Top Ten Tuesday

Favourite Book Heroines

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Linking Up with That Artsy Reader Girl

I love a good heroine – who doesn’t?

Claire from Outlander. I’ve read the books only not the TV series. I like Claire because she is a time traveller who adapts really well. Plus she has some really amazing adventures.

Sam from the First Family series. Sam is a detective who really goes the whole way to solving murders, she is as well now the First Lady and she is an amazing mother to her adopted children.

Elizabeth Zott from Lessons in Chemistry. Elizabeth really fights for what she believes in.

Sunshine Vicram from Sunshine Vicram series. Sunshine is a local sheriff in New Mexico. She takes on the job even though she didn’t apply for it. Plus she puts her best foot forward in it and she is a great mother to her teenage daughter.

Sophy from the Grand Sophy.  Geogette Heyer.  Sophy is just larger that life and I just plain love her and her kindness and not taking no for an answer.

Kate Coppola.  Kate was the first heroine I met in Karen Rose’s suspense series. All her heroines are great but I’ll always have special love for Kate – Special Agent Kate Coppola is the heroine of Karen Rose’s  book Every Dark Corner. Kate is on a mission to stop the man who is trafficking drugs and acquiring teens for the internet sex trade. Tough as nails, yet compassionate, Kate is an origami and knitting queen, with a songs playlist you wouldn’t expect. She also has a very good reason to always carry a certain genre of book on her. (No, not telling, can’t spoil the surprise.). Meet a badass with a yarn bag and a work partner named Agent Luther Troy.

Daunis Fontaine   –  The Firekeeper’s Daughter As a biracial, unenrolled tribal member and the product of a scandal, Daunis Fontaine has never quite fit in—both in her hometown and on the nearby Ojibwe reservation. When her family is struck by tragedy, Daunis puts her dreams on hold to care for her fragile mother.  She is very brave and stands against the crowd. Won my heart.

Kat Holloway. From the Kat Holloway Mystery Series.  Kat is a cook in a London household. She is a very good one too, and as well when it comes to sorting out murders she is a dab hand. Very practical and.. a great mother to her young daughter.

Sasha Duncan  from Slave to Sensation.  Sasha is a psy in the pay changeling world and she has been deeply affected by Silence. But it falls and then she falls for the leader of the local changeling leopard pack. They make a wonderful pair right through out the series and I love how she operates with Lucas Hunter.

Helen Demetriou.  A Home Like Ours. Helen has been homeless but she is determined to make something more of her life. She stands up for others and she stands up for herself and what she believes in a very ordinary situation against the local council.

Top Ten Tuesday

Books with Strong Romance Elements

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Joining up with ThatArtsyReadergirl

I’ve chosen to list some books I read in 2022 with strong romance elements. I usually now leave the outright romance books but I love a good story with a strong romance element.

Looking at these books and you think you could recommend me something equally as good – go for it.

Flirting with the Beast: Jane Porter. Is pretty much outright romance but for older characters. Four stars.

State of Shock Marie Force: An ongoing series with two of the most romantic married characters in a book. Romantic suspense.  4 stars

Snowed in For Christmas. Sarah Morgan. Another pretty much outright romance but has the best grandma and family characters that would make me want to reread this one at some point. And…. set in Scotland. Five stars

Thank You For Listening.   Julia Whelan.  Audiobook narrators who eventually meet! It’s a Rom Com that I really recommend, but its more than that. It has wisdom and growth of character and things to think about. Five stars

The Choice: Nora Roberts. This is a paranormal fantasy set “beside” Ireland. Keegan and Breen are a pair who over three books ( this is the last in the trilogy) defeat evil and celebrate love.  4.5 stars.

Nora Goes Off Script. Annabel Monaghan. Thoroughly enjoyed this romance, loved the characters and especially the down to earth family and friends. Nora and Leo – what a pair. Bernadette and Arthur not far behind. It was cute and made me laugh out loud at times. I never saw what caused the trouble and kept wondering what on earth is going on. Well now I know! Very satisfying. Would definitely read another by this author.  4.5 stars.

Storm Echo.  Nalini Singh. Another very enjoyable addition to the series. Pay/changeling/human unite in a way that brings about a welcome result. Ivan believes he is fated to have to live in a cage, but since Silence has fallen and what was once believed has altered is that actually going to happen? Soliel is a changeling delight and I really loved her story and her strength and love. I love the values of family and hope and the right use of power that underlines this book and all the series.  4.5 stars.

The Bodyguard.  Katherine Center. Read in a day. Just couldn’t put it down. Feel good, warm hearted book with entertainment and sprinkles of life giving wisdom.  4.5 stars

Hana Khan Carries On. Uzma Jalaluddin. Very much enjoyed this book. A rom com, but…. The kind I like, great characters, comedic bits, interspersed with serious issues. Full of family, immigrant issues and most of all love. Highly recommend.

Dance Away With Me Susan Elizabeth Phillips. Five big fat stars. I loved this book, worth every big fat dollar I paid to get a hardback copy. I loved the characters, the serious issues covered and that Wren, she was just baby delicious. And sprinkled through was Susan Elizabeth Phillips smart, funny voice. It’s there, don’t say it’s not. I savoured every morsel of this book,  This was a reread in 2022 via audiobook, every bit as good second time round.  5 stars.

Month in Review

December Reading Wrap Up

Total books read this month:  11

Book Ratings

The Choice.   4 stars
Lessons from the Prairie. 3.75 stars
The Clockmaker’s Daughter. 4 stars.
Miracle Creek Christmas. 4 stars
Flirting with the Beast. 4 stars.
The Sweetness of Forgetting. 4 stars.
State of Shock.  Marie Force. 4 stars.
Christmas at the Edge of the World.  4 stars.

New to me authors:

Kristin Harmel

Top Book for December.

Sadly I can’t name a top book for December. They were all good reads, but no one stands out to me as a top read.

Looking forward to reading in January

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Linking up with Nicole from FeedYourFiction Addiction.

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It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? 2023

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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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Welcome in to 2023.   May it be one to shower blessings on you all.

What I read last week:

What I am reading now:

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Listening to…

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Ongoing Slow Reads

Up next:

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Last Week’s Posts

First Book of the Year

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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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Sitting here Boxing Day morning feeling a little tired but pleasantly so. Christmas Day was lovely. I think I am off to a family picnic today, for a little while any way.  Hope you are all managing with that cold dump going over USA.   Happy reading for the week with all those new books. I made the mistake of giving Mr. 9 year old a Dad’s Jokes book as a gift. He peppered us with Dad jokes for a lo…………ng time! Bittersweet because a year ago he couldn’t read!

What I read last week:

What I am reading now:

I had planned another book but then well I shelved it and went for this one just published.

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And I still have some slow reads going and an audiobook I mentioned last week and haven’t started yet!

Up next:

A library book which needs to be fitted in before it has to go back.

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Last Week’s Posts

Bread Over Troubled Waters. Winnie Archer

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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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And another week goes by. I had a reasonably good reading week. And other than that, a bit of everything mixed in. Spring is slowly revealing itself, some days sunny and others cold and wet. However no hurricanes like up the south east coast of the USA. How devastating.

What I read last week:

What I am reading now:

By an Australian author, only just starting but having just finished the Meredith Appleyard book they are so similar with their rural town hall focus.

Keeping Up Appearances

Up next:

Yikes no idea why I chose this from NetGalley but anyway will see when I pick it up to read.

The Boxing Baroness 

Last Week’s Posts

The Italian Daughter.  Soraya Lane

September Reading Round Up

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Month in Review

September Reading Round Up

Total books read this month:  14

Book Ratings

The Best is Yet to Come. 4 stars
Thank You for Listening. 5  stars
The Book Haters’ Book Club. 3 stars
Snowed in for Christmas. 4.5 stars
Flirting with Fifty.   4 stars
All is Bright.  4 stars
A Brighter Flame. 3 stars
The Italian Daughter 4 stars
Grace Under Fire. 4 stars
Murder on the Poet’s Walk. 4 stars
LowCountry Boil.  4 stars
The Bodyguard 4.5 stars
State of the Union 4 stars
Becoming Beth. Meredith Appleyard. 3.5 stars.

New to me authors:

Gretchen Anthony
Susan M Boyer*
Julia Whelan*

*Would read again

Top Print Book for September

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Top Audio Book for September

Thank You for Listening

Top Kindle Book for September

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Looking forward to reading in  October

It’s going to be just about all review books. My finger was trigger happy at NetGalley!  There is nothing that stands out, but they all looked good enough for my my finger to go “Read it!”

Review of Reading Goals  for September

  • read one or two off my shelf.  I did get one print and one Kindle book from my own shelf.
  • keep up to date with library books with my turn. Read three from the library.
  • Read the review books on my calendar.  Yes – done
  • Choose and start my slow and steady read. I chose Emma by Jane Austen and I am happy to say I am more than half way through it.

Main Reading Goals for October

  • Read the review books I have on my calendar
  • Continue with my slow and steady read – Emma
  • Maybe sneak in one off my shelf or a library book if necessary.

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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Hope you all had a great week. We went into daylight savings on the weekend so springing forward. I don’t mind that, its the gaining an hour that throws me.

We have a public holiday in honour of the Queen’s life here – I know a little late, but our Prime Minister only arrives back now after being overseas.

What I read last week:

A good reading week. Yikes, I read The Bodyguard in a day. So enjoyable.

What I am reading now:

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And I will be listening to…

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Up next:

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Last Week’s Posts

Snowed in for Christmas.   Sarah Morgan

The Book Haters’ Book Club.     Gretchen Anthony

All is Bright.   RaeAnne Thayne

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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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Welcome in all and I hope you are all okay. It is so good to touch base each week with readers in various parts of our world and to find out how you are all doing as well as what you are reading.

Here in NZ omicron is very present and we now have big numbers each day. I am hibernating a bit, although if the weather is good a friend and I will take a trip to an island in Wellington harbour one day. Meanwhile camped out in streets and around parliament in Wellington is a large number of people objecting to covid restrictions. Some have become sick so they fashioned tin foil hats (some of them) because they believe the government is sending radiation to destroy them. I know lots of crazy happening! They have caused big disruption. I do not feel kindly towards them!

And meanwhile we have one big Crazy and  the Ukraine situation. I feel the only thing I can do is pray.

What I read last week:

What I am reading now:

And I am listening to…

Another Chance to dream

Up next:

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Last Week’s Posts

Romance Books

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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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A really good reading and quilting week! My firewood arrived on Saturday and we wheeled it around near the wood shed but left it out as its not that dried out, needs some more sun and wind!

What I read last week:

What I am reading now:

I am joining in with an informal reading challenge on Emilie Richards Readers Page and this month the label is – A book that somehow deals with race relations. I’ve chosen a middle grade book. “Julie Kim just wants to fit in. So, she tries not to draw attention to herself. But when racist graffiti appears at her middle school, Julie must decide between staying silent or speaking out.”. I chose this because I had seen a good review for this book on the Nerdy Book Club blog and plus Colby Sharp, a teacher and someone I follow gave it five stars.

Finding Junie Kim

And about to start listening to this one. A YA book, one I bought in an Audible sale. Reading off my audio shelf as well so not always buying a new audiobook!

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Up next:

A Kindle book I pre-ordered last year. A spin off from one of her series I love – First Family.

Someone Like You 

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