Went to Barnes and Noble today and my random picks were

I finished Desperation in Death and it has all the feels. Tough subject about sex trafficking especially with the viewpoint of the young girls. Of course brings back memories from the past, not only for Eve but Mavis as well. Totally captured my attention and couldn't put it down once I started. Bouncing between Final Heir and delving back into Devon Monk's Ordinary Series and currently on Rocks, Papers, Scissors

I finished my first read of Faith Hunter's Final Heir and now need to read it again, much slower. Oh my goodness, don't know where to start. So much happens and Jane is really tested, as are all her friends. Leaves the door open a little bit I think for more possibly. Who knows, Read Ilona Andrews Blood Heir in which Julie has taken on a new name and new look and kicks butt in Atlanta. Don't know how she got away with Kate or Curran not finding out she was there since everyone else seemed to know. Currently reading J.D. Robb's #55 book in her In Death series - Desperation in Death. "New York, 2061: The place called the Pleasure Academy is a living nightmare where abducted girls are trapped, trained for a life of abject service while their souls are slowly but surely destroyed. Dorian, a thirteen-year-old runaway who’d been imprisoned there, might never have made it out if not for her fellow inmate Mina, who’d hatched the escape plan. Mina was the more daring of the two—but they’d been equally desperate. Unfortunately, they didn’t get away fast enough. Now Dorian is injured, terrified, and wandering the streets of New York, and Mina lies dead near the waterfront while Lt. Eve Dallas looks over the scene. Mina’s expensive, elegant clothes and beauty products convince Dallas that she was being groomed, literally and figuratively, for sex trafficking—and that whoever is investing in this high-overhead operation expects windfall profits. Her billionaire husband, Roarke, may be able to help, considering his ties to the city’s ultra-rich. But Roarke is also worried about the effect this case is having on Dallas, as it brings a rage to the surface she can barely control. No matter what, she must keep her head clear--because above all, she is desperate for justice and to take down those who prey on and torment the innocent."

Link to week 37

Happy Sunday! Did you know September is Self Improvement month, National Piano Month, Classical Music Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, National Sewing Month, Fall Hat Month, and Happy Cat Month. Lots to read and learn about. Today we remember 9/11 and all those who died, and everyone who came together to help. And take a moment to think about or pray for peace and strength for the family of Queen Elizabeth as they mourn the death of their mother. It's been a while since we've had a Judge a Book by the Cover or Pick a Random Book mini challenge and I'm in the mood for a book store adventure. How about you? Your mission, should you choose to accept it: Judge a book based on its cover: The hardest part will be not reading the synopsis on the back or the inside flap. Yeah, I know. It’s really hard. When you see the cover, keep in mind what captured your attention and tell us about it. What you thought the book was going to be about? When you read it, let us know if you were you close or no cigar? Or Pick a Random Book: Choose a random book based on its position on the shelf. To choose a book: decide in advance which genre you are going to choose. Or leave it up to chance - pick a direction, pick an aisle. Choose a number between 1 and 7 as there are about seven sections in each aisle. Decide which shelf you are going to choose from - top, 2nd, 3rd, fourth, or bottom shelf. Pick one number between 1 and 30 as I'm assuming there are about 30 books to a shelf. Use these numbers and count over a certain number of sections in the aisle, pick a shelf, and count to the chosen number and that's the book you'll get. That's how I discovered Anne Bishop's Written in Red a few years back. I chose the science fiction/fantasy aisle, counted over 3 sections, then down 2 shelves and looked for the 15th book on the shelf. Take a trip to the book store or the library in search of a new book. Or if you are short on fund, play along utilizing your home shelves. You can even play along online. Have fun exploring! Our A to Z and Back Again Letter and Word of the week are P and Procedural. Link to Book Week 36 Visit 52 Books in 52 Weeks where you can find all the information on the annual, mini, and perpetual challenges.

I finished Julia Whelan’s Thank You for Listening about a fictional audio book narrator which was funny and sad and all about self discovery. So so good. "For Sewanee Chester, being an audiobook narrator is a long way from her old dreams, but the days of being a star on film sets are long behind her. She’s found success and satisfaction from the inside of a sound booth and it allows her to care for her beloved, ailing grandmother. When she arrives in Las Vegas last-minute for a book convention, Sewanee unexpectedly spends a whirlwind night with a charming stranger. On her return home, Sewanee discovers one of the world’s most beloved romance novelists wanted her to perform her last book—with Brock McNight, the industry’s hottest, most secretive voice. Sewanee doesn’t buy what romance novels are selling—not after her own dreams were tragically cut short—and she stopped narrating them years ago. But her admiration of the late author, and the opportunity to get her grandmother more help, makes her decision for her. As Sewanee begins work on the book, resurrecting her old romance pseudonym, she and Brock forge a real connection, hidden behind the comfort of anonymity. Soon, she is dreaming again, but secrets are revealed, and the realities of life come crashing down around her once more. If she can learn to risk everything for desires she has long buried, she will discover a world of intimacy and acceptance she never believed would be hers." Currently reading Faith Hunter’s Final Heir which is action packed. "Jane Yellowrock is the queen of the vampires, and that makes her a target as she fights to maintain control and keep peace in the city of New Orleans. She has enemies at every turn, because vampires live forever, and they keep their grudges alive with them. That includes the Heir, the vampire sire of the Pellissier bloodline, which gave rise to Leo Pellissier himself—Jane’s old boss and the former master of the city. With the Heir and all the forces of darkness he can muster arrayed against her, Jane will need all the help she can get. She’ll find it in her city, her friends, her found family, and, of course, the Beast inside of her."

