Rachel Reads 75+ in 2013

Hello and welcome! This is my third year in the 75 Book Challenge Group, although in the last couple of years I've read a lot more than 75 books a year. I'm not sure how many I'll read this year. I tend to read a lot of historical fiction, but I also read YA and children's literature, some non-fiction, and general fiction. I also like some good suspense, mystery, and gothic novels. My favorite author is Susanna Kearsley, and my favorite read of 2012 was Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day by Winifred Watson.

In 2013, I'd like to read more classics, and also more of the books that are sitting around collecting dust. I work in two libraries, so it seems like I am always checking out books and never getting around to the ones I have at home. I'd like to read 30 of my own books this year. I have a lot of lists, spreadsheets, and miscellaneous notes about authors, books, and series I'd like to read, and I'd like to cross off some that have been there for a while.

I tend to lurk on lots threads...hopefully this year, I will be more involved on this thread and other threads in the 75 group!

Books Read January-March

January
1. The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith
2. Betsy-Tacy by Maud Hart Lovelace
3. The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson
4. A Rule Against Murder by Louise Penny
5. The Devil's Paintbox by Victoria McKernan
6. 'Tis the Season! by Lorna Landvik
7. The Girl on the Cliff by Lucinda Riley
8. Tiger's Destiny by Colleen Houck
9. Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan
10. Alchemy and Meggy Swann by Karen Cushman
11. Nine Coaches Waiting by Mary Stewart
12. The House at Tyneford by Natasha Solomons

February
13. Undertow by Susanna Kearsley
14. Morning Girl by Michael Dorris
15. Ice by Linda Howard
16. The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey
17. The Wedding Girl by Madeleine Wickham
18. Betsy-Tacy and Tib by Maud Hart Lovelace
19. Vegan Virgin Valentine by Carolyn Mackler
20. The Gemini Game by Susanna Kearsley
21. A Week In Winter by Marcia Willett
22. On the Island by Tracey Garvis Graves

March
23. The Last Letter from Your Lover by Jojo Moyes
24. Submerged by Dani Pettrey
25. Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
26. Coyote Dream by Jessica Davis Stein
27. MWF Seeking BFF: My Yearlong Search for a New Best Friend by Rachel Bertsche
28. Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles
29. Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton
30. Brooklyn Rose by Ann Rinaldi
31. Twilight Child by Sally Warner
32. The Cowgirl Way: Hats Off to America's Women of the West by Holly George-Warren
33. The American Frugal Housewife by Lydia Maria Child
34. Entwined by Heather Dixon
35. Shadow on the Mountain by Margi Preus
36. Blackberry Winter by Sarah Jio
37. Heart of Fire by Linda Howard
38. Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

Books Read April-June

April
39. Reckmire Marsh by Sara Hylton
40. Shattered by Dani Pettrey
41. Frozen by Mary Casanova
42. The Psysick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe
43. Sea by Heidi R. Kling
44. Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles
45. Veil of Night by Linda Howard
46. The Legacy by Katherine Webb
47. See You in a Hundred Years by Logan Wood
48. Ashenden by Elizabeth Wilhide
49. The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey
50. Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale
51. Prairie Songs by Pam Conrad
52. Son of the Morning by Linda Howard
53. A Town Called Valentine by Emma Cane

May
54. The Icecutter's Daughter by Tracie Peterson
55. Sizzling Sixteen by Janet Evanovich
56. The Soldier's Wife by Margaret Leroy
57. The Tale of Halcyon Crane by Wendy Webb
58. My Little Red Book by Rachel Kauder Nalebuff
59. The Tall Pine Polka by Lorna Landvik
60. Rural Free: A Farmwife's Almanac of Country Living by Rachel Peden
61. The Edge of the Earth by Christina Schwarz
62. A Place of Secrets by Rachel Hore
63. The Edge of Recall by Kristin Heitzmann
64. Cate of the Lost Colony by Lisa Klein
65. Ashfall by Mike Mullin
66. The Fever Tree by Jennifer McVeigh

June
67. Cold Sassy Tree by Olive Ann Burns
68. Smokin' Seventeen by Janet Evanovich
69. The Quilt Walk by Sandra Dallas
70. The Sandalwood Tree by Elle Newmark
71. It Happened at the Fair by Deeanne Gist
72. Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer
73. The Inn at Rose Harbor by Debbie Macomber
74. Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear
75. Explosive Eighteen by Janet Evanovich
76. Shadowland by Meg Cabot
77. The Unseen by Katherine Webb
78. Dance of Shadows by Yelena Black
79. The Dead & the Gone by Susan Beth Pfeffer
80. Hearts West: True Stories of Mail-Order Brides on the Frontier by Chris Enss
81. This World We Live In by Susan Beth Pfeffer

Books Read July-September

July
82. Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier
83. The Postcard Killers by James Patterson and Liza Marklund
84. The Heiress of Winterwood by Sarah Ladd
85. A Summer All Her Own by Roseanne Keller
86. Chain Reaction by Simone Elkeles
87. Land Girls by Angela Huth
88. The Vespertine by Saundra Mitchell
89. Life Below Stairs: True Lives of Edwardian Servants by Alison Maloney
90. The Invisible Bridge by Julie Orringer
91. The Roots of the Olive Tree by Courtney Miller Santo
92. Birds of a Feather by Jacqueline Winspear
93. Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger
94. Letters From Skye by Jessica Brockmole

August
95. Black Ice by Anne Stuart
96. The List by Siobhan Vivian
97. Notorious Nineteen by Janet Evanovich
98. Some Tame Gazelle by Barbara Pym
99. Astor Place Vintage by Stephanie Lehmann
100. The House on Hound Hill by Maggie Prince
101. Wrapped by Jennifer Bradbury
102. Land Girls at the Old Rectory by Irene Grimwood
103. The Shade of the Moon by Susan Beth Pfeffer
104. Seraglio by Janet Wallach
105. Faith Bass Darling's Last Garage Sale by Lynda Rutledge
106. Elephant Run by Roland Smith
107. The Water Wars by Cameron Stracher
108. Anathema by Colleen Coble

September
109. Ghost on Black Mountain by Ann Hite
110. The Firebird by Susanna Kearsley
111. The Flight of Gemma Hardy by Margot Livesey
112. French Milk by Lucy Kinsley
113. A Stolen Life by Jane Louise Curry
114. Catch of the Day by Kristan Higgins
115. House of Shadows by Iris Gower

Books Read October-December

October
116. Scotland's Land Girls: Breeches, Bombers and Backaches by Elaine Edwards
117. Escape Under the Forever Sky by Eve Yohalem
118. Montana Rose by Mary Connealy
119. The Year of Miss Agnes by Kirkpatrick Hill
120. The Shooting Party by Isabel Colegate
121. My Dear I Wanted to Tell You by Louisa Young
122. The Fate of Mercy Alban by Wendy Webb
123. Stork by Wendy Delsol
124. The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
125. Divergent by Veronica Roth

November
126. Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by April Genevieve Tucholke
127. Pioneer Girl: A True Story of Growing Up on the Prairie by Andrea Warren
128. The Last Camellia by Sarah Jio
129. The White Stag by Kate Seredy
130. Snow on the Tulips by Liz Tolsma
131. The Brutal Telling by Louise Penny
132. A Royal Pain by Megan Mulry
133. So Far Away by Meg Mitchell Moore
134. An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving by Louisa May Alcott
135. Easy by Tammara Webber
136. 22 Britannia Road by Amanda Hodgkinson
137. Good-bye, Mr. Chips by James Hilton
138. Snow Hall by Elizabeth Gill
139. Tumbleweed Skies by Valerie Sherrard
140. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
141. All I Ever Wanted by Kristan Higgins

December
142. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
143. Dating Mr. December by Phillipa Ashley
144. Fallen Women by Sandra Dallas
145. Snowbound in the Earl's Castle by Fiona Harper
146. Frost by Wendy Delsol
147. The Snow Bride by Debbie Macomber
148. A Wreath of Snow by Liz Curtis Higgs
149. Covet by Tracey Garvis Graves
150. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling
151. My One and Only by Kristan Higgins

Welcome back!

Book # 1: The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith

I heard a lot about this book on LT last year. Teenager Hadley misses a plane to London by four minutes, and winds up on the next flight...and sitting by a British boy, Oliver. There's a lot going on in both their lives that they both must deal with once they get to London. A quick read that I probably would have enjoyed a lot more if I were 10-15 years younger, but it kept me interested and now I know what all the buzz was about.

Book # 2: Betsy-Tacy by Maud Hart Lovelace

Another series I saw mentioned on LT last year. In this first book, about two girls growing up in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, we learn how Betsy and Tacy meet and become friends. I really wish I would have known about this series when I was a girl! Will definitely read more of these books this year!

Book # 3: The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson

Although it's not my typical cup of tea, I decided to continue with the Millennium Trilogy after I read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo last year. I just wanted to know how things would be resolved. I have a feeling I missed a lot, and things went over my head. I was also left wondering why there was so much mention of Lisbeth's twin sister...maybe that was for another book the author had planned before he died?? Anyway, I've read them, enjoyed them more than I thought I would, and can move on from Scandinavian crime fiction for a while!

Glad to see you get back with us again, Rachel!

I am adding The Statistical Probability of Love to the BlackHole. Thanks for the mention.

>10 alcottacre:: Thanks! Hope 2013 is a great reading year for you!

Book # 4: A Rule Against Murder by Louise Penny

A woman is killed when a statue falls on her, and Chief Inspector Gamache must solve the crime. The reader also gains more knowledge about Gamache's background. I plan to listen to/read the rest of the books in the Tree Pines series this year.

I love the Three Pines series. I am glad to see you enjoying it too, Rachel.

Great to see you back, Rachel.

>14 thornton37814:: Thanks, Lori!



Boook # 5: The Devil's Paintbox by Victoria McKernan

At the beginning of this novel, Aiden and his sister are actually eating dirt to try to stay alive. It's 1865, and the pair have lost their parents and siblings and the future doesn't look bright. They decide to travel on the Oregon Trail with a wagon party, and will serve as indentured servants once they arrive at their destination...if they survive the dangerous, grueling journey.

I knew this would not be a happy story, and indeed, tragedy struck more than once. I would have liked the story a lot more if the author hadn't tried to fit too much into it. She could have done a lot of things differently, and taken events or characters out, and still had an interesting book.

Hi! The Betsy-Tacy series was one of my favorites as a kid, and it was one of the cases where my daughter loved them just as much as I did.

I also read the second book of the Millennium trilogy, and intend to read the third one even though they didn't exactly wow me. I guess they did draw me in enough to want to find out how the story develops, if nothing else.

Hi, Ursula! I do wish I had read Betsy-Tacy when I was a kid, but now I can enjoy the series as an adult. It's definitely a series I'll have to keep in mind for when I have kids someday. I'm like you with the Millennium trilogy, I wanted to see what would happen to the characters, but I don't see why they were considered so amazing. I'm off to visit your thread now!

Book # 6: 'Tis the Season! by Lorna Landvik

I picked this one up before Christmas, with the intention of reading it during the holidays. Ha! I didn't have as much reading time as I'd have liked, but I didn manage to finish this one over the weekend. It took a while to get into, as it's told through e-mails, letters, tabloid articles, and the like, and I had to figure out who was who and what was happening. Eventually, I got into it, and things moved quickly.

Caroline Dixon is a wealthy "celebrity," who has some problems with alcohol and checks in to rehab. She reconnects with two people from her past, a former nanny and the manager of a ranch where she stayed for a time as a teenager.

Though predictable at times, the book was enjoyable, and it was nice to see Caroline and other characters develop. I have a couple more books by the author on my list that I hope to get to this year.

Book # 7: The Girl on the Cliff by Lucinda Riley

While this won't be my favorite book of the year, it's been the best I've read so far in 2013. Dual timelines, family secrets, the Irish countryside, WWI, lots of history, grand houses...I could go on and on, but by now it's easy to see why I liked this book!

After suffering a miscarriage, Grania Ryan leaves her home in NYC to go back to Ireland in order to rest. She meets a little girl, Auroroa, on the cliffs, and although Grania's mother Kathleen doesn't approve, begins to spend time caring for the girl. Kathleen eventually tells Grania how her family and Aurora's family have been connected in the past, and how their associations with them now may impact their futures.

I was immediately drawn into the story, and the writing was so descriptive I felt like I was there walking along the cliffs, in the different houses, and watching all the events unfold. There was plenty of sadness throughout the story, and things that I had to wait for the very end to see resolved.

I plan to read more by Lucinda Riley (I already had The Orchid House on my reading list before I read this one), and have a feeling she might become a favorite author of mine in the future.

Hi Rachel, lovely reviews. I've added The Girl on the Cliff and The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight to the mountain of books on wishlist.
Look forward to following along with you and finding more interesting reads :)

Hi, Adrienne! I hope you'll enjoy The Girl on the Cliff when you get to it. I'm glad I read it! I noticed you are currently reading Inkheart. I just picked up the audiobook from the library the other day. Hopefully I'll get to start it later this week...looking forward to your thoughts on it, and now I need to head to your thread!

I'm taking the book bullet on The Girl on the Cliff. It sounds good.

I hope you'll like it, Lori!

Book # 8: Tiger's Destiny by Colleen Houck

The first three books in the series intrigued me enough to want to know what would happen in the fourth (and I thought final) book. Once again, I have mixed thoughts about things. On the one hand, the author has a lot of creativity, and how she wove the mythology, history, and action and adventure elements together was terrific. On the other hand, I was often frustrated with the main character, her decisions (and indecision), and thought process. I thought the ending was predictable, and now that I found out a fifth book is being planned, am wondering what that could be about...I thought things were wrapped up fairly nicely in this book.

I can see how a lot of people love this series, especially those interested in myths, legends, and the like. It's not perfect, but is definitely entertaining!

Book # 9: Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan

I might have read this book when I was a child, but if I did, I forgot everything but the basic plot: a woman moves West to be a mail-order bride.

There was much more to this simple, short story. It covers so much, from death to hard work to homesickness to love and acceptance. I admired Sarah and how she was willing to try new things she had never considered before, and she had a lot of gumption! I also thought the characters of the children, Anna and Caleb, were well done.

The story is easy for children to understand and identify with, even if their father hasn't placed an ad in the newspaper for a new wife.

Book # 10: Alchemy and Meggy Swann by Karen Cushman

I listened to this because it was narrated by the talented Katherine Kellgren. She did a superb job of the different voices, singing, and other things that make listening to her such a treat. I had read a few of Cushman's other books when I was younger, so I was really looking forward to this one.

Meggy is a girl in Elizabethan England, and she has a problem with her hips which causes her to be a cripple. Her mother sends her out to live with her father, but he doesn't really want her either. With a pet goose, a young man she meets who is an actor, and her own stubborness and wits, she must survive and make a way for herself in the world.

I loved the dialogues and sayings ("ye toads and vipers!"), the historical details, and the information in the Author's Note at the end. Good for middle grade students.

I'd forgotten all about Sarah, Plain and Tall! That was one of those movies I used to watch with my mom all the time, and loved, but never realized it came from a book until much later--and, of course, I forgot to ever look it up. Now, I'll have to make sure to look up the book and actually read it, and then maybe re-find that much-watched movie I barely remember. Thanks for the reminder :)

Hi, Jennifer! I never saw the movie, but I think I'll have to soon. I'm interested in how Sarah in the film compares to Sarah in the book. You should be able to read the book quickly...it's a really short read!

It's been a long time since I saw the movie, but I remember liking it.

Book # 11: Nine Coaches Waiting by Mary Stewart

Classic Stewart suspense from the 1950s. Linda is hired to be a governess to a young French heir. Before long, she has to outsmart a would-be killer (or killers) in order to save herself and the boy. Set in a chateau in the French Alps near Geneva. While it was thrilling and entertaining, I was left with some questions, mostly about Linda's parents and some comments the author had made throughout the story.

Book # 12: The House at Tyneford by Natasha Solomons (AKA The Novel in the Viola)

I heard about this book sometime last year, and couldn't wait to read it. It was good, but not what I was expecting. I also got a nasty cold/cough/touch of the flu halfway through reading it, and kind of lost interest after that. I do think this book would appeal to a lot of people, especially those interested in different experiences of Jews trying to leave Austria in the 1930s.

Elise, a young Jewish woman living in Vienna, gets a job as a servant at a country estate in England, which allows her out of Austria. She plans to work there and then join her parents and sister in the United States. While at Tyneford House, she becomes friends with the son of the owner. Their relationship, and the war and its outcomes, will influence the rest of her life.

The writing style was very intelligent and well-done, but the story moved too slowly for me. I was not expecting the point of view, either. I think I would have enjoyed the book more if I hadn't gotten sick.

It's been too long since I read Nine Coaches Waiting to remember enough about the plot. I enjoyed it, if I remember correctly.

Book # 13: Undertow by Susanna Kearsley

This book is Kearsley's first, and while it was ok, it was obvious that she was still getting her bearings as an author. Key aspects were there, including a strong heroine, intriguing setting, suspenseful elements, and the like. However, the story took off without proper setup, and some things happened far too quickly. It was interesting to compare this first book to her later works. I'm glad that continues to grow and develop as a writer! I'm looking forward to her next release later this year.

Book # 14: Morning Girl by Michael Dorris

I listened to this short children's book about a brother and sister living on an island in the Caribbean in the 15th Century. It flipped back and forth between Morning Girl and Star Boy's narrations. I was a bit unimpressed with the story overall; it was too simple and dull to really hold my interest.

Book # 15: Ice by Linda Howard

I listened to this short book on my drive to work and one longer drive this past week. I had never read anything by this author before, and had read mixed reviews of this book. It helped pass the time, and I was interested enough in what would happen next, but that's about all. I was not sure how I would like having a male reader, as well, but the narrator did a good job, especially with the Maine accents.

Before a huge ice storm hits town, Gabriel is sent up a mountain to bring Lolly home with him so she will have a safe place so stay once the roads become too dangerous and covered with ice. Before he gets to her house, it is broken into and she is taken hostage by two meth addicts. Lolly and Gabriel must find a way to save themselves from not only the crazy killers, but also the bitter weather and elements.

As I said, it helped pass the time, and kept me interested, but it was nothing fantastic.

Book # 16: The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey

Count me as one of the people who didn't "get" this book. I don't know if it's because I am not familiar with the Russian fairy tale it's associated with, or just the way the story flowed, or trying to figure out things about Fania, or what. I appreciated some aspects of the story, but when it was over, I just had a feeling of missing something. Here's hoping my next reads will be better!

Book # 17: The Wedding Girl by Madeleine Wickham

I listened to the audio version of this book because it was narrated by Katherine Kellgren, and I wanted something light that I wouldn't have to pay too close attention to. Milly is about to be married to Simon, but something she did 10 years before is about to catch up to her. There were lots of side stories involving the secondary characters. I enjoyed it more than I would have if I had just read the book instead of listening to it.



Book # 18: Betsy-Tacy and Tib by Maud Hart Lovelace

The second Betsy-Tacy book. The girls have lots of adventures and experiences and wonder what life will be like when they turn 10.

I didn't get any books for my birthday this year (it's today), but I should have some time this evening for a bit of reading...before it's time to watch Downton Abbey! Had practice for the musical I'm in today, and will have it Tuesday and Thursday evenings before performances on Friday and Saturday. I'm not sure I'll get much read this week, but there's talk of some major snow accumulation this week, which MIGHT mean two of my favorite words: snow day!

Book # 19: Vegan Virgin Valentine by Carolyn Mackler

High school senior Mara is the perfect student and daughter. Then her niece, who is only a year younger than her, moves in with Mara and her parents. The story tells how both girls change over the year, and if Mara will win her battle with her ex-boyfriend Travis to be valedictorian. I listened to this on audio, because Katherine Kellgren narrated it, but it was one of her earlier recordings, and definitely not as good as what I'm used to from her. There is a follow-up book, which deals with Mara's niece V, but I don't plan on reading it.



Book # 20: The Gemini Game by Susanna Kearsley

This was one of Kearsley's first books, published in the early 1990s, and is much shorter than most of her other books. Despite it's short lenght, I liked it, even though there wasn't much character growth or development. After being away from home for eight years, Karen returns to her family's horse farm/training ground when her brother dies. Soon she finds out she was the sole heir, and must find out who is behind a series of "accidents" that happen to her. Not a bad way to pass a bit of time.

Book # 21: A Week in Winter by Marcia Willett

Maudie's husband has passed away, and she must sell a house she inherited from him. The house, located on moorland in Cornwall, has several potential buyers. There's Maudie's stepdaughter, who has resented her ever since she married her father, and her stepgrandaughter, who is not quite sure what she wants to do with her life. There's also the man who has been restoring the house, as well as a woman who wants more than anything to buy it for herself, her brother, and baby nephew. Throw in some other characters with some slightly dysfunctional storylines and descriptions of the house, countryside, and a huge dog, and you've got a nice book that will make you want to take a walk on Bodmin Moor.

Book # 22: On the Island by Tracey Garvis Graves

I'd read a review of this one on someone's LT thread last year, and picked it up at the library when we were having a slow night at work the other day. It was a quick read, and although a couple things annoyed me, it was an entertaining read.

Anna, a 30-year-old teacher, is going to tutor T.J., a 16-year-old cancer survivor all summer...in the Maldives. They are flying to meet his family, who has already arrived, when their pilot has a heart attack and they crash in the Indian Ocean. I don't want to say much more, because it'd spoil the story. So I'll just say that while I enjoyed reading the book, sometimes Anna and T.J.'s dialogue drove me crazy, and I wish the author had focused less on certain things (again, I don't want to give any spoilers).

Book # 23: The Last Letter from Your Lover by Jojo Moyes

In 1960s London, Jennifer wakes up in the hospital with amnesia, the result of a car accident. She soon discovers a letter from a man she was having an affair with. She puts pieces of the puzzle together to figure out the things she can't remember. Will she find the man, and what will happen to their relationship if she does?

In present-day London, journalist Ellie, who is having an affair of her own, discovers long-lost letters written by the author of Jennifer's letter. Will she be able to track down the persons involved, and discover what happened to them in the past?

The time changes back and forth in this novel, which I had to keep in mind when I was reading. I had some things figured out by the end, but I was happy with the ending. The tone and atmosphere of this novel is great, and I'd recommend it to anyone who really likes the 1960s. Between the clothes, nightlife, and alcohol, and mindsets/attitudes of characters, you'll definitely get a "Mad Men" feeling.

This was my first book by Moyes, but it won't be my last. My boyfriend's aunt told me I'd probably like Me Before You, which I picked up at the library yesterday, and I'm definitely looking forward to!

Book # 24: Submerged by Dani Pettrey

I haven't read any Christian fiction in a while, but I picked this one up at the library on a whim and thought the premise sounded interesting. A woman returns to the town in Alaska where she grew up after her aunt died in a plane crash. She has to face her past mistakes, and while doing that, help figure out a murder mystery. I thought the whole Russian history/artifacts storyline was interesting, if a bit unrealistic, but it kept me interested enough to keep reading. I also liked a lot of the characters, which is good because the author set up things for a future book(s) and I'll probably pick them up to see what happens with some of the characters. On the other hand, I thought the writing could have been a bit better, and I also wanted to scream at some of the conversations characters had... People that age wouldn't talk like that in real life!



Book # 25: Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

Two friends, both female, are shot down over France during WWII. After looking the wrong way before crossing the street, one of them is captured by the Gestapo and interrogated as a spy. What happened/will happen to them is told in this engaging, well-researched novel. I listened to it on audio while driving and at home, and while the narrators were wonderful, I almost wish I had read it myself so I could have gone back and reread certain parts and things would have made more sense. Recommended for people interested in female pilots, aviation during WWII, and espionage.

I clicked over to the book page for Submerged and was surprised by how high of a rating it seemed to have. It's not one that I'll probably deliberately look for, but if I happen to see a Free Kindle offer for it, I might give it a try.

>44 thornton37814:: I agree, Lori! I must be a snob, because I definitely did not think Submerged should have had that high of a rating, and I didn't agree with the majority of the reviewers who thought it was simply amazing!

Rachel> It may be amazing in comparison with the other stuff they are reading. Hard to say.

Very true, Lori! Ugh, I am so far behind on my reviews/updating LT! I just got a call asking me to long-term substitute for kindergarten, I haven't heard all the details yet, but it looks like I could be getting even busier! I hope it's a slow night at the library tonight so I can catch up on here!

Anyway, I also thought I'd share what happened earlier at the library. Cut and pasted from my Facebook: Usually when I'm working at the library reference desk, I get asked questions like "Did the roof of a certain building catch on fire sometime in the 1950s or 1960s?" or "I don't know when she died, but can you find an obituary for my great-great-great granfather's cousin's second wife?" This afternoon I had a different type of request. A woman came up to me, handed me a piece of paper and some money, and asked me to give the people who were using a certain computer the note and $20 after she left the library. She had heard them taking about some financial problems and wanted to do something for them. There really are nice people left in this world!

Book # 26: Coyote Dream by Jessica davis Stein

I wasn't expecting much from this book that I bought for a quarter over two years ago. I was pleasantly surprised by the different cultures, characters, and lifestyles that were portrayed. Sarah, a young Jewish woman living in New York City, travels to the Southwest to purchase art for her family's gallery/store. There she meets Ben, an artist and loner. They have a brief affair before she goes back to NYC, and he stays on his Native American reservation. If and how they are able to overcome their differences and be together is a satisfying journey in this beautiful, well-written book.



Book # 27: MWF Seeking BFF: My Yearlong Search for a New Best Friend by Rachel Bertsche

While the concept was interesting, the author's ideas about how to make friends drove me crazy. She went on 52 "friend dates" over the course of a year in order to find her new best friend. Apparently the friends she already had, plus her husband, mother, extended family, etc. weren't enough for her, and she had to meet over 50 new people in hopes of finding THE ONE. I quickly lost interest and skimmed through the book. Life is short, and I have better things to read.



Book # 28: Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

I saw this book mentioned somewhere online, and grabbed it when I found out the library had a copy. It's definitely of the "opposites attract" and "troubled teenagers who can't stand each other are forced to get along" vein. One is a perfect rich white girl, the other is a Mexican gang member. The characters were very real. While there were some issues with drug use, sex, violence, and the gangs, I still enjoyed it and plan to read the two follow-up books after I interloan them. It's a YA book, but I wouldn't recommend it to younger or immature teens.

Rachel> That was a truly nice gesture for that lady to help them out.

How did I miss your thread? Well, then, you are now starred. What interesting books you read.

