This Week in Reading

What I Read:

The Birds and Other Stories by Daphne du Maurier (review)

I didn't really know what to expect with this one but I ended up really loving it.  I'm going to try and find a copy of the movie that was (very) loosely based on the first short story.  

The Seven Dials Mystery by Agatha Christie (Review)

This was the last one in stand alone or non-series books that Agatha published in the 1920s.  This decade is full of adventure stories with hints of romance and espionage and really provide some fun reading!

Blackberry Pie Murder by Joanne Fluke

This was my first book in the long running Lake Eden/Hannah Swenson series and I enjoyed it.  The review will be up tomorrow.  Definitely worth a read if you like cozy mysteries.

What I'm Reading:

Murder at Hazelmoor by Agatha Christie

Also published as The Sittaford Mystery.  I'm about a third of the way in and am really enjoying.  This is one of hers that I forget about completely so I get to re-discover it every time I reread it.

Sinfully Yours by Cara Elliott

Sigh.  The best thing I can say about this one is that I think the cover is pretty.  I'm about 40% into it and the only reason I'll probably finish it is because it's a review copy.  It's not awful it's just kind of boring.  The review should be up Wednesday.

What's Been Distracting Me:

J has been working crazy amounts of overtime which means my TV watching has significantly increased.  I don't know what it is but when he's not here I end up staying up way later watching TV instead of going to bed at a reasonable hour and than reading to an unreasonable hour.  Emma and I have been getting through our tremendous backlog of Criminal Minds lately.  We're almost up to Christmas so at some point we'll be caught up! 

This Week in Reading

Between the snow and the Olympics I didn't get much reading done this week!

What I Read:

  Cider Brook by Carla Neggers (Review)
This was a new author for me and I enjoyed it pretty well.  I liked how she developed characters and the series has lots of potential.  Not as much of a community feel as I've found in Mariah Stewart's Chesapeake Diaries, Susan Mallery's Fool's Gold or Jill Shalvis' Lucky Harbor.  It definitely walks the line between Romance and Women's Fiction.

And that's it.  It makes me sad.

What I'm Reading:

The Secret of Chimney's by Agatha Christie - I'm almost done with this one which is good because I need to pick up the pace on the Agathas or I'm never going to finish.

Home to Seaview Key by Sherryl Woods - about 10% in and so far so good.  This is another one that is light romance/women's fiction.  It's about somewhat older people which is a little different to me as most contemporary romance features people my age (early 30s) or younger.  These characters are in their 40s or 50s.

Disengaged by Beth Orsoff - Just started this one.  It's for book club and looks to be a lightweight fun read.

Four Winds Farm by Mrs. (Mary Louisa) Molesworth - this is a children's story that was mentioned in an Agatha Christie book.  It was published in the late 19th century and so far has been interesting.  Definitely has a bit of a fairy tale feel to it.

What I'm Distracted By:

With school being closed for 3 days and everybody's schedule being off I've been distracted by pretty much everything.  We've been watching some of the Olympics and staying up too late which cuts into my night time reading.  Also, I'm just tired.  All this grey and rain and cold is making me sleepy!

This Week in Reading

It's been grey and cold here which makes it perfect for yoga pants, fuzzy socks and reading.  J and the Tornado have been doing pretty much nothing but watching Star Wars so I've had a little time to read.  For some reason I seem to want to spend that time acquiring new books.  It's an illness I think.

What I Read:

At The River's Edge: The Chesapeake Diaries by Mariah Stewart (Review) 

A good read but read the series in order.  It doesn't get confusing but I definitely think you'd understand the characters more.

The Mangle Street Murrders by M.R.C. Kasasian (Review)

Kind of strange but a very well done if a little twisted mystery.  The next one comes out in June and I'll be stalking Netgalley and my library for it.

Delicious by Adrianne Lee (Review)

Definitely not my favorite.  Immature characters with 2 of my least favorite plot devices.  If you have nothing else to read this would work in a pinch but other than that find something better.

The Man in the Brown Suit by Agatha Christie

The first Agatha Christie novel not destined to be part of the series.  This one is a fun read.  To be reviewed when I finish the rest of the 1920s stand alones.

What I'm Reading:

Cider Brook by Carla Neggers

New to me author and apparently the 3rd in a series.  I'm not quite sure what I think yet.  I'm about 15% in and it has a lot of potential to be good but it could also go horribly wrong.

The Secret of Chimneys by Agatha Christie

This is one of my favorites.  I always enjoy reading it.

What's Distracting Me:

I finally broke down and agreed to watch the last season of The Office.  J and I used to binge watch it when the Tornado was a baby and having some colic issues and we weren't sleeping much and it became one of our favorites.  After the previous season with all the boss upheaval I kind of lost interest in it and then I heard Pam and Jim were having marital problems in the last season and that made me really not want to watch it.  I'm actually enjoying the last season so far.  I love Nelly's character (Catherine Tate otherwise known as Donna from Doctor Who) and that they've brought back some of the Jim/Dwight pranks.  But J wants to watch them until 11 or midnight and I've got reading to do!  When I'm not watching that I'm in a panic to clear shows of the DVR.  I really need to just cut down on the number of shows I watch. It's a problem.

This Week in Reading

Last week I was on fire reading-wise so this week was a bit of a letdown.  Given the growing number of books to read both on the Kindle and on my bookshelves I don't have time for slumps!

What I Read:

When he Rogue Returns by Sabrina Jeffries (Review)

This was probably my favorite book this week.  It's been awhile since I've read a Historical that I've really loved so it was a lot of fun to really enjoy the genre again. I thought it was different that the characters were Dutch and that the heroine had a trade that made sense.  I also like that the secrets that were kept really needed to be kept and the consequences they were worried about were actually very serious.  This was a great book and I was thrilled to discover I'd bought the one before this months ago and had just forgotten!  I'll be digging into that one very soon.

Cocaine Blues by Kerry Greenwood (Review)

I have no idea why it took me so long to get to this series but I'm so glad I finally did.  Phrynne was a refreshing change from the either silly or emotionally traumatized leads in other mysteries that are set in this time period.  I loved the talk of clothes, jewelry and other bits of pop culture.  The mystery was well done and I'm looking forward to reading the 2nd one.  

 Postern of Fate by Agatha Christie (Review) 

This was the third time I've read this book and I'm no closer to understanding it than I was before I read it.  This was Christie's last novel and it is definitely one of her weakest.  Unless you're a Christie fanatic or trying to read all of them in a year I'd skip this one.

What I'm Reading:

At the River's Edge by Mariah Stewart

This is the latest book by one of favorite authors.  I've read the first one of this series and I've been pleased on how well #7 hold up without having to read all the ones in between.  I'm about half way done with this one.

The Man in the Brown Suit by Agatha Christie

This is the first of Christie's non-series books and it's been a really nice change from the confusing muddle that was Postern of Fate.  I'm 10% done with this one.

What's Distracting Me:

Just general craziness of life.  It seems like someone always needs to be taken somewhere or picked up from somewhere.  The Tornado has been on the clingy side.  I'm also thinking I was abducted by aliens at some point because I've gotten NOTHING done pretty much all week yet I feel like I've been crazy busy.   I'm hoping this weekend will be nice and quiet.

This Week in Reading

What I Read:

The Tyrant's Daughter by J.C. Carleson (Review) - I thoroughly enjoyed this one and was completely surprised by it as well.

Scandalously Yours by Cara Elliott (Review) - Didn't love this one.  Thought it was a bit all over the place and didn't find the main characters very likable or interesting.  I did like how the last half of the book was handled.  I also did like the main character's sister and am looking forward to reading Elliott's next book which is about her.

By the Pricking of My Thumbs by Agatha Christie - This is the second to last of the Tommy and Tuppence books.  I'll review all of them together next week.  This one is okay.  The basic premise is interesting but it's definitely one of her weaker books.

Queen of Hearts: Vol 1 The Crown by Colleen Oakes (Review) - I really enjoyed this prequel to Alice in Wonderland.  It was well written and wonderfully atmospheric.  The main problem right now is I have no idea where this can be purchased.  It's due out on February 14th so I'll be keeping a look out for it. 

What I'm Reading:

When the Rogue Returns by Sabrina Jefferies - I'm almost done with this one and so far am liking it.  Jefferies isn't a new author to me and I've liked her previous works.  This one is a bit different from most historicals I've read in the past and so far it's been done well.  

Postern of Fate by Agatha Christie - The last in the Tommy and Tuppence series and so far my least favorite.

The Mark of the Dragonfly by Jaleigh Johnson - I keep putting this one off.  So far it's good but not grabbing me.  To be fair I haven't given it much of a chance.  My goal is to buckle down and get this one read this week.

What's Distracting Me:  

Actually, I haven't been too distracted this week.   I've gotten some serious reading done and it's been kind of nice.  My 4 year old has been playing some serious Temple Run lately so I have spent some time playing that as he's starting to get better than me.  Other than that and the occasional TV show I've been doing lots of reading.

This Week in Reading

Finished -

The Secret Adversary by Agatha Christie

Partners in Crime by Agatha Christie

I'll review these when I finish all 5 books in the Tommy and Tuppence series.  

