Where Is Your Bookmark: A Peek into Speaker of the Lost, Rereading & My Childhood Favorites

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.

Robbie lived just long enough to regret the seventh beer. [opening of Speaker of the Lost]

This is actually from Case Study #1 which serves as a prologue to the novel. I would say it's got the qualities of a good hook, wouldn't you? 

A weekly meme in which readers share a random sentence or two from page 56 or 56% of the book they are reading. Hosted by the wonderful Freda of Freda's Voice.

Glass shattered above Oz's head, and he looked up just in time to see a woman's body flailing down toward himself. [excerpt from 56% of Speaker of the Lost]

I featured today's book on my blog last week and have since dived in. I am nearing the end and am looking forward to seeing how Stella and Oz resolve their current investigation. It has been anything but easy for them. 

Speaker of the Lost (Lark Nation #1) by Clara Coulson 

In a sleepy town in coastal Maine, a dangerous storm is brewing…

Stella Newport is the new kid on the block in the FBI’s Paranormal Squad. With three training missions left to ace and enough drive to nail them blindfolded, she’s well on her way to securing her place among the ranks of the elite agents known as “Larks.”

And then…Aurora, Michigan.

After magic practitioners brazenly destroy a massive convention center, supernatural crime rates surge across the United States. With the regional paranormal crime-fighting group—DSI—overtaxed, and the Paranormal Squad woefully short on manpower, Stella is pulled out of training early and shoved on a plane to a small New England town.

Her mission? To assist the infamously moody Oswald Bolton, known as the “Great and Terrible Oz,” with a complex murder investigation.

In the town of Bismuth, Maine, an ancient creature has come calling, and it’s up to Stella and Oz to unravel the myriad secrets of a tight-knit (and tight-lipped) community…before another head goes rolling and another body falls. [Goodreads Summary]

Have you read this book or anything by the author? Does it sound like something you might enjoy?

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  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.

Do you reread series before reading the newest book if it’s been a while?

It is rare I reread a series before reading the latest book in the series. I am not much of a rereader, truth be told. I am slowly working my way again through the Dresden Files series by Jim Butcher--this time in audio. I am way behind in the series (I've  read the first 9 books; there are 17 currently) and decided it would be a fun way to get revisit the series--and because I like the narrator, James Marsters. Except, I reread the first book via audio in 2012 and the second book this past year. Who knows when I will get around to revisiting the third book. This clearly not the best way to reread a series if the purpose is to prepare for the next book coming out!

What about you? Do you reread a series before starting the latest book? 

I hope you will join in next week  to answer next week's Tell Me Something Tuesday question: Would you read a book by your favorite author if it isn't in a genre you normally enjoy?

Every Friday Coffee Addicted Writer from Coffee Addicted Writer poses a question which participants respond on their own blogs within the week (Friday through Thursday). They then share their links at the main site and visit other participants blogs.

What was your favorite genre to read as a child? Do you still read that genre, or do you read something else now? (submitted by Mark @ Carstairs Considers)

I have loved to read for as long as I can remember. I loved The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis and also Farewell to Manzanar by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston and James D. Houston. I devoured books by Judy Blume and Beverly Cleary; and I also really liked books by Scott O'Dell, Jean Craighead, Mildred D. Taylor, and George Selden.  My all time favorite childhood book is Gene Stratton-Porter's The Girl of the Limberlost.  Outside of general fiction, my favorite childhood genre would  probably be mysteries. Encyclopedia Brown and Harriet the Spy in particular come to mind. 

In my teen years, my reading tastes expanded to include everything by S.E. Hinton and Agatha Christie, books by Tory Hayden, the Nancy Drew mystery series, The Canby Hall series by Emily Chase, Don Pendelton's Ashton Ford series, the classics (Jane Eyre and Beowulf), horror (John Saul, especially), and romance (hello, Harlequin romance--especially the Harlequin Intrigue line). I also discovered (and adored) Emily Dickinson's poetry. Again, there was a strong mystery showing genre-wise, but also a good amount of other types of books mixed in too.

