Vanessa’s Comments (group member since Jun 15, 2017)

Vanessa’s comments from the Read, Reading, Planning to Read and More group.

:-)

I am so far behind in posting my books here that I might as well give up. I can't even get my Goodreads main account straight.

I agree w/Kristi. I've read the "hate" message a couple of times before. There is also the "not sure the readers will like it/very nervous release" phase too. They work very hard & put tremendous pressure on themselves.

Good luck to both of you Frisco and Diane.

I am glad that my house has been good so far this summer. We have window air conditioners & all I had to do was buy another one, when the switch on one was acting up. Per usual, that one resides in the basement until we can dispose of it properly. It has great company, another air conditioner, a dehumidifier, and 2 old computers.

I see that Sarsh Ferguson, (the Duchess of York), has an historical book coming out tomorrow. It's titled " Her Heart For A Compass". It sounds interesting but @ $14.99 for the kindle edition, I think I'm going to wait a little while. Unless I listen on Audible.
Is there anything good coming out this week?

Hi All
I have been reading a wide variety of books lately.
From alien romances...
Choosing Theo
Freeing Luka
Saving Verakko
These are all human women and alien men,(so far). The premise of these books is that the women have been stolen from Earth and taken to labs on another planet in an attempt to save the dying race on the Clecanian planet. The first female is Jade and she manages to escape the "pod" that she was sent in by spraying the man who was supposed to take her to the lab with a sleeping spray that she swiped from her kidnappers' belt. She eventually is rescued and finds herself in a very different world. I won't give away all of the details but these were a bit more than just an insta romance.

I read the latest J.R. Ward book, Claimed I liked it, but I wish that there was a warning that there is a second or even a third part of this wolven story. The end had a bit of a surprise, a typical Wardian twist. The main love story parallels with a storyline involving Xhex with her investigating another lab which is possibly like the one she was held in as a young. The story ends in a HFN. I liked the new characters introduced in this small town and there is a bit of a mystery as to what species some are. The MC's Lydia Susi and Daniel Joseph are both loners. She is a wolf specialist working for a non-profit and he is a drifter/handyman looking for a job. Their passion is real but always "temporary". Ward has lots of familiar side characters popping in and out. V, Rev, John Mathew (of course), we meet Xhex's brother "Blade". (Who isn't a nice man). These characters aren't related to the wolven in The Jackal which I thought at first we were going to get a glimpse of. This is totally unconnected, or is it? Until the next book comes out next summer, I'm just chasing my tail imagining the possibilities.

I read a Julia Quinn novel, Just Like Heaven which is part of the Smythe-Smith Quartet series. The "quartet" is a running joke in many of her series including the Bridgerton one. The quartet has the distinction as being terribly awful and they have an annual musicale which is well attended and known as dreadfully bad.
This couple have been friends since childhood. He is six years older than her, but they have the easy banter of people who aren't afraid to speak their peace. This book has been hanging around on my kindle for a long time.

I also read the first 3 books in the Beechwood harbor magic mysteries series. These are magic light, no smexy scenes, and kind of sweet, with a mystery in each. Nothing spectacular, but nothing too heavy to read either. These revolve around the MC, Holly Boldt, who has been expelled from her magical community and is plopped down into a non-magical beach town but into a house owned by a ghost and inhabited by a were something and a vampire. These are free on KU and fall into the cozy category. Murder's a Witch

melindeeloo, sorry I missed your birthday. Good luck and much joy in your retirement, you must be so excited. I also agree with you K.F. Breenes' Magical Midlife Madness series is very good, well worth reading and my favorite in the Women's Paranormal Fiction novels.

TINNGG... I'm so glad that everything seems to be returning to normal with your son. I get what you mean about the doctor mess ups, You have to be your own, (or in this case, your son's), advocate and keep track of everything that in this computer age should be right there in front of them.

I can't believe that about C.M. Owens, that's horrible. I really liked those books. Her family must be devastated.

LAB... I am planning a visit to your new shop. I will get in touch with you when I am going to come up. Congrats! I'm very happy for you! :-}

DemetraP...I have the latest Ravenel's book too. I'm glad that it was a good read, I'm going to start it just as soon as I finish watching the latest season of The Handmaids Tale. I can only do an episode or two at a time it is so intense.
Is The Adversary the end of that storyline but not the end of the Chronicles of Ryacia books?

Hi Lisa... My husband and I are watching Downton Abbey again. There are so many little things that I have forgotten. What a great series, it's just as good the 2nd time.
I've been watching the 3rd season of Virgin River. I loved the books, and I am regarding the series like a different set of stories that I never read. I feel like after 3 seasons that we haven't gotten past book 1 in the series. I noticed something cute though, on the coffee table in the scene where Tara has had a seizure there is a paperback (?) copy of Virgin River.

