karenmarie: buckling up for a wild ride in 2025 - part VII

Welcome to my seventh thread, and may the Universe protect us from the chaos demon and his minions. I keep thinking it can’t get worse and yet it does.

Eight ways to describe me and books: bibliolater, bibliomaniac, bibliophile, lectiophiliac, bookworm, Book Dragon, biblioflâneuse, and librocubicularist. I’m adding Book Angel – an internet image that represents how I see her. Shimmery, gold, fierce, carrying a sword.

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@lizzied, Peggy, wrote “If I’m kind, I’ll get the day I deserve.” I’m trying to implement that. No guarantees, but I may get through an hour or two before snark and unhappiness overcome my desire to be a better person.

The Good: Family, friends, kitties, books, and soccer in constantly-rotating order. Smut, of course, and book sort team and sales/Friends of the Library. Jenna got married in November to her girlfriend Hwan and they moved to Washington State in August. Hwan has a tenure-track professorship at Green River College in Auburn. The semester started for Hwan on September 22nd. I’m happy for them, devastated for me.

The Bad: The betrayal of our country by the Idiot in Chief’s dark and evil stupidity.

The Shadenfreude: I’m thrilled that the elevator stopped when The Idiot in Chief and his trophy wife got on it.

From the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists Doomsday Clock. This information was published on January 29th when the clock was set to 89 seconds before midnight, apocalypse. 89 seconds is the shortest time to apocalypse since the clock was created in 1945. Rather than try to quote parts or even the whole thing, I’m going to provide the link for those with the stomach to read it: Doomsday Clock 2025

The ugly: Everything political in the US at the national level and quite a bit of it here at the local level; although having a Democratic Governor offsets the Gang of Psychos controlling the Legislature.

I read and am a charter member of the Redbud and Beyond Book Club, started in 1997. Our 2025-2026 Book Club Year. I have all the books from Oct – April on my shelves or on my Kindle.
Jul – Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro **abandoned at 56%**
Aug – The Awakening by Kate Chopin – read in my 20s, remembered the ending, and just no
Sep – Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie – read the intro and first chapter and no again
Oct – The Future by Naomi Alderman
Nov – The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon
Dec – How the Word is Passed by Clint Smith
Jan – Yellowface by RF Kuang
Feb – Barchester Towers by Anthony Trollope
Mar – The Women by Kristin Hannah
April – How to Read a Book by Monica Wood
May – book selection for 2026-2027

I have been married to Bill for 34 years and am mother to Jenna, who turned 32 last month and is married to Hwan, who turned 30 at the end of June. Or, bio daughter and bonus daughter.

Aviator frames and strawberry blonde hair, San Pedro CA, April 1977.



Zoe and Wash, September 2025. Wash was NOT supposed to be on the dining room table.



My goal last year was 150 books, recognizing that I’m powering through the smut. I still really, really enjoy reading this subgenre of contemporary fiction/romance and will continue until it no longer interests me. It’s getting more challenging to find books as I’ve refined my targeted trope(s), but I’ve become a great detective. This year’s goal is 200, which is still based on reading smut. 314 read and 121 abandoned, 87,301 pages read.




News avoidance still about 85-90% of the time.

And, finally, I always, always need to remember to express gratitude for what I have - family, friends, intangibles and tangibles - every single day.

Currently Reading:

Yellowface by RF Kuang 11/11/25 Kindle 2023
Taken Off Camera by Sophie O'Dare and Lyn Forester 11/23/25 Kindle Micah and GentlemanX Taken By His Alpha 7 2025
Played by Sadie Kincaid 11/22/25 Kindle King and Mason Manhattan Ruthless 4 2025
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid narrated by Alma Cuervo, Robin Myles, and Julia Whelan 11/21/25 Audible audio book 12.25 hours 2017
The American Civil War by Professor Gary W Gallagher The Teaching Company 2000 24 hours
Lessons from Cats for Surviving Fascism by Stewart "Brittlestar" Reynolds 9/7/25 hardcover 54 pages 2025
The Federalist edited by Jacob E. Cooke 5/28/22 656 pages hardcover 1961

read

**abandoned His Prince by Cora Rose** 228 pages Facile, cutsey, chaotic emotions that didn't always make sense.
**abandoned The Club by Rina Saint** 100 pages One of the main characters, in the closet, all of a sudden comes out dramatically and publicly at a sex club. The dynamic between him and the other main character was a bit too kinky for me, and I don't hate kink.
1. The Sinner's Sanctuary by August Jones 1/3/25 1/5/25 427 pages Kindle Christian and Gibson Doormen of the Upper East Side 3 2024
2. Crossroads by Riley Hart Narrated by Sean Crisden 1/3/25 1/5/25 Audible 7.5 hours Nick and Bryce Crossroads 1 2015 really 4.25
3. A Little Bit by L Waltree 1/5/25 1/5/25 310 pages Kindle Warren and Eli 2024
4. Ruined by Vanessa Waltz 1/5/25 1/6/25 382 pages Kindle Luca and Dominic Sinners of Boston 1 2024
5. Test Drive by Riley Hart 1/5/25 1/7/25 Narrated by Sean Crisden Audible 6 hours Justin and Drew Crossroads 3 2016
6. Hard to Let Go by Jaclyn Quinn 1/7/25 1/10/25 Audible audio book narrated by Sean Crisden 6.75 hours Owen and Brady Haven Coves' Series 1 2019
7. How to Hack a Hellhound by Shannon Mae 1/7/25 1/8/25 234 pages Kindle Quinton and Liam Hellhounds of Paradise Falls 2 2025
**abandoned Taken by the Lord of the Nocturne Court by KA Merikan** 80 pages
**abandoned Never Have I Evan by DJ Jamison** 107 pages
8. James by Percival Everett 12/23/24 1/11/25 303 pages hardcover 2024
9. Commitment Issues by Bradley Brady 1/11/25 1/12/25 350 pages Kindle Evan and Scott Commitment Issues 1 2017
**abandoned Man of Honor by Parker St John** 182 pages 1/10/25 Kindle Gage and Wyatt
10. Dead Draw by Layla Reyne 1/12/25 1/14/25 237 pages Kindle Marsh and Levi Perfect Play 1 2022
11. Pull Back by JD Sampson 1/14/25 1/14/25 147 pages Kindle Bodhi and Morgan Hollywood Endings 1 2020
12. The Vertigo Effect by JD Sampson 1/14/25 1/15/25 170 pages Kindle Bodhi and Morgan Hollywood Endings 2 2020
13. The Two Shot by JD Sampson 1/15/25 1/17/25 201 pages Kindle Bodhi and Morgan Hollywood Endings 3 2021
14. Deep Focus by JD Sampson 1/15/25 1/18/25 184 pages Kindle Bodhi and Morgan Hollywood Endings 4 2023
15. Six Degrees of Lust by Taylor V. Donovan 1/18/25 1/19/25 366 pages Kindle Sam and Machlan By Degrees 1 2020
16. One Man's Trash by Marie Sexton 01/16/25 1/23/25 narrated by John Solo 12 hours Taylor and Warren Heretic Doms Club 1 2017
17. Hearsay by Taylor V Donovan 1/21/25 1/22/25 240 pages Kindle Derrick and Roman Bylaws 1 2014
18. Benji by NR Walker 1/22/25 1/23/25 196 pages Kindle Kindle Benji and Nolan The Wylde Street Boys 1 2025
** abandoned When We Collide by Avril Ashton ** 167 pages Zander, Vince, Scotty
** abandoned Six Degrees of Separation by Taylor V. Donovan ** 208 pages Mac and Sam By Degrees
** abandoned Love the Sinner by Avril Ashton ** 110 pages Gabe Pagan
** abandoned Silver & Gold by Katherine Diane 47 pages ** Seth and Raider Seth & Raider series 2
19. Disaster Stray by FA Ray 1/24/25 1/24/25 280 pages Kindle Luke and Sebastian Rainbow Rescue Cat Cafe 2 2024
20. Reckless Hearts by Jax Calder 1/24/25 1/25/25 412 pages Kindle Seb and Marcus Rainbow Redemption Book 2 2025 4.5
21. The Other Brother by Jax Calder 1/25/25 1/26/25 290 pages Kindle Ryan and Cody 2022
22. The Fixer by Charity Parkerson 1/26/25 1/27/25 244 pages Kindle Chad and Journey Damaged Devils 1 2023
** abandoned A Matcha Made in Hell by FA Ray ** 68 pages facile, no character development
23. Under Construction by Juliet M Dixon 1/27/25 1/28/25 505 pages Kindle Dennis and Chris Straight to Him 1 2025
24. Back With the Tide: Memoirs of Ellen Douglas Bellamy By Ellen Douglas Bellamy 1/23/25 1/30/25 54 pages trade paperback 1940
25. Savage by Brooke Blaine and Ella Frank 1/28/25 1/30/25 301 pages Kindle Lachlan and Cooper Park Avenue Kings 1 2025
26. A Simple Mistake by Alice Winters 1/30/25 1/31/25 361 pages Kindle Liam and Gabriel Deadly Mistakes 1 2025
** abandoned Save Me by Beck Grey ** 97 pages
** abandoned Sold by Ace Fawn ** 43 pages
** Tender Strokes by Diane Vale ** 41 pages
27. MateHub: Legend by Marie Reynard 1/31/25 2/1/25 342 pages Kindle Richard and Hunter MateHub 1 2024
28. Something About You by Riley Hart narrated by Sean Crisden 1/23/25 2/2/25 Audible audio book 7 hours Saint and Lucky Saint & Lucky 1 2018
29. Accidental Bonds by Marie Reynard 2/1/25 2/3/25 454 pges Kindle Victor and Elijah Elemental Bonds Book 1 2023
30. The Southerner's Book of Lists by Jim Erskine 2/3/25 2/3/25 128 pages paperback 1996
31. Mixed Motives by Leslie Macadam 2/4/25 2/4/25 73 pages Kindle Henry and Keane
32. Born Again Sinner by Daryl Banner 2/2/25 2/6/25 Audible audio book 10 hours Trey and Cody Spruce Texas Romance 2 2018
33. Raising Hell by Daryl Banner 2/6/25 2/7/25 329 pages Kindle Mathew (sic) and Charlie 2018
34. The Husband Experience by Maya Jean 2/7/25 2/7/25 150 pages Kindle Eli and Colby Sweet Southern Book 1 2024
** abandoned Guardian Angel in Leather by KA Merikan ** 20 pages
** abandoned Ho Ho Homicidal Maniac by KA Merikan ** 74 pages
** abandoned Notorious by Leslie McAdam - re-read ** 141 pages
** abandoned Bloom by NR Walker ** 104 pages
35. Crown of Disguise by Lola Malone 2/7/25 2/8/25 291 pages Kindle Dominique and Gaël Initiation Series 1 2023
36. Crown of Steel by Lola Malone 2/8/25 2/12/25 406 pages Kindle Régis and Arthur Initiation Series 2 2024
**abandoned A Different Light by Morningstar Ashley ** 100 pages
**abandoned Open Mind by Luna David ** 9 pages
**abandoned Sick Bargain by Nordika Night ** 189 pages
**abandoned Shameless by Lola Malone ** 71 pages
**abandoned Bonds of Denial by Lynda Aicher ** 8 pages
37. Cambros by Juliet M. Dixon 2/7/25 2/7/25 49 pages Kindle Alex and Cory 2024
38. Pretty Broken Doll by Bree Wiley 2/12/25 2/12/25 348 pages Kindle Shilo and Ryan 2025
39. Getting Lucky by Daryl Banner 2/7/25 2/15/25 Audible audio book narrated by Chris Chambers and Alex Kydd 12 hours Lucas and James 2018
40. Bad Intentions by Ella Frank 2/15/25 2/15/25 Audible audio book narrated by Tim Paige and Aiden Snow 6.5 hours Gabe and Marcus Intentions Duet 1 2021
41. The Mercenary and the Mortician by Alexandra St. Pierre 2/12/25 2/15/25 760 pages Kindle Cal and Ryan The Silent Hollow 1 2025
42. One by Paulina Ian-Kane 2/15/25 2/16/25 291 pages Kindle Michael and Raph Angels of Wrath Book 1 2023
43. Six by Paulina Ian-Kane 2/16/25 2/18/25 306 pages Kindle Ollie and Rague Angels of Wrath Book 2 2023
44. Happily Never After by Ava Olsen 2/18/25 2/18/25 222 pages Kindle Aaron and Harrison 2025
45. Three by Paulina Ian-Kane 2/18/25 2/20/25 339 pages Kindle Rami and Hunter Angels of Wrath Book 3 2024
46. Five by Paulina Ian-Kane 2/20/25 2/20/25 341 pages Kindle Gabe/Bez and Lori Angels of Wrath Book 4 2024
47. Mighty Quill by Emmaline Strange /2/21/25 2/24/25 398 pages Kindle Thor and Cassian Sanguis et Fauna 1 2022
48. Wake Me Up Inside by Cardeno C 2/24/25 2/24/25 313 Kindle Zev and Jonah Mates Collection 1 2015
49. With This Ring by RS McKenzie 2/25/25 2/26/25 297 pages Kindle Carter and Kaison Opposites Attract 1 2025
**abandoned Redeeming Rafe by Sloane Kennedy ** 81 pages
**abandoned Friction by Kindle Alexander** 323 pages
50. Wild by Adrienne Wilder 2/26/25 2/28/25 338 pages Kindle Carter Keenan and August 2017
51. Out, Proud, and Prejudiced by Megan Reddaway 2/28/25 3/1/25 346 pages Kindle Bennet and Darius 2018
52. Shelter Me by Megan Reddaway 3/1/25 3/2/25 Kindle Leo and Cole Heven Book 1 2017
53. Honor, the Duel, and Indiscretion: The Life of Elizabeth "Betsey" Pollock Devereaux Jones (1818-1879) by W. Davenport Robertson 3/5/25 3/5/25 40 pages paper published in "North Carolina Historical Review," vol. CI, no. 4 (October) 2024
54. The Killer Who Kept Me by Davidson King 3/5/25 3/6/25 224 pages Kindle Em and Soros 2025
55. Run To Me by Ashlynn Mills 3/6/25 3/6/25 248 pages Kindle Nate and Jace 2025
56. Estranged Heart by Ashlynn Mills 3/6/25 3/3/7/25 346 pages Kindle Silas and Elijah 2025
57. Taken By My Dad's Bodyguard by Candace Lark 3/8/25 3/8/25 78 pages Kindle Otto and Myers Sin City 1 2023
58. Vile Heart by Lola Malone 3/8/25 3/8/25 80 pages Kindle Camren and Davian Vicious Valentine 1 2025
59. Distant Heart by Chani Lynn Feener 3/8/25 3/8/25 91 pages Kindle Ilya and Rexton Vicious Valentine 2 2025 own
60. Caught by Leo Rivers 3/8/25 3/8/25 75 pages Kindle Evan and Silas Mating Run 1 2025
61. Rivals by Leo Rivers 3/8/25 3/9/25 91 pages Kindle Viktor and Nick Mating Run 2 2025
**abandoned Be Mine, Bloody Valentine by Skyler Snow** 43 pages
62. Pounding Skin by LA Witt 2/15/25 3/10/25 Audible audio book narrated by Michael Ferraiuolo 9.5 hours Jon and Matt Skin Deep, Inc. 2 2019
63. Shifter for Brains by F.N. Manning 3/9/25 3/9/25 258 pages Kindle Lucas and Chase Supernatural Affairs 2 2022
64. Black Moon by Sam Burns and W.M. Fawkes 288 pages 3/10/25 3/10/25 Kindle Linden and Colt Wolf Moon Rising 1 2021
65. Lost and Pound by Lilo Quie 3/10/25 3/11/25 103 pagesKindle Nico and Shilo Love Sync Mates Season Two 8 2025
**abandoned NOX by Adrienne Wilder** 178 pages
66. Reckless by Nicole Edwards 3/11/25 3/12/25 361 pages Kindle Cam and Gannon Pier 70 Book 1 2015
67. Hunter Moon by Sam Burns and W.M. Fawkes 3/12/25 3/13/25 345 pages Kindle and Brook Wolf Moon Rising 3 2021
68. Wolf Lost by Sam Burns 3/13/25 3/14/25 206 pages Kindle Sawyer and Dez The Wolves of Kismet Book 1 2019
69. Werewolf in Shining Armor by Minerva Howe 3/14/25 3/14/25 127 pages Kindle Symon and Adrian Werewolf Knights Book 1 2024
70. Such a Good Omega by Lorelei M Hart 3/14/25 3/15/25 96 pages Kindle Talon and Rowan His Alpha Desires 1 2024
71. Werewolf in Leather Armor by Minerva Howe 3/14/25 3/14/25 127 pages Kindle Rian and Eyre Werewolf Knights Book 1 2024
72. Cold Moon by Sam Burns and W.M. Fawkes 3/15/25 3/16/25 225 pages Kindle Dante and Skye Wolf Moon book 4 2021
73. Lone Wolf by Tessa Kane 3/16/25 3/17/25 346 pages Kindle Keir and Julien Exiled Omegas Book 1 2023
74. Cinderella in the Sheets by Reece Pine 3/17/25 3/17/25 131 pages Kindle Presley and Louis 2018
75. Carnal Heart by Emmy LaRoux 3/17/25 3/18/25 82 pages Kindle Zaiah and Devyn Vicious Valentines 3 2025
76. Blinding Light by Lola Malone 3/19/25 3/20/25 374 pages Kindle Cyprian and Moargan 2025
77. The Hunter's Heart by Minerva Howe 3/20/25 3/20/25 17 pages Kindle Jason and Isaac 2020
78. Echo by Chani Lynn Feener 3/20/25 3/22/25 437 pages Kindle Rabbit and Baikal Devils of Vitality 1 2023
79. These Silent Stars by Chani Lynn Feener 3/22/25 3/23/25 500 pages Kindle Rin and Kelevra Devils of Vitality 2 2023
**abandoned Guns 'n Boys by KA Merikan** 8.75 hours
**abandoned My Only Regret by Leigh Lennon** 2.5 hours
**abandoned The Measure by Nikki Erlick** 5.25 hours
80. Call of the Sea by Chani Lynn Feener 3/23/25 3/25/25 565 pages Kindle Sila and Bay Devils of Vitality 3 2023
81. Devil May Care by Chani Lynn Feener 3/25/25 3/26/25 482 pages Kindle Nate and Kazimir Devils of Vitality 4 2024
**abandoned Devil May Fall by Chani Lynn Feener** 127 pages
82. Kick at the Darkness by Keira Andrews 3/26/25 3/27/25 267 pages Kindle Parker and Adam Kick at the Darkness 1 2015
83. His Secret Alpha by Chani Lynn Feener 3/27/25 3/28/25 146 pages Kindle Sky and Kian Christmas Omegas 6 2023
**abandoned The Wolf's Wounded Omega by AJ Kane** 108 pages
**abandoned Chasing Mr. Wright by Aimee Nicole Walker ** 173 pages
**abandoned Betrothed to the Emperor by Kai Butler** 197 pages
84. Who Said Mobsters Were Scary? by Aria Clark 3/28/25 3/30/25 324 pages Kindle Leo and Chai Mobster Mayhem 1 2024
85. Kestrel by Adrienne Lothy 3/30/25 3/30/25 362 pages Kindle Niko and 'the Kestrel' Starhawk Book 1 2024
86. The Alpha's Heir: Captive by Wolf Specter 3/30/25 3/31/25 135 pages Kindle Zeke and Mathias The Alpha's Heir 1 2016
87. Mated to the Alpha books 1-8 by Rosa Swann and Wolf Specter 4/1/25 4-2-25 388 pages Kindle Max and Ethan 2015
88. Claimed by the Boss by Sophie O'Dare 4/2/25 4/3/25 211 pages Kindle Leo and Nolan Taken by His Alpha 1 2024
89. The Alpha Wolf Rancher's Runaway Omega by Asher Wylde 4/3/25 4/3/25 220 pages Kindle Wesley and Zack 2025
90. Mating the Omega by Ann-Katrin Byrde 4/3/25 4/3/25 153 pages Kindle Jason and Mac Mercy Hills Pack 1 2016
91. Abel's Omega by Ann-Katrin Byrde 4/3/25 4/4/25 348 pages Kindle Bax and Abel Mercy Hills Pack 2 2016
**abandoned Who Said Witness Protection Was Boring? by Aria Clark** 153 pages
**abandoned Wrong Train, Right Wolf by Colbie Dunbar** 43 pages
**abandoned Wrong Number, Right Wolf by Colbie Dunbar** 23 pages
92. Collared by Lola Malone 4/4/25 4/5/25 116 pages Kindle Thurel and Maël The Wicked Chase 1 2024
93. Trapped by Lola Malone 4/5/25 4/5/25 124 pages Kindle Robin and Arsène The Wicked Chase 2 2024
94. Hunted by Lola Malone 4/5/25 4/5/25 124 pages Kindle Olivier and Alexandre The Wicked Chase 3 2024
95. Cherry Breeze by Jett Masterson 4/5/25 4/6/25 392 pages Kindle Asher and Sebastian 2025
96. Marked by Lola Malone 4/6/25 4/8/25 126 pages Kindle Edouard and Romain The Wicked Chase 4 2024
97. Finding Lord Landry by Lucy Lennox 4/8/25 4/9/25 340 pages Kindle Kenji and Landry The Billionaire Brotherhood 5 2025
98. His Bewildered Mate by Brea Alepoú 4/9/25 4/9/25 234 pages Kindle Dillan and Rhy Unexpected Mates 1 2019
99. Grabbed by Susi Hawke and Crista Crown 4/10/25 4/10/25 157 pages Kindle Preston and Noah Team A.L.P.H.A. Book 1 2019
**abandoned Ready or Knot by Susi Hawke and Crista Crown** 124 pages
100. Devlish by Ella Frank and Brooke Blaine 4/11/25 4/11/25 295 pages Kindle Lucien and Kai Park Avenue Kings 2 2025
101. The Revenge Game by Jax Calder 4/11/25 4/12/25 439 pages Kindle Andrew and Justin The Revenge Club 1 2025
102. His Reluctant Omega by Sam Abbot 4/13/25 4/14/25 45 pages Kindle Nathan and Brock Devil's Creek Omega Book 1 2015
103. Wildlands Omega by Ruby Nox 4/14/25 4/14/25 121 pages Kindle Riley and Jack Summerwood Wolves 1 2017
104. The Alpha's Touch by Claire Cullen 4/14/25 4/15/25 94 pages Kindle Robert and Sebastian Lost Omegas Book 1 2016
105. Wrenched by Casey Morales 4/15/25 4/15/25 257 pages Kindle Sam and Miguel Nashville Spicy Book 1 2023
106. Omega's Escape by Feral Moon 4/15/25 4/16/25 72 pages Kindle Aiden and Jude The Omega Files Book 1 2016
**abandoned Hollywood Lightning by JV Speyer** 80 pages
107. Kiss the Villain by Rina Kent 4/16/25 4/17/25 496 pages Kindle Kayden and Gareth Villain 1 2025
108. Between the Devil and the Sea by Chani Lynn Feener narrated by Dan Levy 3/26/25 4/18/25 12 hrs 20 minutes Apollo and Shadow The Devil and the Sea 1 2023
**abandoned Wrath by Ellis James** 346 pages
**abandoned Rescue by Mx Alex** 188 pages
109. Ferocious by Leslie McAdam 4/17/25 4/19/25 405 pages Kindle Rowan and Charlie 2025
110. Omega On the Run by Aria Grace 4/20/25 4/20/25 80 pages Kindle Jamie and Cameron Love Sync Mates Season 2 10
111. His Dark Paradox by Avery Tu and Kota Quinn 4/20/25 4/21/25 260 pages Kindle Nuri and Silver 2023
112. Villain by Chani Lynn Feener 4/21/25 4/22/25 310 pages Kindle Nix, Lake, West, and Yejun Demons of Foxglove Grove 1 2024
113. Martyr by Chani Lynn Feener 4/22/25 4/23/25 298 pages Kindle Nix, Lake, West, and Yejun Demons of Foxglove Grove 2 2024
114. Saint by Chani Lynn Feener 4/23/25 4/24/25 266 pages Kindle Nix, Lake, West, and Yejun Demons of Foxglove Grove 3 2024
115. Beer Money by Remy Tate 4/24/25 4/24/25 243 pages Kindle Jared and Andrew Black Box 1 2025
116. Unwritten Law by Eden Finley narrated by Antony Ferguson and Joel Leslie 4/18/25 4/26/25 Audible audiobook 5.45 hours Law and Reed The Steele Brothers 1 2018
117. Body Count by L Eveland 4/26/25 4/27/25 349 pages Kindle Theo and River Wayward Sons 1 2023
**abandoned Skin Deep by L Eveland** 141 pages
**abandoned A Bright Celestial Sea by Chani Lynn Feener** 189 pages
118. You Will Never Know by Chani Lynn Feener 4/25/25 4/25/25 238 pages Kindle Hunter and Odin A Whisper in the Dark 1 2022
119. Bent by Jesse H Reign 4/27/25 4/28/25 110 pages Kindle Oliver and Ethan 2021
120. Bent Backwards by Jesse H Reign 4/28/25 4/28/25 123 pages Kindle Ethan and Oliver 2021
121. Stay in Your Lane! by Cari Z and LA Witt 4/28/25 4/29/25 284 pages Kindle Everett and Kyle 2025
122. Off the Beaten Path by Cari Z 4/30/25 4/30/25 186 pages Kindle Ward and Henry 2021
123. His Surprise Omega by Allie W Scott 4/30/25 4/30/25 143 pages Kindle Wendell and Rafe Christmas Omegas 7 2023
**abandoned Unnatural by Alessandra Hazard** 43 pages
**abandoned Auctioned Omega by Kellan Larkin** 76 pages
**abandoned Mated into the Mob by Colbie Dunbar** 60 pages
**abandoned His Sinful Need by Leighton Greene** 193 pages
124. Knot Mine by Alice La Roux 5/3/25 5/4/25 263 pages Kindle Shiloh and Zale 2025
125. A Pika's Safe Haven by Odessa Hywell 5/4/25 5/4/25 202 pages Kindle Dean and Jules Heat, Prey, Love 2 2025
126. Ugly by Roe Horvat 5/4/25 5/4/25 180 pages Kindle Burke and Emerson Winter Sun 1 2021
127. The Good Student by MM Phoenix 5/4/25 5/4/25 86 pages Kindle Asher and Philip Straight No More 2 2025
128. The Arrangement by Laura Taylor 5/4/25 5/5/25 175 pages Kindle Oliver and Jet 2019
**abandoned Edge of Control by M Walker ** 126 pages
**abandoned Evil Omega by S Rodman ** 62 pages
129. Unspoken Vow by Eden Finley narrated by Antony Ferguson and Joel Leslie 4/26/25 5/7/25 Audible audiobook 9.25 hours Anders and Brody The Steele Brothers 2 2020
** abandoned The Unexpected Omega by Jacey Davis** 129 pages
130. Omega's Silver Alpha by Loralei M Hart 5/6/25 5/6/25 148 pages Kindle Will and Jack Mapleville Omegas 8 2018
**abandoned Serving the Alpha by HP Fly** 19 pages
**abandoned The Marriage Switch by Aja Foxx** 46 pages
131. Hurricane by Laura Taylor 5/7/25 5/8/25 120 pages Kindle Azure and Tor The Elements 1 2019
132. Slow Heat by Leta Blake 5/8/25 5/9/25 388 pages Kindle Jason and Vale Heat of Love 1 2017
**abandoned Devil in the Details by Chani Lynn Feener** 86 pages
133. Milk by Roe Horvat 5/9/25 to 5/9/25 112 pages Kindle Nico and Charles 2024
134. The Bound Omega by KC Carmine 5/10/25 5/10/25 55 pages Kindle Eldin and Ole Defiant Omegas 1 2024
135. Rough Country by Kelly Fox 5/10/25 5/11/25 290 pages Kindle Emery and Woody Central Texas 1 2024
136. Precious by Roe Horvat 5/11/25 5/11/25 218 pages Kindle Micah and Travis Heated Touch 1 2020
137. Doctor's Orders by Preston Walker and Liam Kingsley 116 pages 5/11/25 5/12/25 116 pages Kindle Reese and Connor 2018
138. Fearless Bond by Roe Horvat 5/12/25 5/13/25 199 pages Kindle Calvin and Barclay Bears of Beauville 1 2024
139. Finding Finn by Kiki Burrelli 5/13/25 5/14/25 169 pages Kindle Finn and Luke Wolf's Mate 1 2016
140. Mated to the Alpha books 1-8 by Rosa Swann and Wolf Specter 5/8/25 5/8/25 388 pages Kindle Max and Ethan 2015
141. The Omega Accountant by Bella Bennet 5/13/25 5/13/25 239 pages Kindle Matteo and Luca Corvino Family Mafia 1 2025
142. Enemy Match by Anna Wineheart 5/13/25 5/14/25 156 pages Kindle Hadley and Darius Perfect Match Agency: Springtime 2 2024
143. Luscious Match by Anna Wineheart 5/15/25 5/15/25 174 pages Kindle Gabe and Kallen Perfect Match Agency: Springtime 4 2024
144. Dinosaurs by Lydia Millet 4/23/25 5/17/25 230 pages Hardcover 2022
145. His Hunter by MM Farmer 5/16/25 5/16/25 245 pages Kindle Ari and Samson Omegas After Dark 1 2024
146. Ex Match by Anna Wineheart 5/16/25 5/16/25 123 pages Kindle John and Michael Perfect Match Agency: Springtime 1 2024
**abandoned Chased By the Alpha by Summer Aspen** 41 pages
**abandoned Snatched Up By the Cartel by Michael Levi** 54 pages Rylan and Mateo
**abandoned Alpha for Appearances by Libby Walsh** 165 pages fake marriage
147. Rome and Jules by Tara Lain 5/16/25 5/17/25 217 pages Kindle Rome and Jules 2020
148. Temple by Avril Ashton 5/17/25 5/18/25 71 pages Kindle Temple and Vik Freelancers 1 2021
149. Craving You by Avril Ashton 5/18/25 5/18/25 368 pages Kindle Kannon and Preacher Dread+ Terrible 2 2020
150. Everything Is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection by John Green narrated by the author Audible audio book 5/11/25 5.5 hours
151. His Sassy Omega by Raiven Matthews 5/19/25 5/20/25 364 pages Kindle Quinn and Lachlan Sweet Alps Mates 1 2022
152. His Bratty Omega by Raiven Matthews 5/20/25 5/21/25 367 pages Kindle Wade and Finn Sweet Alps Mates 2 2022
153. A Husband for Christmas by Beau Brown 5/21/25 5/22/25 211 pages Kindle Rider and Jax 2018
154. Roman by Avril Ashton 5/22/25 5/22/25 154 pages Kindle Roman and Tate Freelancers 2 2021
155. Doctor Perfect by Beau Brown 5/23/25 5/23/25 235 pages Kindle Fox and Liam The Omegas of Sweet Water, Texas 1 2019
156. Possession by Rina Saint 5/23/25 5/24/25 231 pages Kindle Lucas and Roman Constantine Brothers 1 2025
157. Werewolf in Rusted Armor by Minerva Howe 5/24/25 5/24/25 102 pages Kindle Quin and Thiago Werewolf Knights 3 2025
158. The Covenant by Cora Rose and Lark Taylor 5/25/25 5/25/25 341 pages Kindle Matthias and Wyatt The Firm 1 2025
159. Instant Bond by LA Lambert 5/25/25 5/26/25 251 pages Kindle Cam and Karter 2024
160. Primal Urges by Harper Aveline 5/26/25 5/26/25 184 pages Kindle Bishop and Lucien Primal Series 1 2024
161. His Every Move by M Walker 5/26/25 5/27/25 251 pages Kindle Elijah and Benji Stonewall Investigations:Midnight 2 2025
162. Claimed by the Wolf by Lyndon Land 5/27/25 5/28/25 135 pages Kindle Taggart and Mikhail Moonbond Run 1 2025
163. Trapped by the Alpha by Lyndon Land 5/28/25 5/29/25 156 pages Kindle Toby and Mason Moonbond Run 4 2025
164. Infamous Park Avenue Prince by Ella Frank and Brooke Blaine 435 pages 5/29/25 5/29/25 Kindle West and JT Park Avenue Princes Book 1 2023
**abandoned Primal Instinct by Harper Aveline** 196 pages
**abandoned Chokehold by Leigh Rivers** 282
**abandoned An Omega for the Sheriff by Corie Rosling** 51 pages
**abandoned The Beautiful Dead by Skyla Raines** 213 pages
**abandoned Cooper by Fel Fern** 106 pages
165. Insatiable Park Avenue Prince by Ella Frank and Brooke Blaine 5/28/25 5/29/25 406 pages Kindle Donovan and Kelly Park Avenue Princes 2 2023
166. A Different Kind of Chemistry by Ashlynn Mills 5/29/25 5/29/25 270 pages Kindle Maverick and Casey Nerds & Tattoos 1 2021
**abandoned Office Jinx by AW Turner** 63 pages
167. Scandalous Park Avenue Prince by Ella Frank and Brooke Blaine 5/31/25 6/1/25 438 pages Kindle Preston and Archer Park Avenue Princes 3 2024
168. Possessive Park Avenue Prince by Ella Frank and Brooke Blaine 6/1/25 6/2/25 332 pages Kindle Gavin and Daire Park Avenue Princes 4 2024
169. Wild Match by Amy Bellows 6/3/25 6/3/25 110 pages Kindle Leo and Steve Perfect Match Agency: Springtime 5 2024
170. The Accidental Everything by Amy Bellows 6/3/25 6/3/25 166 pages Kindle Isaac and Rhett Nerds Who Knot 1 2019
171. The Bookmobile Baby by Amy Bellows 6/3/25 6/4/25 231 pages Kindle Simon and Art Nerds Who Knot 2 2019
172. To Catch a Firefly by Emmy Sanders 6/4/25 6/5/25 309 pages Kindle Ellis and Lucky 2024
173. Worthy by Michele Lenard 6/5/25 6/6/25 271 pages Kindle Cade and Maddox Adrenalin 1 2025
174. Beautifully Fractured by Michele Lenard 6/6/25 6/7/25 286 pages Kindle Liam and Cruz Front Range University 1 2024
175. Echo by Chani Lynn Feener 6/7/25 6/8/25 437 pages Kindle Rabbit and Baikal The Devils of Vitality 1 2023
176. Vile Heart by Lola Malone 6/8/25 6/9/25 80 pages Kindle Cam and Davian Vicious Valentines 1 2025
**abandoned Privileged by Michele Lenard ** 111 pages
**abandoned Salacious Park Avenue Prince by Ella Frank ** 210 pages
177. Distant Heart by Chani Lynn Feener 6/9/25 6/10/25 91 pages Kindle Ilya and Rexton Vicious Valentine 2 2025
178. Carnal Heart by Emmy LaRoux 6/10/25 6/10/25 82 pages Kindle Zaiah and Devyn Vicious Valentine 2 2025
179. Stalked by Leo Rivers 6/10/25 6/10/25 112 pages Kindle Mason and Toby Mating Run 3 2025
180. Don't Date a DILF by DJ Jamison 6/10/25 6/11/25 342 pages Kindle Hunter and Clark Rules We Break in Granville Book 1 2023
181. Collared by Lola Malone 6/11/25 6/11/25 116 pages Kindle Thurel and Maël The Wicked Chase 1 2024
**abandoned Primal Claim by Leo Rivers ** 100 pages
**abandoned Alpha Fated Temptation by Alice Chandler** 247 pages
**abandoned One True Thing by MJ O'Shea and Piper Vaughn** 221 pages
182. The Omega Puppet by Bella Bennet 6/11/25 6/12/25 230 pages Kindle Elio and Dario Corvino Family Mafia 2 2025
183. His Best Friend's Heat by Ansley Ellis 6/13/25 6/13/25 170 pages Kindle Micah and Nick 2025
**abandoned Rescued by the Alpha by MM Wilde** 115 pages
**abandoned Stepbrother's Secret by Anna Wineheart ** 104 pages
**abandoned A Voice in Chains by Harleigh Beck** 142 pages
184. Invitation to the Blues by Roan Parrish narrated by Greg Boudreaux Audible audio book 6/3/25 6/14/25 8.25 hours Jude and Faron Small Change 2 2019
185. Dean by Cora Rose 6/13/25 6/13/25 262 pages Kindle Dean and Avery Unexpected 9 2025
186. Omega Teacher's Baby by Anna Wineheart 6/13/25 6/14/25 429 pages Kindle Dale and Greg Men of Meadowfall 2 2017
187. His Captor by MM Farmer 6/15/25 6/15/25 250 pages Kindle Hayden and Mace Omegas After Dark Book 2 2024
188. The Bear's Brave Omega by AJ Cane 6/15/25 6/17/25 234 pages Kindle Milo and Everett Grizzly Ridge Book 1 2023
**abandoned Mr. Picture Perfect by Darryl Banner ** 74 pages
**abandoned His Master by MM Farmer ** 108 pages
189. Mated to the Alpha by Lyndon Land 6/17/25 6/17/25 147 pages Kindle Malcolm and Jeremy Moonbond Run 2 2025
190. Devil May Care by Chani Lynn Feener 6/17/25 6/19/25 482 pages Kindle Nate and Kazimir Devils of Vitality 4 2024 *reread*
191. Devil May Fall by Chani Lynn Feener 6/19/25 6/20/25 380 pages Kindle Flix and Aneski Devils of Vitality 5 2024
192. Devil May Lie by Chani Lynn Feener 6/20/25 6/21/25 449 pages Kindle Berga and Madden Devils of Vitality 6 2024
193. Devil May Breathe by Chani Lynn Feener 6/21/25 6/23/25 570 pages Kindle Zane and Pavel Devils of Vitality 7 2024
**abandoned Mating Maddox by DJ Heart ** 107 pages
194. Omega Reclaimed by Tanya Chris 6/23/25 6/23/25 97 pages Kindle Leo and Angel Omega Reimagined Book 1 2016
**abandoned Baby and the Wolf by Victoria Sue ** 82 pages
**abandoned 7 Minutes in Kevin by DJ Jamison ** 123 pages
**abandoned The Devil's Embrace by Chani Lynn Feener ** 212 pages
**abandoned You Will Never Know by Chani Lynn Feener ** 61 pages
195. Wicked Games by Willow Dixon 6/24/25 6/24/25 382 pages Kindle Killian and Felix Silvercrest U 1 2025
196. Wicked Lies Boys Tell by K Webster narrated by Teddy Hamilton and Jacob Morgan Audible 6/18/25 6/24/25 6 hrs 45 minutes Penn and Copeland **reread
197. Step Bully by Willow Dixon 6/24/25 6/25/25 320 pages Kindle Ash and Jules 2022
198. Don't Bang Your Stepbro by DJ Jamison 6/26/25 6/26/25 310 pages Kindle Wes and Beckett Rules We Break in Granville 3 2023
199. Outcast by DJ Jamison 6/26/25 6/27/25 338 pages Kindle Gray and Emory Foster Bro Code 1 2025
200. Brim Over Boots by Emmy Sanders 6/27/25 6/27/25 313 pages Kindle Colton and Noah Darling Brothers 2 2025
201. Cloudy With a Chance of Bad Decisions by Fae Quin 6/27/25 6/29/25 572 pages Kindle George and Alex 2025
202. Just a Bit Twisted by Alessandra Hazard 6/29/25 6/30/25 158 pages Kindle Shawn and Derek Straight Guys 1 2014
203. Off Limits by Willow Dixon 6/30/25 6/30/25 319 pages Kindle Asa and Dex Legacy Mechanics 4 2025
**abandoned Feuds and Reckless Fury by K Webster ** 148 pages
**abandoned Lust by Devon McCormack ** 48 pages
**abandoned Hunt Me! by Fae Quin ** 111 pages
204. His Burden to Bear by Shelley Grayson 6/30/25 7/1/25 223 pages Kindle Trevor and Bear Dark Moon Shifters 1 2016
205. Wolfsong by TJ Klune 7/1/25 7/3/25 498 pages Kindle Ox and Joe Green Creek 1 2022
206. Sweat Connection by Katherine McIntyre 7/3/25 7/3/25 173 pages Kindle Rhys and Cole Hot under the Collar 1 2023
**abandoned Rival for Rent by Spencer Spears ** 301 pages
207. Best Friends, Tennessee by Raleigh Ruebins 7/23/25 7/24/25 231 pages Kindle Ori and Finn Hard Spot Cafe 1 2025
208. His Shy Omega by Eva Lyra 7/24/25 7/5/25 266 pages Kindle Kai and Alex Lotus Academy Babies 1 2021
209. Following Chance by Kiska Gray 7/5/25 7/5/25 142 pages Kindle Huxley and Chance Shifters of Greymercy 1 2018
210. Alpha for Comfort by Libby Walsh 7/5/25 7/6/25 256 pages Kindle Rowan and Camden Manhattan Mates 2 2025
211. Pretty AF by Arden Steele 7/6/25 7/6/25 85 pages Kindle River and Deaton At First 1 2025
212. The Boyfriend Subscription by Steven Salvatore 7/6/25 7/6/25 253 pages Kindle Teddy and Cole 2024
213. Fool Hearts by Emmy Sanders 7/6/25 7/7/25 296 pages Kindle Wyatt and Easton Plum Valley Cowboys 1 2022
214. Mountain Man's Baby by Ashlyn Dupree 7/8/25 7/8/25 90 pages Kindle Rowan and Kieran Ironclaw Wolves 1 2025
**abandoned A Dark Billionaire Obsession by Rhea Marcellis ** 108 pages
**abandoned Convincing Conrad by Casey Drake ** 65 pages
215. Omega's Secret Guardian by Anna Winehart 7/8/25 7/9/25 361 pages Kindle Storm and Linus The Danger Alpha Brotherhood 3 2025
216. The Omega's Secret Baby by Ann-Katrin Byrde 7/9/25 7/10/25 288 pages Kindle Elias and Matthew Oceanport Omegas 2017
217. Without You by Marley Valentine narrated by Teddy Hamilton and Tim Paige 7/4/25 7/11/25 9.25 hours Audible Audio Book Deacon and Julian Without You Duet 1 2020 **re-listen**
218. His Fertile Omega by Lee Bright 7/11/25 7/11/25 40 pages Kindle Hudson and Sam 2024
219. Surprised by Fate by RS McKenzie 7/11/25 7/13/25 184 pages Kindle Brandon and Mason Fair Falls Fated 2023
220. It's Just One Kiss by Monica Moss 7/13/25 7/14/25 370 pages Kindle Alex and Ryan The Stepbrother Series 1 2024
221. Business and Pleasure by Annabel Rose 7/15/25 7/15/25 77 pages Kindle Mattie and Blake Alpha CEO 3 2022
**abandoned Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro ** 225 pages
**abandoned Second Chance by Braylon Black ** 105 pages
**abandoned Omega in the Middle by Braylon Black ** 25 pages
**abandoned Unexpected Fate by RS McKenzie ** 21 pages
**abandoned Blaze by RM Neill ** 116 pages
**abandoned Burn It Down by Nicole Dykes ** 116 pages
**abandoned A Wolf Reborn by Isha Fáng ** 66 pages
**abandoned Hot Roommate Blues by Parker Avrile ** 93 pages
222. Bad Cowboy, Tennessee by Raleigh Ruebens 7/15/25 7/16/25 298 pages Kindle Draven and Max Hard Spot Saloon Book 3 2025
223. The Marriage Policy by Riley Hart 7/16/25 7/17/25 249 pages Kindle Donovan and Eric The Jilted Exes' Club 2 2025
**abandoned Leave it All by April Kelley** 84 pages
**abandoned Boyfriend by the Hour by Alexa Land ** 69 pages
224. The Loophole by Alexa Land 7/18/25 7/19/25 245 pages Kindle Embry and Bryson First and Forever Stories 12 2025
225. Mated to the Alpha books 1-8 by Rosa Swann and Wolf Specter 7/17/25 7/20/25 388 pages Kindle Max and Ethan 2015
226. His Secret Omega by Wolf Specter 7/20/25 7/20/25 143 pages Kindle Aidan and Luke 2015
227. Unsuitable Omega by Skye R. Richmond 7/20/25 7/20/25 228 pages Kindle Nikolas and Jai Billionaire Alphas 1 2018
228. Wrecked by the Best Man by Jenny Bowen 7/20/25 7/21/25 109 pages Kindle Owen and Slade 2025
229. Bite Before You Kiss by Jenny Pineapple 7/21/25 7/21/25 80 pages Kindle River and Theo 2025
230. Heteroflexible by Daryl Banner narrated by Chris Chambers and Kirt Graves 7/15/25 7/22/25 Audible Audio Book 11.5 hours Bobby and Jimmy Spruce Texas Romance 3 2020
231. Rival Attraction by Jenny Pineapple 7/21/25 7/21/25 42 pages Kindle Kai and Asher Peak Edge Innovations 1 2024
232. Claimed by Midnight by Jenny Pineapple 7/21/25 7/21/25 71 pages Kindle Eli and Damien 2025
233. Unwrap Me After Dark by Jenny Pineapple 7/21/25 7/21/25 76 pages Kindle Liam and Tyler 2025
234. Blitz'd by RS McKenzie and Lee McCornick 7/21/25 7/23/25 339 pages Kindle Kerian and Zander Evergreen University 1 2025
**abandoned Solar Eclipse by Jenny Pineapple ** 46 pages
**abandoned Hot Head by Mika Nix ** 138 pages
**abandoned Home in Austin by Susi Hawke 48 pages
**abandoned Primal Bonds 1 by Zara Lee** 128 pages
**abandoned Bitter When He Begs by Avery Collins** 203 pages
235. Crown of Thorns by Lola Malone 7/24/25 7/26/25 381 pages Kindle Noah and Louis The Initiation Series 3 2025
236. Broken Alpha by Everleigh Fox 7/26/25 7/27/25 281 pages Kindle Luke and Aiydn Unwanted 1 2025
**abandoned Swift's Temptation by JR Loveless ** 126 pages
237. Hostile by Nicole Dykes 7/27/25 7/27/25 298 pages Kindle Rhett and Grayson 2022
238. The Omega Next Door by Libby Walsh 7/27/25 7/28/25 111 pages Kindle Dean and Noah 2025
239. Sunshine for Sale by Cora Rose and Nicole Dykes 7/28/25 7/29/25 174 pages Kindle Jimbob and Braxton Homegrown Hearts 1 2024
240. Breaking Free by Isabel Lucero 7/29/25 7/30/25 274 pages Kindle Dominic and Trevor South River University 3 2021
241. Caught in His Sights by Sophie O'Dare and Lyn Forester 7/30/25 7/31/25 221 pages Kindle Oliver and Caleb Taken by His Alpha 2024
242. Barback's Baby by Ashlyn Dupree 7/31/25 7/31/25 96 pages Kindle Julian and Boone Whiskey Ridge Wranglers 1 2025
243. Hot Ice Tennessee by Raleigh Ruebins 7/31/25 8/1/25 235 pages Kindle Jesse and Mason Hard Spot Saloon 2 2025
244. Devil May Hunt by Chani Lynn Feener 8/1/25 8/1/25 177 pages Kindle Brennon and Gunho Devils of Vitality 8 2025
245. Wicked Soulmate by Jenny Pineapple 8/1/25 8/2/25 42 pages Kindle Lucas and Dylan My Last Valentine 1 2025
246. Trust No Alpha by Wendy Rathbone 8/2/25 8/2/25 200 pages Kindle Kris and Thorne Omega Misfits Book 1 2020
247. Second Match by Wendy Rathbone 8/2/25 8/2/25 172 pages Kindle Morgan and Riley Perfect Match 5 2023
248. Hunter's Creek by Victoria Sue narrated by John Solo 7/26/25 8/3/25 Audible Audio Book 6.75 hours Asher and Sai Hunter's Creek Book 1 2019
249. Alpha Wolf: Jason by Kellan Larkin and Kaz Crowley 8/2/25 8/3/25 175 pages Kindle Jason and Rudy Brother Wolves 1 2018
250. Cautious Match by Roe Horvat 8/3/25 8/3/25 159 pages Kindle Avery and Jori Perfect Match 1 2023
251. Psync by Zile Elliven 8/3/25 8/4/25 378 pages Kindle Eli and Karuka Enchanted University 1 2021
252. Missiletoe: This one *is* remotely about Christmas by Zile Elliven 8/4/25 8/5/25 272 pages Kindle Vix and Paris A Really Gay Villian Christmas Series 2 2023
253. Never Feed the Crows by Jennifer Cody 8/6/25 8/6/25 66 pages Kindle Amos and Corvin Corvin's Crows Book 1 2024
254. Dealer of Secrets by Davidson King 8/6/25 8/6/25 144 pages Kindle Zaire and Carter The Elite 1 2023
255. Omega's Fire by Sasha Silsbury 8/6/25 8/8/25 226 pages Kindle Leo and Nash Prime Match Book 1 2025
256. Omeg's Fever by Sasha Silsbury 8/8/25 8/8/25 239 pages Kindle Milo and Kellen Prime Match Book 2 2025
**abandoned The Frat Boys Baby by Aiden Bates** 120 pages
**abandoned The Awakening by Kate Chopin** 42 pages
**abandoned Pit Stop by Cora Rose** 136 pages
257. Hollis by Ashley James 8/8/25 8/10/25 284 pages Kindle Hollis and Ford The Moore Men Book 2 2025
258. Mobster's Mate by Kiki Clark 8/10/25 8/11/25 220 pages Kindle Caden and Quinten 2024
259. Treasure Trail by Morgan Brice narrated by John Solo 8/4/25 8/11/25 Audible Audio Book 7.25 hours Treasure Trail Book 1 2019
260. A Really Gay Book by Zile Elliven 8/11/25 8/11/25 112 pages Kindle Apple and Adam A Really Gay Villian Christmas Series 1 2023
261. Crocodile Tears by Xanthe Walter 8/11/25 8/13/25 410 pages Kindle Alex and Josiah Dark Water 1 2025
**abandoned Immoral by Brooke Blaine ** 134 pages
262. Ghost Eye by Xanthe Walter 8/13/25 8/14/25 382 pages Kindle Alex and Josiah Dark Water 2 2025
263. Ricochet by Xanthe Walter 8/14/25 8/15/25 517 pages Kindle Matt and Rick 2012
264. Not Safe for Command by Jenny Pineapple 8/15/25 8/16/25 180 pages Kindle Cain and Ellis Station Thirteen 2 2025
265. The Lost Zone by Xanthe Walter 8/14/25 8/18/25 530 pages Kindle Josiah and Alex Dark Water 3 2025
266. Rustler's Baby by Ashlyn Dupree 8/18/25 8/18/25 88 pages Kindle Cal and Luca Whiskey Ridge Wranglers 3 2025
267. Hide and Seek by Willow Dixon 8/18/25 8/20/25 357 pages Kindle Jax and Myles Silvercrest U 2 2025
268. The Edge of Heaven by EM Lindsey 8/20/25 8/21/25 273 pages Kindle Archer and Julian Love Beyond Measure 1 2020
**abandoned Runaway Magic by Zile Ellivan ** 67 pages
**abandoned Touch Him and Die by Jenny Pineapple** 156 pages
269. Soft Place to Fall by BA Tortuga narrated by 8/13/25 8/22/25 Audible Audio Book 9 hours Stetson and Curtis 2019
270. Claimed by the Alpha by Riley Sloane 8/23/25 8/24/25 90 pages Kindle Liam and Kane Ridge Wolf Shifters 1 2025
271. Clutch by Piper Scott and Virginia Kelly 8/24/25 8/24/25 222 pages Kindle Nate and Alistair Forbidden Desires 1 2018
272. Danny Hall Gets a Lawyer by Lisa Henry and Sarah Honey 8/24/25 8/25/25 220 pages Kindle Danny and Miller Goose Run 1 2025
273. Family Recipe by Lisa Henry and Tia Fielding 8/25/25 8/26/25 213 pages Kindle Justin and Del 2020
274. Keeping Promises by Jodi Payne and BA Tortuga narrated by John Solo 8/22/25 8/26/25 Audible Audio Book Jeremy and West 7 hours Higher Elevation 2 2021
**abandoned Wrecked by BA Tortuga** 143 pages
275. Take a Chance by Kris T Bethke and Tia Fielding 8/26/25 8/27/25 308 pages Kindle Mal and Crew Blue Creek Ranch 1 2025
276. The Legend Next Door by Jesse H Reign 8/27/25 8/28/25 453 pages Kindle Ben and Jeremiah Totally Pucked 2 2025
277. The Inheritance Clause by S Black 8/28/25 8/28/25 321 pages Kindle Evan and Alister Revenge Series 1 2025
**abandoned Jack Rabbit by Em Jae Black** 31 pages
**abandoned Bully's Rejected Omega by Krystal Clark** 46 pages
**abandoned Cowboy's City Slicker Omega by Bella Bennet** 20 pages
**abandoned Midnight at the Laundromat by Bella Bennet** 108 pages
**abandoned Having His Back by Andrew Grey** 31 pages
**abandoned Pieces of Home by Becca Neil** 355 pages Too traumatic, too stressful, only 66% done, and there will be more violence gainst one of the MCs, guaranteed
278. Bad With Love by Sophie O'Dare and Lyn Forester 8/29/25 8/30/25 90 pages Kindle Warren and Roman Marked By His Alpha 1 2024
279. Honey Sunshine by Gen Blackwell 8/29/25 8/30/25 96 pages Kindle Zach and Harvey Bower Brothers 1 2024
280. Omega's Choice by Gen Blackwell 8/30/25 8/30/25 75 pages Kindle Cody and Rafe 2023
281. Black Tiger Run by Mira Harlson 8/30/25 8/30/25 79 pages Kindle Black Tiger and Cyprian Black Tiger 2 2025
282. At Your Service by Alessandra Hazard 8/30/25 8/30/25 65 pages Kindle Troy and Andreas 2023
283. Puck My Stepbrother by Holly Myers 8/30/25 8/31/25 266 pages Kindle Quinn and Levi Pucked and Possessed 2 2025
**abandoned Let Your Hearts be Light by Fae Quin** 7 hours too twee
**abandoned Let Me Show You by Becca Seymour** 3 hours also too twee
284. His Weekend Alpha by Ansley Ellis 8/31/25 8/31/25 236 pages Kindle Kole and Lawson 2025
**abandoned Headstrong by Eden Finley ** 3.75 hours
285. Chokehold by Leigh Rivers and Harleigh Beck 8/31/25 9/2/25 437 pages Kindle Cole and Blaise 2024
286. Ricochet by River Hale 9/2/25 9/3/25 373 pages Kindle Callum and Stone 2024
287. His Cruelest Claim by Kai Valemont 9/4/25 9/5/25 77 pages Kindle Dante and Julian 2025
288. The Puck Contract by MM Phoenix 9/5/25 9/5/25 355 pages Kindle Mateo and Groover Melting Ice 1 2025
289. The Sheriff and the Stray by Ashlyn Dupree 9/6/25 9/7/25 92 pages Kindle Colt and Mateo Dustbite Coyotes 2025
**abandoned On My Knees for Him by Ezra Dao ** 51 pages
**abandoned Mating Season by Kai Valemont ** 58 pages
**abandoned Model Obsession by MK Zarah ** 97 pages
**abandoned Never Too Late by Quinn Ward ** 202 pages
**abandoned Sweat by Jonah Yorke ** 214 pages
290. Man On by Rebecca Rathe 9/4/25 9/7/25 475 pages Kindle Noah and Lane Forbidden Goals 2 2024
291. A Voice in Chains by Harleigh Beck 9/5/25 9/8/25 263 pages Kindle Zach and Arkin 2025
292. Boots, Babies and Bad Decisions by Bella Bennet 9/8/25 9/8/25 257 pages Kindle Jesse and Cole Baby Makes 3 6 2025
293. The Revenge Agenda by Saxon James 9/8/25 9/9/25 276 pages Kindle Rush and Hunter Accidental Love Book 3 2024
294. Voices by Joey Parker 9/9/25 9/10/25 408 pages Kindle Charlie and Shane Irish Knights Hockey 1 2025
295. Power Plays & Straight A's by Eden Finley and Saxon James 9/10/25 9/11/25 302 pages Kindle Foster and Zach CU Hockey 1 2020
296. Egotistical Puckboy by Eden Finley and Saxon James 9/11/25 9/12/25 296 pages Kindle Ezra and Anton Puckboys 1 2022
297. Poetry on Ice by Jesse H Reign 9/12/25 9/12/25 451 pages Kindle Robbie and Ant Totally Pucked 1 2025
298. Goal Lines & First Times by Eden Finley and Saxon James 9/12/25 9/13/25 303 pages Kindle Cohen and Seth CU Hockey 3 2021
299. The New Guy by Sarina Bowen 9/13/25 9/13/25 338 pages Kindle Hudson and Gavin Hockey Guys 1 2023
300. Savage Titan by EV Olsen 9/13/25 9/14/25 173 pages Kindle Eli and Alexei North Shore Titans Hockey 1 2024
301. Brutal Titan by EV Olsen 9/14/25 9/15/25 118 pages Kindle Jackson and Killian North Shore Titans Hockey 2 2024
302. Unhinged Titan by EV Olsen 9/14/25 9/15/25 237 pages Kindle Viktor and Beckett North Shore Titans Hockey 3 2024
303. Omega for the Mafia Boss by Jena Wade and Aria Grace 9/15/25 9/16/25 107 pages Kindle Andro and Joey Mated in the Mafia Book 1 2024
304. Irresponsible Puckboy by Eden Finley and Saxon James 9/16/25 9/16/25 273 pages Kindle Tripp and Dex Puckboys 2 2022
305. Heartless Alpha Don 2 by Ella Jensen 9/17/25 9/17/25 283 pages Kindle Ethan and Dante Heartless Alpha Don 2 2025
306. Kiss-Fist by Cora Rose and EM Lindsey 9/17/25 9/18/25 310 pages Kindle Thom and Robbie Deaf Hearts Book 1 2025
307. Goaltender Interference by Brigham Vaughn 9/18/25 21/25 548 pages Kindle Connor and Jesse Scoring Chances 1 2025
308. Blindsided by Becca Steele 9/21/25 9/22/25 284 pages Kindle Noah and Liam LSU 1 2022
309. Flagrant Foul by Jesse H Reign 9/23/25 9/23/25 414 pages Kindle Teddy and Sev Totally Pucked 3 2025
**abandoned Offside Play by Becca Steele ** 164 pages
**abandoned Love Language by Reese Morrison ** 176 pages
**abandoned Deck the Fire Halls by NR Walker ** 124 pages
**abandoned Pacey and His Unicorn Professor by Lorelei M Hart ** 92 pages
310. The Poster Boy by EM Denning 9/23/25 9/24/25 234 pages Kindle Marek and Jay Love the Game 3 2025
311. Pucking Strong by Emily Rath 9/24/25 9/27/25 648 pages Kindle Teddy and Henrik Jacksonville Rays 4 2025
312. Whiskey & Sin by Emily Rath 9/27/25 9/28/25 446 pages Kindle Silas and Bear 2022
313. Second Shot by Beau Brown 9/28/25 9/28/25 474 pages Kindle Ryan and Gabriel Hockey Bros 2 2025
314. One Honeymoon, Two Hockey Bros, Three Little Words by Oslo Fox 09/28/25 09/29/25 214 pages Kindle Kindle Ethan and Jean-Luc 2025
315. I’m Your Guy by Sarina Bowen 9/29/25 10/1/25 341 pages Kindle Carter and Tommaso Hockey Guys 2 2023
316. Last Guy on Earth by Sarina Bowen 10/1/25 10/2/25 364 pages Kindle Clay and Jethro Hockey Guys 3 2025
317. The Understatement of the Year by Sarina Bowen 10/2/25 10/3/25 296 pages Kindle Rikker and Graham The Ivy Years 3 2014
318. Sinner by Chani Lynn Feener 10/3/25 10/3/25 285 pages Kindle Nix, Lake, West, Yejun Demons of Foxglove Grove 4 2025
319. Ours by Leo Rivers 10/3/25 10/4/25 76 pages Kindle Cole, Blake, and Luca Mating Run 5 2025
320. Kept by Leo Rivers 10/4/25 10/4/25 95 pages Kindle Eli and Cade Mating Run 4 2025
321. Omega's Faith by Sasha Silsbury 10/5/25 10/5/25 217 pages Kindle Alex and Jonah Prime Match 3 2025
322. Secret Daddy by JR Gray 10/5/25 10/5/25 159 pages Kindle Aiden and Jensen Arrowood 1 2020
323. Fated to My Stepbrother by Donna J Fisher 10/5/25 10/6/25 308 pages Kindle Julian and Jace 2025
**abandoned My Captain by Sage Riven ** 155 pages
**abandoned The Inside Man by Bella Bennet ** 91 pages
**abandoned His Weekend Alpha by Ansley Ellis ** 122 pages
**abandoned Crossed Sticks Ryan Taylor ** 198 pages
324. Lost Love by JR Gray 10/6/25 10/7/25 93 pages Kindle Avery and Danny Arrowood 3 2021 8
325. Scapegoat by JR Gray 10/7/25 10/7/25 232 pages Noah and Callum Kindle Working Dogs 1 2022
326. No Pucks by JR Gray 10/7/25 10/8/25 272 pages Kindle Logan and Anthony Gods Versus Monsters 1 2025 7
327. Pucking Hostile by J Love 10/8/25 10/9/25 227 pages Kindle Ryker and Kai 2025 2
328. Off Limits by Leo Rivers 10/9/25 10/9/25 91 pages Kindle Asher and Gabriel Mating Run 6 2025
329. Wolf on Ice by Kallie Froster and Harper B Cole 10/9/25 10/25 79 pages Kindle Zane and Wesley Love at First Puck 1 2021
**abandoned Their Bounty by KA Merikan ** 53 pages
**abandoned Step in the Zone by Blane Bellamy** 151 pages
** abandoned Crossed Hearts by JR Gray ** 33 pages
330. Ben by Cora Rose 10/10/25 10/10/25 291 pages Kindle Ben, Ford, and Cash Unexpected 8 2023
331. His Problem Alpha by Ansley Ellis 10/10/25 10/12/25 192 pages Kindle Devon and Alex 2025
**abandoned Owned by the Kingpin by Bella Bennet and Riley Sloane ** 137 pages
**abandoned The Don's Omega Assassin by Quinn Michaels ** 117 pages
332. The Future by Naomi Alderman 9/28/25 10/12/25 420 pages hardcover and Kindle 2023
333. Puck Struck by Brooklyn Cate 10/11/25 10/12/25 349 pages Kindle Logan and Cam Dirty Puck 3 2025
334. Barnburner by Jodi Oliver 10/12/25 10/12/25 260 pages Kindle Brayden and Jesse Love the Game 2 2025
**abandoned Echoes of a Gilded Cage by Elias Night ** 62 pages
335. Trade Deadline by Jodi Oliver 10/13/25 10/13/25 260 pages Kindle Blaine and Alex Chicago Thunder 1 2023

336. My Freshman Mate by Lexie Slater 10/13/25 10/14/25 110 pages Kindle Braiden and Wes 2025
337. Virgin Flyer by Lucy Lennox 10/14/25 10/14/25 254 pages Kindle Teo and Jack 2020
**abandoned Make Mine a Lion by Harper B. Cole and Colbie Dunbar** 78 pages
**abandoned Off Season by Jodi Oliver** 150 pages
338. The Year of Us January - July by Kate Hawthorne and EM Denning 10/14/25 10/15/25 348 pages Kindle Reese and Cory The Year of US 1-7 2025
339. Will & Patrick 1-7 by Leta Blake and Alice Griffiths 10/16/25 10/18/25 961 pages Kindle Will and Patrick 2015-2017
340. This Might Hurt by Riley Nash 10/17/25 10/18/25 432 pages Kindle Jude and Andrew 2025
**abandoned Reckless by Kate Hawthorne ** 64 pages
**abandoned An Alpha for Rylan by AW Scott ** 53 pages
**abandoned Only Skin Deep by Kelex ** 126 pages
341. Castaway Heat by Kelex 10/19/25 10/19/25 107 pages Kindle Shiloh and Ronin 2025
342. The Step Don't by Devon McCormack and Riley Hart 10/20/25 10/20/25 332 pages Kindle Ash and Colin Peach State Stepbros 2 2024
343. Mr. Big Shot by Arden Steele 10/20/25 10/20/25 194 pages Kindle Nicholas and Rhys +One book 3 2023
344. One Good Thing by Arden Steele 10/20/25 10/21/25 166 pages Kindle Greyson and Jace +One book 1 2020
**abandoned Parker's Forbidden Mate by Blake R. Wolfe ** 38 pages quaffed s/b coiffed, f***ed like pigs. Really?
345. Never Too Late by HL Day 10/21/25 10/21/25 235 pages Kindle Finn and Cillian Paris Tales 1 2025
346. The Jumblies by Edward Lear 10/21/25 10/21/25 40 pages hardcover 1968
347. Bittersweet Revenge by Riley Hart 10/21/25 10/22/25 304 pages Kindle Dean and Tiernan Sins of the Father 1 2025
348. Rushing In by Alice Winters 10/22/25 10/22/25 148 pages Kindle Clyde and Bradley Aces Wild 3 2019
349. Purrfect Harmony by Arden Steele 10/22/25 10/23/25 170 pages Kindle Remi and Kol Blackhaven Manor 1 2020
**abandoned The Pretenders of Copper County by May Archer ** 146 pages
**abandoned The Bargain by Jocelynn Drake ** 167 pages
350. With One Kiss by HL Day 10/24/25 10/24/25 271 pages Kindle Laurent and Cormac Paris Tales 2 2025
**abandoned Sweet Vengeance by Riley Hart ** 236 pages
351. Bad Boy by Sammi Cee 10/26/25 10/26/25 70 pages Kindle Trickster and Colby Carousal Lounge Prequel 2021
352. Heart Strain by Michele Notaro and Sammi Cee 10/26/25 10/26/25 230 pages Kindle Holden and Jameson Interlocking Fragments 1 2019
353. Operation:OMEGA by Wolf Specter 10/26/25 10/26/25 42 pages Kindle Kyle and Clay 2015
354. Playing By the Book by Sasha Silsbury 10/26/25 10/27/25 224 pages Kindle Luke and Cal Winterstoke Wolves 1 2019
355. Under the Dragon's Spell by Ann-Katrin Byrde 10/26/25 10/27/25 189 pages Kindle Adrian and Tyrel Fires of Fate 1 2016
356. Omega Trapped by Beau Brown 10/27/25 10/28/25 304 pages Kindle Nico and Valentino MM Mafia Romance Mpreg 1 2023
357. Loren by Crea Reitan 10/28/25 10/29/25 384 pages Kindle Loren and Oakley Van Doren Book 1 2024
** abandoned Imry by Crea Reitan ** 62 pages
** abandoned His Biggest Secret by Xander Collins ** 139 pages
358. Shiver by Crea Reitan 10/29/25 10/30/25 321 pages Kindle Egon and Rakesh For Puck's Sake 1 2023
359. Broken Bond by JL Cross 10/30/25 10/31/25 126 pages Kindle Julian and Enzo Claimed in Blood 1 2025
**abandoned Promised to the Mafia Prince by Bella Bennet and Riley Sloane ** 98 pages
** abandoned Science & Jockstraps by Christina Lee ** 49 pages
360. His Secret Omega by Chani Lynn Feener 10/31/25 11/1/25 342 pages Kindle Sky and Kian 2025
361. Filthy Little Fix by Quinn Orin 11/1/25 11/2/25 368 pages Kindle Leo/Nyx and Dante Tsars of Transgression 1 2025
362. My Defiant Mate by Lexie Slater 11/2/25 11/3/25 101 pages Kindle Toby and Jionni Westbridge Mates 2 2025
363. Bet You by Neve Wilder 11/3/25 11/4/25 213 pages Kindle Spencer and Cory Franklin 4 2022
**abandoned Festive Fugitive by KA Merikan ** 121 pages
**abandoned The Dragon Boss by Anna Wineheart ** 90 pages
**abandoned The Duke's Cowboy by Andrew Grey ** 78 pages
364. Kiss My Axe by May Archer 11/4/25 11/5/25 356 pages Kindle Griffin and Beckett Axford Brothers 1 2025
**abandoned Shared by His Alphas by Madeleine Grey ** 22 pages
**abandoned Extra Credit by SoulDesire ** 73 pages
365. Hand Picked by May Archer 11/5/25 11/6/25 324 pages Kindle Luke and Webb Sunday Brothers 3 2022
366. The Hallmarked Man by Robert Galbraith narrated by Robert Glenister 9/4/25 11/6/75 Audible audio book 31 hours Cormoran Strike 8 2025
367. Mr. Romance by Louisa Masters 11/6/25 11/7/25 288 pages Kindle Charlie and Liam Franklin U 3 2022
368. Sold to the Alpha Enforcer by Bella Bennet and Riley Sloan 11/7/25 11/7/25 177 pages Kindle Finn and Ronan O'Donoghue Mafia Omegaverse 1 2025
**abandoned Omega for Sale by Beau Brown ** 182 pages
369. Gilded Cage by Quinn Seaver 11/7/25 11/8/25 227 pages Kindle Vittorio and Ethan The Syndicate 1 2025
370. Cowboys Can't Kiss by RM Neill 11/8/25 11/8/25 272 pages Kindle Jackson and Riley Kissing Ridge Cowboys 1 2025
**abandoned Claimed by the Underboss by Bella Bennet ** 50 pages
**abandoned His Biggest Secret by Xander Collins ** 139 pages
**abandoned The Alpha's Human by DJ Heart ** 200 pages not worth a review, just the # of pages read
371. Something Unavoidable by Rory Maxwell 11/09/25 11/11/25 282 pages Kindle Izzy and Keegan Split Rock Ranch 6 2024
372. Swipe Right on the Alpha by Lance Roddick 11/11/25 11/11/25 119 pages Kindle Kindle Aiden and Dylan Fur Real Love 1 2025
373. Feeding the Grump by Jax Calder 11/11/25 11/11/25 68 pages Kindle Kindle Benji and David 2025
374. Bull Riders Don't Swoon RM Neill 11/8/25 11/12/25 292 pages Kindle Kindle Jamieson and Griff Kissing Ridge Cowboys 2 2025
375. Cowboy Haven by BA Tortuga 11/11/25 11/12/25 256 pages Kindle Kindle Heath and Kolt BA's Cozy Cowboys 9 2022
**abandoned The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon ** 102 pages
376. Fakers by Lucy Lennox and May Archer 11/12/25 11/13/25 324 pages Kindle Mal and Brooks Licking Thicket 1 2020
377. ILY by Cora Rose and EM Lindsey 11/13/25 11/15/25 308 pages Kindle Leaf and Thorne Deaf Hearts 2 2025
378. Faking Ever After by Hayden Hall 11/14/25 11/15/25 226 pages Kindle Percy and Finn 2025
379. Tender by EM Lindsey 11/14/25 11/16/25 248 pages Kindle Miles, Emmett, Cosimo The Beginning of Always 4 2025
380. Snow Storm by EM Lindsey 11/16/25 11/17/25 246 pages Kindle Claude and Harley 2024
381. Seeds and Sunshine by Jodi Payne and BA Tortuga 11/17/25 11/17/25 204 pages Kindle Tate and Shiloh Wrecked Universe 3 2023
**abandoned His Moody Mechanic by Shiloh Smith ** 53 pages
**abandoned Mad For Madison by Hayden Hall ** 125 pages
382. Temptation Ranch by Jodi Payne and BA Tortuga 11/18/25 11/19/25 169 pages Kindle Strait and Tad 2021
383. Overeager by Grae Bryan 11/19/25 11/19/25 247 pages Kindle Eli and Noah Extra Credit 1 2025
384. Tilt by Emma Pattee narrated by Ariel Blake 11/7/25 11/19/25 Audible audio book 7 hours 2025
**abandoned Saddles and Snowstorms by Atreus Rosewood ** 139 pages
**abandoned Pick Up Man by Jodi Payne ** 151 pages
**abandoned For the Love of the Broken Man by Sam E Kraemer ** 30 pages
**abandoned My Boss's Boss by R. Cayden ** 147 pages
**abandoned His Little Secret by Daniel Davis ** 45 pages
385. Elevator Pitch by AM Johnson and Christina Lee 11/21/25 11/21/25 42 pages Kindle Graham and Caleb 2024
**abandoned Bound by Blood and Choice by Marian Black ** 100 pages
386. Dance of Defiance by Jagger Cole 11/21/25 11/23/25 583 pages Kindle Roman and Val 2025

adds - 306 last year

1. Audible - Silk & Sand by Katherine Diane
2. Audible - Crossroads by Riley Hart
3. Audible - Guns 'n Boys by KA Merikan
4. Kindle - Colonel Chabert by Honoré de Balzac
5. FoCCL - The Complete Parallel Bible with the Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books published by the Oxford University Press
6. FoCCL - Cicero Select Letters Volume I
7. FoCCL - Cicero Select Letters Volume II
8. Audible - Hard to Let Go by Jaclyn Quinn
9. Amazon - All of Us Strangers by Taichi Yamada
10. FoCCL - Introduction to Islam by Frederick Matthewson Denny Fourth Edition
11. FoCCL - French in 10 minutes a day by Kristine Kershul
12. Kindle - Commitment Issues by Bradley Brady
13. Kindle - Dead Draw by Layla Reyne
14. Kindle - Toward Eternity by Anton Hur
15. FoCCL - Sir John Dering by Jeffery Farnol - sad copy needed a good home
16. Karen - The Writing of the Gods: The Race to Decode the Rosetta Stone by Edward Dolnick
17. Karen - Marsupial Frogs by William E Duellman
18. Re-added from being culled - The Future by Naomi Alderman
19. Re-added from being culled - Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
20. Audible - One Man's Trash by Marie Sexton narrated by John Solo
21. Kindle - Save Me by Beck Grey
22. Kindle - The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
23. Amazon - The Poems of Catullus: A Bilingual Edition by Gaius Valerius Catullus (Author), Peter Green (Translator)
24. Audible - Wilmington's Lie: The Murderous Coup of 1898 and the Rise of White Supremacy by David Zucchino
25. Audible - Hard to Let Go by Jaclyn Quinn
and thus ends January's acquisitions, to be reviewed later in case I missed any.

26. FoCCL - How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci by Michael J. Gelb
27. FoCCL - The How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci Workbook by Michael J. Gelb
28. FoCCL - The New American Bible by the Catholic Bible Publishers
29. Audible - Getting Lucky by Daryl Banner
30. FoCCL - The Hunter by Tana French
31. In House - The Calvert Party Encyclopedia by Calvert Distillers Company
32. In House - We Made It! Recipes from Aunt and Uncle's 50th Wedding Anniversary
33. In House - Collection Seventeen Kitchen Pamphlets
34. FoCCL - In Too Deep by Lee Child and Andrew Child
35. FoCCL - The Cask by Freeman Wills Crofts
36. FoCCL - Great Stories of All Nations ed by Maxim Lieber
37. FoCCL - The Bedside Book of Famous American Stories ed by Angus Burrell and Bennett A. Cerf
38. FoCCL - Time Travel: A History by James Gleick
39. Amazon - Bonded in Death by JD Robb
40. Kindle - The Best Strangers in the World: Stories from a Life Spent Listening by Ari Shapiro
41. FoCCL - Starborn by Roberto Trotta
42. FoCCL - A Reading Diary by Alberto Manguel
43. FoCCL - Act of Oblivion by Robert Harris
44. FoCCL - When Will there Be Good News? by Kate Atkinson
45. FoCCL - Beloved by Toni Morrison
46. Amazon - The Library at Night
57. Kindle - Taken By My Dad's Bodyguard by Candace Lark
58. FoCCL - The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu translated by Royall Tyler 2 vol set, slipcased
59. Kindle - Chased by the Alpha by Summer Aspen
60. Audible - Treasure Trail by Morgan Brice
61. FoCCL book sale - The Lost Art of Scripture: Rescuing the Sacred Texts by Karen Armstrong
62. FoCCL book sale - Mirage: Napoleon's Scientists and the Unveiling of Egypt by Nina Burleigh
63. FoCCL book sale - The Great Chiefs by Benjamin Capps
64. FoCCL book sale - Farewell, My Lovely by Raymond Chandler
65. FoCCL book sale - Bloodless by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
66. FoCCL book sale - Eternelle egypte by Collectif
67. FoCCL book sale - Early Middle Ages by Philip Daileader
68. FoCCL book sale - The High Middle Ages by Philip Daileader
69. FoCCL book sale - The Late Middle Ages by Philip Daileader
70. FoCCL book sale - Who Were the Celts? Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About the Celts 1000 B.C. to the Present by Kevin Duffy
71. FoCCL book sale - The New Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain Workbook: Guided Practice in the Five Basic Skills of Drawing by Betty Edwards
72. FoCCL book sale - Ephesus by Selahattin Erdemgil
73. FoCCL book sale - Bad Actors by Mick Herron
74. FoCCL book sale - Joe Country by Mick Herron
75. FoCCL book sale - London Rules by Mick Herron
76. FoCCL book sale - Real Tigers by Mick Herron
77. FoCCL book sale - Slough House by Mick Herron
78. FoCCL book sale - Spook Street by Mick Herron
79. FoCCL book sale - dot.dead by keith.raffel
80. FoCCL book sale - The Great Book of King Arthur: and His Knights of the Round Table by John Matthews
81. FoCCL book sale - A Pocket Guide to the Identification of First Editions by William M. McBride
82. FoCCL book sale - Mother London by Michael Moorecock
83. FoCCL book sale - Homemade Cookies by Nell B. Nichols
84. FoCCL book sale - Egyptian Antiquities in the Hermitage by B. Piotrovsky
85. FoCCL book sale - The Pyramids and Sphinx by Desmond Stewart
86. FoCCL book sale - Three Aces by Rex Stout
87. FoCCL book sale - The Chicago Record Prize Cook Book: Seasonable, Inexpensive Bills of Fare for Every Day in the Year by The Chicago Record Co.
88. FoCCL book sale - The Philosophers' Quarrel: Rousseau, Hume, and the Limits of Human Understanding by Robert Zaretsky
89. FoCCL book sale - The Holy Bible Red Letter Edition, KJV
90. Peggy - The Gold Bat and Other School Stories by PG Wodehouse
91. Peggy - Losing Battles by Eudora Welty
92. Peggy - The Matriarch by GB Stern
93. Peggy - The Basil and Josephine Stories by F Scott Fitzgerald
94. Peggy - The Friendly Young Ladies by Mary Renault
95. Peggy - We That Were Young by Irene Rathbone
96. Peggy - Four In Hand by Sylvia Townsend Warner
97. Peggy - Uncommon Clay by Margaret Maron
98. Peggy - Patriots: The Men Who Started the American Revolution by AJ Langguth
99. FoCCL - Tutankhamun by TGH James
100. FoCCL - Resurrection Walk by Michael Connelly
101. Amazon - Between the Devil and the Sea by Chani Lynn Feener audio book
** Jan - Mar
102-109. Kindle - Mated to the Alpha Series, books 1-8 by Rosa Swann and Wolf Specter
110. FoCCL - The Book of Knowledge: The Keys of Enoch by JJ Hurtak
111. FoCCL - Wah'Kon-Tah by John Joseph Mathews
112. Amazon - The Spy in Moscow Station by Eric Haseltine
113. Kindle - Emmaline The Orphan of the Castle by Charlotte Turner Smith
114. FoCCL friend - Honor, the Duel, and Indiscretion: The Life of Elizabeth "Betsey" Pollock Deveraux Jones (1818 - 1879) by W. Davenport Robertson
115. Audible - Unspoken Vow by Eden Finley
116. At the House - Rome Past and Present with Reconstructions of Ancient Monuments
117. FoCCL - The End of Everything: (Astrophysically Speaking) by Katie Mack
118. FoCCL - The Man in Black & Other Stories by Ellie Griffiths
118. Amazon - Launching LBJ: How a Kennedy Insider Helped Define Johnson's Presidency by Helen O'Donnell
119. Amazon - Entangled Life by Merlin Sheldrake
120. Audible - Back Piece by LA Witt
121. Kindle - Slow Heat by Leta Blake
122. Audible - Paris Trout by Peter Dexter
123. FoCCL - Men Explain Things to Me by Rebecca Solnit
124. FoCCL - The Early American Cookbook by Dr. Kristie Lynn and Robert W. Pelton
125. Kindle - Finding Finn by Kiki Burrelli
126. Amazon - Baking Across America by B. Dylan Hollis
127. McIntyre's Donations - Berlin Atomized by Julia Kornberg
128. McIntyre's Donations - Hiroshima by M.G. Sheftall
129. McIntyre's Donations - Mis Kim Knows by Cho Nam-Joo
130. McIntyre's Donations - Butter by Asako Yuzuki
131. McIntyre's Donations - Don't Believe Everything You Think by Joseph Nguyen
132. McIntyre's Donations - Son of the Old West by Nathan Ward
133. FoCCL - One Rare Book by Henry R. Wagner
134. FoCCL - Colonial Virginians at Play by Jane Carson
135. FoCCL - Zamorano Club & Roxburghe Club Roster 1955
136. FoCCL - On Crisis by Thomas Paine
137. McIntyre's Donations - Making the Best of What's Left by Judith Viorst
138. McIntyre's Donations - Lolly Willowes by Sylvia Townsend Sarner
139. McIntyre's Donations - The Army of the Potomac Trilogy by Bruce Catton
140. McIntyre's Donations - A Year of Compassion by Colleen Patrick-Goudreau
141. Retreat - Charlotte's Web by EB White
142. McIntyre's Donations - Hell Put to Shame by Earl Swift
143. McIntyre's Donations - The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians
144. McIntyre's Donations - Assassins Anonymous by Rob Hart
145. McIntyre's Donations - Tower of God by SIU
146. Audible - Invitation to the Blues by Roan Parrish
146. Audible - Shadow Country by Peter Matthiessen
147. Amazon - Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
148. FoCCL - The Smithsonian Guide to Historic America: The Carolinas and the Appalachian States, circa 1989
149. FoCCL - Totems: The Transformative Power of Your Personal Animal Totem by Brad Steiger
150. FoCCL - Concerning Them Which Are Asleep by John O Means
151. FoCCL- Thinkers - Be Seated! Booklet #6 by T.A. Dedowitz, Ocracoke, NC
152. Amazon - How to Read a Book by Monica Wood
153. Amazon - Pioneer Summer by Elena Malisova & Kateryna Sylvanova
154. Amazon - There are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak
155. Kindle - Hot Roommate Blues by Parker Avrile
156. Audible - Five Tuesdays in Winter by Lily Kind
157. Kindle - The Awakening and Selected Stories by Kate Chopin
158. FoCCL - Other Minds: The Octopus, the Sea, and the Deep Origins of Consciousness by Peter Godfrey-Smith
159. FoCCL - The Women by Kristyn Hannah
160. Kindle - Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro
161. Amazon - Something to Hide by Elizabeth George
162. Audible - Heteroflexible by Darryl Banner
163. Audible - Freddy Goes to Florida by Walter Brooks
164. FoCCL - Miscellaneous Writings of the Late Samuel J. Smith, of Burlington, N. J. Collected by Members of the Family
165. FoCCL Handbook of Pictorial Symbols by Rudolph Modley
166. Audible - The Riddle of the Labyrinth: The Quest to Crack an Ancient Code by Margalit Fox
167. Amazon - Taste History by Max Miller
168. Audible - Let Your Hearts Be Light by Fae Quin
169. FoCCL - The Southerner's Handbook: A Guide to Living the Good Life by the Editors of Garden&Gun
170. Kindle - His Shy Omega by Eva Lyra
171. FoCCL - Brave the Wild River: The Untold Story of Two Women Who Mapped the Botany of the Grand Canyon by Melissa Sevigny
172. Edith A. Waters: December 11, 1915 - October 27, 2013 Posthumously and by Family
173. Audible - Without You by Marley Valentine
174. Friend Karen - A Place for Everything by Judith Flanders
175. Friend Karen - The Constitution and the Supreme Court: A Documentary History edited by Louis H. Pollak
176. Friend Karen - Mongrel Nation by Clarence E. Walker
177. Friend Karen - Book of the Little Axe by Lauren Francis-Sharma
178. Friend Karen - The Last Jews of Kerala by Edna Fernandes
179. Audible - The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green
180. FoCCL - The Bestiary of Tolouse-Lautrec
181. FoCCL - The New Oxford Annotated Bible With the Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books (New Revised Standard) - editor Bruce M. Metzger
182. FoCCL The Waiting by Michael Connelly
183. FoCCL - The Tomb of Tutankhamen by Howard Carter
184. Kindle - Pastel by Georgette Heyer
185. Amazon - Algospeak: How Social Media Is Transforming the Future of Language by Adam Aleksic
186. Audible - Hunter's Creek by Victoria Sue
187. Audible - Mislaid by Nell Zink
188. FoCCL - The Days Are Just Packed by Bill Watterson
189. FoCCL - Life on the Mississippi by Mark Twain
190. Audible - The Road to Blissville Boxed Set 1-3 by Aimee Nicole Walker
191. Audible - Hunter's Creek by Victoria Sue
192. FoCCL - Sappho and Alcaeus: An Introduction to the Study of Ancient Lesbian Poetry by Denys Page
193. Amazon - Gamelife: A Memoir by Michael W Clune
194. FoCCL - Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie
195. Audible - Shame by Salman Rushdie
196. Audible - Haroun and the Sea of Stories by Salman Rushdie
197. Audible - The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie
198. The Lonely Ones by William Steig
199. Dragonbreath: Curse of the Were-Wiener by Ursula Vernon
200. Why Pandas Do Handstands and Other Truths About Animals by Augustus Brown
201. Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe - an edition published in the last 1920s
202. The Zombie Survival Guide by Max Brooks - just because
203. Why Grizzly Bears Should Wear Underpants by The Oatmeal
204. The Photographic I Ching, a new interpretation by Dhiresha McCarver photos by Gary Woods
205. A Medieval Life: Cecilia Penifader of Brigstock, c. 1295-1344 by Judith Bennett
206. Audible - Soft Place to Fall BA Tortuga
207. Amazon - Threads of Empire: A History of the World in Twelve Carpets by Dorothy Armstrong
208. Audible - Custer Died for Your Sins: An Indian Manifesto by Vine Deloria Jr.
209. FoCCL - Origami With Dollar Bills: Another Way To Impress People With Your Money! by Duy Nguyen
210. FoCCL - Origami by Anne Akers Johnson
211. FoCCL - Low-Hanging Fruit: Sparkling Whines, Champagne Problems, and Pressing Issues from My Gay Agenda by Randy Rainbow
212. FoCCL - The Complete Christie: An Agatha Christie Encyclopedia by Matthew Bunson
213. Amazon - The Boy Between Worlds: A Biography by Annejet van der Zijl
214. Audible - Keeping Promises by Jodi Payne and BA Tortuga
215 - 251. Jenna's books 2025
252. FoCCL - The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon
253. Audible - Let Me Show You by Becca Seymour
254. Jenna's Books - Quiddich Through The Ages by JK Rowling
255. Jenna's Books - Let's Enjoy Origami in English and Japanese by Makoto, Yamaguchi
256. Jenna's Books - They Went into the Fight Cheering: Confederate Conscription in North Carolina by Walter Carrington Hilderman
257. Kindle - The Ballad of Reading Gaol by Oscar Wilde
258. Audible - Headstrong by Eden Finley
259. Audible - Unforgiven by Ruth Clampett
260. Audible - Honeymoon For One by Keira Andrews
261. Kindle - The Benson Murder Case by SS Van Dine
262. Kindle - Culpability by Bruce Holsinger
263. Amazon - The Hallmarked Man by Robert Galbraith
274. Audible - The Hallmarked Man by Robert Galbraith
275. Peggy - Lessons from Cats for Surviving Fascism by Stewart "Brittlestar" Reynolds
276. Audible - Becoming Kin: An Indigenous Call to Unforgetting the Past and Reimagining Our Future by Patty Krawec
277. FoCCL - The Complete Peanuts 1950-1954 Box Set by Charles M. Schultz
278. FoCCL - The Complete Short Stories of Saki by Saki
279. FoCCL - Black Death at the Golden Gate by David K. Randatz
280. FoCCL - God Is Not One: The Eight Rival Religions That Run the World--and Why Their Differences Matter by Stephen Prothero
281. FoCCL - From Spanish Court to Italian Ghetto Isaac Cardoso: A Study in Seventeenth-Century Marranism and Jewish Apologetics by Yosef Hayim Yerushalmi
282. FoCCL - Not in God's Name: Confronting Religious Violence by Jonathan Sacks
283. FoCCL - How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America by Clint Smith
284. FoCCL - The Bible as History: A Confirmation of the Book of Books by Werner Keller
285. FoCCL - 1952 the Book of Common Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments and Other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church According to the Use of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the Usa Together with the by John Wallace Suter
286. FoCCL - Journal of a Lady of Quality; Being the Narrative of a Journey from Scotland to the West Indies, North Carolina, and Portugal, in the years 1774 to 1776. by Janet Schaw
287. FoCCL - With Lee in Virginia. A Story of the American Civil War. by GA Henty
288. FoCCL - Elaine Bracket and the Dragon King by Elsa B Trotman
289. FoCCL - Perry Mason in the Case of- The Glamorous Ghost / Terrified Typist / Lucky Loser / Screaming Woman / Long-Legged Models / The Foot-Loose Doll / The Waylaid Wolf by Erle Stanley Gardner
290. FoCCL - Death by Chocolate Cakes: An Astonishing Array of Chocolate Enchantments by Marcel Desaulniers
291. FoCCL - American Classics: More Than 300 Exhaustively Tested Recipes For America's Favorite Dishes by Editors of Cook's Illustrated Magazine
292. FoCCL - To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
293. FoCCL - Killingly by Katharine Beutner
294. FoCCL - Revelations by Elaine Pagels
295. FoCCL - Truth and Fiction in The Da Vinci Code by Bart D. Ehrman
296. FoCCL - God's Problem by Bart D. Ehrman
297. Kindle - Hidden Pieces by Mary Keliikoa
298. Kindle - The Future by Naomi Alderman
299. FoCCL - The Jumblies by Edward Lear Drawings by Edward Gorey
300. FoCCL - Hitler's Last Days: The Death of the Nazi Regime and the World's Most Notorious Dictator by Bill O'Reilly
301. FoCCL - Korean Cultural Potpourri by Jeon Kyu-tae
302. FoCCL - The American Civil War by Professor Gary W. Gallagher audio book
303. Kindle - His Biggest Secret by Xander Collins
304. FoCCL - Lewis & Clark: Voyage of Discovery by Stephen E. Ambrose
305. Audible - Tilt by Emma Partee
306. Kindle - Cowboy Haven by BA Tortuga
307. Jenna's Books - The Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám
308. Kindle - Soft Burial by Fang Fang
309. eBay - Slightly Foxed - but still desirable by Ronald Searle
310-319. FoCCL The Photographic History of the Civil War in Ten Volumes, editor in chief Francis Trevelyan Miller
320. Radical Antiquity by Christopher B Zeichmann
321. The Misunderstood Jew: The Church and the Scandal of the Jewish Jesus by Amy-Jill Levine
322. His Little Secret by Daniel Davis
323. His Little Secret 2 by Daniel Davis
324. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

