Showing posts with label Carrie Vaughn. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Carrie Vaughn. Show all posts

Wednesday, September 24, 2025

Waiting on Wednesday #750, September 24th

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating!

Mate by Ali Hazelwood
Expected Publication: October 7th, 2025 
From Goodreads:
A Human hybrid and an Alpha Were claw against the bonds of fate in the highly anticipated companion novel to the New York Times bestselling Bride.

Serena Paris is orphaned, pack-less, and one of a kind. Coming forward as the first Human-Were hybrid was supposed to heal a centuries-long rift between species. Instead, it made her a target, prey to the ruthless political machinations between Weres, Vampyres, and Humans. With her enemies closing in on her, she has only one option left—if he’ll have her.

As Alpha of the Northwest pack, Koen Alexander commands obedience. His authority is so absolute, only a fool would threaten his mate. It doesn’t matter if Serena doesn’t reciprocate his feelings, nothing will stop him from keeping her safe.

But power-hungry Vampyres and Weres are not the only threats chasing Serena. Sooner or later, her past is bound to catch up with her—and Koen might be the only thing standing between her and total annihilation…

Overdue by Stephanie Perkins
Expected Publication: October 7th, 2025 
From Goodreads:
Is it time to renew love or start a new chapter?

Ingrid Dahl, a cheerful twenty-nine-year-old librarian in the cozy mountain town of Ridgetop, North Carolina, has been happily dating her college boyfriend, Cory, for eleven years without ever discussing marriage. But when Ingrid’s sister announces her engagement to a woman she’s only been dating for two years, Ingrid and Cory feel pressured to consider their future. Neither has ever been with anybody else, so they make an unconventional decision. They'll take a one-month break to date other people, then they'll reunite and move toward marriage. Ingrid even has someone in mind: her charmingly grumpy coworker, Macon Nowakowski, on whom she’s secretly crushed for years. But plans go awry, and when the month ends, Ingrid and Cory realize they’re not ready to resume their relationship—and Ingrid’s harmless crush on Macon has turned into something much more complicated.

Overdue is a beautiful, slow-burn romance full of lust and longing about new beginnings and finding your way.

The Intruder by Freida McFadden
Expected Publication: October 7th, 2025 
From Goodreads:
Who knows what the storm will blow in…

Casey's cabin in the wilderness is not built for a hurricane. Her roof shakes, the lights flicker, and the tree outside her front door sways ominously in the wind. But she's a lot more worried about the girl she discovers lurking outside her kitchen window.

She’s young. She’s alone. And she’s covered in blood.

The girl won't explain where she came from or loosen her grip on the knife in her right hand. And when Casey makes a disturbing discovery in the middle of the night, things take a turn for the worse.

The girl has a dark secret. One she’ll kill to keep. And if Casey gets too close to the truth, she may not live to see the morning.

In this taut, deadly tale of survival and desperation, #1 New York Times bestselling author Freida McFadden explores how far one girl will go to save herself.

A Mouthful of Dust by Nghi Vo
Expected Publication: October 7th, 2025 
From Goodreads:
Hunger makes monsters in this dark new tale in Nghi Vo's Hugo Award-winning Singing Hills Cycle.

Wandering Cleric Chih of Singing Hills and their hoopoe companion Almost Brilliant come to the river town of Baolin chasing stories of a legendary famine. Amid tales of dishes served to royalty and desserts made of dust, they discover the secrets of what happens when hunger stalks the land and what the powerful will do to hide their crimes.

Trapped in the mansion of a sinister magistrate, Chih and Almost Brilliant must learn what happened in Baolin when the famine came to call, and they must do so quickly...because the things in the shadows are only growing hungrier.
The Crimson Throne by Sara Raasch and Beth Revis
Expected Publication: October 7th, 2025 
From Goodreads:
Powerless meets Reign in this new historical romantasy from the New York Times bestselling authors of Night of the Witch.

Samson Calthorpe’s curse has isolated him from everyone he has ever cared about. So, when the opportunity arises to break the curse, he grabs it. All he has to do for his freedom is risk his life and become a royal spy, using every bit of the skills and resolve he’s picked up on the streets of London to infiltrate the court of the Scottish Queen and uncover a plot to assassinate Queen Elizabeth.

For years, Alyth Graham has been protecting Mary Queen of Scots from threats both physical and magical, including the Queen’s own husband, Lord Darnley. Alyth is more than meets the eye though, the child of a fae prince and a human mother, she is among the most powerful protectors in Scotland: guardians sworn to defend against the Red Caps, a bloodthirsty fae clan . . . that Lord Darnley is in league with to overtake Scotland.

As Alyth and Samson circle each other in the volatile and glamorous Scottish court, both seek to uncover threats to their own countries. They have one unifying link: their shared hatred and suspicion of Lord Darnley…and their undeniable pull towards each other. Using secret codes, hidden messages, and a little bit of magic, Alyth and Samson unravel a plot centuries in the making. Lord Darnley is only a pawn, and in this game, the queen takes all.

Queen Demon by Martha Wells
Expected Publication: October 7th, 2025 
From Goodreads:
From the breakout SFF superstar author of Murderbot comes the remarkable sequel to the USA Today and Sunday Times bestselling novel, Witch King. A fantasy of epic scope, Queen Demon is a story of power and friendship, of trust and betrayal, and of the families we choose.

Dahin believes he has clues to the location of the Hierarchs' Well, and the Witch King Kai, along with his companions Ziede and Tahren, knowing there's something he isn't telling them, travel with him to the rebuilt university of Ancartre, which may be dangerously close to finding the Well itself.

Can Kai stop the rise of a new Hierarch?

And can he trust his companions to do what’s right?

Follow Kai to the end of the world in this thrilling sequel to the USA Today-bestselling Witch King.

Lore Olympus: Volume 9 by Rachel Smythe
Expected Publication: October 7th, 2025 
From Goodreads:
Scandalous gossip, wild parties, and forbidden love—the Greek tale of Hades and Persephone gets a romantic modern update in the gorgeously illustrated, Eisner Award-winning Lore Olympus, including a brand new bonus short story!

“The Underworld has a queen!”

