LadyoftheLodge Reads in 2023

Hi there!

My name is Cheryl. Although I am retired from full time work in public education, I teach online college classes in Leadership Theory, as well as the Sciences, for several universities. I also write curriculum and book reviews.

I live in a small town, have two lovable cats, and played the clarinet in a community band (sadly, we have made the difficult decision to disband, no pun intended). My husband and I like to travel and have frequently been spotted on cruise ships, although not lately! We also enjoy theater and music venues. Our travel lately has been limited to bus trips to the symphony and also day trips. Both of us are voracious readers, although our reading tastes differ immensely.

My library occupies one room of my house. There are books in every room of my home as well. I read cozy mysteries, classic mysteries, assorted fiction and "brain candy", historical mysteries, children's books, and occasionally biography or memoirs. I enjoy reading print materials as well as e-books. (I like being able to carry all those e-books with me whenever I go anywhere. My Kindle or tablet is usually in my bag when I leave the house.) My two "reading cats" enjoy reading with me every night before we all go to sleep. They have not yet expressed any specific reading preferences.

Challenge Hosting Commitments for 2023:

(March SeriesCAT--Done)
(May ClassicsCAT--DONE)
(September RandomKIT--DONE)
November MysteryKIT
December KiddyCAT

Reserved for AlphaKIT

January I, S--Irish Country Christmas by Alice Taylor and The Joy and Light Bus Company by Alexander McCall Smith
February J, F--Juvenilia by Jane Austen and A Lady's Guide to Fortune-Hunting by Sophie Irwin
March G, A--The Austen Girls by Lucy Worsley
April W, D--Mrs. Jeffries Rights a Wrong by Emily Brightwell and Nancy Drew Diaries: A Nancy Drew Christmas by Carolyn Keene
May U, C--Up in Smoke by Shannon VanBergen and The Amish Advent Calendar by Naomi Troyer
June B, K--The Lady Knows Best by Susanna Craig
July O, P--Jeeves in the Offing by P.G. Wodehouse
August M, Q--Murder is Bad Manners by Robin Stevens and Mrs. Lorimer's Quiet Summer by Molly Clavering
September V, E
October N, H
November T, L
December R, Y

Reserved for MysteryKIT

January—TV/movie detectives--The Joy and Light Bus Company by Alexander McCall Smith (Precious Ramotswe)
February--classic settings--Poison is not Polite by Robin Stevens
March--paranormal--Casting Spells by Barbara Bretton
April—tartan noir--Death of a Perfect Wife by M.C. Beaton
May--true unsolved mysteries--The Life and Prayers of Padre Pio by Wyatt North
June—vintage--Halloween Party by Agatha Christie
July—police procedural and private detectives--The Metropolitan Affair by Jocelyn Green
August--past and future--The Fourth Enemy by Anne Perry
September--college/university setting--Death in an Ivory Tower by Maria Hudgins
October--locked room
November—senior sleuths/kid sleuths (Hosting)
December—cozy mystery

Reserved for RandomKIT

January--Hidden Gem--On Christmas Eve by Peter Collington
February--Two or Second--Poison is not Polite by Robin Stevens
March--Water--Death at the Frost Fair by Karen Charlton
April--7 Ages--At Bertram's Hotel by Agatha Christie
May--Royal Names--A Crime in Holland by Georges Simenon
June--Walls--A Most Contagious Game by Catherine Aird
July--The Muppets--Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller
August--Something Good - Lady and the Tramp Little Golden Book by Teddy Slater
September (Hosting)--Wild, Wild West--Scrib by David Ives
October
November
December

Reserved for KiddyCAT

January—picture books/graphic novels--On Christmas Eve by Peter Collington
February--mystery--Poison is not Polite by Robin Stevens
March—YA historical fiction--The Austen Girls by Lucy Worsley
April--fantasy for middle grade/YA--The Cat Who Went to Heaven by Elizabeth Coatsworth
May—children/YA classics--Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia McLachlan
June—animals as main character--If you Give a Cat a Cupcake by Laura Numeroff
July—arts and crafts--Edible Crafts Kids' Cookbook by Charity Mathews.
August—kids/YA series--Murder is Bad Manners by Robin Stevens
September—history/ biography--Agatha Christie Little People, Big Dreams series by Maria Vegara and Pablo Picasso by Ibi Lepscky
October—siblings
November—fairy tales/myths/legends
December—holiday stories (Hosting)

Reserved for ClassicsCAT

January - Adventure Classics--Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne
February - Before 1900--Juvenilia by Jane Austen
March - Classics Adapted to Movies and TV--The Railway Children by E. Nesbit
April - Classic Mysteries --At Bertram's Hotel by Dame Agatha
May - Children's Classics (Hosting)--Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan
June - Humour --Jeeves and the King of Clubs by Ben Schott
July - A Classic You Always Wanted to Read--Jeeves and the Tie that Binds by P.G. Wodehouse
August - Classics in Translation - Beauty and the Beast by Deborah Apy
September - Non-fiction Classics --The Great Fire of London by Samuel Pepys
October - Classics by Women --Jane Austen?
November - The Ancient World
December - Re-read a Classic

Reserved for SeriesCAT

January - A series that is new to you--A Murder of Christmas Past (Kitty Worthington)--by Magda Alexander
February - A series in translation--Maigret and the Old People by Georges Simenon
March - YA/children (Hosting)--Curse of the Arctic Star by Carolyn Keene
April - A series that you don't need to read in order (or could be read as a one-off)--Nancy Drew Diaries: A Nancy Drew Christmas by Carolyn Keene
May - Trilogies--Letters of Trust by Wanda Brunstetter
June - Series by a favorite author--Halloween Party by Agatha Christie
July - Nonfiction series--Where is the Bermuda Triangle? by Megan Stine
August - A series you have been meaning to get back to - Murder is Bad Manners by Robin Stevens
September - A series that began more than 50 years ago--Village Christmas by Miss Read
October - Asian setting
November - Historical series
December - Set in a country/region where you do not live

Reserved for "Kitty Picks"

My cats Charlie and Toeney (pictured here with his reading selection Romeow and Juliet) love to read with me every night. They are definitely "the reading kitties!" They will be honored to help me select my reading choices for the new year 2023.

1. The Christmas Angel Project by Melocy Carlson (kitty pushed it off the shelf for me)
2. At Bertram's Hotel by Agatha Christie (kitty selected it from two possible choices I presented to him)

"If the Fates Allow"

My poor "Jars of Fate" waited patiently, but seldom got a chance to participate in the reading challenges, despite my best intentions. I hope to do better with this challenge in 2023.

1. Mrs. Jeffries Rights a Wrong by Emily Brightwell
2. The Christie Caper by Carolyn Hart
3. Aloha Betrayed by Jessica Fletcher and others
4.
5.



Historical Fiction Challenge
1. Read a work of historical fiction set in the country you’re from--Around the World in 80 Days which hits a lot of countries, including the USA
2. Read a work of historical fiction set in a different country to the one you’re from--A Child's Christmas in Wales by Dylan Thomas
3. Read a work of historical fiction set in your favourite historical time period to read about--Secrets of the Nile by Tasha Alexander
4. Read a work of historical fiction set in a time period you’ll less familiar with--The Librarian Spy by Madeline Martin (France during WWII and the French Resistance)
5. Read a work of historical fiction with a speculative element--Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne
6. Read a work of historical fiction about a real historical figure or a specific historical event--Archaeologist Dr. Carter mentioned in Secrets of the Nile
7. Read a classic work of historical fiction--A Child's Christmas in Wales by Dylan Thomas
Bonus: Read a work of historical fiction of over 500 pages

Reserved for BingoDOG

2023 Bingo squares
1. A bestseller from 20 years ago--The Christmas Train by David Baldacci
2. A book about a topic you don’t usually read--Who Was Seabiscuit? by James Buckley Jr.
3. A book rated above 4 on LT--The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton
4. A book that taught you something--The Librarian Spy by Madeline Martin
5. A memoir--Queen Elizabeth (Pocket Giants) by Victoria Arbiter
6. A popular author’s first book--Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder
7. Art or craft related--Mrs. Jeffries and the Best Laid Plans by Emily Brightwell
8. Author who shares your zodiac sign--A House for Hermit Crab by Eric Carle
9. Book by a local/regional author where you live/have lived--Betrayal at the Beach by K.L. Montgomery
10. Book is set on a plane, train or ship--Around the World in 80 Days
11. Features a cat (cats) or member of the cat family (leopard, lion, tiger, etc.)--Oscar, Cat About Town by James Herriot
12. Inn or hotel--Murder on Board by Helena Dixon
13. Read a CAT--On Christmas Eve
14. Involves an accident--Love Always, Christmas
15. Journalist or journalism--The Age of Misadventure by Judy Leigh
16. More than 1000 copies on LT--84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff
17. Music or musician--Round Dozen by Elizabeth Cadell
18. Small town or rural setting--Adore Me
19. STEM topic--Secrets of the Nile (archaeology)
20. Switched or stolen identities--Her Winter Prince
21. The next book in a series you started--The Joy and Light Bus Company
22. Title contains a number or quantity--Time Traveling 1953 by Edward Jones
23. With a book on the cover--Dead and Gondola
24. With a plant in the title or on the cover--Peppermint Barked by Leslie Budewicz
25. Written by an author under 30--Juvenilia by Jane Austen

Good to see your thread up and ready for 2023! I am revamping my challenge so that I can fit in more of the Cats/Kits but hope to get it up by this weekend.

Looking forward to following your reading for another year.

Happy reading in 2023! Keen to see what your 'something else' categories will be! :)

I'm expecially looking forward to number 9. Let the cats choose! Happy new year of reading!

Happy reading in 2023!

I love my e-reader, also. I feel "naked" without it when I leave home! May you find many enjoyable reads in 2023!

"Something else" sounds intriguing. Can't wait to see what will go there. Happy reading!

Looking good! Wishing you happy reading in 2023.

Good luck with your reading.

Looking forward to seeing your choices for all those Cats/Kits. I'm still trying to get my reading plan organized.

Such a cute picture for BingoDOG!

>21 MissBrangwen: Thanks! It’s been waiting in my profile gallery!

Very interested to see what your cats pick. Happy reading!

>23 pamelad: I am as well! I had to think about that for a while before deciding to go with it. I will probably set out a group of books and limit what they have to choose from.

Great pictures, especially Bingo! I hope your cats pick some good books.

Finally making my way around to the 2023 threads. I love the idea of having your cats pick books for a category!

>26 rabbitprincess: Thanks! Glad you stopped by. The kitties appreciate your comments too.

Stopping by with best wishes for your 2023 reading.

>28 lkernagh: Thanks! Happy to see you here!

I survived my dentist visit yesterday. It was not pleasant (it never is!) but not as bad as I imagined. I had a loose tooth removed, with bone graft. Since it is in the front, I have a temporary retainer with a fake tooth for cosmetic purposes until the extraction site heals and I can get a bridge. Not pretty! I am glad it is over and I can get to appreciate the Christmas season. I also have pain killers on hand and a couple of prescriptions. My guardian angels took care of me.

>30 LadyoftheLodge: Erk. Glad it went well.

>30 LadyoftheLodge: Yikes! I would rather give birth than go to the dentist! Hope you heal quickly!

