Tuesday, January 12, 2021

Waiting to Read Wednesday: The Nature of Fragile Things / City of a Thousand Gates / A Rogue By Any Other Name


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 Nature of Fragile Things
by Susan Meissner

Release Date: February 2, 2021 by Berkley
April 18, 1906: A massive earthquake rocks San Francisco just before daybreak, igniting a devouring inferno. Lives are lost, lives are shattered, but some rise from the ashes forever changed.

Sophie Whalen is a young Irish immigrant so desperate to get out of a New York tenement that she answers a mail-order bride ad and agrees to marry a man she knows nothing about. San Francisco widower Martin Hocking proves to be as aloof as he is mesmerizingly handsome. Sophie quickly develops deep affection for Kat, Martin's silent five-year-old daughter, but Martin's odd behavior leaves her with the uneasy feeling that something about her newfound situation isn't right.

Then one early-spring evening, a stranger at the door sets in motion a transforming chain of events. Sophie discovers hidden ties to two other women. The first, pretty and pregnant, is standing on her doorstep. The second is hundreds of miles away in the American Southwest, grieving the loss of everything she once loved.

The fates of these three women intertwine on the eve of the devastating earthquake, thrusting them onto a perilous journey that will test their resiliency and resolve and, ultimately, their belief that love can overcome fear.

From the acclaimed author of The Last Year of the War and As Bright as Heaven comes a gripping novel about the bonds of friendship and mother love, and the power of female solidarity. [Goodreads Summary]
Why I want to read this:  Everything about this book is calling to me. It's a time period I love to read about, especially in that particular setting. San Francisco and its history has a special place in my heart. These women's stories also intrigue me and just how they are connected.


City of a Thousand Gates
by Rebecca Sacks

Release Date: February 2, 2021 by Harper
A novel of great humanity, compassion and astonishing immediacy, this unique debut portrays the emotional reality of contemporary life in the West Bank and the irreconcilable Israeli-Palestinian conflict. A collage of narrative voices and different points of view are woven around the murder of two young people, one Israeli and one Palestinian.

Brave and bold, this gorgeously written work of fiction introduces a large cast of characters in a setting where violence is routine, even normal, and where survival is defined by boundaries, walls and checkpoints that force people to live and love within and across them.

Hamid has come into Israeli territory illegally to work. He runs into Vera, a German journalist on her way to Jerusalem to cover the story of Salem, a Palestinian boy who is in a coma after being beaten by Israeli teenagers. On her way to the hospital, Vera runs in front of a car driven by Ido, a new father, who is distracted by thoughts of a young Jewish girl murdered by a terrorist. Ori, an eighteen-year-old soldier from a nearby settlement, is guarding the checkpoint through which Hamid’s professor, Samar, must pass.

This powerful novel delivers an eminently human, complex and compassionate view of an irreconcilable conflict. Sacks writes unflinchingly about the hate and violence that continues to fuel tensions in the West Bank. It’s an extraordinary debut work of fiction that mines the range of shared human emotions with riveting engagement and understanding. 
 [Goodreads Summary]
Why I want to read this: City of a Thousand Gates sounds heart-wrenching as well as thought provoking. 

Do Good Neighbors, The Nature of Fragile Things and City of a Thousand Gates interest you? What upcoming releases are you looking forward to reading?
 

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!


A Rogue By Any Other Name
(The Rules of Scoundrals #1) by Sarah McLean
(Avon, 2012)
What a scoundrel wants, a scoundrel gets...

A decade ago, the Marquess of Bourne was cast from society with nothing but his title. Now a partner in London’s most exclusive gaming hell, the cold, ruthless Bourne will do whatever it takes to regain his inheritance—including marrying perfect, proper Lady Penelope Marbury.

A broken engagement and years of disappointing courtships have left Penelope with little interest in a quiet, comfortable marriage, and a longing for something more. How lucky that her new husband has access to such unexplored pleasures.

