ARC Review: Curious Minds by Janet Evanovich and Phoef Sutton

Series:	Knight and Moon #1
Pub. Date:	Aug. 16, 2016
Publisher:	Bantam Dell
Length:	336 pages
Source:	NetGalley

I'm a huge fan of the Stephanie Plum series, they never fail to make me donkey laugh out loud. I was excited to see a new series by one of my favorite authors and couldn't get my hands on this ARC fast enough. Unfortunately, this book just didn't feel like Janet Evanovich. 

ARC Review: Midnight Soul by Kristen Ashley

Series:	Fantasyland #5
Pub. Date:	Aug. 15, 2016
Publisher:	Self-Pub
Length:	645 pages
Source:	InkSlinger PR

Kristen Ashley never disappoints. I was worried about this book, fearing that I just would not like the heroine given her past behavior. But I should not have doubted Queen KA's ability to create character depth and connection with even the most misunderstood individual. Midnight Soul picks up right where Broken Dove left off - everyone is back in Lunwyn dealing with the aftereffects of defeating the witches and getting back to their normal lives (where all our prior heroines are expecting children).

ARC Review: The Widow's Auction by Sabrina Jeffries

Pub. Date:	Aug. 16, 2016
Publisher:	Berkley Intermix
Length:	84 pages
Source:	NetGalley

This was a quick and fun novella from Sabrina Jeffries, so this will be a short and sweet review. Escaping to The Widow's Auction was a perfect way to spend my lunch break today, and it was just the right length to finish in under an hour.

Stackin' the Shelves #42 and Weekly Update

Hosted by Tynga'sBook Reviews

Welcome back bambinas!

This is Stackin' the Shelves, the weekly feature where I showcase all the books I have accepted for review, one-clicked, won or borrowed from the library. Not much is happening w/ me personally this week... just rain rain and more rain. We haven't gotten any flooding (yet) in New Orleans, so hopefully it stays that way. My heart goes out to our neighbors in Baton Rouge, Covington, Denham Springs, etc.  If you are in that area, drop me a line and let me know how you're doing!

Here's what went on my shelf this week. Have you read any of these - or do you plan to? Did you pick up anything exciting this week?

Series Saturday Review: Broken Dove by Kristen Ashley

Series:	Fantasyland #4
Pub. Date:	Dec. 27, 2013
Publisher:	Self-Pub
Length:	604 pages

I have been hoarding this book for quite a while, keeping it in reserve for when I got into a dreaded reading slump. It's not easy when you know you have an unread Kristen Ashley book, but its also a bit comforting to know that you have something waiting in the wings that you are almost guaranteed to love. Luckily I haven't had one of those really bad reading slumps this year, so I was able to move forward with this one in prep for the release of Midnight Soul (on the blog Aug. 15th).

Audiobook Review: Desperate Duchesses by Eloisa James

Series:	Desperate Duchesses #1
Pub. Date:	July 6, 2010
Publisher:	HarperAudio
Narrator:	Rosalyn Landor
Length:	10 hours 4 min
Source:	Hoopla

Desperate Duchesses is a unique historical romance in that it follows several different storylines rather than the typical single hero/heroine. It reads somewhat like a historical soap opera and while discombobulated at times, it was good fun.

ARC Review: Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris

Pub. Date:	Aug. 9, 2016
Publisher:	St. Martin's Press
Length:	351 pages
Source:	Publisher

This is a fabulously freaky debut psychological thriller from B.A. Paris. It has the feel of one of my favorite series, Consequences by Aleatha Romig. However, Behind Closed Doors does not have any romance to offset the total mindfeck that this relationship causes. I started reading this at 10pm and I couldn't put it down until I finished just after 2am. I think it has put me off marriage. Single life was looking much better after reading this terrifying tale.

ARC Review: Family Tree by Susan Wiggs

Pub. Date:	Aug. 9, 2016
Publisher:	William Morrow Bks
Length:	368 pages
Source:	Edelweiss

Family Tree is the first women's fiction I have read in a very long time, but I have been wanting to try this author so I thought I would step a little out of my normal genre. I am happy that I did because I was pleasantly surprised by this book.

ARC Review: Ruthless by Lexi Blake

Series:	Lawless #1
Pub. Date:	Aug. 9, 2016
Publisher:	Berkley Romance
Length:	304 pages
Source:	NetGalley

I am a huge fan of Lexi Blake's Thieves series and have started working my way through her contemporary and romantic suspense stories. So I was excited to see a new series start so I could get in on the front end and not feel like I'm forever in catch-up mode.

It looks like the Lawless series will feature the three Lawless brothers, as their sister, Mia, was introduced in Dominance Never Dies when she was paired with Case Taggart from the MacKay Taggart security team. Case and Mia were secondary characters in this story... but I didn't feel overly "in the dark" from not having read the earlier book. The Lawless siblings were orphaned as children by a greedy corporate creeps who murdered their parents to steal their father's intellectual property. The boys endured group homes and foster homes, all the while plotting their revenge against the evildoers. Now that they are self-made men, if a little single-minded and broody, it's time to put all their plans into action.

ARC Review: Hard Rules by Lisa Renee Jones

Series:	Dirty Money #1
Pub. Date:	Aug. 9, 2016
Publisher:	St. Martin's Griffin
Length:	304 pages
Source:	NetGalley

This series calls to mind a modern-day Dallas with all the secrets, lies, betrayals and backstabbing that is occurring in the Brandon family. The Brandon men are all headstrong obstinate bulldozers, and the mother is sneaky and conniving. In Dirty Money, a maverick is pitted against the rest of the family to clean up the family conglomerate, Brandon Enterprises.

Stackin' the Shelves #41 and Weekly Update

Hosted by Tynga'sBook Reviews

Welcome back bambinas!

This is Stackin' the Shelves, the weekly feature where I showcase all the books I have accepted for review, one-clicked, won or borrowed from the library. I'm starting to think about my next signing and deciding what books I want to buy - or whether I will make another autograph book. I'm super excited for Nola Storycon - so many freaking good authors! And it's local so yay! Plus, my book bestie and blogger Deanna from Deanna's World is coming to visit from Australia! So its gonna be a staycation for me.  Anyone else coming to Storycon?

Here's what went on my shelf this week. Have you read any of these - or do you plan to? Did you pick up anything exciting this week?

Series Saturday Review: Fantastical by Kristen Ashley

Series:	Fantasyland #3
Pub. Date:	Nov. 1, 2011
Publisher:	Self-Pub
Length:	438 pages

This third installment of the Fantasyland series has more of a fairytale feel than the other books. If it weren't for the adult themes in the story, I could easily see this as a Disney production. The alternate world that Kristen Ashley has created is captivating and easy to picture. Colors abound, animals talk, and there are castles straight out of a fairytale. Ashley doesn't skimp on the descriptions of scenes/settings, clothing and fantastical creatures and it really allows you to immerse yourself in the story.

ARC Review: As Rich as a Rogue by Jade Lee

Series:	Rakes & Rogues #3
Pub. Date:	Aug. 2, 2016
Publisher:	Sourcebooks Casablanca Tantor Audio
Length:	416 pages 12 hrs 50 min
Narrator:	Elizabeth Bidwell
Source:	NetGalley / Tantor

Six years ago during her first season, Mari Powel was deemed the Wayward Welsh by Peter Norwood, Lord Whitly. The moniker has prevented her from finding a suitable husband, so suffice it to say that she does not have amiable feelings toward Lord Whitly. Good thing he left the country.

ARC Review: Blood of the Earth by Faith Hunter

Series:	Soulwood #1
Pub. Date:	Aug. 2, 2016
Publisher:	Berkley
Length:	384 pages
Source:	NetGalley

So this was my first read by Faith Hunter... I know, I know - I have been living under a rock! I have been meaning to start the Jane Yellowrock series, but I'm so far behind that I need to pick a month where I can work them all in at once.  Soon, I promise! This is a new spinoff series from Jane Yellowrock, but I didn't feel confuzzled for not having read the main series. So you should be fine if you have been keeping me company under my rock.

Audiobook Review: Reaper by A. Zavarelli

Series:	Boston Underworld #2
Pub. Date:	July 22, 2016
Publisher:	Self-Pub
Narrator:	Tracy Marks
Length:	8 hrs 42 min
Source:	Author/Audible

It's been a while since I've read a mafia romance... and this one intrigued me because the author said the audiobook was accent-heavy. I love accents in my audiobooks, so I jumped on the chance to review. It's also my first read by A. Zavarelli, and I have to say that I am a fan. I will definitely check out the rest of this series now.

ARC Review: A Promise of Fire by Amanda Bouchet

Series:	Kingmaker Chronicles #1
Pub. Date:	Aug. 2, 2016
Publisher:	Sourcebooks Casablanca
Length:	448 pages
Source:	NetGalley

I'm so happy to have a new name in fantasy romance - my favorite genre. Amanda Bouchet is off to a good start with captivating characters who have some interesting abilities and diverse family dynamics.

ARC Review: The Highlander by Kerrigan Byrne

Series:	Victorian Rebels #3
Pub. Date:	Aug. 2, 2016
Publisher:	St. Martin's Press
Length:	368 pages
Source:	NetGalley

Kerrigan Byrne tricks us with deceptively simple titles for such complex and tormented heroes. Because The Highwayman, The Hunter, and now, The Highlander, are anything but what these simple labels would imply. For me, Kerrigan Byrne is a throwback author - her writing is a throwback to the 70s-90s when historical romances contained darker elements, more action, and complicated characters and plots. I heart her so much and, with this series, she has cemented herself onto my favorite authors list. Plus - she's super nice! I got to fangirl over Kerrigan a little at RT this year and I can't wait to stalk her down again at another signing.

Stackin' the Shelves #40 and Weekly Update

Hosted by Tynga'sBook Reviews

Welcome back bambinas!

This is Stackin' the Shelves, the weekly feature where I showcase all the books I have accepted for review, one-clicked, won or borrowed from the library. I am slogging ahead on the reading schedule... still only reading about 3 days ahead right now.  Oh what I would give to get a month ahead! That being said - I am having a really good reading week. A few that were 4.5 stars and up! I hope that lasts for a while. Not much going on personally this week. Prissy a/k/a the Holy Terror and I start obedience classes tomorrow. I am looking forward to it - I hope she picks things up quickly!

Series Saturday Audiobook Review: Kiss of a Demon King by Kresley Cole

Series:	Immortals After Dark #7
Pub. Date:	May 7, 2013
Publisher:	Simon & Schuster Audio
Narrator:	Robert Petkoff
Length:	12 hrs 10 min

Kiss of a Demon King takes place contemporaneously (in part) with Dark Desires After Dusk (DDAD), which was the story of Cadeon Woede. This story was also narrated by Robert Petkoff who is one of the few male narrators I enjoy. While his female affectation wasn't great in this story, I still enjoyed his performance. Petkoff does great accents, and I love his wide array of male renderings.