#bookspin list for February @TheAromaofBooks

“In my opinion, the people who are happiest at the end of their life are those that have achieved a sense of peace in regard to how they‘ve lived, and who are comfortable in their belief about what comes next.”
My friend lent me this book. A low pick, but it has interesting stories about hospice patients. Vlahos writes about her patients, as well as what was going on in her life, & life lessons she has learned. My issue with it—she credits 👇

Did audiobook for this story, with Michael Urie narrating. I have really liked Rowley‘s Guncle books so tried this one. This is set in the ‘90s & is about an aspiring writer who gets to have Jackie Kennedy Onassis as an editor. He has a lot of mommy/daddy issues, but the story concentrates on his relationship with his mother. Some emotional parts and a good resolution.

Has anyone mentioned that one of the best books is on sale today for Kindle?

I try not to be too political on here, but one of my favorite authors, Silas House, current Poet Laureate of Kentucky, shared this on fb last week. Written by one of his friends, I feel it speaks to a lot of our feelings.

This has been on my tbr for several years. My thought after finishing was “Why didn‘t I get to read this book in high school?!”. A much better classic than some I was forced to read. A Gothic novel, complete with wandering on the wintry moors, men doing bad things, a villain, creepy vibes, and murder. So good, except I‘m not sure I agreed with Mary‘s choice at the end.

While I liked this book, I think my expectations were a little high. I enjoyed the modern world of gods & goddesses but wish more happened. Persephone, with little experience, meets Hades, there‘s a lot of lust. More in the erotica genre, if you like spice. There was some conflict between Persephone & a co-worker, as well as a difficult relationship with her mother. Unsure I‘ll continue with the series depending on the plot of the next one. 3.5/5

I needed a book character with one of my names for a book challenge, & my friend found me one. This is a middle grade story about a girl who has OCD. She ends up being in a community theater musical, a new experience for her. Friend drama & dealing with her grandmother & mother‘s arguments are stressors. Very responsible about mental health & normalizes therapy. A really good book that a middle schooler should enjoy.

Happy birthday, Lynn!
I was reminded of this book recently & am always interested in Jane Austen reimagining. Thanks for doing a giveaway! #49bdaygiveaway @wanderinglynn

The tagged was my first completed. Definitely recommend. @BookmarkTavern #sundayfunday

Mostly reading Jamaica Inn, slowly working on Troublesome Rising. #weekendreads @rachelsbrittain

I always say I‘m not a poetry person, but I really like Walker‘s poetry. He‘s the author of Affrilachia & is a professor/writer locally. This collection is about his life, events that have happened in Kentucky, his family. Easy to read & touching at times. My #bookspin book for January

I had read the 2nd book in the trilogy (this is the 1st) a few yrs ago. I need a book set in winter for a book challenge & thought this would fit—except it‘s set during the Alaska summer. I enjoyed this romance but was annoyed with the main conflict. The female is on vacation & falls in love with a local. She‘s a waitress—why don‘t either of them suggest she move until after a bunch of drama? 🤦‍♀️ Oh well, it‘s not meant to be a deep read. 3.5/⭐️

Thank you Jessi @MrsGagnonreads2024 for the book & giant bag of m&ms! Might take me awhile to eat them 🙂 Excited to read this book, too.
#littlechristmaswap Thanks for hosting @bookish_wookish

I‘ve been wanting to read this for several months. Ruby is a nanny who gets a job (early 1900s) with the England family. Mrs England doesn‘t pay any attention to the children, Mr England is charming, plays with the kids, & runs a mill successfully. Is that how they are under the surface? Ruby has a family secret, too. Moors, rain, set in Yorkshire, a little creepy. Really liked this story.

I don‘t need to start another series, but I did anyway. This is the first book I finished for 2025, a story of a newly widowed woman who is trying to be independent but has to solve a couple of mysteries first. A fun, light read.

My choice for #12booksof2024 In December. Sarah @TheAromaofBooks sent this to me for jolabokaflod swap & I actually read it instead of putting it on my TBR stack. I‘ll continue with the series. @Andrew65

It‘s the perfect day to stay in & read. Don‘t have to work or go anywhere. Already finished a book while snow was falling—we got all this within 2-3 hours. What we‘re all dreading here in Kentucky is the next phase, which I can hear now—ice. I‘ll be doing some chores & starting my next book.

Not the same cover as the edition I have. I usually like all the England-set, Regency or Victorian period, amateur sleuth novels, but this one is better than most. More suspense & serious issues plus middle-aged protagonists make it a little different. Loaned it to a friend & she loved it, too. Excited for the 2nd one. #12booksof2024 @Andrew65

Think I‘m behind on the #12booksof2024 so this is my October pick. I finally read Dear Martin & this one—in time to meet Nic Stone at a book fair. Loved both, but this one hit me just a bit more because of kids I have worked with. @Andrew65

September is an easy choice for favorite book, although I did love The London Seance Society & learned a lot from Sitting Pretty. #12booksof2024 @Andrew65

I don‘t think I‘ve posted a pic of my adorable Griffin in awhile.
By June, I need to read a book that has a character with one of my names. Didn‘t have luck finding anything when I googled. Don‘t think my names are commonly used in books. So, I need you all to help!
A book that has a character named 1)Shannon, 2) Cochrane, or 3) Johnson

I may not have read this if I didn‘t need a Southern Gothic book for my library‘s book challenge. I would have missed out on a great book. Lots of secrets & lies. #12booksof2024 August @Andrew65

I read a lot in July, I started the Lumberjanes GNs that month. I love the Lady Sherlock series, so the tagged wins out for the month. #12booksof2024 @Andrew65

Meant to post this yesterday, @bookish_wookish
Sorry! Sent my #lcs package & it should be there on time but at the last minute. Sent UPS so watch for it on the 6th, @JessieKB

#bookspin list for January 2025
@TheAromaofBooks

I loved this trilogy of GNs. I read Sheets and Delicates in May, then this one in June. It‘s a YA series, with a girl who runs the family laundromat befriending a ghost. In this one, they investigate how the ghost (who‘s a pre-teen) died. This series has a lot of feels. #12booksof2024 @Andrew65

Going with this for the 5th day of #12booksof2024
I had another 5 star read (Table for Two), but this book needs more exposure. A story of racism, with a MC who has severe anxiety that develops into agoraphobia, & how she copes with it. I loved that‘s it‘s told in verse & is responsible with the mental health. Some romance is there, too. @Andrew65

2 unrelated things in the same post:
1) I received my #littlechristmasswap box from @MrsGagnonreads2024 @bookish_wookish
2) My friend gave me this handmade basket for Christmas. It‘s from a craft vendor we often see at fairs. My coffee table has become to cluttered with books/other papers, so I cleaned it off. Now, the basket can hold my current book, kindle, & some bookmarks/notecards. We‘ll see how long this lasts lol

It‘s taken me months to finish this short book. hooks‘ writing can be dense & takes some thought. These are essays about race, finding her home & place in the world, & memories of her family. I really liked the ones about quilt making & what that meant to the elders. She also writes about my favorite author, Wendell Berry, & includes a convo they had about how racism and the environment connect & his book, The Hidden Wound. Made me wish I could 👇

The 4th day of #12booksof2024 is a close race between the tagged & The Dictionary of Lost Words. Going with this HF because I love Adichie‘s writing & the topic of war is still so relevant now. @Andrew65

I‘ve had this book on my kindle for so long. I‘ve met both authors & like both of their books. This is a Thelma & Louise type of story, with both young adults running away from family problems. An adventure, coming-of-age story, with lots of close calls with danger. A fun read, but I really had to suspend my disbelief that these girls wouldn‘t get caught. Actually got a bingo for #bookspin this month. 3.5/5 ⭐️

I read some great NF this year, but my favorite 3 all were early in the year. This is the account of the famous racehorse, Lexington, whose bloodline runs in most of our current thoroughbreds. Since I live near the heart of horse-racing (the city of Lexington, Ky), this was of particular interest to me, but it‘s a great pick for anyone.
#12booksof2024 @Andrew65

I‘ve posted about this book several times. Had a major impact on me & others I know. #12booksof2024 @Andrew65

Loved this audiobook about the first women astronauts. #12booksof2024
@Andrew65

I got interested in starting the Veronica Speedwell series after listening to the podcast A Strong Sense of Place. One of the hosts has mentioned it frequently as a fave series.
So, thank you Sarah for this book & chocolate! I‘m always excited about mint chocolate & can‘t wait to start reading. @TheAromaofBooks #jokabokaflodswap
@MaleficentBookDragon

I opened this earlier today & took a pic fast, so I could eat a cookie. So good & so are the chocolates. Can‘t wait to read this book. Thanks Katey! @bumpinthenight #jolabokaflodswap
@MaleficentBookDragon This is my favorite swap of the year—thanks for hosting it!

