Richelle Mead's new series "Age of X" is awesome!

I have read Richelle Mead for a long time and I love her Vampire Academy and Bloodlines series. When I heard a new adult series was coming out,  I was quite excited, and let me tell you I was not disappointed.

Description from Goodreads.com:

In a futuristic world nearly destroyed by religious extremists, Justin March lives in exile after failing in his job as an investigator of religious groups and supernatural claims. But Justin is given a second chance when Mae Koskinen comes to bring him back to the Republic of United North America (RUNA). Raised in an aristocratic caste, Mae is now a member of the military’s most elite and terrifying tier, a soldier with enhanced reflexes and skills.

When Justin and Mae are assigned to work together to solve a string of ritualistic murders, they soon realize that their discoveries have exposed them to terrible danger. As their investigation races forward, unknown enemies and powers greater than they can imagine are gathering in the shadows, ready to reclaim the world in which humans are merely game pieces on their board.

So Mead has made an adult series that takes place in a dystopian world and has ancient gods playing with peoples lives. The gods act as if its a chessboard almost, moving their players where they want them. I loved Mae. She was an awesome character. I wish we had learned more about her previous relationship with the guy who's funeral she was attending in the beginning, earlier in the book. 

And Justin, he's kinda of funny.  He's snarky and spoiled and kind of annoying, but funny. I liked him.

All in all this was an awesome book, and I really wish she would write faaaaaasssttter!!

Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg pull off a great "Heist" with their new book!

Description:

FBI Special Agent Kate O’Hare is known for her fierce dedication and discipline on the job, chasing down the world’s most wanted criminals and putting them behind bars. Her boss thinks she is tenacious and ambitious; her friends think she is tough, stubborn, and maybe even a bit obsessed. And while Kate has made quite a name for herself for the past five years the only name she’s cared about is Nicolas Fox—an international crook she wants in more ways than one.              

Audacious, handsome, and dangerously charming, Nicolas Fox is a natural con man, notorious for running elaborate scams on very high-profile people. At first he did it for the money. Now he does it for the thrill. He knows that the FBI has been hot on his trail—particularly Kate O’Hare, who has been watching his every move. For Nick, there’s no greater rush than being pursued by a beautiful woman . . . even one who aims to lock him up. But just when it seems that Nicolas Fox has been captured for good, he pulls off his greatest con of all: He convinces the FBI to offer him a job, working side by side with Special Agent Kate O’Hare.

Problem is, teaming up to stop a corrupt investment banker who’s hiding on a private island in Indonesia is going to test O’Hare’s patience and Fox’s skill. Not to mention the skills of their ragtag team made up of flamboyant actors, wanted wheelmen, and Kate’s dad. High-speed chases, pirates, and Toblerone bars are all in a day’s work . . . if O’Hare and Fox don’t kill each other first.

I absolutely loved this book.  It feels like the early Stephanie Plum books.  It was funny and new.  I laughed quite a bit while reading this. FBI Agent Kate O'Hare has been chasing thief Nick Fox for five years and he continuously slips through her fingers!! She finally catches him and now the FBI want her and Nick to work together to bring down some of the world's most wanted criminals.. Going places the government can't go to get to them. I am so glad this book came out and I can't wait for them to writer another!

New Young Adult novel so hot it takes my breath away!

From Amazon.com:

Piper’s world is dying. Each day brings hotter temperatures and heat bubbles which threaten to destroy the Earth. Amid this Global Heating Crisis, Piper lives under the oppressive rule of her mother, who suffocates her even more than the weather does. Everything changes on her eighteenth birthday, when her mother is called away on a mysterious errand and Piper seizes her first opportunity for freedom. 

Piper discovers a universe she never knew existed—a sphere of gods and monsters—and realizes that her world is not the only one in crisis. While gods battle for control of the Underworld, Piper’s life spirals out of control as she struggles to find the answer to the secret that has been kept from her since birth—her very identity….

