Bookish Mewsings: Rosemary & Rue by Seanan McGuire & Enjoying a Book in Multiple Formats & Favorite/Least Favorite Abstract Covers

Along with my mini reviews, I am linking to both Book Beginnings, a meme in which readers share the first sentence of a book they are reading, hosted by Gillion Dumas of Rose City Reader and Friday 56 hosted by Freda of Freda's Voice, in which readers share a random sentence or two from page 56 or 56% of the book they are reading.

Rosemary and Rue (October Daye #1) by Seanan McGuire
DAW Books, 2009
Fantasy; 346 pgs

Book Beginning:

The phone was ringing. Again.

Friday 56 (excerpt from 56%):

I sighed. "Lily, being hast doesn't usually get you shot."

"I see. So I suppose you paused to think through whatever actions did lead to your being shot before you took them?"

Thank you again to all who voted for my June TBR List book. As usual, I am late posting my thoughts. I love Seanan McGuire’s Ghost Roads series and was eager to try one of her other books. Rosemary and Rue is the first in her October “Toby” Daye series, featuring a changeling who is half fae and half human. Toby has been trying to stay under the radar, avoiding everyone she knew from her past, the fae in particular. She just wants to be left alone. The murder of Countess Evening Winterrose, however, forces Toby back into the life she had left behind. Evening’s dying words, left on Toby’s answering machine, weren’t simply a cry for help, but a binding curse that will either end with Toby’s death or her finding Evening’s killer.

This dark urban fantasy set in San Francisco had me from the first page. McGuire has a way of creating a world I can feel myself in as I read, no matter how fantastical. In this one, she weaves the intricate details of fae politics and the fae interactions in the human world seamlessly throughout the novel. There are so many interesting characters and little mentions here and there of past events that has me eager to read more in the series. Toby is awesome. She is a knight with a backstory I hope I can explore further as well. I want to know everything! It wasn’t so hard to figure out who did what early on, although Toby isn’t in the know until much later. Full of magic, action, and twists and turns, great characters, and just an overall entertaining read, Rosemary and Rue is a winner in more ways than one.


Have you read this one? What did you think? If not, is it something you might like?

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.

Have you ever enjoyed the same book in two or more formats (print, ebook, or audiobook)?

It does not happen often, admittedly. I am not a big re-reader. However, when I first began listening to audiobooks, someone recommended I start by listening to books I had already read in print. Especially since one of my biggest issues is being easily distracted by my constantly wandering thoughts. Knowing the book ahead of time, supposedly would make those moments a little less frustrating in the beginning.

I test drove that theory with Storm Front by Jim Butcher, a book I had read years ago and loved. The audio version, narrated by James Marsters, was enjoyable too. My family and I listened to the first Harry Potter book narrated by Jim Dale while on vacation this past summer. It was another book I have read in print form before--and loved. In the case of both, the Dresden Files and Harry Potter, I hope to continue listening to both series in audio finding it a perfect way to revisit the two series. I can see myself listening to other favorite series or books that I have read in either print or e-book form. I think it is a great way to experience a book in a different way.

The last time I read Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre was via e-book, although the multiple times I had read it before then was my print copy. It remains one of my all-time favorite books and did not suffer with the change of format. Honestly, I am not sure I noticed much, if any difference.

I have not really read a book in different formats during the same reading. The closest I came was with War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy, I suppose. I started the print version and then broke down and got the e-book for convenience sake. I didn't finish either that time, but would later start again from the beginning with the e-book and read it to the end.

What about you? Have you enjoyed the same book in different formats? 

Everyone has a favorite and then we also have something we dislike. Like a coin, there are two sides to every question. Each week, Carrie at The Butterfly Reads and Laura from Blue Eye Books ask participants to list what they like and don't like about that week's topic.

This week's topic is Favorite/Least Favorite Abstract Cover

My favorite abstract cover of a book I have read belongs to The Story of a Brief Marriage by Aunk Arudpragasam. I love the simpleness of the design, the touch of colors, and the subtle way it connects to the book itself.

Then it may be no surprise that my least favorite abstract cover of a book I have read belongs to Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain. The gray is so drab and even the red lettering of the title doesn't do enough to make up for it. 

What are your favorite and least favorite abstract cover? 

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

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© 2019, 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.

Waiting to Read Wednesday: Brother, I'm Dying/Summoned/A Golden Grave/Catching Her Heart

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!

Brother, I'm Dying by Edwidge Danticat (2007)

From the best-selling author of The Dew Breaker, a major work of nonfiction: a powerfully moving family story that centers around the men closest to Danticat's heart - her father, Mira, and his older brother, Joseph.

From the age of four, Edwidge Danticat came to think of her uncle Joseph, a charismatic pastor, as her “second father,” when she was placed in his care after her parents left Haiti for a better life in America. Listening to his sermons, sharing coconut-flavored ices on their walks through town, roaming through the house that held together many members of a colorful extended family, Edwidge grew profoundly attached to Joseph. He was the man who “knew all the verses for love.”

And so she experiences a jumble of emotions when, at twelve, she joins her parents in New York City. She is at last reunited with her two youngest brothers, and with her mother and father, whom she has struggled to remember. But she must also leave behind Joseph and the only home she’s ever known.

Edwidge tells of making a new life in a new country while fearing for the safety of those still in Haiti as the political situation deteriorates. But Brother, I’m Dying soon becomes a terrifying tale of good people caught up in events beyond their control. Late in 2004, his life threatened by an angry mob, forced to flee his church, the frail, eighty-one-year-old Joseph makes his way to Miami, where he thinks he will be safe. Instead, he is detained by U.S. Customs, held by the Department of Homeland Security, brutally imprisoned, and dead within days. It was a story that made headlines around the world. His brother, Mira, will soon join him in death, but not before he holds hope in his arms: Edwidge’s firstborn, who will bear his name—and the family’s stories, both joyous and tragic—into the next generation.

Told with tremendous feeling, this is a true-life epic on an intimate scale: a deeply affecting story of home and family—of two men’s lives and deaths, and of a daughter’s great love for them both. [Goodreads Summary]

Why I want to read this: I fell in love with Edwidge Danticat's novels years ago and bought this one around the time I had discovered her work. This heartbreaking memoir offers a glimpse into her life, and is one I am looking forward to reading. 

Have you read this one? If so, what did you think? 

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.

Summoned by M.A. Guglielmo

Release Date: 09/24/2019 by Tule Publishing

The wrong jinn at the right time, Zahara’s a force to be reckless with Zahara, party girl of the paranormal, floats up out of a lamp in Daniel Goldstein‘s apartment ready to trick a sorcerer into giving up his soul. But Daniel, whose Moroccan grandmother has reached out from beyond the grave to command him to raise a jinn, wants to do good—by stopping a vengeful fallen angel.

The nymphomaniacal, shopping-obsessed Zahara isn’t the otherworldly ally Daniel had in mind. A do-gooder with a dangerous quest isn’t what Zahara’s looking for, either.

Stuck in a magical contract with each other, the two travel to Morocco, where Zahara’s handsome friend Zaid, a jinn who’s converted to Islam, reluctantly joins their quest. As Daniel and Zaid struggle against jinn-hunting mercenaries and their attraction to one other, Zahara is forced to join forces with the fallen angel’s gorgeous but infuriating brother to stop a cataclysmic war between the human and jinn worlds. [Goodreads Summary]

Why I want to read this: So maybe I watched Aladdin too many times recently and suddenly want to read all the books about the jinn. This is nothing like Aladdin, however. This sounds much more dangerous and exciting.

A Golden Grave (Rose Gallagher #2) by Erin Lindsey

Release Date: September 17, 2019 by Minotaur Books

The follow-up to Murder on Millionaires' Row, Erin Lindsey's second historical mystery follows Rose Gallagher as she tracks a killer with shocking abilities through Gilded Age Manhattan.

Rose Gallagher always dreamed of finding adventure, so her new life as a freshly-minted Pinkerton agent ought to be everything she ever wanted. Only a few months ago, she was just another poor Irish housemaid from Five Points; now, she’s learning to shoot a gun and dance the waltz and throw a grown man over her shoulder. Better still, she’s been recruited to the special branch, an elite unit dedicated to cases of a paranormal nature, and that means spending her days alongside the dashing Thomas Wiltshire.

But being a Pinkerton isn’t quite what Rose imagined, and not everyone welcomes her into the fold. Meanwhile, her old friends aren’t sure what to make of the new Rose, and even Thomas seems to be having second thoughts about his junior partner. So when a chilling new case arrives on Rose’s doorstep, she jumps at the chance to prove herself – only to realize that the stakes are higher than she could have imagined. Six delegates have been murdered at a local political convention, and the police have no idea who–or what–is responsible. One thing seems clear: The killer’s next target is a candidate for New York City mayor, one Theodore Roosevelt.