These are among the ones that stand out in my memory. I still read books that fall into many of these genres and then some. I am hard-pressed to pick one favorite genre today.  Fantasy, mysteries/thrillers, historical fiction, romantic comedies, and general/literary fiction are always competing for the spot. 

Did you have a favorite genre you gravitated toward when you were a child? So you still read the same type of books? Who were some of your favorite childhood authors? 

I hope you will join in next week  to answer next week's Book Blogger Hop question: Do you enjoy reading romance novels? If so, which romance trope is your favorite?

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

Can't Wait to Read Wednesday: The Love Scribe / The Writing Retreat / When the Moon Turns Blue / Wolf Hall

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.

This book are at the top of my wish list. I cannot wait to read it!

The Love Scribe by Amy Meyerson

(Park Row, February 7, 2023)  

From the bestselling author of The Bookshop of Yesterdays comes a charming novel about a woman with a special gift—her stories help people fall in love.

When Alice’s best friend, Gabby, is reeling from a breakup, Alice writes her a heartfelt story to cheer her up. While reading it in a café, Gabby, as if by magic, meets the man of her dreams. Thinking the story might have some special power to it, Gabby shares it with her sister and other friends, who all find instant love. Word of mouth spreads, and Alice stumbles upon a new calling—to be a love scribe.

But not all the love stories she writes unfold as expected. And while Alice tries to harness her extraordinary gift, she is summoned to a mansion in the woods where she encounters the reclusive Madeline Alger and her mysterious library. As Alice struggles to write a story for Madeline, her most challenging assignment yet, she’s forced to confront her own guarded heart. Because maybe—just maybe—there’s a love story waiting to be written for her, too.

Emotional, deeply imaginative and brimming with valuable life lessons, The Love Scribe explores love, fate and the power of stories when we choose to believe in them. [Goodreads Summary]

Imagine NaNoWriMo but thriller style! 

The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz

(Atria/Emily Bestler Books; February 21, 2023)

The Plot meets Please Join Us in this psychological suspense debut about a young author at an exclusive writer’s retreat that descends into a nightmare.

Alex has all but given up on her dreams of becoming a published author when she receives a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: attend an exclusive, month-long writing retreat at the estate of feminist horror writer Roza Vallo. Even the knowledge that Wren, her former best friend and current rival, is attending doesn’t dampen her excitement.

But when the attendees arrive, Roza drops a bombshell—they must all complete an entire novel from scratch during the next month, and the author of the best one will receive a life-changing seven-figure publishing deal. Determined to win this seemingly impossible contest, Alex buckles down and tries to ignore the strange happenings at the estate, including Roza’s erratic behavior, Wren’s cruel mind games, and the alleged haunting of the mansion itself. But when one of the writers vanishes during a snowstorm, Alex realizes that something very sinister is afoot. With the clock running out, she’s desperate to discover the truth and save herself.

A claustrophobic and propulsive thriller exploring the dark side of friendships and fame, The Writing Retreat is the unputdownable debut novel from a compelling new talent. 

[Goodreads Summary]

In a time when so many families and friends are divided by politics and beliefs, this novel sounds especially poignant. 

When the Moon Turns Blue by Pamela Terry

(Ballantine Books; February 21, 2023)  

One woman fights to hold on to her friends, her family, and all that she holds dear as the battle over a Confederate statue divides her small-town Georgia community in this powerful novel from the author of The Sweet Taste of Muscadines.

On the morning after Harry Cline’s funeral, a rare ice storm hits the town of Wesleyan, Georgia. The community wakes up to find its controversial statue of Confederate general Henry Benning destroyed—and not by the weather. Half the town had wanted to remove the statue; the other half wanted to celebrate it. Now that the matter has been taken out of their hands, the town’s long-simmering tensions are laid bare.

This conflict is especially personal to Harry’s widow, Marietta, who’s never been a fan of the statue. Her brother, Macon, the top defense attorney in the Southeast, is representing Old Man Griffin, the owner of the park where the statue stood. Despite Marietta’s pleas to let the matter rest, Macon is determined to find those responsible for the damage and protect the Griffin legacy—and he’s far from the only person Marietta stands to lose over a statue. Without Harry beside her, Marietta longs to salvage those connections, but the world is changing, and the divide can no longer be ignored.

With a cast of poignant, relatable characters, When the Moon Turns Blue is a compassionate and timely novel about family, friendship, and what can happen when we discover that we don’t particularly like the people we love. [Goodreads Summary]

Do any 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!

This particular book found a home on my TBR shelf in 2013 after rave reviews from fellow booklovers. And there it has long sat since then. I must have been interested in reading it at some point--why else would I purchase a copy? Though, reading the synopsis, I find myself wondering what it was that drew the book to me in the first place.

Wolf Hall (Thomas Cromwell #1) by Hillary Mandel (2009)

Tudor England. Henry VIII is on the throne, but has no heir. Cardinal Wolsey is charged with securing his divorce. Into this atmosphere of distrust comes Thomas Cromwell - a man as ruthlessly ambitious in his wider politics as he is for himself.

His reforming agenda is carried out in the grip of a self-interested parliament and a king who fluctuates between romantic passions and murderous rages.

Have you read it? Do you think I should give it a go or add it to my donation pile?

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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.

Top Ten Tuesday: My Favorite Covers of 2022 (of books I read)

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the lovely Jana at The Artsy Reader Girl.

This week's Top Ten Tuesday topic is a freebie and I thought I would take advantage of the opportunity to share my Top Ten Favorite Covers of Books I Read in 2022.  While a cover generally will not be the sole reason I read a book, it often can be the reason I take a closer look to see if it is a book I want to read. This past year actually was underwhelming for me in terms of cover art that stood out of the books I read, but here are my top ten favorites. These particularly caught my eye either because of the design, colors, simplicity, or detail. 

Marion Lane and the Deadly Rose (#2)  by T.A. Willberg

A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons (#1) by Kate Khavari

The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Dare

Dead Silence by S.A. Barnes 

Amari and the Night Brothers (#1) by B.B. Alston

Last night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo

The Book of Old Cases by Simone St. James

The Witch Haven (#1) by Sasha Peyton Smith

The Maid by Nita Prose

Bait and Witch (Witch Way Librarian #1) by Angela M. Sanders

What were some of your favorite covers of books you read in 2022? 

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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: Georgie, All Along / Vampire Weekend/ VenCo / Speaker of the Lost

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 love to lose myself in stories like this--rediscovering oneself and finding love. I cannot wait to read this one!

Georgie, All Along by Kate Clayborn 

(Kensington; January 31, 2023)

In this heartfelt tale of one woman’s quest to reinvent herself, the acclaimed author of Love Lettering and Love at First delivers a poignant, witty reflection on how the hopes, dreams, and stories from our past shape our future . . .

Longtime personal assistant Georgie Mulcahy has made a career out of putting others before herself. When an unexpected upheaval sends her away from her hectic job in L.A. and back to her hometown, Georgie must confront an uncomfortable truth: her own wants and needs have always been a disconcertingly blank page.

But then Georgie comes across a forgotten artifact—a “friendfic” diary she wrote as a teenager, filled with possibilities she once imagined. To an overwhelmed Georgie, the diary’s simple, small-scale ideas are a lifeline—a guidebook for getting started on a new path.

Georgie’s plans hit a snag when she comes face to face with an unexpected roommate—Levi Fanning, onetime town troublemaker and current town hermit. But this quiet, grouchy man is more than just his reputation, and he offers to help Georgie with her quest. As the two make their way through her wishlist, Georgie begins to realize that what she truly wants might not be in the pages of her diary after all, but right by her side—if only they can both find a way to let go of the pasts that hold them back. 

Honest and deeply emotional, Georgie, All Along is a smart, tender must-read for everyone who’s ever wondered about the life that got away . . . [Goodreads Summary]

The author's name is enough to get my attention, but I am really curious about this vampire tale.

Vampire Weekend by Mike Chen 

(MIRA; January 31, 2023)

Being a vampire is far from glamorous...but it can be pretty punk rock.