I'm reading:

The Tastemakers: Why We're Crazy for Cupcakes but Fed Up with Fondue by David Sax from Netgalley

The Mark of the Dragonfly by Jaleigh Johnson from Netgalley

N or M? Agatha Christie

This Week's Distractions -

Waking the Dead.  I discovered this BBC show on Netflix and I've been binge watching it ever since.  The focus is on a cold case unit run by smart but not tactful Detective Superintendent Peter Boyd who is pared with 2 other detectives, a psychologist and a forensic specialist.  The crimes are interesting and the character development is good.  I love that unlike most shows they don't try to make them a family.  They respect each other and some of them are friends but they also get on each other's nerves quite frequently.  It's a good solid British Police Procedural that looks into old cases.  Loving it!  I've only go 2 seasons left and I'm going to be very sad when it's over.

I've also been watching The Taste.  If there's a cooking competition I normally end up watching it.  An added bonus is that I absolutely love Nigella Lawson.  So far she hasn't done very well and I wonder if her lack of professional experience is a detriment in being able to pick a team.  

It's far too cold to do anything other than read and watch TV when I'm not doing all the everyday stuff.  Right now I just want to hibernate with my Kindle.

Whew! December Wrap Up

I got all the 18 books read this month.  I'm hoping my time management is much better this year because most of December was spent staying up way too late until my eyes burned trying to get the books finished.  A few of these were short which I feel like is kind of cheating but I had to get past it.  So in the month of December I read:

1.  Akin to Anne - L.M. Montgomery
2.  Road to Yesterday - L.M. Montgomery
3.  Along the Shore - L.M. Montgomery
4.  Among the Shadows - L.M. Montgomery
5.  Christmas with Anne - L.M. Montgomery
6.  At the Altar - L.M. Montgomery
7.  Looking for Anne of Green Gables by Irene Gammel
8. Coming Home by Mariah Stewart
9.  It Had to Be You - Jill Shalvis
10. Christmas Mysteries - Patricia Wentworth, Charlotte MacLeod, et al
11. Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy - Karen Foxlee
12. Ramshackle Glam - Jordan Reid
13. A Christmas to Remember - Jill Shalvis et.al
14.  Reunion with Death - Sheila Connolly
15.  Deadly Ambition - Laura Bradford
16. Christmas on 4th Street - Susan Mallery
17. American Afterlife - Kate Sweeney
18. Jeffrey Introduces 13 More Southern Ghosts - Kathryn Tucker Windham

Favorite Book - Probably American Afterlife by Kate Sweeney.  Pretty much all the books I read were really good with a few exceptions.  Kathryn Tucker Windham is one of my favorite authors.  Susan Mallery surprised me with her Christmas on 4th Street which to my delight featured no unplanned pregnancies and a great female character.  It Had to Be You by Jill Shalvis also featured a great female character and was highly entertaining.  I also love the community that started in Coming Home by Mariah Stewart and am looking forward to reading the next 6 in the series that are currently sitting on my bookshelf.



Worst Book - Without hesitation or question the book I liked the least this month is Looking for Anne of Green Gables by Irene Gammel.  I actually feel like I have less of an understanding about the book than I did before I read this.

Most Unusual Book - Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy by Karen Foxlee.  This is a children's adventure story that takes place in a museum.  It features a little girl who isn't the strongest or the most put together who decides to save the world and does.

November TBR Wrap Up

So at the beginning of this month I said that if I didn't get all 15 books read December was going to be crazy.  I got 11 read... That leaves 18 books to read before I can reach my goal of 130 for the year.  6 of those are short story collections but it's still going to be busy.

What I Read in November:
1.  Chronicles of Avonlea
2.  Further Chronicles of Avonlea
3.  Against the Odds
4. After Many Days
5. The Doctor's Sweetheart
6.  Across the Miles
7.  What a Ghoul Wants - Victoria Laurie
8.  Crystal Cove - Lisa Kleypas
9.  A Night to Surrender - Tessa Dara
10.  Fire Engine Dead - Sheila Connolly
11.  Book Line and Sinker - Jenn McKinlay
12.  ?
13.  ?
14.  ?
15.  ?

October Reading Wrap Up

1.  Blue Castle - L.M. Montgomery
2.  A Tangled Web - L.M. Montgomery
3.  Jane of Lantern Hill - L.M. Montgomery
4.   Magic for Marigold - L.M. Montgomery
5.
6. Happier at Home by Gretchen Rubin (library loan)
7. The White Cottage Mystery - Margery Allingham - Kindle book loan from the Amazon Kindle Library
8. Rainshadow Road - Lisa Kleypas
9. Dream Lake - Lisa Kleypas
10. Dead and Berried - Karen MacInerney
11. Spit, Scary Ann and Sweat Bees - Kathryn Tucker Windham
12. The Tao of Martha - Jen Lancaster
13. A Most Scandalous Proposal - Ashyln MacNamara
14.
15.

