Autumn Busy

It's Walkin' and Readin' Wednesday!

Truth!

The weather is autumn in the shade, but still summertime in the hot sun around here.

Niko has no shame.

A twofer!

Nice white jabot, kitty!

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Audiobook recommendations:

The Hurricane Wars Trilogy by Thea Guanzon

Narrated by Jeanne Syquia and Kaleo Griffith

Book #1: The Hurricane Wars

Book #2: A Monsoon Rising

Book #3: The Shattered Tempest

My two cents: War, magic, technology, found family, and imperial politics, with a helping of enemies-to-lovers-but-still-enemies.  

Action packed, based on Southeast Asian mythology, so it differs from other authors who use Norse or Greek/Roman mythology.

As I type this, I'm 50% through Book #3, and I will do nothing else but listen to this spellbinding story.

Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed

Narrated by Bernadette Dunne

My two cents: An older audiobook, which was made into a decent film, details the authors determination to pull her life together after her mother's death, and her divorce.

Walking the Pacific Crest Trail for 1,100 miles in 94 days mostly alone isn't my idea of getting my head on straight, but that's the beauty of this story: being in charge of yourself is the best remedy, despite a blisters, lost boots, hinkey hikers, and snowfall when you are in shorts.

Ghost Wall by Sarah Moss

Narrated by Christine Hewitt

My two cents: A novella really, but what a journey in a short listen!  Silvie and her family are living as if they are ancient Britons, surviving by the tools and knowledge of the Iron Age, with an archeologist and his students.  This is harsh living, made worse by Silvie's violent father.  The back-and-forth between modern thinking against the backdrop of scrounging for food and living in nature, artfully written and performed, really made me think, and think, and think some more. 

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Keeping Entertained

 It's Walkin' and Readin' Wednesday!

Zoomac, again!

New window kitty.

Mocha

Recommended audiobooks:

The Poison Daughter by Sheila Masterson

Narrated by Laura Horowitz and Anthony Palmini

Audiobook published August 18, 2026

Libby app blurb: "The breakout standalone dark enemies to lovers romantasy about a woman whose lips are deadly poison...until she meets the one man who can survive her kiss."

My two cents: An excellent romp, with magic and angst, nasty parents, and each side of the conflict is sure the others are bad, bad people.  Vampires too!  Adult.

Place of Temptation by Bilinda P. Sheehan

All books narrated by Polly Lee

DI Haskell and Quinn Series:

#1 A Wicked Mercy (2019) 

#2 Death in Pieces (2020) 

#3 Splinter the Bone (2020) 

#4 Hunting the Silence (2021) 

#5 Hidden in Blood (2022) 

#6 Place of Temptation (2022) 

#7 Lake of Tears (2023) not yet available

#8 No Safe Place (2025) not yet available

#9 Dark is the Mind (2026) no yet available

#10 Lost and Found (2026) not yet available

Goodreads blurb: "Crime novels set in North Yorkshire, England feature D.I. Drew Haskell teaming up with criminal profiler Harriet Quinn."

My two cents: Drew and Harriet have a past, making them adversaries in private, but a good team when solving murders.  Their connection evolves with each book.  I found this series years ago, but only the first three books were available at my library, until recently when more have come online.  Waiting impatiently!  Oh yeah, beware: gruesome.

Born to Be Hanged: The Epic Story of the Gentlemen Pirates Who Raided the South Seas, Rescued a Princess, and Stole a Fortune by Keith Thomson

Narrated by Feodor Chin

Audiobook published May 10, 2022

Libby blurb: "Discover the thrilling account of the roguish acts of the first pirates to raid the Pacific in a crusade that ended in a sensational trial back in England."

My two cents: Non-fiction - Sailing any ocean back in 1680 was dangerous, let alone doing it as pirates!  A must-read if you are into the history of seafarers, plus the Admiralty's amazing laissez-faire attitude years later is remarkable.  We've got Captain Henry Morgan, treks into Panama with fighting against the indigenous folk, The Spanish, and even The English.  A princess is saved!

Nose Prints

 Walkin' and Readin' Wednesday!

Two 'hood doggos, sharing one window.

The Clinton River, from The Crocker Bridge in downtown Mount Clemens, Michigan, about 1/2 mile from Eastside Cats.

Unknown neighborhood kitty, who was friendly.

Neighbor's window cat; still don't know his name.

Ruby, my neighbor who always greets me, with her wee tailio wagging a mile a minute.

Yes, she has ears.

❤️ 👀 😻

Recently completed audiobooks that I recommend:

The Royal Art of Poison: Filthy Palaces, Fatal Cosmetics, Deadly Medicine, and Murder Most Foul by Eleanor Herman
Narrated by Susie Berneis

Published: June 12, 2018

Goodreads Blurb: "In The Royal Art of Poison, Eleanor Herman combines her unique access to royal archives with cutting-edge forensic discoveries to tell the true story of Europe’s glittering palaces: one of medical bafflement, poisonous cosmetics, ever-present excrement, festering natural illness, and, sometimes, murder."

My Two Cents: Not as many forensically proven murders as one would think, but the whole world was poisonous back in the day.  Not for the faint of heart, and an interesting look into historic society that makes one wonder if it isn't just safer to be poor and unknown.  Famous folks mentioned: Napoleon Bonaparte, Danish mathematician Tycho Brahe, Baroque painter Caravaggio, and many more.

The Bravest Hour: Verity Kent Mysteries #9 by Anna Lee Huber

Narrated by Heather Wilds

#1: This Side of Murder (2017)

#2: Treacherous Is the Night (2018)

#3: Penny for Your Secrets (2019)

#4: A Pretty Deceit (2020)

#5: Murder Most Fair (2021)

#6:  A Certain Darkness (2022)

#7: The Cold Light of Day (2024)

#8: A Moment's Shadow (2025)

#9: The Bravest Hour (2026)

Goodreads Blurb: November 1920. Dublin, Ireland. British Intelligence Agent Verity Kent's efforts to foil a contemptible plot by the traitorous Lord Ardmore and save countless lives—as well as the British government’s reputation—has exposed her to detrimental scrutiny, bringing her contact with the Irish rebels to light. Crushingly, she finds herself incarcerated in Dublin Castle, the “Dread Bastille,” where she must withstand interrogation from her own countrymen.

My Two Cents: Am not a fan of this narrator, but the stories are so good!  Began reading this series in 2023, and this ninth book in the series feels like a finale, as Verity and husband Sidney have been in the game for a long time. However, the author may be unable to retire them.  The surprise of all surprises occurs early in Book #1, which hooked me like a largemouth bass.

The four audiobook Emaneska series, by Ben Galley

#1: The Written, 2010

#2: Pale Kings, 2012

#3: Dead Stars - Part One, 2013

#4: Dead Stars - Part Two, 2013

Narrated by Steven Cree

Goodreads Blurb: "Game Of Throne meets Die Hard in this explosive epic fantasy, packed with tattooed mages wielding unbridled spells, meddling gods, dragon-riders, and twisted Norse mythology."

My Two Cents: Ben Galley can write women, men, dragons, leviathans, gods, demigods, queens, and these stories (and the following three book The Scalussen Chronicles) keep the reader on the edge of their seat, and wondering what the heck is going to happen next!  This is war, played dirty and gritty, and every character is treacherous. 

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