The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 9-30-18

Posted on September 30, 2018September 28, 2018 by Marlene Harris | Author : Marlene Harris | The Sunday Post> Virtual Nightstand> Winner announcement

I thought that this coming week was Banned Books Week. Saying “I thought” means that I was mistaken, and consequently threw this past week’s schedule in a blender to get a post that at least tangentially touched on books, libraries, banned books or all of the above, and ended up with the marvelous The Library Book by Susan Orlean just a bit early.

This coming week is an easy week for me and hopefully a fun week for you all, as I have not one but two blog hops started this week. Tomorrow is also the first day of October (time for the October of Books Giveaway Hop), which means its not too early for Halloween decorations (or Halloween blog hops!).

It is, as always, a good thing that I have plenty of good books to read, because the current political situation makes me want to hide away in a good book for a couple of years – at least. Not that I wouldn’t emerge to vote – because that is absolutely needed. All of us need to get out and vote. As the current Mayor of Atlanta, Keisha Lance Bottoms, put it (I’m not in Atlanta and couldn’t vote for her), she only won by 823 votes in a city with a population of 480,000 people – admittedly not all of whom are eligible to vote. But still, if it only took 800 more committed voters to change an election, just think what all of us who are incensed by recent events can accomplish!

Coming This Week:

October Of Books Giveaway Hop
Howl-O-Ween Giveaway Hop
The Silver Shoes by Jill G. Hall (blog tour review)
The Love that Saved Him by Sophie Barnes (blog tour review)
Gunpowder Moon by David Pedreira (review)

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 9-23-18

Posted on September 23, 2018September 23, 2018 by Marlene Harris | Author : Marlene Harris | The Sunday Post> Virtual Nightstand> Winner announcement

Looking at this week’s schedule I feel like I should give myself a 10 yard penalty for rushing the season. I have two Xmas books this week’s schedule! The Fall equinox just happened 2 days ago! It’s barely Fall! Even the stores are still focused on Halloween! Why are we talking about Xmas (and SNOW!) already? Does this feel as wrong to you as it does to me?

And that’s not taking into account that I live in Atlanta and it’s been in the 90s this past week. This coming week is supposed to be cooler, with highs merely in the 80s. It’s much too warm to be thinking about the holidays.

One of the things about focusing on books, especially new and forthcoming books, is that it often feels like I’m living in the near future instead of the present. It’s weird. But mostly in a good way. But speaking of the future, I’m working on the Black Friday Book Bonanza Giveaway Hop right now – and that’s scheduled for, you guessed it! the day after Thanksgiving!

Current Giveaways:

$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the September of Books Giveaway Hop
The Impossible Girl by Lydia Kang

Winner Announcements:

The winner of the $10 Amazon Gift Card in the Oh! the Places You’ll Go Giveaway Hop is Chrisy B.

Blog Recap:

B+ Review: The Impossible Girl by Lydia Kang + Giveaway
A+ Review: The Grey Bastards by Jonathan French
A- Review: Legion: The Many Lives of Stephen Leeds by Brandon Sanderson
B Review: A Forgotten Place by Charles Todd
A- Review: Rebel Hard by Nalini Singh
Stacking the Shelves (306)

Coming This Week:

Season of Wonder by RaeAnne Thayne (blog tour review)
The Hollow of Fear by Sherry Thomas (review)
The Secrets We Carried by Mary McNear (blog tour review)
A Tall Dark Cowboy Christmas by Maisey Yates (blog tour review)
Gunpowder Moon by David Pedreira (review)

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 9-16-18

Posted on September 16, 2018September 14, 2018 by Marlene Harris | Author : Marlene Harris | The Sunday Post> Virtual Nightstand

While yesterday’s Stacking the Shelves post is split fairly evenly between books I HAVE to read and books I WANT to read, this coming week’s schedule is filled with books I’ve been itching to read. I’m in the middle of The Grey Bastards right now and loving every minute of it!

I figured that if there’s a chance of spending today holed up with books due to hurricane rain – they needed to be books that were guaranteed to take me far, far away from whatever might be happening – or falling – outside the house!

Current Giveaways:

$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the September Of Books Giveaway Hop
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Oh the Places You’ll Go Giveaway Hop (ends TUESDAY!)
Fantasy Romance Starter Kit from Ace Books
The Four Hundred Series by Joanna Shupe

Blog Recap:

A- Joint Review: All Systems Red / Artificial Condition / Rogue Protocol by Martha Wells
B Review: Leverage in Death by J.D. Robb
B+ Review: The City of Lost Fortunes by Bryan Camp
Spotlight + Giveaway: Phoenix Unbound by Grace Draven
B+ Review: A Notorious Vow by Joanna Shupe + Giveaway
Stacking the Shelves (305)

Coming Next Week:

The Impossible Girl by Lydia Kang (blog tour review)
The Grey Bastards by Jonathan French (review)
Legion: The Many Lives of Stephen Leeds by Brandon Sanderson (review)
A Forgotten Place by Charles Todd (review)
Rebel Hard by Nalini Singh (review)

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 9-9-18

Posted on September 9, 2018September 9, 2018 by Marlene Harris | Author : Marlene Harris | The Sunday Post> Virtual Nightstand

I feel like I re-worked this week’s schedule at least four times, if not more. Partially because I got into a tour at the last minute, but mostly because I kept bouncing off things. I couldn’t settle down to read anything for Tuesday, and then I went back to the book that was originally scheduled before all the bouncing. The In Death series is always a comfort read for me, and the new one came up just in time. Ironically, it was the original book for Tuesday, then I re-thought – and then I re-thought again. Then I went back to my starting point. Some weeks are just like that.

Current Giveaways:

$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the September Of Books Giveaway Hop
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Oh the Places You’ll Go Giveaway Hop

Blog Recap:

Labor Day 2018
Oh the Places You’ll Go Giveaway Hop
B Review: The Illegitimate Duke by Sophie Barnes + Giveaway
A- Review: Undetected by Anna Hackett
A- Review: Exile of the Seas by Jeffe Kennedy
Stacking the Shelves (304)

Coming Next Week:

All Systems Red / Artificial Condition / Rogue Protocol by Martha Wells (joint review with Galen)
Leverage in Death by J.D. Robb (review)
The City of Lost Fortunes by Bryan Camp (review)
Phoenix Unbound by Grace Draven (blog tour review)
A Notorious Vow by Joanna Shupe (blog tour review)

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 9-2-18

Posted on September 2, 2018September 1, 2018 by Marlene Harris | Author : Marlene Harris | The Sunday Post> Virtual Nightstand> Winner announcement

It is DragonCon weekend here in Atlanta, and we are not there. We loved the few times we went, but DragonCon has more than 70,000 attendees, and that’s just too many people for me. The 5,000 people at Worldcon always feels like a much more manageable size – we get to see more people, attend more panels and just do more stuff. Your mileage, of course, may vary.

We will probably spend at least part of today at the Decatur Book Festival, which is always fun and interesting and slightly less packed to the rafters. Virtual rafters in this case as most of the DBF is outdoors.

And there are always books to read and kitties to pet and naps to be had for everyone on this last long weekend of Summer.

Current Giveaways:

$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the September Of Books Giveaway Hop
$25 Amazon Gift Card from Shannon Stacey and Under Control

Winner Announcements:

The winner of the A+ Giveaway Hop is Brittany
The winner of the Lazy Days of Summer Giveaway Hop is Gaby

Blog Recap:

B+ Review: Good Time Cowboy by Maisey Yates
B Review: The Mystery of Three Quarters by Sophie Hannah
Spotlight + Excerpt: The Wedding from Hell Part 3 by J.R. Ward
A-/B+ Review: What Makes This Book So Great / An Informal History of the Hugos by Jo Walton
B Review: Under Control by Shannon Stacey + Giveaway
September Of Books Giveaway Hop
Stacking the Shelves (303)

Coming Next Week:

Oh the Places You’ll Go Giveaway Hop
The Illegitimate Duke by Sophie Barnes (blog tour review)
Undetected by Anna Hackett (review)
Exile of the Seas by Jeffe Kennedy (blog tour review)

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 8-26-18

Posted on August 26, 2018August 24, 2018 by Marlene Harris | Author : Marlene Harris | The Sunday Post> Virtual Nightstand> Winner announcement

I already thought this week was weird, but I just got my first call for a “Best of 2018” list. Wow! This year feels like it’s just barely half over, and we’re already closing the books on it!

This has been a strange week in that we came home from Worldcon Monday night. After listening to one panel where I wanted to get every book they discussed, I started a list. It’s even longer than yesterday’s Stacking the Shelves post, and that was long enough. I didn’t pick up any print books, although I did buy ebooks and grab plenty of eARCs after panel discussions. I also got a bunch of cool t-shirts.

I keep saying that I don’t normally do Spotlights without reviews, but there’s one this past week and one this coming week as well. I signed up for the Release Day Event for Maisey Yates’ Good Time Cowboy because I love her books, and I’m reviewing the book this week. I’ve also been part of the “teaser tour” for J.R. Ward’s Wedding from Hell prequels to her upcoming firefighter romance, Consumed. The first two prequels teased me enough that I’m definitely planning to read Consumed, so I decided to post this week’s excerpt from the upcoming book. And, I admit, I needed a day’s grace.

Current Giveaways:

$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Lazy Days of Summer Giveaway Hop
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the A+ Giveaway Hop

Winner Announcements:

The winner of Tiffany Blues by M.J. Rose is Ellen

Blog Recap:

A- Guest Review: Sleeping with the Fishes by MaryJanice Davidson
Spotlight + Excerpt: Good Time Cowboy by Maisey Yates
B+ Guest Review: The Gender Game by Bella Forrest
A Review: The Phantom Tree by Nicola Cornick
B Review: Impostor’s Lure by Carla Neggers
A Review: City of Ink by Elsa Hart
Stacking the Shelves (302)

Coming Next Week:

Good Time Cowboy by Maisey Yates (blog tour review)
The Mystery of Three Quarters by Sophie Hannah (blog tour review)
The Wedding from Hell Part 3 by J.R. Ward (blog tour spotlight)
Fly Girls by Keith O’Brien (review)
Under Control by Shannon Stacey (blog tour review)

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 8-19-18

Posted on August 19, 2018August 13, 2018 by Marlene Harris | Author : Marlene Harris | The Sunday Post> Virtual Nightstand

I’m at Worldcon this weekend. As you read this post I’m eagerly awaiting tonight’s Hugo Awards Ceremony, to find out who won the awards for Best SF Novel, Novella, Novelette, Short Story and all the other awards that will be given out during the proceedings. I have some favorites in all of the categories, so I can’t wait! And the ceremony itself is always interesting in one way or another – this year I’m hoping for a celebration no matter who takes home the rocket. (The Hugo Award is a rocket)

Because I’ve been away, there were two blog hops this week, and I was oh so glad to have new material to post each day that did not require me to read an entire library in advance of the con. Likewise, my dear friend Amy Daltry gave me not just one but two fascinating guest reviews for this week, which will give me a chance to recover from jet lag before rushing back into the blogging.

I’ll have plenty of books ready to write up when I get home. Flights from Atlanta to San Jose and back are long. Just perfect for reading!

Current Giveaways:

$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Lazy Days of Summer Giveaway Hop
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the A+ Giveaway Hop
Tiffany Blues by M.J. Rose

Blog Recap:

A- Review: Tiffany Blues by M.J. Rose + Giveaway
A+ Review: Planetside by Michael Mammay
Lazy Days of Summer Giveaway Hop
A+ Giveaway Hop
A- Review: Mission: Her Protection by Anna Hackett
Stacking the Shelves (301)

Coming Next Week:

Sleeping with the Fishes by MaryJanice Davidson (Guest Review by Amy)
The Gender Game by Bella Forest (Guest Review by Amy)
The Phantom Tree by Nicola Cornick (blog tour review)
Impostor’s Lure by Carla Neggers (blog tour review)
City of Ink by Elsa Hart (review)

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 8-12-18

Posted on August 12, 2018August 10, 2018 by Marlene Harris | Author : Marlene Harris | The Sunday Post> Virtual Nightstand

The next two weeks are going to be a bit odd. We’re going to be at the World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon76) in San Jose, California for part of this week and the beginning of next week. (Insert jokes about “Do you know the way to San Jose?” here. And if that doesn’t ring any bells, schedule a trip in Peabody’s WAYBACK Machine…)

It’s not just that I’m doing a bunch of stuff early, but also that I signed up for back-to-back bloghops to have stuff to post every day. I kind of assumed that no one would really mind more chances to win Amazon Gift Cards and/or books while I’m off having a good time. I’ve also got some of Amy’s guest post scheduled next week to pick up some of the slack.

I love doing this blog (obviously or I wouldn’t still be doing it after 8 1/2 years) but it is nice to occasionally get far enough ahead to take a few days “off”. Especially somewhere I can learn about more new and new-to-me books and authors in my favorite genres!

Current Giveaways:

$15 Amazon Gift Card from Jess Anastasi

Blog Recap:

B+ Review: Entropy by Jess Anastasi + Giveaway
B+/B-Review: Bayside Heat by Melissa Foster / Sweet Heat at Bayside by Addison Cole
B+ Review: The Wedding from Hell: The Reception by J.R. Ward + Excerpt
A+ Review: Meet Me at the Museum by Anne Youngson
B+ Review: Gift of Griffins by V.M. Escalada
Stacking the Shelves (300)

Coming Next Week:

Tiffany Blues by M.J. Rose (blog tour review)
Planetside by Michael Mammay (review)
Lazy Days of Summer Giveaway Hop
A+ Giveaway Hop
Mission: Her Protection by Anna Hackett (review)

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 8-5-18

Posted on August 5, 2018August 3, 2018 by Marlene Harris | Author : Marlene Harris | The Sunday Post> Virtual Nightstand> Winner announcement

The dust is starting to settle at the new house. It’s going to settling for a while, but it is starting, at least. One of the better side effects of the move is that Freddie and Lucifer seem to be banding together more. They slink down the stairs together at night to explore the brave new world, as well as seek out fresh kibble. As soon as we get a new door installed on the back porch, they’ll be able to boldly go where no cat has gone before – at least as far as we know.

The built in shelves in my office now contain my ALA committee books and our fiction collection up to the beginning of the letter G. More shelves are upstairs, just waiting to be loaded with the rest of our library.

It’s definitely an adventure!

Current Giveaways:

Hardcover set of The Wildes of Ludlow Castle series by Eloisa James
(1) $50 Amazon Gift card and (5) $10 Amazon Gift Cards from Suzanne Johnson

Winner Announcements:

The winner of Shattered Silence by Marta Perry is Becky
The winner of the $10 Amazon Gift Card in the Scoop of Luck Giveaway Hop is Lisa

Blog Recap:

B+ Review: Born to Be Wilde by Eloisa James + Giveaway
A Review: Frenchman Street by Suzanne Johnson + Giveaway
B+ Review: The Art of Inheriting Secrets by Barbara O’Neal
B Review: Hard in Hightown by Varric Tethras with Mary Kirby
A Review: The Locksmith’s Daughter by Karen Brooks
Stacking the Shelves (299)

Coming Next Week:

Entropy by Jess Anastasi (blog tour review)
Wedding from Hell: The Reception by J.R. Ward (blog tour review)
Gift of Griffins by V.M. Escalada (review)
Southernmost by Silas House (review)
Meet Me at the Museum by Ann Youngson (review)

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 7-29-18

Posted on July 29, 2018July 26, 2018 by Marlene Harris | Author : Marlene Harris | The Sunday Post> Virtual Nightstand

I was right about last week’s prediction of this week’s schedule. It did turn out to be a bit more aspirational than realistic. And I think this week’s might have some of the same issues. The packers are coming today, and the movers are coming tomorrow. I’m hoping to get stuff scheduled at least through Monday if not Tuesday by the point I collapse on Saturday evening. I’m prepping this post a bit early in furtherance of that goal.

We are a bit at sixes and sevens, as they say, at this point in the moving process. We haven’t cleaned up as ruthlessly as we have in the past, on the other hand our stuff doesn’t have to move across country, and we don’t have to worry about what we do and don’t need for two, three or even six weeks. All we have to do is get everything there and start unpacking. We try to unpack the bedroom the first evening, so we don’t wake up in the morning to a sea of boxes. It helps cut down on the whelm.

Freddie and Lucifer have no idea what’s about to happen. It’s going to be an adventure!

Current Giveaways:

$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the A Scoop of Luck Giveaway Hop (ends TUESDAY!)
Shattered Silence by Marta Perry

Blog Recap:

B Review: Murder at the Flamingo by Rachel McMillan
B+ Review: Shattered Silence by Marta Perry + Giveaway
B Review: Day of the Dead by Nicci French
A- Review: Untamed Cowboy by Maisey Yates
C+ Review: Clock Dance by Anne Tyler
Stacking the Shelves (298)

Coming Next Week:

Born to be Wilde by Eloisa James (blog tour review)
Frenchman Street by Suzanne Johnson (blog tour review)
The Art of Inheriting Secrets by Barbara O’Neal (blog tour review)
Hunting the Truth by Beate and Serge Klarsfeld (review)
The Locksmith’s Daughter by Karen Brooks (blog tour review)

Current Giveaways:

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