Stacking the Shelves: 8/21-8/27

For review (on Bookloons):

Everfair by Nisi Shawl

First Reads from Goodreads:

The Strange Tale of Samantha Ravenwood by Connie C. Scharon

Received in September's Fresh Fiction Box Not to Miss:

Top Shelf by Kelly Jamieson

Girl on the Run by Daryl Wood Gerber

Betrayal Foretold by Jen Crane

A Novel Death by Elizabeth Ashby & Ellie Ashe

My Fair Princess by Vanessa Kelly

Change of Heart by Nicole Jacquelyn

Dark Whispers by Debra Webb

The Same Side

Title: The Same Side
Author: C.M. Doporto
Publisher: self

ISBN: 9780988829985

Why Read?: Fresh Fiction

Thoughts: This is the second in a trilogy, but it is rather easy to jump into and figure out what is happening.  The problem I have is that the main character made me so angry with her unwise choices.  She could have saved herself a lot of anguish if she did not hide things.

Rating: 3 stars

Taste

Title: Taste
Author: Tracy Ewens
Publisher: self

ISBN: 978-0-9908571-4-3

Why Read?: Fresh Fiction

Thoughts: Ewens may call her novels love stories, but they are more than that.  Yes, love is the catalyst, but what results is a good story with solid characters who are so much more than just their relationship.

Rating: 4 stars

One False Note

Title: One False Note
Author: Gordon Korman
Publisher: Scholastic

ISBN: 9780545111577

Why Read?: For Fun

Thoughts: The action and adventure started immediately in this installment, and while it was still a lot of fun, it just was missing a little of the atmosphere from the first, but then, different authors do have different writing styles even when continuing a story.

Rating: 4 stars

The Cursed Canoe

Title: The Cursed Canoe
Author: Frankie Bow
Publisher: Hawaiian Heritage

ISBN: 978-1-943476-13-8

Why Read?: Early Review

Thoughts: I would like to classify this as a cozy, but the mystery element really is pushed to the background.  This is much more a character-driven woman's fiction novel than a mystery.

Rating: 3 stars

The Maze of Bones

Title: The Maze of Bones
Author: Rick Riordan
Publisher: Scholastic

ISBN: 9780545091046

Why Read?: For Fun

Thoughts: The mystery part of this reminded me a lot of The Westing Game, while the characters reminded me of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.  Both are classics, and while I don't know if The 39 Clues will be anywhere near classic status, it is definitely a quality read.

Rating: 5 stars

Bayou My Love

Title: Bayou My Love
Author: Lauren Faulkenberry
Publisher: Velvet Morning

ISBN: n/a

Why Read?: Early Review

Thoughts: The best parts about this was the suspense and the voodoo elements.  I did like that, while a romance, there was so much more to the story, too.

Rating: 3 stars

Wearing the Cape

Title: Wearing the Cape
Author: Marion G. Harmon
Publisher: CreateSpace

ISBN: 9781463539658

Why Read?: Book Club

Thoughts: There were times that I was taken completely by surprised with this story.  Parts were much darker than I thought they would be for an NA superhero tale.  These, though, added the depth that would have otherwise been missing.

Rating: 3 stars

The Scream of the Haunted Mask

Title: The Scream of the Haunted Mask
Author: R. L. Stein
Publisher: Scholastic

ISBN: 9780545111539

Why Read?: For Fun

Thoughts: This was a sequel, and although I have never read The Haunted Mask, I was able to follow The Scream of the Haunted Mask just fine.  It was rather creepy (but not quite Fear Street-level), and the soundtrack and sound effects in the audio book added immensely to that vibe.  The second part - the Horrorland story - was a little harder to follow as I have not read the second and third books in the Horrorland series and the stories are continuous.

Rating: 4 stars

Killer Closet Case

Title: Killer Closet Case
Author: T. Sue Versteeg & Elizabeth Ashby
Publisher: Gemma Halliday

ISBN: n/a

Why Read?: Fresh Fiction

Thoughts: Another fun cozy set in Danger Cove.  However, not as much sleuthing as in some installments, but each author definitely has her own style.

Rating: 3 stars

Stacking the Shelves: 7/31-8/6

For review (on Bookloons):

Demon Vol. 1 by Jason Shiga

First Reads from Goodreads:

Breath of Earth by Beth Cato

LibraryThing Early Review:

McGrave's Hotel by Steve Bryant

Operation Tenley by Jennifer Gooch Hummer

The Salarian Desert Game by J. A. McLachlan

Collected Ghost Stories

Title: Collected Ghost Stories
Author: M. R. James
Publisher: Wordsworth

ISBN: 1-85326-053-3

Why Read?: For Fun

Thoughts: An interesting collection of ghost stories.  James does have a knack for the genre, but there are a few that feel too much the same.  My favorite was "The Mezzotint", which was creepy and easy to follow.

Rating: 3 stars

The Therions

Title: The Therions
Author: Esme Autumns
Publisher: Greyhart

ISBN: 9781909636101

Why Read?: Early Review

Thoughts: A YA fantasy based on Egyptian mythology has a lot of potential, but this fell flat in so may areas.  There was head-hopping, plot holes, numerous inconsistencies, confusing characters, and plenty of things that just simply did not make sense. 

Rating: 1 star

Revenge of the Living Dummy

Title: Revenge of the Living Dummy
Author: R. L. Stein
Publisher: Scholastic

ISBN: 9780545084963

Why Read?: For Fun

Thoughts: As one would expect with a Goosebumps book, this is a fun MG thriller with an abrupt ending, but I was confused about the whole HorrorLand part, and why Ethan was not in it.

Rating: 3 stars