strange and random happenstance

Lady Cop Makes Trouble by Amy Stewart
Published by: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Publication Date: September 6th, 2016
Format: Hardcover, 320 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"After besting (and arresting) a ruthless silk factory owner and his gang of thugs in Girl Waits with Gun, Constance Kopp became one of the nation’s first deputy sheriffs. She's proven that she can’t be deterred, evaded, or outrun. But when the wiles of a German-speaking con man threaten her position and her hopes for this new life, and endanger the honorable Sheriff Heath, Constance may not be able to make things right.

Lady Cop Makes Trouble sets Constance loose on the streets of New York City and New Jersey--tracking down victims, trailing leads, and making friends with girl reporters and lawyers at a hotel for women. Cheering her on, and goading her, are her sisters Norma and Fleurette--that is, when they aren't training pigeons for the war effort or fanning dreams of a life on the stage.

Based on a true story, Girl Waits with Gun introduced Constance Kopp and her charming and steadfast sisters to an army of enthusiastic readers. Those readers will be thrilled by this second installment--also ripped from the headlines--in the romping, wildly readable life of a woman forging her own path, tackling crime and nefarious criminals along the way."

I kind of was hesitant to pick up the first book seeing as EVERYONE was recommending and talking about it. Now that I've had some distance, this does look like a fun series. And yes, I know I'm contrary. 

Letters from Paris by Juliet Blackwell
Published by: Berkley
Publication Date: September 6th, 2016
Format: Paperback, 384 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"After surviving the accident that took her mother’s life, Claire Broussard has worked hard to escape her small Louisiana hometown. But these days she feels something is lacking. Abruptly leaving her lucrative job in Chicago, Claire returns home to care for her ailing grandmother. There, she unearths a beautiful piece of artwork that her great-grandfather sent home from Paris after World War II.

At her grandmother’s urging, Claire travels to Paris to track down the century-old mask-making atelier where the object, known only as “L’Inconnue”—or The Unknown Woman—was created. Under the watchful eye of a surly mask-maker, Claire discovers a cache of letters that offers insight into the life of the Belle Epoque woman immortalized in the work of art. As Claire explores the unknown woman’s tragic fate, she begins to unravel deeply buried secrets in her own life."

While I know Juliet Blackwell mainly for her cozy mysteries I've been highly encouraged by many people I know to pick up this series. There might have been shoving it in my face...

The World of Poldark by Emma Marriott
Published by: St. Martin's Press
Publication Date: September 6th, 2016
Format: Hardcover, 224 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"The World of Poldark explores the characters, the compelling stories and the era that Winston Graham's Poldark novels- and the television series - set out to recreate, the England that Ross Poldark returned to from the American War of Independence. England, and especially Cornwall, was then marked by social unrest and a deep division between rich and poor. It was a place of tin mines and shipwrecks, of new money versus old, of harsh justice and great kindness.

Amid the turmoil of eighteenth-century Cornwall, Ross comes back to a home in ruins, his father dead and his childhood sweetheart engaged to another - his own heart as battered as the country around him.

Experience the great houses and the glorious landscapes and follow the cast of characters as their stories play out against the backdrop of Cornwall's wild beauty, through interviews with the actors, behind the scenes insights and in-depth information on costumes, props and locations. Packed full of behind the scenes photographs, The World of Poldark is the ultimate guide to the popular series."

I would seriously buy this for the cover alone. Yes, I love Adian Turner THAT MUCH!

Necrotech by K.C. Alexander
Published by: Angry Robot
Publication Date: September 6th, 2016
Format: Paperback, 416 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Street thug Riko has some serious issues—memories wiped, reputation tanked, girlfriend turned into a tech-fueled zombie. And the only people who can help are the mercenaries who think she screwed them over.

In an apathetic society devoid of ethics or regulation, where fusing tech and flesh can mean a killing edge or a killer conversion, a massive conspiracy is unfolding that will alter the course of the human condition forever. With corporate meatheads on her ass and a necro-tech blight between her and salvation, Riko is going to have to fight meaner, work smarter, and push harder than she’s ever had to. And that’s just to make it through the day."

Karina Cooper is having a bit of a life and writing overhaul, so if you're a fan, please go out and buy this book!

Once Broken Faith by Seanan McGuire
Published by: DAW
Publication Date: September 6th, 2016
Format: Paperback, 432 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Politics have never been October “Toby” Daye’s strong suit. When she traveled to the Kingdom of Silences to prevent them from going to war with her home, the Kingdom of the Mists, she wasn’t expecting to return with a cure for elf-shot and a whole new set of political headaches.

Now the events she unwittingly set in motion could change the balance of modern Faerie forever, and she has been ordered to appear before a historic convocation of monarchs, hosted by Queen Windermere in the Mists and overseen by the High King and Queen themselves.

Naturally, things have barely gotten underway when the first dead body shows up. As the only changeling in attendance, Toby is already the target of suspicion and hostility. Now she needs to find a killer before they can strike again—and with the doors locked to keep the guilty from escaping, no one is safe.

As danger draws ever closer to her allies and the people she loves best, Toby will have to race against time to prevent the total political destabilization of the West Coast and to get the convocation back on track…and if she fails, the cure for elf-shot may be buried forever, along with the victims she was too slow to save.

Because there are worse fates than sleeping for a hundred years."

New October Daye!

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Aidan Turner, Amy Stewart, Cornwall, Juliet Blackwell, K.C. Alexander, Karina Cooper, Lady Cop Makes Trouble, Letters from Paris, Necrotech, October Daye, Poldark, Seanan McGuire, Tuesday Tomorrow

The Cavendon Luck by Barbara Taylor Bradford
Published by: St. Martin's Press
Publication Date: June 7th, 2016
Format: Hardcover, 512 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"From the #1 New York Times bestselling author comes a captivating epic saga of courage and honor, following the aristocratic Inghams and the loyal Swann family who have served them for centuries.

It is 1938 in England, and Miles and Cecily Ingham have lead the family in bringing the Cavendon estate back from the brink of disaster. But now, with the arrival of World War II, Cavendon Hall will face its biggest challenge yet. It is a challenge that will push the Inghams and Swanns to protect each other and the villagers, and reveal their true capacity for survival and rebirth.

Told with Bradford’s deft, evocative prose and featuring a beloved cast of characters, The Cavendon Luck is a story of intrigue, romance, sorrow, and joy that readers won’t soon forget."

Why is this family always in crisis yet always sees it through with luck and pluck?

Tea Cups and Carnage by Lynn Cahoon
Published by: Lyrical Underground
Publication Date: June 7th, 2016
Format: Paperback, 192 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"The quaint coastal town of South Cove, California, is all abuzz about the opening of a new specialty shop, Tea Hee. But as Coffee, Books, and More owner Jill Gardner is about to find out, there's nothing cozy about murder . . .

Shop owner Kathi Corbin says she came to South Cove to get away from her estranged family. But is she telling the truth? And did a sinister someone from her past follow her to South Cove? When a woman claiming to be Kathi's sister starts making waves and a dead body is found in a local motel, Jill must step in to clear Kathi's name--without getting herself in hot water."

Yes, I'm only interested in this book because of the title. Come one people? That title is HILARIOUS! 

A Golden Cage by Shelley Freydont
Published by: Berkley
Publication Date: June 7th, 2016
Format: Paperback, 368 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"The author of A Gilded Grave returns to Newport, Rhode Island, at the close of the nineteenth century, where headstrong heiress Deanna Randolph must solve another murder among the social elite.

With her mother in Europe, Deanna is staying with the Ballard family, who agree to chaperone her through the summer season and guide her toward an advantageous marriage proposal—or so her mother hopes. Relishing her new freedom, Deanna is more interested in buying one of the fashionable new bathing costumes, joining a ladies’ bicycling club, and befriending an actress named Amabelle Deeks, all of which would scandalize her mother.

Far more scandalous is the discovery of a young man bludgeoned to death on the conservatory floor at Bonheur, the Ballards’ sumptuous “cottage.” Deanna recognizes him as an actor who performed at the birthday fete for a prominent judge the night before. But why was he at Bonheur? And where is Amabelle?

Concerned her new friend may be in danger—or worse—Deanna enlists the help of her intrepid maid, Elspeth, and her former beau, Joe Ballard, to find Amabelle before the villain of this drama demands an encore."

