What I'm Reading: Contracts and Cats (Toni Binns)

Occasionally, I need to take a break from the type of book I'm writing, and read something completely different. I've been writing a romcom wedding story (and getting ready to pivot into erotic fantasy land) and this book (series, because I'm on book two right now) was a welcome respite--being totally different from either of those genres. 

It's also pretty cute. And it's set in a magical bookstore--who doesn't love those?

Contracts and Cats: A Cozy Slice-of-Life Fantasy (Meow: Magical Emporium of Wares Book 1)

Toni Binns

Discover the secrets of the bookstore and join Sable's extraordinary journey – pick up your copy of Meow: Magical Emporium of Wares today

Welcome to the Magical Emporium of Wares, a bookshop that appears only to those who need to find it. 

When Sable answers a too-good-to-be-true job posting—cozy bookshop, perfect espresso machine, adorable black cat, and an apartment upstairs—she thought she'd finally caught a break from her crushing student loans.

But the ink on the deal is barely dry when Sable realizes that the contract is very literal. She cannot leave. Also, her new feline companion talks, the bookstore itself is a sentient enigma with an excellent espresso machine, and magic isn’t just for storybooks–it’s woven into her new reality.

Bound to the shop as the mystical Cat's voice and hands in the human world, the bookstore's true purpose begins to unfold, and Sable must choose. Will she embrace the impossible magic blooming around her, or cling to the mundane life she thought she wanted, risking the fate of the shop and its curious inhabitants?

If you love the heartwarming charm of found family, the gentle unraveling of an enchanting mystery, and the quiet wonder of magic woven into everyday life, then this is your next favorite read.

Mug Shot: Workout Mug

What I love most about this mug is the way it matches so much of my yoga/workout gear. Other than that, it's ceramic with a cool textured design. It's a good size with a tightly fitting silicone top. I'm posting this in honor of International Day of Yoga--coming up next Sunday. 

Speaking of yoga, here's a yoga-themed excerpt from Waiting for the Big One (book one in the LA Love Lessons series):

Power Yoga with Derek Novello was never an easy class, but with Derek calling the shots, getting whipped into shape was almost a pleasure. I hurried up the walkway toward the two-story Hollywood Deco building, smiling in anticipation, enjoying the trickle of the fountain in the courtyard, the tinkle of the wind chimes in the topiary, the sweet scent of sandalwood.

“You’re late,” a voice growled the minute I set foot inside the deserted anteroom.

I froze for an instant, heart pounding in my chest, as I recognized Derek’s dark-chocolate voice. Then I turned, making one of those slow, graceful pivots I’d been practicing.

Derek has the kind of chiseled features the camera loves. Even now, with his thick, black brows drawn into a frown that had them almost meeting over the bridge of his classically perfect nose, his face was sensual, expressive, intense.

He was looking yummier than ever today, with his two-hundred-push-ups-every-morning-before-breakfast arms folded across a tight black tank, putting all those lovely muscles on an in-your-face display. The black workout pants he wore, on the other hand, were disappointingly loose, at least in front. But experience had taught me that when he turned around...ooh, baby. They’d likely mold to his glutes in a way that would make my own pants grow damp.

Was I in a rush for him to turn around? Uh-uh. ‘Cause he’s also got the fiercest brown eyes, the most delicious looking lips and, oh, I thought with a tinge of sadness, if only we weren’t friends.

“Traffic,” I explained, trying to rein in my runaway lust, trying to resist the urge to run my fingers through the dark waves of his short hair. I’d always made it a policy never to mix sex and friendship. It was something Derek knew full well, though he continued to tempt me. “You wouldn’t believe all the cars on the road today.”

“So? There’s always traffic, that’s no excuse. Besides, you only live twelve blocks away. You jog, you hike, you exercise—give me a break, Gabe. Are you really going to tell me you couldn’t walk that far? You could get here on time if you wanted to.”

I sighed, feeling even more regretful. The truth is he looks even sexier when he gets worked up, and since he’s a Scorpio, that happens a lot. “Don’t be silly, Derek. This is LA—no one walks here.”

Derek rolled his eyes. “Go get dressed.”

Sexy or not, I hate it when anyone’s annoyed with me. It’s a Pisces thing. We want everyone to be happy. Luckily, I knew just how to make Derek’s day. 

“I’m sorry, Sensei,” I murmured in my breathiest, most contrite sounding voice. I dropped my chin, laced my fingers together, and peeked up at him adoringly, like the blondest damned geisha you’ve ever seen. “Won’t you please forgive me? I promise it’ll never happen again.”

A muscle twitched at the corner of Derek’s mouth, showing me how hard he was trying not to smile. “It better not. You know the rules. Don’t expect me to make exceptions for you just because we’re friends.”

Well, that was ridiculous. Scorpios always make exceptions for their friends. That’s still the best way to tell when they’ve written you off. But as I bit my lip and took a step closer, I knew that wasn’t the case with us—yet. There was a hot, hungry look in Derek’s eyes, though he was still pretending to be indifferent to my act. ‘Course that all went to hell in an eye-popping, jaw-dropping hurry when I flashed him the twins.

“Damn,” he muttered, blinking appreciatively as I tugged my top back into place. I gave him a wink, then turned on my heel, and marched off toward the lockers.

“You still have a few minutes before class starts, Der,” I called over my shoulder. “You might want to use the time to rearrange that package of yours. It’s bulging.”

Waiting For The Big One

LA Love Lessons 1.0

One girl, two guys and a quest for ultimate satisfaction.

Aspiring actress Gabby Browne refuses to consider her best friend, and personal trainer, Derek Novello for the role of soul mate fearing sex will ruin their beautiful friendship. When she meets Zach, she's convinced that he could be The One. Too bad Derek isn't willing to share-leaving Gabby forced to choose between two sexy co-stars.

An early morning earthquake provides Gabby with the impetus she needs to stop waiting for the stars to align and finally cast her leading man.

https://books2read.com/b/the-big-one

What Am I Reading: A Monster Calls (Patrick Ness)

I'm pretty sure this is meant to be a YA book, which is fine with me. I've loved me some YA since back before I WAS YA. (See last week's post about Owl In Love) This book was recommended to me by the same friend who recommended Kathryn Moon's books to me. Anyway, I enjoyed this book a lot and I was ecstatic to learn that it's also a movie--with Sigorney Weaver in the role of Conor's grandmother. 

At first, I was surprised that I hadn't heard about it sooner, but then I realized that it came out in 2016, which was NOT a good year for me and especially not a good year for movies about someone losing a parent. OMG. Just thinking about watching it back then makes me slightly sick. But I think I'll risk seeing it now. Or now-ish. Definitely not while I'm actively trying to write a fluffy little romcom. Must preserve that romcom mindset.

A Monster Calls

Patrick Ness

https://www.amazon.com/Monster-Calls-Inspired-idea-Siobhan-ebook/dp/B00D460VJ2

At seven minutes past midnight, thirteen-year-old Conor wakes to find a monster outside his bedroom window. But it isn’t the monster Conor’s been expecting-- he’s been expecting the one from his nightmare, the nightmare he’s had nearly every night since his mother started her treatments. The monster in his backyard is different. It’s ancient. And wild. And it wants something from Conor. Something terrible and dangerous. It wants the truth. From the final idea of award-winning author Siobhan Dowd-- whose premature death from cancer prevented her from writing it herself-- Patrick Ness has spun a haunting and darkly funny novel of mischief, loss, and monsters both real and imagined.

Mug Shot: Pelican State Mug

So, I love pelicans. I love the way an entire squadron will glide across the sky. They're freaking majestic. I've been enamored of them ever since my docent days at the Berkeley Marina--a very long time ago. But I did not know until recently that they were the Louisiana state bird. 

What I'm Reading: Owl Shifters

Recently I read two owl-shifter books by Seana Kelly. They're short, entertaining mysteries (with romantic elements) involving a variety of shifters. They remind me a little of the Sierra Shifters stories I've been working on. But the reason I picked them up had very little to do with that. I liked the covers, too, but again that's not usually something that motivates me to pick up a book. No, I bought these books because of a YA novel that I'd read and loved back when my kids were teenagers. Owl in Love is a wonderful little book that's only available in print and--sadly--no longer has the gorgeous cover (pictured below) that it originally had.

It's a funny thing. I don't really feel any great desire to write YA even though some of the books that I remember most vividly and have stuck with me the longest are YA. 

OWL IN LOVE

Patricia Kindl

https://www.amazon.com/Owl-Love-Patrice-Kindl/dp/0395661625/

Birds of prey have run in fourteen-year-old Owl Tycho's family for hundreds of years. Every generation or so produces a shape-shifter, an apparently normal human being who can change into an owl at will.

Night Owl Books (A Story in the World of the Sea Wicche Book 1)

Seana Kelly

https://www.amazon.com/Night-Books-Story-World-Wicche-ebook/dp/B0DQR7Q76W/

Orla is an owl shifter, so her bookstore Night Owl Books is only open from 8pm to 6am. She gets very few customers—other than a couple of insomniacs—and that's the way she likes it. Customers tend to interrupt her reading. All of that changes one night when a terrified woman runs into the bookstore, followed by two bear shifters, a werewolf, and a psychic wicche. Poor Orla's night is about to be far less quiet.

Night Owl Bridge (A Story in the World of the Sea Wicche Book 2)

Seana Kelly

https://www.amazon.com/Night-Bridge-Story-World-Wicche-ebook/dp/B0GQJ3JLX9/

Owl shifter Orla’s quiet life of reading is once again disturbed. This time, Nick—bear-shifter, cop, and possible boyfriend—asks her to help him investigate an odd disappearance at a local bridge. Orla can’t see anything amiss, but she definitely feels something off. The bones she spies under the bridge lead her to believe they’re dealing with a bigger problem than Nick suspects. Orla must once again put down her book and help save her little corner of the world.

Mug Shot: Toasted Yolk Mug

We visited the Toasted Yolk in Waco on Mother's Day. We were lucky because we got there early and were able to be seated right away. And yes, we've been doing A LOT of traveling lately. As you've probably figured out, I really love this style of mug, but I wasn't able to buy it because they'd run out of mugs to sell. 

So I guess that'll have to wait until next time. 

So, 

What I'm Reading: Gorgon with the Wind (Devon Monk)

In case you haven't noticed, I love linked series. And Devon Monk is great at it! She started with her Ordinary Magic romance series, spun that into the Souls of the Road romantic suspense series, spun that into her Mystic Crossroads series and has now returned to the scene of the original crimes, giving us a new trilogy of cozy mysteries, the Ordinary Oregon Mysteries.

Gorgon with the Wind

Devon Monk

https://www.devonmonk.com/ordinary-oregon-mystery/

A hilarious, cozy, magic-packed whodunit by National Bestseller Devon Monk

Come for the wacky festivals…stay for the murders…

Medusa, (yes, that Medusa) is done with heroes and heartache. From now on, her life is going to be filled with plenty of books, tea, and solitude. But when an unexpected favor takes her to Ordinary, Oregon—the quirky little beach town with vacationing gods, a bossy Valkyrie, and a book club run by Death—she quickly discovers the town might have a slight murder problem.

Accused of killing a local, Medusa teams up with her new friends—Jules, a witch who’s lost her way, and Piper, a psychic unsure of her powers—to clear her name.

But with time running out, it’s going to take all of their wits, will, and magic to find the killer before the festival crowds fade away, taking the clues and the killer with them…