Teaser Tuesdays - Mongrels

 

The rest though - being a werewolf, it's a game of Russian roulette, Darren would say. It's waking up every morning with that gun to your temple.

(page 38, Mongrels by Stephen Graham Jones)

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Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, previously hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: - Grab your current read - Open to a random page - Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) - Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their  TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

On McPig's Wishlist - Ghost Station

 

Ghost Station

by S.A. Barnes

An exploration crew must try to stay alive on an eerie and abandoned planet in Ghost Station, a heart-pounding space horror novel from S.A. Barnes, the acclaimed author of Dead Silence.

As an exploration crew begins to establish residency on an abandoned planet, they must unravel the mystery behind the previous colonizer’s hasty departure. When their pilot is discovered dead – in what appears to be a gruesome murder – it’s up to the corporate-sponsored psychologist Dr. Ophelia Bray to find the killer among them … before someone else is next.

Expected publication April 9, 2024

Gouda Friends - Book Review by Voodoo Bride

 

Gouda Friends (Ponto Beach Reunion #2)

by Cathy Yardley

What is it about:

Two high school BFFs reunite and endeavor to fix each other’s lives in this geeky romance from the author of Love, Comment, Subscribe.

Tam Doan dumped her boyfriend after he threw away her gourmet cheese. Sure, it’s a little more complicated than that, but the point is, he had it coming. Newly single and unemployed, Tam calls up her best friend from high school and utters the emergency code word—goldfish. Next thing she knows, she’s on a plane back home.

Josh O’Malley was a troubled, unconfident teenager. Now he’s the successful owner of a multimillion-dollar ghost kitchen. Tam, his high school BFF and fellow member of the Nerd Herd friend group, was instrumental in building his self-esteem. When she calls him out of the blue, he jumps at the chance to return the favor.

Josh and Tam immediately get to work fixing her life—but again, it’s complicated. Their close friendship was always a lifeline between them; a blooming romance might confuse things. Still, at least one thing is for certain: their chemistry is un-brie-lievable.

What did Voodoo Bride think of it:

First: that title totally doesn't work if you know how Gouda is supposed to be pronounced.

Other than that, this is a nice enough Romance.

There's a lot of cheese, nice secondary characters, and a believable obstacle to stop these two from getting their Happily Ever After right away.

Still I was missing  something. Maybe I'm not one for Friends to Lovers, because the attraction between these two felt a bit tame. Still the story was entertaining enough to keep reading. 

This book is the second in a series, but I didn't feel like missing out. It seems each book has a different main couple. I don't think I'll pick up other books in the series though as this group of friends didn't really tempt me to get to know them better.

Why should you read it:

It's a nice Contemporary Romance.

Teaser Tuesdays: A Deadly Education

 

Dad sent one of those same notes to his family, so they'd known he'd survived that long. Then he just never came out.

(page 13, A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik)

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Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, previously hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: - Grab your current read - Open to a random page - Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) - Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their  TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Remarkably Bright Creatures - Book Review

 

Remarkably Bright Creatures 

by Shelby Van Pelt

What is it about:

Remarkably Bright Creatures, an exploration of friendship, reckoning, and hope, tracing a widow's unlikely connection with a giant Pacific octopus.

After Tova Sullivan's husband died, she began working the night shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium, mopping floors and tidying up. Keeping busy has always helped her cope, which she's been doing since her eighteen-year-old son, Erik, mysteriously vanished on a boat in Puget Sound over thirty years ago.

Tova becomes acquainted with curmudgeonly Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus living at the aquarium. Marcellus knows more than anyone can imagine but wouldn't dream of lifting one of his eight arms for his human captors--until he forms a remarkable friendship with Tova.

Ever the detective, Marcellus deduces what happened the night Tova's son disappeared. And now Marcellus must use every trick his old invertebrate body can muster to unearth the truth for her before it's too late.

Shelby Van Pelt's debut novel is a gentle reminder that sometimes taking a hard look at the past can help uncover a future that once felt impossible.

What did I think of it:

I love octopuses so couldn't resist this book when I saw it at the local bookstore.

And within the first chapter, told from the Octopus's view, I knew I'd love this book and that it would break my heart.

A couple of chapters further in I knew exactly where this story would lead, but I didn't mind: I was in love with Marcellus and Tova. 

The writing is really good and I loved the characterization. There are several different viewpoint characters and while I didn't warm up to all of them, it did work well for this story. (Marcellus was totally my favorite!)

As I predicted this story has a bittersweet ending and you bet I shed a few tears. I don't think I will reread this, but it still deserves a place on my keeper shelves as it is a beautiful story.

Why should you read it:

Marcellus!!!!

buy from Amazon

Assimilation - Book Review

 

Assimilation (The Societies #1)

by Sydney Reames)

What is it about:

Seven Societies. One Choice. No Turning Back.

Kena grew up inside Verkent, a conspiracy group whose belief that aliens originated human life on Earth was mocked—until the aliens returned, with a mission to decide whether Earth should be allowed to rejoin their Alliance.

When Kena is invited to participate in the Choosing, it seems the orphaned teen’s lifelong dream of Assimilating into one of seven different but equally wondrous Societies in their home worlds is coming true. But from the moment she and other Earthers arrive at the Societals’ central space station, it becomes clear they’re under threat, not only from their suspicious hosts but also an enemy long thought dead.

With the Societies shaken by turmoil, her own fierce powers growing, a budding romance, and her friends' lives on the line, Kena faces a high-stakes Can she find not only a place for herself in these worlds, but a way to save everyone else who calls them home?

What did I think of it:

When I got the offer to get a review copy of this book I jumped on it, as it sounded like my kind of read.

I had a hard time getting into this book at first as some of the things that were told seemed illogical to me. Now I have confess I do tend to overthink things, so I decided to suspend disbelief for a bit as the whole Choosing thing did sound cool.

And I'm glad I did because once Kena and the others join the Choosing the story got so good! I was soon totally engrossed and eager to find out where it would lead.

The Societies all have their own distinguished looks and powers, while still looking mostly human. I loved learning more about each Society while rooting for Kena and her friends to discover what they got mixed up in. 

When after lots of cool action and intrigue I reached the ending of the book it was hard to believe I had such misgivings at the start of this book. You bet I will get my greedy trotters on the next book, and not only because this one ends on a bit of a cliffhanger. I need more! 

Why should you read this:

It's a really cool YA SF read

buy from Amazon

Teaser Tuesdays - Love Theoretically

 

He doesn't smile, of course. Well, he does smile, but never at me. Whenever we're in the same room, he's an imposing, sky-soaring, stern presence whose main pastime appears to be judging me unworthy of Greg.

(page 9, Love Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood)

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Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, previously hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: - Grab your current read - Open to a random page - Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) - Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their  TBR Lists if they like your teasers!