Teaser Tuesday: Monsters of Ohio (sneak peek) by John Scalzi

 

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!

 It’s existential, and rabbits don’t do existential. Existential requires a big brain and time to just sit around and think. You have neither; your brain is the size of a walnut and if you just sat around thinking, something would probably find you and eat you.

Scalzi, John. Sneak Peek for Monsters of Ohio (p. 6). Kindle Edition. 

Currently the sneak peek is available at Amazon for free. The full edition is expected out November 3, 2026 from Tor Books.

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!

Can't Wait Wednesday/Waiting on Wednesday #555: God's Junk Drawer by Peter Clines

 

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:

From New York Times bestselling author Peter Clines, God’s Junk Drawer is a mind-bending tale of mystery and adventure set at the dawn of time.  

Welcome to the valley… 

Forty years ago, the Gather family—James, his daughter Beau, and his son Billy—vanished during a whitewater rafting trip and were presumed dead. 

Five years later, Billy reappeared on the far side of the world, telling an impossible tale of a primordial valley populated by dinosaurs, aliens, Neanderthals, and androids. Little Billy became the punchline of so very many jokes, until he finally faded from the public eye. 

Now, a group of graduate astronomy students follow their professor, Noah Barnes, up a mountain for what they believe is a simple stargazing trip. But they’re about to travel a lot farther than they planned… 

Noah—the now grown Billy Gather—has finally figured out how to get back to the valley. Accidentally bringing his students along with him, he’s confident he can get everyone back home, safe and sound. 

But the valley is a puzzle—one it turns out Noah hasn’t figured out—and they’ll need to solve it together if there’s any chance of making it out alive.  

Pulling from Earth’s past, future, and beyond, Peter Clines has created a complex, dangerous world, navigated by a dynamic ensemble cast, and a story that is thrilling as it is funny and heartfelt. 

God's Junk Drawer by Peter Clines is due out November 11, 2025 from Blackstone Publishing.

Why am I waiting on this book: I love the title. It sounds like a good adventure story.  And it promises to be funny and heartfelt. I love humor in books. I'm wondering how they will conclude that everything got there and how they will get out or if they will.

What book are you waiting on? 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!

Can't Wait Wednesday/Waiting on Wednesday #523: When the Moon Hits Your Eye by John Scalzi

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:

 New York Times bestseller John Scalzi flies you to the moon with his most fantastic tale to date: When the Moon Hits Your Eye

The moon has turned to cheese.

Now humanity has to deal with it.

For some it’s an opportunity. For others it’s a moment to question their faith: In God, in science, in everything. Still others try to keep the world running in the face of absurdity and uncertainty. And then there are the billions looking to the sky and wondering how a thing that was always just there is now... something absolutely impossible.

Astronauts and billionaires, comedians and bank executives, professors and presidents, teenagers and terminal patients at the end of their lives -- over the length of an entire lunar cycle, each get their moment in the moonlight. To panic, to plan, to wonder and to pray, to laugh and to grieve. All in a kaleidoscopic novel that goes all the places you’d expect, and then to so many places you wouldn’t.

It’s a wild, magical moonage daydream. Ride this rocket.

When the Moon Hits Your Eye by John Scalzi is expected out March 25, 2025 from Tor Books.

Why am I waiting on this book? I've read a few John Scalzi books now. I've always found them to  be entertaining and imaginative. I expect this one will be the same. 

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

Can't Wait Wednesday/Waiting on Wednesday #513: Murder on the Interstellar Express by Gregory D. Little

 

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:

Deadpool’s sarcastic potty mouth meets a closed room murder mystery in space.

In the face of an existential threat to her world—an impending alien invasion—Bell Beauregard does something unprecedented: her job. She's rewarded by being labeled a traitor, sentenced to indentured servitude, and shipped off-world on a half-built colony ship being used as an escape hatch for the rich and powerful.

Bell is woken from cryosleep as part of an emergency maintenance crew, but before she even has a chance to shirk her duties or flirt with the enticing Tas, things go full "oh, f#*$ me!" when a fellow prisoner is brutally murdered and Bell is the most obvious suspect. To have any chance with Tas—and, like, clear her name and stuff—Bell must begrudgingly solve the murder.

But false accusations, unrequited romance, and having to make an effort are the least of Bell's concerns. Because the killer isn't content to stop at one victim. And if Bell can't unravel the mystery, the only way to prove her innocence may be to turn up dead.

Murder on the Interstellar Express by Gregory D. Little is expected out August 13th, 2024 from Cursed Dragon Ship Publishing.

Why am I waiting on this book: I like the idea of a locked room mystery set on a spaceship. And I like that the story is told with humor. Bell sounds interesting. I want to know more about what happens to her as she attempts to solve the mystery without ending up dead.

What book are you waiting on? 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!

Can't Wait Wednesday/Waiting on Wednesday #509: The Hermit Next Door by Kevin Hearne

 

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: Kevin Hearne, author of the acclaimed Iron Druid Chronicles, returns with an otherworldly new novella!

Newly widowed and trying to cope with her grief, Winnie Mae Chisholm moves from Tennessee with her teenage son, Pax, to Oregon, hoping the change will let them both heal and move on. She’s warned when buying their new home that the next door neighbor, Mr. Fisher, is a famous recluse and no one has seen him in years, but that’s fine with her—she’s looking for quiet.

She’s not going to get it, however, because when Pax meets the neighbor, he discovers that the reason Mr. Fisher hides from the world is that he isn’t actually from this world. He’s been stranded for decades and he’s trying to get home, and he could really use some help. 

Abruptly part of the best-kept secret on the planet, Winnie Mae and Pax have to protect Mr. Fisher from a nosy neighbor who would ruin his work and doom him to die among aliens, but they also have to ask themselves: How far would they go to escape their grief? Would another world be far enough?

The Hermit Next Door by Kevin Hearne is expected out June 30th, 2024 from Subterranean Press.

Why am I waiting on this book: I find the idea of finding out your neighbor is an alien intriguing. I am wondering to what lengths they will go to protect him from the nosy neighbor and help him find a way home. And do they really think they can outrun their grief? 

What book are you waiting on? 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!

Can't Wait Wednesday/Waiting on Wednesday #452: In the Lives of Puppets by T.J. Klune

 

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 a strange little home built into the branches of a grove of trees, live three robots--fatherly inventor android Giovanni Lawson, a pleasantly sadistic nurse machine, and a small vacuum desperate for love and attention. Victor Lawson, a human, lives there too. They're a family, hidden and safe.

The day Vic salvages and repairs an unfamiliar android labelled "HAP," he learns of a shared dark past between Hap and Gio-a past spent hunting humans.

When Hap unwittingly alerts robots from Gio's former life to their whereabouts, the family is no longer hidden and safe. Gio is captured and taken back to his old laboratory in the City of Electric Dreams. So together, the rest of Vic's assembled family must journey across an unforgiving and otherworldly country to rescue Gio from decommission, or worse, reprogramming.

Along the way to save Gio, amid conflicted feelings of betrayal and affection for Hap, Vic must decide for himself: Can he accept love with strings attached?

In the Lives of Puppets is expected out April 25th, 2023 from Tor Books.

Why am I waiting on this book? I've read two books by T.J. Klune and I've enjoyed them both. I haven't been reading much of what you might call science fiction for a while, but the premise here intrigues 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!

Book Review: The Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

 

From the publisher:

Carlota Moreau: A young woman growing up on a distant and luxuriant estate, safe from the conflict and strife of the Yucatán peninsula. The only daughter of a researcher who is either a genius or a madman.

Montgomery Laughton: A melancholic overseer with a tragic past and a propensity for alcohol. An outcast who assists Dr. Moreau with his scientific experiments, which are financed by the Lizaldes, owners of magnificent haciendas and plentiful coffers.

The hybrids: The fruits of the doctor’s labor, destined to blindly obey their creator and remain in the shadows. A motley group of part human, part animal monstrosities.

All of them live in a perfectly balanced and static world, which is jolted by the abrupt arrival of Eduardo Lizalde, the charming and careless son of Dr. Moreau’s patron, who will unwittingly begin a dangerous chain reaction.

For Moreau keeps secrets, Carlota has questions, and, in the sweltering heat of the jungle, passions may ignite.

The Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia Moreno -Garcia was published July 19th, 2022 by Del Rey Books. 

My thoughts:

The Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia Moreno-Garcia is "loosely inspired" by The Island of Doctor Moreau by HG Wells, but has a different focus. The hybrids and Doctor Moreau have roles to play, but the central characters are his daughter Carlota and his majordomo Montgomery. The story is told in chapters that alternate between Carlota's and Montgomery's point of view. As they grow and change from age and events, it kept my interest.

We meet Carlota as a pliant teenager eager to please her father without question. She becomes a young adult at 20 testing and stretching boundaries. This is especially apparent when they have visitors. 

Montgomery finds a home there with the hybrids, Doctor Moreau, and his daughter. Throughout he battles alcoholism. He becomes a more sympathetic character as his backstory is revealed.

