Skin Game by Jim Butcher

My Rating TEN out of 5 Stars!
Yes, it’s THAT good!

After waiting about a year and a half for Skin Game (Note to Jim Butcher: WRITE FASTER!), I had my doubts as to whether it could really live up to my hopes and expectations. I needn’t have worried. The book is flat out fantastic! I finished at midnight last night, and couldn’t sleep for two more hours, I was so worked up. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again (probably many, many times)–Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files is simply the best Urban Fantasy series out there, hands down. (And I read several very good ones, believe me.) It has everything you want in a series, including, but not limited to, bigger and better plot lines, an ever-growing cast of characters, and a hero who continues to gain more and more power, and grow as a person, as well.

What Are You Reading?

Happy Freya’s Day! And you know what Fridays are around here…why, What Are You Reading Day, of course! As usual, inquiring minds wanna know!

If you were visiting here at any time on Monday, you can probably guess what I’M reading…Skin Game, of course. Catching up with what the heck is happening in Harry Dresden’s ever-expanding world of madness, mayhem, and things that go bump in the night. Our Wizard, who has become so much more than just that, is in a mess once again, thanks to Mab, the Winter Queen of the Fae, and all-around cold-hearted, tough as nails, bad-ass ruler of her realm. Now that she has made Harry her Winter Knight, he has no choice but to obey her every command, grumbling and snarking every step of the way as he may. Between her and that parasitic thing he has growing in his head, Harry is changing. And some of his friends aren’t sure it’s in a good way. The book is EXCELLENT so far, and the only bad thing about reading it is that once I’m done, I’ll be waiting another LONG year  or more for the next one. Oh, that Jim Butcher torments his fans so!

Now, your turn. What are YOU reading this week. I’m sitting here, pencil in hand, ready to take notes. Let us hear from you! 🙂

Two Winners of Skin Game…Sort Of!

After much sturm und drang for half the afternoon, and carefully reading instructions on amazon, I sent my winner (in Romania) a gift card so he could download Skin Game. It still isn’t working. (You were right, Marjma…it’s a pain!) I’m still working with him to get him his copy, but by golly, I wanted someone to be smiling TODAY, so I went for the next entrant in line, who was here in the U. S., and Joe, I hope you will enjoy this book every bit as much as I expect to! Congratulations!!

As for getting the first book to Romania…well…I’ve always wanted to see Vlad Dracul’s castle. Maybe hand delivery would be a good option! 😀

Stay tuned to see what’s being given away next week. It won’t always be a brand new release. It might be a classic from decades ago, or a best seller from last year. Any genre, and year, any style…all fair game for Monday giveaways. So, check it out!

Thank you again to everyone who participated in this event. If I don’t have a sure-fire way to get downloads off to my international friends by next Monday, I’ll have to limit the contest to folks here in the United States, but I hope that won’t be the case. I’d like everyone to have a chance!

Friday: What Are You Reading?

Today is What Are You Reading Day, as always. Inquiring minds wanna know. Let us hear from you. (Some of us take notes, you know. 🙂 )

I’m reading several things at once, this week. Just finished the first two books in the Nora Roberts Cousins O’Dwyer trilogy, am working on Dana Mason’s Dangerous Embrace, and Anna Celeste Burke’s A Dead Sister. Will be reviewing the O’Dwyer books soon, and hoping to wrap up the others before long. I’ve got Skin Game coming next week, and nothing shall get between me and Harry Dresden! Nothing, I say! 🙂

Your turn. What are you reading?

Only Six More Days!

I’m sure I speak for a lot of us when I say I can hardly wait for next Tuesday to arrive! Jim Butcher’s newest Dresden Files book, Skin Game, will be released, and I’m heading straight to my local book seller to pick up my copy. I can’t even wait for it to be sent from Amazon! With the exception of Ghost Story, I’ve never been more eager to get my hands on a new Dresden Files book. Or any other, for that matter. Harry’s world gets bigger, badder, and more complex with every single book, and Harry, himself, has grown so much as a character, it’s hard to believe how it all started out. This one sounds like it is going to be fantastic, and after waiting over a year and a half for it, I really hope it is. And the GOOD NEWS is that someone will win a free download of this next Monday afternoon. Yep. I’ll be giving away a copy of Skin Game to one of my followers. And all you have to do to win, is ASK. Simply email me any time after 3:00pm EST. If you are the first person I hear from, the download is yours!

Mark your calendars! You know you want this one, and FREE…IS…GOOD! 🙂

Release Date For Skin Game by Jim Butcher!

COMING:  May 27, 2014

Finally! A release date for the long-awaited next book of The Dresden Files. I won’t say this is my favorite cover of the series, by any means…and what’s up with that gun, Harry?…but I don’t care. I cannot WAIT to get my hands on this book!! I am pre-ordering it already. (Yes, it’s available for pre-order on amazon now.) I was beginning to think Jim Butcher had gone off to write comic books…ahem…I mean graphic novels, of course…forever, so now that there is an actual date for this release, I’m both relieved and ecstatic–even though it’s still almost HALF A YEAR away!!! 😯

I don’t know about you other Dresden fans, but I will not rest until I know what’s up with Harry and Mab, the wicked faery queen. And even more than that, what’s up with Harry and ex-Sgt. Karrin Murphy? Don’t disappoint us, Jim Butcher! We fans can turn on you in an instant, you know. 😉

Let the countdown begin!