Category: Virtual Nightstand

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 2-11-24

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

I’m at the stage of this cold where I think I’m going to feel better in the morning. And I kinda do, but not nearly enough. So it’s another drippy day here at Chez Reading Reality – and I’m NOT referring to the weather.

It doesn’t help at all that when either of the humans in the house sneeze, ALL the cats jump and run away. If one happens to be the trampoline upon which said jump takes place, the whole operation is less than fun for everyone.

Although, speaking of fun, that’s a picture of a lazy Luna lounging on the gaming chair. It’s a VERY comfy chair. Someone should be getting the benefit of it!

Current Giveaways:

$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Heart 2 Heart Giveaway Hop
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Love is in the Air Giveaway Hop
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Winter 2024 Seasons of Books Giveaway Hop

Blog Recap:

B- #BookReview: The Holy Terrors by Simon R. Green
B #BookReview: A Murder of Crows by Sarah Yarwood-Lovett
A+ #BookReview: The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett
B+ #BookReview: A Quantum Love Story by Mike Chen
Love is in the Air Giveaway Hop
Stacking the Shelves (587)

Coming This Week:

The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles by Malka Older #BookReview
The Bezzle by Cory Doctorow #BookReview
At First Spite by Olivia Dade #BookReview
What Feasts at Night by T. Kingfisher #AudioBookReview
Wish Big Giveaway Hop

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 1-28-24

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

This week’s cat picture is George, curled up into the tightest kitty-ball his long-legged self can manage. Which is surprisingly small for the size of the cat.

George squeezes himself into this position when the world gets overwhelming and he’s doing his best to cut off the ‘whelm’. It works for him. I wish I could join him but at the moment I can’t bend that way because of last week’s epic fall. My leg is the same color as my hair – which is PURPLE. It’s a great color for hair, not so good for human skin. It is getting better but it’s not been the best week, all things considered. I think my brain finally rebooted around Wednesday, so things are looking up!

This week’s reviews are going to be interesting – for select values of that word as well. I’ve been in a bit of a murder-y mystery mood this year so far, but this week’s reviews have turned out to be nearly all romances – going with the theme of Thursday’s Giveaway Hop and Valentine’s Day later in the month. Although I’m wondering if that will hold – because I’m really enjoying that story about the body at the seance so far. We’ll see as the week goes on.

One other thing to see, or I’m seeing, or however best to put that. I have a question for you all. I’ve started putting the review rating in the title of the post, which is great for Instagram as I work my way through that den of complexity. But I’m struck by how awkward it looks when a book gets a plain ‘A’, no pluses or minuses. Just typing ‘A #BookReview: Title by Author’ tho’ also looks weird because whatever grade it gets its always ‘a book review’ as that’s the whole point.

Anyone have any better ideas? Thanks for following and keeping up with the cat pictures!

Current Giveaways:

$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Winter Wishes Giveaway Hop
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Winter 2024 Seasons of Books Giveaway Hop

Blog Recap:

Grade A #BookReview: The Missing Witness by Allison Brennan
A- #BookReview: Port in a Storm by Rhys Ford
Grade A #BookReview: Gryphon by M.L. Buchman
A- #BookReview: The Hero She Wants by Anna Hackett
A+ #AudioBookReview: The Bell in the Fog by Lev AC Rosen
Stacking the Shelves (585)

Coming This Week:

A Quantum Love Story by Mike Chen (spotlight + excerpt)
A Body at the Seance by Marty Wingate (review)
Remember Me by Mary Balogh (review)
Heart 2 Heart Giveaway Hop
That Time I Got Drunk and Yeeted a Love Potion at a Werewolf by Kimberly Lemming (review)

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 1-21-24

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

This week started with a bang and ended with an actual, literal, whimper. Seriously, a whole lot of whimpering going on. I was just SO caught up with everything and so thrilled about that fact that something had to go wrong. And it did. I fell, badly, on my way to Pilates, pulled my right hamstring and threw my left shoulder totally out of whack, spent the evening in Urgent Care, Galen had to cancel his business trip this weekend and the cats aren’t sure what to think because their humans are being very weird. So it’s been a couple of terrible, horrible, no good, very bad days.

