Rat Queens Vol. 7

Title: Rat Queens Vol. 7: The Once and Future King

Author: Ryan Ferrier, Priscilla Petraites, Marco Lasko

Publisher: Image 2020

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 136

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Monthly Theme - April

A vengeful presence from the past forces the Rat Queens to face their own demons in order to save everything they've ever loved! Can the Queens hold their own legacy together when faced with their greatest challenge yet? A whole new era for the Rat Queens begins here, chronicled by a brand new creative team!

Shit got real… The Queens have always found themselves in messes before, but this volume was next level. We see the return of an old foe, the birth of a new Queen, more questions, and a wondrous reveal. I really enjoyed this collection of issues. But I think my favorite was the one-off story involving unicorns. Awesome twist on a classic story!

Next up on the TBR pile:

Redshirts by John Scalzi

Title: Redshirts

Author: John Scalzi

Publisher: Tor 2012

Genre: Science Fiction

Pages: 317

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library

Ensign Andrew Dahl has just been assigned to the Universal Union Capital Ship Intrepid, flagship of the Universal Union since the year 2456. It's a prestige posting, and Andrew is thrilled all the more to be assigned to the ship's Xenobiology laboratory.

Life couldn't be better…until Andrew begins to pick up on the fact that (1) every Away Mission involves some kind of lethal confrontation with alien forces, (2) the ship's captain, its chief science officer, and the handsome Lieutenant Kerensky always survive these confrontations, and (3) at least one low-ranked crew member is, sadly, always killed.

Not surprisingly, a great deal of energy below decks is expended on avoiding, at all costs, being assigned to an Away Mission. Then Andrew stumbles on information that completely transforms his and his colleagues' understanding of what the starship Intrepid really is…and offers them a crazy, high-risk chance to save their own lives.

Oh such fun! Random fun fact: Scalzi was writing this book while working on Stargate: Universe. Love that show and really really enjoyed this book. Throughout most of the book, I found myself chuckling at the references and absurd situations. I loved following Dahl and his friends as they attempt to understand just what is wrong with the Intrepid. I could have told them, but you know, characters have to figure it out for themselves. My one issue was the book was the length. I thought it was a lot longer than it was, but the main story ended a bit abruptly. I would have liked a bit more of a conclusion to the story on the Intrepid. However we did get some interesting codas involving various other characters. I did enjoy those. Fun book for science fiction fans.

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Complete Phonogram

Title: The Complete Phonogram

Author: Kieron Gillen, Jamie Mckelvie

Publisher: Image 2017

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 504

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Monthly Theme - April

The world where Music is Magic has never looked better.

I loved Gillen and Mckelvie’s more recent comic series The Wicked + The Divine so I picked this one up to see if it had the same magic. Almost, but not quite. I enjoyed the overall storyline and many of the characters. Unfortunately, the focus on the main character (an arrogant white male) turned me off a bit. I enjoy series that have a much more varied cast of characters. So not my favorite, but I did love the invention of gods and goddesses involved in the music scene. Definitely a more high-brow comic full of obscure music references.

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Vagina Bible by Jen Gunter

Title: The Vagina Bible: The Vulva and the Vagina - Separating the Myth from the Medicine

Author: Jen Gunter

Publisher: Citadel 2019

Genre: Nonfiction

Pages: 420

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library; Monthly Theme - March

So many important questions, so much convincing, confusing, contradictory misinformation! In this age of click bait, pseudoscience, and celebrity-endorsed products, it’s easy to be overwhelmed—whether it’s websites, advice from well-meaning friends, uneducated partners, and even healthcare providers. So how do you separate facts from fiction? OB-GYN Jen Gunter, an expert on women’s health—and the internet’s most popular go-to doc—comes to the rescue with a book that debunks the myths and educates and empowers women. From reproductive health to the impact of antibiotics and probiotics, and the latest trends, including vaginal steaming, vaginal marijuana products, and jade eggs, Gunter takes us on a factual, fun-filled journey.

