This Chick Read: Lethal White (Cormoran Strike #4) by Robert Galbraith

Lethal White was one of my most anticipated novels of 2018 and it did not disappoint! After catching a serial killer both Cormoran and Robin are recovering both physically and emotionally, their new partnership strained and a little uncomfortable. When Cormoran receives a visit from a disturbed man insisting he saw a girl being strangled when he was young he’s intrigued. He casually makes a few inquiries and through this mystery he and Robin start to repair their friendship.

Why is Cormoran Strike, the ex-military amputee who drinks a bit too much such a great hero? Through his current and past relationships we see how emotionally stunted he can be hiding from his own thoughts at times by having another pint. Robin’s relationship with her fiancee/husband Matthew offers the reader a comparison and allows us to see Comoran’s strengths. As Robin navigates her tumultuous new marriage I wallowed in what should have been’s between she and Strike. It was only the intricately wrought mystery that diverted my attention and allowed me to put those bitter feelings on simmer. What is it about these two characters that make me want them to be together so much?

There were many twists and turns to this mystery. What started with the young disturbed man in Strike’s office turned into political subterfuge. Without giving anything away I will say that I was surprised at the who dunnit and went back and forth through that journey of discovery trying to figure out how and when Strike figured out what was going on because I sure as hell didn’t figure it out!

If you love British crime mysteries you need to read this series. It gets better with each book and the tension between Cormoran and Robin keep you coming back for more. Will they ever get their relationship figured out? Who knows? But I sure do enjoy watching them tiptoe around their feelings for each other. Oh, and the mysteries are great too! For those of you who don’t know this, Robert Galbraith is a pseudonym for J. K. Rowling. It’s amazing that the same person who wrote the Harry Potter books wrote these novels. She’s one talented lady! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Opinions from around the Blogosphere

‘Overall, I would say that this book interested me more because of Cormoran and Robin’s personal lives than because of the mystery storyline. I truly believe this novel could’ve been like 50% shorter and the result would’ve been the same. And that’s a pity because I really like JK Rowling, and I love Robin and Cormoran, but unfortunately, this was not a favorite of mine.’ The Misstery

‘Despite this book being wrapped in a bewilderingly atrocious cover, this book is a solid entry in the series, though not really my favorite. Long-winded or not, fans of the series will probably forgive the extra bloat of the book to enjoy its complicated and tangled mystery. It’s a ferocious Gordian Knot, just waiting to be patiently picked apart.’ The Bibliofile

Lethal White

Click this link to purchase!*

Copyright 2018 Deborah Kehoe The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

*Amazon Associate

This Chick Read: The Accidental Beauty Queen by Teri Wilson

Librarian Charlotte Gorman is on a much needed vacation with her sister Ginny. Well, her sister invited her to share her suite in Orlando while she is competing in the Miss American Treasure beauty pageant and Charlotte is planning on hitting all of the amusement parks while giving moral support to Ginny. At 29 this is the last year that Ginny will be able to compete, and she wants to win just like her mother did years ago. Unfortunately, Ginny comes down with an allergic reaction to something and her face swells up like a pumpkin and you guessed it, she guilts Charlotte, her TWIN sister, into taking her place….just until the swelling goes down.

Even though Charlotte and Ginny are twin sisters and share the same face, they don’t share the same self image. Charlotte has always felt like Ginny was the pretty sister but when Ginny works her beauty pageant magic Charlotte is shocked she’s the spitting image of her sister, yet she is still just Charlotte on the inside. I loved how Charlotte’s journey in going through the first few levels of the pageant really helped her see herself differently. Mostly I liked how these two twin sisters grew closer through this process and honored the memory of their mother.

Charlotte’s journey of self discovery was not just through the beauty pageant. There is also a love interest for Charlotte and he is her perfect match! Although the romance was downplayed a bit for the plot about the two sisters, I still enjoyed that tension and loved the secrecy of their flirtation. If I were partial to sighing while reading I probably would’ve fainted from lack of breath. That didn’t happen, but I did have a slight smile on my face through all of their scenes and even laughed out loud a few times. This was one funny book!

Do you know when you start a novel and the words flow easily and you can feel yourself relaxing into the main character, not fighting against the words? That was how The Accidental Beauty Queen was for me. It was the perfect book for that perfect moment in time and I just loved it. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for my honest review and it was honest!

Opinions from around the Blogosphere

“Near the beginning I did struggle with Charlotte a little as even though she is 29 she sometimes felt 21. I found her sister, Ginny, to be selfish and single-minded although she did redeem herself in the end. I liked that Wilson didn’t make all of the contestants vapid and shallow, but instead gave them more faceted personalities. Although at times this felt a little childish (or maybe like a YA novel with adults), overall I enjoyed the story and characters.” Time Enough for Books

“What The Accidental Beauty Queen is really all about isn’t the glitz and glamour, but self-discovery, friendship and loyalty, and simply being who you are and were always meant to be.  Charlotte and Ginny both have a lot of maturing to do, and that growth happens in the span of one crazy, tumultuous week.  I found myself quite taken with this book and look forward to Teri Wilson’s next offering.” Rolopolo Book Blog

Click this link to purchase!*The Accidental Beauty Queen (Royals)

Copyright 2018 Deborah Kehoe The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

*Amazon Associate

This Chicks Sunday Commentary: November Wrap Up!

November is gone. What? Wait! No, this year is flying by way too fast! Yes, it’s December 2nd which means it’s time to look back at November.

What books did I love last month? There were quite a few that I really enjoyed, but these were the best of the best.

The Women in the Castle by Jessica Shattuck 

Women in the Castle

“What set this novel apart from others I’ve read was that we see the war through these German women’s eyes. Their feelings about what Hitler and the Nazi’s did and the reaction of the people around them- or lack of reaction in a lot of cases. I think this might be the first novel where I read about the German people’s apathy….If you have 13+ hours to spare, I’d recommend listening to this book! Regardless if you are reading or listening, this book was truly excellent.” 5.0 Rating

 

Diamond Fire (Hidden Legacy 3.5) by Ilona Andrews

“Yes, the Hidden Legacy series revolves around Rogan and Nevada, but the underlining theme is family, and the Baylor’s are the definition of that word. Of course, as this was a short story, you are left wanting more, more, more! I believe the next novel, also centering around Catalina, will be out sometime in 2019. As with all of the others, it will be well worth the wait!” 4.5 Rating 

Song of the Current by Sarah Tolcser

” I love YA action novels and Song of the Current hit the right note for me. It did start off a little slow but that was to be expected as the characters and world building needed explanation. As soon as she pushed off down the river and opened that crate the story took off and the adventure began.” 4.5 Rating

Blogger to Blogger Series Interviews

If you aren’t familiar with my Blogger to Blogger series the premise is that I ask each blogger the same 10 questions. Through their answers we not only gain a little more personal knowledge but we see how diverse our Book Blogging universe really is. If you didn’t get a chance to read them the following links are the two Interviews I posted in November.

Claire @ A Knight’s Reads

The Captain @ Captain’s Quarters

This Chicks Sunday Commentary is a catch-all post that airs almost every Sunday. I have the chance to post random thoughts, tags, interviews, etc. In November the following posts ran. Please click the link if you didn’t have the chance to read them!

Uppercase Box Nov’18 Reveal

I’ve Read THE Book, Now What?

October Wrap UP!

There are many reasons why I am looking forward to December, and it’s not to finish my Christmas shopping! There are a couple of books on the horizon that I want to read. Duh!

Most Anticipated Reads for December 2018

Queen of Air and Darkness (The Dark Artifices #3) by Cassandra Clare

I am a big fan of the Shadowhunters novels and this series is her best yet.

Ever the Brave and Once a King by Erin Summerill

OK, yes Once a King is coming out in December. I actually thought I’d already read Ever the Brave when I requested the ARC and then realized, OH NO. Yep, I have to read Ever the Brave first. But I did love Ever the Hunted so it’s not a hardship. I just don’t usually like to read too much of the same genre at once… I need to get on it!

Well, that’s a look back at what happened on The Reading Chick in November, and just a very small look forward. 

What are your most anticipated books for next month? Are they old ones or new?

Does anyone else hate this new formatting on WordPress? AArrgh! It looks funky! LOL

Until next Sunday,

Deb

Friday YA: Ever the Brave (A Clash of Kingdoms #2) by Erin Summerill

At the end of Ever the Hunted, Britta uses her Channeler powers to save King Aodren which breaks the tether between she and Cohen and establishes one with the King. Despite the tether, her feelings for Cohen haven’t changed, but she is starting to care for the king as well. With the kingdom in turmoil Aodren wants to overrule ill feelings his people have had for the Channelers since his fathers rule and the first thing they have to do is find the woman who had kept his mind captive. 

As I wrote in the above paragraph I realized how if you hadn’t read the first book, this synopsis would be so confusing! To simplify, Britta is a Channeler, she saved the king. The King doesn’t want to kill off all of the Channelers anymore in large part due to his feelings for Britta and well, that’s genocide. As the Bounty Hunter to the king, Cohen gets sent after the evil woman giving Aodren the chance to get to know Britta without Cohen around to remind Britta of her feelings for him. Yes, this story is based around a love triangle, and if Britta weren’t such a strong character this would’ve bothered me a lot more than it actually did. 

 I enjoyed the characters just as much as I did when I read Ever the Hunted. Britta is a strong, independent woman who can hunt and track just as well as the king’s Bounty Hunter, Cohen. Cohen should actually get used to Britta coming to his rescue but for some reason is always trying to protect her and keep her safe. Cohen, this is a girl that can keep herself safe! I do think he came to realize that by the end of the book, but that one trait was a little frustrating. Otherwise, he was a totally likable character.

Ever the Brave was the first time that we got to know an Aodren that was not under mind control. What we did get to know, I liked and I look forward to the next installment of this series, Once a King, which is his story. I think his character may be a little more fleshed out which will make him more of a hero, I hope.

If you enjoyed Ever the Hunted and haven’t gotten around to reading Ever the Brave, have no fear! This book is a fun second installment. Read it! ❤️❤️❤️❤️

Opinions from around the Blogosphere

“I guess my main complaint with this series is that I just really don’t like Cohen and Britta together at all, and I don’t like Cohen.  Yes, he got better in this book, but he’s still one of those people that if I met him in real life I’d probably stay away from because he’s so male dog territorial, and I wanted him to stop….But other than that, a solid book.  I enjoyed it, and I’ll be happy to have it once the paperback comes out.” Fireside

“Britta was really a force to be reckoned with in this book. From who she was in the first novel to the strong, independent, powerful young lady she ends up being is very empowering and I thought that was a good representation of a proper character arc for her.” Amy Leigh Reads

Click this link to purchase!* Ever the Brave (A Clash of Kingdoms Novel)

Copyright 2018 Deborah Kehoe The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

*Amazon Associate

Cover Reveal! Like the Wind by J. Bengtsson- an Audible Original romance!

We are thrilled to be sharing with you the cover for LIKE THE WIND by J. Bengtsson, a new Audible Original romance coming January 2019. Be sure to pre-order your copy exclusively from Audible today!

About LIKE THE WIND

Prepare to laugh, cry, and fall in love with this enthralling new romance from J. Bengtsson – available in audio first! When a letter from his supposedly deceased mother finds its way into his hands, life changes in an instant for international pop star Bodhi Beckett. Reeling from the deception of those closest to him, Bodhi spirals out of control and is sent to a secluded mansion in the coastal mountains of Southern California for some rest and relaxation. But the retreat proves to be anything but relaxing when a raging wildfire sets the landscape around him ablaze.

While escaping the flames, Bodhi rescues Breeze, a quirky, pet-loving woman, and together the two fight their way to safety. In the aftermath of the fire, Bodhi and Breeze hit the road to uncover the truth about his family. What neither of them expected is to forge a powerful connection that will change their lives forever…but can it survive the real world, or will it disappear like the wind?

Pre-order LIKE THE WIND exclusively from Audible!

