Library Haul 2015 (Oct 4 - 10)

Library Haul

Here's the list of books/manga/manhwa/yaoi manga I picked up this week at the library:

Softcover:

1.  A New Hope - Robyn Carr
2.  The Edge of Black - J.T. Ellison

Hardcover:

1.  The Hidden - Heather Graham

Anime Overview: Young Black Jack

Synopsis

The year is 1968, and the world is swept up in the Vietnam War and student protests. In this time of turmoil, a mysterious young man with white and black hair and a scar on his face is enrolled in medical school. His genius skills with a surgical knife achieve many a medical miracle and are getting noticed. This hero origin story reveals how this young man earned his medical degree and the name of Black Jack.

Anime Overview: K: Return of Kings

Synopsis

In modern Japan, where history has strangely overlapped with reality. There, seven "Kings" with great superpowers existed. Along with their clansman to whom they shared their own power with, the kings each formed clans. Order bound by blue, red flames that cause chaos, irregularities that shine in white, and reforms branched off into green. The Kings, each with their own abilities, now...

With "jungle" once again jumping back into action, the fates of the various Kings are brought together.

Bunny Express Saturday 2015 (Oct 3)

Bunny Express Saturday is hosted every Saturday at Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews.

I received these in the mail this week.

For Review:

RESCUE ME

Cedar Ridge, Colorado, is famous for crisp mountain air, clear blue skies, and pine-scented breezes. And it's the last place Lily Danville wants to be. But she needs a job, and there's an opening at the hottest resort in her hometown. What has her concerned is the other hot property in Cedar Ridge: Aidan Kincaid - firefighter, rescue worker, and heartbreaker. She never could resist that devastating smile.

The Kincaid brothers are as rough and rugged as the Rocky Mountains they call home. Aidan has always done things his own way, by his own rules. And never has he regretted anything more than letting Lily walk out of his life ten years ago. If anyone has ever been in need of rescuing, she has. What she needs more than anything are long hikes, slow dances, and sizzling kisses. But that can only happen if he can get her to give Cedar Ridge - and this bad boy - a second chance.

When art imitates death

As part of the FBI's elite Apostles team, bomb and weapons specialist Evie Jimenez knows playing it safe is not an option. Especially when tracking a serial killer like the Angel Bomber. He calls himself an artist-using women as his canvas and state-of-the-art explosives as his brush. His art lives and breathes, and with the flick of a switch dies.

Now as the clock ticks down to his next strike, Evie faces an altogether different challenge: billionaire philanthropist and art expert Jack Elliott, who's made it clear he doesn't care for Evie's wild-card tactics. Jack never imagined the instant heat for the fiery Evie would explode his cool and cautious world-and make him long to protect her. But as Evie and Jack get closer to the killer's endgame, they will learn that safety and control are all illusions. For their quarry has set his sight on Evie for his final masterpiece.

 

He took her life, but left her alive.

Three years ago, reporter Kate Johnson was the first victim - and only survivor - of the Broadcast Butcher. Scarred both physically and psychologically by the brutal serial killer, Kate lives life on the run, knowing that one day, he will find her and finish what he started.

In the pursuit of justice, you sometimes have to step outside the law.

Agent Hayden Reed spends his life chasing monsters. The only way to stay sane is to detach, but the second the Broadcast Butcher case crosses his desk, Hayden knows this is the case that might just cost him his soul. To catch this vicious murderer before he strikes again, Hayden must find Kate and earn her trust. For it's her darkest secrets that hold the key to stopping this madman once and for all.



 

Whitey Bulger is gone from Boston, but Bench McCarthy is here to take his place.

Bench McCarthy is a thug's thug, a hitman, an underworld jack-of-all-trades running his own mob out of Winter Hill in Somerville while simultaneously handling "wet work" for Sally Curto, a half-demented, totally obscene mob boss.

After years of gangland peace, Bench and Sally suddenly find themselves clay pigeons for unknown hit crews coming at them from every direction. The motives are as murky as the hitmen themselves, but all roads seem to lead back to the State House, where corrupt pols are battling over a bill to legalize billions of dollars' worth of new casinos.

In order to stay alive as he puts an end to the uprising, the wisecracking Bench must set aside his objections and enlist the help of Jack Reilly, a dodgy ex-cop turned private investigator. The hunter has become the hunted.

Killers is a thrilling ride through the dark underbelly of Boston crime and politics that could only have been written by the man novelist James Ellroy calls "the Bacon-Banging Boston Bossman" - Howie Carr, the newspaper columnist on whom Whitey Bulger first put out a contract and then called as a defense witness during his 2013 murder trial in Boston.

