strange and random happenstance

The Clockwork Scarab by Colleen Gleason
Published by: Chronicle Books
Publication Date: September 17th, 2013
Format: Hardcover, 356 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Evaline Stoker and Mina Holmes never meant to get into the family business. But when you're the sister of Bram and the niece of Sherlock, vampire hunting and mystery solving are in your blood. And when two society girls go missing, there's no one more qualified to investigate. Now fierce Evaline and logical Mina must resolve their rivalry, navigate the advances of not just one but three mysterious gentlemen, and solve murder with only one clue: a strange Egyptian scarab. The stakes are high. If Stoker and Holmes don't unravel why the belles of London society are in such danger, they'll become the next victims."

I quite literally cannot say how stoked (haha) I am for this book. Ever since Colleen first started talking about it however long ago it was (it felt really long ago because I'm impatient) I've had this on the top of my "To Be Read" list. Finally!

The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater
Published by: Scholastic Press
Publication Date: September 17th, 2013
Format: Hardcover, 416 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"The second installment in the all-new series from the masterful, #1 NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author Maggie Stiefvater!

Now that the ley lines around Cabeswater have been woken, nothing for Ronan, Gansey, Blue, and Adam will be the same. Ronan, for one, is falling more and more deeply into his dreams, and his dreams are intruding more and more into waking life. Meanwhile, some very sinister people are looking for some of the same pieces of the Cabeswater puzzle that Gansey is after..."

Everyone I know, even the author Robin LaFevers, has been talking about how good the first book in this new series by Stiefvater is... guess I should get around to it then. 

United We Spy by Ally Carter
Published by: Disney-Hyperion
Publication Date: September 17th, 2013
Format: Hardcover, 304 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Cammie Morgan has lost her father and her memory, but in the heart-pounding conclusion to the best-selling Gallagher Girls series, she finds her greatest mission yet. Cammie and her friends finally know why the terrorist organization called the Circle of Cavan has been hunting her. Now the spy girls and Zach must track down the Circle's elite members to stop them before they implement a master plan that will change Cammie-and her country-forever.

Get ready for the Gallagher Girls' most astounding adventure yet as Ally Carter's New York Times best-selling series comes to breathtaking conclusion that will have readers racing to the last page."

Here's hoping for a satisfying conclusion!

The Taming of the Tights by Louise Rennison
Published by: HarperTeen
Publication Date: September 17th, 2013
Format: Hardcover, 256 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Gadzooks! It's another term at Dother Hall for Tallulah and her mates. But can they keep their minds on the arts with all those boys about...After the thing-that-will-never-be-mentioned last term, Tallulah is keen to put all thoughts of Cain behind her. But that seems like that the last thing he wants. Their performing arts college may have been saved by Honey's mystery benefactor, but for how long is anyone's guess. So will Tallulah finally get to wear those golden slippers of applause or will Dr Lightowler swoop down on her glory days? And with Seth and Flossie forever snogging, Vaisey and Jack loved-up and Phil and Jo fondly biffing each other can Tallulah resist the call of her wild boy? Don your craziest tights and Irish dance your way to some surprising and hilariously unexpected answers..."

So, yeah, I didn't really like the second book and so I'm not super hyped about this one... will I read it? Yeah, probably. Also, why have the last two books been parodies of Shakespearean titles and the first a Bronte parody... switch it up on this one maybe, at least that's my feeling. But then again, who listens to me... because if they did, Louise Rennison would be doing an adult series a la Adrian Mole...

Fortunately the Milk by Neil Gaiman
Published by: HarperCollins
Publication Date: September 17th, 2013
Format: Hardcover, 128 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"I bought the milk," said my father. "I walked out of the corner shop, and heard a noise like this: T h u m m t h u m m. I looked up and saw a huge silver disc hovering in the air above Marshall Road."

"Hullo," I said to myself. "That's not something you see every day. And then something odd happened."

Find out just how odd things get in this hilarious story of time travel and breakfast cereal, expertly told by Newbery Medalist and bestselling author Neil Gaiman and illustrated by Skottie Young."

So, originally, I was kind of "meh" about this book, but then I saw Neil Gaiman in July and he read some of it aloud, and now it's like the book I'm most excited about, well, most excited to share with my Dad for all his heroics of making sure we never ran out of milk over the years.

Deadly Heat by Richard Castle
Published by: Hyperion
Publication Date: September 17th, 2013
Format: Hardcover, 304 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Nikki Heat and Jameson Rook race to stop a deadly threat from Heat's past as well as an all-too-present serial killer, in Richard Castle's follow-up to the New York Times bestseller Frozen Heat.

Determined to find justice for her mother, top NYPD Homicide Detective Nikki Heat continues to pursue the elusive former CIA station chief who ordered her execution more than a decade ago. For the hunt, Nikki teams once again with her romantic partner, Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist Jameson Rook, and their quest for the old spy and the motive behind the past murder unearths an alarming terror plot, which is anything but ancient history. It is lethal. It is now. And it has already entered its countdown phase.

Complicating Heat's mission to bring the rogue spy to justice and thwart the looming terror event, a serial killer begins menacing the Twentieth Precinct, and her homicide squad is under pressure to stop him, and soon. Known for his chilling stealth, the diabolical murderer not only singles out Nikki as the exclusive recipient of his taunting messages, he names her as his next victim."

SO glad the magenta cover won out over the lizard like one.

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Ally Carter, Bram Stoker, Colleen Gleason, Fortunately the Milk, Louise Rennison, Maggie Stiefvater, Neil Gaiman, Richard Castle, Robin LaFevers, Sherlock Holmes, Tallulah Casey, The Clockwork Scarab

Etiquette and Espionage (Finishing School Book 1) by Gail Carriger
Published by: Little Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: February 5th, 2013
Format: Hardcover, 320 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"It's one thing to learn to curtsy properly. It's quite another to learn to curtsy and throw a knife at the same time. Welcome to Finishing School.

Fourteen-year-old Sophronia is a great trial to her poor mother. Sophronia is more interested in dismantling clocks and climbing trees than proper manners--and the family can only hope that company never sees her atrocious curtsy. Mrs. Temminnick is desperate for her daughter to become a proper lady. So she enrolls Sophronia in Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality.

But Sophronia soon realizes the school is not quite what her mother might have hoped. At Mademoiselle Geraldine's, young ladies learn to finish...everything. Certainly, they learn the fine arts of dance, dress, and etiquette, but the also learn to deal out death, diversion, and espionage--in the politest possible ways, of course. Sophronia and her friends are in for a rousing first year's education.

Set in the same world as the Parasol Protectorate, this YA series debut is filled with all the saucy adventure and droll humor Gail's legions of fans have come to adore."

Let's put it this way, love the world Gail has built, didn't love this.

The Queen is Dead by Kate Locke
Published by: Orbit
Publication Date: February 5th, 2013
Format: Hardcover, 352 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"When her brother Val gets in over his head in an investigation of Half-Blood disappearances and goes missing himself, it's up to Xandra, newly crowned Goblin Queen, to get him back and bring the atrocities to light. Xandra must frequent the seediest parts of London, while also coping with what she is, the political factions vying for her favor, and the all too-close scrutiny of Queen Victoria, who wants her head. Add this to a being a suspect in a murder investigation, a werewolf boyfriend with demands of his own, and a mother hell bent on destroying the monarchy, and Xandra barely knows which way is up. One thing she does know is that she's already lost one sibling, she's not about to lose another.

Xandra Varden is the newly crowned Goblin Queen of England. But her complicated life is by no means over.

There are the political factions vying for her favor, and the all too-close scrutiny of Queen Victoria, who for some reason wants her head. Not to mention her werewolf boyfriend with demands of his own, and a mother hell bent on destroying the monarchy. Now she's the suspect in a murder investigation --- and Xandra barely knows which way is up.

What she does know is that nothing lasts forever---and immortality isn't all its cracked up to be."

Steampunk, steampunk, steampunk!

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer
Published by: Feiwel and Friends
Publication Date: February 5th, 2013
Format: Hardcover, 464 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Cinder, the cyborg mechanic, returns in the second thrilling installment of the bestselling Lunar Chronicles. She's trying to break out of prison--even though if she succeeds, she'll be the Commonwealth's most wanted fugitive.

Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit's grandmother is missing. It turns out there are many things Scarlet doesn't know about her grandmother or the grave danger she has lived in her whole life. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother's whereabouts, she is loath to trust this stranger, but is inexplicably drawn to him, and he to her. As Scarlet and Wolf unravel one mystery, they encounter another when they meet Cinder. Now, all of them must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen Levana, who will do anything for the handsome Prince Kai to become her husband, her king, her prisoner."

Feels like I've been dying for the last year waiting for this book to come out. I literally can not wait another day for it!

Perfect Scoundrels by Ally Carter
Published by: Hyperion
Publication Date: February 5th, 2013
Format: Hardcover, 336 Pages
To Buy

The official patter: "Katarina Bishop and W.W. Hale the fifth were born to lead completely different lives: Kat comes from a long, proud line of loveable criminal masterminds, while Hale is the scion of one of the most seemingly perfect dynasties in the world. If their families have one thing in common, it’s that they both know how to stay under the radar while getting—or stealing—whatever they want.

No matter the risk, the Bishops can always be counted on, but in Hale’s family, all bets are off when money is on the line. When Hale unexpectedly inherits his grandmother’s billion dollar corporation, he quickly learns that there’s no place for Kat and their old heists in his new role. But Kat won’t let him go that easily, especially after she gets tipped off that his grandmother’s will might have been altered in an elaborate con to steal the company’s fortune. So instead of being the heir—this time,Hale might be the mark.

Forced to keep a level head as she and her crew fight for one of their own, Kat comes up with an ambitious and far-reaching plan that only the Bishop family would dare attempt. To pull it off, Kat is prepared to do the impossible, but first, she has to decide if she’s willing to save her boyfriend’s company if it means losing the boy."

More heists... man do I want to be a thief with jewels and art, high end antiquity stuff...

Cry Wolf (Alpha and Omega Book 1) by Patricia Briggs
Published by: Ace
Publication Date: February 5th, 2013
Format: Hardcover, 368 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Now in hardcover: the first Alpha and Omega novel from the #1 New York Times bestselling author.

Anna never knew werewolves existed, until the night she survived a violent attack…and became one herself. After three years at the bottom of the pack, she’s learned to keep her head down and never, ever trust dominant males. Then Charles Cornick, the enforcer—and son—of the leader of the North American werewolves, came into her life.

Charles insists that not only is Anna his mate, but she is also a rare and valued Omega wolf. And it is Anna’s inner strength and calming presence that will prove invaluable as she and Charles go on the hunt in search of a rogue werewolf—a creature bound in magic so dark that it could threaten all the pack…

Includes a new introduction from the author as well as the novella, "Alpha and Omega," originally published in On The Prowl, that inspired the series and tells how Anna and Charles's story began."

Well, I've been hoping that since this series is so popular they'd go back a re-release the first two in hardcover, and viola! What's even better is that they've logically put the novella in with the book, dream come true!

Downton Abbet: The Complete Scripts, Season 1 by Julian Fellowes
Published by: William Morrow
Publication Date: February 5th, 2013
Format: Paperback, 416 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"The full scripts of award-winning Downton Abbey, season one including previously unseen material.

Downton Abbey has become an international phenomenon and the most successful British drama of our time. Created by Oscar-winning writer Julian Fellowes, the first season delighted viewers and critics alike with stellar performances, ravishing costumes, and a gripping plot. Set in a grand country house during the late Edwardian era, season one of Downton Abbey follows the lives of the Crawley family upstairs and their servants downstairs as they approach the announcement of the First World War. Fellowes succeeds in not only entertaining his audience with a combination of sustained storylines and sharp one-liners but also in delivering a social commentary of British life. The scripts from season one give readers the opportunity to read the work in more detail and to study the characters, pace, and themes in depth. With extended commentary from Fellowes, highlighting key historical or dramatic details, this book gives invaluable insight, particularly for would-be screenwriters, into how Fellowes researched and crafted the world of Downton Abbey.

Featuring full-color photographs."

Um... why would anyone want this? The show is so much about mood and looks and glances across a room and the music, it would be silly to just sit around reading the scripts instead of watching the show. Oh, but wait! Full-color photos? You've sold me... not.

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Ally Carter, Cinder, Cry Wolf, Etiquette and Espionage, Finishing School, Gail Carriger, Kate Locke, Marissa Meyer, Patricia Briggs, Scarlet, The Lunar Chronicles, The Parasol Protectorate, The Queen is Dead

1)* Fair Game by Patricia Briggs - The 3rd book in Patricia Briggs Alpha and Omega series, which is a spin off from the Mercy Thompson Books. Also this was the first time in Hardcover! I have waited a year for this book and it didn't disappoint, but I read it too fast and now have to wait a year for the new Mercy and possibly two years for the new Alpha and Omega, sigh. Bought at Barnes and Noble.

* Means it's already been read

2)* Chi's Sweet Home Vol. 8 by Kanata Konami - The next best thing to having a cat is reading these sweet tales about the kitten Chi and her adventures. This one had and awesome sequence about how a cat always lands on her feet and the first time with the collar that turns pets into looking like satellite dishes with legs. Bought at Amazon.com.

3)* Soulless Manga Vol. 1 by Gail Carriger - Very pleasantly surprised how it translate the book. Despite being Vol. 1, it covers all the book Soulless, so yeah! All the characters are well drawn and unique, and it was a quick fun read. I almost wish it was all in color, like the beginning of the book. Also, I swear that the Loontwills house is the house from Upstairs Downstairs, the look is just right. Bought at Murder by the Book, and they got it signed for me!

4) How to Be Death by Amber Benson - Yes, Tara from Buffy is a writer! Also, totally got this signed thanks to my Houston peeps. Bought at Murder by the Book.

5) Jane Bites Back by Michael Thomas Ford - So, I had heard about the newest book in this series, Jane Vows Vengeance, but I didn't know it was a series. Jon at Murder by the Book was sure I'd love them, so I ordered all three because the author was signing at the store! Bought at Murder by the Book.

6) Jane Goes Batty by Michael Thomas Ford - Ditto above.

7) Jane Vows Vengeance by Michael Thomas Ford - Ditto above.

8) Out of Sight, Out of Time by Ally Carter - The newest Gallagher Girls book, found before release date at a favorite bookstore. Bought at Frugal Muse

9) Death and Victoria Dock by Kerry Greenwood - If you read last month's post, you will have read about my excitement over finding all those Phryne Fisher mysteries... well I found another one I needed! Bought at Frugal Muse.

10) Discount Armageddon by Seanan McGuire - I got to meet Seanan at WisCon last year and her new book looks like kick ass fun. Bought at Barnes and Noble.

11) Death of an Expert Witness by PD James - Because I love me some mystery, but even cooler, this book is the last book I needed in the earlier James books where all the covers are cool and match. I just hate when they change size/cover design half way through a series of books. It's a series, make them look like one, sheesh. Bought at Half Price Books.

12) The Scapegoat by Daphne Du Maurier - I was over the moon at this find! I've been trying to get all the Virago Daphne Du Maurier books, which, when you're trying to pick them up used because they are pricey, is hard. New they are too pricey, and the US has never published more than a few of her more popular titles. Also, the fact that she might be under mystery or fiction or "D" or "M" depending on the store... even if they are IN the store, you might not find them. For future reference for people who own bookstores, she's filed under "D" and probably fiction, but you could make an easy argument for Mystery, so I'm down with that. Bought at Half Price Books.

13) A Bride's Story Volume 3 by Kaoru Mori - I first heard about Kaoru because of her manga series Emma, which I quite enjoyed. I think I might have actually enjoyed the author's little afterwards which are very funny and self-deprecating even more. Last year A Bride's Story started, which is quite different, being about the 19th century Silk Road versus and Upstairs, Downstairs like situation with lots of maids and servants. The first two volumes really hooked me and am so excited that the next volume is finally out! Bought at Amazon.com.

14) Trail of the Spellmans by Lisa Lutz - The newest installment by Lisa in one of my most favorite series ever. I wasn't able to go to the signing, but called the bookstore and got a signed copy delivered direct to my door. Yes, independent bookstores are that awesome, and they need and want you business! Bought at Centuries & Sleuths Bookstore.

Ok, and here's where my being goodish ends... The RT Convention in Chicago for the first time ever (that I've heard about) is letting people who aren't going to the convention come to the signing, oh... this is bad, 300+ authors, many of which I adore, some of which I've been meaning to read. In advance of this, I went on an Amazon crazy shopping spree to fill in the gaps moving books from my "to-get" shelf to my "to-read" shelf... sigh, one does try to be good and ones does fail horribly.

15) Dark and Stormy Night by P.N. Elrod - RT Convention. Bought at Amazon.com.

16) Must Love Hellhounds by Charlaine Harris - Because the SOokie Short Story Book doesn't have the Sookie-verse non-Sookie stories in it. Also RT Convention. Bought at Amazon.com.

17) The Accidental Demon Slayer by Angie Fox - A talking doggie, I'm in! RT Convention. Bought at Amazon.com.

18) Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost - RT Convention. Bought at Amazon.com.

19) The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley - RT Convention. Bought at Amazon.com.

20) Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake by Sarah McLean - Because EVERYONE keeps telling me to read it and RT Convention. Bought at Amazon.com.

21) Faery Tales & Nightmares by Melissa Marr - How excited am I to meet Melissa Marr? VERY! RT Convention. Bought at Amazon.com.

22) The Vespertine by Saundra Mitchell - RT Convention. Bought at Amazon.com.

23) Some Girls Bite by Chole Neil - Because I should have read about vampires in Chicago years ago... RT Convention. Bought at Amazon.com.

24) Magic Lost, Trouble Found by Lisa Shearin - RT Convention. Bought at Amazon.com.

25) Embers by Laura Bickle - RT Convention. Bought at Amazon.com.

26) Ill Wind by Rachel Caine - Because I love me some weird weather and RT Convention. Bought at Amazon.com.

27) The Girl Who Was on Fire by Various - Yeah for a book about other people who love The Hunger Games! RT Convention. Bought at Amazon.com.

28) English as a Second Language by Megan Crane - RT Convention. Bought at Amazon.com.

29) The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross - Yeah steampunk and RT Convention. Bought at Amazon.com.

30) Goodnight, Mr. Holmes by Carole Nelson Douglas - Did anyone else know about this series about Irene Adler from Sherlock Holmes? Sounds awesome. RT Convention. Bought at Amazon.com.

31) Elegy for Eddie by Jaqueline Winspear - Yeah new Maisie Dobbs! Yeah Murder by the Book for getting it signed to me! Bought at Murder by the Book.

32) The American Heiress by Daisy Goodwin - Because I'm Downton desperate and everyone says this is like Downton and then it was at Frugal Muse so I thought it was fate! Bought at Frugal Muse.

33) Renegade Magic by Stephanie Burgess - Because I'm a sucker for Regency England and Magic! Bought at Barnes and Noble.
Darnit, almost had the same number of books as days... sigh. I swear I'll be better next month...

Note on the bookstores:

Barnes and Noble - the last big chain in the Midwest that everyone knows and loves or loathes accordingly.

Amazon.com - because sometimes, more often that not, your local Barnes and Noble didn't stock that ONE book you where looking for, and having prime means everything shows up so fast!

Murder by the Book - the best bookstore in the world! They're in Houston, Texas and have tons of amazing events and for every book you buy they'll let you send in three books to get signed. Love you all!

Frugal Muse - local Madison, Wisconsin chain with two stores in town which sells both old and new books at wonderful prices (at a really steep discount for new books too) and is easily my favorite bookstore.

Half Price Books - chain store of used books where you can often get amazing deals, but whose prices are not quite half off anymore since they decided to raise their prices in a bad economy.

Centuries & Sleuths Bookstore - An all mystery bookstore in Forest Park, Illinois that I really have to get to one of these days, it looks so cool!

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 1 comments  

Labels: Ally Carter, Alpha and Omega, Amber Benson, Cats, Chi, Daphne Du Maurier, Fair Game, Gail Carriger, Jane Austen, Kaoru Mori, Manga, Michael Thomas Ford, Patricia Briggs, Seanan McGuire, Soulless

The Gilly Salt Sisters by Tiffany Baker
Published by: Grand Central Publishing
Publication Date: March 13th, 2012
Format: Hardcover, 384 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"The author of the New York Times bestselling The Little Giant of Aberdeen County returns with a magic-tinged tale of dreams, family secrets, and betrayals on a New England salt farm.

In the isolated Cape Cod village of Prospect, the Gilly sisters are as different as can be. Jo, a fierce and quiet loner, is devoted to the mysteries of her family's salt farm, while Claire is popular, pretty, and yearns to flee the salt at any cost. But the Gilly land hides a dark legacy that proves impossible to escape. Although the community half-suspects the Gilly sisters might be witches, it doesn't stop Whit Turner, the town's wealthiest bachelor, from forcing his way into their lives. It's Jo who first steals Whit's heart, but it is Claire--heartbroken over her high school sweetheart--who marries him.

Years later, estranged from her family, Claire finds herself thrust back onto the farm with the last person she would have chosen: her husband's pregnant mistress. Suddenly, alliances change, old loves return, and new battle lines are drawn. What the Gilly sisters learn about each other, the land around them, and the power of the salt, will not only change each of their lives forever, it will also alter Gilly history for good."

There's just something so compelling about this little write-up.

Out of Sight, Out of Time by Ally Carter
Published by: Hyperion
Publication Date: March 13th, 2012
Format: Hardcover, 304 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"With more than a million Gallagher Girls books sold, a legion of fans have fallen in love with the New York Times best-selling spy-girl series, and the fifth book delivers the most nerve-wracking, high-stakes adventure yet.

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 that 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 the 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."

A new Gallagher Girls book? Yes please!

Spell Bound by Rachel Hawkins
Published by: Hyperion
Publication Date: March 13th, 2012
Format: Hardcover, 336 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Hailed as “impossible to put down,” the Hex Hall series has both critics and teens cheering. With a winning combination of romance, action, magic and humor, this third volume will leave readers enchanted.

Just as Sophie Mercer has come to accept her extraordinary magical powers as a demon, the Prodigium Council strips them away. Now Sophie is defenseless, alone, and at the mercy of her sworn enemies—the Brannicks, a family of warrior women who hunt down the Prodigium. Or at least that’s what Sophie thinks, until she makes a surprising discovery. The Brannicks know an epic war is coming, and they believe Sophie is the only one powerful enough to stop the world from ending. But without her magic, Sophie isn’t as confident.

Sophie’s bound for one hell of a ride—can she get her powers back before it’s too late?"

Newest Hex Hall book impossible to put down? We shall have to see now won't we....

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Ally Carter, Gallagher Girls, Out of SIght Out of Time, THe Gilly Saly Sisters, Tiffant Baker

The Dog Who Came in from the Cold by Alexander McCall Smith
Published by: Pantheon
Publication Date: June 21st, 2011
Format: Hardcover, 304 Pages
To Buy
The official patter:
"The heartwarming and hilarious new installment in the Corduroy Mansions series presents the further adventures of Alexander McCall Smith’s newest beloved character: the Pimlico terrier Freddie de la Hay.

In the elegantly crumbling mansion block in Pimlico called Corduroy Mansions, the comings and goings of the wonderfully motley crew of residents continue apace. A pair of New Age operators has determined that Terence Moongrove’s estate is the cosmologically correct place for their center for cosmological studies. Literary agent Barbara Ragg has decided to represent Autobiography of a Yeti, purportedly dictated to the author by the Abominable Snowman himself. And our small, furry, endlessly surprising canine hero Freddie de la Hay—belonging to failed oenophile William French—has been recruited by MI6 to infiltrate a Russian spy ring. Needless to say, the other denizens of Corduroy Mansions have issues of their own. But all of them will be addressed with the wit and insight into the foibles of the human condition that have become the hallmark of this peerless storyteller."

It's never a bad day when there's a new Alexander McCall Smith novel! And this one has doggies!

Smokin' Seventeen by Janet Evanovich
Published by: Bantam
Publication Date: June 21st, 2011
Format: Hardcover, 320 Pages
To Buy
The official patter:
"Where there’s smoke there’s fire, and no one knows this better than New Jersey bounty hunter Stephanie Plum.

Dead bodies are showing up in shallow graves on the empty construction lot of Vincent Plum Bail Bonds. No one is sure who the killer is, or why the victims have been offed, but what is clear is that Stephanie’s name is on the killer’s list.

Short on time to find evidence proving the killer’s identity, Stephanie faces further complications when her family and friends decide that it’s time for her to choose between her longtime off-again-on-again boyfriend, Trenton cop Joe Morelli, and the bad boy in her life, security expert Ranger. Stephanie’s mom is encouraging Stephanie to dump them both and choose a former high school football star who’s just returned to town. Stephanie’s sidekick, Lula, is encouraging Stephanie to have a red-hot boudoir “bake-off.” And Grandma Bella, Morelli’s old-world grandmother, is encouraging Stephanie to move to a new state when she puts “the eye” on Stephanie.

With a cold-blooded killer after her, a handful of hot men, and a capture list that includes a dancing bear and a senior citizen vampire, Stephanie’s life looks like it’s about to go up in smoke."

