Where Is Your Bookmark: A Peek Into Legacy & Other Friday Fun

The bees-in-the-wall saga continues, unfortunately. We will likely have to take more drastic measures (break into the walls) to get them out. At least the sun is shining and the days are pleasant. I had the windows open today while I worked from home and enjoyed the sound of the birds singing outside. 

I have four books going right now, and the one closest to me is Shannon Messenger's Legacy (Keeper of the Lost Cities #8). I have been neglecting this series too long and decided it was time to jump back in. It is one of my daughter's favorites.

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.

We can't keep doing this. [first sentence of the Preface of Legacy]

and 

"You look confused," Mr. Forkle said, and the lilt of his tone made Sophie wonder if his lips were twitching with a smile--but she couldn't pull her eyes away from the round, gilded door he'd brought her to, tucked into the side of a rolling, grassy hill.  [opening of first of the first chapter of Legacy]  

 The preface of these novels always seems to occur in the middle of a dire or stressful moment, and so my first thought upon reading the preface opening is to wonder what trouble Sophie and her friends are in now. As for the beginning of the first chapter, well, if the description of that door made you think of a similar--and more well-known door--you had the same thought Sophie and I did! 

A weekly meme in which readers share a random sentence or two from page 56 or 56% of the book they are reading. Our wonderful host Freda of Freda's Voice is on a break, and Anne of My Head is Full of Books  has stepped in to host! 

Sophie's eyebrows shot up. "I'm meeting with the council tomorrow?"

"You are. They've asked you to come to Eternalia at midday."

Sophie waited for her to add more, but Edaline had busied herself with brushing the shaggy purple fur off the front of her tunic in slow, methodical strokes. "Is everything okay?" [excerpt from page 116 of Legacy]  

Sophie's adoptive mother is clearly holding back from telling Sophie something. I am just as curious as Sophie to find out what that might be. 

Sophie Foster wants answers. But after a lifetime of lies, sometimes the truth is the most dangerous discovery. Even the smallest secret comes with terrifying new responsibilities.

And Sophie’s not the only one with blank spots in her past, or mysteries surrounding her family. She and her friends are part of something much bigger than they imagined—and their roles have already been chosen for them.

Every clue drags them deeper into the conspiracy. Every memory forces them to question everything—especially one another. And the harder they fight, the more the lines blur between friend and enemy. [Goodreads Summary]

Does this sound like something you would enjoy? If you have read it, what did you think?

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. It is hosted by Linda Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell and Jen from That’s What I’m Talking About. Join in by answering this week's question in the comments or on your own blog.

What new-to-you authors have you enjoyed in the past 12 months?

I actually did not include ALL of the new authors I read in the past 12 months, not even all the ones whose books I enjoyed. These were the stand outs that I definitely plan to read more of someday. A few I have already read multiple books (as indicated in parentheses) by within these past 12 months. 

Travis Baldree

Parini Shroff

Leigh Bardugo (5 books)

Mitsu Izumi (4 books)

Joshunda Sanders

Nina Simon

R.F. Kuang

Paula Charles

Samara Yew

Heather Fawcett (2 books)

Elizabeth Penny

Martha Wells

Colson Whitehead

Shannon Messenger (7 books)

Hitsuzi Yamada (3 books)

Have you read anything by these authors? Which new-to-you authors have you enjoyed the work of in the past 12 months?

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.

Do you think contemporary book covers lack originality? (submitted by Billy @ Coffee Addicted Writer) 

Book covers today are no more or less original than they were decades ago. Maybe even longer. To quote my husband, "Marketing has always chased trends." If you were to do an image search for book covers by decade, you would be able to see some of these trends. Especially within genres, many of these covers have similar styles and features, whether it be a pose, artwork, lettering, colors, or stock photos. While I very much value and appreciate originality, it's somewhat of a credit to marketing trends that I can look at a book cover and know that it will likely be a book I will enjoy because it has identifiable characteristics that I associate with a particular genre. Truth be told, when I think about my favorite book covers from the past, I remember them more because of how much I liked the books, not because the covers were necessarily unique.