>31 pamelad: >32 Tess_W: Thanks, it went as well as could be expected. Since we have this nasty weather upon us with low temps, it is good to be at home and reading. I thought the loose bit was my veneer, but it turned out to be the entire tooth! Hence the extensive surgery process. Getting old is not for weenies.

End of the Year Meme

Describe yourself: Book Lovers

Describe how you feel: Resting Scrooge Face

Describe where you currently live: On the Bright Side

If you could go anywhere, where would you go: The Golden Girls Getaway

Your favorite form of transportation is: The Joy and Light Bus Company

Your favorite food is: Six Feet Deep Dish

Your favorite time of day is:Back to the Garden

Your best friend is: The Man Who Died Twice

You and your friends are: On the Way to Christmas

What’s the weather like: Dashing Through the Snowbirds

You fear: The Bullet That Missed

What is the best advice you have to give: A 30 Day Guide to Healing from the Loss of Your Pet

Thought for the day: Love Always, Christmas

What is life for you: The Story of Love

How you would like to die: Beautiful Star of Bethlehem

Your soul’s present condition: In the Spirit Intended

What was 2022 like for you? Gone for Gouda

What do you want from 2023? Starting Over

I received five books for Kindle from SantaThing! I asked for Regency novels and my Santa delivered! Here is what she selected for me:

A Cousinly Connexion
The Parfit Knight
The Black Madonna
Shades of Milk and Honey
Regency Christmas Gifts

>35 LadyoftheLodge: Very nice! What a good Santa!

>36 Tess_W: I agree. Sometimes SantaThing can be a bit of a disappointment, but not this time.

Hope you have a great year of reading! I'm glad SantaThing worked for you. I've been a little disappointed the last couple of years with my SantaThing picks so I decided to only do the Christmas Swap in the 75 group this year. That worked really well. My Santa made great choices!

>35 LadyoftheLodge: Stella Riley and Sheila Simonson are good choices. I hope you enjoy them.

>39 pamelad: Thanks! I am looking forward to reading them!

KiddyCAT
For this CAT, I read On Christmas Eve which is a miniature book that is all pictures, about a child who does not have a chimney and how Santa gets her presents to her with the help of many angels (or fairies, depending on how you look at it).

I also read an illustrated child's version of Around the World in 80 Days.

We went to church on Christmas Eve and then had a casual dinner at home. Christmas Day was sunny but the wind was bitter! We had a nice noon lunch featuring gourmet foods; this was a the main dining room of our retirement community and we dined with three of our neighbors. Then we went home and opened our gifts to each other, which featured a lot of books!

Tomorrow we plan to drive about 75 miles north to have lunch and exchange gifts with my sisters and my niece. The location is about equidistant for all of us to drive to, and the weather is supposed to be warming up. The roads are clear and dry, so hopefully the drive will be uneventful. I have not seen my niece and one of my sisters in two years, although we text each other often, so it should be a fun reunion.

>42 LadyoftheLodge: Sounds like a nice Christmas eve and Christmas day.

Dropping in to wish you happy reading in 2023!

>42 LadyoftheLodge: It was very nice, quiet and comfortable. We are not party animals!
>44 mstrust: Hi there and thanks! Happy New Year!

We met my sisters and niece Thursday at a family restaurant that is an equally distant drive for all of us. We enjoyed talking and eating lunch and then placed our gifts for each other in our respective cars to open at home. There was a lot of traffic around Indianapolis since it was rush hour, complicated by construction and a crash. All in all it was a fun day and we were glad to get together. I had not seen one sister and her daughter in two years, although we text each other. It was good to get caught up. We decided to try to make the same lunch arrangements more often since it worked well for all of us and no one had to make hotel arrangements, as it is just a 90 minute drive for us all.

Happy New Year 2023!

Within These Gilded Halls
This novel combines a Regency romance with artistry, smuggling, a murder, and a treasure hunt! What an intriguing combination. When Phoebe gains employment as an artist, tasked with restoring Miss Drake's ballroom decorations, she never imagines she will become embroiled in searching for clues and seeking buried treasure. While this novel might be considered a romance, it is much more than that.

Readers who enjoy a novel of romantic suspense will no doubt find this a welcome addition to their reading repertoire.

Stopping in to say hello and hope you find some great books in 2023.

>48 LadyoftheLodge: An intriguing combination indeed! You've just fired my first book bullet of the year. :)

Happy New Year! I am glad to read that you had such a good meetup with some of your family members. I had a similar experience this Christmas, as covid and other incidents prevented many gatherings for such a long time.

>49 hailelib: Hi there! Thanks for stopping in! Please come back soon.

>50 christina_reads: I will be interested in knowing if you like it. The book might seem a little slow to start but it becomes much more exciting. See if you can guess how to decipher the clues to the treasure.

>51 MissBrangwen: Thanks for your kind thoughts. It was good to see my family and I hope we can meet up again sooner rather than later.

I finished reading Mrs. Jeffries and the Alms of the Angel which is part of the Mrs. Jeffries series of many mystery novels. I enjoy the ways in which the servants and neighbors collaborate and intervene to help Inspector Witherspoon solve his crime cases.

I also read A House for Hermit Crab by Eric Carle, a book that was a gift from my sister. Eric Carle shares my zodiac sign and that gives me a square on my BingoDog card.

I am currently reading Mr. Darcy Falls on His Feet which is a Christmas variation of Pride and Prejudice. I seem to be reading several of those lately and enjoying the varieties of stories based on Jane Austen's original book. The authors of these variations seem to portray Darcy as a more likeable character overall.

My post-op dental visit went well yesterday, and everything seems to be healing up as it should. I had my teeth cleaned and then the stitches were removed (not painful, thankfully) from the extraction site. I have to continue to use the retainer (so I do not have a big space in my front teeth) for cosmetic reasons, until I go back in April. At least the retainer is comfortable. We treated ourselves after the dentist visit by stopping by a donut shop and getting a cappuccino with peppermint flavoring and an avocado toast.

Hubby and I removed all our Christmas decorations inside and outside, since Epiphany was yesterday. I especially like our lighted wreath, which goes above the fireplace, but it was time to pack all the decos away until next year. Everything always looks so neat and clean when we undecorate, and doing it a little at a time made it easier. Now is the time of year to hang out at home in the warmth and do a lot of reading! We are both off to a good reading start.

>54 LadyoftheLodge: I like taking my decorations down on the 12th day of Christmas (Epiphany) too. I am, however, considering purchasing a metal ornament tree that can be decorated with seasonal ornaments.

>55 thornton37814: I think those ornament trees have been quite popular. There are also some people who leave their artificial trees up all year and change the decorations to meet the season. (I change out my garden flags almost every month.)

Happy New Year, Cheryl. And a belated "hope you feel better soon" after your dental treatment! Happy reading in 2023.

>57 VivienneR: Thanks! Good to hear from you. Happy reading to you as well.

I enjoyed re-reading a fave cat book Oscar Cat About Town for BingoDog square.

My day got derailed completely yesterday after my husband fell on his face on the concrete while pumping gasoline for our car. That necessitated a trip to the Immediate Care place so he could be checked over, and to the vision place to order new spectacles, since his got badly scratched. Not sure what he tripped over, and there was a lot of blood since he banged his nose. Thankfully it all looked a lot worse than it was, although he is sore and bruised. We had to miss our book group today and then a friend with whom we were to have lunch cancelled. This year is not starting out so great, sadly enough.

>60 LadyoftheLodge: Ouch! I hope there is no lasting damage.

>60 LadyoftheLodge: Glad he is not seriously injured. You 2023 sounds like my 2022!

>60 LadyoftheLodge: Yikes! Hope your husband recovers soon.

Oh, that sounds painful! I hope the bruises heal quickly!

>60 LadyoftheLodge: A fall with no apparent reason is frightening. I hope it turns out to be something minor.

>61 VivienneR: >62 Tess_W: >63 christina_reads: >64 mstrust: >65 pamelad: Thanks for your kind thoughts. He seems to be doing well today. Balance issues are nothing new for him, as results of military service and a head injury he experienced as a young man. (I think he might have tripped over the gasoline pump hose.) It was frightening for us both! I am still having nightmares about picking him up off the ground. Getting older is not fun.

I finished reading Round Dozen by Elizabeth Cadell. I recall reading some of her books years ago. Apparently they are being reissued in digital form by her daughter. This one involved a search for a missing flagon and also some romance! It was a thoroughly enjoyable read with an unexpected ending.

>60 LadyoftheLodge: Oh my, I'm glad he's doing better today. It seems to me nose inuries tend to be very painful.

I hope your husband recovers quickly and that your nightmares will stop soon! Best wishes!

Falls are not fun for either the one who falls or the spouse! Hope the recovery is fast.

The occasional book by Cadell can be a fun and quick read.

I finished Queen Elizabeth (Pocket Giants) which was a short read about Queen Elizabeth II. It was an interesting and factual read with footnotes and bibliography, although obviously written before her death. I can check off a box on BingoDog for this one too.

>66 LadyoftheLodge: my husband has serious balance issues, due to neuropathy--the legs don't do what the brain tells it, but the brain thinks the legs are moving and goes to the next step and he lands face down on the ground! He now has to use a cane inside the house and a walker outside. Yep, getting old is no fun!

>1 LadyoftheLodge: Belated comment on your 2023 thread. I hope you have a wonderful reading year.

>72 Tess_W: Yes, same thing here. Sometimes he cannot feel the soles of his feet very well. I am glad to have your kind thoughts, since you deal with a similar issue with your sweetie.

>73 beebeereads: Hi there and welcome! Hope you stop by again.

Murder on Board
Kitty Underhay assists her grandmother in managing the Dolphin Hotel. However, she seems to get more than she bargained for when a valuable diamond necklace disappears during a birthday party at the hotel! To make matters worse, the dead body of a steward on board a river cruise ship is discovered after the party guests disembark following their dinner cruise and head for the hotel. Kitty and her fiance Matt become embroiled in the crimes as they work with law enforcement to solve them.

While this is a cozy mystery, the storyline promises readers a wild romp through fields and forests, not to mention manors and boat houses, before the crimes are solved. Are these two crimes related? Is Kitty being targeted by a family of criminals with whom she dealt in the past? Is national security at risk? Read this novel set in the early 1930's to find the answers to these questions.

Although this is part of a series, it can easily be read as a stand-alone novel.

>75 LadyoftheLodge: You can find me Here this year.

>77 beebeereads: Thanks!

I stayed up late to finish A Lady's Guide to Fortune-Hunting which was a delightful and fun read, although I thought the main character (Kitty) demonstrated some rather mercenary techniques in trying to find a rich husband so she could save her family.

>79 LadyoftheLodge: I really enjoyed that one too! Irwin has another book coming out this year, A Lady's Guide to Scandal (no touchstone yet), but it doesn't seem to be a sequel. I was hoping it would feature one of Kitty's sisters!

>80 christina_reads: I will look for it, thanks. I was hoping for a sequel with more about the sisters too.

>79 LadyoftheLodge: I really liked A Lady's Guide to Fortune-Hunting and was disappointed that it was the author's only book. Eagerly awaiting the next one.

I just finished The Age of Misadventure by Judy Leigh. This was not one of her best, and the storyline seems to mirror some of her other books. My favorite character was Great Aunty Nan--what a hoot! I hope to be as spry as Nan when I am 88 years old. My main beef with this book is how stupid law enforcement is portrayed to be. When there is close surveillance and cops actually staying in their condo, how could a bad guy get in there and bash the cops over the head? The cops in the van should have been onto him in seconds. There was a lot in this one to stretch the credibility of the plot.

Muffin but the Truth by Ellie Alexander
This latest offering in the Bakeshop Mystery series features Juliet and her family catering a team event for a high end company. Despite the beautiful forest setting and the comfortable accommodations in the woods, troubles abound as the dysfunctional team members engage in spiteful behaviors. Things heat up for the group when one of their members is found dead. Juliet again involves herself in trying to solve the crime.

This book contains a lot of descriptions of how food is prepared, even though the recipes are included at the end. Readers who enjoy this kind of reading will probably gobble this one up, although the endless descriptions can become tedious. (I skipped over them.) This novel seemed to drag out the investigation and did not seem to offer many clues to help readers puzzle out the mystery. Although this is part of a series, it can be read as a standalone. Readers who are returning to this series will find familiar characters and settings. The novel contains no vivid descriptions of violence, no swear words, and no descriptive intimacy.

A Trip with Trouble by Diane Kelly
In this second offering in the Mountain Lodge series, lodge owner Misty hosts a group of biker gals, with whom death is a rider as well! When the mentor and matron of the Dangerous Curves motorcycle club is involved in an accident that leads to her demise, the group's riding trip is ruined and foul play is evident. Suspects abound and Misty along with her trusted housekeeper Brynn, friend Patty, and handyman Rocky become involved in helping local law enforcement solve the crime.

The women bikers added a special twist to this story. Although I read many mystery novels, this is the first one I have found that features biker chicks. For that reason alone, this well-crafted novel is worth a read. Although second in the series, readers can enjoy this book as a standalone.

Just finished Maigret and the Old People which kept me guessing until the end. Maigret investigates the death of a diplomat and keeps coming up against dead ends (pun!). Touchstone has a different title.

I also finished Little House in the Big Woods which I have not read since I was a child. Somehow I liked it better as a kid.

>86 LadyoftheLodge: It's always enjoyable getting the murderer, but there's something differently enjoyable about not having a clue until the very end as well.

>87 Helenliz: That is true! I am usually spot on with guessing who the murderer is, but in the Maigret novels, there always seems to be a little twist that I did not see coming.

>84 LadyoftheLodge: I hope to really get started on that series sometime this year. I've read a novella that goes with that series and Alexander's other one, but I haven't started the bakeshop series.

>85 LadyoftheLodge: I don't think that series was on my radar, but a mountain lodge sounds like a great setting.

I finished Poison is Not Polite in the Wells and Wong series by Robin Stevens. It was a delightful read, as are the others in the series. I did not guess the perpetrator so it must have been well-written, and there were many quirky characters in it as usual.

I also finished Knot a Game by Betty Hechtman which is the latest offering in the Yarn Retreat mystery series. Yarn retreat planner Casey takes on an extra job in this novel, as she integrates a murder mystery game into her next retreat at Vista del Mar. When a genuine murder occurs during the event, Casey's guests become more interested in "helping" solve the murder than they are in their game and yarn projects.

Although this is part of a series, readers can enjoy this novel as a standalone. The interesting characters and subtle clues will keep readers guessing until the final "reveal" of both mysteries. For those continuing with the series, some favorite characters and settings reappear in this story.

I finished Peril at Owl Park which is a children's book featuring Aggie Morton and her friend H. Perot (supposedly Agatha Christie as a child, already honing her sleuthing skills).

I also read Passing by Nella Larsen, which was an intriguing read about race and identity, and the twisty ending was a shocker although I could see it coming. I will definitely read this one again.

I am currently reading Betrayal at the Beach which is a Christian fiction novel about librarians and the disappearance of funds raised for the library at a gala event, as well as the disappearance of a treasured bible belonging to the town and part of its history.

>91 LadyoftheLodge: I'll be interested in your thoughts on the Christian fiction one since it features libraries and librarians.

>91 LadyoftheLodge: me too! >92 thornton37814:

>92 thornton37814: >93 Tess_W: Betrayal at the Beach was a light and entertaining read, although there were a few things in it that were unrealistic. Sunshine Baker is a YA/Teen librarian at a small seaside town. She does some amateur sleuthing to try to figure out who stole the fundraiser money and the historic bible. All was wrapped up in the end in a way that made sense.

However, Sunshine sometimes speaks more like a teen, although I suppose that might be due to her frequent association with teens. (I don't know many adult females who say "Sweet!" or "Squeee!" or "amazaballs or "nuh-uh.") The Christian message is overt, but not offensive or aggressive. I also do not see how an ordinary person could obtain some kind of virus and inoculate chocolates to make people sick. The author also does not know the difference between a lectern and a podium.

The librarians are all interesting characters, although they seem to involve themselves in dangerous situations and jump to conclusions a lot. Sunshine also has cats, which grabbed my interest, especially since one of them is named Paige Turner (ha!). This is the first in a series of books about Sunshine Baker. I picked up this book because the author is formerly from Indiana, although she lives somewhere else now.

I read Who Was Seabiscuit? for the BingoDog square "a topic you do not usually read." I also counted Betrayal at the Beach for the "local or regional author," although the author does not live in Indiana any more.

One more square to go for a "cover all" Bingo!

I am currently reading Post After Post-Mortem which was just published. It is a part of the British Library Crime series. The introductory notes are an interesting addition to this novel, by an author whom I have not read in the past.

Enjoyed catching up on your thread!

>97 VictoriaPL: Thanks for stopping by! Hope to see you here again soon.

Our community book group met yesterday and we discussed 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff. There were a number of people missing from the group, but we had a good discussion and the book was well-liked (the last two we read were non-starters for most of the group). I have read this book many times but I never tire of it. Some of the questions for the group were sort of picky and I thought some more general questions about the theme, the personalities of the characters and how they differed, how the book would have differed if written in a different format, likes/dislikes, and so on. It was still a fun read. Our next book is A Girl Named Zippy which is by an Indiana author and set in Indiana aka Hoosierland.

> I think I've read all of the books by Helene Hanff, and if I haven't it was an oversight. She remains one of my favorites. I found A Girl Named Zippy enjoyable but it didn't make my favorite list.

>99 LadyoftheLodge: Well, Helen Hanff is one of my favorites. I think I've read all of her books and if I haven't it was an oversight. I liked A Girl Named Zippy too although I just have a general memory of it.

Another fan of A Girl Named Zippy here! I also really liked Haven Kimmel's novel The Solace of Leaving Early.

Post After Post-Mortem by E.C.R. Lorac
The Surray family seems to be graced with an inordinate amount of talent. All five children have advanced in academic or professional careers, as has their famous father. When Ruth Surray perishes at her own hand, the family is devastated. However, a letter received by her brother Richard after her death leads to a re-opening of the investigation into her death. As the inquiry progresses, other members of the family meet with mishaps. Scotland Yard Superintendent Macdonald finds this to be a complicated puzzle as he is tasked with unraveling the many threads that lead to the truth of Ruth's death.

This latest addition to the British Library Crime Classics series will keep readers on the edge of their seats as they think through the puzzling circumstances with Macdonald. When the final reveal occurs, the result will no doubt be surprising. Although the story takes some time to develop, it remains a fine example of the classic detective novel of the Golden Age of crime writing.

Happy Valentine's Day! Today we enjoyed a gourmet luncheon for Valentine's Day at the community center in the retirement community in which we live. We have a new director of culinary services and she is kicking things up a notch! The luncheon included live music, and flowers on the tables. The menu featured spinach salad, surf and turf with side dishes, and chocolate mousse in an edible chocolate cup. We were encouraged to bring our own bottle of wine, which we did, but there were no wine glasses on the table and we were the only ones who brought wine, so I left it in the bag and took it home for later. My hubby also gave me a bouquet of colorful daisies and a jeweled cross pendant on a chain. Very nice day overall!

I just finished Death at the Frost Fair in the Detective Lavender series. This one is a novella and it has an interesting twist, along with details about the Frost Fairs held on the River Thames when it froze over. The author included interesting historical notes at the end.

I also read Coach Me Casanova for NetGalley which is not showing up as a touchstone. It was a sort of time travel/historical novel about a college guy who goes to Venice and ends up transported to the time of Casanova who tries to help with developing romance skills. It was humorous and a fun read, probably more so for younger adults.

The Wedding Ranch
When Lorri's husband turned out to be a cheater extraordinaire, a divorce was probably Lorri's best course of action. Even her huge dog Mister turned out to be a better conversationalist! Lorri moves to a cute little house in a smaller town, and turns her upstairs sunny room into a studio for her design work. When Lorri nearly gets run over by a runaway bovine at the county fair, she is tackled and rescued by Ryder, a widower and local business owner.

Ryder has determined never to marry again after losing the love of his life and his young son. That may all change once he meets Lorri! However, Ryder still needs to get over his disappointment in how the family property was divided up and the development of the property (where Lorri has bought her new little house!)

Throw in the event space owned by Ryder's siblings, a celebrity wedding, and issues with Lorri's ex-spouse, sprinkle in a touch of romance, and the perfect stew results. Don't forget the dog!!

This is a romance with a touch of humor, maybe predictable, but fun. This would make a good Hallmark film too. I received this novel from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are mine alone.

BINGO! Just finished the last square to complete my BingoDog for a "cover all" bingo! The last square was "bestseller of 20 years ago" and I read The Christmas Train by David Baldacci. It has been on my TBR list for years and was a thoroughly enjoyable read. I have not seen the movie, but I see how it would make a good one!

>107 LadyoftheLodge: Congrats! That was done quickly!

>108 Tess_W: Thank you. That is the earliest I have ever finished my Bingo card. It took a concerted effort and lots of searching amongst my books and my e-books to find books that fit.

Congratulations on completing your Bingo card so quickly!

>110 mathgirl40: Thank you! I was somewhat surprised to get done so fast, but it took a lot of effort to do that.

I just finished The Railway Children, The Poisoned Chocolates Case, and The Austen Girls. Now reading Nancy Drew Diaries: Curse of the Arctic Star.

We had a couple of fun doings this past week. On Tuesday we went to a Mardi Gras party at the Community Center in our retirement community. There were quite a few people there and we wore our Mardi Gras clothing that we bought when in New Orleans a few years ago (pre pandemic). We enjoyed Cajun food specialties, king cake (we did not get the King Cake baby thankfully) and beignets. No chickory coffee though.

Last evening we went to a fish fry at our church and it was really good. It was in the school gym and seemed to be doing a brisk business.

Sadly enough though, we made the tough decision to cancel our May cruise. We cannot get a good handle on the covid protocols/restrictions for our voyage, which we thought had been lifted last year. Apparently these are still changing. Our neighbor who was traveling with us is 80 years old and we cannot take the chance of any of us getting ill. I guess it is too soon to sail, so we are waiting awhile--better safe than sorry.

I also finished Casting Spells which was a paranormal mystery novel and not the kind of thing I generally read. There were a lot of different kinds of supernatural characters such as vampires, faeries, and so on. They inhabit a small tourist town and appear to tourists as humans. Apparently the town was founded as a haven for these supernatural beings. The one exception is Chloe who is the mayor and half human. When the blessing that protects the village starts to wear out, Chloe must engage in magickal warfare and use her latent powers. There was also a strong romance element to the story. It was okay but I do not think I will read others in the series. This is one off my TBR shelf.

The Austen Girls was supposed to be a "sparkling" look into the world of Jane Austen, as it told the story of Fanny and Anna, two teenage cousins who were making their come out. Jane plays a big role in the story, but I found the two girls to be silly and obsessed with husband hunting and getting away from their parents. The ending was disappointing. This is another off my TBR shelf.

>114 LadyoftheLodge: Thanks for the warning! That one looks potentially interesting, but it sounds like I can skip it.

I finished several for NetGalley whilst we were waiting for our car to finish getting an oil change. Here they are:

We Garden Together
The Little Books of the Little Brontes
Saint Patrick the Forgiver

I also read a short biography of Saint Faustina Kowalska.
Saint Faustina Kowalska: A Life Inspired by Wyatt North

Finally, I read two Nancy Drew Diaries books, which are the contemporary version of Nancy Drew books (still authored by Carolyn Keene). They are best read in sequence since the mysteries are solved in the second book. These were fun and easy reads.
Nancy Drew Diaries: Curse of the Arctic Star
Nancy Drew Diaries: Strangers on a Train

I have the month of March off from my teaching assignments, so that is a nice break and I can do some other things with my time.

The temperature here was 73 degrees F. so we went outside for a walk and also raked leaves that seem to collect in our backyard in the corner of our house. It was nice to spend some time outdoors. (I hope I do not pay for the experience with sore muscles tomorrow!)

>112 LadyoftheLodge: I am sorry that you decided to cancel your cruise, but I think you made the right decision. Things are getting better but Covid is still out there so much better to be safe rather than sorry. Congrats on completing your Bingo Card - are you going to go for another?

COVID protocols cause a lot of people to reconsider travel plans these days. I'm sorry you had to cancel your cruise. Hopefully you can do it later.

>117 DeltaQueen50: I am not sure about doing another Bingo card. Still thinking about it.

I read Mrs. Jeffries Rights a Wrong which was a selection from my little Jar of Fate (which usually gets ignored, poor little thing) and The Green Empress by Elizabeth Cadell, which was somewhat disappointing in the rushed ending and some unlikable characters.

I also read a couple for NetGalley: Last Seen in Santorini and The Superteacher Project.

Just finished The Religious Body which was a most excellent traditional mystery.

I am having trouble settling down to any books recently. I seem to have several started but not anything finished. The dip in temperatures lately doesn’t seem to help much either, as it’s supposed to be spring but light snow covers the grass in the mornings. Should be ideal weather to read indoors but I just feel restless. The time change did not help either!

My cat selected a Miss Marple novel for me to read. I always enjoy Miss Marple.

>122 LadyoftheLodge: I'm sorry you're having trouble settling down on books -- I've been feeling the same way and couldn't put my finger on why! You might be on to something with the time change.

>122 LadyoftheLodge: Sometimes I'm just too tired to read. I did finish a book last night, so I owe 3 reviews now. I can't sit down to write those either.

>122 LadyoftheLodge: Sometimes a change of genre works. I normally go for non-fiction. But I am reading four books at the moment, so am also unsettled.

>122 LadyoftheLodge: I've been feeling the same way. Also, can't sleep!

>126 Tess_W: Roger that! Waking up at all hours of the night and can’t sleep. Is this senior citizen sleeplessness??

I finished skimming and scanning The Real Mozart by Judith Grohman for NetGalley. Here is my review:
"The Real Mozart" paints a picture of Mozart as a rock star of his time and of all time. The manuscript included excerpts from letters and documents produced by people of importance in the life of the composer and musician. This book seems at times to resemble a high school paper about Mozart, and at other times a well-researched document. I found it difficult to follow when the subject matter skipped from the past times of Mozart to commentary about his works by contemporary musicians. There were also many names to keep straight and some repetition of topics. The book includes a bibliography, end notes, and an index.

Ashes to Ashes, Crust to Crust
This novel continues the story of the deep dish pizza restaurant owned by Delilah O'Leary, and set in Geneva Bay, Wisconsin. Delilah and her friend Sonya continue to work hard at making the restaurant a success, since Dee and her wealthy boyfriend Sam broke up and he withdrew his monetary support. When a rival chef comes to town to judge a foodie contest and is found murdered, Dee and friends end up in the middle of the mess. Scenes of vandalism and the presence of a dangerous criminal add fuel to the mysterious tale.

Readers of the previous novel in this series will enjoy becoming reacquainted with Auntie Biz, Detective Capone, Melody, Daniel, Sonya, and of course the huge cat Butterball. New characters make an appearance to keep the pages turning in this well-written new addition to the Deep Dish Mysteries series. I look forward to reading the next one!

I also finished At Bertram's Hotel by Dame Agatha, which I thoroughly enjoyed, and Death of a Perfect Wife by M.C. Beaton--hello, Hamish Macbeth! Loved them both. I am now reading The Cat Who Went to Heaven by Elizabeth Coatsworth.

I recently reviewed Against the Currant for NetGalley which was an annoying book because of the excessive detail although I liked the premise of the story. Also A Match in the Making by Jen Tureno; it was a fun book to read because of the mischievous children and the silly women making fools of themselves in high society.

I skimmed Secret of the Sonnets for NetGalley and found the characters to be intriguing although it took some time to get into the book.

I am still slogging through Monastic Practices which is one of my Lenten reading choices but I do not like the condescending tone of the author--as if only monks have mastered the art of all things related to monastic disciplines, such as silent prayer, sacred reading, work, self-discipline, and so on. Not that we who are not part of a monastic community can excel at or even adopt these practices into our lives in any successful way. Aren't we all on the same path to spirituality, just following different means to get there?

>129 LadyoftheLodge: Glad to hear that this series is enjoyable. I received the first novel Six Feet Deep Dish from my Secret Santa and it is on my shortlist TBR.

>131 lowelibrary: I hope you like it. I liked the second book in the series better than the first, but the first book is a good intro to the characters and locations.

Planning to finish Monastic Practices this week. I am also reading The Christie Caper by Carolyn Hart and The Golden Oldies Book Club by Judy Leigh (which seems to be following the same pattern as her other books--several ladies of middle age or seniors embark on a trip together that changes their lives in some way.)

I finished Monastic Practices and gave up on The Christie Caper, which had too many obscure quotes from and references to mysteries. These got in the way of the plot for me. I did not like the main character Annie, as she always seemed to be angry or miffed about something. Too bad, since I was looking forward to the book and it had an interesting premise of a mystery conference. I read the last chapter to see how it ended, and the solution reveal was just as complicated as the rest of the book. The Christie Caper was a random draw from my Jar of Fate.

>134 LadyoftheLodge: I think I tried to read that one by Hart years ago and gave up on it too.

ETA: No. I did give it 3 stars, but I was more generous during that time period than I am now. It would probably be 2 stars now.

I am glad to be back on line. Our power was out for two days due to the tornadoes that hit the Midwestern United States. The sirens went off at 11:15 p.m. on Friday night, and we jumped out of bed and turned on the TV local weather. A tornado had passed through a town to the west of us and was heading north and east. When our lights blacked out, we headed to the interior walk in shower, as we have no basement. The tornado passed within 5 miles of us and did considerable damage to the north of us. We experienced high winds, thunderstorms, and hail, with many trees uprooted. The fence that runs along behind our homes was flattened in some places. Power lines were downed when hundreds of electric poles were snapped off. Our entire town was without power. High winds on Saturday delayed the repairs too.

We had flashlights and battery operated lanterns but it was getting chilly in our house as the temperatures dropped. We intermittently used our gas fireplace for heat and were able to cook some dishes on our gas stove. On Sunday we drove to the apartment we rent in another larger city which still had power, and there we made coffee, took a shower, and charged our phones and tablets. I started teaching a new online course on Tuesday, and had to do some set up on the computer whilst we were at the apartment. We also took some frozen items to our freezer there, packed in coolers. (We did not want to leave our cats at home alone, so we came back on Sunday evening.)

Luckily the power came back on Sunday night. We are thankful that we survived and did not have injuries or severe damage. This kind of situation makes us thankful for what we have. We had more thunderstorms all day Saturday, but things calmed down by nightfall. Both my husband and I are still suffering from anxiety and trying to get back to normal.

I finished On the Stroke of Death by Cassie Rush, which I really liked until the cliff hanger ending! What the heck?? I am still reading Aloha Betrayed in hardcover version, which I was able to read during the power outage by using a small reading light that I can wear around my neck. My cats hated that light--I guess the two little lights looked like eyes!

>136 LadyoftheLodge: Glad to hear your power is back on and that you and your husband are safe! What a scary and difficult situation.

I, too, am very happy that you have your power back and that the two of you (and cats) are safe.

Yikes! It’s been a scary week for weather. Glad you are safe and have power.

Glad to hear that you made it through the storms safely.

When the tornado hit Little Rock recently a friend was traveling between LR and a suburb. The lightening got really bad and when she stopped at a light, lightening hit the power pole next to her car. She said the transformer "exploded" in fire and debris came down on her car! I was talking to her on the phone the next day and her voice was still shaky. I know transformers can be hit of course but this fire thing is new to me.

>142 clue: That sounds frightening! I am glad she is okay.

>141 dudes22: Thank you. We are still feeling shaky and stressed, and it has been a week since this all happened.

I read Letters of Trust by Wanda Brunstetter. This book is not one of your typical Amish romances. Here is my review:

When Eleanor and Vic are married, they promise to stay together forever. However, neither of them could foresee the challenges that would occur to test that promise. The letters mentioned in the title of the book are written by Eleanor to her friend Doretta in which she reveals the problems she is experiencing and asks for prayer.

This was not an easy book to read, as it deals with the social problem of alcoholism and its effect upon a family. In addition to educating readers about Amish culture and practices, the author sets out to educate readers about alcoholism and ways in which families can find help. This book carries a clear and overt Christian message as well. This is the first book in a series by this well-known and experienced author of Christian novels.

I am still finishing Aloha Betrayed and starting Home to Holly Springs for our community book club.

I read Culinary Travels for Early Reviewers. The color photos of the food dishes were well done and the recipes seem to be doable for a home kitchen. The author included narratives for each section of the book.

I am now about half way through A Pen Dipped in Poison and almost done with Home to Holly Springs. I am about tired of reading both of these. Is it just me, or do books seem to drag on and on lately?

A Pen Dipped in Poison
In this second book in a series, retired teachers Thelma, Liz, and Pat combine forces to try to discover who is writing nasty notes to the teachers at the local school. In addition to this problem, there seem to be issues with the school accounts, a malfunctioning boiler, vandalism, not to mention secret liaisons. The idea of schools being operated as businesses are also explored. There are several mysteries to be dealt with, as well as the personal and family life situations of the three retirees.

The atmosphere of the story seems dark and brooding. There is no overt violence or any descriptive adult scenes in this book. A reader does not need to read the first book to find out what is happening in this one. However, there were a lot of characters to keep straight and some obscure references to the first book led to some confusion.

If a Poem Could Live and Breathe
For readers interested in the life of Teddy Roosevelt, this historical novel provides thoughtful insights in to his romance with his first wife Alice. This was a piece of history with which I was not familiar. The book switches viewpoints among different characters in the book. It is well documented and supported with a list of sources and a section for further reading.

>136 LadyoftheLodge: What a frightening experience! Glad everyone is ok and that your home survived. Now is the time to read calm, gentle stories to recover.

>149 VivienneR: Thank you. I definitely need some calm and gentle in my life.

I read The Amish Advent Calendar by Naomi Troyer. It was a sweet read featuring a surprise advent calendar that brought together an Amish woman and man who were childhood friends. The book needed some copy editing for word choices and errors. However, the story addressed the condition known as agoraphobia, or translated as "fear of the marketplace." Iris is a young woman afflicted with this fear, which has lead her to a rather cramped lifestyle. Caleb is her "Amish Advent Admirer" who helps her overcome this fear. I have never read an Amish novel that deals with this problem, so that alone was intriguing to me.

I also read Primer and Punishment for NetGalley. In this novel, two cousins rebuild a house boat, and also solve a mystery. I have read others by this author but not in this series. This book was as well-written and enjoyable as the others I read. My only problem with this book was the added chapters after the mystery was solved, which seemed unnecessary, other than as a lead in to the next book in the series.

Glad to hear that you and your husband are okay! You had a few days of real terror.

>152 mstrust: Yes we did, thanks! I still get anxious when there are high winds and rain (like today) or when we are driving through windy, rainy weather (today).

I read A Crime in Holland by Georges Simenon, which provided quite a few suspects and the usual wry humor of Maigret. I did not guess the killer or the motives. Maigret used the common strategy of reconstructing the scenes with all the participants present.

I also read City Secrets: Raven Falls Quilters Cozy Mystery #1 which was a very light mystery that was character driven. Three senior citizen ladies help law enforcement solve several crimes committed when the group is part of a bus trip to Cincinnati. This was fun but just did not hang together in places. The storyline also contains references to a previous crime they helped to solve, but this book is listed as #1 in the series, so those references were puzzling. I also wondered how old the writer was--there were some senior references that did not make sense.

I am currently reading Anna's Gifts by Emma Miller which is about an Amish woman (Anna) and Samuel, the widower who is trying to convince her to date him. Her younger sister Susanna (now adult) has Down syndrome and says really funny and naive things, portraying an honest look at life and a gift for taking care of others. I am not far into the book, but I think Susanna may have a significant role to play in bringing these two together.

ETA--I finished this one and I was not correct about Susanna. Grossmama and Auntie Jezzy played a much larger and more hilarious role in bringing Anna and Samuel together. Now I need to seek out the others in this series, which started as three books but seems to have expanded as far as I can tell.

A Cryptic Clue
Cam Clewe and Jane Hunter join forces in this first book in a new series, as they try to find out who killed a party guest. Jane is a librarian who is cataloging Cam's library collection. However, part of her duties seem to be helping Cam clear his name as a potential killer of Ashley, his ex-girlfriend and a party guest at his estate. There are many suspects, since Ashley seemed to have accumulate quite a few enemies. Everything is solved at the end, with a promising lead into the next book in the series.

I am not really sure what the title has to do with the book, since there was no crypt involved or any particular secretive clues. The cover also does not seem to fit, since the mystery has nothing to do with broken glasses or a pen.

I read The Life and Prayers of Padre Pio by Wyatt North. This was a short yet informative biography about Padre Pio. I learned a lot about him. The prayer section was quite short.

I also read Up in Smoke which is first in a series about crime fighting senior citizens. It was quite humorous although the main character/narrator Nikki was annoying (she was the granddaughter of the main Grandma character). I will read others in the series too.

Currently reading The Unfinished Clue by Georgette Heyer. It is about a murder at a country house, with lots of suspects. So far it seems to be a decent police procedural mystery as the clues and suspects are investigated, although a bit slow going.

Breaking New Ground by Amy Clipston

When Korey Bontrager returns to his home town after a year away, he is determined to mend relationships and start over. This proves to be difficult when past conflicts get in the way of his relationship with his older brother Tyler. When Korey meets Savannah, neither of them expect to find a future together. However, God has a way of working things out once people are willing to get out of His way.

For readers of the Amish Legacy series, old friends make an appearance, and redemption occurs for some characters. However, this clean sweet romance can be enjoyed by readers who are new to the series and have not read them in order. The Christian message is strong.

I hope this is not the end of this series, as I am anxious to read about how things go on for the characters in these books.

Last week was quite a week for fancy food. Wednesday we went to a classy restaurant with a friend of ours and he picked up the dinner tab. I had a wedge salad and king crab mac and cheese, and we shared three different desserts. The men had steaks and shrimp cocktail, for which the restaurant is known.

Then on Thursday we attended a Titanic-themed formal dinner. There were about 100 in attendance. Lots of champagne and the menu was a replica of the last seven-course dinner served on the Titanic. We loved getting all dressed up and there were a lot of lovely outfits on both ladies and gentlemen. We paid a little extra to sit at the Captain's table which was decorated with yellow and white rose centerpieces and featured replicas of the dinnerware used on the Titanic. It was great fun, with decorations featuring posters and other items reminiscent of the Titanic. We even had replica boarding passes featuring the names of actual passengers.

>159 LadyoftheLodge: Oh, I would have loved the Titantic dinner, it sounds like so much fun. When the play was on Broadway I was on a longer than usual work assignment in NYC. When it won the Tony (8 I think) several in my work group and I got tickets early the next week. We couldn't believe they were available at the reduced price ticket booth in the World Trade Center! Later, I don't know exactly when, a beautiful book, with illustrations, receipes, and party planning came out and it may be that's where the people that threw your party got their plan. Athough by now there may be many places to get that information. Looking for the dates online, it looks like the play began in 1996 but I don't believe it. I'm sure it was only a few years ago even though I have been retired almost 10 years.

Fateful Words A Scottish Bookshop Mystery
The atmospheric Edinburgh streets form the setting for this mystery novel. When four literary tour attendees arrive at the Cracked Spine bookshop, Delaney takes charge of leading the tour since Edwin, the bookshop owner, is absent. What starts out as an exciting adventure into the famous local sights and scenes turns into a mysterious time of mayhem. The hotel where the guests are staying seems to be the hub of illegal activities, and Delaney ends up in the middle of trying to solve the mysteries that seem to be growing and growing. Identity theft, a suspected suicide, and people who are not what they appear abound in this cozy mystery.

Although part of a series, enough background information is provided to introduce readers new to the series to the characters and settings. Readers familiar with The Cracked Spine series will revisit old friends here.The addition of tour guide facts for each of the visited tour sites adds authenticity to the story, although these might seem extraneous to some readers.

This is a clean novel without swear words, overt or descriptive violence, or intimacy scenes. I received this novel from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

>160 clue: It was a fun dinner and everyone got into the spirit of the evening. Some of the attendees adopted the manners and attire of characters from the film. I am sure you would have loved it!

We went to see the film Chevalier, which is about the life and work of Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de St. Georges. I discovered his music years ago, and was excited to see the film. Joseph Bologne was the son of a white father and a Black mother, born on the island of Guadaloupe and educated in France. Joseph was quite a swordsman, musician, composer and apparently a great lover! The music director and others were interviewed on Symphony Hall/Sirius XM radio and clips of the movie sound track were played, so we had a little preview. I highly recommend this film about the "Black Mozart."

>162 LadyoftheLodge: Yes, I would have loved it! It would be a great idea for a fundraiser. The Chevaliar movie looks good too. We are down to one movie theatre (from 4!) and I don't see it on their schedule. It's an AMC and all of the towns around us have the same and they generally all show the same thing at the same time. Of course movies come to TV pretty fast these days. In the meantime I'll find something to read about him.

>163 clue: The only place Chevalier was showing was at AMC. There are several theaters within driving distance of our home, and I had to see where it was scheduled, as it seemed to be moving from one area to another. It is definitely worth a watch. I was surprised that my hubby wanted to see it again, he liked it that well. (We have not done that yet though.)

There are not too many books about Joseph Bologne, as I do not think a lot was know about his life. I own two that I acquired years ago, and they were both self-published books.

I am finally back to LT after having just too much going on lately. I have one class that just ended and now must finish paper grading and get my final grades in. Another class started on the day this one ended, luckily it is another section of the same class Issues in Leadership for Associates in Ministry degree students. I am also in the final week of an Earth Science course and trying to keep up with the grading for that one.

I admit that I am feeling discouraged at the level of commitment of my students. Many excuses and late or missed assignments seems to be the norm now, or else they show up late and want to make up all the previous assignments. Almost half of my Earth Science students were no shows or were administratively withdrawn because of two absences. I am expected to provide detailed feedback for them to improve their papers and discussions, which they ignore and make the same mistakes each week. I have been at this game for 24 years of teaching online and have seen the effort and quality take a nosedive.

Our community group had a luncheon today, which we have three times a year. It is a big deal with nice food and we introduce the new members of our retirement community (we are independent living "cottagers.") It was well attended. I am a member at large on the planning committee/council, so was involved with setting up, making table decorations, speaking, and clean up.

I am still managing to find time to read several books and post the reviews though. Today our book group also met and discussed The Art Thief by Noah Chaney. Reviews were mixed, all agreed this was a dense and information packed book. I liked it although there were lots of details to keep track of. The information about art theft and the world of art and artists (and forgers) was quite interesting.

I finally got my flowers purchased and in the garden containers, which makes me happy. I also purchased a little solar fountain for my bird bath, but unfortunately it does not fit well. I will try it in some bowl shaped garden containers to see how that might work.

The Lady Knows Best
When Daphne follows her cat into an old bookstore, she never imagines her adventure will lead her to a new calling--writing an advice column for a magazine for young misses. She accepts an assignment to write about how to avoid being taken in by charming rakish men, which leads her to becoming involved with the "Devil Devereaux," a well known rake about town. Readers are left to wonder how Daphne will find her way through the maze of social events while maintaining her anonymity as "Miss B." All is wrapped up in a satisfactory manner in the end.

Although this book represents the start of a new series, it can be read as a stand alone novel.

>167 LadyoftheLodge: Sounds interesting! I've read and enjoyed the first couple books in Susanna Craig's Love and Let Spy series, though they do include some open-door adult scenes.

I just finished the first in a series by C. J. Archer The Librarian of Crooked Lane. I did not care for the cliffhanger ending, as there were a lot of hanging threads. It is almost like the reader has to acquire the next book, which of course I did. There was enough to like and keep me interested. The book is about people who have magic and those who are artless. The magic can take many forms, such as silver magicians (who make things out of silver), paint magicians who are artists and use magic paints, time magicians who can change time or are watchmakers, and so on. The mystery involves a search for a stolen painting and information about a character's family.

We attended the symphony today and the selections were from Dvorak and Florence Price. This will be our last Classics concert for the season. We still have one more in the Pops series in June, which will feature Cole Porter selections. I enjoy going on the motorcoach since it is a lot more convenient than driving and looking for a parking spot in the city center. Our group always stops for lunch afterwards. A fun time was had by all.

I needed a fun day out after having dental work done this week and spending 2.5 hours in the chair! Yikes! Now that is not my idea of fun!

I finished The Silver Ladies Do Lunch by Judy Leigh which was a thoroughly enjoyable read about old friends living in a small village in England. There were a few threads left dangling but otherwise I liked it.

I am currently reading Good-bye, Mr. Chips again, which I first read in junior high school and still own my old tattered copy of it as a Bantam paperback. I also started a new series but not with the first one. I am reading Christmas on Christmas Key which is fun so far.

The Silver Ladies Do Lunch by Judy Leigh

Judy Leigh scores another hit with this story about school friends all grown up. Minnie, Josie, and Lindy are school chums in the '50's in a small village in England. Their new teacher Miss Hamilton inspires them and their friends to reach for their dreams.

Fast forward 50 years, and the girls are now senior citizens. While Josie and Lin remained in their small village, Minnie has gone on to earn degrees and teach at Oxford. The ladies have christened themselves the Silver Ladies and they meet for lunch often. When their much-loved teacher Miss Hamilton, now an elderly retiree, moves to their village, life takes on a special glow. This book details the story of the ladies, the ups and downs of their lives as they all deal with late in life changes, and the stories of the men in their village, with whom they also went to school.

This is a lovable and clean novel about people going about their lives and aging with grace, caring for each other and emulating the importance of friendship.

Christmas on Christmas Key turned out to be a big disappointment. I thought it would be about the adventures of the travelers who are part of the travel group and about Christmas. However, there was very little substance to the story. I was not even sure who the members of the tour group were, other than the main character Lucy, her mom Yvette, her aunt Sharon, and the mom's nurse caretaker Glinda. I also could not tell what the group did while they were there.

Two characters seemed to take center stage--one was an annoying 18-year-old who became pregnant and her boyfriend wanted to do the honorable thing and marry her. She was not in favor of that because she still wanted to have fun, and blames others for the situation instead of taking responsibility. How convenient, she miscarries the child. (I did not need to know all the details of this including her visit to the island physician.) The other character is a man who is trying to figure out how to tell his dad that he is gay. He and his dad were the truest characters in the book, along with Lucy's family.

The chapter alternated viewpoints among several of the characters, a technique that I do not like. The book ends with a blatant lead into the next novel. Terms such as "strong single women" and "finding agency in her life" were also eye-rollers. There were also some snide and stereotypical comments about senior citizens, and I took exception to that since I am a senior citizen!! There are many more in this series, I will probably stop with this one. Too bad, I thought the book had potential at the outset. The concept is interesting but not carried through.

I finished A Most Contagious Game by Catherine Aird. This was quite a satisfying read overall with terrific historical context. I am currently reading Hopefully Ever After which is the third in a series, but seems to be dragging a bit so far.

Hopefully Ever After
This is the third book in the Amish Bookstore series by veteran writer Beth Wiseman, set in Montgomery, Indiana. Eden arrives in Montgomery to live with her cousin for a month. Although she has had a rough life, Eden demonstrates a strong faith in God. She meets Samuel, an Amish teen who has been raised in a strict home setting and is questioning his life in the Amish community and his faith. There is a definite attraction between the two young adults, but difficulties loom on the horizon due to their very different lifestyles.

This is a book about faith in God and overcoming difficulties and hardships. It is a clean and sweet novel without descriptions of adult intimacy or violence, and without swear words. While it is part of a series, it can be read as a standalone novel. Characters from previous books make appearances in this one, so those readers familiar with the series will enjoy reconnecting with familiar characters.

You been doing lots of interesting things! The Titanic dinner sounds fun, I would have liked that.
Mike and I have been to a couple of symphonies but it has been too long. Dvorak would be a good one.

>176 mstrust: Hi there, good to hear from you. Stop by any time. Our concert this Friday will be the last of the Pops for this concert season, and will feature Cole Porter tunes.

Her Amish Patchwork Family
Asher has his hands full with running a farm, taking care of his grandmother, and raising his niece and three nephews! When his nanny gets married and the new nanny breaks her arm, Martha takes over as nanny for six weeks. Unfortunately, Asher and Martha share some unpleasant events of the past, so the situation can be awkward at best. As Martha demonstrates her competence and the kids come to love and depend on her, Asher is faced with some difficult decisions. Will love find a way around those obstacles?

Readers who enjoy fiction books about Amish people will find this to be an enjoyable, albeit predictable, journey into Amish country. Books featuring dogs and cute preschoolers will find a home and melt the hearts of many readers. This is a clean read, without descriptive intimacy, violence, or strong language. The Christian message is clear but not preachy. I enjoyed seeing the give and take between Asher and Martha, and how they resolved their differences. Although this is part of a series, it works as a standalone novel.

>178 LadyoftheLodge: I finished Her Only Wish by Shelley Shepard Gray a few days ago that I won from LT. I enjoy the Amish books so will look for this one. Thanks for the review.

>179 mnleona: I also read quite a few Amish novels. I was fortunate to grab quite a few from our local library sale last month. I have read many by Shelley Shepard Gray and will likewise keep an eye out for the one you mentioned.

I am feeling sad today, since my nail tech and her husband told us they are moving to Florida in about a month. That might seem trivial, but this couple has been like family to us for the past 17 years of managing and owning the nail salon. We have been regular customers, twice a month for mani and pedi. This young couple offered private one on one nail sessions during the pandemic when their salon was closed. I have seen their kids grow from infancy to toddlers to school children. They cried with me when my husband passed away in 2015. We were hugging and in tears yesterday when she handed us the letter telling us they were leaving. At least some members of their family are taking over the salon, and we know them as well, but it won't be the same without Johnny and Selena (and their parents, who are retiring and returning to Vietnam) to take care of us. Alas, change is difficult!

>181 LadyoftheLodge: I know you wish them well but it is hard when they are like family. I am sure you will keep in touch and it is a good reason to visit Florida.

And Then There Was You

When widowed Natalie discovers she was the victim of a scammer, she feels as if all is lost. However, the loss of her lifestyle forces her to turn to other resources in her life. Natalie goes on a journey of discovery about her departed husband's life, and finds not only a home but also a family and many friends that she never knew about. Along the way, Natalie also discovers new love after her loss, and finds that life holds many surprises.

This book is not only a romantic story, but also contains a warning about being preyed upon by scammers who target single and widowed women. The story is a clean one, without violence, descriptive intimacy, or strong language. It is full of likeable people. I would liken this story to a good summer time or beach read. It is listed as first in a series.

Fly Me to Moongate Manor
Amanda feels as if her life in New York is falling apart. Her mom has died, she has lost her job and also been evicted from her apartment. Then she receives the news that she is the recipient of a manor house in England, the garden of which she is tasked to restore! Upon arrival, Amanda meets Diana, the former owner of the manor, and finds a new romance interest in Simon the gardener, whose life has also taken a downturn. This story tells of Amanda's adventures and adjustment to her new life in England.

The storyline alternates between present day and Diana's past in the 1960's. However, this does not disrupt the flow of the story. This is just a nice friendly read for a beautiful summer's day.

Curds of Prey
When cheese shop owner Willa and friends agreed to cater a society wedding, they never expected to become involved in a murder investigation. Willa also must contend with some unpleasant issues that arise with her almost-boyfriend Roman. Law enforcement does a good job of police work here, and the plot winds out to an intriguing ending.

While this is part of a series, it can be enjoyable as a stand alone novel. Readers who enjoy small towns and realistic characters will find this cozy mystery to be a welcome addition to their TBR pile. This book contains no strong language, adult situations, or descriptive violence. It does however, contain cheesy recipes and food descriptions that might send readers to the kitchen for a cheesy snack or two!

I am finally getting back to my friends here at LT after another crazy week. I am finishing with teaching one class and another one just started so I have some overlap. We were having trouble accessing a website that my students need and their voucher codes were not working. It took the tech people a week to get it straightened out. I also had several book reviews to write and post.

Also my hubby and I were trying to track down a medicine order that was gone astray in the mail. After many phone calls and discussions it was re-sent. I also had to go to the dentist for another long session to finally get my bridgework installed. There was just too much going on all at once this past week.

Her Heart's Desire
Mary Margaret has always been an Amish wallflower. However, her life takes an unexpected turn when she takes a trip to Pinecraft, Florida and meets up with two other Amish girls. They decide to make changes in themselves and become different young women when they are in Pinecraft. When Mary's childhood nemesis Esther shows up, Mary wonders what her motive might be. Determined to enjoy their vacations, the four young women find out surprising things about themselves and where they might be headed in the future!

This is a clean and sweet, realistic novel with a clear Christian message. The young women experience struggles and heartaches as most people do, and they learn how to deal with them as adults. There is a lot of character development leading to a satisfactory ending. While this is the first in a series, it can be enjoyed as a standalone novel.

I'm wishing you a good, less anxious, week!

>188 mstrust: Thank you. Those weeks of anxiety just seem to occur every so often.

Her Only Wish
Betsy has arrived in Pinecraft with her "life list" of things she would like to accomplish. When she embarks on learning to play golf, she meets golf course manager August, who agrees to take her on as a student. As Betsy works on her list, she makes friends with two women who agree to teach her to swim. Her courage and perseverance in the face of her challenges with asthma impress her new friends. As she and August grow closer, both of them must content with criticism and skepticism from their parents.

This is the second novel in the Season in Pinecraft series, and readers of the first book will enjoy reading about some characters from the first novel. However, this book works well as a standalone. Readers of fiction about Amish people will find this a welcome addition to the genre, by an veteran author of Amish stories.

Christmas, Cabernet and Chaos
When Sally and Pearl find that they will be alone for Christmas, they agree to spend the season at McKenzie Bridge in the northwest USA. Along with the festivities, they get involved in investigating potential threats on the life of Birdie, the local matriarch of the town, in the middle of a snowstorm. A little romance may be popping too, as Sally reconnects with Chief of Police Mike, her friend from a previous adventure.

Readers who enjoy smart mouth humor and senior citizen crime solvers, this novel is a hilarious romp through small town crime and baking rivalry! For those who are offended by "middle school" type jokes and situations, this book is not for you! However, I guarantee lots of laughs from these two ladies.

Our community book group (tried to) read Animals in Translation and most of us found it tough going. However, the hostess for the month decided to have us watch a video about Temple Grandin instead of discussing the book save for a few minutes at the end. This was a great idea and gave us all a view of autism perspectives. It was fun to watch the video instead of discussing for the entire hour. On our follow up email comments, I suggested that in future we might try some different ways to discuss our reading, such as this month's technique, and I was roundly shot down by one group member. I sort of got the impression of "we have always done it this way." I am not sure if I want to go on with this group or not.

I just finished Daughter of the Pirate King, which was full of swashbuckling adventures, fight scenes, and suspense. Now I need to take a little break from all that action and stop holding my breath. I plan to get onto something a bit quieter before jumping into the second book in the series.

Her Pretend Amish Boyfriend
Caroline's enthusiasm for life often bubbles up in outspoken words and talkativeness, as well as being in a hurry! When she bumps into auctioneer Noah at the market where she works with her brother, Caroline is determined to set things right by sorting the puzzle pieces he spilled when they collided. This sets off a chain of interactions between Caroline and Noah, in which he rescues her from guys who seem determined to accost her. Their evolving relationship causes problems for Noah at the auction and for Caroline at her family's food stand.

Although Noah is attracted to Caroline, secrets from his past prevent him from moving forward with their relationship. When those secrets are revealed, Caroline is determined to clear his name, along with help from an elderly benefactor, who just might be an angel in disguise.

