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MallenNC

MallenNC

Joined May 2016

I love mysteries, narrative nonfiction, and reading new authors. Feel free to add me on Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1147715-melyssa
review
MallenNC
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Pickpick

Unintended pregnancy, Only Fans, professional wrestling — based on the description I would‘ve expected to hate this, but I really enjoyed it. Something about Margo is so likable — you just root for her to succeed. The book also covers some serious topics that I‘ll keep thinking about. The shift from first person to third person is kind of weird at first but I had listened to the author on a podcast and her reasons helped it make more sense.

Suet624 I just finished this one and thought the author did a great job with it. 2d
MallenNC @Suet624 She really did. This was the first book I‘ve read by her so I‘m interested to try her previous books. 2d
24 likes2 comments
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MallenNC
Inside Out | Demi Moore
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Pickpick

I don‘t know why I waited so long to read this. I loved it! She‘s so honest about herself and the lessons she‘s learned through a life that has been more challenging than it may have looked from the outside. Listening to the audiobook is the way to read this one.

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MallenNC
Normal Women | Philippa Gregory
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Pickpick

Philippa Gregory is known for historical fiction about royalty but this is nonfiction about the normal women who are often left out of the history books. It was VERY detailed and it was interesting to see all the challenges women have faced over time. Ideally, i think this one should be read in short installments. I‘ll probably come back to again in the future to absorb a bit more detail.

This was my #DoubleSpin for November.

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 5d
23 likes1 comment
review
MallenNC
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Pickpick

I kept seeing rave reviews for this so I dropped what I was planning to listen to and picked up the audiobook. It was such an engaging story, which may be a weird to say about a cult story. I feel so bad that she was taken advantage of in this way! So I was really rooting for her to find her way out. I am not really familiar with her acting but based on her audiobook performance she must be great. I finished this in just a couple of days.

JamieArc I just finished this too! 1w
MallenNC @JamieArc What did you think? I was surprised how much I liked it. 1w
JamieArc I liked it a lot, though it surprisingly hit home a bit too much 😳. I‘ll tag you in my review! 1w
23 likes3 comments
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MallenNC
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Pickpick

Reading this right after the election was an interesting experience. The stories in this book were heartbreaking and the author took an empathetic approach to them. She helps her readers understand how people came to believe in these conspiracy theories and how much damage this did to their families. There isn‘t as much resolution of some of the stories but unfortunately that‘s probably the case in real life. This was my #BookSpin for November

TheAromaofBooks Great progress!! 1w
25 likes1 comment
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MallenNC
The Four Winds | Kristin Hannah
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Pickpick

I had hesitated to read this for years, but finally read it bc I was in the mood for misery. Because of that, I think my expectation for how sad this book would be was maybe mistaken. It‘s a hard story and sad things happen, but not as much as I thought. The worst parts were how mean people were to the main character. It was a good look at a point of history I didn‘t know much about. I did cry a little at the end.

30 likes1 stack add
blurb
MallenNC
The Four Winds | Kristin Hannah
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The Women is the only book I‘ve read by Kristin Hannah bc I know the reputation of her books for being sad. But I‘m in the mood to read about other people being miserable so I‘m finally giving this one a go.

Cortg Fair. I‘m trying to finish a book club book but it‘s nonfiction and I really want a fantasy to escape in right now. 2w
MallenNC @Cortg I‘ve been having a terrible time reading this week and finally hit on this. 2w
Suet624 Hard to read when the country has been taken over by oligarchs. 2w
MyNamesParadise I‘m all over the place with my reading. I can‘t focus on any one book and have started several. I‘ve been in such a brain fog this week. 2w
34 likes4 comments
blurb
MallenNC
BookSpinBingo | Untitled
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It works out well that my picks for this month‘s #BookSpin are nonfiction. I have the audiobook of Normal Women, and it‘s about 18 hours long so that is going to take a chunk of the month to finish.

TheAromaofBooks Yay!! Enjoy!! 3w
21 likes1 comment
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MallenNC
BookSpinBingo | Untitled
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Here‘s my #BookSpinBingo card for October! I read 16 books (including one that didn‘t fit the card). I got one bingo but was close on a few other rows. Guide Me Home was my favorite fiction and The Third Gilmore Girl was my favorite nonfiction.

Suet624 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 3w
TheAromaofBooks Yay!! Fantastic month!! 3w
28 likes2 comments
review
MallenNC
Guide Me Home | Attica Locke
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Pickpick

This was a very satisfying conclusion to the Highway 59 trilogy about Texas Ranger Darren Mathews. There‘s a mystery in the story but that‘s only part of the narrative. A lot of it is about Mathews, his family history, and his current relationships. I especially enjoyed how this explored his difficult relationship with his mother. I‘ve heard this may become a TV show and I really hope it does.

31 likes1 stack add
blurb
MallenNC
Lovely One: A Memoir | Ketanji Brown Jackson
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These are what I read and enjoyed for election season. Justice Brown Jackson was honest about the challenges she faced in her path to the Supreme Court, including how tough it was to balance a career with parenting. Something Lost … is an essay collection filled with HRC‘s political and personal experiences since 2016. And Thanks, Obama was a fun reread of one of my favorite Obama staffer memoirs. I put my early vote sticker on my Kindle cover!

30 likes1 stack add
blurb
MallenNC
BookSpinBingo | Untitled
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Here‘s what I‘m thinking for November #BookSpinBingo — I included a lot of nonfiction options for Nonfiction November along with some novels and mysteries for variety. I know we say this every time but I can‘t believe it‘s time for another new month already!

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 3w
19 likes1 comment
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MallenNC
The Third Gilmore Girl | Kelly Bishop
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Pickpick

In Kelly Bishop‘s memoir, she shares how she went from her childhood in ballet to Broadway and iconic roles in A Chorus Line, Gilmore Girls and Dirty Dancing. This book isn‘t really gossipy at all — the biggest controversy might be her take on which boyfriend was right for Rory! — but I enjoyed it. I especially liked how she shared her relationships with her second husband and with her Gilmore TV family. I was excited to see her on her book tour.

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MallenNC
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The tagged book was featured in a book talk held tonight at the college where I work. I always volunteer to usher at these so I can go for free! I‘m not a big One Tree Hill fan but her life — in a cult — sounds so interesting. I look forward to reading her book.

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MallenNC
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Pickpick

I finally found time to read this one! I can‘t believe the author of cute and fun Tokyo Ever After wrote this! It‘s pretty dark subject matter. I enjoyed the twists it took and the way it handled two main narrators. I wish there had been a little more at the end but overall it was a page turner.

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MallenNC
Let the Games Begin | Rufaro Faith Mazarura
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Pickpick

This is an out-of-season read but I had to take it when the library hold came in! I love the Olympics so this story set at a fictional Summer Games was really fun. I especially liked Olivia and her strong career focus. The athletes featured had a lot more free time than I imagine they really do, but I let that go because it was fun.

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MallenNC
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Pickpick

Short stories are not my thing, but the Ruth Galloway mysteries are my favorite so I had to give this a try. Unsurprisingly my favorites are the stories about Ruth, especially the one that is set after the last book in the series. Some of these are novellas that are set earlier in the series but they were still fun to hear. I also liked the Max Mephisto and Harbinder Kaur stories. Some of the stand-alones ended kind of abruptly though.

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MallenNC
Exit | Belinda Bauer
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Pickpick

I really enjoyed this! I thought it was going to be straight forward for some reason but it was a little twisty! The premise is really clever and a little scary. Felix, the MC, is such a well-drawn character. I don‘t think I‘ve read this author before and after this I‘d definitely read more of her work.

This was my #BookSpinBingo #DoubleSpin for October.

bookandbedandtea I really liked this book and you've reminded me that I wanted to read more from her! 2mo
24 likes1 comment
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MallenNC
A Death in Door County | Annelise Ryan
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Mehso-so

This was ok, but more of a cozy mystery than I was expecting. I wanted it to be more spooky! Another review called it Scooby-Doo plus Hallmark and I think that‘s a good description. The narrator of the audiobook did not help. Very monotone.

This was my #BookSpin for October.

23 likes1 stack add
blurb
MallenNC
BookSpinBingo | Untitled
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My #BookSpin picks for this month. I‘m listening to A Death in Door County and reading a paperback of Exit. I have some vacation time to take this month so I hope to read a lot!

TheAromaofBooks Yay!! Enjoy!! 2mo
27 likes1 comment
blurb
MallenNC
BookSpinBingo | Untitled
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My #BookSpin list for October. I don‘t really read much horror so I went mostly with mysteries for spooky season.

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 2mo
10 likes1 comment
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MallenNC
BookSpinBingo | Untitled
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Here‘s my #BookSpinBingo card for September. I didn‘t get as much read as August, but it wasn‘t a bad month. I finished 9 books, including my BookSpin, and got one bingo. I really enjoyed The Sicilian Inheritance and Rogues.

TheAromaofBooks Yay!! Fabulous month!! 2mo
16 likes1 comment
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MallenNC
Attached at the Hip: A Novel | Christine Riccio
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Pickpick

Just finished my #BookSpin for September. I have read a lot of books set in reality shows lately and find them fun. This one was good and I enjoyed the game, which was a take off on Survivor. I enjoyed this but the main character (and the alliance names) felt a little silly sometimes. I wanted just a little more of the game aftermath.

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 2mo
22 likes1 comment
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MallenNC
Princess Elizabeth's Spy | Susan Elia MacNeal
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Pickpick

I read the first book in this series years ago and finally came back to it. This is a spy novel/historical mystery. I like Maggie Hope as a main character and it was fun to read a mystery set in places I‘ve been. I‘m going to try to read more of this series— sooner this time!

26 likes1 stack add
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MallenNC
The Third Gilmore Girl | Kelly Bishop
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Really enjoyed hearing Kelly Bishop talk about her new memoir The Third Gilmore Girl tonight. My picture isn‘t great but the conversation was!

TheBookHippie Yay!!! Love her! 2mo
MallenNC @TheBookHippie She was fun! I can‘t wait to read her book. 2mo
TheBookHippie @MallenNC me either!!! It‘s suppose to be here, got delayed enroute! 2mo
Librarybelle That‘s so cool! This reminds me to double check my library to see if they purchased it yet to get my name on the waiting list! 2mo
Sparklemn This sounds like a great book. Thanks for the heads up! 💙☕️ (edited) 2mo
33 likes1 stack add5 comments
review
MallenNC
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Pickpick

This was a really good read. Dual timelines sometimes annoy me but this one was paced well and the little cliffhangers kept me turning pages. I think this would be a good book club pick with a lot of discussions about women‘s lives at different points in time. The end got a little crazy but it was satisfying.

26 likes1 stack add
review
MallenNC
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Pickpick

PRK is probably my favorite long form journalist. (Empire of Pain gets a lot of attention but Say Nothing is my #1 pick.) This is a collection of his work for the New Yorker. Like any collection, some appeal more than others. The best for me were his profiles of Anthony Bourdain, Mark Burnett, and the defense attorney for several notorious death penalty cases. I listened to the audiobook, which is narrated by the author.

Megabooks I really loved this, too! 2mo
MallenNC @Megabooks I‘ve had it on my TBR for a while and am so glad I finally got to it. 2mo
24 likes2 comments
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MallenNC
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Pickpick

I really enjoy this cozy mystery series and I‘m already looking forward to the next one. Lana is a great main character. Along with the mystery I always enjoy how she navigates her relationships with her family and customers.

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MallenNC
The Last Word | Elly Griffiths
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Pickpick

I will read everything Elly Griffiths writes, so I was excited to pick up this one, which is part of the Harbinder Kaur series but really more about three characters from that series‘s first book. I liked revisiting those characters and the mystery was an interesting one. I also liked the writing retreat and book club being part of the story. It felt a little long but I still enjoyed it.

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MallenNC
BookSpinBingo | Untitled
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My #BookSpin picks for September! Both are books that I just got in August so it will be great to get to them so soon.

TheAromaofBooks Yay!!! Enjoy!! 3mo
19 likes1 comment
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MallenNC
The Good Sister: A Novel | Sally Hepworth
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Pickpick

This was a quick read with good pacing. I started with the audiobook and switched to print to finish faster. I hadn‘t read this author before but I will definitely read more by her. It reminded me of a not as dark Strange Sally Diamond.

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MallenNC
BookSpinBingo | Untitled
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Reporting my August #BookSpinBingo results before seeing what September has in store! August was a busy month but thanks to audiobooks and a few days off I got a lot of reading done. 15 books done, including my BookSpin and DoubleSpin.

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MallenNC
BookSpinBingo | Untitled
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Looking forward to a lot of good reading in September even though it is a busy time at work!

#BookSpin #BookSpinBingo

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks #2 is so good! 3mo
MallenNC @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I have heard it is! I‘ve been trying to get to it for a while. 3mo
17 likes2 comments
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MallenNC
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Thanks to everyone who posted happy birthday wishes to me last week! I celebrated about as well as one can when their birthday is on a workday. Here are the books and bookish gifts I got. Plus the pouch that says In a world full of Jolenes be a Dolly. Everyone should try to be more like Dolly.

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MallenNC
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I hope all East Coast Littens are staying safe today! Thankful that the worst seems on its way out of my area.

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MallenNC
BookSpinBingo | Untitled
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Here is my #BookSpinBingo card for July! I finished 13 books and got two bingos. And if it hadn‘t been for the Olympics I may have finished a couple more! I really enjoyed Stone Blind, The Husbands, The Queen of Sugar Hill, and Game of Lies. Parable of the Sower was a re-read and it was creepy because the future in that book starts in July 2024.

Bookwormjillk The Olympics have been worth it this year. Wow! 4mo
MallenNC @Bookwormjillk I love the Olympics so they are a great distraction! They have been good this year, and Paris has been a beautiful setting. 4mo
TheAromaofBooks Yay!! Fabulous month!! 4mo
20 likes3 comments
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MallenNC
BookSpinBingo | Untitled
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My #BookSpinBingo list for August. I have one week of vacation in August but it is also a super busy month at work. I‘m hoping to have time to read!

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 4mo
20 likes1 comment
review
MallenNC
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Pickpick

This was my #DoubleSpin for July and I managed to finish it before the Olympics arrived to distract me. This book covers Hattie McDaniel‘s life after she won the Oscar for her role in Gone With the Wind. It was well-written and I enjoyed it but it was hard to read about all the racism and backlash she endured. One thing that was fun were all the celebrities and notable people who come into her story.

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 4mo
Chelsea.Poole The Olympics are also distracting me! I‘m obsessed…just got incredibly invested in a handball (never seen this sport in my life) game between two countries I have no connection with 😂 4mo
MallenNC @Chelsea.Poole I absolutely love the Olympics. I love all the “big” sports like gymnastics but I also love the more quirky ones we don‘t usually get to see. 4mo
25 likes3 comments
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MallenNC
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My lunchtime reading today. I‘m trying to finish it before the Olympics start on Friday! (I don‘t count anything before the Opening Ceremony!)

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MallenNC
The Husbands | Holly Gramazio
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Pickpick

I really enjoyed this! Its premise is so clever and I totally bought into the idea that a magic attic provided a seemingly endless supply of husbands. I thought the way changing husbands also changed her life was so interesting to think about. My only small complaint is that there‘s never any explanation for why this was happening to her. But I just went along for the ride.

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MallenNC
The Guncle Abroad | Steven Rowley
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Pickpick

I enjoyed the first Guncle book and thought this was a cute sequel. It‘s nice to check in with the characters, especially Patrick and his niece and nephew.

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MallenNC
The Spy Coast: A Thriller | Tess Gerritsen
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Pickpick

This was a fun thriller featuring some retired spies whose past comes to their doorsteps in Maine. The main character, Maggie, was really great. This is sort of like The Thursday Murder Club but not played for laughs. I‘m looking forward to the next in the series.

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MallenNC
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Pickpick

The cover makes it seem like this is a light little story about a 77-year-old woman who decides to apply for a British Bake-Off style show. (It‘s great to have a story centering an older person.) But Jenny has a sad secret, and her story unfolds throughout the book. I loved the MC and her relationships with her husband, extended family, and a fellow contestant. I wish the last chapter had gone a little further. I read it in just a couple of days.

Aims42 Sounds good! Excellent review 👍 5mo
MallenNC @Aims42 Thanks! I hope you like it if you read it. 5mo
Librarybelle I really liked this one! 5mo
30 likes2 stack adds3 comments
review
MallenNC
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Pickpick

This was even better than the first installment of this new series by an author whose standalone novels I‘ve really enjoyed. The reality show setting was so good and allowed the reader to try to guess what was happening. I am hoping this series grows into a lengthy one!

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MallenNC
With the Fire on High | Elizabeth Acevedo
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Pickpick

I‘m not really reading much YA any more but I enjoy Elizabeth Acevedo so I wanted to read the one YA book of hers I hadn‘t yet. I really liked Emoni and her family and friends. Her challenges were realistic and her talent for cooking was a fun angle.

This was my #BookSpin for July.

Becker Same here. I don‘t care too much for YA but I really enjoy Acevedo‘s work and will read anything she puts out. 👍 5mo
MallenNC @Becker I used to read a lot of YA but realized that sometimes I was annoyed by the YA characters! But like you I am willing to read Acevedo anyway. 5mo
35 likes2 comments
review
MallenNC
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Pickpick

Another fun installment in a series where you just have to buy into the craziness. Finlay and Vero end up in Atlantic City with most of the series side characters. I still wish they‘d toss her ex-husband off a bridge. He is so annoying to me.

The audiobooks are the way to go for this series!

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MallenNC
BookSpinBingo | Untitled
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My #BookSpin picks for this month!

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MallenNC
BookSpinBingo | Untitled
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June was a great reading month! I got two Bingos, and finished 12 books. Standouts for me were The Situation Room, Run Towards the Danger, The Woman on the Ledge, and Annie Bot.

#BookSpinBingo

TheAromaofBooks Yay!! Fabulous month!!! 5mo
MallenNC @TheAromaofBooks Thank you as always for organizing! 5mo
22 likes2 comments
review
MallenNC
A Stitch in Time | Kelley Armstrong
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Pickpick

I can‘t remember why I got this audiobook but I ended up really enjoying it. A modern woman is able to go back in time in an old house. There‘s the time travel, a romance, some ghosts, and a mystery. It all worked for me. There are other books in this series but they seem to work as stand-alones.

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MallenNC
Annie Bot | Sierra Greer
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Pickpick

I read this after hearing the author on The Stacks podcast. It‘s an interesting premise, and the author does a great job making Annie seems human to the reader. The ending was a little different than I expected but I‘m still thinking about this one.