About J. BENGTSSON

A professional stay-at-home-mom for twenty-one years, Jill started her writing career in 2016 after reading a really bad rockstar romance. Although she had no previous writing experience and no desire to become an author, Jill was convinced she could write a better story. And so began Cake: A Love Story. She wrote the novel for fun and added every single thing she’d ever wanted to read in a romance. Embarrassed by her newfound hobby, Jill kept her writing a secret from her family. When the story was complete, she turned to Amazon to get the feedback she desired. Not thinking the book would ever sell, Jill planned to pull Cake off Amazon once it got a review or two but that never happened because, within a week of its release, Cake began to soar up the bestseller charts. Not only was Jill shocked by Cake’s success but now she had a whole new burgeoning career on her hands…and some explaining to do. Needless to say, the news of Jill’s secret book bay came as a complete shock to her husband and three children. Jill is now a full-time writer. Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

This Chick Read: Tattered (Lark Cove #1) by Devney Perry

I love romances where the girl comes from a poor background, improves on her own and then finds a man to love. The problem with those types of novels is that if not done correctly I have trouble liking the main heroine. Tattered, thank goodness did not go down that road. Thea Landry had a rough beginning, growing up an orphan in New York. She meets and has a one night stand with way out of her league, Logan Kendrick. They hit it off, do the deed, and they both move on. He, remembers their night together, and she can never forget. When he shows up in the bar she owns in Montana on a business trip, she finally gets to deliver some news. They have a child.

The most important thing about this romance trope is that you LIKE the characters. Thankfully, I did! Thea was doing well, loved being a mother and had moved to a place that was good for she and her child. I liked Logan too! He was floored by the news, but he’d never forgot about Thea and took to being a dad pretty easily. I’m not sure why I didn’t like this book more than I did? The love story was pretty solid, and there was even an element of danger thrown in that made it almost a suspense novel. Actually that might have been the problem! Tattered teetered between a contemporary romance and a romantic suspense, but it didn’t go all in on either genre. So, I was left feeling pretty ambivalent.

I’ll repeat. I did not hate this novel, but I didn’t love it either. It was ok. This was my first novel by this author and I’d heard great things, so I was a little disappointed. However, what is one reader’s perfect book is another reader’s so-so novel. I think you know on what end of the spectrum I fell on.

I did really like the surrounding cast of characters Thea had to lean on. I believe the next book in the series features Jackson, her “brother” figure. He intrigued me, so I may give this author another shot at reeling me in. ❤️❤️❤️❣️

Opinions from around the Blogosphere

“This was just FEEL GOOD romance! You get a hero that was fighting to keep the family he never knew he had and a strong heroine that was secure enough to love herself and put the needs of her daughter first. I highly recommend you pick this one up!” Book and a Blanket

“The real beauty of this story is that both Thea and Logan put their daughter Charlie first…. Logan really embraced his role as father and you could tell that regardless if things worked out between Thea and him he was going to be there for the long-haul… loved the development of the relationship between Logan and Thea… loved the character development in Thea throughout the book… and absolutely loved every minute these two spent with their adorable daughter, it was quite touching!” Audio Killed the Bookmark

Tattered

Click this link to purchase!* Tattered (Lark Cove Book 1) (Lark Cove Series) (Volume 1)

Copyright 2018 Deborah Kehoe The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

*Amazon Associate

Friday YA: Batman: Nightwalker (DC Icons #2) by Marie Lu

Eighteen year old Bruce Wayne discovers that he enjoys thwarting the rules while helping the police catch a criminal. There was a bit more to the plot than that, but essentially that was the plot. Bruce has to do some community service in a psychiatric hospital (seriously?) and develops a crush on an inmate. This inmate is young, pretty, and even though he’s been told she has murdered three people he just can’t believe that it’s true. Not having learned his lesson about breaking the rules, which is why he’s doing community service in the first place, he breaks the rules again for Madeleine. Just as is the case for many teens, this flaunting of authority puts him again in hot water but with the help of his companies inventions he saves the citizens of Gotham anyway.

