Lady of the Lodge joins the 2019 club

Added two books to start off 2019, both of which I read while on a 15-day trip during the holidays.
Good-bye, Christopher Robin by Ann Thwaite
Getting Old is a Disaster by Ruth Lakin

Just finished Ramona Quimby, Age 8 by Beverly Cleary

I just finished Whittington by Alan Armstrong (Newbery book) and also a re-read of When We Were Very Young for the BingoDog challenge. Currently reading The Darkness Knows for RandomCat January challenge.

I finished Carney's House Party for the BingoDog challenge and the TBR challenge.
Also When Zaydeh Danced on Eldridge Street for AlphaKit challenge, and Musubi Man: Hawai'i's Gingerbread Man for BingoDog.

Just finished The Darkness Knows for January RandomCAT and also BingoDog challenges. I liked the setting (Chicago in the 1930's, radio show). I think the author did a good job of evoking the era. Having been to Chicago many times, I could really picture the places she mentioned. I got bogged down a bit in the middle of the book, but got by the slump and finished quickly. I thought this was a good debut novel.

Another finish--Dog Diaries: Sweetie by Kate Klimo. I got this book in Colonial Williamsburg and finally got around to reading it! This is the story of one of George Washington's foxhounds, told from the viewpoint of the dog! Although it is a kid's book, there is a lot of history within it, and I learned a lot.

Just finished Something Read, Something Dead for NetGalley. This was the first in the series that I have read, but actually number 4 in the series. I was really confused at the outset, until I got used to who the characters were. A cast of characters at the front of the book would help! The story features a librarian (Lucy) whose library is in a lighthouse! At a bridal shower for her cousin Josie, one of the attendees becomes ill and later dies. Lucy becomes involved in trying to clear her cousin's name since she provided baked goods that were implicated in the death. I found the characters quirky and interesting. Unlike some other amateur sleuth novels, this one did not paint the law enforcement officers as bumbling idiots who need citizens to solve their cases. 4.5 stars.

Currently reading The Provincial Lady in America and Howards End is on the Landing: A Year of Reading from Home

I finished Howards End is on the Landing by Susan Hill. This did not live up to its expectations. She name-dropped too many people with whom I was not familiar. Organizing my books as she did would drive me nuts--I would never find anything, and would end up buying too many duplicates because of that. (I end up buying duplicates anyway, even with my relatively organized home library. I am sure I have a copy of her The Woman in Black somewhere since I recall seeing the play twice.

>9 LadyoftheLodge: that's a shame. I generally like Susan Hill's writing, but maybe just straightforward fiction is what she's best at.

>7 LadyoftheLodge: I've enjoyed the Lighthouse Library mysteries that I've read, but I need to get back to the series. I'm glad to hear you enjoyed this one!

Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper. I am fairly certain that I read this a few years ago, maybe when I was in library school, for a YA seminar course (which, by the way, was fabulous). This was a Newbery winner or honor book. It is about a child who has cerebral palsy, confined to a wheelchair, unable to speak or do much for herself--but smart as a whip! I liked knowing what the young lady was thinking, and felt so sad for how she was treated by her fellow students. My experiences as a teacher and school principal tell me this is a fact, however, and underscores the cruelty of kids, and the fear that arises when we encounter someone who is different from ourselves. I thought it ended rather abruptly though, and the tragic occurrences at the end of the book seemed all lumped on top of each other. (However, this is sometimes the way life is, right? Trouble seems to breed more of same!) 4.0 stars

>13 dchaikin: Nice to see this title pop up. My daughter got me to read it. I thought it was brilliantly done, but never heard about it further.

