My Hot Friday Five

Looking for something great to read? I'm always shopping for new books even
though I never seem to have as much time to read as I would like. But with the
hot days of summer here, that means time at the pool and if I'm not writing on
the laptop, I have books in my tote that go everywhere with me. What are my hot
five books this week?

Let's dig in the bag and see what we have:

13 to Life by Shannon Delany

I was lucky enough to get to read this early and I emphasize lucky because I
really enjoyed the book. It makes it into the tote this week because the
daughter wanted to read it too. It releases June 22. You should check it out.
It's very much suitable for mid-grade and young adult readers, but adults will
likely enjoy it just as much.

Blood Game by Iris Johansen I picked up a copy of Eight Days to Live (also by Johansen) and really enjoyed the tense story that focused on Jane and the uber sexy Seth Caleb as well as the sweet, yet very deadly Jock Gavin. I was really enjoying it until I realized I'd missed a previous book -- hence Blood Game, which features Seth Caleb's first appearance. These are all in the Eve Duncan Forensics Thrillers universe. Undead and Unwed by MaryJanice Davidson

I've seen her books plenty of times, but I've never had a chance to dig in. I
recently visited the Books that Bite book club at my local Barnes and Noble (a
great group) and this is the book they are reading for their next meeting. So I
grabbed it up for reading as I have time.

The Chief: A Highland Guard Novel by Monica McCarty

Picked this up on the recommendation of one the aforementioned book club
members. This is the book blurb: While Robert the Bruce attempts to
consolidate the clans against the king, clan chief Tormod MacLeod hopes to
remain above suspicion as he begins a special ops force, but his allegiance
looks questionable after he's tricked into marrying Christina Fraser, the
daughter of a nobleman once imprisoned for supporting William Wallace. Tor faces
internal conflict as his growing feelings for his wife battle his warrior code.
Sounds sexy eh?

Full Moon Rising by Keri Arthur

I picked this up on the recommendation of another friend who said it was a fun
and interesting twist because Riley Jensen is a vampire and a werewolf -- so she
plays for both teams (heh heh). Here's the blurb: Australian author Arthur's
fast-paced fantasy-romance, the first in a new series, introduces part vampire,
part werewolf Riley Jenson, who works for Melbourne's Directorate of Other
Races, as does her twin brother, Rhoan. When Rhoan goes missing, a naked yet
powerful vampire, Quinn, appears on Riley's doorstep and asks for her aid. Riley
and Quinn team up to find Rhoan, investigate the mysterious deaths of
Directorate agents and determine who's been creating vampire and werewolf
clones. Despite their mutual attraction, Quinn—once heartbroken by a werewolf
lover—will never fully trust another werewolf, but that doesn't stop him from
helping Riley through the lust that engulfs werewolves in the days leading up to
the full moon.

What's in your summer tote this week? Oh and be sure to head back over tomorrow
as our Saturday Smackdown returns for some serious summer hotness!