Christina reads 20 x 6 in 2026

Christina reads 20 x 6 in 2026


Lucie Cousturier, "Woman Reading"

Hello, and welcome to my 18th (!) category challenge! I live in northern Virginia, and by day I work as an editor at a nonprofit. Aside from reading, my main hobbies are music (piano, trombone, and singing) and community theater.

This year, I'm aiming to read 20 books in 6 categories, for a total of 120 books. Everything I read will fit into one of the categories, so hopefully it should be doable!

1. Mystery Series on My Shelves: For the past few years, I've been working my way through the unread series on my shelves. I have a bad habit of reading book 1 in a series and immediately buying the rest of the books, but then letting them languish on my shelves. I've made good progress on my SFF series, so this year I'm focusing specifically on mysteries.

2. Owned but Unread Before 1/1/26: My yearly effort to decrease my TBR!

3. Rereads: Whenever I don't give myself a category specifically for rereads, I tend to neglect them, and I really miss revisiting some of my favorites! Worst case, I discover they're no longer favorites, and I can part with them and make some room on my bookshelves!

4. Acquired in 2026: Obviously I'm going to get distracted by new or new-to-me books, so I'm creating space for anything I buy, borrow from the library, or otherwise acquire this year.

5. Nook Books: My digital library is growing fast, so I need a category that will help me stay on top of it!

6. Office Book Club/Overflow: I'm participating in a book club with some of my coworkers, and our reading list currently has 10 books on it. So I'm saving 10 spaces for those books, plus 10 "overflow" spaces for when the other five categories fill up!

Thanks for stopping by, and happy reading!

1. Mystery Series on My Shelves


Otto Scholderer, "Reading Maiden"

1. Ellis Peters, Fallen into the Pit – Inspector Felse #1
2. Tana French, The Secret Place – Dublin Murder Squad #5
3. Elizabeth Bailey, The Gilded Shroud – Lady Fan #1
4. Ellis Peters, Death and the Joyful Woman – Inspector Felse #2
5. Elizabeth Bailey, The Deathly Portent – Lady Fan #2
6. L.C. Tyler, The Herring-Seller’s Apprentice – Herring #1
7. Delano Ames, Corpse Diplomatique – Jane & Dagobert Brown #3
8. Tana French, The Trespasser – Dublin Murder Squad #6
9.
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13.
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20.

Possibilities:
James Anderson, The Affair of the Bloodstained Egg Cosy – Inspector Wilkins #1
James Anderson, The Affair of the Mutilated Mink – Inspector Wilkins #2
James Anderson, The Affair of the Thirty-Nine Cufflinks – Inspector Wilkins #3
C.S. Harris, What Angels Fear – Sebastian St. Cyr #1
C.S. Harris, When Gods Die – Sebastian St. Cyr #2
C.S. Harris, Why Mermaids Sing – Sebastian St. Cyr #3
Ellie Marney, Every Breath – Every #1
Ellie Marney, Every Word – Every #2
L.C. Tyler, Ten Little Herrings – Herring #2
Patricia Wynn, The Motive from the Deed – Blue Satan #3
Patricia Wynn, A Killing Frost – Blue Satan #4
Patricia Wynn, Acts of Faith – Blue Satan #5

2. Owned but Unread Before 1/1/26


Henri Matisse, "Reading Woman with Parasol"

1. Anna Harrington, If the Duke Demands (2025-11-24)
2. Tessa Arlen, Poppy Redfern and the Midnight Murders (2021-10-03)
3. Soman Chainani, The School for Good and Evil (2018-04-06)
4. Cecilia Grant, A Gentleman Undone (2024-01-06)
5. Lois McMaster Bujold, The Spirit Ring (2023-06-19)
6. Betty Neels, An Unlikely Romance (2024-04-21)
7. Mary Jo Putney, The Rake (2024-08-17)
8. Audrey Bellezza and Emily Harding, Emma of 83rd Street (2024-10-19)
9. Poul Anderson, Three Hearts and Three Lions (2014-10-12)
10. Lisa Lutz, The Spellman Files (2022-11-05)
11. Diane Farr, Under a Lucky Star (2025-11-24)
12. Alden Nowlan: Selected Poems (2016-06-24)
13. Cornell Woolrich, Waltz into Darkness (2024-08-17)
14.
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17.
18.
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3. Rereads


Anna Ancher, "Interior with Poppies and Reading Woman"

1. Kristan Higgins, If You Only Knew
2. Agatha Christie, Death in the Clouds
3. Georgette Heyer, Regency Buck
4. Patricia Cabot, Educating Caroline
5. Robin McKinley, Spindle's End
6. Eva Ibbotson, The Morning Gift
7.
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4. Acquired in 2026


Vincent van Gogh, "The Novel Reader"

1. Mary Balogh, Remember That Day
2. Sarah Adams, In Your Dreams
3. Ellis Peters, Brother Cadfael's Penance
4. Stephanie Burgis, Enchanting the Fae Queen
5. Virginia Evans, The Correspondent
6. Benjamin Stevenson, Everyone in This Bank Is a Thief
7. Charlotte Stein, While You Were Seething
8. Beth O'Leary, The Name Game
9. Kate Clayborn, The Paris Match
10. Lynn Painter, First and Forever
11. Katherine Center, The Shippers
12. Amy Barry, Seven Brides for Beau McBride
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5. Nook Books


Berthe Morisot, "Reading"

1. Joanna Shupe, A Daring Arrangement
2. Molly Clavering, Dear Hugo
3. Kate Pembrooke, Not the Kind of Earl You Marry
4. Celia Lake, Outcrossing
5. Catherine Bakewell, Flowerheart
6. Fiona Hill, The Trellised Lane
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6. Office Book Club/Overflow


Félix Henri Giacomotti, "Forbidden Literature"

1. V.S. Naipaul, A Bend in the River
2. Muriel Spark, The Girls of Slender Means
3. Robert A. Heinlein, The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress
4. Evelyn Waugh, Scoop
5. Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
6. Zora Neale Hurston, Their Eyes Were Watching God
7. H. Beam Piper, Little Fuzzy
8. Willa Cather, My Ántonia
9. C.S. Lewis, Out of the Silent Planet
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CATs and KITs

The CATs and KITs are so plentiful this year that I don't even want to try to follow them all! I've listed the ones I would like to follow, but I still probably won't get to all of them every month.

January
DecadeCAT (’50s): Ellis Peters, Fallen into the Pit; Molly Clavering, Dear Hugo
AlphaKIT (F, E): Ellis Peters, Fallen into the Pit; Soman Chainani, The School for Good and Evil; Tana French, The Secret Place
Colored CoverKIT (orange, found in garden): Anna Harrington, If the Duke Demands; Tessa Arlen, Poppy Redfern and the Midnight Murders; Kristan Higgins, If You Only Knew; Sarah Adams, In Your Dreams; Joanna Shupe, A Daring Arrangement; Molly Clavering, Dear Hugo
MysteryKIT (female detectives): Tessa Arlen, Poppy Redfern and the Midnight Murders
RandomKIT (can you keep a secret?): Tana French, The Secret Place
SFFKIT (adapted for film/TV): Soman Chainani, The School for Good and Evil

February
DecadeCAT (’10s): Kate Pembrooke, Not the Kind of Earl You Marry
AlphaKIT (O, B): Lois McMaster Bujold, The Spirit Ring; Betty Neels, An Unlikely Romance; Ellis Peters, Brother Cadfael's Penance; Celia Lake, Outcrossing; Elizabeth Bailey, The Gilded Shroud; Stephanie Burgis, Enchanting the Fae Queen
Colored CoverKIT (blue, clothing): Kate Pembrooke, Not the Kind of Earl You Marry; Betty Neels, An Unlikely Romance; Ellis Peters, Brother Cadfael's Penance; Elizabeth Bailey, The Gilded Shroud; Stephanie Burgis, Enchanting the Fae Queen
MysteryKIT (clerical sleuths): Ellis Peters, Brother Cadfael's Penance
RandomKIT (hospitals): Betty Neels, An Unlikely Romance
SFFKIT (romantic): Lois McMaster Bujold, The Spirit Ring; Celia Lake, Outcrossing; Stephanie Burgis, Enchanting the Fae Queen

March
DecadeCAT (’80s): Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy; Mary Jo Putney, The Rake
AlphaKIT (V, R): Mary Jo Putney, The Rake; Virginia Evans, The Correspondent; Georgette Heyer, Regency Buck
Colored CoverKIT (green, greenery): Audrey Bellezza and Emily Harding, Emma of 83rd Street
MysteryKIT (Nordic):
RandomKIT (what's in a name?): Audrey Bellezza and Emily Harding, Emma of 83rd Street
SFFKIT (pre-1975): Poul Anderson, Three Hearts and Three Lions

April
DecadeCAT (’00s): Lisa Lutz, The Spellman Files; Patricia Cabot, Educating Caroline; Diane Farr, Under a Lucky Star
AlphaKIT (P, J): Patricia Cabot, Educating Caroline; Ellis Peters, Death and the Joyful Woman; Elizabeth Bailey, The Deathly Portent; Alden Nowlan: Selected Poems
Colored CoverKIT (yellow, celestial object): Patricia Cabot, Educating Caroline; Diane Farr, Under a Lucky Star
MysteryKIT (private eyes): Lisa Lutz, The Spellman Files
RandomKIT (from queens to knights): Robin McKinley, Spindle's End
SFFKIT (parallel worlds): Robin McKinley, Spindle's End

May
DecadeCAT (’30s):
AlphaKIT (W, A): Willa Cather, My Ántonia; Cornell Woolrich, Waltz into Darkness; L.C. Tyler, The Herring-Seller's Apprentice
Colored CoverKIT (turquoise, jewelry): Beth O'Leary, The Name Game; Cornell Woolrich, Waltz into Darkness
MysteryKIT (hardboiled/noir): Cornell Woolrich, Waltz into Darkness
RandomKIT (dance like no one is watching): Cornell Woolrich, Waltz into Darkness
SFFKIT (Western inspired):

June
DecadeCAT (choose your own): Eva Ibbotson, The Morning Gift; C.S. Lewis, Out of the Silent Planet
AlphaKIT (T, H): Tana French, The Trespasser
*Colored CoverKIT (purple, food or drink): Delano Ames, Corpse Diplomatique
MysteryKIT (police procedurals): Tana French, The Trespasser
RandomKIT (numbers and symbols): Amy Barry, Seven Brides for Beau McBride
SFFKIT (religion in SFF): C.S. Lewis, Out of the Silent Planet

July
DecadeCAT (’70s):
AlphaKIT (G, U):
Colored CoverKIT (pink, umbrella):
MysteryKIT (less than lawful):
RandomKIT:
SFFKIT (humorous):

August
DecadeCAT (’60s):
AlphaKIT (C, Q):
Colored CoverKIT (brown, window or door):
MysteryKIT (Grand Master Award winner):
RandomKIT:
SFFKIT (favorite authors/books):

September
DecadeCAT (’40s):
AlphaKIT (M, Y):
Colored CoverKIT (brass, musical instrument):
MysteryKIT (major film/TV series):
RandomKIT:
SFFKIT (not a novel):

October
*DecadeCAT (’20s):
AlphaKIT (N, D):
Colored CoverKIT (black, Halloween costume):
MysteryKIT (favorite author):
RandomKIT:
*SFFKIT (fantastic beasts):

November
DecadeCAT (’90s):
AlphaKIT (K, I):
Colored CoverKIT (silver, fantastical creature):
MysteryKIT (guns for hire):
RandomKIT:
SFFKIT (cozy):

December
DecadeCAT (decade you were born = 1980s):
AlphaKIT (L, S):
Colored CoverKIT (red, related to winter):
MysteryKIT (reader’s choice):
RandomKIT:
SFFKIT (rebels and renegades):

Year-Long
AlphaKIT (X, Z): Zora Neale Hurston, Their Eyes Were Watching God

*I'm hosting this CAT/KIT.

1. Classic from another literary tradition:
2. Something living on the cover: Mary Balogh, Remember That Day (trees, grass, people)
3. Book of poetry: Alden Nowlan: Selected Poems
4. Set in state/province bordering your own: Sarah Adams, In Your Dreams (set in KY, which borders VA)
5. Published before you were born: Ellis Peters, Fallen into the Pit (1951)
6. Road trip book: Charlotte Stein, While You Were Seething
7. “End it”: Ellis Peters, Brother Cadfael's Penance (last book in Cadfael series)
8. From an LT Legacy Library: Willa Cather, My Ántonia (Sylvia Plath, Carl Sandburg, and more)
9. Set entirely or in part at sea: Katherine Center, The Shippers (set mostly on cruise ship)
10. Fairy tale or myth retelling: Robin McKinley, Spindle's End (Sleeping Beauty)
11. Mode of transportation in title:
12. Beautiful cover:
13. Read a CAT or KIT: Joanna Shupe, A Daring Arrangement (January ColoredCoverKIT = orange)
14. Great first sentence: Soman Chainani, The School for Good and Evil ("Sophie had waited all her life to be kidnapped.")
15. Features senior citizens: Virginia Evans, The Correspondent (protagonist is in her 70s)
16. New-to-you author: Tessa Arlen, Poppy Redfern and the Midnight Murders
17. “Green” book: Tana French, The Secret Place (green on cover, set in Ireland)
18. Onomatopoeia in title: Lois McMaster Bujold, The Spirit Ring ("ring")
19. Dead author: V.S. Naipaul, A Bend in the River (died in 2018)
20. Microhistory:
21. Female author’s debut novel: Kate Pembrooke, Not the Kind of Earl You Marry
22. Indigenous author:
23. Difficult to categorize:
24. Tree on the cover: Anna Harrington, If the Duke Demands
25. Award winner: Robert A. Heinlein, The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress (Hugo Award for Best Novel, 1967)

I think that's all for now, so my thread is officially open -- welcome! I'm off to finish my 2025 recap (edit: here it is) and decide what book I'm going to start the new year with!

Great blessings to you and your reading in the new year.

I've placed my star and I am ready to get this party started!

>11 lowelibrary: >12 DeltaQueen50: Thank you both! :)

Beautiful pictures! I couldn't even say what my favourite one is, they are all wonderful. I am looking forward to following your thread this year, and to all the BBs that I'll no doubt get!

What lovely images! Happy and healthy 2026, Christina!

Happy new year and happy reading, Christina!

Lovely artwork to set off your categories. I'll be following along again this year. Happy reading in 2026!

>14 MissBrangwen: >15 Cecilturtle: >16 purpleiris: >17 beebeereads: Thank you all for stopping by! I've been using paintings of women reading for the past several years -- there are so many beautiful works to choose from!

Book #1: Anna Harrington, If the Duke Demands
CATs: ColoredCover (found in garden = trees, flowers)
Bingo: Tree on the cover

Miranda Hodgkins has been in love with her neighbor, Robert Carlisle, for years, but the attraction has always been one-sided. Determined finally to get his attention, Miranda sneaks into his bedroom and attempts to seduce him—only to encounter his older brother, Sebastian, instead. Sebastian offers to help her with Robert if she’ll help him find a suitable wife; as the Duke of Trent, he needs a woman with the right family and social connections. But as Miranda and Sebastian’s agreement brings them closer together, an inconvenient mutual attraction sparks. This Regency romance was a perfectly fine read, but it didn’t knock my socks off. I generally enjoy the “wrong brother” trope, but here it’s a relatively small part of the plot. Miranda also gives off strong “not like other girls” vibes. I did like that she’s honest with Sebastian about her feelings and desires, but I felt he was caddish and irresponsible for pursuing her without feeling able to marry her. Overall, I didn’t dislike this one but wouldn’t particularly recommend it either.

Happy New Year Christina! I hope you have a great reading year.

Hope you have a good reading year.

Thanks for setting up the group again, Christina! Have fun with your categories. I hope you enjoy the rest of the Dublin Murder Squad series :)

I enjoy your reading women, and I especially love the quality of the light in the Anna Ancher in >4 christina_reads:. I had to laugh at the office book club, imagining you all scattered about the office with your books when the boss comes in and catches you reading forbidden literature!

How lovely to see these reading ladies. Enjoy your reading, Christina!

>20 lsh63: >21 dudes22: Thank you!

>22 rabbitprincess: I'm determined to finish the Dublin Murder Squad series this year, as I only have two books to go! I really liked the first three, but Broken Harbor was a bit of a slog for me.

>23 Charon07: Luckily for me, my boss is also in the office book club, so I doubt I'll get in trouble! :)

>24 MissWatson: Thanks for stopping by!

Book #2: Ellis Peters, Fallen into the Pit
CATs: Decade (’50s = published in 1951); Alpha (F = Fallen; E = Ellis)
Bingo: Published before you were born (1951)

It’s been five years since World War II ended, but in the English town of Comerford, on the Welsh border, trouble persists. Helmut Schauffler, a former POW and proud Nazi, is deliberately antagonizing everyone, picking fights and tormenting a local Jewish woman. No one is sorry when his dead body turns up, but Sergeant George Felse knows it’s his duty to find the killer—especially when his teenage son, Dominic, gets involved in the investigation and ends up in danger. I adore the Brother Cadfael novels and was excited to finally try Peters’s other mystery series, which she set in her own era. Overall I really enjoyed this book, despite its being a bit too long; it manages to be a convincing depiction of a changing postwar England, a compelling mystery, and a surprisingly tender portrayal of George and Dominic’s relationship. The Cadfael series has my heart, but I think if you enjoy that series and like Golden Age-style mysteries, you’ll enjoy this one too. I’m excited to continue with the next book!

Year-End Meme

I've seen this pop up on a few threads now, so here are my answers to the year-end meme using titles I read in 2025.

Describe yourself: The Woman in the Library
Describe how you feel: Let’s Make a Scene
Describe where you currently live: Broken Harbor
If you could go anywhere, where would you go?: The Christmas Bookshop
Your favorite form of transportation is: The Otherwhere Post
Your favorite food is: A Moveable Feast
Your favorite time of day is: Towards Zero
Your best friend is: The Blonde Who Came In from the Cold
You and your friends are: Ladies in Waiting
What’s the weather like?: Winterlight
You fear: Excellent Intentions
What is the best advice you have to give?: How to Be a Wallflower
Thought for the day: Remember When
What is life for you?: The Untold Story
How you would like to die: Death at the Bar
Your soul’s present condition: Peace Like a River
What was 2025 like for you?: The Lost Plot
What do you want from 2026?: Great Big Beautiful Life

Dinner Party Meme

I've seen this one on other people's threads but have never before attempted it myself! But I felt like I had some reasonably good answers among my 2025 titles, so here goes.

What would you call the event? You Are Fatally Invited
How did the guests find their way? Luck of the Draw
How did they know they'd arrived? The Blonde Who Came In from the Cold
Any special activities? Masquerade in Lodi
Did your guests stay over? Rest You Merry
Were there servants to help? The Nothing Girl
Was there turn down service? One Final Turn
How were the guests greeted? Babel
Was dinner held for latecomers? Ready or Not
And dinner was? Wild Strawberries
Afterward? The Christmas Murder Game

>26 christina_reads: Wow, that cover is gorgeous!

>29 shimmermarie: It's certainly very striking!

Looking forward to many book bullets, Christina. Happy reading.

Geat meme answers!

>31 pamelad: >32 DeltaQueen50: Thank you both!

>26 christina_reads: I had no idea the Caedfel mysteries were that old. I knew they were around in the late 1970s and early 1980s, but 1951? Wow!

PS - Enjoyed your memes.

>34 thornton37814: The Cadfael mysteries did come later, in the late '70s as you say. The Felse mysteries predate them!

>35 christina_reads: I don't think I've read a Felse one in that case.

>36 thornton37814: I'm excited to continue with the series!

I just finished Cover Story and I agree with you that it was not her best book. But even a dud from Mhairi McFarlane is still entertaining.

>38 RidgewayGirl: I totally agree!

Book #3: V.S. Naipaul, A Bend in the River
CATs: none
Bingo: Dead author (died in 2018)

This novel depicts a pessimistic view of life in postcolonial Africa. It’s narrated by Salim, a young Indian Muslim who decides to move away from his family on the east coast and settle in a small town in the interior of Africa. There he observes the various struggles he and his neighbors face, from the petty corruption of local officials to large-scale political violence. Salim’s aimlessness and confusion mirror the experience of the town, which seems doomed to corruption and decay no matter who is ruling it. This is my first encounter with Naipaul, and while he’s an excellent writer, I didn’t much care for the book. As a novel, I don’t think it works; there’s not much plot, and Salim is an incredibly passive and unsympathetic character. Based on cursory internet research, Naipaul seems to be widely viewed as racist and sexist; the character of Salim certainly is both. But I didn’t read this as a pro-colonialist novel, as some have claimed. The fictional town here seems doomed to corruption and decay no matter who is ruling it. Regardless, this type of book isn’t for me, and I don’t plan to read more by Naipaul.

Book #4: Tessa Arlen, Poppy Redfern and the Midnight Murders
CATs: ColoredCover (orange = on cover); Mystery (female detectives)
Bingo: New-to-you author

It’s 1942, and Poppy Redfern is the local air raid warden in her village of Little Buffenden. Excitement has recently come to the village in the form of an American airfield; the Yanks have arrived to help win the war, and at first the locals embrace them with open arms. Some of the village’s young women begin dating the dashing American soldiers; but when two of the women are murdered, suspicion immediately falls on the outsiders. But Poppy, wondering whether someone from the village might be responsible, decides to investigate for herself. I enjoy a good historical mystery, and this one was fine, but nothing particularly stands out about it. Poppy is a fun narrator, but many of the secondary characters are flat and two-dimensional. I also felt there was a lot of info-dumping about life in England during World War II, which will be redundant for most people. Overall, this was an easy, pleasant read, but I’m not desperate to pick up the sequel.

Book #5: Kristan Higgins, If You Only Knew
CATs: ColoredCover (found in garden = flowers)
Bingo: none

This novel follows two sisters as they face new challenges in their lives. Jenny, recently divorced but trapped in an unwanted “friendship” with her ex and his new wife, has moved back to her hometown for a fresh start. There she meets her attractive neighbor, Leo, who flirts with her but is adamant that he doesn’t want a relationship. Meanwhile, Jenny’s sister, Rachel, channels all her energy into being the perfect wife and mother—until she discovers that her husband cheated on her. Will she forgive him or forge a new path for herself? I enjoyed this book quite a bit; both Jenny and Rachel, who take turns narrating, are relatable and sympathetic characters. The serious issues in the book are leavened by humor and by a satisfying romance that develops throughout the novel. I stopped reading Higgins’s books after a while because they got too miserably depressing, but this one is a fun and uplifting read.

A little late, but I wish you a great reading year!

>43 Jackie_K: Thanks, and same to you!

Book #6: Soman Chainani, The School for Good and Evil
CATs: Alpha (E = Evil); SFF (adapted for film = 2022 Netflix movie)
Bingo: Great first sentence

Every year, two children are kidnapped from the village of Gavaldon. One, beautiful and kind-hearted, is sent to the School for Good, and the other, ugly and malicious, goes to the School for Evil. This year, Sophie is determined to be the one selected for the School for Good, where she’ll become the heroine of her very own fairy tale, complete with Prince Charming. But when she and her friend, the plain and all-black-wearing Agatha, are chosen, she’s shocked to end up in Evil, while Agatha is sent to Good. Can the two girls figure out how to fix this mistake – and what happens if they want to go home? I loved the first sentence of this book (“Sophie had waited all her life to be kidnapped”), but unfortunately it was mostly downhill from there. The plot lurches along unsteadily and is surprisingly hard to follow, and I found Sophie so awful that I wondered why Agatha (or anyone) would want to be friends with her! There are some interesting ideas in the book, but they never quite gel into anything substantial. Not recommended, and I won’t be continuing with the series.

Book #7: Mary Balogh, Remember That Day
CATs: none
Bingo: Something living on the cover = trees, grass, people

Winifred Cunningham is close friends with Owen Ware and has been invited, with her family, to his family’s estate of Ravenswood for a few weeks. Winifred wonders whether Owen will propose to her; they share a passion for helping others and might do a lot of good together. But she’s not in love with him, and as the visit proceeds, she finds herself unexpectedly attracted to his brother, Colonel Nicholas Ware. Meanwhile, Nicholas is about to make a pragmatic proposal to his commanding officer’s daughter, but meeting Winifred throws a wrench in his plans. This is another mildly pleasant installment of the Ravenswood series. I liked the central love story but felt it lacked depth; too much time was spent on the myriad supporting characters in both Nicholas’s and Winifred’s families, and I just don’t find them interesting! I really hope the next book is Stephanie’s story, which still intrigues me, but after that I’ll probably stick with Balogh’s earlier titles.

Book #8: Tana French, The Secret Place
CATs: Alpha (F = French); Random (can you keep a secret? = “Secret” in title)
Bingo: “Green book” (green on the cover, set in Ireland)

This fifth book in the Dublin Murder Squad series is set at St. Kilda’s, a posh girls’ boarding school where a student from the neighboring boys’ school was found dead a year ago. The case was never solved, but now Detective Stephen Moran has received an anonymous note saying, “I know who killed him.” Hoping for a permanent spot on the Murder Squad, Moran teams up with Antoinette Conway, the abrasive detective who worked the case the first time around. As they delve deeper into St. Kilda’s mysteries, they’re shocked to discover just how much these teenage girls are hiding. I liked this book a lot more than Broken Harbor, though a few things still bugged me: The narrative switches between the present-day investigation and the months leading up to the boy’s murder, and I found the present-day story much more interesting. The teen speak felt inauthentic, and I didn’t like the supernatural element. But I did really love the insights into teen friendship and psychology, as well as the development of Moran and Conway’s partnership. I’m interested to see how that dynamic continues and changes in the next (and final) book.

Book #9: Sarah Adams, In Your Dreams
CATs: ColoredCover (found in a garden = plants, flowers)
Bingo: Set in a state/province bordering your own (set in KY, which borders VA)

Madison Walker has always seen herself as the “failure” among her successful siblings. She’s just graduated from culinary school in New York, but she’s no longer sure cooking brings her joy, and she doesn’t love the big city like she thought she would. Still, when family friend James Huxley offers her the executive chef position at his new restaurant, she jumps at the chance to move home to Rome, Kentucky, and prove that she can succeed at something. Little does she know that James has been secretly in love with her for years, and he may finally be ready to do something about it. I enjoyed this light, charming romance and felt Madison’s insecurities and issues with her (loving but imperfect) family were relatable. James is of course a bit too perfect as a romantic hero, though I liked that he had a conflict with his brother, Tommy, that was partly (or even mostly) his fault. It looks like this is the last book in the Rome series, but is it weird that I kind of want Tommy’s story now?

>40 christina_reads: I read his Half a Life and it was awful! Well, it was a DNF for me about half way through.

>49 Tess_W: I can see his talent as a writer, but he is definitely not someone I want to read in my leisure time!

Book #10: Joanna Shupe, A Daring Arrangement
CATs: ColoredCover (orange = dress, fire)
Bingo: Read a CAT or KIT (January ColoredCoverKIT)

Lady Nora Parker is a spirited young Englishwoman who’s fallen in love with an unsuitable artist. Her father has sent her away to New York to find a better match, but Nora just wants to return to England. She decides to find an outrageously unsuitable American man to pose as her fiancé, so her father will object to the match and summon her home. Wall Street tycoon Julius Hatcher seems like the perfect candidate; his lavish parties and scandalous paramours are the topic of every gossip column. But as Nora and Julius spend more time together, an inconvenient attraction sparks. I love the fake relationship trope and was excited about the Gilded Age setting of this romance, but ultimately the plot just doesn’t work. Nora wants Julius to help her create a scandal, while he is trying to use her to get into high society, so their desires are opposed from the start—why does either of them think this arrangement is a good idea? That said, I do think they have good chemistry, so I enjoyed the romance aspect. Overall, the book is fine but didn’t knock my socks off.

Book #11: Cecilia Grant, A Gentleman Undone
CATs: none
Bingo: none

Will Blackshear is a soldier who has returned from the Napoleonic Wars with visible and invisible wounds. He needs money to support the widow of one of his men, and he hopes to win it at the gambling tables. There he meets Lydia Slaughter, a prostitute who once worked in a brothel and is now a gentleman’s mistress. She also happens to be a genius at cards and agrees to help Will cheat in exchange for a share of the take. They are drawn to each other almost immediately, but they know that acting on their attraction would be a huge mistake: Will can’t afford to keep a mistress, and Lydia’s entire livelihood depends on her current protector. I finished this book thinking, “Now this is how you write historical romance!” Will and Lydia are both such complex characters, broken in many ways, convinced they’re unable to love and unworthy of being loved. Every interaction between them is fraught with tension, and while I don’t usually like books with a lot of steam, the sex scenes here are crucial to the development of character and relationship. If you want superior-quality historical romance, I can’t recommend Cecilia Grant highly enough!

Book #12: Molly Clavering, Dear Hugo
CATs: Decade (’50s: published in 1955); ColoredCover (tree, grass, woman reading in lounge chair)
Bingo: none

It’s 1951, and 40-year-old Sara Monteith has just moved to the Scottish village of Ravenskirk, the hometown of her fiancé, Ivo, who was killed in World War II. Sara writes to Ivo’s brother, Hugo, about her experiences in the village: taking tea with the local gossips, making friends (and frenemies), gardening, and exploring the beautiful landscape. She also becomes the guardian of her cousin’s child, 13-year-old Atty, and reflects on the highs and lows of parenting a teenage boy. Several romances blossom around her, some of which she helps along, but ultimately Sara’s story is one of contentment in this new season of her life. This is a pleasant, peaceful read with a bit of light humor and some very sweet moments, especially between Sara and Atty. There’s absolutely no plot to speak of, and I was disappointed that Sara didn’t get her own romance, but I liked this one overall and think it will please anyone who enjoys this type of book.

Book #13: Agatha Christie, Death in the Clouds
CATs: none
Bingo: none

In this 1935 mystery, a woman is murdered on an airplane in the middle of a cross-Channel flight—and Hercule Poirot unfortunately sleeps through the whole thing! The victim was killed with a blow-dart coated in an obscure poison, but how could anyone have shot the dart without being observed? Poirot collaborates with the English and French police—as well as some of the passengers on the fatal flight—to learn more about the dead woman and discover who had a motive to kill her. He also finds a vital clue in the passengers’ luggage that reveals how the murder occurred. I enjoy this Christie novel and have read it a few times. I think the solution to the mystery is really clever, especially Poirot’s reconstruction of how the crime must have occurred. There’s a fair bit of humor—I love the detective novelist, Mr. Clancy—and multiple romantic subplots. Recommended if you’re in the mood for a fun Golden Age romp!

>54 christina_reads: One of the things I enjoyed about this one was some of the details of early passenger airplane travel.

>55 kac522: I agree -- there was so much interesting detail! Air travel certainly seems to have been a lot less crowded back then.

>52 christina_reads: I agree with you about Cecilia Grant. I wish she'd write more books!

>57 pamelad: I'm holding off on A Woman Entangled because I don't want to come to the end of her oeuvre!

Book #14: Muriel Spark, The Girls of Slender Means
CATs: none
Bingo: none

This slender book (see what I did there?) is set in a boardinghouse called the May of Teck Club, inhabited by women eking out a living in postwar London. The girls pursue various jobs and love affairs, sharing jokes and a single glamorous evening gown, until a tragedy radically alters their lives. This is a very odd novel; aside from the aforementioned tragedy at the end, hardly anything actually happens. I'm also not quite sure how the author intends us to feel about some of the characters -- she seems to mock them all pretty indiscriminately. That said, the book is absolutely hilarious, and I loved the frequent satire of the publishing industry:

She had put aside Nicholas's manuscript for the time being, as it was a sticky proposition; she had not yet, in fact, grasped the theme of the book, as was necessary before deciding on a significant passage to cast doubt upon, although she had already thought of the comment she would recommend George to make: "Don't you think this part is a bit derivative?" Jane had thought of it in a brain-wave.

