Can't Wait to Read Wednesday: The Second Chance Year / The Final Curtain / Mask of Shadows

The New

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly feature hosted by the marvelous Tressa at Wishful Endings to spotlight upcoming release we are excited about that we have yet to read.

A wish and an opportunity to change the past . . . I do enjoy a good second chance book! 

The Second Chance Year by Melissa Wiesner
(Forever, December 5, 2023; 336 pgs)

In this unforgettable story full of charm, wit—and just a bit of magic—a woman down on her luck is given a second chance at fixing her life and trying one year all over again. Perfect for readers of Josie Silver and Rebecca Serle.

Sadie Thatcher’s life has fallen apart in spectacular fashion. In one fell swoop, she managed to lose her job, her apartment, and her boyfriend—all thanks to her big mouth. So when a fortune teller offers her one wish, Sadie jumps at the chance to redo her awful year. Deep down, she doesn’t believe magic will fix her life, but taking a leap of faith, Sadie makes her wish, opens her eyes, and . . . nothing has changed . And then, in perhaps her dumbest move yet, she kisses her brother’s best friend, Jacob.

When Sadie wakes up the next morning, she’s in her former apartment with her former boyfriend, and her former boss is expecting her at work. Checking the date, she realizes it's January 1 . . . of last year. As Sadie navigates her second-chance year, she begins to see the red flags she missed in her relationship and in her career. Plus, she keeps running into Jacob, and she can’t stop thinking about their kiss. . . the one he has no idea ever happened. Suddenly, Sadie begins to wonder if her only mistake was wishing for a second chance. [Goodreads Summary]

I have enjoyed Keigo Higashino's work before and, while I am behind with the series, I saw this one and immediately added it to my wish list. 

The Final Curtain (Kyoichiro Kaga #10) by Keigo Higashino, translated by Giles Murray
(Minotaur Books, December 12, 2023; 352 pgs)

From the acclaimed author of Malice and Newcomer, a confounding murder in Tokyo is connected to the mystery of the disappearance and death of Detective Kaga's own mother.

A decade ago, Tokyo Police Detective Kyoichiro Kaga went to collect the ashes of his recently deceased mother. Years before, she ran away from her husband and son without explanation or any further contact, only to die alone in an apartment far away, leaving her estranged son with many unanswered questions.

Now in Tokyo, Michiko Oshitani is found dead many miles from home. Strangled to death, left in the bare apartment rented under a false name by a man who has disappeared without a trace. Oshitani lived far away in Sendai, with no known connection to Tokyo - and neither her family or friends have any idea why she would have gone there.

Hers is the second strangulation death in that approximate area of Tokyo - the other was a homeless man, killed and his body burned in a tent by the river. As the police search through Oshitani's past for any clue that might shed some light, one of the detectives reaches out to Detective Kaga for advice. As the case unfolds an unexpected connective emerges between the murder (or murders) now and the long ago case of the missing mother of Detective Kaga.

The Final Curtain, one of Keigo Higashino's most acclaimed mysteries, brings the story of Detective Kaga to a surprising conclusion in a series of rich, surprising twists. [Goodreads Summary]

Do either of these books interest you? What upcoming releases are you looking forward to reading?

The Old(er) 

Carole of Carole's Random Life in Books has given me the perfect excuse to spotlight those unread books on my TBR in her Books from the Backlog feature, reminding me what great books I have waiting for me under my own roof still to read!

Mask of Shadows landed on my TBR a few years ago because I was drawn in by the synopsis. The word "assassins" first caught my attention and then the fact that our hero is a thief bent on revenge, well, I knew this would be a book for me. I have not managed to read it yet (like so many other books on my TBR shelves), but I still hope to one of these days! 

Mask of Shadows by Linsey Miller (Book #1; 384 pgs)

Release Date: August 29, 2017 by Sourecebooks Fire

Sallot Leon is a thief, and a good one at that. But gender fluid Sal wants nothing more than to escape the drudgery of life as a highway robber and get closer to the upper-class and the nobles who destroyed their home.  

When Sal Leon steals a poster announcing open auditions for the Left Hand, a powerful collection of the Queen's personal assassins named for the rings she wears -- Ruby, Emeral, Amethyst, and Opal -- their world changes. They know it's a chance for a new life.  

Except the audition is a fight to the death filled with clever circus acrobats, lethal apothecaries, and vicious ex-soldiers. A childhood as a common criminal hardly prepared Sal for the trials. But Sal must survive to put their real reason for auditioning into play: revenge. [Goodreads Summary]

Have you read Mask of Shadows?  Does this book sound like something you would like to read? 

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© 2023, 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.

Can't Wait to Read Wednesday: The Frozen River / The Fake Mate / The Secret, Book & Scone Society

The New

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly feature hosted by the marvelous Tressa at Wishful Endings to spotlight upcoming release we are excited about that we have yet to read.

I seem to be collecting Ariel Lawhon books, and so just seeing her name is enough to pique my interest. The Frozen River appeals to me on its own too though given the subject matter--historical fiction, murder, and inspired by real life woman . . . I cannot wait to read this one!

The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon
(Doubleday, December 5, 2023; 432 pgs)

A gripping historical mystery inspired by the life and diary of Martha Ballard, a renowned 18th-century midwife who investigates a shocking murder that unhinges her small community.

