It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (June 26, 2017)

It's Monday, What Are You Reading? is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date.

It’s Monday!  What Are You Reading is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week.  It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

I will be combining my YA and adult reading and purchases on this one weekly roundup. YA and middle grade reviews will still be posted on  Ms. Martin Teaches Media - my other blog.

Other Than Reading... 

I have unpacked all of my boxes! Of course there are still lots of boxes around in my brother's man cave from the Locust Street house but all the ones I brought home have been emptied. Things are mostly finished on repairing and tidying the Locust Street house and it goes on the market this week. I have had only a couple of showings on my townhouse and am eager to get that one sold. There isn't much I can do about that one and will have to depend on the realtor to get it marketed and sold.

Now I can concentrate on reading and blogging. All the chaos around my moves have made me far behind where I want to be on my blogs. I have decided to try something new and read all of the review books that are scheduled on my July calendar first. If I have time I'll circle back and fill in some of the open dates with the books from my TBR stack that I want to read. It may mean, like this week, that I have a day when I wanted to do a book review but the book just didn't get read.

I went to the annual Rhubarb Festival today. It featured all things rhubarb and supports CHUM - a charity who goal is "providing basic necessities, fostering stable lives, and organizing with and on behalf of members of the Duluth community who are experiencing homelessness, hunger, and marginalization". In addition to coming home with a rhubarb custard pie, I got some information about becoming a literacy tutor. Everyone says that I'll be bored if I don't find something to do next school year. Tutoring could be an outlet. There are both full-time and part-time positions available and they will train me. It requires a commitment including four days of training in the Twin Cities for which all the expenses are paid. It also pays a living stipend. I'm thinking about it as something to do on a part-time basis, but am not sure that I want to make that sort of commitment in time to be trained to begin with this up-coming school year.

Read Last Week

Stillhouse Lake by Rachel Caine was an excellent thriller starring the wife of a convicted serial killer who has changed her name a few times and thinks she has finally found a place where she can raise her kids away from the scrutiny of the public who is sure that she had something to do with her husband's crimes. Only her husband is ready to let her go and murders start happening in her new home. My review will be posted on June 28.

The Waking Land by Callie Bates was an excellent fantasy debut that also marks the beginning of a new trilogy. This one stars a young woman who has been taught by her country's captors to deny and hide her magic but who needs that magic to help her country rebel. My review was posted on June 22.

The Reluctant Queen by Sarah Beth Durst is the second in an epic fantasy series set in a world filled with malicious spirits. Naelin has epic powers to control those spirits but hides them. Her only goal is to keep her young children safe. It takes a while to convince her that she needs to use her gifts to keep everyone's children safe. My review will be posted on June 29.

A Panicked Premonition by Victoria Laurie is the 15th in the Psychic Eye series but the first I've read. It was fun and engaging urban fantasy. While I'm sure it would have been a richer experience had I known more of the characters' back stories, it was not at all confusing and really entertaining. My review will be posted on July 1.

The Hypnotists by Gordon Korman was a middle grade story about a boy who learns to use his powers of hypnotism. Unfortunately, his teacher is not a noble benefactor he wants people to think he is, and is using the boy for his own selfish purposes. It was entertaining and will keep middle schoolers hooked on the adventure. My review was posted on June 24.

A Wrinkle in Time: The Graphic Novel by Hope Larson was an excellent introduction to the story for those who like graphic novels. I felt the story was complete, though lacking in L'Engle's rich detail, and the illustrations done well. My review will be posted on June 29.

Bannerless by Carrie Vaughn is a dystopian mystery. Enid of Haven is an Investigator called to the town of Pasadan to investigate the suspicious death of one of its citizens. She and her partner Tomas uncover a number of secrets is the perfect town of Pasadan. This story had great world building that was seamlessly integrated into the story. My review will be posted on July 5.

Currently

Two review books:

• Some Kind of Hero by Suzanne Brockman (July 11)
• Ash and Quill by Rachel Caine (July 11)

Next Week

All are review books being released in July.

Murder in Mayfair by D. M. Quincy (July 11)

Shallow Grave by Brian Thiem (July 11)

Amid Stars and Darkness by Chani Lynn Feener (July 18)

What Goes Up by Katie Kennedy (July 18)

Reviews Posted

The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman

UNSUB by Meg Gardiner

The Waking Land by Callie Bates

City of Angels by Kristi Belcamin

The Hypnotists by Gordon Korman

Want to See What I Added to My Stack Last Week?

I received a finished hardcover copy of The Reluctant Queen by Sarah Beth Durst from the author in exchange for a review. She even autographed it.

I bought a hardcover of The Queen of Blood by Sarah Beth Durst so that I would have both of them on my keeper shelves. I had read the eARC and purchased a Kindle copy of this book previously.

I added A Wedding Tail by Casey Griffin to my review stack. It is the third romance in the Rescue Dog Romance series. It will be released on August 1.

What was your week like?