It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (November 20, 2023)

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.

Want to See What I Added to My Stack? links to Stacking the Shelves hosted by Marlene at Reading Reality.

Other Than Reading...

This was a lovely late Fall week. Temperatures approached 50 a few days and the skies were sunny which finally let us make some solar power after a very cloudy month. 

After a break to read some things of my own, I'm back to reading mostly review copies as I tackle the books that are being released December 26 and in early January. I also need to start setting up draft posts for my January calendar. January is nearly full already. I only have open spots for two books and two audiobooks since I have a bunch of review books and have some scheduled posts that got bumped for late-arriving review copies. 

Last week I visited my ophthalmologist for my annual eye exam and was pleased to learn that my vision didn't change enough to require new glasses and the cataract in my left eye doesn't yet affect my vision enough for surgery. I was glad to have my brother as chauffeur since those eye drops really mess up my vision. 

This week is appointment free. All that is on the agenda is Thanksgiving which will be a quiet celebration including a sheet pan Thanksgiving dinner. My brother has mostly 11:30 - 7:30 shifts this week with Monday and Thursday off. That means I'm on my own for dinner most nights and he doesn't get a real dinner. I see lots of brunches in my future if I want to eat at the same time he does. 

Last week's reading helped me reduce TBR mountain a tiny bit. I was especially pleased to find two great stories that I had purchased in 2009. Of course, I needed to buy the third which added one back to the stack. I also chipped away at two series that I am trying to complete -- the Andy Carpenter series by David Rosenfelt and the Meg Langslow series by Donna Andrews. Luckily, neither has to be read in order since I was introduced to both series by getting ARCs from NetGalley for titles late in the series.

I have something of a dilemma though. I have a bunch of unread Meg Langslow audiobooks that I've purchased from Chirp but I don't have book 5 in the series. I don't know if I want the Kindle copy for $9.99 after my Kindle Rewards discount or the audiobook copy using an Audible credit. I don't have to make a quick decision. Maybe We'll Always Have Parrots will go on sale at Amazon or Chirp before I have time to read it which will likely be for my February calendar. 

Or I could continue to read the Andy Carpenter series since I do have the next ones already on my Kindle...

Read Last Week

Reviews for these are available on my LibraryThing and Goodreads accounts. I've indicated in each description when the review will be posted on this blog.

• The Painted Queen by Elizabeth Peters (Audiobook reread) -- Last book written by chronologically the 14th book in the Amelia Peabody series contains a number of copies of the famous Nefertiti statue and a group of bumbling assassins. My review will be posted on December 12.
• Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros (Mine since November 7, 2023) -- Second in the Empyrean epic fantasy series. My review will be posted on December 6.
• Prom Dates from Hell by Rosemary Clement-Moore (Mine since July 19, 2009) -- YA urban fantasy starring Maggie Quinn who wants to be an investigative reporter and is busy denying her psychic gifts. My review will be posted on December 7.

• Kris Longknife: Bold by Mike Shepherd (Mine since October 13, 2022) -- Fourteenth in the Kris Longknife space opera series. My review will be posted on December 9.
• Hell Week by Rosemary Clement-Moore (Mine since July 19, 2009) -- Second in the Maggie Quinn YA urban fantasy series. My review will be posted on December 12.
• The Art of Theft by Sherry Thomas (Audiobook Reread) -- Charlotte Holmes and her associates need to enter a well-guarded French chateau and steal a painting which contains blackmail letters for one of Mrs. Watson's old friends. My review will be posted on December 14.

• One Dog Night by David Rosenfelt (Mine since November 2, 2022) -- Ninth in the Andy Carpenter series. Entertaining mystery. My review will be posted on December 16.
• Sweet Starfire by Jayne Ann Krentz (Reread; got my new Kindle copy October 21, 2023) -- Sweet science fiction romance. My review will be posted on December 13 for this book that I first read before 2008.
• Crouching Buzzard, Leaping Loon by Donna Andrews (Mine since November 22, 2022) -- Fourth in the Meg Langslow series. Filled with great characters and laugh-out-loud moments. My review will be posted on December 14.

Currently

• He Shall Thunder in the Sky by Elizabeth Peters (Audiobook Reread)
• Second Duke's the Charm by Kate Bateman (Review; December 26)

Next Week

• Valdemar by Mercedes Lackey (Review; December 26)
• Coconut Drop Dead by Olivia Matthews (Review; December 26)
• Lord of the Silent by Elizabeth Peters (Audiobook Reread)

• Public Anchovy #1 by Mindy Quigley (Review; December 26)
• Murder on Cold Street by Sherry Thomas (Audiobook Reread)
• The Secret of the Lady's Maid by Darcie Wilde (Review; December 26)

Reviews Posted

• Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
• Straight by Dick Francis (Audiobook)
• The Other Half by Charlotte Vassell (Review Copy)

• Show No Mercy by Cindy Gerard
• There Should Have Been Eight by Nalini Singh (Review Copy)
• Inheritance by Nora Roberts (Review Copy)

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

Review:

• Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies by Catherine Mack (April 30)

Bought:

• Highway to Hell by Rosemary Clement-Moore (Kindle)
• Cold Curses by Chloe Neill (Kindle)

• The Night of Four Hundred Rabbits by Elizabeth Peters (Kindle Daily Deal)
• In the Likely Event by Rebecca Yarros (Kindle Daily Deal)

What was your week like?