The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 7-16-17

Posted on July 16, 2017July 16, 2017 by Marlene Harris | Author : Marlene Harris | The Sunday Post> Virtual Nightstand> Winner announcement

I have good books to look forward to this week. Well, I always try to have good books! But seriously, Betrayal at Iga and Illumination are both the latest books in series that I have really enjoyed. And Amy’s guest review of Sovereign is a real, although not as funny a gem as her review of Tender Wings of Desire. Now that’s a review that will live in infamy!

But a bit of a recap before we move on to this week’s coming attractions. If you’ve ever heard the phrase “net neutrality” and wondered what it meant or why it should matter to you, please take a look at my post from Wednesday about the Battle for the Net. Even better, take a look at Fight for the Future. If you spend any part of your workday or leisure time anywhere on the net, and I know you do if you are reading this message, Net Neutrality matters to do. And you’ll seriously miss it if it’s gone – along with all too many of the creative and entertaining sites that you love and follow. Because if net neutrality falls, so will many of us.

Winner Announcements:

The winner of Serenity Harbor by RaeAnne Thayne is Tracee
The winner of the $10 Book or $10 Gift Card in the July Book of Choice Giveaway Hop is Miki
The winner of the $10 Book or $10 Gift Card in the Freedom to Read Giveaway Hop is Beth T.

Blog Recap:

A Review: Four Princes by John Julius Norwich
B+ Review: Secrets of the Tulip Sisters by Susan Mallery
Battle for the Net
B Review: File M for Murder by Miranda James
A Review: Dark Saturday by Nicci French
Stacking the Shelves (244)

Coming Next Week:

Betrayal at Iga by Susan Spann (blog tour review)
Illumination by Susannah Sandlin (blog tour review)
The Branson Beauty by Claire Booth (review)
Sovereign by April Daniels (guest review by Amy)
Branded as Trouble by Delores Fossen (blog tour review)

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 7-9-16

Posted on July 9, 2017July 8, 2017 by Marlene Harris | Author : Marlene Harris | The Sunday Post> Virtual Nightstand> Winner announcement

Last week’s schedule fell completely apart at the end. I was expecting to review both Heroine Worship and Beren and Luthien, but things didn’t quite work out. As much as I loved Sarah Kuhn’s first book in her series, Heroine Complex, I simply could not work my way through Heroine Worship. Although both books feature the same set of protagonists, and I love the superhero world she created, we spent the second book inside the head of the character I liked least in the first book, and that includes the demons. I just didn’t want to spend another minute there.

Beren and Lúthien, on the other hand, was richer than I expected, I just couldn’t figure out how to review it. Although it does tell the story of Beren and Lúthien from Tolkien’s Silmarillion, it tells it in multiple version. More than the legend itself, the book Beren and Lúthien is really about the creation of a modern myth. So interesting, but probably mostly of interest to people who are really, really steeped in the minutiae of Tolkien’s worlds. Which I was, once upon a time, but discovered to my chagrin that I no longer am. It may be time to re-read The Lord of the Rings again. It’s obviously been awhile.

Coming Next Week:

Four Princes by John Julius Norwich (review)
Secrets of the Tulip Sisters by Susan Mallery (blog tour review)
American Eclipse by David Baron (review)
First Watch by Dale Lucas (review)
Dark Saturday by Nicci French (blog tour review)

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 7-2-16

Posted on July 2, 2017July 1, 2017 by Marlene Harris | Author : Marlene Harris | The Sunday Post> Virtual Nightstand> Winner announcement

So, when are the fireworks in your part of the country? The great thing about living in a major metro area with lots of towns and neighborhoods is that there are always plenty of opportunities to see fireworks on the holiday. The fireworks in our village are visible from our front yard. As long as it doesn’t rain Monday night, we’re all set.

When we lived in Anchorage, the whole summer fireworks things was a bit weird. It doesn’t get dark there this time of year, but people’s patience generally runs out about midnight. It does get kind of twilight-ish between 1 and 3 in the morning, but no one wants to wait quite that long. Attempting to see fireworks when it’s not really even dusk is an interesting experience.

But speaking of fireworks and Independence Day, we did see Hamilton when we were in Chicago for ALA. And wow! Even with a slightly obstructed view it was still marvelous and I’m so glad we went. I’d love to see it again, but the ticket prices have become even more obscene than they were just a few months ago. Hopefully, one of these days a film of the play will be available through Fathom Events at the movies.