Weekly Reads (08/04/17)

I feel like this week was pretty much a duplicate of last in some regards - minus the rain and flooding. Grandpa had another heart attack while in church Sunday morning.  Luckily my uncle was in town and he and his wife were with him so that was one positive. However, he's in need of a hearth catheterization and due to low kidney output/functions they can't do one right now.  So basically they sent him home until that improves.  I understand doing the procedure risks shutting his kidneys down but I feel like now we are playing what I am calling the "death time bomb" game.  Grandpa tells me not to worry because when you are 96, every day is a blessing and a risk but that's easier said than done.

Besides that, all is fine at The Farm.  I've had headaches a lot this week and it's either allergies, stress or sinuses but so far, nothing is really helping much besides sleep.  Thursday was the worst but I managed to work.  The pups are fine and during a thunderstorm the other night, Booker actually got mad and started barking at it which is much better than his stressed out quivering so we had fun encouraging him to get mad and tell the storm off.

We're still watching "Game of Thrones" and "The Strain" although I am pretty disappointed with the way the final season of "The Strain" is being handled.  We also catch "The Mist" every week and "Mr. Mercedes" starts on Sunday night so that will be something new to record.  Oh, and I'm still enjoying "Midnight, Texas."  It's kind of cheesy, but lots of fun.  We watched a HORRIBLE movie over the weekend (just my opinion...and Mr. Barb's too, so sorry if some of you liked it).  "Ghost in the Shell" was boring and not even a good drink helped it any.  I feel asleep during part, woke up, finished watching it and STILL didn't care what I missed.

So I hope to get some decent reading in over the weekend.  Need to get my August Musts & Mights posted soon.  I am STILL struggling to start "Akata Witch" which expires in 10 days so I better hop to it next.  Then here are a few more things I hope to pick up during the next 7 days.  "Optical Delusion" is novella length and I have no doubt it will be a quick read since I love Shea's work, and I'm really looking forward to "Hollywood Homicide."

I hope everyone out there has a great week ahead?  Tell me about what books you have coming up and if you've watched anything exciting!

July 2017 Wrap Up - Take THAT Goodreads!!!

I was hoping since I was on vacation a week during the month of July that my reading would pick up.  Glad to see I was right.  I'm still really behind on one challenge but the rest of them are fairing pretty well.  Also, I am finally on top of my Goodreads challenge.  Most of the month I was either ahead or on track so I feel Goodreads no longer has the right to taunt me.  So let's review....

GOODREADS: 58/100 (why do I feel like I slayed a dragon?)
2017 CLOAK & DAGGER CHALLENGE: 28/25 (Final Girls, Chew Vol. 4, The Supernatural Pet Sitter: The Curse, Gwendy's Button Box, Mad) CHALLENGE COMPLETE😝😝😝
2017 FLIGHTS OF FANTASY CHALLENGE: 24/18 (Chew Vol. 4, Squirrel Girl Beats Up the Marvel Universe, The Supernatural Pet Sitter: The Curse, The Coven, Lost Boy) CHALLENGE COMPLETE😅😅😅
2017 HORROR READING CHALLENGE:17/25 (Final Girls, Gwendy's Button Box, Lost Boy)
2017 WHAT AN ANIMAL CHALLENGE: 17/20 (A New Leash on Love, Squirrel Girl Beats Up the Marvel Universe, The Supernatural Pet Sitter: The Curse)
2017 NEW RELEASE CHALLENGE: 41/61 (A New Leash on Love, Final Girls, The Supernatural Pet Sitter: The Curse, The Coven, Gwendy's Button Box, Mad, Lost Boy)
BLOGGER SHAME REVIEW CHALLENGE: 2/12
COYER SUMMER READING LIST: 9 (A New Leash on Love, Final Girsl, Chew Vol. 4, Squirrel Girl Beats Up the Marvel Universe, The Supernatural Pet Sitter: The Curse, The Coven, Gwendy's Button Box, Mad, Lost Boy)

I had 1 2-paw read, 2 3-paw reads, 4 4-paw reads and 2 5-paw reads.  My favorite as Lost Boy closely followed by The Supernatural Pet Sitter: The Curse.  My least favorite was Final Girls which is definitely not the popular opinion.

