Thursday, September 05, 2019

Bookish Mewsings: Death in Kew Gardens by Jennifer Ashley / Bookish Gift Ideas / August's Favorite/Least Favorite 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.


Death in Kew Gardens (Kat Holloway, #3) by Jennifer Ashley
Berkley, 2019
Crime Fiction (Historical); 320 pgs

Book Beginnings:
The Chinese gentleman ran from between the carriages packed the length of Mount Street and straight into my path. I had no chance--he emerged so suddenly and without my seeing him that I barreled directly into the poor man. 

Friday 56 (excerpt from 56%):
As I drew a breath to admonish her, Mr. Davis, in his shirtsleeves and waistcoat, strode in waving a newspaper. 
He's been murdered!" he declared. 
Tess jumped, potato slipping from her hands. My apron strings suddenly knotted and my fingers fumbled. 

Settling in for a visit with Kat Holloway and and Daniel McAdam’s is always a pleasure, and this third installment in Jennifer Ashley’s series was another good one. Is it any wonder this series is among my favorites? For those new to the series, Kat is a cook in Victorian London. She is very good at her job—and has a nose for murder. When a Chinese scholar is suspected of murdering her next door neighbor, Kat has strong doubts. Her instincts about people are usually right, and she does not believe Li is guilty. With the help of her friends, Kat attempts to unravel the mystery, while at the same time dealing with a not so nice new housekeeper who seems out to get her.

Kat does not look for trouble, but it seems to find her as has been seen in previous novels. This worries her friend Daniel, who himself seems to always be in the middle of some sort of investigation. With each book we get to know a little more about him, but he still remains a bit of a mystery. I love the slow burn romance between the two characters. Trouser wearing Lady Cynthia is one of my favorite characters in the series, and it was good to see more of her and her friend Bobby in this book. Tess, Kat’s assistant, was her usual outspoken self, and we get to see a side to Mr. Davis, the butler, we haven’t seen before. I do love my time visiting Ashley’s characters! This is such a fun series, with historical and cultural tidbits woven into the mystery, this one involving merchants and China—and tea. I enjoy reading the interactions between the characters, and seeing how everything unfolds. The mystery in Death in Kew Gardens is well crafted and clever. I look forward to the next book in the series.


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 would you give as a birthday gift to a fellow book lover?

This seems a perfect question with my birthday coming up early next week. I know what this book lover would like! No two book lovers are the same, however, and so it can be a challenge to buy actual books for someone who loves reading. Unless you have access to their wish list or have a good idea of what books they already have read--or own. Bookstore gift cards are always a big winner with me, and one of my favorite gifts to give to a fellow book lover. Extras like a cute bookmark, especially if it matches the interests of the individual reader, also make a great gift. Items with a bookish-themes or quotes make fun gifts as well.





Do you have any go to gifts for the book lovers in your life? Or perhaps there is something you wish someone would give you? 



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 Read of August


My Favorite August Read:



Sweep of the Blade (Innkeeper Chronicles, #4) by Ilona Andrews


My Least Favorite Read (there were no bad books this month, and I actually enjoyed this one--just not as much as the others):


On His Watch (Search & Rescue, 0.5) by Katie Ruggle


What were your favorite and least favorite books read in August? 


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


© 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.

48 comments:

  1. I agree with you on the bookstore gift cards as a great gift to a book lover. Bookmarks and other book-related stuff are good, too. I know I'll be very happy if I'm the recipient. :D And I love those pics you shared... It's so hard to choose a favourite! Happy Friday, Wendy!

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    1. Melody - Gift cards are perfect because the reader can choose what they want. And one can never have enough bookmarks. :-) I hope you have a great weekend, Melody!

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  2. I want the flying book pushers book ends! What a wonderful gift idea. My Friday Post

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    1. Anne - I do too! Aren't they great?! Thank you for visiting!

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  3. Ooh all the gifts you've selected look amazing! My birthday is coming up next week as well, maybe I should send my family some hints :) And Death in Kew Garden sounds like a riot of a read and I agree, it's lovely to sink back into a familiar series. I hope you have a lovely weekend and feel free to drop by and check out my Friday Post
    Juli @ A Universe in Words

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    1. Juli - Happy early birthday! I know I wouldn't be unhappy if I ended up unwrapping any of the above on my birthday. :-) I really enjoy the Kat Holloway series. I hope you have a great weekend too!

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  4. OK so I love everything these, especially the bookends! They're amazing.
    Death in Kew Gardens sounds really interesting, and I love the cover.
    Cora | http://teapartyprincess.co.uk/

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    1. Cora - I love those bookends too. Death in Kew Gardens was a good one. I love the series. Thank you for stopping by!

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  5. Love those book ends!

    So did the Chinese chap murder him? I'm curious! Here's my Friday Post. Happy Friday!

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    1. Sassy Brit - Aren't they awesome? I really like them too.

      You will have to read Death in Kew Gardens to find out. ;-)

      Have a great weekend!

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  6. Hopefully your husband will see your post and you'll get just what you want for your birthday!

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    1. Kathy - Haha! That would be nice. :-) Thanks for visiting!

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  7. I love those bookish suggestions you made as well. All of them. My birthday is coming up this month too and I know I've often mourned the fact that my family does not (or very rarely) give me anything that could be used for books. They don't give me books or anything related to books. I often get things that really don't suit me at all, but what can one do? My husband and daughter are exceptions. Ha!

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    1. Kay - My husband tries to give me book related items now and then. Mostly I get gift cards, which are perfect really. Although I don't usually spend them on book or book related things if it is an Amazon card. Happy early birthday!

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  8. Gift cards! I'm looking forward to the new Kat Holloway by Jennifer Ashley. :)

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    1. Jenclair - You can't go wrong with gift cards. :-) I hope you enjoy the new Kat Holloway book!

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  9. I love to give gift cards if I don't know a person's whishlist. Otherwise I surprise them with a book off the their GR list. These are excellent ideas and I want them all! ;)

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    1. Candid Cover - Yes, they are the safer way to go often times. Thank you for visiting!

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  10. Got me right from the beginning. :-) Happy weekend!

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    1. Freda - Thank you! I hope you have a great weekend too.

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  11. I've read one of the books from the Kat Holloway series, but I haven't kept up with the most recent releases. Death in Kew Gardens seems interesting.

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    1. Breana - I continue to enjoy the series. It's one of my favorites. Thank you for stopping by!

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  12. Those book endings are awesome! And that mug! So many great gift ideas! Hope you have a great weekend! :)

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    1. Ashley - I wouldn't mind having those bookends myself. :-) I hope you have a great weekend too!

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  13. Love that book bag! I'd carry it everywhere. :D

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    1. Lark - I really like it too. :-) Thank you for visiting!

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  14. I really need to read the Innkeeper Chronicles! They sound so good!

    Thanks for linking up and I hope you have a great weekend :D

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    1. Carrie - It really is a good series. This one was a bit different as the focus was on the Innkeeper's sister, and so I went in a little wary. But I ended up loving it. I hope you have a great weekend too!

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  15. Death in Kew Gardens is on my TBR shelf!

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    1. Harvee - I hope enjoy it when you read it! Thank you for visiting!

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  16. Great gift ideas. Hope you are enjoying your new read.

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  17. That Ashley series looks pretty good. And I love bookstore gift cards! One of my favorite gifts to receive lol- big surprise there!

    Hope you have a fabulous weekend!

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    1. Greg - I love the series. It's got such a great cast of characters. Aren't gift cards the best? I hope you have a great weekend too!

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  18. I love your entire selection of bookish gifts. I also love to receive book marks and bookish enamel pins so I collect those.

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    1. Suzanne - Thank you! You can never have enough bookmarks. :-) Thank you for stopping by!

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  19. I really need to read the Jennifer Ashley series. I agree that books aren't always the best gift for readers but gift cards and bookish things are great! I can't believe that I still haven't read the new Ilona Andrews!

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    1. Carole - It's such a good series. I hope you do give it a try. Thanks for visiting!

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  20. Those bookends are so cute. I can imagine them perfect for someone who has a collection of comic books! But really, they would love great any any bookshelf. I love to see all the bookish goodies. I collect bookmarks and love to see what Etsy has as they always have some fun ones.

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    1. Iliana - Aren't they? I really like them. :-) Thank you for stopping by!

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  21. I LOVE TEA! And I love the Kat Holloway series - I will have to check this out ASAP. Thanks for the post, Wendy (:

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    1. Eustacia - I thought of you as I read Death in Kew Gardens for that very reason! I knew you would like the tea angle. :-) Thanks for visiting!

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  22. Fun post, I agree book gift cards are the best gift for book lovers. I like that bookish quilt!
    I've had my eye on the Jennifer Ashley series. It sounds good! I've read Katie Ruggle too before.

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    1. Naida - Isn't that quilt awesome? I wish I had one. I hope you do give the Ashley series a try. It's so good. Thanks for stopping by!

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  23. As it's a week later, it's probably past your birthday, but happy birthday! Hope it was a good one! And yeah, wish list, familiarity in their interests, or a bookstore card, those are pretty great gifts for book lovers :) Thanks for stopping by! Happy reading!

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    1. Louisa - Thank you for the birthday wishes. 😊 I had a nice one. I got a couple gift cards! Thank you for visiting.

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  24. OK, I am TOTally in love with that quilt! Wow! And typically I buy---a book! :D Most recently I gave an author friend a detailed pencil drawing that had to do with her debut picture book coming out next year, but that's not typical. She's a dear friend so I enjoyed taking the time :D

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    1. Donna Marie - I want that quilt too. What a wonderful and special gift you gave your author friend! I bet it means a lot to her. Thanks for stopping by!

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