I made a #bookspin list that doubles as my TBR for #HauntedShelf. I put as many magic/witch/fantasy books as I could find on my TBR. As usual, I‘m excited about October! #frightclub @TheAromaofBooks @Jadams89

My favorite book of the year. Giving it all the stars ❤️🌈🌻🌸🍄🐚🎼🌳

I started on this today as soon as work was over. So excited & love it so far! If anyone wonders what I‘m doing this weekend, I‘m on the couch reading.

I don‘t usually post political news, but this is book-related & exciting. McBride may be our first transgender person in Congress! If you haven‘t read her memoir, you should. When I finished her book, I knew I needed to keep up with her career because she is capable of moving up the political ladder.

Thanks @LiteraryinLawrence for recommending this book! I really loved it on audio, & I learned so much about the disabled world. I didn‘t realize I needed to learn so much, which connects to a lot of her points. This is a memoir through essays with education. What bothered me the most is her story about disabled people being seen as defects. I wish everyone would read this book. The other books recommended will go on my TBR. #bookspin for sept

I listened to this as part of my library‘s book challenge —using a part on their catalog that suggests books like one you already read. Since I loved The Six earlier this year, thought I‘d try this history of the first group of astronaut wives. It was a good listen for my commute & a little sad when some wives lost husbands, but was not on the same level as The Six. 3⭐️ liked it but should have checked Litsy for reviews before reading

I usually love Rainbow Rowell, but I didn‘t love this one. An adult romance, about besties from high school reconnecting after years apart. One has a Navy career & the other has been married, had 2 kids, & divorced. It‘s realistic with the romance—including the kids & figuring out how to merge lives. I think the female MC was supposed to be a little autistic. But, the writing was too choppy for me & there was a lot of miscommunications. 👇

I was excited for this book, but it took me a bit to get back into the world & understand what was going on. A sequel to Discovery of Witches‘ series, this is about the Proctor side of Diana‘s family. She ends up spending her summer break with her great-aunt & learning higher magic. Pip & Becca, the kids, are great, and I‘m happy that Matthew had a bigger part after the first 50-ish pages. There‘s obviously going to be a sequel—yay!

My friends have worked for about 2 months on their Little Free Library. I‘ve wanted one for a long time but am fine with donating to theirs instead. After they put it up, they got a hook for dog leashes & are going to add a bench. Pictured is Lulu on her birthday (they made up a birthdate & we aren‘t sure how old she is).

Since I signed up for a Halloween swap, I think I should actually post about books I‘ve read the last 2 months. I like Adams‘ Secret Book & Scone Society series, so I knew this would be a fun cozy mystery to listen to. Set at a book-themed resort, with a secret library, interesting characters, & murder. Will continue the series on audio.

Used this book for my library‘s book challenge—prompt is a Southern Gothic. I loved this book & wouldn‘t have put it down except I had to do life responsibilities. Story revolves around Ruby & the McTavish family. So many secrets, it was fun to uncover them all. Gave it 5⭐️ on GR

I need some recs for a Book BY a Disabled Author.

I looked up the tagged but library doesn‘t have it on audio, & I‘m not sure I want to do physical book. This is for my library‘s book challenge. Just haven‘t found one I‘m interested in.
No romances—I‘ve been reading a lot lately, no authors that have ADHD or autism.

#bookspin list for September. Still working on my library‘s book challenge & also mount TBR. @TheAromaofBooks

I haven‘t posted any books I read in July, & I read a lot. Will have to work on that. I actually read both my bookspin books & got a bingo. This is my bookspin list for August. The 1 spot is Black Bird Oracle. @TheAromaofBooks

July #bookspin list. Didn‘t get any bingos in June, but I rarely do. Going to try finishing one of the books I‘m currently in the middle of tonight. @TheAromaofBooks

This year, my library is doing 2 challenges—one for each half of the year. I finished the January- June & turned it in yesterday. Can‘t wait to see the next challenge!

This story wasn‘t what I was expecting when I got it. Still good but not really that witch-y. A little slow during the first half. HF based on the Pendle witch trials, which I didn‘t know about before. MC is Fleetwood Shuttleworth (what a wild name but she was a real person) who engages Alice‘s services as a midwife. When a bunch of “witches” are arrested, including Alice, she has to find a way to help her, even though she has little power. 4 ⭐️

Meddy & Nathan meet the aunties in Jakarta, hi-jinks ensue. This last of the Aunties‘ books is the same bickering & outlandish ideas, but doesn‘t involve murder. I liked the plot & familiarity with the family. A light read, would be a great beach read.

This audio took me awhile to get into & was better after I sped it up to 1.25. Just a slow start to the book. Tom is a person whose body is very slow to change, so he‘s been living for hundreds of years but looks 40. Timeline jumps between present-day & different memories of his past. A good story, definitely better as you figure out the timeline. #doublespin for June 3.5⭐️

This is another I picked up at the Ky book fair last year. A story about Kit, part Native-American, who is writing her story after being placed in a school/group home. She writes about events leading up to her placement, the actions of the “Christians” running the school, & what happens there. Very good story if you can deal with reading some sexual abuse (TW).

“It‘s strange how much power darkness has over the light”.
The last of this graphic novel trilogy finds the MC helping her ghost friend, Wendell, find out more about his past life and death. She‘s also trying to navigate friendships. A little emotional toward the end—even though I figured out what was coming. Good trilogy.

Also read this tonight. Didn‘t wait to borrow it from my friend. A middle grade/YA graphic novel that continues the stories of ghosts & the 8th grader Marjorie. Introduces a new character who most peers think is “weird”. Has themes of bullying & suicidal thoughts. Marjorie is trying to keep her friendship with ghost Wendell but also can‘t admit he‘s a ghost. 4.5 ⭐️

I heard about this collection of stories being published from a podcast, & I had to put it on hold at the library asap. I enjoyed the short stories—I often don‘t remember short stories well by the end of the book, but this time I could. I also loved the “novella”which is actually book-length & told from several characters‘ POVs that Eve (from Rules of Civility) meets. The story ends up being thrilling/suspenseful. Between 4.5-5 ⭐️

I‘ve had this on my Litsy TBR for awhile, finally got around to the audiobook, narrated by author. Think I mainly wanted to read it because of the travel, & I definitely enjoyed hearing about different cultures, traditions, & lifestyles. A lot of the people interviewed by the author were interesting. I really liked the grandmother in Moldova. Amusing at times. The parts about happiness were good but not as interesting to me. 3.75⭐️

Did my #bookspin list early this month. I put a few extra kindle & light reading on here because I‘m going to be on vacation at the end of June. @TheAromaofBooks

I really liked this story & felt some tension as it went on due to Alfonso‘s behavior & Lucrezia‘s situation. But—I am left frustrated by the ending! Anyone else? #doublespin for May

1) I don‘t have a specific memory, but I loved the Bookmobile as a kid. Our main library was about 15 minutes away, so we often visited the Bookmobile on Saturdays. I would still go if they had one.
2) bookstore & library, Amazon occasionally for my kindle
3) Tagged
@Eggs #wondrouswednesday

Read this GN last night after my friend let me borrow it. Now I have to get the other 2 from her. A sad but hopeful story about a girl who has lost her mom & a ghost who is lonely. Very creative story & great artwork. Relatable characters & am excited to read more about this world.

I bought this at my Ky Book Fair last October—probably 70% for the cover & 30% for the story. This is a book that needs to be more popular though! A story written in verse about a Black teen who has severe anxiety, witnesses a racist police arrest, & develops agoraphobia. I was worried about how her therapist would be depicted (since I am one & media doesn‘t have a good track record), but she was perfect. The story also shows how Sadie‘s 👇

This was on my Litsy tbr, but I don‘t remember who recommended it. This is only a 3 hr audiobook & is written for YA. I just wanted to know the basics of the Stonewall riots, & it provides that along with a good description of life in Greenwich Village at that time. Also goes on to talk about the AIDS epidemic & LGBTQIA+ activism.

I think this was a rec from @Megabooks so decided to finally listen to it. I enjoyed learning about these 4 gutsy, hard-working, creative women. There wasn‘t enough Betty White, imo, but still a good book.

Another 5 ⭐️ read. I‘m not evangelical (I‘m in the evil left they talk about in the book), but I‘m glad the author is because he has a unique perspective. We all know about the alt-right, but what is going on in some “churches” is eye-opening. I recommend this to any religious person—he does talk about faith/Christian beliefs so for non-believers, it might not be a book for you.

Last-minute, but this is my #bookspin list for May. @TheAromaofBooks

I‘ve been so good about not buying books this year & have mostly used a gift card & coupons when I did get a book. But, today is Independent Bookstore Day, and I needed to use a coupon only for April, so I felt obligated to spend some money. 🤣 The Penelope book is for work…I love this series. #bookhaul
Also, I really wanted Amor Towles‘ new book but decided the library is a better option.