I was already interested in this book before I saw the little pull quote recommendation from Tasha Alexander. Yeah, it's going to be awesome!

A Study in Sable by Mercedes Lackey
Published by: DAW
Publication Date: June 7th, 2016
Format: Hardcover, 320 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Latest in the Elemental Masters series where magic and fairy tales collide on an alternate Earth at the early 1900s."

OK, so I totally only requested this on Netgalley because the name and the cover make it look like some Sherlock Holmes pastiche... you wouldn't be able to tell from the description that's for sure!

Last Night, a Superhero Saved My Life by Neil Gaiman et al
Published by: Thomas Dunne Books
Publication Date: June 7th, 2016
Format: Hardcover, 304 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"As broad as our exponentially growing cultural fascination with caped crusaders is, it runs just as deep as this long awaited anthology underscores. Liesa Mignogna the VP, Editorial Director at Simon Pulse and editor of this anthology can expound on the virtues of Batman (her wedding was even Batman-themed) but it's her retelling of incredibly harrowing yet ultimately inspiring encounters with The Dark Knight over the years, as she struggled to coexist with the supervillains in her own family that birthed this collection.

Last Night, A Superhero Saved My Life gives readers the chance to connect to their beloved authors, while those same authors connect to their beloved superheroes, and within that feedback loop of respect and admiration lies a stellar, and phenomenally accessible, anthology full of thrills, chills, and spills.

Contributors include New York Times bestsellers Christopher Golden, Leigh Bardugo, Brad Meltzer, Neil Gaiman, Carrie Vaughn, Jodi Picoult, and Jamie Ford, as well as award-winners and mainstays like Joe R. Lansdale, Karina Cooper, and Ron Currie, Jr among many others. Last Night, A Superhero Saved My Life's authors share their most hilarious and most heart wrenching experiences with their chosen defender to explain why superheroes matter, what they tell us about who we are, and what they mean for our future."

Aside from the awesome title, look at the authors! Neil Gaiman, Leigh Bardugo, Christopher Golden, Karina Cooper!

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: A Golden Cage, Barbara Taylor Bradford, Christopher Golden, Karina Cooper, Leigh Bardugo, Mercedes Lackey, Neil Gaiman, Tasha Alexander, Teacups and Carnage, The Cavendon Luck

Tempered by Karina Cooper
Published by: Carina Press
Publication Date: February 11th, 2014
Format: Kindle, 333 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Forced out of London's coal-blackened streets, Cherry St. Croix is faced with her most difficult undertaking yet: sobriety.

At long last, my guardian, the enigmatic Mr. Oliver Ashmore, has revealed himself-and his order is clear: I am to be dried out at once, regardless of my wishes.

I loathe the country estate I am imprisoned within. Footsteps follow me, voices call for me, and my sanity wavers. In my fevered dreams, I am haunted by those I failed, while waking proves no protection from the ghosts of my reckless past. The craving for laudanum plagues me. I require a distraction.

To unravel the alchemical mysteries of my mother's family, I must rely on Ashmore's tutelage. I am lured to the art and drawn by the secrets my guardian possesses. Yet the deeper I delve, the more I believe that something dreadful disturbs these haunted corridors. In my madness, I fear that what it wants most...is me."

Oh yes, more Karina please!

The Tinker King by Tiffany Trent
Published by: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: February 11th, 2014
Format: Hardcover, 320 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Science and magic mean danger in this sequel to The Unnaturalists, which School Library Journal called “an entertaining mix of steampunk and fantasy.”

After Vespa, Syrus, and Bayne defeated the Grue and restored order to their world in The Unnaturalists, they thought their future was secure. Empress Olivia, committed to peace and equality for humans and Elementals alike, was a fair and just ruler. And the Creeping Waste had vanished, giving them hope for the first time.

But rebellion is brewing in the far-off city of Scientia, and dark Elementals are plotting war in the ruins of New London. Before they know what’s happening, Vespa, Syrus, and their friends are plunged into a new swamp of intrigue, deception and magic—and the cost of survival may be more than any of them are willing to pay."

More Steampunky goodness for this week!

