Weekly Mews: My Bookish Mewsings on Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun & February's TBR Poll Winner

I am linking up to the Sunday Post hosted by Kim of Caffeinated Book Reviewer and The Sunday Salon (TSS) hosted by Deb Nance of Readerbuzz  where participants recap our week, talk about what we are reading, share any new books that have come our way, and whatever else we want to talk about. I am also linking It's Monday! What Are you Reading? hosted by Kathryn of Book Date where readers talk about what they have been, are and will be reading.

  

I had good intentions and hoped to catch up on visiting your blogs and responding to comments this past week, but personal computer time has been scarce. With my in-laws visit last weekend, an overwhelming amount of work during the week, Girl Scout cookies season, dental appointments, and a general sense of exhaustion, I was only able to get so much done. Which is also why this post is on the shorter side this week.

I had to capture the above photo of my two cats sleeping on the bed because this is the closest I have ever seen them sleeping together. They aren't the cuddle buddies that our past cats were. 

Our Nina

I stayed up into the wee hours of the morning to finish Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun (#3) by Elle Cosimano  (Minotaur Books, 2023; 304 pages). Thank goodness I did not have to get up extra early this morning to go to work. 

Elle Cosimano's Finlay Donovan series has become one of my favorites. It is funny and entertaining. Yes, it's a bit over the top--but in a good way. That's part of the fun of the series! The third book in the series, Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun, is no different. 

Finlay is an author and a divorced mother who, along with her nanny/accountant, trouble seems to find all too often. It is not Finlay and Vero's fault that people seem to die around them.  Finlay is on a deadline to finish her latest novel, her ex-husband wants to reconcile, the sexy cop she has likes but is avoiding keeps calling, and she is trying to help Vero get out from under a debt she owes a not so nice person from her past. All the while parenting her two children.  Oh, and Mob boss Feliks expects Finlay and Vero to figure out the identity of the contract killer that is out to undermine him. Finlay strongly suspects the killer is a cop, and she has two weeks to find out who he is. When the opportunity to attend a citizen's police academy comes, Vero and Finlay decide this may be their best chance--not only to find the killer, but also hide from the people after Vero. 

Finlay and Vero find themselves in several tight situations as expected, and seeing how they will get out of those situations is half the fun. I loved that the author found a way to include Finlay's nosy neighbor, Mrs. Haggerty. She's quite the character. Then there is Finlay's ex, Steven. By the end of the last book, Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead, I had begun to think that Finlay's ex might have some redeeming qualities, but I am back to disliking him completely. I enjoyed seeing detective Nick and Finlay's relationship go to the next level. The parallels between Finlay's struggle to finish her novel and her relationship with Nick were a nice touch. 

Finding out the identity of the contract killer does not prove to be easy, although Vero and Finlay have a few ideas. Their efforts to find the killer are hampered by other crises that arise. My suspicions may have proved correct, but I enjoyed seeing how everything played out. 

While this book can be read as a stand alone, I do not recommend reading the books out of order. Each book builds on the other and, while the author does a good job of catching the reader up in a natural way, having the full backstory is part of fun of this series. 

There was plenty of action, humor, and a few moments of "what are you thinking?!" All the while I had a good time reading this book. I cannot get enough of this series. I enjoy spending time with the characters, and stepping into Finlay's world for a little while is a great escape. 

My TBR List is hosted by the awesome Michelle  at Because Reading. It’s a fun way to choose a book from your TBR pile to read. The 1st Saturday of every month, I will list 3 books I am considering reading and let you vote for my next read during that month. My review will follow (unfortunately, not likely in the same month, but eventually--that's all I can promise). 

Thank you to everyone who voted in my TBR List Poll this month! I am excited about reading all three of these and cannot wait to start reading the winner. 

Five of you voted for Jennifer Ashley's The Secret of Bow Lane and seven people voted for A Perilous Undertaking by Deanna Raybourn. The Deep End by Julie Mulhern came out on top with eight votes! 

Thank you for voting!

This Past Week In Reading Mews

• Can't Wait to Read Wednesday: The Shadow of Perseus / Ana Takes Manhattan / The Radium Girls
• Where Is Your Bookmark: A Peek Into Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun, Romance Reading & Other Bookish Thoughts

I hope you have a great week! 

Let me know what you  are up to and have been reading!

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© 2023, Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Where Is Your Bookmark: A Peek Into Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun, Romance Reading & Other Bookish Thoughts

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 man's voice cracked on the other side of the partition. "I'm going to prison for this, aren't I?" [opening of Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun]

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.

"This is the last time I let you pick our stolen car. This thing is a junker. I'll be shocked if it starts."

"At least if we wreck this one, we won't have to kill anyone to pay it off."

"Again . . . not our fault." [excerpt from 56% of Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun]

Author and single mom Finlay Donovan has been in messes before―after all, she's a pro at removing bloodstains for various unexpected reasons―but none quite like this. When Finlay and her nanny/partner-in-crime Vero accidentally destroyed a luxury car that they had "borrowed" in the process of saving the life of Finlay's ex-husband, the Russian mob did her a favor and bought the car for her. And now Finlay owes them.

Mob boss Feliks is still running the show from behind bars, and he has a task for Finlay: find and identify a contract killer before the cops do. The problem is, the killer might be an officer themself.

Luckily, hot cop Nick has just been tasked with starting up a citizen's police academy, and combined pressure from Finlay's looming book deadline and Feliks is enough to convince Finlay and Vero to get involved. Through firearm training and forensic classes (and some hands-on research with a tempting detective), Finlay and Vero use their time in police academy to sleuth out the real contract killer to free themselves from the mob's clutches―all the while dodging spies, confronting Vero's past, and juggling the daily trials of parenthood. [from the author's website]

Have you read Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun? Does it sound like something you would enjoy? 

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

Would you read a book by your favorite author if it isn't in a genre you normally enjoy?

I like variety in my reading, and so it is not a stretch for me to be open to trying something different by a favorite author I may not normally gravitate to. Generally, I find that the genres or book types my favorite (or well-liked) authors write, other than the genre that got me hooked on them, are genres I already enjoy reading. Some examples include Seanan Mcguire/Mira Grant, Erin Sterling/Rachel Hawkins, Amanda Quick/Jayne Ann Krentz, Kelley Armstrong, and Neil Gaiman--and that's just for starters. 

When trying to think of an instance where I did step outside my comfort zone  and read a genre I do not normally gravitate toward because I love the author's other work, Charlaine Harris came to mind. Westerns and alternative history may not be my go to genres, but I love Charlaine Harris's Gunnie Rose series, which I, in part, read because I enjoyed the author's Sookie Stackhouse series. Okay, so there's still magic and that fantasy element I cannot resist. So maybe that doesn't count . . .

But then there is Anne Rice, who is not necessarily a favorite author, but one whose work I used to really like--her Vampire Chronicles and Mayfair Witches series--who is on the other side of the spectrum. I have no interest in reading her erotic or Christian fiction. So, I guess there's that. Although, that isn't to say I wouldn't or haven't read (and enjoyed) other books by different authors in those two genres; just that I do not normally read them. 

What it really comes down to for me though is: if something is going to turn me off of reading a book, it likely will be a theme or subject matter I am not interested in reading rather than the genre itself. However, if it's by a favorite author, I might consider it. 

What about you? 

I hope you will join in next week  to answer next week's Tell Me Something Tuesday question: Share some books covers you love!

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

Do you enjoy reading romance novels? If so, which romance trope is your favorite? (submitted by Billy @ Coffee Addicted Writer)

When I was growing up, during one of my family's many library trips, I discovered those ol' Harlequin and Silhouette bodice ripper romances. Since they were mass market paperbacks, I could check out as many as I wanted at one time, and I took full advantage. Then somewhere in my early adult years, I stopped reading romance novels almost completely. I say almost because sometimes the mysteries or fantasy novels I read had a romance thread running through them. Whether it was burnout or loss of interest, I don't know.  (If you ever go back and read some of my earlier blog posts, you will find that I often talked about how I only enjoyed romance as a side dish, not as the main course.}

Within the last ten years, I have found myself reading romance novels again.  Romance makes up only a small percentage of my overall reading, but I do enjoy it occasionally. Sometimes I crave that happily ever after. The romance I read today is not the old school Harlequin or Silhouette romance I read many years ago. The stories are more complex, the characters more fleshed out, and there is definitely more diversity.  Romance novels can be light-hearted or deep; they can be sweet or spicy; funny or emotional. They can be everything in between.  

I am partial to slow burn romances, although I won't say no to one that burns fast. I love a good fake relationship trope but also really enjoy second chance and friends to lovers tropes too. I have a soft spot for holiday romances. The enemies to lovers trope is a fun one too. Add in a bookish theme and I will be even happier. 