How did you month stack up???

The Thirteenth Gate Blog Tour Stop

The Thirteenth Gate
Kat Ross
(Dominion Mysteries #2)
Published by: Acorn Publishing
Publication date: June 26th 2017
Genres: Historical, Mystery, Young Adult

Winter 1888. At an asylum in the English countryside, a man suspected of being Jack the Ripper kills an orderly and flees into the rain-soaked night. His distraught keepers summon the Lady Vivienne Cumberland—who’s interviewed their patient and isn’t sure he’s a man at all. An enigmatic woman who guards her own secrets closely, Lady Vivienne knows a creature from the underworld when she sees one. And he’s the most dangerous she’s ever encountered.
As Jack rampages through London, Lady Vivienne begins to suspect what he’s searching for. And if he finds it, the doors to purgatory will be thrown wide open…
Across the Atlantic, an archaeologist is brutally murdered after a Christmas Eve gala at the American Museum of Natural History. Certain peculiar aspects of the crime attract the interest of the Society for Psychical Research and its newest investigator, Harrison Fearing Pell. Is Dr. Sabelline’s death related to his recent dig in Alexandria? Or is the motive something darker?
As Harry uncovers troubling connections to a serial murder case she’d believed was definitively solved, two mysteries converge amid the grit and glamour of Gilded Age New York. Harry and Lady Vivienne must join forces to stop an ancient evil. The key is something called the Thirteenth Gate. But where is it? And more importantly, who will find it first?

MY THOUGHTS:  I have to be honest and say I wasn't quite sure about this book the first 75 pages or so.  I have been greatly anticipating this book's release in part because I loved Harry and John from The Daemoniac and couldn't wait to see what they've been up to.  However, this book opens up with all new characters - at least all new to me.  I later found out it brings forward some main characters from Ross' Fourth Element Series.  Having not read them (but now I want to) I was somewhat let down and confused.  Luckily that didn't last for long.

This book chronicles a murder case and evil forces at large in the world.  In fact, someone is trying to gather an ancient artifact so they can open up the gates of hell.  Harry and John are soon pulled in to assist with the case once the setting moves from England to New York and after that point, I could hardly put the book down.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves historical mysteries/fantasy.  I have to say there might be some strong romance at work, it is so minute and done in such an adult fashion - meaning no love triangles or insta-love.  I am linking my review to The Daemoniac HERE because it really does lead into this book and also because I think more people should read it.

Many thanks to the author and XPresso Book Tours who provided me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

RATING: 4 PAWS

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

Author Bio:
Kat Ross worked as a journalist at the United Nations for ten years before happily falling back into what she likes best: making stuff up. She lives in Westchester with her kid and a few sleepy cats. Kat is also the author of the dystopian thriller Some Fine Day (Skyscape, 2014), about a world where the sea levels have risen sixty meters. She loves magic, monsters and doomsday scenarios. Preferably with mutants.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

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Dog Days of Summer Reading Challenge

I just happened to stumble across a new-to-me blog recently and what perfect timing!  Seems there is a "DOG DAYS OF SUMMER" reading challenge going on.  This was put together by Jo's Book Blog and LaLa in the Library.  I just happen to have a few dog-related books on my COYER Summer Reading List Challenge so I thought I'd join in here too.  I mean who am I to miss a chance to showcase dogs?  So I'm going to show you the books I'm going to be reading and showcasing.

THE LUSTER OF LOST THINGS - Walter Lavender Jr. is a master of finding. A wearer of high-tops. A maker of croissants. A son keeping vigil, twelve years counting.

But he wouldn’t be able to tell you. Silenced by his motor speech disorder, Walter’s life gets lonely. Fortunately, he has The Lavenders—his mother’s enchanted dessert shop, where marzipan dragons breathe actual fire. He also has a knack for tracking down any missing thing—except for his lost father.

So when the Book at the root of the bakery’s magic vanishes, Walter, accompanied by his overweight golden retriever, journeys through New York City to find it—along the way encountering an unforgettable cast of lost souls.

Steeped in nostalgic wonder, The Luster of Lost Things explores the depths of our capacity for kindness and our ability to heal. A lyrical meditation on why we become lost and how we are found, from the bright, broken heart of a boy who knows where to look for everyone but himself.

AND

EINSTEIN - When Charlie wakes in the middle of the night to discover an alien in his house, he is more than a little alarmed. But that fades into insignificance when the alien tells him that a) it is the end of the world, and b) he has come to rescue Einstein from destruction.

Einstein is Charlie's pet dog.

Only Einstein refuses to leave without his master. So the alien offers Charlie a deal. If he can prove that he has performed one worthwhile act in his life, then he can be saved.

Einstein is an outrageous comedy of high anxieties and low morals embracing everything from modern art to motherhood, from battery hens to the meaning of life. It is a comedy classic from one of Britain's great humorists.

PLUS, YOU CAN LOOK FORWARD TO INSIGHT AND REVIEWS OF THESE FEATURING BOOKER T AND CASSIUS THEMSELVES!

 

Can't Wait Wednesday (117) - The Pups Make a Visit

Can't Wait Wednesday 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.  

Hey guys, it's Booker T and Cassius.  Mom is napping so we thought we'd hop on the computer and surprise her.  We've found three great titles to share with you today. 

Cass: "I'm upset that none feature birds though."
Booker T: "Get over it little bro, you know who's really in charge around here!"


 

FROM GOOREADS: From Newbery Medalist Cynthia Kadohata comes a brilliantly realized sports novel about a hockey player who must discover who he is without the sport that defines him.

Hockey is Conor’s life. His whole life. He’ll say it himself, he’s a hockey beast. It’s his dad’s whole life too—and Conor is sure that’s why his stepmom, Jenny, left. There are very few things Conor and his dad love more than the game, and one of those things is their Doberman, Sinbad. When Sinbad is diagnosed with cancer, Conor chooses to put his hockey lessons and practices on hold so they can pay for Sinbad’s chemotherapy.

But without hockey to distract him, Conor begins to notice more. Like his dad’s crying bouts, and his friend’s difficult family life. And then Conor notices one more thing: Without hockey, the one thing that makes him feel special, is he really special at all?

FROM GOODREADS: Fusing the heart of Julie of the Wolves with the imagination of Little Brother and Ship Breaker, this speculative YA is a must-read for any dog lover.

In the mid-21st century, dogs are all but extinct. An experiment gone awry caused every canine on Earth to become hyperintelligent. When as a species they stopped wagging their tails, hysteria ensued—followed by a program of mass euthanasia. Now the only surviving dogs are relegated to a sanctuary off the coast of Florida: Dog Island. There, they are studied in a wild, feral, and protected state. And there, too, their robot replacements are tested before being sold for mass consumption.

Seventeen-year-old Nano Miller was born and bred on Dog Island, as were her two best friends, Jack and Wolf. Life has been mostly wonderful except for annual heartbreak, when another robot dog is torn from her arms and replaced with the latest model. And more recently, there is the heartbreak of her brother, Billy, who vanished without a trace a year earlier. Wolf, there to console Nano, has suddenly become more than a friend. (Bad news for Jack.) With the excitement of a surprise first romance, Nano is happier than ever, in spite of her loss. But then she makes a discovery that upends everything she took for granted: a living puppy who wags its tail. And there is no way she is letting this dog go.
 

FROM GOODREADS: Even an experienced pet sitter like Daphne Templeton can be fooled by animal behavior: how can an adorably tiny fuzz ball named Tinkleston be capable of sudden flying leaps with cat claws bared? But human behavior remains even more mysterious, especially when Tinkleston s owner is murdered on the night of a gala fundraiser for Fur-ever Friends Pet Rescue.
Accompanied by her unflappable basset hound, Socrates, Daphne plans to take charge of Tinks the Terror and leave the crime-solving to handsome detective Jonathan Black. But while luring the prickly Persian out of hiding, she uncovers clues that might take suspicion off her own mother. Maeve Templeton already has a reputation as a killer in real estate. How far would she go to bag Sylvan Creek s most coveted property, the Flynt Mansion? To expose the truth, Daphne finds herself donning a deranged clown costume on an autumnal adventure that might just be crazy enough to work if it doesn t get her killed. 

