Book Connections

Favourite Covers of 2021

Today I am picking five covers of books I read in 2021. Each cover is linked to Goodreads. I might not necessarily put the contents in the top five, (although a couple would be) but the covers attract. There are other covers I liked but I didn’t read the books so I didn’t count them.

I think covers do count, as a book that has a relevant and attractive cover does pull me in as a reader.

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Book Connections

One Hobby leads to Another

My two main hobbies are reading and quilting. Of course reading came long before quilting. It was actually because of my reading that quilting became a hobby. The two have similarities! My eyes are always on “more”. More books, more fabric! More patterns and more quilts I might make. Like books I have a TBQ shelf  shelves of fabrics and pattens!

Book covers are linked to Goodreads in case you want to explore any of the books.

book coverThe book that started it all for me. There are five books in the Shenandoah Album by Emilie Richards and I loved them all. They are all about women and threaded in are some quilting. As I read I became enamoured by quilts.

It wasn’t until many years later as I neared retirement the I was sucked into quilting. I am not a sewer, but thank you to You Tube, Craftsy, Missouri Star Quilt Company and later Fat Quarter shop I’ve been developing some skills.

Quilting is addictive as reading!

I have read this first book in J Chiaverini’s series. The characters were endearing and there was definitely quilt talk. I haven’t read much else in the series, it didn’t wow me that much, but I might pick up a few more to see what I think.  There are quite a few in the series so it would give me some reading!

book coverMary Marks has written a cosy mystery series that held me all the way through to #9. And I await another hopefully in 2022.

Fun characters and lovely but not too intrusive to the story – quilting. Plus Mary Marks really knows her quilting.

book coverThis one is on my actual print TBR shelf. And the second one as well. A cozy mystery series and I think it has a good enough rep to say I will probably read through the series for a bit of quilting buzz.

book coverAnd finally another on my actual print TBR. It’s the first in a kilts and quilts series and has about 8 books in it. So if I like the one I’ll keep going.

I have also added other possibilities to my GR shelf that I might chase down.  While I love quilts I also want strong story lines and characters as well and not all quilt fiction is equal!

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Month in Review

July Reading Look Back

Total books read this month: Eight.

New to me authors:

Tif Marcelo

Top Book for July

Mainly because its well written and I went along with the fun story. Light, fun reading. That said there were a number of books that could have filled this spot for July.

Looking forward to reading in August

Main Reading Goals for August

Ignore all I could and ought to read and just read what I feel like.

Read slowly.

Linking up with Feed Your Fiction Addiction

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Review

Knot Ready for Murder. Mary Marks

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Published: Kensington
Date: 27th July 2021
Source: Publisher via NetGalley

Before quilter Martha Rose can tie the knot to Crusher, she has to track down his missing first wife…

Oh dear! Just as at last Martha is ready to plunge into saying yes to marriage to Crusher, it is discovered he was married years ago because of an act of kindness.

Who is Martha? Well first and foremost a quilter. But also in recent years she has become a bit of a sleuth when it comes to murders and such like. She is a bit unorthodox in her methods, although fairly orthodox in her Jewish faith, and I love her Sabbath get togethers with family.

There has been one murder, before the story starts.   Hadas, sister of the murdered person, owner of a business, and to be honest not that likeable, makes her appearance.  Oh and she is the “wife” from long ago for Crusher. On the other hand, Fanya who arrives with her was a lot of fun and I so hope we see more of her.

As usual Martha gets herself involved in some unlikely situations, and eventually with lots of assistance I might add, from her family and friends, solves the mystery and enables her life to move forward.

This book felt a little different to the previous ones, I never felt Martha was in any danger and while there were a few red herrings I’d worked out the guilty party early on. I didn’t mind that and thoroughly enjoyed all the quilt talk in this book. If this book appeals to you, don’t start with it, go back to the first one and start there.

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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 good week. I had a visit from Miss 8 year old. I asked her what she wanted to read next. When she mentioned a series and I didn’t know what she had and what she didn’t, we looked on Goodreads. Then I let her be, while I chatted with her mother and grandmother.

Next day I was surprised to see someone on Goodreads liked that I wanted to read Matilda by Roald Dahl! “What!” I laughed when I saw about three books had been added to my TBR list on GR that Miss 8 year old wanted to read!

What I read last week:

So first two are library books and both good. I especially really enjoyed The Kitchen Front. I didn’t realise rationing didn’t finish until 1954 in Britain.  The Sweeney Sisters was okay, an audiobook. Knot Ready for Murder is a review book.

What I am reading now:

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And listening to

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Up next:

book cover Last Week’s Posts

The One You are With

Recently Bought Books

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Month in Review

June Reading Round Up

 

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Total books read this month: 10

New to me authors:

Angeline Boulley

Top Book for June

I had some really good books that could be right in this spot, but this one for me just pips them out.

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Review of Reading Goals June 2021

Read another book or at least give it the 25 page test to decide whether I keep going or not. from    Sorting My TBR: April – Stay or Go   

I did look at one and gave it a few page test and then put it in the bag for the book fair. And it has been dropped off!

Main Reading Goals for July

  1. Read one more from.    Sorting My TBR: April – Stay or Go   
  2. Read two and maybe three books from the library. Well that was the plan but a whole lot have suddenly been dropped with my name on them. I’ll see what I can get through, I won’t pick them up till the weekend, which will give me a little time.
  3. Read one from my TBR Kindle that is off a list of one author whose books I want to read through.
  4. Read two in total (includes the one mentioned in #1, from my TBR shelf and three from my review shelf.

Linking up with Nicole from FeedYourFiction Addiction.

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#IMWAYR

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 week of much the same as other weeks! I watched the moon eclipse here between 10:30 pm and 11:30pm with a clear starlit sky, its always good when there is no cloud cover for something that only comes around every so often.

What I read last week:

Enjoyed all these. The Queen of Hearts was a audiobook. Review for The Stepsisters this week and now I want to read more of Georgette Heyer.

What I am reading now:

One off my print TBR shelf.

The Possibilities

And I have started listening to The Missing Sister by Lucinda Riley. (23 hrs plus) I nearly returned it to Audible because a bit of it is set in New Zealand and the narrator does a terrible NZ accent that is like a parody. I managed to calm down and talk myself into staying with it. I was going to head out and buy the book instead!!

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Up next:

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Last Week’s Posts

Challenging Reads

How to Mend a Broken Heart.  Rachael Johns

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It’s Monday! What Have You Been 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 are all doing well. I had a good week of sunshine and some Autumn tidy up and cleaning. Today I have rain, but as we haven’t seen any for weeks I am hoping it will revive the garden a little.

What I read last week:

A great week for reading. Loved them all. So pleased A Bad Day for Sunshine sat on my shelf for so long so now I don’t have to wait too long for #2 in July.

What I am reading now:

My next book for review.

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Up next:

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Last Week’s Posts

Recent Books for Review

The Path to Sunshine Cove  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 to another week of reading. For me it is beginning to feel like Autumn and I know so many of you are ready to go right into Spring!

What I read last week:

I throughly enjoyed Just Like That and Picnic in Someday Valley. Light Over London was good but a little slow moving.

What I am reading now:

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Up next:

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Last Week’s Posts

Picking Through NetGalley

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It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? March 1st.

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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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Well here we are in March, hope you are all okay. It is great to be able to visit around readers’ blogs to see what you are doing and how you are.

I am fine, finding our summer weather just a tad hot for me! Covid wise it’s fine although when we find a case everyone in the country has levels upped. So on Saturday night an alert on my phone told me we were going to L2 where I am which means no groups bigger than a 100. So that cut church out for Sunday as we just don’t have it when we go to L2. In Auckland they are in L3 because that is where the breakout is. They have no school, work at home etc. I guess most of you are familiar with that. It is at this stage only for 7 days. Next Sunday might find me at church again!!

What I read last week:

What I am reading now:

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And just starting to listen to

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Up next:

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Last Week’s Posts

Garden Books

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