Having a book haul to get ready for fall!

While the official start of autumn is next week, I have already begun to gather up a few books to settle into the season just right.

Even though Aardvark is no longer an option for me at this time, Better World Books(which donates a portion of every book sale made to literary programs) was ready with a back to school special that I happily took part in!

My first selection was The Davenports by Krystal Marquis, a YA historical fiction set in Chicago in 1910. The family of the title have a pair of daughters who are about to make their marks on society in very different ways.

 Olivia, the older sister, is set to marry an approved choice yet her heart and mind seems to changed once she meets  Washington, a charming lawyer and civil rights leader. Meanwhile, her sister Helen is more interested in becoming a mechanic yet has caught the eye of Jacob, the man Olivia is expected to wed.

Their brother John is not exempt from  such romantic struggles as two contemporaries vie for his attention; Amy-Rose,who is following in her mother’s footsteps as a maid while planning to own her own hair salon, and Ruby, a longtime friend of his older sister . Can these siblings find the best love for themselves without tearing their family apart?

The word of mouth from critics and readers on this book has been excellent and there is a sequel already out, plus plans to adapt this novel for streaming platforms. The praise I heard from BookTube already had me eager to check it out there.

Marquis has based this story upon a real life family from this time period (the Pattersons who started an automobile empire) and with shows like The Gilded Age bringing fresh interest to the history of the Black Elite, this promises to be a dazzling delight to read:

 I paired that with the fourth book in Evie Dunmore’s League of Extraordinary Women series, The Gentleman’s Gambit.

Our leading lady is Catriona, who prefers to focus on her writing and working for the cause of suffrage in England rather than indulge in romantic pursuits that often lead nowhere for her.

However, when her father receives a visit from Elías, a prominent new colleague in his academic circle, she finds herself having to play hostess, a distraction that Catriona doesn’t need or want, no matter how charming he seems to be.

Elías, on the other hand, is being strategic in his attentions to her as his true goal is not to study a particular set of artifacts that her father has access to but to reclaim them for his home country, where they rightfully belong. 

However, the mutual attraction between them slowly but surely conflicts with their mutual mistrust and perhaps more than one set of goals might be achieved together in an alliance of sorts. Can this be accomplished without too much risk to their futures, romantic and otherwise?

I do enjoy this series (reading the third book, Portrait of a Scotsman, as we speak) and find it a shame that is the final entry as these stories blend period romance and historical fiction as nicely as a warming cup of tea. Yet I am sure that Dunmore will have new fictional paths to lead us on and that this tale of an unexpected love match should be good until the last drop:

On the same day those books arrived, I happened to take an impromptu trip to the movies(saw Fantastic Four: First Steps and it was amazingly good!) and while at the mall-yes, those still exist-I picked up a paperback mystery that has great potential for a fun read.

Everytime I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies is quite the eye catching title and this is the first in a new series by Catherine Mack, featuring a writer of mystery novels who finds herself in hot water while on her latest book tour.

Eleanor Dash has become a very successful author of the Vacation Mysteries but not without the help of detective Connor Smith, who insists upon his share of the royalties from the books despite his lack of input beyond being named as the main character.

This tour in Italy is to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the first entry in the series and Eleanor is planning to rid herself of the fictional Connor by killing him off in the next book. Only thing is, someone is trying to do away with the real world Connor and possibly even Eleanor as well , with a variety pack of suspects all around them to choose from!

Could it be Eleanor’s sister Harper, who put her own literary dreams aside to be her more popular sibling’s personal assistant? Or is it Alison, Connor’s ex-wife and author of a very personal account of their less than idyllic relationship? Perhaps a diehard fan who finds the whole notion of ending the series worth killing for? 

Regardless of who, the ultimate question is how to find the killer before their actions close this chapter of Eleanor and Connor’s lives for good.

This book does sound like fun in a Knives Out sort of way and I am ready to do some serious page turning with it this season for sure:

So, between these new additions to my TBR, along with a few library loans and BOTM selections, my reading for fall is pretty well set. Still making plans for the FrightFall readathon next month, plus a personal challenge of cozy reading in November (we shall see) but all in all, a rather respectable lineup.

Yes, it may seem trivial in light of ongoing events but you know what? I refuse to put my creative life on hold while all of this seemingly endless awfulness is dominating the headlines and affecting our lives for the worst. While I am able to do what I can for the greater good within my own small set of circumstances, enriching my imagination is a right that I will not surrender.

With the world upping its chaos levels to eleven right now, taking a break from all of that is essential to keep our collective spirits up as well. Reading can be escapist but it’s also a good way to renew our weary hearts and minds. A good book, movie, TV show or song, can do wonders in this department and while they’re not the complete solution, these pastimes are helpful to maintain our purpose as we go forward towards better days.

Speaking of TV, I have two cable channels showcasing Gilmore Girls on slightly different seasonal tracks now and that alone is beneficial to my emotional health.

 I would much rather debate who was the better boyfriend for Rory (Team Jess all the way here and yes, he does have plenty of flaws but Logan is much worse, in my opinion!)than get into other online arguments these days. Plus, more excuse for book talk with this show and a perfect way to anticipate autumn as it drops those gorgeous leaves and gives us sweater weather: