The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 12-1-24

Posted on December 1, 2024December 1, 2024 by Marlene Harris | Author : Marlene Harris | Ho-Ho-Ho Readation> The Sunday Post> Virtual Nightstand> Winner announcement

Welcome to the final month of 2024! Or OMG the holiday season is here. Or both. DEFINITELY both.

I hope that all who celebrated had a wonderful and filling Turkey Day this week. I also hope that, unless it’s your thing, you’ve managed to escape the Black Friday shopping madness. I’m just happy that internet shopping is a thing because the Black Friday crowds are NOT!

Tomorrow is your last chance to sign up and fill out your entries in the 2024 Ho-Ho-Ho Readathon here at Reading Reality and at all of the other Elves’ sites and instas. If you’ve had a big holiday reading weekend, host Caffeinated Reviewer has the deets on ALL the Elves’ challenges right HERE!

Even though tomorrow is the last day of the Readathon, and you still have all day to post your bingo lines here or on Insta, Reading Reality will be posting the Holiday Giveaway Event! including an Event-Wide Amazon/PayPal Prize plus my own $10 Gift Card or Book giveaway. The first day of the Holiday Giveaway Event! is technically today, but today is Sunday and we’re still in recovery mode from yesterday’s All-Star Cat Wrestling Event!

Everybody needed something at the vet yesterday, so EVERYBODY went. Two humans, four cats, a whole lot of growling and hissing and nobody was happy at all. Except possibly the vet. Although a tech did have to pretty much sit on George to get his part of the circus taken care of. None of them like TRIPS to the vet – although Hecate likes BEING at the vet because they tell her how pretty and well-behaved she is. George, however, is the only one who fights the process, literally tooth and nail, all the way.

But George has been featured quite a bit recently. Also, he wasn’t cooperative AT ALL. Luna, very much on the other hand, although obviously quite peeved in this picture – she’s willing to own it and let her resting bitch face be preserved for posterity. (Not that she has any. That was fixed before she came to us.)

Seasons Greetings and Merry Meetings and Happy Holidays!

Coming This Week:

Holiday Amazon/PayPal Giveaway Event!
A Snake in the Barley by Candace Robb (#BookReview)
How to Steal a Galaxy by Beth Revis (#BookReview)
Orbital by Samantha Harvey (#AudioBookReview)
The Hero She Deserves by Anna Hackett (#BookReview)

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 11-10-24

Posted on November 10, 2024November 9, 2024 by Marlene Harris | Author : Marlene Harris | The Sunday Post> Virtual Nightstand

I’m not sure whether this picture of a sleepy Luna represents a cat not wanting to have their nap disturbed, or a cat looking to dig a hole and pull it in after her. This is one of her common sleeping positions, folded up into a surprisingly small kittybundle and getting as many limbs as possible to cover her pretty face. She clearly likes to make the world GO AWAY when she sleeps.

I fully admit I’ve been tempted to join her this week. If dear old Acme – the folks who supplied Wile E. Coyote – were still in business I think there would be a lot of folks looking to buy their patented ‘portable holes’ this week. Alas, Acme isn’t available, so I’ve had to content myself with comfort reads. Possibly for a while.

If you’re looking for a comfort read, I highly recommend the cozy fantasy of The Teller of Small Fortunes, as well as the slightly rueful, thoroughly witchy, laugh out loud snark and sarcasm of Crazy as a Loon – as you’ll see in this coming week’s reviews.

