I haven’t read a thing in the last week. I had a wonderful visit with my family. I’m heading home today, so once again, on a Thursday, I’ll be driving. I’ll be back on schedule tomorrow, though.
Did you have time to read in the last week? If so, please share! As people drop in, I’m sure we’d all like to know what others are reading. I just won’t be checking in until late in the day.
I really will be reading & reviewing again soon!
I read THE COLORING CROOK by Krista Davis last week. This is the second in the series and I found it just as entertaining as the first. I like the setting of the bookstore in Georgetown as well as the characters.
Now I am reading the new Diane Setterfield book, ONCE UPON A RIVER.
Safe travels Lesa.
Happy New Year and Happy Reading.
Glad you had such a great week, Lesa. My reading has been sporadic with the shoulder, but I did read the dark IN THE GALWAY SILENCE, the latest Jack Taylor book by Ken Bruen. I'm nearly done with another O. Henry collection, the early "OPTIONS." If I can get to the library I have two books waiting – the Susan Orlean library book and the new Steven Havill.
Happy New Year in advance.
Have a safe trip Lesa.
I finally had time to read this week.I read:
THE STORY OF THE PHANTOM by Lee Falk. Hermes press has been reprinting this series which I read back in the 70s. They are based on The Phantom comic strip. I enjoyed rereading it after all these years and was surprised how much of it I’d forgotten. I have a few more of them on my TBR pile.
THE SKELETON MAKES A FRIEND by Leigh Perry. I always enjoy these.
FINDING ANSWERS by Kathi Daley. It’s the second book in her Rescue Alaska series.
INHERIT THE BONES by Emily Littlejohn. I wasn’t sure I was going to finish this because I didn’t really like the main character Gemma and I didn’t find it believable that a police officer who was that far along in her pregnancy would be out chasing down a murderer. But The plot was interesting enough to hold my interest
In Erin Lindsay's MURDER ON MILLIONAIRES' ROW, Rose Gallagher is a housemaid in the 1880s who is secretly in love with her dashing employer, although she's not sure what he does for a living. When he disappears, she takes it upon herself to help find him and enters a world of ghosts, magic, and dastardly plots beyond her wildest imaginings. A huge dose of willing suspension of disbelief is required to enjoy this story, as Rose's speech and actions are not at all what you would expect of a lowly Irish housemaid. If you can get past that (I did only barely), you might like this first entry in a new series.
THE OTHER WIFE, the latest in the comparable Michael Robotham's series about psychologist Joe O'Loughlin, a widower with two girls and a continuing fight against Parkinson's disease, is a stunner. When his father is attacked and lying in a coma, Joe discovers that his dad has had a secret wife and family away from his wife in Wales for close to 20 years. Trying to make some sense of the situation, Joe discovers even more secrets and lies as he gets closer to the truth. I love Robotham's writing style and his flashes of insight, as well as the unconventional and imperfect protagonist who struggles to overcome all adversities. This one made me cry at the end and will stay with me awhile.
In THE LOST QUEEN OF CROCKER COUNTY by Elizabeth Leiknes, Jane Willow, a successful Hollywood film critic who tends to write blistering reviews and seems to have no friends, follows her return to her home town in Iowa after a family tragedy. I found it to be contrived, Jane's life in Hollywood was so little fleshed out that she wasn't either likable or realistic, and I could see the twist coming from early in the book. Yet for some reason I allowed myself to be manipulated into reading to the end, and I can't say I didn't enjoy it. Go figure.
I finished:
The Otter of Death (book 5) by Betty Webb ~~ enjoyed this book and all of her other books.
The Secret of Seaside (book 1) by Agatha Ball
Sunshine Cottage (book 7) by Barbara Cool Lee ~~ really like this series.
Murder at the Makeover (book 6) by Sandi Scott ~~ another series I have enjoyed.
Murder at the Pool Party (book 7) by Sandi Scott
A Christmas Miracle in Pavarotti Bay by Barbara Cool Lee
A Winter Wedding in Pavarotti Bay (book 5) by Barbara Cool Lee
Tapas, Carrot Cake and a Corpse (book 1) by Sherri Byran
Fudge Cake, Felony and a Funeral (book 2) by Sherri Bryan
Spare Ribs, Secrets and a Scandal (book 3) by Sherri Bryan
Pumpkin, Peril and a Paella (book 4) by Sherri Bryan
Now reading:
An Aegean April by Jeffrey Siger
Hamburgers, Homicide and a Honeymoon by Sherri Bryan
I managed to read a few things.
Death Makes The Cut by Janice Hamrick; Cozy based in a school in Austin Texas. We get the triangle set up in this one.
Dead Man's Switch by Matthew Quirk; John Hayes is still undercover, as someone tries to kill the members of his old unit. Nothing I haven't seen before.
Murder She Vaped; an unfunny humorous cozy. I think it's supposed to be some kind of parody.
The Wheel of Darkness; Agent Pendergast goes on a cruise.
Thank you for stepping in to share the books you've read over the holidays. As I said, I haven't read anything. I'll get back to it. I promise!
I'm enjoying Deadly Focus by Sue Hinkin.
Believe it or not, I'm reading To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Everybody I know read this in high school or college. But not me. I saw it on the book club display at our library and decided it was time for me.
I finished THE ROOM ON RUE AMELIE (Harmel) which was okay but I felt like I already knew the story – guess I've read too many books set in France during WWII. Other books read: MESSENGER OF TRUTH (Winspear): I'm gradually catching up on Masie Dobbs – love this series, RADIO FREE VERMONT (McKibben) – loved, loved, loved this book, it's a "fable" set in the present about Vermont seceding from the U.S., DEATH AT THE ALMA MATER (Malliet) – the last of the St. Just series, and THE COINCIDENCE OF COCONUT CAKE (Reichert) – her first book, set in Milwaukee, I lived in Wisconsin for 35 years so liked the setting. Now I've started SUNDAY SILENCE (French) – the Frieda Klein series is so dark that I have to be in the right mood to start one. Happy New Year, everyone! Here's to lots of good books and time to read them in 2019.
I finished reading this book I got for free from Amazon thanks to being a prime member called True Places by Sophia Yoerg. I had mixed feelings about it. And now I'm onto reading The Quick by Laura Owen 🙂
Jim, I haven't read To Kill a Mockingbird, and neither of either of my sisters. I asked when I was home. I don't know how all three of us missed it, but we did. It's hard for me to pick up, though, since I know so much about it. If "feels" as if I've read it.
Just finished JOHN WOMAN by Walter Moseley. I'm listening to MILKMAN by Anna Burns, which could be one of the best audio performances I've ever heard. About to start SKIN DEEP by Liz Nugent.
Keenan, That's quite a compliment, one of the best audio performances you've ever heard. Isn't it great to end the year on such a positive note?
Currently listening to Ways to Hide in Winter by Sarah St. Vincent. In print, I am reading Solace Island by Meg Tilly and the Paragon Hotel by Lyndsay Faye. On ebook it's The Anonymous Girl by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen.