Christina reads 4 x 25 in 2025: Part 2

Christina's 2025 Category Challenge: Part 2


Ivan Kramskoy, "Reading Woman (Portrait of Artist's Wife)"

Hi, I’m Christina, and welcome to part 2 of my 2025 category challenge! This year I’m keeping things simple: 4 categories, 25 books in each, for a total of 100 books. Here are the categories:

I. Series and Sequels: Any book that is part of a series, though I'm focusing on (1) continuing with series I’ve started and (2) reading series I already own, in whole or in part.

II. Something Old: Physical books I’ve owned since before January 1, 2025. This category may include rereads.

III. Something New: Books I buy, borrow, or otherwise acquire in 2025.

IV. Nook Books: Books on my e-reader, whether old or new.

Thanks for stopping by, and happy reading!

I. Series and Sequels


Poul Friis Nybo, "A Favourite Author"

1. Kristen Britain, Blackveil (Green Rider #4)
2. Genevieve Cogman, The Lost Plot (Invisible Library #4)
3. Lois McMaster Bujold, Penric's Demon (Penric & Desdemona #1)
4. Kristen Britain, Mirror Sight (Green Rider #5)
5. Genevieve Cogman, The Mortal Word (Invisible Library #5)
6. Kristen Britain, Firebrand (Green Rider #6)
7. Lois McMaster Bujold, Penric and the Shaman (Penric & Desdemona #2)
8. Genevieve Cogman, The Secret Chapter (Invisible Library #6)
9. Kristen Britain, The Dream Gatherer (Green Rider #6.5)
10. Genevieve Cogman, The Dark Archive (Invisible Library #7)
11. Kristen Britain, Winterlight (Green Rider #7)
12. Genevieve Cogman, The Untold Story (Invisible Library #8)
13. Ashley Weaver, One Final Turn (Electra McDonnell #5)
14. Lois McMaster Bujold, Penric's Fox (Penric & Desdemona #3)
15. Tana French, Broken Harbor (Dublin Murder Squad #4)
16. Claudia Gray, The Rushworth Family Plot (Mr. Darcy and Miss Tilney #4)
17. Kristen Britain, Spirit of the Wood (Green Rider #7.5)
18. Lois McMaster Bujold, Masquerade in Lodi (Penric & Desdemona #4)
19. Lois McMaster Bujold, Penric's Mission (Penric & Desdemona #5)
20. Lois McMaster Bujold, Mira's Last Dance (Penric & Desdemona #6)
21. Ellis Peters, The Holy Thief (Cadfael #19)
22. Ngaio Marsh, Death at the Bar (Roderick Alleyn #9)
23. Richard Osman, The Impossible Fortune (Thursday Murder Club #5)
24. Kristen Britain, Falling in a Sea of Stars (Green Rider #8)
25. Lois McMaster Bujold, The Prisoner of Limnos (Penric & Desdemona #7)

***CATEGORY COMPLETE***

26. Delano Ames, Murder Begins at Home (Jane & Dagobert Brown #2)
27. Lois McMaster Bujold, The Orphans of Raspay (Penric & Desdemona #8)
28. Lois McMaster Bujold, The Physicians of Vilnoc (Penric & Desdemona #9)

II. Something Old


Albert Edelfelt, "Woman and Parasol"

1. Rupert Latimer, Murder after Christmas (10/19/24)
2. Sheri Cobb South, Of Paupers and Peers (7/24/17)
3. Sarah Addison Allen, Garden Spells (4/15/12 - reread)
4. Jenny Colgan, 500 Miles from You (unknown)
5. John Bude, The Lake District Murder (9/20/15)
6. Pamela Morsi, Simple Jess (4/7/24)
7. Agatha Christie, The Seven Dials Mystery (8/8/06 - reread)
8. Juliet Marillier, Wildwood Dancing (8/11/09 - reread)
9. Jerome K. Jerome, Three Men on the Bummel (3/16/15)
10. Ernest Hemingway, A Moveable Feast (10/27/23)
11. Anna Gavalda, Hunting and Gathering (1/29/10 - reread)
12. Agatha Christie, Towards Zero (8/8/06 - reread)
13. Freya Sampson, The Lost Ticket (4/7/24)
14. Stephanie Laurens, Impetuous Innocent (7/14/24)
15. Edith Layton, To Wed a Stranger (4/20/24)
16. Megan Whalen Turner, Moira's Pen: A Queen's Thief Collection (5/21/24)
17. Anthony Wynne, Murder of a Lady (10/15/16)
18. Georgette Heyer, The Nonesuch (9/29/06 - reread)
19. Angela Thirkell, Wild Strawberries (2/11/24)
20. Sherry Thomas, Ravishing the Heiress (10/19/24)
21. Richard Hull, Excellent Intentions (4/5/19)
22. Mary Balogh, First Comes Marriage (10/5/24)
23. Jennie Goutet, A Regrettable Proposal (1/24/24)
24. Loretta Chase, Knaves' Wager (10/10/13 - reread)
25. William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White, The Elements of Style, Fourth Edition (8/8/06)

***CATEGORY COMPLETE***

26. R.F. Kuang, Babel (9/1/23)
27. Georgette Heyer, A Civil Contract (10/2/09 - reread)
28. Charlotte MacLeod, Rest You Merry (1/2/21)
29. Mary Balogh, A Christmas Promise (1/6/24)

III. Something New


Karl Parsimagi, "Reading Woman"

1. Sarah Adams, Beg, Borrow, or Steal
2. Eva Shepherd, Wagering on the Wallflower
3. Lucy Parker, Misdirected
4. Mary Balogh, Remember When
5. Lissa Evans, Small Bomb at Dimperley
6. Christina Lauren, The Unhoneymooners
7. Ande Pliego, You Are Fatally Invited
8. Loretta Chase, My Inconvenient Duke
9. Charlotte Stein, My Big Fat Fake Marriage
10. Beth O’Leary, Swept Away
11. Emily J. Taylor, The Otherwhere Post
12. Emily Henry, Great Big Beautiful Life
13. Susanna Kearsley, The King's Messenger
14. Katherine Center, The Love Haters
15. Mimi Matthews, Rules for Ruin
16. Sarah Ready, Ghosted
17. Linda Holmes, Back After This
18. Maggie Stiefvater, The Listeners
19. Brigitte Knightley, The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy
20. Stephanie Burgis, Wooing the Witch Queen
21. AJ Pearce, Dear Miss Lake
22. Lynn Painter, Maid for Each Other
23. Ally Carter, The Blonde Who Came In from the Cold
24. Hannah Nicole Maehrer, Accomplice to the Villain
25. T. Kingfisher, Hemlock & Silver

***CATEGORY COMPLETE***

26. Laura Wood, Let's Make a Scene
27. Naomi Novik, The Summer War
28. Christopher Beha, The Index of Self-Destructive Acts
29. Lynn Painter, Fake Skating
30. Leif Enger, Peace Like a River
31. Caitlin Rozakis, Dreadful
32. Sharon Lee and Steve Miller, Local Custom
33. Mhairi McFarlane, Cover Story
34. Martha Wells, All Systems Red
35. Jenny Colgan, The Christmas Bookshop
36. P.D. James, The Children of Men
37. Martha Waters, Christmas Is All Around
38. Chloe Liese, The Mistletoe Motive
39. Rosanna Pike, A Little Trickerie
40. Cara Bastone, Ready or Not

IV. Nook Books


Pierre-Auguste Renoir, "Young Woman Reading"

1. Stephanie Burgis, Scales and Sensibility (reread)
2. Stephanie Burgis, Claws and Contrivances
3. Fiona Hill, The Country Gentleman
4. Molly Clavering, Love Comes Home
5. Eva Leigh, My Fake Rake
6. Sarah Mayberry, Her Best Worst Mistake
7. Caroline Linden, An Earl Like You
8. Stella Riley, The Shadow Earl
9. Martha Waters, And Then There Was the One
10. Annie Darling, Crazy in Love at the Lonely Hearts Bookshop
11. Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Mexican Gothic
12. Stella Riley, Masque of Deceptions
13. Sulari Gentill, The Woman in the Library
14. Cara Bastone, Just a Heartbeat Away
15. Fiona Hill, The Practical Heart
16. Loretta Chase, Viscount Vagabond (reread)
17. Loretta Chase, The Devil's Delilah (reread)
18. Alice Coldbreath, A Bride for the Prizefighter
19. Kate Clayborn, Beginner's Luck
20. Jennifer Estep, Only Bad Options
21. Mimi Matthews, The Governess and the Rogue
22. Cara Bastone, Can't Help Falling
23. Cara Bastone, Flirting with Forever
24. Ashley Poston, A Novel Love Story
25. Mimi Matthews, The Marriage Method

***CATEGORY COMPLETE***

26. Kate Clayborn, Luck of the Draw
27. Adriana Trigiani et al., Ladies in Waiting: Jane Austen's Unsung Characters
28. Cassandra Dean, Silk & Scars
29. Cara Bastone, When We First Met
30. Claire Delacroix, The Christmas Conquest
31. Alice Coldbreath, A Substitute Wife for the Prizefighter
32. Eloisa James, How to Be a Wallflower
33. Kate Clayborn, Best of Luck
34. Lia Louis, Dear Emmie Blue
35. Jodi Taylor, The Nothing Girl
36. Louise Allen, His Housekeeper's Christmas Wish
37. Alyssa Everett, Ruined by Rumor
38. Alexandra Benedict, The Christmas Murder Game

CATs and KITs


Fritz von Uhde, "A Reading Girl with a Cat"

Here I’ve listed the CATs and KITs I'll participate in at least some of the time. As always, I won’t complete all of them every month, but I’ll dip in and out when I have a book that fits. And I’ll try to do the whole AlphaKIT, plus or minus an X book!

January
ColorCAT (green): Sarah Addison Allen, Garden Spells; Kristen Britain, Blackveil
CoverCAT (something involved in a tea party): Sarah Adams, Beg, Borrow, or Steal
AlphaKIT (S, O): Sheri Cobb South, Of Paupers and Peers; Sarah Addison Allen, Garden Spells; Stephanie Burgis, Scales and Sensibility; Stephanie Burgis, Claws and Contrivances; Pamela Morsi, Simple Jess; Sarah Adams, Beg, Borrow, or Steal; Eva Shepherd, Wagering on the Wallflower
MysteryKIT (winter): Rupert Latimer, Murder after Christmas
RandomKIT (food or drink): Sarah Addison Allen, Garden Spells
SF&FKIT (cozy fantasy): Sarah Addison Allen, Garden Spells; Stephanie Burgis, Scales and Sensibility; Stephanie Burgis, Claws and Contrivances

February
ColorCAT (gold): Agatha Christie, The Seven Dials Mystery; Lissa Evans, Small Bomb at Dimperley
CoverCAT (tree): Mary Balogh, Remember When; Juliet Marillier, Wildwood Dancing
AlphaKIT (L, G): Lois McMaster Bujold, Penric's Demon; Lucy Parker, Misdirected; Genevieve Cogman, The Mortal Word; Lissa Evans, Small Bomb at Dimperley; Eva Leigh, My Fake Rake
MysteryKIT (vintage): Agatha Christie, The Seven Dials Mystery
RandomKIT (playing with time): Kristen Britain, Mirror Sight
SF&FKIT (art of SFF): Juliet Marillier, Wildwood Dancing

March
ColorCAT (pink): Freya Sampson, The Lost Ticket
CoverCAT (farm animals): Kristen Britain, Firebrand; Jerome K. Jerome, Three Men on the Bummel
AlphaKIT (U, A): Christina Lauren, The Unhoneymooners; Anna Gavalda, Hunting and Gathering; Agatha Christie, Towards Zero
MysteryKIT (espionage):
RandomKIT (wishes):
SF&FKIT (magical realism):

April
ColorCAT (brown): Kristen Britain, The Dream Gatherer
CoverCAT (road): Kristen Britain, The Dream Gatherer
AlphaKIT (K, E): Kristen Britain, The Dream Gatherer; Stella Riley, The Shadow Earl; Emily J. Taylor, The Otherwhere Post
MysteryKIT (paranormal):
RandomKIT (prime): Loretta Chase, My Inconvenient Duke; Genevieve Cogman, The Dark Archive
SF&FKIT (women authors): Kristen Britain, The Dream Gatherer; Genevieve Cogman, The Dark Archive; Emily J. Taylor, The Otherwhere Post

May
ColorCAT (red): Emily Henry, Great Big Beautiful Life; Stephanie Laurens, Impetuous Innocent
CoverCAT (more than two elements/objects): Emily Henry, Great Big Beautiful Life; Susanna Kearsley, The King's Messenger
AlphaKIT (I, D): Stephanie Laurens, Impetuous Innocent; Annie Darling, Crazy in Love at the Lonely Hearts Bookshop
MysteryKIT (not set in my country):
RandomKIT (punctuation): Susanna Kearsley, The King's Messenger
SF&FKIT (Global South authors):

June
ColorCAT (yellow): Katherine Center, The Love Haters
*CoverCAT (something with wheels): Edith Layton, To Wed a Stranger; Anthony Wynne, Murder of a Lady
AlphaKIT (C, Q): Katherine Center, The Love Haters; Megan Whalen Turner, Moira's Pen: A Queen's Thief Collection; Genevieve Cogman, The Untold Story
MysteryKIT (LGBTQ+ detectives):
RandomKIT (invasion):
SF&FKIT (anthologies & collections): Megan Whalen Turner, Moira's Pen: A Queen's Thief Collection

July
ColorCAT (white): Cara Bastone, Just a Heartbeat Away; Loretta Chase, Viscount Vagabond; Loretta Chase, The Devil's Delilah; Tana French, Broken Harbor; Brigitte Knightley, The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy; Claudia Gray, The Rushworth Family Plot; Kristen Britain, Spirit of the Wood; Georgette Heyer, The Nonesuch; Angela Thirkell, Wild Strawberries
CoverCAT (fruit): Angela Thirkell, Wild Strawberries
AlphaKIT (W, T): Tana French, Broken Harbor; Kristen Britain, Spirit of the Wood; Angela Thirkell, Wild Strawberries; Sherry Thomas, Ravishing the Heiress
*MysteryKIT (series sleuths): Tana French, Broken Harbor; Claudia Gray, The Rushworth Family Plot
RandomKIT (the hills are alive): Cara Bastone, Just a Heartbeat Away; Maggie Stiefvater, The Listeners
SF&FKIT (alternative history):

August
ColorCAT (gray): Jennie Goutet, A Regrettable Proposal; Loretta Chase, Knaves' Wager; William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White, The Elements of Style, Fourth Edition
CoverCAT (photograph): Mimi Matthews, The Governess and the Rogue; Cara Bastone, Can't Help Falling; Cara Bastone, Flirting with Forever; Jennie Goutet, A Regrettable Proposal
AlphaKIT (N, J): Jennifer Estep, Only Bad Options; Jennie Goutet, A Regrettable Proposal; Ashley Poston, A Novel Love Story; Hannah Nicole Maehrer, Accomplice to the Villain
MysteryKIT (legal thrillers): Richard Hull, Excellent Intentions
RandomKIT (writer): AJ Pearce, Dear Miss Lake; Lynn Painter, Maid for Each Other; William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White, The Elements of Style
*SF&FKIT (space): Jennifer Estep, Only Bad Options

September
ColorCAT (silver): T. Kingfisher, Hemlock & Silver; R.F. Kuang, Babel
CoverCAT (dogs or cats): Mimi Matthews, The Marriage Method
AlphaKIT (B, M): Laura Wood, Let's Make a Scene; Lois McMaster Bujold, Mira's Last Dance; Mimi Matthews, The Marriage Method; R.F. Kuang, Babel; Ngaio Marsh, Death at the Bar
MysteryKIT (Silver Age):
RandomKIT (cardinal direction in title):
SF&FKIT (back to school): R.F. Kuang, Babel

October
ColorCAT (black): Richard Osman, The Impossible Fortune
CoverCAT (something that fits in your pocket): Lynn Painter, Fake Skating
AlphaKIT (F, P): Richard Osman, The Impossible Fortune; Lynn Painter, Fake Skating; Kristen Britain, Falling in a Sea of Stars; Lois McMaster Bujold, The Prisoner of Limnos; Cara Bastone, When We First Met
MysteryKIT (police procedurals):
RandomKIT (when I was a child):
SF&FKIT (mysterious artifacts):

November
ColorCAT (blue): Leif Enger, Peace Like a River; Delano Ames, Murder Begins at Home; Sharon Lee and Steve Miller, Local Custom
CoverCAT (celestial objects): Sharon Lee and Steve Miller, Local Custom
AlphaKIT (Y, H): Delano Ames, Murder Begins at Home; Charlotte MacLeod, Rest You Merry
MysteryKIT (psychological):
*RandomKIT (villains): Caitlin Rozakis, Dreadful
SF&FKIT (the day after):

December
ColorCAT (purple): Eloisa James, How to Be a Wallflower; Louise Allen, His Housekeeper's Christmas Wish
CoverCAT (something you’d like as a gift): Chloe Liese, The Mistletoe Motive
AlphaKIT (V, R): Lois McMaster Bujold, The Physicians of Vilnoc; Rosanna Pike, A Little Trickerie; Cara Bastone, Ready or Not; Alyssa Everett, Ruined by Rumor
MysteryKIT (cozies):
RandomKIT (endings and beginnings):
SF&FKIT (what makes you happy): The Physicians of Vilnoc

Year-Long
AlphaKIT (X, Z): Agatha Christie, Towards Zero

* = I'm hosting this CAT/KIT.