Wicked Wildlife by Mildred Abbott, another in the Cozy Corgi mystery series. I started this one and left it for awhile, finally finished. This one was not as well written as the others in the series, and I was disappointed in how long it took to get to the scene that revealed all. The character accused of murder was a very minor character and had little part of dialogue in the storyline. Although all my fave quirky folks were there, I felt disconnected from the story. I read this one out of order (it was #8, and I already read #9), so maybe that was it. I hope #10 is better. 3.5 stars

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst is a kids book that I read years ago. It just seems to be very appropriate sometimes, and yesterday was one of those times. We had torrential rain, our lake was the highest it has been in years and the spillways could not handle the rain since it was coming down so fast, our landline and internet went out, and the water carved paths in our driveway as it was running down, and music rehearsal was cancelled, which was probably a good thing. I love this book, and read it for BingoDog Challenge.

Who Was Beatrix Potter? by Sarah Fabiny is one of the series Who Was. . . for kids. These short biographies each provide an overview of the life of a famous person, and include black and white line drawings.

Pie by Sarah Weeks, for BingoDog challenge. This story of a girl and her aunt who is a champion pie baker, connects to the reader on several levels. It is the story of the loss of an extraordinarily kind-hearted woman and how her influence of pie baking continues on long after she is gone from this earthly existence. The moral of the story: care most about friends and family and be kind, to find your own version of success. Quite a surprising ending! This was a fast read and a good kid book.

Anne of Green Gables for 2019 Category Challenge. I plan to go back to PEI and want to visit the Green Gables house, as I did not see it on a previous visit. 5 stars

Actually I’ve thought about reading Anne. I think I’m too old, but my wife has all the books (and all copies from when she was growing up) and I’m curious. Maybe I’ll convince myself sometime.

Never too old! I think I will re-read all the books in the series.

Finally back home from a fun cruise vacation, but a shock to go from warm weather to cold weather again. I got a lot of reading done though, especially while on the plane. Finished The Forgiving Jar by Wanda E. Brunstetter for NetGalley. I have read quite a few books by this author, and this one did not seem as well written. It was also a lot more overtly preachy than her previous books. 4 stars

Finished Who Was Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart? in the "Who Was" series for kids. I found out quite a few new facts about Mozart, even though I thought I knew about his life.

I also finished A Timeless Celebration for NetGalley, which was okay, but I figured out who the thief was early on in the book. The author took way too much time on some of the scenes, and especially the wrap up at the end. It stretched my belief when the main characters did not report the theft of a valuable antique watch to the police. I really liked the main characters though.

I read a book from my childhood Snowbound with Betsy by Carolyn Haywood, for the BingoDog challenge. I enjoyed this book as much as I did when I was young and read all the books in this series. I was fortunate to find most of the series in a used book sale at our local public library, which made me sad to think of them as discards. Maybe the librarians thought the books were too dated for kids today. I love the illustrations too. The whole book reminded me of times before video games and internet, when kids actually played with each other and their family members, and made things out of discarded jewelry, buttons, cloth, and other stuff (which we did when we were kids).

Yippee! I finished my BingoDog challenge--covered 'em all! Here are my reads from this weekend:

The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton (much loved book from my childhood, and a Caldecott winner, commentary on progress too.)

Anne of Green Gables: A Graphic Novel by Mariah Harsden which went right along with my recent rereading of the novel itself.

Catherine: the Great Journey by Kristiana Gregory, in the Royal Diaries series for young kids, similar to the Dear America series

Fat Cat Art by Svetlana Petrova and Zarathustra the Cat, a book I received from my sister for Christmas and is a crazy trip through art history, ginger cat images inserted into great art work. I have to admit that I got an art education through this book, in an offbeat kind of way.

Just finished A Long Way from Chicago by Richard Peck. I read this book once before, and I still love it just at much. This is the story of two kids from Chicago who spend summers with their Grandma Dowdel in a small town, set during the Depression. The stories remind me of the small town where I live now--I can imagine just these things happening. I want to be Grandma Dowdel when I get old. 5 stars

Just finished two more--The Underneath by Kathi Appelt, which is a past Newbery Honor Book, for AlphaKIT Letter U. This was on my TBR pile for years, and was recommended to me by my dearly loved departed spouse. He always read the Newbery books as soon as the awards were announced. (He worked at a bookshop. Alas, both he and the bookshop are now departed.) This was such a page-turner! I am glad I kept going with it, as I was tempted to set it aside after the first 128 pages. The story tells about a dog and three cats that live underneath the house of a wicked man. There are other animals too: snakes, birds, a huge alligator. The chapters are very short. Themes include revenge, good vs evil, the inhumanity of mankind, love, and paying a price for our actions. Aspects of myth and legend (selkies, mermaids, sirens) are also part of the mix. Highly recommended! 5 stars plus

So You Want to be President was an interesting compendium of facts about past presidents. It is worth reading just for the drawings, although I would read the updated version, since mine does not include recent presidents.

>12 LadyoftheLodge: I had a YA course in library school taught by Elaine Simpson at Rutgers. Can you believe I still remember her name after almost 50 years? That's how good the class was. I can't say I read many YA books at my age, but I certainly developed an appreciation for them during that semester. I can't remember what the title was, but there was one that stuck in my imagination - a collection of vignettes that illustrated the effects of improvements on everyday lives, or something like that. Anyway, one of them described how villages changed after windows became commonplace. Before that, townspeople took walks in the evening to see what was going on. Now they had only to look from indoors without interacting with neighbors.

>24 auntmarge64: I had a YA seminar in library school too, at Indiana University. The prof was Dana Backs. She taught all the child and YA library courses, and I was part of her pack of "groupies." We took every class she taught, although the seminar was the best. She also told us great stories about her work as a librarian, such as wearing roller skates to get back into the stacks for patron requests, and smoking cigarettes in the stacks (yikes, but still interesting).

>25 LadyoftheLodge: Ahhhh! Cigarettes in the stacks! Makes me cringe. But funny, and the roller skates, too.

>9 LadyoftheLodge: I haven't been tempted by Hill's nonfiction, and am probably not terribly current with her fiction (although a quick check on Wikipedia suggests I haven't missed too much). I have liked some of her Gothic stuff very much, and have read five or six of her Simon Serrailler mysteries (tired of the character having awful major life events in every installment, and in at least one book, he never found the perpetrator of the crime). I certainly like The Woman in Black.

Just finished Sense and Sensibility graphic novel version. I found the tiny print difficult to see, and did not really care for the art style used. I got more muddled up trying to keep the characters straight than when I read the novel or listened to the audio version. It was fun to read though, a little diversion. My husband got a great kick out of seeing me read a "comic book" as he said. 3.5 stars

Another finish for NetGalley. Me for You by Lolly Winston was a real winner for me. The author deals with grief, bereavement, and starting over. She uses humor and compassion to approach a difficult subject, as she describes Rudy's attempts to come to grips with the loss of his wife and start a new life chapter. Having been widowed, I can say that the author knows her subject, accurately describing the roller coaster of emotions the ensue after the loss of one's spouse. (Humor here too--Rudy's foray into internet dating is quite laugh worthy.) 5 stars

Just finished An Amish Reunion and A Deadly Feast for NetGalley, and also Blue Willow by Doris Gates for my Newbery Books personal challenge. I am sure kids today would have a few questions about Janey in Blue Willow, since her dad is a migrant worker. Following the loss of their ranch in the Dust Bowl years, Janey and her mom and dad seldom live in one place for any length of time. Her dad is always looking for work, so they are always moving on. This book does inform the reader of what it was like during this time in the history of the United States, in addition to being a good story.

Another finished: Miss Hickory by Carolyn Sherwin Bailey. This is another for my Newbery winner personal challenge reading list for 2019. I read this book when I was a kid, and it was fun to read from the perspective of an adult. This is a whimsical tale of a little doll made of twigs, and her life through the seasons. She is helped along by a variety of different animals. The story put me in mind of the saying that one who puts you in a mess is not always an enemy, and one who gets you out is not necessarily a friend.

