#ReadAway2024 #SeriesLove2024 November 2024 #AuthorAMonth At first I wasn‘t sure I liked this. I recognized the narrator as the same woman who narrates the Eve Dallas series, a buddy read from which I withdrew after the fourth book in the series. I had to work to get the Eve Dallas narration out of my head so I could enjoy the Garden Spells narration. I read a description of this book as “magical realism,” a genre I‘ve read that many (cont)⬇️

#RandomClassics I listened to more than half of this, which is the longest I‘ve ever given a book before bailing. At first I thought it was humorous. But then I realized there wasn‘t much difference between Richelieu, Milady, and the rest of the “villains” and D‘Artagnon, the three and all of the Musketeers. D‘Artagnon and his compatriots didn‘t pay for rent, meals, or inns. They seduced women by fair play or by foul, whether the women (cont)⬇️

#RandomClassics I‘ve seen “teh” all over the internet, and lately with the undereducated news reporters working these days, in print media. But “hte” is a new one to me.

#ReadAway2024 #SeriesLove2024 October #TBRTarot (“Choose a book… that is less than 200 pages”) Murderbot is one of the best characters ever created. I think this series is excellent.

#ReadAway2024 #SeriesLove2024 (another) October #TBRTarot “Choose a Book… that is less than 200 pages.” I‘m really enjoying this series. And I can sooo identify with Murderbot. He wants to have as little to do with humans as possible and all he wants to do is watch his soap operas. I just want to hang out with my kitties and listen to audiobooks. Recommended.

#ReadAway2024 #SeriesLove2024 This was my choice for October #TBRTarot, “Choose a book that is less than… 200 pages.” (audiobook run time is 3 hours 21 minutes, a novella) This second book in The Murderbot Diaries was as enjoyable as the first. Recommended.

@JenReadsAlot My cousin said to pick one and he would order it for me. If there‘s a Tarot deck or Oracle deck that‘s cat-centric that I don‘t have, I‘ll find it and add it to my collection. In the meantime, I choose this t-shirt. The other three were: 1) Wonder Woman riding a tiger, 2) Rosie the Riveter with a cat sitting on her bicep, and 3) a cat knocking an elephant off a table.

I have listened to 27% of this library book and I feel like something‘s missing. Maybe I‘m in the wrong frame of mind or maybe it‘s not for me. This was for #AuthorAMonth. I hope that others enjoy Tana French.

#ReadAway2024 #SeriesLove2024 I‘ve really enjoyed this trilogy. I liked the characters and the constant surprises. And I look forward to Spectacular, an illustrated holiday novella that‘s being released soon. Recommended.

#ReadAway2024 #SeriesLove2024 An English female private investigator not located in London, not in some country village with a high death toll, but mostly in Liverpool. And with magic! There are humans with magic and magical creatures who can take human form. Which is where it gets so tricky, because magical creatures are sentient beings but they‘re not human. Lots of prejudice involved, which is sad but not surprising. Humans. Recommended.

#ReadAway2024 Wow. I read my comments about trying this in audio format six years ago. I don‘t remember that at all. This time around I was so interested and entertained. Recommended.

#ReadAway2024 #SeriesLove2024 I enjoyed seeing Mr. Penumbra as a young man and learning how he became the sprightly senior citizen he became in Mr. Penumbra‘s 24-Hour Bookstore. Recommended.

#ReadAway2024 #SeriesLove2024 I‘ve enjoyed the first two books in the Kinsey Milhone series and I will continue to read them. They‘re not cozy mysteries but they‘re not particularly graphic. Just easygoing. I don‘t want to invest money in any more though. I‘m definitely appreciative of having a library card and access to LIBBY.

#ReadAway2024 #SeriesLove2024 There are things about this series that I like and things that leave me cold. If you‘re squeamish, this is not the series for you. I was surprised at the way the relationships changed and evolved. Some new characters were introduced and new places. 4.5 🌟

@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Thank you so much for all the lovely gifts. I‘d Rather Be Reading (while snuggling with my kitties) is pretty much my personal philosophy. I‘ve never read either of these authors so that‘s exciting too. My friend who‘s staying with me while she‘s dealing with some health issues also loves to read! We might have to flip a coin to see who gets which sleep mask and pillow spray set. So much love for #LitsyLove!

@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Thank you so much for the #LitsyLove. The suspense is killing me about the bee-wrapped packages, but that won‘t last much longer. Other goodies include awesome magnets, tea, animal print (I love animal prints) emery boards, seasonal bookmarks, and fun stickers. There‘ll be another post with the package reveal.

September #AuthorAMonth #ReadAway2024 #SeriesLove2024 I loved this book! I couldn‘t stop listening. The first couple of chapters were a bit rough because it felt like 1984 with kids. But I fell in love with the characters and their story. I can‘t wait for the second book to come out in just a few days. And TJ Klune has become a new “must” buy.

#ReadAway2024 #SeriesLove2024 I‘m still enjoying my re-listen of stories set in the world of Mercy Thompson. A lot has happened in Mercy‘s life during the events of these books and Patricia Briggs is just getting started putting everyone through the wringer. I highly recommend this series.

#ReadAway2024 #SeriesLove2024 A sweet romantasy. Summer is a large animal veterinarian who also runs a sanctuary for abused animals. The animals in the sanctuary are known to escape and visit the ranch next door. The enemies to lovers trope is strong with this one, but I still enjoyed it.

#ReadAway2024 #SeriesLove2024 I really enjoyed this. I don‘t know what genre it is. Fantasy? Magical Realism? And I don‘t care about labeling it. I just know I‘m glad I read it.

#ReadAway2024 #SeriesLove2024 I‘ve enjoyed Nell‘s spinoff series from the Jane Yellowrock series and I‘m sorry that both series have had their finales. But I believe that a finite series is a good thing. Recommended.

#ReadAway2024 #SeriesLove In the World of Kate Daniels, Roman finally gets his own series! I‘ve always liked Roman and it‘s wonderful to finally get to know him better. And Roman may have finally met someone to take home to meet his family. Recommended.

#LiteraryCrew #ReadAway2024 Gruoch was fierce and strong enough to do whatever she had to do to protect herself and those she loved. In a world in which women had no rights or legal power she did things that she might have preferred not to do but her options were limited. Recommended.

This was my choice for August #TBRTarot - Choose a book… that is based on a true story/real person. This Pulitzer Prize winning novel is written by an author from my home state of West Virginia. It takes place during and after the War Between the States. West Virginia became a state on June 20, 1863. The story mostly takes place at the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum in Weston, West Virginia, a real place constructed from 1858 and 1881. It (cont)⬇️

#WeirdWordsWednesday

August #SundayBuddyRead #ReadAway2024 This was an excellent book filled with villains, no heroes, victims, and many people whose descriptions lie in the gray areas. Alice is a human being with conflicting emotions and behaviors. Those with whom she allies sometimes turn on her but she manages turn the tables every time. Others are fiercely loyal and Alice returns that loyalty. Recommended.

#ReadAway2024 #SeriesLove2024 This was another one of Amelia Peabody‘s fun archaeological adventures in Egypt which, of course, turned into a murder mystery. Amelia also is again hot on the trail of the Master Criminal. The last couple of chapters didn‘t verge on the edge of the ridiculous, the author took a cheerful leap in with both feet. I teetered back and forth between laughter and embarrassment at the silliness of it all.

#WondrousWednesday @Eggs Thanks for the tag, @Cuilin 1) Read 2) Laundry 3) Listen 4) Chocolate 5) Pen 6) Ask 7) Meet 8) Fowl 9) Online 10) Snowy @Andrew65 @RamsFan1963 @DieAReader Care to play?

#ReadAway2024 #SeriesLove2024 I still enjoy the humor. I love the friendships/family of choice between so many diverse people. I thought this was going to be the series finale with everyone getting their HEA. And then the author pulled the rug out from under me. So it isn‘t the series finale. I don‘t know the author‘s motives for handling things the way she did. Maybe she‘s milking the series down to the last penny. Maybe she‘s got some (cont)⬇️

#SheSaid I HAD to stop reading this book. The history of the millennias of women‘s lack of rights, especially when it comes to her body and health is extremely important. It‘s also extremely depressing and anxiety provoking. I was willing to read the entire book IF, at the end, actionable changes were proposed. So I skipped to the end to see if there were any such proposals made, and there weren‘t. Of course, we have to take charge of (cont) ⬇️

#ReadAway2024 #SeriesLove2024 This is another great entry in the Mercy Thompson series. But I‘d like to comment on the covers. In the books, Mercy has the coyote paw print tattoo below her navel and a few tattoos on her arms. The Mercy on the covers is “over-tatted.” But it‘s a minor quibble and doesn‘t stop me from loving the series.

#ReadAway2024 #SeriesLove2024 This is such an excellent urban fantasy series. I‘m enjoying my re-listen. I highly recommend the series. Patricia Briggs has created well fleshed out characters and put them in challenging situations. If any of those situations is controversial and deserves a trigger warning it‘s in this book. I‘m going to put the rest of this review under a spoiler in the comments because of the trigger warning.

I‘m listening to this every so often and really enjoying it. I just finished listening to his comments about Weebles toys. And I heard the theme song in my head so clearly. “Weebles wobble but they don‘t fall down.” Indeed.

#ReadAway2024 #SeriesLove2024 The characters Patricia Briggs has created are my favorite playmates and their world is so amazing!

#ReadAway2024 #SeriesLove2024 I didn‘t remember as much about this second book in the series, which added to my enjoyment. Patricia Briggs is such a talent!

#ReadAway2024 #SeriesLove2024 I am loving my relisten of #MercyThompson and #Alpha&Omega! I remembered the events of this book but not that they all occurred in the same book. The characters and the universe created by Patricia Briggs are marvelous. I recommend both series because they exist in the same universe.

#TBRTarot (Choose a book…written by an author whose first name begins with P) #ReadAway2024 #SeriesLove2024 This novella is part of my re-listen of both series in the World of Mercy Thompson. This is the beginning of Charles and Anna‘s story. I really like Patricia Briggs‘s writing and the stories she tells. She‘s written other series also and they all are in my audio library. Maybe this is going to be the year that I finally listen them to all.

#TBRTarot (Choose a book… written by an author whose first name begins with a P) #ReadAway2024 #SeriesLove2024 I was going to listen to the newest book in the Mercy Thompson series (book 14) but when I started, the character mentions things that had happened in previous novels, and I couldn‘t remember them. So I decided on a re-listen. I enjoyed it so much! I remembered all events that took place, but I didn‘t remember that they all took (cont)⬇️

July #AuthorAMonth #ReadAway2024 #SeriesLove2024 I read Yellowface by this author last year and really didn‘t care for it. I‘m about 1/3 of the way through The Poppy War and it is a much better book. I had planned to listen to the entire trilogy this month but now I have my doubts that I will finish even the first book this month. I became distracted by a re-listen to another series and I really want to binge it.

#ReadAway2024 #SeriesLove2024 This is a great series so far. It‘s a little darker than I had expected but still leavened with humor. Recommended.

I didn‘t catch this when I reached my goal but here is where I surpassed my 2024 Goodreads goal. That was the first thing I accomplished today. The second thing I accomplished today was to change my Pissed Off Cats wall calendar from June to July.

#ReadAway2024 I‘m not usually a romance reader but I really enjoyed this sweet story with parallel romances. It was a little, okay a lot, more spicy than I expected, but that‘s not a complaint. Romance for the sake of romance is boring. But this romance had a plot. Recommended.

#ReadAway2024 #SeriesLove2024 Private Investigator Jinx discovers that her client‘s husband is not cheating and then finds a little girl‘s missing Christmas sack. The rest of this novella is devoted to Jinx‘s second date with Emory. A nice interlude.

It‘s #WeirdWordWednesday I‘m sharing the cover of the final book in a trilogy today. I‘ve previously shared the covers of the first two books, because the titles are all #WeirdWords, which I hope you all have enjoyed.

#ReadAway2024 #SeriesLove2024 I enjoyed this l second entry in the Other Realm series. Things seem to be moving almost too quickly for Jinx, as she discovers more of the power she has. Okay, maybe they‘re just moving too quickly for me. I would think that there would be a steep learning curve but things come quickly to Jinx. I guess that would make her a prodigy. She also gains another love interest.

#ReadAway2024 #SeriesLove2024 This prequel to Lock In is written as an oral history of the advent and progression of Haden‘s Syndrome and what has been done to assist those who have been affected with the disease.

#ReadAway2024 #SeriesLove2024 Donatella and Scarlet discover Legend‘s true identity. What will they do with this knowledge? I look forward to the third and final book in this series to find out how things all fit together. Recommended.

#LitsySciFiBookClub #ReadAway2024 #SeriesLove2024 I really didn‘t want to buy new books this month, but Scalzi is hard to resist so I gave in to temptation. I have no regrets. I think of Scalzi as a writer of humorous science fiction, but the subject is not humorous at all. A world wide pandemic has devastating consequences. I thought this book might have been influenced by Covid-19, but it was released in 2014. So I guess it‘s somewhat (cont)⬇️