Everything you've heard about vampires is a lie. They can't fly. No murders allowed (the community hates that). And turning into a bat? Completely ridiculous. In fact, vampire life is really just a lot of blood bags and night jobs. For Louise Chao, it's also lonely, since she swore off family ages ago.

At least she's gone to decades of punk rock shows. And if she can join a band of her own (while keeping her...situation under wraps), maybe she'll finally feel like she belongs, too.

Then a long-lost teenage relative shows up at her door. Whether it's Ian's love of music or his bad attitude, for the first time in ages, Louise feels a connection.

But as Ian uncovers Louise's true identity, things get dangerous--especially when he asks her for the ultimate favor. One that goes beyond just family...one that might just change everything vampires know about life and death forever. [Goodreads Summary]

Everything about this book book screams, "Read me!" 

VenCo by Cherie Dimaline

(William Morrow; February 7, 2023)

For fans of The Once and Future Witches and Practical Magic, comes an incredibly imaginative, highly anticipated new novel featuring witches, magic, and a road trip across America—from Cherie Dimaline, the critically acclaimed author of Empire of Wild.

Lucky St. James, a Métis millennial living with her cantankerous but loving grandmother Stella, is barely hanging on when she discovers she will be evicted from their tiny Toronto apartment. Then, one night, something strange and irresistible calls out to Lucky. Burrowing through a wall, she finds a silver spoon etched with a crooked-nosed witch and the word SALEM, humming with otherworldly energy.

Hundreds of miles away in Salem, Myrna Good has been looking for Lucky. Myrna works for VenCo, a front company fueled by vast resources of dark money.

Lucky is familiar with the magic of her indigenous ancestors, but she has no idea that the spoon links her to VenCo’s network of witches throughout North America. Generations of witches have been waiting for centuries for the seven spoons to come together, igniting a new era, and restoring women to their rightful power.

But as reckoning approaches, a very powerful adversary is stalking their every move. He’s Jay Christos, a roguish and deadly witch-hunter as old as witchcraft itself.

To find the last spoon, Lucky and Stella embark on a rollicking and dangerous road trip to the darkly magical city of New Orleans, where the final showdown will determine whether VenCo will usher in a new beginning…or remain underground forever. [Goodreads Summary]

Do any 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!

This found its way to my TBR shelf five years ago. The lure of an FBI Paranormal Squad was irresistible. It still is. Unfortunately, this one got lost amongst my other e-books (that ol' hidden library curse again). 

Speaker of the Lost (Lark Nation #1) by Clara Coulson (2017)

In a sleepy town in coastal Maine, a dangerous storm is brewing…

Stella Newport is the new kid on the block in the FBI’s Paranormal Squad. With three training missions left to ace and enough drive to nail them blindfolded, she’s well on her way to securing her place among the ranks of the elite agents known as “Larks.”

And then…Aurora, Michigan.

After magic practitioners brazenly destroy a massive convention center, supernatural crime rates surge across the United States. With the regional paranormal crime-fighting group—DSI—overtaxed, and the Paranormal Squad woefully short on manpower, Stella is pulled out of training early and shoved on a plane to a small New England town.

Her mission? To assist the infamously moody Oswald Bolton, known as the “Great and Terrible Oz,” with a complex murder investigation.

In the town of Bismuth, Maine, an ancient creature has come calling, and it’s up to Stella and Oz to unravel the myriad secrets of a tight-knit (and tight-lipped) community…before another head goes rolling and another body falls. [Goodreads Summary]

Have you read Speaker of Lost?  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.

Top Ten Tuesday: My Top Ten New-to-Me Authors I Discovered in 2022

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the lovely Jana at The Artsy Reader Girl.

This week's Top Ten Tuesday topic is my Top Ten Fourteen New-to-Me Authors I Discovered in 2022 and will definitely be reading more of! 

Angela M. Sanders

B.B. Alston

S.A. Barnes

Kate Khavari

Celeste Martin

India Holton

Cherie Priest

Peng Shepherd

Sangu Mandanna

Abi Daré

Lyssa Kay Adams

Bianca Marias

Jesse Q. Sutanto

Shauna Robinson

Have you read anything by these authors? What did you think? What new-to-you authors did you discover in 2022?

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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.