Tag: Tuna T. Cat

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 7-23-23

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

This has been one of THOSE weeks. You know the kind, the weeks where your personal spoon supply runs out on Monday and there’s still entirely too many days to go – every single one of which does its damndest to demand yet more spoons.

So I ended last week flailing for a comfort read, and got so sucked in that I almost picked up the next book in the same series, but that doesn’t usually work for me because as much as I love the world it’s set in, too much too close together usually doesn’t keep me as enthralled as I hope. We’ll see all the way around.

But to keep all of us on our toes, so to speak, here are Luna and Tuna recharging their solar batteries. At least someone is enjoying the overabundance of the stuff, as the humans are mostly just exhausted!

Current Giveaways:

$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Christmas in July Giveaway Hop
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Summer 2023 Seasons of Books Giveaway Hop

Blog Recap:

A Review: Montego by Brian McClellan
A++ Review: Emergent Properties by Aimee Ogden
A+ Review: Ebony Gate by Julia Vee and Ken Bebelle
B+ Review: Women of the Post by Joshunda Sanders
A- Review: Why Kings Confess by C.S. Harris
Stacking the Shelves (558)

Coming This Week:

The Book of Gems by Fran Wilde (review)
Murder at Half Moon Gate by Andrea Penrose (review)
The Lady from Burma by Allison Montclair (review)
The Horoscope Writer by Ash Bishop (review)
Knighthunter by Anna Hackett (review)

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 7-9-23

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

When last we left our heroes – or at least when we left the cats for our trip – Tuna and George were getting along a bit better but not all the way towards peace in our time. There must have been more trauma-bonding going on while we were gone, as we’ve seen them playing together since we’ve been back, and this picture seems to show something like peaceable relations. Howsomever, it’s equally possible that Tuna is preparing to dump George on the floor by pulling the support brackets down from the window seat!

Current Giveaways:

$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Christmas in July Giveaway Hop
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Summer 2023 Seasons of Books Giveaway Hop

Blog Recap:

A Review: The Third to Die by Allison Brennan
Independence Day! (Guest Post by Galen)
B Review: The Housekeepers by Alex Hay
B Review: The Last Drop of Hemlock by Katharine Schellman
Christmas in July Giveaway Hop
Stacking the Shelves (556)

Coming This Week:

A Disappearance in Fiji by Nilima Rao (review)
Murder on Black Swan Lane by Andrea Penrose (review)
The Wayward Prince by Leonard Goldberg (review)
Montego by Brian McClellan (review)
The Only Purple House in Town by Ann Aguirre (review)

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 6-11-23

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

This looks like it for this week. Although, things could change. As they sometimes do. We’re going on a trip in a couple of weeks and I’m already freaking out about making sure there’s content. It’ll work out. Somehow. At least it always has so far! A HUGE thank you to Amy Daltry for coming back after being away from Reading Reality MUCH TOO LONG and helping me out this week!

But speaking of things that worked out to have a LOT of content, I caught Tuna refilling his tank of solar power just outside my office earlier this week. He’s plunked his big self right in the middle of a sunbeam and looks like he’s planning to take on all comers to protect his spot. Which isn’t what happens, as he’s really just a big, fluffy softy – no matter how much it looks like he’s glowering in this pic.

Current Giveaways:

$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Berry Good Giveaway Hop (ENDS THURSDAY!)
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Hello Summer Giveaway Hop
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Come Out & Play Giveaway Hop

Blog Recap:

B Review: The Little Italian Hotel by Phaedra Patrick
A- Review: The Isolated Séance by Jeri Westerson
Hello Summer Giveaway Hop
Come Out and Play Giveaway Hop
A- Review: Witch King by Martha Wells
Stacking the Shelves (552)

Coming This Week:

Rose/House by Arkady Martine (review)
Chef’s Kiss by TJ Alexander (Guest Review by Amy)
Famous in a Small Town by Viola Shipman (blog tour review)
Cassandra in Reverse by Holly Smale (blog tour review)
Dad-O-Mite Giveaway Hop

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 6-4-23

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

Today’s cat picture is Tuna, or as we often call him, Big Tunes. Here he’s showing off his bigness by stretching towards me on the couch. This picture is kind of typical of the big guy, as he looks very large and totally not in charge at the same time!

As sometimes happens, last week’s schedule collapsed a bit at the end due to the siren song of a different book I just decided I wanted to read more after another book just reminded me of it so hard. Books lead to other books, just like cats lead to other cats. Which is probably the story of my ENTIRE life.

