Teaser Tuesday: The Cruelty by Scott Bergstrom

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by The Purple Booker. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Teaser (at the 10% mark):

I lock the door behind me, two deadbolts and the chain. Had Terrance really just leaned over and kissed me? My God, what does that mean?

This week my teaser comes from The Cruelty by Scott Bergstrom. I got this ARC from Macmillan. Here is the description from Amazon:

When Gwendolyn Bloom’s father vanishes, she sets off on a journey she never bargained for. Traveling under a new identity in a world of assassins, spies, and criminal masterminds, she uncovers a disturbing truth. To bring her father back alive, she must become every bit as cruel as the men holding him captive.

Taken meets The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and The Bourne Identity in this action-packed debut thriller (optioned for film by Jerry Bruckheimer) from Scott Bergstrom.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (Jan. 30, 2017)

It's Monday, What Are You Reading? is a meme begun by Sheila at Book Journey. Kellee at Unleashing Readers and Jen at Teach Mentor Texts have given it a kidlit focus.

It’s Monday!  What Are You Reading, is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week.  It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

Other Than Reading...

This was a crazy week. Monday was a workshop/inservice day to get ready for the second semester. Tuesday I got a chance to meet 7 of my 16 new classes of students. Wednesday was a snow day since I woke up to 10 inches of heavy wet snow. It was like March snow. Once the plow guys finished the sun came out and melted the areas they cleared down to pavement. Overnight, the melt froze and we had a two hour late start on Thursday.

On late start days, I need to be two places at once. Not having a time twister or the ability to be two places at once means that the Elementary Art teacher takes my first grade classes while I finish teaching the sixth grade at the Middle School/High School. I met the other two sixth grade groups on Thursday and I met my other two Kindergarten classes and one more fourth grade class once I got to the Elementary.

I had my annual physical on Friday afternoon. The Elementary Art Teacher subbed for me. I think, by the end of the day on Monday, I will have met 15 of 16 of my new classes. The class of fourth graders I missed won't have media until Friday of this coming week.

Since our teaching contract requires teachers to make up the hours missed, I went to the MS/HS once my driveway was plowed out and spent a couple hours readjusting plans and developing lessons for the second semester. I also went in at my normal time on Thursday and made up two more of the required hours.

This week I'll be working 7:30 AM until 7:30 PM on Monday as we have some parent-teacher conferences at the MS/HS especially designed for those kids who didn't do well first semester. I don't expect to see anybody since I wasn't at the MS/HS first semester but have to be there anyway. I have pretty much run out of things to plan. I need some time with students so that we can actually do things.

This working full-time is really messing up my schedules. I don't think I visited anyone's blog except for the people who left me a link this past week. I'm not even sure I posted to any of the usual memes. By the time I got home, all I wanted to do was play computer games and nap. I need to get my second wind and figure out when I can fit in both reading and blogging.

Read Last Week

The Swan Riders by Erin Bow was the second book in the Prisoners of Peace series. I enjoyed this Science Fiction/Dystopian story. My review will be posted on March 4.

Currently

Freya by Matthew Laurence is from my review stack. I'm about half finished.

Next

All from my review stack:

• Hunted by Meagan Spooner
• The Hidden Memory of Objects by Danielle Mages Amato
• Miss Ellicott's School for the Magically Minded by Sage Blackwood

Reviews Posted

• By Your Side by Kasie West
• Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult and Samantha Van Leer

Want to See What I Added to My Stack Last Week?

Most Dangerous by Steve Sheinkin was a Kindle Daily Deal.

You can check Inside of a Dog (my other blog) to see what adult books I read, reviewed, and plan to read.

Book Review: Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult and Samantha van Leer

Between the Lines
Author: Jodi Picoult and Samantha van Leer
Publication: EMILY BESTLER BOOKS/ATRIA/SIMON PULSE; First Edition edition (June 26, 2012)

Description: What happens when happily ever after…isn’t?

