Happy New Year's Eve to My Fellow Bibliophiles!, The Mimicking of Known Successes by Malka Older, Ruthless Vows by Rebecca Ross, The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic by Breanne Randall, and My Current Bedside TBR

 It's New Year's Eve, fellow bibliophiles, and that means that this is the last post of book reviews for 2023, which was a really tough year. That said, I'm glad that I survived it and was able to read over 145 books and review them here. My journey toward one thousand posts will continue into 2024, where I should get to 900 by March and 950 by the end of the year (I hope).

I'm also looking forward to more streaming series based on books, like the Jack Reacher program that will be finishing its 2nd season and going into its third season in 2024, along with Only Murders in the Building and, of course, Doctor Who with the magnificent Ncuti Gatwa as the Doctor and Star Trek Discovery's fifth and final season, along with Strange New Worlds next season. There's supposedly even more Star Trek offshoots coming our way, with a show based at Starfleet Academy and one called Legends and an in-depth look at the legacy of Star Trek Voyager, helmed by my favorite Captain Janeway, played by the impeccable Kate Mulgrew.

At Any rate, here's some reviews:

The Mimicking of Known Successes by Malka Older is a science fiction/mystery/lesbian romance that reads like Sherlock Holmes, the SF women's version. 

Here's the blurb: The Mimicking of Known Successes presents a cozy Holmesian murder mystery and sapphic romance, set on Jupiter, by Malka Older, author of the critically-acclaimed Centenal Cycle.

On a remote, gas-wreathed outpost of a human colony on Jupiter, a man goes missing. The enigmatic Investigator Mossa follows his trail to Valdegeld, home to the colony’s erudite university—and Mossa’s former girlfriend, a scholar of Earth’s pre-collapse ecosystems.

Pleiti has dedicated her research and her career to aiding the larger effort towards a possible return to Earth. When Mossa unexpectedly arrives and requests Pleiti’s assistance in her latest investigation, the two of them embark on a twisting path in which the future of life on Earth is at stake—and, perhaps, their futures, together.

The prose was similar to Conan Doyle's antique wordsmithing, while still allowing for revelations that were distinctly modern. the plot was also fascinating and swept along like a Japanese Bullet Train. Though I'm not usually a fan of dense prose that outlines all the character's feelings, in detail, I loved these particular characters enough to push through the posh British prose and enjoy all of it's well-edited 166 pages. I'd give this novel a B+ and recommend it to anyone who likes diverse retellings of classic books.

Ruthless Vows by Rebecca Ross is the delicious sequel to Divine Rivals, a book that I read in hardcover several months ago, and I loved it so much I could hardly wait for Ruthless Vows to hit the shelves. This fantasy/romance/mythological revamp is so engrossing and filled with fascinating characters that I couldn't put it down. Here's the blurb:

The epic conclusion to the intensely romantic and beautifully written story that started in Divine Rivals.

Two weeks have passed since Iris Winnow returned home bruised and heartbroken from the front, but the war is far from over. Roman is missing, and the city of Oath continues to dwell in a state of disbelief and ignorance. When Iris and Attie are given another chance to report on Dacre’s movements, they both take the opportunity and head westward once more despite the danger, knowing it’s only a matter of time before the conflict reaches a city that’s unprepared and fracturing beneath the chancellor’s reign.

Since waking below in Dacre’s realm, Roman cannot remember his past. But given the reassurance that his memories will return in time, Roman begins to write articles for Dacre, uncertain of his place in the greater scheme of the war. When a strange letter arrives by wardrobe door, Roman is first suspicious, then intrigued. As he strikes up a correspondence with his mysterious pen pal, Roman will soon have to make a decision: to stand with Dacre or betray the god who healed him. And as the days grow darker, inevitably drawing Roman and Iris closer together…the two of them will risk their very hearts and futures to change the tides of the war.

The blurb is absolutely correct in it's assignment of gorgeous prose to this novel. Ross is a deft hand at making sure each paragraph sings a poignant song, while also crafting a plot that never slows or dawdles, but dances with imagination and sparkles with magic. Having been a journalist for over 35 years, I was particularly taken with the conceit of the magic typewriters that can send messages to another person with a typewriter if you slip the missive under the wardrobe...shades of CS Lewis! I'd give this marvelous story an A, and recommend it highly to anyone who has read Divine Rivals...you won't be disappointed by the sequel.

The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic by Breanne Randall is a fantasy romance set in a world of magic and curses. While it was billed as being a cross between my beloved Gilmore Girls and Practical Magic, I found it to be neither as filled with snappy dialog as the former or with spooky and atmospheric feminine magic as the latter. The prose is lackadaisical, and the plot meanders along in a lazy fashion that is extremely irritating.

Here's the blurb: For fans of Practical Magic and Gilmore Girls, The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic is a debut novel that explores the shields we build around our hearts to retain our own magic.

Sadie Revelare has always believed that the curse of four heartbreaks that accompanies her magic would be worth the price. But when her grandmother is diagnosed with cancer with only weeks to live, and her first heartbreak, Jake McNealy, returns to town after a decade, her carefully structured life begins to unravel.

With the news of their grandmother's impending death, Sadie's estranged twin brother Seth returns to town, bringing with him deeply buried family secrets that threaten to tear Sadie's world apart. Their grandmother has been the backbone of the family for generations, and with her death, Sadie isn't sure she'll have the strength to keep the family, and her magic, together.

As feelings for Jake begin to rekindle, and her grandmother growing sicker by the day, Sadie faces the last of her heartbreaks, and she has to decide: is love more important than magic?

Readers who love the magic of The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake and the sense of community found in The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches will enjoy this warm, witchy novel.

Both men in this book, Jake the ex-bf and Seth the abandoning brother, are complete and utter selfish jerks, and though they have many weak excuses for their behavior, I still felt like Sadie was a fool for taking either of them back into her heart or her life. I would have told them to shove off, especially when Jake fails to reveal that he has a pregnant fiancee (though it turns out she's lying about being pregnant to trap him into marriage...talk about a misogynist cliche!). Sadie herself is the stereotypical romance heroine, who is childish/immature, filled with self-doubt and low self-esteem, and yet can't help but follow her heart (and her lustful thoughts!) back into the arms of Jake the affianced creep. Of course she has little control of her magic or the curse, which causes her to break and despoil things around her when she gets flustered and emotional, like a 13 year old going through puberty at the mention of a 'cute boy' in her class. And when her wise grandmother dies, Sadie, along with everyone else in her family, is completely devastated (I would think she'd be at least a little angry that granny shielded her and was overprotective enough that she's still like an innocent child when confronted with the real world) to a degree that all the weeping and wailing became tedious after awhile.  Hence, I'd give this wobbly and whinging mess of a book a B-, and only recommend it to those who don't mind wasting time on tropes held up with lukewarm magic and a wimpy heroine.

