A baker’s dozen read through July. Most were pretty good, a couple not so good, and a couple were really good reads.
Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton
This was my 100th read of the year!
An unexpected debut in that the author in all likelihood didn’t expect a book, a bestselling book at that, would be a result from her making the snap decision to rescue a leveret, a baby hare, seemingly abandoned in the February snows of the UK countryside.
By rescuing the leveret Dalton made a commitment to keeping it wild and not a pet, knowing that raising a hare in captivity is rarely successful. Hares haven’t been domesticated like rabbits, which Dalton acknowledged and respected. She changed her entire way of life to accommodate the leveret’s needs.
It’s a truly engaging story of how a wild animal can be nurtured by a human without becoming a Disney movie. Dalton writes with honesty and a poet’s eye as she describes her symbiotic life raising hare. She reflects on how it awakened her appreciation of nature, to take in the moment instead of pursuing her goals with blinders to the beauty surrounding her.
As for the hare? It lived an unusual life, benefitting from human companionship without obligation while keeping to its natural tendencies to raise a family and stretch its legs out about the countryside. Highly recommend for those who seek out positive reads involving nature.
The Cost of a Hostage by Iona Whishaw #12
Can’t Wait For the Next One
This twelfth entry of Lane Winslow and her adventures is a treat. The author places our plucky former SOE agent in Mexico with her inspector husband Frederick Darling. Kidnappings, bandits, nefarious war criminals are the main plot—meanwhile, in Nelson BC, Ames and Terrell man the police station, with the help of newly appointed April, and are caught up in their own crime situations of kidnapping and drug running. Both plots are well-paced. But what really stands out in this entry is the characterization,. Whishaw continues to develop and provide fully developed characters, each with their own distinctive personality.
It’s always difficult finishing one of these Lane Winslow books because it means having to wait at least another year for the next one.
I’m trying to par down my TBR list and yet so many tempting titles are out there! Anyone else have difficulty passing up a possible good read?
Time to catch up on my reading shares. I’m having an absolute jolly time in my retirement reading books whenever I want. Mornings used to find me scrambling out the door to get to class before the parking lot filled and evenings were often spent grading, leaving a smidgen of time during the weekend to leisurely read.
Not so anymore. I have started to luxuriate in bed in the mornings and read for a couple of hours before starting my day. Since I am still on teacher time I get up at 5 am and even reading for a couple of hours I am up and ready for whatever the day brings by 8 a.m. I am also deeply investing in hammock time this summer and depending on the book (a shout out to Anthony Horowitz) will spend ALL DAY reading.
When not reading I am at the library volunteering (my happy place), working on my own stories, or fiddling about with yardwork. Reading is definitely my retirement go to.
Here are the five star reads over the past couple of months:
I Could Murder Her by E.C.R. Lorac
Inspector MacDonald steps in early and in his usual smooth, methodical manages to untangle this messy family drama.
Mockingbird Summer by Lynda Rutledge
As with her other book, West with Giraffes, the main character is full of heart and refreshing insights as the book explores the complications of friendship across the tracks in 1964. The ending resonates after the last page is read.
The Essence of Malice by Ashley Weaver
A tangled case for Milo and Amory–this time in Paris.
The Wright Sister: Katharine Wright and Her Famous Brothers by Richard Maurer
Who knew Wilbur and Orville had two other brothers, let alone a dynamic sister? An informative middle grade biography of the Wright brothers’ sister who turns out contributed significantly to their success.
Marble Hall Murders by Anthony Horowitz
The third outing for Susan Ryeland provides readers with a different perspective. No Andreas, for one. And only a brief mention of Katie. Susan is absolutely on her own and once again caught up in editing a book with a sinister agenda that will threaten her life and livelihood.
Candle Island by Lauren Wolk
As with her other books Wolk provides a unique setting with a memorable set of characters. This story combines many plot threads: loss, new beginnings, creativity, animosity, respect, and adapting. Wolk’s signature lyrical prose is admirable.
Shakespeare: The World as Stage by Bill Bryson
A concise, user-friendly overview of Shakespeare in under 200 pages divided into quick chapters blending in known facts with neutral conjecture that adds nicely to anyone interested in learning something but not everything about the Bard.
The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart by Holly Ringland
A deeply profound story of healing through the emotional language of flowers that centers on Alice, who literally rises from the ashes of childhood abuse to a strong, confidant woman. This was also made into a series with Sigourney Weaver, but I have yet to watch.
The Poet’s Dog by Patricia MacLachlan
A short, poignant story of a dog and two children surviving a winter storm huddled together in a cabin once owned by a poet.
As always, you can find my other reviews on Goodreads–I hope you stop by.
Colder weather, darker days, earlier nights are downsides of winter, although on the upside those are inducements for more reading opportunities. Here are the five star reads for November.
The Lost Ticket by Freya Sampson
image: Amazon
What starts out as an aging man’s hope to find that one woman who made a difference in his life sixty years ago turns into a story of a young woman on the verge of thirty who needs to find herself. Told in a simple, yet captivating style, the story interweaves the story of several people who find unexpected answers through second chances.
The Bletchley Riddle by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin
image: Amazon
Another perspective of WWII by way of the Betchley Park codebreakers is presented by the talented partnership of Sepetys and Sheinkin. Told through the alternating voice lens of brother and sister, Jakob and Elizabeth, their relationship is reminiscent of Enola Holmes and her brother Sherlock. The story provides engaging historical insights on the valuable work on breaking the Enigma, the coding machine. There is also the riddle of whether Jakob and Lizzie’s mother is alive, if she is a spy, and what her contribution to the war effort might be. Witty, informative, and appealing characters help the story transcend the age designation of middle grade or young adult.
Crook o’Lune by E.C.R. Lorac
image: Amazon
Though it is the #38th entry of this particular detective series, it can be read as a standalone. Its languid pace and attention to detail creates a relaxed approach to a puzzling set of circumstances that involve sheep rustling, arson, and manslaughter. Think All Creatures Great and Small mashed with an Agatha Christie detective plot.
What types of reads brighten your long dark nights of winter?
Most of October was devoted to recovering from Covid and while reading books is my go to for relaxing, I found it difficult to sustain the energy to hold a book and keep my eyes open. Fortunately our local library provides plenty of audiobooks, especially e-versions. I simply download to a device of my choice, plug in my headphones, and delight in someone reading me a story. The best part is that no realizes I’m napping. Ssh…
Here is a batch of five star reads from October:
The Clock Strikes Twelve (Miss Silver #7) by Patricia Wentworth
Very Miss Marple in style down to the clicking knitting needles. Though at times the dozen or so cast of characters created some confusion in sorting out who and what, the dynamic plot structure created an intriguing locked room mystery. Would thoroughly enjoy seeing this as a BBC production in all its 1940s period glory.
Fatal First Edition (Library Lovers #14) by Jenn McKinlay
Listening to the story dented some of the enjoyment as the narrator presents the main character, Lindsey, as being on the edge of hysterical when she gets excited, otherwise, a great mix of characters with some fun plot twists. Some of the plot points are a bit too convenient, such as a horrendous snowstorm coinciding with the need to keep all the suspects in one place, which happens to be in Lindsey’s town. It’s a bonus how the author inserts different books into the plot.
The London Eye Mystery (London Eye Mystery #1) by Siobhan Dowd
Given the intended audience is middle grade, the plot intricacies were on par with adult mystery stories. Despite the usual first person narrative being an unreliable narrator, Ted is the most interesting character. Though his condition is not stated, he knows he thinks differently than most people and it’s because of his perspective and thinking that his missing cousin is found. What especially made the story appealing is Ted’s focus on weather and how he related his observations to people and situations. Recommended for classroom reading.
1,000 Books to Read Before You Die by James Mustich
The scope of work presented is daunting. In fact, the author said it is the result of fourteen years of reading, rereading, and more reading. The entries are inspiring; however, little was added to my TBR list, not because I had read scads of titles listed. The reason comes down to not interested, but thank you anyway as many were historical or biographical and this reader leans towards fiction.
The Book of Lost and Found by Lucy Foley
An exceptional debut that foretells the quality of talent the author will produce in future writing. A rich, brilliant love story that spans eras filled with detailed research which illuminates each character’s struggle with identity, family, and love.
