Books in the House Monday - 23 Aug 2010

Big ol' box of books arrived on my doorstep last week from my buddy Jenna over at Imzadi Dragonfly. She's been going to some superb book signings at Powells in Cedar Hills and has hooked me up with some signed books as well as some extra goodies.
The signed books:
BITTEN: Women of the Otherworld #1 - Kelley Armstrong, MPB
SUCCUBUS BLUES - Richelle Mead, MPB
KITTY AND THE MIDNIGHT HOUR - Carrie Vaughn, MPB
KUSHIEL'S DART - Jacqueline Carey
GREYWALKER - Kat Richardson
POLTERGEIST - Kat Richardson
UNDERGROUND - Kat Richardson
VANISHED - Kat Richardson
LABYRINTH - Kat Richardson

The goodies:
Sanctuary Season 2 DVD

MEAN STREETS - Jim Butcher, Kat Richardson, Simon R Green, Thomas E Sniegoski
MIND GAMES - Carolyn Crane

Ursula K LeGuin
THE OTHER WIND
THE LEFT HAND OF DARKNESS
TEHANU
THE FARTHEST SHORE
A WIZARD OF EARTHSEA
THE TOMBS OF ATUAN

And some cool schwag:
Labyrinth puzzle, bookmarks, postcards, keychain, scented erasers, Hello Kitty lip balm, stickers...some of this I'm sure I'm to share with Lady K

SUCCUBUS HEAT: #4 Georgina Kincaid - Richelle Mead

From the back of the book: Georgina Kincaid has been a bad, bad succubus...

....which should be a good thing. But lately, thanks to her foul mood over breaking up with bestselling writer Seth Mortensen, she's been so wicked that Seattle's uber-demon Jerome, decides to to 'outsource' Georgina to a rival--and have her spy for him in the process.

Being exiled to the frozen north---okay, Vancouver---and leaving Seth in the cozy clutches of his new girlfriend is unpleasant enough. Then Jerome is kidnapped, and all immortals under his control mysteriously lose their powers. One bright spot: with her life-sucking ability gone, there's nothing to keep Georgina from getting down and dirty with Seth--nothing apart from his girlfriend that is. Now, as the supernatural population starts turning on itself, a newly mortal Georgina must rescue her boss and figure out who's been playing them--or all hell will break loose....

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I LOVE THIS SERIES!! And this one is the best yet. I say that each time I think, but this one is superb. Georgina is acting how I think of a succubus, getting energy from all males, especially the good ones she's supposed to target, out cattin' around with her buddies and being bitchy. Her heart is broken by the break up with Seth (read book 3) and she's hooked up with Dante, the bad boy palm-reader. All of Georgina's friends tell her she can do better, but she's not so sure.

Then she gets sent to Vancouver and Jerome gets summoned and her abilities are gone. She's bummed at the loss of her shape-shifting (her hair is frizzin' like crazy!), but she now has a chance with Seth now that she won't suck any life from him if they get down on it.

The vampires are the ones who crack me up the most. Peter and Cody can now walk in the sun and take advantage of it and trying to remember that this fun ability might disappear rather quickly if Jerome is found or another arch-demon takes his place. Georgina reminds them to keep sunscreen handy.

April can't get here fast enough....the next Georgina Kincaid will be out then...wooo-hoooo!

Five being a succubus can be a bitch beans.....

SUCCUBUS DREAMS: Book 3 Georgina Kincaid series - Richelle Mead

From the back of the book: Some days, a girl just can't catch a break.....

.....especially when the girl in question is Georgina Kincaid, a shape-shifting succubus who gets her energy from seducing men. First, there's her relationship with gorgeous bestselling author Seth Mortensen, which is unsatisfying on a number of levels. It's not just that they can't have sex in case Georgina inadvertantly kills him (generally a turn-off for most guys). Lately, even spending time together is a challeng. Seth's obsessed with finishing his latest novel, and Georgina's under demonic orders to mento the new (and surprisingly inept) succubus on the block.

Then there are the dreams. Someone, or something, is preying on Georgina at night, draining her energy, and supplying eerie visions of her future. Georgina seeks answers from Dante, a dream interpreter with ties to the underworld, but his flirtatious charm only leaves her more confused---especially as the situation with Seth reaches crisis point. Now Georgina faces a double challenge--rein in her out-of-control love life, and go toe-to-toe with an enemy capable of wreaking serious havoc among mankind. Otherwise, Georgina , and the entire mortal world, may never sleep easy again.....

