Roro8's "Best of" for….. 2016, #1

For 2016 I have decided to base my categories on my
choices from 2015.


These 12 books were:
No Country: A Novel
The 100 Year Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared
The Tiger Queens: The Women of Genghis Khan
Bitter Greens
The Last Dragon: Twilight of the Celts
Beneath the Shadows
Flood of Fire
Last Day in the Dynamite Factory
The Eye of the Sheep
The Good Girl by Mary Kubica
Then We Take Berlin by John Lawton
On the Road.... With Kids by John Ahern

I have created 7 categories that encompass these 12 books (only 11 so far). I will consider a category closed when I have read 7 books for that category. That makes 49 books, a total that I should be able to manage and still have a bit of time for reading some books that may not fit in any of my categories, THE MISFITS!!

I also want to keep track of where my books come from. Sometimes I borrow from the library and sometimes I read from my shelves – my real shelves or my e-shelves.

Library books:8
Library ebooks:
Library audiobooks: 8

Books from my shelves: 11
Ebooks from my shelves: 6

Non-fiction book total:3

Number of books read in 2016


Number of pages read in 2016
Total so far 13117
Target 24000

HISTORICAL FICTION

I love historical fiction. It is my favourite type of book.



1 - The Girl in the Blue Beret by Bobbie Ann Mason
2 - Dark Aemilia: A Novel of Shakespeare's Dark Lady by Sally O'Reilly
3 - The Beast's Garden by Kate Forsyth
4 - Heading Out to Wonderful by Robert Goolrick
5 - A Day of Fire: A Novel of Pompeii by multiple authors
6 - Eagles at War by Ben Kane
7

Series Reads

I have so many series in progress that this is an obvious choice for a category.



1 - The King's Assassin by Angus Donald
2 - After You by Jojo Moyes
3 - Flight of the Eagle by Peter Watt
4
5
6
7

New to me author

I really enjoy trying out books by authors I haven't read before.



1 - Cleopatra's Shadows by Emily Holleman
2 - The Forgetting Time by Sharon Guskin
3 - Girl Runner by Carrie Snyder
4 - Black Rabbit Hall by Eve Chase
5
6
7

Mystery or Suspense

A good mystery or suspense novel never goes astray.



1- A Curious Beginning by Deanna Rayburn
2- Painkiller by N J Fountain
3- Still Life by Louise Penny
4- His Majesty's Hope by Susan Ella MacNeal
5- Dead Cold by Louise Penny
6
7

Water

I like books which involve water. Maybe they are set on a boat, on the coast, or by a lake.



1 - The Art of Waiting by Christopher Jory
2 - The Bungalow: A Novel by Sarah Jio
3 - The Ship of Brides by Jojo Moyes
4
5
6
7

Australian

It's good to support the locals. There are a lot of fantastic Australian authors. I want to read some of the Miles Franklin Award nominees in 2016. Books in this category will be either written by Australians or set in Australia.



1 - Educating Alice by Alice Greenup
2 - Golden Boys by Sonya Hartnett
3 - Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
4 - All the Birds, Singing by Evie Wyld
5 - Outback Midwife by Beth McRae
6 - The Shearers by Evan McHugh
7

Family

Family relationships are such interesting things. No wonder so many books are written about them.



1 - The Seamstress by Frances de Pontes Peebles
2 - The Last Anniversary by Liane Moriarty
3 - The Vatican Princess by C W Gortner
4 - Ripples on a Pond by Joy Dettman
5 - Wife on the Run by Fiona Higgins
6
7

The MISFITS

I don't know what wouldn't fit in the above categories but I best be prepared. Anything that doesn't fit above can be put in here. So I guess I actually have eight categories.

Now I have to wait for January 1 to begin.

Great set-up, Ro!

>12 DeltaQueen50:, thanks Judy. I'm looking forward to seeing what you have planned for 2016. I'll be keeping a lookout.

I really like your set-up and I'm looking forward to your Australian category. Somehow they've never been on my radar.

>14 MissWatson:, thanks. Hopefully I read some really good Aussie books and you might like the sound of them.

>15 Roro8: I just remember two that at least are set in Australia: Tim and A Town Like Alice. I read those ages ago, so I'm up for new names!

Great set-up, I really like the idea to base your categories on this year's reads. And just like MissWatson I'm especially looking forward to see what you read for you Australia Category. I could use some inspiration there. :)

>14 MissWatson: That's why, in the GeoCAT, I preferred the option where Australia and New Zealand had their own month and not grouped with all English speaking countries. I hope that's where things will end up being.

Roro8, this is a wonderful way to honor your favorite books and keep us aware of them through the year. Hope you have more 5 star reads for 2016.

Nice setup. I too haven't read many Australian books, don't know why. I'll check in for suggestions.

Great setup! I'll be keeping a weather eye on your water category -- always looking for a good book about boats!

I've always been a fan of your book of the month choices so it's fun to see you use them as an actual category challenge. Good luck!

>16 MissWatson:, Isn't that funny. I haven't read either of those two books. I did live in Alice Springs for a while when I was in high school though. One of my favourite "Aussie" books is Cloud Street by Tim Winton.

>17 Chrischi_HH:, Thanks. Maybe when you get to the Australia section in the geoCAT I might be of help.

>18 mamzel:, I haven't been following the setup of the GeoCAT. I figure I'll just join in once all the wrinkles are ironed out. I tend to agree with you though on keeping Australia and New Zealand separate though. I chose to use those books as my categories especially so that I can remember and keep enjoying them even longer (exactly as you say).

>19 sturlington:, Thanks. I'll be sure to check out your challenge too.

>20 rabbitprincess:, I like a good viking book, so I guess the water category gives me a good excuse. I'll be keeping an eye out for good reads to go in that one.

>21 LittleTaiko:, I enjoy doing my book of the month too. When people ask me have I read anything good lately I always try to recommend one of them.

We just got back from my nephew's birthday party on Bribie Island. He has just turned 7. I feel a bit zonked out now after sitting outdoors at the waterfront for a couple of hours. I am off to prowl the LT threads and catch up with the latest goings on.

What a great concept and setup for your challenge!

That's a cool set-up.

Thanks Lori and Eva.

What better way to make sure your book club reads fit into your challenge than to base your challenge on your book club reads. Like your set-up and, like others, your Australian category has piqued my interest.

Great theme! I look forward to following along, especially the Australian category.

It's nice to see so much interest in my Australian category. I think it will inspire me to try and make really good choices.

I'm just going to put it out there that I am using all my willpower not to check out the final format of the GeoCAT and the DeweyCAT. My preference for unplanned reading has steered me towards avoiding the planning process. I am going to check out each month as the host puts up the thread and then find something suitable while the concept is fresh in my mind. I didn't do very well with the 2015 CATs so it will be interesting to see if this makes any difference (if my will power holds out).

>29 Roro8: Good idea, but too late for me. While planning I kept finding books I'd like to read now, not wait for 2016.

>30 VivienneR:, that's my problem too.

Love the book covers featured on your categories. I seem to alternate between an Oz/NZ and NZ only categories each year. Depends how I feel as I setup the challenge. Anyway I'll check back in to see how you get along.

>32 avatiakh: I'll have to check in on your thread too, you might get me with some BB.

Very interesting categories! Looks like some great reads!

>34 Tess_W:, thanks. I hope I have heaps of good reads in 2016 too.

2016 is here and I am off to a good start. I have almost finished my RTT monthly book Cleopatra's Shadows. The audiobook I am listening to will definitely qualify for this month's RandomCAT as only three other LTers have it in their libraries - Educating Alice. Then The Seamstress is beckoning for a read for the GeoCat.

Sounds like some good reads to start the year with!

1. New to me Author

Reading Through Time Monthly - Women in Command
RandomCAT - Embrace Your Uniqueness
BingoDOG - Debut Book

Cleopatra's Shadows by Emily Holleman



The only way to survive her dynasty is to rule it...

Abandoned by her beloved older sister Cleopatra and an indifferent father, Arsinoe, a young Egyptian princess, must fight for survival in the bloodthirsty royal court after her half-sister Berenice seizes power.
But despite using her quick-wits to win Berenice's favour, Arsinoe struggles to establish herself in a uncertain new world, one that carries her from the conspiratorial dangers of the palace, to the streets of war-torn Alexandria.
Meanwhile, her other sister, the usurper Berenice, has her own demons to confront - her cruel, flagging mother, a pair of fickle husbands, and the ever-present threat that her father will return from exile-as she fights to hold the throne as the first queen of Egypt in a thousand years. book blurb

This book was a Christmas gift from my husband and was an excellent choice for me. I love historical fiction, particularly anything set in Egypt.

The story alternates narrators between Arsine, the younger sister, and Berenice, the older sister who seizes the pharaoh's crown. Berenice must struggle to rule her fickle kingdom as she frets that her father will return from Rome with an army to remove her.

Arsine struggles with the heartbreak of being the unwanted daughter. Both her mother and her father have deserted her and left her at Berenice's mercy. She is a very strong minded young girl and quickly became my favourite character.

There is nothing in the back of the book to indicate this is the start of a series, however the story itself makes me think there is more to come. If there is I will be pleased to read it to find out what happens to these sisters in the next instalment.

2. Australian

RandomCAT - Embrace Your Uniqueness
BingoDOG - Read a Memoir

Educating Alice by Alice Greenup
Audiobook read by Kate Hood



'A girlfriend should know her place, Alice. First comes the mates, then the ute, then his hat, dogs, horses and last of all the girlfriend. Get that right and you might just stick around. Try to jump the queue and you're history.' The lips smiled at me, but his eyes meant business.

'Well then, I'll just have to be his mate.'

'Girls can't be mates, Alice.'

'We'll see.'

A footloose city backpacker who couldn't tell a bull from a cow was hardly the ideal candidate to answer an ad for a governess on a Mackay cattle station. But Alice Greenup was game for anything, until she was bowled over by a handsome young jackeroo with a devastating smile. It was the start of a whole new way of life as Alice gave up her city-chick persona to embrace the bush and all that came with it: horses, cattle, the obsession with rain - and the correct way to wear a hat.

After overcoming more than a few obstacles, the unlikely couple eventually married, moving to Rick's family farm near Kingaroy. Determined to make their own future, they gambled their dreams on a vast property called 'Jumma'. It was a huge risk but with a lot of love, blood, sweat and tears, they were on their way.

But one morning they almost lost it all. When Alice's horse bucked her out of the saddle in remote bushland, she was gravely injured. Rick was forced to leave her lying alone, drifting in and out of consciousness, to gallop home for help. Flown by emergency helicopter to Brisbane, Alice had serious liver and brain damage. What followed would test their love to the limit. book blurb

Sometimes real life is just as interesting as fiction. This wonderful memoir by a city girl that transitions into a country woman had me interested right from the start. Alice is a Melbourne girl that doesn't know what to do with herself after she finishes school. She goes on a backpacking adventure, at first with a friend and then on her own. She ends up taking a governess job on a rural station. This is the decision that changes her life, as it is here that she meets her cowboy Rick.

Alice has found some direction and is ready to go to uni and prepare herself for the next stage of her life. She has her moments but on the most part she is a highly motivated upbeat type of person. She explains her feelings and why she makes the decisions she does.

I really enjoyed this book. I have been to a lot of the towns Alice talks about, and I'm actually the same age as Alice so I really understood the generational type things she was talking about.

A great Aussie read.

>39 Roro8: This made me think about something I hadn't thought of in a long time. I had a friend that joined the Peace Core (we live in U.S.) after college and before she started a teaching career. We were astonished when they assigned her to Australia. Off she went to live on a very remote station to teach at a school where 3 or 4 families sent their children. It took her awhile to settle in because it was so very remote and of course a different lifestyle than she was accustomed to. Some of the children were quite behind in their schooling so she liked the work a lot. She was a small woman, probably no more than 100 lbs. After a year she came home and we didn't recognize her when she came off the plane because she had gained so much weight! I think it was 30 lbs which was a lot on her small frame. She told us she gained all that weight because there was nowhere to go and the Australian beer was so good.

>39 Roro8: - Great review!

>40 clue:, it's great to remember things like that. I bet your friend would love this book. I don't drink beer, but I think the hot weather in outback Australia makes cold beer taste much better.

>41 lkernagh:, thanks Lori. I guess it shows that I really did enjoy it.

I am currently reading The Seamstress. So far it is a great read. I only put it down because my eyes won't stay open any longer at night, or I have chores or work to go to.

I have also started listening to Golden Boys when I am in the car by myself. It is another Australian book, nominated for the Miles Franklin award in 2015. I have heard just over 1 hour so far and I am really liking it too.

>42 Roro8: I'm reading The Seamstress as well! But unlike you, I'm finding it very put-down-able. Objectively, I do think it's a very good book, but it started slowly (at least for me), and it just hasn't grabbed me yet. But now that the Hawk has shown up, I'm hoping things will move a bit more!

>43 christina_reads:, there will be a bit more action now. I definitely like Luzia's chapters more than Emilia's. I think Emilia's chapters give more of an idea of the politics of the time. I'm over half way through now. I hope you like it more as you go. It's a reasonably long book, my copy has 646 pages.

I have finished The Seamstress, review coming soon.

Excellent review of Educating Alice. Will you add it to the book's page? There are no reviews posted for it at all.

>46 RidgewayGirl:, thanks for reminding me. I often forget to do that.

3. Family

geoCAT - South America

The Seamstress by Frances de Pontes Peebles



Winner of the Friends of American Writers Award for Fiction

As seamstresses, the young sisters Emilia and Luzia dos Santos know how to cut, mend, and conceal--useful skills in the lawless backcountry of Brazil, where ruthless land barons feud with bands of outlaw "cangaceiros," trapping innocent residents in the crossfire. EmIlia, a naive romantic, dreams of falling in love with a gentleman and escaping to a big city. Quick-tempered Luzia also longs for escape, finding it in her craft and secret prayers to the saints she believes once saved her life. But when Luzia is abducted by "cangaceiros" led by the infamous Hawk and EmIlia stumbles into a marriage with the son of a wealthy and politically powerful doctor, the sisters' quiet lives diverge in ways they never would have imagined. book blurb

I was inspired to read this novel after seeing several other good reviews for it on LT. I really enjoyed the setting of Brazil in the 1920-30s. I also enjoy a good book about sisters. How two people brought up in the same home and by the same parenting figures can be so different is very interesting to me.

Emilia strives to escape the countryside. She is desperate to become a fashionable lady with her own house to run in the city. Luzia Justs wants to be seen for who she really is, more than the girl with the crippled arm. Both these girls are brave in their own way and have their own struggles to face,

I got engrossed in the book very early on, finding it difficult to put down. The middle became a bit harder as the political situation had to be explained within the story. The final quarter of the book was again, very good.

>48 Roro8: I'm about halfway through it now, and I'm enjoying it a lot more! I feel like the pace has picked up, which is almost always a good thing in my book.

>48 Roro8: With another good review I can't help it any longer --> BB taken!

>48 Roro8: Book Bullet for me as well. I really like that cover.

I really liked The Seamstress. It certainly had strong female characters.

>49 christina_reads:, I'm glad to hear your starting to enjoyThe Seamstress more. I'll look forward to checking out your review when you're finished.

>50 Chrischi_HH:, maybe you've been reading the same reviews as me, this book was a BB for me too.

>51 DeltaQueen50:, I'm surprised you haven't read it already Judy. I thought you were one of the people that got me with a BB for it. Obviously, I was thinking incorrectly.

>52 RidgewayGirl:, I think your review was one that encouraged me to read it, add in this month's GEOcat and that is motivation enough.

I have started a new mystery series (shock, horror, another series to add to the ever growing list). It's titled A Curious Beginning, a Veronica Speedwell Mystery by Deanna Raybourn. I've read a very good review for it and the library had a brand new copy so I started it last night. It's started off well. Plus, I love getting a brand new book from the library. With the next three days off work I should be able to get stuck into it.

Ah, a nice long weekend for reading! Enjoy! :D

Nice setup to your challenge and some good books already. I'll enjoy following along.

>54 rabbitprincess:, I managed to get some reading in today after taking the kids shopping for their back to school supplies.

>55 LisaMorr:, thanks. I'll keep a lookout for your thread too.

I just finished watching the TV version of Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, which I read last year. It remained reasonably true to the book. My daughter watched it with me. She hasn't read the book however she enjoyed the series a lot.

4. Mystery/Suspence

AlphaKIT letter D

A Curious Beginning by Deanna Raybourn
Book 1 - A Veronica Speedwell Mystery



London, 1887. Veronica Speedwell intends to embark upon the journey of a lifetime. But fate has other plans. When Veronica thwarts her own abduction with the help of an enigmatic German baron, he offers her sanctuary in the care of his friend Stoker - a reclusive and bad-tempered natural historian. When the Baron is murdered, Veronica and Stoker are forced to go on the run from an elusive assailant, wary partners in search of the villainous truth. book blurb

I read a great review for this book in the Historical Novel Society quarterly magazine. I immediately looked it up at the library - they had a copy on order. This meant that when my reserve came in I had a brand new copy of this fabulous book in my hands (I love it when that happens).

Anyway, Veronica Speedwell is a spinster at the ripe old age of around 25, living in Victorian England around the time of the Queen's jubilee. She is a foundling, brought up by her two aunts, the last of which is about to pass away. Veronica is no wilting flower. She is an adventuress. She is a professional butterfly collector that has travelled to various parts of the world on expeditions. So when her aunt passes she sees her opportunity to be away on another adventure. The adventure that follows isn't quite what she had in mind.

Somebody tries to abduct her, she finds herself heading to London with a Baron she has just met and then thrust into the care of an interesting Natural Historian, Mr Stoker. Then the baron turns up dead and Veronica is in danger. She must maintain her safety while trying to discover what is going on.

Even though Veronica is an unexpected type of lady for her time I loved her. I also loved Stoker. They both have complex personalities. With teasers of secrets laid out in this book to keep the reader looking for the answers in the next one.

The book may have been a bit slower in the start, however the author is setting up a new series so that is to be expected. Regardless, I really enjoyed this book. Probably a case of the right book at the right time - this book is getting a very high rating from me. There is no doubt that I will be continuing this series when the next book is available.

