Tia's bookshelf: all en-US Tue, 30 Jul 2024 11:50:23 -0700 60 Tia's bookshelf: all 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg <![CDATA[The Bloodgate Guardian (The Maya Bloodgates #1)]]> 8162809 Worlds within worlds await through the Maya Bloodgate...

Dr. Jaid Merritt doesn't do digs. The last time she ventured into the jungle, someone died. Now she's content to decipher Maya glyphs from pictures sent to her by her famous archaeologist father. But when he goes missing while trying to perform a ritual based on her translations of an ancient codex, Jaid must put aside her fears and travel to Guatemala to find him.

After misusing the Bloodgates to bring his twin brother back from the afterlife, the Maya priest known as Ruin was cursed by the gods to stand as the guardian for all time. He was unable to stop Dr. Charles Merritt from opening the gates, and now demons roam this world. The last thing he wants to do is hurt the beautiful woman who is somehow infused with his magic, but if she uses the codex to retrieve her father, Ruin must do his duty. And this time, he won't fail. Even if it kills him. Again.

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209 Joely Sue Burkhart 142689015X Tia 0 to-read 3.80 2010 The Bloodgate Guardian (The Maya Bloodgates #1)
author: Joely Sue Burkhart
name: Tia
average rating: 3.80
book published: 2010
rating: 0
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date added: 2024/07/30
shelves: to-read
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Sparks in Cosmic Dust 57294358 350 Robert Appleton Tia 0 to-read 4.23 2011 Sparks in Cosmic Dust
author: Robert Appleton
name: Tia
average rating: 4.23
book published: 2011
rating: 0
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date added: 2022/07/19
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<![CDATA[Cicero: The Life and Times of Rome's Greatest Politician]]> 84593 —John Adams

He squared off against Caesar and was friends with young Brutus. He advised the legendary Pompey on his somewhat botched transition from military hero to politician. He lambasted Mark Antony and was master of the smear campaign, as feared for his wit as he was for exposing his opponents� sexual peccadilloes. Brilliant, voluble, cranky, a genius of political manipulation but also a true patriot and idealist, Cicero was Rome’s most feared politician, one of the greatest lawyers and statesmen of all times. Machiavelli, Queen Elizabeth, John Adams and Winston Churchill all studied his example. No man has loomed larger in the political history of mankind.

In this dynamic and engaging biography, Anthony Everitt plunges us into the fascinating, scandal-ridden world of ancient Rome in its most glorious heyday. Accessible to us through his legendary speeches but also through an unrivaled collection of unguarded letters to his close friend Atticus, Cicero comes to life in these pages as a witty and cunning political operator.

Cicero leapt onto the public stage at twenty-six, came of age during Spartacus� famous revolt of the gladiators and presided over Roman law and politics for almost half a century. He foiled the legendary Catiline conspiracy, advised Pompey, the victorious general who brought the Middle East under Roman rule, and fought to mobilize the Senate against Caesar. He witnessed the conquest of Gaul, the civil war that followed and Caesar’s dictatorship and assassination. Cicero was a legendary defender of freedom and a model, later, to French and American revolutionaries who saw themselves as following in his footsteps in their resistance to tyranny.

Anthony Everitt’s biography paints a caustic picture of Roman politics—where Senators were endlessly filibustering legislation, walking out, rigging the calendar and exposing one another’s sexual escapades, real or imagined, to discredit their opponents. This was a time before slander and libel laws, and the stories—about dubious pardons, campaign finance scandals, widespread corruption, buying and rigging votes, wife-swapping, and so on—make the Lewinsky affair and the U.S. Congress seem chaste.

Cicero was a wily political operator. As a lawyer, he knew no equal. Boastful, often incapable of making up his mind, emotional enough to wander through the woods weeping when his beloved daughter died in childbirth, he emerges in these pages as intensely human, yet he was also the most eloquent and astute witness to the last days of Republican Rome.

On Cicero:

“He taught us how to think."
—V´Ç±ôłŮ˛ąľ±°ů±đ

“I tasted the beauties of language, I breathed the spirit of freedom, and I imbibed from his precepts and examples the public and private sense of a man.�
—Edward Gibbon

“Who was Cicero: a great speaker or a demagogue?�
—Fidel Castro


From the Hardcover edition.]]>
364 Anthony Everitt 037575895X Tia 0 currently-reading 3.88 2001 Cicero: The Life and Times of Rome's Greatest Politician
author: Anthony Everitt
name: Tia
average rating: 3.88
book published: 2001
rating: 0
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date added: 2016/08/09
shelves: currently-reading
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<![CDATA[The Skeleton King (The Silk & Steel Saga, #3)]]> 13664713 412 Karen Azinger 0983516065 Tia 4 4.40 2012 The Skeleton King (The Silk & Steel Saga, #3)
author: Karen Azinger
name: Tia
average rating: 4.40
book published: 2012
rating: 4
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date added: 2016/08/09
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<![CDATA[The Battle Immortal (The Silk & Steel Saga, #7)]]> 22666828 442 Karen Azinger 0991029755 Tia 3 4.41 2015 The Battle Immortal (The Silk & Steel Saga, #7)
author: Karen Azinger
name: Tia
average rating: 4.41
book published: 2015
rating: 3
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date added: 2016/08/09
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<![CDATA[The Prince Deceiver (The Silk & Steel Saga #6)]]> 23235578 316 Karen Azinger 0991029720 Tia 4 4.33 2014 The Prince Deceiver (The Silk & Steel Saga #6)
author: Karen Azinger
name: Tia
average rating: 4.33
book published: 2014
rating: 4
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date added: 2016/08/09
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<![CDATA[The Knight Marshal (The Silk & Steel Saga, #5)]]> 18483898 In the far north, Kath’s great victory becomes a dire trap as winter closes its deadly fist. In the south, still reeling from the Flame War, Queen Liandra struggles to rally her kingdom, unaware that Darkness converges on her city like a strangling noose.
Plots thicken as old alliances reform and new temptations arise. The players are being positioned for the Battle Immortal, an epic struggle of Light and Dark where all of Erdhe hangs in the balance.]]>
327 Karen Azinger 0991029704 Tia 4 4.30 2013 The Knight Marshal (The Silk & Steel Saga, #5)
author: Karen Azinger
name: Tia
average rating: 4.30
book published: 2013
rating: 4
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date added: 2016/08/09
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<![CDATA[The Poison Priestess (The Silk & Steel Saga, #4)]]> 16141427 New alliances and new awakenings hatch deeper levels of intrigue. The Oracle Priestess and the Lord Raven form a tenuous alliance, while deep in the Southern Mountains the Kiralynn monks stir, revealing more than prophecy.
Armies clash, battles rage, and cities fall, as lives, loves and crowns hang in the balance, but swords are not the only way to wage war. Treachery, deceit, assassins, and the power of seduction will face-off against steadfast courage, forgotten magic, and the power of truth. The Poison Priestess is the fourth book in this epic tale of Light versus Dark.]]>
411 Karen Azinger 0983516081 Tia 4 4.36 2012 The Poison Priestess (The Silk & Steel Saga, #4)
author: Karen Azinger
name: Tia
average rating: 4.36
book published: 2012
rating: 4
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date added: 2016/08/09
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review:

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<![CDATA[The Flame Priest (The Silk & Steel Saga, #2)]]> 13244949 459 Karen Azinger 0983516022 Tia 5 4.47 2011 The Flame Priest (The Silk & Steel Saga, #2)
author: Karen Azinger
name: Tia
average rating: 4.47
book published: 2011
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2015/06/14
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<![CDATA[The Steel Queen (The Silk & Steel Saga, #1)]]> 11375883 437 Karen Azinger 0983516006 Tia 5 3.89 2011 The Steel Queen (The Silk & Steel Saga, #1)
author: Karen Azinger
name: Tia
average rating: 3.89
book published: 2011
rating: 5
read at: 2015/06/14
date added: 2015/06/14
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<![CDATA[Wicked, My Love (Wicked Little Secrets, #2)]]> 22046490 A smooth-talking rogue and a dowdy financial genius...

Handsome, silver-tongued politician Lord Randall doesn't get along with his bank partner, the financially brilliant but hopelessly frumpish Isabella St. Vincent. Ever since she was his childhood nemesis, he's tried—and failed—to get the better of her.

Make a perfectly wicked combination...

When both Randall's political career and their mutual bank interests are threatened by scandal, he has to admit he needs Isabella's help. They set off on a madcap scheme to set matters right. With her wits and his charm, what could possibly go wrong? Only a volatile mutual attraction that's catching them completely off guard...]]>
384 Susanna Ives 1402283601 Tia 0 currently-reading 3.61 2015 Wicked, My Love (Wicked Little Secrets, #2)
author: Susanna Ives
name: Tia
average rating: 3.61
book published: 2015
rating: 0
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date added: 2015/04/02
shelves: currently-reading
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Devil's Oven 13537255 There’s a mysterious mountain in Appalachia called Devil’s Oven, a place where extraordinary, dark things have been happening for centuries.

Ivy Luttrell, a lonely seamstress, finds a man’s dismembered body, barely covered by the rich soil of her beloved mountain. Instead of alerting the authorities, Ivy keeps the man for herself, stitching him back together with her own skilled hands. It might have been the beginning to a fairy tale, but when the fearsome power of Devil’s Oven gives the man life, he escapes Ivy’s control and terrorizes Alta, her small mountain town.

Bud Tucker, a local businessman and owner of The Twilight Club, has money problems and a restless, red-headed wife, Lila, who has too much time on her hands. Easygoing Bud has relied too heavily on the advice of his second-in-command, Dwight, a squirrelly guy from up east, and now he’s in the sites of some very unpleasant people. But no one is prepared when one of Bud’s employees is viciously murdered, least of all, Lila, who is quickly drawn into the madness that Ivy has brought down on them all.

Their salvation lies in the hands of a mysterious newcomer, a delicate young stripper named Jolene, whose connection to Devil’s Oven is even deeper and more mysterious than Ivy’s.

As the violence grows around them, Jolene is torn between her secret loyalties and her affection for Bud and the other people she’s come to know. Her choice will change life on Devil’s Oven forever.

Part Gothic folk tale, part Frankensteinian nightmare, Devil’s Oven breaks the bonds of the traditional horror novel, combining lyrical storytelling with bone-chilling, surreal suspense.]]>
257 Laura Benedict 0985067802 Tia 0 to-read 3.78 2012 Devil's Oven
author: Laura Benedict
name: Tia
average rating: 3.78
book published: 2012
rating: 0
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date added: 2015/04/02
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<![CDATA[The Wizard Hunters (The Fall of Ile-Rien, #1)]]> 367333
And now the last hope of a magical realm under siege rests within a child's plaything.]]>
464 Martha Wells 038080798X Tia 0 to-read 3.90 2003 The Wizard Hunters (The Fall of Ile-Rien, #1)
author: Martha Wells
name: Tia
average rating: 3.90
book published: 2003
rating: 0
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date added: 2015/04/02
shelves: to-read
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<![CDATA[Blood Song (Raven's Shadow, #1)]]> 13569581 “The Sixth Order wields the sword of justice and smites the enemies of the Faith and the Realm.�

Vaelin Al Sorna was only a child of ten when his father left him at the iron gate of the Sixth Order. The Brothers of the Sixth Order are devoted to battle, and Vaelin will be trained and hardened to the austere, celibate, and dangerous life of a Warrior of the Faith. He has no family now save the Order.

Vaelin’s father was Battle Lord to King Janus, ruler of the unified realm. Vaelin’s rage at being deprived of his birthright and dropped at the doorstep of the Sixth Order like a foundling knows no bounds. He cherishes the memory of his mother, and what he will come to learn of her at the Order will confound him. His father, too, has motives that Vaelin will come to understand. But one truth overpowers all the rest: Vaelin Al Sorna is destined for a future he has yet to comprehend. A future that will alter not only the realm, but the world.]]>
591 Anthony Ryan 1466085665 Tia 4 4.42 2011 Blood Song (Raven's Shadow, #1)
author: Anthony Ryan
name: Tia
average rating: 4.42
book published: 2011
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2015/02/23
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Altered Destiny 12340312 320 Shawna Thomas 1426892268 Tia 4 3.76 2011 Altered Destiny
author: Shawna Thomas
name: Tia
average rating: 3.76
book published: 2011
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2015/02/23
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<![CDATA[Exclusively Yours (Kowalski Family, #1)]]> 8417155 When Keri Daniels' editor finds out she has previous carnal knowledge of reclusive bestselling author Joe Kowalski, she gives Keri a get an interview or get a new job.

Joe's never forgotten the first girl to break his heart, so he's intrigued to hear Keri's back in town�and looking for him. Despite his intense need for privacy, he'll grant Keri an interview if it means a chance to finish what they started in high school.

He proposes an outrageous plan�for every day she survives with his family on their annual camping and four-wheeling trip, Keri can ask one question. Keri agrees; she's worked too hard to walk away from her career.

But the chemistry between them is still as potent as the bug spray, Joe's sister is out to avenge his broken heart and Keri hasn't ridden an ATV since she was ten. Who knew a little blackmail, a whole lot of family and some sizzling romantic interludes could make Keri reconsider the old dream of Keri & Joe 2gether 4ever.

73,000 words

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322 Shannon Stacey 142689001X Tia 4 3.84 2010 Exclusively Yours (Kowalski Family, #1)
author: Shannon Stacey
name: Tia
average rating: 3.84
book published: 2010
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2015/02/23
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<![CDATA[Oath of Fealty (Paladin's Legacy, #1)]]> 6579183
Thanks to Paks’s courage and sacrifice, the long-vanished heir to the half-elven kingdom of Lyonya has been revealed as Kieri Phelan, a formidable mercenary captain who earned a title and enemies in the neighboring kingdom of Tsaia. Now, as Kieri ascends a throne he never sought, he must come to terms with his own half-elven heritage while protecting his new kingdom from his old enemies and those he has not yet discovered.

Meanwhile, in Tsaia, Prince Mikeli prepares for his own coronation. But when an assassination attempt nearly succeeds, Mikeli suddenly faces the threat of a coup. Acting swiftly, Mikeli strikes at the powerful family behind the attack: the Verrakaien, magelords possessing ancient sorcery, steeped in death and evil. Mikeli’s survival and that of Tsaia depend on the only Verrakai whose magery is not tainted with innocent blood.
Ěý
Ěý Two kings stand at a pivotal point in the history of their worlds. For dark forces are gathering against them, knit in a secret conspiracy more sinister and far more ancient than they can imagine. And even Paks may find her gods-given magic and peerless fighting skills stretched to the limit and beyond.
Ěý]]>
496 Elizabeth Moon 0345508742 Tia 4 4.09 2010 Oath of Fealty (Paladin's Legacy, #1)
author: Elizabeth Moon
name: Tia
average rating: 4.09
book published: 2010
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2015/02/23
shelves:
review:

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Spellwright (Spellwright, #1) 6703145
Nicodemus is a young, gifted wizard with a problem. Magic in his world requires the caster to create spells by writing out the text . . . but he has always been dyslexic, and thus has trouble casting even the simplest of spells. And his misspells could prove dangerous, even deadly, should he make a mistake in an important incantation.

Yet he has always felt that he is destined to be something more than a failed wizard. When a powerful, ancient evil begins a campaign of murder and disruption, Nicodemus starts to have disturbing dreams that lead him to believe that his misspelling could be the result of a curse. But before he can discover the truth about himself, he is attacked by an evil that has already claimed the lives of fellow wizards and has cast suspicion on his mentor. He must flee for his own life if he's to find the true villain.

But more is at stake than his abilities. For the evil that has awakened is a power so dread and vast that if unleashed it will destroy Nicodemus... and the world.

At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.]]>
350 Blake Charlton 0765317273 Tia 3 3.60 2010 Spellwright (Spellwright, #1)
author: Blake Charlton
name: Tia
average rating: 3.60
book published: 2010
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 2015/02/23
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review:

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<![CDATA[Eona: The Last Dragoneye (Eon, #2)]]> 7992995
Eona, with its pulse-pounding drama and romance, its unforgettable fight scenes, and its surprises, is the conclusion to an epic story only Alison Goodman can create..]]>
637 Alison Goodman 0670063118 Tia 4 4.11 2011 Eona: The Last Dragoneye (Eon, #2)
author: Alison Goodman
name: Tia
average rating: 4.11
book published: 2011
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2015/02/23
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<![CDATA[The Deed of Paksenarrion (The Deed of Paksenarrion, #1-3)]]> 96281 The Deed of Paksenarrion revolves around the life of Paksenarrion Dorthansdotter, known as Paks. It takes place in a fictional medieval world comprised of kingdoms of humans, dwarves, and elves. The story begins by introducing Paks as a headstrong girl of 18, who leaves her home (fleeing a marriage arranged by her father) to join a mercenary company. Through her journeys and hardships she comes to realize that she has been gifted as a paladin. The novel was originally published in three volumes in 1988 and 1989 and as a single trade edition of that name in 1992. The three books included are The Sheepfarmer's Daughter, Divided Allegiance and Oath of Gold.

From publisher Baen: "Paksenarrion, a simple sheepfarmer's daughter, yearns for a life of adventure and glory, such as was known to heroes in songs and story. At age seventeen she runs away from home to join a mercenary company and begins her epic life . . . Book One: Paks is trained as a mercenary, blooded, and introduced to the life of a soldier . . . and to the followers of Gird, the soldier's god. Book Two: Paks leaves the Duke's company to follow the path of Gird alone—and on her lonely quests encounters the other sentient races of her world. Book Three: Paks the warrior must learn to live with Paks the human. She undertakes a holy quest for a lost elven prince that brings the gods' wrath down on her and tests her very limits."]]>
1040 Elizabeth Moon 0671721046 Tia 5 4.31 1992 The Deed of Paksenarrion (The Deed of Paksenarrion, #1-3)
author: Elizabeth Moon
name: Tia
average rating: 4.31
book published: 1992
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2014/12/03
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<![CDATA[Magician: Apprentice (The Riftwar Saga, #1)]]> 13812 here.

To the forest on the shore of the Kingdom of the Isles, the orphan Pug came to study with the master magician Kulgan. His courage won him a place at court and the heart of a lovely Princess, but he was ill at ease with normal wizardry. Yet his strange magic may save two worlds from dark beings who opened spacetime to renew the age-old battle between Order and Chaos.]]>
485 Raymond E. Feist 0553564943 Tia 4 4.18 1982 Magician: Apprentice (The Riftwar Saga, #1)
author: Raymond E. Feist
name: Tia
average rating: 4.18
book published: 1982
rating: 4
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date added: 2014/12/03
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<![CDATA[The Wretched of Muirwood (Legends of Muirwood, #1)]]> 15954540
All but doomed, her days are spent toiling away as a kitchen slave under the charge of the Aldermaston, the Abbey’s watchful overseer. But when an injured squire named Colvin is abandoned at the kitchen’s doorstep, an opportunity arises.

The nefarious Sheriff Almaguer soon starts a manhunt for Colvin, and Lia conspires to hide Colvin and change her fate. In the midst of a land torn by a treacherous war between a ruthless king and a rebel army, Lia finds herself on an ominous journey that will push her to wonder if her own hidden magic is enough to set things right.

At once captivating, mysterious, and magic-infused, The Wretched of Muirwood takes the classic fantasy adventure and paints it with a story instantly epic, and yet, all its own.]]>
302 Jeff Wheeler 1612187005 Tia 5 4.00 2011 The Wretched of Muirwood (Legends of Muirwood, #1)
author: Jeff Wheeler
name: Tia
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2011
rating: 5
read at: 2014/01/04
date added: 2014/01/05
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<![CDATA[Gate to Kandrith (Kandrith, #1)]]> 13498701 Sarathena Remillus, daughter of the newly elected Primus of the Republic of Temboria, has been given a discover the secret of slave magic. Anxious to escape the corruption and treachery of the capital, Sara welcomes the chance to finally prove herself far away in Kandrith, the tiny nation of former slaves.

Accompanying her on the journey is Lance, a Kandrithan to whom Sara owes her life. Lance despises the nobility, and is determined to resist his desire for Sara, despite her attempts to entice him into divulging the secret of his magic.

Soon their travels become fraught with peril, and Sara discovers she's fallen victim to the ultimate betrayal. To end a war between two nations, she will have to make the ultimate sacrifice...

134,000 words

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364 Nicole Luiken 1426893477 Tia 5
It starts with a bang as Sara is prepared to assassinate the priest of the God of War if he –as she expects–withholds the blessing that her father needs as the new Primus of the Republic of Temboria. Withholding his blessing would be a death sentence, and Sara would do anything to protect her small family.

During a narrow escape from a undesirable suitor who drugged her with an aphrodisiac, Sara meets Lance, who she at first mistakes for a slave. She could not have been more wrong. Since she is under the effect of the aphrodisiac, she behaves somewhat (cough) inappropriately, but Lance is the gentleman, and he saves the day and disappears.

How can she help falling in love with him?

Turns out, he’s a Child of Peace. And the next day, her father asks her to become a Child of Peace herself as the Ambassador to Slaveland, aka Kandrith. She also has a secret mission–to learn the secret of Slave Magic, which her father is very afraid of. What follows is an adventurous journey with Lance, at the end of which she learns just what it means to be a Child of Peace, at which time she has to grow up in a hurry.

Nothing goes as you would expect. People you think are loyal turn out to not be so, and people you expect to betray Sara turn out to be steadfast. People you think are pitiless monsters turn out to be good guys, and good guys turn out to be pitiless monsters.

I was worried by the early aphrodisiac scene that this novel would be way more erotic than I expected or desired, but it surprised me. There are sex several scenes, but only after a very long romance building, and they certainly were not excessive. I will call out one rather crude groping; you are warned.

The amazing thing about this book is it is 134,000 words, and yet I read it in just a few days. The character development is amazing, and even a secondary character gets to have a major turnaround. There are surprises in this novel that will keep you guessing until the very last scenes.

And dang–I have not even said anything about the magic system. Suffice it to say that you have never seen anything like this before. It is the most poignant magic system I have ever read. And what about that fabulous escape! It was the best one I’ve read in a great while.

If you like epic fantasy, you will probably like this novel despite the naughty scenes. They are brief. If you like fantasy romance, this is something you will like. I highly recommend it. Five stars!]]>
3.75 2012 Gate to Kandrith (Kandrith, #1)
author: Nicole Luiken
name: Tia
average rating: 3.75
book published: 2012
rating: 5
read at: 2013/02/01
date added: 2014/01/02
shelves:
review:
I thought this novel was great.

It starts with a bang as Sara is prepared to assassinate the priest of the God of War if he –as she expects–withholds the blessing that her father needs as the new Primus of the Republic of Temboria. Withholding his blessing would be a death sentence, and Sara would do anything to protect her small family.

During a narrow escape from a undesirable suitor who drugged her with an aphrodisiac, Sara meets Lance, who she at first mistakes for a slave. She could not have been more wrong. Since she is under the effect of the aphrodisiac, she behaves somewhat (cough) inappropriately, but Lance is the gentleman, and he saves the day and disappears.

How can she help falling in love with him?

Turns out, he’s a Child of Peace. And the next day, her father asks her to become a Child of Peace herself as the Ambassador to Slaveland, aka Kandrith. She also has a secret mission–to learn the secret of Slave Magic, which her father is very afraid of. What follows is an adventurous journey with Lance, at the end of which she learns just what it means to be a Child of Peace, at which time she has to grow up in a hurry.

Nothing goes as you would expect. People you think are loyal turn out to not be so, and people you expect to betray Sara turn out to be steadfast. People you think are pitiless monsters turn out to be good guys, and good guys turn out to be pitiless monsters.

I was worried by the early aphrodisiac scene that this novel would be way more erotic than I expected or desired, but it surprised me. There are sex several scenes, but only after a very long romance building, and they certainly were not excessive. I will call out one rather crude groping; you are warned.

The amazing thing about this book is it is 134,000 words, and yet I read it in just a few days. The character development is amazing, and even a secondary character gets to have a major turnaround. There are surprises in this novel that will keep you guessing until the very last scenes.

And dang–I have not even said anything about the magic system. Suffice it to say that you have never seen anything like this before. It is the most poignant magic system I have ever read. And what about that fabulous escape! It was the best one I’ve read in a great while.

If you like epic fantasy, you will probably like this novel despite the naughty scenes. They are brief. If you like fantasy romance, this is something you will like. I highly recommend it. Five stars!
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<![CDATA[No Place Like Rome (Lexi Carmichael Mystery, #3)]]> 18668790
Italy might seem like a long way to go to hide after a disastrous date. But when sexy uberhacker Slash (no, that's not his real name) asks me to go with him to Rome on an investigation, the timing is sort of perfect. My messed-up love life becomes the least of my worries, though, after the dead body, the near-kidnapping and the discovery of a top secret encrypted file that even I can't hack.

With time running out, there's only one thing to do: call in the legendary Zimmerman twins and my best fluent-in-Italian friend, Basia, to crack the code. Now if only someone could help me solve the mystery of whether Slash is flirting, or if all the kissing is just one of those "when in Rome" things...

But when we finally uncover the secret someone would kill to keep, it's up to me to solve the case and save the lives of my best friends.

Just another week in the life of geek-girl Lexi Carmichael.

Read about Lexi's previous adventures in No One Lives Twice, No One to Trust and No Money Down.

61,000 words]]>
117 Julie Moffett 1299975127 Tia 4 4.31 2013 No Place Like Rome (Lexi Carmichael Mystery, #3)
author: Julie Moffett
name: Tia
average rating: 4.31
book published: 2013
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2013/12/21
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<![CDATA[Wicked Little Secrets (Wicked Little Secrets, #1)]]> 17375138 It's Not Easy Being Good...

Vivacious Vivienne Taylor has finally won her family's approval by getting engaged to the wealthy and upright John Vandergrift. But when threatened by a vicious blackmail scheme, it is to her childhood friend that Vivienne turns; the deliciously wicked Viscount Dashiell.

When Being Wicked is so Much More Exciting...

Lord Dashiell promised himself long ago that his friendship with Vivienne would be the one relationship with a woman that he wouldn't ruin. He agrees to help her just to keep the little hothead safe, but soon finds that Vivienne has grown up to be very, very dangerous to all of Dash's best intentions.]]>
384 Susanna Ives 1402283571 Tia 5 3.51 2013 Wicked Little Secrets (Wicked Little Secrets, #1)
author: Susanna Ives
name: Tia
average rating: 3.51
book published: 2013
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2013/12/21
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<![CDATA[Soul of Kandrith (Kandrith, #2)]]> 15786826 The conclusion of the Kandrith duology

Lance is a healer and wielder of slave magic, a power that demands sacrifice. He gave up his health to gain the ability to heal others, but he's powerless to cure his beloved Sara, who sacrificed her soul to save Lance and all of Kandrith. Returning her soul would negate her gift, at the cost of his life and the freedom of his homeland.

Now Sara is but a shell of the noble, spirited woman she once was. All that Lance saw and loved in her is gone, but he refuses to give up on her. Charged by his sister, the ruler of Kandrith, with a mission to encourage a budding rebellion within the aggrandizing Republic of Temboria, he leaves with Sara in tow. But not before Wenda's soulsight detects a spark within her.

Amidst the escalating dangers in hostile territory, Lance will have to risk both his beloved and his homeland in a final gambit to save them both�

138,000 words

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413 Nicole Luiken 1426895216 Tia 4 3.69 2013 Soul of Kandrith (Kandrith, #2)
author: Nicole Luiken
name: Tia
average rating: 3.69
book published: 2013
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2013/05/12
shelves:
review:

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<![CDATA[Wreck of the Nebula Dream (The Sectors #0.5)]]> 17451666 "Titanic in Space"
A reimagining of the Titanic disaster set in the far future among the stars� Traveling unexpectedly aboard the luxury liner Nebula Dream on its maiden voyage across the galaxy, Sectors Special Forces Captain Nick Jameson is ready for ten relaxing days, and hoping to forget his last disastrous mission behind enemy lines. He figures he’ll gamble at the casino, take in the shows, maybe even have a shipboard fling with Mara Lyrae, the beautiful but reserved businesswoman he meets. All his plans vaporize when the ship suffers a wreck of Titanic proportions. Captain and crew abandon ship, leaving the 8000 passengers stranded without enough lifeboats and drifting unarmed in enemy territory. Aided by Mara, Nick must find a way off the doomed ship for himself and several other innocent people before deadly enemy forces reach them or the ship’s malfunctioning engines finish ticking down to self destruction. But can Nick conquer the demons from his past that tell him he’ll fail these innocent people just as he failed to save his Special Forces team? Will he outpace his own doubts to win this vital race against time?]]>
186 Veronica Scott 1477472673 Tia 5 3.82 2012 Wreck of the Nebula Dream (The Sectors #0.5)
author: Veronica Scott
name: Tia
average rating: 3.82
book published: 2012
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2013/04/29
shelves:
review:

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Golden Triangle 17204866 Book two of Wild Times

Joe Walker was once a regular guy—until he discovered the truth about his past lives and magical abilities. He's also been reunited with his immortal lover, Min, though they've been forced into hiding by Tyac, a werewolf who will stop at nothing to destroy them.

