Musings of a Bookish Kitty: July 2021

Tuesday, July 20, 2021

Waiting to Read Wednesday: The Second Life of Mirielle West /The Dating Dare / Death in Castle Dark / Ink Mage

The New

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly feature hosted by the marvelous Tressa at Wishful Endings to spotlight and discuss upcoming release we are excited about that we have yet to read.

The Second Life of Mirielle West by Amanda Skenandore
Release Date: July 27, 2021 by Kensington Books

In this thought-provoking and sensitive novel, inspired by the true story of a Louisiana leprosy hospital where patients were forcibly quarantined, acclaimed author Amanda Skenandore tells an extraordinarily timely tale of resilience, hope--and the last woman who expected to find herself in such a place...

1920s Los Angeles: Socialite Mirielle West's days are crowded with shopping, luncheons, and prepping for the myriad glittering parties she attends with her actor husband, Charlie. She's been too busy to even notice the small patch of pale skin on the back of her hand. Other than an occasional over-indulgence in gin and champagne, which helps to numb the pain of recent tragedy, Mirielle is the picture of health. But her doctor insists on more tests, and Mirielle reluctantly agrees.

The diagnosis--leprosy--is devastating and unthinkable. Changing her name to shield Charlie and their two young children, Mirielle is exiled to rural Louisiana for what she hopes will be a swift cure. But the hospital at Carville turns out to be as much a prison as a place of healing. Deaths far outnumber the discharges, and many patients have languished for years. Some are badly afflicted, others relatively unscathed. For all, the disease's stigma is just as insidious as its physical progress.

At first, Mirielle keeps her distance from other residents, unwilling to accept her new reality. Gradually she begins to find both a community and a purpose at Carville, helping the nurses and doctors while eagerly anticipating her return home. But even that wish is tinged with uncertainty. How can she bridge the divide between the woman, wife, and mother she was, and the stranger she has become? And what price is she willing to pay to protect the ones she loves? [Goodreads Summary]

Why I want to read this: One of my favorite novels is Moloka'i by Alan Brennert about a girl who grows up in a leprosy settlement. I have since read more about leprosy and the appalling way people with the illness have been treated throughout history. I am really excited about The Secret Life of Mirielle West and cannot wait to read it.

The Dating Dare (A Sweet Mess #2) by Jayci Lee
Release Date: August 3, 2021 by St. Martin's Griffin

Jayci Lee, author of A Sweet Mess, returns with The Dating Dare—her next witty, chemistry-filled romantic comedy.

Tara Park doesn’t do serious relationships. Neither does she hop into bed with virtual strangers. Especially when that particular stranger is her best friend’s new brother-in-law. It isn’t an easy decision, though. Seth Kim is temptation personified. His unreasonably handsome looks and charming personality makes him easy on the eyes and good for her ego.

When a friendly game of Truth or Dare leads to an uncomplicated four-date arrangement with Seth, Tara can’t say she minds. But their dates, while sweet and sexy, have a tendency to hit roadblocks. Thankfully, their non-dates and chance meetings get frequent and heated.

Seth is leaving for a new job in Paris in a month and a no-strings attached fling seemed like a nice little distraction for both… But soon Seth realizes that Tara Park doesn’t come in a “nice & little” package--she’s funny and bold, sweet and sexy, and everything he ever wanted and never expected to find. Neither of them are ready for something serious and both have past relationship baggage they’ve been ignoring, but with a shot at forever on the line will they follow their hearts and take a chance on happily-ever-after? [Goodreads Summary]

Why I want to read this: Doesn't this sound cute? I love the premise behind this one and am anxious to read it.

Death in Castle Dark by Veronica Bond

Release Date: August 3, 2021 by Berkley

Actor Nora Blake finds her dream job when she is cast in a murder-mystery troupe that performs in an imposing but captivating old castle. When she stumbles upon a real murder, things take a nightmarish turn in this first book in an exciting new series.

Maybe it was too good to be true, but when Nora Blake accepted the job from Derek Corby, proprietor of Castle Dark, she could not see any downsides. She would sink her acting chops into the troupe's intricately staged murder-mystery shows, earn free room and board in the fairy tale-like castle, and make friends with her new roommates, which include some seriously adorable kittens.

But something sinister lurks behind the walls of Castle Dark. During Nora's second performance, one of her castmates plays the part of the victim a little too well. So well, in fact, that no one can revive him. He has been murdered. Not ready to give up her dream gig--or to be the next victim--Nora sets out to see which one of her fellow actors has taken the role of a murderous real-life villain. [Goodreads Summary]

Why I want to read this: A mystery within a mystery and an old castle. This is one cozy I will not be able to pass up when it comes out.

Do any of these books interest you? What upcoming releases are you looking forward to reading?

★ ★ ★

The Old(er)

I have an embarrassing number of unread books sitting on the shelves in my personal library. Carole of Carole's Random Life in Books has given me the perfect excuse to spotlight and discuss those neglected books in her Books from the Backlog feature. After all, even those older books need a bit of love! Not to mention it is reminding me what great books I have waiting for me under my own roof still to read!

Ink Mage (A Fire Beneath the Skin #1) by Victor Gischler (47th North, 2013)

The city of Klaar has never fallen. No enemy has ever made it across the Long Bridge or penetrated the city’s mighty walls. Even when a powerful invading army shows up at the gates, the duke and his daughter, Rina Veraiin, are certain that it poses little threat.