5. Australian

Golden Boys by Sonya Hartnett
Shortlisted for the Miles Franklin Award 2015



Colt Jenson and his younger brother Bastian live in a world of shiny, new things – skateboards, slot cars, train sets and even the latest BMX. Their affluent father, Rex, has made sure that they'll be the envy of the new, working-class suburb they've moved to. But underneath the surface of the perfect family, is there something unsettling about the Jensons? To the local kids, Rex becomes a kind of hero, but Colt senses there's something in his father that could destroy their fragile new lives. book blurb

This book was shortlisted for the Miles Franklin Award in 2015, prompting me to give it a read for my "Australia" category.

I found this to be a very character driven book. It is not that a lot of very remarkable things happen, the way the characters react and manage the situations they encounter are the centre of interest. The narration is from the children's perspective, which the author does very well.

The book reminded me a lot of when I was a kid. A very Australian take on childhood.

I've started another one for my Australian category, Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty. It looks promising so far.

>60 Roro8: - So far Moriarty's books have been really good - that one included. Hope you like it!

>57 Roro8:
I thought they did really well - and I also know people who hadn't read the book and enjoyed it thoroughly.

>58 Roro8:
That one looks like a lot of fun. BB!

>61 LittleTaiko:, I'm really enjoying it so far. I can see qualities in the characters in the mums at my kids school!

>62 -Eva-:, "fun" is a good word for A Curious Beginning, a fun filled adventure/mystery.

6. Series Read

RandomCAT

The King's Assassin by Angus Donald
Book 6 in the Outlaw Chronicles

I am up to date with this series.



AD 1215: The year of Magna Carta - and Robin Hood's greatest battle.

THE YOKE OF TYRANNY...
King John is scheming to reclaim his ancestral lands in Europe, raising the money for new armies by bleeding dry peasants and nobles alike, not least the Earl of Locksley - the former outlaw Robin Hood - and his loyal man Sir Alan Dale.
THE CALL TO ARMS...
As rebellion brews across the country and Robin Hood and his men are dragged into the war against the French in Flanders, a plan is hatched that will bring the former outlaws and their families to the brink of catastrophe - a plan to kill the King.
THE ROAR OF REVOLUTION...
England explodes into bloody civil war and Alan and Robin must decide who to trust - and who to slaughter. And while Magna Carta might be the answer their prayers for peace, first they will have to force the King to submit to the will of his people . . . book blurb

This book was every bit as good as all the others. Full of adventure, daring and drama.

Alan Dale is trying to make ends meet when the local sheriff makes unrealistic financial demands for taxes. It is not only Alan facing this problem but all land owners across England. King John is squeezing them dry.

Robin has his problems too. His home was ransacked while he was away. Who was it and what were they looking for?

I enjoyed this book every bit as much as the last. It looks like there will be at least one more book and it will definitely be on my reading list when it is available.

Tomorrow (Jan 26th) is Australia Day. To celebrate we are having a BBQ with about 28 people at our place. Hopefully the weather will be lovely and the sausages don't get burnt. I have just cooked the pavlova, and have impossible pie in the oven. I cheated and bought the lamingtons, far too labour intensive for me. Salads to make in the morning and corn on the cob to cook tomorrow. Sounds OK to me. Oh, and some wine in the fridge too.

>65 Roro8: Here's a toast (with soy milk) to a great day tomorrow! Sounds like a yummy one.

>67 clue:, we had a lovely day. The food was nice, the company was great, the weather was a bit rainy but still warm. Now back to work today.

I'll take a BB for A Curious Beginning!

>69 LisaMorr:, I hope you like it as much as I did.

I am listening to the audio version of Big Little Lies, so far it is excellent. The narrator, Caroline Lee, does a fantastic job. It will be awhile before I finish it. After 11 days I have heard 4.5 hrs with 11+ to go. Hopefully I will be able to renew it when my time is up in 4 days.

I am going to take a BB for A Curious Beginning. I rather enjoyed the way Raybourn creates interesting female character leads... and, of course, the whole Victorian England bit pretty much sold me on adding a new series to my already burgeoning series list.

Happy belated Australia Day!

Happy belated Australia Day! I've never heard of Impossible Pie, but I found a recipe online and with those ingredients, I'll be making that for sure! Sounds yum!

>73 -Eva-:, impossible pie is so easy to make too, and delicious served warm with a scoop of ice cream.

7. Historical Fiction

The Girl in the Blue Beret by Bobbie Ann Mason



Inspired by the wartime experiences of her father-in-law, Bobbie Ann Mason has crafted the haunting and profoundly moving story of an American World War II pilot shot down in Occupied Europe, and his wrenching odyssey of discovery, decades later, as he uncovers the truth about those who helped him escape in 1944.

At twenty-three, Marshall Stone was a confident, cocksure U.S. flyboy stationed in England, with several bombing raids in a B-17 under his belt. But when enemy fighters forced his plane to crash-land in a Belgian field during a mission to Germany, Marshall had to rely solely on the kindness of ordinary Belgian and French citizens to help him hide from and evade the Nazis. Decades later, restless and at the end of his career as an airline pilot, Marshall returns to the crash site and finds himself drawn back in time, unable to stop thinking about the people who risked their lives to save Allied pilots like him. Most of all, he is obsessed by the girl in the blue beret, a courageous young woman who protected and guided him in occupied Paris.

Framed in spellbinding, luminous prose, Marshall's search for her gradually unfolds, becoming a voyage of discovery that reveals truths about himself and the people he knew during the war. Deeply beautiful and impossible to put down, The Girl in the Blue Beret is an unforgettable story-intimate, affecting, exquisite-of memories, second chances, and one intrepid girl who risked it all for a stranger. book blurb

I found the subject of this book interesting, however the way it was presented didn't really draw me into it emotionally. The book blurb sums up the story pretty well. There were a couple of loose ends that I would have liked closure on.

January - A Curious Beginning by Deanna Rayburn. Book 1 - A Veronica Speedwell Mystery

BingoDOG progress

by an author born in 1916
one-word title
comics, graphic novel, manga or BD
coming of age story
Survival story - The Girl in the Blue Beret
title contains a musical reference
self-published
senior citizen as the protagonist
autobiography or memoir - Educating Alice
About a writer (fiction or nonfiction) - Dark Aemilia: A Novel of Shakespeare's Dark Lady
About/by an indigenous person
in translation
title uses wordplay
published before you were born
about the environment
focus on art
debut book - Cleopatra's Shadows
adventure - A Curious Beginning
about an airplane flight
food is important
Main Character's job/hobby you want
a body of water in the title
with less than 200 pages
features a theatre

>76 Roro8: - Added to my wishlist - sounds like something I would enjoy!

>78 LittleTaiko:, I hope you like it as much as me.

8. Historical Fiction

Reading Through Time - Celebrating the writers
Bingo - A book about a writer

Dark Aemilia: A Novel of Shakespeare's Dark Lady by Sally O'Reilly



In the boldest imagining of the era since Shakespeare in Love and Elizabeth , this spellbinding novel of witchcraft, poetry and passion, brings to life Aemilia Lanyer, the 'Dark Lady' of Shakespeare's Sonnets - the playwright's muse and his one true love. The daughter of a Venetian musician but orphaned as a young girl, Aemilia Bassano grows up in the court of Elizabeth I, becoming the Queen's favourite. She absorbs a love of poetry and learning, maturing into a striking young woman with a sharp mind and a quick tongue. Now brilliant, beautiful and highly educated, she becomes mistress of Lord Hunsdon, the Lord Chamberlain and Queen's cousin. But her position is precarious; when she falls in love with court playwright William Shakespeare, her fortunes change irrevocably. A must-read for fans of Tracy Chevalier (Girl With a Pearl Earring ) and Sarah Dunant (The Birth of Venus ), Sally O'Reilly's richly atmospheric novel compellingly re-imagines the struggles for power, recognition and survival in the brutal world of Elizabethan London. She conjures the art of England's first professional female poet, giving us a character for the ages - a woman who is ambitious and intelligent, true to herself and true to her heart.In the boldest imagining of the era since Shakespeare in Love and Elizabeth , this spellbinding novel of witchcraft, poetry and passion, brings to life Aemilia Lanyer, the 'Dark Lady' of Shakespeare's Sonnets - the playwright's muse and his one true love. The daughter of a Venetian musician but orphaned as a young girl, Aemilia Bassano grows up in the court of Elizabeth I, becoming the Queen's favourite. She absorbs a love of poetry and learning, maturing into a striking young woman with a sharp mind and a quick tongue. Now brilliant, beautiful and highly educated, she becomes mistress of Lord Hunsdon, the Lord Chamberlain and Queen's cousin. But her position is precarious; when she falls in love with court playwright William Shakespeare, her fortunes change irrevocably. A must-read for fans of Tracy Chevalier (Girl With a Pearl Earring ) and Sarah Dunant (The Birth of Venus ), Sally O'Reilly's richly atmospheric novel compellingly re-imagines the struggles for power, recognition and survival in the brutal world of Elizabethan London. She conjures the art of England's first professional female poet, giving us a character for the ages - a woman who is ambitious and intelligent, true to herself and true to her heart. book blurb

I really wanted to love this book. Aemilia was a conflicted character. She was a woman before her time. She struggled with establishing herself as a writer at a time when women were seen as less capable than men.

It is a sweeping story taking us through the court of Queen Elizabeth I, when Aemilia was the mistress of Lord Hunsdon. Then we have her tumultuous affair with Will Shakespeare followed by her life as a married woman. The supporting characters have potential to be really interesting, but seem to come across a little flat.

