Waiting on Wednesday August 8, 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 Ghost Planet by Sharon Lynn Fisher.  It is due out in October of 2012.  

Here is a summary from Amazon:  

Psychologist Elizabeth Cole prepared for the worst when she accepted a job on a newly discovered world—a world where every colonist is tethered to an alien who manifests in the form of a dead loved one. But she never expected she'd struggle with the requirement to shun these "ghosts." She never expected to be so attracted to the charming Irishman assigned as her supervisor. And she certainly never expected to discover she died in a transport crash en route to the planet. 
As a ghost, Elizabeth is symbiotically linked to her supervisor, Murphy—creator of the Ghost Protocol, which forbids him to acknowledge or interact with her. Confused and alone—oppressed by her ghost status and tormented by forbidden love—Elizabeth works to unlock the secrets of her own existence. 
But her quest for answers lands her in a tug-of-war between powerful interests, and she soon finds herself a pawn in the struggle for control of the planet…a struggle that could separate her forever from the man that she loves. 

Teaser Tuesday August 7, 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 Science Fiction classic Rendezvous With Rama by Arthur C. Clark.  This is our Science Fiction Book Club selection this month.  Here is the teaser:

"Rama could not possibly be made of condensed matter.  No star-sized mass could penetrate so deeply into the solar system without producing disturbances that would have betrayed it long ago."   page 7

Musing Mondays August 6, 2012

This week’s musing, courtesy of http://readbookswritepoetry.blogspot.in, asks:  

What attracts you to a book blog? What puts you off in a book blog? Do you share personal stuff on your book blog?

What attracts me: Reviews of books that I like to read.  That means book in the romance, fantasy, science fiction, and mystery category.  When I find those blogs I become a follower.  

What puts me off;  blogs that are so busy with background that I have trouble reading the posts and sometimes even finding the post. 

Do I share personal stuff:  Not that much.  I do put some personal information in the about me part of the blog but only share anything on a day by day basis if it impacts my publication schedule and then only general comments.

Alien Diplomacy by Gini Koch

Science Fiction

Kitty and Jeff have new roles in Alien Diplomacy. They are the ambassadors for Centurion American and while they accept their their new roles neither is very happy. After being the center of all the action they are now in a much more passive job.  Someone else is doing his or her old jobs.  Kitty is regulated to taking classes like Washington Wife’s.  A class that is suppose to school her in proper behavior for a Ambassador’s wife.  Of course she ranks at the bottom of the class.  Just when she thinks she will die of boredom a new threat arrives.  Word is that there will be an assassination during the Presidents Ball and the AC’s are trying to find out who the target is so they can stop it from happening.

It is fun to see Kitty in a support role.  I know I liked her much better in this book than I did in the last.  While she is always fun her I know it all and I am the only one who comes up with any good ideas attitude in the last book kind of got on my nerves.  She still has good ideas but is not rubbing everyone’s nose it.  For most of the book she is as clueless as everyone else.

I also like Jeff’s change of attitude.  His jealousy was also stepping on a few of my nerves.  That was toned down a lot.  What made the jealousy so bad was the fact that there was never any reason for him to be jealous.  He is Kitty’s one and only.

There are a great group of new characters and some of the side characters for previous books have an expanded role in Alien Diplomacy.  I especially liked seeing how Mister Joel Oliver, the little snoop,  has a more important part in the story.

The plot is very exciting but does not have as much over the top action as previous books.  The pacing was much calmer with everything building to the big climax.  It was not so calm that I could stand to put the books down.  In fact I stayed up late to finish it.  Of course at the end Kitty played a major role. 

Little Jamie –Kat at age 3 months also had a big part to play.  By the time she is one she may be able rule the world if she wanted. 

Now I have to wait until December for the next book, Alien VS Alien, which I already have on pre-order. 

Alien Diplomacy can stand-alone but I recommend reading the series in order.  If you don’t you will miss out on  a lot of fun.  

DAW published Alien Diplomacy by Gini Koch in 2012.

Dream Lake by Lisa Kleypas

Contemporary Romance

From Goodreads: 

Dream Lake takes readers once again to the exquisite setting of Friday Harbor, and tells the story of Zoë Hoffman, an innkeeper who has all but given up on love. She’s a gentle, romantic soul, but has been so hurt in the past that she dare not trust her heart with anyone. Especially not Alex Nolan. Alex is the most haunted of all the Nolan brothers.

He drinks to keep his demons at bay and not only has he given up on love, he has never, ever believed in it. Zoë and Alex are oil and water, fire and ice, sunshine and shadow.

But sometimes, it takes only a glimmer of light to chase away the dark. Dream Lake is classic Lisa Kleypas: romantic, powerful, emotional, and magical.

What the description of Dream Lake does not mention is the ghost and the ghost is a very important character in Dream Lake. Lisa Kleypas uses the ghost to tell the backstory in the first chapter of the book. Although this is Alex and Zoe's story the ghost plays an interesting part in the story.

Even though Dream Lake runs in time parallel to Rainshadow Road you do not see much of the other two brothers in this book. Alex and Zoe were introduced in previous books and both have issues. On the surface they are not a good match. Zoe knows that Alex is nothing but trouble and Alex sees Zoe as someone who needs commitment, something he feels he is not capable of giving It's is the ghost that keep telling Alex he is missing a bet if he does not pursue Zoe.

Dream Lake does have an interesting journey to the HEA. In addition to all of the other problems that Alex and Zoe face Lisa Kleypas weaves the problems a family faces when someone is diagnosed with dementia. It is used as an effective plot device but offers a lot of information about the progression and how it affects the lives of friends and family. I found that element very well done.

I think Dream Lake does a very good job of continuing the Friday Harbor series. The addition of the ghost makes this a paranormal romance. There is a set up in Dream Lake for book four to have a paranormal romance element also. That adds a little more spice to the series. 

St. Martin’s Griffin published Dream Lake by Lisa Kleypas in 2012.

Stacking the Shelves, August 4, 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 I am adding to my shelves each week, sharing with you my excitement for my newest books.

From Amazon Vine:

The Pigeon Pie Mystery  by Julia Stuart

Won:

Night Beat by Gini Koch
Skein of Shadows by Marsheila Rockwell
Priestess of Eggstone by Jaleta Clegg

Purchased:

Wicked Nights by Gena Showalter

Book Beginnings on Friday August 3, 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.

I am traveling so this is a quick post with no links.  My Book Beginning is from The Night Beat, From The Necropolis Enforcement Files by Gini Koch.  This is a paranormal mystery and one of the books I am reading for Review Copy Cleanup. 

"We pulled up to the scene of the crime.  Such as it was.  An alleyway in downtown, filled with trashcans and darkness."

Review Copy Clean-up 2.0 August 2012

This is the start of Review Copy Clean-up 2.0 and I though I would start with a list of books I want to read and review in August.  Because some do not come out until after Review Copy Clean-upp is finished some of the review may be written during August but published later.  I have finished several of these but have not written my review.  This will push me to review and publish.  Here is my list.  Look for the first review tomorrow.

Dream Lake by Lisa Kleypass,

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Mass

Royal Bridesmaids by Stephanie Laurens, Gaelen Foley, Loretta Chase

The Sweetest Dark by Shana Abe

A Lady by Midnight by Tessa Dare

Dodger by Terry Pratchett

My Scandalous Viscount by Gaelen Foley

The Assassin’s Curse by Cassandra Rose Clarke

Phoenix by A.J. Scudiere

The Pigeon Pie Mystery by Julia Stuart

Mothership  by Martin Leicht and Isla Neal

Priestess of the Eggstone by Jaleta Clegg

Bloodstar

The Scottish Witch: The Chattan Curse by Cathy Maxwell

Blade Song by J.C. Daniels

Kiss of Steel by Bec McMaster

Monster in My Closet by R.L. Naquin

Existence by David Brin

Death Warmed Over by Kevin J. Anderson

Knowing me there will be others before the month is out.  Follow the link at the top right of my blog to see what others are reading and reviewing.