January 2025 Book #7
My experience with short story collection is that like/enjoy some stories more than others just like this collection. Some of stories were so beautifully written, others in my humble opinion, were like beautiful expressions but didn‘t feel like a short story for me. 3.5⭐️

January 2025 Book#6
I think the opening of this story was amazing but then it was like forgotten, not well connected with the rest of the story. I liked the characters and the mystery/horror that was hidden in these mountains that seem possessed Nick. But then, the story was dragged to explain all this possession which concluded with an ambiguous open ending. I think the idea was terrific but maybe needed some editing? 3⭐️

January 2025 Book#5
Hard to believe that book with that cover would have many triggers: physical/sexual abuse. London XlX, family try to survive their extreme poverty environment with an abuse, alcoholic father who try to sell his daughter. Sylvia try to escape this world, try to find true love. My opinion is that story try to romanticize John‘s behavior who could be seen as a controlling person to justify his love for Sylvia? Abrupt happy ending?

January 2025 Book #4
Book 2 in A Year Round Christmas Mysteries series. Read for #CBBC 2025 @Mommamanzi
I liked this book 2 better that the first one. Also predictable but we see more drama, town gossip with funny scenes, expected in cozy mysteries☺️I think I will try book 3⭐️

January 2025 Book #3
I enjoyed this Christmas cozy mystery first book but didn‘t love it. Quite predictable, not at the beginning but in the middle of the story. Too slow but it is the first book in the series and I think it introduced well the characters. 2nd book in this series was chosen for #CBBC this year round so I decided to read book one first to continue with book 2😃👍 @Mommamanzi 2.8/3⭐️

January 2025 Book #2
Dimpsie invited some friends from the theater to spend Christmas with him in his castle located in a private island near to Edinburgh. Dimpsie was found dead near to the tree which appear to be an accidental death…Dun Dun Dunnnand the drama begins….
Quite predictable 😏 with some funny scenes but predictable. I enjoyed it as a holiday read. It should be a so-so but I usually enjoy these crime classic stories🤷🏽‍♀️3⭐️

Here I go again (like the song)😂
January 2025 Book #1
I don‘t know but there was something in the writing style that I couldn‘t connect well with the story or characters. I found it boring, even in the romance, repetitive. I struggled to finish it because I lost interest in the story in various occasions. However, the grief process parts were so well described and emotional😢 in general 3⭐️ for me.

I know I‘m super late posting this but I wanted to let you know that I‘m so grateful for the #LitsyLove Christmas cards I received last holiday. I have answering them at slow pace but I‘m using the bookmarks and the stickers are so useful because I have a couple of journals and they are perfect 😍 I‘m glad you liked the mini bookmarks @sleepswithbooks I know my address can be weird sometimes thank you for the stickers @BookwormAHN ⬇️

I opened this beautiful card yesterday pretending it was a San Valentine card since I was not going to receive one😜It was perfect, it had a message and a little card related with this month😍Thank you so much @Thebookhippie 🥰 I will like to try some of those recipes too😋 You are reading so many interesting books. I need to post my review of The Girl from The Grand Hotel which I enjoyed and need to read this month book. That PS message so sad 💔

I received this wonderful #CBBC package last week but I waited until yesterday to open it. I just pretended that it was like a San Valentine swap package 😜It was perfect because it had chocolates, cookies and a delicious coffee. I already tried it, well I already ate candies and cookies and made a coffee yesterday and today🍪🍫 ☕️😋Love the post it😍 Thank you @mommamanzi 🥰 The book sounds interesting. I have enjoyed this #CBBC round books🤗

#49bdaygiveaway
Happy Birthday @wanderinglynn 🥳🎂🎉🎊

I was out and arrived late and saved the best for last-open #LittleChristmasSwap box 🙌I‘m so happy with this package, the book😱I really wanted it excellent choice @dabbe 😘This is the first time I receive a book in that cute bag and is my first “corner” bookmark, so pretty 😍I saw them in instagram. The chocolate are in the fridge because I like that combination of mint and chocolate very cold😋The potato stix can is perfect for the weekend😋⬇️

2024 was a challenge year. Most of my readings were after March. Reading was a real tool used to manage and cope with my reality. It was so therapeutic that maybe that‘s it is why I am so motivated to read more books this year🙌But I establish realistic reading goals, 52 books to finish by the end of the year, at least one book per week. If I can read more, fine, but it‘s a realistic goal to me. 📚😌❤️❤️❤️

Last book comoleted December 2024 but it was not related with Christmas. Not in Litsy data base.
I should say that I was skeptical to buy this book because the author worked as a tv reporter in PR but I didn‘t like her style. I saw the cover and liked it, read the blurb and intrigued me but when I saw who the author was I had my doubts. I‘m glad I put aside my “prejudice” because I really liked this novel. ⬇️

🎅Christmas chronicles (bingo board-Santa Claus)
🎅Christmas chronicles 2 (bingo board-works Christmas magic)
🎅A Boy Called Christmas (bingo board- free space)
⛄️Hot Frosty-(bingo board-they finally kissed)
⬇️

Book 9 read December 2024

What did I read? 😳I wanted to love this book because I liked the movie adaptation which now I should watched it again to see if I have the same impression.

The story started pretty good and I would say I liked that sarcasm humor/funny tone. Some phrases were so reflective and I enjoyed those first characters. But then after the first part, this all drama was a chaos to me. ⬇️

I forgot to include this book read last August 2024: 3.8/4⭐️

First time published in 1921 and it describes so well the psychology abuse in a domestic relationship. The story is based on how this dysfunctional relationship is building up without alternatives to resolve or manage the situation. The reading can be hard and frustrating but we know the dynamics in this type of relationships are just like that or worst.

Good News! It‘s back….💡for how long? 🤷🏽‍♀️But I‘m charging everything to continue reading and look!!! 2024 closure is good…and also good premonition for what is going to happen in 2025 a wonderful reading time!!! I received TODAY, these two books I ordered. 😌📚🙌

The Three Wise Men figures will be there until mid of January. We continue the festivities 💃🏽 . Closure is with Las Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián, Old SJ (January16-19)🪇🪘🎤🎼

For those of you who celebrate this season, Feliz Año Nuevo 2025 (Happy New Year 2025). Wishing you and yours, health, love, harmony, peace, and also…many amazing books 📚 and splendid reading time😃🎉🎊. If you don‘t celebrate it..just relax and have a wonderful reading time🤗

I live in one of the municipalities without electricity since 5:49 am☹️They are working on that but you never know when🤷🏽‍♀️A different celebration and⬇️

@mommamanzi The #CBBC arrived last Tuesday December 24th but I opened it the 25th just to give me the sensation that I received a Christmas present☺️I loved everything. That Christmas ornament is so pretty! I‘m seriously considering to buy a very small tree or something where I can place these bookish ornaments. They should, deserve to be displayed the whole year😃The snowman mug is a little cracked but I saved the snowman ⛄️ 🙌⬇️

9th book read November 2024

Roy is in route to his fields thinking about his daughter wedding when he saw half of dozen vultures…he approached expecting to see a dead animal but what he discovered was a…body. Who is the person found? Nothing has happened in Fairhill, Vermont before but this body will not be the only discovery..other persons in this small town have secrets and dark personalities😳

8th book read November 2024

Beautifully written but so sad. It is the situation of this family struggling and trying to survive during the depression era. The story is narrated by Margaret one of the Haldmarnes daughters. The author describes the environment so well during this period of time, the poverty situation, racism, mental health, etc. no happy endings, no hopes just the real situation that permeated at that time⬇️

7th book read November 2024 Read to commemorate the National American Indian Heritage Month.

I enjoyed this story and it was so interesting to go beyond the novel. I found myself looking information about Ojibwe. Author‘s brief note at the end of the book informs about the violence that is still present against Native women. There were sad parts but also hope. I don‘t know but the pace was a little slow and found some ⬇️

6th book read November 2024

Wow! Fascinated nonfiction book about how “conservation became a movement for the protection of all species including human”.

This book made me feel angry and sad about the atrocities made in the past that put in extinction many species. Things that I was not aware, things I ignored, shame on me, because these actions put in danger these species and I admire led some of these actions in the fashion world😔⬇️

5th book read November 2024 First book I read by this author, I know…late to the party😳😂
I don‘t like much magical realism and here I am…with another book with magical realism😳🤷🏽‍♀️

As previous book, I liked the story and characters, also the romance. But once again, how things are resolved using or empowering the magical realism style, for me is so unrealistic. We wish things could be resolved like that. ⬇️

4th book read November 2024

Another book read for #CBBC Another gorgeous cover.

I enjoyed this story. Dual timelines about this hidden bookstore and a possible “lost manuscript “ by Bronte. However, this story has magical realism which is not my thing and sometimes I have difficulty to interpret it. But there is a character related with this literary “technical? Style? Which I liked. I liked the mystery,and characters. ⬇️

3rd book read November 2024

Second book in the Dream Harbor series
I liked more than the first book but not as much as the third one which I already reviewed. The third one was my favorite one so far. But this story was charming. Hazel was finding secret messages hidden in some books. At the begging she was upset because books were “used” hast not been paid but then she intrigued…messages seem to be related with herself, things she wanted to⬇️

Second book read November 2024

Second book in this Gilded duology of Rumpelstiltskin retelling.

Liked it but not loving it. Again, I think the story was dragged just to justify a second book?😕This is so common now🫤Because of this dragging story there were parts I was interested and others that I was bored because of this repetitive pattern when the story is dragged.
Love both editions.

/3.5⭐️

First book completed-November 2024. I started this book late on October but it is a long one so I finished it on November. Three editions? Well I knew I will like the story😜Did I mention I need😳😜the Spanish edition from Alma publishing? It is so pretty😍 Im a book collector😌
confess that I was so interested at the beginning of the book but there were some parts that I felt bored. But there were only few pages because I was intrigued again⬇️

Book 11 and last book read -September 2024. This was part of #CBBC @Avanders @mommamanzi

The story have some similar elements with previous book read: Ella wants to brake up with her last relationship, kind of friends with privileges, not compromise and things at work haven‘t gone as expected. Then she decided to go to her parents home for some time until she can stabilize her situation. The difference in this story is that there is magic⬇️

Book 10 read September 2024

I enjoyed more this second book in the The Warm Days of Autumn series. After Lily lost her job, broke up with opportunistic boyfriend, she decided to go back to her parents house until she stabilizes again. Back there she worked in the guesthouse which belongs to her uncle.

It was cute her relationship with her parents, specially with her father,. He was funny and charm. So supportive. A story of second chance love⬇️

Book 9 read September 2024

I liked more The shell Seekers but I still found this new family saga interesting. I really appreciate the way this author describes characters and how plot and drama is developed in a slow pace that you just want to keep reading to know what is going to happen to each character. There are some sad elements in the story and you will understand that character at the end (no spoiler). 4 ⭐️

Book 8 read September 2024

This book surprised me. It was entertaining. Camille who is in grief process still wants revenge for the man who she thinks is responsible for her daughter‘s death. Then someone approached to her to join a group for persons who feels like her, persons who perceive justice has not been done for their lost loved ones.

It was a fast pace but Camille is an annoying character where her decisions are impulsive ⬇️

@Bumpinthenight Thank you so much for this amazing #NaughtyListHolidaySwap box. Love everything😍the books, candies, candle, stickers, earings, tea, mug, key chain and post cards🥰

Thank you @WildAlaskaBibliophie for organizing this swap🤗

Book 7 read September 2024

This story surprised me. Since previous books read were so-so in terms of their mystery, I went blind and with low expectations. But I enjoyed it. I liked the way it was narrated, from multiple perspectives, going past and future inside character‘s minds, it has a pinch of paranormal element, and liked the interaction between characters: sister‘s relationship and Val and Terry⬇️

Book 6 read September 2024

Definitely not the best story, unrealistic in many situations with annoying characters, but for me was entertaining🤷🏽‍♀️Maybe I was in my dark academia mood😂But not a good story so my pick classification is subjective 🤣

I liked how Sarah ended with her mother and so sad what happened with the person who committed the murder 3⭐️This book has low rating so it will be a so-so or pan for many readers.

Book 5 September 2024

I liked the premise and the atmospheric description. A gothic story about this woman who discovered after her abusive father died that needs to take care of an unknown woman who is in an asylum. What she did to know this woman in the asylum was so unrealistic🙄and the ending so predictable. There are some paranormal elements. Still like how author describes the environment but the story is unrealistic. 2.5/3⭐️

Book 4 September 2024

Unpopular opinion😬Liked it but not love it. I liked the premise and loved the characters, Lucy and the romance was cute. However, there were parts that I don‘t not know, for me, were disconnected, unnecessary. Pretty much like my experience with Guncle novel. This novel is so hipped that I expected too much I guess. I have that problem with hipped books🤷🏽‍♀️I still want to read book 2. 3⭐️

Book 3 read in September 2024

Mixed feelings with this one. I liked the premise and some actions but I don‘t know it was a little slow and boring 🥱 for me in some parts. There are some triggers related with sexual abuse from an authoritarian/power figure 😡

I have Owlcrate edition and love that new edition with books sprayed edges😍

Book 2 read on September 2024

I have mixed feelings with this novel. Six classmates were invited for a dinner in honor to receive a scholarship. But then they are trapped in this place with three objects and a message indicating to pick someone to die.

I liked the premise and all the action in that closed room and I liked the ending. Sad the motive behind the action, sad that ending. But what I question is how everything was planned.⬇️

Book 1 read on. September 2024 😳

I can understand why some readers don‘t like the story, maybe the “why” people disappeared from this village, but in my case, I was interested in the mystery of this disappearance. It reminded me at some point Abandon by Blake Crouch. This novel has many similar elements to that novel. Like Abandon, years later someone goes to the place, in this case, a filmmaker to do a documentary about the place. ⬇️

Book 8 read last August August 2024

Unpopular opinion. I have a couple of books by this author and I don‘t think she will be a favorite author for me😬🤷🏽‍♀️I didn‘t like this story of pretending to be with your ex just because…what???? Please, I couldn‘t understand that. So immature not to be honest with yourself and your friends. Not for me, sorry for this author fans. I‘m a grinch 💚I know😂2⭐️

Book 7 read last August (first books were posted already)

A mystery with a touch of paranormal experience. Ethan and Billy, both 10 years old, neighbors used to camp in Ethan‘s house backyard. Next day, Billy disappeared and Ethan can‘t remember what happened. Ethan returned to his hometown 30 years later and he will face Billy‘s disappearance circumstances, his guilt, grief and the truth behind Billy‘s disappearance. ⬇️

A very very late post but I‘m trying to close 2024 with books I read but didn‘t post🤷🏽‍♀️

Read last August and I loved it. Pure family drama as this author does so well. Penelope‘s life story just captivated me. Her relationship with her daughters and son, her marriage, lover, her golden years. How much she transcended in her life. That ending…I didn‘t bother de 500 pages, not all. But I confess, I like family drama😂4/4.5⭐️

#WinterGames2024 #HolidayBookDragon

Total points until now=1, 740 pts

@Liseworks

Book 8 read this month. Short novella (96 pages). Two time lines: past, Ashley Smith, an American student, her experiences when was invited by a college “friend” Emma Chapman‘s, to spend Christmas at her house. There Ashley will fall in love and will know about a crime recently committed in the area. Present time, Ashley diary is read by someone. How these 2 time lines are connected?
I really liked the twists that occurred here. ⬇️

Book 7 read this month. Unpopular opinion. There were parts I really liked in this story, friendship and the relationship between Nicholas and Kris. The romance was cute but I think Nicholas was too dramatic in some parts. Didn‘t like much the plot. Maybe I was expecting too much from this novel. Didn‘t like much as I expected. But maybe I will try book 2?🤷🏽‍♀️2.5/3⭐️

Book 6 read on December. What was this?? 😳I watched the movie, the old one, long time ago but this is the first time I read the book. As always Mr. King described so well the characters and the atmosphere. It was like watching everything, so dysfunctional, pathological, macabre, horrid. Do you think there are fans like that out there?🤔🫣😟

Love this old edition. 4⭐️

Book 5 read this month. I really enjoyed this rom-com mystery. I didn‘t expect to like it and not with that retro cover☺️But it has mystery, romance, and it‘s funny. This was the most perfect rom-com crime mystery of the year😂🎄Maybe my Grinch heart 💚 felt something☺️ 3.8⭐️

Book 4 read during month of December and 3rd book in the #Dream Harbors series. A new character but story is developed in the same setting which means you will see characters from books one and two. From the three books, I enjoyed this story more than the previous books. XcccvIt was funny even though I still think that spicy scenes could be cheesy. I love these covers 3⭐️