Wow! How I wish I had this book when going through puberty as a teen. This textbook like guide covers all the information you need to understand your body. Gunter dispels so many myths while imparting great advice. While I knew a lot of the factual information (I have learned a lot since I was 14), reading some of those sections was a great refresher. I really enjoyed the sections dealing with dispelling myths including the dangers of Toxic Shock Syndrome and the use of cranberry juice to stave off UTIs. This would be a great book to read once and then keep as reference for your shelf.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Crocodile on the Sandbank by Elizabeth Peters

Title: Crocodile on the Sandbank (Amelia Peabody #1)

Author: Elizabeth Peters

Publisher: 1975

Genre: Mystery

Pages: 262

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Ebook; Monthly Theme - March

Amelia Peabody, that indomitable product of the Victorian age, embarks on her debut Egyptian adventure armed with unshakable self-confidence, a journal to record her thoughts, and, of course, a sturdy umbrella. On her way to Cairo, Amelia rescues young Evelyn Barton-Forbes, who has been abandoned by her scoundrel lover. Together the two women sail up the Nile to an archeological site run by the Emerson brothers-the irascible but dashing Radcliffe and the amiable Walter. Soon their little party is increased by one-one mummy that is, and a singularly lively example of the species.

Strange visitations, suspicious accidents, and a botched kidnapping convince Amelia that there is a plot afoot to harm Evelyn. Now Amelia finds herself up against an unknown enemy-and perilous forces that threaten to make her first Egyptian trip also her last . . .

This series has been on my TBR list for decades. Probably since I was a teen… I finally got around to reading this one and was pleasantly surprised. I expected a bit of outdated language and conventions and they were there. It’s hard to tell if some of these are due to attempting to place the story in the time set or because of the time period it was written. Either way, I tried to look past some of those problematic areas and found a delightful wry story of adventure and intrigue. I love Amelia and her commentaries on people and situations. I At times she really reminded me of a Jane Austen heroine. The big mystery wasn’t really that big, but I realize that this is the first book in a very long series. I look forward to exploring Amelia’s world more.

Amelia Peabody

• #1 Crocodile on the Sandbank

• #2 The Curse of the Pharaohs

• #3 The Mummy Case

• #4 Lion in the Valley

• #5 The Deeds of the Disturber

• #6 The Last Camel Died at Noon

• #7 The Snake, The Crocodile, and The Dog

• #8 The Hippopotamus Pool

• #9 Seeing a Large Cat

• #10 The Ape Who Guards the Balance

• #11 The Falcon at the Portal

• #12 He Shall Thunder in the Sky

• #13 Lord of the Silent

• #14 The Golden One

• #15 Children of the Storm

• #16 Guardians of the Horizon

• #17 The Serpent on the Crown

• #18 Tomb of the Golden Bird

• #19 A River in the Sky

• #20 The Painted Queen

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Seduction of Lady X by Julia London

Title: The Seduction of Lady X (The Secrets of Hadley Green #3)

Author: Julia London

Publisher: Pocket Star 2012

Genre: Fiction

Pages: 399

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Unread Shelf; Monthly Theme - February

The surprising news that dashing steward Harrison Tolly, illegitimate son of the Earl of Ashwood, is the rightful heir to his father’s estate comes at a most inopportune time. With a wedding on the horizon and a baby on the way, a new life of privilege and prestige would be a blessing but for one problem: his heart belongs to another woman.

Harrison keeps his desires for his employer’s wife, Lady Olivia Carey, so hidden that even she does not know of his devotion. Her callous husband, Marquis Carey, went into a rampage after Olivia’s troublesome younger sister returned from her tour of Spain pregnant, and Harrison impulsively stepped in to save the entire family from scandal. Now, like Olivia, he is trapped in a loveless arrangement. When a tragic accident claims the marquis’ life soon thereafter, can Harrison seize his chance and cast aside one sister for another? Or will doing so expose the Carey family’s darkest secret—and ruin his only chance to win Olivia’s heart?

I saw exactly how this book was going to play out from Chapter 3 and yet, I still really enjoyed it. Right now I’m definitely drawn to books where they live happily ever after (hmm, I wonder why…). This one is the perfect Regency Romance involving a handsome lead, a feisty heroine (or two), and a great villain. Throw in some colorful side characters and some ridiculous coincidences and we have the perfect mass market Regency Romance. I was totally on board with this one. Although I think I like the main characters from the previous novel (Lily and Tobias) a bit more than Olivia and Harrison.

