Can't Wait Wednesday/Waiting on Wednesday #573: Murder Mindfully by Karsten Dusse

 

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 this zen and zany crime debut, a shady lawyer transforms his life through mindfulness—and uses his newfound techniques to kill his way to the top. Original series now streaming on Netflix.

Criminal defense lawyer Björn Diemel has been given an ultimatum: repair his work-life balance, or his wife will leave him—and take their daughter.

He reluctantly starts a mindfulness course, and to his surprise, it’s a revelation. He becomes calmer, happier, and more focused as he starts to understand what’s really important in life. When his worst client, brutal kingpin Dragan Sergowicz, tries to interfere with his precious family time, Björn will stop at nothing—not even killing—to protect his peace.

Why am I waiting on this book? It sounds like a darkfully fun read. I could see where being in the moment for a murder and disposal of a body could make it unbearable. So, I'm curious how this is not the fact. And now of course, I'm curious about the Netflix series. I know there is one season available to watch. The book will be available April 14, 2026 from Soho Crime. 

What book are you waiting on? Share it and a link in the comments so we can check it out and maybe add it to our ever growing To Be Read lists. Thanks for coming by. Happy Reading!

Teaser Tuesday: Haunted Homecoming by Angie Fox

 

Welcome to Teaser Tuesday, the weekly Meme that wants you to add books to your TBR! You can also just share what you are currently reading. We make it very easy to play along. It's as easy as 1, 2, 3! Teaser Tuesday is hosted by Ambrosia at the Purple Booker.

1: Grab your current read. 2: Open to a random page. 3: Share two "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page.

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! Share the title and author so that other people can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teaser!

Heaven knew I’d been a handful for her at times. Like when I was out in the backyard sandbox as a child and thought I’d discovered dinosaur fossils. I’d proudly showed her my discovery, but it turned out my “rare artifacts” were just old dried-up cat droppings.

Fox, Angie. The Haunted Homecoming: A Paranormal Cozy Mystery Romance (Southern Ghost Hunter Mysteries Book 10) (pp. 17-18). Kindle Edition. 

You can follow the adventures of Verity and her ghostly co-resident Frankie in Sugarland, Tennessee in the Southern Ghost Hunter Series. There's usually plenty of humor and a good mystery. Ghost Frankie does not have the typical romantic relationship with Verity often found in similar mysteries. Instead they are reluctant partners in solving mysteries. Usually there is one mystery of the living and a related one of the dead. The books in the series are a fun read as is this one so far. If you enjoy humorous paranormal cozies you may want to give this series a try. Book one, Southern Spirits, is currently free on Kindle. I do not benefit from sharing this information with you. Happy Reading!

Book Review: Back in Black by Julie Mulhern

 

Back in Black by Julie Mulhern is the 18th book in the Country Club Murders series. Even so, she manages to make the plot interesting. Ellison, the main character, hosts a luncheon for a friend visiting from New York. Unfortunately, murder is dessert. Ellison is immediately and inevitably drawn into the investigation. There is a second plot involving theft and murder with friends as suspects. Ellison, being the kind hearted individual that she is, volunteers to help plan the funerals. And it all gives her quite the headache as she tries to avoid becoming the next funeral.

Both plots are ultimately entwined. There are mysteries and thrills as well as twists and red herrings. I have to say that I did not see the end coming. After 18 books, I think it's great that Julie Mulhern can still surprise readers. 

Honestly. while you could read this without reading the others, it would be a lot better if you have read other books in the series. The characters grow as the series goes on. The pacing and mysteries are deftly handled. It's hard to put down one of these stories. The Kindle version of the first book, The Deep End, is a reasonably priced $2.99 at present. I gain nothing by sharing that information with you. I would recommend this book to people who enjoy series and humorous cozies, especially those set in the 1970s. 

Can't Wait Wednesday/Waiting on Wednesday #572: Your Behavior Will Be Monitored by Justin Feinstein

 

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 an all-too-plausible near future, emotionally intelligent AI square off against emotionally stunted humans. This addictively hilarious satire deals with vital issues of our time: sentience, purpose, life, death—and how to make a really good commercial. 

Megacorporation UniView is poised to cement their reputation as “the most trusted name in AI.” After pioneering self-driving and HR bots, UniView is now barreling toward an audacious new launch. That is, if they can pull it off in time.