This book was a page turner and kept my interest to the end. The characters are realistic and the story develops around them. It is part of a series by an experienced author, although it can be read as a stand alone. The writing is thoughtful with a clear Christian message. Themes include gossip, judgment, discernment, sacrifice, and hope. This is a clean Christian read without overt violence, sexual scenes, or strong language. Readers of others in the series will enjoy connecting with the characters from past stories. This book is idea for those who enjoy a Christian novel about Amish people, and who enjoy seeing good triumph over evil.

I finished a short little book that is in a nonfiction series for kids. Where is the Bermuda Triangle by Megan Stine. I am currently reading a kid's cookbook of crafty kinds of foods kids can make, and also reading Emma of 83rd Street for Netgalley, which is fairly boring so far.

My hubby is now stuck on P. G. Wodehouse and constantly chuckling about Bertie and Jeeves. He had not read any Wodehouse until I introduced him to Jeeves last week with a book of short stories. Now he will probably want to read them all. "When you hand a man Bertie and Jeeves, he will probably want. . .. " (apologies to Laura Numeroff)

We are trying to stay indoors to avoid the haziness from the Canada wildfires that seems to be drifting our way this week. The air quality is in the alert zones, and my husband has respiratory issues/allergies, so we are staying in and reading. We really need some rain here, but although it clouds up, the rain isn't falling here. We were fortunate to have avoided a tornado that went north of us last Sunday. (We were sitting outside on our front porch watching the swiftly moving clouds.)

I am only teaching one class on line right now, and it will end on Monday next. Then I get a two week break before the next one comes around. I got the results of my peer evaluation and they were good, so I imagine I will still be able to teach for the university. I also have a new supervisor, so I hope things will go well with him too.

>195 LadyoftheLodge: The smoky haze is bad where I am, too.

>193 LadyoftheLodge: I just saw that book on a giveaway on LT or GR.

>196 NinieB: It seems better today, after some severe thunderstorms and rain yesterday. That must have cleared the air somewhat.

Read and reviewed Emma of 83rd Street which I found not to my taste at all. It was supposed to be a contemporary remake of Jane Austen's "Emma" but I found the characters to be annoying, self-centered, and unlikeable. The added explicit sex, drunkenness, and the swear words were a huge turnoff--apologies to Jane, she would not have added them.

Also read part of and reviewed The Devil's Glove which I found difficult to drag through. It was very detailed and also creepy. This was supposed to be a historical fiction based on the Salem Witchcraft Trials, which has been of interest to me, but this book did not do it for me.

>192 LadyoftheLodge: I read an obituary on the last week or so (it's been a bit manic recently) about one of the cohort that were the subject of the scientific paper that first identified autism.
Sorry to hear about the group not all being willing to move on. That can provoke a lot of unnecessary tension. What's the next book on the agenda?

I'm behind on threads so I'm just dropping in to say "hi." Hopefully I can keep up a little better now that things are settling down.

>200 Helenliz: The next book is a series of three plays, two of which I saw on stage. The Jack Plays by James Still. I also went to a Q and A session with Still. It has been difficult to read the plays and keep track of the characters though. Our group seems very focused on reading within specific genres and "drama" was one of them.

>201 thornton37814: Hi there! Good to see you dropping by.

I read most of The Last Drop of Hemlock which is set in NYC in 1920's during prohibition. Lots of action, speakeasies, corruption, mobs, I got sort of bored with it and skipped to the end. Apparently this is the second one in a series, so the reader misses out on some backstory that is never revealed in this second book. The setting and time period are interesting, I just got bogged down in the middle.

We did not do much on Independence Day July 4. We went to church in the morning and then out to a favorite restaurant later in the afternoon. It was a stroke of luck to find it open as most places were closed here. We also stopped for ice cream on the way home. (This was not a healthy eating day!) There were lots of noisy fireworks and booms later after it got dark, but we were inside with our cats, who were very alert! Most of the day was spent reading and poking around in the garden or drinking coffee and sitting on the front lawn.

>205 LadyoftheLodge: Haha, it was not a healthy eating day for me either! I went out for a burger, fries, and a milkshake...after all, you have to eat a hamburger on July 4! I'm pretty sure it's the law!

>205 LadyoftheLodge: & >206 christina_reads: I heard that calories don't count on National Holidays!

>207 DeltaQueen50: I like that idea!

Misfortune Cookie by Vivien Chien
In this next installment in the Noodle Shop mystery series, Lana Lee and her sister Anna May take a break from the wintry weather in Ohio. Their vacation to visit Aunt Grace in California turns into an investigation into the death of Aunt Grace's friend Nora. Many suspects abound, and Lana is determined to get to the bottom of things.

The addition of Asian-themed food and the development of the relationship between the two sisters were the best parts of the story for me. The action moves along quickly and keeps the reader involved. The characters are realistic and the book can be read as a standalone novel. The author includes enough detail and references to past cases and settings so readers do not feel lost if they have not read past installments. This book can be classified as a "cozy" mystery since there it lacks descriptive violence, strong language, or adult intimacy scenes. The mystery takes center stage.

Just finished The Bangalore Detectives Club which I enjoyed.

My sisters were here for three days to visit. We ate at local restaurants and shopped at antique stores. It’s always nice to see them.

Today we attended a book sale at the local library. It’s usually outdoors but this one was inside and was much too crowded. Although we initially thought we would not find much, hubby and I each brought home a bag of books. It’s for a good cause…..not that we need more books….

Nonna Maria and the Case of the Stolen Necklace
In this second book in a series, Nonna Maria assists with solving two mysteries: a "stolen" necklace and the death of an unidentified woman. When a necklace belonging to a client at the Hotel Excelsior disappears, Nonna Maria's goddaughter comes under suspicion, since she serves as a chambermaid there. Nonna Maria works with the carabinieri to set a clever trap to catch two criminals involved in the missing necklace. She is also involved in helping to identify the body of a woman who has been murdered, and in the process some past secrets are revealed and wrongs are righted.

Set on a beautiful island off the coast of Italy, this mystery novel shows readers that the elderly are a force to be reckoned with! Nonna Maria commands the respect and cooperation of a network of friends, as she gathers information to help Captain Murino solve two very different mysteries.

The descriptions of the island, its inhabitants, and its foods and settings make this book a joy to read. The character of Nonna Maria takes center stage along with the Captain, while other characters play some cameo roles. While there are many twists and turns throughout the story, all is resolved in the end. Readers who enjoy mystery novels and interesting characters will find this a welcome addition to the mystery genre. Although it is second in a series, the book can be read as a standalone. The intriguing novel lacks descriptive violence, intimacy, and strong language. I am looking forward to more novels about Nonna Maria.

>210 LadyoftheLodge: I wondered how that one was.

>212 thornton37814: The main problem I found with the book was that the foods of India that were named in the book were not described. I discovered the glossary at the end after I finished it! Short descriptions in the story would have helped. Reading the ebook version also would have made it difficult to skip to the end and then back into the story--easier if a person has the print edition.

The Fourth Enemy
In this latest installment in the series featuring Daniel Pitt, the law firm for which he works has taken on a new lead barrister and moved a junior into another leadership position. Daniel and the team take on the prosecution for fraud of a high profile businessman and newspaper magnate. Daniel has recently married Miriam and she plays a key role in the story as a forensic pathologist. The novel focuses on the trial and the various twists and turns associate with the characters involved.

Although I did not read the others in this series, the author did a good job of describing the characters and bringing readers up to date with past events. I enjoyed this novel as quite the page-turner, and the action became rather intense as the trial progresses. An astute reader could find this not only an intriguing story but could also draw some parallels to current day events with the media and those in power.

This book can be read as a standalone although it is part of a series. Readers who enjoy fast-paced trial novels and historical mysteries will find this to be a welcome addition to the repertoire.

ETA--I am sorry to learn that Anne Perry passed away on April 10. Now I need to go back and read her other novels that I missed out on. I enjoyed reading her Christmas offerings each year, and I see that there will be one for 2023 as well.

Late Bloomers
This novel alternates chapters among members of an Indian-American family, all of whom are struggling to solve issues of love, relationships, and family. The author did a good job of portraying the different family members through their unique voices. I felt as if I was introduced to a new culture with its own special traditions and beliefs, as well as underscoring the commonalities among cultures and families. Too bad the ending was a disappointment and left readers hanging with a lot of questions.

Fatal Fudge Swirl
A Halloween wedding sounds like a perfect time for innocent fun, along with attending the local Halloween happenings about town. It was not so innocent for someone with malicious intent! In this third offering in the Ice Cream Shop mysteries, the death of a bride on the night before her wedding day offers the opportunity for Riley and friends to engage in helping law enforcement solve the crime. Suspects include the sons of the bride Diantha, as well as the manager of the Inn and other assorted locals.

To add to the suspense, a movie is being filmed using town locales, so actors and others from out of town also could be suspects. Toss in a little blackmail, and the stage is set for solving the crime!

This is a cozy mystery that lacks descriptive intimacy, violence or strong language. Although it is part of a series, it can be read as a standalone novel. I liked this one the best of all three in the series so far. The food treats sound yummy, and the spooky fun atmosphere add to the enjoyment of the story. The means of committing the crime is unusual, one that I have not come across in many years of reading mystery novels. The lovable supporting cast of characters includes Riley's dad and his wife, adorably feisty cats, and Riley's friends.

Readers who enjoy cozy mysteries with interestingly realistic settings and intriguing means, motives, and opportunities will find this a welcome addition to their reading lists.

Letters of Comfort
When Doretta and her fiance are involved in a serious traffic accident days before their wedding, she thinks she will never recover from her injuries and from the grief of losing her fiance. Although family and friends try to help and encourage, Doretta turns her grief inward and rejects even the efforts of her best friend Eleanor, who writes to her frequently. Each member of the grieving families must come to terms with his or her own grief and get on with life. Doretta gradually finds ways to move forward with her life.

This book is the second in a series that include letters between friends. The story is by an experienced author of Amish fiction. She makes it her goal to instruct and educate people who are experiencing similar problems and to help them find hope. She also includes information about Amish culture in order to inform and educate readers about them.

Although part of a series, this book can be read as a standalone novel. The Christian message is clear in this book. The characters are realistic, and the novel deals with common human problems.

Murder Most Unladylike or Murder is Bad Manners is not my fave book in this series. I read them out of order and this one is early on in the series. Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong attend a girls' school in England and have their own Detective Society of two members. In this novel, they work on solving the disappearances of two teachers at their school. I thought the story went on way too long and Daisy was most insufferable and annoying. I preferred the novel in this series that is set in Hong Kong and Hazel plays a starring role.

The Secret Sisters by Avi

Having read other books by Avi in the past, I was ready for another good read. This book certainly qualified! I am sure middle school kids will be able to identify with Ida as she begins her 1025 high school career in a town far from her own home.

Ida experiences feelings and events common to most kids, such as feeling lost at her new school, getting used to new situations (including the modern world!), and meeting new friends. The Secret Sisters is the name of the club to which Ida and some friends belong. I especially enjoyed the historical descriptions and the "flapper talk" of LuLu!

This is a book meant to be devoured and loved (which I did). I am sure middle school readers will find this book to be one they will rapidly read and never forget. I highly recommend this book. I rarely assign five stars to a book, but this one got them all!

I acquired a beautiful used hardbound book that contains three of the Pippi Longstocking books, which I remember reading as a child. The inscription in the front read "To my little princess with much love from Dad." That almost brought tears to my eyes. Who was the "Little princess" and why would she give up her book from Dad? I still have books that my daddy gave me when I was a child.

Looks like you've had some good reads lately. Of course, now I'm craving fudge--so long as it is not fatal.

>221 thornton37814: That was a surprisingly good read!

I finished Where the Crawdads Sing for our community book group. I liked it better than I thought I might. We had a good discussion, although I seem to always be one of the "loud mouths" who have a lot to say and keep the discussion going. There were about twice as many people there as usual. Next week members of the group will meet to select the books for next year, and I will probably go.

I also read Mrs. Lorimer's Quiet Summer for the AlphaKit challenge, and I enjoyed it very much. It reminded me of the D.E. Stevenson books I so enjoy. I finally finished Stiff Upper Lip, Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse.

>223 LadyoftheLodge: I love the new editions of D.E. Stevenson, Molly Clavering and so many more of these authors. The covers are delightful.

>224 JayneCM: I agree, and I like reading novels that are just good stories. I have been reading D.E. Stevenson and Miss Read for years. Molly Clavering was a new discovery for me.

I read The Marriage Portrait as a loan from the library. It was intriguing but the constant switching amongst time periods was a distraction for me.

>223 LadyoftheLodge: I'm in an online book club, and I rarely say anything unless I'm called on. I usually want to speak up, but I can't get a word in edgewise with a few of the participants who monopolize the conversation.

All's Fair in Love and Christmas
When Mackenzie was informed that she was up for a promotion at InDesign, she never expected to be pitted against Jeremy, her secret crush. In the run-up to Christmas, Mackenzie and Jeremy try to outdo each other in bringing the Christmas spirit to the office. However, each of them has a special family need that makes the promotion important. As rivals become friends, both of them must make life changes and engage in activities outside their comfort zones.

Readers who love Christmas and its traditions, as well as romantic comedies, will enjoy this foray into the ways people show caring for each other. While the story deals with some significant life challenges, all is well and happiness shines forth at the end.

I especially liked the way the author addressed realistic concerns and mental well being. The story moved along quickly and kept me turning pages late into the night. Even the most unlikable characters turned out to be good at heart.

I did not like the references to characters and terms that are related to pop culture, as I was not familiar with some of them. This technique will eventually make this book feel dated. The story would have stood on its own without them.

Several members of our community book group met today to select the books for next year. The group likes to pick from the Indiana Humanities Council lists because they lend out multiple copies for book groups. In the past it was frustrating because there were so many strictures and rules that it was hard to make good selections.

Today the conversation was more free-flowing without worrying about selecting from different specific genres. People just threw out ideas from the lists and I took notes and looked the books up on Amazon so everyone understood the subject matter and plots.

We got a good list after almost two hours of discussion, and the participants seemed to like the free nature of recommending books some of us had read. I also was able to talk them into trying to break into two small groups for one of the selections that did not have enough copies of just one book, instead picking two by the same author and letting the group members pick which of them they would like to read. The discussion would be in two smaller groups, maybe encouraging the quieter ones to speak in a smaller group. We will see! I volunteered to host that month. I felt pretty good about how this turned out, as it always has the potential for arguing and frustration. I am looking forward to reading the selections we picked out.

I read Death Comes to Marlow which had a very complicated solution to the mystery. I would never have guessed how they did it, although I guessed the perpetrators. I liked the sleuths and also the female police officer and the general plot line. There just seemed to be something missing from the story and I cannot put my finger on it. Also, the story starts with a scene that has nothing to do with the story at all, and I kept waiting for there to be a connection. The cover illustration also has nothing to do with the mystery.

A Clue in the Crumbs
In this latest addition to the Key West Food Critic series, Hayley and friends assist local law enforcement in solving crimes of arson and murder. The characters in this novel are adorable and funny, especially the elderly and feisty Miss Gloria (Hayley's neighbor in the houseboat neighborhood) and the Scone Sisters from Scotland. The sisters are visiting Key West for the filming of a baking show. However, the husband of one of the contestants dies under mysterious circumstances, and the baking equipment the sisters brought along has disappeared, including a large knife. The suspicions fall upon a number of different individuals, such as the seemingly non-existent agent for the sisters, and a grumpy baking show contestant.

Having read most of the others in this series, I can say this is one of the best novels in the series. Although it is a follow-up to the previous novel, it can easily and enjoyably be read as a stand alone story. Readers who enjoy quirky characters and cozy mysteries with a large plate of baked goodies will find this story to be a choice reading selection.

Nine Lives and Alibis
Maddie James and her family are all involved in planning for Halloween events in her small New England town. When a renowned psychic is engaged as the star attraction, Maddie and friends never expected to be involved in yet another mysterious death at the Inn where the psychic is staying.

This book is part of the Cat Cafe mystery series, and readers new to the series (as I am) will have some quick catching up to do in the first chapters. More than 20 characters were introduced at the outset. (I had to make notes to keep up!) However, despite my initial skepticism, I quickly became engrossed in the quirky characters and the highly atmospheric Halloween setting. The descriptions kept me interested and I could picture the settings and events. Now I am anxious to read more in this series about Maddie and her eccentric family (especially Grandpa Leo and JJ the cat.)

Readers who enjoy a cozy and quirky mystery with a lot of atmosphere and some paranormal action will find this a fun and intriguing read.

>232 LadyoftheLodge: I recently read A Whisker of A Doubt, #4 in the series, my first of the series.

>233 lowelibrary: I think I have at least one of those Mystic Notch novels on my Kindle.

My Thingaversary is coming up on September 2! It will be 13 years since I joined when I was in library school.

I finished The Great Fire of London from the diary of Sam Pepys, in the Penguin Little Black Classics series. It was somewhat difficult to follow and also not terribly interesting until I got to the fire section.

Currently reading Scrib by David Ives and West Side Love Story by Priscilla Oliveras, which is a retelling of Romeo and Juliet.

Also Read to Death at the Lakeside Library by Holly Danvers.

I finished reading Read to Death at the Lakeside Library which was a three star read. I also read a bio of Picasso for kids Pablo Picasso by Ibi Lepscky which was a Trumpet Book Club edition, taking me back to elementary school days! Finished Scrib too, probably a good book for middle school boys, too much craziness for me.

I am finishing The Valentine Visitor in the Blue Hill Library series.

Read to Death at the Lakeside Library
This latest in the Lakeside Library series features a re-enactment of a mystery scene from Sparkling Cyanide by Dame Agatha Christie. When a member of the Lakeside book club dies in mysterious circumstances, librarian Rain and sidekick Julia suspect foul play. The involve themselves in trying to solve the crime.

There are a lot of characters in this novel, and I had to make a list to keep up with them. Some of the things they did seemed silly to me. Although it is part of a series, I read it as a standalone. It would have helped if I read the previous ones in order though. In addition to the mystery and the hair raising ending, there is a lot of description and romance and other adventures. I wondered if this librarian ever worked at the library! For me, these other sidebars got in the way of the mystery, which was solved rapidly at the end of the book. I would prefer more mystery and less other stuff. It is not a difficult read, maybe a good beach read.

>231 LadyoftheLodge: I've read some of that series. I may need to add it to read a couple installments in it next year.

>232 LadyoftheLodge: I'll skip that one because of the paranormal, but a cat cafe series otherwise sounds intriguing. Do the others have the paranormal slant?

>238 LadyoftheLodge: I have the first in that series on an Overdrive to read list.

A Most Agreeable Murder
This novel is a mash up of gothic, country house mystery, and comedy of manners,with a touch of "Clue" thrown in for good measure. When Beatrice and her sisters go to an autumn ball, they never expect to become part of solving the murder of a guest. The stormy weather, crumbling mansion, and swampy setting add to the darkness of the scene. In addition, every character in the story has a motive, means, and opportunity. The focus shifts often and keeps the reader guessing.

While the names of the characters are rather Dickensian, and foreshadow things to come, the author mixes in etiquette rules and manners reminiscent of Jane Austen. In honor of Dame Agatha and Conan Doyle, the elements of detection play a large part in this novel.

Although it is quite a hilarious story in some ways, the plot development dragged on way too long for me. The inclusion of other documents alternating with the chapters, such as play scripts, notes, and commentaries, seemed confusing to me, as did the end of the story. However, I did enjoy the author notes at the end, almost more than the story, which contains many clever and just plain weird elements.

>239 thornton37814: I am not sure if the others have that paranormal slant. I normally skip paranormal novels too. This one did not dwell on the paranormal parts very much, other than the celebrity and his role in the Halloween festivities.

Our local reading group read Sources of Light which I read in one day. The subject matter (Jackson, Mississippi in the 1960s) was difficult and emotional to read about. Our discussion did not focus much on the book, mainly on group members' own experiences. I would have liked more discussion about the book.

I read and reviewed a few books for NetGalley and I am currently reading Birder She Wrote by Donna Andrews.

I have been way too busy with trying to keep up grading for the online class I am teaching. I am hoping the course will be reviewed and revised, as there are too may discussions and too many small assignments. This tends to lessen the meaning of the discussions and results in students posting short answers just to get done. I am sure they feel as overwhelmed as I do with all the different things to do for this course, and a lot of it seems like busywork. We will be entering the final week of the course on Tuesday next.

Birder She Wrote
For fans of Meg Langslow mysteries, this addition to the series will provide the same entertainment and mysterious happenings as the previous ones. Fans will feel like part of the family as the novel features characters from previous novels, such as Grandfather (zoologist and wildlife expert), Dad (physician and wildlife lover), Meg (blacksmith sleuth), and her husband and sons. Readers new to the series will be able to jump right in and get cozy, as the author has honed her craft well and does a fine job of introducing the characters and setting quickly.

In this novel, Meg and friends become involved with snobby neighbors, bee keepers, and a magazine reporter, as they assist local law enforcement in solving crimes of blackmail and murder! To me the quirky characters are the best parts of the novels, although readers can learn a lot about wildlife and nature as they read these novels. The characters have matured along with the series and this adds to the realism of these cozy novels.

Mrs. Porter Calling

Emmy Lake and friends remain hard at work in 1943 to produce the Woman's Friend magazine that means so much to their readers. Although the times are difficult with people still getting killed or hurt in air raids, they strive to answer questions submitted by readers and provide some solace from the difficult days.

When a new posh publisher sweeps into their offices with her "tiny suggestions," the staff is dismayed at the changes that will ruin the magazine for their readership. In addition to these changes, the new publisher tends in a direction that could mean loss of employment for them all.

With true courage and perseverance, Emmy and staff come up with a plan to save the magazine, while dealing with their own personal worries and heartbreaks. This novel of friendship and family will provide a thoughtful and provoking read, whether readers have read previous offerings in the series or are starting out with this one.

>245 LadyoftheLodge: I've not read any books from the Emmeline Lake series but they sound very enjoyable. I was happy to see that my library has the 3 books, though there are lengthy waiting lists for them.

>245 LadyoftheLodge: You've reminded me of this series which I have let slip. so far I have only read the first book but really did enjoy it.

>246 mathgirl40: Like >247 DeltaQueen50: I really enjoyed the first in the series. Time to catch up.