What do you think? 

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

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© 2024 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.

Can't Wait to Read Wednesday: American Flygirl / The Mayfair Dagger / Four-Alarm Homicide / Admiral

The New

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

American Flygirl by Susan Tate Ankeny
Release Date: April 23, 2024 by Citadel

One of WWII’s most uniquely hidden figures, Hazel Ying Lee was the first Asian American woman to earn a pilot’s license, join the WASPs, and fly for the United States military amid widespread anti-Asian sentiment and policies.

Her singular story of patriotism, barrier breaking, and fearless sacrifice is told for the first time in full for readers of The Women with Silver Wings by Katherine Sharp Landdeck, A Woman of No Importance by Sonia Purnell, The Last Boat Out of Shanghai by Helen Zia, Facing the Mountain by Daniel James Brown and all Asian American, women’s and WWII history books.

In 1932, Hazel Ying Lee, a nineteen-year-old American daughter of Chinese immigrants, sat in on a friend’s flight lesson. It changed her life. In less than a year, a girl with a wicked sense of humor, a newfound love of flying, and a tough can-do attitude earned her pilot’s license and headed for China to help against invading Japanese forces. In time, Hazel would become the first Asian American to fly with the Women Airforce Service Pilots. As thrilling as it may have been, it wasn’t easy.

In America, Hazel felt the oppression and discrimination of the Chinese Exclusion Act. In China’s field of male-dominated aviation she was dismissed for being a woman, and for being an American. But in service to her country, Hazel refused to be limited by gender, race, and impossible dreams. Frustrated but undeterred she forged ahead, married Clifford Louie, a devoted and unconventional husband who cheered his wife on, and gave her all for the cause achieving more in her short remarkable life than even she imagined possible.

American Flygirl is the untold account of a spirted fighter and an indomitable hidden figure in American history. She broke every common belief about women. She challenged every social restriction to endure and to succeed. And against seemingly insurmountable obstacles, Hazel Ying Lee reached for the skies and made her mark as a universal and unsung hero whose time has come. [Goodreads Summary]

This book went on my wish list as soon as I first heard about it. I enjoy reading about little known women of history. These are women who definitely deserve to have their stories told. I am not familiar with Hazel Ying Lee but look forward to reading more about her. 

The Mayfair Dagger by Ava January
Release Date: April 23, 2024 by Crooked Lane Books

A witty, feminist mystery set in the heart of 19th century London, this daring adventure featuring an intrepid woman detective will thrill fans of Deanna Raybourn and Katharine Schellman.

London, 1894. Albertine Honeycombe never wanted a husband, and certainly not the one with fifteen children that her cousin, Aubrey, is trying to marry her off to. She reinvents herself as Countess Von Dagga, a private detective aiding the upper echelons of women in society. As the Countess, she is a married woman, with a conveniently absent husband who doesn’t exist, which allows her far more freedom than being single.

When Lord Grendel, from whom she has recovered blackmail letters, is murdered, Albertine is suspect number one - having been the last person to see him. And when the Duke of Erleigh comes looking for her utterly fictitious husband, she realizes she has landed herself in hot water, without a tea bag. When Albertine also becomes the prime suspect in her fictional husband’s death, things are looking grim.

Unless Albertine can prove who murdered Lord Grendel and clear her name, her choices are step-mothering enough small children to start a school or hanging from the end of Her Majesty's rope. [Goodreads Summary]

I cannot pass up a historical mystery and this one sounds like it will be fun! 

Four-Alarm Homicide (#House-Flipper Mystery #6) by Diane Kelly
Release Date: April 23, 2024 by St. Martin's Press

Some properties are too hot to handle...