I recognized two or three but other than that, all new to me. Looks like they are mostly Young Adult. Love some of the covers and would read them just because of that.

I read Seanan McGuire's Be the Serpent way to too fast and oh man, what a ride. Currently on the second slow read to absorb it. So much happened and October is in over her head this time. Also rereading Ben Coe's first book in his Dewey Andreas series - Power Down - for our 52 Books bingo. Excited since series releases from two of my favorite authors are coming out this week: J.D. Robb's Desperation Death and Faith Hunter's Final Heir. Preordered a long time ago and will soon be on the way.

Link to week 36

Happy Sunday! I had an ear worm in my head Saturday morning, which led me down a few musical rabbit trails this morning while thinking about our 52 Books Bingo theme this week. We're having a Heat Wave, a magical heat wave, because we're expecting temps in the triple digits for the next two weeks. Which then segued to Secret Agent Man: "There's a man who leads a life of danger To everyone he meets he stays a stranger With every move he makes Another chance he takes Odds are he won't live to see tomorrow Secret agent man, secret agent man They've given you a number And taken away your name." Then Peter Gunn popped up. But he was more of a private eye, than a secret agent. Right? Now the theme music written by Henry Mancini is cueing up. Enjoy! I did! Okay back to books: Five Books Presents the best five books about post soviet spy thrillers; spies; secret service; covert action: spies, lies, and foreign correspondents; espionage, et al. Crime Reads presents Eight Books Based on Real Female Spies Beyond the Bookends presents 14 Gripping and Authentic Books about Female Spies The Real Book Spy presents The Ten Baddest Dudes in the Spy Genre Right Now. Have fun following rabbit trails! Our A to Z and Back Again Letter and Word of the week are Q and Quarry Link to Book Week 35 Visit 52 Books in 52 Weeks where you can find all the information on the annual, mini, and perpetual challenges.

Yeah! Thanks!

Happy birthday to your hubby. Have fun! No need to apologize. Bombs away!

Yeah! So glad to hear you are doing better.

I read Soul Taken, twice because it was so good. Finished Ilona Andrews Iron and Magic which was a great second read. Thank you to @melmichigan for reminding me. Blood Heir is in the stacks. Seanan McGuire’s 16th book in her October Daye series Be the Serpent was just released so will be reading it next. Good news: Our ac has been replaced just in time for a hellacious over 100 degree hot week.

I read it twice as well! 🙂

I love police procedurals and there are so many to choose from. Currently reading Patricia Brigg's Soul Taken and Mercy is being put through the ringer with this one. I feel like I should go back and reread the series again at some point. "The vampire Wulfe is missing. Since he’s deadly, possibly insane, and his current idea of “fun” is stalking me, some may see it as no great loss. But, warned that his disappearance might bring down the carefully constructed alliances that keep our pack safe, my mate and I must find Wulfe—and hope he’s still alive. As alive as a vampire can be, anyway. But Wulfe isn’t the only one who has disappeared. And now there are bodies, too. Has the Harvester returned to the Tri-Cities, reaping souls with his cursed sickle? Or is he just a character from a B horror movie and our enemy is someone else? The farther I follow Wulfe’s trail, the more twisted—and darker—the path becomes. I need to figure out what’s going on before the next body on the ground is mine."

Link to week 35

Happy Sunday! September is upon us and our newest crime spree category brought to us by Sandy and Amy is all about Police Procedurals. We love to watch Police Procedural which is a genre popular not only in mystery books but also TV (for example… Law and Order has continuously been on since 1990). The genre lends itself well to series, which means fans will have plenty of books to read. Authors to explore: · Val McDermid – multiple great series · Ann Cleeves—Vera Stanhope is her classic detective · Tana French – Dublin Murder squad · Karin Slaughter – Will Trent is her best-known series · Ian Rankin – writes the long-running Inspector Rebus series · Peter Lovesey – multiple series but Peter Diamond is one of his most famous · Faye Kellerman – Sandy particularly recommends the Peter Decker series Challenge: Read a Police Procedural mystery and consider it “research.” Our A to Z and Back Again letter and word of the week are R and Resourcefulness Link to book week 34 Visit 52 Books in 52 Weeks where you can find all the information on the annual, mini, and perpetual challenges.

