This book had everything I love in historical fiction. It was well-written, well-researched, and had an admirable female main character. Its strong sense of time and place gave me a glimpse into a time in American history that I know little about. The entrenched, systemic racism was hard to read about, and so saddening, but it did serve to highlight Belle‘s incredible bravery and determination. ⬇️

Inspired by @dabbe ‘s recent “white knuckled” haiku. This is something I have really been struggling with lately.

How to find balance?
Keep up with world news, versus
Restful unplugging?

#HaikuaDay #HaikuHive

I was drawn to this book because I loved both the title and the cover, and my instincts did not steer me wrong! Family secrets, lovable characters, gorgeous European settings, humor, and even a bit of romance. Totally enjoyable!

#ReadYourKindle @CBee
#Pantone2025 #SaltedLime #ChiliOil @Lauredhel @BarbaraBB

Delightful magical realism, featuring characters I could be friends with (except for one or two that I loved to hate). The main character was trying to overcome past tragedies, so she could begin to fully live life in the present, learn to trust herself, and look forward. A light-hearted, feel-good read.

This was my July #FictionalTraveler selection, for the #Water prompt.

#5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii

Perfectly captures the life of a 6th Grade girl in the 1970s. A walk down memory lane!

#AuthorAMonth @Soubhiville

This book was brutal. I can‘t say I enjoyed reading it, but I did learn a lot. It‘s a dual timeline novel, set in 1930s Berlin and 1950s Buenos Aires. Both locations were written with a strong sense of time and place, and the novel was well-researched, particularly the sections that took place in Argentina. ⬇️

#5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii

Looking forward to seeing everyone‘s August selections for #MonthlyNonfiction2025 !

Okay, #FictionalTraveler friends, what sizzling locale will you be visiting for our August #SomeplaceHot prompt? I‘m going to Cuba with Next Year in Havana.

Absolutely charming. I‘m so glad I finally read this, thanks to #Roll100 . @PuddleJumper

Lots of practical advice for decorating a room, or an entire home, to feel cozy but not cluttered. A series of logical steps to follow, written in an encouraging and supportive tone. Very helpful!
This was my July selection for #MonthlyNonfiction2025.

I thoroughly enjoyed this multigenerational family saga, which features several strong women and the life choices they make. The characters were all realistically drawn, and even when they made what I considered “wrong” choices, I could understand their reasons. As a bonus, I also learned a lot about beer and the brewing process!

My #ReadYourKindle list for August.
@CBee

Finally posting last week‘s #5JoysFriday 🙄 @DebinHawaii

Hello, cozy friends! Our August prompt for #ThematicCozies is #Travel ! I‘m going on a fictional cruise with Dead Man Docking. Where in the world will you be going?

My #ReadOrDonate choice for August is An Impartial Witness, which is Book #3 in the excellent Bess Crawford Mystery series. It has been sitting on my shelf for several years, patiently waiting for me to notice it. 🥴

What will everyone else be reading/donating?

#HaikuaDay #HaikuHive @dabbe

The mountains never move, but the view is always changing. 💚⛰️💚

My August #BookSpin list! @TheAromaOfBooks

Very introspective. The story consists mostly of the characters‘ inner thoughts, about themselves and the other characters. I found the reading challenging at first, because I was trying to “read” the sentences. Once I decided to just let the writing wash over me and “feel” the writing, I did much better. Virginia Woolf is a masterful writer, but honestly, I just didn‘t care very much about any of these characters.
#AuthorAMonth @Soubhiville

Well written and well researched, filled with facts and true stories, this historical fiction novel is steeped in a strong sense of time and place. I loved it! Palisades Amusement Park in New Jersey no longer exists, but it comes to life in rich detail in this story. The main character‘s pursuit of a daring career in an age where women were not encouraged to do such things deftly ties the book‘s many narratives together.

#ReadOrDonate for July

#5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii

Littens can save lives! @TieDyeDude is hosting the first ever #LitsyBloodDrive ! Ways to participate: donate blood, platelets, money or snacks. Volunteer. Spread the word. Bring a friend! Let‘s all get together and do this! 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️🩸💙

I recently finished two delightful magical realism books, and it dawned on me that I could write the same review for each. Both were lighthearted feel-good reads, had characters that I could be friends with, and featured main characters who were trying to leave their past behind and begin to live in the present, trust themselves, and look forward. The Coffee Shop of Curiosities was for my book club. Lost Lake was for July #FictionalTraveler #Water

#5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii

Just what I like in a cozy mystery! Likeable characters, a smart female amateur sleuth, a friendly village setting, and a mystery that kept me guessing. I will read more of this series!

This was my July #ThematicCozies choice, for the #Festival prompt.

#Pantone2025 #CurdsandWhey @Lauredhel @BarbaraBB

We love seeing the look of delight on our friends‘ faces when they see their first white squirrel!

#HaikuaDay #HaikuHive

 @dabbe

This was a fascinating historical novel about the Hindenburg airship disaster in 1937. The zeppelin burst into flames as it was landing in New Jersey, after its transatlantic flight from Germany. Told from multiple points of view, the novel speculates what the multi-day flight was like, for both passengers and crew. Secrets, schemes, romance, and lots of nail biting tension - it‘s all here. I couldn‘t put this book down!

#Pantone2025 #Bran

#5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii

Entertaining! A refreshing take on the Cinderella story, with a strong heroine. Another excellent choice for #SundayBuddyRead with @TheBookHippie

Long, but very well written, with well-developed characters and relationships that have depth. But the ending…ugh… frustrating. Thanks to the always-fun #HashtagBrigade for giving me the impetus to keep reading!
#AllergicToChunksters
# Pantone2025 #Cocoon #Cocoa @Lauredhel

Great practical advice, told with humor and a bit of snarkiness. This is a quick read, as it‘s not a novel, but rather an expanded version of a commencement address given by Cassandra King at her Alma Mater. Excellent introduction by Rick Bragg. Fun!

#5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii It was a lovely, summery week. ☀️

My July choice for #ReadOrDonate is Palisades Park, historical fiction about a legendary amusement park near where I grew up in New Jersey. What will everyone else be reading and/or donating?

What a delightful book! I learned so much about the shells and other various mysterious objects that wash up on the beach - mysteries no more! The author uses scientific terms, but explains them in layman‘s language. She also encourages readers to just soak up the relaxing atmosphere of the beach, being aware of all 5 senses, meditating, and pondering age old questions. Perfect reading for anyone who is at the beach, or dreaming of being there.

My #ReadYourKindle list for July. A good number of these are #CatchUp reads from prior months‘ challenges and buddy reads. 🫣
@CBee

I have 3 fun choices for #Roll100 this month: Spindle‘s End, Perestroika in Paris, and Blackbeard the Pirate!
@PuddleJumper

Looking forward to lots of fun along with our mystery in July! Our #ThematicCozies prompt is #Fair/Festival/Carnival . What will everyone be reading? And… hoping some of us get to attend a real fair, festival, or carnival in July! 🎡🎠🎢

I thoroughly enjoyed this cozy mystery. Despite the light-hearted title, it had a surprisingly complex plot, which kept me guessing. The characters were believable and likable. It‘s the first in a series, and I look forward to reading more.

#ReadYourKindle @CBee
#Pantone2025 #BlueGranite @Lauredhel

My July #BookSpin list. New month, new choices! 😃
@TheAromaofBooks

The #FictionalTraveler prompt for July is #Water . Hopefully our reading will bring some refreshing fictional escapism for those of us who have been dealing with oppressive heat. 🥵💦💧💦

What will everyone be reading?

#HaikuaDay #HaikuHive

This book is a balm for the soul. Calm, quiet, relaxing, filled with love. It was a perfect choice for #Naturalitsy #MidsummerSolace , as it really did provide solace for me in these stressful times. Escapism at its best. @AllDebooks @TheBookHippie @Chrissyreadit #LitSolace

I love summer at the beach! We meet such nice people!

#HaikuaDay #HaikuHive @dabbe

Rental house next door,
New neighbors each Saturday.
Friends, week at a time.

Nope. Not for me. Too weird. #HailtheBail #BetterBooksAhead

I enjoy the Lucy Stone mystery series. The books are well-written, and the characters feel realistic. This book is #31 in the series. Lucy‘s daughter is getting married, and I could so identify with the “wedding industrial complex” that suddenly takes over their lives! I also appreciated the thoughtful treatment of the history of the Native Americans in Maine. And it‘s a cozy, so of course there was a murder! It kept me guessing until the end.

#5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii

Fun! A divorced American mom books a vacation at Austenland, a Regency-immersion country house hotel in England, hoping the change of scene will help her overcome the numbness she has felt since her divorce. Romance and a murder mystery… reality or just part of the immersion experience storyline? The witty, snarky conversations she has with herself in her head are a hoot! Loosely based on Northanger Abbey. Great on audio.

#JaneAustenThenAndNow

This was a cute cozy mystery, but not one of my favorites. I actually found it a bit boring. But I did enjoy the setting at a Librarian‘s Conference. And the main character‘s Maine coon cat was a fun - if superfluous - addition.

This was my #ReadOrDonate selection for June. I‘ll bring it to our local Little Free Library. It would be a good beach read for our island‘s summer visitors - light, entertaining, and easily completed in a week.

We are loving every precious minute with our grandson! 💙

#HaikuADay #HaikuHive

@dabbe @TheBookHippie @TheSpineView @Kristy_K @JenlovesJT47 @DebinHawaii @bellabella @AnnCrystal @BooksandCoffee4Me @vivastory @Reggie @CBee @lil1inblue @Eggs @jdiehr @Jari-chan @Itchyfeetreader @mimi28