But they are cruelly betrayed from within and, in a horrific spasm of violence, the city is brought to its knees.

With the help of her bodyguard, Kork, the battle-trained young Rina narrowly escapes the slaughter and makes her way to the lair of an ancient sorcerer—the Ink Mage—who gifts her with a strange, beautiful set of magical tattoos.

Now a duchess in exile, Rina sets out on a quest to reclaim what is rightfully hers, aided by a motley assortment of followers who will help her in her cause—some for noble reasons and others for their own dark purposes.

With the enemy’s agents nipping at her heels, Rina must learn to harness her new and startling magical powers if she is to assert her rightful place as ruler of Klaar. [Goodreads Summary]

Why I want to read this: Ink Mage is the first in a trilogy. It was published in serial format, which is part of why I did not rush to read it right away even though it has been sitting on my Kindle for some time now. I do not especially like cliff hangers. I am sure the strong female lead is what attracted me to this book when it first came out. It has gotten mixed reviews which gives me pause about picking it up, but I prefer to judge for myself in the end.

Have you read Ink Mage? Does this book sound like something you would like to read?

© 2021, 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.t permission.

Tuesday, July 13, 2021

Waiting to Read Wednesday: Half Sick of Shadows / Men Are Frogs / Much Ado About Nauticaling / Settled Blood

The New

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly feature hosted by the marvelous Tressa at Wishful Endings to spotlight and discuss upcoming release we are excited about that we have yet to read.

Half Sick of Shadows by Laura Sebastian
Release Date: July 20, 2021 by Ace

The Lady of Shalott reclaims her story in this bold feminist reimagining of the Arthurian myth from the New York Times bestselling author of Ash Princess.

Everyone knows the legend. Of Arthur, destined to be a king. Of the beautiful Guinevere, who will betray him with his most loyal knight, Lancelot. Of the bitter sorceress, Morgana, who will turn against them all. But Elaine alone carries the burden of knowing what is to come--for Elaine of Shalott is cursed to see the future.

On the mystical isle of Avalon, Elaine runs free and learns of the ancient prophecies surrounding her and her friends--countless possibilities, almost all of them tragic.

When their future comes to claim them, Elaine, Guinevere, Lancelot, and Morgana accompany Arthur to take his throne in stifling Camelot, where magic is outlawed, the rules of society chain them, and enemies are everywhere. Yet the most dangerous threats may come from within their own circle.

As visions are fulfilled and an inevitable fate closes in, Elaine must decide how far she will go to change fate--and what she is willing to sacrifice along the way. [Goodreads Summary]

Why I want to read this: I generally avoid Arthurian stories but occasionally one will catch my eye and I cannot resist. I do not think I will be able to resist this one.

Men Are Frogs (Fairy Godmothers, Inc. #2) by Saranna DeWylde
Release Date: July 27, 2021 by Zebra

Armed with her trademark mix of quirky charm, witty comedy, and swoon-worthy romance, Saranna DeWylde takes readers on a rollicking ride through twisted fairy tales and towards the ultimate HEA with her second novel set in the magical town of Ever After, Missouri.

Ever After, Missouri, is the unlikely source of the world's magic, but without love--magic's secret ingredient--the well is running dry. Resident fairy godmothers Petunia, Jonquil, and Bluebonnet are on the job! Nudging couples toward romance might do the trick, unless their fairy dust is on the fritz...

SOMETIMES YOU'RE THE CURSE . . .

Disgraced wedding planner Zuri Davis is so relieved to be offered a job with Fairy Godmothers, Inc., she's willing to trade the high-rise excitement of Chicago for the small-town charm of Ever After. Falling for one of her grooms, even unintentionally, was enough to destroy her career--and also to prove that all men are indeed frogs. But when she meets gorgeous B&B owner Phillip Charming, who definitely lives up to his name, even she is tempted to test that theory . . .

AND SOMETIMES YOU'RE THE CURE

Three hundred years as a frog by day and himself by night, is enough to test any man's patience--even if Phillip knows he deserved Petunia's curse. It certainly taught him not to mess around when it comes to making promises. And stubborn, proud Zuri is a woman he'd like to promise his heart and everything else to--if only he weren't a sometimes-frog. Can he hope for True Love's Kiss from a woman whose trust has been so thoroughly broken?[Goodreads Summary]

Why I want to read this: I have not yet read the first in the series although it is on my wish list. This second book only makes me want to read the series even more.

Much Ado about Nauticaling (Whit and Whiskers Mystery #1) by Gabby Allan
Release Date: July 27, 2021

Whitney Dagner is your tour guide to a Pacific paradise that's to die for--only to find it's a place people are also willing to kill for--in Gabby Allan's Much Ado About Nauticaling, first in the Whit and Whiskers Mystery series.

After far too many years in the Los Angeles corporate world, Whitney Dagner has come home to Santa Catalina Island off the California coast to help her brother Nick run Nautically Yours, the family tourism business. Between gift shop shifts selling all manner of T-shirts and tchotchkes and keeping her feline Whiskers in fine fettle, she pilots the Sea Bounder, a glass bottom boat showing tourists the underwater sights of aquatic plants, marine life--and a murder victim?

