Last Days of Summer Reading Retreat Reading List

 It's been a tough summer with lots of little inconveniences and not nearly enough reading time.  I always say I would love to just spend a month (or a week or even a weekend) with a stack of books just reading through a pile of books.  As summer starts to wind to a close (and we should see cooler temps in the next few months!) I'm thinking about actually doing it.  I don't have time to do nothing but read which is my dream but I do have more time than I think.  So, my goal is for the next month to plan my day around reading instead of planning reading around my day.   To be most efficient I need to have a stack of books ready to go and here is my stack!

1.  Rialto by Kate Milford - I think starting with a middle grade is a good idea and I love both the premise and cover.  I've also had good luck with this author.

2.  Murder at World's End by Ross Montgomery - I do love a locked room mystery and this looks like the most locked room of locked room mysteries.

3.  The Lily of Ludgate Hall by Mimi Matthews - I've read the first two books in this series and really want to continue with it.

4.  The Third to Die by Allison Brennan - This is an author on my Must Read list and this one sounds fantastic.  I was thrilled when I saw it at a used bookstore.

5.  Beg, Borrow, or Steal by Sarah Adams - I've really enjoyed the first two and want to continue with it.

6.  The Love Haters by Katherine Center - This looks like the most perfect summer read and I really loved the other book I've read by this author.

7.  Heaven and Earth by Nora Roberts - I reread the first book in this trilogy a couple of weeks ago and really want to continue with the trilogy.

8.  The Secret to Southern Charm by Kristy Woodson Harvey - I loved the first book and it's been way to long since I've read it.  

9.  Along the Infinite Sea by Beatriz Williams - The previous book ended on a bit of a cliffhanger and I've really been curious about how the story resolves itself.

10. Blue Moon by Wendy Corsi Staub - Pretty much ditto above.

I'm surprised how many series I ended up on this list but I think it looks like some fun end of summer reading!  What would you put on your reading list for an end of summer reading retreat?

The Mystic and the Missing Girl - Mystery Review

Goodreads: The Mystic and the Missing Girl by Vikki VanSickle

Rating: Liked It! (3.5 Stars)
Source: Publisher

Description: Drew Benson has a secret. She gets visions, something she hasn’t tapped into since she was a teenager, when her late aunt, a TV psychic known as Hannah Mystic, became the scapegoat in the unsolved disappearance of a local teenager. Twenty years later, Drew is happy to ignore her gift, focusing instead on keeping the metaphysical shop she inherited from Hannah afloat, wrangling her sole, astrology-obsessed employee, and dodging local rake Foster Banks in her picturesque lakeside hometown.

But when Drew's arch-nemesis from high school, now a big city reporter, decides to investigate the cold case from all those years ago, it’s Drew’s ability that could finally make a break in the decades old mystery. With bills piling up, a disapproving mother laying on the guilt, and a local vandal who wants Drew and her witchy store gone, Drew has a lot to lose. But what she stands to gain—finding out what happened to the missing teen, clearing her aunt’s name, and a second chance at belonging—could change everything.

Genre: Mystery

Why I Picked This Book: The blurb really caught my attention!  It sounded like an interesting read.

My Impression:  This was a fun mystery and an interesting start to what I hope is a series.  Drew has inherited her aunt Hannah's shop and a whole host of problems regarding a cold case that destroyed Hannah's reputation.  Drew is trying to figure out how to keep things going but is hesitant to really commit to her new life.  

The start is a bit slow.  There's a lot of backstory to explain with the characters, Drew's relationship with Hannah, Hannah's downfall, the shop, and the community itself.  However, once the current day story starts going I really enjoyed it and couldn't wait to see how everything unraveled.  I loved the side characters, especially Foster and Drew's best friend Gigi.  They added a lot of humor to the book and having Drew team up with an investigative reporter, Nick also really worked well. 

The mystery was interesting and I really enjoyed how they explored new leads while examining what the original investigation had dug up or left out.  The ending was well down and entertaining.  I liked how it wrapped up the story and added character growth to Hannah.  I'm hoping this becomes a series because this is a world I'd really like to revisit.  

Would I Read More of this Series/Author? I would!  I ended up really enjoying this one and am looking forward to reading more.

Would I Recommend this Book?  If you like mysteries this is a fun read though I would recommend being patient with the begining.

* I received this book in exchange for an honest review. As always my opinions and impressions are completely my own. *

This Month in Reading - August 2026

Monthly Reading Total: 18 - This was a pretty good month.  I had a few slower reads but for the most part I really enjoyed everything I read.  

Type:

Print - 8

Ebook - 6 

Audio - 4

Genre:

Mystery - 7 

Fiction - 7

Nonfiction - 1

Romance - 3 

Favorite Books of the Month:

Death at a Scottish Halloween by Lucy Connelly - I love this series and this was a fun one!

The Valentine Cipher by Anna Elliott and Charles Veley - This series is one of the reasons I renewed my Audible subscription.  I love the characters and really enjoy the mystery solving.

Rereads: By the Pricking of My Thumbs by Agatha Christie and Flowers in the Rain and Other Stories by Rosamunde Pilcher

Monthly Armchair Reading: 

Domestic Travel:  This month I headed over to the US Virgin Islands and Arizona for the first time this year.  I also visited Vermont, Oregon, North Carolina, Idaho, and California (twice).

International Travel:  I went to Scotland twice, England three times, Australia, and Greece

How was your reading in August?  Where did your reading take you?

Friday Fives - September TBR

I'm in a list making kind of mood so I thought I'd start making random five lists.  Sometimes they'll be bookish other weeks not so much. Since this is the first Friday in September, I'm planning my September TBR.  Here are 5 books I plan on reading in September. 

1. Murder on the Sacred River by Tasha Alexander - I've really enjoyed this series so far and am looking forward to the latest adventures of Lady Emily.

2.  Have His Carcase by Dorothy L. Sayers - This is the next book in the Lord Peter Wimsey series and the next book on my classics list for this year.

3.  Give Up the Ghost by Juliet Blackwell - This is one of the 10 series I'm working on currently and I've only got a couple of books left in it.  This looks like a good one.

4.  Inherit the Bones by Emily Littlejohn - I've had this book on my TBR since it came out and I think this is the month to pick it up!

5.  A Haunting on the Hill by Elizabeth Hand - I picked this up at an adult bookfair a couple of years ago but never ended up reading it.  Apparently, this is the first novel to return to the world of Hill House with permission from the Shirley Jackson estate so I'm seriously curious!

What are you planning on reading in September?

Books from the Backlog - Don't Let Him In

Today I'm linking up with Carole from Carole's Random Life of Books for Books from the Backlog.  I really enjoy the chance to feature a book that's been hiding in the piles of books for far too long!

Goodreads: Don't Let Him In by Lisa Jewell

Blurb:   Three women are connected by one man in this kaleidoscopic thriller.
He’s the perfect man. It’s a perfect lie.

Nina Swann is intrigued when she received a condolence card from Nick Radcliffe, an old friend of her late husband, who is looking to connect after her husband’s unexpected death. Nick is a man of substance and good taste. He has a smile that could melt the coldest heart and a knack for putting others at ease. But to Nina’s adult daughter, Ash, Nick seems too slick, too polished, too good to be true. Without telling her mother, Ash begins digging into Nick’s past. What she finds is more than unsettling…

Martha is a florist living in a neighboring town with her infant daughter and her devoted husband, Alistair. But lately, Alistair has been traveling more and more frequently for work, disappearing for days at a time. When Martha questions him about his frequent absences, he always has a legitimate explanation, but Martha can’t share the feeling that something isn’t right.

Nina, Martha, and Ash are on a collision course with a shocking truth that is far darker than anyone could have imagined. And all three are about to wish they had heeded the same warning: Don’t let him in. But the past won’t stay buried forever.

Why It Needs to Come Off the Shelf:  I've really enjoyed everything by Jewell and while I've seen some mixed reviews for this one it still looks like it could be an entertaining read.

Top Ten Tuesday - Ten Books with Nationalities in the Title

Today I'm linking up with Top Ten Tuesday hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl which is all about lists.  Since lists are one of my favorite things this is one of my favorite linkups!  Today's topic is Ten Books with Nationalities in the Title.  This was a tough one but I did some digging in my TBR stacks and came up with these ten titles.

1.  An Irish Country Family by Patrick Taylor - I read the first book in this series that reminded me very much of All Creatures Great and Small (very similar vibe) and I want to continue the series.

2.  The American Heiress by Daisy Goodwin - I haven't read this author but this looks interesting.

3.  Miss Morton and the English House Party Murder by Catherine Lloyd - I can't resist the title and this looks like a good mystery.

4.  Murder on the Flying Scotsman by Carola Dunn - I've liked what I've read by this author and this one is on the list.  

5.  Mastering the Art of French Murder by Colleen Cambridge - I haven't loved this author's series connected to Agatha Christie but this one involving Julia Child has also caught my interest.  

6.  The Little Italian Hotel by Phaedra Patrick - I have loved what I've read by this author and this one is high up on my TBR.

7.  The German Wife by Kelly Rimmer - I really liked the most recent book I've read by this author so now this one is on my TBR.

8.  The Japanese Lover by Isabel Allende - This author has been on my TBR for quite some time and this sounds heartbreaking but very good.

9.  The English Masterpiece by Katherine Reay - I have loved what I've read from this author and this one sounds fascinating.

10.  Our Italian Summer by Jennifer Probst - Another Italian title but this is another one that I really want to read.  

What titles with nationalities did you find in your TBR?

Paper Ghosts - Fiction Review

Goodreads: Paper Ghosts by Sarah Addison Allen

Rating: Liked It (3 Stars)
Source: Publisher

Description:  For decades, the women of Wester House have unsettled and fascinated their small, timeless North Carolina town. Their home is full of whispers, old griefs, and uncanny knowing. But when Willamena Wester reaches out to the granddaughter she once pushed away, long-buried truths begin to stir.

1976:

Restless young Willamena falls for a stranded musician who brings freedom and the promise of another life to her carefully controlled world. Their brief, incandescent love story promises to escape the pull of the Wester legacy until Willamena makes a fateful choice that changes her life forever.

Present Day:

Returning home is the last thing Bailey Wester wants. Yet as she reconnects with Willamena, the grandmother she feared, Bailey begins to understand the love, heartbreak, and impossible choices that shaped the women in her family and realizes the past may not have been trying to haunt them after all.

Genre: Fiction 

Why I Picked This Book: I've really enjoyed everything I've read by this author.

My Impression:  I didn't love this one.  I found it incredibly readable and flew through it.  I never had any issue picking this one up and never considered DNFing it.  The characters were well drawn and felt very real as was the community of Hen Town.  Tasha's story was really interesting, and I really would have liked more of it.  

Unfortunately, this was missing the magic I usually associate with this author's books.   The power of the Wester women never felt fully realized though the repercussions are felt throughout the story.  Why the Wester women live the way they do also doesn't fully make sense nor does all the rules around Wester house.  Their lives just feel grim and tightly controlled to make the plot go along. 

I did like the epilogue though again I just wanted more.  I wanted to see more of these characters living lives they deserved versus what they went through in the bulk of the book.  I think when it all comes down to it that kind of sums up my full thoughts on this book.  I liked it but I just wanted more - more story, more development, more explanation, just more.  

Would I Read More of this Series/Author? Definitely.  While this wasn't my favorite I do love the author's writing style and ability to tell a story and I'm looking forward to reading more from her.  

Would I Recommend this Book? I would definitely recommend this author but this book isn't the one I would recommend starting with.

* I received this book in exchange for an honest review. As always my opinions and impressions are completely my own. *

By the Pricking of My Thumbs - Classic Mystery Review

Goodreads: By the Pricking of My Thumbs by Agatha Christie

Rating: Liked It (3 Stars)
Source: Purchased

Description: Tommy and Tuppence Beresford, Agatha Christie’s delightful sleuthing duo, investigate the strange and troubling doings behind the scenes at a gothic British nursing home in By the Pricking of My Thumbs

When Tommy and Tuppence visit an elderly aunt in her gothic nursing home, they think nothing of her mistrust of the doctors; after all, Ada is a very difficult old lady.

