Big Little Spells Thank You Net Galley

 

This book is the follow-up to the book Small Town, Big Magic. I believe that this book takes place right after book one.   Big Little Spells will be out on August 29th, so you have plenty of time to read that book and then pre-order this book.  

I liked aspects of this book and didn't connect with other aspects. If you like stories involving witches, this one takes place in Missouri, but it's a secret witchy town so no 'humans'. I felt a bit lost as I read, not knowing if more of the motivations and backstories would have been clearer if I had read book one.  The book is told from the POV of our main character Rebekah she was exiled from her community when she was a teen and this book references her teen years frequently but I didn't feel like I had a good understanding of what the deal was, even when the big incident of her teen years is revealed.  I could have benefited from a whole book with her and her sister and her friends from their senior year of HS. 

I liked that Rebekah had been in therapy and used those techniques to deal with issues that came up when she arrived back home. For the romance portion of the book, because this is a closed-door romance, I would have enjoyed a lot more build-up and pining. If you like witch books and don't really care for detailed romance I think this book will be a good fit for you--the romance is there and is a plot point but it's not too in your face--I apparently do like in-your-face romance! 

I read other reviews of this book and it seems that the consensus is if you like Hazel Beck's works or enjoyed the first book in the series, you are going to love this one! 

3 stars--thanks Net Galley for the ARC!  All opinions are mine! 

Those Empty Eyes- An Engaging Thriller

 

I've enjoyed every Charlie Donlea book I have read so I was excited to put this on hold at my local library and waited eagerly for my hold to come up.  This book is told mainly through the POV of a young woman who was accused of killing her own family and even after vindication in court, conspiracy theories abound and she has to take on a new identity.  This is just the tip of the iceberg of this story, so you are not being spoiled here. 

This book is a stand-alone story, BUT for fans of Charlie Donlea like me, about 80% into this story a side character from Charlie Donlea's book universe arrives on the scene.  The book has a resolution to all the questions the book asks, but also leaves room where I could see Charlie Donlea writing about the further adventures of our MC or one of the villains! Fun stuff! Great for vacation reading! 

5 stars!

****** 

My own personal writing update, I've started drafting my story!  I've written about 2000 words so far, just a really rough draft and who knows where it will all end--but I'm having fun getting to know these characters! 

The Sunday Post - School is Out For Summer

The Sunday Post is a blog news 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 your blog for the week ahead. Join in weekly, bi-weekly, or for a monthly wrap-up. See rules here: Sunday Post Meme 

Happy summer my friends!  My last day at school was on Monday!  My plan is more reading--the last few weeks I was busy and wasn't finding the time to read. I did go to a book talk with Stacey Abrams interviewed by Jake Tapper.  I enjoyed her first book in this political thriller series While Justice Sleeps and this one takes place just a few months later.  Stacey Abrams is very good at that sense of urgency that make a good thriller and her plots are possible, not likely but not impossible where it takes you out of the story. 

And speaking of thrillers I recently finished reading Those Empty Eyes by Charlie Donlea, whose books I always enjoy; I'll post a review of that book this week. 

I finished watching Queenmaker on Netflix, it is a Korean political thriller and it's quite good. If you liek a thriller, check it out!  What have you been up to? How is your summer going? 

 

Rehearsed to Death By Frank Anthony Polito

Here is the first paragraph of the description  of Rehearsed To Death:

"Hart to Hart via HGTV, this fabulous new quozy (queer cozy) mystery series by award-winning author and playwright Frank Anthony Polito’s features a gay couple who solve crimes while renovating houses in suburban Detroit as part of their hit reality show Domestic Partners. Now, their foray into community theater proves a major risk thanks to some deadly improvisation . . ."

When I was a wee lass, I LOVED Hart to Hart, the best detectives on TV!  So it's no wonder I enjoy this new series by Mr. Polito.  This is the second book in his series, and it's rare in two ways.  1. Instead of one amateur slueth we have an engaged couple--fun! I like having a couple instead of someone all on their own. 2. The couple in question is gay, there aren't very many cozy mysteries that have gay characters. 

In this book, the action and drama takes place on and off the stage as PJ's play Blue Tuesday is being produced and JP is the male lead.  I really enjoyed that in book one the focus was on their HDTV show and now in this book we have a focus on the play and the theater, a change of venue, really fun.

The story is told from PJ's point of view, almost as if we are reading his diary and I like this style.  If you read this book, keep in mind that this is going to be filled with humor alongside the more serious themes of murder and whatnot! 

4 Stars for Rehearsed To Death 

Thank you Net Galley for the electronic ARC, all opinions are my own!

Thank You Net Galley! A Cryptic Clue by Victoria Gilbert

 Because I enjoy Victoria Gilbert's Booklovers B & B Cozy Series, I requested her new mystery A Cryptic Clue from Net Galley. I'm not sure if this book is categorized as a Cozy, but it does have cozy elements, including an amateur sleuth, and no swearing. 

 I think it is more in Agatha Cristie's or Sherlock Holmes's style.  Cam Clewe is a thirty-something second-generation multi-millionaire (maybe even a billionaire?). He hires Jane Hunter, a former college librarian, to catalog his extensive collection of books, memorabilia, art, and more on his sprawling estate.   Cam is a handsome introvert with anxiety issues and perhaps OCD or ADHD.  Jane has a past that involved domestic violence.  Of course, not too much time passes before someone stumbles across a body, and Cam asks Jane to help him investigate who's the killer--since he is a prime suspect.

Victoria Gilbert gives us a large, but manageable, cast of suspects and some nice red herrings.  This first book solves the main mystery of who killed the person who died at Cam's estate, and in the end, Hunter and Clewe decide to work together to solve cold cases. I enjoyed the mystery and the pairing of 30-something Cam and 60-something Jane--something a little different in the main characters. If you enjoy mysteries, give this book a try, you'll enjoy it! 

My First Amazon First Read WOW-- So Good!

 

I usually forget to check out the free Amazon First Reads, but this month I remembered and I chose this book based on the cover. It looked interesting.  I read it in three sittings it was so good. This is the first book in what will hopefully be a nice series. As such it has several things going for it:

1. I was easily able to keep track of the characters.

2. A big bad problem was solved at the end of the book, so there's nice closure while plenty of other plates are in the air to make me want to read what happens next. 

3. Both POV characters are women. This seems like a rarity and I'd like to read more of it. 

The world-building is strong and the magic system is well thought out.  Some of what happens is really creepy and I would say this book has elements of Horror.  In total coincidence, part of the magic in this book involves people becoming stone statues, an element that is also in the KDrama Alchemy of Souls that I just finished watching.  

What do you think? Have you read anything else by Beth Cato or are you looking for a new fantasy book to read? 

5 Stars

Hammered By Kevin Herne Book #Readalong

 

I borrowed the ebook of Hammered  from my library, and I didn't finish the ebook. The book has quite a bit of Norse mythology and I was struggling with trying to pronounce those names in my head and keep everything straight. I switched to the audio version and it was easier for me to follow, I think this was mostly because I have watched all the Thor-related Marvel movies and was familiar with how various characters' names sound in contrast to knowing the spellings. 

This is the third book in the series and it looks like things will be changing from here, we will be moving away from Tempe, Arizona. This book takes place in Asgard for the most part, which was interesting. Lots of action and we don't really know if Atticus has really messed up by going after Thor, or if things will work out.  We do find out exactly what Jesus would do in Atticus's shoes, which is a fun scene in the book. 

The best part of this book for me is when Atticus is spending time camping out with his brothers-in-arms and we learn the back stories behind why this group of desperate supernatural beings want to kill Thor. 

This book is very male-centric and I would really like more Granuaile in these books, but I think maybe that isn't to be? 

I read this book for Anne's Read-Along you can check it out here and consider joining us! 

The Iron Druid Chronicles

3.5 stars

The Sunday Post - Good Reads and No More Boot

 

The Sunday Post is a blog news 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 your blog for the week ahead. Join in weekly, bi-weekly, or for a monthly wrap-up. See rules here: Sunday Post Meme 

After a total of seven weeks, I was finally able to go for a little run yesterday. I am going to be careful moving forward and run for fewer days so that I don't wind up with a stress injury again. This week is Patrick's birthday, it is very hard to believe he is already 23. Seems like a few minutes ago he was ten. We are going to a Star Wars Trivia night on his birthday and then as a family once Anna is home next weekend we are going to one of those watch "a movie and eat dinner" places to see Guardians of the Galaxy Three.  So a fun week!  By Friday, we will only have 17 more days of school left. 

The school kids all have spring fever so they are pretty rambunctious during lunch, but that's understandable we are all excited to enjoy the lazy, hazy days of summer! 

How was your week?  Below are the books I'll be blogging about this week- 

Reading this for the Readalong

Got this as an Amazon First Read

This one was from Net Galley

Possibility of Life, Are We Alone Out Here Or?

If you read or watch and enjoy Sci-Fi in any form, I recommend reading or listening to this book. Jaime Green approaches the big questions of our existence and whether or not we are alone as a scientist who loves to read. The book is filled with what we know from science and how that informs our stories of the possibility of life. If you find non-fiction to be 'dry' give this book a try and I think you'll find it fascinating. I am giving it 5 stars because it will stick with me for quite some time and because she talks about some books that I will now seek out and read. 

Here is what it says on Goodreads about this book:

In The Possibility of Life, acclaimed science journalist Jaime Green traces the history of our understanding, from the days of Galileo and Copernicus up through to our contemporary quest for exoplanets in the "Goldilocks zone," where life akin to ours on Earth might exist. Along the way, she interweaves insights from a long-standing tradition of science fiction writers who use the power of imagination to extrapolate and construct worlds that in turn inspire scientists.

Weaving in expert interviews, cutting-edge astronomy research, philosophical inquiry, and pop culture touchstones ranging from A Wrinkle in Time to Star Trek to Avatar, The Possibility of Life explores our evolving conception of the cosmos to ask an even deeper question: What does it mean to be human?

 

I Need 8 Days in a Week to Read All These Books-

I don't have a review today because I spent most of my free time the past few days watching Alchemy of Souls on Netflix. It is a very good show- I recommend it if you like fantasy with romantic elements. I am almost done listening to: 

In The Possibility of Life,  Jaime Green ties in discussion of how the universe works through a lens of science fiction, so she talks about Star Trek,  as well as Darwin and books such as The Golden Compass.  I will talk about that more later. 

Additionally, I picked up Charlie Donlea's latest release which was  on hold at my library:

And then I have two romances on Net Galley:

And then a friend recommended Things We Never Got Over by Lucy Score and that looks amazing so I had to download it to read.

I am very tempted to read more and sleep less. I love that my current 'problem' is so many good books I get to read! Living the dream!  I am also working on the prep work to do my own writing. I have been reading and doing the homework assignments in the book Romance the Brand by Zoe York. This book is a guidebook on how to create not just one romance book but build a series of books that people will want to read. That is what I love about romance books, most of the time if you like a book, you get to read more happily-ever-afters in the same universe, and all the side characters get their day in the sun. Currently, I'm making a map of my imaginary town.  It will have a train station because I love a town with a train station. But enough talking, I've go to get back to reading!