Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Title: Six of Crows (Six of Crows #1)

Author: Leigh Bardugo

Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. 2015

Genre: YA Fantasy

Pages: 479

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: 

Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price—and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can't pull it off alone. . . .
A convict with a thirst for revenge.
A sharpshooter who can't walk away from a wager.
A runaway with a privileged past.
A spy known as the Wraith.
A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums.
A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes.
Six dangerous outcasts. One impossible heist. Kaz's crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction—if they don't kill each other first.

Much better than the Shadow and Bone trilogy. Immediately I fell for all the various misfit members of the crew. I think I really have a thing for misfit found families. Kaz is an enigma, Jesper is delightful, and Inej is tough but likeable. I wanted all of them to find their happy endings. And then we add in mortal enemies and a runaway to round out the crew. I loved seeing all six of them come together to tackle the impossible heist. The action keeps us moving along just waiting on baited breath to see what was going to happen next. I sped through this volume right until the big gasp at the end. I can’t wait to read the companion novel and then maybe I can watch the tv show.

Six of Crows:

• #1 Six of Crows

• #2 Crooked Kingdom

Next up on the TBR pile:

Prelude to Foundation by Isaac Asimov

Title: Prelude to Foundation

Author: Isaac Asimov

Publisher: 1988

Genre: Science Fiction

Pages: 405

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual - NPR Scifi

It is the year 12,020 G.E. and Emperor Cleon I sits uneasily on the Imperial throne of Trantor. Here in the great multidomed capital of the Galactic Empire, forty billion people have created a civilization of unimaginable technological and cultural complexity. Yet Cleon knows there are those who would see him fall—those whom he would destroy if only he could read the future.

Hari Seldon has come to Trantor to deliver his paper on psychohistory, his remarkable theory of prediction. Little does the young Outworld mathematician know that he has already sealed his fate and the fate of humanity. For Hari possesses the prophetic power that makes him the most wanted man in the Empire . . . the man who holds the key to the future—an apocalyptic power to be known forever after as the Foundation.

Oooh. This is a good one. Right away I was sucked into this story following Hari Seldon’s adventures around Trantor. The pace is propulsive. The characters are intriguing. The adventures are illuminating. And the twists caused me to gasp out loud. I rarely gasp out loud at twists, but I did with this book. We get so much information about the state of the Empire and specifically Trantor in this story. It’s a nice bridge from the Robots and Empire books and the Galactic Empire books to the Foundation series. I can’t wait see what happens next.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Laundry Love by Patric Richardson

Title: Laundry Love: Finding Joy in a Common Chore

Author: Patric Richardson

Publisher: Flatiron Books 2021

Genre: Nonfiction

Pages: 186

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Modern Mrs. Darcy; Seasonal TBR

Doing laundry is rarely anyone’s favorite task. But to Patric Richardson, laundry isn't just fun―it's a way of life. After years of running Laundry Camp at the Mall of America for thousands of eager learners, he's ready to share his tips, tricks, and hacks―bringing surprise and delight to this commonly dreaded chore.

Sorting your laundry? It's not all about whites and darks. Pondering the wash cycles? Every load, even your delicates, should be washed using express or quick-wash on warm. Facing expensive dry cleaning bills? You'll learn how to wash everything―yes everything―at home. And those basically clean but smelly clothes? Richardson has a secret for freshening those too (hint: it involves vodka, not soap).

Changing your relationship with laundry can also change your life. Richardson’s handy advice shows us how to save time and money (and the planet!) with our laundry―and he intersperses it all with a healthy dose of humor, real-life laundry stories, and lessons from his Appalachian upbringing and career in fashion.

You would think that a book about laundry would be boring and very dry. But this book is not either! Right away Richardson invites into the fascinating world of laundering. We get practical tips and fun stories. I have been doing laundry for decades at this point and apparently I was doing many things wrong. To be fair to myself, I was taught (like most people) wrong. The volume is slim, but packed with helpful tips and explanations. I actually really enjoyed reading this one.

Next up on the TBR pile:

World Travel by Anthony Bourdain and Laurie Woolever

Title: World Travel: An Irreverent Guide

Author: Anthony Bourdain and Laurie Woolever

Publisher: Ecco 2021

Genre: Travel Memoir

Pages: 480

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Modern Mrs. Darcy; Summer TBR

Anthony Bourdain saw more of the world than nearly anyone. His travels took him from the hidden pockets of his hometown of New York to a tribal longhouse in Borneo, from cosmopolitan Buenos Aires, Paris, and Shanghai to Tanzania’s utter beauty and the stunning desert solitude of Oman’s Empty Quarter—and many places beyond.

In World Travel, a life of experience is collected into an entertaining, practical, fun and frank travel guide that gives readers an introduction to some of his favorite places—in his own words. Featuring essential advice on how to get there, what to eat, where to stay and, in some cases, what to avoid, World Travel provides essential context that will help readers further appreciate the reasons why Bourdain found a place enchanting and memorable.

Supplementing Bourdain’s words are a handful of essays by friends, colleagues, and family that tell even deeper stories about a place, including sardonic accounts of traveling with Bourdain by his brother, Christopher; a guide to Chicago’s best cheap eats by legendary music producer Steve Albini, and more. Additionally, each chapter includes illustrations by Wesley Allsbrook.

For veteran travelers, armchair enthusiasts, and those in between, World Travel offers a chance to experience the world like Anthony Bourdain.

I picked this up because Anne Bogel chose it for the Summer Reading Guide. I was intrigued by the prospect of reading the last work from Anthony Bourdain. Unfortunately the idea of this book far outweighed the actual execution of this book. The book is part travel guide and part rumination on the soul of countries. I enjoyed the ruminations. I enjoyed the essays written by those who new Bourdain. I just didn’t enjoy the parts that were more akin to a travel guide. Overall, the book really just made me want to watch No Reservations or Parts Unknown again.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert

Title: Act Your Age, Eve Brown (Brown Sisters #3)

Author: Talia Hibbert

Publisher: Avon 2021

Genre: Romance

Pages: 393

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: 

Eve Brown is a certified hot mess. No matter how hard she strives to do right, her life always goes horribly wrong. So she’s given up trying. But when her personal brand of chaos ruins an expensive wedding (someone had to liberate those poor doves), her parents draw the line. It's time for Eve to grow up and prove herself—even though she's not entirely sure how…

Jacob Wayne is in control. Always. The bed and breakfast owner’s on a mission to dominate the hospitality industry and he expects nothing less than perfection. So when a purple-haired tornado of a woman turns up out of the blue to interview for his open chef position, he tells her the brutal truth: not a chance in hell. Then she hits him with her car—supposedly by accident. Yeah, right.

Now his arm is broken, his B&B is understaffed, and the dangerously unpredictable Eve is fluttering around, trying to help. Before long, she’s infiltrated his work, his kitchen—and his spare bedroom. Jacob hates everything about it. Or rather, he should. Sunny, chaotic Eve is his natural-born nemesis, but the longer these two enemies spend in close quarters, the more their animosity turns into something else. Like Eve, the heat between them is impossible to ignore... and it’s melting Jacob’s frosty exterior.

Ohhh I loved this book so much. It’s become my favorite the Brown Sisters books. I immediately loved Eve and wanted to see her succeed at life. And then she gets herself in a bit of a pickle and loved watching her blossom. I actually really liked that the book was focused on Eve and not her sisters as much. They make a few appearances, but we get a very focused story. On the other side, Jacob is a great leading man. I loved getting to know him through conversations with Mont and Eve. I loved seeing how he viewed the world and the struggles that he endured. Hibbert has definitely increased the steam and I am here for every scene. I will be keeping Hibbert on my watch list for new books.

Brown Sisters

• #1 Get a Life, Chloe Brown

• #2 Take a Hint, Dani Brown

• #3 Act Your Age, Eve Brown

Next up on the TBR pile:

Lumberjanes Vol. 18

Title: Lumberjanes Vol. 18:

Author: Shannon Watters; Kat Leyh

Publisher: BOOM! 2021

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 112

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: 

THEY’RE NOT OUT OF THE WOODS QUITE YET! When April, Jo, Mal, Molly, and Ripley get in trouble with Rosie, the mysterious director of Miss Qiunzella Thiskwin Penniquiqul Thistle Crumpet's Camp for Hardcore Lady-Types, they figure the punishment is gonna be a walk in the park… er, woods. That’s before a super gross, and seemingly-sentient creeping vine starts popping up everywhere and scooping ‘Janes up! And then there’s Rosie’s best friend from long ago: the elegant and enigmatic Abigail, who’s appeared out of the woodwork to join forces with the Lumberjanes once more!