Delilah is a bit of a loner who prefers spending her time in the school library with her head in a book—one book in particular. Between the Lines may be a fairy tale, but it feels real. Prince Oliver is brave, adventurous, and loving. He really speaks to Delilah.

And then one day Oliver actually speaks to her. Turns out, Oliver is more than a one-dimensional storybook prince. He’s a restless teen who feels trapped by his literary existence and hates that his entire life is predetermined. He’s sure there’s more for him out there in the real world, and Delilah might just be his key to freedom.

A romantic and charming story, this companion novel to Off the Page will make every reader believe in the fantastical power of fairy tales.

My Thoughts: Delilah is a loner, a misfit, and a dreamer. She prefers spending her time buried in a book - Between the Lines - which is a fairy tale that has captured her imagination. The main character Prince Oliver feels so real to her. Then one day he talks to her...

Oliver is tired of repeating the same series of events over and over whenever anyone opens the pages of the book. He really isn't at all enchanted with the princess that his is destined to save. While lovely, Seraphina isn't very bright and, besides, his best friend Frump who was magically turned into a dog has a major crush on her.

This was an imaginative and engaging story. Who hasn't thought that the characters in books had a secret life when the covers were closed? I liked Oliver's determination in finding a way to get out of the story and Delilah's determination to help him. I liked what this book said about the power of story.

Favorite Quote:

Here I am, wasting away inside a book I wish I could escape, and all she wants to do is stay in the story.

If I could talk to this girl Delilah, I'd ask her why on earth she would ever trade a single second of the world she's in for the one in which I'm stuck.

I bought this one. You can buy your copy here.

Friday Memes: Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult and Samantha van Leer

Happy Friday everybody!!

Book Beginnings on Friday is now hosted by Rose City Reader. The Friday 56 is hosted at Freda's Voice. Check out the links above for the rules and for the posts of the participants each week. Don’t dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST.

Beginning:

Once upon a time in a land far, far away there lived a brave king and a beautiful queen, who were so much in love that wherever they went, people stopped what they were doing just to watch them pass.

Friday 56:

"People in the real world would kill for a happily ever after, and you're willing to just throw it away?"

I look away from her. "It's hardly a happily ever after when you wind up right back at the beginning. I've never experienced 'after' at all."

This week I chose Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult and Samantha van Leer. It has been languishing on my Kindle since June of 2013. Here is the description from Amazon:

What happens when happily ever after…isn’t?

Delilah is a bit of a loner who prefers spending her time in the school library with her head in a book—one book in particular. Between the Lines may be a fairy tale, but it feels real. Prince Oliver is brave, adventurous, and loving. He really speaks to Delilah.

And then one day Oliver actually speaks to her. Turns out, Oliver is more than a one-dimensional storybook prince. He’s a restless teen who feels trapped by his literary existence and hates that his entire life is predetermined. He’s sure there’s more for him out there in the real world, and Delilah might just be his key to freedom.

A romantic and charming story, this companion novel to Off the Page will make every reader believe in the fantastical power of fairy tales.

ARC Review: By Your Side by Kasie West

By Your Side
Author: Kasie West
Publication: HarperTeen (January 31, 2017)

Description: An irresistible story from Kasie West that explores the timeless question What do you do when you fall for the person you least expect?

When Autumn Collins finds herself accidentally locked in the library for an entire weekend, she doesn’t think things could get any worse. But that’s before she realizes that Dax Miller is locked in with her. Autumn doesn’t know much about Dax except that he’s trouble. Between the rumors about the fight he was in (and that brief stint in juvie that followed it) and his reputation as a loner, he’s not exactly the ideal person to be stuck with. Still, she just keeps reminding herself that it is only a matter of time before Jeff, her almost-boyfriend, realizes he left her in the library and comes to rescue her.

Only he doesn’t come. No one does.

