Can't Wait Wednesday/Waiting on Wednesday #240: The Supervillain and Me by Danielle Banas

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event which had been hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine where we spotlight upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating. I'm now linking up with "Can't-Wait Wednesday" hosted over at Wishful Endings.

Synopsis from Goodreads:

As witty as it is heart-pounding, this fresh take on the beloved superhero genre is all about finding your own way to shine even when it seems everyone else around you is, well... super.

Never trust a guy in spandex.

In Abby Hamilton’s world, superheroes do more than just stop crime and save cats stuck in trees—they also drink milk straight from the carton and hog the television remote. Abby’s older brother moonlights as the famous Red Comet, but without powers of her own, following in his footsteps has never crossed her mind.

That is, until the city’s newest vigilante comes bursting into her life.

After saving Abby from an attempted mugging, Morriston’s fledgling supervillain Iron Phantom convinces her that he’s not as evil as everyone says, and that their city is under a vicious new threat. As Abby follows him deeper into their city’s darkest secrets, she comes to learn that heroes can’t always be trusted, and sometimes it’s the good guys who wear black.

The Supervillain and Me by Danielle Banas is expected out July 10th, 2018 from Swoon Reads. It's a debut novel in a new series - Morriston Superheroes.

Why am I waiting on this one? It's a debut novel. Early reviews say it's got humor, action, and romance. Sounds like it will be a fun read. I like the tagline: "Never trust a guy in spandex."

What book are you waiting on this week? Share it or a link in the comments so we can check it out and maybe add it to our TBR lists. Thanks for coming by and Happy Reading!

Teaser Tuesday: Lowcountry Bookshop by Susan M. Boyer

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by The Purplebooker.
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 and author so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers! 

The thing I couldn't get out of my mind was  Mallory saying that she shouldn't have come to the visitation. She'd known Phillip Drayton most of her life. The only reason she'd say such a thing was a guilty conscience. The question was, what was she feeling guilty about? Was it an unrequited love, an affair, or something much worse? (46% through on my Kindle)

Lowcountry Bookshop by Susan M. Boyer was published today, May 29th, 2018, from Henery Press. 

Would you keep reading? What's your teaser this week? Share it or a link in the comments. Are you enjoying your book? Let us know! Happy Reading!

Disclaimer: The teaser and its location are from an ARC and may differ in the final edition.

Review: Sparrow Hill Road by Seanan McGuire

This is the story of Rose Marshall, mostly after her untimely death. Rose was a sweet 16 teenaged girl who was a little pissed and was driving herself to the prom when she was run off the road by another car. As it turns out, it was Bobby Cross who was driving that car and he meant trouble for Rose, trouble that doesn't go away even once she's dead.

The book has an interesting format. There are stories about the different urban legends she has become associated with. And there is an overall arc about her conflict with Bobby Cross. Both kept my interest. It's also told part in the present and part in flashbacks. In spite of all that, it's easy enough to follow what's going on and enjoy the ride.

There is good characterization, especially of Rose. The world-building is solid and interesting. The stories move along at a decent pace and relate to each other.

Overall, I give this book 4 out of 5 stars. It's worth a read if you enjoy urban fantasy or ghost stories. And if you enjoy other books by this same author, such as the InCryptid series, then you will probably enjoy this book as well.

Sparrow Hill Road by Seanan McGuire is book one in the Ghost Roads series. It was originally published in May 2014, a new edition is being released June 2018 from DAW. Book two, The Girl in the Green Silk Gown by Seanan McGuire is expected to be released July 17th, 2018 from DAW.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. This doesn't affect my opinions. Everything herein is my own opinion and freely given.

Can't Wait Wednesday/Waiting on Wednesday #239: The Girl in the Green Silk Gown by Seanan McGuire

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event which had been hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine where we spotlight upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating. I'm now linking up with "Can't-Wait Wednesday" hosted over at Wishful Endings.

Synopsis from Goodreads:

The second book in the Ghost Roads series returns to the highways of America, where hitchhiking ghost Rose Marshall continues her battle with her killer--the immortal Bobby Cross.

Once and twice and thrice around,
Put your heart into the ground.
Four and five and six tears shed,
Give your love unto the dead.
Seven shadows on the wall,
Eight have come to watch your fall:
One’s for the gargoyle, one’s for the grave,
And the last is for the one you’ll never save.
 