Here's a sample of my growing bedside TBR:

Mrs Nash's Ashes by Sarah Adler

The Wizard of Seattle by Kay Hooper

System Collapse by Martha Wells

Didn't See That Coming by Jesse Q Sutanto

The House of Marionne by J. Elle

On the Plus Side by Jenny L Howe

The Salt Black Tree by Lilith Saintcrow

The Queen's Resistance by Rebecca Ross

The Mad Girls of New York by Maya Rodale

Desperation by Becca Ryden

 

Otherland Comes to TV, Household Saints is Restored, Powell's Workers Agree to New Contract, Couth Buzzard Bookstore for Sale, Quote of the Week, Sparrow Hill Road by Seanan McGuire, Looking for Jane by Heather Marshall, and Do Your Worst by Rosie Danan

Merry Christmas Eve and Happy New Year to all my fellow bibliophiles! I've been slowly but surely wending my way through my stack of birthday books, and so far they've been enthralling. I'm hoping that 2024 will bring even more great books to light, and perhaps even some author meet-and-greets that I might attend. So here's to hope and love and joy and good books, may we all be sitting down with a good book under the holiday lights tonight and tomorrow! 

I've been a fan of Tad Williams for decades, so I'm glad to see that there's going to be a streaming series based on his books.

TV: Otherland

Platige Image (The Witcher) and Mount Devil, together with The Wheel of Time's executive producer Mike Weber, are developing a TV series based on Otherland https://www.shelf-awareness.com/ct/x/pjJscQWLxuQI6a9kIRt2Tg~k1yJoKXv-hs8x6nCWcespoMLg-gVdw, the four-book series by Tad Williams, Deadline reported. "I believe Tad has written the definitive work on the conflict between the human experience and technological advancements," said Weber. "He depicts a not-so-distant future where the choice between living in the real or the virtual world becomes a choice between life or death. The prescient themes and fantastic characters give Otherland all the foundations of a next-level sci-fi drama series adaptation."

I read this book a long time ago, and I'm excited that there's now a restored version of the film.

Movies: Household Saints

A trailer has been released for a restored version of the film Household Saints https://www.shelf-awareness.com/ct/x/pjJscQWMl-UI6a9kIREjTw~k1yJoKXv-hs8x6nCXpatpoMLg-gVdw, based on Francine Prose's novel. "One of the great restorations of the last year--in the sense that not only is it of pristine quality, but that it invites an underseen gem back into the conversation--is that of Nancy Savoca's 1993 drama," the Film Stage reported.

Executive-produced by Jonathan Demme, the cast includes Tracey Ullman, Vincent D'Onofrio, Lili Taylor, Judith Malina, Illeana Douglas, and Michael Imperioli. Scripted by Savoca and Richard Guay, the new 4K restoration will open theatrically on January 12 at the IFC Center in New York before expanding to other theaters.

I'm so glad that they've come to an agreement, as Powells is my book mecca, though I've not been able to visit since the COVID pandemic. Fingers crossed for a visit this year.

Powell's Workers Agree to New Contract

Union workers at Powell's Books, Portland, Ore., have voted to ratify a new union contract, with 93% of Powell's workers voting yes https://www.shelf-awareness.com/ct/x/pjJscQWMl-UI6a9kIRElHw~k1yJoKXv-hs8x6nCXpatpoMLg-gVdw. The vote ends a long, contentious process that has run for most of the year and included a one-day strike on Labor Day and the rejection of a tentative contract agreement last month. The new contract will last for four years, it includes: increases to the minimums for the lowest-paid job groups in the first year, and increases to the minimums for all job groups throughout the contract; annual wage increases totaling $5.20 over the life of the contract for every union worker; expedited promotions for entry-level positions; broader access to holiday pay; a healthcare plan that decreases costs for the most common claims; and more.

Prior to this vote, Powell's workers had been without a contract since June, when the previous contract expired. The contract rejection last month was the first of its kind since Powell's workers unionized in 2000.

I used to work (in exchange for books) at the Couth Buzzard, back when they were across the street from my apartment building at 71st and Greenwood Ave, and the owners, Gerry Lovchik and Marilyn Stauter, were friends who were always available for book discussions and recommendations on where to go and what to do to explore our new home in Seattle. Unfortunately, the building that they were in was sold, Marilyn died, and Gerry got sick, and moved the CB down to the southern part of Greenwood, where he eventually sold it to Theo, who added a cafe and performance space. I haven't visited as much since the emphasis was off of the books, but I got to see Gerry there one more time before he died, and have my picture taken with him. I sincerely hope that someone wonderful buys the Buzzard in 2024 and takes it to new heights.

For Sale: Couth Buzzard Books in Seattle, Wash.

Couth Buzzard Books https://www.shelf-awareness.com/ct/x/pjJscQWMkeUI6a9kIU8kGA~k1yJoKXv-hs8x6nCXpCtpoMLg-gVdw, a used and new bookstore in the Greenwood neighborhood of Seattle, Wash., has been put up for sale.

The Seattle Times reported that last March, owner Theo Dzielak thought his bookstore had reached the end of the line. "I decided to initiate closing the store because the pandemic finally caught up with us," he said. "I was getting deeper in debt and the grace period for the loans were coming due."

To his surprise, however, the community came together to launch a successful GoFundMe campaign, with more than 720 donors contributing to save the shop. But Dzielak still felt ready to retire, having been in the business since he was hired at the University Village Barnes & Noble in 2001, and later becoming a manager in 2004 at Couth Buzzard in its previous location. The Times noted that when the store was evicted, Dzielak teamed up with the original co-owner, Gerry Lovchik, to move to its present location at 8310 Greenwood Ave. N., and he eventually took over full ownership of the shop.

Since the crowdfunding success last spring, business has been good, and some of the store's supporters have formed a steering committee to find a way for the Buzzard to survive.

"So now we're down to three options," Dzielak said. "Finding a nonprofit that will cover us, sell the store or close the store." Several potential buyers have inquired, but the conversations "haven't gone any place yet." He would like to reach some sort of resolution by summer 2024, and has requested that anyone interested in taking over the business reach out to talk with him.

Dzielak believes that the Greenwood/Phinney community is uniquely suited to make a third place work, noting "It's a good mix of businesses and lots of single-family residences, and then right down the street we have the Greenwood Senior Center, and right up the road we have the Phinney neighborhood center. Out on the street, I see people walking their dogs and out with their families--it's already an established neighborhood."

Quote of the Week

"What I say is, a bookstore isn't a bookstore without a cat or dog," author Neil Gaiman once observed. Well, not really. As you all know, what he actually wrote in American Gods was: "What I say is, a town isn't a town without a bookstore. It may call itself a town, but unless it's got a bookstore, it knows it's not fooling a soul." But you get my point.

Here's the reviews:

Sparrow Hill Road by Seanan McGuire is an urban fantasy novel/ghost story based on the urban legend of a young woman in a prom dress hitching a ride on highways at night, and then evaporating in daylight. In this particular telling, Rose Marshall, who died on the way to prom in 1952, travels the highways and byways, looking to help those who are going to die in car crashes avoid the bad guys who would take their soul for nefarious purposes, rather than help them become another ghost hitch hiker or a roadwitch. Here's the blurb: Rose Marshall died in 1952 in Buckley Township, Michigan, run off the road by a man named Bobby Cross—a man who had sold his soul to live forever, and intended to use her death to pay the price of his immortality. Trouble was, he didn’t ask Rose what she thought of the idea.

It’s been more than sixty years since that night, and she’s still sixteen, and she’s still running.
They have names for her all over the country: the Girl in the Diner. The Phantom Prom Date. The Girl in the Green Silk Gown. Mostly she just goes by “Rose,” a hitchhiking ghost girl with her thumb out and her eyes fixed on the horizon, trying to outrace a man who never sleeps, never stops, and never gives up on the idea of claiming what’s his. She’s the angel of the overpass, she’s the darling of the truck stops, and she’s going to figure out a way to win her freedom. After all, it’s not like it can kill her.You can’t kill what’s already dead. 

I've read most of McGuire's October Daye series, so I wasn't surprised by the excellent prose and sturdy, well-thought-out plot. What did surprise me was the mythological characters, such a Persephone and Demeter, and the Stephen King-level sneaky horror bits that McGuire was able to weave into the story so seamlessly that you've already read it before you realize what it was. Clever author! I'm looking forward to the next book in the series, but meanwhile I'd give this page-turner a B+, and recommend it to those who enjoy fleshed out urban legends.

Looking for Jane by Heather Marshall, is a contemporary women's fiction novel set in several different eras of Toronto, Canada's history, that tells the tale of women seeking abortion before it was legal, and afterwards as well. Though it was a bit over-written (way too many emotional reviews for each character), I really enjoyed learning more about women's struggle for reproductive rights in Canada. Here's the blurb:

This “clever and satisfying”  bestseller for fans of Kristin Hannah and Jennifer Chiaverini follows three women who are bound together by a long-lost letter, a mother’s love, and a secret network of women fighting for the right to choose—inspired by true stories.

2017: When Angela Creighton discovers a mysterious letter containing a life-shattering confession, she is determined to find the intended recipient. Her search takes her back to the 1970s when a group of daring women operated an illegal underground abortion network in Toronto known only by its whispered code name: Jane.

1971: As a teenager, Dr. Evelyn Taylor was sent to a home for “fallen” women where she was forced to give up her baby for adoption—a trauma she has never recovered from. Despite the constant threat of arrest, she joins the Jane Network as an abortion provider, determined to give other women the choice she never had.

1980: After discovering a shocking secret about her family, twenty-year-old Nancy Mitchell begins to question everything she has ever known. When she unexpectedly becomes pregnant, she feels like she has no one to turn to for help. Grappling with her decision, she locates “Jane” and finds a place of her own alongside Dr. Taylor within the network’s ranks, but she can never escape the lies that haunt her.

Looking for Jane is “a searing, important, beautifully written novel about the choices we all make and where they lead us—as well as a wise and timely reminder of the difficult road women had to walk not so long ago” (Kristin Harmel, New York Times bestselling author).

Marshall's prose is intricate and incisive, but her plot takes detours more than once while she goes over, in detail, how each character feels, about children, motherhood, guilt, etc. These inner ramblings detract from the story itself. But all is not lost, and before long we're back on track and the story comes to a tidy conclusion. I'd give this book a B, and recommend it to anyone curious about the struggle for women's rights in Canada during several different periods in time.

Do Your Worst by Rosie Danan is a YA rom-com that is full of snarky dialog and a very satisfying "enemies to lovers" romance. Here's the blurb: Sparks fly when an occult expert and a disgraced archeologist become enemies-with-benefits in this steamy romance from "go-to author" Rosie Danan (The New York Times Book Review).

Riley Rhodes finally has the chance to turn her family’s knack for the supernatural into a legitimate business when she’s hired to break the curse on an infamous Scottish castle. Used to working alone in her alienating occupation, she's pleasantly surprised to meet a handsome stranger upon arrival—until he tries to get her fired.

Fresh off a professional scandal, Clark Edgeware can’t allow a self-proclaimed “curse breaker” to threaten his last chance for redemption. After he fails to get Riley kicked off his survey site, he vows to avoid her. Unfortunately for him, she vows to get even.

Riley expects the curse to do her dirty work by driving Clark away, but instead, they keep finding themselves in close proximity. Too close. Turns out, the only thing they do better than fight is fool around. If they’re not careful, by the end of all this, more than the castle will end up in ruins. 

The sexual tension sizzles in this novel, so much so that it almost becomes as agonizing as it is for the characters on the page. Riley and Clark are the perfect foils for one another, and their romance, with science vs magic is by turns fascinating and adorkable. My only problem was that I felt that Clark was kind of a sexist asshat, and I felt Riley should have dressed him down verbally for being such a jerk more often. Danan's prose is wonderful fun, full of bounce and sass, and her plot has just the right amount of twists to keep you on the edge of your seat. I'd give this book an A, and recommend it to anyone who likes classic movie rom coms like When Harry Met Sally or even the first season of Bridgerton. It's a fun and fast read. 

Grit City Books Opening in Tacoma, Apple TV Renews Foundation for Season 3, Three Bells Books Opens in Mason City, Iowa, Wheely Good Bookmobile Launches from Ellensburg, WA, Murderbot Comes to Apple+, Mounting Crisis of Book Bans, Bent Oak Books Launches in Ft Madison, IA, Dead Man's Hand by James J Butcher, The Hatmakers by Tamzin Merchant, Thief of Sorrows by Kristin Long

Happy Holidays to all my fellow bibliophiles around the world! Today my blog post is a couple of days late because I've been celebrating my 63rd birthday and reading voraciously, since I received 8 books for my birthday, along with a journal and some pens and chocolates, peppermints and a new purse (that has yet to arrive, but just knowing that it will get here next week is so exciting!) Plus, I'm going to take a flying lesson tomorrow, which is something I've always wanted to do, because I love airplanes and flight. 

Anyway, here's the latest book news and some reviews of just a few of the books I've been gifted for my birthday.  

Since my gastroenterologist lives and works in Tacoma, and my husband has spent a lot of time this year at Tacoma General Hospital and St Joseph's Hospital, I've been exploring the area more than ever (My son also worked there before his company was sold). So I was excited to read that there's a new bookstore opening up in Tacoma during 2024. I hope I get the chance to visit!

Grit City Books https://www.shelf-awareness.com/ct/x/pjJscQWIlb0I6a9lKhEgGg~k1yJoKXv-hs8x6nCWpT1poMLg-gVdw, an online bookstore that launched in November, plans to open a physical bookstore at 3116 Sixth Ave. in Tacoma, Wash., next year. Noting that the location is part of the ground-level commercial space of Sixth & Alder Apartments, the News Tribune reported that co-founders Jeff Hanway, husband Kegan Hanway, and Kaitlin Chandler "hope to have the bricks-and-mortar version of their store open in the spring."

The co-founders all graduated from the University of Puget Sound more than a decade ago, though the Hanways didn't meet Chandler until years later, when they rented office space at TractionSpace, where she works as director of operations.

Jeff Hanway, who has worked in business operations and healthcare business development-consulting, said, "[Chandler] was the perfect addition to our ownership group." Chandler explained: "I worked in high-end and high-volume retail for 10 years." Kegan Hanway works in technology.

Chandler added: "We envision Grit City Books eventually being embedded in the Tacoma community.... Our goal is to provide a safe space for marginalized communities through our collective love of books, reading, and learning."

Kegan Hanway explained that "the idea of this bookstore grew out of our navigating Covid and lockdowns and the realities of working in a corporate environment... that reevaluation that I think a lot of us went through during Covid... that there was other stuff we could be doing that might have more value to us, to our community."

The owners had been searching for a physical space since June. "We first toured the Sixth & Alder space in early September. And then we kind of fell in love with the location. It was the right size [and] gave us a lot of flexibility with it being a brand new space that hadn't ever been built out before," Jeff Hanway noted. Chandler added: "We love books and Tacoma and couldn't think of a better way to share our passion than to open an independent bookstore in the city we call home."

"We want to make sure that we are supporting our LGBTQ+ community of all ages to make sure that there's a safe space, a feeling of inclusion," Kegan Hanway said. "And it's not just LGBTQ+. We're interested in partnering with local book clubs, author tours, you name it, poetry readings, open mic sessions... it's like: 'What can't we do?' "

I've been watching Foundation on Apple+ with interest, because, though I read the Foundation trilogy initially in my teens 50 years ago, I have always wondered how this complex series would play out on a movie screen. While the first season did a great job of laying the foundation of the program (sorry for the pun), the second season has gotten a bit too complex and labyrinthine for my tastes, and I've not gotten beyond the first two episodes. However, I would imagine they're going to even things out in season 3. I must mention that Lee Pace does an incredible job playing Brother Day...he literally glows like a god. And shout out to Terrance Mann, who plays Brother Dusk with characteristic aplomb.

TV: Apple TV+ Renews Foundation for Third Season

The Apple TV+ series Foundation, based on Isaac Asimov's classic sci-fi novels, has been renewed for season three. Produced by Skydance Television, with David S. Goyer as showrunner and executive producer, Foundation stars Lee Pace and Jared Harris. "I'm thrilled Apple has given us the opportunity to continue chronicling Asimov's pioneering galactic saga. This time, the stakes for Foundation and Empire are even higher as the Mule takes center stage, along with fan-favorites Bayta, Toran, Ebling and Magnifico Giganticus," said Goyer.

Matt Cherniss, head of programming for Apple TV+, added: "We have all been incredibly impressed with the ambitious, action-packed and imaginative adaptation that David and the rest of this gifted creative team and cast have brought to life with this premium sci-fi series from day one. To watch Foundation become such a global hit has been beyond exciting with audiences around the world continuing to be captivated week after week by this dramatic and compelling journey to save humanity. We can't wait for everyone to experience what is in store for characters old and new in season three."

Hurrah for another bookstore opening in Iowa, my home state. I wish that my mother, who is 86, was more mobile so she could go and check the place out. But Mason City isn't really close to Altoona, IA.

Grand Opening for Three Bells Books, Mason City, Iowa

Three Bells Books https://www.shelf-awareness.com/ct/x/pjJscQWIn7oI6a9lchhyTA~k1yJoKXv-hs8x6nCWp7ypoMLg-gVdw, Mason City, Iowa, hosted its grand opening celebration last Sunday at 14 S. Commercial Alley, in the Bergo's Mini Mall. "After an absolutely awesome grand opening day yesterday, we are feeling thrilled by the support of our community. We are so happy and grateful to be here," the bookshop posted on Facebook Monday.

Owned by Molly Angstman and Jake Rajewsky of Fat Hill Brewing, "the cozy bookstore has over 4,000 books in stock. Each section of shelves has something to offer, including unexpected gifts.... At the back of the store is kids' nook packed with vibrantly illustrated stories and young-adult novels," the Globe Gazette reported.

A bar-top counter offers seating as well, with beer, wine, and juice available. "We are so excited," said Angstman. "We can't thank our little community enough for supporting us through this. We hope people like it."

Angstman and Rajewsky "have created the space not only for picking out your next literary thrill, but also for socializing and simply enjoying your downtime," the Globe Gazette noted."We've had a great response from everyone who's come in," Rajewsky said.

Though Ellensburg is on the "other side of the mountain" as they say over here in the Puget Sound area, or Western Washington, this new bookstore sounds like a good reason to take a day trip over to Eastern Wash to check it out.

Pearl Street Books & Gifts in Wash. Goes Mobile with Wheely Good Books

Pearl Street Books & Gifts https://www.shelf-awareness.com/ct/x/pjJscQWJke8I6a9lcRknSQ~k1yJoKXv-hs8x6nCW5CnpoMLg-gVdw, Ellensburg, Wash., has launched Wheely Good Books, a bookmobile remodeled from an old shuttle bus. The Daily Record reported that owner Liz Stone "is taking business on the road to pop-up events around the county and beyond."

"Everyone loves the idea of a moving bookstore. Customer feedback has been great. They've called it cozy, charming, a blast from the past," she said, adding that she likes how "Wheely" gives the business more flexibility, including extended hours and an extended community.

The shuttle bus she purchased needed a lot of work done, but Novotny Construction came to the rescue. "It was remodeled within a week," Stone said. "Holes were patched up, seats were removed, bookshelves were installed, and the construction workers even built a bench seat into the side for readers to get comfy with their new book," the Daily Record noted. "It gives customers a place to relax and hang out in a cozy, safe atmosphere," Stone said. "It has the same feel as our bookstore." Fast Lane Signs came up with the design (including the owl motif on the front of the bus), and Stone's customers held a contest to choose the bookmobile's name.

I've been reading the Murderbot series for years now, and I've come to care about Murderbot itself, and it's dry wit and space soap opera video habit. So this news that the Weitz brothers have decided to bring Murderbot and it's friends to life on a streaming series is like an early Christmas present! I can hardly wait for the premier next year.

Murderbot Comes to Apple +!

A sci-fi series based on Martha Wells novels, “The Murderbot Diaries,” has landed at Apple TV+.

Hailing from “About a Boy” creators Chris and Paul Weitz, “Murderbots” follows a self-hacking security android who is horrified by human emotion yet drawn to its vulnerable “clients.” Murderbot must hide its free will and complete a dangerous assignment when all it really wants is to be left alone to watch futuristic soap operas and figure out its place in the universe. Alexander Skarsgård will lead the series and will serve as executive producer.

The Weitz brothers will write, direct, and produce under their Depth of Field banner. Andrew Miano also executive produces alongside for Depth of Field. David S. Goyer executive produces alongside Keith Levine for Phantom Four. Martha Wells will serve as consulting producer. Paramount Television Studios produces the series.

This is the most disturbing news of 2023. I can't believe that these fascists are actually able to affect book bans in libraries and school libraries, denying children, teens and adults full access to the wonderful array of fiction and non fiction available to them. What's most ironic about this is that most of these evil book banners haven't even read the material that they are banning, and they completely leave out the Bible when they're banning books that contain "sexuality and violence and racism." The Bible is rife with all three. A majority of these so-called Christians cherry-pick Bible quotes or take them out of context, twist their meaning and/or attribute them to Jesus, who never actually says anything about subjects like homosexuality or race, probably due to the fact that he was a Middle Eastern (therefore he had brown skin) Jewish man. We MUST stop this crisis of ignorance and social manipulation.

New PEN Report Details 'Mounting Crisis' of Book Bans

Spineless Shelves https://www.shelf-awareness.com/ct/x/pjJscQWJwegI6a9lcBl_TA~k1yJoKXv-hs8x6nCW8CgpoMLg-gVdw, a new PEN America report examining two years of book ban data in U.S. public schools, details a "mounting crisis" that has spread across 41 states and 247 school districts.