I’ll admit, I didn’t read the first book in this series. It was about Wonder Woman and I had just seen the movie, which was amazing, and started the book and the beginning just felt so similar. I never went back to it. After having read Marie Lu’s Batman: Nightwalker, I’m not sure I’ll read Catwoman or Superman either. Batman: Nightwalker was ok, but there didn’t seem to be a point to it, other than as a pre-quel of sorts. We all know what Batman goes on to be, so seeing how he started didn’t reveal anything about his character that we didn’t know already other than he needs to develop a little hubris.

As is often the case with superhero novels, the bad guys are more interesting than the good guys. Madeleine seems too intelligent to have landed in Arkham Asylum, so uncovering her mystery outshone anything Bruce Wayne may have been able to accomplish. The end of the novel was kind of anti-climactic, so other than a check mark that I’ve now read this book, there wasn’t a whole lot of enjoyment gained. Was it horrible though? No. Not really. It was just kind of blah. Not what I was expecting from Marie Lu, that was for sure. ❤️❤️❤️

Opinions from around the Blogosphere

“I believe that fans of the DC Universe and superhero stories in general will appreciate this book, but for me, it was not interesting enough, not exciting enough, there wasn’t enough sleuthing, or action, or … anything, really. To be quite honest, this book is the very definition of the word anticlimactic.” Sprinkles of Dreams

“Honestly, I usually don’t read books with male pov’s much, but I enjoyed reading this book from Bruce’s perspective because he was pretty likable and fun. The writing was fantastic. I love Marie Lu’s compelling writing style. I flew through the pages without any struggle. The world building was superb. Marie perfectly depicted Dark Gotham City and It was pretty easy to picture everything so clearly.” Dreamy Addictions

Batman

Click this link to purchase!* Batman: Nightwalker (DC Icons Series)

Copyright 2018 Deborah Kehoe The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

*Amazon Associate

This Chick Read: The Mortal Word (The Invisible Library #5) by Genevieve Cogman

Called in to solve the murder of a high level dragon at the secret Dragon- Fae Peace conference, Irene, and her friend Inspector Vale are in a race against time. Not only does Irene have a personal stake, as her parents are being held hostage by one of the groups, but she and Vale must solve this murder before one or both sides decide that peace isn’t worth the effort to overcome their prejudices against each other.

I enjoy this series of historical fantastical mysteries. Irene is an intrepid heroine who may internally second guess her decisions but outwardly looks like she knows exactly what she’s doing when racing to solve a case. For me, the interesting character in this novel was Vale. Taken out of his own time and thrown into an alternate universe, we initially see a more hesitant Vale. He is insecure in his knowledge of how this place functions and is afraid that he’ll make the wrong judgement call. It’s only when he goes with his gut instincts that he overcomes those more human emotions. I liked the human side of Vale that we don’t usually get to see.

Irene’s investigations always prove spyworthy and in The Mortal Word, she overcomes all obstacles in somewhat superhero fashion. I almost expected her to have gained a super power or two, but she remains just as “normal” at the end of the book as she did at the beginning. I can’t decide if I’m a little disappointed by that fact. Kai didn’t play a huge roll in this story, although their relationship does advance forward and I’m eager to read the next installment in this series to see how their romance plays out. 

I enjoyed the Mortal Word a lot, but except for a couple of key plot points it plays out as a kind of filler novel. The Lost Plot was soooo good, that in my eyes it would be hard to have as good a follow up. However, The Mortal Word did set the stage for some interesting scenarios in future novels. So I do have hope that we haven’t seen the best out of this series yet. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

I received an ARC of this novel through NetGalley for my honest review and it was honest!

Opinions from around the Blogosphere!

