Throwback Thursday (146)

I found this picture of Trinity College Library, and thought it would work for this meme with a little play with lighting and adding the words.

Let's talk about those books already on the shelves, yours or the stores.

I have a post for books I'm looking forward to coming out;

Looking Forward To...

But what about all those wonderful books that are ALREADY on the shelves.

Whether it be on your shelf waiting to be read or on the shelves in the stores waiting for you to give it a good home.

So, I thought I would share a book a week that is just waiting for me to travel through it's world.

Now... where do I start? Lets go by Published Date on the books...

This Week:

I love my anthologies and this one was on the top of my list to get. I've not read Charlaine Harris or Nalini Singh or the series Meljean Brook's short is for. But Ilona Andrews - OF COURSE! This anthology has a taste of them all for me.  Ilona Andrews story is the main reason I picked this up. And I'd forgotten I had it until now!

Goodreads Synopsis:
In these hound-eat-hound worlds, anything goes... and everything bites.

Follow paranormal bodyguards Clovache and Batanya into Lucifer's realm, where they encounter his fearsome four-legged pets, in Charlaine Harris's The Britlingens Go to Hell. 

Seek out a traitor in the midst of a guild of non- lethal vampire trackers, one that intends to eradicate the entire species of bloodsuckers, in Nalini Singh's Angels' Judgment.

Find out why the giant three-headed dog that guards the gates of Hades has left the underworld for the real world-and whose scent he's following-in Ilona Andrews's Magic Mourns. 

Embark on a perilous search for the kidnapped niece of a powerful vampire alongside her blind- and damn sexy-companion and a hellhound in Meljean Brook's Blind Spot.

These four novellas by today's hottest paranormal authors will have hellhound lovers everywhere howling.

I've heard back from a few bloggers that they would like to join in this meme post, so I'm adding a Linky for you to join in.  Grab the picture above, and join in.  All I ask, is if you can acknowledge my blog in the post so others know where to come back to.

Throwback Thursday (98)

I found this picture of Trinity College Library, and thought it would work for this meme with a little play with lighting and adding the words.

Let's talk about those books already on the shelves, yours or the stores.

I have a post for books I'm looking forward to coming out;

Looking Forward To...

But what about all those wonderful books that are ALREADY on the shelves.

Whether it be on your shelf waiting to be read or on the shelves in the stores waiting for you to give it a good home.

So, I thought I would share a book a week that is just waiting for me to travel through it's world.

Now... where do I start? Lets go by Published Date on the books...

This Week:

I was thrilled! to be given a copy of this book not so long ago by Meljean Brook for beta reading her short stories.  I really liked the world Meljean created in steam and so much more.  Ooo, I can't wait to read this one and the others too.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Passion runs as hot as a fever dream in these all-new stories by four New York Times bestselling provocateurs of the paranormal...

In Angela Knights's Blood and Roses, a vampire warrior and his seductive captor join forces to stop a traitor from unleashing an army of demonic predators on their kingdom.

New in Nalini Singh's Psy-Changeling series is Whisper of Sin, in which a woman in lethal danger finds an unlikely protector- and lover- in a volatile member of the DarkRiver pack.

Virginia Kantra continues the haunting tales of the Children of the Sea inShifting Sea, the story of a wounded soldier rescued by a strange and enigmatic young woman.

Meljean Brook launches a bold new steampunk series with Here There Be Monsters, as a desperate woman strikes provocative- and terrifying- bargain to gain overseas passage.

I've heard back from a few bloggers that they would like to join in this meme post, so I'm adding a Linky for you to join in.  Grab the picture above, and join in.  All I ask, is if you can acknowledge my blog in the post so others know where to come back to and join as well.  Thank you.

Book Review: Tethered

Tethered

By:  Meljean Brook

Publisher:  Penguin

Publish Date:  July 3, 2012

Format:  eARC of novella ~ Novella included in back of 2nd book, Heart of Steel

Genre:  Steampunk, Romance

Series:  2.5 in The Iron Seas series; Book 1.5 ~ Mina Wentworth and the Invisible City

Recommendation:  Oh yes!! That high seas adventure in the sky, with a dash of love to soften the heart.

Book Synopsis:
When a request for help from an old friend threatens everything that Archimedes Fox holds dear, Yasmeen must risk losing her new airship to a scourge of the Iron Seas...or risk losing the man she loves.

First Sentence:
Chat with them a bit?  Grinning, Archimedes folded Zenobia's note.

Purchase At:

Amazon ~ Heart of Steel / Barnes & Nobles

My Thoughts and Summary:
Through letters between a sister and a brother, Zenobia and Archimedes, we learn of events happening and the touch of the past revisiting.  That Zenobia writes adventure stories of the great female captain...who might be the wife of Archimedes.  Yasmeen receives an invitation to Scarsdale's wedding.  Archimedes' old partner, one of a deep past, is trying to find him and setup a meeting saying he thinks Archimedes can help him.  Some are worried he is looking for payment for damages he might try to claim, but really he wants another persons help, and he will use Archimedes to get it.  Yasmeen and Archimedes are about to take a dangerous trip they had not intended, with her new mercenary ship.  To find a floating city, or not?