The pace of the book is fairly steady until they have visitors. After that the pace picks up until very nearly the end. When the pace drops again, I felt like some things in the book had come full circle emphasizing how far the characters have come.

While I liked Carlota and Montgomery, there were also characters I didn't like or outright couldn't stand. Isidiro Lizalde, Eduardo's cousin was one of the latter. He comes across as self righteous, mean, sneaky, and manipulative. I think the author did a great job portraying him.

Overall, I enjoyed the book. I found the characters interesting. I wanted to know what would happen next. The historical setting was a good choice by the author which she explains in the Afterword. I gave it 5 out of 5 stars. I would recommend it to fans of the author, people who enjoy retellings, and those who enjoy science fiction in a historical setting.

I received a copy of the book from the publisher through NetGalley. This did not affect my opinions.

Review: The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton

The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Synopsis from Goodreads: At a gala party thrown by her parents, Evelyn Hardcastle will be killed--again. She's been murdered hundreds of times, and each day, Aiden Bishop is too late to save her. Doomed to repeat the same day over and over, Aiden's only escape is to solve Evelyn Hardcastle's murder and conquer the shadows of an enemy he struggles to even comprehend--but nothing and no one is quite what they seem.

The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton is like the old tv program Quantum Leap mixed with the movie Groundhog Day and an Agatha Christie novel. The author does mention Quantum Leap and Agatha Christie as influences at the end of the book.

For me, the book started out great, then slowed down for a while before picking up again. I had a really hard time during the slow part. In fact, I put it aside for a little while. But, once it picked up it really took off.

I thought the author did a great job with characterization. Aiden Bishop was jumping from body to body with a total of 8 possible hosts while trying repeatedly to solve the murder of Evelyn Hardcastle. The author managed to stay true to Aiden while dealing with the influences each host exerted on him - a growing influence with each jump.

Anna was another major character who was consistent in each of his jumps. She was interesting in that it was hard to determine if she was an ally or enemy. And while Aiden had one set of rules determining much of his efforts, Anna had a slightly different set. I would have liked to know Anna's rules sooner. The footman and the plague doctor are consistent like Anna but seem more aware of what's going on.

There were surprises and red herrings and twists to the plot. The 8 host characters were varied and not all nice. It was interesting to see how Aiden made each host's traits work for him. The ultimate ending was a surprise to me if a bit deus ex machina. It was still a satisfying ending.

I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars. It's mostly well-plotted except for that pesky slow part. Characterization is great. And it's an original blend of mystery and science fiction. I would recommend it for lovers of both mystery and science fiction.



View all my reviews

Can't Wait Wednesday/Waiting on Wednesday #317: Fantastic Hope ed. Laurell K. Hamilton and William McCaskey

"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 Goodreads:
A collection of sci-fi and fantasy stories edited by #1 New York Times bestselling author Laurell K. Hamilton and author William McCaskey.

A child’s wish for her father comes true. The end of the world has never been so much fun. Conquering personal demons becomes all too real. It’s not always about winning; sometimes it’s about showing up for the fight. It’s about loving your life’s work, and jobs that make you question everything.

In this anthology, seventeen authors have woven together brand-new stories that speak to the darkness and despair that life brings while reminding us that good deeds, humor, love, sacrifice, dedication, and following our joy can ignite a light that burns so bright the darkness cannot last.

Laurell K. Hamilton and William McCaskey are joined by Kevin J. Anderson, Griffin Barber, Patricia Briggs, Larry Correia, Kacey Ezell, Monalisa Foster, Robert E. Hampson, John G. Hartness, Jonathan Maberry, L. E. Modesitt, Jr., Jessica Schlenker, Sharon Shinn, M. C. Sumner, Patrick M. Tracy, and Michael Z. Williamson in this collection.

Fantastic Hope edited by Laurell K. Hamilton and William McCaskey is expected to be published April 7th, 2020 by Berkley.

Why am I waiting on this one? I generally enjoy sci-fi and fantasy short story collections. And I like the particular angle, the positive take, that this one has reminding us that there are things that can "ignite a light that burns so bright the darkness cannot last." There is so much dark dystopian literature that we all could stand a little hope instead.

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!

Review: Lost and Found by Orson Scott Card

Ezekiel Bliss aka Ezekiel Blast is a teenager with a special gift - he can find lost objects and return them to their owners. Unfortunately, this has gotten him in trouble in the past and labeled as a thief by classmates and some police officers.

One day on his walk to school, he is approached by a fellow high school student named Beth who asks him about being a thief. This opens a dialogue between the two that continues over several days and builds into a friendship.

With the help of his guidance counselor, Ezekiel is referred to a group of young people who have similar small talents that they refer to as micropowers. Some of their talents are more useful than others.

Ezekiel is approached by a police officer to help find a missing girl. But, he doesn't believe his talent can be used that way. After discussing it with Beth though, he gives it a try. It requires a change in how he thinks about his talent and with his talent.

The first half of the book is about Ezekiel and his growing friendship with Beth. Also, it is about his growing and changing thoughts about his micropower of finding things. After the first part of the book, the second is somewhat predictable.

The topic of micropowers is interesting. The ability, say to make someone yawn, seems pretty useless. But, it is still something that the general population doesn't have. And you can see where having a micropower like Ezekiel's could be both a liability and a gift at times.

 Ezekiel and Beth have interesting conversations. There is a lot of snark and wit involved. This is both good and bad. It is entertaining to read, but it seems a little over the top and in some cases it seems like it would be exhausting if all of their conversations really were like this.

This is definitely a YA and older book because of some of the subject matter. There are times that some of the writing seems to be at a lower level, but the subject matter trumps that - the missing girl and what her fate might be.

It is a dialog heavy book. That's just an observation. It was a fast read for me. I wanted to see the resolution of both the first and second halves of the book. There is no technical division between halves, but there seems to be a division nonetheless.

Overall, it's a good book. I gave it 3 stars out of 5. The amount of dialog can make it heavy on the tell vs. show. And I thought that the problems were solved a little quickly. It seemed to me that a whole book could have been made from either the first part or the second part. Still, the dialog was good. The characters of Ezekiel and Beth are interesting. And the idea of micropowers is worth exploring. It is definitely worth a read.

Lost and Found by Orson Scott Card was published September 10th, 2019 by Blackstone.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. This did not affect my opinions.

Can't Wait Wednesday/Waiting on Wednesday #285: Heartwood Box by Ann Aguirre

"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.

From Goodreads:

A dark, romantic YA suspense novel with an SF edge and plenty of drama, layering the secrets we keep and how appearances can deceive, from the New York Times bestselling author.

In this tiny, terrifying town, the lost are never found. When Araceli Flores Harper is sent to live with her great-aunt Ottilie in her ramshackle Victorian home, the plan is simple. She'll buckle down and get ready for college. Life won't be exciting, but she'll cope, right?

Wrong. From the start, things are very, very wrong. Her great-aunt still leaves food for the husband who went missing twenty years ago, and local businesses are plastered with MISSING posters. There are unexplained lights in the woods and a mysterious lab just beyond the city limits that the locals don't talk about. Ever. When she starts receiving mysterious letters that seem to be coming from the past, she suspects someone of pranking her or trying to drive her out of her mind. To solve these riddles and bring the lost home again, Araceli must delve into a truly diabolical conspiracy, but some secrets fight to stay buried...

Heartwood Box by Ann Aguirre is due to be published July 9th, 2019 from Tor Teen.

Why am I waiting on this one? This one sounds different to me. Sure, there's a young girl being sent to her aunt, but it's the town that's really weird. There are so many missing people, including her uncle from 20 years before. Why haven't at least some of them been found? What's going on here? How is she going to solve the mystery and not become one of the missing herself?

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!

Can't Wait Wednesday/Waiting on Wednesday #270: The Master of Dreams by Mike Resnick

"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:

Opening a new fantasy trilogy from Hugo award winner Resnick, this novel offers an adventure through space and time as Eddie Raven tries to outrun the dark forces pursuing him.

Eddie Raven isn't quite sure what's happening to him--and he's in a race to find out before it kills him.

His adventures begin with a shooting in a very strange shop in Manhattan--but soon he finds himself the owner of a very familiar bar in Casablanca. By the time he adjusts to that reality, he's suddenly become one of several undersized people helping a young woman search for a wizard. And after confronting the wizard, he somehow finds himself in Camelot.

But as he rushes to solve the mystery of his many appearances, a larger threat looms. Because someone or something is stalking him through time and space with deadly intent...

The Master of Dreams by Mike Resnick is due out April 16th, 2019 from DAW Books.

Why am I waiting on this one? I think it sounds interesting the way he is skipping through different literary landscapes. It makes me think of Robert Heinlein's Number of the Beast, but in dreams instead of dimensions. I find myself wanting to know what is happening to the main character.

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!

