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23 December 2021

First book pick of 2022

 A few months back, I was lucky enough to get my hands on this book a few months before it was published.  It wasn't my first Julia Kelly book, but it became my favorite Julia Kelly book. 

 This book introduces us to Lily, a young woman that doesn't want to be in the last group of debutates, but her grandmother and mother demand it so she must.  We will follow Lily on the journey of parties, presentations, and dances, a typical debutante life until her world turns upside down by a family secret.  I love books like this, you know the ones, where you expect something and the story gives you something so different.  


This is an excellent read for the start of those 2022 reading challenges.






21 December 2021

Fellow book nerds END-OF-YEAR stats

 Hello to you fellow readers.  


I have created an end-of-year book stat sheet for you.  This features your top 10 books of the year and your final reading stats. 


 If you didn't keep up with your reading stats and want to in 2022, don't worry, I will be posting tips and tricks soon. I have been keeping a book journal since 1996 and I have changed it many times and finally, I have the perfect stats book for me.  More on that later....even if you aren't interested in stats, you might be interested in your top 10 books of 2021.  


Download a copy of the stat sheet here




19 December 2021

2022 Reading Challenge

 Every year I try to do a challenge of my own to get me out of a reading box, but also to just have some fun trying to fit a book into categories.  Over the last few years, I have made my own to distribute to friends.  My challenges have just one requirement, that you do what you want with it.  If you don't like a category, you mark it out and insert your own.  If you don't like how I worded something, you reword it.  If you wish to use one book for three categories, you do so.  It is your challenge, your reading life, I am just there, I hope, for inspiration.  

Don't forget to come back here each month in 2022 and get my MUST READ book of the month, book reviews, and maybe some free bookmarks you can print or download.  My summer reading challenge will come out around April and will be full of fun reads for your all summertime adventures.  


Thanks so much to you all that followed along with me in 2021. I hope you had a wonderful reading year and I am hoping you stick around for next year.  


2022 Reading Challenge--download the challenge here



28 November 2021

The last book pick of 2021

 This month's book was an easy pick for me. I read every single book that Gill Paul writes! She is creative, entertaining, and somehow picks topics that are so very interesting.  

This book is called The Collector's Daughter and it is about Evelyn Herbert.  Evelyn's father is an archeologist that is on a team desperately wants to find the tomb of Tutankhamun.  On one fateful day, Evelyn happens to be in attendance on the hunt when they find it!!  The tomb was erected to have curses put on anyone who disturbs the burial place.  The team abandons all superstitions, each member takes a token home before they tell the public they have found the tomb.  Fast forward through time and you can see how the "curse" affects each of the team members. The book takes place over the course of about 50 years, and they are 50 wild years.  



  

Review: The Many Daughters of Afong Moy

The Many Daughters of Afong Moy The Many Daughters of Afong Moy by Jamie Ford
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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23 October 2021

November Book Pick

 I had so much trouble picking the book for November.  Why?  Well, I try to pick a book that I read the month before and make it be one that I loved.  That is easy most months because I usually only read one great one a month, but this month was completely different.  During the month of October, I read 5 books that I wanted to share with people.  FIVE books that I think are worth your time.  I decided that I don't have to do the same thing that everyone else does, I can pick a TOP FIVE book pick and you can choose any of them and I think you will have a GRAND time.  


1.  Dave Grohl-The Storyteller

This book is all about rock n roll, but not sex and drugs.  This is a book to celebrate music.  A book that shows love, devotion, and a slight coffee addiction.  I loved every single part of this book and if I have to pick a favorite of all 5 this month, it is this one.  



2.  Taylor Jenkins Reid-Malibu Rising 

I love all of Taylor's books, and this one is even better than the last one (Daisy Jones and the Six).  This one features June and Mick and shows us their relationship and marriage.  We will then be transformed to the future where we meet June and Mick's kids and see how they cope with his stardom and mom and dad's choices.  I won't say anything else, except this one is hard to put down. 




3.  Jessica Anya Blau-Mary Jane

This is probably my second favorite of all 5 books.  This one shows us a teenage girl on the verge of womanhood.  She is a nanny for the summer to a doctor and his wife.  While working she experiences a whole world different than the life she has with her parents and feels she is living a double life.  Things keep getting stranger when she meets her television idol and her rock star husband.  





4.  Patti Callahan Henry-Once Upon a Wardrobe

I could feel the magic all around while reading this book.  Meg finds herself interviewing C.S. Lewis about how he created Narnia for her invalid brother, George.  George is a very creative child that draws pictures of the stories Meg tells him from the information she gathered from C.S. Lewis.  The tale is almost as magical as Narnia itself.  



5.  Laura Dave-The Last Thing He Told Me

I knew this book would be a type of thriller but had no idea how this book would twist and turn.  I am not sure what I can tell you that would not give it away. I will just say it is a book about a woman that marries a man.  This man has a child from a previous marriage and he is a widower.  I do believe that is all I can tell you, sorry about that, you just need to be surprised.  



On my monthly book shelf that I keep, I will record The Storyteller as the book of the month and the other 4 as bonus reads, but please don't let any of these pass you by.  



22 October 2021

Review: Espressos, Eggnogs, and Evil Exes

Espressos, Eggnogs, and Evil Exes Espressos, Eggnogs, and Evil Exes by Harper Lin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I think the Cape Bay Cafe series is so fun. I love a good coffee shop. This is a part of a series, but you could read it as a stand alone, but why would you want to?

Fran's best friend and co worker is stalked by her boyfriend's ex...then the ex ends up dead. Who do think is the suspect? Sammy the best friend. Jump right in for some fun, some craziness and a nice way to spend a weekend. Bonus....there is a "killer" eggnog recipe in the back of the book.

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