Two Bloggers One Book - We Were Kind of Prepared

So as you know by now, Stormi and I pick a book to read each month together as a buddy read.  Truth be told we usually end up reading several of the same books but we always target at least one.  Sometimes they're new releases we both have ARCs for or somethings we try to dig something off our older shelves.  This month we chose a sequel to a cozy mystery we read together earlier this year.  Neither of us were sold on the first one but we both also have the third one already so read on to see how this one fared.  And when you are done, cruise over to Stormi's blog @ Books, Movies, Reviews! Oh My! and if we were on the same page.

TITLE: Read Herring Hunt (Mystery Bookshop #2)

AUTHOR: V.M. Burns

PUBLISHER: Kensington

PUBLISHING DATE: April 24, 2018

FROM GOODREADS: To the town of North Harbor, Michigan, MISU quarterback Dawson Alexander is a local hero. To Samantha Washington, owner of the Market Street Mysteries Bookstore, Dawson is more than a tenant—he’s like an adopted son. But to the police, he is their prime suspect after his ex-girlfriend is found murdered. It’s more than enough real-life drama for Sam to tackle, but her role as a mystery writer also calls. Returning to the English countryside between the wars, she finds Lady Daphne Marsh in quite the quandary. Someone has tried to murder the scandalous American divorcée Wallis Simpson, for whom Edward VIII so recently abdicated his throne. It seems finding a suspect is no small challenge when most of England has a motive . . .

While Sam’s lawyer sister Jenna rushes in to build Dawson's defense, Sam and her lively grandmother, Nana Jo, huddle up to solve the mystery and blow the whistle on the real killer. With the tenacious members of the Sleuthing Senior Book Club eager to come off the sidelines, Sam and her team just might stop a killer from completing another deadly play . . . 

MY THOUGHTS:  So as I mentioned, there was an element in the first installment that really bothered me.  Sam is recently widowed and has bought a mystery bookshop.  She is also attempting to become a budding author of British Mysteries.  So the first book was set up as a book within a book.  Well, that trend continued and while I managed to make it through  the British part of the first one, I wasn't so lucky this time around.

The young man who Sam has basically adopted now lives in the garage apartment and has become a local college football star.  However, when his girlfriend ends up dead, he becomes the prime suspect and Sam, her sister and her Grandmother, decide it's up to them to clear Dawson's name.  Now I do have to admit I really like the characters in this cozy.  Sam is making her way in the world without her best friend since her husband died and she really relies on  her family.  Also, Dawson is a great young man who clearly loves baking as much as he does football.  But the best part of the book is Sam's Nana Jo and her friends at the retirement home.  These ladies are a hoot and I always chuckle during their scenes. 

The mystery itself was pretty good and kept me engaged.  I figured it out but not until near the end so that was fine.  However, the British novel that Sam is working on in this installment completely lost me and after the first few forays into it, I just started skipping it altogether.  So my rating is based on the cozy aspect of the book and not "the book within the book."  

Since I already have book #3, I will likely continue on but I don't know that I'll go much further.  However, the author also has a cozy dog centered series she just started and I do enjoy her writing enough to know that I will definitely be giving those books a go.  Overall a decent mystery with a few issues.  

RATING: 3 PAWS

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Oh the Weather Outside is Frightful....and so is this book!

TITLE: Night Shift
AUTHOR: Robin Triggs
PUBLISHER: Flame Tree Press
PUBLISHING DATE: November 6, 2018

FROM GOODREADS: Antarctica. A mining base at the edge of the world. Anders Nordvelt is over-promoted and he knows it. Arriving at Australis base on the last transport before the long night falls, he is to take over as Chief of Security. It should be an easy job. The crew have all been rigorously psychoanalysed and he's there only because the rulebook says the position must be filled. The biggest challenge Anders anticipates is to find his place within an established group. But shortly after his arrival communications to the outside world are cut. Suspicion immediately falls upon Anders. It's his job to uncover the culprit - but how can he find answers when the rest of the crew, bound by relationships, resentments and passions he knows nothing about, see him as the threat? Surely no-one can have crossed thousands of miles of wasteland - the sabotage must have been an inside job. But how could a criminal have got past the screening process? Then the commander's body is found in the ice. The running of the base falls to the senior staff, Anders included, but there is open hostility towards him. Only the uncertain support of the engineer, Max, gives any hope. But can he trust her? Is he giving her too much leeway as it is? Amidst the fear the work must continue. In a world where every last scrap of fuel is precious, the minerals must keep flowing. But the attacks continue, leaving them with no heating and little food. As they shelter in a basement room, claustrophobia, starvation and madness become as big a threat as a murderer. Will Anders live long enough to find the killer? Will anyone survive the night shift, or will future explorers find only ice and frozen corpses in the last remaining wilderness on the planet? 