The self-proclaimed Master of the Island, Jules Tisdale was a wealthy man with business interests throughout Catalina who was about to be honored as Person of the Year before someone strangled him with his own tie and tossed his body into the water. That someone appears to be Nick, who had a raw deal from Jules and no alibi the night of his murder. To clear her brother's name, Whit will have to investigate Jules' shady associates and not exactly grief-stricken family members--with the unwelcome help of Felix Ramirez, police diver and Whit's ex-boyfriend who's looking to rekindle their relationship. [Goodreads Summary]

Why I want to read this: A new cozy mystery series is hard to resist. The Catalina Island setting makes this a must read for me. It's such a beautiful and cozy place, even if extremely touristy--too much so to some degree. I look forward to revisiting the island--even if only this time in a book.

Do any of these books interest you? What upcoming releases are you looking forward to reading?

★ ★ ★

The Old(er)

Settled Blood (DCI Kate Daniels #2) by Mari Hannah (Witness Impulse, 2012)

When a young girl is found dead at the base of Hadrian's Wall, it's not long before Detective Chief Inspector Kate Daniels realises her death was no ordinary homicide. She was thrown from a great height and was probably alive before she hit the ground. Then a local businessmen reports his daughter missing, has Daniels found the identity of her victim, or is a killer playing a sickening game? As the murder investigation team delve deeper into the case, half truths are told, secrets exposed, and while Daniels makes her way through a mountain of obstacles time is running out for one terrified girl. [Goodreads Summary]

Why I want to read this: I read the first book in this series years ago and really liked it. Kate Daniels is a great character. I added this to my TBR pile soon after reading the first one but just haven't gotten to it yet.

Have you read Settled Blood? Does this book sound like something you would like to read?

Saturday, July 10, 2021

Weekly Mews: Another Busy Week & A Bit of Reading

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.

In reading . . .

Then

I am officially all caught up in Jennifer Ashley's Kat Holloway Below Stairs historical mystery series, having finished reading Death at the Crystal Palace. I also finished I'd Rather Be Reading: The Delights an Dilemmas of The Reading Life by Anne Bogel. I told my husband it's a book I wish I could hand out to anyone who wants to better understand me. At the reader part of me, at least--and why being a reader is much more than just reading a book for me.

Now

Mouse and I are close to finishing Rachel Renee Russell's Tales From a Not-So-Best Friend Forever (Dork Diaries #14). And I am enjoying Stranger in the Mirror by Liv Constantine.

Next

I plan to dive into the TBR Winner next and my daughter has agreed to read Ghost Squad by Claribel A. Ortega with me in between her other reads. I also have my eye on Strange Beasts of China by Yan Ge, which is written in the form of a bestiary.

What I Have Been Watching

Just one more episode of Loki to go. I went into the show without any preconceived notions and have enjoyed seeing how the story plays out. I do not think I like it quite as much as WandaVision and Falcon and the Winter Soldier, but I am still enjoying it.

I watched the second season of Lupin this past week and loved it. I really need to read the books! I also watched an Australian show called First Day about a 12 year old transgender girl adjusting to a new school and all the social and personal issues she faces. I liked it quite a bit and hope to watch it again with my daughter at some point. It's the type of show I think she would enjoy.

My husband I are watching the first season of Broadchurch. I had forgotten how many Dr. Who characters made it into the show! I have seen the first season before, but it has been so long I do not really remember much.

Off the Blog

It seems like every time I sit down to start this post my cat Gracie settles on my chest making it difficult to type. Of course I cannot just move her. I have to give into the cuddles and wait until she leaves before I get back to blogging.

The work week was a trying one but I survived! I switched up my work station at home a bit. I use two computer monitors when I am in the office but was just using my work laptop when home. I decided since this is going to be a relatively permanent situation (it only took me 15 months), I might as well bring one of my office monitors home. With my laptop, I will now have two screens both at home and in office. It's made a big difference and I am happy with the result.

It was a busy week for Mouse. She completed her first week of her two week dance intensive (like a day camp). Five days straight of dance, a mix of different kinds. Six days, really, if you count our full day of dance and rehearsals today (Saturday). I got the chance to see the full run through of the musical while my husband helped with the props, and everything seems to be coming together. We got the last of Mouse's costumes. Now to do a little dance shoe shopping . . .

My back is feeling much better, just a twinge now and then to remind me I should still be taking it easy. Thank you for all the well wishes! I had to take a COVID-19 test for an upcoming medical procedure. It is a common precaution these days even if a person is vaccinated. I have not yet gotten the results back, but I am hopeful it will be negative.

Tell me what you have been up to! What are you reading, listening to and watching? How was your week? Do you have anything planned for this week?

Thank you for helping me decide what book from my TBR collection I should read next:

My TBR List is hosted by the awesome Michelle at Because Reading. It’s a fun way to choose a book from your TBR pile to read. The 1st Saturday of every month, I will list 3 books I am considering reading and take a poll as to which you think I should read. I will read the winner that month. My review will follow (unfortunately, not likely in the same month, but eventually--that's all I can promise).

There was a tie right up until the very end. I was hoping my daughter would be the tie breaker, but she cast her vote for the book with the least amount of votes. So I reached out to my friends on the COYER Facebook group and I have my winner!

