every other person on this planet. She laughs. He doesn’t. And then the game takes a deadly and terrifying turn.

I really liked the cover for this one, but I think I am going to do a wait-and-see on it. I did just finally splurge and order three other YA books that I have had my eye on for a while, so I don’t want to push my luck.

Casting the Movie – Where Do You Stand?

The debate rages on. And on. And on.

Whenever a book is adapted for either the television or movie screen, there is this strange thing that happens – usually logical, rational and sane people go absolutely nuts over casting choices. Everyone when they read has their own visual interpretation of the characters on the page, and so of course it is impossible to cast the perfect actor that will make everyone happy. There was an outcry when Jennifer Lawrence was cast as The Hunger Games’ Katniss Everdeen – she was too blonde and not skinny enough. Ditto when Josh Hutcherson was cast as Peeta Malark – too short. Too young. Too boyish. Too not Peeta. Of course now, the first movie down and the second on the horizon, it is hard to picture anyone else playing Katniss and Peeta. It seems like the debates never happened.

Right now, there are three major adaptations in varying stages of production (TMI, Divergent, and Vampire Academy), and I am very happy to say I am a fan of all three series (and have read all the books). Things have been pretty quiet on the Vampire Academy front, but it seems that two of them have fans divided by the casting choices – but for different reasons. First up is City of Bones from The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare. There was a collective gasp from the fandom when Alex Pettyfer was not cast as Jace Wayland (Herondale. Lightwood. Valentine. Morgenstern? You know who I mean). Did I think Alex Pettyfer had the right look for Jace? Yep. Did I think he was the best actor for the role? Nope.

I was very surprised by the outrage many fans expressed when they found out Jamie Campbell Bower had won the role, however – things got loud, and personal, with many saying that Jamie was too ugly/skinny/strange to play Jace. I didn’t like that, and I thought it crossed the line. Questioning a casting choice is one thing, but insulting the actor is quite another. Jamie wasn’t my first choice, but I have steadily been warming up to him in the role from all of the interviews and clips I have seen. And for the most part, others seem to be much more accepting of him, as well. One of the things I am most impressed by is the fact that Jamie acknowledged the controversy, admitted that he found it both difficult and sometimes painful to deal with – and that it made him work even harder to prove everyone wrong. I liked that, and I respect him for it.

So, while the Jace controversy seems to be dying down, another one is making the rounds. This one is directed at the casting of Theo James as Four in Veronica Roth‘s Divergent series. The main argument I have seen is that as good looking as he is, as talented as he is – Theo James is just too old. Four is written as an 18 year old, and Theo is in fact 28 (and looks 28, for that matter). I have to say, though, that I am on the other side of this one, since I was thrilled that they skewed older with the actor. I can’t see a teenage boy having the presence and the quiet strength and determination needed to play Four, and as I was reading Divergent I always read him as a few years older than written anyways. Maybe it is because I am a couple of decades past my teenage years (er, and the target audience), but this was a definite win for me. I would actually be less excited if things had worked out the other way.

Where do you stand? Yes or no on Jamie and Theo? Does the “wrong” casting choice change your opinion of seeing the movie, or do you go with the flow and hope for the best?

Guest Review – Taken For His Own

Thanks once again to Doug Meeks, who sent over a review for Tara Fox Hall‘s Taken For His Own. Doug had done a Reader Recommendation spotlight for this series a while back, which can be found HERE, and this is a follow-up review for the next book in the series.

What Doug said…

Taken For His Own
By
Tara Fox Hall

SUMMARY:
After learning Theo is alive, Sar immediately embarks on a mission to find him. Reunited, the lovers return to New York; Danial, Terian and Theo uneasily combining forces to protect Sar from Al’s assassins still seeking her. But when Sar is taken prisoner in an all-out attack, only one man can save her: her old adversary, Devlin.

REVIEW:
When I started reading this latest installment in the Promise Me series I was expecting a few things that the synopsis had told me about.

What I got was a whole lot more, I have never been completely comfortable/connected with Sar and this book makes her even more distant to me but the allure of this series has always been the intimate involvement with the characters (mostly through Sar’s POV) and the story is overall an addicting and intense story with characters that while flawed in many ways are always exceptional reading entertainment.

