#wondrousWednesday

🎄Lots of decorations inside, including a tree, but not much outside.
🎄Hard to choose, but probably the music-related ornaments I received from students over the years.
🎄Impossible question 😄 I‘m going to say Grown-up Christmas List, because I love the message.

Consider yourself tagged.

A nice, holiday-related diversion. If you need some seasonal #romantsy this will fit the bill. Some interesting tweaks to an otherwise standard plot line definitely kept my interest.

I had a hard time choosing which of the dozens, if not hundreds 😂, of unread books on my Kindle would be my next read. I enjoyed the previous book in this new series. I hope this is as engaging.

I need a little brain candy. Why not get a head start on the holiday?

Another fun installment in this series. I wish I had enjoyed it as much as the previous books, but it‘s not a huge drop off. The mystery is secondary to the relationship between Bea and Hargrave as it continues its development. Fun characters, witty dialogue, it‘s a really nice diversion.

I‘m not sure that someone who hasn‘t read the previous books in the series would find this enjoyable, but I thoroughly liked it. An interesting collection of characters solve multiple mysteries. There are magical elements that are integral to the story, and the importance of magic has increased as the series has gone on. I recommend this series if you like historical mysteries and magic, but start with the first book.

I‘ve enjoyed the first two books in The Glass Library series, so I‘m looking forward to this.

A light, easy, enjoyable mystery. Not great literature, in fact the writing felt a bit amateurish, but a well plotted story. A good dose of humor and some fun characters, it‘s a nice diversion. Not a Bakewell pudding, but Black Forest cake from this past summer‘s river cruise was as close as I could get.

I picked this up on a Kindle deal because we visited Bakewell a few years ago. It‘s an easy read so far, nothing earth shattering, but I love that the dog gets to add his voice to the story.

I have been in a woeful reading slump, and let this sit for a month before I actually sat down and read it. As always, I love the characters, and the fact that each mystery involves some scientific/technological advance being made during the Regency. This one wasn‘t as fascinating as others in the series, but I still enjoyed it very much and continue to recommend these books.

#TLT

Washington Post
Pandora
WTF Weather

#wondrousWednesday
1. Singing
2. Conducting
3. The dreaded conductor/teacher death stare
4. Cooking
5. Writing
6. Comforting
7. Nature photography
8. Hoarding stationery supplies
9. Looking calm
10. Planning

@Eggs 10 things I‘m really bad at would have been a lot easier 😂

Thanks, @Texreader for the tag. I‘ve been AWOL for too long.

Release day for this next installment of one of my favorite series. I woke up to find my preorder on my Kindle. Starting now😀

Something different for me, but I‘m already enjoying it. The idea of parallel Londons is fascinating. I don‘t read much fantasy/magic, and I don‘t know why. I almost always enjoy it when I do.

I admit to enjoying an occasional steamy romance, and this fit the bill. It‘s a novella, and while I often find novellas feel truncated, this was just right for this story. I like this author and her quirky, engaging characters.

I just finished rereading The Comedy of Errors before we see it Thursday night. But I started on prednisone today to reduce inflammation in my Achilles tendon, and I don‘t expect to sleep much. So, a little brain candy to keep me entertained 😄

Something light tonight.

Wow! I am knocked over by this book. Set before and during WWII and including the Nazi book burning, this novel is a powerful statement about the importance of books and knowledge. Given the current climate of censorship, certainly in the state where I live, there were many parallels to be drawn.

There‘s more to the book; a compelling story of facing facts and how to forgive. Interesting characters, evocative settings. But the message of 👇

“The telegram regretfully informing Vivian Child‘s that her husband had died in battle arrived before his last letter.”

Just started this, but, given the efforts to ban books from schools and libraries here in Florida, it‘s already making some powerful statements.

#firstlineFridays

Oh, help, I think I‘m in need of an intervention 😄 I have been on a book buying spree for my Kindle—as if it doesn‘t already contain enough unread books. I had another that I swore was going to be my next read, but this one pushed its way to the front of the pack.

There were things I liked about this book, but not enough to make it a “pick”. For one thing, there‘s no real story arc. There are several plot lines that are never developed and just left hanging, so I wondered why certain characters were even introduced. There are a lot better books out there.

Something a little less intense tonight.

One of those books to read slowly and savor. It‘s so many things, and does all of them well: a period WWI story, a book about books and the physical making of them, a study of relationships, and an exploration of dreams and ambitions, and the sacrifices made to achieve them. Loved the characters, the setting, everything. Definitely worth a read. (A shelfie seemed appropriate).

I have come to really enjoy this author‘s work, so I preordered this when I read the description. It arrived on my Kindle overnight. I hate to rush through my current read, but this is definitely next on my TBR, which will make it two new releases in a row—something I never do!

1. It‘s really hard to choose, because everything I read in July was fantastic. I chose the tagged book because it pulled me in and got me emotionally invested.
2. Honestly, the beautiful cover.
Consider yourself tagged 😄

#twoforTuesday

I‘d forgotten that I‘d preordered this for my Kindle, but I loved The Dictionary of Lost Words so much, I just couldn‘t resist. I‘m not waiting. I‘m starting this now!

This has been on my Kindle, along with what feels like a thousand other books, so why I decided on this as opposed to something else, I don‘t know. I do know that it was a lovely story that draws on the wisdom in Austen‘s books. In many ways a gentle, relationship-driven book. Maybe not for everyone, but it definitely spoke to me.

