Sunday, February 20, 2011

New Releases: March 2011

It is time to highlight a few of the new releases I'm planning to read next month! I can't believe February is almost over and March is almost here. Well, I'm actually featuring one late February release, but since I just finished the first book of the trilogy and plan to read books 2 and 3 in March, why not, right? Here they are:



Grail by Elizabeth Bear
Jacob's Ladder Trilogy (Book 3)
Release Date: February 22, 2011
Rife with intrigue and betrayal, heroism and sacrifice, Grail brings Elizabeth Bear’s brilliant space opera to a triumphant conclusion.

At last the generation ship Jacob’s Ladder has arrived at its destination: the planet they have come to call Grail. But this habitable jewel just happens to be populated already: by humans who call their home Fortune. And they are wary of sharing Fortune—especially with people who have genetically engineered themselves to such an extent that it is a matter of debate whether they are even human anymore. To make matters worse, a shocking murder aboard the Jacob’s Ladder has alerted Captain Perceval and the angel Nova that formidable enemies remain hidden somewhere among the crew.

On Grail—or Fortune, rather—Premier Danilaw views the approach of the Jacob’s Ladder with dread. Behind the diplomatic niceties of first-contact protocol, he knows that the deadly game being played is likely to erupt into full-blown war—even civil war. For as he strives to chart a peaceful and prosperous path forward for his people, internal threats emerge to take control by any means necessary.
Okay, I just finished Dust, Book 1 in the Jacob's Ladder space opera trilogy by Elizabeth Bear and am totally hooked! I'm reading Chill next and have GOT to find out what happens to the Jacobites when they get to Grail. This book is going to be a definite read for me during the month of March.



A Lesson in Secrets (A Masie Dobbs Novel) by Jacqueline Winspear
Release Date: March 22, 2011
It's the summer of 1932 and Maisie Dobbs has been wondering lately whether she is descending into the doldrums. Those bracing fears are jolted away when she receives an official request to begin undercover work probe activities "not in the interests of His Majesty's Government." After accepting a position as a junior lecturer in the Cambridge philosophy department, she begins observing as students and faculty members vie for political dominance. Matters reach a flash point, however, when her college's controversial pacifist founder and principal is murdered. As officials fumble on with their investigation, Maisie focuses on the Nazis in her midst. A breakthrough book for an award-winning British author whose popularity has grown steadily with each new release.
Besides fantasy and science fiction, I seem to be in the mood for mysteries! This series is set in the UK during the post World War I era, and it looks really interesting. I'm picking up the new release first (this is the 8th book in the series), and if I like it, I'll get the backlist. I DO love the cover, don't you?



It Happened One Season Anthology
Release Date: March 29, 2011
We asked our readers what story they would most like to see from four bestselling authors. They responded . . .

A handsome hero returns from war, battle-scarred and world-weary. But family duty calls and he must find a bride.

A young lady facing yet another season without a suitor never expects to find herself the object of his affections.

It Happened One Season

Four amazing talents: Stephanie Laurens, Mary Balogh, Jacquie D'Alessandro, and Candice Hern have come together to create one of the most unforgettable events of the year. The results are spectacular—each story is as unique as a lover's first kiss.
Ohhh, and I've been waiting for this book for a long time! Did you see that first line? We asked our readers... ? Well, they did! They asked readers to choose a story and the authors would write the romance. Our own blogger friend Phyl from Phyl's Quilts and Books, a Balogh fan, won that contest! I was very excited for her and am really looking forward to reading all of these stories, particularly the Balogh. :D



Children of Scarabaeus (Scarabaeus, Book 2) by Sara Creasy
Release Date: March 29, 2011

The crib is everywhere . . .

Edie Sha'nim believes she and her bodyguard lover, Finn, could find refuge from the tyranny of the Crib empire by fleeing to the Fringe worlds. But Edie's extraordinary cypherteck ability to manipulate the ecology of evolving planets makes her far too valuable for the empire to lose. Recaptured and forced to cooperate—or else she will watch Finn die—Edie is shocked to discover the Crib's new breed of cypherteck: children. She cannot stand by while the oppressors enslave the innocent, nor can she resist the lure of Scarabaeus, the first world she tried to save, when researchers discover what appears to be an evolving intelligence.

But escape—for Edie, for Finn, and for the exploited young—will require the ultimate sacrifice . . . and a shocking act of rebellion.
Children of Scarabaeus is the conclusion to the story that began with Song of Scarabaeous, a science fiction romance book I read and reviewed this month. The first book was highly enjoyable and I can't wait to find out what happens to Edie and Finn in this second book!



The Sweetest Thing (Lucky Harbor, Book 2) by Jill Shalvis
Release Date: March 29, 2011

Two Men Are One Too Many . . .

Tara has a thousand good reasons not to return to the little coastal town of Lucky Harbor, Washington. Yet with her life doing a major crash-and-burn, anywhere away from her unfulfilled dreams and sexy ex-husband will do. As Tara helps her two sisters get their newly renovated inn up and running, she finally has a chance to get things under control and come up with a new plan for her life.

But a certain tanned, green-eyed sailor has his own ideas, such as keeping Tara hot, bothered . . . and in his bed. And when her ex wants Tara back, three is a crowd she can't control-especially when her deepest secret reappears out of the blue. Now Tara must confront her past and discover what she really wants. If she's lucky, she might just find that everything her heart desires is right here in Lucky Harbor.
And last, but certainly not least, I finally, finally, read Simply Irresistible by Jill Shalvis. The first book in the Lucky Harbor series about three very different sisters who end up in a small town, and really enjoyed it! The Sweetest Thing is the second book and I have a feeling I'll be enjoying it just as much, if not more, than the first one.