This is going to be a gift for my mom. Here in our area of Kentucky, Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill (we all call it Shakertown) is a preserved Shaker settlement that has tours, farm animals, homemade crafts, and delicious food. A member of my church has been working on this history of her mother/cookbook, & it finally was published. Her mother ran the kitchen at Shakertown, so there‘s some of those recipes, as well as other recipes.

Adichie is an amazing writer, & I wish I had more novels from her to read. This one is tough—plenty of trigger warnings. Had to do a little research partway through about the Biafran war, so I could understand better. The story is centered around 3 characters who are connected. Sometimes it was hard to keep track of other characters. A powerful historical novel about the horrors of a war that most of us have never heard about. 5 ⭐️

Just an FYI for the fans of Erik Larson who live near enough to attend. Hosted by Joseph-Beth bookstore in Cincinnati, more info is on their site under events.

I knew I was at the emotional part of this book & had put it off for a couple of days. I should know better than to finish it in the middle of night when I‘m more likely to cry. Despite some sadness, this story is so interesting. It starts with Esme as a child spending time with her dad at work, where he‘s researching & putting together the first Oxford English Dictionary. The making of the dictionary is fascinating. 5 ⭐️

#bookspin list for April @TheAromaofBooks
I‘m almost done with the first part of my book challenge (from my library), so these are mostly for fun/mood reads.

Audiobook. Needed a book with a beach on the cover for my library‘s book challenge & then @Eggs reviewed this HF about Guernsey, which I would love to visit. The story of 3 young women during the German WW2 occupation who want to make a difference in the war. A little suspenseful towards the end; I really wanted to know what was going to happen. Wasn‘t sure about the ending at first, but now I think it was a good way to tie things up.

Positives about this book—it had a lot less typos/mistakes than in Clanlands Almanac, history I didn‘t know about New Zealand, interesting adventures, & enjoyable banter.
Negatives—don‘t like the continued jokes about Black Jack from Outlander

#bookspin list for March. I actually did both my bookspin & doublespin books for February but won‘t get a bingo. @TheAromaofBooks

Another book gifted to me from a library sale. Not my typical genre. It‘s a good story, but not a series I‘ll continue (my personal choice). An FBI agent is trying to solve her sister‘s case because she was kidnapped & presumed dead at age 6. Agent returns to former home, but then ends up involved in a serial killer case in the same town. Some twists, interesting cases, & really liked the agent‘s assistant. This is one of my #bookspin for Feb.

I picked this up at the Ky Book Fair. It‘s a debut from a college student who self-published, & I thought I‘d give it a try. It‘s a low pick, but I feel there‘s potential to improve. The MC is a transgender male who has a close group of LGBTQIA+ friends. He starts listening to a radio call-in show & connects with the DJ while he‘s also starting to build a friendship with a guy IRL. Found family, mental health, diverse characters, romance

2nd book picked by librarian (book bundle). I had no idea there was a series starting in 1996 with Jane Austen as a detective (before I read any Austen). Written close to Austen‘s style, this 1st story involves Jane trying to prove her friend is innocent of murder after her husband dies while Jane is staying there. There‘s complications, interesting characters,& overall, a good mystery. 8 books in series. @StayCurious -you may be interested

As part of my library‘s book challenge, I had to try out a service called book bundles. I filled out a brief online form about my likes/dislikes & a librarian found 3 books to match my tastes. This is the 1st one.
This story centers around an arranged marriage in order to combine family businesses. The MCs are both ambitious so go along with it, at first. An enjoyable story, but a little too long & the ending conflict wasn‘t necessary, imo.3.5 ⭐️

So, I got to meet Graham McTavish, aka Dougal Mackenzie, war chief, yesterday at a book signing. He has been in Lexington, Kentucky several times in the last year because he has developed his own bourbon brand (it‘s only bourbon if it‘s from KY). He didn‘t do a talk about the new Clanlands but spoke to each of us as we went through line & allowed pics. A friend went with me, it was a good time.

My friend wanted this GN series when we went to Cincinnati, OH for comic con. She couldn‘t go, so we got them for her. She wanted me to read them. I love all 3 & can‘t wait to get the 4th one from her (think it‘s only a 4 volume series). An adventure story about revenge & ancient, magical artifacts. Check it out if you enjoy GN.

I listened to 3 different & really good audiobooks in January. This one is the first book that is referenced in The World Record Book of Racist Stories. It‘s also hilarious while encouraging us white people to think about our words & actions. It‘s amazing that some people feel comfortable making blatant racist comments or treating people so differently.

I feel like I‘m the last person to read this book, so I won‘t say much about it. It‘s trippy, & I had a hard time putting it down, except for when I needed to think through all the characters. May be one I reread in the future because I know I missed details.