culls - 219 last year

1. Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky
2. Impulse & Initiative by Abigail Reynolds
3. Prayers for Peace by Karen Blincoe
4. The Southerner's Book of Lists by Jim Erskine
5. Boundaries and Protection by Pixie Lighthorse
6. Better Homes and Gardens Crockery Cookbook
7. Lean and Lovin' It by Don Mauer
8. In the Kitchen with Rosie by Rosie Daley
9. American Gods by Neil Gaiman
10. Touchstone by Laurie R. King
11. A Fearsome Doubt by Charles Todd
12. Uh-Oh by Robert Fulghum
13. It Was On Fire When I Lay Down On It by Robert Fulghum
14. Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear
15. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
16. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
17. Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife by Linda Berdoll
18. Darcy & Elizabeth by Linda Berdoll
19. Good Omens by Neil Gaiman & Terry Pratchett
20. Stardust by Neil Gaiman
21. Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman
22. Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman - yes, duplicate
23. Smoke and Mirrors by Neil Gaiman
24. Justice Hall by Laurie R. King
25. The End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
26. Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman
27. All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
28. Seabiscuit by Laura Hillengrand
29. We Keep the Dead Close by Becky Cooper
30. In The Heart of the Sea by Nathaniel Philbrick
31. Spying on the South by Tony Horwitz
32. Mother London by Michael Moorcock - duplicate, new copy in better condition
33. The Defector by Daniel Silva
34. The Messenger by Daniel Silva
35. Prince of Fire by Daniel Silva
36. The Heist by Daniel Silva
37. The Rembrandt Affair by Daniel Silva
38. The English Spy by Daniel Silva
39. The Unlikely Spy by Daniel Silva
40. Portrait of a Spy by Daniel Silva
41. Moscow Rules by Daniel Silva
42. The Kill Artist by Daniel Silva
43. Mrs. Mike by Benedict Freedman
44. Ships by Enzo Angelucci
45. Rumford Complete Cook Book by Lily Haxworth Wallace - 1935 edition
46. The Brass Verdict by Michael Connelly abridged CDs
47. Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee unabridged CDs
48. Doctor Sleep by Stephen King unabridged CDs
49. Dress Yuor Family in Corduroy and Denim by David Sedaris unabridged CDs
50. Classic Tales of Espionage and Suspense by Graham Greene
51. Astaire: The Man, the Dancer by Bob Thomas
52. The Old Devils by Kinsley Amis
53. John Adams by David McCullough
54. Taking on the World by Robert W. Merry
55. Angels & Insects by AS Byatt
56. Rosslyn by Tim Wallace-Murphy & Marilyn Hopkins
57. Murder at the Library of Congress by Margaret Truman
58. The Lonely Dwarf by Rosemary Lamkey
59. Friends to the End by Bradley Trevor Greive
60. The Silent World of Nicholas Quinn by Colin Dexter
70. Mortal Sins by Penn Williamson
71. Greg Hildebrandt's Favorite Fairy Tales
72. Mother London by Michael Moorcock
73. Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali
74. Chelsea Mansions by Barry Maitland
75. Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter
76. The Kept Woman by Karin Slaughter
77. The Jackal Man by Kate Ellis
78. The Green Knight by Iris Murdoch
79. Marrying the Mistress by Joann Trollope
80. The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters
81. Cheri and the Last of Cheri by Colette
82. A Game of Thrones by George RR Martin
83. Eeny Meeny by MJ Arlidge
84. Aftermath by Clara Kensie
85. Anatomy of a Scandal by Sarah Vaughan
86. The Last Samurai by Helen DeWitt
87. A Cup of Light by Nicole Mones
88. Haunted Ground by Erin Hart
89. WC Fields & Me by Carlotta Monti
90. Tell Me No Lies by Elizabeth Lowell
91. Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee
92-94. His Dark Materials Trilogy by Philip Pullman
95. Little Bitty Lies by Mary Kay Andrews
96. Savanah Blues by Mary Kay Andrews
97. The Secret History by Donna Tartt
100. The Gun Runner's Daughter by Neil Gordon
101. Mother Tongue by Bill Bryson
102. Venus by Jane Feather
103. Vice by Jane Feather
104. Velvet by Jane Feather
105. Vixen by Jane Feather
106. Politically Correct Bedtime Stories by James Finn Garner
107. Once Upon a More Enlightened Time by James Finn Garner
108. Close to You by Christina Dodd
109. Dearie: The Remarkable Life of Julia Child by Bob Spitz
110-121. Poldark Series by Winston Graham
122. Five Quarters of the Orange by Joanne Harris
123. Molly Ivins Can't Say That, Can She? by Molly Ivins
124. Mother Goose Illustrated by Arthur Rackham
125. A Treasury of American Folklore: Stories, Ballads, and Traditions of the People by B.A. Botkin
126. Burning Bright by Tracy Chevalier
127. Astray by Emma Donoghue
128. I Am Charlotte Simmons by Tom Wolfe
129. Eragon by Christopher Paolini
130. The Dark Wood Wandering by Hella S Haasse
131. Bring Me The Head Of Willy The Mailboy! by Scott Adams
132. The Children's Book of Virtues edited by William J. Bennett
133. I'm Too Young To Be Seventy: And Other Delusions by Judith Viorst
134. Tar Heels: Five Points in the Record of North Carolina in the Great War of 1861-5 by Patrick A Schroeder
135. Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie
136. Origami with Dollar Bills by Duy Nguyen
137. Hissy Fit by Mary Kay Andrews
138. The Master of All Desires by Judith Merkle Riley
139. Three Complete Novels by Lawrence Sanders
140. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by VE Schwab
141. The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
142. Ladies' Night by Mary Kay Andrews
143. Silk by Alessandro Baricco
144. Lucy's Child by Donald Johanson
145. The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
146. Darwin's Blade by Dan Simmons
147. The Road to Little Dribbling by Bill Bryson
148. Seveneves by Neal Stephenson
149. The Historian by Elizabeth Kosova
150. The Boy Between Worlds by Annejet van der Zijl
151. Low Hanging Fruit by Randy Rainbow
152. The Photographic I Ching
153. Hungry Girl 200 Under 200 by Lisa Lillien
154. Instant Pot For Two Cookbook by Alice Newman
155. How to Cook Everything by Mark Bittman
156. The Origin of Humankind by Richard Leakey
157. The Origin of the Universe by John D. Barrow
158. The Intern by Gabrielle Tozer
159. The Shadow Knows by Diane Johnson
160. The Origins of Intellect by John L Phillips, Jr
161. Great Racing Stories by Dick Francis and John Welcome
162. Becoming by Michelle Obama
163. Handbook of Pictorial Symbols by Rudolf Modley
164. One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
165. Kraken by China Mieville
166. Insatiable by Meg Cabot
167. The Ringed Castle by Dorothy Dunnett
168. The Disorderly Knights by Dorothy Dunnett
169. The House at Riverton by Kate Morton
170. Jeeves and the Wedding Bells by Sebastian Faulks
171. The Kings and Queens of England by Jane Murray
172. King of the Confessors by Thomas Hoving
173. The Fresco by Sheri S Tepper
174. The Music of the Spheres by Elizabeth Redfern
175. Tilt by Nicholas Shrady
176. I Am America (And So Can You!) by Stephen Colbert
177. Good Will Hunting by Matt Damon & Ben Affleck
178. Truly Madly Guilty by Liane Moriarty

YTD Statistics through September

314 books read
289 ebooks, 20 audio books, 5 paper books
73200 pages in completed books
175.5 hours in completed audio books
121 books abandoned, 13546 pages abandoned, 26.5 hours abandoned

86746 total pages read

Avg pages read per day, incl books abandoned: YTD = 318
Avg pages read per book, only those completed: YTD = 233

Book(s) of the Month: Voices by Joey Parker

Books by Month
January: 26 books read - 18 ebooks, 4 audio books, 5 paper books
February: 24 books read - 21 ebooks, 4 audio books, 0 paper books
March: 36 books read - 34 e-books, 1 audio book, 1 paper book
April: 37 books read - 35 e-books, 2 audio books, 0 paper books
May: 43 books read - 41 e-books, 2 audio books, 1 paper book
June: 37 books read - 35 e-books, 2 audio books, 0 paper books
July: 39 books read - 37 e-books, 2 audio books, 0 paper books
August: 42 books read - 37 e-books, 5 audio books, 0 paper books
September: 30 books read - 30 e-books, 0 audio books, 0 paper books

Author
Male 9%
Female 73%
Undeclared * 16%
Non-Binary 2%
* - can't find info anywhere

Living 100%
Dead 0%

US Born 31%
Foreign Born 13%
Undeclared * 56%
* - can't find info anywhere

Medium
Audio Book 6%
e-Book 92%
Paper Book 2%

Source
My Library 11%
Library 0%
Kindle Unlimited 89%
Borrowed 0%

Misc
Galley Proof 0%
Re-read 3%
Series 77%

Fiction 99%
NonFiction 1%

Author Birth Country
Australia 4%
Canada 3%
Czechoslovakia 1%
England 1%
Finland 1%
Germany 1%
Grenada 1%
Netherlands 1%
New Zealand 1%
Nigeria 1%
Puerto Rico 1%
Scotland 1%
UK 1%
Undeclared * 51%
US 30%
Wales 1%
* - can't find info anywhere

Original Decade Published

1940-1949 1%
1990-1999 1%
2010-2019 18%
2020-2025 80%

Genre
Contemporary Fiction 1%
Historical Fiction 1%
History 1%
Humor 1%
Informational Nonfiction 1%
Memoir 1%
MM Romance 94%

Average Rating
0.5 2
2.0 - Bad 10
2.5 - Average 15
3.0 - Good 28
3.5 - Very Good 83
4.0 - Excellent 144
4.5 - Outstanding 31
5 - Masterpiece 1

Average Rating 3.67
Books acquired YTD (last year 306) 196
Books culled YTD (last year 219) 136

5895 books cataloged on 12/31/24

September Lightning Round

Any in bold are NOT MM romances, few and far between as they are.

Quite a few of the smut books have warnings about triggers that I don’t mention here. Caveat emptor re triggers if you want to dip your toes in.

**abandoned Headstrong by Eden Finley ** 3.75 hours

Young gay hockey player Whit goes into a book store and sees one of his childhood heroes, hockey player Raine Richardson. Raine had 2 ACL tears just before the NHL draft came up his senior, and wasn’t drafted. He completely left the world of hockey, working in a bar and book store. Whit never realized this. Raine’s straight, Whit is gay. Whit wants to get his V-card punched, and Whit sort of becomes his wingman. It’s easy to see where this is going, and there’s not enough tension, both plot-wise and sexual, to keep me reading it.

Chokehold by Leigh Rivers and Harleigh Beck 8/31/25 9/3/25 437 pages Kindle

Stepbrothers trope, with college students Blaise and Cole. Blaise’s father marries Cole’s mother yet always blames Cole for everything, regardless of the fact that they both instigate, both antagonize. Each has a girlfriend. Cole’s girlfriend has been cheating on him for the last year yet he always takes her back. However, he starts getting tired of her. Blaise is also going through the motions. After a primal play event where an anonymous man captures Blaise and starts texting him and blackmailing him for meetups, Blaise concocts a plan to humiliate Cole. As much as there is dubcon and blackmail and other morally gray situations, I found this fascinating. Sexy, too, of course. Things come to a head after Cole finds out about Blaise’s plan and Blaise finds out that it's Cole who’s texting and blackmailing him. However, their attraction slices through all the morally gray and unsavory things to come out on the other side with a HEA for them. I started and abandoned this earlier this year because the situations and morally gray stuff upset me, but here we are, 6 months later, and I ate it up. Go figure. Caveat emptor re sex.

Ricochet by River Hale 9/2/25 9/3/25 373 pages Kindle 373 pages

Callum witnessed his mother’s death at age 8 and was abused by his stepfather sexually and then ‘just’ by being beaten up regularly until his stepfather was brutally murdered in their home when Callum was 16. He was fascinated by the tableau, and obsessively drew his stepfather’s corpse and the blood and the room until he eventually called the cops. The only thing that is meaningful for him besides his art is hockey. Stone and he meet up in college. Stone avenged his sister’s rape by killing the 3 men who abused her, and 5 years later this same sister is an IT guru and surfs the dark web to find victim forums where they try to process and criminal forums where they brag. She occasionally identifies a person of interest for Stone to kill. So Stone is a serial killer and Callum is traumatized. Stone starts obsessing over Callum. They eventually discover their connection. Whew. Obsession, fascination and hockey. Pretty unbeatable. At 373 pages there was enough to dig into the feelings and emotions and develop the plot more than just a shadow to hang the sexy times on. They get their … twisted… HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

His Cruelest Claim by Kai Valemont 9/4/25 9/5/25 77 pages Kindle

Here’s the publisher’s dramatic blurb:

He didn’t want my father’s money as payment for his betrayal.
He wanted me.
Dante Moretti is the king of a violent, glittering underworld. He is a ruthless, cold-blooded monster in a bespoke suit. And I am the price he demanded for my father's sins—an artist traded like property to settle a blood debt.
He dragged me into his gilded cage, expecting to find a broken toy to play with. But even in his world of absolute power, my spirit refuses to shatter. My defiance fascinates him. My fear excites him.
And my body, the traitor, responds to the dark, cruel pleasure he teaches it in lessons of submission.

Dante punishes Julian by stripping him of his clothes, his rights, his freedom. He takes him sexually yet soon sees Julian as a person. He gets art supplies, and eventually relents to letting him sleep in his bed. Captive/captor become romantic lovers. Short, brutal, weirdly sweet. Caveat emptor re sex, noncon, and violence.

The Puck Contract by MM Phoenix 9/5/25 9/5/25 355 pages Kindle

Fake boyfriend trope with hockey. Groover is an out NHL star on the brink of securing a lucrative sponsorship deal. The company expresses concern that Groover isn’t in a settled relationship. Groover’s PR team comes up with the idea of hiring a fake boyfriend for 3 months. Mateo, a graduate anthropology student is tapped to become Groover’s fake boyfriend. Mateo learns about hockey, Groover finds him adorable, and the fake relationship becomes real. Lots of fun, sweet, and I learned more about hockey than is good for me. The characters are well-written, the plot moves along quickly yet thoroughly. Mateo is adopted by the ‘hockey wives’, with hilarious results. Caveat emptor re sex.

The Sheriff and the Stray by Ashlyn Dupree 9/6/25 9/7/25 92 pages Kindle

Thank goodness it was only 92 pages. Colt, a coyote shifter, comes to town to become Sheriff, replacing his brother who died under suspicious circumstances. His brother had been protecting Mateo from the motorcycle club shifters who were taking over the town. Colt does the same, but there’s an immediate attraction that triggers Mateo’s heat. Colt and others in town beat back the MC challenge, Mateo is pregnant, and there’s a HEA on the horizon. Caveat emptor re sex.

**abandoned On My Knees for Him by Ezra Dao ** 51 pages

Roman, Clay’s brother’s best friend and business partner, drives Clay to the vacation house they both own. Clay’s brother is supposed to join them but keeps getting delayed. Clay is obsessed with Roman and draws him, both on his iPad and on paper. All drawings are very erotic. Roman sees them, already knows that Clay is his type, and makes a play for Clay. Not a bad premise, but it was irritatingly plot deprived – quite a bit of character and plot shorthand. Caveat emptor re sex, light BDSM, and Dom-sub energy. Drat. I bought this one.

**abandoned Mating Season by Kai Valemont ** 58 pages

Human Thomas strays into lone werewolf Reiden’s territory and is captured by Rieden. At first Thomas does not know that Reiden is a werewolf. Unusual omegaverse scenario where alpha Reirden has a 3-week mating cycle. Thomas is his fated mate. I didn’t particularly like either character, and didn’t care for how it was going to end. Cavet emptor re sex.

**abandoned Model Obsession by MK Zarah ** 97 pages

Vincent owns a modeling agency. It’s high powered and cutting edge. On the side, he researches vulnerable young men who need money for whatever reason – sick family member, huge debt, etc. Former Marine Ethan Rivers is desperate for money for treatment for his 16-year-old brother who has aggressive leukemia. He meets with Vincent, who is intrigued and wants to ‘collect’ Ethan in order to break him and have blackmail evidence against him. Marcus, another potential ‘model’ meets up with Ethan to warn him about what Vincent intends. It’s a good premise, but even though I read BDSM/Dom-sub scenes without hardly batting an eye, this one almost frightened me after reading about 2 other models who are broken. I just didn’t want to continue. Does Ethan get together with Marcus or Vincent? I don’t know, and it wasn’t worth the journey to get to the end and find out which one. Caveat emptor re sex, light BDSM, moderate Dom-sub situations.

**abandoned Never Too Late by Quinn Ward ** 202 pages

Dax is suicidal when he goes off the road on his motorcycle. He is in a coma for 17 days, takes forever to heal. He comes to the small town near the country road he nearly died on, getting ready to start teaching kindergarten. He sees an apparently unattended 5-year old in the hardware store. The harried father, Michael, eventually realizes that Jagger has ‘escaped’, and they part ways. It turns out that Dax has bought a house on the same street as Michael and Jagger, because Jagger is up a tree, literally, and Michael is beside himself trying to get him to come down. Dax removes emotion from the situation and talks Jagger down step by step. He thinks Michael is not a particularly good father. Soon, however, Dax helps him out babysitting, then there is dinner and time with Jagger and after at Michael’s house. When Dax gets his kindergarten class assignment, Jagger is one of his students. One reason kept me interested – it turns out that the EMT who saved Dax is Michael, who was so traumatized by watching Dax literally die in his arms before being revived that he quit being an EMT. The reason that finally got me to bail is that Dax went wildly back and forth between being alpha male and insecure and weak. Caveat emptor re sex.

**abandoned Sweat by Jonah Yorke ** 214 pages

Tommy was bullied by Rowan when young and when he learns that Rowan has (unintentionally) slept with Tommy’s girlfriend, he punches Rowan out. Sexual tension, college immaturity, emotional feelings and parental pressures all combine to make for an interesting book, but not interesting enough for me to keep reading it. Caveat emptor re sex.

A Voice in Chains by Harleigh Beck 9/6/25 9/8/25 263 pages Kindle

What a difference 3 months makes. I abandoned this book in June with these comments:

Zack lives with his sister and parents and is in college. His parents decide to provide a foster home for Arkin, unplaceable, apparently, although he’s not 18 yet. They have to put another bed in Zack’s room. Arkin has been terribly abused and is mute because of his experiences. He and Zack start up a sexual relationship, then probably an emotional one. It was too unbelievable and the plot ground audibly. Caveat emptor re sex.

I misspelled Zach’s name. It is still rather unbelievable, except this time I suspended disbelief because I became quickly invested in finding out what happened to Arkin and how the sexual tension between the two would be resolved. It’s clear that Zach has a bi-awakening, less clear but understood more at the end that Arkin has always been gay. Learning what happened to Arkin broke my heart, learning about some of the plot twists before they get their HEA also broke my heart. There’s enough sexual tension to keep any MM romance reader happy, romantic tension, too. The sports elements start off being important but become less so. The infrequent words whispered by Arkin were a huge enticement to find out if he’d speak more words and if they’d get their HEA. The last chapter before the Epilogue HEAs was so sweet. Caveat emptor re sex.

Man On by Rebecca Rathe 9/4/25 9/7/25 475 pages Kindle

The stepbrother trope, with an important twist. Noah lives with his father and stepmother, never realizing he has a stepbrother. His stepmother gets custody of Lane, and there’s immediately sexual tension between the stepbrothers. They go to the same college and both play soccer. It turns out that Lane was raised in a cult and witnessed and endured horrible things all in the name of religion. The stepbrothers negotiate their attraction and their soccer lives. The cult is exposed, boys coming forward. Lane is one of those boys, giving valuable evidence against his grandfather and other members of the ‘church’. This all comes at a potentially terrible emotional cost, but Noah, Lane’s mother and Noah’s father help. They eventually get their HEA. Caveat emptor re sex and explicit details about conversion therapy.

Boots, Babies and Bad Decisions by Bella Bennet 9/8/25 9/8/25 257 pages Kindle

A rodeo hookup, Jesse and Cole don’t exchange last names or numbers. Jesse stays in town, pregnant. Cole comes back to town, having inherited a rundown ranch and realizing his hookup is having his baby. It’s a very small town, and soon everyone knows their business and starts masterminding renovation of the ranch house, baby cribs and paraphernalia. Jesse’s used to the small town in-your-face involvement in everybody’s lives, Cole has to get used to it. They can co-parent, but will they fall in love? HEA and caveat emptor re sex.

The Revenge Agenda by Saxon James 9/8/25 9/9/25 276 pages Kindle

This is a re-read. Here’s what I wrote in March of 2024:

This was a happy surprise – fun plot, interesting and well-written characters. Rush has a boyfriend and he visits him at Christmas dressed in an x-rated costume under his jacket. It’s the wrong night, and Ian is with his fiancé/parents. Rush leaves completely distraught. Hunter, the fiancé, comes outside to make sure Rush is warm and gets him an Uber to get him home. Next, it turns out that Hunter is Rush’s new boss. Things are interesting from there, with Rush and Hunter planning revenge on Ian. Rush lives with 7 roommates and their various lovers/spouses, every one beautifully and laugh-out-loud eccentric. Rush suffers from ADHD, and although I don’t know how it manifests from personal experience, it seems believable and contributes to Hunter’s attraction to Rush and his calming effect on Rush. There’s sparkage of course, and wonderful conversation. They get their HEA, their revenge, and caveat emptor re sex.

Voices by Joey Parker 9/9/25 9/10/25 408 pages Kindle

This is the first of what I hope is many books by this author. Parker’s writing is intelligent and she captures emotions well. Shane, a college hockey captain, falls for brilliant and troubled artist and student Charlie, trying to protect him from his inner demons while balancing his own NHL dreams. Charlie doesn’t understand why Shane is interested in him. Shane is fiercely protective of Charlie. Shane’s endlessly understanding of what Charlie needs and is never impatient with him. It’s sweet and sexy. They get their HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

Power Plays & Straight A's by Eden Finley and Saxon James 9/10/25 9/11/25 302 pages Kindle

Seth asks his twin brother Foster, a college hockey player to NOT his on his best friend Zach when Zach goes to the same college. Although Zach is a quintessential nerd, Foster is immediately attracted to him. Zach is attracted too, but realizes that being attracted to his best friend’s brother isn’t going to go over well with Seth. They start a relationship, even though it immensely complicates both of their lives. However, they get their HEA while balancing a long-distance relationship when Foster gets called up to the NHL. Caveat emptor re sex.

Egotistical Puckboy by Eden Finley and Saxon James 9/11/25 9/12/25 296 pages Kindle

Ezra joins the team Anton is on, and Anton is immediately antagonistic. They hook up, however, and all bets are off. They start a relationship and get their HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

Poetry on Ice by Jesse H Reign 9/12/25 9/12/25 451 pages Kindle

And what’s the likelihood of a book with another Anton, although he’s called Ant is the next book I read? Robbie gets traded to the Vipers, the team he worshipped when he was a kid. It goes great, except for Ant, who’s antagonistic and grumpy. Enemies to lovers, caveat emptor re sex.

Goal Lines & First Times by Eden Finley and Saxon James 9/12/25 9/13/25 303 pages Kindle

Cohen is an NHL hockey player who meets Seth, NOT a hockey player but whose brother who plays for the NHL, on a gay dating app. They want to meet but it takes a while. Cohen is becoming aware he’s bisexual, and Seth is aware that first, he’s actually gay, and second, that he’s demi. After the kerfuffle over Foster being Seth’s twin is over, they start a relationship, get their HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

The New Guy by Sarina Bowen 9/13/25 9/13/25 338 pages Kindle

Hudson is a professional hockey player who has been traded 4 times in 5 years. His first trade came immediately after he came out as gay, and causal or coincidental, it has colored Hudson. He’s deeply in the closet now. Gavin, his new neighbor, is the new assistant trainer for the team. He has a kid and his sister helps him out with babysitting. They are attracted to one another and eventually start having a secret relationship. After a while, that won’t do for Gavin. And, on top of that, Hudson is traded back to the team who traded him the first time. This time, however, his contract is lucrative and since the team knows he’s gay, at least in the locker room and on the rink his teammates don’t have a problem. Hudson has a terrible relationship with his agent/father. Eventually lots of things become clear and they get their HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

Savage Titan by EV Olsen 9/13/25 9/14/25 173 pages Kindle

Alexei plays hockey for the North Shore Titans. He and Eli, an art student, literally collide on campus one day, and Alexei is immediately ensorcelled. Eli is pissed off and pushes back, even sits next to Alexei in class. This does not go over well, and after a few miscommunications, they start an intense relationship. Eli is gay, Alexei is … Eli-sexual. A bi-awakening for Alexei, but he just goes with it and falls for Eli. Eli is protected by Alexei and other powerful hockey players on the team. Power alpha males are my kryptonite, of course, and Alexei is no different. They get their HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

Brutal Titan by EV Olsen 9/14/25 9/14/25 118 pages Kindle

Jackson plays for the Titans and Killian plays for the Vipers, and they have been rivals since they were in hockey camps as youths. They end up in the same hotel during Regional Championships, and a bit of primal play has Killian dominating Jackson. This starts a secret relationship. They navigate the rivals/lovers hiccups and get their HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

Unhinged Titan by EV Olsen 9/14/25 9/14/25 226 pages Kindle

Viktor is the goalie for the North Shore Titans, Beckett is the new assistant coach. He has a restraining order against his ex-boyfriend and is trying to hide out from him. There is immediate sparkage between Viktor and Beckett, yet Beckett is trying to keep things on the professional level and not give in to his attraction. Viktor pushes him because Viktor is mostly unhinged and isn’t used to not getting what he wants. They eventually start a secret relationship. Beckett is adamant that it’s just sex, and Viktor is triggered because all his relationships have ended because he’s too intense and hard to handle. The ex-boyfriend finds Beckett, and Viktor unleashes the fury of himself and his cousins and friends Alexei, Jackson, Killian, and Viktor’s powerful mother. Beckett’s cat Mouse is cute and Viktor falls in love with her. Since the apartment building doesn’t allow cats, Viktor casually buys it… They get their HEA. Caveat emptor re sex, violence, and torture.

Omega for the Mafia Boss by Jena Wade and Aria Grace 9/15/25 9/16/25 107 pages Kindle

Rather boring, actually, with Andro needing to get married so his father will turn over the family businesses to him. He sees Joey at a function, asks him if he’ll marry him. Joey’s been abused by his family his whole life, both emotionally and physically. He jumps at the chance to marry an omega he’s attracted to. Marriage, pregnancy, Joey overhears Andro saying Joey will be taken to a safe house and Andro won’t go. Joey only hears part of the conversation, though. He sneaks out but is captured by his father and brother. Andro rescues him, they have baby Theo, and get their HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

Irresponsible Puckboy by Eden Finley and Saxon James 9/16/25 9/16/25 273 pages Kindle

Tripp and Dex are best friends, roommates, and on the same NHL hockey team. When Dex’s relationship ends, he moves in with Tripp, who’s in love with him. He’s totally oblivious, of course. Dex has no physical boundaries with Tripp. They love to cuddle and sleep together platonically. They decide to go through a fake marriage, but don’t realize that it’s real and legal. Dex eventually realizes what Tripp really means to him. Caveat emptor re sex.

Heartless Alpha Don 2 by Ella Jensen 9/17/25 9/17/25 283 pages Kindle

Second book in a series I picked up here without reading the first book. Ethan is an omega with a child. He was an alpha, but somehow got pregnant by his alpha lover. He abandons him to keep him safe, raising their son, Leo, alone. One day Leo is hurt at the zoo, and Dante is nearby and takes the boy to the hospital. He feels a primal, illogical love for this boy. Ethan is working at dead end jobs since his rich family kicked him out. Dante takes them in to get revenge on Ethan, but they fall in love (again) instead. Lots of repetition of Ethan’s trials and tribulations after he turned up pregnant and his family kicked him out, and Dante’s being broken by Ethan supposedly running off with an omega. Caveat emptor re sex.

Kiss-Fist by Cora Rose and EM Lindsey 9/17/25 9/18/25 310 pages Kindle

Thom owns a gym with his brother. He’s got severe dyslexia but keeps it well hidden. Robbie tries the gym out a few times, and they are immediately attracted to one another. However, Robbie is deaf and has vowed that he’ll never date a hearing man. Thom enchants him and he overcomes his vow. They are sweet together, and I learned quite a bit about deaf people, various forms of communicating with hearing people, and how Thom has learned to be successful in a world where his dyslexia could limit him. Caveat emptor re sex.

Goaltender Interference 9/18/25 21/25 548 pages Kindle

Jesse is a walking disaster, and team captain Connor’s GM insists that he take Jesse into his house to keep an eye on him. They are attracted to each other, but Connor is divorced from a woman and has never acted on his attraction to men. Jesse changes that, and between keeping the relationship secret, keeping his 3 children with him when he’s in town, and keeping his family out of his business, Connor is at his wit’s end until Jesse helps with the children, charms his family, and even has a working relationship with his ex-wife. They get their HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

Blindsided by Becca Steele 9/21/25 9/22/25 284 pages Kindle

Noah’s gay, Liam thinks he’s straight. They meet after Noah crashes into Liam’s car. Liam is livid and even more so when it turns out that Noah is one of his new roommates. He’s attracted, though, and eventually is GFY for Noah. Okay, predictable, yet Noah in particular is a vivid character and knows who he wants. Caveat emptor re sex.

Flagrant Foul by Jesse H Reign 9/23/25 9/23/25 414 pages Kindle

Sev and Nathan are best friends, starting when they are 14. Nathan’s younger brother has a crush on Sev the first time Sev comes to the house. Sev and Nathan always vow to keep Teddy safe, and the only thing Nathan asks of Sev is that Teddy is off limits. This works fine until they Teddy and Sev are both all grown up and on the same team. They try so hard to resist, but eventually cave in to their feelings. I really liked this one because Teddy is so sweet and has had a crush on Sev for so long. He doesn’t understand the depth of Sev’s attraction to him, and the author writes this tenderness and attraction well. Caveat emptor re sex.

**abandoned Offside Play by Becca Steele ** 164 pages

Premier League (soccer) player sits out the rest of the season from an injury and comes to visit his NHL player brother. He’s going to surprise him the next morning and hooks up the night before. Both he and his hookup are shocked that the hookup is a player on the same team as his brother. More hookups, more attraction, but neither can figure out how to turn their developing feelings into a meaningful relationship, since one’s in Canada and one’s in England. Although the Premier League angle was pleasant, I couldn’t see how they could get their HEA and didn’t really car enough to continue reading.

**abandoned Love Language by Reese Morrison ** 176 pages

Oh, how I wanted to love this one. Here’s the blurb on Amazon:

Marco and Greg would both rather be anywhere than a kink club on Valentine’s Day. Marco doesn’t have the patience to speech-read in a hearing crowd. And Greg is still mourning his Sir who passed away three years ago.

But when Greg steps in to explain something in sign language, Marco can’t stop thinking about the light he sees in those sad eyes. Strong, older, fluent in ASL, and sweetly submissive, Greg is exactly Marco’s type. Even if Greg isn’t ready for another relationship yet, Marco isn’t ready to let him go.

Greg thought that he would never want to date someone again. But as painful as it is to admit, he’s starting to feel like it might be time. Marco is like no one he’s never met. Small, twink-ish, over a decade younger, and a Daddy, he isn’t at all what Greg imagined in a Dom. Yet he’s undeniably attracted to his care and control, even after Marco reveals that he’s transgender. Slipping into the language of his childhood, Greg wonders if he might have a second chance at love.

I loved how needy Greg is yet fearful of abandoning his grief for his Sir. Marco wants to take care of Greg. Things got repetitive and although the plot moved forward convincingly, I lost interest. Caveat emptor re sex and mild BDSM.

**abandoned Deck the Fire Halls by NR Walker ** 124 pages

Firefighter Soren is looking for love. Doctor Robinson is also looking for love. They meet and are attracted. There was no spark to this, at least not by page 92. And I don’t just mean acting on instalust. Neither character was intriguing enough for me to continue reading.

**abandoned Pacey and His Unicorn Professor by Lorelei M Hart ** 92 pages

Ugh. Pacey is an omega human and an alpha unicorn rescues him. Pacey is deaf and so didn’t hear the warnings or hear the danger. Sable lets his unicorn out to have the speed and strength to rescue Pacey. Honestly the title is the most intriguing thing about this book.

The Poster Boy by EM Denning 9/23/25 9/24/25 234 pages Kindle

NFL goalie Marek is traded to the team defenseman Jay’s on after being outed with a celebrity. Jay’s cranky in general, and even crankier at how seemingly cavalier Marek is treating the whole thing. Marek is willing to be the poster boy as a gay NHL player, so does interviews all the time. They are both secretly on a hookup app, and agree to hookup. Marek figures out that it’s a player on his team by the room # in the hotel they’re staying in. Both are shocked that it’s Jay, but heck. Might as well, right? They continue to secretly hookup. Jay is not willing to come out at all for anybody except his best friend on the team. They both start having feelings but won’t admit it. In addition, Marek has ADHD and is starting to fall apart a bit between the team pressure, the hookup pressure, and his ADHD. Jay helps him get his ADHD under control when they hook up at Marek’s apartment. Jay makes concessions, Marek makes concessions, and they get their HFN, and most likely HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

Pucking Strong by Emily Rath 9/24/25 9/27/25 648 pages Kindle

Teddy meets and falls in love with wing man Henrik when he’s a PT intern for the Jacksonville Rays. Six years later, Teddy’s just signed with the Rays to join the PT team. Henrik gets devastating news that his sister has been killed in a car crash and his niece Karro is in the hospital. He and Teddy fly to Sweden, where they get married in a civil suit in order to start paving the way for him to adopt his niece. They return, Teddy moves in and helps Karro settle down and recover from her injuries. Henrik is straight, but he feels like he’s asexual and aromantic. As Henrik starts up the new season with husband Teddy and his niece in his apartment, they all three have to adjust. Teddy is still in love with Henrik and something he says has Henrik thinking that he needs to work on feeling for Teddy. He’s successful. Long story short, after legal challenges to their relationship and fitness to be Karro’s permanent legal guardians, they get their HEA. There are some great scenes with the WAGs – used to be Wives And Girlfriends, but is now Wives and Guys- and their sequined jackets. Caveat emptor re sex.

Whiskey & Sin by Emily Rath 9/27/25 9/28/25 446 pages Kindle

Silas has been abused by his pack but escapes on his way to his ‘new’ pack of drug dealers and traffickers. He’s on the side of the road, bedraggled, dazed, and with a broken leg after putting the truck he’s in with two of his ‘pack mates’. He kills one of them. Bear is driving home and sees a man by the side of the road and brings him home. Silas doesn’t trust any alpha and it takes Bear many weeks before Silas starts trusting him. A member of Bear’s old pack betrays Silas to the new pack and law enforcement but after a shootout, the killing of four of the bad guys, and a fire that destroys Bear’s house, Silas and Bear finally seal their bond and get their HEA. Very predictable, just a bit more shallow than other omegaverse books I’ve read. Caveat emptor violence and sex.

