Contents of blog copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2023
I've been gone a while. I started reading fanfiction to escape and I got sucked in an abyss.

I have no idea if someone else is hosting similar challenges. I just grabbed some of what I have hosted before.

Here's to a happy year of great reading
Jan2023: Not much has changed. Writing a fanfiction now O_o as well as reading but I bought 7 new books in December and hope to get those read soon. Crossing fingers about adding challenges (late!)

Monday, September 5, 2016

Happy Monday - August edition


Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week.

Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.  ;-)

Don't forget to link up your list






~ The newest review book in my house ~


~ The newest books in my house ~
Murder in the Secret Garden by Ellery Adams
Book Retreat Mysteries, 2016, mass market paperback

There is a hidden garden bordering the grounds of Jane Steward’s book-themed resort—a garden filled with beautiful but deadly plants such as mandrake and nightshade. Tucked away behind ivy-covered walls and accessible only through a single locked door, as described in the pages of Frances Hodges Burnett's classic novel, the garden is of special interest to Jane’s current group of guests, The Medieval Herbalists. But when one of them turns up dead, Jane must discover whether a member of the group has come to Storyton Hall to celebrate their passion for plant lore or to implement a particularly cruel means for murder.

With thousands of books at her disposal, Jane believes she has the proper materials to solve this deadly problem. If she’s wrong, however, she may lose something far more precious than the contents of Storyton’s secret library...

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter, 2016, hardcover

The Eighth Story. Nineteen Years Later.

Based on an original new story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany, a new play by Jack Thorne, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is the eighth story in the Harry Potter series and the first official Harry Potter story to be presented on stage. The play will receive its world premiere in London’s West End on July 30, 2016.

It was always difficult being Harry Potter and it isn’t much easier now that he is an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic, a husband and father of three school-age children.

While Harry grapples with a past that refuses to stay where it belongs, his youngest son Albus must struggle with the weight of a family legacy he never wanted. As past and present fuse ominously, both father and son learn the uncomfortable truth: sometimes, darkness comes from unexpected places.


Murder in the Mystery Suite by Ellery Adams
Book Retreat Mysteries, 2014, mass market paperback

Tucked away in the rolling hills of rural western Virginia is the storybook resort of Storyton Hall, catering to book lovers who want to get away from it all. To increase her number of bookings, resort manager Jane Steward has decided to host a Murder and Mayhem week so that fans of the mystery genre can gather together for some role-playing and fantasy crime solving.

But when the winner of the scavenger hunt, Felix Hampden, is found dead in the Mystery Suite, and the valuable book he won as his prize is missing, Jane realizes one of her guests is an actual murderer. Amid a resort full of fake detectives, Jane is bound and determined to find a real-life killer. There’s no room for error as Jane tries to unlock this mystery before another vacancy opens up…


Cold-Hearted Rake by Lisa Kleypas
Revenels, 2015, mass market paperback

Devon Ravenel, London's most wickedly charming rake, has just inherited an earldom. But his powerful new rank in society comes with unwanted responsibilities . . . and more than a few surprises. His estate is saddled with debt, and the late earl's three innocent sisters are still occupying the house . . . along with Kathleen, Lady Trenear, a beautiful young widow whose sharp wit and determination are a match for Devon's own.

A clash of wills . . .

Kathleen knows better than to trust a ruthless scoundrel like Devon. But the fiery attraction between them is impossible to deny—and from the first moment Devon holds her in his arms, he vows to do whatever it takes to possess her. As Kathleen finds herself yielding to his skillfully erotic seduction, only one question remains:

Can she keep from surrendering her heart to the most dangerous man she's ever known?


Marrying Winterborn by Lisa Kleypas
Revenels, 2016, mass market paperback

A ruthless tycoon
Savage ambition has brought common-born Rhys Winterborne vast wealth and success. In business and beyond, Rhys gets exactly what he wants. And from the moment he meets the shy, aristocratic Lady Helen Ravenel, he is determined to possess her. If he must take her virtue to ensure she marries him, so much the better...

