Waiting on Wednesday (14)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that highlights future releases that we are excitedly anticipating.

By Jill Shalvis
Publication Date:  May 22, 2012

Mallory Quinn has had enough of playing it safe. As a nurse and devoted daughter, she takes care of everyone but herself. And as the local good girl, she's expected to date Mr. Right. But for once, she'd like to take a risk on Mr. Wrong. And who could be more wrong than Ty Garrison? The mysterious new guy in town has made it clear that he's only passing through, which suits Mallory just fine. Besides, his lean, hard body and sexy smile will give her plenty to remember once he's gone...

For the first time in his life, Ty can't bear to leave. Helping this sexy seductress-in-training walk on the wild side is making him desire things he shouldn't -- including leaving the military for good. As their just-for-fun fling becomes something more, Mallory and Ty wonder if they could really be this lucky in love. After all...anything can happen in a town called Lucky Harbor.

A Peek in the Bibli-Bin (21)

In My Mailbox (or as we like to call it, A Peek in the Biblio-Bin) is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. It is a way for bloggers to share what books they have won, received for review, bought from the bookstore, borrowed from the library or friend, etc.

For Review:

Hide and Snoop by Sue Ann Jaffarian
Boys of Summer by Steve Berman
Point, Click, Love by Molly Shapiro
Gift by Andrea J. Buchanan
A Touch of Green (Out of Olympus) by Tina Folsom
Vicious Deep by Zoraida Cordova
The Curiosities by Maggie Stiefvater, Brenna Yovanoff and Tessa Gratton

What was in YOUR biblio-bin this week?

The Last Slayer by Nadia Lee - 18 +

**1/2

From Carina Press:

Ashera del Cid is a talented demon hunter, but when she kills a demigod's pet dragon, the hunter becomes the hunted. Her only potential ally is Ramiel, a sexy-as-hell demon. Now the two must work together to battle dragons and demigods...and the chemistry crackling between them.

Ramiel has his own reasons for offering Ashera his protection. He knows her true identity and the real reason the demigods want her dead. What he can't predict is how she'll react when she discovers he knew who she was all along...

Ashera is shocked to discover that she is the only daughter of the last slayer. To claim her destiny, she and Ramiel must join forces to face down danger and outwit their enemies. Only then will she be able to truly accept her legacy...

The Bad:

I did not find Ashera to be a good heroine.  I did not really care about her or her situation until late in the book.  I thought the world of demi-gods and dragons could have been more fleshed out.  I also needed more of an explanation of how Ashera is who she is - or is destined to be. 

The Good:

Hot demi-gods and dragons?  Who doesn't enjoy a story like that.  The story was interesting and I wanted to understand more about the Ashera's world.  According to Nadia Lee's website, The Last Slayer is the first in a trilogy, so I am hopeful that the next book will give more answers. 

~Shel

Animal Attraction by Jill Shalvis - 18+

****

From Penguin:

Jade Bennett couldn't be happier to escape her past for the quiet ranching town of Sunshine, Idaho. Plus, there's nothing like working for veterinarian Dell Connelly. And though Dell has no intention of settling down, Jade's strength and sass are enticements no red-blooded male can resist.

I love Jill Shalvis.  Her books and blog have given me countless hours of entertainment over the years (I first discovered her books back in 2006 or 2007 and never looked back).  No offense to Bel and Nat, but if Jill would agree, she would definitely be my new BFF!  She is the queen of the embarrassing, everyday situations.

Animal Attraction is the second in the Animal series.  I picked this up without having read the first book, Animal Magnetism (though I have it now).  While reading a series from the beginning is always my recommendation, you do not need to read Magnetism to enjoy Attraction. 

Animal Attraction is the story of Jade and Dell.  While Jade's story is a little more serious and intense than many of Jill's heroines, the story is still sexy, engrossing and fun.  If you like Lori Foster, Janet Evanovich or similar authors, you will love Jill Shalvis.

Check out her blog here:  http://jillshalvis.com/blog/

Also, if you friend her on Facebook you will get to enjoy her "Man Wars" with Kristin Higgins, which is a great reason to get out of bed on a given day.  I won't give away the surprise, just trust me, if you love hot boys, you will love Man Wars!

~Shel

Out of Sight, Out of Time by Ally Carter

*** 1/2

The last thing Cammie Morgan remembers is leaving the Gallagher Academy to protect her friends and family from the Circle of Cavan–an ancient terrorist organization that has been hunting her for over a year. But when Cammie wakes up in an alpine convent and discovers months have passed, she must face the fact that her memory is now a black hole. The only traces left of Cammie’s summer vacation are the bruises on her body and dirt under her nails, and all she wants is to go home.

Once she returns to school, however, Cammie realizes that even the Gallagher Academy now holds more questions than answers. Cammie, her friends, and mysterious spy-guy Zach must face their most difficult challenge yet as they travel to the other side of the world, hoping to piece together the clues that Cammie left behind. It’s a race against time. The Circle is hot on their trail and willing stop at nothing to prevent Cammie from remembering what she did last summer.