Manga:

"Take care for your blood is sweet"

The angels Isuka and Hitaki have been targeting Aki all along! In order to "purge" the pureblood vampire, they bring their Swords of Judgment down upon him! Will Kana be able to help Aki out of what appears to be a life-threatening situation for them both?

Nao can't hold out much longer against the fatal effects of his mixed-race curse. He needs divine power, but the only offer on the table is from Satsuki, who left Nao to die in the dust the last time they met. Nao is torn between his distrust of Satsuki, his desperation for survival, and his loyalty to Tsuzuki. When the next Crusade begins, which side will Nao really be fighting for?

A hidden identity is laid bare in Volume 4 of this black magic fantasy!

On the trail of a great evil, Sorath happens upon the completion ceremony of the Ziggurat, a giant broadcasting tower. There, a chess match of ominous proportions is being played out by humans manipulated like pawns by the lies of a demon. And to his great shock, Sorath encounters someone whom he never expected to see again amid this game someone he thought had died by his own hand?

The evil spirits of the Imperial Capital appear before Sorath once more!

The near future. A terrible battle against a parasitic virus called "Gastrea" has been fought and lost.

Humanity is cornered and lives in despair. Rentaro and Enju face constant danger in their work as a team of specialists working for the Tendo Civil Security Agency, one of several groups dedicated to fighting Gastrea. Enju is one of the "cursed children," who survived the virus and gained superhuman powers as a result. A crazed top-hat-wearing terrorist is on the loose, but Rentaro's got his hands full just dealing with his fellow civsec agents!

After suffering unprecedented disasters in World War II, Japan accepts the American and Allied Forces' terms of unconditional surrender. Now the citizens of a ruined nation, the people of Japan come together amid an influx of influences and immigrants and -- cunningly, carefully -- survive.

This is the unrecognizable Japan to which the sharpshooting, sweet-talking womanizer Leo Shishigami returns three years after the war. Against this backdrop, in the spring of 1947, everything is set into motion when Leo meets Rose Haibara, the madam of Club Primavera.

Who will emerge as the true hero of the people?

Köinzell engages again with Glenn's knights, but their spells have critically weakened him. Just as capture seems imminent, Aht rejoins the fight! Despite her injuries, Aht is determined to prove to Köinzell that her devotion can be an asset and not a hindrance in battle, even if it costs her life. Meanwhile, the deeply paranoid Barestar sends an army against the city to kill the hero-killer -- at the price of citizens' lives! The knights of the Order of the Seven Lances face a difficult choice: follow the will of the hero Barestar and allow the soldiers to pillage the city, or fight to protect the people alongside Köinzell, the very man they were sent to eliminate!

An epic fantasy on the grandest of scales!

Gaze down into the sunny garden from the veranda.

There, children run to and fro, full of life.

Two cats chase after them.

The sight calls to mind a single thought:

They seem to be racing each other.

A caucus race.

A race with no end.

If only this charming sight could

Continue on tomorrow and ever after.

Drawn up from the world of PandoraHearts, these enchanting fairy tales illustrated by Jun Mochizuki throw open the doors of the four great dukedoms once more.

Thanks Hachette Book Group Canada/Yen Press and TOR Books!

Ellen Byron's Plantation Shudders Blog Tour with a Spotlight and Giveaway

I am so excited to have Ellen Byron here at Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews with a Spotlight and Giveaway.

Thanks Ellen and Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours for allowing me to join your Plantation Shudders Blog Tour!

Please take it away, Ellen!

Plantation Shutters
by Ellen Byron
Plantation Shudders:
A Cajun Country Mystery
Cozy Mystery
New Series
Hardcover: 288 pages
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books (August 11, 2015)
ISBN-13: 978-1629532509
E-Book ASIN: B011IZPRR6




Synopsis

Check in for some Southern hospitality in Plantation Shudders, the Cajun Country series debut from Ellen Byron.

It’s the end of the summer and Prodigal Daughter Maggie Crozat has returned home to her family’s plantation-turned-bed-and-breakfast in Louisiana. The Crozats have an inn full of guests for the local food festival – elderly honeymooners, the Cajun Cuties, a mysterious stranger from Texas, a couple of hipster lovebirds, and a trio of Georgia frat boys. But when the elderly couple keels over dead within minutes of each other–one from very unnatural causes - Maggie and the others suddenly become suspects in a murder.

With the help of Bo Durant, the town’s handsome new detective, Maggie must investigate to clear her name while holding the family business together at the same time. And the deeper she digs, the more she wonders: are all of the guests really there for a vacation or do they have ulterior motives? Decades-old secrets and stunning revelations abound in Ellen Byron’s charming cozy debut, Plantation Shudders.

About The Author

Byron is a native New Yorker who loves the rain, lives in bone-dry Los Angeles, and spends lots of time writing about Louisiana. She attributes this obsession to her college years at New Orleans’ Tulane University. Her debut novel, Plantation Shudders: A Cajun Country Mystery, launches on August 11th. Her TV credits include Wings, Just Shoot Me, and many network pilots. She’s written over 200 magazine articles, and her published plays include the award-winning, Graceland. She is also the recipient of a William F. Deeck-Malice Domestic Grant. She’s the proud mom of a fifteen year-old daughter and two very spoiled rescue dogs.

http://www.ellenbyron.com/

http://www.ellenbyron.com/#!blog/c1in0

https://twitter.com/ellenbyronla

https://www.facebook.com/ellenbyronauthor

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/23234.Ellen_Byron

Giveaway

https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/02887792199/

Anime Overview: Lupin III (2015)

 

Synopsis

Lupin will be starring as the main character in this upcoming series set to take place in Italy and San Marino.

Reflecting its setting, the anime will debut in Italy before airing in Japan. Lupin III fans will note that the titular thief now has a blue coat, following his earlier appearances in green (first series and some OVAs), red (the second series as well as most films and television specials) or pink (third series).

Laura Griffin's Shadow Fall Blog Tour with a Spotlight, Excerpt and Giveaway

I am so excited to have Laura Griffin here at Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews with a Spotlight, Excerpt and Giveaway.

Thanks Laura and Tasty Book Tours for allowing me to join your Shadow Fall Blog Tour!

Please take it away, Laura!

Shadow Fall
The Tracers #9
By: Laura Griffin
Releasing September 22, 2015
Pocket Books

Blurb

In the ninth romantic suspense novel in the New York Times bestselling Tracers series, author Laura Griffin brings back her elite cadre of forensic experts as they hunt down the most brutal serial killer yet.

Special Agent Tara Rushing arrives at a grisly murder scene and quickly discovers she’s got a serial killer on her hands. The killer is meticulous, making sure to wipe up even the smallest traces of evidence but the Delphi Center experts are on the case.

The local sheriff has a suspect all picked out — ex-Marine and current security expert Liam Wolfe.

Despite all her digging, Tara knows very little about Liam when she shows up at his sprawling Texas compound, which serves as headquarters for Wolfe Security, and she’s surprised by her intense physical reaction to him.

As she and Liam grow closer, Tara finds herself depending on his skills and expertise to help her track a killer. But when another body turns up, Tara must decide if she can trust the man who’s quickly stealing her heart.

The ninth novel in the Tracers series that combines gripping plot twists with spine-tingling romance, Shadow Fall once again proves that “Laura Griffin gets better with each book” (The Romance Reviews).

Link to Follow Tour: http://www.tastybooktours.com/2015/07/shadow-fall-tracers-9-by-laura-griffin.html

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25111058-shadow-fall

Goodreads Series Link: https://www.goodreads.com/series/46965-tracers

Buy Links: Amazon | B & N | iTunes | Kobo

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Fall-Tracers-Book-9-ebook/dp/B00UDCNHGE/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1436117514&sr=1-1&keywords=shadow+fall

B and N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/shadow-fall-laura-griffin/1121369193?ean=9781476779256

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/shadow-fall/id974979778?mt=11

Kobo: http://origin-storeperf.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/shadow-fall-3


 

Author Info

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author LAURA GRIFFIN started her career in journalism before venturing into the world of romantic suspense. She is a two-time RITA Award winner (for the books Scorched and Whisper of Warning) as well as the recipient of the Daphne du Maurier Award (for Untraceable). Laura currently lives in Austin, where she is working on her next book.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Website: http://www.lauragriffin.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Laura-Griffin/206501652717671

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Laura_Griff

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/84181.Laura_Griffin

Excerpt

Tara looked out the window again and realized her pulse was still thrumming. He unnerved her. It wasn’t just his size, it was his attitude. Maybe she was self-conscious because he’d caught her off guard. She was definitely embarrassed that she’d pulled her weapon on him.


She adjusted the vent and got a waft of hot air. His attitude bothered her, but she liked his truck. It smelled like leather and earth and felt deliciously warm. She forced herself to ignore the flutter of nerves generated by being alone in the dark with him. The nerves weren’t from fear but something else. And she wondered which was worse, being afraid of a man she was investigating or being attracted to him?

“You shouldn’t come out here alone.”

She looked at him. “Why not?”

“We’ve got more than a few meth heads around here. You don’t want to walk up on something, not without backup.”

She watched his face in the dimness, uneasy with the protective tone of his voice.

“We confirmed the ID today,” she said.

“I know.”

That ticked her off.

“Won’t be long till the media has it,” he added.

“Where are you getting your information?”

He didn’t answer.

“And the other day,” she said, “how’d you know we were here, me and M.J.? Are you having us tailed?”

Even if he was, he’d probably never admit it. But she at least needed to ask and get his reaction. Shadowing investigators could definitely be considered suspicious behavior.

Although she had to be honest with herself. She didn’t consider him a real suspect. Despite his links to the victim, she simply didn’t feel it.

“I’m guessing you filmed us approaching your property and ran my plate,” she said.

The corner of his mouth lifted. “Nothing that cloak - and - dagger.” He glanced at her. “I’m friends with Crystal.”

“Who’s Crystal?”

“She waited on you at the Waffle Stop. Bright red hair, eyebrow ring.”

She turned to face the window. “Small-town grapevine. And here I’ve been all impressed with your spying abilities.”

“You should be.” He pulled up to her Explorer and parked. “We’re the best there is.”

She looked at him in the darkness, so confident it bordered on arrogance. And the crazy thing was she believed him. She bought into it completely — he was that good.

His eyes locked on hers, and the air between them felt charged with electricity. His gaze dropped to her mouth, and her heart skittered. Was he going to kiss her? He eased closer, watching her, making her heart pound.

Giveaway

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/NTIxYWM0YzhjYmFkNDc1MDkxYzA3ZDNmMjhhM2RjOjc4MQ==/?

Anime Overview: Diabolik Lovers More Blood

 

Synopsis

Yui Komori may (or may not) have attained vampire status, but due to her inexplicable links to the Sakamaki clan her life remains somewhat unchanged. Yet troubled by new dreams and apparitions mentioning a mysterious “Eve”, Yui’s life is suddenly once again – quite literally – turned upside down when she and the Sakamaki brothers are involved in a fiery car crash. The incident heralds the appearance of four new vampires, the Mukami tribe, and to her dismay these dashing young men have their eyes and fangs set on Yui as well!

New Release 2015 (Oct 1)

 

New Release

An examination of the cultural occupations of Egypt over the past two millennia and how we can return to the sacred harmony of ancient Egypt.

Explores the golden civilization of ancient Egypt and its system of natural magic that birthed the Western Mystery tradition

Examines each phase of Egyptian history from the Pharaonic period, through the Roman conquest, to the ongoing Islamization

Provides a revised portrait of the life of Muhammad, revealing his connections to the Essene tradition

Imagine the paradise of ancient Egypt: a lush green valley with a gentle river, full of animals and birds of all sizes. The first settlers, arriving by way of the desert, would have marveled at this beautiful landscape. This awe held on through the first three millennia of settlement in Egypt. Centered on careful observations of the natural rhythms of their environment, particularly the Nile, this enlightened civilization lived in a state of spiritual balance and harmony they called “living in Maat.” This state was further enhanced by the sacred landscape of Egypt and the colossal monuments and pyramids the Egyptians built to reflect the heavens, thus creating a cosmic “spiritual engine” for the ancient world. But sadly, the paradise and Maat of ancient Egypt were not to last, and for the past two thousand years Egypt has experienced many occupations by hostile forces bent on taking control of this magical land.

Exploring the exemplary social and cultural model that produced the golden civilization of ancient Egypt as well as the many waves of conquest and destruction up to the present day, Robert Bauval and Ahmed Osman examine each phase of Egyptian history from its origins and the Pharaonic period, through the Roman conquest and its Christianization, to the Pan-Arabization of Nasser and the ongoing Islamization that began with the Muslim caliphate in the 7th century. They show how the current Islamic rulers are actively working to eradicate all traces of Egypt’s spiritual roots, the source of the Western Mystery tradition. They provide a revised portrait of the life of Muhammad, revealing his connections to the Essene tradition, and explain how most Sharia Law is not based on the Koran.

Revealing how even the dams built on the Nile are impeding Egypt’s sacred role, the authors sound the call for a return to the original tenets of Egyptian civilization, one that sustained itself in harmony and peaceful creativity for more than three millennia.

October Releases

 

1st
The Soul of Ancient Egypt - Robert Bauval and Ahmed Osman

6th
Saturn Run - John Sandford
Parchment and Old Lace - Laura Childs
Wild Sky - Suzanne Brockmann and Melanie Brockmann
Undead and Unforgiven - MaryJanice Davidson

13th
The World's Greatest Love Vol. 3 - Shungiku Nakamura

20th
Fear the Dark - Kay Hooper

27th
I'll Never Let You Go - Mary Burton
Depraved Heart - Patricia Cornwell
Nine Lives - Wendy Corsi Staub
First Love Monster Vol. 2 - Akira Hiyoshimaru
Alice in Murderland Vol. 2 - Kaori Yuki
Barakamon Vol. 7 - Satsuki Yoshino