WWW Wednesday | September 23, 2020

Welcome to WWW Wednesday! This meme was formerly hosted by MizB at A Daily Rhythm and revived on Taking on a World of Words.

The Three Ws are:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

It’s that time again – WWW Wednesday when I tell you about my wonderful reads for the week (and sometimes not so wonderful). I’ve got an intriguing selection this week – from a dark historical fantasy to a more modern take on the cozy mystery genre and finally a Lisa Jewell thriller.

On the small screen – I finally binge-watched my recordings of the final season of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D and I am still working on the latest season of Lucifer on Netflix. I am looking forward to the new seasons of Mandalorian and Star Trek Discovery. I got an antenna to review for Amazon and discovered that some of those antennae only stations play classic tv shows like Bewitched and I Dream of Jeannie, so I’ve been having fun with that.

I’ve been enjoying the cooler temps and have already begun smelling burning leaves when I go on walks. The smell of burning leaves always says fall to me, though the leaves haven’t even begun to turn and drop off the trees so I’m not sure what people are burning exactly 😮

So, on to some fabulous reads…

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Currently Reading

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I love the historical aspect of this novel- late 1700’s France and England – and I love the alchemical angle of this fantasy. I’ve seen mixed reviews, so I wasn’t sure what I’d think but I am really enjoying it so far.

About This Book

• Title: A Golden Fury
• Author: Samantha Cohoe
• Genre: Dark Historical Fantasy
• Publication Date : October 13, 2020
• Print Length : 352 pages
• Publisher : Wednesday Books

In her debut novel A Golden Fury, Samantha Cohoe weaves a story of magic and danger, where the curse of the Philosopher’s Stone will haunt you long after the final page.

Thea Hope longs to be an alchemist out of the shadow of her famous mother. The two of them are close to creating the legendary Philosopher’s Stone—whose properties include immortality and can turn any metal into gold—but just when the promise of the Stone’s riches is in their grasp, Thea’s mother destroys the Stone in a sudden fit of violent madness. 

While combing through her mother’s notes, Thea learns that there’s a curse on the Stone that causes anyone who tries to make it to lose their sanity. With the threat of a revolution looming, Thea is sent to live with the father who doesn’t know she exists. 

But there are alchemists after the Stone who don’t believe Thea’s warning about the curse—instead, they’ll stop at nothing to steal Thea’s knowledge of how to create the Stone. But Thea can only run for so long, and soon she will have to choose: create the Stone and sacrifice her sanity, or let the people she loves die.

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Just Finished

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I’m calling this a more modern cozy mystery as it pushes the boundaries ever so gently of the conventions of the genre. It is coming out in paperback next month which is why the people who are marketing it contacted me about a review. It has yummy savory recipes at the end too along with a few sweet treats.

About This Book

• Title: The Solace of Bay Leaves
• Author: Leslie Budewitz
• Genre: Cozy Mystery
• Print Length: 248 pgs
• Publisher: Seventh Street Books
• Publication Date: October 20, 2020 (paperback format – other formats are already out)

Pepper Reece never expected to find solace in bay leaves.

But when her life fell apart at forty and she bought the venerable-but-rundown Spice Shop in Seattle’s Pike Place Market, her days took a tasty turn. Now she’s savoring the prospect of a flavorful fall and a busy holiday cooking season, until danger bubbles to the surface . . .

Between managing her shop, worrying about her staff, and navigating a delicious new relationship, Pepper’s firing on all burners. But when her childhood friend Maddie is shot and gravely wounded, the incident is quickly tied to an unsolved murder that left another close friend a widow.

Convinced that the secret to both crimes lies in the history of a once-beloved building, Pepper uses her local-girl contacts and her talent for asking questions to unearth startling links between the past and present—links that suggest her childhood friend may not have been the Golden Girl she appeared to be. Pepper is forced to face her own regrets and unsavory emotions, if she wants to save Maddie’s life—and her own.

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Reading Next

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The publisher sent me the widget for this book so long ago and I have been looking forward to reading it for many many months. If all goes well, I will be start it tomorrow and I’m excited ☺️

About This Book

• Title: Invisible Girl
• Author: Lisa Jewell
• Genre: Mystery Thriller
• Print Length: 365 pgs
• Publisher: Atria Books
• Publication Date: October 13, 2020

Owen Pick’s life is falling apart. In his thirties and living in his aunt’s spare bedroom, he has just been suspended from his job as a teacher after accusations of sexual misconduct—accusations he strongly denies. Searching for professional advice online, he is inadvertently sucked into the dark world of incel forums, where he meets a charismatic and mysterious figure.

Across the street from Owen lives the Fours family, headed by mom Cate, a physiotherapist, and dad Roan, a child psychologist. But the Fours family have a bad feeling about their neighbor Owen. He’s a bit creepy and their teenaged daughter swears he followed her home from the train station one night.

Meanwhile, young Saffyre Maddox spent three years as a patient of Roan Fours. Feeling abandoned when their therapy ends, she searches for other ways to maintain her connection with him, following him in the shadows and learning more than she wanted to know about Roan and his family. Then, on Valentine’s night, Saffyre disappears—and the last person to see her alive is Owen Pick.

Talk to me about the book(s) you are reading this week (in the comments). I love hearing about them.❤️

UK Readers – FREE BOOK announcement

My favorite RomCom of this year is free on Amazon UK until September 28, 2020. I am so envious! Don’t miss out on this. You literally have nothing to lose ❤️

UK Readers! The Gin Lover’s Guide to Dating by Nina Kaye is FREE until Sept 28 only. Grab your copy now! This is a heartfelt and funny romcom you won’t want to miss!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gin-Lovers-Guide-Dating-sparkling-ebook/dp/B07VMD4KTD

My review can be found HERE.