My Two Blessings

  It's book week 39 in our 52 books quest and time for a bit of bookish news: 2022 Hugo award’s winner for best novel is A Desolation Called Peace by Arkady Martine Hilary Mantel, celebrated author of Wolf Hall, dies aged 70 Romance author Nora Roberts helps save Michigan library defunded over LGBTQ books Chances Are, Your Favorite Book Is On This List Of Books That Have Been Banned For Absolutely Absurd Reasons How independent bookstores help in the fight against book banning and why it matters 100 Years of Hermann Hesse’s Siddhartha   And in anticipation of our October Spooktacular, check out Goodread’s picks for  Space Horror , and  psychological thrillers . 75 Facts about Stephen King who just turned 75 last week . Currently reading #9 in Keri Arthur's Lizzie Grace series -- Sorrow's Song.   "Lizzie Grace is trying to get on with her life now that she and Aiden have gone their separate ways, but it’s a difficult thing to do when just about everything re...

Once I got up to date with the Devon Monk's Ordinary Magic series, dove into Ilona Andrews Hidden Legacy series with Sapphire Flame, Emerald Blaze, and Ruby Fever in which Catalina and Alessandro are tested time and time again.  Exhausted just reading their exploits. LOL!  Jumping back into Keri Arthur's Lizzie Grace series with book 6 Deadly Vows.  " Evil comes in all forms … and sometimes it wears a human mask. When the body of a newlywed is discovered on the reservation, Lizzie Grace throws herself into the investigation, needing a distraction from what she fears is coming not only for her but also Belle—her best friend and witch familiar. But as the body count grows and a desperate race begins to track down a supernatural entity capable of powerful magic, it becomes evident another deadly game has begun—one they may not win. Because the past—and the man—they ran from thirteen years ago has finally caught up with them. And he’s out for revenge…"

It's the  changing of the seasons with Fall in the Northern Hemisphere and Spring in the Southern Hemisphere. Colorful seasons in which the palette for both  fall  and  spring  fall on the warm side.  Imagine my surprise years ago when I had my colors done and found out I was a spring.  Opened up my world to all kinds of color.   I haven't picked out my fall read yet as I'm reading the Ordinary Magic series and currently on book 9 Brute of All Evil in which Delaney and Ryder finally get married... maybe. I think there may be a war coming but not sure yet. 🙂 "In two weeks, Delaney Reed will marry the man of her dreams. Everything is perfect. So why are the gods following her around like she suddenly needs a bodyguard? It might be because her fiancé is forced to serve an outsider god who hates Delaney and the town she protects. It might be because the local Valkyrie hired a social media star who is determined to expose Ordinary’s secrets. Or m...

  Final Heir by Faith Hunter is the 15th and final installment of the Jane Yellowrock series.  It was so, so, so good.  I did my usual read it once, fast, fast, fast on the ipad, then turned around and read it again, slow, slow, slow on paperback. It's not a story that's meant to be read fast because you'll miss a lot and it is so complex and action packed. It's the last book of the series, yet it was a great finale and answered so much. There are so many moments. Moments that made me sad, moments that were so powerful. Moments that were amusing or scary. I don't want to give too much away for those who haven't read yet, so... Jane and Beast, the I/We. Jane taking charge and also learning to let go and let others handle things. Leo and how he found a way to let Jane know what needed to be known. Angie, such a little girl but so powerful. Jane's relationship with the witches. The big bad who is trying to take over and how everyone teams up to fight him. I...

  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

It's book week 37 in our 52 Books Quest.    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.   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...

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...

  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 Wav e, 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 read Seanan McGuire's Be the Serpent way to too fast and oh man, what a ride.  Currently on the second slow read to abso...