What's On My Nightstand (May 2026)

This month has been a bit of a slump in the reading department (though I'm still ahead of schedule, thanks to last month) as we prepare to graduate a child and send four kids off to the ends of the earth for the summer. I also blame Emma M. Lion. If you know, you know. Once you get started on that series, there is no casual reading, it's like a mad rush to the end, and there's no stopping it. In fact, I'm seriously considering re-reading them, that's how much I enjoyed them. If you haven't joined the Emma fan club, I must either ask you what you're waiting for, or I must warn you...I've seen rumors that there are a total of 25 books planned. We are on book #8 and it's been almost 2 years since that was released. Book #9 is scheduled to be released this year. So if you hate waiting...maybe it's best if you leave Emma to those of us for whom it is too late. We're already sucked in and invested in either Team Pierce, Team Hawkes, or Team Islington. Save yourself. 

Photo by Benjamin Cheng on Unsplash

In the meantime, after the letdown of finding, devouring, and finishing what has been written so far of Emma and The Alchemy's exploits, here's what I've managed to finish this month. I warn you, it is sad, indeed, in comparison. I remember now why I have a love/hate relationship with discovering a new book series that sucks me in so quickly...the book hangover is real. 

1. The Saint Mary's Cipher by Anna Elliott and Charles Veley - ⭐⭐⭐ My complaint with many of the books in the "Homefront Sleuths" series is that the authors get in a phrase or word rut and then kill it with overuse. Two books ago, more women had "hair severely pulled back" than you could shake a stick at! For this book, their word of choice was "prickled." Things "prickled" at the back of throats, skin and senses "prickled," and so on. To the point that I started laughing when I got to another use of the word. People...get yourselves a good copy editor!! Apart from that, the story wasn't bad. Sending Evie and Nigel to France was a twist, though that felt like a side story that wasn't, perhaps, quite needed or finalized. The woman they rescued, in the end, had very little to do with the story. And some of the assumptions made by Harry and Co. were a little obviously obtuse. It's not a bad little series, but it is losing its attraction a bit with each book, sadly. The first couple of books held so much promise. {Amazon Associates Link}
2. The Beast of Littleton Woods by T.E. Kinsey - ⭐⭐⭐ I've read this series for a while now, and I honestly don't mind them as fun little mysteries, but I'd have to say that this was one of my least favorite so far. I suppose it's to be expected...I mean, how many murders can you explain away in such a small village (a fact that the author even included in the plot)? The exotic animals were a twist, though the villains were not much of a surprise (saw one of them coming a mile away). It would have been nice for it all to wrap up with knowing what happened to the animals, or perhaps with Daisy keeping the "giant rat" as a bar pet...but such is life. The writing is still good, the plot was just a little thin this time. But, it was included on Kindle Unlimited, so I won't complain too loudly. {Amazon Associates Link}

And that's it. Just the two completed last month. I have two more in process, but neither of them made the cut for May, sadly. However, I'm still ahead of schedule, and with plans to be away from home at times this summer, I'm hoping that I'll not get into the summer reading slump that I experienced last year. Only time will tell. But I've also reached the point that as long as I'm reading something every day, I'm satisfied. How about you? What's your book 📚 status for May?

October Bookworm Update

I always start these posts at the first of the month and update them as life happens along the way. Heading into October, I wasn't really sure what to expect from the next 31 days. I knew my calendar was beyond busy with life events, but if my mom's quick illness and death taught me anything, it's that life can change in the blink of an eye. Although nothing dramatic happened in our immediate family, we did have some pretty serious things happen to several of our friends, once again reminding me to never put off until tomorrow what I should be doing today. Time is fleeting.

Earlier this month my sisters came back to our hometown for the weekend, and we spent some time going through our mother's clothing and jewelry and craft items. What I thought would be a day of tears and wishing Mom was here ended up being a day of laughter and remembering all the ways Mom made us feel loved and cared for. It was another positive memory associated with not only my sisters, but also my mom. Even in her passing she is still making us smile and remember the ways that she poured into the lives of others through her baking, her crafting, and her love of the holidays. As we prepare to head into our first major holiday season without her around, it's been good to remember all the years she loved us so well and made everything special. And it's a legacy we are all attempting to carry on.

Photo by Debby Hudson on Unsplash

The month started off a bit rough in the reading department. I did finish the first two books fairly quickly, but neither of them were up to snuff, and both were a letdown. However, for the second year in a row I have unintentionally/intentionally focused on cozy murder/mystery books in October, and since I had several in my Kindle lineup that I suspected would be better, things turned around once I headed back into safer waters (authors I already knew I enjoyed). And even though I ended the month with a bust (and in a big way!), you never know unless you try, right?

1.  The Mudflats Murder Club by Brian Thiem - ⭐⭐ Advertised as the perfect book for anyone who loved The Thursday Murder Club (TMC) or Only Murders in the Building (OMITB), it actually caught my attention because the title itself seemed suspiciously similar to TMC, but I was willing to give it a shot anyway as the Kindle version was cheap that day. Bottom line: it was an okay "who-done-it" written by a first-time author. However, the relationship between the two primary characters felt really forced, cheesy, and expected, and I could have done without that. As a fan of both TMC and OMITB, I'd have to strongly disagree that this is at the same level as those. It truly felt like a cheap copy of both. Especial the Thursday Murder Club. Add to that the "swinging" aspect of the story (nothing blatant or obscene, but there, nevertheless), I'd put this solidly in the cheap knock-off beach-read category, and I don't plan to read the next one in the series. {Amazon Associates Link - just in case like cheap beach read mysteries!)
2. The Missing Checkout Girl Mystery (Supermarket Mysteries Book 1) by Rachel Ward - ⭐ I would have given this two stars, because the premise of the book had promise, and because I was surprised by who actually did the crime, but it received one star due to content. It was written to be realistic (I recognize that), but the f-bomb usage and sexual content was just too much for me. This came as part of a set on Kindle (Books 1-5 in the Supermarket Mysteries series) that they were selling all five for $2.99 (that should have been a clue), so since I already have them all, I may give Book 2 a try and see if the author settled in a bit with her writing, but as of right now, I would NOT recommend this book or series. 
3. The Impossible Fortune (Thursday Murder Club #5) by Richard Osman - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I don't know that this is actually a five star book, probably closer to a four, but I was so darn happy to read a book I enjoyed so much after a 2-star and a 1-star book that I slapped five stars on this puppy and called it good! And a definite improvement over book #4. I didn't cry reading through this book like I did through the last one (let's be real, that was just rough, made all the rougher since I was in the middle of losing my mom at the time). Another bonus, no frustrating woke bits. Just the gang back together, Elizabeth figuring out life after Stephen's death (which also hit close to home for me in this season). I honestly loved the sideline of the Ritchie family, the addition of Tia, and Connie's surprise role. All in all, a delightful, easy read, and highly recommended. Perfect cozy fall mystery. Five stars. {Amazon Associates Link}
4. The Blackout Murders (Book #1) by Anna Elliott & Charles Veley - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ In the same way that book #3 of the month was probably more like a four-star book, in all honesty, this is probably more like 3.5 stars, but the premise (murder in a small village during WWII) was intriguing, the characters show promise, and the language is clean. Think the Miss Read books (small English village) meets...Foyle's War. Nothing too gruesome, plenty of tea and scones, a historical setting, a varied set of individuals each with their own stories (and hardships)...all in all, a delightful surprise and one worth trying for yourself (if you enjoy cozy mysteries, British tea rooms, and unlikely civilian sleuths). It was published in 2024, but there are already seven books in the series, so I'm looking forward to trying book #2 (and book #1 is just $2.99 on Kindle if you want to give it a whirl or FREE if you have Kindle Unlimited). {Amazon Associates Link}
5. Murder on the Marlow Belle by Robert Thorogood - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ I'll just start this by saying that this isn't my favorite of the Marlow Murder Club series. Book #1 was probably my favorite, but overall I prefer Thorogood's Murder in the Caribbean series, upon which the BBC show by the same name is based. However, this book was still an enjoyable weekend read, the murderer wasn't blatantly obvious, I appreciated how Judith and Co. attempted to not make life difficult for Tanika at the police station, and yet they still investigated. And the ending...well, it certainly was a cliff hanger! But if you're looking for a easy-read murder mystery without all the foul language and extra gore, you can't go wrong with this series. I'm rounding up to four stars, but much like the Blackout Murders, realistically, it's probably 3.5. {Amazon Associates Link}
6. The Cornish Village Murder (Nosey Parker #2) by Fiona Leitch - ⭐ Last month I read the first book in this series and gave it two stars. I was hoping that the author would find her groove between books 1 and 2, but instead of getting better, it got worse and she lost a star! I simply cannot can't get past the raging teenage hormones of the 40-something main character, Jodie. This book focuses on her THREE (count them, one, two three) crushes, including one married(!!!), which I simply couldn't get past (especially when the author decided to throw in there that Jodie's ex-husband had also been married when they met!). The "flutters" and "tingles" and make-out sessions felt like the primary purpose of the story, with the murder being a distant second. It read more like a cheap romance novel with some light detection, mixed with random kitchen baking scenes. I just don't like the main character and the writing is sloppy, which is unfortunate, since I still have more books in the series on my Kindle. I would NOT recommend this book or series. 