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I stayed up late last night to finish this book, I had to know what was happening to Georgina in all aspects of the crap that was being thrown at her. She's a succubus and generally is able to work through everything good and bad that's happened in her long, long, long life. All she needs is an energy boost from a fling with a guy and she's good to go. Except lately, the energy boosts aren't lasting as long as they should. She goes to bed, sleeps, dreams, and wakes drained to the point of exhaustion and needing another boost soon.

Her secret love life with Seth is becoming rocky. She thought they'd worked out all the kinks (and not the good kind) in their not having sex, but it's becoming extremely difficult to be together and not have one of them needing the other completely.

Then, there's the new in town and inept succubus, Tawny, who Georgina has been ordered to mentor. Getting a guy to have sex should be easy, but Tawny can't get it right no matter what. And if she fails, Georgina is at fault for not showing her the ropes correctly.

Richelle Mead is one of my 'danger' authors, to coin a phrase from my buddy Amy. I can stay up way past my bedtime because I need to see what's going to happen next to her characters.

Five succubus and danger author beans......

THORN QUEEN: Book 2 Dark Swan - Richelle Mead

From the back of the book: Eugenie Markham is a shaman for hire, paid to bind and banish creatures from the Otherworld. But after her last battle, she's also become a queen of the Thorn Land. It's hardly an enviable life, not with her kingdom in tatters, her love life in chaos, and Eugenie eager to avoid the prophecy about her firstborn destroying mankind. And now young girls are disappearing from the Otherworld, and no one -- except Eugenie -- seems willing to find out why.

Eugenie has spilled plenty of fey blood in her time, but this enemy is shrewd, subtle, and nursing a very personal grudge. And the men in her life aren't making things any easier. Her boyfriend Kiyo is preoccupied with his pregnant ex, and sexy fey king Dorian always poses a dangerous distraction. With or without their help, Eugenie must venture deep into the Otherworld and trust in an unpredictable power she can barely control. Reluctant queen or not, Eugenie has sworn to do her duty--even if it means facing the darkest--and deadliest---side of her nature....

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It appears, at least to me, that Richelle Mead can do no wrong. I've read books in two of her three series and I've enjoyed them all. And I know I will enjoy the rest of each series and I look forward to trying her Vampire Academy adventures. STORM BORN was superb and THORN QUEEN is even better.

Eugenie has her work cut out for her and it's more to do with the reluctant running of her kingdom than her work as a shaman. She is learning what it takes to be a queen, even if she doesn't think of herself as one. She wants to help the people in her area and does what she can to help them find water and how to make a living in their new desert environment. Eugenie honestly cares about people and works her way through her original thoughts on Otherworld denizens, especially as she accepts herself as at least half Otherworld.

Five honkin' excellent beans......

SUCCUBUS ON TOP - Richelle Mead

From the back of the book: Georgina Kincaid's job sucks. Literally. Love hurts , and no one knows it better than Georgina Kincaid. If she so much as kisses Seth Mortensen, the shy, sexy, incredibly gifted Seattle writer she's been dating, she'll drain his life force. Georgina is a succubus--a demon who draws her power from other men's pleasure. Admittedly, the shapeshifting and immorality perks are terrific, and yes, Georgina did choose to join the ranks of hell centuries ago. But it seems completely unfair that a she-demon whose purpose is seduction can't get hot and heavy with the one mortal who knows and accepts her for who she is....

It's not just her personal life that's in chaos. Doug, Georgina's co-worker at a local bookstore, has been exhibiting bizarre behavior, and Georgina suspects that something far more demonic than double espressos is at work. She could use help finding out, but Bastien, an irresistably charming incubus and her best immortal friend, is preoccupied with corrupting an ultra-conservative talk show radio star--and giving Georgina some highly distracting come-hither vibes. Georgina is going to have to work solo on this one--and fast because soon, Doug's life won't be the only one on the line....

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Thank you, Jenna, for letting me borrow this book! I cannot get over how much I enjoy this series. Georgina and the gang are so much fun to hang with (in the me being the book reader sense). I think Carter the angel is my favorite, but I may have a slight crush on Jerome, Georgina's boss who has taken on the image of John Cusack (which is why I have a slight crush on a demon boss).

The characters are written so well that I wanted to reach in and smack the radio talk show host, Dana Dailey. She is also head of Committee for the Preservation of Family Values, an uber right wing organization that is against anything that they are not for...I know, I know....but that's how they are.

