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Posted on June 17, 2017June 16, 2017 by Marlene Harris | Author : Marlene Harris | Stacking the Shelves

Welcome to this week’s Stacking the Shelves, co-hosted by Tynga’s Review and Reading Reality! No matter whether you add the link to your Stacking the Shelves here or there, your link will appear in both places.

This was a strange week. I started out the week deep-diving into an article I was writing for Library Journal – their annual spotlight on science fiction and fantasy. And after spending days and days looking at all the marvelous SF and Fantasy coming out in the next few months, I couldn’t actually bear to read any of it – at least temporarily. I had a hankering to read some romance of a particular trope, and ended up borrowing a copy of The Admiral’s Bride from the library. And so far, it’s scratching that itch.

But speaking of terrific SF, I also picked up an ebook copy of Old Man’s War in this month’s Tor.com ebook club giveaway. I have a print copy of Old Man’s War. I’m kind of surprised that I don’t have a signed print copy, and I need to rectify that next time Scalzi is speaking somewhere. But I never got it in ebook, and now that’s how I read pretty much everything. So when I do a re-read one of these days, and I will, I’ll have the book ready and waiting.

highland dragon warrior by isabel cooper

For Review:
The Great Quake by Henry Fountain
Highland Dragon Warrior (Dawn of the Highland Warrior #1) by Isabel Cooper
The Talented Ribkins by Ladee Hubbard
The Tethered Mage (Swords & Fire #1) by Melissa Caruso

Publisher Giveaway:
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi

Borrowed from the Library:
The Admiral’s Bride (Tall, Dark and Dangerous #7) by Suzanne Brockmann
The Other Einstein by Marie Benedict

Stacking the Shelves (239)

Posted on June 10, 2017June 8, 2017 by Marlene Harris | Author : Marlene Harris | Stacking the Shelves

Stacking the Shelves is co-hosted by Tynga’s Reviews and Reading Reality. If you add your link here, it will appear over there, and vice-versa. That’s the way it’s supposed to work, but didn’t last week. Hopefully we’ll be back on track this week.

I have two Phryne Fisher books this week. Phryne is a comfort read for me, so when I bounce hard off of a book, as I did off of Come Sundown, I turn to Phryne. What I’ll do when I finish all 20 books is anybody’s guess. For me, these are perfect, whether any one book in the series is excellent or merely just a good time. I like the world, I like the characters, and when I’ve hit the last minute, which is what happens when a planned book fails, they are the perfect length. I can get through 200 pages in about 3 hours. Lovely bedtime reading!

fantastic beasts and where to find them by jk rowling

murder in montparnasse by kerry greenwood

For Review:
Halls of Law (Faraman Prophecy #1) by V.M. Escalada
Murder in Montparnasse (Phryne Fisher #12) by Kerry Greenwood
Sugar Pine Trail (Haven Point #7) by RaeAnne Thayne
The Summer that Made Us by Robyn Carr

Purchased from Amazon:
Urn Burial (Phryne Fisher #8) by Kerry Greenwood (review)

Borrowed from the Library:
The Blood of Emmett Till by Timothy B. Tyson
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by J.K. Rowling

Stacking the Shelves (238)

Posted on June 3, 2017June 1, 2017 by Marlene Harris | Author : Marlene Harris | Stacking the Shelves

HELLO, Summer!

Spring is sprung,
Fall is fell,
Here comes Summer,
and it’s Hotter than
Last year.