Six books in October...one book ahead of schedule again, which, after a long, dry summer, I'll take. I've started book #7, but I don't foresee it being read in a day, so that will have to go in the first of November's list. In the meantime, the weather has turned chilly, we're enjoying lots of rain and wind, the trees are finally turning and the leaves are dropping...which means (for me) it's the perfect season to curl up with a good (or mediocre!) book, and work my way through a pot of tea. Cozy up and join me!

What are you reading? 

Leave a note in the comments!

September In the Books

I love a good calendar. I live and die by the digital calendar on my phone. Go to a dental or eye appointment with my kids and set up a follow-up for a year out? It's already in my phone for next year. I've often said, "If it's not in my calendar, it's not happening. It doesn't exist." But recently, I realized that digital-only may not be cutting it for some of my family members, including the Hubs. And so he got a paper planner, which comes back to me at the end of the month to fill out with important family events for the coming month (and beyond), while he adds his own notes about projects and work, which can now fit in with everything going on with the family. Win! 

Additionally, I picked up two wall calendars (April 2025-June 2026) on clearance and got back into my pencil and color-coded ways (every child was assigned a color nine years ago, and it's never changed!), so everyone, at a glance, can see what's happening over the next 30+ days. While some of my kids roll their eyes at me and my calendar-love, it keeps me from answering the same questions over and over again, or missing an event that someone mentioned once. And just like my digital version, if it's not on the paper calendar...it's not happening. 

Which made me stop and think...perhaps I should schedule in reading time for Mom. Time in the day when I give myself permission to sit for 30-minutes and read on my Kindle or from the ever-increasing stack of books next to the bed. Because, just like with everything else, if it's not on the calendar, it often fails to happen. And while I'm all for flexibility, with four teenagers at home, we went from 0-60 MPH in the blink of an eye - as my calendar can testify, and I'm beginning to realize that if I don't make official "room" for things like reading or cleaning out or journaling, there will always be something else to eat up that time. So this month I tried something new, and I scheduled in reading time. Results below. 😏 

Photo by 2H Media on Unsplash

1. The Miracle of Dunkirk by Walter Lord - ★★★★ I borrowed this book from Amazon Prime back in 2018, and it has taken me until 2025 to finally get around to reading it! I thought I knew about the "miracle" of Dunkirk, but what I learned from reading this was just how hectic it was, and what struck me the most was how many men who were saved from the Dunkirk shores...were lost on the crossing when ships were sunk. The numbers are truly staggering. And sobering. War is not a happy read, and yet we read so that we do not forget this fact. This is a well-written historically accurate account of the events which took place over nine days in May and June of 1940. If you don't love history, you might find it a bit dry in places, but if you are at all interested in unique historical events, especially involving the WWII era, I would recommend giving this a go. Four stars. {Amazon Associates Link}
2. These High Green Hills by Jan Karon - ★★★★★ This was at least my fourth time through this book, but I knew I wanted to lose myself in something familiar, something comforting and cozy, to help kick me back into the reading habit. As it happens, I finished this book and The Miracle of Dunkirk the same weekend, so it must have worked. As always, a visit with the (now married) Father Tim is always balm when the world seems to have gone nuts. I made the mistake of popping onto IG the day after Charlie Kirk was murdered, and the comments and posts from my friends on both the left and the right were enough to make me want to close my account and never look back. But rather than do that, I took a "trip" to Mitford, sat in a cave with Tim and Cynthia, laughed at J.C.'s attempts to woo the new female cop in Mitford, and rejoiced when Luella and Miss Patty moved into the new Hope House (for the elderly). The world is sad, but Mitford reminds me of what it once felt like (when there was more optimism than realism). Five stars. {Amazon Associates Link}
3. The Cornish Wedding Murder by Fiona Leitch - ★★ I got this as a cheap Kindle book, and I read it in three days, so it was clearly something I could enjoy, but it's not great literature. The awkward drama between the main character, Jodie (a.k.a. Nosey Parker), and the lead detective, plus the weird friend/more-than-friend tension with Tony (also a suspect, also the fiance of the missing bride, and ex-husband of the corpse) was a little cheesy for me. Not to mention the continual "blushing" whenever she had to bring up the excessive number of "organic sausages" that she had on hand (give me a break, the character is 40-year-old ex-cop, with a 12-year-old daughter...she's not blushing when talking about sausages, though her preteen might be!). That being said...it's a "cozy" mystery, set in a Cornish village, a dash of Jessica Fletcher, and a whole lot of cheese. I'd try another one, but wouldn't recommend the series (there are other similar series in this genre I like better). Two stars. {Amazon Associates Link}
4. Up from Slavery by Booker T. Washington - ★★★★ I started this book much earlier this year, and then life happened, and I finally got back around to finishing where I left off. I don't know that I would say that I "enjoyed" this book, but I'm absolutely going to have my kids read it for school. Washington does a really outstanding job of sharing his own life story, and not dwelling (or glossing over) the hardships, but inspiring and encouraging others (whether black or white) to excel in all things, to the best of their abilities. Towards the end of the book I actually did something I almost never do (and by almost never, I mean, probably not since college when I was reading books to write papers on them)...I highlighted quotes. An inspiring man who didn't let anything stand in the way of an education or of helping others up through hard work. Four stars. {Amazon Associates Link}
5. The Twyford Code by Janice Hallett - ★ Yes, you see that correctly. One star. I simply could not get past the writing style of this book. And what's worse, I'd already read two books by this author and was prepared for the style (Review #1 - 3 stars, and Review #2 - 4 stars), but for some reason the others, even though they were in a similar style (a conglomeration of emails, voicemail transcripts, recordings, etc.), were just easier to read. This...made my head want to explode. The premise was an interesting one, but the unfolding story (which slowly revealed a story within a story, until you finally get to the truth...sort of), was just annoying and tedious. It could have been better, I think, taking the same ideas and using a different writing style (one where the author is telling the story, not a jumble of broken transcripts), and it might have been a three star book. In fact, it was only once the style changed at the very end of the book that I found my interest piqued at all. One star, would not recommend. {Goodreads Link for More Reviews if You Want a Different Take} 