Persephone and Hades are finally reunited when the banished goddess of spring returns to the Underworld to claim her rightful place as queen. Now that Hades and Persephone have defeated and imprisoned the power-hungry Kronos once more, nothing can keep them apart, and years of being separated have only made their desire for each other grow. But the other Olympians can’t help but meddle, pushing the pair to make things official with a coronation—and a wedding.

Ignoring the others who try to define their relationship, Hades and Persephone choose to take things at their own pace and focus on rebuilding the Underworld. They begin by investigating how Kronos was first able to escape, and they learn the horrifying truth that he has captured a powerful young god whose abilities help Kronos project his thoughts outside of Tartarus—thoughts he uses to plague Hera’s every waking moment. Though Kronos’s physical form is locked away, Olympus will never be free until they can rescue the child from the furious Titan’s grasp.

To save the realms, Persephone must figure out her fertility goddess powers and embrace her role as Queen of the Underworld—even as it takes her further from her mother’s expectations and her former place in the Mortal Realm.

This edition of Smythe’s original Eisner Award–winning webcomic Lore Olympus features a brand-new, exclusive short story from creator Rachel Smythe and brings the Greek pantheon into the modern age in a sharply perceptive and romantic graphic novel.

This volume collects episodes 207–233 of the #1 WEBTOON comic Lore Olympus.

The Glass Slide World by Carrie Vaughn
Expected Publication: October 7th, 2025 
From Goodreads:
Award-winning author Carrie Vaughn’s sequel to The Naturalist Society follows a young scientist unlocking her magical abilities amid a high-seas adventure filled with international intrigue.

The year is 1902, and the world is changing with the new century. Twenty-one-year-old Ava Stanley, the daughter of two celebrated Arcane Taxonomists, has much to live up to—however scarce her magical abilities may be.

While her parents draw power from spectacular birds and megafauna, Ava’s connection to the natural world is much smaller, stemming from the microscopic. This is useful in her quest to become a doctor, as she studies the burgeoning links between bacteria and disease, but it means Ava’s power itself is also smaller. Even so, she plans to make the most of it when she boards a ship to Nassau, where she’ll continue her research.

But those plans change when pirates take over the ship, bringing with them danger, mystery, and the stirrings of war. Amid the chaos, Ava forges connections with her fellow travelers. And in them, she begins to find that every tiny piece of the world has the power to strengthen it…or shatter it completely.

The Scammer by Tiffany D. Jackson 
Expected Publication: October 7th, 2025 
From Goodreads:
New York Times bestselling author Tiffany D. Jackson delivers another stunning, ripped-from-the-headlines thriller, following a freshman girl whose college life is turned upside down when her roommate’s ex-convict brother moves into their dorm and starts controlling their every move.

Out from under her overprotective parents, Jordyn is ready to kill it in prelaw at a prestigious, historically Black university in Washington DC. When her new roommate’s brother is released from prison, the last thing Jordyn expects is to come home and find the ex-convict on their dorm room sofa. But Devonte needs a place to stay while he gets back on his feet—and how could she say no to one of her new best friends?

Devonte is older, as charming as he is intelligent, pushing every student he meets to make better choices about their young lives. But Jordyn senses something sinister beneath his friendly advice and growing group of followers. When one of Jordyn’s roommates goes missing, she must enlist the help of the university’s lone white student to uncover the mystery—or become trapped at the center of a web of lies more tangled than she can imagine.

Savage Blooms by S.T. Gibson
Expected Publication: October 7th, 2025 
From Goodreads:
S. T. Gibson, the queen of erotic fantasy romance, returns with this ravishingly dark trilogy of gothic manors, faery magic, and forbidden desires set in the foreboding Highlands of Scotland.

For as long as Adam can remember, the legends passed down from his world-traveling grandfather have called him to a crumbling manor in the Highlands. His closest friend Nicola longs for the same adventure, as well as for Adam himself. She'll follow him just about anywhere - even to the remote wilds of Scotland - if it pushes the pair to surrender to their shared attraction.

But when a storm strikes and strands them unexpectedly, Adam and Nicola find themselves at the mercy of the eccentric owner of the infamous house, Eileen, as well as her brooding groundskeeper, Finley.

Trapped by the weather, and bound by ancient faery magic, Nicola and Adam get more than they bargained for as they become entangled in Eileen and Finley's world of mind games, deceit and forbidden desire. As ancestral sins are unearthed, Adam and Nicola will have to reckon with the spell Eileen and Finley have cast over them - and whether or not they even want to be free.

Cinder House by Freya Marske
Expected Publication: October 7th, 2025 
From Goodreads:
Sparks fly and lovers dance in this gorgeous, yearning Cinderella retelling from bestselling author Freya Marske—a queer Gothic romance perfect for fans of Naomi Novik and T. Kingfisher.

An instant USA Today bestseller!

Ella is a haunting.

Murdered at sixteen, her ghost is furiously trapped in her father's house, invisible to everyone except her stepmother and stepsisters.

Even when she discovers how to untether herself from her prison, there are limits. She cannot be seen or heard by the living people who surround her. Her family must never learn she is able to leave. And at the stroke of every midnight, she finds herself back on the staircase where she died.

Until she forges a wary friendship with a fairy charm-seller, and makes a bargain for three nights of almost-living freedom. Freedom that means she can finally be seen. Danced with. Touched.

You think you know Ella's the ball, the magical shoes, the handsome prince.

You're halfway right, and all-the-way wrong.

How to Survive a Fairy Bargain by Laura J. Mayo
Expected Publication: October 7th, 2025 
From Goodreads:
In this hilarious sequel to How to Summon a Fairy Godmother, Theodosia’s already survived being the evil stepsister in one fairy tale, but surviving fae bargains, fairy rings, and being turned into a hedgehog will be a whole new challenge.
 
Theodosia Balfour is in a panic—she has no clue how to handle her new life as a fairy’s familiar. She just can’t seem to find her place in Cecily’s land of decadence, doublespeak, and whimsy.
 
Moreover, Theo can’t stop thinking about Kasra, Cecily’s last familiar who is now living a cozy human life without any memories of his time in a fairy’s service. All she wants is to tell Kaz how she feels about him, but that’s impossible now. Then suddenly, the regent of the fairy kingdom reveals a secret that shocks Theo to her core and thrusts her into the role of detective to solve a thousand-year-old royal assassination attempt.
 
With time running out to catch the would-be assassin, Theo can rely on only her own wits and unique charm to discover what’s really going on.

Mirage City by Lev A.C. Rosen
Expected Publication: October 7th, 2025 
From Goodreads:
Lev AC Rosen delivers a new and captivating 1950s mystery in this dazzling, award-winning series

Private Investigator Evander “Andy” Mills’ next case takes him out of his comfort zone in San Francisco—and much to his dismay, back home to Los Angeles. After a secretive queer rights organization called the Mattachine Society enlists Andy to find some missing members, he must dodge not only motorcycle gangs and mysterious forces, but his own mother, too.

Avoiding her proves to be a challenge when the case leads Andy to the psychological clinic she works at. Worlds collide, buried secrets are dug up, and Andy realizes he’s going to have to burn it all down this time if he wants to pull off a rescue. With secret societies, drugs, and doctors swirling around him, time is running out for Andy to locate the missing and get them to safety. And for him to make it back to San Francisco in one piece. 

Zodiac Legacy by Katie Zhao
Expected Publication: October 7th, 2025 
From Goodreads:
Return to the hidden world of the cursed Descendants of the Zodiac, where magic intertwines with dark academia at a boarding school dedicated to restoring their glory. In this thrilling sequel, the Descendants must navigate the aftermath of a chaotic heist and rescue a fallen comrade—all while battling dark forces determined to tear them apart.

A vampire on the run. A shapeshifter with a haunting past. A mortal trapped in enemy territory. And a werewolf with a score to settle.

After the heist of a lifetime to reclaim the source of their magic—the twelve Chinese zodiac statues—Evangeline Long and her crew of supernatural beings are on the run. Something—or someone—is working against the Descendants of zodiac from the shadows, and despite Evangeline’s efforts, her people remain cursed as creatures of darkness.

However, not everyone wants to return to life before the curse. As factions begin to tear the Descendants apart, Evangeline must travel to London to finish her mission: break the curse and restore the Descendants to their former glory. But with one of her crew in enemy hands and longtime allies turning on her, Evangeline must barter with lives as she decides who to trust . . . and who to target.

And she’ll have to do it soon. There are whispers of monsters on the loose—longtime foes of the Descendants who have returned for blood—and as long as the Descendants remain cursed, they don’t stand a chance. Now more than ever, Evangeline’s crew must finish their mission and reclaim their powers, before there is nothing left of the Descendants to save. . . .

The Ordeals by Rachel Greenlaw
Expected Publication: October 7th, 2025 
From Goodreads:
In this lush, atmospheric romantasy, an illusionist competes in a series of deadly trials for a spot at an elite magical college—that is, if another hopeful doesn’t kill her first.

Twenty-year-old Sophia De Winter has only known life bound to her cruel uncle, the Collector, thanks to a blood bond he exacted from her as a child. When she learns of Killmarth College, an elite academy for magic wielders outside of the Collector’s control, she knows it is her only chance to finally break free. But to gain entry, she will have to compete against other illusionists, masquiers, botanists, and alchemists in a series of brutal trials that many hopefuls don’t survive—the Ordeals.

Sophia knows her skills as an illusionist are weak; she only makes it through the first challenge by teaming up with a powerful (and insufferably sexy) botanist, Alden Locke. To make it out alive, she will have to hone her magic and learn to identify who is a rival, who could be an ally, and who is a murderer.

Because now, not only does she have to protect her heart, but her very life. Hopefuls are being viciously picked off one by one between the challenges. In her haste to escape the Collector’s trap, Sophia may have fled straight towards her own death sentence.

How to Fake a Haunting by Christa Carmen
Expected Publication: October 7th, 2025 
From Goodreads:
A desperate woman’s plot to frighten her husband out of her life takes a nightmarish turn in a chilling novel of modern horror by a Bram Stoker Award–winning author.

Lainey Taylor is being pushed to the brink by her alcoholic husband, Callum. Prone to hallucinations and erratic behavior, it’s only a matter of time before he puts Lainey’s life—and that of their daughter, Beatrix—in jeopardy. A divorce and full custody is out of the question. In Callum’s words: Over my dead body.

Lainey’s sympathetic friend Adelaide has a wild solution. They’ll stage a haunting so convincing it will drive Callum out of Lainey’s life for good. Nothing too over the top: strange smells, noises in the walls, and flies unleashed along the windowsills. It could work. Considering Callum’s alcohol-induced night terrors, he’s already close to broken. With each new scare, Lainey is closer to seeing the haunting through to its bitter, freeing end.

But in a house filled with so much rage, resentment, and fear, is it any wonder that Lainey and Adelaide’s plan goes horribly wrong? As their fake haunting spirals into something no one can control, Lainey discovers that the only way out of this frightening trap is to join forces with Callum, or die trying.

The Women of Wild Hill by Kirsten Miller
Expected Publication: October 7th, 2025 
From Goodreads:
A witty, spectacular, and timely tale of modern-day witches waging war on the patriarchy, from fan favorite Kirsten Miller, the author of The Change and Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books.

There are places on earth where nature’s powers gather. Girls raised there are bequeathed strange gifts. A few have powers so dark that they fear to use them. Such a place is Wild Hill, on the tip of Long Island. For centuries, the ghost of a witch murdered by colonists claimed the beautiful and fertile Wild Hill…until a young Scottish woman with strange gifts arrived. Sadie Duncan was allowed to stay.

Five generations of Sadie’s descendants called Wild Hill home, each generation more powerful than the last. Then, in the aftermath of a terrible tragedy, the last of the Duncans, once prophesized to be the most powerful of their kind, abandoned their ancestral home.

One of them, Brigid Laguerre moved to California and turned her dark gift into fame and fortune. Her sister, Phoebe, settled on a ranch in Texas, where women visit in secret for her tonics and cures. Phoebe’s daughter, Sybil, has become a famous chef. Seemingly powerless, Sibyl has never been told of the Duncan bloodline.

Now Brigid, Phoebe, and Sibyl have been brought to Wild Hill to discover their family legacy. The Old One, furious at the path mankind has taken, has chosen three powerful witches to turn the tide. The Duncans will fulfill their destinies—but only if they can set aside their grievances and come together as a family.

There's so many fantastic books starting off October! I've read one or two already and they were so good, and I can't wait for these all to be out! What about you guys? Happy reading! 