The Bad:

I really do not have anything bad to say about Out of Sight, Out of Time, except maybe I wish it was longer or that the next book would be out sooner!

The Good:

I truly enjoy the Gallagher Girls series and this installment illustrates a darker side of Cammie.  The stakes are high because Cammie has no idea what happened to her after she left Gallagher Academy at the end of Only the Good Spy Young.  The series has grown and become more intense as the characters get older and face more dangerous scenarios, while keeping the fun adventure that started with I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You.  OOSOOT is an intense, suspenseful ride that you should definitely check out!

~Shel

Waiting on Wednesday (13)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that highlights future releases that we are excitedly anticipating.

The Selection
By Kiera Cass
Publication Date: April 24, 2012

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in the palace and compete for the heart of the gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself- and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined

The Gallagher Girls by Ally Carter

****

The Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women is a fairly typical all-girls school—that is, if every school teaches advanced martial arts in PE, chemistry always consists of the latest in chemical warfare, and everyone breaks CIA codes for extra credit in computer class. So in truth, while the Gallagher Academy might say it’s a school for geniuses what they really mean is spies. But what happens when a Gallagher Girl falls for a boy who doesn’t have a code name?

Cammie Morgan may be fluent in fourteen languages and capable of killing a man in seven different ways (three of which involve a piece of uncooked spaghetti), but the Gallagher Academy hasn’t prepared her for what to do when she meets an ordinary boy who thinks she’s an ordinary girl. Sure, she can tap his phone, hack into his computer, and track him through a mall without him ever being the wiser, but can she have a regular relationship with a regular boy who can never know the truth about her? Cammie may be an elite spy in training, but in her sophomore year, she’s doing something riskier than ever—she’s falling in love.





Cammie Morgan may have a genius IQ and attend the best school in the country, but as she starts the spring semester of her sophomore year there are a lot of things she doesn’t know. Like will her ex-boyfriend even remember she exists? And how much trouble did she really get in last semester? And, most of all, exactly why is her mother acting so strangely?

All Cammie wants is a nice, normal semester, but she’s about to learn her greatest lesson yet—that when you go to a school for spies, nothing is ever as it seems.

When Cammie “the Chameleon” Morgan visits her roommate Macey in Boston, she thinks she’s in for an exciting end to her summer break. After all, she’s there to watch Macey’s father accept a nomination for vice president of the United States. But when you go to the world’s best school (for spies), “exciting” and “deadly” are never far apart. Cammie and Macey soon find themselves trapped in a kidnapper’s dangerous plot, with only their espionage skills to save them.

As her junior year begins, Cammie can’t shake the memory of what happened in Boston, and even the Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women doesn’t feel like the safe haven it once did.

Shocking secrets and old flames seem to lurk around every one of the mansion’s corners as Cammie and her friends struggle to answer the questions, Who is after Macey? And how can they keep her safe?

Soon Cammie is joining Bex and Liz as Macey’s private security team on the campaign trail. The girls must use their spy training at every turn as the stakes are raised, and Cammie gets closer and closer to the shocking truth…

When Cammie Morgan enrolled at the Gallagher Academy, she knew she was preparing for the dangerous life of a spy. What she didn’t know was that the serious, real-life danger would start during her junior year of high school. But that’s exactly what happened two months ago when she faced off against an ancient terrorist organization dead set on kidnapping her.

Now the danger follows her everywhere and even Cammie “The Chameleon” can’t hide. When a terrifying encounter in London reveals that one of her most-trusted allies is actually a rogue double-agent Cammie no longer knows if she can trust her classmates, her teachers—or even her own heart.

In this fourth installment of the New York Times best-selling series, the Gallagher Girls must hack, spy, steal, and lie their way to the truth as they go searching for answers, recognizing that the key to Cammie’s future may lie deep in the past…. 

The Good:

Gallagher Girls is one of those series' that I would see in the bookstore or while shopping online and thought looked interesting, but never seemed to have the time to read.  Finally, a few weeks ago I was looking for something light and fun, so I picked up I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You.  Much to Nat's amusement, I ended up reading the entire series in 24 hours.  The books are so much fun!  Not only are the GG engrossing and fun, but they were the perfect antidote to a really bad week.  Cammie, Bex, Liz and Macey are great characters.  I so want to go to Gallagher Academy and hang out with them! 

The concept for the books is simple and Ally Carter expertly executes the stories.  Gallagher Academy is an all girl school training the next generation of spies.  These girls are genius, athletic and all have exceptional talents.  The one thing they do not know is how to deal with boys (and really, do any of us?).  This idea leads to hilarious situations and begins the spy adventures for the girls. 

I definitely recommend this series.  I cannot wait for the next installment!

~Shel