I made it 57% through my sixth book, but didn't manage to finish that up before midnight yesterday, so I will just have to count it for my first book of October and give myself a head start. As you can see, though, giving myself time each day for dedicated reading (plus getting into some more interesting and/or easy books) has helped kick start the reading wagon again, so I'm pretty happy with five and a half books this month, after a summer of drought. 

How about you? How's your reading going? Had a favorite book you've read this month that you're just dying to share? Hit me up in the comments and let me know what I need to add to my TBR stack! 

Here's to a bookish October!  

A Change in Goals (August Reading Update)

And here we are, another month down in the year, and coming into my absolutely favorite season of all...FALL. I have loved the "ber" months all my life. Long before Instagram girlies made reels about "ber" months and Halloween decor. Long before it became popular to go to pumpkin patches for photo shoots (I love them for the pumpkins, weird!), and Pumpkin Spice Lattes didn't have their own hashtag. #PSL Because before there was all of that, Anne Shirley popping off of the page, extolling the virtues of October to a little budding bookworm, curled up in her bedroom in East Tennessee. 📚🍂 

I also love these days because they are growing shorter, and if there's one thing I know, it's that I read more in the dark. It's cozy, I have blankets and hot tea. The kids are all in their bedrooms earlier because the sunset tricks us into thinking it must be close to 9 or 10 o'clock when it's only 6 or 7. Bonus hours for reading.  

Photo by Annelies Geneyn on Unsplash

In the meantime, even though the #PSL is officially out (much to my delight), August was full of summer's last golden days, when the weather can't make up its mind and the grass is still growing, but fall is on the horizon, and mornings are a little crisper than before. And now that the first of the "ber" months has arrived, that means it's time for a review of how I did in catching up on my reading goal last month (Full Disclosure: I gave up and lowered the goal to 36 books, due to circumstances beyond my control this year!). 

1. At Home in Mitford by Jan Karon - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I read this for the first time when I was in high school, back in the mid-90s, when the book first came out. And I fell in love with the characters, the setting, and Karon's writing style. In the decades since then, I have read this series more times than I can count, and it usually gets selected when life feels heavy. I pulled At Home out again when my mom was dying of cancer. I read the first chapter out loud to her on one of the last days that she was able tolerate being read to (as she grew weaker, she just wanted quiet). After she passed, I picked it up and started at Chapter 2, reading it through slowly. I love Father Tim and his crew, not only because the setting is based off of Blowing Rock, NC (a small mountain town I used to visit with my mom and sisters for a girl's day trip), but because of Karon's ability to weave God's truths throughout the story without it being a sappy Christian novel (which I avoid at all costs). If you haven't read the Mitford series, find a copy of book #1, grab a blanket and a cup of tea, curl up in your coziest chair, and let the heaviness of life melt away as you are transported to a simpler time and reminded of the goodness of God. Five Stars. {Amazon Associates Link}
2. A Light in the Window by Jan Karon - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Much like the first book in this series, I always enjoy a re-read and a trip back to Mitford, with all of it's small-town drama, a budding romance between Father Tim and his neighbor with the shapely legs, not to mention Dooley, Puny, and a host of other returning characters. It's fun to imagine myself having lunch at the Grill, or visiting Avis at The Local to grab some groceries for dinner. If only life were as simple as life in the 1990's fictional mountain town. I did find myself a bit annoyed this time through by Father Tim's inability to clearly articulate his feelings for Cynthia, and peeved by Cynthia's assumptions and lack of clear communication. Either I'm getting older and have less tolerance for these kinds of relationships, or I just glossed over it the first few times I read through the story. Either way, it's still a sign of good writing, because I got sucked into their lives and felt annoyed by people who don't exist. Five Stars. {Amazon Associates Link}

Two books. That's it. And two re-reads at that. But at this point, in this year, I'll take it, because doing something is still better than doing nothing. I still have my stacks of books I want to read, stacks that I know I would enjoy and learn something from, but apparently it's just not the season for that. Seasons come and go, and we have to be willing to flex with them. Much to my inner contol-enthusiast's dismay. Perhaps the "-ber" months will be better and see an increase in page numbers, or maybe I just need to finally accept that the entire year hit like a freight train and learning to live with the unexpected is okay too. I guess we'll soon find out. Happy September.

Playing Catch-Up (or What I Read in July)

A confession. I actually finished one book in June, on the very last day of the month. But I already had my June post written, and so I'm counting it for July, because there's no one to say that I can't. There are no rules in this reading goal, just happy dances when reading actually occurs. 

Photo by Elin Melaas on Unsplash

So after a strong reading start to the year, and a total halt to the reading goals while after my mom got sick and passed away, this was the month where I was hoping to get back on track. {Spoiler!} That didn't happen. But at least I got back into the reading groove and got SOMETHING marked off the list! We'll start with the one book that I finished in June, and then moved into the July books.

1. Gangsters vs. Nazis by Michael Benson - ★★★ I started reading this book in March of 2023. That should tell you something right there. It was one of the "Amazon Prime Reading" offerings, and the premise was intriguing: Jewish mobsters who fought (literally) the Nazi-sympathizers in the U.S. prior to WWII. I'm giving it three stars because, again, it was an interesting story line, mostly unheard of (by me) prior to this book, but the writing just didn't hold my attention. Too many names, too many locations, not enough direct information (a whole lot of, "here's what we know"). I was glad I didn't pay for the book, and I wouldn't say, "grab this" unless you saw it as a Prime Reading option again. And for that reason, not even linking it. 
2. Rocket Men by Robert Kurson - ★★★★★ This may be the best book I've read so far in 2025. The author does a fantastic job of incorporating his interviews with the astronauts themselves (something that's basically impossible to do now that so many are gone) and the folks from NASA, and really putting the reader in the captain's seat, so to speak. The way he goes back and forth from the decisions that led up to Apollo 8 saving 1968 to the backstories of the three astronauts and their wives, to the epilogue, was just really well done. If you like space stories, this is a good one. I knew how it turned out and was still on the edge of my seat (the mark of a good writer). If you aren't into space...this is still a good book. Bonus: these are the only three NASA astronauts whose marriages survived the space program, so it's a love story as well. Three, in fact. Worth reading! Five stars. {Amazon Associates Link}
3. The Year at Thrush Green by Miss Read - ★★★★ I haven't read a "Miss Read" book in a while, but the kids got me the last three I didn't own this past Christmas, and it felt like the right time to dive into an easy, cozy read. Something that didn't take too much brain power to enjoy and put me in a lovely English village in "simpler" times. And I was right. If you've ever read and enjoyed the Mitford series by Jan Karon (based on life in small town NC - in fact, based on life in Blowing Rock), you'd probably enjoy Miss Read's books. Lacking the spiritual spin of Mitford's Father Tim, it's still a really lovely set of fiction about life in small town England in the 50s and 60s. In this particular book, we go through the year (starting in January, ending in December) with our friends in Thrush Green, and there's a thin story line that runs throughout. You don't have to have read any of the previous books to enjoy this as a standalone, but it helps if you have. Four stars. {Amazon Associates Link}

I made good headway on two other books in July, but didn't manage to finish them in time. Along with not getting this blog posted in time. But if 2025 has taught me anything, it's that LIFE HAPPENS. Don't sweat it. It's great to set reading goals, but the important thing is to make time to read, even if it's just five minutes at the end of the day. Read for fun. Read for pleasure. Read for learning. Just read. 

See you in a month!

My Lonely Bookshelf (What I Read: May)

The beginning of May, my 84-year-old mother was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. There is no cure, and the treatment that they hoped would give her some relief, didn't do anything for her. Within a matter of days she went from walking on her own to shuffling around with the assistance of a walker. 

My days also changed, from wrapping up another home school year with the four at home, to becoming a full-time nurse and caregiver, taking care of my mom, handling her new medications, sitting with her at the oncologist, talking to doctors, learning about Hospice, conferring with family members near and far, setting up a Meal Train, comforting distraught friends, making sure my dad was still eating and had clean clothes, and more. 

And while I've had my share of time just sitting and waiting, my brain hasn't really been in reading mode. I did, however, manage to continue to read some each day in my Kindle app, and I did finish one book. Rather than choosing to focus on the goals I'm not meeting, I'm choosing to focus on the fact that one of my other goals, spending more time with my aging parents, is being more than met. Although it's not exactly what I was thinking when I set that goal, I'll happily take it, and no regrets. 

Go hug your parents if they are nearby. If you can't, pick up the phone and call them. See how they're doing. Ask about their day. Tell them you love them. It can all change in the blink of an eye, so do it while you can, and don't leave room for "I wish I had...." 

Photo by Kamil Switalski on Unsplash

I'm sad to say that the one book I did manage to finish in May wasn't even that great, but I'm still glad I read it. Even though I didn't love it, it did give me some new ideas and food for thought, so I'll count that as a win.

1. Intermittent Fasting Transformation by Cynthia Thurlow, NP - ★★★ The title and idea of this book promised a lot, but in the end I didn't really find it to be sustainable. There were aspects of this book that, while reading, I thought, "Well, that might be worth a shot," but she lost me when it came to actually measuring the grams of food. I appreciated her focus on fasting around cycles (for different ages of women), and how that affects the outcome of IF. Lots of recipes in the back, but as someone who is still feeding five other people every day, I am not in a position to make two separate meals, and my kids wouldn't go for these, so...just take the good stuff from here, and tweak it to fit the life you have. That's what I'm walking away with. Three stars. {Amazon Associates Link}

I have several new books in process, even if it's slow process, at the moment, and added in a re-read (for the fourth time) that sounded like it would be enjoyable (James A. Michener's The Source). Even though I'm not currently meeting my five-books-a-month goal, I am reaching my "read daily" goal, so choosing to focus on the small wins for now. There will be future seasons when I have lots of time for reading and no ability to hold my mom's hand, which puts everything into perspective. Choose wisely.

What I (Didn't) Read: April

As I type this, it's drizzling outdoors, with a hint of sunshine in the background of the clouds. My favorite sort of a day. The perfect day, in fact, for curling up and reading. But, as life has taught me, we don't always get to do what we consider the "perfect" activity for the day, so here I sit, tied to my desk, working away on this (and other) tasks. I suppose if I can't actually be reading the next best thing is to be writing about it, followed by proofreading the musings of authors who want to share their content with the world. It's not a bad gig if you can get it. But I'd still rather be reading.     

Photo by Elin Melaas on Unsplash

Coming in from last month, after two slow reading months, I knew I had to stick to my 5-books-a-month pace if I wanted to stay on track for the year. But then LIFE hit, and it hit HARD. When a family member received some life-changing health news, reading very quickly went to the back burner, and as those around me reminded me...that's okay. 

There are seasons. 

There will be times in the future when I will have all the time in the world, sitting and waiting, to read. This is not one of those seasons. So for the month of April, while I did spend time reading pages in a paper book and a few pages a day in my Kindle app, this is the list of my books for the month...

1. ZIP
2. ZERO
3. NADA

And that's okay. If we're talking about GOALS...daily reading has still occurred. In addition to reading at least a page or two on my Kindle every day, and the occasional paper book, I have spent many, many hours reading (and listening to) my Bible. And this month, that's the best thing I could have done. 

Go hug your family. 

Call your parents. 

Check in on your grandparents. 

Put your phone down and engage with your loved ones.

Tomorrow is not guaranteed.

What I Read: March

Another month gone. A quarter of the year checked off the calendar. Time passes so swiftly. And what do we do with it? Do we use it wisely? Do we fritter it away? Do we tell it where to go or wonder where it's gone? Everyone has 168 hours in a week, but it's what we do with them that matters. Some days I'm better at telling the time where to go than others (making sure I read something every day remains a priority), and other days I get to the end of the day and think, "Well, that could have gone better." But no matter what, the idea is that we do what we can with the time we have been given. Whether your life is long or short, use your years well. 

Photo by Glen Carrie on Unsplash

And speaking of hours spent reading, March was a struggle for me in that department. I've been working my way through a Kindle book about the history of Britain's early kings (one star, but still forced myself to finish), which seriously slogged me down. I had several books that I picked up for free (using trade credit at a local used bookstore) and was hoping that having books that I was excited to read would put me well-past my four books last month, but alas. Life and other responsibilities (and slogging through that king book) have kept me slightly off the pace. 

However, I'm still reading every day, even if it's not as much as I would hope (I'm embracing my 2025 motto: doing something is better than doing nothing!), and below are my quick reviews of what I did read in March. I'd love to hear about your favorite book from the last month, so hit me up in the comments!