There is something going around Doug's band and friends that is causing personality changes, extreme ups and then crashes.

Georgina is trying to figure out what's going on with Doug as well as help Bastien in his crusade. All of this and trying to reconcile her relationship with Seth.

This is a fast moving book and I stayed up late on a few nights to just get in a few more pages or one more chapter. One of those danger books dontcha know...

Five danger book beans.....

STORM BORN: Book 1 Dark Swan Series - Richelle Mead

From the back of the book:
Eugenie Markham is a powerful shaman who does a brisk tread banishing spirits and fey who cross into the mortal world. Mercenary, yes, but a girl's got to eat. Her most recent case, however, is enough to ruin her appetite. Hired to find a teenager who has been taken to the Otherworld, Eugenie comes face to face with a startling prophecy...one that uncovers dark secrets about her past and claims that Eugenie's first-born will threaten the future of the world as she knows it.
Now Eugenie is a hot target for every ambitious demon and Oterhworldly ne'er-do-well, and the ones who don't want to knock her up want her dead. Eugenie handles a Glock as smoothly as she wields a wand, but she needs some formidable allies for a job like this. She finds them in Dorian, a seductive fairy king with a taste for bondage, and Kiyo, a gorgeous shape-shifter wo redefines animal attraction. But with enemies growing bolder and time running ot, Eugenie realizes that the greatest danger is yet to come and it lies in the dark powers that are stirring to life within her....

I really enjoyed reading this book! Thanks to a quiet night, I was able to read it in one sitting pretty much. I'm already a fan of Richelle Mead from her Georgina Kincaid, Succubus series and STORM BORN increased my admiration.
Eugenie already knows she has abilities to send the paranormal baddies to wherever she needs them to go when they act up on her world and she knows that their buddies aren't too happy about it. Now she's seeing an extra bunch of activity showing up on her doorstep and she wants to know why.
Some of that activity shows up in the form of Kiyo....sigh...yummy sounding Kiyo, a man...a shape-shifter...Eugenie meets in a bar one restless night and proves to be a wonderful partner and friend.
And there's Dorian, gentry (they don't like the term fairy) Oak King, who is fascinated with all that is Eugenie. She brings some spark to his life filled with yes-men and willing women.
My favorite characters are Eugenie's minions (I think everyone should have minions). Eugenie has perky Finn, downcast Nandi, and could be vicious if given a chance Volusian. All are bound to her and must obey much as they dislike it.
Richelle Mead writes a wicked good story, paranormal or otherwise. I like her settings, her characters, the believable magic, excellent fighting. The love scenes crackle, nothing namby-pamby about them in this book...Muh-rowr!!

Five stormy beans.....

SUCCUBUS BLUES - Richelle Mead

I have found a new favorite author. Richelle Mead can write no wrong...or something to that effect. I'd been enjoying Richelle's blog for a few months, but hadn't read any of her books. That changed last week when SUCCUBUS BLUES made it to the top of Mt Git'r'Read. And glad I am it did.
Georgina Kincaid lives in Seattle. She has a great job in a bookstore with all the free white mochas she can drink, good friends (two vampires and an imp). Then there's her other job....Georgie is a succubus. That is to say, she is an alluring, shapeshifting demon who seduces and pleasures mortal men for their souls and her continued immortality.
Georgina is particular, though. She is pretty discriminate when it comes to the men her boss, a mid-level demon with a thing for John Cusack movies (had to say I kinda dig him for this), sends her after. She doesn't just succubus all over the place, she makes that clear.
Then immortal life as she knows it changes when Seth Mortensen walks into her bookstore. Seth is only her most favorite author. She blurts out that she'd willingly be his love slave for advanced copies of his books. That gets their relationship off to a swimming start.
Then her friends are being attacked and her not so friends are being killed. Something wicked this way has come. All the snappy one liners and her hottie charms won't help Georgina out of this one anytime soon.

Five made my Imperative Purchase list beans....

I WON A BOOK!!

Thank you, Mark Henry and Jeanne C. Stein (and Sugar), for last week's interview on League of Reluctant Adults and chance to meet you and chat and then to win this book! I like winning and I like good paranormal books...okay I love books, but I especially dig reading well written paranormal mysteries and LEGACY fits the ticket. I think I win a signed copy of the book and a gift card to Amazon so I can pick up the ones of the series I am missing and maybe I'll get Mark's HAPPY HOUR OF THE DAMNED and a Richelle Mead or start my own collection of Kat Richardson.