Stacking the Shelves #25

There are a few books that will be published next month that I absolutely must read.  Honey Drop Dead by Laura Childs is one of them. The book will be out on August 8, 2023. I have a copy reserved at my local library but have to wait 6 weeks to get it because alot of folks have already reserved it. 

In this 26th installment of the series, amateur sleuth and Indigo Teashop owner Theodosia Browning is hosting a Honey Bee Tea in Charleston’s Petigru Park where there is a beekeeping project. Unfortunately, a phony beekeeper shows up and sprays toxic smoke at the guests. Then a gunshot is heard and a candidate for the state legislature falls to the ground dead.

I may not be able to wait six weeks to get my hands on the novel and could end up buying a copy for the Kindle. While there is a need to reduce spending, my willpower is weak. 

Book of the Month: July

I had a hard time selecting the book of the month for July. There were three contenders:  Alex Lake's Final Call, Heather Atkinson's Evil at Alardyce House and J. M. Cannon's Blood Oranges. I am going to have to go with Final Call though. This pulsating mystery takes place on an airplane and the mystery had to be solved before the plane ran out of gas and crashed. It was an intense read. 

When the plane, carrying corporate executives, begins heading in the wrong direction, the pilot informs the passengers that one of them must confess to murder or the aircraft will crash into the ocean. There is a dual narrative that jumps back to 2018 as the reader learns the reason why someone would hold a grudge after tragic circumstances.

As I said above, this was an intense read and I loved it.

Book Cover of the Month: July

Laura Klynstra designed the book cover for The Tiffany Girls. She is a freelance graphic designer who focuses her work on book covers and illustrated book interiors. In her previous job she worked as the art director at Hyperion Books and at HarperCollins Publishers in New York City. In her free time Laura loves to cook and creates new dishes with her best friend, Mumtaz Mustafa, for their Instagram blog: @spiceandsugartable. Her first baking cookbook, Christmas Baking, was released November, 2020. This creative lady lives in Lansing, Michigan.

The Joy of Quitting

Keiler Roberts graphic autobiography about being married with a toddler and MS is full of humor and is a fun read. Her story is told in black and white comic strips drawn in a childlike style. It is a collection of a decade of her work that was previously published in five separate titles. The titles are Powdered Milk (2012), Miseryland (2015), Sunburning (2017), Chlorine Gardens (2018) and Rat Time (2019). 8 years of Roberts' life is covered in this book.

The author uses dry humor to tell her story. It was enjoyable but I had to take it in small doses. I put the book down quite a few times before finishing its 264 pages this week. Daughter Xia provides alot of the comedy as does her husband, and parents. Xia is the real comedian though. The reader gets to listen in on Roberts' random thoughts and mostly they are silly. Some are so mundane that they're boring, giving the reader a less than experience.

3 out of 5 stars.

WWW Wednesday

The Taking On a World of Words blog is hosting this weekly meme. This meme was formerly hosted by MizB at A Daily Rhythm and revived here on Taking on a World of Words. Just answer the three questions below and leave a link to your post in the comments for others to look at. No blog? No problem! Just leave a comment with your responses. Please, take some time to visit the other participants and see what others are reading. So, let’s get to it!

The Three Ws are:

1.  What are you currently reading?

I am halfway through a graphic autobiography titled The Joy of Quitting. Keiler Roberts story about being married with a toddler and MS is full of humor and is a fun read. Her story is told in black and white comic strips drawn in a naive style.

This book collects from a decade of the author's work from five previous titles. The titles are Powdered Milk (2012), Miseryland (2015), Sunburning (2017), Chlorine Gardens (2018) and Rat Time (2019).  

2.  What did you recently finish reading?

I just finished another graphic autobiography called Ephemera. It's a sad story about one woman's experience dealing with her mentally ill mother. The book made me sad enough to be sorry that I read it.

3.  What do you think you’ll read next?

I am still deciding between Behind the Seams by Elizabeth Spann Craig and Methods of Malice by Ellery Adams. The Craig book is a part of her southern quilting series. Methods of Malice is the 7th book in the author's Hope Street Church series. I have read about 3 pages in both books to see which one excites me the most. Behind the Seams has a better beginning so it might be my next book.

Can't Wait Wednesday #24

Can’t-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted at Wishful Endings, to spotlight and discuss the books we’re excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they’re books that have yet to be released. It’s based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. This week I would like to highlight a book that I have been anxiously awaiting to be published. The Deserter's Tale is the newest installment of Nathan Dylan Goodwin's geneological mystery series. It will be published on September 15th. The series features Morton Farrier as the sleuth. 

