Book Lovers Inc.
Romance Novel Reviews, Author Interviews, Commentary
New Releases: April 30 – May 6, 2012
Deadlocked (Sookie Stackhouse, #12) by Charlaine Harris
With Felipe de Castro, the Vampire King of Louisiana (and Arkansas and Nevada), in town, it’s the worst possible time for a body to show up in Eric Northman’s front yard—especially the body of a woman whose blood he just drank.
Now, it’s up to Sookie and Bill, the official Area Five investigator, to solve the murder. Sookie thinks that, at least this time, the dead girl’s fate has nothing to do with her. But she is wrong. She has an enemy, one far more devious than she would ever suspect, who’s out to make Sookie’s world come crashing down.
A Gentleman Says “I Do” by Amelia Grey
Barely Breathing (The Breathing Series, #2) by Rebecca Donovan
Beguiling the Beauty (Fitzhugh Trilogy, #1) by Sherry Thomas
Bitterblue (Graceling Realm, #3) by Kristin Cashore (YA)
Black Dawn (The Morganville Vampires, #12) by Rachel Caine (YA)
Born of Silence (The League, #5) by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Brownies and Broomsticks (A Magical Bakery Mystery #1) by Bailey Cates
Captivated (Phantom Corps #3) by Lauren Dane
Demon’s Bride (Hellraisers, #2) by Zoe Archer
Destined (Wings, #4) by Aprilynne Pike (YA)
Embrace of the Damned (Brotherhood of the Damned, #1) by Anya Bast
Heart of Brass (Wardens of the Realm, #1) by Kate Cross
In the Company of Witches (Arcane Shot, #2) by Joey W. Hill
Insurgent (Divergent, #2) by Veronica Roth (YA)
Karma (Serendipity, #3) by Carly Phillips
Kiss of the Goblin Prince (Shadowlands, #2) by Shona Husk
Lady Maggie’s Secret Scandal (The Duke’s Daughters, #2) by Grace Burrowes
Midnight Rescue (Killer Instincts, #1) by Elle Kennedy
My Lady Rival (Belgrave Square Affair, #1) by Ashley March
Shine (Shade, #3) by Jeri Smith-Ready (YA)
Silence (Queen of the Dead, #1) by Michelle Sagara West (YA)
Sparks Fly (Light Dragons, #3) by Katie MacAlister
The Impossible Cube (Clockwork Empire #2) by Steven Harper
The Last Princess by Galaxy Craze
The Last Boyfriend (Inn BoonsBoro, #2) by Nora Roberts
The Peculiars by Maureen Doyle McQuerry (YA)
The Proposal by Mary Balogh
The Seven Year Witch (That Old Black Magic, #2) by Jodi Redford
The Serpent’s Shadow (Kane Chronicles, #3) by Rick Riordan (YA)
Under Fire (Elite Force, #3) by Catherine Mann
Under Suspicion (Underworld Detection Agency, #3) by Hannah Jayne
Warrior Enchanted (Sons of the Zodiac, #4) by Addison Fox
Wrecked by Anna Davies (YA)
Quite a bit going on this week, wouldn’t you say? Of course, there are the series mainstays like the latest Sookie Stackhouse novel and Rachel Caine’s new Morganville Vampires installment. There are a lot of relatively new series on feature this week…and the handful of brand new series are actually shaping up as most promising. Take a look at Sherry Thomas’s book, Beguiling the Beauty, which starts of an historical romance trilogy and features a strong, capable heroine (thank goodness!). We’ve also got a new Anya Bast paranormal romance series that looks as intense as it is intriguing (All Things Urban Fantasy called it a cross between Thor and Gena Showalter’s Lords of the Underworld series). Ashley March’s new Belgrave Square Affair series looks like a scandalously decadent addition to historical romance. And there seems be just one word to describe Elle Kennedy’s series opener, Midnight Rescue: badass (a woman raised and trained by a retired army ranger? Come on, that’s asking for an action-packed thrill ride!).