1. The Bullet that Missed by Richard Osman - ★★★★★ About half-way through this book I thought, "Oh shoot. This is slow and going to be a disappointment." And about three chapters later I was snort-laughing and finished the rest of the book in a day. So hilarious, mixed with a tinge of sadness (the realities of aging and setting your plot in a retirement home). I absolutely LOVED the new additions to the mix, and even though I had already somewhat suspected the "who" in the "done it" part of the story, the whole thing was just a delightful escape for a few hours. In fact, it made me break my 2025 rule of reading 10 books before I was allowed to buy another. I immediately went to the Kindle store and used Kindle and Amazon credits (and a little cash) to buy book #4 so I could start reading immediately. (And was immediately crushed by the first chapter, but people have to be killed or there's no murder to solve, right?) Morality warning: there are all kinds of people, of all ages, hooking up in this book, but nothing graphic. I just wanted to mention it, especially since there was nothing like that in the first book. {Amazon Associates Link}
2. The Last Devil to Die by Richard Osman - ★★ Five stars for writing - Osman is very talented when it comes to creating characters and slowly giving them more depth. When chapter 60 hit, I bawled like a baby, which I hated as a reader, and appreciated as a writer. That being said...yes, you see that right, two stars for the story this time. The downside of making your primary characters of geriatric age is...death. But compared to Book #1, this took more liberties (with relationships and involving sexuality) than I want in a "cozy murder" book. And deaths. Lots of deaths in this story. Humor as well, but not enough to counteract the death theme. It was just, in general, darker. Although well written, I just didn't enjoy this book nearly as much as I did Books 1-3. I'll give book #5 a try when it comes out, and hope it goes back into the safer realms of the first three, but we'll have to wait and see. Morality warning: This time around, Osman created a homosexual past (and possibly future) for one of the main characters. This comes towards the end of the book, and there's a hint that it might become an ongoing story line. 
3. Unruly by David Mitchell - ★ I'm all for making learning history fun (and funny), especially when it comes to the terribly lengthy history of England's creation and monarchy. But I couldn't get past the vulgarity (including a number of F-bombs) used by the author. There are so many amazing words in the English language, in my opinion it's just laziness to substitute profanity for humor and wit. Language is a beautiful thing when well used. My enjoyment of the content was tainted by the vocabulary. I was hoping for a major win here, something that would make learning about the various kings (and occasional queens) of England a little more palatable, but, alas, the quest continues. 

And that's it. Three books. A five star, a two star (which, by the way, most people disagree with me on that, but to each his or her own!), and a one star. Not a very stellar month as far as reading is concerned, but I have several in process that I hope to complete in April, and I'm still on-track (just) for my 60 books goal for 2025. How about you? Best book of March? Hit me up in the comments! 

What I Read (February)

A short month means fewer days to get those books in, but I did my best with the time I had and I think it turned out alright. I'm working through a few good series at the moment (outlined below) and since I crossed the 10-books-read threshold, that meant I was also allowed to buy my first "just for fun" book reward book (which happened to be a used copy of the third Thursday Murder Club series, using Amazon points, so it still cost me nothing - win-win-win!). Its been a busy month, with family birthdays and band events and a couple of little day trips, but having my morning and evening routines in place (which both include reading) has really helped me stay on track with my reading goals so far this year. Hooray for new routines and good habits!

Photo by Alisa Anton on Unsplash

I mentioned finding some good series to dive into, and so far my favorite have been the Thursday Murder Club, the Marlow Murder Mysteries, and the Hawthorne & Horowitz Mysteries. If you've read any of those and know of something along the same lines, please feel free to jump into the comments and let me know! I'm always up for a cozy, not too gory, not overly crass series to try. In the meantime, here are my thoughts about what I read in February...

1. A Line to Kill by Anthony Horowitz - ★★★ This is book #3 in the Hawthorne and Horowitz murder mystery series. So far, book #1 was a five star, book #2 went down to four stars, and now we're at three...I'm hoping this is not a trend that continues. The options for suspects were numerous, but...this one had too many loose ends for me (like totally dropping what the final outcome of BAN NAB was, or explaining why the volunteer constable was so unhappy). The murderer wasn't particularly satisfactory, nor the ending neatly tied up. It was nice that this time Horowitz doesn't end up with a knife in him somewhere. If that happened three in a row, I might have given up on the series. As it is, I'll move on to Book #4 and see if any of the secrets of Hawthorne's past finally come to light (his continual avoidance of answering questions about himself is actually getting a little old as well). {Amazon Associates Link}
2. Born Survivors by Wendy Holden - ★★★★★ It's hard not to feel a variety of emotions when you read stories like this. Stories of such horrific events that your brain cannot imagine such unfathomable things occurring, nor people surviving them, and even bringing new life into them. The author did an outstanding job researching and setting the stage for how each of these women, Priska, Rachel, and Anka, arrived at the point of giving birth in unimaginable circumstances (during a bombing raid at a forced-labor factory, in the coal car of a railroad transport, on a cart of dead and dying women at the very gates of Mauthausen death camp). To know their "befores" and their "afters" and to be present when each of them becomes a mother, without knowing that all three were together, in the same situation, paints a picture you won't soon wipe from your mind. {Amazon Associates Link}
3. The Meaning of Marriage by Timothy J. Keller, Kathy Keller - ★ Unpopular opinion warning. ⚠️ First of all, for a variety of reasons (which I will not be discussing here) I am not, in general, a fan of marriage books. However, the Hubs and I were asked to read several in the hopes of finding one good one for use with struggling couples in our church. My beef with this isn't so much Tim Keller's viewpoint (although he does defer to the world's so-called "knowledge" a lot) as it was his wordiness. Three-hundred-plus pages that could have all been summed up in one: Love God. Love People. People = your spouse. Get over yourself and your self-love, stop focusing on what you think THEY should be doing for you, start asking God how He wants to change YOU. The end. Marriage Book Alternative Recommendation: You and Me Forever by Francis Chan (honestly, good for singles, too!) {Amazon Associates Link}
   
4. When Sinners Say "I Do" by Dave Harvey - ★★★ I went in with a bad attitude, honestly (see above: I don't like marriage books), but was pleasantly surprised. He gets to the heart of the issue straight away: sin. Good stuff, 183 pages, takes you all the way through death and ending well. Most of it isn't even specific to marriage (but can all be applied in marriage), meaning a single person could read this book and get some good takeaways from it as far as how to grow in Christ and live for others rather than self. The only reason I would still prefer/recommend Francis Chan's book over this one is because Francis writes it with his wife, Lisa, so you get takes from both sides. There were several times when I felt like Harvey was a bit one-sided in his view, and quite honestly, a little tone-deaf on the chapter about sex. Otherwise, not bad. {Amazon Associates Link}

I have four other books in process at the moment, but I didn't finish any of them before the end of the month. However, because of my strong start in January, I'm still ahead for the year, so I'm on track for 60 books in 2025. What about you? What was the best book you read in February? Hit me up in the comments and let me know!

What I Read: January

I've mentioned before that winter is my reading season. It's cozy and cold (SO COLD this month!) and dark early and the perfect time (for me) to get a lot of books knocked off my list. I'm doubly motivated this year as I get to buy a new book for every 10 books I read from my own shelves, and I'm dying to get the next book in the Thursday Murder Club series. Have you read them? If you like cozy British mysteries and septuagenarian sleuths...this is definitely a set for you to check out.

And while last year was all about reading through the books on my shelf (some months were a little more themed than others, like more self-improvement in January or mystery in October), this year I am grabbing the books that grab my interest. I had a few reading slumps in 2024 (despite making it through 62 books for the year), but I don't like forcing myself to finish books. So this year I'm starting out by simply reading the books that make me laugh, or the ones that sound interesting...and then are interesting. Reading to hit the numbers isn't really the point (well, it's sort of the point, but not the main point)...I want to read to learn, read to grow, and read to laugh. 

What's on your reading list this year?

Photo by Sixteen Miles Out on Unsplash

I was pretty pleased with myself when I had read my third book of the month by January 7th, but I also knew that the slump could come at any time, so it's always best to make hay while the sun shines (Pa Ingalls taught me that). 