BingoDOG

I'm aiming to cover my card, but we'll see how it goes!



1. A place you’ve never been: Pamela Morsi, Simple Jess (Arkansas, Ozarks)
2. “Library” or “Thing” in the title: Sulari Gentill, The Woman in the Library
3. Writing about writers: Ernest Hemingway, A Moveable Feast
4. Oldest book on your TBR: William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White, The Elements of Style, Fourth Edition (owned since before I joined LT)
5. Holiday in the title: Rupert Latimer, Murder after Christmas
6. Long title (5+ words): Charlotte Stein, My Big Fat Fake Marriage
7. Features adoption, foster care, nontraditional family: Lissa Evans, Small Bomb at Dimperley (one MC was a foster child)
8. Medical topic: Jenny Colgan, 500 Miles from You (both MCs are nurses)
9. Sun on cover or in title: Beth O'Leary, Swept Away (on cover)
10. Child as main character: Maggie Stiefvater, The Listeners (Hannelore)
11. Newly in the public domain: Agatha Christie, The Seven Dials Mystery
12. Author has your, or a relative’s, first or last name: Christina Lauren, The Unhoneymooners (Christina)
13. Read a CAT: Sarah Addison Allen, Garden Spells (January ColorCAT = green)
14. Totally random: John Bude, The Lake District Murder (chosen via random number generator from "My Unread Books" collection)
15. Features a birth: Freya Sampson, The Lost Ticket
16. Nonhuman narrator: Martha Wells, All Systems Red (Murderbot)
17. Features winged creatures: Stephanie Burgis, Scales and Sensibility (dragons)
18. Profession in the title: Susanna Kearsley, The King's Messenger
19. Travel: Jerome K. Jerome, Three Men on the Bummel (bicycle tour of Germany)
20. Recommended by a friend or LT member: Rosanna Pike, A Little Trickerie (recommended by charl08)
21. Set in your favorite season: Ande Pliego, You Are Fatally Invited (autumn)
22. Originally published in a language not your own: Anna Gavalda, Hunting and Gathering (French)
23. Hollywood!: Laura Wood, Let's Make a Scene (main characters are famous actors)
24. Piece of furniture on the cover: Sarah Adams, Beg, Borrow, or Steal (table)
25. Features fire: Lois McMaster Bujold, Penric's Demon (MC starts fires by sorcery)

FIRST HALF RECAP

Somehow we're halfway through 2025, so I'm taking stock of my reading so far this year. I'm pretty pleased with my overall progress; I'm more than halfway to my goal of 100 books, I have just five squares left on my Bingo card, and I've actually been somewhat restrained in my (physical) book buying. So, on to the second half of the year -- I'm excited to see what it will bring!

Books read: 61 (2024 = 73, 2023 = 88, 2022 = 71, 2021 = 58, 2020 = 71, 2019 = 50, 2018 = 32)

Average books read per month: 10.17 (2024 = 12.17, 2023 = 14.67, 2022 = 11.83, 2021 = 9.67, 2020 = 11.83, 2019 = 8.33, 2018 = 5.33)

Bingo squares completed: 20 (2024 = 25, 2023 = 23, 2022 = 23, 2021 = 24, 2020 = 21, 2019 = 18, 2018 = 17)

Books acquired: 44 total/23 physical (2024 = 61 total/40 physical, 2023 = 43 total/29 physical, 2022 = 52, 2021 = 43, 2020 = 29, 2019 = 43, 2018 = 39)

Top 10 books of the year so far:
In the order in which I read them…

1. Fiona Hill, The Country Gentleman – I’m always on the hunt for well-written, steamless historical romance. This one definitely fit the bill and made me eager to read more by the author.

2. Lucy Parker, Misdirected – I love Parker’s contemporary romances set in the world of show business, and this was no exception. I particularly loved the hero, who seems so aloof and detached but is so clearly in love with the heroine. I listened to the audio but really hope a paper copy and/or e-book comes out soon!

3. Lissa Evans, Small Bomb at Dimperley – A slice-of-life novel set just after the end of World War II, with beautifully drawn characters and a lovely understated romance. Probably my favorite of the year so far!

4. Ande Pliego, You Are Fatally Invited – This homage to Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None was a fun ride with various mysteries to unravel, and I’m proud of myself for correctly guessing some of the answers.

5. Beth O’Leary, Swept Away – This book is all about the slow-burn romance, with few distractions since the hero and heroine are alone on a houseboat that’s been swept out to sea. I loved the focus on character development and how these two guarded people slowly let each other in.

6. Emily Henry, Great Big Beautiful Life – I think this Henry novel may prove divisive, as some readers might not like the various historical stories that interrupt the contemporary romance, but I loved them! I’ve read all of Henry’s books (except Beach Read, which is on my TBR shelf), and this may be my favorite.

7. Susanna Kearsley, The King’s Messenger – Kearsley writes top-notch historical fiction in interesting and less common eras; this one is set in 1613 and deals with intrigue at King James I’s court. Loved the enemies-to-lovers romance and the adventurous plot.

8. Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Mexican Gothic – I’m so impressed with Moreno-Garcia’s versatility; I’ve read three of her books and really enjoyed them all, even though they’re all quite different from each other! This one is a bit too much horror for my taste, but there’s also a great sense of place and a wonderful heroine.

9. Mimi Matthews, Rules for Ruin – Matthews is one of my favorite historical romance authors, and I’m thrilled that this first book in her new series did not disappoint! The hero and heroine are progressive but not anachronistically so, and their attraction is palpable despite the lack of sex scenes. I can’t wait for the next book!

10. Linda Holmes, Back After This – I really enjoy Holmes’s low-key writing style; her characters feel like real humans, and their dialogue is funny but in a realistic way. Heroine Cecily is likable while also demonstrating a clear need for growth, and her character arc is truly satisfying.

Happy new thread, Christina. It looks like a good reading year so far, may the second half be just as good!

>9 MissWatson: Thank you!

Happy New Thread! I'm looking forward to following your reading in the second half of the year.

>11 MissBrangwen: Thanks for stopping by, and same to you!

Book #62: Cara Bastone, Just a Heartbeat Away
CATs: Color (white = text, sidewalk); Random (the hills are alive = romance between child’s teacher and widowed father)
Bingo: none

Sebastian Dorner, grieving the sudden death of his wife, is shocked and ashamed when his son Matty’s preschool teacher, Via DeRosa, gently tells him that Matty shows signs of neglect. Seb vows to do better, and two years later, he and Matty are in much better shape. Seb is volunteering at Matty’s new school, where Via just happens to be the new guidance counselor. A mutual attraction builds between them, but Seb is 42 while Via is 27 and has a boyfriend. Will these obstacles prevent their romance? Ultimately, of course, the answer is no, but getting there is a delicious, achingly slow burn. I loved this book’s nuanced portrayal of grief and strong characterization, even of the minor players. Much as I adored Seb and Via together, some of my favorite scenes in the book were between Seb and his mother-in-law, who have a complicated relationship. Overall, I really enjoyed this novel and am eager to continue with the series. Highly recommended if you don’t mind some heavier elements in your romance.

Book #63: Fiona Hill, The Practical Heart
CATs: none
Bingo: none

Gillian Spencer has just taken a job as companion to the two daughters of a viscount. Because the viscount is deeply in debt, Gillian must get the daughters married as soon as possible—preferably to rich men. But even with the help of the viscount’s handsome nephew, Miles Lawrence, she finds that her task is harder than she thought. After really enjoying The Country Gentleman, I was excited to try more by Fiona Hill, but I must say this book was a bit disappointing. It’s so short (only 139 pages in my e-book copy) that there’s really no time for character development. The romance between Gillian and Miles is barely sketched in, and the other characters are just there for hijinks and comic relief. I did still enjoy the writing style, particularly the viscount’s ornate way of speaking, but otherwise this one is just okay. I bought a whole Hill anthology for $2.99, though, so I will certainly try more of her work.

Happy New Thread.

>15 lowelibrary: Thanks for stopping by!

Book #64: Maggie Stiefvater, The Listeners
CATs: Random (the hills are alive = World War II, mountainous setting)
Bingo: Child as main character (Hannelore)

June Hudson is the general manager of the luxurious Avallon Hotel in the mountains of West Virginia, where the mysterious sweetwater has kept the hotel prosperous. The U.S. has just entered World War II, and the government calls upon the Avallon to host a large group of Axis diplomats, both to keep them out of mischief and to show the enemy how prisoners should be treated. June is deeply conflicted about this assignment but resolves to treat the Nazis like any other guests. Eventually, however, both June and the Avallon reach a breaking point that will change the course of June’s life. I’m a huge fan of Maggie Stiefvater’s writing, so I was incredibly excited for her adult debut, and overall I was not disappointed. The story is based on true WWII events, and it’s a great backdrop for June’s character arc, as every decision becomes a compromise among competing priorities. The fantasy elements felt a bit unnecessary to me, but they also didn’t detract from the story. There’s a wonderful romance as well, so overall, I’d definitely recommend this one to fans of WWII-era historical fiction.

Books #65-66: Loretta Chase, Viscount Vagabond and The Devil’s Delilah
CATs: Color (white = fan and dress)
Bingo: none

In Viscount Vagabond, the titular viscount is rebellious Max Demowery, who chafes at his aristocratic duties, but his chivalrous nature kicks in when he encounters the innocent young Catherine Pelliston in a brothel. After rescuing her from a fate worse than death, he can’t seem to get her out of his head, even while he courts another lady. And in The Devil’s Delilah, Max’s bookish friend, Jack Langdon, has his life upended by Delilah Desmond, the daughter of a notorious rake who plans to publish his scandalous memoirs. This would be bad for Delilah, who hopes to make an advantageous marriage, so she enlists Jack’s help to prevent their publication. I had a blast rereading these older Loretta Chase titles! They’re light and fun but also well-written and genuinely funny, with plenty of chemistry despite being closed-door. Historical romance fans should definitely seek these out!

My review of Ashley Weaver's One Final Turn is up on the All About Romance blog! Here's an excerpt:

"Overall ... I did enjoy One Final Turn and found it a fitting end to the series. (It’s also a quick and easy read; I breezed through it in about a day.) I had some quibbles with the resolution—every storyline is wrapped up in a neat little bow, and even as someone who loves a tidy ending, I found the epilogue a bit much. But I think fans of the series will be happy with how everything turns out, and I would encourage people who enjoy light historical mysteries to check out this series."

Full review is here: https://allaboutromance.com/book-review/one-final-turn-by-ashley-weaver/

Book #67: Tana French, Broken Harbor
CATs: Color (white); Alpha (T = Tana); Mystery (series = Dublin Murder Squad #4)
Bingo: none

Detective Mick “Scorcher” Kennedy has the top solve rate on the Dublin Murder Squad, which he attributes to his hard work and emotional detachment. But when he’s assigned to a high-profile case—an entire family murdered in their home—he finds himself becoming more and more personally invested as he and his rookie partner investigate. I think Tana French is a really good writer, and even though I wasn’t particularly interested in Scorcher’s story when I started this book, she soon made me empathize with him. The book’s central question also resonates: How much control do we really have over our own lives? But it’s so slow, diving deep into the minutiae of police procedure, and ultimately it took me a long time to read because I found it very put-downable. I do still want to continue with the series, but it’ll probably be a while before I pick up the next book.

Stopping in to say (belated) happy new thread!
Your review on the previous thread of The Woman in the Library matched my feelings about it. I enjoyed the writing until near the end when it seemed to fall apart.

>21 mstrust: Thank you! And agreed about the ending. I remember that book getting a lot of buzz when it came out, and now I don't understand why.

>20 christina_reads: I read French's In the Woods and it was so bad that I am not yet ready (and it's been 3 years) to pick up another!

>20 christina_reads:, >23 Tess_W: You make me feel better! Friends raved about In the Woods when it first came out but I just couldn't get into it. It's still on the shelf and I mean to try it again after all these years but...

>23 Tess_W: That's fair! I did like it when I read it, but it's been years at this point, so I might have a different opinion today.

>24 clue: I will say, I almost gave up on In the Woods after the prologue, because the writing style really grated on me. But she won me over by the end.

Book #68: Brigitte Knightley, The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy
CATs: Color (white = text, woman’s dress)
Bingo: none

Osric Mordaunt is an assassin with a terminal illness. Aurienne Fairhrim, the best healer around, is the only person who might possibly be able to save his life. Too bad they hate each other, both personally and as a matter of principle. But Aurienne’s hospital desperately needs money to deal with a viral outbreak that’s targeting children, so Osric bribes her to help him. As they reluctantly work together to pursue a cure for his illness, they slowly grow closer. I’m a big fan of the enemies-to-lovers trope, and this book certainly deploys it well, with lots of charged banter and a slow burn that really ramps up the tension. But overall, the novel didn’t quite work for me; some of the banter felt forced, the occasional bawdiness was jarring, and I just wasn’t terribly invested in the romance. Also, the book is the first of a planned duology, and nothing is resolved at the end of this one! I didn’t realize I’d have to read a second book to get the whole story, and I’m honestly not sure if I care enough.

