Can't Wait Wednesday - Beyond the Pale by Clare O'Donohue

Linking up with Wishful Endings today :)

Every week, I skim through the "Coming Soon" list at Barnes and Noble for the following week.  

I love looking at the covers and selecting finalists for my upcoming favorites.
Yes, I'm a book nerd.

If I find a cover that interests me, then I open it up and read the blurb.

There are way too many books to read for me to waste one more second, so a book has to grab me...where I am...in that moment.
Most of the time, I can't even predict what that moment looks like.
It's up to the book really ;)

I force myself to stop at 1 choice.  Once I find it, I stop looking...until next week :)

Without further adieu, here's my Can't Wait choice among the "Coming Soon" selections on Barnes and Noble for the week of May 7, 2018:

Beyond the Pale by Clare O'Donohue

Publisher: Llewellyn Worldwide, LTD

Publication Date: 05/08/2018

Series: A World of Spies Mystery Series, #1

Pages: 360

Here's the synopsis from Barnes and Noble: 

(I've highlighted in red the parts that yell at me loud and clear that I must read this book!)

“O’Donohue (the Someday Quilts series) supplies plenty of fun spy business, but the believability and chemistry of Hollis and Finn as a couple, as shown in their witty dialogue, is the main appeal.”—Publishers Weekly

"The relationship between Hollis and Finn is the hook in this smart debut. It's rare to find a contemporary mystery that makes the everyday challenge of honest communication between partners so compelling, but that's exactly the core of this entertaining mystery about a husband-wife team of crime solvers."—Booklist

"Armchair travelers will delight in the colorful descriptions of Ireland, while mystery buffs who enjoy charming sleuths will appreciate the quick-witted couple"—Library Journal

For college professors Hollis and Finn Larsson, a simple undercover errand becomes a deadly jaunt across Ireland in this edge-of-your-seat suspense novel from bestselling author Clare O’Donohue

It’s an easy, twenty-minute job. At least, that’s the pitch from Interpol to professors Hollis and Finn Larsson. Going undercover to procure a priceless rare book manuscript means an all-expenses paid trip abroad. A little danger thrown into the mix may even spice up their marriage.

Soon after landing in the Emerald Isle, they realize the job is anything but easy. Their contact is a no-show and they’re left with fifty thousand euros, a death threat, and some serious questions. Ducking and dodging their way across Ireland, Hollis and Finn must hunt down the priceless manuscript and a missing agent while trying to stay one step ahead of a dangerous and unknown enemy.

"O’Donohue knows her Irish literature and countryside, and weaves them beautifully into an action-filled story."—Sara Paretsky, author of the V.I. Warshawski series

"Clare O'Donohue may have invented a new category of crime fiction—the amateur spy novel—and I'm a big fan. At turns funny, real, and nail-biting, Beyond the Pale is a terrific read."— Lori Rader-Day, Anthony and Mary Higgins Clark Award-Winning author of The Black Hour, Little Pretty Things, and The Day I Died

"Excitement definitely comes into Hollis's life. But instead of something that could inject life into her marriage, she may just be facing someone who will end her and her husband's lives once and for all. This is Book 1 in the new World of Spies mystery series, and the author has created the perfect roller-coaster ride."—Suspense Magazine

About the Author

Clare O’Donohue is the author of the Kate Conway Mysteries and the Someday Quilts Mysteries. She was a producer for the HGTV show Simply Quilts, and has worked on shows for the History Channel, truTV, Food Network, A&E, Discovery, and TLC.

www.ClareODonohue.com

I'm excited about the possibilities of starting a brand new series right from the start.  Anybody else heard of this one?

Or read any of the other books by Clare O'Donohue?

Books I'd Slay a Lion to Get Early - Top Ten Tuesday - May 1, 2018

While last week's list was a bit difficult, this week's list became in danger of snowballing very quickly!

"Coming Soon" lists are very dangerous for me and my TBR shelves.
I don't have enough TBR shelves for lists like today!
And that list will grow enormously once I start reading everyone else's lists.

In order to narrow my list down to 10, I tried to leave off any titles that I didn't feel I was desperate for...I'm not slaying any lions for any book...or anything for that matter...but that's another blog post.

Without further adieu...

Ten Books I Wouldn't Slay a Lion to Get Early, but I would be freakishly happy over: 

1.  Bridge of Clay by Markus Zusak

Bridge of Clay is a totally different story than The Book Thief...but I would probably read anything Zusak wrote.  I won't even see the movie because I don't want The Book Thief ruined in my head.  Yep, I'm one of those readers.

2.  Becoming Mrs. Lewis by Patti Callahan

I didn't even know Becoming Mrs. Lewis existed until I started scanning Goodreads upcoming lists!
I love C.S. Lewis.  Period.
His wife's story is one that I'm not familiar with at all.
Can't wait!

3.  The Spellbook of Katrina Van Tassel by Alyssa Palombo

I'm not a huge fan of classic retellings...unless I'm actually familiar with the classic...and my head is in just the right frame of mind.
The Spellbook of Katrina Van Tassel is a retelling of sorts of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving.  This time, however, Ichobod's love interest gets a chance to talk.
American Lit and history, particularly women's places within those times, are sooooo interesting to me.  Some people don't like historical fiction, but women's stories weren't told then...records are nowhere near as in depth for women as they were for men.  For some stories, historical fiction is all we have.
I love it...especially if it's done well.
And spooky just adds to the equation.

4.  Unsheltered by Barbara Kingsolver

Kingsolver got my attention with Animal Vegetable Miracle and then kept me interested with Flight of the Butterflies.
As I turn 50 this year, it feels as if Kingsolver decided to write a novel just for me in Unsheltered.  I'm actually putting this one on my auto-ship from Amazon so I'll have it on my doorstep the day it publishes in October.

5.  The Library Book by Susan Orlean

I have Susan Orlean's Rin Tin Tin because of my love for all things German Shepherds.  I haven't read it yet, but I did try to listen to it on audio.  Orlean's writing is not audioish to me...there's so much to take in, and every word is important.  Rin Tin Tin survived the great moving book purge of this year because I couldn't let her words go.  I wanted to save them for a time when I could slow down and savor them.
With The Library Book, she's writing about the great fire of the Los Angeles Public Library in 1986.
I'm expecting words that need to be savored about words...
I'm all in.  

6.  The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein by Kiersten White

If you made me choose a favorite classic, it would be Frankenstein.
Now, I didn't read Frankenstein until adulthood...I actually was assigned to teach it so of course, I had to learn it right along with my students.
I don't know if that made all the difference to me or not, but I loved it...and saw immediately that it was so much more than a "monster" story.
The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein is the Frankenstein story told from the point of view of Elizabeth, Victor Frankenstein's adopted sister.
Did you know that the 200th anniversary of Frankenstein is on the horizon??
I can't wait to see the anniversary editions that are sure to be published!

7.  On Reading Well by Karen Swallow Prior 

I started following Karen Swallow Prior on Instagram and Twitter after some soul searching.
Politics aside, I've had to re-think some beliefs after watching so-called "evangelicals" try to speak for all Christians in ways that I have never in my life purported to believe.
I've finally found some intelligent, theological, educated, outspoken, caring women to follow and guide me in my own faith walk in ways that DO indeed align with the actual walk of Jesus Christ.
I'm excited to read On Reading Well as I continue on my soul enriching journey towards the teachings of Christ and not the pseudo teachings of those who claim to be in the know to the detriment of those they choose to "other."
So much for putting politics aside right?

8.  Becoming by Michelle Obama

Politics aside (again), how can any woman dismiss the story of any of our first ladies.
How?
They are history.  Finally, we've reached a time where their voices can be heard.  We owe it to our gender, to our daughters, to women everywhere to start filling in the gaps.
I'm auto-shipping Becoming.

9.  Look Alive Twenty-Five by Janet Evanovich

Stephanie Plum novels aren't literary fiction by any stretch of the imagination, but one thing I can always count on this series for is at least a few laugh out louds.
I'll probably either check Look Alive Twenty-Five out from the library or download it on my Kindle...but I shall have it.


10.  Probable Claws by Rita Mae Brown

Another fun series to enjoy some downtime with is the Rita Mae Brown Sneaky Pie series, and this installment hits shelves at the end of May...just in time for vacation!

I'm off to grab as many titles as I can from the other lists!!!!
Join us over at The Artsy Reader Girl every Tuesday for the funnest meme in the Blogosphere!

Top Ten Tuesday - Ten Frequently Used Words

This week's Top Ten Tuesday was a little difficult for me at first.  

So difficult, in fact, I wasn't sure I was going to be able to complete the prompt.

I definitely gravitate towards some genres more than others, but I jump around genres too.

Hence my issue with coming up with words used most often in a specific genre 

I clicked on a few of the early linkers' posts and pretty quickly doubted my abilities again to fulfill today's quest. 

I walked over to my own bookshelf in my bedroom and just stood there for a few minutes. 

I guess I thought something was going to jump right off the shelves and smack me in the face.

I did not see one or two words repeated overwhelmingly among the books I currently own on this one shelf...what I did see though were words in titles that pulled at me.

Words like woman, library, dog, books, house, and writing...

I took those words to Goodreads and played with them just a bit to see which if any showed up more often in my lists...read and TBR...

Guess What?

The word "House" shows up in my two lists overwhelmingly more than any of the others I searched.  

Eureka!

Without further adieu....

"The Top 10 Books on my Shelf that Repeat the Same Word"

The Great House by Nicole Krauss

I own a hardback copy of The Great House, and it survived the great book moving purge this year. That probably means I should go ahead and read it soon...what am I waiting on?

A Painted House by John Grisham

I own a hardback copy of A Painted House as well...but this one I've read.  It's actually my favorite Grisham.

The Round House by Louise Erdrich

I can always depend on Louis Erdrich to give me words I can sink my teeth into...and information that makes me question who I am and what I know about the world.  I love, love, love the idea of different "houses"....it just hit me that there's a play of words going on here as well as just a list.
You can find my review here.

The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton

When I hit a classic that grabs me and won't let go, it becomes a favorite, and these are the few books in my lifetime that I've ever longed to re-read. 

I only own The House of Mirth in paperback, but I would love to find a lovely hardbound copy for keeps.

The Cider House Rules by John Irving

I lost my hardback copy of The Cider House Rules somewhere along the way.  

Irving's novel is one of the few that I felt was done well in the 1999 movie.  

I loved both.

The House Girl by Tara Conklin

I own a hardback copy of The House Girl thanks to a generous publisher :)
My review can be found here.

The House of the Seven Gables by Nathaniel Hawthorne

My copy of The House of the Seven Gables is an old library copy, bought at a fundraiser of some sort.
Gosh, this is a good read. 

My review can be found here.

Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder

I've read The Little House series multiple times in my youth and was, of course, an avid watcher of the show, owned the series and specials on VHS, shared them with my own daughters, and bought a set of the oversized paperbacks for them when they were little.  

My girls never appreciated The Little House stories as much as I did, but these books represent a huge part of my childhood.  I would buy and keep collectible copies of these.

The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros

The House on Mango Street is on one of the shelves in my office...without even a broken spine. 

Need to take care of that soon!

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

I have an old ratty paperback of The Haunting of Hill House.

Similar to The House of the Seven Gables, I just don't believe today's authors and creators understand true creepy like class writers did.  

Classic writers didn't use blunt, horrible, bloody visuals, and 50 ways to kill someone descriptions...they chose their words carefully...and those words seep into the reader's mind...create vivid imagery, complete with all 4 senses triggered.

Yep, that's the good stuff.

The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom

I haven't read this one, and I'm pretty sure it's still in a box in the garage.  Oy.

I'm ready to see what everyone else came up with this week!

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