Current Giveaways:

$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Thanks a Latte Giveaway Hop
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book PLUS EVENT-WIDE AMAZON/PAYPAL PRIZE in the Late Fall Giveaway Event!
$5 Amazon Gift Card + eBook Copy of A Tainted Heart Bleeds by Sophie Barnes
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Fall 2024 Seasons of Books Giveaway Hop

Blog Recap:

A+ #AudioBookReview: The Small and the Mighty by Sharon McMahon
Spotlight + Excerpt: A Tainted Heart Bleeds by Sophie Barnes + Giveaway
#GuestPost: Election Day 2024: Readings
A- #BookReview: Old Scores by Will Thomas
B #BookReview: The City in Glass by Nghi Vo
B+ #BookReview: Art in the Blood by Bonnie MacBird
Stacking the Shelves (626)

Coming This Week:

Veterans Day (#GuestPost by Galen)
The Bloodless Princes by Charlotte Bond (#BookReview)
The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong (#BookReview)
Crazy as a Loon by Hailey Edwards (#AudioBookReview)
Grimm Curiosities by Sharon Lynn Fisher (#BookReview)

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 10-27-24

Posted on October 27, 2024October 26, 2024 by Marlene Harris | Author : Marlene Harris | The Sunday Post> Virtual Nightstand

This week’s schedule went just a bit awry at the end, because I finished Kevin Hearne’s Candle & Crow AGAIN, (that story is in the review – HINT), this time in audio, and just had to write it up because awesomesauce. Not that the new Gamache book, The Grey Wolf, the book I intended to review on Friday isn’t also terrific, just that I wasn’t quite done with it yet and I had entirely too much to say about Candle & Crow and the whole Ink & Sigil series.

My review of The Grey Wolf will be coming this week, the day before Halloween. Because in it’s own way, it’s MORE than scary enough. You’ll see.

As far as this week’s cat pictures, I sometimes have to remind myself that Luna is NOT a small cat. She is only small in comparison to her brother Tuna, who is HUGE. Last week’s picture was of Tuna, sprawling in the same bed that Luna has primly posed in in this picture. Notice that Tuna filled the whole thing and lopped over the sides. Luna, as I said, is primly POSED. She has space all around herself – the better to look adorable with.

Current Giveaways:

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

Blog Recap:

A- #BookReview: Murder of a Suffragette by Marty Wingate
A- #BookReview: Murder in Highbury by Vanessa Kelly
B #BookReview: The Mountain Crown by Karin Lowachee
B #BookReview: Fury Brothers: Claim by Anna Hackett
Grade A #AudioBookReview: Candle and Crow by Kevin Hearne
Stacking the Shelves (624)

Coming This Week:

Constituent Service by John Scalzi (#AudioBookReview)
A Tainted Heart Bleeds by Sophie (#BookReview #BlogTour)
The Grey Wolf by Louise Penny (#BookReview)
Buried Memories by Simon R. Green (#BookReview)
Thanks a Latte Giveaway Hop

Scaredy Cat Giveaway Hop

Posted on October 1, 2024September 30, 2024 by Marlene Harris | Author : Marlene Harris | Blog Hops> Giveaways> Scaredy Cat Giveaway Hop

Welcome to the Scaredy Cat Giveaway Hop, hosted by Mama the Fox!

At Chez Reading Reality, the poster child for this year’s spooky season is Luna. Which would be a bit more appropriate if it were “spooked” season instead of spooky. As you can see from the picture, she’s not at all spooky, but during last week’s storm she was very, very spooked. Clearly, now that all the sturm und drang is over, she doesn’t have a care in the world – but that certainly wasn’t true just last week!

Luna is very fortunate that Halloween is NOT intended to be a fireworks holiday, but clearly we’ll be keeping a concerned eye on her at New Year’s – which absolutely is one around here. I’d say maybe she’ll be lucky and it will rain but that won’t actually help the poor little thing.

Hurricane season – even just the tail end of it that we generally get, isn’t something that Miss Luna is looking forward to this or any other year. Of course, neither are her humans, but we have a slightly better grasp of what’s actually going on. I’m not sure about getting her a thundershirt – or to be more accurate I’m not sure about getting her INTO a thundershirt – but we may try it the next time we can get enough warning of a big storm.

I am, however, definitely looking forward to the Halloween decorations. Someone in the neighborhood has a ghost on their lawn that looks like it already got ‘busted’. What are you most looking forward to – or least – this Halloween season? Answer in the rafflecopter for a chance at one of Reading Reality’s usual prizes, the winner’s choice of a $10 Amazon Gift Card or $10 in books.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

For more ‘scary’ prizes, be sure to visit the other stops on this hop!