Current Giveaways:

$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Berry Good Giveaway Hop

Winner Announcements:

The winner of the Moms Rock Giveaway Hop is Shelly

Blog Recap:

Memorial Day 2023 (Guest post by Galen)
B+ Review: The Benevolent Society of Ill Mannered Ladies by Alison Goodman
A+ Review: A Thousand Recipes for Revenge by Beth Cato
Berry Good Giveaway Hop
A Review: What Darkness Brings by C.S. Harris
Stacking the Shelves (551)

Coming This Week:

The Little Italian Hotel by Phaedra Patrick (blog tour review)
The Isolated Seance by Jeri Westerson (review)
Hello Summer Giveaway Hop
Come Out and Play Giveaway Hop
The Antiquity Affair by Lee Kelly and Jennifer Thorne (review)

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 5-7-23

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

There will be five reviews this week. I just have utterly no idea what the fifth one will be. At the moment, the contenders for that fifth slot are Treacle Walker by Alan Garner and Eastbound by Maylis de Kerangal, with When Maidens Mourn by C.S. Harris as a fallback, but none of them may pan out. Or they all will which will at least result in some decisions for openings in later weeks.

We’ll see.

Speaking of seeing, we finally saw something this weekend that we’ve been waiting FIVE years to see. Luna, Tuna and George finally figured out the cat flap from the living room to the catio. We were beginning to wonder if that would ever happen! Not surprisingly, Luna led the way in this enterprise, as she seems to be the one in charge of both George and her brother. Lucifer was upstairs having his late morning nap and Hecate was off doing catly things elsewhere as she still barely tolerates Luna’s and Tuna’s presence. But we have achieved progress and are looking forward to seeing them sunning themselves in the afternoons from now on!

Current Giveaways:

$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Come What May Giveaway Hop
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Life’s a Beach Giveaway Hop

Blog Recap:

Come What May Giveaway Hop
A- Review: The Bride Wore White by Amanda Quick
A Review: Murder and Mendelssohn by Kerry Greenwood
Life’s a Beach Giveaway Hop
A- Review: For Love of Magic by Simon R. Green
Stacking the Shelves (547)

Coming This Week:

Seven Girls Gone by Allison Brennan (review)
The Boyfriend Candidate by Ashley Winstead (blog tour review)
Yellowface by R.F. Kuang (review)
Tamam Shud by Kerry Greenwood (audio review)

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 4-16-23

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

I ended up throwing last week’s planned schedule into a blender. I was just having a bad case of being unable to settle on a book, not getting anywhere and not getting anything done. So I went looking for short reads and comfort reads to get me over that hump, which is how Who Cries for the Lost ended up kicking off this coming week.

This week’s schedule had Three Debts Paid inserted into it when I learned of the death of its author, Anne Perry, this past week.

Tuna volunteered for this week’s cat picture. The new comforter he’s posed on was a birthday present from one of my oldest and dearest friends, and he just looked so adorable – and adorably confused – laying on it that I couldn’t resist!

Current Giveaways:

$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Just Because Giveaway Hop
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Dancing in the Rain Giveaway Hop

Winner Announcements:

The winner of ANY book by Barbara Hambly is Anita
The winner of the $25 Amazon Gift Card is Cali
The winner of one of my or the winner’s favorite books so far is Carl
The winner of The Cleaving by Juliet E. McKenna is Nadine

Blog Recap:

A++ Review: The Stars Undying by Emery Robin
A+/D Review: The Way Home by Peter S. Beagle
A Review: Midnight, Water City by Chris McKinney
A- Review: Untethered Sky by Fonda Lee
A- Review: The Scourge Between Stars by Ness Brown
Stacking the Shelves (544)

Coming This Week:

Who Cries for the Lost by C.S. Harris (review)
Our Lady of Mysterious Ailments by T.L. Huchu (audio review)
Wings Once Cursed and Bound by Piper J. Drake (review)
How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix (review)
Three Debts Paid by Anne Perry (review)

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 4-9-23

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

Today is Easter Sunday. It’s also just about the middle of Passover AND the middle of Ramadan.

Today also marks the end of my TWELFTH Annual Blogo-Birthday Celebration Week – although the giveaways will continue to be open this week so please take this opportunity to get in on a lot of fabulous celebratory prizes!

And neither this week nor any other week here at Chez Reading Reality would be complete without a cat picture. Or, in this case, a picture of two cats. As most people who are owned by cats will tell you, it is IMPOSSIBLE to do ANYTHING alone when you have cats. Or cats have you, as the case may be. Here are Luna and Tuna making sure that their human doesn’t fall in or otherwise disappear while on the “throne”.

Current Giveaways:

Any book by Barbara Hambly
Blogoversary $25 Gift Card Giveaway
Favorite books of 2023 (so far) $25 in Books Giveaway
The Cleaving by Juliet E. McKenna
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Just Because Giveaway Hop
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Dancing in the Rain Giveaway Hop

Blog Recap:

A Review: One Extra Corpse by Barbara Hambly + Giveaway
TWELFTH Annual Blogo-Birthday Celebration and Giveaway!
Blogo-Birthday Birthday Book Celebration and Giveaway!
Dancing in the Rain Giveaway Hop
Just Because Giveaway Hop
A+ Review: The Cleaving by Juliet E. McKenna + Giveaway
Stacking the Shelves (543)

Coming This Week:

The Stars Undying by Emery Robin (audio review)
The Way Home by Peter S. Beagle (review)
Midnight, Water City by Chris McKinney (review)
The Winter Knight by Jes Battis (review)
Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh (review)

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 4-2-23

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

Come one, come all and WELCOME to Reading Reality’s annual Blogo-Birthday Celebration Week. This week, on Tuesday in fact, Reading Reality will celebrate its TWELFTH Blogoversary. As Wednesday, April 5 is my own birthday, I like to celebrate this doubly happy occasion with giveaways all week long. So be sure to come back each an every day to see what’s on tap.