“As of this writing I am around 15% into this book but every single aspect has grabbed my attention. We have a romantic interest that the story has been hinting at for FOUR BOOKS! Finally, it feels like something might come of it. We have murder under mysterious circumstances and a staged crime scene and…and…oh it is just great!” Literary Weaponry

“I loved this new installment. I loved the new depth to Irene’s relationship with Kai (total OTP) but also getting to see Vale again, and meet some important players on each side of the conflict. What I love about these books is not only how much I relate to Irene – I feel like she was written just for me – but how much the characters grow from book to book, making them all so realistic and deep.” Readcommendations

Click this link to purchase!*

The Mortal Word (The Invisible Library Novel)

Copyright 2018 Deborah Kehoe The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

*Amazon Associate

This Chick Read: Diamond Fire (Hidden Legacy 3.5) by Ilona Andrews

This short novella is a fix for all of us Ilona Andrews junkies. We get just a taste of Nevada and Baylor, as the story revolves around the planning of their wedding, but it centers around her sister Catalina. Nevada goes through a few wedding planners so her sisters Catalina and Arabella decide to step in and take over. No worries about Nevada turning into Bridezilla, she doesn’t, but some of her tastes are a little questionable and there are a few wedding guests who’d rather not see her walk down the aisle. When a Rogan family heirloom goes missing, Catalina is hired to track it down before Nevada’s big day.

I have always wanted to see a little bit more of Catalina. As a Prime Siren, she has the power to enthrall and make anyone love her to the point of obsession. As Catalina investigates she has to go outside her comfort zone and use her skills as a Siren to get people to answer her questions. It was fascinating to see another side to Catalina as she explores her powers. She is obviously afraid but her love for her family makes her step up and solve this mystery. You could tell the author(s) had a lot of fun with this short story!

I LOVED the big reveal at the end of the story. As Catalina runs down the list of who did what, Nevada is described as leaning back in her chair and giving her sister a big thumbs up and a grin. You could just feel the pride and love. Yes, the Hidden Legacy series revolves around Rogan and Nevada, but the underlining theme is family, and the Baylor’s are the definition of that word. Of course, as this was a short story, you are left wanting more, more, more! I believe the next novel, also centering around Catalina, will be out sometime in 2019. As with all of the others, it will be well worth the wait! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❣️

Opinions from around the Blogosphere

“You can always count on Ilona Andrews for a story that will not only thrill and excite, but also wrap you up in the complex personal relationships of their characters. Diamond Fire was a terrific addition to the series and sets the stage nicely for Catalina to lead the way in upcoming books.”Harlequin Junkie

“I feel like this book accomplished what it set out to do – make me anticipate Catalina’s story. But it also suffered from its short length and didn’t have the usual brilliant plotting and storytelling that we know the author can bring to the table.” Rayas Reads

img_1560

Click this link to purchase!* Diamond Fire: A Hidden Legacy Novella

Copyright 2018 Deborah Kehoe The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

*Amazon Associate

Blogger to Blogger Series: An Interview with The Captain @ Captain’s Quarters

I love visiting the Captain’s site for her avast ye matey sang froid and to increase my own repertoire of pirate phrases. Even more interesting is the Captain’s insightful reviews and commentary. How does the Captain find time to read while sailing the seven seas looking for pirate’s booty? Well, I’m sure all Captain’s require an evening off occasionally to read a good book! If you’ve never visited the site Captain’s Quarters then ye should walk the plank, or just click the link below to check it out. Come back though, I don’t think you want to miss the Captain’s answers to my 10 questions!

Click HERE to visit the Captain’s Quarters!

Captain's logo

Blogging is universal and even though we inhabit the same community, we don’t always live in the same country. What country do you live in?

I originally hail from the port of Baltimore in Maryland in the U.S.  I have “officially” lived in over 10 American states and in the jolly ol’ Port of London.  I currently be sailing the seven seas in search of adventure, treasure, and fun!

What is the view outside your front door?

Me glorious view be of nothing but winds, waves, and the wonders of the sea, matey!

Most blogs have a fun story of origin. Please share the story behind your blogs name and/or why you started blogging.

The Story Behind the Captain’s Quarters…

What’s in a name? I am a pirate captain.  Me ship’s logbook is stored in me captain’s quarters.

Why did I start blogging? I started me blog on January 4, 2016 and have been happily continuing ever since.  It started as an online log for me to keep track of what I read and what me thoughts were on the various ports I visit.  I had no real expectations of getting followers but I have been pleasantly surprised that ye scalawags think me (b)log is of interest.

Describe where you write your blog. 

I write me log posts on me laptop in me cabin.  I’ll not be including a picture to protect me secrets.  Arrr!