Monday, March 10, 2025

It's Monday! What Are You Reading #718, March 10th

It's Monday! What Are You Reading is a weekly meme hosted by Book Date where we share what we read this past week, what we hope to read this week...and anything in between! This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well...you never know where that next "must read" book will come from!
What happened in the past week:

Weekly Memes:
It's Monday! What Are You Reading #717
Teaser Tuesday #725
WWW Wednesday #725
WOW #721
Will the Time Come #718
Third Sentence Thursday #708
Random Reads #694
First Lines Friday #721
Book Blogger Hop #387
Monthly ARC's Update 109
The Reward Challenge Update #703
Wheel of TBR #250
How Well I Stuck to It #555
Wrote that Review Update #552

Phase Out Your Seriesathon: 
Update 17

Magical Readathon: Orilium: 

Spring Into Reading-A-Thon: 

Roll of Reads Readathon: 

Random:

OK, so I got 35 posts in 7 days, and it was a pretty good week, I read some really good books, and I have some ones that I'm really looking forward to this week! What about you guys? Happy reading!

So this week I want to read The Executioners Three, Go Luck Yourself, Writing Mr. Wrong!

From New York Times bestselling author Susan Dennard comes The Executioners Three, a mystery filled with rivalry, romance, best friends, and a gruesome curse that dates back centuries.

Freddie Gellar didn't mean to get half the rival high school arrested. She'd simply heard shrieks coming from the woods, so she'd called the cops like any good human would do. How was she supposed to know it was just kids partying?

Except the next day, a body is found. And while the local sheriff might call it suicide, Freddie's instincts tell her otherwise. So, like the aspiring sleuth (and true X-Files aficionado) she is, Freddie sets out to prove there's a murderer at large.

But her investigation is quickly disrupted by the rivalry between her school and the school of the partying teens she got arrested. For over twenty years, the two student bodies have had an ongoing prank war, and Freddie's failed attempt at Good Samaritanism has upped the ante. Worse, the clever—and gorgeous—leader of the rival prank squad has set his sights on Freddie.

As more pranks unfurl, more bodies also start piling up in the forest. But it's the supernatural warning signs around town, each plucked straight from an old forgotten poem called "The Executioners Three," that worry Freddie the most. She knows the poem and its blood curse can't be real, but she's quickly running out of time to prove it.

Because the murderer—or executioners?—knows she's onto them now, and their next target just might be Freddie.
It's enemies to lovers in this sexy and delightful holiday mash up that pairs the spare prince of Christmas with the crown prince of St. Patrick's Day!

Someone has been stealing Christmas's joy, and there's only one clue to the culprit—a single shamrock.

With Coal busy restructuring Christmas—and their dad now having a full midlife crisis in the Caribbean—Kris volunteers to investigate St. Patrick's Day. His cover: an ambassador from Christmas to foster goodwill. What could go wrong?

Everything, it seems. Because Prince Lochlann Patrick, Crown Prince of St. Patrick's Day, happens to be the mysterious student that Kris has been in a small war with at Cambridge. They attempt to play nice for the tabloids, but Kris can't get through one conversation without wanting to smash Loch's face in—he's infuriating, stubborn, loud, obstinate, hot—

Wait—hot?

Kris might be in some trouble. Especially when it turns out that the mystery behind Christmas's stolen magic isn't as simple as an outright theft. But why would a Holiday that Christmas has never had contact with, one that's always been the very basis of carefree, want to steal joy? Can a spare prince even hope to unravel all this, or will Kris lose something way more valuable than his Holiday's resources—like his heart?
The #1 New York Times bestselling author delivers a fun romantic comedy about a woman reconnecting with her high school ex after writing him into her latest romance book. 
Gemma hasn't written in years, but post-divorce, she dove back into writing romance. When her proposal didn't sell, she became convinced it was because no one wanted her nice-guy heroes and decided to write and absolute Mr. Wrong…based on her first crush, Mason Moretti, now a star hockey player. She's sure no one will make the connection between her highland laird and an NHL enforcer. Of course, someone does, and her secret is out. 

Mason is going through some drama of his own as an aging hockey player, and when his "reunion-cute" with Gemma goes viral, he proposes some media-worthy fake dating to help her book. Which is so sweet and not at all to help solve his own image problem. Gemma reluctantly agrees. Mason convinces Gemma to go away with him so she can finish her overdue second book while giving him anti-asshole lessons. And if he really just wants to get time away with her, that's not an bad move, right? Or is it? 

Saturday, March 8, 2025

Week 10 Review: Steel

From Goodreads:
It was a slender length of rusted steel, tapered to a point at one end and jagged at the other, as if it had broken. A thousand people would step over it and think it trash, but not her.

This was the tip of a rapier.

Sixteen-year-old Jill has fought in dozens of fencing tournaments, but she has never held a sharpened blade. When she finds a corroded sword piece on a Caribbean beach, she is instantly intrigued and pockets it as her own personal treasure.

The broken tip holds secrets, though, and it transports Jill through time to the deck of a pirate ship. Stranded in the past and surrounded by strangers, she is forced to sign on as crew. But a pirate's life is bloody and brief, and as Jill learns about the dark magic that brought her there, she forms a desperate scheme to get home—one that risks everything in a duel to the death with a villainous pirate captain.

Time travel, swordplay, and romance combine in an original high-seas adventure from New York Times bestseller Carrie Vaughn.

My Review:


Author: Carrie Vaughn
Read: March  2nd, 2025
Source: Ebook.bike 
Reason Why: Love her writing and it sounded really great, and it's a Historical Fiction 2025 Book and a SAC 2025 Book! 
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: March 15th 2011
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
5/5 Stars

Sunday, March 2, 2025

Magical Readathon: Orilium Update 15

So I read my next book for Magical Readathon: Orilium, and it was Steel which was for the prompt 3B Bring Sword, and I'll be reading I Don't Know next! 

