By Tessa @TessaTalksBooks Posted on

Sunday Post 31 | A Big Holiday Weekend

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted here @ Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead. See rules here: Sunday Post Meme

What a big weekend! Two US holidays in one weekend!

Yesterday was Juneteenth, which is the celebration of the end of slavery in the U.S. It was just made into a federal holiday. My little town celebrated with a community event that I volunteered at. The pictures below was taken before the start of the event (before most people showed up), but they really had a wonderful turnout. You could easily see that it was truly a community event.

And today is Father’s Day. Happy Father’s Day to all the wonderful dads out there. My girls came home to celebrate the day with their father, aka my husband, so we are also working on figuring out which items they are taking from here to their new apartment. I need figure out how we are getting it up to them and then arrange all of that.

How was your week?

Free to the Public – Virtual Event

July 6, 2021 7pm-8pm EST on Zoom

Sponsored by my local indie bookstore – Main Street Books, Davidson, NC

Summer Thriller Series – Riley Sager with Taylor Adams

https://www.mainstreetbooksdavidson.com/?q=h.calevent&eid=12499

NetGalley Widgets and Approvals

This was a big week of ARCs for me. I only have 1 book left on my requested shelf in NetGalley. And really no room to ask for more. I have a few spots for the year left in my schedule but I still have blog tours that will be coming in, especially Harlequin Trade’s fall mystery/thrillers and YA and that will fill up any spots I have left and then some.

I was sent a widget for Kill A Spy by Samantha Lee Howe, the third book in the trilogy that I have loved, loved, loved – The House of Killers series. It is the one that the main character is like a female Jason Bourne. So good!!!!

Thriller
The house of killers always had one objective: to train a class of warriors that would elevate the Network from the national to the international – the amateur to the elite. It was the perfect poison… Radicalisation by virtue of not knowing any different. They never expected their most notorious child to claw his way back to the beating heart of MI5. Consumed by hurt and rage, Michael Kensington has his own objective: Neva. But as the body count rises like a tide that will sweep them all into oblivion, Neva will stop at nothing to make him understand that everything is at stake. Because there’s only one way to push back against the tide… Together. Kill a Spy is the third jaw-dropping instalment in The House of Killers series, a captivating spy thriller perfect for fans of Caroline Kepnes and Alex Gerlis.

I requested this book from Avon publishers through NetGalley and received approval this week. It had me at fans of Lisa Jewell and Jackie Kabler, of which I am a fan of both!

Psychological Thriller
A twisting and emotional thriller that demands to be read in one sitting. Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell and Jackie Kabler. You thought she was safe. You were wrong… Alex knows her daughter would never wander off in a strange place. So when her three-year-old vanishes from an idyllic beach wedding, Alex immediately believes the worst. The hunt for Lottie quickly becomes a world-wide search, but it’s not long before suspicion falls on her mother. Why wasn’t she watching Lottie? Alex knows she’s not perfect, but she loves her child. And with all eyes on her, Alex fears they’ll never uncover the truth unless she takes matters into her own hands. Who took Lottie Martini? And will she ever come home?

I requested this book, if I remember correctly, a while back and received approval this week. I just fell in love with the cover and it just kept saying, Read Me, so how could I resist that.

Fantasy
Shiori’anma, the only princess of Kiata, has a secret. Forbidden magic runs through her veins. Normally she conceals it well, but on the morning of her betrothal ceremony, Shiori loses control. At first, her mistake seems like a stroke of luck, forestalling the wedding she never wanted. But it also catches the attention of Raikama, her stepmother. A sorceress in her own right, Raikama banishes the young princess, turning her brothers into cranes. She warns Shiori that she must speak of it to no one: for with every word that escapes her lips, one of her brothers will die. Penniless, voiceless, and alone, Shiori searches for her brothers, and uncovers a dark conspiracy to seize the throne. Only Shiori can set the kingdom to rights, but to do so she must place her trust in a paper bird, a mercurial dragon, and the very boy she fought so hard not to marry. And she must embrace the magic she’s been taught all her life to forswear–no matter what the cost. Weaving together elements of The Wild Swans, Cinderella, the legend of Chang E, and the Tale of the Bamboo Cutter, Elizabeth Lim has crafted a fantasy like no other, and one that will stay with readers long after they’ve turned the last page.

St. Martins Press sent me a widget for this book because I loved Fable so much. That made me very curious to read it.

