Between the end of June & beginning of August, I read or listened to 7 historical fiction/mystery/fantasy/adventure books & 1 modern day romantasy—all mostly set in England. Guess I was in a mood! Already reviewed 2 & another was a reread.
All are 4-4.5⭐️
Rushworth—4th in the Jonathan Darcy/Juliet Tilney series. Will they ever be allowed to get married?! The only series where Darcy is a jerk.
Blameless—Not much romance but definitely 👇

Was going to post just about July‘s bookspin bingo but my pollinator garden is much prettier. Haven‘t spent much time on the porch between the heat & work, will try to do that this weekend. Not going to finish a book tonight, so I‘m finishing the month with 1 bingo.

Another month, another #bookspin list. I read a lot from my list in July, so hopefully, I‘ll get some more off my tbr in August (somehow I never run out of books lol). @TheAromaofBooks

I‘ve been listening to this book, but I‘m so confused about the last few minutes. What do you all think is going on at the end? If you respond, don‘t forget the spoiler button.
Really loved this book, & I‘m sure I‘ll buy the physical copy when it‘s in paperback. Also, just saw there‘s a sequel coming out in Sept—yay! Heartwarming, sad, hopeful, with some cat antics in each story. Told in 5 stories, each person is prescribed a cat. 👇

Tagged
One of my favorite mythological books. @BookmarkTavern #sundayfunday

Finished this one tonight, & I liked this much more than Afterlife. Short stories about the same family—a large Dominican family but mostly focused on parents & their 4 girls. Different structure because it starts when they‘re older, then goes back in time. I enjoyed the stories, except there was a mean incident with a cat in one.

For my library‘s book challenge, we had to let a librarian pick out a book bundle for us. 3 out of 5 ended up being books I have read. This story was good & falls into feel-good fiction or a comfort book. Fantasy—seems like what DND fan-fiction would be, but it‘s cozy. Viv has been a killer but wants to own a coffee shop. Slowly builds a loyal found family around her. Has a villain to deal with. Descriptions of baked goods—yum! F/F romance.

I‘ve been visiting some indie bookstores & have wanted to go to The Taleless Dog for a long time. I went yesterday while I was in town for an arts fair. It was my first experience with a bookstore cat! This is Nora, a chunky cat without a tail (not my pic). Bought a book, tote, & socks. A great bookstore if you‘re ever visiting Berea, Kentucky. Berea is a very artsy community, with a college that‘s free. bell hooks lived and taught there.

Really enjoying this series on audio. In this one, the MCs end up in Scotland, & we have more machinery (steampunk vibes), werewolf politics, & background about the male MC. Loved this one. Big twist at the end which is spoiled immediately if you read the summary for the 3rd book before reading this one.

This is the sequel to A Most Agreeable Murder, & I was excited when I heard about it. Met the author when the first came out. In this story, the MC, Beatrice, has moved to London to be a partner in a detective agency. It‘s a mystery but has some elements of parody & humor. Of course, there‘s a slow-building love interest. I really enjoyed the mystery & other events in this one. 4.5 ⭐️

A friend recommended this book. It has magical realism with doors that take characters to other places, but the rest is set in our current world. It‘s about the migrant experience, around the time when migrants were trying to flee to Greece by boat. The 2 MCs live in a place that is taken over by militants, & they eventually take a door, trying to get to a better place. While it‘s sad at times, it does have a hopeful ending. Bookspin for July

Have you all seen this? Apparently, it looks like Bezos‘ wedding invite. Thought Littens would be interested—free shipping!

This is somewhat outdated because it was published before the Gates‘ divorce, Melinda isn‘t running the foundation anymore but has her own.
Still interesting though. Gates narrates the audiobook. She talks about women‘s issues, how her foundation is trying to solve problems globally (like birth control to help with family planning), & tells some of her personal stories. Liked hearing about the work she does to give people more opportunities. 👇

I found out about this “Groundhog Day” version of Pride & Prejudice on Litsy. I‘ve read a lot of retellings & really liked this one. Elizabeth has to repeat the day of the Netherfield Ball, but she doesn‘t know why. Her attempts to change the events of the ball are funny.

I‘ve never had Colleen Hoover on my written TBR but have been interested in what all the hype is about. So, I borrowed the tagged from my friend‘s LFL & will try to read it this year. #sundayfunday @BookmarkTavern

Read this book since it was Pride month & it‘s about a summer camp (I was at mine during early June for a few days). This is a great book for middle school/high school age, but the MCs have some heavy problems, including the death of one‘s mother & self-harm. Two girls go to a month-long music camp, meet new people, navigate friendships, crushes, & first romance, & try to improve their musical abilities. I enjoyed this.

This is a shorter book, & I borrowed it from my friend‘s LFL. I just didn‘t get into the storyline on this one, but others may love it. A widow is dealing with grief after her husband dies, then has 2 different events going on—being drawn into helping an undocumented Mexican couple and searching for a missing sister with her other sisters. I‘m still going to read another Alvarez book, i just didn‘t love this one. 3⭐️

Listened to this book a few weeks ago & will most likely get a physical copy. Very informative & interesting. Also gives some info about dementia/Alzheimer‘s, which I really wanted to hear because of my dad. Everyone can benefit from this one.

I adore my cat Griffin, but does he have to 1) sit on my book while I‘m trying to read & eat cereal 2) move away, causing the book to shut & 3) move back so I can‘t open it again until he jumps off as I‘m finishing breakfast. Now I can have reading time. #catsoflitsy #curiouscats Don‘t worry, he‘ll get plenty of cuddles today. @CatLass007

The 3rd in this series, this story finds everyone going to a house party in the country. Then, someone is killed, of course. We meet Frances‘ mother & brother. It‘s an interesting mystery. This is a good series for me when I want a break after a serious book.

My #bookspin list for July. My library is starting a new challenge for the next 6 months, so I‘ll be working on that. Some of the prompts on the bingo card are really easy this time—read what you want, read comfort fiction, read a book set outside North America, & read a book with a crime. So, my usual books. @TheAromaofBooks
Oops, just realized I left one blank. #9 The British Booksellers

Audiobook—Litsy recommended (which now gets me into yet another series). This story has elements I love—Victorian England, great banter, feminist protagonist, paranormal characters including a hot werewolf, mystery, & romance. The narrator is wonderful with all the accents. My only issue is that I don‘t normally listen to steamy books & this has a few scenes. Still, the narration is so good that I‘ll continue the series on audio.

I‘m going to complain about this book, but I actually liked it. It just seemed to take forever to read; I made it to about page 230 & thought I‘d never finish.
This has been on my tbr for yrs. A family saga full of inbreeding that results in the narrator being intersex. The family has interesting characters. It‘s a story of immigrants, imperfect people, & identity. 3.5/5 ⭐️ Good book for Pride month

I always say I don‘t like sci-fi books, but what did I end up reading? A sci-fi book—because I love TJ Klune & the name of the female child protagonist, Artemis Darth Vader. This story is also a gay romance, suspenseful adventure, & emotional story of found family. Not as funny as other Klune books I‘ve read but his typical heartwarming relationships & unique child.

I read A Dangerous Collaboration back in March & the tagged in May, trying not to rush through this fun series. These 2 books are when the romance heats up, although the part that‘s supposed to be steamy was anti-climactic to me. Loved the different mysteries in both, the tagged upped the danger & had a good villain. Excited for the next one!

I listened to several shorter audiobooks in a row, this one is also about 4 hours. A new-to-me author, these essays are about Crucet‘s life, growing up in her culture & then adjusting to living where she is a minority. She narrates it very well. My last couple of audios have been from the bottom of my TBR Litsy list—trying to cross some off. Good recs from Littens.

This short book taught me so much about our “democracy”. I did find myself losing focus at times & thought it was a little weird in how it was written. Afterward, I realized that‘s because it‘s written from interviews Chomsky did, so that‘s why it‘s more casual in its tone. Enlightening for me though & only about 4 hours in audio format.

I love John Green, especially when I listen to him. I wasn‘t sure if I was that interested in learning about TB, but it‘s John Green, so I decided to. The personal story woven throughout about Henry gives you someone to root for. The history & current lack of availability to treatment makes you mad. Of course, this was written before the US withdrew from WHO & shut down USAID, so I couldn‘t help but think of how many more are dying right now. 👇

I love this series! We return to our 2 middle-aged spinsters, with Gus trying to solve the mystery of who really killed the man her love interest was convicted of killing. Also trying to evade his brother, who is searching for their sister to lock her away again for sin of being a lesbian. Took a little longer for the action this time, but then there was a lot of it, as well as character growth, a lot of feminism, & romance. 5⭐️

A friend recommended this book to me, & I‘m glad I listened to it because I got to hear the Farsi pronounced correctly instead of me butchering it in my head. I got a little emotional towards the end, a really good story about Darius going to visit family in Iran for the first time. He deals with depression, bullies at school, negative thoughts, & relationship with his dad. Also learned a lot about culture, a bonus to a great YA story.

This book made me mad at men again (not all men) but also myself, for not thinking enough about the responsibility of men in preventing pregnancies and abortions. Of course, I‘ve said they should do more but still fell for the propaganda. Such a simple solution when so many have been arguing for so many years. This book goes really well with All in Her Head by E.Comen. I wish it was required reading for men—they‘re who needs to hear it. #bookspin

This story, set on an island where things disappear & almost everyone loses the memory of them, made me ponder a lot. Very mysterious about where & what happens to the people who remember & are taken by the memory police. Author was able to instill sadness, suspense, the terror & threat of the police, as well as joyful moments between the main characters. Dystopian relevant to our current dystopian country. This was my #doublespin for March.

Actually got a bingo in May, mainly because Affrilachia is a short book. #bookspin

My #bookspin list for June, which is my birthday month 🌻🧁 @TheAromaofBooks

It‘s hard for me to rate this book properly because I read part of it on a trip, then got distracted, then finished at least a month later. I did remember what had happened & was able to get right back into it.
Set during Napoleon‘s last efforts to rule, this is told from 2 sisters perspectives, but they don‘t know about each other at first. Both have magical gifts with flowers. I didn‘t love it for some reason but still a pick. 3/5 ⭐️

This was a good audiobook. I‘m not a teacher, but I know a lot of teachers & have worked in a couple of schools. I was expecting her to have more public school experiences instead of college level. I also was irritated with how they dismissed the troubled teen she talked about, but I assume there were no therapy options available to help. Overall, it‘s an entertaining book.

Holton has not let me down yet. I was sad when her previous trilogy ended, but this one is great, too. This is the 2nd book in the series, featuring Gabriel, who is obviously on the autism spectrum, & Elodie, 2 geographers who need to stop magic from destroying England & finally admit they love each other. Love fantasy elements, humor, & their banter in this story. The word thaumaturgic is used a lot. If you love a mix of genres, this is for you.

I‘ve been reading Collins‘ series for awhile, so I was happy to see another one at the bookstore. I liked this story, it‘s an easy, light, romantic mystery when that‘s what you need. My issue is that this is the start to a new series even though it has mostly the same characters & plots as the other 4. No big deal, just something that annoys me. A soft pick, I‘m probably going to start getting this series at the library instead of buying.

Now that I finally found Deanna Raybourn last year, I can‘t stop reading her books. I was excited to read this sequel to Killers of a Certain Age. The now 62 year-old female assassins have to get involved in another mission, with their support team assisting. Suspense, action, murder, disguises, complaints about age-related aches, one escape that is a little impossible, it‘s all great!

I teared up during Sunrise on the Reaping but didn‘t fully cry. #sundayfunday @BookmarkTavern
I‘m so glad it‘s a 3-day weekend. Hope everyone gets to rest & read.

I listened to this around the time of Independent Bookstore Day, & it got me in the mood for visiting the indies in my state. BTW, 5 of the indies in my general area did a bookstore crawl, such a good idea!
Really liked this book, enjoyed the history of bookshops, learned a lot (had no idea about the Nazi bookstores), & would love to visit some of the ones featured. Highly recommend

I loved this book! Definitely on my list of favorites for 2025. I kept describing it as brutal & it is (not sure how they‘ll make a pg-13 movie out of this one). As I‘m sure everyone knows, this is Haymitch‘s story, so readers of the trilogy know how it‘s going to end. That doesn‘t take away from the emotions throughout. There‘s also a lot of connections with characters from Catching Fire & Mockingjay. 5/5 ⭐️

This was a long audiobook, but I stuck with it. This is really 2 stories in 1, which seems to be a common comment after people read it. NF about the building & celebration of the World‘s Fair in Chicago 1893, but also about a serial murderer who was in Chicago at the same time. Both were interesting, especially the World‘s Fair part. Chapters go back & forth between the 2 stories. IMO, it would be a better book if it just focused on World‘s Fair.

I loved Dear Martin & Dear Justyce, so I read this as soon as I could. Jared has been on a journey since the 1st book from a jerk white guy to a guy trying to improve himself. Still coping with his friend‘s death, he writes to him during a time when he is running for college class president & truly realizing his white privilege. I enjoyed seeing character growth but don‘t think this story has as much emotional depth as the first. 4/5⭐️

I heard about this book on a podcast & decided to listen to it. It was not exactly what I expected but still interesting & full of unique characters that eventually all tie together at the nightclub, The Cat‘s Pajamas. The young girl is a really fun MC because of her sass, but you will feel sad for her at times.

Couldn‘t find these 2 GN‘s in database, but Plume is Smith‘s other work. We met Smith (author/illustrator) at a Comic-Con, so I have to show off the artwork she did of my cat! Isn‘t it cute?
For Goodness‘ Sake is about a sarcastic guy that has a curse making him have horns. He meets a girl, they road-trip, try to figure out how to get rid of his horns. Really good.
The House of Lowther Vol 2– continues the story of Sawyer & the cryptids 👇

I expected a light read about a small town & their amateur detective who is a librarian with some supernatural elements. Which is what I got but with a twist thrown in. An enjoyable read, really loved the cat.

I listened to this book in March, & I love it! The narrator is great—she gets all the sarcastic comments right. Warning—This book will probably make you mad about the history of women‘s medical treatment. I learned so much. I think it‘s obvious in our history that 1) men are terrified of women & our vaginas & 2) men only care about a woman‘s uterus. I laughed while driving several times from the sarcasm, so I hope you all will read this. 5⭐️

I feel like I‘m one of a few who didn‘t read this when it was published. One reason I didn‘t is because I dislike the cover. So, I finally read it after a librarian picked it for me.
I liked this story, but not as much as many other people. It was sweet, I liked the message, a quick read. 3/5 ⭐️

This book may be harder to find because it‘s not well-known. But it should be! Written by a local author, this story follows a family gospel group through decades. Their father comes up with the idea, they sing at local churches, & then the evangelist enters the picture. This follows the family‘s personal lives, as well as corruption in their singing life (remember the 1980‘s televangelist scandals?). You don‘t need to be religious to ❤️ this.