1. The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman - ★★★★ I mentioned the Thursday Murder Club series at the start of this post, and this is book #2. I had really low expectations of the first book, and I think because my expectations were so raised during the reading of that, I probably had slightly high expecations for the second book. Don't get me wrong, it was great! I thoroughly enjoyed it and read it in a couple of days, but it received four stars, rather than five, as the first one received. However, the gang is all back together in this one, along with some new members (grandsons, taxi drivers, and a few folks from MI5 and 6 and the American mafia, just to keep it interesting). {Amazon Associates Link}
2. The Man Who Invented Christmas by Les Standiford - ★★★★ I purchased the movie tie-in Kindle version of this (two things I dislike: movie tie-in versions and ebooks, but it was the cheapest way to get it!), and missed the fact that 40% of the book was actually Dickens' A Christmas Carol. So when I got to the 60% mark and Standiford's book ended, I was a bit confused, until I realized we were now diving into Dickens' story after we finished reading about his life, writing, and the most well known of his Christmas tales, A Christmas Carol. This is really more of a 3.5 star book, but I rounded up, because I did learn a few things about Dickens that made all of his stories make more sense. I think there are probably better biographies of Dickens, but this wasn't a bad little book in its own right. {Amazon Associates Link}
3. Your Year of Wonders by Nick Tasler - ★★★★ This is quite a short little read (just 104 pages), which the author calls the perfect "airplane read." This is not a check-list "how to" book, nor does it need to be as we are all coming from different places with different stories, but it is an encouraging book to start out the year. The stories that he shares of people who have accomplished big things, gotten stuck, and figured out a way to move forward are encouraging. I particularly liked his take on fear as a motivator - positive for getting one moving out of a stuck position, negative for encouraging creativity. Not only a good thought for all of us when faced with fear, but a good reminder for parents when dealing with children. {Amazon Associates Link} 
4. The Night Trilogy by Elie Wiesel - ★★ This was a hard series to read. It actually gets two stars because I dislike that the first book (Night) is the non-fiction account of the author's experience in Nazi concentration camps as a 15-year-old boy, while the following books (Dawn and Accident) are fictional accounts, which could easily lead people into thinking that the first book is as well. And the Holocaust should never, in any way, be turned into fiction. It was real, it was horrific, and it should be remembered and learned from. So, although a heavy read, I would give Night four stars on its own, but not included in this trilogy, which gets two. On their own, I would say that Dawn and Accident, while fiction, are highly influenced by Weisel's experiences during the Holocaust, which clearly comes through in his writing. Although he physically survived the war, after reading his work I would say he died mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, which is what made them so difficult to read. {Amazon Associates Link} 
5. The Word is Murder by Anthony Horowitz - ★★★★★ About a third of the way through the book I thought this might turn out to be a disappointment. But by the time I was 80% done with the book and the killer was suddenly revealed and I never saw it coming...I was totally hooked. The premise, that the actual author is writing the story as if it happened, and he was the Watson to Hawthorne's "Sherlock," was intriguing. There was death and murder and blood, but it wasn't gory. In fact, it reminded me a lot of watching "Midsomer Murders," which is no surprise...since the author wrote for that show very early on. Bottom line: The perfect cold-weather, winter cozy read. {Amazon Associates Link}
6. Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson - ★★★ This was a toss-up between three and four stars for me. It was an interesting premise, with a lot of background and a lot of characters to keep track of, which is one of the reasons I ended up giving it three stars instead of four. If you read this, read it all in a weekend, because I ended up setting it down a few times and coming back several days later and I had to remind myself who was who in the story. But when I was reading it straight through, they all made sense. There was definitely a twist at the end that I only saw coming moments before it happened, so that was nice. And the twist at the very end I never saw coming, so kudos to the author for that one. I would definitely give him another try, based on this book. {Amazon Associates Link}
7. The Sentence is Death by Anthony Horowitz - ★★★★ This is the second book in the Hawthorne & Horowitz Mysteries series, and I enjoyed it almost as much as the first. It was a bit of a letdown (which the author, himself, included that letdown as part of the plot line) when the ending felt so similar to the first book. However, just like the first book, I really didn't see who the murderer was until right before (as in a page or two) they were revealed. He does a great job of throwing a lot of options out there, and let you be as confused as he (the author) is in trying to untangle them. All in all, I'm quite enjoying this series and have already started book #3, so you can look for that review next month! {Amazon Associates Link}

And that's the wrap up of the first seven books of 2025. Not a bad beginning, all things considered, and a few winning series that I'm looking forward to continuing this year (and thankfully, all the authors are still writing them, which is fun). 

What's the best book you've read so far in the year? Book goals? 

Jump in the comments and share!

December's Bookshelf

It honestly feels like yesterday that I sat down at my desk and crafted my list of #simplegoals, which included reading 48 books over the course of the year. And yet, here we are. The year has passed us by, and I ended the year with 62 books read from my TBR shelf (both physical and Kindle). It just goes to show that sometimes you have to set a goal in order to make things happen. Even something as simple as making time to read more books.

Photo by Madara Parma on Unsplash

Since it was the month of festivities I wasn't sure how many I would finish this month, and as it turns out...that number was one. HA! However, the one I did manage to finish was a holiday-themed book from my shelf, which made it fun. 

1. Noel Streatfeild's Christmas Stories - ★★★ I wasn't sure what to expect from this book, but I had previously read Streatfeild's Ballet Shoes (thanks to the recommendation in You've Got Mail!) and I enjoyed the writing style, so I think my expectations were a little high for this one. It was simply a series of stand-alone Christmas-y stories, all with happy endings (so I can't complain there), but some of them felt like we'd jumped into the middle of a story and were missing context. This isn't one I would highly recommend, nor will I probably ever read it again, but it was still a super simple book to boost me into my December reads, so I'll take it. Plus, the cover is beautiful (nice for displaying). {Amazon Associates Link}

And now we're in a new month, the first one of the year! And the whole year is before us, ready for new series and new reading challenges. I'm gearing up for 60+ books this year, and looking forward to getting a reward now and then for my efforts. 

What book will you be starting out the new year with? 

An old friend or a new acquaintance? 

Best Books of 2024 (and 2025 #bookgoals)

When I set out my Simple Goals for the year, I decided to set a goal of reading four books a month, for a total of 48 books for the year. I hit that goal in August and continued forward, which is one of the reasons I set my 2025 reading goal at five books a month (60 books for the year).

During the last twelve months, I've read some hits and some misses, and the only re-read I had on the list was a book I read to two of my kids, just for fun. If you follow me on Goodreads, have seen any of my posts on Instagram, or have read the blog over the last year, none of these will be a surprise. However, I wanted to give a round of of the best books of 2024, and shortened reviews of why you should consider picking up copies for your 2025 reading list. Bookworms ready? Let's go!

Photo by Nong on Unsplash

Best Books of 2024

January: The Watchmaker's Daughter by Larry Loftis - ★★★★★ A fantastic historical account of the life of Corrie ten Boom, her family and friends' involvement in the Dutch Resistance, and those who found refuge in the secret Hiding Place. Heavy stuff, but an absolute MUST READ. {Amazon Associates Link} 

February - Nothing to write home about, sadly.

