Happy Monday, Boozie Book Nerds! And Happy Juneteenth everyone!

Apologies for the mini break. Both me and Ginny had one hell of a June.

Ginny’s Update

What Ginny Finished:

• Emerald Blaze by Ilona Andrews:  This is the 5th book in the Hidden Legacy series and follows Catalina, head of house Baylor and secret deputy of Texas as she has to deal with a mysterious bunch of disappearances, a murder, and the return of the only person she’s ever had a relationship with. The world in this series is really interesting and I’m glad to make it back. I’ve really enjoyed getting Catalina’s perspective and I’m planning on getting to the next book. 
• Vanessa Yu’s Magical Paris Tea Shop by Roselle Lim: Vanessa Yu has, and hates, her ability to read futures in tea. To learn how to control her power she goes to Paris with her aunt (another clairvoyant), meets a man named Mark, and tries to do a little matchmaking, while also dealing with a racist attack on her aunt’s tea store. This book was really sweet and felt super cozy.
• From the Ashes by Jesse Thistle: Jesse was a young Indigenous kid growing up in Canada who ended up addicted and homeless. It’s a fascinating look into the way small decisions can lead to big changes. But also how someone can, with the proper support, pull themselves back from the brink. 
• Thank you for listening by Julia Whelan: Sewanee (pronounced Swan-knee) is an audiobook narrator after having given up her dream of acting after a debilitating accident. She gets pulled in to narrate one last romance novel (which she had long given up) with Brock McKnight, the Fabio of the audiobook world. Regardless, this book was so much fun. The humor was so perfect and had me cackling while I read, while also having plenty of serious discussions. 
• Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune: Wallace died of a heart attack and ended up being corralled by a Reaper to Charon’s Tea shop run by Hugo, the ferryman. This book ended up being really sweet, and I loved the journey that Wallace took, learning to be more than he had been.

What Ginny is Currently Reading:

• The Oleander Sword by Tasha Suri: I’ve actually been reading this one for a a while but I needed a bit of a break with a lighter plot. Malini is still working to become empress by defeating her brother the murderous emperor. Priya is dealing with the new power that comes from being a thrice-born. And honestly this series is like a way more interesting game of thrones. Like I said, I just needed something a bit easier to read for a bit. I’ll definitely get back to this one. 
• A Promised Land by Barack Obama: This was recommended by a friend and I’m not far into it, but it’s interesting to get this deeper look into Obama’s campaigns and road to Presidency. The biggest thing is that I’m really rooting for Michelle who comes off as a total badass in every way.
• A consuming fire by John Scalzi: This is the second book in the Interdependency series, and focuses, so far, on the religious aspect of the end of the “flow.” Again, I’m not far into it, but I think it should be a fun read.

Sam’s Update

No Update from Sam this week

What Sam is Finished:

• The Frugal Wizard’s Guide to Medieval London – this is the second of Sando’s secret novels and not in the cosmere. This guy wakes up in a field that has clearly been burned, with no clue who he is or where he is or what he’s doing there. Looks like there are people out to get him and oh by the way, he’s in medieval times. This story is about our main guy figuring out who and where he is while also solving a mystery. I loved this, obviously lol
• The Future King by Robin Schneider – this is the second book in the Emry Merlin series so I can’t say much except that this is as if our Merlin has twins, a boy and a girl, and the girl ends up impersonating her brother to become Camelot’s court wizard. All outr fave characters. I gobbled this up in one sitting. All 409 pages.
• The Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros – yeah yeah. I did it, ok? I wanted to see what the fuss was about. I feel like explaining this book is moot but basically, a disabled youngest child is forced in to military academy where lots of people die and there are dragons. This was… fine lol. Nothing is explained. There are a couple spicy scenes. Hate to love. Magic school. Hits all the buttons of a quaffable book and still it was… fine. Don’t hate me

What Sam is Currently Reading:

• The House Keepers by Alex Hay – picked up an ARC at ALA last month. It was pitched as Bridgerton meets Ocean’s 11 and with only being 42 pages in, i can’t see anything that disproves that lol. Really cool tone and writing so far.
• The Last Hero by Linden A. Lewis: This is the finale to the First Sister series so I can’t say much about the plot, but I am enjoying it. Unfortunately, it went back to the library so I have to wait.
• Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo – this is the second to Ninth House and I can’t remember much except there are ghosts. Trying to fall back in to where we are without having to look it up.

Until next time, we remain forever drunkenly yours,

— Sam, Minda, and Ginny