Welcome to Litsy!

Still wrapping up a few Christmasy reads for #WinterGames and #ReadOuttheOld This month I've focused on books that I already owned and have checked off 15 books (some of which included multiple shorter stories), almost all of which are now in the donate box, meaning I have room for that many more Christmas books for next year!! 😂

This one was a soft pick. It's classic workaholic city girl has to go home and get caught up in small town ⬇

This one just didn't really work for me. Part of it is that I should have bailed on this book as soon as I realized that a big part of the plot was going to be lying/withholding information/secrets. I'm just not a fan of stories where ONE CONVERSATION could solve all our problems BUT NO ONE WILL HAVE IT. The thing was, I really liked the characters and the setting, so I thought maybe it would be okay. It was not. I was stressed the entire time ⬇

Reading this lengthy classic gothic romance was a slog but the process was made more enjoyable with #hashtagbrigade! @BarkingMadRead

#HolidayBookDragons #WinterGames2024 @LiseWorks
#gottacatchemallwinteredition (mountain) @PuddleJumper
#ChristmasAtoZ #letterR @TexReader
#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks
#1001

I felt so-so about the first book in The Midsolar Murders but I'm starting to warm up to the main character and the cast of strange aliens. The mystery aspects in this one were pretty good too.

#HolidayBookDragons #WinterGames2024 @LiseWorks
#gottacatchemallwinteredition (new) @PuddleJumper
#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

A short but poignant novel set partly during the Christmas season. I love the #VMC covers and was happy to have found this edition at a used book store.

#HolidayBookDragons #WinterGames2024 @LiseWorks
#gottacatchemallwinteredition (tbr) #FrozenSick @PuddleJumper
#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks
#192025 #1926 @Librarybelle

Borderline so-so, but hey, it's the season of generosity 😂 This one kind of felt like someone was trying to write a book based on a Hallmark movie screenplay, but not in a good way. The writing was kind of clunky and character development was abrupt. And who names a human character “Wink“?? There were a lot of scenes like this: Person A: “Please go out to supper with me.“ Person B:“I don't want to date you while things are so complicated“ ⬇

After a while, the FMC's unforgiving attitude towards people in her past/tendency to blame them for all her life problems did start to grate on me. At some point, you have to acknowledge that you are an adult and have been for over a decade. YOU are in charge of your life/actions now. But on the whole, a perfectly pleasant if most-forgettable kind of read. I'm not sure I'll reread it, but I'll probably pick up the sequel.

Third book in the wonderful Giver series and a reread for me. In addition to moving the series along, this is an excellent coming-of-age novel.

#HolidayBookDragons #WinterGames2024 @LiseWorks
#gottacatchemallwinteredition (nature) @PuddleJumper
#ChristmasAtoZ #letterM @TexReader
#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks
#LittenListen @aperfectmjk

Vicki Delany mysteries are a guilty pleasure for me. They're somewhat formulaic but always cozy and relaxing reads. This is the first in her series featuring the owner of a Sherlockian bookstore.

#HolidayBookDragons #WinterGames2024 @LiseWorks
#gottacatchemallwinteredition (cosy) @PuddleJumper
#ChristmasCrimeChallenge (recommended) @RaeLovesToRead
#ChristmasAtoZ #letterV @TexReader
#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks
#LittenListen @aperfectmjk

A short companion book to Scalzi's Locked In series, worthwhile for fans of the novels.

#HolidayBookDragons #WinterGames2024 @LiseWorks
#gottacatchemallwinteredition (frozen) @PuddleJumper
#ChristmasAtoZ #letterU @TexReader
#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks