DFed Reads and Reads in 2023

Hello everyone! My name is Dawn and this is my 14th (!!) year in the 75-book challenge group. I live in Lexington, KY with my husband and I work for an equine non-profit organization. As I stated last year, I've also started a side hustle which is taking up a good portion of my reading time.

I generally enjoy horse-related books (especially horse racing), biographies and travel memoirs with a few young adult reads and cookbooks or diet books thrown into the mix.

I so enjoy being a part of this group and any visitors and here's to a wonderful new year of reading!

My 2022 thread can be found here: https://www.librarything.com/topic/338182#n8016597

Happy reading year, Dawn.

I look forward to following along with you again in 2023.

Welcome back, Dawn!

Thank you for the welcome Paul! I've been a bit delinquent in starting this year's thread, so I already have a few reads completed!:



#1 - Wait, Gabriel, Wait by Winalee Gentry, 225 pages (own). Gentry's mother moves in with her family in MI from her ancestral KY home - chaos ensues. I really enjoyed this "take" on combining generations into one household.



#2 - The Queene's Christmas by Karen Harper, 320 pages (own). A seasonally appropriate continuation of the Elizabeth I mysteries.



#3 - Jill and the Runaway by Ruby Ferguson, 160 pages (own). I warned you last year that I wasn't done with Jill yet! What a hoot she is...

Happy New Year, Dawn! Looking forward to seeing what you read in 2023!

Happy reading in 2023, Dawn!

I'm late to the party, but welcome back!

Thank you everyone for the warm welcome! I've spent the last couple weeks on a business trip and recovering from said business trip so haven't had much chance to update my thread....



#4-5 - A Useful Woman and A Purely Private Matter by Darcie Wilde, various pages (library). I jumped the gun a bit on this series last year so I'm catching up with the earlier books.



#6 - An Invisible Flower by Yoko Ono, 52 pages (own). I bought this for my sister but gave it a read first. It was...different. I did like the back story by Sean Lennon - they were meant to be as a pair!



#7 - The Great Kettles: a Tale of Time by Dean Morrissey, 40 pages (own). A purchase for my nephews based purely off of the amazing illustrations by the author!!



#8-10 - Jill's Riding Club, Jill Has Two Ponies and Challenges for Jill by Ruby Ferguson, various pages (own). I warned you there would be more Jill books! Unfortunately reading out of order but highly enjoyable nonetheless!

#11 - Momma Loved to Dance by Betty Jo Arnett Lykins, pages (own). I do try to make an effort to read books by authors from my adopted state of Kentucky, of which this is one. Lykins writes about growing up in Appalchia and especially about her hard-working momma who was (like so many women have been) frustrated by the restrictions of her community, too many children and a wandering husband. Not earth-shattering writing but a pleasant memoir.



#12 - The Duke & I by Julia Quinn, 464 pages (own). I adore the Netlfix series based on these novels and finally got around to reading the books! I've already started on the next...

#13 - Tomboy Bride by Harriet Fish Backus, 288 pages (own). The title of this one threw me off a bit - it's in reference to the Tomboy mine in CO in the early 1900's. I thought it was in reference to the pluckiness of the author: both are true. What a fascinating tale and the love Backus had for her husband throughout their many adventures in the back of beyond shone throughout.



#14 - And Dangerous to Know by Darcie Wilde, 352 pages (library). A continuation of the Rosalind Thorne mysteries. I'm all caught up now so the very latest in the series has already been ordered from the library.



#15 - More Letters from Pemberley by Jane Dawkins, 224 pages (own). A follow up to Letters From Pemberley, I think the author does a great job of honoring the characters in Pride and Prejudice.



#16 - The Princess and the Foal by Stacy Gregg, 272 pages (own). What a very well written tale of the famous equestrienne Princess Haya of Jordan. I found the epilogue fascinating. I knew she had been the head of FEI for some time but did not realize she had married Sheik Mo...then remembered hearing about her horrible divorce from him...such a shame that she's had to go through that.

Patience & Fortitude by Nicholas Basbanes, 688 pages (own). So...what's the longest period of time you've ever read a book?? I distinctly remember buying this book in college. That's over TWENTY years ago now!! And this should in no way reflect on the quality or interest of this particular tome - it just....seemed to hang around to be picked up now and then is all.