My Reading Journey:

Memories of Ash by Intisar Khanani 
Prompt Fulfilled: 1C
Started On: January 22nd
Finished On: January 22nd, 4:28 PM
Pages Read: 355

Hearts that Cut by Kika Hatzopoulou
Prompt Fulfilled: 1B
Started On: January 25th
Finished On: January 25th, 11:31 AM
Pages Read: 336

The Crimson Crown by Heather Walter
Prompt Fulfilled: 1D
Started On: January 25th
Finished On: January 25th, 3:45 PM
Pages Read: 544

The Party by Natasha Preston
Prompt Fulfilled: 1C
Started On: January 27th
Finished On: January 27th, 10:53 AM
Pages Read: 352

Return of the Vengeful Queen by C.J. Redwine 
Prompt Fulfilled: 1E
Started On: January 30th
Finished On: January 30th, 11:04 AM
Pages Read: 400

I Am the Dark that Answers When You Call by Jamison Shea
Prompt Fulfilled: 1B
Started On: January 31st
Finished On: January 31st, 2:00 PM
Pages Read: 336

Vilest Things by Chloe Gong
Prompt Fulfilled: 1A
Started On: January 31st
Finished On: January 31st, 6:36 PM
Pages Read: 416

The Half King by Melissa Landers
Prompt Fulfilled: 2A North
Started On: February 8th
Finished On: February 8th, 7:28 PM
Pages Read: 512

Tell Me No Lies by A.V. Geiger
Prompt Fulfilled: 2C South
Started On: February 9th
Finished On: February 9th, 6:48 PM
Pages Read: 330

Gabriel's Inferno by Sylvain Reynard
Prompt Fulfilled: 2B West
Started On: February 15th
Finished On: February 15th, 9:18 PM
Pages Read: 545

Gabriel's Redemption by Sylvain Reynard 
Prompt Fulfilled: 2B West
Started On: February 16th
Finished On: February 16th, 3:26 PM
Pages Read: 496

He Who Drowned the World by Shelley Parker-Chan
Prompt Fulfilled: 2E South East
Started On: February 20th
Finished On: February 20th, 6:47 PM
Pages Read: 496

Shutter by Courtney Alameda
Prompt Fulfilled: 2D North East
Started On: February 21st
Finished On: February 21st, 9:15 PM
Pages Read: 384

Rule of the Aurora King by Nisha J. Tuli
Prompt Fulfilled: 2C South 
Started On: February 23rd
Finished On: February 23rd, 10:50 PM
Pages Read: 514

Steel by Carrie Vaughn
Prompt Fulfilled: 3B Bring Sword
Started On: March 2nd
Finished On: March 2nd, 10:32 PM
Pages Read: 309

Prompts Left: 3C Bring Wand, 3A Find New Friends, 3D Match Sundial, 3C Try New Food, 3B Enjoy Solitude, 3D Inspect Well
Read: 15
Pages Read: 6325

Saturday, November 2, 2024

Week 44 Review: The Naturalist Society

From Goodreads:
In this magical tale of self-discovery from New York Times bestselling author Carrie Vaughn, a young widow taps into the power that will change the world—if the man's world she lives in doesn't destroy her and her newfound friends first.

In the summer of 1880, the death of Beth Stanley's husband puts her life's work in jeopardy. The magic of Arcane Taxonomy dictates that every natural thing in the world, from weather to animals, can be labeled, and doing so grants the practitioner some of that subject's unique power. But only men are permitted to train in this philosophy. Losing her husband means that Beth loses the name they put on her work—and any influence she might have wielded.

Brandon West and Anton Torrance are campaigning for their expedition to the South Pole, a mission that some believe could make a taxonomist all-powerful by tapping into the earth's magnetic forces. Their late friend Harry Stanley's knowledge and connections would have been instrumental, but when they attempt to take custody of his work, they find that it was never his at all.

Tied together by this secret and its implications, Beth, Bran, and Anton must find a way for Beth to use her talent for the good of the world, before she's discovered by those who would lay claim to her rare potential—and her very freedom.

My Review:
I had a wonderful time reading this book! I love her writing, and the synopsis sounded really interesting to read! I really enjoyed reading about Beth, Brandon and Anton, as they dealt with the fact that she was the mind behind her husband's "work" and how to utilize it now that he's passed.

I felt so badly for Beth, she was so happy to marry him, not that they were really in love, but because it meant that she could continue her work on documenting nature. Then he dies only a few years later, and she's left adrift, and her plan to slowly present herself as the leading mind is squashed right away in her first attempt to start it.

The magic in this world, with the names of nature, was really interesting to read about. This is a time where the known world is much bigger than the unknown, meaning it's harder to find something new, and while things aren't critical, the writing is on the wall.

Watching the 3 of them work together was really fantastic! I was really interested in their dynamics, especially given that Bran and Anton were in a romantic relaitonship from the very beginning of the story. So that was an interesting part of the book to read!

This was a fantastic read and I can't wait to read more by Carrie Vaughn, and the sequel, which I didn't know this was going to be a series until after I started writing this review! I'm so excited for more from this world! 

Author: Carrie Vaughn
Series: The Naturalist Society #1
Read: October 29th, 2024
Source: NetGalley 
Reason Why: Love her writing and it sounded really great, and it's a Historical Fiction 2024 Book, Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2024 Book and a WoW Book! 
Publisher: 47North
Published: November 1st 2024
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
5/5 Stars

Friday, November 1, 2024

Monthly ARC's Update 95

So I read my next book for Monthly ARC's and it was One House Left by Vincent Ralph from the August list, and The Naturalist Society by Carrie Vaughn from the November list.

Here's the link to this month's post with my journey.

How it Works: 
This is my monthly ARC accountability challenge, to list out the books that I have as ARC's that are being published in the coming month, rounding them up at the start of the month, and seeing how well I did at the end, as well as rounding up the next month's books.    
   

Wednesday, October 30, 2024

WWW Wednesday #707, October 30th

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you'll read next?

Thanks to MizB of Should Be Writing now A Daily Rhythm for starting this meme! And thanks now to Taking on a World of Words for reviving it! 

I'm currently listening to In the Lives of Puppets, and I'm loving it!


I'm also reading Illustrated Girl, and it's so good!


I read The Naturalist Society, and it was such a great read! 

I'm going to be reading Only Cold Depths, and I can't wait, I love her writing and this series! 

What about you guys? Happy reading!

Tuesday, October 29, 2024

Becca's BookoplAthon Update 36

So I read my next book for Becca's BookoplAthon, Roll as You Go edition, and it was The Naturalist Society which is for the prompt Bone, and I'll be rolling for what I'm reading next below! 

My Reading Journey:

The Wrong Bride by Gena Showalter and Jill Monroe
Prompt Fulfilled: Present
Started On: October 1st
Finished On: October 1st, 2:01 PM
Pages Read: 344

Scribbled in Margins by Forthright
Prompt Fulfilled: Community Shelf
Started On: October 1st
Finished On: October 1st, 11:58 PM
Pages Read: 101

Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn
Prompt Fulfilled: Ghost Tour
Started On: October 2nd
Finished On: October 2nd, 9:54 PM
Pages Read: 368

Kills Well With Others by Deanna Raybourn
Prompt Fulfilled:  Stabby
Started On: October 3rd
Finished On: October 3rd, 10:59 PM
Pages Read: 368

How to Survive Your Murder by Danielle Valentine
Prompt Fulfilled: Go
Started On: October 4th
Finished On: October 4th, 10:34 PM
Pages Read: 320

Fumiko and the Finicky Nestmate by Forthright
Prompt Fulfilled: Past
Started On: October 5th
Finished On: October 5th, 10:25 PM
Pages Read: 426

There's Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie Perkins
Prompt Fulfilled: Poll
Started On: October 6th
Finished On: October 6th, 9:56 PM
Pages Read: 320

Serial Killer Games by Kate Posey
Prompt Fulfilled: Pentacle
Started On: October 7th
Finished On: October 7th, 8:30 PM
Pages Read: 384

A Pirate's Life for Tea by Rebecca Thorne
Prompt Fulfilled: Mood Read
Started On: October 8th
Finished On: October 8th, 5:31 PM
Pages Read: 444

A Cruel and Fated Light by Ashley Shuttleworth
Prompt Fulfilled: Big Book
Started On: October 9th
Finished On: October 9th, 11:50 PM
Pages Read: 640

Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping (On a Dead Man) by Jesse Q. Sutanto
Prompt Fulfilled: Pumpkin Carving
Started On: October 10th
Finished On: October 10th, 6:39 PM
Pages Read: 352

Whispers Most Foul by Emma MacDonald
Prompt Fulfilled: Ghostface
Started On: October 11th
Finished On: October 11th, 11:25 PM
Pages Read: 380

Tea You at the Altar by Rebecca Thorne
Prompt Fulfilled: Pentacle
Started On: October 12th
Finished On: October 12th, 7:24 PM
Pages Read: 336

Halloween for Six by Kelly Finley
Prompt Fulfilled: Dice Roll
Started On: October 13th
Finished On: October 13th, 11:30 PM
Pages Read: 412

Don't Fear the Reaper by Stephen Graham Jones
Prompt Fulfilled: Seance
Started On: October 14th
Finished On: October 14th, 9:24 PM
Pages Read: 480

Januaries by Olivie Blake
Prompt Fulfilled: Community Shelf
Started On: October 15th
Finished On: October 15th, 1:05 PM
Pages Read: 480

First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston
Prompt Fulfilled: Present
Started On: October 15th
Finished On: October 15th, 5:37 PM
Pages Read: 348

A Very Bad Thing by J.T. Ellison
Prompt Fulfilled: Jason Voorhees
Started On: October 15th
Finished On: October 15th, 9:51 PM
Pages Read: 495 

When The Moon Hatched by Sarah A. Parker
Prompt Fulfilled: Feed Scroll
Started On: October 16th
Finished On: October 16th, 11:08 PM
Pages Read: 736

My Best Friend's Exorcism by Grady Hendrix
Prompt Fulfilled: Grady Hendrix
Started On: October 17th
Finished On: October 17th, 11:48 AM
Pages Read: 337

All Fall Down by Ally Carter
Prompt Fulfilled: Chance Card
Started On: October 17th
Finished On: October 17th, 8:01 PM
Pages Read: 320

Lying in the Deep by Diana Urban
Prompt Fulfilled: Stabby
Started On: October 18th
Finished On: October 18th, 10:38 PM
Pages Read: 400

The Beyond by Chloe Neill
Prompt Fulfilled: Pumpkin Carving
Started On: October 19th
Finished On: October 19h, 7:15 PM
Pages Read: 336

The Hob's Bargain by Patricia Briggs
Prompt Fulfilled: Present 
Started On: October 20th
Finished On: October 20h, 6:47 PM
Pages Read: 290

Lucy Undying by Kiersten White
Prompt Fulfilled: Blood
Started On: October 21st
Finished On: October 21st, 10:05 PM
Pages Read: 464

The Wedding Witch by Erin Sterling
Prompt Fulfilled: Mood Read
Started On: October 22nd
Finished On: October 22nd, 2:05 PM
Pages Read: 352

A Wild and Ruined Song by Ashley Shuttleworth
Prompt Fulfilled: Spoopy
Started On: October 22nd
Finished On: October 22nd, 9:55 PM
Pages Read: 432 

Stalked by the Kraken by Lillian Lark
Prompt Fulfilled: Small Book
Started On: October 23rd
Finished On: October 23rd, 1:03 PM
Pages Read: 252

Deceived by the Gargoyles by Lillian Lark
Prompt Fulfilled: Leatherface
Started On: October 23rd
Finished On: October 23rd, 5:01 PM
Pages Read: 414

The Angel of Indian Lake by Stephen Graham Jones
Prompt Fulfilled: Black
Started On: October 24th
Finished On: October 24th, 10:39 PM
Pages Read: 528

The Demon's Queen by Katee Robert
Prompt Fulfilled: Pentacle
Started On: October 24th
Finished On: October 24th, 11:28 PM
Pages Read: 166

Getting Down on the Farm Vol. 1 by Kathryn Moon
Prompt Fulfilled: Seance
Started On: October 24th
Finished On: October 24th, 3:37 PM
Pages Read: 144

One House Left by Vincent Ralph
Prompt Fulfilled: Shirley Jackson
Started On: October 26th
Finished On: October 26th, 9:50 PM
Page Read: 320

Books & Broadswords, Volume One by Jessie Mihalik
Prompt Fulfilled: Small Book
Started On: October 27th
Finished On: October 27th, 8:29 PM
Page Read: 154

A Fire in the Sky by Sophie Jordan
Prompt Fulfilled: Jason Voorhees
Started On: October 28th
Finished On: October 28th, 9:20 PM
Page Read: 336

The Naturalist Society by Carrie Vaughn
Prompt Fulfilled: Bone
Started On: October 29th
Finished On: October 29th, 10:21 PM
Page Read: 395

Books Read: 36
Pages Read: 13340

Day 30, Roll 37:
A 10, which gets me to Mood Read. I chose In the Lives of Puppets by T.J. Klune, I want to read it! 

Wednesday, October 9, 2024

Waiting on Wednesday #700, October 9th

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating!

A Very Bad Thing by J.T. Ellison
Expected Publication: November 1st, 2024
From Goodreads:
From New York Times bestselling author J.T. Ellison comes a taut thriller about one author at the pinnacle of her career, whose past threatens to destroy everything she has—and everyone she knows.

A great writer knows when to deliver a juicy plot twist. But for one author, the biggest twist of all is her own murder.

With a number of hit titles and a highly anticipated movie tie-in, celebrated novelist Columbia Jones is at the top of her game. Fans around the world adore her. But on the final night of her latest book tour, one face in the crowd makes the author collapse. And by the next morning, she’s lying dead in a pool of blood.

Columbia’s death shocks the world and leaves Darian, her daughter and publicist, reeling. The police have nothing to go on—at first. But then details emerge, pointing to the author’s illicit past. Turns out many people had motive to kill Columbia. And with a hungry reporter and frustrated cop on the trail, her secrets won’t stay buried long. But how many lives will they shatter as the truth comes out?

The Naturalist Society by Carrie Vaughn
Expected Publication: November 1st, 2024
From Goodreads:
In this magical tale of self-discovery from New York Times bestselling author Carrie Vaughn, a young widow taps into the power that will change the world—if the man’s world she lives in doesn’t destroy her and her newfound friends first.

In the summer of 1880, the death of Beth Stanley’s husband puts her life’s work in jeopardy. The magic of Arcane Taxonomy dictates that every natural thing in the world, from weather to animals, can be labeled, and doing so grants the practitioner some of that subject’s unique power. But only men are permitted to train in this philosophy. Losing her husband means that Beth loses the name they put on her work—and any influence she might have wielded.

Brandon West and Anton Torrance are campaigning for their expedition to the South Pole, a mission that some believe could make a taxonomist all-powerful by tapping into the earth’s magnetic forces. Their late friend Harry Stanley’s knowledge and connections would have been instrumental, but when they attempt to take custody of his work, they find that it was never his at all.

Tied together by this secret and its implications, Beth, Bran, and Anton must find a way for Beth to use her talent for the good of the world, before she’s discovered by those who would lay claim to her rare potential—and her very freedom.

2 new books, from authors that I love, and yeah, I can't wait to read them, and for them to be out! What about you guys? Happy reading! 

Saturday, January 1, 2022

Week 52 Reviews: Fatal Storm, Charmed Waters


From Goodreads:
Cormac and Amelia take a job at a quaint Victorian mountain lodge: keep an eye on the famous psychic there to judge whether the place is haunted. Simple, right? Three problems: the blizzard that snows everyone in for the weekend, the murdered body that shows up in the morning, and the fact that everyone is sure Cormac did it.

So much for the nice mountain getaway.

Horsetooth Reservoir is an artificial body of water in land-locked Colorado. So how did a mermaid end up there? Cormac, former bounty hunter turned supernatural problem solver, doesn't much care how she got there.

But he's determined to get her home, no matter who tries to stop him. And a surprising number of people are trying to stop him.

My Review:
These were two really great novellas, with Cormac and Amelia dealing with two different situations-one being snowed into a resort where someone was killed, and it's suggested that he did the killing, and then getting a mermaid back to the ocean! Both were really fantastic reads! 

Fatal Storm was a really great closed door mystery, they're all snowbound at this lodge, and nobody has gotten in, and no one is getting out. That suspicion is immediately laid on Cormac because of his past, well, that complicates things, given Amelia, and the reason why they're at the lodge at the first place. It was a really great murder mystery! 

Charmed Waters was more straightforward-getting a mermaid back to the ocean. It was a pretty thrilling adventure, what with the group of paranormal creature film group on their tails. I really enjoyed the role Kitty and Ben played in this story, I loved seeing them again!

Both of these stories have something that I want to see continued. Cormac and Amelia have been dancing around each other for a little while now, and with the events of this series, things are reaching a point where something dramatic is going to happen or change, and if they don't do something about sooner, then the later is not going to be great. 

I had a really great time reading these stories, and I can't wait to see where we go from here! 

Author: Carrie Vaughn
Series: Cormac & Amelia #3, 4
Read: December 29th, 29th, 201
Source: Ebook.bike 
Reason Why: Love her writing and this series, and they're Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2021 Books and WoW Books! 
Publisher: Carrie Vaughn, LLC
Published: November 3rd 2021, December 1st 2021

Fatal Storm:
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
5/5 Stars








Charmed Waters:
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
5/5 Stars

Wednesday, November 24, 2021

Waiting on Wednesday #550, November 24th

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating!

Charmed Waters by Carrie Vaughn
Expected Publication: December 1st, 2021
From Goodreads:
Horsetooth Reservoir is an artificial body of water in land-locked Colorado. So how did a mermaid end up there? Cormac, former bounty hunter turned supernatural problem solver, doesn't much care how she got there.

But he's determined to get her home, no matter who tries to stop him. And a surprising number of people are trying to stop him.

Fire of the Frost Anthology
Expected Publication: December 2nd, 2021
From Goodreads:
A midwinter holiday fantasy romance anthology…

From Darynda Jones, a standalone novella set in a world where vampyres are hunted for sport. The only thing standing between them and total annihilation is Winter, a warrior bred to save them from extinction. Forbidden to fall in love, Winter cares only about her oaths… until she meets the devilish prince of the underworld.

Amanda Bouchet transports The Kingmaker Chronicles to modern-day New York City. An exiled warrior finds himself in the Big Apple just before the holidays. On a vital mission for Athena, he meets an imperiled French teacher from Connecticut, and soon they’re knee-deep in inexplicable phenomena.

Grace Draven brings a novella-length expansion of a stand-alone short story in which a cursed mage-king from a frozen kingdom is obligated to marry a woman of high-ranking nobility but meets his soulmate in a lowly scribe.

