Weekly Mews: Wrapping up February & It's Time for My March TBR List Poll! (Please Vote)

I am linking up to the Sunday Post hosted by Kim of Caffeinated Book Reviewer and The Sunday Salon (TSS) hosted by Deb Nance of Readerbuzz  where participants recap our week, talk about what we are reading, share any new books that have come our way, and whatever else we want to talk about. I am also linking It's Monday! What Are you Reading? hosted by Kathryn of Book Date where readers talk about what they have been, are and will be reading.

I am linking up Stacking the Shelves hosted by Marlene of Reading Reality a meme in which participants share what new books came their way recently.  

March promises to be a busy month at work and on the personal front. I am putting most of my energy and focus into that right now. We have plans this weekend to go on a Ghost Tour here in town, which should be fun! Mouse has wanted to go on one for awhile now, and it seemed a good way to start off her birthday month. 

What have you been up to this week? 

Books Read in February

I upped my blogging game in February, but will be scaling back this month because of everything I have going on in my offline life. Because I was blogging more, I felt like I had less time for reading. But I still managed to read ten books--and they were all good. 

The first book I finished in February was Home and Away, which was an enjoyable dual narrative novel mostly set in the South. I also read the first in a new mystery series by Holly Stars called Murder in the Dressing Room, which could become a favorite series if this first book is anything to go by. And I read February's TBR Winner, A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage. That was one wild book! Thank you to everyone who voted for it! 

I fit in my four book club reads as well. My Diverse Romance Book Club read Hearts Unbroken, featuring a Native Muscogee protagonist as she navigates through her senior year of high school. There's romance and friendship drama on top of the more serious topics of racism and discrimination. For my Cellar Door Book Club, we read and discussed Isabel Allende's The Wind Knows My Name, a very timely novel tackling the subjects of immigration and refugees, spanning continents and time from 1938 Vienna to present day America. The Mystery Book Club selection for February was The Tainted Cup. Most of the regular members of the mystery club didn't make the meeting, and we wondered if perhaps they were put off by the strong fantasy element in the novel. A couple of new people joined us (one from the Science Fiction/Fantasy Book Club) though, and we had a great discussion about the book. The Reformatory was the Historical Fiction Book Club pick. It had been the favorite read by the Philosophical Horror group a couple years ago and was recommended to our group. It did not disappoint!

With one Bingo (see below) space left toward the end of the month, I scoured my bookshelves looking for a book with wings on the cover. I was specifically looking for something short, like a manga, graphic novel or poetry collection so I could fit it in. When I couldn't find anything right away, I turned to my husband and daughter for help. They dropped everything they were doing and rushed to their own bookshelves to see if they could find a book for me. Mouse came back with three. Anjin pointed out I actually did have a graphic novel with wings on the cover, and I finally found a poetry book with a few tiny birds flying on its cover. Because how could I not, I decided to read one of my daughter's picks, and that was A Fire Among Clouds, the first in a historical fantasy graphic novel series, set in Mesoamerica. It was a good choice!

I listened to three audiobooks in February, which has to be a record. One of them, I went back and forth with between the print and audio, but mostly read the audio. That was Allende's novel. The other two audio books were Bayou Moon, the second book in the Edge urban fantasy/paranormal romance series, and a memoir, Finding Me, which I finished off the month with--and what an inspiring way to end February!

The book titles with links below will take you to my bookish mewsings:

Home and Away by Rochelle Alers  

Murder in the Dressing Room (Misty Divine #1) by Holly Stars

The Wind Knows My Name by Isabel Allende, translated by Frances Riddle 

Bayou Moon (The Edge #2)  by Ilona Andrews

Hearts Unbroken by Cynthia Leitich Smith

The Tainted Cup (Shadow of the Leviathan #1) by Robert Jackson Bennett

The Reformatory by Tananarive Due 

A Fire Among Clouds (Codex Black #1) by Camilo Mocada Lozano, Oniria Hernandez Vargas (Inker), & Angel De Dantiago (Colorist)

A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage by Asia MacKay

Finding Me by Viola Davis

Format pie chart from Storygraph

I am always curious to see the break up of formatting of the book I read. In January, print took the lead, but in February it was digital. And three audiobooks! While I did read some of Isabel Allende's novel in print, I leaned more heavily on the audio version and so counted it as an audio in my stats.

Rating Scale: 5 Paws=Outstanding; 4 Paws=Very Good; 3 Paws=Good; 2 Paws=Okay; 1 Paw=Didn't Like

Overall it was a great reading month. My average rating was 4.15, which I think is slightly higher than last month. I usually give out 5 paw ratings sparingly, but I had two 5 paw reads two months in a row. How awesome is that? The two books that stood out for me in February are very different from one another: a fantasy mystery and the other a historical horror novel. I highly recommend both The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett and The Reformatory by Tananarive Due. I loved them both so much. 

My February 2025 Reading Moods (according to Storygraph)

Let's take a look at how I did with my February Chapter Break Bookish Bingo card. I filled in all the spaces! Way to go me! 

What was your favorite book read in February? Have you made progress with your reading challenges? Did you have a good reading month?

I currently am reading Fate's Edge (The Edge #3) by Ilona Andrews for the COYER Ilona Andrews' Edge and Inn Keeper read-a-long and have just started Ida, in Love and in Trouble by Veronica Chambers for my March Historical Fiction Book Club, which I am not anticipating to be a quick read. This week I am also reading Haunting and Homicide (A Ghost Tour Mystery #1) by Ava Burke (seemed a fitting choice since we're going on that Ghost Tour this weekend!).

What are you reading right now?