MY THOUGHTS:  So this book starts up right as Anders, the MC, arrives at the mining base of Australis.  The previous security guard left under questionable circumstances and the crew are not very welcoming of a new member.  A few days after Anders arrives, a celebration is held honoring the last sunset for six months.  Anders is still learning about the individuals stationed at Australis when he is thrown smack dab in a murder investigation.  Slowly but surely someone is picking off the crew and since he is the new kid on the ice, Anders may be the best suspect.  Knowing this, he sets out to catch the true culprit and clear his name in the process.

"Night Shift" is full of action and atmosphere.  I love book set in snowy, wintry settings and you don't get much more snowy and wintry than the Antartic.  I loved getting to know the crew alongside of Anders and I have to admit, I was slightly pleased to learn the identity of the first victim.  Because the crew is so isolated, they soon not only start fighting each other but they also have to rage a war against the elements.  

I am hesitant to say that Anders is not the most reliable narrator (and nope, there is no Gone Girl of Woman in the Window comparisons here).  Nonetheless, I found him likable and was rooting for him.  I also really liked Max, the janitor.  She's pretty kick ass and I adore the fact that the person most familiar with the machinery and technology of Australis just so happens to be a woman.  While there are hints of some romance, or to be honest, sexual encounters, anyone turned off by those elements in an action, survivalist setting need not worry.  That element is not overwhelming and not shoved down your throat. 
"Night Shift" is best described as a book about survival and I enjoyed every minute of it.

Thanks to Flame Tree Press for the ARC.

RATING: 5 PAWS

Can't Wait Wednesday (186)

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.

FROM GOODREADS: The latest thriller from the internationally bestselling author of The Lake of Dead Languages and The Other Mother, a story of mistaken identities and missed chances, forgiveness, and vengeance.

ALICE gets off a bus in the middle of a snowstorm in Delphi, NY. She is fleeing an abusive relationship and desperate to protect...

OREN, ten years old, a major Star Wars fan and wise beyond his years. Though Alice is wary, Oren bonds nearly instantly with...

MATTIE, a social worker in her fifties who lives in an enormous run-down house in the middle of the woods. Mattie lives alone and is always available, and so she is the person the hotline always calls when they need a late-night pickup. And although according to protocol Mattie should take Alice and Oren to a local shelter, instead she brings them home for the night. She has plenty of room, she says. What she doesn't say is that Oren reminds her of her little brother, who died thirty years ago at the age of ten.

But Mattie isn't the only one withholding elements of the truth. Alice is keeping her own secrets. And as the snowstorm worsens around them, each woman's past will prove itself unburied, stirring up threats both within and without.

WHY I CAN'T WAIT: Maybe it's because we just had our first real snow or because I just finished a book set in Antartica but I'm ready to dive into some more winter settings.  I like them as long as they are fictional.

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

TTT - My Favorite Platonic Relationships in Books/Movies/TV

The top 10 weekly meme used to be hosted by The Broke and the Bookish they  handed over the reins to ThatArtsyReaderGirl who can be found HERE.  Each week she will focus on lists which cover various topics related to books and reading. 

This week we are looking at platonic relationships so I'm sharing  of my faves!

Seriously, is there any better example of true friendship than Pooh and Piglet???

I've always had a soft spot for Shaggy and Scooby.

I like book Sookie and Sam in the books and the show - bet this will cause some controversy!

Bill Hodges and Holly.  There's just something so sweet about their relationship.

 

I think Lindsey and Beth have a great friendship.  Lindsey is so grounded and Beth is a tad flighty so they play off each other well.

Groot and Rocket are so cute and clearly very bonded.

They may be divorced but Chris and Benita are still the best of buds.

Olivia, Gabriel and Ricky - Since I don't want to spoil this I will just leave it at loving Olivia's friendship with both of these guys.

