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Afternoon reading time under the umbrella. It‘s a beautiful day and my feet are warming in a ray of sunshine. I live for these days!
October 20, 2024

A study in blue. Miss Gatsby is sleeping on my lap while I read.

This book was just okay. It got better near the end, but I don‘t know if I‘ll read any of the rest of the series. I just never really warmed up to either Veronica or Stoker. Since I finished this in the middle of my walk, I picked up with Sense and Sensibility, which had been my night time book. Not loving Marianne & Willoughby — they are the “mean girls” of the town so far, even though Willoughby is a man. #audiowalk

I feel as if I‘m never going to finish this book! I missed a couple of days because I didn‘t walk. I‘m in Houston with my son and his family. Pictures are from the hotel. I didn‘t track my walk, so no map. A car caught on fire in the garage next to us! Huge fire and a lot of fire trucks and police. #audiowalk

Finally something happened that actually interests me and makes it so I can finish the book! My walk was just around my former university today. #audiowalk

I loved Killers of a Certain Age and was invested in it almost immediately. I figured I‘d have a similar experience with this Raybourn book, but that‘s not been the case. I‘m about halfway through and still don‘t know if I like it. #audiowalk

Wanted to say Holmes and Watson, but ACD didn't actually write a Bromance. Well, that's what fanfiction, revisits to the original material and other dynamic detective duos are for.

That's why: Veronica and Stoker

#SundayFunday
@BookmarkTavern

Here are my January #Roll100 titles. All three happen to be roll over titles from my 2023 list. I think the dice are trying to tell me something. 😄

Some reviews I have read on this book mentioned that it had a slow start. I didn't expect it to have a slow middle and end as well. I usually enjoy books set in Victorian London but there was nothing in the story that grabbed my attention, got my heart racing or was particularly enjoyable. Stretching the imagination to the limits, I can't see the actions of the Prince of Wales described in this book would ever take place even in a fantasy novel.

That was fun! The snark and banter kept me flipping pages. Loved the chemistry between the two main characters. Victorian scientist Veronica is in danger but she does not know why. She is put under the protection of Stoker, a haunted man with a past. They must determine who is after Veronica before they both end up dead. I am not a big series reader but I could see myself continuing on in this series. 5 stars easy!

This book had it all: mysterious ne‘er-do-wells, chases, a sinister sideshow, will-they-won‘t-they romance, witty rejoinder, a plucky heroine, a brooding aristocrat, a tumultuous secret, and a perpetually sleepy bulldog! I‘m so glad I work late today, because I stayed up far too late working on this. #pop23 #historicalfiction #wellkinda

I love the trope of enemies to friends and am thoroughly enjoying Veronica and Stoker‘s relationship. Here‘s what our Adult DIY folks will be making tomorrow. I‘m so excited!

Today is for prepping for a Library DIY project tomorrow afternoon and starting on the first Veronica Speedwell.

#Two4Tuesday @TheSpineView

1) see above, but more accurate would be: Can cause irritation. 😜

2) like Veronica Speedwell (tagged first book in series) - Sharp and dangerous. Probably armed.

Just had to include the Amazon Warning Labels.

Tag, you're it.

The world building took so long. Meh.

📘Raven Black
🖊️Deanna Raybourn
🎥Rear Window
🎤Bonnie Raitt
🎶The Ride of the Rohirrim (Howard Shore)
#manicmonday #letterR

I expected this to be my new favorite series but I don‘t care for the heroine. I don‘t plan to read more. I nearly gave up on finishing this one a few times but ultimately decided to see it through.

It‘s a little hot but so nice to be sitting in the back yard with a good book!

I needed a little mystery this morning. 😄 this one has just the right amount to keep me going.

A fun historical mystery with a hint of a future romance. With an independent scientist seems to be in danger a family friend puts her in the care of a quirky possibly dangerous naturalist. Adventure and mystery ensues. This was a great start to a series, though there were some sections early that seemed more quirky the associated with the plot. I look forward to more in the series. 4⭐️
#AwesomeAugust book 4
#NSR22 - Historical Mystery

The sass! The witty repartee! I was cheering for Veronica Speedwell by the end of chapter one and the rest of the novel just kept getting better. A heroine who takes no shit without feeling anachronistic, a historical novel that is not a tapestry of manners and misunderstandings, as too many in the genre are. Ranked by quantity 1) adventure 2) mystery 3) romance - my kind of mix. Will be continuing the series!

It's probably some kind of reader crime that I'm not showcasing the more snappy dialogue featured so well in this novel, but it was the little neatly packaged observations that stuck with me.

I absolutely loved the first book to the Veronica Speedwell mystery series. The banter between her and Stoker was a lot of fun. I already have book 2 checked out from the library. 😀

This was obviously a reread for me. It‘s the first time I‘ve listened to these books on audio. I felt like her Stoker voice was great, but she made Veronica sound way too whiney… I‘ll still continue my reread of the series on audio. I‘m hoping the narrator will grow on me.

It was nice getting back to the beginning of the story. I originally read in 2017, so I did forget a lot of stuff.

I enjoyed the book a lot!!!! I love a good mystery book and this book is it!! I will continue to read the series!!! 4/5 stars!!!!

And now, for something completely different! Sometimes timing is everything. I‘d tried this one a few times in the past and never made it very far. But now I‘m whizzing through it and enjoying immensely.

This book was so much fun! I love Victoria and Stoker as partners, and I can't wait to read the next installment to see where their next adventure takes them.

#12Booksof2021 #2ndBookof2021 #February

This book made me laugh so much. I loved the banter between Stoker and Veronica. 😁

This was my #Doublespin, and sadly, it‘s a DNF. I‘ve tried to read it three separate times. I got a few chapters in last time, and finally convinced myself to pick it back up today while I get caught up on Olympics watching. Well. A few pages later I just can‘t do it. I don‘t find it interesting enough when I have stacks of books I DO want to read reaching out to me. @TheAromaofBooks

Ms Eddy C and the lazy days of summer . . .

#ThoughtfulThursday @MoonWitch94
I am late to the party!

Thanks for the tag @5feet.of.fury !

1. Yes. For example, I have read The Vampire Chronicles and Dresden files several times.
2. Sometimes I am guilty of this. 😁

Oh gosh, can't believe I did this 😂 Top row, all purchases: #BlackSun, #TheDamned, #Incendiary, and two blank journals I'll probably never use. I then turned around and went to my library and grabbed: #UntamedShore, #Updraft, and the tagged book because apparently I'm going read by osmosis 😂 #IDontHaveABookProblem #ButMaybeIDo #booknerd #books #library #therapeutic #bookaholic #bookdragon #ilovetoread

Oh my! What a great #SliceofSummerswap! Thank you @peanutnine !! I can‘t wait to read the books, Frick Island will be especially good in the summer. I love the notepads and clips and page flags (I am a sucker for pretty office product!) ALL PINK starburst is the best. The cilantro grow kit is so cool. “First comes love, then comes salsa” 😀what a fun swap

And thank you, @Catsandbooks for organizing!

Book 4/100 (lol) with a rating of 3/5. I found the heroine of the story to be extremely pretentious and the beginning was super slow, but once the plot kicked in I will say I definitely found myself wanting to know how it all ended. Has anyone else read this?

LOVED it. Veronica Speedwell is the heroine adventurer we all need right now. Great dialogue and fun characters!

I'm doing my second read-through of this series and I'm enjoying it even more the second time around for the sharp wit and language used. I appreciate Veronica's unique brand of Victorian feminism. Highly recommend!

30 of 2021. 42 hours for #fabulousfebruary . Veronica was orphaned as an infant and raised by two women. Upon the death of the second of the women, Veronica finds herself thrust into the middle of a mystery full of danger and intrigue. She must unravel this mystery to save herself. I loved this book. The banter between her and her partner in this mystery is hilarious. Highly recommend! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
#readathon #stackingtheseries. #seriesread2021

I am LOVING this series!!! (I actually read the 2nd one first, but it didn't really matter.) I love the strong female lead, the banter and the plot. I am listening on audio and the narration is fantastic!

This was enjoyable, but I have a feeling that the rest of the book club will have liked it more than I did. I found the female lead annoying and inconsistent, but she redeemed herself somewhat by mentioning the works of Ann Radcliffe. I‘ll continue with the series at some point, but more because I‘m intrigued by one of the side characters.

#lovethis #quote So many funny remarks, reminds me of Amelia Peabody.

The writing is great, but the story is very predictable and I didn‘t love that. I honestly thought it was a fantasy mystery series, but the writing is so good I can forgive the lack of magic. When her guardians die, Isabella is thrust into a. High stakes game and must make rapid choices. The lame “big reveal” makes this a Meh book for me. 2/5 stars, read if you want a mystery set in Victorian England with a somewhat unbelievable heroine and plot.

#cozyswap aesthetic! 😉📖🛁🐇🌧🍂😴
Give me water, & flowers, & soft, fuzzy things (especially bunnies); taupes, & greens, & blues, & lavender; glowing lights, seashells, worn wood, & flannels. Give me coffee or give me death. ☕️

To be honest, I haven‘t really read any cozy mysteries. I joined the swap so someone could hit me with their best rec! The closest I‘ve come is tagged.

Day 3 of #20Series20days #Top20Series

Also a mystery series, yet this one is less “cozy mystery” and more action packed, sexual tension lol. Veronica Speedwell and her partner in crime Stoker solve crimes and go on adventures in Victorian England. Similar to last one I posted but this one is a bit spicier. The third book “A treacherous Curse” was just AMAZING and features on of my fave literary quotes. Can‘t wait for book number 6! 🙃

I don't know where to start!
Latest trip to the library. The tagged book was totally a last minute choice after seeing so many people pick it for #top20series
#librarybookhaul #bookhaul

My library is doing hold only pick up so my books are coming in back to back! What do we think? Am I diving into a good series?
#top20series

#Top20Series #20Series20Days #Day8

I‘ll include Raybourn‘s first mystery series in this challenge, and I loved it, but this one is better. Veronica is a fascinating character who can make me laugh out loud. Her banter with Stoker is classic. The mysteries are interesting, and Raybourn‘s writing style is really engaging. I‘m so looking forward to the next book.

#20Series20Days #Top20Series - Day 7

For some reason I‘m better at keeping up with mystery series than fantasy series.

I absolutely LOVE the Veronica Speedwell series! It is one of my FAVORITE historical mystery series! I love Veronica and Stoker. If you haven‘t read this series yet, you should make time for it. 5 books currently out and the 6th one scheduled for 2021.

The characters are fun and intelligent without being boring or pretentious. There were moments where one said something and I responded with a “mmhmm.... riiiight” but it was still appealing without putting me off the story. The plot had sharp turns with a good twist that kept me turning the pages. I would suggest this for people who enjoy Victorian era mysteries although there are a few sexual overtones but nothing erotic.

This was a great historical fiction mystery! I'm looking forward to the next book in the Veronica Speedwell series! Great #BookSpinBonanza pick! @TheAromaofBooks