Greetings you guys! It’s Friday and this week was a bit topsy turvy. Mommy and Daddy was away for a long weekend and Wednesday was a public holiday. Although Thursday and today has been enough for a whole week! Luckily it’s time for the weekend and to get reading a bit. I don’t think we are going to feel like doing anything else. It’s cold and raining out there and I guess winter is here to stay.
We are not going to do a lot of link-ups today, just Connect Five and Friendly Fill-ins. Let’s start with Connect Five hosted by the BookDate. Connect Five is really very easy – just pick 5 books that are connected in some or other way. Theme, cover, genre, author – you name it.
Sticking with the cold weather out there, let’s link books with ice or snow. Proudly brought to you by the gorgeous snow queen I was named after.
This little girl, who calls herself Faina, seems to be a child of the woods. She hunts with a red fox at her side, skims lightly across the snow, and somehow survives alone in the Alaskan wilderness. As Jack and Mabel struggle to understand this child who could have stepped from the pages of a fairy tale, they come to love her as their own daughter. But in this beautiful, violent place, things are rarely as they appear, and what they eventually learn about Faina will transform all of them.
And then Anna meets the Swallow Man. He is a mystery, strange and tall, a skilled deceiver with more than a little magic up his sleeve. And when the soldiers in the streets look at him, they see what he wants them to see.
The Swallow Man is not Anna’s father—she knows that very well—but she also knows that, like her father, he’s in danger of being taken, and like her father, he has a gift for languages: Polish, Russian, German, Yiddish, even Bird. When he summons a bright, beautiful swallow down to his hand to stop her from crying, Anna is entranced. She follows him into the wilderness.
Over the course of their travels together, Anna and the Swallow Man will dodge bombs, tame soldiers, and even, despite their better judgment, make a friend. But in a world gone mad, everything can prove dangerous. Even the Swallow Man.
When an off-site company retreat meant to promote mindfulness and collaboration goes utterly wrong when an avalanche hits, the corporate food chain becomes irrelevant and survival trumps togetherness. Come Monday morning, how many members short will the team be?
Really a good winter mystery thriller. Although my Mommy figured out quite early on who the killer is, it didn’t spoil the book at all.
Born the second son of a Scottish duke, the only title Wynn MacCallan cares for is that of surgeon. Putting his talents with a scalpel to good use in the hospitals in Paris, Wynn pushes the boundaries of medical science to give his patients the best care possible. After treating Svetlana for a minor injury, he is pulled into a world of decaying imperial glitter. Intrigued by this mysterious, cold, and beautiful woman, Wynn follows Svetlana to an underground Russian club where drink, dance, and questionable dealings collide on bubbles of vodka.
Out of money and options, Svetlana agrees to a marriage of convenience with the handsome and brilliant Wynn, who will protect her and pay off her family’s debts. It’s the right thing for a good man to do, but Wynn cannot help but hope the marriage will turn into one of true affection. When Wynn’s life takes an unexpected turn, so does Svetlana’s—and soon Paris becomes as dangerous as Petrograd. And as the Bolsheviks chase them to Scotland and beyond, Wynn and Svetlana begin to wonder if they will ever be able to outrun the love they are beginning to feel for one another.
Friendly Fill-Ins
We are enjoying the Friendly Fill-Ins community so much. Lots and lots of furry friends. Yea for me! Friendly Fill-Ins is hosted by 15 and Meowing and Four-Legged Furballs. They come up with a couple of sentences, and then you have to fill in the blanks. I think it’s a great way to get to know each other better as well. This week’s questions:
1. If I could trade places with someone for a day, I would trade with _________.
1. If I could trade places with someone for a day, I would trade with Stinkie. He is my big, big brother and the king of the neighborhood. Everyone invites him in and give him snacks. In the same breath, no one messes with him. That’s if you are not a human. Even the neighbor’s dog is scared of him. I would love to be so fierce and brave.
So many intriguing reads here. And thank you for joining in on the Friendly Fill-Ins! Stinkie is so handsome. And I find it so interesting that your days are cold right now, while we're in a summer heat wave. Warm wishes to you!
The Snow Child just felt cold from the first page. It's almost a 100F here so just the thought of winter seems crazy!
You are right, The Snow Child set the perfect cold setting. We've had some lovely weather the last two days, so we can breath a bit. But I see it's turning cold again later this week.
I've enjoyed many of Ruth Ware's books, and this newest one is on my tbr list.
However, I may wait to read it when it's cold again.
I also love Ruth Ware! Think you can read One by one anytime, but it might be good to leave it for the colder weather.
Ah yes we have kinda winter in the southern hemisphere! Today is cold here, not sure some would call it cold but about 11 degrees celsius and raining! I loved The Choice, such an inspiring book but very hard to read in places. She is still alive which is just so amazing. I wouldn't mind reading The Ruth Ware book, have read one of hers and liked it. Seems like a good winter book!
I think 11 degrees are quite cold! LOL!! Yes the southern hemisphere really doesn't know the meaning of cold weather..!
I read very slowly on The Choice, it's a hard read yes. But still worth it.
Thank you for participating in the fill-ins, great answers. Stinkie is a handsome boy. Years ago, there was a cat in our neighborhood named Spooky who used to visit us and other neighbors for food. We ended up adopting him the last few years of his life. I like our fake fireplace in the winter. Have a nice weekend. XO
Stinkie is a very handsome boy. Can't believe I've actually bottle-fed him and he fit in my hand. Luckily Stinkie always comes home, but he loves roaming the neighborhood. He does wear a color and a tag, so everyone knows who his mommy is!
It's cold outside where you are and it's HOT here. We're at 102.2 right now, but we'll make it to that 107 they promised. It's cool inside though.
Love all your fill-ins. I hope you get that castle. Did you tell your peeps you wanted one?
It's wonderful to meet you.
Have a fabulous day and weekend. Stay warm. ♥
Hi Sandy! My Mommy does know that I want a castle and I think it's in the budget somewhere soon!
Lovely winter reads! I read the Snow Child over my winter. Just gorgeous. I highly agree. I'll have to add some of those winter reads to my list in a few months.
It is scorching where we are 95 F right now
Hopefully the rain lets up! I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!
Hi Heather! So glad you also enjoyed The Snow Child. The rest of my winter reads are also great, but still need to read The Ice Swan. Seems good though!
We've luckily had some lovely weather the last couple of days. So no complaints anymore! I see it's getting colder later in the week again, but then it's luckily holidays.
Love your blog and so happy you visited us for Fill-Ins fun today. Hard to imagine it being COLD anywhere but just because it's hot here – doesn't mean the entire world is hot! Sending you Happy Weekend wishes.
Hugs, Teddy (and Mom Pam)
Hi Pam! Thanks so much for the lovely compliment! We are glad you found us. I'm sure some or other fairy catmother heard me complaining and now we had some lovely weather the last two days.
Enjoy the summer! It's the best time of the year.
It is so disgustingly hot and humid here right now, I long for my favorite season and the beautiful snow it brings.
I know our idea of cold in SA is a joke, only a very few places get snow. We don't! But I still don't like the cold. You'll notice that I never complain about the heat.
Hope you will have a good week ahead Sarah!
Great fill ins. Here it's been rainy and hot all week. It looks like next week will be more of the same.
I hope you have a great weekend!
Hi Yvonne! Weekend was good, made lots of plans for the upcoming holidays. Definitely counting the sleeps this week.
Baby It's Cold Outside — I used to love that song! I saw Neptune's Daughter on TCM years ago, and that song has really stood the test of time. I liked Snow Child too, and I think you've described it very well — melancholic but still gorgeous.
Hope things are better at work!
~Lex
Hi Lex! It's a great song yes. One of those that can get stuck in your head. Same with The Snow Child. It gets stuck and I'll never forget it. A lovely read.
No, things are still crazy at work, but at least it's holidays on Friday and then it will hopefully be a bit better.
Lots of holiday plans!