Two more completed: Till Death Do Us Tart by Ellie Alexander, part of a series featuring the same characters in the town of Ashland, Oregon. I enjoyed the interactions of the characters and the plot twists. I felt as if this one was not as good as the others in the series. The book needed close editing to get rid of typos and word usage errors. The mystery was not wrapped up to my satisfaction--we never found out how the PI was killed, and the evidence was not conclusive as to the perps. Still fun, still like the quirky characters. This one has been on my TBR list for at least a year and has traveled quite a lot in my backpack without being read.

Perilous Pottery by Mildred Abbott, next in the Cozy Corgi series. This one had interesting plot twists, and the same familiar characters found in other books in the series. I liked the book overall, but there are some grammar errors that appear in the other books too, and need to be corrected (my own personal quirkiness, I guess). I also found the interactions between the main character and her new love interest to be annoyingly overdone and mushy. No one is that perfect and beautiful! Love the dog though!

A couple more: Fulton J. Sheen by Alexis Walkenstein which is a selection of works from Fulton J. Sheen's writings, part of my spiritual reading for Lent.

Lupin Leaps In by Georgia Dunn, a very cute and silly graphic novel about cat life as seen by cats and reported as if they are news reporters. This is what my husband would call a comic book, which I guess it is. Anyone who owns cats would see the humor in it. The only thing I objected to was a section that included a political commentary strip on gay rights, which seemed out of place with the rest of the book. I am just thinking about how I would explain that strip to a child who was reading the book, since this book is appropriate for kids and adults.

For NetGalley, both of these on my Kindle--The Amish Spinster's Courtship by Emma Miller (I plan to read more by this author, as I thoroughly enjoyed this book) and Amish Voices by Brad Igou (a compilation of articles selected from 25 years of an Amish newletter Family Life.

A Fortunate Grandchild by Miss Read--This is one of my tried and true go-to authors. I enjoyed reading this memoir of short articles about Miss Read's childhood in London, focused on her relationships with her grandparents and uncles. I am sure I read this one in the past, as it has been on my home library shelves for many years. It was fun to get in touch with life in the early 1900's. I am sorry that Miss Read is no longer writing on this earth, as I love her books.

For NetGalley:

Amish Outsider by Marta Perry, which is a romantic suspense novel set amongst the Amish in Pennsylvania. I especially liked how the story was all tied up at the end, with some surprises and unexpected happenings. A man returning to the Amish culture brings with him some unsolved mysteries and lingering problems, yet finds support and encouragement as he reconnects with family. 5 stars

A Perfect Amish Match by Vannetta Chapman was another great read, set in an Indiana Amish community. Yay, I am very familiar with the places described in the book, another plus for this one! The matchmaker meets her match (pun intended) in this story. Despite the humorous and delightful dating scenes, there are serious notes in the story, as the matchmaker assists her aging grandparents. 5 stars

Another one: Time Remembered by Miss Read. She describes her childhood in the countryside, attending a country school. This served as the impetus for Miss Read to write the Thrush Green and the Fairacre series of books, which I love.

Just finished two for NetGalley that have been waiting on my Kindle: Awesome Achievers in Technology by Alan Katz and The Bishop's Daughter by Patricia Johns.

Also What Was Pearl Harbor?, which I actually bought in the bookstore at Pearl Harbor.

Masked Ball at Broxley Manor by Rhys Bowen
The View from Saturday by E.L. Konigsburg

Finished them whilst on the motor coach to and from Chicago to see Hamilton on the stage.

Secret Sister: An Amish Christmas Tale by Sarah Price
Buzz Books 2019: Young Adult Spring/Summer for NetGalley

Finished my first two for May!
The Colors of All the Cattle by Alexander McCall Smith
Buzz Books 2019 for NetGalley

Two more from NetGalley that have been languishing on my Kindle:
The White City by Grace Hitchcock--A sort of true crime fiction novel, based on the serial killer of the Chicago World's Fair. I enjoyed the historical detail and the storyline that incorporates the crime thread.

City of Flickering Light by Juliette Fay--This is a tale of three young adults trying to make it big in the early days of talking pictures in Hollywood. There were some hilarious scenes in the theater, plus interesting insights into the lives of would-be actors.

>41 LadyoftheLodge: Have you ever read the non-fiction Devil in the White City by Erik Larson? It reads very much like a novel.

>42 NanaCC: I have not read it, but heard a lot about it. I was on a bus trip to Chicago recently and the tour guide mentioned it. Have you read that one? I read some reviews of it, but still was not sure if I wanted to read it.

>42 NanaCC: I did read it. It’s very good, and a page turning read.

Just a few more for NetGalley
The Artist Who Loved Cats by Susan Barnardo--a really cute rhyming picture book that tells the life of Steinlen. A lot of people are probably familiar with his posters. The colored illustrations provide interest, and there are facts about the artist at the end of the book, along with some seek and find pictures.

The Tinderbox by Beverly Lewis--novel about an Amish family dealing with past events that catch up with them. Shunning makes me sad--why turn one's back on someone who is a sinner and needs support and care? We all fit that description at some time. I am not Amish, so maybe I just don't get it.

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie--I read this book years ago, and have seen it on the stage at least twice. I was still surprised by the ending! What a twist! This is for a Category Challenge in June, just getting a head start!

Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm--I am sure I read this book for a YA Seminar in library school, but it was so much fun to read it again. The book tells the story of Turtle, a girl who goes to live with her relatives in Key West in 1935 due to financial hardship. This situation opens up a whole new family and a whole new life for Turtle. She has many adventures with her all-boy cousins,, who run a baby care service as the Diaper Gang. A lot of the book is laugh out loud hilarious! I did wish for a somewhat different ending though.

Having been to Key West, the book meant a lot more to me than when I first read it. Good historical info at the end. The book was somewhat biographical, as the characters are based on actual people, many of whom are family members of the author. This was a Newbery Book, so it will go on my Challenge list of Newbery Award Winners or Honor Books. 5 stars

Finished two while on a short trip to South Dakota:
Black Coffee by Agatha Christie--a novelized version of her play. I found it slow going, and it seemed as if I was reading the play and all the stage directions. This was turned into a novel by an actor.

Deadly Deception by Hope Callaghan--This is number 4 in the Cruise Ship mystery series. The author is quite prolific and has several cozy mystery series going. This was the first one I read in this series, and I quite enjoyed it. I have a few more on my Kindle. The author definitely has a handle on cruising and the layout of the cruise ship.

Finished The Amish Cookie Club for NetGalley.

Another for NetGalley: The Healing Jar by Wanda E. Brunstetter. This is the third in the Prayer Jar series, and all the loose ends are finally tied up. 4 stars

For NetGalley: Sweet on You by Becky Wade, an annoying romance with a decent mystery, three stars.

Just finished One Summer in Paris for NetGalley. I did not like the ending, and also the use of the "f-bomb". One hot sex scene, also not necessary for the storyline. I did enjoy the evocation of Paris in summer, and the growth of the characters throughout the story. They were better people at the end of the book.

Finished The Noble Guardian for NetGalley. Lots of suspense and action along with romance.

Just completed Curiosity Thrilled the Cat (Magical Cats) by Sofie Kelly. That will work for several of the Category Challenges (no pun intended) for July. This is the first in a series, of which I have read others but not in order.

Finished Shelter from the Storm (North Country Amish) by Patricia Davids. This was an Amish fiction novel, which I read and reviewed for NetGalley. I really enjoyed the theme of this book, which dealt with an unwed Amish mother. I have not found many Amish fiction novels that deal with controversial topics, although more of them are starting to show up. 5 stars

Two finishes: Guarding the Amish Midwife for NetGalley, and What Was the Battle of Gettysburg? to finish off my History category in the Category Challenge.

The Amish story started off slowly, but picked up speed and had a real twist at the end! Glad I finished it.
The Gettysburg book reminded me of our driving tour of the battlefield and also seeing the Cyclorama there at the Visitor Center. Wish I had read this little book before I went there, as it would have made more sense.

Just finished The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall. I loved this book the last time I read it in Library School, and I love it just as much. This book reminds me of the "family" stories I read as a child, such as the Betsy, Tacy, and Tib books by Maude Hart Lovelace and the B is for Betsy series by Carolyn Haywood. (Maybe even The Bobbsey Twins books by Laura Lee Hope. I think we read them all!

I finished The Little Teashop on Main by Jodi Thomas for NetGalley. This was a good beach/pool/rainy day read, but I never really felt engaged with the book or the characters.

I am finally getting back here! I finished several for NetGalley:
His Convenient Royal Bride--a fun read, very light, but the ending was not very satisfying or consistent with the main character's actions in the rest of the book.
More Than Words Can Say--fun historical fiction, excellent, 5 stars
The Key to Happily Ever After--great read about three sisters running the family wedding planner business--5 stars
The Guest Book--I could not get into this one, found the movement of action from person to person and time period to time period very confusing.

I decided to go into August with some of my fave "teacher" reads in honor of back to school, especially since I am a retired teacher and "No more teachers, no more books!" (Unless they are books I choose to read, course.) These are all books for kids.

Oh, How I Wished I Could Read by John Gile
Franklin Goes to School by Paulette Bourgeois and Brenda Clark
Dog Loves Books by Louise Yates
Miss Malarkey Leaves No Reader Behind by Judy Finchler and Kevin O'Malley

The House of Unexpected Sisters by Alexander McCall Smith, just finished! Now I am done with the series so far, as I am caught up with this one that I skipped. I hope he writes some more. These people are like friends!

I read The Golden Bride for NetGalley, although not in depth throughout. Some parts I skimmed . . .

I just finished several books for NetGalley while I was traveling. They have been waiting on my Kindle reader.
Roll With It by Jamie Sumner
Amish Front Porch Stories by Wanda Brunstetter et al
Mrs. Sommersby's Second Chance by Laurie Benson
Portrait of an Artist: Vincent van Gogh by Lucy Brownridge

I just finished The Case of the Cryptic Crinoline by Nancy Springer. This is part of the Enola Holmes series for kids. I read the others in the series when I was in library school, but somehow this one slipped my mind. I thought it was fun and I like Enola as a spunky young lady. Some parts seemed confusing and were not explained as well as I would like, but it was still worth a read.

I also read The Brides of the Big Valley by Wanda Brunstetter for NetGalley and Ramona and Her Father by Beverly Cleary and Sweet September (Home to Heather Creek) by Kathleen Bauer. These will work for the Category Challenge too.

Another fun finish--Jane Austen: Her Complete Novels in One Sitting by Jennifer Kasius and of course Jane. This tiny little book was great fun and got to the heart of all her novels quickly. I had not read Persuasion and Mansfield Hall, although I had read the others in the tiny tome. I will probably go back and read both of those in their entirety now that I know what to expect. I have both of them on my shelves.

Another finish! This is for NetGalley, and was a thoroughly enjoyable and humorous read. Nothing serious here, just fun.
The Golden Oldies Guesthouse by Dee MacDonald

Just finished Amish Christmas Kitchen by Gould et al for NetGalley. This book contained three novellas, set at Christmas time. Each story centered on family situations, but from different perspectives. I especially appreciated that the novellas did not portray the Amish as perfect or sugary sweet, but as people with their own problems that are like those of us in the English world.

I read a few more for NetGalley:
The Amish Christmas Matchmaker by Vannetta Chapman
The More the Merrier by Linda Byler
Christmas by the Lighthouse by Rebecca Boxall

For NetGalley: The Bakeshop at Pumpkin and Spice contains three novellas about love that are set in Moonbright, Maine, and all are touched with a bit of magic at Halloween. I thought the main (magic) premise of the stories was cute, and the emphasis on family ties in the first story added depth to the plot. I also appreciated that the female main characters were curvy women and highly admired by their men. No skinny little girls here, just mature women! Another plus (no pun intended) is the respect accorded to elderly folks in the stories. Too often they are portrayed as curmudgeons, cranky, feeble or ill. Although the cranky and curmudgeon characteristics are present, they are not the main features of these senior folks. More emphasis is placed on the good they do for others and their community contributions. The setting is delightful and the time of year adds interest to the plot. The stories contain a common thread with the town, Halloween celebration, and characters.