Review: Paradox Bound by Peter Clines

Eli meets a mysterious traveler a few times in his life as he's growing up. It's years for him, but days for her and not necessarily in a linear fashion. Harry, the traveler, discourages his interest, but not quite successfully enough. He finds out she is in danger from a faceless man and seeks her out to warn her. I was surprised at the lengths he was willing to go to for a woman he had met just a few times, but without his willingness to do so, the book would have stalled. Harry and Eli become reluctant partners seeking out The American Dream - a tangible treasure. They and the other searchers, for they are not alone, are pursued by the faceless men.

The way they travel is frequently a form of time travel that Harry refers to as traveling through history. They are limited in their travels within the history of the United States as they chase after The Dream.

It's a good story and well-written. There are a few flaws such as the plot being a little slow to take off. Then there is Eli's willingness to go to great lengths to warn Harry even though he's only met her a few times over the course of his life. And there are places where the plot sort of seems to meander but turns out to be setting up events to link with other events later on in the book. Still, I found myself wanting to know what happened next. It kept my attention even through the slow parts.

Overall, I give the book 4 out of 5 stars. It's definitely worth a read if you enjoy time traveling science fiction.

Paradox Bound by Peter Clines was released September 26, 2017 by Crown.

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

Teaser Tuesday: Paradox Bound by Peter Clines

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! 

Finding out the secrets of the alluring Harry Pritchard and her mysterious life had lost a lot of appeal in the past half hour or so. A few seeds of fascination still tickled his mind, but a much larger part of his brain screamed, Not worth it! (14% through on my Kindle)

Paradox Bound by Peter Clines was published September 26, 2017 by Crown.

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

Waiting on Wednesday #182: Ex Libris ed. Paula Guran

"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:

Portals to all the knowledge in the world, libraries are also created universes of a multitude of imaginations. Librarians guide us to enlightenment as well as serving as the captains, mages, and gatekeepers who open the doors to delight, speculation, wonder, and terror. Both inspire writers of speculative fiction to pen wonderful tales woven around them. This captivating compilation of science fiction and fantasy short fiction showcases stories of librarians-mysterious curators, heroic bibliognosts, arcane archivists, catalogers of very special collections- and libraries-repositories of arcane wisdom, storehouses of signals from other galaxies, bastions of culture, the last outposts of civilization in a post-apocalyptic world . . . grand adventures and small sagas of the magical places we call libraries and the wizards who staff them! 

Why am I waiting on this one? I love books about libraries and librarians. I worked in a library. A library, pretty much any library, has always been one of my most favorite places in the world. This looks like a good collection of short stories. Paula Guran is an excellent editor.

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!

Review: Doctor Who: The American Adventures by Justin Richards

Doctor Who: The American Adventures by Justin Richards

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I didn't know initially when I was reading it that it was aimed at middle-grade readers. I could tell it wasn't quite a fit for adults, though. The stories were entertaining, but just ok. They were lacking in the mannerisms and the like which help you picture just which Doctor you are reading about.

Middle-grades fans will probably enjoy these stories. It takes some familiarity with the series, though. I wouldn't give it to a child who knows nothing of the series and expect that child to enjoy it.

Overall, I give this book 3 out of 5 stars. The stories are pretty much okay, but not great. The pacing in the stories was good, but they were lacking in characterization. It's a good middle-grades book for fans.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.



View all my reviews

Waiting on Wednesday #131: Practical Applications for Multiverse Theory by Noa Gavin and Nick Scott

"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 the prepublication title I'm waiting on is Practical Applications for Multiverse Theory by Noa Gavin and Nick Scott. It's due out April 19, 2016 from Inkshares. 

Synopsis from Goodreads:

"Scott's teacher is a demon. She wasn't always like this. Mid-way through the class, between Scott looking from the board to his paper and back again, she transformed into a hell-creature bent on killing Scott. Meanwhile, Davey watches the janitor turn into a sloth a sloth who wears a cowboy hat and chaps that read, "Slow Ride." 
Things aren't going well. Something's gone wrong. Things that shouldn't be in this universe are sliding in and taking root here. People who should be here are gone, transformed into something else. Some are dying. Some are on fire. Some can unhinge their jaws and absorb their crushes via their tooth-lined throats. 
Scott and Davey are the only ones who are aware of this, who can see it happening. They're the only ones who can do anything about this, apparently. But they're only armed with school supplies and a deep-seated hatred of one another."

Why am I waiting on this book? Advance praise for the book bills it as funny and "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy meets Red Dwarf" (Anthony Bowling). I like a side of funny with my books. This one is listed as YA Science Fiction.

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