Maybe a prostituteCould teach you howTo accept a compliment—The Tragically Hip, “Flamenco” It was 1989 when I saw John Lurie on TV in a late-night advertisement for the new Lounge Lizards album, Voice of Chunk, which was “not available in stores” and selling exclusively through an 800 number. Operators were standing by. It was a […]
Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2022/08/18/downtown-confessional-the-history-of-bones-john-lurie/
In November 2019 some one thousand young pro-democracy protesters occupied the campus of Hong Kong’s Polytechnic University, which is located at a crucial junction of two highways and the cross-harbor tunnel. They disrupted traffic for more than a week, trying to pressure the government to investigate police misconduct during large-scale protests earlier in the year. […]
Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2022/08/18/hong-kong-from-the-inside-ian-johnson/
In the mid-sixth century AD a North African writer named Verecundus sat down to compose a Latin poem. Verecundus was a good Christian, indeed a bishop. And his poem was on a good Christian subject, repentance. In its two hundred or so lines he denounces his own sinfulness, describes his sorrow and remorse, appeals to […]
Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2022/08/18/the-last-reversal-apocalypse-and-golden-age-star/
Early in the twentieth century there lived in Greenwich Village a few hundred women and men who were bent on making a revolution not so much in politics as in consciousness. Among them were artists, intellectuals, and social theorists for whom the words free and new had achieved a reverential status. “Free speech, free thought, […]
Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2022/08/18/what-we-want-is-to-start-a-revolution-hotbed-scutts/
A sudden bang erupts in the opening moments of Memoria, as if volleyed from the edge of a dream. It rouses Jessica (Tilda Swinton), a Scottish orchidologist far from home and suffering the insomniac’s usual fog: night drips into day and hallucinations leak into waking life. Like the ghosts and monsters that the filmmaker Apichatpong […]
Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/daily/2022/08/18/perfect-recall-memoria/
Nonna’s Corner is a special feature where I share books I’ve reviewed with my grandchildren, affectionately referred to as the “Royals” here at Caffeinated.
Today, the Royals and I are sharing our thoughts on A Feast for Pleasant Beasts, written by J.T. Bird and illustrated by Andy Catling. If you love fantasy and hope your little ones do too, this tale is perfect because a troll, a yeti, a cyclops and more are all heading to Cuthbert Wormhill’s for a picnic.
A Feast for Pleasant Beasts
by J.T. Bird
Illustrator: Andy Catling
Genres: Childrens
Source: Author
Purchase*: Amazon *affiliate
Rating: 
It’s not only bears that cherish a secret picnic…
Every July beasts gather in the forest for a feast and plenty of fun, but if you wish to attend then you need to have marvellous manners. Whether you’re a troll, a yeti, cyclops, or pungent monster – it really doesn’t matter so long as you’re reasonably pleasant. But – surprise surprise – things don’t always go according to plan.
From award-winning author and comedian JT Bird comes a delicious blend of Where the Wild Things Are and The Tiger Who Came to Tea. This is a joyous tale about friendship, kindness, and oodles of creamy desserts. Perfect for early readers – it will teach children about tolerance and good old fashioned values, whilst sparking a few giggles too.
(And it’s just the ticket for fans of peculiar creatures)
{
“@context”:”https://schema.org”,
“@type”:”Review”,
“datePublished”: “2022-08-01T05:00:00+00:00”,
“description”: “Today, the Royals and I are sharing our thoughts on A Feast for Pleasant Beasts written by J.T. Bird and illustrated by Andy Catling. If you love fantasy and hope your little ones do too, this ta”,
“publisher”: {
“@type”: “Organization”,
“name”: “Caffeinated Reviewer” },
“url”: “https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/2022/08/nonnas-corner-a-feast-for-pleasant-beasts-by-j-t-bird.html”,
“itemReviewed”: {
“@type”: “Book”,
“name”: “A Feast for Pleasant Beasts”,
“author”: {
“@type”: “Person”,
“name”: “J.T. Bird”,
“sameAs”: “” },
“isbn”: “” },
“author”: {
“@type”: “Person”,
“name”: “Kimberly”,
“sameAs”: “https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/” },
“reviewRating”: {
“@type”: “Rating”,
“ratingValue”: 5,
“bestRating”: “5”
}
}
A Feast for Pleasant Beasts is not an early reader, so I read this one to the Royals. They absolutely loved it. The author colorfully describes each guest and the illustrations bring them to life. We laughed at their descriptions from the silly to stories about them that had my grandchildren asking, “Nonna, is that true?” It was fun to reply, “Well, I don’t know about that but I once read a book with a cyclops in it.” I could see their inquisitive minds wanting more.
All the beasts are friendly, which is why they are invited each year by young Cuthbert to his picnic. Cuthbert is a boy who lives in a cave and is friends with a bear. You’ll like him. I know we did.
Just wait until you get to the picnic. Oh my, what a feast from cockroach casserole to bread dunked in slime. I will admit Clayton loved these dishes the most while Sophia screamed well, at least until she heard about the desserts. The feast inspired us to have a picnic where we ate gummy worms and sandwiched cut into shapes.
The children loved the surprise near the end and I loved everyone working together to clean up after the feast before singing around a campfire. It was a delightful tale from beginning to end, with plenty of new vocabulary words and perfect to spark the imagination of young readers.
Amazon
Nonna's Corner: A Feast for Pleasant Beasts by J.T. Bird offers a delightful tale to fuel the imagination #childrensbooks #bookreview
Click To Tweet
Never miss a post by adding Caffeinated to your Inbox
Source
Original source: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/2022/08/nonnas-corner-a-feast-for-pleasant-beasts-by-j-t-bird.html
I absolutely love the Kat Holloway Mysteries and couldn’t wait to begin The Secret of Bow Lane by Jennifer Ashley. This is the sixth novel and one of my favorites. Ashley delivered from an exciting mystery to a look into Kat’s life before she became a cook. Suspense, romantic developments and a mystery await you….
The Secret of Bow Lane
by Jennifer Ashley
Series: Kat Holloway #6
Genres: Historical Fiction
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate
Rating:
A stranger who appears on Kat’s doorstep turns out to be one Charlotte Bristow, legal wife of Joe Bristow, the man Kat once believed herself married to—who she thought died at sea twelve years ago. Kat is jolted by Charlotte’s claims that not only was Joe murdered, but he had amassed a small fortune before he died. Charlotte makes the cook an offer she cannot refuse—if Kat can discover the identity of Joe’s murderer, Charlotte will give her a share of the fortune Joe left behind.
With the help of Daniel McAdam, her attractive and charismatic confidante, Kat plunges into her own past to investigate. When it becomes apparent that the case of Joe’s death goes far deeper than simple, opportunistic theft, Kat and Daniel’s relationship is put to the test, and Kat herself comes under scrutiny as her connection to Joe is uncovered. She must race to catch the real killer before she loses her job and possibly her life.
{
“@context”:”https://schema.org”,
“@type”:”Review”,
“datePublished”: “2022-08-02T05:00:00+00:00”,
“description”: “Jennifer Ashley. This is the sixth novel and one of my favorites. Ashley delivered from an exciting mystery to a look into Kat’s life before she became a cook. Suspense, romantic developments and”,
“publisher”: {
“@type”: “Organization”,
“name”: “Caffeinated Reviewer” },
“url”: “https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/2022/08/the-secret-of-bow-lane-by-jennifer-ashley.html”,
“itemReviewed”: {
“@type”: “Book”,
“name”: “The Secret of Bow Lane”,
“author”: {
“@type”: “Person”,
“name”: “Jennifer Ashley”,
“sameAs”: “http://www.jenniferashley.com/” },
“isbn”: “” },
“author”: {
“@type”: “Person”,
“name”: “Kimberly”,
“sameAs”: “https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/” },
“reviewRating”: {
“@type”: “Rating”,
“ratingValue”: 5,
“bestRating”: “5”
}
}
While each of the books in the series offers a mystery and could stand on their own, I highly recommend you start from the beginning. The character relationships and overall series arc deserve your full attention.
When Charlotte Bristow, the legal wife of Joe Bristow, shows up on Kat’s doorstep with a curious tale about money and murder, Kat cannot help but wonder. As much as the past pains her, she investigates. The case takes her back to her marriage, and time spent on Bow Lane.
Holloway shared an intriguing case that cleverly allowed her to shed light on Kat’s past and what led her to her current employment as a cook. We also learned about Daniel’s past and saw movement in the developing romance. Eep!
The story was tightly told and the unfolding of details and feelings were perfectly woven into the current story. I think perhaps this was my favorite of the series to date. I, of course, continue to love all the attention to detail, from clothing to menus prepared in the kitchen. The author makes you feel as if you are sitting in the kitchen below stairs in 1882 London.
This book is for you if …..
As always, I was left looking forward to more adventures with Kat, Daniel, and the gang. I highly recommend the series and would love to hear your thoughts.
Amazon | Audibe
The Secret of Bow Lane by Jennifer Ashley delivered long awaited answered and an intriguing mystery to be solved. #KatHollowayMysterie #historicalfiction #bookreview #mustread
Click To Tweet
NY Times Bestselling author Jennifer Ashley writes historical, contemporary, and paranormal romance, historical mysteries, and urban fantasy as Jennifer Ashley, Allyson James, and Ashley Gardner. Jennifer’s novels have won RWA’s RITA and RT Reviewer’s Choice awards, have been translated into many different languages and earned starred reviews from Booklist and Publisher’s Weekly.
Never miss a post by adding Caffeinated to your Inbox
Source
Original source: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/2022/08/the-secret-of-bow-lane-by-jennifer-ashley.html
Please welcome Sophia Rose to the blog with a World War II historical fiction, The Codebreaker’s Secret by Sara Ackerman. Come for the lush island setting, stay for the mystery.
The Codebreaker’s Secret
by Sara Ackerman
Genres: Historical Fiction
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate
Rating:
A brilliant female codebreaker. An “unbreakable” Japanese naval code. A pilot on a top-secret mission that could change the course of WWII. The Codebreaker’s Secret is a dazzling story of love and intrigue set during America’s darkest hour.
1943. As war in the Pacific rages on, Isabel Cooper and her codebreaker colleagues huddle in “the dungeon” at Station HYPO in Pearl Harbor, deciphering secrets plucked from the airwaves in a race to bring down the enemy. Isabel has only one wish: to avenge her brother’s death. But she soon finds life has other plans when she meets his best friend, a hotshot pilot with secrets of his own.
1965. Fledgling journalist Lu Freitas comes home to Hawai’i to cover the grand opening of the glamorous Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Rockefeller’s newest and grandest project. When a high-profile guest goes missing, Lu forms an unlikely alliance with an intimidating veteran photographer to unravel the mystery. The two make a shocking discovery that stirs up memories and uncovers an explosive secret from the war days. A secret that only a codebreaker can crack.
{
“@context”:”https://schema.org”,
“@type”:”Review”,
“datePublished”: “2022-08-03T05:00:00+00:00”,
“description”: “Please welcome Sophia Rose to the blog with a World War II historical fiction, The Codebreakeru2019s Secret by Sara Ackerman. Come for the lush island setting, stay for the mystery. “,
“publisher”: {
“@type”: “Organization”,
“name”: “Caffeinated Reviewer” },
“url”: “https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/2022/08/the-codebreakers-secret-by-sara-ackerman.html”,
“itemReviewed”: {
“@type”: “Book”,
“name”: “The Codebreakeru2019s Secret”,
“author”: {
“@type”: “Person”,
“name”: “Sara Ackerman”,
“sameAs”: “http://www.ackermanbooks.com/” },
“isbn”: “” },
“author”: {
“@type”: “Person”,
“name”: “Kimberly”,
“sameAs”: “https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/” },
“reviewRating”: {
“@type”: “Rating”,
“ratingValue”: 4,
“bestRating”: “5”
}
}
Two intrepid women, a shared mystery, war codebreaking, and a tropical island paradise, make the latest Sara Ackerman historical fiction a lush and layered story for readers.
I’ve only experienced one other book from the author, Radar Girls, so was expecting something of the same sort, but The Codebreaker’s Secret surprised me with a dual timeline and a murder mystery beyond the expected women’s history, side romance, and war elements set in Hawaii that are usual to her books. Once I adjusted to this change in structure, I settled into the separate and then merged tales of Isabel and Lu.
At first, I was more taken with Isabel’s tale set in the WWII period as a crack codebreaker who was sent to the top secret ‘basement’ in Hawaii after she earned the highest codebreaking status and felt the fulfillment that she has likely saved many American lives. Walt, her Navy pilot brother came down there in the Pearl Harbor attack and so there she must be to go up against the Japanese herself and crack their codes to beat them on behalf of her brother. Matteo, Walt’s best friend and fellow pilot who is eaten by a secret is someone she grows close to while doing her important work. Then, she stumbles over a dangerous possibility- a spy for the enemy among their own?
Lu’s side was seeing her ambitions of being a successful journalist thwarted because she’s a woman, but has her chance to come home and cover the big hotel grand opening. Her friend disappears and a certain photographer named Matteo helps her, but the disappearance leads to a murder and a dark secret of the WWII days exposed. At first, as I said, I was drawn to Izzy’s time line, but Lu’s time line got going about half way and the two merged since a code turns up and Isobel is needed once again.
I was glad to see the author’s writing pulled me in this second book and I was engaged with her characters and their situations. The mystery added a layer of suspense that is always a welcome element to me though it does end up rather pat. I was a sucker for the romance and was touched to see the author wrote in Matteo’s war and PTSD struggles that were only vaguely acknowledged or understood back then. There is a nice layered story as a result of it all.
More than ever, I want to go back and hit Sara Ackerman’s backlist. WWII historical fictions with women protagonists set in the Pacific Theater are harder to find so that is a big compelling draw, but, in truth, it is her writing. She is slipping toward my favorite author list and I’m happy to see it. Do go, historical fiction fans, and put this on the reading stack.
Amazon | Audible
Two intrepid women, a shared mystery, war codebreaking, and a tropical island paradise make The Codebreaker’s Secret by Sara Ackerman a lush and layered story. #historicalfiction #bookreview
Click To Tweet
USA Today bestselling author Sara Ackerman was born and raised in Hawaii. She studied journalism and earned graduate degrees in psychology and Chinese medicine. She blames Hawaii for her addiction to writing, and sees no end to its untapped stories. When she’s not writing or teaching, you’ll find her in the mountains or in the ocean. She currently lives on the Big Island with her boyfriend and a houseful of bossy animals.
Never miss a post by adding Caffeinated to your Inbox
Sophia is a quiet though curious gal who dabbles in cooking, book reviewing, and gardening. Encouraged and supported by an incredible man and loving family. A Northern Californian transplant to the Great Lakes Region of the US. Lover of Jane Austen, Baseball, Cats, Scooby Doo, and Chocolate. Associate Reviewer for Delighted Reader blog.
Source
Original source: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/2022/08/the-codebreakers-secret-by-sara-ackerman.html
Narrated by Devon Sorvari, Mystic Madness by Kim Richardson is the eighth audiobook in the Witches of Hollow Cove. Fans of urban fantasy with a cozy mystery vibe and snarky protagonists will want to pack their bags and head to Hollow Cove.
Mystic Madness
by Kim Richardson
Series: Witches of Hollow Cove #8
Narrator: Devon Sorvari
Length: 7 hours and 49 minutes
Genres: Urban Fantasy
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate
All I wanted to do was sit back and relax with a certain, hot, very, very hot, panty-melting hot—wereape. But, instead, I’m busy trying to find the queen of hell.
Have I found her? Not yet. And I’m running out of places to look. I know it’s only a matter of time before she does something stupid—like obliterate an entire town because they dressed better than her because that’s who she is.
But I’ve got worse problems.
Things soon spiral down the crapper when two teenagers are found dead in Hollow Cove. The evidence points to something witchy.
A new evil hangs over our town, a significant threat to the Davenport witches and all the witches in Hollow Cove. I must defeat this new threat to keep my loved ones safe.
Easy peasy, right?
We’ll see.
{
“@context”:”https://schema.org”,
“@type”:”Review”,
“datePublished”: “2022-08-04T05:00:00+00:00”,
“description”: “Narrated by Devon Sorvari, Mystic Madness by Kim Richardson is the eighth audiobook in the Witches of Hollow Cove. Fans of urban fantasy with a cozy mystery vibe and snarky protagonists will want”,
“publisher”: {
“@type”: “Organization”,
“name”: “Caffeinated Reviewer” },
“url”: “https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/2022/08/%f0%9f%8e%a7-mystic-madness-by-kim-richardson.html”,
“itemReviewed”: {
“@type”: “Book”,
“name”: “Mystic Madness”,
“author”: {
“@type”: “Person”,
“name”: “Kim Richardson”,
“sameAs”: “http://www.kimrichardsonbooks.com” },
“isbn”: “” },
“author”: {
“@type”: “Person”,
“name”: “Kimberly”,
“sameAs”: “https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/” },
“reviewRating”: {
“@type”: “Rating”,
“ratingValue”: false,
“bestRating”: “5”
}
}
Wow, Tessa gets herself in a pickle in Mystic Madness and, honestly, it’s her own fault. She goes and accuses someone of murder. Someone she already owes a favor to. Eep. Two teens are found dead in Hollow Cove and its differently a job for the Merlins. While things are going well in the romance department, that doesn’t mean Allison isn’t stirring the pot. Did I mention someone wants to kill all the shifters and the entire town is trapped? Yep.
The tale that unfolds had snark, goddesses dealing with ex’s and plenty of twists and turns. As usual, Richardson kept me listening even when the characters’ actions annoyed me. It will take everyone working together to get the town out of this pickle. While Tessa runs in head first with total disregard for her own life, you can’t fault her good intentions.
Devon Sorvari continues to narrate the series and has become the voice of these characters. Her performance enhances the story from suspenseful moments to the humorous undertones.
While each audiobook in the Witches of Hollow Cove contains its own mystery, relationships and overall series arc development dictate that the series be listened to in the order of its release.
Amazon* | Audible
*Kindle Unlimited
Mystic Madness by Kim Richardson finds Tessa and the entire town of Hollow Cove in trouble. #urbanfantasy #audiobook #DevonSorvari #audiobookreview
Click To Tweet
Kim Richardson is the award-winning author of the bestselling SOUL GUARDIANS series. She lives in the eastern part of Canada with her husband, two dogs and a very old cat. She is the author of the SOUL GUARDIANS series, the MYSTICS series, and the DIVIDED REALMS series. Kim’s books are available in print editions, and translations are available in over 7 languages.
Devon Sorvari is an Actress and Audio Book Narrator who performed the narration of Number Six in Audio books for Six’s Legacy, The Rise of Nine, The Revenge of Seven, The Fate of Ten, and United As One.
Never miss a post by adding Caffeinated to your Inbox
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
Source
Original source: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/2022/08/%f0%9f%8e%a7-mystic-madness-by-kim-richardson.html
Aura of Night by Heather Graham continues the Embracer mystery within the Krewe of Hunter series. This time we spend time with Krewe Agent Ragnar Johnson and book editor Megan Law, who is writing a book about her experience with the Embracer. Suspense, paranormal elements and wicked chemistry await you….
Aura of Night
by Heather Graham
Series: Krewe of Hunters #37
Genres: Paranormal, Romantic Suspense
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate
Rating:
Heat Level: 
True evil never dies. It only waits in the dark.
All book editor Megan Law wants is to bury the memory of her brutal kidnapping and move on with her life. So when her publisher asks her to spin her hellish experience into the next bestseller, Megan agrees only because it might help keep other women safe. Then a mysterious, gruesome package arrives in the mail—a reminder that the nightmare isn’t over just yet.
FBI investigator Ragnar Johnson is running out of time. He knows in his gut there’s more to the recent Embracer killings, and he needs Megan’s help. Even with their rocky past behind them, working together now isn’t going to be easy. But when things take a deadly turn, Megan and Ragnar discover a deep connection that they’ll have to use, because something is trying to tear them apart…forever.
{
“@context”:”https://schema.org”,
“@type”:”Review”,
“datePublished”: “2022-08-18T05:00:00+00:00”,
“description”: “Aura of Night by Heather Graham continues the Embracer mystery within the Krewe of Hunter series. This time we spend time with Krewe Agent Ragnar Johnson and book editor Megan Law who is writing “,
“publisher”: {
“@type”: “Organization”,
“name”: “Caffeinated Reviewer” },
“url”: “https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/2022/08/aura-of-night-by-heather-graham.html”,
“itemReviewed”: {
“@type”: “Book”,
“name”: “Aura of Night”,
“author”: {
“@type”: “Person”,
“name”: “Heather Graham”,
“sameAs”: “http://www.theoriginalheathergraham.com/” },
“isbn”: “” },
“author”: {
“@type”: “Person”,
“name”: “Kimberly”,
“sameAs”: “https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/” },
“reviewRating”: {
“@type”: “Rating”,
“ratingValue”: 4,
“bestRating”: “5”
}
}
While his partner is away on his honeymoon, FBI Agent Ragnar Johnson is continuing to interview the suspects in the Embracer case. During an interview with one of them, he realizes that former victim Megan Law is in trouble. The tale that unfolds delivers suspense and sparks as the two share a safe house and Megan uses her gift with words to listen to the suspects.
When a package containing a grizzly discovery arrives at Megan’s NY office addressed to her, she agrees to accompany Ragnar back to DC. These two have chemistry but also bump heads until they work together. Megan brings her dog and the two of them work to crack the case.
The case has many layers, twists and turns. I am loving the paranormal elements of the Law siblings’ gifts. When Patrick Law, a criminal psychologist, learns his sister Megan is in trouble, he heads to DC. The conversations between Patrick and Ragnar cracked me up, as did Megan’s reactions.
Danger is never far behind, and Graham delivered some intense scenes that kept me reading into the wee hours. These books are familiar, like a warm blanket and perfect for snuggling up with. They pull you in and keep you engaged.
This mini-series within the Krewe of Hunters series featuring the Law siblings and the overall story arc of the Embracer has been a good one, and I cannot wait for the next book, Voice of Fear, featuring Patrick Law.
Amazon | Audible
Aura of Night by Heather Graham brings more of the Law siblings and an intense hunt for the Embracer. #KreweOfHunters #bookreview #NewRelease #murdermystery #paranormalsuspense
Click To Tweet
Also published as Heather Graham Pozzessere and Shannon Drake. New York Times and USA Today best-selling author Heather Graham majored in theater arts at the University of South Florida. After a stint of several years in dinner theater, back-up vocals, and bartending, she stayed home after the birth of her third child and began to write, working on short horror stories and romances. After some trial and error, she sold her first book, WHEN NEXT WE LOVE, in 1982 and since then, she has written over one hundred novels and novellas including category, romantic suspense, historical romance, vampire fiction, time travel, occult, and Christmas holiday fare. She wrote the launch books for the Dell’s Ecstasy Supreme line, Silhouette’s Shadows, and for Harlequin’s mainstream fiction imprint, Mira Books.
Never miss a post by adding Caffeinated to your Inbox
Source
Original source: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/2022/08/aura-of-night-by-heather-graham.html