Book #69: Claudia Gray, The Rushworth Family Plot
CATs: Color (white = text); Mystery (series = Mr. Darcy and Miss Tilney #4)
Bingo: none

This fourth book in the Mr. Darcy and Miss Tilney mystery series is set in London, where both Jonathan and Juliet have been encouraged by their parents to look for other potential matches. But the two young people have eyes only for each other—that is, until another murder among their acquaintance captures their attention. The victim is Mr. Rushworth, Maria’s spurned husband from Mansfield Park, and it soon becomes evident that tensions are high within the Bertram household. There’s no shortage of suspects, especially when Henry and Mary Crawford also arrive in town. I’m continuing to enjoy this series, which takes Austen’s well-known characters in believable new directions, and I thought the treatment of the Mansfield Park set was particularly entertaining. I also enjoyed the overall plot, which results in a scandal that may divide Jonathan and Juliet forever. I’ll certainly keep reading the series—I want to know which Austen characters we’ll meet next!

Book #70: Alice Coldbreath, A Bride for the Prizefighter
CATs: none
Bingo: none

I’m reviewing this book for All About Romance, so I won’t say much here. It’s a historical romance set in the Victorian era and is unique in featuring characters who aren’t aristocrats or gentry. I liked it a lot—will link to my full review when it’s up on AAR!

ETA: My full review is here: https://allaboutromance.com/book-review/a-bride-for-the-prizefighter-by-alice-co....

>18 christina_reads: I just bought these after reading your review as they are so inexpensive. They sound so good and this author has been recommended so often!

>20 christina_reads: I for one loved In The Woods, but haven't continued with the series since I read it for no particular reason. I really must get to it one of these days.

>28 christina_reads: I'm looking forward to your review when it's published. I like the sound of the characters and also the cover.

>29 MissBrangwen: I hope you enjoy the Loretta Chase books! In the Tana French series, my favorite so far is #3, Faithful Place. And I'll definitely link to the Alice Coldbreath review once it's published...I just have to write it first! :)

Book #71: Kristen Britain, Spirit of the Wood
CATs: Color (white = text on front cover); Alpha (W = Wood)
Bingo: none

This novella in the Green Rider universe is a prequel to the main series, focusing on supporting character Laren Mapstone. But the story is actually told from the point of view of Tavin, a new Green Rider who’s accompanying Laren on his first mission. When she’s gravely wounded, he must figure out how to help her; but Laren is carrying a lot of grief and trauma from the recent wars with the Darrow Raiders, and Tavin’s magical gift of empathy means he must experience it all along with her. This was a decent little adventure, and I liked Tavin and wanted good things for him. His journey of self-discovery was satisfying if a little slow at times. I don’t think the book adds much to readers’ understanding of Laren, though it does reveal how she got her scar. Overall, a fine but not particularly memorable installment of the Green Rider series…though I might be a little too critical, since I find I’m just not very interested in the series anymore.

Book #72: Georgette Heyer, The Nonesuch
CATs: Color (white = clothes, text)
Bingo: none

Sir Waldo Hawkridge—known as the Nonesuch because of his superior looks, wealth, and social status—has just inherited an estate in Yorkshire. When he and his young cousin Julian visit the estate to evaluate its condition, they soon meet the various residents of the neighborhood. Julian is immediately smitten with the beautiful (but headstrong and selfish) Tiffany Wield, while Sir Waldo is intrigued by her companion, Ancilla Trent. Meanwhile, Ancilla is immediately drawn to Sir Waldo but fears he’d never seriously be interested a nobody like her. I adore Georgette Heyer, and normally I reread four or five of her novels every year. But I recently realized that I hadn’t yet read a single Heyer book this year! It’s been a long time since I read this one, and I enjoyed it SO much. The main romance is sweet, and the secondary characters add a lot of humor and charm. It doesn’t quite have the sparkle of my top favorite Heyers, but it’s still a delightful read!

Book #73: Lois McMaster Bujold, Masquerade in Lodi
CATs: none
Bingo: none

This novella in the Penric & Desdemona series comes after Penric's Fox in terms of internal chronology, but it’s set several years later, and Penric has recently relocated to the island city of Lodi. He is summoned to the local hospital to evaluate a “mad” patient, and he immediately realizes that the young man is possessed by a demon. Unfortunately, the patient escapes, so now Penric must find him somewhere in the city—no easy feat, given that Lodi is full of crowds for a holiday celebration—and team up with the local saint, with unexpected results. This series is such fun, and I really liked that this installment changes things up a little: Penric is in a new place, meeting new people, and looking for a missing person rather than investigating a murder. I’m especially intrigued by the saint, Chio, and hope she’ll return in future novellas. Overall, I’m still really liking this series and eager to continue with the next installment.

Book #74: Angela Thirkell, Wild Strawberries
CATs: Color (white = woman’s clothes); Cover (fruit = strawberries); Alpha (W = Wild; T = Thirkell)
Bingo: none

This 1930s social comedy centers around the Leslie family and Mary Preston, a niece by marriage who visits them one summer. The matriarch, Lady Emily, is kind but scatterbrained; her daughter Agnes is placid and indolent; her older son John is grieving the death of his wife; and her younger son David is an idle charmer. When Mary arrives at the Leslie estate, she’s immediately attracted to David, but Emily and Agnes want to set her up with John. This little love triangle is the only “plot” to speak of; the novel is very much a slice of life between the two world wars, and depending on one’s perspective, it’s either pleasantly soothing or incredibly dull. I’m in the former camp, and I enjoyed the peaceful, uneventful progress of this novel—though there is a jarring moment where David, who likes jazz, sings a racist minstrel song. I still liked the book overall, but it won’t be a keeper for me.

July recap

Books read in July:
1. Cara Bastone, Just a Heartbeat Away
2. Fiona Hill, The Practical Heart
3. Maggie Stiefvater, The Listeners
4. Loretta Chase, Viscount Vagabond
5. Loretta Chase, The Devil’s Delilah
6. Tana French, Broken Harbor
7. Brigitte Knightley, The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy
8. Claudia Gray, The Rushworth Family Plot
9. Alice Coldbreath, A Bride for the Prizefighter
10. Kristen Britain, Spirit of the Wood
11. Georgette Heyer, The Nonesuch
12. Lois McMaster Bujold, Masquerade in Lodi
13. Angela Thirkell, Wild Strawberries
14. Sherry Thomas, Ravishing the Heiress

Favorite book of the month:
I really adored Just a Heartbeat Away and am eager to read more by Bastone.

Dishonorable mention:
The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy was disappointing; the banter often felt forced, and I was not prepared for the unresolved ending! ETA: Ravishing the Heiress probably beats this book for most disappointing, as I absolutely hated the hero.

CATs completed:

• ColorCAT (white): Just a Heartbeat Away has white text and a white sidewalk on the cover. Viscount Vagabond features a white fan, and The Devil's Delilah has a white gown and gloves. Broken Harbor has a mostly white cover. The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy, The Rushworth Family Plot, Spirit of the Wood, and The Nonesuch all have white text on the cover, and The Nonesuch also features a man in a white shirt, waistcoat, and neckcloth. Wild Strawberries features a woman in a white dress.
  
• CoverCAT (fruit): Wild Strawberries has some titular strawberries at the bottom of the cover.
  
• AlphaKIT (W, T): *Tana French, Broken Harbor; Kristen Britain, Spirit of the *Wood; Angela *Thirkell, *Wild Strawberries; Sherry *Thomas, Ravishing the Heiress
  
• MysteryKIT (series sleuths): Broken Harbor is #4 in the Dublin Murder Squad series, and The Rushworth Family Plot is #4 in the Mr. Darcy and Miss Tilney series.
  
• RandomKIT (the hills are alive): Just a Heartbeat Away involves a romance between a young female teacher and an older widower, while The Listeners is set in a mountainous location during World War II.
  

Bingo squares completed:

• Child as main character: In The Listeners, young Hannelore Wolfe has some POV chapters, and she precipitates the book’s climax.
  

Books acquired in July:

• Alice Coldbreath, A Bride for the Prizefighter (e-book - already read)
  
• Victoria Holt, Mistress of Mellyn / Kirkland Revels
  
• Paulette Jiles, Simon the Fiddler
  
• China Miéville, The City & the City
  
• Edith Layton, To Tempt a Bride
  
• The Jane Austen Gift Set: A Puffin in Bloom 3-Book Collection (gift)
  

ETA: I ended up reading one more book in July (see >38 christina_reads:) and have updated this post accordingly.

Your thread keeps reminding me to try Georgette Heyer. I have acquired a couple but a gripping mystery usually wins out.

>36 VivienneR: Fair enough -- I definitely understand the allure of a gripping mystery! But next time you're in the mood for historical romance, I honestly think Heyer can't be beat.

Book #75: Sherry Thomas, Ravishing the Heiress
CATs: Alpha (T = Thomas) – I read this in July
Bingo: none

In this Victorian romance, Millie Graves is the daughter of a rich tradesman who has arranged a marriage for her with the destitute Earl Fitzhugh. When Millie meets Fitz, she falls in love with him immediately, but Fitz is much less impressed, since he’s already in love with his childhood sweetheart, Isabelle. When Millie realizes this, she proposes that they wait to consummate their marriage and that once she produces an heir, he and Isabelle can pursue an extramarital relationship. But as the designated time for the consummation draws near, Fitz is surprised to find that the woman he really desires is his wife. I was pretty disappointed in this book, mostly because Fitz is such a jerk for most of it! He spends his entire honeymoon drunk, openly cheats on Millie with random women, and makes absolutely no effort to understand her thoughts or feelings. I couldn’t believe we were supposed to be rooting for this guy, and he doesn’t do nearly enough in the end to make up for his abhorrent behavior. So I definitely would not recommend this one and am hoping that the other Thomas title on my shelves, His at Night, is a lot better!

A very belated Happy New Thread, Christina!

Thank you for your honesty about the couple of duds you've read. And I have a great-nephew who is devouring the Lois McMaster Bujold series. I'm glad to read your reviews to have something to talk to him about when his family comes to visit this week.

>39 threadnsong: Thank you, and I hope you have a lovely visit with your great-nephew and his family!

Book #76: Richard Hull, Excellent Intentions
CATs: Mystery (legal thrillers)
Bingo: none

This mystery story has a common Golden Age setup: Wealthy and thoroughly unpleasant Henry Cargate is poisoned on a train. It turns out any number of people wished him ill, but only a few had the means and opportunity to obtain the poison and put it in his snuffbox, where he’d be sure to inhale it. The unusual element of the novel is that it starts at the murder trial, where the prosecutor summarizes the case against the accused (whose identity isn’t revealed till very late in the book). The narration jumps back and forth between the trial and the preceding investigation, and readers get inside the heads of the Scotland Yard inspector, prosecuting and defense attorneys, and even the judge. I liked the clever narrative structure and the reminder that catching the murderer isn’t the end of the story. However, the actual mystery isn’t particularly creative or hard to solve; the unique structure is the most interesting part of the book.

Book #77: Stephanie Burgis, Wooing the Witch Queen
CATs: none
Bingo: none

Queen Saskia is a witch determined to protect her people from the evil empire that’s trying to invade her country. Archduke Felix is the embodiment of that empire and the focus of Saskia’s hatred. But Felix is merely a figurehead imprisoned by his conniving relatives, who are about to escalate from torture to murder. When Felix escapes, he runs straight into Saskia’s kingdom but can’t reveal his true identity, so he applies for a job as her librarian, where romance and cozy villainy ensue. I enjoy Burgis’s writing, but this book fell a little flat for me. I think it’s because there’s no nuance; the good characters are 100% good, the baddies are entirely evil, and the romance lacks any real tension or depth. This book illustrates a trend I’ve noticed in the past few years, where romantic heroes are implausibly perfect and exist solely to provide emotional support to the heroine. Of course, I don’t want horrible, misogynistic “heroes,” but I would like them to feel like actual human beings and not cardboard fantasies. All that said, I may read the next book in the series when it’s published, but I will get it from the library instead of buying.

Book #78: Kate Clayborn, Beginner’s Luck
CATs: none
Bingo: none

Six months ago, Kit Averin and her two best friends, Zoe and Greer, won the lottery. But Kit has no interest in changing her lifestyle, and despite being a brilliant materials scientist, she’s content with her job as a lab technician at the local university. When headhunter Ben Tucker comes to town to recruit her for a big manufacturing corporation, she turns him down flat. But as he persists and she gets to know him better, their growing attraction poses a threat to both Ben’s career and Kit’s hard-won sense of community. I’m a big fan of Kate Clayborn’s, and this book is no exception. It’s a contemporary romance in which the protagonists generally communicate well and act like adults, which I found extremely refreshing! I also liked that both Kit’s and Ben’s characters are revealed through their relationships, especially Ben and his dad. The resolution to the book’s central conflict is a bit glossed over, and I feel like Kit perhaps needs a bit more therapy to deal with her extreme aversion to change. But overall, I really enjoyed this book and am eager to continue with the series!

Book #79: Mary Balogh, First Comes Marriage
CATs: none
Bingo: none

This novel is the first in the Huxtables series, introducing a group of genteel but impoverished siblings whose destiny is changed forever when the brother, Stephen, unexpectedly inherits an earldom. Elliott Wallace, Viscount Lyngate, brings the news that Stephen is the new Earl of Merton and proposes to take him to London and instruct him in the duties of his new station. But since Stephen is only 17, his three older sisters demand to accompany him. For various plot reasons, Elliott agrees to a marriage of convenience with the second sister, the widowed Vanessa. But what starts as mutual antagonism eventually transforms into attraction and love. I generally enjoy Balogh’s historical romances, but while this book was fine, it didn’t make much of an impression on me. Beyond the initial setup, I barely recall any plot details, and I only read the book a week ago! I am mildly curious about the other Huxtables’ romances, so I’ll probably continue the series at some point, but this one was just okay.

Book #80: Jennifer Estep, Only Bad Options
CATs: Alpha (J = Jennifer); SF&F (space = set on other planets)
Bingo: none

In a futuristic, spacefaring society, Vesper Quill is a “lab rat” working for Kent Corporation. When she spots a design flaw in Kent’s new line of spaceships—a flaw that’s already resulted in a fatal crash—she notifies her superiors, only to be summarily fired and conscripted into the Imperial army, where she’ll most likely die in battle. But Vesper unexpectedly survives by teaming up with Kyrion Caldaren, one of the Empire’s most elite warriors. They come from two different worlds, but when an inconvenient psychic bond forms between them, they’ll have to work together to take down their enemies. This book is the equivalent of a summer blockbuster movie—not too deep, but plenty of action-packed fun. I liked the political intrigue and the reluctant attraction between Vesper and Kyrion, and I’ll probably continue with the series to find out how their story is resolved.

Book #81: Mimi Matthews, The Governess and the Rogue
CATs: Cover (photograph)
Bingo: none

I’m reviewing this one for All About Romance. It’s book 6 in the Somerset Stories series and features the youngest Beresford brother, Jack. I liked it, as I always like Matthews’s books, but this is not one of my favorites by her—pleasant enough, but there’s no conflict to speak of. I’d only recommend it if you’ve read and enjoyed the rest of the series.

ETA: My full review is now live on the All About Romance site! https://allaboutromance.com/book-review/the-governess-and-the-rogue-by-mimi-matt...

Books #82-83: Cara Bastone, Can’t Help Falling and Flirting with Forever
CATs: Cover (photograph)
Bingo: none

I really adored Bastone’s Just a Heartbeat Away and couldn’t resist jumping into the sequels! Can’t Help Falling follows Seb’s best friend, Tyler, and Via’s foster sister, Fin (short for Serafine). Tyler is super into Fin, but when he asks her out, she turns him down harshly, causing him to pull away from their friend group. A few months later, though, Tyler needs Fin’s help when he becomes the legal guardian of his teenage half-sister, Kylie. And in Flirting with Forever, Seb and Tyler’s friend Mary finds romance with the socially awkward John Modesto-Whitford, who inadvertently insults her on their first date but gradually wins her over. I enjoyed both of these books a lot, mostly because the characters are so well-defined and nuanced. The men, in particular, feel believable as people (in contrast to my earlier complaint about too-perfect heroes). The writing style is a bit clumsy at times, but in my opinion the books have enough substance and heart to make up for that. I’m definitely planning to seek out more by Bastone!