March: Irena's Children: Young Readers Edition by Mary Cronk Farrell/Tilar J. Mazzeo - ★★★★★ Another heavy hitter, but another MUST READ (still have the adult version on my TBR list). The torture, although toned down for the YRE, was almost more than my mind could grasp. These are such important stories to tell, read, and remember, because forgetting will only take us back to that same place in the future. {Amazon Associates Link}

April: The Worst Hard Time by Timothy Egan - ★★★★ Covering the dirty thirties in the U.S., a decade of dust, disaster, death, and destruction, including "Black Sunday" and the realities of "dust pneumonia." I got several members of my extended family to read this as well. Great for history buffs who think they've heard it all!{Amazon Associates Link}

May and June - another couple of "meh" months in the book department.

July: Code Girls by Liza Mundy - ★★★★★ A well-written tale of the unsung heroines of code breaking, both military and civilian. As the Greatest Generation leaves us, it's vital to remember these stories and pass them on to the next generation so we do not forget the sacrifices that were made by so many. {Amazon Associates Link}  

August: Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz - ★★★★★ From the 1950's to modern times and back again - this was altogether a pleasant surprise and one which I have few qualms about recommending to anyone who enjoys a "good" murder mystery with plenty of references to Poirot, Sherlock Holmes, and Midsomer Murders. {Amazon Associates Link}

September: The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman - ★★★★★ Nursing home friends with plenty of kick left in them, solving crimes using a lifetime of skills and connections. No questionable language, no unnecessary sexual encounters, and an ending I can totally live with. Two thumbs way up. {Amazon Associates Link}

October: Agatha Christie: An Autobiography by Agatha Christie - ★★★★★ A fascinating woman who never took herself seriously as an author, I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about this woman - from her childhood through her early adult years, her foray into Middle Eastern travel, her second life with Max (13-years her junior!), all the way through her 75th year. {Amazon Associates Link}

November: The Answer is No: A Short Story by Fredrik Backman - ★★★★★ Just 65 pages, so definitely in the "short story" category, but I chuckled all the way through. This man gets introverts. I felt so seen! Download it for an easy, enjoyable read. {Amazon Associates Link} 

December: Too busy to read all that much, and nothing that stood out.

Looking Ahead

My reading goals for 2025 give me a little more leeway, although I still plan to continue working my way through the books that have been languishing on my shelves for far too long. They either need to be read or go away, and I'd prefer to read them before they depart. However, this year I'm planning to do two things differently with my #bookgoals:

1. Although I am primarily focusing on reading new-to-me books, I am allowing a handful of re-reads, as needed. This is especially true if I find myself in a book slump (as I did a couple of  times in 2024), and need to read something that I know I'll enjoy (like the Father Tim series, or the Miss Read books).
2. After every 10 books I read from my shelf (or Kindle library), I am allowed to buy one new (to me) book. The only books I purchased in 2024 were purchased using gift cards I received, or using Kindle points that had collected. This year I want to be a little more flexible, but still focus on reading through my TBR stacks before adding any more to the pile. 

Hit me up in the comments with your best book (or books) of 2024, and also how you keep your motivation going during slumps or other reading slowdowns. What book are you looking forward to reading this year? Do you have a TBR pile that's giving you the evil eye for not doing anything with it? Maybe 2025 is the year!

📚 Happy Reading! 📚

#iamthankful for BOOKS! (November Book Reviews)

'Tis the season of thankfulness, and one of the things I am the most thankful for has been the role of books throughout my life. Raised in a household of readers, encouraged to read young, read big, and read often, the title of "Bookworm" was a badge I wore proudly. And yes, there have been seasons of drought in my reading life, but like most things, these ebb and flow, depending on the stage of life. 

When we first adopted our five kids, I was barely hanging on to my sanity, and there didn't seem to be any time to read, and yet I knew it was a habit I wanted to actively model for them. During that period, I purposely went back to some childhood favorites - almost a comfort food, if you will - which helped me remember that this too, would pass. And it did. Eight years later, most of my kids can be found with a book in their hands (or at least nearby), and so my gratitude for the effects of books, both on myself and my children, continues to grow.

In October, I refocused on how I used my time, and brought my book total for the year up to 57 (out of a planned 48). I wasn't sure what November was going to look like, but as is the case in so many households, I knew that there was potential for some familial stress around the holidays (starting at Thanksgiving), and I knew that making time for reading (there's that sanity-saving factor again) was going to be important. That, in addition to counting my blessings, large and small.

• God's provision.
• My loved ones.
• Reliable transportation.
• Pumpkin Spice Lattes.
• Bookshelves of books.

The result of this focus (piggybacking off the "Do Something" goal of October) can be seen in the list of book reviews below. Some really good, one average, but none of them a waste of time, because they all made me think in different ways. 

1. A Song of Comfortable Chairs by Alexander McCall Smith - ★★★★★ It's hard to go wrong with a No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency book if you're looking for a quick, easy, comfort read. It's like the Mitford of Africa. This time, Mma Ramotswe is on the defense of Mma Makutsi's furniture-selling husband, Phuti, who is experiencing some financial difficulities after competition comes to town and continually undercuts his prices. But never fear, Mma Ramotswe has a plan, and as always, it is executed with precision and a little African charm. You can jump into any book in this series and immediately feel right at home. So brew a pot of rooibos tea and curl up for a cozy evening with the women of the best detective agency in all of Botswana. Five stars. {Amazon Associates Link}
2. The Answer is No: A Short Story by Fredrik Backman - ★★★★★ I had not read anything by this author before, but I came across his account on Instagram, and his posts often made me laugh. So, when this was one of the Amazon Prime First Reads in November, I didn't hesitate before downloading. It's only about 65 pages, so definitely in the "short story" category, but I chuckled all the way through. This man gets introverts. I felt so seen! The witty banter, the fear of opening his neat life up to anyone, and the absolutely absurd story of "the pile" were the perfect mix for me. In fact, I was reading this at my desk while the kids did school, and I kept having to put my hand over my mouth to keep from laughing out loud. Even though no longer free, it's still cheap ($1.99 as of this writing) and I would highly recommend downloading it for an easy, enjoyable read. Five stars. {Amazon Associates Link} 
3. Deadly Company by Ann Granger - ★★★ I've read several books by this author, but this one felt a bit rough. I'm not sure if it was a lack of editing (the phrase "the smile didn't go to his/her eyes" was used multiple times), or a rush to get it done (she wrote it in 2020 and even mention this fact in a note at the start of the book), with a rather thin plot line. It's definitely not my favorite. And while I wasn't sure who murdered whom, it wasn't actually a surprise when all was revealed either. I'd definitely start with one of her other books before recommending this one. Fortunately, I got this one using Amazon ebook credits, so it wasn't a huge loss, and it was still an enjoyable way to spend a late night reading. Three stars. {Amazon Associates Link}
4. Salt, Sugar, Fat: How the Food Giants Hooked Us by Michael Moss - ★★★★★ It took me a while to read through this book, and honestly, it was because, like the fatty, salty, sugary foods Moss uncovers, I was trying to process what he was saying and break a 40+ year habit of thinking any processed foods were better than others. Reading labels? EYE. OPENING. Why does ice cream have 37 ingredients, most of which I can't pronounce? What happened to cream, sugar, milk, and a handful of flavor ingredients? They're regulated to the $6/quarts, rather than the $3/gallons. I highly recommend taking the time to read this book. Take it a bite at a time, if you will. Do we still eat junk food? Of course. But it's no longer the standard in our home, just an occasional treat. The fruit drawer, however, is filled. Most meals are prepared and eaten at home. Fast-food is limited. Small steps, but I believe they are making a difference. Five stars. {Amazon Associates Link}

Hit me up in the comments with your favorite book from the last month!

Making Time to Read (October Books in Review)

If you read my last post, you know that our area (East TN, Western NC) was directly hit by the flooding from Hurricane Helene. Because of that, and so many other things that took place, I only made it through two books in September. It was the first time all year I've failed to read at least four books in a month. I also got thrown off my walking groove those last few days of the month and the first few of October, which is when I decided to set my goal for the tenth month of the year, and it was this...

It felt like an appropriate goal, not just to nudge me back on the reading and walking train, but because there is so much chaos and destruction around us. It's almost hard to know where to start. But then I think about this goal, and that really sums it up, doesn't it? Don't know where to start? Feeling overwhelmed? Just DO SOMETHING. Offer to help a neighbor. Look for a way to organize donations. Give your free time to muck mud out of a house or take a hot meal to those who have no way of cooking at the moment. It doesn't have to be big to be meaningful. 

To make this goal happen, I just grabbed books off my bookshelf or Kindle list and started reading them. I didn't worry about whether they were great literature or not, I just wanted to read something. I didn't focus on walking a mile in less than 20 minutes this month, I just focused on walking 20 minutes. Whatever you might be putting off because you don't know when or where or how to start (or restart), just do something. Get up off the couch and walk laps around your driveway. Open your Kindle app instead of Instagram. Contact local organizations working to help others - wherever you are - and ask what it would take to volunteer for a day. Go do something. You'll feel better for it.

And as for those books I mentioned? Well, here they are (and yes, there is even a re-read in there, the first one of the year, because I read it out loud to my two youngest - and they still giggled, which I love). Since it was October I allowed myself to focus a bit more on the mysteries, mystery writers, who-done-its, and "cozy murders" I'd been hoarding.

1. The Queen of Poisons by Robert Thorogood - ★★★★ It's no secret by now that I really enjoy Robert Thorogood as a writer (including his writing/creating of Death in Paradise), and I really love this series with the quirky Suzy, the formidable Judith, and the ever surprising Becks. Book #3 in the series was just as delightful as the first two, though it fell slightly flat in a few places, thus the four stars rather than five - but this can be easily forgiven! And I was still guessing as to the identity of the murderer right up to the big reveal. It was the perfect cozy weekend mystery where I could lose myself from the chaos of the real world for a while. I can't wait to see what these lovely ladies get up to in book #4! Four Stars. {Amazon Associates Link} 
2. Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater - ★★★★★ The story behind me reading this book for the first time (age 7) is long and boring, but over the years I have reread it a few times, most recently with my two youngest (ages 12 and 13), as they still humor me when I read children's stories out loud to them. For those who haven't read it, Mr. Popper is a bit of an eccentric house painter, with a very patient family, who loves learning about life at the Poles more than anything else. When an Antarctic explorer hears about Mr. Popper, he ships off a penguin, Captain Cook, to become the newest inhabitant of the Popper household. The Poppers eventually end up with twelve energetic penguins who take the Popper family from coast to coast, and beyond! Five stars. {Amazon Associates Link}
3. Absolution by Murder by Peter Tremayne - ★★ Book #1 (of 35) of the Sister Fidelma Mysteries. I received this as part of a Secret Santa gift last year from someone who knew I liked to read cozy mysteries. It was okay if you like mysteries set in the 7th century involving monks and religious women who may or may not be interested in each other. It didn't have any objectionable scenes or crass language, so that's a bonus, and the murderer wasn't immediately obvious, so that was nice. Three murders later, with an Irish female law expert (Sister Fidelma) leading the case, everything is wrapped up, the religious debate where all of this has been happening has been settled, and we're left with an open door to the next book. Two-and-a-half stars. {Amazon Associates Link} 
4. Blackbeard's Ghost by Ben Stahl - ★★ I grew up watching the 1960s Disney movie by the same name, and purchased this after I noticed (as an adult) that the movie was based off of the book by Ben Stahl. Let me just say that it's not the book's fault that it is NOTHING like the movie, but it tainted my enjoyment of the book for its own merit. The only thing it had in common with the movie was the character of Blackbeard and the fact that he got called back as a ghost. Otherwise, absolutely nothing like the film. Apart from that, the story was just so-so, the character development was lacking, and it was kind of like a poorly written Hardy Boys (which is saying something). In the case of the movie, Disney improved the story (by essentially rewriting the entire thing). Overall, while I'm glad I read it for the experience, I just can't give it more than 2 stars. Watch the movie! {Amazon Associates Links: Book or Movie}
5. Murder Your Employer by Rupert Holmes - ★★★★ I promise I'm not a homicidal maniac looking for ways to off the people I work with (helps that I do contract work!), but I had Kindle credits and it came up as something I might like based on other books I read, and so here we are. The beginning of the book was a bit slow, but around the half-way mark it picked up speed until I was having a hard time putting it down. Despite it being a book about teaching people to murder their employer, there was a surprising moral code to it. One caveat is that, especially when we actually get into the murders, there is some sexual content (not graphic, but implied), and some vulgarities (including misusing Christ's name). Still, the ending was a total surprise (all the way to the very end in the epilogue), and while I waffled between three and four stars, I ended up going with four, because it's a unique story, and no one seems to be able to come up with those anymore. {Amazon Associates Link} 
6. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving - ★★★★★ If you haven't read the original version of this short story and have only seen the Disney cartoon with Bing Crosby crooning, you are missing out. As I read this aloud to my kids for school literature yesterday, I was struck by two things. 1) How closely the cartoon followed the book - down to the words/phrases used. They primarily cut out the descriptions, and added a couple of things to make it more humorous. 2) The number of vocabulary words now gone from our daily communications. I knew (or at least had a familiarity with) about 98% of the words Mr. Irving used, and even though I consider myself well-read and well-educated, there were still a handful of words I had never heard before or couldn't define. We have truly handicapped ourselves by allowing words to be redefined or lost altogether, but we don't have to give up without a fight, which is why both my kids and I read books like this. Five stars. {Amazon Associates Link}
7. Agatha Christie: An Autobiography by Agatha Christie - ★★★★★ As a long-time fan of her most famous Belgian detective, I was excited when I discovered Agatha had also taken the time to pen an autobiography. A fascinating woman with an intriguing family and a unique life, who never took herself seriously as an author, I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about this woman - from her childhood through her early adult years, her foray into Middle Eastern travel, her second life with Max (13-years her junior!), all the way through her 75th year. This was a fantastic way to end the month's reading goals. If you enjoy her mystery writing and plays, you will probably appreciate this. Her writing is never boring, despite her protestations. Would recommend. Five stars. {Amazon Associates Link}

And with that, October and her books come to and end. Choosing to "Do Something" more than made up for the lack of reading last month and it was a delight to make time for books that engaged me, or at least got my out of my reading rut. Same with the walking - although I stopped aiming for a under-20-minute-mile pace, I hit it almost daily. Good habits build on each other. Today is November 1st. Get out there and Do Something today. 

Happy Doing!