When their nemesis reappears, an old friend sends Joe back into the supernatural realm known as the Wild—and away from Min. He takes sanctuary at a lake that's a gateway to an even more extraordinary world, where golden angels embark on dangerous quests for power.

But as Joe gets to know these mysterious beings, both he and the goldens are being hunted by enemies old and new. When a betrayal puts Joe in imminent danger, he and Min must find their way back together before dark forces tear them apart for good.

Read how it all began in Quarter Square, available now.

78,000 words

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219 David Bridger 1426895062 Tia 0 to-read 4.40 2013 Golden Triangle
author: David Bridger
name: Tia
average rating: 4.40
book published: 2013
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2013/03/29
shelves: to-read
review:

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In for a Penny 3134133
Amidst the fun of wacky meals, dueling daughters, Mama’s heart problem, lovesick Saint Bernards, a sexy golf pro, a repentant ex-husband and a host of murder suspects, Cleo does what she does best. With her trusty spreadsheets and logical accountant’s brain, she organizes the information and ferrets out a crazed killer.

Set against the lush splendor of mid-Atlantic springtime, this fun-packed mystery with a dash of romance will keep you turning the pages to see what happens next.]]>
243 Maggie Toussaint 1594146462 Tia 0 to-read 3.44 2008 In for a Penny
author: Maggie Toussaint
name: Tia
average rating: 3.44
book published: 2008
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2013/03/29
shelves: to-read
review:

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<![CDATA[Valor of the Healer (Rebels of Adalonia, #1)]]> 17553272 The Rook

An assassin hired by vengeful elven rebels to kill the calculating Duke of Shalridan, Julian walks into a trap and barely escapes with his life. Healed by a beautiful captive in the dungeons, he's enthralled and vows to free her from the duke's clutches.

The Hawk

A Knight of the Hawk duty-bound to cleanse elven magic from Adalonia, Kestar has a secret�and heretical�ability to sense the use of magic from afar. He knows something suspicious is happening in the duke's keep, but he has no idea how deep the conspiracy goes.

The Dove

A half-elven healer with no control over her magic, Faanshi is the goddess's to command. She's always been a pawn of the powerful, but after healing two mysterious and very different men, she faces a choice that may decide the fate of the whole kingdom�

Book one of the Rebels of Adalonia

113,000 words

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266 Angela Highland 1426895364 Tia 0 to-read 3.95 2013 Valor of the Healer (Rebels of Adalonia, #1)
author: Angela Highland
name: Tia
average rating: 3.95
book published: 2013
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2013/03/20
shelves: to-read
review:

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<![CDATA[Cast in Shadow (Chronicles of Elantra, #1)]]> 9542 knowing that something was after her. Children were being murdered � and all had the same odd markings that mysteriously appeared on her own skin...

Since then, she's learned to read, she's learned to fight and she's become one of the vaunted Hawks who patrol and police the City of Elantra. Alongside the winged Aerians and immortal Barrani, she's made a place for herself, far from the mean streets of her birth.

But children are once again dying, and a dark and familiar pattern is emerging, Kaylin is ordered back into Nightshade with a partner she knows she can't trust, a Dragon lord for a companion and a device to contain her powers � powers that no other human has. Her task is simple � find the killer, stop the murders... and survive the attentions of those who claim to be her allies!]]>
507 Michelle Sagara 0373802544 Tia 0 to-read 3.80 2005 Cast in Shadow (Chronicles of Elantra, #1)
author: Michelle Sagara
name: Tia
average rating: 3.80
book published: 2005
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2013/02/28
shelves: to-read
review:

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<![CDATA[Stellarnet Rebel (Stellarnet, #1)]]> 13092986
Duin is an alien—a Glin—a hero of a past revolution against the Glin royal family, yet branded a terrorist. Duin speaks every day in the Asteria market, hoping to spur humans to aid his home world, which has been overtaken by the evil, buglike Tikati.

When Genny and Duin meet, what begins with a blog post becomes a dangerous web of passion and politics as they struggle to survive not only a war but the darker side of humanity...

94,000 words]]>
307 J.L. Hilton 1426892950 Tia 0 to-read 3.62 2012 Stellarnet Rebel (Stellarnet, #1)
author: J.L. Hilton
name: Tia
average rating: 3.62
book published: 2012
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2013/02/28
shelves: to-read
review:

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<![CDATA[The Iron Witch (The Iron Witch, #1)]]> 6930002 When the darkest outcasts of Faerie—the vicious wood elves—abduct Navin, Donna finally has to accept her role in the centuries old war between the humans and the fey. Assisted by Xan, a gorgeous half-fey dropout with secrets of his own, Donna races to save her friend—even if it means betraying everything her parents and the alchemist community fought to the death to protect.

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299 Karen Mahoney 073872582X Tia 0 to-read 3.47 2011 The Iron Witch (The Iron Witch, #1)
author: Karen Mahoney
name: Tia
average rating: 3.47
book published: 2011
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2013/02/28
shelves: to-read
review:

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<![CDATA[A Kiss at Midnight (Fairy Tales, #1)]]> 6957682
Forced by her stepmother to attend a ball, Kate meets a prince... and decides he's anything but charming. A clash of wits and wills ensues, but they both know their irresistible attraction will lead nowhere. For Gabriel is promised to another woman—a princess whose hand in marriage will fulfill his ruthless ambitions.

Gabriel likes his fiancee, which is a welcome turn of events, but he doesn't love her. Obviously, he should be wooing his bride-to-be, not the witty, impoverished beauty who refuses to fawn over him.

Godmothers and glass slippers notwithstanding, this is one fairy tale in which destiny conspires to destroy any chance that Kate and Gabriel might have a happily ever after.

Unless a prince throws away everything that makes him noble...

Unless a dowry of an unruly heart trumps a fortune...

Unless one kiss at the stroke of midnight changes everything.]]>
384 Eloisa James 0061626848 Tia 0 to-read 3.78 2010 A Kiss at Midnight (Fairy Tales, #1)
author: Eloisa James
name: Tia
average rating: 3.78
book published: 2010
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2013/02/28
shelves: to-read
review:

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<![CDATA[Balance of Terror (In Enemy Hands #2)]]> 13635750
Stellar physicist Moon Thadin and amnesiac savant Srin Flerovs are on their way to possible sanctuary with an old research partner of Moon’s. But between them and safety lie a cunning arms dealer, a suspicious pirate captain, and a universe of unfamiliarity.

Refusing to turn her research into a weapon, Moon and Srin outran the Republic in IN ENEMY HANDS, only to find that the anti-Republic rebels they’re heading for want her knowledge for the same reason and they’re willing to trade critical gene therapy for it. Withhold the therapy and Srin will die. Share the research and billions will die.

Can the needs of one ever truly outweigh the needs of many?]]>
K.S. Augustin Tia 5 3.73 2012 Balance of Terror (In Enemy Hands #2)
author: K.S. Augustin
name: Tia
average rating: 3.73
book published: 2012
rating: 5
read at: 2013/02/27
date added: 2013/02/27
shelves:
review:

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<![CDATA[Time Dancer (Eldwyn Chronicles, #3)]]> 17204871 Book three of the Eldwyn Chronicles

Everyone has a duty in the royal castle—everyone except Jana Haruk. Despite her promising magical bloodline, her gift is weak. As a Reminiscent Seer, she knows only what happened in the past, not what will happen in the future. When the crown prince's life is threatened, Jana vows to do everything she can to help him—including asking the queen, a powerful sorceress, to lend her some magic.

The queen summons Darach, a spell in human form. The arrogant and mysterious man soon discovers there's more to Jana than meets the she's a time dancer, someone with the ability to move backward through time in her dreams. With Darach as her anchor, Jana can explore the past and try to figure out who is behind the attacks on the prince.

Despite her attraction to him, Jana knows little about the handsome warrior. The past is tying them closer to each other with every trip, but Darach is bound to return to his homeland when his mission is complete…and their time together is running out.

For more of the Eldwyn Chronicles, check out Salome at Sunrise, available now!

84,000 words

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220 Inez Kelley 1426895054 Tia 0 to-read 4.05 2013 Time Dancer (Eldwyn Chronicles, #3)
author: Inez Kelley
name: Tia
average rating: 4.05
book published: 2013
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2013/02/19
shelves: to-read
review:

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<![CDATA[The B-Team (The Human Division, #1)]]> 16180352 The Human Division, John Scalzi's new thirteen-episode novel in the world of his bestselling Old Man's War.

Colonial Union Ambassador Ode Abumwe and her team are used to life on the lower end of the diplomatic ladder. But when a high-profile diplomat goes missing, Abumwe and her team are last minute replacements on a mission critical to the Colonial Unions future. As the team works to pull off their task, CDF Lieutenant Harry Wilson discovers theres more to the story of the missing diplomats than anyone expected...a secret that could spell war for humanity.]]>
93 John Scalzi 1466830514 Tia 3
Although it has only been a few weeks since I read this, I am having trouble remembering the names of the characters, which is a bad sign. John Perry from Old Man's War was a wonderful character, who I count among my favorite characters ever. These guys ... well, they all sound alike, and they all act alike. At one point, I had to go back to the beginning of a conversation because I lost track of who was talking. Because they all sounded alike.

One part that made me impatient was this series of scenes where a big deal was made about finding a "black box" in space, which was so hard because ... it was painted black. I almost threw my Kindle across the room. (Good thing they are durable.) The visible spectrum of light is just one of seven. If there is a place in the universe where color hardly matters at all, it is in space. Unless light is shining upon it, it will be black. No light, no color. However, in the infrared spectrum, it might show up quite brightly.

Fortunately, the author did come around to this but only after I lost patience and set it aside for a while.

I finished the book in short order and I did enjoy it, but I'm not sure how compelled I am to pick up the next installment. I probably will in a few weeks, but I am not feeling rushed.]]>
4.08 2013 The B-Team (The Human Division, #1)
author: John Scalzi
name: Tia
average rating: 4.08
book published: 2013
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 2013/02/13
shelves:
review:
Although this was a quick read, it wasn't really all that engaging. It is about a diplomat team that is sent into an emergency situation mostly because they are convenient, and they proved that they weren't quite such a B team after all.

Although it has only been a few weeks since I read this, I am having trouble remembering the names of the characters, which is a bad sign. John Perry from Old Man's War was a wonderful character, who I count among my favorite characters ever. These guys ... well, they all sound alike, and they all act alike. At one point, I had to go back to the beginning of a conversation because I lost track of who was talking. Because they all sounded alike.

One part that made me impatient was this series of scenes where a big deal was made about finding a "black box" in space, which was so hard because ... it was painted black. I almost threw my Kindle across the room. (Good thing they are durable.) The visible spectrum of light is just one of seven. If there is a place in the universe where color hardly matters at all, it is in space. Unless light is shining upon it, it will be black. No light, no color. However, in the infrared spectrum, it might show up quite brightly.

Fortunately, the author did come around to this but only after I lost patience and set it aside for a while.

I finished the book in short order and I did enjoy it, but I'm not sure how compelled I am to pick up the next installment. I probably will in a few weeks, but I am not feeling rushed.
]]>
<![CDATA[Old Man's War (Old Man's War, #1)]]> 51964
The good news is that humanity finally made it into interstellar space. The bad news is that planets fit to live on are scarce-- and alien races willing to fight us for them are common. So: we fight. To defend Earth, and to stake our own claim to planetary real estate. Far from Earth, the war has been going on for decades: brutal, bloody, unyielding.

Earth itself is a backwater. The bulk of humanity's resources are in the hands of the Colonial Defense Force. Everybody knows that when you reach retirement age, you can join the CDF. They don't want young people; they want people who carry the knowledge and skills of decades of living. You'll be taken off Earth and never allowed to return. You'll serve two years at the front. And if you survive, you'll be given a generous homestead stake of your own, on one of our hard-won colony planets.

John Perry is taking that deal. He has only the vaguest idea what to expect. Because the actual fight, light-years from home, is far, far harder than he can imagine--and what he will become is far stranger.]]>
318 John Scalzi 0765348276 Tia 5
To me, this was the perfect science fiction tale. It featured a likable hero, the 75 year old John Perry. It involved a twist that I never saw coming, but sure should have. And it involved really, really ruthless enemies, and aliens that are just about as strange as one can imagine.

John Perry is celebrating his 75th birthday by joining the army. He intended to join with his wife, but she unfortunately died before the requisite age. He joins for a ten year term, and knowing that he can never return to Earth.

Before actually being able to join, he undergoes a rigorous series of physical and psychological exams. One of my favorite parts was when a doctor tells him that he has testicular cancer. The doctor is unconcerned about it and is totally uninterested in treating it.

“Why wouldn’t you cure it?â€� I asked. “If you can â€shore upâ€� an affected region, it sounds like you could probably fix it completely if you wanted to.â€�



“We can, but it’s not necessary,� Dr. Russell said. “You’ll be getting a more comprehensive overhaul in a couple of days. We just need to keep you going until then.�



“What does this â€comprehensive overhaulâ€� mean, anyway?â€� I asked.



“It means that when it’s done, you’ll wonder why you ever worried about a spot of cancer on your testicle,� he said. “That’s a promise …�

By this time, I was in total suspense about this “comprehensive overhaul� and dying to find out what it meant. And I never expected what it turned out to be.