Convinced that something supernatural is afoot, Rose and Thomas must track down the murderer before Roosevelt is taken out of the race–permanently. But this killer is unlike any they’ve faced before, and hunting him down will take them from brownstones to ballrooms to Bowery saloons. Not quite comfortable anywhere, Rose must come to terms with her own changed place in society–and the fact that some would do anything to see her gone from it entirely. [Goodreads Summary]

Why I want to read this: A female Pinkerton agent. Isn't that reason enough?

Catching Her Heart by Jody Holford

Release Date: September 9, 2019 by Entangled Publishing

When a beautiful brunette driver meets Nashville Slammers catcher, Sawyer McBain, at the airport, he figures it's his lucky day. Sure, he's usually pretty guarded around people, especially after what happened with his ex, but he can definitely enjoy the car ride. Until she passes his apartment...and keeps driving. All of a sudden the woman seems a lot less like romance material and a lot more like a kidnapper. What gives?

Slammers executive Addison Carlisle needs one little favor. Sure, she may have kinda maybe kidnapped one of her professional baseball players, but it’s for a really good cause. She desperately needs someone high-profile to auction off that night for the multiple sclerosis society she’s chairing, but he insists he wants a favor in return.

Soon Addie and Sawyer are trading completely ridiculous I.O.U.s, like being his plus-one to his grandmother's poker game or keeping each other company at the driving range. But when their agreement goes from flirty to fiery, neither is ready to let their guard down for a shot at love. [Goodreads Summary]

Why I want to read this: At first glance, I wasn't sure about the whole kidnapping aspect, but the playfulness of the couple swapping favors as they fall for each other was just too cute a premise to pass up. Besides, I might have a soft spot for catchers. 

Do any of these appeal to you? What upcoming releases are you looking forward to? 

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© 2019, 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.

Bookish Mewsings (featuring Book Beginnings & The Friday 56): False Step & Smitten by the Brit/And How I Choose My Next Book to Read

Along with my mini reviews, I am linking to both Book Beginnings, a meme in which readers share the first sentence of a book they are reading, hosted by Gillion Dumas of Rose City Reader and Friday 56 hosted by Freda of Freda's Voice, in which readers share a random sentence or two from page 56 or 56% of the book they are reading.

False Step by Victoria Helen Stone

Lake Union Publishing, 2019

Crime Fiction/Thriller; 278 pgs

Book Beginning: 

The man jogged through the parking area of the mountain trailhead, his blond hair wild and disheveled, a dead leaf caught in the golden waves. The small body in his arms bounced with each step. A young child, two or three ears old, limbs disturbingly limp. It was difficult to tell much more past the jittery movement of the camera and the shadows of pine trees cutting lines of darkness across the scene. 

Friday 56 [excerpt from 56% of e-book]: 

All right? No, it wasn't all right. Not even close. How could he just offer an apology like someone delivering a casserole because of an illness in the family? I hope everything is alright . . .

My bookish mewsings:

When Veronica’s husband Johnny finds a missing child while out on a hike, their lives are irrevocably changed. The media exposure attracts more business Johnny’s way, something the financially strapped couple needs. Although, Veronica wants nothing to do with the limelight, wishing to keep her secrets and marital unhappiness under the radar. She isn’t too keen on the continued police interest either, nor is Johnny. To say more . . . well, that might be too much of a spoiler.

Author Victoria Helen Stone’s domestic thriller is emotionally tense to say the least. Veronica and Johnny have a ten year old daughter who they love dearly, and would do anything for. I was not particularly fond of most of the characters in the novel, and that includes Veronica. It was through that link as a parent myself that I could better understand some of Veronica’s choices, even if I did not always agree with her. Veronica grew on me as a result. False Step was a compelling read which I found hard to put down. Veronica’s anxiety and fears play a big part in that. I wish I could say the ending came as a big surprise, but while it didn’t, I still really wanted to know how exactly everything would play out. False Step may not be the most memorable thriller I have read, but it was entertaining and makes for a fun quick read.

Smitten by the Brit (Sometimes in Love, #2) by Melonie Johnson

St. Martin's Press, 2019

Romance; 376 pgs

Book Beginning: 

Bonnie Blythe hovered near the tall windows, nursing her cocktail and watching the lights from the Navy Pier Ferris wheel twinkle in the fading spring twilight. It was a romantic moment, one she should have been enjoying with Gabe, except her fiancé wasn't here. As was so often the case lately, her significant other was significantly absent. 

Friday 56 [excerpt from 56% of e-book]: 

Cassie's eyes widened, and Bonnie mumbled, "I may have done some research."

"Uh-huh." Cassie gave her some side-eye. "How long have you known?"

"About a month. How long have you known?" Bonnie countered, unable to keep the twinge of accusation from her voice. 

