Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness

I resisted reading Discovery of Witches, the first book in this series for a long time. Despite the great reviews. Because? It sounded like a very tired urban fantasy trope - woman discovers she's a witch, a very powerful witch and falls in love with a vampire. Hilarity ensues, blahblahdiddyblah.

Except.

That's totally not how the book was. Nary a sparkling vampire in sight. No leather pants. No necrofu.

Just a really engaging, well written book. So I was quite looking forward to Shadow of Night, the sequel. And I was not disappointed! Not only did this have all of the goodness of the first book, supernaturals, libraries, academia, knotty mysteries, the sequel also has time travel to Elizabethan England! Woo and hoo!

I adored finding out more about Matthew's past, his friends and family. It was so apparent that the author is an historian as she lovingly described clothing and alchemical experiments. And yet I never felt, as I have with some authors, that she was simply cramming in facts because she'd done the research.

Thoroughly enjoyed the second book and I'm eagerly looking forward to the next!

Publish date July 2012

Griffin Grammar Girl's 101 Troublesome Words You'll Master in No Time by Mignon Fogarty

It would be impossible for me not to love a book about grammar by Grammar Girl. She gives clear and concise examples with very easy to remember rules. My inner grammarphile was abuzz with delight while reading this.
Published July 2012

Bad Glass by Richard Gropp

Totally my kind of book. The military has sealed off Spokane and the rest of the world isn't sure why. Aliens? Plague? Experiment gone wrong? Our narrator, a photographer in the making decides to sneak in and photograph the weirdness.

Very much like an Xfiles sort of story - weird things like spiders with human parts growing out of them, dogs with hands, distorted time, disappearing people, mysterious graffiti. All sorts of weird things happen. I was totally with the author, invested in finding out what was causing the weirdness, investigating right along Dean.

Until the very end.

What, Mr. Gropp?? Seriously? That's the ending you decided to go with after that gorgeous, slow crescendo of ultra weird with much mystery and a bit of paranoia tossed in for good measure?

So, loved it other than the last few pages.

Due out in September 2012.

Glitch by Heather Anastasiu

Must admit that while curious about Glitch, I was prepared to be underwhelmed because really. Did we need one more YA dystopian romance hybrid? Zoe is a teen girl (of course), part of the Community where everyone is implanted with a computer chip so they don't feel emotions. Everything is calm, unlike when humans and their emotions caused strife and war and unhappiness.

Then Zoe starts to malfunction - glitch. Her implant isn't working right and she can feel emotions.

I enjoyed Heather Anastasiu's world building which while not unique, was interesting. And Zoe was certainly a likeable character. Glitch is the first in a trilogy so I'm sure the next book while have Zoe getting more involved with the Resistance and having to struggle more with which boy to give her heart to.

Due August 2012.

Monster in my Closet by RL Naquin

 Urban fantasy is certainly a subgenre that is overflowing with series. So, for me to read beyond the first few chapters, a book has to have something different, something special. Monster in my Closet charmed me with Our Heroine's voice - smart and sassy and dare I say it? Quirky. I like that instead of the typical badass with tats and leather pants, Zoey dresses funkily with no leather or hidden knives/guns upon her person. When she feels threatened one night, what does she grab to confront the intruder? A toilet brush! Loved it!

My only complaint and it's a very small one is that the boyfriend's secret was clearly telegraphed so the big tell all moment was a bit anticlimactic. But! I really enjoyed this and I'm looking forward to more of Zoey's adventures.

Due out in July 2012.

Girl in the Clockwork Collar by Kady Cross

It would be easy to dismiss this as teen wangst wrapped in the trappings of steampunk because it does have flaws - the girl torn between the nice boy and the bad boy. Problems solved by the nice boys apparently endless supply of wealth that he's willing to share. But. Finley is a charming, kickass heroine - not a 'zomgrescuemeplsthx' kind of girl. I like that the nice boy is the thinker and she's the punch first, think later type.

Fun to see crazy Tesla make an appearance. 

The twist was easy to see coming but I still enjoyed this second book in the series and look forward to the next installment.

Due May 2012.

Bared to You by Sylvia Day

I'm not sure why all the erotica I've read lately seems to have a huge MarySue factor going on: the principal are all gorgeous and wealthy and powerful, live in fabulous homes, dress in exquisite clothing, eat amazing food, and have mind blowing sex at the drop of a hat.

Despite my distaste for that type of writing, Bared to You held my interest with fun dialogue and steamy sex. And the unanswered questions at the end are obviously leaving the door open for a sequel or two.

Could the Shades of Grey books be spawning the rise of erotica trilogies?

Due June 2012.

Party of Three by Daire St. Denis

I read this thinking it was going to be a fluffy bit of erotica. Instead of being hot though, I found it frustrating. And not in the good sense. The situation felt contrived and the dialogue felt wooden. When I fall asleep while reading the big sex scene, something's Just Not Right. Color me disappointed.

Tricked by Kevin Hearne

I've enjoyed Kevin Hearne's urban fantasy series about smartass, centuries old Druid Atticus since it started with Hounded and his latest, Tricked is no different. After kicking ass among Celtic and Norse pantheons, this time is Native American foes that Atticus is going up against. Happily, Oberon, his trusty Irish wolfhound who loves poodles and sausages has his back. Because no one who enters into a bargain with Coyote walks away unscathed.

Hearne has been letting Atticus grow naturally in each book along with revealing bits of Atticus's long and intriguing past. And I adore Oberon more with every book; how can you not love a dog who wants an undercover name and Snugglepumpkin at that?

This was a devour it within 48 hours kind of book, fun and enjoyable.

Available now from DelRey in mass market.