Hobbitlit 2012

Happy New Year, one and all!

I am back for another challenge. This past year, I only made it to 68 books. Close, but no cigar.

I'm looking forward to sharing and reading and watching my TBR list grow and grow for yet another year!

Welcome back!

I have you starred! Happy New Year!

Hi, Beth! I used to check your thread regularly when I was more active on LT. I see from your library that we share a lot of books, so yours is definitely a thread I'll be watching again. Happy New Year's Eve!

Glad to see you back with us again, Beth! Happy New Year!

Well, I cannot believe that it is already Jan. 13th, and I haven't finished a single book. I am not quite sure why! I am reading The Scottish Prisoner, and every day when I get home from work, I tell myself that I am going to finish it. Then things happen. Last night, for example, I watched The Fellowship of the Ring on Blu-ray. (I just got the set on Blu-ray, so I had to watch at least one of them after all!) Needless to say, what with work and dinner and the movie, little reading got done. I'm also reading Steve Jobs and have Elizabeth the Queen calling me from the dining room table. Maybe I can get started on it this weekend!

I finally finished one!!

1. The Scottish Prisoner by Diana Gabaldon (534 pages)
If you are a fan of this author, then there isn't much to say. It's a Jamie fix. This is one of the Lord John Grey novels, which go along with the Outlander series but are separate stories. There is some political intrigue in this one which has Jamie traveling to Ireland with John, but there's more too. I love the meticulous research behind all of these books. Did you know that men wore corsets in the later 1700s? I didn't. They were going for a slope-shouldered, sway-backed look, according to the book. I can't picture it in my head, personally. Anyway, I digress. It's a good book!

Congratulations for your first book of the year! :)

Thank you! I felt like it was quite an accomplishment!

I received this Early Reviewers book this week and couldn't wait to get started on it. I finished it yesterday - thank goodness I had the day off! I just had to know who did it!

2. In The Bleak Midwinter by Julia Spencer-Fleming (308 pages)
Mysterious murders, somehow connected to an abandoned baby, in the dead of winter in the Adirondacks, lead to some interesting circumstances for a small town police chief and the new female Episcopalian priest in town. This book is a classic whodunit, one that I read in a day because I just had to know the answer. I was surprised! The twists and turns in this book are interesting involving the crimes themselves, but the most interesting part is the relationship developing between the two main characters, Russ and Clare. There are more books in this series - I hope to read them all.

3. One for the Money by Janet Evanovich (320 pages)
I read this one ages ago - in fact, I've read the entire series. I plan on seeing the movie this weekend, so I reread the book last night, pausing from the other 3 books I'm reading. It was good, of course, a little heavier and more serious than I remember. I think the later books lighten up as they go along. Still, a fun read and a welcomed diversion.

4. Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie (220 pages)
This is the first Miss Marple mystery. In typical Christie fashion, this one is excellent and leaves you hanging until the end. I adore Miss Marple!

5. Elizabeth the Queen by Sally Bedell Smith (570 pages)
It took me longer to read this than I had anticipated. It was not a quick read! If I were an expert on English politics, it would have been easier. The print is small, so reading a few pages takes longer than you'd think. It is a thorough book, although I'm not sure it isn't quite one-sided. I would recommend it to the serious monarchy fan but not to the casual observer.

I also might add that it is longer than 570 pages - that's just the reading portion. It's actually 663 pages long, the balance being acknowledgments, index, references, etc.

I found this book at a church yard sale and bought it solely based on the cover, which is of an old farmhouse. I'm not a huge reader of Christian fiction, although I do read some, mainly because the books are often too obvious in their preachiness. This one was better than most. I did find myself caught up in the story.

6. Julia's Hope by Leisha Kelly (320 pages)
Not a bad book, for the genre. The time is the Great Depression, and the Wortham family is hoping for a new life when all plans fall through. They stay in an abandoned farmhouse, and this night leads them to a home and a future and a new family. It's a Christian fiction book but not as obviously preachy as many. Some of the characters are almost too good to be true, but when I think about it, I know people who would do all of the things people did in this novel, so it isn't unrealistic. There are a lot of coincidences too, but I guess that could be God's work. There are other books in the series that I might read in time.

Another book finished:

7. Share No Secrets by Carlene Thompson (366 pages)
I purchased this book while in WV, having never read anything by the author before. I found it quite good. This is a murder mystery that takes place in a small town in WV, centered mainly around an old abandoned hotel. There were so many characters that I did get a bit confused at times, but the excitement never let up. There are multiple murders that occur one after the other, along with some suspicious accidents. In the end? You will never guess who did it!

This is a very different book, of a sort I don't often read. It's good, though!

8. The Big Year by Mark Obmascik (255 pages)
I never knew that birding (not bird watching - that's what amateurs do) could be so interesting or so competitive. This book opened up a whole new world for me, one I didn't know even existed. Obmascik tells the story of 3 men in 1998 who pledge to see the most birds in North America, called the Big Year. As you read, you'll learn about the men, the challenges, the birds, where people have to go, and even some bird facts in the process. I thought this book was well-written and interesting, especially for someone who is obviously a novice at all this stuff. Hint: If you've seen the movie, forget what you saw when you start this. If you haven't seen the movie, don't bother. The book is infinitely better! The movie is too Hollywood and deviates from the book in major ways.

HobbitPrincess! Glad to find your thread. I love birding. I've never heard of The Big Year. I will have to check it out.

If you love birding, you will really appreciate that book! I like to look at birds, but I can't tell one from the other, unless it's obvious. It's a book I've told a number of people about because it was so interesting and such a learning experience for me.

I'm almost to double-digits:

9. The Widow's War by Sally Gunning (336 pages)
If you enjoy American historical fiction, you will enjoy this book. Lyddie's husband is a whaler in New England in the 1700s and dies at sea. Lyddie is not content with the way she is treated as a widow when it comes to her possessions, her home, her daughter, and her friendships. She fights for what is rightfully hers, going against the norms of society at the time. You will like Lyddie and her spunk. This is NOT a YA novel because there are some steamy scenes in it.

Ah - double digits!

10. That Old Cape Magic by Richard Russo (261 pages)
While a short book, this one will make you think about relationships: marriages, parents, and children, perhaps even friends. Russo has written a serious book that centers on such relationships, centered around Cape Cod and the memories of his parents. The book is a deep one - not a particularly light read. Is it uplifting? It depends. There were times I wanted to shake Griffin, then times I loved him. Will I read it again? Probably not. Did it make me think? Most definitely.

The adventure begins in rereading this series:

11. A Suitable Vengeance by Elizabeth George (371 pages)
In terms of when written, this is the 4th book of the Inspector Lynley series. Chronologically, however, it is the first, so I decided to read it first in my reread of the series. We are introduced to Inspector Lynley, also Lord Asherton, Simon St. James, Lady Helen, and Deborah. These four will appear over and over again in the rest of the series. I love these books because the murder mysteries are good - you don't know whodunit until the end - but the stories of the characters are just as good. There are 3 murders in this one with a motive that will surprise you in the end. I'll say no more!

I just got an Early Reviewers book, however, and another one is overdue coming to me, so I will have to slip them in between books.

A slight break from my Elizabeth George marathon to review an Early Reviewers book:

12. Prize of My Heart by Lisa Norato (190 pages)
In the realm of Christian romance, this book by Lisa Norato is one of the better ones I've read. The romance portion itself is predictable, withing the first few pages, but the plot is not. Just as you think you've got it figured out, something changes and the action picks up. Norato has written a fine piece of historical fiction also. I can tell it's either been researched heavily or she is familiar with shipping history because she is from that area. I almost felt like I was on the ship from her descriptions, and I do not profess a knowledge of sailing at all! I enjoyed reading about a part of the country during a time in history that is not all that familiar to me. If you start reading this novel, don't think it's your average predictable romance - stick with it. You'll be pleasantly surprised and glad you did.

13. A Great Deliverance by Elizabeth George (305 pages)
This is actually the first book written in the Lynley/Havers series, although it isn't first chronologically. As with all of George's books, this one is a masterful mix of murder mystery and character portraits that will carry throughout the series. We get to know Barbara Havers in this one, who, despite her rough edges, is someone I really like. The characters are all so complex, and that's what I like. The murder itself is a grizzly decapitation where there is more than meets the eye. Great read! I look forward to reading all the others.

14. Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt (139 pages)
A lovely story that makes you think. A family is granted eternal life. This is the story of how they cope. Immortality isn't as great as it seems! I taught this in middle school, where it generated lots of good discussion. I read it again to my class this year.

15. Well-Schooled in Murder by Elizabeth George (356 pages)
This is the third of the Inspector Lynley novels, as they were written, 4th chronologically. A murder takes place at a posh school. Lynley finds that his loyalty to the independent school system begins to cloud his judgment since one of the suspects is an old school chum. The motive for murder isn't what you think, and the murderer isn't who you think. As always, bits and pieces of the main character's personal lives are interwoven into the mystery. A good read!

Somehow, I forgot to include this novel in my list. I actually read it before Tuck Everlasting. I was so eager to move on to the next novel, I plum forgot!

16. Payment in Blood by Elizabeth George (312 pages)
The second chronologically in the Lynley/Havers books. The pair are sent to Scotland to investigate a grisly murder that happens when a group of actors go to a new B and B to work on a play. Another murder takes place while there. As is typical of these mysteries, the plots are intricate and often hard to follow because different stories intertwine so. It all comes together in the end, however, in a masterful and clear way. Lynley gets personally involved in this one, something that clouds his judgment. Fortunately, Havers is there to keep it all straight.

I have just started the Lynley/Havers series, having read A Great Deliverance in March, and having Payment in Blood on my current stack, and I'll likely get to it in the next couple of weeks. It's good to know the series continues its quality.

I do have a question: you say that Payment in Blood is the second chronologically, but that A Great Deliverance isn't the first. But since "Deliverance" tells the story of Lynley & Havers's first case together, doesn't it come before "Payment"?

