Waiting on Wednesday #179: Southern Fried by Tonya Kappes

"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:

In the South, it’s better when the food is fried and the secrets kept buried… 

After the dead body of a beloved Cottonwood resident is found tangled up in an electric fence, Sheriff Kenni Lowry has a hunch that somethin’ ain’t right. Her investigation heats up with a fierce cook-off competition, a euchre game where the intel is sweeter than the brownies, and a decades-old family recipe that may just be the proof in the pudding. 

The icing on the cake: Kenni is fighting an attraction to her recently sworn-in deputy sheriff, and election season is hot on her tail. When the killer comes after who she holds most dear, even her poppa’s ghostly guidance might not be enough to keep her and her own out of the frying pan.

Southern Fried is due out April 4, 2017 from Henery Press.

Why am I waiting on this one? I love a good humorous mystery. And I like it even better if it takes place in a southern setting. And Henery Press has a knack for publishing humorous mysteries. 

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!

Waiting on Wednesday #167: She Stopped for Death by Elizabeth Kane Buzzelli

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine where we spotlight upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating. 

Synopsis from Goodreads: 

Jenny Weston and her mother, Dora, have been receiving strange midnight visits. Bear Falls's own elusive and highly secretive poet, Emily Sutton, has lived her life cloistered away with her sister in a house at the edge of Pewee Swamp. But now, Emily's started leaving scraps of poetry in Dora's Little Library, and Dora makes it her mission to befriend the sheltered woman.

Meanwhile Zoe Zola, almost famous author, Little Person, and the Weston's quirky next-door neighbor, is hard at work on a new book, this one about the inner life of Emily Dickinson. And once again, Zoe's literary work starts making uncanny connections with the events in her own world as Emily Sutton reemerges into society. But Zoe begins to suspect things aren't anywhere near normal at Emily's swamp house or in the lives of the people she claims have abandoned her...until looking further into the poet's half-truths leads Zoe and Jenny to a horrible murder.

The chaos surrounding the ensuing investigation grows even more hectic with Emily’s increasingly erratic behavior, the arrival of a young woman searching for her missing poet uncle, and yet another betrayal in Jenny's love life. And only poetry can set the truth free in Elizabeth Kane Buzzelli's charming second Little Library mystery, She Stopped for Death.

She Stopped for Death is due out January 10, 2017 from Crooked Lane Books.

Why am I waiting on this book? I find the Emily Dickinson connection interesting. I've always been a little fascinated by her. And it sounds like a good mystery. 

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!

Waiting on Wednesday #164: The Princess Diarist by Carrie Fisher

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine where we spotlight upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating. 

Synopsis from Goodreads: 

The Princess Diarist is Carrie Fisher’s intimate, hilarious and revealing recollection of what happened behind the scenes on one of the most famous film sets of all time, the first Star Wars movie. 

When Carrie Fisher recently discovered the journals she kept during the filming of the first Star Wars movie, she was astonished to see what they had preserved—plaintive love poems, unbridled musings with youthful naiveté, and a vulnerability that she barely recognized. Today, her fame as an author, actress, and pop-culture icon is indisputable, but in 1977, Carrie Fisher was just a (sort-of) regular teenager. 

With these excerpts from her handwritten notebooks, The Princess Diarist is Fisher’s intimate and revealing recollection of what happened on one of the most famous film sets of all time—and what developed behind the scenes. And today, as she reprises her most iconic role for the latest Star Wars trilogy, Fisher also ponders the joys and insanity of celebrity, and the absurdity of a life spawned by Hollywood royalty, only to be surpassed by her own outer-space royalty. Laugh-out-loud hilarious and endlessly quotable, The Princess Diarist brims with the candor and introspection of a diary while offering shrewd insight into the type of stardom that few will ever experience.

Why am I waiting on this book? I grew up in the time period when the first Star Wars movie was released. I think I was in sixth grade. It made a big impact on me, my brother, and our friends at school. And I enjoy a well-written memoir. To couple the two things, it seems like it would be a fun book to read. Especially since it says that it is "laugh-out-loud hilarious and endlessly quotable." The Princess Diarist is due out November 22, 2016 according to NetGalley.

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!

Waiting on Wednesday #141: The Dragon Lords: Fool's Gold by Jon Hollis

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine where we spotlight upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating.  

This one sounds like a little light reading. Synopsis from Goodreads: 

A brand new adventure fantasy: imagine Guardians of the Galaxy planning a heist on Smaug's gold, for fans looking for something with a modern twist and some humor.

