Tuesday, February 04, 2020

Can't Wait Wednesday: Burglars Can't Be Choosers/The Unspoken Name/The Grace Kelly Dress/Pies Before Guys


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!


Burglars Can't Be Choosers (Bernie Rhodenbarr #1) by Lawrence Block (Harper Torch, 1977)

Bernie Rhodenbarr is a personable chap, a good neighbor, a passable poker player. His chosen profession, however, might not sit well with some. Bernie is a burglar, a good one, effortlessly lifting valuables from the not-so-well-protected abodes of well-to-do New Yorkers like a modern-day Robin Hood. (The poor, as Bernie would be the first to tell you, alas, have nothing worth stealing.)

He's not perfect, however; he occasionally makes mistakes. Like accepting a paid assignment from a total stranger to retrieve a particular item from a rich man's apartment. Like still being there when the cops arrive. Like having a freshly slain corpse lying in the next room, and no proof that Bernie isn't the killer.

Now he's really got his hands full, having to locate the true perpetrator while somehow eluding the police -- a dirty job indeed, but if Bernie doesn't do it, who will? [Goodreads Summary]

Why I want to read this: This is actually my husband's book, but it's also on my TBR shelf because I want to read it as well. A bit of a different hero in a mystery. Sounds like fun!


Have you read this book or tried the series? If so, what did you think? Does it sounds like something you would enjoy?


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 Unspoken Name (The Serpent Gates #1) by A.K. Larkwood
Release Date: February 11, 2020 by Tor
A. K. Larkwood's The Unspoken Name is a stunning debut fantasy about an orc priestess turned wizard's assassin.
What if you knew how and when you will die?
Csorwe does—she will climb the mountain, enter the Shrine of the Unspoken, and gain the most honored title: sacrifice.
But on the day of her foretold death, a powerful mage offers her a new fate. Leave with him, and live. Turn away from her destiny and her god to become a thief, a spy, an assassin—the wizard's loyal sword. Topple an empire, and help him reclaim his seat of power.
But Csorwe will soon learn—gods remember, and if you live long enough, all debts come due. [Goodreads Summary]
Why I want to read it: There's that word again. "assassin." How can I resist that? Csorwe sounds like an interesting character in a complicated position. 


The Grace Kelly Dress by Brenda Janowitz
Release Date: March 3, 2020 by Graydon House Books
Two years after Grace Kelly’s royal wedding, her iconic dress is still all the rage in Paris—and one replica, and the secrets it carries, will inspire three generations of women to forge their own paths in life and in love.

Paris, 1958: Rose, a seamstress at a fashionable atelier, has been entrusted with sewing a Grace Kelly—look-alike gown for a wealthy bride-to-be. But when, against better judgment, she finds herself falling in love with the bride’s handsome brother, Rose must make an impossible choice, one that could put all she’s worked for at risk: love, security and of course, the dress.

Sixty years later, tech CEO Rachel, who goes by the childhood nickname “Rocky,” has inherited the dress for her upcoming wedding in New York City. But there’s just one problem: Rocky doesn’t want to wear it. A family heirloom dating back to the 1950s, the dress just isn’t her. Rocky knows this admission will break her mother Joan’s heart. But what she doesn’t know is why Joan insists on the dress—or the heartbreaking secret that changed her mother’s life decades before, as she herself prepared to wear it.

As the lives of these three women come together in surprising ways, the revelation of the dress’s history collides with long-buried family heartaches. And in the lead-up to Rocky’s wedding, they’ll have to confront the past before they can embrace the beautiful possibilities of the future. [Goodreads Summary]
Why I want to read this: I love these dual time line historical novels, this one centered around a dress. Romance, heartache, and family secrets . . . I cannot wait to dive into this one.


Pies before Guys (Pie Town Mystery #4) by Kirsten Weiss
Release Date: February 25, 2020 by Kensington
Val’s crime-solving club digs into a piping hot new case!

A poetry slam at a bakery? Why not! Even though Pie Town proprietor Val Harris would rather be spending time with her newfound half-brother, she knows her employee, Abril, is beyond excited to be hosting the event. Especially since it stars the apple pie of Abril’s eye, poet and professor Michael Starke. But the evening ends on a sour note when Professor Starke is found murdered mere moments after being accused of plagiarism.

Just like that, Pie Town is at the center of another criminal inquiry. At Abril’s request—and much to Detective Carmichael’s consternation—Val and Charlene decide to investigate Starke’s death. But the case is as tough as an overworked crust and the Baker Street Bakers are only coming up with scraps. If they don’t pinch the cultured killer soon, Pie Town’s reputation could crumble. [Goodreads Summary]
Why I want to read this: A crime-solving club? A poetry slam? Pies? I haven't yet tried this series, but I do know I enjoy Kirsten Weiss's mysteries. I can't wait to read this one!


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

© 2020, 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.

32 comments:

  1. An orc priestess turned wizard's assassin, The Unspoken Name sounds like my kind of read and as for Pies before Guys who could resist a title like this? And such a great cover to boot. Thank you for featuring what sounds like some great books.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Felicity - I am looking forward to giving all of these a try. I am glad you found two that might interest you as well! Thank you for stopping by, Felicity.

      Delete
  2. An historical fiction about a dress? Sign me up! The Grace Kelly Dress sounds like a book that I will really enjoy as well. Thanks for sharing it! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am looking forward to giving The Grace Kelly Dress a try. I hope if you read it, you will like it too. Thank you for visiting!

      Delete
  3. Replies
    1. Mary - Hopefully they will be good when I get the chance to read them. Thank you for visiting!

      Delete
  4. they all look great but burglars and unspoken speak to me. :-)
    sherry @ fundinmental

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sherry - I hope you enjoy them if you give them a try! Thank you for stopping by!

      Delete
  5. Pies Before Guys sounds adorable and I have to admit, Burglars Can't Be Choosers sounds up my alley as well. I'll be looking for your review!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Barb - Pies Before Guys has a great title too, doesn't it? I hope these all will be good when I read them.

      Delete
  6. Burglars Can't Be Choosers sounds hilarious! :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. These are some great picks. I have a copy of The Grace Kelly Dress and hope to get to it soon.

    <a href="https://jeneasbookobsession.net/cant-wait-wednesday-21-the-book-of-two-ways-by-jodi-picoult/>My CWW</a>

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jenea - I hope you love The Grace Kelly Dress. It sounds like it will be good.

      Delete
  8. I have not read Lawrence Block but it seems like he has a ton of books out there. Pies Before Guys looks great and it has been a while since I read a cozy. I hope you enjoy all of these, Wendy!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Carole - Yes, he seems to be a prolific author. I haven't read anything by him before. Thank you for visiting!

      Delete
  9. Pies? Sounds amazing (and the mystery intriguing). I hope you get to read this one soon!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Eustacia - It does sound fun, doesn't it? I am looking forward to giving it a try.

      Delete
  10. All of these have something appealing to me. I hope you enjoy them all.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Laura - I hope they will be good too! Thank you for stopping by!

      Delete
  11. Pies Before Guys sounds really fun. My list of new books keeps growing and growing!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Iliana - I am eager to give it a try. :-) Thank you for visiting.

      Delete
  12. Burglars cannot be choosers is...interesting. I have read two in the series and keep planning to get back to it. It's a good try if you want an unconventional cozy and protagonist.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Erin - It does sound unconventional. I hope I enjoy it when I read it. Thank you for stopping by!

      Delete
  13. Pies before guys for sure! I just cracked up reading that blurb’n

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Verushka - It does sound like it will be a fun read, doesn't it?

      Delete
  14. I've to admit assassin theme sound appealing to me no matter what the genre is. And look at those variety of books you have! I hope you'll enjoy them all when you get to them, Wendy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Melody - There's just something about an assassin theme in fiction, isn't there? I hope they will all be good too. Thank you for visiting!

      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.