Carpenter Whitney Whitaker and her cousin Buck are hot for a historical property that has just come on the market—a fire station in Nashville’s Germantown neighborhood that was built nearly a century ago.

The cousins have just begun the interior demolition work at the fire station when Joanna Hartzell, who lives in a townhouse around the corner, comes by with a plea for help. Joanna owns the right half of her building, which she proudly maintains in perfect condition, while the left side falls into disrepair: the seven adult children who inherited it years ago refuse to lift a finger on repairs. Never one to turn down a challenge, Whitney and Buck manage to acquire the rundown townhouse—though it turns out Joanna is only one of the many neighbors interested in buying the property once they’ve worked their magic.

Then Joanna shows up at the fire station confused and rambling, then collapses, never to recover. Alarm bells go off for Whitney: she suspects something—and someone—evil could be the real cause. Can she and Collin put the clues together and smoke out a killer? [Goodreads Summary]

Yet another cozy mystery series I have been wanting to read for some time now. I do love the sound of this one! 

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

The Old(er) 

Carole of Carole's Random Life in Books has given me the perfect excuse to spotlight those unread books on my TBR in her Books from the Backlog feature, reminding me what great books I have waiting for me under my own roof still to read!

These past couple of months I have been featuring books on the losing end of my TBR List Poll, all books on my TBR shelves. This one was one of the options in my June 2016 poll. I enjoy reading Science Fiction but feel like I don't read it as often as I might like. This one sounds like a combination of mystery and disaster story, which I find very appealing. 

Admiral by Sean Danker (2016)

“I was on a dead ship on an unknown planet with three trainees freshly graduated into the Imperial Service. I tried to look on the bright side.”

He is the last to wake. The label on his sleeper pad identifies him as an admiral of the Evagardian Empire—a surprise as much to him as to the three recent recruits now under his command. He wears no uniform, and he is ignorant of military protocol, but the ship’s records confirm he is their superior officer. 

Whether he is an Evagardian admiral or a spy will be of little consequence if the crew members all end up dead. They are marooned on a strange world, their ship’s systems are failing one by one—and they are not alone. [Goodreads Summary]

 

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

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© 2024, 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.

Weekly Mewsings: Bees and Good Books

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.  

It was a busy week here--one with lots of bees. Early in the week we noticed bees were getting into the house. Not a lot, but enough that it made us worry. After a look around the outside of the house, my husband found bees swarming around one of the little vents leading into the house. While we don't think that is how they were getting into the main area of the house (we think they slipped in through a small gap near the sliding glass door), we do think they got into the walls. The bee expert thinks we caught them in time to get them out without having to start putting holes in the walls--and I sure hope he's right! This entire ordeal has brought to mind an early scene in Sue Monk Kidd's book, The Secret Life of Bees, with Lily and the bees living in her bedroom wall. That's the extent of the excitement in my life at the moment. I hope you have had a good week. What have you been up to? 

She may not be the most affectionate cat, but Nina does not mind a close up. 

This was the closest I could get to a decent photo of Gracie today. 

She was all movement and no cooperation. 

It was with mixed feelings that I finished reading Cold Curses (Heirs of Chicagoland #5) by Chloe Neill, the final book in the series. I enjoyed the book as I have the previous books in the series, but I am sad to see the series come to an end. One of these days I plan to pick up the first book in the Chicagoland Vampire series, the prequel series. I probably should have read that first, although I think I was more motivated to start fresh with her newer series because it was just coming out and the earlier series was thirteen books long.

This past week, I also slipped in a little listening time and finished Sweep in Peace (Innkeepers Chronicles #2) by Ilona Andrews. I first read this one in 2018 and decided to listen to the graphic audio edition this time around. I think I was more prepared for the full cast and background music and sounds this time around.

I continue to read David Copperfield by Charles Dickens. I have been reading about a chapter a night, right before bed. One of my favorite scenes so far was when David's aunt gives Mr. Murdstone a piece of her mind. That man deserved it and more. I am liking the book very much so far. 

I very recently started reading An Inconvenient Wife: A Modern Tudor Mystery by Karen E. Olson, which I have been eagerly anticipating. 

Thank you to everyone who voted in my April TBR List Poll! It was a very close race between the top two vote getters, going back and forth between which would take the lead. 

Ali Hazelwood's Bride did not fare as well as the other two, but it did get 4 votes. Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt made a good showing with 9 votes. And although Jimmy Fallon book club voters may not have picked The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo as their book club choice for the month, it did win my poll with 10 votes. I am excited about reading The Fox Wife next. I enjoyed both of Yangsze Choo's previous novels. I had the chance to meet her at a book signing a few years ago, and she was wonderful.

Thank you again for voting!

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).  

New to my shelves:

My autographed copy of An Inconvenient Wife by Karen E. Olson 

arrived in the mail from The Mysterious Bookshop (Yippee!)

Rise of the Crones (The Crone Wars #5) by Lydia Hawke

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

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

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© 2024, 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.

Where Is Your Bookmark: An Inconvenient Wife & Other Friday Fun

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.

 

They came in the early morning. The police cars, sirens blaring, lights flashing against the cattails, a bright red strobe, like blood splatter. [prologue opening of An Inconvenient Wife]

and 

Kate Parker's fingers found the ring on her left hand and twisted it slightly. Hank had slipped it on as they stood before the judge at city hall only two weeks ago. [opening of first Chapter of An Inconvenient Wife]  

The first couple of sentences of the prologue are like a promise for what is to come. I'm hooked already! And I like that the opening of the first chapter gives us a bit of insight into Kate and Hank, from the type of marriage ceremony they had to their newlywed status.  

A weekly meme in which readers share a random sentence or two from page 56 or 56% of the book they are reading. Our wonderful host Freda of Freda's Voice is on a break, and Anne of My Head is Full of Books  has stepped in to host! 

"Marry me," he'd pleaded, taking her face in his hands, locking his eyes on hers. "You are so beautiful." [excerpt from page 56 of An Inconvenient Wife]  

I was so excited when my autographed copy of An Inconvenient Wife: A Modern Tudor Mystery by Karen E. Olson arrived in the mail today. It took a lot out of me not to dive right in, but I was only half way through the work day. I plan to dive back in before the week is out. 

This astonishing crime novel—inspired by the Tudor era—takes the reader into the world of Kate Parker, who has just married billionaire Hank Tudor when a headless body is discovered near their summer home . . .

Kate Parker knows what she’s getting into when she marries billionaire businessman Hank Tudor—she’s his sixth wife, after all, and was by his side (as his assistant) when his fifth marriage to actress Caitlyn Howard fell apart.

But honeymoon plans go awry when a headless body is discovered near Hank’s summer home, forcing Kate to contend with two more of his exes: Catherine Alvarez—the first—who lives as a shut-in with her computers, carefully following Tudor Enterprises; and Anna Klein—the fourth—who runs a bed-and-breakfast where she and her wife keep a steady eye on things—particularly Hank’s children, Lizzie and Teddy.

In this clever and suspenseful reimagining of Tudor era betrayals, these three women become entwined in a deadly game of cat and mouse—with each other, Hank, and Hank’s brilliant fixer, Tom Cromwell—as Kate seeks to solve the puzzle of who the murdered woman is, who killed her, and whether her death has any connection to the other headless body from eight years ago. [Goodreads Summary]

Does this sound like something you would enjoy? If you have read it, what did you think?

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. It is hosted by Linda Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell and Jen from That’s What I’m Talking About. Join in by answering this week's question in the comments or on your own blog.

What have you been watching? Share your TV show or movie picks.

My family and I have been catching up on Doctor Who episodes in anticipation of the new season starting in May. We re-watched earlier episodes and are now into the seasons we missed the first time around. I enjoy Science Fiction and am a big fan of Doctor Who. Yes, it's a bit campy, but it's so much fun! My husband and I also have been watching Shogun, the miniseries that came out earlier this year, which we are enjoying. It has gotten me more interested in Japanese history around the time period it is set. We actually do not watch a lot of television in the evenings, and only watch about an hour a night during the week. Usually it is an episode of one or the other of these shows (or whichever show we are making our way through at the time) before we start our bedtime routines (which of course involves reading). Abbott Elementary is a shorter show my family and I have been watching on those evenings we are extra busy and don't have a lot of time to spare before we call it a night.

I do not know what it is about the House Hunters shows, but lately House Hunters International is my comfort show. I realize the show is somewhat staged, but there is just something about touring homes around the world, even if from my couch, and dreaming about which one I might pick if I were the one in search of the new home. Each episode is short, which comes in handy when I am not in a reading mood and want something quick to watch. 

I sometimes like to have a show on in the background while I am blogging or blog hopping, and right now the new seasons of Station 19 and Grey's Anatomy are on that list. I do not subscribe to regular television and so watch the shows at my leisure, so am perpetually behind. I also have been re-watching the earlier seasons of New Amsterdam to prepare myself for the final season which I missed when it first aired. These are all shows I don't mind being distracted from when I do not give them my full attention.

What have you been watching lately?

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.

If you could live in any book, which one would you pick and why? (submitted by Billy @ Coffee Addicted Writer) 

If I spend too much time thinking about this question, I could probably come up with a dozen or so books.  I will go with the first book I thought of which is Sangu Mandanna's The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches. If I could live in the actual book, I would be a witch like Mika Moon (although now I am imagining being Josie Way in the Witch Way Librarian mystery series by Sandra M. Sanders because her magic is book related--and wouldn't that be amazing to experience?! Except, of course, now I'm putting myself in the character's shoes, which wasn't the point of this exercise). Back to my original choice . . . I just love the Nowhere House and the world Sangu Mandanna has created in her book. There is conflict and bad guys, but there is also many more good people. It's such a cozy and romantic world. And it's contemporary, which means it modern day conveniences exist (sorry, Emily Wilde). From the setting to the atmosphere to the magic--I wanted to step into this book when I read it, and I wouldn't mind doing so now. I plan to read A Witch's Guide to to Magical Innkeeping, another book set in the same world, when it comes out. 

What about you? 

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

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© 2024 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.

Can't Wait to Read Wednesday: One of Us Knows / Christa Comes Out of Her Shell / The Finders Keepers Library / Within a Captain's Hold

The New

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

One of Us Knows by Alyssa Cole
Release Date: April 16, 2024 by William Morrow

From the critically acclaimed and New York Times bestselling author of When No One Is Watching comes a riveting thriller about the new caretaker of a historic estate who finds herself trapped on an island with a murderer—and the ghosts of her past.

Years after a breakdown and a diagnosis of dissociative identity disorder derailed her historical preservationist career, Kenetria Nash and her alters have been given a second chance they can’t refuse: a position as resident caretaker of a historic home. Having been dormant for years, Ken has no idea what led them to this isolated Hudson River island, but she’s determined not to ruin their opportunity.

Then a surprise visit from the home’s conservation trust just as a Nor’easter bears down on the island disrupts her newfound life, leaving Ken trapped with a group of possibly dangerous strangers—including the man who brought her life tumbling down years earlier. When he turns up dead, Ken is the prime suspect.

Caught in a web of secrets and in a race against time, Ken and her alters must band together to prove their innocence and discover the truth of Kavanaugh Island—and their own past—or they risk losing not only their future, but their life. [Goodreads Summary]

Everything about One of Us Knows appeals to me: from an isolated island estate, a protagonist with dissociative identify disorder, and murder . . . How could I not want to read this one?!

Christa Comes Out of Her Shell by Abbi Waxman
Release Date: April 16, 2024 by Berkley

Just when she thought she’d gotten far enough away . . . a life-changing phone call throws an antisocial scientist back into her least favorite place—the spotlight. A hilarious and insightful new novel from the USA Today bestselling author of The Bookish Life of Nina Hill.

After a tumultuous childhood, Christa Liddle has hidden away, both figuratively and literally. Happily studying sea snails in the middle of the Indian Ocean, Christa finds her tranquil existence thrown into chaos when her once-famous father—long thought dead after a plane crash—turns out to be alive, well, and ready to make amends. The world goes wild, fascinated by this real-life saga, pinning Christa and her family under the spotlight. As if that weren’t enough, her reunion with an old childhood friend reveals an intense physical attraction neither was expecting and both want to act on . . . if they can just keep a lid on it. When her father’s story starts to develop cracks, Christa fears she will lose herself, her potential relationship, and—most importantly—any chance of making it back to her snails before they forget her completely. [Goodreads Summary]

I loved The Bookish Life of Nina Hill and have been wanting to read other books by Abbi Waxman. A bit of family drama and romance--and snails! I am really curious about this one. 

The Finders Keepers Library by Annie Rains
Release Date: April 16, 2024 by Forever

This heart-warming second chance love story about hope and healing from USA Today bestselling author Annie Rains is perfect for fans of Raeanne Thayne and Jenny Hale!

For a gardener blessed with a green thumb, Savannah Collins’s life sure seems like it’s all thorns, zero roses. She has no job, no relationship, and no place to live. With nothing but a car full of plants and her new rescue kitten, Savannah heads to Bloom, North Carolina, to spend the summer with her beloved Aunt Eleanor, a retired librarian.

Her aunt shares her love of literature with the Finders Keepers Library, located in her beautiful garden, where anyone can stop by to pick a book or leave a book. When a sudden summer storm destroys the library and many of the roses, it will take a village to get everything ready for the garden wedding that is planned there in just three weeks.

As the entire town joins in to make the necessary repairs, Savannah bonds with their neighbor Evan Sanders over the books that Eleanor has handpicked for each of them, helping them both find healing and self-discovery. Savannah only intends to stay through the summer, but when an unexpected job offer, a sudden health crisis, and a wayward pre-teen push her future in new directions, she has to wonder whether this is the place that she is meant to be—and the family she’s meant to be with. [Goodreads Summary]

If the cover wasn't enough to draw me to this title, the story itself would. I love seeing a community come together to help each other and books bringing two people together? Yes, please! 

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

The Old(er) 

Carole of Carole's Random Life in Books has given me the perfect excuse to spotlight those unread books on my TBR in her Books from the Backlog feature, reminding me what great books I have waiting for me under my own roof still to read!

These past couple of months I have been featuring books on the losing end of my TBR List Poll, all books on my TBR shelves. This one was one of the options in my June 2016 poll. While I do not read a lot of historical romance, I liked the sound of this one, featuring a pirate and a stowaway on the run. I haven't gotten to it yet, but I still hope to! 

Within a Captain's Hold by Lisa A. Olech (2015)

Captain Jaxon Steele is a tall, sun-bronzed, fierce-fighting Pirate King. He and the notorious crew of the Scarlet Night are both feared and respected for their ruthless reputation. The Captain’s only love is the open sea and the ship he calls home. When it comes to women, he has three rules: never sleep with another’s wife, don’t take virgins into bed, and most importantly, never bring a woman aboard—that brings the worst luck of all.

Annalise Gatherone has to leave London—tonight! Usually her only concern is the color of her latest gown, but now she’s choosing between life and death. Desperate to escape the clutches of an evil Duke, she stows away aboard the Scarlet Night, hoping she’s bound for Port St. Maria. Winning Captain Steele's affections, she just might sneak by unharmed. But when her plans are altered in ways she never imagined, she must batten down the hatches for a journey into unknown waters… [Goodreads Summary]

Have you read Within a Captain's Hold?  Does this book sound like something you would like to read? 

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© 2024, 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.

Weekly Mews: March Musicals & April Showers (Please Vote in my April TBR Poll!)

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.  

How has this first week in April been treating you? It seemed like we just about went through all the seasons here, weather wise. March seemed to go by fast. My husband and I took a week off work to enjoy spring break with my daughter. We were none too happy to have to report back to work and school last Monday. Friday was the only day this past week I was able to get out of the office on time--I practically ran, I was that ready. It actually wasn't a bad work week though. It was a fairly quiet one, actually, which was nice.

I was able to get a day off work to see Mouse and her school band perform at a local band festival one day last month. I hitched a ride with my mom who went as well. They did a marvelous job. We even got to sit in on their sight reading session. Mouse hadn't known I was coming and so was happily surprised. We also went to see the musical Chicago at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood one night. I love the music and songs from the show, and so really enjoyed seeing it performed live on stage again. The last time I had a chance to see it live was nineteen years ago. The following weekend we went to see one of my daughter's friends perform in a musical performance called Over the Rainbow, a re-imagining of The Wizard of Oz.

March was such a good reading month! I was super excited when my husband surprised me by getting me a copy of Spy x Family, Vol. 11. It is such a fun manga series. I am all caught up with Jennifer Ashley's Below the Stairs historical mysteries series and Elle Cosimano's Finlay Donovan series, both of which are two of my favorites. And I never tire of spending time with Josie in The Witch Way Librarian cozy mystery series. I tried my first graphic audiobook, re-visiting Clean Sweep, which was just as good as I remembered it being the first time. The added music and sound effects made the experience even more entertaining. The Book of Doors was what I hoped it would be and more. 

Books Read in March

• Clean Sweep (Innkeeper Chronicles #1) by Ilona Andrews (audio) (re-read)
• Gone with the Witch (The Witch Way Librarian #6) by Angela M. Sanders
• The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown
• Spy x Family, Vol. 11 by Tatsuya Endo
• A Soupçon of Poison (Below the Stairs #0.5) by Jennifer Ashley (novella)
• The Price of Lemon Cake (Below Stairs #6.5) by Jennifer Ashley (novella)
• Mrs. Holloway's Christmas Pudding (Below Stairs #6.7) by Jennifer Ashley (novella)
• Speculations in Sin (Below Stairs #7) by Jennifer Ashley
• Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank (Finlay Donovan 3.5) by Elle Cosimano (novella)
• Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice (Finlay Donovan #4) by Elle Cosimano

It was hard picking a least favorite and a favorite for this month because there wasn't a book in the bunch I did not like and several I absolutely loved. So while I enjoyed Gone with the Witch by Angela M. Sanders and can highly recommend the series, there were other books I liked more this month. If I had to pick, Speculations in Sin was my favorite book read in March. I never tire of spending time with Kate Holloway and Daniel McAdams. 

What was your favorite book read in March? Did you have a good reading month?

Earlier this week, I finished two books: Shannon Reed's  Why We Read: On Bookworms, Libraries, and Just One More Page Before Lights Out and Dune (#1) by Frank Herbert. I highlighted quite a few passages in Why We Read that resonated with me. I always find it interesting to read about someone else's perspective on reading. I have yet to see the second movie of the newer Dune movies, but on a whim while looking through my audiobooks, I decided to give Dune a try. I quite enjoyed it! 

I currently am reading Cold Curses (Heirs of Chicagoland #5) by Chloe Neill, the final book in the series. The mix of high action, the supernatural, and romance is just what I was in the mood for. I am also continuing with my reading of David Copperfield by Charles Dickens, which I am taking slowly, but enjoying. 

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). 