Second Shot by Beau Brown 9/28/25 9/28/25 474 pages Kindle

Gabe is shocked to see Ryan, his middle school bully, traded to the team. Worse than Ryan recognizing him is Ryan not recognizing him. Gabe still has trauma from the bullying, but as time goes on and they play together and room together on the road, they start realizing each other’s trauma. Ryan is devastated when he learns who Gabe is and that he didn’t tell him at first. However, HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

One Honeymoon, Two Hockey Bros, Three Little Words by Oslo Fox 09/28/25 09/29/25 214 pages Kindle Kindle

Ethan is left at the altar. His best friend Jean-Luc takes him away to the honeymoon he was supposed to go on with his wife. Jean-Luc loves Ethan but Ethan’s oblivious. However, Ethan starts figuring out that his feelings for Ethan are not platonic. Jean-Luc is a dom and Ethan turns out to be a sub. Minor BDSM, too, and they get their HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

402 books read

1 Masterpiece
79 Stunning
187 Excellent
72 Very Good
47 Good
12 Average
4 Bad
0 Very Bad
0 Don't Bother
0 Anathema

Best Fiction
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt Review
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain Review
Damaged Like Us by Krista Ritchie and Becca Ritchie Kindle January Lightning Round
Endless Stretch of Blue by Riley Hart Kindle April Lightning Round
The Muse's Undoing by August Jones Kindle September Lightning Round

Best Nonfiction
The House of Being by Natasha Tretheway Review
The Americanization of Benjamin Franklin by Gordon S Wood Review
Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey: The Lost Legacy of Highclere Castle by the Countess of Carnarvon Review
Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder by Salman Rushdie Review
Johan Amos Comenius 1592-1670 by František Kožík Review

Top five overall for the LT Top Five Books of 2024 List
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt Review
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain Review
Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder by Salman Rushdie Review
The House of Being by Natasha Tretheway Review
Damaged Like Us by Krista Ritchie and Becca Ritchie 1/29/24 1/29/24 Kindle January Lightning Round

…...





I cannot figure out why my 'old' 3rd one in the first row will not show up, so have a 'new' 3rd one.

Welcome!

>10 karenmarie: New-thread orisons, Horrible! *smooch*

Happy new thread!

>12 figsfromthistle: Thanks, Figs!

Wordle 1,565 3/6* trope, pooch, spoil

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Trevor's here to power wash the front porch, railings, columns, ceiling, steps, and lower deck.

I may head out to go grocery shopping. Arsenal plays Olympiacos, a Greek team, in the Champions League at 3 p.m.

Reading, stats and Lightning Round, puttering. Etc.

Happy, Happy New Thread, dear Karen! I look at your added books and feel virtuous. I look at your culled books and feel criminal. Never mind.

Congrats on Wordle in 3!!!!

Hi Peggy, and thank you. Wait. I have added fewer books than you have this year? That's a surprise.

Speaking of culled books, I pulled some off a shelf the other day and need to bring them downstairs. I'll go to that right now.

Thanks re my Wordle.

Hi Karen and the Statistics. A girl group from the computer room. Awww, those were the days.

Your bookworm up top brings to my mind, in a knee-jerk way, a thread in my current read, Death's Acre: Inside the Legendary Forensic Lab, the Body Farm, Where the Dead Do Tell Tales. Among the many interesting facts explained by Dr. Bill Bass is the work performed by maggots in consuming the fleshy parts of a dead body. My uninformed mind presumes maggots look like your book worm.

By the way, I did search the webs for images. You don't need to. Really.

Happy new thread, Karen!

Happy October, Karen. Happy New Thread!

Happy New Thread!

Happy new thread dear lady.

Morning, Karen. Sweet Thursday. It is Jackson Day...finally. Bree has an office day today, so I will meet her there after I finish dropping off the kids . Pick up Jack, take him back to their house, play with him for a couple of hours and then take him to school. Can't wait to see him. Sparrows have been my only visitors.

I'm off shortly, but came by to deliver a *smooch*

>17 weird_O: Hi Bill! How did you know? We were smokin’ hot, too.

You’re talking with a woman who’s Official Favorite Genre is crime fiction, although MM romance has been making inroads. After all, I have 1261 books tagged “crime fiction”, 2 tagged “forensics”, and 2 tagged “true crime”. I’ve read 616 of these books. Maggots and other consumers of flesh have come up in quite a few of them. I don’t need to see more photos of maggots, so thank you for your service.

>18 quondame: Hi Susan, and thank you.

>19 msf59: Thanks, Mark! I didn’t mention it, but yesterday was my 18th Thingaversary. I will count any of the 296 books I’ve acquired this year as my 19-book-reward. *blinks* I literally do not have any books I absolutely can’t live without right now. Scary.

>20 SilverWolf28: Thank you, Silver!

>21 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul. Leeds is in 12th place, well away from relegation. I hope they continue to move up in the table.

>23 richardderus: Yay for your time with Valerie! Have a loverly day. Last night’s Peter’s Clam House sounds heavenly. Talking sounds heavenly. *smooch*

Wordle 1,566 3/6* trope, wight, width

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Trevor continues to impress. He got perhaps 80% of the porch/columns/railings/stairs/lower deck power washed/prepped for painting, and power washed the porch furniture. It cleans up sooooo nice!

He'll be back at 10 this morning. He will repair some rotted column trim on 3 columns and do a bit more power washing. He was here for almost 7 hours yesterday.

I'm lazier than I'd like. I should have cooked bone in/skin on chicken thighs yesterday but the Arsenal game was more important. In the Champions League they beat Olympiacos, a Greek team, 2-0 yesterday, in a rather lackluster way. No injuries, so there’s that. Olympiacos scored a goal, but it was disallowed because of offsides. Looked like perhaps 2” to me. VAR is a curse and blessing.

Only Murders in the Building is a tad weird right now. Well. Weirder than previous seasons. Romance for all 3, all quite strange.

Spoke with Karen yesterday, who reported the Fat Bear Week results. Jenna texted me the results last evening. My personal favorite, Chunk won. It's worrying - he has a broken jaw although that didn't interfere with his packing on the pounds in preparation for a harsh winter in Alaska. Honestly, I'd never heard of Fat Bear Week before both Jenna and Karen told me about it. It makes me happy.

...
It's a gorgeous, gorgeous day. I have a massage with a new massage therapist who rents space in Lynn's new storefront. Lynn suggested I try her. We'll see. That's at 2:15, so I'll leave around 1:30. I plan on stopping for groceries on the way home, but laziness may get the better of me. I also need to cook the chicken. I can do that this afternoon and we can have cold chicken and rice for dinner.

The Future and MM romance for reading.

>16 karenmarie: Oh - no, no, no, no, no, my dear Karen. You have added many MORE BOOKS this year than I have. That's why I feel virtuous. Of course, you're much younger than I am and likely haven't caught up with my book acquisitions in my extra years.

It has been so gorgeous that I've almost been a little cool today. I'm warmly showered and bundled up with the exactly correct amount of clothing.
Hope the massage was very good and you've done exactly what you felt like doing for the rest of your day. Once again, Hooray for Trevor!

>21 PaulCranswick: Thanks Karen. We have given up two late goals that have cost us points and were only really outplayed once so far by a certain team dear to your own heart! I do hope that Arsenal pull off the league this season (as we are obviously not contenders) as I like that they have stuck with the manager and he has slowly but surely improved them year on year.

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/374356

Happy new thread, Karen. Your Trevor sounds like a keeper. Too bad you couldn't clone him. I could use a handyman a time or three.

Morning, Karen. Happy Friday. Happy Thingaversary. 18 years? Hard to get your head around that, right?

Grand time with Jack yesterday and then got to see my Cubbies win round 1. The only thing suffering is my reading but I will get back on track. Lots of robins around here yesterday morning.

>25 LizzieD: Yup. Completely missed that one. Yes, I have definitely acquired more books than you have this year. The weather has been exceptionally fall-like the last several days here. Simple joys – showered, bundled up with the exact right amount of clothing. (((((Peggy)))))

>26 PaulCranswick: You’re welcome, Paul. Giving up late goals is heartbreaking, for sure. Newcastle gave up two late goals against us on Sunday. Martinelli and Saka saved the day. Our beating Leeds was a bad one for them. Gave us a good GD and must have rattled your team. Everybody keeps harping on about Arteta not bringing in the silverware, but he's such a good manager and I can't imagine Arsenal without him. I want Liverpool to lose a few more games, but reading that Allison might be out as long as six weeks isn’t the way I’d like that to happen.

>27 SilverWolf28: Thanks, Silver.

>28 Familyhistorian: If I could clone Trevor, I would, Meg. Thanks re my new thread.

>29 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark! Happy Friday to you, and thanks re my Thingaversary. I still remember the joy and pleasure the first time I looked at this website, 10/1/2007. I joined that first day with a lifetime membership, which cost $25 then. Life without LT is unimaginable.

Yay for seeing Jack and the Cubbies winning round 1. Reading’s a pleasure, not homework, and if other pleasures get in the way, well. The books are still there, right?

I haven’t seen a flock of robins here since we put the pastures in in 2003. I think it was 2003. Anyway, we had huge flocks of them graze on what was then our front lawn.

I see a female and a male Cardinal. One of the wild bird seed feeders is down because of the work Trevor’s doing on the front porch.

Wordle 1,567 3/6* trope, punch, spasm

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Trevor was here most of the day. I left at 1:30 for a massage with Michelle, a new massage therapist at Lynn's. She definitely does things differently than Lynn, and brought her knowledge of sports medicine into the mix. I was much more of an active participant, and it was a good experience. I booked another appointment with her on Nov. 6. Picked up a prescription and went grocery shopping on the way home. Reading, watching Only Murders in the Building.

...
Trevor finished power washing. He's got some areas on the columns to repair. He'll be here today to do that and perhaps one or two more things in the house, but after that we'll wait a bit to do anything else. I have nothing planned outside the house for today.

Reading, puttering, decisions about things upstairs. Keep, donate, toss. My new mantra.

Here are a few of the 'before' pics of the front porch:

OOOOooo! I can't wait for the After pictures, Karen, although those before look pretty wonderful to me. I do understand that you'll be glad to have the porch painted.

Also, a belated HAPPY THINGA!!! I totally missed that. You're almost two years older than I am. Great place! Congrats on your Wordle 3 AGAIN!

I'm also delighted that Michelle the Masseuse proved to be a good choice. Can you tell any difference today in her massage results and Lynn's. I think a move from good to good is always a good thing so that you have the benefit of a different emphasis. Of course, good to better is really good!

Happy new thread!

" Life without LT is unimaginable."

" Reading’s a pleasure, not homework, and if other pleasures get in the way, well."

^Well said, my friend.

Morning, Karen. Happy Saturday. Looking forward to the "after" pics. We have a barbecue with friends later, otherwise a few house chores and some book time. Have a great day. Go Cubbies!

Wordle 1,568 3/6* trope, rebar, relay

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Arsenal play West Ham in 9 minutes, so off I go! I shall return sometime after noon.

>31 LizzieD: ‘Morning, Peggy! We’ll be painting it probably the week after next. He’s got some other things he’s doing and won’t be back ‘til Wednesday. However, he does such good work.

Thanks re my THINGA. Only thing I’m your senior in!

My lower back feels looser. Not a bad thing at all. You know the most important difference? Something I need to talk with Lynn about if I see her again? She talks. It’s part my fault, since we’ve chatted during my massages, BUT. It was nice for quiet except for questions and instructions. At the very last 15 minutes or so, we chatted a bit.

Remember Sears’ Good-Better-Best? I use that all the time to rate things. The other day I told Trevor that we usually bought Better things. Rarely Best. Anyway.

>32 drneutron: Hi Jim and thank you!

>33 msf59: Thanks, Mark.

>34 msf59: ‘Morning. Happy Saturday to you, too. Sounds like a good day up there in Chicagoland for you. Go Cubbies! Go Arsenal. Who are up 1-0 at the half. 😊

Hello, my 3 Sister at last!!!

I remember massages, both with the same woman, who mostly didn't talk. No music either - I think she had a water feature that didn't sound like a toilet running. WONDERFUL!!!!

I do remember G-B-B. I also remember in life that good and better can be enemies of best. AND (I forget where I read this) that third choices are often offered in stuff, maybe especially fast foods and that was the context?, to entice the buyer to upgrade when what he really wanted was the basic.

Hope Arsenal has done its best successfully and that you enjoy the rest of your day. I'm about to feed 'em!

>37 LizzieD: (((((Peggy)))))

Yay for 3 sisters.

Lynn and Michelle have music softly playing. I absolutely would go feral if there was a water feature. I think I was tortured with water in a previous lifetime.

All joking aside, I absolutely cannot abide any running water that is not something I cause or that I'm in the room with.

I remember it as Best is the Enemy of Better.

Arsenal won, 2-0. Declan rice scored a goal, Saka converted a penalty. Ooh, yeah!

Yes, feed the furry beasts.

Happy new thread, Karen!

I finally made it over here. We were without Internet for more than a day, and it's taken me a few days to get caught up on LT threads. Oddly, for some reason, when I finally got here there were only two posts marked unread, although I haven't visited since you started the new thread.

I'm glad Arsenal had a good day. The Cubs sure didn't. But I hope that you are!

>38 karenmarie: Happy Saturday, Karen. I'm a fellow fan of Good-Better-Best. I forgot that was a Sears thing, and now for some reason I'm also remembering the Sears Christmas catalog (was it called a Wish Book?) which I remember poring over as a kid.

As for the adage, I've heard it said, "Don't let perfect be the enemy of good" -- not specifically using the G-B-B terminology but the same idea.

Happy Seventh Thread! I am amazed all al you've read and time spent interacting. Your certainly a model to follow.

Morning, Karen. Happy Sunday. My Cubbies got hammered yesterday. Ugh. I hope they bring their "A" game tomorrow night. 🤞🤞

PB early today and then I might got to the movies with Matt, since our Bears are off this week. A pair of cardinals stopped by earlier.

>39 atozgrl: Hi Irene, and thank you. It really sucks when critical infrastructure isn’t available, doesn’t it? All technology used to be a luxury until it wasn’t. That’s what Jenna and I were talking about last night. Cell phones are critical, as are computers, and, for my daughter, her PS5. For Bill it’s the 65” 4K OLED TV. For me, it’s my kitchen appliances.

Bill and I feel like our generator and our security system are critical, but most people would still argue that they’re a luxury. We get a significant reduction in our homeowners’ insurance by having the security system and peace of mind with the generator.

Wow. 9-3. So not what you want to see your team do. The Dodgers won for my sister, and on the 2nd the 49ers won for my Aunt Joyce and Uncle Ted.

>40 lauralkeet: Hi Laura, and thank you. I loved both the Sears and JC Penney catalogs. I pored over them for hours. Mom didn’t ‘mail order’ from them that I can remember, though. From when it opened in 1955 until I was 10, we bought our clothing from The Boston Store in Hawthorne, CA. Thank you, duckduckgo.com. I loved shopping for school clothes with my mother and 2 siblings. Eventually, Mrs. Kimberling had a huge box of clothes couriered to the house for us to try. We kept the ones (our mother allowed us to keep) we wanted, sent the rest back. After that, my mother sewed for me and my sister and shopped by herself for us. Or she took me shopping but wouldn't let me get what I wanted. I am so not a primary colors or pastels girl.

I bought a 'better' Sears Cannister Vacuum when I was in college, sold it to friend Dawna when I moved to CT in 1977. Here we go with memories again – my mom had a Filter Queen Cannister Vac when I was little.

>41 Whisper1: Hi Linda, and thank you. Reading and spend time interacting – both here and for the Friends – are my main sources of pleasure. I talk with Jenna nightly, Karen 3-4 times per week.

Wordle 1,569 2/6* trope, plane

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We watched Arsenal beat West Ham, 2-0. I read, went through papers, filled bird feeders. I ut the wild bird seed feeder back up under the front porch overhang because now that I'm not putting the suet and the hummingbird feeders there, the porch will not get trashed. And so when Trevor paints the porch and railings/columns, it will look really good again.

Bill and I finished season 3 of Only Murders in the Building and started season 4. I read, chatted with Karen and Jenna.

...
Nothing planned except reading and puttering.

I am among those present at last, sweetiedarling. I'm glad your Thingavesary was noted and celebrated. I'm getting toward normalcy after sleeping from 8.30p to 7.15a, astounding for my larkish disposition...but *whew* was I whupped. I broke down in tears because I was in so much pain, and my ever-practical sister took me to Dick's sporting goods and required me to get more slides...this time Nike brand ones despite my arguing they were ridiculously expensive. They are HUGELY better, I can walk without pain, or less pain anyway, and I now have three pairs in different colors. I would *never* have done something so extravagant for myself, and was tartly informed that if I was so miserable as to break down in tears, extravagance was NOT buying the necessary things. End of topic.

I am the luckiest old man there is. So many good friends, such luck in having support systems in place...so rare in this world. Now I'm off to get back on the writing/reading/review-planning cycle that keeps me from committing antisocial acts. *smooch*

>43 karenmarie: Over on Paul's thread yesterday I said how spoiled we are with the modern conveniences of power and Internet. Unfortunately, we are dependent on both these days.

I remember those Sears catalogs. My sister and I used to go through the one with the Christmas toys every year and mark up what we wanted. Mom used to order from the Sears catalogs regularly, but my memory was that we went to the store and she placed the order at the customer service desk. The memory is fuzzy, though, so it's possible I'm not remembering everything right.

We also had a canister vacuum when I was growing up. If I remember right, it was an Electrolux.

Cubs winning or Dodgers losing would do it for me this year. Unfortunately, I didn't get either one yesterday.

I join you with Wordle in 2 today. My first word gave me a good start, but there is a very large number of words that fit the pattern, so I did double check the used words list this time. Fortunately, one of my first guesses had not been used, and it turned out to be the right one today.

Morning, Karen. I think I slipped under the wire yesterday. More PB this AM and then helping with the chores. Sue busted her butt all day yesterday. We have an out of town family member that will be staying with us. She arrives on Wed, for the party on Saturday. It looks like we will get some much needed rain. Everything is bone dry.

>44 richardderus: Welcome back, RDear! I am so glad that Valerie and you had such a wonderful time, so very glad that she insisted that you get three new pair of slides. I learned a long time ago, although the lesson was occasionally forgotten, how important it is to get the best footwear you can afford. Or have an obliging/loving family member buy you some. I bought my sister two pair of Sketchers for my sister for her birthday last year. My most recent foray into new footwear was last year, at fleetfeet.

Reviews are definitely better for your safety rather than committing antisocial acts – whether within your ‘house’ or against the fascist regime.

*smooch*

>45 atozgrl: Hi Irene. Yes, we are seriously spoiled. And those of us who can post on LT are really lucky, because it means that our living situation is safe, we have a cell phone/tablet/computer to post with, and etc.

We must have had a Sears nearby because we were in an urban area, but I don’t remember where it was. For the longest time we only had one car, so for Mom to use it, we had to take Dad to work. And what a production that was, because it meant bundling three sleepy children into the car, going, dropping off (with hugs and kisses, of course), returning, and getting three still-sleepy children back into the house. I honestly don’t remember how Dad got home on those days, but we had quite a few neighbors who worked for the big aerospace companies near where my dad worked.

Old Electroluxes are so cute – remind me of wienie dogs.



>42 msf59: Sorry I missed you yesterday, Mark! I’m sorry about the hammering. I hope they bring their “A” game tonight, too.

>46 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark! PB and chores. Wedding prep chores, of course, in addition to the regular ones… I was going to go drought.gov and find Illinois to see how bad it is in your county, but of course that website is not being updated because of the mismanagement of our federal government.

Wordle 1,570 4/6* trope, shale, abuse, amuse

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I worked on some of the paperwork in the Sunroom, read, napped, and etc. We watched three episodes of Only Murders in the Building, season 4.

I chatted with my sister yesterday afternoon, Karen and my daughter in the evening.

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Nothing specific planned except to once again work on our budget, read, update spreadsheets and Lightning Round, and etc.

>47 karenmarie: Hi Karen!

Those images of the old Electrolux vacuum cleaners remind me of the pastry known as "vacuum cleaners" (dammsugare) in Swedish. They acquired that nickname because they looked similar to one of the old (and in Sweden very common) Electrolux models.

>47 karenmarie: I'm so grateful I've got the entire emotional/practical support system I have. And the outlet of reading and writing and some people who read the results.

It sounds like a very satisfying Monday for you. My body's recovering from its stress is accelerating. Rest makes All the difference in the world. I'm still feeling kinda nappish.

*smooch*

>48 PawsforThought: Hello Paws! I just looked up recipes for dammsugare and they DO look like vacuum cleaners.

>49 richardderus: 'Morning, RDear! I hope you can nap and get caught up on sleep. I just looked at your thread and although won't buy the Eli Valley book, looked at many of his political cartoons online. *smooch*

>50 karenmarie: At the price they want for it, I think you're wise! The cartoons are pretty darn pointed, and pretty much aimed where I'd aim 'em if they were on my control.

>51 richardderus: *smooch*

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So have you ever been reading a paper book after reading more e-books and touch the right side of the right-hand page and expect it to go to the next page?

No?

You are much smarter than I am.

Good afternoon, Good Karen!!!

I will chime one little additional note in the Wish Book conversation. We got Monkey Ward's catalogue too. I looked at toys there and in Sears both. I also cut out paper dolls when my parents had had their fill, mostly because it was something that Mama and her sisters had done. They were not very satisfactory!

Our last 2 tries on today's Wordle were the same.... you just got there faster than I did.

Do dammsugares have to be green? I found the color rather startling!

>52 karenmarie: That's funny. I should not laugh but I am.

>53 LizzieD: Hi Peggy! Ah, yes, Monkey Ward. I never made paper dolls out of the pages of any catalog, but I loved paper dolls. Yay for Wordle Sister.

I saw dammsugares in almost any color that you can use food color with - both pastel and bright, plus white. I don't like marzipan, though, so will never make them.

>54 richardderus: Go ahead, RD! I laughed at myself, too.

>53 LizzieD: and >55 karenmarie: While some do exist in other colours (often with different flavouring than the original) the real thing is that bright green. But princess cake is the same colour, so it’s not unusual here.

PS. It’s “dammsugare” in both singular and plural!

>52 karenmarie: All the time. I look for the time at the top of the page and touch words I want to look up. Spending so much of my day on my iPad - formerly on my Kindle - it's just become the way the world works, isn't it?

>56 PawsforThought: Ah.... Thank you for explanations and instruction, Paws! Green, almost any green, is my favorite color. I was just surprised.

>57 quondame: Susan, that is what I was about to say, at least about touching words I want to look up. I haven't looked for the time yet, but swiping the page would almost work if I'm very involved. Heh!

>47 karenmarie: Wow! You found pictures of the old Electroluxes. Cool! That's definitely what we had. And it ran for a long time too.

>48 PawsforThought: I had never heard of dammsugare. Very interesting!

>53 LizzieD: We also had Montgomery Ward. I sure never heard it called "Monkey Ward."
My mom still had some of the old catalogs when we had to clear out her house, but I think they were all Sears catalogs.

Morning, Karen. We were blessed to have Jack and Bree spend the night. Grandma got some well-needed Jack time. I will now take care of my AM kids, come back home, Bree will go into the office and I will hang out with Jack until I take him to school. Too much information? LOL.

We finally got some well-needed rain. It is already moving out and should stay dry for the rest of the week.

>56 PawsforThought: Hi Paws! Green it is. Princess Cake looks wonderful with all those layers.

>57 quondame: Hello Susan! I also look for the time. If I have my Kindle in wifi mode, I can touch a word and it will look it up for me, but I don’t do that very often. I either know the word or figure it out from context.

I have over 5500 books on my shelves that are not Kindle, not Audible, and not audio CD.

I’m on my third Kindle. I temporarily lost the first one and had to get one because I was going on a business trip to Milan and then Mexico City (!). Found it about 4 months later. The second one’s charging port got persnickety so I got the one I’m using now. A friend tried to fix the second one’s charging port but he couldn’t do it. I figured if John couldn’t fix it, nobody could.

>58 LizzieD: Hi Peggy! The three of us treat paper books like e-readers. I wonder who else will admit to it?

>59 atozgrl: I looked up ‘electrolux 1950s’ on duckduckgo, Irene. Old Sears catalogs, before glossy color, were used for toilet paper. My Great-grandparents farm, built in the 1870s, would have had an outhouse.

Wordle 1,571 3/6* trope, bayou, nylon

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A whole lot of nothing got accomplished yesterday, but a whole lot of reading did. Leftover chicken cut up for a salad for dinner. Three episodes of Only Murders in the Building. I chatted with Jenna last night. I had sent her this link because I about peed myself laughing. She watched it as she was talking with me, and it made her very happy. She didn't think Hwan would truly appreciate it, but said she'd show it to her.

No hint of what this is for, but it gives me joy

...
Book sort, the post sale wrap-up meeting, Virlie's. I need bird seed and will probably go to the Farm & Garden after. I may stop in at the family pharmacy to see if they have Covid and flu vaccines.

>61 karenmarie: That was hilarious as hell! I think very little in this life is so important what it can't benefit from being the butt of absurdist humor.

Young Wayne the OT lad did a bunch of little stuff for me yesterday because if he didn't spend time with me the rules say he'd have to discharge me. So my laptop cooling pad's fixed, my vacuum sealer's connected properly, and I got to tell him about my etymology book reviews...OT includes cognitive engagement and assessment, apparently...as well as get myself on the list for new shoes. Very productive visit indeed. Flu vaccine is achy; COVID one is not...?

Whole lotta nothin' much in other words but All useful.

>61 karenmarie: They look very pretty but I’m not a fan of them. Don’t like marzipan or whipped cream cream- and the rest is just sponge cake and jam.

I want to watch all of them, so I'll be back, Karen!!!!! As to catalogues for TP, that's true. Outhouses, though..... We moved into our little house in the country when I was 4 and had an outside pump and an outhouse for at least a year - long enough to need to move the OH. I was accustomed to them when we visited older relatives living in the country too!!!
>62 richardderus: That was my experience too, Richard. I did have a day of low-grade fever after the COVID booster, but it was the flu arm that ached. Also, HOORAY for the Wayne!!!!! What a very helpful person he has turned out to be!

Hope all is well with you, Karen, my 3 Sister today!

I join you and Paws in not being a marzipan eater. I'm not much for jam in cakes, but that's probably upbringing more than taste, and I'll lap up real whipped cream any time at all!

Happy new thread! And happy belated Thingaversary. My 20th is coming up on October 13. I really can't imagine buying 21 books.

Just skipping on by- happy rest of the week :)

>61 karenmarie: I have 2 old kindles somewhere - maybe one was originally my daughter's, but that could have been an even earlier one - and yes, the charging ports have been troublesome. Then there's my neglected Oasis, spurned for the iPad.

Reading is getting something done.

What a coop of hoot!

Boy, I need to work on my timing- We cross-posted again yesterday.

Morning, Karen. Happy Wednesday. I enjoyed my time with Jack yesterday. PB early (currently 48F) and then back home for some final chores, in time for our arriving company. Not much to report on the feeder front.

Happy new thread, Karen! Hopefully I will keep up better with this one. . .

>62 richardderus: ‘Morning, RD! Glad you liked it. It and other shorts by him are so much fun and provide some serious escape from our increasingly depressing political situation.

Yay for Young Wayne the OT lad. Doing legitimate things for and with you is a great way to take advantage of the medical system. New shoes, too? You’re lucky.

I did get both vaccines yesterday. Left arm for Covid is a tad achy, right arm for flu vaccine a bit more than a tad achy. Neither is really noticeable unless I move my arms in certain positions.

I don’t know if it’s coincidental or causal, but I have a rather nasty headache behind my right eye this morning. I took some Tylenol, and if it is still present at breakfast (10 a.m.), I’ll take the not-supposed-to-take-it ibuprophen.

*smooch*

>63 PawsforThought: I didn’t want to say that I do not like marzipan at all, but completely agree with you about it. Whipped cream, however, is high on my love-it list as are sponge cake and jam.

>64 LizzieD: Let’s see, my dear. When you posted, I was still at Virlie’s with 9 other members of the book sort team. More below.

I remember a pump at the house my Chadima great-grandparents retired to in the 1960s although they had running water in the house. I was fascinated with it because growing up in Los Angeles suburbia in the ‘50s and ‘60s, we had running water and a refrigerator-freezer, among other amenities. One thing that I also remember is the incinerator in our backyard when we moved into the new house in the Holly Glen subdivision of Los Angeles in 1955. It was gone before I was 10, so before 1963. All the backyard incinerators had to have contributed to the LA smog!

I’m … well… Yay for us being 3 Sisters.
I had a dear friend, Marie, who loved marzipan, but only as shaped candies. I’m sad to say that I didn’t know any better when I got married and the woman who made our wedding cake blanketed each of the 3 layers in marzipan.

Yay for whipped cream.

>65 witchyrichy: Hi Karen, and thank you. 20th Thingaversary? Wow. Amazing. Since I buy books all year long, I can’t justify additional books. I would like to buy a chunk of new books though, completely separate from the Friends semiannual book sales of used books.

>66 figsfromthistle: Hi Figs! Thanks for visiting, thank you, and the same to you.

>67 quondame: Reading is getting something done, regardless of medium. I now use all three – paper, audio book, and e-book.

>68 msf59: Well, darn it Mark!

>60 msf59: Never too much information. I always envision you, Sue, Jack, Bree, Sean, Matt, and Hannah when you write about them. Yay for the rain.

Happy Wednesday to you. I’m glad you had a good time with Jack yesterday. PB, chores, then guests and prep for the … wedding? … reception? Not much to report at my feeders either.

>69 alcottacre: Hi Stasia! Thank you. Keeping up with threads is one of the things that makes me most guilty this year. All the time, in fact. We’re in the same boat.

Wordle 1,572 4/6* trope, wound, salon, annoy

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As mentioned above, book sort, book sale follow-up meeting, then Virlie's. We made a major decision that most of the people were in favor of - banning all bins and tubs, over-sized canvas totes and over-sized book bags, and double strollers from the Holmes Room - i.e., the sales room.

Too many tripping hazards and blocking of aisles. Rather than be torched by the darned dealers, our Counting House/bag park area will keep all bins/tubs/canvas totes and fill them from brown bags we supply. Our floor volunteers take bags, mark them with first initial last name, and take them to the Counting House anyway, for those who seem to be lugging around a heavy bag. We'll most likely need more floor volunteers for the next sale, however. Anyway.

There were 10 of us at lunch, which was really nice. Only 3 weren't there, and all three, as it turns out, were in Rome. A couple and one of our senior members, along with her husband, planned a luncheon meetup sometime this week.

The little family pharmacy did have Covid and flu vaccines. They asked me if I wanted Pfizer or Moderna, and although it didn't make much of a difference to me, I said Pfizer. I've had both. It took perhaps 35 minutes total, from filling out the form, waiting/getting the vaccines, then the mandatory 15 minute wait time.

I stopped at the grocery store to get two things, and only got those two things - frozen lima beans and a bottle of low-sodium V-8 juice. I think I already had one, but was not sure.

Reading, nap, and all the other usual things. I think I got about 5 hours of sleep in addition to the 1.5 hour nap in the late afternoon.

...
Lots of things I would like to work on today, but nothing outside the house. Major things are paying the propane bill, working on our budget, reading The Future for Sunday's book club meeting, re-organizing the Little Yellow Table.

I want to make Vegetable Beef Soup. If I really want something sweet since I assiduously avoided getting anything at the grocery store yesterday, I will make Chocolate Chip Black Cocoa Cookies. I've made them once and for those of us who love chocolate they are perfect. I don't have black cocoa powder, but regular cocoa powder is more than reasonable.

>70 karenmarie: I, a chocoantiholic, understand not at all "black cocoa powder." It either tastes very chocolatey or not at all like chocolate; seems to exist because Oreos do; and requires the chemistry-experiment level of processing that usually makes Murrikinz of a certain class clutch their pearls in horror. ??

I'm stewing in mizzly rain humidity and thus possessed of a pounding headache. This too shall pass....

Morning, Karen. Sweet Thursday. Lets try this again. LOL. Not a whole lot happening today. I have the kids to deal with and then I am going to get my annual physical done. This is required by the state for bus drivers. I hope I pass...grins. Then I will run a few errands. Only in the low 40s here.

>71 richardderus: A label! A clever label, chocoantiholic it is!

Dark cocoa powder is ... a type of cocoa that has been heavily alkalized (Dutched) to remove acidity, resulting in an ultra-dark powder with a smooth, mellow chocolate flavor. Unlike natural cocoa powder, which is more bitter and acidic, black cocoa has a more neutral taste. And, for those of us who adore Oreos (I prefer Double Stuf or Mega Stuf), here's the link to the website I took the definition of dark cocoa powder from: Oreos and black cocoa powder

Ugh to yesterday's weather and your pounding headache. I hope today is less drizzly and headache free.

*smooch*

>72 msf59: 'Morning, Mark, and a very sweet Thursday to you, too. I hope you ... pass ... your physical. I can think of several things that I wouldn't like a bus driver to have, and you've never mentioned any of them. *smile* Kids and errands, too. Enjoy the cool weather. It's 56F here right now, going to a high of 68F. 60% humidity, which sounds awful, but isn't.

Wordle 1,573 3/6* trope, harsh, hardy

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I made the Vegetable Beef Soup, which I served with store-bought Garlic Knots. Ugh. I bought two packages of these when I made dinner for our friends a while back. Nope and nope, although Bill liked them. He asked if I'd buy them again and I said no.

I separated books for Karen from my books, putting my books on the floor and leaving Karen's on the Little Yellow Table.

I didn't make cookies.

...
I am moving along nicely in The Future for Sunday's book club discussion and will devote most of today to reading that instead of my MM romances. Sacrifices have to be made.

I want to make cookies before I leave for lunch with Rita. Lunch is at 12:30, I need to leave 12-ish. Trevor is coming over for more handyman work at 11. Bill may or may not go into town to get his Covid and flu shots and pick up prescriptions. Walgreens is being dilatory in filling one.

I need to find shelf homes for my books, which are now on the floor.

AND, of course, I will want a nap and MM romance reading.

>73 karenmarie: ...still baffled by the antics of y'all chocoholics...

Today dawned lovely and cool and clear after the rain. So far we're at 60° and it bids fair to be exactly that most of the day. Say hallelujah and bring the jubilee. Trevor's clearly a new fixture on the scene! That's very exciting, it means the QOL quotient will go up for all concerned.

Enjoy lunch with Rita! *smooch*

Hello to you Karen!

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/374573

Morning, Karen. Happy Friday. I probably passed the annual physical- as long as I clear the drug test. 😜

I also got my flu and Covid shot. I think I might be the only one in my immediate family that gets them. PB early and then helping with any wedding party preparations.

>74 richardderus: There's no accounting for taste, is there, RD? You like raw onions, mustard, and goodness knows what else - Ranch? I can't abide Ranch.

We had good weather yesterday, too. Trevor's great.

Alas, Rita cancelled. *smooch*

>75 Whisper1: Hello back to you, Linda!

>76 SilverWolf28: Thanks Silver.

>77 msf59: 'Morning, Mark, and happy Friday to you, too. 🤞 for passing the drug test.

Nobody else gets Covid and flu shots? Really? That truly surprises me. Yay for PB. Joy for wedding party preparations.

A female Cardinal, a finch, and somebody was leaving the feeders that didn't look like a regular but I couldn't get long-enough look.

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Rita was sick, so we didn't go out. We're already scheduled for next Thursday. Trevor worked on the list, may not be here today. He'll let us know.

I didn't make cookies, either. Chatted with Jenna. Somehow we ended up googling for her and duckduckgoing for me 'weird medieval paintings' and it went downhill from there, amidst uproarious laughter.

...
I want to make cookies, but am shifting gears and make dairy-free Oatmeal Raisin cookies. I'll take some to book club on Sunday and give Trevor a couple for himself and some for Rita.

I'll be reading The Future most of the day. I made good progress on it yesterday, but it's not a skim-through-it read at all and I've got 300 pages to go.

I just read that María Corina Machado, Venezuelan opposition leader, wins Nobel Peace Prize. NOT our fascist traitor.

This pleases me. Anything that takes away anything from him makes me happy.

>78 karenmarie: Anything that takes away anything from him makes me happy.

My mantra since 2015...hell, 1985.

Sorry Rita's ill but glad there's a raincheck. I'm reveling on the 60°ness of it all, wearing long sleeves under my cardie, generally gearing up to go outside to procure something unhealthy but yummy. Haven't quite decided what yet. *smooch*

Morning, Karen. Happy Saturday. A busy day for the Freeburgs. Sue has been busting butt, getting decorations ready plus doing a myriad of other pre-party tasks. I jump in whenever needed. We will be having the party at our neighborhood clubhouse, which is a short walk from our house. We will begin shuttling stuff over in a couple of hours. The show begins at 3pm. The weather looks to be mostly sunny, mid-60s, which isn't bad.

The Cubs/Brewers play tonight. We will have to miss part of it but it will be worth the sacrifice. Go Cubbies!

>79 richardderus: Yay for cardie weather, RD. I hope you found the perfect unhealthy but yummy. *smooch*

>80 msf59: Hey Mark! Congrats to Matt and Hannah. Such a joyful day for you all. I hope it goes without a hitch. And, go Cubbies!

Wordle 1,575 4/6* trope, glint, batch, stack

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Cookies got made, The Future read. Trevor was here, putting bumpers on cabinets and drawers, fixing faucet leaks.

...
Reading. Reading. Reading.

>81 karenmarie: I got myself two (2) boxes of white-chocolate/macadamia cookies and ate one yesterday. I'm hoarding the other against future anxiety-eating needs.

Today, the longest and most TV-filled of my week, I'm huddled under the headphones revisiting some books I would like to review on Monday to do the publicist a solid; but I ain't like 'em, so I'm trying to figure out *exactly* why. Maybe it was my mood...? was I hangry? or are they as bland and formulaic as my snort-of-derision notes indicate?

Treasure Trevor is rapidly approaching beatitude!

Good Afternoon, (((((Karen)))))! Reading. Reading. Reading is GOOD!

What a good day for staying in! Hooray for Trevor!! I was going to comment on the .00001% snowball's chance in Hell of the entity's pursuing actual peace in the Mid-East, but I'll forego that. You don't get the Nobel though for a day's cease fire, especially when the Israelis didn't.
(It's humiliatingly easy for somebody to pull my chain.)

We need to walk before I feed 'em.

Morning, Karen. Happy Sunday. Everything went perfectly yesterday. It was worth all the hard work. It got a bit cooler later on, but some folks put on another layer and we had a fire for warmth and ambiance. And thanks to our friends and family with the clean-up afterwards- big job. I will get back to the clubhouse to finish up.

Sadly, my Cubs under-performed and went quietly home. Always next year, right?

>82 richardderus: When I first read this message, RDear, I saw that you got two boxes of cookies but thought you meant you ate ONE COOKIE. Silly me, right? One box it is. Or, was.

Anxiety eating is a fact. I’ve been feeding my feelings quite a bit this year, including anxiety.

I’m sorry you were having trouble figuring out why you didn’t like some of The Books On Review. I hope time has given you clarity.

And yes, there are calls for Trevor’s sainthood.

*smooch*

>83 LizzieD: Hi Peggy. Thank you for the hugs. I did lots, and lots, and lots of reading yesterday. Results below.

This might be a record for recent years except for Covid - I haven’t gone out since last Tuesday.

There’s nothing the entity’s ever done as an adult that hasn’t been driven by his narcissism and various mental illnesses. His not getting the Nobel Peace Prize has to be causing him fits. This pleases me.

I hope your walk was good and that the kitties appreciated the food.

>84 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark, and happy Sunday to you. I’m so glad yesterday went well. Layers and fire for cool weather, yay.

I’m so sorry your Cubs had to go quietly home. There is always next year for sure. My sister must be thrilled at the Dodgers’ advancing, although I’m sorry they’ll be playing the Brewers instead of your Cubbies.

Wordle 1,576 5/6* trope, axion, nobly, mound, wound

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I ended up buying the Kindle version of The Future and am now at page 358 of 415. Easy peasy to finish today.

I also read smut, of course, had soup with Bill for dinner, and watched the last-available episode of Only Murders in the Building. We have to wait 'til the 14th for the next one, and then will have to wait for the last two episodes on the 21st and 28th.

...
My plan for today was to finish The Future, bake cookies, go to book club, go to the grocery store to get grapes and etc., then enjoy the rest of the evening knowing that I'd actually finished a book for book club and gone to the meeting.

Alas.

I had a slightly scratchy throat yesterday afternoon/evening. This morning I have a full-blown sore throat and a temp of 99F. Since I run cool, that's like most people having a temp of 100F. So I just sent a text to Tamsie apologizing for not coming this afternoon. Drat.

Today or tomorrow I want to write an actual review.

It's overcast and we'll be getting more rain.

Drat indeed! I hope you'll feel 100% by tomorrow morning at the latest. Meanwhile, it's a good day to stay in and glance out the window at the dreary as you read and sip a preferred beverage before you nap!

Hi Peggy, and thank you. I'm definitely staying in, currently glancing out the window at a male Cardinal and all the greenery seen through one wall of windows and another wall of windows and glass door.

I've read, I've updated spreadsheets and have just finished the following review. The preferred beverage will be a BodyArmor Fruit Punch to go along with an oatmeal raisin cookie.

The Future by Naomi Alderman
9/28/25 to 10/12/25




From Amazon:

Martha Einkorn never expected to find herself working for a powerful social media mogul hell-bent on controlling everything. Now, she’s surrounded by mega-rich companies designing private weather, predictive analytics, and covert weaponry while spouting technological prophecy. Across the world, in a mall in Singapore, Lai Zhen, an internet-famous survivalist, flees from an assassin. Suddenly, a remarkable piece of software appears on her phone telling her exactly how to escape. Who made it? What do they know about the future that Zhen doesn’t?

When Martha and Zhen’s worlds collide, an explosive chain of events is set in motion. While a few billionaires assured of their own safety lead the world to destruction, Martha’s relentless drive and Zhen’s insatiable curiosity could lead to something beautiful—or it could herald the cataclysmic end of civilization.

By turns “playful, incisive, horribly relevant, and surprisingly hopeful” (Lauren Beukes, New York Times bestselling author of The Shining Girls), The Future unfolds at breakneck speed, highlighting how power corrupts the few who have it and what it means to stand up to them. The future is coming. The Future is here.

Why I wanted to read it: Real-life book club book for October’s discussion.

Almost every page has something quotable. I was immediately drawn into Zhen and Martha’s world. Admittedly, it took a while for me to figure out that Medlar is Microsoft, Fantail is Facebook, and Anvil is Amazon, but once I did, I was rather proud of myself and the story just became more relevant and scary. Martha was raised as an Enochite in a separatist cult founded by her father, Enoch. The story of The Fox and The Rabbit is symbolic of all that humans are and how we’ve gone from a hunter/gather society to an agriculture-based society. I admit that it also took me a while to actually look at the cover to see the outline of the fox and the rabbit.

It's a dense, rich read, filled with red herrings, dead-ends, and extremely scary interpretations of what the world has devolved into – consumers and sources of metadata.

It reminded me of the Harry Potter series and the Cormoran Strike series, both by J.K. Rowling, insofar as no subplot is expendable, subplots grow into larger subplots, some of which are expendable, and some of which are critical to the amazing and absolutely true ending. So many vividly portrayed characters also remind of books by Rowling.

Here’s one tidbit, near the end of the book that could have been anywhere in the book:

Nothing can be permanently settled or solved. No state is perfect; no utopia exists but that it leaves someone out. All we can be is alert, like Fox, to the changing winds. To ask ourselves in each new situation: what would we hate anyone to do to us? And: Who have we forgotten? To exist in motion, falling forward, trying to bend our own histories toward what is fair and kind, what is sensible and good. We will keep failing, but final success was never the point.

Hint: Continue reading after the acknowledgements.

Six word review: Dystopian fiction, terrorism fiction, literary fiction.

>85 karenmarie: I gave up and moved books I liked into Monday's slots. I'll polish the turds as best I can for the gang-review post. If they were *bad* I'd be waspish but the ~meh~ is always hard for me.

One cookie! IJBOL

One box yesterday, one half box today, one half for brekkers tomorrow.

Enjoy skipping book club, eat your delicious cookies without restraint, and readreadread with all the attention you can spare.

Oh! and Bah! Just what I need, a bb. About billionaires, no less. Billionaires are so troublesome. I just started Anne Applebaum's Autocracy, Inc. Her first chapter lays out the beginnings of our present woes. She points to the Pandora Papers (do you remember them), which detailed the workings of tax havens and of those who use them. The Papers showed "how Delaware, Nevada, South Dakota, and Wyoming—nice, normal American states, full of nice, normal Americans—have created financial instruments that nameless investors can use to hide their money from the world."

Have a nice Sunday, eh.

>85 karenmarie: Bummer about the sore throat. I hope you're feeling better asap.

>89 richardderus: ‘Morning, RDear! Restraint! Only half a box yesterday and half a box today.

Meh reviews ARE tough because by the time I want/need to write one, I have moved on and don’t want to expend any more energy on the book.

I would have preferred to go to book club. I ate cookies, read, and etc.

>90 weird_O: A BB for Bill! Yay. I just now learned what the Pandora Papers are. My Sunday wasn’t as nice as it could have been, but productive anyway. I hope your day was good.

>91 quondame: Hi Susan. I woke up with a sore throat again, but no temp.

Wordle 1,577 2/6* trope, beard

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I read, napped, ate cookies, wrote a review and updated my 2025 books read spreadsheet.

...
I need to write, address, and mail a birthday card, and, if I'm up to it, use the bank drive through to pick up cash for my cleaning ladies for tomorrow and place/pick up a grocery store order.

Otherwise, nap, read, bake cookies.

Morning, Karen. Great review of The Future. Sounds really good. Back into a more normal routine, which I am going to savor. Jack is off school today for the holiday. Sue is off Mondays, so she will be going out there to spend the day with him. I will take my turn tomorrow. The happy couple stopped by yesterday. Still had that "glow"...😀❤️

>92 karenmarie: Happy Monday, smoochling. Feel only better, please.

I'm sorry about the continuing bad throat, (((((Karen))))). Must not be the booster, I guess. Baby yourself and feel better!!!

CONGRATULATIONS on the Big TWO!!!!

>92 karenmarie: I'm sorry to hear you caught something, Karen, and had to miss book club. Something is definitely going around. I came down with a cold two weeks ago, and then gave it to my DH. We avoided any fever though. I hope you get to feeling better soon!

>88 karenmarie: I had not heard of that one. It sure sounds like one I need to add to my TBR.

>90 weird_O: That one was already on my TBR. I just need to get a copy.

>88 karenmarie: Great review, Karen.

Hoping you’ll be feeling better soon. Take care, and take it easy.

Morning, Karen. Not feeling well? I hope you are doing better today. 🤞🤞

This was my Jackson Day, but Bree has it covered. I will miss hanging out with him. I guess I will play PB...

>93 msf59: Hi Mark! Thanks re my review. I’m glad you’re settling into a fall routine. I bet Sue was happy to spend time with Jackson.

>94 richardderus: Thanks, RDear. Alas, woke up with a sore throat again this morning. *smooch*

>95 LizzieD: Thanks Peggy. I don’t think it could be the booster, plus it’s only on the right side of my throat. I’ll send my GP a mychart message this morning. Thanks re my two yesterday. Half as much as today's four.

>96 atozgrl: Hi Irene. It’s definitely aggravating. Not super bad, but definitely something I’m not willing to share with book club or book sort today.

>97 EllaTim: Hi Ella, and thank you. Another day of taking it easy I’m afraid.

>98 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark! Happy Tueday to you. Still a bit puny. I thought the sore throat was gone last night, but it’s back again this morning. I’m sorry you won’t be seeing Jackson today. You’ll have to settle for PB. I have two male Cardinals at the feeder pole.

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I baked cookies, read, napped, chatted with Jenna and Karen. Jenna and I discussed the Norway - Israel FIFA World Cup qualifier and were both pleased that Norway hammered Israel 5-0.

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Sore throat again, no book sort/Virlie's. Bill will get cash for the ladies, pick up a small grocery store order, mail Peggy's Very Late Birthday Card, and pick up two prescriptions.

Cleaning ladies at 11. Reading, a small amount of puttering.

>99 karenmarie: *ewewew* Begone, throat-ensorening whatevers! I'm not ill but not thrilled with 55° and damp.

I hope reading's in the up phase with no abandons!

I'm glad that Bill can go out for you today, and not just because of the B-day card! Pamper, baby, and otherwise take care of yourself!

^^^What Peggy said.

>99 karenmarie: I'm sorry you're still dealing with the sore throat. I hope your doctor had something useful to say.

Wordle in 4 for me too today. And it makes at least 3 of us who guessed gourd immediately before getting the correct word. (You, me, and @klobrien2). And I didn't check the used word list today.

Morning, Karen. Happy Wednesday. I hope that sore throat is gone or at least much better today. Not much to report on this end. Mostly, sparrows and doves at the feeders.

>100 richardderus: Hiya, RD. 55° and damp is definitely not fun. It’s 38° going to a high of 63° here. I never got in touch with my doctor’s office yesterday, so just left a voicemail for his assistant. I hope she’ll get back to me soon, but it can be up to 24 hours. My throat's still sore, obviously.

I’ve abandoned 10 books so far this month. I’ve got a good series going on right now – The Year of Us by Kate Hawthorne and E.M. Denning. Twelve novelettes, one for each month of the year. I’m on May. Each is about 45 or so pages. I also just pulled The Frozen River to read for November’s book club discussion.

*smooch*

>101 LizzieD: Hi Peggy. I pampered myself and did a teensy bit of worrying, because that’s in my nature. Your b-day card has a Manatee Forever Stamp. How cool is that?

>102 atozgrl: Hello Irene. Yay for being Wordle-in-4 Sisters! Peggy did not join the ‘gourd’ club. It’s always fun seeing how other people get to the word. I always check the words available and words used lists. I would be frustrated beyond measure if I didn’t have a system in place because otherwise I’d probably get skunked once a week or more!

>103 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark! Happy Wednesday to you, too. My throat is actually more sore than yesterday. No fun.

I do not have any bird visitors right now.

Wordle 1,579 4/6* trope, spool, spook, spoof

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I have a clean house. Bill ran the errands, so I didn't have to go out. I napped, read, and etc. I gave Esmerelda the Tide Pods that Jenna left here a year and a half ago. Bill and I use Amway SA8. Neither of us like scented laundry detergent, although he uses scented dryer sheets.

...
Bill is getting his SUV inspected at 10. Trevor's coming at 11. Our generator battery died. Grrrrr and sigh. The generator people are coming out between 8 and noon today with a new one. The error code on the generator says it needs a battery, so that had better be the problem.

Reading, doing a bit of puttering. I need to get my books that are on the Little Yellow Table onto shelves here in the Sunroom. That means culling books or moving some to make way for the 40 books needing shelf homes.

You are busy! Thinking of you as I head to my third library board meeting. I was added to the finance committee since I knew what a spreadsheet was and have done budgeting for my nonprofit. We meet for the first time today. Wish me luck!

I loved The Frozen River. Just sent a text to my librarian suggesting it for our next book club. She asked for ideas.

I decided to donate books for my Thingaversary so have several bags ready to go to the thrift shop.

>104 karenmarie: Wow! Ten books abandoned so far….hope you have some good eats coming up

Happy mid week

>104 karenmarie: Clean house, no chemistry-experiment odors, and a sore throat...but 63°! All in All, a winner. I've joined you in the yucky-throat (and nose, in my case) brigade. My home COVID test says "no." That was a relief. Now it's just a stuffy nose and scratchy throat...I think we used to call them "colds."

Yuck.

>105 witchyrichy: Hi Karen! Too busy, I’m afraid.

I’m glad you’re on the Library Board – they’re lucky to have you.

Donating books is a wonderful idea for those of us who either need to cull or those of us who keep things spare.

I, of course, donate items to the Friends that meet the our criteria. Those that don’t, I take to the Thrift Shop. If they can’t use them, they sell them by the pound. Hurts my heart, but there it is. I cannot save every single book out there.

>106 figsfromthistle: Hi Anita. I am reading a good MM romance 12-novelette series. So, nothing that needs abandoning right now. Thanks re mid-week. I hope yours is going well, too.

>107 richardderus: Hiya, RD! Wait for it – Jenna told me last night that Hwan had a cold. My immediate response was “I didn’t give it to her!” The same for you – I didn’t give it to you! I’m sorry you’re feeling puny. I just have a sore throat, no stuffy nose. I am, however sneezing some. I also have a dry cough - I'm pressure it's one of the side effects of taking lisinopril. It definitely started within a week or so of my starting it, well before the sore throat. Yuck is right. *smooch*

...
Trevor's not feeling well and won't be over today - in his case, it's possible that I gave him germs, but I don't think so. He's got four kids, 3 of them still in school.

Bill's on his way home - Ford's bringing him home because he needs a new tire and they're going to perform one of the recalls.

>108 karenmarie: I'm puny enough to be drinking hot lemon/ginger tea. I don't like it but can't see pouring more caffeine down me as a good thing. (It's really an herbal tisane, but it calls itself tea so I, indifferently, do too.)

Morning. Karen. Sweet Thursday. Hoping you are feeling better today. 🤞🤞

I got the kids and then I will do some solo birding. I haven't been out locally since I been back from CA.

>109 richardderus: 'Morning, RDear! I'm sorry you're reduced to lemon/ginger tisane. I hope you're better today.

>110 msf59: 'Morning, Mark! Sweet Thursday to you. Enjoy the birding, stay safe on the roads. I'm not better, but I.Have.A.Plan.

Wordle 1,580 4/6* trope, glint, stuck, catty

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I read, napped, enjoyed a bit of quiet when Bill went out twice getting his car worked on. Jenna shared pics of her making curry and rice, and we chatted. Good news! She will send me the details for their Thanksgiving AND Christmas trips!!! I wasn't going to ask since they've had such a tumultuous year and I didn't want to seem demanding, but ... yay.

I left a message for my GP's PA yesterday morning. She called back and I now have an appointment with my GP at 10:20 this morning. it doesn't always work out that he has time for me, but both times I've needed to see him sooner than later this year, he's come through - the other time was March 20th when he gave me a cortisone shot for my trigger thumb.

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I'm supposed to go to lunch with Rita, but I've just sent her an email cancelling. Even if I'm not contagious, it's better to just come back home.

Trevor's supposed to be here today, but I haven't heard if he's still feeling unwell or not.

>111 karenmarie: Considering how crappy I feel, I expect Trevor to be just as miserable. It just seems to be traveling around. I'm also reaching manthrax levels of whininess. I'm sad you had to cancel your looked-forward-to lunch with Rita but I share your excess of caution. I *must* go out tomorrow to get butter and something else I'm forgetting, but would greatly prefer to lie here and marinate in lemon-ginger slop.

Feel better, sweetiedarling.

Hiya, RDear.

I'm sure you feel worse than I do, and I'm sorry for that. manthrax levels of whininess... *smile*

Back from the doctor.

He's convinced it's viral, says to just treat the symptoms. I didn't expect antibiotics so am not really disappointed. Only a little disappointed.

I don't see myself going out for many more days, which is fine. I'm back in jammies and going to be totally self-indulgent and go upstairs now to nap and read.

It's always a disappointment when it's viral and you just have to wait it out. Good for you in knowing how to treat yourself! I'm sorry there's no magic cure though.

I, who feel fine, hope to have some time to read today. I have 3 fairly short book to build my number toward 75, but what I really want to read are all the huge ones that I've started and put down (because I don't have time to read them and build my number toward 75. *sigh* WHY is this so important to me?????)

Take care!

>113 karenmarie: I'm glad you got in to see the doctor this morning. It's too bad he couldn't give you anything to help, but I hope you'll be over it soon. Rest and pamper yourself, and read! My cold is mostly gone now, just a little cough and sinus drainage left. Here's hoping you will be at the end point soon as well.

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/374695

>114 LizzieD: Thanks, Peggy. Patience, right? I hope you had lots of time to read yesterday. I think the number’s important, too. I can’t remember the year and after spending 10 minutes looking for it and not finding it, can only say that I was in a panic on 12/31/?? to finish up book #100. I did so, and remember choosing one 115 Me, too, Irene! If nothing else, for peace of mind. I’m glad your cold is almost gone, and my goal now is to be able to go to book sort/Virlie’s on Tuesday.

>116 SilverWolf28: Hi Silver, and thank you.

Wordle 1,581 5/6* trope, drown, broil, crock, gross

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I puttered upstairs a bit yesterday afternoon - nothing strenuous - and found a package of Ricola Honey Lemon Echinacea cough drops that Jenna had left behind. Opened, but with an expiration date of 9/26, I tried one. They definitely helped, and I went through several more last night.

I've started a re-read of the Will and Patrick series by Leta Blake and Alice Griffiths. Fun, serious, sexy. I really like both characters. It's a Wake Up in Vegas Married trope, and over the course of 7 books is making me happy.

I talked with Karen and Jenna last night. I got about 3.5 hours of sleep. Sigh.

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Trevor's coming over today to tape off the front porch in prep for painting it and the trim next week.

Reading, puttering, napping. And etc.

Morning, Karen. Happy Friday. How is the "Plan" going? I hope it is showing results. 🤞🤞

I had a very nice solo bird walk yesterday. Nothing extraordinary but still managed to see 18 species. PB early today and then we are having a PB picnic with the gang. It looks to be a beautiful fall day. A lot of rain this weekend.

'Morning, Mark, and happy Friday to you.

The plan was to get antibiotics because it was bacterial, but alas. Viral means just getting over it. Not much better this morning, but I don't need to out today, so there's that.

Yay for your solo bird walk. 18 species is impressive. PB and PB picnic sound right up your alley. Enjoy the day before the rain heads in.

I OTOH need to go out while being miserable. I'm dreading it. While Old Stuff's getting drunk I'll likely sleep the afternoon away.

Ah, RDear. I'm sorry you have to go out. I hope you can get a good nap in this afternoon.

Trevor's here prepping the front porch and etc. to paint next week. Bill and I picked Valspar "Stormy Skies" for the actual porch and Trevor will get the right paint to paint the rails, columns, banisters, and etc.

*smooch*

>121 karenmarie: I gave up and stayed in after Old Stuff passed out half off his bed. An aide came in and kinda tidied his position very shortly after he came in. I was going to leave him until gravity did its work. Trevor the Treasure's worth his weight in Kindlesmut.

Morning, Karen. Happy Saturday. Hoping you are feeling a bit better each day. Off to lead a short bird trip, followed by a volunteer luncheon for my birding club. I have become a social butterfly. Rain was in the forecast for the entire AM but the sun is out and it is beautiful at the moment. Any luck with those feeders?

>122 richardderus: I'm sorry, as always, RD, that you have to put up with OS. ☹ I hope you're feeling better.

>123 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark, and happy Saturday to you, too. I’m a tad better today, thank you. Enjoy your busy day, glad the sun’s out. No luck with the feeders, alas.

Wordle 1,582 3/6* trope, legal, haven

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In addition to the front porch project, Trevor replaced two canister bulbs in the Media Room Landing Closet, two heat lamps and the switch in the Master Bath, and 6 canister bulbs in the Kitchen.

I baked more Oatmeal Raisin Cookies and sent 2 home for Trevor and two home for Rita.

I never got a nap yesterday and paid for it by sleeping from 6:30 to 9. That, along with finishing up the Will & Patrick series and starting a wonderful book, This Might Hurt by Riley Nash really messed me up. I got back to sleep at 5 and didn't get up 'til the alarm went off at 9:30. Gritty eyed, off kilter.

...
Arsenal play Fulham at 12:30. I should go grocery shopping, but will place an online order tomorrow and have Bill pick it up.

Reading, napping, possibly making something for dinner.

HOORAY FOR TREVOR!!!!

I applaud your calling in your grocery order for Bill to pick up. Good, both of you! I'm also glad to hear that you're feeling a tad better. Hope Arsenal will win and make it two tads!!!!

Morning, Karen. Happy Sunday. It turned out to be a beautiful day yesterday. We had a good time on the walk and saw 27 species, which is not bad for October. A pair of purple finch and an osprey- were highlights. Nice luncheon too, with the group. We even played bird bingo. Books and football on the menu for today.

>125 LizzieD: Hi Peggy! I told friend Diane about Trevor. She lives in Apex with her husband Geoff and asked me if he'd travel to Apex to do handyman-type things for them.

Groceries didn't get ordered/picked up yesterday, but they will today.

Arsenal won, 1-0. They're at the top of the table right now, and even if Liverpool wins, will still stay at the top of the table.

>126 msf59: 'Morning, Mark, and happy Sunday to you, too. Congrats on 27 species. I rarely see Purple Finches, and never an osprey here at the house since we don't live near a large body of water. I saw quite a few of them in Montana, though.

How does your version of Bird Bingo work?

Wordle 1,583 3/6* trope, bezel, ideal

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Arsenal won, 1-0. It's apparently hard to beat Fulham AT Fulham. I read, puttered, napped. For some reason, although I have so many other things that need to be re-organized, I decided to re-organize the rags in the cabinet in the Utility Room. I threw away a few, but have way more than we'll ever need. Next step is to throw away more.

Spoke with Karen and Jenna last night. I got about 7-8 hours of sleep.

...
Grocery store order, and I might even go pick it up. Reading, spreadsheets, and Lightning Round, and I might start tackling either the Parlour or one of the upstairs closets.

Morning, Karen. Chilly start here. Only 39F at the moment. Not stopping me from playing...

Bird bingo was simple- we each got a sheet with bird photos on it and she called out the birds. The birds were labeled. I think it would have been more challenging without the labels, although they were mostly common birds.

>128 msf59: 'Morning, Mark! Brrr. It's 52F here. Gorgeous blue skies too. Play away! Ah, got it. Bird bingo.

Wordle 1,584 5/6* trope,downy, gumbo, mambo, limbo

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It's not much in the grand scheme of things, but Arsenal got a little bit ahead at the top of the Premier League table when Liverpool lost to Man United 1-2 yesterday. I even watched the last 30 minutes of the game.

I ordered and picked up the groceries. It's such a deal if you don't want to go into the store for whatever reason - $1.99 regardless of order size. We both put them away. Spoke with Jenna. She was happy to hear that I've already bought the canned pumpkin and evaporated milk for Pumpkin Pie for Thanksgiving.

Speaking of which, since Jenna and Hwan are literally flying overnight and arriving crack o'dawn on Thanksgiving Day, so we'll be having Thanksgiving on Friday. Friends Diane and Geoff are happy to accommodate. Daughters will fly back on Saturday. A Thanksgiving Surgical Strike, as it were. They'll be here December 23rd - 29th, though.

I actually went to sleep relatively early and slept 6 hours straight.

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I have enough of a sore throat that I'm not in the mood to go to the Friends of the Library Board Meeting this morning. Trevor will be purchasing all the front porch painting supplies and starting the actual painting today. All the prep work is done.

It's Louise's 91st birthday. Her card will be late, but Amazon did their job and got some sweets to her yesterday.

I need to

1. Call Louise and wish her a happy birthday.
2. Write an email to my Aunt. I'm way, way behind and feel guilty about it.
3. Update spreadsheets and Lightning Round. I'm abandoning more than I'm reading right now.
4. Need to start The Frozen River for November's book club discussion.
5. Bake the last 5-6 Oatmeal Raisin Cookies. Turned out to be 7.
6. Work on the Parlour or Jenna's Closet for an hour.

A retiree's work is never done.

Still sick. Wishing the disease would let go and stop making me cough. Stay healthy.

>130 richardderus: I'm sorry you're still sick, RD. Germs begone! *smooch*

Wordle 1,585 3/6* trope, motel, detox

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I didn't go to the Board meeting. Trevor wasn't able to get the painting supplies because Lowes, in its infinite wisdom, has changed systems and procedures and that includes allowing someone to pick things up and confirming by phone who's actually purchasing them and getting the 10% military discount.

However, he came over, did a few things in the house for us and power washed the Sunroom stairs and railing. I figure if he's going to eventually paint all the railings, might as well do those now. He also cut back the begonias for the season and took out the Black Walnut volunteers. Darned squirrels.

Read, updated spreadsheets and the October Lightning Round. Talked with Jenna.

...
I'm meeting Trevor at Lowes at 8:30 to pay for the things we need. He's going to get there at 7, when they open, to get paint mixed and etc., then come over to work. I'll head on over to the Library for book sort and Virlie's.

Arsenal play Atleti Atletico de Madrid, a Spanish team, in the Champions League, at 3 this afternoon. I didn't realize that all I'd seen were abbreviations of their club name.

Reading. Etc.

Morning, Karen. Hooray for Jenna and Hwan coming in for Thanksgiving. That is awesome. Good luck with your various tasks today.

>131 karenmarie: Such enshittification as that by Lowes will only increase.

Revolting. Will see doc later unless they failed to put me on the list.

GRRR to Lowes and squirrels. At least the squirrels have some excuse.

Congrats on your Wordle in 3 and a very nice pattern. I like takes on symmetry.

Paint, Trevor, Paint! and Play, Arsenal, Play! AND Enjoy, (((((Karen))))), Enjoy!

>132 msf59: Hi Mark! Happy Tuesday to you. I’m very excited that they’re making such a major effort. Thanks re my tasks.

>133 richardderus: Insult to injury, RD; Lowes has now gotten rid of cashiers and there’s only self-serve check out. They did have an employee there to help. Trevor scanned all the stuff, I whipped the card out and the Lowes guy made sure we got our 10% military discount. I was at the Library 10 minutes later.

I hope you get to see the doc today.

>134 LizzieD: Always GRRR to the squirrels. Mostly GRRR to Lowes. They did right by us when I bought our new washer and dryer in 2019. Thanks re my Wordle in 3. I didn’t even notice the symmetry. Trevor’s painting! Arsenal's playing, although they’re at halftime, 0-0. I’m enjoying. (((((Peggy)))))

Morning, Karen. Happy Wednesday. Chilly fall day here, so we will be switching to indoor PB. Jack is off to school today so they might be stopping by this afternoon. 🤞🤞

I got my bird seed yesterday. I was awarded with a grackle and a red-bellied. Have your hummers moved on?

>136 msf59: 'Morning, Mark, and happy Wednesday to you, too. Brrr. Enjoy IPB. I hope you get to see Jack.

Yay for bird seed, a Grackle, and a Red-Bellied Woodpecker. I took down the hummingbird feeder 2 weeks ago after I hadn't seen any for about a week. They either left early or found other food sources.

I don't have any visitors ight now.

Wordle 1,586 3/6* trope, glint, stunt

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I met Trevor at Lowe's at 8:30, spent money but 10% less than I would have otherwise because of Bill's 10% military discount. We sorted books until 10:40. There were 9 of us at Virlie's, and some of ordered brekkie before they cut it off at 11, some of us ordered lunch. I had brekkie.

Arsenal trounced Atletico de Madrid 4-0 at Arsenal. Bill and I watched another episode of The Brokenwood Mysteries. Surprisingly, I didn't chat with Jenna but I did speak with Karen. Jenna and Hwan are using their apartment complex's gym after dinner these days, so Jenna and I will have to figure out another time to chat.

...
Trevor painted. Taped and painted. Did various and painted. He left at 4, will return today at 9.

I read and etc.

...
I don't have anything planned outside the house today.

I need to

1. Update spreadsheets and Lightning Round. I'm abandoning more than I'm reading right now.
2. Write an email to my Aunt. I'm way, way behind and feel guilty about it.
3. Continue reading The Frozen River for November's book club discussion.
4. Work on the Parlour or Jenna's Closet for an hour.

(((((Karen)))))!!!!!

Wanna tell you, Karen, for you are my inspiration for such stuff, that I got my stuff together and joined the hospital's fitness center. First time is tomorrow. Find out what exercises etc. are right for what ails me. A fool's errand.

Morning, Karen. Sweet Thursday. I hope you enjoy The Frozen River as much as I did. Great time with Jack yesterday. We went to the Children's Museum. Sadly, Sue is battling a wicked cold and is calling in again from work today. Dealing with the kids this AM and then off to do Trail Watch. I haven't done that in 5-6 weeks. Bad Mark.

Got my first backyard dark-eyed junco of the season. Winter is coming...

>138 LizzieD: Peggy hugs are the best, both in person and on LT!

>139 weird_O: Bill, I'm proud of you! I hope today's venture into the world of AE - assisted exercise - is the start of something good for your body, your mind, and your social life. NOT a fool's errand. I never made friends with anybody at cardio rehab or the Senior Center, but had some good times chatting and challenging one another to do better.

>140 msf59: 'Morning, Mark, and sweet Thursday to you. Yay for time with Jack, sorry that Sue's battling a wicked cold. Send her my best wishes. Kids then TW will keep you busy today, although I hope you can get a bit of reading in some time today. Ooh, a Junco. I have one female Cardinal on the wild bird seed feeder. I think they're spooked with Trevor working on the front porch and going back and forth to his SUV. The bird feeder pole is in the flight path, so to speak.

Wordle 1,587 4/6* trope, crash, wryly, drill

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I ended up working on Jenna's closet for about an hour and read more of The Frozen River. Talked with Jenna, watched an episode of The Brokenwood Mysteries.

...
Tentative plans are to have lunch with Rita at Virlie's. Trevor will continue and possibly finish painting today. Reading, spreadsheets, Lightning Round, continuing to work on Jenna's Closet.

>139 weird_O:, >141 karenmarie: Bill, I applaud your venturing out to the fitness center. You won't regret it, and Karen makes some excellent points about the additional benefits. Go Bill!!

*waves to Karen* Belatedly saying I'm delighted that Jenna and Hwan will be with you for Thanksgiving!!

UK TV show Who Do You Think You Are? dropped their first fifteen years of shows on their own YT channel, and since I can't form a complicated thought I'm watching people famous there that I've never heard of finding their ancestral trauma.

It's riveting.

Two pills in and the disease is perceptibly letting go. Miraculous, these antibiotics.

>143 richardderus: Hooray! I was sure you would feel better right away! Horrible to think of pre-antibiotic times!

Sending you all kinds of "feel better" electricity!

Karen O

Oops, this isn't Richard's thread...sorry, Karen, but "hi" to you too!

Karen O (again)

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/374911

>142 lauralkeet: Hi Laura. I’m already getting excited about Thanksgiving.

>143 richardderus: Hiya, RDear. I just checked the show out, and there’s one with someone you will most likely have heard of – Daniel Radcliffe. I might have some interesting times on my cell phone upstairs in the evenings NOT reading and NOT doomscrolling. I was chatting about genealogy with Trevor yesterday, mentioning my GG Grandfather Warren Pomeroy and how I was stuck on going back further than him until one day I simply used duckduckgo to search on his name and probable residence in 1860. Bingo! The Reverand Silas got me back to Eltweed Pomeroy, one of the first Pomeroys in what’s now the US.
I’m glad the antibiotics are working. Sometimes it takes a different prescription to actually work on what ails you. *smooch*

>144 klobrien2: Hi Karen. No worries.

>145 SilverWolf28: Hi Silver, and thank you.

Wordle 1,588 3/6* trope, taker, tuber

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Had a very nice lunch with Rita. Got gas for my SUV, some OTC things and a prescription at the pharmacy, and took a bag of books to the sort room and looked at the donations. I found a lovely copy of Picasso Linoleum Cuts, which I'm going to fork out the $20 for - 25% of the lowest price for the condition.

Trevor finished the spindles, rails, and etc.

All the normal evening things, and chatted with both Karen and Jenna. Hwan was scheduled to fly to Chapel Hill and drive with a colleague to a conference somewhere here in NC, but her Alaska Airlines flight was cancelled.

...
No plans on going out today. Reading, puttering. Trevor will paint the porch today. Perfect timing - we're supposed to get 5 days of rain starting on Sunday.

Morning, Karen. Happy Friday. Hooray for a nice lunch with Rita. I have a chiropractic appointment and then I will play PB indoors. I will also visit the aunt later. We need to drop off some stuff for her and Sue can't do it.

Lots of feeder activity yesterday, despite not filling the tray feeder. There were a couple of red-winged blackbirds, along with grackles, blue jays and the regulars.

On Trail Watch yesterday, we saw a pair of American Kestrels. First time I saw 2 together.

>146 karenmarie: Good on youse for getting out! I'm actually feeling well enough to go collect my lunch for myself. Trevor the Treasure FTW. I'm done putting up my new thread and will get to some reviewing later...gettin' antsy, which always means healing is happening.

*smooch*

Happiest of Fridays-So-Far to you, (((((Karen)))))!!

I aim to be home today, and except for spaghetti sauce and the normal maintenance, hope to read. I've just reminded that I have both volumes of Isabella Bird's travels in Persia in the 19th century. My goal of 75, notwithstanding, I'm pulling the first book right now!!!

Oh! That Picasso book looks like a wonderful find!

>147 msf59: ‘Afternoon Mark, and happy Friday to you, too. Ah, yes, chiropractic. If I was rich I’d go once a week – maintenance is not covered by my insurance, but if I wait long enough to be in serious pain, my chiropractor can request 12 visits that I’m not charged for. They’ve never turned her down.

I’m so sorry Sue’s still sick.

Great bird activity. Trevor’s going to and fro and the birds are staying away.

>148 richardderus: Hiya, RD. I admit that it was nice to be out for about 4 hours. I’m glad you’re recovered enough to collect your lunch. I have posted on your new thread and look forward to reviews.

>149 LizzieD: Hello Peggy, and thank you. Home, spaghetti sauce, and reading are good.

I’m chuffed about the Picasso book. I’ve only got one shelf that it will properly work on, and even then it will have to go spine up and nestle safely between world atlases.

Morning, Karen. Happy Saturday. I like to do my chiropractic adjustments every 2 weeks. I start feeling stiff and sore if I go longer than that. This is where Sue used to work, so they only charge me a co-pay and then bill Blue Cross. So not bad.

Sue is feeling better. Thank goodness. Not much planned for today. Some chores and lots of book time.

Wordle 1,589 2/6* trope, gauge. Last letter E, decided to see what 2nd letter U words there were...

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Trevor painted the porch. I read and puttered. I spent half an hour on Jenna's closet - moved the hanging stuff, perhaps 10 things only, to the Guest Bedroom closet. Sadly, I discovered that a suit I'll never wear again but would have taken to the thrift shop has moth damage. I think I'll cut the buttons off and keep them. I also accidentally tipped over a box of 75 colored pencils. They spilled onto the floor and I was reminded of pickup sticks. Bill and I watched another episode of The Brokenwood Mysteries.

...
Read, putter, Jenna's closet, and a small grocery store run. Some friends of Bill's are coming over tomorrow afternoon for a short visit, perhaps an hour or so. I want to have a small snacks offering.

I also want to find shelf space for and re-tag 39 books currently tagged S15 - MR1 and on the floor of the Sunroom. I've got some shelf space and will also cull enough books to make room for these 43 hardcovers.

Busy! Busy! Busy!!! We are looking forward to pics of the completed porch when it's squared away.
75 colored pencils, eh? I did enjoy coloring when I couldn't concentrate on reading with Mama's TV.... but not 75 worth!

Enjoy the booking and read some of them. We are off to walk or not....... we get later and later and have less and less afternoon time. *sigh*

Morning, Karen. Happy Sunday. I think we cross-posted again yesterday. I plan on playing PB for a bit this AM and then books and football for the rest of the day. I hope you get lots of R & R in today.

>151 msf59: Good morning the next morning, Mark! I'm sorry I missed your post. I have stretched mine to every 3-4 weeks because that which ails me doesn’t respond to chiropractic as well as it used to. I’m glad it works for you. Lucky you re billing.

I’m glad Sue’s on the mend. Chores and book time don’t sound bad at all.

>153 LizzieD: Hi Peggy! There are two sets in the box, Studio Series and Ohuhu. I had bought my mother some one time and inherited them back again. I think it was the Ohuhu. I hope you walked but still got some good tea/sweet and reading time in.

>154 msf59: Happy Sunday, and sorry about the cross posting. PB, books, and football sound like a perfect Sunday. I've got 4 Cardinals on the feeder pole feeders and 2 finches on the feeder on the porch under hang.

Wordle 1,590 4/6* trope, spiny, pygmy, plump

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I did a bit in Jenna's Closet. Read. Napped. Watched The Brokenwood Mysteries with Bill. I didn't particularly like this one, but overall, I like the series. Went to the grocery store and somehow spent $80. $15 of it was whole bean medium roast coffee and $10 was wine, but still.

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Arsenal at 10, David and Terri at 1-ish. Cheese, crackers, grapes, pecan halves, store bought cookies, and drinks.

Getting stuff off the coffee table, mostly Bill's, vacuuming the living room rug and sweeping the kitchen.

Reading, napping, and etc.
Reading, napping, etc.

>155 karenmarie: It sounds like a very agreeable Sunday plan, Horrible. I'm doing the last bits on Monday's posts. Also napping as my fever issues keep coming back for a few hours a day as the clean-up crew keeps killing the tougher bacteria. I'm most of the way back from this horror.

Morning, Karen. I had a fine Sunday and even the newlyweds stopped by for a short visit. They look very happy. Pb this AM. Books in the PM. The life, right?

>156 richardderus: Hiya, RDear. Glad you were able to work on today's posts. Keep those antibiotics working on the tougher bugs. So glad you're getting better. *smooch*

>157 msf59: 'Morning, Mark! I'm glad you had a good Sunday. Glad Matt and Hannah stopped by. Today's plan sounds great. PB and books make you happy, so yes, the life.

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Small amounts of frenzy getting the Living Room under control, food prepped, and etc. Food was easy - cheese, crackers, red grapes, and Pumpkin Spice Cookies. All they wanted to drink was water, so I'm glad I didn't make tea.

They stayed for 2 hours. David brought a Jr. High annual so we could look at weird pictures of Bill and David and they could reminisce. Terri asked me about Louise Penny. I told her what I thought. :)

I brought out Picasso Linoleum Cuts.

And etc.

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Trevor won't be here today. I need to send my great niece Melody some presents for her 3rd birthday via Amazon and write/post her birthday card. Working on the budget, reading The Frozen River, and sending a text to my GP that my cough has almost completely disappeared, too.

Morning, Karen. Hooray for the departing cough. More seasonal weather this week- low 50s and breezy, so not bad when the sun is shining. Not much different happening at the feeders.

>159 msf59: 'Morning, Mark! Happy Tuesday to you. I had Cardinals and Carolina Chickadees yesterday afternoon, a few finches right now.

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I did, indeed, get and send birthday presents to Melody, along with writing, stamping, and putting in our mailbox birthday card. Other than that sorted through some mail, read, worked on spreadsheets and Lightning Round, and etc.

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Book sort and Virlies, bank for cash.

Reading, puttering, and etc.

I'm about ready to be normal again, despite feeling so very much better I haven't got my verve back. I haven't even *considered* Thursday's reviews! I'm practically an invertebrate without even a notochord. *fret*

*smooch*

Morning, Karen. Happy Wednesday. PB this AM. Books PM. That's all I got. When it ain't broke, why fix it, right?

Keep on reading and puttering...

>161 richardderus: 'Morning, RDear. It's always that last little bit to finally feel verve-y and 100% recovered, and I hope it arrives sooner than soon. Do not fret. It's not good for you. I'm one to talk, of course. *smooch*

>162 msf59: 'Morning, Mark, and happy Wednesday to you. Have a wonderful, relaxing PB and books day.

I've got a male Cardinal and a Carolina Chickadee at the feeder pole. I need to replenish sunflower and wild bird seed feeders and replace the suet feeder.

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Book sort was busy. We didn't finish until 10:45. That was with 9 of us. I'm going to splurge on The Great Courses The American Civil War taught by Professor Gary W. Gallagher, 24 hours on CDs, and Korean Cultural Potpourri, a gorgeous little book published by the Seoul International Publishing House in 1987. There were 8 of us at Virlie's. I stopped by to get cash for my cleaning ladies, then home. Read, nap, putter. And etc. Spoke with Karen and Jenna.

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Esmerelda is coming over for the money today because they'd left by the time I got there. Trevor is coming over at 11.

I need to work on the budget, book spreadsheets, and the October Lightning Round. I want to work on Jenna's Closet, too.

>163 karenmarie: I'm workin' on that last little push to full recovery, but I'm not coughing, have no fever, and don't drop off to sleep midsentence every few minutes, so it's really over. Yay me!

Now to recoup those last bits of normalcy...that's a longer-term project. Sounds like an excellent indulgence in a Great Course, so let us know how it's going.

*smooch*

Good afternoon, Karen! I hope your plans for the day are coming to fruition!

I don't think the words, "I want to work on __________'s closet," will ever pass my lips or my fingers except in quoting. Ah, the adultness of it all!

Morning, Karen. Sweet Thursday. I had Trail Watch lined up for this AM but my walking partner can't make it so I will do some forest preserve trash pick-up instead. I walk along the roadways in and around the preserves. I haven't done this in awhile.

>164 richardderus: I'm glad that the pneumonia is really and truly gone, RD. Thanks re The American Civil War. I'm still listening to The Hallmarked Man. I have 6 hours to go. *smooch*

>165 LizzieD: Hi Peggy. My plans were well underway by 12:43 yesterday. *smile* I'm sure I've said it before. When something comes to my attention that is not orderly, crowded, or out of alignment in some manner, it starts to percolate in my mind. Eventually it reaches critical mass and I.Need.To.Do.Something.About.It. There are oh so many reasons why things have gotten out of control over the years, but for some reason now's the time to start working on some of them.

Most days I do more reading than adulting. Sigh.

>166 msf59: 'Morning, Mark, and sweet Thursday to you, too. Sorry the TW isn't working out, but forest preserve fresh air sounds wonderful. Sorry there's trash.

i've got a solitary finch visiting right now.

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Trevor got here about 11. He wasn't able to work on the front porch, will finish the touch up next week. He measured for screens for the attic to keep squirrels and mud daubers out, did some more work on fixing the large crack in the ceiling in the Retreat. He replaced one of the light bulbs in the attic and finished fixing my garage door where some delivery truck punched it in slightly, which I've known about for a year and a half. We discussed re-potting the Aloe Vera, which is taking over the desk organizer. We're not going to re-pot Zoe. *smile*



Arsenal played Brighton in the Carabao Cup and beat them 2-0. We watched another episode of The Brokenwood Mysteries. It was one of the better ones. Read and chatted with Jenna.

...
Trevor will be here at 10. I just ordered two books from Amazon and had them sent to Karen for her birthday on November 3rd.

I need to go out today to the Post Office to mail her birthday card and a box of books to her, not a birthday present per se. It's the last of what I call The Preacher Cheat Sheets, a 23-volume set of gorgeous hardcovers, an old book about Jewish Law, and Meditations on the Tarot: A Journey into Christian Hermeticism, the latter two from a Friends of the Library book sale.

Budget and reading and etc.

...
edited to add: Peggy just reported on her re-read of Howard's End on the Landing. Richard posted this quote from it, and it's so spot on that I will probably use it in my thread first messages from now on:

Books help to form us. If you cut me open, you will find volume after volume, page after page, the contents of every one I have ever read, somehow transmuted and transformed into me. Alice in Wonderland. the Magic Faraway Tree. The Hound of the Baskervilles. The Book of Job. Bleak House. Wuthering Heights. The Complete Poems of W H Auden. The Tale of Mr Tod. Howard''s End. What a strange person I must be. But if the books I have read have helped to form me, then probably nobody else who ever lived has read exactly the same books, all the same books and only the same books as me. So just as my genes and the soul within me make me uniquely me, so I am the unique sum of the books I have read. I am my literary DNA.