My Thoughts: BY YOUR SIDE was an excellent contemporary romance. Autumn has a strong group of friends and a crush on one of them - Jeff. He fits perfectly with her desire to plan and control her life. She is keeping the fact that she has an anxiety disorder from all her friends because she doesn't want them to treat her differently.

One evening, after a study session in the public library, she finds herself locked in when the library closes. Her friends think that she has caught a ride to the party and bonfire with someone else. She's sure they'll come back for her as soon as they realize. But hours pass, and they don't come back.

Just as panic is setting in, she discovers that she isn't alone in the library. Dax Miller is locked in there with her. Even though Dax goes to the same school, she doesn't really know more about him than the various rumors that say he's spent time in juvie.

Dax isn't quick to share his story with her. He is trying to live his life without attachments. A disappearing father and a mother who chose meth instead of him have taught him that attachments cause a lot of pain. He's counting down the days until he's out of the foster care system and can get away from this place.

When she learns that her friend Jeff has been in a car accident and that people thought she was with him and is now dead, she has an anxiety attack that forces Dax to pull the fire alarm, which he was previously reluctant to do,  to get her help.

Now free from the library and with Jeff in a coma, Dax pulls away. Autumn is torn between an old friend who likes her and her new friend who doesn't want any attachments. She also has to find a way to manage her anxiety.

I really liked this story. I could sympathize with Autumn who just wanted to be one of the gang and who didn't quite know what to do about this new boy who wrecked all her careful plans but offered her something she didn't know she needed.

Favorite Quote:

I let out a frustrated breath. "No. You're right. I'll tell them."

"Now you're just saying that because you think I'm mad."

"Are you?"

"It doesn't matter, Autumn." He put his hands on my cheeks. His hands were freezing. "Figure out what you think." His eyes went back and forth between mine. My temperature seemed to rise a couple degrees. "Figure out what you want," he said again, softer.

I received this eARC from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. You can buy your copy here.

WoW: Last Day on Mars by Kevin Emerson

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. She has a linky widget at her site each week for your post and to make it easy to find posts by other people.

The purpose of the meme is to spotlight books that we are eagerly anticipating. It is fun to take a look at what others are waiting for. I have noticed that it has expanded my wishlist though. Be warned!

Last Day on Mars

Kevin Emerson

Feb. 14, 2017

It is Earth year 2213—but, of course, there is no Earth anymore. Not since it was burned to a cinder by the sun, which has mysteriously begun the process of going supernova far sooner than anyone expected. The human race has fled to Mars, but this was only a temporary solution while we have prepared for a second trip: a 150-year journey to a distant star, our best guess at where we might find a new home.

Liam Saunders-Chang is one of the last humans left on Mars. The son of two scientists who have been racing against time to create technology vital to humanity’s survival, Liam, along with his friend Phoebe, will be on the last starliner to depart before Mars, like Earth before it, is destroyed.

Or so he thinks. Because before this day is over, Liam and Phoebe will make a series of profound discoveries about the nature of time and space and find out that the human race is just one of many in our universe locked in a dangerous struggle for survival.

Teaser Tuesday: By Your Side by Kasie West

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by The Purple Booker. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Teaser (from the 10% mark):

"Your friends left you?" Now his expression changed. He was surprised.

This week I am reading By Your Side by Kasie West. I received this EARC from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. Here is the description from Amazon:

An irresistible story from Kasie West that explores the timeless question What do you do when you fall for the person you least expect?

When Autumn Collins finds herself accidentally locked in the library for an entire weekend, she doesn’t think things could get any worse. But that’s before she realizes that Dax Miller is locked in with her. Autumn doesn’t know much about Dax except that he’s trouble. Between the rumors about the fight he was in (and that brief stint in juvie that followed it) and his reputation as a loner, he’s not exactly the ideal person to be stuck with. Still, she just keeps reminding herself that it is only a matter of time before Jeff, her almost-boyfriend, realizes he left her in the library and comes to rescue her.

