Monday's Beginnings (154)

Drat. It's Monday...again. *sigh*

I wish I had the weekend again. Why is it the weekend goes so much faster than a day at work?  If work went that fast I might be happy... nah.

So, it seemed to be an alright week last week.  I've gotten back to exercising, even if only on the treadmill two or three days along with jackknives a type of sit-up.  But the best part is I'm feeling better.  Underway of antibiotics to help with the dreaded sinus infection, which I think I had longer than I suspected.  And I had a birthday as well.  So what did I do?  I asked for breakfast at Ihop and then went to Barnes & Nobles.  Yes, the bookstore was part of the plan for going to Ihop, and that I had not been there yet.  I did get 3 books and ordered one they didn't have on their shelves. (which I think might be a topic for chatting one day.)

If you are looking for the winners of the Celebration giveaways, I'm working on them.  Please bear with me as I talley the numbers.  It might take me a day or two to get through everything.  Thank you!

So, lets get to the bookish stuff.  Shall we...
I know I have a lot of Reviews to Come, so I think I'm going to try to get two book reviews up a week.

Current Read:
The Dragonslayer's Sword by Resa Nelson

Finished Last Week:
Thirteen by Kelley Armstrong
Spirits Rising by Krista D. Ball

Reviews to Come:
Blue-Blooded Vamp by Jaye Wells
Discount Miracles by Brand Gamblin
The Janus Affair by Pip Ballantine & Tee Morris
The Ripple Effect by J.A. Saare
Thirteen by Kelley Armstrong
Tethered by Meljean Brook
You Will Thank Me Later by Jonathan Carter
9 Crimes by Skyla Dawn Cameron
Spirits Rising by Krista D. Ball

Book Reviews Posted:
The Relic by Colleen Helmes

Movie Review Posted:
Priest

Podcast Reviews Posted:
Tales from the Archives Vol 2 #5 - The Wrong Camera
Fables of the Flying City Ep 28-31

Books and Covers Shared:
Dark Whispers by Krista D. Ball
Synopsis for Wrayth by Philippa Ballantine

Special Posts:
Mini Comics!  Set in the steampunk world I've been loving, Fables of the Flying City.
Freebies and Deals, on Nook too (19)

I did do a Flash Fiction Friday, abate a little late but it's done.  And not really the best I've thought up so far.

My WANT List...Hmm, only 1 book!?! That seems wrong.

Received Last Week:
Winnings:
I won this one from Mel's Random Reviews on her Throwback Thursday pick.  Thank you Mel!

Bloodring by Faith Hunter
Goodreads Synopsis:
In a near-future world, seraphs and demons fight a never-ending battle. But a new species of mage has arisen. Thorn St. Croix is no ordinary “neomage.” Nearly driven insane by her powers, she has escaped the confines of the Enclaves and now lives among humans. When her ex-husband is kidnapped, Thorn must risk revealing her true identity to save him.






This one was for signing up to receive newsletters from the author, and Received this read.

Tools & Means by John Mierau
Synopsis:
Meet Tom Brogan.  An ordinary guy.  With a sister in a coma.  Seeing visions of a mass murderer.  Becoming one himself...and Tom is the hero.







Free on Nook:

Crux by Moira Rogers
Goodreads Synopsis:
To find her destiny, she must trust him with her life...and her heart. 

Jackson Holt makes a decent living as a private investigator in New Orleans, home of one of the largest underground supernatural populations in the United States. He and his partners have never met a case they couldn't crack...until a local bar owner asks him to do a little digging on her newest hire.

New Orleans is the fourth destination in as many months for Mackenzie Brooks, a woman on the run from a deranged stalker. After all, any man who shows up on her doorstep claiming to be her destined lover has more than a few screws loose. But crazy doesn't explain why he always finds her no matter how far she runs.

When her well-meaning boss puts a PI on her case, Mackenzie comes face to face with the incredible truth: magic is real, and whatever spell has kept her hidden and separate from the paranormal world is rapidly deteriorating.

With time running out, she has no choice but to trust Jackson as he struggles to uncover the truth of her past-and her destiny. 

This book contains devious schemes, epic battles, forbidden love between a shapeshifter and a spellcaster, nosy secondary characters, furniture-endangering sex and a woman fighting to choose her own destiny.

For Review:

Bloodhound by S.A. Archer & S. Ravynheart
Goodreads Synopsis:
Donovan rescued the earthborns. Protected them. Gave them shelter from the predators who would feast on their blood and Sidhe magic.

That time is over.

Time for the earthborns to train. To fight back. To reclaim what is theirs.

Time to show the world what it means to be Unseelie.

Purchased:

Gunmetal Magic by Ilona Andrews
Goodreads Synopsis:
The New York Times bestselling Kate Daniels novels have been hailed as “top-notch urban fantasy” (Monsters and Critics). Now, Ilona Andrews delves deeper into Kate’s world, and reveals its untold stories…

After being kicked out of the Order of the Knights of Merciful Aid, Andrea’s whole existence is in shambles. She tries to put herself back together by working for Cutting Edge, a small investigative firm owned by her best friend. When several shapeshifters working for Raphael Medrano—the male alpha of the Clan Bouda, and Andrea’s former lover—die unexpectedly at a dig site, Andrea is assigned to investigate. Now she must work with Raphael as her search for the killer leads into the secret underbelly of supernatural Atlanta. And dealing with her feelings for him might have to take a back seat to saving the world…

City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare
Goodreads Synopsis:
Jace is now a servant of evil, bound for all eternity to Sebastian. Only a small band of Shadowhunters believe he can be saved. To do this they must defy the Clave. And they must act without Clary. For Calry is playing a dangerous game utterly alone. The price of losing is not just her own life, but Jace's soul. Clary is willing to do anything for Jace, but can she still trust him? Or is he truly lost? What price is too high to pay, even for love?

The Egyptian Book of Living and Dying by Joann Fletcher
Goodreads Synopsis:
An illustrated collection of ancient Egyptian mythology and ritual encompassing the gods, creation, life, death and the afterlife. In addition to the astonishing cultural legacy of artifacts and burial sites that the ancient Egyptians left behind, there is also a rich body of compelling writings about the quest for immortality and humankind’s progress from birth to death and into the mysterious realm of the afterlife, which they called the Underworld. The Egyptian Book of Living and Dying traces the stages of life from conception to the life beyond the tomb. This cycle is set against the eternal backdrop of the cosmos – the gods, the movement of the sun, the symbolism of the stars, and the great battles of Horus and Seth.  Particular emphasis is given to the journey of the soul and the hazardous voyage – as described in the Book of the Dead – that it makes through the Underworld in search of the eternal paradise.  At the heart of the book are the key themes of creation, magic, ritual and eternity, each treated in a series of superbly illustrated explorations.  The result is an illuminating work for all those who wish to move one step closer to the spirit of the ancient Egyptians.

How did last week go for you?  How does the new week look?  I'm hoping to get some serious reading in this week, finish one book and start another before the weekend. :) Or at least try like crazy.

Here's wishing you all the best in words and pages.