My bookish mewsings:

Readers are first introduced to both Bonnie and Theo in the first book of the Sometimes in Love series, Getting Hot With the Scot, only this time it is their story. The initial attraction between the two protagonists in Smitten by the Brit is obvious, only Bonnie is engaged to her childhood sweetheart and Theo’s mother is bent on marrying her son to a wealthy heiress. When Bonnie discovers her fiancé in bed with another woman, she calls off her engagement, leaving the door wide open for Theo. A summer teaching position at Cambridge brings her even closer to Theo.

I really like how author Melonie Johnson delves into the hearts and minds of her characters, including as they tackle their inner demons, so to speak. Both characters have a lot of growing to do over the course of the novel. Bonnie is figuring out who she is and what she wants independent of anyone else; and Theo, who has long carried the weight of his family’s title and financial troubles on his shoulders, must choose between his own happiness or playing hero to his family. Like in real life, everything is not so cut and dry for either character, and I liked that the author incorporates this in her novels, finding a way to give her protagonists—and everyone else--their happy ending. I love Bonnie’s character—of course, any Jane Austen fan is sure to draw me to her. And Theo is quite the catch with his kind heart and always wanting to do the right thing. Plus, he really knows how to charm a woman! It was good to visit a little with Cassie and Logan again, characters from the first book. I thoroughly enjoyed Smitten by the Brit, and am eager to dive into the third book in the series.

Have you read one or both of these books? If you haven't, do either of them interest you? 

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.

How do you choose the next book to read?

 I enjoy reading a wide variety of genres and cross-genres, being drawn to books based on their subject matter, the setting, the type of book it is, the author, or the recommendation of a trusted friend. I can be a finicky reader, which is often controlled by my mood. I gravitate towards certain types of books depending on my state of mind. Add to that my preference to mix things up genre-wise, a habit I picked up years ago to avoid burning out on any one type of book. Though I do occasionally go on an author or series binge. And sometimes review deadlines play a part too.

I would like to tell you I have choosing the next book to read down to a science. It should be as simple as randomly pulling a book of my shelf or being more methodical and picking the first book on the pile. Sometimes it is as easy as just knowing exactly what I want to read before I finish my current book(s), and other times it turns into quite the ordeal with me agonizing over which will be the perfect next book to read. The struggle is real (and probably the byproduct of having too many books to choose from). What is a reader with a TBR mountain in front of her to do when ALL the books sound good at the same time? Draw numbers or titles, do a blind grab, ask my spouse or daughter to choose, even have the cat help . . . I have done it all and then some.

The first Saturday of every month I take part in the My TBR List meme hosted by the wonderful Michelle (of Because Reading) in which I list three books I am considering reading that month and put it to my blog readers for a vote. It is fun getting other people's input--whether they have read the books or just like the sound of them (or the covers)--and it makes selecting the next book to read at the beginning of each month a bit easier.

My current read is a more serious and emotionally-charged novel, and so I am sure my next selection will be something lighter--probably along the lines of a romance or maybe a cozy mystery.

What about you? Do you have a process for choosing your next book to read? 

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© 2019, 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.

Waiting to Read Wednesday: The Widow of Pale Harbor, Red at the Bone, Last Pen Standing, & The Star-Touched Queen

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!

The Star-Touched Queen (The Star-Touched Queen #1) by Roshani Chokshi (2016)

Fate and fortune. Power and passion. What does it take to be the queen of a kingdom when you’re only seventeen?

Maya is cursed. With a horoscope that promises a marriage of death and destruction, she has earned only the scorn and fear of her father’s kingdom. Content to follow more scholarly pursuits, her whole world is torn apart when her father, the Raja, arranges a wedding of political convenience to quell outside rebellions. Soon Maya becomes the queen of Akaran and wife of Amar. Neither roles are what she expected: As Akaran’s queen, she finds her voice and power. As Amar’s wife, she finds something else entirely: Compassion. Protection. Desire…

But Akaran has its own secrets—thousands of locked doors, gardens of glass, and a tree that bears memories instead of fruit. Soon, Maya suspects her life is in danger. Yet who, besides her husband, can she trust? With the fate of the human and Otherworldly realms hanging in the balance, Maya must unravel an ancient mystery that spans reincarnated lives to save those she loves the most…including herself. [Goodreads Summary]

Why I want to read this: I imagine I fell in love with the cover, which is why I gave this one a closer look to see if it would be something I would like. Maya sounds like an interesting character. Add to that a curse, an arranged marriage, secrets, and an ancient mystery, and I knew I had to read it.

Have you read this one? If so, what did you think? 

