April's 10th Thingaversary Challenge - The First Quarter

Hi, this is April. I am a mom to one human and two senior fur babies. I am also the grandmother of four (ages 2 to 22) and great-grandmother to an 18-month-old. I currently live in Oklahoma but hope to move closer to the babies within the next two years.

This year, I am basing my challenge around my 10th Thingaversary (I joined LibraryThing on 7 April 2015). I will have 5 CAT/KIT categories and 5 personal categories. And just like the Thingaversary, I will have one to grow on.

It's a Mysterious Thing - MysteryKIT

January (Winter Mysteries) - Chill Factor by Sandra Brown
February (Vintage Mysteries) - Murder For Christmas by Francis Duncan
March (Spies, Lies and Ciphers)
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December (hosting)

It's A Horrendous Thing - ScaredyKIT

January (Diverse Prospectives) - The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
February (Haunted Houses & Haunted Locations) - 'Salem's Lot by Stephen King
March (Real Life Monsters) - The Christmas Day Murders by J.B. Smith
April
May
June
July (hosting)
August
September (hosting)
October
November
December

It's A Surprising Thing - RandomKIT

January (Eat, Drink, and Be Merry) Bite Me: A Gingerbread Shifter Story by Ariel Dawn
February (Playing With Time) Beauty by Sherri S Tepper
March (Wishes) - The Wishing Jar by Penelope J Stokes
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

It's A Picture Thing - CoverCAT
All the books will be from my Kindle collection

January -hosted (Let's Have A Tea Party) - Tea Is For Trouble by Karen Sue Walker
February (a tree on the cover) - Grave Talk by Nick Spalding
March (farm animals on cover) - Turkeys and Thanksgiving by Leena Clover
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

It's A Rainbow Thing - ColourCAT

January (Green) - Ghost of A Chance by Simon R Green
February (Gold) - The Golden Book of Fortune-Telling by KC Jones
March (Pink) - The Murder of the Cat's Meow by Denise Swanson
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

It's A Romantic Thing -Beauty and the Beast books and retellings
My shelves (all 15)
1. Disney's Beauty and the Beast by Michael Teitelbaum
2. Beauty and the Beast: A Story about Trust by Meredith Rusu
3. Beauty and the Beast: Treasury of Illustrated Classics by Madame le Prince de Beaumont
4. Beauty by Sherri S Tepper

Kindle (at least 4)
1. Isabelle and the Beast by Olivia Rian
2. Enchant by Demelza Carlton
3. Beauty and the Blade by S.C. Grayson

It's The Gift of The Thing -Gifts (Christmas/Birthday) and SantaThing/Thingaversary books
Read all books gifted this year and finish catching up on previous years

UNREAD SANTATHING GIFTS FROM PREVIOUS YEARS
A Trip With Trouble by Diane Kelly (2022)
Ghost of a Chance by Simon R Green (2018)
Heist Society by Ally Carter (2016)
Moon Called by Patricia Briggs (2016)
The Crime That Binds by Laurie Cass (2022)
The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin (2017)

2024 SANTATHING GIFTS
Janis: Her Life and Music by Holly George Warren
Murder Is Bad Manners by Robin Stevens
The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro

UNREAD THINGAVERSARY BOOKS
All Around Town by Mary Higgins Clark (2021)
Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance by Ruth Emmie Lang (2024)
How Witchcraft Saved My Life by Vincent Higginbotham (2024)
The Secrets of Dumbledore by J.K. Rowling (2023)
What the Cat Saw by Carolyn Hart (2022)
Wolves of the Beyond: Lone Wolf by Kathryn Lasky (2022)

CHRISTMAS GIFTS 2024
A Gnome's Christmas by Rien Poortvliet and Bruce Goldstone
A Man and His Cat 04 by Umi Sakurai
Cher: The Memoir Part One by Cher
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Lessons Learned from My Cat by Amy Newmark
Chicken Soup for the Soul: My Cat's Life by Jack Canfield
Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Cat Really Did That? by Amy Newmark
Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate
I Like You: An Encouraging Bedtime Book by Kate Allan
Lars the Awkward Yeti, Volume 2 by Nick Seluk
The Roots of Groot by Robert K Elder
Wednesday's Library by Calliope Glass
You're My Little Cutie Pie by Nicola Edwards

BIRTHDAY GIFTS 2025
A Man and His Cat 05 by Umi Sakurai
You Deserve Nice Things by Kate Allan
You're My Little Busy Bee by Nicola Edwards
You're My Little Honey Bunny by Nicola Edwards

THINGAVERSARY BOOKS 2025 (coming in April 7th)

This is Aldis Hodge as Alex Cross in the current Amazon Prime series - Cross

It's A Continuing Thing - Catch up with the Alex Cross and other series started prior to 2025

Alex Cross by James Patterson
1. Cross The Line - read in January
2. Detective Cross - read in January
3. The People vs. Alex Cross- read in February

Next in line:
Alex Cross #25 Target: Alex Cross
Ali Cross #1 (read after Criss Cross)

Other Series
1. A Man and His Cat 04 by Umi Sakurai
2. A Trip With Trouble by Diane Kelly

Other Series possibilities
Comoran Strike #7 - The Running Grave
Percy Jackson #3 - Titan's Curse

It's A Recommended Thing - Book Bullets
Read at least one from each of my 32 contributors. My top contributors are @DeltaQueen50 and @JayneCM with 13 bullets each.

1. Making Rounds With Oscar by David Dosa from @dudes22 - 5 stars
2. Hunger by Roxanne Gay from @lsh63 - 4 1/2 stars
3. Dragonsong by Anne McCaffrey from @mathgirl40 - 4 stars
4. We'll Prescribe You A Cat by Syou Ishida from @jlshall- 5 stars
5. Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice For Murderers by Jesse Q Sutanto from @thornton37814 - 4 1/2 stars
6. See What I Have Done by Sarah Schmidt from @JayneCM - 2 1/2 stars
7. A Council Of Dolls by Mona Susan Power from @cbl_tn - 3 1/2 stars

While not an official part of the challenge, I have read the below book bullets taken in 2025.
1. The Blanket Cats by Kiyoshi Shigematsu from @JayneCM - 3 1/2 stars

It's a Shelf-ish Thing - Read one book per shelf
Last year, I did a pick-a-book challenge where I chose a book from each of my bookcases. I loved the randomness of this challenge and decided to expand it this year. I have 36 shelves with unread books on them. I listed all the shelves in a randomizer and that set the reading order for the year (3 shelves per month).
I will roll 1 or 2 20-sided dice each month (depending on the number of books on the shelf) to select the books. These books will be selected after the CAT/KIT books are chosen. The only change that can be made to the selection is if the chosen book is part of a series, I can substitute the first or next unread in the series.

JANUARY (selected January 2nd)
Case 4 shelf 4 - A Promised Land by Barack Obama DONE
Case 5 shelf 1 - Small World by Tabitha King DONE
Case 1 shelf 1- Familiar Motives by Delia James - this is book 3 in the series, so I will read book 1 A Familiar Tail instead. DONE
FEBRUARY (selected February 1st)
Case 6 shelf 7 - Innocent In Death by J D Robb DONE
Case 1 shelf 3 - Fifty Common Birds of Oklahoma by George Miksch Sutton DONE
Case 7 shelf 6 - Snow Angels by Fern Michaels DONE
MARCH (selected February 28th)
Case 4 shelf 7 - Told Under The Christmas Tree by Frances Cavanah
Case 3 shelf 2 - Do Not Lick This Book by Idan Ben-Barak DONE
Case 7 shelf 3 - Micah by Laurell K Hamilton - this is book 13 in the series, so I will read book 1 Guilty Pleasures instead.
APRIL
Case 7 shelf 7
Case 6 shelf 5
Case 7 shelf 4
MAY
Case 8 shelf 1
Case 5 shelf 2
Case 2 shelf 2
JUNE
Case 6 shelf 2
Case 5 shelf 6
Case 6 shelf 3
JULY
Case 1 shelf 2
Case 4 shelf 2
Case 5 shelf 5
AUGUST
Case 4 shelf 8
Case 4 shelf 5
Case 6 shelf 6
SEPTEMBER
Case 7 shelf 5
Case 4 shelf 1
Case 6 shelf 4
OCTOBER
Case 4 shelf 3
Case 7 shelf 1
Case 6 shelf 1
NOVEMBER
Case 4 shelf 6
Case 2 shelf 1
Case 5 shelf 3
DECEMBER
Case 5 shelf 4
Case 7 shelf 2
Case 3 shelf 1

It's A Nightly Thing and a "Little One" to grow on
I read a chapter or story a night to Little One. We read about 4 books a year. This year he is sharing his opinions on the books we read.

1. The Devious Book for Cats by Fluffy & Bonkers
2. I Knead My Mommy by Francesco Marciuliano

Currently reading - Chicken Soup for the Soul: Lessons Learned From My Cat

JANUARY

Thanks to @DeltaQueen50 for allowing me to "borrow" her tea theme for my monthly toppers. Beginning the year with a lovely New Year's cup of tea.

Books read this month that are not part of any challenges

1. Tea Is For Toxin by Karen Sue Walker
2. The Dandelion Seed by Joseph Anthony
3. Rampart by Truscott Jones
4. Andy the Spider by Samantha Rindfuss

HAPPY NEW YEAR AND WELCOME TO MY THREAD

Happy new year, April!

I love all the cats (of course)! Happy new year and happy reading!

Your thread is so inviting. Hope you have a wonderful reading year.

Happy New Year April! I’ve been making a list of the series that I’ve been meaning to catch up on, and Alex Cross is one of them. I’ll have to check out the series on Amazon Prime too.

The cats made me smile. Thanks for that! Have a wonderful year.

>16 Jackie_K:, >17 thornton37814:, >18 beebeereads:, >19 lsh63:, >20 majkia: Thank you. Have a happy year of reading to all.
>19 lsh63: I am about halfway through the series, and you do not have to read the books first, since the series covers a case not in the books.
>20 majkia: I am glad they made you smile.

Happy New Thread! I see The Buried Giant was one of your gift book. I'm planning to read that this year too. And I saw it on someone else's thread, I think.

Happy New Year! I love all the kitties, but especially Little One, whose book reviews I look forward to. (Aldis Hodge isn’t bad to look at either.) I hope you have a good year of reading!

>22 dudes22:, >23 Charon07: Thank you.
>23 Charon07: Age of the Geek, baby.

Wonderful categories and pictures! Have a great Thingaversary year of reading! Naturally, Little One is my favourite!

