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

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

Paula... The Junkyard series by Faith Hunter is free on Audible, (I believe). The third book reads like a final book but there are hints that there could be a continuation of the series. I loved this last book. What's not to love, spy cats, intricate attack plans, crazy weapons, and smart, bad-ass women. Throw in a handsome biker, crazy-ass *itches, and sentient AI's and you have the makings of a cool, post apocalyptic type of world. Hunter has the ability to create a world that seems possible.

Demetra... I loved that book, it was one of my favorites last year. I'm glad that you liked it too.
Regarding "Ruby Road" this was certainly not a second chance romance. It was chock-full of intrigues, deceit, and magical battles and still no romance.

LoveYourShelf.... I think that that person who donated those books must be a part of this group. I'm glad that you rescued them. I've been to "library sales" before. I often wondered where the books go after that. I used to go with a couple of friends to an annual fall fest in a nearby town and you got a paper shopping bag for $5.00 and you could take all of the books that you could stuff inti the bag. The books were all laid out in rows of genres. Even if I didn't get many books I always stuffed books into my bag for my friends. It was a great way to spend a lazy Saturday afternoon browsing through the books. I like to people watch and I loved seeing little kids and old people alike smiling when they found their books.

Demetra... so far I'm not sure that this is a second chance romance. This, the third book, is the first I've seen of a romance at all and so far there are no second guessings on her part.

HBW.. So good to see your update. We all wish you the best.

I've been reading Ruby Road. it's the third in BR Kingsolver's Crossroads Chronicles series and I like it very much. The main character is a world walker, half elf and half human and for this adventure she crosses worlds with her ex who ghosted her when she "bought" her stall in a cross-worlds marketplace. He knew all along that that was what she had been saving her money for and left the day after she purchased it. She is a blacksmith and a jewelry maker and has an affinity for gems and precious metals.
I've only a few chapters in and I can't decided if he's on the up and up or just trying to con her. I like that she cuts him no slack and questions whether this a a good idea to join him in locating a ruby mine on a "wild world". Kingsolver writes interesting female characters. Some here may have read her Rosy O'Grady Paranormal Bar and Grill series. I wasn't that impressed with her The Rift series but most others, like her Dark Streets books have been enjoyable.

Elizabeth Hunter returned to Cambio Springs with a new book due out on October 24th. It's the 4th Cambio Springs book called "Dust Born: A Small Town Shifter Romance. It's on Amazon but there isn't a link on GoodReads yet.

Also, Instinct: An Animal Rescuers Anthology this is a collection of animal stories by a variety of authors and only costs $1.99 and is a puppy rescue benefit.

I finished all of the Torrent Witch cozy mysteries. For one audible credit you get 10 books to listen to. They were pretty good for a "cozy" mystery set.

A Sinister Revenge the latest in Deanna Raybourn's Veronica Speedwell series came out today. I'll be diving into it soon.

Also, if anyone listens to Faith Hunter's Junkyard series, the latest Junkyard War came out a week or two ago. I haven't had a chance to dive into it yet. These are audio only I believe and usually run about 6 or 7 hours a piece.

Thanks to melindeeloo, I've been listening to the Torrent Witch series, (10 books for the price of 1 audio book). I'm up to the 9th book, Lost Witch: Torrent Witches series.

Melindeeloo.. I was trying on my phone to join, I'll check it out when I get home.

Wow Doug that's horrible. No wardrobe. it's not like we never have to change clothes. insurance companies are ridiculous.

Does anyone know how to join the NetGalley readers group? It says that it is restricted to over 18, and I'm clearly over that. My birthdate is public, I just checked. Do I need an invitation?

The 8th book in the Veronica Speedwell Series, A Sinister Revenge will be out on March 7th. I love this series.

HappyBookWorm... Please let us know if there is anything that we can do. Don't be afraid to ask, if there a go fun me page that we can contribute to please tell us.

I am so sorry for you and yours. The loss of your home & pets must be overwhelming. My thoughts and prayers are with you and yours. Hugs to you for such a tremendous loss. I'm grateful that no people were injured, at least I hope that that is so.

Sorry to hear that TINNGG. Family dynamics change so much when the "maintenance" spouse passes away. My Dad isn't as bad but he can't do anything to help himself if he has to make arrangements for example appointments or travel, or reordering things like blades for his electric razor. He doesn't ask for help he yells around a bit and you are supposed to be a mind reader and automatically know what he needs. I hope that I'm not that bad when I get older. Good Luck.