9. Australian

AlphaKIT letter B

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
Audiobook narrated by Caroline Lee



'I guess it started with the mothers.'

'It was all just a terrible misunderstanding.'

'I'll tell you exactly why it happened.'

Pirriwee Public's annual school Trivia Night has ended in a shocking riot. A parent is dead.

Liane Moriarty's new novel is funny and heartbreaking, challenging and compassionate. The No. 1 New York Times bestselling author turns her unique gaze on parenting and playground politics, showing us what really goes on behind closed suburban doors.

'Let me be clear. This is not a circus. This is a murder investigation.' book blurb

Pirriwee Public is the primary school in the beautiful beach town of Pirrawee, in New South Wales. Being the only primary school in the area children (and parents) from all walks of life attend. So when a new group of children start kindergarten the parents are drawn into the school politics, as well as making new friends among themselves.

The book is narrated from the perspective of a few of the parents, with a few small parts by the police officer conducting the investigation into the murder.

First there is Madeline, a very outspoken loveable character who loves a confrontation. She stands up for her friends and her children in a no-nonsense way. She has the added stress of an ex-husband who also has a child starting kindergarten alongside her own youngest daughter.

Then there is Jane, a young single mum who has moved from Sydney to Kirrawee with her son Ziggy, hoping for a fresh start.

Thirdly is Celeste, a very beautiful mother of twin boys. She lives in a beautiful home and has a handsome loving husband.

I absolutely loved this book. The narration was excellent. The way these women tackle their problems is at times hilarious and at other times heartbreaking. The characters were so real and seemed so genuine. I am definitely reading more of this author's work.

I just went to the cinema to see the movie version of Brooklyn. It was very good. I would advise you to have a tissue handy if you are going to see it.

>81 Roro8: I have the audio version of Big Little Lies and now I am excited to get to it!

>83 DeltaQueen50:, I'm sure you'll enjoy it Judy

>81 Roro8: I really need to get to some Liane Moriarty. I am glad you liked it.

>81 Roro8: Excellent review of Big Little Lies. That book bullet has hit home!

>85 Tara1Reads:, that was my first Liane Moriarty book. I think I'm hooked. I've already started another one The Last Anniversary.

>86 VivienneR:, it's definitely worth it. I hope you like it too.

10. Series Read

AlphaKIT letter J

After You by Jojo Moyes
Book 2 in Me Before You



Lou Clark has lots of questions.

Like how it is she's ended up working in an airport bar, spending every shift watching other people jet off to new places.

Or why the flat she's owned for a year still doesn't feel like home.

Whether her close-knit family can forgive her for what she did eighteen months ago.

And will she ever get over the love of her life.

What Lou does know for certain is that something has to change.

Then, one night, it does.

But does the stranger on her doorstep hold the answers Lou is searching for – or just more questions?

Close the door and life continues: simple, ordered, safe.

Open it and she risks everything.

But Lou once made a promise to live. And if she's going to keep it, she has to invite them in. . .
book blurb

After You picks up about 18 months after the end of Me Before You. Lou is working in a dead end job at a bar at the airport. She is still devastated by the loss of Will and is finding it difficult to move on. Her parents aren't talking to her. She is very alone. Then one night someone turns up at her home wanting her help. How can she say no? Her life is about to get very complicated all over again.

I wasn't expecting a lot here as often when I really love a book, the second one can be a bit of a disappointment. For me, this was not the case with After You. I loved this book as much as the first. Jojo Moyes has done a wonderful job of showing the devastation of grief, and the difficult road to recovery.

>88 Roro8: Sounds great, I'm putting Jojo Moyes on my reading list right away.

>88 Roro8: I'm so glad you liked After You. I have it, it was already out when I read Me Before You, and I thought I'd get to it immediately but several months later it's still waiting on me. I, like you, was afraid I wouldn't like it as much. I'm going to work this in next month for sure.

>89 VivienneR:, that was my 4th Jojo Moyes book. I've liked all of them so far. I also have The One Plus One on my ereader but I think my next one will be Ship of Brides which I'm hoping to put in my 'Water' category.

>90 clue:, I like to have a break between series books usually. I hope you like it as much as me.

>87 Roro8: That does sound like you are hooked.

>88 Roro8: I need to read some Jojo Moyes too. I have Me Before You as an e-book but I would rather read it in print.

Wow - you just read a couple of my favorite authors. Overall Jojo Moyes has written some really good stuff, though i wasn't a huge fan of The Peacock Emporium. Loved how she handled After You. Liane Moriarty also knows how to write some very entertaining novels.

>88 Roro8: I'm so glad to hear good things about After You. Me Before You was so amazing to me that I have been reluctant to pick up the second one because I didn't want to tarnish my feelings about the first one.

>93 LittleTaiko:, I should pop over to your thread and see what you've been reading. I might find some of my favourites.

>94 virginiahomeschooler:, I was just worried it couldn't live up to the first one. I'll be interested to see what you think of After You if you decide to read it one day.

11. Water

AlphaKIT letter J

The Art of Waiting by Christopher Jory



Russia, 1943. A girl from Leningrad, a soldier from Venice, stand together on the edge of wilderness. He is a shadow of a man, trapped behind wire, an enemy in her land. She takes something from her pocket, slips her hand through the wire, and catches her skin on one of the barbs. Up comes a tiny sphere of blood. 'Have this,' the man takes the gift - a small crust of bread, a little piece of hope. Its memory will keep him alive on his long journey home. And when home again, which way will he tip, which sentiment will be strongest? His quiet love for the girl who saved his life, his unfulfilled desire for vengeance, a burning desire to see Fausto Pozzi finally pay the price for the terrible thing that he has done?
book blurb

I found this book to be a compelling read. Aldo is a young man from Venice. He is traumatised by a family tragedy. Shortly thereafter he joins the army and becomes a soldier in WWII, finding himself in Russia, at the mercy of the enemy. It is here that he makes a surprising connection with Katerina. Aldo is determined to survive as he seeks vengeance on the man who harmed his family.

Aldo is a complex character. At times I really didn't like him very much, just as he didn't like himself. The beauty of the novel was that even though I didn't like him at times I understood why he was behaving the way he did.

A very good read.

12. Family

Australian

The Last Anniversary by Liane Moriarty
Audiobook read by Caroline Lee



Sophie Honeywell always wondered if Thomas Gordon was her biggest mistake. When she rejected his proposal three years ago, she broke his heart. Now that Sophie is single, longing for a baby and nearly 40, he's starting to look a lot more attractive...

Sophie is just as shocked as Thomas when his Aunt Connie dies and leaves Sophie her beautiful house on Scribbly Gum Island. This tiny island is home to the famous 'Munro Baby Mystery' - a seventy-year-old unsolved crime involving a cake, a kettle and a newborn baby. Sophie moves to the island and straight into the lives of its eccentric, lovable inhabitants. But she soon discovers that nearly everyone has a secret, and the biggest secret of all, the truth behind the Munro Baby Mystery, is set to explode on an extraordinary night that will test a marriage, a family and a friendship - the Last Anniversary.
book blurb

After reading Big Little Lies I couldn't help myself but to try another one by Liane Moriarty. This one had just as much charm and almost as much intrigue as BLL. I really enjoyed it. The author has a wonderful way of presenting her characters that makes them seem so genuine. I love it when the character themselves can see their own flaws and mistakes and try to work through them.

This is a book filled with the drama of family relationships. The struggle of major change in a family is explored in a couple of different ways, a death, a birth, trying to find a life partner.

Another wonderful story which is definitely encouragement to keep reading Liane Moriarty's books.

>97 Roro8: Glad you liked this, I had trouble finding a book for next month's Random CAT and stumbled across this title at the library which fits perfectly. I haven't read any of her books but have been wanting to so this is a good time to begin, although I hardly need another author on my To Read list!

The Last Anniversary sounds great and I'll take a BB for it.

Big Little Lies is also another good one by Moriarty.

January - A Curious Beginning by Deanna Rayburn. Book 1 - A Veronica Speedwell Mystery

February - Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

>98 clue:, I seem to be reading books that suit the upcoming months CATs frequently. Keep your eye out here, you may spot another one soon.

>99 LisaMorr:, I hope you like it too.

>100 LittleTaiko:, I agree, I made Big Little Lies my book of the month for February.

I have just finished The Beast's Garden by Kate Forsyth, which I will probably review tomorrow. I'm a bit tired tonight after a busy week at work topped off by an afternoon in the local Emergency department. My 13 year old son decided to try parkour at school today. Concrete is not very forgiving. Thankfully, nothing is broken but he has an egg on his head, facial grazes, sore knee and a very sore and swollen shoulder. I hope he has learnt from this and worked out he is not Dastan from Prince of Persia. Boys!

>102 Roro8: Ouch! Glad to hear there were no broken bones. Hope he has a speedy recovery.

13. Historical Fiction

Australian

The Beast's Garden by Kate Forsyth



A retelling of The Beauty and The Beast set in Nazi Germany

The Grimm Brothers published a beautiful version of the Beauty & the Beast tale called ‘The Singing, Springing Lark' in 1819. It combines the well-known story of a daughter who marries a beast in order to save her father with another key fairy tale motif, the search for the lost bridegroom. In ‘The Singing, Springing Lark,' the daughter grows to love her beast but unwittingly betrays him and he is turned into a dove. She follows the trail of blood and white feathers he leaves behind him for seven years, and, when she loses the trail, seeks help from the sun, the moon, and the four winds. Eventually she battles an evil enchantress and saves her husband, breaking the enchantment and turning him back into a man.

Kate Forsyth retells this German fairy tale as an historical novel set in Germany during the Nazi regime. A young woman marries a Nazi officer in order to save her father, but hates and fears her new husband. Gradually she comes to realise that he is a good man at heart, and part of an underground resistance movement in Berlin called the Red Orchestra. However, her realisation comes too late. She has unwittingly betrayed him, and must find some way to rescue him and smuggle him out of the country before he is killed.

The Red Orchestra was a real-life organisation in Berlin, made up of artists, writers, diplomats and journalists, who passed on intelligence to the American embassy, distributed leaflets encouraging opposition to Hitler, and helped people in danger from the Nazis to escape the country. They were betrayed in 1942, and many of their number were executed.

The Beast's Garden is a compelling and beautiful love story, filled with drama and intrigue and heartbreak, taking place between 1938 and 1943, in Berlin, Germany.
book blurb from Booktopia website

This is a very well written story set in Nazi Berlin during WWII. Ava has grown up alongside Rupert, a jewish boy. His family is like her family. The Hitler's regime starts to remove the Jews from Berlin. Nobody knows where they are going or what is happening to them. Being friends with Jews is dangerous and eventually Ava must take a drastic step in order to save her father, she must marry a Nazi - Leo Von Lowenstein.

Ava and Rupert's lives take different paths, both are accounted for in this story. Ava is an inventive and courageous young woman who I thoroughly enjoyed reading about. This was not a quick read, but it was certainly very worthwhile.

Hi Ro, I just noticed that today is your 5th Thingaversary. Happy returns of the day!

>105 DeltaQueen50:
I'll second those happy returns!

Yay for Thingaversaries! Happy happy!

>105 DeltaQueen50:, wow Judy, I hadn't noticed that myself. No wonder I have been out on a book buying spree this week, my sub-conscious self must have known.

I've bought 3 new books in the last 2 days.
Painkiller by N J Fountain
The Forgetting Time by Sharon Guskin
Bricking It by Nick Spalding (impulse buy from the kindle store as it was only $2 and sounded like it would be funny)
I was eying off a couple more books too, however I was trying to show restraint.

>106 -Eva-: & >107 rabbitprincess:, thanks guys.

Happy Thingaversary! :)

Happy Thingaversary!

Happy Thingaversary! And as the mother of a twelve year old, I fully understand the allure of parkour and the resultant scrapes. I'm glad nothing was broken!

Happy belated thingaversary!

Thanks for the thingaversary wishes everybody. 5 years on LT for me !!

I just finished another good book, Painkiller by N J Fountain. Review coming soon.

14. Suspense/Mystery

Bingo - One word title

Painkiller by N J Fountain



A read-in-one-sitting edge-of-your-seat psychological thriller, perfect for fans of The Girl on the Train, I Let You Go and Before I Go To Sleep. Her pain is constant. And the danger is real.

Monica suffers from chronic neuropathic pain. Every second of her life is spent in agony, and she is coping with it the best she can. However, there are whole years of her life which are a blur to her.

Then Monica finds a suicide note, in her handwriting, saying she is going to end it all. Did she write it? She has no memory of doing so and as she reads the message again, she begins to suspect that someone tried to killer her once - and now they're trying to do so again...
book blurb from Booktopia website

This book certainly lived up to my expectations. I wanted a real page turner, I got it! I wanted twists, they were there too. When I was finished I kept thinking how intelligent this author must be to come up with it.

I really enjoyed this book. If you are looking for a good psychological thriller, this is worth a go.

>104 Roro8: That sounds great! I can't resist a WWII novel. Oh! And Happy Thingaversary!

15. Australian

Bingo - Musical reference in title
Winner of the Miles Franklin Award 2014

All the Birds, Singing by Evie Wyld
Audiobook narrated by Caroline Lee



Who or what is watching Jake Whyte from the woods?

Jake Whyte is the sole resident of an old farmhouse on an unnamed island, a place of ceaseless rains and battering winds. It's just her, her untamed companion, Dog, and a flock of sheep. Which is how she wanted it to be. But something is coming for the sheep – every few nights it picks one off, leaves it in rags.

It could be anything. There are foxes in the woods, a strange boy and a strange man, rumours of an obscure, formidable beast. And there is Jake's unknown past, perhaps breaking into the present, a story hidden thousands of miles away and years ago, in a landscape of different colour and sound, a story held in the scars that stripe her back.

Set between Australia and a remote English island, All the Birds, Singing is the story of how one woman's present comes from a terrible past. It is the second novel from the award-winning author of After the Fire, A Still Small Voice.

book blurb from Booktopia website

Jake, an unusual name for a girl, has a lot of issues. She is on the run from something, something mysterious from the past. She also has some physical scars that she lies about. Where did they come from? She is a battler. She does what she feels she needs to in order to survive.

The puzzling thing throughout the book is what has happened to Jake that has lead her to the dangerous lifestyle choices that she makes. I was beginning to wonder if we were ever going to find out. I felt the book was going nowhere for a long time, just a book on backstory. Eventually, it is revealed. However I felt like the Jake in the present was left hanging.

I've just finished Heading Out to Wonderful. Review coming soon.

16. Historical Fiction

Heading Out to Wonderful by Robert Goolrick



It is the summer of 1948 when a handsome, charismatic stranger, Charlie Beale, back from war in Europe, shows up in the sleepy town of Brownsburg, Virginia. All he has with him are two suitcases: one contains a fine set of butcher knives; the other is full of money. Charlie should have turned around and walked back the other way, for what follows the most passionate and tragic story of a forbidden love affair will threaten to destroy everything and everyone in its path. Told through the eyes of Sam, a young boy in the town whose world is changed forever by the events of that single year, Heading Out to Wonderful is a suspenseful masterpiece, a haunting, heart-stopping novel of obsession and love gone terribly wrong in a place where once upon a time such things could happen." book blurb from Booktopia website

Charlie arrives in small town Brownsburg. He is a stranger there, a wanderer who has been looking for the right place to settle. He thinks he's found it. His outgoing, friendly, likeable nature soon charms the locals and he is quickly accepted into the fold. He forms a bond with his boss's son, Sam. A very curious and adventurous boy who grows to admire and love Charlie.

Charlie falls for the wrong woman, who is a very interesting character herself.

The book starts out quite slow but after a while I was drawn right into the story. Some characters got my utmost sympathy, some were horrible. Tissues were required before the story was over. A very good read.

I am currently reading Still Life by Louise Penny. This book would not have made it onto my reading list were it not for many good reviews on LT in other people's threads.

Making note of the Goolrick book!

I'll take a BB for Painkiller!

17. Mystery/Suspense

AlphaKit letter L

Still Life by Louise Penny
Chief Inspector Gamache - book 1



The discovery of a dead body in the woods on Thanksgiving Weekend brings Chief Inspector Armand Gamache and his colleagues from the Surete du Quebec to a small village in the Eastern Townships. Gamache cannot understand why anyone would want to deliberately kill well-loved artist Jane Neal, especially any of the residents of Three Pines - a place so free from crime it doesn't even have its own police force.

But Gamache knows that evil is lurking somewhere behind the white picket fences and that, if he watches closely enough, Three Pines will start to give up its dark secrets... book blurb from Booktopia website

This is one of those books that I probably would never have read if I hadn't read so many positive reviews for the series on LibraryThing. I was quickly drawn into the mystery. I liked the characterisation. The setting of a small village in Canada was an interesting backdrop. I kept changing my mind over who I thought the bad guy was.

Another positive review for this one.

18. New to me Author

The Forgetting Time by Sharon Guskin



Noah is four and wants to go home. The only trouble is he's already home.

Janie's son is her world, and it breaks her heart that he has nightmares.
That he's terrified of water.
That he sometimes pushes her away and screams that he wants his real mother.
That it's getting worse and worse and no-one seems to be able to help.

In desperation, she turns to someone who might have an answer - but it may not be one she's ready to hear.
It may also mean losing the one thing she loves more than anything.
Noah.

A novel that spans life, death and everything in between, The Forgetting Time tells an unforgettable story - about Noah, about love, and, above all, about the things we hold onto when we have nothing else. book blurb from Booktopia website

So this book was an impulse buy when I was at the shops one day. I really like books featuring children and this one sounded interesting (plus I liked the cover - the doors and windows are cut out and there is a yellow page behind so it actually looks like the lights are on and there are shadows when the cover sits up a bit).

Janie is a single mum struggling to raise her troubled child, Noah. He knows things a 4 year old shouldn't know and talks about another family and another home and he is absolutely terrified by water. Janie is getting desperate. She is willing to try almost anything. Then she finds Dr Anderson, who has spent his career studying reincarnation. He thinks he can help Noah.

I like the way the author has presented the story. It felt very holistic, like all aspects were covered. Each time I began to think, yes but I wonder what happen to...., the next chapter would fill me in.

An enjoyable read.

