Amazon First Read - Thriller with Magical Realism

 Today at my house we all have the day off.  My husband works from home and he is terrible about actually taking time off, so we will see if he goes ahead and logs a few hours of work. It's below zero here so I'm not going to be doing my but staying home today. My big excitement for today is to sign up for my local library's Winter Reading Challenge!  I want to win a fun prize!  A few years ago I won a Fitbit, which was an excellent reward for doing something I love to do. 

Do you have a local library? Do they do reading challenges?  

For January you can get two Amazon First books if you are a Prime member. I chose Almost Surely Dead as one of my choices.  In the book, we follow our unreliable narrator and try to figure out who is trying to kill her and why. There are supernatural elements that reveal themselves as it goes along. Dunia is the main character and her family is from Pakistan and they are Muslim. She isn't a practicing Muslim and is very disconnected from her heritage--but in the book, her heritage is key to the plot.

It's a fast-paced book and I enjoyed it.  I did have a few wait what? moments toward the end regarding a couple of developments in the story. Overall it was a decent read from a new author and I would consider reading another book from her.  Four Stars!

The Once and Future Witches

 I listened to the audio version of this book and it did take me a little while to get into the book, it has three POV characters so just a little time to get straight which sister was which, but once it got rolling. I loved it. I thought there were so many lines in it at were lyrical or a unique metaphor that I'm planning to buy the book so that I can see the words.

The idea that women are actually witches and that the powers that be want to keep women stripped of the witchcraft so that they were subservient to the male patriarchy, well as the kids say, it just hit different post-Roe than it might have hit before.  The book felt like thinly veiled nonfiction. 

In this book, Alix E.Harrow writes about the generations of women passing down the spells of their ancestors via nursery rhymes. I just thought that was so clever.  

One of the criticisms of this book that I saw was readers felt it was too long.  It is a longer book, but the storytelling really worked for me and I would say don't discount it based on the length.  My favorite chapter of the book was chapter 36. A lovely payoff to a couple of the storylines.  Additionally, this book does a nice job of incorporating real history in the fictional story.  

If you are looking for a witchy book, consider giving this book a try.  This one was a 5 star read for me!  

Glimmer Lake Trilogy by Elizabeth Hunter

 

I don't remember where I saw this book recommended, but I thought it was worth checking out so I added it to my Kindle. This was my first time reading Elizabeth Hunter. Before I knew it, I was finishing up the third book in this delightful series.  Suddenly Psychic starts off with a major car accident that kick starts the stagnant lives of Robin, Val, and Monica. Robin is an almost empty nester who feels more like a roommate to her husband than a wife. Val is a single mom of two with an ex-husband who behaves more like a teenager than a co-parent. Monica is struggling with her new title of widow.   Sounds like your typical women's fiction right? 

Not quite, as you might guess from the title, Suddenly Psychic the car accident changes these old friends.  Each one develops a psychic ability. Book one focuses on Robin, the second on Val, and the last on Monica. The town of Glimmer Lake features in the series and it is everything you would want in a small town located in the Sierra Nevada mountains. In each of the books, the main character learns how to come to terms with her new ability, and together they are able to solve long-forgotten mysteries that are affecting the town's present day. 

And we get some nice light romance!  The books are short and available for free with a Kindle Unlimited subscription.  I highly recommend planning a weekend trip to Glimmer Lake.

I'm looking forward to reading more from Elizabeth Hunter, I enjoy her writing and she has books in a variety of genres!

#MagicLiesandDeadlyPies #NetGalley Cozy or Not a Cozy?

Here is a description of this book from the publisher: 

"Daisy Ellery’s pies have a secret ingredient: The magical ability to avenge women done wrong by men. But Daisy finds herself on the receiving end in Misha Popp’s cozy series debut, a sweet-as-buttercream treat for fans of Ellery Adams and Mary Maxwell.

The first time Daisy Ellery killed a man with a pie, it was an accident. Now, it’s her calling. Daisy bakes sweet vengeance into her pastries, which she and her dog Zoe deliver to the men who’ve done dirty deeds to the town’s women. But if she can’t solve the one crime that’s not of her own baking, she’ll be out of the pie pan and into the oven."

So you see from the description that our prortagonist bakes murder pies.  This is not how a typical cozy works even paranormal cozies.  So if you are someone who prefers the classic formula of a cozy, this is not likely to work for you.  This book also include swearing and dark themes (most specifically domestic abuse).

I enjoy reading all sorts of genres and I've always loved books with magical elements. So this book worked well for me.  It felt like more of a thriller than anything else, a magical realism thriller?  Well in any case, I don't think it really needs a label. The concept was interesting, the first few pages drew me in and the story had a nice resolution and room for growth.

4 out of 5 Stars.  I hope the series continues, I look forward to book 2!

Oh the pie baking scenes made my mouth water--and there are recipes in the back. 

Thanks very much to #NetGalley for the ARC of this book!  All the opinions are my own! 

Here is a Gluten Free pot pie I made recently!  Premade dough is key for my pie making skills (ie I don't have any pie making skills!) 

Finally Able to Borrow This Book! Under The Whispering Door!

 

I put this book on my holds list ages ago, and my number came up recently.  This book is by the same author as The House in The Cerulean Sea.  I have not read that book. I think this book is darker than The House in the Cerulean Sea based on how that book I have heard more than one person say is like a cozy, warm blanket on a cold day.

As per usual, I didn't look at any reviews or other information about the book before I read it. I saw the cover and I heard good things so I decided to borrow it. I don't know if this is described as a Fantasy book or if it is more correctly Magical Realism.  I think if you read either genre or neither genre, you will enjoy this book.  

This book is steeped in grief and longing, so if you are not in a place to read about death, even if there is every reason to believe in life after death, this is not the book for you at this time. I think I might have enjoyed the book a little more if I knew one thing about this book.  I am going to scroll down and say something that is in the spoiler realm so stop reading here if you don't want to know this one thing, it's going to be vague and doesn't ruin the reading experience; in fact, it would have helped me to be less sad reading this book--which would have enhanced my reading.   Overall I give this book 4 stars.  Stop reading

 if you want no info about the book included something that might be a little spoiler-ish 

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

I wish I had known that this book has a HEA. I read without hope all the way to like 93%.  I'm still having a sadness hangover. 

An All Around Solidly Good Read! #TheConductors By Nicole Glover

 

I don't know exactly how this book is categorized, but to me, it was a magical, historical cozy. This book takes place in a post-Civil War era where Black people are finally free to live and to use their magic. During the Civil War Hetty and Benjy were conductors on the underground railroad.  These days they live in Philadelphia where Hetty is a seamstress and Benjy is a blacksmith. 

They also solve crimes the white establishment can't be bothered to try and solve. That's where the murder mystery comes in--plus they practice sigil magic.  Hetty is still searching for her sister who was captured during their escape from a plantation. Benjy and Hetty are married by it's a marriage of convenience, not love. 

In the first book in this new series we are introduced to an interesting and quirky cast of characters, we learn what motivates Hetty and Benjy and what they are up against. The book is told from Hetty's point of view, I liked her voice and her opinions. She is a quintessential amateur sleuth and she has a little magic so I don't get too upset when she puts herself in a tight spot. 

If you like magical cozies, or historical cozies, I really think you should check this book out, it's longer than a standard cozy and it's described as fantasy fiction---but I know a new kind of cozy when I read one and this is a wonderful one! 

4 Stars for The Conductors by Nicole Glover.  Add it to your TBR!  

Lark and the Loon, by Rhiannon Gelston- A Virtual Book Tour

I’m delighted to be participating in author Rhiannon Gelston’s blog tour for her latest release, LARK AND THE LOON. 

I was drawn to participate in this virtual book blog tour because of this cover! I love the rainbow of color in the background along with the child in profile under a tree. This cover says to me the contents of this book will be filled with the sorts of adventures that can only happen when you are a kid.

If I had to compare this book to another book I would say that Lark's journey reminded me of The Little Prince. A fantastical adventure with unusual companions by a boy who is 10.

I found that I appreciated the fanciful telling of the author's own story as a mother, as I think it made space for telling hard, frightening times with joy and love.

◊ Genre: Memoir with a Twist
◊ Publisher: WiDo Publishing (July 17, 2020)
◊ Print & eBooks
◊ Paperback: 284 pages
◊ ISBN-10: 1947966251
◊ ISBN-13: 978-1947966253

Lark and the Loon follows the adventures of a tentative boy named Lark, as he is catapulted out of all that he knows, into a courageous journey beyond his wildest imagination. 

Upon receiving a special gift from his Gramps, Lark embarks on a reflective journey of self-discovery as the innovative story weaves the true-life memoir of his mother (the author) in with a fantastical journey. With some special new-found friends, Lark travels back and forth from a symbolic tree to his mother’s true memories of life and death moments, and simple moments, found everywhere from wild Africa to their very own living room. Lark and his friends must ascend this tree and gain the important life lessons offered along the way if they ever hope to find their way out. Within this journey, Lark finds these lessons, and ultimately himself, in the space between imagination and truth in this wild tale.  

The story explores friendships, philosophies, and everyday challenges and joys, both from a child's perspective and from a parent's perspective. This memoir with a twist results in a coming-of-age story that ultimately leads to a new understanding of self, others, and the world that surrounds us.

LARK AND THE LOON is available at AMAZON * Barnes & Noble * WiDo Publishing. Also, be sure to add it to your TBR List on Goodreads.

Meet the Author

RHIANNON GELSTON loves to lose herself in all things creative. She enjoys writing, painting, live music, traveling, sports, being outdoors, exploring, playing, spirituality, and energy work. She has a BA in English and an MS in Occupational Therapy with a pediatric focus. Rhiannon just had her first novel published. It is a memoir with a twist called, LARK AND THE LOON, available wherever books are sold.

