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This was kind of a tough one for me because I tend to read more series than anything.  And, because I’m a creature of habit, I tend to continue those series rather than seek something new out.  However, I have read some pretty good debut novels recently, several of them leading me to new series.

Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P. Manansala.  I love cozy mysteries but food themed ones are my favorite.  Lots of strong, family connections in this story.

A Spell for Trouble by Esme Addison.  Another cozy, but this time paranormal.  Bonus: mermaids and magic!

Magic, Lies, and Deadly Pies by Misha Popp.  Okay, so maybe I read more cozy mysteries than I thought, because here we have another.  More magic, but with pies this time!

Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree.  I didn’t even know that cozy fantasy was a genre until I picked up this book.  And now? I need to read them all.  This, and it’s sequel, Bookshops & Bonedust, is one of the best books I’ve read this year.

The Fields by Erin Young.  A mystery/police procedural that was both graphic and intense.  There is a bit of brutality in this one, however, so if you’re sensitive, you might want to pass.  But I am anxious for the next in the series.

Off the Air by Christina Estes.  A local reporter looking into the murder of a radio personality uncovers something much larger than a murder.  I really enjoyed this one, despite the main character really losing her way at one point in the book.

Twenty-Seven Minutes by Ashley Tate.  A twisty psychological thriller told in two timelines.  I love stories about small towns with a secret and this fit the bill for me.

The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas.  In an effort to read more diverse authors, I found this.  And while I had never thought to intentionally seek out Mexican gothic horror, it’s now one of my favorite genres.  Her follow up novel, The Vampires of El Norte, is fantastic as well.

The Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse.  Another type of theme I like is stories set in old mental institutions, hospitals, etc.  So, this was right up my alley.  Really intense and gripping.  This is a fantastic series with a new book due out next month.

Sign Here by Claudia Lux.  A different sort of horror novel, this deals with the bureaucracy in Hell and how it affects those of us still on the mortal plane.

What debut novels have you read and loved?

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I love quotes and it doesn’t matter where they come from – books, TV, movies, song lyrics – they just stick in my brain and come out at the most random of times.  Having a Kindle really helps with this obsession since I don’t have to stop and write them down any longer – I can just highlight and save for later.  Neat, huh?  Also, you should see my Kindle Notes and Highlights.

Here are some of my favorites, and I hope I didn’t repeat any from the last time we did this topic.

“Don’t swim with the dolphins during a labor dispute. No matter how much they try to convince you otherwise” ― John Scalzi, Starter Villain

‘That’s the role of poetry, Ciri. To say what others cannot utter.’ – Andrzej Sapkowski, The Time of Contempt

“This is who I am. I can’t change. I don’t want to, really. But for once I’m gonna put this devil inside me to good use.” – S. A. Cosby, Razorblade Tears

“Guncle Rule number eight: Live your life to the fullest every single day, because every day is a gift. That’s why people die. To teach us the importance of living.” – Steven Rowley, The Guncle

I usually define fear as the thing I feel when the unexpected happens. Anxiety is when I’m doing something that I already know is stupid. – Andrew Mayne, Black Coral

A clever, thoughtless person is one of the most terrifying things there is. – Patrick Rothfuss, The Name of the Wind

Intimidation was a drug. But control was an illusion. – Meg Gardiner, Into the Black Nowhere

In her mind, where the line between fact and fiction is often blurred, murder is simply a solution to a problem. – B. A. Paris, Behind Closed Doors

Perhaps a heart was indeed like a piece of dry birchwood, and could only take fire and burn brightly once—that any fire that came after would be only an ember, smaller and cooler. – Tad Williams, Shadowmarch

“I’ve seen too much of the underside of life to have much confidence in people. I don’t really believe in happy endings.” I felt him swallow. “But I’ve come to believe in you.” – Kathy Reichs, Grave Secrets

I highly recommend all of the books I’ve quoted here, especially Starter Villain by John Scalzi.  He has this amazing way of taking the ridiculous and making it make sense.  Much like Douglas Adams did.  And, on that note, one last bonus quote for the road:

“There is a theory which states that if ever anyone discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable.

There is another theory which states that this has already happened.” – Douglas Adams, The Restaurant at the End of the Universe

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As much as I love to sit down with a chonker and really immerse myself in a book, there isn’t always the time for that.  Not to mention the fact that I don’t always have the attention span for it either.  So, when I’m low on time or mental focus, I grab a short book to indulge my reading need.

Manga is a favorite of mine when I need a quick read.  I can usually get through one in an hour or so.  Some of my favorites lately:

Spy x Family by Tatsuya Endo

Heartstopper by Alice Osman

Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku by Fujita.

Yes, I’ll admit it, I tend to go for the goofy manga.

There are a ton of great novellas out there as well.

Seanan McGuire’s Wayward Children series, that starts with Every Heart a Doorway, is a great series with fast, engaging stories.

The first four installments of Martha Wells’ Murderbot Diaries, starting with All Systems Red, are short, fast reads as well.  This is a series I need to catch up on soon as I love it.

Another source of quick reads are cozy mysteries.  While they’re usually a full length novel, they tend to go faster for me since the plot is light and fun.  Some of my favorite cozy series:

Witchless in Seattle, which starts with Witch Slapped, is a fun paranormal cozy series by Dakota Cassidy.

Caroline Fardig’s Java Jive series is also a fun, quick read, set in a coffee shop in Nashville, TN.  The series starts with Death Before Decaf.

Mindy Quigley has an intense, but engaging series called Deep Dish Mysteries, set in a gourmet pizzeria in Geneva Bay, WI.  The first is Six Feet Deep Dish and is a great start to an excellent series.  My only complaint is I wind up craving pizza while reading these!

And to round it out, a couple of books I recently devoured in a short time.

Out of the Fog by Clarissa Ross is an engaging gothic romance with a bit of suspense thrown in.  It was published in 1970 and the writing is to the point, making the pages fly by.

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie.  This comes in at just under 300 pages or about seven hours in audio.  However, I will say that I was so taken in by this mystery – and Richard Armitage’s narration of the audiobook – that I found myself unable to stop listening.

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I love a good relationship in a novel, especially in a series.  It’s often what draws me back to an unfinished series.  They don’t have to be romantic relationships, either.  Sometimes, the best bonds are between friends.

1. Harry Bosch and Mickey Haller (Harry Bosch/The Lincoln Lawyer) by Michael Connelly.

Harry and Mickey are half-brothers who only found each other later in life.  The thing that I love about their relationship is that Harry is an LAPD detective and Mickey is a defense lawyer, aka mortal enemies.  However, they learn to appreciate each other and form a strong, brotherly bond, often full of sharp barbs and fun banter.

2. Geralt of Rivia and Julian Alfred Pankratz, Viscount de Lettenhove, aka Jaskier the Bard (The Witcher by Andrzej Sapkowski).

Their relationship is often a rough one, but even when they want to throw each other into the dragon’s den, they’re still there for each other.  I could include Yennefer of Vengerberg in this as well because she has a similar relationship with Jaskier.

3. Sam and Amelia Rockwell (Rockwell Return Files by Jason Anspach).

From the very beginning, they have a great relationship.  She adores him, but keeps him in his place.  He loves her, and dotes on her, while respecting her.  This is huge considering the series is set in the 1950’s.

4. Sloan McPherson and Scott Hughes (Underwater Investigation Unit by Andrew Mayne).

Sloan has a tendency to be a bit reckless and impulsive.  Scott, on the other hand, is former military and a dad, bringing a sense of balance to their partnership.  However, Scott can be a bit crazy, too, when the circumstances warrant it.  Which is probably why he and Sloan work so well together.

5. Tempe Brennan and Andrew Ryan (Temperance Brennan by Kathy Reichs).

Tempe spends half the year working in Montreal for the police department identifying remains found.  This often leads to her working with her on and off again boyfriend, Detective Andrew Ryan.  Even when they’re not in a relationship, they work well together and always look after each other.  Plus, Ryan tends to be a smart aleck which I love.

6. Lindsay Boxer and Rich Conklin (Women’s Murder Club by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro).

I could go on for pages about Lindsay’s relationship with Claire, Yuki, and Cindy.  But I think her partnership and friendship with longtime partner Rich goes unnoticed.  They are great together, often coming close to anticipating the other’s ideas and needs.  And, in the end, each would give everything for the other.

7. Crowley & Aziraphale (Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman)

These two are something else.  Anytime an angel and a demon make friends, I’m all in.  An unlikely friendship turns to partners in crime of sorts and all sorts of chaos follows in their wake.

8. Arthur Dent and Ford Prefect (The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams).

What more can you want out of a friend – who is also an alien, by the way – than to have them guide you through the universe, steal a spaceship, and take you to the Restaurant at the End of the Universe?  I mean, count me in.  Just keep the Pan-Galactic Gargle Blasters to yourself.  I have to work in the morning.

9. Stephanie Plum and Lula (Stephanie Plum by Janet Evanovich).

Even after twenty-nine books, I’m still here for all the chaos that follows Steph and Lula.  Pass the TastyKakes and let the girls run wild because it’s sure to be an adventure.

10. Mickey Haller and his entire crew (The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly).

Mickey is a great character and is honestly my favorite in the Bosch Universe.  He gets along with pretty much everyone.  An excellent example of this is him hiring his second ex-wife, Lorna, to be his office manager and her new boyfriend/husband as his investigator.  He and Cisco sometimes bump heads, but they always get to the bottom of the case.

What are some of your favorite relationships?

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Since traveling isn’t possible for me at the moment (kids, pets, COVID, the usual), I’ll stick to traveling via the books I’m reading.

Places I’d like to visit that I discovered in books:

The Continent from Andrezej Sapkowski’s The Witcher series.  I’d love to meet elves, dwarves, and of course, Jaskier!

Icewind Dale, home to Drizzt Do’Urden, Bruenor Battlehammer, and more interesting characters.

Romania.  This has been featured in many books, but Mark Edwards’ Follow You Home really reawakened the urge to visit.  Just as long as nothing insane happens to me, thanks.

This is a two-fer: Charlotte, North Carolina and Montréal, Quebec, Canada. Kathy Reich’s Temperance Brennan series has really made me want to explore both cities.

The futuristic version of the US and Canada as depicted in Sean Grigsby’s Smoke Eaters.  I mean, dragons exist in that world!

Not exactly a place, but I’d love to take a trip on The Heart of Gold – the ship from The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams.  I want to know what it’s like to experience the improbability drive for myself.

Dublin, Ireland.  Although, in Catherine Ryan Howard’s book 56 Days, the country is in COVID lockdown, it’s still high on my list of places to visit someday.

Burning Lake, NY, a small, but exciting little town featured in the Natalie Lockhart novels by Alice Blanchard.

North Devon as it appears in Ann Cleeves’ Two Rivers series.  Although, I’m not sure I’d survive the cold!

Bellamy Bay, the bustling little coastal town in Esme Addison’s Enchanted Bay series.  A town where mermaid magic is alive and thriving?  Count me in.

What are some places you’d like to visit, either in real life or through the pages of a good book?