I love these storyline where we get to learn more about the camp’s past. Every once in a while, there’s a small snippet of information or we even get to meet someone from the past. In this volume, we get to revisit Abigail (yeah, loved her character previously) and learn about the founding of the Lumberjanes. I’m sad that the series is coming to an end, but the ladies have been at camp for a very long time now… We’ll see how they wrap up their summer. Maybe we will get more information about the past and why the forest is just so strange.

Pebble in the Sky by Isaac Asimov

Title: Pebble in the Sky (Galactic Empire #3)

Author: Isaac Asimov

Publisher:

Genre: Science Fiction

Pages: 246

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual - NPR Scifi

After years of bitter struggle, Trantor had at last completed its work—its Galactic Empire ruled all 200 million planets of the Galaxy . . . all but one. On a backward planet called Earth were those who nurtured bitter dreams of a mythical, half-remembered past when the planet was humanity’s only home. The other worlds despised it or merely patronized it—until a man from the past miraculously stepped through a time fault that spanned a millennium, living proof of Earth’s most preposterous claims.

Joseph Schwartz was a happily retired Chicago tailor circa 1949. Trapped in an incredible future he could barely comprehend, the unlikely time traveler would soon become a pawn in a desperate conspiracy to bring down the Empire in a twist of agony and death—a mad plan to restore Earth’s tarnished glory by ending human life on every other world.

Wow! This was such a great adventure style story. We get to see what became of Earth years after Elijah Bailey and Daneel. I needed that interlude to understand what has happened to the Galaxy. We get the very classic scifi trope of a man being transported into the future. Schwartz is a typical 1950s character and is definitely out of place in the future, but not that much out of place. Really the star of the show is Dr. Arvardan and his conspiracy theories about Earth being the birthplace of humanity. I loved how the story unfurled. We get planet, nay Galaxy wide, threats and more insight into the political relationships within the Empire. I have my momentum back and am ready to dive into the next trilogy.

Galactic Empire:

• #1 The Stars, Like Dust

• #2 The Currents of Space

• #3 Pebble in the Sky

Next up on the TBR pile:

Lumberjanes Vol. 17

Title: Lumberjanes Vol. 17: Smitten in the Stars

Author: Shannon Watters; Kat Leyh

Publisher: BOOM! 2021

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 112

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: 

STOLEN KITTIES, SECRET CRUSHES & A NIGHT TO REMEMBER! Jen and Rosie plan to take the Lumberjane scouts to see an amazing astronomical event. But their night of star-gazing is thrown off course when half of the Roanoke and Zodiac cabins sneak away into the night in search of aliens, leaving everyone else to deal with a gatecrashing goddess who throws the entire camp into a tizzy. Not to mention there’s a nefarious kitten-napping and a super-secret crush to contend with!

Oh yay! We get another story featuring Diane and the various gods and goddesses that seem to pop into camp now and again. I loved the reveal our the new visitor and her “mission” on Earth. Plus we get a big mystical fight with Diane, appearances from the other members of Zodiac cabin, and Marigold (my favorite kitty!). Such a fun volume.

Lumberjanes Vol. 16

Title: Lumberjanes Vol. 16: Mind Over Mettle

Author: Shannon Watters; Kat Leyh

Publisher: BOOM! 2020

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 112

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: 

DINOSAURS, DANGER & DIMENSION-HOPPING AND ...OH MY!

Mal wants to learn to be braver, but when she recruits Ripley to help her face her fears, she ends up somewhere she really should be afraid of--the Land of Lost Things, a pocket universe where dinosaurs still roam the earth, and time doesn’t work the way it should. Stranded on her own in an alternate dimension, will Mal be able to find her way back home to camp? And back on the other side of the portal, will Molly, April, Jo, and Ripley be able to find Mal again and save her? Or are they about to get stuck, too?

Yes! This is the kind of volume that I’m always up for. We get a fun and dangerous adventure in the Land of Lost Things. I love that we get to revisit some great settings and see how things have changed. Plus we get some great character development for Mal. I can’t wait to see what happens next!

Cursed Objects by J.W. Ocker

Title: Cursed Objects: Strange But True Stories of the World’s Most Infamous Items

Author: J.W. Ocker

Publisher: Quirk Books 2020

Genre: Nonfiction

Pages: 272

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: 

They’re lurking in museums, graveyards, and private homes. Their often tragic and always bizarre stories have inspired countless horror movies, reality TV shows, novels, and campfire tales. They’re cursed objects, and all they need to unleash a wave of misfortune is . . . you.