WHY WE CAN'T WAIT:  First of all there are awesome pups on all of the covers and even though the last features a cat, we know there is a great basset hound featured because Mom loved the first in this series.  "Your Robot Dog Will Die" sounds sad, but it says "A must-read for any dog lover and that's our Mom!

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

Binge Watching - So I Stumbled Across This Show Called "Younger..."

So one day I was browsing through Hulu looking for something to justify my monthly payment until Stephen King's series "Castle Rock" starts up and I ran across this show called "Younger."  I'd seen an ad or two on TV but never paid much attention because for the most part, I don't watch 1/2 hour comedies much.  However, I pushed play and after a few episodes I was hooked  So hooked that I pretty much watched 3 seasons in a tad over a week.

There are a few reasons why I found this show captivating (and for the record, it's more drama than actual slapstick comedy).  I love Sutton Foster, who plays the MC Liza.  She was great in "Bunheads" and although I thought the town musical in "Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life" was total nonsense, she showed talent in that as well.  Also, her love interest Josh is from WV so it's kind of comical to see a hip New York tattoo artist....from WV (I live here so I can get away with slamming the state all I want).

But now let me share why I think YOU might like this show.  Liza is a recently divorced 40-year-old who had to lie about her age and now has to act younger to get a job since she hasn't worked in her field for over 16 years.  Also, this series is set in a publishing house!  That means there's lots of mentions of books and imprints and authors and publicity.  It talks about Goodreads and Twitter. Also, there's this one author who is a total George RR Martin clone and they rip on how even though his books are great, they don't come out that often and how quirky he is.  There's a diverse cast and pretty much something for the younger crowd as well as the older one.

So have I convinced you yet?  Season 4 is currently being broadcast weekly on TVLand and I now record it weekly.  Seasons 1-3 can be seen on Hulu and purchased through Amazon.

TTT - Covers I Would Definitely Redesign

This top 10 weekly meme is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish and can be found HERE.  Each week they focus on lists which cover various topics related to books and reading. 

This meme is actually on hiatus for a few weeks but a few bloggers are doing their own topics for a while and I've missed this post.  I saw this idea on a blog last week (wish I remembered where) so I most definitely stole it.  I am sharing with you covers I'd redesign if I had the chance (and the ability).

Rituals (Cainsville #5) - Kelley Armstrong.  This book isn't even out yet and I already want a cover change.  I love this series so much but I don't think this cover depicts what is needed for the final conclusion of an awesome series.

Heart of Stone (Old Races Universe #1) - C.E. Murphy.  This is a great and highly under-hyped urban fantasy novel.  I think more people should read this series, and might if it had a cover change.

I've read some V.C. Andrews (isn't a team that writes under this name now) and pretty much I've found every cover to be pretty horrible.  

The Dark Elements series - Jennifer L. Armentrout.  This series was pretty good but if I hadn't heard about them from others or recognized the author, I wouldn't have picked it up.

Dead Ever After - Sookie Stackhouse #13 - Charlaine Harris.  This might be cheating because there are lots of better covers out there, but this particular one didn't do the series any favors.

Love Is Red - Sophie Jaff.  Any clue what this one is about?  I didn't know either when I grabbed it from the library.  Guess what though, it's actually a really good horror/fantasy/thriller book.

The Mistake I Made - Paula Daly.  Never been a big fan of faces - full or partial - on covers.  Didn't care for the book much either.  Should have taken the hint.

Survive the Night - Danielle Vega.  A lot of people like this book and I thought it was okay, but I've never been thrilled with the covers.

The History Major - Michael Phillip Cash.  I love this author and he has even been a guest on the blog.  This is probably my least favorite book though and I can't pretend to understand the cover.

Everything Belongs to the Future - Laurie Penny. Not a bad book but the cover looks like an out-of-focus Barbie doll.

So, any books you're dying to redesign?