Thanks for the #Two4Tuesday tag @TheSpineView

1️⃣ After grade school I was hit or miss. If liked the subject (English, writing, History) I was good but if I wasn‘t interested (Math) I didn‘t apply myself & was not great!

2️⃣ I loved the Finishing School series & Mademoiselle Geraldine‘s Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality seems like a fun school to learn useful skills like espionage, poisoning & proper curtsies.

Tag—you‘re it!🤗

This one, stories set in Hawaii, is my pick for #FictionalTraveler April #Island & it‘s one of my April #Roll100 picks (#24 Any stories or essays ).

It‘s good incentive since it‘s been in my TBR since I bought a signed copy from a local book store when it was released.

#DynamicDs

Growing up, I wanted to be a #Detective & solve crimes like my heroes. Since it didn‘t happen, I spend a little part of each month getting nostalgic with Nancy Drew, Trixie Belden, & Encyclopedia Brown. Here‘s the April books for #NancyDrewBR #BobWhiteBuddies & #EBBR

#Read2026

I‘ve been meandering through this book & reading the chapters that correspond with that month from September to March. I appreciate May‘s gentle writing style on the transformative power of rest and retreat during challenging times & these are certainly challenging times! I know I needed & still need time to heal & like the parallels she draws between the natural world during winter & her (& our own) experiences of healing. Beautiful.

#Read2025 #MonthlyNonFiction

Pulled it out at the last minute & finished this one for #RiseUpReads Torn between So-So & Pick, I‘m going with a pick because while I grew up in Northern California & Oregon & was taught the history of the states, so much of it was white-washed & little was taught about women & the roles they played. This book isn‘t perfect—it slogs (I skimmed some chapters) & the focus is mostly on the white experience but there ⬇️

#Read2025

For #Pemberlittens #JaneAustenThenAndNow

1. Reread, I‘m not sure how many times as I read it at least every 2 years, often every year… maybe 30? Format: started with the purple beauty, read mostly on my Kindle & finished with the Classics Reimagined version this weekend. I don‘t think my viewpoint has changed too much except for more sympathy for Mary over the years.

2. Elizabeth of course! 💜 Darcy by the end.😉

3. Elizabeth ⬇️

#Read2025

I finished this one last night for #ChildrensClassicRead2025 & it‘s a soft pick for nostalgia for the author. I found it too long & disjointed with it being separate stories really rather than cohesive chapters. It could be because I waited for the end of the month & was hurrying a bit but I had a hard time keeping track of all of the family & other characters. It did have some charming moments though.

#Read2025

Finished this weekend for #BookedInTime & #FoodAndLit #Ireland This book is set in 1847 against the backdrop of the Irish famine where a ship of many souls (over 450 with steerage, First Class & crew) sets out from Ireland to New York trying to escape the Great Famine & survive. There are lots of secrets revealed & a murder that take place on the month-long voyage. This was tough to read due to the subject matter & many characters ⬇️

#Read2025

Finished this weekend for #BookedInTime & #FoodAndLit #Ireland This book is set in 1847 against the backdrop of the Irish famine where a ship of many souls (over 450 with steerage, First Class & crew) sets out from Ireland to New York trying to escape the Great Famine & survive. There are lots of secrets revealed & a murder that take place on the month-long voyage. This was tough to read due to the subject matter & many characters ⬇️

#Read2025 #SeriesLove2025

My 3rd & final March #ThematicCozies pick #Hobby almost didn‘t happen because when I started the audiobook the narration seemed to have almost no inflection & that bugged me. Since it was 4:30 AM & I was on my way to the airport & wanted it for my commutes last week, I sped it up to 1.5 & that was better. I was able to get into the story of Katie Bonner who becomes the manager of Artisan‘s Alley when her business ⬇️

#CoverStories

Kicking it old school for today‘s #Prison prompt.

I was thinking about this book the other day. A coworker wanted me to read it with her after I moved to Hawaii. I always laugh because other coworkers wanted to join our impromptu book club but voted on the next book being Dead Until Dark (the first Sookie Stackhouse book) & then after a few of those, we read the newly released Twilight. We never made it back to the classics! 🤣

#Naturalitsy #HyggeHourReadathon

Tonight‘s #HyggeHour is being spent with Marigold. Trying to finish this one for #ChildrensClassicRead2025 March. My drink is coconut tea & my snack is a haupia (coconut) cupcake. (Which is yum!) 😋

My mood is a little tired & wishing the weekend was longer as it will be another busy work week ahead.

#Read2025

Finished today for #SheSaid March & it‘s one of those books you can‘t really like because it‘s so damn frustrating especially in our current world but it also an important read. I missed Manne‘s previous book Down Girl but I understand that this book builds & expands on it & focuses on male entitlement & how patriarchy “punishes women for not giving men the moral goods to which they are, by the terms of our social contract entitled.”⬇️

#Read2025

So in high school I absolutely did not like The Great Gatsby & thus over the years never picked up more Fitzgerald, content in my dislike. We had two #SundayBuddyRead books that put the author in a more favorable, sympathetic light & I decided it was time to go back again & reread TGG after a (cough) few decades of life 😉 & picked it as my #FictionalTraveler March pick for #BigCity. Surprise! I quite enjoyed the book this time. ⬇️

#Read2025

This book get big bonus points for the descriptive writing about the food, fashion & especially design & decor. It also gave a good look at the fascinating history of the Greenbrier Resort & the work of designer Dorothy Draper. Why the so-so rating? The author tried too hard for a romance & HEA for Draper that just wasn‘t needed & required too many fictional liberties that took away from the rest. Also, much of pleasure I took from ⬇️

My picks for #ThematicCozies April: #Sports

The tagged book features river rafting & other outdoor adventures in Colorado. Geared for the Grave (I‘ll be listening to the free audiobook on Audible), is centered around a bike store on Mackinac Island. Both are first in series.

#Read2025

A #BlameItOnLitsy read based on @TieDyeDude ‘s review post & realizing it was set in #Ireland & a good second pick for #FoodAndLit. It‘s a cute & sweet story about a baby banshee (aka bansheenie) who takes a different path than other banshees. The illustrations are great & I loved the folklore of this children‘s book.

It‘s here with the “Pot of Gold” soup I had on St. Patrick‘s Day (a mix of potato, cabbage, carrot & corned beef).😋

My April #Roll100 picks:

#24 Any stories or essays: Every Drop is a Man‘s Nightmare (also my #FictionalTraveler April #Island pick)

#36 Any Non-Fiction: Challenger (Also for April‘s #MonthlyNonFiction)

#16 Any Library Book: Witchcraft for Wayward Girls

I‘m excited about all three of these!

#CoverStories

The tagged book is being published 4/1 & is the latest in The #Sea Wicche Chronicles (a spin-off of the Sam Quinn series). It‘s one of my guilty pleasure paranormal romance series. 🌊🪄✨

#Read2025 #SeriesLove2025

Bonus March #ThematicCozies #Hobby pick. I liked the first Decoupage Mystery book I listened to so I went ahead & listened to the second free on Audible. This time Brenna is helping a bride-to-be accused of murdering her fiancé‘s best friend. I think there is just one more book in the series?& I‘ll probably read it too. There‘s decoupage tips & ideas & the characters both romantic & quirky small town citizens are fun.

#Read2025

I started this in February for #AuthorAMonth Roxane Gay after Bad Feminist didn‘t get it completed but wanted to keep reading even if it doesn‘t count. You can‘t really like or love a book of raw essays on rape culture but it can be appreciated & the authors for their bravery & honesty. I think it‘s rare to be a woman who hasn‘t had an experience with harassment, violence & sexual aggression on some level so it‘s a triggering & ⬇️

#CoverStories

TBH, I forgot I had this #Music (or rather musical) title sitting in my Kindle TBR but it looks interesting. 🎶🎵🎼

My #ChatterDay Saturday, back at my usual coffeeshop haunt. Dirty chai latte, Kalua pork breakfast wrap & catching up on opening #SpringCardSwap cards & P&P for #JaneAustenThenAndNow

I haven‘t been good with 2 chapters a day & been mostly reading iin ebook spurts so I decided to pull out a fun illustrated edition for today. Special shout out to my pretty “J. Austen” bookmark that I picked up at a local bookstore last weekend. It matches! 💙

A crazy week for work with 2 Hilo trips & all day meetings & when I got home last night I just crashed so, it‘s a Saturday #5JoysFriday list for me.

