Can't Wait Wednesday/Waiting on Wednesday #430: The Monsters We Defy by Leslye Penelope

 

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:

A woman able to communicate with spirits must assemble a ragtag crew to pull off a daring heist to save her community in this timely and dazzling historical fantasy that weaves together African American folk magic, history, and romance.

"Never make a deal with shadows at night, especially ones that know your name.”

Washington D. C., 1925: Clara Johnson can talk to spirits—a gift that saved her during her darkest moments, now a curse that’s left her indebted to the cunning spirit world. So when a powerful spirit offers her an opportunity to gain her freedom, Clara seizes the chance, no questions asked. The task: steal a magical ring from the wealthiest woman in the District.

Clara can’t pull off this daring heist alone. She’ll need the help of an unlikely team, from a handsome jazz musician able to hypnotize with a melody to an aging actor who can change his face, to pull off the impossible. But as they race along DC’s legendary Black Broadway, conflict in the spirit world begins to leak into the human one—an insidious mystery is unfolding, one that could cost Clara her life and change the fate of an entire city.

"Set in an enchanting 1920s Washington DC full of mesmerizing magic, The Monsters We Defy weaves together threads of real history with bits of the utterly fantastic." ―P. Djèli Clark, author of A Master of Djinn

The Monsters We Defy by Leslye Penelope is expected out August 9th, 2022 from  Redhook Books.

Why am I waiting on this book? I enjoy books set in the 1920s. And I like the sound of a mystery that blends history with folk 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: The Daughter of Doctor Moreau 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!

The world, Ramona told them, must maintain a delicate balance, like the embroidering of a handkerchief. If you are not careful, the threads of life will tangle and knot together. (9% through on my Kindle)

The Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia Moreno-Garcia was published July 19th, 2022 by 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 #429: The Witch of Tin Mountain by Paulette Kennedy

 

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:

In Depression-era Arkansas, something wicked has come to a haunted mountain town in a novel of uncanny suspense by the author of Parting the Veil.

Blood and power bind three generations of women in the Ozark Mountains. So does an evil that’s followed them across the decades.

1931. Gracelynn Doherty lives peacefully on Tin Mountain, helping her adoptive granny work her cures. Despite whispers that the women are witches, the superstitious locals still seek them out, whether they suffer from arthritis or a broken heart. But when evangelist Josiah Bellflower comes to town touting miracle healing, full bellies, and prosperity, his revivals soon hold Tin Mountain in thrall—and Granny in abject fear.

Granny recognizes Josiah. Fifty years ago, in a dark and desperate moment, she made a terrible promise. Now Josiah, an enemy, has returned to collect his due.

As Granny sickens and the drought-ridden countryside falls under a curse, Gracelynn must choose: flee Tin Mountain and the only family she knows or confront the vengeful preacher whose unholy mission is to destroy her.

The Witch of Tin Mountain by Paulette Kennedy is due to be released December 6th, 2022 from Lake Union Publishing.

Why am I waiting on this book? Honestly, I liked the early reviews of the book. They said it's got witchcraft, folklore of the Ozarks, strong women, and "spine-tingling suspense" on Goodreads. All of that together appeals to me.

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 Law by Jim Butcher

 

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!

“Believe it or not, there aren’t a lot of nameless things running around interacting with society,” Bob said. “I mean, it makes sense, right? If you’re in folklore, you get a name so that everyone can talk about you.” (51% through on my Kindle)

The Law by Jim Butcher was published July 5th, 2022 by Imaginary Empire LLC.

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 #428: Deadly Spirits by Mary Miley

 

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:

Summer, 1924. Young widow Maddie Pastore has been working for fraudulent spiritual medium Madame Carlotta for nearly a year - if 'work' you could call it. Investigating Carlotta's clients, and attending seances as her shill, keeps Maddie and her young son Tommy fed and clothed, and she's grown to love the kind, well-meaning spiritualist like family.

Still, Maddie - estranged from her abusive parents for over a decade - can't help but wonder what fates befell her brothers and sisters. So when she lucks into two free tickets to a glamorous Chicago speakeasy and recognizes the star performer as her pretty little sister Sophie, she's beyond delighted.

But before Maddie can meet with Sophie again, the telephone rings. It's Sophie's husband, calling in a panic to tell her that his wife is locked in the Cook County jail, charged with first-degree murder . . .

