Blogversary!

I cannot believe that Bookish Whispers has been around for three whole years! This started out as something I did here and there as I read books, and some how it turned into a beast that takes up as much time as my real job. Through it I've met some amazing authors that I wouldn't have met any other way. I've read some amazing books that I would have never known about it thanks to other blogs, book events I'd never have known about, and all the newsletters I get now. It helped me bridge a friendship at work with someone who is now one of my closest friends. So thank you Sarah for always letting me drag you to events, for celebrating my victories, and pushing me to post out of comfort zone.

Thank you to my flatmate Kathleen who listens to me complain, makes fun of how fast I type when I'm in the zone, and whose celebrated every little victory with me as well. Also thank you for letting me also drag you to events and gush about something I've read and found. You know I'd be lost without you.

Huge thank you my parents and my Mim who have fallen in love with this blog as much as I have. My dad reads every posts and always has something to say. You guys have always been my biggest cheerleaders in every crazy scheme I think of next. Bless you three!

I cannot forget to thank Sio who does all of my graphics out of the kindness of her heart. Cover Runway Sundays and the Mini Review posts wouldn't be the same without you! She also proof readers so much for me, and always convinces my reviews aren't as bad I think. You are without a doubt my rock. 

Lastly, I really should think my job: my staff and my GM. You've been amazing about allowing me time off and being flexible when I've wanted to go to author signings and events. I appreciate how much you've all been willing to work with me and my crazy. And thank you so much for the cupcakes for the party to celebrate three weird years!

So to everyone whose given me a reason to keep posting, whose given me an ARC of your book to fall in love with, and to those moments still to come. I can't wait to see what the next year brings, and here's to hoping I can pull off another three years.

Hopefully, I'm just that crazy!

CHEERS & HAPPY READING!

Waiting on Wednesday

Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about what we have yet to read. Generally they are books that have yet to be released, but don't have to be. It is based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous at Breaking the Spine.

Albert Hicks was a feared, shadowy figure of the New York underworld in the mid-1800s. Handsome and charismatic, he was known to frequent the dive bars and gin joints of the Five Points, the most dangerous neighborhood in maritime Manhattan. For years, he operated out of the public eye, rambling from crime to crime, working on the water, in ships, sleeping in the nickel-a-night flops, drinking in barrooms where rat-baiting and bear-baiting were great entertainments.

Hicks's criminal career reached its peak in 1860, when he was hired, under an alias, as an extra hand on an oyster sloop. His plan was to rob the ship, make his getaway, and disappear in the teaming streets of lower Manhattan, as he'd done numerous times before. But the plan went awry, and the voyage turned into a massacre. In the straits of Coney Island, on a foggy night, the ghost sloop, adrift and unmanned, was rammed by another vessel. When police boarded the ship to investigate, they found blood and gore everywhere, no bodies, only the grisly signs of struggle. A manhunt was launched for the mysterious merchant seaman on the manifest.

Why I'm Waiting: Because it sounds absolutely fascinating. Gangster + Ghost Ship + Manhunt = My kind of book!

HAPPY READING!!

New Release Tuesday

Genre: Fantasy

Series: Harry Potter

Pages: 95

For all the girls as clever as Hermione Granger, as dedicated as Tina Goldstein, and as fierce as Minerva McGonagall, this incredible compendium is packed with the stories of Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts' most amazing heroines! Complete with gorgeous, full-color illustrations on every spread, fans can relive their favorite movie moments featuring the most empowering witches of our age. Explore the many ways these women built, enriched, and saved the wizarding world, and get inspired by their stories in this compelling handbook--a must-have for fans! 

HAPPY READING!!

Cover Runway Sunday

They say don't judge a book by its cover, but we all know we do it. Sometimes it's the cover that originally catches our eye, drawing us to give a book a closer look. It's the first thing we see, our first impression. Every Sunday I'm going to post some of my favorite covers of books coming soon! Some are by authors I already enjoy, some are the reason I gave the book a longer look. Either way they're all going to find their way here!

Nigerian God-Punk - a powerful and atmospheric urban fantasy set in Lagos.

Since the Orisha War that rained thousands of deities down on the streets of Lagos, David Mogo, demigod, scours Eko’s dank underbelly for a living wage as a freelance Godhunter. Despite pulling his biggest feat yet by capturing a high god for a renowned Eko wizard, David knows his job’s bad luck. He’s proved right when the wizard conjures a legion of Taboos—feral godling-child hybrids—to seize Lagos for himself. To fix his mistake and keep Lagos standing, David teams up with his foster wizard, the high god’s twin sister and a speech-impaired Muslim teenage girl to defeat the wizard.

HAPPY READING!!

