Book Beginnings October 19, 2013

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 the title and author so others know what you're reading.

My Book Beginning this week is from Carolyn Brown's book, The Cowboy's Christmas Baby.  October is the month all the books that feature Christmas come out and I have read several.  This one had the most interesting beginning.  

"There she stood with a dead coyote at her feet, a pink pistol in her right hand, three bluetick hound pups cowering behind her, and cradling a baby in her left arm."

Shadow's Curse (Imnada Brotherhood #2) by Alexa Egan

Paranormal Romance

What Goodreads says:

"The second novel in the dark and sexy Imnada Brotherhood trilogy featuring shape-shifters in Regency-era England.

Suffering under a horrible curse and renounced by his clan, the Imnada shape-shifter, David St. Leger, stalks the London nights in the form of a large black wolf, channeling his desperate rage on thieves and murderers. But when he’s captured by the very woman he sought to rescue, he’s thrown into the magical and dangerous world of the Other—half human, half-Fey, and one of the Imnada’s ancient enemies.

Forced by her half-brother to use her gift of necromancy as a money-making scheme, Callista Hawthorne wants only to flee to her aunt in Scotland where she’ll be safe. Considering David her last hope, she offers him a deal—freedom in exchange for his protection on the long journey north.

Now in a race for their lives, Other and Imnada must put aside centuries of animosity and work together if they are to overcome the dark forces intent on stopping them before they reach safety. For Callista is far more powerful than she knows, and with her help and her love, David may finally be able to break the curse of the Imnada."

Shadow's Curse is book two in the series but it worked well as a stand-alone.  There is a lot of back-story needed for the book but it is woven into the story as it is needed and does not interfere with the flow of the book.

David St. Leger and Callista Hawthorne are the two main characters in Shadow's Curse.  Both are well developed, as are the secondary characters that form the support for the story.

This is a standard plot but very well done.  Both David and Callista are outsiders who long for a different life, each for a different reason. Their quest to achieve that life is at the heart of the story and there are enough twists, turns, danger, and villains to keep the tension in the story at a high level. 

There is also romance and at the end a satisfying HEA.

All in all a good book spend time with.

Pocket Books published Shadow’s Curse by Alexa Egan in 2013.

I received an ARC of Shadow’s Curse from Edelweiss.

Teaser Tuesday October 15, 2013

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 Celtic Moon by Jan DeLima.  This is the first book in a new series titled Celtic Wolves.  Barnes and Noble had a 20% off coupon this week-end and I used it for this book.  My teaser is from the page I am on right now.

"Francine's reproach to her daughter had been an unexpected insight into her character."

"How different would their lives have been, had he allowed Francine into his home when Sophie had needed her most?"  
(Page 142)
 
What Goodreads says:

"Like father, like son…

Sophie Thibodeau has been on the run from the father of her son for more than fifteen years. Now her son, Joshua, is changing, and her greatest fears are about to be realized. He’s going to end up being just like his father—a man who can change into a wolf.

Dylan Black has been hunting for Sophie since the night she ran from him—an obsession he cannot afford in the midst of an impending war. Dylan controls Rhuddin Village, an isolated town in Maine where he lives with an ancient Celtic tribe. One of the few of his clan who can still shift into a wolf, he must protect his people from the Guardians, vicious warriors who seek to destroy them.

When Sophie and Dylan come together for the sake of their son, their reunion reignites the fierce passion they once shared. For the first time in years, Dylan’s lost family is within his grasp. But will he lose them all over again? Are Joshua and Sophie strong enough to fight alongside Dylan in battle? Nothing less than the fate of his tribe depends on it."
 

Musing Mondays October 14, 2013

Musing Mondays asks you to muse about one of the following each week…
• Describe one of your reading habits. • Tell us what book(s) you recently bought for yourself or someone else, and why you chose that/those book(s). • What book are you currently desperate to get your hands on? Tell us about it!  • Tell us what you’re reading right now — what you think of it, so far; why you chose it; what you are (or, aren’t) enjoying it. • Do you have a bookish rant? Something about books or reading (or the industry) that gets your ire up? Share it with us! • Instead of the above questions, maybe you just want to ramble on about something else pertaining to books — let’s hear it, then!

Last Wednesday was the monthly meeting of the Science Fiction Book Club at the Bella Vista, AR Public Library.  Our book was The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi.  I decided to share what everyone though today.  

First a confession - I did not finish the book.  It found it depressing and I was already depressed after my youngest cat died.  I was not the only one who DNF.  We were divided about half and half on finish or not finish.  So what did the others think.  All agreed it was depressing.  Everyone who finished wanted a sequel.  Everyone agreed the topic of GMO (genetically modified organism) foods was timely.   All said that they expected to see more about the windup girl since that was the title.  All who finished felt that they did not know as much about the world the book was set in as they would have liked.  Sometimes our choices are fun to read but not that good for discussion.  All agreed that The Windup Girl was a good choice as it generated a lot of discussion. 

Through the Smoke by Brenda Novak

Historical Romance

What Goodreads Says:

A shocking betrayal…

Riches. Power. An ancient heritage of pride. The Earl of Druridge wanted only for an heir. So when he learned that his wife was carrying another man’s child, he was filled with a thirst for vengeance.

But he wasn’t the one who caused Katherine’s death. Or was he? To his horror, he remembers nothing of that dreadful night, when their last confrontation ended in scorching flame and cold blood.

A forbidden love…

Rachel McTavish, the beautiful daughter of a coal miner, knows something about the fire that took Lady Katherine’s life. In secret, the strong-willed girl strikes a bargain with the desperate earl: he must send his physician to help her dying mother or he may go to the devil—and the scaffold. He agrees, but she is still unsure that her revelation will be enough to save him when so many wish him dead.

Passionately drawn to the nobleman, despite all the doubt and mystery that shrouds him, Rachel wonders if he can really be a murderer. Or if he is the only man who will ever own her heart.

I have been reading and enjoying Brenda Novak’s Whiskey Creek Contemporary Romance series.  Historical romances are not what she usually writes and I wanted to see if I liked Through the Smoke as much as I liked her other books.

She did take a slightly different slant for the romance.  While the hero is a nobleman and an Earl the rest of the characters are not part of the nobility.  Truman Stanhope, the Earl of Druridge, is a tortured character.  He cannot remember what he did on the night his wife died and now someone is trying to kill him.  His cousin saved him that night or he might suspect that he is the guilty one.  To add to his problems his late wife’s parents want to try him for murder and see him hang.  He needs to prove that he is innocent.

 

Rachel McTavish knows something about that night.  She might be able to prove that he is innocent.  She and Truman are drawn together but even if she helps she still has other secrets.

 This book moves rather slowly but that allows great plot development as the book unfolds.  The attraction between Rachel and Truman builds in spite of the secrets both have.  The coal mine that Truman owns and the men that work there are central to the danger, the secrets, and the tension in the story.

While I suspected who was the villain there was one surprise relationship in the book.  The writing in Through The Smoke was good, the plot was interesting and the journey to the HEA was filled with problems.

In other words there was everything needed to make Through the Smoke an enjoyable read.

Montlake Romance published Through the Smoke by Brenda Novak in 2013.

Stacking the Shelves October 12, 2013

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books I am adding to my shelves. 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.

I didn't add much to my shelves this week.  Just one book that I won and a swag pack I also won.

From Mina Carter - Perfect Mate
From T.G. Ayer - a swag pack with book plates, book marks and a magnet.

Book Beginnings October 11, 2013

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 the title and author so others know what you're reading.

My book beginning today if from Perfect Mate by Mina Carter.  I won a copy of the book from the Red Hot Blog tour.  I love the way it starts and so far I really like the book.  

"She dreamed of the forest and running.  Of the wind as she raced over the terrain."

Here is what Goodreads says about the book:

"Monsters do exist...and they’re the good guys.

Lillian Rosewood leads an ordinary, boring life working as the manager of a psychiatric hospital. The highlights of her day, other than her skinny hot chocolate, are the hunky guards who work in the secure section. Until a late-night emergency is wheeled in.

Captain Jack Harper is insane, drop-dead gorgeous...and just had his abdomen shredded. Despite the fact they're not an emergency room, Lillian can't turn him away and risk a death on her hands. Unable to get the handsome soldier out of her mind, Lillian sneaks into the restricted area to check on him. What she finds is beyond belief. Somehow Jack has managed to heal himself from a near-fatal wound in mere hours.

When one of the doctors, Walker, attempts to rape her, things go from bad to worse. In the blink of an eye, Jack is loose and Walker is dead... and Lillian must accept a truth about her rescuer that will change her world forever. What if the patients aren't insane? What if their stories of secret government experiments and monsters are true?

Warning: Contains blood, mayhem and nude werewolves operating heavy weaponry. Large amounts of sarcasm and smart-ass vampires may offend some readers. No civilian hospital staff were harmed in the making of this story."

 

Akira’s Choice by Vijaya Schartz

Science Fiction Romance

What Goodreads says:

"When bounty hunter Akira Karyudo accepted her assignment, something didn't add up. Why would the TPP want a kidnapped orphan dead or alive? She will get to the truth once she finds the boy, and the no good SOB who snatched him from a psychiatric hospital. With her cheetah, Freckles, a genetically enhanced feline retriever, Akira sets out to flush them out of the bowels of the BOREALIS space station. But when she finds her fugitives, the kidnapper is not what she expects.

Markku, a decorated rebel soldier, stole his nephew from the authorities, who performed painful experiments on the boy. Stuck on Borealis, he protects the child, but how can he shield him from the horribly dangerous conditions in the lawless sublevels of the decrepit space station? Akira faces the worst moral dilemma of her career. Law or justice, duty or love. She can't have it both ways.

Akira faces the worst moral dilemma of her career. Law or justice, duty or love. She can't have it both ways."

This is another story set on Borealis, the space station on the edge of space where the rebellion and the TTP meet.  Akira’s Choice is a great story with wonderful characters.  Look of a lot of action and of course romance.  It can stand along but you will enjoy it more if you start from the beginning. 

Back Story:  This is a novella so there is not a lot of room for back story.  You do get a sense of the station and how it is laid out  You also meet some of the characters from previous stories but what you get are names and titles.  That does not tell you how they fit on Borealis.

Plot:  Very simple.  Akira finds that what the TTP told her does not fit what she finds.  She is torn between right and duty.

Characters:  I loved Freckles, a feline retriever and Shane, the boy who bonded with him.  Akira and Markku are both interesting and well-drawn characters.  There are also numerous side characters who play a important part in the story.  While some are just names and titles here they were developed in previous stories.

Writing:  I think this quote from early in the story shows how well Vijaya writes.  This is Akira.  She is talking to a friend when she arrives on the station and it sets the tone for the entire story.

“On my own terms.  I pick and choose my fugitives.  I only go after real scumbags:  She sighed.  “Bottom line, no one tells me what’s right or wrong.”

I think the entire Borealis series is a must read for SFR fans.  Go purchase and settle down for some great reading.

Desert Breeze published Akira’sChoice by Vijaya Schartz in 2013.