On My Nightshelf

I know most of us read a lot but don't review every book so I just wanted a way to tell all what I read. So here is what I enjoyed this month. What did you read?

-Spirit Dances (The Walker Papers, #6) by C.E. Murphy
-Masques (Sianim, #1)(Aralorn, #1) by Patricia Briggs
-Montana Sky by Nora Roberts
-The Hunter (Forbidden Game, #1) by L.J. Smith
-The Chase (Forbidden Game, #2) by L.J. Smith
-The Kill (Forbidden Game, #3) by L.J. Smith
-Radiant Shadows (Wicked Lovely, #4) by Melissa Marr
-Darkest Mercy (Wicked Lovely, #5) by Melissa Marr
-Northern Lights by Nora Roberts
-Divided (Darkest Power free online short story) by Kelley Armstrong
-Disenchanted (Darkest Power free online short story) by Kelley Armstrong
-Pack Challenge (Mangus Pack, #1) by Shelly Laurenston
-Archangel Consort (Guild Hunter, #3) by Nalini Singh
-Beautiful Dreamer by Elizabeth Lowell
-Hunting Harvest (Sister of the Moon, #8) by Yasmine Galenorn
-Creation in Death (In Death, #25) by J.D. Robb
-Mr. and Miss. Anonymous by Fern Michaels
-Shadow Days (Nightshade novella prequel) by Andrea Cremer
-Midnight Crystal (Dreamlight Trilogy, #3; Arcane Society, #9; Harmony, #7) by Jayne Castle
- Let Sleeping Rogues Lie (School for Heiresses, # 4) by Sabrina Jeffries
-Lover in the Rough by Elizabeth Lowell
-Scandalous Again (Switching Places, #1) by Christina Dodd
-One Kiss From You (Switching Places, #2) by Christina Dodd
-Risky Business by Nora Roberts

Crazy Family Love Giveaway

The Hathaways
Lisa Kleypas is one of my favorite new authors and one of the main reasons is the Hathaway family. Amelia, Win, Poppy, Leo, and Beatrix are the immediate family who attract trouble where ever they go but as a family they can handle everything. The add-ons to the family are Cam Rohan, Kev Merripen, Harry Ruthledge, and Catherine Marks are just as good as family. Don’t forget Beatrix’s collection of furry critters.

MINE TILL MIDNIGHT
Amelia Hathaway lives a genteel but impoverished life until her
family comes into an unexpected inheritance. Suddenly they have a
title and a small fortune. Amelia does her best to rein in her colorful
and unmanageable siblings to match society's expectations. Until
the mysterious, extremely wealthy half-Gypsy Cam Rohan appears.

SEDUCE ME AT SUNRISE
Kev Merripen has longed for the beautiful, well-bred Winnifred
Hathaway ever since her family rescued him from the brink of death
when he was just a boy. But this handsome Gypsy is a man of
mysterious origins—and he fears that the darkness of his past could
crush delicate, luminous Win.

A HATHAWAY WEDDING
Kev Merripen and Win Hathaway’s wedding.
Get your free copy of this novella here

TEMPT ME AT TWILIGHT
Poppy Hathaway loves her unconventional family, though she longs
for normalcy. Then fate leads to a meeting with Harry Rutledge, an
enigmatic hotel owner and inventor with wealth, power, and a
dangerous hidden life.

MARRIED BY MORNING
For two years, Catherine Marks has been a paid companion to the
Hathaway sisters. Her charges’ older brother, Leo Hathaway, is
thoroughly exasperating. When one quarrel ends in a sudden kiss, Cat
is shocked at her powerful response—and even more so when Leo
proposes a dangerous liaison.

LOVE IN THE AFTERNOON
As a lover of animals and nature, Beatrix Hathaway has always been
more comfortable outdoors than in the ballroom. Even though she
participated in the London season in the past, the classic beauty and
free-spirited Beatrix has never been swept away or seriously courted.
Has the time come for the most unconventional of the Hathaway
sisters to settle for an ordinary man—just to avoid spinsterhood?

Giveaway: Now it’s the season of giving so I am giving away the copy I read of Married By Morning. If you want to enter to win I will announce winner March 1, 2011
1. Leave a comment (Have you enjoyed a series that you feel in love with the crazy family?)
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Waiting on Wednesday: Those Who Fight Monsters: Tales of Occult Detectives

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event I am joining, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read selection is:
Those Who Fight Monsters: Tales of Occult Detectives
By Justin Gustainis
Releases March 1, 2011

Got Vampires? Ghosts? Monsters? We Can help!

Those Who Fight Monsters: Tales of Occult Detectives, is your one-stop-shop for Urban Fantasy’s finest anthology of the supernatural. 14 sleuths are gathered together for the first time in all-original tales of unusual cases which require services that go far beyond mere deduction!

Those Who Fight Monsters: Tales of Occult Detectives brings together popular characters from many Urban Fantasy paranormal investigative series, for your enjoyment.

TABLE OF CONTENTS with The Detectives:

* “Introduction: Down These Mean Crypts a (Wo)Man Must Walk”
* “An Ace in the Hole” with Tony Giodone - from C. T. Adams and Cathy Clamp’s Tales of the Sazi series.
* “Running Wild” with Cassiel - from Rachel Caine’s Outcast Season series.
* “Dusted” Danny Hendrickson - from Laura Anne Gilman’s Casa Nostradamus series.
* “Soul Stains” with Dawn Madison - from Chris Marie Green’s Vampire Babylon series.
* “The Spirit of the Thing” with John Taylor - from Simon R. Green’s Nightside series.
* “Deal Breaker” with Quincey Morris - from Justin Gustainis’ Morris/Chastain Investigations series.
* “Impossible Love” with Piers Knight - from C. J. Henderson’s Brooklyn Knight series.
* “See Me” with Tony Foster - from Tanya Huff’s Smoke and Shadows series.
* “The Demon You Know” with Kate Connor - from Julie Kenner’s Demon Hunting Soccer Mom series.
* “Hell Bound” with Jezebel - from Jackie Kessler’s Hell on Earth series.
* “Under the Hill and Far Away” with Pete Caldecott - from Caitlin Kittredge’s Black London series.
* “Little Better than a Beast” with Marla Mason - from T. R. Pratt’s Marla Mason series.
* “Holding the Line” with Jill Kismet - from Lilith Saintcrow’s Jill Kismet series.
* “Defining Shadows” with Jessi Hardin - from Carrie Vaughn’s Kitty Norville series

Becca Fitzpatrick's Silence

Check out Becca Fitzpatrick's website to learn more.

Can't wait to see what happens next for Nora and Patch.

ARC Review: Darkest Mercy

By Melissa Marr
Releases February 22, 2011
Source: Donna, Melissa Marr's assistant

This is a hard review to do without spoilers but I will because I have no right to ruin this absolutely fabulous book for anyone. Melissa Marr is a genius. The Wicked Lovely series has not been a light and fluffy story with sweet fairies frolicking around. It is a down and dirty series of events with people who have real heart-wrecking problems they try to overcome.

It started in Wicked Lovely with Aislinn and Seth falling in love with Keenan simultaneously trying to steal her away as his Summer court’s Queen. Donia trying to be a strong Winter Queen and keep her feelings for the Summer King under wraps as much as possible. Niall, the newest Dark King trying learn the ropes with Irial as his advisor and friend. Both Dark Kings are very much in love with their shadow girl, Leslie. Seth who is the newest faery and son of the High Court is trying to keep Order for his friends and loved ones while figuring out where he stands with Aislinn. All these powerful courts must find a way to defeat War, Bananach who is creating death and violence where ever she goes. Death fey are walking around so no one can fight death or can they?

I don’t know how Melissa Marr did it but it was a so unexpected ending that I was slack jawed half the time and leaping for joy the rest. I know the series has to end and it ended well but I want more. The writing was great, the characters keep growing and changing, and the overall story was well done. I can’t wait for her post-dark mercy story in the upcoming novella in Enthralled.

