Stacking the Shelves - September 26, 2015

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books I added to my shelves this week. They may it be physical or virtual. I include books I buy in a physical store or online, books I borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!  Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga at Tynga's Reviews.  Follow the link to see what others have on their shelves. 

From the Library:

War Dogs by Greg Bear

Malice at the Palace by Rhys Bowen

Time Salvager by Wesley Chu

Nova by Margaret Fortune

Blood of theCosmos by Kevin J Anderson







From Review from the author:


Blue Yonder by Diana Dooley

Book Beginnings and The Friday 56 - Sept 25, 2015

I'm linking up with Rose City Reader for Book Beginnings and Freda's Voice for Page 56. Check out the links above for the rules and for the posts of the participants each week. Pick the closest book on your book stack and join the fun.

The Beginning:

"So, I'm supposed to tell you how I became a brain in a box."

Page 56:

"That answered the question of who these people were. But it didn't answer the question of why me."

From The End of All Things by John Scalizi.

Marry Me at Christmas by Susan Mallery

Contemporary Romance

From Goodreads:

To bridal boutique owner Madeline Krug, organizing a Christmas wedding sounds like a joy—until she finds out she'll be working closely with the gorgeous brother of the bride, movie star Jonny Blaze. How will a small-town girl like her keep from falling for the world's sexiest guy? Especially with mistletoe lurking around every corner!

Jonny came to Fool's Gold looking for normal, not for love. Happily-ever-after only happens in the movies. Still, nothing about this quirky town is quite what he expected, and "ordinary" Madeline is the most extraordinary woman he's ever met. Refreshingly honest, disarmingly sweet. Achingly beautiful.

Planning the perfect wedding leads to candlelit dinners and strolls through snow-covered streets. And Madeline finds Jonny in real life even more captivating than her celebrity crush. But will the action star be brave enough to risk his heart and step into the role of a lifetime?

Fool’s Gold is just full of romance as Madeline Krug, a long standing character in the series, and Jonny Blaze, a newcomer, find out.  Madeline is just an ordinary working woman and Jonny is a movie star looking for a normal life.  When they are thrown together magic happens.  This is another nice sweet love story from Mallery.  It is full of the expected elements in a Fool’s Gold story however is one slightly different twist at the end.  

Harlequin published Marry Me at Christmas by Susan Mallery in 2015.

I received an ARC of Marry Me at Christmas from Netgalley in return for an honest review.

When a Scot Ties the Knot by Tessa Dare –

Historical Romance

From Goodreads:

On the cusp of her first London season, Miss Madeline Gracechurch was shyly pretty and talented with a drawing pencil, but hopelessly awkward with gentlemen. She was certain to be a dismal failure on the London marriage mart. So Maddie did what generations of shy, awkward young ladies have done: she invented a sweetheart.

A Scottish sweetheart. One who was handsome and honorable and devoted to her, but conveniently never around. Maddie poured her heart into writing the imaginary Captain MacKenzie letter after letter … and by pretending to be devastated when he was (not really) killed in battle, she managed to avoid the pressures of London society entirely.

Until years later, when this kilted Highland lover of her imaginings shows up in the flesh. The real Captain Logan MacKenzie arrives on her doorstep—handsome as anything, but not entirely honorable. He’s wounded, jaded, in possession of her letters… and ready to make good on every promise Maddie never expected to keep.

Another winner for Dare.  This is full of the humor Dare is famous for.  I found more than a few laugh out loud moments along with a great story line.  Dare takes several familiar tropes and combines them in a great story full of fun, tension, and romance.  Both Maddy and Logan are great characters.  They have to be to carry the story line like they do.  There are secondary characters but they have a very small part to play.

This is part of Castles Ever After series but all of the books work well as stand-alones.  Start with any book.  Each is a must read for anyone who loves historical romances that combine humor with a great plot.

Avon books published When a Scot Ties the Knot by Tessa Dare in 2015.

Teaser Tuesday - September 22, 2015

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of A Daily Rhythm. 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:

"Calm down, everyone," Laura said, not without a smile.  "Sakura it does look interesting, but I would bet that it's natural." p.85

From Castaway Planet by Eric Flint and Ryk E. Spoor

Musing Mondays - September 21, 2015

Musing Mondays is a weekly meme that asks you to choose one of the following prompts to answer:

• I’m currently reading…
• Up next I think I’ll read…
• I bought the following book(s) in the past week…
• I’m super excited to tell you about (book/author/bookish-news)…
• I’m really upset by (book/author/bookish-news)…
• I can’t wait to get a copy of…
• I wish I could read ___, but…
• I blogged about ____ this past week…

Musing Mondays is sponsored by A Daily Rhythm.

THIS WEEK’S RANDOM QUESTION: Is a rainy day likely to inspire you to read?

I have been gone for a month and during that time did not do any posts.  I had a great time but it is good to be home again.  The random question is about rainy days.  Yes they do inspire me to get a good book and settle down to read.  Of course sunny days also inspire me to read.  I also like to read at night.  I think I just like to read!

Bear Meets Girl by Shelly Laurenston

Paranormal Romance

From Goodreads:

He's big, burly, and way smarter than your average shapeshifting bear. He's also about to get trapped by own his game. . .

Lou Crushek is a reasonable, mellow, easygoing kind of guy. But once someone starts killing the scumbags he works so hard to bust, that really gets under his fur. Especially when that someone is a curvy she-tiger with a skill set that's turning Crush's lone-bear world upside down--and bringing his passion out of hibernation. . .

As a member of an elite feline protection unit, Marcella Malone has no problem body-dropping anyone who hunts her kind. But Crush is proving one major pain in her gorgeous tail. The only reason she's joined forces with him is to track down the wealthy human who's got her entire species in his ruthless sights. It sure isn't because Crush's stubborn and contrary attitude is rubbing Cella in all the right ways.

This on has been on my wish list for quite awhile so when it appeared on Netgalley I quickly put in a request.  It sounded like a fun book and it is.  Be warned though.  It does contain a lot of foul language and physical violence.  It did not turn me off.  The violence was a character trait of the difference shifters and the language matched the situation.  Both Bear (Lou Crushek) and Girl (Marcella Malone) are interesting characters who are opposites in many ways.  It turns out that makes the perfect for each other.  Of course that does not become apparent at once.  It takes the interference of her family and a very dangerous situtation to finally bring them together. 

This is part of the Pride series and is book 7.  It does stand along but I often knew I was missing the background on some of the secondary characters.  I think it would have enjoyed parts of the book more if I had know that background.

Brava published Bear Meets Girl by Shelly Laurenston in 2012.

I received an ARC of Bear Meets Girls from Netgalley in return for an honest review.

Stacking the Shelves September 19 2015

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books I added to my shelves this week. They may it be physical or virtual. I include books I buy in a physical store or online, books I borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!  Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga at Tynga's Reviews.  Follow the link to see what others have on their shelves. 

From the Library:

Aurora by Kim Stanley Robinson

Castaway Planet by Eric Flint and Ryk E. Spoor

The End of All Things by John Scalzi

A Call to Duty by David Weber and Timothy Zhan







Purchased:


Archangel's Enigma by Nalini Singh

When a Scot Ties the Knot by Tessa Dare