What's Out, What's Buzzing

April is almost over and summer is so close I can almost taste it! Apart from suffering in the Texas heat, summer also brings a wonderful round of highly anticipated books. It may be a little early to bust out the floaties and lemonade pitchers, but there are already some great reads on shelves right now and releasing in the next few weeks. They are the perfect books to help bring on that summer feeling!

WHAT'S OUT

General Fiction:

Bite Me: A Love Story by Christopher Moore - Tommy and Jody, San Francisco's favorite vampires, are back in the hilarious Moore's third Bloodsucking Fiends novels. Last we checked, the vampire lovers were imprisoned in a bronze statue, but when a monster begins stalking the City by the Bay, the duo are sprung from captivity to track down the big baddie. Anything by Moore is guaranteed to be surprising, madcap, and - as always - uproariously funny. I suggest starting with the first book, Bloodsucking Fiends, but if you're in the mood for a laugh, there's no author better.

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson - "In her charming debut novel, Simonson tells the tale of Maj. Ernest Pettigrew, an honor-bound Englishman and widower, and the very embodiment of duty and pride. As the novel opens, the major is mourning the loss of his younger brother, Bertie, and attempting to get his hands on Bertie's antique Churchill shotgun—part of a set that the boys' father split between them, but which Bertie's widow doesn't want to hand over. While the major is eager to reunite the pair for tradition's sake, his son, Roger, has plans to sell the heirloom set to a collector for a tidy sum. As he frets over the guns, the major's friendship with Jasmina Ali—the Pakistani widow of the local food shop owner—takes a turn unexpected by the major (but not by readers)." - Publishers Weekly

Mystery:

A River in the Sky by Elizabeth Peters - "Set in 1910, the delightful 19th Amelia Peabody novel from bestseller Peters, takes Amelia and her husband, Emerson, to Palestine, where an English adventurer, George Morley, is planning to excava
Jerusalem's Temple Mount in search of the Ark of the Covenant. Gen. David Spencer, the director of Military Operations in London, suspects Morley, an amateur archeologist at best, of spying for the Germans, whose influence has been growing in the Middle East. Spencer wants Egyptologists Amelia and Emerson to stop Morley from undertaking a project sure to offend the three religious groups that consider the temple site holy. Meanwhile, son Ramses embarks on a treacherous journey to convey to his parents important information learned from two travelers he meets while on a dig in Samaria." - Publishers Weekly

The Spellmans Strike Again by Lisa Lutz - "In Edgar-finalist Lutz's entertaining fourth and final novel about the eccentric Spellman PI clan, Isabel Izzy Spellman juggles the usual family drama—her mother tries to sabotage Izzy's relationship with her Irish bartender boyfriend and younger sister Rae throws herself into freeing a wrongly convicted man—while helping to drum up business in a dreary economy. While Rae works on her Free Schmidt campaign, Izzy investigates the whereabouts of a missing valet with a checkered past and sifts through garbage for a screenwriter client. Older brother David, the only Spellman not involved in the family business, grows closer to his defense attorney girlfriend. On the sly, Izzy is also tailing Rick Harkey, a rival San Francisco PI, and discovers that Harkey left behind a trail of suspicious arrests and conveniently misplaced evidence in his career as a cop." - Publishers Weekly

The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag by Alan Bradley - "Flavia, the precocious, imaginative, and adorable 11-year-old sleuth, returns for her second adventure. Flavia’s world is 1950s England—specifically, a very old country house that just happens to have a long-abandoned chemistry laboratory. And Flavia just happens to be fascinated by chemistry—particularly poisons. This helps her solve mysteries because, as Flavia says, “There’s something about pottering with poisons that clarifies the mind.” This time she becomes involved with the members of a traveling puppet show that features the tale of Jack and the Beanstalk. When the puppetmaster is mysteriously electrocuted during the show, Flavia knows it can’t be an accident and eventually finds the murderer." - Booklist

Romance:

Burning Lamp by Amanda Quick - "Crime lord Griffin Winters rules a vast underworld empire in Victorian London, but he fears the descent of a familial curse of madness brought on by an ancestor's alchemical experiments. Only a powerful magical artifact, controlled by a woman of rare power, can save him. Magically gifted orphan Adelaide Pyne, recently embarked on a crusade to save women from prostitution, could be that woman, and a psychic connection soon draws Adelaide and Griffin into a dangerous partnership. Fast-paced and cleverly constructed, the tale perfectly balances lively adventure, passionate romance, and the paranormal against an elaborate and refreshingly original background. " - Publishers Weekly

Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake by Sarah Maclean - "Lady Calpurnia Hartwell, a plain but wealthy 28-year-old who refuses to marry a man who only desires her fortune, acts on a long-held crush and flings herself at Gabriel St. John, marquess of Ralston. Gabriel finds her antics more amusing than enticing, but his half-wild half-sister needs an impeccable chaperon and he chooses Callie for the role. Their proximity creates an infinite series of opportunities for the rake to practice his wiles on the more than willing wallflower. " - Publishers Weekly


Something About You by Julie James - When Assistant U.S. Attorny Cameron Lynde checks into a posh hotel for a night of relaxation, the last thing she expects is to become the only witness in a high-profile murder investigation. Now, a woman has been murdered, her married U.S. Senator lover has been framed for the crime, and Cameron is put into the care of the F.B.I...and a man who blames her for nearly ruining his career three year before, Agent Jack Pallas. Now the duo must get over their issues, track down a murdered, and try to avoid the real danger - the fiery sexual tension that threatens to bring down both their hearts. Julie James is an emerging star in Contemporary Romance and her third book doesn't disappoint - I stayed up way too late, so sucked into Cameron & Jack's story that I had to finish it in one sitting.

Young Adult:

The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting - Violet Ambrose has a secret: she can feel dead bodies...and the imprints left behind on their killers. This isn't exactly the kind of talent that gets a girl invited to prom, so she's kept it under wraps for most of her 16 years. But when a serial killer begins picking off girls in her town, Violet's gift may be the only hope her friends and family have to fight the killer. With the help of her best friend, Jay (who she's developing feelings for), Violet must track down the killer, before she becomes his next victim.


Radiant Shadows by Melissa Marr - This, the fourth book in Marr's Wicked Lovely series, follows the story of Devlin, an adviser to the High Queen of Faerie, and his love for Ani, a half-mortal whom saved from death years before. In typical Marr fashion, the duo is plagued by Faerie complications - not the least of which is that Ani is supposed to be dead. Readers will enjoy the return of beloved characters from previous books, as well as the intriguing set-up that Marr puts in place for the next, and final, book in the series.

Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles - In the sequel to the awesome Perfect Chemistry, Elkeles introduces the story of Carlos Fuentes, the younger brother of Alex from the first book. After getting involved with a dangerous gang in Mexico, Carlos is sent to live with Alex in Colorado, where his family hopes he can clean up his act, like his brother has. Unfortunately, as soon as Carlos arrives at his new school, he's framed for a drug possession and sent to live with a foster family (of sorts)...that of his annoying, goody-goody peer guide, Kiara. Elkeles is skilled at bringing characters of different backgrounds together and it was a joy to watch the flames ignite and smolder between Kiara and Carlos. If you loved the first book, expect Rules of Attraction to be a similarly addictive read.

Runaway by Meg Cabot - In the third Airhead novel, Emerson Watts is still stuck in the body of Nikki Howard - with no clue as to how she got there, other than the evil corporation Stark Enterprises is somehow involved. Em's now on the run, her family, friends, and job all left behind. There's only one person who can help her - Christopher, her former best friend and the (secret) love of her life. But can Christopher and Em truly expect to unravel all the secrets surrounding her transplant and bring down the might Stark all by themselves? Knowing Meg Cabot, the answer is...yes. But seeing how the finally get there will be a roller-coaster of thrills and, naturally, quite a few smoldering kisses.