We follow through with Yasmeen and Archimedes.  This has a few ties to the world of England as we still have the affects of the Horde and the nanoagents.  But here I feel we learn more about the nanoagent that pulses through many bodies, as it is important to understand to know what is going on.  I REALLY liked learning about the nanoagents here.  It seemed to fit so easily into the storyline and gave me a great view of the inside works as to why.

I feel we are starting fresh with Yasmeen as this crew and ship are new to her as well.  Yasmeen is starting to see how the adventure stories of Lady Lynx written by her sister-in-law, based on her and Archimedes tales, are going to affect her.  Yasmeen is the tough captain any and all think she is, but surprisingly there is one man who has stolen her heart.  Her husband Archimedes.  Yasmeen and Archimedes like adventure, and even a dash of danger to feel alive.  We get to hear of tidbits of past excursions and get a view of their cunning wit along with sharp minds in this short tale.  We take to the high seas, in the sky with boilers and steam.

These letters are our start, and leave me curious as to those mentioned and writing, along with the happenings mentioned in them.

Meljean writes powerful couples, full of desire and want that's more than sex but for companionship and full of complete and utter love for each other.  Yes, there is sex here, but it wasn't out of place.  It fit with the characters.

And another novella of the Iron Seas series, which I read out of turn.  And if I can do it and love the story, so can you.  This is 2.5 in the series.  This is a complete story, from start to finish full of adventure and love.

Needless to say, I've found a series that has all the elements I enjoy; mystery, adventure, action, steampunk, quick wit and flirting, all with a touch of romance as well.  I'll be reading these books!


I read this novella for the author to see if it could stand on it's own without reading the books.

Book Review: Mina Wentworth and the Invisible City

Mina Wentworth and the Invisible City

By:  Meljean Brook

Publisher:  Penguin

Publish Date:  August 7, 2012

Format:  eARC

Genre:  Steampunk, Romance

Series:  1.5 in Iron Seas Series

Recommendation:  Yes, so many elements wrapped in this little package; love, steampunk, and mystery.  All rolled into one!  And you can so read this without reading the first book!  Complete story here.

Book Synopsis:
Eight months after The Iron Duke, can their marriage survive a new danger?

When newly-married Detective Inspector Mina Wentworth is called to investigate a bounder's murder, she doesn't expect the mysterious machine she finds...or the danger that leads back to her husband.

First Sentence:
Even after eight months of marriage, Detective Inspector Mina Wentworth couldn't decide whether it was better to let her husband know that she'd been hurt on the job as soon as she returned home, or to wait until the readied for bed, where he'd see the evidence of her injuries for himself.

My Thoughts and Summary:
Rhys is finishing up preparations for a ball next week.  Detective Inspector Mina looks forward to an evening with her husband of eight glorious months, although not telling him about the shiny bruise she got at work as he worries.  When suddenly she gets called away due to a murder of an associate who wants to reward factories for not completely converting to machines.  Things run deeper than expected with this investigation and mystery. Mina learns new things of her new husband, and one thing she may not care much for...

A whole mystery is of its own and Mina and her husband learn a little more about themselves and family, growing a little more in the idea of together. There is difficulty with the journalists based on her personal relationships and her investigations, which makes the case a little tricky too.

I enjoy meeting the characters.  Anne - the young girl Mina seems to have "adopted", Scarsdale - Rhy's friend and business partner.  Then there's Mina and Rhys.  Wow, what a couple!

We get a quick glimpse as to how Mina and Rhys met.  We get a strong sense of how much Rhys loves and worries for Mina.  And how much Mina loves her husband.

I get the feel there is a long history here.  One with the Horde and nanoagents, the use of mechanical augmentation in bodies as well.  We see different body parts of iron and mechanical, partly the steampunk, that are useful to the people to make a living.  There are hints to Rhys past and sounds of great excitement.  We learn of his involvement against the Horde.  I will say all the details of happenings make me curious to read it all collectively and slowly in its time as it unravels.

We get views of the story from Mina and Rhys.  Both are so in love yet unsure if it'll last, sounds like quickly fell in love and married and maddeningly in love with each other still.

As this novella does come after the first novel, Iron Duke, in the Iron Seas series, it can be read on it's own.  The ground work for the world is here and you will get through.  The first chapter is heavy with world and character layout.  The story is a complete story in itself to enjoy.  The second chapter dives right into the murder mystery.  I read it before the first novel, understood and enjoyed it being new to the world and characters.  You can too!


I read this novella for the author to see if it could stand on it's own without reading books.

