You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion

My original Multi Year Planner was getting a little too long. I had been going on for a few years. So I've decided to start a new one this year. But I'm keeping a link to my old one here so I can refer back to it.

Original Multiyear Planner

📱 Kindle version (owned)
💻 Kindle version (borrowed from Libby)
KU Kindle version (borrowed from Kindle Unlimited)
🌲 Print version (owned)
📚 Print version (borrowed)
🎧 Audio version (borrowed)
🔗 Series Book

>>> Currently reading
✔️ Read

2023

January 2023

Yearlong Crossword Puzzle Challenge

✔️ Last Dance on the Starlight Pier 📚 P1/T5 1/8/2023
The Quarry Girls 📱 P2/T4
All the Stars in the Heavens 📱 P12/T10
The Keeper of Happy Endings KU P8/T4
✔️ The Marriage Portrait 💻 P11/T3 1/15/2023
Cradles of the Reich 💻 P6/T4
✔️ Daisy Darker 💻 P10/T7 1/19/2023
A Feather on the Water 📱 P6/T4
✔️ Christmas Cupcake Murder KU P2/T4 1/29/2023

Series

✔️ Christmas Caramel Murder #20 1/4/2023
✔️ Banana Cream Pie Murder #21 + Puzzle (P9/T10) 1/9/2023
✔️ Raspberry Danish Murder #22 + P5/T9 1/13/2023
✔️ Christmas Cake Murder #23 1/21/2023
✔️ Chocolate Cream Pie Murder #24
1/22/2023

I finished reading Christmas Caramel Murder. It was shorter than some of the others so it went quickly.

I finished reading Last Dance on the Starlight Pier. I had been reading for my RL Book Club (February selection), but if fit for the Puzzle Challenge as well. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I really enjoyed reading about the whole marathon culture during the Depression. More fascinated than enjoyed, I guess.

I saw your post on your yearly challenge thread for the marathon dance book. I remember the movie. I was devastated after watching it. I did not understand the reference to the title nor the MC’s reference to it. It took me a long time to get over it. Marathons, of any kind, always fascinated me. Reading about them - not doing them. I don’t have a book set in Texas yet so it will go on my list. Thx. 😊

Always glad to help. 👍

I finished reading Banana Cream Pie Murder for the Puzzle Challenge and also to move the series along. The author is now incorporating cliffhangers into the story, so it makes you (me) want to read the next installment.
I downloaded Cradles of the Reich yesterday and then today I got a notice that The Marriage Portrait was ready to borrow through Libby. I've had that one on hold since November! So excited to read it. Watch, it'll be meh.

I am going to have to add one of the Hannah Swensen books to my spreadsheet for the yearly challenge. Do you have a favorite one?

How is Libby working for you?

I bought a iPad mini for myself for Christmas. I had it delivered to AmyK's house so that she could track it for me, but I have not gotten together with her yet to set it up. My goal is to load Libby for my library site.

My library request for Hester (as ebook) came through today. I looked and saw that I was #9 on 6 copies, so it came earlier than I expected. Now, I have to juggle two ebooks, and three audiobooks at the same time. I am looking forward to reading it though.

I don't really have a favorite Hannah Swensen. So far I've given them 3 stars, which for me means "okay". Actually, I looked and I gave one of them (#11) 4 stars but I don't know why. I don't know why I gave #13 only 2 stars. Even with the series being just okay to me I keep reading it for a few reasons. 1. Like Janice said somewhere, they're good for challenges that need food, Minnesota, small towns, business owners, mysteries, cozy, winter, Christmas, and probably a few more things, to satisfy a task. 2. They're quick reads and offer a relief from heavier books I may read. 3. I kinda like the MC. She isn't really offensive to me the way some of the MCs in other series I've read and put aside, like Stephanie Plum, even though it took me a long time to do that. 4. The past couple of installments have picked up a bit, offered a little intrigue, cliffhanger-wise. 5. I've invested considerable time in the series.
If I had to advise you on which one to read, I'd say start with the first. I think it's too confusing and annoying to read a book from the middle of a series if it's your first go. You never know, you may like her (and the men in her life). I read someone's review of the first book that went on and on and on, like she had so much to say that was important. It was almost longer than the book. Why do people do that especially when they slam a book? Just say you didn't like it and call it a day. (Sorry, just a minor vent).