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 Widow of Pale Harbor by Hester Fox

Release Date: September 17, 2019 by Graydon House

A town gripped by fear. A woman accused of witchcraft. Who can save Pale Harbor from itself?

Maine, 1846. Gabriel Stone is desperate to escape the ghosts that haunt him in Massachusetts after his wife’s death, so he moves to Maine, taking a position as a minister in the remote village of Pale Harbor.

But not all is as it seems in the sleepy town. Strange, unsettling things have been happening, and the townspeople claim that only one person can be responsible: Sophronia Carver, a reclusive widow who lives with a spinster maid in the eerie Castle Carver. Sophronia must be a witch, and she almost certainly killed her husband.

As the incidents escalate, one thing becomes clear: they are the work of a twisted person inspired by the wildly popular stories of Mr. Edgar Allan Poe. And Gabriel must find answers, or Pale Harbor will suffer a fate worthy of Poe’s darkest tales. [Goodreads Summary]

Why I want to read this: Upon first reading the description of The Widow of Pale Harbor, I was sold. A woman accused of witchcraft? Strange and unsettling events similar to what one might find in Poe's work? I cannot wait to read this!

Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson

Release Date: September 17, 2019 by Riverhead Books

An extraordinary new novel about the influence of history on a contemporary African-American family, from the New York Times-bestselling and National Book Award-winning author of Another Brooklyn and Brown Girl Dreaming.

Two families from different social classes are joined together by an unexpected pregnancy and the child that it produces. Moving forward and backward in time, with the power of poetry and the emotional richness of a narrative ten times its length, Jacqueline Woodson's extraordinary new novel uncovers the role that history and community have played in the experiences, decisions, and relationships of these families, and in the life of this child.

As the book opens in 2001, it is the evening of sixteen-year-old Melody's birthday celebration in her grandparent's Brooklyn brownstone. Watched lovingly by her relatives and friends, escorted by her father to the soundtrack of Prince, she wears a special, custom-made dress. But the event is not without poignancy. Sixteen years earlier, that very dress was measured and sewn for a different wearer: Melody's mother, for her own sixteenth birthday party and a celebration which ultimately never took place.

Unfurling the history of Melody's parents and grandparents to show how they all arrived at this moment, Woodson considers not just their ambitions and successes but also the costs, the tolls they've paid for striving to overcome expectations and escape the pull of history. As it explores sexual desire and identity, ambition, gentrification, education, class and status, and the life-altering facts of parenthood, Red at the Bone most strikingly looks at the ways in which young people must so often make long-lasting decisions about their lives—even before they have begun to figure out who they are and what they want to be. [Goodreads Summary]

Why I want to read this: Jacqueline Woodson's name is enough to make me stand up and take notice.  But I also want to read this multi-generational story which "uncovers the role that history and community have played in the experiences, decisions, and relationships of these families, and in the life of this child." I imagine this will be an emotional and beautiful read.

Last Pen Standing (Stationery Shop Mystery #1) by Vivian Conroy
Release Date: September 24, 2019 by Poisoned Pen Press

Will this paper trail run cold?

As the new co-owner of Tundish Montana's stationery shop WANTED, Delta Douglas knows how to organize a killer crafting event. Creativity and cardstock are all she needs to move one step closer to her ultimate dream: developing her own line of crafting products. But on the night of the workshop, at the swanky hotel venue, glitter isn't the only thing found sprawled on the floor. A hotel guest is discovered dead in the bar, and amid the confusion, Delta's best friend is suspected of the crime.

Enlisting the help of her Paper Posse and Spud, her canine sidekick, Delta dives into the investigation. But with many high-powered suspects on the line, Delta soon realizes her sleuthing may come with deadly consequences. [Goodreads Summary]

Why I want to read this: Cozy mysteries are such fun, and while I am picky about the type of craft-themed cozy I will read (because I can't read them all!), I don't think I will be able to resist this one set in a stationery shop.  And Spud, her canine sidekick! It's easy to forget how much I love dogs all the cats on my blog and in my life.


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

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© 2019, 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.

Bookish Mewsings (featuring Book Beginnings & Friday 56): The Master Key & The Shadow of the Fox

Along with my mini reviews, I am linking to both Book Beginnings, a meme in which readers share the first sentence of a book they are reading, hosted by Gillion Dumas of Rose City Reader and Friday 56 hosted by Freda of Freda's Voice, in which readers share a random sentence or two from page 56 or 56% of the book they are reading.

