Teaser Tuesday: Mean Ghouls by Alex A. King

 

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!

Not that I doubted my sister, but her claims of having the power of foresight or prophesy or whatever it was struck me as … unreal. This was Toula, for crying out loud. Her hobbies were asking to speak with the manager, rolling her eyes, and being mildly disappointed in me. (1% through on my Kindle)

Mean Ghouls by Alex A. King is book 6 in the Greek Ghouls mystery series. It was published August 23rd, 2021.

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!

Book Review: Velvet Was the Night by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

 

From the publisher:

1970s, Mexico City. Maite is a secretary who lives for one thing: the latest issue of Secret Romance. While student protests and political unrest consume the city, Maite escapes into stories of passion and danger.

Her next-door neighbor, Leonora, a beautiful art student, seems to live a life of intrigue and romance that Maite envies. When Leonora disappears under suspicious circumstances, Maite finds herself searching for the missing woman—and journeying deeper into Leonora’s secret life of student radicals and dissidents.

Meanwhile, someone else is also looking for Leonora at the behest of his boss, a shadowy figure who commands goon squads dedicated to squashing political activists. Elvis is an eccentric criminal who longs to escape his own life: He loathes violence and loves old movies and rock ’n’ roll. But as Elvis searches for the missing woman, he watches Maite from a distance—and comes to regard her as a kindred spirit who shares his love of music and the unspoken loneliness of his heart.

Now as Maite and Elvis come closer to discovering the truth behind Leonora’s disappearance, they can no longer escape the danger that threatens to consume their lives, with hitmen, government agents, and Russian spies all aiming to protect Leonora’s secrets—at gunpoint.

Velvet Was the Night by Silvia Moreno-Garcia was published August 17th, 2021 by Del Rey.

This is definitely a character driven story. Elvis and Maite are like two planets orbiting the same star (the search for Leonora). Neither Elvis nor Maite are perfect. Of the two, I liked Elvis a little better than Maite who lies a lot and is prone to petty theft. 

Elvis makes an interesting comparison between Maite and Bluebeard's wife in fairy tales. It seems valid though not only for the reason he thinks. The more she sees of what is really going on, it seems to change her.

The book is well-written. The imagery draws you in. The plot moves along for the most part at a good rate. The closer it gets to the end, the harder it is to put down. I gave this book 5 stars out of 5. It's a good historical noir with two interesting antiheroes.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Can't Wait Wednesday/Waiting on Wednesday #385: Bryant & May: London Bridge Is Falling Down by Christopher Fowler

 

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

From the publisher:

The brilliant duo of Arthur Bryant and John May uncovers a nefarious plot behind the seemingly innocuous death of an old lady—and when the case leads them to London Bridge, it all comes down on the Peculiar Crimes Unit.

When ninety-one-year-old Amelia Hoffman dies in her top-floor flat on a busy London road, it’s considered an example of what has gone wrong with modern society: she slipped through the cracks in a failing system.

But detectives Arthur Bryant and John May of the Peculiar Crimes Unit have their doubts. Mrs. Hoffman was once a government security expert, though no one can quite remember her. When a link emerges between the old lady and a diplomat trying to flee the country, it seems that an impossible murder has been committed.
 
Mrs. Hoffman wasn’t the only one at risk. Bryant is convinced that other forgotten women with hidden talents are also in danger. And, curiously, they all own models of London Bridge.
 
With the help of some of their more certifiable informants, the detectives follow the strangest of clues in an investigation that will lead them through forgotten alleyways to the city’s oldest bridge in search of a desperate killer.

  But just when the case appears to be solved, they discover that Mrs. Hoffman was smarter than anyone imagined. There’s a bigger game afoot that could have terrible consequences.

Bryant & May: London Bridge Is Falling Down by Christopher Fowler is expected out December 7th, 2021 from Bantam.

Why am I waiting on this book? I enjoy the Bryant & May series. This is book #18 in the series. I like the two older detectives and their Peculiar Crimes Unit. If they're involved there's more going on than there appears to be.

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: Velvet Was the Night by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

 

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!

Maite thought it was rude to drop by uninvited, but there was a gun in a brown paper bag sitting on the dashboard. They were past the point of pleasantries. It scared her a little, but she also enjoyed the electric frison it conjured. It was like one of her comic books. (59% through on my Kindle)

Velvet Was the Night by Silvia Moreno -Garcia was released August 17th, 2021 from Del Rey.