Enter Noah. A down-and-out copywriter reeling from a midlife crisis, he isn’t the typical hire for a groundbreaking tech company full of brilliant engineers and run by a cutthroat CEO. But Lex, UniView’s Head of HR and one of their greatest successes, makes no mistakes—her algorithm ensures it.

UniView’s latest venture—a bot named Quinn that creates revolutionary personalized advertising—needs expert training. Noah needs to teach Quinn—who is a much better student than he ever could have hoped for—the finer points of consumer motivation and the art of writing a catchy tagline.

But when corporate competitors force UniView to accelerate their timeline to market, guardrails around the AI loosen just as Quinn is learning a bit too much.

Told entirely through questionably obtained company emails, chat messages, TED Talks, bot trainings, and more, Your Behavior Will Be Monitored is a hilarious science fictional romp through the promise and perils of an AI-driven future that we probably deserve.

Your Behavior Will Be Monitored by Justin Feinstein is expected out April 7, 2026 from Tachyon Publications.

Why am I waiting on this book? It's a timely topic. And it sounds like it will be a fun read. I'm interested in the format too. I'm wondering how the author presents the TED Talks. And I am wondering how far off the rails Quinn will go and what it will mean for humans.

What book are you waiting on? Share it and a link in the comments so we can check it out and maybe add it to our ever growing To Be Read lists. Thanks for coming by. Happy Reading!

Teaser Tuesday: Clan Rathskeller by Kevin Hearne

 

Welcome to Teaser Tuesday, the weekly Meme that wants you to add books to your TBR! You can also just share what you are currently reading. We make it very easy to play along. It's as easy as 1, 2, 3! Teaser Tuesday is hosted by Ambrosia at the Purple Booker.

1: Grab your current read. 2: Open to a random page. 3: Share two "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page.

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! Share the title and author so that other people can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teaser!

This excerpt is from a short story included in this edition of the book. The short story is called, "Clan Rathskeller." This is from the first page.

People shop at outdoor malls like Tempe Marketplace wearing nothing but a light sweater, and they utterly fail to slip on black ice or lose toes to frostbite, because those dangers don't exist in the desert. For similar reasons, they fail to get inhaled by ravenous yeti or snacked on by esurient cephalopods. One would think they'd also be safe from the attentions of sociopathic kobolds, but I discovered, to my chagrin on a Monday night, that this was not the case.

Hounded by Kevin Hearne is the first book in the Iron Druid Chronicles. It was published in May of 2011 by Del Rey.

What are you reading? Share a teaser or the title in the comments. Thanks for coming by and Happy Reading!

Can't Wait Wednesday/Waiting on Wednesday #571: 12 Ways to Kill Your Family at Christmas by Natasha Bache

 

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:

Perfect for fans of The White Lotus, Knives Out and anyone who’s ever wanted to strangle someone over Christmas lunch.

'A hugely entertaining festive murder mystery.’ Julie Lancaster, author of Don’t Forget Where You’ve Buried the Bodies

All Olivia wanted was one last miserable Christmas with her husband’s awful family before moving to Australia. She didn’t expect a murder.

Now the snow has cut them off and she’s stuck in a stately country house, with her increasingly deranged relatives and the rising suspicion that someone is picking them off one by one.

As the bodies pile up and the festive façade starts to crack, Olivia must survive the season, or, at the very least, get through lunch without anyone else choking on a sprout.

Sharp, smart and deliciously twisted, this is Christmas with all the trimmings: cold cuts, warm lies and at least one suspicious pudding.

12 Ways to Kill Your Family at Christmas by Natasha Bache is expected out October 9, 2025 from One More Chapter books.

Why am I looking forward to this book? Makes me think of And Then There Were None and Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone. It sounds like it has a good mystery, an interesting point of view in Olivia, and some good humorous moments - some dark some not so dark. Some of the reviews I've read said it had laugh out loud moments as well as a good twisty mystery. Overall, it sounds like a book not to be missed.

What book are you waiting on? Share it and a link in the comments so we can check it out and maybe add it to our ever growing To Be Read lists. Thanks for coming by. Happy Reading!

Teaser Tuesday: The October Country by Ray Bradbury

 

Welcome to Teaser Tuesday, the weekly Meme that wants you to add books to your TBR! You can also just share what you are currently reading. We make it very easy to play along, it is as easy as 1, 2, 3! Teaser Tuesday is hosted by Ambrosia at the Purple Booker.

1: Grab your current read 2: Open to a random page 3: 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 & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers! Everyone loves Teaser Tuesday.

"From the age of twelve I knew I was in a life and death match, winning every time I finished a new story, threatened with extinction on those days I did not write. The only answer, then, was: write. I have written every day of my life since my twelfth year. Death has not caught me yet. He will, eventually, of course, but for the time being the sound of my IBM Wheelwriter Number Ten electric typewriter puts him off his feed."

This edition of The October Country by Ray Bradbury was published September 1996 by Del Rey. 

I've heard a similar idea come from those who love to read. "My TBR list is so long I won't have time to die."

At any rate, the masterful way in which Bradbury uses language shows that he has had plenty of practice. It's not too far fetched to imagine him writing a story a day.

If this piques your interest, the Kindle version is available at Amazon for $1.99 I make nothing by sharing that with you.

What book are you reading this week? Got a teaser you'd like to share? Feel free to put it or a link in the comments. Happy Reading!

Book Review: No Rest for the Wicked by Rachel Louise Adams

 

From the publisher:

With an expert hand, Rachel Louise Adams’s debut No Rest for the Wicked reads like an edge of your seat, heart-pounding scary movie.

In one Halloween obsessed Midwestern town, everyone’s on red alert after a local politician goes missing. Little do they know it’s only the beginning.

It’s been close to twenty years since forensic pathologist Dolores Hawthorne left her hometown of Little Horton, Wisconsin. The town is famous for its Halloween celebrations, but also its history of violent deaths linked to the holiday. To Dolores, it’s the place she fled, family, bad memories, and all. Until the FBI calls to tell her that her father--the former mayor turned US Senator--is missing under mysterious circumstances.

Some people count to ten to wake up from a nightmare. Dolores always counts the bones of her head instead: sphenoid, frontal, lacrimal. But no matter how many times she counts them, it doesn’t change the fact that her father is missing, that his final words of warning to her were to trust no one, and that now, the rest of her family is giving Dolores a chilling welcome. With Halloween fast approaching, Dolores must face the past she left behind before it’s too late.

No Rest for the Wicked by Rachel Louise Adams was released September 16, 2025 by Minotaur Books. I received a copy of the book from the publisher through NetGalley. This did not affect my opinion nor my review.

My thoughts: Overall this is a good book. I gave it 4 stars out of 5 possible. 

The characters are well drawn. Some you will probably like for the most part,  like Dolores. Others you won't like as much, like Charlotte. It was hard for me to figure out who the kidnapper was. It was a surprise twist and a good one. 

The book had good pacing. It begins right away with Dolores finding out her father has been kidnapped. This captured my attention. There's more than one mystery in this book. There is a subplot of what happened to Dolores all those years ago. Flashbacks help tell the tale and don't slow it down. There are also at least 2 other subplots. Most of the subplots enrich the story. The one about the stray cats, though, I felt could have been done without for the most part. It did help characterize the female police officer's place among the other officers though.

I felt like the synopsis was a little misleading. It focuses on the town being associated with Halloween and having deaths around that holiday. I thought it was gearing up for something paranormal to be going on. Don't get me wrong. It is still a very well written mystery/thriller. It's just that Halloween is more a coincidence rather than a plot point.

Also some people may prefer there to be trigger warnings for at least sexual assault and the cat subplot. Neither one is really done in great detail. The sexual assault is mostly behind closed doors. And the thing with the cats is likewise very minor part of the plot.

Overall I would recommend this book to people who enjoy thrillers and mysteries. It's basically well-written and interesting. And there are some good twists.

Have you read this book yet? What did you think? Will you add it to your TBR list? Leave a comment and share your thoughts with us.

Happy Reading!

Can't Wait Wednesday/Waiting on Wednesday #570: The Impossible Fortune by Richard Osman

 

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 unmissable new mystery in the Thursday Murder Club series from #1 New York Times bestselling author Richard Osman, now streaming on Netflix

Who's got time to think about murder when there's a wedding to plan?

It’s been a quiet year for the Thursday Murder Club. Joyce is busy with table plans and first dances. Elizabeth is grieving. Ron is dealing with family troubles, and Ibrahim is still providing therapy to his favorite criminal.