Book Review: Wild & Steamy

Wild & Steamy

By:  Meljean Brook, Jill Myles, Carolyn Crane

Publisher:  eBook

Publish Date:  August 2011

Format:  eBook

Genre:  Fantasy Romance, Urban Fantasy Romance, Steampunk Romance

Series:  Anthology; Disillustionists 2.5

Recommendation:  If you like hot sexy reads, this is a perfect quick fix!

Book Synopsis:
The Blushing Bounder by Meljean Brook - An Iron Seas novella of 15,000 words: The search for a killer puts Detective Inspector Mina Wentworth's life in danger and her assistant, Constable Newberry, in the line of fire. But Newberry faces a danger of another kind: to his heart, by the woman forced to marry him. What will it take for this prudish bounder to convince his wife to stay?

Vixen by Jill Myles - A shifter novella of 15,000 words: Miko's denied her were-fox nature for far too long and turned her back on her vixen heritage. But when she meets two very sexy cat-shifters, she has to decide if she truly wants to give up on her frisky side, or embrace it. Because the were-fox in her doesn't want to choose between both men...it wants them both.

Kitten-tiger & the Monk by Carolyn Crane - A Disillusionists novella of 20,000 words: Sophia Sidway, Midcity's most dangerous memory revisionist, seeks out the mysterious Monk in the wasteland beneath the Tangle turnpike, hoping for redemption...but it turns out that the Monk is not all that pious, and the turnpike is no turnpike at all.
 
My Thoughts and Summary:
The Blushing Bounder ~ By Meljean Brook
90pgs

Tempest is sick and now living with, whom she feels is, her deceiving husband in London and the reason she had a falling out with her family in the US.  Her husband wishes she would get the infection with the "bug" to cure her illness, but fearing the stories of becoming a zombie after death she refuses.  While in her room one night she witnesses a murder in the alley.  Tempest's husband is the one on the case and is to keep her safe from the guilty man.  Tempest looks closer at her husband and learns a few things, and maybe will save his life and hers.

This was a different story for me.  So much here to this world in this short read.  The bugs to heal people, and potential zombies.  Then we have the steampunk take on the mechanics uses here.  Wonderful the way Meljean mixes all this and creates an amazing world in such a short story.  I really enjoyed the world set-up and the ideas here.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Vixen ~ By Jill Myles
95pgs

Miko lives in the country to be away from distractions and interruptions...including men.  She's a were-fox and men drive the hormones through the roof as foxes are vixens.  Miko has visitors, 2 men visitors, sent from her mother.  They are sent to protect her from the new specialized hunts.  But the flirting begins, and Miko starts thinking about the one thing she moved to keep from her mind the sting of men and...mating.

Hot and steamy.  Sexy!  Have the fan ready!  Miko and these two delicious men.  But not only is the attraction flowing strong, but there is a story here as well.  The hunters are out and boundaries are crossed.  Oh by far Jill has created a Hot! story here.  The whole idea of the were-fox and her needs.  Wow!  But there is a story here about the hunter issue, but the main focus is on Miko.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kitten-Tiger & The Monk ~ by Carolyn Crane
131pgs

Sophia is sick of herself and what she does to others.  She wants rebooted and the only one to do that is The Monk.  She has a hint of where to start to find someone who knows where he is, on her path she learns this person is one from her past.  A past she thought she had moved past but found she never can.  Can she forgive herself and can he forgive her?

This is the story I got this anthology for.  I loved reading the first 2 books of Carolyn Cranes Disillustionist series.  And this one just adds to the list!

We learn more of Sophia and of The Monk.  Oh, I love Robert!  We get to see into the Tangle, the curvy twisting highway mess everyone dreads that is ever present here in the city.  Of this Tangle we see why it's the way it is.  We get just a touch of the stories in the trilogy as well, but it is not needed to have read those to read this.  But you might fall in love with the magic created here to pick up the first two books.  Great side story!


I read this for my own enjoyment.

This read qualifies for the Horror & Urban Fantasy Reading Challenge hosted by Book Chick City.

Who? What? Where? (35)

Who are you with? Where are you at? What's happening?

Share with us just a little bit of what is happening in the book you are reading, right where you are now.

Just a tiny taste of what's happening, remember try to not give spoilers of the book.

(This is a new meme I'm going to try and will tweak as I go. And please don't laugh at my lame attempt at drawing. ;D )

I'm with Mrs.Temperance Newberry in her new home in London with her newly wedded husband.  But she now is not happy with him, wanting nothing to do with him, and very very sick.  He mentioned about taking the infection to heal her and keep her healthy, but she refuses as she doesn't want to live as a zombie after she dies.  But as she is mad and hating him, he seems to deeply care for her...so far.


Yeah, I'm needing more of this world to learn more about this infection and of the mechanical/steampunk-ish feel too.

Wild & Steamy
By:  Meljean Brook