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!

Can't Wait Wednesday/Waiting on Wednesday #384: The Great Witch of Brittany by Louisa Morgan

 

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

From the publisher:

Return to the world of A Secret History of Witches with the bewitching tale of Ursule Orchiere and her discovery of magical abilities that will not only change the course of her life but every generation that comes after her. 

Brittany, 1741

There hasn’t been a witch born in the Orchière clan for generations. According to the elders, that line is dead, leaving the clan vulnerable to the whims of superstitious villagers and the prejudices of fearmongering bishops.

Ursule Orchière has been raised on stories of the great witches of the past. But the only magic she knows is the false spells her mother weaves over the gullible women who visit their fortune-telling caravan. Everything changes when Ursule comes of age and a spark of power flares to life. Thrilled to be chosen, she has no idea how magic will twist and shape her future.

Guided by the whispers of her ancestors and an ancient grimoire, Ursule is destined to walk the same path as the great witches of old. But first, the Orchière magical lineage must survive. And danger hovers over her, whether it’s bloodlust of the mob or the flames of the pyre.

The Great Witch of Brittany by Louisa Morgan is expected to be released February 15th, 2022 from Redhook Books.

Why am I waiting on this book? I enjoy reading stories about witches. I'm behind when it comes to books by Louisa Morgan. This one sounds good. There will be magic and danger. And I'm curious about what will happen to Ursule as she adjusts to having magic.

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: Velvet Was the Night by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

 

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!

Recently she had read something called "The Fantastic Guide to Flirting" that included the recommendation to remember every man you meet is a potential date, so women shouldn't ruin their chances by being too rude or too shy. Maite realized her harsh stare was probably not among the recommended tactics for interactions with men, but she was short on patience. Besides, even if the magazine assured her toads could turn into princes, this guy wasn't a handsome specimen that she might want to impress like Emilio. (22% through on my Kindle)

Velvet Was the Night by Silvia Moreno -Garcia is released today from Del Rey.

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!

Can't Wait Wednesday/Waiting on Wednesday #383: Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan

 

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

From the publisher:

Growing up on the moon, Xingyin is accustomed to solitude, unaware that she is being hidden from the powerful Celestial Emperor who exiled her mother for stealing his elixir of immortality. But when Xingyin’s magic flares and her existence is discovered, she is forced to flee her home, leaving her mother behind.

Alone, untrained, and afraid, she makes her way to the Celestial Kingdom, a land of wonder and secrets. Disguising her identity, she seizes an opportunity to learn alongside the Crown Prince, mastering archery and magic, even as passion flames between her and the emperor’s son.

To save her mother, Xingyin embarks on a perilous quest, confronting legendary creatures and vicious enemies across the earth and skies. When treachery looms and forbidden magic threatens the kingdom, however, she must challenge the ruthless Celestial Emperor for her dream—striking a dangerous bargain in which she is torn between losing all she loves or plunging the realm into chaos.

Daughter of the Moon Goddess begins an enchanting, romantic duology which weaves ancient Chinese mythology into a sweeping adventure of immortals and magic, of loss and sacrifice—where love vies with honor, dreams are fraught with betrayal, and hope emerges triumphant.

Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan is expected out January 11, 2022 from Harper Voyager.

Why am I waiting on this book? I enjoy reading retellings or books that find their inspiration in folklore or fairy tales. This is one of the latter. It says it was inspired by the legend of the Chinese moon goddess Chang'e. It sounds like it will be quite an adventure story with some romance. I like that the last line of the synopsis says that hope emerges triumphant. 

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!

Book Review: Paper & Blood by Kevin Hearne

 

From Goodreads:

There’s only one Al MacBharrais: Though other Scotsmen may have dramatic mustaches and a taste for fancy cocktails, Al also has a unique talent. He’s a master of ink and sigil magic. In his gifted hands, paper and pen can work wondrous spells. 

But Al isn’t quite alone: He is part of a global network of sigil agents who use their powers to protect the world from mischievous gods and strange monsters. So when a fellow agent disappears under sinister circumstances in Australia, Al leaves behind the cozy pubs and cafes of Glasgow and travels to the Dandenong Ranges in Victoria to solve the mystery.

The trail to his colleague begins to pile up with bodies at alarming speed, so Al is grateful his friends have come to help—especially Nadia, his accountant who moonlights as a pit fighter. Together with a whisky-loving hobgoblin known as Buck Foi and the ancient Druid Atticus O’Sullivan, along with his dogs, Oberon and Starbuck, Al and Nadia will face down the wildest wonders Australia—and the supernatural world—can throw at them, and confront a legendary monster not seen in centuries.

My thoughts:

It's a good book. It's well-written. This is book two in The Ink and Sigil Series. It picks up close to where book one left off.

I liked the world building. It's an interesting Australian setting. How things work is consistent with book one. You might be able to read this as a standalone, but having read book one will give you some idea of what to expect and how things work.

The characters are varied from human to definitely not human. Al's receptionist, Gladys Who Has Seen Some Shite, makes an appearance in a couple of places. There is more to her than meets the eye. Not everyone is exactly what they seem to be. Nadia has a large part to play in this book as in book one. We learn more about some of the characters through stories told by them during a lull. Al learns a little more about the curse(s) affecting him. He is especially mindful now that he knows it can cost the life of someone working for him.

Plot wise, it's pretty good. it moves along at a somewhat steady pace. There is a lull, but it's filled with stories that tell more about the characters. After the lull, action picks up quite a bit.

The story is resolved well. It's set up to make you look forward to the next book without being a cliffhanger. There is still plenty to explore with this cast of characters.

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars. I would recommend this book to fans of urban fantasy as well as those who enjoy Kevin Hearne's writing.

Paper & Blood by Kevin Hearne is being released today, August 10th, 2021 by Del Rey Books.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Book Review: A Good Day for Chardonnay by Darynda Jones

 

From the publisher:

Running a small-town police force in the mountains of New Mexico should be a smooth, carefree kind of job. Sadly, full-time Sheriff--and even fuller-time coffee guzzler--Sunshine Vicram, didn't get that memo.

All Sunshine really wants is one easy-going day. You know, the kind that starts with coffee and a donut (or three) and ends with take-out pizza and a glass of chardonnay (or seven). Turns out, that's about as easy as switching to decaf. (What kind of people do that? And who hurt them?)

Before she can say iced mocha latte, Sunny's got a bar fight gone bad, a teenage daughter hunting a serial killer and, oh yes, the still unresolved mystery of her own abduction years prior. All evidence points to a local distiller, a dangerous bad boy named Levi Ravinder, but Sun knows he's not the villain of her story. Still, perhaps beneath it all, he possesses the keys to her disappearance. At the very least, beneath it all, he possesses a serious set of abs. She's seen it. Once. Accidentally.

Between policing a town her hunky chief deputy calls four cents short of a nickel, that pesky crush she has on Levi which seems to grow exponentially every day, and an irascible raccoon that just doesn't know when to quit, Sunny's life is about to rocket to a whole new level of crazy.

My thoughts:

There's a lot going on in this book. But you can still follow the storylines fairly easily. The biggest storylines are the mystery that Sunny is pursuing and her daughter's investigation into a possible serial killer. I think the raccoon is there mainly for comic relief. Lots of subplots including a romance for Sunny and some romance for her daughter as well.

This book is definitely better if you've read A Bad Day for Sunshine first. Otherwise you won't know why Sunny gets so upset by a basket of muffins. Or who the Dangerous daughters are supposed to be until much later in the story. Generally most things get explained well enough. But reading book one gives you more depth into what's going on and to the characters.

The ending is a little bit of a cliffhanger. I don't mind terribly, I am planning to read the next book anyway. The feeling I get is like waiting for the other shoe to drop.  

I gave this book 4 stars. Don't miss it if you've read book one. It's well-written. The mysteries are interesting. The book will grab your attention. And it's generally fast paced. I really enjoyed the book. If you are a fan of Darynda Jones, you will probably enjoy this series. It has mystery, romance, and humor.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Teaser Tuesday: The Gospel of Loki by Joanne M. Harris

 

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!

But metaphor or otherwise, this is as much as I believe: that the world came into being through Change, which is the servant of Chaos, and only through Change has it endured. Much like Your Humble Narrator, in fact, adapting to suit the circumstance. (3% on my Kindle)

The Gospel of Loki by Joanne M. Harris was published February 20th, 2014 by Gollancz.

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!