Hi, Linda! Thanks...I try to read an assortment of genres, authors, and the like. However, there are some types of books I NEVER read, and others that make up the majority of my library. LT has definitely helped me expand my reading habits and find new favorite authors :)

Book # 29: Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton

The only thing I knew about Ethan Frome before I read it was that some sort of tragedy occurs. I thought the characters were well-written, especially Ethan's hypochondriac wife, who really irritated me. I wasn't sure how the last pages would play out, and finding out the eventual outcome really kept me reading. I'll look for more by Edith Wharton in the future, but hopefully some of her other works will be a bit more uplifting than Ethan Frome.



Book # 30: Brooklyn Rose by Ann Rinaldi

I listened to this book, which is the author's vision of her grandmother and grandfather's meeting and first year of marriage. Truth be told, I thought the Author's Note was more interesting than the actual story. Rose, a 16 year-old girl who grew up on a plantation in South Carolina, married Rene, a silk importer and businessman, because she felt obligated - she thought he held the deed to the plantation and could save her father from ruin. Eventually, they fall in love, and are expecting a baby. Something about Rose's actions and attitude got on my nerves, but I think for middle school readers, it would be a good read about arranged marriage and women's lives in the early 1900s.



Book # 31: Twilight Child by Sally Warner

Part historical fiction, part fantasy, I was sure I would love Twilight Child. Eleni, a Finnish girl who was born at a specific time on a specific date of the year, can communicate with trolls, fairies, and other creatures. She is forced to leave Finland, and eventually settles on a Scottish island. There were some interesting parts, for example the descriptions of doing laundry in 18th century Scotland. However, I think the author was trying to do too many things in too short a book, which really took away from other aspects of the story. Other readers may appreciate it more than I did, and I'm not saying it was a bad read; it was simply not what I was expecting.



Book # 32: The Cowgirl Way: Hats Off to America's Women of the West by Holly George-Warren

This was a good introduction to the history of famous, infamous, and not-so-famous women who helped settle the west and develop the "cowgirl." It talks about women who were homesteaders, ranchers, rodeo performers, outlaws, and singers, dancers, actresses, and entertainers. There were lots of pictures, quotations, and informational tidbits to keep the reader interested. I wrote down several names of women I'd like to learn more about, but later on the women and their names began to run together and it was difficult to keep track of everyone. Good for upper elementary to junior high grades, or for anyone looking for a brief introduction to the cowgirl way of life.

I'm not sure how accurate the book is, as I know there was at least one error (regarding Elinore Pruitt Stewart).

Book # 33: The American Frugal Housewife by Lydia Maria Child

First published in 1832, The American Frugal Housewife was several things wrapped into one: full of recipes, home remedies and medicines, a how-to for cleaning house and raising children, and the author's views on the best ways to be economical and propserous. Child, a women's rights activist and an abolitionist, stated that the purpose of the book was "to teach how money can be saved, not how it can be enjoyed."

I thought the book was very interesting from a historical standpoint. I wouldn't want to try the remedies for various injuries and illnesses, and I wouldn't care to eat a lot of the foods included in the recipe section. There were some parts that still make sense today, as well as things that have continued to be passed down for generations. I can remember my grandmother saying some of the same things Child did.

A couple of other things I found amusing: "Beer is a good family drink," and "It is not healty to sleep in heated rooms." After reading the book, I did a quick read of the author's bio, and remembered she also wrote the classic poem Over the River and Through the Wood.

Book # 34: Entwined by Heather Dixon

Retelling of the fairy tale The Twelve Dancing Princesses. Started out decent but was too long and convoluted, and the different elements just didn't mesh well for me.

Delurking to say that you have sold me in The American Frugal Housewife. Sorry to see Entwined didn't work for you, but I am intrigued enough to place a hold with my local library for a copy of the book.

Thanks for delurking, Lori! I hope you'll enjoy The American Frugal Housewife! Even though I didn't like it all that much, I will say that Entwined can really draw you in, and before you know it, you've read 100+ pages!

Book # 35: Shadow on the Mountain by Margi Preus

Story of a Norwegian teenager, Espen, who becomes a spy during WWII. It's told mostly from Espen's point of view, but a few parts are from the perspective of a Nazi collaberator, and a bit from Espen's sister's too. The story was good, but not great, and considering it was based on a real-life spy, it could have been so much more. It should appeal to teenage boys, and also shows why some Norwegians decided to side with the Germans instead of working with the Resistance.

Book # 36: Blackberry Winter by Sarah Jio

I read this, my third book by Jio, because she has a new book coming out later this spring, and I wanted to read all her previous books before then. I have to say, I liked this one a lot more than The Violets of March and The Bungalow, both of which I read last year.

In 1933 Seattle, single mother Vera goes to work the night shift, and returns to her apartment to find her three-year-old son has vanished. In present-day Seattle, Claire a journalist who has been dealing with the loss of her own baby, stumbles upon Vera's story due to of all things, the weather. A May snowstorm occurred on the day Vera's son disappeared, and then again on the same day some 80-years later. As Claire researches Vera's story, she makes some startling discoveries that are connected to her life in unexpected ways.

The chapters alternate between Vera and Claire, and I thought the plot was well-drawn. It's so easy to get caught up in Jio's stories, and this was certainly no exception. Reading this book has made me eager to read her new book!

Book # 37: Heart of Fire by Linda Howard

I needed something easy to listen to last week, so I picked this book that has adventure, mystery, and romance all in one. I could have done with less of the "romance" stuff, but overall it was a nice way to pass the hours while driving.

Jillian grew up to be an archaeologist, and when she stumbled upon some of her father's papers that would lead to a lost stone city and precious diamond in the Amazon, she decided to get a group and guide and travel there. The group includes a variety of people who all have their own reasons for wanting to find the diamond. You know that the trip won't end well for at least some of them, and that is indeed the outcome.

The story kept me interested, and it was a decent read.

Book # 38: Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

I don't often cry while reading books, but this one made me tear up. After the cafe where Lou works closes, she must find new employment, and with no other options, accepts a job as a companion for a young quadriplegic man. The book tells their story, a very non-traditional romance, wonderfully.

Please don't take a look at the cover and write off this book! This is the type of novel that will stay with you for a very long time, and will make you think about life, love, and lots of other topics in many different ways.

Book # 39: Reckmire Marsh by Sara Hylton

This novel takes place in England in the 1930s and 1940s. Joanna, an only child, is not allowed to go to her father's home, Reckmire, on the northwest coast of England because her mother hates the place and is afraid of the sea. As circumstances (mostly her father's job and WWII) change and Joanna grows up, she must deal with her horrid mother, loves and losses, Reckmire, and her life.

I liked parts of the book, but sometimes things weren't explained enough, or brought into the story for no apparent reason. I was also put off by a certain relationship between cousins. I wish the author would have written some characters and events differently. I did get a good feel of what life was like in England and Italy in those years, and how some women (especially Joanna's mother) behaved.

It was a decent read, but I'm glad to be moving on to my next book.

As much as I enjoy novels set during that time period in England and think I'd love the Northwest coast setting, the "horrid mother" just doesn't appeal to me. I think I'll skip the Hylton book.

>62 thornton37814:: Lori, Joanna's mother isn't the worst character in the book. Despite being selfish, conniving, whiny, and irritating, she doesn't even come close to being as awful as another character. But since there are many other books out there to read, I don't blame you for skipping it!

Book # 40: Shattered by Dani Pettrey

I enjoyed this book, the second in the series, a lot more than the first book, Submerged. The author's writing style is definitely getting better. I gave Shattered the same rating as Submerged because I felt like parts of the plot could have been explained better, or maybe woven together in a more seamless way. It was a quick read, and I will read more books in the series to see what happens to some of the other characters.

Book # 41: Frozen by Mary Casanova

Sixteen-year-old Sadie Rose has been mute ever since she was found outside during a blizzard over a decade earlier. She finds some pictures of her mother, which lead her to search for answers to who she is, what really happened to her mother (who was working as a prostitute when she was killed), and if she will gain the use of her voice again. The novel is set in northern Minnesota during the 1920s and also touches on Prohibition, women's sufferage, political corruption, mental illness, and environmental issues. I liked the basic plot, but think the author tried to fit too many things in too short a book. I also felt like some things were rushed, and not clear, especially regarding Sadie Rose's mutism. Good, but could have been much better.



Book # 42: The Psysick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe

I am not a big fan of books about the Salem Witch Trials of witchcraft, but I listened to this audiobook because it was narrated by Katherine Kellgren. I think some aspects, such as the dual timelines, worked well, but overall, I was left confused and at times, found my mind wandering. The book was definitely well-researched, and anyone with an interest in the Witch Trials or 1600 and 1700 America should give it a go.

Book # 43: Sea by Heidi R. Kling

Sienna, a fifteen-year-old California girl, agrees to travel with her father and his relief team to help Indonesian orphans after the tsunami. Her mother died in a plane crash while doing relief work, which she is still struggling to deal with. While at the orphanage, she meets a young man, Deni, and they instantly connect. Deni believes his father survived the tsunami, and soon Sienna and Deni are traveling to the hardest-hit area to try and find his father.

This story is about love and loss, survival and grief, the past and the future, and also deals with differences between cultures and religions. A good, realistic YA book that I hope people will want to read and recommend.

Book # 44: Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles

I enjoyed Perfect Chemistry when I read it last month, so I decided to read the second book in the trilogy, about the middle Fuentes brother, Carlos. I didn't enjoy it as much as the first book, but it was still well-written and engaging. I think things happened too quickly in this book, and overall it just had a rushed feel to it. I'll interloan the final book in a while, after I finish some more of the books I currently have checked out!



Book # 45: Veil of Night by Linda Howard

The narrator of this audiobook didn't thrill me, and the story itself wasn't that great. Wedding planner Jaclyn has to deal with a bridezilla who is used to having things her way. When the bride-to-be is found murdered, Jaclyn, who is involved with a cop investigating the crime, soon realizes her life is in danger as well, and must figure out who the murderer is in order to save her own life.

I like listening to Linda Howard novels when I'm driving, and have one more checked out that I'll get to soon. However, I think after I finish that one, it'll be time for a break from the author.

Book # 46: The Legacy by Katherine Webb

This was a book that I'd had on my radar for a long time. It has a lot of the elements I love in a good novel. A large house in the country, two stories taking place in different time periods, a mystery, lovely vocabulary, etc. etc. In this case, I really liked parts of the story, and was able to figure out a good deal of the mystery, but sometimes the story didn't flow very well. I will definitely be reading more by the author, and will be looking forward to seeing how her writing develops in her other books.



Book # 47: See You in a Hundred Years by Logan Wood

Writer and journalist Wood moves with his wife and toddler from NYC to a small farm in Virginia. They want to spend a year living like people did in 1900. Will they manage to survive? It was very entertaining for me to see how a city boy like the author handled it. I had to return it to the library so I did skim the last 30 pages or so.



Book # 48: Ashenden by Elizabeth Wilhide

I saw a review for this recently, and grabbed it when I saw it was available on the New Books shelf at the library. I was definitely expecting something different. Each chapter is like a short story dealing with the occupants/family members at an English country estate at a certain point in its history. I can see how some people will enjoy it, but although it was well-written, it was not what I wanted it to be.

Book # 49: The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey

I'd heard a lot about this classic mystery, and how Detective Alan Grant solves a mystery while being stuck in a hospital bed. Maybe it's because I am not that into medieval politics and the British ruling dynasties, or I just wasn't able to keep all the characters/events from history straight, but I just didn't care for this that much. I did like how Grant's "associates" were able to assist him and how he used research to figure out what happened.



Book # 50: Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale

This story was based on a fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm that I'd never heard of before. Hale did a great job of retelling it, and her creative writing had me drawn in from the start. A maid and her lady are imprisioned in a tower on the Mongolian steppes. I was interested to see how the story would unfold, since I was unfamiliar with the original fairy tale. There was a twist toward the end that I wasn't expecting. I've read one of Hale's books in the past, and will definitely read more by her in the future.

Congratulations on hitting 50 books already, Rachel!

Thank you, Stasia! I think the cold, wet weather we had this "spring" really helped boost the number of books I was able to read! Things are getting a lot busier now, so I'm wondering how many books I will be reading in the upcoming weeks, months, and by the end of the year!

Book # 51: Prairie Songs by Pam Conrad

This children's/YA book set on the Nebraska prairie shows the harsh side of life that pioneers had to face. A new doctor and his young bride come to live a few miles from Louisa and her family. Emmeline, the doctor's wife, struggles with the reality of living in a sod house, being isolated from neighbors, visits from Native Americans, and the violence of the unsettled land. Older children, teens, and adults will all understand more about the hardships pioneers - especially those who couldn't adapt to their surroundings- had to go through. While there are messages of hope and perserverance, this is not a happy book.

#71: Well, winter happens again, so maybe you can catch up on reading then?

>73 alcottacre:: Very true!



Book # 52: Son of the Morning by Linda Howard

I was definitely disappointed in this book. It sounded like it would be an enjoyable audio: time travel, Scotland, history, etc. The majority of the book was about the main character being on the run and trying to keep from being murdered. The time travel aspect didn't really begin until two-thirds of the way through.



Book # 53: A Town Called Valentine by Emma Cane

I had this on my reading list, but I didn't realize it was a "romance" until I saw it at the library. Parts of it were ok, but I thought some of the characters were annoying. I did like the small town atmosphere the author created.

Book # 54: The Icecutter's Daughter by Tracie Peterson

I decided to read this book because I wanted to learn more about icecutting, and the setting (1895-1896 Minnesota) was appealing. I was disappointed with the ice aspect. Merrill, a young woman whose mother died when she was young and now takes care of her father, brothers, and helps with their draft horses. Rurik, a furniture maker, has recently had an arranged marriage agreement broken by his intended (and he is very happy about that fact). Before he and Merrill can start a relationship, his former fiancee arrives in town and plans on marrying Rurik. Overall, the story was ok, although some of the characters seemed a little too perfect at times. I liked the German and Swedish immigrant perspective, though.



Book # 55: Sizzling Sixteen by Janet Evanovich

It's been a while since I read a Stephanie Plum book. This one had some funny parts, and was good to listen to while driving. I think I will listen to the next ones in the series instead of reading them.

Rachel> We have that Peterson book at the library, but after being disappointed by another book by the author (on the Lowell mills), I'm not sure I want to tackle it. I think I'd be like you -- enjoy the immigrant experience and be disappointed in the remainder.

>76 thornton37814:: I agree, Lori. She seems to have quite a following, but I don't think she is the author for me!



Book # 56: The Soldier’s Wife by Margaret Leroy

This novel is set on the island of Guernsey during the German Occupation in the 1940s. Vivienne, a woman whose husband is away fighting in the war, is raising her daughters and taking care of her mother-in-law when she begins an affair with a Nazi officer. The story, set over the course of several years, is a surprisingly fast read. It isn’t until the very end that the reader will find out what happens to certain characters. I enjoyed the description of the Channel Islands, but I did not like the final paragraph, with its stunning revelation. While The Soldier’s Wife is quite different from that other WWII book set on Guernsey , The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, if you read that one and it sparked your interest in the place and time period, you might enjoy this book as well.



Book # 57: The Tale of Halcyon Crane by Wendy Webb

I heard about this one through Lori’s (lkernagh)thread, and I definitely enjoyed this novel! The setting really intrigued me, as the story takes place on an island in the Great Lakes. The author modeled the island after Mackinac Island, which prohibits motorized vehicles.

Hallie James grew up thinking her mother had died in a fire when she was a child. However, her life is thrown upside down when she receives information that tells otherwise. Within days, her father passes away, and Hallie journeys across the country to Grand Manitou Island to find out more about her mother. Hallie inherits her mother’s money and huge house, which happens to be haunted by three ghosts. By learning about her family history and her own early years, Hallie must find a way to get rid of the ghosts before they harm her or anyone else.

There was a lovely gothic feel to this book, and the suspense was enough to keep me reading late at night. I enjoyed a twist about one of the characters, and while the ending could have been a bit better, I was still pleased with the novel overall. I will be reading Wendy Webb’s second book in the near future. Although I read this one in May, I would recommend waiting until October or November, as I think it would be a great read for a chilly, damp autumn day.



Book # 58: My Little Red Book by Rachel Kauder Nalebuff

An anthology of essays by women of different ages and backgrounds about their first periods. I thought the concept was very interesting, and while some of the essays seemed a little redundant, there were still enough variations to keep me reading. The collection ranges from funny to serious. I would have appreciated some different perspectives, though.

Book # 59: The Tall Pine Polka by Lorna Landvik

Landvik is a good storyteller, and parts of this book were amusing and funny, and sometimes surprising and even sad. Set in a small town in Northern Minnesota, dealing with different characters from the town and a movie being filmed there. The characters were unique, and I enjoyed the book, but it was over 440 pages long and I found myself wishing it would hurry up and end...or have been shorter.

Stopping by for a visit Rachel and I come away with a reminder to get around to reading The Tale of Halcyon Crane. I have made a note of your suggestion to wait for the colder damp weather of fall before reading this one, which works perfectly with my towering TBR pile. So glad to see you enjoyed it!

Based on your review, I am even more confident now that you will like Webb's second novel, The Fate of Mercy Alban.

Hi, Lori! I hope cool, drizzly autumn weather will help set the reading atmosphere when you read The Tale of Halcyon Crane! I'm glad I saw your review of Webb's other book on your thread, or I might never have heard of either! I love how many wonderful books I've discovered because of LibraryThing :)

Book # 60: Rural Free: A Farmwife's Almanac of Country Living by Rachel Peden

Rachel Peden was an Indiana farmwife, author, and newspaper columnist who lived from 1901 to 1975. Rural Free was published in 1961, and was a month-by-month account of life on her family farm. I enjoyed parts of it, but I was expecting something a bit different. She wrote a lot about nature, and while it was well written, sometimes got tedious. I think I best enjoyed the descriptions that show what life was like at that time, and how much things have changed.

Book # 61: The Edge of the Earth by Christina Schwarz

In the late 1800s, young newlyweds Trudy and Oskar move to a remote island off the California coast to help run a lighthouse. There are a handful of other people on the island, including four children whom Trudy will teach. Oskar is a scientist and inventor, and Trudy discovers an interest in biology and the varieties of plants and animals that are new to her. Not only does Trudy have to adapt to an entirely new lifestyle, when a discovery is made and secrets are slowly revealed, things happen which will impact her - and those around her - for the rest of their lives.

On the one hand, the story is very vivid and engaging, but sometimes the characters and their decisions drove me crazy. If some parts of the story had been more cohesive, I would have enjoyed it more.

Book # 62: A Place of Secrets by Rachel Hore

I've had this novel on my list for quite a while, and I am so glad I finally got around to reading it! I loved the author's writing style and how I became drawn into both the present-day story, and the story that takes place in the 1700s.

Auction appraiser Jude travels to Starbourgh Hall in Norfolk to catalogue a collection of scientific journals and materials that must be sold. She has family who live nearby, and is able to spend time with them as well. Her young niece has been experiencing the same dreams that Jude had when she was younger, and as she becomes more familiar with the journals, she makes connections between the people and events of Starbourgh Hall's past and her family in the present.

There was a bit of everything in this novel. I'm not that interested in astronomy, but that played an important part in the story, and it worked for me in this story. There was a bit of romance, family secrets, English countryside, a huge house, interesting characters, and more. I was left with some questions at the end, but overall I thought this was well done, and I will definitely be reading more by Rachel Hore!

Book # 63: The Edge of Recall by Kristen Heitzmann

I listened to this audiobook, and spent the first half to two-thirds wondering just what was going on. Eventually, things were explained and were resolved, but it took a long time to happen! Tessa, a landscape architect who specializes in labyrinths, gets an opportunity to work on a one-of-a-kind project...but it'll mean working with Smith, an old college friend who she has had a rocky relationship with in the past. Tessa has had nightmares for most of her life, and when strange and violent things begin to happen at the project site, she will have to decide if she can emotionally handle the job...before she or someone else is put in harm's way.

Parts of the story seemed very fragmented, and even at the end of the novel, I felt like I had missed something. This may have been a book that would have been better to read than listen to (although the narration was wonderful). Decent, but not as good as I had hoped.

Book # 64: Cate of the Lost Colony by Lisa Klein

When Lady Catherine is banished from Queen Elizabeth I's court, she ends up traveling to the New World. Cate will experience adventure and hardship in the Roanoke Colony, and must decide between love with Sir Walter Ralegh, and a Native American man named Manteo.

Throughout the book, the reader gets points of view from different characters. Klein went above and beyond while researching and writing this book, and someone who is not very interested in history would have a hard time putting this book down. That being said, I thought parts of the "romance" aspects were not really there, or generally fell flat. I would recommend this for readers who want to read about a part of American history that is often forgotten.

Book # 64: Ashfall by Mike Mullin

After a supervolcano in Yellowstone erupts, life as we know it changes, and every decision you make and thing you do will either help you survive, or lead to your demise. Teenager Alex, who was home alone when the eruption happened, must travel from Iowan to Illinois, where his parents and sister are visiting his uncle's farm. Alex must use his resources, intelligence, and knowledge of martial arts to help him travel over the ash-covered miles. Along the way, he meets Darla, and together they head east...although what they find might not be what they expect.

I was immediately hooked when I started reading this book, and the pages seemed to just fly by. Some parts were quite violent, which personally I didn't care for, but they were important to the plot and character development. The ending really set up the follow-up, which I plan on ordering from the library in the near future. This book would be a good story for people who may not enjoy reading that much...but I bet that like me, once they start reading, they won't want to put the book down!

Book # 66: The Fever Tree by Jennifer McVeigh

As I read this book, I could easily picture it in my mind like a movie full of vivid characters, events, and colors. After the death of her father leaves her with no money and no desirable options, she agrees to marry a man she hardly knows and travel to South Africa, where he is a doctor. On her voyage from England to South Africa, she meets another man and falls in love with him. After she arrives in her new country, she ends up in the middle of nowhere. All the while, her husband is involved in a diamond rush and smallpox epidemic, and she must decide how she wants to live her life and who she wants to be with.

I don't know much about South Africa's history, and I kept wishing I had a map of the country easily accessible while I was reading. The Victorian era isn't exactly my favorite, but I enjoyed the time period in this novel. The story wasn't exactly what I was expecting, but I enjoyed it very much.

Book # 67: Cold Sassy Tree by Olive Ann Burns

Although it took me a while to get into the story, I ended up really liking this coming-of-age story that takes place in Georgia in 1906. The story is told by Will Tweedy, a teenager who lives in a small town, and has a lot of adventures and misadventures, and always seems to be around when things happen. His grandfather remarried a much younger woman (and Yankee!) a mere three weeks after Will's grandmother passed away, which sets the rest of the story in motion. There were several darker parts of the book, including suicide, abuse, and the like, some of which took me by surprise. My sister has a copy of the follow-up, which I will have to borrow when I get a chance.



Book # 68: Smokin' Seventeen by Janet Evanovich

One of the better Stephanie Plum books, in my opinion. Stephanie's mother sets her up with Dave, even though Stephanie still can't decide between Morelli and Joe. After a body is discovered buried on the burnt-down bail bonds office site, Stephanie becomes the recipient of more bodies...and once again, is in danger. There was a good cliffhanger that should set up the next book nicely.

Book # 69: The Quilt Walk by Sandra Dallas

I'm a huge Sandra Dallas fan, so when I found out she had written a children's book, my first thought was, "how did I not know about this?!" and my second thought was to see if any of the libraries I go to had a copy of it. Of course, they didn't, so I had to wait for it to come in through ILL. I hate waiting for ILL books to come in.

Ten-year-old Emmy Blue Hatchett's father decides that he is moving his family from Quincy, Illinois to Golden, Colorado, where he will make a fortune "mining the miners." Emmy Blue and her mother don't have a say in the matter, but Emmy Blue decides it will be an adventure. On the wagon train west, she learns to drive the wagon, has a first-hand encounter with an Indian, learns that not everyone who ventures west will make it, and learns that not all men are kind to their wives. She also starts piecing a quilt - which she doesn't like doing - and by the time they arrive in Colorado, she makes a quilt that will recount her experiences on the journey.

This is a book for fans of Little House on the Prairie, wagon trains, and other pioneer stories. It's also a good book for people who are interested in quilting. I wish it would have had some pictures or diagrams showing some of the quilt patterns, but the story itself was top-notch. Recommended.

Book # 70: The Sandalwood Tree by Elle Newmark

In 1947, Evie, her husband, and their son travel to India. Her historian husband is to research and document the end of the British Raj and Partition. They had a happy marriage until he returned from WWII, and Evie hopes being in India will help them reconnect. While she cleans their rented bungalow, she comes across some letters and letter fragments that were written in the 1850s. The letters were written by Felicity and Adela, friends who lived for a time in the bungalow. Evie becomes intrigued and sets out to discover more about the young women and what happened to them.

There was a lot of history in this book, and a large amount of it was new to me. I thought some parts of both storylines was a bit predictable, but overall I enjoyed visiting two different yet similar times in Indian history. I have some more books set in India that I'd like to read later this year, and reading this one has pushed them higher on my TBR list!

After a bad morning at work, I stopped at the local library branch to get one book that was available. I also signed up for the summer reading program, and because this was the first day to sign up, was given a goodie bag with pens, a note pad, chocolate, travel-size Bath and Body Works products, and other miscellaneous items. I also walked out with five books. My mood had definitely improved by the time I was driving home.

Then when I was fifteen seconds from my driveway, I hit and killed a squirrel. Ugh.

Dallas' kids book as been added to the TBR pile! Sorry to hear about the squirrel...that's the worst feeling!!

>92 DFED:: I think you'll like The Quilt Walk, Dawn. I guess hitting the squirrel could have been worse...it could have been a deer! And as it was pointed out to me, I didn't hit the squirrel. It ran into me :)

Book # 71: It Happened at the Fair by Deeanne Gist

Gist's books are always so fun to read. Although they are considered "Christian fiction," they are not preachy and usually there are just a couple of character references to praying or God. This one was no exception, and while it's not my favorite book that she has written, it was very enjoyable. With the family farm at stake, Cullen goes to the 1893 Chicago World's Fair hoping to find buyers for his invention. Already hard of hearing, Cullen has even more trouble talking to and hearing what people in the noisy Machinery Building have to say. He manages to convince a teacher of the deaf to give him lip reading lessons in an effort to communicate with potential buyers. Naturally, the teacher, Della, and Cullen start to fall for each other, but will things work out for them in the end?