Death Comes to Marlow (Death Comes to Marlow #2) by Robert Thorogood
Listening to the book instead of reading it made a difference in accepting the contrived plot because it became a theatrical performance. Nicolette McKenzie proved an excellent narrator with an impressive range of voice characterization. The PBS series which is based on the books is quite a treat.
Well, I am becoming a fan of e-audiobooks after years of snubbing them. I am finding they are especially handy when I would like to combine escaping from the world with my eyes closed while grabbing a bit of sunshine. It’s a cozy experience being read to. No wonder kids request, “Read me a book.”
August used to be the beginning of the end for me since my mind began shifting away from summer fun to classroom curriculum. Going into my third year of retirement August just means summer is still summer, albeit the mornings and evenings a little cooler. BUT–I can keep on reading with no compunction to create lesson plans. Keep on keeping on reading.
I’m still finding lots of hammock time and books that go well with hammock reading tend to be ones where I am engrossed in the story and want to stay put for a couple of hours getting absorbed in the story. Here are my five star reads for August. Check out my other books here.
An unexpected find while browsing the library bookshelves. Sometimes serendipity picks are the best. A story that presents small town community without being snarky or saccharine while mixing in relationships ranging from family to friendships to neighbors to new love. The author manages to create realistic responses out of extraordinary situations while slipping in nuanced details like apple varieties and cake baking. For those looking for Mitford-type stories, ones where the characters and community share equal spotlight.
Not a perfect book, with its hyperbolic characters and fairly implausible plot—yet, who cares! A fun mystery revolving around perceptions and relationships and interconnections. Sutanto provides readers with an irascible new detective, Vera Wong. Forthcoming adventures will be duly anticipated.
Nonfiction can be oh so dry. Not so with The Cloudspotter’s Guide. The author combines prose with scientific facts about clouds to create a reference book that doubles as a delightful read. Readers can even join the Cloud Appreciation Society.
Rereading a mystery has one great disadvantage: the ending or twist is already known. Nevertheless, Tey’s story employing the pretender motif still holds interest due to her character scaffolding of Brat Farrar. He knows he is a bounder for deceiving the family, yet he still gains reader sympathy. Even as a reread with inside knowledge, Tey’s story maintained interest to the last page.
Finishing strong in my 2023 Goodreads challenge with 171 books read—greatly surpassing my usual 101 books goal, which landed me in the Goodreads top 25% readers group. Couldn’t resist a little self back patting. On to the five 🌟 reads of January:
image: Amazon
To Track a Traitor (Lane Winslow #10) by Iona Whishaw
The plot is especially complex as it involves a thirty year old murder, a missing husband, a blackmailer, and a rogue spy. Whishaw manages to balance all these complicated aspects while continuing to develop the interpersonal relationships of the characters. The series continues to become more engaging with each additional entry. While this title could be a standalone, the story is enriched by how Whishaw has developed each character in each book. For those who appreciate post WWII intrigues and strong women leads such as Maisie Dobbs.
image: Amazon
Madame Secretary: A Memoir by Madeleine K. Albright
Watching Madeleine Albright’s cameo television series “Madame Secretary” prompted me check out her autobiography. She came across as sassy and knowledgeable in both her TV role and as the first woman secretary of state. Albright’s humor and hard hitting style provided illuminating glimpses into the world she shared with President Clinton. Dealing with dictators, forging relationships with new and old world leaders, and coping with personal situations was all part of her tenure. Candid, humorous, and engaging, though long and sometimes painful in reading due to the hardships so many countries face because of leadership decisions, this an insightful look at the behind the scenes of a governmental position that literally can influence the world we live in.
image: Penguin Random House
From a Far and Lovely Country (No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency #24) by Alexander McCall Smith
McCall Smith returns to what made this series both unique and appreciated. There are two main cases that must be solved, each requiring wisdom and tact. Both have surprising outcomes which highlight how McCall Smith can provide twists that are equally delightful and satisfying.
image: Amazon
Patterns on the Wall by Elizabeth Yates
A surprisingly excellent read. Though slim it is full of storytelling delights ranging from old-fashioned values to historical details to memorable characters. Expected and unexpected plot twists provide reader interest to the very end as a young man overcomes hardships in post-colonial America.
