Finally some time to read, this school year has been a long one and the transition from teacher to Admin is no joke! I‘ve been missing free time & Litsy! 💕

My plan for this evening

I‘m so excited to for my most recent #BOTM this month. I‘m finally getting my head around the new job and will have some time to read!

I love taking an #audiowalk when the foliage is at it‘s peak!

Hi Litsy, it‘s been a while! 😊 I started a new job over the summer (moving from teacher to Assistant Principal) and I‘m finally feeling like I have some time to read! Here‘s my current TBR, some books for work and some for fun.

#BOTM day is the best day!

📚 10 books read
📚 1 Nonfiction
📚 2 #BOTM
📚 6 #ARCs
📚 9 books by women
#April2021 #AprilRoundup

Thank you to Netgalley and Perseus Books, Running Press for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was so adorable! I love watching cooking shows, and the idea of a YA book set on the set of a cooking show was too tempting to pass up. (Cont. ⬇️)

I love a good cozy mystery and this one did not disappoint! I loved everything about it from Lila and her adorable dog Longanisa to her interfering Aunties to the amazing and delicious descriptions of Filipino food. Plus, the mystery was well plotted and moved quickly! I can‘t wait to read more from this author!

My lazy Saturday plans

What I‘m reading today! 💕

I could not put this book down! It was intricately plotted with compelling characters. I loved the movie references, how strong Maggie was & the peeks into Agent Keller's family life.

This book starts with the murder of the Pine family, but really begins a number of years earlier when the oldest son, Danny is convicted of murder.

Thank you to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Bryn Collins's secluded and calm world is turned upside down by the arrival of her 14-year-old nephew, Josh. Josh's father is Bryn's former fiance Saywer who cheated on Bryn with her sister Del. Saywer died 12 years ago, and now Del has gone missing. Josh has come to Bryn to ask her to help him find his mom. (Cont. ⬇️)

Thank you to Netgalley for an #ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fun YA story with an engaging heroine and fascinating world-building.

Elodie and Aleida are on a journey to give away the ill-gotten gains of the original Blackbone witch, and attempt to find a way to break Aleida's curse. Along the way they encounter a young lady warrior searching for her father, many bandits and smarter than average animals.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This regency romance was warm and witty with a feminist viewpoint. I love the way this book made consent and women's rights an integral part of the storyline which supported the romance in an affirming way.

So far in 2021 I‘ve read some amazing non-fiction books #Nonfiction2021 
Something...
By a Native Author - Dogflower
About A Community - The Rise
By a Person of Color - This is the Fire
Written in a Different Country - The Apricot Memoirs
About a Community - Mill Town
Sunshiny - Never Put A Cactus in the Bathroom
About Overcoming - The Body Keeps the Score
Thanks to @Riveted_Reader_Melissa for the fun BINGO board.

Sisters Emily and Madison suffered a horrible tragedy when they were young. Their father was murdered, their mom committed suicide & their sister, disappeared. 20 years later, Emily goes to a friend's house and finds them murdered. I appreciated the way the author does not shy away from they way racism (both obvious and covert) can poison a small town, and how family secrets (no matter how well intentioned) will always cause problems. #Romantsy

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Every person who has a body should read this book. It was an uplifting reminder that we are all humans, and that our bodies all work differently, but they are all amazing. Meg Boggs is an inspirational writer. This is a powerful and necessary view for people to have, and we need more books like this.

12 Books Read in March
3 Library Books
3 #ARCs
1 #BOTM
11 by authors who are not men
2 BIPOC Authors
#MarchReads #March2021

5 years seems like a long time. What a fun time I‘ve had on here! @HappyLitsyversary thanks for keeping track! 💕💕

This is a terrific debut thriller. I hope there are more in this series!

Detective Inspector Anjelica Henley is a member of the Serial Crimes Unit, and she's just returned to active duty after some very traumatizing events happening while on duty. She has a young daughter, a marriage on the ropes and a significant case of untreated PTSD. On her first day back she also gets 2 dead bodies that fit the profile of a serial killer behind bars.

Thank you @monalyisha for the book and the awesome goodies. I was so excited to win & to get the bonuses is the cherry on the top of a sundae!

Aarav Rai's mom went missing a decade ago. He's suffered an injury and moved back into his childhood bedroom to recuperate when his mom's bones have been found. While the police look closely at Aarav and his father, Aarav begins to look at all the members of his upscale, gated community in an attempt to discover the truth. This is a taut noir thriller full of devastating secrets and betrays.

Usually, dual timeline books aren't my jam, but this intriguing book pulled the timelines off. We follow the stories of a modern-day Caroline, who finds an old apothecary bottle along the Thames River which leads into the story of Nella, an 18th-century poison selling apothecary a we follow these two women on their individual journeys, it leads to a magical story of self-discovery and subversive women.

