2.75/5⭐️

I read this one for my January #bookspin (3). I had read the first two in the trilogy about 2 years ago, but the second book was a real “pan”. While I‘m glad I finished the series, this one was just barely a so-so. I don‘t like the characters being separated because it made a disjointed story for me. I liked some of the plot lines better than others. By the last fifty-ish pages I was tired of the book.

@TheAromaofBooks

#Two4Tuesday @TheSpineView Thanks for the tag!

1. A state department of education whose decisions affect poor minority districts differently than more affluent districts and the inequalities that it creates. (And honestly parents and a society that doesn‘t trust teachers and assumes the worst of us. Of course not many people volunteer for the job either. )

2. I honestly can‘t think of one. 😂

Consider yourself tagged!

I‘m rethinking my rating system since StoryGraph (and most people) use a five star rating. I‘ve gone from C.A.P.E to C.A.R.P.E. The “R” being for readability (font choice and size, complexity, good wordy or bad wordy). Obviously had to change my reading journal page too 😂

I am starting this one today for a read along on Annie Aboulian‘s Substack (The Tarot Professor).
#witchyreads

3.75/4⭐️(between very good and excellent)

Characters are great. Atmosphere and world building is really amazing and I love the magic system (spores). Plot is really fun and sweet. However, my engagement was only at a level three. It‘s really good but wasn‘t quite a page turner. The pacing wasn‘t consistent.

#litsyatoz #letterT @Texreader

A little late but I finally got the #journalingprompts into my journal. Thanks so much for these @TheBookHippie !

#5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii

1. Reading the tagged book with @BooksNBowls and others for #whimsicalreads.
2. Cuddly cats.
3. Wearing a warm sweater that I made for myself.
4. A long weekend.
5. Litsy friends.

I‘m so in love with my new library log page! On the left I was just jotting down titles of books I wanted to read that were at my library, but I saw this idea somewhere on a Google image search so I recreated it. Next year I‘ll have the pocket on both pages.

I really enjoyed this one. It had everything: Golf! Ghosts! Wild animals! Fire! Romance!

#NancyDrewBR @Librarybelle

#NancyDrewBR

Bartescue is just awful. Anytime he‘s in a scene I think of Julia Sugarbaker and Ray Don.

https://youtu.be/P7xS54IGEGI?si=xi9jnnFLldP2P-up

3/4⭐️ (very good)
In this installment Dina is asked to allow her inn to be the location of a tricky peace summit. The cook is a new character and I‘m glad it appears he will be a new addition to the inn. I will definitely be giving the third one a go. My library has several of the books as a full cast audio which I loved.

Also works for #LitsyAtoZ #LetterS. @Texreader I think I‘m going to try the title only route.

3/4⭐️ (Very Good) Read for January #bookspin number 17.
I still love the characters and the setting. The writing is not full of itself and fussy. I was a little disappointed that some storylines from the third book seemed to have been dropped. Hopefully they will get picked up later. Mma Ramotswe‘s cases weren‘t as interesting, but I appreciated getting to know more about Mma Makutsi.

#5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii

1. My husband drove me to work every day this week because the heat works better in his car.
2. Bonus day off!
3. Litsy (always)
4. Watching bookish videos with my husband.
5. Seeing my students again after the break.

Tagging- @Kristy_K @Zuhkeeyah @Cupcake12 @Aims42 @BooksNBowls @julesG @Librarybelle @JenlovesJT47 @KadaGul @julieclair and anyone else who wants to play.

Inclement weather! No school tomorrow! Bonus reading day!

I go back to work today. Gone are the days of almost unlimited reading time. Yet I still decided to start a bunch of new books over the last two days 🤣

2.25/4 ⭐️ (the lower end between ok and good)

Started with the audiobook but finished up with the kindle edition. Lord Wimsey is one to run on. What? The antisemitism and racial slurs make it hard to say I liked the book, but it I did enjoy the mystery and the wrap up. I might even give more Lord Wimsey books a try. I‘m glad this author was chosen for #authoramonth.

#LitsyAtoZ #LetterW

3.5/4⭐️ (between very good and excellent)

I love the premise of this book and I flew through it, however I suspect I would have enjoyed it even more if I knew more about Japanese cuisine. The food descriptions meant nothing to me. The human stories resonated though.

Plot and Engagement: 4 (excellent) Character and Atmosphere: 3 (very good)

#litsyatoz #letterK @Texreader

Many thanks to @swynn for the layout inspiration! I copied it exactly 😂.

Here are my two books for #bookspin hosted by @TheAromaofBooks

3-Part of a trilogy (I read the first two in 2023 and 2024)

17-Library (it‘s on hold right now but should be in next week)

I‘m ringing in the New Year with the January #AuthorAMonth hosted by @Soubhiville. I‘m listening and reading the kindle edition. I‘m loving the narrator on the audio, but some of the attitudes of the 1920s (when the book was first published) are a little jarring. Still, I think I‘m going to enjoy this.

I‘m not starting another book until tomorrow so my reading for 2024 is officially in the books (heh). I credit my return to Litsy for the increase of my reading from 2023 to 2024. I hope 2025 will be filled with wonderful books!

3/4⭐️ (Very Good)
This is my first work by Ilona Andrews. I enjoyed the quick pace and the fact that it can be read on its own despite being a part of a series. I really liked this version of vampires and werewolves and the premise of inns and innkeepers. I will most likely give the next book a try.

Highest marks for Plot/pacing and engagement. Average marks for characters and atmosphere.

I‘m getting pretty excited about the #LitsyAtoZ challenge that @Texreader is hosting. I decided to make a place for it in my 2025 reading journal. Some of the books I‘m reading for buddy reads (such as the #LiteraryCrew, #AuthorAMonth and #HitchToScreen) will give me a boost for few letters like Q and W.

@Soubhiville #authoramonth

My guess is most people have already read this one since it‘s the first Peter Wimsey, but I thought I‘d share since it‘s such a great price. I also had the option of adding audible narration for $1.99.

3.5/4⭐️ (between very good and excellent)

The best thing about my impulsive nature and Litsy buddy reads is that I read books I probably wouldn‘t have. I‘m glad I read this for #HitchToScreen. Thanks for organizing @JenlovesJT47 !

I don‘t know if this is considered a thriller. It‘s definitely psychological and creepy.

Character and Plot received the highest scores on my C. A. P. E. rating system.

2.5/4⭐️ (somewhere between “fine” and “very good”)

Dikembe‘s story was my main interest. I didn‘t really care that much about Lowra (though I was glad she found peace). Oddly this book both felt a little longish and rushed. I have no idea how to explain that. I want a sequel in which Caroline‘s story is told.

On my C.A.P.E scale this book got the lowest marks for Characters and Atmosphere. Lowra brought down the Character marks.

Can you spot the mistake? Because I sure didn‘t and the glue is already dry! 😂

Lots of joys this week.
1. Litsy
2. Working on my 2025 reading journal.
3. Getting all caught up on #LitsyLove responses.
4. Naps!
5. Jolabokaflod (the dreamiest chocolate!)

#5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii

Tagging: @willaful @BookwormAHN @Laughterhp @GinaKButler

I‘m doing something a little different for #bookspin in 2025. I‘m such a mood reader that I don‘t really want to lock into any titles and my 2024 perpetual list didn‘t really excite me. So I came up with 20 prompts and created a spread in my reading journal. I‘m excited for the new reading year! Thanks for keeping up the spin @TheAromaofBooks !

Merry Christmas to all who celebrate!

Thank you so much for the #jolabokaflod package @tdrosebud ! I can‘t wait to dive in!

This was my first #JS2024. Thank t for organizing it @MaleficentBookDragon

This is the third or fourth typo in this book, two like this one(the “p” right before the quote). It hasn‘t kept me from enjoying the book, though! Considering it‘s a BOTM edition I‘m not sure whether to be surprised or not.

3.25/4 ⭐️
An entertaining enough read. I just read Carrie in October so this suffered a little in comparison. It was fine and it kept me engaged. I‘ve probably been generous with my stars as I had a few nitpicks. I‘m glad I borrowed this from the library instead of buying.

I am getting in the #SnickerdoodleSpirit #Readathon with the next #HitchToScreen selection and Happy color. No goals. Just books and cozy vibes. Thanks @Bookwormjillk !

I am ridiculously excited about this feature on the StoryGraph!

@DebinHawaii #5JoysFriday

1. It‘s the last day before the two week break!
2. It‘s the last day before the two week break!
3. It‘s the last day before the two week break!
4. It‘s the last day before the two week break!
5 It‘s the last day before the two week break!

Tagging @MariaW @Cupcake12 @JenlovesJT47 @lil1inblue @Blerdgal_Fenix

I was really interested in this #LittensLoveRomance pick, but I‘m trying really hard to cut down on book purchases and spending in general. Lo and behold I go to check it out (again) and it‘s only $2.99 on kindle AND I have some credits so it‘s only $0.74! I couldn‘t let the opportunity pass. Now let‘s see if I can read it in the next two weeks!

#Two4Tuesday Thanks for the tag @TheSpineView

1. My morning coffee and scrolling through Litsy.

2. I have several books going at the moment and I‘m not sure any of the MCs could be described as having a “best trait” since they are all kinda flawed. I‘ll just go with Nancy Drew and say her best trait is determination.

Tagging @vlwelser @Kristy_K @zezeki @Arvena @KadaGul @AllDebooks @Avanders @Amor4Libros @Chrissyreadit

3/4 ⭐️

Faster paced than the last couple I read for the #NancyDrewBR. This one was a fun one. Thanks for hosting @Librarybelle

3.25/4 ⭐️
I finished it a day late but I enjoyed this one. I went back and forth between audio and kindle. It‘s very melodramatic with strong Perils of Pauline vibes. Perfect escapist and atmospheric read. Like others have said, it was extra fun to be reading it at the same time of year as in the book. My winter break is coming up and I‘m going to try to talk hubby into watching the 1939 movie with me.

#hitchtoscreen @JenlovesJT47

3.5/4 ⭐️
Jeff Hayes is still brilliant. I still love Princess Donut, but I didn‘t like this level as much. Mordechai was mostly missing and when he was around he was this weird froglike thing with a weird croaky thing going on. The tangle also confused me. Still a pick though!

#FirstLineFridays @ShyBookOwl

“We sat under the tall limba tree that day, with no idea these were the last days of paradise.”

@MaleficentBookDragon I have received my #jolabokaflod package from @tdrosebud and I am counting down to open day!

I‘m going to attempt to finish this audiobook before December 14th for #hitchtoscreen. I‘m liking it so far (I‘m only on chapter 2). I think I‘m glad that I have not read Rebecca since I‘ve seen a couple of reviews that have said this one isn‘t as good as Rebecca.

My goal in 2025 is to be a little less lurky and actually participate in the buddy reads on Litsy. Many thanks to all the hosts and organizers that keep me on the tag lists!

That said, here are the authors I plan to read for the #authoramonth. I already own books by them or are readily available on Hoopla (no wait list!).

My goal in 2025 is to be a little less lurky and actually participate in the buddy reads on Litsy. Many thanks to all the hosts and organizers that keep me on the tag lists!

That said, here are the books I plan to read for the #LiteraryCrew. I already own them. Some have been gathering dust on my shelves forever so there‘s no excuse for not reading them

Hey @Librarybelle one of the #LiteraryCrew 2025 selections is on sale for $1.99! 🎉

4/4 ⭐️
My husband and I don‘t even watch tv anymore. We just listen to Carl books.

#LibraryHaul

Two holds (the tagged book and The Weight of Blood) and an impulse check-out (Morality for Beautiful Girls).

My #jolabokaflodSwap24 package is making its way to @Captivatedbybooks It should arrive by Tuesday, December 10th. My family has a reputation for going a little heavy on packing tape and it‘s probably got some stray cat hairs. 😂

@MaleficentBookDragon #JS2024

Once again I am a day late with #5JoysFriday hosted by @DebinHawaii

1. It‘s been so cold but I have my cats to keep me warm.
2. Litsy brings me so much joy even when I am mainly lurking.
3. Pango books!
4. Reading a good book.
5. No picture but my 3rd period class just made me smile a lot this week.