When forensic genealogist Morton Farrier accepted an invitation to travel to Salt Lake City, Utah, to speak at the RootsTech genealogy conference, he had been unaware that one of his co-panelists was to be none other than his former girlfriend, Madison Scott-Barnhart. While he prepares anxiously to meet her for what will be the first time in twenty-six years, and hopefully to discover the unresolved truth behind her abrupt ending of their relationship, he takes on the case of researching his wife’s mysterious great-grandfather: a man who deserted his Sussex family shortly after the First World War. In the course of his investigations and time in the States, Morton uncovers some shocking truths, some of which are uncomfortably close to home.

I have read about half of the books in the series. This series is my favorite among geneological stories. Check it out.

Ephemera

Ephemera is a melancholy graphic biography that portrays the author's struggle to handle her mother's mental illness. It poignantly blends memoir, magic realism, and graphic medicine with ethereal artwork. From the early days of her childhood, Brianna had to get used to her mother being physically absent from her life to being psychologically absent. Her mother never got well and Brianna accepted as much of her mother’s behavior as she could. I thought it odd that none of the characters had names. However there was only author Brianna, her mother and her father. There wasn't much dialogue either. The story took place in a garden, a forest, and a greenhouse. The story drifts among a grown woman, her early memories as a child, and the gossamer existence of her mother. 

I was sad after reading this book. It was highly recommended by reviewers so I obtained a copy of it. I wish I hadn't, though, because it is a story with no happiness whatsoever.

3 out of 5 stars.

The Many Deaths of Laila Starr

The Many Deaths of Laila Starr  explores the fine line between living and dying in Mumbai through the lens of magical realism. Humanity is on the verge of discovering immortality. As a result, the avatar of Death is cast down to Earth to live a mortal life in Mumbai as twenty-something Laila Starr. Struggling with her newfound mortality, Laila has found a way to be placed in the time and place where the creator of immortality will be born. Will Laila take her chance to stop mankind from permanently altering the cycle of life, or will death really become a thing of the past? This 2021 5-part series was written by Ram V and Filipe Andrade. 

Our Laila has died several times during her time on earth as a mortal. Each time she has had contact with Darius, a child who was expected to bring immortality to all upon his birth. In the beginning, Laila wants to kill Darius when he is born so that death can continue. However, something keeps her from killing him, a humanity that she did not know she possessed. The reader watches Laila as she grapples with the emotions of mortals. 

During the series we see Hindu mythology as a theme. There are characters such as the funeral bird, a talking cigarette and a Chinese temple. These characters are fun and give the series a light feel. The artwork is colored with bright hues that also contribute to the hilarity of the story. With each issue of the comic the reader gets a full story but they all fit within the plot of a larger story.

Highly recommended. 5 out of 5 stars.

Arca

In this dystopian comic thriller, planet earth is burning up but the rich and powerful have a plan to save humankind. When society fell apart, a select group of billionaires had an escape hatch: a rocket aimed at the nearest habitable planet, a ship equipped with many of the luxuries of life on Earth—why survive if you can’t survive in style? Their every need is tended to by teenagers who are willing to act as slaves in return for the promise of a new life. This is a good story. But, like so many stories, it is not true. Inside a great, sealed survival chamber, one slave, a teenage girl named Persephone, discovers that the promised future of comfort is a myth. And with that knowledge, she must fight for her survival against the billionaires, who would gladly kill her to protect the hidden truth.

Arca is an entertaining story with a fast pace and plenty of twists. Our heroine Effie, nickname of Persephone, has three months left serving the rich inhabitants of Arca before graduating to a Citizen when she turns 18.  As a Citizen, she will be served instead of serving. She begins training her replacement but begins to wonder why she has never seen on the ship any Settlers who have graduated. Effie knows she can't ask too many questions to her superiors but discusses the issue with her Settler friends. They have been told that the spaceship is heading for Eden and that it has been flying in space for several decades.  Effie finds proof that the spaceship has been traveling for 157 years and secretly starts looking for where these graduated Settlers are living on the ship. She is constantly being monitored and this makes her quest dangerous. Effie would be severely punished, maybe killed, for her efforts to find the answers to her questions. 

Arca is a page turner and even though it is a graphic novel, I recommend it for all readers.  It has an extensive plot that many will enjoy. 5 out of 5 stars.

Stacking the Shelves #24

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks! And audiobooks. Don’t forget audiobooks! In other words, if you can read it or if it can be read to you – no matter how you got it – it belongs in Stacking the Shelves.

The Stacking the Shelves meme was originally hosted at Team Tynga’s Reviews. For the last few years it’s been co-hosted at Team Tynga’s and here at Reading Reality. Reading Reality became the one and only host of Stacking the Shelves when Team Tynga’s Reviews closed its virtual doors in 2021.

I hit Amazon yesterday and spent way too much money. I am happy with my purchases though. Here are 3 that I want to showcase today.

I picked up The Key Lime Pie Murder for the August Calendar of Crime Challenge.  One of my favorite holidays is National Homemade Pie Day. It comes around every August 1 and I will be having more than one slice of pie.

The other two books are graphic novels that I have wanted to read for awhile. Ephemera is a serious story about a grown woman, her early memories as a child, and the mental health of her mother. The Joy of Quitting is a domestic comedy encompassing 8 years of hilarious moments in the author’s life. It spans her frantic child-rearing, misfires in the workplace, and frustrating experiences with the medical system. 

I am looking forward to some good reading in the near future.

A Marriage of Fortune

A Marriage of Fortune is the sequel to Anne O'Brien's The Royal Game. It is her 11th historical novel of famous women of the medieval era. It is the first book of hers that I have read and I don't know why I waited so long to read her. She is a fantastic writer.

The publisher's summary:

England. 1469.

A fortunate marriage will change history.
A scandal could destroy everything...

Margaret Paston, matriarch of the Paston family, knows that a favourable match for one of her unruly daughters is the only way to survive the loss of their recently acquired Caister Castle. But as the War of the Roses rages on, dangerous enemies will threaten even her best laid plans.

Margery Paston, her eldest daughter, has always strived to uphold the Paston name and do her mother proud. But when she loses her heart to a man below her station, she must make a terrible choice: will she betray her family and risk everything for a chance at true love?

Anne Haute, first cousin to the Queen, is embroiled in a longstanding betrothal to Sir John Paston, the eldest son and heir to the Paston seat. But despite his promises, Anne can't help but doubt that he will ever keep his word and make her his wife...

In the midst of civil war, each of these women must decide: Head or heart? Love or duty? Reputation- or scandal?

SPOILER ALERT! Margaret Paston is the ultimate matchmaker. She is always trying to arrange marriages for her sons and daughters, particularly the daughters. Her efforts fill the entire book. She was only happy, though, with one of her son's choices for a bride and feels her daughters married beneath their socioeconomic level. She was so angry at Margery that she threw Margery out of the house and didn't associate with Margery for over ten years. Margery didn't care. Daughter Anne threatened to secretly marry the man she loved but succumbed to pressure to marry someone else who had money. Anne was strong and made the best of her situation. What Margaret did not see was that her daughters were just as strong willed as she was. As tough as Margaret was, her children were even tougher.

The Anne Haute subplot was the one I least enjoyed reading about. The story of how she met and fell in love with Margaret's son John was interesting. However, John put off formalizing their marriage for nine years and his decisions to fight in wars to avoid marriage was dull. Son Jonty made a good selection for a bride, financially that is, and he and wife Gilly were in love with each other. 

I was surprised when a plague occurred. I had forgotten that the story took place in the 1400s. Neither the time nor the setting were prominent. Margaret's machinations were the substance of the book. This hard as nails lady carried the story well.

Historical fiction fans will enjoy this novel. I am rating it 4 out of 5 stars.

Best New Mysteries of 2023 . . . So Far

Several social media sites that I follow have made lists of the best new books of 2023. I am jumping on the bandwagon with my own list of the best new mystery novels. Here are my picks:

Hide by Tracy Clark was published on January 1, 2023.

The Blue Bar by Dimyanti Biswas was also published on January 1, 2023.

Someone Else's Life by Lyn Liao Butler was published on February 1, 2023.

Lemon Curd Killer by Laura Childs was published on March 7, 2023.

Red Queen by Juan Gomez-Jurado was published on March 14, 2023.

Two of my favorite authors have books coming out later this month and I am looking forward to reading them. They are Dan Silva, and Brad Thor. James Rollins and Laura Childs have books coming out next month. It's going to be a great summer for reading!

Best New Historical Fiction Novels of 2023 . . . So Far

Several social media sites that I follow have made lists of the best new books of 2023. I have jumped on the bandwagon with my own list of favorite historical fiction novels. So, here we go, in no apparent order.

The Porcelain Moon by Janie Chang was published on February 21, 2023. 

Night Angels by Weina Dai Randel was published on February 1, 2023.

The Perfumist of Paris by Alka Joshi was published on March 28, 2023.

The Paris Notebook by Tessa Harris was published on February 15, 2023.

Weyward by Emilia Hart was published on March 7, 2023.

What's coming up this summer and beyond from my favorite authors?  

Nancy Bilyeau will publish The Orchid Hour on August 10, 2023.

Alison Stuart will publish Terror in Topaz on October 18, 2023. It may be the last Harriet Gordon Mystery.

Laura Morelli's The Last Masterpiece will be published on August 1, 2023.

Ken Follett will publish the 5th Kingsbridge novel The Armor of Light on September 26, 2023.

Mel Starr will publish A Polluted Font on October 3, 2023.

The second half of the year looks exciting.