Fantasy
Meg Long’s Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves is a captivating debut about survival, found family, and the bond between a girl and a wolf that delivers a fresh twist on classic survival stories and frontier myths. On a frozen wasteland of a planet, a girl is on the run with a wolf who is born to be a killer but bound to be her guide. As they fight to escape ice goblins, giant bears, and a ruthless leader intent on trapping them both, one question drives them relentlessly forward: where do you turn when there is nowhere to hide?

I saw this book on Tor Con and requested it before the session with the author was even over. It’s another Stephen King recommendation.

Thriller
Catriona Ward’s The Last House on Needless Street is a shocking and immersive read perfect for fans of Gone Girl and The Haunting of Hill House. “The new face of literary dark fiction.” —Sarah Pinborough, New York Times bestselling author of Behind Her Eyes “The buzz…is real. I’ve read it and was blown away. It’s a true nerve-shredder that keeps its mind-blowing secrets to the very end.” —Stephen King In a boarded-up house on a dead-end street at the edge of the wild Washington woods lives a family of three. A teenage girl who isn’t allowed outside, not after last time. A man who drinks alone in front of his TV, trying to ignore the gaps in his memory. And a house cat who loves napping and reading the Bible. An unspeakable secret binds them together, but when a new neighbor moves in next door, what is buried out among the birch trees may come back to haunt them all.

This is a blog tour review for Rachel’s Random Resources. It might be a little too romancy for me but the secret diary was too intriguing to pass up.

Historical , Chick Lit
A page-turning, emotional WW2 novel for fans of Barbara Taylor Bradford, Lucinda Riley and Kathryn Hughes A view to the past… When Izzie Dean’s beloved nan, Molly Blackshaw, passes away, Izzie returns to the Blackpool bungalow where she grew up, to say goodbye once and for all. When Izzie’s homecoming reunites her with her first love, Justin Swift, every emotion that Izzie has repressed since the day he broke her heart comes rushing to the surface. But then an unexpected discovery changes everything. Between the pages of the battered secret diary Molly kept during WWII, Izzie discovers a story of love, heartbreak, and the incomparable hardship of life in a world at war. Reading her grandmother’s words soon puts her own story into perspective, and suddenly Izzie realizes that the only thing holding her back from happiness, might be herself. Now she just has to convince Justin that they deserve a second chance at forever.

The publisher contacted me about this book. SparkPress is an independent, boutique publisher but what intrigued me other than the blurb was that Kirkus Reviews agreed to review it and their write up is very complimentary. They said it’s “An enjoyable globe-trotting adventure and investigation.” Kirkus typically only reviews books from the big publishers, so this definitely peaked my interest.

Mystery/Thriller, Chick Lit
“A sharp, engrossing international thriller with twists that will keep you turning pages.” —Lindsay Cameron, award-winning author of BIGLAW She thinks he’s either a stalker, a nutcase, or a harmlessly eccentric Oxford professor. He thinks she’s the long-lost descendant of Henry VIII’s last Queen, Katherine Parr. Amy is living a cautious life as a London private banker to wealthy oil sheikhs, but her quiet solitude is upended by the sudden appearance of two people: a half-sister who is virtually a stranger to her, and Oxford don Leo. Both need something from Amy, who has been emotionally frozen for years and isn’t sure she has anything left to give. She also harbors deep secrets—as does Leo. Even so, the two join forces to investigate the mystery of Queen Katherine’s lost baby, and soon long-suppressed emotions start to surface—and enemies start to close in. As they crisscross Europe in a quest for answers, Amy and Leo find themselves in danger of losing control of their secrets, their hearts—and maybe even their lives.

Fairy Loot book for May

Fantasy
This Jamaican-inspired fantasy debut about two enemy witches who must enter into a deadly alliance to take down a common enemy has the twisted cat-and-mouse of Killing Eve with the richly imagined fantasy world of Furyborn and Ember in the Ashes. Divided by their order. United by their vengeance. Iraya has spent her life in a cell, but every day brings her closer to freedom—and vengeance. Jazmyne is the Queen’s daughter, but unlike her sister before her, she has no intention of dying to strengthen her mother’s power. Sworn enemies, these two witches enter a precarious alliance to take down a mutual threat. But power is intoxicating, revenge is a bloody pursuit, and nothing is certain—except the lengths they will go to win this game.

I watched Infinite (movie) on Paramount + (previously CBS All Access). It is a sci-fi action movie that’s pure entertainment. I found the premise to be interesting – certain people walking among us are continually being reincarnated, and they are trying to keep a doomsday device out of the hands of people who want to end this reincarnation cycle by ending all life on the planet. It’s not going to win any awards, but it’s a fun watch on a weekend night in.

What did you watch this week?

In case you missed any of my posts last week, you can find them here:

  • Tuesday (6/15): Psychological Thriller Book Reviews| The Maidens by Alex Michaelides AND Hairpin Bridge by Taylor Adams ⭐⭐⭐⭐
  • Wednesday (6/16): WWW Wednesday
  • Thursday (6/17): (Blog Tour) Fantasy Book Review |The Bookminder by M.K. Wiseman ⭐⭐⭐⭐
  • Friday (6/18): Book Blogger Hop: How often do you post on your blog and/or social media?

I hope you come back to see the following. I have a book review posted TODAY, and I linked it in here so you don’t miss it:

  • Sunday (6/20): Psychological Thriller Book Review| Mirrorland by Carole Johnstone ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
  • Tuesday (6/22): Mystery Book Review| The Night Hawks by Elly Griffiths ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
  • Wednesday (6/23): WWW Wednesday
  • Thursday (6/24): Fantasy Book Review |The Legend of the Lakes by Clara O’Connor ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
  • Friday (6/25): Book Blogger Hop: How long have you stayed up to read a book?

Thank you for stopping by this week. I look forward to chatting with you in the comments. 😊

23 Replies to “Sunday Post 31 | A Big Holiday Weekend”

  1. jessicabookworm says:

    Glad you enjoyed your Juneteenth celebration (I have not heard of this before) and I hope Father’s Day will be lovely for you all, too! My week has mostly consisted of work, work, job interview and anxiety from all that! Thankfully though I found comforting in watching more Merlin and classic Star Trek films. 😊

    Take care and happy reading in the coming week. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lady Tessa says:

      Many American adults had never heard of Juneteenth either (me included) but it suupposivily started in Texas in 1865 and has been celebrated in pockets of the US ever since.
      So glad to hear you had an interview this week!

      Liked by 1 person

  3. Mareli Thalwitzer says:

    Hi there Tessa! You sure had a celebrated weekend! Looks like fun.

    Wow! Such an impressive book haul. I would have been more than chuffed! I’m especially interested in The Last House on Needless street. Sounds soooo good. And there’s a cat on the cover of course. LOL! I hope you get to all of these.

    Happy reading and have a good week!

    Elza Reads

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lady Tessa says:

      I am so glad to hear that! That kick off interview during TorCon made me quickly go to NetGalley to see if it was there. So glad to be approved for it ❤️

      Like

  5. writerravenclaw says:

    My week hasn’t been too bad. Teaching assistant by day, and author by night. My play has been through a dress rehearsal this week. I am part of of a group of amateur writers and directors, who have been working together on a 360 play for my local theatre. The hope is that they will go around town bringing the theatre to the audience through a 360 media. This week is the final performance. So excited about what happens next. For my reading, I finally picked up a book and read the first twenty pages of Rachel Abbott’s Only the Innocent. Loving what I’m reading so far.

    Liked by 1 person

  9. Mischenko says:

    It sounds like you had a good weekend, Tessa! I’m excited seeing all your upcoming reads. Six Crimson Cranes does have an amazing cover, and so does Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves. I’m interested in both of those.

    Have a good week! ❤️

    Liked by 1 person

  10. Teri Polen says:

    It amazes me how many widgets you receive – I only get them once in a blue moon. And you got a lot last week! I also have The Last House on Needless Street. The King endorsement sealed the deal.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lady Tessa says:

      The Last House looks so good and the author really sold me. And, yes, I get lots of widgets. I don’t even take them all. So you only see the ones I take. I think it’s just because mostly they are from publishers I have reviewed a lot, a lot, a lot of books for like St. Martins Press and Harlequin Trade and a few more.

      Before I forget about it – Random House has a YA Fantasy on NetGalley as Read Now for a limited time. It’s called Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao. Comes out at the end of September. You might want to take a peak and see if you are interested (if you didn’t already know about it.)

      Liked by 1 person

  11. Carla says:

    Somehow I missed this post Tessa. I love that your town is doing a Juneteenth celebration. I live in Windsor, Ontario, across the river from Detroit Michigan. Every year we used to have a huge Emancipation Day Celebration in September and people would come from all over Michigan, but we haven’t done it in so long. Juneteenth would be great to start up again.

    Liked by 1 person

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