Favorite Quote:
“Irial!”
“Still here.” Irial didn’t open his eyes, but he smiled a little.
“You’re an ass,” Niall said, but he kept his hands on Irial’s chest so that he could feel both pulse and breath.
“You too, Gancanagh,” Irial murmured.

The Summer King is missing; the Dark Court is bleeding; and a stranger walks the streets of Huntsdale, his presence signifying the deaths of powerful fey.

Aislinn tends to the Summer Court, searching for her absent king and yearning for Seth. Torn between his new queen and his old love, Keenan works from afar to strengthen his court against the coming war. Donia longs for fiery passion even as she coolly readies the Winter Court for battle. And Seth, sworn brother of the Dark King and heir to the High Queen, is about to make a mistake that could cost his life.

Love, despair, and betrayal ignite the Faery Courts, and in the final conflict, some will win . . . and some will lose everything.

The thrilling conclusion to Melissa Marr's New York Times bestselling Wicked Lovely series will leave readers breathless.

Thank you so much Melissa and Donna for a chance to be a part of the ARC tour. I loved the Wicked Lovely series.

Waiting on Wednesday: Surrender the Dark

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event I am joining, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read selection is:
Surrender the Dark
By L.A. Banks
Releases March 29, 2011

The first in a new urban fantasy series about fallen angels from New York Times bestselling author L.A. Banks.

Celeste Jackson has fought all her life against a fog of hallucination and substance abuse, but it’s not until she meets her protector, Azrael, an angel who has left the safety of the Light, that she learns of the evil forces that have been trying to ruin her, and why. A fierce battle for control of the mortal realm is brewing, and only Celeste—with the help of the Remnant, her half-human, half-angel brethren—can stand in the way. Together, Celeste and Azrael must gather an army of sensitives to defeat the dark powers that have ruled humanity for centuries, but time is running out. If Azrael surrenders to his growing desire for Celeste, he risks being trapped among humanity forever. But the longer he stays, the harder she is to resist. To save the world, Celeste must draw on her own dark experiences with addiction to help Azrael overcome the one temptation that could possibly make him an eternal prisoner—his obsession with her.

Review: Spirit Dances

By C.E. Murphy
Releases April 11, 2011
Source: Review copy provided by NetGalley for review.

I really enjoyed this latest installment book six of the Walker Papers series because I think Joanne has finally grown-up. She has come to terms with her shamanic powers and is really learning to take responsibility. I liked how she had more confidence. Now, she’s not perfect because lets be honest that would not be Joanne-style. She makes mistakes with the best intentions and spends twice as much time trying to fix them. Her big mistake involves Morrison this time. Yes, it’s unexpected but good.

Joanne’s life has a lot more troubles in it because of her gifts then if she didn’t have them so I thought it was nice that she got some appreciation. Some of the new characters in this one were just that. Rita was one of the women she saved in a past book. She wanted to meet her ‘miracle’, the one how sent the police to help her. Also, another woman, Tia Carley, at the dance performance who Joanne helps wants to thank her too. It was a nice touch that Joanne gets some appreciation for her efforts because her life would be easier if she ignored it all.

Rita folded her arms around herself and peered up at me. “If you’d asked me
three months ago I’d have said you were hitting the bottle too hard. But then I
got stabbed and should have died, but instead a bunch of cops and ambulance
people showed up because somebody who wasn’t even there sent them on ahead to save my life. If something like that happens to someone like me, you start to
have a little faith in something bigger. I don’t know if I believe in magic or
miracles all the time. But I believe in you, Detective Walker. I believe in
you.”

One of my favorite scenes is when Joanne shoves Billy into a closet at the police station so she can have a freak out section about Morrison. It was classic junior high, high school, college and any other age but usually it’s the bathroom with your girlfriends. Loved it.

The only thing this book was missing was Gary. He’s one of my favorites but he was off with war buddies drinking. Good for him, not for me. I missed him.

