My 2024 in books! Some I loved, some not-so-much. I didn‘t reach my Goodreads goal, it was a bit of a crazy and hectic year, we moved across the state and started a new life! I‘m looking forward to seeing what 2025 brings in life and books! 📚#grammaslibrary

This is my first order since we‘ve moved! Oh how I‘ve missed cheap book orders from #betterworldbooks! Building #grammaslibrary one(?) book at a time!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️I found this story very compelling. Andrew Carnegie was a ruthless industrialist turned philanthropist, giving away his fortune, promoting self-education by building libraries. Yet no one knows what caused the change in him. The author took from her own immigrant ancestors and added Clara Kelley to the story, an immigrant with a story of her own. She became Mrs. Carnegie‘s lady‘s maid, but did she also bring about this change to Andrew?

Picked up my next read! The story takes place in my hometown, Monticello, Iowa. The east coast author having done research from the Monticello Express archives, my family‘s long time owned local newspaper and talking to a local descendant of the Hoag duster factory, a main part in the story. Anxious to go to the author reading next week!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ four stars for the entertainment. A quick and easy cat and mouse read. This was the author‘s first in this genre, I hope she continues writing thrillers!

An entertaining whodunnit that kept me guessing til the end. A little corny but a quick, easy read. This is the author‘s debut novel, she‘s written several YA books. I would read more from this author!

Shiloh says this was a good one!! Loved the narrators on the audio ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #dogsoflitsy #grammaslibrary #bookphotography #theberrypickers

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ love, friendship, despair and gaming. This book reminded me a lot of A Little Life, filled with complicated characters, engaging storylines but took me awhile to get through. #grammaslibrary

⭐️⭐️⭐️ after enjoying her last book, I had high hopes for this one. It was a quick read, but I was disappointed in the simplicity of the story.

Today‘s book mail! Happy pub day! Always happy to support an Iowa author 😃

A cold snowy morning to finish this ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ historical fiction! Based on the true life of Crow Mary, as she marries Abe Farwell, a fur trader, and the life they lived in Canada and back to her Crow land and family in the late 1800s. Such a well written story depicting yet another part of our history that makes me shake my head…. #bookphotography #grammaslibrary #kathleengrissom #litsy #crowmary

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I really enjoyed this book and learned a lot about 1500‘s China. The story is fiction but the main character, Yunxian, authored a book in the 1500‘s documenting her treatment of patients.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Kristin Hannah‘s newest historical fiction does not disappoint!

Excited to start Kristin Hannah‘s new book, in between commercials 😉😊🏈 #Superbowl

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2 June is jealous of Athena‘s literary success so when Athena dies in a freak accident, June decides to take Athena‘s notes and publish them as her own. This story kept my interest but seemed to fall flat towards the end. My daughters tell me I‘m either too picky or possibly have ADD🤷🏼‍♀️ Let me know what you think of the book!! #dogsoflisty #truckreading #travelreading #grammaslibrary

Margaret loves her new “old” Victorian house. So much so that when September rolls around and the walls bleed, the “pranksters” roam the house (just be careful Elias doesn‘t get his teeth in you), and the local priest attempts an exorcism, just follow the rules and you‘ll get through it. I enjoyed the author‘s writing style, and there was some humor thrown in. The build up towards the end was a little long, but I was satisfied with the ending. 4⭐️

This series could‘ve easily been one (shorter) book and I might‘ve rated it higher. It‘s dark, disgusting, spicy and gory, with all the trigger warnings. Glad I read it but definitely glad I‘m done. Do I recommend it? lol I‘m still not sure….

I love S.A. Cosby‘s storytelling and this one is no exception! His books are great to listen to, too 🎧

I‘ve had this book on my radar for a while, I love a good “dark and disturbing” book but I‘m not a fan of romance. Then my 1st grade teacher daughter read it, liked it, told me I shouldn‘t read it, “too explicit” she said. I instantly bought it and now am loving it!

⭐️⭐️⭐️ this was an entertaining, though pretty unbelievable, story. But that ending…. So many eye rolls, went from a 4 star to 3 for me 🙄🙄🙄 #fluff

A book about me?? lol ok, maybe not…. However, I did enjoy the book and how everything tied together at the end. Kept me wanting to read more to see what happens.

Merry Christmas to my little free library! Donated by my friends at book club 😃 #grammaslibrary #prettybooks

My father passed away this fall and this was a gift from our employees. My husband and I, along with my brother continue to run the weekly newspaper that my dad had worked at since he was 16. We bought it from him 20 years ago but he maintained an “office” in our building until his death at 85. Newspaper, ink and words were in his blood ❤️💔 I can‘t wait to see and read this on our town‘s story walk.

Put this one on your Christmas list! Beautifully told story, these characters will stick with me for awhile.

My favorite tree, in my favorite room, my “library”! 🎄🎅🏼

🥰 this sweatshirt came today from 3 of my little grandkids for my birthday 🥰 my DIL is so thoughtful. And I‘m really enjoying this book!!

I doubt she knows as many words at Six-Thirty but she makes a cute book model! I was pleasantly surprised by this book. Yes, there were a few eye roll moments but I found it had a great message and was entertaining!

I really enjoyed this one! I read a lot of historical fiction but this is the first I‘ve read about the leprosy colonies. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I really enjoyed this book! Fiction intertwined with true crime. The story is told from 2 women‘s perspective, 1 was a serial killer survivor, the other an eventual victim. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I love a good time travel story and this one did not disappoint! How far (back in time) will a mother go to keep her son from committing murder??

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ the main character is fiction but the events and characters are real. Following WW2, Amalie wants revenge.

I listened to this one, it was just so-so for me. The concept and message were interesting, the writing could‘ve been better. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 this was a good pick for an eery October read. The ending left too many questions but overall I enjoyed it! My little friend here may or may not have snuck out of the pages 👻

10/10 and all the stars 🌟 for this one! Beautifully written story of eighteenth century half sisters, one sold into slavery, one living in the castle. Follow their stories for 8 generations of family history.

Such a good book! Barbara Kingsolver is a beautiful storyteller. I‘ll be thinking of Damon for a long time.

Raise your hand if you loved A Court of Mist and Fury! Feyre‘s story in the land of Fae continues. An engaging story, a little predictable, but still enjoyable. I‘m ready to start #3 to see where we go from here.

Loved it! Fantasy is not my genre but I loved this! I can‘t wait to continue the series in the world of Fae. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Reading time while my dad gets chemo. I‘m about halfway through book 1. Enjoying it but I hear book 2 is even better so I‘m anxious to get to it.

A fun, easy read about 1870s seances and a murder mystery. The Lost Apothecary is my favorite of Sarah Penner, but this was an entertaining read/listen.

Loved this one! 5⭐️This historical fiction story takes place in 1840, telling the story of two women on a convict boat from England to Australia, sentenced to hard labor for minor crimes and a young aboriginal girl sent to the Governor‘s house to add to their “collection” of oddities. What they endure is unimaginable and it‘s definitely a sad tale but it‘s also a story of endurance and perseverance and shows the strength that women can carry

I really enjoyed this one, it was not what I expected. Alison is on a tropical vacation with her family and goes missing their last night on Saint X. Her body is discovered a couple of days later. The suspects are cleared and cause of death is undetermined . Years later her younger sister, Claire, is living in New York and happens to get into the taxi driven by one of the suspects. This book was so much more than just your average whodunit.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I highly recommend this book! A very captivating historical fiction story about slavery, friendship and family.

I love a good disturbing book but this.. this was beyond…. Just nasty… do not be intrigued and add it to your tbr.. don‘t waste your time…

Victor is a bad man; a criminal real estate developer, abuser and just a lousy person. He‘s also just had a heart attack and is laying on his death bed. The book tells how his wife, adult children and granddaughters have lived their lives amidst the family drama and how they handle Victor‘s end of life. This is a well written story, but I was ready for it to be over about 2/3 in. I‘d give it ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2

Not sure this is the best book for me to be reading as I sit with my elderly dad during his chemo treatment. No sympathy for Victor, he should‘ve treated his family better. (But I am enjoying the book)

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I enjoyed this creepy read!

An engrossing read about decisions to be made in a pre- apocalyptic world. Eric, Andrew and their daughter Wen are faced with decisions and questions on what and who to believe. Are the voices in their heads real or is this just a home invasion gone bad? Dark reads are my genre and this fits right in. I would‘ve liked to know a little more with the ending, but it‘s probably better left to the reader‘s own imagination. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is a well written psychological thriller. Paris is found covered in blood, holding the weapon that killed her husband. But being accused of his murder isn‘t the only problem she has, her past is coming back to haunt her. There‘s a lot going on in this story, towards the end it gets to be a bit much, hence the 4 stars, instead of 5. But overall, an engrossing read.

This is a story of Kenny, Lucy, Clara, Howie and Maisie, taken as children from their homes and put in a remote residential school for indigenous children. They suffer sexual, mental and physical abuse at the hands of their “teachers”. Life once they leave or escape from the Mission home is tough as well. This book shares their interlacing stories for the next few decades. A well written, sad story.

I‘m always a little nervous recommending books to my daughters, hoping they‘ll love them as much as I did. Happy to report, my daughter nailed this review! I apologize for the f-bomb….