Paris on Repeat (Wish & Wander #1) by Amy Bearce may have received the least amount of votes with 5 votes, but my daughter got a promise out of me that we will read it together. The Loveliest Chocolate Shop in Paris by Jenny Colgan is still on my TBR although it will not be my next read. It was a close call but it lost by one vote to Vanessa Yu's Magical Paris Tea Shop by Roselle Lim, which got 15 votes. I am looking forward to reading Vanessa Yu's Magical Paris Tea Shop next!

Thank you for voting! I hope you all have a wonderful week! Happy Reading!

Thursday, July 08, 2021

Where Is Your Bookmark? (The Stranger in the Mirror & Paris in July TBR Connect 5)

A weekly meme where readers share the first sentence of the book they are reading and say what they think. Hosted by the amazing Gillion Dumas of Rose City Reader.

I'd like to think I'm a good person, but I have no way of knowing for sure. [opening line of The Stranger in the Mirror]

A weekly meme in which readers share a random sentence or two from page 56 or 56% of the book they are reading. Hosted by the wonderful Freda of Freda's Voice.

Frantically I begin to search the room, opening every drawer, running my hands along their insides. I even check the bathroom, flinging open the vanity doors and drawers. Nothing. I sit on the bed and try to think. Did I put it somewhere else? No. I'm sure the last place I put it was in that drawer. [excerpt from 56% of The Stranger in the Mirror]

After finishing my last book, I was in the mood for something dark and thrilling and settled on Liv Constantine's The Stranger in the Mirror. I am not too far in yet, but I was hooked from the first first line!

A diabolically twisty, psychologically unsettling novel about a woman with no recollection of her past from the authors of the Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick The Last Mrs. Parrish and The Wife Stalker.

Addison’s about to get married, but she’s not looking forward to the big day. It’s not her fiancé; he’s a wonderful man. It’s because Addison doesn't know who she really is. A few years ago, a kind driver found her bleeding next to a New Jersey highway and rescued her. While her physical wounds healed, Addison’s memory never returned. She doesn’t know her real name. Or how she ended up injured on the side of a road. Or why she can’t shake the notion that she may have done something very, very bad . . .

In a posh home in the Boston suburbs, Julian tries to figure out what happened to his loving, caring wife, Cassandra, who disappeared without a trace two years ago. She would never have left him and their seven-year-old daughter Valentina of her own free will—or would she?

As these two lives intersect, The Stranger in the Mirror hooks readers with riveting drama, told with Liv Constantine’s hallmark blend of glamour, tense psychological thrills, and jaw-dropping twists.

Have you read The Stranger in the Mirror? If so, what did you think? What book are you reading right now?

Connect Five Friday is a weekly meme where readers share a list of five books,

read or unread, or bookish things, that share a common theme.

Hosted by the Kathryn of of Book Date.

Although I am not participating in this month's Paris in July event hosted by Thyme for Tea, I do seem to have Paris on the brain. As I was selecting three books for July's TBR List Poll (there's still time to vote if you haven't already! Help me break the tie!), I came across quite a few titles with the word "Paris" in the title. Here are a few more that did not make my poll this month but are still books on my TBR shelves that I am looking forward to reading someday.

The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles ~ Books set in and around the World Wars are among my favorites and I especially like dual timeline novels, this one set in Paris 1939 and Montana 1983. The Paris Library features a teenager longing for something different in small town Montana when she discovers more about her elderly neighbor's past. This is the story of a young woman who couldn't have been happier, engaged and with her dream job as a librarian at the American Library in Paris at one time. The Nazis appearance in the city put all of that at risk. Librarians joining in the Resistance and a terrible betrayal . . . I want to know more!

The Bones of Paris (Harris Stuyvesant #2) by Laurie R. King ~ I have long wanted to read Laurie R. King's Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes series, but still haven't managed to read even one. This series caught my eye as well. I still need to read the first book, Touchstone. This mystery takes us to Jazz Age Paris, 1929. P.I. Harris Stuyvesant is searching for an American model and actress whose family is concerned after they have lost contact with her. As his investigation takes him into the expatriate community, among the writers and artists, cafes and cabarets, he finds himself on a much darker path. No one may like what they find. Once I start reading this one, I have a feeling it will be hard to put down.

The Paris Wedding by Charlotte Nash ~ Who could pass up an all expense paid trip to Paris? Even if it is for the wedding of a former high school sweetheart she never quite got over. No one knows what the week will bring--secrets revealed, friendships turned inside out, and the biggest question of all: can she move on or will an old flame be reignited? I cannot help but think of the movie My Best Friend's Wedding. Will it follow a similar path or go in a completely different one?

All the Flowers in Paris by Sarah Jio ~ I do love these dual timeline historical novels. And Sarah Jio is an author I have read before and loved. So adding this one to my TBR shelf was a no brainer. It is another World War II novel and two women connected through time by a journal hidden in a closet. Waking up in a Paris hospital Caroline cannot remember her past. She is drawn into the story of Celine and her family as she reads the journal entries about Celine's life during World War II. A young widow, her father, and daughter attempt to escape from the Nazi officer who has been blackmailing them, Celine forced to be his mistress in exchange for his keeping her family's Jewish ancestry a secret. Caroline and Celine's stories are full of dark secrets and hidden strengths. This sounds heart-wrenching!

