Some short books accomplished this week even though I spent very little reading time. #bookreport #weeklyforecast

Normally Ozzie won‘t model books for me but he‘s sleepy so I made it happen. 😂

Ran a 10K this morning. Took an afternoon nap and woke up to a huge happy making pile of book mail. My husband just laughed and said “Merry Christmas.” (None of it was from him; it was just the mail gods smiling on me today.)

At the mechanic getting my car worked on and glad I brought more than one book!

A #bookspinbingo three months in a row! Who even am I? @TheAromaofBooks

Before I check the #bookspin and #bookspinbingo numbers, I should probably post my list! @TheAromaofBooks

I‘ve been halfway to a reading slump for weeks now so I decided I‘d pick something uncomplicated to read and hope it jogs me out of it.

I haven‘t been reading a ton as this is 2 or 3 weeks worth. I did read 3 book club books and my #doublespin book, which was also an #auldlangspine book from @julieclair . Lots of Great Group Reads submissions to get to but nothing‘s really pulling at me right now. 🤷‍♀️

I went to do a Dog Jog this morning with friends. Gatsby slept in but got a new kerchief anyway. Now I‘m starting this one with her on my lap. I figure I‘ve earned couch time after two (slow) races this weekend.

Today has hit the 70s so Gatsby and I headed outside to soak up some vitamin D and for me to start this one.

#bookreport #weeklyforecast OK, I need to read most of the five bottom books in the next two weeks. Some are book club books. One is from #auldlangspine. And one is something I need to read for my job. I‘m not saying which are which. I just finished Annie Bot and I don‘t have a current read but need one. So, which one should I pick up next?

Before I dump February‘s board, I need to acknowledge that even though it was a pretty slow month for me for reading, I did manage to get a #bookspinbingo. That‘s two months in a row for me (and completely unusual since I generally don‘t read whatever‘s on my board).

Gatsby‘s inspecting my next read.

I am so busy with Great Group Reads submissions that I have no business playing #bookspin and #bookspinbingo this month but I‘m going to anyway. The books are a combo of books that have been gifted to me over the years (it‘s my birthday month, hence the gifting theme) and book club books for March. @TheAromaofBooks

Starting this one before bed.

Daffodils are popping in my yard right now and the nice spring weather has been distracting me from reading but I did manage to finish three books this week anyway. #bookreport #weeklyforecast

Enjoying this one so far.

It‘s been a busy two weeks but here‘s what I finished over that time, and what‘s next. #bookreport #weeklyforecast

I didn‘t start this today (started yesterday) but it is making for interesting Valentine‘s Day reading for sure. Also, I chose not to take it to my PT appointment today because I took a steamy romance on Monday for my initial visit and I didn‘t want my paired reading to make my Dr. uncomfortable. LOL!

A reading friend sent this to me and I knew which favorite group of readers I should send it to also.

Starting my #doublespin, which is one of the books from @julieclair ‘s #auldlangspine list.

Here‘s my #bookreport and #weeklyforecast for the past week.

First romance for Valentine‘s Day. This is also my #bookspin book for this month.

I ordered Sidecountry for my son (and will read it before I give it to him) and forgot I had a couple more of @julieclair ‘s #auldlangspine choices in my cart too. Such a pity they showed up too. 🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂

Before I put together my new #bookspinbingo card, I just want to acknowledge that I got not 1 bingo (which would be impressive enough) but 2 bingos for January!

#bookspin and #bookspinbingo for February includes romances, Black authors, book club choices, and #auldlangspine books. Here‘s hoping for a great month! @TheAromaofBooks

I‘m going to visit my daughter in a couple of weeks and she had (barely) started this here over Christmas but left it behind, perhaps because I hadn‘t read it yet (it‘s mine) so I thought I‘d read it and take it to her when I go.

Gatsby is keeping me company on the couch as I start another book.

I‘m sad and hangry today (but it‘s nothing to what I‘ll be later tonight since I‘ve got a colonoscopy tomorrow) so I picked up a book that‘s been on my shelf forever. In fact, there was an unopened card in it from a Secret Santa from an email list serv that hasn‘t existed in decades! That did make me crack a small smile, remembering when I was too young for colonoscopies. 😂

This was on @julieclair ‘s #auldlangspine list and it was a sweet, charming read about a young woman who works at the local department store alongside the owner‘s son, who is pursuing her and is becoming a better person because of her, and also alongside her scheming and unpleasant cousin. Full review at http://booknaround.blogspot.com/2024/01/review-babbacombes-by-susan-scarlett.htm...

@monalyisha

A pleasant mystery with an ex-cop main character who is great with dogs. She puts her investigative skills to work when a dog she‘s watching uncovers a severed hand on the beach in her new community. Full review at http://booknaround.blogspot.com/2023/12/review-deadly-bone-to-pick-by-peggy.html

Kind of a slow reading week for me this week. #bookreport #weeklyforecast

Who‘s the villain here? Gatsby? Ozzie? Me?

This is a sweet, uncomplicated mystery set in a small village in Wales with a lovely widowed sleuth and a victim many people in town aren‘t sorry to see turn up dead. It‘s occasionally a tad twee and events are incredibly unlikely but it‘s an easy and pleasant enough read. Full review at http://booknaround.blogspot.com/2023/12/review-isabel-puddles-abroad-by-mv-byrne...

I‘ve mislaid my in progress book so when it didn‘t turn up immediately, I grabbed this to start. And now the furs have settled in so there‘s no switching up books.

Rabies is a devastating disease that we still don‘t have a cure for which should have made this cultural history and accessible science interesting and compelling. Unfortunately, there was too little here to reach that level and a lot of the info used to flesh put the book are only questionably connected to rabies. Full review at http://booknaround.blogspot.com/2023/12/review-rabid-by-bill-wasik-and-monica.ht...

Gatsby and Ozzie are snuggled up on my lap on this cold day as I start this book. They have been enjoying the cold snap results (me on the couch a lot).

I went to bed last night with a visual headache so didn‘t get the chance to post this. #bookreport and no #weeklyforecast this week. Just reading by the seat of my pants. 🤣

Carmen wants to write comics but is shut out by the misogyny of the industry teaming up with a coworker who might help her get published. When he is murdered without giving her credit for their blockbuster character, she must solve his murder to save her own skin and to maybe live to write more books. Definitely best for regular comics readers. Full review at http://booknaround.blogspot.com/2023/12/review-secret-identity-by-alex-segura.ht...

A charming dual narrative about the importance of stories and imagination, this is the story of little Flora‘s disappearance during WWII as a child of Operation Pied Piper and that of her older sister Hazel who continues to look for her sister long after the war. The end is a touch predictable. Full review at http://booknaround.blogspot.com/2023/11/review-secret-book-of-flora-lea-by.html

I finished the amazing The Covenant of Water and the Indian meal we ordered (both because of the book, and because the kid is going back to school tomorrow and he can‘t afford to pay for the only Indian food in his small university town) so now I‘m starting this second in this delightful series.

I‘m just sure you‘ve been waiting with bated breath to hear what I thought of the book that some of you might have wondered if I‘d ever finish. No surprise: I hated it. Full review at https://booknaround.blogspot.com/2023/11/review-wings-of-dove-by-henry-james.htm...

Heading to Key West for my run on Sunday and found this down the long terminal to the small planes, which I rarely, if ever, end up on. And I thought I should start a new book for the trip too.

Told from the perspective of an adult Carlisle, and alternating between her past and present, this is a story of family drama, love, belonging, betrayal, the sometimes fragile bond of the parent/child relationship, finding peace, and ballet. It is elegant and gorgeously told. Full review at https://booknaround.blogspot.com/2023/10/review-theyre-going-to-love-you-by-meg....

This is a heartbreaking and gorgeous book told by Kit, a half Cherokee, half white girl, a wonderful, sometimes naive, sometimes incredibly astute child. Verble has a quiet, masterful way with this story that does not minimize any of the terrible realities chronicled within it. Full review at https://booknaround.blogspot.com/2023/10/review-stealing-by-margaret-verble.html

I haven‘t posted this for a couple of weeks but I have been reading for sure. And the two in progress books were both just started. #weeklyforecast #bookreport

I forgot this one was the January #sundaybuddyread. It‘s been on my tbr shelves forever so I thought I‘d pull it off the shelf and try to join in. I do stink at buddy reads though so we‘ll see!

This is a madcap adventure story with a feisty older protagonist and some surprisingly sympathetic scammers. It‘s an undemanding but generally fun read if coincidences and unlikely happenings don‘t overly bother you. Full review at http://booknaround.blogspot.com/2023/10/review-mrs-planskys-revenge-by-spencer.h...

@Laughterhp You‘ve won the #lastfirst giveaway. Email me at whitreidsmama@yahoo.com with your address (although I‘m pretty sure I have it from #litsylove) and I‘ll send your prize along (make sure your wish list is up to date too so I don‘t choose something you got for Christmas or in the sales after the holiday!).

Both of my book clubs this month are reading this chunkster so I probably ought to get started.