It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (November 25, 2024)

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.

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

Other Than Reading...

We had an interesting weather week. Tuesday it rained all day giving us 1.2 inches by the time it was finished. We had snow flurries most of the day on Wednesday resulting in just a dusting on the ground. The snow had melted away by Thursday leaving bright, sunny skies. The clouds rolled in again on Friday and Saturday but there was no precipitation. It is also cloudy today and snow is expected. This time it looks like it is here to stay. 

My brother has an appointment to have the snow tires put on his winter car tomorrow. I filled up my car's gas tank yesterday thinking that I would not be driving any more this fall since I don't drive when there is snow on the roads. 

I had a very distracted week. I did finish six books including my first 2025 review copy. But I kept finding myself scrolling through Reels and Short Videos on Facebook. I started with watching kittens then segued into baby monkeys then into apartment tours in New York City then just random stuff. Note: Cats make my eyes itch. Also, I have never wondered why people put diapers and clothes on monkeys before. And I have never been to New York City and can't image paying $3500 a month for rent or multi-millions to own property there. Nor is moving to New York City on my bucket list. All in all, I wasted hours and hours.

I received a number of invitations to review books this week. I accepted four of them and turned down at least that many. I also went mad buying books at Amazon when they had a couple of double reward points days. Mostly of my purchases were Kindle copies. Only two were audiobooks and they were add-ons to Kindle copies. I have gotten more books in November than I got in September and October combined.

I have been reading the Meg Langslow series since I discovered it when I got a review copy at NetGalley in 2021. That was Murder Most Fowl. Book 29 in the series. Then Chirp had a number of the earlier books for sale at various times. I completed the series by getting the seven books I didn't already own. Most of them are set around Christmas time which means I'll be reading Christmas books outside of the holiday season. Luckily, this is a series that can be read out of order. I hope to get caught up on the series in 2025.

I had reviewed books 13 and 17 in the Bibliophile mysteries by Kate Carlisle. This week I read the first, decided I wanted to read the rest of the series, and bought books 2 through 7. I also read the first book in the Red Cape Society gaslight fantasy series by Melanie Karsak, enjoyed it, and bought the rest of the series which is up to six books now.

The rest of my purchases were books I had put on my Books I'm Waiting For collection at Amazon. I also bought my first nonfiction book of the year based on a recommendation I read this week. I think I'll be reading it as a slow and steady read since I think I'll need to think about it as I read. 

This coming week includes Thanksgiving. The turkey breast will be coming out of the freezer tomorrow to thaw in the refrigerator. It's just my brother and I for dinner so there isn't a lot of pressure. I think we have everything we need already. Other than that, it should be a quiet week. 

Read Last Week

• Consort of Fire by Kit Rocha (Audiobook/Kindle combination; mine since December 24, 2023) -- This romantacy was packed with romance, adventure, and great worldbuilding. My review will be posted on December 26.
• Wolves and Daggers by Melanie Karsak (Mine since April 23, 2024) -- First in a gaslight fantasy series which is also a fairy tale retelling. My review will be posted on December 26.
• A Fountain Filled with Blood by Julia Spencer-Fleming (Chirp Audiobook; mine since January 4, 2024) -- I bought and read this contemporary mystery some years ago and enjoyed it again as an audiobook. My review will be posted on December 31.

• Blue Smoke and Murder by Elizabeth Lowell (Audiobook) -- This is the fourth book in the St. Kilda romantic suspense series. It was another excellent story. My review will be posted on December 28.
• Homicide in Hardcover by Kate Carlisle (Mine since February 22, 2024) -- This is the first mystery in the Bibliophile series. I liked the characters, the romance, and they mystery. My review will be posted on December 31.
• Shattering Dawn by Jayne Ann Krentz (Review; January 7) -- First 2025 review book. Conclusion to the Night Files paranormal romantic suspense series. My review will be posted on January 1.

Currently

• Schooled in Murder by Victoria Gilbert (Review; January 7)
• Lavender's Blue by Jennifer Crusie & Bob Mayer (Audiobook; Mine since January 19, 2024)

Next Week

• The Clockwork Dagger by Beth Cato (Mine since May 2, 2024)
• The Good, the Bad, and the Emus (Meg Langslow Book 17) by Donna Andrews (Chirp Audiobook; Mine since March 22, 2023)
• Track Her Down by Melinda Leigh (Review; January 14)

• The Incident of the Book in the Nighttime by Vicki Delany (Review; January 14)
• Murder at the Royal Botanic Gardens by Andrew Penrose (Audiobook; Mine since January 10, 2024)
• This Gulf of Time and Stars by Julie E. Czerneda (Mine since March 7, 2024)

Reviews Posted

• Madrigals and Mayhem by Elizabeth Penney (Review Copy)
• Murder at Keyhaven Castle by Clara McKenna (Audiobook)
• Jinx High by Mercedes Lackey (Audiobook)

• Feuds edited by Mercedes Lackey (Review copy)
• Cold Welcome by Elizabeth Moon 
• Innocent as Sin by Elizabeth Lowell

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

Review:

• Murder by Memory by Olivia Waite (Review; March 18)
• A Map to Paradise by Susan Meissner (Review; March 18)

• A Drop of Corruption by Robert Jackson Bennett (Review; April 1)
• Murder at Gulls Nest by Jess Kidd (Review; April 8)

Bought:

• The Twelve Jays of Christmas (Meg Langslow Book 30) by Donna Andrews (Kindle)
• The Falcon Always Wings Twice (Meg Langslow Book 27) by Donna Andrews (Kindle)
• The Gift of the Magpie (Meg Langslow Book 28) by Donna Andrews (Kindle)

• Owl Be Home for Christmas (Meg Langslow Book 26) by Donna Andrews (Kindle)
• Terns of Endearment (Meg Langslow Book 25) by Donna Andrews (Kindle)
• Toucan Keep a Secret (Meg Langslow Book 23) by Donna Andrews (Kindle)

• Die Like an Eagle (Meg Langslow Book 20) by Donna Andrews (Kindle)
• The Au Pair Affair by Tessa Bailey (Kindle for $1.99)
• Games Untold by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (Kindle)

• If Books Could Kill (A Bibliophile Mystery Book 2) by Kate Carlisle (Kindle)
• The Lies that Bind (A Bibliophile Mystery Book 3) by Kate Carlisle (Kindle)
• Murder Under Cover (A Bibliophile Mystery Book 4) by Kate Carlisle (Kindle)

• One Book in the Grave (A Bibliophile Mystery Book 5) by Kate Carlisle (Kindle)
• Peril in Paperback (A Bibliophile Mystery Book 6) by Kate Carlisle (Kindle)
• A Cookbook Conspiracy (A Bibliophile Mystery Book 7) by Kate Carlisle (Kindle)

• Do I Know You? by Sadie Dingfelder (Kindle)
• Lycans and Legends (Red Cape Society Book 6) by Melanie Karsak (Kindle)
• Howls and Hallows (Red Cape Society Book 5) by Melanie Karsak (Kindle)

• Bitches and Brawlers (Red Cape Society Book 4) by Melanie Karsak (Kindle)
• Peppermint and Pentacles (Red Cape Society Book 3) by Melanie Karsak (Kindle)
• Alphas and Airships (Red Cape Society Book 2) by Melanie Karsak (Kindle)

• Blue Smoke and Murder by Elizabeth Lowell (Audiobook; Add-on for $7.49)
• Outcaste by Christie Meierz (Kindle)
• Queen of Dreams by Kit Rocha (Kindle and Audiobook)

What was your week like?