Saturday, December 03, 2022

Weekly Mews: December Is Finally Here (Please Vote in My TBR Poll!)

I am linking up to the Sunday Post hosted by Kim of Caffeinated Book Reviewer and The Sunday Salon (TSS) hosted by Deb Nance of Readerbuzz  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 It's Monday! What Are you Reading? hosted by Kathryn of Book Date where readers talk about what they have been, are and will be reading.

I am linking up Stacking the Shelves hosted by Marlene of Reading Reality a meme in which participants share what new books came their way recently.  


 
I hope your December has gotten off to a good start. I cannot believe the end of the year is nearly here.

We spent the day running errands--getting my car checked out, a stop at the bookstore so my daughter could get the next book in her favorite series (the last book had a cliffhanger and she couldn't wait to read the next), and then a stop at the Dollar Tree for a few items I needed. We dropped by the post office to see about picking up our mail since our community mailbox had been broken into (again), only to find out it must be fixed because the mail person had taken the mail with her on her route today. Fortunately, the packages I was expecting made it safely here. 

We may or may not put up the Christmas decorations tomorrow. Even though I have had Christmas music on the radio, most of my holiday gift shopping is done, and the annual cards are in the mail, I am not quite feeling in the spirit this year. 

What are you up to this weekend? 

Read Recently

It is so nice to read a series where an older woman not only comes into her magic later in life, but is also the only hope for saving the world. I most recently read and enjoyed the second and third books in the series, A Gathering of Crones and Game of Crones, by Lydia M. Hawke.



Reading Now

I am reading The Dark Archive (Invisible Library #7) by Genevieve Cogman at the moment. Someone is trying to assassinate Irene and her friends--there's the usual mix of magic, fae, werewolves, and dragons. This continues to be one of my favorite series. 



Up Next

I could use your help deciding which book to read next! Which of these three books do you think I should read next? 

The Banned Bookshop of Maggie Banks by Shauna Robinson
I, Maggie Banks, solemnly swear to uphold the rules of Cobblestone Books.

If only, I, Maggie Banks, believed in following the rules.

When Maggie Banks arrives in Bell River to run her best friend's struggling bookstore, she expects to sell bestsellers to her small-town clientele. But running a bookstore in a town with a famously bookish history isn't easy. Bell River's literary society insists on keeping the bookstore stuck in the past, and Maggie is banned from selling anything written this century. So, when a series of mishaps suddenly tip the bookstore toward ruin, Maggie will have to get creative to keep the shop afloat.

And in Maggie's world, book rules are made to be broken.

To help save the store, Maggie starts an underground book club, running a series of events celebrating the books readers actually love. But keeping the club quiet, selling forbidden books, and dodging the literary society is nearly impossible. Especially when Maggie unearths a town secret that could upend everything.

Maggie will have to decide what's more important: the books that formed a small town's history, or the stories poised to change it all. [Goodreads Summary]

High Spirits (A Haunted Haven Mystery #2) by Carol J. Perry
Set during the Christmas season, the latest novel in this exciting new supernatural cozy series from the author of the Witch City Mysteries features a New Englander transplanted to a Florida town along the scenic Gulf of Mexico when she inherits a charming, century-old—and very haunted—inn from a mysterious benefactor. Fans of Amanda Flower and Heather Blake will delight in murder, ghosts, and the heroine’s golden retriever, Finn.

Christmas lights on palm trees and Santa hats on plastic pink flamingoes are far from the snowy landscape Maureen and her beloved golden retriever, Finn, are used to. But Maureen is determined to make this a holiday to remember—which means finding a way to promote Haven House on a shoestring. Fortunately, Haven’s vintage movie theater, the Paramount, has come up with a great “Twelve Days of Christmas” idea. They’ll feature an impressive list of the best classic Christmas movies ever made—shown by one-time movie actor-turned-projectionist Decklin Monroe . . .

But nobody bothered to tell Maureen that the Paramount is haunted by the ghost of a man who was murdered a few years back. Haven’s top cop Frank Hubbard doesn’t believe in ghosts but, believing that Decklin Monroe was somehow involved, he wants a reluctant Maureen’s help.

That plan is derailed when, on the first day of the festival, a fresh murder victim is found at the theater. Now Maureen has to defend her staff and guests, while trying to keep her high-spirited resident ghosts out of the picture—before they have company for the holidays . . . [Goodreads Summary]

Mother Daughter Traitor Spy
 by Susan Elia MacNeal
A mother and daughter find the courage to go undercover after stumbling upon a Nazi cell in Los Angeles during the early days of World War II--a tantalizing novel from the New York Times bestselling author of the Maggie Hope series

June 1940. France has fallen to the Nazis, and Britain may be next--but to many Americans, the war is something happening "over there." Veronica Grace has just graduated from college; she and her mother, Violet, are looking for a fresh start in sunny Los Angeles. After a blunder cost her a prestigious career opportunity in New York, Veronica is relieved to take a typing job in L.A.--only to realize that she's working for one of the area's most vicious propagandists.

