Tuesday, June 12, 2018

Wishing to Read Wednesday: Old & New (#4)

Books from the Backlog is a weekly meme, hosted by the wonderful Carole of Carole's Random Life in Books to spotlight and discuss the neglected books sitting on our shelves still waiting to be read.. Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by the marvelous Tressa at Wishful Endings to spotlight and discuss the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released.

The Old

While dusting off my bookshelves, I re-discovered these two gems I have been wanting to read for awhile:

Midnight Never Come (The Onyx Court #1) by Marie Brennan (Orbit, 2008)
England flourishes under the hand of its Virgin Queen: Elizabeth, Gloriana, last and most powerful of the Tudor monarchs.

But a great light casts a great shadow.

In hidden catacombs beneath London, a second Queen holds court: Invidiana, ruler of faerie England, and a dark mirror to the glory above. In the thirty years since Elizabeth ascended her throne, fae and mortal politics have become inextricably entwined, in secret alliances and ruthless betrayals whose existence is suspected only by a few.

Two courtiers, both struggling for royal favor, are about to uncover the secrets that lie behind these two thrones. When the faerie lady Lune is sent to monitor and manipulate Elizabeth's spymaster, Walsingham, her path crosses that of Michael Deven, a mortal gentleman and agent of Walsingham's. His discovery of the "hidden player" in English politics will test Lune's loyalty and Deven's courage alike. Will she betray her Queen for the sake of a world that is not hers? And can he survive in the alien and Machiavellian world of the fae? For only together will they be able to find the source of Invidiana's power—find it, and break it…

A breathtaking novel of intrigue and betrayal set in Elizabethan England;
Midnight Never Come seamlessly weaves together history and the fantastic to dazzling effect. [Summary from Goodreads]

Why I want to read it: Dare I admit that I received this book in a blogger holiday gift swap in 2009? I have a lot of unread books on my shelves. It's shameful really. This is one that survived two major bookshelf cullings. And I will read it! Someday. This has a mix of two genres I love: historical fiction and fantasy (fairies!). The England setting helps some too. And fairies!  

*

Blood Ties (PI Julie Collins, #1) by Lori G. Armstrong (Medallion Press, 2005)
Julie Collins is stuck in a dead-end secretarial job with the Bear Butte County Sheriff’s office, and still grieving over the unsolved murder of her Lakota half-brother. Lack of public interest in finding his murderer, or the killer of several other transient Native American men, has left Julie with a bone-deep cynicism she counters with tequila, cigarettes, and dangerous men. The one bright spot in her mundane life is the time she spends working part-time as a PI with her childhood friend, Kevin Wells. When the body of a sixteen-year old white girl is discovered in nearby Rapid Creek, Julie believes this victim will receive the attention others were denied. Then she learns Kevin has been hired, mysteriously, to find out where the murdered girl spent her last few days. Julie finds herself drawn into the case against her better judgment, and discovers not only the ugly reality of the young girl’s tragic life and brutal death, but ties to her and Kevin’s past that she is increasingly reluctant to revisit. On the surface the situation is eerily familiar. But the parallels end when Julie realizes some family secrets are best kept buried deep. Especially those serious enough to kill for. [Goodreads Summary]

Why I want to read this one: This one has been on my shelf since 2007, a book I discovered via author Karen E. Olson, if memory serves me right. Family secrets and murder and a female P.I. are what are drawing me to this one.

*                    *

The New

America for Beginners by Leah Franqui
Release Date: July 24, 2018 by William Morrow
Pival Sengupta has done something she never expected: she has booked a trip with the First Class India USA Destination Vacation Tour Company. But unlike other upper-class Indians on a foreign holiday, the recently widowed Pival is not interested in sightseeing. She is traveling thousands of miles from Kolkota to New York on a cross-country journey to California, where she hopes to uncover the truth about her beloved son, Rahi. A year ago Rahi devastated his very traditional parents when he told them he was gay. Then, Pival’s husband, Ram, told her that their son had died suddenly—heartbreaking news she still refuses to accept. Now, with Ram gone, she is going to America to find Rahi, alive and whole or dead and gone, and come to terms with her own life.

