A year (two?) ago, my book club chose the third book in this series to read together. I hate reading out of order so I promptly bought this one. Didn‘t read it (or the monthly selection) because I was missing the meeting anyway. Now reading it will give me a bookspin bingo. Let‘s see if I can get it done by the end of the month.

This was less a sharing of wisdom than a recounting of Kalins‘ own impressive connections and experiences and so it was not as interesting as I‘d hoped. Full review at http://booknaround.blogspot.com/2023/08/review-kitchen-whisperers-by-dorothy.htm...

Miss Gatsby is happy to have me home.

I read three of the four books I brought with me for the weekend. I‘ll start the fourth on the plane home tomorrow. Of course, every part of me aches from the (inadequately trained for) race so I might just sleep instead. 😂 #bookreport #weeklyforecast @Cinfhen

An enemies to lovers romance with a shred cat, this is a very light pick for those needing an escapist book that isn‘t really going to be particularly memorable for long. Full review at http://booknaround.blogspot.com/2023/07/review-break-up-by-tilly-tennant.html?m=...

“A lesser mortal might have hoped he would have passed quietly in the night.

I, however, would have settled for him passing rather loudly.”

How can you not giggle at lines like this?!

I‘m sprinkling this series in amongst other books because it is such a delight. I‘m on Volume 3 now

I loved the premise of this “kid detective” all grown up and trying to distance herself from solving cases only to be pulled back into that life and discovering not only that she‘s good at it but truly enjoys it. Unfortunately Charlotte was a whiny, annoying character and the case was not compelling. Full review at http://booknaround.blogspot.com/2023/07/review-charlotte-illes-is-not-detective....

Good thing I brought multiple books for the flight. 😉

Heading to Chicago. Gonna see an old college friend, maybe watch my kid sail, run a little ole half marathon (with a lot of walking included), go to a concert, and finally head home tired and happy. Should be a fun weekend!

An introspective, character driven novel about three people experiencing very different, very hard things and the community that forms slowly as they grapple with grief, guilt, and their uncertain futures. Fairly predictable, I‘d give this a low pick. Full review at http://booknaround.blogspot.com/2023/07/review-quiet-life-by-ethan-joella.html?m...

Was going to try and get decent sleep last night so I went to bed before I posted this last night. Then I laid awake until 2 am. Figures! Anyway, here it is a day late. #bookreport #weeklyforecast @Cinfhen

Sent my #fffs today. It‘s expected to be there Friday. @Chrissyreadit @Avanders

Returning to a previously started book since this is one of the 2023 Great Group Reads selections.

Ozzie is unimpressed with my desire to take a picture of my current read. He has beaten Gatsby out for prime position on my lap though so he‘s luxuriating in that.

I‘m only starting the second one but these books crack me up and I am thoroughly enjoying Emma.

This just in! 😁 #fffs @Chrissyreadit @Avanders And without a Litsy name on the box, a little research makes me think this is from @Ahw06

I‘m trying to get through the backlog of unfinished books. The last five are Great Group Reads for this year so I definitely need to finish them asap! #bookreport #weeklyforecast @Cinfhen

This story of an elderly coven in danger of losing their home is both whimsical and addresses serious themes like the patriarchy, feminism, aging, sexism, racism, domestic violence, gender identity, and more. The contrast between the unsubtle, heavy-handed themes and the light-hearted writing was somewhat uncomfortable rather than complimentary. Full review at https://booknaround.blogspot.com/2023/07/review-witches-of-moonshyne-manor-by.ht...

Is it clear I‘m a big weenie baby? 😂 @wanderinglynn #hhs23

Do you want a sneak peak of the 2023-24 Great Group Reads list? Here it is. 😁 Not officially released until next month.

A deeply uncomfortable look at Wallace‘s brother-in-law who died by suicide, this doesn‘t shy away from all the emotions Wallace has felt over the loss of a man who helped shaped who he, the author, is and was over the years. He does use excerpts from his BIL‘s journals which were meant to be destroyed after his death, which feels invasive. Full review at https://booknaround.blogspot.com/2023/07/review-this-isnt-going-to-end-well-by.h...

I decided to put all the books I‘m currently reading but nowhere close to finished with in my #bookspin and #bookspinbingo options so I‘ll hopefully manage to get through more of them. Then I added in other books from past boards that didn‘t get chosen or read. We‘ll see how it goes! @TheAromaofBooks

Will I finish one last book in August? Definitely trying!

A dog on my lap and a book in my hands. What could be better?

Still a shameful amount of books on the go but I actually finished four this week too so not all bad. #bookreport #weeklyforecast @Cinfhen

I‘m circling back and trying to read the books I set aside and a friend‘s MIL was super curious about this one so I‘m going to get it finished to pass along to her.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story that had far more depth than it appeared at first blush. The fact that I already knew the story of Phoolan Devi definitely added to the reading experience. Full review at https://booknaround.blogspot.com/2023/07/review-bandit-queens-by-parini-shroff.h...

A little giggle (and a lot of truth).

This very southern novel is a look into the psychology of an abused wife, the bravery it takes to run to a new life, and the promise of hope. Full review at https://booknaround.blogspot.com/2023/06/review-backseat-saints-by-joshilyn.html

I bought this back in May and a friend asked me to pass it along to her when I finished it. Unsurprisingly, I haven‘t even started it yet. Since I have to go back home shortly, and I don‘t live anywhere close to my summer friend, methinks it‘s time to start it so I can, in fact, pass it along before I leave.

Book club is Friday so I should probably not only start this one but actually read the whole thing. LOL!

Scruffy Gatsby is skeptical I‘ll read more than 100 pages in this one before hopping to another one.

The story of a travel writer diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer‘s and his struggle to determine whether his life is worth living, this was a mess in so many ways. I disliked pretty much everything about it. Full review at: http://booknaround.blogspot.com/2023/06/review-sandman-by-bob-drews.html?m=0

Forgot to post this yesterday. Self explanatory, really. #bookreport #weeklyforecast @Cinfhen

The latest book up for the 100 page treatment.

The latest book up for the 100 page treatment.

If you ever needed proof that the gods on Olympus were just bigger, more over the top reflections of the human family, this novel highlights this truth in ways you can't miss. This is a train wreck but an entertaining, fully human one at that. Full review at https://booknaround.blogspot.com/2023/05/review-olympus-texas-by-stacey-swann.ht...

The latest book I‘m going to read the first 100 pages of.

I haven‘t finished anything in weeks (I started creating this weeks ago) and keep forgetting to post it. 🤷‍♀️ Starting/sampling books is unlikely to stop any time soon so I have no idea when I‘ll next finish something. #bookreport #weeklyforecast @Cinfhen

Mostly repeating July‘s #bookspin and #bookspinbingo board, there are only a few new ones because I mostly read books for free spaces. LOL! @TheAromaofBooks

Starting a new book with a sleepy puppy on my lap.

Tough week this week on the reading front although I did actually review a few books (still need to post them here). #bookreport #weeklyforecast @Cinfhen

Sitting here in my tiny library and debating if the migraine has subsided enough to start this one.

I knocked two more off of the weeks long unfinished list. Slowly but steadily working my way through them in between all the newer books. Also finished the book club book more than a week ahead of time. Not a bad week. #bookreport #weeklyforecast @Cinfhen

Next up. This should ask some tough questions about charity, first world folks working in underserved countries, truth, and entitlement. I suspect it‘ll be a tough read.

I finally set the date for our July book club (it‘s a summer book club so only meets June-July-August and June got away from me so we didn‘t meet). This is July‘s book and since my mother will need to read it too, I thought I should start it now.

Self explanatory, really. #bookreport #weeklyforecast @Cinfhen

Monk Kidd has imagined a Biblical world in which the women are the keepers of stories through the life of Jesus‘s wife Ana. This is a surprisingly readable and compelling story that bogs down a bit in the middle and has Ana act anachronistically on occasion. It‘s good, not great. Full review at http://booknaround.blogspot.com/2023/05/review-book-of-longings-by-sue-monk-kidd...

Starting this one today.