A sheltered beauty
Helen has had little contact with the glittering, cynical world of London society. Yet Rhys's determined seduction awakens an intense mutual passion. Helen's gentle upbringing belies a stubborn conviction that only she can tame her unruly husband. As Rhys's enemies conspire against them, Helen must trust him with her darkest secret. The risks are unthinkable...the reward, a lifetime of incomparable bliss. And it all begins with...



Flight from Meyhem by Yasmine Galenorn
Fly by Night, 2016, mass market paperback

I'm Shimmer, a blue dragon shifter. Thanks to a mistake, I was exiled from the Dragon Reaches and sentenced to work for gorgeous, exasperating Alex Radcliffe, a vampire who owns the Fly by Night Magical Investigations Agency. Every time I turn around, somebody's trying to kill us. But you know what they say: All's fair in love and bounty hunting...

A serial killer is stalking the elderly Fae of Seattle, draining their bank accounts before brutally murdering them. When Chase Johnson asks for our help, Alex and I discover that the sociopath is also a shifter—able to change shape to match his victim's deepest desires. Our friend and colleague Bette volunteers to act as bait, but the plan goes dangerously awry. Now, unless we find her first, she's about to face her worst nightmare.



A Holiday Yarn by Sally Goldenbaum
Seaside Knitters Mystery, trade paperback

The seaside knitters have a new project—knitting throws for Mary Pisano's soon-to-open Bed and Breakfast, Ravenswood-by-the-Sea. But when Mary's cousin, controversial fashion editor Pamela Pisano, turns up dead on the snow-covered back porch of the Pisano family estate, the holiday atmosphere turns dire. Mary, who recently inherited Ravenswood, much to the chagrin of her Pisano cousins, is especially distraught. And when a painter she hires falls off a ladder to his death, a double murder faces Mary. A killer is at work, and the seaside knitters must tap old memories and old police records before they can bring the mystery to its unexpected conclusion.



Wild Embrace by Nalini Singh
Psy/Changeling, 2016, trade paperback

Echo of Silence
In a deep-sea station, Tazia Nerif has found her life’s work as an engineer, keeping things running smoothly. But she wants nothing more than to break down the barrier of silence between her and her telekinetic Psy station commander…

Dorian
A changeling who can never shift lives a life of quiet frustration—until he learns how to let his leopard come out and play…

Partners in Persuasion
Still raw from being burned by a dominant female, wolf changeling Felix will never again risk being a plaything. But for dominant leopard Dezi, he’s the most fascinating man she’s ever met. She just has to convince this gun-shy wolf that he can trust the dangerous cat who wants to take a slow, sexy bite out of him…

Flirtation of Fate
Seven years ago, Kenji broke Garnet’s heart. Now the wolf packmates have to investigate the shocking murder of one of their own. And the more Kenji sees of the woman Garnet has become, the deeper he begins to fall once more. But even his primal instincts are no match for the dark secret he carries…


Crystal Singer by Anne McCaffrey . . . wikipedia  
Crystal Singer, 2002, ebook

Her name was Killashandra Ree. And after ten grueling years of musical training, she was still without prospects. Until she heard of the mysterious Heptite Guild who could provide careers, security, and wealth beyond imagining. The problem was, few people who landed on Ballybran ever left. But to Killashandra the risks were acceptable....





Berry the Hatchet by Peg Cochran
Cranberry Cove, 2016, mass market paperback

The entire town of Cranberry Cove is popping with excitement. Monica Albertson is baking cranberry goodies by the dozen and shopkeepers are decking out their storefronts for the first annual Winter Walk—an event dreamed up by the mayor to bring visitors to the town during a normally dead time of year.

But it’s the mayor who turns up dead during the grand opening ceremony, his lifeless body making its entrance in a horse-drawn sleigh. Monica’s mother and stepmother quickly become the prime suspects when it’s discovered that the mayor was dating both of them, and to make things worse, her half brother Jeff uncovers a clue buried near one of the bogs on Sassamanash Farm. Now it’s up to Monica to find out who really put the mayor on ice.



