Musings of a Bookish Kitty

Tuesday, September 08, 2020

Waiting to Read Wednesday: All She Was Worth / Mrs. Claus and the Santaland Slayings / Ties that Tether / A Pretty Deceit

The Old(er)

I have an embarrassing number of unread books sitting on the shelves in my personal library. Carole of Carole's Random Life in Books has given me the perfect excuse to spotlight and discuss those neglected books in her Books from the Backlog feature. After all, even those older books need a bit of love! Not to mention it is reminding me what great books I have waiting for me under my own roof still to read!

All She Was Worth by Miyuki Miyabe, translated by Alfred Birnbaum (1992)

Here is a deftly written thriller that is also a "deep and moody" (NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW) journey through the dark side of Japan's consumer-crazed society. Ordinary people plunge into insurmountable personal debt and fall prey to dangerous webs of underground creditors-so dangerous, in fact, that murder may be the only way out. A beautiful young woman vanishes, and the detective quickly finds she was not whom she had claimed to be. Is she a victim, a killer, or both? In a country that tracks its citizens at every turn, how can two women claim the same identity and then disappear without a trace? [Goodreads Summary]

Why I want to read this: I won a copy of All She Was Worth in a blog contest in 2008. I had forgotten about this gem on my TBR shelf. It sounds complex and dark--and utterly intriguing.

Have you read All She Was Worth? Does this book sound like something you would like to read?

The New

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

Mrs. Claus and the Santaland Slayings by Liz Ireland

Release Date: September 29, 2020 by Kensington

It's the first Christmas in Santaland for April Claus--but it may also be her last unless she can uncover a villain with a killer Christmas wish. . . .

Love is full of surprises--though few compare to realizing that you're marrying the real-life Santa. April Claus dearly loves her new husband, Nick, but adjusting to life in the North Pole is not all sugarplums and candy canes. Especially when a cantankerous elf named Giblet Hollyberry is killed--felled by a black widow spider in his stocking--shortly after publicly arguing with Nick.

Christmastown is hardly a hotbed of crime, aside from mishaps caused by too much eggnog, but April disagrees with Constable Crinkle's verdict of accidental death. As April sets out to find the culprit, it'll mean putting the future of Christmas on the line--and hoping her own name isn't on a lethal naughty list . . . [Goodreads Summary]

Why I want to read this: All the holiday-themed books are hitting the shelves soon, and how could I resist a mystery featuring the real Santa and Mrs. Claus?

Ties that Tether by Jane Igharo

Release Date: September 29, 2020 by Berkley

When a Nigerian woman falls for a man she knows will break her mother’s heart, she must choose between love and her family.

At twelve years old, Azere promised her dying father she would marry a Nigerian man and preserve her culture even after emigrating to Canada. Her mother has been vigilant about helping--forcing--her to stay well within the Nigerian dating pool ever since. But when another match-made-by-mom goes wrong, Azere ends up at a bar, enjoying the company and later sharing the bed of Rafael Castellano, a man who is tall, handsome, and white.

When their one-night stand unexpectedly evolves into something serious, Azere is caught between her growing feelings for Rafael and the compulsive need to please her mother who will never accept a relationship that threatens to dilute Azere's Nigerian heritage.

Azere can't help wondering if loving Rafael makes her any less of a Nigerian. Can she be with him without compromising her identity? The answer will either cause Azere to be audacious and fight for her happiness or continue as the compliant daughter. [Goodreads Summary]

Why I want to read this: When it comes to choosing between love and family, things aren't as simple as we might hope--there are many complications that can come into play. I look forward to taking this journey with Azere, and seeing how she navigates this dilemma.

A Pretty Deceit (Verity Kent, #4) by Anna Lee Huber

Release Date: September 29, 2020

In the aftermath of the Great War, the line between friend and foe may be hard to discern, even for indomitable former Secret Service agent Verity Kent, in award-winning author Anna Lee Huber’s thrilling mystery series.

Peacetime has brought little respite for Verity Kent. Intrigue still abounds, even within her own family. As a favor to her father, Verity agrees to visit his sister in Wiltshire. Her once prosperous aunt has fallen on difficult times and is considering selling their estate. But there are strange goings-on at the manor, including missing servants, possible heirloom forgeries, and suspicious rumors—all leading to the discovery of a dead body on the grounds.