On my #Litsyversary celebrating seven years here, I want to say thank you to this community. It is so special to be part of this group. I treasure the friendships I‘ve made here. Thank you for encouraging me, not just in my reading—and I‘ve read A LOT of books I probably wouldn‘t have otherwise—but through life‘s ups and downs. I love you all! Here‘s to continuing to read and grow together ❤️

I bought this almost a year ago, when we were on Sanibel Island, at the marvelous Gene‘s Books. Sadly, the store didn‘t survive last year‘s devastating hurricane, and the owners decided to close permanently. I‘ve enjoyed the Kate Morton books that I‘ve read so far, so, even though I‘ve read mixed reviews of this, I‘m giving it a go.

#firstlineFridays

“The loyal citizens of the kingdom of Daxaria described their homeland as a lovable mess.”

That may describe the book, too 🙄

I picked this up as a Kindle deal, and, five chapters in, I‘m just not sure. It‘s billed as a humorous, romantic fantasy. The style strikes me as rather amateurish, but the story is just interesting enough to keep me reading.

This is a story to read slowly and savor. A dual timeline mystery, but so much more. It‘s an exploration in setting priorities and finding balance in life. Clearly, lots of historical research went into this. It‘s one of those books where I was anxious to find out how everything resolved, but then didn‘t want it to end. Thanks again, @LocalTXLibrarian for finding another perfect book for me ❤️

Thanks to @LocalTXLibrarian , I have this for my next read. I‘m already loving it; I seem to be drawn to dual timeline stories lately.

I absolutely loved this book! What starts as a granddaughter going to Paris to retrieve a dress that had belonged to her grandmother turns into a mystery about who her grandmother really is. Also, ultimately, what does Lucille, the granddaughter, want her life to be? Wonderful characters, I really got emotionally involved. And the dresses! Back to the research rabbit hole to see what was being described, including this pic.

#twoforTuesday
1. Yes. Most of our bookcases were originally crayon stock boxes from Crayola. My dad worked for the company, and growing up we had lots of the boxes for storage. When hubby and I got married, he got us a bunch for our books, and we‘ve used them ever since.
2. Basically by subject.

There are soooo many books on my Kindle, but the cover of this one grabbed my attention. I always describe my reading strategy as “where my whimsy takes me.” Today my whimsy is attracted to the visual. Reviews sound as if the story will match the impact of the cover.

I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery involving the theft of a mysterious historical manuscript. The second book in The Glass Library series, there‘s an element of magic here, but it‘s not the focus of the story. Great ensemble of interesting characters. The third book comes out in September, and I just put in my preorder.

#firstlineFridays

“Moving pictures are the future,” Daisy declared, “and I want to be in one.”

Enjoying the second installment of The Glass Library series.

1. As usual, where my whimsy takes me 😄

2. The Bookwoman of Troublesome Creek

3. The Spies of Shilling Lane, but it wasn‘t really a bad book, just not as engaging as everything else I read.

#wondrousWednesday

I am so thankful that @LocalTXLibrarian chose this book for me. What a wonderful read! Although the story of the LA County library fire of 1986 was the inspiration, this is really an extended love letter to the concept of a library. Lots of history, a look at the future role of libraries. A really worthwhile and well written book. So glad I read this!

Another excellent installment in this historical mystery series. This one includes quite a bit of family drama, a few red herrings, and an unexpected twist, so my interest never flagged. I‘m not sure that someone who hadn‘t read the earlier books in the series would enjoy as thoroughly as I did, but for regular ALH readers, this is a treat.

I read this on our Rhine cruise, so a picture from along the river.

#litsymeetup

Hubby and I spent a wonderful couple of hours in Cologne with @CoffeeAndABook Thanks, Chrissy, for the conversation, the mini-tour (especially the beautiful music in such a special setting), and a delicious German lunch. Littens are the best! In less than a minute, it was as if we‘d known each other for years. 😘

Release day for the latest in one of my absolute favorite series. I have a paperback packed for our trip, but this just might take precedence 😊

A fascinating, at times difficult, novel based on an interesting medical phenomenon and the difficulties faced by the population it affected. The discrimination faced by the main character is heartbreaking, and there are scenes which may be triggering for some readers. But it tells an important historically- based story with lessons we all need to learn or relearn.

I wanted an easy, engaging read as a distraction from my colonoscopy prep. This definitely fit the bill. Historical romance with a mystery attached. Interesting MCs who definitely aren‘t what you‘d expect. I‘d recommend, unless you prefer your romances sweet. This was so steamy, I thought my Kindle was going to spontaneously combust 😄

Thanks to a prescription for prednisone for a sinus infection, I could not get to sleep last night. The result was that I stayed up and read this short, fun Victorian-era romance. An easy read, it‘s not great literature, but it‘s an interesting story with likable characters. A nice diversion.

This wasn‘t what I had intended to pick up to take along for two medical appointments yesterday, but I‘m into it now. It‘s also sending me down the research rabbit hole.

Our congregation is using this book as a congregation-wide read, at the suggestion of our new minister. It‘s definitely something different for me, but quite interesting so far.

I enjoy this author‘s work, but this book didn‘t catch my attention the way her others have. The MC was not terribly likable, and although she had a change of heart through the course of the story, I found it hard to have much sympathy for her. The plot was predictable. Still, it‘s well written and a different take on the WWII novel. One of those somewhere between so-so and pick books.

We got home from our trip, and I was so excited finally open my #litsylovespringgardenpartyswap package. @LocalTXLibrarian I cannot thank you enough for this amazing gift! I‘m anxious to read both of these books-at least one is going to be my airplane read in a couple weeks- and the throw is going on my reading chair RIGHT NOW 😄 I love it all, and if I didn‘t know already that you‘re a librarian, your choices would have told me ❤️😘 #litsylove