Purl Up and Die by Maggie Sefton
A Knitting Mystery, 2016, mass market paperback

Kelly’s summer in Fort Connor, Colorado, is off to a great start with knitting classes taught by her friend Barb. But while the advanced stitches are giving Kelly the slip, a more deadly problem soon has her friend coming apart at the seams.

A young woman has accused Barb’s son, Tommy—a young doctor doing his residency—of assaulting her. The yarns spun by the local rumor mill are bad enough, but when the woman is found dead in her ransacked apartment, Tommy becomes the number one suspect.

With the police ready to close the case, it’s up to Kelly to knit together the clues to uncover a killer who doesn’t seem to drop a stitch...



Peaches and Scream by Susan Furlong
Georgia Peach mystery, 2015, mass market paperback

To help run the family peach farm during her parents’ absence, Nola Harper returns to her childhood home of Cays Mill, Georgia, and soon discovers that things back at the farm aren’t exactly peachy. A poor harvest and rising costs are threatening to ruin the Harpers’ livelihood, and small-town gossip is spreading like blight thanks to Nola’s juicy reputation as a wild teenager way back when. But Nola really finds herself in the pits when she stumbles upon a local businessman murdered among the peach trees.

With suspicions and family tensions heating up faster than a cobbler in the oven, this sweet Georgia peach will have to prune through a list of murder suspects—before she too becomes ripe for the killer’s picking…



Rest in Peach by Susan Furlong
Georgia Peach mystery, 2016, mass market paperback

The annual Peach Cotillion, Cays Mill, Georgia’s biggest event, is fast approaching and Nola Mae Harper is just as excited as the rest of the town—even though she’s busy juggling both the cotillion dinner and the grand opening of her new shop, Peachy Keen. But she never expected that plans for the cotillion would end up in the pits because of the cutthroat competition between local debutantes.

When Vivien Crenshaw, insufferable church organist and despised mother of the town’s spoiled-rotten Peach Queen, is stabbed to death, the police turn to Nola’s friend Ginny as prime suspect. Apparently the two had fought over a one-of-a-kind cotillion gown. As Nola steps in to prove Ginny’s innocence she soon finds herself picking through a bushel of suspects, twice as many motives, and at the mercy of a killer all too keen on killing again.

Arrows of the Queen by Mercedes Lackey
Heralds of Valdemar, 1987, ebook

Surrounded before she could even think of calling out for aid, Talia fought with every trick she’d learned from the weapons master, but it was hopeless. Struggling, she was half-carried, half-dragged to the river bank, and tossed up into the air, landing in the icy waters of the river with a shock that drove what little breath she had from her lungs.

Unable to breathe, or to cry out for help, her mind shrieked in incoherent fear.

Then, like a gift from the gods, a trumpeting neigh split the air and something huge plunged in beside her. Strong teeth seized her collar, pulling her within reach of a broad, white back that rose beside her like magic.

“Rolan!” she gasped, trying to make her fingers work enough to grab mane or tail. For a moment it almost seemed as if it would work. Then Talia’s fingers loosed their grip and she began sliding away, dragged by the strong pull of the current. And as the water closed over her head, darkness closed over her mind....

Upside-Down Magic by Sarah Mlynowski, Lauren Myracle, Emily Jenkins
Upside-Down Magic, 2016, trade paperback

In a world of elite magic academies, weird and wonderful things happen when you're sent off to public school...and put in the Upside-Down Magic class.

It's never easy when your magic goes wonky.

For Nory, this means that instead of being able to turn into a dragon or a kitten, she turns into both of them at the same time -- a dritten.

For Elliott, the simple act of conjuring fire from his fingertips turns into a fully frozen failure.

For Andres, wonky magic means he's always floating in the air, bouncing off the walls, or sitting on the ceiling.