Many of these unfortunate items have intersected with some of the most notable events and people in history, leaving death and destruction in their wake. But never before have the true stories of these eerie oddities been compiled into a fascinating and chilling volume.

I needed something a little light-hearted to read while tackling Asimov and Four Hundred Souls. This pick off the library new book shelf was just the thing that I needed to sprinkle in. Many of these stories were ones that I already knew, but they were still very entertaining. The chapters were quick and to the point. We get the myths and urban legends and enough actual history to satisfy my skeptic heart. I love a good collection of these “scary” stories.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Ice Planet Barbarians by Ruby Dixon

Title: Ice Planet Barbarians (Ice Planet Barbarians #1)

Author: Ruby Dixon

Publisher: Ruby Dixon 2015

Genre: Explicit Scifi Romance

Pages: 188

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: 

You'd think being abducted by aliens would be the worst thing that could happen to me. And you'd be wrong. Because now, the aliens are having ship trouble, and they've left their cargo of human women - including me - on an ice planet.

And the only native inhabitant I've met? He's big, horned, blue, and really, really has a thing for me...

CW: Rape

The hype around this series really blew up in the last few months. One of the book bloggers I follow has read this entire series and loved every minute. And then I saw it mentioned in news articles and other blogs. A friend sent me the links as a bit of a joke and I took up the challenge fo reading the first book. I sped through it (it’s not that long), and really did enjoy it. This definitely a NSFW book. The sex is explicit and often. The book opens with a pretty explicit rape scene. But once you get past the first section, the tone lightens up a bit and we get moving with the main romance. Georgie and Vektal are fun characters and a lot of action and movement is packed into their short story. This was a nice break from my more serious hard science fiction. I might actually keep reading this series.

Ice Planet Barbarians

• #1 Ice Planet Barbarians (Georgie/Vektal)

• #2 Barbarian Alien (Liz/Raahosh)

• #3 Barbarian Lover (Kira/Aehako)

• #4 Barbarian Mine (Harlow/Rukh)

• #4.5 Ice Planet Holiday (novella)

• #5 Barbarian's Prize (Tiffany/Salukh)

• #6 Barbarian's Mate (Josie/Haeden)

• #6.5 Having the Barbarian's Baby (short story)

• #6.75 Ice Ice Babies (short story)

• #7 Barbarian's Touch (Lila/Rokan)

• #7.5 Calm(short story)

• #8 Barbarian's Taming (Maddie/Hassen)

• #8.5 Aftershocks (short story)

• #9 Barbarian's Heart (Stacy/Pashov)

• #10 Barbarian's Hope (Asha/Hemalo)

• #11 Barbarian's Choice (Farli/Mardok)

• #12 Barbarian's Redemption (Elly/Bek)

• #13 Barbarian's Lady (Kate/Harrec)

• #14 Barbarian's Rescue (Summer/Warrek)

• #15 Barbarian's Tease (Brooke/Taushen)

• #15.5 The Barbarian Before Christmas (novella)

• #16 Barbarian's Beloved (Ariana/Zolaya)

• #16.5 Barbarian's Valentine (novella)

• #17 Barbarian's Seduction (Marlene/Zennek)

Next up on the TBR pile:

Surviving Savannah by Patti Callahan

Title: Surviving Savannah

Author: Patti Callahan

Publisher: Berkley 2021

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 431

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: 

When Savannah history professor Everly Winthrop is asked to guest-curate a new museum collection focusing on artifacts recovered from the steamship Pulaski, she's shocked. The ship sank after a boiler explosion in 1838, and the wreckage was just discovered, 180 years later. Everly can't resist the opportunity to try to solve some of the mysteries and myths surrounding the devastating night of its sinking.

Everly's research leads her to the astounding history of a family of eleven who boarded the Pulaski together, and the extraordinary stories of two women from this family: a known survivor, Augusta Longstreet, and her niece, Lilly Forsyth, who was never found, along with her child. These aristocratic women were part of Savannah's society, but when the ship exploded, each was faced with difficult and heartbreaking decisions. This is a moving and powerful exploration of what women will do to endure in the face of tragedy, the role fate plays, and the myriad ways we survive the surviving.

