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!

PLATFORM: Dylan is a mid-century baking specialist who has an enormous following online, a top content creator on both TikTok and Youtube. Across his still-growing platforms, he has over 10 million followers.

BAKING THE VINTAGE BEST: All the recipes included in this book have been vetted by Dylan, with only the best recipes included to give a realistic look back at what baking was like during each decade in the average household.

HAPPY READING!!

Reading Challenge Update

I don't get to use this gif enough on here, but this seemed like the perfect time to dust it off. Because somehow we are now four months into 2023! I'm excited about it though because I'm over this winter. The PNW got a taste of summer at the end of March, but it went straight back to being cold and gross again.

The rain doesn't bother me, but I'm so sick of seeing it 30 and 40 degrees outside. I'm so ready for 50 and 60 degrees days. I'm also ready for reading by the pool, and worrying if I put on enough sunscreen.

I'm ready for when am I going to read because the restaurant has been so busy. Though, I may not have to worry so much about that after the last three months. My desire to go and do anything has been lost because I hate being cold. So I've jumped pretty far ahead of most of the challenges and goals for this year.

Goodreads Goal: 27 books 

Pages Read: 4,540 pages

BINGO Books: 16 of 25 squares (no BINGOs)

A to Z Challenge: 6 of 28 squares 

I'm ten books ahead on my Goodreads challenge, which if way farther ahead than I normally am this time of year. Personally, I think with how stressful work has been, I've been using reading to unwind. 

Even with the smaller books I've been reading, I'm also on track to meet my pages read goal. If I keep this pace I'll blow it out of the water, so if I had a slump this summer I can let myself enjoy the slump in the sunshine!

As for my two reading challenges, I haven't been counting Kindle books in the A to Z Challenge. Only the books I physically own. And, while my BINGO Challenge looks good, I've managed to set myself up to several BINGOs, but managed to not hit a single one. The downside to mood reading. The upside is it's only April. 

While I've been worried about my work-life balance, writing this update has let me know I've managed it. Yeah, things are perfect at work, but I work in a kitchen. So when are they ever? Something is always going sideways.

But, enough about me! How is everyone else's year going so far? Having you been hitting your goals? What books have been your favorite so far?

HAPPY READING!!

Small Spaces -Review

Author: Katherine Arden

Genre: Middle Grade

Format: Kindle

Pages: 218

Between Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon, and my library, a lot of book recommendation fall in my lap. No book series has been recommended to me more than the Small Spaces series. Usually the third book in the series, Dark Water. And every time I think I should put that on hold, only to realize it's the third of four books.

Finally, when the book popped up again on my Library for You page, I snagged the first book. I had high hopes for this book because Katherine Arden is my roommate's favorite author, and she always tells me how much I'd love this series. 

So with her telling me it's a good series, and how the entire internet telling me to read this series. I jumped in with both feet with no working knowledge of this series, other than the Children of the Corn vibes that the cover gave. 

The entire story is told through Ollie's point of view, and she's just experienced a pretty big loss. So she's isolated herself recently, quitting all things she once loved, and just sort of existing. But, even then she has a big heart that we see quickly as she comes to the quick rescue of a classmate she doesn't necessarily like all that much.

It doesn't take long for the story to kick off, or get all that creepy. I will say Olivia is braver than I was at her age. I don't think I'd confront a crying lady trying to throw something in a lake, but considering Ollie's parents, I wasn't surprised she'd done it by the end of the book. 

The pace of the books is quick, there's no lag anywhere, and the backstory fits perfectly in with the front part of the story. Small Spaces starts out more of a mystery book, than a ghost story. However, that quickly changes once you hit about the halfway part of the book.

That is when it starts to lean into those Children of the Corn vibe. 

The two best parts of this book are how well our three kids (Ollie, Coco, and Brian) eventually start to work together. Like with any Middle-Grade novel, each of those three brings something important to the story. Though Coco's surprised me, she quickly became my favorite character. She just tries so hard.

