The Saucy Wenches Book Club

“I admit it’s fatally dangerous,” Watney said. “But consider this: I’d get to fly around like Iron Man.” “We’ll keep working on ideas,” Lewis said.  “Iron Man, Commander. Iron Man.”  The Martian  by Andy Weir

Click through to see what we're reading this week. 

“Oh, what would you like on your vegetarian pizza?” “Dead pigs and cows,” I said. She glanced up at me and wrinkled her nose. “They’re vegetarians,” I said defensively.

“I want to go the brink of not knowing myself, I want someone to take me there and hold me by the neck and make me stare at an entire reckless realm of possibility.”  ― Sierra Simone  American Queen

Ever since we fell head-over-heels in love with Priest by Sierra Simone, I've been waiting for her next book, hoping that it would knock my socks off just as thoroughly. Well, I've been slacking a bit this year in following authors, and their coming releases, closely. In other words, I haven't been author stalking like I should be. So it was nearly release day when I learned that Ms. Simone was shortly releasing a new book. I ran to Goodreads to check the book summary and proceeded to wait impatiently for the book to hit my Nook app.  Fortunately I had a quiet weekend with the house all to myself, so when I got my hot little hands on American Queen I was able to dive in and wallow in it, finishing it in about a day, barely surfacing for food and sleep. It was glorious. Come with me through the jump and I'll tell about American Queen , why I am awed by it, and why I will be stalking Sierra Simone much better from now on. I'll try to keep my spoilers to a minim...

“She didn’t understand a damned thing about life except that it was arbitrary and cruel, and some people got away with murder while others made one tiny, careless mistake and paid a terrible price.”    Liane Moriarty's  The Husband's Secret

And Manon understood in that moment that there were forces greater than obedience, and discipline, and brutality. Understood that she had not been born soulless; she had not been born without a heart. For there were both, begging her not to swing that blade. Empire of Storms (Throne of Glass#5), Sarah J. Maas

"Secrets have a way of rotting foundation when those foudations are meant to be built on truth an honor." Archangel's Heart by Nalini Singh

Click through to see what we're reading this week!  

James Franco & Sarah Gadon in Hulu miniseries “We did not ask for this room or this music. We were invited in. Therefore, because the dark surrounds us, let us turn our faces to the light. Let us endure hardship to be grateful for plenty. We have been given pain to be astounded by joy. We have been given life to deny death. We did not ask for this room or this music. But because we are here, let us dance.” ― Stephen King, 11.22.63

Like it or not, I had embraced the darkness. The fact that I had died before I could have found myself used for destructive purposes meant nothing. I had picked up a red lightsaber. I had joined the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. Ghost Story (The Dresden Files, Book 13) by Jim Butcher

Here I am again with Part Two of my Drink Deep questions. You can catch Part One here ! Let's just jump right into it. Spoilers and questions aplenty after the break!

I think we all could use some positivity in our lives right now. And what better way to be positive than to appreciate all the gorgeous people we get to watch kick ass on the big screen in spandex and armor and capes!? We've been especially blessed with the superheroes on screen lately, so today, I'm going to share some of the superhero man candy courtesy of the MCU.  YAY!  Full disclosure, I had so much fun finding gifs to share! And I still couldn't cover all of them! So expect a part 2 and 3.  Click through to read more!

There are some lines you just can't let another person cross. They don't always make sense, they might not always seem like the most important things, but only you can know what they are, and when you butt up against one, you have to defend it. Bloodfever ~~Karen Marie Moning

“They were now representatives of something much larger than themselves - a way of life, a shared set of values. Liberty was perhaps the most fundamental of those values. But the things that held them together - trust in each other, mutual respect, humility, fair play, watching out for one another - those were also part of what America meant to all of them.”  The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics by Daniel James Brown

Click through to see what we're reading this week! 

“Too many regrets. Lost chances—and with each one passing the less human we all became, and the deeper into the nightmare of power we all sank.”

