Category: Virtual Nightstand

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 9-15-24

Posted on by Marlene Harris | Author : | The Sunday Post> Virtual Nightstand

Hecate is often the “odd kitty out” in our cat pictures. She’s never been an only child, but it’s really clear that she’d prefer to be. She certainly is our problem child, as in the last two weeks we’ve discovered that she a)has crystals in her urine, which is a condition that mostly affects male cats. It’s also a condition which necessitates prescription food, so everyone is getting even fancier food now. And b) she has asthma. If it’s seasonal, well, that’s every spring and fall around here. Fortunately, the little witch is very food motivated, so getting her to take her meds with a treat is going well – at least for the moment. She’s a cat, we expect that to change but we’ll take the win while it lasts.

She seldom appears in pictures with the rest of the clowder, so after all of her little issues this month so far – and OMG September is only half over – she deserved a picture of her very own. We even managed to get one where she exhibits a bit of dignity along with her tortitude!

Current Giveaways:

$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Summer 2024 Seasons of Books Giveaway Hop
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book PLUS EVENT-WIDE AMAZON/PAYPAL PRIZE in the Early Fall Giveaway Event

Blog Recap:

A- #BookReview: This World Is Not Yours by Kemi Ashing-Giwa
B #BookReview: Fury Brothers: Take by Anna Hackett
A- #BookReview: A Dark and Drowning Tide by Allison Saft
B #BookReview: We’ll Prescribe You a Cat by Syou Ishida, translated by E. Madison Shimoda
Grade A #BookReview: Chasing New Suns by Lance Robinson
Stacking the Shelves (618)

Coming This Week:

Falling Into Leaves Giveaway Hop
The Daughters’ War by Christopher Buehlman (#AudioBookReview)
The Sullivan’s Island Supper Club by Susan M. Boyer (#BookReview)
The Banned Books Club by Brenda Novak (#BlogTour #BookReview)
Blood and Magic by Lauren Dane (#BookReview)

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 9-8-24

Posted on by Marlene Harris | Author : | The Sunday Post> Virtual Nightstand

Today would have been my mother’s 96th birthday. Today is also Star Trek Day. I have feelings about both of those things, some of which are even sorta/kinda tied up in each other, albeit indirectly. I watched the final season (and admittedly the worst of the three) of Star Trek: The Original Series, as it was broadcast, with my dad. My mom did not understand what either of us saw in the thing, nor why my fascination with it continued even after the show was cancelled. And, for that matter, still does.

That initial fascination led to a life-long love of science fiction, just as my even earlier initial reading of The Hobbit began a fantasy reading habit that is also still with me.

In dubious honor of that earlier triumvirate, I present to you a ‘Three Cat Night’, with George, Tuna and Luna standing – or should that be lying – in for Kirk, Spock and McCoy. Not that there are any resemblances whatsoever.

Current Giveaways:

$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Summer 2024 Seasons of Books Giveaway Hop
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book PLUS EVENT-WIDE AMAZON/PAYPAL PRIZE in the Early Fall Giveaway Event

Blog Recap:

Labor Day 2024 (Guest Post by Galen)
Early Fall Amazon/Paypal Giveaway Event!
B- #BookReview: Passions in Death by J.D. Robb
B #BookReview: Crypt of the Moon Spider by Nathan Ballingrud
B+ #BookReview: Follow the Stars Home by Diane C. McPhail
Stacking the Shelves (617)

Coming This Week:

This World is Not Yours by Kemi Ashing-Giwa (#BookReview)
Fury Brothers: Take by Anna Hackett (#BookReview)
A Dark and Drowning Tide by Allison Saft (#BookReview)
We’ll Prescribe You a Cat by Syou Ishida, translated by E. Madison Shimoda (#BookReview)
Chasing New Suns by Lance Robinson (#BookReview)

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 9-1-24

Posted on by Marlene Harris | Author : | The Sunday Post> Virtual Nightstand> Winner announcement

Today is the first day of September, tomorrow is Labor Day in the U.S., and this feels like the REAL start of the season. Except it doesn’t around here this weekend, as they’re predicting 92°F on Saturday, 90°F on Sunday and 88°F on Monday. Which is too damn hot but climate’s what you expect and weather is what you get and so it goes. (That’s 33°C, 32°C and 31°C for the places we were this time last month!)

I hadn’t realized how symmetrical this week’s reviews are until just now. B books on the outside, Grade A books inside those, and one A- in the middle. Interesting…but also weird.

This picture isn’t exactly symmetrical, but it is certainly adorable. Luna here is squeezed into the middle between Galen and I, looking like the cat who got into the cream or something very much like that. She has the cutest upside-down kitty face, and this time it’s even complete with teefies!

 

Current Giveaways:

$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the SUMMER 2024 Seasons of Books Giveaway Hop

Winner Announcements:

The winner of the Old School Giveaway Hop is Tamara
The winner of Reading Reality’s Late Summer Giveaway Hop is Heather

Blog Recap:

B #BookReview: The Ghost Cat by Alex Howard
Grade A #BookReview: The Kill List by Nadine Matheson
A- #BookReview: Out of the Drowning Deep by A.C. Wise
Grade A #AudioBookReview: Junkyard Roadhouse by Faith Hunter
B #BookReview: Saving Susy Sweetchild by Barbara Hambly
Stacking the Shelves (616)

Coming This Week:

Labor Day 2024 (Guest Post by Galen)
Early Fall Amazon/Paypal Giveaway Event
Passions in Death by J.D. Robb (#BookReview)
Crypt of the Moon Spider by Nathan Ballingrud (#BookReview)
Follow the Stars Home by Diane C. McPhail (#BookReview)

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 8-25-24

Posted on by Marlene Harris | Author : | The Sunday Post> Virtual Nightstand

We’re still back, and it seems like our body clocks are finally catching up with our actual location. Waking up at 6 in the morning without an alarm clock really, really weirds me out. Galen’s mileage varies considerably on that, but I’ve been a night owl all my life and having that temporarily reset itself discombobulated me completely for most of the week!

(Yes, I can read in the early morning but it STILL felt WRONG on so many levels!)

This week’s projected schedule looks fairly solid – although the precise order is subject to change. I’ve already finished Junkyard Roadhouse and (SPOILER!) it’s every bit as good as the rest of the series.

Today’s cat picture is from one of our first night’s back. Unlike the one I posted last Sunday, where Luna is clearly ignoring me, this one shows several members of the clowder at least curious about sniffing Galen’s fingers to figure out where he’s been and perhaps if he’s brought them anything with which to beg their forgiveness.

SPOILER ALERT! – they forgave us anyway, and pretty quickly too!

Current Giveaways:

$10 Gift Card or $10 in Books in the Old School Giveaway Hop
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book PLUS EVENT-WIDE AMAZON/PAYPAL PRIZE in the Late Summer Giveaway Event
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the SUMMER 2024 Seasons of Books Giveaway Hop

Blog Recap:

B #AudioBookReview: The Hermit Next Door by Kevin Hearne
A- #BookReview: The Naturalist’s Daughter by Tea Cooper
B+ #BookReview: Memories of the Lost by Barbara O’Neal
A- #BookReview: Hell Bay by Will Thomas
B #BookReview: The Full Moon Coffee Shop by Mai Mochizuki, translated by Jesse Kirkwood
Stacking the Shelves (615)

Coming This Week:

The Kill List by Nadine Matheson (#BookReview)
The Ghost Cat by Alex Howard (#BlogTour #BookReview)
Saving Susy Sweetchild by Barbara Hambly (#BookReview)
Junkyard Roadhouse by Faith Hunter (#AudioBookReview)
Out of the Drowning Deep by A.C. Wise (#BookReview)

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 8-18-24

Posted on by Marlene Harris | Author : | The Sunday Post> Virtual Nightstand> Winner announcement

We’re back, but I’ve got to admit that my brain is still in another time zone – or on another continent. Maybe both.

However, we had an absolutely GRAND time. Except for the cold we both caught – that bit was less than stellar. But still, a good time was had by all. Except the cats. The picture is actually pretty typical of the first few hours we were home. Tuna looks confused and Luna is clearly pretending NOT to see me.

It’s been difficult to get back into the swing of things. Three weeks is the longest we’ve EVER been away, and I’m still a bit disbelieving that I managed to get nearly everything for the blog done ahead of time. But the long period off is making it hard to dive back in. Also still tired. And jet-lagged. Definitely jet-lagged. Not sorry we skipped that part on the way over by cruising instead of flying.

But it’s still great to be home. Home is where the kitties are!

Current Giveaways:

$10 Gift Card or $10 in Books in the Old School Giveaway Hop
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book PLUS EVENT-WIDE AMAZON/PAYPAL PRIZE in the Late Summer Giveaway Event
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the SUMMER 2024 Seasons of Books Giveaway Hop

Winner Announcements:

The winner of the Apple a Day Giveaway Hop is Polly

Blog Recap:

A- #BookReview: Time’s Agent by Brenda Peynado
#BookReview: She Who Knows: Firespitter by Nnedi Okorafor
Grade A #BookReview: New Adventures in Space Opera edited by Jonathan Strahan
A+ #BookReview: Anatomy of Evil by Will Thomas
Old School Giveaway Hop
Stacking the Shelves (614)

Coming This Week:

The Hermit Next Door by Kevin Hearne (#AudioBookReview)
The Naturalist’s Daughter by Tea Cooper (#BookReview #BlogTour)
Memories of the Lost by Barbara O’Neal (#BookReview #BlogTour)
The Full Moon Coffee Shop by Mai Mochizuki, translated by Jesse Kirkwood (#BookReview)
Hell Bay by Will Thomas (#BookReview)

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 8-11-24

Posted on by Marlene Harris | Author : | The Sunday Post> Virtual Nightstand

I’m trying to figure out what’s going on between Hecate’s ears in this picture. She’s leaning against one of the dining room chairs, looking like she’s either high as a kite on ‘nip, or just so dazed and confused in general that she can’t sit up straight. Based on the pictures the cat sitter is sending, Hecate and George are bonding and giving each other the courage to approach and be petted.

We’re still away on vacation but we’ll be heading home later this week. We miss the kitties a LOT!

Current Giveaways:

$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Apple a Day Giveaway Hop
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book PLUS EVENT-WIDE AMAZON/PAYPAL PRIZE in the Late Summer Giveaway Event
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the SUMMER 2024 Seasons of Books Giveaway Hop

Blog Recap:

A+ #BookReview: A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher
B+ #BookReview: Lady Macbeth by Ava Reid
B #BookReview: Where is Anybody? by Simon R. Green
A #BookReview: A Vengeful King Rises by Sophie Barnes
A- #BookReview: Full Speed to a Crash Landing by Beth Revis
Stacking the Shelves (613)

Coming This Week:

Time’s Agent by Brenda Peynado (#BookReview)
She Who Knows: Firespitter by Nnedi Okorafor (#BookReview)
New Adventures in Space Opera edited by Jonathan Strahan (#BookReview)
Anatomy of Evil by Will Thomas (#BookReview)
Old School Giveaway Hop

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 8-4-24

Posted on by Marlene Harris | Author : | The Sunday Post> Virtual Nightstand

We’re still away on vacay, as might be deduced from George’s and Hecate’s suspicious little faces as they hide under the dining room table.

You might not be able to see Hecate unless you know to look for her. That dark tortie coat of hers hides VERY WELL in the shadows.

So the cats are not having a great week, and we miss them as much as they miss us.

This week’s reads were a combination of very good and very interesting – although not necessarily in the same books. And next week looks to be more of the same in that regard.

We’ll certainly see, won’t we?

Current Giveaways:

$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Apple a Day Giveaway Hop
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book PLUS EVENT-WIDE AMAZON/PAYPAL PRIZE in the Late Summer Giveaway Event
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the SUMMER 2024 Seasons of Books Giveaway Hop

Winner Announcements:

The winner of the Sip Sip Hooray Giveaway Hop is Angela

Blog Recap:

A- #BookReview: Sentinel Security: Stone by Anna Hackett
#BookReview: The Nightingale’s Castle by Sonia Velton
A- #BookReview: Navigational Entanglements by Aliette de Bodard
Apple A Day Giveaway Hop
A+ #BookReview: The Dead Cat Tail Assassins by P. Djèlí Clark
Stacking the Shelves (612)

Coming This Week:

A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher (#BookReview)
Lady Macbeth by Ava Reid (#BookReview)
Where Is Anybody? by Simon R. Green (#BookReview)
A Vengeful King Rises by Sophie Barnes (#BlogTour #BookReview)
Full Speed to a Crash Landing by Beth Revis (#BookReview)

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 7-28-24

Posted on by Marlene Harris | Author : | The Sunday Post> Virtual Nightstand> Winner announcement

George probably has exactly the expression below on his face as you are reading this. We’re away on vacation for a bit, and I’m sure George and company are NOT HAPPY about their people being away. Not that George doesn’t look like this at least for a bit every day, as he likes to camp out on the stairs and mourn that his people aren’t paying attention to him on a regular basis. We know they’re getting well taken care of by our regular cat sitters – as we get daily pictures of them all! Which we coo over because we miss them as much as they miss us.

So don’t worry about George, Hecate, Luna and Tuna too much, they’re fine if likely a bit disgruntled. And don’t worry about getting your daily post from yours truly! There are plenty of reviews and other posts queued up for your reading pleasure while we’re away. Just wait and see!