While Verity and her husband, Sidney, investigate this new mystery, they are also on the trail of an old adversary—the shadowy and lethal Lord Ardmore. At every turn, the suspected traitor seems to be one step ahead of them. And even when their dear friend Max, the Earl of Ryde, stumbles upon a code hidden among his late father’s effects that may reveal the truth about Ardmore, Verity wonders if they are really the hunters—or the hunted . . . [Goodreads Summary]

Why I want to read this: I am behind on this series, but when I saw this title pop up as a coming release, I knew I would want to read it. I do love a good historical mystery, and I am a big fan of Verity's.

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

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Sunday, September 06, 2020

My Bookish Mewsings: An Easy Death / A Longer Fall / Stars Beyond

In the morning I got Chrissie to cut off all my hair. ~ Opening of An Easy Death

An Easy Death (Gunnie Rose, #1) by Charlaine Harris

Gallery/Saga, 22018

Fantasy/Alternate History; 321 pgs

Source: Purchased

There was no question I would read Charlaine Harris’s Gunnie Rose series when the first book came out, having read and enjoyed some of the author’s previous work. I eagerly dived into An Easy Death and followed it up not long after with A Longer Fall, the second book in the series. The series is set in the Southwest with an alternate history timeline. The Great Depression and the assassination of Franklin Roosevelt resulted in a fractured the United States that broke off into several different countries.

In An Easy Death, Gunslinger Lizbeth Rose is hired as guide and protection by two wizards searching for a man they believe can save the life of their tsar—or at least his blood can. Lizbeth Rose does not trust anyone who can wield magic, but she is desperate for work and money. High in action and lots of magic with a bit of romance, I was immediately drawn into the novel. Gunnie Rose may be a bit rough around the edges, but she’s sharp and thinks quickly on her feet. I liked her right away. The author’s world building is top-notch. It has a definite Old West vibe to it with a mix of the modern. Loving all things magic, I was especially interested in Eli and Paulina, the two wizards who had hired Gunnie Rose. Both were interesting characters in their own rights. Will I read the next book in the series? Absolutely!

It had been a long time since I was on a train, and I found I hadn't missed it a bit. ~ Opening of A Longer Fall

A Longer Fall (Gunnie Rose, #2) by Charlaine Harris

Gallery/Saga, 2020

Fantasy/Alternate History; 304 pgs

Source: NetGalley for an honest review

Lizbeth Rose is hired to be part of a new crew in A Longer Fall with a mission to protect a crate as it is transported into the state of Dixie, once a part of the United States—and the last place Gunnie Rose wants to go. Of course, everything goes wrong on the mission when the crate is stolen, and Gunnie Rose teams up with an old friend to attempt to retrieve it. A Longer Fall has a slightly different feel to it than the first book in the series. This second book is set almost entirely in Dixie. Dixie has a different set of rules than Gunnie Rose is used to. White supremacy runs rampant, and there is a definite hierarchy in terms of race and gender. Jim Crow Laws evidently still apply. I did cringe near the end. White Savior-ism rears its ugly head, which is my only complaint about the novel. Although I ultimately liked An Easy Death more, A Longer Fall was quite the page turner, and I enjoyed it overall. There was plenty of action and magic with bit of romance. The world building continues to be superb.

It might have been coincidence--the chairman of Eaglehawk Company standing in the foyer of the Grande Hotel, watching the news vid on the three-floor-high screen--but Leonard Wickmore didn't believe in coincidence. ~ Opening of Stars Beyond

Stars Beyond (Stars Uncharted, #2) by S.K. Dunstall

Ace, 2020

Science Fiction; 416 pgs

Source: NetGalley for an honest review

I fell in love with the the first book, Stars Uncharted, and the world building, and eagerly dove into Stars Beyond, which takes us deeper into the world sister-writing team S.K. Dunstall has created. The reader steps right back into the lives of the Another Road crew, who have barely escaped with their lives in the previous novel. In a new and better armed spaceship, the crew is still on the run from the corrupt Department of Justice agents and the company men tracking them. Captain Roystan's memory is shot and his health is deteriorating. Genemodder Nika must get that new genenod machine she's ordered, not mention find more of the transurides, if she hopes to save him. It seems simple enough. Until it isn't. A company general is bent on getting his hands on genemod apprentice Bertram Snowshoe; the evil and cruel company man Wickmore will stop at nothing to get his hands on Nika; and Agent McAlister is after Nika too, but for his own desperate reasons.

High in tension and suspense, Stars Beyond does not disappoint. Nika Rik Terri and Josune continue to be my favorite characters in the series, both resourceful and skilled in their crafts. I would not have minded more Josune in the novel though. I continue to be impressed with S.K. Dunstall's world building and the complexity and nuances of the world and characters they have created.

Friday, September 04, 2020

Weekly Mews: August Wrap Up & A Witchy TBR List Poll (Please Vote!)

I am linking up to the Sunday Post hosted by Kim of Caffeinated Book Reviewer, 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 The Sunday Salon hosted by Deb Nance of Readerbuzz where participants discuss what they are reading and other bookish topics. I am linking up to Nicole of Feed Your Addiction's Monthly Wrap-Up Post, where any book bloggers who write monthly wrap-up posts can link up and visit other bloggers to see what they have been reading. I am linking to Stacking the Shelves hosted by Team Tynga's Reviews and Marlene of Reading Reality a meme in which participants share what new books came their way recently.

New to the Shelves:

Irresistible e-book sales . . .

The Clockwork Scarab (Stoker & Holmes #1) by Colleen Gleason

Mortal Arts (Lady Darby Mystery, #2) by Anna Lee Huber

Something Read, Something Dead (Lighthouse Library Mystery #5) by Eva Gates

Read and Buried (Lighthouse Library Mystery #6) by Eva Gates

Murders and Metaphors (A Magical Bookshop Mystery #3) by Amanda Flower

What I Am Reading: I am nearly finished with In My Attic by Lina Hansen, a quirky and fun paranormal cozy mystery, and am thinking I may dive into Don't Hex and Drive by Juliette Cross next. On my nightstand is A Good Cry: What We Learn From Tears and Laughter by Nikki Giovanni, a book of poetry, that I started reading recently.

What I Am Watching: My husband and I are working our way through the fourth season of Lucifer. It's completely unbelievable, but utterly entertaining and a nice escape. We are continuing to watch the Star Wars movies. We re-watched Han Solo and Rogue One. Han Solo gets a lot of flack, but taken on its own, it's actually a fun movie. I really like Rogue One. I think it's the third time I have seen it. We also enjoyed seeing the original Star Wars movies, A New Hope, Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi, most recently. My favorite of the Star Wars movies have always been Star Wars: A New Hope, and I love how all the other movies support and play into that original film in some way.

I recently dived back into The Originals, a vampire spin off of Vampire Diaries. I find The Originals less romantic (?) and more violent than its predecessor, but I am enjoying it. I never watched the show when it originally aired, other than the first couple of episodes.

Off the Blog: August was a month of transition as we eased out of summer break and into the new school year. It's hard to believe school has been underway for four weeks already! We are finding our new rhythm. Mouse is all signed up for the new dance season (she's taking fewer classes) and is taking a virtual music theater class through the L.A. School of Music. It's an eight week program. She attended a virtual choir camp through them the end of July, which she enjoyed.

Virtual school seems to be going well for us. It has its drawbacks, of course. But I cannot tell you how grateful I am given some of the horror stories I am hearing from friends and family--both on the parent and teacher side of things. We are all doing the best we can. Sometimes I catch snippets of the class and can hear the teacher's frustration at trying to keep all those students on task after he has had to repeat the same instructions again and again to make sure everyone has found their way to whatever program or app they are all using. Our district hasn't run into some of the hacking issues or outages that neighboring districts have had to deal with fortunately (knock on wood).

Mouse was not too thrilled about the video options the teacher offers for her Physical Education (P.E.) requirement, and so I offered to dance with her on her Just Dance game. It gets me up and moving too, which is a plus. We have been having fun with it--even if I am the most uncoordinated person you have ever seen trying to dance.

Work has picked up for me considerably, and I have been put on a new project along with my usual duties. My new staff person seems to be settling in well. We have two more new staff coming in within the next week or two, and I will be sitting in a couple of interviews for another addition this coming week. The higher ups are discussing what our new normal will be--what the work-from-home/in-office rotation will look like or if it will continue

Mouse was able to spend time with a couple of her closest friends one weekend this past month. Her dad and I have been so cautious these past five months and her two friends and their parents have been too. The girls had a blast together. Mouse and her two friends are all only children, and I am sure being able to be around other kids for even a short while must have been such a nice change from being stuck at home with just their parents for company. My husband and I enjoyed visiting with our friends in person too. We're back to isolating again for the time being, making sure everyone is healthy and stays that way.

Fire season is well underway throughout California, and as expected, it is a bad one. It's been devastating for the land, animals, and people impacted. The air is smoky just about everywhere you go. Twenty-twenty will go down as the year everyone wished they could forget . . .

On a lighter note:

My computer needed more personality. What's more fitting than a couple of cats?

My grandmother celebrated her 103rd birthday this past month. While I couldn't be there (she lives on the other side of the country), several family members who live closer to her were able to celebrate with her, the first time in months she's been allowed in-person visitors (she does have a mask which appears in other pictures, just not this one).

Mouse's ~~Summer~~ Fall Show Costumes for the Grease Musical and Le Corsaire Ballet. This year the shows will look a lot different with no stage or live audience--at least not in-person.

The cats. A rare photo of them together.

My husband brought home a can of Lysol Disinfecting Spray after a grocery run.

This is what happened next:

Here is what I finished reading in August:

Wolf Gone Bad (Stay a Spell, #1) by Juliette Cross
How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
Ink and Bone (Great Library, #1) by Rachel Caine
The Library of the Unwritten (Hell's Library, #1) by A.J. Hackwith
Checked Out for Murder (Haunted Library Mystery, #4) by Allison Brook

I did not spend much time blogging the beginning of August, with the exception of my weekend posts. I I took a much needed break the second half of the month; and, towards the end, I actually found time to work on some reviews, polishing up some I never posted, playing catch up with those I never got to, and prepping outlines for future posts. It's still a work in progress, but I feel a like my head is a little more into the game than it has been.

Reading wise, I still find myself straying too often from books, but I am loving what I am reading. Wolf Gone Wild was a fun and much needed escape. Ink and Bone was every bit as good as all of you said it would be. I got so much out of Kendi's How to Be an Antiracist. Oh, how I wish I could visit the Unwritten Books Wing in The Library of the Unwritten! And I enjoyed my time in Clover Ridge in Checked Out for Murder.

This Past August In Bookish Mews:

And In Case You Missed It This Week:

Tell me what you have been up to! What are you reading, listening to and watching? How was your August? Do you have anything planned for this month?

Thank you for helping me decide what book from my TBR collection I should read next:

My TBR List is a meme 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 take a poll as to which you think I should read. I will read the winner that month, and my review will follow (unfortunately, not likely in the same month, but eventually--that's all I can promise).

It is that time again! Break out those spooky reads and movies and join the Readers Imbibing Peril (R..I.P.) fun! Joining in is simple this year. Follow @PERILREADERS on Instagram and Twitter, post about what you are watching or reading using the hashtags #RIPXV and #PERILREADERS. Or if you want, share what you are reading on your blog. Are you participating in this year's R.I.P. XV?

This month I am going with a witch theme in honor of R.I.P. XV. Which one of these three books do you think I should read next?

Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw

Hocus Pocus and Practical Magic meets the Salem Witch trials in this haunting story about three sisters on a quest for revenge—and how love may be the only thing powerful enough to stop them.

Welcome to the cursed town of Sparrow…

Where, two centuries ago, three sisters were sentenced to death for witchery. Stones were tied to their ankles and they were drowned in the deep waters surrounding the town.

Now, for a brief time each summer, the sisters return, stealing the bodies of three weak-hearted girls so that they may seek their revenge, luring boys into the harbor and pulling them under.

Like many locals, seventeen-year-old Penny Talbot has accepted the fate of the town. But this year, on the eve of the sisters’ return, a boy named Bo Carter arrives; unaware of the danger he has just stumbled into.

Mistrust and lies spread quickly through the salty, rain-soaked streets. The townspeople turn against one another. Penny and Bo suspect each other of hiding secrets. And death comes swiftly to those who cannot resist the call of the sisters.

But only Penny sees what others cannot. And she will be forced to choose: save Bo, or save herself. [Goodreads Summary]

The Rules of Magic (Practical Magic Prequel) by Alice Hoffman

For the Owens family, love is a curse that began in 1620, when Maria Owens was charged with witchery for loving the wrong man.

Hundreds of years later, in New York City at the cusp of the sixties, when the whole world is about to change, Susanna Owens knows that her three children are dangerously unique. Difficult Franny, with skin as pale as milk and blood red hair, shy and beautiful Jet, who can read other people’s thoughts, and charismatic Vincent, who began looking for trouble on the day he could walk.

From the start Susanna sets down rules for her children: No walking in the moonlight, no red shoes, no wearing black, no cats, no crows, no candles, no books about magic. And most importantly, never, ever, fall in love. But when her children visit their Aunt Isabelle, in the small Massachusetts town where the Owens family has been blamed for everything that has ever gone wrong, they uncover family secrets and begin to understand the truth of who they are. Back in New York City each begins a risky journey as they try to escape the family curse.

The Owens children cannot escape love even if they try, just as they cannot escape the pains of the human heart. The two beautiful sisters will grow up to be the revered, and sometimes feared, aunts in Practical Magic, while Vincent, their beloved brother, will leave an unexpected legacy. [Goodreads Summary]

The Black Witch (The Black Witch Chronicles #1) by Laurie Forest

Elloren Gardner is the granddaughter of the last prophesied Black Witch, Carnissa Gardner, who drove back the enemy forces and saved the Gardnerian people during the Realm War. But while she is the absolute spitting image of her famous grandmother, Elloren is utterly devoid of power in a society that prizes magical ability above all else.

When she is granted the opportunity to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming an apothecary, Elloren joins her brothers at the prestigious Verpax University to embrace a destiny of her own, free from the shadow of her grandmother’s legacy. But she soon realizes that the university, which admits all manner of people—including the fire-wielding, winged Icarals, the sworn enemies of all Gardnerians—is a treacherous place for the granddaughter of the Black Witch.

As evil looms on the horizon and the pressure to live up to her heritage builds, everything Elloren thought she knew will be challenged and torn away. Her best hope of survival may be among the most unlikely band of rebels…if only she can find the courage to trust those she’s been taught to fear. [Goodreads Summary]

Thank you for voting! I hope you all have a wonderful week! Happy Reading!

Thursday, September 03, 2020

Where Is Your Bookmark? (Then & Now - A Peek into In My Attic)

With the fall season approaching, it seems like a good time to escape into a paranormal cozy mystery. In My Attic (A Magical Misfits Mystery, #1) by Lina Hansen fits the bill perfectly. I mean, witches!

Aunt Eve is dead - murdered - and Myrtle has inherited the Witch’s Retreat, a Bed and Breakfast in the idyllic British village of Avebury. As Myrtle bumbles along in search of a murderer, she uncovers secrets more shocking than death: a hidden magical relic, a coven of amateur witches, and modern witch hunters on the prowl.

In My Attic is a new take on the cozy mystery. Think trainee Miss Marple channelling the twenty-first century - with a paranormal twist. [Goodreads Summary]

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

My aunt lay dead and I was lost in her life. It came complete with auntie's beloved bed and breakfast fully booked and brimming with guests. Too bad, since I slung a mean tea bag but was a hopeless cook. Instead, I was a murderess. Well, okay, call it guilty of failing to render assistance, but it felt worse. [opening of In My Attic]

My thoughts: This opening paragraph definitely caught my attention. I like the narrative voice, and already have plenty of questions, including: How did her aunt die? Why does Myrtle feel responsible? What guilt does she carry?

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.

The answer lay at my feet, so to speak. One of the paper piles protruded farther into the room than the others, as if something behind it was pushing it out. [excerpt from 56% of In My Attic]

My thoughts: A promising lead if there ever was one! I wonder what Myrtle has found?

