Where Is Your Bookmark? (More Dork Diaries & Five Fun Holiday Reads)

I still have three other books in progress, but since I have already featured them here, I am sharing the book my daughter and I just started together: Tales from a Not-So-Popular Party Girl (Dork Diaries #2) by Rachel Renée Russell. This is another one in the series Mouse has read before but wanted to read with me her second time around. Hopefully you aren't tired of my mentioning the series yet!

Recipe for disaster: 4 parties. Add 2 friends and 1 crush. Divide by 1 mean girl out to RUIN Nikki. Mix well, put fingers over eyes, and CRINGE. I thought it would NEVER happen, but my life is FINALLY going well for me. 

I’m adjusting to my new school and hanging out with my BFFs Chloe and Zoey. And, get this! My crush, Brandon, has asked ME to be his lab partner—a seriously awesome development. 

However, when I overhear mean girl MacKenzie bragging that Brandon’s taking HER to the Halloween dance, I’m totally BUMMED and sign-up instead to spend Halloween at a kid’s party with my bratty, little sister, Brianna. 

Lucky for me, I find out Mackenzie is lying and my dream of going to the party with Brandon could actually become a reality! But, can I juggle TWO events at the exact same time and survive a wacky assortment of trials, tribulations and disasters?!! HELP!!! [Goodreads Summary]

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.

I can't believe this is happening to me!

I'm in the girls' bathroom FREAKING OUT!!

There is NO WAY I'm going to survive middle school.

My initial houghts: Nikki does have a flare for drama as often kids her age do. I love her character though. She's easy to relate to, and I know my daughter likes her too. 

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.

I guess Dad must have thought he was being attacked by some kind of oatmeal-crusted, cucumber-eyed zombie wearing a pink fuzzy robe with a bath towel wrapped around its head.

Which, I have to admit, DOES sound awfully scary when you think about it. [excerpt from page 56]

My thoughts: You missed the scream by a page. Dad's high pitched scream when he first came into sight of just what he didn't know. It's a funny scene. I imagine Mom was none too happy.


Have you ever read this series? Did you have a favorite book series when you were a kid? 

Connect Five Friday is a weekly meme where readers share a list of five books, 

read or unread, or bookish things, that share a common theme. 

Hosted by the  Kathryn of of Book Date.

It has only been in recent years that I started more consciously reading holiday-themed books this time of year.  I thought today I would share five holiday-themed books I have enjoyed over the years.

1. Holiday Romance - This was my most recent holiday-themed read. Imagine reliving the same Christmas over and over again in order to find what will make you happy. That's exactly what happens to Mae Jones in this fun romantic comedy novel, In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren. While I some minor issues with it, overall, I found it as funny and touching as I anticipated.

2. Holiday Historical Fiction - Reading a novel written in letters creates an intimacy with the characters that one might not get otherwise, but it also limits the view of what is going on outside the letters. Both Gaynor and Webb do a great job of compensating for this overall in Last Christmas In Paris by Hazel Gaynor & Heather Webb. I was thoroughly wrapped up Tom and Evie’s story, set during World War I, with glimpses forward 1968. This is one of my all-time favorite novels. 

3. Holiday Mystery - If you like a little murder with your yuletide, this cozy mystery will put you in the spirit. Bells, Spells, and Murders ( Witch City Mystery #7) by Carol J. Perry features new field reporter Lee Barret, who stumbles on a dead body on assignment for one of her stories. It was a fun read, and one that if you give it a try, I hope you will enjoy it too! 

4. Holiday Nonfiction - If you are looking for something a little different than the more sentimental and traditional Christmas-themed tale, you might want to give The Santa Claus Man: The Rise and Fall of a Jazz Age Con Man and the Invention of Christmas in New York by Alex Palmer a try.  It is a good balance between an inspirational read and a cautionary tale about the rise and fall of the Santa Claus Association as well as the history of how Christmas became the extravagant holiday in America it is today. Fraud, kidnapping, stolen art, and much more. Whoever says real life isn't as interesting and entertaining as fiction should take a closer look at history. 

5. Short Story Holiday Fiction (A Mix of Genres) - Mrs. Claus: Not the Fairy Tale They Say edited by Rhonda Parrish is bit of romance, science fiction, crime fighting, horror, comedy, action, and a whole lot of magic mixed in, this collection of short stories is worth checking out. It's Mrs. Claus as you have never seen her before. 

What holiday-themed books would you recommend? 

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

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© 2020, 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.

Waiting to Read Wednesday: The Wife Upstairs / A Glimmer of Death / Language Arts

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.

The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins
Release Date: January 5, 2021 by St. Martin's Press

A delicious twist on a Gothic classic, The Wife Upstairs pairs Southern charm with atmospheric domestic suspense, perfect for fans of B.A. Paris and Megan Miranda.

Meet Jane. Newly arrived to Birmingham, Alabama, Jane is a broke dog-walker in Thornfield Estates––a gated community full of McMansions, shiny SUVs, and bored housewives. The kind of place where no one will notice if Jane lifts the discarded tchotchkes and jewelry off the side tables of her well-heeled clients. Where no one will think to ask if Jane is her real name.

But her luck changes when she meets Eddie­ Rochester. Recently widowed, Eddie is Thornfield Estates’ most mysterious resident. His wife, Bea, drowned in a boating accident with her best friend, their bodies lost to the deep. Jane can’t help but see an opportunity in Eddie––not only is he rich, brooding, and handsome, he could also offer her the kind of protection she’s always yearned for.

Yet as Jane and Eddie fall for each other, Jane is increasingly haunted by the legend of Bea, an ambitious beauty with a rags-to-riches origin story, who launched a wildly successful southern lifestyle brand. How can she, plain Jane, ever measure up? And can she win Eddie’s heart before her past––or his––catches up to her?

With delicious suspense, incisive wit, and a fresh, feminist sensibility, The Wife Upstairs flips the script on a timeless tale of forbidden romance, ill-advised attraction, and a wife who just won’t stay buried. In this vivid reimagining of one of literature’s most twisted love triangles, which Mrs. Rochester will get her happy ending? [Goodreads Summary]

Why I want to read this: I have shied away from this type of suspense/thriller most of the year, finding them too intense and dark for my mood. I have not lost interest in them though! The Wife Upstairs particularly caught my eye because of the Jane Eyre tie-in (Jane Eyre being one of my favorite classic novels). 

A Glimmer of Death (#1) by Valerie Wilson Wesley
Release Date: January 26, 2021 by Kensington

Award-winning author Valerie Wilson Wesley launches a thrilling new mystery series set in New Jersey, featuring a multicultural cast, and starring a caterer-turned-realtor with the gift of second sight...

In the first of a thrilling new series, one woman's extraordinary psychic gift plunges her already-troubled present into chaos--and puts her future in someone's deadly sights...

Until now, Odessa Jones' inherited ability to read emotions and foretell danger has protected her. But second sight didn't warn her she would soon be a widow--and about to lose her home and the catering business she's worked so hard to build. The only things keeping Dessa going are her love for baking and her sometimes-mellow cat, Juniper. Unfortunately, putting her life back together means taking a gig at an all-kinds-of-shady real estate firm run by volatile owner Charlie Risko...

Until Charlie is brutally killed--and Dessa's bullied co-worker is arrested for murder. Dessa can't be sure who's guilty. But it doesn't take a psychic to discover that everyone from Charlie's much-abused staff to his long-suffering younger wife had multiple reasons to want him dead. And as Dessa follows a trail of lies through blackmail, dead-end clues, and corruption, she needs to see the truth fast--or a killer will bury her deep down with it. [Goodreads Summary]

Why I want to read this: When I come across a paranormal cozy mystery series, I know I cannot resist the call. Throw in a multicultural cast and I definitely know this is a series I need to try. 

Do The Wife Upstairs and A Glimmer of Death interest you? What upcoming releases are you looking forward to reading?

 

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!

Language Arts by Stephanie Kallos (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2015) 

The new novel from the best-selling author of Broken for You spins the stories of a dedicated teacher, his enigmatic son, and a wartime survivor into an affecting tale of love, loss, and handwriting. 

Charles Marlow teaches his high school English students that language will expand their worlds. But linguistic precision cannot help him connect with his autistic son, or with his ex-wife, who abandoned their shared life years before, or even with his college-bound daughter who has just flown the nest. He’s at the end of a road he’s traveled on autopilot for years when a series of events forces him to think back on the lifetime of decisions and indecisions that have brought him to this point. With the help of an ambitious art student, an Italian-speaking nun, and the memory of a boy in a white suit who inscribed his childhood with both solace and sorrow, Charles may finally be able to rewrite the script of his life. 

Sometimes the most powerful words are the ones you’re still searching for. [Goodreads Summary]

Why I want to read this: Broken for You is one of my all time favorite novels, and I remember being so excited with the author came out with another book. Not to mention it sounds interesting too. I do want to read this one. Sometimes it is hard to pick up to read another book by an author who has so impressed you before . . .

Have you read Language Arts? Does this book sound like something you would like to read? 

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© 2020, 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 Mewsings: Wrapping Up November, Lockdown News, and My December 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:

Recent book purchases: 

The Plot is Murder (Mystery Bookshop #1) by V.M. Burns

The Read Herring Hunt (Mystery Bookshop #2) by V.M. Burns

Navigating the Stars (Sentinels of the Galaxy #1) by Maria V. Snyder

Chasing the Shadows (Sentinels of the Galaxy #2) by Maria V. Snyder

Defending the Galaxy (Sentinels of the Galaxy #3) by Maria V. Snyder

Deadlines & Dryads (Terra Haven Chronicles #0.5) by Rebecca Chastain (freebie)

City of Ghosts (Cassidy Stone #1) by Victoria Schwab

Tunnel of Bones (Cassidy Stone #2) by Victoria Schwab

Zikora by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

What new books have you added to your shelf lately?

What I Am Reading: I am in the middle of four books at the moment. Which I wish I could say explains why I did not read all that many books in November, but that would only be partially true. I just haven't been reading that much. Among my current reads are How Rory Thorne Destroyed the Multiverse by K. Eason, which I am loving. 

I am slowly making my way through the pandemic short story collection, Together, Apart. I really like the stories, but I find myself having to stop after each one and read something else for awhile. 

I am still working my way through Wonder by R. J. Palacio. As some of you may know, my daughter is reading it with her class, and I am reading it as well. I'm trying not to get ahead of them and so it's going slower than it normally would for me to read a book like that. I think Mouse is actually ahead of me now though. I had better catch up!

Mouse and I are reading and enjoying Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life (Dork Diaries #1) by Rachel Renée Russell together. It's such a fun book. Mouse read it before on her own but wanted to read it with me this time around.

What I Am Watching: I actually have not been watching as much lately as I was earlier in the month. My family and I are still working our way through Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel, watching one or two episodes most the evenings. My husband is keeping track of the order we watch each episode of which show in--which I appreciate.  We continue to enjoy The Masked Singer.

Off the Blog: As of a minute before midnight tomorrow (Sunday), my part of the state will go into lockdown again. The new stay-at-home-order is a result of a drop in available ICU beds due to the pandemic. It's actually a lighter lockdown than the original one in March. This time retail businesses will be allowed to remain open, but with a 20% capacity. Before, they had to close all together unless they were considered essential businesses. Hair and nail salons have to close again (Mouse and I are going on a year since our last hair cut). Restaurants will have to go back to just take out and delivery. In my county, we never got back to indoor dining being okay (not that it stopped some restaurants). Any schools with waivers to have students in physical classrooms can still do so--although Mouse's district is still strictly remote learning. Travel is out. Social gatherings are prohibited. This new lockdown is supposed to last for 3 weeks and then will be re-evaluated. The sheriff of my county has made it very clear where he stands on the matter--quite publicly even--and so I imagine enforcement of any kind will be low. Other than perhaps businesses risking their state licenses. 

The virus has found its way into my 103-year-old grandmother's long-term care facility on the other side of the country. Last I heard a week ago, 29 residents and 16 staff tested positive. As far as I know, my grandmother is virus free. My prayers are with everyone, the residents and the staff. 

On a lighter note, I was able to take the week of Thanksgiving off. My house has been sorely neglected as of late. I finally got to a few cleaning/organizing projects I had been putting off. Now to decide where to store the stuff we want to donate until we actually can donate it . . . I probably could have used another week or two off work to do more, but it's something and I will take it. 

We had a very quiet Thanksgiving, just the three of us. That is usually how we spend the holiday, and so it was not that different for us. We had a nice homemade meal and watched Christmas movies. Over the weekend we put up the Christmas decorations. Our tree had been up all year, so that was one less thing we had to do. We did decorate it though. I have been doing most of my holiday gift shopping online this year (if you have an Etsy shop, please let me know--I like to support fellow bloggers when I am able). I am nearly done, thankfully. 

Mouse is still dancing and singing. Her interest in dance has flagged considerably having to take classes on Zoom, but she keeps at it. She seems to enjoy her musical theater classes the most. School is going about as well as can be expected. It's more of a struggle on some days than on others. 

We are enjoying our evening walks. Several people in the neighborhood have holiday lights up, and we have been enjoying seeing them. Some are quite elaborate. Someone in the neighborhood Facebook group posted a flyer announcing a "Come See Santa" event. Evidently they are inviting kids and families to come see Santa, sit on his lap and take pictures with him. Masks are optional. Yeah. I wish I could say that was an anomaly, but that seems to be a common attitude among too many. Especially where I live. It feels that way anyway. 

December is here, and I imagine it will go by quickly. I am looking forward to more time off later this month. I hope you and your loved ones are well and staying safe. 

What I Am Grateful For: Christmas lights and warm blankets. Cuddly cats and sharing laughs with my daughter over book--or anything for that matter. I continue to be grateful to all medical staff and frontline workers. And all the teachers and social workers. 

My Sleeping Cat

My Other Sleeping Cat

This Past Week:

• Waiting to Read Wednesday: Fairy Godmothers, Inc. & Bellman & Black
• Where Is Your Bookmark? [Reading with My Daughter & My Bookish Christmas List)

Here is what I finished reading in November:

• Ramona and Her Mother by Beverly Cleary
• Leads & Lynxes (Terra Haven Chronicles #1) by Rebecca Chastain
• Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

My reading pattern in November seems to always find me reading less. I am enjoying my continued reads and had fun with what I did finish last month. Mouse chose both Ramona and Her Mother and Bridge to Terabithia to read with me. I was a little hesitant about her reading The Bridge to Terabithia yet given . . . well, if you have read it you know. Mouse liked both, although her favorite of the two was Ramona and Her Mother. Beverly Cleary was one of my favorite childhood authors and I am so glad my daughter is enjoying her books too.

Blogging wise, I have been keeping a pretty regular schedule. Staying on top of comments and visiting other blogs seems to be where I struggle, but I do not think I did too badly last month overall. I really enjoy visiting your blogs and seeing what you are up to and reading. 

This Past November In Reading Mews:

• My Bookish Mewsings: The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman
• Waiting to Read Wednesday: Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder & Homer's Odyssey
• Weekly Mews: Welcome November (I think) / My November TBR List Poll (Please Vote!)
• My Bookish Mewsings: A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik
• Waiting to Read Wednesday: Bait and Witch & Cleopatra
• Where is Your Bookmark? (Pandemic Romance / What I Was Reading Five Years Ago / New To Me Authors I Want to Read Again)
• Weekly Mews: Cranberry Orange Scones & How Is It Already the Middle of November?!
• My Bookish Mewsings: Leads & Lynxes by Rebecca Chastain
• Waiting to Read Wednesday: The Dark Archive & Season of the Witch
• Where Is Your Bookmark? (Sci Fi Fairytale, December Wedding & Must Read Series by New to Me Authors)
• Bookish Mewsings: Dear Emmie Blue by Lia Louis & In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren

Tell me what you have been up to! What are you reading, listening to and watching? How was your November? 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). 

For this month's TBR List Poll theme, I went with green covers. They also have a holiday theme in common. I think they all sound fun. Which one do you think  I should read this month? 

Mrs. Claus  and the Santaland Slayings by Liz Ireland

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]

Royal Holiday by Jasmine Guillory

New York Times bestselling author Jasmine Guillory makes her hardcover debut with a heartwarming Christmas romance.

Vivian Forest has been out of the country a grand total of one time, so when she gets the chance to tag along on her daughter Maddie's work trip to England to style a royal family member, she can't refuse. She's excited to spend the holidays taking in the magnificent British sights, but what she doesn't expect is to become instantly attracted to a certain Private Secretary and his charming accent and unyielding formality.

Malcolm Hudson has been the Queen's Private Secretary for years and has never given a personal, private tour...until now. He is intrigued by Vivian the moment he meets her and finds himself making excuses just to spend time with her. When flirtatious banter turns into a kiss under the mistletoe, things snowball into a full-on fling.

Despite a ticking timer on their holiday romance, they are completely fine with ending their short, steamy fling come New Year's Day...or are they? [Goodreads Summary]

Have Yourself a Fudgy Little Christmas by Nancy CoCo

In Nancy Coco's eighth Candy-Coated Mystery, Christmas on Mackinac Island brings a flurry of festive activity for fudge shop owner Allie McMurphy--but also a body in a snowbank. With fun recipes, cute pets, quirky characters, and an endearing young protagonist, the Candy-Coated Mysteries have the perfect ingredients for cozy mystery fans!

