Book recommendations ahoy

On 01/11/2016 By MikaelaIn Book Recommendations

I am hunkered down in front of the laptop working on worldbuilding and revising Vanished, so I am going to highlight some books for you, that I think you should read. First the new releases.

New:

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This is the latest book in Rebekah Weatherspoon’s excellent erotic romance series. They are pure catnip for me,and so much fun to read. I am a bit sad that this is the last book featuring Kayla and Michael, but I think she is planning more books.

26218178 The latest book in the Guild Hunter series wraps up the season of Nalini ( I am not kidding: Psy-Changeling in June, Rock Wedding in July, Psy-Changeling collection in August.) And it sounds so good. I am planning to read it on the plane to Barcelona, I would have read it today, but the release date on Amazon is Nov 2. *sob*.

This is the latest book in Robin’s Ghost Seer series. And unlike the other two books, I have read it and it was so good. <3 I just love Clare and Zach.

I prefer Maria Schneider’s fantasy novels, but this book was a fun book to read, and I enjoyed the adventures of Ivy and Slade, and her neurotic family. So go and read it when you need to laugh. 🙂

Not so new:

I re-read this book, and the sequel, regularly. I love the characters and the mix between romance and adventure. I am eagerly awaiting book three.

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Guysss. C.E Murphy writing paranormal romance set in the Alaska she grew up in, reflecting the climate change issues, with Native American shifters? GIMME THE NEXT ONE.

Have you heard about BN readouts?

On 02/08/2016 By MikaelaIn Book Recommendations

I know that I will never buy something from BN since I live in Sweden, but I have to admit that if I had lived in the US their latest feature would have made me a poor woman. As it is… my TBR list have grown a lot from skimming through the BN readouts list.

BN readouts is snippets from selected books, both old and new, with buy links.

I think it is a fun experiment, and I am glad that BN is experimenting with stuff like this.

I am reading again.

On 17/04/2016 By MikaelaIn Book Recommendations

I have been in a reading slump for months, first I thought it was because of I was too focused on the edits, and that was partially true, but a big part of it was health related, but I know the signs now, and I have taken steps to avoid it ( read: set a google reminder one time every quarter).I hadn’t realised how much I had missed reading, until yesterday. My soul feels almost parched with the lack of a reading binge. So here is a few of the books on my TBR list ( note: my TBR is much longer, since my favorite authors keep on writing new books. Yay!):

Ancillary Justice by Ann Lucky

Seeing red by Patty Jansen

Magic and Manners by CE Murphy

Broken by Susan Jane Bigelow

Zero Sum games by SL Huang

Radio Silence by Alyssa Cole

Yes, there is a theme: A lot of Science Fiction, which is because I want to read something that isn’t fantasy and romance for awhile. 🙂 ( Hush, I know Radio Silence is romance but it is also really good. You should read it.) Anyway. I am off to read lots of books now.

Books that I am waiting on: Beyond Ruin by Kit Rocha

On 12/02/201613/02/2016 By MikaelaIn Book Recommendations

This is the upcoming book in Kit Rocha’s excellent erotic dystopian/ post-apocalyptic. I love these books. The world is gritty and believable, the characters are wonderful, they are wonderfully plotted. I recommend that you begin at book one, though, since these books are best if you read them in order.

Adrian Maddox fled his royal life—and tragic past—in Sector One, choosing instead to join up with the O’Kanes. For years, he’s lived by one rule: love fast, love hard, and always be willing to walk away. He’s managed to guard his heart, keep it whole and untouched—until now.

They couldn’t be more different—Dylan, the brilliant, burned-out doctor from Eden who drowns his pain with drugs and self-destruction. Scarlet, the sensuous, sexy rocker from Three, a woman unafraid to embrace the world. And Jade, the whore turned spy from Sector Two, who battled addiction and came out stronger than anyone he’s ever met.

Separately, they make Mad long to open his heart, to tumble head-first into a sea of possibilities and wild love. Together, they make him burn, inside and out, with lust and unbearable, unimaginable pleasure.

Then one fateful moment shakes their world to its foundations—and leaves the sectors on the verge of all-out war with Eden. It’s the biggest fight the O’Kanes have ever faced, and Mad and his lovers are at the dead center of it. They could end up with everything they never knew they wanted—or lose it all. Including their lives.

They don’t have any pre-orders, but you can keep an eye on their webpage for links.

Books I am waiting on: Ghost Talker by Robin D Owens

On 03/02/2016 By MikaelaIn Book Recommendations

Thanks to some twist in fate, all my friends and a couple of auto buy authors are releasing their books within a 6 weeks period. My poor credit card. Anyway. This one of them! I just love Robin D Owen’s Ghost series. Actually, I love anything by Robin. She writes such good books.

In the latest from the author of Ghost Killer, Clare Cermak and Zach Slade adjust to living as psychics—and a couple—as they encounter vengeful souls…

An angry poltergeist is stirring up trouble at Buffalo Bill’s grave, and Clare and Zach have been hired to investigate. Assisting them on the case as usual is their ghost dog Enzo, but they’re also aided by the restless ghost of Bill’s friend, Texas Jack. Meanwhile, the most well-known psychic in Denver is angered by Clare’s involvement in the case and will do whatever it takes to stop her.

Of course, facing threats both living and undead are nothing new for Clare and Zach. Their relationship has weathered many storms. But there is a growing danger inside of Clare that could tear them both apart..

You can pre-order it at Amazon, BN, Kobo or add it to your Goodreads shelf.

Books I am waiting on: The Incubus Job by Diana Pharaoh Francis

On 20/01/201613/01/2016 By MikaelaIn Book Recommendations

I am not certain how, but my friend Di managed to surprise me. When I got back from Gothenburg there was a new book on her webpage. As in, not part of her existing series. Squee! And! It has a release date, namely March 1st. Woot. Though I gulped when I read the blurb, since there are some similarities to Daughter of the Dark.

The Incubus Job

It’s tough to have a conscience when you kill for a living.

So six years ago, Mallory Jade gave up killing. Now she’s a fixer. Got a problem with a demon? She can help. Infestation of pixies? She’s got you covered. Kidnapped by an undead lich? She’s on her way. Anything you need, so long as she doesn’t have to kill. It’s her one unbreakable rule.

Aside from a few near-death experiences, her new life is good, until her job dumps her in the lap of the man she walked out on six years before. Law Stanger, her former partner and lover, wants her back in his life. He’s not above playing dirty. But Mallory knows it can never work. She has secrets Law can never understand or forgive.

All Mallory wants now is to finish her job–track down an incubus and the precious box he stole–and get the hell out of town before Law shatters her heart again. But it wasn’t fate that drew her and Law together after all these years, it was cunning calculation. Now they must face an enemy more powerful than they can imagine, one that has no intention of leaving anybody alive.

Mega book recommendation blogpost, part 2

On 18/01/201618/01/2016 By MikaelaIn Book Recommendations

So, yeah. I know that I originally said that I would have this post out before Christmas, but life got in between. ( Honestly, I should be in my editing cave. Don’t tell my editor. *remembers her editor follows her on social media. *waves* Hi Laura Anne)

The focus on this blogpost is romance, cause you can never have too much romance. So let’s go on with that, right? And if you disagree… Have you read a romance novel lately? (If yes, ok. If no, give these books a try. 🙂 )

First, Alisha Rai’s Pleasure novels. These books can be summed up with one word: Hot. Also, really, really good. ❤️ They are about three sisters and how they find love, and struggle with parental approval and disapproval. And the heroes are a perfect mix of damaged, sexy and protective. And you can get book 1 for 0.99 right now.

Second.. The Mapleville series, New Orleans. So I had heard people praising Farrah Rochon for years, before I finally bought one of her books. Let’s just say that I am glad I bought them, but I am also wondering why I waited for so long. These are sweet, contemporary romances set in New Orleans. They simply comforting. You can get the first two for free! Then buy the rest of the books, ‘kay?

Third, Kit Rocha’s Beyond series.

If the Alisha Rai books were hot, this Dystopian Erotic romance series is SCORCHING. And I love them for that. I love them because the characters are complex, they are confident in their sexuality, well, at least some of them, but all of them is very confident at the end. The books are set in an dark and gritty world, with detailed world building. The series arc begins small, and then slowly grows. And.. just.. read them! The first book is free.

Fourth, Jeannie Lin. Jeannie Lin writes really good historical romance, set in Ancient China.The plot is fast paced, the romance is sweet, the world building is detailed and there are lot of action. ( I am also, really, really behind on her books. 😔 ) But the ones I have read have been really good. She also writes historical mysteries and Steampunk, if you aren’t fond of romance. But I do think Jeannie Lin is an excellent place to start reading romance.

Books I am waiting on : Magic and Manners by C.E Murphy

On 13/01/201613/01/2016 By MikaelaIn Book Recommendations

Since I think my book posts are more popular than my writing posts, I thought I would begin a feature, highlighting the books I am waiting on right now.

First up, is Magic and Manners by C.E Murphy. I have been waiting on it for what feels like forever. It is, in the author’s own words: “With apologies to Jane Austen, I present to you MAGIC & MANNERS, which is what happens when I get it into my head to wonder what PRIDE & PREJUDICE would be like if it was not a lack of wealth that beleaguered the Bennet sisters, but rather an excess of magic..”

I am not a Jane Austen fan but this was enough to make me perk up. This sounds like a fun read. Plus, it is C.E Murphy, and I love her books. Also, if you want to be teased, the first 7 chapters (!) are posted on her webpage. I haven’t read them, since I am pretty sure that would make me yell at her, since I really want to read this book.

I have no idea when this book will be out, hopefully it will be soon. Preferably tomorrow. Ok, it unlikely to be out that soon, but maybe March? *looks hopefully at Catie*

Mega book recommendations post ( Part 1)

On 06/12/2015 By MikaelaIn Book Recommendations

So, I have said I would do this post for a long time, and since it is christmas, I figured this was a good time to do it. 🙂 I am going to do a mix of small press, selfpublished and traditional press, because I get annoyed when people recommend the same books, and all of them is from the big traditional publishers.

The Fantasy and Urban Fantasy novels:

Matchbox Girls by Chrysoula Tzavelas.

There is no surprise, I am sure, that I love, love Chrysoula Tzavelas books. She is one of those authors that I don’t hesitate to toss money at. A lot of money sometimes. This is the first book in her Senyaza Urban Fantasy, and it is packed with great things. Like unique magic, creepy kaiju, even creepier angels. The e-book is a bargain at 2.99. Just read it!

Sweep in Peace by Ilona Andrews

I read Clean Sweep when it was released, and felt… luke warm about it. It wasn’t bad, just not as good as I had hoped. So when this was released, I hesitated, but in the end I decided to buy it. And I am glad I did. It was so much better than the first book. In fact, to me this shows why you should have a publishing chain, from dev editors to cover designers. But I disgress. I highly recommend this book. It was a fun read, and I cannot wait for the next one!

A Crack in Everything by Ruth Frances Long

I bought this book at Shamrokon last year, in fact it was the only book I bought since I liked it but wasn’t certain if I could buy it in Sweden. And I am glad I did. It hooked me on her. So I bought the sequel and got it signed. Still need time to read said sequel, but that is another story. Anyway go and buy it!

Delia’s Shadow by Jaime Lee Moyer:

Paul Weimer kept pushing this book on me, well, twitter in general, I suppose. But I hesitated in the price. Then, the publisher dropped the price to 2.99. You can bet I snapped it up. And I am glad I did. It is a vivid description of San Fransciso from early 1900’s. It had just the right mix of mystery, magic and romance that I need. Highly recommend it. I also recommend the rest of the series, so go out and buy them! More sales= more books.

20748097 Silver on the road by Laura Anne Gilman

Both Laura Anne and I are part of the war room ( as is Robin D Owens, Chrysoula Tzavelas and Ruth Francis Long.) and for the last two years she have been torturing me, uhm, teasingme, with snippet, research and so on. So I bought on the release day. In hardcover AND e-book. It was worth the
money, since this is a lush book, with an intriguing setting and an intriguing plot. And oh yeah. I want the next book now, please.

This is the end of part 1. Tune in for part 2 sometime next week, which will be about the romance authors I recommend. There might even be a part 3 featuring short fiction. Hopefully. 🙂

Recent reads: Urban Fantasy Noir

On 23/11/201518/01/2016 By MikaelaIn Book Recommendations

As of a coincidence, I have read some really good Urban Fantasy Noir recently. And since they are short, and cheap, I thought I would recommend them to you.

The Hard boiled witch series by KA Laity:

I ought the first short story in this series yesterday. When I went to bed, I had bought all four of them, and devoured them. This is delightfully gritty short stories, around 25 pages, filled with a down to earth witch, who uses down to earth magic. I enjoyed reading about Hecate Sidclaw and Henry. It was interesting to read about their adventures as they solved cases.

The Sylvan Investigations novellas by LA Gilman:

I have made no secret that I love LA Gilman’s books. This is a spin off from the P.U.P.I novels, and they are just as delightful. The first two, Promises to Keep and Miles to Go are available now, and the third novella is coming soon. And the first two is discounted at BVC, which makes this the perfect time to read them.

The Spindle City series by Carlie St George:

When I read the blurb for the first story in this series, I flailed in the “OMG have to read it now” way. I went and pre-ordered it immediately. I am glad I did. I loved it. It more than lived up to my expectations. And the next one is out tomorrow. I think. I hope. And the last one is out soon. If you cannot wait for the third one, the publisher, the eminent Booksmugglers are serialising the last two books.

Anyway. Go forth and read, and buy. You will thank me later. Your family might not, since there is a chance that you ignore all the Thanksgiving cooking, and things like that. But ignore them, they are just jealous.