Monday, August 26, 2013

What's on My Nightstand - August 2013

August is winding down, so it is time once again for What's on Your Nightstand.

I've been going through books rather quickly this month.  I recently went through a couple of middle grade novels.  I loved Riley Mack Stirs Up More Trouble by Chris Grabenstein (link takes you to my review).  On the other hand, I was disappointed with my reread of Trixie Belden #23: The Mystery of the Queen's Necklace.  Granted, it was never one of the stronger books in the series, but it was even weaker than I remembered.

Last week, I spent most of the week on Final Sentence by Daryl Wood Gerber, the first in the Cookbook Nook Mysteries.  It's a typical cozy, this time featuring a cookbook book store, so you get food and books for the theme.  I enjoyed the book and am very much looking forward to reading the next in the series next year.  In the mean time, I can get caught up on the author's books written under the pen name Avery Ames.  I've read the first in that series.

Right now, I'm rereading Mrs. Pollifax and the Whirling Dervish, which part time CIA agent caught up in some serious danger and intrigue in Morocco.  This was my introduction to the character and the series, and I'm enjoying it just as much now as I did the first time through.  And this is definitely a favorite series of mine, as anyone who reads the series will quickly figure out.  (Hint, Carstairs comes from the series.)  My review for this one will be up on Friday as part of Friday's Forgotten Books.

I should finish this on my lunch hour today.  So what's next?  That's a good question.  I've got another couple cozy culinary mysteries I could read.  Those are A Spoonful of Murder or You Cannoli Die Once.  Other options would include Mayhem at the Orient Express and Dead Man's Switch.  Any recommendations from those four?

20 comments:

  1. All new titles to me! I would like to read some middle grade to YA. Hoping next year to diversify my list. :)

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    1. So many books, so little time, right? It's hard to find time for all the great books I want to read. I would like a little more diversity, too, but it just doesn't seem to happen.

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  2. Middle grade novels can be amazingly fun to read even as adults. I read a lot when my daughters were young but no reason to stop now.

    I'll have to look into the series about Mrs. Pollifax if it's that good! Thanks for sharing your list.

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    1. I don't have kids, but that hasn't stopped me from reading and enjoying quite a few middle grade and YA novels. And do check out Mrs. Pollifax. The series is wonderful.

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  3. Cookbook Bookstore sounds great! I also reviewed a good mystery this month. Nice list.

    Lisa @http://hopewellmomschoolreborn.blogspot.com/2013/08/whats-on-your-nightstand-back-to-school.html

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  4. I've read some Mrs. Pollifax books but it's been awhile. They sit, lonely, on the shelf. But now I'm wracking my brain for the reference. Guess I SHOULD re-read them. :)

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    1. You definitely should reread a book. You'll catch the reference within the first three chapters of any of them if not the first chapter.

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  5. I've not read a Mrs. Pollifax book - sounds interesting!

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    1. Get to a library or bookstore and delve in. The first is The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax, and it's great.

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  6. Love Mrs. Pollifax! No recommendations on your upcoming books - they're all new to me.

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  7. I'm always amused by the fact that you read Trixie Belden! I should go back and do some re-reads. I read Graberstein's newest (and my first) at the start of summer and my son and I both LOVED it.

    http://jennifersnapshot.blogspot.com/2013/08/whats-on-my-nightstand-august-list-and.html

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    1. I've still got to get to his newest middle grade novel. He's just published too many books to keep up with this year. You should really read his Ceepak Mysteries for adults. They are great with very rich characters.

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  8. I think I would be as convincing as Mrs. Pollifax as a spy. If you haven't read any of Ally Carter's spy books, you should look at those, too!

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    1. Thanks for the rec. I'm going to have to look for those.

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  9. These are all new to me! I agree with everyone else...middle grade and YA novels can be really fun!

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    1. They most certainly can. It's why I love still reading them.

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  10. Sounds like a lot of fun reading! I have not read any Trixie Belden books. Growing up, I read all of the Hardy Boy series. I'm not sure why I missed all of the girl detectives!

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    1. I started with the Hardys. Then went to Nancy Drew. Then I found Trixie and never went back.

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