All Allie wants for Christmas is for renovations to be finished on the Historic McMurphy Hotel and Fudge Shop so she can move back home for the holidays. But for now she's staying in her friend Frances' apartment, busily baking batches of holiday fudge. After someone leaves a mysterious note on the door to meet up, the curious fudge maker goes to the rendezvous with her Bichonpoo, Mal--only to discover a woman facedown in a snowdrift. With her dying breath, the woman gasps, Frances. The police suspect she named her killer, but Allie knows that's impossible. She needs to wrap up this case before the trail runs cold--and give her friend the gift of freedom this Christmas season... [Goodreads Summary]

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

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© 2020, 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? [Reading with My Daughter & My Bookish Christmas List)

Today I thought I would offer you a peek into my daughter's and my current read, Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life (Dork Diaries #1) by Rachel Renée Russell. Mouse has actually read this one before on her own, but she wanted to read it with me this time around. It is really cute, and we are enjoying it--laughing out loud in spots and commiserating with Nikki in others. Mouse has been good about not giving away spoilers--mostly anyway. 

Meet Nikki Maxwell! She's starting eighth grade at a new school—and her very first diary packed with hilarious stories and art in Book One of the #1 New York Times bestselling Dork Diaries series! 

New school. New mean girl. New crush. New diary so I can spill about all of it… 

I put a lot of really personal stuff in this diary along with my sketches and doodles. 

But, mostly it’s about how TRAUMATIC it was transferring to my new private middle school, Westchester Country Day. 

And, how a lot of the CCP (Cool, Cute & Popular) kids were really SNOBBY and made my life TOTALLY miserable. People like, oh, I don’t know, maybe… 

MACKENZIE HOLLISTER!! 

And, it just so happened that I got stuck with a locker right next to hers. I could NOT believe I had such CRAPPY luck. I knew right then and there it was going to be a VERY, VERY long school year :-( !  [Goodreads Summary]

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.

Sometimes I wonder if my mom is BRAIN DEAD. Then there are days when I know she is.

My initial thoughts: Oh uh. What was I getting myself into? Just kidding. I knew right away this was going to be a funny book. But I can maybe relate to the mother more than I want to admit...

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.

IF I SEE ANOTHER BOOK, I'M GOING TO PUKE!! [from page 56 of Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life]

My thoughts: Nikki is an artist and her cartoon illustrations throughout the novel add to its charm. This particular page is made up of one of her cartoons, which I am including in addition to the my shared quote from that page. So, Nikki and I do not agree about the idea of being a library shelving assistant. I would have loved volunteering to be one at her age. My daughter is taking Nikki's side, unfortunately.

Have you read the Dork Diaries? Does this sound like something you would enjoy? 

Connect Five Friday is a weekly meme where readers share a list of five books, read or unread, or bookish things, that share a common theme. Hosted by the  Kathryn of of Book Date.

With the holidays here, I know many of us are scrambling to buy or make Christmas presents for friends and family. All my shopping (I hope) is complete. Today I thought I would share five bookish items I would enjoy finding under my Christmas tree. 

1. What better present to give someone than a homemade gift, while at the same time supporting a book blogging friend? Iliana of Bookgirl's Nightstand has her own Etsy shop (Bookgirl's Studio), where she sells, among other things, the most beautiful journals. It's obvious she puts a lot of care and love into making them. I have bought a few of her journals in the past as gifts and for personal use. They are nice and compact. I nearly purchased one for myself the last time I visited her shop, but resigned myself to sticking to the task at hand--shopping for others. My daughter will find one in her stocking this year. I just know she'll love it! If I did find one under my tree, however, I was thinking it might make a nice poetry journal . . . 

2. This year on Facebook I discovered Maria aka Squishedinabook via a book group. I did not hesitate to follow her Squishedinabook Facebook Page where she posts photos of bookmarks she paints and sells at her Etsy shop Squished in a Book. I may not have a talent for art such as painting or drawing, but I can appreciate others' work. In trying to come up with stocking stuffer ideas this year for the adults and child in my life, I decided bookmarks would be the perfect addition. Everyone on my stocking list reads, and so I know they won't go to waste. Maria's are beautiful. One in particular melted my heart immediately, but I cannot share or else spoil it for the receiver. One can never have enough bookmarks, and finding one of Maria's under my tree would be such a treat. 

3. If you ask my husband, he will say the last thing I need is another tote. But doesn't this one featuring a cat and books fit me so well? (Found at the Literary Lodge)

4. Or what about bookish jewelry? This one may turn off the book purist, but keep in mind that not all books find homes, or, as they get older, they begin to fall part. Recycling the pages into some sort of artform only prolongs the life of the book's essence and keeps them from ending up in the trash. Not to mention means something special to the owner. I found a lot of book themed jewelry I would not mind having on Etsy, but this one in particular stood out to me. With an option between Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre, I would pick Jane Eyre in a heart beat. (Found at Gilli's Flowers)

5. One of my dream gifts would be a monthly or quarterly book subscription box. I used to subscribe to My Lit Box which unfortunately was discontinued. The book selections centered around books by authors of color. I loved each and every box I received. I am really not in a position to subscribe to another book box, but if I could, I would love to sign up for something similar. There are so many different book subscription box options out there! I would be happy with any of them. These are a few that interested me at first glance (Okay, so maybe I got carried away in my research): 

The Alignist 

Authentic Books 

Once Upon a Book Club
OwlCrate
BlackLit

Bubbles and Books 

Indiespensible (associated with Powell's Books) 

Introverts Retreat 
Page 1.
Shelfrighteous Book Box
SpearCraft Book Box 

Sample of the Premium Authentic Book Subscription Box

What bookish items would you like to find under your tree this year?

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

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© 2020, 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.

Waiting to Read Wednesday: Fairy Godmothers, Inc. & Bellman & Black

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.

Fairy Godmothers, Inc. (#1) by Saranna DeWylde
Release Date: December 29, 2020 by Kensington

Armed with her trademark mix of quirky charm, witty comedy, and sexy paranormal romance, Saranna DeWylde takes readers on a rollicking ride through twisted fairy tales and towards the ultimate Happily Ever After in her first Fairy Godmothers, Inc. Series installment. Ever After is a town that runs on magic, and that magic is fueled by love. So when the three fairy godmothers in charge of Ever After's magic supply realize the town's power has started to wane, they conspire to transform Ever After into a premiere wedding destination in hopes of attracting a major infusion of love to the town...

If love is the source of all the magic in the universe, and the town of Ever After, Missouri, is the epicenter of enchantment, then the locals are in dire need of a reboot. At least according to resident fairy godmothers Petunia, Jonquil, and Bluebonnet. Their solution? Blow a bit of fairy dust in the direction of those in need of romance...what could possibly go wrong?

SOME KIND OF AWFUL... Lucky Fujiki's first name is a cosmic joke. Her luck is so bad, even the number seven steers clear of her. But when her adorable godmothers ask for a favor, Lucky can't say no--even if she can already feel the bad juju waiting to strike. And her mission is even worse than she imagined: to promote Ever After as a wedding destination by faking a marriage to her first love and long-time ex, Ransom Payne--he of the Embarrassing Incident that neither of them will ever live down...

OR ALL KINDS OF WONDERFUL? Ransom Payne has spent years building an impressive new reputation for himself, and now his godmothers want him to pretend to wed the one girl he'd like most to forget? Sure, weddings in Ever After could be a huge boon for his chocolate business, but risking more up-close-and-personal time with Lucky? Considering the stakes, it's a curse he'll have to bear, at the risk of being humiliated--or perhaps, bewitched...[Goodreads Summary]

Why I want to read this: This sounds like such a fun new paranormal romance series with fairy godmothers and a town that runs on magic fueled by love. I look forward to giving it a try.

Does Fairy Godmothers, Inc. interest you? What upcoming release are you looking forward to reading?

 

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!

Bellman & Black by Diane Setterfield (by Atria/Emily Bestler Books, 2014)

ONE MOMENT IN TIME CAN HAUNT YOU FOREVER.

Caught up in a moment of boyhood competition, William Bellman recklessly aims his slingshot at a rook resting on a branch, killing the bird instantly. It is a small but cruel act, and is soon forgotten. By the time he is grown, with a wife and children of his own, William seems to have put the whole incident behind him. It was as if he never killed the thing at all. But rooks don’t forget . . .

Years later, when a stranger mysteriously enters William’s life, his fortunes begin to turn—and the terrible and unforeseen consequences of his past indiscretion take root. In a desperate bid to save the only precious thing he has left, he enters into a rather strange bargain, with an even stranger partner. Together, they found a decidedly macabre business.

And Bellman & Black is born. [Goodreads Summary]

Why I want to read this: After reading and loving A Thirteenth Tale, I added Bellman & Black to my TBR shelf when it came out in 2013. The premise sounded good.  It didn't review well initially among my blogger friends, and so I pushed it back a bit on my TBR shelf. I still haven't managed to read it. Yet.

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

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