I didn't know much about the World's Fair before I read this book. It was easy to get caught up in the excitement and energy of the Fair while reading this story. There were interesting pictures that went along with each chapter and really helped me imagine what things looked like. This was a fun book that was great for a summer read.

Book # 72: Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer

When the moon is knocked out of orbit, life on Earth changes, and Miranda and her family must figure out a way to survive. I actually picked up the third book in the series at the library, not realizing it was part of a series, so I had to read this one first. It was a fast read, and left me eager to pick up book number two.

Book # 73: The Inn at Rose Harbor by Debbie Macomber

Debbie Macomber is an author that I'd heard about and who has written a ton of books. I decided to try one just to know what her writing style was like. After listening to this one, I can understand why there are always old ladies asking me where to find the Debbie Macomber books when I'm at work.

In this book, Jo Maire, a recent widow, buys a bed-and-breakfast in Cedar Cove. Her story, and the stories of her first two guests alternate chapters. Each character is dealing with loss of some sort. The b & b is really the only thing the characters and their stories have in common. It was ok for an easy listen while driving, but as I have hundreds of books on my to-read list, I think I will skip over more Macomber in the future.

Macomber's books are nice "escape" reads. They are books I can take or leave, but as you have said, they are wildly popular in libraries. She is one of our top-circulating authors.

It seems like every other week I have someone asking if we have this Macomber or that. Or what the next book is in a certain series. I definitely felt like taking a vacation and staying at a bed-and-breakfast while listening to The Inn at Rose Harbor!

Book # 73: Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear

I loved this first book in the Maisie Dbbos series, and I definitely wish I hadn't waited so long to start reading it! This seems to be a popular series here on LT, as I have seen lots of reviews and mentions of it lately.

Maisie Dobbs, who was a nurse in France during WWI, has started working as a private investigator. As she works on her first case, she is forced to look into her past and how the war changed the lives of so many. I was not expecting quite so much of Maisie's backstory, and at times was wondering how much of the 1929 storyline would actually take place.

I liked how much history there was in this book, and as well as some of the upstairs/downstairs stuff I like, too. If the other books in this series are anything like the first, I know I have some enjoyable reading ahead of me.

Re: Maisie. I didn't like the 2nd and 3rd books as well as the 1st, but around the 4th one, I began to enjoy them again. I'm in the minority on that probably, but those installments just didn't work for me.

>100 thornton37814:: Good to know, Lori. I'm excited to continue with the series!



Book # 75: Explosive Eighteen by Janet Evanovich

I like reading/listening to the Stephanie Plum books when I want something funny and quick, and Stephanie, Lula, and the other characters are fun and entertaining. That being said, it is getting a little old having the same things happen - or not happen - in this series. I hope things will start to move along more in the next book.



Book # 76: Shadowland by Meg Cabot

Teenager Susannah (AKA Suze) moves from NYC to California when her mother remarries. Suze is a Mediator, someone who can see and communicate with the dead, and she uses her ability to help the ghosts complete their unfinished business on Earth. The first ghost Suze meets in California is a young man named Jesse, who happens to haunt her bedroom. Suze then has to deal with the ghost of a girl at her school who killed herself when her ex-boyfriend broke up with her.

I thought some of the dialogue was a bit dated, but overall the story was fun to listen to. It was a bit confusing at times because Suze has nicknames for her three new stepbrothers, but sometimes she called them by their real names, and it was hard to know who was who. I will probably continue listening to this series because I'd like to know more of Jesse's past.

Book # 77: The Unseen by Katherine Webb

This novel is set in two time periods: the present day, and in 1911. In 2011, a journalist named Leah is contacted by her ex. He needs her help in identifying a WWI soldier's body, which was found with two letters. The letters, which mention a crime, intrigue Leah, and she goes to a small village to see what she can discover about the solder and the incident.

In 1911, Harriet and Albert have been married for a year, and Albert is a minister in the village. They get a new maid, Cat, who was recently released from prison. A second person, Robin, stays with them as well. He is involved with theosophical research, and is interested in elemental beings and nature spirits, and hopes to find some in the area.

At times, it seemed like the story was unfolding slowly, but there was still a lot involved in this book. The suffragette movement and spiritualism were two main themes. The reader won't find out what the crime was, who was involved, or the impact it has on characters in the present-day, until quite late in the book. The 1911 story is much longer and stronger than the one set in 2011.

I can see Katherine Webb becoming a favorite author, and I will definitely be reading more by her in the future.

Book # 78: Dance of Shadows by Yelena Black

The cover of this book really caught my eye, and when I quickly glanced over the summary on the inside front cover, I decided to give it a try. Despite having promise, the story itself didn't live up to my expectations. I had a hard time deciding how many stars to give it, and was probably being generous with three...but then again, I didn't think it was as bad as some scathing reviews I've seen...

Vanessa, a talented ballet dancer, decides to go to the New York Ballet Academy, where her older sister, Margaret, was a student. Margaret disappeared from the school, and hasn't been heard from in three years. Vanessa hopes to find out what happened to her sister. She lands the lead role in a major production, and soon realizes things at the school - and with the ballet production itself - are not what they appear.

This could have been a great story. But things happened so slowly, and then all of a sudden at the end, some things were quickly resolved while other things weren't, which I suppose will happen in the second and third book. There is a lot of ballet in the novel, which at times was nice and ballet lovers will appreciate.

Book # 79: The Dead and the Gone by Susan Beth Pfeffer

In Life As We Knew It, Miranda's life in rural Pennsylvania changed when the moon was thrown off orbit and she had to face starvation and other challenges to survive. In The Dead and the Gone, Alex, a teenage boy living in New York City, has to find ways to endure the changes that have happened to him since the big event. I didn't like the second book as much as the first, but want to see how and what happens when Miranda and Alex meet, in the third book in the series.



Book # 80: Hearts West: True Stories of Mail-Order Brides on the Frontier by Chris Enss

This short book was a fun read! The author gave historical information about mail-order brides, and there were several real-life stories of marriages that did - and didn't - work out. There were also actual advertisements, written by both men and women, who were looking for a spouse. I had already heard some of the stories and about some of the people that were mentioned. My favorite was probably the woman whose stagecoach was held up by thieves while she was traveling to meet and marry the man she had been corresponding with. When she saw the man, she recognized him as one of the bandits who had robbed her stage! That marriage was one that did not work out :) Recommended for some enjoyable history and entertaining reading.



Book # 81: This World We Live In by Susan Beth Pfeffer

Miranda's and Alex's stories come together in this third book in the series. It was much shorter than the other two, and while I will read the fourth book to find out what happens next to the family, it just did not live up to meet my expectations.

Book # 82: Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier

I'd had this YA time-travel novel on my reading list for a while, and was really looking forward to it. It started off nicely. Everyone in Gwenyth's family believes that her cousin Charlotte has inherited a gene that allows her to time travel. However, Gwen comes down with the symptoms instead, and promptly travels back in time for a brief amount of time. Another family that has had connections with Gwen's family for a long time also has family members who can travel back in time. Gideon is a few years older than Gwen (who is 16, but acts like she is 12), and they must learn to get along in order to deal with secrets and conspiracies, ancient plots, and secret societies.

I think this book will appeal to teens and tweens, but is probably not the best choice for adults who are looking for a good time travel novel. The plot moves quickly, but a lot of the family histories and characters were confusing, and things are definitely not resolved at the end of this book. It was a quick read, so I will probably pick up the second book in the trilogy at some point.

Book # 83: The Postcard Killers by James Patterson and Liza Marklund

Across Europe, young couples have been violently murdered by a serial killer/killers. Jacob Kanon, whose daughter died at the hands of the serial killers in Rome, has been following the killers, learning about the murders, and figuring out how to find and stop them from killing again. In Stockholm, Dessie, a journalist, receives a postcard that makes her think the next murders will take place in her city. The reader knows from the beginning that Malcolm and Sylvia are the murderers, and how they kill (that was enough to make me almost stop listening to the book...I had to turn down the volume a couple times at the beginning!). Jacob knows they are the killers, too, and he will do anything to keep them from killing again.

I liked some aspects of the story, and it was very fast-paced. However, some things regarding Malcolm and Sylvia were unanswered at the end, and that annoyed me. I liked having different narrators for this audiobook, too.

Book # 84: The Heiress of Winterwood by Sarah Ladd

The cover of this book made me want to read it, along with the fact that the story is set on the English moors. The story itself was ok, and involves a young woman who must marry before her 24th birthday to inherit an estate. When her friend Katherine died in childbirth, Amelia promised to look after Katherine's daughter, Lucy. Lucy's father, Graham, a sea captain, returns home, and Amelia proposes to him...that way Graham will have someone to take care of Lucy, Amelia will have a husband so she can take control of her inheritance, and all will be well in the world. However, Amelia is already engaged to Edward, whom she realizes only wants to marry her for her fortune, and will not allow Lucy to stay with Amelia after they are married. Before Graham and Amelia can be married, Lucy is kidnapped. There are several characters who could have possibly taken the baby, and Amelia decides to go with Graham to help him find Lucy.

The story isn't too preachy, and at times I was really drawn into the book. Sometimes things were too predictable, and some of the action was a let-down. I wish the setting on the moor would have been more important to the story.

Book # 85: A Summer All Her Own by Roseanne Keller

After her husband unexpectedly passes away, Anna decides to travel to Crete. She meets the locals, rediscovers her love of art and drawing, and spends time with single and not-so-single men. I am at a totally different stage in my life than the main character, and couldn't relate to her at all. I did enjoy the descriptions of the culture and places Anna visits in the novel.

Book # 86: Chain Reaction by Simone Elkeles

The third book in the Perfect Chemistry trilogy. The youngest brother, Luis, moves back to Chicago for his senior year of high school. Definitely not as good as the first (and second) books. Some of the gang-related stuff seemed too forced. Quick read, but could have been better.

Book # 87: Land Girls by Angela Huth

I've had this book on my reading list for years, and finally decided I needed to read it. Three very different English girls sign up to work as part of the Women's Land Army during WWII. They are sent to a farm in Dorset, where they help a farmer, his wife, and their son with everything from milking the cows, cleaning pig stys, providing assistance during lambing, and plowing fields. Stella, Pru, and Ag develop life-long friendships and while the ending left a bit to be desired, I enjoyed the historical and farming aspects of the book. A movie was made based on the book which I will have to track down. I will also be reading more about "land girls" in the future - I really want to learn more about it!

Book # 88: The Vespertine by Saundra Mitchell

In order to find an acceptable suitor, Amelia's brother sends her to Baltimore to spend the season with her wealthier, more well-connected cousins. Once she is there, Amelia begins to experience visions of the future, and her definitely unacceptable admirer has a supernatural secret of his own. This story was quite difficult to rate and review. There's a mix of different aspects in the story: historical (Victorian, set in 1889), supernatural, mystery, etc. I think if the whole Nathaniel (Amelia's beau) situation had been handled/explained differently it would have made a big difference for me.

The second book in the trilogy deals with Amelia's cousin, Zora, and takes place on the Oklahoma frontier. From the summary I've read, I think I will like that one more than The Vespertine.

Book # 89: Life Below Stairs: True Lives of Edwardian Servants by Alison Maloney

A nice overview of what life was like for the different types of servants in England from the late 19th Century to the end of World War I and the 1920s. Good for people who love "Downton Abbey" and want to know more details about all aspects of "below stairs." Maloney used a variety of resources and there are several works in the bibliography that I plan on reading.

Book # 90: The Invisible Bridge by Julie Orringer

This is a novel that deserves to be called epic. Andras, a poor Jewish architecture student from Hungary, wins a scholarship to a school in Paris. The relationships he makes there, along with the historical events happening at the time (the late 1930s-mid 1940s), will shape the rest of his life. The storytelling and writing were beautiful, and this book will probably be one of my top ten reads of the year.

Book # 91: The Roots of the Olive Tree by Courtney Miller Santo

Story about five generations of women in California. The oldest, Anna, came to the USA from Australia with her father, who brought olives trees with him, and they have since grown into large groves. There weren't any really likeable characters, and the story was too busy and had too much going on to develop the characters very well. It could have been a good story, but it didn't work for me.

Book # 92: Birds of a Feather by Jacqueline Winspear

The second book in the Maisie Dobbs series. I didn't like it as much as the first one, but I think that was because it took me a while to get through as real life kept getting in the way of my reading time. I like how different characters are dealing with the changes brought about by WWI. Definitely will continue with the series.

Book # 93: Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger

I thought the concept of this book was good, but I didn't like the characters. Some of the big secrets that were revealed didn't surprise me. I really liked The Time Traveler's Wife when I read it several years ago, but this one was a disappointment.

Book # 94: Letters From Skye by Jessica Brockmole

When I first heard about this book last winter, I immediately put it on my wishlist. Then I won an ARC of the book in a giveaway, and devoured it in a day. Told through letters, it is the story of a Scottish poet, Elspeth, and a young American man, David, who starts their correspondence by writing her a fan letter. They write to each other for many years, and eventually meet. David enlists to fight in WWI, and that will influence their relationship in many ways. During WWII, Elspeth's daughter, Margaret, finds letters from David and sets out to discover more about her past, and what her mother has to do with the letters. I don't want to give away too much, so I'll just say that this was a lovely bit of historical fiction. The love story will impress fans of romance, and the WWI and WWII settings were well done. It will also appeal to people who love books and reading. I've read a few books set on the Isle of Skye, and I could get a real sense of the island in this novel. Sometimes Elspeth irritated me (mostly her issues with travel/boats), and I wish a few of the letters would have been longer. Overall, a wonderful summer read, and I will look forward to reading more by this author.