I really have been wanting to try out this series... but does anyone else think it's tacky that they're selling this books with stickers? That's just so... grade school.

Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter
Published by: Hyperion
Publication Date: June 21st, 2011
Format: Hardcover, 304 Pages
To Buy
The official patter:
"Katarina Bishop has worn a lot of labels in her short life: Friend. Niece. Daughter. Thief. But for the last two months she’s simply been known as the girl who ran the crew that robbed the greatest museum in the world. That’s why Kat isn’t surprised when she’s asked to steal the infamous Cleopatra Emerald so it can be returned to its rightful owners. There are only three problems. First, the gem hasn’t been seen in public in thirty years. Second, since the fall of the Egyptian empire and the suicide of Cleopatra, no one who holds the emerald keeps it for long — and in Kat’s world, history almost always repeats itself. But it’s the third problem that makes Kat’s crew the most nervous, and that is . . . the emerald is cursed. Kat might be in way over her head, but she’s not going down without a fight. After all, she has her best friend — the gorgeous Hale — and the rest of her crew with her as they chase the Cleopatra around the globe, dodging curses and realizing that the same tricks and cons her family has used for centuries are useless this time. Which means, this time, Katarina Bishop is making up her own rules."

I've always wanted to be an art or jewel theif... maybe I shouldn't have said that in case one day I get my chance... At least I can live vicariously through Ally Carter's Heist Society books.

The Dark Enquiry by Deanna Raybourn
Published by: Mira
Publication Date: June 21st, 2011
Format: Paperback, 400 Pages
To Buy
The official patter:
"Partners now in marriage and in trade, Lady Julia and Nicholas Brisbane have finally returned from abroad to set up housekeeping in London. But merging their respective collections of gadgets, pets and servants leaves little room for the harried newlyweds themselves, let alone Brisbane's private enquiry business.
Among the more unlikely clients: Julia's very proper brother, Lord Bellmont, who swears Brisbane to secrecy about his case. Not about to be left out of anything concerning her beloved—if eccentric—family, spirited Julia soon picks up the trail of the investigation.

It leads to the exclusive Ghost Club, where the alluring Madame Séraphine holds evening séances…and not a few powerful gentlemen in thrall. From this eerie enclave unfolds a lurid tangle of dark deeds, whose tendrils crush reputations and throttle trust.

Shocked to find their investigation spun into salacious newspaper headlines, bristling at the tension it causes between them, the Brisbanes find they must unite or fall. For Bellmont's sakeâ € “ and moreâ € “ they'll face myriad dangers born of dark secrets, the kind men kill to keep…"

I have all the Lady Julia novels in a stack right beside me and I can't wait to dive in.

Nothing Daunted by Dorothy Wickenden
Published by: Scribner
Publication Date: June 21st, 2011
Format: Hardcover, 304 Pages
To Buy
The official patter:
"In the summer of 1916, Dorothy Woodruff and Rosamond Underwood, close friends from childhood and graduates of Smith College, left home in Auburn, New York, for the wilds of northwestern Colorado. Bored by their society luncheons, charity work, and the effete young men who courted them, they learned that two teach-ing jobs were available in a remote mountaintop schoolhouse and applied—shocking their families and friends. “No young lady in our town,” Dorothy later commented, “had ever been hired by anybody.”

They took the new railroad over the Continental Divide and made their way by spring wagon to the tiny settlement of Elkhead, where they lived with a family of homesteaders. They rode several miles to school each day on horseback, sometimes in blinding blizzards. Their students walked or skied on barrel staves, in tattered clothes and shoes tied together with string. The man who had lured them out west was Ferry Carpenter, a witty, idealistic, and occasionally outrageous young lawyer and cattle rancher. He had promised them the adventure of a lifetime and the most modern schoolhouse in Routt County; he hadn’t let on that the teachers would be considered dazzling prospective brides for the locals.

That year transformed the children, their families, and the undaunted teachers themselves. Dorothy and Rosamond learned how to handle unruly children who had never heard the Pledge of Allegiance and thought Ferry Carpenter was the president of the United States; they adeptly deflected the amorous advances of hopeful cowboys; and they saw one of their closest friends violently kidnapped by two coal miners. Carpenter’s marital scheme turned out to be more successful than even he had hoped and had a surprising twist some forty years later.

