Waiting on Wednesday #203/Can't Wait Wednesday: A Murder for the Books by Victoria Gilbert

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event which had been hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine where we spotlight upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating. I'm now linking up with "Can't-Wait Wednesday" hosted over at Wishful Endings.

This week the book I am waiting on is a cozy: A Murder for the Books (a Blue Ridge Library Mystery) by Victoria Gilbert. It's due out December 12, 2017 from Crooked Lane Books.

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Fleeing a disastrous love affair, university librarian Amy Webber moves in with her aunt in a quiet, historic mountain town in Virginia. Managing a charming public library requires all her attention, especially with its severe lack of funds and overabundance of eccentric patrons, so the last thing she needs is a new, available neighbor whose charm lures her into trouble.

Dancer-turned-teacher and choreographer Richard Muir inherited the farmhouse next door from his great-uncle, Paul Dassin. But town folklore claims the house’s original owner was poisoned by his wife, an outsider, who vanished after her sensational 1925 murder trial. Determined to clear the name of the woman his great-uncle loved, Richard implores Amy to help him investigate the case. Amy is skeptical until their research raises questions about the culpability of the town’s leading families... including her own.

When inexplicable murders plunge the quiet town into chaos, Amy and Richard must crack open the books to reveal a cruel conspiracy and lay a turbulent past to rest in A Murder for the Books, the first installment of Victoria Gilbert’s Blue Ridge Library mysteries.

"This book pulled me in from the first, humorous paragraph. Spunky librarian Amy will delight readers with her wit and research skills as she solves both modern day and historical murders. A captivating cast of secondary characters and a dollop of romance add spice to this promising debut. I can't wait for the next in the series."
--Laura DiSilverio, national bestselling and award-winning author of the Readaholics Book Club series

Why am I waiting on this one? I really enjoy good cozies that have something to do with books, bookstores, or libraries. And I like books that have a sense of humor and a perhaps a little snark. This one seems to meet both criteria.

 

What book are you waiting on this week? Share it or a link in the comments so we can check it out and maybe add it to our TBR lists. Thanks for coming by and Happy Reading!

Teaser Tuesday: Curse on the Land by Faith Hunter

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by The Purplebooker.
Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title and author so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers! 

Instantly I could tell that something wasn't right, in a way I had no immediate name for. The ground was ... maybe sick, infested with something, some kind of parasite or illness. The earth beneath my palm felt cold, icy, not to the touch but to the spirit, which wasn't something I could easily explain to other people. (10% in on my Kindle)

Nell is trying to read the earth and the surrounding woods as part of an investigation. She has an affinity for the earth and wooded areas.

Curse on the Land by Faith Hunter is book #2 in the Soulwood series. It was released November 1, 2016 by Roc. Book #3, Flame in the Dark, is due out December 5, 2017 from Ace Books.

Would you keep reading? What's your teaser this week? Share it or a link in the comments. Are you enjoying your book? Let us know! Happy Reading!

Waiting on Wednesday #202/Can't Wait Wednesday: The Wind in His Heart by Charles de Lint

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event which had been hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine where we spotlight upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating. I'm now linking up with "Can't-Wait Wednesday" hosted over at Wishful Endings.

Synopsis from Goodreads:

De Lint's first adult fantasy novel in 8 years weaves a rich tapestry of story with classic CdL elegance. Young Thomas Corn Eyes sees into the otherworld, but all he wants to do is get off the rez. Steve Cole escaped from his rock star life to disappear into the desert and mountains. Fifteen-year-old barrio kid Sadie Higgins has been discarded once too often. Blogger Leah Hardin needs to leave Newford, come to terms with the loss of her best friend, and actually engage with her life. When these lives collide in the Hierro Maderas Mountains, they must struggle to escape their messy pasts and find a way to carve a future for themselves.
They don’t just have to learn how to survive. They have to learn how to fly.

The Wind in His Heart by Charles de Lint is due out September 19, 2017 from Triskell Press.

Why am I waiting on this one? I love Charles de Lint's writing. He is considered to be among those that pioneered and popularized Urban Fantasy. And it's been a long wait for this book. I'm curious to see how the characters' tales will weave together to make the final "tapestry of story." More about the author and his books can be found on his website at https://www.sfsite.com/charlesdelint/index.html

What book are you waiting on this week? Share it or a link in the comments so we can check it out and maybe add it to our TBR lists. Thanks for coming by and Happy Reading!