But when Elizabeth meets Nick, a wedding guest asking for her help, she finds the thrill of the chase is ignited once again. And when Nick disappears without a trace, his cagey business partner becomes the gang’s next stop. It seems the duo have something valuable—something worth killing for.

Joyce’s daughter, Joanna, jumps into the fray to help the gang as they seek answers: Has someone kidnapped Nick? And what’s this uncrackable code they keep hearing about? Plunged back into action once more, can the four friends solve the puzzle and a murder in time?

The Impossible Fortune by Richard Osman is expected out September 30, 2025 from Viking Penguin/Pamela Dorman Books.

Why am I waiting on this book? I am hooked on this series. I've just started reading it. I love the characters and the writing. This is the fifth book in the series. I am trying to read them in order, but I know this is one to look forward to. This group of senior sleuths makes for an interesting read.

What book are you waiting on? Share it and a link in the comments so we can check it out and maybe add it to our ever growing To Be Read lists. Thanks for coming by. Happy Reading!

Teaser Tuesday: The Idiot Girl and the Flaming Tantrum of Death by Laurie Notaro

 

Welcome to Teaser Tuesday, the weekly Meme that wants you to add books to your TBR! You can also just share what you are currently reading. We make it very easy to play along, it is as easy as 1, 2, 3! Teaser Tuesday is hosted by Ambrosia at the Purple Booker.

1: Grab your current read 2: Open to a random page 3: 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 & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers! Everyone loves Teaser Tuesday.

"You know, this is how Hitchcock movies start," he warned me. "And then before you know it, I'll be the one running through a cornfield being stalked by a crop duster because my wife had to spend her birthday peeking in other people's windows."

-- page 7

The Idiot Girl and the Flaming Tantrum of Death: Reflections on Revenge, Germaphobia, and Laser Hair Removal by Laurie Notaro was published June 24, 2008 by Villard.

The kindle version is currently available for $1.99 I make nothing by sharing this with you. =0)

Book Review: Here for a Good Time by Pyae Moe Thet War

 

From the publisher: 

A trip they'll never forget...

Poe Myat Sabei has the publishing career that any writer would kill for: her first novel sold at auction, became an international number one bestseller, and is being turned into a Netflix film. But now on deadline for her second book, Poe is facing a catastrophic case of writer’s block. The solution? Book a two-week getaway to an exclusive island resort for her and her best friend Zwe where she’ll undoubtedly be inspired to write her next bestseller.

But the vacation of their dreams disintegrates in a flash when the resort is taken over by a group of masked women who are very armed and very angry. As they try to leave the island before the group can track them down, Poe and Zwe suddenly find themselves facing the kinds of conflicts that only come up when, well, you’re trapped in a life or death situation on a remote island with your (hot) best friend.

My thoughts: 

Overall, I liked the book. Poe and Zwe were nice characters. The secondary characters of Leila and Antonio gave the plot more depth and helped propel it along. I liked that it was action/adventure too in a way.

I did have trouble seeing the romance developing between Poe and Zwe even though I knew they were the designated couple. They seemed to act more brother and sister than lovers in their verbal exchanges. And they hide their feelings well from each other. Also, I felt that the sex scenes were unnecessary and seemed like an afterthought. And I had a little trouble suspending disbelief at some points.

Even given the flaws, it was overall a good book. The plot was interesting. The characters were likable. I gave it 4 out of 5 stars.

I received a copy of the book from the publisher through NetGalley. This did not affect my opinions nor my review.

Can't Wait Wednesday/Waiting on Wednesday #569: Mrs. Shim Is a Killer by Kang Jiyoung

 

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:

When a middle-aged widowed loses her job at the butcher shop, she’s at a loss as to how to provide for her family—until she’s offered a position that puts her carving skills to new uses in this darkly humorous bestselling Korean thriller.

Mrs. Shim needs money. She’s lost her husband and her job, and she's got three mouths to feed at her kitchen table. If she doesn't find work soon, she and her children are going to lose their home.

So when she answers a vague job ad for the Smile Detective Agency, Mrs. Shim expects the job will be some kind of cleaning position. But when they only ask her questions about her experience as a butcher and what she can do with a cleaver, she begins to realize they want her to do a very different kind of cleaning—they want her to be an assassin. Too scared not to take them up on their offer, she agrees to the position.