Hi Dawn! I'm enjoying seeing what you've been reading lately! Looks like plenty of good ones! I am going to try to start a new middle grade book about a girl and a horse this weekend, but may or may not get a chance to pick it up.

aktakukac - hello!!



#18 - The Best of the Widener Collection: Images From Racing's Golden Era by Blood-Horse Publications, 202 pages (own). More of a photography book but what a gorgeous look at some of the figures from horse racing's Golden Era. A keeper for sure!



#19 - A Counterfeit Suitor by Darcie Wilde, 437 pages (library). The latest in the Rosalind Thorne mystery series - I'm all caught up now!



#20 - Sink Reflections by Marla Cilley, 256 pages (own). I'm a lurker on the 75'ers decluttering thread but have been pursuing the concept since Covid began (what else was I going to do??). Throughout my research "The Flylady" has come up but I hadn't really understood her system so what a lucky find at a local Goodwill, right? Wrong...this book read like the intro. to a cult with lots of "cutesy" phrases and not much solid content/instructions. However, we can all learn a little something from everyone so I appreciated her concept of getting dressed for the day (jeans seem a bit formal to me nowadays!) and learning to love yourself first so that you can love your family/home.



#21 - The Sidetracked Sisters Catch-Up On the Kitchen by Pam Young, 207 pages (own). In a weird twist, The Flylady credits her cleaning system to...the Sidetracked Sisters! I already had this book in my library due to my penchant for 70s/80s era cookbooks so I gave it a read. Though I don't count myself as "sidetracked" the Sidetracked Sisters were humorous about their inability to keep house and seem to have created a solid concept for household chores. I've already ordered their original book (which they did recommend reading first before attacking your kitchen) on PB Swap and look forward to reading (and maybe implementing) more.



#22 - The Innocents From Indiana by Emily Kimbrough, pages (own). I just adore Kimbrough's book and this was a hilarious tale of her family's relocation from rural Indiana to Chicago in the early 1900s.

#23 - Owls In the Family by Farley Mowat, 91 pages (own). I've been eagerly waiting to read this for quite some time now. Though I did not appreciate the manner in which Mowat acquired his first owl, Wol, I do love the humorous events throughout. And, if you've read The Dog Who Wouldn't Be, you'll love that Mutt makes an appearance too.



#24 - The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn, 451 pages (library). The next in the Bridgerton series - I'm fully invested now and will be reading more of them.



#25 - Still Me by JoJo Moyes, audiobook (library). I did not initially realize that this was a sequel of a trilogy. I loved the narrator on this and will be sure to pick up the first two books as I definitely enjoyed Louisa Clark's character.



#26 - Gift From the Mikado by Elizabeth Fleming, 176 pages (own). A children's book about a missionary family in Japan. A gift from the Mikado (a cabinet) has lovely ramifications in the family's lives...



#27 - Gut: the Inside of Our Body's Most Underrated Organ by Giulia Enders, 304 pages (own). Well, you wouldn't think that a book about your gut could be interesting, but this certainly was! I learned a lot and loved the funny illustrations provided by the author's sister.

#28 - Born To Run by Christopher McDougall, audiobook (library). If you've ever been a runner, or interested in running, this book is for you! I was so upset when I had to return this midway through and then wait through an endless line of holds for it back :) McDougall is a writer for Runner's World magazine and took a fascinating deep dive into how humans evolved to RUN! I've personally been dealing with some foot pain, have been diving into the "barefoot" lifestyle as a solution and was very inspired by this book to get back on track to run again.



#29 - The Carbohydrate Addict's Diet by Rachael Heller, 322 pages (own). I've had this on my shelf for awhile now and, unfortunately, cannot remember what inspired me to purchase a copy. Dr. Rachael Heller has an inspirational personal tale of weight loss that she stumbled across and formulated into this book with her husband.

An easy diet - eat two low-carb meals per day with one "freebie" meal - it's curious that I haven't heard much about it before now?



#30 - The Game of Hope by Sandra Gulland, 384 pages (own). I adore Gulland's books and have long had this one on my wish list when I came across a copy in my local ReStore. The book features Hortense de Beauharnais - Empress Josephine's daughter from her first marriage. Hortense was an enjoyable character - such a shame that her life turned out the way it did. Of special interest: Hortense was a real-life composer and Gulland made a point of sharing resources wherein you could hear her works.

I seem to be on a bit of royalty-related reading kick lately!



#31 - The Memoirs of Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester by Duchess of Gloucester Alice, 208 pages (own). A fascinating memoir, though I do wish that the Duchess would have gone into more details about certain things - her tone was very matter-of-fact about so many interesting occurrences in her life. It's also so funny that she referred to her husband as "Prince Henry" throughout...



#32 - Do Let's Have Another Drink by Gareth Russell, 228 pages (library). This was a very weird concept for a book - each chapter had a title relating to an excerpt or quote or little tidbit about the Queen Mother's life. I definitely learned a lot about her but it was weird reading.



#33 - Coronation Summer by Angela Thirkell, 175 pages (own). I've never read any of Thirkell's books but she's right up my alley with this one! Fanny Harcourt accompanies her family and friend Emily to London for the young Queen Victoria's coronation. Much adventure, and even romance, ensue.

Well, it's been a minute, hasn't it? Here are my latest reads:



#34 - That Summer by Jennifer Weiner, audiobook (library). WARNING: this book could be triggering for victims of sexual assault!! A thought provoking tale of a victim of sexual assault and the ramifications of that - on both the victim and her assailants. Clearly Weiner wrote this at the height of the "Me Too" movement...



#35 - Sidetracked Home Executives by Pam Young, 157 pages (own). As promised, I got my hands on the original "Sidetracked Sisters" book. I hope to implement some of their systems for my own home.



#36 - Peterman Rides Again by John Peterman, 225 pages (own). Yes, THAT J. Peterman of Seinfeld fame! A local legend (his company was based in Lexington, KY, my hometown), he seems like quite a character. Though I found some of his Lexington references intriguing, it really was more of a business advice book.



#37 - Life With Father by Clarence Day, 183 pages (own). I adored Day's Life With Mother and enjoyed this one just as much!

#38 - Simon's Cat: Beyond the Fence by Simon Tofield, pages (own). I'm a long-time fan of Simon's Cat so was pleased to get my hands on this book.



#39 - Palace of Spies by Sarah Zettel, 384 pages (own). Finally! After reading the rest of the series, I learned of Peggy's beginnings as a lady-in-waiting.



#40 - Beginning French: Lessons From a Stone Farmhouse by Les Americains, 256 pages (own). Tale of an American middle-class couple who "took the leap" an bought a stone farmhouse in France. I enjoyed the POV on this one very much.

#41 - All Over the Place by Geraldine DeRuiter, 274 pages (library). An admittedly terribly traveler, DeRuiter nonetheless takes on the role of world travel blogger when she loses her job. What I appreciated most about this book was her deep-rooted love and respect for her husband (who has the patience of a saint!).



#42 - Everything But the Horse by Holly Hobbie, 32 pages (own). The illustrations in this book are just gorgeous! However, any true horse lover will tell you...a bike just doesn't cut it :)

Speaking of horses...



#43 - Horsefolk Are Still Different by Cooky McClung, 253 pages (own). McClung is a former columnist for the magazine, The Chronicle of the Horse. To be honest, I started reading this with very low expectations but McClung is surprisingly humorous and the illustrations were fun too.



#44 - Peril In Paris by Rhys Bowen, 278 pages (library). The latest Royal Spyness mystery and I hear from the author that the next in the series is coming in November!



#45 - Animal, Vegetable, Junk by Mark Bittman, audiobook (library). Read by the author, this book was just...oy. Bittman certainly speaks the truth and if humans don't enact some major changes in our agricultural ways soon, the results could be dire.

#46 - Anybody Can Do Anything by Betty MacDonald, 240 pages (own). MacDonald is a treasurer of an author and I adored this tale of the Depression and her (sometimes futile) attempts to find work in Seattle. Her sister, Mary, the driving force behind many of her jobs, was quite a force to be reckoned with!



#47 - The Game of Eating Smart by Julie Loria, 240 pages (own). I could, frankly, care less about Major League Baseball. Yet, the recipes included in this book have intrigued me and I can confirm that the few I've tried thus far are delicious and healthy!