But, all three are great characters.

The second thing was how Katherin Arden wove this story together. It is a fast story, but there is foreshadowing throughout the entire book. And, if you pay close enough attention you start to pick up little hints. So before the book ended, I had a pretty good idea who the Smiling Man was. 

Bonus points for how clever the mystery was. While I figured out who our villain was, I still wasn't really sure how they were going to get back home. Because I spent the whole book trying to figure out how mist becomes rain. To the point, I had to stop myself from Googling it. 

But, the answer was right in front of my face the whole time.

I've already put the second book of the series, Dead Voices, on hold at the library. If I don't do anything else this year with my reading, I will finish this quartet!

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 that 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.

A young squire tackles mysteries, monsters, and magic, but the inept knight he serves takes the credit. Every time.

Squire is brainy, bookish, and terribly under-appreciated by the brawny, inept knight Sir Kelton, who somehow always gets all the glory. So when the two mismatched heroes find themselves in a cursed village plagued by a demonic dragon, Kelton rides off to slay it and Squire stays behind to catch up on some reading. But Squire starts to notice that something isn’t quite right about this town . . . Can he uncover its strange secrets?

HAPPY READING!!

New Release Tuesday

There’s something almost magical about the way Maya’s grandmother cooks--and although Halmunee may be losing her memory, she always knows how to make the most delicious gimbap. Maya doesn’t remember her family’s old life in Korea, but she learns new recipes and stories when they cook together--stories that Maya's mom would prefer stayed in the past, especially if they involve Maya’s father.

One summer day, as Maya and Halmunee are making patbingsu, something unbelievable happens: a single delicious bite transports Maya and Halmunee back in time, into the memory itself. Halmunee explains that their family has the ability to time travel through food--and Maya can do it too, if she practices.

As she eats her way through the past, Maya tries to unravel the mystery of what life was like in Korea, and what really happened to her dad. She learns that time moves in ways she couldn't imagine . . . and that sometimes, families keep secrets to protect the ones they love. Brimming with heart, and interspersed with Korean family recipes that readers can make themselves, this is a story to savor.

HAPPY READING!!

Book Mail

 April Theme: Family Secrets

With everything going on, I had forgotten what books were coming this month, so I got to be surprised again. The fun story is I was looking for one of the books the week before when I popped into one of my local bookstores. 

The upside, I didn't find it and saved my book budget for another time. Victor Lavalle is also one of those authors I keep meaning to read. I've even gotten some of his books through the library, but I never manage to get to them before they return. Now I have a good reason to make that happen. I have never heard of K.L. Cerra before, but this book sounds like a trip.

I'm excited to try the coffee. I always love trying new blends and new companies!

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!

Monster hunter Erica Slaughter becomes the hunted and faces her doom alone!

With the last person in her corner gone and a ruthless agent from the Order of St. George closing in, Erica Slaughter finds herself alone and without a prayer. Can she take on this horrific new monster plaguing the small town of Tribulation, New Mexico by herself, or is this the end of her story? Erica is faced with a choice to reach out to an unexpected source for help, or find herself dealing with both a monster and her human enemies alone… Erica Slaughter faces her deadliest challenge yet in the next volume of the Eisner-winning and Harvey Award-nominated series from GLAAD Award-winning author James Tynion IV (Department of Truth, The Nice House on the Lake), artist Werther Dell’Edera (Razorblades), colorist Miquel Muerto (Radiant Red), and letterer AndWorld Design (Nightwing, The Many Deaths of Laila Starr). Collects Something is Killing the Children #26-30.

HAPPY READING!!

Inside Man - Review

 

Author: K.J Parker

Genre: Novella

Format: Kindle

Pages: 127

I like K.J. Parker's books, especially the strange novellas he puts out. They are weird, funny, brutal, and kind of make you think of the bigger picture of things. And, while at times these are hard to read, I do enjoy taking them apart. 

