Phoenix Unbound by Grace Draven
Every year, each village is required to send a young woman to the Empire’s capital–her fate to be burned alive for the entertainment of the masses. For the last five years, one small village’s tithe has been the same woman. Gilene’s sacrifice protects all the other young women of her village, and her secret to staying alive lies with the magic only she possesses.
But this year is different.
Azarion, the Empire’s most famous gladiator, has somehow seen through her illusion–and is set on blackmailing Gilene into using her abilities to help him escape his life of slavery. And unknown to Gilene, he also wants to reclaim the birthright of his clan.
To protect her family and village, she will risk everything to return to the Empire–and burn once more.
Hot Winter Nights by Jill Shalvis
Who needs mistletoe?
Most people wouldn’t think of a bad Santa case as the perfect Christmas gift. Then again, Molly Malone, office manager at Hunt Investigations, isn’t most people, and she could really use a distraction from the fantasies she’s been having since spending the night with her very secret crush, Lucas Knight. Nothing happened, not that Lucas knows that—but Molly just wants to enjoy being a little naughty for once . . .
Whiskey and pain meds for almost-healed bullet wounds don’t mix. Lucas needs to remember that next time he’s shot on the job, which may be sooner rather than later if Molly’s brother, Joe, finds out about them. Lucas can’t believe he’s drawing a blank on his (supposedly) passionate tryst with Molly, who’s the hottest, smartest, strongest woman he’s ever known. Strong enough to kick his butt if she discovers he’s been assigned to babysit her on her first case. And hot enough to melt his cold heart this Christmas.
Give the Dark My Love by Beth Revis
Find it at:
Goodreads | Booklikes | LibraryThing
When seventeen-year-old Nedra Brysstain leaves her home in the rural, northern territories of Lunar Island to attend the prestigious Yugen Academy, she has only one goal in mind: learn the trade of medicinal alchemy. A scholarship student matriculating with the children of Lunar Island’s wealthiest and most powerful families, Nedra doesn’t quite fit in with the other kids at Yugen, who all look down on her.
All, except for Greggori “Grey” Astor. Grey is immediately taken by the brilliant and stubborn Nedra, who he notices is especially invested in her studies. And that’s for a good reason: a deadly plague has been sweeping through the North, and it’s making its way toward the cities. With her family’s life–and the lives of all of Lunar Island’s citizens–on the line, Nedra is determined to find a cure for the plague.
Grey and Nedra continue to grow closer, but as the sickness spreads and the body count rises, Nedra becomes desperate to find a cure. Soon, she finds herself diving into alchemy’s most dangerous corners–and when she turns to the most forbidden practice of all, necromancy, even Grey might not be able to pull her from the darkness.
The Ancient Nine by Ian Smith
Find it at:
Goodreads | LibraryThing
“Pulls you into the depths of a secret world from the first page. Ian Smith’s novel is unmissable.” —Harlan Coben, author of Missing You
Cambridge, Massachusetts, Fall 1988
Spenser Collins
An unlikely Harvard prospect, smart and athletic, strapped for cash, determined to succeed. Calls his mother—who raised him on her own in Chicago—every week.Dalton Winthrop
A white-shoe legacy at Harvard, he’s just the most recent in a string of moneyed, privileged Winthrop men in Cambridge. He’s got the ease—and the deep knowledge—that come from belonging.These two find enough common ground to become friends, cementing their bond when Spenser is “punched” to join the Delphic Club, one of the most exclusive of Harvard’s famous all-male final clubs. Founded in the nineteenth century, the Delphic has had titans of industry, Hollywood legends, heads of state, and power brokers among its members.
Dalton Winthrop knows firsthand that the Delphic doesn’t offer memberships to just anyone. His great-uncle is one of their oldest living members, and Dalton grew up on stories of the club’s rituals. But why is his uncle so cryptic about the Ancient Nine, a shadowy group of alums whose identities are unknown and whose power is absolute? They protect the Delphic’s darkest and oldest secrets—including what happened to a student who sneaked into the club’s stately brick mansion in 1927 and was never seen again.
Dalton steers Spenser into deeper and deeper recesses of the club, and beyond, to try to make sense of what they think they may be seeing. But with each scrap of information they get from an octogenarian Crimson graduate, a crumbling newspaper in the library’s archives, or one of Harvard’s most famous and heavily guarded historical books, a fresh complication trips them up. The more the friends investigate, the more questions they unearth, tangling the story of the club, the disappearance, and the Ancient Nine, until they realize their own lives are in danger.
Dark my love looks good
I do want to read that one.
I like the sound of Give the dark my love but only if the romance is background to the plague!
I am not sure but I am looking forward to giving it a try.
I need to get Hot Winter Nights! I like that series. Thanks for sharing!
I loved that one, Grace!
Lots and lots of good books this week!
It is a good book week!
Thanks for sharing. Dark Descent is one I'm curious about!
-Lauren
http://www.shootingstarsmag.net
I think that one sounds great!
Why do I look at this post when I already have too many books,lol.
lol
I really enjoyed the first one!
I thought that the first two were great!
Nw that I've read a Jill Shalvis book I plan on reading more.
I just love her books!
People are all over the place on the new Shalvis, but I feel like I will enjoy it. I hope my library gets it soon. Love her!
I loved the new Shalvis books and I think you will as well, Sam!
Nice list. I can't wait to read Hot Winter Nights.
That's a good one, Nadene!
I've got the Jill Shalvis and I'm really looking forward to it and you've sold me on Phoenix Unbound! The others are new to me.
Those would be my top picks for the week!
So many great releases….there are so many at the end of the month. I can't wait to read Phoenix Unbound…its our Book of the Month for our book club read in October.
I loved Phoenix Unbound and hope you do as well!
I loved Hidden and have the Rugged Cowboy to share during HoHoHoRAT
I hope to get to both of those at some point.
I am reading Phoenix Unbound right now. I hope to finish tonight if all goes well with my reading plans! Fingers crossed. Give the Dark My Love looks really good and I can't resist Jill Shalvis. All the other books are ones I want to read as well. When will I get the time??
I think we all need a bit more reading time 🙂
I really want to read the Elizabeth Frankenstein one, especially as I love the original story and would like to see the shift in the focus. I also liked a book by Beth Revis before and would be curious about her new release…
Yes! I think that the Frankenstein book sounds really original.