For the entire first half of the novel, this suspense was more than enough to keep me turning the pages. The only real conflict was between the recruits and the military’s medical personnel, and even then, it was like the above. And the usual conflict between recruit and drill sergeant.

So what’s missing? A girl. And yes, there is a girl. Several, in fact, but really, the only girl for John is his dead wife, Kathy. She has an impact on the story in a big way. And that’s all I’ve got to say about that.

Through most of the book, the other character drift in and out of the story and then die off. The story focuses on John exclusively and almost to its detriment. However, toward the end, it starts focusing on a core group of characters, especially one named Jane Sagan. She is a lieutenant in the ever-intriguing Ghost Brigades, the subject of the second novel in the series. (Which I read as well.)

One final thing–although this book is quite gritty, the gritty portions made me wince only because I was so taken with the main character. More importantly, the author did not overwhelm the story with grit� it is also full of humor and heart. I will be giving this novel a rare five stars at Amazon and GoodReads.]]>
4.22 2005 Old Man's War (Old Man's War, #1)
author: John Scalzi
name: Tia
average rating: 4.22
book published: 2005
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2013/02/13
shelves:
review:
I’ve had my eye on this book for a long time, and when I got my Kindle it was one of the first books I got. I read it and loved it.

To me, this was the perfect science fiction tale. It featured a likable hero, the 75 year old John Perry. It involved a twist that I never saw coming, but sure should have. And it involved really, really ruthless enemies, and aliens that are just about as strange as one can imagine.

John Perry is celebrating his 75th birthday by joining the army. He intended to join with his wife, but she unfortunately died before the requisite age. He joins for a ten year term, and knowing that he can never return to Earth.

Before actually being able to join, he undergoes a rigorous series of physical and psychological exams. One of my favorite parts was when a doctor tells him that he has testicular cancer. The doctor is unconcerned about it and is totally uninterested in treating it.

“Why wouldn’t you cure it?â€� I asked. “If you can â€shore upâ€� an affected region, it sounds like you could probably fix it completely if you wanted to.â€�



“We can, but it’s not necessary,� Dr. Russell said. “You’ll be getting a more comprehensive overhaul in a couple of days. We just need to keep you going until then.�



“What does this â€comprehensive overhaulâ€� mean, anyway?â€� I asked.



“It means that when it’s done, you’ll wonder why you ever worried about a spot of cancer on your testicle,� he said. “That’s a promise …�

By this time, I was in total suspense about this “comprehensive overhaul� and dying to find out what it meant. And I never expected what it turned out to be.

For the entire first half of the novel, this suspense was more than enough to keep me turning the pages. The only real conflict was between the recruits and the military’s medical personnel, and even then, it was like the above. And the usual conflict between recruit and drill sergeant.

So what’s missing? A girl. And yes, there is a girl. Several, in fact, but really, the only girl for John is his dead wife, Kathy. She has an impact on the story in a big way. And that’s all I’ve got to say about that.

Through most of the book, the other character drift in and out of the story and then die off. The story focuses on John exclusively and almost to its detriment. However, toward the end, it starts focusing on a core group of characters, especially one named Jane Sagan. She is a lieutenant in the ever-intriguing Ghost Brigades, the subject of the second novel in the series. (Which I read as well.)

One final thing–although this book is quite gritty, the gritty portions made me wince only because I was so taken with the main character. More importantly, the author did not overwhelm the story with grit� it is also full of humor and heart. I will be giving this novel a rare five stars at Amazon and GoodReads.
]]>
Nightingale (Bigtime, #4) 15760608
But Abby is afraid of what Talon will think when he can see the real her, so she conceals her identity from the sexy superhero, and they go their separate ways. However, Abby discovers that Talon is looking for Nightingale, looking for her—and so is Bandit. The mercenary ubervillain thinks that Abby has information that belongs to his boss, the mysterious Tycoon. Abby knows that she’s in serious trouble and that not even Talon—or the Fearless Five—may be able to save her …]]>
292 Jennifer Estep 0988423243 Tia 4
Sure enough, here it is!

Nightingale was a fun return to the land of Bigtime, New York. Bigtime is Estep’s version of New York City with a large cast of superheroes, ubervillians, and regular folk.

Abby Appleby is an event planner in Bigtime. Her events are the biggest, the best and the most lavish. She can meet any insane deadline, and can make real the most outlandish concept.

Except when ubervillians crash her parties. Which seemed to happen a lot in previous books.

By the time this book comes around, Abby has a bit of a complex, striving for the perfect event each time. After just pulling off an event that simultaneously announced an engagement and launched a new line of cosmetics, Abby is on the way home when she stumbles on a superhero battle that amazingly seemed to miss her event this time. She quickly discerns that the lone superhero is Talon, a gadget master who is fending off the Bandit and his band of thugs.

Bandit shoots Talon and sprays him with his blinding gas. Abby, a bit of a gadget master herself, whips out her cellphone and scares the bad guys off by playing her police siren ringtone. After they leave, Talon remains conscious long enough to refuse to be hospitalized, and then he passes out. Abby heaves the superhero home via an improvised sled made of a plastic bag and gumption, and nurses him back to health.

It’s the perfect scenario to fall in love.

The complications in this romance are mostly internal. Abby, determined to be as anonymous as Talon (he has a helm that shocks whoever tries to take it off), calls herself Wren, which reflects her own internal image of herself. He turns that around by calling her Nightingale, because of her beautiful singing voice and his own internal image of her that he has built up in his mind. Since she knows she is no beauty, this sobriquet does not entirely please her.

As they each try to get over their hang-ups, they naturally have to contend with the villains behind the Bandit attack. Which makes a perfect circle to the original makup-launch event from the start of the book. This time, Estep has improved her story by making her villains more difficult to guess. Everyone has alliterative names now, which means anyone can be a superhero or an ubervillain. I even suspected poor Piper Perez for a while, a beleaguered secretary who I think could be the subject of an upcoming book. But in the end, the ubervillain made perfect sense, which is just as it should be.

If you enjoyed the previous books in this series, Nightingale should be a great return to the world of Bigtime. If you have not read Karma Girl, Hot Mama or Jynx, it is not necessary to read them before reading this one, but you may want to read them afterward just for the sheer fun of it.]]>
3.88 2012 Nightingale (Bigtime, #4)
author: Jennifer Estep
name: Tia
average rating: 3.88
book published: 2012
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2013/02/13
shelves:
review:
Wow, I’ve been waiting for years to read this book. When I saw that Ms. Estep was re-releasing her other Bigtime books, I wondered if she would release Nightingale, which had been planned but never released.

Sure enough, here it is!

Nightingale was a fun return to the land of Bigtime, New York. Bigtime is Estep’s version of New York City with a large cast of superheroes, ubervillians, and regular folk.

Abby Appleby is an event planner in Bigtime. Her events are the biggest, the best and the most lavish. She can meet any insane deadline, and can make real the most outlandish concept.

Except when ubervillians crash her parties. Which seemed to happen a lot in previous books.

By the time this book comes around, Abby has a bit of a complex, striving for the perfect event each time. After just pulling off an event that simultaneously announced an engagement and launched a new line of cosmetics, Abby is on the way home when she stumbles on a superhero battle that amazingly seemed to miss her event this time. She quickly discerns that the lone superhero is Talon, a gadget master who is fending off the Bandit and his band of thugs.

Bandit shoots Talon and sprays him with his blinding gas. Abby, a bit of a gadget master herself, whips out her cellphone and scares the bad guys off by playing her police siren ringtone. After they leave, Talon remains conscious long enough to refuse to be hospitalized, and then he passes out. Abby heaves the superhero home via an improvised sled made of a plastic bag and gumption, and nurses him back to health.

It’s the perfect scenario to fall in love.

The complications in this romance are mostly internal. Abby, determined to be as anonymous as Talon (he has a helm that shocks whoever tries to take it off), calls herself Wren, which reflects her own internal image of herself. He turns that around by calling her Nightingale, because of her beautiful singing voice and his own internal image of her that he has built up in his mind. Since she knows she is no beauty, this sobriquet does not entirely please her.

As they each try to get over their hang-ups, they naturally have to contend with the villains behind the Bandit attack. Which makes a perfect circle to the original makup-launch event from the start of the book. This time, Estep has improved her story by making her villains more difficult to guess. Everyone has alliterative names now, which means anyone can be a superhero or an ubervillain. I even suspected poor Piper Perez for a while, a beleaguered secretary who I think could be the subject of an upcoming book. But in the end, the ubervillain made perfect sense, which is just as it should be.

If you enjoyed the previous books in this series, Nightingale should be a great return to the world of Bigtime. If you have not read Karma Girl, Hot Mama or Jynx, it is not necessary to read them before reading this one, but you may want to read them afterward just for the sheer fun of it.
]]>
Heart of the Dragon's Realm 15991199 142 Karalynn Lee 1426894554 Tia 4
On the way to the land of her husband-to-be, her party is attacked by soldiers from an enemy kingdom. However, Kimri manages to take their leader hostage, and he turns out to be Prince Herrol, the younger and disposable son of the enemy king.

You might think this develops into a love triangle, but once you meet the king of the Dragon Realm, King Tathan, you know Herrol is no threat to him. Tathan tells Kimri that he will court her for a year, and if she does not want to marry him at the end of that time, she is free to return to her kingdom with no penalty to her brother.

This is a long novella/short novel. It has a lot of twists, and characters do a lot of things you don’t expect, and they will probably do some things you won’t approve of, but never in an amoral way (except one villain). The writing is just beautiful, and the romance between Kimri and Tathan slow and mostly sweet. Tathan’s kingdom is idyllic and almost crime free–and you find out why in the end. It is a standalone story, and I enjoyed it very much.]]>
3.44 2012 Heart of the Dragon's Realm
author: Karalynn Lee
name: Tia
average rating: 3.44
book published: 2012
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2013/02/13
shelves:
review:
Heart of the Dragon’s Realm is a poignant tale of a young woman named Kimri who is traded into marriage by her brother, the king of their land. When she thinks to never forgive him, yet looks back to wave one last time, I knew I would like this character.

On the way to the land of her husband-to-be, her party is attacked by soldiers from an enemy kingdom. However, Kimri manages to take their leader hostage, and he turns out to be Prince Herrol, the younger and disposable son of the enemy king.

You might think this develops into a love triangle, but once you meet the king of the Dragon Realm, King Tathan, you know Herrol is no threat to him. Tathan tells Kimri that he will court her for a year, and if she does not want to marry him at the end of that time, she is free to return to her kingdom with no penalty to her brother.

This is a long novella/short novel. It has a lot of twists, and characters do a lot of things you don’t expect, and they will probably do some things you won’t approve of, but never in an amoral way (except one villain). The writing is just beautiful, and the romance between Kimri and Tathan slow and mostly sweet. Tathan’s kingdom is idyllic and almost crime free–and you find out why in the end. It is a standalone story, and I enjoyed it very much.
]]>
<![CDATA[Yesterday's Heroes (Boomers, #0.5)]]> 15831645 Codename: Halo
Abilities: superior reflexes, I.Q. and aptitude for calculating probabilities
Mission: find missing teammates

Rory knows she's being watched, and she's not about to let the hunter catch her in his trap. She'll confront her stalker, a man she suspects is involved in the disappearances of other superheroes—if she can ignore the sensual heat that fills her every time he's near...

Michael Hunter
Codename: Hard Target
Abilities: expert tracker and sniper
Mission: kill Rory Graystone

One of five desperate men sent back in time to save the future, Michael believes eliminating Rory is the key to his mission. But even as he takes aim, a split second of doubt causes him to miss his shot.

Drawn together by passion, and on a collision course with fate, can Rory and Michael work together to change the future? Or have they set in motion the horrific history the time travelers are trying to prevent?]]>
89 Heather Long 1426894368 Tia 3
Michael is the leader of a super team sent back in time to stop an event that makes the world the nightmare it has turned into. Rory is a super-something who specializes in calculating probabilities–sounds lame but she can manipulate those probabilities as well, resulting in super fighting abilities. The chemistry between Michael and Rory is so intense that his team suspects emotional manipulation–except Rory is affected as well.

This is a time travel story that has fun with the usual time travel paradoxes. I enjoyed it and will buy the next book in the series to see what the author is going to do with it. The move toward episodic stories intrigues me, so I’ll stay with this one for another book or two.

Recommended if you enjoy science fiction romance or fantasy romance.]]>
3.95 2012 Yesterday's Heroes (Boomers, #0.5)
author: Heather Long
name: Tia
average rating: 3.95
book published: 2012
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 2013/02/13
shelves:
review:
This episodic novella is the start of a new series from Heather Long. I enjoyed it but whew! I was not prepared by the cover or blurb for how very hawt it is. I should have been: when they say passionate, they mean it.

Michael is the leader of a super team sent back in time to stop an event that makes the world the nightmare it has turned into. Rory is a super-something who specializes in calculating probabilities–sounds lame but she can manipulate those probabilities as well, resulting in super fighting abilities. The chemistry between Michael and Rory is so intense that his team suspects emotional manipulation–except Rory is affected as well.

This is a time travel story that has fun with the usual time travel paradoxes. I enjoyed it and will buy the next book in the series to see what the author is going to do with it. The move toward episodic stories intrigues me, so I’ll stay with this one for another book or two.

Recommended if you enjoy science fiction romance or fantasy romance.
]]>
<![CDATA[Assassin's Apprentice (Farseer Trilogy, #1)]]> 77197
Born on the wrong side of the sheets, Fitz, son of Chivalry Farseer, is a royal bastard, cast out into the world, friendless and lonely. Only his magical link with animals - the old art known as the Wit - gives him solace and companionship. But the Wit, if used too often, is a perilous magic, and one abhorred by the nobility.

So when Fitz is finally adopted into the royal household, he must give up his old ways and embrace a new life of weaponry, scribing, courtly manners; and how to kill a man secretly, as he trains to become a royal assassin.]]>
435 Robin Hobb 055357339X Tia 5
I'm working on my review; I'll put it up after it goes live at FantasyLiterature.com.]]>
4.21 1995 Assassin's Apprentice (Farseer Trilogy, #1)
author: Robin Hobb
name: Tia
average rating: 4.21
book published: 1995
rating: 5
read at: 2009/10/04
date added: 2013/01/12
shelves:
review:
This book was so wonderful that it humbles me as an aspiring author.

