Tuesday, April 1, 2025

Can't Wait Wednesday: The Curious Inheritance of Blakely House by Joanna Davidson Politano

Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings that spotlights and discusses the books we're excited about that we've yet to read. Generally, they're books that are yet to be released. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week I'm featuring The Curious Inheritance of Blakely House by Joanna Davidson Politano releasing April 15.

About the Book
It is 1901 when clockmaker and brilliant tinker Sydney Forrester inherits Blakely House, the eclectic estate of an estranged uncle she's never met. The well-known but mysterious industrialist has left behind a stunning array of peculiar inventions--and a couple of nephews intent on removing this interloper from the estate. Convinced that Sydney has something to do with their uncle's death, the late master's nephews contest the will and work against their cousin at every turn.

Sydney finds a sometimes-ally in the estate's butler, an ex-adventurer who ran aground on the island years ago. But when a mysterious man washes ashore with a stunning surprise that upsets everything, Sydney must prove she has inherited the late master's brilliance as well as his property--or someone else will.

What upcoming release are you eagerly awaiting?

Review: Rune by Victoria McCombs

About the Book
PERHAPS WE ARE SAVAGES AFTER ALL

Rune wants only one thing from the gods: the heart of a boy who already claims to love her. She wants it enough that she's willing to make a deal with a god to keep it.

The deal is simple: the heart of the boy, and in return, Rune will make this god revered among the clan.

Then, out of nowhere, the boy proposes to Rune's sister instead.

In her anger, she renounces the gods. But the gods have plans of their own. They snatch Rune from earth and throw her in Asgard, claiming her as their lost goddess and drowning her in a world of dangerous power. It's clear a god is pulling the strings here, but Rune can't guess who, or what her role is in their games. Desperate, she strikes a second deal with a god-one who might be as broken and twisted as she, and quite possibly more capable of breaking her heart than anyone. As her Viking past finds a way into Asgard, it's clear that someone's heart will be slaughtered. She can only hope to be long gone before it all crashes down.

A standalone fantasy for lovers of the fake engagement trope, shields and axes, or poison in teacups.


MY THOUGHTS

I haven't read many Viking books, nor ones about Norse mythology, so this book was very interesting! I think because I wasn't super familiar with the lore, it took me just a little bit to get into, but once I got my bearings, I was fully invested and flying through the pages. I ended up loving it. It's one of my favorites that I've read this year. The worldbuilding was fantastic. Vivid and Immersive. And the characters were great. Fully fleshed out and dynamic.

Rune was a very sympathetic character. At the beginning of the story, it seemed like nothing was going her way. She couldn't seem to catch a break. But I loved how determined she was. She was fierce and spirited and never backed down. It was great to watch her come into her own and discover her true self.

This was exciting and action-packed. The pace steadily climbed until it reached its peak at the thrilling conclusion. This book is going on my favorites shelf. I loved it so much and highly, highly recommend it!

I received a copy of this book and voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and comments are my honest opinion.

FIVE STARS

Thursday, March 27, 2025

Book Beginnings, First Line Friday, & Friday 56: Rune by Victoria McCombs

Book Beginnings is a weekly meme hosted by Rose City Reader that asks you to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you're reading. I'm also linking up with Carrie at Reading is My Superpower for First Line Friday. Friday 56 asks you to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your ereader and share a non-spoilery sentence or two. It was started by Freda at Freda's Voice, but Anne over at My Head is Full of Books has taken over for the time being.

This week I'm featuring Rune by Victoria McCombs. I'm really enjoying it so far. I haven't read many Viking nor Norse mythology books, so this has been really interesting. 

About the Book
PERHAPS WE ARE SAVAGES AFTER ALL

Rune wants only one thing from the gods: the heart of a boy who already claims to love her. She wants it enough that she's willing to make a deal with a god to keep it.

The deal is simple: the heart of the boy, and in return, Rune will make this god revered among the clan.

Then, out of nowhere, the boy proposes to Rune's sister instead.

In her anger, she renounces the gods. But the gods have plans of their own. They snatch Rune from earth and throw her in Asgard, claiming her as their lost goddess and drowning her in a world of dangerous power. It's clear a god is pulling the strings here, but Rune can't guess who, or what her role is in their games. Desperate, she strikes a second deal with a god-one who might be as broken and twisted as she, and quite possibly more capable of breaking her heart than anyone. As her Viking past finds a way into Asgard, it's clear that someone's heart will be slaughtered. She can only hope to be long gone before it all crashes down.

A standalone fantasy for lovers of the fake engagement trope, shields and axes, or poison in teacups.

Book Beginnings / First Line Friday
My parents had five strong, healthy, beautiful daughters, each worthy of the gods' attention and each fit to make the clan proud.
They also had me.

Friday 56
Odin waited for me when I pushed through the doors. He extended an arm. "Walk with me." He said it kindly like I had a choice. When Odin asks you to walk with him, you don't say no. 

What have you been reading lately?

Review: Elphie: A Wicked Childhood by Gregory Maguire

About the Book
What happened to young Elphaba before her witchy powers took hold in Wicked? Almost 30 years after the publication of the original novel, for the first time Gregory Maguire reveals the story of prickly young Elphie, the future Wicked Witch of the West—setting the stage for the blockbuster international phenomenon that is Wicked: The Musical.

Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, will grow to have a feisty and somewhat uncompromising character in adult life. But she is always a one-off, from her infancy; Elphie is the riveting coming-of-age story of a very peculiar and relatable young girl.

Young Elphie is shaped and molded by the behaviors of her promiscuous mother, Melena, and her pious father, Frex. She suffers ordinary childhood jealousies when her sister, saintly Nessarose, and brother, junior felon Shell, arrive. She first encounters the mistreatment of the Animal populations of Oz, which live adjacent to but not intertwined with human settlements, haunted by a Monkey and receiving aid from Dwarf Bears. She thrashes through her first bruising attempts at friendship, a possible lifeline from her tricky family life. And she gleans the benefits of an education, haphazard though it must be—until she arrives at the doors of Shiz University, about to meet the radiant creature that is Galinda.

Elphie is destined to be a witch; she bears the markings from childhood—most evidently in her green skin but more obscurely and profoundly in her cunning and perhaps amoral behaviors, as she seeks to make do, to slip by, to sneak out, to endure, and to aspire.


MY THOUGHTS

This was a bit of a mixed bag for me. I really wanted to like this story, and while it had a promising start, it just didn't live up to expectations.

It's split up into four parts, with each part focusing on a different part of Elphie’s childhood. It felt more like a collection of random short stories featuring Elphie rather than a flowing, fleshed-out, and in-depth look into her childhood, which is what I was expecting.

The writing style took some getting used to. It was overly wordy in places, which kinda took me out of the story at times. I don't remember struggling as much with Wicked or the other books in the series. Maybe I did and I'm just not remembering, but I definitely struggled with it here.

Despite my issues with this book, there was never a moment where I thought about not finishing it. In fact, I kept thinking about it when I’d have to set it aside to do other things. And I was always eager to get back to it. I enjoyed visiting this world and these characters again. I also really liked seeing the sisterly bond between Elphie and Nessa. It was complicated, but you could tell that they really did care for each other.

As you can tell, I have mixed emotions about the book. It wasn’t bad. I think my expectations were just a little off. I'd recommend it to people who have already read Wicked. I don't think this would be a good starting place for someone new to it.

I received a copy of this book via NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and comments are my honest opinion.

THREE STARS

Tuesday, March 25, 2025

Can't Wait Wednesday: Illuminary (The Sceptre & the Stylus #1) by Chawna Schroeder

Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings that spotlights and discusses the books we're excited about that we've yet to read. Generally, they're books that are yet to be released. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week I'm featuring Illuminary (The Sceptre & the Stylus #1) by Chawna Schroeder releasing April 8.

About the Book
Glimpse the past, illuminate the future.

Yosarai Patican dreams of becoming an illuminator in a country that values art above all else. A lofty goal that finally seems within reach when she earns a position at the prestigious Academy of the Seven Arts. Although Yosarai loathes to leave behind her quiet country life, she travels to the capital, determined to live up to her mother’s fame as one of Indel’s greatest artists.

Prince Xander never planned to become king. Indeed, he never wanted to become king. But when his father dies suddenly, he is thrust into the middle of coronation preparations—and assassination attempts. With everyone around him in increasing danger, Xander decides to hide in neighboring Indel until the time for him to be crowned king arrives.

Posing as an inventor struggling with aesthetics, Xander enlists Yosarai’s aid as part of his cover, but soon he suspects she knows more than she should. But when danger threatens and secrets are exposed, entering a competition reputed as cutthroat may be the only way for them to protect everything they hold dear.

What upcoming release are you eagerly awaiting?

Review: One Sharp Stitch (A Nimble Needle Mystery #1) by Allie Pleiter

About the Book
When thirty-something Shelby Phillips returns to her quiet hometown just outside of Asheville, North Carolina, she reluctantly takes over her mother’s Nimble Needle needlepoint shop—and gets entangled in a murder investigation . . .