Prosper's Demon is one of my favorites. So I was pumped that we were going to get a second book with his exorcist series. My favorite part of this series it doesn't follow the traditional path of most exorcist novels. The demons in this universe are different, and the rules are different. 

Unlike the first book, this one follows the narration of one of those demons himself. A demon who up until recently was a top operative, but got hurt while "on duty". It got a cozy job messing up the prayers to some Lord to keep him in heaven. Until something upsets the balance.

This story is done in the weird, sardonic humor that is K.J. Parker's writing style. These books are barely over a hundred pages long, but they aren't something I can sit and read all day. The books in this series make you think a lot of theology, even if these stories are set in a fantasy world. 

While I enjoy the dry wit and who doesn't like the idea of a demon getting pumped at any moment. This one kind of broke my brain and took a few days to get through. I like that about Parker's books though, and it's the reason I jumped back into this series. Or, any of the novellas set in this world.

Also, you don't have to read Prosper's Demon first but does help set up the world, and the exorcists. But, the story as a whole isn't affected if you haven't read it first. But you should, it's great!

HAPPY READING!! 

Book Haul

I had to run to the thrift and drop off a trunk load of stuff. So you know I couldn't pass up the chance to go inside. Was there something I needed? Actually, yes. I'm on the hunt for some baking dishes, and I always love to hunt the thrift stores before I break down and buy new ones. Also, it's starting to warm here in the PNW, so I wanted to browse the shorts. I'm ridiculously hard on clothes. 

No, I didn't find any of the things I had originally gone in for. But! I did find some books. Three new books for my Goosebumps collection. One was a duplicate, but that's fine. A friend of mine works for a summer camp. The campers will love the extra for their Free Little Library! I also found two great cookbooks, which I cannot wait to dive into. 

Now I might really need those baking dishes! 

HAPPY READING!! 

Cryptid Club - Review

 

Author: Sarah Andersen

Genre: Comic Book

Format: Hardback

Pages: 112

I love Sarah Anderson's books. She's hilarious and I love her little doddles for each panel. She is also one of those authors who I instantly add to my TBR shelf on Goodreads. Because I always know I'm going to enjoy her books. 

Cryptid Club was no exception. It was everything I love about Sarah Anderson's writing and comic style. 

I've always been a fan of cryptid creatures. Even the far-fetched ones that under no circumstance could be real. Because what if they could be. And, Cryptid Club took that love and gave it back tenfold. This book is fun, goofy, and full of serotonin. Sarah Anderson took some creepy creatures and made them adorable with her witty artwork. 

She had our whole house laughing out loud with each new page. It's the humor from all other comic books but shaped in the form of shy cryptids just trying to find friends. All while being very shy. 

It was the perfect read after a long day at work. And, just to add to the fun, the cover glows in the dark. Another surefire way to my 90s baby heart! 

I cannot recommend her books enough. If you're looking for a quick read that will make you laugh, any of her books will do. The Sarah Scribbles series is by far my favorite. But, my roommate is a huge fan of her book, Fangs. But, if you love cryptids, don't miss one Cryptid Club.    

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 that 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.

At the movie theater where Jo works, the last show has ended. But the nightmare is just beginning.

Tonight, Tempest Theaters is closing forever, the last remaining business in a defunct shopping mall. The moviegoers have left, and Jo and her six coworkers have the final shift, cleaning up popcorn and mopping floors for the last time.

But after an unexpected altercation puts everyone on edge, the power goes out. Their manager disappears, along with the keys to the lobby doors and the theater safe, where the crew's phones are locked each shift. Then, the crew's tension turns to terror when Jo discovers the dead body of one of her co-workers.

Now their only chance to escape the murderer in their midst is through the dark, shuttered mall. With its boarded-up exits and disabled fire alarms, the complex is filled with hiding places for both pursuer and pursued. In order to survive this night, Jo and her friends must trust one another, navigate the sprawling ruins of the mall, and outwit a killer before he kills again.

HAPPY READING!!