#48 - The First Rumpole Omnibus by John Mortimer, 560 pages (own). Oh, Rumpole...if you've never given this English Barrister a try, I urge you to do so - such dry British wit!



#49 - A House Unlocked by Penelope Lively, 240 pages (own). I've been reading this one for what feels like an eternity - much to its detriment. The concept of the book is an intriguing one but I did it a disservice by not consistently reading it for its full effect :(

#50 - Considering the Horse by Mark Rashid, 224 pages (own). I can't recommend this book enough to anyone who trains, rides or handles horses. Rashid wrote this book to be purposely easy to read and anyone who's spent some time around horses can relate to the various training issues he outlines and their solutions. What a fantastic approach he has and the last chapter will certainly speak to any true horse lover.



#51-52 - Jill and the Perfect Pony and Jill's Pony Trek by Ruby Ferguson, various pages (own). I told you there'd be more Jill stories...I was lucky to find a batch of books on Ebay for a reasonable price and I'm sad that I'm quickly running out of more to read!

A New England Girlhood by Nancy Hale, 157 pages (own). Hale writes about growing up outside of Boston in the early 1900's and coming out in the '20s (my favorite time period to read!).

Side note: she had a whole chapter about S.S. Pierce's in Boston. What an amazing sounding institution!



#53 - Bloomsbury Girls by Natalie Jenner, audiobook (library). Oh, Jenner, you're quickly becoming a favorite author of mine with this continuation of the characters from The Jane Austen Society.



#54 - Fast Like A Girl by Dr. Mindy Pelz, 336 pages (own). For the last year or so, I'd fallen off the fasting wagon - much to my detriment. I heard about this book from a few different sources and am very intrigued by her advice. Wish me luck as I attempt to follow it!

#55 - Mummy Darlings by Emily Hourican, 501 pages (library). The further adventures of the Guiness girls. Oh, how I cry for their children, if what's written was fairly true...they did not make the best parents (or wives!) to be sure.



#56 - My Own Life of Adventure by Willard Price, pages (own). I'd never heard of Price prior to this book but he certainly did lead an extraordinary life of adventure and exploration, with his wife right alongside!



#57 - Tell Me More by Kelly Corrigan, 256 pages (own). Corrigan takes a hard look at 12 phrases that have ramifications in all of our lives. I've read books by Corrigan before and she's a fabulous writer.



#58 - Encore Provence by Peter Mayle, 240 pages (own). I've always enjoyed Mayle's books and it has taken me a shockingly long time to get to this one!



#59 - The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman, 384 pages (own). A little late to the party on this one but I absolutely adored it and can't wait to read the next!

#60 - The Gallery by Laura Marx Fitzgerald, 336 pages (own). What a surprising read! An Irish servant girl involves herself in a mystery surrounding her mistress and featuring classical art.



#61 - The Howards of Caxley by Miss Read, 224 pages (own). Another Miss Read miniseries that I was introduced to via a generous gift from an exchange on PaperbackSwap - hooray!

#62 - Airs Above the Ground by Mary Stewart, 224 pages (own). I bought this book on a whim - a vintage mystery involving the famous Austrian Lippizaners?!? Yes, please! And, it was really well done (I enjoyed Vanessa March's POV very much). So much so that I've since picked up another book by Stewart...she could become a new favorite author.



#63 - The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict, audiobook (library). What an AMAZING and ground-breaking person Belle da Costa Greene must have been! Very much through necessity but to maintain her visage as a white person for so many years....I think the authors did a very good job of trying to convey her personal conflict over that fact but I think Belle's conversations with her "betters" (such as JP Morgan) and others throughout the book seemed rather stilted and unnatural.



#64 - Ten Years in Nevada by Mary McNair Mathews, 319 pages (own). This is a rather puzzling and unique account of the author's (along with her young son) move from the northeast to the mining towns in the Virginia City area of Nevada when they were first being settled. The author's purpose in writing was to report back east of the opportunities to be had out west as well as obstacles that newcomers may face. However, that resulted in a somewhat disjointed accounting of her family's affairs. However, she sounded like an amazing person (she seemed to have a deep knowledge of medicine) who overcame daunting hardships in her time there such as illness, natural disasters, poverty, financial swindlings, etc.

