Can't Wait Wednesday: The Cardinal by Alison Weir

 

For this week's Can't Wait Wednesday, hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings, I'm featuring, The Cardinal, by Alison Weir. I have yet to read one of Weir's fiction books. This one looks like a subject I'd learn a lot about as the ones on the Tudor queens are people I read a lot about in years past. So this one looks like a good one to read for me. I really enjoy her history books so I'm hoping I like the fiction as well. I want to compare it to the book I read by David Field, The King's Commoner,  on the same subject. That gave me some good background. 

I hope you have found something you can't wait for! Happy reading ya'll!

History/Historical British Fiction

May 22, 2025

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

An extraordinary rise to power. A tragic fall from grace. 

It begins with young Tom Wolsey, the bright and brilliant son of a Suffolk tradesman, sent to study at Oxford at just eleven years old.

It ends with a disgraced cardinal, cast from the King's side and estranged from the woman he loves.

The years in between tell the story of a scholar and a lover, a father and a priest. From the court of Henry VIII, Tom builds a powerful empire of church and state. At home in London, away from prying eyes, he finds joy in a secret second life.

But when King Henry, his cherished friend, demands the ultimate sacrifice, what will Wolsey choose?

Alison Weir's riveting new Tudor novel reveals the two lives of Cardinal Wolsey, a tale of power, passion and ambition.

Top Ten Tuesday: 10 Bookish Questions For My Blogger Friends

 

This week's theme for Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, is about unpopular bookish opinions. I was struggling to come up with a full list of ten on that topic.  So I decided to do my own thing and it's a topic I am really excited about! I am in awe of so many of my fellow bloggers and their creativity, technology skills, etc. Also the amount and depth of books read are astonishing from some of them! So, here are ten questions for my fellow bloggers, book lovers, or anyone who has insight. I'd love feedback! 

Happy Top Ten Tuesday :) 

1. Do you finish all the books in a series? Meaning....do you continue with the books in order until done or start multiple series and read more if you feel like it's a good one? I sometimes feel compelled to read them all but there's only so much time!

2. Do you have a favorite genre and stick to it? On my blog I exclusively focus on history, historical fiction, and historical mysteries. No modern literature. I am just not interested in it myself but I still love reading blogs with all kinds of books represented. 

3.How do you organize your books? In Kindle or on your shelves? Mine are organized by author if I have books or samples of three or more by them. I also have a section for "one hit wonders", or authors who only have one book I'm interested in. 

4. Do you download and keep samples thinking eventually you will buy the book? I have waaaaayyyyy too many samples! But I will forget about the book or wish I could remember it later so if a book looks interesting and is too expensive to justify buying at the moment I keep the sample with the section it goes in. 

5. Word Press or Blogger? Or something else? Right now I just can't afford Word Press but feel Blogger sometimes limits me when being creative with posts. Those of you on Blogger or even the totally free Blogspot......have you found the desire to use another platform? Why or why not? Any tips or tricks for creativity that took you awhile to learn?

6. Do you have a reading schedule? And a blogging schedule? Sometimes I find my schedule I set for myself getting a bit stale. But if I don't plan it out and stick to it the week gets away from me and then things don't get done. Any tips from my long term bloggers out there?

7. Do you take notes when reading a book so you will remember things when you write a review? I have not wanted to do this so far. It spoils the enjoyment of my reading. But then I often find I get to the end of the book and am frustrated that my review isn't as thorough as it could be. 

8. What do you like to discuss on your blog that isn't review related? I am always looking for fresh content to post, not just reviews or the same old stuff. 

9. DNF books (Did Not Finish).....this is huge for me! What to do with books you don't like, quit after awhile or just know you will NEVER read?? I have a hard time deleting anything because there are books I've "grown" into later. It is so stressful, this question (I'm too obsessive, lol)....what do you do with these?

10. And finallly.....how did you get more followers? This is something I struggle with because I don't tell many people about my blog. What are some tips to grow your blog and its followers?

I could probably come up with ten more but these are the ones rattling around in my head all the time. All feedback welcome!!

Stacking the Shelves #54

 

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Reading Reality. It's a place to showcase any books I have purchased, borrowed, or been lucky enough to have been given an advance copy of. Hope you find something that looks interesting to you or that makes you remember a favorite book you need to finish. Enjoy your reading this week!

Kindle purchase: $2.99:

This book was written by a descendant of Robert the Bruce. I saw it in Half Price Books and was fascinated. It is written in a narrative style and from just flipping through the pages looks to be balanced between his life as King and battles, and his personal life. Just the kind of historical fiction I love. It was a good find. Also, the author it seems would have more incentive to remain true to the history considering it is about his own relatives. 

Borrowed from Hoopla: Free

I have wanted to read a book by this author for awhile. She has a series before this one with the same character but this is a new series begun in 2024 and I love that it is called Lady Traveler in Egypt, meaning the series will focus on that part of the world. I'm sure the second book will be out this year so I'm going to get started on this one. Then maybe go back and read how it all began. Another cozy series is NOT what I need to be reading, lol....but I just can't help myself. And such a beautiful cover too.

Net Galley ARC: Free

My Net Galley ratio is not good. As in 40%. I have been bad about requesting ARC's and not finishing them or not liking them and feeling pressed to review anyway. So I'm choosing ones that I will actually read and this author is one I enjoyed before and the stories are really cute. I am very grateful that they are giving me a chance too. This is the start of a new series. That also appeals to me as I'm looking to get in on the ground floor of some series books so I'm not always behind on them!

S.S. Murder by Q.Patrick

 

Publication Date:

January 1, 1933

Genre:

Cozy Mystery

Length:

223 pages

Series: No

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

It’s homicide on the high seas in this mystery by the Edgar Award winning author who wrote the Peter Duluth Mysteries as Patrick Quentin.

Cub reporter Mary Llewellyn is on a soothing sea cruise to help her recover after a minor operation. Her fellow passengers are pleasant enough, gathering to play a friendly game of bridge to pass the time. But the game turns considerably less so when a wealthy businessman samples a cocktail—and ends up dead at the table.  

The news that someone on board dumped a fatal dose of strychnine into the man’s drink sends a ripple of panic through the voyagers. All too soon, it becomes clear that the murder was not an isolated incident when another passenger is shoved overboard during a storm. 

Determined to stop a murderer, Mary decides to do some snooping above and below deck to get to the truth. If she doesn’t figure out the mystery of the seagoing slayer, she might not make it back to land alive.  

My Thoughts

I had heard of the Peter Duluth mysteries but this book was entirely unknown to me when I saw it. It's a stand alone mystery and so you won't miss anything if you read this one only.  The setting drew me in and the cover. I love all things set on the ocean. When I did a little research this is a combination of several people writing these different books. It was a bit confusing so I consulted with Fantastic Fiction's website to get the authors names all correct with the different books. Anyway, this one written by "Q Patrick" seems to be one of just a handful under this pseudonym. 

It started off strong and interesting. The main character, Mary Llewellyn is writing to her fiance in a journal about the events on the ship. She is recovering from surgery and headed home to be married to Davy, and as two murders unfold and the investigation begins she recounts all that involves her and the passengers she has come to know. I liked the style of writing in the diary format and it made her personality come to life. Throughout the book I didn't tire of that. 

Can't Wait Wednesday: The Rebel Romanov: Julie of Saxe-Coburg, the Empress Russia Never Had by Helen Rappaport

 

For this week's Can't Wait Wednesday, hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings, I'm featuring, The Rebel Romanov by Helen Rappaport. After seeing this book I looked up information about Julie of Saxe-Coburg and found it to be the most fascinating story. I thought I knew a lot about Queen Victoria's relatives but this was entirely new to me! This should be a unique book for sure. 

I hope you have found something you can't wait for! Happy reading ya'll!

History/Russian History

April 15, 2025

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

In 1795, Catherine the Great of Russia was in search of a bride for her grandson Constantine, who stood third in line to her throne. In an eerie echo of her own story, Catherine selected an innocent young German princess, Julie of Saxe-Coburg, aunt of the future Queen Victoria. Though Julie had everything a young bride could wish for, she was alone in a court dominated by an aging empress and riven with rivalries, plotting, and gossip―not to mention her brute of a husband, who was tender one moment and violent the next. She longed to leave Russia and her disastrous marriage, but her family in Germany refused to allow her to do so.

Desperate for love, Julie allegedly sought consolation in the arms of others. Finally, Tsar Alexander granted her permission to leave in 1801, even though her husband was now heir to the throne. Rootless in Europe, Julie gave birth to two―possibly three―illegitimate children, all of whom she was forced to give up for adoption. Despite entreaties from Constantine to return and provide an heir, she refused, eventually finding love with her own married physician.

At a time when many royal brides meekly submitted to disastrous marriages, Julie proved to be a woman ahead of her time, sacrificing her reputation and a life of luxury in exchange for the freedom to live as she wished. The Rebel Romanov is the inspiring tale of a bold woman who, until now, has been ignored by history.