Category: Winner announcement

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 3-5-23

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

The week that was was a week for getting lucky. Not one, not two, but three giveaway hops! Think of it as a warm-up for next month’s annual Blogo-Birthday Celebration Week. Reading Reality is turning TWELVE!

Speaking of lucky, here’s a picture of Luna in all her glory celebrating just how lucky she is to be between her people in the big people bed. It’s a rare shot of her underside with all its tabby spots, so we were lucky to get the shot as well.

Current Giveaways:

$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Lady Luck Giveaway Hop
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the For the Love of Reading Giveaway Hop
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Leaping Leprechauns Giveaway Hop
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Winter 2022-23 Seasons of Books Giveaway Hop

Winner Announcements:

The winner of the Wish Big Giveaway Hop is Wanda

Blog Recap:

A Review: The London Séance Society by Sarah Penner
A+ Review: Nightwatch by M.L. Buchman
Lady Luck Giveaway Hop
For the Love of Reading Giveaway Hop
Leaping Leprechauns Giveaway Hop
Stacking the Shelves (538)

Coming This Week:

Dead Country by Max Gladstone (review)
The Sister Effect by Susan Mallery (blog tour review)
The Crane Husband by Kelly Barnhill (review)
Firebreak by Nicole Kornher-Stace (review)
A Tempest at Sea by Sherry Thomas (review)

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 2-26-23

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

This week was just a damn good reading week. Next week should be fun for everyone as I’m giving stuff away more than I’m reviewing – which is rare. But it gives me a break to sink my reading teeth into something long and meaty which can be a bit difficult for me to pull off at times.

Speaking of something long and meaty – also large and round and meaty – here’s Tuna. This isn’t so much a case of ‘if I fits, I sits’ as it is ‘if I doesn’t fit, I sprawls’. The biggest cat in the house in the tiniest cat bed, looking just a bit bewildered because it works fine for everyone else!

Current Giveaways:

$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Wish Big Giveaway Hop (ENDS TUESDAY!!!)
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Winter 2022-23 Seasons of Books Giveaway Hop

Winner Announcements:

The winner of the February Favorites Giveaway Hop is Rajee

Blog Recap:

Presidents’ Day 2023 (Guest post by Galen)
A+ Review: The Magician’s Daughter by H.G. Parry
A Review: The Weight of Command by Michael Mammay
B+ Review: Full Exposure by Thien-Kim Lam
A+ Review: Where Shadows Dance by C.S. Harris
Stacking the Shelves (537)

Coming This Week:

The London Seance Society by Sarah Penner (blog tour review)
Nightwatch by M.L. Buchman
Lady Luck Giveaway Hop
For the Love of Reading Giveaway Hop
Leaping Leprechauns Giveaway Hop

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 2-19-23

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

Lucifer gave us a bit of a scare this week, so we took him to the vet yesterday to see what was up. Or down in this particular case, as he wasn’t quite his usual grumpy but bouncy self. He’s going on 12 so he’s getting up there, and he has arthritis and is slowing down a bit. Still, he worried us this week and that meant a trip to the V-E-T. Today’s picture of is of his rather disgruntled self while waiting for his exam.

He seems to have had an arthritis flare-up, as we do, and was just uncomfortable for a couple of days. We have meds for him now if it happens again. Of course, he’s still peeved about the whole experience – but that’s just normal catitude.

This turned out to be a damn good reading week. Never Too Old To Save the World turned out to be an especial favorite, and I’ve been referring to it – as appropriate – in quite a few reviews, so I’m glad to finally get its own review out into the world!

