Steven Rowley – The Book Date

Top Ten Tuesday

Today I am taking part in The Artsy Reader Girl’s link up.

Todays link up asks us to take a look at our most anticipated books being released in the first half of 2023.

I thought I wouldn’t find ten but I did! There are a couple of others but I have them so I am choosing the ten I want to remind myself to keep an eye out for.

1. Someone Else’s Shoes Jojo Moyes. February

2. Coronation Year. Jennifer Robson. April

3. The Wonderful Thing about Phoenix Rose. Josephine Moon. April

4. Identity. Nora Roberts. May

5. The Girl from Donegal. Carmel Harrington. No cover out yet. May

6. Warrior Girl Unearthed. Andeline Boulley. May

7. The Celebrants. Steven Rowley. May

8. Atlas: The Story of Pa Salt. Lucinda Riley/Harry Whittaker. Audio most likely. May

9. The Secret Book of Flora Lea. Patti Callahan Henry. May

10. The Money Club Fiona Lowe. May

#IMWAYR

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

February 21, 2022February 21, 2022 Kathryn

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

Last Week’s Posts

Five More Books Read from my Print TBR

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Book Connections, Review

And Five More Read from my TBR

February 18, 2022 Kathryn

It is so good to see my books shrinking a little off my TBR print shelf. I am calculating that if I read five a month, that will be sixty books by the end of the year! Here are the next five I have read.

book cover I picked up Go Tell the Bees I am Gone, knowing its a doorstopper of a read and it was, it took me two weeks to read.

However I throughly enjoyed going back into the late 1770’s in North Carolina on Fraser’s Ridge. Most of the story takes place there although we do go to nearish places.

So many characters to catch up with, and see how they were getting on. A few new ones. There is trouble of course as they become closer to moving away from the British rule. Some violence which I hurriedly skipped over.

And a bit of a cliff hanger at the end I had no trouble waiting for to resolve in the next book, which could be years away. It always surprises me when I get into these books I just remember so much. 4.5 stars.

Admission So remember that scandal that broke about rich people paying for their children to gain college entry. This is a fictional story of a family who do just that. It’s told from the point of view of the young woman concerned. It explores the effect on her and her whole family and her friends.

Well worth reading. Puts us in touch with privilege. And misuse of it. It also opens us to stand and observe the guilty and their handling of it. Hopefully opens our hearts to forgiveness. Go well Chloe’s family. 4 stars.

book cover #3 in the romantic suspense series I am reading by Karen Rose. I often pick up one of these after reading a meh book and I need something to just make me turn the pages.

Great read. Well I disliked the crime parts, I might have skipped the tough parts. But it is so fast paced and the characters are so likeable. I love the Reagan family. Part of what I like about these books is the family aspect and the friendships. And often we get ongoing updates as other members of the family or friends get a book of their own. The crimes escalate and its more than one perp. Creepy deaths, maybe they deserve it but… Points to the corruptness of the system really. Romantic aspect – top notch. 5 stars.

The Awakening After reading Katherine’s review of this (I Wish I Lived in a Library), I put this to the top of my reading pile. I am so happy I did. It was wonderful turn page reading. One main character – Breen with lots of interesting characters surrounding her.

A portal into another world. A magical world and a long forgotten family that Breen belongs to. It is fantasy with a capital F. It appealed to my child reader in me, who remembers wonderful fairy tales and mystic and magic.

Have already ordered #2 The Becoming. 5 stars

book cover An interesting story of a young debut author who finds himself at a publishing house where Jackie Onassis becomes his editor. The book is fiction but based on his family life, and mainly his mother. Mrs Onassis pushes him to his limits until he explores the issues involved in his life and with his mother. While doing so he develops a good author/editor relationship that really supports him along the way.

I liked this book but I am so pleased I read The Guncle first as that one was more to my reading taste. However this was worth reading. 4 stars

#IMWAYR

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

February 14, 2022February 14, 2022 Kathryn

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A lot of very muggy heat really knocked me off my perch this week. Far hotter than I’ve ever known. And now we get the remains of a cyclone. At least the temperature has dropped.

As well as reading I did some viewing, two New Zealand shows as it turns out. One set in a vineyard down south, and a movie about a Downs Syndrome lass, and as it was filmed locally, it was fun spotting and knowing all the locations. Now I need to find something else.

What I read last week:

Three good reads. Enjoyed them all.

What I am reading now:

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And listening to…

Up next:

A review book from a favourite Australian author.

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Last Week’s Posts

Goodbye Again. Mariah Stewart

Tidying up the TBR shelf

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Book Connections

New to Me Authors of 2021

December 17, 2021December 17, 2021 Kathryn

I’ve read a number of new to me authors during 2021. I have been scrolling through to see which authors I would like to read either their back lists, or any new ones they might publish. There are a couple I really liked that I haven’t included here because I have already read another book by them. So here are the ones I’d like to follow up on….

Covers link to Goodreads.

I did enjoy this book by Irish author Roisin Meaney so I will definitely read another. It had a great Irish setting and varied and interesting characters.

Stephen Rowley was another author I want to read more from, he just had that point of difference that made for interesting reading.

Madeleine Martin‘s historical fiction was memorable, and when I can still remember the plot and characters some months later, that’s a good sign.

I have just finished listening to Julie Cantrell‘s book Perennials on audio. Brittany Pressley really brought this book alive. There was something happening all through the book and the characters were interesting. It was somewhat sad in places and maybe too much happened but still a good read. I’ll want to listen to more of Brittany Pressley as well.

Another audiobook made me interested in another new to me author in 2021 that I’d like to read more from. Molly Fader writes about family estranged and a part of that family finding the way back. And of wrongs of long ago that have impacted today. Nancy Peterson the narrator really helped bring the characters alive.

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Month in Review

August Reading Wrap Up.

September 1, 2021 Kathryn

Total books read this month: 13

New to me authors:

Steven Rowley
Lea Wait
Ali Mc Namara

Top Book for August

Very hard to decide! I think I’ll just note that I really liked The Guncle and will be reading more by Steven Rowley. Told with great compassion and love.

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I Was Reminded…

I really enjoy a good historical romance. They are such fun. The Lisa Kleypas book was delightful, and The Grand Sophy on audiobook was so entertaining. Light and fluffy sure, but made me laugh and that’s always a good thing.

Looking forward to reading in September from my bookshelf

I do have a load I’d like to read but as you’ll see for my goal for September other books come first.

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Review of Reading Goals for August

My goal was just to read what I really wanted. So I only read books that I knew I didn’t have to review and I sunk into books I felt like reading as I chose the next book.

Main Reading Goals for September

Well now, I need to gain ground a little and read the review books I ignored in August and then the ones I had on my calendar for September as well.

Our library has now decided to change to the Libby app, so I want to explore that for library audio books to see if improved over last one. Plus I usually get two credits per month at Audible, I have 8 in hand and may just need to cut back to 1 credit a month. I have a heap in my library to listen to as well.

Linking up with Nicole from FeedYourFiction Addiction.

#IMWAYR

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

August 9, 2021August 9, 2021 Kathryn

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Hope you all had a good week. We’ve had heaps of rain. Must almost be floating by now! I’ve had a good week though. Saw one of my great nieces on Saturday. Miss Six. She showed me where she now had a missing tooth. “Is that your first tooth for the tooth fairy?” I asked her. “No, this is my “freeth” she said. Her version of threeth or as I said, “oh your third!” I get such joy from small moments like that!

What I read last week:

I finished listening to The Twelve Clues of Christmas. It was a really good listen with some gruesome death scenes at the end for the murderer. The Guncle was excellent reading and I am happy I have my own copy of this to put on my keeper shelves.

What I am reading now:

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and listening to

The Bright Side of Disaster

Up next:

Last Week’s Posts

July Reading Look Back

Authors’ Back Lists.

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Book Connections

Authors’ Back Lists

August 6, 2021August 6, 2021 Kathryn

Sometimes a new to me author makes me want to think about what the author has written previously and I like to think about what I could read of theirs.

The Gunkle I’ve been reading The Guncle by Stephen Rowley which is exploring some serious issues, mainly that of grief and loss but with some humour and great compassion. And the main character is so engaging.

It’s made me realise I’ll need to read another by Steven Rowley. I think my next one will be The Editor.

And then here are other authors who I have come across in recent years and am well into reading their back lists.

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I’ve now read quite a few by Karen White but I have some to go and I’d like to keep reading anything she has written and at the moment I am working my way through the Tradd St series, but I have others of hers to read as well.

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I have read the recent books by Viola Shipman but there are a couple of previous books that I’d like to catch up on. The Charm Bracelet and The Hope Chest.

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When I read my first Katherine Center book How to Walk Away I knew I’d want to read anything else she has written. I have read her recent ones and have a few of her back list still to go. So I have chosen my next audiobook by her and it is called The Bright Side of Disaster. When I like an author I don’t even usually read the blurb – I just pick it up and read!

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I picked this book by Liz Byrski, from a local bookshop based on the cover as you do! It brought me the happy acquaintance of a new to me author. I have since read I think at least one or two of her books and she does have a few back list books. I picked up three of them cheaply from the same bookshop recently. She lives in Australia and I think is of British origin. She writes women’s fiction and often has an older character in her books. She has a new one coming out in September I see.

When I read a new author I don’t always start to note their backlist books. I guess it’s a good indication if I do, that I really liked their books. In the past I’ve found author sand read everything by them.

Who is an author that you have at present that you want to read all their backlist books?

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#IMWAYR

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

August 2, 2021August 2, 2021 Kathryn

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Hope you all had a great week. Mine was good – I’ve enjoyed watching a bit of the Olympics but not much, mostly what is on the news. I am pleased it seems to be going off pretty well.

What I read last week:

Both great reads.

What I am reading now:

The Gunkle

Up next:

Most likely but not locked in!

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Last Week’s Posts

Knot Ready for Murder. Mary Marks

Reasons I Am Not Reading So Much

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Book Connections

Recently Bought Books

July 16, 2021July 16, 2021 Kathryn

I have too many good books to read! I have those library books mentioned last week. Plus it seems to have been a big buying month! Sometimes the bug hits. It is going to be awhile before I get to these but I am so wanting to.

The Gunkle A gay uncle has to look after his niece and nephew for the summer. I heard about this on a book podcast and I really want to read it sooner rather than later. I haven’t read Steven Rowley yet, I did intend to, so I can start with this one.

When Stars Collide I have recently bought this one too and I really, really want to read it soon. SEP’s latest romance between an opera singer and a back up quarterback. I am a die hard fan. Out of the five, when I get a chance this will be the first one.

The Player Next Door I also am a fan of Canadian author K. A. Tucker and I need an author with same initials as me for a challenge. Well I don’t have an A. but I consider the K and the T reason enough! It is a romance as well. I didn’t even really read what its about, just the author’s name is enough!

Don't tell Don’t Tell is the first one in Karen Rose’s romantic suspense series. I’ve read some of the later ones, but I want to go back and start the series. I probably won’t get onto it for awhile but I have this one and the second one. However the latest one comes out early August and I suspect I’ll read that one first when it publishes.

The Book Club This was close to an accidental buy. I had put it in my wish list after what Irish blogger/reader Trish had to say about this on IG or Facebook. Can’t remember. It was sitting in the list beside a book I intended to buy. I must have accidentally put this one in the cart and saw it only after I’d paid. I didn’t want to go through the rigmarole of changing it, so I left it. It will be good I am sure, I haven’t read anything by the author yet. Was published in June 2021 by Irish author Roisin Meaney. Well I mean, look at the title!!