The party is starting tomorrow, but in the meantime here’s a picture of Tuna, already all tuckered out from the preparations.

We’ll let him recover for a bit, so the party can get started bright and early in the morning!

Winner Announcements:

The winner of the Chasing Rainbows Giveaway Hop is Viki 

Blog Recap:

B+ Review: And Put Away Childish Things by Adrian Tchaikovsky
B Review: Her Lost Words by Stephanie Marie Thornton
C+ Review: Sea Change by Gina Chung
A Review: The Echo of Old Books by Barbara Davis
B Review: White Cat, Black Dog by Kelly Link
Stacking the Shelves (542)

Coming This Week:

One Extra Corpse by Barbara Hambly (review + giveaway)
Blogo-Birthday Celebration (feature + giveaway)
Favorites of the Year (So Far) Birthday Giveaway (feature + giveaway)
Dancing in the Rain Giveaway Hop
Just Because Giveaway Hop
The Cleaving by Juliet E. McKenna (blog tour review + giveaway)

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 3-26-23

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

Luna was sitting on the hearth, looking all bright-eyed and bushy-faced so Galen decided to snap a picture. Tuna just had to find out what was going on, so instead of Luna looking pretty, she’s looking rather confused as she gets photobombed by her brother!

I switched around this past week’s schedule a bit. I had been intending to read One Extra Corpse by Barbara Hambly, and I’m still very much looking forward to it. But my TWELFTH Annual Blogo-Birthday Celebration is just a week away. I give stuff away every day during the Celebration, so I always look for books or authors I really, really, really want to share with people to review that week. I’ve been reading and loving Barbara Hambly’s work since The Time of the Dark back in the longer ago than either she or I probably want to admit. Which made her latest book a perfect book to include during the celebration! So expect One Extra Corpse in just one week from tomorrow!

Current Giveaways:

$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Chasing Rainbows Giveaway Hop

Winner Announcements:

The winner of the Winter 2022-2023 Seasons of Books Giveaway Hop is Carl
The winner of the Leaping Leprechauns Giveaway Hop is Soozle
The winner of the For the Love of Reading Giveaway Hop is Heather

Blog Recap:

A+ Review: The Lies of the Ajungo by Moses Ose Utomi
A+ Review: The New Guys by Meredith Bagby
B- Review: The Raven Thief by Gigi Pandian
A- Review: A House with Good Bones by T. Kingfisher
B Review: The White Lady by Jacqueline Winspear
Stacking the Shelves (541)

Coming This Week:

And Put Away Childish Things by Adrian Tchaikovsky (review)
Her Lost Words by Stephanie Marie Thornton (blog tour review)
Sea Change by Gina Chung (review)
White Cat, Black Dog by Kelly Link (review)
The Echo of Old Books by Barbara Davis (review)

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 3-12-23

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

I’ve got to admit that I’m not totally sure about this week’s schedule – or at least the middle of it. I’ve finished The Atlas Paradox – and do I ever have OPINIONS – as well as Knightmaster – about which I have much better opinions. And of course the Chasing Rainbows Giveaway Hop will happen as scheduled. The other two books are both books I want to feature – but my round ‘tuit is a bit frayed around the edges this week.

But speaking of things that are just a bit unsure, there’s Tuna. Not in this picture of “big Tuna energy” from Galen’s desk, in which Tuna looks dignified, large and in charge – only one of which is EVER true. Tuna managed to do something this week that I unfortunately don’t have a picture of but have to share anyway. You know how cats occasionally get claw-stuck? They grab at something – like my office chair’s upholstery – and can’t get one claw retracted with the rest and get stuck? Tuna managed to claw-stick his own front paws together when he grabbed at a toy that slipped out of his grasp. Leaving him stuck. To himself. It was not pretty, it was not dignified, but it was very Tuna. I’d say he was still embarrassed but he’s also not the sharpest knife in the drawer, so not.

Current Giveaways:

$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Lady Luck Giveaway Hop (ENDS WEDNESDAY!)
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the For the Love of Reading Giveaway Hop
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Leaping Leprechauns Giveaway Hop
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Winter 2022-23 Seasons of Books Giveaway Hop

Blog Recap:

A Review: Dead Country by Max Gladstone
A- Review: The Sister Effect by Susan Mallery
B+ Review: The Crane Husband by Kelly Barnhill
A+ Review: Firebreak by Nicole Kornher-Stace
B+ Review: A Tempest at Sea by Sherry Thomas
Stacking the Shelves (539)

Coming This Week:

The Atlas Paradox by Olivie Blake (audiobook review)
The Mimicking of Known Successes by Malka Older (review)
Illuminations by T. Kingfisher (review)
Chasing Rainbows Giveaway Hop
Knightmaster by Anna Hackett (review)