Current Giveaways:

$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the February Favorites Giveaway Hop
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Wish Big Giveaway Hop
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Winter 2022-23 Seasons of Books Giveaway Hop

Winner Announcements:

The winner of the Heart 2 Heart Giveaway Hop is L Lam

Blog Recap:

A+ Review: Never too Old to Save the World edited by Addie J. King and Alana Joli Abbott
A- Review: The Scarlet Circus by Jane Yolen
A+ Review: Junkyard War by Faith Hunter
Wish Big Giveaway Hop
A Review: World Running Down by Al Hess
Stacking the Shelves (536)

Coming This Week:

Presidents’ Day 2023 (Guest Post by Galen)
The Weight of Command by Michael Mammay (review)
Full Exposure by Thien-Kim Lam (review)
Where Shadows Dance by C.S. Harris (review)
The Magician’s Daughter by H.G. Parry (review)

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 2-5-23

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

First things first. The Terraformers was just incredibly awesome, so if you like science fiction at all it is so worth taking a look at!

Second thing – but clearly not any less important (because they’d never forgive me) – this week’s cat picture. This is George looking entirely too adorable. He also looks rather kittenish but the picture was taken just last week so he’s three and supposed to be out of the kitten stage. Which he clearly doesn’t think he is. Yet or possibly ever.

Third thing – I finished Babel Friday. I have thoughts. I have lots of thoughts. They are far from pleasant thoughts. You’ll see…

Current Giveaways:

$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Heart 2 Heart Giveaway Hop
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the February Favorites Giveaway Hop
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Winter 2022-23 Seasons of Books Giveaway Hop

Winner Announcements:

The winner of the Winter Wishes Giveaway Hop is Rita W.

Blog Recap:

A+ Review: The Terraformers by Annalee Newitz
B+ Review: Vampire Weekend by Mike Chen
Heart 2 Heart Giveaway Hop
February Favorites Giveaway Hop
A Review: The Skeleton Key by Erin Kelly
Stacking the Shelves (534)

Coming This Week:

Encore in Death by J.D. Robb (review)
Babel by R.F. Kuang (audiobook review)
The Unbalancing by R.B. Lemberg (review)
The Scarlet Circus by Jane Yolen (review)
Firebreak by Nicole Kornher-Stace (review)

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 1-29-23

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

The results of the Zoom marathon two weeks ago will become available late this afternoon as part of the RUSA Book & Media Awards at LibLearnX in New Orleans. (The conference formerly known as ALA Midwinter.) Which means that tomorrow I’ll be able to clear out all of my request queues at NetGalley and Edelweiss and get ready to start all over again with a different committee. It’s a bit of a shock every year to see just how many books I received just for whatever committee I happen to have been on and how much those queues get cut down when they’re all gone.

Now that this committee is over, I’ve been looking at some of my other queues and slotting reviews in for books that I always intended to read but never found the round tuit. So some old stuff will be getting mixed into the new to start cleaning up some of that – like my Highly Anticipated Shelf at Edelweiss and a few other places.

And there’s a cat picture. There’s always a cat picture. This is Luna cuddled up to Galen’s hand giving her very best “upside-down kitty face” – a pose she is particularly adorable at. And she certainly does know it! Just look at that sweet but slightly conniving little face!

 

Current Giveaways:

$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Winter Wishes Giveaway Hop (ENDS TUESDAY!!!)
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Winter 2022-23 Seasons of Books Giveaway Hop

Winner Announcements:

The winner of the Welcome Winter Giveaway Hop is Brigette

Blog Recap:

B Review: Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel
A Review: Don’t Open the Door by Allison Brennan
A- Review: Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett
A- Review: Sentinel Security: Steel by Anna Hackett
A- Review: The Cat Who Saved Books by Sōsuke Natsukawa
Stacking the Shelves (533)

Coming This Week:

The Terraformers by Annalee Newitz (review)
Vampire Weekend by Mike Chen (blog tour review)
Heart 2 Heart Giveaway Hop
February Favorites Giveaway Hop
The Skeleton Key by Erin Kelly (review)

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 1-1-23

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

ICYMI, today is New Year’s Day of 2023. (The holidays do have a tendency to sneak up on me, but by the time we get to this one it’s a bit hard to miss!)

Also a bit sad, as we look back on the year that was while also perhaps not looking forward to going back to the daily grind either tomorrow or Tuesday – depending on how fortunate you are in your work/holiday arrangements. The holiday weeks always provided a bit of a break for me, even if I had to work the days in between. But January 2 was usually a sharp shock, back to the grind, often in weather that blew big winter winds and vibes, and no break in sight from either for a while.

Here’s hoping that we’ll all have a happy, healthy, safe, sane and prosperous New Year!

And here’s Lucifer, looking just a bit disgruntled. It’s the companion picture to last week, when he was looking on with displeasure as all the beds on top of Galen’s dresser were filled with other cats. We put one up just for him on my dresser – it’s even heated to help his old bones! – and Luna jumped in first. (We have since put up yet a fourth cat bed which has finally ended the disgruntlement as Hecate prefers sleeping downstairs.)

 

Current Giveaways:

$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Winter 2022-23 Seasons of Books Giveaway Hop

Winner Announcements:

The winner of the Holiday Ho Ho Ho Giveaway Hop is Will G.
The winner of the Dashing December Giveaway Hop is Aadel

Blog Recap:

Boxing Day 2022 and the detection of tsunamis (Guest post by Galen)
A- Review: The Gingerbread Cat by Stephanie Osborn
A- Review: The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna
B Review: The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake
Best Books of 2022
Stacking the Shelves (529)

Coming This Week:

New Year’s Day (Belated Guest Post by Galen)
Most Anticipated Books for 2023
Sleep No More by Jayne Ann Krentz (review)
Courting Dragons by Jeri Westerson (review)
Breaking the Circle by M.J. Trow (review)

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 12-25-22

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

Whether or not you believe that this is “the most wonderful time of the year”, today is Christmas. If this is your holiday, then Merry Christmas. If all you’re celebrating is a day off, like this household, then that can be plenty to celebrate. If you’re celebrating that you have heat and power and in your house after this week’s weather, that’s something pretty big to celebrate!

A tree fell on our house in the middle of the night on Xmas Eve Eve, so we’re definitely celebrating that last bit. The tree hit the back stairs and managed to do nothing more than barely scrape the side of the house and deck. But that sudden impact made for quite the shock at 3 something in the dark of the a.m.

It didn’t wake either the cats or myself, although Galen was up and about trying to see what the damage was in the middle of a rather interrupted night.

Something to celebrate on a very cold and wintry holiday.

p.s. The boys say Happy Holidays!

Current Giveaways:

$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Holiday Ho Ho Ho Giveaway Hop
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Dashing December Giveaway Hop
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Winter 2022-23 Seasons of Books Giveaway Hop

Winner Announcements:

The winner of the Fall 2022 Seasons of Books Giveaway Hop is Kelly
The winner of the Winter is Coming Giveaway Hop is Susan S.

Blog Recap:

B Review: Shenanigans by Mercedes Lackey
A+ Review: Look Closer by David Ellis
Winter 2022 Seasons of Books Giveaway Hop
A- Review: Sentinel Security: Striker by Anna Hackett
A Review: Eversion by Alastair Reynolds
Stacking the Shelves (528)

Coming This Week:

Boxing Day (guest post by Galen)
The Gingerbread Cat by Stephanie Osborn (review)
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna (review)
In the Shadow of Lightning by Brian McClellan (review)
Best Books of 2022

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 12-18-22

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

Considering that the holidays are NEXT WEEKEND, I’m not quite sure whether my plans for this week are going to turn into my reality for this week when all is said and done. Although, as the saying goes, there’s usually a lot more said than done. As I just heard something crash in the distance as I type this, I’m reminded, forever and always, that the cats really run this house and the humans are just here to provide kibble and laps.

The picture below is Luna of course, looking EXTREMELY proud of her little self that she’s claimed my ENTIRE half of a queen-sized bed. Definitely a case of it you don’t snooze – or at least secure a location for snoozing – you lose!

Current Giveaways:

$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Winter is Coming Giveaway Hop (ENDS TUESDAY!!!)
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Fall 2022 Seasons of Books Giveaway Hop (ENDS TUESDAY!!!)
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Holiday Ho-Ho-Ho Giveaway Hop

Winner Announcements:

The winner of the Holly Jolly Giveaway Hop is Cali W.

Blog Recap:

B Review: Into the West by Mercedes Lackey
A- Review: The Ballad of Perilous Graves by Alex Jennings
A- Review: Secrets Typed in Blood by Stephen Spotswood
A Review: Sweep of the Heart by Ilona Andrews
Dashing December Giveaway Hop
Stacking the Shelves (527)

Coming This Week:

Shenanigans by Mercedes Lackey (review)
Look Closer by David Ellis (review)
Winter 2022-23 Seasons of Books Giveaway Hop
Sentinel Security: Striker by Anna Hackett (review)
Eversion by Alastair Reynolds (review)

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 12-4-22

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

It’s a kind of misty, moisty weekend here in the ATL. Here’s a picture of part of the clowder watching the world drip by.

That’s Lucifer on the left and George and Luna on the right. This particular configuration gets along well. George and Luna are buddies and nobody messes with Lucifer. He’s the smallest of the five cats, but he has a tremendous amount of presence. And he was here first so the rest of them defer to his demonic majesty.

Between  The Twist of a Knife and A World of Curiosities this week, I ended up with some mystery television to watch. Magpie Murders was terrific. I won’t say it was better than the book, but it certainly made terrific use of its new medium. Three Pines, on the other hand, was not bad, and certainly better than an earlier attempt, but I have some reservations. They did a good job casting Gamache, but so much of what makes him so fascinating in the books is going on beneath the surface, which is not something that TV does well at all. But I’m curious enough to see how the series turns out.

Current Giveaways:

$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Fall 2022 Seasons of Books Giveaway Hop
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Holly Jolly Giveaway Hop

Winner Announcements:

The winner of the Thankful for Books Giveaway Hop is Lyzabeth
The winner of the In All Things Give Thanks Giveaway Hop is Rebecca
The winner of the Super Stocking Stuffer Giveaway Hop is Marisela

Blog Recap:

B Review: The Three Dahlias by Katy Watson
A+ Review: The Twist of a Knife by Anthony Horowitz
B Review: A Wish for Winter by Viola Shipman
Holly Jolly Giveaway Hop
A+ Review: A World of Curiosities by Louise Penny
Stacking the Shelves (525)

Coming This Week:

The Socialite’s Guide to Murder by S.K. Golden (blog tour review)
Winter is Coming Giveaway Hop
Hide by Tracy Clark (blog tour review)
Pets of Park Avenue by Stefanie London (blog tour review)
Holiday Ho-Ho-Ho Giveaway Hop

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 11-20-22

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

This is Thanksgiving Week. OMG how time flies when you’re having whatever the hell this year has been.

The annual Thankful for Books Giveaway Hop, hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer and yours truly, starts tomorrow! YAY! (Insert Kermit Flail here!)

Not to literally insert a Kermit Flail, although it does fit with my mood about the whole thing. Thanksgiving seriously snuck up on me this year.

Instead, I’ll insert a picture of the Lovely Luna in one of her favorite poses and places, making her adorable upside-down-kitty-face from between Galen’s legs while on top of the cushy blanket.

Current Giveaways:

$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Super Stocking Stuffer Giveaway Hop
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the In All Things Give Thanks Giveaway Hop
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Fall 2022 Seasons of Books Giveaway Hop

Winner Announcements:

The winner of the Thanks a Latte Giveaway Hop is Wendy

Blog Recap:

Spotlight: Under a Veiled Moon by Karen Odden + Excerpt
A+ Review: Cold Fear by Brandon Webb and John David Mann
In All Things Give Thanks Giveaway Hop
A- Review: The Girl with the Emerald Flag by Kathleen McGurl
A+ Review: Death on a Winter Stroll by Francine Mathews
Stacking the Shelves (523)

Coming This Week:

Thankful for Books Giveaway Hop
Mr. Clarke’s Deepest Desire by Sophie Barnes (blog tour review)
Ship Wrecked by Olivia Dade (review)
Thanksgiving 2022 (guest post by Galen!)
The Art of Prophecy by Wesley Chu (review)