Teaser Tuesday: The Dire King by William Ritter

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by The Purplebooker.
Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title and author so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers! 

"Of course we're going to go looking for the rend," said Jackaby. "And the crown, the spear, and the shield. There's too much at stake now to start worrying about little things like being brutally murdered." (12% through on my Kindle)

The Dire King (Jackaby #4) by William Ritter is expected to be published today, August 22, 2017 from Algonquin Young Readers.This teaser comes from an ARC and may appear differently in the final version.

Would you keep reading? What's your teaser this week? Share it or a link in the comments. Are you enjoying your book? Let us know! Happy Reading!

Review: Finding My Badass Self by Sherry Stanfa-Stanley

This book is about 52 weeks, 52 new experiences at the age of 52 - otherwise known as The 52/52 project. All of the adventures are outside of Sherry Stanfa-Stanley's comfort zone. Some of them more so than others, but all providing a somewhat different experience and perspective on life. All designed to get her out of the rut or "crater" as she puts it, that she found herself in in her 50s as a divorced empty-nester. And she wondered, would this be "opening the door to an exciting new life or opening Pandora's Box. Turns out the two are not mutually exclusive."

She begins with belly dancing which leads to more adventures such as an audition for "Survivor", eating chocolate covered bugs, going to a nude beach with her mother in tow, getting a drastic haircut, going without electronics for a week, singing with a band, and so much more.

I admire her courage as she faces the challenges she has chosen for herself. And the smarts she shows when she backs down from one challenge. It's a wiser decision than going through with it.

The book is designed with each experience making up a short chapter. She shares her mistakes and her successes humbly and with humor. The one thing that remains consistent is that she is a winner for trying all of these things whether she is successful at them or not.

I give the book overall a 4 out of 5 stars. It's well written. The challenges are interesting as are her take on them. And there is humor to the tales she tells.

You can find out more about The 52/52 project on her Facebook page for it here. And she also blogs at her website.

Finding My Badass Self by Sherry Stanfa-Stanley was published August 15, 2017 by She Writes Press.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book through NetGalley from the publisher. All opinions are my own and freely given.

Waiting on Wednesday #201/Can't Wait Wednesday: The Girl in the Tower by Katherine Arden

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event which had been hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine where we spotlight upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating. I'm now linking up with "Can't-Wait Wednesday" hosted over at Wishful Endings.

This week I am waiting on The Girl in the Tower by Katherine Arden. It's the sequel to The Bear and the Nightingale. 

Synopsis from Goodreads: 

Orphaned and cast out as a witch by her village, Vasya’s options are few: resign herself to life in a convent, or allow her older sister to make her a match with a Muscovite prince. Both doom her to life in a tower, cut off from the vast world she longs to explore. So instead she chooses adventure, disguising herself as a boy and riding her horse into the woods. When a battle with some bandits who have been terrorizing the countryside earns her the admiration of the Grand Prince of Moscow, she must carefully guard the secret of her gender to remain in his good graces—even as she realizes his kingdom is under threat from mysterious forces only she will be able to stop.

The Girl in the Tower is due out December 5, 2017 from Del Rey.

Why am I waiting on this one? I really enjoyed The Bear and the Nightingale. You can read my 5 star review of it here. I am looking forward to reading more about Vasya and her adventures as she seeks freedom from the confines of a woman's expected roles, and as she experiences the little magics in this version of Russia.

What book are you waiting on this week? Share it or a link in the comments so we can check it out and maybe add it to our TBR lists. Thanks for coming by and Happy Reading!

Teaser Tuesday: Finding My Badass Self by Sherry Stanfa-Stanley

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by The Purplebooker.
Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title and author so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers! 

"Wait, you and Grandma went to a nude beach?" His eyes widened in horror before he tightly closed them, attempting to shut out the image. "I could have gone my whole life," he muttered, "without knowing that." (45% through on my Kindle)

Finding My Badass Self by Sherry Stanfa-Stanley is expected to be released today, August 15, 2017, from She Writes Press. It's a humorous memoir written about her 52/52 project wherein she attempted something outside of her comfort zone every week for a year. This teaser comes from an ARC and may appear differently in the final version.

Would you keep reading? What's your teaser this week? Share it or a link in the comments. Are you enjoying your book? Let us know! Happy Reading!

Waiting on Wednesday #200/Can't Wait Wednesday: Perfect Gravity by Vivien Jackson

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event which had been hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine where we spotlight upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating. I'm now linking up with "Can't-Wait Wednesday" hosted over at Wishful Endings.

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Second in a snarky, sexy sci-fi romance series with the perfect balance of humor, heart, and heat. When someone tries to kill powerful continental senator Angela Neko, Texan outlaw and old flame Kellen Hockley is the only man who can keep her safe...and help her save the world.

Kellen Hockley usually keeps quiet about his past, but once upon a time, he loved a girl named Angela. He hasn't seen her in a decade, but now he has to break the news to her that his team of rogue treasure hunters accidentally killed her husband. He's had better days...

It's not the news that's delivered to Angela Neko that breaks her apart--it's the rumbly, Texas drawl delivering it. She can't believe she's hearing Kellen's voice again. But there's no time for distractions. When Angela's own life is threatened, yielding up all of her lies and secrets, she and Kellen must figure out how to reverse the geopolitical firestorm she lit to save the world, to save Kellen's cat...and just maybe to save each other.

Why am I waiting on this one? I haven't read book one in this series, but from the synopsis it makes it sound like you could probably read it as a standalone. What really intrigues me is the quote from Darynda Jones regarding Perfect Gravity: "Raw. Smart. Quick-witted. Mouthwatering. Just a few adjectives that describe this exquisite tale. Do not let this unforgettable story, or its incredible cast of characters, slip by you." 

Perfect Gravity is due out November 7, 2017 from Sourcebooks Casablanca.

What book are you waiting on this week? Share it or a link in the comments so we can check it out and maybe add it to our TBR lists. Thanks for coming by and Happy Reading!

Teaser Tuesday: Blood of the Earth by Faith Hunter

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by The Purplebooker.
Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title and author so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Life was puzzling. Unpredictable. But one thing was sure. The meek didn't inherit the Earth. I wasn't meek. And I had the land. (13% through on my Kindle)

This is Nell thinking in Blood of the Earth, the first of the Soulwood novels,.by Faith Hunter. The book was published August 2, 2016 by ROC. You can find more about Faith and her books on her website: http://www.faithhunter.net/wp/

The third book in the series, Flame in the Dark, is due out this December.

Would you keep reading? What's your teaser this week? Share it or a link in the comments. Are you enjoying your book? Let us know! Happy Reading!

Waiting on Wednesday #199/Can't Wait Wednesday: Solutions and Other Problems by Allie Brosh

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event which had been hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine where we spotlight upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating. I'm now linking up with "Can't-Wait Wednesday" hosted over at Wishful Endings.

This week the book I am waiting on is Solutions and Other Problems by Allie Brosh. To be honest, I have been waiting on this one for a few years now and not sure when it is going to be released. Goodreads has a date of September 7, 2017, but you still can't preorder the book on Amazon.

The synopsis from Goodreads for Solutions reads: 
Allie Brosh, the “gut-bustingly funny” (NPR), award-winning, and #1 New York Times bestselling author of Hyperbole and a Half, shares an all-new collection of autobiographical and illustrated essays.

It's a follow up to her book Hyperbole and a Half: Unfortunate Situations, Flawed Coping Mechanisms, Mayhem and Other Things That Happened.

Why am I waiting on this one? I really enjoyed the first book and I enjoyed reading her blog, Hyperbole and a Half, in the past as well. It's been a while since the first book, but I imagine this one will be worth the wait. If you want a taste of her writing, you can check out her blog or the first book. She doesn't seem to have been active on the blog for a while, but it still exists and it's still funny.  

Do you know anything about a release date for this book? Are you waiting on this one too?

What book are you waiting on this week? Share it or a link in the comments so we can check it out and maybe add it to our TBR lists. Thanks for coming by and Happy Reading!

Teaser Tuesday: The Taken by Vicki Pettersson

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by The Purplebooker.
Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title and author so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

The map alone didn"t help; Sarge had been right about that. But a journey was rarely a straight shot from point A to point B. It was the landmarks and details that made all the difference. The bent street sign and the shifty-eyed man leaning against it. The car parked in the wrong direction on a residential street. (p.56)

The Taken was released June 4, 2012 from Harper Voyager.

Would you keep reading? What's your teaser this week? Share it or a link in the comments. Are you enjoying your book? Let us know! Happy Reading!