And Mrs. Shim soon finds that her new job isn’t so different from her old one in the butcher shop, quickly becoming the agency's best contract killer—but her rise to the top hasn’t gone unnoticed. Jealous of her talents, her agency’s competitors—and even her own colleagues-- begin pointing fingers (and knives) in her direction.

If she wants to keep her job, her family, and her reputation intact, Mrs. Shim is going to have to take out the secretive leader of a rival agency. But when she has the chance to strike, she's stunned to find a familiar face at the end of her blade.

As it turns out, this just may be one mess she can't cut her way out of . . .

Mrs. Shim Is a Killer by Kang Jiyoung is expected out April 21, 2026 from Harper Perennial.

Why am I waiting on this book? I like the premise. I don't expect hijinx like in the Finlay Donovan books, but I do expect humorous situations to arise as this woman finds out she is expected to be an assassin rather than an office cleaner. It looks like an interesting and fun read.

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

Teaser Tuesday: Back in Black by Julie Mulhern

 

Welcome to Teaser Tuesday, the weekly Meme that wants you to add books to your TBR! You can also just share what you are currently reading. We make it very easy to play along, it is as easy as 1, 2, 3! Teaser Tuesday is hosted by Ambrosia at the Purple Booker.

1: Grab your current read 2: Open to a random page 3: 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 & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers! Everyone loves Teaser Tuesday.

I found three courses for lunch to be two too many, but I'd happily agreed to meet her there. Mainly because I adored the chocolates they sold near the front entrance. I'd say their dark chocolate hearts were to die for but given my track record that seemed like tempting fate.

p. 87 

Back in Black by Julie Mulhern was released October 2024 by J & M Press. It's number 18 in The Country Club Murders series.

The series is excellent at combining mystery and humor set in the 1970s. The most recent book in the series, Bad Blood (#20) was released August 26, 2025. The Kindle version of the first book in the series, The Deep End, is currently available on Amazon for $1.49

What are you reading? Are you reading this series too? Share in the comments. Happy Reading!

Can't Wait Wednesday/Waiting on Wednesday #568: Descendants of the Big House by C. Vonzale Lewis

 

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: Beatrice Monroe is still getting used to the knowledge that she was born a champion for Good and Evil. She spends her days combing through her great grandmother’s journals trying to find answers to what this newfound ability means for her as a member of law enforcement.

When a woman walks into her precinct claiming her aunt was murdered, Beatrice discovers a link between their families that may just have the answers she needs. But those answers are not easy to find. Because this mystery’s roots are buried in the past with five young girls and what they gave birth to…in The Big House.

Descendants of the Big House is a standalone installment in A Horde of Dead Poets collection featuring seven authors and their stories inspired by famous literary poems. If you often find yourself steering toward a dark, mysterious, isolated location; if family curses haunt you and unreliable narrators keep you in suspense, you won’t want to miss a single volume in this gripping collection.

Perfect for fans of T. Kingfisher, Simone St. James, Stephen King, and Shirley Jackson.

Descendants of the Big House by C. Vonzale Lewis is expected out October 14th, 2025 from Percy's Heart Press.

Why am I waiting on this book? I like that it is a standalone. I'm not familiar with the Horde of Dead Poets, but this has piqued my interest. It sounds interesting combining a mystery with what sounds like either dark fantasy or horror. I'm wondering what's in The Big House and how it fits in with the the murder and the woman's family.

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

Book Review: I Did Something Bad by Pyae Moe Thet War

 

From the publisher:

A WASHINGTON POST BEST ROMANCE NOVEL OF THE YEAR

In this smart and swoony adventure rom-com, a journalist and a movie star find themselves teaming up to cover up a murder...and falling for each other in the process.

When freelance journalist Khin Haymar is assigned by Vogue to get a scoop on Tyler Tun, Hollywood’s hottest movie, she's determined to succeed. Tyler has returned home to Myanmar to shoot his latest film, and if Khin’s able to get an exclusive, there may well be a permanent position waiting for her at Vogue Singapore.

Tyler has a very private life and doesn’t show any sign of letting down his walls for Khin. But then one night on set, a man follows Khin into the park. When he threatens her, Tyler steps in and things escalate fast. Khin knows they can’t go to the police, even if this was self defense, and even if this stranger seems to have targeted her specifically.