I like to turn to romance in between my more serious reads or when I am especially in need of a pick me up. Sometimes I am just in the mood for one for no particular reason at all. 

What about you? Do you read romance? If so, what is your favorite trope? 

I hope you will join in next week  to answer next week's Book Blogger Hop question: Do you use other sources for ARCs besides NetGalley?

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

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© 2023 Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Can't Wait to Read Wednesday: The Shadow of Perseus / Ana Takes Manhattan / The Radium Girls

The New

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

I can't get enough of these Greek retellings. 

The Shadow of Perseus by Claire Heywood

(Dutton; February 21, 2023)

Nationally bestselling author of Daughters of Sparta Claire Heywood returns with an imaginative and female-centered reinterpretation of the myth of the great hero Perseus, told through the voices of three women who are sidelined in the traditional version—his mother, Danae; his trophy, Medusa; and his wife, Andromeda—but whose viewpoints reveal a man who is not, in fact, a hero at all.

Danae: Banished from her homeland thanks to a prophecy foretelling that her unborn child will one day cause the death of her father, the king of Argos, Danae finds herself stranded, pregnant, and alone in a remote fishing village. It’s a harsh new world for a young woman who grew up as a coddled princess, and forging a new life for herself and for her young son Perseus will be the hardest thing she’s ever done.

Medusa: As a member of a reclusive band of women who live deep in the woods, known as the Gorgons, Medusa has eschewed all contact with the outside world. That is, until the day she finds an injured boy named Perseus in the forest.

Andromeda: When a harsh sandstorm threatens to destroy her nomadic desert tribe’s way of life, Andromeda knows that a sacrifice will be required to appease the gods and end the storm. But when a forceful young Perseus interferes, Andromeda’s life is set on an entirely new path.

As Perseus becomes increasingly obsessed with the promise of his own destiny, his heroic journey casts a shadow of violence and destruction across all three women’s lives. But even as he tries to silence them, the women may find that reclaiming their voices is their only hope for lifting themselves into a better future. [Goodreads Summary]

I may not be much of a reality TV watcher, but I do enjoy novels featuring that type of venue. This one sounds like it will be a fun one.

Ana Takes Manhattan by Lissette Decos

(Forever; February 28, 2023)  

Fans of Abby Jimenez and Alexis Daria will love this novel about one New York City woman skilled in producing swoon‑worthy reality TV shows but whose own life is a mess, with nothing ever going according to plan.

Ana Karina loves her job—though she isn't quite where she thought she'd be by now. As reality tv producer, she orchestrates extravagant marriage proposals that always (read: mostly) go as planned. If they don't, she’s not afraid to cut and paste scenes to perfection afterward. Even if her arrogant film editor isn't a fan. But what does he know about romance anyway?

If only Ana's love life was as simple as fixing botched engagements. She's sick and tired of guys who give her the ick. Open‑toed sandals? Gross. Mr. Casual. No, thanks. Barcode tattoo? Cut! Ana's got a mile‑long list of all the cringey things to steer clear of. And Ana loves lists. Her to‑dos for her best friend's wedding, show ideas to pitch, and even her list of what she does want in Mr. Right. With only four requirements, why is it taking so long to find him?

She refuses to put her life on hold waiting. She’ll just date four men who each embody one quality. Never mind them lacking in other departments. Yet as she finds the Prince Charming in every frog, she also gets closer to facing who she’s avoided for years. Herself. [Goodreads Summary]

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

The Old(er) 

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

I get excited when I come across a book about roles women played in history, and this one caught my attention. My penchant for picking fiction over nonfiction though means a lot of these types of books on my shelves end up sitting unread for awhile, sadly. I have had this one on my TBR shelf since 2017. 

The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women by Kate Moore (Sourcebooks, 2017)

The incredible true story of the women who fought America's Undark danger

The Curies' newly discovered element of radium makes gleaming headlines across the nation as the fresh face of beauty, and wonder drug of the medical community. From body lotion to tonic water, the popular new element shines bright in the otherwise dark years of the First World War.

Meanwhile, hundreds of girls toil amidst the glowing dust of the radium-dial factories. The glittering chemical covers their bodies from head to toe; they light up the night like industrious fireflies. With such a coveted job, these "shining girls" are the luckiest alive — until they begin to fall mysteriously ill.

But the factories that once offered golden opportunities are now ignoring all claims of the gruesome side effects, and the women's cries of corruption. And as the fatal poison of the radium takes hold, the brave shining girls find themselves embroiled in one of the biggest scandals of America's early 20th century, and in a groundbreaking battle for workers' rights that will echo for centuries to come.

Written with a sparkling voice and breakneck pace, The Radium Girls fully illuminates the inspiring young women exposed to the "wonder" substance of radium, and their awe-inspiring strength in the face of almost impossible circumstances. Their courage and tenacity led to life-changing regulations, research into nuclear bombing, and ultimately saved hundreds of thousands of lives...  [Goodreads Summary]

Have you read Radium Girls?  Does this book sound like something you would like to read? 

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© 2023, Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Weekly Mews: Hello, February! (A Look At What I Have Been Reading & This Month's TBR List Poll!)

I am linking up to the Sunday Post hosted by Kim of Caffeinated Book Reviewer and The Sunday Salon (TSS) hosted by Deb Nance of Readerbuzz  where participants recap our week, talk about what we are reading, share any new books that have come our way, and whatever else we want to talk about. I am also linking It's Monday! What Are you Reading? hosted by Kathryn of Book Date where readers talk about what they have been, are and will be reading.

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.  

January was one of those months that was achingly slow for some but flew by for me. I cannot believe it is already February. Since I last shared my weekly mews, my life has been mostly about work (it has been terribly busy and there were some difficult days--come-home-and-hug-my-daughter tight type days). 

My mom, Mouse, husband, and I visited The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art and Culture and took in the beautiful artwork there. We also went to see a local kids' theater group put on their elite performance of Disney's Descendants, which was very well done. Mouse had taken their junior class this past summer/fall and performed in a less formal version of the musical last October.  She enjoyed seeing some of the older kids who helped in her class perform on stage. Mouse also got to attend a pirate dinner theater with her Girl Scout troop. It was part of their council's annual cookie season rally. Her troop was one of a few in our district to win the #Blingyourride contest. The girls went all out decorating the outside of the truck they used to pick up all the Girl Scout cookies last weekend, kicking off the official start of the cookie season.

February will be a busy month for us. Work, of course. My in-laws are in town this weekend for a late holiday gift exchange since they weren't able to make it for Christmas in December.  And next weekend cookie booths open--so you can guess where we'll be just about every weekend after that. At least until cookie season ends.

Earlier this week, I finished reading Dreyer's English: An Utterly Correct Guide to Clarity and Style by Benjamin Dreyer. It is officially on my list of books to reference back to. I am close to finishing Clara Coulson's Speaker of the Lost, an urban fantasy novel about two FBI agents working on  a special supernatural task force to solve a murder. 

Next up, I will be reading Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun (#3) by Elle Cosimano, I loved the first two books and keep hearing great things about the third in the series. After that, well, I could use your help!

My TBR List is hosted by the awesome Michelle  at Because Reading. It’s a fun way to choose a book from your TBR pile to read. The 1st Saturday of every month, I will list 3 books I am considering reading and let you vote for my next read during that month. My review will follow (unfortunately, not likely in the same month, but eventually--that's all I can promise). 

Help me choose my next TBR List read! Initially I was thinking romance, but I am more in the mood for a cozy historical mystery. All of these qualify in most of my reading challenges this year. Which of these three books do you think I should read next? Have you read any of them? 

The Secret of Bow Lane (Kat Holloway Mysteries #6) Jennifer Ashley

A stranger who appears on Kat's doorstep turns out to be one Charlotte Bristow, legal wife of Joe Bristow, the man Kat once believed herself married to—who she thought died at sea twelve years ago. Kat is jolted by Charlotte’s claims that not only was Joe murdered, but he had amassed a small fortune before he died. Charlotte makes the cook an offer she cannot refuse—if Kat can discover the identity of Joe's murderer, Charlotte will give her a share of the fortune Joe left behind.

With the help of Daniel McAdam, her attractive and charismatic confidante, Kat plunges into her own past to investigate. When it becomes apparent that the case of Joe’s death goes far deeper than simple, opportunistic theft, Kat and Daniel's relationship is put to the test, and Kat herself comes under scrutiny as her connection to Joe is uncovered. She must race to catch the real killer before she loses her job and possibly her life. [Goodreads Summary]

The Deep End (The Country Club Murders #1) by Julie Mulhern

Swimming into the lifeless body of her husband’s mistress tends to ruin a woman’s day, but becoming a murder suspect can ruin her whole life.