From July 2021 to June 2023, there were 5,894 instances of book bans, affecting 2,823 unique titles and censoring the work of 2,076 authors, 517 illustrators, and 31 translators. The three most banned authors were Ellen Hopkins, Maia Kobabe, and Toni Morisson.

PEN pointed to "copycat bans" as a growing element of book banning efforts, with "a portion of titles removed seemingly because another district removed it elsewhere." Similarly, PEN found a "Scarlet Letter" effect, where "several works from an author's collection were subsequently targeted after at least one of their works was banned."

There has been a "sustained focus" on banning YA titles, particularly those that explore subjects like violence or racism, or feature people of color or LGBTQ+ individuals. And while YA books made up 58% of all book bans overall, adult books have increasingly been targeted, making up 17% of all book bans over the same period. Bans of books intended for middle grade readers and younger audiences, meanwhile, have declined slightly.

Florida and Texas "continue to lead the country in number of bans," with the states combining for more than half of the total recorded number of bans over the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 school years. In Florida, instances of bans increased by 148% year-over-year, and more than half of Florida's school districts "experienced banning activity." In Texas, there were 1,426 instances of bans across 28 school districts. Following Florida and Texas, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Tennessee, Utah, and South Carolina saw the most bans.

Another bookstore opening in Iowa! Hurrah! I sincerely hope that these new bookstores stand strong against the recent Iowa legislation that bans books. Everyone should have the right to read whatever they want to.

Bent Oak Books Launches in Fort Madison, Iowa

Bent Oak Books https://www.shelf-awareness.com/ct/x/pjJscQWJwegI6a9lcBknSw~k1yJoKXv-hs8x6nCW8CgpoMLg-gVdw opens today at 619 Seventh St. Fort Madison, Iowa, in a two-story brick building constructed around 1883. Owner Danette Baier, who is putting some finishing touches on the shop, told the Daily Democrat that the idea to open a bookstore stemmed from her experiences as a teenager.

"My very first job was at a downtown ice cream store here in Fort Madison," she said. "What I would say is my desire to own a bookstore stemmed from my desire to have a small family-owned business, specifically downtown Fort Madison."

Noting that she grew up babysitting for families who had businesses in the downtown area, she added: "In both of those scenarios, the families lived above their little family business, and I was really drawn to that, seeing these small downtown district businesses and regulars coming in each day."

Although the space is only about 650 square feet, the bookshop features shelves filled with new and used books for all ages, some family games, as well as seating areas and a coffee bar. "There's not an enormous amount of inventory, but I've tried to really put some thought into what we were carrying," Baier said. "My goal is people will take a minute to look at what they want, grab a cup of coffee or tea; I have some cool drinks in the cooler over there; and take their time. I hope people feel welcome."

Noting that the venture is going to be a learning experience, Baier anticipates people letting her know what they're hoping to see in a bookstore: "I'm very open to suggestions," she said. "So if somebody comes in and notices I don't have a lot of one particular topic or genre or author, I'm taking ideas. I'm going to have a little notebook and keep track of suggestions, so when I do put my orders in, I'll try to include what everyone's looking for, hopefully."

Here's my latest reviews:

Dead Man's Hand by James J Butcher is a new series written by the son of Jim Butcher, the enormously successful author of the Dresden Files series and the Cinder Spires series, among others. This reminded me of Joe Box writing horror novels, as he's the son of Stephen King, famed horror novelist who has actually written in a variety of genres, with great success and many movies/TV shows to his credit. While I'm not a fan of horror, I have read 5 of King's novels, which, though the subject matter was sickening and disgusting, were still extremely well written and engrossing to the point of being un-put-downable (and yes, I did have nightmares for months afterward).  So when I tried to read his son's first novel and couldn't get past page 20, I was surprised that the apple apparently falls far enough from the tree as to be an entirely different fruit. Sadly, the same appears to be true of James Jr and his famous father, as Dead Man's Hand reads like a cut-rate self-published horror/slasher movie version of the Dresden Files, if Harry Dresden was out for vengeance and decided to have a sad-sack, cowardly 20 something as a side kick. Though I read the whole novel, I will never read another book of junior's again, it was that bad. Here's the blurb: 

In the tradition of his renowned father, James J. Butcher’s debut novel is a brilliant urban fantasy about a young man who must throw out the magical rule book to solve the murder of his former mentor.

On the streets of Boston, the world is divided into the ordinary Usuals, and the paranormal Unorthodox. And in the Department of Unorthodox Affairs, the Auditors are the magical elite, government-sanctioned witches with spells at their command and all the power and prestige that comes with it. Grimshaw Griswald Grimsby is…not one of those witches.
 
After flunking out of the Auditor training program and being dismissed as “not Department material,” Grimsby tried to resign himself to life as a mediocre witch. But he can’t help hoping he’ll somehow, someway, get another chance to prove his skill. That opportunity comes with a price when his former mentor, aka the most dangerous witch alive, is murdered down the street from where he works, and Grimsby is the Auditors’ number one suspect.
 
Proving his innocence will require more than a little legwork, and after forming a strange alliance with the retired legend known as the Huntsman and a mysterious being from Elsewhere, Grimsby is abruptly thrown into a life of adventure, whether he wants it or not. Now all he has to do is find the real killer, avoid the Auditors on his trail, and most importantly, stay alive.

Dude, there is nothing "brilliant" about this "urban fantasy" that is actually a blood-soaked horror novel. Grimsby is a cowardly idiot who doesn't know his arse from a hole in the ground. Why the Huntsman, who is the Harry Dresden-like character here, puts up with his cringe-worthy antics is beyond me. Butcher's prose is about halfway to competent, and his plot is wobbly and holey most of the way through. the ending was barely believable. All told, I'd give this uninspiring novel (that I frankly believe would not have been published had Junior not been the son of a famed author), a C+, and if I had known that it was going to be so gruesome and horrific, I wouldn't have bothered in the first place. So I can only recommend this book to those who enjoy horror at it's lowest, B movie levels.

The Hatmakers by Tamzin Merchant is a truly delightful YA fantasy that is reminiscent of TJ Klune's The House in the Cerulean Sea and Ann Aguirre's The Only Purple House in Town. There's found family, magic, guilds/families of 'makers' and a plot to rid London of all magic. I was riveted from the first page to the last. Here's the blurb: 

An enchanting fantasy adventure about the importance of bravery, resourcefulness, and following your heart from a debut celebrity author.

The most important rule to follow when you hunt for hat ingredients is this: keep wildness in your wits and magic in your fingertips.

In Cordelia’s London, magic is real and is woven into objects created by the five Maker families: the Hatmakers, the Bootmakers, the Watchmakers, the Cloakmakers, and the Glovemakers. Growing up in her father Prospero’s footsteps, eleven-year-old Cordelia Hatmaker has learned the family’s ancient skills and secrets so she can one day make her own enchanted hats.

When Prospero and his ship are lost at sea during an important ingredient expedition, her grief-stricken aunt and uncle must turn their attention toward fulfilling a decree to create a Peace Hat for the king. But Cordelia refuses to accept that her father is gone for good and desperately begins making plans to find him. Then, the Peace Hat is stolen—along with the Peace Boots, Watch, Cloak, and Gloves—and Cordelia realizes that there is a more menacing plot against the Makers’ Guild, and that Prospero Hatmaker’s disappearance may be connected. Cordelia must uncover the truth about who is behind the thefts if she is to save the Makers and find out what really happened to her father. Full of magic, surprise, and adventure, Tamzin Merchant’s sparkling debut introduces a captivating heroine and her extraordinary world. 