Overall, highly recommended for the writing style and setting, but not if you need a plot and/or likable characters.

January recap

2026 has certainly been interesting so far! The big winter storm that hit a large portion of the US visited my area with an unusually large amount (7-8 inches) of snow. And since it's been well below freezing for several days, nothing has melted, which means my car is currently surrounded by an impenetrable ice fortress. Fortunately, I live in area that's pretty walkable and has good public transit, so I can still get to work, the grocery store, etc. But I am desperate for some warmer weather -- nothing crazy, but the 40s would be amazing! Oh well, at least the cold is good for settling on the couch with a blanket and a good book!

Books read in January:
1. Anna Harrington, If the Duke Demands
2. Ellis Peters, Fallen into the Pit
3. V.S. Naipaul, A Bend in the River
4. Tessa Arlen, Poppy Redfern and the Midnight Murders
5. Kristan Higgins, If You Only Knew
6. Soman Chainani, The School for Good and Evil
7. Mary Balogh, Remember That Day
8. Tana French, The Secret Place
9. Sarah Adams, In Your Dreams
10. Joanna Shupe, A Daring Arrangement
11. Cecilia Grant, A Gentleman Undone
12. Molly Clavering, Dear Hugo
13. Agatha Christie, Death in the Clouds
14. Muriel Spark, The Girls of Slender Means

Favorite book of the month:
A Gentleman Undone is an exceptional historical romance with wonderfully flawed characters who claw their way to a realistic happy ending.

Dishonorable mention:
The School for Good and Evil was too long, frustratingly scattered, and surprisingly difficult to follow considering it's YA.

Books acquired in January:

• Joanna Shupe, A Daring Arrangement (e-book - already read)
  
• Kate Moore, To Kiss a Thief (e-book)
  
• Gail Eastwood, An Unlikely Hero (e-book)
  
• Jodi Taylor, A Bachelor Establishment (e-book)

Book #15: Lois McMaster Bujold, The Spirit Ring
CATs: Alpha (B = Bujold); SFF (romantic)
Bingo: Onomatopoeia in title (“ring”)

In a magical version of Renaissance Italy, Fiametta is the privileged daughter of a goldsmith and master mage. Her biggest problem is an unrequited crush on one of the duke’s soldiers—that is, until the duke is assassinated by a rival who seems to command dark magic. When this man’s soldiers kill Fiametta’s father and seize his corpse for use in an evil ritual, she teams up with the local abbot, who also has some knowledge of magic, and with Thur, a would-be metalworker who was supposed to be her father’s new apprentice. This stand-alone fantasy novel is one of Bujold’s earlier works, but it has a lot of her characteristic elements: strong world-building, an intelligent heroine with agency, and ordinary people doing heroic things because there’s no one else around to do them. The book has a YA feel to it, possibly because Fiametta and Thur are both teenagers, and their romance is a bit underdeveloped. Overall, though, I really enjoyed this one and would recommend it to fantasy fans!

>59 christina_reads: Funny that your group was also reading Spark! The meeting I went to (to discuss The Driver's Seat) was interesting, although there weren't many fans of the book. There was plenty of food for thought: I'm not sure I'll be rushing to pick up more of her books.

I also like Cecilia Grant although I seem to have missed this one, and have added it to the wishlist. I am also tempted by >26 christina_reads: (so much for reading my own books!)

>62 charl08: I'd be interested in reading more by Spark -- I'm thinking The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie next -- but I'll need to make sure I'm in the right mood for it.

A Gentleman Undone is technically book #2 of Grant's Blackshear series, but it stands alone well. That said, book #1, A Lady Awakened, is also fantastic if you haven't read it yet!

>54 christina_reads: Death in the Clouds is one of my favorites, too.

>64 MissBrangwen: I've reread it a few times and always enjoy it. The suspects are such a fun cast of characters, and I like that most of them are working-class people, or at most professionals, rather than aristocrats.

Thank you for mentioning A Bachelor Household, a book I'd missed completely.

Thank you for mentioning A Bachelor Establishment, a book I'd missed completely. Interesting comparison to her other books!

>67 charl08: I'm really excited to read it! I read the first Chronicles of St. Mary's book and didn't feel compelled to continue with the series, but then I absolutely loved The Nothing Girl, so I know Jodi Taylor can really work for me...maybe it just depends on the genre.

Book #16: Robert A. Heinlein, The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress
CATs: none
Bingo: Award winner (1967 Hugo Award for Best Novel)

It’s 2075, and the Federated Nations of Earth have established a thriving colony on the moon. But times are tough on Luna, whose resources are being unfairly exploited by the Terran government. A small group of Lunar citizens decides to start a revolution, including narrator Manny, an engineer who has befriended self-aware supercomputer “Mike.” Along with a crafty professor, a beautiful revolutionary, and a Terran self-proclaimed soldier of fortune, Manny and Mike engineer a rebellion—but at what cost? This novel combines clever world-building with speculative science and libertarian political philosophy. There are some interesting ideas in it, and I liked Manny’s narrative voice once I got used to the Lunar dialect, but I also found it a slog; it really drags after the initial setup. It was fascinating that some aspects of the plot were very dated while others still felt timely. Overall, this was a mixed bag for me, and I’ll probably wait a while before trying anything else by Heinlein.

Book #17: Kate Pembrooke, Not the Kind of Earl You Marry
CATs: Decade (’10s = set in 1817); ColoredCover (blue, clothing = blue dress on a blue cover)
Bingo: Female author’s debut novel

William Atherton, the earl of Norwood, is a man of unassailable respectability and political aspirations. So when a newspaper announces his engagement to Charlotte Hurst, a social nobody whom he’s never even met before, he’s furious. But when it becomes obvious that Charlotte knows nothing about the announcement either, William proposes that they pretend it’s true: A temporary engagement will prevent any scandal and give him the chance to figure out who’s really behind the announcement. But as William and Charlotte spend more time together, their fake betrothal starts to feel all too real. I enjoy the fake relationship trope, and this is an inoffensive example of it, but honestly the book fell a bit flat for me. Contrary to the title, William is exactly the kind of earl anyone would marry—handsome, rich, intelligent, kind, and essentially flawless. Lovely in real life but dull in fiction, and Charlotte is no better. Overall, the book just feels like the blandest possible version of this story, and I’m not particularly tempted to pick up the sequel.

Book #18: Betty Neels, An Unlikely Romance
CATs: Alpha (B = Betty); ColoredCover (blue, clothing = blue stripe at top, sea, clothed people); Random (hospitals = heroine is a hospital nurse)
Bingo: none

Orphan Trixie Doveton doesn’t expect too much from life; she’s content with her work as a nurse-in-training and doesn’t believe she’ll ever marry. So she’s shocked when Professor Krijn van der Brink-Schaaksma, a renowned endocrinologist and very eligible bachelor, proposes a marriage of convenience. He needs someone to manage his social life and keep his acquaintances at bay so he can concentrate on the book he’s writing. Trixie, having fallen in love with him almost immediately, accepts—but can she be happy when the man she desperately loves hardly seems to notice her? I enjoyed this a bit more than my previous Neels title, No Need to Say Goodbye. I liked that Trixie wasn’t a complete doormat; though she outwardly conforms to all Krijn’s expectations, she isn’t happy about it and occasionally lets her anger show. I also liked getting a few glimpses into Krijn’s head as his feelings for his wife begin to change. It’s not a deep or significant book, but not bad for a quick, nostalgic read.

Book #19: Ellis Peters, Brother Cadfael’s Penance
CATs: Alpha (B = Brother); ColoredCover (blue, clothing = many blue tones, including the man's tunic); Mystery (clerical sleuths = monk)
Bingo: “End it” (final book in Cadfael series)

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

In the late fall of A.D. 1145, the civil war between King Stephen and Empress Maud rages on, but most people just want the fighting to be over, regardless of the victor. To that end, one of the empress’s major supporters changes sides and surrenders a key castle to Stephen. When some of the castle’s knights refuse to betray the empress, they are taken prisoner. Among them is Olivier de Bretagne, Brother Cadfael’s son from his crusading days. Cadfael sets out for Coventry, where a peace conference is being held, to see if he can locate and ransom Olivier. But doing so will risk his place among his Benedictine brethren—and possibly even his life. I adore this series and am sad to have finished it, but I think this is an extremely fitting conclusion. Cadfael faces his biggest challenge yet, as he’s torn between love of his vocation and love of his son. The book also explores the complexities of friendship, loyalty, and father-son relationships, all while painting a vivid picture of medieval life. I can’t recommend this series highly enough, although I definitely think this book should be read last.

Book #20: Celia Lake, Outcrossing
CATs: Alpha (O = Outcrossing); SFF (romantic)
Bingo: none

In this fantastical version of 1920s England, Rufus Pride is magically gifted but untrained, since the man who was supposed to teach him died in the Great War. Now Rufus is struggling to make ends meet with no steady trade, magical or otherwise. Meanwhile, Ferry Wright is from an aristocratic family, but she’s become a governess rather than marry the much older man her parents have chosen for her. When Rufus and Ferry meet, they’re immediately drawn to each other but don’t see a way to be together. Then Rufus falls in with a gang of smugglers who put both his and Ferry’s lives in danger. This book is marketed as a “cozy historical fantasy romance,” which is a fair description and right up my alley. I found it slight but charming, although the dialogue was occasionally a bit stilted to my ear. I also could have done without the two or three steamy scenes. But overall, I enjoyed this one and would consider reading more by the author – she seems to be quite prolific!

Book #21: Elizabeth Bailey, The Gilded Shroud
CATs: Alpha (B = Bailey); ColoredCover (blue = curtains and bedspread)
Bingo: none

In this Georgian-era historical mystery, Emily Fanshawe, the marchioness of Polbrook, is strangled in her bedchamber, and the most likely suspect is her husband. Their marriage has always been contentious, they argued the night before the murder, and now Lord Polbrook is nowhere to be found. His family is horrified yet determined to prove him innocent—a task that falls on his younger brother, Lord Francis Fanshawe, and on his mother’s new companion, Ottilia Draycott, whose clever mind soon uncovers some pertinent secrets. I read this book a long time ago and remember liking it, so I’m pleased to say I really enjoyed it this time as well! The historical setting feels grounded, and both Francis and Ottilia are interesting, sympathetic characters. The mystery is well plotted but a bit slow, and I found it less compelling than the romantic subplot. But I’m excited to read the next book, which I also own, and it looks like Bailey has also written some romances that I’d like to check out!

>74 christina_reads: I'm taking a BB for this one, it sounds really nice.

>75 MissBrangwen: It was a pleasant surprise! Hope you enjoy it.

Book #22: Stephanie Burgis, Enchanting the Fae Queen
CATs: Alpha (B = Burgis); ColoredCover (blue, clothing = man’s blue uniform); SFF (romantic) - I read this in February
Bingo: none

Imperial general Gerard Moireul is a brilliant military strategist with an unassailable reputation for honor and integrity. Queen Lorelei of Balravia is notorious for her flighty, scandalous behavior. They’ve been nemeses for years, both politically and personally. But when a magical bargain forces them to compete in a fae tournament, they must work together, and slowly they come to realize they’re much more alike than they thought. I’m generally a Burgis fan, and I enjoy the enemies-to-lovers trope, so overall I found this quite fun. Both Gerard and Lorelei are likable characters underneath their exaggerated public personas, and I’m especially fond of an uptight, duty-bound hero. I do think the broader political situation in this fantasy world is boring and basic; the book is more enjoyable when it focuses on the romance. Overall, it’s a fun read, and you don’t necessarily have to read the previous book, Wooing the Witch Queen, to follow this one.

February recap

This month really flew by, which I guess makes sense since it’s the shortest of the year! For the first three weekends in February, I played piano in a community theater production of Peter and the Starcatcher, which is sort of a prequel to Peter Pan. I love doing shows, but they do tend to eat your life, especially during tech week and performances! I’m looking forward to a return to normalcy in March. Meanwhile, here’s what I read in February:

Books read in February:
1.Lois McMaster Bujold, The Spirit Ring
2. Robert A. Heinlein, The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress
3. Kate Pembrooke, Not the Kind of Earl You Marry
4. Betty Neels, An Unlikely Romance
5. Ellis Peters, Brother Cadfael’s Penance
6. Celia Lake, Outcrossing
7. Elizabeth Bailey, The Gilded Shroud
8. Stephanie Burgis, Enchanting the Fae Queen

Favorite book of the month:
I have to go with Brother Cadfael’s Penance, a strong and fitting conclusion to one of my all-time favorite series.

Dishonorable mention:
The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress had some interesting ideas in it, but overall I found it a slog.

Books acquired in February:

• Virginia Evans, The Correspondent (gift)
  
• Cara Bastone, Call Me Maybe (e-book)
  
• Cara Bastone, Sweet Talk (e-book)
  
• Cara Bastone, Seatmate (e-book)
  
• India Holton, The Ornithologist’s Field Guide to Love (e-book)
  
• Patricia Cabot, Educating Caroline
  
• Evelyn Waugh, Scoop
  
• Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
  
• Elizabeth Bailey, Mademoiselle at Arms (free e-book)
  
• Elizabeth Bailey, Fated Folly (e-book)

You got a lot of Bastone! Looking forward to your reviews.

>79 purpleiris: One of the Bastones was on sale for $0.99, and I think the others were cheap as well (maybe $2.99 or less), so I couldn't resist!

Book #23: Evelyn Waugh, Scoop
CATs: none
Bingo: none

British novelist John Courteney Boot has gotten himself entangled with the wrong woman and needs to skip town. He asks a friend to get him a job as a foreign correspondent covering the imminent war in the East African republic of Ishmaelia. But through a series of misunderstandings, the newspaper sends the wrong man, William Boot, who writes a nature column and has absolutely no desire to travel beyond his country village. As William embarks on his bewildering adventure, he learns more than he bargained for about journalism and international relations. This novel is both a biting satire on journalism and an extremely well-plotted farce. I loved how William’s oblivious blundering essentially caused the revolution (and counterrevolution) in Ishmaelia. On the minus side, there aren’t really any characters to root for, and the worldview expressed by the novel is cynical and bleak. Overall, I enjoyed the book’s humor but don’t think I’d ever want to reread it.

Book #24: Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
CATs: Decade (’80s = published in 1980)
Bingo: none

It’s an ordinary Thursday, and British everyman Arthur Dent is lying in front of a bulldozer, trying to stop his house from being demolished. Little does he know that the entire planet is about to be demolished to make way for an interstellar bypass. Fortunately, his alien friend, Ford Prefect, saves him from vaporization by hitching a ride on a spaceship. From there, Arthur and Ford brave many dangers, including Vogon poetry, infinite improbability, automated attacks from dead planets, and the evil machinations of white mice. I remember reading this book (and the sequels) in my tween or teen years, and at the time I thought it was hilarious. This time around, I could still appreciate some of the humor, but I had less patience for it. The book isn’t attempting to be anything more than a rapid-fire series of jokes, and after a while I found it a bit tedious. So even though there’s no real resolution at the end of this novel, I’m not tempted to continue with the series.

Book #25: Mary Jo Putney, The Rake
CATs: Decade (’80s = published in 1989); Alpha (R = Rake)
Bingo: none

Notorious rake Reggie Davenport is growing tired of his aimless life; so when his cousin, the Earl of Wargrave, unexpectedly gives him an estate, he views it as a fresh start. Upon arriving at the estate, Reggie is shocked to discover that his very capable steward is a woman, Alys Weston. Alys fled her aristocratic family at a young age and has fought hard to make her own way in the world, so at first she fears and resents Reggie’s presence. Eventually they discover each other’s good qualities, but Reggie’s drinking problem threatens their relationship. I was pleasantly surprised by this book! I loved its refusal to romanticize rakishness: Reggie’s drinking and womanizing have serious consequences, particularly his struggle with what we now call alcoholism. His feelings for Alys are one motivating factor in his desire to change, but not the only one, and her love doesn’t magically solve his problems. I liked Alys too and related to her insecurities, but this is really Reggie’s book. I would highly recommend it to historical romance fans, and I’m interested in trying more by Putney—anyone have any recommendations?

Book #26: Audrey Bellezza and Emily Harding, Emma of 83rd Street
CATs: ColoredCover (green, greenery = leaves/ivy on cover); Random (what’s in a name? = Emma)
Bingo: none

In this contemporary retelling of Jane Austen’s Emma, Emma Woodhouse is a privileged 23-year-old living on the Upper East Side and getting a master’s in art history. Socially, she’s at a loose end now that her beloved older sister has married and moved out. So when she meets country-mouse classmate Nadine, Emma decides to give her a makeover—as well as some dubious romantic advice. Emma’s friend Knightley doesn’t hesitate to point out the flaws in her approach, but lately their good-natured sparring seems to be taking a romantic turn. I adore Austen but tend to steer clear of retellings; I broke my rule for this one, and sadly I don’t think it was worth it. The novel has its good points—it successfully translates the original book’s major plot points, and it gives us some peeks at Knightley’s point of view—but to me it felt like a standard contemporary romance with nothing particularly interesting or compelling about it. Unless you’re a diehard Austen fanfic lover, I’d skip this one.

>83 christina_reads: I listened to The Christmas Cuckoo around Christmas and really enjoyed it. It's only a novella, though. I mean to try more by her, too. I'm taking note of The Rake!

>85 MissBrangwen: Sounds like I should add The Christmas Cuckoo to my holiday reading list this year!

>86 christina_reads: I hope you like it! I don't feel very confident when giving romance recommendations since I am still so new to the genre compared to everyone else. But I did like The Christmas Cuckoo and remember it fondly!

Book #27: Poul Anderson, Three Hearts and Three Lions
CATs: SFF (pre-1975 = published in 1961)
Bingo: none

Holger Carlsen is a Danish engineer who joins the underground to fight the Nazis during World War II. When he’s injured and loses consciousness in battle, he wakes up in an unfamiliar environment: in the middle of an ancient forest, next to a stallion decked out as a medieval warhorse. Though unsure of what’s occurred, Holger soon realizes that he has a role to play in his new surroundings. Along with the warhorse, a dwarf, and a beautiful girl who can transform into a swan, Holger sets out to find his way home, fighting various forces of evil along the way. This is an entertaining fantasy tale in the vein of an Arthurian legend. Holger meets all the expected foes: evil Faeries, dragons, trolls, a werewolf, and even Morgan le Fay. Every woman in the story tries to sleep with him, which I found annoying, but the book at least acknowledges that it’s strange! And I liked his instinct to try and understand his predicament scientifically. Overall, there’s nothing particularly unique about this novel, but it’s a good yarn.

>83 christina_reads: Of the two books in The Davenports series, I liked the first one, The Diabolical Baron more than The Rake, perhaps because it's half the length. Worth a try.

Lots of Mary Jo Putney's in KoboPlus, so I've just read a couple from the Lost Lords series, No Longer a Gentleman and Sometimes a Rogue. I liked them because the plots are based on adventure, not just romance, and they are almost closed door.

>89 pamelad: Thanks for the recs -- I will check them out! I enjoyed the "almost closed door" aspect of The Rake, too; I think there's just one love scene, and it comes near the end of the novel.

Hello Christina, and so glad to finally be able to catch up with your thread! Your musical work in February on the prequel to Peter Pan sounds wonderful; Peter Pan was always a crush of mine. Having performed last weekend for an early St. Patrick's Day at a church service with several classmates in our Irish music class, I can certainly appreciate how music performance requires time and commitment.

Thank you for your reviews of both The Moon is a Harsh Mistress and Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. I've read or at least started both at one time, and while they are both on my shelves because, well, classics, I don't know that I ever want to re-read them. There are better ones out there, both classic and new.

I hope you get to reading (and enjoying) the Sebastian St Cyr mysteries. I started on them with a LT group and just fell in love with them. They are historical, and love stories, and they have twists that are quite unexpected. Plus, they discuss the time of the Napleonic wars quite well and the effects of being a soldier who survives.

Happy 2026 reading!!

>91 threadnsong: I hope the St. Patrick's Day service went well! I love Irish music but sadly don't play it. I did, however, just finish playing trombone for a local teen production of "Hadestown," which was wonderful even though it ate my whole weekend!

I do hope I'll enjoy the Sebastian St. Cyr mysteries. I read the first book long ago and remember feeling lukewarm about it -- but then my mom got absolutely hooked on the series, and our taste often overlaps, so I want to try again!

Book #28: Virginia Evans, The Correspondent
CATs: Alpha (V = Virginia)
Bingo: Features senior citizens (protagonist is in her 70s)

This epistolary novel comprises the correspondence to and from seventy-something Sybil Van Antwerp. She spends a significant amount of time writing letters, and her correspondents range from close friends (her brother Felix and best friend Rosalie) to pen pals (author Joan Didion) to complete strangers (the customer service representative at a DNA analysis website). Through these letters, Sybil is revealed as an intelligent, flawed, complicated woman who reflects on her life and discovers it’s not too late to change. I can see why this book has gotten so much good buzz – it’s a really fascinating portrait of an ordinary life. I genuinely did both laugh and cry as I read it. That said, I didn’t like Sybil as much as I think I was supposed to; while the book acknowledges her flaws, it also has more patience for her abrasiveness and unkindness than I did. The subplot about her trying to audit classes at the University of Maryland drove me crazy! I know others’ mileage will vary, however, and I’m excited to pass the book on to my mom, who I think will enjoy it.

>93 christina_reads: I did not make it very far in this book. I had heard so many good things about it and I waited months for my library hold to come in. But after 50 pages or so Sybil was just too unpleasant for me, so I gave up. Sounds like it gets better, but I decided there's so much unkindness in our world now, I didn't need it in my reading.

>94 kac522: I think that's fair! Sybil is definitely tough to root for at times.

Book #29: Benjamin Stevenson, Everyone in This Bank Is a Thief
CATs: none
Bingo: none

Ernie Cunningham and his fiancée, Juliette, have just entered Huxley’s Bank, hoping to get a loan to start a private detective business. But their plans are interrupted when an armed, masked individual enters the bank and takes everyone inside hostage. Strangely, the robber doesn’t seem very clear on his or her demands, and Ernie soon discovers that his fellow hostages all have something to hide. Throw in a missing person, multiple murders, and what looks like spontaneous combustion, and Ernie is on track to solve another sensational case—if he doesn’t get killed first. I’m continuing to enjoy this series. I always like a good heist narrative, and while Ernie isn’t always the most likable narrator, the other characters (especially Juliette) do call him out for his questionable decisions. I’d recommend this book to mystery fans, but the series should be read in order, starting with Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone.

Book #30: Georgette Heyer, Regency Buck
CATs: Alpha (R = Regency)
Bingo: none

Judith Taverner and her brother Peregrine travel to London to meet their guardian, Lord Worth, who they assume is a curmudgeonly old man. In fact, Worth is relatively young, a leader of fashionable society, and friends with Beau Brummell. His autocratic manner immediately offends strong-willed Judith, and their frequent arguments comprise the most dramatic parts of the book. Meanwhile, someone is trying to kill Peregrine, but is the villain Worth or someone else? I love Heyer, but this is not one of my favorites by her, and now I remember why. It’s one of her earliest Regency romances, and it seems like she dumped all her research here. We get so much detail about Beau Brummell, the Royal Pavilion at Brighton, prizefighting, and so on that there’s no space for the romance. The hero treats Judith badly, and we don’t get enough insight into his feelings or motives. If you want a detailed window into the Regency era, this novel is great, but it’s not very satisfying as a romance.

March recap

In true March fashion, the weather has been absolutely insane here! Lots of temperature fluctuations – can I finally put away my winter coat? – and tons of wind. Meanwhile, I’ve been busy with work and music stuff. I played trombone in a local production of Hadestown: Teen Edition, which was lots of fun! I love the show and had played it before, and the high schoolers in the cast and band did a great job! Now I’m busy with my church choir since Easter is upon us. I’m singing at four liturgies this weekend, which will be exhausting, but at least I have brunch with a friend to look forward to as well! And now on to the books…

Books read in March:
1. Evelyn Waugh, Scoop
2. Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
3. Mary Jo Putney, The Rake
4. Audrey Bellezza and Emily Harding, Emma of 83rd Street
5. Poul Anderson, Three Hearts and Three Lions
6. Virginia Evans, The Correspondent
7. Benjamin Stevenson, Everyone in This Bank Is a Thief
8. Georgette Heyer, Regency Buck

Favorite book of the month:
I was pleasantly surprised by The Rake; unlike most historical romances, it doesn’t glamorize rakish behavior but instead highlights its negative consequences.

Dishonorable mention:
Emma of 83rd Street wasn’t terrible, but it did remind me why I tend to steer clear of Austen retellings…I really just need to get back to Austen herself!

Books acquired in March:

• Sophie Irwin, How to Lose a Lord in Ten Days (e-book)
  
• Cara Bastone, No Matter What
  
• Lois McMaster Bujold, The Sharing Knife: Horizon
  
• Kim Fay, Love and Saffron
  
• Zora Neale Hurston, Their Eyes Were Watching God
  
• Alison Espach, Notes on Your Sudden Disappearance
  
• Lois McMaster Bujold, The Sharing Knife: Passage

Book #31: Zora Neale Hurston, Their Eyes Were Watching God
CATs: Alpha (Z = Zora)
Bingo: none

Janie Crawford is a young black woman living in Florida in the early 20th century. Her grandmother, who was born in slavery, has a specific vision for Janie’s life: She should marry a well-to-do man and let him take care of her, so that she never has to work or struggle. But Janie has an adventurous spirit and wants to see more of the world. Some of her choices don’t work out—she meets men who want to stifle and control her, and she endures poverty and great suffering. But she also finds true love and spiritual freedom despite her circumstances. This is a beautifully written novel with a compelling protagonist; Janie felt like a real person to me, and in the end I was convinced that she’d be okay no matter what happened next. I also liked the portrayal of Janie’s community, which felt vivid and true to life. The characters all use a specific dialect, which means you have to pay close attention while reading, but I think that’s a feature rather than a bug. Overall, I can see why this book is regarded as a classic and would definitely recommend it.

>99 christina_reads: This is one of my all-time favorites!

>100 purpleiris: I'm glad I finally read it...somehow I never had to read it for school, though I think it's quite commonly assigned in the US.

Yes, I taught it in a 10th grade class once. The language does present a challenge for high school students though!

>102 purpleiris: Eh, challenges are good for them! :)

>103 christina_reads: Indeed! :)

Book #32: Lisa Lutz, The Spellman Files
CATs: Decade (’00s = published in 2007); Mystery (private eyes)
Bingo: none

The Spellmans are a loving but dysfunctional family of private investigators. They tail each other around town, record each other’s private conversations, and break into each other’s locked rooms. Twenty-eight-year-old Izzy, who narrates this novel, is the screwup of the Spellman children and wants to leave the family business. But her parents make her take on one last case before they’ll allow her to quit, and Izzy’s questionable investigative tactics cause even more family drama. This is a really clever book with a fun premise—I enjoyed Izzy’s deadpan narrative voice and the various hijinks she and her family get into. At the same time, it all requires a huge suspension of disbelief, and you can’t think too hard about the reality of this family or you’ll realize how truly tragic and dysfunctional it is. This is the first book in a series, but I’m not sure I’ll be continuing…I did enjoy it, but I don’t think I need more.

Book #33: Patricia Cabot, Educating Caroline
CATs: Decade (’00s = published in 2001); Alpha (P = Patricia); ColoredCover (yellow = cover background)
Bingo: none

Lady Caroline Linford is shocked and dismayed to discover her fiancé in the arms of another woman. Feeling unable to break off the engagement, she decides she needs some lessons in seduction so that she can keep her betrothed from straying. And who better to teach her than the “Lothario of London,” Braden Granville? Braden is surprised by Caroline’s proposal, since she’s such an innocent and proper young lady, while he’s a self-made man from the slums of London. But he’s also intrigued—and finds himself giving her a much more hands-on tutorial than either of them expected. This is one of the first historical romance novels I ever read, and I was curious to see if it would hold up to my fond, nostalgic memories. By and large, I still found it an enjoyable read! It’s almost a parody of the genre, which made me willing to overlook the book’s sillier elements, and there’s a decent suspense plot alongside the main romance. It’s not great literature by any means, but if you’re in the mood for a light and fluffy historical romance, this one is a fun time.

Book #34: Ellis Peters, Death and the Joyful Woman
CATs: Alpha (P = Peters; J = Joyful)
Bingo: none

Sixteen-year-old Dominic Felse meets the beautiful 22-year-old Kitty Norris and falls immediately, painfully in love with her. So when she is arrested for the murder of Alfred Armiger, an enormously wealthy but not very popular local entrepreneur, Dominic knows she must be innocent and attempts to find the real killer. Is it Armiger’s estranged son and his wife, who lost out on the dead man’s fortune? Or could the murder have something to do with a tavern sign of dubious artistic merit? I’m really enjoying these Felse novels, not just for the vintage-mystery charm but for the lovely characterizations, especially of George and Dominic. Their relationship is loving but complicated now that Dominic is on the verge of adulthood. The solution to the mystery is almost irrelevant to the central conflicts of the novel, but that’s a minor quibble when the book is this enjoyable. I’ll definitely be continuing with this series at some point!

Book #35: Diane Farr, Under a Lucky Star
CATs: Decade (’00s = published in 2004, set in 1803/1806); ColoredCover (celestial object = stars)
Bingo: none

When Derek Whittaker rescues Lady Cynthia Fitzwilliam from the unwelcome attentions of another man, it’s love at first sight for them both. Derek immediately plans to court Cynthia, but at their next meeting she rebuffs him. Hurt and angry, Derek tries to forget about her; but when they meet again three years later at a house party, he’s annoyed to find that he is still drawn to her. Meanwhile, Cynthia struggles with her attraction to Derek, since she feels duty-bound to marry a very rich man to support her family. Diane Farr is a good writer, and I’ve enjoyed some of her books, but this one frustrated me. I’m not a fan of insta-love generally, and in this case it felt like Derek and Cynthia kept having the same argument over and over again. But I did like that Cynthia’s scheming mother gets her comeuppance in the end! Overall, this book is a quick and pleasant read, but it just wasn’t the right story for me.

Book #36: Robin McKinley, Spindle’s End
CATs: Random (from queens to knights = princess main character); SFF (parallel worlds = evil fairy realm)
Bingo: Fairy tale or myth retelling (Sleeping Beauty)

In this retelling of Sleeping Beauty, Katriona attends the baby princess’s name-day, where she witnesses the evil fairy lay her curse on the infant. In the ensuing fear and chaos, Katriona is charged with taking the princess away and keeping her safe. Not knowing what else to do, she takes the baby back to her small backwater village, where she and her aunt raise “Rosie” as their own. But as Rosie grows up, she gradually becomes aware of her true identity and the terrible fate that awaits her. Robin McKinley’s novels are books of my heart, and this one is no exception. The pacing is very slow, but that just gives readers time to immerse themselves in Rosie’s world, in the homely little village community among the people and animals who love her. The book follows the fairy tale pretty closely while creating very specific characters and putting a unique spin on the ending. In short, I can’t be objective about this book; I love it and enjoyed this reread immensely.

>109 christina_reads: I'm adding this one to my wish list! Sleeping Beauty was my favorite fairy tale when I was a child.

>110 MissBrangwen: Oh, I hope you like it!