With 20 books read by this posting, I’m off to good start towards reading 101 books by the end of December. A personal reading goal is to mix in a variety of genres such as autobiographies and more nonfiction, but I sure do like my fiction forays.
What reading goals have you set for yourself in 2024?
Somehow I lost track of my really good reads from October and I just about missed November’s reads. Here are my five star books from those months.
The Detective’s Assistant by Kate Hannigan
Hannigan presents an engaging embellishment of Kate Warne, a Pinkerton detective, and apparently America’s first woman agent.
While not much is known about Warne, the addition of her orphaned niece, Nell, is what drives the plot. Together they solves cases ranging from murder to preventing the assassination of president-elect Abraham Lincoln.
A coming of age story with a thread of history makes this a book middle readers will want to check out, then again this middle aged reader found it an engaging read as well.
Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr
Doerr presents an inventive, mesmerizing tale in the way of a tapestry. Throughout the book readers experience the backside of the tapestry, the chaos of threads intermingled, making it difficult to see the full rendering. The intermingling of characters and situations ranging from far future to distant past to present in Cloud Cuckoo Land is both amazing and puzzling at times, and then the understanding is revealed in the end chapters, just as the flip side of the tapestry reveals the completed picture. Doerr is an artist of words and a storyteller of significance. His detail and pacing are admirable. His ingenuity as well. A very different story from his first novel, All the Light We Cannot See, yet CCL still showcases the talent of this writer.
The Library by Bella Osborne
The book had me at its title. Then there is the blurb: A book about how a library on the cusp of closure introduces an intergenerational friendship. The read was lovely and was difficult to set down.
The House of Unexpected Sisters by Alexander McCall Smith
At first the plot lumbers along with its usual disagreements between Precious and Grace about what is right (Grace can be tediously obstinate), it’s driving about in the tired white van, and it’s odd case or two that seemingly goes nowhere.
However, this story has an amazing twist near the middling end will impact future books. This twist definitely raised the rating by injecting some new spice into series.
An Old, Cold Grave (Lane Winslow #3) by Iona Whishaw
Having finished the Maisie Dobbs series by Winspear I was casting about for similar series and discovered Whishaw’s Lane Winslow books on the library’s new arrivals shelf.
Lane Winslow has settled into Kings Cove, Canada after her WWII service, and it is not turning out to be the idyllic place to escape the aspects of danger she experienced during the war.
The first two books were recent murders, this plot focuses on the mystery of a child’s skeleton found when a household of women were repairing their root cellar. Lane once again finds herself in the middle of the investigation and in harm’s way.
With a few more books to go in the Kings Cove series Lane is filling in for Maisie Dobbs quite nicely.
It Begins in Betrayal (#4) by Iona Whishaw
The fourth in the Lane Winslow series provides readers with a tightly-paced plot involving Lane’s friend InspectorDarling being framed in order to recruit Lane back into intelligence work.
A Sorrowful Sanctuary (#5) by Iona Whishaw
Whishaw ups her game in this fifth series entry with a fine balance of intrigue, murder, and interpersonal drama.
The opening scene of Lane and her friends discovering a mortally wounded man drifting in a boat sets up the story, one that is riveting in many ways, including the developing romance between Lane and Inspector Darling.
Going into December with 158 books read towards my annual goal of 101 I am now hoping to surpass my all-time best of 165 books from 2020. I had a bit of downtime that year, and reading was also a way of coping with the stay-at-home during that year. Retirement is proving to be boosting my reading rate, although staying at home is more choice than a mandate and that is perfectly fine with me.
I like how January ushers in a new year and kicks off the countdown to spring. The snow is slowly starting to melt, but days are still short and the skies mostly gray. Books are still the main diversion to get through gloomy afternoons and dark evenings. Lately I start more books than finish them, but I did manage to find a couple of five star reads:
image: Amazon
Summer of Light by W. Dale Cramer ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
A refreshing entry into the Christian fiction category in how the author presents church and faith. By placing a self-admitted redneck construction worker into the sudden situation of being the prime caretaker of their three children, readers see how faith takes on different meanings.
The story has no single great conflict. Instead, like life, there are many little fires that need to be put out: Mick learning to have one eye at all times on their sensory-sensitive son, managing the animals, learning how to be with his children instead of just taking care of them, and not washing his wife’s laundry.