Merchant's prose is soft and sparkly and altogether lovely. The plot of this novel seems to be a bit odd and twisty at times, but that only enhances its power to engross the reader into an all night reading session. I adored Dilly and her odd collection of uncles and aunties, who, along with her sea-faring father, keep her busy trying to make her own magic. A bit of a spoilery warning, though, is that the end is something of a cliffhanger, which leads directly to the next novel in this series, The Mapmakers. I'd give this delightful book an A, and recommend it to anyone who likes optimistic books about unusual applications of magic and thrilling adventure.

Thief of Sorrows by Kristin Long is a rather grim and melodramatic fantasy adventure novel that feels like it was written by a sullen and unwilling teenage girl, who was told that "this is what sells" when she went to an agent or publisher about her latest thinly disguised Robin Hood (the movie) slash Kill Bill fan fiction. Here's the blurb:

What if Robin Hood was a female assassin, with deadly powers, who not only steals from the rich and corrupt...she kills them too.

Isolde Cotheran is anything but a damsel in need of saving. By day, she is the heir to Thornwood manor and all its lands. By night, she masquerades as the Hood, a brutal outlaw who leads a cadre of thieves and assassins whose mission is simple, fight for those who cannot fight for themselves. When Isolde brutally kills a lord, it forces two men back into her life. Liam, the handsome Captain of the Guard, who was shunned from Thornwood for joining the evil king's army. And Gage, the Right Hand of the king and murderer of Isolde's first love.
After a successful heist leaves Gage humiliated and in danger of the king's wrath for failure to capture the Hood, Isolde's world is thrown into chaos. Struggling to protect those she loves not only from the dangers of the kingdom but from her own deadly power, Isolde is forced to take action when one of her own is caught in the crosshairs. Choices are made and blood is spilled, forcing the Hood to face her past. A past that is far more dangerous than even she realizes.

The prose reads like it was poorly translated from another language, due to inconsistent grammar and a ton of typos, and the plot is so easy it's apparent from the first chapter where the plane will land, so to speak. The characters are cheap tropes and the so-called "romantic" sub plot is riddled with cliches. If you find things like slavery, rape, torture, child abuse and murder distasteful and/or triggering, especially when described in detail in every chapter, then this isn't the book for you. I felt like the author was seeking new ways to be evil and to kill or maim people every few pages, and the bad guys were so bad all they needed was a moustache twirl, a black cloak and an evil laugh and they'd be Snidely Whiplash, that cartoon villain we all grew up watching. Isolde, the female protagonist, is more talented with weaponry and magic than anyone else in her group, but she's constantly assailed by guilt and doubt and self-loathing, because of course you can't have a strong woman who accepts herself and is confident! That would be off-putting to all the misogynist male characters who are bent on rape and torture of all the women and girls they've stolen in lieu of taxes that the poor but honest peasants can't afford to pay. The men are all full of themselves, macho sleazebag aristocrats who are power hungry, greedy and care for no one but themselves. But though the Hood manages to kill several of these pieces of dung, we're left at the end with her having to face the King sleazebag himself, at a palace tournament. Since we all know how the story of Robin Hood ends, its a safe bet that Isolde ends up winning the tournament (as the Hood) and is revealed to be a lady aristocrat and sentenced to death, where she manages to escape, but only after rescuing all her friends and the children who are being used to bait the trap, and after neutralizing the king or killing him in favor of someone who doesn't believe in slavery or torture. Woo-hoo.

I'd give this tedious, overblown melodrama a C, and only recommend it to those who are interested in the horror version of Robin Hood.

 

PRH Sues Iowa over Book Ban Law, Cats for Check Out at Oregon Library, Death of Bunny Munro on TV, Lawsuit Brought by John Green and Others Against Book Ban, Obit Note for Michael Bishop, Grand Gesture Books Debuts in Portland, Scarlet by Genevieve Cogman, To Love and to Loathe by Martha Waters, A Cat Cafe Christmas by Codi Gary, Infinity in the Palm of Your Hand by Marcus Chown

Welcome to the wonderful winter of December, my favorite month of the year! My 63rd birthday is on Tuesday, and I'm hoping for a stress-free, fun day where I just read books and eat cake, drink tea and open presents. Meanwhile, this month I've been reading and enjoying some inexpensive ebooks that are surprisingly engrossing.  I've also been reading a lot of stories about the Iowa book banning law and the ongoing efforts to fight it. I'm actually horrified that my home state would do such a thing, as I grew up in censorship-free Iowa libraries and school libraries where no one ever took a book away from me or suggested that I couldn't read a given book because of its content. Well, there was this one time when I had read my way through the Mt Pleasant library's children's section, and when I told the librarian that I had, she asked me if I wanted to read in the adult book section, and when I assured her that I did, and that I read well beyond my grade level, she allowed me behind the velvet ropes into the rest of the library, and never batted an eye when I checked out tomes by John Steinbeck or F Scott Fitzgerald or Willa Cather. So denying children and teens (and adults) access to books that contain "depictions" of sex or gender identity goes against the tradition of Iowa being a place of education and enlightenment. I mean, seriously, there's "depictions" of sex in the Bible! Shame on you, Iowa senators. 

 

Good for PRH! This law is censorship and unconstitutional!

Penguin Random House Sues the State of Iowa

PRH got into the censorship/banning fight in a public, serious, and laudable way this week when it filed suit against the state of Iowa regarding Senate File 496. The recently enacted law prohibits the depiction of sex or gender identity, in any context, from public and school libraries. This is one of (the?) most egregious of these legislative attempts to prevent kids from knowing, learning, and understanding about issues and experiences that are not just common, but healthy, normal, and affirming. May their efforts succeed.

I love this idea, of checking out a robot kitty to purr on your lap for awhile...what a great way to relieve stress and loneliness. I wish to heck that they'd start a program like this in Maple Valley, WA, where I live!

Cats for Check Out at Oregon Library

The pleasures of pet ownership aren’t available to everyone. Allergies, expenses, or even housing prohibitions can limit dog or cat adoption. But for patrons of a library system in Eugene, Oregon, it’s possible to enjoy the short-term company of a cat, albeit one that’s battery-powered.

According to Oregon Public Broadcasting, three robotic felines are in circulation at branches of the Eugene Public Library and are freely available for lending to anyone with a library card. And yes, each has a name: Mr. Pickles, Percival, and Bandit.

Library adult services supervisor Kate Berry told OPB that the cats were acquired partially as an alternative for patrons experiencing loneliness or memory issues and who may not be eligible for live pet ownership. But anyone can check out the cats, which mimic the real thing by purring and meowing upon being touched. (The purring, however, sounds more like a coffeemaker brewing.) https://www.mentalfloss.com/posts/robotic-cat-oregon-library

I adored Matt Smith's Doctor on Doctor Who ("I speak baby"), so I'm always interested in any other roles he takes on, as I believe he's such a fine actor and I enjoy watching him inhabit a character. 

TV: The Death of Bunny Munro

Matt Smith (Doctor Who) is starring in and executive producing an

adaptation of Nick Cave's novel, The Death of Bunny Munro

https://www.shelfawareness.com/ct/x/pjJscQLZwbkI6a9mKkwjSw~k1yJoKXv-hs8x6nFC8DxpoMLg-gVdw.

Deadline reported that the project is being written by BAFTA-winning

screenwriter Pete Jackson (Somewhere Boy) for indie Clerkenwell Films

(End of the F***ing World), in association with Sky Studios. Cave will

exec produce with Smith and others.

"To work alongside Nick Cave feels like a great honor," said Smith.

"It's a brilliant exploration of love, grief, and chaos. At its heart a

deep, difficult, and tender story about a father and son, coping with

loss and change."

The series will begin filming in Spring 2024 in the south of England and

will be available on Sky Atlantic and streaming service NOW in the U.K.

NBCUniversal Global Distribution is handling international sales of the

series on behalf of Sky Studios.

Lawsuit Brought Against Iowa Book Ban

Penguin Random House and several bestselling authors, including novelists John Green and Jodi Picoult, are part of a lawsuit challenging Iowa’s new book banning law that prohibits libraries and classrooms from having practically any book that depicts sexual activity. https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-news/penguin-random-house-bestselling-authors-sue-iowa-school-book-banning-rcna127522

Hurrah to Representative Frost for trying to help schools fight book bans!

I totally agree with him that these laws and bans are an attack on democratic freedoms in every state.

“Fight Book Bans” Act Introduced in US Congress

Representative Maxwell Frost, a Democrat from Florida, has introduced a bill to help school districts manage the expense of book bans. The Fight Book Bans Act would allocate $15 million over five years to school districts in chunks of up to $100k each.

“Book bans in Florida and in states across the nation are a direct attack on our freedoms and liberties everywhere. As my home state shamefully leads the country in book bans, we cannot let this censorship and dismantling of our education system go unchecked,” said Frost in a press release. “What we are seeing in Florida and states like Texas, Utah, and Missouri are loud and clear attempts by far-right conservative leaders to silence and erase our Black, brown, Hispanic, and LGBTQ+ communities. The Fight Book Bans Act takes a stand against censorship to firmly stand on the side of history, education, our students, teachers, and schools who don’t deserve to suffer the consequences of radical politics in the classroom. This is about protecting our libraries and protecting truth and history.”

 

I read a book by Michael Bishop a long time ago, and I was sorry to see that he'd passed on.

Obituary Note: Michael Bishop 

Michael Bishop, https://www.shelf-awareness.com/ct/x/pjJscQLdlL8I6a9lIBx3Sw~k1yJoKXv-hs8x6nFD5X3poMLg-gVdw, who "wrote many stories that inhabit the borderlands between science fiction and mainstream, drawing on influences as diverse as Ray Bradbury and Jorge Luis Borges, Thomas M. Disch and Philip K Dick, Dylan Thomas and Tolstoy, but also reaching back as far as the Greek historian Herodotus for inspiration," died on November 13, the Guardian reported.

He was 78.

"The common element in his work was a desire to explore the human

spirit," the Guardian noted, citing early examples "set in vivid alien

and alienating faraway worlds," like his debut novel, A Funeral for the

Eyes of Fire (1975, revised as Eyes of Fire, 1980), and In

Transfigurations (1979).

Bishop introduced the Urban Nucleus of Atlanta, a domed city that

represented an alternate, isolated U.S., and chronicled its century-long

history through A Little Knowledge (1977) and Catacomb Years (1979), the

two books revised and combined in The City and the Cygnets (2019).

His novelette The Quickening (1981) won a Nebula Award, and he received

a second for the novel No Enemy but Time (1982). Other works include

Ancient of Days (1985); Who Made Stevie Crye? (1984); Unicorn Mountain

(1988); Count Geiger's Blues (1992); and Joel-Brock the Brave and the

Valorous Smalls (2016). He collaborated with the British science fiction

writer Ian Watson on the novel Under Heaven's Bridge (1981), and with

Paul Di Filippo for two crime novels, Would It Kill You to Smile? (1998)

and Muskrat Courage (2000), under the name Philip Lawson. He also

published two volumes of poetry, an essay collection, and two story

collections.

Bishop's own favorite from among his novels was Brittle Innings (1994),

"a homage to both Mary Shelley and baseball in which a promising young

player joins a Georgia team and meets their star, the statuesque and

grotesque Jumbo Henry Clerval, an enigma revealed to be the immortal

creation of Dr. Frankenstein," the Guardian wrote.

Another homage was Philip K. Dick Is Dead, Alas, originally published as

The Secret Ascension (1987) but later reprinted under Bishop's preferred

title, in which Dick's sci-fi novels are suppressed by President Nixon.

The Guardian noted that as the Star Wars films, beginning in 1977, "gave

a juvenile form of science-fiction ascendancy, Bishop turned from

off-world settings to paleoanthropological topics," telling Nick Gevers

for the InfinityPlus website in 2000: "Rightly or wrongly, I wanted to

reclaim [science fiction], at least in some of its literary

manifestations, as a legitimate medium in which to examine age-old human

concerns."

This is thrilling, a new bookstore in Portland, OR, that is owned by a POC and is dedicated to the romance genre. I hope that they find a space soon and that their bookstore thrives!

 

Grand Gesture Books Debuts in Portland, Ore.

Grand Gesture Books https://www.shelf-awareness.com/ct/x/pjJscQLdxuQI6a9lIEpzTw~k1yJoKXv-hs8x6nFD8espoMLg-gVdw, a romance-only bookstore based in Portland, Ore., has debuted as an online store while owner Katherine Morgan searches for a physical space,Axios Portland reported.

Morgan, who has worked at Powell's Books since 2017 and currently

manages the store's romance section, hopes to find a suitable space

within the next six months and to open next year. Per Axios, it would be

the second Black-owned bookstore in Portland.

There is a substantial romance audience in Portland, with Morgan noting

that the section at Powell's is sometimes so busy she can't walk through

it, and she's been inspired by the success of other romance-focused

bookstores that have opened in recent years.

"If they want to read a mafia romance or a book about aliens dating,

that's great," Morgan told Axios. "Wherever they find that joy, I'm not

going to have anyone try to stifle it."

Scarlet by Genevieve Cogman is a delightful, if bloody, retelling of the French Revolution with Vampires in the aristocracy and a bright scullery maid who just happens to look like Marie Antoinette helping the Scarlet Pimpernel save the dauphin and his sister. Seriously. Here's the blurb:

Revolution is a bloodthirsty business . . . especially when vampires are involved.

It is 1793 and the French Revolution is in full swing. Vampires—usually rich and aristocratic—have slaked the guillotine’s thirst in large numbers. The mysterious Scarlet Pimpernel, a disguised British noble, and his League are heroically rescuing dozens of aristocrats from execution, both human and vampire. And soon they will have an ace up their sleeve: Eleanor Dalton.

Eleanor is working as a housemaid on the estate of a vampire Baroness. Her highest aspiration is to one day become a modiste. But when the Baroness hosts a mysterious noble and his wife, they tell Eleanor she is the spitting image of a French aristocrat, and they convince her to journey to France to aid them in a daring scheme. Soon, Eleanor finds herself in Paris, swept up in magic and intrigue—and chaos—beyond her wildest dreams. But there’s more to fear than ardent Revolutionaries. For Eleanor stumbles across a centuries-old war between vampires and their fiercest enemy. And they’re out for blood. . . . 