It's our actions that define us. What we choose. What we resist. What we're willing to die for. Bloodfever ~~Karen Marie Moning

​ Hello, Saucy Readers! I am back once again with more questions and a few observations stemming from my Chicagoland Vampire re-read. This week's installment is part one of my questions from Drink Deep . You can catch up on all of the other questions, if you are behind. Here are the links for Hard Bitten Parts One and Two . Part one also has the links for all of the previous books' questions. ​I think it goes without saying that there are spoilers abound, but consider that your warning. Join me below to see what questions I had.

This is something I’ve learned. You can’t run away to find yourself. Yourself is there no matter where you go. The difference is, if you’re running, you’ll be too busy to pick up the sword and face your enemies. Sometimes your enemy will be you; sometimes it will be those with the power to hurt you. Take off your shoes and stop running. Live barefoot and fucking fight. F*ck Love ~~Tarryn Fisher

You know, it's been a rough week. Regardless of where you live and who you are, it's been a rough week. That often makes it very difficult for me to turn my brain off enough to get into a good book. Or a bad book, or even some fluffy PWP fanfic that should make things better. I let my writing go far too late, and now I'm paying the price for it. Oops. What better way, though, to close out a craptastical week than in thinking about something that makes me happy? And so, here I am. I'm now 14 books deep in The Dresden Files, and I'm still having a grand time of it. I've, traditionally, made it about four chapters into the books then wound up setting them aside for a month. Every time. Until recently. The last two Dresden Files books I've read (Ghost Story and Cold Days), I've read much differently than the prior 12, and I've blown through both books in as little time as I've been able to manage. So, what's changed? Audiobooks. Specifically,...

“When I create works of art, I do it because it is part of me and I must create. But afterward, when the work is done, I hope that it’ll speak to people, that it’ll open up their hearts or their minds. That cannot happen if the art is buried for safekeeping.” Archangel's Heart by Nalini Singh

Quite a variety of books on our list this week! From continuing rereads to new releases from favorite authors to Wench recommendations to next-in-series, we've got lots to choose from. Click through to see what we're reading. What's on your list, Saucy Reader?

"People adore monsters. They fill their songs and stories with them. They define themselves in relation to them. Do you know what a monster is, young shade? Power. Power and choice. Monsters make choices. Monsters shape the world. Monsters force us to become stronger, smarter, better. They sift the weak from the strong and provide a forge for the steeling of souls. Even as we curse monsters, we admire them. Seek to become them, in some ways." Her eyes became distant. "There are far, far worse things to be than a monster." Ghost Story , by Jim Butcher

Here I am again, with Part Two of my questions after my re-read of Hard Bitten . You can find Part One here. Let's not waste any time and dive right in. My questions and, obviously, spoilers after the break!

One of my all-time favorite television series is Gilmore Girls, a show about the relationship between a thirty-something single mother and her brilliant teenage daughter. Gilmore Girls had a seven-year long run from 2000 to 2007.

The Italian Countach was the near equivalent of "holy fucking cow" in English, which was exactly how I felt every time I saw one, but that was still no reason to say it out loud. If I managed to hold on to nothing else in the midst of the insanity my life had become, at least I could maintain my dignity and decorum.  Darkfever ~~Karen Marie Moning 

He’s forcing our hands,” I said. “Which means that instead of tiptoeing around the GP and worrying what this House or that might think of us, we’re forced to get out there and do something about it. We get to spend some of that political capital you’re always harping about.”   Ethan arched an eyebrow imperiously.   “Talking about. Talking about in well-reasoned and measured tones.”   This time, he rolled his eyes. Hard Bitten by Chloe Neill

Every book on our list this week is a Wench favorite except one. It's becoming that time of year when rereads start taking over as we gear up for new releases of our faves in the new year. Both the Fever Series and the Chicagoland Vampires series are wrapping up in 2017, so expect to see both of those in regular rotation on our lists in the coming months. Click through to see what else we're reading and share your reading list in the comments!

“Every decision you make can change the world. The best life is the one the gods don't notice. You want to live free, boy, live quietly." "I want to be a soldier. A hero." "You'll grow out of it.”