My main objection was the inclusion of so much sexual detail. This definitely demonstrated the passion between the lovers, but I did not really want to know whose body parts were where. The plot and humor of each story was enough to carry the character and relationship development without it. A little mystery and lack of detail is a lot more spicy than all the particulars. I prefer that the writer leave something to the imagination of the reader. And I guess marriage is just incidental and comes after the consummation of the relationship any more. I guess my morals are different. Readers should be warned about the spicy hot scenes in these stories.

Another finish for NetGalley: SeaCity Rising which is the story of pond dwellers who take on a quest so as to save their pond from the "dark cloud" that is destroying the environment. Blatant message about how humans are destroying the planet, but still a cute story that will appeal to young readers, with its animal heroes and silly puns.

I just finished a few more for NetGalley:
Love at Pebble Creek
Siha Tooskin Knows the Love of the Dance
The Christmas Remedy
Amish Second Christmas

I just finished several for NetGalley:
We are the Gardeners--family oriented book on gardening
A Gingerbread Romance--fun Christmas read until the epilogue just ruined the ending
Death of a Gigolo--very humorous mystery in a fun series

And these for the TBR challenge:
The Blue Faience Hippopotamus by Joan Grant
An Amish Christmas by Richard Ammon

And these for AlphaKit challenge:
A Gathering of Days by Joan Blos
Molly Learns a Lesson by Valerie Tripp

Another finish for NetGalley and also for Category Challenge:
An Unforgettable Christmas by Ginny Baird

I just finished two more for NetGalley:
Alaskan Catch by Sue Pethick--a contemporary mystery/romance set in Ketchikan, Alaska. Having been there a few times, I loved the realism of the setting and the insights into the fishing industry and also aikido. Cannot get the touchstone to come up.
A Christmas Haven--follow up to The Christmas Remedy by the same author, featuring the same characters and addressing a culture clash within the Amish. Loved the strong women in these novels.

Another for NetGalley: Here Comes Santa Paws by Laurien Berenson. This is the first one I read in this series, and love it! I am a sucker for books with cute dogs on the cover. I discovered I had four more of her books at home, and a few more on my Kindle. I am looking forward to reading more in this series. This one was more of a story within a story, with Christmas forming a backdrop to the murder, but also as an integral family aspect of the story.

Two for NetGalley while I was travelling:
Christmas Every Day by Beth Moran--a fun and easy read, about a young woman who lost all the meaningful things in her life, moved to a new area and made new friends, and found herself.
Murder in the First Edition by Lauren Elliott--thoroughly disliked the main character, although the plot had potential that never really made it work for me.

Another one for NetGalley: New Beginnings at Promise Lodge by Charlotte Hubbard--I wish there was a list of characters at the beginning of this novel, since I have not read the others in the series. I love the non-traditional aspects of this blended Amish community and the idea of a lodge for single ladies. 4.5 stars
Also Limu the Blue Turtle and His Hawaiian Garden by Kimo Armitage for TBR Challenge in November. I got this as a gift from my sister. It is a kid's book with environmental protection undertones, but a very cute story with beautiful color illustrations.

I finished Christmas in Vermont by Anita Hughes, for NetGalley. This was a predictable romance novel, with several very likeable and quirky characters. I just hope the publisher edited this thoroughly before it was published last month. I do not usually send notes to the publisher, but this time I did. There were more typos and errors in this galley than any I have ever read.

I finished Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan and A Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck for AlphaKIT challenge, and I am reading another NetGalley Christmas book A Christmas Gathering by Anne Perry.

I just finished It Won't Be Christmas Without You by Beth Reekles for NetGalley.