Howard's End on the Landing by Susan Hill

>167 karenmarie: It's a wonderful quote, Horrible. I'm glad you're resonating to it as well...now to make the world safe for us biblioholics and slay the wyrms of ignorance and stupidification!

All good, Karen! That is a wonderful quote, and I don't mind that little list at all!!!

I'm now off to investigate Meditations on the Tarot. I played with the cards quite a lot in my early adult years. I had a friend who had learned to read them from watching his Russian grandmother. When leaving what I was doing was the farthest thing from my mind, he told me that the cards said I would be in an institution the next year and writing a lot. The next year I was at Chapel Hill working on an English major. (It's Halloweenish. Cue creepy music!) In fact, tomorrow I'll try to remember to write about my two unexplained, supernatural encounters. I expect I have done it before - I tend to blather on about life experiences - but not lately.

Enjoy your day!!!!

>108 karenmarie: yikes, did you and/or RD give me or my youngest a cold? haha. I too am feeling a little puny.
Little Lenny (now as tall as me at aged 14) is down but not out with his, and I can feel the inklings of something starting. Heavy head...scratchy throat... batten down the hatches!!!

I have been watching films lately, most recently Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind- talk about a mind bender! And with Ruffalo, Elijah Wood, Winslet, Dunst and Jim Carry? What a cast.

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/375051

"Sorry there's trash." Ain't that the truth! It is really disgusting how many people throw trash out their vehicle windows. I filled up 2 5 gallon buckets. What the hell is wrong with people? Can you imagine if no one ever picked this garbage up, especially along the roadways? These scumbags would probably be the first to complain. Rant over...

Morning, Karen. Happy Halloween. If it wasn't Sue's birthday, it would be a holiday I could no without. Yep, I am grouchy but it won't last long. Heading out to play...😎

>168 richardderus: Probably the best I’ve ever read about readers. Literary DNA can’t be beat.

>169 LizzieD: Hi Peggy! I’m so glad Meditations on the Tarot has caught your eye. I would have gotten it at a book sort or a book sale. Ooh. I do not remember reading about your two supernatural encounters. I have one of my own. It is not a pleasant one at all.

>170 LovingLit: I am sorry your Lenny has a cold and that he shared his germs with you, Megan. I haven’t heard of LT being a germ transmitter. 😊 Get well soon, both of you.

We might have the Blu-Ray DVD of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind here – I know we did at one point. We can probably find it on a streaming service.

>171 SilverWolf28: Hi Silver, and thank you.

>172 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark, and happy Friday to you. Rant understood. There’s still a lot trash, but at least compared to when I was little in LA or even having been here in NC for 34 years, there is so much less.

>173 msf59: Happy Halloween to you, too. Happy Birthday to Sue! We don’t get trick-or-treaters here in the middle of nowhere and never have. We used to take Jenna into town. Have fun playing.

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I got a box of books packaged for Karen, and got her birthday card ready to mail. Bill and I made up a grocery store list. I went to the pharmacy, the PO, and the grocery store. I learned that Walgreen's will ship free of charge if the order is $35 or more and will take OTC cards! I needed Lutein and have twice been unsuccessful at getting it at the store, so placed on online order. Read, made V8 Juice Spaghetti Sauce and had it with Angel Hair Pasta and sourdough toast.

Read. Trevor was here and he stabilized the bird feeder pole. It's now happily stable AND at a perfect 90° angle to the ground.

Hwan's not feeling well so Jenna was taking care of her and we didn't chat. Didn't speak with Karen yesterday either.

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Trevor should be here around 10. I have a chiropractic appointment today at 11:15. Other than that, reading, puttering, and etc.

>174 karenmarie: Is this a routine adjustment or something bothering you?

Trevor the Treasure proves his worth yet again. I'm so delighted for y'all that he's handy as a pocket in a shirt, reliable, and good company when he's there. Aging in place needs that kind of support system.

V8 spaghetti sauce reminds me of the ketchup-based spaghetti sauce Mommerie (Valerie's mom) used to make for Lou, whose digestive issues were legion. It never appealed because I love tomatoes so much. Good weekend-ahead's reads, sweetiedarling.

Just stopping by before getting ready for the eye doc. Kindle in pocketbook, dressed, I'm almost ready to go.

Ghost Story #1

Our little college tore down, renovated, and built new for most of my time there. The music department (I took private piano lessons for 3 years) was housed in a fine house across the street from campus. My highly suggestible roommate practiced in her advisor's studio, which had been the master bedroom. Betti was full of a story about a suspicious death in the house that had taken place in that room. She began to feel a presence with her when she practiced at dusk, she said, and so had her prof felt
"something," she said. Five of us decided to investigate. The plan, which we carried out, was (after we had ascertained that nobody was in the building at that time) to go in separately, wander through the house alone, not to speak to anybody, and to write down any manifestation (!) we felt or saw when we got back to the dorm.
I went through the house carefully and felt nothing until --- I approached the servant's stairs, an enclosed staircase with doors at top and bottom, in the kitchen. Somebody was definitely on those stairs, and I didn't want to open the door to try to see who it was. I dithered a bit and then left and wrote, "Somebody was in the back staircase at 6:45."
When we opened the five notes, every one of us had written back stairs, and nobody had gone into that space. We were convinced, and I still sort of am because I recall the feeling, that the house was haunted.
I'll add that I never felt anything but terror of Dr. S. in my lessons and frustration with the practice pianos in the servants' quarters in the attic.

>172 msf59: I hate that, Mark. You would think after years of environmental awareness that people would have stopped doing that by now. I participated in some road cleanup work in the past, but I'm not really up to that physically at the moment. Good for you for helping out!

>177 atozgrl: Why do people think their world is a garbage can? I just don't get it. These are supposed to be civilized suburbanites. I can only imagine the huge task it is to clean up the major roads and highways. Thank goodness for volunteers and prisoners. LOL.

Morning, Karen. Happy November. Chores and books in store. We are planning an over-nighter with Jack and Co. We can bring Juno too but Bree's dogs are not good playmates. Duke is too old and Cooper is a grumpy. Cool enough tonight for a fire out on the deck too. Hopefully the newlyweds can join us too. It should be very nice.

>175 richardderus: 'Morning, RD! See below re the chiropractor.

Yes, he’s our aging in place person!

Peggy makes a tomato soup-based spaghetti sauce, I think, that she and her DH both like.

Thanks re my weekend reads. I need to work on The Frozen River. So far it’s okay but not really grabbing me.

*smooch*

>176 LizzieD: Hi Peggy. I hope the appointment with the eye doc went well.

Wow for Ghost Story #1. I absolutely believe in spirit manifestations. All five of you mentioning the back stairs and not being willing to open the door are convincing and scary.

>177 atozgrl: Hi Irene. Yes, Mark’s a good’un. At this point, all I can do is keep the yard close to the house policed.

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Chiropractor at 11:15. It’s a routine, maintenance type of appointment. Since my insurance doesn’t cover anything until something is 'broken', I pay for it myself. I get a discounted rate if I buy 13 visits, which they call a passport. I can ask her to work on anything. Yesterday was my left hand and back. However, she also ‘reviews’ my whole spine. She found some painful knots in my trapezius muscle on the left side, for example. My left hand has some tendonitis, which she said ice, a brace, and less use temporarily will help. Like, less cell phone, Kindle, and keyboard use. Ugh.

I bought a bottle of wine for Rita's birthday today, took it and a card over to the library, but she took the day off. I gave it to Trevor to give to her.

While there, I took a in a bag of books to donate and put them in the right cubbies. I, ah, found three books, one of which is going on my shelves, and two of which are going to Karen. The one I'm keeping is Lewis & Clark: Voyage of Discovery by Stephen E. Ambrose. It's in gorgeous condition. There was a post card, Lewis & Clark 2 cent stamp affixed to a bookmark, and cancelled stamp torn off an envelope. There's also a gorgeous map of their route through Montana. A photograph that is blurry. Fun stuff! Two for Karen are:

Scottish Ghost Stories by Elliott O'Donnell with illustrations by Tim Hunt
The Book of J by Harold Bloom and David Rosenberg

Puttering and etc. Talked with Jenna. She and Hwan were excited because Hwan had another meeting with her tenure team members. Yes, already two meetings, 2.5 months into her professorship. Tenure at Green River College in Auburn WA can be as soon as 3 years.

And then, like midnight-ish, I did more work on Jenna's Closet. Very strange indeed to be cleaning out a closet at midnight. I definitely got some good work in, about half an hour's worth.

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Arsenal play Burnley at Burnley at 11. I need to start working on my statistics and Lightning Round. I only need to add two more books to both. Leftover spaghetti sauce with freshly prepared pasta and either just toasted sourdough toast or Best Garlic Toast ever with sourdough bread for dinner.

Another episode of The Brokenwood Mysteries on tap for this evening.

Looks like I slipped in there again...😜

>180 karenmarie: I'm glad you found the issues at the chiropractor visit. That prescription for relief, though, is kinda not gonna happen I predict. With confidence.

I'm pretty much over my illness but I still don't have as much energy as before. I hope the tank will refill, in the meantime I'm not forcing my body's preferred pace.

Stay well! *smooch*

We do like a very simple spaghetti sauce of only slowly browned ground beef and onions with tomato soup. It tastes like home to our unformed palates. Enjoy your V8 kind, Karen. (I do like V8 vegetable soup.)

Closet work at midnight! GAH!!! NO!!!!!

Hope Arsenal is playing well.

Ghost Story #2

In my first job as a youth worker at a local church, I was driving a carload of kids back from a football victory on I-95 one fall night. The headlights caught the figure of a man walking on the shoulder. He had no head. He was perfectly proportioned, but there was no head. The car which had been full of teenage noise was instantaneously silent. I asked, "Did anybody notice anything strange about that man we just passed?" Little voice from back seat, "He didn't have a head."
We had all seen the same thing. Of course, I turned around as soon as I was able to retrace that bit of highway, and of course, nobody was there.

WOOOOoooooo WoooooOOOOOOO W000000000000000

That's all for me, and certainly all I ever hope for.

>178 msf59: It’s not a new phenomenon, to trash up the environment. (I’m thinking of the Cuyahoga River catching fire in 1969, and the River Thames, particularly something I just learned about - the Great Stink of 1858.) Our creek has upstream pesticides flowing through it as it runs through our property, and any time Jenna or I got wet from it we made sure to shower as soon as we got back to the house. We have prisoner clean up crews on Hwy 64 here in central NC.

>179 msf59: You snuck in again, Mark, and I’m sorry I didn’t see your message. Always keep me honest! I hope your chores and book day was good. It sounds like a perfect time with Jack & Co and perhaps the newlyweds, too.

>181 msf59: Bad me.

>182 richardderus: Tight and cramping muscles and etc. always come back, granted. The thing is, RD, that if I don’t see a chiropractor regularly, sometime within the year of when I stop going, I get to the point where I cannot move without severe pain. The issues found by the full spine MRI of last year are only clarified, not new; so scoliosis, spondylolisthesis, and the results of my car accident in 1974 are all ganging up on me now even more than ever before.

Recovering from pneumonia has to be just that much more extended than the recoveries from bronchitis I remember from when I first moved to NC. My sinuses didn’t like the pollens here, so I got regular sinus infections which almost always added bronchitis. Antibiotics and etc. helped, but full recovery took a month or so. I’m glad the pneumonia is officially gone. I hope your energy returns sooner than soon. *smooch*

>183 LizzieD: Hi Peggy! I’m glad I remembered that right. Tomato soup, tomato juice, V8 – they all work well with spaghetti sauces. I remember being scandalized when I got my friend Barbara’s mother Mary’s ‘famous tomato sauce’. Second generation Italian from Pittsburgh, I just knew it had to use fresh tomatoes. However, I was sooo wrong.

Mary Cavalier’s Famous Tomato Sauce (meatless)

1 48-oz can tomato juice
1 1lb-13 oz can tomato sauce
2 12 oz cans of tomato paste
2 12 oz cans water
1 bay leaf
Pepper
3 medium onions, sliced
3 cloves garlic, sliced
1 ¼ cups oil

Empty can of tomato juice, sauce and paste into large saucepan. Add the cans of water. Stir until completely smooth, all lumps of paste gone. Add bay leaf and sprinkle surface with pepper. Place on low heat.

In another skillet, saute onions and garlic in oil. Onions should not brown but become completely wilted. Pour the oil from the onions into the sauce. Stir until the oil is incorporated into the tomato mixture. You should see a gold sheen across the surface of the sauce. Let cook over moderate to low heat for 1 hour.

Karen – - Add any meat you desire, just brown it first before adding it to the sauce. Barb

I've never made it, but knowing how both Bill and I roll these days, I'd use less onion.

Re the closet work: It was preying on my mind, and I figured half an hour would make me feel settled and righteous. It did.

Arsenal won, beating Burnley 2-0. They have 25 points. This is 7 points ahead of the second/third place teams, Bournemouth and Liverpool, who have 18 points each.

Oooh, that ghost story is even more compelling than the first one, since there was a whole busload of witnesses to what you saw. My ghost story is more mundane.

Karen’s Ghost Story, actually an evil spirit story. My roommate Mary and I had an apartment owned by Pepperdine and rented to us for a ridiculously low amount, even then, of $110. We had a poster of Santana’s Abraxas album on the wall in the kitchen, visible from the sofa in the living room. One night we were doing homework and listening to the album. The living room got …heavy .. and I felt a frisson of anxiety and saw something black starting to come out of the poster. No lie. I didn't know what it was going to become, so we shut the music off immediately, took the poster down, and once we put it up elsewhere in the apartment (because hey, frugal), it never happened again.

Except for 3 housing situations in New London CT, two old mansions converted into apartments and an old single family house built in the late 1800s, I’ve only ever lived in new buildings. New being in the 1920s and forward. I’ve never gotten the sense of spirits in any of those three and never any sense of spirits in any other place I've lived.

Yes, no more spirit emanations wanted!

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Arsenal Burnley game. I put up some of the books on the floor in the Sunroom. I need to put up more. Looks like moving some of the smallish books from S25 to S04, requiring use of the stepping stool, and putting some vertical books horizontal, will give me room for ~10 hardcover books. The aforementioned midnight closet extravaganza.

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Sigh. Budget. And then reading and etc.

I visited Andrew Jackson's last home as a teen. I was uncomfortable to the point of pain inside the house but perfectly ordinary outside it. I had little sense of Jackson as a man in those days. What I've learned since about him, his character, and his actions has led me to believe some places are...haunted, inhabited, imbued with...a particular person's energy/aura/spirit. I despise Jackson, and think he would've detested me, so his powerful beingness was shooing me out of his space.
ETA correcting enshittified sentence by the fucking AI
It was a very powerful experience, I recall the sensation very clearly fifty-plus years later. Fascinating, no? Only some people have left imprints of some sort on the world, that survive their body's death. I wonder why....

Sunday orisons, Horrible!

Morning, Karen. We ended up staying at Bree's through the afternoon yesterday. Sean and I watched the Bears game. Great times with the family. We even looked at some houses out by them. We found a couple of nice ones. I would like to move next year. Still working on Sue.

Back to my usual this AM. I did not read a lick yesterday. I hope you had a good weekend.

>167 karenmarie: wow! The aloe Vera plant is huge! I received one for my birthday in September and it has grown 1/3 more in size but seems slow. Do you fertilize it often?

Anyhow happy November reading

>185 richardderus: It doesn’t surprise me about the feeling you got from that home at all, RD. And Andrew Jackson was as despicable a President as we’ve had, when all’s said and done.

I’ve visited several homes of famous people and have never gotten that strong sense of energy/an aura/a spirit. If it was a good person, I’d like the feeling, of course.

However, I was absolutely gutted at The National World War 1 Museum and Memorial in Kansas City MO. I It may not have been spirits/auras/energy of individual people, but it was overwhelming with the sense of the lives lost and destroyed. Especially emotional was the trench. *smooch*

>186 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark! I’m glad you had a good long visit. Football, hanging out, house hunting. Nice. How far away are they from you and Sue? I hope you have a good day. No reading is not a crime, although, aren’t all your cells screaming at the lack of reading energy? *smile*

I’ve seen a Carolina Chickadee and a finch so far this morning.

>187 figsfromthistle: Hi Anita! It is huge. There are actually five plants in that pot, all healthy. It gets afternoon sun and I’ve never fertilized in the 5 years I’ve had it. My friend Louise gave it to me. Trevor is going to transplant it into 3 pots, and I’d like for him to do it on Wednesday.

Thanks re my November reading. I've already read 3 books. I'll finish listening to The Hallmarked Man soon, probably this week. I'm making good inroads into The Frozen River, too. I need to finish it by Sunday at 3 p.m.

Wordle 1,598 4/6* trope, noose, abode, awoke

⬜⬜🟩⬜🟩
⬜⬜🟩⬜🟩
🟩⬜🟩⬜🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

...
I moved more books around, read, puttered, talked with Jenna and texted a bit with Karen. Today's her 74th birthday and I was able to wish her Happy Birthday at 1:44 a.m. my time, which was still 11:44 p.m. her time.

The switch to daylight savings time weirded me out. Chatted with Jenna, and we got rather silly. I love when that happens, because it means she's happy.

...
It's overcast and will be rainy. Trevor won't be here 'til Wednesday. My only obligations are self-inflicted - I want to put more books onto shelves here in the Sunroom. Reading, puttering, and I will finalize my October Stats and Lightning Round and post them soon.

YTD Statistics through October

359 books read
332.5 ebooks, 20 audio books, 6.5 paper books
84024 pages in completed books
175.5 hours in completed audio books
144 books abandoned, 16071 pages abandoned, 26.5 hours abandoned

100095 total pages read

Avg pages read per day, incl books abandoned: YTD = 329
Avg pages read per book, only those completed: YTD = 234

Book(s) of the Month:
The Future by Naomi Alderman
Loren by Crea Reitan

Books by Month
January: 26 books read - 18 ebooks, 4 audio books, 5 paper books
February: 24 books read - 21 ebooks, 4 audio books, 0 paper books
March: 36 books read - 34 e-books, 1 audio book, 1 paper book
April: 37 books read - 35 e-books, 2 audio books, 0 paper books
May: 43 books read - 41 e-books, 2 audio books, 1 paper book
June: 37 books read - 35 e-books, 2 audio books, 0 paper books
July: 39 books read - 37 e-books, 2 audio books, 0 paper books
August: 42 books read - 37 e-books, 5 audio books, 0 paper books
September: 30 books read - 30 e-books, 0 audio books, 0 paper books
October: 43 e-books read, 0 audio books, 2 paper books

Author
Male 10%
Female 71%
Undeclared * 17%
Non-Binary 2%
* - can't find info anywhere

Living 99%
Dead 1%

US Born 32%
Foreign Born 13%
Undeclared * 55%
* - can't find info anywhere

Medium
Audio Book 6%
e-Book 92%
Paper Book 2%

Source
My Library 11%
Library 0%
Kindle Unlimited 89%
Borrowed 0%

Misc
Galley Proof 0%
Re-read 3%
Series 78%

Fiction 99%
NonFiction 1%

Author Birth Country
Australia 3%
Britain 1%
Canada 3%
Czechoslovakia 1%
England 2%
Finland 1%
Germany 1%
Grenada 1%
Netherlands 1%
New Zealand 4%
Nigeria 1%
Puerto Rico 1%
Scotland 1%
UK 2%
Undeclared * 48%
US 28%
Wales 1%
* - can't find info anywhere

Original Decade Published
1870-1879 1%
1940-1949 1%
1990-1999 1%
2010-2019 19%
2020-2025 78%

Genre
Contemporary Fiction 1%
Crime Fiction 1%
Historical Fiction 1%
History 1%
Humor 1%
Informational Nonfiction 1%
Memoir 1%
MM/MMM/MMMM Romance 93%

Average Rating
0.5 3
2.0 - Bad 10
2.5 - Average 20
3.0 - Good 33
3.5 - Very Good 96
4.0 - Excellent 162
4.5 - Outstanding 34
5 - Masterpiece 1

Average Rating 3.66
Books acquired YTD (last year 306) 304
Books culled YTD (last year 219) 155

5895 books cataloged on 12/31/24

October Lightning Round

Any in bold are NOT MM romances, few and far between as they are.

Quite a few of the smut books have warnings about triggers that I don’t mention here. Caveat emptor re triggers if you want to dip your toes in.

I’m Your Guy by Sarina Bowen 9/29/25 10/1/25 341 pages Kindle

Amazon blurbs are sometimes stupid and sometimes provocative. The ones that use the word “Oops” usually irritate me, but this one intrigued me because an NHL hockey player and a twink meet up when Tommaso is trying to buy a sofa, I was intrigued. And since it’s Sarina Bowen, chances were that I’d like it.

TOMMASO
The furniture district is my personal hell. I don’t know my ass from an ottoman. But when a hot designer comes to my rescue, I realize my problems are bigger than the house I’m trying to furnish.
A scorching kiss over fabric samples makes me question all my choices. But is it too late to change my entire life to get more of them?
CARTER
I need this gig, but my cocky new client leaves out a couple crucial details:
He doesn’t mention that he's a famous hockey player. And he doesn’t own up to the way he’s always trying to undress me with his dark, broody eyes.
The man throws out more mixed signals than a broken traffic light. I've never been more sexually frustrated in my entire life. I need to back away before I do something stupid, like lose my heart.
Oops. Too late.

Their chemistry is off the charts, their snarky banter, too. Carter’s bubbly personality offsets Tommaso’s broody seriousness. It works, of course, and after Carter learns enough about hockey to at least cheer in the stands and become a WAG – wives and girlfriends now wives and guys – things end up with their HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

Last Guy on Earth by Sarina Bowen 10/1/25 10/2/25 364 pages Kindle

Clay is the youngest coach in the majors, Jethro is the most decorated goalie in the NHL. The powers that be trade Jethro to Clay’s team. Jethro is devastated – feeling rejected, moving his nephew and father after 14 years at his previous club. Clay is devastated because he and Jethro were roommates in college and were secret lovers. They both bring a lot of anger and fear to this new situation. They live in the same apartment complex, and one night a cupcake crisis has Jethro remembering that Clay was a great cook and baker. A phone call, the ice was broken, and they secretly start seeing each other. They get their HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

The Understatement of the Year by 10/2/25 10/3/25 296 pages Kindle

Rikker and Graham met in middle school and become best friends. In high school, they start experimenting. One night, they are seen kissing in public, four trolls attack Rikker, and rather than staying, Graham runs. Rikker ends up in the hospital and Graham never visits him. Rikker goes to live with his grandmother in another state. Fast forward. Rikker is outed because his college kicks him out (Catholic). Graham is deeply in the closet, even in denial. Rikker joins the hockey team at Graham’s college. Graham won’t even acknowledge him. Over time, they have sort of a truce, are still attracted to each other. Rikker’s out, but Graham is deathly afraid of admitting he’s gay to himself, much less Rikker, his family, his team. We learn more about the events that sent Rikker away, see how it affected them both deeply. Graham slowly comes to realize that he’s gay, and he and Rikker start seeing each other secretly in Graham’s dorm room. Graham gets clobbered at a match and is carted off unconscious. He has a concussion. The coach, the team manager, and a few of the players wait in the ER. Graham keeps asking for Rikker, shouting his name. It’s a terrible time for everybody. The get their hard-won HEA. Back and forth between high school and the present day, the dual timeline worked well. The characters were sympathetic (except for the trolls) and well written. I really felt for Rikker and Graham. Caveat emptor re sex.

Sinner by Chani Lynn Feener 10/3/25 10/3/25 285 pages Kindle

Fourth and final book in the Demons of Foxglove Grove series has Nix, Lake, West, and Yejun still dealing with threats, Lake’s planned crowning, and Nix and Yejun’s needing to bond yet both feeling fragile from events of a previous book where Yejun abused Nix. I really wanted to like this because the first three were lots of action and we were still learning about them. It was intriguing to see how the author would resolve the tensions and issues to make this MMMM romance work. In this book, we get a rehash of what happened in the first three books, the discovery of who’s behind the attacks on Nix and who also wants the downfall of Lake. Nix and Yejun reconcile, and all four get their HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

Ours by Leo Rivers 10/3/25 10/4/25 76 pages Kindle

Set in the Omegaverse, Cole has had a bad breakup and signs up for the mating run. Blake and Luca share everything and are looking for a mate. When they scent Cole, they chase him down and … well. Everything occurs in a way which all three want. Cole is accepting of their bond, they both want Cole. Cole moves in with them and they get their MMM HEA. Pretty much just a short story, with some large gaps between the forest and Cole moving in with them, but that’s okay. Caveat emptor sex.

Kept by Leo Rivers 10/4/25 10/4/25 95 pages Kindle

Set in the same Omegaverse as Ours, Eli is kicked out by his stepfather and his mother and wanders aimlessly through town. He comes across what appears to be an empty house and breaks in to stay safe during the mating run. He wanders around upstairs and ends up in the master bedroom. Cade is an alpha, and when he comes upstairs from working out in his basement gym immediately scents Eli and thinks “Mine.” Eli is as attracted to Cade as Cade is to Eli and they spend the next several days in bed. Cade wants to protect and ‘keep’ Eli, and Eli has fallen in love with Cade. Eli returns to his stepfather and mother’s house to get a box that he’s hidden away in his bedroom. Cade is waiting outside, all alpha male and threatening, and intimidates the stepfather, which appeals to me. A novella, but it sets vivid scenes. Eli and Cade are both well-developed characters. Caveat emptor re sex.

Omega's Faith by Sasha Silsbury 10/5/25 10/6/25 217 pages Kindle

Third in the Perfect Match series has Alex, debauched billionaire playboy being forced to register with the Omega Match Bureau by the Board of the corporation he nominally oversees. Jonah comes from a closed religious community and has already registered. They are matched with a 98% compatibility rating and get married with all the fanfare Alex’s mother’s friend can manage. Neither wants this, but with such a high compatibility rating they are required to. After the wedding they return to Alex’s mansion. Jonah is thrown into heat by all the stress. Alex takes care of him, but is shocked to realize Jonah might be pregnant. He says he doesn’t want children, Jonah is devastated and returns to his family, knowing marriage is for life. His journey and Alex’s journey to reconciliation and parenthood are tough for both of them, but they end up with their HEA and a son. Caveat emptor re sex.

Secret Daddy by JR Gray 10/5/25 10/5/25 159 pages Kindle

First in a trilogy about 3 brothers in the small town of Arrowood. Aiden, the youngest, works at the Library. For the last 6 months he’s been entertaining a visitor after the Library’s closed who has him wear a mask then does wonderful and D/s and BDSM things to and with him. One night a snow storm has his secret ‘admirer’ offer to drive him home. His admirer wants to stay the night. Aiden agrees, but he has to agree to keep the mask on until lights are out. The next morning he assumes his admirer is gone, but he recognizes Jensen, the man he’s been crushing on since he was a teenager. Jensen’s shocked, too, that he forgot to set an alarm. After that, it doesn’t make sense to go back to the Library routine, and they start navigating the ins and outs of having a relationship. Aiden’s been burned by his last boyfriend and is terrified of starting a relationship and getting abandoned again. Jensen’s been attracted to Aiden since they were teenagers but didn’t think he could date his best friend Adam’s brother. This one’s laugh-out-loud, as they snark each other and Aiden dances round doing more than secretly f***ing, Jensen tries to get him to talk about things and not keep them bottled up. Aiden’s parents are a riot and don’t mince words when they see things they shouldn’t, and Adam wants eye bleach when he walks in on them. Everybody’s wondered why they never got together because they were meant for each other. So funny, so sweet, such vivid characters and situations. Caveat emptor re D/s and BDSM. Caveat emptor re sex.

Fated to My Stepbrother by Donna J Fisher 10/5/25 10/6/25 308 pages Kindle

Julian is a high school-aged omega, stepbrother to college student and heir to their pack Jace. Okay, so far so good. Julian has had a crush on Jace ever since his mother and Jace’s father got married. Jace’s wolf has almost stopped manifesting because Jace has not found his fated mate. Once they figure it out, it's good. Until it isn’t, because Jace slept around before becoming bonded with Julian and his former girlfriend turns up pregnant. Jace can feel a bond with the child and everyone assumes it's his, including himself. Julian is devastated and runs away and hides. HE turns up pregnant, too, and it’s only because of his friend Theo that he has a place to live and hide from Jace. That’s still okay, but the violence that Jace’s girlfriend and family show towards Julian and their manipulation of Jace show how unattractive Jace is as an Alpha and bonded mate. It veers off the deep end with pregnancies to control alphas, continuing violence towards Julian, and Jace’s abandonment of Julian all of which paint unsavory and unlikeable characters. Even Julian, our hero, loves Jace when he really shouldn’t. The HEA starts about 2/3 of the way through but therea re STILL bumps in the road. Irritating yet I chose to finish it. Sometimes I surprise myself. Cavet emptor re sex.

**abandoned My Captain by Sage Riven ** 155 pages

Have you ever started a book by NOT reading the correct Amazon blurb? This was one of those cases. I thought Elias, the rookie NHL player was the son of Damian’s best friend, and kept waiting for that dynamic to develop. Instead, I got a very, very dark tale of domination and submission, violence, and nothing more than sexual scenes for the first 155 of 481 pages. Elias was so driven to succeed that he was willing to get seriously hurt just to please Damian, and Damian’s behavior with Elias was unconscionable without any tender feelings by the time I abandoned it. On-ice violence and disturbing sexual scenes. Caveat emptor re sex.

**abandoned The Inside Man by Bella Bennet ** 91 pages

Quinn has escaped his Irish mob family being killed by the Bratva, returns to town years later to work undercover at a local gay bar to discover who actually did it. Alexei owns the bar, has known all along who killed Quinn’s family. He wants Quinn in the worst way and soon they’re together. Lots of mob violence, vengeance, and steamy scenes. It just got a bit too ridiculous, so I had no qualms about abandoning it. I really didn’t care about either character. Caveat emptor re sex.

**abandoned His Weekend Alpha by Ansley Ellis ** 122 pages

Alpha Lawson and omega Kole are best friends. They are attracted to each other. Lawson needs a fake boyfriend, and you can see where this is going. Since it’s an Omegaverse novel, Kole ends up pregnant. Honestly, it’s another one where the execution is not up to par although the premise is, as always, a good one. Caveat emptor re sex.

**abandoned Crossed Sticks Ryan Taylor ** 198 pages

Things didn’t work out, and Harper and Luca hadn’t seen each other in years. Harper plays for the NHL, Luca plays professional lacrosse. There is serious sparkage again, but I put this one down to start something else, and when I came back to it, I wasn’t particularly interested in how it was going to turn out. Caveat emptor re sex.

Lost Love by JR Gray 10/6/25 10/7/25 93 pages Kindle

Second in the Arrowood Trilogy. Avery left Arrowood when he was 18 when his lover and best friend Danny wouldn’t commit to coming out. After a messy divorce, Avery is back with his daughter and Danny is right in his face from day one. He’s everywhere, and once Avery realizes that Danny’s serious about rekindling their romance and coming out, things settle down. With Arrowood, though, we have knowing parents, snarky brothers/partners, and a town full of folks wanting them to get their HEA. Which they do, of course. Caveat emptor re sex.

Scapegoat by JR Gray 10/7/25 10/7/25 232 pages Noah and Callum Kindle

Noah and Callum were secret high school friends and lovers. Callum wasn’t willing to come out because his father’s the homophobic chief of police. Noah flees and Callum immediately realizes his error. He’s appalled that Noah’s joined the Army and Noah’s brother breaks their friendship off because of how Callum’s hurt Noah. Noah joins the FBI’s K-9 unit after the military, then returns when a child is reported missing. It turns out to be Callum’s daughter. Emotions run high, Callum realizes he’s tired of hiding this side of himself. Callum’s daughter is found and Noah and Callum keep meeting in secret for 6 months, Noah flying back and forth. Eventually they come out in the town and get their HEA. Particularly cute is Noah’s dog’s name – Snoop Dog – and how Callum’s daughter immediately bonds with Snoop. Caveat emptor re sex.

No Pucks by JR Gray 10/7/25 10/8/25 272 pages Kindle

Logan hooks up with Anthony, who’s just experimenting with his bisexuality. Fast forward 4 months, when hockey player Logan discovers that his new head coach is Anthony. They’re appalled yet secretly meet up again and again. Logan’s father wrecked Anthony’s career early on and puts so much pressure on Logan that he’s sick of hockey. However, family money for Logan and coaching success for Anthony give them their HEA and well-earned vengeance again Logan’s father. Caveat emptor re sex.

Pucking Hostile by J Love 10/8/25 10/9/25 227 pages Kindle

A great premise, with Kay an omega who’s made a success as goalie for a major hockey team even though he’s an omega. Ryker is one of his most outspoken critics, yet when they end up in an isolated league PR gimmick, realize they are fated mates. The problems with this book seem to be that that the author started off writing a strong, tight, emotionally satisfying book and then put it in a blender. In addition to the disjointedness, we hear over and over again about their scents and etc. Just ugh. Why I finished it I’ll never know. I guess I didn’t have another book queued up. Caveat emptor re sex.

Off Limits by Leo River 10/9/25 10/9/25 91 pages Kindle

Novella has Asher returning to his father’s property after his father’s death. He’s never been allowed into a shed on the property, goes there one night, and peeking in the curtain, sees his father’s best friend and his secret crush Gabriel in a Very Private Moment With Himself. Gabriel is a wolf shifter and senses Asher outside. Asher tries to flee but Gabriel is too quick for him and they have sex. Asher feels guilty for forcing Gabriel to have sex while Gabriel’s under the influence of his wolf, and Gabriel feels guilty for forcing Asher by his sheer strength. Turns out they’re both wrong, of course, and they get their HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

Wolf on Ice 10/9/25 10/25 79 pages Kindle

Sweet romance as Zane, heir to an omegaverse hocky dynasty, transfers to a small school to avoid familial expectations. He meets Wesley, a journalism major, who has to take a sport to graduate. Zane starts tutoring Wesley and is worried when Wesley doesn’t show up for practice for several days. He goes over to Wesley’s apartment. Wesley has gone into heat, and they realize they’re fated mates and do the dirty. Wesley turns up pregnant. They are overjoyed. The families are overjoyed. Zane’s roommates and teammates are overjoyed. There is no tension, and it was a welcome change from what I’ve been reading lately. They have their son and Zane gets a NHL-for-shifters contract. Caveat emptor re sex.

**abandoned Their Bounty by KA Merikan ** 53 pages

KA Merikan is dark on the sunniest day imaginable, with morally gray and black heroes. In this entry, petty thief Clover, an albino whose supposedly best friend sells him to traffickers. He’s at the hideout when 4 mercenaries, hired to kill the trafficker, do so but find Clover chained in an upstairs room. They torch the house and take Clover with them. Noncon, BDSM, and ugh. It just didn’t work for me at all. Caveat emptor re sex and violence.

**abandoned Step in the Zone by Blane Bellamy** 151 pages

I love stepbrother romances because of the family tensions and taboo nature of the relationship. However, this one just didn’t work for me because Rafael is forced to live with his father and stepmother and new stepbrother Cody. He starts destabilizing the house by seducing Cody but realizes that he really cares about Cody. And vice-versa. Ugh. Too quick a turnaround in Rafael’s deep-seated hatred of his father and stepmother.Caveat emptor re sex.

** abandoned Crossed Hearts by JR Gray ** 33 pages

Third in the Arrowood Trilogy. Barkeeper has to fend his best friend’s little brother off. Not quite in the mood, although I love most books by JR Gray.

Ben by Cora Rose 10/10/25 10/10/25 291 pages Kindle

Ben is the son of Dean, who owns an auto repair shop. Dean’s best friends Ford and Cash work for him. Ben has had crushes on Ford and Cash since he realized he was gay as a pre-teen. Ford is bisexual. Cash is straight. The book starts with Ben secretly hooking up with both Ford and Cash and working 2 jobs and going to college. He’s burning the candle at 5 ends and trying desperately to keep his hookups with his dad’s best friends from him. That’s why they can’t go public. Cash and Ford are more than best friends, just not in a romantic/sexual relationship. Ford discovers Ben with Cash, and they turn two hookups into a throuple. Ford and Cash are determined to take care of Ben. They don’t think Ben’s father will fall apart if he discovers them with Ben, but Ben does everything in his power to prevent his father knowing. Dean discovers the three-way relationship. He’s fine with it. They get their HEA. In addition to the relentless and off the charts sex, I enjoyed how the author wrote about Ford’s and Cash’s love for and caring of Ben emotionally and physically. Ford and Cash turn their friendship into a romantic/sexual one, too. Caveat emptor re sex.

His Problem Alpha by Ansley Ellis 10/10/25 10/12/25 192 pages Kindle

Devon answered an ad for a roommate placed by Alex. They are wildly incompatible, barely civil to one another, getting on each other’s every last nerve. Devon’s suppressants fail – he’s an omega – and Alex takes care of him. They both only want things to be physical and create rules, which are almost immediately broken. Alex is still devastated by a personal tragedy 6 years ago, but is just coming to realize what Devon is to him when his friend Finn visits and triggers another downward spiral. Alex refutes Devon in a cruel way. Devon, of course, turns up pregnant, Alex finds out, they reconcile, and get their HEA. Gay soap opera. Caveat emptor re sex.

**abandoned Owned by the Kingpin by Bella Bennet and Riley Sloane ** 137 pages

Elian works 2 jobs to help pay for his grandmother’s medications and occasionally takes serving jobs. One night after he finishes, he witnesses crime boss Dante assassinating one of own men. Elian tries to run, is unsuccessful. Dante says you can either forfeit your life right now, or come to me as my property. Elian choses the later. Dante immediately realizes that Elian is his fated mate. What made me abandon it is how all of a sudden Elian’s wise about all things mob-related. He goes into heat and Dante takes care of him, yet he ‘escapes’ his gilded prison to meet up with his just-discovered twin even though he knows the head of another crime family is after him AND he’s pregnant. Nope. Just… nope.

**abandoned The Don's Omega Assassin by Quinn Michaels ** 117 pages

Leo’s father was assassinated and Leo sets a trap for the assassin, Dimitri. He captures him and is stunned that he’s so attracted to Dimitri. He makes excuses to not kill him on the spot, takes him to his house. Dimitri starts coming out of his 18-year mental and physical abuse as an assassin. Another hard pass because of too many coincidences and too many inconsistencies in Leo’s personality and behavior toward Dimitri.

Puck Struck by Brooklyn Cate 10/11/25 10/12/25 349 pages Kindle

Logan’s facing the end of his NHL career while Cam’s just getting started. Their dislike has started affecting the team, so the Coach assigns Logan as mentor to Cam and has them share a room on the road. You can probably imagine where this goes. Throw in Logan’s sister/nephew, and various and sundry, too. They get their HEA after lots of angst. Caveat emptor re sex.

Barnburner by Jodi Oliver 10/12/25 10/12/25 260 pages Kindle

This is a wonderful book about a Canadian cowboy and an NHL player who’s distraught over losing the Stanley Cup in the finals. Brayden packs camping gear to head off to brood during off season but his car craps out in the middle of nowhere. Jesse, the cowboy, sees him by the side of the road, hauls his car and him to the family ranch. Although the family are serious NHL fans, they do not recognize Brayden because they didn’t watch hockey the previous year. Brayden likes this. He starts to heal, he and Jesse are attracted to each other and act on it. I liked how they resolved what seemed to be insurmountable odds and got their HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

**abandoned Echoes of a Gilded Cage by Elias Night ** 62 pages

Enemies to lovers, a former cop who helped put away a young man who sacrificed for his sister. They start working together, albeit reluctantly, to take down the corrupt official who is threatening them both. I just wasn’t in the mood for it, and some of the wildly improbable plot twists made me roll my eyes.

Trade Deadline by Jodi Oliver 10/13/25 10/13/25 260 pages Kindle

NHL hockey star Blaine parties hard one time too many, and the photos get posted on line. Management immediately gets them taken down, but the damage is done. Blaine has to stay out of the tabloids. Alex’s brother owns a bakery and Alex works there with him. They are drowning in debt. Alex’s best friend Nate buys tickets near the penalty box, and Blaine sees him and is smitten. Alex is, too, of course. Blaine starts courting Alex, with endearing and often hilarious results. Alex doesn’t want to just be a notch on Blaine’s bedpost, not realizing that Blaine already knows he wants more. They get their HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

My Freshman Mate by Lexie Slater 10/13/25 10/14/25 110 pages Kindle

College freshman Braiden, an omega, literally crashes into Wes, senior football quarterback and alpha, on the first day of classes. Wes instantly recognizes his fated mate. His parents were fated mates, and Wes has been waiting his entire life to find his. He literally drags Braiden to his apartment, where he goes all caveman and claims him. Braiden, logical, pre-med, trying to deny his omega nature thinking it's a burden not the strength that it is, knows that he’s met his alpha. Wes is not what Braiden thinks of as a typical alpha and only wants Braiden to add him to Braiden’s goals and life plans, not dominate or chain him down to a traditional life as an omega. Wes has an enemy on campus, who threatens Braiden. Wes attacks him and his enemy’s father, on the college board tries to get Wes expelled. Braiden applies his logic to making Wes’s case to the disciplinary committee, and they win. I particularly liked this novella because it is vivid, spare, and gives them the HEA Wes was hoping for in his life and Braiden never knew he wanted/needed. Caveat emptor re sex.

Virgin Flyer by Lucy Lennox 10/14/25 10/14/25 254 pages Kindle

I thought I’d read this book before, and when it showed up in LT’s recommendations, I remembered it so fondly that I decided to read it again. It turns out that this is the third time I’ve read it, and it is as satisfying as the first two times. Here’s what I wrote about the re-read:

Unintentional re-read – once I started it and remember that I’d read it, I was happy to continue. Here’s what I originally wrote:

Teo has been in love and waited for Chris forever. Chris won’t commit. Teo meets Jack on a hookup to lose his pesky V card, and because Teo wants things kept anonymous they don’t know how to get in touch with each other when they’re really attracted to each other. They meet months later when Teo has to fly with Chris’s grandfather on a business trip and Jack’s one of the pilots. The flight has problems, Grandpa has a heart attack, and etc. Neither Teo nor Jack want a relationship with each other – Teo because of Chris, Jack not at all, but True Love wins out. I liked their dynamic and Jack’s caring. Caveat emptor re sex.
Teo’s and Jack’s story is even better as a re-read.

Third time’s a charm.

**abandoned Make Mine a Lion by Harper B. Cole and Colbie Dunbar** 78 pages

A latent omega wolf and a lion find each other, but I was so irritated at how they met that I couldn’t continue. Too many coincidences and the matchmaker was ridiculous.

**abandoned Off Season by Jodi Oliver** 150 pages

Jacob is Alex of Trade Deadline’s brother. The premise might have worked since it built off of some of the plot, but all of a sudden Jacob’s the cutest thing since sliced bread, wears makeup (not opposed, but it’s never mentioned in the first book), and the fake boyfriend to the wedding just doesn’t work for me. Caveat emptor re sex.

The Year of Us January - July by Kate Hawthorne and EM Denning 10/14/25 10/15/25 346 pages Kindle

I can’t begin to describe this series as well as the Amazon blurb:

Cory Callahan and Reese Rollins are total opposites.
Cory wears a Rolex and makes six figures a year.
Reese is a bartender with a busted screen on his cellphone.
Cory lives in New York.
Reese lives in LA.
One delayed flight and a chance meeting at a bar later, the two strangers find they have one indisputable thing in common…
The attraction between them is incendiary.
But after a shared night at an airport hotel they learn there’s one other trait they share.
They’re both dominant and not interested in being told no.
The Year of Us is a twelve novelette series from Kate Hawthorne and EM Denning, exploring what happens when two men with nothing in common find out there might be something between them after all.

I honestly couldn’t see where August – December would make me much more enlightened and appreciative of the trope and dynamic, so have ended it here. Caveat emptor re sex.

Will & Patrick 1-7 by Leta Blake and Alice Griffiths 10/16/25 10/18/25 961 pages Kindle Will and Patrick 2015-2017

I read the first 6 novellas in September of 2023 but didn’t realize there was a 7th. Here’s what I wrote about each of the first 6:

Will & Patrick Wake Up Married by Leta Blake and Alice Griffiths 9/17/23 9/18/23 128 pages Kindle

Frequently used trope of two men waking up in Las Vegas married after a drunken night of wild sex. Will is the grandson of a Mafia don whose money is tied to him being married, Patrick is a world-class neurosurgeon whose life is his work. Will’s money is being used for a world-class hospital in his hometown, surprise, surprise. They both want to annul/divorce, but the terms of the will are fun and lots of obstacles are present. In the meantime, they both start caring for each other and there’s lots of snark and emotions and this first bit of the series is a joy to read.

Will & Patrick Meet the Family 9/18/23 9/18/23 122 pages Kindle

Will and Patrick hook up in Las Vegas, both in town. They have a night of wild passion and … you guessed it… wake up married. Will is in a bind because of a will that leaves his money conditional upon a successful marriage. No divorce. And, oh, by the way, his father is in the mob. Will talks Patrick, a brilliant neurosurgeon who is indiscreet in talking with his boss about the situation and gets fired, to come to Will’s home town to figure things out. Patrick is on the spectrum, has no real ties to Georgia, so closes his apartment and moves in with Will at the fancy hotel in Caveat emptor re sex.

Will & Patrick Do the Holidays by Leta Blake and Alice Griffiths 9/18/23 9/19/23 Kindle

Will and Patrick continue their story in trying to figure out how to successfully end their marriage. Will happens to have a charity that he’s funneled his inheritance into and is in the process of building a world-class neurosurgery unit – surprise!. He talks Patrick into working there and helping to make it world class. They spend the holidays with Will’s family, dealing with Will’s family’s over-protectiveness, Will’s ex and his current boyfriend, and Will’s father, comes to town. Caveat emptor re sex.

Will & Patrick Fight Their Feelings by Leta Blake and Alice Griffiths 9/19/23 9/20/23 Kindle

Patrick becomes friends with a young mother in town, is joyously operating on people and spending the charity’s money to build a world-class neurosurgery unit at the local hospital, all the while pretending to be wildly in love with Will. Will keeps running into the ex who dumped him just prior to the Los Vegas trip, who flaunts his new boyfriend. Will’s family keeps trying to manipulate both of them. Each is falling in love with the other, but realizes that if they don’t get the divorce, things will change, and not for the better, job-wise and finances wise.

Will & Patrick Meet the Mob by Leta Blake and Alice Griffiths 9/20/23 9/20/23 Kindle

Installment 4 has Will’s father, who’s never been a real father to Will, interfering, threatening Patrick, and generally causing havoc and upset. Feelings continue to grow, living in the fancy hotel works for Will and Patrick, as does the wild sex without commitment, all the while pretending to be in love. Town politics, family politics, family interference. Caveat emptor re sex.

Will & Patrick's Happy Ending by Leta Blake and Alice Griffiths 9/20/23 9/21/23 Kindle

And finally, Patrick flees to his former foster parents in Georgia. He has loved them forever, has helped them financially as soon as he was able, and needs their comfort as he thinks the relationship is over. Will realizes as soon as he leaves that he wants and loves and needs Patrick, so follows him to Georgia. Lots of great scenes with Patrick and his foster parents, their house full of foster kids, and Will’s visit, which, of course, culminates in their reunion, commitment, and return to Will’s home town to start their lives together. Marriage, and etc. Caveat emptor re sex.

This series really worked for me, because each came to a shockingly abrupt, drunken marriage with baggage, needs, and attraction into a valid, strong marriage, against the wishes of almost every person of Will’s family. Patrick’s being on the spectrum is treated wonderfully, positively, and with a wealth of information. Their attraction and care for each other is apparent from the beginning.

Will & Patrick’s Endless Honeymoon by Leta Blake and Alice Griffiths 10/15/25 10/15/25 136 pages Kindle

Will and Patrick have been ecstatically happy since the events of the 6th book and two years later Patrick has planned a honeymoon for them. The destination is kept a secret from Will and everybody in town except for one friend, who mentions it to her boyfriend, who gets overheard… and you get it. The supposedly social-media and family-free honeymoon gets invaded by Will’s mother and his sociopathic mobster father Tony and his new wife. Patrick once again gets offered a place in Tony’s business, which he once again refuses. Will once again has to stand up to his mother. They flee the planned second venue and hide away at a final Hawaiian venue. Caveat emptor re sex. This series is extremely satisfying. There’s the drunk married in Vegas trope, mobster and eccentric family tropes, on the spectrum and type I Diabetes issues, and all the love in the world.

This Might Hurt by Riley Nash 10/17/25 10/18/25 432 pages Kindle

Blurb: A dark contemporary M/M romance featuring bratty soulmates, an unhinged grumpy/sunshine couple looking for revenge, found family, and breaking cycles of generational trauma. Jude is a petty criminal, kicked out from his bio family because his parents feel he caused his sister’s devastating accident, leading to her being in a wheel chair. Lila, the sister, does not share this feeling. He pretends to be getting grants to help her with things the parents can’t provide. Andrew has run away from his billionaire family’s pressuring him into an arranged marriage so that they can continue to control him, and is intending to commit suicide. He and Jude meet after Jude’s robbed a gas station, and after a series of really improbable situations, end up sort of saving each other. Andrew returns to his family, but escapes before his wedding and proposes to Jude. Jude accepts and they get married in a small county in Wyoming. Jude’s adoptive grandmother, sweet and accepting sister, and Jude and Andrew’s insta love/sweet and spicy relationship are really well done. At 432 pages it’s substantial without being repetitive or preachy. Caveat emptor re sex. If I could give it 4.25 stars, I would.

**abandoned Reckless by Kate Hawthorne ** 64 pages

High squick factor, with Luke’s son Eddie’s best friend Cameron coming on to Luke and Luke, divorced and unhappy Dom, caving in to his and Cameron’s desires. The plan is for them to secretly hook up ‘til Cameron and Eddie go off to college in the fall. Cameron is 18, just barely legal. I don’t have a problem with age gap and best friend’s son tropes, but this particular entry is just … well. Caveat emptor re sex.

**abandoned An Alpha for Rylan by AW Scott ** 53 pages

Some novellas can pack the right characters, motivations, and plot pieces seamlessly, but this one doesn’t. Too many short cuts about feelings, a really poor handling of Zeke’s father’s dementia, and I just couldn’t be bothered to continue.

**abandoned Only Skin Deep by Kelex ** 126 pages

Interesting premise – Luca is a witch who can tattoo any spell away, but specializes in healing tattoos. This is an intriguing plot device, but I eventually had to bail. His mate and familiar, Ash, is a Detective. Ash brings in Colby, a human who’s been cursed. Luca and Ash know he’s their third and work desperately to save his life. The problem with this is too many characters with too many specialties, too many portals, demons, and etc. Caveat emptor re sex.

Castaway Heat by Kelex 10/19/25 10/19/25 107 pages Kindle

Omega Shiloh has had a crush on Alpha Ronin since he was 14. Ronin knows Shiloh is his fated mate, but waits until Shiloh is an adult and he feels the time is right. He doesn’t know that Shiloh and friends are on the same cruise ship as Ronin, who’s there to evaluate it and the cruise ship company to buy for his family. A cyclone washes Ronin and Shiloh up on a deserted island. They survive for 7 months, Shiloh ends up pregnant, they get rescued, happily ever after. I like how they named their child after the cyclone. It could have been stronger, deeper, more complex and been the better for it. Caveat emptor re sex.

The Step Don't by Devon McCormack and Riley Hart 10/20/25 10/20/25 332 pages Kindle

Best friends and stepbrothers Ash and Colin have lists of Step Do’s and Step Don’ts, and Step Don’ts include never lying. Colin discovers Ash camming sex stuff and figures that he’s interested in watching. Watching turns into trying, turns into romantic involvement. They’re afraid the parents won’t approve, and etc. There’s a sweet dynamic that the authors make seem effortless. Caveat emptor re sex.

Mr. Big Shot by Arden Steele 10/20/25 10/20/25 194 pages Kindle

Nicholas works for +One, escorting interesting people to charity events and galas. One of the women he escorts learns about his unused marketing degree and desire to work in his field. She gets him an interview with her brother Rhys, who owns the firm Nicholas wants to work at. Rhys hires him but has a rule of never mixing business and pleasure. He wants Nicholas, though, and between their work synergies and personal chemistry, they get their HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

One Good Thing by Arden Steele 10/20/25 10/21/25 166 pages Kindle

Greyson needs someone to help him navigate the humiliation and embarrassment of having to attend his ex-fiance’s wedding to his cousin. The fake boyfriend Jace is smitten, Greyson is attracted, and things go on happily from there. The ex-fiance gets his comeuppance, Greyson gets Jace and vice-versa. Caveat emptor re sex.

**abandoned Parker's Forbidden Mate by Blake R. Wolfe ** 38 pages

Ugh. Quaffed instead of coiffed, extremely unfortunate phrasing (f***ing like pigs) Poor writing, ridiculous plot.

Never Too Late by HL Day 10/21/25 10/21/25 235 pages Kindle

Finn is PA to Cillian and loves Cillian, but thinks he is just another in a long line of long-term hookups. Finn quits his job and leaves, and moves to Paris to get over the heartbreak. Cillian realizes that his feelings for Finn are serious and comes to Paris to win Finn back. They finally communicate and Cillian starts over, wooing Finn. It’s sweet and spicy and the characters are vivid. Throw in a stray cat who gets named Quasimodo and Cillian making the ultimate gesture, and they get their HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

The Jumblies by Edward Lear 10/21/25 10/21/25 40 pages hardcover

I’ve never particularly liked Lear’s poetry but couldn’t resist an old hardcover with “Drawings by Edward Gorey”. The drawings are the best of it. The poetry is repetitive and, frankly quite boring. Gorey doesn’t disappoint, however, and it will stay on my shelves.

Bittersweet Revenge by Riley Hart 10/21/25 10/22/25 304 pages Kindle

Dean’s father works for the local mob but Dean doesn’t understand this. When he’s four, his father is assassinated for trying to leave the job/life. Dean and his mother escape and stay hidden and on the run. Dean’s mother dies of cancer when Dean’s 18, and Dean seeks revenge by getting to the father through the son, Tiernan. He goes to the same college, is befriended by Tiernan’s sister Aislin, and comes to the attention of Tiernan. Tiernan wants him, Dean starts the relationship that he needs to get revenge. Eventually he tells Tiernan why he’s there, Tiernan kicks him out. They can’t stay away from each other, though, and things are going well until Tiernan’s father discovers who Dean is. Things come to a head, there are heroics and injuries, and the only logical resolution. The characters are morally gray but we don’t expect any different. They get their crime family HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

Rushing In by Alice Winters 10/22/25 10/22/25 148 pages Kindle

From the Amazon blurb:

I finally have a chance to team up with Bradley, the hot fellow police officer that I’ve been longing to get closer to. Somehow, I haven’t scared him off, even with my awkward flirting and my father telling him that I mimed giving birth to a cat as a child. When we get a call about a missing college student, I’m eager for the chance to work a case with Bradley, especially when we realize that there might be something more going on. But Bradley and I are determined to figure it out together, even if it means that I have to walk through an adult shop with him by my side. It’s not my fault that the store owners think he’s a stripper with his tight uniform. Okay, maybe that’s just what I was hoping for. A man can dream, right? Spending time with Bradley is better than I ever imagined. He’s sweet, funny, and goes along with just about anything I say or do. It doesn’t help that I have a problem of rushing into situations without thinking them through, like the death ride on his motorcycle. But when we go to Ace’s Wild to see if we can find out more about the missing person, I learn something new about Bradley that could help me get closer to him. And the book I buy might give me some insight if I would actually read it instead of just looking at the pictures. When he asks me out, I realize that maybe I’m not the only one who wants more. Here’s hoping I don’t scare him off with the location of our second date!

Alice Winters never disappoints, and I howled with laughter at the outrageous dialog and plot twists. Caveat emptor re sex.

Purrfect Harmony by Arden Steele Kindle

I almost abandoned this one at 68% because although I liked the human Kol who works at an Otherling hotel complex, the writing seemed frenetic and scattered. However, I persevered. Remi is a world-famous rock star and a panther shifter and invited as the headliner at the Heritage Festival. Kol’s dragon shifter boss has precognition and sets up a situation where Kol is in Remi’s suite. Remi can’t scent Kol because of roses and can’t scent Kol in the lobby later on. However, he eventually catches Kol’s scent and immediately says “Mine.” Kol recognizes that they’re fated mates and because he's worked with Otherlings for years, accepts the relationship, accepts his fated mate. There are a couple of scenes where Kol is threatened and Remi comes roaring to the rescue, to speak. They get their HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

**abandoned The Pretenders of Copper County by May Archer ** 146 pages

Disgraced Witness Protection agent Reed has to protect Chris, who is totally oblivious that his family is a mob family. Reed whisks him away and they both do very stupid things instead of actually talking about what’s going on.

**abandoned The Bargain by Jocelynn Drake ** 167 pages

Sebastian is a billionaire with Byron as his assistant. He wants Byron, Byron wants him too, but Sebastian is his boss. And etc. Sometimes the trope works for me, sometimes it doesn’t. I forget, but I think this is Caveat Emptor re sex.

With One Kiss by HL Day 10/24/25 10/24/25 271 pages Kindle

Second in Paris Tales, the first being Never Too Late. Laurent is Finn’s friend, Cormac is Cillian’s brother. Cormac shows up out of the blue, needing a place to stay to hide from his crazy female ex. Cillian takes him in, of course. He and Laurent meet, and Laurent agrees to be his boyfriend to foil the machinations of the awful girlfriend. Straight Cormac isn’t as straight as it may seem and eventually they get their HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

**abandoned Sweet Vengeance by Riley Hart ** 236 pages

Second in the Sins of the Father series has another Cillian – popular name on my dance card this month – getting intrigued by Ollie. Ollie’s friends with Dean from Bittersweet Revenge and Cillian is Tiernan’s second in command. All of a sudden Cillian is bi-curious. It was just too improbable and became rather boring. Caveat emptor re sex.

Bad Boy by Sammi Cee 10/26/25 10/26/25 70 pages Kindle

Trickster is an omega, happy with his life as a welder and pole dancer. I kid you not. Colby is an omega shifter and once he scents Trickster, he says “Mine”, and Trickster becomes his. Not half bad, but not stunning, either. The name of the place Trickster works as a pole dancer is Carousal Lounge, a clever name that I enjoyed figuring out. Caveat emptor re sex.

Heart Strain by Michele Notaro and Sammi Cee 10/26/25 10/26/25 230 pages Kindle

Holden’s twin brother Hendrix has been shot in the line of duty and is in a medically-induced coma. He rushes home, devastated that his only living relative is so close to death. Jameson is Hendrix’s partner and feels guilty that Drix got shot, although it wasn’t his fault. He and Holden are both at the hospital all the time, and each starts having romantic feelings toward the other. It’s sweet and steamy. Holden comes home to live to be near his brother and moves in with Jameson. There is a three-legged dog (ugh) and two sweet kittens (yay). The thing I really liked best? There’s no miracle cure for Hendrix after he comes out of the coma. His story is in the second book in the series. Caveat emptor re sex.

Operation:OMEGA by Wolf Specter 10/26/25 10/26/25 42 pages Kindle

Kyle has been kidnapped and put on an auction block for alphas to bid on. Clay is part of a pack that works to find kidnapped omegas and free them. Kyle is freed, Clay has to hide with him. Fireworks, fated mate, HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

Playing By the Book by Sasha Silsbury 10/26/25 10/27/25 224 pages Kindle Luke and Cal

Cal has been imprisoned by the Alpha of a rogue wolf shifter pack for years. He escapes and ends up in Ayleswood, where he gets part time work in Luke’s book store. He’s tracked down by the alpha he escaped from and hides with Luke in a pack cabin in the mountains. Things happen the way they will, and Cal turns up pregnant. The alpha finds him and takes him back. Luke and his family rescue him and they get their HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

Under the Dragon's Spell by Ann-Katrin Byrde 10/26/25 10/27/25 Kindle

Tyrel, a dragon shifter, places an ad for a human male to bear his child. Adrian, fresh off a broken relationship, applies and gets an interview. Tyrel is intrigued with him, Adrian is nothing but honest that he wants a mate and children. Lust wins out, Adrian turns up pregnant. Having a dragon shifter’s baby is dangerous for humans, and it turns out that Adrian is carrying twins. He’s in danger of losing his life, and Tyrel reaches out to his estranged human father to find out more about bonded mates. Bonding will give Adrian some of Tyrel’s strength and magic. They bond, the babies are born, they get their HEA and reconciliation with Tyrel’s father and brother. Caveat emptor re sex.

Omega Trapped by Beau Brown 10/27/25 10/28/25 304 pages Kindle

I kept reading, even though I had a hard time with Nico being a heroin addict allowing him to be used by alphas as long as he can get enough money for his next fix. One night with a particularly violent alpha, the condom breaks, and the alpha gives him another baggie of heroin and watches him overdose. He leaves but Nico is rescued. He is pregnant, of course. In the meantime, Mafia heir Valentino is pressured into marrying in order to take over the family business. He sees Nico and is intrigued and talks Nico into coming back with him to marry. He doesn’t know Nico is pregnant. Marriage, surprise as to whose baby Nico’s is, and lots of over-the-top action and stereotypes. Caveat emptor re sex and violence.

Loren by Crea Reitan 10/28/25 10/29/25 384 pages Kindle

Oakley lives with his 4 best friends in a house near their campus. Loren and his family have tracked a serial killer to the town and have bought a house across the street from Oakley & Co. Loren is a diagnosed sociopath. He has no empathy, no understanding of social and body language cues. He is part of the Van Doren family, a rich family with their fingers in everything legal and … morally gray. Loren’s being a sociopath is acknowledged, managed, controlled, and even embraced. He is immediately smitten with Oakley, and because of his stalkerish tendencies saves Oakley from becoming the serial killer’s next victim. Loren and his family kill and bury the serial killer in the desert. Oakley is as smitten as Loren and as he comes to understand Loren, is completely accepting of the sociopathy and the family’s killing of bad people. Oakley moves in with the Van Dorens and lives with Loren. Oakley attracts another stalker and Loren rescues him again. Their romance progresses and gets to where they hardly want to be apart. They get their HEA. I particularly liked the explanation of Loren’s mental illness and the alpha males of the Van Doren family. Caveat emptor re sex.

** abandoned Imry by Crea Reitan ** 62 pages

Imry is a Van Doren. Haze is one of Oakley’s friends. They are attracted to one another, have a hookup, then Imry ghosts Haze. Too much preachiness and I honestly don’t know where this story was going to go. Hence, my abandoning it. Caveat emptor re sex.

** abandoned His Biggest Secret by Xander Collins ** 139 pages

In an omegaverse where everybody is alpha, beta, or omega, omegas are scarce. Biology being what it is, some betas become omegas. Mark is a beta cop, Landon is his alpha cop partner. After a particular brutal day, Mark gets drunk and doesn’t remember becoming an omega while alone with Landon. Landon’s loved Mark since he met him, and there’s serious noncon where Mark doesn’t remember anything about Landon taking him. Mark ends up an omega AND pregnant. Mark and Landon realize they belong together, have a baby. I gave up where they were planning a barbeque wedding. It became too … heteronormative … for me. Yes, gay alphas and omegas can have a white picket fence and barbeques, but I stopped being interested. Caveat emptor re sex.

Shiver by Crea Reitan 10/29/25 10/30/25 321 pages Kindle

Egon is a college hockey player on scholarship. He’s very good at hockey, less good at hard science subjects, which is the rest of his schedule. His coach recommends his own nephew to tutor Egon. Egon’s grades start coming up. Rakesh, however, has a game he plays where he seduces straight men and plans on ghosting Egon after his grades are up and the season ends. He starts having feelings for Egon, though, and abandons him well before the season ends. Egon falls apart and only after a month does Rakesh realize how Egon needs him emotionally, physically, and to help him retain his scholarship. There is obsession on both sides. Egon’s suffering while being ghosted was believably well written . Rakesh comes back into Egon’s life, and they get their HEA. Caveat emptor re sex.

Broken Bond by JL Cross 10/30/25 10/31/25 126 pages Kindle

Another omegaverse where everybody’s an alpha, beta, or omega. Julian is rejected on his wedding day at the alter and is shunned by his family and everybody in his social circle. He ends up in Enzo’s hands, where he agrees to stay with Enzo and turns up pregnant. Enzo’s crime family wants to reject Julian, but Enzo is strong enough to keep Julian, destroy Julian’s enemies, and claim him and their baby. Julian goes from being weak to being a strong partner for Enzo and a strong parent to their son. Caveat emptor re sex.

**abandoned Promised to the Mafia Prince by Bella Bennet and Riley Sloane ** 98 pages

Eli, an omega, offers himself to Luca DeRossi, mafia family boss, in order to spare his brother. Luca says yes. I didn’t like the writing and didn’t like the characters. Caveat emptor re sex.

** abandoned Science & Jockstraps by Christina Lee ** 49 pages

Isaiah and Liam are college roommates, best friends. One day Liam says he wants to find a hookup, and Isaiah does not like the idea of anybody but himself touching Liam. *eye roll*

>190 karenmarie: *trepidatious trembling before the onslaught*

>188 karenmarie: I'm happy to report the other presidential home I've been to, Sagamore Hill in Oyster Bay, is a happy place.

Monday orisons, Horrible!

Monday orisons to you, too, RDear!

Re >190 karenmarie:: It takes forever to get the blockquotes correct. I've been working on this message for 20 minutes or more.

Ah, Teddy Roosevelt. I'm still totally in love with the fact that the family kept a pet snake named Emily Spinach.

*smooch*

Shooo. You have so much going on that I can't keep up. I did try to scroll through to find your 5-star book of the month, but I missed it. Please tell.

I've visited only Mount Vernon and Monticello and felt nothing but admiration for the elegance of the period. My only other great house, which I have visited several times, is Vanderbilt, which is "Bloated Vanderbilt" according to Henry James. I had just finished Leon Edel's 5-volume James bio, and was a bit thrilled to walk down the dark, back hall to the smoking room (a trek he made daily on a visit of a couple of weeks when Vanderbilt never showed up) and find a complete James collection on the bottom shelf of the glassed-in bookcase that lined the length of that hall. That was late 70s Lizzie.

>184 karenmarie: YIKES! Remind me never to be around if you decide to say "Candyman" the correct number of times! (I've heard of Santana, I guess, but not Abraxas. Off to remedy that lack.)

>193 LizzieD: 'Morning, Peggy! I didn't have any 5* books last month. I had two 4.5 star reads, though - Loren and The Future.

I have a book on Jefferson's Poplar Forest. I am not a fan of Jefferson and have gotten rid of all my biographies of him, but do have a book, Poplar Forest, described on the website as 'his private retreat'.

If you mean Biltmore, I love it, too. We've gone 3 or 4 times. Two were the standard house visits, but one was behind the scenes, which included seeing a room that was being restored and seeing behind the slate, where most of the slate shingles still used the original nails.

I love the Biltmore Library and wish I could look at the books up close.

Songs from Abraxas that you may have heard are Black Magic Woman, and Oye Cómo Va.

I just learned something, too. Abraxas (Biblical Greek: ἀβραξάς, romanized: abraxas, variant form ἀβράναξ romanized: abranax) is a term for the "Great Archon" in Gnostic Christianity. I have several of the Gnostic texts/books.

Wordle 1,599 4/6* trope, abuse, dunce, venue

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...
Hmmm. What did I do yesterday? Read The Frozen River and various MM romance books. Finalized and published >189 karenmarie: and >190 karenmarie:. The rest is negatives - didn't work on the budget, didn't work on the Sunroom, didn't work on Jenna's Closet... you get the idea.

...
Book sort and Virlie's. I need to get home no later than 11:45 in order to watch Arsenal play Slavia Praha. Bill says the TV schedule is 11:55 start, the Champions League says 12:45. Sigh. I don't want to miss any of it, so will get home in enough time for a 11:55 start, and will probably read until it actually starts at 12:45.

>194 karenmarie: Enjoy your interesting book-fondling, and your football game against...whatever that collection of symbols represents, and the buzz of adrenaline resultant therefrom. *smooch*

Well, that shows you and me yet again what happens to an aging mind. I, of course, meant Biltmore. Please heaven I don't get any further from what I mean than that as I age. Sheesh!!! And without bothering to count, I read your "Average Rating" numbers as being for October only. Oh well. I can't say that I'm any sharper this morning.....

No, of course, I haven't heard of either of the songs from Abraxas. The last singing 'group' whose music I know is Dead Can Dance, and I came to them after they had already folded. Ask me about classical music or older show tunes or selected jazz, and I'm maybe your girl.

Hope you get everything into your very busy day. Hope you get every minute of Arsenal play today!

>194 karenmarie: I'm with you on Jefferson. I'm not a fan either. But I've still got a biography on my shelf because I haven't read it yet.

>196 LizzieD: I'm surprised you haven't heard of Oye Como Va. Maybe you've heard it but didn't know what it was called? I'm not that well versed in what passes for popular music myself, but even I know that one.

Wordle in 4 for me too today. I hope Arsenal won.

Morning, Karen. Well, now I got the bug and it hit me like a sledgehammer. It struck late Monday afternoon and after a terrible night's sleep- I was a zombie yesterday. Somehow, I still worked and took Jack to school but it sure wasn't easy. I had a much better night's sleep but still feeling ragged. At least I don't have to leave the house today. Enough of my drama- I hope you are doing well.

You asked how far away Bree lives. About 26-27 miles. So it would be nice to be closer.

>195 richardderus: Hiya, RD. I fondled books, but none that I wanted to bring home for me. I did bring home three Louise Penny’s for Karen’s cousin. Karen’s going to report back if I’ve already sent copies of them. I sent 6 a while back but didn’t make a note of them.

Heh. Arsenal, a Premier League club, has a stadium in North London and was formed in 1886. They have a women’s team, too, but I am not particularly interested in them. Jenna and Bill were always amused at how much I like looking at men, particularly their calves, thighs, and asses. It started with Roger Federer. Match report, albeit brief, below. *smooch*

>196 LizzieD: You’re not the only person who can’t dredge up the right word, Peggy, that’s for sure.

I’ve read one 5* book so far this year, Dinosaurs by Lydia Millet. It was my book club book for last book club year.

I’m also good with classical and baroque music and older show tunes. I love the renaissance period too, but only casually. Except for perhaps 20 songs/pieces, I do not like jazz. Blue Rondo à la Turk is probably my favorite piece on my favorite album, Time Out by the Dave Brubeck Quartet. We had it at the house as I was growing up, and I played it incessantly. I also, of course, love all the performances of the Northwood High School Jazz Band when Jenna was in it from 2007-2011.

I did all the usual Tuesday things. *smile*

>197 atozgrl: Hello Irene! I didn’t actively dislike Jefferson until I heard about the Heming family. Reading Alexander Hamilton cemented that dislike.

Congrats on Wordle in 4, Irene. We’re always Wordle Sisters, and yesterday were Wordle Sisters with Peggy, who beat us with her 3.

Arsenal did win. Report below.

>198 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark. How about Get Well Wednesday instead of Happy Wednesday? I’m sorry you got the bug. I hope your day at home is restful and full of reading.

Ah, 26-27 miles. They lived closer than that after they married, didn’t they? Sounds like it will be nicer when you can persuade Sue to move AND find the perfect house.

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Book sort at 9. We were able to order breakfast at Virlie's because we got in there before 11. It is Rhoda's 86th birthday on Thursday, so as is tradition, she bought cake for the table. Strawberry, pineapple, and yellow cake/chocolate frosting and chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. We passed everything around and everybody took small pieces. I was able to bring home some strawberry and yellow cake/chocolate frosting for Bill.

Arsenal played Slavia Praha in Prague as part of the Champions League. They won 3-0. Merino scored twice, Saka once. Max Dowman became the youngest player ever to play in the Champions League at age 15 years and 308 days. He played well, too, and contributed to Arsenal's success. He looks so young, but is fearless and impressive.

Read, napped, watched The Brokenwood Mysteries, and etc.

...
Reading, puttering. Trevor should be coming over.

>199 karenmarie: Happy Wednesday of basking in your happy-making Tuesday! *smooch*

>197 atozgrl: I'm grinning a bit, Irene. Nope. I definitely never heard or heard of Oye Como Va. I have no idea where I might even have heard it, given that I was in my mid-twenties, working, and getting married in 1970 when It came out. I listened to the radio with popular music in the 50s and into the 60s, but that was it for me.

>199 karenmarie: Yes, Jefferson and Hamilton was part of it for me, and he also had a falling out with Washington that completely separated them near the end of Washington's life. So I don't really care for Jefferson, though I did enjoy visiting Monticello.

Hurray for Arsenal!

>201 LizzieD: Well, I do have to say I'm surprised you never heard Oye Como Va anywhere. However, I am not one to talk. I also stopped listening to much in the way of popular music by the late '80's, only hearing some on my commute to and from work. And even before that, I was mostly just getting pop, hard rock having slipped out of my attention. One example, I had heard of Freddie Mercury, but it was years before I realized he had anything to do with Queen. Plenty of musical ignorance here too.

>199 karenmarie: Interesting tradition of the birthday girl bringing a cake for the table.

I like the idea of having someone to facilitate "aging in place". Definitely need to find a way to clone Trevor!

>199 karenmarie: I am woefully behind again, Karen, but happy to see that you are still reading and puttering!

Morning, Karen. Sweet Thursday. This nasty bug still has a grip on me. I got someone to cover my kids shift today, so I can rest up here. At least, I was able to get in more reading yesterday.

My feeders have been hopping. That time of year, I guess. Hard to keep up.

>200 richardderus: I basked, RD! Yesterday was a good day. *smooch*

>201 LizzieD: ‘Morning, Peggy. … that was it for me. I was still listening to pop/rock into the early 1980s, but then that was it for me, too.

>202 atozgrl: Yes, Jefferson also had a falling out with Washington and from what I remember in Alexander Hamilton, committed acts that might have been considered treasonous. Behind the scenes dealings with France? Something like that.

Thanks re Arsenal.

>203 Familyhistorian: Hi Meg. When I joined the book sort team in … 2018? … it was a well-established tradition. I hope you can find yourself a Trevor.

>205 alcottacre: Hi Stasia! I am woefully behind, too. Yes, I’m reading and puttering. Trevor’s helping me get things done around here that definitely need doing, too.

>206 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark! Sweet Thursday to you, too. I’m sorry you’re still sick, and sick enough that you got someone to cover your shift. I hope resting today gets you on the right side of the germs. Yay for your feeders hopping. I have no visitors right now.

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Trevor came over. He put the furniture back on the porch. I'll take pictures and do some before and afters. He helped me look for some drapes that Bill's mother had, but so far we can't find them. I want Trevor to put them up in the Guest Bedroom if we can find them AND they're still in good shape. He put some better pegs under a shelf in the Retreat and I made the executive decision to take Jenna's horses down, to give myself another shelf for books. I promised her in 2012 to not take them down, but I don't think I said never. Even if I did, she doesn't live here anymore. *shrug*

I read. And etc. Chatted with Karen and Jenna.

...
Trevor's here, transplanting the Aloe Vera from Hell. We're getting 6 pots worth. He's going to clean the squirrel revels out of the attic since he's now gotten all the metal screening in place. He's also going to paint the gutter near the front porch, then that will be completely done. The back porch will have to wait 'til spring.

We had a speaker-phone call with our broker, which was productive.

I have a massage at 1 p.m., and will go get bird seed after. If Trevor's still here he can put it in the metal trash cans for me, otherwise it can stay in my SUV 'til the next time he's here.

And reading. And puttering.

>207 karenmarie: Morning, sweetiedarling...y'all're cruising to a close as the season winds down, eh? Trevor's treasurable capabilities are clearly excellently leveraged, though that aloe vera project sounds like the one I'd be most pleased about. Enjoy the massage...it sounds divine to me, I'm still sluggish and ick from the drive of pneumonia. My entire body still has no energy...antibiotics tend to do that, but between that side effect and pneumonia, I'll take extended recovery every time.

*smooch*

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/375180

Morning, Karen. Happy Friday. This is day 5 and I still can't shake it, despite feeling incrementally better. This was our Grand Rapids MI brewery weekend. Sue has decided to go on her own and will meet up with a bunch of our friends. I am certainly not in shape for beer drinking and socializing.

I will hang out with Juno and continue to recover. I sure miss playing PB too.

>208 richardderus: Hi RD! ‘Morning the next day. We have one large project for him, starting Monday: re-grouting the Master Bathroom walk-in shower. God knows it needs it. The other project is to replace the weather striping on two sets of French doors and the front door. There are a few small things, too.

>209 SilverWolf28: Hi Silver, and thank you.

>210 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark! Happy Friday to you, too. I’m sorry it’s still got hold of you. Sad that you won’t be going on the brewery weekend. Boo hiss to no PB. Books and Juno and getting better sound like the best way you can spend the weekend.

Wordle 1,602 3/6* trope, purse, peril

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Trevor was busy yesterday.



He also cleaned the squirrel and bat poop from the attic and finished the painting project.

I took a pic of our Japanese Maple.



Massage at 1, home, reading, puttering, and etc. Spoke with both Karen and Jenna.

...
No Trevor today. He'll be here on Monday to start re-grouting the Master Bathroom shower.

I have a doctor's appointment at 1:45, might stop at the eye doctor's office to get my frames adjusted since I'll be in Siler City. And, the grocery store is right there, so can get cat food, which I forgot yesterday.

Reading, puttering, and etc., otherwise.

>211 karenmarie: Oh myyy, that maple! I love the redness of the leaves because it's so much more intense with sunlight coming through them. Messy trees, but totally worth it. Thanks, Japan, good gift.

Morning, Karen. Happy Saturday. Still waiting for that relief to kick in but I am trying to stay busy this AM. I plan on trying to run a couple of errands. Our temps are dropping and rain arrives. I know your weather is about to abruptly change too. I talked to my brother on Thursday.

>212 richardderus: Hi RD! I know. The leaves and the sunlight are gorgeous. *smooch*

>213 msf59: 'Morning, Mark, and happy Saturday to you.

I'm sorry you're still not recovered. Books and errands... Yes, we're definitely going to get some cold weather soon, too.

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Reading, puttering. Doctor's appointment went fine. All the usual things in the evening. Talked with Karen and Jenna. I only got about 3 hours of sleep, though.

...
Arsenal plays Sunderland today at 12:30. I foresee much napping, some reading, some puttering. Perhaps some spreadsheet and Lightning Round updating, but not necessarily.

I need a Trevor! Congrats to you on scoring yours. I've got a list of handyman projects but no one to handle them. Even 10 years ago, I would have handled them myself, but that guy isn't so gung ho these days.

I'm still fluttering from book to book, trying to find something that reels me in.

>215 weird_O: Karen, I'll piggyback on weird_O's post and ask a question I've been meaning to ask for a long time:
How did you find your Trevor? Did you get a referral from someone, or use NextDoor or Angie's List or something like that?

Hope you are having a nice weekend, and you get some nice rest.

Karen O

>211 karenmarie: Gorgeous Japanese maple! I would love to have one in our yard.

>214 karenmarie: Congratulations on the Wordle! I hope Arsenal won. And I really hope you get more sleep tonight.

Morning, Karen. Happy Sunday. It is currently snowing here. 32F. It sure seems a bit early for this nonsense. Matt came out last night and we watched a movie. I like hanging out with him. Books and football today, and more recovery.

>215 weird_O: ‘Morning, Bill! I know you were handyman-ish and am sorry you’re in the same situation as Bill and I are. I flutter between books, too, sometimes. I hope you reel one in soon, O fisherman of books.

>216 klobrien2: Hello Karen. So the story of Trevor is serendipitous. I’ve known Rita the Librarian at our branch of the county Library System ever since she joined. I was already Treasurer of the Friends, so probably 2017. In addition to both being on the Board, we’ve struck up a friendship. We were at lunch in mid-September, and, because I know that Rita knows everybody in our part of the county, asked her if she knew of a handyman. She did. She’d briefly dated him but that didn’t work out, and he needed work. He came over on September 27th. He was here for 5 hours while I showed him all the things that needed work, and we’ve been checking them off the list ever since. I’ve added things, too, like transplanting the Aloe Vera. He's coming over tomorrow to start re-grouting the Master Bath shower. I never liked the color of grout Bill and our contractor chose. I wanted just plain white, but what do I know? Now I'm getting just plain white.

While he was here on Thursday, Bill asked if Trevor would empty the 55-gallon trash barrel in the garage – the stuff on the bottom was not smelly, but literally from the Obama era. It took 2 large black trash bags. He also rinsed the inside out.

Thanks re my weekend – I’ve been mostly lazy so far. I hope you have a wonderful rest of the weekend.

>217 atozgrl: Thank you, Irene. It was Bill’s idea, as are most of the plantings. I forget when we had it planted. Other favorite specimen trees, as Bill calls them, include a chinese elm, a weeping cherry, a plum tree, a sugar maple, three crepe myrtles, and various hollies.

Alas, Arsenal didn’t win. They didn’t lose either – it was a 2-2 draw. They’re still top of the table and will remain so after the weekend regardless of who wins. Man City plays Liverpool at 11:30. Liverpool won the Premier League Championship last year, Man City the 3 years before that. For Arsenal, a draw would be best, but Liverpool winning would be better than Man City.

I got 7 hours of sleep.

>218 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark! Happy Sunday to you. Snowing!!??!! Yes, it does seem early for it. And tonight looks like fun. 2-4 inches of snow and possibly thunder. Yay for Matt coming to visit while Sue was gone. Books, football, and recovery sound like a good day for you today.

On paper, it looks like the Bears should beat the Giants, but you never know. Good luck to them.

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I only got 3 hours of sleep, and that was my fault for wanting to finish a book. Arsenal drew, as I wrote above. I dozed, read, puttered, and etc. The highlight of the day was finding Jenna's "Horsie Girl Boots" - red cowgirl boots. She couldn't have been older than 3. I sent a pic to her and it cracked her up. Hwan was appreciative, too. I also found The Wedding Snakes - a whimsical wedding gift from 1991. There's no way to describe them, so I'll have to take a picture and post it.

The first thing Jenna named was a coiled, fake rubber snake. She was 2 1/2, I took her to a toy store and let her pick something. The snake is 3' uncoiled. She named it Darcy, we still have it, and we got very funny looks when she carried it out of the toy store. She was so proud. Darcy's still here in the dormers in her bedroom.

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I got 7 hours of sleep last night. I need to go to the grocery store today. We're out of critical things - including but not limited to canned cat food and block pepper jack cheese.

I've decided to box up everything in the pantry excluding perishables that's not currently needed and put the box in the garage closet. I think I can fill a 1' x 1' x 1' book box.

Reading, working on Jenna's Closet, and I'm going to clean the 'island oven' - the oven in the downdraft stove. I've done it once before. Remove racks, and pour 2 cups of distilled water in the bottom of the oven. Start the clean cycle, which should only take an hour plus cool down. Totally weird, totally works.

Sounds like a good day to me, Karen!! (I am confused about the sleep though --- 3 hours and 7 hours. I like the idea of 7 for you for sure!)

I love the Horsie Girl Boots and Darcy. Jenna was her own woman from the very start, wasn't she?!?!

Enjoy your evening!

Morning, Karen. Waking up to more snow. I think we had a couple more inches. The snow from yesterday was gone by noon. This may take longer. Did you get snow? I am playing PB. Maybe some exercise will give me a boost. It has been a week.

>220 LizzieD: Hi Peggy. It was. 3 hours the night before, 7 hours Saturday night. About 7 hours last night, too.

Jenna has always been her own woman. We clashed a lot, but never in a way that would endanger our mother/daughter relationship and love. She slammed her door once when she was very little, and we told her if she ever did it again, we'd take the door off the hinges for a month. She learned that lesson quickly. She earned time outs, in the kitchen, and if she sassed me, I simply added minutes. *smile* She did have a girlfriend I didn't like over the summer after freshman year of college, and Jenna thought she sort of had a second family there. She wasn't home much. My only requirement was that she text if she was going to be out overnight, and, of course, she rarely did. That did lead to words. The girlfriend and her family finally weirded Jenna out too much. Too much drama, too many errands they wanted her to run. They also saw her as a source of money, but the most she'd ever do is give one of them some cash for gas. My girl has always been financially smart. And, that's truly the worst of it. I never actually told her the girlfriend was awful, but I sure thought it. She also had another girlfriend that I finally said was an emotional vampire... She's been very aware of THOSE types of women ever since. Hwan's perfect for her.

She didn't ever want to wear dresses, she never, ever liked dolls. She still loves snakes.

I hope you had a good evening. I did.

>221 msf59: 'Morning, Mark! I thought you might still have snow once I saw the weather for Chicagoland yesterday. Brrr! No snow for us, no rain, even. Tonight will only be 26F. Believe it or not, the forecast for us tonight is 25F. Hard, hard freeze. PB, eh? I hope it works, but do take care. You must be antsy.

Wordle 1,605 3/6* trope, taint, tabby

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Trevor was supposed to come over today but won't be here 'til Wednesday. There are still two large and several small things on the list. Painting the back porch will wait 'til spring.

I need to finish cleaning the oven racks in the next several days. They aren't terrible, but do require an Amway Scrub Bud, some Dawn, and some elbow grease. Scrub Buds won't scratch them. They also don't scratch chrome fixtures, stainless steel sinks, and fiberglass bathtubs.

Reading, puttering. And etc. Bill and I need to find a new series to watch tonight. He's mentioned another true crime series, but I'm really not interested right now. We shall see what we shall see.

Yikes. Today's the 4th anniversary of my STEMI heart attack. Was I glad to have a heart attack? No. Am I glad that it was a wake up call? Yes.

This is always a day to remember, dear Karen. I'm more than grateful that you woke up and continue to be your most excellent best!

I enjoyed reading about your relationship with Jenna. It sounds like an ideal one for two very strong personalities who love each other very much.

I hope to stay in today except for our walk. We both wish I enjoyed puttering, but no.

>221 msf59: It wasn't cold enough for snow here last night, Mark, but the possibility of flurries overnight while we're asleep has been mentioned. We're getting our first freeze tonight, and it sounds like it will be a hard freeze, with wind chill.

>222 karenmarie: I am very grateful that you came through that event, Karen, and that you are doing well these days. I am so glad to have had the chance to get to know you!

Morning, Karen. Happy Wednesday. I felt surprisingly well yesterday while playing PB and afterwards. I think I just needed that boost. After the kids this AM, I will tend to Jack, until I take him to school.

>224 atozgrl: I hope you were prepared for that hard freeze, Irene.

>223 LizzieD: ‘Morning, Peggy! Thank you. Me, too.

Strong personalities indeed. Have I ever mentioned shorts wars? When she was in daycare, sometimes she wanted to wear sweats and a long-sleeve shirt in the summer and shorts and a short-sleeve shirt in the winter. I quickly learned to let her do what she wanted but to pack weather-appropriate clothes. She always came home in the weather-appropriate ones.

Another time in daycare, the were out playing in the supposedly-secure backyard. She saw a friend outside the chain link fencing, held onto his hand, and called one of the teachers over. I’ve still got the note that came home around here somewhere. It wasn’t a terribly busy street, but you never know about traffic or predators.

I hope you enjoyed your walk and inside-not-puttering day.

>224 atozgrl: I’m not sure we got flurries, Irene, but the radar indicated that there was at least snow overhead that didn’t make it to the ground. Yes. Hard freeze and wind chill. Definitely a blast of winter.

I’m glad to have gotten to know you, too.

>225 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark! You’re a day ahead of yourself. My cleaning ladies are coming over, so it’s Tuesday. No book sort/Virlie’s today because the Library is closed. We’re meeting tomorrow instead.

I’m glad PB helped you to feel better. And today sounds like a fine day – kids and Jack.

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About 3 p.m. it occurred to me that the bank would be closed today for what I stubbornly call Armistice Day and is officially Veteran's Day here in the US. I went into town to get cash for my cleaning ladies, who are coming at 10:30 today. Other than that, reading and puttering. I spoke with both Karen AND Jenna early in the day, so just read and doom-scrolled after I went upstairs.

We started a new-to-us crime show last night, Cold Case. We watched two episodes and I like it. I got 7 hours of sleep.

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Cleaning ladies. Reading, puttering. Spreadsheets and Lightning Round. It's only 35F even now, and the wind is whipping the trees around. I'm glad to not have to be out in it.

>222 karenmarie: Four years, and an entire lifetime of changes away. How you just...set to, stepped in the ring, got busy...is still exemplary to me of the most constructive way to deal with a huge sea-change in life. Brava, well done, and thank you for not dying. *smooch*

>222 karenmarie: Wishing you continued good health and happiness!

And Trevor sounds like quite a find.

>227 richardderus: Thank you, RD, and you're welcome that I didn't die. 🙄 My family appreciates it, too.

>227 richardderus: Hi Karen, and thank you. I wish the same to you. Trevor the treasure...

The cleaning ladies have come and gone. I need 68 Christmas cards. i have 12 from previous years, so just bought 3 boxes of 20 each of Peter Pauper Press cards on Amazon.

I'm going to spend 30 minutes cleaning an oven rack, then go read/nap 'til dinner.

>206 msf59: Nasty bugs seem to be the order of the day! We have things brewing, raging, or subsiding in this house for three weeks now. And I am back in bed after thinking that that was *last weeks* joy to behold. Humph.

>222 karenmarie: 4 years is a goodly while! Congrats on making the changes you needed to, I guess not everyone does, and that can't end well!??!

Good Morning, Karen. Just enough time to say-have a good day and to say, I had a great time with Jack yesterday. I am heading early to beat the crowds on the court.

>230 LovingLit: Hey Megan. I'm sorry you've got bugs, sorry, too, that they're in various stages of their life span instead of all being on the verge of being gone. I hope you're all better very soon. Thanks re my recovery.

It was not heart related, but I was at a doctor on Friday, and he asked me if I'd had any symptoms since I'd last seen him 6 months ago. I said no, I would have called the office right away. He said that you'd be amazed at how many people don't take care of themselves and don't follow doctor's instructions when given.

>231 msf59: 'Morning, Mark! Happy Wednesday to you. I'm glad you had a great time with Jack. Enjoy PB, too.

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I worked on the oven rack, read, napped, and watched two more episodes of Cold Case with Bill. I got about 6.5 hours of sleep.

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I was going to go to book sort/Virlie's this morning, but decided after the alarm had gone off to just blow it off. With a hair appointment at 1, the HVAC guys here to perform the fall inspection, AND Trevor here to work on replacing the weather stripping on 2 sets of French Doors and the front door, it just seemed like Too Much.

After deciding that, and when I woke up again, I saw a message from Trevor that he wasn't feeling well and wouldn't be here today.

Down to two of five things.

Hooray for only 2 things! That's me. Hair and groceries (by which I mean mostly sweet things at Aldi). Sorry Trevor isn't well.

Enjoy your day!

>232 karenmarie: That's the proper direction for things to go! I'm sorry you won't get to Virlie's today but it won't fold and vanish before next week...better to go when you can enjoy it.

*smooch*

Morning, Karen. Sweet Thursday. Get well soon Trevor. You are NEEDED. I wish we all had a Trevor to call on.

Feeling much better today. Tending to the kids and then PB, although I should have scheduled Trail Watch. Hey sue me, right?

>233 LizzieD: Hi Peggy! Simplifying the day made for a happier Karen. Did I miss out on smuggling out Shakespeare’s First Folio or a Gutenberg Bible? I’d settle for a first edition of Gaudy Night by Dorothy L. Sayers. *smile*

We both got our hair cut yesterday? Serendipity. Thanks re Trevor. I haven’t heard from him yet.

>234 richardderus: Hiya, RD. I thought about stopping off in Virlie’s on the way home yesterday to get 2 pieces of cake, but stayed strong. *smooch*

>235 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark, and sweet Thursday to you, too. Yes. Trevor is definitely needed. I’m glad you’re feeling much better. You’ve really had a time of it, haven’t you? Kids and PB sound good.

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I had a relaxing morning, then headed north to the hair salon. Public parking in Chapel Hill is a nightmare, but I found a spot in one of the many small lots on Franklin Street. This one was a block down from Moshi Moshi, so I grabbed the cane, too. Well, the darned pay kiosk wouldn't take either of my credit cards, and I do not carry quarters, although next time I might just do so. A guy walking by said that it wasn't working for him either. So I thought, if I get a ticket, I'll fight it. The hair salon paid for the parking remotely because I knew the space #... unbelievable. I stopped worrying. Got a haircut. Trystan is so sweet. We talked about fishing and fears - one of mine's clowns - coulrophobia, and her major phobia is fear of being in bodies of water that she can't see the bottom of.

I stopped off at the PO on the way home to mail a package for Jenna/Hwan that contains mail and $84 in gift cards - some used, some not. The used ones have the amount left on them on a torn off post-it note, because it seemed important. *eye roll* After that it was picking up a prescription for Bill and two for me. Total cost? $0.

Napping, reading, and two more episodes of Cold Case. Chatting with Karen and Jenna, and etc. I got about 7 hours of sleep.

...
Nothing outside the house today unless I'm in the mood to go grocery shopping. Probably not, though. All the usual things.

>236 karenmarie: Making paying for parking difficult is a bonehead error municipalities make. Either forbid parking or make it mindlessly easy.

Happy your hair went well anyway, and hoping you'll have a chance to run over some clowns in the next few days.

*smooch*

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/375310

Morning, Karen. Happy Friday. It will be a beautiful day in Chicagoland. I plan on playing outside, to take advantage of it. We will also attend Jack's T-ball game later. All good here.

I wish there was more to report on the feeder front.

>237 richardderus: Hiya, RD. I guess they just want to make it difficult for people who have a tough time getting around. Chapel Hill is a college town, after all. No clowns in sight... *smooch*

>238 SilverWolf28: Thank you, Silver.

>239 msf59: 'Morning, Mark, and happy Friday to you. Sounds like a great day - PBall and TBall. Only one male Cardinal visiting right now. I need to replenish the feeder on the porch underhang, but need to get the 40-lb-bag of wild bird seed in the trash can first.

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I went through two boxes of papers and shredded or threw away most of them. Read, puttered, filled a sunflower seed feeder, napped, spoke with both Jenna and Karen. Bill and i watched two more episodes of Cold Case and oh my. Both were quite emotional. I got about 6 hours of sleep.

...
Reading and puttering. I'll go through a box of cards today and only keep the ones that mean a lot and recycle the rest. I need to update spreadsheets and the Lightning Round. Trevor is supposed to come over at 10. I'll probably need to go grocery shopping. Sigh.

>240 karenmarie: You're doing spring cleaning early, eh what?

I hope poor Trevor is back at 100%. Enjoy the minor chores you can't put off, it's wintertime so at least you're not sweating as you do them. *smooch*

I hope that Trevor has made it to you and is 100% as Richard says. Oh what adulting you do! I did make a small effort in Mama's wardrobe one day this week. I can now wear a lot of her trousers, and she had more and better than I do. Ah, the happy hermit! I am also mindful of Thoreau's admonition to avoid new activities that require buying new clothes. (It's just as well. My mind is such that I had to look up how to spell Thoreau. *sigh*)

We're at least 3 Sisters!!!!

>241 richardderus: Hiya, RD. I putter all year long, so calling it spring cleaning is a misnomer.

Trevor's here right now, replacing weather stripping on the french doors in the Living Room. He also put 40 pounds of wild bird seed in the metal trash can in the garage. *smooch*

>242 LizzieD: Hi Peggy. He's here, he's probably about 95%. He had food poisoning.

I just spend an hour scanning covers on all 10 volumes of The Junior Classics and adding the correct # of pages. I feel good about them.

I also updated spreadsheets and my November Lightning Round.

I won't go to the grocery store today. I'll go tomorrow since Arsenal isn't playing. *smile*

Morning, Karen. Happy Saturday. We had fun at Jack's game last night. He really looks like he is into it. Not bad for an easily distracted 4 year old. We couldn't stop smiling. We went out for beer and tacos afterwards.

I am doing a little solo birding this AM. Shocked? I am too. I still get that itch. We are finally having a birthday party for Sue tonight, with friends and family. The first party was cancelled due to Sue being sick.

>244 msf59: 'Morning, Mark! Happy Saturday to you, too. Yay for Jack's game and tacos/beer after.

Solo birding? No fellow birders? When was the last time you went out solo? Find many birds and species, and I hope the birthday party for Sue is tons of fun.

Wordle 1,610 3/6* trope, claim, clung

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Reading and puttering, napping and doomscrolling. In addition to the bird seed and weather stripping, Trevor tucked the power cord for the bird bath heater down into the crack between concrete squares for me.

Hwan was invited to a high school performance of The Music Man by one of her astronomy students a while back. I think there are 4 high schoolers across the 3 sections she teaches. Opening night was Thursday night. Anyway, this young nugget, as H&J call her, was one of the star performers and even though J&H didn't stay for afters, she saw that they were there. They were both reminded of how cute and awkward high schoolers can be. Jenna played trombone, and I didn't realize that Hwan played flute. So they both listened to the band specifically for their instruments in addition to enjoying the performance.

...
Reading and puttering. Going to the grocery store. I need to finish cleaning the racks for the large oven before Thanksgiving, so might work on one today. They're not horrible, but I still need to get a bit of baked-on grease off.

Morning, Karen. Happy Sunday. Yep, my usual birding buddies were out of town. I still managed to have a very nice solo stroll. Details over on my thread. We had a great time at the party last night. Got home late. Sue was happy. A mix of chores, books and football today. Enjoy your day.

>246 msf59: 'Morning, Mark, and happy Sunday to you, too! I'm glad your solo birding stroll was good, and am happy that Sue's birthday party was a success.

Books and football and chores. Two out of three ain't bad.

My feeders and bird bath are full, but nary a visitor.

Wordle 1,611 3/6* trope, sheik, wield

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I cleaned and filled the bird bath and did quite a bit of work on Jenna's closet. Finished cleaning the heavy rack and put it back in the wall oven. The wall oven is officially clean and ready to go for Thanksgiving-on-Friday.

We had rotisserie chicken and fresh green beans for dinner. We'll have the same again tonight, perhaps with garlic toast.

I read, too, of course and went to the grocery store. I got a full cart's worth, including a 15.5 lb turkey for 29¢ a pound. We watched two more episodes of Cold Case. Talked with Jenna.

...
I want to work on one of the racks for the stove oven, read, and continue working on Jenna's closet. Read, too, of course, and update spreadsheets and the Lightning Round.

>247 karenmarie: Enjoyable for JenWan to get such a lovely, vulnerable invitation from the kid. I'm glad they went.

Have an enjoyable adulting day cleaning your oven! ::side-eye::

Dropping in to wish you a wonderful Sunday!

Morning, Karen. Back to more seasonal weather- around 50F with sunshine. I will elect to play indoors today, since it is currently 29F. Sue spotted a Cooper's Hawk perched on our patio fence yesterday and then we watched it swoop through the backyard scattering the birdies. After awhile they cautiously returned...seeing more chickadees and downys.

Morning, Karen. Back to more seasonal weather- around 50F with sunshine. I will elect to play indoors today, since it is currently 29F. Sue spotted a Cooper's Hawk perched on our patio fence yesterday and then we watched it swoop through the backyard scattering the birdies. After awhile they cautiously returned...seeing more chickadees and downys.

Checking in on you again, Karen. I hope you have a marvelous Monday!

>248 richardderus: Hiya, RD. The high school musical reminded me of the hs plays/musicals Jenna performed in.

>249 figsfromthistle: Hi Anita, and thank you. I hope your Sunday was wonderful, too.

>250 msf59: 250 ‘Morning, Mark! 29F. Brrr. Indoors is a good idea. Oooh, I love Cooper’s Hawks. I’ve seen them here on our property. Thanks for the bird report.

>252 alcottacre: Hello Stasia, and thank you.

Wordle 1,612 3/6* trope, imply, clamp

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Laundry, although it's still in the dryer needing to be refreshed a bit then folded and put away. Reading, puttering, napping. I spoke with both Karen and Jenna.

...
Friends of the Library Board meeting at 10. Trevor should be here working on re-grouting the Master Bath shower floor.

Reading, puttering, etc. Cold Case.

>253 karenmarie: Oh yay for the re-grouting. It's never ceased to amaze me how different it feels to see the shower with really crisp, clean grout. So much more inviting. Hoping the board won't elicit boredom and y'all'll get the needful accomplished.

Oh! Board meeting today and sorting tomorrow? Does that mean you get to Virlie's twice this week??? I think you can handle it.
Hooray for the recovering Trevor!!!!

Wordle in 4 for me.
I confess that I'm rereading an Ish, #7. This trilogy in the series is less a favorite, so it's been awhile since I read it. That's a good thing. I'm enjoying details that I had forgotten rather than quoting as I read, the way I do with #s 1-6. I seem to flounder a bit when I finish something really wonderful like *R'd Soldier*.

Enjoy another lovely day!

>254 richardderus: Hiya, RD! Dare I say I love my shower? It's walk in, has a bench, has a hand-held shower head in addition to the wall shower head. It will be even nicer once it's regrouted.

>255 LizzieD: Hi Peggy! Yes, a busy Friends week. Sunday night I was debating about not going, but decided to go by early Monday morning. The Board does not go out for a meal, so still only once a week for Virlie's. Congrats on your Wordle 4. Trevor's back to 100%

Wordle 1,613 3/6* trope, posse, opine

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The Friends of the Library Board Meeting went well. We keep getting new members, which is okay, but the bit about the voting members of the Board approving of a person outside of the meeting seems to have gone by the way of intelligent presidents. The newest member, however, seems invested, so there's that.

John, Steph, and I stepped into the book sort room after and discovered a donation of

Condition:Used - Like New
First Edition. Hardcover. All 10 volumes of the Semi-Centennial Memorial Photographic History of the Civil War. Published in 1911 on the 50th anniversary of the beginning of the war. Publisher:The Review of Reviews, 1911. Condition of each volume is Fine. Covers have slight wear, very light rubbing and some spotting. Top page edges on all 10 volumes gilt which is in very nice shape. Gilt lettering and decorations on all 10 spines also bright and intact. Inside pages, including hundreds of photographs, are clean and bright with no spotting or foxing. All 10 volumes bound in blue boards, no DJ. Each volume is slightly oversize and contains about 300 pages of photographs and text for a total of about 3,000 pages of photographs and explanatory text for the set. 8vo 8" - 9" tall . Endpapers are blue with gold top edges. This is the first edition of this epic work and has thousands of scenes photographed from 1861-1865. It has has special text from about 39 knowledgeable people, Pres. Wm. Taft, and officers of both the Confederate and Union Armies. Some of the photos were previously unpublished were from private individuals. A very fine set.

A set is being offered by biblio.com for $930. We'd sell it for 25% of that, but IMO it should go onto our online book store. Our appraiser will be overjoyed. I'm envious and sad it can't be mine. ***update: for some stupid reason they only priced all 10 volumes at $80. Naturally, I bought them. They're in the back of my SUV.

Trevor started on the re-grouting. He'll be here again today, although I usually don't want him here on a Tuesday.

Book sorting, Virlie's. I need to stop at the pharmacy to get some toothpaste. Do I have some just expired Colgate that I bought before I started using Sensodyne? Yes. Is it still good? Yes. Do I want to use it? No. Will Bill use it? No. He's a Crest man.

Home, reading, puttering, spreadsheets, nap, possibly continue with cleaning oven racks. And etc.

**home after Virlie's and errands.**

Message posted twice, most likely my fault. Sigh.

WOW! WOW! WOW! What a GREAT find, that 1911 set! I am as proud for ou as if it were mine - prouder because I don't have a place for them, and you do!

Enjoy!!!

We're 3 Sisters again. Yay!

I'm off to hear a former student on WUNC talk about her work in Lumbee history........ such an intelligent, focused young woman!

>256 karenmarie: !!!!THEY WHAT?!!!!?

Are you going to resell and donate the proceeds to the idiots who radically fucked up? At least $1K of profit!!

Stunningly stupid maneuver, really really stunning.

I'm happily not in the back of an ambulance, though it was touch and go. More abx on the way. Feeling like a kitten left in a flood. More nappage. xo

>258 LizzieD: Hi Peggy. A wonderful find. I’m going to make a place. Right now they’re back in the 2 boxes they came home in under the desk in the Sunroom.

Yay for 3 sisters. I would love to hear the talk about her work in Lumbee history.

>259 richardderus: Yup. I am not going to resell and donate. Nope. If they want to sell them for that, I’ll buy them for that.

What?!!?? Not in… Here I go over to your thread.

>256 karenmarie: What a prize! The appraising gods favor you!

Wow, I have no idea why they priced that set at just $80 but delighted that you were able to snap it up!

>256 karenmarie: Stunning! Congratulations on being able to pick up such a spectacular set at an unbelievable price. Wow, just wow!

>258 LizzieD: Somebody was talking about Lumbees on NPR/WUNC while I was driving over to the senior center on my way to book club meeting. I think they said she's at Virginia Tech now. Is that what you were talking about?

Morning, Karen. Hooray for the 10 volume set! What a find! When I was getting ready to stop over here yesterday AM, LT shut down so I never got a chance to get back over. Jack was having a bad allergy day when I got over there but he finally decided he wanted to play the last 40 minutes I was there, so that was good and then I took him to school. Not much happening today- PB early, books in the PM.

>261 quondame: Hi Susan. Wordle gods and appraising gods are both looking down on me this week. I’m happy.

>262 lauralkeet: Hello Laura. It really surprises me since the set would probably have gone onto our online bookstore. Would it have sold before the next book sale? Possibly not. It then could have been brought out and advertised. Their loss is my gain. I’ve decided where to put the set – on S25 here in the Sunroom. I just need to remove other books and find places for them here or … somewhere else. *smile*

>263 atozgrl: Hi Irene, and thank you. I just made the mistake of going over to WUNC to see if I could find the Lumbee piece you mentioned and got depressed looking at the illegal, immoral, and unethical acts being carried out by ICE.

>264 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark, and thank you. Happy Wednesday to you. It’s a wonderful find, especially since I was feeling sorry for myself about not being able to afford it. Anything less than $100 was doable, but I was stunned at what they were telling me.

I know – I was very confused about LT shutting down, especially since at first I thought it was my laptop/wifi/internet. I gave up, then when I came back early afternoon, it was back online.

Poor Jack but glad you got some playtime in with him. Yay for PB and books.

Wordle 1,614 3/6* trope, harem, maker

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Book sort, Virlie's, one of my best book acquisitions in a long time, if not forever. I spent quite a bit of time getting each volume into LT just so. I always sets that have more than 2 or 3 volumes as individual books - How do you handle it?

I stopped off at the pharmacy and put gas into my SUV. When I got home, Trevor was here. Bill and I watched two episodes of Cold Case. Talked with Karen and Jenna.

...
Trevor will be here.

1. Continue working on stove oven racks.
2. Get some trash from Jenna's closet downstairs.
3. Finish moving the hanging clothes from Jenna's closet - donate, trash, keep. I just figured out that I can put Jenna's high school letter jacket for band into Bill's Mama's cedar-lined hope chest. This requires moving some stuff out of there, but not too much.
4. Move the Harry Potter books upstairs to the Retreat since I've put up Jenna's Breyer Horses and freed up shelf R51, put books from S25 onto that shelf, and put my new acquisition on S25. This may sound crazy-making to most of you, but this is exactly something that makes me happy.
5. Think about making something for dinner.
6. Read, putter, nap.

>265 karenmarie: Cloudflare, the internet security people, accidentally made a "configure" file too big and it crashed a whole bunch of sites including Twitter.

My paranoia sent me looking for answers and that's what I found...and that same paranoia said (very quietly) "accidentally? o.0"

I found out what dinner was here, and promptly forgot, so it's not something I particularly enjoy...or detest. *smooch*

>266 richardderus: I saw CloudFlare show up but didn't know what to do. After restarting my laptop, which didn't work, I was out of options. When I got back home, LT was working again. I don't use any of the other websites it crashed.

Nooooo..... Hacked? On purpose?

*smooch*

>267 karenmarie: If Cloudflare shows up, your solution is the proper one, nothing you're able to do will help. If it goes on for more than maybe two hours, email ganawa at Librarything to see if something really big is going on.

>268 richardderus: Thank you, RD. Noted.

Wordle 1,615 2/6* trope, grave

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I got the hanging clothes, including Jenna's high school letter jacket, stowed away. Read, puttered, boxed up the Harry Potter books and boxed up the books displaced by the newest acquisition. Two episodes of Cold Case. Talked with Jenna and Karen, read and etc.

...
Trevor should be back today. I need to go to the grocery store - I'm getting antsy about the availability of some things for Thanksgiving day dishes/pies.

Reading, puttering, getting Jenna's Breyer Horses boxed and in her closet. Oven racks. And etc.

Morning, Karen. Sweet Thursday. Kid duty this AM. May play PB afterwards, even though I should give the old body a rest. Nothing to report on the feeder front.

Hi Karen!

Oof, way too much for me to be able to catch up on everything.
But I love the photo of the maple tree (we haven't had any leaves on the trees here for over a month - we just got the first snow of the season this week, unseasonably late). And your pics of re-potted plants reminds me of how desperately I need to re-pot mine. I prefer doing that outdoors, but that won't be possible for another 6 months or so.

>270 msf59: 'Morning, Mark, and sweet Thursday to you, too. Giving your body a rest sounds like a good idea after having such a terrible cold recently. One day of rest can't hurt...

>271 PawsforThought: Hi Paws! I admit that I'm wordy... and skipping all the joy and drama makes sense.

Thanks re the maple tree. I'm pleased to get 6 pots of aloe vera out of 1 pot. Definitely much easier to do outside, so I hope your plants stay happy until you can take care of them next year.

...
edited to add: While writing this review, I realized that I never posted the review I wrote about The Hallmarked Man by Robert Galbraith. I have to re-write it, and so will post it after the Tilt review.

Tilt by Emma Pattee narrated by Ariel Blake
11/7/25 to 11/19/25




From Amazon:

Longlisted for the Andrew Carnegie Medal of Excellence in Fiction
A New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice
A USA TODAY Bestseller
A Best Book of 2025 for Vogue
Named one of Time’s 100 Must-Read Books of 2025
An NPR favorite fiction read of 2025

Set over the course of a single day, an electrifying debut novel from “a powerful new literary voice” (Vogue) following one woman’s journey across a transformed city, carrying the weight of her past and a fervent hope for the future.

“Utterly gripping.” —NPR, All Things Considered

Last night, you and I were safe. Last night, in another universe, your father and I stood fighting in the kitchen.

Annie is nine months pregnant and shopping for a crib at IKEA when a massive earthquake hits Portland, Oregon. With no way to reach her husband, no phone or money, and a city left in chaos, there’s nothing to do but walk.

Making her way across the wreckage of Portland, Annie experiences human desperation and kindness: strangers offering help, a riot at a grocery store, and an unlikely friendship with a young mother. As she walks, Annie reflects on her struggling marriage, her disappointing career, and her anxiety about having a baby. If she can just make it home, she’s determined to change her life.

“Shocking and full of heart” (Publishers Weekly, starred review), Tilt is a “moving adrenaline rush” (The New York Times Book Review) and “epic odyssey” (NPR) about the disappointments and desires we all carry, and what each of us will do for the people we love.

Why I wanted to read it: Being from Los Angeles, this earthquake survival story caught my attention. Thank you, Mark, for putting it on my radar. I decided to use one of my precious Audible credits and am so glad I did.

Strictly in Annie’s voice, this book goes back and forth in time, from present day in earthquake-stricken Portland to her childhood and young adulthood with her mother, to her marriage with her husband Dom. She is focused on getting home, which is across Portland. She barely survives the earthquake itself, has no cell phone, no car keys, no purse, no water, no food. She is 37 weeks pregnant. Back and forth in time, but always needing to get to Dom. IKEA is crushed, few buildings are standing, some are on fire, roads are buckled, cars abandoned, people moving like she is, to get somewhere they think is safe.

We see how her husband’s obsession with being an actor, a successful actor, has driven all the decisions in their marriage, and thus in her own life. She’s had mixed feelings about being pregnant even still, on the verge of giving birth. IKEA employees, kind men, threatening men, unpassable bridges, lies Dom tells that very morning, kind women, threatening teenagers, death, and greed. How does a 37-week pregnant woman do the things she does to get back home? As disaster crashes down on her unhappy world, her Bean, as she calls her child, becomes her fiercest focus.

By the end of the book, we have no idea where it can go that won’t lead in some way or another to additional heartbreak. It’s inevitable. The ending is devastating and sad and uplifting and hopeful.

While researching Ms. Pattee, I ran across this article in Glamour listed in the Wikipedia article about her. It’s about dieting and food and her obsession with both. The food bits and dieting bits are absolutely about me and my life.

Being Thin Was My Dream - but So Was Writing a Novel

Six word review: Stunning novel of survival and triumph.

>256 karenmarie: I am very envious of the 1911 book set, Karen. I would have bought them if I had the $930, lol.

>273 karenmarie: Already in the BlackHole or I would be adding it again.

Hi Stasia! I would be envious of anybody who had it if I didn't, too.

For those of us, like you and me, who cherish our physical catalog of books - the books we look at and hold and smell and enjoy each day - this acquisition represents book joy on a very high level.

The Hallmarked Man by Robert Galbraith narrated by Robert Glenister
9/4/25 to 11/6/75




From Amazon:

A dismembered corpse is discovered in the vault of a silver shop. The police initially believe it to be that of a convicted armed robber - but not everyone agrees with that theory. One of them is Decima Mullins, who calls on the help of private detective Cormoran Strike as she's certain the body in the silver vault was that of her boyfriend - the father of her newborn baby - who suddenly and mysteriously disappeared.

The more Strike and his business partner Robin Ellacott delve into the case, the more labyrinthine it gets. The silver shop is no ordinary one: it's located beside Freemasons' Hall and specializes in Masonic silverware. And in addition to the armed robber and Decima's boyfriend, it becomes clear that there are other missing men who could fit the profile of the body in the vault.

As the case becomes ever more complicated and dangerous, Strike faces another quandary. Robin seems increasingly committed to her boyfriend, policeman Ryan Murphy, but the impulse to declare his own feelings for her is becoming stronger than ever.

A gripping, wonderfully complex novel which takes Strike and Robin's story to a new level, The Hallmarked Man is an unmissable read for any fan of this unique series.

Why I wanted to read it: Eighth in a mesmerizing series. I pre-ordered as soon as I heard about it.

Labyrinthine is a perfect way to describe this book. All the elements of a Strike and Ellacott novel are present. There are, by my quick perusal of the character list, 59 named characters. There are red herrings, continuing history with Strike and his dead lover Charlotte, personal drama for both Strike and Robin, and the constant desire to do right by their client. There are subplots that peter out and subplots that continue to grow and merge at the end to form a satisfying whole. The ending is another cliffhanger for the romance between Strike and Robin, darn it.

Completely satisfying, completely frustrating, completely confusing, completely predictable in a good way. It just takes 912 pages or 31 hours to get there. And, by the end, I was impatient for the ninth in the series, most likely not published for another two years. Patience, thy name has to be Karen.

Do not read this book if you haven’t read the entire series. Start with The Cuckoo’s Calling.

And if you’re not already aware, be advised that this is a completely adult series written by JK Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter series. As with the Harry Potter series, each book gets longer and longer. For lovers of the series, as I am, this is exhilarating and intoxicating.

Six word impression: Convoluted and satisfying, predictable and unpredictable.

>273 karenmarie: I'm so jealous you got to have this much fun in November! My 6*-of-five read was back in the spring. *sigh* It does sound excellent.

Still taking the abx, foot not throbbing but a truly disconcerting color, awaiting the darker days that are always ahead, NOT doomscrolling or -watching, in short another day in Paradise. (Literally...I'd be dead five years if I'd stayed in Texas.) *smooch*

Oooo! Good reading for you! YAY! (Not to mention your Wordle in 2 {Congrats} as compared to my 5!) I'll put Tilt on my read-it-when-I-can-get-it list beside Richard's recommendation.

>263 atozgrl: >265 karenmarie: Yes, Karen and Irene, that was my Brittany. I interpreted the promo of her interview a bit incorrectly, but I certainly enjoyed hearing her and am proud of her. She has a children's book for sale Whoz Ya People? that I will also buy when I'm in the market again.

To quote Stasia: Thoughtful Thursday to you!

Here's the next readathon: https://www.librarything.com/topic/375552

Morning, Karen. Happy Friday. Great review of Tilt. You described it beautifully. I was very impressed with it too. After PB, I will go visit our aunt. She has been on a bit of decline the past week or so. Spending the last months of your life stuck in a bed with damp diapers, bed sores and very little stimulation is no life. I would wish this on no one. Sue will amp up her visits too.

>277 richardderus: Hiya, RD! November is turning into a stellar reading month, and, of course, we’ve got another 9 days. Both non-MM romance reads were 4.5, and so far there are 9 MM romances that are 4* and one MMM romance that is 4*.

You’re not supposed to have colorful feet. We’re not supposed to be in a psychotic political hell either. I’m still avoiding news most days except for Yahoo News Soccer, but headlines get absorbed somehow. I did enjoy an article in the NYT published yesterday, with the joyful title Congressional Republicans Begin to Look Beyond Trump: Election defeats earlier this month and the approach of 2026 have G.O.P. lawmakers cautiously asserting themselves.

Even with OS and the horrible food and other major and minor problems associated with Assisted Living, I’m glad you’re where you are and NOT in the bizarre and disgustingly MAGA state of Texas. Except for Stasia, I wish they'd secede.

*smooch*

>278 LizzieD: Hello Dearest. As little non-MM romance reading as I do, the two audio books finished this month, Tilt and The Hallmarked Man are both totally excellent in completely different ways. Thanks re my two. Today’s a three. Lots of luck, some inspiration, some logic.

>279 SilverWolf28: Thank you Silver.

>280 msf59: ‘Morning, Mark, and happy Friday to you. Thanks re my Tilt review.

I’m so sorry about your aunt. The indignities of being in a facility that takes its time to keep you dry and allows bedsores are terrible.

Bill’s mother was in a very expensive retirement community, The Pines at Davidson, and was doing fairly well at age 81, given her medical issues. When her money ran out, we had to move her to a Medicaid facility in Mooresville. She was only there for 3 months before she died. Bill’s step-grandmother was at a Medicaid facility in Chapel Hill. The Pines never, ever, smelled of urine. Both Medicaid facilities did. Sometimes faint, sometimes strong, but always ugh and so very sad.

Wordle 1,616 3/6* trope, olden, vowel

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Trevor was here yesterday working on the shower. He only needs an hour or so on it today to finish it. Then it needs 48 hours of 'curing' before we can use it. I went to the grocery store and the only thing I forgot was Karo Syrup for the Pecan Pie. I have to go back next week for last minute fresh vegetables in addition to regular foodstuffs, so we'll be able to have Pecan Pie on T-Day-On-Friday.

I had Trevor move two boxes of books - all the Harry Potter books from shelf L65 in the Library, now safely living on shelf R51 in the Retreat. I'll work on the other box of books today, finding space for them on the now-empty L65 and other shelves as needed.

I boxed up Jenna's Breyer horses. It took 2 boxes. I told her, and she was find with it. I'll move those two boxes of books to the Parlour, which is currently an overflow storage area, darn it.

Two more episodes of Cold Case, and chatting with Karen and Jenna. Jenna finally made my sister's One-Step Lasagna yesterday. Even with the potential crisis of only having a 7" x 11" pan instead of a 9" x 12 " pan, it came out well. When Laura started using the recipe in the 1980s, there were no such things as "Oven Ready" or "No Boil" lasagna noodles, so her recipe was perfect for a good and tasty easy-to-make lasagna. I also have my aunt's "Compromise Lasagna", which she and my uncle perfected over the years, but it is complicated. Tasty as all get-out, but so much effort to make.

Reading, puttering, review writing, and etc.

...
No need to leave the house today. Reading and puttering, and Trevor will be here to finish the re-grouting of the shower.

I need to finish cleaning the island oven racks and clean some of the shelving in the refrigerator in the garage in anticipation of pies and other things before T-Day.

Oh, writing and mailing the check for our Spectrum service, and reading and puttering and once again getting the Sunroom desk under control. Sigh.

>281 karenmarie: Why not order the bottle of Karo from Ammy? Not to make a habit, but it's the one thing you need for a celebratory meal and the grocery store for one thing means $100 gone because when has it ever not? They're psychological geniuses. (And manipulative bastards.)

Listening to 1910 Fruitgum Co. songs on YT because, ugh.

>282 richardderus: Good idea, RDear, but surprisingly, 2 bottles on Ammy are $11.93 + tax. Two bottles at the grocery store are $5.98 plus tax. I admit that I'll probably get things that I either don't need or don't need right away, but by God I'll only pay half of what I'd pay on Ammy.

I'm speechless - 1910 Fruitgum Co songs. The Mighty Quinn... Nooooooo.

Watch cute dog shorts. Or sexy rugby player shorts. Or Dylan Hollis.

I can hear brain cells dying from here.

*smooch*

>283 karenmarie: Howzabout "Indian Giver"? Imagine that hitting the internet in 2025!

Well, it still seems like a savings to me, but you know best about your crowd tolerance and sales resistance....*smooch*

Morning, Karen. Happy Saturday. Thanks for sharing your stories with Bill's family and these nursing homes. Take me in my sleep. I saw the aunt yesterday and she is not doing well at all and heavily medicated due to the horrific bedsores. Very Sad.

On a much happier note, I will be going to the Chicago lakefront with my birding buddies, to do some birding this early AM. I have not been down there since late spring. Reports are showing that a couple of snowy owls have been hanging around. Can you say...SWEET!!

>284 richardderus: So many songs, so much Political Incorrectness. This grocery store isn't terribly crowded, and my sales resistance will be high. I hope. *smooch*

>285 msf59: 'Morning, Mark, and happy Saturday to you.

Heavily medicated and horrific bedsores. It's criminal what facilities get away with. Of course, money's always the issue, isn't it? Not enough staff, poorly paid staff, and etc.

Take me in my sleep, too. On the happier note, enjoy your time with your birding buddies. Oooh, Snowy Owls. I do hope the report is true and that you get to see them.

Wordle 1,617 3/6* trope, taint, thick

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Trevor finished the shower re-grouting project. It looks fantastic, and we're pleased. He's coming on Monday to work on the back porch - not the repainting project, but power washing the Hardi-Plank siding and porch furniture, getting rid of all the cobwebs and etc. prior to Thanksgiving. We always get this done except when we don't, and this year it really needs it.

I unpacked some books and shelved them in the Library. I updated the location tags, of course. I made room for them by moving (almost) all things Harry Potter up to the Retreat. I boxed up Jenna's Breyer horses the other day and the books are now the Harry Potter books are the first books EVER on shelf R51.

We had hamburgers and french fries for dinner and watched two more episodes of Cold Case. I spoke with Jenna and Karen.

Yesterday was Jenna and Hwan's First Anniversary. They did what Jenna called the quintessential Lesbian Thing - went shopping at IKEA. They needed a shelf and had an anniversary lunch there.



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Oven racks, reading, puttering. I might go to the other grocery store in town, Lowes, and get some Orange Roughy and two Marie Calendar Razzleberry Pies.

>286 karenmarie: They're so adorable together! Just please tell them not to buy the Jeep next...they're terrible vehicles to repair, per my insurance-adjuster sister. I adore orange roughy, and am appalled at myself for reacting with disfiguring jealousy of your dinner plan.

I shall now flounce out in a huff. *smooch*

>287 richardderus: Hiya, RDear! They are, aren't they? And, I'm going to get to see them on Thursday!

Jenna has a Kia Forte and Hwan has a Prius (boo hiss). No plans on getting rid of either vehicle any time soon. Jenna has pointed out several times that they get great gas mileage on both vehicles. Gas is soooo expensive where they live. I paid $2.73/gallon the other day.

Flouncing does not become you. If I get Roughy, we'll have it tomorrow or Monday. Tonight is leftover hamburger patties with cooked carrots and fresh green beans. perhaps some Arborio rice .

*smooch*

>288 karenmarie: No cheese? No bacon? That moocow died in vain!

It will be wonderful for y'all to be together. I'm sure it will be full of fun and yumminess.

Happy Anniversary Jenna and Hwan!
>288 karenmarie: why the "boo hiss"?

Morning, Karen. Happy Sunday. Happy Anniversary to Jenna and Hwan. What an adorable photo. We did get the snowy owls yesterday. More details on my thread. Chores, books and football today. I'm okay with that.

>289 richardderus: 'Morning, RDear! One word. Sodium. Additional words - I eat cheese but have only had 2 pieces of bacon in 4 years. Amazing that I'll see them in 4 days. *smooch*

>290 lauralkeet: Hi Laura. Looks like my opinion needs to change, although it's still true that batteries for electric cars are worse on the environment than batteries for gas cars. They catch up over time with less emissions. Sigh. One of these days my 2012 Ford Escape will die and I'll need to get something else, so a hybrid vehicle is in my future.

>291 msf59: 'Morning, Mark! Happy Sunday. Thanks re J&H's anniversary and the photo. Sounds like your day will be a combination of productive and relaxing.

Congrats on the Snowy Owls. I just looked at a range map, and you're at one of the most southern points for their nonbreeding range.

Wordle 1,618 3/6* trope, slain, bunny

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All the usual - reading and puttering. I worked on spreadsheets and November's Lightning Round. I cleaned the two oven racks and put them back in the oven. The bottom rack is soooo heavy - the base anchors into the oven, letting the rack itself pull out easily and with stability. That will work for a 17.5 lb turkey on Friday... I also put away hangers and other things in the Guest Bedroom so that there's actually nothing on the bed except bedding/pillows. Although it will all come out in the next 4 weeks, I also put up the Christmas wrapping paper, which had been hiding behind the door. 🙄

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Arsenal play Tottenham at 11:30.

I might go to the other grocery store in town, Lowes, and get some Orange Roughy and two Marie Calendar Razzleberry Pies since I didn't go out yesterday.

I finished up an amazing MM romance, Dance of Defiance early this morning.