Maine, 1789: The Kennebec River freezes, entombing a man in the ice. Martha Ballard is summoned to examine the body and determine cause of death. As the local midwife and healer, Martha is good at keeping secrets. Her diary is a record of every birth and death, every murder and debacle that unfolds in the town of Hallowell. In that diary she also documented the details of an alleged rape that occurred four months earlier. Now, one of the men accused of that heinous attack has been found dead in the ice.

While Martha is certain she knows what happened the night of the assault, she suspects that the two crimes are linked, and that there is more to both cases than meets the eye. Over the course of one long, hard winter, as the trial nears, and whispers and prejudices mount, Martha’s diary lands at the center of the scandal and threatens to tear both her family and her community apart.

In her newest offering, Ariel Lawhon brings to life a brave and compassionate unsung heroine who refused to accept anything less than justice on behalf of those no one else would protect. The Frozen River is a thrilling, tense, and tender story of a remarkable woman who had the courage to take a stand, and in the process wrote herself into American history. [Goodreads Summary]

I have a soft spot for fake dating tropes as it is, but throw in a werewolf? I am all over this one! Straight onto my wish list it goes . . . 

The Fake Mate by Lana Ferguson

(Berkley, December 5, 2023; 400 pgs)  

Two wolf shifters agree to be fake mates but unexpectedly find something real in this steamy paranormal romantic comedy by Lana Ferguson.

Mackenzie Carter has had some very bad dates lately. Model train experts, mansplainers, guys weirdly obsessed with her tail—she hasn’t had a successful date in months. Only a year out of residency, her grandmother’s obsession with Mackenzie finding the perfect mate to settle down with threatens to drive Mackenzie barking mad. Out of options, it feels like a small thing to tell her grandmother that she’s met someone. That is, until she blurts out the name of the first man she sees and the last man she would ever date: Noah Taylor, the big bad wolf of Denver General.

Noah Taylor, interventional cardiologist and all around grump, has spent his entire life hiding what he is. With outdated stigmas surrounding unmated alphas that have people wondering if they still howl at the moon, Noah has been careful to keep his designation under wraps. It’s worked for years, until an anonymous tip has everything coming to light. Noah is left with two options: come clean to the board and risk his career—or find himself a mate. The chatty, overly friendly ER doctor asking him to be her fake boyfriend on the same day he’s called to meet the board has to be kismet, right?

Mackenzie will keep her grandmother off her back, and Noah will get a chance to prove he can continue to work without a real mate—a mutually beneficial business transaction, they both rationalize. But when the fake-mate act turns into a very real friends-with-benefits arrangement, lines start to blur, and they quickly realize love is a whole different kind of animal. [Goodreads Summary]

Do either of these books interest you? What upcoming releases are you looking forward to reading?

The Old(er) 

Carole of Carole's Random Life in Books has given me the perfect excuse to spotlight those unread books on my TBR in her Books from the Backlog feature, reminding me what great books I have waiting for me under my own roof still to read!

I could probably devote a year to reading only cozy mysteries and still not make a dent in all the ones on my TBR shelves. This has been on my TBR since I first heard about it. I think the title explains why. Why haven't I read this series yet?!

The Secret, Book & Scone Society (Miracle Springs, North Carolina #1) by Ellery Adams
(Kensington, 2017; 304 pages) 

Miracle Springs, North Carolina, is a place of healing. Strangers flock here hoping the natural hot springs, five-star cuisine, and renowned spa can cure their ills. If none of that works, they often find their way to Miracle Books, where, over a fresh-baked “comfort” scone from the Gingerbread House bakery, they exchange their stories with owner Nora Pennington in return for a carefully chosen book. That’s Nora’s special talent—prescribing the perfect novel to ease a person’s deepest pain and lighten their heaviest burden.

When a visiting businessman reaches out to Nora for guidance, she knows exactly which novels will help. But before he can keep their appointment at Miracle Books, he’s found dead on the train tracks.

Stunned, Nora forms the Secret, Book, and Scone Society, a group of damaged souls yearning to gain trust and earn redemption by helping others. To join the society, members must divulge their darkest secret—the terrible truth that brought each of them to Miracle Springs in the first place.

Determined to uncover the truth behind the businessman’s demise, the women meet in Nora’s cramped and cozy bookstore to share stories and trade support. And as they untangle a web of corruption, they also discover their own courage, purpose, and a sisterhood that will carry them through every challenge—proving it’s never too late to turn the page and start over . . . [Goodreads Summary]

Have you read The Secret, Book & Scone Society?  Does this book sound like something you would like to read? 

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© 2023, 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.

Can't Wait to Read Wednesday: Death by Demo / Raiders of the Lost Heart / Someone to Wed

The New

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly feature hosted by the marvelous Tressa at Wishful Endings to spotlight upcoming release we are excited about that we have yet to read.

Just what I need--a new series! But this sounds so good! So, of course, it's being added to my wish list.

Death by Demo (A Home Renovation Mystery #1) by Callie Carpenter
(Crooked Lane Books, December 5, 2023)

Jaime and Henry were the perfect couple with the perfect life; together, they ran one of the most successful construction and interior design companies in all of Charlotte, North Carolina. But when Jaime catches her charismatic husband in an affair, she realizes her husband is not the man she thought she married. The divorce is equally gutting—due to an ironclad prenuptial agreement, Jaime receives only one thing: a historical house in disrepair. Knowing that any renovation she attempts will be tedious and costly, Jaime starts to believe that things can’t get much worse—until she finds a dead body in the house.

The body is found behind a recently renovated wall—and this leaves Jaime with more questions than answers. Who killed this person and why? Could it have been the previous owners, someone who snuck in while nobody was looking, or could it have been Henry? Furious that the house is now a crime scene, which further delays all renovations, Jaime decides to investigate the murder herself, DIY-style. Together with the new resident cat she calls Demo, and the handsome and friendly hardware store owner who happens to be her neighbor, Jaime is ready to use all the tools in her toolbox to catch the killer.

Jaime needs to renovate this house if she wants to move forward with her life, but will this murder investigation leave her in ruins—or worse? [Goodreads Summary]

The setting and premise of Raiders of the Lost Heart appeal to me on so many levels. This sounds like it will be a fun rom-com. 

Raiders of the Lost Heart by Jo Segura
(Berkley, December 5, 2023; 368 pgs)

Rival archaeologists must team up on a secret Aztec expedition, or it could leave their careers—and hearts—in ruins.

Archaeologist Dr. Socorro “Corrie” Mejía has a bone to pick. Literally.

It’s been Corrie’s life goal to lead an expedition deep into the Mexican jungle in search of the long-lost remains of her ancestor, Chimalli, an ancient warrior of the Aztec empire. But when she is invited to join an all-expenses-paid dig to do just that, Corrie is sure it’s too good to be true...and she’s right.

As the world-renowned expert on Chimalli, by rights Corrie should be leading the expedition, not sharing the glory with her disgustingly handsome nemesis. But Dr. Ford Matthews has been finding new ways to best her since they were in grad school. Ford certainly isn’t thrilled either—with his life in shambles, the last thing he needs is a reminder of their rocky past.

But as the dig begins, it becomes clear they’ll need to work together when they realize a thief is lurking around their campsite, forcing the pair to keep their discoveries—and lingering attraction—under wraps. With money-hungry artifact smugglers, the Mexican authorities, and the lies between them closing in, there’s only one way this all ends—explosively. [Goodreads Summary]

Do either of these books interest you? What upcoming releases are you looking forward to reading?

The Old(er) 

Carole of Carole's Random Life in Books has given me the perfect excuse to spotlight those unread books on my TBR in her Books from the Backlog feature, reminding me what great books I have waiting for me under my own roof still to read!

I do not read a lot of historical romance, but I do enjoy it from time to time. I do not remember when this one was added to my TBR shelf, but it's been there awhile. I must say, from the description, it still appeals to me. I already like the sound of Alexander Westcott. 

Someone to Wed by Mary Balogh 

(Berkley, 2017; 384 pgs)

A very practical marriage makes Alexander Westcott question his heart in the latest Regency romance from the New York Times bestselling author of Someone to Hold.

When Alexander Westcott becomes the new Earl of Riverdale, he inherits a title he never wanted and a failing country estate he can’t afford. But he fully intends to do everything in his power to undo years of neglect and give the people who depend on him a better life. . . .

A recluse for more than twenty years, Wren Heyden wants one thing out of life: marriage. With her vast fortune, she sets her sights on buying a husband. But when she makes the desperate—and oh-so-dashing—earl a startlingly unexpected proposal, Alex will only agree to a proper courtship, hoping for at least friendship and respect to develop between them. He is totally unprepared for the desire that overwhelms him when Wren finally lifts the veils that hide the secrets of her past. . . . [Goodreads Summary]

Have you read Someone to Wed?  Does this book sound like something you would like to read? 

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© 2023, 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: A Quick Trip to Utah, COVID, and November's TBR List Poll Winner

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 hope November has been treating you well so far. Last weekend my family and I, including my mom, drove out to Utah for my father-in-law's memorial service. We left after Mouse got out of school Friday, stopped in North Las Vegas for a late dinner, and made it to our hotel in Utah late that night. The service was Saturday at my mother-in-law's church. It was a nice service, one my father-in-law would have liked, with a reception after, and it was nice to hear all the heartfelt memories and thoughts people have of him. It was a quick trip because of work and school commitments, and we drove home to California on Sunday. The weather was perfect. Sunny days with cool evenings. Then on Wednesday, Anjin began to feel ill and tested positive for COVID. I have tested a couple of times and have been negative so far, although I am symptomatic.  I was given permission to work from home Thursday as a result. If Friday hadn't been a work holiday for me, I likely would have had to call off. I am still feeling crummy. Worse today than the last two days. Anjin feels more human again, at least. And Mouse reports she is feeling good. Fingers crossed it stays that way!

I recently read the cozy mystery The Fatal Folio (Cambridge Bookshop #3) by Elizabeth Penney and loved it. You can read my thoughts on it here. 

At the moment, I am reading the middle grade fantasy novel Flashback (Keeper of the Lost Cities #7) by Shannon Messenger and a cozy mystery called Death by Demo (A Home Renovation #1) by Callie Carpenter. I also slipped in a couple of short stories from Reader, I Married Him: Stories Inspired by Jane Eyre, edited by Tracy Chevalier. 