The Secrets of Hadley Green

• #1 The Year of Living Scandalously

• #1.5 The Christmas Secret

• #2 The Revenge of Lord Eberlin

• #3 The Seduction of Lady X

• #4 The Last Debutante

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Story of the World in 100 Species by Christopher Lloyd

Title: The Story of the World in 100 Species

Author: Christopher Lloyd

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing 2016

Genre: Nonfiction

Pages: 416

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library

In the retitled paperback edition of his book What on Earth Evolved?, Christopher Lloyd leads us on an extraordinary journey, from the birth of life to the present day, as he explains, in a jargon-free way, the phenomenon we call “life on Earth.” Lloyd starts with the Earth “before humans,” when loose strands of genetic code swarmed over the planet, and moves on to explore the creatures that evolved in the murky deep and crept up on the shore to become pioneers of life on land. He then investigates the world “after humans” and how the coevolution of humans and a range of other key species has transformed the planet over the last twelve thousand years. In the process, he identifies the hundred most influential species that have ever lived--with candidates as diverse as slime, sea scorpions, dragonflies, potatoes, ants, tulips, sheep, and grapes--and reveals those that have most changed life on Earth.

One of the books from the library that I grabbed on a whim but kept putting at the bottom of the To Read stack. With the library closures, I have extended due dates on all books. This one got moved up to the top of the pile. Over about a week I read through the 100 entires detailing very important species to life. I found the sections on early life (pre-human life) to be much more interesting that more modern species. The two entries about bony fish were especially fascinating. I think I gravitated towards those entries that focused on the mechanics of evolution to trace the path of life through the ages. An interesting science book for the week.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Well Met by Jen DeLuca

Title: Well Met (Well Met #1)

Author: Jen DeLuca

Publisher: Berkley 2019

Genre: Romance

Pages: 319

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: UnRead Shelf

Emily knew there would be strings attached when she relocated to the small town of Willow Creek, Maryland, for the summer to help her sister recover from an accident, but who could anticipate getting roped into volunteering for the local Renaissance Faire alongside her teenaged niece? Or that the irritating and inscrutable schoolteacher in charge of the volunteers would be so annoying that she finds it impossible to stop thinking about him?

What an utter delight! I read the first 40 pages of this book before bed one night. The next day, I picked it up and could not put it down until the story had ended. I was completely sucked into the Ren Faire setting (I used to do living history!). I loved meeting Emily and her sister and niece. I was immediately taken in by the rest of the cast of characters, especially Chris! I couldn’t wait to see what happened in the hate to love romance brewing over the course of the summer. When Captain Ian showed up, I even swooned a bit! Definitely love a pirate! I’m keeping this one my shelf for when I need a feel-good romance to lift my spirits.

Well Met

• #1 Well Met

• #2 Well Played

• #3 Well Matched

Next up on the TBR pile:

How to be a Woman by Caitlin Moran

Title: How to Be a Woman

Author: Caitlin Moran

Publisher: Harper 2012

Genre: Nonfiction - Essays

Pages: 323

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual - Feminism; Monthly Theme - March

Caitlin Moran puts a new face on feminism, cutting to the heart of women’s issues today with her irreverent, transcendent, and hilarious How to Be a Woman. “Half memoir, half polemic, and entirely necessary,” (Elle UK), Moran’s debut was an instant runaway bestseller in England as well as an Amazon UK Top Ten book of the year; still riding high on bestseller lists months after publication, it is a bona fide cultural phenomenon. Now poised to take American womanhood by storm, here is a book that Vanity Fair calls “the U.K. version of Tina Fey’s Bossypants….You will laugh out loud, wince, and—in my case—feel proud to be the same gender as the author.”

Another collection of personal essays focusing on feminism. I think this collection was executed better than Bad Feminist. This focused more on Moran’s personal experiences and how they have shaped her worldview and her specific take on feminism. I definitely did laugh out loud many times throughout the essays. My favorite was definitely the story about what to name our private parts. But… then we get lots of casual bigotry and racism throughout the essays. And her complete dismissal of women’s history and those that came before us really got my goat. So while I think this was a better themed collection, I found it lacking in many areas.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Fever by Lauren DeStefano

Title: Fever (The Chemical Garden #2)

Author: Lauren DeStefano

Publisher: Simon & Schuster 2012

Genre: YA Science Fiction

Pages: 354

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library

Rhine and Gabriel have escaped the mansion, but they’re still in danger. Outside, they find a world even more disquieting than the one they ran away from. Determined to get to Manhattan and find Rhine’s twin brother, Rowan, the two press forward, amid threats of being captured again…or worse.

