Missouri State Library Book Blog

Wednesday, March 18, 2020

Wicked Bite (Night Rebel #2). By Jeaniene Frost.

Wicked Bite (Night Rebel #2). By Jeaniene Frost. 2020. Avon. ISBN-13: 9780062695635 (Paperback).

Wicked Bite picks up where Shades of Wicked left off. Book #1 set a high bar and Frost delivers on the action, suspense, Ian’s one-liners, and of course, the sexy times. But Veritas’s internal monologues about her past and half-demigod nature did make it feel like those parts of the book could have been tightened up.

I had expected this book to wrap up the series, but a new plot line came to visit Veritas at the end and I’m looking forward to next adventure for these two crazy kids.

Page-turner, Witty, Action-packed, Romantic, Unpredictable, Entertaining, Great world building, Steamy, Wonderful characters

371 pages

Hero’s Haven (Dark Protectors #11). By Rebecca Zanetti.

Hero’s Haven (Dark Protectors #11). By Rebecca Zanetti. 2020. Lyrical Press (ARC eBook).

For centuries, vampire-demon hybrid, Quade Karys, has been in another dimension, far away from Earth and his family. As a member of The Seven, his purpose was to keep a dangerous enemy imprisoned within a pocket between worlds. But just as Quade feels his body and mind failing and succumbing to delusions of a beautiful woman that visits him, the dimension collapses. He is saved by his beautiful stranger by traveling back to Earth through a portal of her creation. Now, he and Haven Daly are being are being pursued by Ulric’s followers, who want to use Haven’s abilities to return Ulric to Earth.

Quade’s reintegration into a world he has long been parted from leads to some humorous scenes, especially his discovered fondness for eating mint toothpaste. And as the two search for the surviving members of Quade’s family, Haven discovers that she is a part of a world she never knew existed; one that has vampires, demons, shifters, fae and more. All the while, the two of them have to adjust to each other and Haven is as stubborn as Quade is overprotective.

The world Zanetti has created is full of action, romance and humor that will keep readers coming back to this series.

306 pages

Haikyu!! Volume 24 by Haruichi Furudate

They are torturing my baby Hinata. Will someone please love him. Please. I will adopt him; give me the custody papers.
He's trying so hard. Insert "Let me in" meme.
200 Pages

Tuesday, March 17, 2020

Project Duchess (Duke Dynasty #1). By Sabrina Jeffries.

Project Duchess (Duke Dynasty #1). By Sabrina Jeffries. 2019. Zebra Books. AISN: B07HVXS62T (Kindle).

This charming duke, turned reluctant amateur detective, keeps losing focus of his investigation when he falls for Beatrice, his mother’s “project” and his suspected murder accomplice.

Jeffries weaves flirty banter, fun family drama, and a bit of mystery into this endearing romance.

Entertaining, Happily Ever After, Page-turner, Romantic, Steamy, Wonderful characters

352 pages

Driven to Distraction (Road to Love #1). By Lori Foster, Narrator: John Lane.

Driven to Distraction (Road to Love #1). By Lori Foster, Narrator: John Lane. 2018. Harlequin Audio. ISBN-13: 9781488205408 (Unabridged audiobook, 9 hrs, 20 mins).

With each transport assignment Brody and Mary embark on, he proves to her that the chemistry building between them is undeniable.

Action-packed, Entertaining, Happily Ever After, Page-turner, Romantic, Steamy, Wonderful characters, Great narration

384 pages

Slow Ride (Road to Love #2). By Lori Foster, Narrator: John Lane.

Slow Ride (Road to Love #2). By Lori Foster, Narrator: John Lane. 2019. Harlequin Audio. ISBN-13: 9781488205859 (Unabridged audiobook, 9 hrs, 18 mins).

This second installment in the Road to Love series delivers again on lovable rescue animals, sexual tension, and a bit of suspense in a fascinating backdrop for this opposites attract couple.