Ungovernable - Review

Author: Therese Oneill

Genre: Nonfiction

Format: Hardback

Pages: 288

This was the second book by Therese Oneill, and Ungovernable did not disappoint.

Ungovernable is my favorite kind of Nonfiction book. Where you learn something you never knew, but in a ridiculous sort of way. It takes something that could be so clinical and dull, and cranks up the sass.

I have been waiting for what feels like forever for this book. Last year I stumpled across Therese Oneill's book Unmentionables, and devoured it on my patio. So to find out she was writing another Victorian Era book, but this time on child rearing, I was very much on board.

I showed up the day my library said it was in and snatched it right off the "New Release" shelf. Then promptly finished my other books and set out a day to start next book, then read way past my bed time.

Hands down my favorite part of this book is its format. It isn't just Therese Oneil telling us about raising children during the 19th Century. It's a question and answer session with a mother who wants to raise her kids the "Victorian Way". So there is a late of back and forth, a lot of reaction to the scenarios being presented.

For me it has to stop the information overload. It also helps the book move along to subject to subject.

I also really enjoy the captions under the photos. I may read ahead to the captions because they the best!

It's a bit of hard book to read in public because there was a lot of laughing out loud, and I'm sure I pulled some great faces at certain parts. There's also the lovely ladies who read over your shoulder on the bus. Sure hope they got the pages about penises or assmilk. Nothing would give me greater pleasure.

Ungovernable is also very well researched. Not just brcuase of theboages and pages of references in the back of the book. But, just how well the book flows. Therese Oneill knew what she was talking about, presented it well, and left me one burning question.

How did our grandparents survive?

It seems like literally everything was against them. It also did nothing but give me more reasons to not have children now, or then, or ever. I do have more respect for the women of the 19th Century though. So much respect...

My only down side was honestly how fast I read this book. Cause now I'm left with a bit of book hangover despite an awesome TBR looming over me. But, I'm excited to see where Therese Oneill goes next.

Buy, Borrow, or Skip: Anything that gets this book in your hands. I went the library route because I'm being "Cheap Sally" these days. My dad's words, not my own. But, I would love to both of Therese's books on my shelves. Cover-to-cover they are brilliant.

HAPPY READING!!

Mini Reviews

I'm doing a re-read of this series since I waited so long to read Obsidio. I've forgotten how much happens in the prior two books. So I decided to give the audio books a try. Holy Crap! The cast is amazing and enjoyed this so very much! Though Kady still isn't my favorite of characters, I did realize a few things through the audio books that didn't realize in the book. Which made me rework the entire series! Also, I'd forgotten how much I adore Ezra. Plus, the guy who plays AIDEN is aces. I'm moving on to Gemina this week. 5 Stars!!

Another gem I picked up at Comic-Con. It sounded right up my alley, and the artwork looked amazing. I was right on both fronts. Though I had a bit of struggle getting into the first few panels because it jumps between the past and present. But, once I got me feet under me I couldn't put it down. It's gritty and at times kind of hard to read, which I felt was kind of the point. Red was going through a transition of finding himself and righting the wrongs done to him. It was really good and I'll have to pick some other books by these guys. 4 Stars!!

HAPPY READING!!

Waiting on Wednesday

Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about what we have yet to read. Generally they are books that have yet to be released, but don't have to be. It is based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous at Breaking the Spine.

Brody Fair feels like nobody gets him: not his overworked parents, not his genius older brother, and definitely not the girls in the projects set on making his life miserable. Then he meets Nico, an art student who takes Brody to Everland, a “knock-off Narnia" that opens its door at 11:21pm each Thursday for Nico and his band of present-day misfits and miscreants.

Here Brody finds his tribe and a weekly respite from a world where he feels out of place. But when the doors to Everland begin to disappear, Brody is forced to make a decision: He can say goodbye to Everland and to Nico, or stay there and risk never seeing his family again.

Why I'm Waiting: Normally this isn't my go to genre to read because it leans a little more towards Contemporary, but the early reviews have hooked. Just the way other readers have fallen in love with this book make my curious.  

HAPPY READING!!

New Release Tuesday

Genre: Sherlock Re-telling & Mystery & Paranormal

Series: Warlock Holmes #4

Pages: 400

Warlock Holmes may have demons in his head, but now Dr. John Watson has a mummy in his bloodstream. Specifically that of the sorcerer Xantharaxes, who when shredded and dissolved in an 8% solution, results in some extremely odd but useful prophetic dreams. There’s also the small matter of Watson falling for yet another damsel-du-jour, and Warlock deciding that his companion needs some domestic bliss…

HAPPY READING!!