For this week, are there any series, new and old, that pique your interest? When it comes to series, do you prefer to read in strict publishing order (even if not required)?
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Way too many books on there I want! And yes, I need to read a series in order, that way you can enjoy it the most. Personal development of both main and secondary characters, little things that happened before when you can’t see the meaning of it yet.
Almost tough to look at these lists, isn’t it? Just temptation embodied. o.O
I totally get you re: character development. That’s when it gets easy to really become attached to characters. Kind of the best and worst thing….worst because it’s so hard to let go when the series is done OR let go when the series goes sour. But connecting with characters is indeed wonderful, when it happens.
I am still unsure about Charlaine Harris’s new book. I read series in order unless I just want to just taste the style of a new author.
Yeah, it’s so tough. The series has been through so dang much…for better and for worse.
Man, this is a rough week for me. I had pre-ordered a number of these (you know, since I was worried that I’d run out of reading material), but I think Deadlocked and Beguiling the Beauty are vying for my attention at the top of the list tonite. Decisions, decisions. I so wish I could call in sick tomorrow (cough, cough), but I have to be in early. 🙁 This work stuff is seriously interfering with my reading time.
I also saw some new books in series that I had to add to my collection (Under Suspicion, Kiss of the Goblin Prince, Demon’s Bride). Then, to top it off, you show me a new author (Steven Harper) and I had to buy the 2 books in that series. Yes, I’m blaming you. All your fault.
Seriously, tho, this was a really nice mix of books. Thx.
BTW, in answer to your question, I’ve inadvertently read series out of published order, but I really hate doing it. If I begin reading an established series, I prefer to buy all of the books at the outset, and then start on the first one. OCD, right?
FYI–I stayed up last nite to read Deadlocked (and was late to work today). It was good–not perfect, but good. She’s definitely in wrap-up mode with the series–a lot of characters reintroduced so loose ends could get tied up–but I like the direction she seems to be heading (it’s what I wanted all along, even if I didn’t mind the road getting there).
Fans of the series will want to read it. (But don’t start with this one!)
Oooooh! Well, that’s definitely good to hear that it wasn’t horrible. It’s been pretty unfortunate hearing more negative than positive about books 10 and 11.
For my part, I’m afraid to read further (read all through book 10) because I sort of want to stay in a reality where my favorite Sookie-suitor wins her (pre-douchebaggery). ^_^ I’ve had my guess since book 1 who would end up with Sookie, and it’s not the one that I’ve grown most attached to. So, self-delusion it is! hehe
So, is Beguiling the Beauty next up for you, then?
Of course, I’m not 100% positive who Sookie will end up with (assuming Charlaine Harris has her ending up with anyone!), but it looks like it’ll be the person I’ve suspected since the first book. Unlike you (if I’m reading you right), tho, it’s the person I ultimately wanted for her, the one who can give her the life she wants and needs. (Sorry.) That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy some of her relationship detours along the way.
I haven’t read any reviews of Deadlocked yet, so I don’t know how others feel about it. For me, there are no real surprises. It was pretty much a filler book, with the exception (as I mentioned) that a lot of loose ends get tied up all of a sudden. Not one of the more memorable books, but not horrible, either.
I put down Tessa Dare’s A Week to be Wicked to read Deadlocked, so I’ll finish that next. And THEN I’ll read Beguiling the Beauty–I want to be able to savor it. I have a serious crush on Sherry Thomas and if BTB is anything like her other books I’ll be reading and rereading many times.
Glad the list is of assistance, Susan! ::evil cackle:: Friend to TBR piles, enemy to pocketbooks!
I’d LOVE to know what you think of the Steven Harper books. They look really, really good…
Oooh, that’s interesting that you buy a series all at once and then read through it. That shows good faith in the author! Have you ever gotten , read a few books, and then decided you’d rather do away with the rest that you have? Or do you generally power through series regardless, since you’ve put in the $$$ commitment?