Only he doesn’t come. No one does.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (Jan. 23, 2017)

It's Monday, What Are You Reading? is a meme begun by Sheila at Book Journey. Kellee at Unleashing Readers and Jen at Teach Mentor Texts have given it a kidlit focus.

It’s Monday!  What Are You Reading, is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week.  It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

Other Than Reading...

This was a messed up week at school. We had an early release on Monday because of impending ice and a day off on Tuesday when the ice arrived. The last week of the semester is not a good time to miss school! We have had ice problems all week. On Friday three of our buses slid off rural roads due to icy conditions. Only one of the buses had students on it. The rescue bus which had gone to get them was the third one to go off the road. The paved roads were in good condition but the gravel roads iced over. We have also had rain, fog and dense fog all week. This is weird weather for Minnesota in January.

On the plus side, the extra time off did allow me to do some planning for the second semester. I also have all my report cards finished and can use our work day on Monday to get ready for semester two. I also have to begin the day at the clinic for blood work before my annual physical and leave early to meet a plumber at my house to fix a slow leak in my heating system. After that, I need to run into town and pick up a prescription that I'm out of but that the insurance company wouldn't let my pharmacy fill until Monday.

I really want some normal days to happen soon. All this extra stuff is stressful.

Read Last Week

This Adventure Ends by Emma Mills was a smart contemporary by a debut author. My review will be posted on March 2.

The Dragon's Price by Bethany Wiggins was an epic fantasy with lots of action, lots of romance, and interesting characters. My review will be posted on Feb. 23.

Freedom's Slave by Heather Demetrios is the final book in her Dark Caravans series. It was filled with action and romance. My review will be posted Feb.25.

Currently

I am in the middle of The Swan Riders by Erin Bow. This is the sequel to The Scorpion Rules.

Next Week

Two from my Review stack this week.

• Freya by Matthew Laurence (March 14)
• Hunted by Meagan Spooner (March 14)

Reviews Posted

• The Cold Eye by Laura Anne Gilman
• The Scorpion Rules by Erin Bow

Want to See What I Added to My Stack Last Week?

Nothing. I had an empty mailbox.

You can check Inside of a Dog (my other blog) to see what adult books I read, reviewed, and plan to read. 

Book Review: The Scorpion Rules by Erin Bow

The Scorpion Rules
Author: Erin Bow
Series: Prisoners of Peace
Publication: Margaret K. McElderry Books (September 22, 2015)

Description: The children of world leaders are held hostage in an attempt to keep the peace in this “slyly humorous, starkly thought-provoking” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) novel.

Greta is a Duchess and a Crown Princess. She is also a Child of Peace, a hostage held by the de facto ruler of the world, the great Artificial Intelligence, Talis. This is how the game is played: if you want to rule, you must give one of your children as a hostage. Start a war and your hostage dies.

The system has worked for centuries. Parents don’t want to see their children murdered.

Greta will be free if she can make it to her eighteenth birthday. Until then she is prepared to die with dignity, if necessary. But everything changes when Elian arrives at the Precepture. He’s a hostage from a new American alliance, and he defies the machines that control every part of their lives—and is severely punished for it. His rebellion opens Greta’s eyes to the brutality of the rules they live under, and to the subtle resistance of her companions. And Greta discovers her own quiet power.

Then Elian’s country declares war on Greta’s and invades the prefecture, taking the hostages hostage. Now the great Talis is furious, and coming himself to deliver punishment. Which surely means that Greta and Elian will be killed...unless Greta can think of a way to break all the rules.

My Thoughts: This story is told by Greta, also known as Duchess of Halifax and Crown Princess of the Pan Polar Confederacy. She has been a hostage - a Child of Peace - since she was five years old. Now sixteen, she knows that if she can survive until she is eighteen, she will be sent back to rule her country. But if war breaks out between her country and any other, she will be killed by the AI that controls everyone. And her country is on the brink of war...

