By Tessa Pulyer Posted on

Books I Am Reading This Week plus Weekly Book Haul and Birthstone Bookstack – May 24, 2023 #wwwwednesday #ReadersCommunity #BookTwitter #BookLover

  • Mention the creator (me- Leslie @ Books Are The New Black ) and link back to me so I can see your post!
  • Pick 5+ book covers that match the current month’s Birthstone.
  • HAVE FUN!
  • Nominate people if you want!

May’s birthstone is an emerald, so here is my emerald-inspired book stack:

There is an error in this picture. One I tried to unsuccessfully correct. Can you spot it?

Welcome to WWW Wednesday! This meme was formerly hosted by MizB at A Daily Rhythm and revived on Taking on a World of Words. Just answer the three questions below and leave a link to your post in the comments for others to look at. No blog? No problem! Just leave a comment with your responses. Please, take some time to visit the other participants and see what others are reading. So, let’s get to it!

  • What am I currently reading?
  • What did I just finish?
  • What am I reading next?

Second Sky Books is a new publisher. I believe it sprang from One More Chapter, which is an imprint of Harper Collins. I’ll just be starting Hammer of Fate by G.N. Gudgion today, and I’m a little trepidatious, probably because it’s a new publisher. I’m reading it as part of a blog tour, I believe though I haven’t heard anything recently. I love that it is inspired by Viking magic, medieval combat, and the fall of the Templar knights. So fingers-crossed!

  • Genre: Fantasy
  • Pages: 463 pages
  • Publisher: Second Sky
  • Publication Date: June 1, 2023
“No surrender. No retreat.” With twenty enemy swords at their backs and a broken bridge ahead, the last knights of an outlaw order turn to fight. A young woman with forbidden magic joins their final stand. And as blade meets blade, she starts to sing… Adelais was raised in the far north, learning stories of the old gods and the skill of weaving runes into magic. Now, she is locked in a convent far from home, forced to kneel to a foreign god. When inquisitors arrive with plans to torture an innocent man, Adelais cannot stand by. She aids an attack to free the prisoner and joins the raiders as they flee into the night. Her new companions are the last of the Guardians—once a powerful holy order, now ragged fugitives, hunted almost to extinction. The knights carry a secret treasure, precious and powerful enough to shape kingdoms. Their pursuers, desperate to possess it, will crush any who stand in their way. Nowhere is safe—in city or chateau, on the road or in the wilds. And even disguised as a boy, Adelais draws attention wherever she goes. Is she angel or demon, priestess or witch? Adelais must summon all her courage and all her memories of the old gods’ magic as the noose tightens around her and a thunderous final reckoning approaches. Discover a thrilling new series, with a rich world and action that will leave you breathless. Hammer of Fate is inspired by Viking magic, medieval combat and the fall of the Templar knights—perfect for fans of Mark Lawrence, Andrzej Sapkowski and Robin Hobb.

I absolutely adored The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies by Alsion Goodman. Who knew there could be a Regency-era romantic thriller. But yet there is. The romance plot is very light, but it is just sublime. And there are loads of thrills. Saving women from dangerous situations as these ill-mannered ladies do is not for the weak of body or spirit. I would have given it more than 5 stars out of 5 stars – I enjoyed it that much.

  • Genre: Historical Thriller & Regency Romance
  • Pages: 460 pages
  • Publisher: Berkley
  • Publication Date: May 30, 2023
A high society amateur detective at the heart of Regency London uses her wits and invisibility as an ‘old maid’ to protect other women in a new and fiercely feminist historical mystery series from New York Times bestselling author Alison Goodman. Lady Augusta Colebrook, “Gus,” is determinedly unmarried, bored by society life, and tired of being dismissed at the age of forty-two. She and her twin sister, Julia, who is grieving her dead betrothed, need a distraction. One soon presents itself: to rescue their friend’s goddaughter, Caroline, from her violent husband. The sisters set out to Caroline’s country estate with a plan, but their carriage is accosted by a highwayman. In the scuffle, Gus accidentally shoots and injures the ruffian, only to discover he is Lord Evan Belford, an acquaintance from their past who was charged with murder and exiled to Australia twenty years ago. What follows is a high adventure full of danger, clever improvisation, heart-racing near misses, and a little help from a revived and rather charming Lord Evan. Back in London, Gus can’t stop thinking about her unlikely (not to mention handsome) comrade-in-arms. She is convinced Lord Evan was falsely accused of murder, and she is going to prove it. She persuades Julia to join her in a quest to help Lord Evan, and others in need—society be damned! And so begins the beguiling secret life and adventures of the Colebrook twins.

I don’t think I’ve read a thriller yet set in the world of showjumping, so I’m very intrigued by Girls and Their Horses by Eliza Jane Brazier. I will be reading it next and am looking forward to it!

  • Genre: Psychological Thriller
  • Pages: 413 pages
  • Publisher: Berkley
  • Publication Date: June 6, 2023
Set in the glamorous, competitive world of showjumping, a novel about the girls who ride, their cutthroat mothers, and a suspicious death at a horse show…from the author of Good Rich People When the nouveau riche Parker family moves to an exclusive community in the heart of Southern California, they believe it’s their chance at a fresh start. Heather Parker is determined to give her daughters the life she never had—starting with horses. She signs them up for riding lessons at Rancho Santa Fe Equestrian, where horses are a lifestyle. Heather becomes a “Barn Mom,” part of a group of wealthy women who hang at the stables, drink wine, and prepare their daughters for competition. It’s not long before the Parker family is fully enmeshed in the horse world—from mean girl cliques to barn romances and dark secrets. With the end of summer horse show fast approaching, the pressure is on, and these mothers will stop at nothing to give their daughters everything they deserve. Before the summer is over, lies will turn lethal, accidents will happen, and someone will end up dead.

All of these are on NetGalley, of course. Truly a little bit of everything this week. Diva is a historical fiction story about Maria Callas and her relationship with Aristotle Onassis (around the time when he married Jackie🤫). Long Time No Sea is a blog tour rom-com, and The Ex-mas Holidays is an enemies-to-lovers holiday rom-com. I also got Emily Wilde’s second book, and now she is in the Otherlands. Last but definitely not least is the Allison Brennan thriller. I always love her stories!

What are you reading? Do you love it?

17 Replies to “Books I Am Reading This Week plus Weekly Book Haul and Birthstone Bookstack – May 24, 2023 #wwwwednesday #ReadersCommunity #BookTwitter #BookLover”

    1. Tessa Pulyer says: Reply

      1st there was two upside down books and I didn’t see it until I was cropping the photo and after I had already put all the books and props away. So, grudgingly I pulled everything back out, paying special attention that the books were right side up, took the picture. Then later when I was dropping it I noticed one book was still upside down 🤦🏻‍♀️. I have no idea how that happened.

      Liked by 1 person

  8. Joanna @ TheGeekishBrunette says: Reply

    Great picks for emerald! I got The Ex-mas Holidays too.

    Like

  9. Leslie says: Reply

    Your stack is stunning, regardless!! ❤ I hope you enjoy your reads this week. You've got quite a variety going on! 🙂

    Like

  10. Pingback: May Wrap-Up! | Books Are The New Black
  11. Carla says: Reply

    I love that bookstack, Tessa. Those covers together are gorgeous. A Christmas book and Summer book side by side, I love it. Enjoy your new additions.

    Like

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