For Bax, a bad moment of magic will turn him into a . . . actually, he'd rather not talk about that.

Nory, Elliott, Andres, and Bax are just four of the students in Dunwiddle Magic School's Upside-Down Magic class. In their classroom, lessons are unconventional, students are unpredictable, and magic has a tendency to turn wonky at the worst possible moments. Because it's always amazing, the trouble a little wonky magic can cause . . .

Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson
Malazan, 2004, mass market paperback

The Malazan Empire simmers with discontent, bled dry by interminable warfare, bitter infighting and bloody confrontations. Even the imperial legions, long inured to the bloodshed, yearn for some respite. Yet Empress Laseen's rule remains absolute, enforced by her dread Claw assassins.

For Sergeant Whiskeyjack and his squad of Bridgeburners, and for Tattersail, surviving cadre mage of the Second Legion, the aftermath of the siege of Pale should have been a time to mourn the many dead. But Darujhistan, last of the Free Cities of Genabackis, yet holds out. It is to this ancient citadel that Laseen turns her predatory gaze.

However, it would appear that the Empire is not alone in this great game. Sinister, shadowbound forces are gathering as the gods themselves prepare to play their hand .


Meet Your Baker by Ellie Alexander
A Bakeshop Mystery, 2014, mass market paperback

Welcome to Torte-a friendly, small-town family bake shop where the treats are so good that, sometimes, it's criminal...

After graduating from culinary school, Juliet Capshaw returns to her quaint hometown of Ashland, Oregon, to heal a broken heart and help her mom at the family bakery. The Oregon Shakespeare Festival is bringing in lots of tourists looking for some crumpets to go with their heroic couplets. But when one of Torte's customers turns up dead, there's much ado about murder...

The victim is Nancy Hudson, the festival's newest board member. A modern-day Lady Macbeth, Nancy has given more than a few actors and artists enough reasons to kill her...but still. The silver lining? Jules's high school sweetheart, Thomas, is the investigator on the case. His flirtations are as delicious as ever, and Jules can't help but want to have her cake and eat it too. But will she have her just desserts? Murder might be bad for business, but love is the sweetest treat of all...




~*~*~*~*~
I haven't received any review books, won any contests or received any books as a gift. I have added a couple a day from amazon's free bestseller lists. I've pinned some here.





What are you Reading?


A weekly Monday meme hosted by Shelia at Book Journey. Post what you read last week and what you're planning to read this week then link to Shelia's post. Then visit others and be prepared to add to your TBR pile!




Finished:
Coffee Cake by Michaela Grey
If I Must by Amy Lane
To Find and to Keep by Serena Yates
Extreme Bull by Catt Ford
The Start of a Beautiful Friendship by Tinnean
No One Should Be Alone by Tinnean
The Best by Tinnean
Love Has No Expiration by C.S. Poe
Toy Run by Charley Descoteaux
The Byte of Betrayal by Ashavan Doyon
Kithric's Mountain by Jessica Payseur
I Almost Let You by Ashavan Doyon
The Colors of Romance by Ashavan Doyon
Cuffed by Aiden Bates
Some Kind of Magic by R. Cooper
A Boy and His Dragon by R. Cooper
Wriggle & Sparkle by Megan Derr
Citizen of the Galaxy by Robert A. Heinlein
Prince Noah and the School Pirates by Silke Schnee
Crystal Singer by Anne McCaffrey
The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen
Just Guys by B. G. Thomas
All's Fair in Mate Bonds and Publishing by Alana Ankh
Priceless by M.A. Church
Arrows of the Queen by Mercedes Lackey


Happy Reading!


copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2016

1 comment:

Mary (Bookfan) said...

It's been a while since I read a Kleypas book. Enjoy!

Disclaimer

In accordance to the FTC guidelines, I must state that I make no monetary gains from my reviews or endorsements here on Book Dragon's Lair. All books I review are either borrowed, purchased by me, given as a gift, won in some kind of contest, or received in exchange for an honest review.