#65 - Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin, 40 pages (own). I bought this for my nephews but had to read it first! My husband and I both found it hilarious but my sister, unfortunately, went a little "Karen" about this book and refuses to have it in her house (she thinks it encouraged picky eating) so that was a bit of a flop as far as gifts go...



#66 - Counting on Katherine by Helaine Becker, 40 pages (own). Another gift for the nephews: the life story of Katherine Johnson, the mathematician featured in the movie Hidden Figures.



#67 - The 101 Dalmatians by Dodie Smith, 192 pages (own). I adore Smith's other books, though I was surprised to find out she wrote this children's tale that, of course, was turned into the famous Disney movie. I actually think Cruella De Vil was a much more evil character in the book and truly enjoyed this story.



#68 - Then Pity, Then Embrace by Nancy Bartlett, 240 pages (own). Once again, I seem to have the knack of finding a book that no one else on LibraryThing seems to own! That this is a "novel" I find hard to believe. It certainly read as if the author was telling her childhood story...but considering the ending, I could certainly understand why it was billed as such to "protect the innocent"....

#69 - The Girl With the Make-Believe Husband by Julia Quinn, 400 pages (own). I had no idea there was a Bridgerton spin-off series and I'm definitely on-board with finishing the rest of them.



#70 - Me, California Perkins by Patricia Beatty, 253 pages (own). What a wonderful find - I'm always eager to read any pioneer/settler based children's novels and this one fit the bill nicely :)



#71 - To Boldly Grow by Tamar Haspel, 246 pages (library). Haspel shares her journey from a container garden in her NYC apartment to hunting, fishing and raising her own livestock with her husband on their property in Cape Cod.

#72 - Cooking With Memories by Lora Brody, 212 pages (own). Long on my TBP (to-be-purchased) list, I was lucky to come across a copy of this at a local Goodwill! The book was what I'd hoped it would be and I've already made a few of the recipes.



#73 - Get Your Act Together by Pam Young, 211 pages (own). An updated sequel to Sidetracked Home Executives, the Sidetracked Sisters realized that they needed to condense their file card system down a bit - much appreciated by myself when I took the time to write down how many home tasks there are after reading the first book!

#74 - The Half-Crown House by Helen Ashton, pages (own). Something about this book drew me in at a local estate sale and I'm so glad that I picked it up. There's an excellent review of the book here on LT if you're interested. Though I found the ending a bit convenient, I appreciated this story of the struggles of keeping a family manor functioning.



#75 - In the Winner's Circle: the Jones Boys of Calumet Farm by Joe Hirsch, 172 pages (own). Ben Jones and son Jimmy were THE Thoroughbred trainers back in the day. They had the magic touch and won many Triple Crown and graded stakes races for the famed Calumet Farm. I count myself lucky to have found a copy of this book and truly enjoyed this closer look at their accomplishments. If you ever visit the Kentucky Horse Park Museum here in Lexington, KY, don't miss the display of Calumet's many trophies!!

>28 DFED: Congratulations on reaching 75, Dawn!

Congrats!

Nice book to hit #75 with!

Congrats on 75!

Thank you everyone - to be honest, I didn't even notice I'd reached 75 until I got the congrats! And, yes, it was an excellent book to reach the goal with!



#76 - Claiming Ground by Laura Bell, 256 pages (own). To be honest, I've been working on this one for a LONG time so some of the back story has been lost to me along the way...however, don't let that deter you from experiencing Bell's raw emotion and writing ability with her tale of leaving everything behind to work a sheep camp in WY. I rarely cry while reading a book but this one certainly did it!



#77 - Minx by Julia Quinn, 400 pages (own). Another off-shoot series by the author of Bridgerton. Though good characters in their own rites, Henry and Dunford's interactions seemed especially awkward and drawn out - though all's well that ends well for this romance.



#78 - A Frontier Lady by Sarah Royce, 144 pages (own). Nothing ruins a book quicker for me than endless academic introductions and hypotheses....what I experienced by reading this book was a simple, enjoyable tale of a family's move "west" for the California Gold Rush. This is also the first time I've heard about US Government trail guides for emigrants over the Sierra Madres - truly life-savers for the Royce family and their party!