It’s only temporary. That’s what Shelby Phillips tells herself when she returns to excruciatingly harmless Gwen Lake after her graphic arts career—and the office romance blooming with it—get tossed like rejected design mockups. Her plan is as simple and fool-proof as a tent stitch: manage the family needlepoint shop duringher parents’ RV vacation. It’s just a month. It’s not as if they’re retiring . . . right?

When Shelby becomes responsible for hosting a trunk show with local vendors, she’s determined to pull it off. Even if that means dealing with former classmate Kat Katsaros, a rising entrepreneur specializing in needlework scissors. Kat has changed since high school—and she’s angling to take over the Nimble Needle herself. The tension unspools when Shelby makes a terrible discovery on the morning of the event: Kat’s dead body.

Shelby can’t believe the death was an accident. That’s why she’s set on exposing who committed the murder with Kat’s own equipment. She finds help in a new friend, a potential crush, and the surprising support of her sister and the Nimble Needle stitchers. Still, Shelby must move quickly to stop the crafty culprit before her maybe not-so-temporary new life in Gwen Lake comes apart at the seams . . .


MY THOUGHTS

What a great start to this new cozy mystery series! I loved it! I quickly became invested in the story and was flying through the pages. I couldn't read it fast enough.

I loved the charming town of Gwen Lake. The Nimble Needle was such a cozy and inviting shop. I’ve never done needlepoint, but now I’m very intrigued by it. I thought CHNO, the coffeeshop, was really neat, and the yacht club was fun! Very clever!

This book is full of so many wonderful characters. Shelby, her sister Jessica, their parents, the NYAGs—the list could go on and on. I loved the dynamic between Shelby's family. It was realistic. Shelby and Jessica had the typical sibling rivalry, but I loved how they were still supportive of each other.

The mystery was great and kept me guessing. I was completely shocked by the reveal. I sure didn’t see that coming, but it made perfect sense. I love when I can be surprised like that.

If you’re a fan of cozy mysteries, grab a copy of this book. You won’t be disappointed. I highly, highly recommend it and can’t wait for the next one.

I received a copy of this book and voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and comments are my honest opinion.

FIVE STARS

Thursday, March 20, 2025

Book Beginnings, First Line Friday, & Friday 56: One Sharp Stitch (A Nimble Needle Mystery #1) by Allie Pleiter

Book Beginnings is a weekly meme hosted by Rose City Reader that asks you to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you're reading. I'm also linking up with Carrie at Reading is My Superpower for First Line Friday. Friday 56 asks you to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your ereader and share a non-spoilery sentence or two. It was started by Freda at Freda's Voice, but Anne over at My Head is Full of Books has taken over for the time being.

This week I'm featuring One Sharp Stitch (A Nimble Needle Mystery #1) by Allie Pleiter. I'm almost finished with it and am loving it! It releases this coming Tuesday, March 25!

About the Book
When thirty-something Shelby Phillips returns to her quiet hometown just outside of Asheville, North Carolina, she reluctantly takes over her mother’s Nimble Needle needlepoint shop—and gets entangled in a murder investigation . . .

It’s only temporary. That’s what Shelby Phillips tells herself when she returns to excruciatingly harmless Gwen Lake after her graphic arts career—and the office romance blooming with it—get tossed like rejected design mockups. Her plan is as simple and fool-proof as a tent stitch: manage the family needlepoint shop duringher parents’ RV vacation. It’s just a month. It’s not as if they’re retiring . . . right?

When Shelby becomes responsible for hosting a trunk show with local vendors, she’s determined to pull it off. Even if that means dealing with former classmate Kat Katsaros, a rising entrepreneur specializing in needlework scissors. Kat has changed since high school—and she’s angling to take over the Nimble Needle herself. The tension unspools when Shelby makes a terrible discovery on the morning of the event: Kat’s dead body.

Shelby can’t believe the death was an accident. That’s why she’s set on exposing who committed the murder with Kat’s own equipment. She finds help in a new friend, a potential crush, and the surprising support of her sister and the Nimble Needle stitchers. Still, Shelby must move quickly to stop the crafty culprit before her maybe not-so-temporary new life in Gwen Lake comes apart at the seams . . .

Book Beginnings / First Line Friday
"Here they are, Shelby, the keys to the kingdom." Mom handed me the shop keys with all the pomp of a coronation.

Friday 56
Jessica walked into the shop the next morning and pushed her phone into my face. "Did you see this?"

What have you been reading lately?