What have you been reading recently?

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Thank you to everyone who voted in my November TBR List Poll! It was a very close race. One of the books was ahead for most of the week, but at the last minute, the winner came from behind and took the first spot. Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End by Atul Gawande received four votes and Trail of Lightning (The Sixth World #1) by Rebecca Roanhorse got seven votes. Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel won with 8 votes. 

While I eventually plan to read all three of these books, I am looking forward to diving into Station Eleven soon!  Thank you again to all who voted!

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). 

It was my hope to share my thoughts on a couple of poems I read this week, but with everything going on, it did not work out. Instead, I would like to share a Book Central Podcast I listened to recently and enjoyed by fellow blogger, Juli of A Universe in Words, in which she reads and discusses the beautiful poem "Often Rebuked, Yet Always Back Returning" by Emily Brontë. I hope you will check it out! 

Have you read any poetry you would recommend lately?

This year I have been slowly working my way through the short story anthology, Reader, I Married Him: Stories Inspired by Jane Eyre, and I recently read a couple more of the stories in between my other reading, both by authors I haven't read before. 

Patricia Park's "The China from Buenos Aires" centers around a young Korean immigrant from Argentina now living and studying in the United States. The author captures Teresa's diasporic feelings well. She doesn't quite fit in anywhere and is struggling with homesickness and loneliness. She finds a friend in Juan, a familiar person from her past, who has also made a home in America. His feelings for her are much stronger than hers are for him, and when a family emergency arises in Argentina, Teresa has a difficult decision to make. In just a few short pages, Patricia Park was able to create a character I came to care for, and I really felt for her in her situation. I still find myself thinking of this story and Teresa days after finishing the story.  

The second story I read was "Reader, She Married Me" by Sally Vickers. This was a different twist on the original Jane Eyre. The story is written from the point of view of Edward Rochester. It takes place after he is married to Jane, as he looks back on his life with his first wife, Bertha, the fire, and his ultimate marriage to Jane. As fond as I am of Jane, I was not too keen on this take on Jane, but I appreciated the creative take on familiar characters. Edward is painted in a somewhat more sympathetic view, but I felt more so for Bertha. This story touches on issues of child loss, post partum depression, and grief. It's heartbreaking. I wanted to feel for Edward, especially since he feels remorse after all this time, but it was too little, too late. 

Have you read any short stories you would recommend lately?

I hope you have a great week! Let me know what you have been reading!

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© 2023, 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.

Where Is Your Bookmark: My Bookish Mewsings on The Fatal Folio by Elizabeth Penney (& Other Friday Fun)

A weekly meme where readers share the first sentence of the book they are reading and say what they think. Hosted by the amazing Gillion Dumas of Rose City Reader.

November had arrived in Cambridge, bringing with it crisp, cool air, the emergence of mufflers and wool coats from closets, and--new to me, as an ex-pat American--Guy Fawkes Day. Almost six months earlier, my mother and I had made the move from Cambridge to Vermont, joining my great-Aunt Violet in running Thomas Marlowe--Manuscripts and Folios, one of the oldest bookshops in this historic city with its more than thirty colleges.  [opening of The Fatal Folio]

While the November weather where I live isn't quite as cool as it is in Cambridge this time of year, I do love the sense of the season this opening invokes. And what a dream! To work in a bookshop with deep roots in history. 

A weekly meme in which readers share a random sentence or two from page 56 or 56% of the book they are reading. Our wonderful host Freda of Freda's Voice is on a break, but Anne of My Head is Full of Books has stepped in to host!

She led us along the path to the center, where a slender campanile stood. As we approached, the bell gonged, three sonorous tones that made goose bumps rise. Once the echoes died away, Amy said, "We are very lucky tonight to hear the monk's bell ring. Or are we? It is said  that the bell foretells death."

A shiver went down my spine. [excerpt from 56% of The Fatal Folio]

The Fatal Folio (The Cambridge Bookshop Series #3) by Elizabeth Penney

(St. Martin's Press, 2023; 320 pgs)  

Molly Kimball is an American ex-pat living in Cambridge with her mom and Great-Aunt. They run the family's ancestral bookshop called Thomas Marlowe-Manuscripts and Folios. Molly has been hired by her boyfriend Kiernan Scott's family to update their family's library catalog. In addition to that, she's taken on the task of uncovering the true identity of the author behind an original manuscript of a Gothic novel called A Fatal Folio. It is especially of interest to Kiernan's cousin, Oliver, a professor at one of the local colleges, who plans to write a book about the manuscript and its author.

While on their way to meet Oliver one night, Molly and her friends stumble upon a man who has been stabbed. It turns out he wasn't a very well liked person, and Oliver is among the top suspects. It isn't long before Molly finds herself in the middle of trying to figure out who committed the murder and if and how it might be tied to the old manuscript.

Although this is the third book in the Cambridge Bookshop mystery series, it was my first. I imagine there is some background information about the regular characters I may have been missing jumping into the series here, but I never felt lost and still felt like I got a good sense of who everyone was. I love the setting--Cambridge and the bookstore. I especially love the library at the  Scott's estate. So much history in the books on the shelves and tucked in the nooks and crannies there! 

Within the novel, is another story, written as if we are reading A Fatal Folio right alongside Molly. It's an intriguing Gothic tale, and I found myself just as interested in finding out what happened to the characters of that story as I did to the main mystery. It complemented the main storyline and in no way overshadowed it. 

Molly is smart and relatable. She has a good relationship with the local law enforcement officials, which I think worked to everyone's advantage. I would enjoy going back and reading the first two books in the series, perhaps seeing how Kiernan and Molly meet and reading about her first impressions of her new life in Cambridge. There are adorable bookstore cats who make multiple appearances.  The Fatal Folio is just the kind of cozy mystery I love to cuddle up with. 

Does this sound like something you would enjoy reading? Have you read The Fatal Folio? If so, what did you think?

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. It is co-hosted by Linda Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell, Roberta from Offbeat YA, Jen from That’s What I’m Talking About, Berl's from Because Reading is Better than Real Life, and Karen from For What It’s Worth. Join in by answering this week's question in the comments or on your own blog.

Sci-Fi, Urban Fantasy, Epic Fantasy... do you read them? What do you prefer?

I do! Fantasy is one of my favorite genres: Epic, High and Low, Urban, Dark, and Steampunk. I like the supernatural and paranormal. I prefer fantasy with magical elements to fantasy without. Add in mystery, romance, and historical elements for an even better combination. Of all the fantasy genres, urban fantasy is probably the one I read most. 

Although I haven't explored the genre as much I would like, I enjoy Science Fiction as well. Dystopian and Post-Apocalyptic are probably the most common I have read and favor, but I also enjoy space opera, alternate realities/universes, and time travel quite a bit. 

Do you read and enjoy Fantasy or Science Fiction? What are some of your favorite books or authors in those genres?

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.

Do you consider yourself a bookworm or a reader? (submitted by Billy @ Coffee Addicted Writer)

While not a bookworm in the literal sense (I am not an insect who destroys books), I do sometimes refer to myself as a bookworm because reading is such an important part of my life, something I do a lot of as compared to the average person. I talk about books, I blog about books, I have quite the collection of books in addition to reading them. And I do define myself as a reader, in general. Reading is a passion of mine, and I cannot imagine life without it. So, the short answer is yes to both.

Do you consider yourself a reader or a bookworm? Or, like me, both?

 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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© 2023 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.

Can't Wait to Read Wednesday: Murder on Tour / Shards of Glass / Terminal Alliance

The New

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly feature hosted by the marvelous Tressa at Wishful Endings to spotlight upcoming release we are excited about that we have yet to read.

Murder on Tour (Mystery Bookshop #9) by V.M. Burns

(Kensington Books, November 28, 2023; 336 pgs)

Bookstore owner and Michigander Samantha Washington is thrilled to see her debut historical mystery finally on the shelves, but a killer seems determined to steal away the spotlight . . .

While Sam wraps up her first whirlwind book tour, Nana Jo has kept Market Street Mysteries running smoothly. The last stop is a prestigious book festival in Sam’s hometown of North Harbor, Michigan. But not everyone thinks the guest of honor, bestselling author Judith Hunter, deserves stellar reviews. Sam witnesses nasty arguments between Judith and two different authors—who accuse her of plagiarism and sabotage . . .

When a publicist is poisoned during a cocktail reception, Sam wonders if the killer missed the intended target. It’s a twist that echoes the plot of Sam’s mystery, Murder at Wickfield Lodge. But fact can be stranger—and deadlier—than fiction. How much collateral damage is the killer willing to risk? With feisty Nana Jo and the girls from Shady Acres Retirement Village lending a hand, Sam tries to solve the case before the festival delivers another fatality . . . [Goodreads Summary]

I love a good bookstore themed cozy mystery and have been wanting to try this series for years now. Every new book that comes out in it is a reminder. It sounds perfect for me!  

 

Shards of Glass (Chronicles of Elantra) by Michelle Sagara
(Mira, November 28, 2023; 530 pgs)

The Academia, once an elite proving ground for the rulers of the world, has been frozen for centuries. Now its strange slumber has ended, and a new Chancellor, an orange-eyed dragon, has reopened its lecture halls and readied its dorms. In order to thrive once more, however, the Academia needs fresh blood—new students with a passion and talent for learning.

One such student, Robin, has the perfect recruit in his friend Raven, an orphan who lives in the dangerous Warrens. Robin grew up in the Warrens, and he wouldn't have made it if not for Raven. He knows she’ll be safe at the Academia, where her unusual gifts can be appreciated.

But when students start turning up dead, the campus threatens to collapse completely. Raven and Robin will not let that happen to their new home…if they can survive long enough to figure out who—or what—is trying to kill them. [Goodreads Summary]

This sounds so good! I love fantasy novels in school settings. And a mystery too! I glanced at some of the Goodreads reviews when I was pulling the blurb to share with you. This is a spinoff of the author's Chronicles of Elantra series, and so I was hoping a stand alone (or at least the beginning of a new series), but it looks like readers are recommending the original series be read first. I have a lot of reading ahead of me if I want to get caught up to read this one . . .

Do either of these books interest you? What upcoming releases are you looking forward to reading?