#79 - Blind Tom: the Horse Who Helped Build a Railroad by Shirley Raye Redmond, 48 pages (own). Another purchase for the nephews - the writing was okay and the illustrations were a bit clumsy though I did enjoy learning a bit about Blind Tom.



#80 - The Book Woman's Daughter by Kim Richardson, 352 pages (own). The sequel to The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek, this was a hard read - one can't help but wonder what Honey's future would be like...perhaps we'll find out in due time?



#81 - The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame, pages (own). I never read this classic as a child, I think because I absolutely hated the 80s-era movie...so I thought I'd give it a shot before possibly passing it on to my nephews. I enjoyed the characters though some of the plot lines were quite random. However, the descriptions of the meals and various picnics were amazing - the animals certainly lived well! :)

#82 - The Story of Weight Watchers by Jean Nidetch, 224 pages (own). A recent estate sale pickup, I'm always drawn to A) weight loss stories and B) successful business stories. Though you could tell this book was a bit ghostwritten, Jean's story was certainly earnest and definitely successful!



#83 - January 1905: a Novel by Katharine Boling, 176 pages (own). An interesting story of misunderstanding between twin sisters who are (or want to be) millworkers. I'd love to hsee this story continued!



#84 - Emma's New Pony by Amy Ehrlich, 32 pages (own). What can I say? I'm a sucker for children's books about horses/ponies!



#85-86 - Swede Dreams by Eva Apelqvist and Westminster Abby by Micol Ostow, 224 & pages (own). This is a cutesy, outdated, teeny-bopper series about girls that are part of the S.A.S.S. (a foreign student exchange program). However, my inner teeny-bopper enjoyed learning about Sweden (and a bit more about England) as well as the teenage romances and angst :)

Well, I apologize Dawn, for missing your thread all year. Hopefully I can keep up better for the remainder of 2023.
.
Have a fantastic Friday!

alcottacre - welcome to the thread, regardless of the time of year! :)



#87 - Step Aside for Royalty by Eileen Parker, 260 pages (own). My particular copy of this book was a rather bad reprint but the story of Parker's husband being first equerry to Prince Philip was nonetheless interesting. It was sad to see how that took a toll on their marriage though, no matter how understanding the Windsors were.



#88 - Dark Horse by Jean Doty, 158 pages (own). A very sweet addition to a recent Paperbackswap order, this book happens to have been on my LT "wishlist" too! Doty just "gets" it - this was a very realistic tale of a girl working her way up in a barn who has a chance to compete on a talented jumper. I so enjoyed a non-fluffy horse tale.

Whew - have I been busy! Reading's taken a bit of a back burner too...



#89 - When the World and I Were Young: Being a Child in the Thirties by Nancy Schreiner Hubley, pages (own). My husband and I took a recent trip to Cape Cod. I have a penchant for thrift shopping and found this book at a local church shop. Exactly as the title says, it's the story of the author's childhood growing up in Ohio in the Thirties, with a twist. The author certainly seems to have grown up "with the fairies" and conveys her innocence and connection to all things rather well.



#90 - An Offer From a Gentleman by Julia Quinn, 480 pages (own). More Bridgerton!



#91 - Inkheart by Cornelia Funke, 544 pages (own). I recently acquired several boxes of free books from someone in my community. Going through them, I found several likely candidates to pass on to my nephews but I was unsure of this one - so I read it! I probably won't pass it on and the story itself was a bit of a mixed bag. I see where this is a series but I probably won't read any further.



#92 - About My Father's Business by Lillian Beckwith, 192 pages (own). What a unique tale! Beckwith's father and mother scrimp and save to open a grocery store in her small town. She tells tales of their quirky customers and some of the adventures she had. I loved her writing style and have already requested another of her books.



#93 - Lazy B: Growing Up on a Cattle Ranch in the American Southwest by Sandra Day O'Connor, 317 pages (own). I picked this up many moons ago and promptly put it down. I was contemplating getting rid of it, but was dragging my feet and so began reading it again and surprisingly enjoyed it - this is EXACTLY the reason why I never want to get rid of books!! Anyways, for those who enjoy these sorts of books, this was a typical tale of most family-owned ranches throughout the US - only told by a Supreme Court judge is all!