Murder in the Afternoon by Frances Brody
Published by: Minotaur Books
Publication Date: February 11th, 2014
Format: Hardcover, 400 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"An intricate plot in the post-WWI English countryside and Frances Brody's "refreshingly complex heroine" (Kirkus) combine in this absorbing mystery perfect for fans of Jacqueline Winspear and Agatha Christie.

Dead one minute…

Young Harriet and her brother Austin have always been scared of the quarry where their stone mason father works. So when they find him dead on the cold ground, they rush off quickly to look for some help.

Alive the next?

When help arrives, however, the quarry is deserted and there is no sign of the body. Were the children mistaken? Is their father not dead? Did he simply get up and run away?

A sinister disappearing act.

It seems like another unusual case requiring the expertise of Kate Shackleton--and Mary Jane, the children's mother, is adamant that only she can help. But Mary Jane is hiding something--a secret from Kate's past that raises the stakes and puts both Kate and her family at risk."

Seeing as the first book in this series had a pun on sheeps... well, she's sold me on the series. 

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Frances Brody, Karina Cooper, Murder in the Afternoon, St. Croix Chronicles, Steampunk, Tempered, The Tinker King, The Unnaturalists, Tiffany Trent

Unusual Uses for Olive Oil by Alexander McCall Smith
Published by: Anchor
Publication Date: December 25th, 2012
Format: Paperback, 224 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Life is so unfair, and it sends many things to try Professor Dr Moritz-Maria von Igelfeld, author of Portuguese Irregular Verbs and pillar of the Institute of Romance Philology in the proud Bavarian city of Regensburg.There is the undeserved rise of his rival (and owner of a one-legged dachshund), Detlev Amadeus Unterholzer; the interminable ramblings of the librarian, Herr Huber; and the condescension of his colleagues with regard to his unmarried state. But when his friend Ophelia Prinzel takes it upon herself to match-make, and duly produces a cheerful heiress with her own Schloss, it appears that the professor's true worth is about to be recognised.Maddening, idiotic and hugely entertaining, von Igelfeld is an inspired comic creation."

The Professor finally returns in the 4th book in this series... one of like fifty series he's writing, seriously, how does he write this much?

What a Ghoul Wants by Victoria Laurie
Published by: Signet
Publication Date: December 25th, 2012
Format: Mass Market Paperback, 352 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"M. J. Holliday has the unusual ability to talk to the dead. But when it comes to a vengeful ghost and a mysterious drowning, this time she may be in over her head….

THAT SINKING FEELING

Kidwella Castle in northern Wales is rumored to be haunted by a deadly ghost—the Grim Widow, who allegedly drowns unsuspecting guests in the castle’s moat. Not long after M. J. and her crew arrive at the castle to film their ghost-hunting cable TV show, Ghoul Getters, two new victims are added to the Widow’s grisly roster.

Fear ripples through the castle, especially when it’s discovered that the victims may have had help into their watery graves from the land of the living. The local inspector suspects father-son serial killers, but M. J. thinks that theory is all wet. To catch the true culprit she will need to dive deep into the castle’s past and bring some long buried secrets to the surface."

Get ready, it's time to go ghoul hunting!

Guilded by Karina Cooper
Published by: Avon
Publication Date: December 25th, 2012
Format: Paperback, 384 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"In the gleaming heights of Victorian London, a world of deception awaits an unconventional Society lady whose taste for adventure makes her a most formidable adversary . . .

Though Society demands that I make a good marriage, I, Cherry St. Croix, have neither the time nor the interest. I am on the trail of a murder with no victim, a mystery with no motive, and the key to an alchemical formula that could be my family's legacy.

Yet the world is not so kind as to let me pursue simple murder and uncomplicated bounties. Above the foggy drift, an earl insists on my attention, while my friends watch my increasingly desperate attempts to remain my own woman. From the silken demands of the Midnight Menagerie—to whose dangerously seductive ringmaster I owe a debt—to the rigorous pressures of the peerage, all are conspiring to place before me a choice that will forever change my life."

What about this book doesn't scream me? Also, yeah for breaks from school and tons of time to read!

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Alexander McCall Smith, Ghost Hunter, Gilded, Karina Cooper, St. Croix Chronicles, Victoria Laurie