I tried to snag Letters from Skye at NetGalley but it was only available to UK residents. I did, however, discover that my library has it in e-book and audiobook format. I think I'd prefer the e-book since it is written in letter format. I'll get to it a bit later. I've got tons of NetGalley reads as well as an ER book begging to be read in August.

I love the cover for your copy of Letters from Skye, and nice review!

>118 thornton37814: Lori: I won mine from bookreporter.com, and it was the first time I won anything in a giveaway! I would recommend the e-book as well, because of the letters. While it was a nice experience, I think I will stay away from ER and ARC books, as I have enough to read already and would rather wait for the finished product.

>119 lkernagh: Lori: I was a bit disappointed, because I wanted the lovely blue cover of Letters From Skye! I think my copy has a nice cover, don't get me wrong, but it was a bit of a surprise when I opened the package and saw something that is definitely NOT blue inside!

Book # 95: Black Ice by Anne Stuart

American Chloe Underwood has been living in Paris for two years, working as a children's book translator and not making much money. She wishes for a little fun and excitement, but when she accepts a translating job from her roommate, she has no reason to believe it will be dangerous and potentially deadly. While Chloe thinks she will be translating for businesspeople and importers, she actually will be in the midst of terrorists and illegal arms dealers. When she is ordered to be killed, one of the men she has been dealing with, Bastien, helps her escape, and soon they are fleeing from trained assassins and violent torturers.

This could have been a decent read, but the writing was choppy, and while there was a lot of action, there were too many inconsistencies throughout the story. There was just too much killing, torture, loss of innocent lives, etc. for me. The characters could have been much more interesting, but the majority were just cold-hearted, sinister, and cruel. If some of the scenarios in the plot had been at least a little realistic, it would have helped.

I've heard other books in the series are better, so I might try one in the future, but for now I have plenty of books to read that are more worthwhile.

*GASP*

Oh Rachel, as you probably know, I have not been on top of things this year, and I just can't imagine how it's August and I am only now finding your thread! I am so embarrassed! I can't believe you've nearly read 100 books already -- wow! There are quite a few here I have or my daughter does.

I loved Cold Sassy Tree years ago. The sequel is unfinished -- did you know that? The author died beofre she could finish, but it does contain her notes for the rest of the story, and funny anecdotes about the filming of the movie.

I almost picked up the audio version of The Invisible Bridge, but at 20+ hours I felt it was too much to start off my school year audios. Still want to read the book, though.

Take care -- be back next year.

KIDDING! Now that I have found you there will be no escape;)

I did read that about Leaving Cold Sassy. My sister has a copy, so I'll get around to it eventually...I tend to read more library books than books I own or can borrow from relatives or friends, but I'm working on changing that...

I agree about the audio of The Invisible Bridge. I'm glad I read it, and despite its length, it went by fairly quickly. I really liked it, so I'd definitely recommend it!

Book # 96: The List by Siobhan Vivian

Every year, just before Homecoming, a list with the names of eight girls - the prettiest and the ugliest girl from each grade - is posted around Mount Washington High School.

The book takes place over the course of Homecoming Week, and each chapter is told from a different girl's point of view. While it touched on several big issues, I think the author tried to do too much. I also thought the ending was a bit weak and left the reader hanging.

Book # 97: Notorious Nineteen by Janet Evanovich

I wanted Stephanie to FINALLY pick between Morelli and Ranger, but of course that didn't happen. Entertaining audio that helped pass time as I drove...but now the CD player in my car isn't working, so that might be the end of that...

Book # 98: Some Tame Gazelle by Barbara Pym

Barbara Pym is an author I've been meaning to read for a long time now. This was her first novel, and is the story of two spinster sisters who live in a small English village. If you like Jane Austen, I think you'd like this one. I've read some reviews that say Pym's writing improves in her latter novels, but I thought this was still a solid read.

I've been meaning to read Barbara Pym too -- glad to know you enjoyed it!

I have a feeling you'll enjoy Barbara Pym, Anne!

Book # 99: Astor Place Vintage by Stephanie Lehmann

Amanda runs a vintage clothing shop in New York City, and while going through some clothing, she discovers a diary hidden inside a muff. Olive, the journal's author, lived in NYC in 1907, and had to use her brains and the resources available to women at the time to support herself by working in a department store.

Each chapter alternates between Amanda and Olive's stories. I definitely liked Olive's more, and learned a lot about the time period. One of the most interesting parts was when Olive had to leave her hotel room/apartment even though rent had been paid for the remainder of the month because she was single. I don't want to give away too much of the story of Olive's situation, but I thought that was pretty interesting.

I don't care for endings that leave things unfinished or open for speculation, which this book did. I wasn't totally wowed by it, but still enjoyed the book.

Book # 100 (!!!): The House on Hound Hill by Maggie Prince

YA story about a girl in modern-day London who moves into a new house with her mother and brother. She is able to go back in time to 1665, when London was ravaged by the bubonic plague. The book started out well, but it didn't flow as well as it could have, and things didn't always make sense. The ending was also confusing and a bit abrupt. It did spark my interest in reading more about the Black Death, however.



Book # 101: Wrapped by Jennifer Bradbury

What a fun audiobook this was! In 1815, it's all the rage for the wealthy to have mummy unwrapping parties at their homes. Agnes Wilkins finds an object inside a mummy, which leads her into dangerous territory and espionage. I am not very familiar with this time period, or Napoleon's doings, so that was pretty interesting. I saw some things coming a mile away, but was still surprised by other events and characters in the book. I like the way the author set up the ending for potential follow-up stories. Wrapped was fluff, but enjoyable fluff.

I have read about mummy unwrapping parties in other books set in and around that same time period. I don't know, it just seems like such a strange thing to do as an evening entertainment, but who am I to judge what people find entertaining to do!

You caught my interest with Wrapped, even if touchstones thinks I mean The Great Gatsby. ;-)

The touchstones told me Wrapped was The Great Gatsby too, Lori! They appear to be working now, though :) Somehow I've never really thought of all things Egypt being so popular with Regency England...more like late 19th Century to the 1920s. I may have to read up on mummy unwrapping parties just because they seem so bizarre!

Book # 102: Land Girls at the Old Rectory by Irene Grimwood

Reading Land Girls by Angela Huth last month made me want to learn more about the Women's Land Army. This short (92 pages) memoir was a delight to read. When she was 19, the author decided to join up with the W.L.A so she could work in the "open air" instead of the cigarette factory she had been working in. She ended up being a Land Girl from 1942-1946.

The chapters were fairly short, and covered different topics such as different types of farm work, the rectory where they were housed, hitch-hiking, the wardens who looked after the girls, relaxing, and so on. There were also a few pages of pictures which helped put faces to different names mentioned in the book.

For a quick journey back to WWII England, this covered a lot. It definitely kept me interested in reading about Land Girls, and I have more titles on my reading list to get to in the near future.

Wrapped sounds like a fun read, Rachel! It sounds like something my daughter Marina would enjoy. It's kind of fun as the kids get older -- their reading tastes are very different. I've seen books Callia would enjoy here for awhile, but this year I'm seeing a lot of recommendations that seem perfect for Marina.

Land Girls at the Old Rectory sounds interesting.

>134 AMQS:: Hi, Anne! It is fun watching kids develop their reading tastes :) Wrapped would be fun for a teen/tween who likes historical fiction, debutantes, some adventure, and the Regency period...perhaps someone like Marina?

>135 thornton37814:: Hi, Lori! I thought Land Girls at the Old Rectory was interesting, especially since it was about the author's own experiences. I am on a Land Girls kick now, so I will be reading more about them for sure!



Book # 103: The Shade of the Moon by Susan Beth Pfeffer

Ugh. Ugh. I liked the first book in the series more than I thought I would. The second book was also decent. The third left a lot to be desired, and this, the fourth and hopefully final book, was a waste of my precious reading time. The sad thing is, the author mentioned how she had written a different fourth book, had it read, and nobody liked it. And this one was better?? I'm just glad I should never have to read this again.

I got a call the other day from the library in the next town over. I was the Grand Prize winner of their Adult Summer Reading Program. I picked up my prizes today: a $2 off coupon at a little book store/gift shop in that town, a $10 gift certificate at the stationary/book/gift shop in the biggest town in the county, a $15 Subway gift card, and a $50 Master Card debit card. That's not counting the gift bag I got when I signed up back in June. Not bad for simply writing down the titles of the books I read for a couple months!

Then on my way to work, I had time to stop in a bookstore I haven't been to in ages, and found a copy of Elizabeth Jane Howard's The Light Years, which is the first book in the Cazalet Chronicles, and one I've been wanting to read for a couple of years, but could never find in a library. It must be my lucky day!

Congratulations, Rachel! I'm sure that you are going to find at least a couple of books to buy with that debit card! Maybe we should all encourage our local libraries to start an adult summer reading program.

Thanks, Lori! I was completely surprised by how much I won! I am sure I could buy quite a few books on my wishlist with that card! I wish more libraries would have adult summer reading programs...it seems like they all focus only on children, but I think a lot of adults would take part in a summer reading program if they had the opportunity.



Book # 104: Seraglio by Janet Wallach

A fictional account of Aimee du Buc de Rivery, cousin of the Empress Josephine, who was abducted by Algerian pirates and sent to the harem of the Turkish sultan. Something about Wallach's writing made it difficult for me to get interested in the story. The characters also fell flat and the pacing of the book was off. There were a few parts I found intriguing, but they didn't make up for the rest of the novel.

Book # 105: Faith Bass Darling's Last Garage Sale by Lynda Rutledge

On the last day of 1999, the richest woman in town starts dragging all her household possessions out to her front yard because she feels she is going to die soon. The book deals with Alzheimer's, family issues and estrangements, and other such things. It didn't impress me, but some people would probably enjoy it.



Book # 106: Elephant Run by Roland Smith

Hoping he will be safer there, Nick's mother sends him away from the Blitz in WWII London to his father's teak plantation in Burma. He isn't safe there either, as the Japanese arrive just after Nick does and take over the country and the plantation. His father becomes a prisoner of war, and Nick and his friend Mya must work at the plantation house...unless they can find a way to escape to safety...

I quickly got caught up in the story, and it was full of action and adventure. It was not only an engaging read about a different aspect of WWII, but the characters were well-crafted and the elephants added a unique touch to the story.

Library story of the day: I went to the library today, the only library I patronize that I knew had a lot of Barbara Pym's novels, hoping to check out two or three. I couldn't find them, did a quick catalog search, and saw they had ALL been deleted!! I found a copy of Excellent Women on the book sale shelf, but the rest of them are gone! I was definitely disappointed, and still am, but I found the second Cazalet Chronicle book on the sale shelf, which cheered me up a bit.

Book # 107: The Water Wars by Cameron Stracher

Hands down, the worst book I have read all year. It might be the worst book I have read in several years. The first chapter started off with promise, but after that it was all downhill. Poor character development, awkward relationships between main characters, completely unrealistic situations that happen one after the other, etc. etc. Definitely a waste of my reading time, and one I probably should have given up on.

Book # 108: Anathema by Colleen Coble

Hannah, a young Amish woman, sneaks off to meet Reece, her non-Amish boyfriend one night. When she returns home, she finds her parents murdered and her mother's quilts stolen. She quickly marries the boyfriend, who becomes abusive. She manages to escape from him after he pushes her down the stairs, causing her unborn baby to die.

After several years, she has to return home. More murders occur, and Reece tracks her down. The questions of who all was involved in the murders, and what happens to Hannah, Reece, and other characters won't be answered until the final pages. Parts of the story were a bit clichéd, but there were enough twists and turns to keep the reader wondering. Forgiveness is a huge theme of the book, but it wasn't very preachy otherwise. There is a series by this author that is set in the Upper Peninsula that I'd be interested in reading in the future.

Book # 109: Ghost on Black Mountain by Ann Hite

I really enjoyed this story set in Appalachia (more specifically, North Carolina) during the Great Depression. Each part is told by a woman who is connected to a man, Hobbs Pritchard, and the mountain. There were a couple of parts that were violent and a bit disturbing, but they were essential to the story. I would definitely read more by Ann Hite; she is a great storyteller.

Black Mountain isn't all that far from me.

I'm going to sound really ignorant, Lori, but I assumed Black Mountain was just a fictional place that Ann Hite made up for her novel. There was an illustrated map at that showed where various characters lived and certain features like a waterfall and such. I learned something new today!

Black Mountain is near Asheville. There are lots of waterfalls in the general area.

Asheville is in the story, too....and I had heard of that city before!

Hi Rachel! I went ahead and ordered Wrapped for Marina -- hope she enjoys it! She'll read just about anything, and this one just sounds like her.

How exciting to be the summer reading program grand prize winner -- congrats! I know my library system has a summer reading club... I don't know that there are prizes:)

All the Pyms were deleted?!? How terrible! It seems like they should not be deleted as YOU are still reading this author! I will say, though, that happened to me, with two authors! My library deleted all of their Angela Thirkells and most Georgette Heyers on audio. I will say that the audios were in bad shape, but I am so very sorry to see them go.

>149 AMQS:: I hope she will enjoy Wrapped, Anne! I wasn't expecting big prizes for the summer reading program, and I would have participated even if there weren't any. I keep track of my reading anyway, so filling out the sheet with my points and book titles wasn't a big deal :)

I hadn't checked out any Barbara Pym novels from that library...I had been planning to for weeks, but I got there too late :( I had ordered her first book as an interloan, because it wasn't available at any of my libraries. It's so frustrating when you know a library has a specific book, or several by a certain author, and then they get deleted before you have a chance to borrow them!!! Too bad I just couldn't get paid to read all the books I want to read all the time. Yeah, that would be the perfect job for me (and lots of others on here, I'm sure!).

I have at least three books to update on here, but I'm going to try to finish my current read first. I've had less than 100 pages to finish all weekend, but had too much going on to have reading time.

Book # 110: The Firebird by Susanna Kearsley

I will read anything Susanna Kearsley writes, and this, her latest book, was a real winner. My only issue is I wish I would have reread The Winter Sea and possibly The Shadowy Horses first, to refresh my memory about a few characters and events. This can be read as a standalone novel, however.

Nicola has the ability to touch an object and see parts of its history and the previous owner's lives. Through her work at an art gallery, she comes into contact with an old carving. She decides to find out what she can about it, which will take her to Slains Castle in Scotland, and eventually to Russia. Nicola will also require the help of someone else who has her unusual gift. The historical parts of the story take place in the 1700s, and involve a woman named Anna. Catherine the Great, St. Petersburg, Scotland, and the Jacobites are major players in Anna's storyline.

I preferred The Winter Sea to The Firebird, but The Firebird was still a satisfying read by one of my favorite authors. The bad part is now I have to wait for Kearsley to write another book!

Book # 111: The Flight of Gemma Hardy by Margot Livesey

The Flight of Gemma Hardy is a retelling of Jane Eyre. It's been a few years since I read or saw a movie version of Jane Eyre, but I quickly started remembering Bronte's plot and seeing similarities in Livesey's novel. She also spent a good sized bit on Gemma's childhood, and didn't skip over that time period.

The Flight of Gemma Hardy is set in Scotland, the Orkney Islands, and Iceland in the 1950s and 1960s. If I hadn't read Jane Eyre before, or wasn't familiar with the story, I probably would have liked TFoGH more. I thought the romance between Gemma and Mr. Sinclair could have been better, but I did like how the resolution/ending played out.

Book # 112: French Milk by Lucy Kinsley

Graphic novel about a month the author spent living in Paris with her mother. While I can appreciate her talent as an artist, I didn't enjoy her writing. I got a bit tired of her complaining every other page.



Book # 113: A Stolen Life by Jane Louise Curry

Jamesina - nicknamed Jamie - MacKenzie is abducted from Scotland by "spiriters" who force her to travel to Virginia, where they sell her as an indentured servant. The story itself was good, and historically accurate. The descriptions of life in America in the late 1750s were vivid, but it was hard for me to get into the story. I kept reading, but mostly just to see how things would play out at the end.

Children really were spirited away from Scotland and sold, so the introduction to that subject was probably the most interesting part of the book for me.

Book # 114: Catch of the Day by Kristan Higgins

I was pleasantly surprised by this romance, and my first Kristan Higgins book. Diner owner Maggie lives in a small town in Maine where there are so few single men available she has fallen in love with the priest. Of course, he isn't an option for marriage, but soon a quiet lobsterman named Malone enters into the picture. Maggie's family (including a twin sister), her loyal pet, and nosy gossiping locals help make Catch of the Day an entertaining and funny story. I laughed out loud more than once, and if this is anything like the other books Higgins has written, I will definitely be reading more of them!

Some book and library news from the last few days:

1. I was in the right place at the right time yesterday, and got a free copy of Annie's Ghosts, which is the 2013 Great Michigan Read book. The book sounds really interesting, and the MLive announcement about the book is
here

2. To make a long story short, I'm finally getting more hours at the library in my hometown! I'm not sure how long it will last, but I'll take the hours there while they last!

3. We have a library cat at that library, but some people (two, specifically, a mother who hasn't even checked out one item there this year, and her adult son who doesn't even have a library card) did everything in their power to get rid of him. After receiving a complaint from the state Department of Civil Rights, the library board decided the cat will have to go to a new home. I am neutral on the subject of library cats, but definitely will miss the critter.

4. Any reading I get done this weekend will most likely take place in a combine, tractor, semi, or pick up, as Andy has decided I need to keep him company while he works in the field. Weather permitting, of course. I did read in the combine while he was taking off wheat this summer, so I shouldn't have a problem with the soybeans :)

Book # 115: House of Shadows by Iris Gower

I had never heard of Welsh author Gower before, but the title of this book and the summary I read made me grab it off the library shelf. It's part historical fiction, part mystery, and has a gothic feel to it. World War II has just ended, and Riana, an artist, buys an old mansion that is falling apart from Beatrice, an eccentric old lady. The house is supposedly haunted with the ghosts of five maids who worked and died there. Beatrice begs Riana to help solve the mystery of the maids, as it involves her dead husband.

The atmosphere at the mansion helps Riana paint, and she manages to sell a lot of paintings, which help her make repairs to the house. She also hosts ghost weekends, where paying guests can come to have a chance at seeing spirits.

There are some other characters and events which would take a while to explain, and I don't want to say too much. Riana has to solve the mystery surrounding the maids, keep her mansion out of the hands of someone who wants it, and save herself from danger. Parts of the story were predictable, while some were a bit far-fetched, but overall I enjoyed it. I liked the descriptions of post-WWII life, but a bit more character development would have been nice. I'd like to read more by the author, if other books sound appealing.

I'm delurking to say hello. We seem to like some of the same books. ( Letters From Skye was amazing and I loved Code Name Verity!) Have a great weekend!

Hi Rachel! House of Shadows sounds fun -- I have a family connection to Wales, and am always interested by Welsh books and authors.

The story of the library cat makes me sad. I'm hoping the cat is well-loved by many library patrons so there will be plenty of people available to offer a loving home. I guess I can understand the concerns, but the description of the mother and son who are leading the fight makes me upset. Often challenged books are challenged by groups not even associated with the school/library in question. If they rarely/never use the library, what's the problem? Perhaps the cat goes they'll be your most supportive patrons, right...?

Congrats on getting more hours though -- way to go!

Hi, Marie! Thanks for delurking! We do seem to have a lot of books in common :) I don't reread books often, but I want to read Code Name Verity again (instead of listening to it, like I did earlier this year). I will pop over to your thread soon!

Hi, Anne! There were tons of people who offered to give the cat a new home. He is now living with a lady I don't know, but whom the other members of the library staff say is a wonderful lady and will treat him well. It's funny, we had a library cat before this one, when we had our old director. They mother and her son didn't mind having a cat so much then...I think we just put him in the basement while they were in the library, and when they left he came back upstairs. I wish we could have just paid for them to get a library card in another town. But no, they had to do whatever they could to get their way.

On a different note, I only got a bit of reading done over the weekend. Andy's dad was running the combine (which has two seats), so I got squished between the seat and window in the tractor Andy was using. That, along with the bumpy ride while he was using some new equipment, made reading impossible. Things have finally quieted down a bit at work, so I might try to read some more now. I'm a little over 100 pages into Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, and am surprised by how readable it is!

Book # 116: Scotland's Land Girls: Breeches, Bombers, and Backaches by Elaine Edwards

I set aside the 450+ page book I've been reading so I could read this much shorter book before it was due at the library. I enjoyed reading about so many different memories that women had while working for the Women's Land Army in Scotland, but most of the chapters were too short for me to really get a feel for their lives and experiences. I plan to keep reading about the WLA and perhaps even the Women's Timber Corps. I had no idea there was such a thing as a Lumber Jill!

Book # 117: Escape Under the Forever Sky by Eve Yohalem

Lucy, the thirteen-year-old daughter of the American Ambassador to Ethiopia, is kidnapped and manages to escape from her abductors. She has to use her knowledge of African plants and wildlife to find civilization. There are flashbacks throughout the book which help explain things, and less action than I would have expected from an adventure/survival story. Partly based on real-life events.



Book # 118: Montana Rose by Mary Connealy

On the day she buries her husband, Cassie finds herself married to a new one. Women don't remain single for long in 19th Century Montana. Will Cassie adjust to a new life in a sod "cave"? Will her new husband be able to protect her from a rival rancher who is obsessed with her? Will she be able to help with the farm work, or will it get the best of her? I need a mail-order-bride or marriage-of-convenience fix once in a while, so I picked this one up. It was ok, but I didn't think it was amazing, like several reviewers do. This is the first in a series, and a few of the storylines were needed to set up future books, but took away from this one.



Book# 119: The Year of Miss Agnes by Kirkpatrick Hill

I had seen this one mentioned a few times on LT this year. Somehow I missed the fact that it is a children's book (and only 115 pages). In Fred's (nickname for Frederika) remote Alaskan village, teachers are lucky to last a year. Then Miss Agnes arrives, and her unusual teaching style wins over her students...and the townspeople. Will she leave as quickly as the other teachers, or will she stay longer? I liked this quick read, but would have enjoyed it more if it had been longer. It was set in 1948, and it was interesting to hear Fred talk about the "olden days" and how things weren't the same as they used to be.

The Year of Miss Agnes sounds like the sort of book I would have enjoyed -- and probably still would!

Hi, Lori! I think you would like The Year of Miss Agnes. I read it over the course of a couple hours while riding in the combine, so it's definitely a quick read, but it is descriptive, has interesting characters, and a good story :)

Lumber Jills? I love it. I had never heard of it before, either. Scotland's Land Girls sounds like a good read.

>164 AMQS:: Hi, Anne! I haven't had much time lately to research Lumber Jills or the Women's Timber Corps. I've got a list of several more books about Land Girls that I want to read, but have too many library books to read first :) Scotland's Land Girls was good, but could have been better.

Book # 120: The Shooting Party by Isabel Colegate

I saw this title in a list of books that Downton Abbey fans might like. It’s about a group of people who are gathered at an English estate for a…that’s right, a shooting party. From the beginning, the reader knows that something terrible is going to happen, but that it happens before WWI starts. Once the war begins, the horrible event will be forgotten. I enjoyed the author’s writing style and the social commentary. This was not a book I could breeze through, and there were so many characters that I often forgot who was who.



Book # 121: My Dear I Wanted to Tell You by Louisa Young

If you are looking for a book that portrays the horrors of WWI, this is a good choice. It’s also a love story that deals with different social classes and changing beliefs and attitudes of the time. It wasn’t amazing, but there’s something about it that made it definitely worth reading.



Book # 122: The Fate of Mercy Alban by Wendy Webb

I read another book by this author earlier this year and enjoyed it. When I saw this audiobook at the library, I quickly snatched it up. Grace Alban returns to her family’s estate on the shores of Lake Superior to bury her mother. At the funeral, a long-lost relative shows up, and Grace quickly finds herself learning family secrets, remembering secret passageways in the mansion, discovering a lost manuscript by a famous author who committed suicide at Alban House, and trying to keep safe from a maniac.

I enjoy Webb’s books, and am excited she has a new one coming out next year!

Book # 123: Stork by Wendy Delsol

Icelandic/Norse folklore and mythology combine with the mysterious and supernatural in Stork, the first in a YA trilogy. Katla, whose parents have recently divorced, moves to small town Minnesota with her mother. While helping at her grandfather's store, attempting to fit in, and making friends, she discovers she is part of a secret group who have a special purpose. But how will being a Stork impact her new relationships, her family, and the fight between good and evil?

At times, I thought Katla could be a bit of a snob or brat. I also thought some parts could have been explained more clearly or set up differently. However, there were also several laugh-out-loud moments, and all in all, I was pleased with this book. I plan on reading the next two books in the trilogy, and should probably do a little research into Scandinavian folk tales and myths, just for reference.

Stopping by after a loooong overdue visit and coming away with some book bullets for House of Shadows and The Shooting Party. I am with you in enjoying Webb's stories.... I need to hunt out more of her books.

Hi, Lori! I'd definitely be interested in your thoughts on The Shooting Party. There's a movie based on the book, which I hope to watch sometime this weekend. It looks like Wendy Webb's new book will be out in January! It's called The Vanishing, and is already on my to-read list!

Book # 124: The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

I'd always heard about this classic, but knew nothing about the plot. I was impressed by Jackson's writing, the spooky and gothic atmosphere, and the psychological aspects of the story. While it's not something I feel the need to reread, it was perfect for this time of year, and now I know what it's all about.

Yay for the new Webb book coming out soon!

My local library has both the e-book and the movie version of The Shooting Party.... I am soooo tempted to jump right into the movie, I just might do that. My other half enjoys watching Downton Abbey so the movie version of The Shooting Party might appeal to him.

The Haunting of Hill House sounds like the perfect read to finish off October with.

>171 lkernagh:: I watched the movie of The Shooting Party the other night, and it didn't impress me as much as I had hoped it would. Part of the ending was changed from the book, too.

Trying to catch up with reviews/comments, with my final October read:



Book # 125: Divergent by Veronica Roth

I probably would have read this book eventually, but since a book club at work selected it for their November read, there were actually copies available, and I snatched one up while I was at work.

Overall, I liked Divergent, but I had thought I would like it a lot more than I did. I will continue with the next book soon, but I'm not going to stay up late to finish it. Was I supposed to guess who Four really was right away? Because I did.