Guardians of the Galaxy meets The Hobbit in this rollicking fantasy adventure.

It's not easy to live in a world ruled by dragons. The taxes are high and their control is complete. But for one group of bold misfits, it's time to band together and steal back some of that wealth.

No one said they were smart.

This is number one in a new series entitled The Dragon Lords. It's due out July 19, 2016 from Orbit.

Why am I waiting on it? It sounds like a fun fantasy read. Something light for the beach or even a weekend.

What are you waiting on this week? Share it or a link in the comments so we can check it out. Happy Reading!

Waiting on Wednesday #60 - A Murder of Magpies by Judith Flanders

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine where we spotlight upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating.

A Murder of Magpies by Judith Flanders is the first in a new series featuring Samantha Clair - book editor and amateur sleuth. The book is due out February 24, 2015 from Minotaur Books. 

The synopsis from the publisher: 

A witty, entertaining mystery featuring a hilarious, sharp as a tack new amateur sleuth from the critically acclaimed author of The Invention of Murder

It’s just another day at the office for book editor Samantha Clair. Checking jacket copy for howlers, wondering how to break it to her star novelist that her latest effort is utterly unpublishable, lunch scheduled with gossipy author Kit Lowell, whose new book will deliciously dish the dirt on the fashion industry. But little does she know how much trouble Kit’s book is about to cause. Before it even goes to print. When police inspector Field turns up at the venerable offices of Timmins & Ross, asking questions about an undelivered package that was addressed to Sam, she knows something is wrong. The messenger sent to deliver the package was murdered, and then Kit goes missing. Suddenly, Sam's nine-to-five life is turned upside down and she is propelled into a criminal investigation. Someone doesn't want Kit's scandalous manuscript published and unless Sam can put the pieces together in time, they'll do anything to stop it.

With her deliciously fun, cleverly written debut novel, acclaimed author Judith Flanders introduces readers to an enormously enjoyable, too-smart-for-her-own-good new amateur sleuth, as well as a colorful cast of characters including Sam's witty assistant, effortlessly glamorous mother, and the handsome inspector Field. A whip-smart, impeccably crafted mystery, this tremendously entertaining novel will have readers flying through the pages.

Why am I looking forward to it? It sounds like a funny mystery and the main character is in the publishing business. I love to read mysteries, but especially ones that have humor to them.

So, what book are you looking forward to this week? Share it or a link in the comments so we can check it out. And thanks for stopping by!

Waiting on Wednesday #59: If You've Got It, Haunt It by Rose Pressey

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine where we spotlight upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating.

My pick this week is If You've Got it, Haunt It by Rose Pressey. This cozy mystery is set to come out December 2, 2014 from Kensington Books. This will be book #1 in the Haunted Vintage series.

From Goodreads:
Cookie Chanel has a passion for fashion--and a murder mystery to solve!

Cookie Chanel has opened her own vintage clothing boutique, "It's Vintage, Y'All," in the charming town of Sugar Creek, Georgia. Always on the lookout for stylish second-hand steals, she attends the estate sale of deceased socialite Charlotte Meadows. But she gets a lot more than she bargained for when Charlotte's ghost appears before her--offering fashion advice and begging Cookie to find out who murdered her.

As the persistent poltergeist tags along and a possibly psychic pussycat moves into the shop, Cookie sorts through racks of suspects to see who may be hiding some skeletons in the closet. Do a clothing store owner and a disembodied socialite have a ghost of a chance of collaring a killer--or will Cookie's life be the next one hanging by a thread?

The book sounds interesting and like it will have a sense of humor. It would have made good Halloween reading, but it's not being released until December. Perhaps the publisher is doing it so the series isn't associated with Halloween. I like the idea of the setting/occupation of the sleuth having to do with Vintage clothing and I'm surprised I hadn't seen one similar before.

What book are you waiting on this week? Share a link in the comments. And thanks for coming by!

Waiting on Wednesday #58: We Are Pirates by Daniel Handler

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine where we spotlight upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating.   

This week I am waiting on We Are Pirates - a Novel by Daniel Handler. I've not yet read anything he's written for adults. And this looks like it might be a good place to start. It's due out February 3, 2015 from Bloomsbury USA.

From the Publisher: 

Mega-bestselling author Daniel Handler (aka Lemony Snicket) gives us his long-awaited and most ambitious novel yet: a dark, rollicking, stunningly entertaining human comedy.

A boat has gone missing. Goods have been stolen. There is blood in the water. It is the twenty-first century and a crew of pirates is terrorizing the San Francisco Bay.

Phil is a husband, a father, a struggling radio producer, and the owner of a large condo with a view of the water. But he'd like to be a rebel and a fortune hunter.

Gwen is his daughter. She's fourteen. She's a student, a swimmer, and a best friend. But she'd like to be an adventurer and an outlaw.

Phil teams up with his young, attractive assistant. They head for the open road, attending a conference to seal a deal.

Gwen teams up with a new, fierce friend and some restless souls. They head for the open sea, stealing a boat to hunt for treasure.

We Are Pirates is a novel about our desperate searches for happiness and freedom, about our wild journeys beyond the boundaries of our ordinary lives. 

Also, it's about a teenage girl who pulls together a ragtag crew to commit mayhem in the San Francisco Bay, while her hapless father tries to get her home. 

It sounds offbeat and appealing to me. I'm hoping there is enough light humor to carry it and balance the dark comedy.

So, what are you waiting on this week? Tell me about it in the comments or leave a link to your WoW, Thanks for coming by!

Waiting on Wednesday #57: Beastkeeper by Cat Hellisen

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine where we spotlight upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating. 

February 3, 2015
Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)

I don't much go in for middle grade novels, but this one I have to read. A retelling of Beauty and the Beast where the beast is a girl? Yes please! Something different. It's told in first person point of view from the girl's perspective. 

From the publisher: 

Sarah has always been on the move. Her mother hates the cold, so every few months her parents pack their bags and drag her off after the sun. She’s grown up lonely and longing for magic. She doesn’t know that it’s magic her parents are running from.

When Sarah’s mother walks out on their family, all the strange old magic they have tried to hide from comes rising into their mundane world. Her father begins to change into something wild and beastly, but before his transformation is complete, he takes Sarah to her grandparents—people she has never met, didn’t even know were still alive.

Deep in the forest, in a crumbling ruin of a castle, Sarah begins to untangle the layers of curses affecting her family bloodlines, until she discovers that the curse has carried over to her, too. The day she falls in love for the first time, Sarah will transform into a beast . . . unless she can figure out a way to break the curse forever.

I hope it works well. I like the novelty of a girl that is the beast. And I wonder, among other things, what if anything Sarah's mother walking out on the family has to do with the curse coming to fruition for her father.

What do you think? What's your WoW? Let us know. Leave a link or a title in the comments and Thanks for coming by!

Waiting on Wednesday #56: Catch Me When I Fall by Vicki Leigh

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine where we spotlight upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating. 

This week, Catch Me When I Fall by Vicki Leigh sounds interesting to me. It's Book One of the Dreamcatchers' series, a YA series, due out October 23, 2014 from Curiosity Quills Press.

From the publisher: 

Recruited at his death to be a Protector of the Night, seventeen-year-old Daniel Graham has spent two-hundred years fighting Nightmares and guarding humans from the clawed, red-eyed creatures that feed off people’s fears. Each night, he risks his eternal life, having given up his chance at an afterlife when he chose to become a Protector. That doesn’t stop a burnt-out Daniel from risking daring maneuvers during each battle. He’s become one of the best, but he wants nothing more than to stop. 

Then he’s given an assignment to watch over sixteen-year-old Kayla Bartlett, a clinically depressed patient in a psychiatric ward. Nightmares love a human with a tortured past. Yet, when they take a deep interest in her, appearing in unprecedented numbers, the job becomes more dangerous than any Daniel’s ever experienced. He fights ruthlessly to keep the Nightmares from overwhelming his team and Kayla. Soon, Daniel finds himself watching over Kayla during the day, drawn to why she’s different, and what it is about her that attracts the Nightmares. And him. 

A vicious attack on Kayla forces Daniel to break the first Law and reveal his identity. Driven by his growing feelings for her, he whisks her away to Rome where others like him can keep her safe. Under their roof, the Protectors discover what Kayla is and why someone who can manipulate Nightmares has her in his sights. But before they can make a move, the Protectors are betrayed and Kayla is kidnapped. Daniel will stop at nothing to save her. Even if it means giving up his immortality.

The reviews on Goodreads are mostly positive. There are a few that were dnf (did not finish). It seems like people either loved the book or hated it. I'm hoping I fall into the love it crowd since the bit about nightmares sounds so different. And being told mostly from a male pov (point of view) is different as well.

So, What book are you waiting on this week? Give us a link or a title in the comments and thanks for stopping by!

Waiting on Wednesday #55: Wishes and Sorrows by Cindy Lynn Speer

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine where we spotlight upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating. 