Which explains why Friday’s post didn’t post until dinner time, because that’s the point where I finally managed to gather my wits and get it together. It’s going to be a VERY quiet weekend.

This picture of Lucifer sums things up perfectly. He’s hiding under the coffee table, looking a bit ragged at the edges and very much like the old man he really is. And this weekend I’m feeling it right along with him!

Current Giveaways:

$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Winter Wishes Giveaway Hop
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Winter 2024 Seasons of Books Giveaway Hop

Winner Announcements:

The winner of the New Year New You Giveaway Hop is Laura T.

Blog Recap:

A- #BookReview: The Tusks of Extinction by Ray Nayler
Winter Wishes Giveaway Hop
Grade A #AudioBookReview: Come Tumbling Down by Seanan McGuire
Grade A #BookReview: Demon Daughter by Lois McMaster Bujold
B #BookReview: Random in Death by J.D. Robb
Stacking the Shelves (584)

Coming This Week:

The Missing Witness by Allison Brennan (blog tour review)
Port in a Storm by Rhys Ford (blog tour review)
Gryphon by M.L. Buchman (review)
Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett (review)
The Hero She Wants by Anna Hackett (review)

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 1-14-24

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

We are almost two weeks into 2024 and it feels like it’s already zipping by at a breakneck pace. I’m not sure I’ve buckled up nearly good enough for this year – and it’s barely begun!

This week was quite the surprise, reading wise. I did not go into Holmes, Marple & Poe with high hopes. I’d tried Patterson before and DNF’d early on. But this was a delight! Whether that’s due to the co-author or that the mystery played with not just one but three of the towering figures of the genre, I’m not entirely sure. But I’m certain I’ll be back if this turns out to be first in a series!

And here’s this week’s cat picture, featuring ‘Old Man’ Lucifer and his faithful guard cat Tuna. Lucifer seems to have mastered both the art of perspective AND the ability to look over the tops of eyeglasses that he isn’t even wearing. It’s all just a part of his many, many charms.

 

Current Giveaways:

$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the New Year New You Giveaway Hop (ENDS TOMORROW!!!!!)
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Winter 2024 Seasons of Books Giveaway Hop

Blog Recap:

A- #BookReview: Miss Percy’s Pocket Guide to the Care and Feeding of British Dragons by Quenby Olson
Grade A #BookReview: Holmes, Marple & Poe by James Patterson and Brian Sitts
A- #AudioBookReview: A Body on the Doorstep by Marty Wingate
#BookReview: Wild and Distant Seas by Tara Karr Roberts
#BookReview: That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon by Kimberly Lemming
Stacking the Shelves (583)

Coming This Week:

The Tusks of Extinction by Ray Nayler (review)
Winter Wishes Giveaway Hop
Come Tumbling Down by Seanan McGuire (audio review)
Demon Daughter by Lois McMaster Bujold (review)
Random in Death by J.D. Robb (review)

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 1-7-24

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

I think this is this coming week’s schedule. I’m sure about everything except the Patterson, mostly because this is not my first attempt at reading something by him, but previous attempts have resulted in DNFs. I’m hoping that the classic detective angle will get me to the end of this one, so I can say I finished one if I want to be judgy later. Which is a terrible attitude to be starting a book with, but it’s the one I’ve got.

The picture above is Luna on the catio, being very talkative about something. Or screaming. Or possibly both. I’ve had that expression on my face a LOT this week as I figure out Instagram – or more accurately, figure out the ins and outs of the graphics program (Canva) I’m using to create images for Instagram. Words I’ve got, images, not so much. Not to mention the whole hashtag game. But, as I said in yesterday’s Stacking the Shelves, I do believe I’ve made the transition from ONE step forward, TWO steps back, to TWO steps FORWARD and only ONE step BACK.

