Sunday Post #275

 

The Sunday Post is hosted by Kimberly @ Caffeinated reviewer book blog, and is a post to recap my bookish and non-bookish things from the last week. I'm also linking up to The Sunday Salon hosted by Deb Nance @Readerbuzz.

I'm in Austin, Texas right now babysitting my two grandkids while my daughter and SIL are off for the weekend. It's been busy but fun. It's also been raining! It poured here yesterday (Saturday), but thankfully leveled down to a drizzle by the time I took the kids out. Went to Barnes & Noble and bought toys and books, went to lunch and then went and saw Moana 2. 

Stayed up late watching True Spirit, the story of Australian teenager, Jessica Watson, the youngest person ever to sail solo nonstop around the world. It was inspirational and a little suspenseful!

Austin, Texas this morning. Cloudy and not as rainy as yesterday. 

Read:

(Click on cover for Goodreads link)

Out in the Cold (Special Agent Alexandra Martel #2) by Steve Urszenyi-4 Stars

Under Loch and Key by Lana Ferguson-4.5 Stars

Hidden (Alex Verus #5) by Benedict Jacka-5 Stars

Her Knight at the Museum by Bryn Donovan-3 Stars

Received:

Thank you to Tantor Audio, Dutton Books and Minotaur Books!

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Review: Under Loch and Key by Lana Ferguson

 

Under Loch and Key by Lana Ferguson

Publication Date: December 3rd 2024 by Berkley & Penguin Random House Audio

Pages: 416

Audio Book Length: 12hrs 18min

Narrator: Samantha Summers & Flint Park

Source: Publishers

Rating: ★★★★½

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Libro.fm | Audible | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Keyanna “Key” MacKay has come to Scotland to her father’s family farm after he dies, searching for a connection and roots. She doesn’t receive the warmest welcome from her grandmother or their farmhand, Lachlan Greer, but she’s determined to stick it out.  However, things slowly thaw as Key gets to the bottom of her family history. There’s a mystery and an ancient curse involving both Lachlan and her family and it becomes Key’s mission to uncover the truth and break the curse before it ruins her newfound happiness and love.

 

Under Loch and Key is my favorite Lana Ferguson to date! I loved the combination of mystery, adventure, romance and a little danger! I’m pleased that the romance had chemistry and buildup! Yes, it was spicy, but it didn’t feel like it was just thrown in there for the sake of having spice. And the epilogue was so touching!

 

I alternated between an audio and e-copy and recommend either version. I loved the fact that not only did we get a female and male narrator for Key and Lachlan, but they also performed their own parts throughout the story, even when the story switched POVs! Samantha Summers and Flint Park did an excellent job with all the voices and accents! Flint Park’s Scottish accent was wonderful and sounded authentic!

4.5 Stars

Book Description:

A woman discovers that not all monsters are her enemy—the opposite, in fact—in this new paranormal romance by Lana Ferguson, author of The Fake Mate.

Keyanna “Key” MacKay is used to secrets. Raised by a single father who never divulged his past, it’s only after his death that she finds herself thrust into the world he’d always refused to speak of. With just a childhood bedtime story about a monster that saved her father’s life and the name of her estranged grandmother to go off of, Key has no idea what she’ll find in Scotland. But repeating her father’s mistakes and being rescued by a gorgeous, angry Scotsman—who thinks she’s an idiot—is definitely the last thing she expects.

Lachlan Greer has his own secrets to keep, especially from the bonnie lass he pulls to safety from the slippery shore—a lass with captivating eyes and the last name he’s been taught not to trust. He’s looking for answers as well, and Key’s presence on the grounds they both now occupy presents a real problem. It’s even more troublesome when he gets a front row seat to the lukewarm welcome Key receives from her family; the strange powers she begins to develop; and the fierce determination she brings to every obstacle in her path. Things he shouldn’t care about, and someone he definitely doesn’t find wildly attractive.

When their secrets collide, it becomes clear that Lachlan could hold the answers Keyanna is after—and that she might also be the key to uncovering his. Up against time, mystery, and a centuries old curse, they’ll quickly discover that magic might not only be in fairy tales, and that love can be a real loch-mess.

Audiobook Review: The House at Watch Hill by Karen Marie Moning

 

The House at Watch Hill (The Watch Hill Trilogy #1) by Karen Marie Moning

Publication Date: October 1st 2024 by Harper Audio

Pages: 384

Audio Book Length: 11hrs 34min

Narrator: Amanda Leigh Cobb & Tim Campbell

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Libro.fm | Audible | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Zo Grey is down on her luck with a terminally ill mother just trying to get by when she discovers she’s the heir to a vast estate and fortune in Divinity, Louisiana. However, there’s a catch: she has to live at the old imposing house for three years in order to inherit.

