Can't Wait Wednesday: Come Shell or High Water/ The Lions' Den / A Daughter of Fair Verona / Club Monstrosity

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.

Here are three upcoming releases that caught my attention and immediately ended up on my wish list I am looking forward to reading all of them. 

Come Shell or High Water (A Haunted Shell Shop Mystery, #1) by Molly MacRae
Release Date: June 25, 2024 by Kensington Cozies

When widowed folklorist Maureen Nash visits a legendary North Carolina barrier island shell shop, she discovers its resident ghost pirate and the mystery of a local’s untimely death . . .

As a professional storyteller, Maureen Nash can’t help but see the narrative cues woven through her life. Like the series of letters addressed to her late husband from a stranger—the proprietor of The Moon Shell, a shop on Ocracoke Island, off the coast of North Carolina. The store is famous with shell collectors, but it’s the cryptic letters from Allen Withrow, the shop’s owner, that convince Maureen to travel to the small coastal town in the middle of hurricane season. At the very least, she expects she’ll get a good story out of the experience, never anticipating it could end up a murder mystery . . .

In Maureen’s first hours on the storm-lashed island, she averts several life-threatening accidents, stumbles over the body of a controversial Ocracoke local, and meets the ghost of an eighteenth-century Welsh pirate, Emrys Lloyd. To the untrained eye, all these unusual occurrences would seem to be random misfortunes, but Maureen senses there may be something connecting these stories. With Emrys’s supernatural assistance, and the support of a few new friends, Maureen sets out unravel the truth, find a killer, and hopefully give this tale a satisfying ending . . . while also rewriting her own. [Goodreads Summary]

The Lions' Den by Iris Mwanza
Release Date: June 25, 2024 by Graydon House

A missing boy. A corrupt system. A case that could change everything…

When young queer dancer Wilbess “Bessy” Mulenga is arrested by corrupt police, fresh-from-the-village rookie lawyer Grace Zulu takes up his cause in her first pro bono case. Presented with a freshly beaten client, Grace protests to the police and gets barred from accessing Bessy, who then disappears from the system—and the world—without a trace. As she fights for justice for Bessy, Grace must navigate a dangerous world of corrupt politicians, traditional beliefs, and deep-seated homophobia.

With the help of a former freedom fighter and the head of her law firm, who’s rallying for one last fight as AIDS takes its toll on him, Grace brings together a coalition of unions, students, and political opposition to take on the corrupt administration of President Kaunda. But will justice prevail in the face of such overwhelming odds?

The Lions' Den is a gripping and enduring novel that will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. With unforgettable characters and a thrilling plot, Iris Mwanza has announced herself as a major new talent in fiction. [Goodreads Summary]

A Daughter of Fair Verona by Christina Dodd
Release Date: June 25, 2024 by A John Scognamiglio Book

Knives Out meets Bridgerton in Fair Verona, as New York Times bestselling author Christina Dodd kicks off a frothy, irreverent, witty new series with an irresistible premise—Romeo and Juliet’s daughter as a clever, rebellious, fiercely independent young woman in fair Verona—told from the delightfully engaging point of view of the captivating Rosie Montague herself…

Once upon a time a young couple met and fell in love. You probably know that story, and how it ended ( badly). Only here’s the That’s not how it ended at all.

Romeo and Juliet are alive and well and the parents of seven kids. I’m the oldest, with the emphasis on ‘old’—a certified spinster at twenty, and happy to stay that way. It’s not easy to keep your taste for romance with parents like mine. Picture it—constant monologues, passionate declarations, fighting, making up, making out . . . it’s exhausting.

Each time they’ve presented me with a betrothal, I’ve set out to find the groom-to-be a more suitable bride. After all, someone sensible needs to stay home and manage this household. But their latest match, Duke Stephano, isn’t so easy to palm off on anyone else. The debaucher has had three previous wives—all of whom met unfortunate ends. Conscience forbids me from consigning another woman to that fate. As it turns out, I don’t have to . . .