I'm sure this trio will find their way on lots of lists!

Cara and Vincent.  Everyone needs a wacky fairy godfather!

So there you have it.  Did any of these make your lists?  Did the Sookie pairing tick you off?  

Book Discussion - One of My Biggest Pet Peeves

So, welcome to Booker T's Farm's second Book Discussion. Once you see this month's topic and remember a recent review of mine (Mutts & Mistletoe),  you'll completely understand it's timely post.  I hope to do these occasionally because sometimes, you just have to get things off your chest.  Please feel free to add your thoughts in the comments because I can't very well have a discussion by myself.

So today I want to share with you want of my biggest book pet peeves.  I like to call it........

DOG FALSE ADVERTISING

I have always noticed this to be a thing but let's be honest, I notice it happening more and more around the Christmas season.  Now everyone who knows me knows that romance is not a genre I review much here at The Farm.  I have nothing against it and in fact I have a very romantic husband, but I just prefer other genres when it comes to books.  My main exception is around the holidays.  During Christmas, I like to incorporate a few cute romantic type books because I think it's the perfect time for something lighter.  The holidays can be so hectic anyways so it's nice to read something quick and chill for a few hours.  And my followers also know that I do love my dog books (see the title of the blog and all the posts featuring Booker T and Cassius - it's a no-brainer people).  

So let me set the scene.  I'm running around doing my routine or holiday shopping.  I spy a book with snow, happy people and an ADORABLE pooch on the cover.  If I'm in a hurry and the book is cheap, I'll just toss it in the cart.  If I have some time, I may read the back but let's be real, I'm pretty much a cover whore.  So I sit down one evening and pick up said book.  I show the cute pup picture to my husband who looks up from his football game long enough to say "why are you reading that?  It doesn't look scary."  I start reading.  50 pages in...no dog.  75 pages...still no dog.  100 pages...I'm getting pissed, where in the hell is the dog???

Here are a few books to give you an idea. 

So all of these are on Netgalley right now.  And I've actually only requested one.  However, I have at least read their synopsis which is more than I do when I'm shopping as fast as I can because I hate most people.  They all have that holiday cheer vibe, snow and dogs.  However, upon closer inspection I see no indication that the cute dog hanging his head out of the truck window appears in any of the four stories in "A Season to Celebrate." The adorable lab sitting on the packages of "The Corner of Holly and Ivy?"  No mention of him either.  Now I've actually almost bought "Alaskan Holiday" at Walmart lately but didn't.  I do think the synopsis mentions sled dogs so the huskies on the front are appropriate.  "Christmas at Cape Cod" I couldn't tell you.

So see Dog False Advertising.  It ticks me off.  Thank heavens Anna over at Herding Cats & Burning Soup does read a lot of romance and I'm so glad.  I know several times this year I've went as far as asking her if the dog on the cover is even in the book.  She's been a huge help. 

Another big complaint which is similar is when the dogs (or even cats) on the cover aren't the same breed or coloring as the ones in the book?  Really, it is hard to find a cute beagle or basset?  If it mentions a black cat, why is there a calico on the cover?  

So any thoughts.  Am I being unreasonable?  Do you find me completely mad?  

So I Guess I Was Warned....

TITLE: Saga Vol. 9
AUTHOR: Brian K. Vaughan, Fiona Staples
PUBLISHER: Image Comics
PUBLISHING DATE: October 2, 2018

FROM GOODREADS: The multiple Eisner Award-winning series returns with a spacefaring adventure about fake news and genuine terror. Get ready for the most shocking, most impactful SAGA storyline yet.

Collects SAGA #49-54

MY THOUGHTS:  So at this point, it's impossible to give this the review it deserves without spoiling it so I'll probably keep this short and sweet.  So many bloggers I trust mentioned that something shocking/drastic/indescribable happens in this edition and man, the authors sure didn't pull any punches.  I don't know that I'll ever get over the ending.  I mean, I actually tossed the book on the couch and declared "I'm done!"  as in forever.  However, I doubt that's true.  On the plus side, I did get to see some more of cute little Ghus in this one.  

RATING: 5 PAWS (and one ripped out heart!)

Happy Birthday Cassius!!!!!!

My baby turns 5 today and you can bet he's celebrating with toys, turkey and lots of hugs and kisses.  Mommy and Daddy love you Cass!