My TBR List is hosted by Michelle at Because Reading. The 1st Saturday of every month, I will list 3 books from my TBR pile I am considering reading and let you vote for my next read during that month. My review will follow (unfortunately, not likely in the same month, but eventually--that's all I can promise).  

Please help me select my next read! As we kick off March, I find myself in a fantasy mood. Perhaps a romantic fantasy cozy or a a historical fantasy rom-com? Or what about a re-telling of Grimm's Goose Girl? Which of these three books do you think I should read next? 

The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst

The Spellshop is Sarah Beth Durst’s romantasy debut–a lush cottagecore tale full of stolen spellbooks, unexpected friendships, sweet jams, and even sweeter love.

Kiela has always had trouble dealing with people. Thankfully, as a librarian at the Great Library of Alyssium, she and her assistant, Caz—a magically sentient spider plant—have spent the last decade sequestered among the empire’s most precious spellbooks, preserving their magic for the city’s elite.

When a revolution begins and the library goes up in flames, she and Caz flee with all the spellbooks they can carry and head to a remote island Kiela never thought she’d see again: her childhood home. Taking refuge there, Kiela discovers, much to her dismay, a nosy—and very handsome—neighbor who can’t take a hint and keeps showing up day after day to make sure she’s fed and to help fix up her new home.

In need of income, Kiela identifies something that even the bakery in town doesn’t have: jam. With the help of an old recipe book her parents left her and a bit of illegal magic, her cottage garden is soon covered in ripe berries.

But magic can do more than make life a little sweeter, so Kiela risks the consequences of using unsanctioned spells and opens the island’s first-ever and much needed secret spellshop.

Like a Hallmark rom-com full of mythical creatures and fueled by cinnamon rolls and magic, The Spellshop will heal your heart and feed your soul. [from the publisher]

The Ornithologist's Field Guide to Love (Love's Academic #1) by India Holton

Rival ornithologists hunt through England for a rare magical bird in this historical-fantasy rom-com reminiscent of Indiana Jones but with manners, tea, and helicopter parasols.

Beth Pickering is on the verge of finally capturing the rare deathwhistler bird when Professor Devon Lockley swoops in, capturing both her bird and her imagination like a villain. Albeit a handsome and charming villain, but that's beside the point. As someone highly educated in the ruthless discipline of ornithology, Beth knows trouble when she sees it, and she is determined to keep her distance from Devon.

For his part, Devon has never been more smitten than when he first set eyes on Professor Beth Pickering. She's so pretty, so polite, so capable of bringing down a fiery, deadly bird using only her wits. In other words, an angel. Devon understands he must not get close to her, however, since they're professional rivals.

When a competition to become Birder of the Year by capturing an endangered caladrius bird is announced, Beth and Devon are forced to team up to have any chance of winning. Now keeping their distance becomes a question of one bed or two. But they must take the risk, because fowl play is afoot, and they can't trust anyone else—for all may be fair in love and war, but this is ornithology. [from the publisher]

A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher

A dark retelling of the Brothers Grimm's Goose Girl, rife with secrets, murder, and forbidden magic.

Cordelia knows her mother is unusual. Their house doesn’t have any doors between rooms, and her mother doesn't allow Cordelia to have a single friend—unless you count Falada, her mother's beautiful white horse. The only time Cordelia feels truly free is on her daily rides with him. But more than simple eccentricity sets her mother apart. Other mothers don’t force their daughters to be silent and motionless for hours, sometimes days, on end. Other mothers aren’t sorcerers.

After a suspicious death in their small town, Cordelia’s mother insists they leave in the middle of the night, riding away on Falada’s sturdy back, leaving behind all Cordelia has ever known. They arrive at the remote country manor of a wealthy older man, the Squire, and his unwed sister, Hester. Cordelia’s mother intends to lure the Squire into marriage, and Cordelia knows this can only be bad news for the bumbling gentleman and his kind, intelligent sister.

Hester sees the way Cordelia shrinks away from her mother, how the young girl sits eerily still at dinner every night. Hester knows that to save her brother from bewitchment and to rescue the terrified Cordelia, she will have to face down a wicked witch of the worst kind.[from the publisher]

Thank you for voting!

New to my shelves in February:

The Thirteenth Child by Erin A. Craig

Drop of Venom (Venom #1) by Sajni Patel (autographed)

Touch of Blood (Venom #2) by Sajni Patel (autographed)

Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange

Thistlefoot by GennaRose Nethercott 

Against the Loveless World by Susan Abulhawa 

All Good People Here by Ashley Flowers

The Five Stage of Courting Dalisay Ramos by Melissa De La Cruz

Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez

Mouse's Additions:

Our Dark Duet (Monsters of Verity #2) by V.E. Schwab

Sixteen Souls (#1) by Rosie Talbot

Never Believe a Lie Twice by Kathleen Troy

Have you read any of these books? If so, what did you think? 

Following in the footsteps of Deb of Readerbuzz, who shares three good things in her Sunday Salon posts, I thought I would try to do the same. With all the worries and stressors in life, I want to highlight some of the good, even the seemingly small stuff. 

1. My Great Aunt is doing better health wise and is now in a rehab facility getting physical and occupational therapy. Her prognosis is good and she should hopefully be able to return home soon! Thank you to everyone for your positive thoughts and prayers.

2. My daughter's friend is visiting today, and I am enjoying listen to them sing and laugh together as I sit here visiting with you. 

3. Signs of spring - the purple blossoms on our tree in the front yard are so pretty!

What have you been up to this past week? 

I hope you have a great week! Let me know what you have been reading!

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