I just took a chance on an anthology by Kelley Armstrong, Jeaniene
Frost, & Melissa Marr. It's called Hex on the Beach. They are supposed to be in the Cursed Luck, Night Huntress, and Faery Bargains worlds. I got it because there is a Cat story in it. I'll let you know if there is anything worth while.

I finished the Breaking Badger ARC. I'm glad that I read it. There is a couple in this story, but I feel as if this is a transition book and they are the side story. There are so many story lines that are hanging, that I feel as if I need the second half of the book. I guess to build up more characters and to create the many directions she can divert her future books into, there has to be an introduction. This book is a way to achieve that goal. The novel weaves around so many groups, the Black Malones, the McKilligan sisters, the so called "basketball" team, (who also run black ops), and the couples of the book, Mads Galendotter and Finn Malone are the main characters in this tale but they are somewhat overwhelmed by all of the other chaotic scenes. Quite a few former characters show up in this book and you get to see a different side of them. The honey badgers are quite a crew, strong, tough, and unafraid of any one whether they are supes or not. All in all, I did like it, but it wasn't my favorite.

I started a KU 3 book read called Beechwood Harbor Magic Mysteries Boxed Set These are a lighter read and just what I need to counter the Feehan book that I am listening to Shadow Storm.
This book is intense, very mafioso, and not what I expected for the only daughter of the Shadow Rider family, the Ferraro's. Emmanuelle Ferraro has loved Valentino Saldi since she was 16 years old, but there is a twist, a long held secret involving the Saldi family and the shadow riders. They seem to know that they exist. There is an extreme amount of machismo and at the same time Emmy isn't a push over. Per usual, Feehan has an penchant for long sex scenes and if I was reading these I would skim through, but I am listening so I endure, LOL!
Happy 4th to those here in the states, happy reading!

LAB: Congrats on the book store! That sounds wonderful. Maybe Carol and I can come up at the same time to visit. You must be so excited! You seem to have a good eye for the right books to
"flip".

Thanks Everyone for the sweet messages regarding my Grandmother. They are going to have a memorial service for her in mid-July.

I am trying to finish the latest Badger book, Breaking Badger with so much overtime at work and trying to keep up with my household chores and my gardens, I keep falling asleep when I try to finish reading.

Paula don't worry about your reviews. Some people just gush about he author or series, some seem to find fault with everything, but most of us give a bit about the book and our impressions about it. Try it! I seldom get books for review because of my limited time, but I still get them. You can also tell NG that you aren't going to review a certain book. I did that recently for a cook book that would not download to anything but my app on my phone. The customer service person couldn't seem to find the solution, so I gave up.
Paula I looked at A Sharpened Axe it's great to know that it is a good book, I'll have to get it.

Carol is your trip for your anniversary? I hope that you have an outstanding time. Are you doing guided tours or winging it on your own? Let us know all about it, will you?

Doug after I read the Riley Thorn book I was searching for a funny novel to read. Anyone have any recs?

Hi all. Just popping in to say hi & welcome to Charanya!
Kristi the weekend post was that periwinkle? I think her name was Keri?
I haven't seen any posts from Cace in a long time. I hope that she is doing well. Didn't she have a cancer diagnosis?

LAB I'm with you, most YA reads don't do it for me. I think that's why I'm having a hard time reading the Chakraborty Daevebad series.
I remember a vague reference to the coffins, but only once when the "boys" were young and they were admiring the fast cars in the massive garage. There is a lot in the BDB series, but I don't recall the coffins being referenced in every book. I say BS to that. LOL!

DemetraP I think I'm going to try Choosing Theo, it sounds like it's a lot of fun.

On audio, I'm listening to the latest Feehan "Shadows" book, Shadow Storm.
On kindle I'm reading the latest Laurenston Badger book.

On a personal note, my Grandmother Lula Coley, passed away this evening. She lived a wonderful life & at 105, it was time.
I never dreamed that I would have her this long, it's been a true blessing.

while I don't post very often, I do try to check in every couple of days. I still read/listen to a wide variety of genres.
I have been reading a variety lately. I read all (so far), of Kelley Armstrong's "Rockton" series. My friend liked this series so much that on her flight to TX, (we live in CT), her phone was running out of power and she panicked until she remembered her tablet and finished the book on that, LOL!
I have been bouncing around between contemporary, which usually isn't my thing, and historical books.
I found a new to me contemporary series by Sarah Morgenthaler, which is about an Alaskan town, The Tourist Attraction is the first book.
I read the latest book in the "midlife" books, "Magical Midlife Meeting", by KF Breene, which is on KU. I love this series and these characters.
A big thanks to whomever recommended "Riley Thorn and the Dead Guy Next Door". I laughed like heck a few times at this one.
Lately I have been attempting to listen to the S A Chakraborty's Daevabad Trilogy. I read "City of Brass" & have started "The Kingdom of Copper". There are a lot of Arabic sounding names and the story takes it's sweet time to get to places in the story but it is a good read. I just have to be in the mood to read it.
I have been reading Helen Harper's Highland Magic series. I got it as a box set a while back & I'm about half way through the second book in the 3 book set. I liked her Blood Destiny books well enough & recently read her "Firebrand" books.

I listened to the latest Molly Harper Mystic Bayou, "Shifters in the Night" and the latest Miss Fortune, (she's always 1 book behind on the audio books), which really burns me but I have to wait. Fortune Funhouse.

Sorry there are no links, the phone app doesn't have a way to link. People have been requesting the Goodreads fix it, but nothing yet.

So I am all over the place in my reading. Nice to see some of the old Amazon posters back again. If anyone has anything funny to recommend I'm all for something new.
Happy Reading!

Shannon... the next book comes out tomorrow, I think.

stupid auto correct I can't wait for more

I finished Midnight Smoke the third book in Harper's series, I can't remember for more.

Thank you everyone. She's a miracle. I hope that I have her genes too

Thanks Doug and Happy... Both look pretty good.

I gobbled down Infernal Enchantment.
While a new detective, Emma seems to have a really good head on her shoulders. She's not perfect and she does make mistakes and wrong turns in her investigations, but she is really good at bringing all of the pieces together in the end.
I started the third book in the series... Midnight Smoke.

I have been traveling these last two weeks and I just wanted to say that I am in North Carolina for my Grandmother's 105th birthday. Hard of hearing, a little more bent, and breathing with the assistance of an oxygen generator after she walks somewhere, but I have got to admit she's doing pretty good for an old girl.

So Happy Birthday Grandma!

Thank you to whoever recommended Helen Harper's Firebrand series. I finished Brimstone Bound in a day. I started the second book, Infernal Enchantment last night. Harper likes to give her heroines an unknown supernatural ability. Emma, the main character of this series, is an "almost there" detective in the London metropolitan police. She needs 2 weeks of training before she is a full fledged detective. Much to her distress, she is assigned to the Supernatural Division. Day one, she is assigned to the long time, (and only), detective in that division. Next day, he's a no show. Emma decides that she must investigate his disappearance. (Another big thing happens but I don't want to spoil it). Using her training, and accompanied by a vampire, she investigates a seemingly series of unrelated occurrences that in her gut she knows are related. There is a good set up to the supernatural world and a hand full of good side characters.

I finally read Ward's not related to the BDB book, Prisoner of Night I actually really liked the couple and the bad guys. Set far away from Caldwell, this book gives a bit of insight into the only child raised in a vampire "cult". I liked the relatively slow burn between the MC, Duran and Ahmere. Ahmere's brother is stupid enough to rip off a vampire who is a big drug kingpin. In order to have him released from his "custody" Ahmere has 2 days to find and return "his beloved" to him, (Chalen). She has to take a weapon with her and it turns out to be Duran.

I have also returned to the John Pickett series by Sheri Cobb South I finished the second box set , books 5-10.

Sorry about the repeats, somehow my old post and the edited one both appeared. I deleted the old one.

I finished Lover Unveiled Ward finally pulled a lot of the story together at the end and we have a glimpse into the future. Lassiter and Balthazar, (from the Band of Brothers who was electrocuted in Where Winter Finds You), have a storyline.
There is a female, (human), police detective who is investigating the various double murders that are occurring around town.
There is a storyline about Nate who is the adopted son of Murhder and his shellan Sarah, and an unknown entity named Elyn.
Interwoven throughout is the Demon Devina, the new "big bad". The main couple are a female vampire named Mae and a former BDB vampire named Sahvage.
I get the feeling that they are going to have more about Murhder and his family in the future.
There is another important item but I refuse to put spoilers in.

Ward is awfully busy with all of her new books this year.

Lover Unveiled Just came out this week.

Claimed comes out July 27th. Her foray into the werewolf side of things.

The Wolf the second book in the BDB Prison Camp books comes out November 16th. This is about one of the more interesting characters Lucan in the glymera prison camp who was introduced in The Jackal

There are a lot of balls, (books?), in the air for the BDB series.

While I liked Lover Unveiled, I did not love it. This was an info dump and a transitional book to other novels. I would still give a 4* rating. It was well worth the read. I can't wait until she gets back into the main BDB world again. It's going to be so good!

LAB: I hope that it gets to you soon! Lucky!

Re: Lover Unveiled I'm more than half way through this book, and it is very scattered. There are 2 main plots and 2-3 side plots. It really is a tougher book to read. I know that she is going to pull it all together but it is a bit disconcerting to read. Normally, she has a tendency to jump all over the place but this book seems a bit more scattered. I know that she is setting the BDB up for a big bad, but there is a lot going on. It's not a bad thing, but you have to pay attention to the very long list of characters.