ONE DATE WITH THE BOSS CAN GET COYOTE UGLY.

For Seattle detective Joanne Walker, spring is about new beginnings. She's mastered her shamanic abilities (mostly), survived a cannibalistic serial killer (barely) and now she's facing the biggest challenge of her career - attending a dance concert with her sexy boss, Captain Michael Morrison. But when the performance - billed as transformative - actually changes her into a COYOTE, she and Morrison have bigger things to deal with.

And there's more. Homeless people are disappearing, a mystical murder puts Joanne way out of her jurisdiction and with the full moon coming on, it's looking like the killer is a creature that can't possibly exist.

But Jo could probably handle all that, if one ordinary homicide hadn't pushed her to the VERY EDGE...

COP OR SHAMAN? THE CHOICE ISN'T EASY. BUT IT'S ONE SHE JUST MIGHT HAVE TO MAKE...

Cover Love: Drink Deep

Chloe just released the cover of the

fifth installment of the

Chicagoland Vampires which will

be out this November 2011.

I wish I looked that good in leather.

February Author Signings in NJ/Philly Area

Who doesn't love author signings. If you are in the New Jersey or Philadelphia Area here are some of my favorite authors that will be visiting.

Cynthia Leitich Smith on Blessed Tour
Date: Saturday, February 12, 2011 at 6:30PM
Venue: Barnes and Noble 856-486-1492
Location: 911 Haddonfield Rd, Cherry Hill, NJ 08002
Type: Author Signing
Website: Blessed Tour

February Releases

Here are a few book that come out in the first month of this new year I can't wait for. Need to start the year off on the right foot and I think these picks will do it.

Primal Anthology
Anthology with Lora Leigh, Michelle Rowen, Jory Strong and Ava Gray
Releases February 1, 2011

When desire cannot be controlled…When personal will is overpowered by carnal cravings…When only one fearless impulse feeds you, body and soul…

You can’t deny it. It’s something primal.

#1 New York Times bestselling author Lora Leigh returns to her sensual world of the Breeds …in Kyote’s Ghost, an all-new novella that explores just how savage, how far, and how deep a man is willing to go in the name of desire.

Check out my Waiting on Wednesday to get more information on each story.

Angel Fire
By Courtney Allison Moulten
Release February 15, 2011

This debut, the first novel in a trilogy, is achingly romantic, terrifying, and filled with blistering action.

When seventeen-year-old Ellie starts seeing reapers - monstrous creatures who devour humans and send their souls to Hell - she finds herself on the front lines of a supernatural war between archangels and the Fallen and faced with the possible destruction of her soul.

A mysterious boy named Will reveals she is the reincarnation of an ancient warrior, the only one capable of wielding swords of angelfire to fight the reapers, and he is an immortal sworn to protect her in battle. Now that Ellie's powers have been awakened, a powerful reaper called Bastian has come forward to challenge her. He has employed a fierce assassin to eliminate her - an assassin who has already killed her once.

While balancing her dwindling social life and reaper-hunting duties, she and Will discover Bastian is searching for a dormant creature believed to be a true soul reaper. Bastian plans to use this weapon to ignite the End of Days and to destroy Ellie's soul, ending her rebirth cycle forever. Now, she must face an army of Bastian's most frightening reapers, prevent the soul reaper from consuming her soul, and uncover the secrets of her past lives - including truths that may be too frightening to remember

A Touch Mortal
By Leah Clifford
Releases February 22, 2011

Eden didn't expect Az.

Not his saunter down the beach toward her. Not his unbelievable pick-up line. Not the instant, undeniable connection. And not his wings.

Yeah.

So long, happily-ever-after.

Now trapped between life and death, cursed to spread chaos with her every touch, Eden could be the key in the eternal struggle between heaven and hell. All because she gave her heart to one of the Fallen, an angel cast out of heaven.

She may lose everything she ever had. She may be betrayed by those she loves most. But Eden will not be a pawn in anyone else's game. Her heart is her own.

And that's only the beginning of the end.