For Rose Marshall, death has long since become the only life she really knows.  She’s been sweet sixteen for more than sixty years, hitchhiking her way along the highways and byways of America, sometimes seen as an avenging angel, sometimes seen as a killer in her own right, but always Rose, the Phantom Prom Date, the Girl in the Green Silk Gown.

The man who killed her is still out there, thanks to a crossroads bargain that won’t let him die, and he’s looking for the one who got away.  When Bobby Cross comes back into the picture, there’s going to be hell to pay—possibly literally.

Rose has worked for decades to make a place for herself in the twilight.  Can she defend it, when Bobby Cross comes to take her down?  Can she find a way to navigate the worlds of the living and the dead, and make it home before her hitchhiker’s luck runs out?
              
There’s only one way to know for sure.

Nine will let you count the cost:
All you had and all you lost.
Ten is more than time can tell,
Cut the cord and ring the bell.
Count eleven, twelve, and then,
Thirteen takes you home again.
One’s for the shadow, one’s for the tree,
And the last is for the blessing of Persephone. 

The Girl in the Green Silk Gown by Seanan McGuire is expected to be published July 17th, 2018 from DAW.

Why am I waiting on this one? It's the continuing story of Rose Marshall. I've got to know what happens with her and Bobby Cross. He seems so evil. I want her to beat him. And I want to know how she does it.

What book are you waiting on this week? Share it or a link in the comments so we can check it out and maybe add it to our TBR lists. Thanks for coming by and Happy Reading!

Teaser Tuesday: Grave Peril by Jim Butcher

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by The Purplebooker.
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 and author so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers! 

My office is in a building in midtown Chicago. It's an older building, and not in the best of shape, especially since there was that problem with the elevator last year. I don't care what anyone says, that wasn't my fault. When a giant scorpion the size of an Irish wolfhound is tearing its way through the roof of your elevator car, you get real willing to take desperate measures. (p21)

Grave Peril by Jim Butcher was published September 4th, 2001 by Roc. It's the third book in the Dresden Files series.

Would you keep reading? What's your teaser this week? Share it or a link in the comments. Are you enjoying your book? Let us know! Happy Reading!

Review: Dark Queen by Faith Hunter

Dark Queen by Faith Hunter is the 12th book in the Jane Yellowrock series. This is not a standalone type novel. It's definitely a part of a series and is a culmination of some plot points. It would seem this was originally to be the last book in the series, but part way through they decided to add two more books to it. It is still a very good book.

Leo, the master of the city of New Orleans, has been challenged to a blood challenge called the Sangre Duello by the leader of the European vampires. This is serious. If Leo and his people lose, then New Orleans will come under the European vamps control and people will suffer - humans, witches, vampires, everyone.

Jane, as Leo's enforcer, is very much involved in the preparations for the challenge. She is having to learn to accept that she can't control everything and must delegate.

The action is virtually nonstop. It starts early on with Jane answering the door and being shot at. It doesn't seem to let up much until after the challenge has been met. It's a fast-paced read.

I liked it all. Jane's flippancy infects Leo's handling of things but in a calculated way.  I also liked the conversations she has with Beast who is "good ambush hunter" among other things. The touch of romance is nice and gives a brief respite from the action. There is also a subplot involving a possible blood relation of Jane's.

Is the ending a cliffhanger? In many ways, yes. It's still very readable as it is. I do look forward to the next book to see how the issues are resolved.

Overall, I give this book 4 out of 5 stars. It's a class act, well-written with good characterization. It kept my attention and piqued my interest as to where the series will go from here. Do not read this as your first Jane Yellowrock book ever.

Dark Queen by Faith Hunter was released May 1st, 2018 by Ace.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. This in no way influences my opinions. This is my honest review.

Review: The Truth About Animals by Lucy Cooke

The Truth About Animals: Stoned Sloths, Lovelorn Hippos, and Other Tales from the Wild Side of Wildlife by Lucy Cooke is an impressive selection of information on 13 different animals. Eels, beavers, sloths, hyenas, vultures, bats, frogs, storks, hippos, moose, pandas, penguins, and chimpanzees are covered.

Each chapter includes notes about what people thought about the animal in the past, what kinds of behaviors are in question, and what we know about the animal currently as compared to the past. There are plenty of facts both historical and scientific. Humor is sprinkled throughout.

