Looking Around

🤳🏻 Walkin' and Readin' Wednesday.

In the neighborhood:

Gray cat on Smith Street.

Birds enjoying a meal.

President Truman watching me from a TARDIS-shaped Little Free Library.

My Sly, waits for me to give him some love.

📚 Recommended audiobooks:

It Could Have Been Her, by Lisa Jewell

Narrated by ensemble cast

Released June 23, 2026

Goodreads blurb: "Lisa Jewell brings the suspense to this shocking new thriller about a lost dog, a missing woman, and a house of long buried secrets."

My thoughts: A very twisty mystery, as an amateur sleuth revises a scary event in her life.

Gave it four stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Read the trigger warnings!

The Unicorn Hunters by Katherine Arden

Narrated by Fiona Hardingham

Released June 2, 2026

Goodreads blurb: "In a desperate gamble to save her throne, a young monarch conceals a secret marriage in the shadows of an enchanted forest—and unknowingly alters the fate of her world."

My thoughts: A romantic tale for Anne of Brittany, January 1477 - January 1514 (aged 36), who was betrothed multiple times, and married to two Kings of France, having eleven pregnancies but only two surviving children, the author decided that Anne needed a true love, with unicorns!

Gave it four stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A Trade of Blood, Ana and Din Mysteries #3 by Robert Jackson Bennett

Narrated by Andrew Fallaize

Released August 4, 2026

Amazon blurb: "The heir to one of the Empire’s most powerful families sits in jail, accused of murder. His hands are covered in the victim’s blood, and he can neither deny his guilt nor explain his actions.

But if the great detective Ana Dolabra cannot save him from the noose, the farming canton of Sapirdad will explode into war, threatening to plunge the whole Empire into starvation and chaos.

As Ana investigates—her assistant Dinios Kol, as ever, acting as her eyes and ears—she fears her task is even more daunting than it seemed. For this murder is just the latest in a deeper, subtler web of death, woven by a mastermind with an ancient weapon at his disposal."

My thoughts: This is a terrific sci-fi detective tale, and it's the third one in the series.

Such a fascinating series; I've given each book 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Book #1: The Tainted Cup

Book #2: A Drop of Corruption

📚📚📚

Give Me Shade

Am thankful for the freedom to walk my neighborhood early as the sun comes up, and again when it sets.

We are experiencing warm temps, not boiling like elsewhere in the world, so am thankful for that too.

However, there are no clouds, and the sun is intense, so I hide from the heat and sun by being outside when it's most pleasant.

Am inside snuggling with cats, listening to audiobooks with earbuds, and drinking tea for the rest of the day.

😹

A few new-to-me kitties seen:

This cat wasn't bothered by me at all.

The cat under the car was friendly, then ran off to hide.

No worries, little one, you do what you need to do.

This tuxedo was in our backyard, and Da Boyz downstairs and Henry upstairs were in a tizzy.

Have not seen this cat before, and this image to taken AFTER I'd told it to move along.

He'd turned and left, then came back again once I was inside!

Cheeky.

Let's Hop!

Rolling

 A quick video of some of the neighborhood cats and stuff that I noticed on my walks.

We have some talented sidewalk chalk artists!

The purple plants covered in bees is Giant Purple Hyssop.

The cat shown after the black cat is King Sly; he's very thin, but his meowmy tells me he's eating, jumping up on the bed, and continues to patrol his territory.

That's a full moon image, and a view out the back at the wildfire smoke we had for awhile.

I left out all of the bunny rabbit pics, and I've not collected any coins found on the sidewalk, since the handful of pennies from a month ago.

👀 👀 👀 

Toad Ya

 Walkin' and Readin' Wednesday!

Eastern Cottontail

Kid's Toy in a sidewalk hole.

New to me ginger kitty!

Haven't seen this grey kitty before either.

Fowler's Toad

Have been out in the neighborhood early in the day, and then later in the evening, and I see new critters often.

***

Recent audiobooks:

American Creation: Triumphs and Tragedies at the Founding of the Republic

Author: Joseph J. Ellis 

Narrator: John H. Mayer

Published October 30, 2007

Non-fiction work covering 1775 to the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, detailing the political and ethical struggles of creating a government unlike any other.  

Who were making decisions: white males, often wealthy ones.

Who was left out: Women, slavery, indigenous peoples.

This book holds up a magnifying glass to the intent behind each person, and whether they stood by their own values as turmoil burgeoned.

Jaga and the Devil Trilogy

Devil's Deal, Book #1 published June 21, 2024

Devil's Doom, Book #2, published March 20, 2025

Devil's Dance, Book #3, published December 21, 2025

Author: Layla Fae

Narrators: Helena Walters and Troy Duran

Synopsis found online: "A completed Slavic-inspired dark fantasy romance trilogy, that follows a fierce mortal woman who defies a possessive devil, leading to a toxic, high-stakes enemies-to-lovers dynamic."

There are trigger warnings, and this series is Adult, with a capital A.

An Artful Dodge

Author:  Karen Odden

Narrator: Anna Burnett

Published June 2, 2026

Goodreads blurb: "Victorian London comes to vivid life in this riveting heist novel about an all-female thieving gang, and one young woman’s heroic plan to escape a life of crime."

Clever, with engaging characters, good mystery, and love the narrator's accents.

📚📚📚

Howdy, Sheriff!

OOPS!  I hit the 'publish now' button instead of 'publish tomorrow!'

It's Walkin' and Readin' Wednesday!

As seen while on 'the hoof' in my neighborhood:

This licky kitty has a caretaker.

This kitty also has a caretaker.

Image nabbed from the Macomb County Sheriff's Department website

The other day, I was stopped by two different Sheriff's Department squad cars, as the officers were looking for anyone who could identify a youngster found running in the middle of the street nearby.

I did not recognize the photo, continued on my walk as I witnessed the squad cars driving all over the place, stopping other neighbors.

A few hours later, on our community Facebook feed, a report advised that the parents were located, and everyone is safe.

It's just not every day that I get to chat with two handsomes in uniform while strolling in the 'hood! 😻

Seriously, am simply glad all is well.

***

Three recently listened to audiobooks that I recommend, and I'm on a British mystery kick:

The Keeper, by Tana French

Book #3 in the Cal Hooper trilogy

Narrated by Roger Clark

"Retired detective Cal Hooper moves to a remote village in rural Ireland. His plans are to fix up the dilapidated cottage he's bought, to walk the mountains, to put his old police instincts to bed forever." - Goodreads

Love listening to the Irish narration, and the mysteries are intricate, the characters feel real, and I'll miss them now that the series is over.  Book #3 The Keeper starts with a young woman's body found in a stream, and Lena (Cal's fiancee) was the last person to see her alive.

How to Get Away with Murder, by Rebecca Philipson

Narrated by Michael Geary and Tamsin Kennard

Standalone Novel

"This fresh debut thriller finds a Scotland Yard detective trying to find the author of a self-help book that promises quite literally to teach readers how to get away with murder, which seems to have inspired London's newest murderer." - Goodreads

The Burial Place by Stig Abell

Book #3 in the ongoing Jake Jackson Series

Narrated by Oliver Hembrough

"For years, Jake Jackson has been a high-flying detective in London. But then one day he receives a letter from his reclusive uncle – he has left Jake his property in the middle of the countryside. For Jake, it is the perfect opportunity for a fresh start for a quiet life in Caelum Parvum." - Goodreads

Book #3 The Burial Place begins with the nearby archaeology dig finding bodies; fresh ones.

~~~

Henry Update:

The H Man doesn't like open windows, and he also doesn't like the window air-conditioner noise, nor the fans blowing either.  Poor baby.  Then the thunderbooms come along, and he's happy to live on the floor of the linen closet.  Smart cat!

No noticeable changes since we've added the new antibiotic, reduced the steroids from two pills a day to one-and-1/2 pills, and the doubling of his fiber powder.

❤️❤️❤️

~~~

Let's Hop!

As Seen On Foot

It's Walkin' and Readin' Wednesday!

First, a few neighborhood cats:

And why not a few recent photos of Da Boyz:

Chili Bruce

Manny

They look like they are a street gang! 😹

📚 And my most recent completed books/audiobooks:

Need a Little Time by Adam Eccles

Sometimes, the strangest things can happen, right on your doorstep.

