Welcome to this week’s news post. It has been an eventful one with the long anticipated release of J.K Rowling’s first adult book although its critical response and the ebook edition were not positive.  Barnes and Noble have released the details of their new tablets as well as a content platform and our usual books to watch out for and news.

Barnes and Noble have released the details of their new Nook tablets. There will be two tablets – a 7 inch edition (Nook HD $199)   and a 9 inch edition (Nook HD+ $269), although their specs doesn’t vary much away from the recently launched Kindle Fire or the Google Nexus.  The Digital reader has a full and in-depth coverage of the devices at their site. The Nook tablets will also have their own content platform but unlike Apple, Google and Amazon who has a much better library of digital content offerings, Barnes and Noble have their work cut out for them. However Barnes and Noble will offer a

J.K Rowling’s first adult book, The Casual Vacancy has been released to a mixed response in the critical sphere with several publications slamming it while others loving it. But despite the critical backlash, the book has managed to set records by becoming the fastest selling book in the UK in the last 3 years however to those who bought the ebook, it seems the publisher, Hachette has screwed up the formatting for the Kindle edition which has left the book unreadable. But according to this article, they are working on fixing the  issues but it is pretty embarrassing in what could be argued the biggest release of the year has a major error attached to its ebook release.

Rowling has also stated in a recent interview that she is not going to rule out in revisiting the world of  Harry Potter and has plans in writing a ‘director’s cut’ edition of two of her Potter books.

It looks like the growing popularity of online bloggers and reviewers have upset some from the literary field, the editor of The Times Literary Supplment, has decried about blogging’s influence in literature. Sir Peter Stothard views bloggers are unable to direct and point out good books to readers because “people will be encouraged to buy and read books that are no good, the good will be overwhelmed, and we’ll be worse off”.  I can’t not help be amused by this because most classic literature was popular fiction at the time, and people are not generally stupid and can decide from a reviewer if a book is from them. Especially if they are attracted to genre fiction and which some of those books may actually become classics in 50 years time.

News in Brief:

Patrick Rothfuss has a new charity pin-up calender which will feature UF and Fantasy characters from authors like Charlaine Harris, Patricia Briggs, Ray Bradbury and Jim Butcher. Lee Moyer who is the artist has posted some teaser pics from the calender which you can check out here on his blog. And you can pre-order the calender here. (I really like his take on Mercy Thompson because it is so her!)

Ilona Andrews has launched a new free online serial called Clean Sweep  – and it so fun!  There is plans for it being epublished once it is finished but watch out for regular instalments every week and the first full chapter is already up!

Thea Harrison recently had a Q&A session at Goodreads and there is some fantastic tidbits about her Elder Races series and more – you can check it out here! 

And now for the books to watch out for!

Looks like Gin is going to be all Bruce Willis in this entry of the next Elemental Assassin book – Deadly Sting which has a cover and a blurb!

 

 

Red is definitely my color. Good thing, because in my line of work, I end up wearing it a lot.

Most people shy away from blood, but for an assassin like me — Gin Blanco, aka the Spider — it’s just part of the job. Still, it would be nice to get a night off, especially when I’m attending the biggest gala event of the summer at Briartop, Ashland’s fanciest art museum. But it’s just not meant to be. For this exhibition of my late nemesis’ priceless possessions is not only the place to be seen, but the place to be robbed and taken hostage at gunpoint as well. No sooner did I get my champagne than a bunch of the unluckiest thieves ever burst into the museum and started looting the place.

Unlucky why? Because I brought along a couple of knives in addition to my killer dress. Add these to my Ice and Stone magic, and nothing makes me happier than showing the bad guys why red really is my color.

 

I really enjoyed the first book of this series  by Beth Kery – and the second one Expose to you looks just as good!

 

 

Losing control is just the beginning… 

“What would you do if the sexiest man in the world was bent on bringing you unbearable pleasure again and again? Joy Hightower wasn’t sure she could survive the experience…or live without it.” 

It’s not often you’re hired to paint a body tattoo—and what a body—on a total stranger at a Hollywood film set. A reserved and careful art teacher, Joy would never forget it. In a rare fit of raw desire she gave herself completely, knowing she’d never see him again, or ever repeat such a shameless, naked impulse.

Little did she know, the man with whom she shared that lightning bolt of lust was star Everett Hughes. For Everett, women and sex came as easily as fame. But how could he hope to convince the guarded Joy that beneath the hard body and sexy façade of celebrity was a real man who wanted only one, real woman?

In the heat of an intoxicating affair, Everett endeavors to break down her barriers, gain her trust, and expose himself as the real deal. But can Joy do the same, and reveal to him the vulnerable woman who longs to be loved, wanted, and desired forever?

 

And finally, The Farm by Emily McKay looks very chilling and creepy. The idea of bloodsucking ticks is a new riff on the vampire mythos.

 

 

Life was different in the Before: before vampires began devouring humans in a swarm across America; before the surviving young people were rounded up and quarantined. These days, we know what those quarantines are—holding pens where human blood is turned into more food for the undead monsters, known as Ticks. Surrounded by electrical fences, most kids try to survive the Farms by turning on each other…

And when trust is a thing of the past, escape is nearly impossible.

Lily and her twin sister Mel have a plan. Though Mel can barely communicate, her autism helps her notice things no one else notices—like the portion of electrical fence that gets turned off every night. Getting across won’t be easy, but as Lily gathers what they need to escape, a familiar face appears out of nowhere, offering to help…

Carter was a schoolmate of Lily’s in the Before. Managing to evade capture until now, he has valuable knowledge of the outside world. But like everyone on the Farm, Carter has his own agenda, and he knows that behind the Ticks is an even more dangerous threat to the human race…

So what do you think of J.K Rowling’s new book? Did you get caught up with the ebook edition issues? And what do you think online bloggers will bring the downfall of civilisation along with literary tastes? (I kid 😀 )  

About Has

Has is a bookaholic and feeds her addiction whenever she can. She usually can be found lost in a Romance or an Urban Fantasy novel. Her favourite sub genres are Paranormal, Fantasy and some Scifi. Her most treasured authors are, Patricia Briggs, Ilona Andrews, Ann Aguirre, Lisa Kleypas and Tamora Pierce. She loves that discovery of finding a brand new author and falling in love with their books. Has also blogs a The Book Pushers - Book chatter and reviews

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