Book #37: Elizabeth Bailey, The Deathly Portent
CATs: Alpha (P = Portent)
Bingo: none

Ottilia Fanshawe and her husband, Lord Francis, are on a journey when their carriage breaks down near the village of Witherley. They attempt to summon the blacksmith to repair the carriage, only to discover that the man has just died in violent circumstances. The locals are blaming Cassie Dale, who allegedly had a vision of the blacksmith’s death and who they believe is a witch. Tillie is convinced there’s a more rational explanation for the crime, and as she and Francis linger in town to investigate, they discover many people in the village with possible motives for murder. I liked this historical mystery, but I think I enjoyed the historical bits more than the mystery bits. I was able to guess the killer, even though the person’s motive was extremely farfetched, and there were maybe a few too many suspects. I did like Tillie and Francis’s dynamic, though, as well as the secondary romance between Cassie Dale and the vicar. I’d be interested to read more in this series, but I’ll get them from the library rather than buying.

Book #38: Alden Nowlan: Selected Poems
CATs: Alpha (P = Poems)
Bingo: Book of poetry

Several years ago, someone on LT (I wish I could remember who!) posted a poem by Alden Nowlan that intrigued me enough to pick up a book of his poetry. Nowlan was a 20th-century Canadian poet from rural Nova Scotia, and his poems often deal with themes of poverty and the natural world. I doubt most of the poems will stay with me, but almost all had at least one image or phrase that struck me as interesting. Here’s one of my favorites from the collection:

“Canadian Love Song”

Your body’s a small word with many meanings.
Love. If. Yes. But. Death.
Surely I will love you a little while,
perhaps as long as I have breath.

December is thirteen months long,
July’s one afternoon; therefore,
lovers must outwit wool,
learn how to puncture fur.

To my love’s bed, to keep her warm,
I’ll carry wrapped and heated stones.
That which is comfort to the flesh
is sometimes torture to the bones.

Book #39: Catherine Bakewell, Flowerheart
CATs: none
Bingo: none

Clara Lucas has always wanted to be initiated into the Council of Magicians, but the Council won’t accept her until she learns to control her strong, wild magic. When she accidentally curses her father with a life-threatening illness, her plight becomes even more urgent. Desperate, Clara makes a bargain with Xavier Morwyn, her former childhood friend and now a prominent magician: If he teaches her to control her magic so that she can heal her father, she’ll then surrender all her magic to him. But as she works with Xavier, she learns that he and the Council are both keeping secrets. This is a cozy YA fantasy with a side of romance, which should have been right up my alley, but I found it bland and juvenile. The book had a few interesting ideas but never went beyond the surface level, and I just didn’t care about Clara or her problems. This may work better for a YA (or younger) audience, but it did nothing for me.

Book #40: Charlotte Stein, While You Were Seething
CATs: none
Bingo: Road trip book

PR expert Daisy Emmett has been hired to fix the image of famous romance author Caleb Miller, who recently disparaged his fans on national TV. Daisy has set up a regional tour to humanize Caleb and promote his new book, but there are two big flaws in her plan: (1) Caleb is basically a recluse and has no interest in doing the tour; and (2) he was her nemesis in college, and they still can’t get through a conversation without arguing. As their road trip progresses, though, Daisy learns that Caleb doesn’t hate her as much as she thought. I found this book really compelling and devoured it in two days, but I also kept wondering why Caleb is so unnaturally closed off and self-loathing. There’s never a satisfying explanation for his behavior, or why he couldn’t just have told Daisy the truth back in college and saved them both 10 years of pain and pining. So this book was fun in the moment for me, but the plot logic doesn’t really pass the smell test.

Hm. Might have to add this one to my ever growing list!

>116 purpleiris: I'll be interested to see what you think! I enjoy Stein's writing style, but I can see how others might not -- plus she writes a lot of steam, which may or may not be appealing.

April recap

This past month I took a short vacation with my two best friends from college, and it was the highlight of my April! We rented a cabin in Ithaca, NY, where we hiked (well, walked outdoors) to a waterfall, visited a lot of wineries and breweries, and spent some chill time reading. I only wish we’d stayed longer! The rest of the month was basically the usual busy-ness, with a short jaunt to Atlanta for a work conference. But I managed to stay on track with my 2026 reading goal—I’ve now read 40 books out of a planned 120. Here’s what I read in April:

Books read in April:
1. Zora Neale Hurston, Their Eyes Were Watching God
2. Lisa Lutz, The Spellman Files
3. Patricia Cabot, Educating Caroline
4. Ellis Peters, Death and the Joyful Woman
5. Diane Farr, Under a Lucky Star
6. Robin McKinley, Spindle’s End
7. Elizabeth Bailey, The Deathly Portent
8. Alden Nowlan: Selected Poems
9. Catherine Bakewell, Flowerheart
10. Charlotte Stein, While You Were Seething

Favorite book of the month:
I feel like I’ve picked a lot of Ellis Peters books as favorites, but I can’t help it! Death and the Joyful Woman was another great installment of the Inspector Felse series, and I look forward to reading more.

Dishonorable mention:
Flowerheart was way too flat and simplistic for me, in terms of both plot and character.

Books acquired in April:

• Lauren Layne, To Sir, with Love (e-book)
  
• Loretta Chase, Your Scandalous Ways
  
• Mhairi McFarlane, Here’s Looking at You (previously read)
  
• Lissa Evans, Crooked Heart (previously read)
  
• Mary Balogh, The Secret Pearl (e-book)
  
• H. Beam Piper, Little Fuzzy (free e-book) (currently reading)
  
• Rainbow Rowell, Cherry Baby

>117 christina_reads: I think I actually read a few of her erotic fiction books a few years back. I remember that I appreciated that the stories were actually well written and interesting -- not just steam.

>119 purpleiris: I would agree with that, and I think even the sex scenes themselves are generally there for a reason (revealing something about character, etc.).

>118 christina_reads: Your Scandalous Ways was OK, but not a patch on the second book in the series, Don't Tempt Me, which was ludicrous in the best possible way.

>118 christina_reads: Your holiday sounds lovely!

>121 pamelad: I'll definitely have to check out Don't Tempt Me as well, then!

>122 MissBrangwen: The only flaw was that it was much too short!

Book #41: H. Beam Piper, Little Fuzzy
CATs: none
Bingo: none

Zarathustra is a frontier planet, governed by Terra but effectively managed by the Zarathustra Company, which profits greatly from the planet’s natural resources. The Company’s hegemony is threatened, however, when prospector Jack Holloway encounters a monkey-like being he dubs “Little Fuzzy.” The creature and his Fuzzy friends soon exhibit signs of sapience, which would be a major scientific discovery—but would also necessitate turning the planet into a protected aboriginal zone, drastically limiting the Company’s rights. This book is a fun, plot-driven read that I think would make a good movie or TV episode. The inquiry into the Fuzzies’ sapience is entertaining, with lots of skullduggery as the Company tries to rig the outcome in its favor. There’s not much nuance in the novel; it’s clear from the outset who all the good guys and bad guys are. But I enjoyed it nonetheless and am interested to read John Scalzi’s “reboot,” Fuzzy Nation, at some point.

Book #42: Beth O’Leary, The Name Game
CATs: ColoredCover (jewelry = woman’s earring)
Bingo: none

Ormer is a tiny, picturesque island in the English Channel, with a population of 500. A farm shop on the island has just hired Charlie Jones to be its new manager. But complications ensue when two Charlie Joneses—one male, one female—show up, both claiming to be the person hired. They agree to share the job and accommodations on a trial basis, but as they live and work together, they learn they have much more in common than their name. Beth O’Leary has become known for writing contemporary romances with a twist, and in this case, the twist bugged me. It was clever, but I’m not sure it added anything to the story; in fact, it detracted a bit from my enjoyment of the romance. The book also felt a bit too heavy at times—most of the characters are dealing with some kind of trauma and/or mental illness. So this is definitely not a light, fun read, but those who enjoy more serious contemporary romances (and idyllic small-town settings) will likely enjoy it.

>125 christina_reads: This is one of those books that made me miss the times when my mom, sister and I would buy a bunch of secondhand romance novels and pass them back and forth. I finished this a couple of weeks ago and really wanted to talk to someone about it! Because I feel like the twist just disrupted my enjoyment of the book for no good reason. So frustrating. Glad to see I was not the only one who reacted that way.

>126 purpleiris: I 100% agree, especially on the "for no good reason" part! I would have been quite happy with the story we were getting for the first 80% of the book, and I didn't like having to reevaluate everything I thought I knew after the big reveal happened.

Book #43: Willa Cather, My Ántonia
CATs: Alpha (W = Willa; A = Ántonia)
Bingo: From an LT Legacy Library (Sylvia Plath, Carl Sandburg, and more)

In this 1918 novel, Jim Burden recounts stories of his childhood growing up on the Nebraskan prairie. He recalls the hardships and joys of life on a farm, the mingling of various immigrant groups despite differences of faith and language, the harsh struggle for survival, and the beauty of the land. Many of Jim’s memories focus on his neighbor and friend Ántonia Shimerda, the daughter of Bohemian immigrants, who maintains her joy and zest for life despite many challenging circumstances. This is a beautifully written book with well-drawn characters and a vivid setting. Cather did live in Nebraska for part of her childhood in the 1880s, so she had firsthand experience of the places and people she wrote about. The book has no plot to speak of, and it’s disappointing that Jim’s adult life (revealed in the introduction, so not a spoiler) doesn’t seem to coincide with his true passions and inclinations. But the tone of bittersweet nostalgia is certainly very effective, and I think this book deserves its status as a great American novel.

>128 christina_reads: This is one I wish to reread. I read it more than fifteen years ago and hardly remember a thing, but I know I liked it.

>129 MissBrangwen: I'm glad I revisited it...I'd read it in my early teens, but it definitely lands differently now that I'm significantly older!

Book #44: Kate Clayborn, The Paris Match
CATs: none
Bingo: none

Physician Layla Bailey is on her way to a wedding in Paris, and she’s dreading it. The bride is her ex-husband’s sister, so she’ll be forced to mingle with her former in-laws—not to mention the ex himself, who is bringing his new girlfriend. Layla’s sole goal is to avoid any drama, but when the bride gets cold feet after a casual remark of hers, the groom’s abrasive best man, Griff, demands that she help him save the wedding. I really enjoy Clayborn’s contemporary romances, and I liked this one too, though it’s definitely angstier than the cover would suggest. I enjoyed the scenes between Layla and Griff much more than the peripheral wedding stuff; their chemistry is intense, and Griff is a compellingly damaged hero. But they fall very hard for each other very quickly, and I couldn’t entirely suspend my disbelief. Overall, this isn’t my favorite Clayborn novel, but it’s definitely worth reading if you like the premise and enjoy high-angst romance.

>128 christina_reads: I have read it twice and really tried to like it......

>132 Tess_W: Sounds like you've given it a fair shot!

