Bellewether | 
Starting this one during the #awesomeapril readathon day two! Susanna Kearsley is one of my favorite authors. Her books are all dual timeline with a romantic bent. She is a master at weaving historical and current plots together.
I can‘t wait to see if this one is as good as the rest!
so-soI usually love Kearsley‘s books but this was my least favorite of those I have read so far. Told in two alternating storylines, one about a woman hired to run a soon to be open historic home as a museum and the the other about two of the home previous inhabitants during the Seven Year War, I found myself bored more than once. Neither the history nor the romances had me enthralled.
I‘ve been reading in my book nook. How long has he been staring at me like that? 😬😬😬
pickSeptember #Bookspin complete. I didn‘t think I would like this one as much as I did. My favorite aspect of Kearsley‘s books is the setting, and I didn‘t care to be in this setting. But my mind changed when I began reading. Kearsley does dual timelines so well. I wanted to know how both storylines were going to play out. A perfect fall read.
pickSpent the week in San Antonio, TX celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary 🎉❤️✨It was a wonderful trip!
This was the book I brought to read on the plane and it was also my April #bookspin choice - Books from Mom category.
A great story following Kearsley‘s typical style which I always enjoy. Probably my second favorite of hers so far. I love the way she combines a modern day story with one in the past and brings them together by the end.
Both categories this month!
#bookspin is the Books from Mom category. My mom has borrowed me lots of books that have been sitting in my shelves so it‘s good I have to get one of them read now. I‘ve chosen the tagged book.
#doublespin is a Middle Grade Book off my son‘s shelves. This one yet to be determined.
I finished both for March but have to post a review for the second one yet. And I‘ll probably do the #bookspinbingo board next weekend
#lmpbc @hes7 Sent off. Expected delivery is Thursday. I will believe that when I see it. 😜
@TheAromaofBooks @Readergrrl
pick#lmpbc @hes7 @TheAromaofBooks @Readergrrl
I will get it sent off early this week.
#20in4 @andrew65
I will start this this weekend, but I feel very behind with work right now and not sure how much fun reading time I will get.
@hes7 @TheAromaofBooks @Readergrrl #lmpbc
Look what I got today. And it didnt take a month or get lost. @Readergrrl I know I need to get busy on the other one and will. @hes7
@TheAromaofBooks
#lmpbc #round10
@cwarnier I just mailed off my #LMPBC book to you. Hopefully it doesn‘t take a month to get to you this time!! I really enjoyed Bellewether! Historical romance without being sappy! Just what I needed. Ironically, I learned the author was inspired by an island in Canada (Campobello) that is sister to the island where my family comes from (Deer Island)!!! Very cool!
Greetings, fellow #LMPBC-ers!! Even though it's a little early, I was done reading both books & had to hit up the post office anyway, so I sent Bellewether off to @Readergrrl and Entwined to @Laughterhp . Looking forward to reading with you all!!
@Chrissyreadit @Catsandbooks @hes7 @cwarnier
#GroupC #GroupR
pickI loved this one!! Generally speaking, two things that turn me off from books are dual timelines and a touch of paranormal, but Kearsley handles these things so well that I devoured every page. Usually dual timelines mean that I am a lot more invested in one story than the other, but here I loved everyone. The gentle connections between the present & the past - the reminder of how people in history were genuine people with complicated layers & ⬇️
Compiling my #BookSpin list so I pulled my two #LMPBC books off the shelf last night...and realized they look eerily alike?? So random!!
#GroupR @hes7 @Readergrrl @cwarnier
#GroupC @Chrissyreadit @Laughterhp @Catsandbooks
Good morning #GroupR !! I have a million romances on my TBR, but here are a few that jumped out at me - any strike your fancy? I will say that Dear Aaron is pushing the length limits at around 500 pages, so it may not be the best choice. Just let me know if you have already read any of these, or if you love or hate one of these authors, or whatever!! Super excited about reading with you all!!!
#LMPBC @hes7 @Readergrrl @cwarnier
pickIt‘s official. I‘ve become a Kearsley fan. 😊 This is my second book from her, and I‘ve enjoyed both! One of my favorite things about her method is how much historical research she puts in and real events/people when possible. A dual timeline (also in her book Mariana) centers around a house/museum on Long Island owned by generations of the Wilde family. Their family bonds, struggles, and lessons learned echo the contemporary story. Two lovely 🔻
Out of curiosity, do y'all read your signed books? I am not adverse, generally speaking, but my boyfriend is always a bit aghast at me when I do so, since he generally doesn't. Anyway, today I'm finally starting this one.
pickFinally. Not a WWII novel. And of course... My own family background.
Covid hysterectomy
pickHistorical fiction in three povs and two timelines. I liked the parts set in the past very much. Never really got emotionally invested in the modern characters, though.
pickI just finished it and I want to go back to the beginning and read it again. Yes, it‘s that good! If you haven‘t read this historical, ghost, mystery, love story yet you‘re missing out.
so-soA gentle story to relax with. A focus on a time period under represented in literature. The duel timelines helped make the point regarding historical authenticity vs. alternative tellings of facts. Unfortunately, the characters were dry, the romance was underwhelming(the couple couldn't even speak to one another until 3/4ths of the way through), and it got slow in parts that didn't really contribute to the story development.
so-soStarted off good then the details going from past to present bogged this story down for me. Charley gets the job of renewing an old house that has a past. Ghosts are abound as she tries to get the townsfolk on board to help with the job. I just wanted more dialogue in this book. Last chapter was good!!!🥴
Hey ladies! Here are the books I was thinking of for the Historical Fiction #LMPBC round.
If you don‘t like any of these, I have a couple of others. However, a lot of the historical fiction books I have are 2 timelines with 1 historic and 1 is present day.
#7days7covers #covercrush #day7
If you haven't joined in, feel free to play! 7 covers, 7 days, no explanations. This had been fun!
@Lynnsoprano @vonnie862
pickI picked this up on a recommendation and really enjoyed it. The Seven Years War isn‘t something I recall very well from school, so it was interesting to read something in this time period.
The cat was a tiny menace and couldn‘t sit still for very long which was distracting, but I did finish my book and it was so good. Susanna Kearsley is one of my favorite writers, I always buy her books when they come out.
#bellewether #susannakearsley #kittymenace #catsoflitsy
The cat decided my lap needed filling while I was reading.
#bellewether #susannakearsley #historicalfiction #contemporary #catsoflitsy
panI read this for my book club this month and could not get into it. I had to force myself to get through it. I usually like this author but I found this to be overly complicated and really boring.
so-soI had high hope's for this book and so wanted it to be good, but I just couldn't get into the story as it seemed I had read this same format just a different setting and characters by the same author before.
So my weekend of doing nothing has sort of turned into a bookshop hopping vacation. My (non-reader) husband keeps enabling me by saying "do you want to go to this one?" Um, yeah, course I do. We've been to three so far. One indie, one Barnes and Noble, and one used shop. And I have tried sooo hard to be good. I have not been good. But look at all the pretty things. I wonder what housekeeping must think.
pickSusanna Kearsley is one of my favorite historical fiction authors. Her characters are very relatable, and her storylines are so delicately intertwined with actual history that I never realize I'm learning about real history. Truly engaging and always lovely ♡
📚📚 Happy Reading! 📚📚
pickThere is a formula to Susanna Kearsley's books, but it's a formula I love. This was not my favorite of hers, but it's the kind of book that is always a satisfying read.
I've been reading more slowly the last few weeks due to a combination of poor health and a desire to rewatch all 15 past seasons of NCIS... 😂 That said, I'm still making steady progress and just started this one today. Reviews seem a bit iffy, but I love Susanna Kearsley, so hopefully it will be a good read!
When the publisher changes the cover design and now it won't match the rest if your books.
pickLove that Susanna Kearsley‘s books go back and forth between present and past. Another good read by her.
Day 18 Black peach tea with calendula petals. It is the best peach tea I have ever had. I will be posting the teas from the days I missed. For once my mom gave me books. Usually she doesn't buy books because she just raids my library, but today she gave me these.
Current read. I love Susanna Kearsley books!! 💙💙
What are you reading this weekend? 🌙I just picked up this gorgeous book by @susanna.kearsley for my weekend read. Unfortunately, I won‘t be using this amethyst moon bookmark. But, it‘s on its way to it‘s new home with the lovely @shereadswithcats I had to snap this picture because of the perfect timing for the moon eclipse on Sunday. 🌙
Trying to decide my next read. With hundreds on my TBR list, I‘ve narrowed down to these three. #bookwormproblems
pickNow I remember why I‘ve always enjoyed Kearsley‘s books—sometimes you just want to escape into a historical fiction/romantic suspense book. Modern storyline follows Charlotte, new curator at the Wilde House Museum, as she supervises the renovation of the house & preparations for a new exhibit on Captain Benjamin Wilde‘s life. 18th c. storyline follows a captured French officer & Lydia Wilde. Ghosts, family secrets, history make this a good read.
Ok, I admit it...my next read was a pick based on the cover. I‘ve been reading Kearsley for ages, though nothing in the past few years, and I‘m excited to read another one of her books. I suspect this one was added to my TBR after our trip to Canada during the summer as it has to do with a captured French Canadian lieutenant and the daughter of the house who isn‘t too happy to have him there...
We‘ve always had a tradition of the kids opening one present on Christmas Eve but then we‘ve also always been gone on Christmas Eve. This year, we had our family Christmas Eve yesterday and I decided to do the #jolabokaflod thing. But in a twist, my kids bought for me and my husband. Here‘s what I got. Wishing all a fabulous reading holiday!
pickAnother satisfying read by Susanna Kearsley. I do wish we had been able to follow more of Lydia's and Jean-Phillipe's story. For that matter I'd like to see Charley's future as well.
pickGot this YA title from my library's New Books shelf & stayed up last night to finish it before I had to return it today. Difficult & painful to read but a very good & still hopeful look at a family torn apart in the aftermath of a rape. Explores rape culture & the impact on the rape survivor & her family through the perspectives of Ashley & her brother Derek-whose testimony at his football teammate's trial helps lessen his sentence. Powerful.💜
I can‘t wait to read New York Times bestselling author Suzanna Kearsley‘s new book, Bellewether. I was lucky enough to be given a copy by her publisher, which she signed for me at her author Q&A in London, before the Romantic Novelists‘ Association Winter Party. The cover is stunning and the blurb is so intriguing. She‘s such an inspiring lady. I have a kindle full of her other books. #Littens #Books #Bellewether #RNA #RomanticNovelistsAssociation
pickA snowy morning to finish out this gem!!! Sweet story with a dual time line, a little mystery and intrigue, and romance. She is definitely one of my must read authors!!! 💜💜💜