Bout of Books 25 Wrap Up

That's all there is, folks! Bout of Books 25 is officially over. Hope everyone had a good week and finished some books, or at least found a really good one to get lost in. Didn't manage to fit this read-a-thon into your schedule. Never fear, there is another Bout of Books just around this corner, August 19th through the 25th. Which will be here before any of us know it. I swear 2019 is flying by.

Bout of Books 25 Stats:

Books Finished: 2

Pages Read: 446

Currently Reading: Grim Solace 

Can't wait to see how everyone else did this week, and what all got read as well! Now I'm off to figure out which books are going with me as fly out to the baby brother graduate. I'll need a couple options with my layover.

HAPPY READING!!

Cover Runway Sunday

They say don't judge a book by its cover, but we all know we do it. Sometimes it's the cover that originally catches our eye, drawing us to give a book a closer look. It's the first thing we see, our first impression. Every Sunday I'm going to post some of my favorite covers of books coming soon! Some are by authors I already enjoy, some are the reason I gave the book a longer look. Either way they're all going to find their way here!

A future chieftain

Fie abides by one rule: look after your own. Her Crow caste of undertakers and mercy-killers takes more abuse than coin, but when they’re called to collect royal dead, she’s hoping they’ll find the payout of a lifetime.

A fugitive prince

When Crown Prince Jasimir turns out to have faked his death, Fie’s ready to cut her losses—and perhaps his throat. But he offers a wager that she can’t refuse: protect him from a ruthless queen, and he’ll protect the Crows when he reigns.

A too-cunning bodyguard

Hawk warrior Tavin has always put Jas’s life before his, magically assuming the prince’s appearance and shadowing his every step. But what happens when Tavin begins to want something to call his own?

HAPPY READING!!

Who Killed the Fonz? - Review

Author: James Boice

Genre: Noir

Format: ARC

Pages: 198

This book as not at all what I expected it to be. In fact, I picked this book several times at the bookstore, only to put it back down. Never really sure if it was something I'd enjoy. The cover was amazing and I do enjoy Happy Days, but I just wasn't sure. Still, I snagged a free copy during SeaBookstore Day. So I cracked it open thinking it'll be a fun bus book. I was quick to realize that I wrong about a great number of things about this book. This wasn't the satire I thought it was going to be. It was something a little more serious, a little more deep, and it quickly stopped being my bus book as I devoured between shifts.

You start out on what is basically Richard Cunningham's best day, but really it's his worst. The job he thinks he's going to get isn't exactly what he's offered. Only to get home to realize the day has gotten worse. His best friend is dead. From it's pretty much down hill slide of how much worse can it get before it gets better. Because it's based on Happy Days, so it has to get better. Right?

Well, that would be telling.

One of things I liked about Who Killed the Fonz? is the size of the book. Its just barely two hundred pages, but so much happens in those two hundred pages that I feel if it had been spread out into a bigger book I would have gotten lost. Would have forced the plot to drift. As a smaller book the plot is forced to move quickly as Richard unravels another piece of the puzzle. It's set up over the course of a week, just like the theme song of Happy Days. Which you bet your butt I was humming often as I read. Each chapter is a new day, and this helped with the flow of time.

Another thing I enjoyed was how spot on the attention to detail is. The world is already set up thanks to the TV show, but I do wonder how many times James Boice had to watch Happy Days as he was writing this. Because there was amazing details about Arnold's dinner, about Fonzi's bike, the Cunningham house, and things I'd forgotten about. Not only that but references to episodes even I remember seeing when I'd watch the re-runs on TVLand with my parents.

I also enjoyed was how close to the chest James Boice played the plot of the book. In fact it wasn't until like the last twenty pages or so I started to pieces it all together. I really enjoyed the small red herring on the bridge. It wasn't until then that I started to hope. And, I was really satisfied with the ending as well. I'd been put through a feeling grinder over two hundred pages. So it was nice to see everything tied up with nice little bow. I'm definitely glad I snagged this book on a whim. It was a really good read.

Who Killed the Fonz? was a great noir mystery that I'm happy I decided to add to my pile last month. I would have missed out on something really good if I had stayed on the fence. It kept me guessing and honestly on the edge of seat toward the end.

Buy, Borrow, or Skip: I say a solid library book for me. I enjoyed my time with it, but I probably wouldn't read it a second time. In fact my copy is going to my mom next.

HAPPY READING!!

Waiting on Wednesday

Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about what we have yet to read. Generally they are books that have yet to be released, but don't have to be. It is based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous at Breaking the Spine.

What happened to Amanda Holmes?

Twenty years ago, she was found bludgeoned in a rowboat at the MacAllister family’s Camp Macaw. No one was ever charged with the crime.

Now, after their parents’ sudden deaths, the MacAllister siblings return to camp to read the will and decide what to do with the prime real estate the camp occupies. Ryan needs to sell. Margaux hasn’t made up her mind. Mary believes in leaving well enough alone. Kate and Liddie—the twins—have opposing views. And Sean Booth, the groundskeeper, just hopes he still has a home when all is said and done.

But it’s more complicated than a simple vote. The will stipulates that until they unravel the mystery of what happened to Amanda, they can’t settle the estate. Any one of them could have done it, and each one is holding a piece of the puzzle. Will they work together to finally discover the truth, or will their secrets finally tear the family apart?

HAPPY READING!!

New Release Tuesday

Genre: Young Adult & Fantasy 

Series: Stand Alone

Pages: 416

Fatima lives in the city of Noor, a thriving stop along the Silk Road. There the music of myriad languages fills the air, and people of all faiths weave their lives together. However, the city bears scars of its recent past, when the chaotic tribe of Shayateen djinn slaughtered its entire population -- except for Fatima and two other humans. Now ruled by a new maharajah, Noor is protected from the Shayateen by the Ifrit, djinn of order and reason, and by their commander, Zulfikar. 

But when one of the most potent of the Ifrit dies, Fatima is changed in ways she cannot fathom, ways that scare even those who love her. Oud in hand, Fatima is drawn into the intrigues of the maharajah and his sister, the affairs of Zulfikar and the djinn, and the dangers of a magical battlefield. 

Nafiza Azad weaves an immersive tale of magic and the importance of names; fiercely independent women; and, perhaps most importantly, the work for harmony within a city of a thousand cultures and cadences.

HAPPY READING!!

Bout of Books 25

HAPPY MONDAY!  It's day one of seven of Bout of Books 25, and IN true fashion I'm spending the first half of my day at work and then I'll be running errands afterward. Luckily I bus everywhere. So I'll be able to read as I go.

I just wanted to say Good Luck to everyone doing Bout of Books this time around. Our house is going to attempt to keep the TV shut off as much as possible and read more this week. I'm sure my flatmate has a handful of books she needs to finish before she's off to the summer portion of her job. So Happy Reading to all. May none of your books end up on the DNF pile.

My TBR:

Ungorvernable by Therese Oniell

Grim Solace by Ben Galley

American Writer's Cookbook Edited by Kate White

GOOD LUCK & HAPPY READING!!

Cover Runway Sunday

They say don't judge a book by its cover, but we all know we do it. Sometimes it's the cover that originally catches our eye, drawing us to give a book a closer look. It's the first thing we see, our first impression. Every Sunday I'm going to post some of my favorite covers of books coming soon! Some are by authors I already enjoy, some are the reason I gave the book a longer look. Either way they're all going to find their way here!

Following a long but successful book tour, Joe Biden has one more stop before he can return home: Chicago. His old pal Barack Obama has invited him to meet a wealthy benefactor whose endorsement could turn the tide for Joe if he decides to run for president.

The two friends barely have time to catch up before another mystery lands in their laps: Obama’s prized Blackberry is stolen. When their number-one suspect winds up full of lead on the South Side, the police are content to write it off as just another gangland shooting. But Joe and Obama smell a rat...

Set against the backdrop of a raucous city on St. Patrick’s Day, Joe and Obama race to find the shooter, only to uncover a vast conspiracy that goes deeper than the waters of Lake Michigan—which is exactly where they’ll spend the rest of their retirement if they’re not careful.

HAPPY READING!!

Waiting on Wednesday

Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about what we have yet to read. Generally they are books that have yet to be released, but don't have to be. It is based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous at Breaking the Spine.

It's not safe for anyone alone in the woods. There are predators that come out at night: critters and coyotes, snakes and wolves. But the woman in the red jacket has no choice. Not since the Crisis came, decimated the population, and sent those who survived fleeing into quarantine camps that serve as breeding grounds for death, destruction, and disease. She is just a woman trying not to get killed in a world that doesn't look anything like the one she grew up in, the one that was perfectly sane and normal and boring until three months ago.

There are worse threats in the woods than the things that stalk their prey at night. Sometimes, there are men. Men with dark desires, weak wills, and evil intents. Men in uniform with classified information, deadly secrets, and unforgiving orders. And sometimes, just sometimes, there's something worse than all of the horrible people and vicious beasts combined. 

Red doesn't like to think of herself as a killer, but she isn't about to let herself get eaten up just because she is a woman alone in the woods...

Why I'm Waiting: Because I like Red Riding Hood and I like Christina Henry's writing style. I can't wait to see the two melded together.

HAPPY READING!!