Due out October 30, 2014
from Dragonwell  Publishing

This week, I had my mind on fairy tales when I was looking through the books that are coming out soon. I came across this collection of stories by Cindy Lynn Speer entitled Wishes and Sorrows.

Dragonwell publishing's blurb says:

For every wish there is a sorrow...
Wishes are born from sorrows, blessings are sometimes curses, and even fairy godmothers cannot always get what they want. In this original collection, Cindy Lynn Speer, the author of The Chocolatier's Wife, brings to life creatures of myths and tales mixing them into a vibrant tapestry of stories, happy and sad, magical and real, each lovingly crafted and sure to touch the reader's soul. 

Step into the world where magic is real and every mundane bit of reality is as magical as a true fairy tale.

 It makes me think of the phrase, "Be careful what you wish for." On the other hand, I was wishing for a book with fairy tale type stories and there it is. So, sometimes we get lucky. 

What book are you waiting on this week? Give me a link or a title in the comments below. And Thanks for coming by!

Waiting On Wednesday # 54: As You Wish by Cary Elwes

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine where we spotlight upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating. 

The movie "The Princess Bride" is one of my all time favorites. What's not to like? There's a swashbuckling hero, a maiden, magic, and bad guys. If you loved the movie, chances are you will enjoy the book, As You Wish - Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride by Cary Elwes with Joe Layden with a forward by Rob Reiner. I'm pretty sure it's not a kissing book, but I can't say that for 100% sure until I've read it. Cary Elwes played the part of Westley aka The Dread Pirate Roberts in the movie. 

Goodreads has this to say about the book:

From actor Cary Elwes, who played the iconic role of Westley in The Princess Bride, comes a first-person account and behind-the-scenes look at the making of the cult classic film filled with never-before-told stories, exclusive photographs, and interviews with costars Robin Wright, Wallace Shawn, Billy Crystal, Christopher Guest, and Mandy Patinkin, as well as author and screenwriter William Goldman, producer Norman Lear, and director Rob Reiner.

The Princess Bride has been a family favorite for close to three decades. Ranked by the American Film Institute as one of the top 100 Greatest Love Stories and by the Writers Guild of America as one of the top 100 screenplays of all time, The Princess Bride will continue to resonate with audiences for years to come.

Cary Elwes was inspired to share his memories and give fans an unprecedented look into the creation of the film while participating in the twenty-fifth anniversary cast reunion. In As You Wish he has created an enchanting experience; in addition to never-before seen photos and interviews with his fellow cast mates, there are plenty of set secrets, backstage stories, and answers to lingering questions about off-screen romances that have plagued fans for years!

With a foreword by Rob Reiner and a limited edition original poster by acclaimed artist Shepard Fairey, As You Wish is a must-have for all fans of this beloved film.

 I am so looking forward to this book as more about the Princess Bride world. It's due out October 14, 2014 from Touchstone. 

What book are you looking forward to this week? Share it or a link in the comments. 

Waiting on Wednesday #53: Tomes of Terror by Mark Leslie

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine where we spotlight upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating. 

Dundurn  Available
September 27, 2014

This week I am waiting on a nonfiction paranormal book entitled Tomes of Terror: Haunted Bookstores and Libraries by Mark Leslie. I suppose it only qualifies as nonfiction if you believe in ghosts. The publishing company is selling it as nonfiction so the people who told the stories to Mark Leslie must have believed in the hauntings. 

It reminds me of the old Borders store I worked at. Many of us believed the store to be haunted. Books would fall off the shelf for no reason. The shoplifting alarms would go off after hours by themselves if certain music was played. If you were walking down the hall towards the backroom, sometimes you would see the doors to the backroom move by themselves as you approached. And sometimes when you were working alone in the backroom it would sound like someone else was working in the room with you when no one else was there.The ghost never did anything really bad, just sometimes was annoying. We did have one employee quit over it though. She said that she didn't need that meaning the ghost.

Goodreads  has this to say about the book: Throughout history, books have inspired, informed, entertained, and enriched us. They have also kept us up through the night, thrilled us, and lured into their endless depths. "Tomes of Terror" is a celebration and an eerie look at the siren call of literature and the unexplained and fascinating stories associated with bookish locations around the world. Mark Leslie's latest paranormal page-turner is a compendium of true stories of the supernatural in literary locales, complete with hair-raising first-person accounts. You may even recognize a spectre of your local library lurking in these true stories and photographs. If you have ever felt an indescribable presence hanging about a quiet bookshop, then you ll enjoy these fascinating and haunting tales.