The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George, translated by Simon Pare ~ This is one of those books I was so excited about when it came out and yet it still sits unread on my shelves. Not for lack of interest, I can assure you. A floating bookstore in which Monsieur Perdu sells books from his barge on the Seine. He is intuitive and knows just which book to prescribe to his readers. He calls himself a literary apothecary. He has long been haunted by his own heartbreak, however. He never opened the letter she gave him before she left. Until now. Will he be able to heal himself? How have I not read this yet?!

Have you read any of these books set in Paris? What books with Paris in the title would you recommend?

Every Friday Coffee Addicted Writer from Coffee Addicted Writer poses a question which participants respond on their own blogs within the week (Friday through Thursday). They then share their links at the main site and visit other participants blogs.

Where do you post your reviews? (submitted by Elizabeth @ Silver's Reviews)

I start with sharing my thoughts about the books I read on my blog and then will follow up with posting them on Goodreads. If I received the book from NetGalley or Edelwiess, I usually post them there too. Occasionally, when I remember, I may post my thoughts on LibraryThing too.

What about you? If you write reviews, where do you post them?

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! Be sure and tell me what you are reading and are up to!

© 2021 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.

Tuesday, July 06, 2021

Waiting to Read Wednesday: While We Were Dating / Silence in the Library / The Final Girl Support Group / The Word Exchange

The New

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly feature hosted by the marvelous Tressa at Wishful Endings to spotlight and discuss upcoming release we are excited about that we have yet to read.

While We Were Dating (The Wedding Date #6) by Jasmine Guillory
Release Date: July 13, 2021 by Berkley

Two people realize that it's no longer an act when they veer off-script in this sizzling romantic comedy by New York Times bestselling author Jasmine Guillory.

Ben Stephens has never bothered with serious relationships. He has plenty of casual dates to keep him busy, family drama he's trying to ignore and his advertising job to focus on. When Ben lands a huge ad campaign featuring movie star Anna Gardiner, however, it's hard to keep it purely professional. Anna is not just gorgeous and sexy, she's also down to earth and considerate, and he can't help flirting a little...

Anna Gardiner is on a mission: to make herself a household name, and this ad campaign will be a great distraction while she waits to hear if she's booked her next movie. However, she didn't expect Ben Stephens to be her biggest distraction. She knows mixing business with pleasure never works out, but why not indulge in a harmless flirtation?

But their lighthearted banter takes a turn for the serious when Ben helps Anna in a family emergency, and they reveal truths about themselves to each other, truths they've barely shared with those closest to them.

When the opportunity comes to turn their real-life fling into something more for the Hollywood spotlight, will Ben be content to play the background role in Anna's life and leave when the cameras stop rolling? Or could he be the leading man she needs to craft their own Hollywood ending? [Goodreads Summary]

Why I want to read this: I have read a couple of Jasmine Guillory's novels in the is series and enjoyed them. This one sounds good too!

Silence in the Library (Lily Adler Mystery #2) by Katharine Schellman
Release Date: July 13, 2021 by Crooked Lane Books

Regency widow Lily Adler didn't expect to find a corpse when visiting a family friend. Now it's up to her to discover the killer in the charming second installment in the Lily Adler mysteries.

Regency widow Lily Adler has just started to feel settled into her new London home when her semi-estranged father arrives, intending to stay with her while he recovers from an illness. To placate and avoid him, she takes his place in a social visit with Lady Wyatt, a woman Lily doesn't know. But when Lily arrives for her second visit, she finds the household in an uproar: Sir Charles, Lady Wyatt's much older husband and a friend of Lily's father, is dead in his library. All signs indicate that he tripped and struck his head on the mantelpiece. But when Bow Street constable Simon Page is called to the scene, he suspects that Sir Charles was murdered.

Mr. Page was there when Lily caught her first murderer, and he trusts her insight into the world of London's upper class. With the help of Captain Jack Hartley, they piece together the reasons that Sir Charles' wife, sons, and nephew might have wanted him dead. But everyone who might have profited from the old man's death seems to have an alibi. With no clear suspect, the trio nearly conclude that the death was an accident after all... until Lily receives a mysterious summons to speak with one of the Wyatts' maids, only to find the young woman dead from poison when she arrives.

Mr. Page believes the surviving family members are hiding the key to Sir Charles' death, and it isn't long before Lily realizes that her father may know what it is. To uncover the truth, Lily must convince the father who doesn't trust or respect her to help catch his friend's killer before anyone else in the Wyatt household dies. [Goodreads Summary]

Why I want to read this: I love a good historical mystery and when I came across this title, I knew I had to add it to my wish list. I have not read the first book though--so that is going on the list too!

The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix
Release Date: July 13, 2021 by Berkley

A fast-paced, thrilling horror novel that follows a group of heroines to die for, from the brilliant New York Times bestselling author of The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires.

In horror movies, the final girl is the one who's left standing when the credits roll. The one who fought back, defeated the killer, and avenged her friends. The one who emerges bloodied but victorious. But after the sirens fade and the audience moves on, what happens to her?

Lynnette Tarkington is a real-life final girl who survived a massacre twenty-two years ago, and it has defined every day of her life since. And she's not alone. For more than a decade she's been meeting with five other actual final girls and their therapist in a support group for those who survived the unthinkable, putting their lives back together, piece by piece. That is until one of the women misses a meeting and Lynnette's worst fears are realized--someone knows about the group and is determined to take their lives apart again, piece by piece.

