Lori (thornton37814) Simplifies Categories in 2023 - thread 1

About the thread topper photo: In fall 2022 our faculty book club read The Book Eaters by Sunyi Dean. At the last session one member brought these cookies she found for sale on Etsy. Each cookie featured a different book. I picked Paddington.

I've tried and tried to come up with a theme for 2023, but I just can't settle on one. I finally decided to just call it what it is. I'm using 10 categories and adding a spot for abandoned reads. I'll explain each category more fully below. Here are the categories:

1. Mt. TBR Bingo
2. Benita's Mystery Group Read
3. Gena's Book Club
4. Christmas All Year
5. Cooking & Crafting
6. Christian Books
7. Keeping the Series Current
8. History, Genealogy, and Historical & Genealogical Fiction
9. Other Fiction & Creative Literature
10. Other Non-Fiction

Category 1. Mt. TBR Bingo

All of us a huge list of books we want to get around to reading. Although this doesn't begin to make a dent in Mt. TBR, it will help get a few into the read pile. It will even complete one or two discontinued series. I will use the calls Jessie Marie makes for the cross stitcher's WIPGO as my monthly calls. (The month she calls 13, she picks 3.) If I've read something before it is called, I will substitute the next book in the series. If I've finished the series, I'll substitute another book on my list that didn't make it on here.



1. Dark Chocolate Demise by Jenn McKinlay (#10) - completed 9 Jan 2023
2. Shunned and Dangerous by Laura Bradford (#6) - completed 14 Jan 2023
3. Blood Hollow by William Kent Krueger (#11) - completed 7 Feb 2023
4. Death in a Darkening Mist by Iona Whishaw (#7) - completed 8 Feb 2023
5. Thread and Gone by Lea Wait (#22) - completed 9 March 2023
6. Read or Alive by Nora Page (#2) - completed 18 March 2023
7. The Glass Room by Ann Cleeves (#5) - completed 11 April 2023
8. Cat with a Clue by Laurie Cass (#17) - completed 17 April 2023
9. The Black Tower by P. D. James (#25) - completed 16 May 2023
10. The Paper Moon by Andrea Camilleri (#23) - completed 30 May 2023
11. Bobbins and Bodies by ACF Bookens (#4) - completed 27 June 2023
12. The Farm Stand by Amy Clipston (#16) - completed 30 June 2023
13. Winter Study by Nevada Barr (#13) - completed 13 July 2023
14. The Drowning Sea by Sarah Stewart Taylor (#21) - completed 21 July 2023
15. In a Dry Season by Peter Robinson (#9) - completed 24 July 2023
16. Killing Raven by Margaret Coel (#18) - completed 4 August 2023
17. Rupture by Ragnar Jonasson (#24) - completed 21 August 2023

Category 2. Benita's Mystery Group Read

Over on the 75 group, Benita organizes a mystery group read-along. In 2023, we want to finish the Martin Walker Bruno series, read the new Donna Leon Brunetti book that is coming out, and begin two new series. Those are the Detective Inspector Huss series by Helene Tursten and the Marcus Didius Falco series by Lindsey Davis.

1. Detective Inspector Huss by Helene Tursten - completed 28 January 2023
2. The Silver Pigs by Lindsey Davis - completed 13 February 2023
3. The Coldest Case by Martin Walker - completed 8 March 2023
4. Night Rounds by Helene Tursten - completed 9 April 2023
5. To Kill a Troubadour by Martin Walker - completed 11 June 2023
6. Torso by Helene Tursten - completed 31 July 2023
7. Shadows in Bronze by Lindsey Davis - completed 17 Aug 2023

Category 3. Gena's Book Club

Gena hosts a book club for women genealogists. The books generally deal with women's social history in some way or another. Some are biographies; some are histories; some are memoirs; and once in a while, there's a fiction book thrown in. We only know the first four selections at this point. Hopefully I'll keep up better than I did last year by making it a category.

1. The Ride of Her Life: The True Story of a Woman, Her Horse, and Their Last-Chance Journey Across America by Elizabeth Letts - completed 7 January 2023
2. For Her Own Good: Two Centuries of the Experts' Advice to Women by Barbara Ehrenreich and Deirdre English - completed 8 February 2023
3. Wise Gals: The Spies Who Built the CIA and Changed the Future of Espionage by Nathalia Holt - completed 11 March 2023
4. The Pirate's Wife: The Remarkable True Story of Sarah Kidd by Daphne Palmer Geanacopoulos - completed 8 April 2023
5. Women in White Coats: How the First Women Doctors Changed the World of Medicine by Olivia Campbell - completed 21 May 2023
6. Grandma Gatewood's Walk: The Inspiring Story of the Woman Who Saved the Appalachian Trail by Ben Montgomery - completed 5 August 2023

Category 4. Christmas All Year

I love Christmas books. Most serve as brain candy. I have a lot on my Kindle and can find lots of others. My goal is to read one each month although I suspect I'll read more than one per month as Christmas approaches.

1. Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan - completed 19 April 2023
2. Her Amish Holiday Suitor by Carrie Lighte - completed 3 August 2023
3. Premeditated Peppermint by Amanda Flower - completed 12 August 2023

Category 5. Cooking and Crafting

Both fiction and non-fiction books will appear in this category. Many books that didn't make it to the BINGO card fall into this category.

1. We're Going to the Farmers' Market by Stefan Page - read 17 January 2023
2. Wound Up in Murder by Betty Hechtman - completed 26 January 2023
3. Stitched & Sewn: The Life-Saving Art of Holocaust Survivor Trudie Strobel by Jody Savin; photographs by Ann Elliott Cutting - completed 18 July 2023
4. Dangling by a Thread by Lea Wait - completed 26 August 2023

Category 6. Christian Books

I will read through the Bible in a year, use a daily devotional book, and read books by Christian authors--both fiction and non-fiction.

1. When Poets Pray by Marilyn Chandler McEntyre - completed 15 Jan 2023
2. The Return of the Gods by Jonathan Cahn - completed 25 June 2023
3. On Moonberry Lake by Holly Varni - completed 27 August 2023

Category 7. Keeping the Series Current

This is the place for those books where I only need to read the latest installment to stay current. A few authors you can expect to see here are Louise Penny, Deborah Crombie, Vicki Delany, Laura Childs, Eva Gates, and Erica Ruth Neubauer. I may discover a new book in a few other series or perhaps I'll get caught up with a series otherwise so one falls here.

1. A Birthday Lunch by Martin Walker - completed 1 Jan 2023
2. On Borrowed Time by Jenn McKinlay - completed 14 Jan 2023
3. Murder at the Blueberry Festival by Darci Hannah - completed 1 May 2023
4. A Killing of Innocents by Deborah Crombie - completed 16 May 2023
5. Lemon Curd Killer by Laura Childs - completed 6 Jul 2023
6. Missing in the Snow by Ann Cleeves - completed 6 Jul 2023
7. Intrigue in Istanbul by Erica Ruth Neubauer - completed 9 August 2023

Category 8. History, Genealogy, and Historical & Genealogical Fiction

Most non-fiction I read falls into this category. I suspect you'll see several books about migration or early roads that I'll use to prepare for a new genealogical lecture. I hope I get around to reading some of the historical and genealogical fiction on my list too.

1. The Librarian Spy by Madeline Martin - completed 7 January 2023
2. Embroidering Her Truth: Mary, Queen of Scots and the Language of Power by Clare Hunter - completed 22 January 2023
3. Murder on Black Swan Lane by Andrea Penrose - completed 17 February 2023
4. The Light Over London by Julia Kelly - completed 15 March 2023
5. The Taking of Jemima Boone: Colonial Settlers, Tribal Nations, and the Kidnap that Shaped America by Matthew Pearl - completed 29 March 2023
6. MASH: A Novel about Three Army Doctors by Richard Hooker - completed 29 April 2023
7. The Watchmaker's Daughter: The True Story of World War II Heroine Corrie Ten Boom by Larry Loftis - completed 20 July 2023
8. 1794: The City Between the Bridges by Niklas Natt Och Dag - completed 16 August 2023

Category 9. Other Fiction and Creative Literature

This is for non-series fiction, literary fiction, other genres than those mentioned, etc. as well as plays, poetry, short stories (that don't fit a genre above), and other forms of creative literature.

1. Foster by Claire Keegan - completed 2 January 2023
2. Five Little Kittens by Nancy Jewell; illustrated by Elizabeth Sayles - completed 17 January 2023
3. Nini Lost and Found by Anita Lobel - completed 17 January 2023
4. The Dead Man in the Garden by Marthe Jocelyn - completed 19 February 2023
5. Murder in the Mystery Suite by Ellery Adams - completed 27 February 2023
6. The Birdwatcher by William Shaw - completed 1 March 2023
7. The Bookstore Sisters by Alice Hoffman - completed 21 March 2023
8. A Colourful Death by Carola Dunn - completed 23 March 2023
9. Death Below Stairs by Jennifer Ashley - completed 21 April 2023
10. The Sentence by Louise Erdrich - completed 26 April 2023
11. Murder at Archly Manor by Sara Rosett - completed 3 June 2023
12. Farm to Trouble by Amanda Flower - completed 18 August 2023

Category 10. Other Non-Fiction

This category is for categories of non-fiction that didn't make it via one of the other categories. I see books on language and travel near my desk that could fit this category. I do, however, expect it to be the smallest of my categories (except Abandoned Reads) at year's end.

1. Dear Librarian by Lydia M. Sigwarth; illustrated by Romina Galotta - completed 17 January 2023
2. Gracie, the Lighthouse Cat by Ruth Brown - completed 17 January 2023

Abandoned Reads

Let's hope this one is empty or small!

I think that mostly wraps it up. This one will give me room if I think of anything else I need to add, but the next is yours.

Great to see you ready for 2023, Lori. Hopefully this simplified version will cover all your reading and help you continue to get and keep caught up!

With the slow-down in my 2022 reading, I didn't get caught up at all. I'm hoping I can incorporate some audio books while stitching. I still want to watch flosstube some of the time I'm stitching, but I think I can work in some of these. Doing that should help my cumulative total. I'm also planning to set aside an hour before bedtime for e-reading/print reading.

Glad to follow your reading again this year. It's hard to fit everything in, I know.

Some great categories. Good luck with your 2023 reading plans!

I wish you a lovely reading year in 23. I think the beginning of the new year is a good time to reflect on the reason we read and how we will get the most enjoyment out of it in the new year. One of the things I've come to realize is how much I miss just wandering through library stacks and taking home with me whatever looks appealing. That's one of the downsides of a big TBR, even though I like having one!

>16 dudes22: Definitely hard to fit it all in.

>17 Tess_W: Thanks. I hope these categories work a little better overall than last year's. I think I defined a couple too narrowly for 2022.

>18 clue: It definitely is. I suspect I'd have a difficult time just browsing to find interesting things at a library in Tennessee. When I lived in Cincinnati, it worked extremely well--both at the main library and the branches. If I was really looking for a book, I'd usually check the catalog and go visit the nearest branch in a safe neighborhood that had it. I think this one will work. There's room for everything because of the two catch-all categories, but a lot of stuff will fit in the other categories.

P.S. - I hope to catch up and mark everyone's threads in the next couple of days. I'm trying to get together a list of things I need to purchase (mostly fabric and fiber) to complete my cross stitch WIPGO. I'm not ordering the ones I don't have on hand right away, but I'm trying to go ahead and kit up what is on hand. I will probably order most of the other things in January or February. I'm hoping they are called later. I really don't have control over the numbers called. I think someone said she'd pick the numbers on the 25th instead of 27th this year. That will give things a few days to arrive if I don't have them.

Good to see you're back, Lori. That cookie in your thread topper looks far too good to eat!

>20 thornton37814: I am also trying to read the messages but not I am not leaving a lot of comments.

I like your selfie bingo card! That is a great idea.

Love all your categories. And that Paddington cookie is adorable. I am hoping to get to The Book Eaters in 2023.
Happy reading!

Great luck with the categories and have a happy year!

>21 MissWatson: Definitely!

>22 mnleona: Sometimes it's impossible to keep up and/or comment!

>23 LadyoftheLodge: It needed to be done!

>24 JayneCM: I'm sure you'll like it more than I did. It just wasn't my genre.

>25 majkia: Thanks!

Hi Lori! Stopping by to wish you happy holidays and best wishes for your 2023 reading. I love the idea of incorporating audiobooks while stitching! Audiobooks have been been very useful for me over the years, and very enjoyable when you get a good narrator.

>27 lkernagh: Thanks, Lori. I really like audiobooks, but I usually only listen when I'm driving. I think I can incorporate some while stitching. I often watch Flosstube while stitching, but I'm actually caught up at the moment and will only occasionally watch some of those that interest me less.

Great categories, especially >7 thornton37814: ! Keeping up with my series is one of my goals, too.

>29 MissBrangwen: Thanks! I always struggle to come up with the right mix. I hope this is it!

>28 thornton37814: - I usually only listen to them while I'm driving. Sometimes if my walking partner doesn't walk, I'll listen while walking. I'm pretty sure I'd miss stuff if I tried while quilting.

>31 dudes22: I guess I'll see how it goes while I'm trying to cross stitch. I can give it a try. If it doesn't work, at least I tried.

Paddington is adorable! Happy reading in 2023!

>33 VivienneR: Thanks!

The WIPGO picks for January are 6 and 10 so my BINGO books for January will be Shunned and Dangerous by Laura Bradford and Dark Chocolate Demise by Jenn McKinley. I was hoping at least one of these was available in audiobook, but I'm going to have to budget some time for reading an ebook after both become available.

Hello Lori and what a great thread for 2023! Looking forward to your many books and reviews this year.

>32 thornton37814: I used to love to listen to audiobooks and stitch on weekends. It's been a while, and you may be inspiring me to re-visit this duo of hobbies.

>36 threadnsong: I find it is relaxing so I hope you do so as well if you revisit it in 2023.

I hope everyone had happy holidays. We celebrated Christmas last Friday at my brother's house because his children and grandchildren (with the exception of those living much further away) were here. We ate Christmas day meal with my sister-in-law's family. It's a pot-luck meal. Because my sister-in-law takes care of her mom on weekends, one of my nieces and I made dishes for her branch of the family. I think my nephew's wife would have made something if we'd asked her to do so.

I purchased some dried apples at the Apple Barn in Pigeon Forge before I came to Mississippi. I made my mom's fried apple pies on Friday afternoon. Some of those who had married into the family since mom died had never had them before and really liked them. My nephew's wife even took some for her father to try since they were going to see him the next day. I still have some filling so I'll probably make another batch because my brother seemed to really enjoy them. I guess I need to make them more often. I'd made them at home but never for the rest of the family.

Sounds like you had a lovely Christmas, Lori. I hope 2023 is good for you too!

>37 thornton37814: Good for you to keep the tradition of fried apple pies going! My mother used to make them too and we all loved them, especially in the fall. I haven't made them in years but you've given me an idea. When my nephews come for dinner I always send them off with something I've cooked or baked. This would be just the thing, I'm sure my sister used to make them for the boys when they were small and her grandson should be able try them if he hasn't.

By the way, did you avoid the storm on your way "home".

>37 thornton37814: Nice tradition! Also nice that the care giver got a "day off" from cooking. I hope your trip was non-eventful weatherwise.

I'm looking forward to seeing what you read in 2023--hope it's a good reading year for you!

>38 Jackie_K: Thanks.

>39 clue: I'm still at my brother's. We had a little snow before Christmas, but it really didn't amount to much. I got here to Mississippi before it began. Yesterday we had enough here to make the county roads and even state highways slippery in places. I had to be careful as I was leaving. We noticed some county electric trucks having difficulty on the hill near my brother's house last night so we weren't really sure how it would be. We all managed to get out as needed today. I drove to my home town/home county (a couple counties south) to spend the day. Hope your family enjoys the pies.

>40 Tess_W: It was uneventful weatherwise on the way down. I did have a flat before leaving town and will need to purchase a new tire when I get back home.

>41 NinieB: Thanks!

2022 Year-End Meme:

Describe yourself: My Name Is Red
Describe how you feel: The Names of Our Tears
Describe where you currently live: God's Wonderful World
If you could go anywhere, where would you go? Small Island
Your favorite form of transportation is: The Inclines of Cincinnati
Your favorite food is: The Bake Shop
Your favorite time of day is: The Mousse Wonderful Time of Year
Your best friend is: The Radical Potter
You and your friends are: Twelve Extraordinary Women
What's the weather like? Snowblind
You fear: The Book Eaters
What is the best advice you have to give? Give Unto Others
Thought for the day: Where Do We Go From Here?
What is life for you? In the Service of One
How you would like to die: Death by French Roast
Your soul's present condition: Gentle and Lowly
What was 2022 like for you? Much Ado About Nothing
What do you want from 2023? Threads of Evidence

Party Meme:

What would you call the event? Twisted Tea Christmas
How did the guests find their way? The Path of the Crooked
How did they know they had arrived? Read on Arrival
Any special activities? The Shadow Dancer
Did your guests stay over? Together in a Sudden Strangeness
Were there servants to help? The Children Return
Was there turn-down service? A Quilt for Christmas
How were the guests greeted? The Heron's Cry (honorable mention: Whiskers of the Lion)
Was dinner held for latecomers? Going Going Ganache
And dinner was? Five Little Pigs
Afterwards? Slashing through the Snow

Happy New Year, Lori! I'll miss seeing your pictures of Cincinnati every time I visit your thread, but hopefully you'll post pictures of your needlework. Looking forward to following your reading again this year.

>45 RidgewayGirl: I post my needlework over in the Needlearts group. Here's a link to my 2023 thread: https://www.librarything.com/topic/347164

Sometime today I will upload photos from yesterday's New Year's Eve stitching event.

I like the Paddington Bear at the top.

Have a great reading year in 2023.

>47 hailelib: He was almost too good to eat!

Book 1. A Birthday Lunch by Martin Walker

Date Completed: 1 January 2023

Category: Keeping the Series Current

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: No crime has been committed in this short story featuring Bruno. He literally stumbles across a small hand axe, an artifact from an earlier culture. He prepares a birthday luncheon for Florence and friends, and of course, readers are treated to the scrumptious details of the meal, leaving us all hungry if our stomachs are not full. Readers familiar with St. Denis will enjoy visiting with all the regulars and Bruno's dog Balzac.

Book 2. Foster by Claire Keegan

Date Completed: 2 January 2023

Category: Other Fiction & Creative Literature

Rating: 4.5 stars

Review: An unnamed girl spends much of the summer with the Kinsellas, her mother's relatives. The girl's mother expects another child. Her family is impoverished. Her father does not express love. Her mother is tired and worn out. Life with the Kinsellas is much different. The girl thrives in the new situation. She sees the Kinsellas' slow and steady pace at getting things done. She also sees them having fun and making her own life fun. She learns the value of silence and many other life lessons from this couple who lost their own son at some time prior to her arrival. It's a beautiful novella. It's one I'll ponder for a bit just thinking of the various "What if" scenarios.

>50 thornton37814: Oh, that's definitely a BB!

I like your memes, especially how you would like to die. :)

Good luck with your 2023 reading

>51 VivienneR: I think you'll love the novella by Keegan. As I looked through my options, that one looked like the one I'd be enjoying the most! I must have my coffee in the morning!

>52 lowelibrary: Thanks!

>50 thornton37814: - A lovely review!

Happy New Year! You're off to a great start with two reads completed already!

>54 lkernagh: Thanks!

>55 cbl_tn: Well, they were both short! But if it's numbers we're after, I need a few of those short ones.

>50 thornton37814: I also liked Foster, which was delicate and understated.

>57 pamelad: That's a great way to describe it.

Hi Lori, it looks like your reading year is starting well! Happy New Year!

>59 MissBrangwen: I have quite a few others in process so hopefully it will be pretty good!

Congratulations to a good start for 2023!

>61 threadnsong: Thanks. I think I'll finish an audiobook today and perhaps a print one too!

Book 3. The Librarian Spy by Madeline Martin

Date Completed: 7 January 2023

Category: History, Genealogy, and Historical & Genealogical Fiction

Rating: 4 stars

Review: Ava works in the rare books department of the Library of Congress. Her only living relative, a brother, enlisted in the Army. When offered a job in Portugal microfilming newspapers and other documents to assist in the War effort, she decides to take the job. In Lyon, France, a woman's husband affiliated with the resistance is arrested by the Nazis. Although he did not want her to join because of the danger, Elaine (as she becomes known) goes to work helping put out an underground newspaper. The paths of the two women first cross when Ava spots code typed by Helene who is seeking to reunite a Jewish mother and child with the father who made it out to America earlier. This story as well as everything else is well-told and captivates the reader/listener to the end. The author described atrocities endured by members of the Resistance as well as reporting deaths when they occurred. I listened to the audiobook and would recommend it to others seeking a World War II story.

>63 thornton37814: Sounds right up my alley! I put it on my WL!

>63 thornton37814: Okay, here we go, first BB of the year! My library has it but there are a couple of requests ahead of me.

>50 thornton37814: I picked up a copy of this when Barnes and Noble had their half price sale. I loved Small Things Like These.

>63 thornton37814: - I'll take a BB for that also.

>64 Tess_W: I enjoyed it.

>65 clue: There was a huge wait list when I first had my name on it. Then I accidentally returned it when I finally got it. I'd listened to about 1/3 of it at that point. I had to put my name back on the wait list, but fortunately it came to me again in about a month. I noticed when I returned it there are still about 4 people on the wait list.

>66 RidgewayGirl: I really need to read that one because love for it seems to be universal.

>67 dudes22: I'm happy to send all those BBs!

Book 4. The Ride of Her Life: The True Story of a Woman, Her Horse, and Their Last-Chance Journey Across America by Elizabeth Letts

Date Completed: 7 January 2023

Category: Gena's Book Club

Rating: 4 stars

Review: Facing a dismal future both from financial and life expectancy viewpoints, Maine farmer Annie Wilkins set out with her dog Depeche Toi and a sturdy Morgan horse she purchased named Tarzan to travel across the United States to California. She didn't leave until late in the year and failed to adequately plan a route. She knew the general direction she needed to head and often got directions from those who welcomed her in her travels. When she first began the journey, she mostly spent the nights in jail cells unless invited to sleep in someone's home. She usually found a barn or pasture where her horse and dog could sleep. Tarzan and Depeche Toi often fended for each other. As Annie made progress in her journey, reporters began covering her story. Many towns anticipated her arrival and paid for hotel and meals. Someone created a way Annie could make money selling postcard autographs. By the time she got to Tennessee, she saw the need for a second horse to relieve some of Tarzan's load. She was able to acquire a Tennessee walking horse named Rex. I don't want to give away too many details of their cross-country journey, but sometimes Annie didn't make the wisest route decisions. She often went to out-of-the-way places she was invited. I don't want to reveal too much of the experiences and thus spoil it for future readers. I enjoyed the story of Annie's travels. The author primarily used Annie's own memoirs and newspaper accounts to document the journey. The book concludes with Annie's appearance on Art Linkletter's television program and then an epilogue summarizing Annie's later life and that of her horses.

>69 thornton37814: BB for me, I thought Elizabeth Letts might be Billie Letts daughter but not so.

>63 thornton37814:
I might like The Librarian Spy and the library has a copy so I put it on my list.

>70 clue: Hope you enjoy it. The author did a really good job of integrating social history into the story and making it enjoyable.

>71 hailelib: I hope you enjoy it. I really enjoyed the story. The author did make notes about things with which she took liberty--such as a female librarian. Since it was fiction, I forgave her!

>69 thornton37814: That's a BB for me! An incredible achievement for Annie Wilkins.

>73 VivienneR: It really was amazing that a woman (supposedly with 3-4 years to live) could ride a horse across the continent in the 1950s.

>69 thornton37814: I picked up a copy at the library but my husband snagged it first!

>75 VivienneR: I hope he enjoys it too!

Book 5. Dark Chocolate Demise by Jenn McKinlay

Date Completed: 9 January 2023

Category: Mt. TBR BINGO (#10)

Rating: 2.5 stars

Review: When Fairy Tale Cupcakes caters a Zombie event, a woman dressed just like Angie ends up dead. The believe a mobster may be after her as a way to get to Joe's role as prosecutor in a case, especially since threats were made in the past. Mel, Angie, and Tate, of course, do a lot of stupid things as seems to be the norm in most cozies. Unfortunately most of the plot was beyond plausibility, and the author may be in danger of losing her fan base if she continues to make what began as a cozy series more of a noir or thriller genre. I could not wait for the book to end, and I doubt I'll be in a rush to check out the next one.

Book 6. On Borrowed Time by Jenn McKinlay

Date Completed: 14 January 2023

Category: Keeping the Series Current

Rating: 3 stars

Review: Lindsey's brother Jack surprises her by showing up in the library. He's in a room where she holds the Crafternoon meetings. He's tired, so she breaks library rules and allows him to sleep in the room while she goes with the ladies to another location for the meeting. When she returns to the room later, Jack is not there, but a dead body is and the window is unlatched once again. She knows Jack could not be the murderer, so she omits him when making statements to the police. Later she witnesses him being kidnapped by a woman. From there the cozy mystery begins to delve into more of a thriller genre with amateur sleuths instead of FBI and CIA agents. She knows her brother Jack is caught up in something dangerous. She brings Robbie and Sully, who both want her affection, into the picture by sharing info with them. I miss the days when cozy sleuths did not need to be involved in a love triangle. We spent just as much time with the two men vying for her attention as in the mystery itself. If I wanted to read a romance, I'd pick up a Harlequin romance. The author needs to decide what genre she wants to write. If she wants to write thrillers or noir, she needs to ditch the series and create a new one, perhaps under a new pen name. I listened to the audio book read by Alison Ryan. The narrator does an okay job with female voices, but the male voices are not very good.

Book 7. Shunned and Dangerous by Laura Bradford

Date Completed: 14 Jan 2023

Category: Mt. TBR Bingo (#6)

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: When Claire visits a local corn maze in Heavenly, Pennsylvania, she discovers an Amish farmer's corpse. Detective Jakob Fisher investigates, but all the circumstantial evidence points to his own father as the perpetrator. Jakob doesn't believe his father capable of the crime, so he continues to pursue other avenues. Claire's store woes are a subplot. She's not getting enough high-end merchandise to keep the store operational much longer, and with Esther's upcoming marriage and Amish marriage season in general, the high-end merchandise is in even shorter supply. It was an enjoyable third installment in the series. While readers know the murderer is probably not the obvious suspects, they will likely keep guessing at the identity of the murderer until late in the book. For me, the story lines of the store's woes, Esther's impending marriage, and the murder did not flow as seamlessly as they could have. Perhaps the author tried to include too much in one installment?

Book 8. When Poets Pray by Marilyn Chandler McEntyre

Date Completed: 15 Jan 2023

Category: Christian Books

Rating: 4 stars

Review: Marilyn McEntyre shares her thoughts on poems that include prayers. The book could be used in daily devotions as she begins with a poem and then shares somewhere in the neighborhood of three to five pages of thoughts on it. Some poets included are Hildegard of Bingen, Thomas Merton, George Herbert, John Donne, Robert Frost, Wendell Berry, Gerald Manley Hopkins, T. S. Eliot, the author herself, and even King David. When I first began reading the volume, I tried to read a large section. I quickly decided to focus on two to three poems per day on days when I read it. It worked well for me that way. The book includes an introduction and an afterward with ways readers can incorporate poetry into their own prayer lives.

>63 thornton37814: and >69 thornton37814: What excellent books! These are great reviews and definitely stories worth telling. "The Ride" especially, when there was more open land and more opportunity to ride horses (though with dire consequences if one starts late and doesn't plan well).

>78 thornton37814: And I agree - authors need to choose a genre and stick with it. Romances in mysteries are an aside, not something that should go on for pages and take up more of the plotline.

>81 threadnsong: She definitely had some harrowing experiences, but it was at a time when people did pitch in and help much more than today. I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels that way about sticking to genres.

>80 thornton37814: I know I'm commenting on my own post, but I don't think it was an accident that our Sunday School lesson was from the exact Psalm of David that was the final poem in the book on the day I read it.

>83 thornton37814: Like Jethro Gibbs (NCIS), I do not believe in coincidence(s); or coinkydinks as my family calls them!:)

>84 Tess_W: Your family's term made me laugh.

I think I would avoid those authors for a while and choose ones that stick more closely to their expected genres.

>86 hailelib: Well, two of those were by Jenn McKinlay. One of those was on my BINGO, but the other was just an available audio book at the moment that I grabbed. I hope I'm going to make selecting one of those a little easier for myself with a project I'm doing to go through my Overdrive wish lists (since they go away at the end of the month). This lists were migrated to Libby but I don't like the Libby app as well for wish lists. I should have looked a little further down my list rather than select an audio book with the same author as my BINGO call for the month. The other book was also a BINGO call. I won't know until the 25th what next month's calls are. At least they are getting marked off my BINGO card and TBR list!

>1 thornton37814: Have a great reading year! I'll be following along.

>88 beebeereads: Thanks!

>89 thornton37814: Finally set up my 2023 thread Here.

>80 thornton37814: This sounds like something I might like. I have read other writings from the poets you mentioned.

>90 beebeereads: Thanks. I've marked your thread.

>91 LadyoftheLodge: It worked well for me. There were some poets with whom I was less familiar included as well.

>87 thornton37814: - I'm having problems with Libby also. I don't like the wishlist aspect either. I suppose eventually I'll figure out a way to make it work for me, but I'm floundering around there now.

>93 dudes22: I'm sure I'll get used to it, but I decided to go through the wish list one last time while it's available.

I read several books for the KiddyCAT!



Book 9. We're Going to the Farmers' Market by Stefan Page

Date Completed: 17 January 2023

Category: Cooking & Crafting

Rating: 3 stars

Review: A picture book with bold colors about things purchased at the farmers' markets. I think the author intended a conventional rhyme scheme, but some were not true rhymes. It's not one I'd suggest for home use, but it might be a good one to pick up at the library to read to young children.

Book 10. Five Little Kittens by Nancy Jewell; illustrated by Elizabeth Sayles

Date Completed: 17 January 2023

Category: Other Fiction and Creative Literature

Rating: 4 stars

Review: A very enjoyable book about the home life with Mama Cat and Papa Cat that five kittens enjoy. The illustrations were enjoyable as well.

Book 11. Nini Lost and Found by Anita Lobel

Date Completed: 17 January 2023

Category: Other Fiction and Creative Literature

Rating: 5 stars

Review: This beautifully-illustrated book tells the story of Nini who, although she loves her home very much, wondered off one day when the door was left open. She loved the outside too, but when night came, she grew frightened and wanted the safety of her home. Great story! Marvelous illustrations!

Book 12. Dear Librarian by Lydia M. Sigwarth; illustrated by Romina Galotta

Date Completed: 17 January 2023

Category: Other Non-Fiction

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: The author personalizes the story of her own childhood experience with moving to a new community where she did not have a home of her own. The library became the place where she had space to do the things children love to do because of a very special librarian to whom the author pays tribute. I loved the real photos at the end showing a reunion of the girl who became a librarian and the librarian who created that special environment for her.

Book 13. Gracie, the Lighthouse Cat by Ruth Brown

Date Completed: 17 January 2023

Category: Other Non-Fiction

Rating: 4.5 stars

Review: This is a charming children's story that is delightfully illustrated telling of a mother cat's rescue of her young kitten the same die that a lighthouse keeper's daughter and father rescued a family of nine that was in danger on the rocks. This tale will delight cat lovers everywhere! (April 2012)

Note: I re-read this in January 2023 and still loved it! It is based on a true story of a rescue in the Farne Islands.

>77 thornton37814: Too bad Dark Chocolate Demise was disappointing, as the cover image sure caught my eye!

>99 thornton37814: Beautiful cover and it sounds like a heart-warming story!

>100 mathgirl40: I'm beginning to think I just need to read older cozies. I think the ones written now just don't appeal to those of us who are older.

>101 MissBrangwen: It is a well-done tale based on a true story.

>99 thornton37814: This sounds like something I would enjoy. Taking a BB.

>103 lowelibrary: I hope you enjoy it when you read it as much as I did.

What lovely cat books you have! They made me think of a beloved children's book (that I still have) called Sam, the Firehouse Cat.

>105 threadnsong: I have a weakness for children's book featuring cats, libraries, and lighthouses!

>106 thornton37814: I also love books featuring cats and libraries! I think I have a few lighthouse books around too.

>107 LadyoftheLodge: Great minds!

The WIPGO calls for February are 7 and 11 which means for my Book Bingo, I'll be reading Iona Whishaw's Death in a Darkening Mist and William Kent Krueger's Blood Hollow. I'm going to wait until a little closer to February to check out the first which is currently available. All copies of the second are checked out. With the audio version, I've got an expected 3-week wait at one of my libraries so I opted for that. Next best scenario was a projected 10-week wait.

>99 thornton37814:
This one looks like a good book for my grandchildren who are four and two.

>110 hailelib: I hope they'll enjoy it. It is a great story!

Book 14. Embroidering Her Truth: Mary, Queen of Scots and the Language of Power by Clare Hunter

Date Completed: 22 January 2023

Category: History, Genealogy, and Historical & Genealogical Fiction

Rating: 4 stars

Review: Mary, Queen of Scots, is an interesting historical figure. Hunter's research shows Mary as a person easily misled by others, yet one with an inner strength. Throughout her life embroidery was something she enjoyed and used to her advantage. When in captivity, she used it as a tool to get messages to her supporters. While the book presents a biography of the queen's life and mentions all the usual characters--Rizzio, Darnley, Elizabeth I, James, etc., the author includes Mary's fascination with textiles to bring a slightly different twist to the story. Perhaps the weakness of the book are the "interruptions" in the narrative in which the author visits a museum and examines Mary's needlework, inserting her own experiences, but it may be difficult to fully describe those experiences in a way the reader actually finds the story when end notes are employed rather than footnotes. At least these were numbered!

Book 15. Wound Up in Murder by Betty Hechtman

Date Completed: 26 January 2023

Category: Cooking & Crafting

Rating: 3 stars

Review: Casey hosts yet another yarn retreat at the Vista Del Mar. This time another event, focusing on the year 1963, is being hosted at the same time. Dr. Sammy was booked for a magic show but when the 1963 retreat organizer's wife turns up dead after being strangled with a scarf he'd used in the show, he becomes a suspect. Casey helps him hide while she investigates, finding motives in many places she turns but not finding much to keep Sammy from being arrested if found. At the same time, Casey tries to figure out how to determine who the secret heir of Vista Del Mar might be. As someone who has heard crafting retreat organizers talk about their experiences, I can't imagine Casey would have any time to spend with the other group. At times she seemed to be completely neglecting her own retreat. While I know the author could not continue having Casey's retreats be the occasion of murder, having her spend too much time with another event is not the answer.

Book 16. Detective Inspector Huss by Helene Tursten

Date Completed: 28 January 2023

Category: Benita's Mystery Group Read

Rating: 2 stars

Review: Irene Huss serves as one of a handful of women policing Göteborg, Sweden. It is especially unusual for one to rise to her rank. She finds herself investigating a case in which a wealthy man appears to have ended his life in suicide, but she spots some irregularities and finds plenty of motives and suspects who might want the man dead. I had a very difficult time reading more than a chapter at a time until near the end. While long chapter lengths and reading before going to bed played a bit of a factor, it was more than that. The story just did not draw me in until near the end. If I had not been reading this as part of a group read, I would have abandoned it. I'll see if the series improves for me over the next couple of books. If the series continues to fall flat, I'll drop out of the group read. I will, however, give her a chance with the next couple installments.

>113 thornton37814: I am currently reading Knot a Game in this same series. I just started so will have to see how Casey gets involved in this retreat with a murder mystery game as well as yarn crafting.

>115 LadyoftheLodge: I like the premise more than the delivery of the series in the installments to date. I've read one of the later ones in the series. (I suspect I read it first.) My favorite so far was no. 2 which I gave 3.5 stars. The rest have all been 3s.

Enjoyed catching up on your thread!

>117 VictoriaPL: Thanks! This is the "death by meeting" week. I have 5 meetings tomorrow. There were 3 today. I've had meetings the other days too. I'm off Friday, but I'm panelist on a 3-part webinar so even that day isn't free of meetings.

>118 thornton37814: yikes!

>118 thornton37814: Oh no!

>120 Tess_W: Those were 5 meetings at work. I left out the meeting after work of the genealogical society so I really had 6 that one day.