January - A Curious Beginning by Deanna Rayburn. Book 1 - A Veronica Speedwell Mystery

February - Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

March - Painkiller by N J Fountain

I am currently reading a couple more Australian books. Flight of the Eagle by Peter Watt is the third in his series starting in colonial Australia. This book is in the 1884 and the story is focusing on the 2nd and 3rd generation Duffy and MacIntosh families. My current audiobook is Ripples on a Pond the 5th book in Joy Dettman's Woody Creek series. As I only listen to it in the car when I'm by myself and it is about 20 hours worth of listening, this one is taking me a while.

>125 Roro8: I'm next in line at the library for A Curious Beginning and I have Big Little Lies on the shelf waiting for me. Good to know I have some good ones coming up!

>127 clue:, two of my best reads for this year! I hope you like them too.

I am on holiday with my husband and three younger children at the moment. We are staying at Surfers Paradise at the Gold Coast for the week. Today we are off to Dreamworld for a day of theme park fun.

>128 Roro8:
How fun! Have a great time!

Hope you are having a great holiday!

We've been to Dreamworld and White Water World and bushwalking to the Natural Bridge and Purlingbrook Falls. Today we went out shopping. So far we are having a great time. The weather has been perfect, about 30 degrees each day.

I've even managed to finish a book!

I'm back home now after a great week away with my family. I've finished two books and will post reviews soon. Both were series reads, and I love making progress in a series.

Today I am emptying out my bookshelves, wiping them down and reorganising. I probably should try to get rid of some books, but I find it really difficult to part with them. Maybe it is time to buy another bookshelf.....

19. Series Read, Australian

Flight of the Eagle by Peter Watt
Book 3 in The Frontier series



No-one is left untouched by the dreadful curse which haunts two families, inextricably linking them together in love, death and revenge.

Captain Patrick Duffy is a man divided between the family of his father, Irish Catholic soldier of fortune Michael Duffy and his adoring, scheming maternal grandmother, Enid Macintosh. Visiting the village of his Irish ancestors on a quest to uncover the secrets surrounding his birth, he is beguiled by the beautiful, mysterious Catherine Fitzgerald.

On the rugged Queensland frontier Native Mounted Police trooper Peter Duffy is torn between his duty, the blood of his mother's people – the Nerambura tribe – and a predestined deadly duel with Gordon James, the love of his sister Sarah.

From the battlefields of the Sudan, to colonial Sydney and the Queensland outback, Flight of the Eagle is the stunning third novel to the bestselling Duffy and Macintosh series, with master storyteller Peter Watt at the height of his powers. book blurb from Booktopia website

This book, the third in the series, continues the saga of the Duffy and Macintosh families. The Duffy family are originally from Ireland and are working class people making their own way in the new land. The Macintosh are a wealthy English family who run a huge business empire. They have a lot of family politics and relationship issues.

I can't help but love the Duffys. They are all such wonderful characters, they meet interesting people and get themselves into all sorts of situations that are well worth reading about.

The Macintosh family are also intriguing, but are not as likeable as the Duffys.

This volume is set in the 1880's and largely follows the children of the Duffy and Macintosh families from the previous novels. Patrick Duffy, the son of Michael Duffy and Fiona Macintosh is being groomed to take over the Macintosh family business. Tom Duffy's three half caste children have grown up and are living with Aunt Kate who runs a thriving business in Townsville.

This book is every bit as good as the others.

20. Mystery/Suspense, Series Read

Reading Through Time - Women in War
AlphaKit, letter H

His Majesty's Hope by Susan Ella MacNeal
Book 3 in the Maggie Hope Mysteries



World War II has finally come home to Britain, but it takes more than nightly air raids to rattle intrepid spy and expert code breaker Maggie Hope. After serving as a secret agent to protect Princess Elizabeth at Windsor Castle, Maggie is now an elite member of the Special Operations Executive a black ops organization designed to aid the British effort abroad and her first assignment sends her straight into Nazi-controlled Berlin, the very heart of the German war machine. Relying on her quick wit and keen instincts, Maggie infiltrates the highest level of Berlin society, gathering information to pass on to London headquarters. But the secrets she unveils will expose a darker, more dangerous side of the war and of her own past. book blurb from Booktopia website

Maggie has now been trained as a Special Ops spy. She has been selected to go on a mission into Berlin in the middle of WWII. The plots thickens as Maggie's family connections come in to play. She discovers some of the horrors of the Nazi regime and does her best to intervene.

On the home from her friend David has been assaulted for being a 'pansy' and his secret is in danger of being revealed. He must find a wife before his next birthday or his parents are cutting him off financially. A bit tricky for poor David.

Then there is Maggie's love life. With her relationship from book two continuing, but there is a speed bump ahead for this one.

Sometimes I think this woman demonstrates more luck than skill. She throws herself headlong into situations which sometimes make me cringe for her safety.

More of a 'light' spy read in my opinion.

21. Family

AlphaKit, letter V

The Vatican Princess by C W Gortner



Infamy is no accident. It is a poison in our blood. It is the price of being a Borgia.

Glamorous and predatory, the Borgias became Italy's most ruthless and powerful family, electrifying and terrorizing their 15th-century Renaissance world. To this day, Lucrezia Borgia, the Pope's beautiful daughter, is known as one of history's most notorious villainesses, accused of incest and luring men to doom with her arsenal of poison. Was she the heartless seductress of legend? Or was she an unsuspecting pawn in a familial web, forced to choose between loyalty and her own survival?

From her pampered childhood in the palaces of Rome to her ill-fated, scandalous marriages and complex relationship with her adored father and her brothers, this is the dramatic, untold story of a papal princess whose courage led her to overcome the fate imposed on her by her Borgia blood. book blurb from Booktopia website

I love books about the Borgias. Honestly Rodrigo Borgia must have been the most corrupt Pope there ever was, the religious mafia family, such notoriety.

When I first started reading this one I thought it was more of the same old, but after the first 50 pages I really got drawn in. Lucrezia was portrayed as a likeable pawn in her family's politics. She is given opportunity to grow up and see the people around her for who they really are, allowing her to grow up and become her own person. Once again, Gortner has taken an historical figure and made her into somebody who we can understand.

Another really good read.

>134 Roro8: I also have trouble parting with books. "More bookshelves" is the way to go!

>138 DeltaQueen50:, Unfortunately I have had trouble finding a new bookshelf that appeals to me. I like my bookshelves to have a bit of character too. So there is no way I am cleaning out the next bookshelf until I find a new one.

Hope you find a nice bookshelf! :)

Oh, I hope you find a bookshelf that appeals to you. I was lucky last time a friend who does wood-work for a hobby build me a couple that I love.

I won't be going bookshelf hunting this weekend as my 11 year old daughter has a stomach bug. I have managed to finish a book this morning though.

22. Historical Fiction

A Day of Fire: A Novel of Pompeii by multiple authors including Ben Kane, Stephanie Dray, E Knight



Pompeii was a lively resort flourishing in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius at the height of the Roman Empire. When Vesuvius erupted in an explosion of flame and ash, the entire town would be destroyed. Some of its citizens died in the chaos, some escaped the mountain's wrath . . . and these are their stories: A boy loses his innocence in Pompeii's flourishing streets. An heiress dreads her wedding day, not knowing it will be swallowed by fire. An ex-legionary stakes his entire future on a gladiator bout destined never to be finished. A crippled senator welcomes death, until a tomboy on horseback comes to his rescue. A young mother faces an impossible choice for her unborn child as the ash falls. A priestess and a whore seek redemption and resurrection as the town is buried. Six authors bring to life overlapping stories of patricians and slaves, warriors and politicians, villains and heroes who cross each others' path during Pompeii's fiery end. But who will escape, and who will be buried for eternity? book blurb from Booktopia website

I really liked the idea of a novel written my multiple authors, especially since a couple of them are among my favourites. Although this is promoted as a novel, i don't feel that it quite gets there. It read more as a group of intertwined short stories, which is fine as I still enjoyed them. The stories feature people from all walks of life and focus on who they are, how they happen to be in Pompeii and their reactions to the impending disaster.

First there is the young man, who has secretly been visiting a prostitute in Pompeii. There is an heiress, about to be wed. A down on his luck soldier struggling to repay debts. A senator with links to the young man from the first story. A young woman in last stages of pregnancy. And, of course, the prostitute.

Overall, I liked the stories.

23. Water

GeoCAT islands

The Bungalow: A Novel by Sarah Jio



A sweeping World War II saga of thwarted love, murder, and a long-lost painting.

In the summer of 1942, twenty-one-year-old Anne Calloway, newly engaged, sets off to serve in the Army Nurse Corps on the Pacific island of Bora-Bora. More exhilarated by the adventure of a lifetime than she ever was by her predictable fiance, she is drawn to a mysterious soldier named Westry, and their friendship soon blossoms into hues as deep as the hibiscus flowers native to the island. Under the thatched roof of an abandoned beach bungalow, the two share a private world-until they witness a gruesome crime, Westry is suddenly redeployed, and the idyll vanishes into the winds of war.

A timeless story of enduring passion from the author of Blackberry Winter and The Violets of March, The Bungalow chronicles Anne's determination to discover the truth about the twin losses-of life, and of love-that have haunted her for seventy years. book blurb from Booktopia website

Anne is set to marry her childhood sweetheart Gerard, but she feels something is missing - passion. She sets off with her friend Kitty to the South Pacific where both girls work as nurses at Bora Bora. It is here she finds the passion that is lacking in her relationship with Gerard. Kitty also experiences great changes on the island. Friendships are formed and damaged. Lives are lost and people are permanently damaged. Anne witnesses a terrible crime and wants to do the right thing. Her decision haunts her.