Rhiannon grew up on Spa Creek in downtown Annapolis. Home for Rhiannon will always be the sound of the halyards hitting the masts on a breezy day, a pile of crabs saturated in Old Bay, raft-ups with friends as kids cannonball off of the stern, and time with family and friends, in, on, and around the Chesapeake Bay.

She lives in Annapolis with her husband, their five lovely and lively children, and their black lab, McNasby.

Connect with Rhiannon on Facebook and Instagram.

Be sure to enter the tour wide giveaway. It ends May 3. The grand prize is a $25 Amazon Gift Card and an eBook of LARK AND THE LOON. The second-place winner has to be a US resident as the gift is a signed copy of LARK THE LOON. The third-place prize is an eBook that two winners will receive. If the Rafflecopter widget doesn’t work, you can still enter by clicking HERE.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks for stopping by today. Doesn’t this sound like an intriguing memoir?

#FriYay! #2021AudioBookChallenge Magic For Liars

 This year I'm participating in the Caffeinated Reader's Audiobook Challenge.   Today's review is an audiobook that I picked up from the Chirp website, it was less than $5.00 USD!  Such a deal, plus if you want to use my referral link you can get 20% off your first order. 

The reason I purchased this book was because I enjoy the reader XE Sands.  Her voice is perfectly suited for telling the tales of world-weary PIs and this book's protagonist is a jaded PI who has spent years investigating fraudsters and cheaters.  Now she's been asked to investigate the murder of a teacher at a school for Mages.   To complicate things, her estranged sister is a teacher at the school.  

Ivy and her sister Tabitha have been avoiding each other for decades. The book is told from Ivy's point of view, so we know she has a deep longing to reconcile with her sister.  Conversely, she is also incredibly angry with her sister over their mother's death.  Their mother died of cancer when they were teenagers.  Trigger warning here, cancer plays a prominent role in Ivy's past and throughout this book. It did not bother me, but if I had started listening to this book during treatment for cancer last year, I probably would have put the book back down (or in this case deleted it off my phone).

What I enjoyed in this book is how magic is a presence that both helps and hinders the investigation. Ivy doesn't have any magical ability and this lack of magic gives her a giant chip on her shoulder, which is an important trait in good PI--a strong sense of lack. 

In my mystery reading, my favorite murder motives are greed, hubris, or unintended consequences, I find these motives always beat boring old jealousy.  In Magic for Liars Sarah Gailey gives us a wide-ranging group of potential suspects with solid motives and not great alibis.  In the end, the murder is solved and Ivy our protagonist, has made in-roads into accepting the possibility that maybe she is enough as she is and worthy of someone's affection. 

The book finishes with Ivy ready to make an emotional leap, but we do not see what happens as a result of her leap of faith. I don't need to know how things turn out because the point is that she's decided to change her script. 

If you like PI mysteries or Contemporary Fantasy- I say give this a read or a listen.  4.5 stars!

This book is a stand-alone book, it's not part of a series! 

The Midnight Library Book Review and a Chicken Noodle Soup Game Changer! #BookClubBook

 Recently the grocery store had a big sale on Chicken Fryers, and that means one day we had Roasted Chicken, and the next day I made my signature Mama's Soup.  Usually, I use frozen Reames Noodles, but they were $3.99 a bag and that was $1.49 more than I wanted to pay.  

I decided instead to make my own noodles.  I found a recipe that I like at The Spruce Eats and tried it out.  Nestled in this recipe is the best tip for making homemade noodles.  The recipe says you can use a knife to cut the dough into noodles or you can use--a PIZZA CUTTER!  Gamechanger!  Genius!  I'm so glad that someone thought of doing this! A pizza cutter works approximately 40x better for me than using a knife. 

Just a few days left to enter my Giveaway, just click on the MLK Day Giveaway Button on the right side of my blog to read and comment! 

Today's book review is for The Midnight Library this book is the January selection for a book club I belong to where we will be Zooming to discuss what we thought of the book on the last day of January. 

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

When I started reading this book, at first, I thought I would hate it. I even put it down for a few hours. Then I picked it back up for two reasons: 1. I'm reading it for a book club and 2. The title promised me a Midnight Library and I wanted to see what that library was all about.

Once I got inside The Midnight Library, I found out there is a Book of Regrets. A Book of Regrets! That was the hook the reached inside and grabbed me. Now I was all in! I needed to know where this was going to end for Nora.

I have a soft spot in my heart for multiverses, libraries, and Henry David Thoreau. I love what if's and the idea that there are different versions of me out there living different lives having taken different paths and having made different choices. The tale of Nora Seed unfolded in expected and unexpected ways, much like any of our lives would under similar circumstances.

I devoured this book over a weekend, stopping at times to share quotes from the book. Now that the story is over, I think I might read it again someday very soon--and for that reason, it's a 5-star book for me.

I'd like to think there really is a Midnight Library for each of us.

View all my reviews