You know that I’m your willing victim, so I can’t really get away with the poor me act.
Don’t know how soon I’ll be able to get to Steven Harper, but I’m excited to start them.
I really need to quit buying all the books first. It’s a compulsion from my PB days when I wasn’t sure if I could get ahold of all the books from the bookstores. Now that I read mostly ebooks, I should feel more comfortable knowing I can have my instant gratification. But it’s a hard habit to break.
I’m not usually disappointed, but even if a book/series isn’t all that I hoped, I tend to perservere and finish. I’ll admit, tho, that I’m in the middle of the 3rd book of Devon Monk’s Allie Beckstrom series and it’s getting the better of me. I’ve set it aside for now in the hope that I’ll be able to return to it in a better frame of mind. (Sorry if this was mean.)
Demon’s Bride for me! 😀 Alas, this newest Zoe Archer’s series don’t have gorgeous cover like her Blades of The Rose. Don’t get me wrong, I love man tittie and abs (and back), but this one look.. cheap 🙁
And I definitely reading in order. So I can know the author writing style, the characters and the world building 🙂
You’re right! After you pointed it out, I checked to see if this could possibly be a self-pub since the cover looked kind of. . . amateurish, but it’s a Zebra.
Still, the premise sounds good and I had ordered the book already. If you don’t mind, let us know how you liked it after you finish it.
Yeah, that is weird. Zoe Archer’s covers have been hit or miss in terms of quality. Obviously she has nothing to do with it, but yeah, it does take some of the shine off its polished, pro feel when it looks…well, like it does on Demon’s Bride. (and for the record, I hope that the red thing on the man’s back is not meant to be a tattoo. Cuz if so, that’s #TattooFail. ^_^)
Writing style, characters, world building…totally agree. Some authors totally knock it out of the park in the beginning. My guess is that the first book or two is where the author got to be the most deliberate–and arguably, free–with their writing style and plot directions. It’s the closest to the original inspiration as you can get. (Unless you’re like the awesomely awesome Gail Carriger, who first conceives of a series–Parasol Protectorate Abroad–and then writes a whole prequel series to build up to it–Parasol Protectorate. I love it!)
On the other hand, I suppose that’s when it can also becomes sticky sometimes, with the dreaded “first book syndrome”. I swear, if I hadn’t first read Karen Chance’s Dorina Basarab series (which I only later realized was a spinoff), I would’ve run screaming after finishing book one in her Cassandra Palmer series. ^_^
Haha. I’m the exact opposite with the Karen Chance books. Looove the Cassie Palmer series (which I read first), but find Dorina Basarab more of a slog. I really wish Chance would concentrate on the Cassie books and finish up the series (the wait between books is ridiculous, and it gets difficult to remember all the plot/time travel-y twists during the hiatuses) before writing anymore Dorina books. 🙁
I usualy prefer reading in order. But there’re several cases that i am glad i didn’t read it in order. But there also several cases that i found myself confused when i read it out of order, even though each book is a stand alone story
oooh, interesting! Can you share a case in which you were glad you read the books out of order? What made you read the book in the order you did, and what made you realize it was the better choice?
WOW! A lot of great books being released. I don’t have to read a series in order. However if it just so happens that I do start with the first book that’s great!
I’ve read some great Historical and Paranormal romance series. Too many to list! And I’m sure everyone in here has read them too. 😉
A lot of great books, indeed! Man o’ man, the first and last weeks of the month are just gold. Gold!
That’s cool that you’re flexible with where you start in a book series. Indeed, romances can be ideal for jumping in at any point with little to no fuss.
yes I like to read series, especially in the mystery genre. If I read a romance series, I only want to read 3 or 4 of them
Ah, so series that are nice and to-the-point! ^_^ There’s a lot to be said for shorter series being nice and fresh all the way through, less susceptible to losing focus or growing stagnant.
Or do you mean that, no matter how long the series, you typically only like to read a few of them? I’m intrigued either way!