Tag: Tuna T. Cat

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 2-26-23

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

This week was just a damn good reading week. Next week should be fun for everyone as I’m giving stuff away more than I’m reviewing – which is rare. But it gives me a break to sink my reading teeth into something long and meaty which can be a bit difficult for me to pull off at times.

Speaking of something long and meaty – also large and round and meaty – here’s Tuna. This isn’t so much a case of ‘if I fits, I sits’ as it is ‘if I doesn’t fit, I sprawls’. The biggest cat in the house in the tiniest cat bed, looking just a bit bewildered because it works fine for everyone else!

Current Giveaways:

$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Wish Big Giveaway Hop (ENDS TUESDAY!!!)
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Winter 2022-23 Seasons of Books Giveaway Hop

Winner Announcements:

The winner of the February Favorites Giveaway Hop is Rajee

Blog Recap:

Presidents’ Day 2023 (Guest post by Galen)
A+ Review: The Magician’s Daughter by H.G. Parry
A Review: The Weight of Command by Michael Mammay
B+ Review: Full Exposure by Thien-Kim Lam
A+ Review: Where Shadows Dance by C.S. Harris
Stacking the Shelves (537)

Coming This Week:

The London Seance Society by Sarah Penner (blog tour review)
Nightwatch by M.L. Buchman
Lady Luck Giveaway Hop
For the Love of Reading Giveaway Hop
Leaping Leprechauns Giveaway Hop

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 1-22-23

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

OMG it was a DAMN good reading week. (Or considering Tuesday’s book, perhaps that should be a “glassdamn” good reading week). Even though I did have a couple of these prepped in advance in order to handle being tied up in a four-day Zoom marathon and being totally “dain bramaged” at the end of each day.

My committee has completed its business, the awards presentation has been recorded, and all will be revealed one week from today. Then the new committee year begins and I’ll have a new assignment and a bit of a different set of books to contend with for the upcoming year – along with my usuals, of course.

I’m looking forward to the new challenge.

But speaking of challenges new and old, here’s today’s cat picture, which I’ve titled, “The Teetering Tower of Tuna and Le Chat Noir” because Lucifer’s a bit too slender form on the right looks just like the pose of the black cat in the famous historical poster “Le Chat Noir” and Tuna’s position on the left is entirely too self-evident. The high platform on the cat tree is just not up to dealing with either his size or his tendency to “galumph” into position!

Current Giveaways:

$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Welcome Winter Giveaway Hop (ENDS TUESDAY!!!)
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Winter Wishes Giveaway Hop
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Winter 2022-23 Seasons of Books Giveaway Hop

Blog Recap:

Winter Wishes Giveaway Hop
A+ Review: In the Shadow of Lightning by Brian McClellan
A+ Review: The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle
A+ Review: Under Fortunate Stars by Ren Hutchings
A- Review: The Keeper’s Six by Kate Elliott
Stacking the Shelves (532)

Coming This Week:

Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel (review)
Don’t Open the Door by Allison Brennan (review)
Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett (review)
The Twyford Code by Janice Hallett (review)
Sentinel Security: Steel by Anna Hackett (review)

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 1-15-23

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

This is probably it for this week. I’m also probably going to lose my mind before the end of it. Yesterday, today, tomorrow and Tuesday comprise my annual Zoom marathon for the American Library Association Reading List Committee deliberations. That four days, eight-ish hours per day, on Zoom with 10 of my fellow book lovers hashing out who will get the awards this year. It’s both a terrific time and more than a bit of torture, as four solid days on Zoom is just a LOT!

Here’s a picture of one Tuna-loaf, size extra large. The vacancy between his eyes will be similar to my own state by the time the meetings are all wrapped up.

Current Giveaways:

$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Welcome Winter Giveaway Hop
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Winter 2022-23 Seasons of Books Giveaway Hop

Blog Recap:

A- Review: Lost in the Moment and Found by Seanan McGuire
Welcome Winter Giveaway Hop
A- Review: City Under One Roof by Iris Yamashita
A+ Review: Book Lovers by Emily Henry
A Review: Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan
Stacking the Shelves (531)

Coming This Week:

Winter Wishes Giveaway Hop
In the Shadow of Lightning by Brian McClellan (audio review)
The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle (review)
The Keeper’s Six by Kate Elliott (review)
Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel (review)

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 12-25-22

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

Whether or not you believe that this is “the most wonderful time of the year”, today is Christmas. If this is your holiday, then Merry Christmas. If all you’re celebrating is a day off, like this household, then that can be plenty to celebrate. If you’re celebrating that you have heat and power and in your house after this week’s weather, that’s something pretty big to celebrate!

A tree fell on our house in the middle of the night on Xmas Eve Eve, so we’re definitely celebrating that last bit. The tree hit the back stairs and managed to do nothing more than barely scrape the side of the house and deck. But that sudden impact made for quite the shock at 3 something in the dark of the a.m.

It didn’t wake either the cats or myself, although Galen was up and about trying to see what the damage was in the middle of a rather interrupted night.

Something to celebrate on a very cold and wintry holiday.

p.s. The boys say Happy Holidays!

Current Giveaways:

$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Holiday Ho Ho Ho Giveaway Hop
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Dashing December Giveaway Hop
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Winter 2022-23 Seasons of Books Giveaway Hop

Winner Announcements:

The winner of the Fall 2022 Seasons of Books Giveaway Hop is Kelly
The winner of the Winter is Coming Giveaway Hop is Susan S.

Blog Recap:

B Review: Shenanigans by Mercedes Lackey
A+ Review: Look Closer by David Ellis
Winter 2022 Seasons of Books Giveaway Hop
A- Review: Sentinel Security: Striker by Anna Hackett
A Review: Eversion by Alastair Reynolds
Stacking the Shelves (528)

Coming This Week:

Boxing Day (guest post by Galen)
The Gingerbread Cat by Stephanie Osborn (review)
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna (review)
In the Shadow of Lightning by Brian McClellan (review)
Best Books of 2022

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 12-11-22

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

It has been a misty, moisty very sleepy week around here. It’s been the kind of weather that makes a human want to curl up and take a nap. Apparently is also has the same effect on cats, because here’s Tuna shutting the whole world out while he naps on the cushy blankie. With a side – literally – of his sister Luna in the background doing the same.

Current Giveaways:

Signed hardcover of The Socialite’s Guide to Murder plus swag (US only)
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Holly Jolly Giveaway Hop (ENDS THURSDAY!)
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Winter is Coming Giveaway Hop
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Fall 2022 Seasons of Books Giveaway Hop
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Holiday Ho-Ho-Ho Giveaway Hop

Blog Recap:

B Review: The Socialite’s Guide to Murder by S.K. Golden + Giveaway
Winter is Coming Giveaway Hop
A+ Review: Hide by Tracy Clark
B Review: Pets of Park Avenue by Stefanie London
Holiday Ho-Ho-Ho Giveaway Hop
Stacking the Shelves (526)

Coming This Week:

Into the West by Mercedes Lackey (review)
The Ballad of Perilous Graves by Alex Jennings (audiobook review)
Secrets Typed in Blood by Stephen Spotswood (review)
Sweep of the Heart by Ilona Andrews (review)
Dashing December Giveaway Hop

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 11-6-22

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

Galen has been away most of this week (he’s back now) which leaves me alone to tend to FIVE very demanding felines. Tuna is on overwatch every single time I prepare their food. This is literal, as his head is at my waist when he stands at the table next to me watching every step and scoop. It’s a bit daunting.

I swear I saw him acting as Lucifer’s food tester the other night as well. Not that Tuna scarfed the old boy’s food. That he watched me put it down, took a sniff and one nibble, then moved out of the way for our Elder Statescat to get his due. It’s adorable and disconcerting at the same time.

And I looked down to THIS the other day while I was peacefully working at my desk. (Tuna on the left, Luna on the right with her white feets.) Aren’t they adorable? And don’t you wonder what they’re really up to? I certainly did!

Current Giveaways:

$10 Book or $10 Gift Card in the Thanks a Latte Giveaway Hop
$10 Book or $10 Gift Card in the Fall 2022 Seasons of Books Giveaway Hop

Blog Recap:

A- Review: Lute by Jennifer Thorne
Thanks a Latte Giveaway Hop
A- Review: Mission: Uncovered by Anna Hackett
A+ Review: Steel Fear by Brandon Webb and John David Mann
B Review: The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen
Stacking the Shelves (521)

Coming This Week:

When the Angels Left the Old Country by Sacha Lamb (audiobook review)
Super Stocking Stuffer Giveaway Hop
A Matter of Happiness by Tori Whitaker (blog tour review)
Conqueror by Anna Hackett (review)
Veteran’s Day 2022 (post by Galen)

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 10-23-22

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

I’m doing this a couple of days ahead because we’re planning to get our COVID boosters this weekend. It could be a piece of cake. The first shot was a piece of cake. One nap later and I felt fine. The first and second boosters – not so much. So we’ll see. It may be a napping weekend in preparation for whatever happens this week.

The cats will be watching over us, whatever we do – or don’t do. Tuna in particular seems to believe we need supervision for EVERYTHING!

Current Giveaways:

5 Audio copies of Riverside
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Howloween Giveaway Hop (ENDS TUESDAY!!!)
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Breast Cancer Awareness Giveaway Hop (ENDS WEDNESDAY!!!)
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Fall 2022 Seasons of Books Giveaway Hop

Winner Announcements:

The winner of the Spooktacular Giveaway Hop is DeAnna

Blog Recap:

B- Review: Uncanny Times by Laura Anne Gilman
B Review: Riverside by Glenda Young and Ian Skillicorn + Giveaway
A+ Review: The Mountain in the Sea by Ray Naylor
B+ Review: Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne
A Review: Pets in Space 7 by S.E. Smith, R.J. Blain, Grace Goodwin, Skye MacKinnon, Carol Van Natta, Honey Phillips, Carysa Locke, S.J. Pajonas, JC Hay, Kyndra Hatch
Stacking the Shelves (519)

Coming This Week:

The Bruising of Qilwa by Naseem Jamnia (review)
Braking Day by Adam Oyebanji (review)
Into the Windwracked Wilds by A. Deborah Baker (review)
Skibird by M.L. Buchman (review)
Lavender House by Lev AC Rosen (audiobook review)

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 10-16-22

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

Why they ended up in this position for a mutual grooming session, I have no clue. Nevertheless, here are Luna and Tuna stretched out across the floor together in a mutual grooming session. I think they wanted to show off just how long they both are. Tuna is just so big that it’s not often obvious that Luna isn’t exactly a small cat herself.