Libby isn't as good as my old library's selections. A lot of books I could get through the Nassau County Library System aren't available through Libby, probably because the NCLS included more libraries than the Lake Travis Library system. I had to borrow a book in print form that I would have been able to get for my Kindle in the past and since my local library is small and doesn't carry everything I want, I have to request print books from the Texas Group system (statewide) for a print copy to be sent to my library. Libby is easy to use and I can make separate Tags (audio books, digital Kindle books, genre, magazines, etc). You just add your library card(s), follow the instructions for setting things up and you're good to go. You can also set it up so that you can access all the information, tags included, on another devise (phone, iPad, computer) and synch up the info.

I have an old iPad that I gave to my husband to use, but he doesn't use it anymore. I may take it back and see if it still works. I really don't need another electronic device, but it has Vogue knitting magazines downloaded onto it and I'd like to check out the patterns.

Let me know what you think of Hester once you're done.

I think Amy has been working on the new iPad or she was playing with the old one that she was going to give me. I loaded Libby on my iPod and the tag for my library card shows "Mom". I haven't used it yet to look for an audiobook.

I added the Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder to my crossword spread sheet. :o)

Have fun with Hannah Swensen. Her lemon bars are delicious and I have a slab of Double Fudge Brownies in my freezer. I just realized I can use one of the books for the businesswoman task. Woohoo!
Funny about the new iPad. Maybe she was just breaking it in for you, to see if it worked. 😁

I finished reading Raspberry Danish Murder. Another okay. These characters sure eat alot. If I ate like they do, I'd be as big as an elephant.
I just realized i can use the next one in the series for Puzzle 2 Task 6 (Christmas theme). My goodness, this is a very useful series!

I was just on the phone with Amy. She said the iPad is still in the box. I am going over tonight to open the box and at least get it charging. I thought she had opened it and I have been dying to go over and get it set up. I called last night and she was taking a nap. Too funny. I have to wait until Evan's girlfriend leaves (after 6:30) though else there is no place to park at her house. There is only one small spot in front of their house on their tiny street. After 5:00 pm, there is NO street parking available on the next main street because there is only parking on one side only and it is all taken.

It's always so exciting to get a new device whether it's a phone, computer, iPad or whatever. Each one comes with new features and it's fun (or sometimes frustrating) to discover them, Parking issues, oh boy. I remember driving into Brooklyn to visit my son. One side parking that changed daily and always the only space we could find was blocks away,
Have fun with the new iPad.

I finished reading The Marriage Portrait. At times i thought it dragged, but overall, I liked it. The author gave a view into Italian aristocratic family life (husband-wife relationships, raising of sons vs daughters, etc) that was often disturbing to the average 21st century person, although the customs can still be seen today amongst some royals. The writing was very descriptive which, after thinking about it, made sense the MC viewed her world with a painter's eye. 3 1/2 ⭐s probably rounded up to 4.

I've started 2 books: Daisy Darker and Cradles of the Reich.

I finished reading Daisy Darker. I enjoyed it. Very Agatha Christie, but i didn't see the end coming. It was kind of nice and a bit disturbing to read about a family mor dysfunctional than mine. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

I finished reading Christmas Cake Murder. I thought I could use it for the Christmas task in the yearlong challenge, but it doesn't take place during Christmas. I feel duped! I liked it anyway. It went back in time and told how Hannah Swensen started her career as a baker/bakery owner.

I ditched Cradles of the Reich for now and replaces it with A Feather on the Water, one of my kindle owned books.

I have Hercule Poirot's Christmas penciled in for the Christmas task. I have a couple of others too, including one that I started for last year's challenge. It was meh.

