Thanks for the tag, @TheSpineView

My favorite restaurant is our neighborhood Italian restaurant, Agliolio‘s in Wellington, Florida. Delicious homemade pasta, world‘s best garlic bread, fantastic everything. Having lunch there on Thursday with a friend.

I love books that involve food, especially when there are recipes included.

@dabbe @Texreader @tpixie , want to play?

#Two4Tuesday

This was recommended by a dear friend who has never steered me wrong. She usually challenges me to move out of my reading comfort zone, and it looks as if this do the same.

My absolute favorite historical mystery series, and this most recent installment is one of the best. Multiple murders, more than one murderer, the usual red herrings, and the always fascinating relationship between Veronica and Stoker. Nobody writes better dialogue than Raybourn, I‘m convinced. I took the picture at the Orlando Science Center, and it fits perfectly with the book, but you‘ll need to read it to find out why 😄

Oh my goodness! Thank you @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks and @StayCurious I expected the book I won in a #LitsyLove giveaway. I didn‘t expect all the other goodies, and such a beautiful package, I almost didn‘t want to unwrap it😂. You are so generous, and it‘s a privilege to be part of the group.

I added this to our granddaughter‘s birthday stack. The activities look like a lot of fun. I also like the “mess-o-meter.” I know her parents will enjoy doing the experiments with her, but I hope I get a chance, too.

#Two4Tuesday
1. Obviously, my choice is influenced by the character‘s songs. So I‘m going with Ariel because I love Part of Your World.
2. I‘m going with Pride and Prejudice, because I think Elizabeth Bennett would fit right in with some of the feisty Disney heroines.

Pi day is tomorrow, and our granddaughter‘s birthday is next week. I added this to her gift bag. Her dad is a math nerd and her mother is an excellent baker, so I think the whole family will enjoy this.

The only reason I hadn‘t started this yet was the fact that both hubby‘s and my alma maters ran deep in the Big 10 basketball tournament. I‘ve got until the NCAA Tournament really gets rolling on Thursday to get through this. I doubt it will take me that long, since I have trouble putting these books down.

I enjoyed this book, but the title is misleading. It‘s about a bookshop and the family dynamics of the people who own it and are fighting to keep it open. It‘s a story of self-discovery and learning what you really want from life. Great characters, even the dead one who speaks in first person! Also book recommendations for people who aren‘t avid readers. Definitely worth the time.

“We book people can be awful, prickish snobs. Why is a yummy romance any less worthy of a reader‘s love than the latest New York literary sweetheart? I say if a certain type of book isn‘t your preferred cocktail, darling, simply put down the glass and order something new. You don‘t have to act as if you‘ve been poisoned.” I love it! And I love that Litsy has room for all of us, no matter what books we love—or don‘t 😄

There are so many unread books on my Kindle, but this is the one calling for me tonight.

This was very entertaining. The relationship between the MCs reminded me of Pride and Prejudice at times. Georgiana wants to collect and study butterflies, and is reluctant to marry; she‘d rather travel the world than admit her feelings for Sir Giles. For his part, although he‘s falling in love with her, Giles is determined to think the worst of Georgie. There‘s international intrigue and a bit of spying, too. Not your average Regency romance. 👍

We‘ve been walking most mornings, so we haven‘t had a #coffeeandbooks morning in a couple months. However, since I have an inflamed Achilles tendon, I‘m supposed to cut back on the walking. If that‘s what it takes to get a morning bagel and coffee, I‘ll take it 😃

I swore my next read would be something other than a historical romance, but then this new release showed up in a Bookbub email. How could I resist? Besides, it will be a great excuse to post more of my plant pics 😂

A quick, fun romance to end #loveathon2023. This is a nice variation on the marriage of convenience. The characters were what drew me into this. The MCs are a bit older, and have their foibles, which definitely keeps it from being your run-of-the-mill Regency romance. A new author for me, I‘m certainly willing to try more of her books.

I had such great plans for #loveathon2023 and downloaded a bunch of romance novels to my Kindle. Who knew that February was going to be so crazy busy? Trying to get in one more.

I raided our son and DIL‘s library again this weekend. As much as I love mysteries, I haven‘t read much Christie. Her work was featured in the Wondrium course, Secrets of Great Mystery and Suspense Fiction, that hubby and I just finished. I realized I need to read more of her novels. We watched the movie version of this last week, and I decided to start here.

I admit to being disappointed with this book. Supposedly based on Much Ado About Nothing, it strayed pretty far from the source. I frankly got tired of Edith (Beatrice) and her dithering. It was predictable, but not because I know (and love) Much Ado, but because it felt like your run of the mill pedestrian Regency romance, and not a particularly well written one.

This is supposedly a retelling of Much Ado About Nothing, which is one of my favorite Shakespeare plays. I saw a really clever production of it a year ago at Orlando Shakes. I know it‘s not fair, but I‘m sure I‘m going to be comparing this to that performance. The book is subtitled A Romance Retold, so it fits perfectly for #loveathon2023

We‘ll, that was interesting! I‘m calling this one of those “pick, but” books. It‘s really almost a satire of romance stereotypes in the form of a very long decision tree. I may, at some point, read it again and make different choices to see what happens. I read this on my Kindle, so it jumped to the correct location with each choice. Doing it in a physical book might be clumsier. I‘m sure this isn‘t to everyone‘s taste, and I came close to 👇

I do not know what an “interactive romance novel” is, but I‘m about to find out. Alas, I don‘t think it comes with an actual hunk of a love interest 😂 #loveathon2023

Sorry to have been MIA. The last couple of weeks have been just crazy. I loaded up my Kindle with historical romances for #Loveathon2023 but this is the first one I‘ve had time to finish. A cute read, nothing out of the ordinary, but great chemistry between the main characters.

Oh, how I love this book! The plot, the characters, the real 1950s feel. Having grown up in the 50s, it felt so real. It‘s at heart a love story, but love on many levels. Absolutely recommend.

After having so many people recommend this to me, I‘m excited to start reading it. If nothing else, the title is appropriate, since I married my high school chemistry teacher 😂

I‘d read so many mixed reviews of this book that I put off reading it. I wish I hadn‘t, and I‘m definitely glad to have finally read it. Beautifully written, fascinating story, memorable characters and setting. It‘s one I‘ll remember for a long time.

Not a bad #jumpstart2023 for me. Five books completed, and almost finished one more. I had to laugh, though: Goodreads apparently can‘t do math. It says I‘ve read 4 books for this year‘s reading challenge, even though it shows all 5 😘

A wonderful way to end a day.

If you‘ve ever sung in a choir, or enjoy listening to choral music, or actually any music, this book has so many insights. It is beautifully written, and while it‘s part memoir, it also talks about music history and the psychology of music. I can‘t think of the last time I flew through a nonfiction book this quickly. Definitely recommend. #jumpstart2023 #sharreadathon

I got hooked on this series and read the first five books in quick succession. I started this, but I needed a change, so I put it down a couple months ago. Time to start again with one of my favorite characters. #jumpstart2023

A worthwhile read that sent me down the research rabbit hole. A dual timeline story involving Nancy Mitford, about whom I knew nothing when I started. As befitting a complex character whose life contained many trials, this is often not a “happy” story, but it does end on a positive note. I‘m glad I read this and finished it as part of #sharreadathon and #jumpstart2023

After a week that‘s been nonstop busy, it‘s been nice to have a solid hour+ to read for #sharreadathon, and also continuing with #jumpstart2023. The tagged book is different from what I expected, but very good. Hoping to get it finished tomorrow before the football games 😄

Talk about six degrees of separation: the dedication of one of my current reads acknowledges Dilys Smith. She was the daughter of my college voice teacher, and an accomplished singer in her own right. I love the connection! 🎶

A mention of Chatsworth meant that I had to go back through my pictures of our visit. Is it really almost 7 years ago? I do know I‘d joined Litsy just about a month before that trip 😀

I seem to be drawn to books about bookshops lately. I‘m starting yet another book for #jumpstart2023. I‘m really pleased by how much I‘ve read in the last two weeks, even though things have been crazy busy.

A musician friend is downsizing as she moves into a new apartment, and she gave me this today. Given how much happiness and joy I get from singing with others, I‘m excited to read this. #jumpstart2023

This was a gentle story about relationships and building community, as a group of disparate individuals is chosen to restore a garden. A bit of mystery, a little romance, it‘s an easy and pleasurable read. This is, I think, the third book I‘ve read by this author that involves gardens, and she really does the setting justice. I want to step into the space she creates. Photo is from the botanical garden where I volunteer. #jumpstart2023

I spent yesterday and today leading tours at the botanical garden, so starting a book that involves a garden seems appropriate this evening.
#jumpstart2023

I absolutely adored this story. On the surface, it‘s a simple story, but there are a number of important life lessons here, too. There were times I laughed, and times I cried. It‘s well written, a relatively easy read that I had a hard time putting down. So glad I decided to read this. #jumpstart2023. (Not my photo)

Any excuse to read a romance is good with me. Looking forward to February‘s #Loveathon2023 ❤️ Time to start planning my TBR.

I‘m in the mood for a light read this evening, and this looks like it will be just what I need.

I suspect that every time one of Vermeer‘s paintings is described, I‘m going to be online, hunting an image. This is the one that Griet, the MC, was just looking at.

Hubby and I have been watching the Great Courses lectures on the history of European art. This is one of Vermeer‘s paintings that the lecturer highlighted, so I was excited when it was mentioned in the book and I could picture the painting.

I got book hooks for my daughter and DIL for Christmas, of course I had to get one for myself 😄

This is one of the books on the Viking reading list for our cruise, so I decided it‘s finally time to read it. I‘ve enjoyed a couple other books by the author, but I‘ve heard so many mixed responses to this. Second book for #jumpstart2023

#januaryjazz #worldintrovertday

If I‘m not reading, I want to walk my favorite path.

Not in the database, but this looks like fun. After a weekend with our 5yo granddaughter, I don‘t have the energy for anything really deep, but I want to get going with #jumpstart2023

Lots of reading this weekend with our 5YO granddaughter. I have been introduced to the Billie B Brown and Hey Jack books by Sally Rippin. Fun stuff.

I passed my goal of 48, or 4 books per month. I didn‘t read as much nonfiction this year as I have the past few years, but overall there wasn‘t one book that I didn‘t enjoy. #readingstatistics

I‘ve developed a strong appreciation for Alexander von Humboldt and his work after reading this book. His writings were incredibly prophetic in terms on environmental concerns. Extremely well written; not something to skim through. I learned so much about so many things, which was Humboldt‘s polymath style. Well worth reading.

It seems odd to describe a WWII novel as both heart-wrenching and heartwarming, but this book is both. The descriptions of London during the Blitz are sometimes difficult to read. Yet, the story of how Grace discovers the wonders of reading, and how she shares her love of books, and how she reaches out and touches lives is incredibly uplifting. Definitely worth reading.