The Old(er) 

Carole of Carole's Random Life in Books has given me the perfect excuse to spotlight those unread books on my TBR in her Books from the Backlog feature, reminding me what great books I have waiting for me under my own roof still to read!

I remember being so excited about this one when it first came out (how many books do I say that about?). Alas, it still sits on my TBR shelf, waiting it's turn. I enjoy the Guardians of the Galaxy movies, a set of misfits who save the world, and this one gives off a similar vibe from the description. I love that the heroes of Terminal Alliance are janitors. I am bumping this up on my TBR pile. 

Terminal Alliance (Janitors of the Post-Apocalypse #1) by J.C. Hines 

(DAW, 2017; 352 pgs)

In his hilarious new sci-fi series, Jim C. Hines introduces the unlikely heroes that may just save the galaxy: a crew of space janitors.

The Krakau came to Earth to invite humanity into a growing alliance of sentient species. However, they happened to arrive after a mutated plague wiped out half the planet, turned the rest into shambling, near-unstoppable animals, and basically destroyed human civilization. You know—your standard apocalypse.

The Krakau’s first impulse was to turn around and go home. (After all, it’s hard to have diplomatic relations with mindless savages who eat your diplomats.) Their second impulse was to try to fix us. Now, a century later, human beings might not be what they once were, but at least they’re no longer trying to eat everyone. Mostly.

Marion “Mops” Adamopoulos is surprisingly bright (for a human). As a Lieutenant on the Earth Mercenary Corps Ship Pufferfish, she’s in charge of the Shipboard Hygiene and Sanitation team. When a bioweapon attack wipes out the Krakau command crew and reverts the rest of the humans to their feral state, only Mops and her team are left with their minds intact.

Escaping the attacking aliens—not to mention her shambling crewmates—is only the beginning. Sure, Mops and her team of space janitors and plumbers can clean the ship as well as anyone, but flying the damn thing is another matter.

As they struggle to keep the Pufferfish functioning and find a cure for their crew, they stumble onto a conspiracy that could threaten the entire alliance… a conspiracy born from the truth of what happened on Earth all those years ago. [Goodreads Summary]

Have you read Terminal Alliance?  Does this book sound like something you would like to read? 

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© 2023, 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: A Sunny Start to November & Good Books (Please Vote in my TBR List 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.

The Santa Ana winds swept in the beginning of the week, helping to fuel a wildfire in the county. The firefighters have been making progress with containment and hope to have it fully contained by the middle of next week if the weather conditions cooperate. The winds have since died down. 

Halloween has come and gone. I haven't yet put the decorations away. We wanted to enjoy them a little longer since we got them up so late. It's not a lot. Just enough for us to add some festiveness around the house. Mouse attended a trunk-or-treat the middle of October that was hosted by the Girl Scouts and then a Halloween dance at school. For the actual evening of Halloween, she had couple of her friends over to go trick-or-treating with around the neighborhood. While the dads were out with the girls, we moms enjoyed chatting and catching up. It had been awhile since we have had a chance to do that.  

Work slowed down somewhat for a couple of days early in the week but has resumed it's fall busy-ness. I have been putting in overtime here and there when needed. 

What have you been up to lately? 

Nina cannot resist a box.

Gracie enjoying her new favorite hideaway

I currently am reading in The Fatal Folio (The Cambridge Bookshop #3) by Elizabeth Penney, a cozy mystery, and just started the middle grade fantasy novel, Flashback (Keeper of the Lost Cities #7) by Shannon Messenger. 

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). 

For many bloggers, November means a month of Nonfiction reading. For others it is for Science Fiction. It's also National Novel Writing Month, commonly known as NaNoWriMo. While I don't have it in me to dedicate the month of November to writing a novel, I can read a published book written during NaNoWriMo. In honor of all three November traditions, I chose a book from each of the three categories--all have been lingering too long on my TBR shelves. Have you read any of these? What did you think? Help me choose what to read next! 

My nonfiction pick: 

Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End by Atul Gawande

In Being Mortal, author Atul Gawande tackles the hardest challenge of his profession: how medicine can not only improve life but also the process of its ending

Medicine has triumphed in modern times, transforming birth, injury, and infectious disease from harrowing to manageable. But in the inevitable condition of aging and death, the goals of medicine seem too frequently to run counter to the interest of the human spirit. Nursing homes, preoccupied with safety, pin patients into railed beds and wheelchairs. Hospitals isolate the dying, checking for vital signs long after the goals of cure have become moot. Doctors, committed to extending life, continue to carry out devastating procedures that in the end extend suffering.

Gawande, a practicing surgeon, addresses his profession's ultimate limitation, arguing that quality of life is the desired goal for patients and families. Gawande offers examples of freer, more socially fulfilling models for assisting the infirm and dependent elderly, and he explores the varieties of hospice care to demonstrate that a person's last weeks or months may be rich and dignified. [Goodreads Summary]

My Science Fiction pick:

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

An audacious, darkly glittering novel set in the eerie days of civilization’s collapse, Station Eleven tells the spellbinding story of a Hollywood star, his would-be savior, and a nomadic group of actors roaming the scattered outposts of the Great Lakes region, risking everything for art and humanity.

