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Thursday, April 20, 2023
Thursday This & That
1:26 PM
I've been a bit M.I.A. this month. Although I've still been reading, everything else has kind of taken a back burner to the big exam I just completed. I became an accredited genealogist earlier this year, with a specialty in the U.S. Southwest region (Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and California, as defned by ICAPGen), but, because I'm a little crazy, I decided to accredit in an additional region. This one has actually been a long time coming thanks to COVID delays, but I finally took the 8-hour exam to accredit in the U.S. Great Lakes region (Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, Indiana, and Illinois). It was stressful, but I'm done. Keep your fingers crossed that I pass it!
As a reward for completing my testing (not that I ever really need an excuse), I treated myself to a Barnes & Noble trip. I considered driving to Tempe to hit up my local(ish) indie, Changing Hands Bookstore, but after a long morning of testing, I was basically on the verge of collapse and I just didn't want to drive that far. So, I stayed really local and bought this lovely trio at B&N:
(My son was shocked that I posed my treasures by the pool. Don't worry, no books were harmed in the making of this post!)
I've been dying to read all of these:
Nine Liars by Maureen Johnson—This is the fifth book in Johnson's fabulous Truly Devious series. The books are YA mysteries starring a teen true crime aficianado who uses her skills to solve cold and hot cases.
The Secrets of Hartwood Hall by Katie Lumsden—There's nothing I like better than a Gothic mystery set in a mysterious old house. This one fits the bill nicely.
Homecoming by Kate Morton—I may have mentioned a few (hundred) times that Morton has a new book out. She's one of my all-time favorite authors, so this was an auto-buy. I should have put Homecoming on top of the stack because it has a gorgeous cover. The novel is about a murder that takes place in Australia in 1959 and the modern woman who's determined to solve it once and for all.
I don't know what the weather's looking like in your neck of the woods, but here in the Arizona desert it's been in the low 80s. It's cool enough (in the shade at least) to read poolside. I'm super wimpy so I don't actually get in the water until the temperature's over 100. Luckily (or unluckily, depending on your opinion of Arizona's ridiculously hot weather), it won't be long now. Summer is my least favorite season, but at least I can always step outside and take a refreshing dip in my pool. Could be worse!
What are you all up to? Read anything good lately? I just started an e-ARC of Warrior Girl Unearthed, Angeline Boulley's second novel, which comes out on May 2. It has to do with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). I'm only a few chapters in and it's already eye-opening and intriguing. On audio, I'm listening to The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle by Jennifer Ryan. I've read and loved most of Ryan's books. This one feels slower than her others, but it's still an enjoyable listen.
Breaking news: I'm hoping to actually get a review posted before the week's out! Right? It's been a hot minute since that's happened around here. Stay tuned...
Tuesday, April 04, 2023
Top Ten Tuesday: Indie/Self-Published Books I Want to Read
6:29 PM
How do you feel about self-published books? What about those that come through smaller, independent presses? That's what today's TTT prompt is all about: Top Ten Indie/Self-Published Books. I'll be honest, I'm not hot on the self-pubbed. I've read so many stinkers in the past that, nowadays, I avoid them, except when they come from an author I already know and love (Here's looking at you, Melanie Jacobson!). I'm fine with indie books, although I still don't seem to read many of them. All of this means that today's topic is a toughie for me. And yet, I'm pressing on, not going rogue this time. Impressed? You should be! I managed to find ten indie and self-published books that are now on my TBR list (if they weren't already).
As always, TTT is hosted by the lovely Jana over at That Artsy Reader Girl. Click on over to her blog for all the details.
Top Ten Indie/Self-Published Books I Want to Read
- in no particular order -
1. Here For It by Melanie Jacobson (Four Petal Press)—Jacobson published a bunch of books with Covenant Communications before turning to self-/indie publishing. There are many of her fun, flirty novels I still haven't gotten to, but I enjoyed So Not My Thing—the first installment in the Love in New Orleans trilogy—and I want to finish the series.
This second book stars Anneke, a supermodel who's in NOLA to help her BFF open his new jazz club. When she realizes that her online crush owns a record shop in town, she can't help but be intrigued. Jonah feels the same, although Anneke's not at all the kind of woman the music store owner has in mind for himself. So, why can't he stop thinking about her?
I always look forward to Jacobson's books because they're humorous, sassy, lighthearted, closed-door romances that are fun and entertaining.
2. Maybe I Will by Melanie Jacobson (Four Petal Press)—This third installment in the Love in New Orleans trilogy is an enemies-to-lovers romance between a feared food critic and a chef who's trying to make a name for himself. Chloe Morel and Dylan Jones have hated each other for years. When they suddenly become neighbors, the heat between them intensifies, but not in the way they expect. What will happen when their professional goals come between their growing attraction to each other?
Known as "America's Independent Publisher," Kensington has published a number of books that appeal to me, including:
3. The Second Mrs. Astor by Shana Abé (Kensington)—Everyone knows I'm a bit of a Titanic junkie, so it shouldn't surprise anyone that I want to read this one. The romance between 17-year-old Madeleine Talmage Force and wealthy businessman John Jacob Astor, a man almost three times her age, creates a huge scandal. Their honeymoon to Egypt provides a respite from the relentless attention of the press and other tongue-waggers, but their return trip on the Titanic proves to be anything but peaceful. In the aftermath of the tragedy, what will become of the young widow?
4. Mastering the Art of French Murder by Colleen Cambridge (Kensington)—This is the first book in a historical mystery series starring Julia Child's (fictional) BFF, Tabitha Knight. Also an American, Tabitha has fallen head over heels for the City of Lights. Her enchanted French experience turns sour, however, when a dead body is found in Julia's cellar. The murder weapon? A knife from Julia's kitchen. As the police begin their inquiries, Tabitha launches her own investigation. Who killed the dead woman and why? She aims to find out.
5. The Runaway by Lisa Childs (Kensington)—Once an insane asylum, Halcyon Hall is now an exclusive spa for the wealthy. Located on a secluded estate on an island off the coast of Maine, it's not an easy place to gain access to, which is a problem for Rosemary Tulle. Her younger sister's frantic phone call from Halcyon Hall, begging Rosemary to come get her, has left Rosemary worried and afraid. She grows even more desperate—and suspicious—when the spa's staff insist Genevieve ran away. Rosemary refuses to believe that. She will find her sister, no matter what it takes.
6. The Dry Grass of August by Anna Jean Mayhew (Kensington)—It's 1954 and 13-year-old Jubie Watts is on a road trip with her family and their Black maid, Mary Luther. As the group travels from their home in North Carolina to their destination in Florida, Jubie notices the racial tension that increases the deeper the longer they're on the road. When the unthinkable happens, Jubie will be left to reconcile with hard truths about the South, her parents—and herself.
7. Red Flags by Lisa Black (Kensington)—This series opener stars Dr. Ellie Carr, a crime scene analyst working in Washington, D.C. When she's assigned to a missing baby case, Ellie is stunned to discover the child's mother is her cousin. What happened to the baby? Ellie must find out.
8. Owl in the Oak Tree by Penny Walker Veraar (GG Publishing)—After her husband's death from cancer, Reagan Ramsey is doing everything she can to hold it together, especially for her special needs daughter. When a drive-by shooting happens right before Reagan's eyes, she becomes an unwitting witness to a shocking crime. As much as she wants the perpetrator brought to justice, she is terrifed of risking her family's safety. What will she do? How will her decision impact her already grief-stricken life?
9. Silver River Shadow by Jane Thomas (Books and Bicycles Press)—The plot summary of this middle-grade novel is unique and I don't want to screw it up by writing it in my own words, so here's the publisher's version:
In 1946, Barney and Marion Lamm climbed into their two-seater plane and flew deep into the heart of the Canadian wilderness. Then one day the wonderful life they created was ripped apart.
Over seventy years later, their great-granddaughter Lizzie follows in their footsteps. Nobody ever tells Lizzie anything. Her mother's dead and her father's hiding in his work. Determined to know her family history, the truths she uncovers are laced with dangerous secrets.
Based on a true story and a real, raw quest for truth, Silver River Shadow shines a light on a country's darkest secrets and unveils the mercury tragedy that still affects the Ojibway community in Canada's northwestern Ontario today. With gorgeous illustrations, this beautifully written book is perfect for 8+ fans of Katherine Rundell, Tom Palmer and Onjali Rauf.
Over seventy years later, their great-granddaughter Lizzie follows in their footsteps. Nobody ever tells Lizzie anything. Her mother's dead and her father's hiding in his work. Determined to know her family history, the truths she uncovers are laced with dangerous secrets.
Based on a true story and a real, raw quest for truth, Silver River Shadow shines a light on a country's darkest secrets and unveils the mercury tragedy that still affects the Ojibway community in Canada's northwestern Ontario today. With gorgeous illustrations, this beautifully written book is perfect for 8+ fans of Katherine Rundell, Tom Palmer and Onjali Rauf.
There you go, ten indie/self-published novels I want to read. Have you read any of them? What did you think? Which indie/self-published books have you enjoyed in the past? Which would you recommend to me based on the titles I've listed above? I'd truly love to know. Leave me a comment on this post and I will gladly return the favor on your blog.
Happy TTT!
Saturday, April 01, 2023
The Bookish Books Reading Challenge: April Book Ideas and Link Up for Reviews
11:06 PM
Although I had every intention of reading more than one bookish book in March, it just did not happen. I very much enjoyed the one I did get to, though:
Murder Off the Books is the third installment in Tamara Berry's By the Book cozy mystery series. I'm loving the series because it's just so much fun. Easy, entertaining reads are exactly what I need sometimes.
April is already shaping up to be a good month for bookish books because I'm already reading these two:
Smile Beach Murder is the first installment in Alicia Bessette's cozy mystery series set in North Carolina's Outer Banks area. It stars Callie Padget, a city reporter who's just been laid off. With nowhere else to go, she returns to her hometown temporarily to regroup. Soon after she gets hired at a local bookstore, she runs into an old friend, who soon ends up dead. The police think she jumped from the lighthouse because she wanted to kill herself; Callie refuses to believe it. Someone killed Eva Meeks, just like someone killed Callie's mother—in the exact same place—26 years ago. It's up to Callie to figure out what really happened to the dead women.
Emily Henry's name is all over the book blogosphere. Everyone seems to adore her books, so I knew I had to give them a go. I was excited when I saw that Book Lovers was available on audio from my library. I'm only a few chapters in, but so far it's super fun. I've already laughed out loud several times, which bodes very well.
I just found out about this book, which is a potential bookish read for April:
Dear Reader: The Comfor and Joy of Books is a memoir of the reading life of Cathy Rentzenbrink, a bookseller who became a professional writer.
I might also get a jump on this one since it's my book club's May pick:
Everyone's probably already read The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson, so I won't give you a plot summary. I adore this book, but it's been a minute since I read it so I'm going to re-read it so it's fresh in my mind for book club and so I can finally pick up the sequel:
As the title indicates, The Book Woman's Daughter is the story of the daughter of the beloved Troublesome Creek book woman. When Honey Lovett's parents are imprisoned, she has to fight to keep her own freedom. She starts running her mother's packhorse library route, delivering books to eager patrons in the remote hollers of Appalachia. Just as it did for her mother, the job changes Honey's life forever.
We'll see how many of these I actually get read, but this is a good tentative plan for April. We'll see how it goes. How about you? What bookish books did you read in March? Which are you planning on for April?
For those of you who are participating in the Bookish Books Reading Challenge, here's the Mr. Linky to use for linking up March reviews. If you've not yet signed up for the challenge, what are you waiting for? Join us in this low-key challenge that celebrates a genre we all love: books about books. It will be fun, I promise!
Tuesday, March 28, 2023
Top Ten Tuesday: If I Like These Ten Books and Authors, What/Who Else Would I Enjoy?
7:27 PM
If you want to join in the TTT fun (and you definitely do), click on over to That Artsy Reader Girl for all the details.
Okay, so here's the idea. I'm going to list ten of my favorite authors who are currently writing books and what I like about their work. Then, I would LOVE it if you would recommend similar books/authors that you think I might enjoy. I'm open to new genres (except for erotica and anything too graphic), but my go-tos are definitely mysteries, thrillers, historical fiction, historical mysteries, general/women's fiction, and family sagas. I tend to shy away from anything too literary or strange or fantasy-y. Non-fiction recs would be awesome as well. Make sense? Alright, put your thinking caps on and give me some great new books/authors to try!
If I Like These Ten Books and Authors, What/Who Else Would I Enjoy?
- in no particular order; images are of my favorite book by the author or the first book in my favorite series by them -
1. Kathy Reichs
- Writes: mysteries/thrillers/crime with a focus on forensic science (Reichs is a forensic anthropologist.)
- What I like about her books: strong female lead; likable, complex characters; forensics explained in a way that is approachable, but not condescendingly simple; upbeat vibe, edge-of-your-seat plotting, and humor throughout
2. Kate Morton
- Writes: historical fiction, family sagas, family secrets novels, dual-timeline
- What I like about her books: atmospheric settings, complex family dynamics, compelling plots, clean content, Gothic vibes
- Writes: mysteries/thrillers/crime for adults and YA; also writes urban fantasy and supernatural novels, but I haven't read any of those (not my genre)
- What I like about her books: strong female leads, humor, exciting plots, complex characters and relationship dynamics, understated romance as subplots
4. Ruta Sepetys
- Writes: YA historical fiction
- What I like about her books: unique settings, vivid historical detail, sympathetic characters, engaging prose
5. Louise Penny
- Writes: mysteries/thrillers/crime with a bit of a literary bent
- What I lilke about her books: rich, detailed settings; complex, sympathetic characters; lead character with wisdom and morals; interesting mysteries; easy to sink into
- Writes: YA contemporary fiction and YA mysteries/thrillers
- What I like about her books: warm vibe; page-turners; likable characters; twisty mysteries
7. Stacey Lee
- Writes: MG and YA contemporary and (mostly) historical fiction with a focus on the Chinese-American experience
- What I like about her books: rich, historical settings/details; unique take on known historical events; compelling plots; clean content; engaging
8. Riley Sager
- Writes: thrillers, psychological thrillers, mysteries, spooky books
- What I like about his books: creepy without being terrifying; intriguing premises; addicting stories; plots that pull me in and keep me reading fast and furious
- Writes: historical fiction
- What I like about her books: upbeat in spite of heavy subject matter; likable, sympathetic characters; strong female characters; vivid historical settings/details; engaging reads; clean content
10. Susan Meissner
- Writes: historical fiction, dual-timeline
- What I like about her books: dual-timelines, engaging plots, likable characters, vivid historical settings/details, complex relationships, family secrets, clean content
There you go, ten of my favorite authors who are still writing books. Have you read any of them? What readalikes can you think of for me? What did you do for your list today? I'd truly love to know. Leave me a comment on this post and I will gladly return the favor on your blog. I also reply to your comments here (although I've been a *little* slow at it lately).
Happy TTT!
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