The comment I have for this book is "Oh what fun. . ." although not referring to a sleigh ride! This tale of two sisters serves up lots of fun, romance, and laughter, with a final focus on family loyalty. Twin sisters Cara and Eloise alternately love/hate each other, but sisterly affection wins the day as they try to decide how and where to spend Christmas. Throw in a fun mum and dad, some new boyfriends, food, workplace drama, and wintry weather, and out pops a contemporary holiday mix of mayhem and love. This is listed as the author's first go at writing a book for adults. I hope it is not her last., as I loved the characters and laughed a lot.

Readers should be advised that this work is set in England and uses British witticisms and turns of phrase. Additionally, it is liberally sprinkled with colorful vocabulary, so do not be offended if you choose to read this one!

Christmas Shopaholic is the first in the series that I have read, but definitely not the last. The key word here is "humor." Becky embarks upon her Christmas shopping plans in good faith, with an organizer diary and lots of ideas. When her quirky family nominates her to host Christmas, Becky is thrown into an additional whirlwind of activity and quests for the best of everything. Her family bombards her with too many ideas, and Becky tries to be the good hostess and fulfill all their wishes. As in real life, the best of intentions seem to go awry. Throw in a job, a Christmas play, little kids, an old flame, and assorted unusual characters, and you have the life of a Shopaholic..

Readers are sure to find this light hearted tale a welcome break from the hectic holiday season. I recommend a cup of hot cocoa, a warm fuzzy blanket, and a comfortable chair. Get ready to laugh and cry with Becky as she attempts to perfect an outstanding Christmas for her family. Prepare for a surprise ending too.

I just finished A Wedding in December by Sarah Morgan for NetGalley. This one really focuses on a family, the members of which each have unspoken concerns for which they need support. The wedding of the youngest daughter brings it all to a head. This novel is for adult readers, since it has some explicit sexual content.

I finished Diamond in the Rough by Jen Turano, for NetGalley. It seemed slow to start, but was a humorous read about a young woman entering high society in New York.

I also finished Once Upon a Dickens Christmas for NetGalley. Each story is a sort of take-off on a Dickens novel. It is fun to figure out which one and which characters match with novels in books by Dickens. The great man himself also has been spotted in the stories!

Finished two kids books that I read years ago, but they are fun to re-read. Ellen Tebbits which was a fave book as a kid and Missing May which was more depressing than I remembered.

I just finished Christmas at Maplemont Manor: A Novel by Julie Manthey for NetGalley. This was a cute holiday read, which was a self-pub by the author. No one else on LT has this or has reviewed it, apparently. I liked the story, although I hope it had some editing before it was released. Sometimes I am itching to edit the books I read!

I just finished Conversations with Dickens and The Bake Shop which are both for NetGalley. I enjoyed both of them. Currently reading Let it Snow by Nancy Thayer.

Let It Snow by Nancy Thayer was a fun and fluffy holiday read. This was one for NetGalley, which I thoroughly enjoyed. The characters were so much fun and the plot moved along quickly.

An Alaskan Christmas by Jennifer Snow was a book that unfortunately I could not finish. The main plot of outdoor adventures and search and rescue, set in Alaska, interested me greatly. However, the swear words and slang terms for sexual body parts really threw me off. These occurred early in the book, so I saw no point in going on. Too bad! This is apparently the first in a series, which I will not be reading. I did write the NetGalley review though.

I finished several for NetGalley.
Christmas Sweets by JoAnne Fluke and others--Three cute holiday mysteries.
Siha Tooskin Knows the Nature of Life and Siha Tooskin Knows the Gifts of His People --both kids books about the Nakota culture, both by Charlene Bearhead
A Silken Thread by Kim Vogel Sawyer--Interesting read about the Atlanta Exposition, which I knew nothing about.
One Week Til Christmas--A cute Christmas story that was sort of boring at times.
Puddin on the Blitz which was so confusing I could not get into it. This author has many books in print, but I found the main character to be majorly boring and way too wordy.

I am still working on NetGalley reads this month. Just finished (skimmed) The Little Bookshop on the Seine which was a cute and quick read. I seem to be getting a lot of those lately.