Kirsten Raymonde will never forget the night Arthur Leander, the famous Hollywood actor, had a heart attack on stage during a production of King Lear. That was the night when a devastating flu pandemic arrived in the city, and within weeks, civilization as we know it came to an end.

Twenty years later, Kirsten moves between the settlements of the altered world with a small troupe of actors and musicians. They call themselves The Traveling Symphony, and they have dedicated themselves to keeping the remnants of art and humanity alive. But when they arrive in St. Deborah by the Water, they encounter a violent prophet who will threaten the tiny band’s existence. And as the story takes off, moving back and forth in time, and vividly depicting life before and after the pandemic, the strange twist of fate that connects them all will be revealed. [Goodreads Summary]

My NaNoWriMo pick: 

Trail of Lightning (The Sixth World #1) by Rebecca Roanhorse

While most of the world has drowned beneath the sudden rising waters of a climate apocalypse, Dinétah (formerly the Navajo reservation) has been reborn. The gods and heroes of legend walk the land, but so do monsters.

Maggie Hoskie is a Dinétah monster hunter, a supernaturally gifted killer. When a small town needs help finding a missing girl, Maggie is their last—and best—hope. But what Maggie uncovers about the monster is much larger and more terrifying than anything she could imagine.

Maggie reluctantly enlists the aid of Kai Arviso, an unconventional medicine man, and together they travel to the rez to unravel clues from ancient legends, trade favors with tricksters, and battle dark witchcraft in a patchwork world of deteriorating technology.

As Maggie discovers the truth behind the disappearances, she will have to confront her past—if she wants to survive. 

Welcome to the Sixth World. [Goodreads Summary]

Thank you for voting!

Here is what I recently read and my thoughts on each of the books: 

Starling House by Alix E. Harrow (Tor, 2023; 320 pgs)

Source: From the Publisher via NetGalley. My thoughts are purely my own. 

I dream sometimes of a house I've never seen. ~ Opening of Starling House

I immensely enjoyed every page of this book. Opal and her brother have had a rough life, living in poverty and just trying to get by as best they can. Opal has been raising her brother since the death of their mother. She's a high school dropout who only wants to see her brother have a brighter future than she ever will. Opal has long been haunted by dreams of the Starling House. She's always been fascinated by the house and the reclusive nineteenth century author who mysteriously disappeared. E. Starling is quite the legend and her children's book, The Underland, haunts Opal. A not so pleasant encounter with the house's current curmudgeonly owner, Arthur Starling, leads to an unexpected job opportunity and an unlikely friendship. Opal soon learns that nothing is quite as it seems. The pull of the house is strong, and the more she learns its secrets, the more she becomes entangled in the mystery and history of the house and of the town. Opal's nightmares become a reality and she has to decide whether to stay and fight or try to move on. 

Atmospheric with a touch of horror, this Gothic novel is everything I hoped it would be. I love it when I come across a book where the house is a character in its own right, and I felt that way about Starling House. It had a life of its own. I found Opal to be a relatable character. She has had to fight for everything she has and does not have much faith in humanity--and with good reason given the hand she's been dealt. Arthur's initial broodiness falls away the more he begins to trust Opal. The growth of the characters over the course of the novel is one of the aspects I liked most as they and their relationship evolved. I confess my initial impressions of Opal and Arthur was of her being barely an adult and of Arthur as much older which wasn't quite on the mark.

While the novel centers around Starling House, the small dying town of Eden in Kentucky, also has a big presence. The author does a good job of weaving the history of the town into the story and the impact of past events on the people and the town of today, including how how Starling House came to be what it is. I found the world building to be intriguing and well done. I only wish there had been more. I would like to have gotten deeper into the house's mysteries and previous occupants. My favorite of Alix E. Harrow's continues to be The Ten Thousand Doors of January, but this was another winner for me.

Yellowface by R.F. Kuang (William Morrow, 2023; 336 pgs)

Source: Purchased 

The night I watch Athena Liu die, we're celebrating her TV deal with Netflix. ~ Opening of Yellowface

This is one of the "it" books of the year, and while sometimes I avoid books that get a lot of hype, sometimes I gravitate toward them, which is exactly what I did with Yellowface. I get why people are calling Yellowface a "now" book. It touches on issues of diversity, racism, and cultural appropriation, as well as the dark side of social media. It delves into the world of publishing, influencers and critics, the struggle of writing and breaking into the field, the challenges of marketing, and staying relevant in a fickle world. R.F. Kuang's writing is addictive, and I found this book to be impossible to put down. 

June Hayward has long envied and resented Athena Liu whose writing career skyrocketed while hers went from middling to stagnant. When Athena dies in a freak accident, June sees this as her chance and steals Athena's unpublished manuscript about the World War I Chinese laborers who went to Europe to help the Allied Forces. She publishes it under the name Juniper Song, which while part of her actual name, is also misleading in terms of her background. Her novel becomes the book of the season and everyone is talking about it. But not everybody is excited about the book, questioning its authenticity and authorship, and doubts and animosity grow quite rapidly. 

Told from June's point of view, I was riveted to the pages, part in consternation at this character's audacity but also in wanting to see where the author would take her story next. June makes bad decision after bad decision and the reader sees her rise and fall over the course of the novel. I felt like I was watching a trainwreck, not sure if I should feel pity for June or just be completely disgusted by her. 