Overnight, Veronica is exposed to the dark underbelly of her new home, where German Nazis are recruiting Americans for their devastating campaign. After the FBI dismisses the Graces' concerns, Veronica and Violet decide to call on an old friend, who introduces them to L.A.'s anti-Nazi spymaster.

At once, the women go undercover to gather enough information about the California Reich to take to the authorities. But as the news of Pearl Harbor ripples through the United States, and President Roosevelt declares war, the Grace women realize that the plots they're investigating are far more sinister than they feared--and even a single misstep could cost them everything.

Inspired by the real mother-daughter spy duo who foiled Nazi plots in Los Angeles during WWII, Mother Daughter Traitor Spy is a powerful portrait of family, duty, and deception that raises timeless questions about America--and what it means to have courage in the face of terror. [Goodreads Summary]


Thank you for voting!

My TBR List is 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 let you vote for my next read during that month. My review will follow (unfortunately, not likely in the same month, but eventually--that's all I can promise). 


New to the Shelves

Mouse and I added more books to our bookshelves recently.  Let's take a look!


The Witch with No Name (The Hollows #13) by Kim Harrison
The Vibrant Years by Sonali Dev
An Impossible Return by Caroline Laurent

Mouse has added way more books to her bookshelves than I have in the last couple months. These are her additions: 



Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Gracie Lin
The Promised Neverland, Vol. 4 by Kaiu Shirai, illustrations by Posuka Demizu
Map of Flames (Forgotten Five #1) by Lisa McMann
Snow & Rose by Emily Winfield Martin
Lodestar (Keeper of the Lost Cities #5) by Shannon Messenger
Nightfall (Keeper of the Lost Cities #6) by Shannon Messenger
Flashback (Keeper of the Lost Cities #7) by Shannon Messenger
Demon Slayer, Vol. 2 by Koyoharu Gotouge, translated by Antonio Valdez

What new books made it onto your shelf recently? 


What I Have Been Watching

Andor
, the latest Star Wars series, was very good. I really hope Disney follows through with a second season like they plan to. My family and I started the Willow series this past weekend and like it so far. We are only two episodes in though so it's early yet to know for sure if it will live up to the original movie.

I was in the mood for the movie Notting Hill the other day, and it started me on a binge of romcoms (mostly holiday themed ones) while I addressed the holiday cards and got them ready to mail. Mouse and I also recently started watching Heartstoppers. I haven't read the graphic novels, but the show looked good--and it is!


What have you watched recently?





This Past Week In Reading Mews

I hope you have a great week and month of December! 
Let me know what you have been reading and watching!

© 2022, 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.

56 comments:

  1. I think there's only one right choice in your poll given that it is December.

    I'm about to start the newest in the Keeper of the Lost Cities series!

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    1. Mark - Thank you for voting! It's my daughter's favorite series right now. She's quickly making her way through the books. :-) Thank you for visiting!

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  2. I loved Andor and can't wait for more. I tried Willow too. :)

    We got our tree up today so it's looking like Christmas around here now. I had to laugh because everyone around us in the neighborhood is all lit up and we were kind of slow gettting everything out. Ha ha now we look like we're with the program. :)

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    1. Greg - Andor really was good, wasn't it? I think most of my neighbors who decorate for the holidays have their lights up as well. We usually have it done by now but are really dragging this year. Thank you for stopping by!

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  3. We enjoyed Andor too, and yes, we are hoping for a second series.

    I am always interested to see what your options are when you ask us to vote.

    Have a great week!

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    1. Marg - I like to see which kind of books get more votes. :-) I hope you have a great week too. Thank you for visiting!

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  4. I'm also struggling with the Christmas spirit a bit. I'm so tired from daily life stuff that I don't have the energy to dig out the trees. I hope you have a great December!

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    1. AJ - For me, I think it's the weight of this entire year that's keeping me from feeling my usual holiday cheer. We did manage to get the holiday lights up--so that's one less thing. If we weren't hosting Christmas again this year, I might not even bother decorating, honestly. Hopefully the spirit will catch me. Have a great week and month. Thank you for stopping by!

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  5. I haven't quite gotten into the holiday spirit yet. We are planning to watch It's a Wonderful Life and I think that might do it for me.

    My secret love is for movie rom-coms. I can only think of two that are set around Christmas, though.