Have you read In My Attic? If so, what did you think? What are you reading right now?

A weekly meme in which readers look at what they were reading
last year at this time and compare it to what they are reading now.
Hosted by the great Maria from ReadingMaria.

I am trying something new this week by joining Maria over at ReadingMaria in looking back at what I was reading at this time last year. It is always fun to look back at my reading over the years and compare it to where I am today. I am doing it a bit differently than instructed in that I feature my current read above, and will share more about my past read here.

My reading has definitely been more escapist recently--anything to combat the depression and anxiety that is always hovering around these days. Paranormal cozy mysteries like Lina Hansen's In My Attic seem to be the perfect escape. I am finding In My Attic to be quirky and fun.

One book I do not think I could have taken had I read it now as opposed to then is the book I finished around this time last year, Kassandra Montag's After the Flood. In my review of the book, I referred to an article I had read around the time I read the book about the rising water levels, including an increase in flooding, in relation to climate change. I had this to say about it:

It makes novels like After the Flood all the more frightening. Such a seemingly worst case scenario and impossible idea does not seem all that far-fetched after all.

From where I sit in September 2020, I have to say there is not much I would find far-fetched now when it comes to these dystopian worlds we find in novels.

I really liked After the Flood, but it was a difficult and emotional read, the mother and daughter being in a seemingly hopeless situation. You can find my bookish thoughts here.

What was the last book you read this past year around this time? How does it compare to what you are reading today?

* * *

A glimpse into what I was reading 5 years ago:

The Demon's Librarian by Lilith Saintcrow

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

Tuesday, September 01, 2020

Waiting to Read Wednesday: I Do Not Come to You by Chance / Well Played / The Talented Miss Farwell / How to Fly

The Old(er)

I Do Not Come to You by Chance by Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani (2009)

A deeply moving debut novel set amid the perilous world of Nigerian email scams, I Do Not Come to You by Chance tells the story of one young man and the family who loves him.

Being the opara of the family, Kingsley Ibe is entitled to certain privileges--a piece of meat in his egusi soup, a party to celebrate his graduation from university. As first son, he has responsibilities, too. But times are bad in Nigeria, and life is hard. Unable to find work, Kingsley cannot take on the duty of training his younger siblings, nor can he provide his parents with financial peace in their retirement. And then there is Ola. Dear, sweet Ola, the sugar in Kingsley's tea. It does not seem to matter that he loves her deeply; he cannot afford her bride price.

It hasn't always been like this. For much of his young life, Kingsley believed that education was everything, that through wisdom, all things were possible. Now he worries that without a "long-leg"--someone who knows someone who can help him--his degrees will do nothing but adorn the walls of his parents' low-rent house. And when a tragedy befalls his family, Kingsley learns the hardest lesson of all: education may be the language of success in Nigeria, but it's money that does the talking.

Unconditional family support may be the way in Nigeria, but when Kingsley turns to his Uncle Boniface for help, he learns that charity may come with strings attached. Boniface--aka Cash Daddy--is an exuberant character who suffers from elephantiasis of the pocket. He's also rumored to run a successful empire of email scams. But he can help. With Cash Daddy's intervention, Kingsley and his family can be as safe as a tortoise in its shell. It's up to Kingsley now to reconcile his passion for knowledge with his hunger for money, and to fully assume his role of first son. But can he do it without being drawn into this outlandish mileu?

Why I want to read this: I added this book to my TBR shelf in June of 2009. I am sure many of us have received those scam e-mails, from Nigeria or elsewhere, of people asking for money over the internet. Perhaps you have wondered who might be behind them and what their motivations are. This novel is described as being a bit tongue in cheek--funny and heartfelt. I wonder what I will think when I get to it.

Have you read I Do Not Come to You by Chance? Does this book sound like something you would like to read?

The New

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

Well Played (Well Met #2) by Jen DeLuca

Release Date: September 22, 2020 by Berkley

Another laugh-out-loud romantic comedy featuring kilted musicians, Renaissance Faire tavern wenches, and an unlikely love story.

Stacey is jolted when her friends Simon and Emily get engaged. She knew she was putting her life on hold when she stayed in Willow Creek to care for her sick mother, but it's been years now, and even though Stacey loves spending her summers pouring drinks and flirting with patrons at the local Renaissance Faire, she wants more out of life. Stacey vows to have her life figured out by the time her friends get hitched at Faire next summer. Maybe she'll even find The One.

When Stacey imagined "The One," it never occurred to her that her summertime Faire fling, Dex MacLean, might fit the bill. While Dex is easy on the eyes onstage with his band The Dueling Kilts, Stacey has never felt an emotional connection with him. So when she receives a tender email from the typically monosyllabic hunk, she's not sure what to make of it.

Faire returns to Willow Creek, and Stacey comes face-to-face with the man with whom she’s exchanged hundreds of online messages over the past nine months. To Stacey's shock, it isn't Dex—she's been falling in love with a man she barely knows. [Goodreads Summary]

Why I want to read this: I loved Well Met and am looking forward to stepping back in this series with the second book.

The Talented Miss Farwell by Emily Gray Tedrowe

Release Date: September 29, 2020 by Custom House

Catch Me If You Can meets Patricia Highsmith in this electrifying page-turner of greed and obsession, survival and self-invention that is a piercing character study of one unforgettable female con artist.

At the end of the 1990s, with the art market finally recovered from its disastrous collapse, Miss Rebecca Farwell has made a killing at Christie’s in New York City, selling a portion of her extraordinary art collection for a rumored 900 percent profit. Dressed in couture YSL, drinking the finest champagne at trendy Balthazar, Reba, as she’s known, is the picture of a wealthy art collector. To some, the elusive Miss Farwell is a shark with outstanding business acumen. To others, she’s a heartless capitalist whose only interest in art is how much she can make.

But a thousand miles from the Big Apple, in the small town of Pierson, Illinois, Miss Farwell is someone else entirely—a quiet single woman known as Becky who still lives in her family’s farmhouse, wears sensible shoes, and works tirelessly as the town’s treasurer and controller.

No one understands the ins and outs of Pierson’s accounts better than Becky; she’s the last one in the office every night, crunching the numbers. Somehow, her neighbors marvel, she always finds a way to get the struggling town just a little more money. What Pierson doesn’t see—and can never discover—is that much of that money is shifted into a separate account that she controls, “borrowed” funds used to finance her art habit. Though she quietly repays Pierson when she can, the business of art is cutthroat and unpredictable.

But as Reba Farwell’s deals get bigger and bigger, Becky Farwell’s debt to Pierson spirals out of control. How long can the talented Miss Farwell continue to pull off her double life? [Goodreads Summary]

Why I want to read this: One woman, two very different lives. I do love a good con-artist story. This one sounds intriguing.

How to Fly: In Ten Thousand Easy Lessons by Barbara Kingsolver

Release Date: September 22, 2020 by Harper

In this intimate collection, the beloved author of The Poisonwood Bible and more than a dozen other New York Times bestsellers, winner or finalist for the Pulitzer and countless other prizes, now trains her eye on the everyday and the metaphysical in poems that are smartly crafted, emotionally rich, and luminous.

In her second poetry collection, Barbara Kingsolver offers reflections on the practical, the spiritual, and the wild. She begins with “how to” poems addressing everyday matters such as being hopeful, married, divorced; shearing a sheep; praying to unreliable gods; doing nothing at all; and of course, flying. Next come rafts of poems about making peace (or not) with the complicated bonds of friendship and family, and making peace (or not) with death, in the many ways it finds us. Some poems reflect on the redemptive powers of art and poetry itself; others consider where everything begins. Closing the book are poems that celebrate natural wonders—birdsong and ghost-flowers, ruthless ants, clever shellfish, coral reefs, deadly deserts, and thousand-year-old beech trees—all speaking to the daring project of belonging to an untamed world beyond ourselves.

Altogether, these are poems about transcendence: finding breath and lightness in life and the everyday acts of living. It’s all terribly easy and, as the title suggests, not entirely possible. Or at least, it is never quite finished. [Goodreads Summary]

Why I want to read this: I have not read her first poetry collection, but I was drawn to this one from the description. It sounds like it is full of poems I will be able to relate to and appreciate. Poetry speaks to the soul, and I hope this one will speak to mine.

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