I finished reading Coconut Layer Cake Murder this morning. It fits the Puzzle Challenge too (P4/T8). This series is really coming in handy. I'm using the next book in the series, Christmas Cupcake Murder, for P2/T6.

Finished reading Christmas Cupcake Murder today. This one takes place a few years prior to the last book, and no one dies. Not terrible. But I have to say I won't be sorry to complete the series. Only 3 left.

I feel like I lost a comment here. I thought for sure I did my February plan but it's gone. I'll do it again.

February

Puzzle Challenge

A Feather on the Water 📱 P6/T4 (finish)
The Foundling 📱 P7/T1 (finish)
✔️ The Keeper of Happy Endings KU P8/T4 2/11/2023
The Limpopo Academy of Private Detection 💻 P12/T8
✔️ Rules of Civility 💻 P8/T10 2/17/2023
✔️The Woman on the Orient Express P7/T1 2/24/2023
✔️ The Taster 📱 P6/T4

Series/Challenges

✔️ Triple Chocolate Cheesecake Murder KU 2/3/2023
✔️ Caramel Pecan Roll Murder KU P3/T9 2/5/2023

Just because

I finished reading Triple Chocolate Cheesecake Murder this morning. I used it for the February Monthly Challenge. Only two books left in the series, and I'll have my first kill of 2023.

I finished reading Caramel Pecan Roll Murder and found that I could use it for a couple of my Puzzle Challenge tasks. This series is a gold mine! I've used 5 of the books to complete tasks for Badge 1.

Roz wrote: "I finished reading Caramel Pecan Roll Murder and found that I could use it for a couple of my Puzzle Challenge tasks. This series is a gold mine! I've used 5 of the books to complet..."

That's great, Roz. I just have to keep marching to what I have planned. I am not sure if I am even going to go farther than badge 1.

I've finished reading Rules of Civility. Marvelous. I loved the witty writing.

I finished reading The Taster and The Woman on the Orient Express. Both pretty meh.
But they allowed me to finish my first badge for the challenge.
I'm reading Dear Edward now.

Time got away from me and February ended.

March

✔️ Dear Edward 3/2/2023
Hour of the Witch
The Quarry Girls
✔️ The Cold Dish 3/9/2023
✔️ The Girl with All the Gifts

I'm going to concentrate. om Puzzle 8 for now.

I don't usually read zombie books but I needed one to fulfill a puzzle task. I've had The Girl with All the Gifts on my tbr for a while, so I figured, what the heck. Interesting, disturbing, provocative. Not your usual zombie fare. I wasn't exactly satisfied with the ending, but I can't think of what would have worked better for me.

It definitely wasn't your usual zombie story.

I got a little off track with my plan and started reading the Walt Longmire series, I've completed the first two books and looking forward to the third.

I finished reading Twenty Years Later: A Riveting New Thriller. OMG! That was so good. I couldn't put it down.

In the past 2 days I've finished 2 books. Yesterday I finished Under the Tulip Tree. In the 1930's in Nashville Tennessee, a young white girl takes a job with the Federal Writers' Project interviewing and recording, verbatim, the life stories of former slaves. Her first interviewee is 101 yr old Ms Frankie Washington and her history was horridly fascinating. I found more first hand accounts from the Project online all told in their own words without editing. How wise it was to make sure they weren't lost. 3⭐️
Today I finished The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle. Everything happened as it should in this one. Romance isn't usually my favorite genre, but I liked this one. What a wonderful idea to lend out wedding dresses to wartime brides. The dresses were just languishing in closets and attics. I still have my mother's handmade satin wedding dress with it's covered buttons up the arms and down the back, the sweetheart neck and beautiful bow at the waist. Worn once and put away in a trunk. I have no idea what to do with it. 4 ⭐️

April

Puzzles

✔️ Exiles 2/4
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow
✔️ The Direction of the Wind 8/4
✔️ The Wedding Shroud 2/2
✔️ The Flight Attendant 8/3

Series

✔️ The Last Kingdom 4/8/2023 2/1
Kindness Goes Unpunished
The Golden Dice

Others

Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood

I finished my first book of the month; Exiles. This one (the third in the Aaron Falk series) is my favorite.

I finished reading The Last Kingdom and realized it fit into the Puzzle Challenge. This latest book was an orphan for the (finished) Cotton Malone series. I always learn something historical from these novels. Very good.

I had a hard time finding a book for Puzzle 8, task 4 (letters play a role). Then I realized I had one. I read The Direction of the Wind about an Indian girl who grows up believing her mother was dead but learns a different truth after finding letters in her father's closet. It was an okay read.

I finished reading The Wedding Shroud this morning. It's been on my TBR for years and I never got to it, so this year's challenge presented an opportunity to read it. I enjoyed it and will read the rest of this short series to find out what happens next. The author portrays the Etruscans as lusty and often pleasure seeking as opposed to the staider Romans, just so you know.

I finished reading The Flight Attendant. I've read a few of this author's books and enjoyed them (mostly). Everything the MC did was to excess with no bounds. I was amazed she could hold down a job. I just didn't like her. She was so irresponsible, so stupid. There were times when I wanted to yell at her "no don't do that" or "shut up", but I knew she wouldn't listen. It's a wonder she lasted until the end of the story. In the end I thought it was meh with an uneven pace. 2 1/2 ⭐s

Roz wrote: "It's a wonder she lasted until the end of the story."

Lol I feel you. Those characters are so frustrating.

May

Puzzles:

✔️ An Eye for an Eye 2/5 (it's the first in a series; may continue) 5/2/2023
✔️ Mr. Dickens and His Carol 2/8 5/8/2023
✔️ Malibu Rising 2/10
The Round House 2/7
✔️ The Lincoln Lawyer 8/5 5/17/2023
✔️ The Shop on Royal Street 8/6
✔️ A Gentleman in Moscow8/7

Others:

✔️ Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood (finish for RLBC)
✔️ Hamnet (for RLBC) 5/29/2023
✔️ The Ways We Hide
Series:

The Golden Dice

I found An Eye for an Eye for the Puzzle Challenge (2/5) because my original choice was going to take so long to become available and I didn't want to wait. Turns out I owned EforE and it was sitting on my kindle. What luck! For a bit I was confused about one of the characters, but the author slowly unraveled the truth. Nicely done. It's first in a 4-5 part series. I'm intrigued enough to continue, I think.
I'm going back to reading Mr. Dickens and His Carol. Lots of insight into Dickens and his family as well as his writing.

I finished reading Malibu Rising yesterday. Pretty good. I gave it 4 stars. Families are so messy.

I finished reading Mr. Dickens and His Carol today. Reading it made me want to finally ready some of the Dickens books that have sat on my shelf for way too many years. I liked the way the author channeled Dickens' style, providing such vivid descriptions of London life and people.

In the past week I've finished reading The Shop on Royal Street and The Lincoln Lawyer. I enjoyed both of them. I thought that TSonRS would be a bit of fluff with an overlay of romance, but I was pleasantly surprised especially because I really don't like romance (too sappy and unreal to me, lots of angst and woe-is-me). But the characters were interesting, (some with just enough quirk to make me smile).
TLL was great, fast paced, lots going on. I had to read to the end to be sure the good guys won. I'll continue reading the series.

I'm starting A Gentleman in Moscow. That will put an end to Puzzle 8.

I really liked AGiM, but I have seen several posts where people did not.

I like relationship between Count Rostov and Nina. She's delightful. I read Rules of Civility a couple of months ago and really liked that one. I haven't decided yet how much I like this one. I have to agree that the Count is pretty clueless about the changes in Russia and how they pertain to him. He's live a leisurely life totally divorced from the struggles of the common people. But times have changed and I'm thinking he will too.

I finished reading The Ways We Hide. I enjoyed reading about MI9 and the escape aids. Very 007-ish. Overall, I'd give the book a 4.