If there is one main issue it’s Mick realizing that while he may not be a stay-at-home mother he does pretty well as a father. The smaller issues of importance are his acceptance that he has talent as an amateur photographer.
The author’s viewpoint of church is a thoughtful point of reference as he shows the importance of the family attending together, yet shows how service to others is also an aspect of consideration.
image: Barnes and Noble
Secrets of the Realm by Bev Stout ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Annie, an orphan girl mistreated by her aunt, runs off to London and disguises herself as a boy. She is taken on as a cabin boy upon the merchant ship The Realm. As Andre she has more than a few adventures as a young sailor, but when her secret is discovered by her shipmates she must make the hard decision of going to live on land once again.
Though recently written, the author has captured the essence of an old-fashioned tale similar to Stevenson or Dickens.
image: Amazon
The Bodies in the Library by Marty Wingate ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
It’s difficult to resist the cheery cover, especially with the title being a nod to Agatha Christie’s well-known mystery story. And there is a cat of distinction.
The set up is fun. Hayley is hired to be a curator of Mrs. Fowling’s collection of first edition mystery writer books and she is having difficulty finding her way, especially since she is lacking in mystery book knowledge. Then there is the kerfuffle with the Wednesday night writing group being deemed as interlopers by the ever faithful Mrs. Woolgar, secretary and keeper of Mrs. Fowling’s reputation.
The dead body that is found in the library one morning does not help matters at all, but the murder does help Hayley prove she can become a curator of note and channel her developing Miss Marple skills to solve the crime.
A fairly engaging story that sometimes focuses more on Hayley’s personal life than on solving the murder; however, Wingate has a knack for keeping the plot interesting.
For readers who like amateur sleuthing stories enfolded in light human drama such as The Thursday Murder Club series.
Looking for more fives and more blue skies in February. Any fives from your January reads?
In the past I considered July to be my solid summer vacation month. Leftover schoolish stuff in June and preparing for school in August meant July was free and clear for my favorite way to enjoy summer vaycay: hammock reading.
This July was totally different. Really hot, make that extra hot, days prevented hammock lounging unless I was okay with being sizzled while I read. Secondly, after ignoring my yard for too many years I decided it’s time to revamp and recalibrate. Working early in the cool morning and roughing it out until I felt melt status approaching, I weeded, revised, pruned, and created. This did not leave as much time for reading, but I managed to read 11 books as I recuperated in air conditioning in the afternoons and ventured out again the early evening. Here are the highlights of my July reading:
Lorna Doone by R.D. Blackmore
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
(big reading commitment of over 700 pages—didn’t realize what I was getting myself into when I blithely requested it from the library)
Going against the usual maxim of “book first, then movie,” it is suggested to watch the 2000 BBC version with Richard Coyle as John Ridd first and then embrace Blackmore’s story of love, hate, justice, and politics.
Why?
The BBC version plucks out the core story of Blackmore’s sweeping adventure epic which is the romance of the star-crossed lovers Lorna Doone and John Ridd. Seeing the pure and intense romance through the camera lens helps when it comes to reading the book as Blackmore tends to digress with panache adventures beyond John Ridd’s love for Lorna.
An Incomplete Revenge (Maisie Dobbs #5) by Jacqueline Winspear
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
This fifth entry of the Maisie Dobbs series is more than satisfying—it truly is a really good read. Winspear continues some of her developed plot aspects such as Maisie’s concerns for her aging father and her schism with her mentor, Maurice. There is also long overdue closure with Simon, her wartime love. These important personal points add to the fascinating case Maisie takes on for family friends. As always, Winspear injects aspects of WWI into the story, and in this story she adds in the additional details of the gypsy culture. Be wiling to sit up and finish the last few chapters in one read since the plot twists are riveting.
The Ethan I Was Before by Ali Standish
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
An impressive debut which explores loss through different perspectives.
Ethan loses a friend through a careless accident and struggles with survivor guilt. His parents deal with his breakdown by uprooting the family from Boston to live with Ethan’s grandfather Ike as a means of starting over.
The loss of a loved one, be it a friend, spouse, parent, even a way of life is explored with genuine characterization and realistic responses. The plot provides adventure, mystery, and sage wisdom in terms of dealing with situations that are out of one’s control.
