Waiting on Wednesday #120: Vinegar Girl by Anne Tyler

"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 book I am waiting on is Vinegar Girl by Anne Tyler. It's due out June 21, 2016 from Random House. 

Synopsis from Goodreads.com: 

‘You can’t get around Kate Battista as easily as all that’

Kate Battista is feeling stuck. How did she end up running house and home for her eccentric scientist father and uppity, pretty younger sister Bunny? Plus, she’s always in trouble at work – her pre-school charges adore her, but the adults don’t always appreciate her unusual opinions and forthright manner.

Dr Battista has other problems. After years out in the academic wilderness, he is on the verge of a breakthrough. His research could help millions. There’s only one problem: his brilliant young lab assistant, Pyotr, is about to be deported. And without Pyotr…

When Dr Battista cooks up an outrageous plan that will enable Pyotr to stay in the country, he’s relying – as usual – on Kate to help him. Kate is furious: this time he’s really asking too much. But will she be able to resist the two men’s touchingly ludicrous campaign to win her round?

Anne Tyler’s retelling of The Taming of the Shrew asks whether a thoroughly modern, independent woman like Kate would ever sacrifice herself for a man. Its answer is as individual, off-beat and funny as Kate herself. 

Why am I waiting on this book? It's a retelling of The Taming of the Shrew. And it's Anne Tyler. The 2 combined make it sound like it will be an awesome book.

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

Teaser Tuesday: Hawaii Five Uh-Oh! by Jill Marie Landis

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by Miz B of A Daily Rhythm. 

Anyone can participate, just do the following:

• Grab your current read and open to a random page
• Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page.
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure what you share doesn't give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title and the author so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers.

Expected publication:
February 1st 2016 by Bell Bridge Books

After Em brought her home from the Estelles', Kimo was so worried he sat her down and had a heart-to-heart with her about how he feared she wasn't going to make it if she didn't overcome her PTMD, her post-traumatic monkey disorder.

At the rate she was going, Kimo said he was going to be forced to take her back to Kukuoloko where they could seriously medicate her. He loved her too much to have her stroke out over a little monkey business.

~51% through on my Kindle

The teaser sentences are about Kiki, the leader of the Hula Maidens.

What's your teaser this week? Share it or a link in the comments so we can check it out. Happy Reading!

Review: Hawaii Five Uh-Oh! by Jill Marie Landis

Due out February 1, 2016 from Bell Bridge Books, Hawaii Five Uh-Oh! by Jill Marie Landis has plenty of laughs and smiles as the Hula Maidens attempt to track down an art thief and killer. This is the fifth book in the Tiki Goddess Mystery series.

Kiki, the leader of the Hula Maidens, is recently out of the mental hospital and still feeling the strain of her recent attack by Alphonse the monkey. She is suffering from PTMD - post-traumatic monkey disorder. Meanwhile, a big shot director from the mainland is welcomed to Kauai by his neighbor with Em and the Tiki Goddess staff catering the event. While the party is going on, some seriously expensive paintings he has in his home are stolen. Kiki gets the idea that trying to solve this crime will help her overcome her PTMD. Roland asks them to stay out of it as usual, but of course, they get involved.

The Hula Maidens are a delight as they try to solve the mystery with their schemes and find time to perform. Roland and Em's romance simmers with promise. Louie, the owner of the Tiki Goddess bar, is ever present making up new concoctions and legends to go with them. At the end of the book, you can find recipes for some of the cocktails as well as for some of Kimo's ono (delicious) food.

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars. Hawaii Five Uh-Oh! is a fun read. It's even better if you like Hawaii. Either way, the book is a good read with a mystery, some comic relief, and a touch of romance.

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

Review: The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend by Katarina Bivald

Small town love as in friendship and romance seems to be the theme in The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend by Katarina Bivald.

Sara comes to visit Broken Wheel, Iowa from Sweden to meet her pen pal, Amy. Unfortunately, when she arrives she finds that Amy's funeral has just finished. Lucky for her the people in the town decide they need to look after her. She is provided with a place to stay - Amy's house. And there is a man who is out of work who is nominated to be her chauffeur since Sara doesn't drive. The townspeople go one further setting her up with a single man from amongst them whether he likes it or not.  Sara is treated well by everyone. Many won't let her pay her way. Wanting to give back to them in some way, Sara opens a bookstore in Amy's memory. She wants to share books with the people and show them that reading can be fun. 