Enter a dark and deadly world of seances and speakeasies, populated by fake mediums, sultry singers and dangerous mobsters! An ideal pick for readers who enjoy glitzy Jazz Age mysteries with feisty female sleuths.

Deadly Spirits by Mary Miley is expected out September 6th, 2022 from Severn House.

Why am I waiting on this book? I like stories that take place in the 1920s. And this mystery also has fake mediums and a "feisty female sleuth." It really piques my interest. And I understand that while it is the third book in a series, it reads well as a standalone.

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 Omega Factor by Steve Berry

 

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!

Thankfully, only a precious few in the world knew the true significance of the Just Judges panel. Most of those were members of her order. Others lay within the Vatican. Two diametrically opposed sides. At war with each other for centuries. A conflict that had remained dormant for the better part of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. But that had not always been the case. (24% on my Kindle)

The Omega Factor by Steve Berry was published June 7th, 2022 by Grand Central Publishing.

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: Demon Hunting with a Southern Sheriff by Lexi George

 

From the publisher: 

Rowdy rednecks. Shifty shapeshifters. Deadly demon hunters.

THIS TOWN'S GOING STRAIGHT TO HELL.

With its cross-cultural mix of good ol' boys, big bad wolves, and otherworldly beings, Behr County is the last place you'd want to be a cop. But for Sheriff Dev Whitsun, it's Sweet Home Alabama—and he plans to keep it that way. Famous last words. When a gruesome shifter massacre rocks the community, the sexy sheriff needs more than a badge and a few silver bullets. He needs the help of an immortal demon hunter. Her name is Arta, High Huntress of the Kirvahni. Whatever that means. Dev is no position to be picky about partners right now. But when Arta turns out to be the one female he could really fall for, Dev knows he's in for one hell of a ride. God help them all . . .

My thoughts: Welcome to Hannah, Alabama where the supers live alongside the norms but try to keep that part of their identity hidden. Shapeshifters, gods, goddesses, demon hunters and more reside there. 

There are a lot of characters in this book. Being as this was my first book in the series and it was book 6, there were quite a few mentioned that I didn’t know. I found I needed to focus on the main characters for this book and let the rest kind of slide. That way I was able to enjoy the book. If you’d read other books in the series, this might not be an issue.

The characters are interesting. There is a lot of good banter. Some characters speak in a Southern dialect. Others speak a more medieval type dialect full of thees and thous. At first I found this annoying. Later on it helped keep straight who was talking. And I’m not a big fan of insta-love, but it seemed to be in the nature of some of the characters. 

Overall, I gave it 4 stars out of 5. It’s got a fast moving plot. You want to know what happens next. And the characters are interesting. If you’ve read the earlier books, it might be easier to understand some of what goes on. Still if you like your urban fantasy with romance, this would be a good series to try.

I received a copy of the book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Can't Wait Wednesday/Waiting on Wednesday #427: Tinderbox by W.A. Simpson

 

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: 

A tinderbox, three huge hounds within, and an underground kingdom of old magic. Fans of Sarah J. Maas and Holly Black, myth and magic, fairy tales and fantasy will love the dark adventures of the Riven Isles.

'A grisly murder, a missing box, a dangerous task, and a cranky magical talisman. Expect betrayals, intrigue, peril, and romance in this smartly moving fantasy.' — Jacey Bedford, author of the Psi-Tech and Rowankind series

Isbet returns home to find the witch who raised her murdered and her prized possession, the Tinderbox stolen. She discovers a common man has used it to seize the throne. The same who conquered Prince Bram’s kingdom. Isbet’s goals are vengeance and reclaim the Box. For Bram, it is to free his homeland. When they are summoned to an underground kingdom, they must set aside their personal desires as they learn dark fey are bringing an ancient source of magic back to life. If they cannot halt the rise of the old magic, it will tear apart the Riven Isles.

Tinderbox by W.A. Simpson is expected to be published August 16th, 2022 by Flame Tree Press.

Why am I waiting on this book? It seems to pickup after the events of the fairy tale "The Tinderbox" more or less. I want to see where the author goes with it. What is the "old magic" and what will it do? Why must they stop it? Will Isbet get her vengeance? Will Bram claim the throne? I want to know what happens.

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: Demon Hunting with a Southern Sheriff by Lexi George

 

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!

He'd busted up enough meth labs to know psychosis when he saw it. Pratt was off his rocker. Off his rocker? Pratt was off the porch and upside down in the flower bed.

 (79% through on my Kindle)

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!