In this world, the polar ice caps melted suddenly and wars broke out when people from the newly drowned areas moved to higher ground. Then the plagues came and reduced the population by half and half again. To control the constant warfare the UN appointed an artificial intelligence named Talis to restore the peace. He did so by instituting the whole hostage taking thing. A ruler couldn't rule unless he or she sent their child to one of the Prefectures. Four hundred years have passed and the system has mostly worked. But it has taken quite a toll on the children who are hostages and who know that they could be killed at any time.

What surprised me most was that so many of the characters managed to show strength and not turn into quivering heaps. Greta watches the news and studies the ancient thinkers. She's particularly fond of the Stoics. But her precariously balanced world is shaken when a new hostage arrives. Elian is from the country that neighbors hers and he wasn't raised to be a hostage. His grandmother has recently taken charge of the military of her country. Elian's struggles to fit in and the torture that is used to make him comply, open Greta's eyes to the undercurrents of the life she has been living.

When Elian's grandmother's forces take over the Prefecture, they draw the attention of Talis and lead Greta to make a life-changing decision.

The characters were richly drawn and well-rounded. The world building made complete sense to me. Perhaps the most interesting character beyond Greta was Talis. He was once human but now he is a self-confessed monster. He is willing to do quite horrible things to stop the world from sliding back into a time of constant wars. At the same time, he is a man out of his time who has almost forgotten what it was like being human. He is so focused on the big picture that he doesn't really see what effect his actions have on individuals.

I really enjoyed this story and look forward to reading the sequel to find out the results of Greta's choice.

Favorite Quote:

Elian reached up and took one of my wrists, stopping the motion, looking me up and down. I'm sure he was trying for as a man looks at a woman, but it came off rather more as an engineer looks at a bridge pylon. How much fear would it take for Elian's flirt to go wrong like that? A lot, I thought.

Terrified. He's terrified.

I bought this one. You can buy your copy here.

Friday Memes: The Scorpion Rules by Erin Bow

Happy Friday everybody!!

Book Beginnings on Friday is now hosted by Rose City Reader. The Friday 56 is hosted at Freda's Voice. Check out the links above for the rules and for the posts of the participants each week. Don’t dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST.

Beginning:

Sit down, kiddies. Let me tell you a story.

Friday 56:

Cranes traditionally represent a wish for peace. I closed my eyes and wished. Uselessly. Hard.

This week I am reading The Scorpion Rules by Erin Bow. It has been on my Kindle since November of 2015. Here is the description from Amazon:

The children of world leaders are held hostage in an attempt to keep the peace in this “slyly humorous, starkly thought-provoking” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) novel.

Greta is a Duchess and a Crown Princess. She is also a Child of Peace, a hostage held by the de facto ruler of the world, the great Artificial Intelligence, Talis. This is how the game is played: if you want to rule, you must give one of your children as a hostage. Start a war and your hostage dies.

The system has worked for centuries. Parents don’t want to see their children murdered.

Greta will be free if she can make it to her eighteenth birthday. Until then she is prepared to die with dignity, if necessary. But everything changes when Elian arrives at the Precepture. He’s a hostage from a new American alliance, and he defies the machines that control every part of their lives—and is severely punished for it. His rebellion opens Greta’s eyes to the brutality of the rules they live under, and to the subtle resistance of her companions. And Greta discovers her own quiet power.

Then Elian’s country declares war on Greta’s and invades the prefecture, taking the hostages hostage. Now the great Talis is furious, and coming himself to deliver punishment. Which surely means that Greta and Elian will be killed...unless Greta can think of a way to break all the rules.

ARC Review: The Cold Eye by Laura Anne Gilman

The Cold Eye
Author: Laura Anne Gilman
Series: The Devil's West (Book 2)
Publication: Saga Press (January 10, 2017)

Description: In the anticipated sequel to Silver on the Road, Isobel is riding circuit through the Territory as the Devil's Left Hand. But when she responds to a natural disaster, she learns the limits of her power and the growing danger of something mysterious that is threatening not just her life, but the whole Territory.

Isobel is the left hand of the old man of the Territory, the Boss—better known as the Devil. Along with her mentor, Gabriel, she is traveling circuit through Flood to represent the power of the Devil and uphold the agreement he made with the people to protect them. Here in the Territory, magic exists—sometimes wild and perilous.

But there is a growing danger in the bones of the land that is killing livestock, threatening souls, and weakening the power of magic. In the next installment of the Devil’s West series, Isobel and Gabriel are in over their heads as they find what’s happening and try to stop the people behind it before it unravels the Territory.

My Thoughts: Isobel and her mentor Gideon are traveling the far reaches of the Territory when they come upon a problem that seems too big to solve. Beginning with a buffalo slaughter, then earthquakes, and then an area devoid of animal life, Isobel and Gideon move further and further into the unknown.

Isobel is the Devil's Left Hand. She is responsible for making decisions for the good of the Territory in the areas far from the Devil's home base. It is an awesome responsibility for a girl who is just sixteen and new to the job. What is she to do with an entity raised by magicians and then trapped?

Isobel gets advice, often conflicting advice, from a variety of spirit animals but she is the one who needs to make the final decision. This book is about her struggle to decide what she can do and what she should do. Isobel grows throughout this book as she learns more about herself, her job, and her place in the Territory.

Gideon also learns about himself as he tries to balance his education out in the United States east of the Mississippi and his life as a child of the Territory. Jefferson is president and he has turned his very curious eyes toward the Territory without understanding it at all. Jefferson's efforts, in the person of a Marshall and a scout, are a lot like hitting a hive of angry wasps with a stick.

This is a book about choices, decisions, and trying to do the right thing when you aren't really sure what the right thing is. I loved the setting - the American West - and loved the way Gilman adding the paranormal seamlessly into the rich traditions of the Natives and the settlers.

I can't wait to read more about the Devil's West.

Favorite Quote (from the ARC and subject to change):

"If I am the cold eye and the final word...what is there to stop me?"

"Nothing, save your own sense of where to stop."

I got this eARC for review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.

WoW: Wait for Me by Caroline Leech

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. She has a linky widget at her site each week for your post and to make it easy to find posts by other people.

The purpose of the meme is to spotlight books that we are eagerly anticipating. It is fun to take a look at what others are waiting for. I have noticed that it has expanded my wishlist though. Be warned!

Wait for Me 

Caroline Leech 

Jan. 31, 2017

The perfect blend of sweet romance and historical flavor, Wait for Me, from debut author Caroline Leech, brings a fresh new voice to a much-loved genre.

It’s 1945, and Lorna Anderson’s life on her father’s farm in Scotland consists of endless chores and rationing, knitting Red Cross scarves, and praying for an Allied victory. So when Paul Vogel, a German prisoner of war, is assigned as the new farmhand, Lorna is appalled. How can she possibly work alongside the enemy when her own brothers are risking their lives for their country?

But as Lorna reluctantly spends time with Paul, she feels herself changing. The more she learns about him—from his time in the war to his life back home in Germany—the more she sees the boy behind the soldier. Soon Lorna is battling her own warring heart. Loving Paul could mean losing her family and the life she’s always known. With tensions rising all around them, Lorna must decide how much she’s willing to sacrifice before the end of the war determines their fate.

Teaser Tuesday: The Cold Eye by Laura Anne Gilman

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by The Purple Booker. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Teaser:

Isobel thought that the ground shaking needed no more reason than that to upset them, but simply nodded. "Three quakes, one after another. How long apart?"