The action parts of the book were done wonderfully and the overall story still appeals to me but this book was full of a lot of what I still consider betrayal and backstabbing ….. not my favorite things.

I still hate Dev and not real crazy about Theo, Danial seems to be the only sane one in the bunch and if he was not so in love with Sar, he should treat her like poison IMHO since chaos and heartbreak seem to follow the men who pursue her.

With all that said this series is like the old daytime soaps, nobody ever gets to stay happy for very long and almost nobody can be trusted but you still tune in everyday because you have to see what happens next, same thing here and I can’t wait for the next book.

I am too invested to even consider not reading the next book but this one just seemed to take the air out of the room and left me with more despair than hope for the future but a few of the more dangerous things lurking out there are taken care of but the author has injected a LOT more angst and drama into the story. The reader will have to decide if that is good or bad according to their own taste in reading. I will be reading the next book but at some point there has to be a bit more resolution and the story seems backed into a corner where no matter what they do people are going to be hurt.

Bottom Line: The book gets 4 Stars because I found it addicting and compelling but not 5 Stars because there were things that happen that I do not like in my reading.  The situations are in any paranormal romance are far out of the norm, but some of the things in this book do not sit well and makes me like Sar less than I did before I started this book. Your enjoyment might be different but the story is riveting as always. To steal a line from one of my earlier reviews of this series “This is a series that plays on your emotions” and it does it well.

Cover Lover – 6 New Titles

First, I should apologize ahead of time. I am in the middle of a string of deadly long shifts at work, so I am not sure I will be posting much between now and Monday. I will keep an eye out to see if anything exciting happens, but I will probably just be doing the work/home/sleep/work thing for the next few days.

On the plus side, there are a few new covers floating around. This first one is a biggie – Reaver is the finale of both the Demonica and the Lords of Deliverance series from Larissa Ione, and it is due out on December 17th.

I thought, incorrectly it seems, that Thea Harrison was done with the e-novellas for the Elder Races series for a while, so I was surprised when Goodreads showed this cover for The Wicked. It will be released on July 2nd.

These next two are from Jaime Rush‘s upcoming Dragon series called The Hidden.  Book one is called Dragon Awakened, and it has a release date of December 17th.

And book number two is called Magic Possessed. Look for it on January 28th of next year.

On the young adult side of things, there are a couple of new covers as well. Waterfell is the first book of a new series by Amalia Howard called The Aquarathi. It is due out on October 29th.

And this final one is from Jodi Meadows. Infinite is the third and final book in her Incarnate series, which is due out in early 2014.

Reaver wasn’t what I was expecting, for some reason. Maybe the pink? I find myself very interested in the Jaime Rush Dragon books, and while I have seen her work around for a while it will be my first try. Which ones caught your eye?

The OTHER Pick of the Week…

Because everyone, and I do mean everyone, already knows that this is the week for Nalini Singh‘s next Psy/Changeling book Heart of Obsidian, I have decided to do a different pick of the week. My second pick is Jennifer Ashley‘s Tiger Magic, which is part of her Shifters Unbound series. The last novella called Lone Wolf didn’t do much for me, but this is still a great series.

Synopsis…

He was once a captive, but his urges were never caged. Now he’ll release them on a beautiful stranger whose own secret desires are longing to be sated…

He doesn’t have a name. He doesn’t have a clan. The humans who held him prisoner for forty years have taken them away. He knew nothing but captivity until nearly a year ago, when he was released into the light. Now Tiger lives in the Austin Shiftertown, where he struggles to belong and searches for an identity.

Carly Randal thinks her fabulous life is complete—until her car breaks down on the side of the road, and a wild-looking Shifter is the only one to help her. Tiger takes one look at Carly and knows instantly—she will be his mate. As Carly is drawn into his Shifter world, she risks everything she has for that forbidden something she still wants: passionate love.

What has you excited for this week? Heart of Obsidian pretty much is dominating new release news, but what else have you been waiting to get your hands on?