Arriving in New York, the tour proves to be more complicated than anticipated. Planned by the company’s indefatigable owner, Ronnie Munshi—a hard-working immigrant and entrepreneur hungry for his own taste of the American dream—it is a work of haphazard improvisation. Pavil’s guide is the company’s new hire, the guileless and wonderfully resourceful Satya, who has been in America for one year—and has never actually left the five boroughs. For modesty’s sake Pival and Satya will be accompanied by Rebecca Elliot, an aspiring young actress. Eager for a paying gig, she’s along for the ride, because how hard can a two-week "working" vacation traveling across America be?

Slowly making her way from coast to coast with her unlikely companions, Pival finds that her understanding of her son—and her hopes of a reunion with him—are challenged by her growing knowledge of his adoptive country. As the bonds between this odd trio deepens, Prival, Satya, and Rebecca learn to see America—and themselves—in different and profound new ways.
[Goodreads Summary]

Why I want to read it: The title is what first caught my attention, causing me to want to know more about what this book is about. When I read the synopsis, I was sold. Parent/child stories appeal to me and this particular story especially. Is this a road trip you want to go on as well?

*

Shelved Under Murder (Blue Ridge Library Mysteries #2) by Victoria Gilbert 
Release Date: July 10, 2018 by Crooked Lane Books
Autumn leaves aren’t the only things falling in the historic Virginia village of Taylorsford—so are some cherished memories, and a few bodies.

October in Taylorsford, Virginia means it’s leaf peeping season, with bright colorful foliage and a delightful fresh crew of tourists attending the annual Heritage Festival which celebrates local history and arts and crafts. Library director Amy Webber, though, is slightly dreading having to spend two days running a yard sale fundraiser for her library. But during these preparations, when she and her assistant Sunny stumble across a dead body, Amy finds a real reason to be worried.

The body belonged to a renowned artist who was murdered with her own pallet knife. A search of the artist’s studio uncovers a cache of forged paintings, and when the sheriff’s chief deputy Brad Tucker realizes Amy is skilled in art history research, she’s recruited to aid the investigation. It doesn’t seem to be an easy task, but when the state’s art expert uncovers a possible connection between Amy’s deceased uncle and the murder case, Amy must champion her Aunt Lydia to clear her late husband’s name.

That’s when another killing shakes the quiet town, and danger sweeps in like an autumn wind. Now, with her swoon-inducing neighbor Richard Muir, Amy must scour their resources to once again close the books on murder. 
[Goodreads Summary]
Why I want to read it: Thanks to those of you who voted in May's TBR List Poll, I read the first book in the series and loved it. I can't wait to continue with this series and see what Amy is up to next.


Have you read or heard of any of these? Do these sound like books you would enjoy? 


© 2018, 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.

46 comments:

  1. Midnight Never Come sounds like my kind of read and America for Beginners sounds fabulous! I hope you get to read and love them all!

    Tressa @ Wishful Endings

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tressa - Thank you! I hope I end up loving them too. :-)

      Delete
  2. Shelved Under Murder sounds right up my alley. Thanks for the heads up. Definitely have to check out that series.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Laura - Doesn't it sound good? I can't wait to read it. I hope you like the series if you try it.

      Delete
  3. America for Beginners sounds really good and it is a new one to too. Great pick.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Shelved Under Murder sounds like fun. Glad to hear you're enjoying that series. I remember voting for you to read the first book last month :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Suzanne - I am looking forward to reading more in the series. :-)

      Delete
  5. Oooh! Great picks here! Especially the Murder book!

    Here’s my WoW!

    Ronyell @ Rabbit Ears Book Blog

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ronyell - Thank you! I hope to read all of them. :-)

      Delete
  6. I've been cleaning out my shelves some too and have discovered some old gems that got hidden away. I haven't read any of yours.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kathy - I have so many good sounding books on my shelves. I really should pay more attention to them.

      Delete
  7. I like the premise of Midnight Never Come...and I'm also waiting for Shelved Under Murder.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Catherine - I have heard such good things about Midnight Never Come. And Shelved Under Murder is sure to be good.

      Delete
  8. Any book set in library is a good pick for me. And I also like the sound of Blood Ties (even if it's been on your shelf since 2007 - I have books that have been on my shelf for 20 years probably - ha!).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kay - I agree! I love library or bookstore settings. :-) Hopefully I can get to Blood Ties one of these days as it does sound good!

      Delete
  9. Although the cover is a bit graphic, I like the description of Blood Ties.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Great picks! I am definitely going to check out Midnight Never Come. Hope you enjoy them all!

    Renee ~ My Wow

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Renee - Thank you! I hope you like Midnight Never Come if you read it.

      Delete
  11. You are getting pretty consistent at adding to my TBR. All of these look great!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Barb - We can never have too many books on our TBR list. :-)

      Delete
  12. Midnight Never Come sounds awesome actually! I hope it's good- it sounds like it will be. :) I love the idea of the fae mixing w/ Elizabethan England.

    Shelved Under Murder looks fun too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Greg - I hope Midnight Never Come will be good too. It's gotten good reviews over the years, so I'm hopeful. :-)

      Delete
  13. I'm really excited about Shelved Under Murder! I loved the first book in the series and am excited to see what happens in the next book. Midnight Never Come looks interesting and that cover is gorgeous. Hope you enjoy it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Katherine - I can't wait to read Shelved Under Murder!

      Delete
  14. Haven't heard of any of these, but that's a plus, because now I can do some research and see if one of them's a good fit for me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rita - I hope you like whichever one you try--if one appeals to you. :-)

      Delete
  15. Haven't read any of these but they all look good. How will you ever choose which to read first?

    ReplyDelete
  16. You always find the best books! Blood Ties looks like one I think I would enjoy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Carole - I think the same thing of you. LOL You always seem to find the best books. :-)

      Delete
  17. Midnight Never Come sounds amazing! I hope you get to read it soon because I want to know what you think about it - I'll be putting it on my TBR list too!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Eustacia - I think so too! I don't know why I have not read it yet.

      Delete
  18. All sound good but in particular America for Beginners. That's a great cover too!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Iliana - I hope America for Beginners will be as good as it sounds. I think I'll like it. :-)

      Delete
  19. All sound good and I thought the cover for Blood Ties was a bit too creepy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Melody - yes, it is creepy, isn't it? I don't think I'd noticed just how much so before.

      Delete
  20. OOH! Midnight Never Come sounds like my kind of read.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tracy - I hope it turns out to be as good as it sounds!

      Delete
  21. I love the cover of the Victoria Gilbert book, I might have to check the first one out myself. There's nothing quite like a good cozy mystery :)

    I also have many books that have sat unread on my shelves for year (but always survive culls) oops. So many books, so little time!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wattle - I love it too! It looks so inviting, doesn't it? I hope you do give the series a try!

      I need to do another good culling one of these days. I have a hard time letting go of books I have yet to read, but my tastes do change over time. So many still sound good though!

      Delete
  22. America For Beginners looks like it could be fascinating! I hadn't heard of any of these four before

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Stephanie Jane - I think so too! I hope it is as good as it sounds.

      Delete
  23. I haven't heard about any of these books but I am curious about America for Beginners. I hope you get to read these someday :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sim - I hope so too! Someday sometimes seems like a long way off . . . Haha

      Delete

Thank you for taking the time to visit Musings of a Bookish Kitty. Don't be shy! I would love to hear from you. Due to a recent increase in spam, I will be moderating all comments for the foreseeable future. Please be patient with me as it may take a few hours before I am able to approve your comment.