Hollyn Tate's alter ego is the snarky and insightful "Miz Poppy" who has an amazing entertainment column online. In real life, Hollyn is just as snarky and insightful, but she also deals with social anxiety and Tourettes which makes every social interaction a struggle for her. When she meets Jasper Deares, the new coffee guy/aspiring actor at her office space, sparks fly and her anxiety goes through the roof. A lovely and emotional #romantsy.

This weeks Library #bookhaul! I‘m starting the tagged book, but can‘t wait to read them all! 💕

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved how this book updated the Duke/commoner love story to give the heroine a feminist backbone and the Duke compassion and humility. Cordelia Kelly first meets the Duke of Stroud and is not impressed. She has learned to be wary of handsome & rich men. Stroud is almost immediately smitten with Cordelia and he spends time to convince her of of his feelings.

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a sweet and warm collection of poetry that speaks to that place inside of you that longs for warmth and home. I enjoyed the way the author mixed poetry and prose to convey bits and pieces of the larger picture. This collection made me feel cozy while reading it, and spoke to the parts inside me that are focused on motherhood and family.

My bookish plan for the weekend! What are you reading this weekend? #BOTM

My books are here! 💕📚 #botm

Ok, so a few weeks before I received this book the one and only plant I have been able to keep alive got knocked over and destroyed. It was an adorable Jade plant and I'd had it for 5 years. Every other plant I purchased for my home, I somehow ended up killing it, and I really didn't understand why. Well let me tell you, this is the book for me. Thank you to Netgalley and Tiller Press for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

📖 14 Books the Month
📖 2 #mtTBR
📖 5 #ARCs
📖 11 books by women
📖 1 book by a BIPOC author
📖 2 #audiobooks
📖 4 Library Books
#FebruaryReads #Feb2021

Thank you to Goodreads for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

In this book, Don Lemon asks this question about America's institutional racist caste system "What am I supposed to do about it?" He then answers this question through discussions of his family and conversations about the ugliness of the past few years. This book reminds me that profound change has not yet happened, and we need to remember our work is not yet over.

Why did it take me so long to read this? This book is full of all the things I love. A librarian heroine with new magic powers, brooding enemy who ends up becoming a friend (and maybe something more). A unique magical world and the beginnings of what looks to be a great found family. I can't wait to read the rest of this series, and continue to see where the author takes us.

I‘m very excited for my #BOTM box this month! 💕💕💕

I won this book from #goodreads and I‘m so excited to read it today!

My beautiful #audiowalk this morning 💕🌅

This book had such an amazing premise: Elin, a damaged police officer attend her brother's engagement party at a Sanatorium, where the guests are snowed in and a murderer is on the loose. It started off really strong, but ifizzled about midway for me and I found the ending to be completely lacking. However, this is a debut author, and I will definitely look for her next book, I'm interested in seeing what else she can do.

I really enjoyed this thrilling book about 3 teenage cousins, who are going to meet their grandmother for the first time. As the cousins arrive at their grandmother's island, they must confront family secrets, hidden identities, forbidden love and a possible murderer while trying to decide why their grandmother has refused to meet with them before now.

Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

DS Jenna Morgan is still recovering from the emotional fallout that happened in the previous books in the series. I haven't read the previous books, but I was able to catch up pretty quickly. She is called to the scene of a gruesome crime where a pregnant woman has been bludgeoned and an 11-month old boy has gone missing. (Cont. ⬇️)

I really enjoyed this book. It was fast-paced, engaging and kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an #ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. (Cont. ⬇️)

My tiny #bookhaul this week. I‘m super excited to read both.

I love any historical romance that has a spinster/blue stocking heroine with an aloof hero and this book did not disappoint. Georgiana is such a smart and compelling character and Edward is aloof to start but quickly reveals himself to be an emotionally deep and nuanced character. I loved the way their relationship grows over time and they way they work together to understand each other.

Hands down my new favorite opening line to a book. #quotsy

Friday evening plans 💕🍷🍫

Wow! This book was intense and compelling. It's a dual timeline narrative between grown David, Deacon, and Beth's childhood in a doomsday cult and their present-day lives. The story starts with the suicide of another surviver and then follows them as they deal with the ramifications of the suicide.

My only criticism of this book is that I wanted more of Angela, David's sister and the oldest of the surviving children!

A really enjoyable debut mystery set in NYC's Guilded Age. This appears to be the start of a new series, and I am so eagerly awaiting the next installment.

Some serious icicle action happening on my #audiowalk! ❄️❄️❄️

This book is a must read, for anyone who is ready to understand more about how the mind/body connection works and wants to begin exploring how to treat themselves in a healthier and more compassionate way.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
While I enjoyed the story & was happy for Mercy & Raphael‘s happy ending, I was not 100% comfortable rooting for a happy ending for a character who did not do enough work to show he was redeemed and worthy of Mercy's love. I was able to enjoy this book without letting this get in the way, but I could see how other people might struggle with his character arc.