This month wasn't great but was at least better than last month.  I got 12 books read.  2 of them were library books, 1 book read on the Kindle and all of the Montgomery stand alone books read.

Favorite book of the month - Spit, Scary Ann and Sweat Bees by Kathryn Tucker Windham.  This was a lovely little book with photos and stories about superstitions and childhood in a little Alabama town in the 20s and 30s.

Most Disappointing Book:  The Tao of Martha by Jen Lancaster - I was kind of expecting a mix of Julie and Julia and The Happiness Project and it just wasn't.  It wasn't a bad book but it wasn't what I thought it was going to be.

September Reading Wrap Up

September was not a successful reading month.  I place most of the blame on Netflix.  I've been watching the USA show Monk since August and had gotten through 6 seasons when I saw that Netflix was going to take it off on October 1st!  So all reading time went out the window and I watched a LOT of Monk.  So much Monk in fact that I couldn't really read because when I did all the characters from the book looked like the characters on the show.  Romance novels didn't seem very appealing with the hero looked like Adrian Monk in my head.  October's not looking very good for reading either because Netflix just put up the 8th season of How I Met Your Mother and I want to watch the whole show again before I start the final season.  Also, the book Rilla of Ingleside slowed down my Montgomery reading because I had such an emotinal response to it.  It's very difficult to get through a book when you sob through the entire thing.  So this is what actually got read for the month of September:

1.  Rilla of Ingleside - L.M. Montgomery
2.  Kilmeny of the Orchard - L.M. Montgomery
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.  Brownies and Broomsticks - Bailey Cates
9. House of Many Shadows - Barbara Michaels
10. An Unsuitable Job for a Woman - P.D. James
11. Miss Silver Comes to Stay - Patricia Wentworth
12. The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin
13.
14.
15.

I got 2 out of 5 Montgomery books read, 0 library books and kindle books read and only 5 out of 8 free spaces filled.

Least favorite book for September:
Without question An Unsuitable Job for a Woman by P.D. James.  I really disliked the characters, the pacing and the actual mystery.

Favorite book: for September:
House of Many Shadows by Barbara Michaels and Miss Silver Comes to Stay by Patricia Wentworth are old favorites and always enjoyable.  However, the book I got the most out of was The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin.  While I don't generally enjoy self-help books and Rubin's personality didn't really make me want to be friends with her I did get a lot out of the book.  J and I have been talking a lot about kind of doing are own happiness project and making fun more of a priority (or at least having it make an appearance on the priority list).  Talking about it and thinking about it has made me happier so far and has made life a bit more fun lately.

Now I have to go watch 8 seasons of How I Met Your Mother so I have some hope of getting some reading down in October.

August Reading Wrap Up

I got all 15 books read this month.  I finished #15 - Rainbow Valley at 9:30 on the 31st so just under the deadline.  According to Goodreads.com I'm still running behind of my goal but I've definitely made up some ground.  So the books I read were:

1.  Anne of the Island
2.  Anne of Windy Poplars
3.  Anne's House of Dreams
4.  Anne of Ingleside
5.   Rainbow Valley
6.   The Rubber Band by Rex Stout - Library Kindle Loan
7.   Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs - Library
8.   When Beauty Tamed the Beast by Eloisa James - Library Kindle Loan
9.   Bossypants by Tina Fey
10. Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers
11. Sour Apples by Sheila Connolly
12.  Forever and a Day by Jill Shalvis
13.  How to Moon a Cat by Rebecca M. Hale
14.  Let's Play Dead by Sheila Connolly
15. Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor by Lisa Kleypas


Least Favorite book -  The Rubber Band by Rex Stout.  I really didn't enjoy this one.  I didn't like the characters, the writing style or the mystery.
I also didn't like Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers.  This is one of the few books that I really think I like the movie way better than the book.

Favorite Book - I'd have to say Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor by Lisa Kleypas.  I read it in one sitting and can't wait to read the next books in the series.  I also really enjoyed Forever and a Day by Jill Shalvis and the 2 Connolly books.  Anne's House of Dreams is one of my favorites and brought me to tears a few times and Anne of the Island still has one of my favorite endings of all time.

While not a favorite Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs was one of the most unusual books I've ever read that was readable.  I'm looking forward to the sequel to see where he takes this story.