2016: Discovering New-to-me Authors

There are always those books that stay with you for various reasons even long after you've read it. They tend to be the ones I mark with 5 stars. 

In 2016, I discovered some 'new-to-me' authors, who I plan on reading more from. 

Tessa Dare 

Dare's Spindle Cove series is a fun historical romance series. Spindle Cove is known as Spinster's Cove - a refuge for women who don't fit in society and are unusual. There's choas and hilarity as the world of the ladies and the new militia merge together.

• A Night to Surrender (#1)
• Once Upon a Winter's Eve (#1.5)
• A Week to Be Wicked #(#2)
• A Lady by Midnight (#3)

Susan Elia MacNeal
The Maggie Hope Mystery series follows Maggie Hope who is a secretary for Winston Churchill. I've only listened to the first one and enjoyed it immensely. Maggie is a spit fire in war torn London and I want to see what she does next for her country.

• Mr. Churchill's Secretary (Maggie Hope Mystery, #1)

Jeaniene Frost

I was on the fence about this one initially but the dry humour did win me over. Cat is a half vampire and she makes it her mission to rid the world of vampires. Vampire bounty hunter Bones enters her life and they form an unlikely partnership.

• Halfway to the Grave (Night Huntress, #1)
• Reckoning (Night Huntress, #0.5)

Carrie Vaughn
I met Carrie Vaughn at WorldCon in 2010. It's taken me this long to get to the book I got her to sign! And it really is a great book. Kitty has spunk but also it's interesting to see the pack dynamics from such a low member of it. Great premise of having a DJ coming out on a radio show that she's a werewolf and a talk show is about this and other paranormal things. Most think it's a publicity stunt but those who know the truth have now got a place to get advice.

• Kitty and the Midnight Hour (Kitty Norville #1)

Veronica Roth
I've seen the first two movies and thought I'd like to see where they came from. A teen who's gutsy but is also scared witless with life. The way she deals with things is a combination of her upbringing and her wanting to break free from this upbringing. At heart she is a good person who must hide what she is if she's to survive.

• Divergent (Divergent, #1)

Aaron Blabey

I discovered The Bad Guys series via an 8 year old. This is a fabulous children's book series about a group of misunderstood 'bad guys' - a wolf, shark, piranha, snake. Seriously hilarious. Text and images work hand in hand to tickle the funny bone.

• The Bad Guys: Episode 1
• The Bad Guys: Episode 2 Mission Unpluckable
• The Bad Guys: Episode 3: The Furball Strikes Again

I love discovering new authors but my To Read pile is groaning at the addition of more titles. :)


Happy Reading!

Series Reading - authors starting with A

This is the first post about my series reading. I have a few I've started over the years and I'm making an effort to go through them. I list the current books I'm reading on my series reading page. Books are listed via author's first name.

I've read a few of the A category in 2016.

Amanda Hocking

Trylle Trilogy 

Genre: YA paranormal romance

A really easy to read and interesting series about the world of Trylles aka trolls.

Up to: third and final book of this series, Ascend. 

2016: #2 and #2.5 

Anne Gracie

The Devil Riders 

Genre: historical romance, regency

I love the series and I love Anne Gracie's voice. The Regency world is brought to life in this series of men who return from the war and who are trying to find their place in the world. 

Currently reading: fifth and final book, Bride by Mistake. 

2016: #3 & #4

Chance Sisters 

Genre: historical romance, regency

This series is waiting oh so patiently on my TBR pile while I finish off 'The Devil Riders'. The Autumn Bride is the first in the series and it'll be the next Anne Gracie I'll read. 

Aaron Blabey

The Bad Guys

Genre: Childrens

Hilarious series about a cast of animal characters who are seen as bad guys who a trying to do and be good. 

Up to: book 4, Zombies - yet to be published 

2016: #2 & #3

(Sir) Arthur Conan Doyle

Sherlock Holmes

Genre: Classics, detective

There have been so many adaptations over the years, I've gone back to the original stories. I am reading the stories occasionally between other stories. I'm listening to the latest story from The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes in audio format, which I will probably continue. 

Currently Reading: The Five Orange Pips in The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes 

2016: 1 story from The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (so far 4 out of 12 read)

The total is 7 stories read in 2016 for authors starting with A - 3 novels, 2 children's books, 2 short stories - and I'm currently reading 2 more stories. 

Not a bad effort.

Happy Reading!

~Eleni