Stacking the Shelves (244)

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

This week it looks like my cup runneth ridiculously over, doesn’t it? Tor sent me an eARC for the next book in L.E. Modesitt’s Recluce series, because I love his Imager Portfolio. The only problem is that I’ve never read the Recluce series. I just never got a round tuit. It’s time to rectify that, so I started picking up the previous books in the series. I may not get to them until next year, but now I have most of them, with more on the way. I feel so much better! (But there are so many covers that I’m not including them all in the graphic – it made a TERRIBLE mess!)

Does anyone else do that? Get an urge to read a long-established series and just have to track down every book before even thinking of starting? I know I’m a completist, but sometimes I worry a bit about just how many bookish obsessions I’ve take up. What about you?

saga of recluce year 900-1205 by le modesitt jr

Saga of Recluce Year 1-415 by le modesitt jr

house at baker street by michelle birkby

For Review:
Bluebird, Bluebird by Attica Locke
Completely (New York #3) by Ruthie Knox
The Duke of Her Desire (Diamonds in the Rough #2) by Sophie Barnes
The English Wife by Lauren Willig
The House at Baker Street by Michelle Birkby
The Mongrel Mage (Saga of Recluce #19) by L.E. Modesitt Jr.
Once a Rebel (Rogues Redeemed #2) by Mary Jo Putney
One True Pairing (Fandom Hearts #2) by Cathy Yardley
The Overneath by Peter S. Beagle
Promise Not to Tell by Jayne Ann Krentz

Purchased from Amazon:
Death Before Wicket (Phryne Fisher #10) by Kerry Greenwood

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Posted on July 8, 2017July 7, 2017 by Marlene Harris | Author : Marlene Harris | Stacking the Shelves

A dubious milestone has been achieved. On July 1 I downloaded my first eARC for 2018. (For the curious, it was Sunday Silence) But OMG, sometimes blogging feels like living in the future. I’m always reading “tomorrow’s” book. Or “next week’s” book. It’s a bit weird.

And here’s where some of the books I saw at ALA are coming in, like Artemis. They gave out print ARCs if you managed to get into the line in time. And a couple of these, Like Jade City and A Plague of Giants, are titles I ran across while compiling an article about upcoming science fiction and fantasy titles.

So much to look forward to reading! What about you?

For Review:
Artemis by Andy Weir
The Clockwork Dynasty by Daniel H. Wilson
The Hidden Lives of Tudor Women by Elizabeth Norton
Illumination (Penton Legacy #5) by Susannah Sandlin
Ironfoot (Enchanter General #1) by Dave Duncan
Jade City (Green Bone Saga #1) by Fonda Lee
Life in Code by Ellen Ullman
Live from Cairo by Ian Bassingthwaighte
Lucas (Cold Fury Hockey #8) by Sawyer Bennett
A Plague of Giants (Seven Kennings #1) by Kevin Hearne
Right Where We Belong (Silver Springs #4) by Brenda Novak
Sunday Silence (Frieda Klein #7) by Nicci French
The Sweet Life by Sharon Struth
Woolly by Ben Mezrich

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Posted on July 1, 2017June 30, 2017 by Marlene Harris | Author : Marlene Harris | Stacking the Shelves

The ALA Exhibits Hall was interesting. Yes, there are lots of books. Lots and lots of books. The publishers give away absolute oodles of ARCs to attendees. (The feeding frenzy when the opening bell rings on Friday evening can be…intense.) But there weren’t a whole lot of things that tempted me this time around. Or perhaps I should say, that tempted me but that I didn’t already have an eARC for. The titles I wanted to see are now the really far out ones (possibly in more ways than one) like John Scalzi’s Head On, which isn’t due out until April 2018. That one will probably be at ALA Midwinter, next February in OMG Denver.

Don’t get me wrong, I like Denver. But I do not like Denver in the middle of winter. And then I have New Orleans in June to look forward to. Why, oh why, aren’t those reversed?

mr dickens and his carol by samantha silva

enchantress of numbers by jennifer chiaverini

i eliza hamilton by susan holloway scott

For Review:
Beren and Lúthien by J.R.R. Tolkien
A Daring Arrangement (Four Hundred #1) by Joanna Shupe
The Emerald Circus by Jane Yolen
Enchantress of Numbers by Jennifer Chiaverini
I, Eliza Hamilton by Susan Holloway Scott
Mr. Dickens and His Carol by Samantha Silva
The Salt Line by Holly Goddard Jones

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Posted on June 24, 2017June 21, 2017 by Marlene Harris | Author : Marlene Harris | Stacking the Shelves

As you read this, I’m at the American Library Association Annual Conference in Chicago. ALA is kind of like BEA for librarians, so I’m probably wandering through the exhibits desperately trying NOT to pick up too many books.

I know that sounds contradictory, but books are HEAVY. The exhibits floor is HUGE and everything I pick up has to ride on my back until I get back to my room. Overindulgence is painful. Which doesn’t mean I won’t arrange for entirely too many eARCs from Netgalley and Edelweiss. Because I most certainly will.

For Review:
Barbarian (Galactic Gladiators #6) by Anna Hackett
Booke of the Hidden by Jeri Westerson
A Love to Remember (Disgraced Lords #7) by Bronwyn Evans
The Punch Escrow by Tal M. Klein
The Sea King (Weathermages of Mystral #2) by C.L. Wilson
Someone to Wed (Westcott #3) by Mary Balogh
Victoria & Abdul by Shrabani Basu

So what did you add to your stack this week? Adding your Stacking the Shelves to the linky here will add it at both Reading Reality and Tynga’s Book Reviews.

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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

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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

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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.

prisoner in his palace by will bardenwerper

you dont have to say you love me by sherman alexie

history of the us in five crashes by scott nations

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

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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.

alchemy of masques and mirrors by curtis craddock

breach of containment by elizabeth bonesteel

now that you mention it by kristan higgins

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

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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

dream quest of vellit boe by kij johnson

lost city of the monkey god by douglas preston

touring with the alien by carolyn ives gilman

conspiracy in belgravia by sherry thomas

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.