Much of the criticism June initially gets centers around her being yet another white author having the full force of the publishing company push her book, a book using someone else's cultural narrative, while stories by authors of that culture are passed over--not too different from debates people are having today. June is of the misguided opinion that authors like herself are too often passed over in the industry in order to promote diversity. Reality and statistics does not support that belief. We cannot forget that June stole the manuscript and is passing it off as her own either, which brings about more controversy and accusations.

June's tale isn't the entire story though. The author paints a very raw picture of the impact social media can have on a person, the alienation and pain it can cause--whether it be someone like Athena or the unlikeable June. And R.F. Kuang pulls no punches in writing about how the publishing industry works with all its blemishes. I loved dark humor throughout the novel and admire the author's skills as a writer. I have so many more thoughts about this book, but will stop here. I think this would make a great book club pick. There are so many moving pieces in this book worth exploring more. Thank you to everyone who chose this book as my October TBR List book! 

Murder by the Seashore (California Bookshop Mystery #1) by Samara Yew (Crooked Lane Books, 2023; 256 pgs)

Source: From the Publisher via NetGalley. My thoughts are purely my own. 

The involuntary morning mantra that had been running through my head every day for the past four months began as its usual time, nine thirty AM. ~ Opening of Murder by the Seashore

How could I resist a cozy mystery set in a bookstore by the ocean? Scarlet Garner's plan was to open the Oceanside bookstore with her boyfriend, but he pulled out of the business--and her life--at the last minute. She did not give up her dream, however, and is now the proud owner of her own bookstore, Palm Trees and and Page Turners. She's made a life for herself in Oceanside, sharing a townhouse with her attorney roommate. 

One sunny morning she comes across a dead body under the pier--and suddenly finds herself the prime suspect. The body belongs to a one time customer who she met the night before. It comes as quite the surprise when Scarlet is told by a visiting attorney that she's the heir to the dead woman's fortune. How could that be? Who is this woman? And who would want to kill her? Scarlet, with the help of her roommate, decides she needs to get to the bottom of these questions and clear her name. 

Having spent two years of my childhood in Oceanside and visited since, I was curious if I would recognize the city in Samara Yew's novel. While Yew's Oceanside doesn't quite match the reality, I still really like the version the author has created--it is fiction after all.

I thoroughly enjoyed this cozy mystery, and its wonderful cast of characters. Scarlet isn't sure who she can trust, even among her friends. And to make it worse, her ex is back in town. There are plenty of suspects and twists, and while I guessed almost immediately who the likely culprit was, that did not stop me from enjoying seeing Scarlett discover the truth for herself. This was such an entertaining read. 

Challenges Met: Cruisin' Thru the Cozies / COYER / Bookish Books Reading Challenge

I read another couple of stories in Kim Harrison's Into the Woods: Tales from the Hollows and Beyond anthology, finally finishing the book off. It only took a few months to get through! To be fair, I did spread out the reading of the stories quite a bit, only picking this collection up when I was in need of something short in between longer reads. While most of the stories in this anthology are set in the same world as her Hollows urban fantasy series, the last handful of stories are independent of that. The collection ends on a strong note with "Spider's Silk" and "Grace."

"Spider's Silk" was a perfect story for this time of year. Three generations of women reside in a house by the woods. Lilly and her daughters have long heard Lilly's mother's stories about a spirit who is not to be trusted. He is a dryad who lives in the trees and goes by the name Penn. There is a sense of foreboding, with tension growing as the story progresses. Lilly doesn't want to believe her mother's tales about Penn and just how seductive he can be, but  a part of her knows something is not right and she fears for her daughters. This had just the right amount of creepiness and is one of my favorite stories from this collection.

Though, "Grace" is probably my favorite of all the stories in Kim Harrison's anthology. It's a non-Hollow story, featuring Grace. She has the ability to manipulate energy. Her job is to search out and collect others with the same abilities, usually young children, for her employer, The Strand, so that they can be taught how to control their powers, or, in the worst cases, have their powers removed. An uncontrolled "throw", as people with Grace's power is called, is a danger to not just themselves, but to society as well. There was so much to like about this story. Grace and her partner are assigned a particularly difficult run, picking up an older "throw" who has kept under the radar for 17 years. Grace is a great character, very relatable and easy to like. She's tough where it counts and one of the best at her job. There's a dog too! Hoc, who I adored. Grace's loyalty to him made me like her even more. There's a lot to this story--suspense, action, drama, an old flame, an intriguing world, and interesting characters. I would not mind reading more about these characters, especially Grace and Hoc, if Kim Harrison decided to take their story further.

My brief mewsings on other stories in the anthology:

• "Be Spelled," "Ley Line Drifter," "Undead in the Garden of Good and Evil," "Two Ghosts for Sister Rachel," "Dirty Magic," and "The Bridges of Eden Park."
• "Million Dollar Baby"
• "Pet Shop Boys" and "Temson Estates"

I enjoyed going on adventures with and getting to better know familiar Hollows characters, both the main and minor ones. I also enjoyed the non-Hollows stories. While some of the stories were stronger than others, as is often the case with anthologies, I found this to be a great collection overall.

I hope you have a great week! Let me know what you have been reading!

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© 2023, 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.