Everything I Wanted To Happen Happened! Review of Heart of Obsidian- Books Of My Heart Read Along!

The year and this read-along is rapidly coming to a close. I was very excited to read this book. Since the moment Kaleb Krychek entering the series, I've been hoping he'd get a book. And this is his book!  It was so well done, I'd give this six stars if I could. I don't even know how the next couple of books will top this one! Maybe they won't and that will be OK, but I think Nalini Singh has some additional tricks up her sleeve...looking at you Tatiana and Ming...

I loved this!  The perfect reveal! 

It's happening!  They are learning that they have to work together to avoid disaster!  I love this! 

Well, that's all I can really say about the book, I don't want to spoil anything.  I'm so glad I decided to join Books of My Heart's read-along this year! This series has been so enjoyable!  I loved this book so much I'm already a third of the way into the next book, which is building on book 12 in a great way. Again I can't say much, I don't want to spoil! 

I hope you are having a very nice Monday.  Fall is right around the corner!! 

 

#TheSundayPost Fall Starts This Week - And Happy HOCO!

 

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted here @ Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.  See rules here: Sunday Post Meme

Yesterday on my long run I smelled fall. It's coming, slowly but surely the 88-degree weather will be replaced with sweater weather! I can't wait--I want it to be cool on 10/10 AKA Marathon Day! 

This weekend was Youngest Child's last Homecoming!  I can't believe it's her senior year already. At the very least it seems like she started high school five minutes ago.  I was happy that the high school was able to put on the homecoming dance this year.  It was outside under a big tent on the school grounds.  

Here she is before the festivities.  We got to go to the house where she and her friends got ready and I took a bunch of pictures.  Happily, she thought some of the pictures I took were good pictures. 

Reading-wise I was a little behind and finished Heart of Obsidian late Friday night so I am going to put together my review and post it tomorrow.  I can sum up my review for you here: 5 stars, everything I hoped for in a book featuring Kaleb! 

This week I'll be reviewing a couple of cozy mysteries as well, 

I'm reading this one for the Cozy Mystery Book Club live stream on 9/28! 

I rec'd a copy of #Murderatthelobstahshack from #NetGalley, this will be out in November! 

This week I'm doing my second Meals Across Miles Meal Prep Workshop.  I'll be prepping 4-5 skillet meals. I need to put together my script and plan the prep for the prep!  

What are you up to this week?  Ready for fall? 

Another Fun Cozy from Stella Bixby! Magical Mane Series Book 5!

I enjoyed this book as much as I like this cover, which is to say, a whole lot!  Since book one, I've been all-in to watch Ellie's journey from a wandering yogi to the owner of a magical farm and occupational therapy business.

In this installment, we learn more about Ellie's mysterious family and a huge expectation that awaits her.  She may be taking on a very important role in the magical world she is just now learning to navigate. I'm so excited to see what happens next.

The central mystery in this book is a good one, I was kept guessing right up until the reveal.  I liked the introduction of a witch that can communicate with animals. I would like her to come and chat with my dog! 

 My favorite scene in the book is not part of the mystery at all, it's a scene between Jake and Ellie. I don't want to spoil it, suffice it to say I love that theme of found family that winds through this series. 

I also like Xander and I hope my trust that at the end of the day he will actually be good for Ellie despite what others say, is not misplaced!

Overall, as I have said each time I read a book in this series, if you like a magical cozy, read this series! It's fun and I like that it takes place in Iowa--not a typical cozy town location!

4.25 stars. 

*****

Also today it was 88 degrees!  I'm over it! Come on Fall!  It's the last month of marathon training and I'm at the point where I'm tired of running especially in this ding-dong heat!  

 

Upcoming Cozy Mystery Release #DeathontheShelf #NetGalley

 This series is one of my favorite cozy mystery series.  I really enjoy the story arc of Carrie Singleton as she makes a life for herself in the town of Clover Ridge.  This entry in the series focuses on a murder at a wedding and weddings is a central theme in the book. It was enjoyable reading to hear Carrie's inner monologue as she questions whether she might be ready to consider such a next step with her boyfriend Dylan. 

Unlike previous books, there isn't as much of Uncle Bosco and Aunt Harriet, which makes sense as this book focuses on Carrie's best friend Angela (the bride) and her family.  It's fun to see how Carrie and  Police Chief John Mather work together. I wasn't too keen on the danger Carrie puts herself in as the book hit its climax, but the tension kept me up late into the night because I needed to know what happened next. 

Once again, our library ghost, Evelyn seems shady and secretive with her requests for help from Carrie.  A ghost of mystery.  I like that Carrie continues to remain suspicious about Evelyn and her motives. I wonder how the library expansion will affect ​Evelyn?  

Overall this was a solid entry in this Haunted Library series.  I'm looking forward to Carrie's next adventures! 

4 Stars!

#DeathontheShelf #NetGalley 

I rec'd an ARC of the book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  You can add this book to your TBR list on GoodReads here: Death on the Shelf by Allison Brook

It's Been Too Long! #TheSundayPost #MidSeptember!

 

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted here @ Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.  See rules here: Sunday Post Meme

Hi Everyone! Long time no post!  I'm so happy to be writing this week!  I'm very glad we are on the cusp of fall. This summer for me was hot, long, and tiring.  I used to love summer but these last few have been, ah, less than ideal.  So onward to the beauty and crisp temperatures of fall. 

It is now less than a month until the Chicago Marathon!  As I have said before, I have been raising funds for Imerman Angels, a wonderful group that provides peer support to anyone diagnosed with cancer.  Now we are getting so close to the marathon!  Eeek!  This is the part where I start getting nervous about the big day! 

Have you watched any good shows lately?  I cannot rate Only Murders in The Building on Hulu high enough.  It's a true delight! If you enjoy murder mysteries, true crime podcasts, or cozy mysteries. You've got to watch this show! 

This week I'll be reviewing the following books: 

Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you are having a wonderful September so far!

Happy Friday! My Review is Featured on Books of My Heart!

 

I am excited to share that my review of the latest installment in Books of My Heart's annual Read-Along is up!  Check it out here!

The book really started slow for me, but by the end...Wow!  So much is happening! 

This week my gig as oldest child's ride back and forth to college resumed, so I'm adjusting my schedule to a few driving days each week.  He's a senior so this will be my last year of driving him around!  He doesn't have a driver's license and has no interest in driving. Maybe that will change in the future? Who knows! Once he is done with school, he'll be looking for a job that he can take public transportation to and from, luckily we live in an area with that option. 

At the moment, I am about halfway through reading an ARC of :

 It's fun to see how Carrie has become the go-to town mystery solver. She is the Jessica Fletcher of Clover Ridge! 

#TheSundayPost TBH, I've think I've had enough humidity for one year.

 

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted here @ Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.  See rules here: Sunday Post Meme

On the whole, this was a good week, I read two books and I was able to get my runs in on schedule.  I even got my new running shoes (on clearance!) My footwear for the marathon is decided!

 I also wrote an outline for the youtube meal prep I'm doing on Wednesday night. Today I realized that I need to have gloves so I can keep my hands clean while prepping or the video is going to have too many times where I stop to wash my hands.  

 So I have a pack of gloves I can use. I also decided that I'm going to have one of the meals finished so I can do the prep and then, a moment later, reveal the finished dish! 

This weekend I'm writing a review that will be the highlighted review for Anne's Read-along over at Books Are My Heart   

Next week I'll also be posting a review of a #NetGalley ARC for a cozy series I love! The Haunted Library Mystery series is so fun! 

How was your week?  Did you do anything fun?  Read any good books lately? 

While Justice Sleeps! A thriller by Stacey Abrams

 

A rarity in my bookcase, a hardback version of a book. I received this book from my dad for my birthday. A great choice on his part as it was on my TBR list and my library hold list.  While Justice Sleeps is a thriller about a cover-up that goes all the way to the President.   Our main character is  Avery, a Supreme Court Justice Clerk. Avery is not just book smart, but street smart, she is passionate and she is able to keep working on a problem until she is able to solve it with not just a good outcome, but the best possible outcome.

The book contains many details about how the court system works, a fair amount of discussion on genetic research, and some new vocabulary words for me. I enjoyed that this book required more attention and taught me about things I didn't already know. It's a challenging ride, which I appreciated! I also appreciated that Avery isn't beat up or attacked physically over and over in the book. She outsmarts not outfights. 

I thought the ending left things open enough that there could be a series staring Avery--if Stacey Abrams has time to write it! 

All in all a quality thriller 4.25 stars from me! 

Week 3,4 and now 5: Thursday #BCSM Post: Notes on taking Lynparza aka Olaparib

 

My mom gave me this mug when we visited a couple of weeks ago. Being agnostic, it didn't hit me on a spiritual level, but I really enjoy the quote from proverbs. I might like the bible more if we chucked everything outside the beatitudes and proverbs. Oh and the part where Jesus tells rich people they suck! 

Exciting news I'm on my second bottle of this drug!  One bottle (ie one month) down 11 to go. Taking this drug as prevention against a possible recurrence has given me a deeper respect for those who are living with metastatic cancer who take this drug until it stops working. It's not easy and there have been about three days each week where I want to just stop taking it. However, I remind myself of that old saying, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Plus there is no cure for metastatic breast cancer.

Side effectwise, I had too many days of fatigue and nausea and that lead to me not posting for a couple of weeks. This week I am hoping I have turned a corner, the fatigue has been greatly reduced.  The nausea is much less frequent. I tell you what, if I had to pay for this drug out of pocket, boy I don't think I could do it, it's not pleasant to take, it would be hard to justify if the cost was say $100 or more a month. 

Fingers and toes crossed that my tolerance of the drug continues! 

Some October in August! #MrsClausandtheHalloweenHomicide #NetGalley

Having enjoyed Mrs. Claus and the Santaland Slayings, I was excited to request an ARC of the second book in the series from NetGalley.  I know it's only mid-August, but I'm ready to start getting excited for spooky season.  

Liz Ireland does a nice job of expanding the Mrs. Claus Universe I enjoyed learning about snow monsters as part of the newfound Halloween traditions of the town.  I love how April had embraced her sleuthing tendencies and is building lasting relationships in her adopted home. 

Unlike most cozy mysteries, there is no body in the first chapter.  In this story there is a different inciting incident and then you read on with bated breath wondering is someone about to get it?  Who is going to be the victim?  The only thing I would like to see in the book would be to have Nick be a more in-depth character. I feel he is not as fleshed out as his mother, sister, or sister-in-law, or even as much as elfman Jingles.

This seasonal cozy has a great mystery and is chock-full of the Halloween spirit. 4 stars!  Or should I  say 4 🎃🎃🎃🎃!!!

 Definitely add this to your fall reading list!