It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (April 27, 2020)

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.

Other Than Reading...

I left the house this week! I had an appointment for blood work which I need to do every 3 months. Since I was out, I also went to Walmart to replenish some essentials like toothpaste, deodorant, Tylenol, and vitamins. I couldn't leave without picking up some candy and ice cream which I have been craving. I let myself have two pieces of chocolate most nights and saw that I could get ice cream in dixie cups which will help with portion control. I'm still trying to lose a few more pounds to add to the 38 I've lost since my brother's heart attack last September.

I've been outside for a couple of walks this week since the temperatures are getting better. I plan to take another walk after I finish writing this. I'm still bundling up in my winter jacket when I go but I saw lots of people - in the distance - wearing shorts and t-shirts. (The temperature was only in the high 50s as I was walking.) I throw my Kindle in a purse and wear my large earmuff size headphones so that I can keep my ears warm and listen to audiobooks as I walk.

We are still waiting for this month's power bill but we know we produced more electricity than last month. Since we had a $15 credit last month, we are expecting a larger credit this month. The sun is shining right now but rain is expected for a couple of days next week. We need the rain! The fire danger is pretty high where I live. Spring is grass fire season around here as the snow melts and exposes all the dead grass and branches. Dry weather and breezes don't help the situation. I'm hoping fewer people out camping and driving around will lower the risk of fire.

Our Stay At Home order is expected to be lifted or moderated on May 4. Already some businesses that are not customer-facing are scheduled to reopen next week as long as they have a plan in place for social distancing and protecting their workers' health. Schools are going to remain closed for the rest of this school year here in Minnesota and the government is working on trying to make distance learning more equitable since the process so far has exposed some problems and underserved areas and populations. Minnesota is still thinking that our peak won't hit until June or July but cases are increasing now. One nursing home here in Duluth has experienced a recent spike in cases. The governor and a coalition of health care providers including the Mayo Clinic, the University of Minnesota, and the largest health care systems in the State are working together to smooth out the process and make tests more available. They are hoping to be able to quickly do and process 20,000 tests a week. Anyone with Covid symptoms should be able to get a test now regardless of age, underlying conditions, or location in the State.

I'm still content to stay at home most of the time but my brother has his schedule for going back to work at Target. He'll be starting again on May 7.

Read Last Week

If you can't wait until the review shows up on my blog, reviews are posted to LibraryThing and Goodreads as soon as I write them (usually right after I finish reading a book.)

• The Secrets of Bones by Kylie Logan (Review; May 5) - This was an engaging contemporary cozy mystery. My review will be posted on April 29.
• Close Up by Amanda Quick (Review; May 5) - This is the latest in her Burning Cove historical mystery series. It features two quirky people who each have paranormal powers. I enjoyed the interactions between the main characters. My review will be posted on April 30.

• Burn for Me by Ilona Andrews (Mine; audiobook) - This was a great story. It introduces a new setting for the authors - Houston, Texas, which is filled with magical families who are scheming for power. The main characters are Nevada Baylor who runs an investigative agency with her family all of whom have magical talents but who prefer to keep under the radar and "Mad" Rogan who is a noted and frightening Prime magician and the head of his House. My review will be posted on May 9.
• White Hot by Ilona Andrews (Mine; audiobook) - This is the second book starring Nevada and "Mad" Rogan. It ramps up both the suspense and the romance. My review will be posted on May 14.
• Wildfire by Ilona Andrews (Mine; audiobook) - This is the third book in the trilogy and brings Nevada and Rogan's romance to a conclusion. It has a lot of action and solves most of the other plot threads. But the identity of the main villain is left unresolved. My review will be posted on May 21. 

• Mousse and Murder by Elizabeth Logan (Review; May 5) - A run-of-the-mill culinary cozy mystery about an Alaskan diner owner investigating the murder of the cook she recently argued with. Descriptions of Alaska were great but the characters were flat. My review will be posted on May 2.
• Sapphire Flames by Ilona Andrews (Mine; audiobook) - This reread was great. I loved the characters and the action. I also enjoyed the romance. My review will be posted on May 27.

Currently

• A Study in Murder by Callie Hutton (May 5 when I got it but Amazon now says June 9)

Next Week

• To Kill a Mocking Girl by Harper Kincaid (May 12 when I got it but Amazon now says June 9)
• A Spell for Trouble by Esme Addison (May 12 when I got it but Amazon now says June 9)

Reviews Posted

• Murder of Crows by Anne Bishop (Audiobook)
• Clean Sweep by Ilona Andrews (Audiobook) 

• Sweep in Peace by Ilona Andrews (Audiobook)
• One Fell Sweep by Ilona Andrews (Audiobook)

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

Bought:

• Dragon's Awakening by Sean Fletcher (Free Kindle)
• Raven by Stan Jackson (Free Kindle)
• The Confectioner's Guild by Claire Luana (Free Kindle) 

• A Call to Arms by David Weber
• A Call to Vengeance by David Weber
• All Systems Red by Martha Wells (Free Kindle book from Tor) 

• Artificial Conditions by Martha Wells (Free Kindle book from Tor)
• Rogue Protocol by Martha Wells (Free Kindle Book from Tor)
• Exit Strategy by Martha Wells (Free Kindle Book from Tor)

Review:

• Spy, Spy Again by Mercedes Lackey (June 9)
• Paris Is Always a Good Idea by Jenn McKinlay (July 21)
• Mr. Malcolm's List by Suzanne Allain (July 28) 

• The Silence by Kendra Elliot (Aug. 25)
• Second Chance Angel by Griffin Barber and Kacey Ezell (Sept. 8)
• Hanging Falls by Margaret Mizushima (Sept. 8)

What was your week like?