Even though there is humor, I didn't find it quite as funny as I expected it to be when the blurb compared the book to Mary Roach and Bill Bryson. I enjoyed the facts and most of the chapters, but I was almost lost in the first chapter about eels and their sex lives and origins. Things picked up from there for me, thankfully. The chapters I enjoyed the most were the ones on sloths, hippos, pandas, and penguins.

Just a note, a lot of the book has to do with reproduction. And some of the historical facts involve less than humane treatment of the animals in the past.

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.  Overall. it's well-written and has interesting facts.

The Truth About Animals by Lucy Cooke was released April 17th, 2018 from Basic Books part of the Hachette Book Group.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. My review is freely given and all my own opinions.

Can't Wait Wednesday/Waiting on Wednesday #238: Girl at the Grave by Teri Bailey Black

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event which had been hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine where we spotlight upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating. I'm now linking up with "Can't-Wait Wednesday" hosted over at Wishful Endings.

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Early Libba Bray meets Stalking Jack the Ripper and William Ritter’s Jackaby series in this richly atmospheric Gothic tale of murder and romance in 1850s New England

Valentine has spent years trying to outrun her mother's legacy. But small towns have long memories, and when a new string of murders occurs, all signs point to the daughter of a murderer. 

Only one person believes Valentine is innocent—Rowan Blackshaw, the son of the man her mother killed all those years ago. Valentine vows to find the real killer, but when she finally uncovers the horrifying truth, she must choose to face her own dark secrets, even if it means losing Rowan in the end.

Debut author Terri Bailey Black unearths the long-buried secrets of a small New England town in this richly atmospheric Gothic tale of murder, guilt, redemption, and finding love where least expected.

Girl at the Grave by Teri Bailey Black is expected to be released August 7th, 2018 from Tor Teen.

Why am I waiting on this one? It sounds like a good mystery/thriller novel. I like the cover; it has a Gothic feel to it. I have enjoyed Gothic stories in the past, so there's a good chance I will like this one as well. And it's a debut novel. I like reading new authors.

What book are you waiting on this week? Share it or a link in the comments so we can check it out and maybe add it to our TBR lists. Thanks for coming by and Happy Reading!

Teaser Tuesday: Dark Queen by Faith Hunter

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by The Purplebooker.
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 and author so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers! 

I chuckled and the sound was half-Beast. Antifreeze flinched just the tiniest bit. Right. I was a monster and living with monsters never got easier. (49% through on my Kindle)

Dark Queen by Faith Hunter was published May 1st, 2018 by Ace.

Would you keep reading? What's your teaser this week? Share it or a link in the comments. Are you enjoying your book? Let us know! Happy Reading!

Can't Wait Wednesday/Waiting on Wednesday #237: Sawkill Girls by Claire Legrand

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event which had been hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine where we spotlight upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating. I'm now linking up with "Can't-Wait Wednesday" hosted over at Wishful Endings.

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Beware of the woods and the dark, dank deep.

He’ll follow you home, and he won’t let you sleep.

Who are the Sawkill Girls?

Marion: the new girl. Awkward and plain, steady and dependable. Weighed down by tragedy and hungry for love she’s sure she’ll never find.

Zoey: the pariah. Luckless and lonely, hurting but hiding it. Aching with grief and dreaming of vanished girls. Maybe she’s broken—or maybe everyone else is.

Val: the queen bee. Gorgeous and privileged, ruthless and regal. Words like silk and eyes like knives, a heart made of secrets and a mouth full of lies.

Their stories come together on the island of Sawkill Rock, where gleaming horses graze in rolling pastures and cold waves crash against black cliffs. Where kids whisper the legend of an insidious monster at parties and around campfires.

Where girls have been disappearing for decades, stolen away by a ravenous evil no one has dared to fight… until now.

Sawkill Girls by Claire Legrand is expected to be published October 2nd, 2018 from Katherine Tegen Books.

Why am I waiting on this one? It sounds like a good horror/thriller novel. Wondering what kind of monster it is that is preying on people and how the girls are going to deal with it.

What book are you waiting on this week? Share it or a link in the comments so we can check it out and maybe add it to our TBR lists. Thanks for coming by and Happy Reading!

Teaser Tuesday: Noir by Christopher Moore

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by The Purplebooker.
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 and author so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers! 

