Tuesday, June 19, 2018

Wishing to Read Wednesday: Old & New (#5)

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

It Takes a Witch (A Wishcraft Mystery #1) by Heather Blake (New American Library, 2012)
Darcy Merriweather and her sister, Harper, hail from a long line of witches who have the power to grant wishes using spells. They've come to Enchanted Village in Salem, Massachusetts, to join the family business, but they soon find themselves knee deep in murder...

Until three weeks ago, Darcy and Harper were working dead-end jobs and trying to put their troubles behind them. Then their aunt Velma delivered a bombshell: They're actually Wishcrafters - witches with the power to grant wishes with a mere spell. Wanting a fresh start, they head to their aunt's magic-themed tourist town to master their newfound skills.

But their magic fails them when a wannabe witch turns up dead - strangled with Aunt Ve's scarf - and Ve's sweetheart, Sylar, is found looming over the body. Ve is standing by her man, but Darcy overheard Skylar wish that the victim would disappear - forever. With Harper distracted by her handsome new crush, Darcy is determined to sleuth her way to the truth. But it'll take more than a wish to unravel this mystery....
[Goodreads Summary]

Why I want to read this:

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Bayou Moon (The Edge #2) by Ilona Andrews (Penguin Berkley Ace, 2010)
The Edge lies between worlds, on the border between the Broken, where people shop at Walmart and magic is a fairytale–and the Weird, where blueblood aristocrats rule, changelings roam, and the strength of your magic can change your destiny… 
Cerise Mar and her unruly clan are cash poor but land rich, claiming a large swathe of the Mire, the Edge swamplands between the state of Louisiana and the Weird. When her parents vanish, her clan’s long-time rivals are suspect number one.

But all is not as it seems. Two nations of the Weird are waging a cold war fought by feint and espionage, and their conflict is about to spill over into the Edge—and Cerise’s life . William, a changeling soldier who left behind the politics of the Weird, has been forced back into service to track down a rival nation’s spymaster.

When William’s and Cerise’s missions lead them to cross paths, sparks fly—but they’ll have to work together if they want to succeed…and survive. [Goodreads Summary]

Why I want to read this: I enjoyed the first book in the series, and have had this one on my shelf for awhile. Ilona Andrews has a gift for world building, and this one sounds irresistible.

*                     *

The New


Eagle and Crane by Suzanne Rindell
Release Date: July 3, 2018 by G.P. Putnam's Sons
Two young daredevil flyers confront ugly truths and family secrets during the U.S. internment of Japanese citizens during World War II, from the author of The Other Typist and Three-Martini Lunch.

Louis Thorn and Haruto "Harry" Yamada -- Eagle and Crane -- are the star attractions of Earl Shaw's Flying Circus, a daredevil (and not exactly legal) flying act that traverses Depression-era California. The young men have a complicated relationship, thanks to the Thorn family's belief that the Yamadas -- Japanese immigrants -- stole land that should have stayed in the Thorn family.

When Louis and Harry become aerial stuntmen, performing death-defying tricks high above audiences, they're both drawn to Shaw's smart and appealing stepdaughter, Ava Brooks. When the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor and one of Shaw's planes mysteriously crashes and two charred bodies are discovered in it, authorities conclude that the victims were Harry and his father, Kenichi, who had escaped from a Japanese internment camp they had been sent to by the federal government. To the local sheriff, the situation is open and shut. But to the lone FBI agent assigned to the case, the details don't add up.

Thus begins an investigation into what really happened to cause the plane crash, who was in the plane when it fell from the sky, and why no one involved seems willing to tell the truth. By turns an absorbing mystery and a fascinating exploration of race, family and loyalty,
Eagle and Crane is that rare novel that tells a gripping story as it explores a terrible era of American history. [Goodreads Summary]

Why I want to read it: Everything about this book screams, "Read me!" I have long had an interest in World War II history and add in airplanes and a mystery and I'm even more intrigued. I cannot wait to read this one.