Book # 126: Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by April Genevieve Tucholke

I thought the first 100 pages or so of this book were pretty good. Then it suddenly seemed like I was reading an entirely different book, and I was not happy with the changes. I slogged through it, and probably should have just abandoned it. The lovely cover was one of the best things about this book. There were also some violent parts I wasn't expecting, and that added to my two-and-a-half star rating.

^ Love that cover!!! Of course, now that I have stopped gazing at the cover and actually read your review, I am completely depressed that the book seemed to shift gears on you mid-stream. I hate it when books (authors) do that.

>174 lkernagh:: I hate that too, Lori! It's especially frustrating when a book starts out well (really well, fairly well, or just plain old well) and then completely changes and becomes something totally different. If the author had only stayed doing what they started out doing...

Library moment of the day: I had just checked out an item to a patron, when he stopped, said he had a question, and then asked, "Do you mind if I take some of the horse manure at the hitching post in the parking lot?" :) The director told him he could have as much as he wanted, haha! We have a lot of Amish in the area, hence the need for a place to put their horses and buggies, and a need for clean-up as well.

Book # 127: Pioneer Girl: A True Story of Growing Up on the Prairie by Andrea Warren

Andrea Warren used No Time on My Hands, the story of Grace McCance Snyder, as the basis for this wonderful book about a child's life in the late 1800s. I've already ordered No Time on My Hands from ILL, and can't wait for it to arrive.

Pioneer Girl covers not only Grace's childhood and life in a sod house in Nebraska, but also a range of things all pioneer children lived and dealt with. Adults can get as much as kids out of this 100 page book. It would be a great choice for a mother-daughter book club or a juvenile book club. There were lots of pictures, which added to the historical details.

Book # 128: The Last Camellia by Sarah Jio

I love how Jio really draws the reader into her novels, but the endings usually fall short for me. This was no exception. I had to go back and read the last pages again, because I couldn't believe I missed something so important...and even when I finished the last page for the second time, I still didn't get the connection.

Anyway, this novel takes place at an English country estate during WWII and in 2000. It involves a special type of camellia that had been stolen from the Queen's garden. In the 1940s storyline, Flora must work as a nanny at the manor in order to hunt down the elusive flower for a ring of flower thieves. In 2000, Addison and her husband stay at the estate his parents have just bought so he can work on his writing and she can escape her past. How the camellia, Flora, and Addison's stories are connected comes through at the final pages.

I'd consider this more of a mystery than a romance. The Flora/Desmond romance needed more build-up. I wish I knew more about flowers and gardening, because I think that would have helped me appreciate this book more. I will look for Jio's future novels, and hope that the endings make more sense to me.

Book # 129: The White Stag by Kate Seredy

This Newbery winner is a mixture of fairy tale, myth, folklore, history, and absolutely breathtaking illustrations. It's the story of Atilla (the Hun) and how the Huns and Magyars ended up in what is now Hungary. Kate Seredy's artistic abilities always amaze and impress me. I liked her books The Good Master and The Singing Tree better than The White Stag, but this was still a good, solid read. It would also be a good one for slightly older children who haven't read much in this genre before.

Book # 130: Snow on the Tulips by Liz Tolsma

On the one hand, I loved the setting (the Netherlands, specifically Friesland, in 1945) and the constant danger characters were in. Executions, hiding members of the Resistance, confrontations with Nazi soldiers, and other such events made for some gripping, nail-biting reading. The characters had to deal with things besides rationing and air raids...things like duty to country, obeying those in command, agreeing/disagreeing with spouses, and getting past grief to look to the future. On the other hand, this was definitely Christian fiction, and I could have done with less of all that. The people and events that inspired the story were interesting to read about, and I loved all the Dutch, German, and Frisian vocabulary that was thrown in.



Book # 131: The Brutal Telling by Louise Penny

I haven't read a Three Pines/Armand Gamache novel since January, but thankfully I remembered most of the characters. I think this was my favorite Louise Penny novel yet. I was definitely surprised that she used the character she did as the murderer...I had wondered how long it would be until a main character from Three Pines would commit a crime. Looking forward to the next books in the series. Hopefully it won't take me ten months to read the next one!

Book # 132: A Royal Pain by Megan Mulry

Too much swearing, too many unnecessary steamy and explicit scenes, and characters I found annoying, childish, and whiny. The "American girl meets a British man who doesn't tell her he is nobility" could have worked, but overall the story didn't flow well and I'm surprised I stuck with it. Didn't work for me, but others might get something worthwhile out of the story.

Rachel, I can't wait until you get to the next Louise Penny book. I think Bury Your Dead is probably my favorite -- and it builds off The Brutal Telling.

>181 thornton37814:: Good to know, Lori. I hadn't read any summaries of Bury Your Dead, but now I will try to get to it soon while The Brutal Telling is still fresh in my mind!



Book # 133: So Far Away by Meg Mitchell Moore

Part of me thought this was a good book, but the other part wished the historical story (that of Bridget, the Irish maid) was better and more developed. Still, it was an interesting look at cyber-bullying, how different people deal with being lonely, and various other themes. I liked the author's writing style, and would be willing to read more by her. But if you plan to read this because of Bridget's old diary and the 1920s storyline, be aware that cyber-bullying is at the forefront of this novel.

Book # 134: An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving by Louisa May Alcott

I read two versions of this children’s story, which was originally written in 1882. When Mother and Father are called away suddenly, the farm children decide to prepare for Thanksgiving and have many adventures in the process.

The first version, from 1974, was the one I preferred. The illustrations, done by Holly Johnson, reminded me of the illustrations Garth Williams did in the Little House books. This version is better suited for older children, and does a nice job with the dialogue and New England vocabulary. It also included a few pages of recipes at the end.

The second book, the 2010 edition, had lovely color pictures by Jody Wheeler. This one was a bit simpler, and would be better for younger children.

All in all, a nice way to get in the mood for Thanksgiving, and a reminder that I need to move some of Louisa May Alcott’s books higher in my reading pile!

Book # 135: Easy by Tammara Webber

I’d read a lot of reviews about this one lately, and it was a good, quick read. It really packed a message (or two) and I liked the characters.



Book # 136: 22 Britannia Road by Amanda Hodgkinson

This was one of the odder books I’ve read lately. There were some rather shocking/disturbing parts that were never fully explained, and I wish a lot of things had been more developed. A different take on WWII and post-WWII life for a family.

Book # 137: Goodbye, Mr. Chips by James Hinton

I bought a copy of this last summer, but suddenly got the urge to read it when I realized my future husband Henry Cavill had a bit part in the 2002 TV movie version of the book. To be honest, I felt like I missed something from this “classic.” Luckily, a local library had a copy of the movie with HC, so at least I can look forward to watching that.



Book # 138: Snow Hall by Elizabeth Gill

This should have been a winner for me. In 1907, a young woman inherits a large estate in northern England, and has to figure out how to support herself and overcome those out to stop her. It was more of a soap opera than anything else, and not an enjoyable one at that.

Good to know about 22 Britannia Road, Rachel. I bought a copy early this year - at a used booksale - that I haven't gotten around to reading yet. I just finished reading The Night Watch by Sarah Waters which left me with mixed thoughts so I think I will leave the Hodgkinson book on the back burner for a while.

Lori, I think my biggest issues with 22 Britannia Road were that some things weren't explained and I couldn't picture the main female character's experiences in the forest. Maybe I wanted too many details and more description, while the author was more focused on the characters themselves. I have been reading a lot of WWII fiction lately, and have one or two more in my pile of library books, but after that I think I'll take a break from that time period.

I made the mistake once of trying to read too much set in the WWII era at one time. I love historical fiction from that period, but I need a break from those atrocities. I now try to read one, move to something else, and then come back to something else from the period a few books later.

Book # 139: Tumbleweed Skies by Valerie Sherrard

A young girl must stay with her grandmother while her father goes away for work. Relations are tense due to various events, and they must look past their grief to form a relationship. Set in the Canadian prairie in the 1950s, it was a nice, quick read, but not outstanding.

Book # 140: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

It's past time for a reread of the series. Quickly remembering how much I love these books! A nice treat on audio when I get home from work at night.

Book # 141: All I Ever Wanted by Kristan Higgins

I read one of the author's other books a couple months ago, and really enjoyed it. I liked this one too, and can see myself reading all of her books. This one had me laughing out loud several times, but Callie, the main character, got on my nerves more than once. I guess I have different ideas about fashion than she does.

I absolutely adore Kristan Higgins' work, and she's definitely a "read all her books!" type of author! I love her humor and quirky heroines. Kristan herself is also lovely -- I sent her a quick Facebook message once after reading All I Ever Wanted just after it came out, letting her know how much I enjoyed it, and she wrote back personally to thank me for the note. I do love when authors interact with their readers -- makes me even more willing to support them. :)

>188 thornton37814:: I agree, Lori...in the past, I've gotten burned out after reading too much about a certain place or time period in too short a time. Thankfully, there is enough variety on my TBR list for that to happen on a regular basis!

>190 dk_phoenix:: How cool, Faith! I have never contacted an author like that, and would be amazed if I did and had the same experience as you had with Kristan Higgins! I'm definitely looking forward to reading more by her. Unfortunately, she doesn't seem to be too popular in any of my libraries. Thank goodness for ILL :)

Book # 142: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling

I was hoping to do a complete re-read of the series by the end of the year, but if that actually happens I will eat my socks. I've read the first two books more than the others, but there was so much I had forgotten! Gilderoy Lockhart! HOW could I have forgotten about him? The student workers at the library and I had a long discussion about the series, the films, etc. the other night at our staff Christmas party. Definitely looking forward to the third book, which is one I haven't read as much as some of the others. If I could only find the time to listen to it at night....

Book # 143: Dating Mr. December by Phillipa Ashley

I saw this one on a list somewhere, and since it has December in the title, I decided to go ahead and read it now. Emma, who works in public relations, has to find a new job after she gets fired. She moves from London to the Lake District and gets a job much farther down the PR ladder. In order to help the local search-and-rescue team earn money, she decides to have the men pose for a calendar. A relationship with her main opponent naturally develops. I thought the story would be more about the Lake District, Emma's job, and the team, but it wasn't. Some parts were rather choppy and didn't flow well, and I didn't get the supposed humor.

I have a huge stack of books to make progress on, but I'm not sure when that is going to happen. Maybe over the weekend? Between Christmas and New Years? We shall see...

Dear Rachel, merry Christmas to you! I am also treating myself to a reread of the Harry Potter books- slow this time. I still love them as much as I ever did. Cheers to you!

The infrequent visitor that I am is now stopping by with belated Christmas wishes and to wish you a

>191 aktakukac:: I often send brief messages to authors on Twitter after reading their book, if I enjoyed it! I figure it never hurts to show appreciation for a job well done, writing a book included. :D

I've been absent from this thread for a while, and have several books to comment on. I'm hoping to finish at least a couple more before the 31st. Thanks for stopping by Anne, Lori, and Faith! It may be a few days past Christmas, but I hope you had nice holidays :) I didn't get any books this year (I didn't ask for any, either), and I even used a gift certificate at a book store/gift shop to buy something for someone else...and it wasn't a book! I'd like to get my 2014 thread up and running in the next few days, as well as plan out a few more reading goals and ideas for the next year.

Looking forward to seeing you in the new group!

I have been really busy in the last few days, so some quick comments about the most recent books I've finished:

Book # 144: Fallen Women by Sandra Dallas

I love this author, but this was her first actual historical mystery (she usually writes historical fiction). It fell a bit flat for me, but I think part of the problem was I was never able to sit down and focus on the book. Dallas fans will still enjoy it.

Book # 145: Snowbound in the Earl's Castle by Fiona Harper

Very disappointed in this romance. It did not flow very well.

Book # 146: Frost by Wendy Delsol

Second book in the Stork Trilogy, dealing with a teenage girl and Icelandic mythology. Some things were easy to figure out. Will hopefully read the third book early in 2014.

Book # 147: The Snow Bride by Debbie Macomber

I wasn't terribly impressed by the Macomber book I read earlier this year, but the premise of this one was too good to pass up. A woman flies to Alaska to meet a man she met online, but gets kidnapped by the pilot. She then gets stranded in a town with a population of like six. Oh, and her former boss decides to find her and propose so she will come back to work for him. I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would, and appreciated the variety of characters.

Book # 148: A Wreath of Snow by Liz Curtis Higgs

A novella set in Scotland in the 1890s. Rather predictable, but a nice quick read before Christmas.

Book # 149: Covet by Tracey Garvis Graves

Wow! I wasn't expecting much from this book, but I'm still thinking about it a few days after I finished it! Chapters are told from Claire, her husband Chris, and a police officer named Daniel's point of view. Will Claire and Daniel have an affair? Will Chris find out about their relationship? It deals with a lot more than the possibility of cheating.

Book # 150: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling

This book has never been my favorite in the series, but I appreciated this reread/listen. And I love Professor Lupin. Sigh.

Book # 151: My One and Only by Kristan Higgins

Harper, a divorce attorney, is forced to travel cross country with her ex-husband, Nick, after her step sister and his half brother get married. I've liked the other books I have read by this author, but Harper annoyed me at times, and I would have liked to know more of Nick's thoughts and feelings.

I doubt I will finish the book I'm currently reading today. I did get my 2014 thread up, and here is the link: http://www.librarything.com/topic/163165