A Great Deliverance is the first of the Lynley/Havers books. A Suitable Vengeance, which is the 4th book George wrote, is a prequel. Havers has only a tiny, tiny part in it, but it gives you some background on Lynley, St. James, Lady Helen, and Deborah. When I first read the series, I read them in the order they were published, and that was fine. This time around, however, I decided to read the prequel first. Any way you read them, they're great books! I have the newest one, and I've decided not to read it until I've reread all the others. That's quite a task! I hope I can do it!

I have to stop and read other things every now and then. I just finished an Early Reviewer's book, which I will put up after this posting. I feel like I really need to read those right away so I can get my review out there.

Enjoy the series!

This is an Early Reviewer's book:

17. Love in Disguise by Carol Cox (234 pages)
Ellie may have hoped for a life on the stage, but circumstances dictate otherwise, and she finds herself without a job. She lands a position as a Pinkerton operative with an assignment in 1880s Airzona, identifying silver thieves. She uses her acting skills to disguise herself as two different people to seek out the clues she needs to find in order to keep her job. I won't give away the ending, but I will say that it's quite a surprise. This novel may be considered Christian fiction, but it's not overly preachy at all. It's a good, clean mystery story with twists and turns you wouldn't anticipate. While considered romance, it's not overly romantic either. The mystery and Ellie's deceptions take center stage. You'll like the main character and many of the townspeople of Pickford, Arizona. The author has done a good job of researching the time period, making the novel realistic and believable.

18. For the Sake of Elena by Elizabeth George (388 pages)
This 5th book of the Inspector Lynley series is every bit as good as the previous books. The pattern continues - there is a murder, it takes most of the book to find out who did it, and in the meantime, we learn more and more about the main characters. Deborah wasn't in this book, and St. James only a little bit, but Havers and Lynley are there. A student at Cambridge is murdered while she is out running. All is not as it seems!

19. Missing Joseph by Elizabeth George (496 pages)
The sixth of the Inspector Lynley novels. This one was particularly interesting to me since it takes place in the part of England that my husband's ancestors came from, Lancashire. It looks like the village vicar has been accidentally poisoned, but something about it makes St. James call in Lynley to investigate. Of course it's not accidental at all, and the mystery leads to London and a very unexpected person. The plot of this one twists and turns, but as always, the story's a good one. I do want to strangle Deborah though. I wish she and Helen both would just grow up!

20. Playing for the Ashes by Elizabeth George (621 pages)
This is the 7th of the Inspector Lynley novels. A player for England's cricket team has been murdered. Who did it - the soon-to-be-ex wife who stills love him, the disappointed disreputable teenage son, the "sugar mama" who has taken him under her wing, the "sugar mama"'s daughter who has been disinherited, the blonde girlfriend who wants to marry him, or someone else? The mystery is solved in the end, but it's not who you might think did it. George does such a good job of telling the stories of not just the main characters but all of the characters. I really got caught up in their stories in this novel.

21. Carolyn and the Cross by Jody Porter (100 pages)
I can be honest here on LT. I read this book because the author is speaking tomorrow night to a group I belong to. I'm always up for reading a book, so I bought a copy to be autographed and to be read. Well, I read it. I wouldn't recommend it. I was hoping for great religious revelations, and they just weren't here. The author's mother went into a coma following a routine surgery in 1975. He made a big deal out of her coming out of the coma, and I'm sure it was a big deal for them, but years later, all she does is speak about 4 words and smile a lot, although she can communicate a little bit by a spelling board. It made me think that the trip to Heaven he describes is mostly his imagination since his mother isn't able to communicate on that level. I will listen politely and even ask questions, as the need arises, and yes, I'll get it autographed. I will play nice!

Ok, so after speaking with the author, I shouldn't have been so harsh. His purpose in writing the book was simply to give someone else hope in a difficult situation. He didn't intend for great religious revelations to occur. He is sincere in his intent for the book. I apologize!

22. Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks (483 pages)
This book is a masterful mix of complex romance and WW I. The main character is Stephen, a thoughtful, complex Englishman. The novel starts several years before the war begins with an unexpected romance. The war is then explored in detail, as Stephen sees it. Sometimes the detail was a bit graphic, but I got past it. Right when you think you know what's going on, the action shifts to 1978 and a completely new character. Definitely a good read.

Now, back to Inspector Lynley~

23. In the Presence of the Enemy by Elizabeth George (635 pages)
I think this has been my favorite of the Lynley mysteries so far, at least in my rereading of them. This is the 8th book. A young girl is kidnapped; her mother is a member of Parliament with serious political ambitions. The girl will die unless her biological father, a tabloid editor, reveals that he is her father, thus destroying her mother's career because of their political differences. It gets more complicated from there. Kidnappings, murder, twisted relationships, and a totally unexpected twist in the end make for a great read. You won't want to put this one down! Although, you might want to strangle both Deborah and Helen. I find I cannot abide either character. Deborah is WAY too whiny, and Helen is just plain stupid. Oh, well. We can't like all the characters.