That’s progress, isn’t it? (Take a look and you’ll see. I hope…)

Current Giveaways:

$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the New Year New You Giveaway Hop
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Winter 2024 Seasons of Books Giveaway Hop

Blog Recap:

New Year New You Giveaway Hop
24 for 2024: My Most Anticipated Reads for the Year
A Review: Mislaid in Parts Half Known by Seanan McGuire (audiobook)
A- Review: The Night Island by Jayne Ann Krentz
B Review: The Twilight Queen by Jeri Westerson
Stacking the Shelves (582)

Coming This Week:

Miss Percy’s Pocket Guide to the Care and Feeding of British Dragons by Quenby Olson (review)
Holmes, Marple & Poe by James Patterson and Brian Sitts (review)
A Body on the Doorstep by Marty Wingate (audio review)
Wild and Distant Seas by Tara Karr Roberts (review)
That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon by Kimberly Lemming (review)

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 12-31-23

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

Tonight is New Year’s Eve, tomorrow it will be 2024. Which still seems unreal, as 2023 went by really, really fast. Nevertheless, today is 123123 and this is the last post of the year.

In the words attributed to the immortal Groucho Marx, “Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.”

It’s also looking like it’s going to be cold, gloomy and just plain nasty this weekend, which makes this picture of Tuna very apropos as he’s definitely brought all the cozy he can into this pose, and we’ll probably spend most of the weekend cuddled up right along with him!

All of us here at Chez Reading Reality, including Mr. Tuna up there, wish you a happy, healthy, safe and snuggly New Year!

Current Giveaways:

$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Winter 2024 Seasons of Books Giveaway Hop

Winner Announcements:

The winner of the Let It Snow Giveaway Hop is Seyma

Blog Recap:

Christmas Day 2023 (Guest Post by Galen)
Best Books of 2023
A- Review: Paladin’s Faith by T. Kingfisher
A Review: Murder at the Serpentine Bridge by Andrea Penrose
A+ Review: The Limehouse Text by Will Thomas
Stacking the Shelves (581)

Coming This Week:

New Year New You Giveaway Hop
Most Anticipated Books of 2024
Mislaid in Parts Half-Known by Seanan McGuire (audio review)
The Twilight Queen by Jeri Westerson (review)
The Night Island by Jayne Ann Krentz (review)

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 12-24-23

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

Today is Christmas Eve. Once upon a time, this day would be a literal shopping hell on earth. I find myself wondering how much that has changed with online shopping being so ubiquitous.

Whether today is the official or unofficial start of your holiday, or merely part of your holiday weekend. Let me wish you Seasons Greetings, Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas as appropriate for you and yours. (Galen will be doing the Xmas Day post, so this is my opportunity to wish you the very best of the holiday season.

Speaking of the very best, sometime this week I’ll be posting my Best Books list for the year. As soon as I finish Paladin’s Faith to decide whether or not it belongs on the list!

Current Giveaways:

$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Let It Snow Giveaway Hop
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Winter 2024 Seasons of Books Giveaway Hop

Winner Announcements:

The winner of the Fall 2023 Seasons of Books Giveaway Hop is Sherry

Blog Recap:

A- Review: Death in the Dark Woods by Annelise Ryan
A++ Review: Fall by Tracy Clark
A- Review: Like Thunder by Nnedi Okorafor
Winter 2024 Seasons of Books Giveaway Hop
B Review: The Butterfly Collector by Tea Cooper
Stacking the Shelves (580)

Coming This Week:

Christmas Day 2023 (Guest Post by Galen)
Paladin’s Faith by T. Kingfisher (review)
Silver on the Road by Laura Anne Gilman (review)
Murder at the Serpentine Bridge by Andrea Penrose (review)
Best Books of 2023 (feature)

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 12-17-23

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

Let me start with this picture, because it explains everything a bit too well.

On the one hand, it’s adorable. Lucifer and Luna are sharing space, even if it’s not exactly a cuddle. (We miss seeing cuddle puddles, as this bunch just doesn’t cuddle with each other at all.) On the other hand, it’s kind of a metaphor for my schedule this week, with Lucifer serving as the immovable object, and Luna peeking over his ear with the somewhat semi-planned interruptions to that object. I’m about 3/5ths sure of the week ahead. The other 2/5ths, well, we’ll see…

Current Giveaways:

$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Fall 2023 Seasons of Books Giveaway Hop (ENDS WEDNESDAY!!!)
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Let It Snow Giveaway Hop

Winner Announcements:

The winner of the Holly Jolly Giveaway Hop is Carl

Blog Recap:

B+ Review: We Are the Crisis by Cadwell Turnbull
B Review: The Good, the Bad and the Uncanny edited by Jonathan Maberry
A Review: Valdemar by Mercedes Lackey
A- Review: Seven of Infinities by Aliette de Bodard
A+ Review: To Kingdom Come by Will Thomas
Stacking the Shelves (579)

Coming This Week:

Death in the Dark Woods by Annelise Ryan (review)
Fall by Tracy Clark (review)
Like Thunder by Nnedi Okorafor (audio review)
Winter 2024 Seasons of Books Giveaway Hop
Paladin’s Faith by T. Kingfisher (review)

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 12-10-23

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

Today is the third day of Hanukkah, a particularly fraught Hanukkah considering events, not just in the Middle East but also the responses here in the U.S. and elsewhere this year. While the presentation of the image below may be on the cute side, the message should be universal – and is much needed.

 

Current Giveaways:

$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Holly Jolly Giveaway Hop
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Fall 2023 Seasons of Books Giveaway Hop
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Let It Snow Giveaway Hop

Blog Recap:

A Review: Role Playing by Cathy Yardley
A++ Review: Murder Crossed Her Mind by Stephen Spotswood
A- Review: The Christmas Appeal by Janice Hallett
Let It Snow Giveaway Hop
A- Review: The Hero She Needs by Anna Hackett
Stacking the Shelves (578)

Coming This Week:

We Are the Crisis by Cadwell Turnbull (audio review)
The Good, the Bad, and the Uncanny edited by Jonathan Maberry (review)
Seven of Infinities by Aliette de Bodard (review)
To Kingdom Come by Will Thomas (review)
Death in the Dark Woods by Annelise Ryan (review)

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 12-3-23

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

I had a bit of a “bail and flail” this week, and it made me think of an opinion piece on a review blog that I follow, Crossing the Pond Reviews. The author of the piece was talking about when it’s time NOT to read a book, and that fit perfectly with one of the books I intended to read this week – because I’d read the first two in the series – and I finally came to the conclusion that this particular book needed to go in my ‘Not Finished Yet’ or NFY pile. I DID read the first two, and I did like them both in the end, but I just wasn’t in the mood this week – or possibly this month – for a dystopia that was just that far down the road. I do want to find out how it ends, but not right now.

I kind of had the same reaction this week as one of the books I was planning to review this week got yeeted to the NFY pile before you even saw the list. The tone was just too arch, like way, way too high of an arch, and I’m not in the mood. We’ll see if what you see here is what you get later by this time next week!

The above picture is Hecate, posing in a very pretty little curl. But not nearly so little as the first time we captured her picture in this kind of curl – which Galen actually has on a t-shirt. Still, she’s a very pretty cat, albeit more than a bit on the round side these days, and this curl pose shows off all the beautiful colors on her hidden side.

Current Giveaways:

$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Holly Jolly Giveaway Hop
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Fall 2023 Seasons of Books Giveaway Hop

Winner Announcements:

The winner of the Black Friday Giveaway is Carolyn D.
The winner of the In All Things Give Thanks Giveaway Hop is Debbi W.
The winner of the Super Stocking Stuffer Giveaway Hop is Peggy N.

Blog Recap:

A- Review: Anything with Nothing edited by Mercedes Lackey
B+ Review: Uncanny Vows by Laura Anne Gilman
B- Review: Hercule Poirot’s Silent Night by Sophie Hannah
A+ Review: Shards of Glass by Michelle Sagara
Holly Jolly Giveaway Hop
Stacking the Shelves (577)

Coming This Week:

Role Playing by Cathy Yardley (review)
Murder Crossed Her Mind by Stephen Spotswood (review)
The Christmas Appeal by Janice Hallett (review)
Let it Snow Giveaway Hop
The Hero She Needs by Anna Hackett (review)