The Unwritten Rule by Elizabeth Scott - "Gorgeous Brianna and less-stunning Sarah have been best friends since kindergarten, but now Sarah’s got a wicked crush on Brianna’s new boyfriend, Ryan—and it’s reciprocal. As in Love You Hate You Miss You (2009), what drives this quick read is the complex interaction of the two girls. Sarah and Ryan’s relationship, with the visceral thrill of physical attraction, is beautifully captured, but it’s the delicate balance between insecure Brianna’s need to put Sarah down and Sarah’s loyalty to her needy and lonely friend that will stay with the reader. The painfully abrupt ending fits the characters and story, and will leave readers wanting more. Scott’s realistic dialogue and empathetic view of symbiotic relationships will have teens thinking she has been eavesdropping on their conversations." - Booklist

Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan - " Two superstar authors pair up and really deliver the goods, dishing up a terrific high-energy tale of teen love, lust, intrigue, anger, pain, and friendship threaded with generous measures of comedy and savvy counsel. Though the ensemble cast revolves around Tiny Cooper, “the world’s largest person who is really, really gay, and also the world’s gayest person who is really, really large,” the central characters are the two titular narrators, who share a name (but don’t meet until partway through) and trade off alternate chapters. One Will has been Tiny’s satellite for years but is starting to chafe at the role—especially after Tiny forcibly sets him up with Jane, an infuriatingly perfect match. The other, whose clinical depression is brilliantly signaled by an all-lowercase narrative and so intensely conveyed that his early entries are hard to read, sees at least a glimmer of light fall on his self-image after a chance meeting with Tiny sparks a wild mutual infatuation. The performance of an autobiographical high-school musical that Tiny writes, directs, and stars in makes a rousing and suitably theatrical finale for a tale populated with young people engaged in figuring out what’s important and shot through with strong feelings, smart-mouthed dialogue, and uncommon insight." - Booklist

WHAT'S BUZZING

April 27, 2010:

The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell (Young Adult) - "Before Sex and the City, Carrie Bradshaw was a small-town girl who knew she wanted more. She's ready for real life to start, but first she must navigate her senior year of high school. Up until now, Carrie and her friends have been inseparable. Then Sebastian Kydd comes into the picture, and a friend's betrayal makes her question everything. With an unforgettable cast of characters, The Carrie Diaries is the story of how a regular girl learns to think for herself and evolves into a sharp, insightful writer. " - Back Cover

A Lady's Guide to Improper Behavior by Suzanne Enoch (Historical Romance) - Theresa Weller has always followed the rules and prides herself on being one of England's perfect ladies. But when one of her social outings turns disastrous, thanks to the intrusion of Colonel Bartholomew James, her perfect life turns upside down. Can a woman who has always followed the rules find love with a man who sets out to break them? Suzanne Enoch is one of the treasures of Historical Romance, a writer who brings warmth and depth to each of her stories. If anyone can see these two opposites matched, it's Enoch...and watching it unfold is sure to be a delight.

Lover Mine by J. R. Ward (Paranormal Romance) - " Newly made vampire John Matthew vows to free his mate, the symphath Xhexania, from Lash, a paranoid coke addict who's transmuting into a non-temporal entity like his vampire-killer father, the Omega. Once freed, Xhexania joins the Brothers in battling the Omega, but refuses to acknowledge her emotional connection to John. Meanwhile, sexually promiscuous Qhuinn, shockingly jealous of his cousin Saxton's new lover, wonders whether he should have seduced Saxton when he had the chance. Complicated subplots and tortured heroes abound, but attentive readers will love putting it all together. " - Publishers Weekly

Mistress By Mistake by Maggie Robinson (Historical Romance) -Beloved friend of the blog, Maggie Robinson, has her own debut novel hitting the shelves this week! Charlotte Fallon let her virtue slip once and has regretted the decision ever since - she's sworn off men and all of their ridiculous, tempting desires. But when her sister accepts a marriage proposal from one of her own paramores, Charlotte must stand in for her sister's other obligation - that of new mistress to Sir Michael Bayard. Can Micheal's loving touch overcome Charlotte's mistrust, or is she destined to miss out on true love out of fear of the consequences? Maggie's debut is already garnering quite the buzz and it is all truly deserved - if you like your romances smoldering and filled with emotional depth, this book is for you. Even better, you have quite a few chances to win this fabulous debut, which I've detailed below!

