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
Top Kindle Book
Top Audiobook
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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!!
Long before Virgin River became a Netflix series I had read Virgin River and… all the books that followed. Quite a few as three came out every year for awhile. Robyn Carr writes a good story and there was lots of romance along the way.
I loved all Judith McNaught’s books, and this is one of her contemporary romances. It’s been sitting on my shelf for years along with a number of others written by her. I have no idea now about it so should really reread it to see if I still love it.
This one is more recent and is YA and contemporary romance. K. A. Tucker has hooked me with a number of her books and I loved this one when I read it in 2019. I have to admit I could easily read it again now, and its why I saved it on my shelf.
I thought Australian author Fiona Palmer has written an amazing story, that is very touching and had me totally engaged with her characters. The issues she explores in this book were especially topical and well thought out. One of the issues she explores I have never come across in any other book. So wonderfully and compassionately told. While I am not a reader who likes backwards in time sections, this one totally aced it and was perfect.
In Beach Read we have January – a romance author who just can’t get the deadline book written. She has lost her father in the last year and has had another nasty shock as well and she really isn’t dealing. She goes to the beach house her father has left her, and finds out her neighbour is Gus, a literary fiction writer and they went to writing college together. And so the tango begins. Emily Henry will eventually get January to the place where she can write, but how she does that… well I can’t give that away. I don’t think this book is a beach read, or an out and out romance, more a mash up of sorts!
Another book I’ve just recently read also has a romance author struggling to write. Kaylee has just recently experienced a loss and takes off to Virgin River to write in a quiet spot where she can hopefully write. Will Virgin River be able to work that kind of magic for her?
Another by Robyn Carr, this time a stand alone from quite awhile back -1999. One of my keepers. This has just not one author in the book but a group of friends who are authors and all struggling in one way or another, but especially over the death of a friend. I feel a reread coming along.
I really enjoyed this book, it was excellent. Again it is about four writers. One of them has her life fall apart and the other three come to her rescue. To help her they co author her book that must be written to meet a deadline. Of course no one else knows that. Each chapter starts with a wonderful little quote that are gems in themselves. It is extremely well written and once started fully engages the reader. As I was reading I found plenty to enjoy and ponder on. Another keeper on my bookshelf from 2009 and I need a reread of this one too.
A family journey across Europe in a camper van. In doing so they are guided by letters from their Pop who died and left them a bundle of letters to guide them. I loved this book, the family – the journey – Pops and his letters. I read every word – no skimming. Its warm, funny, emotional and real. I am not a “let’s take a trip” kind of person but this was so inspiring. Loved the map at the beginning. Loved The Things I Should Have Told You.
An unexpected road trip takes Greta from her home in Dublin to the bright lights of Vegas, she begins to question if you need to be the perfect size to love yourself. Or to fall in love. Because sometimes the best moments in life come when it’s all gone a bit pear-shaped... I loved the road trip and the characters in My Pear Shaped Life. Great read.
Most likely YA but Field Notes on Love is still very worth reading. An uplifting and delightful story about one sextuplet and his desire to be his own unique self. It’s about a girl with a dream and two dads. It touches on prejudice and racism gently but in a way that opens the readers heart. Having just been dumped by his girlfriend, British-born Hugo is still determined to take his last-hurrah-before-college train trip across the United States. One snag: the companion ticket is already booked under the name of his ex, Margaret Campbell. Nontransferable, no exceptions.
I haven’t read The Women Who Ran Away but Trish from Between My Lines hooked me into this one 
The Book Date 