Tag: Tuna T. Cat

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 4-16-23

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

I ended up throwing last week’s planned schedule into a blender. I was just having a bad case of being unable to settle on a book, not getting anywhere and not getting anything done. So I went looking for short reads and comfort reads to get me over that hump, which is how Who Cries for the Lost ended up kicking off this coming week.

This week’s schedule had Three Debts Paid inserted into it when I learned of the death of its author, Anne Perry, this past week.

Tuna volunteered for this week’s cat picture. The new comforter he’s posed on was a birthday present from one of my oldest and dearest friends, and he just looked so adorable – and adorably confused – laying on it that I couldn’t resist!

Current Giveaways:

$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Just Because Giveaway Hop
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Dancing in the Rain Giveaway Hop

Winner Announcements:

The winner of ANY book by Barbara Hambly is Anita
The winner of the $25 Amazon Gift Card is Cali
The winner of one of my or the winner’s favorite books so far is Carl
The winner of The Cleaving by Juliet E. McKenna is Nadine

Blog Recap:

A++ Review: The Stars Undying by Emery Robin
A+/D Review: The Way Home by Peter S. Beagle
A Review: Midnight, Water City by Chris McKinney
A- Review: Untethered Sky by Fonda Lee
A- Review: The Scourge Between Stars by Ness Brown
Stacking the Shelves (544)

Coming This Week:

Who Cries for the Lost by C.S. Harris (review)
Our Lady of Mysterious Ailments by T.L. Huchu (audio review)
Wings Once Cursed and Bound by Piper J. Drake (review)
How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix (review)
Three Debts Paid by Anne Perry (review)

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 4-9-23

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

Today is Easter Sunday. It’s also just about the middle of Passover AND the middle of Ramadan.

Today also marks the end of my TWELFTH Annual Blogo-Birthday Celebration Week – although the giveaways will continue to be open this week so please take this opportunity to get in on a lot of fabulous celebratory prizes!

And neither this week nor any other week here at Chez Reading Reality would be complete without a cat picture. Or, in this case, a picture of two cats. As most people who are owned by cats will tell you, it is IMPOSSIBLE to do ANYTHING alone when you have cats. Or cats have you, as the case may be. Here are Luna and Tuna making sure that their human doesn’t fall in or otherwise disappear while on the “throne”.

Current Giveaways:

Any book by Barbara Hambly
Blogoversary $25 Gift Card Giveaway
Favorite books of 2023 (so far) $25 in Books Giveaway
The Cleaving by Juliet E. McKenna
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Just Because Giveaway Hop
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Dancing in the Rain Giveaway Hop

Blog Recap:

A Review: One Extra Corpse by Barbara Hambly + Giveaway
TWELFTH Annual Blogo-Birthday Celebration and Giveaway!
Blogo-Birthday Birthday Book Celebration and Giveaway!
Dancing in the Rain Giveaway Hop
Just Because Giveaway Hop
A+ Review: The Cleaving by Juliet E. McKenna + Giveaway
Stacking the Shelves (543)

Coming This Week:

The Stars Undying by Emery Robin (audio review)
The Way Home by Peter S. Beagle (review)
Midnight, Water City by Chris McKinney (review)
The Winter Knight by Jes Battis (review)
Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh (review)

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 4-2-23

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

Come one, come all and WELCOME to Reading Reality’s annual Blogo-Birthday Celebration Week. This week, on Tuesday in fact, Reading Reality will celebrate its TWELFTH Blogoversary. As Wednesday, April 5 is my own birthday, I like to celebrate this doubly happy occasion with giveaways all week long. So be sure to come back each an every day to see what’s on tap.

The party is starting tomorrow, but in the meantime here’s a picture of Tuna, already all tuckered out from the preparations.

We’ll let him recover for a bit, so the party can get started bright and early in the morning!

Winner Announcements:

The winner of the Chasing Rainbows Giveaway Hop is Viki 

Blog Recap:

B+ Review: And Put Away Childish Things by Adrian Tchaikovsky
B Review: Her Lost Words by Stephanie Marie Thornton
C+ Review: Sea Change by Gina Chung
A Review: The Echo of Old Books by Barbara Davis
B Review: White Cat, Black Dog by Kelly Link
Stacking the Shelves (542)

Coming This Week:

One Extra Corpse by Barbara Hambly (review + giveaway)
Blogo-Birthday Celebration (feature + giveaway)
Favorites of the Year (So Far) Birthday Giveaway (feature + giveaway)
Dancing in the Rain Giveaway Hop
Just Because Giveaway Hop
The Cleaving by Juliet E. McKenna (blog tour review + giveaway)

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 3-26-23

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

Luna was sitting on the hearth, looking all bright-eyed and bushy-faced so Galen decided to snap a picture. Tuna just had to find out what was going on, so instead of Luna looking pretty, she’s looking rather confused as she gets photobombed by her brother!

I switched around this past week’s schedule a bit. I had been intending to read One Extra Corpse by Barbara Hambly, and I’m still very much looking forward to it. But my TWELFTH Annual Blogo-Birthday Celebration is just a week away. I give stuff away every day during the Celebration, so I always look for books or authors I really, really, really want to share with people to review that week. I’ve been reading and loving Barbara Hambly’s work since The Time of the Dark back in the longer ago than either she or I probably want to admit. Which made her latest book a perfect book to include during the celebration! So expect One Extra Corpse in just one week from tomorrow!

Current Giveaways:

$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Chasing Rainbows Giveaway Hop

Winner Announcements:

The winner of the Winter 2022-2023 Seasons of Books Giveaway Hop is Carl
The winner of the Leaping Leprechauns Giveaway Hop is Soozle
The winner of the For the Love of Reading Giveaway Hop is Heather

Blog Recap:

A+ Review: The Lies of the Ajungo by Moses Ose Utomi
A+ Review: The New Guys by Meredith Bagby
B- Review: The Raven Thief by Gigi Pandian
A- Review: A House with Good Bones by T. Kingfisher
B Review: The White Lady by Jacqueline Winspear
Stacking the Shelves (541)

Coming This Week:

And Put Away Childish Things by Adrian Tchaikovsky (review)
Her Lost Words by Stephanie Marie Thornton (blog tour review)
Sea Change by Gina Chung (review)
White Cat, Black Dog by Kelly Link (review)
The Echo of Old Books by Barbara Davis (review)

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

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

I’ve got to admit that I’m not totally sure about this week’s schedule – or at least the middle of it. I’ve finished The Atlas Paradox – and do I ever have OPINIONS – as well as Knightmaster – about which I have much better opinions. And of course the Chasing Rainbows Giveaway Hop will happen as scheduled. The other two books are both books I want to feature – but my round ‘tuit is a bit frayed around the edges this week.

But speaking of things that are just a bit unsure, there’s Tuna. Not in this picture of “big Tuna energy” from Galen’s desk, in which Tuna looks dignified, large and in charge – only one of which is EVER true. Tuna managed to do something this week that I unfortunately don’t have a picture of but have to share anyway. You know how cats occasionally get claw-stuck? They grab at something – like my office chair’s upholstery – and can’t get one claw retracted with the rest and get stuck? Tuna managed to claw-stick his own front paws together when he grabbed at a toy that slipped out of his grasp. Leaving him stuck. To himself. It was not pretty, it was not dignified, but it was very Tuna. I’d say he was still embarrassed but he’s also not the sharpest knife in the drawer, so not.

Current Giveaways:

$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Lady Luck Giveaway Hop (ENDS WEDNESDAY!)
$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

Blog Recap:

A Review: Dead Country by Max Gladstone
A- Review: The Sister Effect by Susan Mallery
B+ Review: The Crane Husband by Kelly Barnhill
A+ Review: Firebreak by Nicole Kornher-Stace
B+ Review: A Tempest at Sea by Sherry Thomas
Stacking the Shelves (539)

Coming This Week:

The Atlas Paradox by Olivie Blake (audiobook review)
The Mimicking of Known Successes by Malka Older (review)
Illuminations by T. Kingfisher (review)
Chasing Rainbows Giveaway Hop
Knightmaster by Anna Hackett (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 1-22-23

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

OMG it was a DAMN good reading week. (Or considering Tuesday’s book, perhaps that should be a “glassdamn” good reading week). Even though I did have a couple of these prepped in advance in order to handle being tied up in a four-day Zoom marathon and being totally “dain bramaged” at the end of each day.

My committee has completed its business, the awards presentation has been recorded, and all will be revealed one week from today. Then the new committee year begins and I’ll have a new assignment and a bit of a different set of books to contend with for the upcoming year – along with my usuals, of course.

I’m looking forward to the new challenge.

But speaking of challenges new and old, here’s today’s cat picture, which I’ve titled, “The Teetering Tower of Tuna and Le Chat Noir” because Lucifer’s a bit too slender form on the right looks just like the pose of the black cat in the famous historical poster “Le Chat Noir” and Tuna’s position on the left is entirely too self-evident. The high platform on the cat tree is just not up to dealing with either his size or his tendency to “galumph” into position!

Current Giveaways:

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

Blog Recap:

Winter Wishes Giveaway Hop
A+ Review: In the Shadow of Lightning by Brian McClellan
A+ Review: The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle
A+ Review: Under Fortunate Stars by Ren Hutchings
A- Review: The Keeper’s Six by Kate Elliott
Stacking the Shelves (532)

Coming This Week:

Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel (review)
Don’t Open the Door by Allison Brennan (review)
Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett (review)
The Twyford Code by Janice Hallett (review)
Sentinel Security: Steel by Anna Hackett (review)

The Sunday Post AKA What’s on my (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand 1-15-23

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

This is probably it for this week. I’m also probably going to lose my mind before the end of it. Yesterday, today, tomorrow and Tuesday comprise my annual Zoom marathon for the American Library Association Reading List Committee deliberations. That four days, eight-ish hours per day, on Zoom with 10 of my fellow book lovers hashing out who will get the awards this year. It’s both a terrific time and more than a bit of torture, as four solid days on Zoom is just a LOT!

Here’s a picture of one Tuna-loaf, size extra large. The vacancy between his eyes will be similar to my own state by the time the meetings are all wrapped up.

Current Giveaways:

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

Blog Recap:

A- Review: Lost in the Moment and Found by Seanan McGuire
Welcome Winter Giveaway Hop
A- Review: City Under One Roof by Iris Yamashita
A+ Review: Book Lovers by Emily Henry
A Review: Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan
Stacking the Shelves (531)

Coming This Week:

Winter Wishes Giveaway Hop
In the Shadow of Lightning by Brian McClellan (audio review)
The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle (review)
The Keeper’s Six by Kate Elliott (review)
Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel (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 12-11-22

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

It has been a misty, moisty very sleepy week around here. It’s been the kind of weather that makes a human want to curl up and take a nap. Apparently is also has the same effect on cats, because here’s Tuna shutting the whole world out while he naps on the cushy blankie. With a side – literally – of his sister Luna in the background doing the same.

Current Giveaways:

Signed hardcover of The Socialite’s Guide to Murder plus swag (US only)
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Holly Jolly Giveaway Hop (ENDS THURSDAY!)
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Winter is Coming Giveaway Hop
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Fall 2022 Seasons of Books Giveaway Hop
$10 Gift Card or $10 Book in the Holiday Ho-Ho-Ho Giveaway Hop

Blog Recap:

B Review: The Socialite’s Guide to Murder by S.K. Golden + Giveaway
Winter is Coming Giveaway Hop
A+ Review: Hide by Tracy Clark
B Review: Pets of Park Avenue by Stefanie London
Holiday Ho-Ho-Ho Giveaway Hop
Stacking the Shelves (526)

Coming This Week:

Into the West by Mercedes Lackey (review)
The Ballad of Perilous Graves by Alex Jennings (audiobook review)
Secrets Typed in Blood by Stephen Spotswood (review)
Sweep of the Heart by Ilona Andrews (review)
Dashing December Giveaway Hop