The Master Key by Masako Togawa, translated by Simon Grove

Pushkin Vertigo, 2017 (originally published in 1962

Crime Fiction; 193 pages

Book Beginning: 

On that day, the snow (unusual for April) which had fallen on the night before was still half an inch deep in the morning. But before midday the sun peeped through the clouds and a thaw set in. In no time at all, the streets once again danced in the sunshine of spring.   

Friday 56 [excerpt from 56% of e-book]: 

She continued her practice of writing one letter a day to her former students, but with less enthusiasm than before. On her way out to post them every morning, she would glace at the master key and secretly envy the receptionist within whose power it lay to enter every room in the block.

It was essential that she should get her hands on that key. 

My bookish mewsings:

Sometimes shorter novels fail to fill one’s appetite for a good story. That was not the case with The Master Key. Masako has a gift for taking seemingly random pieces of various stories, bringing them together, and creating an intriguing and satisfying tale. It is Postwar Tokyo. And, in a rather unusual move, city engineers are preparing to move, intact, the K Apartment House for Ladies. Readers are taken back in time throughout the novel, getting glimpses into the lives of the various women who live in the building, many of their stories connecting in unexpected ways, while always something dark seems to be hanging overhead. Every one of them has their own secrets, and it seems someone among them is uncovering them all, including the body of the baby who had been buried on the grounds seven years before. There was a strong sense of foreboding that hung over me as I read The Master Key, anticipating what I would discover next. I was thoroughly engaged in this dark and entertaining little novel.

The Shadow of the Fox (The Shadow of the Fox, #1) by Julie Kagawa

Harlequin Teen, 2018

Fantasy (YA); 416 pgs

Book Beginning:

It was raining the day Suki came to the Palace of the Sun, and it was raining the night she died. 

Friday 56 [excerpt from 56% of e-book]: 

"Tatsumi." Yumeko stepped forward, her eyes gazing worriedly at the side of my neck where the gaki had clawed it. I could feel blood from the torn flesh beginning to seep into my collar. My arm, too, was starting to drip blood on the wooden planks. "Before we do anything, we should take care of those. Do you have any medicine left?" 

My bookish mewsings: 

 Julie Kagawa is one of those authors I have been wanting to try for awhile now, and I am grateful to those who voted for it in my May TBR List Poll. Her home destroyed and the monks who raised her no more, Yumeko is on a quest to deliver a portion of a sacred scroll to a far off temple, whose exact whereabouts is unknown. She seeks help from Kage Tatsumi, a samurai of the Shadow Clan, whose strength and ability to slay demons will be invaluable to her along her journey. The only catch? He is on a mission to retrieve the very scroll she has, and she knows instinctively she cannot let it fall into his hands. She also hides another secret from the quiet and deadly Tatsumi. That she is half human, half kitsune.

Yumeko should seem too sweet for her own good, but, honestly, I fell for her character instantly. A bit mischievous and yet so kindhearted. She has a naivety about her, and yet she is extremely resourceful and has good instincts. I also really came to like Kage Tatsumi. He is trained to suppress his emotions and lives by a very strict code—part of which is probably for good reason. However, he finds it impossible not to want to protect Yumeko for more reasons than just the one that will lead him to the scroll (not realizing she actually has it). Along their journey, the two pick up other unexpected company. The villains in this novel made me shiver, particularly the main one. So much darkness and evil.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time reading The Shadow of the Fox. It has been awhile since I read a more traditional fantasy novel, and I especially loved that this one combined Japanese folklore and other Japanese elements into it. I hate that it ended with a cliffhanger, but I was not at all surprised. These types of books often do. I ordered the sequel right away. Then I’ll just have to wait forever for the third and final book in the trilogy to come out. I cannot wait to spend more time with Yumeko! We all need someone like her in our lives.

Do either of these books appeal to you? Or perhaps you have read them? If so, what did you think? 

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© 2019, 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.

Waiting to Read Wednesday: The Ten Thousand Doors of January, The Resurrectionist of Caligo, The Vanished Bride, & Sleepless in Manhattan

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!

Sleepless in Manhattan (From Manhattan with Love #1) by Sarah Morgan (2016)

What if the person who broke your heart, is the only one who can help you find your future?

Great friends. Amazing Apartment. An incredible job. Paige has ticked off every box on perfect New York life checklist. Until disaster strikes and instead of shimming further up the career ladder, Paige is packing up her desk.

Her brother’s best friend Jake might be the only person who can help her put her life back together. He also happens to be the boy she spent her teen years pining after, and Paige is determined not repeat her past mistakes. But the more time she spends with Jake, the more Paige realises the one thing that was missing from her world all along. The perfect New York love story… [Goodreads Summary]

Why I want to read this: This has been sitting on my shelf for quite a while now. I read another of Sarah Morgan's romance novels and adored it. I couldn't wait to read more by her. Only . . . well, there it sits unread still. I do want to read it and will. The when is still a question mark.

