Four of the latest books I finished this week: (27 for the year)

Miss Julia #15 (4 stars. Better than the last 2).
A ghostly gift (short story) 4 stars)
A skeleton in the closet 4 stars
Bookshops and bonedust 4 🌟

I sort of liked this book. Up until the very end. It was a thriller. But not twisty. The ending fell flat for me. Too anticlimactic. The epilogue took a good ending and made into a “happy” ending. Which I felt wasn‘t needed. I felt like the main character sold out in the end. I didn‘t like her much from the start any way but the ending left me really not liking her.

This was a very short novella in the Miss Julia series. Cozy mystery? Ummm NOT REALLY. I am going to listen to the next book in the series. But if the author doesn‘t turn things around 3 strikes and I‘m done with the series. This story was a rehash of the previous books while Miss Julia tries to figure out why her new husband gives her gifts. 🙄. Then decides to give him a poem for Valentine‘s Day. That‘s it. The whole story.

At first this book was a little hard to get into the groove of reading. It‘s told through letters between friends during WW1. But after sticking with it for a little bit, the voices of the characters began to come to life. I couldn‘t put the book down. It‘s not a typical “female doing her part for the war” book. But rather a love story that unfolds before our eyes, through letters. It was a very moving book. Big ugly cry at the end.

This is a cute cozy mystery series about an ice cream shoppe owner. I didn‘t care for the characters too much. They were adults who grew up in the same town, went off to college, and then came back home. But they seemed stuck back in the high school frame of mind for the most part. I will read the next one in the series before I decide to discontinue the series.

Book 18 for the year: A cute paranormal cozy mystery. One of the books I got for free from Amazon kindle books. I will go back and get more of these in the series.

One of my other favorite hobbies: knitting and crocheting. And I‘ve decided to merge my two loves. I am crocheting a BOOKWORM! Meet Bernice Bookworm. Each of her stripes is one book I‘ve read. (The white is just a separation band). Each color will represent a different genre. 1 row = 100 pages of the book. (Rounding as needed). It‘s going to be one massively long bookworm.

The last book of January. The last book in the magical bookshop series. Book 19 of the year. Such a cute series. I‘ll look for other books by this author.

I went into this book hoping I would like it. But fearing it was overhyped. I had like 7 people recommend it to me. So I finally read it. HOLY COW. It was a fun read. Book of the month? Probably not. But fun and quirky. And I can‘t wait to read the next one. Book #17

Book 4 in the magical bookshop mystery series. Ended on a bit of a cliffhanger. Soo of course i jumped into the last one in the series. 🤣. Book 16 of the year

This was a cute short novella cozy mystery. A free download from Amazon on stuff your kindle day. I enjoyed the banter of the two older “sleuths”. I may continue the series if I can find it at the library.

Book 14 for the year. This was a quick audio”read”. Love this little series. A cozy mystery and a little magic. Yes please. Now on to book 4 in the series.

Book #13. I couldn‘t put this one down. I enjoyed this book. The ending…. Not what I was hoping for….but I liked the ending.

Book #12 for the year. Alll the feels with this book: It‘s the story of Belle da Costa Greene. The personal librarian for J. P. Morgan. She helped to curate and expand his personal library during the 1900‘s. For a woman to hold a job like this, during this time in history and become one of the most influential women of the time is a feat in itself. To do so while keeping secret that she was a person of color was extraordinary. (Continued ⬇️

I really enjoyed this book. I love the cozy mystery series (magical bookshop). This is book 2 in the series and just as cute as the first one. Now on to book 3.

#FirstLineFridays

The Old North bell tolls the hour, and I realize that I‘ll be late.

This was a free download during the stuff your kindle days. A cozy mystery novella. A professor is found dead at college. One of his coworkers is determined to solve the mystery. It was cute. And short. I will read another of the series if it‘s available at the library. Maybe with a longer book the plot wouldn‘t have felt so “rushed”. But a good short read

A historical cozy mystery. It was okay. Not horrible. Not great. I may read more of the series but I‘m undecided.

I love a good cozy mystery. Even more I love a quirky cozy mystery. This one was quirky. And at times funny. Book 8 of the year.

#FirstLineFridays

The strange occurrences that threatened to upend my marriage, my adopted city, and the potential happiness of tens of millions of children started on a December morning just nine days before Christmas with a frantic pounding on our bedchamber door.

I loved this book. At first I was doubtful. I‘m from Louisiana and a couple of things the author says just wasn‘t quite accurate (we never say “the crawfish boil was on the table”. It‘s just “the crawfish was on the table”. So minor details). But I was soon caught up in the story. I THOUGHT I knew who the killer was 3 times. But the more I read the more my mind was changed. Then BAM I was right. The 3rd time. And the 1st. 5 out of 5

Part of me really enjoyed the story. Part of me didn‘t me. While it was classified as a “horror/historical fiction I didn‘t find it as scary/gory as a horror but also found it too much in the present day to really be a historical fiction. Overall I really liked the story, I just didn‘t love it. 4 out of 5 stars.

This book was soo good. Funny . Easy read. Can‘t wait to read the next in the series

I love this series. Miss Julia reminds me of one of my favorite aunts. Quirky. Well meaning. Nosy. 🤣. But this book just wasn‘t up to par for me. It focused too much on the “recipes” without much plot. I felt the actual plot was rushed and thrown in at the end. Hopefully the rest of the series gets back on track.

This was a cute book. Again outside of my “normal” preferences. But I was soon lost in the fantasy world created in the story. Now to read the prequel. #readaway2024

My goal: 75 books.
#Readaway2024

First of all: I am not a huge romance fan. But sometimes I like fluff. However I am a big hockey fan. Sooo fluff + hockey = okay I‘ll read it. 🤣. The book was good. For fluff. I will read more of the series because I was given 5 of them in a box of books. #Readaway2024

I really enjoyed this book. The whole story just wrapped around me and drug me in deep. I was sorry when the story ended.
Just found out there is a second book in the series. Soo I‘m going to have to look for it

Merry Christmas/happy holidays/ happy Monday if you don‘t celebrate. Hope your day is full of family/friends/bookish time.

Sorry I‘ve been MIA. It‘s been a busy holiday season. But I‘ll be back soon. Promise

So I wanted to do a book themed mini tree. (No big tree as the puppy will eat it). Hubby rolled his eyes and said “red/green/white”. Sooo I compromised. My grinch tree (because hubby is a grinch) and I carried the decorations through the house (including the bathroom) and outside. And it‘s a book so technically I still have a book themed tree . So ha! Hubby loves it. 🙄🤣🤣🤣.

1). Christmas Eve with my husband‘s family and Christmas Day with my family. Eat. Play games. And catch up with each other
2) I‘m not playing winter games. This month will be too hectic for me. (Shift in job responsibilities, holidays, hockey tickets, holiday parties, theater tickets.)
3). Curling up under a cozy blanket, dog next to me, with a good book. And snow outside. I live in south Louisiana. We seldom see snow #snowangels

I am not a huge fantasy book reader. But I‘ve made myself branch out more. I wasn‘t prepared to like this book as much as I did. I found myself trying to slow down my reading of it so it would last longer. 🤣. I just really enjoyed it. And I‘ve avoided all spoilers so there were times I wanted to cry….gasp…and yell. Now to read iron flame next month. First I have to let this one sit and digest it.

I wanted to love this book. But I just didn‘t. I didn‘t hate it. But it was just meh. There were parts where the plot drug on and was repetitive. How many times does she have to have the same conversation with her brother-in-law? She wasn‘t as strong of a main character as she could have been. Just meh.

Another sweet miss Julia book. Cozy mystery

#11 in the series. A sweet cozy read that made me giggle at times.

While an overly exciting cozy mystery series, I really enjoy this series. Miss Julia, the main character, reminds me of one of my great-aunts. Just a nice easy cozy read.

My book haul today. (2 from target. 2 from the thrift store). This is not counting the 16 chapter books for my nieces 2nd grade class (thrift store. $4 for all). Or the 6 books my nephew picked out at target (because they are buy 1 get 1 free. And it‘s your fault I love to read. I am trying to build a collection you know) 🤣. I‘ve created an 8 year old monster.

#TLT.
1). Knitting/crocheting. Usually done while listening to audiobooks
2). Journaling: like junk journaling with a reading theme/twist. A great way to organize my reading goals and tricky my reading. And it‘s just fun
3). Play games on my switch. Yes I‘m “a woman of a certain age” and I play video games. Currently: Hogwarts legacy….which I got for my birthday. (As#free waiting forever for the switch version to be released)

#TLT @dabbe

1). Clean linens dried in the sun
2). Gumbo cooking on the stove
3). Play-doh. (Retired elementary teacher. 🤣)

Let the journey begin

I‘ve read all of the books in this series. And I couldn‘t wait for this one. Stephanie Plum is back and she brought the whole gang along for the ride. Some would say “predictable” and yeah it is in part. But I prefer “familiar”. And “comforting”. It was like sitting down to visit with an old friend. I just wish grandma had a bigger role this time. (I want to be grandma when I grow up 🤣)

A cute cozy mystery. Can‘t wait to read more in the series.

I am glad my friend encouraged me to do the “daily Dracula” reading challenge that she was doing with her book club. I have had a copy of this book on my shelf for years. But it intimidated me. But breaking it down the way it was done for the challenge made it much easier to get through. The wording threw me sometimes. (It‘s dated but I knew that going into the reading). Glad it‘s done.

I am not a huge romance fan. But I have always loved Mary Kay Andrews work. This one was no exception. Just a light hearted, fun Christmas romance that I couldn‘t put down.

I love historical fiction. This book was a good captivating read. The plot twist near the end 😱. And it made me tear up a little.

#WondrousWednesday
1). Became the first college graduate on either side of my family. Ever. 2). My marriage to my wonderful husband of 31 years. 3). Raised my son who‘s now 21. 4). Fulfilled my childhood dreams of marrying Prince Charming (close to it any way), being a teacher and working in a library. 5) stood up for things I believe in
Goals: 1)get my house decluttered and dejunked 2) read more books

I know I should love this book. It‘s a classic. But to be honest it really didn‘t hold my attention. I read it for book club at the library or I would have DNF‘d it. I think it was the writing style. Maybe. 🤷🏼‍♀️

A cute cozy mystery set in New Orleans. Much like NOLA it is Full of quirky characters. A couple of plot twists kept me guessing who the killer was. Good thing I got books 1-3 in the series cheap on Amazon for my kindle because the ending left a cliff hanger.

#FirstLineFridays

I‘m Stephanie Plum. Jersey Girl. Rutgers graduate

Sorry if I‘ve been MIA. October was a busy month: Prepping for vacation, working, 3 birthday parties, 2 nephews soccer seasons, knitting group, the Actual vacation (loved DC), the downside of unpacking/shopping/laundry post vacation, and hockey season started. (Season tickets. Yes hockey. In south Louisiana. . 😍. Finally have a team after 21 years). Here‘s my books read this month. All 15 of them 😱. Here‘s to a quieter November