But the thing about these final girls is that they have each other now, and no matter how bad the odds, how dark the night, how sharp the knife, they will never, ever give up.
[Goodreads Summary]

Why I want to read this: Horror is not one of my go to genres, movie or book wise, but occasionally I dip in when the mood calls for it. I really liked The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires and there is just something about the sound of The Final Girls Support Group that says, "Read me!" and so on the wish list it goes.

Do any of these books interest you? What upcoming releases are you looking forward to reading?

★ ★ ★

The Old(er)

The Word Exchange Alena Graedon (Doubleday, 2014)

In the not-so-distant future, the forecasted “death of print” has become a reality. Bookstores, libraries, newspapers, and magazines are things of the past, and we spend our time glued to handheld devices called Memes that not only keep us in constant communication but also have become so intuitive that they hail us cabs before we leave our offices, order takeout at the first growl of a hungry stomach, and even create and sell language itself in a marketplace called the Word Exchange.

Anana Johnson works with her father, Doug, at the North American Dictionary of the English Language (NADEL), where Doug is hard at work on the last edition that will ever be printed. Doug is a staunchly anti-Meme, anti-tech intellectual who fondly remembers the days when people used email (everything now is text or videoconference) to communicate—or even actually spoke to one another, for that matter. One evening, Doug disappears from the NADEL offices, leaving a single written clue: ALICE. It’s a code word he devised to signal if he ever fell into harm’s way. And thus begins Anana’s journey down the proverbial rabbit hole . . .

Joined by Bart, her bookish NADEL colleague, Anana’s search for Doug will take her into dark basements and subterranean passageways; the stacks and reading rooms of the Mercantile Library; and secret meetings of the underground resistance, the Diachronic Society. As Anana penetrates the mystery of her father’s disappearance and a pandemic of decaying language called “word flu” spreads, The Word Exchange becomes a cautionary tale that is at once a technological thriller and a meditation on the high cultural costs of digital technology. [Goodreads Summary]

Why I want to read this: I cannot imagine a world without libraries and bookstores. The advent of e-books brought with it the fear it would mean the end of print books. Of course, we know that is not true. The Word Exchange landed on my TBR shelf in 2014 because this dystopian mystery appealed to me. It has not gotten the best reviews, which is what ultimately has kept in on the shelf and given me doubts about whether I will in fact read it.

Have you read The Word Exchange? Does this book sound like something you would like to read?

Saturday, July 03, 2021

Weekly Mews: June Reading Wrap Up & July's TBR List Poll--Paris, Anyone? (Please Vote!)

As part of my monthly wrap up, I am linking up to Nicole of Feed Your Addiction's Monthly Wrap-Up Post and Stacking the Shelves hosted by Team Tynga's Reviews and Marlene of Reading Reality a meme in which participants share what new books came their way recently.

Happy July! After talk of the heat the last time I visited here with you, the temperatures have been more reasonable. Still hot but bearable. My poor husband's work space at home gets extremely warm during the day even with the air conditioner so he has a fan set up too. Then you have me, who had to bundle up when I was in the office this past week. Stepping into the heat at the end of the day was kind of refreshing. We were quite excited one day early in the week to get some rain with a passing thunderstorm. It was over all too soon though. We desperately need more rain. But that is nothing new.

In reading . . .
Then

I recently finished reading Lydia Hawkes' Becoming Crone, the first in a new urban fantasy series. Just the mention of witches and magic is enough to grab my attention, but I also wanted to give this one a try because the heroine wasn't your typical young "chosen one" heroine. She's sixty, with gray hair and all the aches and pains that come with aging. It is a refreshing twist on a popular fantasy trope.

Now

At the moment, I have bookmarks (one virtual, admittedly) in two books. I am reading the 5th book in Jennifer Ashley's Kat Holloway Below Stairs historical mystery series, Death at the Crystal Palace, and I'd Rather Be Reading: The Delights an Dilemmas of The Reading Life by Anne Bogel. What could be better, reading one of my favorite series and also a book about one of my favorite things to do--reading!

Next

I never quite know what will tempt me next until I am ready to start a new book, but it is nice to plan ahead--even if I end up changing my mind at the last minute. Currently, I am considering Esme Addison's A Hex for Danger (An Enchanted Bay Mystery #2). The paranormal cozy sounds really tempting and I enjoyed the first book in the series. Or there is Saints and Misfits by S.K. Ali, a contemporary YA novel featuring a Muslim girl trying to figure out who she wants to be. It is getting great reviews. Or perhaps I will be more in the mood for a twisty thriller like Liv Constantine's The Stranger in the Mirror . . . Choices, choices.

What I Have Been Watching

My family and I have continued to devote our Wednesday TV time to Loki and Fridays are for High School Musical: the Musical: the Series, season 2. We are enjoying Loki, especially this past week's episode. I cannot believe there are only two more episodes left. I am enjoying the High School Musical series more this season than I did last. I think the characters have grown on me.

We have also added The Mysterious Benedict Society to our weekly watch list, which we all quickly got hooked on. On the nights we aren't watching any of the above mentioned series, we are enjoying Crime Scene Kitchen, a baking competition show. I wish I could be one of the judges tasting those delicious deserts! I think we have reached the saved up episodes on Hulu and will now have to wait for the next episode when it's dropped.

I just finished the first half of the sixth and final season of Teen Wolf, which I think is the show's best season yet. Certainly the most disturbing.

On the movie front, we watched quite a few movies this past month: Monkey Trouble, Dog Gone Trouble, Ace Ventura Pet Detective Jr., The Guardian Brothers, Kiki's Delivery Service, and In the Heights. My husband and I broke down and subscribed to HBO/MAX for a month so we could watch In the Heights, which did not disappoint.

Off the Blog

I am still not sure where June went. Work continues to be busy. The managers officially announced the new work schedules for my office. I think many staff are pleased they will be able to continue on a hybrid (partly home/partly in office) schedule. My cat Gracie will be happy to continue having me home with her some days. With one of my fellow supervisors moving to another office, we have been left short staffed, which will require a bit of shuffling of work hours. I am not sure yet if mine will be impacted, although it's a very real possibility.

Mouse got a week long break from her dance and rehearsals the week before last. The studio's competitive dancers attended a competition in Las Vegas. Mouse does not compete hence the break for us. This past week Mouse attended a couple of her classes via Zoom because she wasn't feeling well (she had the sniffles). I am glad the studio is still offering Zoom dance classes and hope they will continue to do so. It's a great option.

Mouse started swim lessons this past week. We do not have access to a pool regularly and so pool time is very limited, but a friend offered her pool for private lessons for a few of the girls from the dance studio. Time with friends and in the pool makes Mouse a happy girl.

I somehow managed to strain a muscle in my back the other day and so have been in a bit of pain. Ugh. It's so frustrating. And inconvenient.

It is going to be a busy month. Am I up for it? Because ready or not, here we go!

From our visit to Disneyland in June

Tell me what you have been up to! What are you reading, listening to and watching? How was your week?

Monthly Wrap Up

New to the Shelves in June:

Recent e-books added to my e-reader:

A Bollywood Affair (Bollywood #1) by Sonali Dev

The Body in the Garden (Lily Adler Mystery #1) by Katharine Schellman

Becoming Crone (The Crone Wars #1) by Lydia M. Hawke

One day in June, I dragged my family to my favorite local independent bookstore and came away with four books, two for me and two for my daughter.

The Map of Salt and Stars by Zeyn Joukhadar

We Are Not From Here by Jenny Torres Sanchez

Ghost Squad by Claribel A. Ortega

Witch Hat Atelier, Vol. 1 (Tongari bōshi no Atelier #1)

by Kamome Shirahama, and translated by Stephen Kohler

Have you read any of these books? What books did you add to your TBR this past month?

Here is what I finished reading in June:

Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors (The Rajes #1) by Sonali Dev
The Good, the Bad, and the Undead (The Hollows #2) by Kim Harrison
Just Add Magic by Cindy Callaghan
Magic Misfits (#1) by Neil Patrick Harris
The Invisible Husband of Frick Island by Colleen Oakley
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
Murder in the East End (Kat Holloway Below Stairs #4) by Jennifer Ashley
Every Which Way But Dead (The Hollows #3) by Kim Harrison
Becoming Crone (The Crone Wars #1) by Lydia M. Hawkes
Tales From a Not-So-Happy Birthday (Dork Diaries #13) by Rachel Renée Russell

There was a brief moment when I thought a slump was coming on the beginning of June, but it turned out to be more of a blip. I read some great books. Jennifer Ashley's Kat Holloway Below Stairs series continues to be a favorite, and I enjoyed diving more into Kim Harrison's Hollows series at my friend's recommendation. I have a lot of catching up to do! The Invisible Husband of Frick Island and Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors by Sonali Dev were wonderful, and The Midnight Library was a moving read. Becoming Crone was a great start to a new series. Mouse and I enjoyed what we read together too.

My blogging suffered tremendously this past month. I have not had much time to devote to it. I am hoping to get back into a regular blogging pattern soon and actually post some of those overdue reviews.

The end of June also means we are half way through the year. I was looking over my year in reading so far and was surprised at how many books I gave high ratings too as compared to last year. I cannot help but wonder how much of that is tied to my mood. Last year was such a difficult year all around and while this year has been challenging too, I am in a better place mentally.

How did your June shape up? Do you have a favorite among the books you read?

Challenge Progress

I set my goals for my reading challenges low on purpose. I have enough pressure and stresses in life without adding more to it, but I do like to set goals and reach for them just the same. Being that I tend to be a mood reader, keeping my goals low allows me flexibility to read what I want when I want as well. Even so, I am upping my goals for most of the below challenges given how well I have done so far only six months into the year. Clearly I need to work on that Nonfiction Reader Challenge a bit more . . .

Historical Fiction Reading Challenge ~ 9/515 (Medieval Level)
Nonfiction Reader Challenge ~ 2/6
Poetry Challenge ~ 5/37
Spring COYER ~ 16/8 Success! Time for Summer COYER!
Cloak and Dagger Reading Challenge ~ 13/620 (Detective Level)

The Spring COYER Challenge hosted by Michelle and Berls of Because Reading Is Better Than Real Life lasted from March through June and I committed to reading eight (8) books. I ended up reading sixteen (16) books that qualify! I only have managed to post reviews to eight, however. So, whether I count all sixteen or just the eight- yay me! I will eventually get the reviews posted!