    I voted on the book that seemed to be most needed to be read in our world. lol

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    1. I hope you enjoy your re-watch of It's a Wonderful Life and that it helps get you in the holiday spirit! Calling the holiday romances I've been watching lately romcom's is probably not accurate--but they do make me laugh in spots. I'm saving my two absolute favorites for later this month, but maybe I shouldn't put them off. Thank you for voting and visiting!

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  6. Gosh I love your daughter LOL I began reading in English again as I couldn't wait for the Harry Potter to be translated so I get it!

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    1. Sophie - The things we do when we don't want to wait to read the enxt book. :-) Thank you for stopping by!

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  7. I'm not into the holiday yet either. I voted for The Banned Bookshop of Maggie Banks because it's the only one that I have read. Happy December!

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    1. Wendy - Thank you for voting! I saw that you had recently read that one. :-) Thank you for visiting!

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  8. I can't believe that it is December. We have put the decorations up (most of them) but it doesn't feel overly christmassy. We have just had my sister's birthday (today) and my mum's on the 6th. I just think that the year has gone too quickly 😂

    Have a great week ahead!

    Emily @ Budget Tales Book Blog
    My post:
    https://budgettalesblog.wordpress.com/2022/12/04/sunday-salon-32/

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    1. Emily - I hope they had/have nice birthdays! Hopefully the holiday bug will bite me soon. It usually doesn't take this long, but it's been a difficult year all around. Thank you for stopping by!

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  9. I just got the first book Becoming Crone as a freebie so I'll be checking into that series. I love the Cogman books. I haven't done a thing for Christmas holidays. I have miles to go before I get to it. Well I have bought a few things for my daughter. This year has flown by.

    Anne - Books of My Heart This is my Sunday Post

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    1. Anne - I hope you enjoy Becoming Crone. I guess we'd better both get on the holiday train before it gets here. Thank you for stopping by!

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  10. So glad to see Mouse is such a keen reader. As a school librarian, it makes my heart ever so happy!

    I have voted for the Banned Books of Maggie whatever. I think The Traitor Daughter Spy book will also be really good, but leave it for the new year!! Something light for December.

    Have fun and I hope your Christmas decorations are up!!

    Elza Reads

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    1. Mareli (& Elza) - I am glad she has discovered a love for reading too. :-) Thank you for voting in my poll. Thank you for visiting!

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  11. I love seeing what Mouse is picking out. My son reads a lot of fantasy too and these look right up his alley.
    Good luck getting your Christmas decor up! We just finished decorating yesterday. It's so pretty and calming once it's all up. I hope you all enjoy your week.

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    1. Heather - Fantasy is her favorite. And the thicker the book, the better. Hopefully we can get some of the decorating done today. We have a busy week and a packed weekend next week so I am not sure when else we will have time. Maybe we will end up doing a bit here and there. Thank you for stopping by!

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  12. We put up our Christmas decorations on Thanksgiving day, it's a family tradition, so we enjoyed it. I haven't gotten into the shopping side yet, sigh. Have a great week!

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    1. Cindy - Our family tradition is to put up the decorations the day after Thanksgiving, but it didn't work out this year. My husband had to work and we were all recovering from our latest COVID booster shots. Plus, we just haven't been in the mood. At least the shopping is done! Thank you for visiting!

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  13. I just love that your daughter was so into her story that you two went to the bookshop to get the next one in the series. What a great feeling.

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    1. Helen - I did make sure no one had gotten it for her for Christmas yet. LOL Thank you for stopping by!

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  14. Aw I love that you stopped to get your daughter the next book that she wanted!

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    1. Jinjer - I know the feeling all too well of wanting to get my hands on the next book of a series. :-) Thank you for visiting!

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  15. We have community mailboxes here too and I hate them. They have been broken into a few times and the mail slots are small so my mail ends up getting crammed in there.

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    1. Mary - I hate community mailboxes too. I won't use it for outgoing mail anymore--I never know if it will get to where it's supposed to go. It had just been fixed two weeks ago after a break in and then not even a week later there was another. It's frustrating. Thank you for stopping by!

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  16. Hey, Wendy. I had not been receiving emails that you were posting anything, so I signed up again. I am sorry to hear you aren't really in the Christmas spirit. I definitely am. I have put up the tree and all the decorations inside and out. Most of my gifts are bought (not wrapped), and I start my Christmas baking tomorrow. I have been reading lots of Christmas books and watching many Christmas movies. We are practicing our Christmas pageant at church and I am feeling very festive. It is so awesome to see what Mouse is reading, I love when our kids are so keen. I see you have been enjoying some paranormal and fantasy and I hope your new books, hit the mark for you.

