A great cozy mystery. Bradley Harper uses two real people, Arthur Conan Doyle and Margaret Harkness, in a fictional setting to track down Jack the Ripper. Good characterization, steady pace.

This book is a stand alone novel as it ends with the death of Harkness. I would have liked another story involving the pairing of these two protagonists. Ah, well.

4 stars 🌟
#litsylove #mystery #mysteries #JacktheRipper

I enjoyed this romance. The two protagonists were well drawn characters. The plot moved smoothly along. This historical fiction shows what life might have been like during the late 19th and early 20th centuries for mixed-race people in the Midwest.

4 💫 But, I think I enjoyed Midnight, another book by the same author slightly more.

#litsylove #romance #historicalfiction

I started reading this book yesterday and I'm over a hundred pages into this chunkster. Gripping action and believable characters.

This is the second book I've read by this author. Count on me reading more of her writing and reporting on it here.

You can find my review of Midnight, by the same author, among my recent posts here.

#romance #litsylove #historicalfiction

Great look at how we and our culture deal with food. Waters holds out for real, fresh, home-cooked food that's more delicious than our culture allows us to see. Speed, convenience, and cheapness are the hallmarks of our fast-food culture.

#litsylove #slowfood #food #fastfood

A soft pick - good plot; enjoyable, realistic characters.

I didn't realize until I started this cozy mystery that it's the fifth book in the Lily Adler series. I haven't read the previous books, but I was able to follow the plot line and references to events probably covered previously in the series.

For me, it dragged a bit in the middle; but overall, the plot moved steadily forward. I may go back to the previous books.

#litsylove #mystery

The letter looked innocent enough when it arrived, nestled in the stack of the day's correspondence.

#FirstLineFridays #litsylove @ShyBookOwl

1. Took my car in for service because the check engine light was on. I only owed $50 because the car's still under warranty for another few weeks
2. The weather is cooler and windier this week, but at least it was sunny 🌞 ☀️
3. Put my bird feeder out with black oil sunflower seeds. Tufted titmice and black capped chickadees visited
4. Reading a great cozy mystery. Post about it soon
5. Thanksgiving coming
#litsylove @DebinHawaii #5JoysFriday

I'm not much into horror movies or stories, but I'll read a few a of these short stories written by female authors. Included here are some by authors not usually associated with the horror genre, such as Louisa May Alcott and Edith Wharton.

#litsylove #horror ##shortstories

I've started this book, which I bought at the same time as Inferno. I hope I like it better (see my post of a few days ago).

#litsylove #thrillers

Thanks for all the #FallCardSwap cards and goodies.

@KadaGul @Texreader @ncsufoxes @bookish-wookish @Bookwormjillk @BookwormAHN @AprilMae @lil1inblue @CrowCAH @dabbe @BarkingMadRead @WildAlaskaBibliophile @TheLudicReader @TheBookHippie @ShelleyBooksie

Boring. 😴 I almost DNF several times. This is a stroll through Renaissance art in Florence, Venice and the mixture of art and culture in Istanbul. All disguised as a rather slow chase of Robert Langdon by unknown pursuers. Brown even takes time to mention two ugly sculptures in the Boboli Gardens through which a lengthy portion of the chase ran. I love art and art history but yeah...Plus, a great deal about Dante and his Divine Comedy.
#litsylove

This mystery plot dragged a bit and was rather convoluted. I much prefer the previous Holmes and Watson novel I read by this author. (See my previous post.) I do like her portrayal of Holmes and Watson, though.

#mystery #detective #Holmes #litsylove

Just finished this. Loved it. I'll read her other Sherlock Holmes novels, of which there are at least two more.

#litsylove #mysteries #SherlockHolmes

This came in the mail on Saturday. I love #bookmail.

This chunkster might sit in my TBR pile for a while. But I will attempt to begin it and read it gradually.

#litsylove #history

When I walk into a bookstore, any bookstore, first thing in the morning, I'm flooded with a sense of hushed excitement.

#FirstLineFridays #litsylove @ShyBookOwl

I started reading this memoir, again. My second time reading this. Or is it a third time? 🤔 Anyway, I enjoy this author's take on books and bookstores.

#litsylove

Just started this book this morning. I'm not sure, but I bet he talks about real estate investing. We'll see how it goes.

#litsylove #sidehustle #investments

Some nights, I sit down at my table and wonder at the journey of the meal in front of me: Here's the fork entering my mouth, there's the kitchen where I prepared all this food.

#FirstLineFridays @ShyBookOwl

1. Sitting up. But, I do read in bed a while before falling asleep.

2. The tagged book. Great short #mystery stories, all set on trains.

#mysteries #shortstories

@TheSpineView #Two4Tuesday

1. No, not as a physical room. As a collection of books, yes! Probably over 200 books.

2. Tagged

#Two4Tuesday @TheSpineView

One off the shelf. I've had this book in my TBR piles for a while. Three novels by Barbara Taylor Bradford that I haven't read. I've read a few of her other novels many years ago. So, I'm looking forward to these. We'll see 👀 how it goes.

#ShelfSweeper #4Elizabeth @Andrew65

I finished this chunkster a few days ago. For the most part, I enjoyed it at least as much as Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros.

The characters were relatable but some could have been expanded on slightly. As with Fourth Wing, some parts of the plot dragged a bit for me.

Overall, I liked it a lot, but wasn't head over heels in love with it. I certainly liked it well enough to continue reading the series.

3.5⭐️s #fantasy #series #dljennings

Night breathed out as the dawn breathed in, and Thorton Woods awoke to his father's big hand shaking his shoulder.

#FirstLineFridays @ShyBookOwl

I've just started this fantasy chunkster and already love it. I'm 24 pages into this first book in a series. I guess fantasy may be a new genre interest for me besides mysteries.

#fantasy #books #bookmail

1. Filed in early February. Got my refund already and used it.

2. Interesting

#Two4Tuesday @@TheSpineView

Book mail today.

I need to read this regardless of what I've already started. In the current political situation in the US, I think a lot of folks should read this.

Just saying.

#bookmail #political #politics #kasich #JohnKasich #politicsandbooks

Americans have always been in transition.

This is a reread for me. I'm in a transition state of mind since my mom died last November (2024).

#FirstLineFridays @ShyBookOwl

Planck suggests eating real, whole foods, including pasture-raised beef and chicken, plus butter, cheese, and eggs from those animals. She also suggests that raw milk is as safe as pasteurized milk if it comes from a reputable supplier.

I use butter from grass-fed cows and imported from Ireland (imagine the price going forward with the crazy new tariffs).

She does a huge data/info dump throughout. Often, my eyes glazed over. 😵‍💫🙄 Overall A-.

Book mail

This fabulous edition of John Milton's epic poem came in the mail a few days ago.

The illustrations by Gustave Dore are spot on.

When I purchased this huge tome, I didn't realize the actual size of the book. A pocket book it's not... 🙄😆

But I'm glad I got it, all the same.

I probably won't start this baby for a few weeks until I finish up some of the multitude of books I've started.

#bookmail #poetry #epicpoems

Harry Devlin's promiscuous ex-wife, Liz, is murdered in an alley. It seems every secondary character in the book has a reason to want Liz dead. Since Harry is still in love with Liz, he sets out to find the murderer. The plot plods along as Harry slowly eliminates suspects. There's a bit of romance between Harry and his neighbor, Brenda Rixton.

This is the first book in a series about Harry Devlin. I'll try the next book and see.

#mysteries

Your mind's playing tricks, Harry Devlin said to himself.

@ShyBookOwl #FirstLineFridays

Book mail today.

I'm already 51 pages into All the Lonely People by Martin Edwards, despite all the books I already have started. 🙄😆

#mysteries #bookmail

1. Walking. I complete two 45-minute walks every day.

2. Not sure if I can come up with a book since I read mostly mysteries, which are not peace inducing 😆

@TheSpineView @Eggs @Andrew65
##Two4Tuesday

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 stars
This is a page turner right to the end. The characters are very well rounded, even the secondary ones. The plot moves forward at a steady pace without dragging.

This is an historical romance about a small community of free African Americans just north of Boston. It's set in the 18th century right before the start of the Revolutionary War.

Great reading. And I'm usually not a romance reader.

#romance #historicalfiction

When I was growing up on a vegetable farm in Loudoun County, Virginia, we ate what I now call real food.

#FirstLineFridays @ShyBookOwl

I'm about halfway through this chunkster and enjoying it immensely. It's an historical romance set in 18th century America leading up to the Revolutionary War. It's from the perspective of free African Americans living in a small community just outside of Boston. Very entertaining and informative. Well written and great leading characters.

#romance #historicalfiction

I am John Watson, Jr., M.D., the son of the close friend and long-time associate of the famous Sherlock Holmes, who passed from this earth in the year 1914, while tending bees on the Sussex Downs.

#FirstLineFridays @ShyBookOwl

1. My mom's (now mine) Christmas cactus blooming a second time in 2025

2. My third betta fish in as many weeks. This one is intent on living, as opposed to the two previous little guys.

3. A new leather sunglass chain

4. A really nice day, despite the gusty winds, to run errands and sit quietly in a small library in a town half an hour away

5. A Book Circle meeting yesterday at a branch of the Ocean County Library

@DebinHawaii #5JoysFriday

Revolution tastes oddly...sweet.

#FirstLineFridays @ShyBookOwl

Trying to get caught up on books from my mountainous TBR and huge pile of magazines.

#weekendreads @rachelsbrittain

1. I bought a Twintail Halfmoon betta fish on Wednesday. Unfortunately, I think he's dying. I'll go back to the pet store and get another handsome guy.

2. I'm about to get new roof shingles and solar panels over the next few weeks

3. Other than going back to the pet store, I'll have plenty of time to read today 📚 🥰😃

4. Spring is 4 weeks away ❤️👍

5. Good reading buddies on Litsy and at the Book Circle I attend

@DebinHawaii #5JoysFriday

I usually try to power through them, but sometimes I just give up and don't read for a while.

I need to pick up the tagged book and get it finished. 🙄😏

I finished this chunkster yesterday. I have the special edition, so there's extra chapters and added materials that I need to read. But I'm done with the main story. Even though I said I might not continue reading the series, i will probably buy the next book.

I still think this book could've been trimmed significantly to make it more effective.

So, soft pick for me.

#Yarros #fantasy

1. I'm feeling well mentally, but I still have severe chronic knee pain, despite visits to 2 orthopedic doctors and bilateral knee replacement surgery 2.5 years ago.

2. I walk 2.5 miles twice a day

3. How to maintain a positive outlook. Sorry if you've already covered that. I'm new to your posts on mental health.

@Kerrbearlib #mentalhealthmonday

Still very much in Navarre with Violet, Xaden, and the rest. There are many scenes I think are very well done, and I'm invested in the characters. But I still think this book could have been trimmed by 100 pages or more. Tightening the story would have shot this chunkster from good to over the moon engaging, IMHO. Does anyone else feel that way? Or am I an outlier?

#WhereAreYouMonday

I'm about halfway through this chunkster. Although I find the main group of characters likable, I reiterate my observation from a previous post that this book could have been trimmed significantly, which would have made the plot much more riveting. The author tends to glide through her fantasy world much too slowly. I will certainly read to the end. But whether I continue reading the series is very much up in the air.
#fantasy #dragon

Right now, it's Saturday morning in my corner of the world. Why do I keep thinking 🤔 it's Sunday?

Bloody confused 😕 😳🤣

#confused

1. Still can't believe I got a tattoo about two and a half weeks ago! 😳
2. A friend gifted me the dragon when she heard I got the dragonfly tattoo and that I was also reading Fourth Wing
3. + 4. For sure, I'm getting a betta fish tattoo on my left thigh by the end of the year. Unsure about the stylized dragonfly tattoo
5. I'm so glad I have bookish friends here at Litsy and at the IRL Book Circle at the library
#5JoysofFriday. @debinhawaii

I‘m a little more than 50 pages into Fourth Wing, which hails at 541 pages. I like the characters and story well enough, I guess, but I think it could have been more tightly written and could move at a much quicker pace. On page 58, the story is still focused on the morning when Violet Sorrengail is conscripted into Riders School. Really??!! Let‘s get this story moving! Yeah, everyone‘s scared. Move on!

Of course, I'll be using a dragon bookmark wit this new read! 😁😆