At our betrothal ball—where, quite by accident, I meet a beautiful young man who makes me wonder if perhaps there is something to love at first sight—I stumble upon Duke Stephano with a dagger in his chest. But who killed him? His late wives’ families, his relatives, his mistress, his servants—half of Verona had motive. And when everyone around the Duke begins dying, disappearing, or descending into madness, I know I must uncover the killer . . . before death lies on me like an untimely frost. [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!

These past few months I have been featuring books on the losing end of my TBR List Poll, all books which are on my TBR shelves. This one was one of the options in my August 2016 poll that I have not managed to go to yet.

Club Monstrosity (Monstrosity #1) by Jesse Petersen
(Pocket Star, 2013)

Natalie’s one of Frankenstein’s creations and works in a New York City morgue. So of course she needs therapy. She and her friends—er, fellow monsters—have formed the world’s most exclusive, most dysfunctional support group. What could go wrong?

Undetected in the modern world and under pressure to stay that way, Natalie Grey, Dracula, Bob the Blob, and others (including the fetching wolfman Alec) meet regularly to talk about the pressures of being infamous in the Big Apple. Topics include how long it’s been since their last sighting, how their “story” creates stereotypes they can’t fulfill, and—gasp—sometimes even their feelings. But when their pervy Invisible Man, Ellis, is killed in a manner reminiscent of the H.G. Wells novel, it’s clear someone’s discovered their existence and is down for some monster busting.

Led by Natalie—and definitely not helped by Hyde’s bloodthirsty tendencies—the members of Monstofelldosis Anonymous band together for security and a little sleuthing. And maybe—maybe—if they don’t end up dead, they’ll end up friends somewhere along the way. [Goodreads Summary]

Have you read Club Monstrosity?  Does this book sound like something you would like to read? 

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© 2024, 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: The Latest Buzz on the Bees & More Author Events This Week

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.  

The temperatures have warmed up this week, and it sounds like they will continue to rise as we officially head into the summer season. It was a busy week with work and the usual activities. We celebrated Anjin's birthday this past week. We had dinner out and cake at home afterward. My mom was able to join us. There was also a little karaoke late into the night with just Anjin, Mouse, and me (they stayed up even later than me--I could only keep my eyes open so long). I attended two book signings this past week, one with my mom and the other with Anjin and Mouse. That was fun!

The bees have finally been evicted.  Initially, the bee person tried to get to the hive by cutting through the outside wall under the vent the bees were going in and out of. Unfortunately, there was solid wood behind the stucco wall, and so he decided it might be easier to get to them from the inside. He ended up cutting a nice size hole in our kitchen ceiling. From what my husband could see of the hive, it was in about four or so sections, each about an inch thick, a foot and a half long and 8 inches wide. We are not sure if the bee person found more--I don't think my husband asked for the exact count. I did see a partial view photo after though. It's amazing the intricacy of a hive and the honeycombs, and to imagine those little bees putting that all together on their own. I cannot tell you what a relief it is to have the bees out finally.

Nina an Gracie are waiting for their evening treats

Nina and Gracie will sometimes allow Gracie to groom her head,

just one or two licks,

and then it's a battle of the paws to see who will win the round this time. 

What have you been up to this week? 

This week I finished reading The Kiss Countdown by Etta Easton, which was a delightful contemporary romance. 

I am currently reading The Keeper by Guadalupe Garcia McCall, which Mouse recommended I read. She read it about a year ago, and it's one of her favorites. She's promised to let her grandmother read it next. I also recently started Locked in Pursuit (Electra McDonnell #4) by Ashley Weaver. It's the latest in one of my favorite historical mystery series set during World War II. I have my bookmark in Daphne Du Maurier's Don't Look Now & Other Stories, which I am enjoying as well. du Maurier definitely had a gift for writing disturbing tales! 

Next up, will be my TBR List Poll winner! Murder Road by Simon St. James won with an overwhelming 13 votes, followed by An Inheritance of Magic by Benedict Jacka with 8 votes. The Berlin Letters by Katherine Reay came in third place with 4 votes. I can't wait to start reading Murder Road! 

Thank you again to all who voted!

My TBR List is hosted by Michelle at Because Reading. The 1st Saturday of every month, I will list 3 books from my TBR pile 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 my shelves:

My mom and I attended an author event for Trisha R. Thomas at our local indie bookstore this past week. I had read an e-copy of her historical fiction novel, The Secret Keeper of Main Street,  last month, but wanted to get a print copy for my personal library. Trisha Thomas shared with the audience her inspiration for her main character, Bailey, and about her own experiences as a seamstress, She and her character both found themselves in some interesting situations! She also talked a little about her ties to Oklahoma, the setting of the novel, including the long drives from California to Oklahoma to visit family and then back again every summer while she was growing up. She and her family were afraid to stop along the way due to the color of their skin and the rampant racism during that time. They would stop along the road when they needed to grab a gas can from the trunk to fill up the car and continue on their way. She shared a little about the three main female characters in her novel, reading passages from her book. It was a pleasure to meet and talk with the author afterwards. I am so glad my mom and I got the opportunity to go!

Then tonight, my husband, Mouse, and I attended an author event for Gary Phillips at the same indie bookstore. Anjin and I had heard him speak in our pre-Mouse days at the L.A. Times Festival of Books and are familiar with some of his work. Although he was there to talk about his latest historical crime fiction novel, Ash Dark as Night, the second in his Harry Ingram, news photographer series, he gave the audience background about his inspiration for his characters as well as the time period in both the first (One-Shot Harry) and second book. He also shared his plans for the third installment, which was exciting! I enjoyed hearing Gary Phillips talk about his father, and the influence his father had on the character of Harry. Although his dad was a World War II veteran and Harry is a Korean War veteran, the two have quite a bit in common. The author talked about his research, and the challenge of whittling 40 pages of research into two paragraphs, and about his experience writing graphic novels. I wasn't sure if Mouse would be all that interested in what he had to say, but she found it interesting too. A few of the people in the audience had read the first book in the series, One-Shot Harry, last year and voted it  as their favorite crime fiction novel of the year. They had a lot of good questions and comments. It was an honor to meet and talk with Mr. Phillips. My husband, Mouse, and I were all happy we were able to go. 

 

A couple other books I couldn't resist while we were at the bookstore: 

Mirrored Heavens (Between Earth & Sky, #3) by Rebecca Roanhorse

The Great Divide by Cristina Henriquez (thanks for the recommendation, Anne!)

Have you read any of these books or authors? If so, what did you think? 

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

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© 2024, 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: A Peek Into The Keeper and 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.

The darkness comes upon us quickly, I just know it's a sign. [opening of The Keeper]

This sounds ominous!

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, and Anne of My Head is Full of Books  has stepped in to host! 

I blink and stare at the letter that trembles in my unsteady hand. 

Youngblood! Long line of Guardians! The Keeper! 

Every word, every  phrase, every sentence spelled out in that strange letter sends a chill down my spine, and for a moment I can't breathe. I close my eyes, and when I open them I read the letter again. Only this time, other words jump out at me, spitting their poison at my eyes like cobras. 

Do you belong? Are you worthy? I'm watching you! 

Watching? 

Me? 

Why?  [excerpt from page 51-52 of The Keeper]  

I have so many questions! I am sure 12 year old James does too. What does the letter mean? Who is it from? Why are they watching James? What do they want from him?  

One of my goals this year is to read books my daughter recommends to me. She's been hesitant to do so because she is afraid I won't like her choices, and so it was a surprise when, out of the blue, she pulled The Keeper off the bookshelf and told me I needed to read it. She said it is one of the scariest books she has read, although assured me it wasn't too scary. Mouse read it about a year ago and it is one of her favorite books. Of course I didn't hesitate to start reading!

The Keeper by Guadalupe Garcia McCall

Inspired by the true story of the "Westfield Watcher.”

The first letter turns up on his desk. The second is stuck between the spokes of his bike. The third flies through the kitchen window.

And they are all addressed to James from someone called the Keeper.

Moving from Texas to Oregon was a bad idea. No sooner have James and his family arrived in their “perfect” new town than he starts getting mysterious and sinister letters from someone called the Keeper. Someone who claims to be watching him. Someone who is looking for “young blood.” James and his sister, Ava, are obviously in danger. But the problem with making a fuss about moving and having a history of playing practical jokes is that no one believes James—not even his parents.

Now James and Ava need to figure out who is sending the letters before they become the next victims in their neighborhood’s long history of missing children. Because one thing is clear: uncovering the truth about the Keeper is the only thing that will keep them alive. [Goodreads Summary]

Does this sound like something you would enjoy? If you have read it, 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 hosted by Linda Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell and Jen from That’s What I’m Talking About. Join in by answering this week's question in the comments or on your own blog.

What outdoor activities do you like to do in the spring/summer?

I am not much of an outdoor person, but I do enjoy taking walks and sitting on my patio to read when the weather is nice. I missed out on going to the L.A. Times Festival of Books this year, but I love browsing the outdoor booths and meeting authors when I am able. In the summer, I like to go camping (more like glamping) in the mountains in the summer when we can get away from work. Mostly in the summer, I like too stay indoors with the air conditioner on. Summers here can get hot.  

What outdoor activities do you like to do in the spring and summer? 

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.

Summer often means more time for reading. Do you have a list of books you're eager to start reading during June's warm days? (submitted by Billy @ Coffee Addicted Writer) 

While my daughter gets the summer off, I do not, and so there really isn't an increase in my reading time this time of year--or with any of the seasons in particular. My reading time is more dependent on what activities we have going on. I am terrible at making and sticking to reading lists, as much as I enjoy making them. I think of them more as possibilities than a check list to get through. The only exception is committing to read the winner of my monthly TBR List poll. If you want to help me select the next book I read for this month, please vote in my TBR List Poll, which closes this weekend.

Last week, I posted some of the books I am considering reading this summer. Here are a few more that didn't make that list, but perhaps I will pick one or two up before the month is out: 

Welcome to Demon School! Iruma Kun, Vol. 1  by Osamu Nishi

The Ballad of Jacquotte Delahaye  by Briony Cameron

A Plague of Mercies A Plague of Mercies by Adam Pelzman

The Framed Women of Ardemore by Brandy Schillace

The Untold Story  (Invisible Library #8) by Genevieve Cogman

There would have been more but I remembered the question specified June. 

Have you read any of these books? If so, what did you think? Do any of them appeal to you? What books are you looking forward to reading this month whether you are trying to keep warm this winter in the Southern Hemisphere or cool this summer in the Northern half?

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

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© 2024 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 Wednesday: The Paris Widow / The Forgotten Names / Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books / Code Black

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.

Here are three upcoming releases that caught my attention and immediately ended up on my wish list I am looking forward to reading all of them. 

The Paris Widow by Kimberly Belle
Release Date: June 11, 2024 by Park Row

A dream vacation turns deadly when secrets from the past catch up to a married couple in Paris in this new edge-of-your-seat thriller from USA Today bestselling author, Kimberly Belle.

When Stella met Adam, she thought she had finally found a nice, normal guy—a welcome change from her previous boyfriend and her precarious jetsetter lifestyle with him. But her secure world comes crashing down when Adam goes missing after an explosion in the city square. Unable to reach him, she panics.

As the French police investigate, it’s revealed that Adam was on their radar as a dealer of rare and stolen antiquities with a long roster of criminal clients. Reeling from this news, Stella is determined not to leave Paris until she has the full story. Was Adam a random victim or the target of the explosion? And why is someone following her through the streets of Paris?

An irresistible, fast-paced read set in some of Europe’s most inviting locales, The Paris Widow explores how sinister secrets of the past stay with us—no matter how far we travel.[Goodreads Summary]

The Forgotten Names by Mario Escobar
Release Date: June 11, 2024 by Harper Muse

Based on the true story of one ordinary woman who risked everything to reunite Jewish children with the true names they hadn't even realized they'd lost.

France, 1992. Law student Valérie Portheret is in the middle of researching her thesis on the Klaus Barbie trials when she stumbles across an unexplained list of 108 names. Curious, she investigates further and discovers that the list contains the names of Jewish children who were smuggled out from under the Nazi regime during WWII by receiving new names, new lives, and hiding in plain sight by "boarding" in homes like the Chateau de Peyrins. While visiting the Chateau, the son-in-law of the original owner shows Valérie the meticulous hidden records of the children who found safety behind the castle's walls. She finds it difficult to distinguish between the names of the legitimate French children who boarded and the changed names of the Jewish children, but Valérie resolves to locate each of the original children--who are now adults--in order to hear their stories and shed light on their true origins.

Facing escalating opposition from people who would prefer to forget the Holocaust ever happened or even deny it outright, Valérie embarks on a twenty-five-year quest to right the extreme wrongs of history and reunite individuals with their birthright heritages.

The Forgotten Names reminds the world of the impact that one person can have in the face of overwhelming odds. [Goodreads Summary]

Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books by Kirsten Miller
Release Date: June 18, 2024 by William Morrow

The provocative and hilarious summer read that will have book lovers cheering and everyone talking! Kirsten Miller, author of The Change, brings us a bracing, wildly entertaining satire about a small Southern town, a pitched battle over banned books, and a little lending library that changes everything.

Beverly Underwood and her arch enemy, Lula Dean, live in the tiny town of Troy, Georgia, where they were born and raised. Now Beverly is on the school board, and Lula has become a local celebrity by embarking on mission to rid the public libraries of all inappropriate books—none of which she’s actually read. To replace the “pornographic” books she’s challenged at the local public library, Lula starts her own lending library in front of her home: a cute wooden hutch with glass doors and neat rows of the worthy literature that she’s sure the town’s readers need.

But Beverly’s daughter Lindsay sneaks in by night and secretly fills Lula Dean’s little free library with banned books wrapped in “wholesome” dust jackets. The Girl’s Guide to the Revolution is wrapped in the cover of The Southern Belle’s Guide to Etiquette. A jacket that belongs to Our Confederate Heroes ends up on Beloved. One by one, neighbors who borrow books from Lula Dean’s library find their lives changed in unexpected ways. Finally, one of Lula Dean’s enemies discovers the library and decides to turn the tables on her, just as Lula and Beverly are running against each other to replace the town’s disgraced mayor.

That’s when all the townspeople who’ve been borrowing from Lula’s library begin to reveal themselves. It’s a diverse and surprising bunch—including the local postman, the prom queen, housewives, a farmer, and the former DA—all of whom have been changed by what they’ve read. When Lindsay is forced to own up to what she’s done, the showdown that’s been brewing between Beverly and Lula will roil the whole town...and change it 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!

These past few months I have been featuring books on the losing end of my TBR List Poll, which includes all books on my TBR shelves. This one was one of the options in my July 2016 poll that I still haven't gotten to. Yet. 

Code Black (Paranormal Crimes Division #1) by Tina Moss 

(City Owl Press, 2015)

Heat Up the Night...Heed the Call.

Gossip mag reporter Sera Benenati knows a thing or two about unearthing secrets...and burying them. As an unregistered supernatural, her freedom depends on keeping her fire-wielding abilities contained. Yet, the threat of a little flame isn’t enough to snuff out her journalistic pursuits. She’s determined to claw her way to the top and land a spot with a real paper.