This week I am reading The Cold Eye by Laura Anne Gilman. I got this eARC from NetGalley. I really enjoyed Silver on the Road and can't wait to dig into this one. Here is the description from Amazon:

In the anticipated sequel to Silver on the Road, Isobel is riding circuit through the Territory as the Devil's Left Hand. But when she responds to a natural disaster, she learns the limits of her power and the growing danger of something mysterious that is threatening not just her life, but the whole Territory.

Isobel is the left hand of the old man of the Territory, the Boss—better known as the Devil. Along with her mentor, Gabriel, she is traveling circuit through Flood to represent the power of the Devil and uphold the agreement he made with the people to protect them. Here in the Territory, magic exists—sometimes wild and perilous.

But there is a growing danger in the bones of the land that is killing livestock, threatening souls, and weakening the power of magic. In the next installment of the Devil’s West series, Isobel and Gabriel are in over their heads as they find what’s happening and try to stop the people behind it before it unravels the Territory.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (Jan. 16. 2017)

It's Monday, What Are You Reading? is a meme begun by Sheila at Book Journey. Kellee at Unleashing Readers and Jen at Teach Mentor Texts have given it a kidlit focus.

It’s Monday!  What Are You Reading, is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week.  It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

Other Than Reading...

I have felt like a prophet of doom all week as I have been constantly reminding my students that the end of the semester is coming and they have missing work. Our semester ends this Friday. Monday is a work day/inservice day and then the second semester begins. I will be seeing a whole new bunch of students. I'm saying goodbye to my fifth, third and second graders and hello to Kindergartners, first graders, fourth graders and sixth graders. I'm also saying goodbye to my half-time schedule and going to full time for the first time since the 2014-2015 school year. This week will be filled with meetings and report cards (upwards of 240 of them).

After a (relatively) warm and sunny weekend, we are supposed to begin the coming week with a "wintry mix." We still haven't lost the ice from the last time. Freezing rain on Monday and Tuesday ought to make the driving miserable. I'm forever grateful that my longest commute is 3/4 of a mile.

I bought myself a present this week - a paper shredder- and have gleefully been going through my file drawers in my quest to be more organized and have less stuff in 2017. I searched online to see how long I should be keeping papers. I was pretty sure I didn't need my first pay stub from 1976 but didn't want to get rid of it prematurely.

Read Last Week

A Season of Daring Greatly by Ellen Emerson White is about a new high school graduate who is the first woman drafted into Major League Baseball. This tells about the troubles she faces being a pioneer. The main characters is smart, thoughtful, and articulate. It was an excellent story which I will review on February 11.

The Wish Granter by C. J. Redwine was an entertaining fantasy with well-developed characters. It tells what happened next for Rumpelstiltskin. It features a determined, intelligent, and relentless princess who will do anything to save her brother and a poor, abused weapons master who knows more than he wants to about the Wish Granter and falls in love with the princess. My review will be posted on February 18.

Currently

Also from my review stack, I am reading The Dragon's Price by Bethany Wiggins.

Next Week

• Freedom's Slave by Heather Demetrios is the third and final book in her Dark Caravan Cycle. It will be release Feb. 28.
• This Adventure Ends by Emma Mills is from my TBR mountain. I met the author and bought this book October 8, 2016.
• The Swan Riders by Erin Bow in a new addition to TBR mountain. I want to read it before I forget all the details in the first book in this series (The Scorpion Rules).

Reviews Posted

• Beheld by Alex Flinn
• Blood Passage by Heather Demetrios

Want to See What I Added to My Stack Last Week?

• See How They Run by Ally Carter (Print)
• The Cold Eye by Laura Anne Gilman (Kindle - Keeper copy since I read the eARC)

• Windwitch by Susan Dennard (Print - This is another to read soon before the details in Truthwitch are forgotten.)
• Bad Blood by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (Print)

• After Everyone Died by Sean Patrick Little - I bought a Kindle copy of this book by a man I taught with some years ago.

You can check Inside of a Dog (my other blog) to see what adult books I read, reviewed, and plan to read.