The Gilded Ones (Deathless #1) by Namina Forna
The Arrangement (Plainclothes Tootsie #1) by M. Ravenel
The Memory Collectors by Kim Neville
The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner
Arsenic and Adobo (Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mystery #1) by Mia P. Manansala
The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba (Cuba Saga #4) by Chanel Cleeton
The Borrow a Bookshop Holiday by Kiley Dunbar
Shadowed Steel (Heirs of Chicagoland #3) by Chloe Neill
Angel of the Overpass (Ghost Roads #3) by Seanan McGuire
Black Water Sister by Zen Cho
A Peculiar Combination (Electra McDonnell #1) by Ashley Weaver
Swimming Back to Trout River by Linda Rui Feng
Written in Bone: Hidden Stories in What We Leave Behind by Sue Black
Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors (The Rajes #1) by Sonali Dev
The Invisible Husband of Frick Island by Colleen Oakley
Murder in the East End (Kat Holloway Below Stairs #4) by Jennifer Ashley

July1st kicked off the beginning of the Summer COYER Challenge, and I am hoping to keep the momentum going. In Summer COYER, anything goes! There are no limits and no conditions. This part of the challenge lasts from July through October. Yes, October falls in the autumn season (at least in the Northern Hemisphere)--but if you think about it, it balances out since school starts in August and people start thinking that's the end of summer . . .

I decided against making a numeric goal this time around and instead am giving myself plenty of wiggle room and not setting any hard and fast rules. I do want to continue the attempt to clear out some of the books on my e-reader, including ARCs. I also would like to catch up on at least a couple of my favorite series, but I have not quite solidified that goal in my mind--which series, how many, etc. I definitely want to read at least three nonfiction books over the course of the challenge. Maybe adding that to this challenge will give me an extra incentive to meet my goal in the Nonfiction Reader Challenge. Mostly, I just want to have fun with my reading!

As for the Goodreads 2021 Reading Challenge, I never take this one very seriously, but what a good feeling to be only half way through the year and already have met my goal by 500%! 😂

For those participating in reading challenges this year, how you are doing? Are there any challenges you are struggling with? Which ones are you doing well in?

Thank you for helping me decide what book from my TBR collection I should read next:

I have to stop this! For a second month in a row, I had settled on three books for you to consider in this month's poll. Perfectly good and wonderful sounding books. Then Stacy mentions July in Paris and all bets are off. Plus all of these sound like so much fun. Help me choose what to read next!

The Loveliest Chocolate Shop in Paris by Jenny Colgan

Life is sweet in this heartwarming tale of a little chocolate shop in Paris, by the bestselling author of Welcome to Rosie Hopkins' Sweetshop of Dreams and Meet Me at the Cupcake Cafe.

As dawn breaks over the Pont Neuf, and the cobbled alleyways of Paris come to life, Anna Trent is already awake and at work; mixing and stirring the finest, smoothest, richest chocolate; made entirely by hand, it is sold to the grandes dames of Paris.

It's a huge shift from the chocolate factory she worked in at home in the north of England. But when an accident changed everything, Anna was thrown back in touch with her French teacher, Claire, who offered her the chance of a lifetime — to work in Paris with her former sweetheart, Thierry, a master chocolatier.

With old wounds about to be uncovered and healed, Anna is set to discover more about real chocolate — and herself — than she ever dreamed. [Goodreads Summary]

Paris on Repeat (Wish & Wander #1) by Amy Bearce

GROUNDHOG DAY gets a hilarious French twist in this delightful upper middle grade novel about first crushes and friendship when an eighth-grade class trip to Paris goes horribly wrong and the worst day of one girl’s life keeps happening over and over.

Fourteen-year-old Eve Hollis is ready to push through her fears and finally let her crush know how she feels. And what better place to tell him than on top of the Eiffel Tower in the City of Love? But things don’t go as planned, and Eve is sure she’s had the worst day of her life— until she wakes up the next morning to realize the whole disaster of a day is happening again. She’s trapped in a time loop.

Desperate to make it stop, Eve will have to take some big risks and learn from her mistakes or she’s destined to live the most awkwardly painful day of her life over and over again, forever. [Goodreads Summary]

Vanessa Yu's Magical Paris Tea Shop by Roselle Lim

Become enamored with the splendor of Paris in this heartwarming and delightful story about writing one’s own destiny and finding love along the way.

Vanessa Yu never wanted to see people’s fortunes -- or misfortunes -- in tea leaves.

Ever since she can remember, Vanessa Yu has been able to see people’s fortunes at the bottom of their teacups. To avoid blurting out their fortunes, she converts to coffee, but somehow fortunes escape and find a way to complicate her life and the ones of those around her. To add to this plight, her romance life is so nonexistent that her parents enlist the services of a matchmaking expert from Shanghai.

The day before her matchmaking appointment, Vanessa accidentally sees her own fate: death by traffic accident. She decides that she can’t truly live until she can find a way to get rid of her uncanny abilities. When her eccentric aunt, Evelyn, shows up with a tempting offer to whisk her away, Vanessa says au revoir to America and bonjour to Paris. While working at Evelyn’s tea stall at a Parisian antique market, Vanessa performs some matchmaking of her own, attempting to help reconnect her aunt with a lost love. As she learns more about herself and the root of her gifts, she realizes one thing to be true: knowing one’s destiny isn’t a curse, but being unable to change it is. [Goodreads Summary]

Thank you for voting! I hope you all have a wonderful week! Happy Reading!