Have you read this one or another of the author's books? What did you think? 

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 Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow

Release Date: September 10, 2019 by Orbit

EVERY STORY OPENS A DOOR

In a sprawling mansion filled with exotic treasures, January Scaller is a curiosity herself. As the ward of the wealthy Mr. Locke, she feels little different from the artifacts that decorate the halls: carefully maintained, largely ignored, and utterly out of place.

But her quiet existence is shattered when she stumbles across a strange book. A book that carries the scent of other worlds and tells a tale of secret doors, of love, adventure and danger. As each page reveals more impossible truths about the world, January discovers a story that might just be the key to unlocking the secrets of her past. [Goodreads Summary]

Why I want to read this: Portal fantasy . . . a book that opens the door to many different worlds. What is not to love about that?

The Resurrectionist of Caligo by Wendy Trimboli & Alicia Zaloga

Release Date: September 10, 2019 by Angry Robot

With a murderer on the loose, it's up to an enlightened bodysnatcher and a rebellious princess to save the city, in this wonderfully inventive Victorian-tinged fantasy noir.

"Man of Science" Roger Weathersby scrapes out a risky living digging up corpses for medical schools. When he's framed for the murder of one of his cadavers, he's forced to trust in the superstitions he's always rejected: his former friend, princess Sibylla, offers to commute Roger's execution in a blood magic ritual which will bind him to her forever. With little choice, he finds himself indentured to Sibylla and propelled into an investigation. There's a murderer loose in the city of Caligo, and the duo must navigate science and sorcery, palace intrigue and dank boneyards to catch the butcher before the killings tear their whole country apart. [Goodreads Summary]

Why I want to read this: The combination of mystery and fantasy with a bit of steampunk flare caught my attention immediately when I first heard about this one, landing it a spot on my wish list. 

The Vanished Bride (Brontë Sisters Mystery, A Book 1) by Bella Ellis

Release Date: September 10, 2019 by Berkley

Before they became legendary writers, Charlotte Brontë, Emily Brontë, and Anne Brontë were detectors in this charming historical mystery...

Yorkshire, 1845. A young wife and mother has gone missing from her home, leaving behind two small children and a large pool of blood. Just a few miles away, a humble parson’s daughters—the Brontë sisters—learn of the crime. Charlotte, Emily, and Anne Brontë are horrified and intrigued by the mysterious disappearance.

These three creative, energetic, and resourceful women quickly realize that they have all the skills required to make for excellent “lady detectors.” Not yet published novelists, they have well-honed imaginations and are expert readers. And, as Charlotte remarks, “detecting is reading between the lines—it’s seeing what is not there.”

As they investigate, Charlotte, Emily, and Anne are confronted with a society that believes a woman’s place is in the home, not scouring the countryside looking for clues. But nothing will stop the sisters from discovering what happened to the vanished bride, even as they find their own lives are in great peril... [Goodreads Summary]

Why I want to read this: This could go one of two ways. The last novel I read with these three authors and their brother as the protagonists fell short for me, but I am hopeful this one, more of a historical mystery, will have a better chance of winning me over. 

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

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© 2019, 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: Back to School - Almost (August's TBR List Poll Winner)

I am linking up to the Sunday Post hosted by Kim of Caffeinated Book Reviewer, 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 The Sunday Salon hosted by Deb Nance of Readerbuzz where participants discuss what they are reading and other bookish topics. In addition, I am linking to 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. 

What I Am Reading: I recently finished Katie Ruggle's Hold Your Breath, the first in her Search & Rescue romantic suspense series, and Sweep of the Blade by Ilona Andrews, the fourth book in the Innkeeper Chronicles. I enjoyed both quite a bit. I am about to dive into this month's TBR List winner (thanks again to all those who voted!).

What I Am Listening To: I did not get in any listening time this past week, unfortunately.

What I Am Watching:  As a last splurge before school starts up this next week, Mouse and I went to see the live action version of Aladdin in the theater for the second time--I think it was even better the second time around. We also took in Dora and the Lost City of Gold. Mouse loved it. I was pleasantly surprised. It was a bit cheesy in spots, which I expected (did they really need to include Swiper?), but I enjoyed it, particularly the nods to the original cartoon series. Of course, having recently sat through a couple different versions of the Power Rangers (my daughter's current favorite), the bar may have been low going into it.

