Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine  It showcases one book every week that we are anticipating the release of. This week's "can't-wait-to-get-my-hands-on" is:


The Good Daughter
Author: Karin Slaughter
Series: Good Daughter #1
Publication Date: August 8, 2017
Publisher: William Morrow
Check it out on Goodreads
Buy it on Amazon

Synopsis:

The stunning new novel from the international #1 bestselling author — a searing, spellbinding blend of cold-case thriller and psychological suspense.

Two girls are forced into the woods at gunpoint. One runs for her life. One is left behind…

Twenty-eight years ago, Charlotte and Samantha Quinn's happy small-town family life was torn apart by a terrifying attack on their family home. It left their mother dead. It left their father — Pikeville's notorious defense attorney — devastated. And it left the family fractured beyond repair, consumed by secrets from that terrible night.

Twenty-eight years later, and Charlie has followed in her father's footsteps to become a lawyer herself — the ideal good daughter. But when violence comes to Pikeville again — and a shocking tragedy leaves the whole town traumatized — Charlie is plunged into a nightmare. Not only is she the first witness on the scene, but it's a case that unleashes the terrible memories she's spent so long trying to suppress. Because the shocking truth about the crime that destroyed her family nearly thirty years ago won't stay buried forever…

New Week, New Releases!

Good Morning and happy rainy Monday!  It's wet and nasty here in Central Florida this morning and it's supposed to rain all week.  We seem to go from one extreme (no rain) to another (rain for a week), there is no in between for us...LOL.  Anyway, I only have 2 new releases for you this week so here they are...

Devil's Cut by J.R. Ward (The Bourbon Kings #3)

At first, the death of William Baldwine, the head of the Bradford family, was ruled a suicide. But then his eldest son and sworn enemy, Edward, came forward and confessed to what was, in fact, a murder. Now in police custody, Edward mourns not the disintegration of his family or his loss of freedom . . . but the woman he left behind. His love, Sutton Smythe, is the only person he has ever truly cared about, but as she is the CEO of the Bradford Bourbon Company’s biggest competitor, any relationship between them is impossible. And then there’s the reality of the jail time that Edward is facing.

Lane Baldwine was supposed to remain in his role of playboy, forever in his big brother Edward’s shadow. Instead he has become the new head of the family and the company. Convinced that Edward is covering for someone else, Lane and his true love, Lizzie King, go on the trail of a killer—only to discover a secret that is as devastating as it is game-changing.

As Lane rushes to discover the truth, and Sutton finds herself irresistibly drawn to Edward in spite of his circumstances, the lives of everyone at Easterly will never be the same again. For some, this is good; for others, it could be a tragedy beyond imagining. Only one thing’s for certain: Love survives all things. Even murder.


Dragonsworn by Sherrilyn Kenyon (Dark-Hunters #28)

There is nothing in the universe the cursed dragon, Falcyn, hates more than humanity . . . and in particular, Greek humans. In a war he wanted no part of, they systematically destroyed everything he’d ever cared for. Now he lies in seclusion, away from the world and waits for the day when evolution will finally rid him of the human vermin.

Medea was born the granddaughter of the Greek god Apollo, and among the first of his people that he cursed to die. But she will not let anyone rule her life. Not even her notorious grandfather. And when Apollo sends a new plague to destroy what remains of her people, she refuses to standby and watch him take everything she loves from her again.

This time, she knows of a secret weapon that can stop the ancient god and his army of demons. Once and for all. However, said device is in the hands of a dragon who wants nothing to do with politics, the gods, humanity, demons or Greek Apollites. And especially not her. He is the immovable object.

My enemy’s enemy . . .

When Apollo makes a strategic move that backfires, he forces Falcyn back into play. Now Medea either has the weapon she needs to save her people, or she’s unleashed total Armageddon. If she can’t find some way to control the dragon before it’s too late, Falcyn will be an even worse plague on the world than the one Apollo has set loose. But how can anyone control a demonic dragon whose sole birthright is total destruction?

Waiting on Wednesday!

I am soooo sorry for my absence!  I got super busy with work and home life and haven't had the schedule to post but I am back I promise!  Lets kick today off with Waiting on Wednesday.  This week I picked a book that I know tons of people are excited for, including myself.  In case you haven't heard, several authors have been picked to write a DC Icons series.  Each author will write the story for one DC Icon/Character.  The first one being released is.......


Wonder Woman: Warbringer
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Series: DC Icons #1
Publication Date: August 29, 2017
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Check it out on Goodreads
Buy it on Amazon

Synopsis:

She will become one of the world’s greatest heroes: WONDER WOMAN. But first she is Diana, Princess of the Amazons. And her fight is just beginning. . . .

Diana longs to prove herself to her legendary warrior sisters. But when the opportunity finally comes, she throws away her chance at glory and breaks Amazon law—risking exile—to save a mere mortal. Even worse, Alia Keralis is no ordinary girl and with this single brave act, Diana may have doomed the world.

Alia just wanted to escape her overprotective brother with a semester at sea. She doesn’t know she is being hunted. When a bomb detonates aboard her ship, Alia is rescued by a mysterious girl of extraordinary strength and forced to confront a horrible truth: Alia is a Warbringer—a direct descendant of the infamous Helen of Troy, fated to bring about an age of bloodshed and misery.

Together, Diana and Alia will face an army of enemies—mortal and divine—determined to either destroy or possess the Warbringer. If they have any hope of saving both their worlds, they will have to stand side by side against the tide of war.

New Week, New Releases!

Good morning and happy Monday!  I hope you all had a fabulous weekend.  I detailed my car on Saturday and holy crud was it hot!  Heat index here in Florida for Saturday was 105 degrees!!  Needless to say, when I was done the kids and I went for a dip in the pool.  On Sunday we went to Build-A-Bear (I had never been before) and my son made Transformers bears and my daughter made a dog that looked like our late pit Spike.  She even named him Spike on his birth certificate (yes, every animal built gets a heart inserted and a birth certificate). 

There are several new releases this week so, here we go!

1. Look Behind You by Iris Johansen (Kendra Michaels #5)

A serial killer is on the loose in San Diego, and he has a most unusual M.O.: With each kill, he leaves behind objects with unclear meanings. Most of the recent killings are centered near Kendra Michaels’ home and office, so it comes as no great surprise when the FBI shows up at her door. The investigators soon make a startling discovery: the left-behind objects are actually souvenirs of other unsolved serial murder cases in various U.S. cities. And the new cases feature “holdback” characteristics of the other murders unknown to the general public. Kendra realizes that the killer has come to challenge and taunt her. The investigators become his newest targets, even as Kendra slowly begins to suspect that one of them may be the killer himself. She must find the killer as the body count rises, and to do so she relies on her own ”dream team” of agent-for-hire Adam Lynch and private investigator Jessie Mercado. They must risk everything to defeat a psychopath whose terrifying plan is years in the making.

2. The Breakdown by B.A. Paris

If you can’t trust yourself, who can you trust?

Cass is having a hard time since the night she saw the car in the woods, on the winding rural road, in the middle of a downpour, with the woman sitting inside―the woman who was killed. She’s been trying to put the crime out of her mind; what could she have done, really? It’s a dangerous road to be on in the middle of a storm. Her husband would be furious if he knew she’d broken her promise not to take that shortcut home. And she probably would only have been hurt herself if she’d stopped.

But since then, she’s been forgetting every little thing: where she left the car, if she took her pills, the alarm code, why she ordered a pram when she doesn’t have a baby.

The only thing she can’t forget is that woman, the woman she might have saved, and the terrible nagging guilt.

Or the silent calls she’s receiving, or the feeling that someone’s watching her…

3. The Last Magician by Lisa Maxwell

Stop the Magician.
Steal the book.
Save the future.

In modern day New York, magic is all but extinct. The remaining few who have an affinity for magic—the Mageus—live in the shadows, hiding who they are. Any Mageus who enters Manhattan becomes trapped by the Brink, a dark energy barrier that confines them to the island. Crossing it means losing their power—and often their lives.

Esta is a talented thief, and she's been raised to steal magical artifacts from the sinister Order that created the Brink. With her innate ability to manipulate time, Esta can pilfer from the past, collecting these artifacts before the Order even realizes she’s there. And all of Esta's training has been for one final job: traveling back to 1902 to steal an ancient book containing the secrets of the Order—and the Brink—before the Magician can destroy it and doom the Mageus to a hopeless future.

But Old New York is a dangerous world ruled by ruthless gangs and secret societies, a world where the very air crackles with magic. Nothing is as it seems, including the Magician himself. And for Esta to save her future, she may have to betray everyone in the past.

4. The Library of Fates by Aditi Khorana

No one is entirely certain what brings the Emperor Sikander to Shalingar. Until now, the idyllic kingdom has been immune to his many violent conquests. To keep the visit friendly, Princess Amrita has offered herself as his bride, sacrificing everything—family, her childhood love, and her freedom—to save her people. But her offer isn't enough.

The unthinkable happens, and Amrita finds herself a fugitive, utterly alone but for an oracle named Thala, who was kept by Sikander as a slave and managed to escape amid the chaos of a palace under siege. With nothing and no one else to turn to, Amrita and Thala are forced to rely on each other. But while Amrita feels responsible for her kingdom and sets out to warn her people, the newly free Thala has no such ties. She encourages Amrita to go on a quest to find the fabled Library of All Things, where it is possible for each of them to reverse their fates. To go back to before Sikander took everything from them.

Stripped of all that she loves, caught between her rosy past and an unknown future, will Amrita be able to restore what was lost, or does another life—and another love—await?

Friday Favorites: Dream Reading Spaces!

As an avid reader and Pinterest addict, I am constantly pinning dream reading spaces for when I build my dream home one day.  I thought it would be fun to show you my top 5 as this week's Friday Favorites.  Some are outdoors while some are indoors, because sometimes the weather isn't cooperative. 

1. I can just imagine this hanging from a huge oak tree in the back yard.  On a cool spring/fall day just relaxing outside soaking up the sun and a good book!