 

There was some waffling back and forth over whether she’d accept the terms, but to be honest who in their right mind wouldn’t accept and give it a go?  Especially someone like Zo in her financial situation. Yes, the house looked intimidating (and it was!) but sounded gorgeous as soon as you set foot inside!

 

Of course, anything that seems too good to be true usually is, and Zo starts to discover a darker side to the town, the house and her history. She’s known on a subconscious level there was something “extra” about herself, but her mother never shared anything about her past or powers.

 

The House at Watch Hill was more about setting this world up and didn’t have much in the way of action until the end. Still, it was an engrossing read and Moning has a way of setting up an enticing backdrop and mysterious characters. There are two potential love interests. Not sure how it’ll work out, but I did prefer one over the other. The story ended on a cliffhanger. I look forward to finding out what happens next after that last scene!

I listened to the audio version and really enjoyed Amanda Leigh Cobb and Tim Campbell’s performance! She has an appealing voice and Tim Campbell’s lent an air of mystery to his character.

4 Stars

Book Description:

#1 New York Times bestselling author Karen Marie Moning is back with a gripping, imaginative, and seductive new series in which a young woman moves to Divinity, Louisiana, to inherit a large fortune and a Gothic mansion full of mysteries and ominous secrets...

Zo Grey is reeling from the sudden death of her mother when she receives a surprising call from an attorney in Divinity, Louisiana, with the news she has been left an inheritance by a distant relative, the terms of which he will only discuss in person. Destitute and alone, with nothing left to lose, Zo heads to Divinity and discovers she is the sole beneficiary of a huge fortune and a monstrosity of a house that sits ominously at the peak of Watch Hill—but she must live in it, alone, for three years before the house, or the money, is hers.

Met with this irresistible opportunity to finally build a future for herself, Zo puts aside her misgivings about the foreboding Gothic mansion and the strange circumstances, and moves in, where she is quickly met by a red-eyed Stygian owl and an impossibly sexy Scottish groundskeeper.

Her new home is full of countless secrets and mystifying riddles, with doors that go nowhere, others that are impossible to open, and a turret into which there is no visible means of ingress. And the townspeople are odd…

What Zo doesn’t yet know is that her own roots lie in this very house and that in order to discover her true identity and awaken her dormant powers, she will have to face off against sinister forces she doesn’t quite comprehend—or risk being consumed by them.

Sunday Post #274

 

The Sunday Post is hosted by Kimberly @ Caffeinated reviewer book blog, and is a post to recap my bookish and non-bookish things from the last week. I'm also linking up to The Sunday Salon hosted by Deb Nance @Readerbuzz.

Happy Sunday! I hope everyone who had the time off had a nice holiday weekend!

 

We had family and friends coming out from Idaho and Southern California with two days of fun planned. Lots of activity here! Cleaning both inside and outside, which was a project since the rains made a mess of the yard. Wine tasting on Friday in Amador County, which was fun and beautiful.  Everyone came out to our place on Saturday and we went and toured Empire Mine, one of the gold mines that is now a state park with an estate and gardens. It was pretty even though the fall foliage is almost gone there were still a lot of golden and orange trees to see. Then downtown and back to our house for dinner. We had a crockpot roast going, so we didn't have to worry about doing too much when we got back. Mashed potatoes, gravy, carrots, salad, green bean casserole, and then apple pie. 

The kitties are doing really well. Peanut is still not completely sold, but he's not trying fight with them anymore. Thank goodness! 

Smokey is super friendly!

Starla is a little more cautious with us, but loves to be social, too.

Read:

Click on cover for Goodreads link

Taken (Alex Verus #3) by Benedict Jacka-5 Stars

Chosen (Alex Verus #4) by Benedict Jacka-5 Stars

Constituent Service by John Scalzi-4 Stars

Servant of the Earth (The Shards of Magic) by Sarah Hawley-3 Stars

I've been hooked on the Alex Verus series by Benedict Jacka, listening to the excellent audios while I was cleaning and prepping this last week. I'm about halfway through the 5th installment. I hope to finish today while working a puzzle and relaxing! Constituent Service was a funny novella! 

Received:

Thank you to Berkley and Penguin Audio!

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Audiobook Review: Everybody Is a Liar by Liv Constantine

 

Everybody Is a Liar by Liv Constantine

Publication Date: November 12th 2024 by Penguin Random House Audio

Audio Book Length: 3hrs 23min

Narrator: Saskia Maarleveld, Barrie Krenik, Shayr Guthrie, Jennifer Jill Araya, 

Dallas Seeker, Danny Campbell

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Libro.fm | Audible | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

A mystery writer, Julia, with a cheating spouse and a therapist, Liza, tasked to help the troubled couple repair their marriage. Told from Julia and Liza’s perspective, I was riveted from start to finish! 

I had my suspicions about what was going on, but kept hoping for one thing and it didn't happen. While I liked the way justice was served, I was hoping for a different outcome.

Barrie Kreinik and Saskia Maarleveld are narrators I've enjoyed in the past, but the others are new-to-me and all were wonderful. The full cast of characters definitely enhanced the story.

4 Stars

Book Description:

The New York Times bestselling author of The Next Mrs. Parrish delivers another spellbinding story of betrayal and deceit in this audiobook original, Everybody Is a Liar.

When Julie Buckley, a successful mystery writer, suspects her husband of cheating, she turns to her best friend, Darby, for advice. When Darby suggests couples therapy, Julie and Oliver find themselves discussing Oliver’s betrayal with their new therapist, Liza. Liza is competent and reassuring, and her advice and Oliver’s openness to change seem to be helping the couple rebuild their relationship.

But when murder strikes in this small Connecticut town, Liza begins to worry there is a connection between Oliver and another one of her patients and the confidences they have shared with her become the key to solving the murder. As Liza digs deeper, she comes to believe that everybody is a liar.

Sunday Post #273

 

The Sunday Post is hosted by Kimberly @ Caffeinated reviewer book blog, and is a post to recap my bookish and non-bookish things from the last week. I'm also linking up to The Sunday Salon hosted by Deb Nance @Readerbuzz.

Another busy week! We traveled down to Southern California on Thursday to meet up with friends in town from Cincinnati and to visit our son, DIL and the two youngest grandkids. The kids are super cute! It was a short trip. We were happy to visit with everyone, but happy to be home. 

It's been pouring rain at home. We've had almost eight inches of rain this week and there's more to come. It should clear out by Tuesday, though. I'm happy I got some photos while out running before the rain, because I'm sure a bunch of the leaves came off with this storm.

part of my running route

We'll be meeting up with family and friends this week. About ten of us all together. We're set to go wine tasting and then dinner Friday and then everyone's coming to our house for dinner on Saturday. I look forward to the visit! 

Read:

(Click on cover for Goodreads link)

Everybody is a Liar by Liv Constantine-4 Stars

The Muse of Maiden Lane by Mimi Matthews-4 Stars

The Mirror by Nora Roberts-4 Stars

Received:

Thank you to Boldwood Books, Forever and MIRA!

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Review: The Muse of Maiden Lane by Mimi Matthews

 

The Lily of Ludgate Hill (Belles of London #4)  by Mimi Matthews

Publication Date: November 19th 2024 by Berkley

Pages: 384

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Libro.fm | Audible | Kobo | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Stella Hobhouse has been through two London seasons, but unsuccessful in her mission to find a suitable husband. She’s been singled out as an oddity because of her prematurely gray hair, her passion for riding her spirited horse in an all-out gallop. Also, for speaking her mind when her holier-than-thou brother would like her to be a quiet, obedient woman. Such a jerk!

 

When artist Edward “Teddy” Hayes lays eyes on Stella he’s mesmerized by her beauty and unusual hair, and he’s determined to paint her. Since a suffering from a fever that partially paralyzed him, Teddy’s bold in his pursuits, especially when it comes to his art.

 

Teddy and Stella meet again at a house party and circumstances thrust them together and they end up forming a friendship and more. There’s a spark of attraction right from the beginning, but it’s a slow, natural progression of friendship to love. Both Teddy and Stella do conform to society’s expectations in physicality and in manner and so they were wonderfully suited!

 

The Muse of Maiden Lane was a lovely conclusion to The Belles of London series! I adored Ms. Matthews’ inclusion of characters that were not what people would think of as perfect. Teddy’s struggles from being in a wheeled chair were portrayed in a realistic way, that felt true to his character. Teddy and Stella’s romance was so very touching, and I loved that we got to “see” all the past Belles happy with their men. I also loved the strong female friendship between these women so devoted and supportive of each other!

4 Stars

Book Description:

A silver-haired equestrienne and a charismatic artist turn a scandalous bargain into a vibrant portrait of love.

Stella Hobhouse is a brilliant rider, stalwart friend, skilled sketch artist—and completely overlooked. Her outmodish gray hair makes her invisible to London society. Combined with her brother’s pious restrictions and her dwindling inheritance, Stella is on the verge of a lifetime marooned in Derbyshire as a spinster. Unless she does something drastic…like posing for a daring new style of portrait by the only man who’s ever really seen her.

Aspiring painter Edward “Teddy” Hayes knows true beauty when he sees it. He would never ask Stella to risk her reputation as an artist’s model but in the five years since a virulent bout of scarlet fever left him partially paralyzed, Teddy has learned to heed good fortune when he finds it. He’ll do anything to persuade his muse to pose for him, even if he must offer her a marriage of convenience.