So, I am curious what kinds of experiences other people have had in other supposedly haunted bookstores and libraries. Have you ever had any experiences in either of those kinds of locations? Feel free to email me. If you email me, please put the name of the book as the subject so I know it isn't spam. Thanks!

And what book are you waiting on this week? Please leave a title or a link in the comments. Thanks for sharing!

Waiting on Wednesday #52: Queen Bee Goes Home Again by Haywood Smith

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine where we spotlight upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating. 

This week I am anticipating a book by a fellow Georgian, Queen Bee Goes Home Again by Haywood Smith.  The book is due out September 16, 2014 from St. Martin's Press. If it's anything like the first book about the Queen Bee, Queen Bee of Mimosa Branch, it will be funny and touching at times. Queen Bee of  Mimosa Branch was also a nice piece of Southern Chicklit. 

 From Goodreads:
In Queen Bee Goes Home Again by bestselling author Haywood Smith, it's been ten years since Linwood Scott had to move back home to Mimosa Branch, Georgia the first time.  Now, with her work in real estate at a stand-still because of the economy, and her ex-husband and his alimony payments (and his former stripper-current wife) nowhere to be seen, Linwood finds herself back in the place she'd never thought she'd be: the garage apartment next to her mother Mamie's mansion.  But this time around things are different.  It's not just Linwood that's ten years older.  Her uncle and father are living in a home, and Mamie is working hard to take care of everything on her own (while still bossing around her nearest and dearest).  Linwood's brother has cleaned up his act and turned over a new leaf.  And there's a new Baptist preacher in town...who also happens to be handsome and divorced.  While Linwood reconnects with Mimosa Branch and works to figure out what her next step will be, it's family, love, and a sense of humor that will help guide her through the unpredictable turns her life has taken.

Haywood Smith is also the author of The Red Hat Club and The Red Hat Club Rides Again.

So, why am I waiting on this book? It looks like a good, fun read. I expect that it will be touching at times, but that it will overall be funny and a book to remember.

What book are you waiting on this week? Leave a link or a title in the comments below.

Waiting on Wednesday #51: A Pair of Titles: One Dark and One Light

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine where we spotlight upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating. 

This week I am waiting on 2 titles. One is a little darker than the other. The first one that I am looking forward to reading is called The Cutting Room: Dark Reflections of the Silver Screen. It's edited by Ellen Datlow who is one of the best editors out there and will be published by Tachyon Publications October 14. 2014.

From the publisher: 

What happens after the closing credits and before the lights go out?  When you turn off your TV, but still aren’t able to sleep?

The credits have rolled, but the lights are still off. Something is lurking on the other side of the screen. There are dark secrets, starving monsters, and haunted survivors who refuse to be left on the cutting room floor. But that’s okay, right? After all, everybody loves the movies…. Here are twenty-three terrifying tales, dark reflections of the silver screen from both sides of the camera. James Dean gets a second chance at life—and death. The Wicked Witch is out of Oz and she’s made some unlucky friends. When God decides reality needs an editor, what—and who—gets cut? These award-winning, bestselling authors will take you to the darkest depths of the theater and beyond.

The other book I am waiting on is the first in a new series: Mrs. Kaplan and the Matzoh Ball of Death by Mark Reutlinger. It's due to be released November 18, 2014 from Alibi. It sounds like it's a light, fun mystery with a good sense of humor. I am hoping it will live up to it. 

 From the publisher:

Move over, Miss Marple—Mark Reutlinger’s charming cozy debut introduces readers to the unforgettable amateur sleuth Rose Kaplan and her loyal sidekick, Ida.

Everyone knows that Rose Kaplan makes the best matzoh ball soup around—she’s a regular matzoh ball maven—so it’s no surprise at the Julius and Rebecca Cohen Home for Jewish Seniors when, once again, Mrs. K wins the honor of preparing the beloved dish for the Home’s seder on the first night of Passover.

But when Bertha Finkelstein is discovered facedown in her bowl of soup, her death puts a bit of a pall on the rest of the seder. And things go really meshugge when it comes out that Bertha choked on a diamond earring earlier stolen from resident Daisy Goldfarb. Suddenly Mrs. K is the prime suspect in the police investigation of both theft and murder. Oy vey—it’s a recipe for disaster, unless Rose and her dear friend Ida can summon up the chutzpah to face down the police and solve the mystery themselves.

So what book are you waiting on this week? Leave a link and/or a title in the comments below.