Welcome to this week’s news post and oh boy has it been eventful with major announcements and more drama in the offering such as more on the fallout on the new changes with Goodreads.

Last week, I reported that Goodreads will be changing its terms of services over the use of shelving names which now users cant be based on authors and their behaviours. This has upset a lot of members, especially the power users who have volunteered their time and energy on the site as librarians improving the database and highlighting bugs. But the feedback discussion has illustrated some important points about the choices on how users shelve and catalogue their books especially in the instances if an author has homophobic or racist views or have a history with child pornography. I think many readers would like to be aware of examples of these to decide whether they want to read authors such as these. The Book Binge has a great post summing the past week or so which links to a variety of other alternatives by those who feel uneasy and want a backup site, or have decided to move completely and delete their account. And from looking at the delays that Booklikes a new social reading networking site which was experiencing issues with its servers, it does seem that a substantial group of Goodreaders have decided to move away from the site.

With the recent exposé on buying positive reviews, it seems opportunistic scammers are now selling reviews in a unique way on Amazon by making them appear to look like books. Stephen King is the latest target since his book, JOYLAND wont be available in ebook format, one reviewer with the name of Nick Watson has tricked customers thinking it was the real book, although looking at the cover that was a huge clue in itself this is not King’s work. But it has catched out those who didn’t read the summaries and expecting they bought the book instead of a book about the reviews of the book.

News in brief:

J.R Ward has introduced a new character called s’Ex for the BDB series on her Facebook page. Looking forward to your comments about the new character’s name….

Amazon has announced new tablets – you can check out the full details on CNET’s post outlying the new features but it includes better screens and processors for the HDX models.

And Sony Pictures have picked up David Baldacci’s new fantasy novel called THE FINISHER which is about a young girl who lives in a magical world.

And now books to watch out for!

THE LINE by J.D Horn, the first book in the WITCHING SAVANNAH series looks fun and fills the void of a southern paranormal series for those who are missing Sookie Stackhouse. It is out early next year!

 

 

Move over, Sookie Stackhouse—the witches of Savannah are the new talk of the South. Bold, flirty, and with a touch of darkness, debut author J.D. Horn spins a mesmerizing tale of a family of witches . . . and the problem that can arise from being so powerful. As Charlaine Harris’ series winds down—and as Deborah Harkness’ series heats up—Witching Savannah is new contemporary fantasy that will be sure to enchant new readers.

Mercy Taylor, the youngest member of Savannah’s preeminent witching family, was born without the gift of magic. She is accustomed to coming in a distant second to the minutes older, exquisite and gifted twin she adores. Hopelessly in love with her sister’s boyfriend, she goes to a Hoodoo root doctor for a love spell. A spell that will turn her heart to another man, the best friend who has loved her since childhood.

Aunt Ginny, the family’s matriarch, would not approve. But Mercy has more to worry about than a love triangle when Aunt Ginny is brutally murdered. Ginny was the Taylor family’s high commander in the defense of the bewitched line that separates humankind from the demons who once ruled our realm.

A demon invasion looms now that the line is compromised. Worse yet, some within the witching world stand to gain from a demon takeover. Mercy, entangled in the dark magic of her love spell, fighting for her sister’s trust, and hopelessly without magic, must tap the strength born from being an outcast to protect the line she doesn’t feel a part of…

In this riveting contemporary fantasy, Horn delivers the full betrayal, blood, and familial discord of the best of Southern gothic.

 

 

 

J.C. Daniels is back with a new book soon! BROKEN BLADE is slated for January and is the 3rd installment in the Kit Colbana series and I cant wait!

 

Kit Colbana: assassin, thief, investigator extraordinaire. Now broken. She always expected her past to catch up with her but never like this. Haunted by nightmares and stripped of her identity, she’s retreated to Wolf Haven, the no-man’s land where she found refuge years before. But while she might want to hide away from the rest of the world, the rest of the world isn’t taking the hint.

Dragged kicking and screaming back into life, Kit is thrust head-first into an investigation surrounding the theft of an ancient relic…one that she wants nothing to do with. Her instincts tell her it’s a bad idea to just leave the relic lying about, but finding it might be just as bad.

Forced to face her nightmares, she uncovers hidden strength and comes face to face with one of the world’s original monsters.

If she survives the job, she won’t be the same…and neither will those closest to her.

 

And finally we have Lauren M. Roy’s NIGHT OWLS which looks really intriguing!

 

Night Owls book store is the one spot on campus open late enough to help out even the most practiced slacker. The employees’ penchant for fighting the evil creatures of the night is just a perk…

Valerie McTeague’s business model is simple: provide the students of Edgewood College with a late-night study haven and stay as far away from the underworld conflicts of her vampire brethren as possible. She’s lived that life, and the price she paid was far too high to ever want to return.

Elly Garrett hasn’t known any life except that of fighting the supernatural werewolf-like beings known as Creeps or Jackals. But she always had her mentor and foster father by her side—until he gave his life protecting a book that the Creeps desperately want to get their hands on.

When the book gets stashed at Night Owls for safe keeping, those Val holds nearest and dearest are put in mortal peril. Now Val and Elly will have to team up, along with a mismatched crew of humans, vampires, and lesbian succubi, to stop the Jackals from getting their claws on the book and unleashing unnamed horrors….

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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