Action-packed, Entertaining, Happily Ever After, Page-turner, Romantic, Steamy, Wonderful characters, Great narration

384 pages

Haikyu!! Volume 23 by Haruichi Furudate

I am so proud of my kitty cats.
I love all of my cats: 1, 4, 5, 11, 12... they try so much. the cuties.
192 Pages

Monday, March 16, 2020

American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins

Since it began in 2018, I've been reading the books from the Barnes and Noble book club-and if I'm not too busy, attending the discussions at my store in Columbia. Even if I didn't enjoy them, they have all been great novels, giving me a lot to think about! Given the bad press around this one, I almost didn't read it. Now, I wish I hadn't. More of a thriller than a serious contemporary novel, it felt like the author put the worst possible result of any situation into each chapter for the shock value, rather than try to depict the actual experiences of South American migrants.

It's a bit of a train wreck. Lydia, a privileged middle class woman, who secretly loves English novels, escapes from cartel violence in Acapulco after 16 members of her family are slaughtered at her niece's quinceanera, an act portrayed as common and unremarkable (Note: It's not). She then flees with her son, joining with two girls from Honduras also fleeing gang violence. They travel to "el norte" on "la bestia", the train ridden by migrants, being chased by "La Migra" police and the leader of "Los Jardineros" cartel, who of course, is in love with her. Yikes. (also the peppering of the text with basic Spanish words for "authenticity's sake" drove me nuts)

The author made a point not to make the book-covering a messy and controversial issue-political. This being nearly impossible, she does so by turning the touchiest issues into jokes. At one point, a character makes an assertion, in all seriousness, that the migrants-excepting the main characters, one assumes-are "bad hombres", or else, they wouldn't be in this situation. Later, the only mention of child separation at the border comes in the form of a joke-how does one tell the difference between migrants and deportees? The deportees are haunted by the cries of their children left in "Estados Unidos". Just kidding! LoL! ... o.o

I read this so you don't have to.

386 pages

Rosa Parks: In Her Own Words by Susan Reyburn

A companion book to the latest Library of Congress exhibit, this is a great way to explore the collection without having to travel all the way to D.C. I didn't know how involved in the Civil Rights movement Rosa was, or that she was fierce activist all throughout her life. I loved reading the letters and narratives of her life written in her own voice.

A glimpse into an inspiring life!

82 pages

Haikyu!! Volume 22 by Haruichi Furudate

It's good to see other teams. It's a break for me; I'm still invested in these characters, but I'm waaaaaay less stressed out.
200 Pages

The Night Country by Melissa Albert

Multiple character perspectives and timelines.
I love Finch. I love him.
My ship. Finally thank gosh.
Everything is so meta.
But seriously I love Finch, and anyone who disagrees with how amazing that sweetie pie that could kill can fight me..
368 Pages

Sunday, March 15, 2020

Not His Werewolf (Not This #2). By Annie Nicholas.

Not His Werewolf (Not This #2). By Annie Nicholas. 2017. Annie Nicholas. ASIN: B071DNP1L9 (Kindle).

A fated mates story with a charming and earnest werewolf and his lady love who worries he might have been tranquilized by animal control one too many times. One cranky dragon included.

461 pages

A Horse Named Dragon (The Boxcar Children #114). By Gertrude Chandler Warner, Narrator: Aimee Lilly.

A Horse Named Dragon (The Boxcar Children #114). By Gertrude Chandler Warner, Narrator: Aimee Lilly. 2014. Oasis Audio. ISBN-13: 9781621883456 (Unabridged audiobook, 1 hr, 45 mins).

For a nostalgic read/listen, you can’t go wrong with this entertaining Children’s mystery series.

128 pages

Once in a Lifetime (Lucky Harbor #9). By Jill Shalvis, Narrator: Annie Greene.

Once in a Lifetime (Lucky Harbor #9). By Jill Shalvis, Narrator: Annie Greene. 2014. Grand Central Publishing. ISBN-13: 9781478982203 (Unabridged audiobook, 9 hrs, 28 mins).

If you like small town charm and finding love where you least expect it, you’ll love this!

Romantic, Entertaining, Wonderful Characters, Steamy, Great Narration

368 pages

The Heist (Fox and O’Hare Series #1). By Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg, Narrator: Scott Brick.

The Heist (Fox and O’Hare Series #1). By Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg, Narrator: Scott Brick. 2013. Penguin Random House Audio Publishing Group. ISBN-13: 9780385366953 (Unabridged audiobook, 8 hrs, 27 mins).

The FBI teams up with the Most Wanted.