I'm working on my review; I'll put it up after it goes live at FantasyLiterature.com.
]]>
<![CDATA[Along Came a Spider (Alex Cross, #1)]]> 13145
Gary Soneji wants to commit the crime of the century. Alex Cross is the brilliant homicide detective pitted against him. Jezzie Flanagan is the first female supervisor of the Secret Service. They complete one of the most unusual suspense triangles in any thriller you have ever read.

Alex and Jezzie are about to have a forbidden love affair—at the worst possible time for both of them. Because Gary Soneji is playing at the top of his game. The latest of the unspeakable crimes happens in Alex Cross's precinct and it happens under the nose of Jezzie and her men.

Alex faces the ultimate test: how do you outmaneuver a brilliant psychopath?]]>
449 James Patterson 0446692638 Tia 0 to-read 4.13 1993 Along Came a Spider (Alex Cross, #1)
author: James Patterson
name: Tia
average rating: 4.13
book published: 1993
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2012/12/01
shelves: to-read
review:

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<![CDATA[A Is for Alibi (Kinsey Millhone #1)]]> 64863
A IS FOR ACCUSED. That's why she draws desperate clients like Nikki Fife. Eight years ago, she was convicted of killing her philandering husband. Now she's out on parole and needs Kinsey's help to find the real killer. But after all this time, clearing Nikki's bad name won't be easy.

A IS FOR ALIBI. If there's one thing that makes Kinsey Millhone feel alive, it's playing on the edge. When her investigation turns up a second corpse, more suspects, and a new reason to kill, Kinsey discovers that the edge is closer--and sharper--than she imagined.]]>
308 Sue Grafton 0312938993 Tia 0 to-read 3.87 1982 A Is for Alibi (Kinsey Millhone #1)
author: Sue Grafton
name: Tia
average rating: 3.87
book published: 1982
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2012/12/01
shelves: to-read
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<![CDATA[Royal Street (Sentinels of New Orleans, #1)]]> 12009478
Then Hurricane Katrina hammers New Orleans� fragile levees, unleashing more than just dangerous flood waters.

While winds howled and Lake Pontchartrain surged, the borders between the modern city and the Otherworld crumbled. Now, the undead and the restless are roaming the Big Easy, and a serial killer with ties to voodoo is murdering the soldiers sent to help the city recover.

To make it worse, Gerry has gone missing, the wizards� Elders have assigned a grenade-toting assassin as DJ’s new partner, and undead pirate Jean Lafitte wants to make her walk his plank. The search for Gerry and for the serial killer turns personal when DJ learns the hard way that loyalty requires sacrifice, allies come from the unlikeliest places, and duty mixed with love creates one bitter gumbo.]]>
336 Suzanne Johnson 0765327791 Tia 3 3.67 2012 Royal Street (Sentinels of New Orleans, #1)
author: Suzanne Johnson
name: Tia
average rating: 3.67
book published: 2012
rating: 3
read at: 2012/12/01
date added: 2012/12/01
shelves:
review:

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<![CDATA[The Magic Mirror and the Seventh Dwarf (Accidental Enchantments, #2)]]> 16193019
Prince Richard is cursed. Enslaved to a magic mirror, he must truthfully answer the evil queen when she uses it to call on him. To keep from betraying innocents, Richard wanders the countryside and avoids people.

All her life, Gretchen has been teased for being small. When she hears of a hidden farm populated by little people like her, she sets out to find it—and is welcomed by the mostly male inhabitants. Lars in particular woos her with his gentle kindness and quiet strength.

Danger looms when Gretchen meets a runaway princess and offers her shelter at the Little Farm. Wandering nearby, Richard instantly falls in love with the beautiful princess, and is later compelled to tell the queen that she is not the fairest of them all. Enraged, the queen vows to find them and destroy them.

If either Gretchen or Richard are to have their happy endings, they must team up to break the mirror's spell before the queen kills them all�

For another fairy tale retelling from Tia Nevitt, check out The Sevenfold Spell, available now!

43,000 words]]>
131 Tia Nevitt 1426895100 Tia 0 authored 3.62 2013 The Magic Mirror and the Seventh Dwarf (Accidental Enchantments, #2)
author: Tia Nevitt
name: Tia
average rating: 3.62
book published: 2013
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2012/12/01
shelves: authored
review:

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<![CDATA[Secrets of a Wedding Night (Secret Brides, #1)]]> 13326606 How to Stop a Wedding

Young, widowed, and penniless, Lily Andrews, the Countess of Merrill,has strong opinions on marriage. When she spots a certain engagement announcement in The Times, she decides to take action. She will not allow another hapless girl to fall prey to a man—particularly the scoundrel who broke her heart five years ago. Anonymously she writes and distributes a pamphlet entitled “Secrets of a Wedding Night,� knowing it will find its way into his intended’s innocent hands�

How to Seduce a Widow

Devon Morgan, the Marquis of Colton, desires a good wife and mother to his son—someone completely unlike Lily Andrews, the heartless beauty who led him on a merry chase five years ago only to reject him. When Devon’s new fiancée cries off after reading a certain scandalous pamphlet, he vows to track down the author and make her pay. But when he learns it’s his former fiancée Lily, he issues a challenge: write a retraction or prepare to be seduced—to find out how wonderful a wedding night can be…]]>
334 Valerie Bowman 1250008956 Tia 4 3.76 2012 Secrets of a Wedding Night (Secret Brides, #1)
author: Valerie Bowman
name: Tia
average rating: 3.76
book published: 2012
rating: 4
read at: 2012/11/01
date added: 2012/11/01
shelves:
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<![CDATA[No Money Down (Lexi Carmichael Mystery, #0.5)]]> 13577439
My best friend Basia dragged me to the beach for her idea of a vacation. All those annoying people, sand in embarrassing places--not exactly R & R for a girl who doesn't like the sun, the ocean or bathing suits. I couldn't wait to get back to work.

But things started looking up when I ran into Elvis and Xavier Zimmerman. We discovered we had a lot in common: gaming, anchovies, hacking. After that, the vacation was perfect--until I accidentally broke some poor guy's fingers. Then Broken-Fingered Guy disappeared, and things got really dicey. With the Secret Service and a bunch of thugs suddenly after me, all I wanted was to solve the mystery and enjoy what was left of my vacation--preferably alive.

Prequel to No One Lives Twice.

26,000 words]]>
110 Julie Moffett Tia 4 4.25 2012 No Money Down (Lexi Carmichael Mystery, #0.5)
author: Julie Moffett
name: Tia
average rating: 4.25
book published: 2012
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2012/09/26
shelves:
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<![CDATA[The Ghost Brigades (Old Man's War, #2)]]> 239399
The universe is a dangerous place for humanity—and it's about to become far more dangerous. Three races that humans have clashed with before have allied to halt our expansion into space. Their linchpin: the turncoat military scientist Charles Boutin, who knows the CDF’s biggest military secrets. To prevail, the CDF must find out why Boutin did what he did.

Jared Dirac is the only human who can provide answers -- a superhuman hybrid, created from Boutin's DNA, Jared’s brain should be able to access Boutin's electronic memories. But when the memory transplant appears to fail, Jared is given to the Ghost Brigades.

At first, Jared is a perfect soldier, but as Boutin’s memories slowly surface, Jared begins to intuit the reason’s for Boutin’s betrayal. As Jared desperately hunts for his "father," he must also come to grips with his own choices. Time is running out: The alliance is preparing its offensive, and some of them plan worse things than humanity’s mere military defeat…]]>
343 John Scalzi 0765354063 Tia 4 4.10 2006 The Ghost Brigades (Old Man's War, #2)
author: John Scalzi
name: Tia
average rating: 4.10
book published: 2006
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2012/09/26
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Sprig Muslin 32107 268 Georgette Heyer 0099476355 Tia 4 3.78 1956 Sprig Muslin
author: Georgette Heyer
name: Tia
average rating: 3.78
book published: 1956
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2012/09/26
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The Grand Sophy 261689 328 Georgette Heyer 0099465639 Tia 3 4.14 1950 The Grand Sophy
author: Georgette Heyer
name: Tia
average rating: 4.14
book published: 1950
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 2012/09/26
shelves:
review:

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<![CDATA[The Crown Conspiracy (The Riyria Revelations, #1)]]> 4345290 They killed the king. They pinned it on two men. They chose poorly.

There is no ancient evil to defeat, no orphan destined for greatness, just two guys in the wrong place at the wrong time. Royce Melborn, a skilled thief, and his mercenary partner, Hadrian Blackwater make a profitable living carrying out dangerous assignments for conspiring nobles until they become the unwitting scapegoats in a plot to murder the king. Sentenced to death, they have only one way out...and so begins this tale of treachery and adventure, sword fighting and magic, myth and legend.]]>
296 Michael J. Sullivan 0980003431 Tia 3 4.21 2008 The Crown Conspiracy (The Riyria Revelations, #1)
author: Michael J. Sullivan
name: Tia
average rating: 4.21
book published: 2008
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 2012/08/19
shelves:
review:

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Wish by a Hazel Tree 10889365
Fayette is twelve years old and is recovering from a recent accident that has left her with a lifelong limp. The last thing she wants is to hear the news that her widowed father wants to marry her lovely young aunt.

When she goes out into the back garden and makes a frivolous wish, she never expects it to actually come true.

This story takes place about twelve years before the events in MISCHIEF AT THE PRINCE'S BALL.]]>
17 Tia Nevitt Tia 0 authored 5.00 Wish by a Hazel Tree
author: Tia Nevitt
name: Tia
average rating: 5.00
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2012/04/14
shelves: authored
review:

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<![CDATA[Once Upon a Gas Tank (Petroleum Sunset, #1)]]> 13512860
Then, Joel decides to join the gang and rips a hole right out of Ty’s heart. “Once Upon a Gas Tank� is a short tale about two brothers in a world where progress is stuck in reverse.]]>
18 Tia Nevitt 1476390258 Tia 0 authored 5.00 2012 Once Upon a Gas Tank (Petroleum Sunset, #1)
author: Tia Nevitt
name: Tia
average rating: 5.00
book published: 2012
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2012/04/14
shelves: authored
review:

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The Sacred Band (Acacia, #3) 10251958 Acacia and The Other Lands, David Anthony Durham created a vast and engrossing canvas of a world in turmoil, and of the surviving children of a royal dynasty on quests to realize their fates � and perhaps right ancient wrongs once and for all. As The Sacred Band begins, one of them, Queen Corinn, bestrides the world with her mastery of spells found in "The Song of Elenet". Her younger brother, Dariel, becomes a mythic figure in the Other Lands, while her sister Mena travels to the far north to confront an invasion from a brutal race intent on conquering the Known World. Their separate trajectories will converge in tumultuous battles, all rendered with vivid detail and in heroic scale.

]]>
559 David Anthony Durham 0307739686 Tia 0 to-read 3.84 2011 The Sacred Band (Acacia, #3)
author: David Anthony Durham
name: Tia
average rating: 3.84
book published: 2011
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2012/04/14
shelves: to-read
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<![CDATA[Quarter Square (Wild Times, #1)]]> 11456206
In the haven known as Quarter Square, Joe encounters a community of supernatural street performers who straddle the mortal world and the magic realm known as the Wild. Here, Joe finds a sense of belonging he's never known before—and a chance to uncover the truth behind the frightening visions that have haunted him since childhood. He also meets Min, an enchanting singer who quickly captures his heart.

But as Joe settles into Quarter Square, he learns their haven is under attack, while an ancient enemy threatens to tear him and Min apart. Now, Joe must learn to wield his own powers in order to save the life he's come to love...

47,000 words]]>
212 David Bridger 1426891822 Tia 0 to-read 3.47 2011 Quarter Square (Wild Times, #1)
author: David Bridger
name: Tia
average rating: 3.47
book published: 2011
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2012/04/14
shelves: to-read
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<![CDATA[Spider’s Revenge (Elemental Assassin, #5)]]> 10290243
Killing used to be my reg­u­lar gig, after all. Gin Blanco, aka the Spi­der, assassin-for-hire. And I was very good at it. Now, I’m ready to make the one hit that truly mat­ters: Mab Mon­roe, the dan­ger­ous Fire ele­men­tal who mur­dered my fam­ily when I was thir­teen.

Oh, I don’t think the mis­sion will be easy, but turns out it’s a bit more prob­lem­atic than expected. The bitch knows I’m com­ing for her. So now I’m up against the army of lethal bounty hunters she hired to track me down. She also put a price on my baby sister’s head. Keep­ing Bria safe is my first pri­or­ity. Tak­ing Mab out is a close sec­ond.

Good thing I’ve got my pow­er­ful Stone and Ice magic � and my irre­sistible lover Owen Grayson � to watch my back. This bat­tle has been years in the mak­ing, and there’s a chance I won’t sur­vive. But if I’m going down, then Mab’s com­ing with me...no mat­ter what I have to do to make that happen.]]>
400 Jennifer Estep 1439192669 Tia 4 4.19 2011 Spider’s Revenge (Elemental Assassin, #5)
author: Jennifer Estep
name: Tia
average rating: 4.19
book published: 2011
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2012/04/08
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<![CDATA[Eon: Dragoneye Reborn (Eon, #1)]]> 2986865
Swordplay, dragon magic--and a hero with a desperate secret

Twelve-year-old Eon has been in training for years. His intensive study of Dragon Magic, based on East Asian astrology, involves two kinds of skills: sword-work and magical aptitude. He and his master hope that he will be chosen as a Dragoneye--an apprentice to one of the twelve energy dragons of good fortune.

But Eon has a dangerous secret. He is actually Eona, a sixteen-year-old girl who has been masquerading as a boy for the chance to become a Dragoneye. Females are forbidden to use Dragon Magic; if anyone discovers she has been hiding in plain sight, her death is assured.

When Eon's secret threatens to come to light, she and her allies are plunged into grave danger and a deadly struggle for the Imperial throne. Eon must find the strength and inner power to battle those who want to take her magic...and her life.]]>
531 Alison Goodman 0670062278 Tia 4 3.96 2008 Eon: Dragoneye Reborn (Eon, #1)
author: Alison Goodman
name: Tia
average rating: 3.96
book published: 2008
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2012/01/02
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<![CDATA[The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (Millennium #1)]]> 2429135
An international publishing sensation, Stieg Larsson’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo combines murder mystery, family saga, love story, and financial intrigue into one satisfyingly complex and entertainingly atmospheric novel.]]>
480 Stieg Larsson 0670069019 Tia 3 4.17 2005 The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (Millennium #1)
author: Stieg Larsson
name: Tia
average rating: 4.17
book published: 2005
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 2012/01/02
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Trance (MetaWars, #1) 9414014 Kelly Meding’s war-ravaged Los Angeles is ground zero for the ultimate Meta human showdown in this sexy, action-packed new series.

Fifteen years ago, Teresa “Trance� West was a skilled telepath and a proud member of the Ranger Corps. But ever since the Rangers were inexplicably rendered powerless at the climax of the devastating Meta War, she’s bounced from one dead-end job to another. Now her powers have reappeared just as mysteriously as they vanished� only they’re completely transformed and more potent than ever. And they’re threatening to destroy her.

Trance heads to Los Angeles to track down the surviving Rangers and discover who restored her powers—and why—but a phantom enemy is determined to kill them before they can reassemble. As they dodge his deadly attacks and come to terms with their new role as heroes, Trance and the rest of the team set out to annihilate the sinister madman... only to discover their own powers are his greatest weapons.]]>
418 Kelly Meding 1451620926 Tia 4 3.52 2011 Trance (MetaWars, #1)
author: Kelly Meding
name: Tia
average rating: 3.52
book published: 2011
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2012/01/02
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<![CDATA[Prospero Regained (Prospero's Daughter, #3)]]> 9111100

Prospero, the sorcerer on whose island of exile William Shakespeare set his play, The Tempest, has endured these past many centuries. His daughter Miranda runs the family business, Prospero, Inc. so smoothly that the vast majority of humanity has no idea that the Prosperos� magic has protected Earth from numerous disasters. But Prospero himself has been kidnapped by demons from Hell, and Miranda, aided by her siblings, has followed her father into Hell to save him from a certain doom at the hands of vengeful demons. Time is running out for Miranda, and for the great magician himself. Their battle against the most terrifying forces of the Pit is a great fantasy adventure.

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476 L. Jagi Lamplighter 0765319314 Tia 4 3.87 2011 Prospero Regained (Prospero's Daughter, #3)
author: L. Jagi Lamplighter
name: Tia
average rating: 3.87
book published: 2011
rating: 4
read at: 2011/12/24
date added: 2011/12/24
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<![CDATA[Killashandra (Crystal Singer, #2)]]> 238961 The second in a mesmeric trilogy that runs the gamut of human experience and emotion from Anne McCaffrey, storyteller extraordinare and New York Times and Sunday Times bestselling author. Perfect for fans of David Eddings, Brandon Sanderson and Douglas Adams.

'Anne McCaffrey, one of the queens of science fiction, knows exactly how to give her public what it wants' - THE TIMES

'Storytelling at its best' -- Reader review
'It's Anne Mccaffrey - always 5 star!' -- Reader review
'Classic Sci Fi that just hasn't aged' -- Reader review
'A real page-turner' -- Reader review
***
She was one of the Crystal Singers, the élite, mysterious ones, who cut the crystals from the planet Ballybran - precious glittering crystals without which the universe could not function.

Sent to the planet of Optheria to repair the famous crystal organ, she was - at first - accorded all the honour and pomp due to her rank. Then her life became threatened and she found herself isolated at the very heart of the planet, knowing that she alone had the power to confront and destroy the evil that had permeated the world of Optheria.

Would she be able to find the strength she needed?]]>
384 Anne McCaffrey 0345316002 Tia 3 4.04 1985 Killashandra (Crystal Singer, #2)
author: Anne McCaffrey
name: Tia
average rating: 4.04
book published: 1985
rating: 3
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date added: 2011/11/27
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<![CDATA[The Return of the King (The Lord of the Rings, #3)]]> 18512 here.

The Companions of the Ring have become involved in separate adventures as the quest continues. Aragorn, revealed as the hidden heir of the ancient Kings of the West, joined with the Riders of Rohan against the forces of Isengard, and took part in the desperate victory of the Hornburg. Merry and Pippin, captured by Orcs, escaped into Fangorn Forest and there encountered the Ents. Gandalf returned, miraculously, and defeated the evil wizard, Saruman. Meanwhile, Sam and Frodo progressed towards Mordor to destroy the Ring, accompanied by SmEagol--Gollum, still obsessed by his 'precious'. After a battle with the giant spider, Shelob, Sam left his master for dead; but Frodo is still alive--in the hands of the Orcs. And all the time the armies of the Dark Lord are massing. J.R.R. Tolkien's great work of imaginative fiction has been labeled both a heroic romance and a classic fantasy fiction. By turns comic and homely, epic and diabolic, the narrative moves through countless changes of scene and character in an imaginary world which is totally convincing in its detail.]]>
404 J.R.R. Tolkien Tia 3 4.54 1955 The Return of the King (The Lord of the Rings, #3)
author: J.R.R. Tolkien
name: Tia
average rating: 4.54
book published: 1955
rating: 3
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date added: 2011/11/27
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<![CDATA[The Two Towers (The Lord of the Rings, #2)]]> 15241
Frodo and his Companions of the Ring have been beset by danger during their quest to prevent the Ruling Ring from falling into the hands of the Dark Lord by destroying it in the Cracks of Doom. They have lost the wizard, Gandalf, in a battle in the Mines of Moria. And Boromir, seduced by the power of the Ring, tried to seize it by force. While Frodo and Sam made their escape, the rest of the company was attacked by Orcs.

Now they continue the journey alone down the great River Anduin -- alone, that is, save for the mysterious creeping figure that follows wherever they go.]]>
322 J.R.R. Tolkien 0618346260 Tia 3 4.45 1954 The Two Towers (The Lord of the Rings, #2)
author: J.R.R. Tolkien
name: Tia
average rating: 4.45
book published: 1954
rating: 3
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date added: 2011/11/27
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<![CDATA[The Fellowship of the Ring (The Lord of the Rings, #1)]]> 34
One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkeness bind them

In ancient times the Rings of Power were crafted by the Elven-smiths, and Sauron, The Dark Lord, forged the One Ring, filling it with his own power so that he could rule all others. But the One Ring was taken from him, and though he sought it throughout Middle-earth, it remained lost to him. After many ages it fell into the hands of Bilbo Baggins, as told in The Hobbit.

In a sleepy village in the Shire, young Frodo Baggins finds himself faced with an immense task, as his elderly cousin Bilbo entrusts the Ring to his care. Frodo must leave his home and make a perilous journey across Middle-earth to the Cracks of Doom, there to destroy the Ring and foil the Dark Lord in his evil purpose.
--back cover]]>
398 J.R.R. Tolkien 0618346252 Tia 4 4.36 1954 The Fellowship of the Ring (The Lord of the Rings, #1)
author: J.R.R. Tolkien
name: Tia
average rating: 4.36
book published: 1954
rating: 4
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date added: 2011/11/27
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<![CDATA[The Hobbit, or There and Back Again]]> 5907 Written for J.R.R. Tolkien’s own children, The Hobbit met with instant critical acclaim when it was first published in 1937. Now recognized as a timeless classic, this introduction to the hobbit Bilbo Baggins, the wizard Gandalf, Gollum, and the spectacular world of Middle-earth recounts of the adventures of a reluctant hero, a powerful and dangerous ring, and the cruel dragon Smaug the Magnificent. The text in this 372-page paperback edition is based on that first published in Great Britain by Collins Modern Classics (1998), and includes a note on the text by Douglas A. Anderson (2001).]]> 366 J.R.R. Tolkien Tia 5 4.29 1937 The Hobbit, or There and Back Again
author: J.R.R. Tolkien
name: Tia
average rating: 4.29
book published: 1937
rating: 5
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date added: 2011/11/27
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<![CDATA[Crystal Singer (Crystal Singer #1)]]> 1243487
Her name was Killashandra Ree; and after ten grueling years of musical training she was young, beautiful—and still without prospects.

Then she heard of the mysterious Heptite Guild on the planet Ballybran, where the fabled Black Crystal was found.

For those qualified, the Guild was said to provide careers, security, and the chance for wealth beyond imagining. The problem was, few people who landed on Ballybran ever left.

To Killashandra the risks were acceptable . . .]]>
311 Anne McCaffrey 0345285980 Tia 4 3.95 1982 Crystal Singer (Crystal Singer #1)
author: Anne McCaffrey
name: Tia
average rating: 3.95
book published: 1982
rating: 4
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date added: 2011/11/27
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<![CDATA[Crystal Line (Crystal Singer, #3)]]> 61970 LOCUS
When Killashandra Ree joined the mysterious Heptite Guild, she knew that she would be forever changed. Crystal singing brought ecstasy and pain, near-eternal life...and gradual loss of memory. What she hadn't counted on was the loneliness she felt when her heart still remembered what her mind had forgotten. Fortunately, someone still cared enough to try to salvage what was left of Killashandra's mind. But she would have to learn to open herself--to another person, and to all her unpleasant memories.]]>
294 Anne McCaffrey 0517128128 Tia 3 4.01 1994 Crystal Line (Crystal Singer, #3)
author: Anne McCaffrey
name: Tia
average rating: 4.01
book published: 1994
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 2011/11/27
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The Nonesuch 32110
While there, he meets Tiffany Wield, a positively dazzling young heiress who is entirely selfish and possessed of a frightful temper, as well as her far more elegant companion-governess. Twenty-eight year old Ancilla Trent had put away any and all thoughts of romance when she became a governess, and at first she could only be amused at the fuss over Sir Waldo. Can Sir Waldo convince the practical Miss Trent that it is not above her station as a governess to fall in love with him?]]>
320 Georgette Heyer 0099474387 Tia 3 4.03 1962 The Nonesuch
author: Georgette Heyer
name: Tia
average rating: 4.03
book published: 1962
rating: 3
read at: 2011/11/05
date added: 2011/11/05
shelves:
review:
Good story marred by a character misunderstanding that smacked of authorial convenience. Hero too perfect. Even Darcy had flaws! Waldo's only flaw was having "Waldo" for a name. I really liked the heroine, Ancilla, but she managed her badly behaved charge, Tiffany, so poorly that she would be a hopeless mother.
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Cotillion 311165
Such was the whimsical, some would say outrageous, statement of the ageing Mr Penicuik, to the three of his great-nephews gathered around him.

The future of his vivacious step-daughter, Miss Kitty Charing, was thus assured, provided she married one of the handsome beaux now seeking her hand. But Kitty was in no hurry to conclude such a contract. By hook or by crook she meant to go to London, where anything might happen and very often did...]]>
416 Georgette Heyer 0061001783 Tia 4 4.03 1953 Cotillion
author: Georgette Heyer
name: Tia
average rating: 4.03
book published: 1953
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2011/10/23
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review:

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<![CDATA[The Twisted Tale of Stormy Gale (Stormy Gale, #1)]]> 10639241
I'm a time pirate—born in 1810, now a 21st-century woman. I travel through time trying to right wrongs without disrupting the fragile balance between what is and what can never be.

That's why it's vital that I go to 1836 and find the man who conned my brother out of his Time Travel Mechanism as quickly as possible. If the technology falls into the wrong hands, it could change the world as we know it. The notorious Duke of Leister definitely qualifies as the wrong hands. An amateur scientist of the slightly mad variety, he's bound to figure out how to use the TTM sooner rather than later.

I knew this wouldn't be easy. But I wasn't counting on him being as sexy as hell. Or winding up chained to his bed...]]>
83 Christine Bell 1426891520 Tia 4 3.58 2011 The Twisted Tale of Stormy Gale (Stormy Gale, #1)
author: Christine Bell
name: Tia
average rating: 3.58
book published: 2011
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2011/10/14
shelves:
review:

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<![CDATA[Touch of Frost (Mythos Academy, #1)]]> 9439989 384 Jennifer Estep 0758266928 Tia 4 3.94 2011 Touch of Frost (Mythos Academy, #1)
author: Jennifer Estep
name: Tia
average rating: 3.94
book published: 2011
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2011/08/21
shelves:
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The Wet Nurse's Tale 6609028 A debut novel set in Victorian England with a delightfully cheeky heroine who will have everyone talking. Susan Rose is not your average Victorian heroine. She's promiscuous, lovable, plump, and scheming. Luckily for Susan, her big heart is covered by an equally big bosom, and her bosom is her fortune- for Susan becomes a professional wet nurse, like her mother before her, and she makes it her business to know all the intrigues and scandals that the upper crust would prefer to keep to themselves. When her own child is caught up in a family scandal, Susan must use all of her street smarts to rescue her baby from the powerful mistress of the house. The scheme she weaves is bold and daring, and could spell ruin if she fails-but Susan Rose has no intention of failing.]]> 284 Erica Eisdorfer 1101108967 Tia 3 3.88 2009 The Wet Nurse's Tale
author: Erica Eisdorfer
name: Tia
average rating: 3.88
book published: 2009
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 2011/08/21
shelves:
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<![CDATA[The Case of the Missing Servant (Vish Puri, #1)]]> 6316205
In hot and dusty Delhi, where call centers and malls are changing the ancient fabric of Indian life, Puri’s main work comes from screening prospective marriage partners, a job once the preserve of aunties and family priests. But when an honest public litigator is accused of murdering his maidservant, it takes all of Puri’s resources to investigate. With his team of undercover operatives—Tubelight, Flush, and Facecream—Puri combines modern techniques with principles of detection established in India more than two thousand years ago, and reveals modern India in all its seething complexity.]]>
311 Tarquin Hall 0771038259 Tia 3 3.74 2009 The Case of the Missing Servant (Vish Puri, #1)
author: Tarquin Hall
name: Tia
average rating: 3.74
book published: 2009
rating: 3
read at: 2011/08/21
date added: 2011/08/21
shelves:
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<![CDATA[Master and Apprentice (Gavyn Donatti, #2)]]> 8528363
Luck has never been on Gavyn Donatti’s side. Anyone else with magic abilities inherited from a distant genie relative would have it made, but not Donatti, descendant of a cranky, shape-shifting genie named Ian. The prince of a murdered kingdom, consumed with revenge and driven by an unbreakable curse, Ian is determined to hunt down and destroy every last one of his enemies in the power-hungry snake clan—at any cost, including his life. Or Donatti’s.