From Jeffe Kennedy comes a standalone novella in the Dark Wizard world, where an ancient holiday is resurrected and clandestine lovers find the courage to pursue forbidden joy.

The Darkest Destiny by Gena Showalter
Expected Publication: December 7th, 2021
From Goodreads:
From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Gena Showalter comes a new story in her Lords of the Underworld series…

Forsaken. Deathless. A monster in every way. Mostly, Brochan is determined. He craves what fate promised him—the woman who will help him conquer a heavenly kingdom. He will stop at nothing to win her.

Viola, Keeper of the demon of Narcissism, lives for a single purpose—treating herself and her pet to the best life possible. But a crazed warrior is now appearing everywhere she ventures, ruining her fun…. tempting her beyond reason and keeping her at a razor-edge of desire.

Though legions of males have attempted to win her, all have failed. Somehow, this rampaging beast is tearing down her walls, one by one, claiming he owns her heart and her very destiny. To be with him, however, she must defeat the only force strong enough to destroy her—love. 

High Jinx by Kelley Armstrong
Expected Publication: December 7th, 2021
From Goodreads:
Curse weaver Kennedy Bennett has re-settled into her beloved hometown and opened a shop selling previously hexed antiques. When she fails to win an online auction for a notorious cursed painting, Aiden Connolly—the wealthy and swoon-worthy luck worker she is not dating—swoops in to buy it for her.

Crying Girl is one of a quartet of haunted legendary paintings. Kennedy knows that the “ghosts” are actually curses—fatal ones. The paintings have been missing for years, and Kennedy is thrilled at the chance to uncurse one…until Crying Girl disappears before they can collect it.

Kennedy and Aiden soon discover that the painting hasn’t been randomly whisked out of their reach. Someone used it to lure them in, and now that they’ve snatched the bait, they’ve been snared in a trap. Either the thief gets what they want…or the four paintings are going to find their way back into the world, and Kennedy and Aiden will be responsible for the deadly chaos the cursed portraits wreak. 

The Excalibur Curse by Kiersten White
Expected Publication: December 7th, 2021
From Goodreads:
The gripping conclusion to the acclaimed Arthurian fantasy trilogy from New York Times bestselling author Kiersten White finds Guinevere questioning everything—friends and enemies, good and evil, and, most of all, herself.

While journeying north toward the Dark Queen, Guinevere falls into the hands of her enemies. Behind her are Lancelot, trapped on the other side of the magical barrier they created to protect Camelot, and Arthur, who has been led away from his kingdom, chasing after false promises. But the greatest danger isn’t what lies ahead of Guinevere—it’s what’s been buried inside her.

Vowing to unravel the truth of her past with or without Merlin’s help, Guinevere joins forces with the sorceress Morgana and her son, Mordred—and faces the confusing, forbidden feelings she still harbors for him. When Guinevere makes an agonizing discovery about who she is and how she came to be, she finds herself with an impossible choice: fix a terrible crime, or help prevent war.

Guinevere is determined to set things right, whatever the cost. To defeat a rising evil. To remake a kingdom. To undo the mistakes of the past...even if it means destroying herself.

Guinevere has been a changeling, a witch, a queen—but what does it mean to be just a girl? 

The Righteous by Renée Ahdieh
Expected Publication: December 7th, 2021
From Goodreads:
The third book in the instant New York Times bestselling series that began with The Beautiful.

Pippa Montrose is tired of losing everything she loves. When her best friend Celine disappears under mysterious circumstances, Pippa resolves to find her, even if the journey takes her into the dangerous world of the fae, where she might find more than she bargained for in the charismatic Arjun Desai.

Renée is back with her rich, atmospheric fantasy world that will continue to enthrall readers, new romance and mystery, and lush, pacey writing. 

Pride, Prejudice, and Peril by Katie Oliver
Expected Publication: December 7th, 2021
From Goodreads:
Jane Austen meets reality TV and murder in the first installment of this quirky new cozy mystery series.

Phaedra Brighton is perfectly content with her life of lecturing college students, gossiping with her best friends, and dreaming of Mr. Darcy. As a young, respected (if somewhat peculiar) English professor, her expertise lies in all things Jane Austen--but she knows that the closest she'll ever get to being a real-life Elizabeth Bennet is in her dreams.

When Who Wants to Marry Mr. Darcy, a new reality TV show, starts filming at her best friend Charlene's estate, Phaedra is intrigued. And when the producer asks her to lend her Austenian knowledge as a consultant on the show, she's over the moon. But on the first day of filming, when Charlene's new husband is found electrocuted and Charlene herself is accused of the crime, Phaedra comes crashing back to reality.

With murder on the syllabus and her best friend in dire straits, there's no Mr. Darcy around to help Phaedra--she'll have to get to the bottom of this mystery herself.

A History of Wild Places by Shae Ernshaw
Expected Publication: December 7th, 2021
From Goodreads:
The New York Times bestselling author of The Wicked Deep weaves a richly atmospheric adult debut following three residents of a secluded, seemingly peaceful commune as they investigate the disappearances of two outsiders.

Travis Wren has an unusual talent for locating missing people. Hired by families as a last resort, he requires only a single object to find the person who has vanished. When he takes on the case of Maggie St. James—a well-known author of dark, macabre children’s books—he’s led to a place many believed to be only a legend.

Called Pastoral, this reclusive community was founded in the 1970s by like-minded people searching for a simpler way of life. By all accounts, the commune shouldn’t exist anymore and soon after Travis stumbles upon it…he disappears. Just like Maggie St. James.

Years later, Theo, a lifelong member of Pastoral, discovers Travis’s abandoned truck beyond the border of the community. No one is allowed in or out, not when there’s a risk of bringing a disease—rot—into Pastoral. Unraveling the mystery of what happened reveals secrets that Theo, his wife, Calla, and her sister, Bee, keep from one another. Secrets that prove their perfect, isolated world isn’t as safe as they believed—and that darkness takes many forms.

Hauntingly beautiful, hypnotic, and bewitching, A History of Wild Places is a story about fairy tales, our fear of the dark, and losing yourself within the wilderness of your mind. 

Yeah, there's some really amazing books coming out at the start of the month! I've Pride, Prejudice, and Peril, and it was excellent, and I can't wait to read more! What about you guys? Happy reading!