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    1. Carla - I will check the service and see if it's working properly. I haven't been getting e-mails either now that you mention it. It definitely sounds like you are ready for Christmas. :-) I've been wrapping as presents come in which seemed smart when I started, but now I wonder if it was a mistake because my memory of what I got everyone isn't sticking as well as I'd like.

      I love that Mouse is so into reading right now. I hope it lasts her for the rest of her life. I've started getting the "Mom! Please don't talk to me. I am trying to finish my book" comments. LOL Thank you for visiting!

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  17. Ugh on the mailbox situation. I love the Invisible Library series. I'm a little behind in it, but plan to catch up in the next few months. We're almost done with our Christmas shopping.

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    1. Beth F - The mailbox situation is so frustrating. This is the second time in four weeks it's been broken into. I'm just glad my husband is working from home and can quickly get any packages that arrive on our doorstep. There seem to be a rash of package thefts around here as well.

      I am glad to hear you like the Invisible Library series too! I hope to get caught up with it soonish.

      I hope you have a great week! Thank you for stopping by!

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  18. The Banned Bookshop looks good! But so does Mother, Daughter Traitor Spy. It is so great your daughter has turned into such a reader! One out of my three are readers. Now working on the grandkids! LOL

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    1. Nise' - I'm looking forward to reading both. I definitely will read both at some point. I am glad my daughter found her love for books--I had my doubts for awhile there. I hope it will last her a lifetime like it has for us. :-) Thank you for visiting!

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  19. You and Mouse both added some really nice-looking books to your stacks. I haven't done one thing about Christmas yet beyond trying to remember where we put the tree. Come see my week here. Happy reading!

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    1. Kathy - Thank you! I definitely plan to sneak a book or two of hers to read as well. :-) We did manage to get the holiday lights up and the tree is in the house--still in its box. It's a start. Thank you for stopping by!

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  20. I am curious about The Banned Bookshop of Maggie Banks. Enjoy your week and the holidays ahead.

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    1. Laurel-Rain - I am looking forward to reading it! I hope you enjoy your week too. Thank you for visiting!

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  21. I voted for High Spirits just because I liked the dog on the cover :) I am definitely not in the Christmas spirit yet. We will see if I can get there eventually! Love the Invisible Library series! I hope that you have a fantastic week.

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    1. Carole - It's a cute cover. :-) I hope we both get bitten by the Christmas spirit soon--at least before the day arrives. Thank you for voting and stopping by!

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  22. I can't believe it's the end of the year either! I voted for banned bookshop because it sounds so fun!

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  23. I can't believe it's December already. I'm not ready for Christmas and absolutely not ready for the year to end.
    I vote for "Mother Daughter Traitor Spy"; it sounds like an intriguing read. Happy reading!

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    1. Melody - I thought I would be happy to see the year end, but I feel like I'm dragging my feet. LOL Thank you for voting and stopping by! I keep hearing good things about Mother Daughter Traitor Spy.

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  24. A Gathering of Crones sounds very interesting. I like that there are books with matured characters.

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    1. Kami - I am enjoying the series. I'm not quite the same age as the heroine yet, but I can relate to her all too well on some points! Thank you for visiting!

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  25. We had a similar issue with our mail during the summer. Someone had broken into our mailbox, so the post office held our mail until they fixed it. Unfortunately, instead of informing the people who use the box, they told the HOA and expected the HOA to pass it on. Which they didn't. Sigh. Oh well, I'm glad that your mail service is back to normal. Have a great week! - Melinda @ A Web of Stories

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    1. Melinda - That was us too! The HOA didn't bother to tell us it was broken. The last time or this time. Hopefully no one will try to break into the mailbox again anytime soon. I hope you have a great week too. Thank you for stopping by!

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  26. We recently watched the movie of Where the Crawdads Sing which was fine and now are watching the Slow Horses series on AppleTV+. But if I need a rom com this season, I'll likely see Love Actually again ... Happy holiday season to you!

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    1. Susan - I noticed Where the Crawdads Sing is on Netflix now. I haven't decided yet if I want to see it. Love Actually is a good one. I didn't like it the first time I saw it, but it's one of those movies that grew on me after awhile. I hope you enjoy the holiday season! Thank you for visiting!

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  27. I need to get around to reading The Invisible Library series.
    Have a great week.

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    1. Snapdragon - I hope you enjoy the Invisible Library series if you read it! Thank you for stopping by!

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  28. Thanks for a long very interesting post. Not very Christmassy here too but entire country in a bit of turmoil. Books keeping me balanced

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    1. Mystica - Reading keeps us afloat. Thank you for visiting!

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