My Book Haul / Showcase Sundays

This is Books, Biscuits and Tea's Showcase Sunday where I share my lovely book hauls each week. Have a look back at Vicki's link up to see what everyone is up too!

There's been some sunshine this week! Yay! But the lure of Vitamin D doesn't mean I've neglected my reading this week. I finished Wild & Steamy Anthology by Meljean Brook, Jill Moyles & Carolyn Crane - fun, smexy action and chosen by you, Shakespeare's Landlord by Charlaine Harris - a nice mystery story, The Minority Council by Kate Griffin - great London UF

Three books down this week but I picked up quite a few review books...

Review

After Eden - Helen Douglas

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Eden Anfield loves puzzles, so when mysterious new boy Ryan Westland shows up at her school she's hooked. On the face of it, he's a typical American teenager. So why doesn't he recognise pizza? And how come he hasn't heard of Hitler? What puzzles Eden the most, however, is the interest he's taking in her. 
As Eden starts to fall in love with Ryan, she begins to unravel his secret. Her breakthrough comes one rainy afternoon when she stumbles across a book in Ryan's bedroom - a biography of her best friend - written over fifty years in the future. Confronting Ryan, she discovers that he is there with one unbelievably important purpose ... and she might just have destroyed his only chance of success.

This isn't the usual sort of book I would read but for some reason I thought this might be something different.

Immortal Eclipse - Sherry Soule
Kindle Book

A devoted fashionata and practical New Yorker, Skylar Blackwell doesn’t believe in the supernatural—until she inherits Summerwind Mansion. . . . 
When her uncle is brutally murdered, and the cops seem uninterested in following up the case, Skylar journeys to California to seek answers. Her search for clues is soon overshadowed by haunting nightmares of a young woman also murdered in the house. Now the inhabitants of Summerwind are mysteriously dying, leaving no evidence as to how or why, and Skylar finds herself in a deadly race against time to expose the killer—before they strike again. 
The problem is . . . whoever it is may not be human.
Armed with only wit and Pradas, Skylar begins questioning the servants, but the growing list of suspects includes the sexy and brooding caretaker, Dorian, a man desperately trying to forget his tragic past. And a major distraction for Skylar.
Determined to play detective—instead of the fashion police—and unravel the dark history of the mansion, Skylar is plunged into an otherworldly mystery that not even she can explain away. As the boundaries between reality and dreams blur, Skylar’s greatest challenge is to stay alive long enough to learn the truth.

I rarely accept review requests direct from authors because I have so many books on my TBR pile already I can rarely promise when I would get round to reviewing books, but this one tickle my paranormal bone so I said I would give it a go!

Always There - Carol Ann Albright Eastman
Kindle Book

In this fresh, poignant novel, Always There, Shelby Lynn LeeMaster grapples with her recent “orphaned” life and how to let down her guard to fully experience true love, allowing it in to her heart without fear. The mother, Betheny LeeMaster, struggles with dying before she could teach and guide her children into adulthood. The daughter cannot break from her own fears, while the mother cannot forgive herself for leaving her children too soon. The different narrators, the mother in Heaven and the daughter on Earth, tell their stories in alternating chapters. Can the two women reconcile their fears and remorse before it’s too late, and Shelby loses the one man she’s destined to be with?

Again I wouldn't normally accept a request from the author but the subject touched me because I lost my Mum back in December and the reviews so far have been very good so I will grab the tissues and give it a twirl! 

Bought

Queen of the World - Ben Hennessy

Publisher: Inspired Quill

In the legends, the Four saved the world from war and poverty. These incredible men walked the lands, seeking an audience with the ruler of each nation. They demanded that mankind focus its efforts on education, trade and culture. No longer would the people face starvation and terror. This commandment was enforced with displays of miraculous power. After all, it is difficult to argue with the Gods. Once finished, the Four left with a promise: If ever your people fall back into darkness, then we shall return.
Now, over five centuries later, Sarene grows tired of her village life. Suffocated by the confines of her surroundings and the overbearing protection of her family, she yearns to have an adventure of her own.
But the world outside is not as tranquil as it seems.And Sarene is already in danger... 

I saw Karina had bought this a couple of weeks ago and seeing as it sounds really good and has had great reviews so far, I thought I'd get myself a copy as well!

So what have you picked up this week...?