The story is told by Anne as an old woman, relating her story to her grand-daughter. They have a lovely relationship. I like the way the story panned out.

Another really good read.

Very happy to see that you enjoyed The Bungalow as it's been on my wishlist for ages.

>145 DeltaQueen50:, I think you would like it Judy

24. Family

Ripples on a Pond by Joy Dettman, audio read by Deidre Rubenstein
A Woody Creek Novel - Book 5



The old timber town of Woody Creek has a way of getting under people's skin...

But as the clock ticks over to 1970, Georgie's determined that the new decade will be the one that sees her finally break free of it.

For Cara, Woody Creek will forever be tied to a devastating mistake that cannot be undone. She's vowed never to set foot in the place again.

Meanwhile, Jenny's estranged son, Jim, has inherited an estate in the United Kingdom and is trying to make a new life for himself. If only he could shake off his one terrible attachment to Australia.

As Woody Creek draws Joy Dettman's much-loved cast of characters back into its grip, confessions, discoveries and truths seem certain to explode in the most shocking of showdowns...
book blurb from Booktopia website

This novel picks up from where the last one left off. The family saga continues with drama +++. I love the characters in this novel. I really like how the author really captures the essence of Australia in her characters and settings. Sometimes I just want to shake some sense into these characters and at other times I feel like cheering them on.

Another worthy addition to the series. And great audio.

January - A Curious Beginning by Deanna Rayburn. Book 1 - A Veronica Speedwell Mystery

February - Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

March - Painkiller by N J Fountain

April - The Vatican Princess by C W Gortner

This was a tough choice this month as I had a few 4 star reads.

I finished Dead Cold by Louise Penny on Monday. I'll post my thoughts on that one soon.

25. Mystery/Suspense

AlphaKIT letter P
GeoCAT - North America

Dead Cold by Louise Penny
Book 2 Chief Inspector Armand Gamache



Winter in Three Pines, and the sleepy village is carpeted in snow. It's a time of peace and goodwill - until a scream pierces the biting air. A spectator at the annual Boxing Day curling match has been fatally electrocuted. Despite the large crowd, there are no witnesses and - apparently - no clues.

Chief Inspector Armand Gamache discovers a history of secrets and enemies in the dead woman's past. But he has enemies of his own, and as he is frozen out of decision-making in the Surete du Quebec, he has to decide who he can trust...
book blurb from Amazon website

This novel picks up about a year after the last one. I find the descriptions of Quebec and the restrictions of the climate really interesting. I love the individual characters, many of whom were introduced or featured in the first book of the series. Gamache really tries to see the best potential in the people working in his team, an admirable quality but one that I can't help thinking is going to get him in trouble one day.

The victim in this one is certainly an unlikable character, killed in a very unusual manner.

When reading a mystery I always try to guess the murderer by the half way mark. I tell my family who I think it is, so that I can't change my mind. For the first time ever, I was actually right on this occasion! I'm not sure if that is a good or bad thing. Regardless, I really enjoyed this book and I'm pleased to say that I have book 3 on my bookshelf waiting.

Uh-oh,Touchstone going to the wrong book.

I love the characters in this series. I've let the author get ahead of me though, I used to be right with her but now I'm four behind, I'm ready for book 9 which has been on my shelf awhile. Of course, as with all series there are some titles I like better than others. The last one I read, The Beautiful Mystery was one of my favorites so the series still delivers.

>151 clue:, thanks for that, I've fixed it now. I'm glad to hear that there are still some good reads ahead in the series. I've seen her books pop up in multiple people's threads, and have yet to read anything negative about them.

26. New to me Author

GeoCAT - North America

Girl Runner by Carrie Snyder



Aganetha Smart was a poor farm girl who could run like the wind, but this was rural Canada in the 1920s when girls didn't run, they didn't train, they didn't compete or dream of the Olympics and they certainly didn't win.

Aganetha Smart was about to.

Aganetha Smart was a poor farm girl who could run like the wind, but this was rural Canada in the 1920s when girls didn't run, they didn't train, they didn't compete or dream of the Olympics and they certainly didn't win.

Aganetha Smart was about to change all that.

Girl Runner, Carrie Snyder's debut novel, is the story of Aganetha Smart, a former Olympic athlete who was famous in the 1920s, but now, at age 104, lives in a nursing home, alone and forgotten by history. For Aganetha, a competitive and ambitious woman, her life remains present and unfinished in her mind.

When her quiet life is disturbed by the unexpected arrival of two young strangers, Aganetha begins to reflect on her childhood in rural Ontario and her struggles to make an independent life for herself in the city.

Without revealing who they are, or what they may want from her, the visitors take Aganetha on an outing from the nursing home. As ready as ever for adventure, Aganetha's memories are stirred when the pair return her to the family farm where she was raised. The devastation of WWI and the Spanish flu epidemic, the optimism of the 1920s and the sacrifices of the 1930s play out in Aganetha's mind, as she wrestles with the confusion and displacement of the present.

Part historical page-turner, part contemporary mystery, Girl Runner is an engaging and endearing story about family, ambition, athletics and the dedicated pursuit of one's passions. It is also, ultimately, about a woman who follows the singular, heart-breaking and inspiring course of her life until the very end. book blurb from Amazon website

I am really surprised by how much I was drawn into this novel and really enjoyed this book.

I am not a runner myself, but I think the author has done a wonderful job of describing what it must be like to have that passion to run. The challenges Aganetha faces to pursue her dream in a time when women were not considered equal were thoughtfully portrayed in this novel. Her family relationships are not straight-forward. Her own thought processes are not always sensible, however she is a strong woman.

Regarding The Bungalow...

. . . their friendship soon blossoms into hues as deep as the hibiscus flowers native to the island.

I hope the writing in the book is better than the writing in the blurb. Jeez Louise!

>154 RidgewayGirl:, now you point that out, I actually just got a laugh out of that. The book was good, a bit soppy I guess.

27. Australian Author

AlphaKIT - Letter O

Outback Midwife by Beth McRae
audiobook read by Caroline Lee



Call the Midwife meets In the Middle of Nowhere in this heartwarming memoir of an adventurous Aussie midwife's life 'catching babies'.

Outback Midwife is the story of Beth McRae's 40 years as a midwife, from her terrifying first day witnessing a birth as a naïve student nurse to her training as a midwife – the days when the words ‘birth plan' were unheard of and what women wanted was a long way from being part of any plan – to the outback.

Beth's career of catching babies takes her from the city to the bush, bonding with people from all walks of life at one of the most important moments in their lives. But there was one more frontier she was determined to conquer.

At a time when most people are thinking about slowing down, Beth decides to move to a remote Aboriginal community in Arnhem Land to embark on a whole other adventure.

About the Author

Beth McRae began her training as a midwife at Preston and Northcote Community Hospital in Victoria, in the days when birth plans were unheard of, and went on acatch babies' all over Australia. After more than 30 years on the job, in her 50s there was one more frontier she was determined to conquer, the outback, where she believed her experience was needed more than anywhere else. So Beth upped sticks to a remote Aboriginal community in Arnhem Land and embarked on a whole new adventure. book blurb from Amazon website

Being a nurse (not a midwife though) myself, I could relate to a lot of Beth's experiences early on in her career. I really appreciated her balance of family and career. I love the way she described her early days in her relationship with Ian, as well as her own family dynamics with her parents and sister. Eventually we got to her work in the outback which sensitively portrayed parts of the culture of Australia's Aboriginals in one specific community and the challenges that are faced.

Taking advantage of sub par weather this weekend to get caught up with some thread.

>137 Roro8: - When I see that "best of the month" logo, I tend to get excited. Any book about the Borgias will get my attention so a confirmed BB for The Vatican Princess!

>157 lkernagh:, I hope you like it. I need to do some catching up on threads too. We have had such beautiful weather lately making me want to spend more time outdoors. Plus my daughter has asked me to teach her to sew and I have been taking my son out bike riding on the local bush tracks. Not to mention that the kids conned me into starting a 1500 piece jigsaw puzzle, which they have now decided is too hard, but I don't like to quit! All this means less time catching up on LT.

I just bought The Ship of brides by Jojo Moyes for the June randomCAT. I'm looking forward to reading it!!

28. Historical Fiction

Reading Through Time quarterly theme - Ancient and Biblical Times

Eagles at War by Ben Kane



In the summer of 9 CE, Publius Varus, the Roman governor of Germania, and Lucius Tullus, a centurion garrisoned on the Rhine, march east with three legions. As they prepare to return to their winter quarters, they are lured off the road and ambushed by German warriors.

The Germans are led by Arminius, a chieftain who is a trusted ally of Rome -- and a man who has been secretly planning to betray the empire since childhood. Trapping Varus' legionaries between a hillside and a marsh, and thereby preventing them from forming up or using their artillery, Arminius and his warriors wreak a terrible slaughter.
The Roman defeat is overwhelming, but it is not until the third day of the massacre that the scale of Arminius' victory becomes clear. Three legions, upwards of fourteen thousand men have been annihilated, and three treasured Eagle standards have been lost. Just a few hundred legionaries, including Tullus, manage to escape. Nor is the survivors' ordeal over. Pursued to the last Roman fort east of the Rhine, they are besieged by thousands of bloodthirsty tribesmen. Only the gods can save them now. book blurb from Amazon website

The above blurb pretty much sums up this whole book. Although it was only 420 pages, it felt longer (and the print was relatively small). This truly is a 'boy' book. There are no female characters, but why would there be in such battle conditions? That is not to say the book didn't have it's merits. It was an action filled portrayal of an historical battle. The hierarchy of the Roman system was demonstrated with style throughout the novel.