Most of us have a stack of books sitting next to our couch or bed waiting to be read. What books are in your stack? 

Aye, matey.  I do have plenty of unread books on me ship.  In me cabin there be 117 books waiting for perusal.  There be 1180 un-owned books currently on me ports for plunder list.  I also have unknown numbers of books on library lists, me kindle, and in the hold.  I keep meaning to tally them.  But I get distracted . . .

If you have had a bad day and want to spend an hour reading a book, what is your go to genre or favorite book that will lift your mood?

Me go to genres be fantasy and sci-fi.  They be the focus of the Captain’s Quarters.

When you aren’t blogging, how do you spend your time? Work, Play, School?

Well matey, the theme of me life be:

Pirate motto.PNG

I have a ship to sail, ports to plunder, loot to be counted, and scoundrels to be run through with me cutlass.  Arrr!  Me formal schooling days be over but I be a lifelong self-educator about whatever subject happens to capture me fancy.  Besides sailing the world, I do enjoy occasionally relaxing on a hammock on a deserted island somewhere.  Of course reading is one o’ me main pursuits.  Occasionally I catch a show when I be in port.  I do hope to see every Shakespeare play performed live at some point.  The tally currently be 18/38 (the histories be hard to find).

My favorite blog post banner

What is your favorite blog post you’ve ever written? 

Well matey, me most fun post was when I wrote about readin’ the wrong book!  That book is currently holding the place for best book of the year despite it not being sci-fi or fantasy. (Click links to read)

Curiosities of the Deep – the seven husbands of evelyn hugo (Taylor Jenkins Reid)

The Seven Husbands

The “correct” book review was also fun to write.

On the Horizon – the 7 1/2 deaths of evelyn hardcastle (Stuart Turton) – wherein I finally read the correct book!

Seven Deaths

But the post I be most proud of involved standing up against the use of rape as a plot point.  It burned bridges with a publisher for “author provocation” but me review be honest and heartfelt.  The fallout was nasty. I stand me ground.

Abandoned Ship On the Horizon – hidden sun (Jaine Fenn) – rant that contains spoilers

Hidden Sun.jpg

Have you ever met one of your favorite authors? If so, what did you say to them? Looking back, what do you wish you had said instead?

Well matey, I be unusual in this regard.  I have quite a few favourite authors but I don’t care to meet any of them.  I don’t want their personal details, usually politics or history of abuse, to make me unable to enjoy their work.

If you could sit down with an author for a slice of cake and a question, who is the author, what kind of cake would you serve, and what is the first question you’d ask?

Cake.  Yum.  I love Key Lime Pie and Classic Yellow Cake with chocolate icing.  Derby Pie.  Strawberry Shortcake with biscuits.  Pound Cake.  Smith Island Cake.  But not Fruitcake or Cheesecake.  Those Walk the Plank!  I would commandeer all the cake from the any author and flee to savour the goodness.  I suppose I could share with me crew.  Depends on how much treasure they have discovered since the last tally.  Arrrrr!

 

Oh my! After that list of cakes and pie’s I just had to include a couple of images, yum!

I love that the Captain included three of their posts for us to read. I, too was confused by the Seven 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle and the Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo! I read the first and not the second. I did hear that the publisher inserted the 1/2 into the first title to try to differentiate it from the other. I think they both came out at about the same time?

As far as her third link, bravo! I am so bothered about how some authors use mistreatment of women in the wrong way. If it is needed to move the plot forward and the character learns, grows, and gets over it, great. However, it is not ok to use rape or other types of abuse and abusive relationships in the way the Captain mentions in their post. The one rant post I wrote was about a man who essentially stalked a woman from childhood, controlled her future, then married her and it was considered a romantic book! I was pretty horrified and said so in that post. (Everything for Her by Alexa Riley)

Even though the Captain was a little cagey in letting us see the vista out of their ships porthole, I do think I know them a little bit better and am thankful they wanted to take part in my Blogger to Blogger series.

Have you ever read a book that you didn’t agree with how a woman or women were treated? What was your response?

Thanks for reading Blogger to Blogger!

Deb