Bourne may be a prince of London’s underworld, but he vows to keep Penelope untouched by its wickedness—a challenge indeed as the lady discovers her own desires, and her willingness to wager anything for them... even her heart. [Goodreads Summary]
Why I want to read this: This came in a book box years ago and wasn't the type of book I was reading at the time. Nonetheless, I kept it around for some reason, which is probably good since I have gotten back into the romance genre in recent years. 

Have you read A Rogue By Any Other Name? Does this book sound like something you would like to read? 



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60 comments:

  1. The first two definitely sound like they'll have some thought-provoking moments and the last looks like just a fun read. I hope you get to and love them all!

    Tressa @ Wishful Endings

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    1. Tressa - I think so too. I hope I love them too. :-) Thank you for visiting and hosting!

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  2. Fragile Things sounds like a very powerful read!

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    1. Greg - Doesn't it? I'm especially excited about that one. Thank you for stopping by!

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  3. All of these sound like great reads. The Nature of Fragile Things is definitely right up my alley! And I haven't read A Rogue By Any Other Name but I love Sarah MacLean. She is one of my favorite historical romance authors!

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    1. Stephanie - I'm so excited about The Nature of Fragile Things. I hope it will be as good as it sounds. I keep hearing how great Sarah MacLean's novels are. I look forward to giving her a try. Thank you for visiting!

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  4. Oh, I agree, The Nature of Fragile Things sounds so good; what is the secret that binds these women!

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    1. Verushka - I really want to know what their secret is too! I can't wait to read it. Thank you for stopping by!

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  5. The first two books are hefty reads, Wendy. Though clearly intriguing. I like the look of the romantic costume drama, though - right now, I'm in full, escapist mode with my reading:)). Enjoy your books!

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    1. Sarah - Yes, the first two are definitely darker reads in terms of themes. MacLean's book does sound really good though. I need all the escape I can get these days. :-) Thank you for visiting!

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  6. The Nature of Fragile Things sounds really good! Thanks for sharing:-)

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    1. Tammy - I'm really excited about that one. I can't wait to read it. Thank you for stopping by!

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  7. City of a Thousand Gates sounds out of my "comfort zone" but also very intriguing. I'm really tempted by the blurb on that one.

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    1. Louise - It has been awhile since I last read a book like Rebecca Sacks'. City of a Thousand Gates really appeals to me right now. I hope you like it if you do give it a try! Thank you for visiting!

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  8. I've added The nature of fragile things to my TBR, the time period and the story are appealing, I'm interested too in The city of thousand gates and will be awaiting your review :) I have a couple of historical romances to read this year but I haven't tried Sarah McLean. Yet ;)

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    1. Iza - I hope we will both like The Nature of Fragile Things when we read it. I'll be sure and let you know what I think of The City of a Thousand Gates when I get a chance to read that one. Hopefully we will both enjoy MacLean's historical romances when we finally give them a try. :-) Thank you for stopping by!

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  9. Looks like you have a great mixture here. Hope you love all of these!

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  10. There are a couple there that sound like they would be interesting. I love the dress on the cover of A Rogue by Any Other Name.

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    1. Mary - It's a beautiful dress! Thank you for stopping by. :-)

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  11. I also want to read The Nature of Fragile Things by Susan Meissner. I loved The Last Train to London. I hope you enjoy all your upcoming reads.

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    1. Carla - I haven't had a chance to read The Last Train to London, but it's on my wish list (like so many other books). I hope we both enjoy The Nature of Fragile Things when we read it! Thank you for visiting.

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  12. The Nature of Fragile Things sounds awesome! :)

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    1. Lark - I think so too! I can't wait to read it. Thank you for stopping by!

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  13. All three sound great to me but I think I'm most curious about City of a Thousand Gates mainly because I don't read many books set in that part of the world and I would love to read more and get a better understanding of the conflict.

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    1. Iliana - I don't read many books set in that part of the world either, although I have a few on my TBR shelf. It's always interested me. I hope you get to read it someday too! Thank you for visiting!

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  14. I love Susan Meissner's work, so that's a must-read, and City of a Thousand Gates sounds fascinating. I love books that let me learn more about a culture, a place.