The road they are on is long and perilous—and in a world where young women only live to age twenty and men die at age twenty-five, time is precious. In this sequel to Lauren DeStefano’s harrowing Wither, Rhine must decide if freedom is worth the price—now that she has more to lose than ever.

Mixed feelings about this one… I definitely wanted to continue reading this series after enjoying the first book. I was concerned about where the second book was going, but thankfully most of the book was good. I really liked being able to change setting from the mansion and explore a bit more of the world. The plot moved at a pretty good pace keeping the action. I really enjoyed that bit. My only issue is with Rhine. She can be very annoying at times and I really wanted her to own up to some things at times. Plus I really wanted to see more her relationship with Gabriel. Guess I might need to read the last book to see how everything ends.

The Chemical Garden

• #1 Wither

• #2 Fever

• #3 Sever

Next up on the TBR pile:

Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay

Title: Bad Feminist

Author: Roxane Gay

Publisher: Harper Perennial 2014

Genre: Nonfiction Essays

Pages: 336

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual; Monthly Theme - March

A collection of essays spanning politics, criticism, and feminism from one of the most-watched young cultural observers of her generation, Roxane Gay.

In these funny and insightful essays, Roxane Gay takes us through the journey of her evolution as a woman (Sweet Valley High) of color (The Help) while also taking readers on a ride through culture of the last few years (Girls, Django in Chains) and commenting on the state of feminism today (abortion, Chris Brown). The portrait that emerges is not only one of an incredibly insightful woman continually growing to understand herself and our society, but also one of our culture.

I loved every essay that Gay focused on her own experiences and thoughts. Learning her personal take on various aspects of life was eye-opening. I love feminist texts that embrace intersectional feminism. Gay excels as laying out the all the different aspects of life and how feminism affects them. I really fell into those essays. Unfortunately, she also included very academic essay focused on pop culture. Those took me right back to college and not in a good way. I was thoroughly bored with those. And of course, they were very dated 6 years later. I would have loved to delete those essays and just keep the personal ones.

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow

Title: The Ten Thousand Doors of January

Author: Alix E. Harrow

Publisher: Redhook 2019

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 385

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Ebook; TBR Jar Random

In a sprawling mansion filled with peculiar treasures, January Scaller is a curiosity herself. As the ward of the wealthy Mr. Locke, she feels little different from the artifacts that decorate the halls: carefully maintained, largely ignored, and utterly out of place.
Then she finds a strange book. A book that carries the scent of other worlds, and tells a tale of secret doors, of love, adventure and danger. Each page turn reveals impossible truths about the world and January discovers a story increasingly entwined with her own.

I can’t stop smiling a bout this book. I loved diving into the January and Julian and Adelaide’s world of doors and terrors. This was definitely my kind of fantasy. We get some romance, some terror, some adventure, and most of all, a story of growing up. Mr. Locke and the his fellow society members were great villains setting up just enough terror to keep the other characters on their toes. Havemeyer was particularly terrifying. I loved visiting all the other worlds and eventually spending more time in Written. I can just imagine January and her tattoos and words. I will be rereading this one soon I imagine.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Queen of Hearts by Rhys Bowen

Title: Queen of Hearts (Royal Spyness #8)

Author: Rhys Bowen

Publisher: Berkley 2014

Genre: Mystery

Pages: 306

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library; Monthly Theme

England, 1934. Georgie's mother, the glamorous and much-married actress, is hearing wedding bells once again—which is why she must hop across the pond for a quickie divorce in Reno. To offer her moral support, Georgie agrees to go along on the all expenses paid voyage across the Atlantic.

While her mother meets movie mogul Cy Goldman—who insists on casting her in his next picture—Georgie finds herself caught up in the secret investigation of a suspected jewel thief. Lucky for her, the lead investigator happens to be her dashing beau, Darcy!

Her mother's movie and Darcy’s larceny lead everyone to Cy’s Hollywood home, where the likes of Charlie Chaplin are hanging about and there’s enough romantic intrigue to fill a double feature. But they hardly get a chance to work out the sleeping arrangements before Cy turns up dead. As if there wasn’t enough drama already...

Oh so much fun! I love this cozy mystery series and am so glad that we get to see more growth from Georgie. She’s definitely not the innocent anymore. I loved the change in setting to a ship and then to California. It was fun to see all the Brits deal with the Americans in a very loose setting. We get major Hearst Castle vibes from Cy’s house including the menagerie. Lots of fun! And then we get the actual mystery (or should I say mysteries). I totally solved both of them about 2/3 of the way through the book. Overall it was very entertaining. Here’s hoping we get to see more of Darcy next book.

Her Royal Spyness:

• #0.5 Masked Ball at Broxley Manor

• #1 Her Royal Spyness

• #2 A Royal Pain

• #3 Royal Flush

• #4 Royal Blood

• #5 Naughty in Nice

• #6 The Twelve Clues of Christmas

• #7 Heirs and Graces

• #8 Queen of Hearts

• #9 Malice at the Palace

• #10 Crowned and Dangerous

• #11 On Her Majesty’s Frightfully Secret Service

• #12 Four Funerals and Maybe a Wedding

• #13 Love and Death Among the Cheetahs

• #14 The Last Mrs. Summers

Next up on the TBR pile:

After the Flood by Kassandra Montag

Title: After the Flood

Author: Kassandra Montag

Publisher: William Morrow 2019

Genre: Fiction

Pages: 432

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library

A little more than a century from now, our world has been utterly transformed. After years of slowly overtaking the continent, rising floodwaters have obliterated America’s great coastal cities and then its heartland, leaving nothing but an archipelago of mountaintop colonies surrounded by a deep expanse of open water.

Stubbornly independent Myra and her precocious seven-year-old daughter, Pearl, fish from their small boat, the Bird, visiting dry land only to trade for supplies and information in the few remaining outposts of civilization. For seven years, Myra has grieved the loss of her oldest daughter, Row, who was stolen by her father after a monstrous deluge overtook their home in Nebraska. Then, in a violent confrontation with a stranger, Myra suddenly discovers that Row was last seen in a far-off encampment near the Arctic Circle. Throwing aside her usual caution, Myra and Pearl embark on a perilous voyage into the icy northern seas, hoping against hope that Row will still be there.

On their journey, Myra and Pearl join forces with a larger ship and Myra finds herself bonding with her fellow seekers who hope to build a safe haven together in this dangerous new world. But secrets, lust, and betrayals threaten their dream, and after their fortunes take a shocking—and bloody—turn, Myra can no longer ignore the question of whether saving Row is worth endangering Pearl and her fellow travelers.

I heard great things about this book and the author is from my town. I sped through the pages wanting to see what happened to the characters, but ultimately I didn’t really care about them. Most of the characters had too many flaws and not enough redeeming qualities. The amount of secrets kept really grated on me throughout the book. I was not so enamored with the world setting even though post-apocalypse is one of my go-to settings. And the ending really fell flat for me. I just couldn’t seem to muster any concern for the characters or their futures. I was constantly confused by the tone of the book and still can’t decide if it was optimistic or pessimistic. Definitely not a book for me.

Next up on the TBR pile:

After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Title: After I Do

Author: Taylor Jenkins Reid

Publisher: Washington Square Press 2014

Genre: Fiction

Pages: 353

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Ebook

When Lauren and Ryan’s marriage reaches the breaking point, they come up with an unconventional plan. They decide to take a year off in the hopes of finding a way to fall in love again. One year apart, and only one rule: they cannot contact each other. Aside from that, anything goes.

Lauren embarks on a journey of self-discovery, quickly finding that her friends and family have their own ideas about the meaning of marriage. These influences, as well as her own healing process and the challenges of living apart from Ryan, begin to change Lauren’s ideas about monogamy and marriage. She starts to question: When you can have romance without loyalty and commitment without marriage, when love and lust are no longer tied together, what do you value? What are you willing to fight for?

This is a love story about what happens when the love fades. It’s about staying in love, seizing love, forsaking love, and committing to love with everything you’ve got. And above all, After I Do is the story of a couple caught up in an old game—and searching for a new road to happily ever after.

I loved Reid’s The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones and the Six so I thought I would read some of her backlist titles. Unfortunately this one just fell really flat for me. I wasn’t invested in the main relationship at any point in the novel. Lauren and Ryan just didn’t seem like a relationship that I wanted to root for. Plus we only really get Lauren’s perspective which irked me. I wanted to see both sides of the story before attempting some type of resolution. The ending was basically a non-ending to me. Nothing was actually resolved and I was annoyed…

Next up on the TBR pile:

Mythos by Stephen Fry

Title: Mythos: The Greek Myths Reimagined

Author: Stephen Fry

Publisher: Chronicle Books 2019

Genre: Mythology

Pages: 352

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library

Mythos is a modern collection of Greek myths, stylishly retold by legendary writer, actor, and comedian Stephen Fry. Fry transforms the adventures of Zeus and the Olympians into emotionally resonant and deeply funny stories, without losing any of their original wonder. This stunning book features classical artwork inspired by the myths, as well as learned notes from the author.

I’m a sucker for retold Greek and Roman myths. There’s something very comfortable about revisiting stories that I first learned as a child. This collection is pretty extensive, covering so many stories and legends in a loose chronological order. I especially loved the stories about the Titans and before. Fry’s trademark snark comes through in random asides and sentences throughout. I really enjoyed this one!

Next up on the TBR pile:

Vox by Christina Dalcher

Title: Vox

Author: Christina Dalcher

Publisher: Berkley 2018

Genre: Science Fiction

Pages: 336

Rating: 2/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library; Monthly Theme

On the day the government decrees that women are no longer allowed more than one hundred words per day, Dr. Jean McClellan is in denial. This can't happen here. Not in America. Not to her.

Soon women are not permitted to hold jobs. Girls are not taught to read or write. Females no longer have a voice. Before, the average person spoke sixteen thousand words each day, but now women have only one hundred to make themselves heard.

For herself, her daughter, and every woman silenced, Jean will reclaim her voice.

This is just the beginning...not the end.

I was intrigued by the set-up and the comparisons to The Handmaid’s Tale. Unfortunately, what I read was a book trying way too hard to be relevant in our current political climate filled with unlikable characters and a ridiculous thriller style plot. Shoehorned in there is very surface level commentary about sexism, religion, politics, and science. And don’t get me started on Jean and Patrick’s relationship, their relationship to the children, and Jean and Lorenzo’s relationship. Just no. But what irked me the most was the timeline. This is all supposed to have happened in a few short years and then is undone in less than a year. Um no. I don’t buy it without some catastrophic event like a plague or war. Girly Book Club has once again disappointed me with their science fiction selection. We only get one a year and last year’s was terrible (American War) and this year’s choice is just as bad…

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Secret, Book and Scone Society by Ellery Adams

Title: The Secret, Book & Scone Society (Secret, Book & Scone Society #1)

Author: Ellery Adams

Publisher: Kensington Books 2017

Genre: Mystery

Pages: 285

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library; Monthly Theme

Strangers flock to Miracle Springs hoping the natural hot springs, five-star cuisine, and renowned spa can cure their ills. If none of that works, they often find their way to Miracle Books, where, over a fresh-baked “comfort” scone, they exchange their stories with owner Nora Pennington in return for a carefully chosen book. That’s Nora’s special talent—prescribing the perfect novel to ease a person’s deepest pain. So when a visiting businessman reaches out for guidance, Nora knows exactly how to help. But before he can keep their appointment, he’s found dead on the train tracks . . .
 
Stunned, Nora forms the Secret, Book, and Scone Society, a group of damaged souls yearning to earn redemption by helping others. To join, members must divulge their darkest secret—the terrible truth that brought each of them to Miracle Springs in the first place. Now, determined to uncover the truth behind the businessman’s demise, the women meet in Nora’s cozy bookstore. And as they untangle a web of corruption, they also discover their own courage, purpose, and a sisterhood that will carry them through every challenge—proving it’s never too late to turn the page and start over . . .

Meh. After finishing this book, that’s my reaction. Just meh. It was a decent attempt at a cozy mystery, but everything really fell flat for me. I disliked the writing style (it felt very immature at times). The tone was all over the place but definitely too serious in parts. I couldn’t really figure out the motivations of the main characters in solving the murder (why did they care so much?). I felt like the murder mystery was really an afterthought to the main plot of the book. Finally, the book references felt very shoe-horned into the pages. They just didn’t land with me. I don’t think I will be picking up the second in the series.

Secret, Book & Scone Society

• #1 The Secret, Book & Scone Society

• #2 The Whispered Word

• #3 The Book of Candlelight

Next up on the TBR pile:

Lumberjanes Vol. 9, 10, and 11

Title: Lumberjanes Vol. 9:

Author: Shannon Watters, Kate Levh, Noelle Stevenson, Grace Ellis, Brooke Allen, Maarta Laiho, Carey Pietsch

Publisher: BOOM! 2018

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 112

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: 

When the Yetis are kicked out of their treehouse, it’s up to the Roanokes to win their home back from the Sasquatches that took it over by beating them at roller derby.