I'll definitely be reading other new releases, and I might add more later if something else catches my eye! How about you? Anything you absolutely have to read in March?

12 comments:

  1. Nice books! They are all so different but sound great.

    I still need to get to Jill Shavis's books, *sigh* it's on my To Read List but I dunno, sort of keep getting bumped down. :P

    Have a great time reading!
    :D

    ReplyDelete
  2. Those look like some good ones. Of course I'm focused on just one, lol. Did you see the excerpts that are up on Mary Balogh's and Candice Hern's websites? I'm so excited I can hardly wait! Just a little over 5 weeks to go!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I'm also looking forward to the Shalvis book. I enjoyed SI and have been looking forward to the next book -- even though Tara wasn't really a nice sister at the time. Lol.

    Other books I'm looking forward to reading is Hidden Away by Maya Banks, River Marked by Patricia Briggs, and A Lot Like Love by Julie James. I might also pick up My One and Only by Kristan Higgins. Higgins last few releases were meh so that's why it's a "maybe". Lol

    ReplyDelete
  4. This reminds me that I have to start the post for the new releases! LOL.

    I'm going to get the new Jill Shalvis, but in ebook... will probably pick the first book by Sara Creasy as well :)

    The anthology sounds okay, I don't know... it doesn't seem that original, the storylines ^_^;

    The cover for A Lesson in Secrets looks cute :) But wouldn't it be better to start with the first book?

    As for new releases for me in March, I'm pretty much in line with Tabitha. Except I'm adding Blackout, the next Cal Leandros release, which you seem to have forgotten LOL

    ReplyDelete
  5. Ooh that reminds me, a friend of mine was trying to get me to read the Maisie Dobbs books. Are they really good?

    Good list! I haven't even thought about what books I'm looking forward to and already I can start a list. :P

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oh, how exciting for Phyl!! I don't normally pick up anthologies, but will definitely look for this one.

    And agree. Waiting for the Shalvis.

    oh, and Tabitha just reminded me that Hidden Away is coming. *want*

    ReplyDelete
  7. I like the sound of A Lesson in Secrets and It Happened One Season!

    And I have Song of Scarabaeous on my TBR list, although I'm slightly hesitant about the heroine. (I'm in a no fly zone when it comes to 'gifted' and/or 'beautiful' heroines. I know it's sounds silly, but...it's just demorializing to continually read books in which said heroine triumps, falls in love, etc. That's why I love 'Plain Jane' books :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Alex, I enjoyed Simply Irresistible and had tons of fun reading it. Plus, you know she can write those love scenes, lol! This one is about the "sour" sister, and reunited lovers. *g*

    Phyl, I didn't read the excerpts, but I read the blurb at Balogh's site. :) We all know she can do wallflowers sooo well, and I love the couple knew each other previously. I'm really looking forward to reading ALL the stories, though. :D Congrats again!


    Tabitha, RE: Shalvis! I know! Tara was such a sour girl... but I'm looking forward to reading her secrets and I love that it's about "reunited old lovers." Let's see how it turns out. :D

    I knew I was forgetting books I want to read and the Julie James is one of them! I'll definitely be reading that one. *g*

    Nath, I look forward to reading your new releases post it's always nice and extensive!

    RE: The anthology, that blurb is really not so great, it doesn't include the fact that it's about a younger a brother who has only daughter and must marry. (The Lord only has daughters). I always like stories about younger brothers. *g*

    And LOL! I forgot Cal! Of course I'm going to read Blackout! I'm going to have to put up an additional post at this rate. *g*

    Ames, the Maisie Dobbs Mysteries look great, but I haven't read any of them. I chose this one because it's a mystery and I liked the setting and time period. The first few books in the backlist are labeled "YA/Adult" because I think the books began when Maisie was young(er), but then that label was dropped. I think that's interesting. If I like it, I'll be going back to read the rest of the series. :)

    Lori, yes! The Anthology and Shalvis!

    Orannia, I hope you enjoy the upcoming releases. RE: Song of Scarabaeous heroine. I liked Edie precisely because she uses her brains to fight those who want to keep her and Finn enslaved and not her beauty or something else. But that's me. Hope you enjoy the book, if you do decide to read it. :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Definitely getting the Shalvis! And Patty Briggs' River Marked, Rob Thurman's Blackout & Suzanne Brockman's Breaking the Rules. I swear at this rate, I'll never catch up with my tbr pile!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hi Hilcia,
    What a nice mix of books you're anticipating next month!

    I am of course waiting on the next Mercy book. :) And am also looking forward to reading the next BDB book that comes out in March, but I am not paying hardcover price. I'll have to wait for it to show up at the library.

    As for the ones you highlight... I am definitely anticipating the anthology It Happened One Season that I quite frankly refer to as Phyl's book. LOL!

    The Winspear book does have a great cover! I hope you enjoy it and all the others as well.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Orannia, *g*

    Leslie, I can't believe I forgot Blackout! You know I'll be reading it. :D

    Christine, wow the BDB book! I can't wait to hear our thoughts on that one. And yes... Phyl's book, lol! I think of it that way too.

    ReplyDelete

Anonymous Users disallowed due to large influx of spam.

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.