    Thanks for stopping by my CWW!

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    1. Lisa - I am really looking forward to being able to read both. I've always wanted to try Meissner's work. Perhaps this will be my first! Thank you for stopping by!

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  15. Once again, I think that all of these sound good. It is funny how much your taste can change over time. I used to read a ton of historical romance but now only read it occasionally. I hope you enjoy all of these.

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    1. Carole - I love looking for patterns in my reading and seeing how it varies over time--or doesn't. Thank you for visiting!

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  16. The Nature of Fragile Things sounds like something I'd really enjoy. Thanks for sharing! I hope you enjoy all of these! :)

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    1. Ashley - I am really looking forward to that one! Thank you for stopping by!

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  17. I hope you enjoy all your reads. Today festival of
    Thai Pongal in a sort of lockdown!

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    1. Mystica - Thank you! It's such a shame that we have to live like this right now, but the alternative is worse. :-(

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  18. The Nature of Fragile Things sounds really good, thanks for sharing!

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  19. First of all, you blog is so cute with these cute cat graphic! 😍 Second, these books are awesome. I am specially interested in The Nature of Fragile Things! This synopsis has left me questioning and it needs to be read in order to get the answers, so adding this on TBR! I've heard a lot about Sarah McLean but have yet to read her books. I hope hope you enjoy all if the three books and happy reading! 💖💕

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    1. Thank you. :-) I hope you enjoy The Nature of Fragile Things if you read it. Thanks for stopping by!

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  20. The first two books sound like a powerful read. And it's been a while since I read a Sarah McLean book. I hope you'll enjoy these books, Wendy.

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  21. All your books sound good but City of a Thousand Gates has me intrigued. I haven't heard of it before so I'll look forward to its release.

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    1. Athira - I am looking forward to City of a Thousand Gates. I haven't tried anything by Sacks before and am hoping I like it. Thank you for visiting!

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  22. Interesting picks! Quite a variety. I think the first book and the one from your backlog interest me the most at the moment. Been a while since I've read a romance like that. Hope you enjoy them all!

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    1. Laura - Me too! I tend to lean more toward contemporary romance if I read romance these days, but I do like the occasional historical romance. Thank you for stopping by!

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    1. Shelleyrae - I can't wait to read it! Thank you for visiting.

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  24. I love historical fiction, especially about events we haven't already heard a ton about. The first book really intrigues me! Thanks for sharing these as well as visiting my post on Lisa Loves Literature yesterday!

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    1. Lisa - Me too! I hope you like The Nature of Fragile Things if you read it. Thank you for stopping by!

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  25. I've been wanting to try some Sarah MacLean books, as I've heard great things :) Hope you'll enjoy all of these!

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    1. Lindsey - I've heard good things about MacLean's books too. Hopefully this one will be good. Thank you for visiting!

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  26. I'm intrigued stories set against the 1906 earthquake and the mystery around those women has me curious.

    Glad you kept the historical romance until you got in the right mood. Hope it turns out well when you get the chance.

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    1. Sophia Rose - Me too! I look forward to reading it. Thank you for stopping by!

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  27. I'm very excited for the Susan Meissner book. I read my first book from her last year and it was a 5 star read. Hopefully we'll both love this one too. :)

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    1. Suzanne - I haven't read anything by her yet, but all her books appeal to me. I can't wait to give her work a try. Thank you for visiting!

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  28. some good looking books. i hope you enjoy them all
    sherry @ fundinmental

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  29. I haven't heard of any of these before. I'll have to check them out!

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    1. Jess - I hope you enjoy whichever ones you try! Thank you for stopping by!

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  30. Sarah MacLean's The Rogue Not Taken is much better than A Rogue By Any Other Name which I liked but the beginning was a bit iffy for me. The Rogue Not Taken was a favorite of mine from last year. I highly recommend it (:

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    1. Adriana - I'm afraid I don't have The Rogue Not Taken on my TBR shelf, but perhaps someday I will read it if I come upon a copy! I am glad you recommend it! Thank you for visiting!

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