My 1st Larson book, I listened to this the last couple of weeks. All about the American ambassador to Germany & his family during the 1930s. Mostly set during 1933-34 when Hitler was chancellor & gaining power. Really interesting & scary, some direct connections to our current government. Some parts were slower or not as good but overall, an important read of a time period not covered much (or at all) in school.

Saw Arnold at the Ky book fair & bought his latest. A GN set mid-apocalypse after zombie squirrels caught a disease & started killing people. 4 friends are trying to make a documentary about the beginning of the apocalypse but end up on a different adventure. The friendships gets stronger, the craziness that happens is filmed, & I enjoyed all of it. It‘s a weird premise but fun. The squirrels do get stepped on a lot, fyi if that bothers you.

Same, Frank X Walker

Think this is the 5th book in the series, & if I didn‘t know there were several more, I would think it was the last one. Still doing audio, & I think this is the best of the series so far. Jane has to go to the Biltmore briefly to rescue her man, then has to outsmart the villain while back in Storyton. She makes several big decisions. There‘s a major twist. Solid series.

I got to meet Nic Stone for about 5 min at the book fair in my area. This story is about 2 teens, both dealing with trauma & mental health issues. They become bffs & eventually there‘s some romance. I‘m in the MH field & think Stone portrayed substance abuse & mental health accurately. She wrote that this is her most personal book. Also, I had a bad day, then re-read what she signed, & it made me feel better. Story is hopeful, not a downer.

This one has lots of romance tropes—enemies-to-lovers, only 1 bed, etc. The MC decides to fake being in her sister‘s role after her boss invites himself to dinner. He thinks she owns & runs a farm, but it‘s really her sister. Then, they get snowed in. PG rated romance. I enjoyed this story, it‘s a fun holiday book for light reading.

2 #jolabokaflodswap packages went out via UPS this morning. Expected to arrive on 1) Wednesday & 2) Friday. @MaleficentBookDragon

Had a very busy day but decided to check my mail around midnight when I got home. Got my #jolabokaflodswap gift from @TheAromaofBooks It‘s been a long but happy day with friends, laughter, my friend‘s sweet dog, food, & Christmas movies (we didn‘t pay much attention to the movies). @MaleficentBookDragon

This GN is by the author of the Plume series I read earlier this year. It‘s not in the GR or Litsy database, but I found it on Storygraph. The MC takes a janitorial job at a home for what she thinks are ill people. But, then she finds out they‘re more than that. She snoops a lot & starts to find out the secrets, then it ends on a cliffhanger. My friend said Vol 2 will be coming out soon, thanks to Kickstarter. Can‘t wait! Bookspin for Dec

I liked Ayesha at Last, so I picked up this holiday romance co-written by the same author. It‘s not steamy, for those that aren‘t into that. Enjoyed the characters, especially the grandfather. My #bookspin for December

Received 1 #jolabokaflodswap24 package today! Excited to see it on my porch when I got home from work. @MaleficentBookDragon

This was an impulse buy based on the title & cover. Sadie and her family have magic that also comes with a curse; both are unique to each person. Sadie has shut her heart off to most others because her curse is heartbreak. Then, family drama ensues & she has to figure out how to save her twin. There‘s also a lot of baking, some romance, and recipes. Sadie is a bit whiny, maybe too much plot, but I enjoyed this story. 3.5/5 ⭐️ #doublespin for nov

Not many people have read this book (looks like none have on Litsy), but it‘s one I bought in 2023 at the book fair. HF, set during 1941 in North Carolina, when our government promoted growing kudzu in the South, an invasive plant. This is a coming-of-age story, with Mattie as the MC. She is fiercely loving & protective of her family & friends, stubborn, curious, and a teenager. At first, everyone is taken with the Kudzu King who comes to sell 👇