New books on order

Hi there!  With all this wet weather hanging around, I thought I just might need some new reading material.  So off I went to my trusty online bookshop and spent way too much time pondering over all the titles I'd love to get.  Finally, after much debate, I narrowed it down to six.  I would have ordered more, but there is only so much I can spend on books!  My budget just wouldn't take it if I indulged every month - heck, I'd purchase weekly if I could afford it :P

So what were my choices, you ask?  Well, thank you for your interest.  Currently winging it's way to me are some more titles from a few of the must have series I get.

Ooh, just got an email to tell me that Timeless by Gail Carriger has just been released from the publishers.  It's the first cab off the rank, so to speak, and should be hitting my local Post Office in a week or so.  This is the first steam punk series I've ever read (thanks to Aaron at Bookworld for recommending it!), and I've enjoyed the series so far.  It has all my favourite things... werewolves, vampires, paranormal romance with some murder/mystery thrown if for good measure.

The other books that I purchased consisted of

•  the new Patricia Briggs book, Fair Game.  I've been eagerly awaiting this next Alpha and Omega story.

•  Nalini Singh's Guild Hunter's anthology, Angel's Flight.

•  Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris.

•  Canyons of Night, the latest of the Jayne Castle (AKA Jayne Ann Krentz) Ghost Hunter series, and finally

Andrea Kane's sequel to Twisted, Drawn in Blood.

 Now, having said that I couldn't resist jumping onto Book Depository and having another look for more books {if I keep going like this I'll have to open a library just for all my books :)} and found some good one.  There is a trilogy by Leslie Tentler (Chasing Evil) that has really whetted my appetite.  The 3 stories don't share the same lead characters, but boy it sounds like a great thriller/murder mystery.  It's in my wishlist, but I'm tempted to sneak it into the cart...

Following my success at finding some new authors, I soldier on.  I'd love to get my hands on Sharon Sala's Snowfall, but unfortunately there is nothing in stock... bummer.  Back to the more familiar, and I've found another Andrea Kane that's due for release soon - mine now - and passed on a few P.C. Cast titles (I think I've moved on from them, although I still adore Divine by Mistake), and am into the final stretch for the moment.  Feehan has released a new Sea Haven book... do I or don't I?... hmmmm.... wishlist.

Speaking of old favourites, I've also spotted the first book in the Annie Darling series, Death on Demand, by Carolyn Hart. Having borrowed some of the later titles from the local library over the years, I don't mind reading this series. It's a not too complicated read, and although more in the vein of a more dedicated crime book, it's not as captivating as say the In Death series. Into the wishlist for this title.

So now that I've perused my old wishlist, and added some things to it, I've been bad and ordered another couple of books. 

Coming to a mailbox (namely mine) soon are, drumroll please.....

•  No Safe Place - Jo Ann Ross

•  Courting Darkness - Yasmine Galenorn

•  Hiding in the Shadows - Kay Hooper

•  In Too Deep - Jayne Ann Krentz, and lastly

•  Midnight Caller - Leslie Tentler

Oh well.  Like I always tell people - I don't drink, or smoke.  This, books and reading, is my addiction :D

Supernatural Fix

Well, I've been waiting for the season finale of Supernatural and it looks like it will be everything I could hope for... Sam v Dean (finally!). I suppose this is just a natural extention of my love for paranormal/urban fantasy stories, but being able to see things on TV that you can usually only picture in your mind while reading a book is a great boon.

So while I wait for the final episode of Season Four, I'll be also reading some of my new acquisitions. I've just gotten the new Chintz n China series by Yasmine Galenorn (haven't read it yet but will let you know what I think of it), and the new Nalini Singh. I did manage to get my hands on the new Lilith Saintcrow book, Strange Angels (written under Lili St. Crow) and I loved it. My review is posted on Amazon.com if you want to take a side trip :P

The other new book I've read is a Julie Kenner title called The Good Ghouls Guide to Getting Evan. It's about a very smart girl, Beth Fraiser, who gets turned into a vamp simply because the jock vampires want her to figure out the formula to making them immune to the sun's rays. Her mother doesn't notice when she doesn't come home that night, and her best friend freaks, but is cool about it... she is also the secret blogger who has the whole school jumping. Sounds like a so-so premise for a book, but it works well. Especially when Charlie (the guy who's runner up valedictorian behind Beth) turns out to be a Vampire Hunter's grandson. It's a good funny read, perfect for the bus or train. The second title Good Ghouls Do is out today!

YA books are sometimes overlooked by adults. They view them as childrens books, but actually they can be very much in the adult vein - just in a more innocent setting. If you like your books without sex and violence on every second page, but enjoy paranormal books, then maybe a YA series is just the ticket for you?

I've also made a slight departure from the world of Vampires, Werewolves and Witches. I was so bored at my local library, I haven't been able to find anything new to read there for ages. It seems that I have most of the books they get before they get them (oops!) and I tried to find a small mystery that I'd spotted on Amazon.com. It was a Death on Demand title by Carolyn Hart. Strange I know, but I picked up book 15 I think, and I really enjoyed it. I don't know if I'll read each and every title, but I will try and find the first one and see if its as good. If it starts out well, then I may just have to borrow them. I think you need to venture into some other genre every now and then, even if it's only to let you go back to you favourite books with fresh eyes. I know that if I don't take a break from it every now and then, I can't seem to find anything good to read. It all seems boring and repetative. But after a break, the same boring books actually become fabulous and I wonder how I could ever think that they were staid.

Too Many Books!

Back again after a break. I was in a mad state when I had to finish my assignments for my course. I nearly cried when I saw how much I had to do. So everything else that wasn't essential got put on the backburner. That included reading... OMG!

I've now started some more units, but these aren't as intense as the first ones, so I do have a little bit more leisure time. There are so many good books coming out over the next few weeks. I've already got my name down for book 3 in the Jill Kismet series, Redemption Alley, and book 4 should be available at the end of September (Flesh Circus). I should receive my copy of Hidden Currents soon, plus the latest Nalini Singh book in the Psy-Changeling series. I've also got Lora Leigh's latest book, Bengal's Heart in my cart ready to go at Amazon. Unfortunately, there are so many titles to choose from, and I'm a bit strapped with paying for my education that I have to whittle my selections down the the must haves, and not the 'but I want it's'.

I have finished reading the latest Stephanie Plum books, and enjoyed them both. You have to be in the right mood for Stephanie. I still love Lula, and I hope that Janet Evanovich will put more Ranger/Morelli angst in there. Just who will SP end up with? I loved the latest book in Christine Feehan's "Leopard-People" series, and although Burning Wild took many, many, many years to come out, it was well worth the wait. I loved the fact that it wasn't just Emma & Jake, but that old favourites like Connor and Drake were in there too. I hope that Drake is the next Leopard to find a mate. Hopefully the surgery goes well and he can shift in the future.

Amazingly, after all the hype, I was quite disappointed with this last Anita Blake story, "Skin Trade". I was looking forward to it, and had pre-ordered from Amazon. It arrived all nice and shiny, and I got a hot drink, a few chocolate nibblies and dove into it. But again, like Blood Noir, I was disappointed that there was no Jean-Claude or Micah. Anita spent 99.9% of the story in another state, and there was hardly any interaction with those left behind. I hope she gets this travelling Anita kick out of her system soon. I loved Edward, and his being there was one of the only saving graces. SPOILER ..... I hated that the defeat of the MoAD was over so soon, and that another archrival was dealt with in the manner that he was. He was the MoAD's enemy, yet Anita seemed to vanquish him with less difficulty that it should have taken. I've faithfully followed the series for over 10 years now, and I've skimmed over the blatantly sexual scenes that I don't feel further the storyline, but this book seemed to hit new lows in that arena. When I think back to the prudish Anita that we were first introduced to and see where she's going today... her mother would be rolling over in her grave if she could see her now.... (maybe she is? who knows). I'll give next years novel a go, but after 17 books, I may have to think hard about forking out my money for them and just borrow them from my local library.

Now that winter is upon me, I can indulge in one of my favourite yearly rituals... the annual snuggle-in-the-doona-all-day-and-read weekend. One the coldest winter days, I like to cater to my little whims in this way. It makes for great reading. This time round I chose some of my favourites to keep my (and my cat) company. I started last night with Krentz's Arcane Society books, Running Hot and Sizzle and Burn, and will start White Lies this afternoon. Followed by some of the Anita Blake books, and with a little Lora Leigh, Nalini Singh and Yasmine Galenorn thrown in. Lastly, I'll add my Lily Bard books, and other miscellaneous mysteries that I have.

Keep your eyes out for the new Chicagoland Vampire series, it's really good, and also the Ilona Andrews Kate Daniel's series (short story in the anthology "Must Love Hellhounds"). Too many books to mention here today, but I'll try and get through some more and let you know what's coming out soon.

PS - for those of you in Australia who read this, don't try getting the books on Fishpond.com.au. I have noticed that the prices for items have jumped by $5 dollars, and on some items like Angela Knight's Time Hunter series, the price rose by $10! for a small massmarket paperback!

Better off going through QBD (still $12.95), or amazon.com

More Books!

Well, I've just had the mailman in a tissy for the last couple of weeks. My orders from amazon.com keep arriving... one here, two there, 4 yesterday!... woohoo!

I've been busy in the last few weeks. Not only with all the reading I've been meaning to catch up on while I was working, but then I got a headcold (not fun) and then alot of our relatives descended on us (also not fun). Things have just been chaotic lately.

The newest batch of books that arrived were fabulous! I've managed to find quite a few bargains online. Dark Celebration hardcover for $4.60! and more recently Devil May Cry hardcover for $6.49! Now in Australia they would cost me $45 plus each if I bought them new. Sometimes I wish I could live in America just to get the free postage from amazon.com!

Some of the books in my now large 'just read' pile include

Devil May Cry (H/C) - Kenyon

Eryn: Lifemates Connection - Keri Arthur

Night Shift - Lilith Saintcrow

A Lick of Frost (H/C) - LKH

Turbulent Sea - Christine Feehan

Cry Wolf - Patricia Briggs

Bound by Shadow - Anna Windsor <- surprising read

Night Child (1. OSI Novel) - Jess Bettis <-ok, but serious CSI meets Supernatural

Dragon Wytch - Yasmine Galenorn <- Smoky rules!

Heart of Stone (1. Negotiators) - C.E. Murphy

Mona Lisa Blossoming - Sunny

Running Wild - Sarah McCarty

Menage a Magic - Lora Leigh

and I've still got more on the way!

Soul Deep - Lora Leigh

Lucinda, Darkly - Sunny

Mona Lisa Craving - Sunny

To Hell & Back - Lilith Saintcrow <- last in the Dante Valentine series!

House of Cards - C.E. Murphy

Real Vampires Live Large

Real Vampires Have Curves

Prince of Wolves - Susan Krinard

Prince of Shadows - Susan Krinard

If anyone has read any of these, can you let me know how they were? or if you could recommend another author... I'm running out of reading material... HELP!

Not Again!

Hi there! If it's not one thing, it's another at the moment. I've just about given up on my old computer (6yo, but has had upgrades). It has a nasty habit at the moment of just dying on me. I'm extremely tempted to get a new one... maybe a Mac?... and then have a ceremonial tossing of the computer down the stairs. A little bit violent perhaps, but when I think about all the files that I've lost... grrrr

I've been reading quite abit lately - the only option open when your trying to entertain yourself at night while also trying to save a bit of cash - and have just been able to get my hands on the 3rd Carrie Vaughn book, Kitty takes a Holiday.

Now I have to admit that I haven't been able to find her 1st book, so I'll state right up front that the relationship between her and Cormac and Ben is still a little bit of a mystery to me (one of these days I'll find it at the book shop). I did like the story and the characters. You really feel for Kitty and her 'friends'.

Now its put me in a 'gotta read more shapeshifters' kick, so I've been raiding my large bookcase and replacing the other books that I've had in a smaller bookcase in my bedroom.

Note to self - I've got to get either a bigger bookcase, or a bigger bedroom to put all these ruddy books!

I've gone through my list of usual suspects, LKH, Yasmine Galenorn, Kelley Armstrong, Patricia Briggs, Christine Warren, Nalini Singh, MaryJanice Davidson, Christine Feehan, Carrie Vaughn, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Lora Leigh, Tanya Huff, Keri Arthur and even Alice Borchardt. I desperately need some new shapeshifting authors.... can anyone out there HELP!