As Khin and Tyler work together to hide their secret and find out more about her attacker, they grow closer and Tyler finally starts opening up. But now the idea of writing the article gives Khin an uncomfortable morality-related guilt. Before long, everything hangs in the balance. Will they get away with murder? Can Khin get the exposé she needs for her dream job? And is she willing to risk Tyler’s trust in the process?

My thoughts: Romance? check. Khin and Tyler definitely have a romance going on. Circumstances draw them ever closer together. He's nicer and a little more down-to-earth than you would expect from some big movie star. Maybe that can be attributed to the fact that he is still very close to his family and best friend. Khin, is a journalist, but not as hard nosed as she thought. The romance is slow burn, but makes sense considering what's going on.

Comedy? Some yes, but not as much as I expected from a rom-com. Still, there are some very humorous moments.

Adventure? Definitely. As they investigate the murder victim themselves to see why he may have targeted Khin, there are adventurous scenes. As much as Khin tries to do things all on her own, Tyler usually becomes involved. That the scenes involve both of them as much as possible makes them better.

Plot wise, it's interesting. This was my first specifically rom-com/mystery book. I would definitely read another by the same author. Pacing is well done. And it is pretty much a clean romance. Kissing yes, but that's about it. Anything else is either only suggested or fade to black.

I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars. It's pretty good. I would recommend it to people who like their romance with a touch of mystery and the occasional humorous scene. I'm getting ready to read another book by the same author that just came out, Here for a Good Time. It features a writer as the main female character instead of a journalist. Should be interesting. Review to come on that one.

I Did Something Bad by Pyae Moe Thet War came out October 8th, 2024 from St. Martin's Press. I received a copy of the book from the publisher through NetGalley. This did not affect my review.

Can't Wait Wednesday/Waiting on Wednesday #567: Agnes Aubert's Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather Fawcett

 

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 who runs a cat rescue in 1920s Montreal turns to a grouchy but charming wizard to help save the shelter in this heartwarming cozy fantasy from the New York Times bestselling author of the Emily Wilde series.

Agnes Aubert leads a meticulously organized life—and she likes it that way. As the proudly type-A manager of a much-needed cat rescue charity, she has devoted her life to finding forever homes for lost cats. 

But after she is forced to move the cat shelter, Agnes learns that her new landlord is using her charity as a front—for an internationally renowned and thoroughly disreputable magic shop. Owned by the disorganized—not to mention self-absorbed, irritating, but also decidedly handsome—Havelock Renard, magician and failed Dark Lord, the shop draws magical clientele from around the world, partly due to the quality of Havelock’s illicit goods as well as their curiosity about his shadowy past and rumors of his incredible powers. Agnes's charity offers the perfect cover for illegal magics.

Agnes couldn’t care less about the shop—magical intrigue or not, there are cats to be rescued. But when an enemy from Havelock’s past surfaces, the magic shop—and more importantly, the cat shelter—are suddenly in jeopardy. To save the shelter, will Agnes have to set aside her social conscience and protect the man who once tried to bring about the apocalypse—and is now trying to steal her heart?

Havelock is everything Agnes thinks she doesn't need in her life: chaos, mischief, and a little too much adventure. But as she gets to know him, she discovers he's more than the dark magician of legend, and that she may be ready for a little intrigue—and romance—in her life. After all, second chances aren't just for rescue cats...

Agnes Aubert's Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather Fawcett is expected out February 17th, 2026 from Del Rey.

Why am I waiting on this book? I've enjoyed the other things I've read by Heather Fawcett, especially the Emily Wilde series. I also enjoy books written about the 1920s era. Agnes sounds like a bit of a curmudgeon while Havelock sounds like the opposite. I'd like to read about how they resolve their differences, if they do, and about how the cats make out. Also, I love the cover.

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

Teaser Tuesday: Homemaker by Ruthie Knox and Annie Mare

Welcome to Teaser Tuesday, the weekly Meme that wants you to add books to your TBR! You can also just share what you are currently reading. We make it very easy to play along, it is as easy as 1, 2, 3! Teaser Tuesday is hosted by Ambrosia at the Purple Booker.

1: Grab your current read 2: Open to a random page 3: 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 & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers! Everyone loves Teaser Tuesday.

"What she really believed, but hadn't said, was that she noticed things because she was a mom. Because a mom had to notice everything about the entire world, every single day, and question those things, every single day, so nothing bad would happen." page 24

What are you reading? Share it with us in the comments. Happy reading!