Happy new year, April! Your thread is gorgeous :-) And happy tenth LT anniversary for 2025!

Happy reading in 2025! I do like the titles of your categories!

Happy New Year, April! so many fun images here. Your Little One looks so similar to our Mayhem, I did a double take.

>25 VivienneR:, >26 susanj67:, >27 MissBrangwen:, >28 Crazymamie: Thank you everyone.
>25 VivienneR: I am kinda partial to him also. I have had him since he was 3 weeks old and he is now 12.
>28 Crazymamie: I will have to drop by your thread and see Mayhem.

April, I found you!

I am also hoping to move closer to my family but in the coming months. I am currently in Kuala Lumpur but wife, three kids and one granddaughter are all in Yorkshire.

Have starred you and will follow your progress with interest.

By the way I love the images with your catagories.

I love your categories and the pictures you used to illustrate them. That cup of tea in >14 lowelibrary: looks very inviting!

>30 PaulCranswick: Thank you for visiting. I will be following your thread also.
>31 DeltaQueen50: Thank you. That cup of tea looked like the perfect way to start the year for me.

And the first book of the year is finished.

1. Bite Me: A Gingerbread Shifter Story by Ariel Dawn ★★★½

Sugar, Spice, and...a Gingerbread Man? The clock is ticking for Chance Graham. If he doesn’t find his mate by Christmas, he’ll be forced to live as a giant gingerbread man forever. But finding a mate isn’t as simple as it sounds… Holly Berryman dreams of romance, like the ones in the Hallmark movies she loves to watch every Christmas season. When fate brings a chance meeting with a sexy man dressed as Santa, Holly finds herself the star of her very own holiday movie.
Will Chance and Holly make it to happily ever after? Or will Chance’s sweet curse be the death of their snow-kissed romance? (description from Amazon)

I picked up the book for the cover and the gingerbread twist. This standard Christmas and shifter trope contains a sweet (literally) twist. The book itself was good and an easy read, although I removed 1/2 star for the graphic sex scenes. I wish authors would learn that you can write a good romance without being overly graphic.

This book was read for >4 lowelibrary: January RandomKIT - Eat, Drink and Be Merry.

2. Making Rounds With Oscar by David Dosa ★★★★★

They thought he was just a cat. When Oscar arrived at the Steere House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Rhode Island he was a cute little guy with attitude. He loved to stretch out in a puddle of sunlight and chase his tail until he was dizzy. Occasionally he consented to a scratch behind the ears, but only when it suited him. In other words, he was a typical cat. Or so it seemed. It wasn't long before Oscar had created something of a stir. Apparently, this ordinary cat possesses an extraordinary gift: he knows instinctively when the end of life is near. Oscar is a welcome distraction for the residents of Steere House, many of whom are living with Alzheimer's. But he never spends much time with them -- until they are in their last hours. Then, as if this were his job, Oscar strides purposely into a patient's room, curls up on the bed, and begins his vigil. Oscar provides comfort and companionship when people need him most. And his presence lets caregivers and loved ones know it's time to say goodbye. Oscar's gift is a tender mercy. He teaches by example: embracing moments of life that many of us shy away from.
(description from Amazon)

While Oscar's story is intriguing, this book is so much more. As someone whose husband has a family history of dementia and sometimes shows worrying signs, I got so much more from this book than advertised. A recommended read for anyone who needs to think of hospice care, that explains the reality of how it affects families and the decisions that must be made, without judging those decisions. I agree with Dr. Dosa, when my time comes, I choose the cat over the ICU.

This library loan was a bullet from @dudes22 and fits the It's a Recommended Thing category >10 lowelibrary:

What a wonderful theme for your challenge, April! Happy Tenth Thingaversary to you, and I love all those gorgeous kitties.

>34 lowelibrary: - I'm so glad you liked the book, April.

>35 MissWatson: Thank you.
>36 dudes22: I really found myself interested in the patients' stories as much as Oscar's, which really surprised me.

Due to a major sinus infection, which caused massive headaches when I moved, I was able to finish three more books.


3. Tea Is For Trouble by Karen Sue Walker ★★★½

I'm April May, and I bought a huge Victorian home in a cozy seaside town on a whim. I’d always loved afternoon tea with dainty sandwiches, scones, and delicious pastries, and the charming pink and purple house would make a perfect tearoom! No one told me the house came with a Bengal cat in the attic who might just be guarding a treasure. How else to explain people breaking into my house? And what about the handsome, arrogant chef in my kitchen no one else can see? Is he a figment of my imagination or a ghost? Either way, he’s putting a tasty French twist on my menu. And before I can even open my tearoom, I’ve found a dead body! (description from Amazon)

While we do solve a crime in this cozy, most of the book is spent introducing the characters. The characters are captivating and quirky with my current favorite being Irma (the owner of The Mermaid Cafe). The chef's name is Emile and the cat's name is Whisk (he needs to be more of the story). The crime was simple and yet I was unable to solve it before the literary April. Great name for a main character by the way.

I read this for >5 lowelibrary: January CoverCAT - something involved with a tea party and immediately downloaded the next book in the series Tea Is For Toxin, which I have begun reading.

4. Chill Factor by Sandra Brown ★★½

Five women are missing from the sleepy mountain town of Cleary, North Carolina, and a blue ribbon has been left near where each woman was last seen. Lilly Martin has returned to Cleary to close the sale of her cabin. But when her car skids and strikes a stranger, Ben Tierney, as he emerges from the woods, they’ve no choice but to wait out a brutal blizzard in the cabin. As the hours of their confinement mount, Lilly wonders if the greater threat to her safety isn’t the storm, but the stranger beside her... (description from the back of the book)

This book started out jumping between scenarios and characters and was quite confusing, this style continues throughout the book but becomes a little more clear as you get used to the writing style and come to know the characters. There was too much going on and the jumping around does not help the story at all. I could not find one character (all the men are pr**ks) to enjoy or to have a redeeming quality. While the end of the book contained some surprises, it did not redeem the story at all.

I read this for >2 lowelibrary: January MysteryKIT - Winter Mysteries and with this taking place on a mountain in the middle of a snowstorm, it fits the category perfectly.

5. Isabelle and the Beast by Olivia Rian ★½

There are wolves all around, Belle, and they aren’t the only beasts. He says this to her as if he should care. As if she could be his. But Lord Bentley is meant to inherit his estate and grand gardens of roses, and Isabelle is only meant to tend them. As Isabelle contemplates her future, including a proposal from a tenant farmer her father is keen for her to accept, she cannot escape Lord Bentley’s friendly but determined kindness. Surely he must know that someday she will leave, and he will marry to secure his standing in society. Their childhood friendship will be as if it never existed. She will forever only be the girl who tended to the gardens. At every turn, the vile Mr. Godfrey encroaches on Belle and her confused heart, while Lord Bentley’s intentions are directed toward a young woman who should be his wife. Isabelle should accept Mr. Godfrey, but the cruelty of surrendering her heart to secure Lord Bentley’s societal standing eclipses even the ferocity of the beasts that lurk in the forest. Isabelle and the Beast is a standalone Victorian-era romance inspired by the classic tale Beauty and the Beast. It is an enchanting tale of forbidden love and the struggle to find one’s place in the world. (description from Amazon)

Watching a Disney movie and naming your side characters after the side characters in your book, do not make a retelling. The book seemed like the author wrote a romance, and then threw in scenes from the movie which were unnecessary and did not serve to further the story. The book is incoherent and leaps from scene to scene without any continuity. It reads like a fanfiction that was printed. A complete waste of my reading time.

This book counts as a Kindle read in my >7 lowelibrary: It's A Romantic Thing - Beauty and the Beast books and retellings

>40 lowelibrary: Oof, sorry that one was a dud! Hope you have better luck with the next Beauty and the Beast retelling!

>34 lowelibrary: Sounds like one I'd enjoy.

>40 lowelibrary: Oh no, I have this one on my kindle as well! Thankfully it's short, so I might still try it.

>34 lowelibrary: This one sounds intriguing. Animals have a unique way of providing comfort when you are ill or troubled.

>38 lowelibrary: That is indeed a great name for a character :) Sounds like a fun series.

>41 christina_reads: I kept waiting for it to get better.
>42 thornton37814: and >44 cbl_tn: I hope you enjoy Oscar when you get to it.
>43 MissBrangwen: Let's hope you enjoy it more than I did.
>45 VivienneR: I am partial to the character's first name and am already enjoying the second in the series, Tea Is For Toxin.

6. Ghost of A Chance by Simon R Green ★★★

The Carnacki Institute exists to Do Something About Ghosts. Lay them to rest, send them packing, or kick their nasty ectoplasmic arses with extreme prejudice. The Institute's operatives are the best of the best: JC Chance: sharp, brave, charming, and almost unbearably arrogant. Melody Chambers: science-geek, techno-wizard extraordinaire who keeps their anti-supernatural equipment running smoothly. And Happy Jack Palmer: the telepath with the gloomy disposition, the last person anyone would want navigating through his head. Their current assignment: investigate a major haunting deep underground at London's Oxford Circus Tube Station. Difficult - and dangerous - enough without the added interference of a pair of agents from the infamous Crowley Project whose mission is much simpler: eliminate Chance, Chambers, and Palmer whatever the consequences. (description from the back of the book)

This book is written well, it just is not my type of book. I enjoy my ghosts more cozy and inviting and am not a huge fan of ghost hunters.

I read this for >6 lowelibrary: January ColourCAT (Green) and it is also a book from >8 lowelibrary: It's The Gift of The Thing -Gifts (Christmas/Birthday) and SantaThing/Thingaversary books.

7. The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead ★★★★

Cora is a slave on a cotton plantation in Georgia. An outcast even among her fellow Africans, she is on the cusp of womanhood—where greater pain awaits. And so when Caesar, a slave who has recently arrived from Virginia, urges her to join him on the Underground Railroad, she seizes the opportunity and escapes with him.
In Colson Whitehead's ingenious conception, the Underground Railroad is no mere metaphor: engineers and conductors operate a secret network of actual tracks and tunnels beneath the Southern soil. Cora embarks on a harrowing flight from one state to the next, encountering, like Gulliver, strange yet familiar iterations of her world at each stop. As Whitehead brilliantly recreates the terrors of the antebellum era, he weaves in the saga of our nation, from the brutal abduction of Africans to the unfulfilled promises of the present day. The Underground Railroad is both the gripping tale of one woman's will to escape the horrors of bondage and a powerful meditation on the history we all share. (description from Amazon)

I was immediately drawn into Cora's story and the sub-stories in this book. I have read a lot of books on the slavery era, but this one is one of the most realistic and believable ones.