MamatheFox and all participating blogs are not held responsible for sponsors who fail to fulfill their prize obligations.

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 9-29-24

Posted on September 29, 2024September 27, 2024 by Marlene Harris | Author : Marlene Harris | The Sunday Post> Virtual Nightstand

“Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!” No one expects a power failure, either. But with the weather here at the end of the week, let’s just say that it seemed prudent to expect that latter possibility. (I’m still not expecting the Spanish Inquisition!)

Luna, however, DID seem to be expecting the Spanish Inquisition – or at least something equally as bad. She hid – a LOT. When she wasn’t hiding, she expected Galen and I to be her ‘security humans’ – clinging to whichever of us was handy at the time. So today’s picture is Luna, participating in one of Galen’s work meetings. She’s clearly observing the proceedings VERY closely.

On the bookish side of things, that potential power outage had me rearranging the end of the week rather a bit. I already had the review of Fear the Flames written, while I’m still in the middle of reading Murder at King’s Crossing, so Wednesday afternoon I finished up the week with what I had ready and started on Stacking the Shelves and this Sunday Post, just in case either the power or the internet went out. Which they didn’t. The only thing out is the refrigerator, which is ‘out’ of pretty much everything!

One final note on this week’s Sunday Post. I changed my mind about one of the ratings of this week’s books. Or rather, audiobooks. Rating Graveyard Shift as an A- wasn’t sitting right with me over the week. It should have been an ‘A’ Grade, and so now it is!

Current Giveaways:

Falling Into Leaves Giveaway Hop (ENDS TOMORROW!!!)
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book PLUS EVENT-WIDE AMAZON/PAYPAL PRIZE in the Early Fall Giveaway Event
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Fall 2024 Seasons of Books Giveaway Hop

Blog Recap:

Fall 2024 Seasons of Books Giveaway Hop
Grade A #AudioBookReview: Graveyard Shift by M.L. Rio
A- #BookReview: Queen Macbeth by Val McDermid
B #BookReview: The Lantern of Lost Memories by Sanaka Hiiragi, translated by Jesse Kirkwood
A- #BookReview: Fear the Flames by Olivia Rose Darling
Stacking the Shelves (620)

Coming This Week:

Murder at King’s Crossing by Andrea Penrose (#BookReview)
Scaredy Cat Giveaway Hop
The Restaurant of Lost Recipes by Hisashi Kashiwai, translated by Jesse Kirkwood (#BookReview)
One Big Happy Family by Susan Mallery (#BookReview #BlogTour)
Shoestring Theory by Mariana Costa (#BookReview)

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

Posted on September 8, 2024September 6, 2024 by Marlene Harris | Author : Marlene Harris | 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 September 1, 2024September 1, 2024 by Marlene Harris | Author : Marlene Harris | 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 August 25, 2024August 24, 2024 by Marlene Harris | Author : Marlene Harris | 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 August 18, 2024August 18, 2024 by Marlene Harris | Author : Marlene Harris | 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:

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 7-21-24

Posted on July 21, 2024July 20, 2024 by Marlene Harris | Author : Marlene Harris | 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)

Current Giveaways:

Winner Announcements:

Blog Recap:

Coming This Week:

Share this:

Current Giveaways:

Blog Recap:

Coming This Week:

Share this:

Current Giveaways:

Blog Recap:

Coming This Week:

Share this:

Share this:

Current Giveaways:

Blog Recap:

Coming This Week:

Share this:

Current Giveaways:

Blog Recap:

Coming This Week:

Share this:

Current Giveaways:

Winner Announcements:

Blog Recap:

Coming This Week:

Share this:

Current Giveaways:

Blog Recap:

Coming This Week:

Share this:

Current Giveaways:

Winner Announcements:

Blog Recap:

Coming This Week:

Share this:

Current Giveaways:

Winner Announcements:

Blog Recap:

Coming This Week:

Share this: