Can't Wait Wednesday/Waiting on Wednesday #258: The Curses by Laure Eve

"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:

Picking up the pieces after the chilling events of the previous year isn’t easy, but the Graces are determined to do it. Wolf is back after a mysterious disappearance, and everyone’s eager to return to normal. Except for Summer, the youngest Grace. Summer has a knack for discovering the truth—and something is troubling her. After a trail of clues leads her to what could be the key to both her family’s mysterious past and the secret of Wolf, she’s determined to vanquish yet another curse. But exposing secrets is a dangerous game, and it’s not one Summer can win alone.

At Summer’s behest, the coven comes back together, reluctantly drawing their erstwhile friend River back into the fold. But Wolf’s behavior becomes unpredictable even as Fenrin’s strength fades, and Summer must ask herself whether the friend she so loves is also planning her family’s ultimate, cursed demise.

This riveting sequel to The Graces is saturated with magic, the destructive cost of power, the complications of family, and the nature of forgiveness.

The Curses by Laure Eve is the second book in The Graces series. It's due to be published December 31st, 2018 from Amulet Books.

Why am I waiting on this one? I enjoyed the first book, The Graces. It was just weird enough. I want to know what happens next.  I am surprised that it says River gets drawn back into the group. I thought she'd had more than enough of the Graces. You can read my review of the first book here.

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

Teaser Tuesday: Dinner Party by Tracy Bloom

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!

Sometimes Beth felt like she was two people. There was the outside Beth who was capable, reliable, down-to-earth, productive, ready with a laugh and. of course, cuddly. Then there was the inside Beth. She had a constant monologue whispering in her ear: This isn't enough, you're not happy, there must be more to life than this, you're taken for granted, you look hideous, you must make people laugh so that they don't notice that you look hideous, you must look happy and content because why shouldn't you be, you are Beth, capable, reliable, down-to-earth, and of course, cuddly. (26% on my Kindle)

Dinner Party by Tracy Bloom was released September 21st, 2018 from Bookouture.

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!

Review: Murder at the Mushroom Festival by Janet Finsilver

Kelly, the manager of a B&B in Northern California, gets sucked into a murder investigation when her close friend Daniel comes under suspicion. While this is happening, there is a mushroom festival going on in the town. Among other things, they are having cooking classes at her B&B to celebrate the festival. A group of senior citizens known as the Silver Sentinels helps Kelly with her investigation.

Other activities during the festival included hunting for mushrooms. Daniel was looking for mushrooms on some Native American land, which was not an issue for him because he is Native American. He has a conflict with a reporter who is killed shortly afterward.

The idea for the book was good. I liked some of the characters. I felt like some of the writing was stilted. I had a little trouble suspending my disbelief as to her activities and those of the Senior Sentinels while investigating the murder. Her actions often seemed foolhardy to me.

Still, it's a good mystery with twists. I give it 3 out of 5 stars. It also had some educational value. I knew that pigs could be trained to sniff out truffles, but I didn't know you could train dogs to do the same thing. Also, I didn't know what sinker logs were or that there was conflict over some of them or that they could be used to make art.

Murder at the Mushroom Festival by Janet Finsilver was released April17th, 2018 from Lyrical Underground.

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

Can't Wait Wednesday/Waiting on Wednesday #257: The Spectral City by Leanna Renee Hieber

"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 turn-of-the-century New York City, the police have an off-the-books spiritual go-to when it comes to solving puzzling corporeal crimes . . .

Her name is Eve Whitby, gifted medium and spearhead of The Ghost Precinct. When most women are traveling in a gilded society that promises only well-appointed marriage, the confident nineteen-year-old Eve navigates a social circle that carries a different kind of chill. Working with the diligent but skeptical Lieutenant Horowitz, as well as a group of fellow psychics and wayward ghosts, Eve holds her own against detractors and threats to solve New York’s most disturbing crimes as only a medium of her ability can.

But as accustomed as Eve is to ghastly crimes and all matters of the uncanny, even she is unsettled by her department’s latest mystery. Her ghostly conduits are starting to disappear one by one as though snatched away by some evil force determined to upset the balance between two realms, and most important—destroy the Ghost Precinct forever. Now Eve must brave the darkness to find the vanished souls. She has no choice. It’s her job to make sure no one is ever left for dead. 

The Spectral City is due out November 27th, 2018 from Rebel Base Books. It's number one in a new series.

Why am I waiting on this one? This sounds a little different. It's not straight up crime solving. The paranormal is involved. I want to know what's happening to the ghosts. Why are they disappearing? Will Eve be able to help them? And how does her Ghost Precinct work to solve crimes anyway? It should be interesting.

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!

Banned Book Week 2018

Top Ten for 2017

The ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom tracked 354 challenges to library, school, and university materials in 2017. Of the 416 books challenged or banned in 2017, the Top 10 Most Challenged Books are:

 1. Thirteen Reasons Why written by Jay Asher

Originally published in 2007, this New York Times bestseller has resurfaced as a controversial book after Netflix aired a TV series by the same name. This YA novel was challenged and banned in multiple school districts because it discusses suicide.

2. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian written by Sherman Alexie

Consistently challenged since its publication in 2007 for acknowledging issues such as poverty, alcoholism, and sexuality, this National Book Award winner was challenged in school curriculums because of profanity and situations that were deemed sexually explicit.