I read this for >3 lowelibrary: ScaredyKIT - Diverse Horror. The book read more like historical fiction than a horror book for me, but it is on several tagmashes of African-American, horror so I am counting it.

>38 lowelibrary: This is on my all time favorites list. I was so inspired by Whitehead's writing. I have read others now as well and have more on my TBR. He is such a versatile writer.
Your review is excellent. Interesting that it has been classified in the horror genre. I guess a broad description of that genre could include "horrible" acts.

>49 beebeereads: This was my first Colson Whitehead book, so I am glad to hear his other books are worth pursuing.

8. Tea Is For Toxin by Karen Sue Walker ★★★

In this small town, everyone has secrets, but one person will kill to keep the truth hidden. Trouble is brewing as April May approaches her fiftieth birthday and the opening of her tearoom. When word gets around that a local reporter is penning a tell-all, everyone in town is on edge that their secrets may be revealed. A murder exposes how far one desperate person will go to keep the truth hidden, and April must team up with the new deputy to find the killer. As outsiders, they’re the only two unbiased observers. As if that’s not enough, a new love interest rattles her tearoom’s resident ghost, and his snide remarks and snooty tantrums could threaten all her hard work. But no one knows that April has her own secret. She has something the killer wants. Will she be the next victim before she can uncover the truth? (description from Amazon)

This second book in the series was not as intriguing as the first one, because I figured out the criminal immediately, although it took April the whole book. I will continue the series because I enjoy the characters of April, Irma, and Emile and the tea room setting.

This book matches no categories so it is listed in the non-challenge books in >14 lowelibrary:. I read this book now because it was free from the author for reading the first one.

9. Hunger by Roxanne Gay ★★★★½

“I ate and ate and ate in the hopes that if I made myself big, my body would be safe. I buried the girl I was because she ran into all kinds of trouble. I tried to erase every memory of her, but she is still there, somewhere. . . . I was trapped in my body, one that I barely recognized or understood, but at least I was safe.”
In her phenomenally popular essays and long-running Tumblr blog, Roxane Gay has written with intimacy and sensitivity about food and body, using her own emotional and psychological struggles as a means of exploring our shared anxieties over pleasure, consumption, appearance, and health. As a woman who describes her own body as “wildly undisciplined,” Roxane understands the tension between desire and denial, between self-comfort and self-care. In Hunger, she explores her past—including the devastating act of violence that acted as a turning point in her young life—and brings readers along on her journey to understand and ultimately save herself. With the bracing candor, vulnerability, and power that have made her one of the most admired writers of her generation, Roxane explores what it means to learn to take care of yourself: how to feed your hunger for delicious and satisfying food, a smaller and safer body, and a body that can love and be loved—in a time when the bigger you are, the smaller your world becomes. (description from Amazon)

From the very beginning of this book, I thought the author had looked into my life and stolen it. I loved the honesty the author shared which is familiar to any woman who does not meet society's standards of health. The author stated the facts of living this way and dealing with everyone in your life (family, friends, and strangers) without placing further blame or trauma. I am glad I read this book, as it showed me I am not alone in my thoughts and that others hid their childhood trauma in their bodies, and that learning to accept who you are now is the first step and can be more important than healing your body and mind.

This book is a bullet from @lsh63 and was read for >10 lowelibrary: It's A Recommended Thing - Book Bullets

Such a thoughtful and honest review- thanks for that. This one has been on The List for ages. I really need to get to it this year.

>53 Crazymamie: It reads so quickly and is an honest book.

10. Cross The Line by James Patterson ★★★★★

In all of Alex Cross's years with homicide, Washington, DC, has never been more dangerous. After shots pierce the tranquil nighttime calm of Rock Creek Park, a man is dead: what looks at first like road rage might be something much more sinister. But Alex has only just begun asking questions when he's called across town to investigate a new murder, one that hits close to home: his former boss and the beloved mentor of Alex's wife, Bree. Now there's a killer on the loose, a long list of possible suspects, a city in panic, and nobody in charge of the besieged police force. . . until Bree gets tapped for the job. As Bree scrambles to find her footing and close two high-profile cases, new violence stuns the capital. What should be a time for her to rely on Alex for support and cooperation is instead a moment of crisis in their marriage as well as their city when their investigative instincts clash and their relationship reaches a breaking point. And the fiendish mind behind all the violence has appointed himself judge, jury, and executioner, with a terrifying master plan. To beat him at his own game, Alex and Bree must take the law back into their own hands before he puts them both out of commission . . . permanently. (description from back of book)

This book is why I love the Alex Cross series: it has fast-paced action from start to finish and great characters. The rhythm of this book had me reading until I literally fell asleep in the middle of the story. I could not wait to get up and finish the book the next day. It has been too long since I found a book I could not put down for fear of missing the story.

Read for >9 lowelibrary: It's A Continuing Thing - Catch up with the Alex Cross and other series started prior to 2025.

11. The Dandelion Seed by Joseph Anthony ★★★½

The humble dandelion. By roadside or mountainside, it flowers every month of the year throughout the world, a fitting symbol of life, Its journey is our journey, filled with challenge, wonder, and beauty. Its story is a mystery too great to fathom, told so even a child can understand. (description from back of book)

This book tells the life cycle of the dandelion, with beautiful illustrations and simple verse. The dandelion has always been my favorite flower.

This book matches no categories so it is listed in the non-challenge books in >14 lowelibrary: lowelibrary:. I read this book now because it was purchased by me with a gift card.

12. You're My Little Cutie Pie by Nicola Edwards ★★★★★

You’re My Little Cutie Pie is an adorable board book to share with your little one this holiday season. With rhyming text paired with sweet Thanksgiving favorites, children will love the cut-outs and other interactive features as you read the story. Whether it’s thankful turkeys, sweet pumpkin pies, or cute cranberries, parents and children alike will appreciate the endearing sentiment with a festive twist. This special Thanksgiving book in the best-selling You’re My Little series makes a touching gift for your little cutie pie. (description from Amazon)

My husband buys me these cute little I Love You books. This one is all Thanksgiving-themed and brings a smile to my face every time.

This book was read for >8 lowelibrary: It's The Gift of The Thing -Gifts (Christmas/Birthday) and SantaThing/Thingaversary books

13. Lars the Awkward Yeti, Volume 2 by Nick Seluk ★★★

Lars (AKA The Awkward Yeti) struggles with his mental health, often as a result of conflicting messages from his emotions and internal organs. His desire to get in touch with the true desires of his own heart is often blocked by his anxiety, depression, or his brain telling him what it thinks is best. (description from the back of the book)

I fell in love with Nick Seluk through his Instagram with his Heart and Brain comics. This collection contains his earlier comic, The Awkward Yeti, which is not as enjoyable to me as the Heart and Brain comics.

This book was read for >8 lowelibrary: : It's The Gift of The Thing -Gifts (Christmas/Birthday) and SantaThing/Thingaversary books

>52 lowelibrary: Thanks for this review! Hunger has been on my radar for a while, but now I'm officially adding it to the TBR.

>59 christina_reads: I hope you enjoy it.

14. A Familiar Tail by Delia James ★★★★½

Unlucky-in-love artist Annabelle Britton decides that a visit to the seaside town of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, is the perfect way to get over her problems. But when she stumbles upon a smoky gray cat named Alastair and follows him into a charming cottage, Annabelle finds herself in a whole spellbook full of trouble. Suddenly saddled with a witch's wand and a furry familiar, Annabelle soon meets a friendly group of women who use their spells, charms, and potions to keep the people of Portsmouth safe. But despite their gifts, the witches can’t prevent every wicked deed in town.... Soon, the mystery surrounding Alistair’s former owner, who died under unusual circumstances, grows when another local turns up dead. Armed with magic, friends, and the charmed cat who adopted her more than the other way around, Annabelle sets out to paw through the evidence and uncover a killer. (description from back of the book)

This is one of the best cozies I have read in a while. I fell in love with Alistair immediately and was thrilled that he was a large part of the story. The series is called A Witch's Cat Mystery after all. A believable crime and fabulous characters who are introduced as Annabelle meets them. I cannot wait to finish this series, since I own all 3 books in the series.

One of my categories this year is >11 lowelibrary:. It's a Shelf-ish Thing—read one book per shelf. The book chosen for this challenge was Familiar Motives the third book in this series, so according to the rules of the challenge, I substituted the first book in the series.

15. Dragonsong by Anne McCaffrey ★★★★

Fifteen-year-old Menolly allies with magnificent dragons in the first book in the Harper Hall trilogy, set within science fiction legend Anne McCaffrey’s beloved and bestselling Dragonriders of Pern series, For centuries, the world of Pern has faced a destructive force known as Thread. But the number of magnificent dragons who have protected this world and the men and women who ride them is dwindling. As fewer dragons ride the winds and destruction falls from the sky, Menolly has only one dream: to sing, play, and weave the music that comes to her so easily—she wishes to become a Harper. But despite her great talents, her father believes that a girl is unworthy of such a respected position and forbids her to pursue her dreams. So Menolly runs away, taking shelter in a cave by the sea. Miraculously, she happens upon nine fire lizards that could possibly save her world...and change her life forever. (description from Amazon)

I had read one Pern book years ago when I was a teenager but was not interested then. This time around, I was drawn into Menolly's story of not being able to do what she loved due to her gender. I also adored the interactions of the fire lizards throughout the book. I created a challenge category to catch myself up on series that I started before 2025 and now with my last two reads have instead added more series to my lists.

This book is a bullet from @mathgirl40 and matches my >10 lowelibrary: It's A Recommended Thing - Book Bullets challenge

16. Disney's Beauty and the Beast by Michael Teitelbaum ★★½

Belle rescues her father from the Beast and learns to love him, in spite of the jealousy of her rejected suitor, Gaston. (description from Amazon)

A retelling of the Disney movie, this book takes scenes from the film and writes descriptions to tell the story. The scenes used were incoherent in putting together the true story, but since it is aimed at 3-8-year-olds, they may not notice the rhythm.


17. Beauty and the Beast: A Story About Trust by Meredith Rusu ★★★

Trust is the belief that you are safe with someone. When Beauty's father is nearly taken prisoner by the frightful Beast in an enchanted castle, Beauty immediately offers herself in his place. Thanks to her confidence, love, and support, the Beast's best self shines through, and he gains Beauty's trust. She ultimately discovers that the deepest beauty comes from within. (description from the back of the book)

This author uses the traditional story while using questions to ask the reader about their feelings and reactions. For example, when Beauty's father plucks the rose from the bush and the Beast is angry with him, the side question is "When someone doesn't thank you how does that make you feel? Would you forgive them?" The back of the book provides a teacher guide for reading the book and a parental guide.