First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston

Evie Porter has everything a nice Southern girl could want: a doting boyfriend, a house with a white picket fence, a tight group of friends. The only catch: Evie Porter doesn’t exist.

The Rembrandt Heist by Anthony Amore

A true crime tale of unbelievable friendship, loyalty, criminal genius, and a staggeringly audacious plot to steal one of the world’s most valuable paintings—and return it.

Thank you all for the POTP that you are sending to Henry!!!!

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

As of Tuesday evening: nibbles of food eaten.

Am heading in with churus next.

I believe the resumption of the appetite stimulant is key.

He's neatly sequestered, so no more hiding under dressers, bathtubs, etc.

Henry is stubborn, and so am I!

Let's Hop!

Magical Nature

Walk & Read Wednesday

Some recent nature images:

Beautiful First Day of Spring at Stony Creek Metropark, Washington Township, Michigan.

Turkey Vultures Roosting, on my neighborhood walk.

Spring Clouds and Sky

Mango is a Bengal cat; met her last week while walking, and recently gushed to her human dad over how beautiful and sweet she is.

He said he's got two more cats; I look forward to meeting them.

Some recent reads:

Author: Jess Armstrong

Series: Ruby Vaughn

Book 1: The Curse of Penryth Hall

2: The Secret of the Three Fates

3: The Devil in Oxford

"After the Great War, American heiress Ruby Vaughn made a life for herself running a rare bookstore alongside her octogenarian employer and house mate in Exeter. She’s always avoided dwelling on the past, even before the war, but it always has a way of finding her."

So far, the stories have taken place in Cornwall, Scotland, and Oxford.

Book 4 The Lost Souls of St. Oda's is due out this autumn.

My take: Somewhat cozy reads, with an edge; after all, it's got an American in the midst of the English, and there is a touch of magic!

Author: Anne Bishop

Series: Isle of Wyrd

Book 1: Turns of Fate

"Young detective Beth Fahey begins investigating crimes of the uncanny, only to learn that bargains with The Arcana can change your fate—for good or ill."

My take: Had no idea the rabbit-hole the reader willingly heads down as the real world morphs on Wyrd Island.  Looking forward to the next book.

Author: Simon Garfield

"Explores the history, impact, and ,cultural significance of typefaces, making typography accessible and interesting to a general audience. Published in 2010, it covers everything from Gutenberg to modern digital fonts."

My take: A dive into a part of our world that is rarely noticed, unless you are a nerd *ahem* who insists on 'typewriter' font for the house address numbers.

All of the above were listened to via library audiobooks.

Let's Hop!

Out and About

It's Walkin' and Readin' Wednesday!

Yay, have been able to get OUTSIDE to breathe fresh air without my face freezing.

*shhhh...shouldn't say that out loud, the Weather Gods will bring winter back*

New cats in the 'hood!

This wee kitty is very shy.

Marvelous eyes, and a fabulous fur pattern!

Have now petted this kitty three, four times at a house that's being updated, so not sure if he lives there or is a member of the construction crew.

Very friendly.

This is Niko, whom I haven't seen in the fur since the really cold weather began.

Niko just plops down and starts rolling around.

He's charming!

My most recent completed books/audiobooks:

M. A. Frick's Fate Unraveled Trilogy:

Forcing Fate

Following Fate

Fulfilling Fate

World-building, magic, dragons, and war, as Ayvanna finds her way through a world that tries to diminish her, but she won't hide her light under anyone's basket.

Richard Swan's Empire of the Wolf Trilogy:

The Justice of Kings

The Tyranny of Faith

The Trials of Empire

Strangely prescient for political maneuvering, with magic, emperors, and the veil between the living and darker realms, as Helena and Sir Konrad battle the forces of evil, while facing their own inner demons.

Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights

Had never read this before; okay, now I know that it's dark, even very dark, and moody.

Becky Aikman's Spitfires: The American Women Who Flew in the Face of Danger During World War II

Nonfiction history of American women who ferried new, barely tested fighters and bombers to air bases in the UK.

Let's Hop!