Mistwood by Leah Cypress (Young Adult) - Isabel awakes and remembers nothing - not the handsome prince standing before her, or her identity as The Shifter, an immortal woman who is bound by a spell to protect his kingdom through her abilities to shift into animal form. Isabel is instant drawn to the prince, but soon realizes all is not what it seems - can she uncover the threat against him, before it's too late? Or will her loyalty fade, once she's faced with the truth about him? Mistwood is receiving a lot of praise as a very unusual take on Young Adult Fantasy; it's not often you have an immortal adjusting to the human world, rather than a human suddenly becoming immortal. This is sure to be a unique and compelling debut from Cypress, perfect for fans of Kristin Cashore's Graceling.

Nothing But Trouble by Rachel Gibson (Contemporary Romance) - Chelsea Ross is finally admitting the truth: her acting career is going nowhere fast. Dead Girl #1 is just not that great of a resume credential. Now she's wising up, leaving Hollywood, and taking a real job, that of personal assistant to Mark Bressler, superstar hockey player. Unfortunately, this might just be her worst career move yet. Mark's own career came to a screeching halt when he suffered an injury, one which he's not to happy about. Determined to take his frustration out on everyone else, Mark's become a curmudgeon, no matter how hot he may be. It's up to Chelsea to straighten him out and prove that there's more to him than hockey skills. He just may have a heart of gold.

Savor the Moment by Nora Roberts (Contemporary Romance) - "Happily-ever-afters continue to bloom in book three of Roberts's sugary Bride Quartet (after Bed of Roses) as the spotlight shines on pastry chef extraordinaire Laurel McBane. Vows, the Greenwich, Conn., wedding business run by the four BFFs, is also a hotbed for romance, as two of the friends have already found true love and dream of their upcoming nuptials. Laurel, meanwhile, sets her sights on Del, the older brother of Vows partner Parker, a handsome lawyer she's secretly loved since they were teens. Passion erupts, but will they be able to make it last?" - Publishers Weekly

The God of the Hive by Laurie R. King (Mystery) - "Those who enjoyed the 2009 film Sherlock Holmes starring Robert Downey Jr. may appreciate bestseller King's 10th novel featuring Mary Russell and her much older husband, Conan Doyle's iconic detective. The plot picks up in the summer of 1924 right after the previous entry in the series, The Language of Bees. A religious fanatic, Rev. Thomas Brothers, who seeks to unleash psychic energies through human sacrifice, has shot Holmes's artist son, Damian Adler, seriously wounding the young man. Holmes's desperate quest for medical help to save his son's life takes him to Holland, while Mary travels throughout Britain in an effort to keep Damian's half-Chinese daughter, Estelle, safe from Brothers and his allies." - Publishers Weekly

Wicked Becomes You by Meredith Duran (Historical Romance) - Gwen Maudsley is done with being nice? What has it ever gotten her, other than not one - but two! - ex-fiances. After her latest beau jilts her at the alter, Gwen decides that it's time to be a little naughty and who else could be a better tutor than her brother's notorious best friend, Alexander Ramsey? However, there may be more to Alex and his roguish exterior; this charming man has secrets so dark that any real future for the pair is impossible. But when a trip through Europe brings them closer together, Gwen must tempt Alex into being very, very naughty himself...and giving in to his heart.

May 1, 2010:

We Hear the Dead by Dianne Salerni (Young Adult) - One of the first books for Sourcebooks' new teen imprint, We Hear the Dead is already a hit with early reviewers. Kate and Maggie Fox don't mean to fool the world into thinking they're psychics, but one little lie grows into another and soon the sisters are famous...for something that can't actually do. Can the girls live a lie, pretending to speak to people's loved ones who have passed on, or will the pressure be too much to handle?