The night at work moved like honey poured over an iceberg. Mugs, thugs, and lugs, sitting in the smoke, nothing more to me than a drink order and a "here you go." Every time the door opened, the hope rising in me like a hallelujah shattered like a gut-shot crystal goblet when it wasn't the Cheese. (p. 79)

Noir by Christopher Moore was released April 17th, 2018 from William Morrow. The Cheese is a dame.

Would you keep reading? What's your teaser this week? Share it or a link in the comments. Are you enjoying your book? Let us know! Happy Reading!

Review: Lethal Literature by Kym Roberts

Charli and her Dad own and run the Book Barn, an independent bookstore. Charli gets the feeling that her father is hiding something from her. She's pretty sure it's something innocuous like that he has a crush on the county clerk who they are helping with a book drive for foster children. Then the clerk turns up dead and Charli sees her father at the scene of the crime. Her imagination and her need to protect her dad run into overdrive. Soon she finds herself hurrying to find the real killer and figure out just what her father is keeping secret.

Lethal Literature by Kym Roberts is the 4th installment in the Book Barn mysteries. I like that the characters still have surprises up their sleeves. The main characters are well-developed and continue to grow and change as we learn more about them. I particularly liked learning more about Isla, the judge's wife. I enjoyed the chemistry in the budding relationship between Charli and Mateo.

The setting for the series expands as well. It now includes another small neighboring town.

The mystery is well-written. The pacing is good for the most part. The end felt a little rushed to me, but it was still good and wrapped up loose ends. I was surprised as to who the killer was.

Overall, I give this book 4 out of  5 stars. It's well-written with interesting characters and a good plot and pacing. I would recommend this book for people who enjoy cozy mysteries. Charli and her friend Scarlet make a good pair of amateur sleuths. While you could read this as a standalone, the book does refer to events that take place in other installments in the series. It might just hook your interest to go back and read the others.

Lethal Literature by Kym Roberts was released May 1st, 2018 by Lyrical Underground.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions herein are my own and freely given.

Can't Wait Wednesday/Waiting on Wednesday #236: Venom in the Veins by Jennifer Estep

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event which had been hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine where we spotlight upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating. I'm now linking up with "Can't-Wait Wednesday" hosted over at Wishful Endings.

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Blood might be thicker than water, but venom is stronger than just about anything …

It was supposed to be a nice, quiet, simple dinner with friends—but nothing is ever nice, quiet, or simple when you’re Gin Blanco, the Spider, notorious assassin and current queen of the Ashland underworld.

This time around, someone seems to be targeting Stuart Mosley, the president of First Trust bank. Lots of people have grudges against Mosley, but the more I investigate, the more Mosley’s problems seem to be connected to some of my own, especially when it comes to the Circle, the evil, shadowy group that is secretly responsible for much of the crime and corruption in Ashland.

But when another blast from my dark and deadly past as the Spider comes to light, I wonder if I’ll be able to survive this dangerous new enemy, who has a burning thirst for revenge that will only be satisfied with one thing: my death.

Venom in the Veins by Jennifer Estep is expected to be released June 12th, 2018. It is book #17 in the Elemental Assassin series.

Why am I waiting on this one? I've been enjoying the Elemental Assassin series. I'm looking forward to seeing where this installment takes Gin and her friends and family. I love that in addition to being a busy assassin and leader in the criminal underworld of the city, she is also a restaurant owner/operator. She is a busy, complex woman with friends and family that care about her and she about them. And this is an excellent urban fantasy series well worth the time to check it out.

What book are you waiting on this week? Share it or a link in the comments so we can check it out and maybe add it to our TBR lists. Thanks for coming by and Happy Reading!

Teaser Tuesday: Lethal Literature by Kym Roberts

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by The Purplebooker.
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 and author so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers! 

He smiled, that warm smile I'd always craved. His face lit and made me believe in tomorrow being brighter than today. Even on a good day. (23% through on my Kindle)

It's a cozy mystery, but romance plays a part in the subplot. 

Lethal Literature by Kym Roberts is being released today, May 1st by Lyrical Underground. It's the 4th book in the Book Barn Mystery series.

Would you keep reading? What's your teaser this week? Share it or a link in the comments. Are you enjoying your book? Let us know! Happy Reading!