Both of these books were read for >7 lowelibrary: It's A Romantic Thing - Beauty and the Beast books and retellings.

>63 lowelibrary: That first Beauty and the Beast book looks very familiar. I might have had a copy when I was the target audience. There was also a big Golden Book hardcover. Beauty and the Beast was my favourite Disney movie :)

>64 rabbitprincess: I have the Golden Book edition also, that one at least stayed true to the story. Beauty and the Beast has always been my favorite fairy tale, I loved the movie, even though I was an adult when it was released.

>65 lowelibrary: I think this is the one I had: https://www.ebay.ca/itm/153902291745

>66 rabbitprincess: I have not seen that one.

18. Rampart by Truscott Jones ★★★

On a crisp morning at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds, former Secret Service agent Sam Kilbrough stands only feet from the main stage as the president approaches. A 9mm Glock G43 is carefully tucked inside his sky-blue Gore-Tex windbreaker. When he expertly withdraws the gun and shoots the man he was once sworn to protect, it sparks the trial of the century: against sitting vice president Elijah Styles. Did the nation’s first gay VP conspire to murder his own boss, or was he the victim of a masterful setup? The jury (and the reader!) must solve a mystery fit for the Washington Post or the National Enquirer in our Trumpian times. As the trial begins, the nation is divided – was Styles a scheming climber fixated on taking the Oval Office by any means, or a hero devoted to derailing a mad ruler’s tyrannical plans? Lawyer Mandela Briggs and his tiny defense team are determined to save their client from the death penalty, while the ambitious U.S. attorney is hell-bent on securing a conviction that will launch his campaign for the Senate. Chief District Court Judge Carolyn Bering must navigate the courtroom as tensions rise and the political stakes escalate. But the decision ultimately lies in the hands of twelve jurors, each with their own biases and motivations. Among them is an inner-city high school teacher studying the combatants like she would her students, a local celeb restaurateur forced to confront his own prejudices, and a surfer dude law student who envisions himself trying the case. As they untangle the Styles conundrum, the reader is transported into their minds and those of the dueling lawyers, powerful witnesses, the leader of the free world, and his accused traitors. This thriller exposes the cultural petri dish of an “Us” versus “Them” society, diving behind the scenes to lay bare the human impulses driving our nation’s justice system and its politics. Was the assassin a trojan horse sent by Styles to kill President Magnus Thorne and propel the Veep into the White House, or a lone wolf with a warped sense of patriotism? Did Thorne stage the spectacle to evoke sympathy, justifying troops on American streets and his war on dissent? Were Styles and Kilbrough lovers? Follow the trial’s twists and turns, from the West Wing to the courthouse to the court of public opinion, to see if anyone can bridge the gap between the search for truth and the quest for power. The fate of the nation rests on the jury’s decision. (description from Early Reviewer page)

My review for ER: The concept of the book is the treason trial of Vice President Styles for the attempted murder of President Thorne. The courtroom drama and concept of the book were excellent and captivating. However, the multiple views (especially from the jurors, who had no actual effect on the story and therefore no purpose for their opinions) were unnecessary for the story and often distracted from the case. The twist at the end was unexpected, but the way it was presented with no buildup or hints was a letdown for me. I feel the end could have been presented better.

I received this book from the December 2024 Early Reviewers and it does not fit any of my challenges so it is listed under >14 lowelibrary:.

19. A Man And His Cat 04 by Umi Sakurai ★★★★★

Fukumaru might find it hard to imagine, but not everyone is Mr. Kanda’s biggest fan! Kanade Hibino, a rival concert pianist, detests Mr. Kanda and his musical genius. But when Kanade has a furry new houseguest forced upon him, he heads to the pet store for supplies and guidance...only to run into none other than his (assumed) nemesis! Will the cats in their lives bring the two men closer together and mend old wounds? (description from Amazon)

This volume is as entertaining as the first book. I loved the way they built the stories of Kanda and Fukumaru and introduces new felines. I hope their stories are continued in future volumes.

This book fits two challenges, >8 lowelibrary: It's The Gift of The Thing -Gifts (Christmas/Birthday) and SantaThing/Thingaversary books and >9 lowelibrary: It's A Continuing Thing - Catch up with the Alex Cross and other series started prior to 2025.

20. Detective Cross by James Patterson ★★★★★

An anonymous caller has promised to set off deadly bombs in Washington, DC. Is this a cruel hoax or the real deal? By the time Alex Cross and his wife, Bree Stone, uncover the chilling truth, it may already be too late. (description from the back of the book)

This is a fast read that I could not put down. It's nonstop action from start to finish and an intriguing story. Another unexpected culprit, which James Patterson does so well.

This is the next book in the Alex Cross series. It fits >9 lowelibrary: It's A Continuing Thing - Catch up with the Alex Cross and other series started prior to 2025.

21. I Like You: An Encouraging Bedtime Book by Kate Allan ★★★★

Sometimes we can be sad or crabby, but this book reminds us that we are so loved, no matter how we feel or what we do. Sit in a cozy chair and read this with your favorite person. Remind them that you accept them no matter what and will love them through all the ups and downs of life. (description from the back of the book)

I love Kate Allan's books and discovered her through her art on social media @thelatestkate. Her beautiful art and inspiring quotes are appropriate for all ages and levels of mental health. This book is a cute story of being liked for who you are in all moods. The added surprise for me was the hand-written note from my mom at the back of the book "I like all of your moods. In fact I love you all the time". I suffer from depression and CPTSD, and am currently rebuilding a relationship with my mom so this was needed and appreciated.

Read for >8 lowelibrary: It's The Gift of The Thing -Gifts (Christmas/Birthday) and SantaThing/Thingaversary books

22. Andy the Spider by Samantha Rindfuss ★★½

When Andy’s peaceful forest is thrown into chaos, he and a band of loyal friends must uncover the truth lurking in the shadows. Along the way, they encounter enchanted groves, mysterious creatures, and challenges that test their courage at every turn. Secrets long buried begin to emerge, and Andy quickly learns this journey isn’t just about discovery—it’s about understanding what true bravery really means. Andy The Spider is more than an adventure; it’s a story about friendship, courage, and the magic that lives within us all. Perfect for readers aged 8-11, this thrilling first installment in the series will transport young imaginations into a world where danger and wonder intertwine, and even the smallest heroes can make a big difference. (description from Amazon)

For the age it is meant for this would probably be a better story, for me, however, it jumps ahead so often that I found myself back pedalling to make sure I hadn't skipped pages. Also, their is no continuity in introducing new characters, they just pop up and are added to the story with little intrduction.

This book is listed in >14 lowelibrary: since it fits none of my challenges.

JANUARY NOTES

I read 22 books in January, although 6 of them were children's books which helped up the numbers.
3 library loans, 5 Kindle books, and 14 from my shelves. This month's reading allowed me to discard 3 Kindle and 4 physical books.
I added 11 new Book Bullets this month.

I finished all my monthly reading goals for my categories except >11 lowelibrary: the Random Shelf Challenge (one book per shelf). I am currently reading those remaining books, A Promised Land by Barack Obama, a book over 700 pages which I hope to finish this quarter and Small World by Tabitha King, which I started yesterday.

I had 18 books at or above 3 stars and 4 books under 3 stars. A very good reading month to start the year.
This month's 5-star reads (in the order read) were:
Making Rounds With Oscar
Cross the Line
You're My Little Cutie Pie
A Man and His Cat 04
Detective Cross

FEBRUARY

A beautiful pink cup for Valentine's Day whether celebrating with someone or just celebrating yourself.

Books read this month that are not part of any challenges
1. You're My Little Sunshine by Nicola Edwards
2. You're My Little Cookie Monster by Grace Baranowski

23. The Devious Book for Cats by Fluffy & Bonkers ★★★★

Cats have nine lives. Shouldn’t they be lived to the fullest? “Domesticated” does not mean “docile.” The ho-hum routine of sleep, eat, eat, and sleep is no way for any creature who ruled Egypt for a millennium to spend her day. It’s high time felines everywhere woke up from their cat naps and grabbed life’s strings with both paws. The Devious Book for Cats offers today’s discerning kitties words of wisdom and advice on everything they need to know, from in-depth guides on cardboard boxes and catnip to a brief history of the Felinism movement. It provides fail-safe tips on waking a human when you want to get fed, choosing the purr-fect gift, staring like a pro, and making the most of superstitions. It also explains the undeniable allure of the Window, the terrifying specter of the Vacuum, and how you can groom properly in just the scant twenty-four hours allotted each day. Cats: Discover the devious fun you can have when you’re the one in charge! (description from back of book)

This book is for my extra category >12 lowelibrary: It's A Nightly Thing and a "Little One" to grow on.

Little One: First off, I rank this book 4.5 stars. There were parts of this book that Mom had to read without listening due to the advice given (swiping food from your human and setting booby traps are examples). I learned so much from this book, from the fun of attacking paper (I had not done this before) to remembering how important cardboard boxes can be. This book also encouraged me to be more adventurous, so I ran into the garage without Mom knowing and spent 7 hours locked out there. The experience was so scary that I would not even answer Mom or move once she found me. Mom then had the nerve to pinch my butt with a grabber to make me run inside. I have decided that I am not an adventurous cat, but making Mom feel guilty did earn me extra treats (I learned this trick from the book).

>75 lowelibrary: Sounds like this book is a bad influence!

24. Beauty and The Beast: Treasury of Illustrated Classics by Madame le Prince de Beaumont ★★★★½

In exchange for her father's life, Beauty agrees to go live with a Beast in his castle far from her home. The Beast grows very fond of Beauty. She is kind, noble-hearted, and smart. As she learns more about the Beast and his sad history, Beauty comes to respect and trust him. This retelling of the beloved fairy tale will capture your heart as you watch the Beast transformed by Beauty's love. (description from the back of book)

Madame le Prince de Beaumont wrote this version of the fairy tale in 1756 for younger audiences, since the original written by Madame Gabrielle de Villeneuve was written for adults. This is the version of the story that I first read and fell in love with as a little girl. I have since read the original and still prefer this lighter version. This book lost half a star due to the terrible illustrations.

I read this for >7 lowelibrary: It's A Romantic Thing -Beauty and the Beast books and retellings

>76 Charon07: It is a very influential book, I do not recommend reading it to impressionable kittens.

25. The People vs Alex Cross by James Patterson ★★★★

Alex Cross is on the wrong side of the law. Charged with gunning down followers of his nemesis Gary Soneji in cold blood, he is being turned into the poster child for trigger-happy cops. Cross knows it was self-defense. But will a jury see it that way? (description from the back of the book)

You must read Cross Kill to understand this book. This book is a prime example of why I suggest reading the series in order. A lot of details from previous books are brought up to explain the story and you will be lost if you have not read the previous novels. Having said that, the trial itself was not believable, but the other story on the kidnappings of blonds is worth the read.

Read for >9 lowelibrary: It's A Continuing Thing - Catch up with the Alex Cross and other series started prior to 2025

26. Murder For Christmas by Francis Duncan ★★½

When Mordecai Tremaine arrives at the country retreat of one Benedict Grame on Christmas Eve, he discovers that the revelries are in full swing in the sleepy village of Sherbroome--but so too are tensions amongst the assortment of guests. When midnight strikes, the partygoers discover that presents aren't the only things nestled under the tree...there's a dead body too. A dead body that bears a striking resemblance to Father Christmas. With the snow falling and suspicions flying, it's up to Mordecai to sniff out the culprit--and prevent anyone else from getting murdered for Christmas. (description from Amazon)

You can tell when reading this that they are trying to be Hercule Poirot-like with the character of Mordecai Tremaine and fail heavily. This book is very wordy with the detective doing most of the talking. Not a lot of character-building or motive-building for the house of suspects. This is a series I can pass on.

I erroneously chose this book from Libby instead of Murder After Christmas, the book bullet I meant to read. However, it is a golden age mystery, so it still fits the category >2 lowelibrary: MysteryKIT.

27. Grave Talk by Nick Spalding ★★★½

The hardest part of death is learning how to live. The last thing Alice expects to see at her husband’s graveside on his birthday is a giant, talking frog. On closer inspection, it’s a grown man dressed as Kermit. Turns out Alice’s husband is buried next to Ben’s older brother Harry, who—as a parting practical joke in his will—insisted that Ben visit his grave each year, on this specific day, dressed in an as-yet-undisclosed pageant of embarrassing fancy dress. With little but their grief and this one day in common, Alice and Ben form a very special, very strange friendship, meeting just once a year: same day, same time, same place—different silly costume. As the years pass and grief alters, can their unique bond help them cope with the hardest part of death: life? (description from Amazon)

This book will make you laugh and cry and have all the feels, especially if you have lost a sibling or a spouse.

I read this for >5 lowelibrary: CoverCAT

>81 lowelibrary: Oh this sounds lovely! I don't have much fiction on my wishlist, but this is now on it!

>82 Jackie_K: I hope you enjoy it when you read it. It is on Kindle Unlimited if you have that.

28. We'll Prescribe You A Cat by Syou Ishida ★★★★★

Tucked away in an old building at the end of a narrow alley in Kyoto, the Kokoro Clinic for the Soul can only be found by people who are struggling in their lives and genuinely need help. The mysterious clinic offers a unique treatment to those who find their way there: it prescribes cats as medication. Patients are often puzzled by this unconventional prescription, but when they “take” their cat for the recommended duration, they witness profound transformations in their lives, guided by the playful, empathetic, occasionally challenging yet endearing cats. (description from Amazon)

I immediately fell for the cats in this book and finished it in one day. I originally rated it 4 1/2 stars but bumped it to 5 after I lay awake thinking about the characters and the stories. I cannot wait to read it again and hope for a sequel. I need to know more about Chitose and Nekke.

This was read for >10 lowelibrary: It's A Recommended Thing - Book Bullets. Bullet from @jlshall

29. Small World by Tabitha King ★★

For Dolly, it was lust for revenge. For Roger, it was just lust. When Leyna Shaw awoke, she was aware that something was different. First, she looked down at her tall, lovely body and saw no change. Then she looked around the room. It took her a moment to recognize it. It was the White House bedroom. Then she saw the Eye. And the Hand. The Hand came to touch her. Her legs were thrust apart, the Finger separating them effortlessly as Lena screamed and screamed. (description from the back of the book)

The book's concept was intriguing, but the follow-through was weak. What the blurb promised was only a small portion of the book. The book was mostly about greed and spite. The ending was meant to be shocking but was anticlimactic.

This book was a January selection for >11 lowelibrary: It's a Shelf-ish Thing - Read one book per shelf.

30. Enchant by Demelza Carlton ★★★★½

A beastly prince. An enchanting beauty. Only love can break the spell. Once upon a time... The wicked King Thorn forced the enchantress Zuleika to cast a terrible curse. She fled his court to travel the world, helping those who need her magic most. Until a search for her merchant father's lost ships leads her to an enchanted island, where Prince Vardan, the island's ruler, is afflicted by the most powerful curse Zuleika has ever encountered. She's not sure she can reverse the spell, but she's determined to try. After all, a prince who fights pirates can't be all bad…no matter how beastly his appearance. Together, can the enchanting beauty and the beastly prince break the spell? (description from Amazon)

A beautiful retelling of Beauty and the Beast with an enchantress and a cursed prince. The story stays true to the original tale with just enough twists to make it read like a new story.

I read this Kindle book for >7 lowelibrary: It's A Romantic Thing -Beauty and the Beast books and retellings

31. The Golden Book of Fortune-Telling by KC Jones ★★★

In this book lie the answers to your future. Reveal the meanings of your name, birthday, zodiac sign, and dreams. Unveil the significance of your color choices, friendships, and love interests. Discover what is foretold, learn to read auspicious moments, and divine the gift of attracting good fortune. Consult this book and uncover the wisdom of the ages and the power to shape your destiny. (Description from the back of the book)

The book covers the basics with a short section dedicated to each topic. Written simply and good for a beginner, but it does not contain any new information.

This book was read for >6 lowelibrary: ColourCAT

32. You're My Little Sunshine by Nicola Edwards ★★★★

Celebrate your little sunshine with this colorful rhyming board book! You’re My Little Sunshine features sweet illustrations paired with meaningful sentiments that express the love between a parent and child. With cut-outs and raised pieces throughout, little ones will enjoy a hands-on reading experience alongside an adorable story that can be savored all year. (description from Amazon)

While still cute, this edition does not meet the puns and sweet sentiments of some of the others in the series.


33. You're My Little Cookie Monster by Grace Baranowski ★★½

You’re My Little Cookie Monster is an adorable board book to share with the littlest Sesame Street fan! With chunky pages for little hands, raised pieces throughout, and die-cut shapes of characters from the neighborhood, children will love the adorable illustrations of Cookie Monster, Grover, Oscar the Grouch, Abby Cadabby, and Elmo! This rhyming board book celebrates a parent’s love for their child and is a wonderful read for any time. (description from Amazon)

This book is a cheap rip-off of the popular You're My Little series. Cute illustrations of popular characters save the book.

These books were Valentine's gifts from the hubby and do not fit any categories so they are listed as other books read this month >74 lowelibrary:

Today is my favorite day of the year - The OKC Friends of the Library Book Sale (the largest book sale I attend yearly). This year I acquired the following 25 books for under $65. I was pleasantly surprised with my haul since all book prices went up this year.

Nonfiction
The Bill the Cat Story by Berkeley Breathed - an autographed copy
HausMagick by Erica Feldmann
I Knead My Mommy and Other Poems by Kittens by Francesco Marciuliano - for me and Little One
I'm Not Dead...Yet by Robby Benson - I first saw him in Ice Castles in theaters (aging myself)
Leonard by William Shatner
My Life, My Fight by Steven Adams
Rocky & Bullwinkle Classics: Vacational Therapy by Al Kilgore
The Smurfs Tales by Peyo
Uncle John's Bathroom Reader Cat Lover's Companion
Uncle John's Fast-Acting Long-Lasting Bathroom Reader
Uncle John's Second Bathroom Reader
Uncle John's Triumphant 20th Anniversary Bathroom Reader
A Very Punchable Face by Colin Jost - I have been looking for a copy for years
Wham, George Michael and Me by Andrew Ridgeley - this was on my birthday wish list

Fiction
Alex Cross Must Die by James Patterson
The Cornwalls Are Gone by James Patterson and Brendan DuBois
Exquisite by Elizabeth Hayley
Kindred by Octavia Butler
The Midwife Murders by James Patterson and Richard DiLallo
The Never Game by Jeffrey Deaver - one of my favorite shows, Tracker, is based on this book
Rodham by Curtis Sittenfeld - an alternative reality that has good reviews
Sacking The Quarterback by Samantha Towle
Triple Cross by James Patterson
Vanish With The Rose by Barbara Michaels
A Very Scalzi Christmas by John Scalzi - I read and loved Starter Villain, so I picked this up, got it home to catalog, and discovered it is a signed special edition # 1437 of 1500

I love those sales! Great haul! Sadly, I will be on a cruise when this year's sale takes place.

>90 lowelibrary: You got a great selection of books! I really liked Vanish with the Rose when I read it a number of years ago.

>90 lowelibrary: What a terrific haul!

>91 Tess_W: I am sure the cruise will be a more enjoyable and memorable experience
>92 NinieB: I will bump the book up my TBR.
>93 Charon07: Thank you

34. 'Salem's Lot by Stephen King ★★★½

'Salem's Lot is a small New England town with white clapboard houses, tree-lined streets, and solid church steeples. That summer in 'Salem's Lot was a summer of homecoming and return, spring burned out and the land lying dry, crackling underfoot. Late that summer, Ben Mears returned to 'Salem's Lot hoping to cast out his own devils and found instead a new unspeakable horror. A stranger had also come to the Lot, a stranger with a secret as old as evil, a secret that would wreak irreparable harm on those he touched and in turn on those they loved. All would be changed forever - Susan, whose love for Ben could not protect her; Father Callahan, the bad priest who put his eroded faith to one last test and Mark, a young boy who sees his fantasy world become reality and ironically proves the best equipped to handle the relentless nightmare of 'Salem's Lot. (description from back of the book)

While I enjoyed this book, I did not find it very scary. Perhaps if I had read it when it was first released and before I had read several other Stephen King and/or vampire novels it would have been better. I had seen the original miniseries starring David Soul and knew most of the story before finally reading the book.

I read this for >3 lowelibrary: ScaredyKIT.

>95 lowelibrary: That was one of the first King's I ever read. The mini-series is much eerier. And of course, starred David Soul, my heart throb at one time!

>97 lowelibrary: I was more of a Paul Michael Glaser fan at that time.

35. A Gnome's Christmas by Rien Poortvliet ★★★★★

In every gnome home around the world, Christmas lasts an entire month, and it signals the coming of a new year, which the gnomes ring in with a blessing: “May this year be full of proud deeds and silly games, beautiful songs and hearty feasts, clever jokes, loving friends, and enough surprises to keep us on our toes.” (description from the back of the book)

Another beautifully illustrated book, this time about Christmas traditions. The gnome Christmas month begins when Sinterklaas arrives (December 6th) and ends on Edda Night (January 6th). My favorite tradition is Christmas Rounds when the gnomes take food gifts to all the wild animals.


36. Marvel: The Roots of Groot by Robert K Elder ★★★½

Illustrated Mini Book on Groot's comic book history, complemented by classic comic book art. (description from Amazon)

This book was included with a mini talking Groot figurine that I received for Christmas. The tells a simple background on Groot and the other Guardians.

Both books were read for >8 lowelibrary: It's The Gift of The Thing -Gifts (Christmas/Birthday) and SantaThing/Thingaversary books

37. Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice For Murderers by Jesse Q Sutanto ★★★★½

Vera Wong is a lonely little old lady—ah, a lady of a certain age—who lives above her forgotten tea shop in the middle of San Francisco’s Chinatown. Despite living alone, Vera is not needy, oh no. She likes nothing more than sipping on a good cup of Wulong and doing some healthy detective work on the Internet about what her Gen-Z son is up to. Then one morning, Vera trudges downstairs to find a curious thing—a dead man in the middle of her tea shop. In his outstretched hand, a flash drive. Vera doesn’t know what comes over her, but after calling the cops like any good citizen would, she sort of . . . swipes the flash drive from the body and tucks it safely into the pocket of her apron. Why? Because Vera is sure she would do a better job than the police possibly could because nobody sniffs out wrongdoing quite like a suspicious Chinese mother with time on her hands. Vera knows the killer will be back for the flash drive; all she has to do is watch the increasing number of customers at her shop and figure out which one among them is the killer. What Vera does not expect is to form friendships with her customers and start to care for each and every one of them. As a protective mother hen, will she end up having to give one of her newfound chicks to the police?

I immediately fell in love with Vera Wong from the moment she cleaned the crime scene and drew the outline around the body for the police and continuously laughed at her antics throughout the book. At times the mystery seems to be second-hand to the character interactions,but this does not distract from the storytelling. The killer was an unexpected surprise. I have already placed a hold on the second book (the library will receive a copy at the end of March and I am already 48th on the list) but I may wind up buying them instead.

This book was a book bullet from @thornton37814 and fits >10 lowelibrary: It's A Recommended Thing - Book Bullets

38. Beauty by Sherri S Tepper ★★

Drawing on the wellspring of much-loved, well-remembered fairy tales, Tepper delivers a thought-provoking and finely crafted novel that thoroughly involves the reader in the life of one of the most captivating heroines in modern fantasy- Beauty. On her sixteenth birthday, Beauty is seemingly able to sidestep her aunt's curse. Instead, she is transported to the future. Here begins her adventures as she travels magically back and forth in time to visit places both imaginary and real. Finally, she comes to understand what has been her special gift to humanity all along. For in Beauty, there is beauty. And in beauty, magic. Without our enchanted places, humanity is no more than an upstart ape. And this, we realize, is why Beauty must be saved, both in the fantastical world of Tepper's novel and in the actual world in which we live. (description from the back of the book)

While I had this book categorized with my Beauty and the Beast books, the book covers almost all fairy tells except that one. The Beauty in the title refers to Sleeping Beauty. The story is slow-moving and becomes very confusing when Beauty jumps from the 14th century to the 23rd century without rhyme or reason, then in an attempt to return home winds up in the 20th century. The time-traveling portion of the book did not serve the purpose I believe the author was trying to convey. The story remains confusing and nonsensical when jumping from Faery to the real world (losing years in between) to try to tell Beauty's story and those of her descendants. Not recommended.

I read this for >4 lowelibrary: RandomKIT and also counts for >7 lowelibrary: It's A Romantic Thing -Beauty and the Beast books and retellings, although the book turned out not to be a Beauty and the Beast retelling.

39. Fifty Common Birds of Oklahoma by George Miksch Sutton ★★½

A full-page color plate of a Sutton painting of each bird faces the page of text about that bird. The text itself does not describe the shape and color of the birds in great detail color plates do that but accent the seasonal status of each species in Oklahoma, changes in plumage as the individual bird matures, important food habits, and breeding habits, especially of the species that breed in the area. Not all the birds discussed breed in Oklahoma or inhibit the state year-round. A few are found here only during migration or in winter, but these species are common in much of the state. A treasure of entertainment and information, the book is written not for bird students or ornithologists but for the general reader who appreciates the beauty of our common birds and wants to know more about them.

Not a lot of information on the birds, mostly anecdotes on when the author encountered the said bird.

This book was a February selection for >11 lowelibrary: It's a Shelf-ish Thing - Read one book per shelf

>84 lowelibrary: This one just arrived in the library, and I'm taking it home with me for spring break next week. I'm glad to see you liked it so much! I'm really looking forward to reading it.

>99 lowelibrary: I'm glad you enjoyed it so much! It was a fun book!

40. A Trip With Trouble by Diane Kelly ★★★½

When the ladies of the Dangerous Curves Motorcycle Club take over the Mountaintop Lodge for their annual autumn ride along the Blue Ridge Parkway, Misty Murphy couldn’t be more thrilled. Every room is full and the adventurous women even invite Misty and her assistant Brynn to join them on a ride to admire the colorful fall foliage. Hotel handyman Rocky Crowder is happy to keep an eye on the lodge for the day, and the ladies set out for a fun ride on the scenic road. But what starts as a perfect ride turns worrisome when the tail gunner – the last rider in their group – fails to show up at the Craggy Gardens overlook. Cell phone service is spotty in the remote, mountainous area, and the group is unable to connect with their friend. Might the missing woman have simply run out of gas? Or is something far more sinister afoot? The ladies are determined to locate their ride or die, and Misty is equally determined to help them. But, will they be able to solve the mystery when the scenic route seems intent on hiding its secrets? (description from the back of the book)

While there is a beautiful Himalayan on the cover, she has no part in solving the crimes. However, Mindy is a good amateur detective, who shares all her thoughts and suspicions with the reader, so I will continue the series. All the characters are interesting and the solutions to the crimes are believable.

This book fits the categories >9 lowelibrary: It's A Continuing Thing - Catch up with the Alex Cross and other series started prior to 2025 and >8 lowelibrary: It's The Gift of The Thing -Gifts (Christmas/Birthday) and SantaThing/Thingaversary books

>102 thornton37814: It was very good and I hope you like it.
>103 thornton37814: I enjoyed Vera very much and can't wait for the next book.

FEBRUARY NOTES

I read 18 books in February, with 3 of them being children's books. This brings me to 40 for the year.
3 library loans, 2 Kindle books, and 13 from my shelves. This month's reading allowed me to discard 1 Kindle and 5 physical books.
I added 10 new Book Bullets this month bringing the total for the year to 21.

I finished all this month's LibraryThing reading categories but fell behind on my personal challenges by 5 books.

I had 13 books at or above 3 stars and 5 books under 3 stars. A decent reading month, although there were some that I struggled through. I may start DNFing books next year, rather than keep reading ones I know I am not enjoying.
This month's 5-star reads (in the order read) were:
We'll Prescribe You A Cat
A Gnome's Christmas

MARCH

“For each petal on the shamrock, This brings a wish your way, Good health, good luck, and happiness, For today and every day.” Just a little Irish blessing for your tea.

Books read this month that are not part of any challenges

1. Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life In Lyrics by Dolly Parton - audiobook
2. Blood and Smoke by Stephen King - audiobook

41. Do Not Lick This Book by Idan Ben-Barak ★★★

Min is a microbe. She is small. Very small. In fact, so small that you’d need to look through a microscope to see her. Or you can simply open this book and take Min on an adventure to amazing places she’s never seen before―like the icy glaciers of your tooth or the twisted, tangled jungle of your shirt. The perfect book for anyone who wants to take a closer look at the world. (description from the back of the book)

This book teaches kids about germs and how they spread through touch. It is an interesting book that I am passing on to my grandson.

This book was a March selection for >11 lowelibrary: It's a Shelf-ish Thing - Read one book per shelf

42. The Wishing Jar by Penelope J Stokes ★★★

The Wishing Jar. It's a family heirloom, with a magical legend attached. But Abby, Edith, and Neal Grace know the Wishing Jar isn't really magic. If it were, Abby would have relief from the responsibilities that weigh her down. Edith would have gone to be with her beloved Sam instead of living the strange half-life of a stroke victim. And Neal Grace would be out on her own instead of being trapped in this dark, suffocating house with an anxious, overworked mother and a debilitated grandmother. But the Jar does wield some elusive force. Its red-and-gold phoenix is a symbol of survival- of life rising from the ashes. For nearly a hundred years, the Wishing Jar has been inexplicably linked to a lineage of strong Quinn women. Despite its lure, Abby, Edith, and Neal Grace are painfully aware that no magic jar can grant their wishes and give them the kind of life they want. Yet the Wishing Jar does lead the elder Quinn on a journey somewhere between past and present - a journey that will alter the course of all their lives. (description from back of the book)

A short easy read that had a beginning and an end, although to me it was missing a middle. Once we introduced the characters and their issues, we immediately went to the end story and the resolutions without building any of the stories.

I read this book for the March RandomKIT >4 lowelibrary:

43. Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life In Lyrics by Dolly Parton ★★★★

As told by Dolly Parton in her own inimitable words, explore the songs that have defined her journey. Mining over 60 years of songwriting, Dolly Parton highlights 175 of her songs and brings readers behind the lyrics. Learn the history behind classic Parton songs like "Jolene," "9 to 5," "I Will Always Love You," and more. (description from Amazon)

I listened to this as an audiobook during a 6-hour drive to Mom's. This book did well as an audio since I loved listening to Dolly tell her stories in little snippets that made following along easy.

This book was a spontaneous read and does not fit any category so it is listed at >107 lowelibrary:

44. See What I Have Done by Sarah Schmidt ★★½

In this riveting debut novel, See What I Have Done, Sarah Schmidt recasts one of the most fascinating murder cases of all time into an intimate story of a volatile household and a family devoid of love. On the morning of August 4, 1892, Lizzie Borden calls out to her maid, "Someone's killed Father." The brutal ax murder of Andrew and Abby Borden in their home in Fall River, Massachusetts, leaves little evidence and many unanswered questions. While neighbors struggle to understand why anyone would want to harm the respected Bordens, those close to the family have a different tale to tell - of a father with an explosive temper, a spiteful stepmother, and two spinster sisters, with a bond even stronger than blood, desperate for their independence. As the police search for clues, Emma comforts an increasingly distraught Lizzie, whose memories of that morning flash in scattered fragments. Had she been in the barn or the pear arbor to escape the stifling heat of the house? When did she last speak to her stepmother? Were they really gone, and would everything be better now? Shifting among the perspectives of the unreliable Lizzie; her older sister, Emma; the housemaid, Bridget; and the enigmatic stranger, Benjamin, the events of that fateful day are slowly revealed through a high-wire feat of storytelling.(description from Amazon)

This book does not stay true to the Lizzie Borden story and adding a fictional character (Benjamin) only serves to distract more. I understand that this was a fictionalized retelling, but the added portions made no sense and did nothing to improve the book.

This was a book bullet from @JayneCM and read for >10 lowelibrary: It's A Recommended Thing - Book Bullets

45. The Blanket Cats by Kiyoshi Shigematsu ★★★½

Seven struggling customers are given the unique opportunity to take home a "blanket cat" . . . but only for three days, the time it’ll take to change their lives. A peculiar pet shop in Tokyo has been known to offer customers the unique opportunity to take home one of seven special cats, whose "magic" is never promised, but always received. But there are rules: these cats must be returned after three days. They must eat only the food supplied by the owner, and they must travel to their new homes with a distinctive blanket. In The Blanket Cats, we meet seven customers, each of whom is hoping a temporary feline companion will help them escape a certain reality, including a couple struggling with infertility, a middle-aged woman on the run from the police, and two families in very different circumstances simply seeking joy. But like all their kind, the "blanket cats" are mysterious creatures with unknowable agendas, who delight in confounding expectations. And perhaps what their hosts are looking for isn't really what they need. Three days may not be enough to change a life. But it might just change how you see it. (description from Amazon)

I probably would have enjoyed this book more if I hadn't just finished We'll Prescribe You A Cat last month. I kept finding myself comparing the books, with this one not being as captivating. The tone of this book is more realistic and like life not everyone gets a happy ending.

This book was a 2025 book bullet from @JayneCM and is listed in >10 lowelibrary: It's A Recommended Thing - Book Bullets, even though the 2025 books are not part of the official challenge.

46. Turkeys and Thanksgiving by Leena Clover ★★

Pelican Cove is gearing up for a grand Thanksgiving. Local amateur sleuth Jenny King and the Magnolias are busy planning the big dinner, salivating over pumpkin pie and turducken. When an eccentric old man turns up at the Boardwalk Cafe moaning about his missing turkey, Jenny doesn't have the heart to turn him away. This time, she even has the sheriff's blessing because the police can't be bothered to look for a missing bird. Meanwhile, Jenny is also roped in to judge the big turkey competition in town. Can she juggle everything and still have time to make her special green bean casserole? (description from Amazon)

This short mystery, part of the Pelican Cove series is 85% talking about food and 10% trying to solve the mystery, with the remaining 5% overintroducing the characters. I figured out the ending way too early. She solves the mystery too late, the missing turkey is eaten.

This book was read for >5 lowelibrary: March CoverCAT

47. The Christmas Day Murders by J.B. Smith ★★★

When the bodies of Carla and Stephen Barron were discovered early one Christmas morning, the search for the killer began. The murder investigation that ensued is full of shocking discoveries and provides keen insight into the world of the Texas sheriff who directed the investigation. Critical evidence led Sheriff J. B. Smith's team to solve one of the most compelling cases he's ever seen. (description from back of the book)

The story of the murder investigation is not overly graphic but a simply written tale of how an investigation goes. The sheriff explains his reasoning for believing that the correct person was charged with the crime. It is not the best-written true crime book, but I have read worse.

I read this for >3 lowelibrary: MarchScaredyKIT

48. Innocent In Death by J.D. Robb ★★★½

Eve Dallas doesn’t like to see innocent people murdered. And the death of history teacher Craig Foster is clearly a murder case. The lunch that his wife lovingly packed was tainted with deadly ricin. And Mr. Foster’s colleagues, shocked as they may be, have some shocking secrets of their own. It’s Eve’s job to get a feel for all the potential suspects—and find out why someone would have done this to a man who seemed so inoffensive, so pleasant...so innocent. Someone Eve could easily picture dead is an old flame of her billionaire husband Roarke, who has turned up in New York and manipulated herself back into his life. Consumed by her jealousy—and Roarke’s indifference to it—Eve finds it hard to focus on the Foster case. But when another man turns up dead, she’ll have to keep in mind that both innocence and guilt can be facades...(description from the back of book)

This book is the 24th in the series, but I have not read any others. The mystery itself was intriguing and I did not suspect the murderer. The other parts of the book lack from not reading the others in the series and not knowing the back stories of the characters.

This book was a February selection for >11 lowelibrary: It's a Shelf-ish Thing - Read one book per shelf

49. Murder of the Cat's Meow by Denise Swanson ★★½

When ex-Vegas showgirl and local business owner Bunny Reid starts an online dating service called Cupid’s Cat’s Meow, out-of-town visitors flock to her bowling alley for the speed dating and cat show events that she hosts to bring in extra cash. Bunny’s scheme sounds harmless enough, but school psychologist Skye Denison knows all too well that an influx of strangers in Scumble River always spells trouble. Meanwhile, Skye is convinced that her house is haunted and is afraid her fiancé, police chief Wally Boyd, won’t move in until the ghost moves out. But ghost-hunting takes a back seat when Skye is called to the bowling alley, where a riled-up contestant is choking a cat show judge for insulting his feline. Skye breaks up the scuffle, but the next morning the judge’s dead body is found, strangled with a cat toy. Now Skye must solve this purrplexing mystery—and show a devious killer that her sleuthing skills are the cat’s meow. (description from the back of book)

I would suggest reading this series from the beginning since this one is very character driven, obviously continuing several storylines that leave a new reader lost. The book starts with a mystery and solves it but chooses a character that is not even introduced until the final chapters as the culprit.

This book was read for >6 lowelibrary: March ColourCAT

50. A Promised Land by Barack Obama ★★★

In the stirring, highly anticipated first volume of his presidential memoirs, Barack Obama tells the story of his improbable odyssey from young man searching for his identity to leader of the free world, describing in strikingly personal detail both his political education and the landmark moments of the first term of his historic presidency—a time of dramatic transformation and turmoil. Obama takes readers on a compelling journey from his earliest political aspirations to the pivotal Iowa caucus victory that demonstrated the power of grassroots activism to the watershed night of November 4, 2008, when he was elected 44th president of the United States, becoming the first African American to hold the nation’s highest office. Reflecting on the presidency, he offers a unique and thoughtful exploration of both the awesome reach and the limits of presidential power, as well as singular insights into the dynamics of U.S. partisan politics and international diplomacy. Obama brings readers inside the Oval Office and the White House Situation Room, and to Moscow, Cairo, Beijing, and points beyond. We are privy to his thoughts as he assembles his cabinet, wrestles with a global financial crisis, takes the measure of Vladimir Putin, overcomes seemingly insurmountable odds to secure passage of the Affordable Care Act, clashes with generals about U.S. strategy in Afghanistan, tackles Wall Street reform, responds to the devastating Deepwater Horizon blowout, and authorizes Operation Neptune’s Spear, which leads to the death of Osama bin Laden. (description taken from book)

I found the few personal parts of the book very readable and entertaining. Most of the book deals with the politics and events during his first term as President. I discovered that I was not interested in these types of events and found myself skimming the details. This is a great book that wants the details of world events and the thinking process behind the decision.

The book is a January choice from my shelf challenge >11 lowelibrary: It's a Shelf-ish Thing - Read one book per shelf. At 706 pages this book took me 3 months to finish.

51. I Knead My Mommy by Francesco Marciulano ★★

Just when we all thought things couldn't get any cuter, from the author of the New York Times bestselling I Could Pee on This comes I Knead My Mommy, a book of confessional poems about the triumphs, trials, and daily discoveries of being a kitten. From climbing walls to claiming hearts, these little cats bare all in such instant classics as "And Then You Said 'No,'" "Ode to a Lizard I Didn't Know Is Also a Pet in This House," and "I Will Save You." With adorable photos of the poetic prodigies throughout, this volume gives readers a glimpse into their confused and curious feline minds as they encounter the world around them. (description from Amazon)

This book is for my extra category >12 lowelibrary: lowelibrary: It's A Nightly Thing and a "Little One" to grow on.

LITTLE ONE: Kittens should not write poems. Kittens are confusing and most of them do not make sense. These poems are as confusing as the kittens who wrote them. Mom says be nice, I am being nice. Like I tell Mom all the time - no kittens.

52. A Council Of Dolls by Mona Susan Power ★★★½

From the mid-century metropolis of Chicago to the windswept ancestral lands of the Dakota people, to the bleak and brutal Indian boarding schools, A Council of Dolls is the story of three women, told in part through the stories of the dolls they carried. Sissy, born 1961: Sissy’s relationship with her beautiful and volatile mother is difficult, even dangerous, but her life is also filled with beautiful things, including a new Christmas present, a doll called Ethel. Ethel whispers advice and kindness in Sissy’s ear, and in one especially terrifying moment, maybe even saves Sissy’s life. Lillian, born 1925: Born in her ancestral lands in a time of terrible change, Lillian clings to her sister, Blanche, and her doll, Mae. When the sisters are forced to attend an “Indian school” far from their home, Blanche refuses to be cowed by the school’s abusive nuns. But when tragedy strikes the sisters, the doll Mae finds her way to defend the girls. Cora, born 1888: Though she was born into the brutal legacy of the “Indian Wars,” Cora isn’t afraid of the white men who remove her to a school across the country to be “civilized.” When teachers burn her beloved buckskin and beaded doll, Winona, Cora discovers that the spirit of Winona may not be entirely lost…

While I enjoyed the individual stories and found the tales very informative and heartbreaking, I did not feel that the final chapter quite brought the stories together as intended.

This book is a bullet from @cbl_tn and was read for >10 lowelibrary: It's A Recommended Thing - Book Bullets.

>52 lowelibrary: I had a similar reaction. The individual stories were more powerful than the concluding chapter.

>120 cbl_tn: I am glad I am not the only one who was disappointed with the last chapter.

53. Beauty and the Blade by S.C. Grayson ★★★★½

Nathanial Woodrow is known on the streets of London as the Beast, leader of the fearsome Lion gang who mark their victims with three slashes on the face. Since her mother was found dead with the signature slashes years ago, Contessa has wanted nothing more than to see her murderer brought to justice. However, the Beast has been impeccable at maintaining his facade as the high society Mr. Nathanial Woodrow, and nobody has been able to gather enough evidence to convict him. When the Beast unexpectedly asks Contessa’s father, the Chief of the Royal Police, for her hand in marriage, Contessa and her father hatch a plan to bring him down from the inside. As Contessa enters the lion’s den in search of evidence to convict the Beast, she finds that not everything is as she once thought. Her father’s work, hunting down Talented who use their magic to rule the criminal underworld, is thrown into question with each glimpse of the kind-hearted man beneath the mask of a hardened gang leader. As Contessa navigates her search for justice, she finds herself questioning what side she’s on, and why she finds herself drawn to a man she’s supposed to hate. (description from Amazon)

Not only is this book a good retelling of Beauty and the Beast, it is a great story on its own. I would have enjoyed this book even if it was not a retelling of the love story Beauty and her Beast. Well-written, intriguing characters who make the story come alive, I quickly became invested in all the characters. It even contains a love scene that I could enjoy. Steamy and suggestive, yet leaving all details to the imagination of the reader. I immediately downloaded and read the free prequel short story The Gardener and the Sharpshooter (no touchstone), which I am not counting as a different book, since it was only 17 pages.

This book was read for >7 lowelibrary: It's A Romantic Thing -Beauty and the Beast books and retellings

I received a small book haul for my birthday and have added them to >9 lowelibrary: It's The Gift of The Thing -Gifts (Christmas/Birthday) and SantaThing/Thingaversary books

A Man and His Cat 05 by Umi Sakurai
You Deserve Nice Things by Kate Allan
You're My Little Busy Bee by Nicola Edwards
You're My Little Honey Bunny by Nicola Edwards

54. Snow Angels by Fern Michaels ★★½

They bring joy, wonder--and all the happiness of the season. Let these delightful stories of love and miracles light up your holidays with cheer. . .
"Snow Angels," by Fern Michaels - The only way irresistibly handsome Olympic skier Max Jorgenson wants to spend Christmas is..alone. But when social worker Grace Landry stumbles into his log cabin during a snowstorm, an unexpected magic rekindles his heart, his hopes, and the sweetest of Christmas dreams. . .
"The Presents of Angels" by Marie Bostwick - Ex-Rockette Kendra Loomis doesn't regret giving up New York's bright lights to be a Vermont minister's wife. But their small town's Christmas countdown is becoming a major stress-fest--and the only way she can save the day is to prove that giving is the most precious gift of all.
"Decorations" by Janna McMahan - All Michelle Duncan wanted for Christmas was a new life. And by helping her ailing mother she found one as manager of a charming holiday craft store. She never expected that the fringe benefits would be muscular sculptor Baxter Brown and one last chance to make all her wishes come true.
"Miracle on Main Street" by Rosalind Noonan - New York City policeman Joe Cody and his wife Sheila can't afford much of a holiday for their two kids. He's sure not expecting much yuletide joy while working on Christmas Day--until a desperate wish and several unexplainable events open his eyes to a wonderland of blessings and love. (descriptions from the back of book)

None of these stories were worth the reading time. They tried to use standard Christmas story tropes, but missed their mark by rushing some things and skipping over other parts that needed to be included.

This book was a February selection for >11 lowelibrary: It's a Shelf-ish Thing - Read one book per shelf

>122 lowelibrary: BB for me, as I'm always looking for good Beauty and the Beast retellings!

>123 lowelibrary: Happy birthday -- hope you enjoy your haul!

>123 lowelibrary: Happy birthday! You deserve nice things!

>125 christina_reads:. >126 Charon07: Thank you for the birthday wishes.

>125 christina_reads: I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

55. You're My Little Busy Bee by Nicola Edwards ★★★★½

Celebrate your little busy bee with this sweet and colorful rhyming board book, available only at Walmart! With chunky pages for little hands and cut-out characters to add depth and interest, children will love the interactive features. Children will follow along with little busy bee through the daily routines in this tender ode to a love between a parent and child. (description from Walmart)

Another great addition to the series. With bees and other spring animals. This edition has beautiful flowers bordering all pages.


56. You're My Little Honey Bunny by Nicola Edwards ★★★★½

Celebrate your little honey bunny with this sweet and colorful rhyming board book! With chunky pages for little hands and die-cut shapes to add depth and interest, children will love the interactive features alongside the story of love between a parent and child. It is the perfect gift for Easter baskets, baby showers, or any occasion. (description from Amazon)

This book is based on Spring, With honey bunny, darling daffodil, and baby buttercup the rhymes brought a smile to my face.

Regular visitors to my threads know by now that I am collecting this series of board books. I received these two as birthday gifts from my husband and they were read for >8 lowelibrary: It's The Gift of The Thing -Gifts (Christmas/Birthday) and SantaThing/Thingaversary books.

57. Blood and Smoke by Stephen King ★★★★

This collection of short stories from the master of modern fiction is available only as an audiobook. In Blood and Smoke, Stephen King takes us inside a world of yearning and paranoia, isolation and addiction. It is the world of the smoker. In this audio-only collection, the now politically incorrect habit plays a key role in the fates of three different men in three unabridged stories of unfiltered suspense. In Lunch at the Gotham Café, Steve Davis is suffering through intense withdrawal - from both nicotine and his wife. His desperation for a cigarette and his ex are almost too much to bear, but that's nothing compared to the horrors that await him at a trendy Manhattan restaurant. In 1408, Mike Enslin, best-selling author of "true" ghost stories, decides to spend the night in New York City's most haunted hotel room. But he must live to write about it without the help of his ex-best friends, his trusty smokes. And in In the Deathroom, a man named Fletcher is held captive in a Central American stronghold. His captors will use any torturous means necessary to extract the information they want from him. His only hope lies with his last request - one last cigarette, please. (description from Amazon)

A great collection of stories read by Stephen King himself. I really enjoyed 1408 for its creepiness.
I began this audiobook on a 6-hour road trip earlier in the month, but could not finish it until this weekend, since my husband wanted to finish listening to it with me. I am discovering audiobooks are great for long road trips, but not for day to day driving (at least not for me).

This book does not fit any category so it is listed at >107 lowelibrary:

>123 lowelibrary: Happy belated Birthday!

>130 MissWatson: Thank you

MARCH NOTES

I read 17 books in March, with 3 of them being children's books. This brings me to 57 for the year.
3 library loans, 2 Kindle books, 2 Audible books, and 10 from my shelves. This month's reading allowed me to discard 1 Kindle. 1 Audible and 8 physical books. I also discarded an additional 4 books, due to not continuing series.
I added 13 new Book Bullets this month, bringing the year's total to 34. I have managed to read one of them.

I finished all this month's LibraryThing reading categories except for the MysteryKIT. I did my best but I hope to finish Inferno this upcoming weekend.
I fell further behind on my personal challenges.

I had 12 books at or above 3 stars and 5 books under 3 stars. I had no 5-star reads.

This month was full of real-life challenges that made it hard to focus on my reading.

FIRST QUARTER STATS

>3 lowelibrary: ScaredyKIT, >4 lowelibrary: RandomKIT, >5 lowelibrary: CoverCAT, and >6 lowelibrary: ColorCAT are caught up. 3 of 12 books each are done. This is 25% of the year's challenges.
I am currently reading my March >2 lowelibrary: MysteryKIT, which I will finish this weekend (if not sooner). 2 of 12 books done. This is 17% of the year's challenge.

My personal challenges stats are as follows:
>7 lowelibrary: It's A Romantic Thing - Beauty and the Beast books and retellings--- The goal is to read all 15 of the books on my shelf and at least 4 from my Kindle. I am at
27% with 4 books read. Kindle books are at 75% with 3 read.
>8 lowelibrary: It's The Gift of The Thing -Gifts (Christmas/Birthday) and SantaThing/Thingaversary books --- The goal is to read all my gifts received this year and catch up
on my SantaThing and Thingaversary gifts from prior years. I am at 32% having read 10 of 31 books . 2 of 9 SantaThing gifts, 6 of 12 Christmas books, and 2
of 4 from my birthday haul. I have read none of my older Thingacersary gifts and am celebrating my 10th anniversary this month.
>9 lowelibrary: It's A Continuing Thing - Catch up with the Alex Cross and other series started before 2025 --- I am at 21% of the Alex Cross series, having read 3 of the
remaining 14 books. This total includes the 3 Ali Cross books, related to the series. I am at 17% for books from other series with 2 of 12 done. Although not
part of this year's challenge, I read the first book in 5 other series for challenges, thus creating more series to read in the future.
>10 lowelibrary: It's A Recommended Thing - Book Bullets --- I started the year with over 100 bullets from 32 different contributors. I set this challenge to read 1 from each
contributor. I am at 22% with 7 books read. I have taken 34 new bullets so far this year and have read 1 of them.
>11 lowelibrary: It's a Shelf-ish Thing - Read one book per shelf --- Read a book from each of my 36 bookshelves. The reading order was selected randomly at the beginning of
the year and the books for each month are selected randomly after the LT category books are selected. I am currently at 19% with 7 of 36 done. I
have read all of the January and February selections, and have 2 left from March. This challenge is really helping clear my shelves since I have only kept 1 of
the selections so far.
>12 lowelibrary: It's A Nightly Thing and a "Little One" to grow on --- This "extra" challenge has no limit. We have finished 2 books so far this year.

I have read a total of 57 books this quarter with 8 of them being impulse reads and not fitting any category challenge. This would be 45 books total if I removed the 12 children's books I read. My reading this quarter allowed me to clear my shelves of 22 books and my Kindle of 5 books. Unfortunately, I discovered a daily free Kindle email so I am adding more than I discard. The link is https://www.freebooksy.com/featured-books/ if anyone wants to go down that rabbit hole with me.

The best book I read this quarter is We'll Prescribe You A Cat.
My ratings this quarter are:
5 stars - 7
4 1/2 stars - 8
4 stars - 8
3 1/2 stars - 10
3 stars -10
2 1/2 stars - 9
2 stars - 4
1 1/2 stars - 1

My second quarter thread is up. Join in at https://www.librarything.com/topic/369681