When she tracks a lead on a string of gruesome paranormal murders to the small town of Buckhorn, Arizona, she’s certain she’s landed the perfect scoop. But, as the crime scene reveals victims with bite marks, torn flesh, and battered bodies, Sera may have smoked out more than she can burn. As the investigation grows hot and Sera winds up in the crosshairs, she’ll need the help of a sexy shifter, special agent Talon Rede, to unmask the murderers before she becomes the next victim. [Goodreads Summary]

Have you read Code Black?  Does this book sound like something you would like to read? 

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© 2024, 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: School's Out / An Author Talk / Time To Choose My Next Book (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.  

Summer is here! Well, almost. Mouse's last day of school was this past week and she has sleeping in as much as possible on her agenda. So does my husband who gets her to school on time during the school year (his work day starts later than mine). Unfortunately, I still have to get up early. I am happy for them though. 

My mom invited me to attend a book talk with author Susan Straight earlier in the week. One of the many book clubs in my mom's neighborhood/community recently read her memoir, In the Country of Women, and she shared stories from her childhood and of the influential women in her life. Susan grew up locally, and although I didn't, many of the places she talked about are familiar and I enjoyed hearing more about the area's history. 

Another of the neighborhood book clubs recently read Susan's novel, Mecca, and although Susan was not there to talk about that book specifically, she did open up about the inspiration behind the novel and teased us with news of a sequel coming next year. I haven't read anything by Susan Straight, but after hearing her talk, I am very tempted to pick up one of her books! 

The bee dilemma continues . . . Someone is coming this next week to open up the wall to see if they can locate the bee hive. Fingers crossed they are able to find it and remove it without having to do too much damage. 

Somehow I hurt a muscle in my neck and it's been slow in healing. It's hard to rest a body part that I use without trying, and just when I think it's starting to feel better, I move in such a way that it reminds me it isn't completely better. 

In other news, my husband got us tickets to see the musical Hamilton this coming September for my birthday. I am so excited! 

Books Read in May

What a great reading month May was! I finished reading Menopause Manifesto at the start of the month. I was sad to come to the end of the Aunties trilogy with The Good, The Bad, and the Aunties by Sutanto, but it ended on a high note. It's such a fun series. Perfect for an escape. Yangsze Choo has earned a permanent spot on my favorite author's list with The Fox Wife, yet another amazing book she's written. Nosy Neighbors pulled at my heartstrings and Happily Never After fed my craving for romance. I picked up Octavia E. Butler's Kindred on a whim after finishing David Copperfield, hoping to stretch it out a little and read it before bed. I figured out quickly that Kindred is not bedtime reading material, the subject matter being too heavy. It also wasn't a book that could be stretched out--I had a hard time putting it down. The Secret Keeper of Main Street proved to be a satisfying historical novel with a dash of mystery and romance. I topped off the month with the graphic novel Ghost Roast (because I was still recovering from Kindred). I love a good ghost story!

• Kindred by Octavia E. Butler
• The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo
• David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
• Ghost Roast by Shawnee & Shawnelle Gibbs, illustrated by Emily Cannon
• The Menopause Manifesto by Jen Gunter
• Happily Never After by Lynn Painter
• Nosy Neighbors by Freya Sampson
• The Good, the Bad, and the Aunties (Aunties #3) by Jesse Q. Sutanto
• The Secret Keeper of Main Street by Trisha R. Thomas

My favorite and least favorite reads in May: While I found Menopause Manifesto informative and came away with some new insights, I was hoping for more. It falls in the "liked it" category but not the "loved it" one. Both Kindred and The Fox Wife were compelling, imaginative and moving reads that were rich in history and culture. Yet also very different from one another. I really do not want to have to choose between the two as to which was my favorite May read, so I won't. 

What was your favorite book read in May? Did you have a good reading month?

My bookmark is currently in Etta Easton's The Kiss Countdown, which I just started--and already loving. I also am reading my first Daphne du Maurier book,  Don't Look Now & Other Stories. I thought this would be a good way to sample her writing before diving into her full length novels. 

What are you reading right now?

