The Watering Hole: 'Book Musings, New Titles, and More!'

The Watering Hole, Issue #1

Welcome to "The Watering Hole," the revitalized version of my Sunday Post series that’s been gathering dust on this blog for far too long. Honestly, I needed a shake-up—it wasn’t so much about a complete overhaul as it was about breathing some new life into my regular musings. You can still expect an Editorial, a Reading Block, and Fresh Off the Press, although the latter will now feature any new ARCs that land in my eager hands, along with fresh book hauls and hidden treasures unearthed in the used book bins.

Table of Contents

• The Editorial
• On the Reading Block
• Fresh Off the Press
• Some Final Thoughts

Sunday Post, what I call The Watering Hole, is hosted weekly by Caffeinated Reviewer. 

The Editorial

It's been a minute, folks. Procrastination has a sneaky way of wrapping its fingers around our motivation, and for weeks now, this post has hovered just out of reach—until today, when I found myself empty-handed and thought, “Why not?” It’s been a tough few days; I’ve been battling a wretched stomach bug that I must have picked up from a public place. I’ve spent more time snuggled under blankets than I care to admit, even with the outside thermostat hovering above 80 degrees. This morning, the only reason I forced myself to get dressed was for a quick errand run. On that outing, I treated myself to an ice latte at the newly opened Dunkin’ inside a Walmart that’s slowly becoming an embarrassment—half the book section has evaporated, and what remains is as poorly stocked. They’ve dedicated more shelf space to overpriced DVDs, a decision that eludes me entirely.

On the Reading Block

So, where do I even begin with my current reads? I’m knee-deep into the audiobook of The Widowmaker: Invitation to a Hanging by Robert J. Randisi, a Western that has me hooked enough to want to savor every word. I’ll be sharing my review on March 28th, so stay tuned. Another Western on my plate is Gunsmoke: Dodge the Devil by Joseph A. West; expect a future post dedicated to “Gunsmoke Grit” once I finish that one. My Kindle is currently graced by The Maverick Marshal by R.J. Sloane, keeping my Western kick alive for the weekends.

But here’s the kicker: I’m finally cracking open Star Trek: Identity Theft by Greg Cox, a book that’s been gathering dust since late 2025. I've flipped through it so many times that it’s practically welcoming me in. The catch? I have to be in just the right mood for anything Star Trek-related, and after a long wait, it appears that mood has finally arrived.

Tucked neatly into my reading queue is the latest Jack Reacher thriller, Exit Strategy by Lee and Andrew Child, which I've eagerly marked with a bookmark. Beyond that, the horizon is dotted with tan titles: The Blood Countess by Shelly Puhak, Cold Zero by Brad Thor, The Hard Line by Mark Greaney, and The Crossroads by C.J. Box.

Fresh Off the Press

What is it about publishers sending me unsolicited nonfiction books? A few weeks ago, I received Hollywood vs Nazis by Michael Benson, which I aim to review by March 31st. Recently, two more nonfiction titles slid into my mailbox: Ghosts of Sicily by Mark Harmon and Leon Carroll, Jr., alongside Making Art and Making a Living by Mason Currey. I can’t quite decipher what Currey's book is about just from the cover, but it seems like a far cry from the usual fare I’d pick up. Ghosts of Sicily appears interesting, another WWII narrative that piques my interest. A lighthearted note: although I don’t watch NCIS, my dad is an avid fan, while my mother can’t stand it. It was amusing to open my mail and find a book by Mark Harmon waiting for me; it definitely added a twist to my day.

Ah, thrifting—the once-bustling hobby that's now dwindled down to one thrift store after the small humane shop in town shut down last month. Salvation Army remains my sole refuge, although there's a quaint antique shop that sporadically opens—more of a treasure hunt than a reliable source for books. My last few visits to Salvation Army bore fruit, netting me three Westerns by William W. Johnstone: Montana, The Kerrigans: Hate Thy Neighbor, and The Range Detectives. I also grabbed The Dakota Trail by Robert Vaughan, Voyage to Santa Fe by Janice Holt Giles, The Days of the Condor by James Grady, The Deer Hunter by E.M. Corder, and four books from The Avenger series by Kenneth Robeson.

Some Final Thoughts

This little corner of the internet may seem modest, yet somehow my page views skyrocketed in February, despite my infrequent postings. Now that I’ve been more active in March, the stats seem to plummet—go figure. The world feels all jumbled and bizarre right now, which is precisely why I’ve turned off the news. Maybe it's some government conspiracy, or perhaps those quirky little green aliens hovering above have taken a particular interest in my blog’s analytics. Whatever the case may be, until next time—take care and happy reading.

〜B.J. Burgess