3. Drama written and illustrated by Raina Telgemeier

This Stonewall Honor Award-winning, 2012 graphic novel from an acclaimed cartoonist was challenged and banned in school libraries because it includes LGBT characters and was considered “confusing.”

4. The Kite Runner written by Khaled Hosseini

This critically acclaimed, multigenerational novel was challenged and banned because it includes sexual violence and was thought to “lead to terrorism” and “promote Islam.”

5. George written by Alex Gino

Written for elementary-age children, this Lambda Literary Award winner was challenged and banned because it includes a transgender child.

6. Sex is a Funny Word written by Cory Silverberg and illustrated by Fiona Smyth

This 2015 informational children’s book written by a certified sex educator was challenged because it addresses sex educationand is believed to lead children to “want to have sex or ask questions about sex.”

7. To Kill a Mockingbird written by Harper Lee

This Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, considered an American classic, was challenged and banned because of violence and its use of the N-word.

8. The Hate U Give written by Angie Thomas

Despite winning multiple awards and being the most searched-for book on Goodreads during its debut year, this YA novel was challenged and banned in school libraries and curriculums because it was considered “pervasively vulgar” and because of drug use, profanity, and offensive language.

9. And Tango Makes Three written by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson and illustrated by Henry Cole

Returning after a brief hiatus from the Top Ten Most Challenged list, this ALA Notable Children’s Book, published in 2005, was challenged and labeled because it features a same-sex relationship.

10. I Am Jazz written by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings and illustrated by Shelagh McNicholas

This autobiographical picture book co-written by the 13-year-old protagonist was challenged because it addresses gender identity.

Note: All of the information and the graphics in this entry come from the American Library Association Website (ALA website.) The information is from the reported challenges. Many challenges go unreported each year.

So, while you can, if you can, Read a Banned Book. Happy Reading!

Can't Wait Wednesday/Waiting on Wednesday #256: The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy by Mackenzi Lee

"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:

Felicity Montague is through with pretending she prefers society parties to books about bone setting—or that she’s not smarter than most people she knows, or that she cares about anything more than her dream of becoming a doctor.

A year after an accidentally whirlwind tour of Europe, which she spent evading highwaymen and pirates with her brother Monty, Felicity has returned to England with two goals in mind—avoid the marriage proposal of Callum Doyle, a lovestruck suitor from Edinburgh; and enroll in medical school. However, her intellect and passion will never be enough in the eyes of the administrators, who see men as the sole guardians of science.

But then a small window of hope opens. Doctor Alexander Platt, an eccentric physician that Felicity idolizes, is looking for research assistants, and Felicity is sure that someone as forward-thinking as her hero would be willing to take her on. However, Platt is in Germany, preparing to wed Felicity’s estranged childhood friend Johanna. Not only is Felicity reluctant to open old wounds, but she also has no money to make the trip.

Luckily, a mysterious young woman is willing to pay Felicity’s way, so long as she’s allowed to travel with Felicity disguised as her maid. In spite of her suspicions, Felicity agrees, but once the girl’s true motives are revealed, Felicity becomes part of a perilous quest that will lead her from the German countryside to the promenades of Zurich to secrets lurking beneath the Atlantic.

The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy by Mackenzi Lee is due to be released October 2nd, 2018 from Katherine Tegen Books.

Why am I waiting on this one? This is book two in the Montague siblings series. I haven't read book one yet, but this one is really calling to me. Maybe in part, it's because once upon a time I was pre-med.  The idea of piracy being involved sounds pretty exciting too. And since book one seems to have focussed mostly on her brother, I don't see a problem with jumping in on book two to see what's up with Felicity and her adventures. And it doesn't preclude my going back and reading book one afterward. Does this series or either of the books intrigue you?

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: Pecan Pies and Dead Guys by Angie Fox

Angie Fox has another wonderfully fun mystery with Verity and Frankie in Pecan Pies and Dead Guys - the 7th entry in the Southern Ghost Hunter Mysteries series.

The ghostly Inspector De Clercq has drafted Frankie, Verity's resident ghost, to help him solve a murder mystery at a Great Gatsby era party. They have 3 days to solve the mystery and then it will be closed to them for another year. If they don't succeed, the inspector will lock Frankie up in ghost prison for good. With motivation like that, Frankie will pay close attention to the goings on at the Adair mansion. Verity will do her best to assist them in solving the mystery even though the inspector doesn't want the help of a live woman. Not sure which he considers the bigger liability, that she is alive or a woman.

Meanwhile, Ellis (Verity's boyfriend and a cop) has a mystery of his own to solve regarding a dead body in a ravine. And then Verity has an additional mystery - someone is leaving pecan pies at her house without a note or a friendly visit. Is someone stalking her?

I love the way Verity and Frankie interact. Their banter is entertaining. And it's obvious they've come to care about each other.

The mysteries are well done, especially the ghostly mystery at the 3-day party. There were plenty of suspects with motives. I loved the descriptions of the opulence of the mansion and the party and could easily picture it being made into a movie or a film.

While it can be read as a standalone, it might just whet your appetite for the rest of the series. It's not the first one that I've read and I feel the reader would perhaps get more enjoyment out of the book if they read some of the earlier ones as well.

I give this paranormal cozy 4 stars out of 5. It's well-written and entertaining. I look forward to the next installment in the series.

Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions herein are my own and freely given.