Monday's Beginnings (164)

So, it's Monday, and I'm saying it's not fair for the kids to have an in-service day from school when I still have to work. *pout*  I want an in-service day too!

Oh well.  I lounged all weekend and enjoyed many different worlds on the couch.  Yep, I read novellas and short stories all weekend to appease my mind.  And it was rather nice.  I also sat down with my notebook and thought on the story idea for Nano.  I still have loads to come up with, but I think I have an idea in the works that I'm going with.  It's one I've thought on for a year now, although not weightily   But now I'm thinking I might find something there.  I've got to put the story description into Nanowrimo yet, but I'm pretty sure it's the one for this year.  I had thought it was an Urban Fantasy idea as well, but it seems to have been hiding a few bits of information from me, and has turned into another Fantasy story for me.  Yep, I seem to like my fantasy.  *shrugs*

I've got lots going this week in books and the first chat on the first half of Gunmetal Magic will be on Thursday, so lots of words to read for that one.  And a few lined up in novels to get to before November rolls around.  Some great stuff here waiting for me.

But, on to the bookish stuff from last week now...

Current Read:
Gunmetal Magic by Ilona Andrews

Finished Last Week:
Fathom by Merrie Destefano
and a few Short Stories/Novellas
The Weird Girls by Cecy Robson
Of Course I Try by Seleste deLaney
The Ghost of Vampire Present by Seleste deLaney
Curran POV Vol 1 by Gordon Andrews
Curran POV Vol 2 by Gordon Andrews
A Little Short for An Alien by Frances Pauli

Reviews to Come:
Harmonics: Rise of the Magician by Collin Earl & Chris Snelgrove
House of Grey Vol. 1 by Collin Earl
House of Grey Vol. 2 by Collin Earl
The High Priestess by Katee Robert
Endgame by Ann Aguirre
Fathom by Merrie Destefano
The Weird Girls by Cecy Robson
Of Course I Try by Seleste deLaney
The Ghost of Vampire Present by Seleste deLaney
Curran POV Vol 1 by Gordon Andrews
Curran POV Vol 2 by Gordon Andrews
A Little Short for An Alien by Frances Pauli

Book Reviews Posted:
Soul Trade by Caitlin Kittredge
Stitch by Samantha Durante

Podcast Reviews Posted:
Avalon Revisited by O.M. Grey ~ Chapters 13 - 16

Movie Review Posted:
No movie review, sorry, been running out of time.

Books and Covers Shared:
Have you Heard?  A new book in a loved fantasy world.

Special Posts:
Guest Post: The Ick Factor: How Reality TV Inspired Stitch by Samantha Durante
Book and Music Fun
UF Book Chat, New Schedule for Gunmetal Magic
Freebies and Deals, on Nook too (28)

I did not do a Flash Fiction Friday.  It seems I've gotten away from these lately.  From the way things are looking, I won't be doing any for a while now too.

My WANT List...Hmmm, well...um, looks like I've only added 1.  That's so hard to believe.  But true.  You all must be continuing with series that I have the first book showing on my WANT list already.  I don't usually add books of a series until I read at least the first book.

Received Last Week:
Won:
I won this at Mel's Random Reviews.  I got to pick the book, and this one has been clawing at my mind for some time, so had to ask for it. :)

The Iron Wyrm Affair by Lilith Saintcrow
Goodreads Synopsis:
Emma Bannon, forensic sorceress in the service of the Empire, has a mission: to protect Archibald Clare, a failed, unregistered mentath. His skills of deduction are legendary, and her own sorcery is not inconsiderable. It doesn't help much that they barely tolerate each other, or that Bannon's Shield, Mikal, might just be a traitor himself. Or that the conspiracy killing registered mentaths and sorcerers alike will just as likely kill them as seduce them into treachery toward their Queen. 

In an alternate London where illogical magic has turned the Industrial Revolution on its head, Bannon and Clare now face hostility, treason, cannon fire, black sorcery, and the problem of reliably finding hansom cabs. 

The game is afoot..

Free:
These were eBooks I found for free last week:

Witch Eyes by Scott Tracey
Goodreads Synopsis:
Braden was born with witch eyes: the ability to see the world as it truly is: a blinding explosion of memories, darkness, and magic. The power enables Braden to see through spells and lies, but at the cost of horrible pain.

After a terrifying vision reveals imminent danger for the uncle who raised and instructed him, Braden retreats to Belle Dam, an old city divided by two feuding witch dynasties. As rival family heads Catherine Lansing and Jason Thorpe desperately try to use Braden's powers to unlock Belle Dam's secrets, Braden vows never to become their sacrificial pawn. But everything changes when Braden learns that Jason is his father--and Trey, the enigmatic guy he's falling for, is Catherine's son.

To stop an insidious dark magic from consuming the town, Braden must master his gift—and risk losing the one he loves.

Jane Carver Waar by Nathan Long
Goodreads Synopsis:
Jane Carver is nobody's idea of a space princess.

A hard-ridin', hard-lovin' biker chick and ex-Airborne Ranger, Jane is as surprised as anyone else when, on the run from the law, she ducks into the wrong cave at the wrong time-and wakes up butt-naked on an exotic alien planet light-years away from everything she's ever known.

Waar is a savage world of four-armed tiger-men, sky-pirates, slaves, gladiators, and purple-skinned warriors in thrall to a bloodthirsty code of honor and chivalry. Caught up in a disgraced nobleman's quest to win back the hand of a sexy alien princess, Jane encounters bizarre wonders and dangers unlike anything she ever ran into back home.

Then again, Waar has never seen anyone like Jane before…

Both a loving tribute and scathing parody of the swashbuckling space fantasies of yore, Jane Carver of Waar introduces an unforgettable new science fiction heroine.

So...How did the week go for you last week?  Hope it was a good one, all around.  How does the new week look for you?

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