For this month's TBR List Poll, I selected three books from my TBR shelves that I purchased this year from my favorite local independent bookstore that I have been itching to read. Please help me decide which one I should read next! 

The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo

Some people think foxes are similar to ghosts because we go around collecting qi, or life force, but nothing could be further than the truth. We are living creatures, just like you, only usually better looking . . .

Manchuria, 1908.

A young woman is found frozen in the snow. Her death is clouded by rumors of foxes involved, which are believed to lure people by transforming themselves into beautiful women and men. Bao, a detective with a reputation for sniffing out the truth, is hired to uncover the dead woman’s identity. Since childhood, Bao has been intrigued by the fox gods, yet they’ve remained tantalizingly out of reach. Until, perhaps, now.

Meanwhile, a family that owns a famous Chinese medicine shop can cure ailments, but not the curse that afflicts them―their eldest sons die before their twenty-fourth birthdays. Now the only grandson of the family is twenty-three. When a mysterious woman enters their household, their luck seems to change. Or does it? Is their new servant a simple young woman from the north or a fox spirit bent on her own revenge?

New York Times bestselling author Yangsze Choo brilliantly explores a world of mortals and spirits, humans and beasts, and their dazzling intersection. The Fox Wife is a stunning novel about a winter full of mysterious deaths, a mother seeking revenge, and old folktales that may very well be true. [Goodreads Summary]

Bride by Ali Hazelwood

A dangerous alliance between a Vampyre bride and an Alpha Werewolf becomes a love deep enough to sink your teeth into in this new paranormal romance.

Misery Lark, the only daughter of the most powerful Vampyre councilman of the Southwest, is an outcast—again. Her days of living in anonymity among the Humans are over: she has been called upon to uphold a historic peacekeeping alliance between the Vampyres and their mortal enemies, the Weres, and she sees little choice but to surrender herself in the exchange—again...

Weres are ruthless and unpredictable, and their Alpha, Lowe Moreland, is no exception. He rules his pack with absolute authority, but not without justice. And, unlike the Vampyre Council, not without feeling. It’s clear from the way he tracks Misery’s every movement that he doesn’t trust her. If only he knew how right he was….

Because Misery has her own reasons to agree to this marriage of convenience, reasons that have nothing to do with politics or alliances, and everything to do with the only thing she's ever cared about. And she is willing to do whatever it takes to get back what’s hers, even if it means a life alone in Were territory…alone with the wolf. [Goodreads Summary]

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

For fans of A Man Called Ove, a charming, witty and compulsively readable exploration of friendship, reckoning, and hope, tracing a widow's unlikely connection with a giant Pacific octopus.

After Tova Sullivan's husband died, she began working the night shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium, mopping floors and tidying up. Keeping busy has always helped her cope, which she's been doing since her eighteen-year-old son, Erik, mysteriously vanished on a boat in Puget Sound over thirty years ago.

Tova becomes acquainted with curmudgeonly Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus living at the aquarium. Marcellus knows more than anyone can imagine but wouldn't dream of lifting one of his eight arms for his human captors--until he forms a remarkable friendship with Tova.

Ever the detective, Marcellus deduces what happened the night Tova's son disappeared. And now Marcellus must use every trick his old invertebrate body can muster to unearth the truth for her before it's too late.

Shelby Van Pelt's debut novel is a gentle reminder that sometimes taking a hard look at the past can help uncover a future that once felt impossible. [Goodreads Summary]

Thank you for voting!

New to my shelves:

Lunar New Year Love Story by Gene Luen Yang, illustrated by LeUyen Pham 

Artificial Condition (Murderbot Diaries #2) by Martha Wells

Legendborn (#1) by Tracy Deonn

Bloodmarked (Legendborn #2) by Tracy Deonn

The Persephone Code by Julia Golding

Cold Curses (Heirs of Chicagoland #5) by Chloe Neill

The Monstrous Misses Mai by Van Hoang

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

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

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