My TBR List is hosted by Michelle at Because Reading. The 1st Saturday of every month, I will list 3 books from my TBR pile 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). 

Please help me select my next read! These three are all very different from one another, but all are high on my TBR. Which one do you think I should read next? 

An Inheritance of Magic (#1) by Benedict Jacka

The super-rich control everything—including magic—in this thrilling and brilliant, contemporary fantasy from the author of the Alex Verus novels.

The wealthy seem to exist in a different, glittering world from the rest of us. Almost as if by... magic.

Stephen Oakwood is a young man on the edge of this hidden world. He has talent and potential, but turning that potential into magical power takes money, opportunity, and training. All Stephen has is a minimum wage job and a cat.

But when a chance encounter with a member of House Ashford gets him noticed by the wrong people, Stephen is thrown in the deep end. For centuries, the vast corporations and aristocratic Houses of the magical world have grown impossibly rich and influential by hoarding their knowledge. To survive, Stephen will have to take his talent and build it up into something greater—for only then can he beat them at their own game. [Goodreads Summary]

The Berlin Letters by Katherine Reay

Near the end of the Cold War, a CIA code breaker discovers a symbol she recognizes from her childhood, which launches her across the world to the heart of Berlin just before the wall comes tumbling down.

November 1989 —After finding a secret cache of letters with intelligence buried in the text, CIA cryptographer Luisa Voekler learns that not only is her father alive but he is languishing in an East German Stasi jail. After piecing together the letters with a series of articles her grandfather saved, Luisa seeks out journalists Bran Bishop and Daniel Rudd. They send her to the CIA, to Andrew Cademan—her boss.

Luisa confronts Cademan and learns that nothing is a coincidence, but he will not help her free her father. So she takes matters into her own hands, empties her bank account, and flies to West Berlin. As the adrenaline wears off and she recognizes she has no idea how to proceed, Luisa is both relieved and surprised when a friend shows up with contacts and a rudimentary plan to sneak her across the wall.

Alternating storylines between Luisa and her father, The Berlin Letters shows the tumultuous early days of the wall, bringing Berlin, the epicenter of the Cold War, to life while also sharing one family’s journey through secrets, lies, and division to love, freedom, and reconciliation. [Goodreads Summary]

Murder Road by Simone St. James

A young couple find themselves haunted by a string of gruesome murders committed along an old deserted road in this terrifying new novel.

July 1995. April and Eddie have taken a wrong turn. They’re looking for the small resort town where they plan to spend their honeymoon. When they spot what appears to a lone hitchhiker along the deserted road, they stop to help. But not long after the hitchiker gets into their car, they see the blood seeping from her jacket and a truck barreling down Atticus Line after them.

When the hitchhiker dies at the local hospital, April and Eddie find themselves in the crosshairs of the Coldlake Falls police. Unexplained murders have been happening along Atticus Line for years and the cops finally have two witnesses who easily become their only suspects. As April and Eddie start to dig into the history of the town and that horrible stretch of road to clear their names, they soon learn that there is something supernatural at work, something that could not only tear the town and its dark secrets apart, but take April and Eddie down with it all. [Goodreads Summary]

Thank you for voting!

New to my shelves:

Bookstore gift cards make the best gifts, don't they? And I sure do love spending them! The first three of these are actually Mouse's, which she bought with gift cards she received for her birthday and Easter. The others were my recent gift card purchases. 

The Wolf's Curse by Jessica Vitalis

The Otherwoods by Justine Pucella Winans

The Mysterious Disappearance of Aidan S. by David Levithan

Hell Bent (Alex Stern #2) by Leigh Bardugo

Ninth House (Alex Stern #1) by Leigh Bardugo

Notorious Sorcerer (Burnished City #1) by Davinia Evans

The Briar Book of the Dead by A.G. Slatter

The City We Became (Great Cities #1) by N.K. Jemisin

Dreadful by Caitlin Rozakis

Have you read any of these books? If so, what did you think? 

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

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