(Luna’s on the right. She the one with the white feets.)

But speaking of pets and books, or at least winding my way around to that, the 7th annual Pets in Space anthology came out earlier this month. If you like to see your other worlds populated with fascinating companion animals, often helping their humans find their happy ever after (so the animals have more hands to scritch them!) this collection is always a treat. I can’t wait to review it this week!

Current Giveaways:

$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Spooktacular Giveaway Hop (ENDS TOMORROW!!!!!)
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Howloween Giveaway Hop
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Breast Cancer Awareness Giveaway Hop
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Fall 2022 Seasons of Books Giveaway Hop

Blog Recap:

Breast Cancer Awareness Giveaway Hop
A+ Review: Under a Veiled Moon by Karen Odden
B Review: An Indiscreet Princess by Georgie Blalock
B- Review: Extra Witchy by Ann Aguirre
B Review: Dead Man’s Hand by James J. Butcher
Stacking the Shelves (518)

Coming This Week:

Uncanny Times by Laura Anne Gilman (review)
Riverside by Glenda Young and Ian Skillicorn (audiobook tour review)
The Mountain in the Sea by Ray Naylor (audiobook review)
Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne (review)
Pets in Space 7 by S.E. Smith, R.J. Blain, Grace Goodwin, Skye MacKinnon, Carol Van Natta, Honey Phillips, Carysa Locke, S.J. Pajonas, JC Hay, Kyndra Hatch (blog tour review)

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 9-11-22

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

It’s been a week, hasn’t it?

The World Science Fiction Convention was held last weekend in Chicago. We had intended to go, but after we both came home with COVID from the library convention in June we decided to give Worldcon a pass this year after all. But I did watch the Hugo Awards Ceremony Sunday night. The list of the winners is pretty much everywhere, but if you are interested in science fiction and fantasy and haven’t seen the full list yet, this is a link listing the nominees and the winners.

It still seems strange that Queen Elizabeth II passed. She was starting to seem eternal. While there are mixed feelings about her, her country and her legacy, it does feel like the end of an era. This has reminded me of stories that my parents used to tell about the passing of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. He was elected president when they were both 4 years old and died when they were juniors in high school. He was the only president a lot of people, especially children and young adults, had ever known. I’ve seen some statistics showing that 9 out of 10 people alive in the world today were born after Elizabeth became queen, so the same sensation multiplied by, well, a lot.

And today is the TWENTY-FIRST anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. It HAS been a week, hasn’t it?

Before I close out this post and look ahead to the next week, we all need a cat picture to complete the week. Here are Luna and Tuna, showing exactly why they needed to be adopted as a bonded pair. Looking at their faces it’s also easy to see the family resemblance.

Current Giveaways:

$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Glam and Glitz Giveaway Hop
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Summer 2022 Seasons of Books Giveaway Hop
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Fabulous Fall Giveaway Hop

Blog Recap:

Labor Day 2022
B+ Review: Desperation in Death by J.D. Robb
A Review: The Holiday Trap by Roan Parrish
A- Review: Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn
Fabulous Fall Giveaway Hop
Stacking the Shelves (513)

Coming This Week:

Haven by Emma Donoghue (audiobook review)
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt (review)
The Book Haters’ Book Club by Gretchen Anthony (blog tour review)
Lucky Girl by Mary Rickert (review)
Falling into Leaves Giveaway Hop

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 8-7-22

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

And the picture below says everything anyone ever needed to know about why Luna and Tuna needed to be adopted TOGETHER.

She’s not actually THAT small, although he is THAT big. She was just further down the well between Galen’s legs when he took the picture.

While the clowder has not yet achieved “peace in our time” the rapprochement is proceeding. Although we got a second cat perch for the breakfast nook windows and Hecate is acting like a hen trying to hatch an egg on two separate nests. She lays in one and keeps an eagle eye on the other in case of interlopers. But the hissing and growling have calmed down a fair bit, with the red dot acting as the common enemy for all felines to unite against.

Current Giveaways:

$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Apple a Day Giveaway Hop
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Back to School Giveaway Hop
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Summer 2022 Seasons of Books Giveaway Hop

Blog Recap:

Apple a Day Giveaway Hop
A Review: The Codebreaker’s Secret by Sara Ackerman
B Review: The Courier by Ernest Dempsey
B- Review: The Bodyguard by Katherine Center
Back to School Giveaway Hop
Stacking the Shelves (508)

Coming This Week:

Signal Moon by Kate Quinn (blog tour review)
Wolf by Anna Hackett (review)
Face by Joma West (review)
The Last of the Seven by Steven Hartov (review)
Councilor by L.E. Modesitt, Jr. (review)