Suited by Jo Anderson

Note, I missed spelled the authors name.  If you arrived here looking for the book note how her name is spelled on the cover, not how I spelled it.  Jo Anderton.

Science Fiction

Suited is the second book in The Veiled Worlds trilogy.  I received an ARC of Suited from the Robot Army at Angry Robot.  The single sentence about Suited at Goodreads is a very good description of the book.

Tanyana has chosen to help the Keeper, to stand against the Puppet Men, but has she bitten off more than she can chew?

All of the characters from Debris, the first book, are back as well as the introduction of some new ones.  I think I am beginning to get an idea of what the Veiled Worlds are.  Pions and debris are still a mystery but they are the heart of the story.  Pions build and create debris.  Tanyana used to build with pions but now collects debris. 

I really got into the series about one-third of the way through this book.  The tension builds, the action just keeps going and the world became more real to me.  Suited continues to flesh out the characters.  On a slight spoiler one of my favorite characters gets killed.  (That is all I will say.) 

Tanyana learns a lot more about her suit and all of that information is critical to the story.  This is an interesting series and I look forward to book three.

Angry Robot published Suited by Jo Anderton in 2012.

What Else I Read in June of 2012

 What Else I Read In is a monthly post featuring books I read during the month but did not write a full review on.  If you have a similar post leave a comment and a link and I will visit to see what else you read.  Also on your post leave a link back to my post so others can also share.  

Last month I listened to 1632 by Eric Flint.  I had read the book when it first came out and had started the series but two book in I quit always meaning to pick it back up.  This month I did just that.  So far I finished the following books:

1634 - The Baltic War
1634 - The Bavarian Crisis
1634 - The Galileo Affair  
1634 - The Ram Rebellion
1635 - The Cannon Law
Ring of Fire I
Ring of Fire II

There are a few other book that I have read and not review.

Romance:  

The Duke's Perfect Wife by Jennifer Ashley - This on has been on my TBR shelf for quite a while.  It is the last book in the series.  It was not as good as my favorite in the series (The Madness of Lord Ian MacKenzie) but it was a good end to the series.

Questionably Human by Miss Kitty Roads - This is a SFR and was free on Amazon.  A lot of it was very predictable but fun to read. 
Beneath the Starry Sky  by Jessica E. Subject - Another free book from the author and Amazon.  This was a novella in the "One Night Stand" series.  Like the previous book it was predictable but fun to read. 

Book Beginnings on Friday June 29, 2012

Book Beginnings on Friday is a meme hosted by Gilion at Rose City Reader. Anyone can participate; just share the opening sentence of your current read, making sure that you include  include the title and author so others know what you're reading.


My book beginning this week is from The Shape of Desire (Shifting Circle #1) by Sharon Shinn.  I love her books and when I was at the library yesterday I checked it out.  I haven't started it yet but it is next on my reading list.

Here is what Goodreads says about the book:  

For fifteen years Maria Devane has been desperately, passionately in love with Dante Romano. But despite loving him with all of her heart and soul, Maria knows that Dante can never give all of himself back-at least not all the time.
Every month, Dante shifts shape, becoming a wild animal. During those times, he wanders far and wide, leaving Maria alone. He can't choose when he shifts, the transition is often abrupt and, as he gets older, the time he spends in human form is gradually decreasing. But Maria, who loves him without hesitation, wouldn't trade their unusual relationship for anything.
Since the beginning, she has kept his secret, knowing that their love is worth the danger. But when a string of brutal attacks occur in local parks during the times when Dante is in animal form, Maria is forced to consider whether the lies she's been telling about her life have turned into lies she's telling herself.




And here is the first line:  "It's around two in the morning when I hear a rustle and bump in the kitchen, and I sit up in bed."

Woman at the Light by Joanna Brady

Historical Romance

I received a free eARC of Woman at the Light by Joanna Brady from NetGalley.  I want to start first with what Goodreads says about the book:

One afternoon in 1839, Emily Lowry’s husband vanishes from Wreckers’ Cay, an isolated island off the coast of Key West where he tends to the lighthouse. As days stretch into months, Emily has no choice but take charge of Wrecker’s Cay and her husband’s duties tending the light to support her three children—and a fourth on the way. Unexpected help arrives when a runaway slave named Andrew washes up on their beach. At first, Emily is intensely wary of this strange, charming man, whose very presence there is highly illegal. But Andrew proves himself an enormous help and soon wins the hearts of the Lowry family. And—far from the outside world and society’s rules—his place in Emily’s life, as steadfast now as the light, will forever change their futures. When Emily’s family is ripped apart once again, she faces untold hardships that test her love and determination and show how the passionate love of a defiant, determined woman can overcome any obstacle.

The description of Woman at the Light caught my attention.  While true to that description I found the book itself to be lacking.

Characters:   The main character, Emily Lowry, is certainly strong in some areas but weak in charting her own course. She just went with the flow. Her actions were not consistent with what I expected. Character development was not that strong in the book.

Plot:  The story line moved at a good pace.  Again I felt that much of the development was weak.  This was a pleasant book to read.  It just did not have the tension I expected.

Worldbuilding:  The historical setting is interesting. The history of Key West is accurate.  I did feel that it was not totally true to the feelings and actions of people of that era. Everything sounded sugar coated.

I have very lukewarm feelings about the book.  This is the first book by Joanna Brady that I have read so I don’t know if this is typical of her writing or story telling but based on this book I probably will not pick up anything else she has written.   

St. Martin’s Press published Woman at the Light by Joanna Brady in 2011.

Waiting on Wednesday (WOW) June 27, 2012

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

I am waiting on Riveted  (Iron Seas #3) by Meljean Brook due out September 4, 2012.  I love this series and have read both of the books and all of the novellas.  Here is what Goodreads says about book 3.

A century after a devastating volcanic eruption forced Iceland’s inhabitants to abandon its shores, the island has become enshrouded in legend. But the truth behind the legends is mechanical, not magical—and the mystery of the island a matter of life and death for a community of women who once spilled noble blood to secure their freedom.

Five years ago, Annika unwittingly endangered that secret, but her sister Källa took the blame and was exiled. Now Annika serves on an airship, searching for her sister and longing to return home. But that home is threatened when scientific expedition leader David Kentewess comes aboard, looking to expose Annika’s secrets. Then disaster strikes, leaving David and Annika stranded on a glacier and pursued by a madman, with their very survival depending on keeping the heat rising between them—and generating lots of steam

Teaser Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: 

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers.

My Teaser is from The Long Earth by Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter.  The quote for from 60% on my Kindle.

"What is the Long Earth for?"

"I suppose that's what we came out here to find out."

Musing Mondays June 25, 2012

This week’s musing asks…


Do you set goals for yourself, while reading? For example, “I want to get this book finished this weekend“, or “I will read __ pages today“, etc. Why, or why not?

I do try to set goals.  Mostly they are to read and review the books I have chosen from different sites and books that I have accepted from authors for review as well as books I have purchased.  Right now my goal is to read one book I have purchased followed by one book I have accepted to review.  That way each TBR stack is not ignored. 

Stacking the Shelves, June 24, 2012

Welcome to my Stacking The Shelves post!  Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews so follow the link and check out what other stacked on their shelves this week.  

Stacking The Shelves is all about the books we are adding to our shelves each week, sharing with you our excitement for our newest books.

I hit NetGalley and Edelweiss this week and got the following ARC's:

From NetGalley:
 

Hidden Paradise by Janet Mullany

Blade Song by J.C. Daniels

About Last Night by Ruthie Knox

Kiss of Steel by Bec  McMaster 


From Edelwiss:

'Twas the Night After Christmas by Sabrina Jeffries

Free From Amazon:

Questionably Human by Miss Kitty Roads

Beneath the Starry Sky by Jessica E. Subject 

 

$5.00 Amazon Gift Card Winner

Anna M is the winner of the $5.00 Amazon Gift Card.  Anna please get in touch with me to collect your prize.  

Thanks to everyone who participated in the Midsummer Blog Hop.  Hope we can do it again next year.


Winner was selected using Random.org.

Scandal Wears Satin by Loretta Chase

Historical Romance

Loretta Chase is one of my favorite romance writers so when I saw Scandal Wears Satin on Edelweiss I requested a review copy.  Of course I had to start reading immediately and had trouble putting it down.  This is the second book about the children of Catherine DeLucey (one of those Dreadful DeLucey’s) and Edward Noirot (a seducer and swindler of the first order).  As I found out in the first book, Silk is For Seduction; their daughters are not following in the family footsteps.  Instead they are attempting to make their living honestly as dressmakers to the ton.

Here is Goodread's take on Scandal Wears Satin:

A blue-eyed innocent on the outside and a shark on the inside, dressmaker Sophy Noirot could sell sand to Bedouins. Selling Maison Noirot's beautiful designs to aristocratic ladies is a little harder, especially since a recent family scandal has made an enemy of one of society's fashion leaders. Turning scandal to the shop's advantage requires every iota of Sophy's manipulative skills, leaving her little patience for big, reckless rakes like the Earl of Longmore. The gorgeous lummox can't keep more than one idea in his head at a time, and his idea is taking off all of Sophy's clothes.

But when Longmore's sister, Noirot's wealthiest, favorite customer, runs away, Sophy can't let him bumble after her on his own. In hot pursuit with the one man who tempts her beyond reason, she finds desire has never slipped on so smoothly.

Characters:  Building wonderful characters is one of Loretta Chases' strength.  Sophy and Longmore are wonderful.  Sophy is smart, versatile, and loyal.  Longmore is smarter than he looks and smart enough to go after Sophy.

Laugh Factor:  Like previous books there is a great deal of humor in the book.  Even when things look bleak the dialog between Longmore and Sophy adds a light touch to the story.

Plot:  There are a lot of twist and turns to the book.  Sophy is trying to keep the shop going and her mind is always working.  At times I didn't know what she was up to so there were plenty of surprises throughout the story.  Longmore even managed a few of his own.

Tension:  That was there through out the book.  Just as it looked liked things were going to calm down a new situation raised the tension to a higher level.

Writing:  The story was skillfully woven. I did not see a scene that could have been cut.  Everything that needed to be in the story was there with nothing extra to distract from the story.

Clothing:  In this series the clothes are another character. The descriptions of the various dresses made me glad I live today.  Just seeing what was required to get into and out of the various outfits left me exhausted.

I think that Scandal Wears Silk will go on my favorites self right beside Lord Perfect and Mr. Impossible both by Loretta Chase.

 Avon published Scandal Wears Silk by Loretta Chase in 2012.

Book Beginnings on Fridays June 22, 2012

Book Beginnings on Friday is a meme hosted by Gilion at Rose City Reader. Anyone can participate; just share the opening sentence of your current read, making sure that you include  include the title and author so others know what you're reading.


"On the first anniversary of his release from prison, Travis Chase woke at four in the morning to bright sunlight framing his window blinds."

That is the first sentence from The Breach by Patrick Lee.  I found The Breach at the library.  It had a Science Fiction sticker on it and looked like it was a mystery to boot so I checked it out.  Haven't started it yet but it is the next book on my stack.

Midsummer as a Plot Device

Midsummer Blog Hop

When I saw this blog hop I knew what I wanted my post to be about.  Midsummer and Midsummer’s Eve are a popular plot device in books so I thought it would be fun to share some of the books. (While all are not SFR they all fall under the Science Fiction/Fantasy umbrella.)