It’s 1974 and Ellison Russell’s life revolves around her daughter and her art. She’s long since stopped caring about her cheating husband, Henry, and the women with whom he entertains himself. That is, until she becomes a suspect in Madeline Harper’s death. The murder forces Ellison to confront her husband’s proclivities and his crimes—kinky sex, petty cruelties and blackmail.

As the body count approaches par on the seventh hole, Ellison knows she has to catch a killer. But with an interfering mother, an adoring father, a teenage daughter, and a cadre of well-meaning friends demanding her attention, can Ellison find the killer before he finds her. [Goodreads Summary]

A Perilous Undertaking (Veronica Speedwell #2) by Deanna Raybourn

London, 1887. At the Curiosity Club, a ladies-only establishment for daring and intrepid women, Victorian adventuress Veronica Speedwell meets the mysterious Lady Sundridge, who begs her to take on an impossible task--saving society art patron Miles Ramsforth from execution. Ramsforth, accused of the brutal murder of his mistress, Artemisia, will face the hangman's noose in a week's time if the real killer is not found.

But Lady Sundridge is not all that she seems, and unmasking her true identity is only the first of many secrets Veronica must uncover. Together with her natural-historian colleague, Stoker, Veronica races against time to find the true murderer. From a Bohemian artists' colony to a royal palace to a subterranean grotto with a decadent history, the investigation proves to be a very perilous undertaking indeed.... [Goodreads Summary]

Thank you for voting!

February brings to rain,

thaws the frozen lake again.

~ excerpt from "The Months" by Sara Coleridge

I have fallen a little behind in my nightly poetry reading and need to play catch up. I did, however, recently read a poetry collection I thought I would share about today.

Poetry is often about feelings for me. Find me. keep me. by Renaada Williams (Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2022; 128 pgs) truly is raw and emotional. Through her poetry, she invites readers to share some of her most intimate thoughts and experiences. The poet delves deeply into themes such as sexuality, racial identity, overcoming trauma, and mental health challenges in a very genuine way. 

There is one poem about self-care which I especially liked. Self-care comes in all forms, including waiting to start tomorrow.  I think my favorite section though was "two americas". There is one section where Renaada Williams writes:

Black be pure. Black be joy. Black be scared. Black be laughter. Black be struggle. Black be happiness. Black be journey. Black be lonely. Black be gold. Black is painful. Black is beautiful. 

She goes on like this, naming different characteristics, ending with "Black be resilient" repeated over and over again, capturing the beauty and empowerment in her words. It is especially meaningful given the two Americas she is writing about in this section as she calls out racism. As a white person, my experiences may not be the same, but I could feel her passion and the truth in her words.

I highlighted quite a bit in this collection--too much to share here--but here are some of my favorite excerpts: 

blood splattered

painted on every branch of our family tree

thunderstorms

thicker than

saws to set me free [excerpt from "two americas", find her. keep her.]

and 

i am 

a gift

a token

they welcomed me my laughter

my entertainment my pain

my movement

but ask me

to leave my roots at the door.  [excerpt from "two americas", find her. keep her.]

and also

I got better at hiding the scars

a hopeless dove without her wings don't believe

anything or anyone

making you feel unworthy even if it's yourself! [excerpt from "records of self-discovery", find her. keep her.]

Heart-wrenching, thought-provoking and inspirational are all words I would use to describe this collection.

Let's talk about Guts by Raina Telgemeier (Scholastic, 2019; 144 pgs). My daughter swears I plucked Guts off her shelf on my own, but I feel certain she told me she wanted me to read it. It doesn't really matter whose memory is the most accurate. Mouse and I  have enjoyed every graphic novel by Raina Telgemeier we've read. Mouse wasn't always so into reading, and I have Raina and her book Smile to thank for igniting that spark in her. After reading it the first time, she immediately started reading it again. Then would go on to read it multiple times after that as well. I went out and found every graphic novel like Smile I could find, wanting to see her love for reading continue and grow. She loves graphic novels and manga, and also has come to love and enjoy reading other types of books. She once told me the bigger the book the better--"because the story lasts longer." 

I'm venturing into Mouse's Corner with all this Mouse talk, aren't I? Back to Guts. Guts is the third book in the author's Smile series (the second being Sisters). The series is actually a graphic memoir, based on the author's real life. In this particular installment, Raina is struggling with school issues, worries about food and friendships, and oncoming puberty. Things many of us can relate to. I could see my daughter in the pages of the book, which makes sense given they are of a similar age (I think Raina is slightly younger in this memoir).

Guts also touches on mental health concerns, anxiety in particular. Something just about everyone deals with at some point in their life to one degree or another. Raina has suffered with anxiety most of her life. This book was a good opportunity for me to talk with my daughter about our personal struggles with anxiety, and how well we could relate to Raina. I appreciated the way the author normalized getting help for anxiety, including seeing a therapist. Something that I wish more books for children would do. Little Raina is such a sweetheart and I wanted to give her a hug more than once. I have great admiration for the author and am grateful she is sharing her story with young readers (and us older ones too). 

Mouse recently read Ravenfall by Kalyn Josephson, the first in a series, about a 13 year old girl with the the power of foreseeing death. It is not the most useful of skills. Or so she thinks up until she meets a boy who is in town looking for his missing brother and the monster that killed their parents. All I can get out of Mouse so far about the book is that "it was very good." I could hear her complaining to her grandmother as they walked up the path to our front door the other afternoon about how she has to wait until October for the second book to come up. I know what that's like all too well . . . 

Mouse is now reading The Keeper by Guadalupe García McCall. It is the story of two siblings, James and Ava, who recently moved with their family from Texas to Oregon. They are both learning to adjust to their new home when James begins finding mysterious letters signed by someone calling themselves The Keeper. The grown-ups think this is just another of the kids' pranks, but Ava and James know otherwise. They believe it's tied to stories of other children who had gone missing in the past and decide to investigate for themselves, afraid they might be the next victims. 

 

My favorite local independent bookstore is having to move after their lease was not extended. They were given a month's notice, which was then extended to two months after public outcry. That is still not a lot of time to find a new location and pack up and move--not to mention the expense of it all. The property management company says it wants to move in a new direction, but there has been speculation that it has something to do with the store's focus on LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC authors and literature, and their hosting drag queen story hours. Whatever the reason, it is sad news for the community. The owner and her staff are confident that they will find a new and better home, and, in the meantime, will continue their many book clubs, author events, and maintain their online store.  

I imagine my family and I will be visiting there again this month and next to show our support. On our last visit, this is what we added to our shelves: 

New to My Shelves

The Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff

This Is Not a Personal Statement by Tracy Badua

New to Mouse's Shelves

Out of My Heart (Out of My Mind #2) by Sharon M. Draper

Magus of the Library, Vol. 1 by Mitsu Izumi, translated by Stephen Kohler

Ouran High School Host Club, Vol. 2 by Bisco Hatori

Cursed Princess Club, Vol. 1 by LambCat

Recent E-Book Purchases

Night Angels by Weina Dai Randel

The Chemistry of Love by Sariah Wilson

What new books made it onto your shelf recently? 

I am continuing to make my way through Grey's Anatomy and have even gotten my husband and daughter interested on occasion. I am up to season 12. Wanting something a little different but not willing to leave Shondaland just yet, I started rewatching the first season of How To Get Away With Murder. I forgot how well written that show is. I am only about three episodes in right now.

My daughter expressed an interest in watching The X-Files the other day and so my husband popped in the first DVD. We have watched the first two episodes so far. My husband remembers the show like yesterday. Me, not so much. I think I remember later episodes more so.

We also recently saw the first episode of Poker Face, which is about a woman who has an uncanny ability to know when people are lying. She uses her skills to solve crimes while on the run from people who want her dead. 

As a family, we have started rewatching our old Harry Potter DVDs at my daughter's request and are up to the fourth film. This is one of those instances where one struggles with liking the art but not the artist. We do not agree or support the author of the books in her beliefs, but we have long loved the magic of the Harry Potter series.

What have you watched recently?

This Past Week In Reading Mews

• Top Ten Tuesday: My Favorite Covers of 2022 (of books I read)
• Can't Wait to Read Wednesday: The Love Scribe / The Writing Retreat / When the Moon Turns Blue / Wolf Hall
• Where Is Your Bookmark: A Peek into Speaker of the Lost, Rereading & My Childhood Favorites

I hope you have a great week! Let me know what you have up to and what you are reading!

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© 2023, Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

And then…Aurora, Michigan.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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© 2023 Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.