My brother and his wife are in town visiting from the northern part of the state. It has been a couple years since we last saw each other and so we have a lot of catching up to do. Mouse is thrilled to have her aunt and uncle here. We celebrated my brother's birthday at Disneyland last week at his request. Mouse is quite the entertainer all on her own and has kept them busy.
I currently am in between books, having just finished Elizabeth Haynes's Human Remains. I am a little behind in my review writing and am afraid to start the next book until I catch up. Poor memory and all that. I usually stay on top of my reviews better, but it's been so hard to find time to sit and write. Work is extremely busy as it always is this time of year and with company coming and going, I don't have the time to work on reviews or blog posts at home. I have a feeling it won't let up until after the holidays.
At Suzie Quint's request, I thought I would feature Rebecca Chastain's Fistful of Fire, the second in her Madison Fox series, which I will be reviewing next week. Rebecca will be visiting my blog tomorrow to talk about her favorite literary cats. Tasked with keeping her region clean of evil forces, Madison Fox is an Illuminant Enforcer. She's only been on the job a short time, barely had any training, but she's determined, and it's best not to underestimate her.
First Paragraph of Fistful of Fire by Rebecca Chastain:
I currently am in between books, having just finished Elizabeth Haynes's Human Remains. I am a little behind in my review writing and am afraid to start the next book until I catch up. Poor memory and all that. I usually stay on top of my reviews better, but it's been so hard to find time to sit and write. Work is extremely busy as it always is this time of year and with company coming and going, I don't have the time to work on reviews or blog posts at home. I have a feeling it won't let up until after the holidays.
At Suzie Quint's request, I thought I would feature Rebecca Chastain's Fistful of Fire, the second in her Madison Fox series, which I will be reviewing next week. Rebecca will be visiting my blog tomorrow to talk about her favorite literary cats. Tasked with keeping her region clean of evil forces, Madison Fox is an Illuminant Enforcer. She's only been on the job a short time, barely had any training, but she's determined, and it's best not to underestimate her.
First Paragraph of Fistful of Fire by Rebecca Chastain:
A puddle of inky atrum pooled in front of a storage closet beside the hotel elevators. Six fist-size imps bopped around in the atrum, their primordial ooze. In the time it took me to pull my collapsible wand of petrified wood from my back pocket and extend it, a chinchilla-shaped bubble swelled in the atrum, grew glassy ebony eyes, a mouthful of needle teeth, and tiny feet. Soundlessly, it sprang an inch into the air, disconnecting from the puddle and becoming a seventh fully formed imp.
I glared at the book. Being a book, it merely laid there. This was foolish.
"So, O great and wise book, teach me something useful."
Of their own accord, the pages fluttered. I jerked back and eyed the book in disbelief. Had it just sighed at me?
and because I couldn't resist the bookish recommendations (one of which I've read and loved), at 83%:
Val selected Jim Butcher's Storm Front, Robin McKinley's Sunshine, and Robin D. Owen's Heart Mate. He had good taste.
What do you think? Would you keep reading?
What are you reading at the moment? Is it anything you would recommend?
© 2015, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.
A sighing book! Very cool. I laughed out loud. Thanks for featuring this.
ReplyDeleteSuzie - I loved that the book in this one has a personality of its own. :-)
DeleteOh my goodness! What an opening paragraph. I love the sound of fist-sized elves bopping.
ReplyDeleteAfter a run of poor reading group reads at last we are reading something not just good but really good. I'm loving Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonside.
Tracy - It is a funny sight to imagine. :-)
DeleteI am glad you are enjoying Major Pettigrew's Last Stand! I read that a few years ago and enjoyed it.
I'd have to read some more to see if I'd go on. I like urban fantasy, but not sure yet about this.
ReplyDeleteBeth - I really enjoy this series. The opening might be a bit confusing for someone just coming into the series, I imagine.
DeleteI don't think this one's for me, but hope you enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteSarah - It was such an entertaining book. I really liked it.
DeleteHope there are lots of good books in your future. I've been hooked on suspense lately--and have just finished Where They Found Her and Somebody I Used To Know. Both were real page-turners.
ReplyDeleteCatherine - I hope so too! I started a new book during my lunch break today and am hoping it is will be a good one. It's a ghost story of sorts, so I thought it would be perfect for this time of year.
DeleteI probably wouldn't pick this one up for myself, but I'll bet it would be great for fans of fantasy! Hope you enjoy it and thanks so much for sharing this!
ReplyDeleteTara - I love urban fantasy. It and crime fiction are my comfort genres. This one was very good.
DeleteI have come to accept the fact that I'll never be caught up with my post writing. Enjoy your company - I'm sure they're enjoying Mouse!
ReplyDeleteKathy - I start to forget details if I wait too long to write reviews and unfortunately. I usually try to stay on top of them and not let too many pile up at one time.
DeleteMouse is loving all the extra attention and my brother and his wife seem to be enjoying giving it to her. :-)
All the excerpts are great...and because I have enjoyed Elizabeth Haynes, I must read Human Remains. Thanks for sharing, and here's mine: “SMOKE”
ReplyDeleteLaurel-Rain - Elizabeth Haynes is such a brilliant author. Human Remains isn't my favorite of hers, but it was very good just the same.
DeleteThe first paragraph caught my attention. I'm trying to figure out what the newest imp is all about. I'd like to keep reading.
ReplyDeleteMargot - Madison soon will find out and I imagine it won't be good!
DeleteI always wondered where imps came from! Although this isn't my usual genre, this sounds like a book I'd enjoy reading.
ReplyDeleteMy Tuesday post features Skinny Dip
Sandra - It was such a fun read. I really enjoy Rebecca's books.
DeleteIt all looks good, but the sighing book has got to be my favorite.
ReplyDeleteLuAnn - I couldn't resist sharing that teaser. It's my favorite too. :-)
DeleteNot sure if this is one for me...like the cover though!
ReplyDeleteEmma - I love these types of books. Great for an escape.
DeleteI liked Human Remains and look forward to her next book.
ReplyDeleteNise' - I can't wait to see what she writes next. I still have one other of her books to read and then I'll be caught up. :-)
DeleteI read a book by Elizabeth Haynes earlier this year and really enjoyed it. I definitely need to read more of her. I like the teasers from Human Remains and the first paragraph of Fistful of Fire. Firstful of Fire may be a little more scifi/dystopian for my taste but I'll be very curious to see your review.
ReplyDeleteKatherine - Elizabeth Haynes' is such a good author. I love her work.
DeleteChastain's series is more urban fantasy than anything else--with humor and lots of action and suspense and speck of romance. I don't think I'd describe it as dystopian at all. Or even really sci-fi.
The never ending backlog --ugh Not sure about this intro Wendy, doesn't seem like a me pick.
ReplyDeleteDiane - It does seem never ending sometimes, doesn't it? Not that I'm complaining. At least not too much. :-)
DeleteThis is an interesting opening, but I'm not sure this book is for me. I understand what you mean about being behind on posts. I'm experiencing the same thing!
ReplyDeleteMonica - I hope we are both able to get caught up soon!
DeleteI've been having problems keeping up with my review writing too. I need to write the reviews right after I finish a book or I forget too much of it.
ReplyDeleteThe teaser book sounds like a good one!
Yvonne - I try to jot down notes either as I read or right after I finish a book, which helps some, but sometimes I don't even do that. :-(
DeleteI really enjoy Rebecca Chastain's books.
I've not ever read urban fantasy. Any fantasy for that matter. Sounds like it might be interesting though!
ReplyDeletePeggy-Ann - If you decide to give this series a try, I hope you like it. Do start with the first book, if you can. While this one could probably stand on its own, I think there's enough overlap that it might be better to start with the first--especially since the main character is learning just how everything works in her "new" world just as the reader is.
DeleteSounds like a wonderful trip at Disneyland! :)
ReplyDeleteHmm... I'm not sure about that first paragraph, though. It's not something that would catch my attention immediately but hopefully it'll get better the more we read it.
Melody - Yes, I think it's more understood in context if you've read the first book. I really enjoyed the book--and the first. I look forward to the next in the series.
DeleteI am way behind on my reviews. I know I should catch up first before reading more, but I find so little time to actually sit and write reviews so it keeps getting behind. My reading has slowed somewhat too, so my review backlog is not as huge, but I hope I don't forget what I wanted to say about each book.
ReplyDeleteI think I am closer to being caught up than I was. At least I have drafts of reviews for all but two books I've finished so far. Telling myself I can't start a new book until I get those reviews written helped some. I definitely want to get back into keeping a reading journal so I can immediately jot down my thoughts. I hate not remembering enough to write a decent review. :-(
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