I received an ARC of Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness. From Netgalley and was reading it when I signed up for this hop. Deborah used Midsummer Night it as a way to get Matthew and Diana out of the house for the night in 1590 England (where you usually were not safe to be out after dark).  I won’t tell you why she wanted them out all night.  That would be a spoiler but I can share a harmless quote that tells some of the history of the time.  “No, Matthew said, “the bone fires.  Traditionally people celebrate Midsummer Eve by lighting fires: bone fire, wood fires and mixed fires.”  This was after Diana asked why all the bones were stacked up outside houses.

Another author who uses Midsummer is S.M. Stirling.   He uses not only Midsummer in his Dies the Fire, he also uses the entire Wiccan Religion as part of the story line.  Kier Salmon has a post about how she helped with the research for Dies the Fire.  It is titled A Popular SciFi Novel Featuring a Witch and is worth following the link to read. 

Another common use of Midsummer is as a time to summon special power.  That is how Guy Gavriel Kay uses Midsummer in The Summer Tree (The Fionavar Tapestry Book 1).  You can see what he does is this quote. They “came to their power in blindness with that ceremony on midsummer night.” 

In Imajica by Clive Barkee  Midsummer was something you had a reason to look forward to.  Here in the story “Midsummer Night was only two day away and…”

In Tales of the Cthulhu Mythos by H.P. Lovecraft there is “curious sights to be seen about the monolith on Midsummer Night…” Like in other stories Midsummer Night has special powers.

In Destiny; Child of the Sky“by Elizabeth Haydon it is also a special night as this quote shows;  “it had been confirmed by the Patriach’s ring on Midsummer’s Night the previous year…”

C. S. Lewis used it as a reference in a scene that “roared as a woodland bonfire on Midsummer night” in The Chronicles of Narnia.

And in Bloody Good by Georgia Evans there is disbelief because “I never did believe those stories of dancing around Fairy rings on a midsummer night.”

Marion Zimmer Bradly even used Midsummer on Darkover. Midsummer and its celebrations are not confined to Earth.  “I also know how to behave when I want them to accept me as a woman at …Midsummer, when the dances in Thendara, for instance go on all night….”  Saga of the Renunciates

In Hawk Eternal (Hawk Queen Novels)  by David Gemmell it is used as a way to show a length of time.  “It lasts two weeks from Midsummer’s Night…"

And one last one for this post.  Elizabeth Moon gave it power in The Legacy of Gird.  In her story you “risked dangerous dreams, on Midsummer Night.”  But in another of her books, Kings of the North it was “Give you Midsummer luck,” the child said…”

Leave a comment with your favorite book that uses Midsummer in the plot so you are entered into the drawing for prizes?    What prizes?

TWO GRAND PRIZES!

1st Prize - a Kindle Touch or Nook Touch

2nd Prize -a library of science fiction romance titles from over 20 authors (these will be mostly ebooks with one print anthology), and an Anabanana Gift Card.

ONE PRIZE FROM COMMENTS ON MY BLOG!

$5.00 Amazon gift certificate

All comments will be entered into the drawing for the Grand Prize.  Visit as many of the blogs below as possible and leave a comment (only one comment per blog) to get more entries.  Be sure to leave your email address so you can be notified if you win a prize. 

A Gentleman Undone (Blackshear Family #2) by Cecilia Grant

Historical Romance

The prolog for A Gentleman Undone is in June of 1815 and the story starts nine months later.  Book one in the Blackshear Family series is A Lady Awakened.  It did not follow the usual path of historical romances.  I loved A Lady Awakened and wanted to see if A Gentleman Undone had the same unusual story line.  Another difference was that unlike a lot of the historical romances the main characters are not members of the ton.  They are the class just below.  Look at what Goodreads says about A Gentleman Undone.

A seductive beauty turns the tables on a gentleman gaming for the guiltiest of pleasures in this rich and sensual Regency romance from beloved newcomer Cecilia Grant.

Lydia Slaughter understands the games men play—both in and out of the bedroom. Not afraid to bend the rules to suit her needs, she fleeces Will Blackshear outright. The Waterloo hero had his own daring agenda for the gaming tables of London's gentlemen's clubs. But now he antes up for a wager of wits and desire with Lydia, the streetwise temptress who keeps him at arm's length.

A kept woman in desperate straits, Lydia has a sharp mind with a head for numbers. She gambles on the sly, hoping to win enough to claim her independence. An alliance with Will at the tables may be a winning proposition for them both. But the arrangement involves dicey odds with rising stakes, sweetened with unspoken promise of fleshly delights. And any sleight of hand could find their hearts betting on something neither can afford to risk: love.

Characters:  Both Lydia Slaughter and Will Blackshear have what they think are unforgivable secrets in their past.  Those secrets mold their actions and in the end are what bind them together.  I loved both of the characters.  They are strong willed and tortured.  Will is Martha Mickwood’s youngest brother so the Mickwoods are among the characters that appear from the previous book.  There are some new secondary characters who play a important part.  Only one really caught my attention and I wondered if he would be the main character in the next book.

Plot:  The plot revolves around the secrets both Lydia and Will carry and their drive to make things right. 

Tension:  There is a lot of sexual tension between Will and Lydia.  That leads to tension between Will and his family.  It also leads to tension with other secondary characters in the book. 

Writing:  Cecilia Grant uses the tension to tell a very good story.  Like A Lady Awakened her characters and story are unlike other romance books set in the time period.  She is carving a unique place for her writing.

I will be watching for the next book in the series.  Unfortunately A Woman Entangled is not due out until the Spring of 2013.

Bantam Books published A Gentleman Undone by Cecilia Grant in 2012.

Waiting on Wednesday (WOW) June 20, 2012

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

I am waiting on Heart Secret by Robin Owens.  It is scheduled for release on August 7, 2012.  I  always look forward to a new addition to the series.

Here is what Goodreads says about the book.

On the faraway planet Celta, there are some things you can never tell—until someone discovers your Heart Secret…

When a virulent disease killed the woman he loved and her baby, Garrett Primross was left alive, a reluctant survivor. Now, as a private eye, he strives to banish the memories of his past and rebuild his life. The Healers of Celta have something else in mind: Discover why he survived.

He is monitored by Healer Artemisia Panax—his HeartMate, a love he never pursued. Still mourning his loss, he refuses to acknowledge her. Since her family was publicly disgraced, she's used to such treatment. She wants nothing more than to guard her livelihood and protect the secrets she's sworn to keep.

Thrown together by duty, Garrett and Artemisia find the body of the last Black Magic Cultist who ruined her family. Suspicion flares, but they have little choice but to investigate the crime together. When their own lives are placed in danger, they realize that denying their HeartMates is only denying their own future.

Teaser Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: 

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers.

My Teaser today is from The Garden of Happy Endings by Barbara O'Neal.

"I do need to think about what to do with my life now that she's finished with college.  I love being a mom but I guess I'm kind of redundant now, aren't I?"

MidSummer Blog Hop June 22, 2012

Hello there!

On Friday 22nd June (Pacific Time) the SFR Brigade will be holding its first ever Blog Hop to celebrate Midsummer. 36 fabulous science fiction romance authors ( and some bloggers) will be telling you mystical or scientific stories related to the event, and they'll each be giving away a prize - books, gift cards, swag bags...and lots more! (Look for the chance to win a $5.00 Amazon Gift Card on my blog.)

Plus there's TWO GRAND PRIZES!

1st Prize - a Kindle Touch or Nook Touch
2nd Prize -a library of science fiction romance titles from over 20 authors (these will be mostly ebooks with one print anthology), and an Anabanana Gift Card.

All you need to do to enter is pop along to the blogs listed below and comment on as many as you want (only ONE comment per site will count as an entry). Each time you comment at a stop, you'll earn one entry into the grand prize - so the more sites you visit, the greater your chances of winning. The winners will be drawn at random on the 24th June and announced on this site. The list of participating authors can be found below this post. Spread the news!


-- Pippa Jay - Adventures in Scifi

Be sure to come back on June 22 to see my post and leave a comment for a chance to win.  

Stacking the Shelves, June 17, 2012

Welcome to my Stacking The Shelves post!  Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews so follow the link and check out what other stacked on their shelves this week.  

Stacking The Shelves is all about the books we are adding to our shelves each week, sharing with you our excitement for our newest books.

From the Library:

The Breach By Patrick Lee - Science Fiction
Born to Darkness  by Suzanne Brockmann - I have read several reviews on this book.  People either love it or hate it.  I put it on reserve two week ago and it just got in so now I will see how I feel about it.
Grantville Gazette VI Edited and Created by Eric Flint - I am reading the 1632 books and the Gazette contains stories that go alone with the books.
Fatal Remedies by Donna Leon - This is my next audio book.  I don't know anything about it except it is a mystery.

From Baen:

And Less Than Kind by Mercedes Lackey and Roberta Gellis 
Caliphate by Tom Kratman
Moon Flower by James P. Hogan
Unto the Breach  by John Ringo
1635:  The Cannon Law by Eric Flint and Andrew Dennis
Harald by David Friedman


I purchased the entire month of April 2008.  I am reading the 1632 series and was going to purchase The Cannon Law.  When I checked out the other book in the month I had not read any of them so I just purchased all 6.


From Amazon Vine:  


The Garden of Happy Endings by Barbara O'Neal - This is a Last Harvest  book.  I had passed it up before even though it looked interesting.  When it got down to 2 copies left I requested and got one of them.









 

Devil's Gate by Thea Harrison

Paranormal Romance Novella

Thea Harrison has a good publishing mix going with her Elder Race books.  Berkley publishes her Elder Race novels and Samhain Publishing releases her Elder Race novellas as eBooks.  There is always a gap between novels but the novellas help fill the gap.

Here is what Amazon says about Devil's Gate.

When it comes to love between a medusa and a Vampyre, it’s every man, woman, and snake for themselves.

A Novella of the Elder Races

As a coroner, medusa Seremela Telemar has always felt more comfortable chatting over a dead body than over drinks. But when her wild niece, Vetta, runs off to Devil’s Gate, a lawless town that has sprung up overnight in a modern-day gold rush, she knows she has to extricate her before the rebellious girl gets into real trouble. Though she’s confident in her head snakes’ ability to defend her against attackers, Seremela is still a bit nervous about braving this modern-day Wild West by herself.

Vampyre Duncan Turner is not about to let his new co-worker go into that chaos alone. His Vampyric power and lawyer smarts make him the perfect ally, and the fact that he already had his eye on Seremela for more…personal reasons, doesn’t hurt matters. Any romantic thoughts pull up short, however, when they arrive at Devil’s Gate and learn Vetta is set to hang by morning.

In order to save Vetta and themselves, Seremela and Duncan are going to have to fight fire with force and magic with fangs. And pray they make it out of Devil’s Gate alive.

Characters:  There are mentions of characters from the Elder Races novels but the main characters here are unique to this story.  I would never have picked a women who had snakes instead of hair as the main character but it does work.  The snakes are almost an independent character.  They have their own personality and in their way are charming.  .Seremela is used to people being uncomfortable around her and loves the fact that Duncan likes her as she is.  While there is not a lot of time for character development I did get a very good picture of both main characters.  Side characters were important and there was enough information to make them real.  The Tarot cards are an inanimate character and make another appearance.  They seemed to point to the next character to be featured in a novella.

Plot:  It is fairly simple.  Seremela must go to Devil’s Gate, an out of control tent city to get her niece.  It is to dangerous to go alone so Duncan goes along to help.  There is a big problem when they get there.  (See above)

Tension:  There is some but there is so little time in a novella and the tension comes near the end of the story. 

Writing:  Thea Harrison manages to get a good mix of new characters along with tie-in from the novels in there novellas.  Devil’s Gate is no exception.

For fans of the Elder Races series Devil’s Gate is a good reading fix while waiting for the next novel

Samhain Publishing, Ltd. Published Devil’s Gate by Thea Harrison in 2012.