Thank you for reminding me. I had totally forgotten about Hugh's trilogy. Pulled up Iron and Magic to read on Ipad. Patricia Brigg's Soul Taken arrived and currently reading! Our staycation turned into a topsy turvy week: Our 30 year old air conditioning finally decided to break beyond John's capability to fix it, so had it fixed to work temporarily and getting estimates to replace. Meanwhile it's been too hot to cook so choose Cattleman's for our anniversary and Cheesecake factory for John's bday. College course for James was a bust due to difficulty so dropped it and need to enroll him in something else. We did get him a new mattress set which will only take a couple weeks to be delivered. Yeah. Went to Naturwood shopping for leather couch and fell in love with a couple but they are too huge for our living room. Poo! Any changes such as different color or configuration will take 19 weeks to get done. Going to another store tomorrow to see what they have. Did get a chance to go to Barnes and Noble and picked up a few books: Pierce Brown's Red Rising, Mark Pryor's Book Artist, Susan Mallery's Boardwalk Bookshop, and Alice Henderson's A Blizzard of Polar Bears. Oh and guess what dummy me did. I went on Amazon and choose four books I loved to send as birthday gifts to family in Texas and they suddenly arrived here. I didn't change the address. Doi! Fortunately they are ones I wanted to read again so added them to my stacks and will arrange for gift certificates or something instead. What a week!

I'm still rereading and reading Ilona Andrews Guild Hunter series. Discovered I stopped after book 7 and didn't read 8 - 10 so currently reading for the first time Book 8 Magic Shifts. "After breaking from life with the Pack, mercenary Kate Daniels and her mate—former Beast Lord Curran Lennart—are adjusting to a very different pace. While they’re thrilled to escape all the infighting, Curran misses the constant challenges of leading the shapeshifters. So when the Pack offers him its stake in the Mercenary Guild, Curran seizes the opportunity—too bad the Guild wants nothing to do with him and Kate. Luckily, as a veteran merc, Kate can take over any of the Guild’s unfinished jobs in order to bring in money and build their reputation. But what Kate and Curran don’t realize is that the odd jobs they’ve been working are all connected. An ancient enemy has arisen, and Kate and Curran are the only ones who can stop it—before it takes their city apart piece by piece…" Our Saturday night movie was Jurassic World Dominion. Very enjoyable! And It's official! Our staycation has begun. We took a week off from work for the first time in four years, maybe five, maybe six years. I can't remember. First there was the construction, then business took off, then Covid, and business is still booming. It's been a while. We're taking advantage of the fact that this week is our anniversary, John's birthday, and James starting fall classes online. We're looking forward to a little bit of downtime, as well as furniture shopping and some garage cleaning. The garage cleaning may be put on hold is our 100 degree weather continues this week. Plus John's excited about spending a day playing in a friend's music studio. And Yes, lots of reading will be involved as well. ~ cheers ~

Link to week 34

Happy Sunday! This week I'm thinking about the number fourteen. Merriam Webster defines it as 'a number that is one more than thirteen'. That's it, I kid you not. Other dictionaries (real ones) state it is a cardinal number, ten plus four; equal to seven times two, or six less than twenty; a symbol 14 or XIV; a set of persons or things. Did you know a series of 14 books is called a tetradecology? Pressbooks: In the 14th century, Chaucer became the first writer to use English in his works History Extra: Cosmopolitan Chaucer: Marion Turner on the 14th-century poet’s inventive, international life Buzzfeed: Hannah Loewenthal's 14 Best Books in 2022 Momjunction: 17 Best Books For 13 And 14-Year-Olds To Read In 2022 GMA: August books to squeeze in before summer ends: 14 to read NPR: Here are the 14 books that NPR staff and critics are loving the most so far this year Goodreads: Books with fourteen in the title Read a book with 14 or more books in series such as Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time, J.D. Robb's In Death, Terry Pratchett's Discworld, Louise Penny's Armand Gamache, Jan Karon's Mitford, Sue Grafton's Kinsey Milhone, or Lee Childs Jack Reacher. Have fun following rabbit trails. Our A to Z and Back Again letter and word of the week are S and Series. Link to Book Week 33 Visit 52 Books in 52 Weeks where you can find all the information on the annual, mini, and perpetual challenges.

I finally gave up on Middlemarch. Got to the chapter 26, then decided I was done. Skipped to read the last chapter to find out what happened with the characters. Glad decided to quit.....

Squee! I finished Nalini Singh's Storm Echo which was very exciting with a lot happening and well worth a reread. Can't say more without spoiling. Currently rereading Ilona Andrew's Guild Hunter series with Kate Daniels.

Link to week 33