Young adult

  • Whittling down the TBR pile …

    One of my goals this summer is to whittle down my book TBR pile, along with my movies/TV TBW pile.

    I know, I know, I say this every year — but this year I mean it!

    Yeah, I say that too every year. LOL. Anyway, here are some of the books that I’m hoping to read this summer. Note that the descriptions are from Amazon.

    About a Dog by Jenn McKinlay

    Fall in love with a little help from man’s best friend in New York Times bestselling author Jenn McKinlay’s contemporary romance debut.

    Mackenzie “Mac” Harris fled her hometown of Bluff Point, Maine, after being left at the altar—and seeking solace in the arms of her best friend’s off-limits brother. Now, seven years later, she’s back to attend her best friend’s wedding—safe, or so she thinks, from the mistakes of her youth.

    But Gavin Tolliver has never forgotten the woman who has always held his heart. And when Mac rescues a stray puppy named Tulip, only Gavin, the town’s veterinarian, can help. With a little assistance from Tulip, Gavin vows to make Mac realize that their feelings are more than just puppy love…

    My thoughts: I’m always looking for new contemporary romance authors to try, and this looks like a fun book/series.

    Kings of the Wyld by Nicholas Eames

    GLORY NEVER GETS OLD.

    Clay Cooper and his band were once the best of the best, the most feared and renowned crew of mercenaries this side of the Heartwyld.

    Their glory days long past, the mercs have grown apart and grown old, fat, drunk, or a combination of the three. Then an ex-bandmate turns up at Clay’s door with a plea for help–the kind of mission that only the very brave or the very stupid would sign up for.

    It’s time to get the band back together.

    My thoughts: Wheezley and I both like to read epic fantasy, and this sounds like an interesting take on the genre. I’m going to get it for Wheezley, but I’ll probably read the book at some point too.

    The Last of August by Brittany Cavallaro

    In the second brilliant, action-packed book in the Charlotte Holmes trilogy, Jamie Watson and Charlotte Holmes are in a chase across Europe to untangle a web of shocking truths about the Holmes and Moriarty families.

    Jamie and Charlotte are looking for a winter break reprieve in Sussex after a fall semester that almost got them killed. But nothing about their time off is proving simple, including Holmes and Watson’s growing feelings for each other. When Charlotte’s beloved Uncle Leander goes missing from the Holmes estate—after being oddly private about his latest assignment in a German art forgery ring—the game is afoot once again, and Charlotte throws herself into a search for answers.

    So begins a dangerous race through the gritty underground scene in Berlin and glittering art houses in Prague, where Holmes and Watson discover that this complicated case might change everything they know about their families, themselves, and each other.

    My thoughts: I like different takes on the Sherlock Holmes mythology, and I enjoyed A Study in Charlotte, the first book in this series.

    What books do you guys want to read this summer?

  • Spring books in my TBR pile …

    Can you guys believe it’s the middle of May already? Not me. It seems like this year is just flying by. Here are some books that I’m looking forward to reading this spring. Note that the descriptions are from Amazon.

    What books are you guys looking forward to reading this spring?

    Geekerella by Ashley Poston

    Available now

    Cinderella goes to the con in this fandom-fueled twist on the classic fairy tale.
     
    Part romance, part love letter to nerd culture, and all totally adorbs, Geekerella is a fairy tale for anyone who believes in the magic of fandom. Geek girl Elle Wittimer lives and breathes Starfield, the classic sci-fi series she grew up watching with her late father. So when she sees a cosplay contest for a new Starfield movie, she has to enter. The prize? An invitation to the ExcelsiCon Cosplay Ball, and a meet-and-greet with the actor slated to play Federation Prince Carmindor in the reboot. With savings from her gig at the Magic Pumpkin food truck (and her dad’s old costume), Elle’s determined to win…unless her stepsisters get there first.

    Teen actor Darien Freeman used to live for cons—before he was famous. Now they’re nothing but autographs and awkward meet-and-greets. Playing Carmindor is all he’s ever wanted, but the Starfield fandom has written him off as just another dumb heartthrob. As ExcelsiCon draws near, Darien feels more and more like a fake—until he meets a girl who shows him otherwise.

    My thoughts: I love twists on the Cinderella story, and this one sounds really fun, especially given the con setting.

    The Thing About Love by Julie James

    Available now

    The New York Times bestselling author of Suddenly One Summer blows the covers of two FBI agents who can’t hide who they are from each other…

    FBI agents Jessica Harlow and John Shepherd have a past. The former lawyer and cocky Army Ranger clashed during their training at Quantico and gladly went their separate ways after graduating from the Academy. Six years later, the last thing either of them expects is to be assigned to work as partners in a high-profile undercover sting.

    For both of them, being paired with an old rival couldn’t come at a worse time. Recently divorced from a Hollywood producer and looking for a fresh start, Jessica is eager to prove herself at her new field office. And John is just one case away from his dream assignment to the FBI’s elite Hostage Rescue Team. In order to nail a corrupt Florida politician, they’ll have to find a way to work together—a task that becomes even trickier when they’re forced to hole up at a romantic beachfront resort as part of the investigation. Suddenly, the heat behind their nonstop sparring threatens to make the job a lot more complicated…

    My thoughts: I’ve enjoyed the other books in James’s FBI/US Attorney series, and I’m looking forward to reading this one too.

    New York, Actually by Sarah Morgan

    Out on May 30

    One man. One woman. Two dogs. 

    Meet Molly—New York’s most famous advice columnist, she considers herself an expert at relationships…as long as they’re other people’s. Still bruised from her last breakup, Molly is in no rush to find happily-ever-after—the only love of her life is her dalmatian, Valentine.

    Meet Daniel—A cynical divorce lawyer, he’s hardwired to think relationships are a bad idea. If you don’t get involved, no one can get hurt. Until he finds himself borrowing a dog to meet the gorgeous woman he sees running in Central Park every morning…

    Molly and Daniel both think they know everything about relationships. But as they try—and fail—to resist their undeniable chemistry, they’ll soon discover they just might have a lot left to learn…

    My thoughts: I’ve enjoyed the other books in Morgan’s From Manhattan With Love series, and I’m looking forward to this one, along with Holiday in the Hamptons (Aug. 29) and Moonlight Over Manhattan (Nov. 28). Plus, I think the covers for this series are really fun.

  • Spring reads in my TBR pile …

    Well, it’s March now, which means that spring is right around the corner. Here are some of the books in my TBR pile. Note that the descriptions are from Amazon.

    The Last of AugustThe Last of August by Brittany Cavallaro

    In the second brilliant, action-packed book in the Charlotte Holmes trilogy, Jamie Watson and Charlotte Holmes are in a chase across Europe to untangle a web of shocking truths about the Holmes and Moriarty families.

    Jamie and Charlotte are looking for a winter break reprieve in Sussex after a fall semester that almost got them killed. But nothing about their time off is proving simple, including Holmes and Watson’s growing feelings for each other. When Charlotte’s beloved Uncle Leander goes missing from the Holmes estate—after being oddly private about his latest assignment in a German art forgery ring—the game is afoot once again, and Charlotte throws herself into a search for answers.

    So begins a dangerous race through the gritty underground scene in Berlin and glittering art houses in Prague, where Holmes and Watson discover that this complicated case might change everything they know about their families, themselves, and each other.

    My thoughts: I like Sherlock Holmes stories, and I enjoyed the first book in this series, A Study in Charlotte. If you’re looking for a different or YA take on the Holmes mythology, you might want to check out this series.

    Royally MatchedRoyally Matched by Emma Chase

    Some men are born responsible, some men have responsibility thrust upon them. Henry John Edgar Thomas Pembrook, Prince of Wessco, just got the motherlode of all responsibility dumped in his regal lap.

    He’s not handling it well.

    Hoping to help her grandson to rise to the occasion, Queen Lenora agrees to give him “space”—but while the Queen’s away, the Prince will play. After a chance meeting with an American television producer, Henry finally makes a decision all on his own:

    Welcome to Matched: Royal Edition.

    A reality TV dating game show featuring twenty of the world’s most beautiful blue bloods gathered in the same castle. Only one will win the diamond tiara, only one will capture the handsome prince’s heart.

    While Henry revels in the sexy, raunchy antics of the contestants as they fight, literally, for his affection, it’s the quiet, bespectacled girl in the corner—with the voice of an angel and a body that would tempt a saint—who catches his eye.

    The more Henry gets to know Sarah Mirabelle Zinnia Von Titebottum, the more enamored he becomes of her simple beauty, her strength, her kind spirit… and her naughty sense of humor.

    But Rome wasn’t built in a day—and irresponsible royals aren’t reformed overnight.

    As he endeavors to right his wrongs, old words take on whole new meanings for the dashing Prince. Words like, Duty, Honor and most of all—Love.

    My thoughts: I’m a sucker for royalty-themed stories, and I really enjoyed Royally Screwed, the first book in this series. I’m looking forward to reading this one.

    You Don't Know My NameYou Don’t Know My Name by Kristen Orlando

    Fighter, Faker, Student, Spy.

    Seventeen-year-old Reagan Elizabeth Hillis is used to changing identities overnight, lying to every friend she’s ever had, and pushing away anyone who gets too close. Trained in mortal combat and weaponry her entire life, Reagan is expected to follow in her parents’ footsteps and join the ranks of the most powerful top-secret agency in the world, the Black Angels. Falling in love with the boy next door was never part of the plan.

    Now Reagan must decide: Will she use her incredible talents and lead the dangerous life she was born into, or throw it all away to follow her heart and embrace the normal life she’s always wanted? And does she even have a choice?

    Find out if you are ready to join the Black Angels in the captivating and emotional page-turner, You Don’t Know My Name, from debut novelist Kristen Orlando!

    My thoughts: I’m also a sucker for spy books. Undercover teenage spy with romantic woes? Yes, please.