Beverly Hills, 90210 was a staple of my high school/college days, and so is it any wonder I wanted to check out the new BH90210 show? I was able to catch it on Hulu, and have to agree with my friends on Facebook who called the show a disaster but will most likely not be able to help tuning in next week.

Off the Blog: This was a relatively uneventful week. I attended a training for work one afternoon, and had a couple days off for vacation--seeing out the summer with my daughter. She and I saw a couple of movies, did a little back to school clothes shopping ("Mom, this is so '90's! I love it!"), and just enjoyed each other's company.

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

New to My Shelves (all books purchased by me): 

To Catch a Stolen Soul (Djinn Haven #1) by R.L. Naquin

To Seize a Wayward Spirit (Djinn Haven #2) by R.L. Naquin

Magick & Mayhem (An Abracadabra Mystery #1) by Sharon Pape

That Olde White Magick (An Abracadabra Mystery #2) by Sharon Pape

Have you added any new books to your shelves recently?

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.

What authors do you always read and recommend? (submitted by Elizabeth @Silver's Reviews)

I am always discovering new-to-me authors, but there are quite a few authors I like to return to--and will often recommend to others, depending on their bookish interests and tastes. Here are just a few:

If you like action-packed fantasy set in multi-dimensions involving dragons, fae and magical librarians, Genevieve Cogman's Invisible Library series is a must read.

I have yet to read a book by husband and wife writing team Ilona Andrews that I haven't liked. Their books offer a good dose of urban fantasy with a side of romance I find irresistible. Her Innkeeper series, which is among my favorites, is a mix of science fiction and fantasy.  Seanan Mcguire is an urban fantasy author I have only recently discovered, but I highly recommend giving her a try.

One of my all-time favorite fantasy series is Anne Bishop's Other series, which I cannot recommend enough for those interested in dark fantasy. The world building in the series is amazing.

Perhaps though you prefer something of the lighter variety. A cozy mystery perhaps? Kirsten Weiss writes cozy mysteries that often contain a paranormal element. Or there's Jennifer Ashley's historical cozy mysteries, which I am always pushing on people to to read. I haven't yet tried any of her other books, but I hear her romances are good as well. Tessa Arlen is another historical cozy mystery writer I cannot recommend enough.

A name I have not seen a lot of recently is Elizabeth Haynes, which is a shame because her police procedural mysteries and thrillers are so good! She has a way with getting into the minds of her characters.

RaeAnne Thayne is one of my go to romance authors when I want something sweet with a happy ending and characters I can relate to. Melonie Johnson won me over quickly with her humor and well developed characters. Her novels are on the steamy side, for those who prefer more heat with their romance.

Lisa See is one of my favorite historical fiction authors, writing nuanced characters in complicated situations. Another historical fiction author I recommend is Yangszee Choo, whose The Ghost Bride knocked my socks off and her book The Night Tiger is an intriguing read as well. Hazel Gaynor also writes impressive historical fiction. Oh, and Sarah McCoy!

Other authors whose work I love and can highly recommend: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a brilliant author. Thrifty Umrigar's novels have brought me to tears time and time again. Nadia Hashimi novels are heartbreaking and beautiful. If you are looking for literary fiction novels that take on difficult subject matter by women of color, these are must read authors.

I have not read a lot of science fiction in recent years, although I am working on changing that. I do recommend John Scalzi or Anne Lecke though. Both are great authors whose books are worth checking out if you have not already. I have only read one book of sister writing team S.K. Dunstall, but I loved Stars Uncharted, and plan to read more by them.

Jane Austen (for the romance reader), Agatha Christie (if you like mysteries), J.R.R. Tolkien (for lovers of fantasy) come to mind when I think of authors of Classic novels to recommend. There's also Victor Hugo (for those who like delving into history and socioeconomic aspects of society) and Ursula K. Le Guin (for those who like science fiction and fantasy).

Obviously there are many more I could mention, but these are just a few that came to mind instantly.

What about you? What authors are you always reading that you would recommend?

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

My TBR List is a meme 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, and my review will follow (unfortunately, not likely in the same month, but eventually--that's all I can promise). 

I am excited to be starting the winner of this month's TBR List Poll this afternoon. I would have been happy with any of the choices, had they won (there's a reason they are on my TBR pile, after all!), of course.

The Lost Words Bookshop by Stephanie Butland received three votes to the six votes received by How to Find Love in a Bookshop by Veronica Henry. Coming in with the solid win with thirteen votes, however, was Abbi Waxman's The Bookish Life of Nina Hill. I cannot wait to dive in!

Thank you for voting! 

I hope you all have a wonderful week! Happy Reading!

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© 2019, 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.