I have a history of not liking historical fiction that employs a historical and a modern timeline. I usually find the modern timeline lacking greatly. In this volume, the modern storyline is not perfect, but I mostly enjoyed Everly’s story of finding herself after grief. I was drawn to the book because it is based on a real life maritime disaster and I definitely have a thing for maritime disasters. We drive right into the story of the travelers aboard the doomed Pulaski. And right away, I was loving the character of Augusta. Thankfully we get to see more of her throughout the story. Turning to the modern storyline, I did love the mystery of finding the wreckage and piecing together the story of some of the people. The drama kept me engaged with the storyline and characters until the end. There are a few parts that dragged a bit (obsessing about the Noble Boy/Red Devil for example) but it’s still a solid historical fiction. Don’t skip the notes at the end that dive into the actual history of the Pulaski.

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Currents of Space by Isaac Asimov

Title: The Currents of Space (Galactic Empire #2)

Author: Isaac Asimov

Publisher:

Genre: Science Fiction

Pages: 242

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual

Trantor had extended its rule over half the Galaxy, but the other half defied its authority, defending their corrupt fiefdoms with violence and repression. On the planet Florina, the natives labored as slaves for their arrogant masters on nearby Sark. But now both worlds were hurtling toward a cataclysmic doom, and only one man knew the truth--a slave unaware of the secret knowledge locked inside his own brain.

Rik had once been a prominent scientist until a psychic probe erased all memories of his past. Now he was a humble laborer in the kyrt mills of Florina. Then the memories began to return, bringing with them the terrible truth about the future--a truth that his masters on Sark would kill to keep secret . . . even at the cost of their own survival.

I was concerned after the last book (seriously the point in the giant series so far). I had hoped we would get something with more likable characters and a better pacing. Thankfully, this book delivers. The plot is fast-paced involving a mysterious person and a bunch of politicians and ambassadors. Sounds dull, but in reality it’s like one big action movie. We have to figure out the mystery of who Rik really is and what is means to the ruling parties of Sark/Florina and Trantor. We get some information about the galaxy at large and the specifically the growth of the Trantorian Empire. I loved playing along trying to figure out who all the different parties really worked for or at least what their motivations were. I was in this story right until the very end. Now I have the motivation to dive into the next book and continue to see how Trantor creates a Galactic Empire.

Galactic Empire:

• #1 The Stars, Like Dust

• #2 The Currents of Space

• #3 Pebble in the Sky

Next up on the TBR pile:

Lumberjanes Vol. 15

Title: Lumberjanes Vol. 15: Birthday Smarty

Author: Shannon Watters; Kat Leyh

Publisher: BOOM! 2020

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 112

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: 

BIRTHDAYS TO THE MAX!

Jo’s birthday is coming up, and April is determined to pull out all the stops for her best friend! But when her elaborate plans for a huge, over-the-top celebration fall through, April recruits the yetis and some fellow ‘Janes to put on a play for Jo, instead.

Meanwhile, Mal has been tasked with keeping Jo busy to protect the surprise, but she might’ve done TOO good a job. Will the birthday girl make it back in time for her own party? And does she even want to?

Cute story focused on Jo and April. I was very excited to to see the story focus on some of the other Lumberjanes. We get appearances by some many fun previous characters I can see that the series is starting to build to an ending and I’m not ready for it to be over. But it’s been a super fun ride so far.

Lumberjanes Vol. 14

Title: Lumberjanes Vol. 14: X Marks the Spot

Author: Kat Leyh

Publisher: BOOM! 2020

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 112

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: 

X MARKS THE SPOT...FOR TROUBLE!

Ripley found a treasure map! The Roanoke scouts are eager to hunt down what they hope might be some kind of mystical hoard of gems and jewels, rad dinosaur bones, or maybe even more treasure maps (that you have to piece together to find an EVEN BIGGER prize, obviously)! What they end up finding is scattered pieces of an ancient Greek statue of a woman, who, when assembled, comes back to life as a vindictive ex-goddess!n. And she's looking to satisfy her hunger after thousands of years frozen in stone by draining any nearby magical resource...starting with the ‘Janes!

So much fun! We get an adventure involving a treasure map and a mysterious statue. I loved the callbacks to the Diane and Apollo storyline as well as the time Ripley was a god and created so many cats! Seriously, Marigold is the best kitty. I love picking up a Lumebrjanes volume for some strange fun involving a great group of friends.

Marriage of Inconvenience by Penny Reid

Title: Marriage of Inconvenience (Knitting in the City #7)

Author: Penny Reid

Publisher: Cipher-Naught 2018

Genre: Romance

Pages: 498

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges:

There are three things you need to know about Kat Tanner (aka Kathleen Tyson. . . and yes, she is *that* Kathleen Tyson):
1) She’s determined to make good decisions,
2) She must get married ASAP, and
3) She knows how to knit.

Being a billionaire heiress isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Determined to live a quiet life, Kat Tanner changed her identity years ago and eschewed her family’s legacy. But now, Kat’s silver spoon past has finally caught up with her, and so have her youthful mistakes. To avoid imminent disaster, she must marry immediately; it is essential that the person she chooses have no romantic feelings for her whatsoever and be completely trustworthy. Fortunately, she knows exactly who to ask. Dan O’Malley checks all the boxes: single, romantically indifferent to her, completely trustworthy. Sure, she might have a wee little crush on Dan the Security Man, but with clear rules, expectations, and a legally binding contract, Kat is certain she can make it through this debacle with her sanity—and heart—all in one piece. Except, what happens when Dan O’Malley isn’t as indifferent—or as trustworthy—as she thought?

I absolutely love Dan! He is hands-down the absolute best character in this entire series. I have been waiting many many books to see more of Dan and get his love story. Finally we get there. Overall, I absolute loved his story. But I really don’t love Kat as a separate character. Some of her choices really made me angry. Thankfully. Dan really saved this story for me. Plus it was a nice wrap-up to the entire series. Now I have to contemplate reading Reid’s other series…

Knitting in the City

• #1 Neanderthal Seeks Human

• #1.5 Neanderthal Marries Human

• #2 Friends Without Benefits

• #3 Love Hacked

• #4 Beauty and the Mustache

• #4.75 Ninja at First Sight

• #5 Happily Ever Ninja

• #6 Dating-ish

• #7 Marriage of Inconvenience

Next up on the TBR pile:

Dating-ish by Penny Reid

Title: Dating-ish (Knitting in the City #6)

Author: Penny Reid

Publisher: Cipher-Naught 2017

Genre: Romance

Pages: 356

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges:

There are three things you need to know about Marie Harris:
1) She’s fed up with online dating,
2) She’s so fed up, she’s willing to forego the annoyance and consider more creative alternatives, and
3) She knows how to knit.

After the most bizarre first date in the history of dating, Marie is looking for an alternative to men. With the help of her friends, she quickly identifies a few possibilities: Need a cuddle? Use a professional cuddler. Need affirmation? Get yourself a life coach. Need an orgasm? Try orgasm meditation! Why does she need the hassle of a romantic partner when she can meet all her needs with paid services? But then her irritating date resurfaces. And he’s not at all the person she thought he was. And he suggests a different—and crazier—solution to her dilemma...

Not my absolute favorite, but I really did enjoy Marie and Matt’s love story. I really loved the sorta “meet-cute” they experience and ensuing reveal. Seriously made me laugh out loud. Once the story really gets going, I was a bit impatient for them to actually get together. Thankfully we get a good story and actually see two characters connect and explore their relationship. And then we get to the sexy times and they were surprisingly dirty. These sexy scenes were much better written than previous ones in the series. Lots of fun! And I loved the little glimpses into the other Knitting Circle’s members.

Knitting in the City

• #1 Neanderthal Seeks Human

• #1.5 Neanderthal Marries Human

• #2 Friends Without Benefits

• #3 Love Hacked

• #4 Beauty and the Mustache

• #4.75 Ninja at First Sight

• #5 Happily Ever Ninja

• #6 Dating-ish

• #7 Marriage of Inconvenience

• #8 Neanderthal Seeks Extra Yarns

Next up on the TBR pile:

Wintering by Katherine May

Title: Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times

Author: Katherine May

Publisher: Riverhead Books 2020

Genre: Nonfiction

Pages: 255

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Seasonal TBR

Sometimes you slip through the cracks: unforeseen circumstances like an abrupt illness, the death of a loved one, a break up, or a job loss can derail a life. These periods of dislocation can be lonely and unexpected. For May, her husband fell ill, her son stopped attending school, and her own medical issues led her to leave a demanding job. Wintering explores how she not only endured this painful time, but embraced the singular opportunities it offered.

A moving personal narrative shot through with lessons from literature, mythology, and the natural world, May's story offers instruction on the transformative power of rest and retreat. Illumination emerges from many sources: solstice celebrations and dormice hibernation, C.S. Lewis and Sylvia Plath, swimming in icy waters and sailing arctic seas.

Ultimately Wintering invites us to change how we relate to our own fallow times. May models an active acceptance of sadness and finds nourishment in deep retreat, joy in the hushed beauty of winter, and encouragement in understanding life as cyclical, not linear. A secular mystic, May forms a guiding philosophy for transforming the hardships that arise before the ushering in of a new season.

I am a bit speechless about this book. I expected to zip through it and write it off as another memoir/self-help style book that I did not enjoy. Instead, I read the introduction and was absolutely floored by how much I was connecting with the author’s philosophy of life. But I also didn’t want to speed through it. I ended a chapter every few days to allow myself to really sit with the messages. At about the fourth chapter or so, I declared that I needed to own this book. As a 39 year old woman, I feel like I’m hitting of lot of the rough patches in life that May dealt with. I can definitely place myself in her shoes and contemplate how to move forward. I’m definitely experiencing a wintering season in my own life. The book may have been written pre-pandemic, but it’s exactly right for right now. The copy I read is from the library’s and will be returned this week. But I will be ordering my own copy and soon. I want to read the sections along with the calendar. As the book really starts in September, I have a few weeks to acquire my own copy. This is a contender for my Top 10 books of the year.

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Kingdoms Natasha Pulley

Title: The Kingdoms

Author: Natasha Pulley

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing 2021

Genre: Science Fiction

Pages: 437

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Modern Mrs. Day Summer Reading; Seasonal TBR

Joe Tournier has a bad case of amnesia. His first memory is of stepping off a train in the nineteenth-century French colony of England. The only clue Joe has about his identity is a century-old postcard of a Scottish lighthouse that arrives in London the same month he does. Written in illegal English-instead of French-the postcard is signed only with the letter “M,” but Joe is certain whoever wrote it knows him far better than he currently knows himself, and he's determined to find the writer. The search for M, though, will drive Joe from French-ruled London to rebel-owned Scotland and finally onto the battle ships of a lost empire's Royal Navy. In the process, Joe will remake history, and himself.

This is one of those books that I really loved, but I won’t be recommending to most people I know. This story meanders through the plot both past and present and keeps you slightly confused and in the dark about the characters. I really enjoyed the world setup and see the alternate history play out. I really enjoyed the time at the lighthouse and the interactions between characters there. Once Joe passes through the pillars, the action speeds up a bit and we finally start learning what’s going on. Early on I totally called Joe’s identity in the other timeline, but it was nice to question my own suspicions right along with Joe. I didn’t power through this book, but took it slowly and let myself really sit with the prose. I put it in the same category of books as Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell or The Night Circus. Books full of mystery, atmosphere, and slow moving plots are apparently my jam.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Folklords by Matt Kindt and Matt Smith

Title: Folklords

Author: Matt Kindt, Matt Smith

Publisher: BOOM! Studios 2020

Genre: Comics

Pages: 144

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: 

In a world of magic and monsters, Ansel is an outsider haunted by visions of our world - and will risk everything to find the mysterious Folklords who can reveal the truth about his existence!

WHERE DO YOU BELONG?

In a world of magic and monsters, Ansel is an outsider haunted by visions of well-pressed suits and modern technology. When it comes time for him to declare his Quest, Ansel decides to seek out the mysterious Folklords, hoping they can explain his visions...but looking for the Folklords is strictly forbidden, punishable by death. How much is Ansel willing to risk to find out about the world he has never truly belonged in?

This very short trade started out strongly, but ended very abruptly and confusingly, but yet very predictable also. I love fairy tale riffs in literature and so I had pick this one up. I loved Ansel’s entire “fish out of water” character and wanted to see how he would find his place. The first issues have him begin his quest and acquire companions. Pretty standard. But there are cryptic messages and the beginning and ending of each issue and I wasn’t really loving those. And then Ansel finds the Folklord and everyone is very confused. He escapes and then…. what exactly? I was very annoyed at the ending. it doesn’t look like there is another set of comics ordered, so that’s it I guess.

Next up on the TBR pile: