Books I Am Reading This Week plus Weekly Book Haul – July 26, 2023 #wwwwednesday #ReadersCommunity #BookTwitter #BookLover
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Welcome to WWW Wednesday! This meme was formerly hosted by MizB at A Daily Rhythm and revived on Taking on a World of Words. Just answer the three questions below and leave a link to your post in the comments for others to look at. No blog? No problem! Just leave a comment with your responses. Please, take some time to visit the other participants and see what others are reading. So, let’s get to it!
What am I currently reading?
What did I just finish?
What am I reading next?
I hate thinking The Princess by Wendy Holden is considered historical fiction. If most of it takes place within your lifetime, is that classification allowed? 🤣 It’s a fictional account of Princess Diana’s life as told by a fictional childhood friend. I couldn’t resist. I’m partway in and enjoying it so far. It is a lot more of a chill story than I’m used to (since most of my reads are very intense).
Genre: Women’s Fiction / Historical
Pages: 416 pages
Publisher: Berkley
Publication Date: August 1, 2023
The whole world saw Princess Diana step from a gilded carriage for her wedding at St. Paul’s Cathedral. But before that fairy-tale moment came a dark and difficult journey.…
Bestselling author Wendy Holden explores the astonishing backstory and young adulthood of the ultimate royal celebrity.
Britain, 1961: A beautiful blonde baby is born to Viscount Althorp, heir to the Spencer earldom. But Diana grows up amid the fallout of her parents’ messy divorce. She struggles at school. Her refuge throughout is romantic novels. She dreams of falling in love and being rescued by a handsome prince.
In royal circles, there is concern about the Prince of Wales. Charles is nearing thirty and the right girl needs to be found, fast. She must be young, aristocratic and completely free of past liaisons. Pure and innocent.
Eighteen-year-old Diana Spencer is just about the only candidate. Her yearning to be loved dovetails with royal desperation for a bride. But the route to the altar is perilous. There are hidden dangers. Ruthless schemers. Can Diana’s romantic dream survive?
The Shadow Girls by Alice Blanchard is very messy but in all the right ways. I just wished I had time to read the other books in the series.
Genre: Crime Thriller / Procedural
Pages: 320 pages
Publisher: Minotaur (SMP)
Publication Date: July 25, 2023
Someone is playing deadly games. Lieutenant Luke Pittman lies in the hospital in a coma after being attacked by one of their own. Veronica Manes, Burning Lake’s most respected modern-day witch, is dead, her murder left unsolved. Natalie Lockhart has become embroiled in a case with threads that become increasingly difficult to untangle.
Now, a new horror is uncovered, one that shocks the town as never before, and the dark, shadowy path forward for Natalie is paved with challenges that haunt her past—Veronica’s unsolved case. Her sister’s traumatic murder. The long-lost disappearance of her old best friend. Natalie’s obsession with finding the truth leads to a twisted, elemental struggle between good and evil—and nothing will ever be the same again.
The woods have secrets.
The trees are carved with curses.
There’s something wicked in Burning Lake.
Tempy is in a different location than usual in The Bone Hacker, and I think I mostly wanted to read it for the setting – okay, not really. I have been enjoying the Tempest Brennan series regardless of the setting.
Genre: Thriller
Pages: 352 pages
Publisher: Scribner
Publication Date: August 1, 2023
#1 New York Times bestselling author Kathy Reichs returns with her twenty-second high-stakes thriller featuring forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan who, following a series of bizarre disappearances on the islands of Turks and Caicos, enters a sinister labyrinth in which a new technology may wreak worldwide havoc.
Called in to examine what is left of a body struck by lightning, Tempe traces an unusual tattoo to its source and is soon embroiled in a much larger case. Young men—tourists—have been disappearing on the islands of Turks and Caicos for years. Seven years ago, the first victim was found in a strange location with both hands cut off; the other visitors vanished without a trace. But, recently, tantalizing leads have emerged and only Tempe can unravel them.
Maddeningly, the victims seem to have nothing in common—other than the strange locations where their bodies are eventually found, and the fact that the young men all seem to be the least likely to be involved in foul play. Do these attacks have something to do with the islands’ seething culture of gang violence? Tempe isn’t so sure. And then she turns up disturbing clues that what’s at stake may actually have global significance.
It isn’t long before the sound of a ticking clock grows menacingly loud, and then Temper herself becomes a target.
Two of these books are much different than my normal reads, but when do I let that stop me? I also included a photo of my recent book mail, even though a few of those books I already had on here last week.
I was all ready to jump on The Shadow Girls until I saw its 4th in a series. But! I have the first one. And about historical fiction…I use the rule of thumb that if the time frame is more than 25-30 years ago, it’s now historical😏
Was surprised to see Danielle Steel! Enjoy your haul, Tessa💜
It read fine as a stand alone. She really did a good job explaining what the reader needed to know from before the book without making it cumbersome. But, if you have the first then you definitely need to read it and move on to the other three. 💕
🙂. I like your rule of thumb for what’s considered historical. It’s like my radio does when they play classic country music on Sunday afternoons. They include stuff from the 1980s and 1990s. It does make you pause for a bit, as the DJ explained it once, that was a few decades ago now, so it does qualify!
I tried one Kathy Reichs book and couldn’t get into it because it didn’t follow the characters from the television series, which I love! Are they all this way?
Yeah, I’ve had the same problem. I did read somewhere though that the tv show occurs much earlier in Temperance’s life, so that’s why she’s such a different person in the tv show. I keep hoping that that knowledge will someday allow me to adjust and read the books and enjoy them. Famous last words, I know. 😏
I got email for The Princess NetGalley widget but didn’t download it as didn’t I would like it. It’s great you’re enjoying it. I’m reading Red, White &Royal Blue and I’ll finish it today.
The Princess sounds really intriguing, Tessa. I am so far behind in the Kathy Reichs books. The last one I read was #17. Thanks for the reminder to get caught up. I need to see what Danielle Steel books my library has. Random House are always Wish For, for me. Enjoy all your new additions, Tessa.
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28 responses to “Books I Am Reading This Week plus Weekly Book Haul – July 26, 2023 #wwwwednesday #ReadersCommunity #BookTwitter #BookLover”
Fab book haul hope you enjoy them when you get to them.
Me too! They look interesting.
The Bone Hacker looks really good, hope you enjoy them all 😊
I think it will be. Fingers-crossed!
A great book haul, I have finished reading ”A Murder Inside”, I enjoyed reading it, and will post a review soon.
Can’t wait to see your thoughts on it!
I’m surprised I missed The Princess. I am a fan of all things Diana.
Historical Fiction is anything set 50 or more years ago, so right now it would be 1973 and before.
This starts right after that mark in about 1974 or 75 and then jumps to the 90s and later in the 70s and that’s just so far.
I totally couldn’t pass it up.
I almost grabbed A Sweet Sting of Salt but my next few months are swamped. I can’t wait to hear what you think of it!
I couldn’t resist. I hope it’s as good as it looks!
I was all ready to jump on The Shadow Girls until I saw its 4th in a series. But! I have the first one. And about historical fiction…I use the rule of thumb that if the time frame is more than 25-30 years ago, it’s now historical😏
Was surprised to see Danielle Steel! Enjoy your haul, Tessa💜
It read fine as a stand alone. She really did a good job explaining what the reader needed to know from before the book without making it cumbersome. But, if you have the first then you definitely need to read it and move on to the other three. 💕
🙂. I like your rule of thumb for what’s considered historical. It’s like my radio does when they play classic country music on Sunday afternoons. They include stuff from the 1980s and 1990s. It does make you pause for a bit, as the DJ explained it once, that was a few decades ago now, so it does qualify!
Great analogy, Kim!
Looks like you got a lot of good books! I hope you enjoy them.
Me too! Fingers-crossed 🤞
The cover of Home at Night immediately jumped out and said “Pick me! Pick me!” 🤣
I’m going. to have to look that one up.
Happy reading, Tessa!
It did me too! It’s a great cover and sounds like a good mystery/thriller.
I tried one Kathy Reichs book and couldn’t get into it because it didn’t follow the characters from the television series, which I love! Are they all this way?
I loved the tv series too but it’s not the same at all. It reminds me more of Patricia Cornwell’s Kay Scarpeta series.
Yeah, I’ve had the same problem. I did read somewhere though that the tv show occurs much earlier in Temperance’s life, so that’s why she’s such a different person in the tv show. I keep hoping that that knowledge will someday allow me to adjust and read the books and enjoy them. Famous last words, I know. 😏
It’s one time the books do not live up to the cinema version, IMO
I’ve always had a fascination with the Royal Family (caught up on The Crown series!), so The Princess caught my eye.
Me too! That’s why I couldn’t resist this one. 😊
I got email for The Princess NetGalley widget but didn’t download it as didn’t I would like it. It’s great you’re enjoying it. I’m reading Red, White &Royal Blue and I’ll finish it today.
The Princess sounds really intriguing, Tessa. I am so far behind in the Kathy Reichs books. The last one I read was #17. Thanks for the reminder to get caught up. I need to see what Danielle Steel books my library has. Random House are always Wish For, for me. Enjoy all your new additions, Tessa.