Happy new thread, Christina!

>45 christina_reads: That one sounds like fun :-) Oh goodness, the e-library has it available to borrow right now!

>48 susanj67: It's always great when the library copy is available right away!

Book #84: Lois McMaster Bujold, Penric’s Mission
CATs: none
Bingo: none

Penric is bound for Cedonia in a somewhat unofficial capacity; he’s tasked with delivering secret documents to a powerful general. But upon arrival, he’s immediately captured, injured, and imprisoned. When he finally escapes with Desdemona’s help, it’s just in time to hear that the general has been arrested for treason and blinded as punishment. Despite the fact that it’s not part of his mission, Penric decides to try and heal the general’s eyes—and grows closer to Nikys, the general’s sister, in the process. This series continues to delight, and this novella may be my favorite so far, with its combination of political intrigue and a fair bit of romance. Not everything is resolved, but I think the next installment of the series will continue to follow this adventure and perhaps provide some resolution. Can’t wait to continue!

Book #85: Jennie Goutet, A Regrettable Proposal
CATs: Color (gray = chapter headings); Cover (photograph); Alpha (J = Jennie)
Bingo: none

Stratford Tunstall has just inherited the estate and title of the Earl of Worthing. He is dismayed to learn that a valuable piece of unentailed property has been left not to him, but to the former earl’s ward, Eleanor Daventry. After a few drinks too many, Stratford decides that, since he needs a wife anyway, he should propose to Eleanor and thus regain control of the property—but she rejects his drunken and insulting proposal. She then departs for the London Season, and Stratford follows to apologize, only to realize he truly wants to marry her for love. I was predisposed to like this book—a steamless Regency romance with a bit of espionage on the side—but overall it was just okay. The uncertainty between Stratford and Eleanor drags on too long, and the spy subplot could not be less interesting or have lower stakes. That said, some of the secondary characters are a bit intriguing, and I wouldn’t mind reading the book featuring Stratford’s friend Lord Ingram, if I can find it somewhere free or cheap.

Book #86: Ashley Poston, A Novel Love Story
CATs: Alpha (N = Novel)
Bingo: none

Elsy is struggling in her career, friendships, and nonexistent love life. So she decides to take a vacation, planning to hole up in a mountain cabin and binge-read romance novels. But along the way, she gets lost and ends up in an idyllic small town—one she soon realizes is fictional! It’s the setting of her favorite romance series, which was left unfinished when the author tragically died. Elsy doesn’t know how she came to enter this imaginary world, but she loves seeing her favorite characters in the flesh. She even meets a grumpy yet handsome bookstore owner and dares to think she might belong in this town. I really enjoyed the concept of this novel and liked how it was resolved in the end. But otherwise, I didn’t find it particularly interesting. Elsy adores this town and its residents, but because I haven’t read the (fictional) series Elsy loves, I had no investment in the characters she meets or their problems. Elsy herself is a bit of a wet mop, with few defining characteristics apart from her sadness and her love of romance novels. I also found the prose a bit overwrought. Overall, not a terrible read, but not one I’d recommend either.

Book #87: AJ Pearce, Dear Miss Lake
CATs: Random (writer = advice columnist/war correspondent)
Bingo: none

It’s the summer of 1944, and Emmy Lake and her friends all know that the war will soon be over. In the meantime, though, the daily grind of wartime life—battle losses, rationing, German bombing raids—is taking its toll on everyone at Woman’s Friend. Emmy is determined to stay positive and adhere to the government’s instructions about publishing upbeat stories that look forward to an Allied victory. But when she starts receiving letters from women whose husbands and sons are prisoners of war and who are unable to get any information about them, she finds a new cause to fight for. This book is a fitting conclusion to the Emmy Lake series. It has the same light tone as the previous novels while still treating the book’s more serious events with appropriate gravity. My only complaint is that my favorite character, Guy Collins, doesn’t get a story of his own—he ought to be a romantic hero in his own book! I hope AJ Pearce will write it someday. But overall, I’d definitely recommend this series to people who enjoy World War II fiction that’s on the lighter side.

I was just skimming through your new thread and found a few books to add to my list. Thank you!

>54 purpleiris: Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you enjoy the books!

Book #88: Lynn Painter, Maid for Each Other
CATs: Random (writer = heroine is writing a short story)
Bingo: none

Abi works as a cleaner for Declan’s posh apartment, but they’ve never met. One night, since her own run-down apartment has a pest problem, she stays at Declan’s place, reasoning that he’s out of town and will never know. But in the morning, she runs into his parents, who have shown up for a surprise visit—and they assume she’s his girlfriend. When Declan finds out, he’s furious, but he also thinks his job would promote him more quickly if he were in a serious relationship. So he proposes a fake relationship to Abi, which she accepts once he agrees to pay off her student loans. But the more time they spend together, the more their relationship starts to feel real. I really love Lynn Painter’s rom-coms, and fake relationship is one of my favorite romance tropes, so this book was right up my alley! Painter excels at writing characters and love stories that feel really genuine and believable. The third-act breakup was unnecessary and irritating, but aside from that, I liked this book a lot and finished it with a big smile on my face.

My review of Alice Coldbreath's A Bride for the Prizefighter, which I mentioned above >28 christina_reads:, is now live at All About Romance: https://allaboutromance.com/book-review/a-bride-for-the-prizefighter-by-alice-co....

Book #89: Ally Carter, The Blonde Who Came In from the Cold
CATs: none
Bingo: none

Alex Sterling and Michael “King” Kingsley III are spies with a complicated history. In the present, they wake up in an unfamiliar pitch-black room in an unknown location, with no idea how they got there—and they’re handcuffed to each other. The book jumps back and forth in time between their present predicament and the history of their relationship, from when they first met 10 years ago to their first joint mission to the various covert ops they’ve done together. It’s clear from the outset that Alex and King have amazing chemistry, but it’s less clear that their romance could ever have a happy ending. I adored The Blonde Identity—the previous book in this series, featuring Alex’s sister, Zoe—and this book is a similarly well-written, fast-paced, enjoyable spy romance. I cared about both Alex and King as characters, and though they’re frustrating and stubborn sometimes, I was rooting for them all the way. I do think this book is less fun than The Blonde Identity; there’s a lot more drama and angst in the romance, and the stakes of the spy plot feel higher. But if you love a good romantic caper and don't mind the constant time-hopping, you should definitely check this one out.

Book #90: Hannah Nicole Maehrer, Accomplice to the Villain
CATs: Alpha (N = Nicole)
Bingo: none

In this third installment of the Villain series, the entire villainous gang is on a quest to find the magical items and people that will allow them to fulfill the Rennedawn Prophecy, defeat King Benedict, and save the kingdom. But Trystan’s magic is malfunctioning, Kingsley is losing his humanity and becoming pure frog, and there’s a traitor inside the Villain’s ranks (again). Meanwhile, Trystan tries to keep his distance from Evie because of a prophecy that they’ll destroy each other, but obviously Evie is having none of that. This book, and the series as a whole, is a hot mess. I honestly have only the faintest idea of what’s going on with the plot, and I’m not sure it matters; clearly the only thing readers are supposed to care about is the romance. And I’ll admit, I do care about Trystan and Evie’s relationship, which takes a big step forward here. And some of the side romances are also adorable (Gideon and Keeley!). Apparently the author plans one more book in this series, and I will read it just to see how everything turns out. But quality-wise, I can’t say I’d recommend this series.

>51 christina_reads: I listened to The Christmas Ruse by Jennie Goutet a couple of years ago and liked it very much, but I haven't tried anything else by her so far. It doesn't sound like this one is her best.

>60 MissBrangwen: I would like to try another Jennie Goutet book. I was really excited about A Regrettable Proposal for the first few chapters, so maybe it's just the plot and pacing of that particular book that I didn't enjoy. I'll add The Christmas Ruse to my list!

>56 christina_reads: I finished this last week and really liked it, too!

>62 purpleiris: Yay, glad you enjoyed it! Have you read her previous adult novel, Happily Never After? I think it's my favorite Lynn Painter book so far.

I did read it and I enjoyed it. I think my favorite so far has been Accidentally Amy though.

>64 purpleiris: I haven't read that one yet -- will add it to my list!

My review of Mimi Matthews's latest, The Governess and the Rogue, is now live on All About Romance: https://allaboutromance.com/book-review/the-governess-and-the-rogue-by-mimi-matt.... My brief thoughts are at >46 christina_reads:.

Book #91: Loretta Chase, Knaves’ Wager
CATs: Color (gray = man’s bottoms)
Bingo: none

Lilith Davenant is a widow of icy demeanor and unquestionable virtue. Julian, the Marquess of Brandon, is a notorious rake. For plot reasons, Julian wagers that he can seduce Lilith within eight weeks. But as he uses every tactic at his disposal to woo Lilith, he begins to genuinely enjoy her company. Meanwhile, Lilith dislikes and distrusts Julian at first, but as she gets to know him better, she realizes she’s seriously at risk of losing her heart. I'm a fan of Chase's romances in general, but I think this one might be my favorite. It's very reminiscent of Heyer in its language and plot, but with a bit more angst and drama in the romance. Love makes both Lilith and Julian better people, and Julian's transformation from callous seducer to sincere lover is particularly great to watch. Highly recommended for historical romance fans, this one was a pleasure to reread!

Deleting duplicate post!

Book #92: William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White, The Elements of Style, Fourth Edition
CATs: Color (gray = cover); Random (writer = advice for writers)
Bingo: Oldest book on my TBR (owned since before 8/8/06, when I first started cataloguing books on LT)

I somehow made it through an English degree and almost a decade as a professional editor without reading this book, which is a classic (maybe even the classic) American work on writing and grammar. I expected it to be stuffy and out of date -- and it is, a bit. The authors resist using "hopefully" to mean "it is to be hoped," but that ship has definitely sailed at this point. And their brief mention of that newfangled invention, the word processor, is adorable. But most of this book is still helpful and relevant, and I was surprised by how funny it is too! "Prestigious. Often an adjective of last resort. It's in the dictionary, but that doesn't mean you have to use it." Overall, I think this book would be useful for students or anyone whose job requires a lot of writing, editing, or both (notice how I didn't use "and/or," which the authors call "a device, or shortcut, that damages a sentence and often lends to confusion or ambiguity"). It deserves its classic status.

August recap

Books read in August:
1. Richard Hull, Excellent Intentions
2. Stephanie Burgis, Wooing the Witch Queen
3. Kate Clayborn, Beginner’s Luck
4. Mary Balogh, First Comes Marriage
5. Jennifer Estep, Only Bad Options
6. Mimi Matthews, The Governess and the Rogue
7. Cara Bastone, Can’t Help Falling
8. Cara Bastone, Flirting with Forever
9. Lois McMaster Bujold, Penric’s Mission
10. Jennie Goutet, A Regrettable Proposal
11. Ashley Poston, A Novel Love Story
12. AJ Pearce, Dear Miss Lake
13. Lynn Painter, Maid for Each Other
14. Ally Carter, The Blonde Who Came In from the Cold
15. Hannah Nicole Maehrer, Accomplice to the Villain
16. Loretta Chase, Knaves’ Wager
17. William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White, The Elements of Style, Fourth Edition

Favorite book of the month:
Beginner's Luck is such a well-executed contemporary romance, with protagonists who act like adults.

Dishonorable mention:
Accomplice to the Villain felt like the book equivalent of empty calories -- fun in the moment but ultimately a waste of time.

CATs completed:

• ColorCAT (gray): A Regrettable Proposal has a gray lacy design at the beginning of each chapter heading, the cover of Knaves’ Wager features a man wearing gray pantaloons, and The Elements of Style has a mostly gray cover.
  
• CoverCAT (photograph):The Governess and the Rogue, Can’t Help Falling, Flirting with Forever, and A Regrettable Proposal all have photographic elements on the cover.
  
• AlphaKIT (N, J): *Jennifer Estep, Only Bad Options; *Jennie Goutet, A Regrettable Proposal; Ashley Poston, A *Novel Love Story; Hannah *Nicole Maehrer, Accomplice to the Villain
  
• MysteryKIT (legal thrillers): Excellent Intentions isn't really a thriller, but it is a mystery featuring some courtroom drama that significantly affects the outcome of the case.
  
• RandomKIT (writer): The protagonist of Dear Miss Lake is a journalist, the heroine of Maid for Each Other is an aspiring writer, and The Elements of Style is a style and grammar manual for writers.
  
• SF&FKIT (space): Only Bad Options features a malfunctioning spaceship and various human-colonized planets.
  

Bingo squares completed:

• Oldest book on your TBR: I've owned The Elements of Style since at least 2006, when I first joined LT, so it's definitely among the oldest books I own!
  

Books acquired in August:

• Cara Bastone, Can’t Help Falling (e-book, already read)
  
• Cara Bastone, Flirting with Forever (e-book, already read)
  
• Cara Bastone, When We First Met (e-book)
  
• Alice Coldbreath, A Substitute Wife for the Prizefighter (e-book)
  
• Alice Coldbreath, A Contracted Spouse for the Prizefighter (e-book)
  
• Jodi Taylor, The Nothing Girl (e-book)
  
• T. Kingfisher, A Sorceress Comes to Call (already read)
  
• Megan Bannen, The Undercutting of Rosie and Adam
  
• Susanna Kearsley, The King’s Messenger (already read)
  

>53 christina_reads: Going to look up book 1 in that series!

>71 Tess_W: I hope you like it! The first book is Dear Mrs. Bird.

>64 purpleiris: I picked up an e-copy of Accidentally Amy since it's on sale today! :)

Book #93: T. Kingfisher, Hemlock & Silver
CATs: Color (silver = in the title)
Bingo: none

Since childhood Anja has been obsessed with poisons and their antidotes, and now she’s expert enough that the local townspeople turn to her for help with poisoning cases. Nevertheless, she’s shocked when the king himself comes to her with a problem: His 12-year-old daughter, Snow, is sick from no obvious cause, and her condition is worsening. Anja travels to Snow’s residence and attempts to discover if and how the princess is being poisoned. What she actually discovers is a portal to a mysterious other world; but will she be able to thwart the evil lurking there and save Snow’s life? I’ve loved every one of Kingfisher’s books that I’ve read so far, and this one is no exception. Blunt, tactless Anja is a delight, and her narrative voice keeps the book from being too dark or scary despite a few horror-adjacent moments. I also really liked the desert setting, which evokes Mexico or the American Southwest rather than the traditional quasi-medieval-European fantasy kingdom. There’s a bit of romance too, which is always welcome. Definitely recommended if the premise appeals to you!

>73 christina_reads: Ha, it's on sale on Amazon Germany as well, and I picked it up, too! Thank you for the tip! I don't know when I'll get to it, but I really like the idea of the meet cute.

>64 purpleiris: Thanks for the recommendation!

>73 christina_reads: Can't wait to hear what you think!

>75 MissBrangwen: You're welcome! I hadn't seen that particular meet cute before either!

Book #94: Laura Wood, Let’s Make a Scene
CATs: Alpha (M = Make)
Bingo: Hollywood! (main characters are famous actors)

Cynthie Taylor is a famous actress who’s just been dumped, and press coverage of the breakup has been merciless. To turn things around, her agent suggests that she sign on to a sequel of the film that launched her career. Unfortunately, that means reuniting with her costar, Jack Turner-Jones, with whom she has a tempestuous history. Even worse, her agent wants them to fake-date each other to create good buzz for the new film. As Cynthie and Jack grow closer in the present, they also have to come to terms with the past. I love a good fake-dating rom-com, and this one is funny, well written, and pure wish fulfillment in a good way. I liked how the narrative alternates between the present and 13 years ago, when Cynthie and Jack first met; the switches happen just often enough to give context and complexity to their relationship. I also liked all the behind-the-scenes acting stuff, especially since the movies are Austen-esque period pieces—it made me wish I could actually watch them! It looks like Wood has already written a book featuring Cynthie’s friend Theo, which I’m now interested in checking out as well.

This sounds fun. I'll have to add Wood to my list of authors to check out.

>69 christina_reads: Is this the same author (E. B. White) who wrote so many beloved children's books? That must be why there are gentler touches to an otherwise dry manual of style.

I remember the early days of word processing, when people wrote out their letters and memoranda *by hand* and passed them to their secretaries (as I was) for typing.

>79 purpleiris: I was pretty charmed by it! Hope enjoy it too.

>80 threadnsong: Yes, it is the same E.B. White who wrote Charlotte's Web, etc.! And I'll admit, as an editor I'm very glad that manuscripts are submitted in digital formats these days -- much easier to correct errors and move chunks of text around!

Book #95: Lois McMaster Bujold, Mira’s Last Dance
CATs: Alpha (B = Bujold, M = McMaster, Mira’s)
Bingo: none

Penric’s rescue mission continues in this novella, as he flees to safety with political target General Arisaydia and his widowed sister Nikys. They need to leave the country without being discovered, which means they must travel in disguise. When their journey leads them to shelter in a brothel, Penric poses as a female courtesan, drawing on the experience of Mira, one of Desdemona’s previous riders. But this masquerade is dangerous in more ways than one, as it complicates the mutual attraction between Penric and Nikys. This series continues to be enjoyable, though this installment is very short on plot. Penric’s gender-bending disguise is the main event, and it causes Nikys to reflect more deeply on the relationship between Penric and Desdemona, and what that might mean for a possible romance. The novella ends on an ambiguous note, so I’m interested to see what happens next!

Book #96: Mimi Matthews, The Marriage Method
CATs: Cover (dogs or cats = multiple cats); Alpha (M = Mimi, Matthews, Marriage, Method)
Bingo: none

I read an advance copy of this book, which will be published on November 25 in the US. It's book #2 in the Crinoline Academy series, after Rules for Ruin. I'm reviewing this one for All About Romance, so here I'll just say that I enjoyed it, though not quite as much as book #1 in the series. I'll link to my review on AAR once it's live!

Book #97: R.F. Kuang, Babel
CATs: Color (silver = on the cover, silver magic is important); Alpha (B = Babel); SF&F (back to school = Oxford)
Bingo: none

Robin Swift is a half-Chinese boy plucked from the slums of Canton and raised to study at Oxford’s prestigious Babel Institute of Translation. Babel scholars are trained to work silver magic via their powers of translation—and this magic in turn powers the might of the British Empire. When Robin first comes to Oxford, he falls in love with the university and the people in his cohort, who are all outsiders like him because of race, gender, or both. But the more he learns about silver magic and its ties to imperialism, the more conflicted he becomes. This is a novel I really wanted to like, and I did enjoy parts of it, like the Oxford setting and all the information about linguistics. But this is a novel with a clear message (imperialism is bad and must be resisted with violence), and I felt like I was reading a polemic rather than a story. The characters we’re supposed to like are not very likable or nuanced, and the villains are absolutely pure evil. So overall, I found this book disappointing, though I think I’m in the minority with that opinion.

>84 christina_reads: My husband shared your thoughts on this book. He started it with high expectations but I think it was a DNF.

>85 LadyoftheLodge: Glad to know I'm not the only one!

>84 christina_reads: I didn’t care much for this one myself. I was drawn by the promise of linguistic magic, but essentially the same book could have been written as straight-up historical fiction with no fantasy elements at all. And you’re right: it is a polemic, and the characters were not ones I cared about.

>87 Charon07: I agree -- it's very strange that the magic is made out to be so important, yet the world with magic is really no different from the world without magic. I loved all the translation theory, but I wish it had actually mattered more in the story.

>84 christina_reads: Yes, a bunch of interesting ideas in this book, but weighed down by the thin characters. I was puzzled by how a bunch of young adults left unsupervised were so uninterested in sex.

>89 RidgewayGirl: Yes, I thought that too! There's some romantic subtext, but nary a mention of a sexual encounter (even so much as a kiss, even off-page), and these are college students!

Book #98: Ellis Peters, The Holy Thief
CATs: none
Bingo: none

In the penultimate book of the Cadfael series, the civil war between King Stephen and Empress Maud has led to the destruction of a Benedictine abbey in Ramsey. Some of its brothers come to Brother Cadfael’s abbey in Shrewsbury to request their aid. Meanwhile, a troubadour from the South of France and his entourage, which includes a beautiful young woman, are also staying at the abbey. When a saint’s relics are stolen and a witness to the theft is murdered, Cadfael must once again investigate these mysteries and determine how justice can best be served. It’s always a pleasure to escape into the world of these novels, and I liked that after taking a backseat in The Summer of the Danes, Cadfael is back at the center of the action, finding clues, interviewing suspects, and talking things over with Hugh. I also liked the callbacks to A Morbid Taste for Bones, although if you don’t remember certain events from that book, you may have a little trouble following this one. But if you love the Cadfael series, this novel won’t disappoint.

Book #99: Kate Clayborn, Luck of the Draw
CATs: none
Bingo: none

Winning the lottery has enabled Zoe Ferris to quit her job as a high-powered lawyer, but she’s felt stuck in her life since then. After a tipsy night spent thinking about her regrets, she decides to apologize to the people she feels she’s wronged. At the top of the list are the O’Learys, whose son overdosed on prescription pain meds; Zoe’s firm represented the pharmaceutical company and settled the case out of court. When Zoe shows up at the O’Leary house, she’s confronted by their other son, Aiden, who isn’t interested in her apology. He does, however, need someone to pose as his fiancée for plot reasons; Zoe, viewing this as her penance, agrees. But as she and Aiden spend more time together, they form an unexpected bond. I really liked this book and read it in a day. Clayborn excels at writing believable, nuanced characters, and I was rooting throughout for Zoe and Aiden, who are both lonely and dealing with a weight of grief and guilt. So this isn’t a light, fun read by any means, but I liked it a lot and look forward to reading the final book in the trilogy.

>91 christina_reads: This is one of my favorite series. I have An Excellent Mystery in my book stack to re-read. I acquired a nice used copy in trade paperback size. My older copy (that I bought new!) was mass market and rather well-loved, and the print size was small.

>92 christina_reads: I once knew someone who baked a "grudge cake" at the end of the year and took it to work, awarding a piece to each person with whom they got into a conflict or carried a grudge over the past year. (No, it was not a poisoned cake, nor did it have any other weird ingredients. Guess I am reading too many mystery novels, since that thought popped into my mind immediately.)

>93 LadyoftheLodge: An Excellent Mystery is one that I still remember vividly -- hope you enjoy your reread!

And I LOLed at the "grudge cake"! Was your acquaintance doing it as a sincere apology, or was he/she being passive-aggressive? Either way, everyone gets cake, so I think it's a great idea!

>94 christina_reads: Good question! I think there was a bit of both apology and passive/aggressive, as I think back to some of the personalities involved (they were all scientists and engineers. . .I am thinking of Big Bang Theory here too. LOL)

Book #100: Ngaio Marsh, Death at the Bar
CATs: Alpha (B = Bar; M = Marsh)
Bingo: none

In this Golden Age mystery, a game of darts at the pub turns deadly when one of the players is hit by a dart—and almost immediately dies of cyanide poisoning. A trace of cyanide solution is found on the dart, but who had the opportunity to put it there? And why should anyone want to murder Luke Watchman, a celebrated London barrister? I’m continuing to enjoy the Inspector Alleyn series—this is the ninth installment—but I find that the beginnings of the novels are stronger than the endings. The first several chapters of this book are entertaining as they establish the various characters and relationships. But once the death occurs, Alleyn and his associate Fox spend most of their time interviewing suspects and searching the pub (but not telling the reader what they discover). So the second half drags a bit, and the slight romantic subplot among secondary characters isn’t terribly convincing. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the book overall and will certainly continue with the series.

Book #101: Naomi Novik, The Summer War
CATs: none
Bingo: none

Celia is 12 years old when she inadvertently curses her oldest brother, Argent, to a life without love. Argent leaves home and soon gains renown as a great knight, but Celia is racked with guilt about the curse and knows she must find a way to break it. But that means entering the summerlands, the fairy realm bordering her kingdom, where many dangers await. I’m a big fan of Naomi Novik in general, and my favorite of her books are the ones with fairytale elements: Uprooted and Spinning Silver. This novella has a similar flavor, and there are some enchanting scenes and bits of world-building. But I wanted so much more from this world and these characters. Celia herself is pretty passive for most of the story, as well as being a child—I want to know what happens after she grows up! I’d love to see more of her overlooked middle brother, Roric, as well. So on its own, this novella isn’t fully satisfying, but I’d love to see it expanded into a full-length novel!

>91 christina_reads: I tried book 1 in the Brother Cadfael series and it was a DNF. I'm thinking, since it's been some time, I should give him another try.

>98 Tess_W: It may be the rare series where it's better not to start with book one. The second book, One Corpse Too Many, is probably my favorite of the series and is a bit more "typical," if you ever want to try again.

>99 christina_reads: Thanks! I may do that!

>100 Tess_W: I agree. When I first read the series, I didn’t start with the first book. Later books in the series were more interesting and appealing.

>101 LadyoftheLodge: I think my first Cadfael book was actually #4, Saint Peter's Fair. I will forever be grateful to the librarian who randomly suggested the series to me when I was in my early teens.

September recap

With just three months left in 2025 (how did that happen?!), I'm taking stock of where things stand with my challenge. I've reached my target of 100 books, but I haven't completed my "Series and Sequels" category yet. Only three books to go, though, so I shouldn't have any trouble finishing up.

I also have two Bingo squares left, and I am really struggling with the "nonhuman narrator" square! A lot of online lists focus on nonhuman main characters who aren't actually the narrators of the books. I don't want to read something cutesy from the POV of a pet, so I'm a bit stumped. Any recommendations would be very welcome!

Books read in September:
1. T. Kingfisher, Hemlock & Silver
2. Laura Wood, Let’s Make a Scene
3. Lois McMaster Bujold, Mira’s Last Dance
4. Mimi Matthews, The Marriage Method
5. R.F. Kuang, Babel
6. Ellis Peters, The Holy Thief
7. Kate Clayborn, Luck of the Draw
8. Ngaio Marsh, Death at the Bar
9. Naomi Novik, The Summer War

Favorite book of the month:
Hemlock & Silver is another winner from T. Kingfisher, combining an excellent heroine with a magical setting, some dark fairytale elements, and a bit of romance.

Dishonorable mention:
Babel was so disappointing to me; I wanted a magical Oxford story with cool world-building, but instead I got a political rant.

CATs completed:

• ColorCAT (silver): Hemlock & Silver has silver in the title; Babel has silver on the cover and uses silver magic as a main plot point.
  
• CoverCAT (dogs or cats): The Marriage Method has multiple cats on the cover.
  
• AlphaKIT (B, M): Laura Wood, Let’s *Make a Scene; Lois *McMaster *Bujold, *Mira’s Last Dance; *Mimi *Matthews, The *Marriage *Method; R.F. Kuang, *Babel; Ngaio *Marsh, Death at the *Bar
  
• SFFKIT (back to school): Babel is set primarily at Oxford.
  

Bingo squares completed:

• Hollywood!: The main characters in Let’s Make a Scene are famous actors working on a feature film.
  

Books acquired in September:

• Lynn Painter, Accidentally Amy (e-book)
  
• Mimi Matthews, The Marriage Method (free e-book, ARC - already read)
  
• Sharon Lee and Steve Miller, Local Custom
  
• E.C.R. Lorac, Murder in the Mill-Race
  
• Susanna Kearsley, The Splendour Falls
  
• Holly Smale, Cassandra in Reverse
  

>103 christina_reads: For a nonhuman narrator, I heartily recommend All Systems Red, with Murderbot as the first-person narrator. I think a couple of Becky Chambers’ Wayfarers series would also count; although technically they use limited-third-person narration, the POV characters of A Closed and Common Orbit and The Galaxy, and the Ground Within are an AI and various aliens, respectively. But I see you didn’t care for A Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet, and while I liked the later books better, there is still very little plot.

>104 Charon07: Thanks! I might have to bite the bullet and go with Murderbot -- though I'm not sure why I'm reluctant to read it, since everyone seems to love the series! Becky Chambers in general isn't for me, though I did like A Psalm for the Wild-Built -- but alas, not narrated by a nonhuman.

>103 christina_reads: I can recommend Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro for a non human narrator as well as The Bees by Lalline Paull

>106 Tess_W: Thanks for the recs! I have enjoyed the Ishiguro books I've read so far.

Book #102: Georgette Heyer, A Civil Contract
CATs: none
Bingo: none

Adam Deveril, Viscount Lynton, has just inherited a derelict estate and needs a lot of money fast. He must marry an heiress—but he’s already in love with Julia Oversley, who doesn’t have the requisite fortune. Reluctantly, Adam pursues Jenny Chawleigh instead, the plain and commonplace daughter of a rich tradesman. After they marry, Adam is frequently frustrated by his vulgar father-in-law and pines after Julia; but as he and Jenny build a life together, he finds himself surprisingly contented. I adore Georgette Heyer but had never reread this particular novel before, probably because it’s one of her least romantic romances. It’s a marriage of convenience that arguably never deepens into true love, though by the end Adam and Jenny do share a firm friendship and genuine affection. I do appreciate this book’s realistic look at love and marriage, but it’s never going to be one of my favorite Heyers—I guess I like a little more fantasy and escapism in this genre!

>103 christina_reads: I read Ithaca which is narrated by the goddess Hera. It is lengthy, which is why I rated it "only" 3.5 stars, but it might be worth a try if you enjoy Greek retellings.

>109 MissBrangwen: Thanks for the rec!

Book #103: Richard Osman, The Impossible Fortune
CATs: Color (black = cover text, fox); Alpha (F = Fortune)
Bingo: none

***Warning: SPOILERS for previous books in the series!***

It’s been a quiet year for the Thursday Murder Club, which has allowed Elizabeth to grieve her husband’s death and Joyce to focus on her daughter’s wedding. But at the reception, a new case comes their way when the best man, Nick, tells Elizabeth that someone is trying to kill him. Shortly thereafter, he disappears. The gang discovers that Nick and his business partner, Holly, are the only two people with access to a hidden fortune; did someone kidnap or kill Nick to steal the money? Meanwhile, Ron deals with a threat to his family, and drug dealer Connie Johnson experiences personal growth. This series continues to be delightful, and after the last book was such a tearjerker, it was nice to read a comparatively lighthearted story. I enjoyed Joanna and her new husband being brought into the fold, and I thought the mystery itself (involving codes) was pretty clever. Overall, I had a lot of fun with this book and am glad the series is continuing.

>84 christina_reads: I liked Babel for some of the reasons you didn't! It definitely was a rant against colonialism, but because of the author's Chinese heritage I was interested in her perspective. I found Yellowface interesting for similar reasons. Perhaps as she gets older she'll be able to step back and make her points without ranting.

>103 christina_reads: Going out on a limb here with the non-human narrator, but would either Bambi or Watership Down fit? They both delve deeply into the world (as the author sees it) of deer (and other forest creatures) and rabbits (and other species they encounter).

I'm racking my brain to think of any non-human sci fi books that I could recommend for that BINGO card; even the series by John Scalzi that starts with Lock In is narrated by humans, albeit in a non-humanoid body.

>112 pamelad: I'm glad it worked better for you! I am still mildly interested in reading Yellowface at some point, but I'll probably wait a while.

>113 threadnsong: Thanks for the recs! I've read Watership Down before, but it's been a long time.

Book #104: Christopher Beha, The Index of Self-Destructive Acts
CATs: none
Bingo: none

This novel charts the downfall of the wealthy and prominent Doyle family during the course of a single baseball season in New York. Patriarch Frank Doyle is a prominent baseball writer and political commentator; his wife, Kit, works in high finance; son Eddie is at loose ends after leaving the army; and daughter Margo is theoretically getting her PhD but actually not doing much of anything. As the summer of 2009 unfolds, all four characters make choices that will have long-lasting consequences for their and their friends’ lives. I read this novel for a book club with some of my colleagues. I never would have picked it up otherwise, but I was glad to be pushed slightly out of my comfort zone, because I found it well written and thought-provoking. However, I can’t say I enjoyed it; none of the main characters are particularly sympathetic, and it’s frustrating to watch them repeatedly make the worst possible decisions. Overall, I’m not sorry I read this book, but it’s definitely not a keeper for me.

Book #105: Lynn Painter, Fake Skating
CATs: Cover (something you can fit in a pocket = glasses, books, hands); Alpha (F = Fake; P = Painter)
Bingo: none

Every summer, Dani used to visit the small town of Southview, Minnesota, where she and her best friend, Alec, were inseparable. But then she moved away, and their friendship came to a painful end. Now Dani’s back in Southview full-time for her senior year, but the sweet, dorky Alec she once knew seems to have disappeared. The new Alec is a popular hockey star who wants nothing to do with Dani. But when circumstances force them into a fake-dating arrangement, they need to confront their shared past and deal with their true feelings. Lynn Painter excels at banter and great chemistry between her main characters, so the romance between Dani and Alec really worked for me. They’re obsessed with each other to a possibly unhealthy degree, but since they’re teenagers, I’ll give them a pass. :) The setup to the fake dating is pretty absurd, and some peripheral plot lines and characters didn’t totally gel for me. But I’ll forgive a lot in a romance if I like the central couple together, so overall I really enjoyed this one!

My very first review for All About Romance, covering Martha Waters's And Then There Was the One, is now live! https://allaboutromance.com/book-review/and-then-there-was-the-one-by-martha-wat...

I enjoyed the book; it's not a Golden Age mystery read-alike, but it does have a lot of fun with the tropes of that genre.

Book #106: Kristen Britain, Falling in a Sea of Stars
CATs: Alpha (F = Falling)
Bingo: none

In this eighth novel of the Green Rider series, although Sacoridia has defeated Second Empire, its troubles are far from over. Mornhavon the Black, growing ever stronger in Blackveil, summons an evil wraith to find Karigan—who is also being harassed by an enemy she thought she’d already defeated. Moreover, she’s trying to deal with her merchant clan’s business while her father is off rescuing Laren Mapstone, as well as decide what to do about her feelings for King Zachary. I was hoping this would be the last Green Rider book, but alas, there’s clearly still more to come. This book is 650 pages of not much happening, and while some storylines are fun (the Berry sisters), others are tedious and repetitive (everything at the D’yer Wall, Karigan’s mysterious enemy, the threadbare love triangle). I do still have some curiosity to see how things turn out, but since it’ll probably be at least three years till the next book, I feel reasonably confident in saying I’m done. I can always read a spoiler-filled review of subsequent books if I really need to know what happens.

Book #107: Adriana Trigiani et al., Ladies in Waiting: Jane Austen’s Unsung Characters
CATs: none
Bingo: none

I received an ARC of this book to review for All About Romance, so I won’t say too much about it yet; the book (and most likely my review) comes out next week. It’s an anthology of short stories commissioned in honor of Jane Austen’s 250th birthday, and many of the authors are pretty big names in the romance genre. All I’ll say now is that, like most short story collections, this one is a mixed bag. Will post a link to my review at AAR when it comes out!

ETA: My review on All About Romance is now live: https://allaboutromance.com/book-review/ladies-in-waiting-jane-austens-unsung-ch....

Book #108: Lois McMaster Bujold, The Prisoner of Limnos
CATs: Alpha (P = Prisoner)
Bingo: none

Penric has finally gotten General Arisaydia and his sister, Nikys, safely out of Cedonia and into the friendly country of Orbas. But then they learn that Nikys’s mother has been taken prisoner, which means Penric and Nikys—and Desdemona—must return to Cedonia and rescue her. As they attempt a prison break from a fortress sacred to the Daughter’s order, Penric and Nikys also consider whether they have a future together. This series continues to be delightful, and of course I’m a fan of the romance, which takes a step forward in this novella. I also love the well-thought-out and convincing theology of this world; Nikys’s encounter with the Daughter, and her subsequent conversation with Penric about it, is one of the highlights of the story. I’m still happy to be continuing with the series—although I do hope we get to see Inglis and Oswyl again at some point!

Book #109: Cassandra Dean, Silk & Scars
CATs: none
Bingo: none

The setting of this very short novella—more like a short story, really—is early Victorian England, and the plot is a version of Beauty and the Beast. Gwendolyn Parkes is (implausibly) a scribe in a law firm who accidently sends a personal letter, meant for a friend, to one of the firm’s clients: Edward, the Duke of Sowrith. Intrigued, Edward replies, and the two soon strike up a friendship via correspondence—but when they meet in person, his scars from an old injury and her lower social status hinder their romance. The best thing I can say about this story is that I didn’t pay any money for it. The plot strains credulity, the characters are two-dimensional, and the writing is clumsy. I did feel a flicker of charm when Edward, searching for something to write about, can only come up with, “The weather is nice.” But overall, I don’t recommend this one and won’t read more by the author.

Book #110: Cara Bastone, When We First Met
CATs: Alpha (F = First)
Bingo: none

After a series of mishaps in her life, elementary schoolteacher Cat is looking for some fun. She’d love to have a fling with her hot neighbor, Jared, but every time she tries to get him alone, she ends up talking with his roommate, Quentin, instead. Meanwhile, Quentin’s had a crush on Cat for months but knows she sees him as just a friend. But the more time they spend together, the more Cat finds herself noticing Quentin’s attractive qualities—and the more he hopes their friendship might evolve into something more. I’ve really enjoyed Cara Bastone’s Forever Yours series this year, and this prequel novella is no exception (and it can definitely stand alone). Cat and Quentin are super charming, individually and together, and I was happy to watch their relationship grow. And I was very pleased to see that a secondary character, who could have been a stereotypical “crazy ex-girlfriend,” turned out to have some nuance and depth. I’m really enjoying Cara Bastone’s contemporary romances and can’t wait to read more!

Book #111: Claire Delacroix, The Christmas Conquest
CATs: none
Bingo: none

Rhys and Catherine made a marriage of convenience two years ago, exchanging her wealth for his title and status. Now Catherine is madly in love with her husband but fears he doesn’t feel the same way, as he never pursues intimacy with her. As a result, she’s considering a separation and accepts an invitation to a friend’s house party to make her decision. Little does she know that Rhys does return her feelings, but he fears a family curse that will cause her to die in childbirth. When he attends the house party as well, Catherine—with a little help from a saucy instruction manual—decides to seduce her husband. This was another free e-book for me, and it was just okay. The couple has decent chemistry, but they spend way too much time not communicating for very silly reasons. There’s also a subplot with the courtesan who wrote the seduction manual, which I found utterly boring. Not recommended, but I’d consider trying the author again.

October recap

Books read in October:
1. Georgette Heyer, A Civil Contract
2. Richard Osman, The Impossible Fortune
3. Christopher Beha, The Index of Self-Destructive Acts
4. Lynn Painter, Fake Skating
5. Kristen Britain, Falling in a Sea of Stars
6. Adriana Trigiani et al., Ladies in Waiting: Jane Austen’s Unsung Characters
7. Lois McMaster Bujold, The Prisoner of Limnos
8. Cassandra Dean, Silk & Scars
9. Cara Bastone, When We First Met
10. Claire Delacroix, The Christmas Conquest

Favorite book of the month:
Nothing really knocked my socks off this month, but Bujold is reliably high quality, so I’ll go with The Prisoner of Limnos.

Dishonorable mention:
The Index of Self-Destructive Acts was kind of a slog, full of unlikable people making the worst possible decisions at every turn.

CATs completed:

• ColorCAT (black): The Impossible Fortune has bold black text on the cover, as well as a black silhouette of a fox.
  
• CoverCAT (something that fits in your pocket): The cover of Fake Skating shows eyeglasses, characters’ hands, and a pile of books, all of which can fit in a pocket.
  
• AlphaKIT (F, P): Richard Osman, The Impossible *Fortune; Lynn *Painter, *Fake Skating; Kristen Britain, *Falling in a Sea of Stars; Lois McMaster Bujold, The *Prisoner of Limnos; Cara Bastone, When We *First Met
  

Bingo squares completed:
None this month, but only two to go!

Books acquired in October:

• Christopher Beha, The Index of Self-Destructive Acts (already read and rehomed)
  
• Cara Bastone, Promise Me Sunshine
  
• Mhairi McFarlane, Cover Story
  
• Adriana Trigiani et al., Ladies in Waiting: Jane Austen’s Unsung Characters (free e-book, ARC - already read)
  
• Hake Talbot, Rim of the Pit
  
• W.F. Harvey, The Mysterious Mr. Badman: A Yorkshire Bibliomystery
  
• Kage Baker, In the Garden of Iden
  
• Mollie Panter-Downs, London War Notes
  
• Claire Delacroix, The Christmas Conquest (free e-book - already read)
  
• Cassandra Dean, Silk & Scars (free e-book - already read)
  

My review of Ladies in Waiting: Jane Austen's Unsung Characters is now live on All About Romance! You can read it here: https://allaboutromance.com/book-review/ladies-in-waiting-jane-austens-unsung-ch....

Book #112: Leif Enger, Peace Like a River
CATs: Cover (blue)
Bingo: none

Narrated by 11-year-old Reuben Land, this book tells the story of a tragedy and its aftermath. Reuben’s older brother, Davy, commits an act of violence and subsequently runs away. Reuben, along with his father and his sister, Swede, head west from their home in Minnesota and travel across the Badlands to find him. They encounter many dangers on their journey, from the unforgiving winter weather to the FBI agent who’s on their trail, hoping they’ll lead him to Davy. But they also find friendship and help in unexpected places. I really enjoyed this novel, which is part coming-of-age story, part Western adventure, and part pilgrimage narrative. It’s a book that feels uniquely American; I don’t think it could have been set anywhere else. I loved the humor sprinkled throughout Reuben’s narration and absolutely adored the character of Swede. Recommended if the premise interests you, and I’m now interested in trying more by Enger.

>126 christina_reads: Taking a BB on that one!

>127 Tess_W: Hope you enjoy it, Tess!

>126 christina_reads: A BB for me too!

>129 Charon07: Yay! I'm really glad it was a book club selection, as I probably wouldn't have picked it up for myself.

>125 christina_reads: Thanks for sharing this. I enjoyed your review!

>131 purpleiris: Thank you! :)

Book #113: Delano Ames, Murder Begins at Home
CATs: Color (blue = sky); Alpha (H = Home)
Bingo: none

English couple Jane and Dagobert Brown are on holiday in the US and find themselves in New Mexico, where Miranda Ross, an old friend of Dagobert’s, now resides. He manages to obtain an invitation to Miranda’s house for the weekend, and he and Jane soon feel that something is off about the seemingly happy, prosperous household. The next day, Miranda is murdered – but who could have wanted to kill a woman who was (apparently) universally beloved? Last year I read and really enjoyed the previous book in this series; this book is a decent follow-up, but it didn’t have quite the same sparkle for me. Jane is the narrator, and her snarky voice is one of the novel’s highlights. Her relationship with Dagobert is often fun, though I occasionally found myself thinking she’s way too good for him! The mystery is fine but didn’t really grab me. I did love that the seemingly ignorant county sheriff is much shrewder than he lets on! Overall, this is a pretty good read, and I do plan to continue with the series.

Book #114: Caitlin Rozakis, Dreadful
CATs: Random (villains)
Bingo: none

This novel opens with a man who has lost all his memories (and his eyebrows). He appears to be trapped in a dark wizard’s lair, which is worrisome – until he realizes he is the dark wizard, the Dread Lord Gavrax. He’s kidnapped a princess, and he’s in league with three other dark wizards to do some kind of evil ritual. But Gav isn’t sure he actually wants to be evil anymore. Can he hide his memory loss from those around him, thwart the evil ritual, and learn how to be a good person? I really enjoyed this charming comic fantasy, which raises some surprisingly complex moral questions as Gav tries to fight his evil tendencies. He’s a flawed but sympathetic character whom I found extremely relatable, and I just wanted good things for him. His goblin minions are wonderful as well, as is the princess, who’s more than she appears to be. Definitely recommended for those who like a spin on the usual fantasy tropes.

>134 christina_reads: Wow! This sounds super interesting! How did you find it?

>135 shimmermarie: I think I just saw it while browsing in a bookstore! And I managed to find a cheap used copy, so I went for it.

>136 christina_reads: On discount as well? That definitely sounds like a great find! :D

>134 christina_reads: Taking a BB for this one.

>138 lowelibrary: Hope you enjoy it!

Book #115: Alice Coldbreath, A Substitute Wife for the Prizefighter
CATs: none
Bingo: none

Lizzie Anderson is a “poor relation” in a respectable Victorian family. Benedict Toomes is a prizefighter with a prison record. But he’s also rich, which makes him just barely acceptable as a fiancé for Lizzie’s cousin, Betsy. Lizzie and Benedict heartily dislike each other; but when Lizzie inadvertently causes a scandal and the family casts her out, Benedict surprises himself by coming to her rescue. Already tired of Betsy, he proposes to Lizzie instead, and since she has no other options, she accepts. As she adapts to Benedict’s life as a boxer on the fair circuit, the two slowly grow closer. Alice Coldbreath is quickly becoming one of my go-to authors for historical romance. I loved the detail about life as a traveling fair performer, as well as the romance between Lizzie and Benedict. It’s steamier than I normally prefer, but I loved how honest and direct they are with each other. My only complaint is that not a lot happens; Lizzie meets a lot of people who add some fun color but don’t end up being particularly important to the story. Still, I’d highly recommend this one to fans of the genre who are looking for something different in terms of setting and social class.

>140 christina_reads: I found Alice Coldbreath's A Foolish Flirtation in KoboPlus and am enjoying it, so will try more of Coldbreath's books. Thank you for the recommendation.

>141 pamelad: I'm glad you liked it! I definitely plan to read more by Coldbreath -- I've got the third prizefighter book on my e-reader, and I'm interested in trying some of her medieval books as well.

>126 christina_reads: Since you like Enger, his latest, I Cheerfully Refuse is a fun book and also concerns a pilgrimage of sorts.

>143 RidgewayGirl: Thanks, I'm thinking that will be my next Enger!

Book #116: Sharon Lee and Steve Miller, Local Custom
CATs: Color (blue = sky); Cover (celestial objects = stars)
Bingo: none

Er Thom yos’Galan is a Liaden from a prominent clan; as such, his duty is to make an advantageous marriage. But he’s still consumed with feelings for an old love, the Terran Anne Davis. Three years later, he resolves to see Anne once more before fulfilling his duty to his clan. But when he learns that their affair resulted in a child, his life becomes much more complicated. I’ve heard good things about the Liaden books, and this one was suggested as a good entry point. I found some of the setting and terminology a bit difficult to understand at first, but the main plot is easy enough to follow. The novel is billed as a “space Regency,” which pretty much sums up the genre and vibe. I wish more time were spent on the development of Er Thom and Anne’s romance, but they’re pretty much obsessed with each other from the start, so I’d call it more a novel of manners than a true romance. Overall, I liked the book fine, but I’m not sure I care enough to continue with the series.

I finally caught up with your thread! As always, I enjoyed reading your reviews so much. I took a BB for >119 christina_reads: Ladies in Waiting.

>146 MissBrangwen: Thank you! And I hope you enjoy Ladies in Waiting. My favorite stories were "Sense, Sensibility, and Snapdragons" by Eloisa James and "Lace and Larceny" by Nikki Payne.

Book #117: Mhairi McFarlane, Cover Story
CATs: none
Bingo: none

Investigative journalist Bel has just gotten a tip on a huge story: The beloved mayor of her city is preying on his young female staffers and receiving favors from a known criminal. To get the evidence she needs, Bel goes undercover, but her plan is almost ruined when her new colleague, Connor, sees her using her fake persona while talking to a potential source. To salvage the situation, Bel claims Connor is her boyfriend, even though they actually dislike each other. But as they work together to chase the story, they slowly change their opinions. I love McFarlane’s contemporary romances, and I enjoyed the ride here as well; she’s very good at writing clever banter and conveying the slow build of attraction. But in this case, I don’t believe that Bel and Connor are actually a good match. They are terrible communicators throughout the book, including at the very end when they both dither about confessing their feelings. I also felt there was a bit too much going on in general, with two of Bel’s exes creating problems that didn’t matter and Connor dealing with trauma from a previous job and relationship. I do still think this book is a good read, but it’s not one of my favorites by the author.

Book #118: Lois McMaster Bujold, The Orphans of Raspay
CATs: none
Bingo: none

Penric is sailing home from what should have been a routine journey, but naturally his ship is captured by pirates, and things only get worse from there. Among his fellow captives are two young orphan girls who will almost certainly be sold into slavery, so Pen takes responsibility for them as he engineers a prison break. But between pirates, corrupt merchants, and a local distrust of sorcerers, it’s all Pen and Des can do to keep themselves and their charges alive. This is another enjoyable installment in the Penric and Desdemona saga, heavy on adventure and light on character development. I wonder if we’ll see the two orphans, Lencia and Seuka, in subsequent books. Otherwise, I don’t have much to say about this one – it’s entertaining but doesn’t really feel like a crucial (or even particularly necessary) installment of the series.

Book #119: Martha Wells, All Systems Red
CATs: none
Bingo: Nonhuman narrator (Murderbot)

This novella is narrated by a SecUnit, a robotic “construct” made of both organic and inorganic materials, whose job is basically to provide security for whoever hires it. It’s currently accompanying a crew on a mission of planetary exploration, but all it really wants to do is watch soap operas on its entertainment feed. The longer the self-designated Murderbot spends with this particular crew of humans, however, the more it begins to care about them. And when it senses something off about the mission, it must figure out whether and how to help the humans. The Murderbot series has gotten a lot of hype, and I can definitely see why; the concept is fascinating, particularly now that AI is so prominent in our society, and Murderbot is a snarky yet sympathetic character. I’m just not sure if it’s my thing, you know? I did enjoy the story, but I haven't decided whether I care enough to continue with the series—with apologies to all the Murderbot lovers out there!

>148 christina_reads: I'm going to read it anyway, but I won't go in expecting to love it.

>151 RidgewayGirl: I hope it works better for you! McFarlane remains an auto-buy author for me regardless, so I'm already looking forward to her next one. :)

>150 christina_reads: I read the four novellas that start the series back in 2020, when Tor offered free downloads of all four (I learned about the deal through chatter here on LT!). All Systems Red was good, not great, maybe a bit confusing. It was when I moved on to book 2, that I started to see what had the fans so excited. Book 3 was amazing. There's a story arc to those four that sneaks up on you, making it really worth the read through.

>153 NinieB: Thanks for the info...this does make me more interested in continuing with the series.

Book #120: Jenny Colgan, The Christmas Bookshop
CATs: none - I read this in November
Bingo: none

Carmen has just been laid off and is struggling to find work in her dying Scottish town. She ends up moving to Edinburgh to stay with her sister, Sofia, who seems to have the perfect life -- which Carmen both mocks and envies. Sofia gets Carmen a job with Mr. McCredie, who owns an unprofitable bookstore and expects Carmen to turn things around somehow. At first, Carmen hates everything about her new situation, but she eventually finds things to love about her job, the city, and even her sister. This book is like a warm hug; it's cozy and Christmassy and makes me want to visit Edinburgh in December, despite what sounds like horrific weather. I loved Carmen and Sofia's relationship, which felt very realistic and nuanced, and there's a sweet romance as well, though it doesn't get much page time. I would definitely recommend this as a great read to get into the holiday spirit!

Book #121: Charlotte MacLeod, Rest You Merry
CATs: Alpha (Y = You) - I read this in November
Bingo: none

This yuletide mystery is set in a college town, where Professor Peter Shandy hates the tacky, over-the-top Christmas light display in which all the residents are bullied into participating. This year Peter retaliates by putting up the most garish decorations possible, then promptly leaving for a Christmas cruise. When he returns to find local busybody Jemima Ames dead in his living room, he wonders whether his prank might have somehow contributed to her death. And when he suspects murder, the college president orders him to investigate before scandal can damage the college's reputation. I really enjoyed this vintage mystery novel (first published in 1978), which includes all the predictable elements -- an intelligent amateur sleuth, multiple suspicious deaths, some seeming impossibilities, a closed circle of suspects, and even a romance -- but deploys them well, with plenty of clever wit. This is the first book in the Peter Shandy series, and I'll happily read more if I can find them at my library.

November recap

Books read in November:
1. Leif Enger, Peace Like a River
2. Delano Ames, Murder Begins at Home
3. Caitlin Rozakis, Dreadful
4. Alice Coldbreath, A Substitute Wife for the Prizefighter
5. Sharon Lee and Steve Miller, Local Custom
6. Mhairi McFarlane, Cover Story
7. Lois McMaster Bujold, The Orphans of Raspay
8. Martha Wells, All Systems Red
9. Jenny Colgan, The Christmas Bookshop
10. Charlotte MacLeod, Rest You Merry

Favorite book of the month:
Peace Like a River was such a pleasant surprise for me!

Dishonorable mention:
Nothing stands out as bad, per se, but I wanted to like Local Custom more than I did.

CATs completed:

• ColorCAT (blue): Peace Like a River, Murder Begins at Home, and Local Custom all feature blue prominently on their covers.
  
• CoverCAT (celestial objects): Local Custom has stars on the cover.
  
• AlphaKIT (Y, H): Delano Ames, Murder Begins at *Home; Charlotte MacLeod, Rest *You Merry
  
• RandomKIT (villains): Dreadful is about an evil wizard with amnesia who decides he wants to try being good.

Bingo squares completed:

• Nonhuman narrator: All Systems Red is narrated by Murderbot.

Books acquired in November:

• Eloisa James, How to Be a Wallflower (e-book - already read)
  
• Eloisa James, The Reluctant Countess (e-book)
  
• Eloisa James, Not That Duke (free e-book)
  
• Eloisa James, A Kiss at Midnight (free e-book)
  
• Eloisa James, When Beauty Tamed the Beast (free e-book)
  
• Eloisa James, The Ugly Duchess (free e-book)
  
• Jodi McAlister, An Academic Affair
  
• Martha Waters, Christmas Is All Around
  
• Diane Farr, Under a Lucky Star
  
• Anna Harrington, If the Duke Demands
  
• E.F. Benson, The Worshipful Lucia / Trouble for Lucia

Book #122: Eloisa James, How to Be a Wallflower
CATs: Color (purple = dress)
Bingo: none

Cleo Lewis has come to London for the Season, but she’s more interested in running the company her father left her, Lewis Commodes, than in finding a husband. In fact, she’s determined to be a wallflower and orders her wardrobe accordingly. At the dressmaker’s, she runs into Jacob Astor Addison, a rich American who wants to buy the dress shop and transport it to New York. Cleo immediately opposes this scheme, and they become business rivals—which of course leads to bickering, bantering, and falling in love. After enjoying Eloisa James’s story in Ladies in Waiting, I picked up a bunch of her full-length novels as free/cheap e-books, but this one was just okay for me. It’s the very definition of a wallpaper historical; Cleo and Jake would never have been tolerated in high society based on their speech and behavior, and the plot is completely implausible. There’s also not much conflict in the romance; Jake’s feelings and intentions are clear from the start, and Cleo comes around pretty early on. That said, James does have a fun, breezy writing style, and I’m hoping to have more luck with her other novels!

>84 christina_reads: I thought Babel was race-baiting nonsense. The plot made no sense and all the characters behaved like 21st-century American teens. It was awful. I don't know why this author spends so much time writing about people she obviously despises. There are plenty of other people and places in the world to write about!

>159 susanj67: I definitely think the political message was overpowering, to the detriment of things like a logical plot or nuanced characters.

Book #123: Kate Clayborn, Best of Luck
CATs: none
Bingo: none

This final book in the Chance of a Lifetime series focuses on Greer, who’s trying to complete her degree at age 27 but needs a photography class to graduate. She asks her best friend’s brother, Alex, for help while he’s in town, since he’s a well-known photojournalist. But their collaboration is complicated by a mutual attraction that seems pointless in the long term, since Alex travels for his job and hates staying in one place. I really like Kate Clayborn; a lot of contemporary romances these days seem same-y and flat to me, but hers are heartfelt and complex. I loved that both Greer and Alex are dealing with real problems, but their trauma isn’t their only defining characteristic. They’ve both fought hard for what they have, so despite their affection for each other, they’re understandably wary of how a relationship might destabilize their lives. There’s maybe a bit too much angst toward the end of the novel, but overall I really liked this one, and I’d strongly recommend the whole series to those who enjoy contemporary romance!

>158 christina_reads: It's good to be reminded of Eloisa James and her literate, humorous historical romances. I've just read Four Nights with the Duke, which I enjoyed, and am now reading Seven Minutes in Heaven. It would have been better to space them out, but live and learn!

>162 pamelad: Glad you're enjoying your current foray into Eloisa James. Despite not entirely loving How to Be a Wallflower, I feel confident that some of her books will hit the spot for me!

>162 pamelad: >163 christina_reads: I've never read her fiction, but a few years ago, I thoroughly enjoyed her memoir. Paris in Love.

>164 beebeereads: Ooh, thanks for the rec!

>156 christina_reads: I enjoyed this series many years ago, but the one I really loved was her other main series, Sarah Kelling. MacLeod's later books (late '80s and '90s) went downhill (imo), but her earlier ones were treasures for those who enjoy, as you say, clever wit, in a cozy package.

Hello Christina, and finally catching up on your thread!

I'm glad you solved your non-human narrator dilemma. The Murderbot series seems to be very popular, and you're right: with all of the AI changes going on, it is timely.

>161 christina_reads: I like how your review points out this author's ability to look at modern life (a photojournalist who prefers travel to settling down) and the trauma that the characters have experienced.

Hope your December reading goes well also!

>166 NinieB: Ooh, this is good to know -- I will definitely check out the Sarah Kelling series!

>167 threadnsong: Good to see you here! I'm hoping I will get to everything I want to read this month, but December is always so crazy!

Book #124: P.D. James, The Children of Men
CATs: none
Bingo: none

This dystopian novel imagines a near-future world in which no human children have been born since 1995. England is ruled by a seemingly benevolent dictator called the Warden, and most people’s material needs are satisfied. But the human race is dying out, and hope is a thing of the past. Theo Faron, a 50-year-old Oxford professor, views the future with detachment and despair. But when a young woman, one of his former students, approaches him with a surprising request, he finds himself unwillingly getting involved with a resistance movement. I’m of two minds about this book. On the plus side, it’s steeped in deep questions about morality and whether good and evil even matter if the world is ending. Certain scenes are quite memorable and chilling, and the dramatic tension builds effectively even when there’s not much going on. On the minus side, the pacing is slow, the world-building doesn’t feel completely thought out, and the ending leaves a lot of unanswered questions. I’m excited to talk about this book with my office reading group, as I’m sure it will generate an interesting discussion. But for me personally, it was an unsettling read.

Book #125: Martha Waters, Christmas Is All Around
CATs: none
Bingo: none

Artist Charlotte has never enjoyed Christmas, and she especially hates holiday rom-coms because when she was nine years old, she had a role in the modern holiday classic Christmas, Truly, which she’d love to forget about. But when she visits her sister in England for the holidays, she finds she can’t escape her past as they tour an estate that was used as a set on the film. There Charlotte meets Graham, the estate’s handsome owner, who hires her for an art project to bring much-needed publicity to the estate. Will grumpy Grinch Charlotte find herself in a holiday rom-com of her own? I enjoyed Martha Waters’s recent historical mystery and wanted to try more of her work, so I was excited for this contemporary romance. Unfortunately, it wasn’t quite as funny as I wanted it to be, and I didn’t really connect with the characters. It’s still a pleasant read – there are some fun one-liners, plentiful Love, Actually references, and cozy Christmas vibes – but this book won’t be a keeper for me.

Book #126: Chloe Liese, The Mistletoe Motive
CATs: Random (something you’d like as a gift = books)
Bingo: none

Gabriella Di Natale and Jonathan Frost are work nemeses. They’re co-managers of Bailey’s Bookstore and couldn’t be more different: Gabby is a festive ball of sunshine who loves the bookstore’s soul, while Jonathan is cold and grumpy and all about the bottom line. But as Christmas approaches, Gabby starts experiencing a strange attraction to Jonathan—an attraction that just might be reciprocated. I enjoy the enemies-to-lovers trope, so I was hoping to like this holiday novella a lot more than I did. But it suffers from perfect hero syndrome: Jonathan is outrageously handsome, incredibly attuned to Gabby’s every need, and the ideal ally when she discloses her autism. And while I think it’s great to see neurodivergent folks represented in romance, autism (plus loving Christmas) basically felt like Gabby’s entire personality. She’s so mean to Jonathan, yet he's completely devoted to her. And don’t get me started on the overly Christmassy names—there is literally a character named George Bailey. In short, I found this book frustrating, and I won’t be reading more by Chloe Liese.

>169 christina_reads: I am curious about this one. I don't think I've read anything by P.D. James that wasn't a mystery.

>172 purpleiris: I could definitely see the influence of her mystery-writing background; the novel doesn't contain a mystery per se, but it has some elements of a thriller or suspense novel.

>173 christina_reads: Good to know. I hesitate to add it to the evergrowing TBR list...

Book #127: Lois McMaster Bujold, The Physicians of Vilnoc
CATs: Alpha (V = Vilnoc); SFF (what makes you happy = favorite author)
Bingo: none

Penric is summoned from his cozy home in Vilnoc with wife Nikys, baby daughter Florina, and mother-in-law Idrene to deal with a mysterious disease that’s broken out in the local army camp. It’s nothing the army healer or Penric has seen before, and they can’t figure out how (if at all) the illness is passed from person to person. As the cases and fatalities multiply, Pen begins to despair—but timely assistance from his god brings new insight and helps turn the tide of the disease. This novella came out in 2020, and while Bujold’s “outroduction” says she started writing it before Covid was on her horizon, it’s certainly an impactful coincidence of timing! I think she does a great job of illustrating a healthcare worker’s experience of a pandemic, though obviously it’s not fun to read about. A well-written but somber installment of the Penric and Desdemona series; I’m hoping the next one will have a little more lightness and humor!

Book #128: Rosanna Pike, A Little Trickerie
CATs: Alpha (R = Rosanna)
Bingo: Recommended by a friend or LT member (@charl08)

In the year 1500, Tibb Ingleby and her Ma are vagabonds in search of a permanent home. When Ma’s plans to get them a roof go awry, Tibb is left on her own and must navigate her way through a challenging and hostile world. Her adventures include living off the land with a troubled friend, performing with a group of traveling players, being kidnapped by a dangerous man, and faking a miracle (the “trickerie” of the title). I have mixed feelings about this book. I really liked Tibb’s irrepressible and unique voice—the author was definitely going for A Style, and I think it mostly worked. But I wasn’t a fan of the chapters told from another character’s POV; they took me out of the story, and I always found myself wanting to get back to Tibb. Also, the Catholic Church (and religion in general) doesn’t come off well in this book, which rubs up against my biases as a Catholic myself. Still, lovers of historical fiction will likely find a lot to enjoy here, and I’m glad I ventured a little bit outside my comfort zone for this one.

>155 christina_reads: I'll take that as a BB!

>169 christina_reads: I've only read part of one P.D. James but I see her name mentioned often. The part I remember most was the constant use of railway time tables, and it seemed that was the main first part of the book.

>176 christina_reads: I do like some historical fiction, especially in this time period, and appreciate your honesty about the main character's voice and how it impacts the story.

Hope your holidays are going well and will see you on the 2026 Challenge Group!

>177 Tess_W: Hope you enjoy it, Tess!

>178 threadnsong: Haha, if it helps, I've only read a couple P.D. James mysteries, and I was kind of "meh" on them if I remember correctly. And if you're a Renaissance/Tudor aficionado, I think you may like A Little Trickerie more than I did.

Book #129: Mary Balogh, A Christmas Promise
CATs: none
Bingo: none

Randolph Pierce, the new Earl of Falloden, is struggling to pay his predecessor’s considerable debts. A rich merchant has purchased all those debts and says he’ll write them off if Randolph marries his daughter, Eleanor. Randolph reluctantly agrees, not knowing that Eleanor isn’t happy with the match either—she’s only consenting because it’s her father’s dying wish. Initially, both Randolph and Eleanor are cold and distant, but as Christmas approaches and Eleanor’s boisterous, loving family comes to visit, they begin to see each other in a new light. I like Mary Balogh’s marriage-of-convenience romances, and this one is well done. The holiday setting is fun and not too cloying, and I enjoyed the slight secondary romance as well. Not my favorite Balogh, but probably my favorite (so far) of her Christmas romances.

Book #130: Lia Louis, Dear Emmie Blue
CATs: none
Bingo: none

Emmie has been best friends with Lucas since high school, and lately she’s been hoping they can become more than friends. So when Lucas plans a nice dinner at their favorite restaurant with a big question to ask her, she’s ecstatic—until he asks her to be “best woman” at his upcoming wedding. Emmie is devastated, but ultimately she agrees and tries to suppress her feelings. Meanwhile, she finds herself unexpectedly growing closer to Lucas’s brother, Eliot, who helps her with some difficult family issues of her own. Has she been in love with the wrong brother all along? This was a reread for me, and I still enjoyed it this time around. There’s nothing groundbreaking about the plot, but I like that Emmie has important relationships and problems that don’t involve her love life at all. And without spoiling the romance, I’ll just say I enjoy a man who pines!

Book #131: Jodi Taylor, The Nothing Girl
CATs: none
Bingo: none

Growing up in the shadow of a strict aunt and malicious cousins, Jenny Dove has always faded into the background. Now she’s dissatisfied with her small life—always at home, never allowed to pursue an education or career—but doesn’t know how to change it. Enter Russell Checkland, a chaotic artist who’s just been rejected by the love of his life. He shocks Jenny by proposing a marriage of convenience: Her money (inherited from her parents) will help restore his dilapidated estate, and in return he’ll help her escape her family and try new things. But Jenny’s growing confidence and delight in her new life are threatened when it seems that someone is trying to kill her. There is so much plot in this book, and I didn’t even get to the magical talking horse! But this is a delightful little fairy tale, somewhat in the vein of The Blue Castle but with a modern setting and a bit more spice. I loved it, and it will definitely be in my top 10 books of the year!

Book #132: Louise Allen, His Housekeeper’s Christmas Wish
CATs: Color (purple = horizontal block at the top of the cover)
Bingo: none

Alex Tempest runs (literally) into Tess Ellery on the streets of Ghent and causes her to miss her boat back to England. He therefore offers to escort her to London, where she hopes to find employment as a governess or companion. Unfortunately, a society matron spots them together on the boat and assumes Tess is Alex’s mistress, ruining her chances of a respectable job. With no other options, Alex hires Tess as his housekeeper, but their mutual attraction makes everything more complicated, especially when Alex is forced to visit his estranged family at Christmas. Louise Allen’s historical romances have been hit or miss for me, and unfortunately this was one of the misses. I found the plot contrived and unrealistic, and I never really bought Alex and Tess’s romance. I also don’t love stories where family dysfunction is magically healed just because it’s Christmas. Not a terrible book, but definitely not a keeper for me.

Book #133: Cara Bastone, Ready or Not
CATs: Alpha (R = Ready)
Bingo: none

When Eve unexpectedly gets pregnant after a one-night stand, her stable and predictable life suddenly gets a lot more complicated. She doesn’t have parents to lean on, and her best friend, Willa, is struggling with infertility and finding it hard to be supportive. Fortunately, Willa’s brother Shep, whom Eve has known since childhood, is showing up in a big way—and suddenly Eve is seeing him in a whole new light. But are her feelings real, or is this just a hormone-induced infatuation? I continue to be a fan of Cara Bastone’s contemporary romances, which tend to star real people dealing with real problems, and this one is no exception. Eve’s narrative voice is fun and down-to-earth, and I bought her as a character, as well as her friendship with Willa and her developing feelings for Shep. Shep himself is wonderful, perhaps a little too perfect (the pining!), but a great example of the golden retriever hero. Definitely recommended if you like this premise, and I look forward to my next Bastone book!

Book #134: Alyssa Everett, Ruined by Rumor
CATs: Alpha (R = Ruined, Rumor)
Bingo: none

Roxana has been engaged to the dashing Major Wyatt for five years, waiting patiently while he served in the Napoleonic Wars. Now that he’s back, she’s ecstatic finally to set the wedding date—but Wyatt suddenly breaks things off, and a devastated Roxana turns to her neighbor, Alex Ayersley, for comfort. Little does she know that the proper, stuffy Alex has been in love with her for years; when he attempts to give her a consoling hug, they end up kissing passionately. When he learns that their kiss was observed, and Roxana is the target of vicious gossip, he proposes marriage to save her reputation. But will she be able to return Alex’s love, especially when Wyatt comes back into the picture? This is a reread for me, and I enjoyed it just as much as I did the first time. Alex and Roxana are both terrible communicators, but their reasons for not being direct made sense to me. And the denouement, while a bit implausible, is extremely satisfying!

Book #135: Alexandra Benedict, The Christmas Murder Game
CATs: none
Bingo: none

Lily Armitage is summoned to Endgame House to participate in the family’s traditional Christmas Game. She hasn’t attended in years, ever since her mother’s suicide on the grounds of the estate. But this year, her aunt begged her to come, hinting that her mother was actually murdered. Moreover, the winner of this year’s game will inherit Endgame House. But tensions are high within the Armitage family, and as they start to play the game, it’s evident that everyone is hiding something. And then the players begin to die. This book had all the elements that should have appealed to me—a country house murder mystery set at Christmas, complete with anagrams and puzzle clues—but it never really clicked. The characters felt flat and predictable, and honestly the villain’s identity was pretty obvious. In theory, I liked the author’s inclusion of a scavenger hunt for readers (finding anagrams of the Twelve Days of Christmas within the book), but in practice it just distracted me from the story. A cool premise, but unfortunately the execution didn’t live up to it.

Book #136: Alice Coldbreath, A Contracted Spouse for the Prizefighter
CATs: none
Bingo: none

Former prizefighter Clem Dabney has embarked upon a new career and established a popular music hall in London; now he seeks to expand into a real theater. The Parthenon, owned by Theodora Fields and her two siblings, is his target, but he's surprised when she approaches him with a proposition: She'll marry him and thus give him an ownership stake in the theater, if he agrees to put her male impersonation act onstage. Clem agrees and soon finds himself oddly drawn to his eccentric wife, but his secrets may threaten their happiness. I've enjoyed this whole series, and this book caps things off nicely. I liked Clem's bewildered affection for Dora (as he calls her), and I enjoyed the music hall setting. I do think the book is oddly paced, and the conflict between them isn't terribly substantial, but I still really enjoyed the central romance. I'm looking forward to my next read by this author!

December recap

Books read in December:
1. Eloisa James, How to Be a Wallflower
2. Kate Clayborn, Best of Luck
3. P.D. James, The Children of Men
4. Martha Waters, Christmas Is All Around
5. Chloe Liese, The Mistletoe Motive
6. Lois McMaster Bujold, The Physicians of Vilnoc
7. Rosanna Pike, A Little Trickerie
8. Mary Balogh, A Christmas Promise
9. Lia Louis, Dear Emmie Blue
10. Jodi Taylor, The Nothing Girl
11. Louise Allen, His Housekeeper’s Christmas Wish
12. Cara Bastone, Ready or Not
13. Alyssa Everett, Ruined by Rumor
14. Alexandra Benedict, The Christmas Murder Game
15. Alice Coldbreath, A Contracted Spouse for the Prizefighter

Favorite book of the month:
The Nothing Girl was an absolute delight and will be on my “best of the year” list, for sure!

Dishonorable mention:
His Housekeeper’s Christmas Wish was disappointing since it was just meh, but I’ve enjoyed other books by the author.

CATs completed:

• ColorCAT (purple): How to Be a Wallflower features a purple dress, and His Housekeeper's Christmas Wish has a horizontal purple stripe at the top of the cover.
  
• CoverCAT (something you’d like as a gift): The Mistletoe Motive has a ton of books on the cover!
  
• AlphaKIT (V, R): Lois McMaster Bujold, The Physicians of *Vilnoc; *Rosanna Pike, A Little Trickerie; Cara Bastone, *Ready or Not; Alyssa Everett, *Ruined by Rumor
  
• SF&FKIT (what makes you happy): The Physicians of Vilnoc is by one of my favorite SFF authors, Lois McMaster Bujold.
  

Bingo squares completed:

• Recommended by a friend or LT member: I found A Little Trickerie via a positive review on @charl08’s thread.
  

Books acquired in December:

• Caroline Linden, When the Marquess Was Mine (e-book)
  
• Cara Bastone, Ready or Not (gift - already read)
  
• T. Kingfisher, Nettle and Bone (gift - previously read)
  
• Alix E. Harrow, The Everlasting (gift)
  
• Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice: Deluxe Illustrated Classics (gift)
  
• Bernard J. Farmer, Death of a Bookseller
  

>184 christina_reads: Taking a BB for this one. Thanks!

>189 purpleiris: I hope you enjoy it! I've really liked every Cara Bastone book I've read so far.

>190 christina_reads: I don't think I've read anything of hers. Looking forward to discovering a new to me author!

YEAR-END RECAP


Perhaps my favorite Christmas present! Isn't it adorable?!

Anyway, the end of 2025 really sneaked up on me, and I feel like I'm struggling to catch up! Looking at the numbers below, I'm surprised to see a slight downward trend in "books read" over the past couple years, and I wonder if that will continue into 2026. What can I say, life gets busy! But I'm pleased that my "books acquired" are down from 2024 (though still up from every previous year), and I hope to keep that up in the new year.

Books read: 136 (compared with 155 in 2024, 191 in 2023, 150 in 2022, 122 in 2021, 140 in 2020, 106 in 2019, and 69 in 2018)

Average books read per month: 11.33 (compared with 12.92 in 2024, 15.92 in 2023, 12.50 in 2022, 10.17 in 2021, 11.67 in 2020, 8.83 in 2019, and 5.75 in 2018)

Books acquired: 92 total, 52 physical (compared with 113 total/72 physical in 2024, 86 total/50 physical in 2023, 107 total in 2022, 98 in 2021, 66 in 2020, 88 in 2019, and 92 in 2018).

Top 10 books of the year:
In the order in which I read them…

1. Lucy Parker, Misdirected – I love Parker’s contemporary romances set in the world of show business, and this was no exception. I particularly loved the hero, who seems so aloof and detached but is so clearly in love with the heroine.

2. Lissa Evans, Small Bomb at Dimperley – A slice-of-life novel set just after the end of World War II, with beautifully drawn characters and a lovely understated romance. My favorite of the year!

3. Susanna Kearsley, The King’s Messenger – Kearsley writes top-notch historical fiction in interesting and less common eras; this one is set in 1613 and deals with intrigue at King James I’s court. Loved the enemies-to-lovers romance and the adventurous plot.

4. Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Mexican Gothic – I’m so impressed with this author's versatility; I’ve read three of her books, all quite different from one another and all very good! This one is uncomfortably close to horror, but I loved the sense of place and the wonderful heroine.

5. Mimi Matthews, Rules for Ruin – Matthews is one of my favorite historical romance authors, and I’m thrilled that this first book in her new series did not disappoint! The hero and heroine are progressive but not anachronistically so, and their attraction is palpable despite the lack of sex scenes.

6. Cara Bastone, Just a Heartbeat Away – This was my first book by Bastone but not my last; I've been devouring her backlist this year and loving every minute of it! She writes contemporary romance with a lot of heart and realistic, complex characters.

7. Maggie Stiefvater, The Listeners – I love Stiefvater's writing style, and her adult debut combines that lush prose with a vivid historical setting, a unique heroine, and an emotional romance. I hope she continues to write novels for adults!

8. Alice Coldbreath, A Substitute Wife for the Prizefighter – Coldbreath is another new-to-me author this year, and I loved her Victorian Prizefighters series. This is book 2 and probably my favorite, but they're all entertaining (albeit spicy) historical romances that focus on middle- and working-class characters rather than the usual landowners and aristocrats.

9. T. Kingfisher, Hemlock & Silver – Kingfisher's winning streak continues with this dark Snow White retelling. Blunt, tactless Anja is a delight, and her narrative voice keeps the book from being too dark or scary despite a few horror-adjacent moments.

10. Jodi Taylor, The Nothing Girl – I read the first book in Taylor's Chronicles of St. Mary series and wasn't a huge fan, but I absolutely adored this book! It's the closest thing to a The Blue Castle read-alike I've found, although it's set in modern day and has a bit of spice and swearing.

Well, that was my year in books -- on to the next! Please join me at my 2026 category challenge: https://www.librarything.com/topic/377233. Hope to see you there!

>192 christina_reads: That is a very adorable Christmas present. Congrats on your 2025 reading!

>193 purpleiris: Thank you!