But when Mrs. Lockett mentions a poisoned mushroom stew and Mrs. Lancaster talks about "something behind the fireplace," Tommy and Tuppence find themselves caught up in a spine-chilling adventure that could spell death for either of them.

Genre: Mystery - Classic

Why I Picked This Book:  This was the August Read Christie Challenge pick. 

My Impression: I really really want to love this one.  I love this premise.  A chance remark and a gifted painting start Tuppence out on a mission to locate a house.  Then Tuppence being Tuppence ends up falling into a massive situation.  I've seen the focus on residents of nursing homes popping up more and more in modern mysteries which I thoroughly enjoy.  Just because someone is not physically strong or mentally together in present day does not represent how they always were and everyone has a past.  And some of those pasts aren't going to be nice.  

Unfortunately, this story feels disjointed and highly coincidental.  It's one of those that I enjoy pretty well when I'm reading it but reflecting back on it there is very little substance.  Also, I understand that England isn't the biggest country but the number of people from all across the countryside who are linked and know each and every obscure mention is a bit hard to believe.  

This was published in 1968 and is one of Christie's later books.  The Tommy and Tuppence stories aren't her best and this isn't the best Tommy and Tuppence (it's not her worst though -that is reserved for the final Tommy and Tuppence book Postern of Fate).  It's a fun read and I love the idea of it - I just wished the execution lived up to the premise.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author? Of course!  Next month's book is Endless Night which is one I remember enjoying.

Would I Recommend this Book? No not unless you're determined to read all the Christie books.  If you want to read a Tommy and Tuppence book I'd recommend A Secret Adversary.

Friday Fives - Five Quick Reviews for Books I've Read Recently

I'm in a list making kind of mood so I thought I'd start making random five lists.  Sometimes they'll be bookish other weeks not so much. This week I'm sharing 5 quick reviews for books I've read recently.

1.  Reading People by Anne Bogel - This was an interesting read and one I'm glad I read as a slow read.  I followed The Modern Mrs. Darcy for years and was an early listener of the What Should I Read Next podcast so when this came out I really wanted to read it.  I haven't followed Bogel for a few years - no reason just got more interested in other things - but I had a little reading time so thought I would pick it up.  While I'm not a huge personality test person I did find it interesting to see how the way you process and deal with emotions and actions can impact the choices you make and how you interact with other people.  It didn't make me want to run out and take a Meyers-Briggs test but it did make me consider why I react the way I do to things and what kind of reaction I'm wanting from those around me.  My Rating: Liked It! (3.5 Stars)

2.  Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros - I wasn't really looking forward to this one.  I really liked the first one but found the second book a bit long winded.  This was a pleasant surprise.  I really enjoyed this one both their exploration and the war.   I did really enjoy all the side characters - especially Riddick and their character development.  I find Violet and Xaden to be the least interesting characters so thankfully the romantic scenes weren't constant though they were a bit repetitive.  I'm going to continue with the series though I'm going to wait until it finishes up because this author has never met a cliffhanger she doesn't love and it drives me crazy!  My Rating: Really Liked It (4 Stars)

3.  What Happens in Paradise by Elin Hilderbrand - This is the second book in the Paradise trilogy and I still have mixed feelings about it.  I find the story fascinating and I really enjoy the writing.  I like Irene, Huck, and Maia and Cash most of the time.  The rest of the characters are varying degrees of terrible though I will say they are realistic.  While this is the second book it doesn't suffer from second book syndrome.  The story is progressing for both the characters and for the mystery of just what Russ was up to.  I picked up the third book because I do want to find out what happens next but these aren't characters I will miss once the trilogy is done with.  My Rating: Liked It! (3.5 Stars)

4.  The Last Lady B by Eloisa James - I haven't read Eloisa James in forever and this was a fun read!  I liked Evie and most of the residents of the haunted abbey (with the exception of a specific two).  The banter was fun and ghostly bits were entertaining.  I loved Evie finding her confidence and realizing that maybe she didn't have to be perfect all the time.  I liked the romance and the characters fit well together.   The language is very modern for the time period which pulled me out of the story a little.   I also would have preferred for a pivotal point to have happened earlier so as a reader we could get more time in Evie's future.  Overall, this was entertaining and was a good reminder to read more Eloisa James.  My Rating: Really Liked It (4 Stars)

5.  The Valentine Cipher by Anna Elliott and Charles Veley - This is the 8th book in the Homefront Sleuth series and it was just as fun as the previous books.  Evie is flirting with Nancy Drew territory with the frequency she gets hit in the head and kidnapped but it does make it fun.  I loved the investigation into just what is going on with the weddings.  My favorite about this series is the ensemble cast aspect and while Dorothy and Tom didn't have a big of roles as they usually do.  The mystery was good and I love all the characters.  The audio is always well done.  I look forward to new books in the series and spending more time with these characters.  My Rating: Really Liked!  (4 Stars)

Recipe Thursday - 1 Hour Buttermilk Dinner Rolls

One of my goals for 2026 is to sort through all the recipes I have laying around tucked into folders and notebooks as well as my gigantic Pinterest/food blog collection that hasn't been touched in years.  I've been having quite a good time with it.  I enjoy cooking but it can become a chore pretty easily and this has made it a lot more fun for me as I feel like I'm working on a project.   Around here we've taken to calling it Recipe Thunderdome as all recipes have to be auditioned before earning their place in the final recipe binder. 

*For context I'm a reasonably capable home cook but one who is often trying to multitask and who is pretty much completely self-taught. *

Today I'm Sharing:  1 Hour Buttermilk Dinner Rolls from Creme de la Crumb

Changes:  None.  I followed ingredients and directions and as exactly as I could.

Thoughts on Recipe Difficulty:  It was really easy.  It was a bit different from any rolls I've made before but I figured I'd try it.  Definitely quicker than other rolls I've made before.

Cook Time: About an hour though most of that time was either the rising or baking.  There was a few minutes of kneading but other than that it didn't take much messing with.

Served With:  Marinated chicken, roasted potatoes and zucchini.

Results: So good!  These also held up really well the next day which rolls don't always do.

Verdict: Survived - These might end up being my go-to dinner rolls.

Can't Wait Wednesday - Murder at the Grand Alpine Hotel

 

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted here to spotlight the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally, they're books that have yet to be released.  It's hosted by Tessa over at Wishful Endings and you can find out more here.

Goodreads:  Murder at the Grand Alpine Hotel by Lucy Foley

Blurb:  High in the Swiss Alps, accessible only by a single, winding railway, stands the luxurious Grand Alpine Hotel. With glorious mountain views and exclusive access to powdery slopes, it draws guests from far and wide.
The notorious actress.
The high-flying politician.
The society wife.
The reckless friend.
The shrewd doctor.

But not everyone is here for a winter holiday.

Beneath the champagne and furs, dark histories simmer; old grudges emerge like cracks in the ice.

And someone is watching from the shadows. A polite, unassuming woman with an extraordinary mind: Miss Marple.

When a body is found and a blizzard cuts off all escape, only Miss Marple can connect the clues before the killer strikes again. Because it isn’t a question of who has a motive, but who’s next…

Why I Can't Wait For This One:  I've had decent luck with Lucy Foley's books and the mystery on this one looks good.  I'm a little nervous about the Miss Marple character but this was authorized by the Christie estate and while I don't love all the Hannah books with Poirot they were at least respectful of the character.  As well, there was a short story collection a few years ago of Miss Marple stories and Foley's was my favorite.  

Top Ten Tuesday - Ten Books Set in Places I'd Like to Visit

Today I'm linking up with Top Ten Tuesday hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl which is all about lists.  Since lists are one of my favorite things this is one of my favorite linkups!  Today's topic is Bookish Places I've Visited. I can't think of very many bookish places I've visited though I do always try and check out any indie bookstore in any place we visit and I'm a frequent visitor to our local bookstores.  Instead, I'm going with 10 Books Set in Places I'd Like to Visit.

1.  Five Little Pigs by Agatha Christie (Greenway House, Devon, England) - This was one of Agatha Christie's homes and is at the top of my list for Christie related locations to visit.  

2.  Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery (Prince Edward Island, Canada) - Green Gables is probably my favorite fictional location and I'd love to see Anne's beloved Island

3.  Whose Body in the Library by Eva Gates (Outer Banks, North Carolina) - I've been to OBX once and really enjoyed it (though I'm a Gulf fan when it comes beaches) and I'd love to revisit.

4.  A Caribbean Mystery by Agatha Christie (Coral Reef Hotel, Barbados) - I love this book and I'd love to stay at this resort.  I also want to go to Guadalupe where they film Death in Paradise as well.  

5.  The Murder, She Wrote Series (Kennebunkport, Maine) - I love both the book and the TV version and would love to visit the inspiration for Cabot Cove.

6.  Sugar and Spite by Carol J. Perry (Salem, MA) - This is a fun series and I love that Salem is basically a character in this series.  I'd love to visit.

7.  Death on a Scottish Train by Lucy Connelly (Scotland) - There are so many reasons I'd love to visit Scotland and this series is top of my list.

8.  A Bakeshop Mystery series by Ellie Alexander (Ashland, Oregon) - I was thrilled when I realized that the setting for this mystery series is real.  Even though Torte doesn't exist I'd still love to visit Ashland.

9.  The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett (Yorkshire Moors, England) - This is one of my all time favorite books and I'd love to visit Yorkshire.  

10.  Murder at the Breakers by Alyssa Maxwell (Newport, Rhode Island) - Granted the book is set in the time of the Vanderbilts when the "cottages" were newly built but I would still love to see them.  

What bookish locations would you like to visit?

Reading What I Love: Bitter Spirits by Jenn Bennett

The last few years I've made a list of 10 books - 5 books off my shelf, 5 books from the library - that I'm really wanting to read.  There's no real rhyme or reason.  I just go through my library list and my shelves and pick the books that are calling to me.  My focus in 2026 is reading books I think I'll love - or at least really enjoy.

Goodreads:  Bitter Spirits by Jenn Bennett 

Blurb:  It’s the roaring twenties, and San Francisco is a hotbed of illegal boozing, raw lust, and black magic. The fog-covered Bay Area can be an intoxicating scene, particularly when you specialize in spirits…
Aida Palmer performs a spirit medium show onstage at Chinatown’s illustrious Gris-Gris speakeasy. However, her ability to summon (and expel) the dead is more than just an act.

Winter Magnusson is a notorious bootlegger who’s more comfortable with guns than ghosts—unfortunately for him, he’s the recent target of a malevolent hex that renders him a magnet for hauntings. After Aida’s supernatural assistance is enlisted to banish the ghosts, her spirit-chilled aura heats up as the charming bootlegger casts a different sort of spell on her.

On the hunt for the curseworker responsible for the hex, Aida and Winter become drunk on passion. And the closer they become, the more they realize they have ghosts of their own to exorcise…

Why I Think I'll Love This One: Ghosts, romantic suspense 1920s setting - what's not to love?

My Thoughts:  This was a fun read.  I loved the time period, the San Francisco setting, and mystery part.  The romantic relationship feels a bit dated with Winter being a bit over the top with the "I'll do what I want" kind of attitude.  I loved the side characters and wish they could have had a bigger role - especially Winter's sister.  Aida is an interesting character as well.  She's had a tough time of it and has had to survive on her own.  Her reactions to what happens around her makes a good deal of sense most of the time.  I did like how it ended for both of the main characters and it makes me curious to track down the other book in the series.  My Rating: Liked It! (3.5 Stars)

The Innocence of Father Brown - Classic Mystery Review

Goodreads: The Innocence of Father Brown by G.K. Chesterton

Rating: Liked It (3 Stars)
Source: Purchased

Description:  Chesterton portrays Father Brown as a short, stumpy Roman Catholic priest, with shapeless clothes and a large umbrella, and an uncanny insight into human evil. "How in Tartarus," cried Flambeau, "did you ever hear of the spiked bracelet?" -- "Oh, one's little flock, you know!" said Father Brown, arching his eyebrows rather blankly. "When I was a curate in Hartlepool, there were three of them with spiked bracelets."
Not long after he published Orthodoxy, G. K. Chesterton moved from London to Beaconsfield, and met Father O'Connor. O'Connor had a shrewd insight to the darker side of man's nature and a mild appearance to go with it--and together those came together to become Chesterton's unassuming Father Brown. Chesterton loved the character, and the magazines he wrote for loved the stories. The Innocence of Father Brown was the first collection of them, and it's a great lot of fun.

Genre: Mystery - Classic

Why I Picked This Book: Chesterton was a contemporary of Christie (well maybe not exactly but there was overlap) and I've been wanting to read his Father Brown series.

My Impression: This first collection is a series of short stories all featuring Father Brown in varying degrees.  I found the more Father Brown was present the more I enjoyed the story.  Chesterton writes a good mystery and creates a good story.  Father Brown is a delightful character - incredibly aware of the evil in the world but never breaking from his somewhat bumbling priest character.  

My primary issue with this collection is that Chesterton is very fond of a well-turned phrase.  So fond that at times it feels like the story itself gets a bit lost in the clever writing.  This story collection works well for a slow read.  I am looking forward to watching the TV adaptation as Father Brown is a fantastic character and I will also be (slowly) reading the rest of the series.  While I do enjoy them frequently the story itself gets lost in the prose which did keep me from really loving them.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author? Yes, but mostly because I already own the remaining volumes in this series.  I'm not sure I'd search the other books out.

Would I Recommend this Book? Maybe?  If you're a big fan of classic style mysteries or like a slow read with a fun twist this is a good collection.  

Friday Fives - Bookish Confessions

I'm in a list making kind of mood so I thought I'd start making random five lists.  Sometimes they'll be bookish other weeks not so much.  Today, inspired by the Well-Read Podcast I'm listing my 5 bookish confessions.

1.  I don't keep books - I do reread but not very often and unless I'm sure I'm going to want to reread the book it immediately goes into the bin I have to take to the used bookstore.  More often than not if I'm not sure I'm going to reread I go on and trade it in because I can always rebuy it later.  Plus, I have a whole roomful of books that I haven't read so I'd rather keep the space for new acquisitions.  There are some authors I collect - Agatha Christie, Dorothy Gilman, Patricia Wentworth and several others.

2.  It never occurs to me to annotate or write down quotes - It always amazes me when people talk about needing a highlighter to read or annotating while reading.  It never enters my mind regardless of what I'm reading.  I typically skip footnotes too unless I need clarity.

3.  I don't mind a broken spine - As long as pages aren't falling out a cracked spine doesn't really bother me and I'm not horrified if I accidentally break the spine.  This may be because I don't keep books.  

4.  If there's a plot point, character, or animal that I'm really stressed about I sometimes skim the last chapter or so to make sure it works out before I continue reading - It just makes the whole reading experience more relaxing if I'm not constantly stressed about something.  

5.  I can't binge a series - It doesn't matter how much I love a series or the characters I can't finish a book and immediately pick up the next book in the series.  The times I've done it I end up being annoyed about SOMETHING - character quirks, writing style, a plot point, something.  Now I put at least a book or two between the next books in the series.

What are some of your bookish confessions?  Do you share any of mine?

Road Trip Thursday - Books Set in Florida

 

Every year I track the states and countries that I visit in my reading.  I'm trying to visit a few more states and countries so I'm looking for places I haven't visited yet this year.  I'm starting with Florida.

1.  Pane and Suffering by Cheryl Hollon - This is a glass shop cozy mystery set in St. Petersburg, Florida which is an absolutely lovely town and one I'd like to revisit.  

2.  The Last Train to Key West by Chanel Cleeton - I've enjoyed books by this author and this looks really fun.  I've driven down through the Florida Keys and I remember looking over at that teeny tiny train bridge stretching along next to the highway and it gave me shivers!  I can't imagine being on a train on that tiny track high above the water.

3.  The Love Haters by Katherine Center - I adored one book by her and this looks like a fun end of summer read!  

Do you have any book recommendations set in Florida?  Next month I'm thinking the opposite end of the country and will be visiting Washington State.  Do you have any Washington State recommendations?  

Authors I've Been Meaning to Read - The Last Heir to Blackwood Library by Hester Fox

At the beginning of the year, I made a list of authors that I've been saying I need to read and commit to reading at least one book by each of the authors in 2026.  Here's my thoughts on one of those books/authors.

Goodreads:  The Last Heir to Blackwood Library by Hester Fox

Blurb:  World War I England, a young woman inherits a mysterious library and must untangle its powerful secrets
With the stroke of a pen, twenty-three-year-old Ivy Radcliffe becomes Lady Hayworth, owner of a sprawling estate on the Yorkshire moors. Ivy has never heard of Blackwood Abbey, or of the ancient bloodline from which she’s descended. With nothing to keep her in London since losing her brother in the Great War, she warily makes her way to her new home.

The abbey is foreboding, the servants reserved and suspicious. But there is a treasure waiting behind locked doors: a magnificent library. Despite cryptic warnings from the staff, Ivy feels irresistibly drawn to its dusty shelves, where familiar works mingle with strange, esoteric texts. And she senses something else in the library too, a presence that seems to have a will of its own.

Rumors swirl in the village about the abbey’s previous owners, about ghosts and curses, and an enigmatic manuscript at the center of it all. And as events grow more sinister, it will be up to Ivy to uncover the library’s mysteries in order to reclaim her own story—before it vanishes forever.

My Thoughts:  I really thought I would love this.  It's set in a Gothic-y library and the main character who has been struggling to survive suddenly ends up with a title and an abbey.  Ivy quickly realizes that all is not what it seems.  The household staff is hardly welcoming, and she has to pick a lock to get into her own library.   Then more and more unexplainable things begin to happen.

This is one of those stories that it probably is best not to know much going in.  There's a lot going on behind the scenes but the reader and Ivy are in the dark for so long that it gets a bit frustrating.  I understand why Ivy is in the dark but because I had no idea what was going on for so long it did start to be repetitive.  Ivy has a headache and feels fuzzy, Ivy wants to do something but is told no by the housekeeper, the random "family friend" shows up and Ivy falls for his act when it is clear no one else likes him.  The last quarter of the book did start picking up and the end was interesting, but it took a bit to get there.  I enjoyed Fox's ability to set the scene, and I would like to read more from her, but this one was a bit flat for me.  I don't think I fully got over the slower pacing of the first half.  My Rating: Liked It (3 Stars)

Top Ten Tuesday - Ten Book Series I Want to Catch Up On

Today I'm linking up with Top Ten Tuesday hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl which is all about lists.  Since lists are one of my favorite things this is one of my favorite linkups!  Today's topic is Book Series I Want to Catch Up On.  This could easily be a top 100 as there are so many great series that I really enjoy.

1.  Harmony/Ghost Hunters from Jayne Castle - These books always read like a fever dream but are so much fun.  I've only read a few of them so I'd like to go in and read from the beginning.

2.  Charles Lenox Mysteries by Charles Finch - I've read the first book and really enjoyed it.  I always mean to read more of the series but I haven't yet.

3.  Sebastian St. Cyr by C.S. Harris - I've loved the most recent books in the series and am really looking forward to reading the early books in the series.

4.  Family Skeleton Mystery by Leigh Perry - I read the first book in this slightly odd cozy mystery series and really enjoyed it.  I'm definitely looking forward to reading more of the books.

5.  Vera Stanhope by Ann Cleeves - I loved the first book and am looking forward to reading more of Vera and watching the show.

6.  Amelia Peabody by Elizabeth Peters - This is an interesting and fun series.  Elizabeth Peters/Barbara Michaels was an Egyptologist which makes it even more interesting.

7.  Rockton by Kelley Armstrong - I've read the first two books in the series and enjoyed them both.  I know there's a spinoff of the series that I need to read as well.

8.  Wayward Children by Seanan McGuire - The first one was unexpected and incredibly readable.  I really want to revisit the world.

9.  Lady Darby Mysteries by Anna Lee Huber - I've read a few books in this series and really enjoyed them.  Now and read the beginning and more recent books.

10.  Noodle Shop Mysteries by Vivien Chien - I've read a few books in the series and really enjoyed it.