Thanks Snapdragon, I have Golden and I was wondering about the book and I haven't seen anyone post about it. I generally like her novels.
Thanks Melindeeloo for the recommendation of the 10 book Torrent Witches box set. They are fun to listen to and they aren't a heavy read.

To complete one of the kindle challenge categories, I started reading a story about the all black women army corp who were the first to serve in WWII. It is called Sisters in Arms

Hi Everyone I hope that this is turning out to be a great New Year for all.
I just finished the latest book in the Casey Duncan, (Rockton), series, Murder at Haven's Rock
I loved it and can't wait to discuss it with my fellow Rockton readers.
Armstrong has a great ability to give us diverse characters with personality.
It's 3 degrees out and that's up from -7 degrees at 5:00a.m. I am supposed to go to the movies with my friend today and I wouldn't be surprised if she balks and stay's home. The wind has subsided a bit. It was howling last night, and I find myself continually wrapping my hands around my heated coffee cup. I'm going to be jittery if I keep this up, LOL!!

Sorry all, I didn't know that A Lady's Guide to Fortune Hunting was so expensive. I got the audio on sale. I must admit that in the beginning I wasn't thrilled by the h, Kitty, but as the book goes on she changes for the better.

I check in every day and I don't always get a chance to comment. I finished an ARC, Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries
I liked the premise of the book, academic Emily Wilde's life long goal to create the world's first encyclopedia of the Fae. She ventures into a northern Norway community of Ljosland accompanied only by her dog Shadow. She is totally out of her element in the wild and rural cabin's location. She has to depend on the cantankerous owner and his young son for basic food and a little bit of firewood. Emily isn't a people person, she tries to talk to the locals about their Fae tales and accidentally insults an elder member and soon finds herself in a very costly, (in all ways), situation. All of a sudden in pops Wendell Brambelby a colleague of hers at Cambridge with two interns in tow. All of a sudden her solitary life is turned upside down. Arrogant and rather highly opinionated, Emily see's Brambleby as an intrusion and a bid to steal or at the very least co-author her life's work. He's well liked in the local pub and spends his nights eating and drinking and carousing. He's like the pied piper of Norway. Soon people are falling all over themselves to accommodate his every whim.
Used to a plain life, Emily soon sees the merit of the comforts that Brambleby installs in the cabin and into their lives.
Emily is intelligent and extremely knowledgeable about the Fair Folk, speaks some of their language and has an incredible recall of the Fae lore throughout the world. She uses this to help some of the locals and some folks slowly become friendly.
This is both a diary and an encyclopedia complete with footnotes.
I think that is a unique approach and the author pulls it off. The side characters are well done and I do look forward to the next book in the series.

I finished A Lady's Guide to Fortune-Hunting
I've never read this author before, (I believe this is her debut), and I like her banter. Set in Edwardian England, the h, Kitty Talbot must find a rich husband or all will be lost at her family homestead. Her parents are both dead and her father was heavily in debt and it is up to Kitty to solve that problem. She has four other sisters to care for and is determined not to fail.
This was a tad bit different because the H, Lord Radcliffe knows about her situation, her family's background and that she is a fortune hunter. This book has all the tropes but it is done in such a way that you actually enjoy it. The dialogue between Radcliffe and Kitty is a fun mixture of cut-down and sentimentality. I enjoyed the listen and would like to read the next book in the series.
As a palate cleanser, I have been listening to the Fred the Vampire Accountant series. If you haven't read these, each book has multiple adventures that Fred an unobtrusive human and now vampire must overcome. I just finished the fifth book, Deadly Assessments which I liked as much as the rest of the series. He's homey and quiet, and caught up in crazy situations, clever and a loyal friend. The self deprecating style of writing is fun and sweet. I really enjoy this series.

That's interesting Melindeeloo. I've been contemplating a Mercy/Omega read myself. I just need more time to devote to my reading, LOL!

Sometimes I start a book, love the dialog and banter between the main characters and then something just blows the whole thing up. In "The Roomate" by Rosie Danon I was enjoying the uptight female vs. the California laid back guy, until his occupation is a porn star. (Just a funny note here.. everytime I put in porn, auto correct puts pork in my sentence) :-)
Generally I don't care about that, but when he asks his agent if he had sex with the waitress at the diner that they were meeting at... it was too much. Ugh! I hate crap writing like that.

Thanks Kristi for doing this. I swear that I was going to do this a couple of weeks ago, but never got there. I hope that while I anticipate that this year will be just as busy at work, I hope to be better about filling in the blanks.
Happy New Year Everyone!!
Happy Reading! :-)