This was a decent first in the series (#SeriesLove2024) featuring Agatha Christie‘s housekeeper, Phyllida Bright. It was a Christie meets Upstairs/Downstairs. I liked Bright and the other characters and look forward to more in the series.

#TLT

I got 24/50, not bad…

Here are 3 that I wonder if they are truly villains:
1. The Shark/Jaws - he was just doing what sharks do
2. Michael Corleone/Godfather - he‘s complicated, resisting “the family” life for so long, but protecting said family when he finally gives in
3. The Wicked Witch of the West/The Wizard of Oz - I mean Dorothy did drop a house on her sister… I‘d be pissed too 😂

I am in for the #fortheloveofbooks readathon! I have a ridiculous amount of books going right now and I‘d just like to finish 2-3 of them, maybe hit 500 pages.

Thanks for hosting @TheSpineView

Thanks for the tag @dabbe #TLT

My score didn‘t drop too bad, from 91 down to 76

I‘ll go ahead and go with my three favorite movies from the list:

1. An American in Paris - I‘m in the minority and prefer this to Singin‘ in the Rain (which is still a fabulous movie)
2. Mary Poppins - my go to bad day, crummy mood movie. “Mary makes the world so bright!” (Jolly Holiday should have been on the list)
3. Gigi - Maurice Chevalier! ‘Nuff said 😉

My September #bookspin list

This was a great listen. Skaife takes us through his life with the ravens at the Tower of London. You can tell how much he cares for and admires the birds. I learned quite a bit about not just the history of the ravens but of ravens as a species.

This was my April #doublespin

I got 91/100… I love movie soundtracks. It‘s hard to pick top 3 songs, so I‘ll go with top 3 singers/actors

1. Gene Kelly
2. Barbra Streisand
3. Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers

Honorable Mention: Judy Garland

Classic movie musicals are totally my thing 😊

#TLT

Another fun romp with Agatha Raisin and all her antics (Book 3 of the series for #SeriesLove2024). A new lady is in town and has caught James Lacey‘s eye, but Agatha is determined to become a gardener to get between them 😊.

It‘s a pick because it‘s nostalgic, but this was a weaker entry for the series. Book 5 of the Nancy Drew series (#SeriesLove2024)

Great audiobook! I enjoyed seeing the evolution of Reath‘s character from the self-absorbed padawan to the young man who begins to understand that there is a greater world out there. I enjoy the High Republic books and look forward to more of them as I slowly catch up on my #starwarsbuddyread

My #readyourebooks list for August.

My August #bookspin list

The first in the Matthew Shardlake series (#SeriesLove2024) finished for #ShardlakeBR. This was great. I enjoyed being in the Tudor world and getting to know Matthew. This was well written and atmospheric. I look forward to our discussion at the end of the month.

The 5th book in the 39 Clues series (#SeriesLove2024). This time Amy and Dan head to Russia and ally with the Holts (mainly Hamilton) in their search for the next clue. Another fun adventure, looking forward to the next one.

The 22nd installment in the In Death series (#SeriesLove2024) finds Eve confronted by her past. Trudy Lombard comes to NY to try and blackmail Eve, really Roarke, about her past. When Trudy is found dead it is up to Eve to determine the culprit.

This was a great addition to the series. We learned more about Eve‘s past and how that made her the woman she is today. I continue to enjoy the mystery but the growth of Eve‘s relationships is the best.

I got 40/80

My three are:
Night at the Museum
Miracle
Saving Private Ryan

Honorable Mention:
Glory

#TLT

Happy Fourth! @dabbe

These are so much fun! I love Phoebe‘s relationship with Marigold. Book 2 in the series (#SeriesLove2024)

#TLT

I did better than I thought I would…

My Top 3:

1. Batman Begins
2. The Mummy
3. Ocean‘s 11

The 5th book in the Cotton Malone series (#SeriesLove2024) takes us to Paris for further adventures. These are quick (although not short) books full of adventure and intrigue. This one had a bit of a gut punch though, and I‘m a bit mad at Berry. On to the next (soon, I hope).

#TLT on Saturday

I managed 69/100, which was higher than I expected.

My three favorites were:

1. Home Alone
2. Saving Private Ryan
3. Schindler‘s List

This was my #BookedinTime pick for Ancient Celtic Ireland. Unfortunately most of the book was set outside of Ireland. It was okay, not mind blowing by any means. I liked the evolution of Epona and her relationship with Kazakh. I‘ve enjoyed Llewelyn books in the past, so I‘ll try another.

I was a child of the 80s, so some of the early 80s movies I didn‘t see, but mid decade there were some great ones.

These are my 3 favorites (“Goonies never die”, “we named the dog Indiana”, Ewoks), but loved so many of them: Goooood Morning Vietnam (can‘t say it any other way) Die Hard (yes, it‘s a Christmas movie)Footloose (the soundtrack 😍), Dead Poet‘s Society (O Captain, My Captain), E.T. (Still love Reese‘s Pieces) … I could go on

#TLT

My June #bookspin selections

My June #bookspin list

Another excellent edition to the Sherlock Holmes series (#SeriesLove2024). This one flowed a bit better than the first and started to give us more insight into Holmes himself. I‘m slowly catching up on #NoPlaceLikeHomes

This was so fun! I loved seeing Viv and her coffee shop evolve. Hope there are more…

The first Sherlock Holmes (#SeriesLive2024) and how can you go wrong. Doyle does an excellent job setting up the relationship between Holmes and Watson (and subsequently their relationship with Scotland Yard), as well as giving us an intriguing mystery. The second half of the book doesn‘t work quite as well, but it serves its purpose. Looking forward to reading the canon with #NoPlaceLikeHolmes

My #readyourebooks list for May.

My May #bookspin selections. Happy #bookspin day!

Here is my May #bookspin list

Book 10 in the No. 1 Ladies Detective Series (#SeriesLove2024) has Mma Ramotswe‘s precious tiny white van dying. As usual, this read was such a comfort. I enjoy spending time with these characters. And we finally learn the name of the second apprentice, Fanwell.

Lisette Lecat does a wonderful job narrating these books.

I‘m in for #AwesomeApril hosted by @Andrew65

Here are my goals:
🔹Read 425 pages
🔹 Finish 2-3 books
🔹 work on already started titles

I have not met any authors that I can remember, but I would have loved to have met Elizabeth Peters (a/k/a Barbara Mertz, Barbara Michaels). Not only did she write fabulous tales, but she received her Ph.D. In Egyptology in 1952. I‘m sure she would have been a delight to sit and have a cup of tea or coffee with on a sunny afternoon.

A quick MG re-telling of the Snow White story. It was cute, and I‘ll likely read more in the series (Book 1 of the series #SeriesLove2024). The main character is a spunky, logical pre-teen girl, going on 30. 🤣.

Happy readathon day to all those participating in #deweysreadathon. I‘ve got a couple hours under my belt and am finally getting onto social media to see what everyone else is reading. Here is my tentative TBR.

The 2nd book in the Gaslight Mystery series (#SeriesLove2024). This time Sarah gets involved in the world of the “Charity Girls”, trying to help a client determine who murdered her sister. The mystery was good, but what is wonderful about these novels is the evolution of Sarah and Frank‘s relationship. I look forward to the next in the series.

The second installment in the Fox and O‘Hare series (#SeriesLove2024). This was another fun romp. This time they are after a former high powered politician who runs a private security firm.

#WondrousWednesday

Here we go:
Paperback
Both Fiction and NF
Historical
Both Recent and Classic
Coffee
Physical (although digital is growing on me)
Both Audiobooks and Print

It‘s #bookspin day! 🙌🏻

I didn‘t make any progress on #readyourebooks so the list stays the same 🤞🏻 I get to one or two this month.

My April #bookspin

Another great topic @dabbe for #TLT

1. A Tale of Two Cities
2. The Narnia series (okay I cheated a bit there 😜)
3. The Complete Calvin and Hobbes

#WondrousWednesday on Thursday

1. Erik Larson, Steve Berry, Victoria Thompson
2. And Then There Were None - Mystery
3. That‘s tough… Steve Berry and his Cotton Malone series, probably (but there are so many others… Agatha Christie, Victoria Thompson, Louise Penny, I could go on)

I am joining in #marvellousmarch hosted by @Andrew65

My goals are:

🔹 read 300 pages
🔹 finish 2 books

#WondrousWednesday on Thursday. Thanks for the tag @Eggs

1. Probably Thanksgiving. It‘s a chance to share a meal and just enjoy each other‘s company.
2. Definitely my mom. I‘m so grateful for that.
3. I loved playing cribbage with my grandpa and our family loved board games when I was young. I have fond memories of game nights.

Book 9 in the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery Series (#SeriesLove2024). Another fun escapade with Gemma and Jane, this time involving spiritualism and seances.

Probably The Iliad. From what I can find it was published in the late 1400s.

Another great question, thanks for hosting @BookmarkTavern

#SundayFunday

Great choice of topic @dabbe #TLT

1. Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin - showed the political prowess of Lincoln and how he was able to work with those he disliked/disagreed with for the good of the nation

2. The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom - a tale of perseverance, love and kindness. A tale of the innate kindness in humans.

3. The Storyteller by Dave Grohl - heartwarming and insightful. Felt like being with a good friend.

Thank you for the tag @Eggs

1. From Legends & Lattes: Thune (a land with amazing inhabitants and a wonderful coffee shop 😊)
2. From the tagged: Ancient Ireland - I‘ve been to modern day Ireland and enjoyed it very much, looking forward to going back someday.

1st book in the Andy Carpenter series (#SeriesLive2024). This was a bit of a wild ride. I look forward to reading more in this series. Reminds me a bit of the old McBride movies starring John Larroquette.