After all, though Teddy has yearned to trace Stella’s luminous beauty on canvas since their chance meeting, her heart is what he truly aches to capture….

Photo credit: Vickie Hahn 2021

 About the Author:

USA Today bestselling author Mimi Matthews writes both historical nonfiction and award-winning Victorian romances. Her novels have received starred reviews in Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, Booklist, Kirkus, and Shelf Awareness, and her articles have been featured on the Victorian Web, the Journal of Victorian Culture, and in syndication at BUST Magazine. In her other life, Mimi is an attorney. She resides in California with her family, which includes a retired Andalusian dressage horse, a Sheltie, and two Siamese cats. Learn more online at www.mimimatthews.com. 

Review: The Mirror by Nora Roberts

 

The Mirror (The Lost Bride Trilogy #2) by Nora Roberts

Publication Date: November 18th 2024 by St. Martin's Press & Macmillan Audio

Pages: 448

Audio Book Length: 13hrs 48min

Narrator: Brittany Pressley 

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Libro.fm | Audible | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Two hundred years ago a curse was set into motion when Hester Dobbs, a bitter, greedy witch, murdered Astrid Granville the day she wed Collin Poole at the Poole Mansion. After, Hester jumped off the cliffs to her death as she laid a curse on any future Poole bride. Since then, every Poole bride who aspired to wed and live in the manor died tragically on the day of her wedding. Hester stole the ring of every bride since, giving her more power to keep the curse going.

 

The Mirror picks up where The Inheritance (my review) left off, with Sonya MacTavish, the Poole heir, entering The Mirror and reliving the events of the past, witnessing Hester take her revenge on another bride. Hester still haunts the Poole mansion, and Sonya must find a way to break the curse.

 

The Mirror is the second book in The Lost Bride Trilogy, a series that needs to be read in order. Sonya and her best friend, Cleo, settle into the mansion, making it their own, while enjoying life with Trey and Owen, eating, drinking, painting, working, and getting to know the community. Sounded idyllic and lovely! Not much in the way of plot movement, but it the story was engrossing. Hester continues to haunt and cause trouble, but Sonya is determined to stake her claim on the house and not let her win.

 

I’m hoping Sonya figures out a plan to defeat the evil witch and I’m eager to see how it all shakes out in the final book!

4 Stars

Book Description:

#1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts continues the hauntingly spectacular Lost Bride Trilogy with book two, The Mirror.

When Sonya MacTavish inherits the huge Victorian mansion on the coast of Maine, she has no idea that the house is haunted. The footsteps she hears at night, the doors slamming, the music playing, are not figments of her imagination. In her dreams she sees glimpses of the past. In the present she finds portraits of brides. And when she has visions of an antique mirror, she is drawn to it, sensing it holds dark family secrets.

Then one night the mirror appears and Sonya glides through this looking glass, into the past—and sees a bride murdered on her wedding day, the circle of gold torn from her finger. It is a scene that will play out again and again—a centuries-old curse that must be broken—and a puzzle she must solve if there is any hope of breaking the curse.

Sunday Post #272

 

The Sunday Post is hosted by Kimberly @ Caffeinated reviewer book blog, and is a post to recap my bookish and non-bookish things from the last week. I'm also linking up to The Sunday Salon hosted by Deb Nance @Readerbuzz.

It's been a busy week with cats! Smokey has been settling in, super friendly and less afraid. Peanut and Smokey have little meet-and-greets through a small crack in the door as we supervise. It's going well. We caught Starla, the mom cat (now named Marmalade) and her 3 kittens, took them to the animal rescue. Starla is being spayed and given her shots on Tuesday and I'm picking her up directly from there to come home. Marmalade and her kittens are on the list to be adopted out. The kittens have a better chance at getting placed. If they can't place Marmalade, we'll get her back after she's been spayed and vaccinated.

We've had a few rainy days and it's been cold at night! It dipped down to 27F degrees. We've pulled dead flowers and vegetables from the garden. I do have some fall/winter produce coming. Little gem lettuce, Swiss Chard radish, arugula, cauliflower and broccoli. 

I've been out on a lot of runs/walks around the neighborhood and the fall colors continue to amaze me!

Burning Bush 

Scarlet firethorn

Great Blue Heron in middle background (hard to see) and a buck.

Read:

(Click on cover for Goodreads link)

Cursed (Alex Verus #2) by Benedict Jacka: 4 Stars

The Forgotten One (The Heirs #2) by Catherine Bybee: 4.5 Stars

The Taken Ones (Steinbeck and Reed #1) by Jess Lourey: 4 Stars

Received:

Thank you to G,P. Putnam's Sons and Dial Press! 

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