Current Giveaways:

$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Sip Sip Hooray Giveaway Hop
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book PLUS EVENT-WIDE AMAZON/PAYPAL PRIZE in the Late Summer Giveaway Event
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the SUMMER 2024 Seasons of Books Giveaway Hop

Winner Announcements:

The winner of the Christmas in July Giveaway Hop is Anne

Blog Recap:

B #BookReview: Chaos at the Lazy Bones Bookshop by Emmeline Duncan
A- #BookReview: Summers End by Juneau Black
B #BookReview: Lost to Eternity by Greg Cox
A- #AudioBookReview: More Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa, translated by Eric Ozawa
B #BookReview: In the Shadow of the Fall by Tobi Ogundiran
Stacking the Shelves (611)

Coming This Week:

Sentinel Security: Stone by Anna Hackett (#BookReview)
Memories of the Lost by Barbara O’Neal (#BlogTour #BookReview)
Navigational Entanglements by Aliette de Bodard (#BookReview)
Apple A Day Giveaway Hop
The Dead Cat Tail Assassins by P. Djèlí Clark (#BookReview)

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 7-21-24

Posted on by Marlene Harris | Author : | The Sunday Post> Virtual Nightstand> Winner announcement

Last week’s cat pic was of Tuna and George on the stairs, so it seems fitting that this week’s picture be Luna, just being Luna – although she’s kind of wearing George’s concerned, serious face. (Luna contains multitudes)

Recent Stacking the Shelves posts have been rather short, but it sure looks like GIVEAWAY SEASON is in full swing. It’s sort of an Xmas in July thing all over the place! More encouragement – not that I need any – to stay inside out of the heat and READ!

Current Giveaways:

$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Christmas in July Giveaway Hop
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Sip Sip Hooray Giveaway Hop
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book PLUS EVENT-WIDE AMAZON/PAYPAL PRIZE in the Late Summer Giveaway Event
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the SUMMER 2024 Seasons of Books Giveaway Hop

Winner Announcements:

The winner of Reading Reality’s Early Summer Giveaway Hop is Elizabeth H.
The winner of the Sparkle Time Giveaway Hop is Shelly P.

Blog Recap:

A- #AudioBookReview: Earthlight by J. Michael Straczynski
Sip Sip Hooray Giveaway Hop
Late Summer Amazon/Paypal Giveaway Event!
A- #AudioBookReview: The Dallergut Dream Department Store by Miye Lee, translated by Sandy Joosun Lee
A+ #BookReview: Murder at the White Palace by Allison Montclair
Stacking the Shelves (610)

Coming This Week:

Chaos at the Lazy Bones Bookshop by Emmeline Duncan (#BookReview)
Summers End by Juneau Black (#BookReview)
Star Trek: The Original Series: Lost to Eternity by Greg Cox (#BookReview)
More Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa, translated by Eric Ozawa (#AudioBookReview)
In the Shadow of the Fall by Tobi Ogundiran (#BookReview)

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 7-14-24

Posted on by Marlene Harris | Author : | The Sunday Post> Virtual Nightstand

The belly is not a trap. I say again, the belly – at least the Tuna belly – is not a trap. The George belly, however, most definitely IS a trap. In fact, the whole entirety of the George is a trap as George easily gets over-excited and turns pointy-side out in all directions at the drop of a hat. A hat which George would probably eat if it were a real hat instead of a metaphorical topper.

Current Giveaways:

$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Sparkle Time Giveaway Hop (ENDS TOMORROW!!!)
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book PLUS EVENT-WIDE AMAZON/PAYPAL PRIZE in the Early Summer Giveaway Event (ENDS TOMORROW TOOOOOO!!!)
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Christmas in July Giveaway Hop
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the SUMMER 2024 Seasons of Books Giveaway Hop

Blog Recap:

A- #BookReview: The Mummy of Mayfair by Jeri Westerson
Grade A #BookReview: Penric and the Bandit by Lois McMaster Bujold
A- #BookReview: This Great Hemisphere by Mateo Askaripour
B #BookReview: Daughters of Olympus by Hannah M. Lynn
A+ #BookReview: The Price of Redemption by Shawn Carpenter
Stacking the Shelves (609)

Coming This Week:

Earthlight by J. Michael Straczynski (#AudioBookReview)
Sip Sip Hooray Giveaway Hop
Late Summer Event Amazon/PayPal Giveaway!
Murder at the White Palace by Allison Montclair (#BookReview)
Yoke of Stars by R.B. Lemberg (#BookReview)