Can't-Wait Wednesday: The Author's Guide to Murder

Can't-Wait Wednesday is hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings and helps us spotlight upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating!

The Author's Guide to Murder

Lauren Willig, Beatriz Williams & Karen White

Expected publication date: November 5, 2024

Agatha Christie meets Murder, She Wrote meets #MeToo in this witty locked room mystery and literary satire by New York Times bestselling team of Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig, and Karen White.

There’s been a sensational murder at historic Castle Kinloch, a gothic fantasy of grey granite on a remote island in the Highlands of Scotland. Literary superstar Brett Saffron Presley has been found dead—under bizarre circumstances—in the castle tower’s book-lined study. Years ago, Presley purchased the castle as a showpiece for his brand and to lure paying guests with a taste for writerly glamour. Now it seems, the castle has done him in…or, possibly, one of the castle’s guests has. Detective Chief Inspector Euan McIntosh, a local with no love for this literary American show-off (or Americans in general), finds himself with the unenviable task of extracting statements from three American lady novelists. 

The prime suspects are Kat de Noir, a slinky, sexy erotica writer; Cassie Pringle, a Southern mom of six juggling multiple cozy mystery series; and Emma Endicott, a New England blue blood and author of critically acclaimed historical fiction. The women claim to be best friends writing a book a historical novel about the castle’s lurid past and its debauched laird, who himself ended up creatively murdered. But the authors’ stories about how they know Brett Saffron Presley don’t quite line up, and the detective is getting increasingly suspicious. 

Why did the authors really come to Castle Kinloch? Is the murder of the long-ago laird somehow connected with the playboy author’s unfortunate demise? And what really happened the night of the great Kinloch ceilidh, when Brett Saffron Presley skipped the folk dancing for a rendezvous with death? 

A crafty locked-room mystery, a pointed satire about the literary world, and a tale of unexpected friendship and romance—this novel has it all, as only three bestselling authors can tell it! - from Goodreads

Nonfiction November 2024: My Year in Nonfiction

 

We might officially still be a couple days away, but it's time to start celebrating Nonfiction November!  Last year I skipped this blogging and reading event because I barely read any nonfiction.  This year I wanted to make a point to read more nonfiction, since I really do enjoy it, so I made a goal at the beginning of the year to read 6 nonfiction books - I know, it doesn't really sound like that much, but it was a good starting point!  I've read 10 nonfiction books to date this year, with plans to read a few more in November, of course!  The first week of Nonfiction November is hosted by Heather at Based on a True Story and is all about our year in nonfiction - what we've read, what were some of our favorites, etc.

My year in nonfiction has been pretty great, with reads ranging from 3.5 to 5 stars!  Most fall in the 4 star category.  As far as topics, they really run the gamut, from celebrity memoirs to royalty to space to the ancient and natural worlds.  Here are some of my favorites from the year so far:

 

The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World // The Wave

 

Being Henry // Sorry I'm Late, I Didn't Want to Come

 

The Third Pole // The Six

My goals for Nonfiction November are to see what everyone else is reading, find some more interesting books for my TBR, and to celebrate the genre of nonfiction!  I might not stick solely to reading nonfiction this month, but here are some I definitely want to get to:

  

The Demon of Unrest // The Big Bang Theory // The Palace

What are some of your nonfiction highlights from this year?

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Spooky Quick Reviews

A House With Good Bones by T. Kingfisher (2023)

Sam is excited to spend some time with her mom, but when she arrives, something is off - her mom has lost a lot of weight, made odd changes to the house, and seems very anxious.  As Sam tries to figure out what's going on, she makes some startling, and frightening, discoveries.  This was a quick read with plenty of gory and spooky moments, although not everything worked for me.  I appreciate the length and pacing of this novel - it kept the action moving with very little filler.  We are thrust pretty quickly into this unnerving old home and can see right away that something is off with Sam's mom, although she tries to play it off.  There is a lot packed into it, sometimes to its detriment - it often felt like there were too many things going on, between bugs and roses and haunted houses and vultures and witches and mother-daughter relationships and family secrets.  Sam was another issue for me - her attempts at humor felt lame, like she was trying too hard.  I'm sure some people will find her funny and charming, but I didn't.  But, I don't read a ton of horror and there were some good moments of that here.  3.5 stars

Ghost Station by S.A. Barnes (2024)

Dr. Ophelia Bray, amidst personal and professional issues, joins a space exploration team during a visit to an abandoned planet.  Bray researches an illness called ERS, which is a space-based illness that can have disastrous effects.  She wants to work with the team to prevent further problems, but the crew is more concerned about exploring the alien planet and figuring out what happened to the previous research team - and hiding things from Dr. Bray.  Barnes' previous space horror novel was a hit for me, so I was excited for this one.  Although I felt the pacing was very slow, I still enjoyed this one.  I love stories set in space - it just makes everything feel more tense, and the abandoned nature of the planet only adds to this.  As we learn more about Dr. Bray, she does come across as somewhat of an unreliable narrator, as if she can't even trust herself.  The other team members are not as well fleshed out, which is kind of a bummer since the real action of the story takes so long to happen.  Once it does, though, it moves along very quickly, and I was swept up in finding out what would happen to the crew.  It does get a bit gory at times, so be wary of that.  4 stars

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Michele's Monday Picks #58

Angela is so generous to let me pop in with my little series, Michele’s Monday Picks!  I’m not a blogger or bookstagrammer, but I love getting excited about new releases with the rest of you.  Here I’ll be sharing new books I’m really looking forward to!

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Where the Library Hides

By Isabel Ibanez

Expected Publication: November 5, 2024

From Goodreads:

The stunning conclusion to the story that started in What the River Knows. A lush immersive historical fantasy set in Egypt filled with adventure, and a rivals-to-lovers romance like no other!

1885, Egypt

Inez Olivera is left reeling from her cousin Elvira’s murder, and her mother’s betrayal, and when Tío Ricardo issues an ultimatum about her inheritance, she’s left with only one option to consider.

Marriage to Whitford Hayes.

Former British soldier, her uncle’s aide de camp, and one time nemesis, Whit has his own mysterious reasons for staying in Egypt. With her heart on the line, Inez might have to bind her fate to the one person whose secret plans could ruin her.

What the River Knows was a fantastic read and I have high hopes for this sequel - do you think you’ll be picking this one up?

Quick Reviews

A Twisted Love Story by Samantha Downing (2023) 

Ivy and Wes have had an on-again, off-again relationship for 10 years - even though they've had some good times, it's a mostly toxic, dysfunctional relationship.  Years ago, during one of their many blow-out fights, an innocent bystander paid the price - and now, a detective is looking into it.  I'm slowly stepping back into the mystery/thriller genre, and this was a good one!  Wes and Ivy are so terrible together, but they just can't help themselves, and now their bad deeds are coming back to punish them.  I liked that the story moved back and forth between Ivy and Wes, because we definitely needed both of their POVs.  The pacing was really good, as well, although the story didn't have as many twists as I expected.  While there were some little surprises, it was a bit predictable - the main draw was watching how Ivy and Wes tried to stay one step ahead of the detective who seems determined to bring them down.  4 stars

What the River Knows by Isabel Ibanez (2023)

After her parents' tragic deaths, Inez travels to Egypt to find out what happened to them and maybe even also continue their work, despite the efforts of her uncle and his assistant to stop her.  This one was a bit of a mixed bag.  Let's start with the things that didn't work for me - the fantasy elements and magic system.  I knew this was a fantasy going in, but much of these elements just felt hokey to me.  Everyday objects are imbued with magic and memories - the memories thing was cool, especially when Inez was able to access memories from Cleopatra, but the random objects that did magical things, like a shoe bursting into flame like a torch?  It felt silly.  The "romance" also felt a little off to me; Inez comes across as very young and naive, and her reactions to Whit were often immature.  But, I loved the setting - traveling through Egypt with Inez and the other characters, the archaeological dig, the history.  Parts reminded me of The Historian, which features another young woman searching for her father, history, and some mystical elements.  I think there were some good twists, and it definitely sets itself up well for the next installment.  4 stars

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Can't-Wait Wednesday: Christmas With The Queen

Can't-Wait Wednesday is hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings and helps us spotlight upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating!

Christmas With the Queen

Hazel Gaynor & Heather Webb

Expected publication date: November 19, 2024

’Tis the season! The Crown meets When Harry Met Sally and Bridget Jones’s Diary, in the latest heartwarming historical novel from Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb, bestselling authors of Meet Me in Monaco and Three Words for Goodbye.

December 1952. While the young Queen Elizabeth II finds her feet as the new monarch, she must also find the right words to continue in the tradition of her late father and grandfather’s beloved Christmas Day radio broadcast. But even traditions must move with the times, and the Queen faces a postwar Britain hungry for change. 

As preparations begin for the royal Christmas at Sandringham House in Norfolk, two old friends—Jack Devereux and Olive Carter—find themselves reunited for the festivities. A single mother, typist at the BBC, and aspiring reporter, Olive leaps at the opportunity to cover the holiday celebration, despite self-doubts. When a chance encounter with the Queen presents an exciting opportunity, Olive begins to believe her luck might change. 

Jack, a grief-stricken widowed chef originally from New Orleans, accepts a last-minute chance to cook in the royal kitchens at Sandringham. When he bumps into a long-lost friend, an old spark is reignited.

Despite personal and professional heartache, Jack and Olive’s paths continue to cross over the following five Christmas seasons and they find themselves growing ever closer. Yet Olive carries the burden of a heavy secret. 

Christmas Day, December 1957. As the nation eagerly awaits the Queen’s first televised Christmas speech, Olive decides to reveal the shocking truth of her secret, which threatens to tear her and Jack apart forever. Unless Christmas has one last gift to deliver… - from Goodreads

Guest Blogger: My Favorite Audiobooks #2

 Last year, my sister stopped by the blog with some audiobook recs - today she's back with more!

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Up until a few years ago, I had never even considered audiobooks as a way to increase my reading – but then my husband started working for a major audiobook publisher and I got hooked!  Now I listen to them all the time – getting ready in the morning, in the car, exercising, at my daughter’s swim lessons, you name it.  Audiobooks are fantastic for when you can’t physically hold a book and I have listened to some really fantastic performances.  Here are some of my recent faves:

            

Nonfiction: Memiors read by the authors are some of my favorites!  Michelle Obama’s memiors are always a wonderful listen.  I’m an Olympics nut as well, so Katie Ledecky’s memior was double fun.  Good Night Stories has bite-sized facts of 100 historical and contemporary women and was one I enjoyed listening to with my daughter.

            

TV/Movie/Comic Book Tie Ins: If you are a Stranger Things fan, Flight of Icarus is a must listen about fan favorite Eddie Munson.  Harley Quinn is one of DC’s most interesting characters and Reckoning is the start of a trilogy.  The narrators of The Princess and the Scoundrel were absolutely fantastic – I’ve been listening to a ton of Star Wars books lately and this was an easy favorite!

                

Other Fiction: John Scalzi’s books are a favorite of mine and my husband and Starter Villain did not disappoint!  Sara Goodman Confino is a new author to me – Behind Every Good Man was fantastic and I can’t wait to binge listen to her backlist. 

              

Cara Bastone gets her own section – her audiobooks are that good!  Her Audible originals are witty, fun and read by full casts; every one I’ve listened to has been a hit.  Her latest full length novel, Ready or Not, was a really beautiful listen too!  

Do you listen to audiobooks?  Do you have any favorites?

Quick Reviews

A Starlet's Secret to a Sensational Afterlife by Kendall Kulper (2023)

It's 1930s Hollywood and Henrietta has arrived, hoping to hit it big as an actress.  She signs with a major label and lands a leading role; the studio taps a stuntman to be her fake boyfriend, to up her profile.  Henrietta and Declan, though, soon find themselves caught up in mystery and scandal, as they join together to find out what really happened to several young actresses who have gone missing.  This book was so fun!  The time period and setting are so glamorous - I mean, Old Hollywood!  Although I do have to say, sometimes the dialogue did not match, and it took me out of the story sometimes - it felt too modern at times.  But, the little glimpses behind the curtain and how studios used to be run and how movies were made were really fun.  There are also elements of magical realism, as both Declan and Henrietta have supernatural gifts - Henrietta can talk to ghosts and Declan is immune from getting hurt (hence the stuntman job!).  The "talking to ghosts" thing did get a little hokey, but I still thought it was a unique element to the story.  I loved watching Henrietta and Declan work together to help the missing girls, I thought the pacing of the story was great, and the author does an admirable job of both tackling a difficult subject while still keeping the overall tone fairly light.  4 stars

Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle (2024)

Whenever Daphne meets a new man, soon after she receives a slip of paper with the man's name and the length of the time they will date.  This has been happening since her teens, until one day the note only says a name - no number.  Could this be it?  Does this mean Jake is the man she's going to spend the rest of her life with?  I thought this book had so much potential, but unfortunately the execution lacked a lot for me.  The premise is so intriguing - once she realizes the slips of paper are accurately predicting her romantic life, what would Daphne do with this information?  Would she always trust it?  Should she try to fight it if she thought they were wrong?  Is Daphne in charge of her own life, or is she just relying on the universe to guide her?  Unfortunately, I don't feel like the author really explored these questions, or maybe until it was too late.  The book is rather short but feels so wordy - so many metaphors, so much overwriting, so many *important declarations* that fell flat.  Daphne is also keeping another big secret, which we don't find out about until halfway through the book - it kind of changes everything, so it's disappointing the way it's handled.  Even though Daphne is our main character, the person I felt for was Jake.  Would he get the happy ending he truly deserved?  3 stars

* This post contains affiliate links; I earn a small commission on qualifying purchases, at no cost to you.

Michele's Monday Picks #57

Angela is so generous to let me pop in with my little series, Michele’s Monday Picks!  I’m not a blogger or bookstagrammer, but I love getting excited about new releases with the rest of you.  Here I’ll be sharing new books I’m really looking forward to!

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The Wedding Witch

By Erin Sterling

Expected Publication: October 15, 2024

From Goodreads:

Bowen Penhallow has always been a loner, studying dark and ancient magic on a mountaintop in Wales. He prefers it that way, but when his friend Declan—who happens to be a ghost—asks him to attend a Yuletide wedding at a grand estate deep in the Welsh countryside, Bowen reluctantly agrees. 

Tamsyn Bligh is not a witch, but she makes her living off of them. As a procurer and seller of magical items, Tamsyn’s business is not always above board, but she’s been trying to fix that (mostly.) Bowen is an occasional customer—as well as the star of several of Tamsyn’s dirtiest dreams—but she’s been around enough witches to know that, as a human, getting involved with one is not the smartest idea. She’s finagled an invite to the Witchy Wedding of the Century in the hopes of finally making a score big enough to retire. Just one priceless magical artifact from Tywyll House would set her up for life. 

But Tamsyn isn’t the only one sneaking about in Tywyll House, and the mix of a very strong spell combined with a wedding mishap transports Bowen and Tamsyn into Tywyll House’s past, to the Yuletide Celebration of 1957. As Bowen and Tamsyn work together to get back to the present, they must also face off with the origins of Tywyll House’s haunting, the suspicions of their fellow witches…oh, and the fact that somewhere between the mistletoe and the bonfire, they might be falling in love.

This series is such a gem - do you think you’ll be picking this one up?

Fiction/Nonfiction Quick Reviews

Swift and Saddled by Lyla Sage (2024)

Ada is mortified to discover that her late-night bar hookup is actually her new boss on a huge design project, but Wes is so taken by her that he'll do whatever it takes to convince her that he wants more than just a professional relationship.  I thoroughly enjoyed my return to Rebel Blue Ranch; in this installment, we get the story of Wes, the younger brother on the ranch, and Ada, the designer he's hired for his dream project.  I liked Wes well enough - he's basically perfect (kind, handsome, funny).  Although he suffers from depression, this felt more like a surface-level treatment of it.  Ada was the true star of the story for me.  I related to her a lot, especially her difficulties in forming friendships and how she thinks she comes across as cold.  Despite this, she fit in so well with the other characters (maybe proof that she is too hard on herself?), and I loved seeing new bonds form, as well as revisiting characters from the first book.  Ada and Wes are so good together, once she lets her walls down, and I may be mistaken, but this book felt steamier than the first one.  Overall, another solid installment of this series!  4 stars

The Third Pole: Mystery, Obsession, and Death on Mount Everest by Mark Synnott (2022)

In 1924, British mountaineers George Mallory and Sandy Irvine set out to summit Everest - the two never made it down and it was unclear whether they made it to the top.  In 2019, Mark Synnott and a team of adventurers and filmmakers made their way to Everest - not necessarily to climb to the top, but to look for Irvine's body and, perhaps more importantly, the camera he carried with him, which could contain proof of their potential summit.  Readers follow Synnott's preparations for the climb and his research into the Mallory/Irvine mystery.  In addition to telling Mallory and Irvine's story, Synnott also introduces us to other Everest climbers and discusses the 2019 climbing season, a year when 11 people died on the mountain and a "traffic jam" on the way to the summit caused chaos.  Synnott blends history, science, mystery, and an intriguing look into the minds and motivations of those who choose to climb the world's tallest mountain.  I've been intrigued by Everest ever since reading Into Thin Air, and I think Synnott does a great job of explaining to readers what goes into such a climb, making you feel like you are right there with him - the highs, the lows, the fear, and the awe.  It's terrifying and fascinating all at the same time.  Narrative nonfiction is generally a hit for me, and this was no exception - I enjoyed the way Synnott weaved together the story, moving back and forth between past and present.  5 stars

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Can't-Wait Wednesday: From Here to the Great Unknown

Can't-Wait Wednesday is hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings and helps us spotlight upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating!

From Here to the Great Unknown

Lisa Marie Presley & Riley Keough

Expected publication date: October 8, 2024

Born to an American myth and raised in the wilds of Graceland, Lisa Marie Presley tells her whole story for the first time in this raw, riveting, one-of-a-kind memoir faithfully completed by her daughter, Riley Keough.

In 2022, Lisa Marie Presley asked her daughter to help finally finish her long-gestating memoir.

A month later, Lisa Marie was dead, and the world would never know her story in her own words, never know the passionate, joyful, caring, and complicated woman that Riley loved and grieved.

Riley got the tapes that her mother had recorded for the book, laid in her bed, and listened as Lisa Marie told story after story about smashing golf carts together in the yards of Graceland, about the unconditional love she felt from her father, about being upstairs, just the two of them. About getting dragged screaming out of the bathroom as she ran towards his body on the floor. About living in Los Angeles with her mother, getting sent to school after school, always kicked out, always in trouble. About her singular, lifelong relationship with Danny Keough, about being married to Michael Jackson, what they shared in common. About motherhood. About deep addiction. About ever-present grief. Riley knew she had to fulfill her mother’s wish to reveal these memories, incandescent and painful, to the world.

To make her mother known.

This extraordinary book is written in both Lisa Marie’s and Riley’s voices, a mother and daughter communicating—from this world to the one beyond—as they try to heal each other. Profoundly moving and deeply revealing, From Here to the Great Unknown is a book like no other—the last words of the only child of an American icon. - from Goodreads

Month in Review: September 2024

 

September flew by!  After a short break, Henry's daycare reopened for the new school year.  I later went to "back to school" night and I got spend a lot of time with his teacher, seeing his classroom and getting good feedback on how he's doing.  Fantasy football has started up again; Team Outlaw is hanging out in the middle of the pack so far!  Henry started music classes this month.  I'd been looking for some outside activities for him to do and he has always enjoyed music, dancing, and "playing" instruments.  Luckily, I was able to find a local music class for him.  So far I think he is really enjoying it!  He is a little shy when he first gets there, but then he really gets into it.  I went to the office twice this month, for meetings and also to attend a bridal shower for one of my co-workers.  We ended the month with a weekend trip to the zoo.  The weather wasn't great, but it meant we had the place practically to ourselves!  We even got to ride the train twice (usually the line is so long that we just avoid it).  Henry got to feed the goats and pet the stingrays, so he was happy!

The Books

 

 The Rose Garden // Being Henry: The Fonz... And Beyond // Swift and Saddled // Husbands & Lovers

 

The Third Pole // A Starlet's Secret to a Sensational Afterlife // Expiration Dates // Fate Be Changed

What the River Knows // A Twisted Love Story // A House With Good Bones

 

The Posts and Reviews

 

 Quick Reviews

Michele's Monday Picks #54

Can't-Wait Wednesday: Wrath of the Triple Goddess

Quick Reviews

Can't-Wait Wednesday: If I Were You

Indie Bookstore Spotlight: Split Rock Books

Michele's Monday Picks #55

Top Ten Tuesday: My Fall TBR

Fiction/Nonfiction Quick Reviews

Michele's Monday Picks #56

 

How are you doing?

 

 

* This post contains affiliate links; I earn a small commission on qualifying purchases, at no cost to you.