Book #45: Cornell Woolrich, Waltz into Darkness
CATs: Alpha (W = Woolrich, Waltz); ColoredCover (turquoise = woman’s dress); Mystery (hardboiled/noir); Random (dance like no one is watching = “waltz” in title)
Bingo: none

Louis Durand, age 37, is a prosperous but lonely businessman in 1880s New Orleans. Unable to bear his solitude, he begins corresponding with Julia Russell and proposes to her sight unseen. To his delight, the woman who arrives is younger and more beautiful than he expected. They marry immediately, and Louis is happy at first, but eventually he begins to notice some worrisome behaviors in his new wife. This novel is the literary equivalent of a train wreck: You know it’s going to be a disaster, but you can’t look away. I felt awful for Louis from the very first chapter, which reveals his aching loneliness and his hope that it’s finally about to end. I wanted things to work out for him, even though it was always obvious that they wouldn’t. The book is well written but painful! Ultimately, I’m just not a noir person; but if you are, I highly recommend Cornell Woolrich.

Book #46: Lynn Painter, First and Forever
CATs: none
Bingo: none

Duffy Distefano and her family are huge fans of the Minnesota Coyotes football team. But when the team’s mascot gropes Duffy at a game—and her retaliation is caught on camera—she becomes a target for Coyotes fans. She’s invited to tell her side of the story on a local morning TV show, only to be confronted by a Coyotes player, Connor Cunningham, who’s there to do damage control for the team. Their on-air conversation, which reads as flirtatious banter, creates good PR for the Coyotes, who suggest that Connor ask Duffy out to further improve the team’s image. But as they get to know each other better, they both develop real feelings. I really like Lynn Painter’s romances, which are fun and light with great banter, and this one is no exception. I’m not a sports person at all, so I felt like I was getting a little peek at a new-to-me subculture. I did find the plot a little bland, and the third-act breakup was both predictable and unnecessary, though at least it didn’t last too long. But overall, I liked this one and will be interested to see if there’s a sequel, as there did seem to be some chemistry between Duffy’s brother and her best friend!

>135 christina_reads: This was a fun read for me, too. But Painter's book usually are pretty fun. I was annoyed by the 3rd act breakup and also the fact that Duffy's brothers seem interchangeable! But I would definitely visit this little universe again.

>136 purpleiris: Oh yeah, Duffy's brothers are completely indistinguishable in this book, but there is room for development if Painter chooses to go there!

Book #47: L.C. Tyler, The Herring-Seller’s Apprentice
CATs: Alpha (A = Apprentice) - I read this in May
Bingo: none

Ethelred Tressider is a mediocre mystery writer and a bit of a sad sack. His wife, Geraldine, left him for his best friend years ago, and now he has neither a romantic partner nor any close friends. The only person he seems to interact with regularly is his literary agent, the abrasive Elsie Thirkettle. But when Geraldine goes missing—along with a fortune she obtained by scamming investors—it’s up to Ethelred, with unwanted assistance from Elsie, to solve the case. This book is a light, humorous mystery that has some fun playing with the conventions of the genre. I loved Elsie’s no-nonsense voice and the way she bullies Ethelred—for his own good, of course! That said, while I’ll definitely read book two because I own it, I’m not sure I’m invested enough to commit to the whole series.

Book #48: Fiona Hill, The Trellised Lane
CATs: none
Bingo: none

Julia has been the lady of the house since her mother’s death, but now that her father has remarried, she no longer has that freedom and authority. Despite liking her new stepmother, Julia wants to regain her lost responsibilities and urges her brother, Fitz, to accompany her to London so that she can marry and leave home. She soon catches the eye of a French nobleman with a dubious past, but is herself attracted to a friend of her stepmother’s. Meanwhile, Fitz’s innocence is challenged by the new friends he meets in London. Last year I really enjoyed Fiona Hill’s The Country Gentleman and consequently bought an e-book collection of her novels. Unfortunately, this one didn’t really work for me; it just felt very unoriginal and paint-by-numbers. The stakes couldn’t be lower, and none of the characters are particularly well developed. Not a terrible book, just bland as an unsalted cracker.

May recap

May always seems to be an incredibly busy month for me. This year I had choir concerts, band concerts, birthday celebrations for various friends, and a lovely visit from my parents over Memorial Day weekend. While the events were fun, I’m looking forward to what should be a calmer summer! Meanwhile, I didn’t read as much as I’d hoped to in May, but the list is below.

Books read in May:
1. H. Beam Piper, Little Fuzzy
2. Beth O’Leary, The Name Game
3. Willa Cather, My Ántonia
4. Kate Clayborn, The Paris Match
5. Cornell Woolrich, Waltz into Darkness
6. Lynn Painter, First and Forever
7. L.C. Tyler, The Herring-Seller’s Apprentice
8. Fiona Hill, The Trellised Lane

Favorite book of the month:
Despite not loving it wholeheartedly, I think I had the most fun reading The Paris Match.

Dishonorable mention:
The Trellised Lane was just blah.

Books acquired in May:
- Sheri Cobb South, Fairest of the Fayre (e-book)
- Martha Keyes, A Conspiratorial Courting (e-book)
- Christina Lauren, The Honey-Don’t List (e-book)
- Lisa Kleypas, Love in the Afternoon (e-book)
- Sarah Addison Allen, Other Birds (previously read)
- Beth O’Leary, The Flatshare (previously read, owned as e-book)
- Martha Waters, To Have and to Hoax

Book #49: Eva Ibbotson, The Morning Gift
CATs: Decade (choose your own = 1930s)
Bingo: none

Ruth Berger was born and raised in Vienna as the privileged daughter of a well-off professor. But in 1938, because of her Jewish heritage, Vienna is no longer safe. Her family emigrates to England, but due to a paperwork mix-up, she is left behind. Enter Quinton Somerville, a British professor who once studied with Ruth’s father and decides to help her get out of Austria. Unfortunately, the only way to do it is by marrying her. Quin and Ruth agree they’ll annul the marriage once they reach England, but of course fate has other ideas. Eva Ibbotson’s books are the ultimate comfort reads for me. They’re full of warmth and community, with luxurious descriptions of scenery and music and food. But they’re saved from being too sickly sweet by some moments of genuine gravity and heartbreak, such as the story of the Ziller quartet in this book. Work is stressful at the moment, so I needed a familiar comfort read, and this novel was the perfect choice!

>141 christina_reads: I hope work will be better soon! I totally understand the need for a comfort read.

>142 MissBrangwen: Thank you! It sounds like you may need a comfort read as well. I'm really hoping things calm down this summer...

I am a huge fan of Eva Ibbotson, she is definitely an author I turn to when I need a comfort read!

>144 DeltaQueen50: She's so good!

Book #50: C.S. Lewis, Out of the Silent Planet
CATs: Decade (choose your own = 1930s); SFF (religion)
Bingo: none

Philologist Elwin Ransom is on a walking tour of England when he encounters an old schoolfellow, Devine, and a brilliant physicist, Dr. Weston. They’re working on a mysterious object that turns out to be a spaceship—and the hapless Ransom is taken on board by force. He learns that Devine and Weston are taking him to another planet, Malacandra, which is inhabited by sapient beings who requested Ransom for some ominous purpose. But when the three men land on Malacandra, Ransom soon learns that the planet and its inhabitants are nothing like he expected. This book was written in the ’30s, and it cleverly interrogates the tropes of science fiction that were popular at the time (what aliens would be like, what would be the experience of space travel). The plot is a bit slow-moving, with lots of descriptive language about the terrain and the various species Ransom meets. There are also some thinly veiled religious ideas, which is to be expected with Lewis. Overall, this is a pretty good space-travel tale, but it’s definitely more on the philosophical than the adventurous side.

Book #51: Katherine Center, The Shippers
CATs: none
Bingo: Set entirely or in part at sea (cruise ship)

JoJo Burton’s love life is a train wreck—a fact that becomes abundantly clear when she leaves her rich, “perfect” fiancé at the altar. JoJo thinks her problem may be rooted in unresolved feelings for her childhood crush, Finn Turner. Fortunately, her sister’s about to get married on a cruise ship, and newly divorced Finn is one of the guests. With several days of forced proximity and her sister’s help, JoJo is determined to attract Finn and thus fulfill her romantic destiny. The only problem is JoJo’s best friend, Cooper, who thinks her plan is ridiculous. As her attempts to lure Finn meet with disaster, JoJo eventually begins to question where her romantic destiny truly lies. This is a fun, fast-paced read with some cute banter, but I have to say that the romance drove me crazy! JoJo is implausibly blind to what’s right in front of her, and I don’t buy that Cooper would have kept his feelings a secret for so long. I also found the ending a bit anticlimactic after all the buildup. The book is still a fun, breezy summer read if you like this premise, but for me it’s not one of Center’s best.

>147 christina_reads: This just became available at my library and I plan to use it for the same Bingo Square. I need something fun and breezy to balance out the heavier stuff I'm reading!

>148 purpleiris: It definitely fits the bill for that! Sometimes you just need a good "palate cleanser" book!

>149 christina_reads: Yes!

Book #52: Delano Ames, Corpse Diplomatique
CATs: ColoredCover (food or drink = wine)
Bingo: none

Jane and Dagobert Brown are traveling through France when they encounter a violent death, about which Dagobert immediately suggests Jane write another mystery novel. While staying in Nice, they meet a diplomat from “Santa Rica” who is terrified of being assassinated. His fears seem justified when a bullet whizzes by his head, narrowly missing him but killing Major Hugh Arkwright instead. Who was the true intended victim, and who among the Browns’ new acquaintances at their French hotel is the killer? This series is enjoyable mainly for Jane’s snarky running commentary on the various people and events she’s writing about. The characters are largely well drawn, and I enjoyed the touches of humor, but the mystery itself is a bit lackluster; it kind of plods along without any real forward motion until the very end. Overall I liked this book fine, and I’d read more in the series if I came across them, but I don’t feel compelled to seek them out.

Book #53: Amy Barry, Seven Brides for Beau McBride
CATs: Random (numbers or symbols = “seven”)
Bingo: none

After Junebug McBride found wives for two of her four older brothers, she’s been strictly forbidden from advertising for any more mail-order brides. But the third McBride brother, Beau, thinks Junebug had the right idea and places his own ad for a bride. Naturally, Junebug has to be involved and bets Beau that she can find a better wife than he can. But when she writes to six women instead of one, and they all come out West hoping to marry Beau, she has a problem on her hands. Especially when one of her brides, Ellie Neale, turns out to be best friends with Beau’s own pick, Diana—and Ellie soon falls for Beau herself! I enjoyed this fun Western romance, with its nonsensical yet enjoyable plot and over-the-top characters. Junebug is a lot and would be insufferable in real life, but she’s a lot of fun to read about. I liked that the seven potential brides were all decent and kind women, rather than being catty rivals. Beau and Ellie’s romance was sweet and had some funny moments due to Ellie’s melodramatic nature. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series!