Scarlet is the first book in a wildly engaging new series from Genevieve Cogman, which reinvents the beloved tale of the Scarlet Pimpernel.

I know that this book sounds improbably bizarre at best, but Cogman has a habit of taking a subject that is quite staid and boring and turning it into a wild adventure that has you hanging by the edge of your seat. Her Invisible Library books made librarians into stealthy "James Bond combined with Doctor Who" individuals who treat with dragons and the Fae to get important books into libraries of different times and spaces. While those books were amazing, I was still wary of what she'd do with the awful French Revolution to make it more interesting and less gory. Cogman's prose is sterling, and her plots, which seem to be wild, are intricate and beautiful examples of what a professional writer can do within the confines of genre fiction. I loved every page, and found myself rooting for Eleanor, and hoping she lived to tell the tale. I'd give this exciting novel an A, and recommend it to anyone who enjoys a surprising and thrilling paranormal take on the French Revolution.

 

To Love and To Loathe by Martha Waters is a 'frenemies' romance that is so well written I barely noticed any tropes or cliches, which is something that usually irks me about historical romances. Water's prose is elegant and crisp, while her plot is substantial and strong enough to carry this witty couple to their well-deserved HEA. Here's the blurb: The author of the “hilarious...joyful, elegant” (Publishers Weekly) To Have and to Hoax returns with an effervescent, charming, and swoon-worthy novel about a man and woman who never agree on anything—until they agree to a no-strings-attached affair in this Regency-era romp.

The widowed Diana, Lady Templeton and Jeremy, Marquess of Willingham are infamous among English high society as much for their sharp-tongued bickering as their flirtation. One evening, an argument at a ball turns into a serious wager: Jeremy will marry within the year or Diana will forfeit one hundred pounds. So shortly after, just before a fortnight-long house party at Elderwild, Jeremy’s country estate, Diana is shocked when Jeremy appears at her home with a very different kind of proposition.

After his latest mistress unfavorably criticized his skills in the bedroom, Jeremy is looking for reassurance, so he has gone to the only woman he trusts to be totally truthful. He suggests that they embark on a brief affair while at the house party—Jeremy can receive an honest critique of his bedroom skills and widowed Diana can use the gossip to signal to other gentlemen that she is interested in taking a lover.

Diana thinks taking him up on his counter-proposal can only help her win her wager. With her in the bedroom and Jeremy’s marriage-minded grandmother, the formidable Dowager Marchioness of Willingham, helping to find suitable matches among the eligible ladies at Elderwild, Diana is confident her victory is assured. But while they’re focused on winning wagers, they stand to lose their own hearts.

This clever Regency-era rom-com has so much witty banter that it will keep you turning pages til the wee hours, just to see what rejoiners and repostes Diana and Jeremy come up with next! Then there's the juicy romance and sexual tension that the two display, and the spicy love scenes that are just revealing enough without moving into the realm of soft-core porn, as many romances today are wont to do. There is also not more than a whisper of anachronisms, as there are in many historical romances, so the privations and social stigmas and classism and sexism are all still there, on full display, though many of the ladies find clever loopholes in the system. I laughed out loud while reading this wonderful novel, and I feel it well deserves an A, with a recommendation for those who like TV shows like "Moonlighting" and movies like "His Girl Friday" to pick up this book posthaste!

 

A Cat Cafe Christmas by Codi Gary is a sweet contemporary romance that has it all, a fun oddball couple and cats and kittens that charm and delight the characters at their cozy Cat Cafe. Here's the blurb:

A laugh-out-loud, opposites attract romance about three of the world’s most beloved C’s: Christmas, Coffee, and Cats.

Veterinarian and animal lover Kara Ingalls needs a Christmas miracle. Opening the Meow and Furrever Cat Café to find loving homes for adorable, adoptable cats was a dream come true—but with more cats than customers, it’s quickly turning into a nightmare. If Kara can’t figure out some way to get the café out of the red, it won’t last past the holidays.

Marketing guru Ben Reese may be annoyingly smart and frustratingly bossy, but when he hatches a plan to put the café in the “green” by Christmas, Kara realizes that she’d be a fool to turn down his help. And so what if he turns out to be an excellent problem solver and nerdy-hot—he can’t even handle fostering one little kitten. She needs to keep their relationship professional and focus on saving the cafe.

But if Ben and Kara can set aside their differences—and find homes for all the cats by Christmas—they might discover that, by risking their hearts, they’ll have their own purr-fect holiday . . . together.

Gary's prose is light and sweet as a foamy latte, with an easy going plot that is as satisfying as Christmas cookies and hot cocoa on a cold and snowy December evening. And like a good Christmas cookie, I found myself wanting to over-indulge in this delicious story about two people who really need each other, but have a hard time getting over their past relationship traumas and getting out of their own way. Kara almost seemed autistic in her fear of others and anti-social attitude, but because Ben has been betrayed by his fiance marrying his brother, (!) he understands Kara's being gun-shy about relationships. At any rate, I did enjoy this ebook, and will give it a B+ and recommend it to anyone who feels like they don't deserve a second chance at love. 

 

Infinity in the Palm of Your Hand: Fifty Wonders that Reveal an Extraordinary Universe by Marcus Chown is a "breaking down science for the average person" non fiction book of the kind that became popular in the 70s and early 80s. While it's not Carl Sagan's Cosmos, it does provide some thought-provoking insights into how the universe works, and humanity's place in it. Here's the blurb:

A mind-bending journey through some of the most weird and wonderful facts about our universe, vividly illuminating the hidden truths that govern our everyday lives.

Fact: You could fit the whole human race in the volume of a sugar cube.
Fact: The electrical energy in a single mosquito is enough to cause a global mass extinction.
Fact: You age more quickly on the top floor than on the ground floor.

So much of our world seems to make perfect sense, and scientific breakthroughs have helped us understand ourselves, our planet, and our place in the universe in fascinating detail. But our adventures in space, our deepening understanding of the quantum world, and our leaps in technology have also revealed a universe far stranger than we ever imagined.

With brilliant clarity and wit, bestselling author Marcus Chown examines the profound science behind fifty remarkable scientific facts that help explain the vast complexities of our existence.

“The tone is consistently light and breezy...An addictive, intriguing, and entertaining read...A handy guide for anyone yearning to spice up their conversational skills.”—Booklist

“Heavy stuff lightly spun―just the thing for the science buff in the house.”―Kirkus Review

While this book started out with light and fun facts and interesting explanations of scientific facts, once you are halfway through, it gets to be more involved and the math and physics are trotted out in their full glory, which is when my eye started to glaze over. I'm not one to usually shy away from complex lectures on science, at least I wasn't when I was a teenager and when I was in college, but now that I'm an old lady, I just don't have the energy or the mental focus for lectures anymore, sorry to say. So if you don't mind wading into deep waters halfway through the book, than this tome is for you. If you're like me and you get bored with over complicated subjects, then you might want to give this one a miss. I'd give it a B, and only recommend it to young minds who are fascinated by science factoids.