24. Deception on His Mind by Elizabeth George (913 pages)
This book, the 9th in the series, is a bit different from the other Inspector Lynley books in that Inspector Lynley isn't in it. He has gotten married and is away. Barbara Havers is supposed to be on holiday recovering from injuries suffered in the last book, but she gets herself involved with a murder in the Pakistani community in a fading seaside area. All sorts of motives are explored and examined, but the one that points to the murderer is one that is completely unexpected. There are a lot of characters in this book that I did not care for at all, but then, the reader is not meant to like them, so George has done a good job with that.

These books are good, honest! No one's commenting, so I must be alone in my thoughts. I'm just in a mystery mood these days. What can I say? It takes my mind off the job and my husband's lack of one and lack of success in finding a new one. Sigh.

Not alone, Beth. You have at least one lurker.

I've recently finished my second Lynley & Havers mystery, Payment in Blood. I'm afraid I didn't enjoy it as much as I enjoyed A Great Deliverance, but I think that had more to do with me & life's distractions than with the book.

Thanks for lurking!

I just finished this 10th book, and I think I'm going to take a short break. A friend recommended a book (can't recall the title at the moment, but it's historical fiction), so I think I'll read that next. Keep on reading, though!

25. In Pursuit of the Proper Sinner by Elizabeth George (594 pages)
This is the 10th of the Inspector Lynley novels. It took me longer than usual to read this one - not quite sure why. It's a good book. Havers (my favorite character) starts the novel in disgrace from the previous book, and she spends this entire book trying to redeem herself in her own special way. A former undercover agent's daughter is murdered in the countryside, and Lynley is called in to solve the mystery. As with all of her books, George shows us sides of characters we wouldn't expect to see. It's not until the end that you'll learn who the murderer is, and the motive will surprise you too.

A diversion . . .

26. The Last Kingdom by Bernard Cornwell (368 pages)
I enjoyed this book, to a point, but I didn't particularly enjoy the bloody and repeated battle scenes. This is the beginning of the history of Alfred the Great and early English history, and I know the era was a bloody one with a lot of fighting as the English battled the Danish invaders. I appreciate tremendously the scholarship and research that went into the writing of this novel, because it is intense. My gut feeling tells me this is very realistic historic fiction. It was just a bit too realistic, I guess!

Not much of a mystery reader, so haven't had any comments. I have been reading the Dr. Siri books and enjoying them, however.

Hmmm. Those look interesting. I might have to give one a try.

I did break from mystery for this one. Thank goodness it was a free book on my Nook! I would have been unhappy if I had paid for it!

27. The Liberation of Alice Love by Abby McDonald
While I found this book mildly enjoyable, it isn't one I'll read again. In a nutshell, Alice leads a boring, predictable life until her "friend" takes advantage of her and steals all of her financial information and her money. As Alice untangles the mess, she falls in love, gets closer to her stepsister, makes enemies, and discovers that she can be bolder than she ever thought she could be. About halfway through the book, I decided that I didn't like Alice very much. Some of what she does is improbable, and some of it just makes no sense. The ending is so neat and pat, it made me want to scream. I am sure I am not the intended audience for this book, and if I was in my 20s, I might have found this more enjoyable.

I read all over the place, all kinds of books. I don't much care for horror, and sci-fi isn't my favorite, although I do enjoy some of it. As a Christian, I have explored many different Christian novels. For years, I refused to read them. Let's face it - most of them, for a long time, were Harlequin romances with Jesus thrown in, or they were so blatantly preachy, it was like reading a sermon. Not my idea of fun. I do have a fascination with the Amish culture, so I've read a good deal of Amish fiction, which is usually of a religious nature. I've tired of a lot of that too, since those books are formulaic, and since I have researched the Amish culture and know a lot about it, I tend to be critical of the way many of them are written. This book, however, is written by an author who writes high-quality, well-researched historical fiction that happens to be Christian. Her books have a message, most definitely, but she doesn't slap you in the face with it. I like well-researched history in a book!

28. Grace in Thine Eyes by Liz Curtis Higgs (438 pages)
I've read other books by Liz Curtis Higgs, so I don't know why I wasn't surprised when this book turned out to be different than I expected. I have to confess I was thinking, "Yawn. A predictable romance" when I turned the page and the book completely changed. Wow! I had not read about the book before I read it, other than the back cover, but I quickly figured out this is a retelling of a story from the Old Testament. (I won't tell you which one - it will take away some of the mystery!) Suffice it to say that this is a great read, very well researched, with characters I enjoyed meeting. It takes place in 1807. If you like historical fiction, this is a good one. The message is one worth remembering too!

Back to the murder mysteries!

29. A Traitor to Memory by Elizabeth George (719 pages)
Another Inspector Lynley novel. The mother of a violin prodigy is killed by a hit-and-run driver, and the mystery gets more and more complicated the more it is investigated. I did get a bit tired by Gideon's (the violin player) constant whining, but it all has a purpose. He has apparently lost the ability to play, and through a psychiatrist, begins remembering his childhood and the murder of his sister, something that plays hugely in the current murder investigation. I wasn't hugely surprised by the ending, but I was kept guessing through much of the book.