I seriously loved this book. Initially I was so annoyed that she "fell in love" so quickly with Shayne, of course until we figured out who she really was. I also wouldn't that that Piper's mother could end up making her go crazy and she end up a sociopath. Of course, its does get explained in the end.  This book as an amazing blend of Dystopia and Mythology. I loved it and can't wait for a new book!

Hotshot by Julie Garwood, fun and interesting read

From Amazon.com:

Peyton Lockhart and her sisters have inherited Bishop’s Cove, a small, luxurious oceanfront resort, but it comes with a condition: The girls must run the resort for one year and show a profit—only then will they own it.

A graduate of a prestigious French culinary school, Peyton has just lost her job as a food critic. Out of work and in a bad place personally, a year doing something completely different sounds wonderful.

There are countless challenges and too many people who want to stop the sisters from succeeding. Among them are Peyton’s contentious cousins, who are outraged that they didn’t inherit the resort, as well as a powerful group of land developers who have been eyeing the coveted beachfront property.

It’s soon apparent to Peyton that their efforts are being sabotaged, but she refuses to let the threats scare her—until she’s nearly killed. She calls on her childhood friend and protector, Finn MacBain, now with the FBI, and asks for his help. He saved her life once; he can do it again.

I've been reading Garwood's books for over fifteen years. I loved her historicals, I love the Buchanan brothers series. And I enjoyed this one too. My initial thought is I thought the romance was a little weak. Yes, he saved her life as a child and she followed him around like a puppy until he left for college, but it was like.. Oh hey, haven't seen you in years! Lets sleep together.. And then all of a sudden its love. I know these books aren't real, but there should be at least a page or two of "get to know you".

Finn was, I think, too aloof to really believe that he has fallen in love with Peyton. I kinda wish Peyton's sister had her own book with Christopher instead of it being a story inside the story. That would have been interesting to see, and it was hilarious!

I likes the mystery part of it, although I wish it had been a little tougher. I mean, two times it was like.. oh hey, someone shot at my car...  Finn was, I think, too aloof

Anyways, despire these couple things, I did enjoy the story, as I always do. Thanks!

50 Shades of "Sick Of It!"

So yesterday I started reading "Release Me" by J. Kenner. A friend of mine suggested it, she really liked it.. blah blah blah

Ya know, a year ago when I read 50 Shades of Grey and its two sequels, I really enjoyed them. Christian and Ana drove me absolutely crazy, but in general I liked the series. Since then... Sylvia Day has had three books in her Crossfire series, Maya Banks has had two books in her Fever series, and J. Kenner has had two books in her Stark Trilogy.

I am so incredibly sick of these 50 Shades read a likes! Sick Sick sick! I read Day's first Crossfire book and wasn't thrilled. I read the two Fever books by Maya Banks.. they were okay.. at least each book focuses on different main characters.. and I got halfway through Kenner's first Stark book before I pretty much threw it down.

All of them are the same. exact. story. as 50 shades. Over, and over, and over, and over again. No More!! Seriously, it's not that I don't think they can't live up to James' Christian and Ana.. Its that its the same thing. over. and over. and over.

Seriously, find something new to write about. The dead horse has been beaten too many times now.

Sorry if I seem a little annoyed, or mean, or whatever. Have a good day.

A New "If you liked Hunger Games, try these" list June 2013

The Read Alikes for Hunger Games have kind of been beaten to death, but I have found some new ones that can be added to the list that I really liked.

Alexandra Bracken has started a series, I'm not sure if they ever named the series, but book one is The Darkest Minds.  It was amazing. I think I posted about it before. The sequel, Never Fade, comes out in October. I was the lucky recipient of a galley of that one, and once again, O.M.G. It was equally amazing.  Pretty much a virus has taken out most of the kids and teenagers in the US.  The ones left have, of course, superhuman powers!  They are gathered up, color coded depending on their abilities, and sent to live in some sort of concentration camp. Ruby is the main character. She's been in one of these camps for around six years.  Someone gets her out and the "fun" of course starts. This, I think, is the next Hunger Games craze, if only we can get the word out!

Bethany Frenette ... Dark Star.. This book came out last year and it is great!  Audrey thinks her mom is a superhero called "Morningstar" but in reality, she isn't fighting criminals, she is after demons! I really liked this book and can't wait for another!