But seriously, or at least semi-seriously, welcome to the first summer edition of the co-hosted Stacking the Shelves here at Reading Reality and Tynga’s Reviews. I posted a couple of teasers from this stack over at Tynga’s, but here’s the full list.

history of the us in five crashes by scott nations

you dont have to say you love me by sherman alexie

prisoner in his palace by will bardenwerper

For Review:
Cover Fire (Valiant Knox #3) by Jess Anastasi
The Duchess Deal (Girl Meets Duke #1) by Tessa Dare
A History of the United States in Five Crashes by Scott Nations
The Prisoner in His Palace by Will Bardenwerper
The Tiger’s Daughter (Their Bright Ascendency #1) by K. Arsenault Rivera
You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me by Sherman Alexie

Borrowed from the Library:
A Separation by Katie Kitamura

Stacking the Shelves (237)

Posted on May 27, 2017May 26, 2017 by Marlene Harris | Author : Marlene Harris | Stacking the Shelves

Today is my first time co-hosting Stacking the Shelves with Tynga’s Reviews. Tynga was recruiting new team members recently, and while I don’t think I could manage to read any more books than I already am (HA-HA!) I hoped that I could help by co-hosting this marvelous meme. And away we go!

First, a refresher on the Stacking the Shelves:

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

If you want to find out more about Stacking The Shelves, please visit the official launch page!

And now, for a bit about the co-hosting arrangement. The link-up will be posted on both sites. If you add to it here, your link will appear both here and at Tynga’s Reviews. And vice versa. Some weeks, like this week, I’ll be posting a bit of a teaser over at Tynga’s, highlighting just a couple of the books on my list I’m really looking forward to. Other weeks, one of the other Team Tynga members will post their stack. But the link-up list will always be available at both sites.

So happy reading! And for those of us in the U.S., happy 3-day weekend. Add your links to the link-up to share what you’re looking forward to reading.

now that you mention it by kristan higgins

breach of containment by elizabeth bonesteel

alchemy of masques and mirrors by curtis craddock

poetry will save your life by jill bialosky

For Review:
An Alchemy of Masques and Mirrors (Risen Kingdoms #1) by Curtis Craddock
A Beautiful Poison by Lydia Kang
The Branson Beauty (Sheriff Hank Worth #1) by Claire Booth
Brave Deeds by David Abrams
Breach of Containment (Central Corps #3) by Elizabeth Bonesteel
Hemi (Hell Squad #13) by Anna Hackett
Kith and Kin by Kris Ripper
Now That You Mention It by Kristan Higgins
Poetry Will Save Your Life by Jill Bialosky
Summer on Firefly Lake (Firefly Lake #2) by Jen Gilroy
Thief’s Mark (Sharpe & Donovan #7) by Carla Neggers
Ultimatum (Guardian #1) by Karen Robards
Wild Ride Cowboy (Copper Ridge #9) by Maisey Yates

Stacking the Shelves (236)

Posted on May 20, 2017May 18, 2017 by Marlene Harris | Author : Marlene Harris | Hugo Awards> Stacking the Shelves

Today’s monster Stacking the Shelves brought to you (and me) by the release of the 2017 Hugo Packet. For those wondering what that is, why that is, or both, here’s the quick recap. The Hugo Awards are nominated and voted upon by both the attending and supporting members of Worldcon (World Science Fiction Convention) for that year. (I am a supporting member of Worldcon 75 in Helsinki. Not going; too far, saving pennies for 2019 in Dublin). It used to be the members’ responsibility to find copies of the nominated works to read before voting. How many and whether everyone did or does is an open question, but as usual I digress. One of the joys of ebooks is that it is relatively inexpensive for publishers to provide ebook copies to the voters of all the nominated works. Considering that a supporting membership currently costs $40, and that the value of the ebook copies of just the best novel nominees is WAY more than $40, it’s a steal. (For those who want the books but not the membership, this year Tor is offering a package of all of their nominated works for $20. Still a steal)

So I’ve listed just the tip of my iceberg here, the best novel, novella, novelette and related works that I didn’t already have. I also picked up the best short story and best graphic novel nominees. You get a lot for that $40 along with the right to vote for the ones you like best. Or vote against the ones you liked least. I intensely disliked All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders, but it got nominated. Taste is individual, and that seems to have been a book that no one was neutral about, either readers loved it or like me, found it completely derivative. We’ll see what happens at Worldcon in August.

closed and common orbit by becky chambers

youll surely drown here if you stay by alyssa wong

lost city of the monkey god by douglas preston

conspiracy in belgravia by sherry thomas

dream quest of vellit boe by kij johnson

touring with the alien by carolyn ives gilman

For Review:
A Conspiracy in Belgravia (Lady Sherlock #2) by Sherry Thomas
Glass Houses (Chief Inspector Gamache #13) by Louise Penny
Lowcountry Bonfire (Liz Talbot #6) by Susan M. Boyer
So Great a Prince by Lauren Johnson
Urban Enemies by Jim Butcher, Kevin Hearne, Kelley Armstrong, Seanan McGuire Jonathan Maberry and others, edited by Joseph Massise
You Say It First (Happily Inc #1) by Susan Mallery

Received in Hugo Packet:
The Art of Space Travel by Nina Allan
The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor LaValle
A Closed and Common Orbit (Wayfarers #2) by Becky Chambers
Death’s End (Remembrance of Earth’s Past #3) by Cixin Liu
The Dream-Quest of Vellitt Boe by Kij Johnson
The Jewel and Her Lapidary by Fran Wilde
Ninefox Gambit (Machineries of Empire #1) by Yoon Ha Lee
A Taste of Honey (Sorcerer of the Wildeeps #2) by Kai Ashante Wilson
This Census-Taker by China Mieville
The Tomato Thief (Jackalope Wives #2) by Ursula Vernon (from Apex Magazine)
Too Like the Lightning (Terra Ignota #1) by Ada Palmer
Touring with the Alien by Carolyn Ives Gilman (from Clarkesworld)
Traveler of Worlds: Conversations with Robert Silverberg by Robert Silverberg and Alvaro Zinos-Amaro
Words are My Matter by Ursula K. LeGuin
You’ll Surely Drown Here if You Stay by Alyssa Wong (from Uncanny)

Borrowed from the Library:
The Lost City of the Monkey God by Douglas Preston
The Princess Diarist by Carrie Fisher

Stacking the Shelves (235)

Posted on May 13, 2017May 12, 2017 by Marlene Harris | Author : Marlene Harris | Stacking the Shelves

An explosion of books this week. Every genre under the sun. A Fire Upon the Deep is the Tor Book Club giveaway this month.

I was thrilled to get an eARC of Silver Silence. I had to start the Psy-Changeling series twice, because the first time it just didn’t take. But once it finally got its claws into me, I was all in. So a new book in the series is always a treat. It’s funny, but as much as I love Psy-Changeling, I never managed to get into the Archangel/Guild Hunter series. And I did try. I guess it either didn’t grab me right, or didn’t grab me at the right time.

I kept waffling about Magpie Murders, but it turned up as the number one pick on Library Reads for June, so I decided to get a copy while I still had the chance. We’ll see if it’s as good as The House of Silk. For anyone who is curious, Silver Silence was #2 on the same list, and The Alice Network was #6. It’s always an interesting (and useful) list, especially if your TBR stack is thinning a bit. Or if you just suffer from abibliophobia, like me.

US Cover

owl and the electric samurai by kristi charish

For Review:
The Alice Network by Kate Quinn
Heroine Worship (Heroine Complex #2) by Sarah Kuhn
The Innkeeper’s Sister by Linda Goodnight
The Last Ballad by Wiley Cash
Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz
One Wrong Turn by Deanna Lynn Sletten
Owl and the Electric Samurai (Owl #3) by Kristi Charish
Silver Silence (Psy-Changeling #16, Psy-Changeling Trinity #1) by Nalini Singh
To Tempt an Heiress (Runaway Desires #2) by Susanna Craig
Until You Loved Me (Silver Springs #3) by Brenda Novak
Wildfire (Hidden Legacy #3) by Ilona Andrews

Publisher Giveaway:
A Fire Upon the Deep (Zones of Thought #1) by Vernor Vinge

Borrowed from the Library:
American War by Omar El Akkad
Dark Money by Jane Mayer
Exit West by Mohsin Hamid
Fragile Things by Neil Gaiman
The Ringmaster’s Wife by Kristy Cambron

Stacking the Shelves (234)

