PK the Bookeemonster: Goodbye, not-so-great week

Friday, June 30, 2023

Goodbye, not-so-great week

TGIF

Yeah, it wasn't the worst of weeks; it wasn't the best of weeks...

But I am going to focus on good things coming up for the weekend. No coffee shop for the summer so I need to organize my projects for the next few weeks. There's lots of them.

Currently reading The Unkindness of Ravens by M.E. Hilliard 1st of 3 in Greer Hogan Hudson River Valley series.

Greer Hogan is a librarian and an avid reader of murder mysteries. She also has a habit of stumbling upon murdered bodies. The first was her husband's, and the tragic loss led Greer to leave New York behind for a new start in the Village of Raven Hill. But her new home becomes less idyllic when she discovers her best friend sprawled dead on the floor of the library. Was her friend's demise related to two other deaths that the police deemed accidental? Do the residents of this insular village hold dark secrets about another murder, decades ago? Does a serial killer haunt Raven Hill? As the body count rises, Greer's anxious musings take a darker turn when she uncovers unexpected and distressing information about her own husband's death...and the man who went to prison for his murder. She is racked with guilt at the possibility that her testimony may have helped to convict an innocent man. Though Greer admires the masters of deduction she reads about in books, she never expected to have to solve a mystery herself. Fortunately, she possesses a quick wit and a librarian's natural resourcefulness. But will that be enough to protect her from a brilliant, diabolical murderer?

Published 2021; 331 pages. This book has the BEST opening I've seen and made me want to read it immediately:

Isn't that fabulous? And I totally agree with the sentiments.

Also this weekend, I messaged with my favorite author, Nathan Lowell, who says the second book of the new series may drop today. Maybe. If you recall a couple weeks ago I didn't even know the first one was coming out. Now the second? Maybe.

Also, tomorrow, July 1st, the next in the Sutton's Place by Shannon Stacey will be available to read on Harlequin's website, HER YOUNGER MAN. 5th of 5 in series.

Age is just a number. Riley McLaughlin knows he shouldn't get involved with a coworker, especially when she's also his boss's mom. But widow Laura Thompson is everything he wants in a woman, and their age difference simply doesn't matter. And though she's drawn to Riley more than she'll ever admit, Laura has never been one to jump headfirst into adventure. Town gossip has already run rampant—will Riley and Laura give them something to really talk about?

Published 2023; 236 pages. That makes me very happy. I'll be getting the physical copy when it's available at the end of the month but I'm willing to read it online now.

UPDATE: The second Nathan Lowell dropped this afternoon. WORKING CLASS by Nathan Lowell, 2nd in Marva Collins SFF series.

When Ishmael takes a crew of academy cadets into the Toe Holds, he's unprepared for the level of trouble green hands can get into. Meanwhile their academy liaison discovers what can go wrong when you learn the wrong lessons and try to teach the wrong students. Will they all make it back to the academy before somebody accidentally takes a short walk out the air lock without a suit?

Published 2023; 440 pages.

Today is the last day of June. Halfway mark of 2023. Here's the books I've read thus far this year.

Seventy-three books completed. I'm amazed.

I'll have reading sprints on Sunday afternoon. Projects, lots I could/should do. Crochet. Book journal. YouTube webcam set up. Clean/organize stuff.

Also this weekend the premiere of fourth and final season of Jack Ryan is available on Amazon. The first two episodes.

And the usual walking of Keo twice a day. Read these lovely books. Nap. Listen to fireworks going off. I'm very okay with not going to the coffee shop on Saturdays, it's just the way it was done that sucks.