    What books are you guys reading this spring?

  • The weather might be frightful, but winter reads are quite delightful …

    The holidays are a distant memory, and we are well into winter now. That means cold temperatures and snow for many of us.

    Me? I love the cold weather, and I hope that we get buckets of snow this year. 🙂

    But I also find that the cold weather affects my reading habits. In the warmer months, I often find myself reading shorter books with lighter themes — things like contemporary romance or comics/graphic novels. Books that I can usually read in a night or two, in between all my other work and commitments.

    crooked-kingdomBut in the winter, I like to read longer, more involved books — things like epic fantasy and large collections of comics that often take me several nights to read. All the books that I never seem to have time to read during the rest of the year, like Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo.

    So why is that? I think a large part of it is the weather. The cold temperatures, the short days, the long nights — it all makes me want to stay inside where it is warm and toasty. Plus, once I sit down on the couch with my book, a microfleece blanket, and perhaps a mug of hot chocolate, I want to stay there for a while.

    Also, the winter months, especially January, always seem to feel a little less hectic, especially after all the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. It just seems like a good time to slow down, rest, recharge, and read a book.

    Here are some more books on my TBR this winter:

    The Demon King by Cinda Williams Chima

    The Queen of Blood by Sarah Beth Durst

    Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake

    What about you guys? Do you find yourself reading different kinds of books at different times of the year? Why or why not?

  • Winter reads …

    The holidays are over for another year, so let’s talk about the fun stuff — books. 🙂

    What books did you guys get for Christmas? Here are some of the books that I got for the holidays that I’m looking forward to reading this winter. Note that the descriptions are from Amazon:

    Black WidowBlack Widow Vol. 1: S.H.I.E.L.D.’s Most Wanted by Mark Waid and Chris Samnee

    They wowed you with Daredevil, now the Eisner Award-winning team of Mark Waid and Chris Samnee take Black Widow to new heights -by forcing her to go on the lam! Natasha has a lifetime of secrets, and when some of the darkest ones are made public, nobody is safe. As S.H.I.E.L.D. turns on its once greatest asset, she seeks out her own answers in a knockdown drag-out tale of action and espionage! But will the Widow’s hunt for the Weeping Lion send her back to the one place she never wanted to go? And, when a S.H.I.E.L.D. funeral makes the assembled top brass an attractive target, it’s lucky for them that the Black Widow is still on their side, even if they aren’t on hers.

    COLLECTING: BLACK WIDOW 1-6

    My thoughts: I’m always up for a Black Widow story, and I’ve heard good things about this series.

    dc-comics-bombshellsDC Comics: Bombshells Vol. 1: Enlisted by Marguerite Bennett and Marguerite Sauvage

    The incredibly popular DC Collectibles line is brought to life in these stories that reimagine the course of history!

    As Word War II rages across Europe, the Allied forces issue a call to arms for the greatest heroines the world has ever known: THE BOMBSHELLS!

    KATE KANE, the all-American Batwoman; DIANA OF THEMYSCIRA, warrior Princess of the Amazons; KARA STARIKOV and KORTNI DUGINOVNA, defenders of Mother Russia; and MERA, royal daughter of the legendary Atlantis! With aid from their allies at home and abroad, these mighty women will turn the tide of war and defend those inviolable rights of Truth, Justice and Freedom.

    From writer Marguerite Bennett (BATGIRL, EARTH 2: WORLD’S END) and featuring artists including Marguerite Sauvage (HINTERKIND), Laura Braga (Witchblade), Bilquis Evely (Doc Savage), Mirka Andolfo (Chaos) and Ming Doyle (CONSTANTINE: THE HELLBLAZER) comes DC COMICS: BOMBSHELLS VOL. 1: ENLISTED. Collects DC COMICS: BOMBSHELLS #1-6.

    My thoughts: This looks like an interesting and different take on Wonder Woman and other classic comic book heroines.

    the-demon-kingThe Demon King by Cinda Williams Chima

    One day Han Alister catches three young wizard setting fire to the sacred mountain of Hanalea. Han takes an amulet away from Micah Bayar, son of the High Wizard, to ensure the boy won’t use it against him. The amulet once belonged to the Demon King, who nearly destroyed the world a millennium ago. With a magical piece so powerful at stake, Han knows that the Bayars will stop at nothing to get it back.

    Meanwhile, Princess Raisa ana’Marianna has her own battle to fight. She’s just returned to court after three years of riding and hunting with her father’s family. Raia aspires to be like Hanalea, the legendary warrior queen who killed the Demon King and saved the world. But it seems that her mother has other plans for her-plans that include a suitor who goes against everything the Queendom stands for.

    The Seven Realms will tremble when the lives of Han and Raisa collide in this stunning page-turner from best-selling author Cinda Williams Chima.

    My thoughts: I’ve heard a lot of good things about this series, and I’ve been wanting to try it for a long time.

    What about you guys? What books are you looking forward to reading this winter?