May 4, 2010:

Dead in the Family by Charlaine Harris (Mystery) - "Still reeling from the deaths of her fairy cousin, Claudine, and many others in 2009's Dead and Gone, Sookie Stackhouse struggles with paranormal politics in her entertaining if slow-moving 10th outing. When Claudine's triplet, Claude, appears at her doorstep, Sookie reluctantly allows him to move in. The government threatens two-natures with mandatory registration, and tensions run high in the local Were pack. Then Eric's maker, a Roman named Appius Livius Ocella, arrives without warning, bringing along Alexei Romanov, whom he rescued from the Bolsheviks and turned into a vampire. Though the action often builds too slowly, the exploration of family in its many human and undead variations is intriguing, and Harris delivers her usual mix of eccentric characters and engaging subplots." - Publishers Weekly

Jekel Loves Hyde by Beth Fantaskey (Young Adult) - Jill Jekel knows not to peak inside the mysterious box her parents keep, but when her father is murdered and her future is up in the air, she's finally tempted to peek, hoping whatever is hidden inside might be the key to a prestigious science scholarship and getting her life back on track. On her quest for success, she enlists the gorgeous, brooding Tristen Hyde, a boy with shadowy secrets of his own. The pair plans to recreate the experiments of the classic novel they share a name with, but there's more than just winning at stake - soon Jill realizes their experiment could save something else...Tristen's life.

Straight Up by Deirdre Martin (Contemporary Romance) - On the run from one of New York's mobster families, Liam O'Brien has returned to Ireland and to running his parents' old village pub. But staying out of trouble doesn't last long, when he meets Aislinn McCafferty, the local beauty and heart-breaker who has a few painful secrets in her own past. When a wager sends Liam on a pursuit to win the ice queen's heart, neither of them expects that their attraction could turn into more. But will Liam's secrets put not only their relationship in danger, but Aislinn herself?

Sweetest Little Sin by Christine Wells (Historical Romance) - Lady Louisa Brooke and the Marquis of Jardine have been secret lovers for years, when he suddenly abandons her without a reason. With no other options, the ruined Louisa accepts a mission from Britain's secret service and begins a very dangerous operation. Unfortunately, her secret mission brings her into contact once more with Jardine, who is out to catch a criminal who has threatened everything and everyone he loves - including Louisa. When he finds out Louisa is engaged to the very enemy he hunts, they find not only their missions colliding, but - once more - their hearts.

May 18, 2010:

The Demon's Covenant by Sarah Rees Brennan (Young Adult) - Sequel to Sarah Rees Brennan's fantastic debut, The Demon's Lexicon, we return to England and the world of Nick and Alan, two brothers on the run from vicious magicians. Honestly, I haven't been able to track down a single synopsis of Book 2, but it doesn't matter - after the thrilling first installment, TDC could involve samba-dancing clowns and I would still buy it. Here's what I do know: Nick and Alan are back, as are Mae and Jamie, and...there will be kissing. Do we need to know more? (Note: The cover shown is the UK cover, which I will personally be buying, because...well, the US ones do not properly showcase this series' awesomeness.)

Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead (Young Adult) - Fifth in the Vampire Academy series, Richelle Mead returns to the story of Rose Hathaway and her heart-breaking love, Dimitri. Rose has just returned to St. Vladimir's, after a failed attempt to save Dimitri from his horrible fate as a Strigoi (ie: evil vampire). Graduation is just around the corner and the girls are excited to finally be free of the Academy and all of its rules. But all is not bright for Rose, who knows Dimitri is still out there, hunting her. She failed to kill him before, because of the love they once shared, but will it be too late? Is Rose destined to join him in his awful new life...forever?

[Note: Where noted, some of this week's book summaries were produced by Publishers Weekly and Booklist, two of the most reputable book review publications. Why? Because they can sum things up much better than I'll ever be able to!]

Are you in the mood to win a book, instead of just read about them? Well then, get yourself over to Twitter! Today, if you add the hashtag #MistressMonday to your tweets, you'll be entered to win the fabulous Maggie Robinson's debut romance, Mistress by Mistake from the Vauxhall Vixens. Start tweeting and good luck!

Also, are there any other books that you've loved lately or can't wait to dive into? Let me know in the comments and I'll add them to our next list!