With a million things (no exaggeration!) to do before leaving for vacation in Italy, I’m posting my happy book birthdays for this week and next a little early, but I hope that I can be forgiven for that, especially when I return with wonderful travel experiences and pictures to share with the class!
So, without further ado, happy upcoming book birthdays to…
THE QUEEN OF SWORDS by R.S. Belcher | Tor | June 27th
(Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Indiebound, Books-a-million)
“Belcher’s enjoyable third historical fantasy (after The Shotgun Arcana) employs considerable imagination to drop readers into a fully formed world of magic and mysticism, drawing on ancient cultures and rituals while serving up exciting action sequences… Fans of the Golgotha series will adore this, and new readers will find a rich new world to fall into as well as two very strong heroines to root for.” —Publishers Weekly
“Once again letting loose the reins on his formidable imagination and skill, Belcher creates another undeniable winner with his whimsically horrific characters, unparalleled worldbuilding, stimulating narrative and a diabolical storyline teeming with magic, mayhem and dark humor. Fans will cheer the powerful female protagonists who are indeed the queens of this world.” —RT Book Reviews, 4 ½ Stars, Top Pick!
1870. Maude Stapleton, late of Golgotha, Nevada, is a respectable widow raising a daughter on her own. Few know that Maude belongs to an ancient order of assassins, the daughters of Lilith, and is as well the great-great-great-great-granddaughter of Anne Bonney, the legendary female pirate.
Leaving Golgotha in search of her daughter Constance, who has been taken from her, Maude travels to Charleston, South Carolina, only to find herself caught in the middle of a secret war between the Daughters of Lilith and their ancestral enemies, the monstrous Sons of Typhon. To save Constance, whose prophetic gifts are sought by both cults, Maude must follow in the footsteps of Anne Bonney as she embarks on a perilous voyage that will ultimately lead her to a lost city of bones in the heart of Africa―and the Father of All Monsters.
One of the most popular characters from The Six-Gun Tarot and The Shotgun Arcana ventures beyond Golgotha on a boldly imaginative, globe-spanning adventure of her own!
(Excerpt here!)
STILLHOUSE LAKE by Rachel Caine|Thomas & Mercer| July 1st
(Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Indiebound, Books-a-million)
“Caine spins a powerful story of maternal love and individual self-realization that cries out for at least one redeeming sequel. Compelling characters and plenty of credible plot twists…” —Publishers Weekly
Gina Royal is the definition of average—a shy Midwestern housewife with a happy marriage and two adorable children. But when a car accident reveals her husband’s secret life as a serial killer, she must remake herself as Gwen Proctor—the ultimate warrior mom.
With her ex now in prison, Gwen has finally found refuge in a new home on remote Stillhouse Lake. Though still the target of stalkers and Internet trolls who think she had something to do with her husband’s crimes, Gwen dares to think her kids can finally grow up in peace.
But just when she’s starting to feel at ease in her new identity, a body turns up in the lake—and threatening letters start arriving from an all-too-familiar address. Gwen Proctor must keep friends close and enemies at bay to avoid being exposed—or watch her kids fall victim to a killer who takes pleasure in tormenting her. One thing is certain: she’s learned how to fight evil. And she’ll never stop.
LOST BOY by Christina Henry | Berkley | July 4th
(Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Indiebound, Books-a-million)
“Bestseller Henry (Red Queen) will delight readers with this thrilling origin story, which reveals the true Peter Pan and the long road that led Jamie the lost boy to become pirate captain James Hook… Multiple twists keep the reader guessing, and the fluid writing is enthralling. Henry perfectly captures what it’s like to live on Peter’s island, and Jamie is a powerful character. Through his perspective, Henry immerses the reader in Neverland and genuinely shocks with the meanings behind Peter’s secrets and the intentions of his adventures. This is a fine addition to the shelves of any fan of children’s classics and their modern subversions.” —Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
“…a deeply impactful, imaginative and haunting story of loyalty, disillusionment and self-discovery.” —RT Book Reviews, 4 ½ Star Top Pick!
From the national bestselling author of Alice comes a familiar story with a dark hook—a tale about Peter Pan and the friend who became his nemesis, a nemesis who may not be the blackhearted villain Peter says he is…
There is one version of my story that everyone knows. And then there is the truth. This is how it happened. How I went from being Peter Pan’s first—and favorite—lost boy to his greatest enemy.
Peter brought me to his island because there were no rules and no grownups to make us mind. He brought boys from the Other Place to join in the fun, but Peter’s idea of fun is sharper than a pirate’s sword. Because it’s never been all fun and games on the island. Our neighbors are pirates and monsters. Our toys are knife and stick and rock—the kinds of playthings that bite.
Peter promised we would all be young and happy forever.
Peter lies.
GRAVE RANSOM by Kalayna Price | Ace | July 4th
(Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Indiebound, Books-a-million)
“Over the course of this transfixing series, Price has built a uniquely compelling world and made sure her characters were truly unforgettable!” —RT Book Reviews
“The world-building in this series is phenomenal, with more intricacies to discover in each and every book… this is one installment of the Alex Craft series that you won’t want to miss.” —The Novel Lady
In the thrilling new novel from USA Today bestselling author Kalayna Price, Alex Craft comes face-to-face with the walking dead….
Grave witch Alex Craft is no stranger to the dead talking. She raises shades, works with ghosts, and is dating Death himself. But the dead walking? That’s not supposed to happen. And yet reanimated corpses are committing crimes across Nekros City.
Alex’s investigation leads her deep into a web of sinister magic. When Briar Darque of the Magical Crimes Investigation Bureau gets involved, Alex finds herself with an unexpected ally of sorts. But as the dead continue to rise and wreak havoc on the living, can she get to the soul of the matter in time?
HER GUARDIAN SHIFTER by Karen Whiddon | Harlequin Nocturne | July 4th
(Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Books-a-million)
Some boundaries are made to be crossed…
A rare Vedjorn bear shifter, Eric Mikkelson lives on his own terms. So allying with wolf shifters, even gorgeous Julia Jacobs, bristles his loner instincts. But Eric must protect his infant son from the dangerous shifter cult stalking him. However, keeping JJ at arm’s length proves nearly impossible. She gets under Eric’s skin, exposing them to new risks as their staggering attraction defies Pack laws, and JJ’s own dark secrets fester between them.
When the safe haven of their shifter-friendly town is violated, lying low is no longer an option. Julia and Eric must embrace the power of their inner beasts, even if it means sacrificing their forbidden bond.
While we’re on the subject of new releases, right now if you pre-order UNDER THE PARISIAN SKY by Alli Sinclair, you receive exclusive content AND are entered to win a beautiful pendant. It’s a win-win-possible-win situation!
Lucienne Diver's Drivel 