Bookshelf Roundup: 11/20/21: Stacking the Shelves & Recent Reads
Bookshelf Roundup is a feature I do every weekend which fills the role of several blog memes, like Stacking the Shelves where I talk about the new books I’ve added to my library or received for review, as well as It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? where I summarize what I’ve finished reading in the last week and what I’m planning to read soon. Mostly it also serves as a recap post, so sometimes I’ll throw in stuff like reading challenge progress reports, book lists, and other random bookish thoughts or announcements.
My update is going to be a relatively small one today, but big things are happening behind the scenes. Many of you know I work from home doing independent contract work, and the market conditions last year have resulted in me putting in extra hours and that has of course taken some time away from the blog and reading/reviewing in general. Pretty soon though, it looks like I’ll be taking on another job, one that just kind of fell into my lap. Basically, I found out a local business I frequent was in need of some help, and with the current state of labor shortages these days, they’ve had trouble filling the position. While I wasn’t really looking, I asked as a loyal customer and friend if there was anything I could do, and soon one conversation led to another and now I’m being trained next week!
Thing is though, this might have started with me just genuinely wanting to help out, but it’s actually an awesome position and a great opportunity for me, so I’m pretty psyched. Of course, this will mean yet more readjustment of my schedule, but I’m also confident I’ll be able to work out a good balance between blog, jobs, family and life in general, so I guess we’ll see how things go. For now, let’s move on to the books and see what’s new in my mailbox and inbox this week!
Received for Review
My thanks to the publishers and authors for the following review copies received, and be sure to click the links to their Goodreads pages for more details and full descriptions!
Quite a few gems added to the review TBR this week, from a variety of publishers, starting with the kind folks at William Morrow for an ARC of No Second Chances by Rio Youers. I’ve heard of the author, but never read any of his books. This thriller will hopefully be my first, which features an intensely twisted tale following a disgraced actor suspected of killing his wife, a young naïve starlet new to Hollywood, as well as a vengeful drug dealer who’s after them both.
Next up, I also received You Sexy Thing by Cat Rambo, with thanks to the awesome Tor Books crew. With a week and a half left in November, I’m hoping I can still fit this one in for Sci-fi Month before it’s over, because by all accounts this book is really fun!
Thanks also to the team at Minotaur Books for a surprise copy of The Deathwatch Beetle by Kjell Eriksson. The macabre title definitely caught my attention, and though I found out upon further research that it’s actually the twelfth installment in the Swedish thriller Ann Lindell series, I hope it can be read as a standalone because I’d really love to check it out.
Also thank you to Wunderkind PR and 47North for a finished copy of Star Mother by Charlie N. Holmberg, described as the author’s most whimsical novel yet. I’ve read a couple of her other books, and more whimsy certainly sounds good to me!
And finally, with thanks to Angry Robot for a review copy of Swashbucklers by Dan Hanks, and what a crazy wild ride it was! In case you missed it, my review went up earlier this week, you can check it out here.
Just one new audiobook in the digital haul this week. With thanks to Random House Audio, I picked up a listening copy of Star Wars: Thrawn Ascendancy: Lesser Evil by Timothy Zahn. I’m in no way caught up with this series yet, but in spite of myself I just can’t seem to resist anything Thrawn. I do hope I’ll get to read all of these at some point.
Reviews
The Hidden by Melanie Golding (5 of 5 stars)
Swashbucklers by Dan Hanks (3.5 of 5 stars)
Activation Degradation by Marina J. Lostetter
Roundup Highlights:
What I’ve Been Reading
Have you heard of or read any of the books featured this week? What caught your eye? Any new discoveries? I hope you found something interesting for a future read!
The BiblioSanctum 
Sounds like life’s keeping you busy.. Best of luck with the new changes! These books look amazing! I’m so curious about ‘You Sexy Thing’ and I can’t wait to get my hands on ‘The Hidden!’
Have a great weekend and thanks so much for sharing!
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Congrats on the new job! Hope it goes great. 🙂
The Hidden and Activation Degradation both sound good to me. I need to pick both of those up!
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Good luck with the new job! A new opportunity that sounds so great is more than worth a few sacrifices in your other activities 🙂
And book-wise, I’m eyeing You Sexy Thing with great, great interest….
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“Cat Rambo” sounds like a pseudonym to me. It smacks of authors on fanfiction sites. If it is her real name, then she has my deepest sympathies.
And congrats on the new job! Now though, is this going to be in ADDITION to your already existing workload, or replacing some of it? Because from the little bit you’ve shared over the years I can totally see you adding to your workload on one end without reducing on the other 😀
And man, getting help these days! I saw Dunkin Donuts (a regional coffee chain here in new england) offering 14/hr. base starting pay. That is crazy. And what is even crazier, they can’t get people. Nor can any business.
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Congratulations to your new job , I hope it works well for you!
Bone shard emperor is scheduled for Thursday, the book was nearly perfect!
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Congrats on the new job! That’s awesome! I’m still trying to work out my own balance with my new job. But since it was just my first week, I’ve got plenty of time! Lol.
Nice new reads! Those are all new to me ones but I hope you enjoy them all!
My StS will be up tomorrow, so stop by then if you can!
Have a GREAT day!
Old Follower 🙂
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Congrats and good luck with the new job, Steff! It was quite an adjustment when I went back to work full time, but if you love blogging you will make it work. I just posted my review for You Sexy Thing, I loved it!
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Congratulations on the job! Also an interesting set of books. I haven’t read any of them but they sound intriguing.
Emily @ Budget Tales Book Blog
https://budgettalesblog.wordpress.com/
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Good luck!! If anyone can do it, it’s you!! I’ve been pretty much off since the start of the month and I’m booored. That said, I am getting more reading time… But I’m terrified about what this means for your reading time…
Good luck!!!
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Glad to hear you’ve got a new job you actually look forward to. That’s awesome. I hope it all works out well and you’re able to fit in everything you want to. Regarding the books, Tammy’s got me excited about You Sexy Thing. And I’m always curious about new Swedish thrillers, so I can’t wait to read your thoughts on The Deathwatch Beetle if you’re able to get to it. Take care!
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Congrats on the new job! I hope you love it. 🙂
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Congrats on the new gig! I am also behind on the Thrawn series, but maybe over the holidays I can get to it….
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Woohoo – huge congratulations on your new job. I hope you love it and you’ll find a way to continue reading and blogging I’m sure -maybe not 2/300 books a year! Lol.
Sexy Thing and Deathwatch Beetle are immediately shouting at me. I look forward to your thoughts.
Lynn:D
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That’s great you got a new opportunity there! Hope it goes well 🙂
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Good books 😀
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