There is more to it than that. There is a romance in store for her. And she develops a love for this small town as do the townspeople for her. There are mentions of other books scattered among the text. I would classify this as general fiction. It's the story of Sara and the town of Broken Wheel and how they change each other and learn to love one another.

I give this book 4 stars out of 5. The voice is a quiet, calm voice like reading Anne Tyler. The pace is slow in parts, but it does keep moving forward. I recommend this book for people who enjoy stories about small towns. It's a sweet book in many ways and a good read.

The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend will be published January 19, 2016 by Sourcebooks Landmark.

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

Waiting on Wednesday #119: A Geek Girl's Guide to Arsenic by Julie Anne Lindsey

"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 book I am waiting on is A Geek Girl's Guide to Arsenic by Julie Anne Lindsey. It's due out March 6, 2016 from Carina Press. 

Synopsis from Goodreads:
It's been three months since Jake Archer rolled into town, accused Mia Connors of murder and stole her heart. She hasn't heard from him since. So when a man collapses at the fall Renaissance Faire, she's surprised to see the US marshal arrive on the scene. And shocked when he points the finger at her—again. Mia would sooner be able to resurrect the poor fellow than poison him.

Jake Archer's career has been rising fast, but it's about to come to a crashing halt. The Ren-Faire victim was in protective custody—Jake's custody—and they were painfully close to nabbing a major crime boss. If Jake doesn't solve the murder soon, he'll be fetching donuts instead of protecting his nation. A difficult enough task without the alluring Mia Connors in the way.

Working with Jake to catch the killer might push Mia into crazy-cat-lady territory. But with a murderer on the loose—and Mia's reputation on the line—they'll have to work fast to find the killer before the killer finds them.

Why am I waiting on this book? This is the second book in the Geek Girl's series. And while I haven't read book one yet, it sounds good. I am adding the series to my ever growing TBR list.

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

Teaser Tuesday: a Second Teaser from The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend by Katarina Bivald

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by Miz B of A Daily Rhythm. 

Anyone can participate, just do the following:

• Grab your current read and open to a random page
• Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page.
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure what you share doesn't give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title and the author so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers.

It was the smell of beer and fire that had taken her back to that evening, she realized as a gust of wind blew the smell over to her side of the street again. The force of the memories struck her like a slap in the face.

~ 37% through on my Kindle

"But does he have the slightest desire to marry her?" asked Caroline. 'And does she want to get married to him?"

"There's want and want," said Jen. 

~ 62% through on my Kindle

Two teasers for the price of one. I just liked the way the first one was written. The second one has more to do with the plot line. I'm about 62% through with the book. It's kind of a slow plot, but I am still enjoying it.

What are your teasers this week? Share them or a link in the comments so we can check them out.

Review: Thinning the Herd by Adrian Phoenix

Thinning the Herd by Adrian Phoenix reads a bit like watching a "B" movie. There's nothing wrong with that. It was a fast, fun read.

Our hero, Hal Rupert, is a dogcatcher by day or night depending on his schedule. In his free time, he works to keep the citizens of his fair city safe - both one shapes and shapeshifters. He especially likes to make certain his fair Desdemona, who works at Hot Topic and has nicknamed him Creep, is safe. Honestly on that point, he initially comes across as a bit of a stalker. His shapeshifting friends, Galahad and Nick, work with him to keep the city safe.

Hal becomes aware of the fact that some of the hippies and fortune tellers have been disappearing. As the plot progresses it becomes clear that Hal is pretty handy with a catch-pole. Every hero has to have a weapon of some sort, the catch-pole is Hal's weapon of choice.

There is some doubt in the beginning that Hal is anything more than fantasizing his abilities and role in the safety of the city. I also had a little trouble suspending disbelief at his ability to communicate with animals and shapeshifters in animal form, like Doctor Doolittle.There is just no explanation for it.

That being said, I enjoyed the book. I liked the characters. It was a fun read. I liked watching the character of Hal grow some under the pressures he encounters.

If you are looking for a quick read and enjoy "B" movies, you will probably enjoy this book. I give it 3 stars out of 5.

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