1. Good flights, a couple of upgrades, & seat-mate readers in the wild bring me joy. I love readers! 📚💛

2. Last Saturday on my field trip, a favorite Indian restaurant that was closed was reopening. 🎉 I got takeout & asked if they had their mango lassi & she gave me a free one & a big glass ⬇️

#CoverStories

A fun #Golden title read with #SundayBuddyRead a couple of years ago. ☀️🏨

Happy Friday! Headed to Hilo for the second time this week for a day of meetings. Breakfast, coffee & hopefully a few chapters of the tagged book. I‘m trying to finish for March #FoodAndLit & #BookedInTime

Ack! How is it almost Friday again which means it‘s time for #5JoysFriday & listing those 5 things big or small that brought you joy this week.💛

Use the #5JoysFriday hashtag & tag me in your post as well as others if you want to help spread the joy. You can use the background graphic as you like or use your own.

Tagging in some regulars to help get this Joy party started, but as always, anyone who needs a spot of joy is welcome to join in! 🤗

#CoverStories

Three #Lake titles from my stacks. I‘ve read the first only, the tagged & bottom book are in my Kindle TBR. 🌊

#CoverStories

Some books about #Letters from my TBR including the tagged ARC set to be published in July. 💌

#CoverStories

A #Waves title & cover from my stack. (Background is a photo from Waimea Bay) 🌊🏝️

Headed to Hilo for the day for meetings. Starting the morning with coffee, a breakfast sandwich & a little reading. This one is for #FictionalTraveler March: #BigCity prompt.

#CoverStories

There‘s a #Barn on the farm! 🐄🐖🐂👨‍🌾

#MentalHealthMonday

1. Okay, I‘m tired & somewhat stressed & it‘s a Monday of a busy week.😬

2. Both. Sites like Litsy (my main social media) & certain positive accounts I follow on Instagram & TikTok have a good impact. Most of the rest of it & the news have a negative impact. I am only on Facebook for Messenger contact with my siblings & limited family updates but otherwise stay off.

3. Not total breaks but partial ones & news breaks help.

#Naturalitsy #HyggeHourReadathon

My #HyggeHour is being spent with the tagged book that I saw on @TieDyeDude ‘s post & my library had. It works for #FoodAndLit #Ireland & looks adorable so I was happy my library had it. I‘m also going to start Magic For Marigold for #ChildrensClassicRead2025 I‘m also watching the new Shonda Rhimes series The Residence which is fun so far, drinking tea & having a couple cream soda Dum-Dums.

Not too excited ⬇️

#Read2025 #SeriesLove2025

Finished today & it was a rollicking good time & maybe even more enjoyable than the first book! I love Billie, Natalie, Helen & Mary Alice & their brains, snarky wit & general badassery. Friendship & found family (be still my ❤️ Taverner & his cooking skills) make these books endearing. The mystery & thrills are fun & I loved the settings & food descriptions. I got a little worried at the ending that there would not be⬇️

#CoverStories

Elizabeth Taylor loved her #Jewelry 💍💎

This is a good article about the book with lots of pictures: https://www.katerinaperez.com/articles/elizabeth-taylor-jewellery-collection-liz...

Thanks for the #BAndBDay (Book and Beverage Day) tag @TheSpineView 🤗

I woke up earlier with a bad headache & now I‘m tucked in on the couch with green tea and the Pride and Prejudice 1995 series on. Hoping the tea & Excedrin (& Colin Firth) work their magic so I can continue with this book that needs to go back to the library soon, but if not there‘s nothing wrong with a BAndB & PAndP Day! 😉

#Read2025 #SeriesLove2025

My 3rd March #Roll100 (#74 Any #BOTM ) There were parts of this that I liked better than Butcher & Blackbird & the series premise (serial killer romance) is good but there is a lot that makes me think “I‘m too old for this s%#*!” Lark‘s giggling was annoying & as I went between the audiobook & my BOTM copy (purchased before I read the first book) the narrator‘s many giggles made me want to remove someone‘s eyeballs.👁️⬇️

#Read2025

Finished last night for March‘s #AuthorAMonth It‘s my first Leigh Bardugo (I have Ninth House sitting around somewhere) & overall I liked it. It did take time to get into it & it drug a bit but I found the story, setting (Spain in the 1500s) & blend of historical fiction & fantasy interesting. I liked seeing Luzia‘s power & confidence grow & found the Jewish magic & mysticism during the time of the Spanish Inquisition compelling.

My #Chatterday vibe is field trip. Headed to Kailua to visit a local bookstore & my favorite Japanese grocery & favorite natural foods store.

It‘s a 30-40 pretty drive depending on traffic so I can get a chunk of the audiobook of the second in this Decoupage Mystery series for #ThematicCozies March #Hobby I liked the first book so I‘m continuing. Fueled by coffee & a tuna onigiri/musubi

Looking forward to a relaxing Saturday. 😌

#CoverStories

When I think of pastels I think of baking & especially cupcakes with #Pastel icing & sprinkles. Here‘s some related covers from my stacks. 🧁💛

Today was long & jam-packed but I‘m finally done working & ready to share my #5JoysFriday list for this week!💛

1. This morning as I was getting ready there was a rather loud “lecture” going on between 2 birds outside my bathroom window. Identifying a Red-Vented Bulbul as the lecturer with the Merlin app gave me joy!🐦

Favorite foods give me joy! 😋
2. I ate 2 poke bowls this week &
3. had grilled smoked pork belly at a brunch with vendors.
⬇️

#CoverStories

A #Clock title from my e-book TBR. I really like the bright & cheerful cover! 💛🩷💛

It‘s Thursday night here which means it‘s almost time for #5JoysFriday & time to list the 5 things big or small that brought you joy this week.💛💛💛

Use the #5JoysFriday hashtag & tag me in your post as well as others if you want to help spread the joy. You can use the background graphic as you like or use your own.

I'm tagging a few friends to get the Joy party started, but as always, anyone who needs a spot of joy is welcome to join in! 🤗

#Read2025 #SeriesLove2025

Finished Book 2 in the series Sunday for #EBBR & I did pretty well solving the crimes. I only one that I didn‘t completely get was The Case of the Ambushed Cowboy as I knew what it had to do with but not exactly why (no spoilers here!) 😉 I‘m not saying I‘ve gotten smarter as an adult—I could just be remembering bits from my childhood. My favorite thing is when “Leroy” Brown solves his dad‘s cases at the dinner table.

For any #SundayBuddyRead ebook readers or those who like a back up, our June pick is on sale for $2.99 for Kindle & it looks like at Barnes & Noble too.

#CoverStories

A #Bridge title & cover. This is the first book in the Sonoma Witches series (witchy/paranormal cozy-ish) which I read & enjoyed a couple years ago.

I recently learned there was a 6th book so I‘ll be reading it soon for #SeriesLove2025.

#CoverStories

I have eight #River books on my Kindle. I just finished & LOVED Frozen River & read Follow the River Home several years ago. The the others are still in my TBR. 🏞️

#CoverStories

I recently rewatched this book to film movie (I read the book years & years ago) & immediately thought of it for today‘s #Shoes prompt. 👠

Thanks for the #Two4Tuesday tag @TheSpineView ! 🤗

1️⃣ I can‘t just name one favorite spring flower but my Top 5 are probably lilacs, pansies, daffodils, cherry blossoms & violets.🪻🌼🌸

2️⃣ The tagged book was one of my favorite books I read last year & I‘ll recommend it until the cows come home.🐮 I also love the big bouquet of flowers on the cover. 💐

Anyone want to join in & share your favorites? Consider yourself tagged! 🌺