Here are the two books I picked off of my shelf this month for Read Or Donate. I started One To Watch today

#ReadOrDonate @julieclair

2026 Reads - Book 1 & 2

I finally got around to the series Spellbound Ever After the follow up to the Spellbound series by Annabel Chase. Short and sweet paranormal cozy mysteries. It follows Emma as she adjusts to her new angel husband Daniel and life back in Spellbound now that they've broken the curse. She is the town lawyer so each book usually has her solving a case for a client with the help of her eclectic friend group.

#serieslove2026

Happy New Year! I can't believe it's already 2026. May you all have a great year full of reading and good times 💕

#dogsoflitsy

Thank you @LiseWorks for the cute Christmas card and gift tag #LSMC

I hope everyone that celebrates had a very Merry Christmas! Though don't let the sweater fool you it was an 80 degrees type of Christmas here this year

#dogsoflitsy

I was able to do a DNA test on my boy awhile back. I expected him to be much more mixed mostly. Though most guessed with some Mastiff due to his size and wrinkles. Never considered Bloodhound but they can be pretty big too. Still 99.9% good boy ❤️

I have loved all of the books I've read by Hailey Edwards until now. I was excited for this series because it has a cool premise. Frankie is a necromancer and she runs a special part of the body shop. She helps the dead with their unfinished business and loans them a body for a set amount of time to do so. Unfortunately I just couldn't get into this one though or the characters.

I really enjoyed this series. It's a YA about aliens and now I realize I haven't read many books with aliens as the focus. It starts with 16 year old Kara waking up behind a gas station but she doesn't remember how she got there. The last thing she remembers is trying to jump out the car during a fight with her dad. Turns out she has been gone for 5 years. Life has continued on without her and so much has happened. (Continued in comment)

I used to absolutely love reading the Dear America series growing up. I was reminded of them the other day because I saw there are a few other series similar to the Dear America stories. So I decided to read some that I never got to read. This one was about 16 year old Molly and her life after her older brother became a marine during the Vietnam War.

(Continued in comment)

I really enjoyed this series and can't wait to get into the follow up series next. Cassie and her daughter move to a new town after divorce. She inherited a bakery and house of her dreams but she never could have expected the truth behind it all. Or that magic was real. Her friend group grows and becomes the Brew-Hahas. I'd love to spend sometime hanging out with them!

I enjoyed this one even though the ending didn't quite live up to the rest of the journey in my opinion. The deep open ocean creeps me out and the author did a great job at really capturing that feeling. I liked that the story was written in the form of entries. I also liked the fact that the giant monster of the story is never quite described completely but the details you do get are so creepy.

(Continued in comment)

Now that was a good ending. I think the last books of the original series were better than the beginning for sure. Often unsettling and weird but definitely entertaining. I was glad that the author gave some of the characters as decent of an ending as he could with everything they went through in the FAYZ.

The premise of solving mysteries with a ghost librarian sounded great but it didn't live up to that for me. The ghost librarian Evelyn pops in sometimes but isn't the main part of it. It was good enough though that I want to read the next book. I do hope the ghost aspect is a bigger part of the story though.

Now this book of the series was better! For a YA dystopian some parts are a bit intense, creepy and just very unsettling the way Michael Grant describes things. The eyeball situation was almost too much for me. ? Though the mental imagery for the ending standoff with a "baby" made me laugh a little. That was a weird scenario for sure. I think adding in the additional point of view of what is happening on the outside made it better as well.

Here is what I'm currently reading:

Fractured Tide by Leslie Lutz - really enjoying it so far. I love that it's told in entries

Fear (Gone #5) by Michael Grant - interesting direction the series has taken the last 2 books

Book 3 for October
I have enjoyed every book by Hailey Edwards and this one was no different. My only complaint is it's too short as are the rest of the books. It follows Ellie and her friends that are retired professional Witches. Ellie and Betty are the main ones of this story with all of Betty's shifter family. Their friendship is cute. Also Ellie's husband is cursed to live as a "Billy Bass" type fish on the wall.

Book #2 for October - Mystic Pieces
Unfortunately this one I rate a 2/5. It was just a boring story with boring characters for me. The concept could have been interesting but it didn't work out for me.

Have you ever read a series that you don't even know if you actually like it or if you just have to know what crazy thing happens next? That's where I'm at with the Gone series by Michael Grant. So many things happening at once

Thank yall so much for the cards brightening up my mailbox this week. #LitsySnailMailClub
@liseworks @kspenmoll @bookish_thoughts 💕

17 weeks ago I injured my ankle. The ER did xrays and the drs just kept saying I was fine just a sprain. It stayed very swollen and the most severe pain I've had so I knew something more was wrong. Finally got them to send me to the specialist Friday and he said nope that's definitely broken. Then last week I ended up in the ER really sick with sinus infection, throat infection and bronchitis. Here's hoping the rest of the year is better!

I don't know that I'll make it through the whole series if this kid keeps saying bro or brah every few statements 🙄

The Gone series has been on my TBR for years so I decided to check the 1st book Gone. I like it so far but I didn't realize how long this series is. There are 6 books in the original series and then 7-9 were add ons later in guess.
So I decided to calculate how long the series is because just the 1st book is 560 pages. In case you are curious too the total page count is - 4,245 pages and the audiobooks at 1 speed is approx 136 hours long. 😱

My 1st finished book for July was Spirits, Stilettos and a Silver Bustier by Deanna Chase. I finally got around to starting this spin-off series from her Jade Calhoun series. It was a good start to the series but i think the next ones will be better. The series focuses on Jade's friend Pyper Rayne. She owns a coffee shop and is also a medium.

(continued in comment)

Going into A Stitch In Time I was worried it would be too similar to her Rip Through Time series. I love that one and I'm happy to report they aren't. This book follows Bronwyn a woman who moves back to her family's manor she inherited. There as a child she learned she could go through a time slip to 200 years in the past and see certain ghosts. She quickly became very close to the boy in the past and William knew her secret. (more in comments)

It's a paranormal romance series that follows a friend group in a small town called Mystic Bayou. Well more like chosen family by the end. It is a sweet connection and none of them are the bad boy types. They are a bit spicy though. It's a series of 8 books each following a different couple getting together and bonding with everyone while they all work to help fix the town's troubles. (Continued in comments)

My birthday is soon so my mom got my now obligatory dog birthday cookie cake. I can't even tell you how many years its been but always the pup design. They did the J in an odd way so we've had some good laughs and hope that Lenni also has a good bday too. I've still been dealing with some type of injury to my leg so won't be able to go out to a pool to celebrate right now. We did go to lunch and a few shops with my wheelchair though so it was fun

Hey Misty @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I hope you are well. I was wondering if you could send over the current LitsyLove list please? I changed phones and lost it in the move over and couldn't find the latest email.
redheartsxo @ gmail . com is mine. Thanks :) 💕

Unfortunately on to my "DNF" list this one goes. I made it almost half through and just never got into the story. For me it had a good beginning and then just seemed all muddled up in a way by the middle. Like the story just lost it's direction and momentum that it started with.

#DNF

I'm a big fan of the Timeless series by Gabrielle Meyer and this one is my favorite so far. Trust me it's a tough pick they have all been good. I can not rave enough about the Gabrielle Meyer's ability to weave together the characters, their decisions, their own dual timelines and the family lines of Time Crossers throughout the series. I love coming across a little secret or tie-in to a previous story. (Continued in comments)

The Weirdies kid's books are very reminiscent of the A Series of Unfortunate Events and they are very weird. I randomly stumbled upon these and listened to the audiobooks because Kate Winslet is the narrator. The story follows the Weirdie triplets Barnacle, Garlic, and Melancholy that woke up one day and found their "parents", all 200 servants and every item from the house gone.

I didn't realize today was also release day for the new book from the Timeless series by Gabrielle Meyer. Very excited for this one as well. Christian fiction about Time Walkers living in 2 different timelines until the time comes where they have to choose which one they will stay in.
❤️

I don't usually care about when new releases drop. However I've been excitedly waiting for the new book from the A Rip Through Time series by Kelley Armstrong. One more day woohoo!

I've been enjoying the first 3 books of the Sunnyside Retired Witches. They are a paranormal mysteries series. To me they were fun but a little predictable in a way. I rounded up to a 4 star for these. I do love the premise of Zoey being in charge of a retired Witches (and any other paranormal) community home. So it's not in my top favorites but I'll definitely finish the series

Has anyone of yall read I'll Be Waiting by Kelley Armstrong? It sounds like an interesting concept and creepy. If you have is it more scary or just creepy? I'm a chicken so I need to know if I need to read other during the day LOL

Lately I've been reading the Princess Diaries series. I read the first few when I was growing up and always loved them. I still love that format in books. I've got two left in the series Royal Wedding and The Quarantine Princess Diaries.

I finally got a new phone and can post better now 🩷
#litsylove

Sorry I've not been around. I'll have to catch up with what's going on with everyone! Sometimes life just likes to kick ya while you're down. I've been reading quite a bit I will have to share this weekend

I really enjoyed The Little Shop of Found Things. If you like the Rip Through Time series by Kelley Armstrong I'd recommend this one as well. It has a little mystery and time travel with a touch of a budding romance.

Can't believe it's already the time for New Years. I was happy I still got plenty of reading in since I've been so ill this month. It's been a rough month for sure but that escape into reading is still great. Most of my points this round are from the wordsearch and holiday reads. My favorite book was Meet Me At Christmas by Jenny Colgan and Across The Ages by Gabrielle Meyer.

#WinterGames2024 @LiseWorks

#HolidayBookDragons

Merry Christmas Eve! I hope everyone is enjoying their time whether celebrating or not. It's supposed to be stormy tonight so I can finish up last touches on handmade gifts and the book I'm reading

A Christmas Bet by Meg Easton

#dogsoflitsy #WinterGames2024 #HolidayBookDragons

#LitsyLove

Has anyone read The Darkest Minds series by Alexandra Bracken? I really enjoyed the first one but not the second so far. It may have to go to the DNF list. I get that some time has passed and they are further into the story now. However this one almost seems like a whole different series and writing.

#WinterGames2024 #HolidayBookDragons

Working on a Christmas present and listening to The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken

#WinterGames2024 @LiseWorks

#HolidayBookDragons
##LitsyCrafters

"Ain't no sense feeling miserable about the things that make us special or wasting our time with folks who don't appreciate them"
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- Ducey Evans

Another fantastic book in the Timeless series by Gabrielle Meyer. Timeless is a christian fiction series that follows the lives through a line of Time Crossers. So you get some time travel, interesting time periods and a bit of romance. They live both paths until a special birthday then they must choose which life to stay in. They go to sleep in one life and wake in the next until they decide.

Review continues in comments

This one was my favorite so far. Super cute and sweet series. I listened to the audiobook while painting this Christmas gnome.

#WinterGames2024 @LiseWorks

#HolidayBookDragons

#LitsyCrafters @Catsandbooks

If you love cozy mysteries I highly recommend this festive series!

I also finished painting this holiday dog lamp. I just need to add the shiny top coat once the rain stops. Just ignore the eyes 🤣

#WinterGames2024 @LiseWorks

#HolidayBookDragons

#LitsyCrafters @Catsandbooks

Thanks for hosting a readathon to start us off for #WinterGames2024 @Staycurious @LiseWorks
I read 4 hours during the #FirstNowReadathon

4 x 10 = 40 points

We are finally getting chilly down here in Texas. Though the dogs would debate the comfy part. They run out first thing in the morning and then sprint back in to sit un front if the little heater. It was like just under 60 so they wouldn't survive up north either that's for sure.

For the #20in4 readathon I read a total of 8 hours. That's not too bad considering everything going on. I finished The Merry Matchmaker by Sheila Robert's and Slashing Through The Snow by Jacqueline Frost.

Points for WG - 80
#WinterGames2024 #HolidayBookDragons

#20in4 @Andrew65

I'll have to make a better post later when I can tomorrow. I just wanted to say I read 3 hours today total. I finished The Merry Matchmaker and started Slashing Through The Snow. I also watched the movie The Merry Gentlemen. It was a cute movie. I also watched 1 episode of Is It Cake Holiday edition. I was at the ER nothing too bad. However I'm glad I brought entertainment with me

Anybody else excited for the start of the #WinterGames fun? Hopefully you are as excited as Chase was his 1st Christmas after I adopted him. This is from last year but it will always be one of my favorites.

#WinterGames2024 #dogsoflitsy