@LeahBergen on Litsy

pick

I‘m late to review our latest #PersephoneClub read as I‘ve been travelling around the interior of British Columbia (and very close to the setting of this novel).

I loved it! And who was surprised by the “reveal”?? I felt like I could have continued on with Frankie‘s story just a little bit longer.

rubyslippersreads, quietjenn, Caryl, sisilia, CarolynM, daena, LeahBergen, JenlovesJT47, elkeOriginal, Gissy, Aimeesue, Tamra, Teresereading, andrew61, Cathythoughts, Bookbuyingaddict, julieclair, willaful

Tamra It was a surprise to me! Didn‘t seem to be handled well all the way around. 😅 I felt like that about Frankie too, but I had to keep reminding myself the titular character is Hetty. I wonder if that was a publisher choice? I hope you enjoyed your trip! (edited) 2w

willaful I would really have liked to see more of what happened to Frankie, but I came to the conclusion that the story was really about her finding her own values and voice and we could take the rest on faith. 2w

CarolynM I was surprised, but it made sense to me. And I liked what the Afterword said about the consequences of parents behaving as servants to their children. I was uncomfortable all along with accepting that Hetty was bad, without any real evidence. I was hoping for those sitting in judgement to be in the wrong. 2w

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rubyslippersreads I‘m even later than you, but will come back when I‘m done. 😺 2w

Cathythoughts I loved it too. The reveal was a surprise to me too, but then on reflection it made sense. I felt for Hetty , but I‘d say she would be a difficult person. I loved the description of their first meeting in nature. Lovely writing. ❤️ 2w

Cathythoughts Lovely picture ! I hope you had a great time on your trip x 2w

MemoirsForMe Happy Travels! 🤗🚐❤️ 1w

61 likes7 comments

LeahBergen

Found in the Street | Patricia Highsmith

I‘ve been away travelling in our trailer and not doing much reading AT ALL but I still found time for buying a couple of new books.

(And attending the beautiful wedding of my much-loved niece/goddaughter ❤️).

#JohnnyBergen

BarbaraBB I am glad you‘ve had such a good time. Not even time for reading! Hi #johnnybergen 🐾 3w

Amiable Traveling and enjoying the company of loved ones is (dare I say it ?) just as important as reading! 😀 3w

Cathythoughts Books look great ! As does Johnny 🥰 3w

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Tamra 🐶💙 I never get as much reading done traveling as I dream I will, but always manage to acquire more. 😆 3w

dabbe #joyfuljohnny 🖤🐾🖤 3w

LeahBergen @BarbaraBB @Amiable @Cathythoughts @Tamra @dabbe Thanks, all! 😘 3w

rubyslippersreads What a cute bookstand. 🐶❤️ 2w

LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads 😆 2w

MemoirsForMe ❤️🐾❤️ 1w

Suet624 Wedding and traveling. Two of my favorite things. 1w

Rissreadswithcats Love the bookstand! 😂 5d

60 likes11 comments

LeahBergen

Hetty Dorval | Ethel Wilson

It‘s now August so that means it‘s time for one of our #PersephoneClub reads!

@LeahBergen ‘s pick (my pick!) for us this month is Hetty Dorval by Ethel Wilson. This is a casual buddy read; read and comment on each other‘s posts and reviews as you see them. We usually aim to finish by the middle of the month but that‘s not written in stone. 😉 And anyone is welcome to read along with us, of course!

rubyslippersreads, quietjenn, Caryl, sisilia, CarolynM, daena, JenlovesJT47, elkeOriginal, Gissy, Aimeesue, Tamra, Teresereading, andrew61, Cathythoughts, Bookbuyingaddict, julieclair, willaful

LeahBergen @LitsyEvents 1mo

Tamra 👏🏾👏🏾 How is it time already??? Always look forward to a Persephone read. 😁 1mo

willaful Yay, my library bought this. 1mo

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Cathythoughts Thanks Leah ! I have my copy ready to go 😁❤️ 1mo

LeahBergen @Tamra And how is it August?? 1mo

LeahBergen @willaful Oh, good! It‘s in print from a couple of Canadian publishers, too. 👍 1mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts Yay! This one looks like it‘s going to be a fast little read. 😊 1mo

Tamra @LeahBergen @Cathythoughts I read chapter 1! 😳😱 Fantastic writing. 1mo

LeahBergen @Tamra I‘m excited to start now!! 1mo

CarolynM Thanks Leah. I‘m away at the moment, I will get on to it when I get home 😊 (edited) 1mo

LeahBergen @CarolynM I‘m on my way out of town this week, too. We‘ll get to it when we get to it! 😆 1mo

Caryl Thank you, Leah! I need to catch up with my Persephone reads. Think I‘ll start with this one! 1mo

LeahBergen @Caryl And it‘s a nice short one! 1mo

Bookbuyingaddict Hi 👋 all & thanks again @LeahBergen for organising this 😀I was back in Bath 🛁 last month and of course popped in and purchased 3 greys for my collection 😆I‘m going to have to miss this one this month sorry 😢 I‘m just stacked with bookclub and buddy reads but il be jumping back in with the blank wall - happy 😃 reading il still keep track of everyone‘s thoughts much love ❤️ x x 1mo

LeahBergen @Bookbuyingaddict See you for our next read! 😘 1mo

elkeOriginal I have a nonPersephone edition (the horror!) but looking forward to this thin lil read 4w

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LeahBergen

Regency Buck | Georgette Heyer

I took this Georgette Heyer off the shelf today (but then had to check Goodreads to see if I‘d already read it 😆).

AvidReader25 Do you have a favorite Heyer? I‘ve only read two and would love to read more! 1mo

LeahBergen @AvidReader25 I don‘t really have a favourite as I‘ve enjoyed all the ones I‘ve read. 😆 Hmm… maybe The Grand Sophy, Sylvester, Cotillion, Friday‘s Child? I‘m really enjoying this one so far! It was her first novel set in the Regency era (the previous ones were set in the Georgian era) and I guess it kickstarted the Regency novel as a genre. 1mo

Cathythoughts I‘m loving the cover on the book 😍 1mo

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LeahBergen @Cathythoughts It‘s pretty! 1mo

Reggie Lolol‘ed on the checking of Goodreads to see if you‘ve read it. There‘s a couple of books lately from back in the day that have left me thinking-have I? 1mo

CarolynM Sylvester is my current handbag book. I‘m not loving it as much as Sophy yet😆 1mo

AvidReader25 @LeahBergen Thank you!!! I loved The Grand Sophy so much. It was my first. I‘ll try the others! 1mo

LeahBergen @Reggie 😆😆 And I expect it will only get worse! 1mo

LeahBergen @CarolynM Sylvester grew on me. Maybe it will for you, too! 1mo

LeahBergen @AvidReader25 The Grand Sophy was my first, too. 😀 1mo

AvidReader25 @LeahBergen I love that! It was so good. 💙 1mo

Bookwomble See now, you've been very tantalising with your bookmarks In your last few posts! Clear views would be appreciated by certain interested parties!🔖🧐😄 1mo

LeahBergen @Bookwomble Haha! I‘ll endeavour to be better in the future. This was a Jane Austen bookmark 😆 1mo

Bookwomble @LeahBergen 😁 1mo

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LeahBergen

The God of the Woods | Liz Moore

Friday night reading (with wine and a thunderstorm).

Cathythoughts Looks, sounds perfect ⛈️ 🍷 📚 2mo

Aims42 A perfect setting for some reading time 🥰 2mo

kspenmoll Perfect accompaniment to a thunderstorm! 2mo

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Tamra What is Crust????! 2mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts @Aims42 @kspenmoll It was! 😊 2mo

LeahBergen @Tamra It‘s a lovely cookbook from a Canadian bakery (of the same name) in Victoria, BC. 😊

Crust: Essential Sweets and Savories from Victoria's Beloved Bakery

2mo

Tamra 😍😋 2mo

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LeahBergen

Lady Living Alone | Norah Lofts

Spinsterish Penelope Shadow becomes an overnight success as romantic novelist and can now afford her own house. The only problem is that she is deathly afraid of being alone at night and needs a live-in servant. Enter 20-year-old Terry, who seems to be perfect in every way … but is he really?

This is touted as a domestic novel that evolves into a thriller and I‘m here for it (thus the popcorn 😆).

Ruthiella I heard about this on Simon Thomas‘ podcast “Tea or Books”. I‘ve read a couple Norah Loft historical novels in the past, but this one seems a little different in tone. 2mo

rubyslippersreads You gifted me this one; I need to move it up my TBR list. (Terry sounds sus. 🤣) 2mo

LeahBergen @Ruthiella I read a ton of her historicals as a teenager because I could find them at flea markets and yard sales. 😆 2mo

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LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads 😆 I hope you enjoy it when you get to it! 2mo

Cathythoughts Absolutely stacking 👍🏻 Loving the popcorn vibe 😁 2mo

sarahbarnes 🍿 🍿 2mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts @sarahbarnes It was a very popcorn-y read 😆 2mo

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LeahBergen

In the Distance | Hernan Diaz

My current read for my IRL book club and it‘s so good! It‘s one of my favourite niche genres: the “reinvented western”.

Sace Sounds so good. Just added to my wishlist! (edited) 2mo

Tamra This one has been staring at me from my TBR shelves! I hope it‘s great. 2mo

Ruthiella Apparently the author was influenced by Mary Shelly‘s Frankenstein when writing this. It does add an interesting layer conceptually. (edited) 2mo

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Tamra @Ruthiella wow, good to know. I‘ll be looking for the influence. 2mo

BarbaraBB Coming from you, that is good to know! 2mo

Trashcanman Hi Leah! 👋🏽 2mo

Cathythoughts I loved this book Leah ♥️ 2mo

Cathythoughts Great pic 🥰👍🏻 2mo

LeahBergen @Sace @Tamra @BarbaraBB I thought it was great but my book club was split almost exactly between “wows” and “ughs”. 😆😆 2mo

LeahBergen @Ruthiella I was reading that, too. It‘s super interesting! 2mo

LeahBergen @Trashcanman Hello! 👋 I hope you‘re doing well! 😀 2mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts Thanks, Cathy. I thought it was really good but the book club was split (half loved it and half hated it 😆). It made for a great discussion! 2mo

Suet624 Oh my gosh - I think of this book so often. There is a very special part 3/4 of the way through the book (I think) where he's wandering and you're wondering if you're losing your mind too. 1mo

LeahBergen @Suet624 Yes! That part was so vivid with its repeating phrases! I actually checked the page numbers to see if it was a printing error. 😆 1mo

Suet624 I‘m glad you know what I‘m talking about. Just a brilliant thing to do. Also, it doesn‘t surprise me that the book club was split on the book. 1mo

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LeahBergen

Family Ties: A Novel | Celia Buckmaster

pick

A novel about the “impoverished semi-gentry of a country village, consisting of cantankerous parents and frustrated adult children… Each family quarrels with itself in the same laconic and polite way”. That quote from an early review sums up the plot perfectly. It seems to have a more wry feel to it than many of our other #FurrowedMiddlebrowClub reads (and one of the best descriptions of an awkward tea party ever 😆).

I enjoyed it!

rubyslippersreads, quietjenn, Jess_Read_This, Kimzey, erzascarletbookgasm, catebutler, CarolynM, LeahBergen, JenlovesJT47, Lizpixie, elkeOriginal, Gissy, Aimeesue, batsy, Tamra, bookandbedandtea, Teresereading, Sace, kwmg40, Cathythoughts, Ruthiella, Sparklemn, julieclair, willaful, MrsK

Ruthiella I‘ve not started yet, but based on your review and @Tamra ‘s comments, I‘m really going to like this one. 😊 2mo

Tamra Wry is the perfect adjective! I am loving how each family is perfectly imperfect in their own ways. 😊 (edited) 2mo

CarolynM It does seem to have a slightly different tone from many of the others - makes village life sound less appealing. 2mo

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Tamra @CarolynM village life always seems appealing until everyone can hear & comment on you sneezing. 🤧🤣 2mo

Cathythoughts I like the sound of this ‘Wry‘ one. Great review ❤️👍🏻 2mo

LeahBergen @Ruthiella I hope you like it! 🤞 2mo

LeahBergen @CarolynM @Tamra Yeah, I‘m not so sure that I‘d be the best fit for village life 😆 2mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts Thanks, Cathy! 😘 2mo

Ruthiella About 80% read now. That tea party! 😆 2mo

LeahBergen @Ruthiella Right? 😆 2mo

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LeahBergen

A Spring of Love | Celia Dale

Currently reading and thoroughly enjoying! Celia Dale is becoming a firm favourite of mine.

Tamra 👏🏾👏🏾Book envy! 2mo

Cathythoughts Oh brilliant, I loved it. She gets better every time I read her , do you think ? ! 2mo

Cathythoughts It was another great gift from yourself x 2mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts It was so good!! 2mo

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LeahBergen

The Exiles Return: A Novel | Elisabeth de Waal

pick

This was a fascinating look at post-WWII Austria, a time of which I knew very little about before reading this novel. We follow three exiles on their return to Vienna from America and try to figure out how their lives will intersect to explain the “accidental” death described in the prologue. So good!

#PersephoneClub

andrew61 I finished it last night and would love to be having a discussion about it. Pr Alder and Nina was an outcome which was very moving but as for poor Resi , what can I say. Another great persephone read. 3mo

LeahBergen @andrew61 I was very happy with the Alder and Nina outcome (and that little peek into their future together!) but poor Resi is right! What do you think of Kanakis‘ grief at the end? I was moved enough to think he really felt for her and she wasn‘t a complete “marriage of convenience”. I hope? 3mo

andrew61 Yes, it was curious. Kanakis seemed to want Resi as a trophy, a beautiful curio like the shepherdess, and that would allow him to then hide his attraction to young men like Bimbo. I think he may have been upset in the way he would have been if the shepherdess had been dropped at the loss of a beautiful object. The book continually emphasises Resi's beauty. 3mo

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andrew61 I thought the confrontation between Adler and Krieger was particularly dramatic. Krieger's admission of his activities in the war was shocking and Adler was remarkable in his response. I also liked the three sisters who were princesses. I will add Vienna to my list of places to visit. 3mo

Cathythoughts Great review Leah. I must start soon , then I can read the spoiler too 👍🏻😁 3mo

CarolynM Great review. It‘s not something I know anything about either. I‘m just about to start Part 2. I‘ll come back to your spoiler comment when I finish🙂 3mo

LeahBergen @andrew61 I definitely think you‘re right about the trophy aspect of his affection for her (look at how excited he was to think of dressing her). And that whole Adler/Krieger confrontation was so powerful! 3mo

LeahBergen @andrew61 I kind of wish I had three Austrian princess aunts 😆😆 3mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts @CarolynM I tried to not give too much of the plot away in my review 😆 3mo

Bookbuyingaddict Hi 👋 all great reviews and loving 🥰 following along however I‘m giving this particular one a miss but will join back in with the next 😀happy reading 📖 folks ❤️ 2mo

LeahBergen @Bookbuyingaddict No worries! We‘ll see you for the next one! 😘 2mo

CarolynM @LeahBergen @andrew61 I agree with you about why Kanakis wanted Resi but I think he would have been kind to her & they would have had a life that suited them both. I think he was grieving what might have been as well as the loss of beauty. I would have liked more about Professor Adler & how he felt about the changes in the people & the city. The circumstances of the fading aristocracy as represented by the 3 princesses interested me too. 2mo

LeahBergen @CarolynM I thought the same thing about Kanakis and was (weirdly!) rooting for them. 2mo

rubyslippersreads @andrew61 I think that‘s it exactly. 2mo

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LeahBergen

Come Back, Lucy | Pamela Sykes

I just remembered to pull this off my shelves, @Centique , after I mentioned it on your time travel post. This is the American edition; does it look like it matches the ‘70s TV show at all? 😄

Centique Oh yes it does! In the show it is all because of the mirror she finds at her cousins house I think? I am going to a secondhand bookshop next week that specialises in children‘s books so I am going to look for this! 3mo

Centique Thanks for showing me your version! I love that art style too 😍 3mo

LeahBergen @Centique I hope you find it! Buddy read? 😄 3mo

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Centique @LeahBergen definitely! Fingers crossed! 3mo

Centique No luck so far sorry Leah. Ill keep looking! 2mo

LeahBergen @Centique Oh, darn! 2mo

rubyslippersreads @LeahBergen @Centique I think I have both of these books. I‘ll have to check. 2mo

LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads And now I want to see them! 😆 2mo

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LeahBergen

The Exiles Return: A Novel | Elisabeth de Waal

It‘s now April so that means it‘s time for one of our #PersephoneClub reads!

@elkeOriginal ‘s pick for us this month is The Exiles Return by Elisabeth de Waal. This is a casual buddy read; read and comment on each other‘s posts and reviews as you see them. We usually aim to finish by the middle of the month but that‘s not written in stone. 😉 And anyone is welcome to read along with us, of course!

rubyslippersreads, quietjenn, Caryl, sisilia, CarolynM, daena, LeahBergen, JenlovesJT47, Gissy, Aimeesue, Tamra, Teresereading, andrew61, Cathythoughts, Bookbuyingaddict, julieclair, willaful

Liz_M @LitsyEvents 3mo

CarolynM Thanks Leah😘 I‘ll get started on it soon. 3mo

Cathythoughts Thanks Leah, I‘ll take it down from my shelf today. Looking forward to it x 3mo

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Cathythoughts I have this as a gift from you , two years ago ❤️🙏 3mo

LeahBergen @Liz_M Thank you! 😘 3mo

LeahBergen @CarolynM It should be a good one! 🤞 3mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts That‘s right! I forgot about that. It was after we so enjoyed her other one. 😘 3mo

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LeahBergen

Noble Fragments: the maverick who broke up the world�s greatest book | Michael Visontay

We are out in our camper right now and I forced myself to do my duty and stop at a little independent bookshop. 😉

Here‘s my latest read!

Ruthiella Your sacrifice is noble! 😜 Hi Johnny Bergen! 🐶❤️ 3mo

Tamra And Johnny at your side for moral support! 3mo

dabbe #joyfuljohnny! 🖤🐾🖤 3mo

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squirrelbrain Is that not the whole reason to go camping - to buy books?! 🤣 Hi #johnnybergen! 🐶❤️ 3mo

LeahBergen @Ruthiella @Tamra @dabbe @squirrelbrain #JohnnyBergen sends his love! 😆😆 3mo

BarbaraBB So good to see #JohnnyBergen again! Hope you‘re having a wonderful trip while doing your duty 😀 3mo

CarolynM Well done you👏 Enjoy your trip💕 3mo

TrishB Of course ❤️ enjoy 🐶 3mo

youneverarrived 😂 enjoy your trip 🩷 3mo

Cathythoughts Have a lovely trip. Johnny is looking good 🥰 🐶 3mo

Reggie The 🐶 !!!! 🖤🖤🖤 3mo

LeahBergen @BarbaraBB He says “hello”! 😆 3mo

LeahBergen @CarolynM Thanks, Carolyn! 😘 3mo

LeahBergen @TrishB Right? 😘😘 3mo

LeahBergen @youneverarrived Thank you! 😘 3mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts He sends his thanks. He‘s been trying to stay off the snacks but not always doing so well. 😆 3mo

LeahBergen @Reggie He sends his love. 😆 3mo

Rissreadswithcats It‘s a tough job, but someone has to do it! 👏🏻 3mo

sarahbarnes Why else would someone travel if not to visit bookstores?? 📚 3mo

MemoirsForMe Happy Travels! 🐶❤️📚 3mo

britt_brooke Johnny! 3mo

vivastory Johnny 💙💙 3mo

Suet624 Johnny is looking just a touch older. 2mo

LeahBergen @Suet624 He‘s going to be 6 years old in a couple of weeks! 😮 2mo

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LeahBergen

The Luckiest Girl | Beverly Cleary

I don‘t know how I missed reading Beverly Cleary‘s teen books as a kid because I read so many of her books aimed at a younger audience. I‘m loving this!

@TheBookHippie , I see from a preview post that you‘re a fan, too. 😊

Andrea313 Her teen books are some of my favorites! If you're discovering them all for the first time, you have such a treat in front of you. And this is a gorgeous edition, I'm jealous! 😍 4mo

TheBookHippie Oh her teen books are my favorites!!!!! ♥️♥️♥️ they‘re such a zen!!! 4mo

vivastory I'm not sure I would have become a constant reader without Cleary's Ralph Mouse books. Some of my fondest childhood reading memories are rereading those books, 4mo

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Cathythoughts Oh that looks very sweet! Enjoy 🥰 4mo

LeahBergen @Andrea313 This one is so good that I‘m glad I also have a copy of Jean and Johnny waiting for me! 😍 4mo

LeahBergen @TheBookHippie It‘s just marvellous! I‘m going to need them all. 😆 4mo

LeahBergen @vivastory Oh, what a wonderful memory. I feel like that about a teacher who read Ramona the Pest to us. ❤️ 4mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts It‘s SO sweet! 😊 4mo

Andrea313 @LeahBergen I'll be curious to hear what you think of Jean and Johnny, its different to me in terms of tone. Have you read Fifteen (my favorite) and Sister of the Bride? 4mo

TheBookHippie @LeahBergen they are alllll good!!! 4mo

mrp27 Loved her teen books! 4mo

LeahBergen @Andrea313 I‘ll definitely let you know when I get to it. This is the first I‘ve read of her teen books! 4mo

nanuska_153 That edition 😍😍😍 3mo

LeahBergen @nanuska_153 It‘s so cute, isn‘t it?? 3mo

MemoirsForMe Beverly! 😍🙌🏻 3mo

Centique I am in love with that cover! 😍 Also Cleary is the GOAT 3mo

LeahBergen @MemoirsForMe Yes! ❤️ 3mo

LeahBergen @Centique She‘s awesome! 3mo

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LeahBergen

The Trap | Catherine Ryan Howard

Up next.

I was feeling the urge for a speedy thriller and this one‘s off to a promising start!

vivastory I love this one. IMHO, it's one of Howard's best 4mo

BarbaraBB I enjoyed some of her other books. And when @vivastory says it‘s her best I am definitely stacking! 4mo

Cathythoughts Also stacking 😁❤️ 4mo

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LeahBergen @vivastory It was really good! I thoroughly enjoyed The Nothing Man and read one other (which one was it? 🤔). 4mo

LeahBergen @BarbaraBB @Cathythoughts It was a fun one! And she‘s an author from your part of the world, Cathy. 😀 4mo

Cathythoughts @LeahBergen Yes 😁 she‘s a Corkonian ! Up Cork 👍🏻❤️ 4mo

vivastory @LeahBergen The ending 😱 💔 (edited) 4mo

LeahBergen @vivastory That twist really surprised me!! 😮 4mo

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LeahBergen

Sally-Ann | SUSAN. SCARLETT

pick

Beautician Ann is the perfect size to fit the ill and absent bridesmaid‘s gown at an aristocratic wedding and reluctantly steps in to fill the role. She meets the dashing best man (a Lord, natch) and sparks fly. This was a lovely little pre-WWII Harlequin Romance/Mills and Boon riff on a Cinderella story and I was down for all of it. 😆

#FurrowedMiddlebrowClub

CarolynM I got a bit worried when poor Bunny was at death's door 🫣🥲 I should have known that it would all turn out well in the end😃 4mo

Ruthiella Sounds like it‘s a perfect Susan Scarlett fairy tale! I hope to start it this weekend. 🤞 4mo

willaful Ah, Never No More. I should reread that. 4mo

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Cathythoughts Great review 😁❤️ 4mo

sarahbarnes Sounds adorable 🥰 4mo

Suet624 My mother was the only other person I‘ve ever heard use the word ‘natch‘. It brings up memories. 4mo

LeahBergen @Suet624 My mother said it, too, and that‘s probably where I got it from! 😆 4mo

Bookbuyingaddict Love the cover too looks similar to the apricot sky you told me about 😍 3mo

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LeahBergen

Days of Light | Megan Hunter

New book day!

Taking inspiration from the Bloomsbury group, this novel chronicles “six pivotal days across six decades” after a tragic event occurs on Easter Sunday in 1938.

It sounds like my sort of cup o‘ tea!

TheBookHippie It sounds so good!! 4mo

squirrelbrain I have the ARC of this…just didn‘t get round to reading it before pub day. 🤦‍♀️ 4mo

sarahbarnes Sounds good! 4mo

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Suet624 It does sound like your cup of tea. :) 4mo

merelybookish Sounds like my cup of tea too! ☕ 4mo

Tamra Ahhhhh, book mail. ♥️ I will for sure stack it when you give it a thumbs up. 👍🏾 4mo

LeahBergen @TheBookHippie It does, doesn‘t it?? 4mo

LeahBergen @squirrelbrain You‘re much better than me. I prefer my books to age for a while on my shelves, like wine. 😆 4mo

LeahBergen @sarahbarnes It does! 4mo

LeahBergen @Suet624 😘😘 4mo

LeahBergen @merelybookish It certainly does! 4mo

LeahBergen @Tamra Here‘s hoping! 🤞 4mo

Cathythoughts Gorgeous photo. Sounds good too. Stacked. 4mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts Thanks, Cathy! 😘 4mo

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LeahBergen

The Stories | Jane Gardam

Look what I found today, @Centique , and right after your glowing review! I also found another Beryl Bainbridge, @Cathythoughts . 👏

Just doing my best to support my local secondhand bookshop on #IndependentBookstoreDay , of course. 😉

Tamra 👏🏾👏🏾 A successful day! 4mo

BarbaraBB That‘s the only Bainbridge I read! I must find other books by her too! 4mo

Ruthiella I love it when a book you have just read about pops up like that! 😃 4mo

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Centique Yay! That is serendipity 😍 it is such a great collection - it was out there looking for you! 4mo

LeahBergen @Tamra It was! 4mo

LeahBergen @BarbaraBB You might enjoy this one (it‘s quite dark!)

The Dressmaker: A Novel

4mo

LeahBergen @Ruthiella It‘s like magic! 😆 4mo

LeahBergen @Centique I think it was! 😆 4mo

BarbaraBB Thank you Leah, will absolutely check that one out. 4mo

BarbaraBB I wanted to stack it but see I did that already! 4mo

Cathythoughts Great finds Leah ! I think I have The Bottle one on Kindle .. 4mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts Thanks, Cathy! And it‘s always good to have a little stockpile of the authors we like. 😆 4mo

vivastory Just wanted to say “Hi!“ 💙 (Hope you are well, & Johnny too!) 4mo

LeahBergen @vivastory Hello!! All is well here and Johnny is as bad as ever! 😆 4mo

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LeahBergen

The Getting of Wisdom | Henry Richardson

My current read, and one I‘ve been meaning to get to for years, is this 1910 Australian classic about a country girl who is sent to a Melbourne boarding school.

Have any of my Australian friends on Litsy read it? 😀

Liz_M I'm not Australian, but I read this years ago. 4mo

Ruthiella Gosh, why haven‘t I read this? I‘ve probably always mixed it up with

My Brilliant Career

4mo

CarolynM I haven‘t read it, but I have seen the film😉 4mo

See All 12 Comments

LeahBergen @Liz_M Did you remember liking it? I‘m only a few chapters in but so far, so good! 4mo

LeahBergen @Ruthiella I think I may have confused it with that title, too 😆 4mo

LeahBergen @CarolynM Haha! I only noticed that there was a film when I was looking at the different covers here on Litsy! Is it a popular Australian novel? Like Anne of Green Gables here in Canada? 4mo

Teresereading Yes - Year 11 English Lit 4mo

CarolynM It‘s thought of as a “literary” novel so I‘d guess most people who‘ve read it would have read it at school, like @Teresereading 🙂 I think Seven Little Australians would be closer to the Anne equivalent, in spite of the ending😭 4mo

LeahBergen @Teresereading Oh! That‘s interesting! 4mo

LeahBergen @CarolynM I have Seven Little Australians waiting on my shelf! 4mo

CarolynM Oops! I thought you‘d read it. Sorry for the spoiler🫢😬 4mo

LeahBergen @CarolynM Oh, no worries. I‘d already heard it has a sad ending! 😆 4mo

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LeahBergen

Mrs England | Stacey Halls

I did a random grab from my shelves and this is what I landed on. I guess I‘m still feeling like staying in the “gothic” vibe after finishing The Shuttle! 🤷🏻‍♀️

Trashcanman Wow what a library! 😍 5mo

willaful Viragos! 5mo

BiblioLitten That library is such a dream!! 😍 5mo

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dabbe W🤩WZA! 5mo

Tamra Love the pic! 💙 I recall enjoying the tagged book. 5mo

CarolynM I love your shelves😍 So organised 5mo

LeahBergen @Trashcanman Thanks, George! 😄 5mo

LeahBergen @willaful I can never resist when I see them for a couple of $$s. 😆 5mo

LeahBergen @BiblioLitten @dabbe Thanks! The photo is from my “wedged into my corner reading chair” view. 😆😆 5mo

LeahBergen @Tamra Oh, good! It seems fun from the bit I‘ve read so far. 5mo

LeahBergen @CarolynM Thanks! They‘re kinda/sorta organized to my own random system. 😆 5mo

Cathythoughts Gorgeous picture. Book looks good 👍🏻❤️ 5mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts Thanks, Cathy! 😘 5mo

Bookbuyingaddict Also have that on my TBR ❤️ 😆 5mo

LeahBergen @Bookbuyingaddict Haha! 😆 5mo

tpixie Gorgeous cover 💚💚💚 5mo

LeahBergen @tpixie It‘s pretty, isn‘t it? 😄 5mo

tpixie @LeahBergen so very pretty 🤩 5mo

TrishB Gorgeous library ❤️ 5mo

Rissreadswithcats Your library! Do you have a book ladder? 🩷 4mo

LeahBergen @Rissreadswithcats No, but I‘ve always wanted one 😆 4mo

Rissreadswithcats Go on, just do it! Life‘s too short! What fun it would be!!!!!!! 4mo

Suet624 My heart exploded when I saw this photo!!! Love, love, love. 4mo

LeahBergen @Rissreadswithcats I think I need higher ceilings 😆😆 4mo

LeahBergen @Suet624 Aww, thank you! 😘 4mo

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LeahBergen

The shuttle | Frances Hodgson Burnett

pick

Well, it seems that I agree with my fellow #PersephoneClub readers … this one was a melodramatic gem! Nasty Nigel is one of the vilest villains I‘ve come across in recent reading memory.

And I‘m very glad that a favourite author of my childhood has held up so well!

Tamra 👏🏾👏🏾 I got all the gothic vibes. It was a super fun read. 5mo

LeahBergen @Tamra Totally! And it was. Especially the “rescued after lame horse/twisted ankle, take shelter in a remote crumbled cottage” part. 😆😆 So good! 👏👏 5mo

LeahBergen @Tamra Have you read her other novel published by Persephone? It‘s also good fun!

The Making of a Marchioness

(edited) 5mo

See All 12 Comments

Tamra @LeahBergen no, but I saw it on the flap and immediately put it on my TBR! 💕 5mo

JenlovesJT47 Haven‘t read it yet but starting it soon! 5mo

CarolynM It is a gem! The Making of a Marchioness was one of the first Persephones I bought because it‘s mentioned in one of the Nancy Mitfords (can‘t remember if it‘s Linda or Polly reading it) but I haven‘t read it yet. I will be doing so very soon! (edited) 5mo

Cathythoughts Great review! ‘ A Melodramatic gem‘……I love it ! I really enjoyed it too. ❤️ yes, definitely getting Marchioness, Thankyou. (edited) 5mo

Cathythoughts @CarolynM I‘ll have to get Marchioness. 👍🏻❤️ 5mo

LeahBergen @JenlovesJT47 I hope you enjoy it, too! 5mo

LeahBergen @Tamra @CarolynM @Cathythoughts I think you all will really enjoy Marchioness if you liked this one! (edited) 5mo

rubyslippersreads I just started this, and it‘s making me look forward to the new season of “The Gilded Age.” 5mo

LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads I haven‘t watched that series yet! 🫢 5mo

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LeahBergen

Bookish: The Life-Changing Power of Reading | Lucy Mangan

I loved Lucy Mangan‘s first reading memoir, Bookworm, so I just had to order her new one!

Andrea313 Running to order it, too! I also really liked her first and Reading About Reading is one of my all-time favorite genres. Thanks for the rec! 5mo

TheLudicReader I love books about books. 5mo

Ruthiella Can‘t order from Blackwell‘s anymore. 😭 5mo

See All 9 Comments

LeahBergen @Andrea313 One of my favourite genres, too! 😘 5mo

LeahBergen @TheLudicReader Me, too! I always seem to reach for one when I don‘t know what I feel like reading. 5mo

LeahBergen @Ruthiella Oh no! Is it a tariffs thing?? 5mo

Cathythoughts So lovely Leah ❤️ 5mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts 😘 5mo

Trashcanman 👋👋👋👀 5mo

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LeahBergen

Mouse House | Rumer Godden

pick

Thanks to @TheBookHippie and #ChildrensClassicRead2025 for reminding me that I had this sweet (tagged) book waiting on my shelves. And, as others have mentioned, the illustrations are gorgeous!

I always pick up these New York Review Children‘s Collection editions when I spot them in used bookshops.

TheBookHippie I do too!!! I love these little books!! 5mo

merelybookish Me too!! I found one a few weeks ago: The Lost Island. 5mo

Leftcoastzen Such great little books ! 5mo

See All 18 Comments

rubyslippersreads I ❤️ Charlotte Sometimes, but haven‘t read any of the others. Those are adorable editions. 5mo

mrp27 😍😍😍 5mo

sarahbarnes Those little ears! ♥️ 5mo

LeahBergen @merelybookish Oh, that one sounds like I need it, too! 😆 And it‘s illustrated by Richard Kennedy (apprentice to the Woolfs at Hogarth Press). 5mo

LeahBergen @Leftcoastzen They really are! 5mo

LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads Charlotte Sometimes is a fave! 🥰 5mo

LeahBergen @mrp27 😘 5mo

LeahBergen @sarahbarnes Right?? 5mo

MemoirsForMe Ditto on the beautiful illustrations! 😍 5mo

CarolynM What pretty little books! 😍 5mo

Cathythoughts Adorable 🥰 5mo

RobinMcElveenAuthor Love those covers! 5mo

LeahBergen @MemoirsForMe They‘re just so nostalgic! 5mo

LeahBergen @CarolynM @Cathythoughts @RobinMcElveenAuthor They really are lovely little editions! 5mo

tpixie What a delightful collection! Great covers! 5mo

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LeahBergen

Death Comes As the End | Agatha Christie

A couple of vintage finds from my recent little road trip! 💚

Centique Oh theyre both beautiful - in totally different ways! 5mo

LeahBergen I thought so, too. I‘d never seen the Christie cover before! @Centique (edited) 5mo

TrishB How lovely ♥️ 5mo

See All 8 Comments

Cathythoughts Beautiful ❤️ 5mo

youneverarrived Lovely 🥰 5mo

LeahBergen @TrishB @Cathythoughts @youneverarrived Thanks, all! 😘 5mo

elkeOriginal Love the Christie cover! 5mo

LeahBergen @elkeOriginal It‘s so vibrant! 5mo

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LeahBergen

The shuttle | Frances Hodgson Burnett

It‘s now April so that means it‘s time for one of our #PersephoneClub reads!

@Cathythoughts ‘ pick for us this month is The Shuttle by Frances Hodgson Burnett. This is a casual buddy read; read and comment on each other‘s posts and reviews as you see them. We usually aim to finish by the middle of the month but that‘s not written in stone. 😉 And anyone is welcome to read along with us, of course!

rubyslippersreads, quietjenn, Caryl, sisilia, CarolynM, daena, LeahBergen, JenlovesJT47, elkeOriginal, Gissy, Aimeesue, Tamra, Teresereading, andrew61, Bookbuyingaddict, julieclair, willaful

Tamra I‘m so behind! 😅😅 5mo

Cathythoughts Thankyou Leah. I felt a bit guilty about the length of it … so I made a little start already… I think it‘s going to be a good one 🤞🏻😬 5mo

andrew61 Looking forward to it Leah although not sure when I'll start. Will be interesting as I've been aware of her children's books so like richmael Compton another writer who straddles both adult and children's fiction. 5mo

See All 21 Comments

willaful I hadn't realized it was a long one, I'll get started too. 5mo

Bookbuyingaddict Thank you ☺️ can‘t wait for this one ☝️ I ordered it (not Persephone ) and the type is tiny so I‘m sending that back and supporting dear old Persephone , I shall start it after Iv finished the new hunger games book 📕 much love ❤️ reading pals x. Xx 5mo

daena I‘ve got my copy, starting real soon! 5mo

LeahBergen @Tamra Nah. You keep to your own schedule and enjoy all your reading! 😘 5mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts I wouldn‘t feel guilty! You‘ve inspired me to FINALLY pluck it down off my shelves. I‘ve owned it and wanted to read it for years! 😆😆 5mo

LeahBergen @andrew61 And like Noel Streatfeild, too! 5mo

LeahBergen @willaful It is pretty long but I bet it‘s a quick read! 5mo

LeahBergen @Bookbuyingaddict The Persephone edition has nice big type. I need that, too! 😆 5mo

LeahBergen @daena Yay! 👏👏 5mo

Tamra @Cathythoughts long is good Cathy! 😁 5mo

Tamra @LeahBergen I‘m going to start it tonight and make it a priority. It sounds good! 5mo

Gissy I read Family Roundabout really like it.I‘m so behind in my reviews🤦🏽‍♀️I ordered the book so I waiting for my copy😃 5mo

CarolynM Looking forward to it 🙂 5mo

LeahBergen @Gissy I really enjoyed Family Roundabout! 5mo

LeahBergen @CarolynM Me, too! 5mo

LeahBergen @LitsyEvents 5mo

HardcoverHearts I look forward to seeing your thoughts about this one! 5mo

LeahBergen @HardcoverHearts It‘s one I‘ve been looking forward to for ages! 5mo

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LeahBergen

Fear Stalks the Village (British Mystery Classic) | Ethel Lina White

An idyllic village full of Tudor cottages and cobblestone streets is turned upside down when its residents are hit with a series of poison pen letters. I‘m a mere 50 pages in but it‘s thoroughly compelling!

rabbitprincess And a great cover on that one! I love the British Library Crime Classics reprints. 5mo

LeahBergen @rabbitprincess This really is one of their great covers! 5mo

Cathythoughts Sounds great. Stacked ❤️ 5mo

See All 7 Comments

Tamra Oooooh I like the premise! 5mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts @Tamra So far, so good! 🤞 5mo

CarolynM This kind of sounds like the film Wicked Little Letters, although that wasn‘t a crime story. 5mo

LeahBergen @CarolynM I thought so, too, when I started it. I enjoyed that film! 5mo

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LeahBergen

Illyrian Spring | Ann Bridge

A springtime read from 1935 and I‘m really enjoying it!

Lady Kilmichael, a renowned artist, leaves her remote husband and adult children to go on a painting trip to the Dalmatian coast without telling any of them her whereabouts. While there she ends up taking under her wing an unhappy young man whose family has forbidden him to pursue his art. Methinks love is in the air!

(I‘m also intrigued by this peek at what would later become Croatia).

Leftcoastzen Yay green Virago! 5mo

Tamra 💚 5mo

LeahBergen @Leftcoastzen @Tamra You usually can‘t go wrong with a green Virago and it‘s been a while since I‘ve read one! 5mo

See All 13 Comments

Cathythoughts Beautiful cover 💚 5mo

CarolynM That sounds very good 🙂 5mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts The old Viragos always have such pretty covers! 5mo

LeahBergen @CarolynM It is! I haven‘t read this author before. 5mo

MemoirsForMe This story reminds me of Anne Tyler‘s Ladder of Years. Enjoy! 📖 5mo

LeahBergen @MemoirsForMe I just read the plot summary and it does seem similar! I‘ll keep an eye out for that one at the bookstore (or big used book sale we have coming up in my city 😆). 5mo

MemoirsForMe It‘s a great book, though your protagonist may be luckier in love.🤭Those big used book sales are so much fun. Our annual one here is in Sept. Even if they are detrimental to my shelf space. 🤦🏻‍♀️ 5mo

LeahBergen @MemoirsForMe I try to have a bit of a shelf “clear out” before the big sales come up as I usually come home with a box full! 😆 5mo

Bookbuyingaddict I‘m going to Croatia 🇭🇷 on 27th I‘m now going to order this I do love ❤️ to read a book set in or about the country I‘m visiting thank you 🙏 🥰😘 5mo

LeahBergen @Bookbuyingaddict I really enjoyed it! I guess it‘s popularity and success started a later travel boom in Croatia. 5mo

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LeahBergen

A Good House for Children | Kate Collins

How I spent this grey and snowy Sunday afternoon: book, fuzzy blanket and hot chocolate.

This book is getting spooky! 😆

Bklover Sounds cozy! 6mo

Ruthiella Perfect afternoon! 📚☕️😊 6mo

CarolynM That mug of chocolate looks so good 😋 6mo

See All 15 Comments

TrishB Perfect ❤️ 6mo

ShelleyBooksie Gorgeous mug 6mo

Tamra Nothing better! 😊 6mo

AmyG Sounds like the perfect day. 6mo

Suet624 I‘m ready for the snow to stop. However, we‘re getting a bunch on Wednesday. 6mo

LeahBergen @Bklover @Ruthiella @TrishB @CarolynM @Tamra @AmyG It was pretty great! 😊 6mo

LeahBergen @ShelleyBooksie Thanks! It‘s from a local potter. 6mo

LeahBergen @Suet624 It‘s warming up today but winter isn‘t over by a long shot here, either! 😆 6mo

Cathythoughts Looking very cosy 🥰 I love the mug too. 6mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts Thanks, Cathy! It‘s an old fave. 😊 6mo

Cathythoughts Leah I received a package from you. Thank you 🙏 I‘ll wait till the birthday to open it. 🥰😘😘 5mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts Oh, good! I was worried that it wouldn‘t make it on time for your birthday! 5mo

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LeahBergen

Birnam Wood | Eleanor Catton

My “currently reading” stack.

I was initially a bit underwhelmed by Birnam Wood (for my IRL book club) but then the plot kicked in and I‘m hooked!

Cathythoughts That‘s great you‘re enjoying Birnam Wood. I have to say I loved it ❤️ 6mo

charl08 I have shelf envy: all those lovely spines. 6mo

Ruthiella Yes, Birnim Wood is sneaky like that! 😆 6mo

See All 11 Comments

Tamra I‘ve wondered about Birnam Wood - seems I‘d best stack! (edited) 6mo

BarbaraBB I ended up loving it 6mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts @Ruthiella @Tamra @BarbaraBB I‘m about 2/3rds through and really enjoying it! Yes, @Tamra , give it a chance! 6mo

LeahBergen @charl08 Haha, thank you! I have my reading chair and little table set up in front of these shelves as I like them, too. 🥰 6mo

BarbaraBB @Tamra I think you‘ll love it too! 6mo

Suet624 Have you finished Birnam Wood? Curious what you thought about the ending. 4mo

LeahBergen @Suet624 It was a bit over the top crazy, wasn‘t it?? Everyone in my IRL bookclub wasn‘t too enthused about how it ended. 😆 4mo

Suet624 Yeah, I‘m with your book club. 😊 4mo

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LeahBergen

Not at Home | Doris Langley Moore

pick

Middle-aged spinster, Miss MacFarren, is reduced to taking in a lodger at the end of WWII. Mrs. Bankes comes highly recommended and seems perfect but problems arise on the very first day. To save her beautiful house filled with antiques, Miss MacFarren must find a way to somehow rid herself of this horrible tenant and a course of “domestic warfare” begins. I loved it and think it‘s now my favourite book by this author!

#FurrowedMiddlebrowClub

TheBookHippie Oh I love the Stafford dogs! 6mo

ShelleyBooksie Love those bookends!! 6mo

Tamra Cute! 😍 6mo

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Ruthiella I found the start unbearably tense… the damage 😱the poor birds 😱 Mrs. Manders 😱! But, at the 30% mark, relief (and romance) is in the air. I hope (suspect) the comeuppance will be satisfying! 😆 6mo

rubyslippersreads Gog and Magog! 6mo

LeahBergen @TheBookHippie @ShelleyBooksie @Tamra Thanks! 😄 6mo

LeahBergen @Ruthiella I was so anxious at the start! 😬😆 6mo

LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads Pretty close! 😆 6mo

CarolynM Lovely review and fantastic photo😍 I‘m about 50 pages in and I agree it feels a bit tense so far @Ruthiella 6mo

MemoirsForMe Stunning bookends! 😍 6mo

LeahBergen @CarolynM Thanks! I can‘t wait to hear if it gives you “tchotchke anxiety”, too. 😂 6mo

LeahBergen @MemoirsForMe Thanks!😊 6mo

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LeahBergen

Not at Home | Doris Langley Moore

As someone who collects (odd) antiques myself … this book is giving me anxiety.

Miss MacFarren, please get rid of the “bull in a china shop” lodger. I fear for the safety of your Gallé cats! ??

#FurrowedMiddlebrowClub

Leftcoastzen What quirky cats ! 6mo

Ruthiella Those are quite quirky!😹Thanks for the research. I‘m also quite worried about the lodger… It doesn‘t bode well. 🙀 6mo

quietjenn I think the cats are a little worried too 😹 6mo

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Cathythoughts A bull in a china shop lodger …. Oh no 😳😂 6mo

LeahBergen @Leftcoastzen @Ruthiella They are quirky! I had to look them up and couldn‘t believe how “modern” they looked for the era. They are circa 1900 but look almost 1980s. 😆😆 6mo

LeahBergen @Ruthiella And yes, the lodger has me biting my fingernails! 6mo

LeahBergen @quietjenn 😂😂 6mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts It‘s seriously making me anxious! She‘s broken all sorts of things, got cigarette burns on others, and now she‘s using the expensive cats as doorstops! 😂😂 (edited) 6mo

CarolynM Those cats give me the creeps🥺 Looking forward to starting the book, though🙂 6mo

LeahBergen @CarolynM I had to look them up after the description of them in the book! 😆 6mo

elkeOriginal Lodger 😬 but cats🥰 5mo

Rissreadswithcats I love these cats! Very funky! 🩷💙 4mo

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LeahBergen

Thursday's Child | Noel Streatfeild

Book mail of the day!

willaful An old fav of mine... 6mo

kspenmoll I just got Jane recently! 6mo

LeahBergen @willaful I have a lot of Streatfeilds but somehow have never read this one. I‘m looking forward to it! 6mo

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LeahBergen @kspenmoll It looks fascinating! 6mo

Centique Look at that cover - so so sweet 😍 6mo

LeahBergen @Centique It really is! 6mo

Cathythoughts They look lovely Leah 🥰 6mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts Thanks, Cathy! 😘 6mo

tpixie Great cover on the left! The Jane book looks interesting! 6mo

LeahBergen I love that cover, too! @tpixie 6mo

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LeahBergen

Convenience Store Woman | Sayaka Murata

I thought I‘d read just a few pages of this book (from my niece) tonight before bed and I‘m finding it totally hard to put down!

Reggie Awwww I loved this book. 6mo

BarbaraBB Such a lovely and sad read. 6mo

LeahBergen @Reggie @BarbaraBB It‘s so good! 6mo

See All 8 Comments

Cathythoughts Oh great ! I loved this and it has stayed with me. ❤️ 6mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts I really enjoyed it! 6mo

sarahbarnes This is on my list! 6mo

MemoirsForMe I‘ve had this on my shelf forever. Must get to it! 6mo

LeahBergen @MemoirsForMe @sarahbarnes It was a good, quick read! 6mo

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LeahBergen

Seven Lean Years | Celia Fremlin

It feels like time for a Fremlin! 👏👏

andrew61 Love that shelf. 6mo

Leftcoastzen Carefully curated shelves! 👏😁 6mo

Tamra 👏🏾👏🏾 6mo

See All 6 Comments

Cathythoughts Enjoy ! I really enjoyed this one. ❤️ I really enjoyed everything of hers I‘ve read. 6mo

LeahBergen @andrew61 @Leftcoastzen Thanks, you two! 😘 6mo

LeahBergen @Tamra @Cathythoughts Good old Fremlin! 6mo

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LeahBergen

Absolutely and Forever: An electrifying new novel for fans of Maggie O�Farrell | Rose Tremain

Look what arrived today, @Cathythoughts ! I‘m absolutely thrilled as I‘ve been wanted to read this since reading your wonderful review.

Thank you so much, my friend! 😘😘

Cathythoughts You are so welcome Leah. I hope you will enjoy it. What a lark 😂 the Christmas tree !!! My granddaughter designed the card. 7mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts I was wondering if it was your granddaughter, Sophy, when I read the back but I wasn‘t sure about the surname! 😆 I love it even more now!! 😘😘 7mo

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LeahBergen

Godmersham Park | Gill Hornby

I‘m just starting Godmersham Park after recently watching (and thoroughly enjoying) the new BBC series based on her previous novel, Miss Austen.

I always find myself hauling out, and flipping through, a bunch of my Austen biographies whenever I‘m reading anything about Jane!

rubyslippersreads That cover! 😍 7mo

LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads They‘re so good. I‘m glad that there‘s a third one coming out with this cover style, too! 7mo

Rissreadswithcats That cover is divine! 💚 7mo

See All 6 Comments

LeahBergen @Rissreadswithcats It really is! 7mo

Bookwomble My eye was drawn to your bookmark 💚 Excellent play! 👨🏻‍🍳👌🏻 6mo

LeahBergen @Bookwomble That‘s high praise coming from the master matcher! 😆😆 6mo

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LeahBergen

Untitled | Anonymous

Happy Birthday, @rubyslippersreads !

I hope you have a ‘royally‘ bookish day (yes, I went there 😆). All the best to you, my friend!

🎂 📚 🎂 📚 🎂 📚

HardcoverHearts Happy birthday, @rubyslippersreads ! I hope it‘s a great one. 7mo

Cathythoughts A very Happy Birthday @rubyslippersreads I hope you have a wonderful day 🥰🎂🎁 7mo

dabbe HB, @rubyslipperreads! 🤩🤩🤩 7mo

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rubyslippersreads What a lovely picture! Thanks so much for the birthday wishes. 😘 7mo

rubyslippersreads @HardcoverHearts @Cathythoughts @dabbe Thanks! 7mo

Ruthiella Happy Birthday @rubyslippersreads ! 🥳🥳🥳 7mo

JessClark78 Happy Birthday! 🎊🎂🎉 7mo

quietjenn Happiest of birthdays to you, @rubyslippersreads 🎉 7mo

LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads There‘s a little gift coming for you in the next couple of days. Tracking shows it to be in your general vicinity. 😆 7mo

rubyslippersreads @LeahBergen How exciting! I‘ll be watching for it. 😃 7mo

rubyslippersreads @Ruthiella @JessClark78 @quietjenn Thank you! 7mo

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LeahBergen

Odd Girl Out | Elizabeth Jane Howard

It‘s time for another Elizabeth Jane Howard (the sixth that @shawnmooney and I have buddy-read together)!

sarahbarnes Fun! I want to read more of her. 😍 🍷 7mo

Cathythoughts Gorgeous golden picture. Sounds good , stacking. 💛 7mo

BarbaraBB Gorgeous photo! 7mo

See All 7 Comments

LeahBergen @sarahbarnes I‘ve loved everything of hers that I‘ve read! 7mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts @BarbaraBB Thanks! 😘😘 7mo

Bookbuyingaddict I love ❤️ ejh and really enjoyed this one ☝️ she‘s up there in my favs now along with Mary Wesley , what a lovely edition mine was a battered old 60s paperback from a charity shop 🤣 7mo

LeahBergen @Bookbuyingaddict Thanks! She‘s definitely one of my faves, too! 7mo

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LeahBergen

Family Roundabout | Richmal Crompton

It‘s now February so that means it‘s time for one of our #PersephoneClub reads!

@CarolynM ‘s pick for us this month is Family Roundabout by Richmal Crompton. This is a casual buddy read; read and comment on each other‘s posts and reviews as you see them. We usually aim to finish by the middle of the month but that‘s not written in stone. 😉 And anyone is welcome to read along with us, of course!

rubyslippersreads, quietjenn, Caryl, sisilia, daena, LeahBergen, JenlovesJT47, elkeOriginal, Gissy, Aimeesue, Tamra, Teresereading, andrew61, Cathythoughts, Bookbuyingaddict, julieclair, willaful

Teresereading Still waiting for my copy to arrive 📚 7mo

LeahBergen @Teresereading I hope it arrives soon. 😀 7mo

daena Can‘t wait to get started. Waiting on my copy too! 7mo

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Tamra Off the shelf! Thank for your the reminder. 😊 7mo

julieclair Looking forward to it! 7mo

CarolynM Hope it‘s a good one🤞 7mo

Cathythoughts Thanks Leah, my copy was meant to arrive a couple of days ago. So I should have it Monday Looking forward to it ❤️ 7mo

LeahBergen @daena @Tamra @julieclair @CarolynM @Cathythoughts This is one I‘ve already read and really enjoyed. I hope you all like it, too! 7mo

Caryl I started it last night and I'm quite invested in the characters already! Great pick @CarolynM! (edited) 7mo

LeahBergen @Caryl I found that I was, too! 7mo

Teresereading My copy‘s arrived! 7mo

LeahBergen @Teresereading Yay! 👏 7mo

elkeOriginal Real life has really messed up my reading but I am still here and hope to catch up on our group reads (furrowed too) at some point📚 7mo

LeahBergen @elkeOriginal No worries! My life is a bit that way, too, at the moment. As long as we check in with each other every so often … right? 😄 7mo

55 likes14 comments

LeahBergen

Darling | India Knight

Look what I‘ve started reading, @CarolynM ! And I‘ve already had a good laugh over the list of things that Uncle Matthew hates.

😆😆

CarolynM Oh, so did I, especially at the things I hate too😆 7mo

Cathythoughts Gorgeous pic ❤️ 7mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts Thanks, Cathy! 😘 7mo

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LeahBergen @CarolynM Oh, God … the dinner party with “Twats” parents! 🤣 7mo

CarolynM The Kroesigs didn‘t need a lot of updating😆 7mo

kwmg40 I love the Penguin Books mug! 7mo

LeahBergen @CarolynM Nope 😆 7mo

LeahBergen @kwmg40 Thanks! I have a few of them and they‘re always a favourite. 7mo

kwmg40 @LeahBergen I have a couple too and I'd love to collect more, though there's no more room in our kitchen for additional mugs. 😄 7mo

LeahBergen @kwmg40 That‘s my problem, too. 😆 7mo

LeahBergen @CarolynM Just finished and loved it! I did approach the ending with increasing dread though because… you know. 😭 7mo

CarolynM Yes, I do know, and I was a bit apprehensive too. I thought the whole Fabrice episode didn‘t work so well without the war, but the very end she pulled off quite well. I was also a bit disappointed she didn‘t tackle Jassy running away. As a whole, though, it was great fun. I‘ve just started watching the recent TV version - it‘s good, but Linda and Fanny are both miscast. Andrew Scott as Merlin is fab. 7mo

LeahBergen @CarolynM Yes, a hotelier doesn‘t seem quite in the war hero category, does it? 😆 And Fanny‘s character (like Jassy‘s) is given a bit of short shrift. I was just looking up that recent TV version last night and adding it to my list. 7mo

CarolynM Let me know what you think of the TV version if you watch it. Some of it I thought was very good (Dominic West is a wonderful Uncle Matthew, for example) but I was a bit annoyed by it too. I don‘t want to say more in case you watch it. 7mo

LeahBergen @CarolynM I‘ll definitely let you know when I watch it! 7mo

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LeahBergen

The Ministry of Time: A Novel | Kaliane Bradley

I‘m halfway through this for my IRL bookclub and still not sure if I‘m liking it. 😆

Suet624 Uh oh. 7mo

Leftcoastzen I have it and have seen mixed reviews 7mo

ferskner This is my favorite book of last year but I know a lot of people who didn't like it! The last paragraph wrecked me. 7mo

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Hooked_on_books I had mixed feelings about it. I really liked the idea and thought some bits were done well, but it didn‘t really work on the whole for me. 7mo

mcctrish I have this to read soon 7mo

Cathythoughts Bookclub books can be challenging 😘 7mo

Centique I had mixed feelings too. I love a time travel book so its in my wheelhouse definitely and some parts were really good but something about the pacing and the plot made it feel higgledy piggledy 7mo

LeahBergen @Suet624 Indeed. 😆 7mo

LeahBergen @Leftcoastzen I‘ve finished now and I was underwhelmed. 😬 7mo

LeahBergen @ferskner For some reason it didn‘t really work for me. I will always find it fascinating how books “click” differently with different readers! 7mo

LeahBergen @Hooked_on_books @Centique I‘ve just finished and my feelings are mixed, too! I always enjoy a good time travel story but found this to be a bit all over the place. I kept thinking I should be loving the two main characters more. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 7mo

LeahBergen @mcctrish I hope it works for you! 🤞 7mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts Yep! 😆 7mo

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LeahBergen

The Snowstorm | Beryl Netherclift

Three children visiting a kooky old aunt at their ancestral Tudor manor discover a snow globe that connects them with the children who used to live at the house in the past.

I‘m LOVING it. 🧡🩵

(US title: The Snow Ghosts).

Ruthiella Nice coordination of the teapot to the cover! 😍 8mo

TheBookHippie Love the teapot!! 8mo

curiouserandcurioser Your teapot is beautiful:) this book sounds good! 8mo

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thegirlwiththelibrarybag This sounds amazing! Love the cover too. 8mo

rubyslippersreads This is the second book by this author I covet. (The other one is Greensleeves.) 8mo

wordslinger42 That sounds like such a good story! I‘ll have to try and find a copy. 8mo

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Beautiful 🫖 🧡 8mo

Tamra What an entertaining premise! 8mo

Cathythoughts Sounds like a lovely story 🥰 🥰❄️ 8mo

Cathythoughts Loving the teapot/orange colours. 8mo

DimeryRene How did you even find this book? It looks so old! 8mo

LeahBergen @Ruthiella Thank you for noticing. 😉😆 8mo

LeahBergen @TheBookHippie Thank you! It‘s one of those little “tea for one” sets. 8mo

LeahBergen @curiouserandcurioser Thanks! And I‘m thoroughly enjoying the book. 8mo

LeahBergen @thegirlwiththelibrarybag It‘s really good! 8mo

LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads I want that one, too! It‘s stories, I believe? 8mo

LeahBergen @wordslinger42 I think it‘s easier to find under the US title. 🤞 8mo

LeahBergen @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Thank you! 😘 8mo

LeahBergen @Tamra I can‘t resist vintage children‘s time slip novels. 😆 8mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts Thanks, Cathy! The teapot was a gift from my brother and sis-in-law quite a few Christmases ago. 😄 8mo

LeahBergen @DimeryRene 😆 I had heard about it for years and eventually found an edition online that I liked enough to buy! 8mo

rubyslippersreads @LeahBergen I think so. Alas, at the prices I see, I don‘t think I‘ll be adding it to my shelves anytime soon. ☹️ 8mo

sarahbarnes This sounds just lovely. 8mo

DimeryRene @LeahBergen I love it! Now I want to look for one. 8mo

kspenmoll This sounds wonderful! 8mo

Centique That looks like a beauty! 8mo

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LeahBergen

The Serpent King | Jeff Zentner

Look what arrived today, @TheLudicReader ! I always look forward to reading your list of yearly favourites. Thank you for the cute card and stickers, too. 😘😘

The tagged book (from your list) is one that‘s definitely piqued my interest now!

TheLudicReader I made one stupid error, misnaming Midnight is the Darkest Hour. 😬 Glad it finally arrived! 8mo

LeahBergen @TheLudicReader Only one error is pretty impressive in my books! 😄 8mo

ShelleyBooksie Agree @LeahBergen - I always look forward to the list as well ♡ 8mo

Cathythoughts ❤️ 8mo

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LeahBergen

Women's Weird 2: More Strange Stories by Women, 1891-1937 | Melissa Edmundson

Happy Birthday, Lynn! I hope your day is filled with all your very favourite things! 📚🎂📚🎂📚

#49bdaygiveaway

wanderinglynn

wanderinglynn Thanks for entering! 🥳 8mo

48 likes1 comment

LeahBergen

Miss Granby's Secret: Or, The Bastard of Pinsk | Eleanor Farjeon

pick

It might just be my mood right now but I found this to be an absolutely charming and touching read. I even enjoyed the silliness of the novel-within-a-novel written by 16-year-old (recently thwarted in love) Miss Granby although, as others mentioned, it does perhaps go on a bit too long. A frothy confection as sweet and old-fashioned as a china patchbox full of lilac cachoux. 😉

#FurrowedMiddlebrowClub

rubyslippersreads, quietjenn, Jess_Read_This, Kimzey, erzascarletbookgasm, catebutler, CarolynM, LeahBergen, JenlovesJT47, Lizpixie, elkeOriginal, Aimeesue, batsy, Tamra, bookandbedandtea, Teresereading, Cathythoughts, Ruthiella, julieclair, willaful, MrsK

Ruthiella I‘m glad you liked it! It was touching, but somehow I also felt a little sad about the unrequited love aspect of it. 8mo

Tamra Terrific review! Of course as a 16 year old nothing resembling love is silly! I couldn‘t be paid any amount of money to go back. 😅 (edited) 8mo

willaful @Tamra You remind me of this scene from Gaudy Night:

“Would you have your youth back if you could, Harriet?”

“Not for the world.”

“Nor I. Not for anything you could give me.

Gaudy Night

8mo

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Tamra @willaful 😂 I just stacked it - perfect! 👍🏾 8mo

Cathythoughts Gorgeous review Leah ❤️ 8mo

LeahBergen @Ruthiella It seemed unrequited but then it also seemed like they carried on this idealized version of youthful love purely for the nostalgia of it (and carried on with their best lives). Alicia was the one most invested in their love affair (sending S the poems to send to A each year) and I think that‘s why Adeline sent the Venus and Adonis statue to her at the old age home. You think? 8mo

LeahBergen @Tamra @willaful Oh, how DEEPLY I felt my love as a 16 year old. 😆😆 8mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts Thanks, Cathy! 😘 8mo

Ruthiella Interesting perspective! Yes, I can see that and it makes me feel better. Thanks! 😊 8mo

Tamra @LeahBergen 💔💔 8mo

Tamra @LeahBergen yes, nice description! Preserving that pure adoration & devotion of a first love. Adeline cashed in on it in fact with her writing career. Yay Adeline! 😆 8mo

elkeOriginal THOSE BOOKSHELVES OF YOURS ARE RIDICULOUS. le sigh 📚💕😻 8mo

LeahBergen @Ruthiella It still makes me feel a little wistful, though 😆 8mo

LeahBergen @Tamra I love that she cashed in on it so well! 😆 8mo

LeahBergen @elkeOriginal Haha! Thank you! 😘 8mo

rubyslippersreads A charming and touching read is exactly what I need right now. 8mo

LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads Are you affected by the fires at all?? Are they close to where you live?? 😬 8mo

rubyslippersreads @LeahBergen My area is okay, but I have a friend staying with me because she had to evacuate. But we‘re safe, so that‘s the main thing. 8mo

LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads How awfully stressful! Sending you love! ❤️ 8mo

rubyslippersreads @LeahBergen 😘 8mo

julieclair Can‘t wait to start this! 8mo

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LeahBergen

The Unspeakable Acts of Zina Pavlou | Eleni Kyriacou

Thank you so much, @TheKidUpstairs , for these wonderful #LittleChristmasSwap gifts! I‘m so glad you picked this book for me as I‘ve been dying to read it after seeing all the rave Litsy reviews. And Dairy Milk is THE BEST. ❤️❤️

And a big ‘thank you‘ to our host, @bookish_wookish ! ❤️❤️

#LCS

bookish_wookish 🎄🎄 8mo

squirrelbrain It‘s such a good book! I have the ARC of her new one to read - it doesn‘t come out until early May. 8mo

Cathythoughts I really enjoyed that book ! My favorite chocolate too 🥰 8mo

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Cathythoughts @squirrelbrain A new one ! Yay ! 8mo

TheKidUpstairs I was so excited to see it on your TBR, I read it last year (probably because of @squirrelbrain review!) and really liked it. I hope you do too! 8mo

LeahBergen @squirrelbrain Ooo, I‘ll have to check that one out! 8mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts You just can‘t beat a good old Dairy Milk! 8mo

LeahBergen @TheKidUpstairs I saw that you had reviewed it, too, and I‘m so happy you chose it! Thanks again! 😘 8mo

squirrelbrain I know @Cathythoughts - I‘m excited to read it. Although I have many more ARCs to get to before that one. 8mo

squirrelbrain It was a real surprise to me when I loved it so much @TheKidUpstairs - it was quite ‘under the radar‘ - I hope you love it just as much Leah! 8mo

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LeahBergen

Anne of the Library on the Hill | Catherine Little

@rubyslippersreads , we certainly DID have a common theme this Christmas, didn‘t we? 😂

Thank you so much for these lovely books and chocs. The tagged picture book is gorgeous and the Anne stories look like they might be a bit wacky but fun. We‘ll definitely have to compare notes!

Merry Christmas to you and the kitties, my friend! 😘😘

rubyslippersreads I think some of the stories will be quirky. It will be fun to compare notes. Merry Christmas to you, and I hope Johnny Bergen found his stocking full of doggie treats! 🐶 8mo

rubyslippersreads Your Elf on the (Book)Shelf has his eyes on your candy. 🤣 8mo

LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads He‘s a greedy little thing. 😆 8mo

Cathythoughts Gorgeous and delicious gifts ❤️ 8mo

Cathythoughts Yes 😂 beware of that Elf 8mo

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LeahBergen

Tatting | Faith Compton Mackenzie

@ReadingRachael , thank you so much for my wonderful #JolabokaflodSwap gifts!

I‘m so happy that you chose this book for me as the publisher (Handheld Press) is shutting down and it will soon be out of print again. I love the pretty bookmark and the chocolates are perfect! Merry Christmas to you! 😘

And a big thank you to @MaleficentBookDragon for hosting, as always! 😘

#JolabokaflodSwap24 #JS2024

Cathythoughts Lovely 🥰 8mo

Tamra I love the sound of the novel! Merry Christmas Leah! 🎄 (edited) 8mo

ReadingRachael I am so glad you like it! The book sounded so interesting and unique. I am curious to hear what you think of it. Hope you have a wonderful Christmas holiday ❤️ (edited) 8mo

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sisilia This is awesome! Merry Christmas! 8mo

LeahBergen @Cathythoughts It is! 🥰 8mo

LeahBergen @Tamra And Merry Christmas to you, too, my friend! 😘😘 8mo

LeahBergen @ReadingRachael I absolutely love it! Thank you so much! 8mo

LeahBergen @sisilia Merry Christmas to you, too! 😘😘 (edited) 8mo

Centique 😍 Ghiardelli is the BEST chocolate IMO. We dont have it here so it is always something we buy a big bag of in the US. Enjoy! 8mo

erzascarletbookgasm I really like the book cover. Merry Christmas Leah! 🌟❤️ 8mo

tpixie Sad about the publisher… the book looks great! Merry Christmas 🎁📘🎄 8mo

MaleficentBookDragon Happy Jólabókaflóð! That is a very pretty bookmark. 8mo

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Joined May 2016