Posted on May 6, 2017May 5, 2017 by Marlene Harris | Author : Marlene Harris | Stacking the Shelves

Not a big week here at the stack, but a couple of books I am really looking forward to. A Casualty of War by Charles Todd is the next book in his Bess Crawford series. This is one war I’m not sure I want to see end. And after years on hiatus, Margaret Maron is going back to her Sigrid Harald series in Take Out. I loved those books but the final one in the original series (Fugitive Colors) was just so sad that I couldn’t read it. I really liked the characters and just didn’t want to see them suffer that much. She brought Sigrid out of “retirement” in one of the later Deborah Knott books, and I still like the character. I’m ready to see how she goes on with her life now.

For Review:
Apollo 8 by Jeffrey Kluger
A Casualty of War (Bess Crawford #9) by Charles Todd
Chasing Space by Leland Melvin
The Color of Law by Richard Rothstein
The Nanny Arrangement (Country Blues #2) by Rachel Harris
The Song and the Silence by Yvette Johnson
Take Out (Sigrid Harald #9) by Margaret Maron

Stacking the Shelves (233)

Posted on April 29, 2017April 28, 2017 by Marlene Harris | Author : Marlene Harris | Stacking the Shelves

Lots of interesting things this week. The one I’m really looking forward to is Theron. It’s the latest in Anna Hackett’s terrific Hell Squad series. I love the dystopian setting, the badass heroes and heroines, and the way that the cast keeps working together for a brighter, post-alien-invasion future. I also love that I never have to wait long. Anna is prolific as well as excellent, so I get regular fixes on all her series. If you like action adventure romance and/or science fiction romance, check out her marvelous work!

enchantment of a highlander by madeline martin

wild lavender by nicole elizabeth kelleher

thank you for being late by thomas l friedman

For Review:
American War by Omar El Akkad
Enchantment of a Highlander (Highlander #3) by Madeline Martin
The Legendary Lord (Playful Brides #6) by Valerie Bowman
A Pirate’s Revenge (Secrets of the Bayous #3) by Meg Hennessy
Sovereign (Nemesis #2) by April Daniels
The Switch by Justina Robson
Theron (Hell Squad #12) by Anna Hackett
Wild Lavender (Aurelian Guard #1) by Nicole Elizabeth Kelleher

Purchased from Amazon:
The Rogue Prince (Sky Full of Stars #1) by Lindsay Buroker

Borrowed from the Library:
The Refugees by Viet Thanh Nguyen
Thank You for Being Late by Thomas L. Friedman

Stacking the Shelves (232)

Posted on April 22, 2017April 21, 2017 by Marlene Harris | Author : Marlene Harris | Stacking the Shelves

A blissfully quiet week on both the NetGalley and Edelweiss fronts. Not a lot appeared, not a lot came in. A chance to catch up.

And two trips to Paris! If only through the pages of some good books.

last christmas in paris by hazel gaynor and heather webb

away with the fairies by kerry greenwood

For Review:
The Alexander Inheritance (Ring of Fire) by Eric Flint, Gorg Huff and Paula Goodlett
Away with the Fairies (Phryne Fisher #11) by Kerry Greenwood
Dim Sum Asylum by Rhys Ford
Fatal Charm by Blair McDowell
Last Christmas in Paris by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb
The Paris Spy (Maggie Hope #7) by Susan Elia MacNeal
Unnatural Habits (Phryne Fisher #19) by Kerry Greenwood

Stacking the Shelves (231)

Posted on April 15, 2017April 14, 2017 by Marlene Harris | Author : Marlene Harris | Stacking the Shelves

One of the books on this list was on my Most Anticipated list for this year. I always look for to a visit to Molena Point and the chance to catch up with Joe Grey and Dulcie (and their people). I can’t wait to find out if their kittens can TALK!

I’m more than a bit curious about The Paris Secret. The description makes it sound an awful lot like Paris Time Capsule by Ella Carey. Certainly they both use the same real event as their starting off point. How they stack up to each other, well, time will tell.