17. Blood Hollow by William Kent Krueger

Date Completed: 7 February 2023

Category: Mt. TBR BINGO

Rating: 4 stars

Review: With a blizzard impending, a teenage girl goes missing after leaving a party on a snowmobile. When her body is recovered in the spring thaw, Sam Winter Moon's grandson Solemn becomes the top suspect. Cork believes that although Solemn had a record of trouble with the police that he is not guilty (or capable) of murder. The inexperience of the newly elected sheriff who only ran for political gain shows. Cork, although no longer sheriff, investigates for the sake of his old friend Sam Winter Moon and to help Jo defend Solemn. The proximity of the Ojibwe reservation to the town of Aurora always provides an interesting setting. In the book, Solemn has a spiritual experience that amazes some and causes others to question his sanity. Other characters including the priest and Cork find themselves as spiritual seekers. Sin eating is a theme in the book as well. I'm excited to see Cork's new position at the end of the book. Early on, I identified the two people I thought most likely to be the perpetrators. One of them was the correct person, but the other was the main red herring, and I was left guessing until the very end. I look forward to the next installment. I listened to the audiobook version.

I love the Cork novels. Kay and I once met William K Krueger when he came to town. He was a nice guy.

>123 VictoriaPL: I'm really enjoying this series.

Book 18. Death in a Darkening Mist by Iona Whishaw

Date Completed: 8 February 2023

Category: Mt. TBR Bingo

Rating: 4 stars

Review: Former British spy Lane Winslow is visiting some hot springs near her new home in British Columbia when a Russian Doukhobar community member is murdered. At the same time, some account irregularities at the local bank surface. Lane's knowledge of Russian proves useful to the local investigators whose official interpreter is "unavailable." This was an enjoyable installment in the series which is set in the Kootenays, much like Vicky Delany's more contemporary Constable Molly Smith series.

Book 19. For Her Own Good: Two Centuries of the Experts' Advice to Women by Barbara Ehrenreich and Deirdre English

Date Completed: 8 February 2023

Category: Gena's Book Club

Review: I really did not enjoy this book with a very left feminist point of view that much. The one chapter I enjoyed somewhat focused on women who practiced medicine in the 19th century, mostly without formal training and a license. Other chapters focused on the invention of "housework" and on child rearing, particular focusing on Dr. Spock's advice. I do not recommend this book.

>112 thornton37814: How fascinating to look at Mary in this way. When I read Elizabeth and Mary lo these many years ago, there were several color photos of her needlework. I am sorry, though, for this book's layout to have the storyline/history jarred by the author's visits to museums.

>127 threadnsong: It's not really overwhelming. It's just a preference I have for authors keeping themselves out of a narrative when they are writing non-fiction. I understand why she did it, but it doesn't really make it the best way to handle the material and comments.

Book 20. The Silver Pigs by Lindsey Davis

Date Completed: 13 Feburary 2023

Category: Benita's Mystery Group Read

Rating: 2 stars

Review: Private Investigator Marcus Didius Falco investigates the death of a woman he met in the Forum as well as some stolen silver pigs. He travels to Britannia in the course of his investigation where he is fortunate to eventually find a way to return to Rome. Although I suspect the time period contributes to my lack of enthusiasm for this work, I found it difficult to follow the mystery plot when too much romance was thrown into the mix. Our group plans to read this series quarterly this year, but if I dislike the next one as much as this first installment, I'll drop out on the months this series comes up.

Book 21. Murder on Black Swan Lane by Andrea Penrose

Date Completed: 17 February 2023

Category: History, Genealogy, and Historical and Genealogical Fiction

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: This promising start to the Wrexford & Sloane series features a member of London's aristocracy partnering with "political" cartoonist/satirist and a couple of street children she's "adopted" to solve a crime for which Lord Wrexford himself is suspected by some of committing. The author spends a lot of time developing the characters of Lord Wrexford and Charlotte Sloane and the two orphans. Charlotte adopted the pen name of her late husband A. J. Quill when he died because she needed the income brought in by his work. Set in London's Regency period, the Bow Street Runner seems determined to put Wrexford behind bars for the death of a man with whom he had been sparring publicly in the papers. The mystery focuses on the developing science of chemistry as well as the darker art of alchemy. This one was slow to start but once it got going, it held my attention.

Book 22. The Dead Man in the Garden by Marthe Jocelyn

Date Completed: 19 February 2023

Category: Other Fiction and Creative Literature

Rating: 4 stars

Review: Aggie and Hector travel with Aggie's mom and grandmother where her mom seeks to recover from the recent loss of her husband. When they stumble upon the body of a man they'd met, they suspect foul play and learn another patient died recently. With the help of a female undertaker, their new friend George, and the local detectives, they are able to prove a case for murder and identify the perpetrator. We get to know a lot about the hotel staff and clients in the course of their investigation. It's a fun mystery series for middle school age readers! Adults will see glimpses of Christie herself, Hercule Poirot, and Miss Marple in the characters. This book was partially inspired by the "lost days" in the Dame's life. I received this as part of the Library Thing Early Reviewers Program with the expectation of an honest review.

>130 thornton37814: I'm glad you enjoyed that one! I remember thinking it was fine but not caring enough to continue with the series. If you do continue, I'll be interested to see how you like subsequent books!

I thought it showed promise. I think she made a lot of beginner mistakes, and that she took way too long to get to some things and overexplained some. I'll see how the rest of them stack up. Once the story got moving, it captivated me.

Book 23. Murder in the Mystery Suite by Ellery Adams

Date Completed: 27 February 2023

Category: Other Fiction and Creative Literature

Rating: 3 stars

Review: Jane Seward becomes the keeper of Storyton Hall when her Aunt Octavia and Uncle Aloysius pass the mantle to her. The building was torn down in the British Isles and reassembled brick by brick in Virginia. It now serves as a hotel. It holds a vast library and an even more secret library. To help raise funds, they host a mystery week. The scavenger hunt prize is a first edition, but somehow a copy from Storyton Hall's private collection gets swapped for the copy that is supposed to be the prize. The man who won the book turns up dead, and the book they are trying to recover is missing. While the plot is not very plausible, it's still a fun read--even in a somewhat fantastical setting. Even though I owned the paperback, I listened to the audio version read by Johanna Parker. I thought she did a good job.

Book 24. The Birdwatcher by William Shaw

Date Completed: 1 March 2023

Category: Other Fiction and Creative Literature

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: This stand-alone novel introduces the character DS Alexandra Cupidi who is the main character in Shaw's series. This novel features William "Bill" Smith, a copper with a very big secret of his own--one revealed in the opening pages. He killed a man. One of Bill's neighbors is murdered, and he is sent along with the Cupudi to the crime scene. Bill realizes he doesn't really know very much about the man's past. He knew him through birdwatching. While most of the action is set in present-day Kent, the author does include some scenes from Bill's past life in Northern Ireland. Cupudi has a teenage daughter who is having trouble adjusting to her new home. It's an interesting--and different--mystery.

>131 thornton37814: What a fascinating premise for a series! Thanks for your great review.

Lots or murder going on up there!

>136 threadnsong: I've read the two in the series I've won. It's kind of fun to visit with a young Agatha Christie with her aunt (Miss Marple) and her friend from Belgium (Poirot).

>137 Tess_W: Murder and mayhem is where it's at! LOL My eyes have been too tired to read much in the evenings lately. I do have other genres that might get read!

Book 25. The Coldest Case by Martin Walker

Date Completed: 8 March 2023

Category: Benita's Mystery Group Read

Rating: 4 stars

Review: It's a quiet time crime-wise in Saint-Denis, and Bruno sees a facial reconstruction technique he feels holds promise for J. J.'s first case--a cold case from 30 years ago. After convincing the powers-that-be to give it a try, a promising student/apprentice is allowed to work on reconstructing the skull that resides in J. J.'s office. Meanwhile wildfires threaten Saint-Denis and the region, and Bruno mainly works in managing it. His military experience leads him to creative ways to manage the fire that make him a hero. As the facial reconstruction process continues, DNA analysis is also used. It leads to a match with the brother of a female gendarme who is expected to be a son. This gendarme becomes involved with the case as well. Old photos from an event 30 years before find a match with the description the gendarme's mother gives and leads the police to a suspect. The end is satisfying. In this installment Balzac's pups he fathered are born. Bruno tries to decide who will receive the first two pups. I loved this installment as much as the others. The raging wildfire added some intensity as well as interest. Bruno even cooks a vegan meal in this one! The conclusion was quite satisfying! I listened to the audiobook read by Robert Ian Mackenzie who always does a great job.

Book 26. Thread and Gone by Lea Wait

Date Completed: 9 March 2023

Category: Mt. TBR Bingo

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: Eighteen-year-old Mary Clough is cleaning out her ancestral home. She discovers an old piece of needlepoint and brings it to Angie at Mainely Needlepoint for evaluation. She plans to marry officer Ethan Trask's younger brother Rob. Rob hopes the needlepoint is valuable so he can buy a boat. Angie suggests storing it in the attorney's safe until the mystery around it resolved. It isn't long until the attorney is murdered and her jewels and Mary's needlepoint piece are both gone. When one of the Mainely Needlepointers examines it, she feels some of the motifs resemble things done by Mary, Queen of Scots. She knows the provenance of the piece is important and suggests getting a museum needlework expert to evaluate it. In the meantime, Angie works with Mary to try to establish a provenance for the piece while trying to find the piece of needlework. Angie seems to be a smart cozy sleuth in that she tries to make sure there will be a police presence around in case of a problem. I'm enjoying this series, and I look forward to the next installment.

>140 thornton37814: I've been looking for a new cozy mystery series that featured needlework since Monica Ferris! And fortunately, now that the first two Lea Wait's books are on my wishlist, my library has them for easy check out. Thank you Lori!

>141 threadnsong: You're welcome. I've really enjoyed this one.

Interesting article about why historical fiction matters: https://www.insidehighered.com/blogs/higher-ed-gamma/why-historical-fiction-matt...

>143 thornton37814: Great article, even if I disagree that writing for a popular audience, ala Michener, Wouk, Vidal, etc; makes one a hack and hurts the genre's reputation. (That is solely my take on that paragraph!)

>144 Tess_W: I do know that a lot of people scoffed at Michener back in the day, but if it gets people to read? and gets people interested in history?

>145 thornton37814: Then I'm all for it! I'm a historian and to date, Michener and Rutherford seem to provide the most comprehensive histories in their novels that I have read. But my opinion doesn't really count for too much as I not very literary minded--I zone in on the content, for the most part.

>146 Tess_W: :-)

When I taught middle schoolers, our librarian scoffed at any popular novels, such as series for teenagers. My students devoured them! Whatever it takes to get people reading works for me.

>148 LadyoftheLodge: Especially at the middle school level. There was a group of that around 4th-5th grade used to trade Hardy Boys (& Nancy Drew) novels back and forth. I always preferred the Hardy Boys so I didn't read as many of the Nancy Drew ones. However, we also used to discover a book in the library, and then we'd all take turns reading that one. That continued into middle school. However, I think we all dropped off for a year or so at some point during middle school. Around age 11 or 12, I discovered Phyllis Whitney and devoured those romantic suspense novels by her Victoria Holt, etc. During the summer I'd often read 2 Harlequins a day. I'd read books at my grandmother's house that "Mrs. Price" would loan her. These were usually Reader's Digest condensed books or sometimes other book club editions, Eugenia Price, or something similar. The other thing that happened around the end of middle school/first of high school for me was an almost endless supply of paperbacks. My brother worked for a place that had to report the novels as destroyed at the end of the time period they didn't sell. They'd take off the cover, but he'd put a copy of each one he thought would interest him or his wife into a bag. I read mostly from his wife's stash but occasionally one of his.

Book 27. Wise Gals: The Spies Who Built the CIA and Changed the Future of Espionage by holtnathalia::Nathalia Holt

Date Completed: 11 March 2023

Category: Gena's Book Club

Rating: 3 stars

Review: Following five women who worked for the CIA in its early years, the author demonstrates how women failed to achieve equal pay and failed to receive the promotions and other recognitions men might receive. The "Petticoat Panel" on which the women served is the only way these women interacted as they all served on different missions and in different areas. The book felt a bit disjointed because of the author's focus on feminist ideals rather than on the women and their careers.

Book 28. The Light Over London by Julia Kelly

Date Completed: 15 March 2023

Category: History, Genealogy, and Historical and Genealogical Fiction

Rating: 3 stars

Review: In the modern period, Cara discovers a diary written by a woman who served on a special assignment as a gunner during World War II. In the older story, we see how the woman who wrote the diary (Louise) joined up to escape an oppressive mother. She falls in love with RAF pilot she met at a dance she attended with a cousin. I'm not sure why so many people ruin a good story by using dual timelines. I found the older story the most fascinating although there is plenty of stuff that might attract some to the modern one. I listened to the audiobook.

Book 29. Read or Alive by Nora Page

Date Completed: 18 March 2023

Category: Mt. TBR Bingo (#2)

Rating: 2.5 stars

Review: When used book dealers gather in Catulpa Springs, books begin missing from private collections and from the bookmobile. Henry, Cleo's friend and the town's used bookdealer, becomes the chief's top suspect although Cleo knows he is innocent and enlists Gabby to help. This one had a little too much occultic content with the fake fortune teller for my taste. I also grew tired of the story which seemed to stretch out longer than necessary.

Book 30. The Bookstore Sisters by Alice Hoffman

Date Completed: 21 March 2023

Category: Other Fiction & Creative Literature

Rating: 3 stars

Review: This short story is a tale of two estranged sisters who grew up in Maine. Isabel moved to New York and recently divorced her husband. Sophie remained in Maine to run the family bookstore that as children they'd promised to keep going. A message sends the Isabel back to Maine to help. It felt a bit unfinished to me.

>152 thornton37814: I also dislike those books that seem to stretch out and never end. I do not need to know the exact color of each person's items of clothing, or their favorites of everything.

>154 LadyoftheLodge: This one just got old quickly. It's never been a favorite series, but I think the plots are getting worse instead of better. I doubt I'll keep the series going.

I hope your Mississippi family is safe this morning!

My Mississippi family family is safe. However, my home town was hit and destruction is bad. There's damage to the home in which my parents lived although it appears to be minor--mainly shingle damage and debris. My uncle's former home on the other side of the creek didn't fare as well. There is a huge tree that came down atop the house, and it looks like it did some major structural damage at least to one end of the house. The church I attended was hit. The steeple is gone, and there is at least some roof damage. I can't see the front of it from the drone angle. One friend has 2 trees on top of his house. Another friend said she had water in her house, and I've seen a photo of it from the front. It has quite a bit of damage to the roof. I think the back side of her parents' home is gone. All of us who grew up in Amory know someone who has major damage. Many of our beloved places--such as Bill's Hamburgers and Dairy Kream (which has the best beefsteak sandwich) are damaged, so it will be a bit before they reopen. Other things are completely gone. There's damage to all the athletic fields at the high school and some damage to the high school. The West Amory Elementary School sustained quite a bit of damage too. It's really bad!

>157 thornton37814: So sorry this was so close to "home" for you and your family. Wishing the best for all who were impacted.

>158 beebeereads: I really haven't been able to concentrate on anything much except getting in touch with people and viewing videos. Just offer up prayers for everyone as they deal with it. Pray that they'll be able to keep out the scam "contractors" who try to take advantage of people in these situations.

>157 thornton37814: Oh, Lori, that's really scary.

>157 thornton37814: Very scary. Already praying for those in Mississippi and will your family & friends to the list.

>157 thornton37814: Oh how awful - prayers ascending for your friends and loved ones, and all the people of Amory.

>160 RidgewayGirl: Absolutely scary.

>161 Tess_W: Thanks. Amory can use many prayers. Some friends are basically "homeless" now. I know of at least one cousin lost a home; others have damage that can be repaired. I suspect I'll hear of other cousins in the next days. I have friends who have damage and have lost homes as well.

>162 Jackie_K: Thanks for the prayers for Amory! The one nice thing is that I've cried just as much over the outpouring of help and support. I've cried several times. Even Walmart brought in portable showers for people to use. They open 1 hour after curfew and close 1 hour before curfew. I'm sure those will be very popular.

>163 thornton37814: I know a lot of people that work for WalMart (I live about 70 miles from their headquarters) and I think people would be surprised at their response to disasters. When Ida hit La. they did the usual food, water, etc but they also sent in a mobile pharmacy to provide medications to those who couldn't get them. I hadn't heard about showers and frankly, hadn't even thought about the need for them.

So sorry to hear about the destruction in your home town. It's very sad. I hope conditions improve as soon as possible. I've been hearing about the good deeds done by Walmart in similar situations.

>164 clue: People are pretty excited about those! My brother retired from Walmart.

>165 VivienneR: There are groups from all over helping. My cousin said she had people from Tennessee, Alabama, and other locations in Mississippi helping her yesterday. I know groups from my brother's church about an hour and a half away from Amory are heading in today to help with food and water and Tuesday and Wednesday they are going to be partnering with their denomination's disaster relief efforts with chain saw and yard clean up.

Oh no, this is terrible. But it is amazing to see how people stick together in such situations, helping each other. My best wishes for you, your family and everyone else in the time to come.

>167 MissBrangwen: Thanks!

Offering up prayers for all those involved in this tragedy.

>169 LadyoftheLodge: Thank you!

What a terrible tragedy, Lori - but thank heavens this type of thing does bring the good in people to the surface and hopefully the disaster relief and clean up operations are helpful.

>171 DeltaQueen50: Thanks. Of course, there are always scam artists too. I'm praying the city is able to keep most of them out.

I hope clean up operations are well underway by now and people are getting the help they need. Still thinking of you.

>157 thornton37814: I've been watching the videos you've been posting to FB. It's hard to comprehend the kind of destruction a storm like that can do in just a few minutes. Keeping you and yours in my thoughts.

>173 VivienneR: Thanks for continued prayers for Amory. Last night's tornadoes in North Mississippi hit close to where nieces live. As it went over one niece's house, the meteorologist was not picking up debris on the radar, and he thought it was likely just rotation at that point. I haven't heard from her, and she's not on Facebook. The other niece is out of state with her stepdaughter who was in a band competition. A neighbor didn't spot damage to her property. We know it hit just north of there. The other tornado hit the Cooper Tire plant, a major employer for all of North Mississippi, among other places in Tupelo. Please pray for everyone.

>174 VictoriaPL: Thanks. I know several still without power. They saved the hardest hit areas until last which is why one friend is without. She's managed to get a tarp over her roof. The generator isn't big enough to handle everything, and she's now lost everything in her fridge because the refrigerator gave out--not because of the generator--that's one thing she was trying to keep on it.

Book 31. A Colourful Death by Carola Dunn

Date Completed: 23 March 2023

Category: Other Fiction and Creative Literature

Rating: 2 stars

Review: This second installment of Dunn's Cornish mystery series is more dreadful than the first. Eleanor Trewynn's neighbor Jeff becomes the chief suspect when a woman who seems him standing over a dead body says she saw him commit the deed. Fortunately inconsistencies in witness testimony and Eleanor's alibi for Jeff convince police to hold off on arresting him. The biggest problem of this mystery is the author cannot decide whether it is a cozy mystery with Eleanor as sleuth or a police procedural with the official investigation in which Eleanor's niece DS Megan Pencarrow is a participant. Readers hear both voices and see both sides, making it an annoying mystery lacking direction. The mystery would be so much stronger as a DS Megan Pencarrow investigation without the annoying Eleanor Trewynn. I listened to the audiobook version.

Book 32. The Taking of Jemima Boone: Colonial Settlers, Tribal Nations, and the Kidnap that Shaped America by Matthew Pearl

Date Completed: 29 March 2023

Category: History, Genealogy, and Historical & Genealogical Fiction

Rating: 4.5 stars

Review:Matthew Pearl writes a very readable account of Jemima Boone's capture along with a couple other girls from the Boonesboro settlement in Kentucky as a starting point for telling the story of Daniel Boone's role in the settlement of Kentucky and of his relations with others in the settlement and with the Shawnee and Cherokee of the region. He separates the myth of the frontiersman from the reality in his well-documented tale. Like most non-fiction intended for a general audience, the story uses the terrible "blind endnote" feature where someone interested in the sources must keep a finger in the end notes and pay attention to words and phrases. (This is almost impossible to do when reading an ebook in which they are unlinked such as this one was.) Pearl used extensive manuscripts and archival sources from a variety of jurisdictions in his research. I recommend this book to anyone interested in the history of Kentucky, particularly during its settlement as part of Virginia.

I am joining in the LT chorus to hope that the cleanup efforts are going well for you and yours in Amory. So many buildings and so many lives touched with both of these storms. Have you heard from your niece in N. Mississippi? And what is the timeline for the Cooper Tire plant to reopen?

We caught the strong storm in Atlanta Wednesday/Thursday night; hearing the wind rushing past, or staying and swirling, was very unnerving.

And thank you for your review of "Jemima Boone." I am glad someone wrote this book, as it is a part of history that needs to be told.

>177 thornton37814: I hope to read this in May, everything I've read about it is very positive.

You've heard I'm sure of the Little Rock and Wynn tornados. I have friends in both places. I have news of one whose house has been pretty much leveled but she and her husband are not badly hurt and were able to get out of the area. Their daughter came from 30 miles away to take them to her home. I have no news from the Wynn friends and I fear it won't be good news by the pictures on the news.

Historically we have more tornados in April than the other months, although the worst in my area was November.

>178 threadnsong: I have not heard specifically from the one niece, but I think her brother would have mentioned something if it had hit her. The other niece said her neighbors said her home was okay. I haven't heard since they got home. I don't think there is a specific timeline for Cooper Tire to reopen. I think they are still assessing damage.

>179 clue: I also knew people in both Little Rock and Wynne. I have heard from some friends in those areas, and they were not affected. I will probably never know about other friends living in those areas because we don't really keep in touch now that both our parents are deceased.

>178 threadnsong: & >179 clue: I think you'll enjoy Pearl's book. I read it for some background for a genealogy/migration-related talk I'm giving this summer. I wish I'd known about it when I created the handout. I will definitely mention it in the lecture and promote it to attendees as something readable to give them a feel for what it was like for the settlers.

>177 thornton37814: Glad you enjoyed this. I've had it on my TBR for sometime!

>181 Tess_W: It worked well for me. Pearl is an excellent storyteller, and he knows how to do his research.

I really enjoyed The Taking of Jemima Boone when I read it last month. The author gives the reader both an interesting story and brings history to life.

>183 DeltaQueen50: I think I got the book bullet from you.

>184 thornton37814: - I've noticed she shoots those BBs with recklessness, not caring who she hits. 😂

>185 dudes22: That she does!

>185 dudes22: We are all at her mercy!

>187 threadnsong: LOL

Book 33. The Pirate's Wife: The Remarkable True Story of Sarah Kidd by Daphne Palmer Geanacopoulos

Date Completed: 8 April 2023

Category: Gena's Book Club

Rating: 4 stars

Review: The author's research into pirate's wives led her to the figure of Sarah Kidd, clergyman's daughter and wife of the notorious pirate "Captain Kidd." Kidd was Sarah's third husband. Both previous husbands died. She brought a lot of silver and personal treasures into the marriages and had to fight to hang onto them just about every time. Sarah truly loved Kidd and probably believed he was just a privateer helping the British recover materials lost to piracy and capture the pirates. When he returned to take her away briefly to hide some goods on Block Island, she became an accessory to his adventures. His story differs from the charges brought against him. Was he led to allow his discouraged crew to become pirates to prevent mutiny? or was he the ring-leader as his accusers charged? The reader comes away questioning the stereotypes of Kidd but not really having an answer. One does feel a bit sorry for him as those he trusted turn against him and because of the corruption of governmental leaders who were more interested in their own gain than true justice. After Kidd's death, Sarah did marry again after an appropriate mourning period, and she eventually regained some things that had been wrongfully seized from her during Kidd's trial. The account was very readable. The author took some liberties with the story, but perhaps she stretched her creative license in a few places and should probably have stuck to social context to fill the gaps. Because the ebook copies were unavailable, I borrowed the large print edition from the library. While the end notes were numbered throughout the text, no end notes were included in the text. Instead, the book referred users to the author's web site. Most readers do not read at their computers, so this is very inconvenient. What happens when that web site is no longer available? This is a very poor method of handling end notes. A bibliography was included in the book so I was able to make guesses of the overall source the author might have used while reading it.

Book 34. Night Rounds by Helene Tursten

Date Completed: 9 April 2023

Category: Benita's Mystery Group Read

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: Huss investigates a murder at a struggling private hospital. The power had been cut as well as the back-up. A nurse is found murdered. A patient dies because of the lack of power. Another nursing is missing. People thought they saw the ghost of a nurse who hanged herself decades before. Other crimes occur, making it clear the murderer is trying to cover his or her tracks. This case was stronger than the previous installment. The personal story tidbits about her vegan daughter and the trouble she got in distract from the main story.

>190 thornton37814: I'm glad to hear this series gets better as it goes. I liked the first installment, but not enough to jump into the second, but I do have a copy just in case.

>185 dudes22: >186 thornton37814: >187 threadnsong: I'm blushing!! Of course the book bullets are often returned, in fact, The Pirate's Wife is going on my library list!

>191 RidgewayGirl: Although it has a long way to go, it is better than the first.

>192 DeltaQueen50: I enjoyed it. I'm sure Carrie and Meg will both post their thoughts and impressions as well. One of the things that I got from the book was my ancestor who was an early settler of Block Island likely knew Captain Kidd.

Now see, I went through a period years ago when I read all I could find on pirates. Never thought of them having wives involved. I'll read it too!

>194 clue: I guess I'd always assumed they were single, but in a lot of ways they were like non-pirate ship captains who had wives at home.

Book 35. The Glass Room by Ann Cleeves

Date Completed: 11 April 2023

Category: Mt. TBR Bingo

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: Vera's next door neighbor Jack report his wife Joanna as missing and asks Vera to help find her because she hasn't been taking her medication. Vera only needs to phone the cab to discover Joanna's whereabouts. Vera arrives at the scene of a writer's retreat where a man known to help authors break into the publishing world was murdered. Because she was seen with a knife, Vera's neighbor is initially the chief suspect so she allows Joe to take a bigger role in the case. Before the case be solved, a second murder occurs. Another instructor feels her life may be in danger as well. Vera and her team must search for the solution that fits all the pieces. While it's not Cleeves' best work, it entertains.

Book 36. Cat with a Clue by Laurie Cass

Date Completed: 17 April 2023

Category: Mt. TBR Bingo

Rating: 4 stars

Review: In this fifth book featuring bookmobile librarian and cat Eddie, Minnie serves as acting director while the library board seeks a replacement for her former boss Stephen. The staff members want her to apply, especially when they see some of the candidates. Eddie already expressed his thoughts on one candidate. She comes in one day where she discovers a dead body in the friends' book sale room. Although the room was tossed, nothing appears to be taken. The bookmobile is hit as is another place with a collection of books. Minnie is good at putting two and two together and realizes the common denominator is books. She has a theory, but she keeps law enforcement in the loop. This series has become one of my favorite cozy series. While the mystery itself is not that difficult to decipher, the setting and characters keep me interested. The sleuth does not take non-calculated risks as so many cozy sleuths do.

Book 37. Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan

Date Completed: 19 April 2023

Category: Christmas All Year

Rating: 4.5 stars

Review: Deliveryman Bill Furlong's eyes are opened when he brings coal to a convent where young girls are forced into labor. Bill and his wife Ellen barely get by as they raise their own daughters, but Bill takes action on Christmas eve. This powerful novella shows one man's reaction. He must struggle with what coming forward would mean to him and his family before he acts. It does not provide a detailed expose on the horrors of these Magdalen laundries, but the reader may be interested enough to seek out a book providing that information. Keegan is a master of the novella form.

Book 38. Death Below Stairs by Jennifer Ashley

Date Completed: 21 April 2023

Category: Other Fiction & Creative Literature

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: Cook Kat Holloway, a victim of a marriage scam and mother of a young girl in the care of friends, embarks on a new adventure in the home of Lord and Lady Rankin. The next morning she discovers her assistant's murdered body and a fragment of paper with some interesting numerical figures. She calls upon an old friend Daniel McAdam to help discover who killed the young woman because she realizes no true investigation will occur. The paper leads them to suspect a Fenian plot against the queen herself. The main characters of Kat and Daniel as well as Daniel's "son" James and Lady Rankin's sister Cynthia are all interesting and well-developed. It is, however, inconceivable that Kat would have been allowed to get away so early in her work for the Rankins. Daniel is somewhat of a mystery as he's comfortable as a servant or as a gentleman. Kat must also make a decision that will impact her future with her daughter. Although this is the first in the series, I felt I'd missed the backstory. There is a prequel novella I wish I'd read first. The series holds promise. I want to read the prequel and then move to the second book.

>198 thornton37814: Goes on my WL for sure!

You have been reading a great variety of mysteries, Lori! Which is one thing that I love about that genre.

>200 Tess_W: I picked it up from someone on the 75 list so I'm just passing the bullet along.

>201 threadnsong: There are many varieties. I'm trying to decide which wins as my next read. The WIPGO calls for May come out tomorrow, but I need an audiobook at the moment. I forgot to download one last night, and I didn't have time to make a decision on one before leaving for work. I'm not opposed to a different genre for the audiobook, but the majority of things on my to be read list are mysteries.

>198 thornton37814: Keegan doesn't waste a single word, does she?

>203 RidgewayGirl: She doesn't. I've read two of her novellas this year, and I've loved both.

Book 39. The Sentence by Louise Erdrich

Date Completed: 26 April 2023

Category: Other Fiction and Creative Literature

Rating: 4.5 stars

Review: This beautifully written novel tells the story of Tookie and Pollux. We learn of their past where Pollux arrested her, resulting in her imprisonment. We experience their lives in the Minneapolis area during COVID 19 and the riots resulting from the George Floyd incident. We also learn that Flora's ghost haunts the bookstore. Elements of the Ojibwe culture are present and important to the book's action. The author successfully uses the Ojibwe culture to foreshadow and to add interest. We read this for our faculty book club, and I think our consensus is that this is our favorite among the books we've read over the years.

>205 thornton37814: My book club has it coming up in August. I look forward to it even more after reading your comments!

>206 clue: After today's meeting, there was one person who didn't like it, but she hasn't read much literary fiction and didn't understand why there wasn't a lot of "action." She did recognize the quality of the writing so I'd assumed she liked it until today's discussion. So we talked about what made a work literary fiction so she'd understand it better. I haven't met a book by Erdrich yet that I haven't enjoyed.

>205 thornton37814: - I first wondered why this didn't sound familiar since I thought we had read it for book club also. But I looked back, and it turns out it was The Round House we read. So this one is still a future read. I haven't read a book by her that I haven't liked either.

>208 dudes22: I was actually excited when this was the one they chose. If they choose the one Kip wants us to read, I'll be sitting out next fall. I've tried Terry Pratchett before and hated it, so I'm not inclined to give him another try.

>205 thornton37814: I think Erdrich is a superb writer. However, the "ghosts" of most of her stories really turn me off! I wish it wasn't so.

>209 thornton37814: re: Terry Pratchett - I read a couple of his and was a bit "meh." Then I borrowed the audio of Wee Free Men from the library and it made all the difference in my appreciation for it. Seems that he has a gift for going over the top, which is off-putting, but maybe having an audio version of Pratchett (if that is your next group read) will help?

>211 threadnsong: If it is Terry Pratchett, I won't be participating.

I share your love of Erdrich's novels. The Night Watchman is my favorite and based on her own grandfather.

>213 RidgewayGirl: I haven't read that one yet, but I'll get to it sometime!

>199 thornton37814: I've read 4 of this series and liked them but for some reason haven't read the 5th although I have it. I was probably just ready for something else because I bought it. I also have the first of her Captain Lacey series and look forward to trying it.

Book 40. MASH: A Novel about Three Army Doctors by Richard Hooker

Date Completed: 29 April 2023

Category: History, Genealogy, and Historical & Genealogical Fiction

Rating: 4 stars

Review: I listened to this novel that started MASH. It was a fun listen, and I mostly pictured the TV cast as I listened. There are differences between the novel and TV series. For example, "Hot Lips" was interested in a doctor but his name wasn't Frank Burns, although they seemed to have similar personalities. Klinger was not in it. Radar's role was minor. There was another doctor--Duke from Georgia--in the Swamp with Hawkeye and Trapper. It was hard to picture Father Mulcahey as "Diego Red" since the actor didn't have the red hair the book star had, but of course, when they called him Father Mulcahey, I had no troubles! It was fun. It reminded me while MASH is one of the greatest, if not the greatest, TV shows of all time.

Book 41. Murder at the Blueberry Festival by Darci Hannah

Date Completed: 1 May 2023

Category: Keeping the Series Current

Rating: 3 stars

Review: While I enjoyed my visit to Beacon Harbor, Michigan, I found the plot less appealing that earlier installments. A prankster is at work at the town's annual blueberry festival. Lindsay is trying to avoid being a victim. Before it's her turn, however, a rather deadly prank happens, and Lindsay's dog alerts her to a "Viking ship" with a corpse and a goat. The victim was a friend of Rory's, and with his military background, he helps with the investigation--and, of course, Lindsay is going to help too. It was humorous, but I'm not a fan of all the extra characters and wish we'd see the official investigation a bit more.

>216 thornton37814: I'm with you on being the greatest TV shows of all time!

>218 Tess_W: I didn't watch it much at the time. I think my parents probably thought it wasn't appropriate humor for someone my age when it first began. I've watched the reruns and own the entire series on DVD.

>219 thornton37814: It started my first year at college and it was a big hit on campus. My parents never watched it, nor would I have been permitted had I lived at home.

>220 Tess_W: I think I was in middle school.

I was also in college when it was on, and we were avid watchers.

>222 LadyoftheLodge: I think most people love that show.

Book 42. The Black Tower by P. D. James

Completed: 16 May 2023

Category: Mt. TBR Bingo

Rating: 3 stars

Review: DS Adam Dalgliesh visits Toynton Grange, a small private nursing care facility, in response to a letter received from his old friend Father Baddeley. When he arrives, he discovered the man died a few days earlier and left him his book collection. He stays on a few days to sort and box the books and discovers other unexpected deaths in the facility's recent past. Then a suspicious fire takes place in a detached black tower on the property nearer the coastline. Soon another death occurs. Dalgliesh had recently been released from the hospital following a critical situation and decided to "retire" from his police career when this book begins. Readers still don't have resolution to that situation by the book's end. My biggest problem with the book was this was an unofficial snooping rather than a formal police procedural. There really wasn't an official crime through most of the book although Dalgliesh could see the tell-tale signs and was able to follow them. Dalgliesh, of course, solves the case, but this isn't one of my favorites. It reminds me a lot of "And Then There Were None" because of the small pool of suspects where one keeps dying. I listened to the audiobook, and Penelope Dellaporta always does a good job with this series.

Book 43. A Killing of Innocents by Deborah Crombie

Date Completed: 16 May 2023

Category: Keeping the Series Current

Rating: 3 stars

Review: A female doctor in training is stabbed in a square on the route from the hospital to where she resided. The murder takes place on Duncan's beat. He and Doug had just seen the woman at a pub where she'd seemed like she was awaiting someone who perhaps never showed up. Gemma and Melody are working desk jobs now, and both miss their roles as detectives. Duncan involves Emma by asking her to do some undercover bar hopping with his less-than-reliable DI. I'm getting tired of the continuing soap opera drama with Melody, Andy, Poppy, and Doug. (I liked things better before Andy and Poppy came into the picture to complicate the relationship between Doug and Melody.) I've waited for this installment's release for years, and I was disappointed. While the mystery itself was quite good, the rest of the story didn't keep me wanting to read it.

Book 44. Women in White Coats: How the First Women Doctors Changed the World of Medicine by Olivia Campbell

Date Completed: 21 May 2023

Category: Gena's Book Club

Rating: 4 stars

Review: This book covers many early women doctors in the United States and Great Britain and their contributions to the fight for women to become doctors. Elizabeth Blackwell, Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, and Sophia Jex-Blake are the main focus of the story although many other women in medicine are mentioned, particularly when their lives intersected with one of these. Although American progress is mentioned, the main thrust of this book is in England and Scotland, with a brief mention of Ireland toward the end of the book. Higher education institutions and the men who ran them were set against allowing women to enter the profession. When a sympathetic administrator was persuaded to allow admission, it was usually overturned by the students or professors who refused to share facilities with the women or teach them. The author relied on correspondence, published medical histories, biographies--personal and collective, articles, and medical journals for much of the information. Persons interested in the American side of things and Elizabeth Blackwell and her sister should read The Doctors Blackwell: How Two Pioneering Women Brought Medicine to Women -- and Women to Medicine by Janice P. Nimura.

Book 45. The Paper Moon by Andrea Camilleri

Date Completed: 30 May 2023

Category: Mt TBR Bingo

Rating: 3 stars

Review: Inspector Montalbano accompanies a concerned sister to her brother's apartment where he finds the man was shot in the face. Some aspects of the way the body was found indicate he might have been engaging in sex, but the coroner's report shows that was not the case. Most of his team members have been investigating cases involving drug deaths of somewhat important persons. Montalbano investigates persons connected to the man and must not let his judgment be clouded by his attraction to some of the females.It's not my favorite in the series, but it is solid.

Book 46. Murder at Archly Manor by Sara Rosett

Date Completed: 3 June 2023

Category: Other Fiction

Rating: 4 stars

Review: Olive Belgrave does not want to move back in with her parents, but if she does not find a job soon, she'll need to do so. Olive has always been good at figuring things out so her aunt hires her to look into the background of Roger Eton. Olive's cousin Violet has been dating him and is engaged, but neither the aunt nor Violet's sister like him. Olive hasn't been having a lot of success, and when Roger is murdered at a country estate party, Violet becomes the top suspect. The local officials really think it is an open and shut case. Fortunately the Scotland yard investigator is not as quick to judgment, providing Olive with more time to try to find others with motives. She discovers he had been blackmailing others who attended the party. Olive must find the culprit before Violet is arrested. Once she succeeds, she sets up her own detective agency. I listened to this one and found it to be a better first-in-series installment than many.

Book 47. To Kill a Troubadour by Martin Walker

Date Completed: 11 June 2023

Category: Benita's Mystery Group Read

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: Bruno and all the others prepare to host a music festival in St. Denis. The featured artist is a target of Spanish nationalists, and law enforcement need to find those intending to kill. The assailants appear to be armed with long-range weaponry. Is it even safe for the festival to go on? I enjoy the village life depicted in these novels, but they certainly seem to have a lot of international crime in this small community.

Book 48. The Return of the Gods by Jonathan Cahn

Date Completed: 25 June 2023

Category: Christian Books

Rating: 4 stars

Review: Cahn, a Messianic Jew, presents his case that the very same pagan gods that tripped up Israel time and again in the Old Testament are currently alive and well in the United States. He shows how Baal, Ashterah (or Ishtar), and Molech manifested themselves over time in such cultures as the Greek and Roman cultures and how they manifest themselves in today's America. While readers may not agree with everything, the book will cause Christians, the intended audience, to reflect on some of the things going on in today's culture.

Book 49. Bobbins and Bodies by ACF Bookens

Date Completed: 27 June 2023

Category: Mt TBR Bingo

Rating: 3 stars

Review: Paisley enters a house to rescue architectural features before it comes down. She discovers a corpse. The clues lead her and a friend to a cult abusive to women. The official law enforcement folks need to play a more prominent role in warning the cozy sleuths off in this series, but we always see they are keeping a somewhat watchful eye on the unofficial investigators.

Book 50. The Farm Stand by Amy Clipston

Date Completed: 30 June 2023

Category: Mt TBR Bingo

Rating: 4 stars

Review: Amish maidel Salina operates a produce stand in the flea market. Will, an Old Order Mennonite man, operates a restaurant. He visits Salina's stand and arranges for her produce to be used in his restaurant, both on the salad bar and in dishes he makes. Both are dating other people that their families want them to marry. They feel an attraction to one another. There are so many barriers to their relationship. Will they be able to overcome them or will they find themselves settling to meet family expectations?

I'm caught up with reviews until I think of a title or two I possibly omitted. I can't find them on lists of books borrowed in Libby, so I hope I'm caught up. I lost the calendar where I was marking what I read each day, so I haven't kept up with that. I'm sure it will turn up, but there will be a huge gap!

>230 thornton37814: A BB for me!

>234 Tess_W: Hope you enjoy it. Our pastor mentioned it. I saw it was available in the library's Libby collection so I read it.

Thanks for your hello visit on my thread.

>231 thornton37814: I am interested in this Stitches in Crime series. It looks like a good palate cleanser after a heavy book.

Good to see you back posting, Lori. :)

I had just checked your thread yesterday morning to see if you were stirring. Welcome back.

Thank you for visiting my thread to say hello. As my reply will tell you I was here but didn't leave a message. I enjoyed your catch up of reviews.

Thank you for your reviews and for having such a wide selection of books! Glad to see you back and popping by to say hello.

>232 thornton37814: I enjoyed reading all the books in this series.

Welcome back, Lori!

>236 beebeereads: I got the first one because it seemed to focus a little more on stitching. The next one didn't but it still is an okay read.

>237 DeltaQueen50: Good to be back.

>238 clue: I hope I'm "ticking now."

>239 VivienneR: Thanks. The reviews were shorter except for the first couple which I'd written but never posted. I just had so much to catch up on.

>240 threadnsong: I do like variety.

>241 LadyoftheLodge: I've enjoyed the two I did read. I will try to get to the next one sometime.

>242 Jackie_K: Thanks.

Glad to see you back, Lori.

>245 dudes22: Thank you!

Book 51. Lemon Curd Killer by Laura Childs

Date Completed: 6 July 2023

Category: Keeping the Series Current

Rating: 3 stars

Review: Delaine's sister Nadine's murder becomes Theodosia's next sleuthing adventure when Nadine's daughter Bettina asks her to solve it. Although Nadine was not likeable, evidence shows she may have stumbled across a drug deal. This takes us into the world of fashion. We also see bits of the film industry and antique gun trade. Since the murder takes place in a nearby county to Charleston, Tidwell barely makes an appearance. I missed his involvement in the case. The drug angle makes it possible the case relates to one on which Riley, the detective Theodosia dates, is working. The author waited until page 55 to introduce us to the person who committed the crime when the murder was committed on page 7. Little interaction between this person and Theodosia or the detectives occurred. Official investigators seem less visible in this installment than in previous ones. Riley admonishes Theodosia not to get involved rather than Tidwell. While change and development must come to any series to keep readers interested, Theodosia never seems to learn from her previous sleuthing efforts. I miss the interactions between Theodosia and Tidwell, even though I like Riley. It was still an enjoyable escape from real life near one of my favorite cities--Charleston.

Book 52. Missing in the Snow by Ann Cleeves

Date Completed: 6 July 2023

Category: Keeping the Series Current

Rating: 3 stars

Review: This short story featuring Jimmy Perez was offered through the author's newsletter. Since Shetland is my favorite of Cleeves' series, I couldn't resist. Jimmy now lives in Orkney but he still maintains jurisdiction over Shetland in a more supervisory capacity. He's called in when an author goes missing, leaving behind his phone but taking his laptop. His missing status is reported by a neighbor. While the resolution is a cute concept for a short story, the solution just comes "crashing in" too quickly. It needs further expansion before the solution's revelation.

>247 thornton37814: The recipes entice me! I love lemon curd!

>249 Tess_W: The recipes were the best part of the book. I did scan those from the library copy!

>247 thornton37814: I *love* when mystery authors add a bit of stitching or cooking to their stories!

>251 threadnsong: I do too. I used to love the Monica Ferris mysteries. I only wish there were more of them in the series. I've discovered the Mainely Needlepoint ones by Lea Wait that are pretty good. I haven't bonded as much with the knitting and crochet mysteries.

>252 thornton37814: I read the Monica Ferris mysteries too, and enjoyed them greatly. I think some of them are still on my shelves.

>253 LadyoftheLodge: I may still have some of them. I may re-read them and then move them out over the next few years as I downsize in preparation for retirement.

Book 53. Winter Study by Nevada Barr

Date Completed: 13 July 2023

Category: Mt TBR Bingo

Rating: 3 stars

Review: Anna Pigeon leaves Mississippi for a short-time assignment at Isle Royale National Park in Lake Superior. She joins a research team that studies the winter wildlife population and a rather obnoxious Homeland Security representative. The researchers believe winter park closure remains a necessity for biodiversity while Homeland Security would like to see the park opened year-round to visitors.It isn't long until a death occurs. They spot some paw prints that don't match any known wildlife, but paired with a possible sighting of an irregular animal that, from a distance, appears to possibly be a wolf-moose cross-breed, the group knows they need to be cautious. One female graduate student goes missing and is later found dead. It appears she was attacked by wolves. This doesn't quite add up for Anna so she begins a secret investigation and finds a secret spot to stash her evidence. Another person eventually goes missing. It's a locked room puzzle in a survival-type atmosphere. The story's multiple layers add tension and interest. While this wasn't my favorite in the series, mainly due to a disturbing sexual predator scenario discovered in the course of the investigation by Anna, it was a solid installment. I listened to the audiobook read by Barbara Rosenblat who does a good job with the series.

Book 54. Stitched & Sewn: The Life-Saving Art of Holocaust Survivor Trudie Strobel by Jody Savin; photographs by Ann Elliott Cutting

Date Completed: 18 July 2023

Category: Cooking and Crafting

Rating: 4 stars

Review: Trudie Strobel and her mother Masha were taken by the Nazis during the Holocaust. Her mother's skill in needlework caught the attention of one of her captors, so she was often assigned to repair their uniforms. Trudie was very young, and when one of the soldiers took Trudie's prized "Papa Doll" from her, Masha vowed to always be with Trudie. Their story through the Holocaust is told. They had no surviving family and wanted to leave Germany after the war. It took some time because of immigration policies but they eventually made it to America where they settled in Chicago. Trudie married and ended up in California. When issues surfaced from the horrors of the Holocaust, Trudie began to see a psychologist. She stitched, in vivid detail, the scene in which "Papa Doll" was snatched from her. Her embroidery became a type of therapy for her, and she stitched many treasures depicting Jewish history and symbolism. I loved her tapestry depicting Jewish women. Her work is amazing for the stories it tells.

>256 thornton37814: - Sounds very interesting. Are her pieces on display somewhere?

>257 dudes22: Some of her stuff is in a traveling exhibit. I think some is at the Holocaust museum in the Los Angeles area. Some was done specifically for her synagogue, I think. You can find her web page here: https://www.trudiestrobel.com/ It does show info on permanent and traveling exhibitiions under various tabs.

Book 55. The Watchmaker's Daughter: The True Story of World War II Heroine Corrie Ten Boom by Larry Loftis

Date Completed: 20 July 2023

Category: History, Genealogy, and Historical & Genealogical Fiction

Rating: 4 stars

Review: Drawing from archival sources, Corrie's own writings, and other published writings about Corrie, this biography presents the story of Corrie Ten Boom and her family to a new generation. The Ten Boom family lived in the Netherlands. As Christians they believed in helping others, and when the horrors of the Holocaust came to their home country, they opened their home to Jews. The family built a secret closet which helped hide their guests when a threat came to the door. The goal was to get them to an even safer place. Eventually they were arrested in a raid. Corrie and her sister Betsie were transported together to many locations. Betsie often helped Corrie see how God was working through the situation, and she foresaw a postwar ministry for the family. Betsie grew weaker as the days passed, and she eventually died. God performed a miracle through a clerical error in Corrie's release from Ravensbruck. She pursued the ministry Betsie envisioned and spoke to many audiences about her experiences. Although she had written her own autobiography, her story really became known when John and Elizabeth Sherrill told it in The Hiding Place. The book was later turned into a film. A big theme in the book is forgiveness. With God's help, she forgave those who killed her family and who tormented her.

Book 56. The Drowning Sea by Sarah Stewart Taylor

Date Completed: 21 July 2023

Category: Mt. TBR Bingo

Rating: 4 stars

Review: Maggie D'Arcy has left New York after her last detective case made her fearful for her daughter's safety. She and her daughter Lilly are staying at least for the summer with Conor while Maggie decides if she wants to join the garda. A Polish immigrant's body turns up in the sea, and investigators believe there is a chance it could be connected to a drug situation a few years back. When Lilly is dating the younger brother of another Polish man connected with the building site where the deceased immigrant worked, she questions whether this is a good thing or not. Most of the locals seem to like the buy, but the connection causes her concern. Police never tell Maggie what's going on, but she investigates a little on the side. The case conclusion is suspenseful and satisfying.

>256 thornton37814: I will definitely seek this out. Thank you for bringing it to the fore.

>259 thornton37814: I just finished a re-read of The Hiding Place. I was unaware of this book, but I'm off to find it. My comment(s) on The Hiding Place was that the theme was forgiveness and I am in awe of her physical and spiritual strength.

>262 Tess_W: Yes. I'll be interested in your impressions of this new book compared to The Hiding Place since you will presumably be reading them closer to one another than I will. I had spotted this one on a forthcoming titles list and made sure our library got it.

>263 thornton37814: I plan on making the Loftis book my August purchase. I've read that author before and rated it a 5 star read (Code Name: Lise).

>264 Tess_W: Great to know!

Book 57. In a Dry Season by Peter Robinson

Date Completed: 24 July 2023

Category: Mt TBR Bingo

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: A drought caused the remains of a town flooded to create a reservoir to emerge. As a boy plays among the ruins seeking a treasure, he find the treasure, but he also finds a skeleton. Jimmy Riddle puts the disgraced DI Alan Banks on the case. No missing persons reports fit the skeletal remains, but as they look over historical records, DI Banks and DS Annie Cabbot believe the young woman may be someone who lived in that house.They must search for persons who lived in the town who knew the young woman and determine if the woman's killer is alive or deceased.It's a pretty good mystery, but I could do without romantic/sexual interests thrown into the mix.

Book 58. Torso by Helene Tursten

Date Completed: 31 July 2023

Category: Benita's Mystery Group Read

Rating: 2 stars

Review: Irene Huss investigates an odd case in which a torso with no limbs or head washes ashore. They discover a similar case occurred in Denmark when they broaden their search. Irene travels there to compare information. They even discover video showing the murders, but the person appearing to commit them is the deceased. There's an element of horror as it appears the perpetrator wants someone close to Irene to be the next victim. I did not enjoy this installment because necrophilia is a major theme. I've never connected to Irene either. While I may read the next installment to complete the year's group read, I doubt I will continue the series in 2024. There are too many other books I'd enjoy more begging for my attention.

Book 59. Her Amish Holiday Suitor by Carrie Lighte

Date Completed: 3 August 2023

Category: Christmas All Year

Rating: 4 stars

Review: I scoured our library's catalog for needlework-related books and found this one. Lucy Knepp who is a quiet Amish maidel spends her time embroidering. She makes things intended for the Pennsylvania Amish tourist market. Her big side project is a piece she plans to donate to an auction fundraising event for the soup kitchen where she volunteers. Nick Burkholder, still on his rumspringa, needs an excuse to spend time away from home as he covers up the fire damage his brother caused at a cabin. Nick plans to renovate it before the family uses it at Christmas, but his parents do not need the added stress of knowing his brother caused such damage. Nick comes up with a plan where he will pretend to be dating Lucy. It works to both their advantage because it allows Lucy to tuck herself into a quiet corner of the library to stitch without interruption on the fundraiser while providing Nick a cover for being gone so much. Although they don't try to overdo their excuses, word gets around they are seeing each other. Only the two of them know it is a pretense. Inevitably the two find they really do care for each other and it's not a pretense, but some assumptions and lack of being completely honest with one another threaten the relationship. I enjoyed this predictable story because it had a bit of a twist to it. I found myself wishing I could see Lucy's embroidery!

Book 60. Killing Raven by Margaret Coel

Date Completed: 4 August 2023

Category: Mt TBR Bingo

Rating: 4 stars

Review: Father John is called to say last rites at a scene where a young woman discovered a hand protruding from the ground. Vicki, struggling to gain enough clients to stay afloat now that she's back in Lander, receives an offer to assist the Lakota lawyer handling contracts for the Arapaho casino. A discrepancy in the mission's bank funds causes Father John and Father George to investigate. The story lines intertwine as it becomes clear casino loan sharks are making it hard on locals and that the tribe isn't getting all the money it should be. This is better than many in the series, and I like the fact that Vicki appears to be moving on in her relationships with other men and realizing Father John will remain true to his calling for the foreseeable future. I listened to the audiobook read by Stephanie Brush.

>266 thornton37814: This was the first of that series I read and I liked it. I think it's better than the very early books in the series, or the latest ones.

>267 thornton37814: Agree with you on this one. I had high hopes. I still have another one in this series but I'm in no hurry to get to it.

>270 RidgewayGirl: I like but don't love the Banks series. I'm continuing to plug away at them. I'll probably try to listen to another before the end of the year now that I've crossed that one off BINGO. It will give me a chance to do another one. If I do the BINGO next year, I'm going to put series rather than the exact book. That way if I want to listen to another one before the BINGO number is called in WIPGO, I can. If the 4th one doesn't improve, I will not commit to continuing that series next year.

Book 61. Grandma Gatewood's Walk: The Inspiring Story of the Woman Who Saved the Appalachian Trail by Ben Montgomery

Date Completed: 5 August 2023

Category: Gena's Book Club

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: Emma Gatewood, a woman who suffered at the hands of an abusive husband for much of her life, set out to walk the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine. She was in her late 60s when she set out in the 1950s on her trek. While I enjoyed the story, I was disappointed in the lack of footnotes/endnotes to see exactly where the author got the information he passed along. A bibliography was included, but it was obviously not complete as it failed to list newspaper accounts consulted and diaries. I'm not sure the flashbacks to her life as an abused wife were handled in the best manner. Perhaps a more chronological approach would have been better than "flashbacks." (The dual timeline just wasn't necessary.) Gatewood rewalked the trail the following year and walked the complete course a third time in sections. She also walked across the Oregon Trail later. I'm amazed she did it in tennis shoes instead of hiking boots and that she was able to travel as lightly as she did. I was unaware of all the shelters built along the trail for those walking at regular daily intervals even though I live near portions of the trail.

Book 62. Intrigue in Istanbul by Erica Ruth Neubauer

Date Completed: 9 August 2023

Category: Keeping the Series Current

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: Jane and Redvers return to Boston so Redvers can ask Jane's father for her hand in marriage. When they arrive, her father is gone, and letters from the bank threatening repossession of their home send Jane and Redvers on a mission to find him. They end up in Istanbul where they are joined by Aunt Millie and Lord Hughes. They meet an archivist who worked with her father, a lady at a place where he frequently ate, and others connected to her father, but he appears to be gone. He left behind some of his things indicating he may not have gone voluntarily. When the archivist dies, Jane and Redvers know they must take extra care. She still gets into dangerous situations. Both wonder who they can trust. However, Jane begins to find clues that eventually leads them on a ride along the Orient Express to Hungary. While the story is interesting, it's not quite as good as earlier installments.

Book 63. Premeditated Peppermint by Amanda Flower

Date Completed: 12 August 2023

Category: Christmas All Year

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: Harvest, Ohio, in Holmes County, is preparing for the Christmas market on the village square, and Swissmen's Sweets is busy preparing all things peppermint. They are suddenly invaded by Bailey's ex-boyfriend Eric and the crew from his television program. Bailey knows that permission must be secured not only from her Amish grandmother who owns the shop and from the bishop before she can accept any publicity opportunity as promising as this one. The next morning, Bailey notices something off with the gazebo lights on the square. When she investigates she discovers the producer's body. I'm not quite sure how I feel about this series from the Amish/Englisch perspective since the lead character is not Amish, but she would not be allowed to investigate if she were Amish, so I suppose it's the only way it is feasible.

Book 64. 1794: The City Between the Bridges by Niklas Natt Och Dag

Date Completed: 16 August 2023

Category: History & Genealogy & Historical & Genealogical Fiction

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: Erik Three Roses fell in love with the daughter of a peasant on his father's estate. His father forbids him to marry her and sends him to Saint Barthélemy where he is horrified by slavery. He finds a way back to Sweden and marries the young woman who dies on her wedding night. He lands in a hospital, but most people believe he belongs in an asylum. I almost put this book down many times because it's not my type of book, but something compelled me to finish it. It is dark and would be classified as noir and perhaps also as literary fiction. I did not realize this was the second book in a series. I don't know if reading the earlier book would have helped or not.

Book 65. Shadows in Bronze by Lindsey Davis

Date Completed: 17 August 2023

Category: Benita's Mystery Group Read

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: I listened to the abridged BBC radio version of this book. In this installment, Falco helps Vespasian get rid of a dead body and then heads with Petronius to the Bay of Naples to begin an investigation into a failed coup and its members. Their investigation leads them to places frequented by those on holiday--Neapolis, Capreae and Pompeii. One of the conspirators is the former husband of Helena Justina whom Falco would like to get to know better. While this is still not my favorite series, the BBC abridgement made it more tolerable than the first installment.

>275 thornton37814: Yes, the first book was very dark as well. I liked how fully the author evoked the time and setting in that book and this one is on my wishlist.

>277 RidgewayGirl: You will probably like this one better than I did because you are more into "noir" than I am.

>256 thornton37814: and >268 thornton37814: How amazing the stories of the different women in both these books, and yet how needlework ties into their lives. I'm so glad you found them!

>279 threadnsong: Definitely different stories.

Book 66. Farm to Trouble by Amanda Flower

Date Completed: 18 August 2023

Category: Other Fiction and Literature

Rating: 3 stars

Review: Shiloh Bellamy worked as a producer in California after a young man she loved died. She returns to her native Michigan to help her Dad with the farm. She wants to turn it into an organic farm but she finds the man financing her venture dead at the local farmer's market. She and her father become suspects because it was one of his antique guns that was the murder weapon. She needs to find other suspects before the local police chief with whom she started on the wrong foot arrests them both. As in most recent cozies, a developing romance begins not long after she arrives. It was not bad for a first installment, and an unanswered question remains which may be stretched over one or more future installments. The narrator was the weakest link. At times her tone and cadence led this listener to believe she was completely bored with the novel and that it was "just a job" she couldn't wait to finish.

Book 67. Rupture by Ragnar Jonasson

Date Completed: 21 August 2023

Category: Mt TBR Bingo

Rating: 3 stars

Review: Ari Thor investigates a 50-year-old poisoning case that was ruled a suicide at the time because someone asks him to take a look at it. Crime is down because of the quarantine, so it frees him to take a look at the older case. He finds a connection to a case in Reykjavik and asks his reporter friend Isrun to look into it since travel is not an option due to the quarantine. Isrun is also looking into the kidnapping of a child. While the stories all come together, the English translation is awkward in places and makes it difficult to follow. This is not my favorite series by Jonasson. The leading characters personal issues makes it difficult to like them.

Book 68. Dangling by a Thread by Lea Wait

Date Completed: 26 August 2023

Category: Cooking & Crafting

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review: Angie encounters a man locals call "The Solitary" when she visits the harbor. She learns his name is Jesse Lockhart and that he lives on King's Island, about 3 miles off Haven Harbor's coast. The man moved to his family's island to protect the Great Cormorant which nests there. He comes into town to pick up mail and shop occasionally. A rich man wants to buy the island, and the local realtor wants to make it happen. Dave, a Mainely Needlepointer and Jesse's friend, and Angie go to warn the man that his cousin who co-owns the island is being flown in by the rich man, but two in the boat confuses Jesse and he shoots an arrow which pierces Dave's leg. When Angie goes with law enforcement to talk to Jesse the next day, they find him dead. The rich man is Patrick's uncle. Patrick has recently returned from convalescing in Boston following the fire in the last installment. Angie and Dave line up support from environmental groups to launch a campaign to "save the Great Cormorant." The plot's pretty convoluted, and it takes a long time to get to the murder. Angie uncovers the clues that lead to an arrest. The setting is pleasant, and I love the needlepoint angle. I wish needlepoint figured more prominently to the story. I felt the author failed to include the needlepoint discussed early in the story when concluding her plot. I listened to the audio book.

Book 69. On Moonberry Lake by Holly Varni

Date Completed: 27 August 2023

Rating: 4 stars

Category: Christian Books

Review: When Cora's mother dies, she discovers she inherited her grandparents' lodge where she spent some happy childhood moments. But there is a catch! She must live there one year or it is not hers. The lodge needs a lot of work, and Cora is not sure the funds available will bring it back to its former glory. She meets a lot of quirky people, including Widgy, her repairwoman, an elderly lady named Kitty who cared for the gravestones even when Cora was a child, and an eccentric man who becomes her employers. She also meets and is attracted to the local dentist whose receptionist is a nightmare. It's a feel good story with a very slight romance. The story focuses more on the neighbors who become her friends rather than on the romance in spite of it being labeled as "contemporary romance." I really enjoyed the book and would love to revisit all the characters. I received this through LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program in exchange for an honest review.