Obsessed by his own rage, Ian has never really taught Donatti how to use his abilities. So when a powerful cult of magic-users captures Ian’s wife, the princess Akila, and then Ian himself, Donatti is left alone to take on dozens of half-djinn and their mysterious leader with designs on world domination.

Facing an impossible mission, Donatti is forced to turn to an enemy for help—one who claims to know how to unlock his true potential. Trusting a snake might be the last mistake Donatti ever makes—but if he doesn’t learn to wield the power inside him, everyone will pay the ultimate price.]]>
416 Sonya Bateman 1439160856 Tia 0 to-read 3.88 2011 Master and Apprentice (Gavyn Donatti, #2)
author: Sonya Bateman
name: Tia
average rating: 3.88
book published: 2011
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2011/08/06
shelves: to-read
review:

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<![CDATA[First Frost (Mythos Academy, #0.5)]]> 11763146
My gift makes me kind of nosy. Okay, okay, maybe a lot nosy--to the point of obsession sometimes. I want to know everything about everyone around me. But even I don't want to know the secrets my friend Paige is hiding or the terrible loss that will send me to a new school � Mythos Academy, where the teachers aren't preparing us for the SATs, but to battle Reapers of Chaos. Now I have no friends and no idea how my gift fits in with all these warrior whiz kids. The only thing I do know is that my life is never, ever going to be the same. . .]]>
33 Jennifer Estep 0758275072 Tia 0 to-read 3.75 2011 First Frost (Mythos Academy, #0.5)
author: Jennifer Estep
name: Tia
average rating: 3.75
book published: 2011
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2011/08/03
shelves: to-read
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<![CDATA[Little House on the Prairie (Little House, #3)]]> 77767
Pa Ingalls decides to sell the little log house, and the family sets out for Indian country! They travel from Wisconsin to Kansas, and there, finally, Pa builds their little house on the prairie. Sometimes farm life is difficult, even dangerous, but Laura and her family are kept busy and are happy with the promise of their new life on the prairie.

LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE is the second book in the Laura Years series.
--back cover]]>
335 Laura Ingalls Wilder Tia 5 4.21 1935 Little House on the Prairie (Little House, #3)
author: Laura Ingalls Wilder
name: Tia
average rating: 4.21
book published: 1935
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2011/07/01
shelves:
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<![CDATA[No One to Trust (Lexi Carmichael Mystery, #2)]]> 11381344
That’s me, Lexi Carmichael, a reformed hacker who was gainfully employed by the National Security Agency. But a series of extraordinary events led me to leave government life behind for a fresh start with a brand-new company and an incredibly sexy boss, Finn Shaughnessy. It may not be kosher to have the hots for your boss, but he seems to have the hots for me, too. If only things didn’t get so complicated�

Darren Greening, a genius researcher from Flow Technologies (our first client!) is missing, and his bosses think I’m involved. And they aren’t the only ones—the man who nearly snapped my neck in the parking garage thinks so, too.

Now I’m caught in the middle of a complex and dangerous case. I’ll have to use all my geek skills and a little help from my friends to solve the mystery of Darren’s disappearance before Neck-Snapping-Man makes a return visit…]]>
Julie Moffett Tia 4
In this novel, Lexi is working for Finn, and their first client wants them to do something that's more like private detection than computer security. In the meantime, Finn has asked Lexi on an official date, and it's probably the worst date you could imagine. Just when you think it has gotten too awful, it gets even more so.

Lexi does get to exercise some of her hacking skills in this story, rather than relying on her twin hacking friends Elvis and Xavier from the first story. It was a needed change; I felt like Lexi relied too much on others in the first story.

Some fun speculations: I don't think Finn is the man for her. Neither is Slash. It's Elvis. When she's with Elvis, she doesn't have to worry about her sexual maturity or lack thereof, there is never any embarrassing catastrophe, and they even have some nice chemistry. Finn's a nice guy (and bravo for the author for coming up with so many appealing men), I just don't think he's the guy for her.

Neither do I have any special insights, so I'll look forward to the next story to see what tortures the author devises next!]]>
4.13 2011 No One to Trust (Lexi Carmichael Mystery, #2)
author: Julie Moffett
name: Tia
average rating: 4.13
book published: 2011
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2011/07/01
shelves:
review:
This book was SO MUCH FUN. Poor Lexi! The author puts her through so much hell! I laughed so much, and I've never read such a raunchy book that could also be considered a "sweet" romance.

In this novel, Lexi is working for Finn, and their first client wants them to do something that's more like private detection than computer security. In the meantime, Finn has asked Lexi on an official date, and it's probably the worst date you could imagine. Just when you think it has gotten too awful, it gets even more so.

Lexi does get to exercise some of her hacking skills in this story, rather than relying on her twin hacking friends Elvis and Xavier from the first story. It was a needed change; I felt like Lexi relied too much on others in the first story.

Some fun speculations: I don't think Finn is the man for her. Neither is Slash. It's Elvis. When she's with Elvis, she doesn't have to worry about her sexual maturity or lack thereof, there is never any embarrassing catastrophe, and they even have some nice chemistry. Finn's a nice guy (and bravo for the author for coming up with so many appealing men), I just don't think he's the guy for her.

Neither do I have any special insights, so I'll look forward to the next story to see what tortures the author devises next!
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True Believers 9318262
Taelen Jessit, an alien emissary on a mission sanctioned by the U.S. government is searching for his peoples' ancient gods. His hunt leads him to a dig headed by archeologist Rachel Cruz. When his military entourage forces Rachel’s team out of the cave they were exploring, a flash flood hits the riverbed and Rachel is swept into the deluge.

Taelen rescues Rachel and they wash up on a forbidding alcove where he witnesses the miraculous healing of Rachel’s broken ankle. Now he is certain the gods are here. He is inexplicably drawn to her, and she to him.

Rachel is not a god, but a Nephilim, and she needs more than a miracle. She needs the technology Taelen can provide to help her find and destroy the god-killer, a weapon so precise and powerful, it will mean the genocide of an entire species. She’s given Taelen her heart, but can she trust him with her secret?]]>
422 Maria Zannini 1426890672 Tia 0 to-read 3.76 2010 True Believers
author: Maria Zannini
name: Tia
average rating: 3.76
book published: 2010
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2011/06/17
shelves: to-read
review:

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<![CDATA[Steam & Sorcery (Gaslight Chronicles, #1)]]> 10563572 212 Cindy Spencer Pape 1426891288 Tia 0 to-read 3.67 2011 Steam & Sorcery (Gaslight Chronicles, #1)
author: Cindy Spencer Pape
name: Tia
average rating: 3.67
book published: 2011
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2011/06/17
shelves: to-read
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<![CDATA[Photographs & Phantoms (Gaslight Chronicles #1.5)]]> 11041073 91 Cindy Spencer Pape Tia 0 to-read 3.52 2011 Photographs & Phantoms (Gaslight Chronicles #1.5)
author: Cindy Spencer Pape
name: Tia
average rating: 3.52
book published: 2011
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2011/06/17
shelves: to-read
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<![CDATA[The Red Wolf Conspiracy (Chathrand Voyages, #1)]]> 6001686
The Imperial Merchant Ship Chathrand is the last of her kind. Six hundred years old, the secrets of her construction long forgotten, the massive vessel dwarfs every other sailing craft in the world. It is a palace with sails, a floating outpost of the Empire of Arqual. And it is on its most vital mission to deliver a young woman whose marriage will seal the peace between Arqual and its mortal enemy, the secretive Mzithrin Empire. But the young woman in question-Thasha, the daughter of the Arquali ambassador-has no intention of going meekly to the altar. For the ship's true mission is not peace but war-a war that threatens to unleash an ancient, all-consuming evil.

As the dark conspiracy at the heart of the voyage unfurls, Pazel Pathkendle, a lowly tarboy with an uncanny gift, will find himself in an unlikely alliance with Thasha and her HercĂłl, a valet who is more than he appears; Dri, the queen of a race of tiny stowaways who have their own plans for the great ship; and Ramachni, a powerful sorcerer from another world. Arrayed against them are the Chathrand's brutal captain, Nilus Rose; the Emperor's spymaster and chief assassin, Sandor Ott; and the enigmatic Dr. Chadfallow, a longtime friend to Pazel's family whose kind words may hide a vicious betrayal.

As the Chathrand navigates treacherous waters to complete its mission, Pazel, Thasha, and their allies-including a singularly heroic rat-must also navigate a treacherous web of intrigue to uncover the secret of the legendary Red Wolf.]]>
450 Robert V.S. Redick 0345508831 Tia 4 3.65 2008 The Red Wolf Conspiracy (Chathrand Voyages, #1)
author: Robert V.S. Redick
name: Tia
average rating: 3.65
book published: 2008
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2011/06/17
shelves:
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The Other Lands (Acacia, #2) 6077427 The Song of Elenet and she dotes on her young son, Aaden � Hanish's child � raising him to be her successor. Mena Akaran, still the warrior princess she became fighting the eagle goddess Maeben, has been battling the monsters released by the Santoth's corrupted magic. In her hunt she discovers a creature wholly unexpected, one that awakens emotions in her she has long suppressed. And Dariel Akaran, once a brigand of the Outer Isles, has devoted his labors to rebuilding the ravaged empire brick by brick. Each of the Akaran royals is finding his or her way in the postwar world. But the queen's peace is difficult to maintain, and things are about to change.

When the league brings news of upheavals in the Other Lands, Corinn sends Dariel across the Gray Slopes as her emissary. From the moment he sets foot on that distant continent, he finds a chaotic swirl of treachery, ancient grudges, intrigue, and exoticism. He comes face-to-face with the slaves his empire has long sold into bondage. His arrival ignites a firestorm that once more puts the Known World in threat of invasion. A massive invasion. One that dwarfs anything the Akarans have yet faced...

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464 David Anthony Durham 0385523327 Tia 5
The Other Lands continues the story of the three royal children of the Akaran family. They are Corinne, who is now queen, Dariel, who could have been king, but let the rule pass to Corinne, and Mena, the warrior princess. There are also several new characters, but it's difficult to introduce some of them without giving spoiling the plot.

Since Corinne resumed the Akaran rule of The Known Lands, the quota trade has continued, but the people have not resumed their dependence on mist, the drug that has kept the populace quiet and happy for hundreds of years. Since the people are sober, they are also restless. They object to sending their children off into an unknown slavery; and they object to crushing Akaran taxes. Corinne has resumed trade relations with the League, and in recompence for Dariel's burning of the League Platforms in the first novel, she has offered them certain lands that might have a warm place in the reader's heart. And they have most diabolical plans for those lands.

Right from the start, the League is up to something. They come to Corinne with a story of a captured spy, a situation that has been the ruination of their trade relationship with the people of the Other Lands. She asks Dariel to go with them to the Other Lands as her emissary. He reluctantly agrees, for they know he is the one who set fire to their platforms in Book 1. Both suspect treachery. Both are right.

Surprises await in the Other Lands, and they are not what you would expect.

Read the rest of my review at .]]>
3.80 2009 The Other Lands (Acacia, #2)
author: David Anthony Durham
name: Tia
average rating: 3.80
book published: 2009
rating: 5
read at: 2009/09/21
date added: 2011/06/17
shelves:
review:
I first cracked the cover of The Other Lands with a great sense of anticipation, and from the first page to the last, David Anthony Durham did not disappoint.

The Other Lands continues the story of the three royal children of the Akaran family. They are Corinne, who is now queen, Dariel, who could have been king, but let the rule pass to Corinne, and Mena, the warrior princess. There are also several new characters, but it's difficult to introduce some of them without giving spoiling the plot.

Since Corinne resumed the Akaran rule of The Known Lands, the quota trade has continued, but the people have not resumed their dependence on mist, the drug that has kept the populace quiet and happy for hundreds of years. Since the people are sober, they are also restless. They object to sending their children off into an unknown slavery; and they object to crushing Akaran taxes. Corinne has resumed trade relations with the League, and in recompence for Dariel's burning of the League Platforms in the first novel, she has offered them certain lands that might have a warm place in the reader's heart. And they have most diabolical plans for those lands.

Right from the start, the League is up to something. They come to Corinne with a story of a captured spy, a situation that has been the ruination of their trade relationship with the people of the Other Lands. She asks Dariel to go with them to the Other Lands as her emissary. He reluctantly agrees, for they know he is the one who set fire to their platforms in Book 1. Both suspect treachery. Both are right.

Surprises await in the Other Lands, and they are not what you would expect.

Read the rest of my review at .
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<![CDATA[Faerie Blood (The Free Court of Seattle #1)]]> 6500464 Note from the author: This edition of Faerie Blood is the original Drollerie Press release edition, and is now out of print. A newer edition was released in June 2012. See for details!

Kendis Thompson is an average, ordinary software tester in Seattle. She has great friends, great housemates, a cat she loves, and her beloved violin. The aunt who raised her lives nearby and is always ready to share her love and comfort.

Then one day, Kendis goes biking and is attacked by a troll. In Seattle. A Real. Live. Troll. She fights back, but she's no match for a creature made mostly of stone. When she screams for help, it arrives in the form of Christopher MacSimidh, who gives the troll what for—until the troll gets the upper hand.

And then everything starts going wrong.

There are faerie in Seattle, and Kendis is a target. Her mother was a faerie princess and her father was human. She didn't know, since both died when she was a young child, but now her magic is starting to show up and both courts are determined to get something out of her. But what? and why?

With the help of her best friend, Jude; the Warder of Seattle, an old woman named Milly; her Aunt Aggie; and her new friend Christopher, Kendis is going to hold her own against both courts and all the trolls, sprites and assorted other creatures they can bring against her. Probably.

Though she didn't count on the fairy biker gang, or the elven Elvis impersonator.]]>
219 Angela Korra'ti Tia 4 3.73 2009 Faerie Blood (The Free Court of Seattle #1)
author: Angela Korra'ti
name: Tia
average rating: 3.73
book published: 2009
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2011/06/12
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<![CDATA[The Getaway (Gavyn Donatti #1.5)]]> 10325896 157 Sonya Bateman Tia 0 to-read 3.37 2010 The Getaway (Gavyn Donatti #1.5)
author: Sonya Bateman
name: Tia
average rating: 3.37
book published: 2010
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2011/06/05
shelves: to-read
review:

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<![CDATA[Master of None (Gavyn Donatti, #1)]]> 6611074
Gavyn Donatti is the world's unluckiest thief. Just ask all the partners he's lost over the years. And when he misplaces an irreplaceable item he was hired to steal for his ruthless employer, Trevor—well, his latest bungle just might be his last. But then his luck finally turns: right when Trevor's thugs have him cornered, a djinn, otherwise known as a genie, appears to save him.

Unfortunately, this genie—who goes by the very non-magical name of "Ian"—is more Hellboy than dream girl. An overgrown and extremely surly man who seems to hate Donatti on the spot, he may call Donatti master, but he isn't interested in granting three wishes. He informs Donatti that he is bound to help the thief fulfill his life's purpose, and then he will be free. The problem is that neither Donatti nor Ian has any idea what exactly that purpose is.

At first Donatti's too concerned with his own survival to look a gift genie in the mouth, but when his ex-girlfriend Jazz and her young son get drawn into the crossfire, the stakes skyrocket. And when Ian reveals that he has an agenda of his own—with both Donatti and the murderous Trevor at the center of it—Donatti will have to become the man he never knew he could be, or the entire world could pay the price. . . .]]>
376 Sonya Bateman 1439160848 Tia 4 3.48 2010 Master of None (Gavyn Donatti, #1)
author: Sonya Bateman
name: Tia
average rating: 3.48
book published: 2010
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2011/06/05
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<![CDATA[Murder on Bank Street (Gaslight Mystery, #10)]]> 2288035 336 Victoria Thompson 0425221512 Tia 3 4.10 2008 Murder on Bank Street (Gaslight Mystery, #10)
author: Victoria Thompson
name: Tia
average rating: 4.10
book published: 2008
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 2011/06/03
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<![CDATA[Tea Time for the Traditionally Built (No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, #10)]]> 4285768 Mma Ramotswe's ever-ready tiny white van has recently developed a rather disturbing noise. Of course, Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni-her estimable husband and one of Botswana's most talented mechanics--is the man to turn to for help. But Precious suspects he might simply condemn the van and replace it with something more modern. Can she find a way to save her old friend?
In the meantime, Mma Makutsi discovers that her old rival Violet Sephotho, who could not have gotten more than fifty percent on her typing final at the Botswana Secretarial College, has set her sights on none other than Mma Makutsi's fiance, Phuti Radiphuti. Can Mma Ramotswe's intuition save the day? Finally, the proprietor of a local football team has enlisted the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency to help explain its dreadful losing streak. The owner of the team is convinced he has a traitor in his midst. But how is Mma Ramotswe, who has never seen a football match in her life, going to discern who is throwing the game? Help, it turns out, may come from an unexpected quarter.
There are few mysteries that can't be solved and fewer problems that can't be fixed when the irrepressible Precious Ramotswe puts her mind to them. A good cup of red bush tea might be the best solution of all.]]>
212 Alexander McCall Smith 0375424490 Tia 5 4.13 2009 Tea Time for the Traditionally Built (No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, #10)
author: Alexander McCall Smith
name: Tia
average rating: 4.13
book published: 2009
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2011/06/03
shelves:
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<![CDATA[The Sergeant's Lady (The Arringtons and Wright-Gordons, #2)]]> 8631671 400 Susanna Fraser 1426890508 Tia 4 3.92 2010 The Sergeant's Lady (The Arringtons and Wright-Gordons, #2)
author: Susanna Fraser
name: Tia
average rating: 3.92
book published: 2010
rating: 4
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date added: 2011/06/03
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<![CDATA[Prospero in Hell (Prospero's Daughter, #2)]]> 7242077 352 L. Jagi Lamplighter 0765319306 Tia 4 3.93 2010 Prospero in Hell (Prospero's Daughter, #2)
author: L. Jagi Lamplighter
name: Tia
average rating: 3.93
book published: 2010
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2011/06/03
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<![CDATA[Homespun Bride (The McKaslin Clan Historical #2)]]> 2590975
Montana Territory in 1883 was a dangerous place --- especially for a blind woman struggling to make her way through an early winter snowstorm. Undaunted, Noelle Kramer fought to remain independent. But then a runaway horse nearly plunged her into a rushing, ice-choked river, before a stranger's strong, sure hand saved her from certain death.

And yet this was no stranger. Though she could not know it, her rescuer was rancher Thad McKaslin, the man who had once loved her more than life itself. Losing her had shaken all his most deeply held beliefs. Now he wondered if the return of this strong woman was a sign that somehow he could find his way home.]]>
282 Jillian Hart 0373827822 Tia 3 3.49 2008 Homespun Bride (The McKaslin Clan Historical #2)
author: Jillian Hart
name: Tia
average rating: 3.49
book published: 2008
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 2011/06/03
shelves:
review:

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<![CDATA[The Devil Wears Prada (The Devil Wears Prada, #1)]]> 5139
Andrea Sachs, a small-town girl fresh out of college, lands the job “a million girls would die for.� Hired as the assistant to Miranda Priestly, the high-profile, fabulously successful editor of Runway magazine, Andrea finds herself in an office that shouts Prada! Armani! Versace! at every turn, a world populated by impossibly thin, heart-wrenchingly stylish women and beautiful men clad in fine-ribbed turtlenecks and tight leather pants that show off their lifelong dedication to the gym. With breathtaking ease, Miranda can turn each and every one of these hip sophisticates into a scared, whimpering child.

THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA gives a rich and hilarious new meaning to complaints about “The Boss from Hell.� Narrated in Andrea’s smart, refreshingly disarming voice, it traces a deep, dark, devilish view of life at the top only hinted at in gossip columns and over Cosmopolitans at the trendiest cocktail parties. From sending the latest, not-yet-in-stores Harry Potter to Miranda’s children in Paris by private jet, to locating an unnamed antique store where Miranda had at some point admired a vintage dresser, to serving lattes to Miranda at precisely the piping hot temperature she prefers, Andrea is sorely tested each and every day—and often late into the night with orders barked over the phone. She puts up with it all by keeping her eyes on the prize: a recommendation from Miranda that will get Andrea a top job at any magazine of her choosing. As things escalate from the merely unacceptable to the downright outrageous, however, Andrea begins to realize that the job a million girls would die for may just kill her. And even if she survives, she has to decide whether or not the job is worth the price of her soul.]]>
384 Lauren Weisberger 0307275558 Tia 4 3.82 2003 The Devil Wears Prada (The Devil Wears Prada, #1)
author: Lauren Weisberger
name: Tia
average rating: 3.82
book published: 2003
rating: 4
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date added: 2011/06/03
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Fool 3684856 --Dallas Morning News

Fool--the bawdy and outrageous New York Times bestseller from the unstoppable Christopher Moore--is a hilarious new take on William Shakespeare's King Lear...as seen through the eyes of the foolish liege's clownish jester, Pocket. A rousing tale of "gratuitous shagging, murder, spanking, maiming, treason, and heretofore unexplored heights of vulgarity and profanity," Fool joins Moore's own Lamb, Fluke, The Stupidest Angel, and You Suck! as modern masterworks of satiric wit and sublimely twisted genius, prompting Carl Hiassen to declare Christopher Moore "a very sick man, in the very best sense of the word."
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311 Christopher Moore 0060590319 Tia 4 3.97 2009 Fool
author: Christopher Moore
name: Tia
average rating: 3.97
book published: 2009
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2011/06/03
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<![CDATA[The Mysterious Lady Law (The Steam Clock Legacy)]]> 9931989 127 Robert Appleton 1426891156 Tia 4 3.22 2010 The Mysterious Lady Law (The Steam Clock Legacy)
author: Robert Appleton
name: Tia
average rating: 3.22
book published: 2010
rating: 4
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date added: 2011/06/03
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<![CDATA[In Enemy Hands (In Enemy Hands #1)]]> 8162803
Sirin, Moon's new research partner, is a chemically enhanced math genius whose memory is erased every two days. He's also a charming, fascinating man who is attracted to her anew after each memory loss cycle.

Escape from the regime that treats them like tools is impossible. There are too many walls around them, too many eyes watching. But when you've got nothing left to lose, running becomes the only option.

89,000 words]]>
257 K.S. Augustin Tia 5 3.25 2010 In Enemy Hands (In Enemy Hands #1)
author: K.S. Augustin
name: Tia
average rating: 3.25
book published: 2010
rating: 5
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date added: 2011/06/03
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<![CDATA[Ten Ruby Trick (Pirates of Estovan, #1)]]> 9994861
When she reappears with a new mark wanting Van Gast's help running the ten ruby trick con, he senses trouble. It seems like Josie has joined up with mage-bound slavers to turn him over to their Master. Van Gast is about to take the biggest risk of all—and find out the true meaning of trust and betrayal. 102,400 words]]>
378 Julia Knight 1426891067 Tia 5 3.92 2010 Ten Ruby Trick (Pirates of Estovan, #1)
author: Julia Knight
name: Tia
average rating: 3.92
book published: 2010
rating: 5
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date added: 2011/06/03
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<![CDATA[The Face of a Stranger (William Monk, #1)]]> 583883 THE KIRKUS REVIEWS
His name, they tell him, is William Monk, and he is a London police detecive. But the accident that felled him has left him with only half a life; his memory and his entire past have vanished. As he tries to hide the truth, Monk returns to work and is assigned to investigate the brutal murder of a Crimean War hero and man about town. Which makes Monk's efforts doubly difficult, since he's forgotten his professional skills along with everything else....
A Dual Main Selection of the Mystery Guild]]>
345 Anne Perry 0804108587 Tia 4 4.03 1990 The Face of a Stranger (William Monk, #1)
author: Anne Perry
name: Tia
average rating: 4.03
book published: 1990
rating: 4
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<![CDATA[The Hero of Ages (Mistborn, #3)]]> 2767793
Who is the Hero of Ages?

To end the Final Empire and restore freedom, Vin killed the Lord Ruler. But as a result, the Deepness—the lethal form of the ubiquitous mists—is back, along with increasingly heavy ashfalls and ever more powerful earthquakes. Humanity appears to be doomed.

Having escaped death at the climax of The Well of Ascension only by becoming a Mistborn himself, Emperor Elend Venture hopes to find clues left behind by the Lord Ruler that will allow him to save the world. Vin is consumed with guilt at having been tricked into releasing the mystic force known as Ruin from the Well. Ruin wants to end the world, and its near omniscience and ability to warp reality make stopping it seem impossible. Vin can't even discuss it with Elend lest Ruin learn their plans!]]>
572 Brandon Sanderson 0765316897 Tia 4 4.54 2008 The Hero of Ages (Mistborn, #3)
author: Brandon Sanderson
name: Tia
average rating: 4.54
book published: 2008
rating: 4
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date added: 2011/06/03
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<![CDATA[The Well of Ascension (Mistborn, #2)]]> 68429
The impossible has been accomplished. The Lord Ruler—the man who claimed to be god incarnate and brutally ruled the world for a thousand years—has been vanquished. But Kelsier, the hero who masterminded that triumph, is dead too, and now the awesome task of building a new world has been left to his young protégé, Vin, the former street urchin who is now the most powerful Mistborn in the land, and to the idealistic young nobleman she loves.

As Kelsier's protégé and slayer of the Lord Ruler she is now venerated by a budding new religion, a distinction that makes her intensely uncomfortable. Even more worrying, the mists have begun behaving strangely since the Lord Ruler died, and seem to harbor a strange vaporous entity that haunts her.

Stopping assassins may keep Vin's Mistborn skills sharp, but it's the least of her problems. Luthadel, the largest city of the former empire, doesn't run itself, and Vin and the other members of Kelsier's crew, who lead the revolution, must learn a whole new set of practical and political skills to help. It certainly won't get easier with three armies - one of them composed of ferocious giants - now vying to conquer the city, and no sign of the Lord Ruler's hidden cache of atium, the rarest and most powerful allomantic metal.

As the siege of Luthadel tightens, an ancient legend seems to offer a glimmer of hope. But even if it really exists, no one knows where to find the Well of Ascension or what manner of power it bestows.]]>
590 Brandon Sanderson 0765316889 Tia 4 4.38 2007 The Well of Ascension (Mistborn, #2)
author: Brandon Sanderson
name: Tia
average rating: 4.38
book published: 2007
rating: 4
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date added: 2011/06/03
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<![CDATA[Mistborn: The Final Empire (Mistborn, #1)]]> 68428 What if the whole world were a dead, blasted wasteland?

Mistborn
For a thousand years the ash fell and no flowers bloomed. For a thousand years the Skaa slaved in misery and lived in fear. For a thousand years the Lord Ruler, the "Sliver of Infinity," reigned with absolute power and ultimate terror, divinely invincible. Then, when hope was so long lost that not even its memory remained, a terribly scarred, heart-broken half-Skaa rediscovered it in the depths of the Lord Ruler's most hellish prison. Kelsier "snapped" and found in himself the powers of a Mistborn. A brilliant thief and natural leader, he turned his talents to the ultimate caper, with the Lord Ruler himself as the mark.

Kelsier recruited the underworld's elite, the smartest and most trustworthy allomancers, each of whom shares one of his many powers, and all of whom relish a high-stakes challenge. Then Kelsier reveals his ultimate dream, not just the greatest heist in history, but the downfall of the divine despot.

But even with the best criminal crew ever assembled, Kel's plan looks more like the ultimate long shot, until luck brings a ragged girl named Vin into his life. Like him, she's a half-Skaa orphan, but she's lived a much harsher life. Vin has learned to expect betrayal from everyone she meets. She will have to learn trust if Kel is to help her master powers of which she never dreamed.

Brandon Sanderson, fantasy's newest master tale-spinner and author of the acclaimed debut Elantris, dares to turn a genre on its head by asking a simple question: What if the prophesied hero failed to defeat the Dark Lord? The answer will be found in the Mistborn Trilogy, a saga of surprises that begins with the book in your hands. Fantasy will never be the same again.]]>
541 Brandon Sanderson Tia 4 4.48 2006 Mistborn: The Final Empire (Mistborn, #1)
author: Brandon Sanderson
name: Tia
average rating: 4.48
book published: 2006
rating: 4
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date added: 2011/06/03
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