The Vicious Deep by Córdova, Zoraida .. Tristan is an ordinary teenager with extraodinary swimming skills, until one day a storm comes and washes him out to sea. He appears on the beach one day, three days later, and his world turns upside down.  he is the grandson of the Sea King, and now he has to partake in a tournament of sorts to win the crown.   The sequel to this one, Savage Blue, just came out as well. I very much enjoyed both of them. Let me tell ya, mermaids are definitely not like Ariel! 

Richelle Mead... Gameboard of the Gods.. this is a new adult series by Mead but its an awesome mix of a dystopian novel mixed with mythology. I liked it so much that I bought a copy.  I don't have words about how much I liked this book. 

Blood of Eden series by Julie Kagawa.. Its more of a paranormal series, but they are still really good. Book one, Immortal Rules, was a little slow to get into, but book 2 Eternity Cure is really good.

I have I ever talked about Sherrilyn Kenyon's Chronicles of Nick series? So, Kenyon has been my favorite author of all time for over ten years now.  I was so stinking mad when she took one of my favorite characters from her adult paranormal romance series, the Dark Hunters, and stuffed him into a young adult series. Why was I so angry? Because I am still waiting, ten years later, for Nick Gautier to grow up and have his happy ever after.  There are, I believe, going to be 8 books in the CON series, and only four are out so far. I did not like the first one. However, now I understand why she is writing them.  The first book, Invincible, has this whole teenagers turning into zombies thing going on it it. Its extremely hilarious, not way deep like Hunger Games.  But Kenyon also put in this awesome sub story line of anti bullying, and has started a big campaign for it. I LOVE it! Its awesome.

I think that is all I have for right now, unless I rack my brain and think of more. Have a great day!

Not your ordinary mermaid story!!.. Move over Ariel, Tristan is here to steal the girls' hearts!

Tristan is an ordinary teenager with extrodinary swimming skills, until one day a storm comes and washes him out to sea. He appears on the beach one day, three days later, and his world turns upside down.  he is the grandson of the Sea King, and now he has to partake in a tournament of sorts to win the crown. In this sequel to the Vicious Deep, Tristan and company are off on more "adventures" to find another piece of the trident.  Lots of twists and turns and a "WOAH! ending!

I found these titles off chance on goodreads and was able to get a galley of Savage Blue. Well ,heck, I didnt realize it was the second book in a series, so off I went and had the library order book one. I am ever so glad that I did.  I absolutely adored these books and I can't wait for another! Thank you so much!

What I have been reading, May- June 2013

So, last Fall I found this wonderful website for librarians, booksellers, and bloggers... Getting books before they are published and reviewing them for the publisher? Talk about heaven! O M G, now I have to be honest that I don't get around to everything that I get from them. :( I am still trying though!!

Anyways, I was the lucky recipient of Susan Mallery's "Just One Kiss", "Two of a Kind", and "Three Little Words"... One came out recently, Two and Three are slated for end of June and July. Now, everyone knows I absolutely adore the Fools Gold series.. Did you hear there is going to be a cookbook?! YES!

So I also read Big Sky Summer by Linda Lael Miller, and I loved it.. Walker Parrish and Casey Elder.. woooo weeee hehehe. I think we were all looking forward to this!!

Bad news.. Bella Andre's "The Look of Love".  This was originally an eBook that someone said hey this is great, so the author expanded it and its been published. Its the first in what I assume is going to be a series of 8 books, as there are 8 siblings. My personal opinion.. sorry Ms Andre.. I was not impressed.

Mary Kay Andrew's "Ladies Night is awesome!! Grace Davenport catches her husband cheating on her with her assistant and puts its Audi in the pool. The judge, with a vendetta against women, sends her to divorce therapy.  The women become friends (and one man!) and they call their sessions Ladies Night. They also go to Grace's mom's bar to visit after sessions. This book is hilarious and I loved it!

I'm going to end with that.. More actual reviews may come for some of the books I mentioned, especially the Andrews book. Have a great day!