In their buoyant letters home, the two women captured the voices and stories of the pioneer women, the children, and the other memorable people they got to know. Nearly a hundred years later, New Yorker executive editor Dorothy Wickenden—the granddaughter of Dorothy Woodruff—found the letters and began to reconstruct the women’s journey. Enhancing the story with interviews with descendants, research about these vanished communities, and trips to the region, Wickenden creates an exhilarating saga about two intrepid young women and the “settling up” of the West."

This sounds so fun! High society goes wild west. And it's true!

American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Published by: William Morrow
Publication Date: June 21st, 2011
Format: Hardcover, 560 Pages
To Buy
The official patter:
"First published in 2001, American Gods became an instant classic—an intellectual and artistic benchmark from the multiple-award-winning master of innovative fiction, Neil Gaiman. Now discover the mystery and magic of American Gods in this tenth anniversary edition. Newly updated and expanded with the author’s preferred text, this commemorative volume is a true celebration of a modern masterpiece by the one, the only, Neal Gaiman.

A storm is coming . . .

Locked behind bars for three years, Shadow did his time, quietly waiting for the magic day when he could return to Eagle Point, Indiana. A man no longer scared of what tomorrow might bring, all he wanted was to be with Laura, the wife he deeply loved, and start a new life.

But just days before his release, Laura and Shadow’s best friend are killed in an accident. With his life in pieces and nothing to keep him tethered, Shadow accepts a job from a beguiling stranger he meets on the way home, an enigmatic man who calls himself Mr. Wednesday. A trickster and rogue, Wednesday seems to know more about Shadow than Shadow does himself.

Life as Wednesday’s bodyguard, driver, and errand boy is far more interesting and dangerous than Shadow ever imagined—it is a job that takes him on a dark and strange road trip and introduces him to a host of eccentric characters whose fates are mysteriously intertwined with his own. Along the way Shadow will learn that the past never dies; that everyone, including his beloved Laura, harbors secrets; and that dreams, totems, legends, and myths are more real than we know. Ultimately, he will discover that beneath the placid surface of everyday life a storm is brewing—an epic war for the very soul of America—and that he is standing squarely in its path.

Relevant and prescient, American Gods has been lauded for its brilliant synthesis of “mystery, satire, sex, horror, and poetic prose” (Michael Dirda, Washington Post Book World) and as a modern phantasmagoria that “distills the essence of America” (Seattle Post-Intelligencer). It is, quite simply, an outstanding work of literary imagination that will endure for generations."

I can't believe it's been ten years since American Gods came out. A great concept that I felt failed in the execution, but still a must read for fans of Gaiman. Also it has The House on the Rock, where I spent many a birthday party, which is also why I picked up the book in the first place all those years ago.

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Alexander McCall Smith, Ally Carter, American Gods, Deanna Raybourn, Janet Evanovich, Neil Gaiman, Nothing Daunted, The Dark Enquiry, The Dog Who Came in from the Cold, Uncommon Criminals

Tracking the Tempest by Nicole Peeler
Published by: Orbit
Publication Date: June 29th, 2010
Format: Paperback, 320 Pages
To Buy
The official patter:
"Tracking the Tempest begins four months–and one eyebrow sacrificed to magical training–after the close of Tempest Rising. During that time, Jane’s been busy honing her supernatural powers and enjoying her newfound sense of confidence. Rockabill may not yet be heaven, but she’s realized it’s home. Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, however, and Ryu–Jane’s bloodsucker boyfriend–can’t let a major holiday go by without getting all gratuitous. This time his shenanigans involve a last-minute ticket to Boston and a hefty dose of direct interference in her life. But Ryu’s best laid plans inevitably create more upheaval than even he can anticipate, and Jane winds up embroiled in an investigation involving a spree of gruesome killings committed by a being of tremendous power . . .

. . . who, much to Jane’s surprise, happens to be another halfling."

The second book in the Jane True series looks just as fun as the first, which I just picked up.

Only the Good Spy Young by Ally Carter
Published by: Hyperion
Publication Date: June 29th, 2010
Format: Hardcover, 372 Pages
To Buy
The official patter:
"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 Cammie 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."

Again, another series I'm about to start, but it looks so good!

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 1 comments  

Labels: Ally Carter, Gallagher Girls, Jane True, Nicole Peeler, Only the Good Spy Young, Tracking the Tempest, Tuesday Tomorrow