*

Poppy Harmon Investigates (A Desert Flowers Mystery #1) by Lee Hollis
Release Date: July 31, 2018 by Kensington Books
Lee Hollis begins a delightful new series in which Poppy Harmon and her friends find that life after retirement can be much busier--and deadlier--than any of them ever anticipated . . . 
When Poppy goes from complacent retiree to penniless widow in a matter of weeks, the idea of spending her golden years as the biggest charity case in Palm Springs renders her speechless. With no real skills and nothing left to lose, Poppy uses her obsession with true crime shows to start a career as a private eye . . . 
But after opening the Desert Flowers Detective Agency with help from her two best friends, Violet and Iris, Poppy realizes that age brings wisdom, not business--until she convinces her daughter's handsome boyfriend, Matt, to pose as the face of the agency. It's not long before Matt's irresistible act snags a client desperate to retrieve priceless jewelry burglarized from an aging actress at the Palm Leaf Retirement Village. Or before Poppy stumbles upon the bloodied body of the victim's arch rival . . . 
In a flash, Poppy's innocent detective gig is upstaged by a dangerous murder investigation riddled with slimy suspects and unspeakable scandal. As she and her team uncover the truth, Poppy must confront the secrets about her late husband's past and swiftly catch a killer lurking around the retirement community--even if it means turning her world upside down all over again. [Goodreads Summary]

Why I want to read this: The Palm Springs setting caught my attention with this one, but the premise is what really pulled me in. I love the sound of this new cozy series.


Do any of these sound like something you would read? If you have read them, what did you think?


© 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.

57 comments:

  1. Poppy Harmon Investigates looks like a lot of fun!

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    1. Greg - I think so too! I hope it's as good as it sounds.

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  2. I love a good witchy story so I'll definitely be on the lookout for It Takes a Witch! Thanks for sharing all of these!

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    1. Becky - Doesn't It Takes a Witch sound fun? I love witchy stories too. :-)

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  3. I want to start The Edge series, but kind of want to save it for when the Kate Daniels series is over.

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    1. Christy - I understand. I really need to get back to the Kate Daniels series. I need to remember where I left off . . .

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  4. These are certainly some good picks. I so want to read Eagle & Crane too. I have a copy but haven't got to read it yet, hopefully soon.

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    1. Jenea - Doesn't Eagle and Crane sound so good? I am really excited about that one.

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  5. I think The Eagle & Crane sounds very interesting and that cover is beautiful. I also might try the Poppy book. Enjoy, Wendy!

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    1. Kay - I really like that cover too. I am eager to read Eagle and Crane. I hope the Poppy mystery is good. It sounds like it will be.

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  6. I absolutely love the sound of both forthcoming books you've selected. I just placed holds on both of them! Thanks for sharing!

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    1. Catherine - I hope you love them. I hope I do too, for that matter. :-)

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  7. I just got an email from my local bookstore about Eagle and Crane - it looks good.

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  8. I used to love the Blake series but I stopped reading them and now need to catch up. Poppy Harmon Investigates sounds pretty interesting, especially since the MC is retired. I'm gonna add it to my wishlist.

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    1. Barb - It sounds like a fun series. Hopefully I won't put off reading it much longer. I thought the Poppy book sounded like a lot of fun. I hope we both like it when we read it.

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  9. The Poppy Harmon cover is my favorite, and I'm easily influenced by a cover!

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  10. This is a great series. I finished book 5 a few months ago and the next one is still a few spots down on my TBR. It'll be part of my summer reading. I hope you enjoy it!
    Laura :)
    This book is now on my wishlist. I love fairy tale retellings. Peter Pan spin offs are my favorite but this looks like fun and the cover is gorgeous. Thanks for sharing it. I think I like the book cover more because it adds a bit of color contrast. Have fun with it!
    Laura
    My Can't Wait Wednesday

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  11. Sorry, last comment got messed up...
    I love this series and am currently ready for book six. I hope you enjoy it too!
    Laura
    My Can't Wait Wednesday

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    1. Laura - I tried commenting on your post, but was unable to do so. :-( I don't know if it's me or Blogger. I haven't read any of Ransom Riggs's series, but I do hope to one of these days.

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  12. I liked the covers even before I read the synopsis!

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  13. it takes a wish looks so much fun, and the cover is intriguingly cute! Magical!

    Here's mine!! http://bit.ly/CWWed2 x

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    1. Sassy Brit - I think so too! I think it will be good.

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  14. I think I'll most likely pick up "Poppy Harmon Investigates" not only it sounds intriguing but it has a lovely cover, too.

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    1. Melody - Yes! I couldn't resist that cover either. And it does sound good. :-)

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  15. The Heather Blake and Lee Hollis both look really good and Eagle and Crane looks gorgeous!

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    1. Katherine - I am really looking forward to them all. :-)

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  16. I love the sound of ALL of these, Wendy! But the one that edges it is the Poppy Harmon - I am a real fan of a woman of a certain age being the protagonist!

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    1. Sarah - Poppy sounds like a great character. I am looking forward to that one.

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  17. The cover of the Poppy Harmon book is so eye-catching! I just love it. I hope the book is just as great.

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    1. Bark - I can't resist it myself! I hope the book will be good too.

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  18. I'm intrigued by the Wishcraft Mystery 1. Sounds great.

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    1. Angelica Joy - My favorite kind of cozies are the ones involving magic.

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  19. I featured the Ilona Andrews book a few weeks ago. I can't believe that I still haven't read that one. Eagle & Crane looks like one I would enjoy as well.

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    1. Carole - I remember you featuring the Andrews book. :-) I wanted to copy you. LOL Hopefully we will read it one of these days!

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    2. I didn't think you were copying me. I am honestly surprised that we both still need to read that one!

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  20. Eagle And Crane looks like a fascinating story!

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    1. Stephanie Jane - I hope it will be good. I'm really excited about reading it.

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  21. It takes a Witch and Poppy Harmon Investigates both sound sooo good -- and have such different main characters!

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    1. Verushka - I hope they will be good! Thanks for stopping by.

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  22. Both your oldies are good ones. I need to get book three in the Andrews' Edge series read. Poppy Harmon Investigates sound like it might be my thing, too.

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    1. Sophia Rose - I am glad you enjoyed that! I think I will too. :-)

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  23. I really liked Bayou Moon! It's another great Andrews' read.
    And I'm with the others: It Takes A With and Poppy Harmon Investigates sound very fun and entertaining...and perfect summer reads. :)

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    1. Lark - I am glad to hear it! I look forward to reading it.

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  24. It Takes a Witch is a fantastic story. The Wishcraft Mysteries are some of my favorite cozy mysteries ever.

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    1. Ashley - I'm so glad you enjoy the Wishcraft books! I look forward to diving into that series.

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  25. I really love the covers for both It Takes a Witch and Poppy Harmon Investigates. The synopsis for both sound wonderful too. I can't wait to see what you think of them.

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  26. I really need to read more witchy novels! I'm definitely curious about It Takes a Witch!

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  27. OMG, Wendy!! I need to start checking your "Wishing to Read Wednesday" posts more often!! You have some GREAT stuff in this one!!

    I LOVE these two: "It Takes a Witch", and "Bayou Moon". Well, you know me! I ADORE anything that smacks of the supernatural! Lol. But I also have to add "Eagle & Crane". I want to read more historical fiction, and I'm also interested in WWII. Plus, I want to find out more about how the U.S. government put Japanese-Americans in concentration camps. What a HORRIBLE thing for the government to do!

    Thanks for sharing!! I'm trying to catch up with my comments and replies..... :(

    HUGS TO YOU AND MOUSE!!! AND I HOPE YOUR MOM IS DOING WELL!! <3 <3 <3 :) :) :)

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    1. Maria - I really enjoyed the first book in Andrews' The Edge series and highly recommend it. I am looking forward to both Bayou Moon and It Takes a Witch. I just love the cover of Eagle and Crane and the subject matter is too good for me to pass up. It was pretty awful how the government treated Japanese-Americans during World war II. I've read several books about that time period and part of our history. Not to mention one of the major school field trips when I was a child was to a former internment camp. Hopefully all of these books will be good.

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  28. Great CWW picks I absolutely love the sound of both books, I hope you enjoy them when you get the chance to read them. Thank you so much for stopping by my CWW post a couple of weeks ago.

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