 

2. Talk about a dream reading spot!  Just put all of my books in here and you will NEVER see me again!!!

 

3. Some days all you want to do is hang by the pool but that pesky sun can hurt your eyes while you are trying to read.  Well, problem solved!  Just add a mini bar and we are in business.

4. When Mother Nature is having a temper tantrum and you need to stay indoors to read, this is the perfect spot to curl up.  I mean, who wouldn't want to look at that view while escaping into a book?

5. This would be the perfect reading hut for a beach house.  Can you imagine this in your backyard....looking up from reading to see the ocean!  I just love the sounds of the beach, especially while I'm reading.  It's your very own reading beach hut!  All you have to do is imagine yourself stranded on an island and you have nothing but your hut and your books!

 

Do any of these appeal to you?  If so, which ones?  I can read pretty much anywhere, but I have to admit, having one of these 5 dream reading spaces would make it that much better!



Review: Snow Like Ashes

Title: Snow Like Ashes
Author: Sara Raasch
Series: Snow Like Ashes #1
Publication Date: October 14, 2014
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Book Type: Hardcover (I own)
Page Count: 416
Rating: 4/5 starfish
Check it out on Goodreads
Buy it on Amazon

Synopsis:

A heartbroken girl. A fierce warrior. A hero in the making.

Sixteen years ago the Kingdom of Winter was conquered and its citizens enslaved, leaving them without magic or a monarch. Now, the Winterians’ only hope for freedom is the eight survivors who managed to escape, and who have been waiting for the opportunity to steal back Winter’s magic and rebuild the kingdom ever since.

Orphaned as an infant during Winter’s defeat, Meira has lived her whole life as a refugee, raised by the Winterians’ general, Sir. Training to be a warrior—and desperately in love with her best friend, and future king, Mather — she would do anything to help her kingdom rise to power again.

So when scouts discover the location of the ancient locket that can restore Winter’s magic, Meira decides to go after it herself. Finally, she’s scaling towers, fighting enemy soldiers, just as she’s always dreamed she would. But the mission doesn’t go as planned, and Meira soon finds herself thrust into a world of evil magic and dangerous politics – and ultimately comes to realize that her destiny is not, never has been, her own.

My Review:

Meira is one of only 8 Winterians left who are free.  The rest have been enslaved to Angar, the King of Spring.  For years they have been hunting for the two halves of the locket, which will hopefully restore their magic and help them rescue their people and rebuild Winter. 

This book has been sitting on my shelf (along with the other 2 books in the trilogy) for about a year now.  I read this as a buddy read with someone in one of my Goodreads groups and wish I had picked it up sooner.  I really enjoyed the story and it moved pretty quickly.  I love the idea of “seasons” for kingdoms where the atmosphere of the kingdom goes along with the name.  The characters were written very well but I could have used more in the world building area. 

When it comes to the history of how the overall magic system came to be, it was a bit overwhelming and complicated to follow. Information about the history of the kingdoms and their conduits were just thrown at us in one spot in the book.  I had to re-read it and still had a hard time placing everything and just had to move on.  However, it doesn’t take away from the overall enjoyment of the story and I don’t’ feel that you really need to understand it as in depth as it was explained.

Meira isn’t your typical 16 year old.  She doesn’t want to be a “Lady” but a soldier who fights for her kingdom.  She spent her whole life training and is finally allowed to fight.  When she is captured, she is reunited with the enslaved Winterians but they see her as a beacon of hope.   Someone who was sent to rescue them. 

I really liked Mather’s character.  He was willing to help Meira when others just wanted to push her aside.  He is her best friend but she wants more.  I was totally shipping them until Theron came into the picture.  He is good looking and likeable right from the start.  Meira feels a connection with him and I really hope they end up as a thing!

I will definitely be picking up the next book in the series because I am curious to see how things end up with Meira and the kingdom of Winter now that the plot twist was thrown in the mix!

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine  It showcases one book every week that we are anticipating the release of. This week's "can't-wait-to-get-my-hands-on" is:
 
Ominous
Author: Lisa Jackson, Nancy Bush & Rosalind Noonan
Series: Wyoming #2
Publication Date: July 25, 2017
Publisher: Zebra
Check it out on Goodreads
Buy it on Amazon

Synopsis:

NO WARNINGIn the photograph, three teenaged girls splash in the river on a sweltering summer evening. Shiloh, Kat, and Ruth are unaware of the man who spies on them from the woods. They have no idea how their lives will be changed by the brutal violence that follows and the vow of secrecy they take.

CAN PREPARE YOU
Fifteen years later, Ruth and Shiloh have both returned to Prairie Creek, Wyoming, where Kat is deputy sheriff. Though they ve tried to leave their shared past behind, each has the feeling that someone is lurking in the shadows. When a local girl vanishes, Kat is convinced there s a connection to that long ago night. But as the friends unite to find the missing teenager, a killer sends a chilling message.

FOR A KILLER S VENGEANCE
He s still there. And he hasn t forgotten. For so long he s made do with other victims, but they can t compare to the ones who got away. The ones who keep searching for him, blind to the terrifying truth that they are not the hunters, but his prey . . ."