>38 DFED:: Wow, I had no idea O'Connor grew up riding. I'll keep an eye out for this one.

>37 DFED:: I love it when I find a pony book that manages to be both 1) a good story and 2) accurate about equines. They don't need extra drama. They're horses. They have enough going on.

#94 - Anne Dares by Jayne Ann Krentz, 72 pages (own). An Early Reviewer book - review to follow.



#95 - Collector's Luck in Spain by Alice Van Leer Carrick, 202 pages (own). ANOTHER book where I'm the lone owner here on LT...another estate sale find too! The author has an apparent deep knowledge of Spanish history and antiques and this book is a series of letters back to a cohort in the states outlining her various finds in towns and cities throughout Spain and their history. I deeply appreciated the pictures of each antique as well as some snapshots of Spain itself - that country is definitely moving up the bucket list!



#96 - French Like Moi by Scott Dominic Carpenter, 256 pages (own). This book seems like a typical American family-in-France tale which, of course, is totally my jam (confiture?). However, this one has a bit of a twist in that it's a series of essays with a deep sense of humor. I'd enjoy reading more from this author for sure.

>40 DFED: French Like Moi looks like a book I would enjoy. I will have to see if I can locate a copy. Thanks for the mention, Dawn!

#97 - Strong Poison by Dorothy Sayers, 288 pages (own). I came across a lovely set of three vintage paperbacks by Sayers at a local Goodwill recently and decided to give them a go. I adored the 30's slang throughout and am intrigued by Peter Wimsey's character - I'll definitely be reading the rest.



#98 - Battles at Thrush Green by Miss Read, 240 pages (own). Another in the Thrush Green series.

#99 - Captain Wentworth's Diary by Amanda Grange, 304 pages (own). A takeoff of Jane Austen's Persuasion, this was an enjoyable read. So much so, that I've already ordered another book of the author's off of PaperbackSwap.



#100 - Sarah's Christmas Miracle by Mary Ellis, 137 pages (own). A free pick-up somewhere along the way, this book was a quick and pleasant Amish Christmas tale - perfect for the season.



#101-103 - Billy and Blaze, Blaze and the Mountain Lion and Blaze Shows the Way, various pages (library). To my dismay, I recently learned that my husband (a horse lover like myself) NEVER read the Billy and Blaze series growing up!! What?!? Needless to say, I remedied the situation with the help of my local library..

Any C.W. Anderson fan would appreciate having a look at the original Billy and Blaze - his drawing style is noticeably different from what he's known for (that realistic shading!).

I never read the Billy and Blaze series when I was younger either. If a book wasn't available in my school library, public library, or local independent book store, the chances of me running across it were slim. I did get lucky with some of Anderson's other books though.

Thinking about you during the festive season, Dawn

Thank you Paul.

Alsvidur - yeah, I was lucky that my elementary school library carried a bunch of them. I certainly made use of them!



#104 - The Gap Year for Grown-ups by Annie Sanders, 352 pages (own). Don't let the frou-frou cover put you off. Sarah Lewis has a midlife crisis of sorts and decides to leave her husband and grown children for a "gap year" in France. The lasting ramifications of this decision on herself, her husband and their children was well done.



#105 - Lady of Quality by Georgette Heyer, 304 pages (own). I really enjoyed the character of Annis and her independence (granted of course, through wealth). This was an interesting take on ladies of the Regency era.



#106 - The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson, 128 pages (own). I know many on here make this an annual read so I finally got around to it - what a lovely story.



#107 - Up With the Larks by Tessa Hainsworth, pages (own). The author is miserable in a high-powered executive job in London so she and her family sell out and move to Cornwall for a fresh start. Cornwall life proves a bit more difficult than expected economically so Tessa takes on a job as a postwoman with the Royal Mail. I loved her story of adjusting to a slower, better quality of life with her family.



#108 - Bonanza Girl by Patricia Beatty, pages (own). If you've hung around long enough, you know I'm a huge fan of pioneering tales. I'm surprised it took me this long to read this fun tale!

Well, that's a wrap for the year! I've just started my 2024 thread, which you can find here: https://www.librarything.com/topic/356821#n8344093