I almost included an “Around the Blogosphere” section this week, because Reading Reality has been busy elsewhere as well as here, this week in particular. My spotlight on science fiction and fantasy will be published in the August issue of Library Journal. Of course, the complete article is also available online, under the genre-appropriate title: Galaxy Quests. These annual spotlights are generally forward-looking, showcasing titles that are scheduled to be published in the upcoming months. I have also received a commission to write a “Collection Development” article next spring on one of my fave genres, Science Fiction Romance. It is intended to be a guide to which SFR titles, both forthcoming and previously published, libraries should have or try to get. I’m really looking forward to the research and the writing for that one.

I also had the opportunity to be a “guest commenter” on All Things Urban Fantasy as part of their regular, and regularly terrific Cover Art Coverage feature this week. It was a blast! I always love reading this feature, and it was fun to be part of it. I hope they ask me again sometime.

Current Giveaways:

Another Man’s Ground by Claire Booth
A Beautiful Poison by Lydia Kang

Winner Announcements:

The winner of Assassin’s Price by L.E. Modesitt Jr. is Susan
The winner of The Innkeeper’s Sister by Linda Goodnight is Jennifer

Blog Recap:

A- Review: Another Man’s Ground by Claire Booth + Giveaway
B+ Review: A Beautiful Poison by Lydia Kang + Giveaway
B Review: The Painted Queen by Elizabeth Peters and Joan Hess
B Review: Warriors of the Wind by Anna Hackett
B- Review: Death Before Wicket by Kerry Greenwood
Stacking the Shelves (247)

Coming Next Week:

Map of the Heart by Susan Wiggs (review)
Untraveled by Anna Hackett (review)
Oh the Places You’ll Go Giveaway Hop
From Holmes to Sherlock by Mattias Boström (review)
Cat Shining Bright by Shirley Rousseau Murphy (review)

I have good books to look forward to this week. Well, I always try to have good books! But seriously, Betrayal at Iga and Illumination are both the latest books in series that I have really enjoyed. And Amy’s guest review of Sovereign is a real, although not as funny a gem as her review of Tender Wings of Desire. Now that’s a review that will live in infamy!

But a bit of a recap before we move on to this week’s coming attractions. If you’ve ever heard the phrase “net neutrality” and wondered what it meant or why it should matter to you, please take a look at my post from Wednesday about the Battle for the Net. Even better, take a look at Fight for the Future. If you spend any part of your workday or leisure time anywhere on the net, and I know you do if you are reading this message, Net Neutrality matters to do. And you’ll seriously miss it if it’s gone – along with all too many of the creative and entertaining sites that you love and follow. Because if net neutrality falls, so will many of us.

Winner Announcements:

The winner of Serenity Harbor by RaeAnne Thayne is Tracee
The winner of the $10 Book or $10 Gift Card in the July Book of Choice Giveaway Hop is Miki
The winner of the $10 Book or $10 Gift Card in the Freedom to Read Giveaway Hop is Beth T.

Blog Recap:

A Review: Four Princes by John Julius Norwich
B+ Review: Secrets of the Tulip Sisters by Susan Mallery
Battle for the Net
B Review: File M for Murder by Miranda James
A Review: Dark Saturday by Nicci French
Stacking the Shelves (244)

Coming Next Week:

Betrayal at Iga by Susan Spann (blog tour review)
Illumination by Susannah Sandlin (blog tour review)
The Branson Beauty by Claire Booth (review)
Sovereign by April Daniels (guest review by Amy)
Branded as Trouble by Delores Fossen (blog tour review)

Last week’s schedule fell completely apart at the end. I was expecting to review both Heroine Worship and Beren and Luthien, but things didn’t quite work out. As much as I loved Sarah Kuhn’s first book in her series, Heroine Complex, I simply could not work my way through Heroine Worship. Although both books feature the same set of protagonists, and I love the superhero world she created, we spent the second book inside the head of the character I liked least in the first book, and that includes the demons. I just didn’t want to spend another minute there.

Beren and Lúthien, on the other hand, was richer than I expected, I just couldn’t figure out how to review it. Although it does tell the story of Beren and Lúthien from Tolkien’s Silmarillion, it tells it in multiple versions. More than the legend itself, the book Beren and Lúthien is really about the creation of a modern myth. So interesting, but probably mostly of interest to people who are really, really steeped in the minutiae of Tolkien’s worlds. Which I was, once upon a time, but discovered to my chagrin that I no longer am. It may be time to re-read The Lord of the Rings again. It’s obviously been awhile.

Current Giveaways:

$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the July Book of Choice Giveaway Hop
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Freedom to Read Giveaway Hop
Serenity Harbor by RaeAnne Thayne

Winner Announcements:

The winner of Lockdown by Laurie R. King are Darlene O. and Amy M.

Blog Recap:

B+ Review: Liar’s Key by Carla Neggers
July 4th 2017
B Review: Serenity Harbor by RaeAnne Thayne + Giveaway
B+ Review: Thieves’ Quarry by D.B. Jackson
B+ Review: Raisins and Almonds by Kerry Greenwood
Stacking the Shelves (243)

Coming Next Week:

Four Princes by John Julius Norwich (review)
Secrets of the Tulip Sisters by Susan Mallery (blog tour review)
American Eclipse by David Baron (review)
First Watch by Dale Lucas (review)
Dark Saturday by Nicci French (blog tour review)

So, when are the fireworks in your part of the country? The great thing about living in a major metro area with lots of towns and neighborhoods is that there are always plenty of opportunities to see fireworks on the holiday. The fireworks in our village are visible from our front yard. As long as it doesn’t rain Monday night, we’re all set.

When we lived in Anchorage, the whole summer fireworks things was a bit weird. It doesn’t get dark there this time of year, but people’s patience generally runs out about midnight. It does get kind of twilight-ish between 1 and 3 in the morning, but no one wants to wait quite that long. Attempting to see fireworks when it’s not really even dusk is an interesting experience.

But speaking of fireworks and Independence Day, we did see Hamilton when we were in Chicago for ALA. And wow! Even with a slightly obstructed view it was still marvelous and I’m so glad we went. I’d love to see it again, but the ticket prices have become even more obscene than they were just a few months ago. Hopefully, one of these days a film of the play will be available through Fathom Events at the movies.

Current Giveaways:

Lockdown by Laurie R. King
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the July Book of Choice Giveaway Hop
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Freedom to Read Giveaway Hop

Winner Announcements:

The winner of the $10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Splash into Summer Giveaway Hop is Adik

Blog Recap:

B+ Review: Take Out by Margaret Maron + Giveaway
B- Review: Cocoa Beach by Beatriz Williams
A+ Guest Review by Amy: Kith and Kin by Kris Ripper
B+ Review: Barbarian by Anna Hackett
B Review: A Most Unlikely Duke by Sophie Barnes + Giveaway
July Book of Choice Giveaway Hop
Stacking the Shelves (242)
Freedom to Read Giveaway Hop

Coming Next Week:

Liar’s Key by Carla Neggers (review)
Serenity Harbor by RaeAnne Thayne (blog tour review)
Heroine Worship by Sarah Kuhn (review)
Beren and Lúthien by J.R.R. Tolkien (review)

Have you ever had a book just call your name? You know what I mean, where the book is singing this siren song (not literally, I’m not that crazy) that says, “Read Me. Read Me NOW! You know you want to.” That was The Daughter of Sherlock Holmes this week. It wasn’t what I’d planned to read, but I didn’t have an actual commitment. And even though the Goodreads ratings weren’t all that, I just couldn’t resist that song. And I was right not too. It was absolutely the right book at the right time, and I just fell into it and didn’t look up until it was done. I’m not sure it would appeal that much to people who didn’t have a thing for Sherlock Holmes, but for those of us that do, it works. And it helps tide me over, just a bit, until the next Holmes/Russell book by Laurie R. King. Which I definitely had a taste for after reading Lockdown, even though that was definitely not it. Still excellent, but not the detective I really wanted to see.

We’re finally getting around to seeing Wonder Woman this weekend. I was tied up last weekend finishing up an article and just couldn’t think of anything else. But this weekend was free and I can’t wait!

Current Giveaways:

$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Splash into Summer Giveaway Hop

Winner Announcements:

The winner of the $10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Beach Reads Giveaway Hop is Aimee K.
The winner of An Ancient Peace and A Peace Divided by Tanya Huff is Susan

Blog Recap:

B+/A- Review: Silver Silence by Nalini Singh
A- Review: Lockdown by Laurie R. King
B+ Review: Owl and the Japanese Circus by Kristi Charish
Splash Into Summer Giveaway Hop
A- Review: The Daughter of Sherlock Holmes by Leonard Goldberg
Stacking the Shelves (240)

Coming Next Week:

Cover Fire by Jess Anastasi (blog tour review)
The Admiral’s Bride by Suzanne Brockmann (review)
The Right Side by Spencer Quinn (blog tour review)
The Light in Summer by Mary McNear (blog tour review)
The Lost City of the Monkey God by Douglas Preston (review)

The Beach Reads Giveaway Hop started yesterday morning, and runs until 6/15. Personally, I’m not totally certain about that whole “beach reads” concept. I read everywhere, all the time. No beach is required. And I find a cozy chair with either a cup of tea or a glass of iced tea, depending on the season, at my side and a cat or two curled up in my lap or next to me or behind my head. I’ve had cats do all three, but usually not the same cat. Of the current feline population, Freddie is a “sit next to and lean on” cat, and Mellie is a toe-sniffer. Yes, I have a cat with a foot fetish.

I kind of miss have an actual lap-cat. It can be lovely. It can also put one’s legs and feet to sleep. Cat gravity is a very real phenomenon!

But reading on the beach? If the book is good, that’s just an invitation to sunburn. And sand in places NO ONE wants to have sand.

Current Giveaways:

$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Beach Reads Giveaway Hop
Burn for Me by Ilona Andrews
5 copies of From Duke Till Dawn by Eva Leigh

Winner Announcements:

The winner of the $10 Gift Card in the Love in Bloom Giveaway Hop is Angela

Blog Recap:

Memorial Day 2017
B+ Review: From Duke Till Dawn by Eva Leigh + Giveaway
B Review: The Lady Travelers Guide to Scoundrels & Other Gentlemen by Victoria Alexander
A+ Review: White Hot by Ilona Andrews + Giveaway
B- Review: Hell Squad: Hemi by Anna Hackett
Beach Reads Giveaway Hop
Stacking the Shelves (238)

Coming Next Week:

A Peace Divided by Tanya Huff (review)
A Touch of Frost by Jo Goodman (review)
The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry (blog tour review)
Come Sundown by Nora Roberts (review)
Dim Sum Asylum by Rhys Ford (review)