I'm not sure that I would read the next book if I hadn't already bought it. Maybe it was a case of wrong timing for me reading this one. Read it if you like female free books with lots of scheming and battle action, in an historic setting.

I have started reading Black Rabbit Hall by Eve Chase for this month's randomCAT - colour in the title. It won't be a problem if I don't finish it quickly though as it features a couple searching for the perfect wedding venue, so I guess it will work for June's -- I do, I do theme. I thought I needed a bit of a girlie book after all that boy stuff. It looks like a bit more of a gothic mystery though.

29. New to me Author

RandomCAT - Colour Your World

Black Rabbit Hall by Eve Chase



At Black Rabbit Hall nothing much ever happens - time seems to move slower at this idyllic holiday home in Cornwall. Until the worst thing happens and for the Alton children time feels like it's stopped altogether. As they run wild, lost in grief and confusion, an outsider, Caroline Shawcross, and her dark, angry son Lucian enter their lives, changing them forever.

In the present day, Lorna Smith is searching for her perfect wedding venue and is inexplicably drawn to the now crumbling Black Rabbit Hall, unaware that her own history is locked up in those derelict walls . . .
book blurb from Amazon website

I was very quickly drawn into this novel and really enjoyed it's gothic, mysterious appeal.

Toby, Amber, Barney and Kitty are the four Alton children that spend the holidays at the family's estate in Cornwall. Black Rabbit Hall is a bit run down but the whole family love it, especially Nancy, the children's mother. Tragedy strikes and the children struggle to cope and then their life suffers further trauma with the introduction of Caroline Shawcross and her son Lucian.

In more contemporary times Lorna and Jon are searching for a wedding venue. Lorna is keen to have the wedding in Cornwall where she had many wonderful holidays as a child. She finds Black Rabbit Hall and considers it a great option. She spends some time there and begins to become very interested in the history of the homes past inhabitants.

The two stories are eventually linked together. The wicked character in the novel is a very good villain. I really enjoyed reading this book.

January - A Curious Beginning by Deanna Rayburn. Book 1 - A Veronica Speedwell Mystery

February - Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

March - Painkiller by N J Fountain

April - The Vatican Princess by C W Gortner

May - Girl Runner by Carrie Snyder

Book of the month was a fairly easy choice for me for May. Girl Runner was an excellent read. I am almost finished my May read for the reading Through Time theme of unions and working class, The Shearers (there is no listing for this book on LT!!). It will be a late finish unfortunately, I'm listening to the audio and only have 1 hour and 5 minutes left so it should be finished soon.

30. Australian

Reading Through Time - workers/unions/working class

The Shearers by Evan McHugh
audiobook narrated by David Tredinnick



The story of Australia, told from the woolsheds.

'For much of its history Australia has been described as riding on the sheep's back . . . but if the country rode on anyone's back, it was on the aching, creaking, flexing spines of Australian shearers.'

Armed with their blades, a sense of adventure and a relentless work ethic, shearers have been a fundamental part of Australia's outback for centuries.

From legendary figures such as blade shearing record-holder Jack Howe and fearless union man cum poet Julian Stuart, to today's young guns having to adapt to a rapidly changing industry, these rugged, resilient and proud characters have influenced the social landscape and folklore of the country. Shearers contributed to the formation of both the Labor and National parties, while Australia's national song, 'Waltzing Matilda', was written on a Queensland sheep station.

Expert outback chronicler Evan McHugh – author of bestselling titles such as The Drovers and Outback Heroes – presents the definitive history of these men, bringing to life the toil, tumult and toughness of the shearing life, and the effect it has had on Australia's national character.
book blurb from Amazon website

Ok, so this book was a bit dry, but not really surprising. I still found it interesting to learn about some of the heritage of my country.

The stories of individual shearers was the highlight for me in this book. The description of the development of the unions was very educational.

31. Water

GeoCAT - Australia
RandomCAT - I do, I do

The Ship of Brides by Jojo Moyes



The year is 1946, and all over the world young women are crossing the seas in their thousands en route to the men they married in wartime, and an unknown future. In Sydney, Australia, four women join 650 other brides on an extraordinary voyage to England - aboard HMS Victoria, which still carries not just arms and aircraft but a thousand naval officers and men. Rules of honour, duty, and separation are strictly enforced, from the aircraft carrier's Captain down to the lowliest young stoker. But the men and the brides will find their lives intertwined in ways the Navy could never have imagined. And Frances Mackenzie - the enigmatic young bride whose past comes back to haunt her thousands of miles from home - will find that sometimes the journey is more important than the destination.
book blurb from Amazon website

This book follows the journey of four Australian women. Margaret, who has grown up on a farm with her parents and brothers has married Joe, a salt of the earth type of man. Avice, from a wealthy socialite family, has married against her parents wishes. Jean, so young at only 16, is extremely excited about joining Stan in England. Frances has been a nurse serving during the war and is looking forward to a fresh start. The four women are all very different. The author does a wonderful job of portraying the difficulties of the journey they are making, both physically and emotionally.

A very good read.

>166 Roro8: I have this on my TBR shelves. I am glad to see that you liked it.

>167 Tara1Reads:, I had it on my wishlist for quite a while before I read it. This month's RandomCAT gave me the final nudge. I hope you like it when you get to it.

32. Series

AlphaKIT latter R

Wars of the Roses: Ravenspur by Conn Iggulden
Book 4 Wars of the Roses



England, 1470.

A kingdom divided against itself cannot stand.

The Yorkist king Edward IV is driven out of England, his wife and children forced to seek sanctuary from the House of Lancaster. Yet rage and humiliation prick Edward back to greatness. He lands at Ravenspur, with a half-drowned army and his brother Richard at his side. Though every hand is against them, though every city gate is shut, they have come home. The brothers York will not go quietly into banishment.

Instead, they choose to attack.

Yet neither Edward nor Richard realize that the true enemy of York has yet to reveal himself. Far away, Henry Tudor has become a man. He is the Red Dragon - 'the man of destiny' who seeks to end the Wars of the Roses. His claim will carry him to Bosworth Field.

There will be silence and the mourning of queens. There will be self-sacrifice and terrible betrayals. Two royal princes will be put to death. There will be an ending -- and a new royal house will stand over them all.
book blurb from Amazon website

This book, the fourth in the series, takes us to the end of the 30 years of war that was the Wars of the Roses. The author has done a great job of making this whole period of history much easier to understand. The only tricky part is there were multiple Henrys and Edwards, Margarets and Elizabeths. The author did a great job keeping clear who was who most of the time.

I am listening to What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty. It is excellent so far! I think I have found myself another favourite author here.

33. Series

AlphaKIT letter R and F
RandomCAT - I do, I do
GeoCAT - Australia

Wife on the Run by Fiona Higgins



When social media and a mobile phone expose a high school scandal and a husband's shameful secrets the only thing left to do is run. In the remarkable new novel from the bestselling author of The Mothers' Group a beleaguered wife and mother escapes it all on a family road trip - without technology - to reclaim her life and rebuild her family.

A mother's greatest fear. A wife's worst nightmare.

When two technology-related disasters hit within days of each other, Paula knows her comfortable suburban life has been irrevocably blown apart. One involves the public shaming of her teenage daughter, the other is a discovery about her husband that shocks her to her core. With her world unravelling around her, Paula does the only thing that makes any sense to her: she runs away from it all.

She pulls her children out of school and takes off on a trip across Australia with her elderly father and his caravan. The only rule is No Technology - no phones, no Facebook, no Instagram, no tablets, games or computers. It's time to get back to basics and learn how to be a family again.

It all sounds so simple - and for a while, it is. But along the way Paula will meet new, exciting complications, and realise that running away is only a temporary solution. The past has to be faced before the future can begin.
book blurb from Booktopia website

Modern technology is creating new avenues for disasters in peoples lives. Paula is shocked by separate events involving her daughter, and then her husband. It is the last straw resulting in her taking her children and her father on a road trip across Australia. They meet some very interesting characters, strengthen family ties, have multiple dramas and step out of their comfort zones. I particularly love Sid's life lessons for the kids.

It was a little predictable but had a twist or two that I didn't see coming. Overall an enjoyable read.

>170 Roro8: - I love Liane Moriarty, hope you enjoy this one.

I'm going to read The Soul of the Octopus. My coworker raved about it and has chosen the octopus as her new favorite creature.

>173 mamzel:, that would probably be a good one for my water category..

>172 LittleTaiko:, another Liane Moriarty fan! Which one is your favourite?

January - A Curious Beginning by Deanna Rayburn. Book 1 - A Veronica Speedwell Mystery

February - Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

March - Painkiller by N J Fountain

April - The Vatican Princess by C W Gortner

May - Girl Runner by Carrie Snyder

June - The Ship of brides by Jojo Moyes

Mid year seems like a good time to open up my second thread. I will get it underway now ready to post my first book finished in July.

Thread number two is ready for action