You just gotta learn to roll with the punches! When the yetis are kicked out of their humble treehouse abode, it’s up to Jo, April, Mal, Molly and Ripley to get them back where they belong amongst the trees...and not leeching the camp’s power and making all the ice cream melt. To get the sasquatches to clear out, though, the Roanoke girls will have to challenge them to a roller derby match!

Another fun adventure with the campers of Roanoke cabin! I loved the little story at the beginning involving Diana and Barney. But the real action is definitely the roller derby fun.

Title: Lumberjanes Vol. 10: Parents’ Day

Author: Shannon Watters, Kate Levh, Noelle Stevenson, Grace Ellis, Brooke Allen, Maarta Laiho, Carey Pietsch

Publisher: BOOM! 2018

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 112

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: 

Yetis, greek gods and grootslangs are old news to the Roanoke cabin but now the Lumberjanes face their most harrowing experience yet: their parents! It’s PARENTS’ DAY at the camp, and with all the fun they’ve been having, the Lumberjanes realize that maybe their parents might not understand! Now the Lumberjanes must try to keep their parents away from the supernatural, even as a mysterious force tries to intervene!

Oooohhh this volume was lots of fun! I loved seeing all the parents and getting a new adversary for the Lumberjanes. Super excited to see what happens next!

Title: Lumberjanes Vol. 11:

Author: Shannon Watters, Kate Levh, Noelle Stevenson, Grace Ellis, Brooke Allen, Maarta Laiho, Carey Pietsch

Publisher: BOOM! 2019

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 112

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: 

Time is freezing at camp, and it’s up to Roanoke Cabin to stop the nefarious and mysterious forces behind it. 

When Molly makes a deal with a mysterious Voice in the woods surrounding Miss Qiunzella Thiskwin Penniquiqul Thistle Crumpet’s Camp for Hardcore Lady Types to slow down time, she isn’t hoping for an endless summer! All she wants is more time to spend with her friends at camp, hiking and doing crafts, and playing music and having fun. What she doesn’t bargain for is time starting to skip, and freeze, and make campers’ ages jump forward and back… It’s up to Roanoke Cabin to to set time right again, and save camp! 

Finally we get more information (well sorta) about the mysterious thing in the woods. I'm so excited to learn more about what it going on in the forest. And the sentries were an interesting touch.

Next up on the TBR pile:

An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon

Title: An Unkindness of Ghosts

Author: Rivers Solomon

Publisher: Akashic Books 2017

Genre: Science Fiction

Pages: 340

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library; Monthly Theme

Aster has little to offer folks in the way of rebuttal when they call her ogre and freak. She's used to the names; she only wishes there was more truth to them. If she were truly a monster, she'd be powerful enough to tear down the walls around her until nothing remains of her world.

Aster lives in the lowdeck slums of the HSS Matilda, a space vessel organized much like the antebellum South. For generations, Matilda has ferried the last of humanity to a mythical Promised Land. On its way, the ship's leaders have imposed harsh moral restrictions and deep indignities on dark-skinned sharecroppers like Aster. Embroiled in a grudge with a brutal overseer, Aster learns there may be a way to improve her lot--if she's willing to sow the seeds of civil war.

This book has been on my radar for awhile but I somehow never picked it up. I decided to add it to my short list for February and immediately started reading after finishing Kindred. The two books ended up being a great pairing. Both deal with racial issues by using science fiction to highlight the problems. I loved reading Kindred that mainly dealt in the past and how it relates to the modern, but this book took it further in dealing in the future to highlight the present. Plus we get commentary on power structures, gender divides, trans issues, class issues, and even education and knowledge. There are so many layers to this book! There are so many different topics being addressed that I don’t think I caught everything. I may have to reread this book in a few years. Beyond all the interesting topics, we get a great fast-paced plot centering on Aster’s uncovering the meaning behind her mother’s suicide and the overall mystery of the ship and where it’s headed. I was definitely along for the ride! I even loved the ending. I’m still thinking on many of the issues highlighted days later. So good!

Next up on the TBR pile: