Welcome to Litsy!

February pick: In This Grave Hour, Maisie Dobbs
#12booksof2024

#HyggeHour #litsolace #naturalitsy
Like @TheBookHippie my Hygge hour was earlier this evening due to Emmy Awards.
Pictured: my reading area, my book, Poe visiting while I read, my morning coffee with a treat of a blueberry scone & creme fraiche.

Sunset tonight was gorgeous! Such a gift. #gratitude #naturalitsy #imbolic Spring is around the corner…

After finishing Haven last Sunday I could not settle on a book so I turned to old friends with the Winspear. I took a half day Friday and caught up on buddy reads and picked The Vanishing Half back up. Thankful it seems to have been a few days of meh rather than the beginning of a true slump.

I am having a hard time concentrating on books this week…started Horse on audio but set it aside, started The Vanishing Half but haven‘t picked it up in 3 days.

I did start Finding the Mother Tree for #NaturaLitsy this AM and I think it will stick. Also started the tagged on audio which is the next up in a favorite series. I find revisiting familiar characters and place a good place to go when I can‘t settle into a book.

It‘s been a long time since I read a Maisie Dobbs book; the last few were so grim that I just dropped the series for awhile. I had started this one the other night. I didn‘t go to work today because I hurt my back, so I just stayed in bed and finished this book. I‘m glad to be back with a Maisie who has some hope even though this takes place as WWII is beginning.

Family and war are the themes which thread through Maisie Dobbs' adventure. A seemingly mundane murder draws the attention of the Belgian embassy as England enters WWII and Maisie is asked to investigate. I always enjoy these books, their emotion and the absolute wrapping up of loose ends.

More series on my husband‘s shelves inspired by @Andrew65 and his #20series20days Husband‘s fave author Gunnar Staalesen is on the bottom shelf, and I‘m slowly collecting the English translations so I can enjoy his fave writer with him. But alas I‘ve only found translations in England.

I‘m really cheating here posting my husband‘s books. I‘m deciding which series I want to post (and in what order! ). I‘m taking this challenge very seriously.

War has been declared (WW2) and within a short period 2 Belgian expatriates have been murdered in a similar style. Maisie is convinced they are linked and sets about finding the truth.

My latest read from probably one of my Top 5 Ever series...I love how Winspear drops in references to historical stuff I don‘t know so I have to look it up and it reveals so much about the character—Maisie is stepping out in this motor, ladies and gents!

Another thought-provoking and touching installment in the Maisie Dobbs series. Britain has declared war on Germany and is preparing for what is to come. Maisie is involved with a case involving Belgian refugees from the First World War, while also caring for some child evacuees in Kent. This book really had me thinking about what my grandparents‘ generation endured. War is such a terrible thing.

So much happened in this book and the main plot was great but the least of my worries. War has been officially declared and there are many changes afoot. My anxiety for the future of some of these characters is very high. No spoilers but war means men going off to war. 💜😬😢

I like how characters from previous stories are brought back in interesting ways.

This book was great! It has Maisie getting back to what she does best! Investigating! WWII has started and there are murders that connect to the First World War. This was an excellent read with a wonderful conclusion.

#SassyBookworm😏 #MaisieDobbs #WWII

Audiobook road tripping‘ today!!! My oldest daughter and I are on the way to her first Archery 🏹 State Tournament!!! It‘s a 3.5hr drive so I was happy to start this book for the long haul to Louisville! Hope everyone is having a happy Good Friday!!!

#SassyBookworm 😏 #RoadTrip #Audiobook #Libby #Archery 🏹

Love this series! Winspear writes with sensitivity and knowledge of the time period! The book begins as Britain declares war with Germany! Rich character development and compelling crime fiction breaks the boundaries of the genre. This book feels very timely in light of our political issues of refugees and immigration.

I really enjoyed this book, set at the beginning of WWII as Great Britain declare war on Germany. Maisie Dobbs is as usual looking for a murderer. The covers are always very interesting. #bookcovers #books #booklover #bookmad #bookcrazy #crimebook

Just back in Scotland and already visited the charity shops. Got this Jacqueline Winspear book with Masie Dobbs as the main character. #books #bookcover #bookcrazy #bookmad #tbr

I first borrowed this as an eBook but found that I couldn't concentrate on it & had to find a physical copy to borrow

Sunday evening with Maisie ....

Maisie Dobbs has been a favorite since book 1, but book 11 (A Dangerous Place) put me off the series for awhile. A friend convinced me to pick up In This Grave Hour and I was so glad I did. I really like the new Maisie who is emerging from her tragedy. If you haven't read Maisie Dobbs, start with book 1 and binge them all. Full review at https://itsallaboutthebook.org/2017/05/27/in-this-grave-hour-by-jacqueline-winsp...

I finally caught up to the new book. I've loved the journey and so glad I took it. Going to be a little sad when it's over but also glad to get back to my for real TBR bookstack!! And on the Home front, we've clearly had a BUSY morning lol. Time for a little Dog Nap. #dogsoflitsy 🐶 #maggielove #dexterlove #whereintheworldisgus??

I love this series and Winspear's latest installment did not disappoint. Maisie is a former nurse in WW1 who becomes a private investigator. The murder mysteries revolve around the war, now heading into WW2. The characters are beautifully written and their stories progress over time as well. The books are stand alone, but starting at the beginning will give you a greater appreciation of them all. Highly recommend!

Another great mystery with Maisie.

Maisie and I have been spending time together since she first came on the scene back in '04, so needless to say I enjoy watching her grow. She's been through a lot our Miss Dobbs and grown stronger because of it all but it was nice to see her come back to her sleuthing roots in this book. And with WWII rearing its ugly head, you can bet that future Maisie will continue to be quite busy saving the world one mystery at a time.

Just listened to the last disc of In This Grave Hour while #audiocleaning my bathroom. It hasn't been this sparkly in ages, so I wanted to document it. 🤣 And, I really liked In This Grave Hour. Glad to have Maisie back in London, working with Billy again!

That moment when the only CD player in the house is the 7yo's karaoke machine. So fancy. 😜 #audiocooking

Perfect morning to read. Technically due back at the library today, but the library may have to wait until tomorrow as I try to marathon read it.

Heading off on vacation! And deleting Litsy for a few days to make plenty of room for photos. See you all soon! 🙂

#onthenightstand #aprilbookshowers. I have started reading The Olive Farm and The Eyre Affair the rest are on my tbr

The 13th installment in a wonderful series filled with characters I think of often. Maisie, Billy and Sandra are back together and have taken on a murder case as requested by Dr. Francesca Thomas (another recurring character). This is overlaid with the declaration of war, which the author uses to add depth to the storyline. One of my favorites in this series!

The plot starts on the day England declares war against Germany (start of WWII). Maisie is back in London, with her friends and business. To me, despite war starting and knowing how much England suffered during the bombings, some of the tension has subsided. The last couple of books, especially, you could see the rise of Hitler and German tensions via the plot lines. This book is the calm before the storm.

Went with my mom to see Jacqueline Winspear talk about her newest Maisie Dobbs novel last night! She shared lots of interesting information about the historical background of the book, as well as reading a bit & discussing the characters.

I'm not actually caught up with this series (this is book 12(!) I think?) but it's a really good historical mystery series with great characters.

#maisiedobbs #bookevents

This continues to be one of my favorite series. Book thirteen recalls in tone some of the earlier books, which I really liked.

Maisie is once again set up as an investigator in London, and as the Second World War begins she is called by the secretive Dr Thomas to investigate the murder of a Belgian refugee.

Intrigue ensues.

Who says it's boring to stay in on a Friday night?! I was rewarded by the Library Gods by seeing this gem newly added to the site and it was available! Whaaa?! Why yes I will check it out right now! Who can resist the latest Maisie Dobbs mystery?

Another excellent Maisie Dobbs novel! This one is a murder mystery set at the beginning of WWII. It's heartbreaking to see Maisie and her "family" having to deal with the onset of another war. I feel so connected to all these characters! The only thing I don't like is that I have to wait another year for the next installment.
#LetterW for #womenauthors #LitsyAtoZ #historicalfiction

Last night I was desperate to snatch some time with this book on my dinner break at work. I started eating my salmon sushi, but soon noticed I was having trouble breathing. It turns out the end piece was salmon and the other two pieces I ate were crab.

No trip to the hospital thank goodness, but I think maybe I should pay more attention to my food 🤔.
#ReaderProblems

When you unpack a box of books that includes one you are dying to read but you can't even look in it because the "on shelf" date is 3/14/17: #librarianproblems

PSA! Get your library holds in! Two of my favorite series have new books coming out in the next month! 🙂

As Great Britain declares war on Germany, the next installment of the Maisie Dobbs series begins. The main story involves Belgian refugees in England from The Great War, but along the way we see the minutiae of the country preparing for another war. Barrage balloons tied up over London (to make it difficult for low flying planes to enter the airspace, children being sent to the country to stay where it was deemed safer, and more. Excellent.

This was just mentioned in this Maisie Dobbs, set just as England enters the war in the late 30's. I had never heard of such a thing. Can you imagine having to do this to keep your baby safe on a walk?

Started this today. I love Maisie!

This is my number one anticipated book for 2017! Absolutely one of my top 5 favorite series. #seasonsreadings2016

Today's prompt is JOY. And I feel joyful this morning, because, after stalking Edelweiss daily for 2 months, I found an advance of the next book in the Maisie Dobbs series. Merry Christmas to me! #12DaysofXmasPhoto