30. A Place of Hiding by Elizabeth George (511 pages)
This is not my favorite of the Inspector Lynley novels. First, Lynley and Havers aren't in the book, or hardly at all. The main characters are St. James and Deborah. I can barely tolerate Deborah. She is a spoiled rotten brat who needs desperately to grow up, and St. James gives into her constantly. Fortunately, in the other books, her part is much smaller than in this one! The mystery itself is a good one. A wealthy man is killed on Guernsey, and the main suspect is an American whom Deborah knew when she was in California. Her brother contacts them to try to free his sister. As in all of George's novels, the plot is complicated and takes many twists and turns. You won't know until the very end who actually committed the murder and why, although for some reason, the ending of this one is less satisfying than the others I have read. (This is the 12th in the series.)

My most recent Early Reviewer book. I honestly don't remember requesting this one, but I guess I did!

31. The Reluctant Matchmaker by Shobhan Bantwal (303 pages)
The main character, Meena, is an Indian American who has a mind of her own despite cultural traditions. She does an unusual favor for her boss, who is also Indian, and in the process finds herself in a rather uncomfortable situation. This romantic novel revolves around Meena trying to follow the desires of her own heart while still being mindful of the culture she treasures. While this book is a romance, one of the things I particularly enjoyed about it was getting to know something of one part of the Indian culture here in the US. I knew next to nothing about the culture, and I found myself going to the Internet frequently to learn more about what I was reading. I truly liked Meena as a character and was happy with the ending. I like her respect for her family while remaining her own person. This novel was an excellent summertime read since it isn't a deep, dark, serious novel with a complicated plot structure. Read this for pleasure and for gaining an appreciation for a culture that is unfamiliar to most of us.

32. The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker (288 pages)
An interesting scientific phenomenon is the center of this YA novel. The earth starts slowing down, making days longer and longer. I won't share how this affects life on Earth because that would be giving away parts of the story, but suffice it to say that it is interesting. Interspersed with the earth's slowing is the coming-of-age story of the main character, Julia, who is 12 when the novel starts. I thoroughly enjoyed this book because it made me think.

I noted on Facebook today that I must have developed ADD over the summer since it's taking me forever to finish just about every book I read. I'll read for a bit, then hop up to take care of something or play on the computer, then read a few minutes, then get up again. A couple of people have suggested that it has to do with aging. Maybe it does. This aging business sucks a big one.

I did finish this one though:

33. Peaches by Jodi Lynn Anderson (368 pages)
This was a Free Friday book for my Nook, so I really didn't know what to expect when I started to read it. It does take place in Georgia, and it involves peaches. Yes, really! The story is about 3 girls who are very different from each other and how they become friends one summer during peach harvest. There's Leeda who is rich and beautiful, Murphy who lives in a trailer with her mom who looks for love in all the wrong places, and Birdie who has been sheltered from life but lives on the peach farm and is experiencing her parents' divorce and possible loss of the orchard. It was a decent story, but there were some parts that were rushed and others that were dragged out longer than they should have been. The drive to Texas was a bit unbelievable also. I am not the target audience here; if I was, then I might have enjoyed it more. Still, it's a decent read.

Told you it is taking forever to read books these days!

34. With No One As Witness by Elizabeth George (627 pages)
One of the most intense of the Inspector Lynley novels, you'll have a hard time putting this one down. The pair are on a mission to catch a serial killer, one who likes young boys and sacrificial rites. The killer is caught in the end, but not before there is a lot of tension at Scotland Yard. I wanted to strangle Hillier! He's just impossible! There is a huge unexpected twist near the end of the novel that leads into the next novel. The ending is unexpected, and I don't mean the identity of the killer.

Boy, am I reading slow. This book took me forever! I am finding it hard to find time to read like I want to. This must stop!
Here's the next review, but it's not good. Don't read it, unless you're a glutton for punishment.

35. What Came Before He Shot Her by Elizabeth George (548 pages)
This is the second time I've read this novel, and I'm puzzled as to why I gave it 3 stars instead of 2. I will downgrade it this time. This is the 15th in the Inspector Lynley novels, and it is by far my least favorite. There is very little mystery here and only the briefest of mentions of the characters I know and like from the other novels. We learn all there is to know about the young boy who is accused of the murder in the previous book, With No One As Witness. I got tired of reading nothing but how poor and pitiful this boy is. Yes, I understand, but by the end of the book, I felt like I'd been beat over the head with it. It just isn't that good of a read. I would not recommend this one at all.

This is an Early Reviewer's book . . .

36. The Bridesmaid by Beverly Lewis (210 pages)
I've read most of Lewis's novels, and this one is about like the others. It's fairly predictable - within the first few pages, I knew what the ending would most likely be. Still, I enjoyed the journey to get there. The characters are likable, and I found myself caring about what happened to them. (Except for one. One of the main characters was someone I never did develop a liking for, and I think the author means us to.) There is some insight into the Amish culture, but no more than I picked up from her other books. In this novel, Joanna has a sister that keeps reminding her "three times a bridesmaid, never a bride." On a trip to Virginia, she meets and falls in love with a young Amish man from Indiana, a long way from her home in Pennsylvania. This is Christian fiction, and the message is there, but you aren't beat over the head with it.

37. Sworn to Silence by Linda Castillo (336 pages)
A friend on Facebook recommended this as Amish fiction. I've read a lot of that (and seem to keep getting those books in the Early Reviewers batch), but this book hardly falls into that category. It is not about the Amish, or only a little about that culture, and it's definitely not a Christian fiction book, as most Amish fiction tends to be. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I really liked the main character, Kate. There are depths to her that you don't often see in a mystery thriller. She is ex-Amish and the police chief in her small Ohio town. A series of horrible murders take place, and Kate has to deal with these plus some related issues from her past at the same time. I won't say anymore. You'll never guess who the murderer is. I read through the last pages rapidly because I just had to know what was going to happen. My only complaint was that some of the descriptions were a little gruesome. As I get older, I'm finding I just don't have the stomach for things like I used to!

Another Early Reviewers book. I gave it 3 stars, but I was being generous, which I tend to be with these books.

39. No Safe Harbor by Elizabeth Ludwig (239 pages)
No Safe Harbor is an historical Christian novel that follows Cara as she leaves Ireland in 1896 in search of her twin brother, who she thought was dead. She doesn't know why he left Ireland and doesn't find out until well into the novel. While this is considered Christian fiction, it is not a preachy book - in fact, the religious message is not particularly strong, although it is present. While I did get caught up in the story in the end, I had some problems with some details that just made the book less than enjoyable for me. Right off the bat, I could not wrap my mind around this newly arrived Irish immigrant, a young woman, landing a 9-5 job as a bookkeeper for a candle maker. She seems to live quite well for an Irish immigrant during the time. In fact, a lot of this seems rather sugar-coated. Perhaps things were that way for some fortunate immigrants in New York, but it doesn't mesh with other books I've read from the same time period. While this is a romance, it isn't an overly pushy romance - what got me caught up in the novel was the suspense in the last part of the book. Sometimes I found myself confused by what was going on, like I was missing something. A brief summary of Irish history at this time would have been helpful, even just a page. I think it is assumed that everyone knows about Irish rebellions, and that isn't the case. Overall, the story is a good one, but some polish would make it better.

For some reason, because I requested a few Christian fiction novels, that seems to be all they send my anymore for Early Reviewers. While some are ok, I wouldn't mind reading something else. For September, I didn't choose any of that genre. We'll see what happens. So many of those books just aren't very good or well-written. I'm actually reading another one now, from the August batch. Maybe you'll see the review soon. I'm having a tough time getting into it, just like I did the last one.

I'm very selective of the Christian fiction novels that I choose from Early Reviewers. I have a lot in my catalog because I've read quite a few over the years, but I agree with you that many are not well-written. I actually chose one or two last month that I would not have minded winning, but I won a non-fiction book instead. It did not surprise me when I did win the non-fiction book though because I was a strong match for it as well.

It has been a while since I checked in, Beth. I hope all is well with you!

Thanks for checking in! All is well, and I hope the same is with you! Just trying to find more time to read!!

This is another Early Reviewer book. Yep, it's another Christian fiction one. This one is not that bad, however. My main complaint is that the story just ends, so if I want to know what happens next, I will have to get the sequel in the spring. That annoys me. This one is not as preachy as some and is better written than most.

40. A Season for Tending by Cindy Woodsmall (333 pages)
I've read a lot of Amish fiction, and this is one of the better ones. I enjoyed meeting all of the main characters and grew to like them as the book progressed. The main character is Rhoda, who has two talents: an unusual intuitive spirit and a green thumb. Then there is the King family with their apple orchard. You will read a bit before learning the connection between two seemingly different stories. I was a bit concerned about the reactions of some of Rhoda's neighbors and those in the community to her intuitive talent - I had to check to see that the setting was a modern one, because the superstitions sounded like something you wouldn't encounter this day and age - but don't let that detract you from a good story. The book does just end, so if you are a reader who likes to know immediately what is going to happen, you might hold off until the next book in the series comes out. I learned something about growing apples organically also; I enjoy learning new things, an added bonus when a book is as enjoyable as this one.

Oops! I skipped a number. That last book was #39. When I cross-referenced with my spreadsheet, I found a problem.

Here's the real #40.

40. Menthol Kisses by Abby Stewart (171 pages)
Don't bother. What can I say? New Kindle. Free books - some are good, some aren't. This is a bad one. I was fooled by the 4.7 star rating. I give it one star, and that's stretching it. Why did I finish it? I'm not sure except that I was riding in the car and it seemed the thing to do at the time.

Those ratings on Amazon don't really seem to correspond to the books at all. I have this vision of all those ebook authors having all their friends and relatives writing up a rave review.

You're probably right! I've only read two of the freebies on my Kindle - the second is below - although the second one was better. It is actually a printed book, however. It wasn't bad at all, just short.

41. One Last Love by Derek Haines (154 pages)
While I liked this free Kindle book, it's not an uplifting, cheerful read. A man nicknamed Bonnie is sent to a hospice facility to live out his last days, and he meets some others there who teach him a few lessons and show him that love is not impossible to find, even at the end. It's a quick and easy read, and it might leave you with a smile (depending on your mood at the time), but I found it a bit less than cheerful.

42. Praying for Sheetrock by Melissa Fay Green (335 pages)
Greene tells the true story of a corrupt sheriff and an awakening African American community in McIntosh County, Georgia. What is so surprising is that the incidents occurred not in the 50s or during the traditional civil rights era but later, from the mid- to late-seventies and well into the eighties. The sheriff had such a hold on the community that the blacks who lived there, a majority of the population, accepted things as they were until one man stood up to it. The story is complicated and hard to relate in just a few sentences. One of the things I really enjoyed about the book was the attention to detail and description. Greene has done an excellent job of catching the essence of so many small communities in rural Georgia. Most of them are not corrupt, and that is not what I mean - it's the descriptions of the towns, the land, and the people.

I'm returning to the Elizabeth George novels. After this one, I have 2 more to read, one of which was just published this year. Yeah!

43. Careless in Red by Elizabeth George (623 pages)
I waited a long time for this book to be published the first time I read it in 2008, since I had caught up with the author's writing. Lynley finally begins to come to terms with his wife's death, oddly enough, through another murder when he finds the body first. Havers reappears, thankfully, because she is my favorite character. The suspense was good; I had no idea whodunit until George revealed it, although I had plenty of ideas. The action takes place in Cornwall and involves family secrets and twists and turns and the surfing community. Excellent book!

First, a quick comment on an Early Reviewer book just completed:

44. Rescuing the Children: The Story of the Kindertransport by Deborah Hodge (58 pages)
Written for younger audiences, this book does a wonderful job of telling the story of the Kindertransport, the movement that rescued thousands of Jewish children from the advancing Nazi threat. I especially like how the author has made the information more personal by featuring statements from eight different people. In the end, we even get to see how their lives played out as they grew to adulthood. The pictures are captivating and guaranteed to capture the interest of youngsters. A brief overview of WWII and a timeline are given also, plus vocabulary. I learned a good bit while reading this book, and I know that school children who read this will learn also. Excellent job!

45. This Body of Death by Elizabeth George (689 pages)
I read this about a year and a half ago, and I still found it good. It's another Inspector Lynley book, leading up to the newest one, which I've just started. The only thing I really didn't like about this book was the introduction of Isabelle. Actually, she made a brief appearance in another book. I just don't like her in any way. I can find no redeeming qualities about her. Still, the mystery is a good one, if a bit hard to follow at times. It does all come clear in the end. Poor Barbara, though. I hope in this next book, she gets a break!

46. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien (317 pages)
Delightful, as always. I wanted to reread it before the movie came out, just to refresh my memory.

47. The American Heiress by Daisy Goodwin (468 pages)
I enjoyed this novel - it was a great diversion from life for a bit, plus I learned a few things along the way. This is the story of the richest girl in America and her marriage to an English duke; the story takes place at the end of the 1800s, about 20 years before Downton Abbey takes place. The premise is much the same, however. A man with a title and a crumbling estate needs American money to make things better, and the social-climbing mother of Cora, the main character, wants her daughter married with a title, something that will push her above the society matrons with money and family history, something Cora's family lacks. Something I learned is that there was truly a magazine for rich Americans to consult that listed all available titled Englishmen with the particulars of their estates, pedigrees, income, etc. If I hadn't looked it up on the computer, I wouldn't have believed such a thing actually existed, but it did. The ending of the novel seemed rushed to me, like the author just wanted to end it, but it's a satisfying ending nonetheless.

48. To Heaven and Back by Mary C. Neal, M.D. (216 pages)
I guess I was expecting something truly extraordinary, and I just didn't get it. I don't know if this is real or not. I've never heard of a near-death experience where the person keeps talking to angels. I'm inclined to think that it was the drugs talking. She was badly injured, yet she makes it sound like she was just lounging around in her bed, chatting away. I truly want to believe, and I guess I read this book hoping to find those answers, but I didn't find them here. It all boils down to faith, I guess.

49. Believing the Lie by Elizabeth George (610 pages)
The 17th book in the series, and it still is good. That speaks well of this book. Lynley is asked to investigate an accident in a prominent and wealthy family that seems straightforward but might not be, and of course the St. Jameses and Barbara get involved also. There are a lot of twists and turns in this book, not only in the mystery itself but in the lives of the main characters. I actually liked the ending and regret only that there is no #18 to read right now!

50. Spinning by Michael Baron (304 pages)
This was a Nook freebie. It is ok if you are into Nicholas Sparks. I'm not. This did prove to be a nice diversion while I was sitting waiting on trick or treaters because I didn't have to concentrate on what I was reading. It's very predictable and sappy. Some of it drags. What is it about? A New York PR man who is all career-oriented and into bars and casual dating meets the girl of his dreams, who just happens to have a cute 3 year old. Happiness doesn't last forever, however. You get the drift.

I just finished this book, and I want to plug it shamelessly! It's written by a former teacher who had the patience to deal with my younger son for a year. She's one of the few teachers he actually liked. When her book came out, I had to read it, of course. I have it on my Kindle, and I have a hard copy coming too. Here's the review that should be on Amazon, BN, and Goodreads. I recommend it highly, especially if you like the Arthurian legend.

51. The Green Knight's Apprentice by Virginia Chandler (120 pages)
If you want to get a glimpse of another part of the Arthurian legend, then this novel is one you will definitely want to read. Although I am an amateur on the subject, I have always had a fascination with this time period in England's history, and this novel rings true to me. Even the magical scenes seem real; I don't want to refer to them as fantasy, because somehow, the reader can believe that they truly happened. I can see the research and knowledge in this writing, and that makes it appeal to me all the more. The story is narrated by Rhowbyn, a complex character who learns much as he accompanies the Green Knight. A good book makes the world around me disappear, and this one did just that for me.

52. The Holy Bible (1134 pages)
No review necessary.

53. The Midwife of Hope River by Patricia Harman (400 pages)
I did not get this as an Early Reviewer book, but the description prompted me to buy it on my own. This novel tells the story of Patience, a midwife in West Virginia in 1930. It's more than about a woman delivering babies, however - I loved the main character and enjoyed reading about her life. Her assistance Bitsy was also an incredible character. The author used to be a midwife, and it shows in her descriptions. There is so much depth to this book - life and death, political struggles, racism, changing society, love, and redemption.

54. A Little Book of Mormon (and not so Mormon) Stories by Ingrid Ricks (89 pages)
Another Kindle freebie. The author writes about her childhood growing up Mormon under a very strict mother, an absent father, and an abusive stepfather. It's not a depressing book at all, really. The author has definitely come to terms with her past and doesn't dwell on the troubles. The book also doesn't put down the Mormon religion, as you might expect it would. She is always quick to add that the problems came from her mother's legalistic and literal interpretation of the rules.

55. Notorious Nineteen by Janet Evanovich (302 pages)
This was a fun read but not my favorite Plum book. I just didn't find myself laughing like I usually do with her books. There were some truly funny parts, but it seemed to drag in places. A couple of the characters, not the main ones, just annoyed me, and some of the action seem unrealistic, even by Plum standards. Still, it's a decent light read, and if you've read all the others, you must read this one too.

A complete diversion from the last book!

56. Traveling Mercies by Anne Lamott (273 pages)
This book is a series of chapters about her life, but also about her own spirituality and spiritual growth. She is a Christian, albeit an unconventional one, and a person from whom we can learn some things. It doesn't matter what your religious beliefs are, you can learn from what Lamott has to say. She will definitely make you think.

Glitterfy.com - Christmas Glitter Graphics

I want to wish you a glorious celebration of that time of year when we all try to unite around a desire for Peace on Earth and Good Will Toward All. Merry Christmas, Beth!

Thank you so much! I hope your Christmas was wonderful in every way.

I actually finished this book a while ago, but I never got around to the review because of the busy-ness of the season. Here it is, short and sweet. It's an Early Reviewer's book.

57. Courting Cate by Leslie Gould (214 pages)
've read a lot of Amish fiction, and I enjoyed this one more than most of the ones I've read lately. It's a clever idea to combine the plot of a Shakespearean play with Amish characters, but somehow, it works. I didn't particularly like Cate through a good portion of the book, but then, I don't think I was supposed to. I like the more human qualities these characters possessed. So many Amish characters are just too good to be true, but that is not the case here. The characters are complicated, just as we all are - a little good, a little bad, with struggles to see which part comes out on top. This was a book I had a hard time putting down.

Obviously, I am not going to hit 75 books this year. I'm finding it hard this year to make time to read, for some reason. Some say it's age; some say it's hormones; some say it's just life. I don't know, but whatever it is, it distresses me. I'm reading a tome of a book right now, Fall of Giants. It's wonderful, but I don't know that I will finish it before the end of the year.

I have finished this one too. I'm actually re-reading it, since it's a daily thing. I'm not sure when I actually finished it because I started it before the end of the year last year, but for the sake of my records, I'll just give myself credit for it now.

58. Jesus Calling by Sarah Young (400 pages)
This is an excellent devotional, if you're looking for one. I've given away several as gifts. I also have it on my iPhone, making it super-easy for me to read.

Well, it looks like this is the number that will end my year. Far cry from 75!

Happy New Year's to anyone who happens to read this!

Here's to a great new year ahead, Beth!

Not 75, but still a decent amount. Happy New Year!