Among the Mad (Maisie Dobbs #6) by Jacqueline Winspear
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
As the Maisie Dobbs series continues, Winspear continues adding layers onto her lead character. In this book the title aptly notes Maisie is Among the Mad. Per her other books, Winspear discusses the aftermath of WWI, in this case how the majority of wounded veterans became “invisible” to society, often being ignored due to their injuries, both physical and mental. PTSD, known as “shell shock,” impacted thousands of people who were involved WWI, Maisie being among them. How people cope with trauma, not just from war, is touched on with Billy’s wife, who grieves the death of her young daughter to the point of physical harm.
A bit darker, and more philosophical than the previous titles, the plot is nevertheless intriguing in how Maisie tracks down her clues to a conclusion. The continuing development of Maisie’s character, as she heals from her own physical, mental, and spiritual war wounds adds fuller dimension to the mystery plot.
Going Postal (Discworld #33) by Terry Pratchett
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Absolutely marvelous! A standalone within the Discworld collection, and a delight. No prior Discology needed to embrace Pratchett’s genius dig at the Internet, his tribute to the Post Office, and the appreciation for an anti-hero by the name of Moist von Lipwig.
Pratchett’s creativity with character names, plot pacing, strange interjections, odd and unexpected insertions create a read worth multiple perusings.
The film adaptation has its own merits, as does the audiobook. Watching the film first firmly placed the characters in mind, otherwise how else to envision a golem (so different from LOTR spectrum). Do try reading along with the audiobook—the reader’s character voices are to perfection.
The Mapping of Love and Death (Maisie Dobbs #7) by Jacqueline Winspear
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Once again Winspear deftly combines another perspective of WWI with an unsolved crime. Her seventh entry into the Maisie Dobbs series has Maisie solving a murder in the trenches.
Winspear presents cartography and it’s importance to the war efforts with one Michael Clifton, an American who joins up to honor his father’s homeland of Britain. When his remains are discovered in a field by a French farmer years later after the war’s end, Maisie is hired by the family to find out more about his death.
In her investigation Maisie uncovers love and death, but also faces love and death in her own life. Richly detailed, perfect pacing, unexpected plot twists, and continuing character development provide a read that resonates.
The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Young Nisha, half Hindu and half Muslim, writes of her experience during the 1947 partition in India. She addresses her concerns to her deceased mother who died during childbirth of Nisha and her twin brother Amil. Nisha’s father, a doctor, makes the decision to leave all behind due to the erupting violence.
As Nisha and her family travel, her diary entries succinctly describe the trauma of the situation, of dividing India, splitting up families and friendships, and facing death.
The author provides a powerful narrative through Nisha’s eyes, illuminating the search for home and understanding oneself when the world changes overnight.
An important story based on the author’s family experiences, the book spotlights a historical event perhaps as not well known to most USA children, but is timely as current societal issues reflect what happens to a nation when it is divided due to political, cultural, and/or religious issues. Well deserving of its Newberry Honor.
Is July your need to read month? Any picks off the list? Any suggestions to add?
I can tell how stressed I am by how many books I read in a month. I used to count by dark chocolate Dove bars. Books are less invasive on the waistline.
I can also measure my stress level by the types of books I read.
Picture books:
Where Are You, Little Zack? by Judith Ross Enderle ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
The StinkyCheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales by Jon Scieszka
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Juvie books:
A High Wind in Jamaica by Richard Hughes ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
The White Mountains by John Christopher ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
YA books:
To Best the Boys by Mary Weber
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Inspirational books:
Better Together: Life Is Best With a Friend Like You by Warren Photographic ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Be Safe, Love Mom by Elaine Lowry Brye ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
New-to-me-authors:
The Librarian by Sally Vickers ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
The Cleaner of Chartres by Sally Vickers ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
The Bookshop by Penelope Fitzgerald ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Historical Romance:
Far Side of the Sea by Kate Breslin
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Mystery:
Arsenic and Old Books by Miranda James ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
A baker’s dozen of books. All over the place. I’m unable to comment on March. I do appreciate how many five star reads I encountered. Nothing like a run of really satisfying books to get one through the murkiness of March. Maybe the Ides have it–March is not a month to mess with.
Pam Webb 