Buried by Books #3

 It's time to once again evaluate my bad habit of putting things on hold on Libby for all kinds of reasons.  It's been a while since my last one, so I figured it was time to share some of my latest, and sometimes 

questionable, holds.  

The Breakup Tour: Emily Wibberly & Austin Siegemund-Broka - Pretty sure this one landed on the reserve list around the same time as Dead Poet's Society was released.  I am not a Swiftie but do enjoy some of her songs.  Don't know when or if I'll get to this one.  I keep pushing it back and I'm not sure I'm really very interested.

The Last Bloodcarver: Vanessa Le - Strictly added because of the cover.  Do you blame me?

Stories I Only Tell My Friends: Rob Lowe - I added this after watching Brat on Hulu the day it came out.  I'm an 80's child so what can I say? I really enjoy the documentary and it renewed my interest in the Brat Pack and I may currently have a physical copy of the Andrew McCarthy book checked out from my local library as well right now 😁.

2 Bloggers 1 Series - Storm Front (The Dresden Files #1)

 

So, I just finished up one Urban Fantasy series and was already missing it when Stormi mentioned she and another friend were doing a reread of The Dresden File series.  I started this series a long time ago (I checked, it was 2014), got five books in and then quit.  Not because I wasn't liking it though, it just feel by the wayside.  So, I took Stormi's reread as a sign to hop back in so technically the first five books will be rereads but as I remember nothing except the talking skull named Bob, I'm treating them as new again.

So read on for my thoughts and then hop over to Stormi's at Storm Reads and see what she thinks.

 

TITLE: Storm Front (The Dresden Files #1)

AUTHOR: Jim Butcher

PUBLISHER: ROC

PUBLISHING DATE: April 1, 2000

PAGES: 336   

SOURCE: Library

FROM GOODREADS: HARRY DRESDEN — WIZARD 

Lost Items Found. Paranormal Investigations. Consulting. Advice. Reasonable Rates. No Love Potions, Endless Purses, or Other Entertainment. 

Harry Dresden is the best at what he does. Well, technically, he's the only at what he does. So when the Chicago P.D. has a case that transcends mortal creativity or capability, they come to him for answers. For the "everyday" world is actually full of strange and magical things—and most don't play well with humans. That's where Harry comes in. Takes a wizard to catch a—well, whatever. There's just one problem. Business, to put it mildly, stinks. 

So when the police bring him in to consult on a grisly double murder committed with black magic, Harry's seeing dollar signs. But where there's black magic, there's a black mage behind it. And now that mage knows Harry's name. And that's when things start to get interesting. 

Magic - it can get a guy killed.

MY THOUGHTS:  This book was a lot of set up about Harry Dresden, what he does, why he does it and basic worldbuilding.  Which in a series that is currently 18 books long is to be expected.  

Harry Dresden is a wizard and a private investigator specializing in the supernatural and unexplained.  He is sometimes commissioned by the local police force to assist them with incidents outside of their league, even though it seems they do so reluctantly.  In this first book, two people have been murdered and law enforcement suspects something powerful is responsible.  The dead giveaway is that their hearts actually exploded out of their chests.  Harry is behind on his rent so he also takes a side job locating a missing husband.  Harry suspects the husband might be dabbling in some pretty shady stuff, and as the book progresses, he expects the two cases may be connected in one way or another.

I really enjoy Harry.  He has a sarcastic and snarky attitude and lots of colorful friends.  I loved his overly large cat, Mister, and remember Bob, the talking skull (actually he has been imprisoned within the skull) who helps Harry create potions and things in his basement lab.  The mystery was intriguing and introduced us to several supernatural beings and side characters.  The ending was action-packed and had just enough element of mystery to keep me guessing.

I am really excited to continue on with this series next month.  While I don't know if I will end up loving this series as much as I did the White Trash Zombie one, I do believe it may satisfy my recent urban fantasy urges.  

MY RATING: 4 PAWS

Feed Your TBR - At the Bottom of the Garden

 

Can't Wait Wednesday, which I have adapted to better suit my blog as "Feed Your TBR" is a weekly meme hosted at Wishful Endings to spotlight highly anticipated books.  It is based on the Waiting on Wednesday meme which used to be hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

January 28, 2025

FROM GOODREADS: Clara Woods is a killer. At the bottom of the garden is a flowerbed, long overgrown, where her late husband rests in peace – or so she always thought. Until the girls arrived.

Lily and Violet are her adolescent nieces, recently orphaned and in urgent need of care. Raising teenagers is certainly not what Clara had envisioned for herself, but her funds are drying up and the girls come with a hefty sum attached.

There is only one thing, both girls are untrained witches, with newly heightened powers which they inherited from their mother when she died. Lily can literally see how people feel and knows when they lie. And young Violet can see the dead man at the bottom of the garden. She can see all the dead and call them back.

Soon Clara is surrounded by apparitions, and at war with the gifted girls in her care. The latter have become a liability – and know far more than they should. There is a war waging in this house, and only one side can win…

WHY I CAN'T WAIT: I have a few books by this author sitting on my shelves waiting to be read.  I probably should read them before adding another but this one sounds so good.  I love witches and the Gothic vibe it's giving off.  

WHAT BOOK CAN'T YOU WAIT FOR THIS WEEK???

Nosy Neighbors to Cozy Neighbors

 

TITLE: Nosy Neighbors

AUTHOR: Freya Sampson

PUBLISHER: Berkley

PUBLISHING DATE: April 2, 2024

PAGES: 384   

SOURCE: Library

FROM GOODREADS: Twenty-five-year-old Kat Bennett has never felt at home anywhere, and especially not in crumbling Shelley House. According to her neighbors, she’s prickly and unapproachable, but beneath her tough exterior, Kat is plagued by guilt from her past. 

Seventy-seven-year-old Dorothy Darling is Shelley House’s longest resident, and if you believe the other tenants, she’s as cantankerous and vindictive as they come. Except there’s a good reason Dorothy spends her days spying on her neighbors—a closely guarded secret that no one else knows and the reason Dorothy barely leaves her beloved home. 

When their building faces demolition, sworn enemies Kat and Dorothy become unlikely allies in their quest to save their historic home. But when someone starts to play dirty and viciously targets one of the residents, Dorothy and Kat suspect foul play in their community. After the police close the investigation, it's up to this improbable pair to bring a criminal to justice.

MY THOUGHTS: I had moderate interest in this book when I saw it n the new release shelf at my local library.  I went ahead and grabbed it, not knowing when I might get to it.  I started it on a whim while reading two other books and it quickly became the book I thought about the most and wanted to read way more than the others.

Nosy Neighbors centers around a run-down apartment building with a plethora of diverse characters and one awesome dog, a Jack Russell named Reggie who manages to steal every scene he is in.  One day the neighbors all get eviction notices.  Joseph, the elderly man in flat #1 decides to protest and try to save the building.  He has recently taken in a tenant for the extra bedroom in his flat, a pink-haired girl named Kat.  Once day Kat arrives home and finds Joseph close to death on the living room floor.  Left with the care of Reggie, even though she is busy hiding her own secrets, she ends up befriending the mean elderly lady in flat #2, Dorothy Darling, and together, they try to determine what happened to Joseph.  Dorothy hates Joseph but even more, she hates when something happens in the building which she isn't aware of.

This book sort of sells itself as a mystery and while there are a few mystery elements, such as finding out who attacked Joseph, it's more a tale of day-to-day struggles, secrets from the past that never let go, and starting anew.  The people in Shelley House have little to do with each other in the beginning but I loved seeing them come together for a great good.  And as I mentioned, you have Reggie.  Dorothy hates Reggie (if you read this book, you will soon learn Dorothy hates a lot of people and things), but she also helps out with him when Joseph is attacked, and he slowly licks his way into her heart.

The past few years, I've really enjoyed books featuring found families and that is how I would best describe Nosy Neighbors.  I also love elderly characters, and, in many ways, Dorothy Darlin reminded me of Vera Wong and she was one of my favorite characters from last year.  If any of this sounds like something you are even remotely interested in, then run to your nearest library or bookstore and grab a copy.  Hopefully you'll find it as hard to put down as I did.

MY RATING: 5 PAWS

NEVER Let Strangers in Your Home!

 

TITLE: We Used to Live Here

AUTHOR: Marcus Kliewer

PUBLISHER: Atria/Emily Bestler Books

PUBLISHING DATE: June 18, 2024

PAGES: 320   

SOURCE: ARC

FROM GOODREADS: As a young, queer couple who flip houses, Charlie and Eve can’t believe the killer deal they’ve just gotten on an old house in a picturesque neighborhood. As they’re working in the house one day, there’s a knock on the door. A man stands there with his family, claiming to have lived there years before and asking if it would be alright if he showed his kids around. People pleaser to a fault, Eve lets them in. 

As soon as the strangers enter their home, uncanny and inexplicable things start happening, including the family’s youngest child going missing and a ghostly presence materializing in the basement. Even more weird, the family can’t seem to take the hint that their visit should be over. And when Charlie suddenly vanishes, Eve slowly loses her grip on reality. Something is terribly wrong with the house and with the visiting family—or is Eve just imagining things?

MY THOUGHTS: I was so excited to read this book and while I don't really regret reading it, I'm not going to lie and just say I'm a bit disappointed. 

Charlie and Eve have been together over eight years and have made careers out of house-flipping.  They purchase an ancient, secluded house and one evening while Charlie is in town (working, shopping, who knows why), Tom and his family come knocking on the door.  Tom claims to have grown up in the home and wants to show it to his family while they are passing through.  Eve is initially hesitant (trust you gut woman!) but she eventually relents. The visit starts out strange and just gets worse.  Just as the family is finally leaving, the little girl decides to play hide and seek in the basement.  Charlie finally arrives home just in time for everyone to get stranded in a snowstorm.

I will say something for this book.  It's been a long time since I felt such dread when reading and so early on.  By chapter two, the feeling was cemented and only got worse.  As the book went on, so did my confusion and I will say if you like open-ended books, this is definitely one for you.  Although I never really liked Eve as a MC, I was invested in what happened to her.  And to be truthful, even after having finished the book, I'd still like to know.  There is also an adorable dog named Shylo which I am pretty sure doesn't die in the book but maybe just disappears.  I remember commented to a friend that this book reminded me of reading House of Leaves, except I never read House of Leaves 😆.  

I can see why this book is getting lots of hype.  And I am very interested in seeing the Netflix adaptation when it releases.  I am sure many people will love all the twists and turns but at the end, I just wanted off the rollercoaster.

MY RATING: 3 Paws

Did the Dolphins Make You Cry???

 

TITLE: Life's Too Short

AUTHOR: Darius Rucker

PUBLISHER: Dey Street Books

PUBLISHING DATE: May 28, 2024

PAGES: 256   

SOURCE: Own

FROM GOODREADS: In 1986 Darius Rucker cofounded Hootie & The Blowfish at the University of South Carolina. What began as a party band playing frat houses and dive bars quickly became a global pop rock phenomenon through their multiplatinum-selling debut album, cracked rear view, which featured era-defining hit songs like “Only Wanna Be with You,” “Let Her Cry,” and “Hold My Hand.” Later, Darius would chart a pioneering path as a solo country music artist, with classic anthems like “Wagon Wheel” and “Alright.” 

Nearly forty years after the band’s formation, Darius tells his remarkable story through the lens of the songs that shaped him—from Al Green, Stevie Wonder, and KISS to Lou Reed, Billy Joel, Nanci Griffith, and so many more. 

Set against the soundtrack of his life, Darius recounts his childhood as the son of a single mother in Charleston, South Carolina. He traces the unlikely ascent of his band and shares wild tales of life on the road—but he also faces his missteps, defeats, and demons. As moving as it is entertaining, Life’s Too Short is a timeless book about a man and his music.

MY THOUGHTS: I'll admit that I haven't followed Rucker's career a whole lot since he has moved to country, as it's not one of my favorite music genres, but I am a HUGE Hootie and the Blowfish fan and their debut album was the first CD Mr. Mike bought me when we started dating.  I also had no idea this book was on the horizon but when I caught him on the Today show promoting it the week it was set to release, I immediately ordered a copy.

The formatting of this book really solidifies it as one of my favorite memoirs ever.  There are 21 chapters each named for a song in Rucker's life which meant a lot to him.  The book ranges from his childhood with five siblings and a single mother, to his days in college and with Hootie, and then how he always knew he was meant to sing country music.  I also love that he emphasizes Hootie never broke up, they just moved on (in fact, they have a tour planned this summer).  Rucker talks some about the women in his life as well as his children but is very respective considering Hootie was basically dubbed a party band (which I also never really knew).  I had no idea Rucker struggled with addiction but his openness about his struggles really showed how hard the rock and roll life can really be.

If you love memoirs, music or just Rucker in general, then I strongly recommend you pick up this book.  I flew through it and it made me really revisit some of my favorite songs, including those from his lesser-known single R & B album, which many are not familiar with, but which remains an all-time fave.  My only complainant is when I finished, I wanted more.

MY RATING: 5 Paws

Feed Your TBR - When the Wolf Comes Home

 

Can't Wait Wednesday, which I have adapted to better suit my blog as "Feed Your TBR" is a weekly meme hosted at Wishful Endings to spotlight highly anticipated books.  It is based on the Waiting on Wednesday meme which used to be hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

April 22, 2025

FROM GOODREADS: One night, Jess, a struggling actress, finds a five-year-old runaway hiding in the bushes outside her apartment. After a violent, bloody encounter with the boy's father, she and the boy find themselves running for their lives.

As they attempt to evade the boy's increasingly desperate father, horrifying incidents of butchery follow them. At first Jess thinks she understands what they're up against, but she's about to learn there's more to these surreal and grisly events than she could've ever imagined.

And that when the wolf finally comes home, none will be spared. 

WHY I CAN'T WAIT:  I have two books on my TBR from this author so I really should read one.  However, this is a great cover grab - look at it!

WHAT BOOK CAN'T YOU WAIT FOR THIS WEEK???