Top Ten Tuesday

Books on my Autumn Reading List

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Linking up with ThatArtsyReaderGirl

Well its meant to be Spring reading list but as I live in the Southern Hemisphere lets make that Autumn to me.

These are books on my Autumn reading list.  There are a number of books coming out during this time but I am looking mostly at books that are already long out or just out. By the time I buy the books coming out they might make my winter reading list! That’s most likely your summer.

The Color of Light. Emilie Richards. A reread via audiobook. #4 in her Goddess Anonymous series.

The Lions of Fifth Avenue. Fiona Davis. An audiobook and a book I’ve wanted to read for awhile.

The Wife’s Promise Kate Hewitt. An audiobook and since I saw a good review for it its been in the back of my mind to read.

The London Girls Soraya Lane. Set in WW2 and one on my Kindle for awhile.

In the Unlikely Event. Judy Blume. I have already started this as a slow and steady read, most likely through a good part of this season.

Tom’s Midnight Garden. Philippa  Pearce. I have long wanted to read this book and so its on somewhere for the month of March. It won a Lewis Carroll Shelf Award in 1963 and the Carnegie medal in 1958.

Unlikely Animals.  Annie Hartnett. An unlikely read! I heard about it from Anne Bogel.

Paper Cuts.  Ellery Adams.  This is a review book and is the latest one in the Secret Book and Scone Society. A cozy series I really enjoy.

The Money Club. Fiona Lowe A review book too from my top favourite Australian author

The Cruellest Month. Louise Penny. #3 in the Gamache series and I am due to read the next one so its going on this list.

Month in Review

February Reading Round Up.

Total books read this month:   11

Book Ratings

Birds in the Air   3 stars
The Matzah Ball. 4 stars
Woodrose Mountain. 3.75 stars
The Light We Carry 4. 5 stars
Archangel’s Resurrection  3.75 stars
The Vibrant Years.  3.75 stars
The Winners.  5+ stars
No River Too Wide. 5 stars
Johanna Porter is not Sorry 3.6 stars
Sweet Laurel Falls.  3.6 stars
Carrie Soto is Back.  4 stars

New to me authors:

Frances O’Roark Dowell
Jean Meltzer

Format

Paperback.   5. one of which was from the library.

Kindle. 3. Plus one review book on Kindle.

Audiobook. 2

Top Book for February

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Thoughts on February Reading.

Not an awful lot of reading done.  I am keeping my review books to a minimum and that sure is a plus.

Linking up with Nicole from FeedYourFiction Addiction.

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It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

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It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? a place to meet up and share what you have been, and are about to be reading over the week. It’s a great post to organise yourself. It’s an opportunity to visit and comment and er… add to your groaning TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. This meme started on J Kaye’s blog and then was hosted by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn here at The Book Date.
Jen Vincent, Teach Mentor Texts, and Kellee of Unleashing Readers decided to give It’s Monday! a kidlit focus. If you read and review books in children’s literature – picture books, chapter books, middle grade novels, young adult novels or anything in those genres – join them.

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Greetings all. Well we (my country) have had a very sobering week as part of the country was badly damaged by a cyclone that really caused a lot of damage in the areas it hit. Watching the news each night is heartbreaking. Some amazing tales though of very brave rescues of people by ordinary folk helping others out. And then sad loss of life as well. Still many people not yet contacted – roads, bridges, electricity and communications totally wiped. Can you imagine living with everything gone. It’s too big to grasp.

In my area we had a 6.3 earthquake just off the coast where I live a few days later. It sure shook us up, but no damage. Phew! It felt like we were let off big time.

What I read last week:

I enjoyed The Light We Carry although I liked her first book more, but still really good. The Vibrant Years was about three generations of women and the backbone that each of them strengthen during the book. A little slow but worth the read.

What I am reading now:

A review book, not sure if it is to my taste but keeping me reading.

Johanna is not Sorry

And I am listening to… this book which is a reread as I reread through the Goddess Anonymous series.

No River Too Wide Emilie Richards

Up next:

Not sure at this stage what I will pick up.  Something light I think so I will search my shelves to see what fits that. 

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It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

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It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? a place to meet up and share what you have been, and are about to be reading over the week. It’s a great post to organise yourself. It’s an opportunity to visit and comment and er… add to your groaning TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. This meme started on J Kaye’s blog and then was hosted by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn here at The Book Date.
Jen Vincent, Teach Mentor Texts, and Kellee of Unleashing Readers decided to give It’s Monday! a kidlit focus. If you read and review books in children’s literature – picture books, chapter books, middle grade novels, young adult novels or anything in those genres – join them.

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December greetings. The days are moving on! On Saturday we had our extended family Christmas gathering that one of my beautiful nieces and her husband hosted. It was great, some had travelled quite a distance and then back for work day Monday so I am in admiration of them too. It was just lovely to see the young ones growing up and having fun together – the young ones are now all second cousins.  We never knew our second cousins so that is so lovely that they do.

Apart from that not much. My car goes into the paint and panel beaters tomorrow for some touch up from where I scraped it against the garage a few weeks ago. So last week I was organising that.

I seem to have got stuck on watching The Crown but must get back to it. I watched Trevor Noah on Netflix in Canada, he always lifts my spirits. Plus I love The Block Australia. They really know how to do it, our NZ one is hopeless in comparison, but I guess small country syndrome, small budget!

What I read last week:

It looks better than it really was. Somewhere Between Luck and Trust was an audiobook I’d been listening to for awhile and Lessons from the Prairie was my nighttime slow read. One evening I went down the rabbit hole of listening to the Megyn Kelly interview with Melissa Francis on YouTube and that was really good.

What I am reading now:

The Choice

So my two slow reads are still these, These Precious Days came back to me from the library, they had heaps of copies so I wasn’t too surprised my turn came around quickly and now I can finish it.

My audiobook is…

Miracle Creek Christmas

Up next:

Bread over Troubled Water 

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Month in Review

November Wrap

Total books read this month: 10

On the whole it was a really good reading month, in terms of some very much enjoyed books.

Book Ratings

The Secret of Bow Lane.  5 stars
Dance Away with Me. 5 stars. Reread via audiobook
Other Birds.  5 Stars
Us Against You. 5 + stars
The Stolen Book of Evelyn Aubrey 3.25 stars
Still Life 4.25 stars
The Boardwalk Bookshop 2 stars.
Doctors and Friends. 4.5 stars
The Sunshine Girls. Molly Fader 4 stars.
Somewhere Between Luck and Trust.  Emilie Richards. 5 stars. Reread via audiobook.

New to me authors:

Serena Burdick
Louise Penny*
*Would read author again.

Top Print Book

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Top Kindle Book

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Top Audiobook

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Delighted

That I really liked Still Life by Louise Penny and I now have a new series to read. I really am drawn too, to Louise Penny as a person. Loved the interview that Anne Bogel did on What Should I Read Next this week.

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Disappointed by

Susan Mallery’s book, although maybe I was expecting to be and was even harder on it! But wasn’t for me. I know she still has plenty of fans so I won’t be missed as one of her readers!book cover

Looking forward to books publishing in December

Review of Reading Goals  for November

Read four review books.  Read 3 out of hoped for 4.

Read two library books.  Did read two library books.

Possibly five from my own shelf. Three from my own shelf.

Complete slow and steady read.  Completed “Us Against You.”  Fredrik Backman.  I now have The Winners sitting on my shelf and no doubt that will become a slow and steady read in 2023.

Start a notebook list of upcoming books I want to buy or get from library.  Did start the page and then forgot, need to keep it going!

Main Reading Goals for December

Read some Christmas books.

Choose my first book of the year for 2023.

Keep my notebook up of books I want to buy or reserve at the library.

Think about reading goals for 2023.

Linking up with Nicole from FeedYourFiction Addiction.

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It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

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It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? a place to meet up and share what you have been, and are about to be reading over the week. It’s a great post to organise yourself. It’s an opportunity to visit and comment and er… add to your groaning TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. This meme started on J Kaye’s blog and then was hosted by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn here at The Book Date.
Jen Vincent, Teach Mentor Texts, and Kellee of Unleashing Readers decided to give It’s Monday! a kidlit focus. If you read and review books in children’s literature – picture books, chapter books, middle grade novels, young adult novels or anything in those genres – join them.

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I didn’t seem to get much reading done this week and I didn’t even have an excuse of a big celebration like Thanksgiving! But what I read I liked so that counts! Well will see you all on the other side of November, this month has sped by.

What I read last week:

During the week I finished Doctor’s and Friends. I liked it and am a reading fan of Kimmery Martin. She wrote this book just before the Covid pandemic. Kimmery is a doctor herself  and decided to write a pandemic book. Then Covid hit and she wasn’t sure whether to publish or not, but went ahead. This is a sobering book in the light of what we actually experienced. Kimmery Martin herself has had long Covid and hasn’t had an easy path through it.  Sometimes fiction predicts fact. With Covid still lingering about it was almost too much for me to read but I went ahead.

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What I am reading now:

At present this is what I am reading. It is a dual time line book.

The Sunshing Girls

I am still listening to my reread of…

Somewhere Between Luck and Trust

And my slow read had to change as These Precious Days ( my night slow read) had to go back to the library but I have requested it again and am in line! So this is what I am reading now, Lessons from the Praire while I wait for These Precious Days. The Clockmaker’s Daughter is my morning read.

Up next:

The Choice Last Week’s Posts

The Stolen Book of Evelyn Aubrey.  Serena Burdick

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It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

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It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? a place to meet up and share what you have been, and are about to be reading over the week. It’s a great post to organise yourself. It’s an opportunity to visit and comment and er… add to your groaning TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. This meme started on J Kaye’s blog and then was hosted by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn here at The Book Date.
Jen Vincent, Teach Mentor Texts, and Kellee of Unleashing Readers decided to give It’s Monday! a kidlit focus. If you read and review books in children’s literature – picture books, chapter books, middle grade novels, young adult novels or anything in those genres – join them.

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Thanks for all the sympathy over my car and sharing similar stories from some of you. Made me feel better. The ants seem to have abated, a few show up and I get rid of them so hoping that will be all for now!!

What I read last week:

I really enjoyed Still Life,  so I hope I keep enjoying the series as it seems not all readers like the first few books,  then love them after that. I finally took a look/read at The Boardwalk Bookshop, and have concluded it will be my last Mallery book I’ll read. I have moved on!

Slow and Steady Reads

This year I have really taken to slow and steady reads. Generally I choose either a classic or a book I guess will be a little slow plot wise, or a book so full of lines I just want to mull over, that I assign it to the above shelf. I read in the morning with a cup of coffee and I really look forward to it. These Precious Days I am reading last thing at night and I find that’s working too.

What I am reading now:

Most likely this book if I get engaged with it.

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Listening and also a reread. I so love this series.

Somewhere Between Luck and Trust

Up next:

The Sunshing Girls 

Last Week’s Posts

Secrets in the Stacks.    Lynn Cahoon

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It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

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It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? a place to meet up and share what you have been, and are about to be reading over the week. It’s a great post to organise yourself. It’s an opportunity to visit and comment and er… add to your groaning TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. This meme started on J Kaye’s blog and then was hosted by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn here at The Book Date.
Jen Vincent, Teach Mentor Texts, and Kellee of Unleashing Readers decided to give It’s Monday! a kidlit focus. If you read and review books in children’s literature – picture books, chapter books, middle grade novels, young adult novels or anything in those genres – join them.

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The week seems to have sped by. We had good weather on the whole so that helped. I sewed and quilted of course. Now I need to get out and get some things planted in the garden. One row of beans are up but I need to plant another and sow some carrots etc. How did I ever manage before I retired!

What I finished reading last week:

Two good reads. Jennifer Ashley is certainly keeping me interested in her series, I love it and gave this one five stars.  And I finished listening to Dance Away With Me, which was a reread via audio this time. Still five stars!

What I am reading now:

A library book that arrived. Just a few chapters in. Not too sure so far but will keep going.

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Up next:

Continuing with rereads I am now listening to Somewhere between Luck and Trust. #2 in the Goddess Anonymous series by Emilie Richards. I first read it back in 2013 so can easily now enjoy it again.

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It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

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It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? a place to meet up and share what you have been, and are about to be reading over the week. It’s a great post to organise yourself. It’s an opportunity to visit and comment and er… add to your groaning TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. This meme started on J Kaye’s blog and then was hosted by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn here at The Book Date.
Jen Vincent, Teach Mentor Texts, and Kellee of Unleashing Readers decided to give It’s Monday! a kidlit focus. If you read and review books in children’s literature – picture books, chapter books, middle grade novels, young adult novels or anything in those genres – join them.

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Greetings all. I had a good week. We dipped back into winter for a very short time but seem to be out of it again. Sunday I went into the city and my friend and I did our usual trip around the harbour for oysters and chips. Only trouble was as we sat on a set near the sea,  a gust of wind took our paper and emptied some of said chips and oysters onto the sand. To the glee of some very eager seagulls, and the disappointment of two horrified adult humans. We rescued what we could and the seagulls had a bit of a win. We had a walk afterwards up into the hilly bush which was nice and contemplated how soon we might be swimming in the sea below. In fact a few brave people were but just a tad early for me.

What I read last week:

Three review books and Lessons in Chemistry on audiobook completed. I really enjoyed Lessons in Chemistry, it is so well done on audio.  Possibly not for everyone but I was entranced by it.

What I am reading now:

So about to get into The Winter Garden.  I am a little nonplussed about why I chose this, I think it came through on an email offer and I was in a clicking mood. It is a dual time line and I don’t usually go for them. However it will be a different kind of read and that’s always good.

The winter garden

I am going to do a reread of One Mountain Away by Emilie Richards. These books were on sale recently and I couldn’t resist as the series is a favourite of mine.

One Mountain Away

Up next:

A review book #2 in a series and I did enjoy the first one in the Haunted Haven series.

High Spirits

Last Week’s Posts

A Brighter Flame.   Christine Nolfi

Murder on the Poet’s Walk.    Ellery Adams

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Review

Twilight Shadows

Twilight Shadows

Republished: by Emilie Richards
Date: 1st June 2022
Source: from the author

When private investigator Kelley Samuels’s best friend and partner asks her to be the maid of honor at her wedding, she can’t refuse. After all, wearing a frilly dress and dealing with the bride’s mother are minor irritations.

Then on the trip down the aisle, all hell breaks loose. Between barrages of gunfire and a lunatic seemingly intent on wiping out the wedding party, Kelley has to protect guest and film action hero Griff Bryant. While neither Griff, intent on playing a real life hero, nor Kelly herself can capture the shooter, when the smoke clears, no one is really sure who the gunfire was meant for.

Kelley, a former child star, has a clear-eyed view of the film industry, and when she’s cornered into becoming Griff’s pretend lover and real-life bodyguard, she can’t wait for the assignment to end. But as she and Griff encounter more violence, and his pre-teen daughter is endangered, too, Kelley finds herself deeply involved with the man she’s supposed to protect.

Kelley knows she can protect Griff from harm, but how can she protect her own heart?

Emilie Richards now republishes the second book in her Palm Springs Confidential books. We get up close and personal with Kelley, the partner of Felice, the heroine of the first book.

I was hooked into this story straight away, I loved the characters, the Hollywood setting grabbed me, the mystery, the action, the suspense and the tension between Kelley and Griff. I did like Tara – Griff’s twelve year old daughter and Kelley’s dog too, I just wanted more of them!

I liked that we caught up with Felice and Josiah, and that we first renew our acquaintance at their action filled wedding. It’s not the only time we meet them as they play small but important roles later on. Twilight Shadows and Desert Shadows are named so, because private investigators are sometimes referred to as shadows. I rather liked that little nugget of information. Kelley and Felice are private investigators.

This story really engaged my emotions and I was left feeling very satisfied and happy as the book ended. Well as happy as a reader can be when a book you love ends!